Good mosquitoes: Brazilian Researchers releases mosquitoes to fight dengue fever

Brazilian researchers in Rio de Janeiro have released thousands of mosquitoes infected with a bacteria that suppresses dengue fever.

The hope is they will multiply, breed and become the majority of mosquitoes, thus reducing cases of the disease.

The initiative is part of a programme also taking place in Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The intercellular bacteria, Wolbachia, being introduced cannot be transmitted to humans.

The programme started in 2012 says Luciano Moreira of the Brazilian research institute Fiocruz, who is leading the project in Brazil .

"Our teams performed weekly visits to the four neighborhoods in Rio being targeted. Mosquitoes were analysed after collection in special traps.

"Transparency and proper information for the households is a priority. "

Ten thousands mosquitoes will be released each month for four months with the first release in Tubiacanga, in the north of Rio.

The bacteria Wolbachia is found in 60% of insects. It acts like a vaccine for the mosquito which carries dengue, Aedes aegypti, stopping the dengue virus multiplying in its body.

Wolbachia also has an effect on reproduction. If a contaminated male fertilises the eggs of a female without the bacteria, these eggs do not turn into larvae.

If the male and female are contaminated or if only a female has the bacteria, all future generations of mosquito will carry Wolbachia.

As a result, Aedes mosquitoes with Wolbachia become predominant without researchers having to constantly release more contaminated insects.

In Australia this happened within 10 weeks on average.

The research on Wolbachia began at the University of Monash in Australia in 2008. The researchers allowed the mosquitoes to feed on their own arms for five years because of concerns at the time Wolbachia could infect humans and domestic animals.

Three more neighbourhoods will be targeted next, and large scale studies to evaluate the effect of the strategy are planned for 2016.

Dengue re-emerged in Brazil in 1981 after an absence of more than 20 years.

Over the next 30 years, seven million cases were reported.

Brazil leads the world in the number of dengue cases, with 3.2 million cases and 800 deaths reported in the 2009-2014 period.

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Miley Cyrus perform with a fake Penis strapped on her Nose During Concert

Miley Cyrus went super wild when she recently brought her "Bangerz" tour to Guadalajara, Mexico. The controversial singer shocked everyone when she appeared onstage and performed with a fake penis strapped on her nose.

The fake penis was attached to a pair of Harry Potter-esque black eyeglasses featuring eyebrows. The former Disney sweetheart proudly wore it while she sang, danced and twerked in revealing outfit consisting of an orange leotard paired with a furry orange shrug and a mini panda purse on her wrist.

"Bangerz" tour, which was launched to support Cyrus' 2013 album of the same name, will next be brought to South America and Australia before being wrapped up in October.

During another show in Mexico last week, Cyrus offended fans in the crowd after one of her dancers appeared to whip her fake butt with the country's flag. Mexico takes disrespecting the flag very seriously. The singer's now facing a $1200 fine and also up to 36 hours in jail.

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Ritual killing: Asamoah Gyan denies involvement in Ghanaian rapper Castro's death

Asamoah Gyan has released a statement denying his involvement in the murder of Ghanaian rapper Castro.

Castro, a friend of the former Sunderland striker, went missing along with his girlfriend, Janet Bandu, in July.

The rapper, whose real name is Theophilus Tagoe, and his partner disappeared while using jet skis on holiday with Gyan's family in Ada.

There had been suggestions that Castro was killed as part of a ritual sacrifice - something that Gyan denies any knowledge of or involvement in.

The 28-year-old and his family released a statement addressing the 'wild allegations and rumours'.

It said: 'What sells in the media, and what indeed sold and is still selling in the media in Ghana are wild allegations and rumours directed especially at Asamoah Gyan – ranging from the absurd – of the imputation of criminality to him in the sense that he either murdered Castro or had him kidnapped – and ending with the ludicrous – that he sacrificed him spiritually to enhance his career.

'We have been silent while these wild allegations and rumours have been peddled in the media. We have been silent not because we are concealing anything or that we do not feel the need to fully state what, from our reckoning, had happened in Ada. We have been silent because we did not want to interfere with police investigations.

'We have been totally dismayed by the fact that the platform was provided for the peddling of these wild and ludicrous allegations and rumours against us. Those to whom the platform was provided offered no evidence whatsoever to back their statements. And indeed, the allegation of spiritual sacrifice can by no stretch of the imagination be propped up.

'Now, we take the opportunity and state without the slightest doubt in our minds that we are not blamable for the disappearance of Castro and Janet Bandu. We had no hand in that occurrence. We have no moral or legal culpability whatsoever.'

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Amber Rose file for Divorce from Wiz Khalifa

It's over for Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa.
The model and singer filed for divorce Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, PEOPLE confirms.
Rose, 30, is seeking full custody of the couple's 19-month-old son, Sebastian, according to court papers obtained.
She and the 27-year-old rapper were married on July 8, 2013.
Just two weeks ago, Rose honored Khalifa on Instagram.
"Happy 27th Birthday," she captioned a shot of them holding each other tight during what appears to be their wedding dance. "I'll love u forever ... Hope this year is an amazing one for u sweetheart."
She was also recently signed to Nick Cannon's management company, NCredible Entertainment, and has been spotted with the TV personality as he fends off rumors of his own marital problems with Mariah Carey.
Khalifa's rep had no comment on the news, while Rose's manager could not be reached.

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Lionel Messi's throat was held by a Malaga defender 'Weligton' during a match

Lionel Messi found himself on the grass and grabbing his face after an opponent grabbed the Barcelona star briefly around the throat during a goalless on draw on Wednesday.

As the teams gathered for a corner kick in the 82nd minute, Messi spoke to Malaga defender Weligton and appeared to initiate contact with a minor shoulder-to-shoulder bump.

Weligton then turned, briefly grasped Messi by the throat and pushed him backwards.

Messi fell to the pitch and grabbed his face, though he was quickly helped to his feet by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.

Weligton received a yellow card for the incident, though only after Barcelona's Gerard Pique was also booked for his furious reaction.

Messi remained in the match for the final 10 minutes, but Barcelona could not find a winning goal.

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Preparation for the king's return: Manchester United fans prepare to fly 'Come Home Ronaldo' banner

A Manchester United supporters' group plans to fly a banner calling for the "homecoming" of Cristiano Ronaldo during Real Madrid's next match.

Ronaldo, 29, left the Red Devils in 2009 after six years at Old Trafford, and increasing speculation in recent months has suggested he could return after growing disillusioned with life at the Bernabeu.

United Reel, a group of "diehard Manchester United fans from every corner of the globe," are determined to help lure Ronaldo back to Old Trafford, and say they will fly a light aircraft over Villarreal's Estadio El Madrigal during the match against Real Madrid on Saturday displaying the message "Come Home Ronaldo."

A press release on the group's official Twitter page read: "United Reel have teamed up with their affiliated official Manchester United Supports Clubs [sic] -- MUSC United Arab Emirates, MUSC Lebanon and MUSC Egypt to show a "United" front to help bring Ronaldo home.

"Members from all over the world have donated their own money and resources to fund a mind game message, flown by plane during the upcoming Villarreal v Real Madrid football match in a bid to demonstrate to Cristiano Ronaldo how much the United Faithful still love and support him.

"With the current uncertainty regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's future, United Reel deem it essential that the player can not only feel but also see how much the fans still love him and how proud they are of his achievements since he left Manchester United.

"United Reel has active supporters on every continent of the world and we are all united by our love for Cristiano both as a football player and as a person. We stand united in our views and we won't stop until we BRING RONALDO HOME."

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Shakira rules out Gerard Pique's return to Manchester United

Any Manchester United move to resign Gerard Pique is likely to be scuppered by pop star Shakira.

The Barcelona defender's partner does not want to leave the Catalan city for Manchester. And any move would represent a huge upheaval for the showbiz couple's family.

Pique is unhappy on the Nou Camp sidelines after a spell out of the team thanks to new signing Jeremy Mathieu.

Reports in Spain indicate Pique could be set for a return to Old Trafford, while Louis van Gaal's need for defenders is well documented after an appalling start to the season.

But Pique was heartened by Barca boss Luis Enrique's praise this week.

The former Nou Camp midfielder said: 'Pique's attitude is great, he's optimistic, working hard. His hip problem has been solved, he's ready to help us.'

But Pique has not been in contact with United, where he left for Barcelona in 2008.

Pique has known Old Trafford boss Van Gaal since he was 13, with the Dutchman knowing the defender's grandfather.

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Drunk to a fault: A Drunk man was mauled to death by a white tiger after leaping into it enclosure at Delhi zoo

A man has been killed by an endangered tiger after allegedly jumping into its moat at an Indian zoo.

The man, named locally as Maqsood, is said to have been under the influence of alcohol when he climbed into the white tiger enclosure at New Delhi Zoo on Tuesday.

Witnesses say the 22-year-old entered the enclosure despite several attempts by zoo security to keep him from the tigers.

Once the man had jumped into the enclosure, the tiger grabbed him by the neck as terrified onlookers began throwing sticks and stones at the animal to try to save him.

Photos posted online of the attack show the tiger standing over the victim, who can be seen curled into a ball, trying to protect his head with his hands.

A witness said he raced to the enclosure after hearing screams, to see the victim locked in the tiger's jaws, ‘writhing badly in pain’.

‘Around 1.30pm, when we were in the reptiles area, we heard very loud screams,’ the witness told CNN-IBN news channel.

‘We saw that a white tiger had caught a boy by his neck and he was writhing badly in pain. He kept suffering for the next 10-15 minutes but nobody helped him.'

Another witness said the tiger kept ‘roaming around’ the enclosure, holding the victim by the neck.

Zoo officials said the man had appeared to have been ‘under the influence of alcohol’ and that security had tried to keep him away from the tiger enclosure.

‘Despite repeated warnings that he shouldn't get too close to the outdoor enclosure, the man eventually climbed over a knee-high fence and small hedges, then jumped down 18 feet into a protective moat,‘ National Zoological Park spokesman Riyaz Ahmed Khan said.

Authorities eventually frightened the tiger into a small cage inside the enclosure.

The man, whose body remained in the outdoor enclosure two hours after the attack, was dead by the time help reached him, Khan said.

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Wayne Rooney reply united critics after a stunning 5-3 loss: 'Future is bright for Manchester United'

Wayne Rooney insists the future is bright for Manchester United despite their inconsistent form under manager Louis van Gaal.

Striker Rooney, who was appointed captain by the Dutch boss in the summer, could not prevent Leicester turning over the Red Devils on Sunday.

A 3-1 lead for United slipped away as Leicester claimed a stunning 5-3 victory at the King Power Stadium. critics 

United stand 12th in the Barclays Premier League after five matches, already eight points behind leaders Chelsea.

Expectations of a major improvement after last season's seventh-placed finish have been formed on the basis of the appointment of the experienced Van Gaal and the recruitment of players including Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera.

And Rooney is convinced the blossoming of the team will materialise, taking issue with those doubting United's ability to respond to their current frustration.

Rooney wrote on his Facebook page: 'There seems to be a lot of people who have written us off because of Sunday's result but I don't see it that way.

'When I look around our dressing room and see the quality we have and the manager's unbelievable attention to detail I have no doubts this team will be successful.'

Earlier, former United defender Phil Neville predicted this summer's big spending would need to be repeated in future transfer windows before the club can again be seen as title contenders.

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The Snake boy: An Indonesian teenager who shed his skin every 41 days

Ari Wibowo sheds his skin like a snake every two days and must constantly smear his body with moisturiser to stop it hardening and seizing up.

The Indonesian teenager has a rare skin condition that doctors in Indonesia have been unable or unwilling to treat and which has left him with an extraordinary appearance.

He suffers from Erythroderma, an inflammatory skin disease also known as 'red man syndrome', that causes the skin over almost the entire body to become scaly and flake off.

Ari has shed his skin every 41 hours since he was born 16 years ago. He must soak his body in water every hour - night and day - and smear himself with lotion every three hours to prevent drying out. 

Photographer Nurcholis Anhari Lubis, 35, has documented the little boy’s condition as part of an essay project and describes the boy's skin condition as ‘scaly like a snake about to shed his skin’.

‘It’s really sad because he was not born normally and has scaly skin all over his body, similar to being severely burnt, from the sole of his feet up to his head,’ Mr Lubis said.

‘If the boy doesn't moisturise or soak his skin in water, his body would shrivel and harden up like a sculpture and he won't be able to move,' Mr Lubis said.

'If he leaves it unattended for too long, he won’t be able to speak because the wrinkles inside his mouth would go hard and it would dry out all his blood in his body.'

Mr Lubis said Ari's family were told by doctors at the hospital where he was born that it did not have the resources to treat the condition, and asked them to take the infant away.

He and his family now live by a routine of constant washing and dressing his skin with creams.

Still, the boy is trying to live a normal life in his village.

'He eats normal food like everyone else and his favourite snacks are instant noodles and crackers,' Mr Lubis said.

‘He had trouble making friends when he was younger and would often go and play with the other kids but most of the time, they would avoid him because he is different to everyone else.'

Ari is taking lessons, but is forced to study alone because of ignorance about his condition in the community.

‘No schools are willing to accept him because they fear his skin condition would be contagious to teachers and other students,' Mr Lubis said.

Ari also suffers prejudice because of superstitions in his village.

Mr Lubis said many people blame Ari's condition on a superstition that if a woman mistreats animals while she is pregnant then it will affect her unborn child.

Some people believe Ari's mother ‘tortured a lizard’ she found in the family home when she was pregnant with Ari.

‘I do not believe the myths but in Indonesia, there are still a lot of people who believe this,’ Mr Lubis said.

Jakarta-based Mr Lubis spent four days with the little boy and his family.

‘When I approached Ari for a photo shoot, he looked very shy but didn’t feel embarrassed and was happy to share his story,’ he said.

‘My interests have been to document lives and the way humans live in their own world, interacting with it and struggling to change it into their own way.'

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United we are: Beyoncé and Jay Z with daughter Blue Ivy in a Paris Cathedral

The two-year-old must have been awed by the magnificent cathedral her parents took her to in Paris.

But that didn't stop little Blue Ivy from climbing on to the seat of the huge organ at Notre Dame and trying to play a few keys as her mother Beyoncé looked on.

The 33-year-old singer shared the picture and others taken in the ancient cathedral on her website on Friday, the same day that she and husband Jay Z wrapped their On The Run Tour in the City Of Love.

The photos are lit only by candles and the light coming in through the impressive stained glass windows, making them darkly atmospheric.

One shows the two-year-old sitting in front of the cathedral organ's five keyboards.

The cute toddler is wearing a black dress with a white pattern and has a red bow in her curly hair.

A family snap shows Blue's mother and father standing on either side of her, each holding her hand as they gaze at a bank of votive candles gleaming in the dimly-lit cathedral.

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Manchester City could extend Frank Lampard loan stay though, no deal finalised yet

Manchester City are open to the possibility of extending Frank Lampard's loan deal, but no agreement has been struck with New York City FC yet.

Lampard, 36, joined the Premier League champions until January from NYC FC, however, their inaugural Major League Soccer campaign does not begin until March.

That could allow City to keep hold of Chelsea's record goalscorer for longer, although -- despite reports to the contrary nothing has been finalised.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini told a news conference: "Frank will stay until January because until January he doesn't have anything to do in the United States because they are not working. In January, we will see what happens here and make a decision."

City are set to lose one central midfielder in January when Yaya Toure is likely to be part of Ivory Coast's squad for the African Nations Cup, which ends on Feb. 8.

Lampard scored his first City goal in Sunday's 1-1 draw against his former club Chelsea and is set to be involved when they host Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup.

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Flexibility of iphone 6: iPhone owners claim the body of their latest Apple smartphone bend in pocket

Owners of the new iPhone 6 Plus have been surprised with an unintended extra feature dubbed 'bend gate'.

Since the new model launched on Friday, reports have emerged online that 'a small but growing number' of iPhone owners claim the body of their latest Apple smartphone - which retails from AUS $999, US $299 and £619 - bent after carrying the device was left in pockets for an extended period of time.

Others took to social media, facetiously thanking Apple CEO Tim Cook for the 'flexible display' on their new gadget.

It is believed the thinner model and the use of aluminium metal in its design causes the phone to deform.

MacRumours detailed on Tuesday that 'a small but growing number of iPhone 6 Plus owners have reportedly bent their phones after carrying the devices in their pockets just days after launch'.

One forum user 'hanzoh' claimed his iPhone 6 plus was 'slightly bent' after he drove with the device in his pocket.

'The 6 Plus was about 18 hours in my pocket while sitting mostly,' Hanzoh said.

'As I lay it on the coffee table and sat down on the couch to relax from the drive, I saw the reflection of the window in the iPhones slightly distorted. Now I lay it flat with the display side on the table, take a look.'

Hanzoh questioned whether the new 5.5-inch design was 'too thin'.

The bendy feature of the new iPhone has also been met with wide criticism on social media.

Others hashtagged 'bendgate' as they poked fun at the defect.

One user wrote: '@tim_cook hi Tim, I absolutely love my new iPhone 6 Plus!! My favorite feature is the flexible display.' 

However this isn't the first time iPhone frames have warped while the issue isn't unique to Apple, Mashable reports.

It was further mentioned the thinner design and the use of aluminum on the frame causes the phone to misshape if pressure is applied.

Apple announced on Monday it sold over 10 million of its 'bigger than bigger' model, setting a new record since it launched three days after the launch on Friday.

The basic 4.7-inch model iPhone 6 is retailing from AUS $869, US $199 and £539 in Australia while the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus is on the market from AUS $999, US $299 and £619.

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to launch Apple's newest handset.

Daily Mail Australia is waiting for a response from Apple.

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Forbes' Hip-Hop: Dr. Dre top Forbes' hip-hop cash king list of 2014 With $620M

Dr. Dre is officially the king of hip-hop. The veteran rapper has topped Forbes' list of the highest paid hip-hop artists in 2014 with $620 million in estimated pre-tax earnings, the highest annual total of any entertainer ever evaluated by Forbes.

It's also more than the combined earnings of other 24 names on the list released on Tuesday, September 23. Dre's impressive earnings should come as no surprise although he didn't release an album or go on a huge tour in the 12 months from June 2013 to 2014. Apple recently acquired Beats Electronics that he founded with Jimmy Iovine for $3 billion.

Miles behind Dre are Jay-Z and P. Diddy who are both at No. 2 with $60 million each. Hova's earnings, which are his highest since 2010, were from his Roc Nation empire, touring, D'Usse cognac and his album "Magna Carta... Holy Grail". As for Diddy, he earned his money through his Ciroc vodka, Blue Flame marketing and REVOLT TV.

Drake is at No. 3 with $33 million with takings from his album "Nothing Was the Same", an endorsement deal with Nike and a concert tour. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis trails behind the Canadian rapper with around $32 million.

Forbes compiled the list by looking at income from record sales, publishing, merchandise sales, tours and endorsement deals and talking to managers, agents, lawyers and some of the artists. The earnings were calculated based on data from Pollstar, RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and Nielsen SoundScan.

Other names who appear on the list's top 10 include Kanye West ($30 million), Lil Wayne ($23 million) and Eminem ($18 million).

1. Dr. Dre - $620 million
2. Jay-Z, P. Diddy (tie) - $60 million each
3. Drake - $33 million
4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - $32 million
5. Kanye West - $30 million
6. Birdman - $24 million
7. Lil Wayne - $23 million
8. Pharrell Williams - $22 million
9. Eminem - $18 million
10. Nicki Minaj - $14 million

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Capital One Cup: Liverpool defeat Middlesbrough after a long tensed penalt shootout, while Arsenal crash out

Liverpool squeezed past Capital One Cup third-round opponents Middlesbrough after an epic 14-13 penalty shootout win (2-2 in 120 minutes), but Arsenal are out of the competition after being downed by a stunning long-range strike from Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne.

Liverpool, looking to put successive Premier League defeats behind them, got off to a good start when 17-year-old debutant Jordan Rossiter opened the scoring with a cool finish just 10 minutes in but Boro hit back through Adam Reach, forcing extra time.

Suso and Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford then exchanged strikes in the additional half-hour, the latter converting a last-gasp penalty.

There were 30 more spot-kicks to come in an accomplished shootout, with Albert Adomah slotting wide to eventually bring an end to proceedings.

Meanwhile, Southampton's fine start to the season continued with a 2-1 win away to Arsenal.

The Gunners, who fielded a relatively strong attack alongside an inexperienced back line, went ahead through Alexis Sanchez's wonderful 14th-minute free-kick but were pegged back when Dusan Tadic slotted home from the penalty spot six minutes later.

Clyne then rifled home from 35 yards following a corner and Ronald Koeman's hastily rebuilt Saints, who sit second in the Premier League, held on to for a maiden win at the Emirates.

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Manchester United are £100m away from lifting the Premier league title- Phil Neville

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville says the club may need to spend another £100m on players before they can compete for the league title.

United lost 5-3 to Leicester on Saturday, but Neville says he "wasn't surprised with the result".

"I know United have spent £150m," Neville told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I think there's another two transfer windows of similar amounts of money needed - maybe £100m - before they can even think about winning the title." 

Neville later clarified on Twitter  that he was referring to a total spend of £100m across the two windows.

New United boss Louis van Gaal signed midfielders Angel di Maria, Ander Herrera and Daley Blind on big-money deals in the summer, along with defenders Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw, while the club also completed a loan deal for striker Radamel Falcao.

But Neville, who coached at Old Trafford last year, told BBC Radio 5 live that "there are still key positions in the team that need filling".

"I think the centre-back position is obviously the key area," Neville said. "Holding midfield or centre midfield needs addressing [too]."

Twenty-year-old Tyler Blackett has played at centre-back in all five of Manchester United's league games this season, but he struggled against Leicester and was sent off.

However, Neville defended the club's failure to sign an established centre-back in the summer transfer window, and backed United's English defensive contingent to prove their worth.

"That squad needed quality, not just run-of-the-mill players, they needed world-class players," Neville said.

"And there were no world-class centre-backs out there. I think that's why in the next two transfer windows, United might still be looking for that world-class defender.

"I am certain Chris Smalling will come good and I have full faith in Phil Jones as well. They've bought of a lot of foreign players, you don't get rid of your English spine."

United are currently 12th in the Premier League table, having won just one game.

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After 22 years: Kris Jenner Files for Divorce From Bruce Jenner

Kris Jenner has filed for divorce from her husband, Bruce Jenner, after 22 years of marriage. According to Us Weekly, the court documents were signed on September 5 and filed in L.A. Superior Court on Monday, September 22.

Kris filed the documents without a lawyer, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason of the split. Neither Kris nor Bruce will receive spousal support but both of them will have joint custody of their 17-year-old daugther Kylie Jenner, the only minor left in the family. The couple date of separation was listed as June 1, 2013. Property split is still to be determined.

Back in October, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" stars told E! Online about their separation, saying they were "living separately and are much happier this way. But we will always have much love and respect for each other. Even though we are separated, we will always remain best friends and, as always, our family will remain our number one priority."

Kris and Bruce got married in April 1991. The pair have two children together, Kylie and Kendall Jenner. Kris has four other children from her first marriage; Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian and Rob Kardashian. Bruce also has four other children, including Brody Jenner, from his previous two marriages.

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Pope Francis: Let no one consider themselves to be the 'armor' of God while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression

The usually chill Pope Francis was quite fired up during a speech Sunday in Albania.

Using the formerly communist country as an example of two religions working harmoniously together (in this instance, Christianity and Islam), the pope delivered a scathing critique of extremists who are "perverting" religion as means to justify violence. 

"Let no one consider themselves to be the 'armor' of God while planning and carrying out acts of violence and oppression!" Francis told a small crowd, which included Albanian President Bujar Nishani, in the capital city of Tirana. "May no one use religion as a pretext for actions against human dignity and against the fundamental rights of every man and woman, above all, the right to life and the right of everyone to religious freedom!"

A clear message: Francis lauded Albania's interreligious harmony as an "inspiring example" for the world, but pointed to a number of other places where such harmonizing could use some serious work. 

"This is especially the case in these times in which authentic religious spirit is being perverted by extremist groups," he added, likely referring to recent acts of terrorism perpetuated by groups claiming to act in the name of God. 

As the Associated Press notes, security was beefed up for the Pope's 11-hour visit due to threats from the Islamic State. The Vatican, however, said no special security measures were taken. 

Observers noted that his interactions with the 300,000-strong crowd for his mass were "reduced compared to his previous foreign trips." 

A solid track record: Francis' comments fall in line with his past forward-thinking remarks. Last month, he told investors to lend money to responsible lenders that "focus on social good instead of profits." And in May, he took a surprising moment out of his trip to Israel to pray at the barrier wall running through Bethlehem separating Israelis and Palestinians.

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Frank Lampard is perfect for Manchester City- Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany believes Frank Lampard and Manchester City are a perfect fit for one another -- and thinks the 36-year-old proved it with a goal that the Belgian believes could have a huge impact on their season.

The veteran midfielder opened his City account against his former club Chelsea to earn the Premier League champions a 1-1 draw on Sunday.

Without Lampard's strike, City would have been eight points behind league leaders Chelsea after five games and Kompany feels it could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

Lampard joined City on loan until January when he goes to New York FC to prepare for their inaugural MLS season.

And Kompany said: "He needed what we can offer him and I think we needed what he can bring to us. If you talk to him I reckon that's how he sees it as well and today was just the icing on the cake. He brings experience.

"It is not a word you make up, it is something that helps and it is like his goal: keeping your head cool in a moment when you are under pressure and down to 10 men -- how many players would have scored that goal? He has proven it himself in only a few minutes, which is good.

"Ever since I have been at this club, seasons and big moments have been decided on small events like this so I will never underestimate what it could mean to our season. It could be crucial."

Lampard scored a record 211 goals for Chelsea and Kompany thinks he proves he still has the ability to succeed at the highest level.

He added: "He brings quality. The goal he scored you would have seen for the last 15 years in the Premier League. He is clever, still extremely motivated and ultimately you play so many competitions you need all the guys to be there and he is another who will clearly make our team stronger. I can base things on what I see day in, day out on the training ground and he is one of the better players."

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The Last Witch Hunter: Vin Diesel Shares New Photos

Vin Diesel shared new photos of him in "The Last Witch Hunter". The bulky actor is currently filming supernatural actioner directed by Breck Eisner in Pittsburgh.

The two images capture Diesel in costume as Kaldur, the immortal witch hunter tasked with the job of coming between the covens of New York City and their goal to destroy humanity by way of a horrific plague. At the same time, the actor hinted at the movie's release date, writing, "Kaldur state of mind ... The Last Witch Hunter. Fall 2015!"

Diesel also shared two new behind-the-scene photos from the set. He captioned a photo of him looking at the script, "Kaulder is truly unlike any character I have ever played ...An exciting challenge. Blessed." In another, he sat with co-star Elijah Wood. "Kaulder and the 37th Dolan. Wait until you see Elijah Wood in this film... he is exceptional. Happy Creative Sunday," he wrote.

 

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