Missing Dutch sailor Laura Dekker, 14, found on Caribbean island

A teenager who went missing from her family home in the Netherlands after authorities thwarted her attempt to become the youngest person to sail single-handed around the world has been found alive thousands of miles away on a Caribbean island.

Laura Dekker, 14, who went missing on Thursday, was found today on the island of St Martin, in the Dutch Antilles, according to the Dutch news agency ANP.

Bernhard Jens, a spokesman for the police in Utrecht, her home town, said investigators were not treating the case as a crime. The Dutch public broadcaster NOS said Dekker left a note for her father before disappearing, but did not reveal its contents.

Dekker, the child of two sailing enthusiasts who separated six years after she was born on their yacht in New Zealand, had her attempt to break the world record blocked in October. Citing concerns about her safety and schooling, the Utrecht district court placed her under the guardianship of local welfare authorities.

Although she remained living with her father, who was in favour of her undertaking the sea challenge, she and her parents were required to get the approval of child protection officials for any future trips, the court ruled. The judgment meant she could not leave the country until July, without their approval.

Dekker, who had spoken fervently of her desire to set off on a two-year voyage which would beat the record currently held by Mike Perham, a 17-year-old Briton, was said by a family spokeswoman to be have been "disappointed" by the court's ruling. As she has dual Dutch and New Zealand nationality, she was quoted as saying she was considering setting sail from New Zealand.

Jens told journalists that Dekker's boat, Guppy, was still moored at its usual place. He refused to confirm a report in the Dutch press that she withdrew €3,500 from her bank account days before she disappeared. A spokesperson for the family, Mariska Woertman, said Dekker left a letter addressed to her father, but refused to elaborate on its content.

Her father has emerged as a controversial figure in the saga. When his daughter – then 13 – was picked up by British police in the port of Lowestoft in May, after sailing alone from the Netherlands, he initially refused to come and collect her, insisting she was capable of returning home in her boat.

The teenager's mother has expressed more caution about the scheme, saying she believes Laura might still be too young to face the mental and physical stress of such an endeavour. In its October ruling, the court accepted that her sailing skills were adequate and that the undertaking would not harm her emotional development. But it insisted there were concerns about her safety and education.

Playboy shares jump on report the men's magazine is in talks to be sold

CHICAGO (AP) — Shares of Playboy Enterprises (PLA) soared Thursday on a report that the men's magazine publisher is in talks to sell its business to Iconix Brand Group.

The stock rose by as much as 66% during the day and closed up $1.21, or 43%, at $4.07. Iconix shares fell 39 cents, or 3.2%, to finish at $11.76.

Playboy, based in Chicago, and Iconix declined to comment.

A news report by Bloomberg said Iconix has examined Playboy's finances, but there's no guarantee of a deal, citing people close to the situation.

Iconix, based in New York, owns brands that it licenses to manufacturers, such as Candie's and London Fog.

Iconix CEO Neil Cole has been looking for more brands to acquire, while Playboy has been looking for a buyer since Scott Flanders became CEO in June, replacing long-time head Christie Hefner, the daughter of Hugh Hefner.

In the third quarter, Playboy's ad revenue fell 44% to $9.45 million, according to the Publishers Information Bureau. Circulation declined 9% to 2.45 million in the first six months of the year, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported.

Actress Brittany Murphy dies in LA at age 32

LOS ANGELES - Brittany Murphy, the actress who got her start in the sleeper hit "Clueless" and rose to stardom in "8 Mile" before her movie roles declined in recent years, died Sunday in Los Angeles of what appeared to be natural causes, a Los Angeles County coroner's official said. She was 32.
Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Sally Stewart said.

Murphy was transported to the hospital after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 8 a.m. at the home she shared with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, in the Hollywood Hills.
Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Murphy apparently collapsed in the bathroom, and authorities were looking into her medical history.

An official cause of death may not be determined for some time, since toxicology tests will be required, but "it appears to be natural," Winter said. He said an autopsy was planned for Monday or Tuesday.

Winter said Murphy's family was cooperating with the coroner's investigation. Funeral arrangements have not been announced, he said.

Los Angeles police have opened an investigation into Murphy's death, Officer Norma Eisenman said. Detectives and coroner's officials were at Murphy and Monjack's home Sunday afternoon but did not talk to reporters. Paparazzi were camped outside the multistory home, located above the Sunset Strip.

Messages left for Murphy's manager and agent by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.
Neighbor Clare Staples said she saw firefighters working to resuscitate the actress Sunday morning. She said Murphy was on a stretcher and "looked as though she was dead at the scene."

Murphy's husband, wearing pajama bottoms and no shoes, appeared "dazed" as firefighters tried to save her, Staples said. "It's just tragic," she added.

TMZ.com first reported Murphy's death Sunday morning.

Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, said he learned of her death from his son, the actress's brother, and was stunned.

"She was just an absolute doll since she was born," Bertolotti said from his Branford, Fla., home. "Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her — people that made movies with her, people on a cruise — they all loved her. She was just a regular gal."

He said he hadn't heard much about the circumstances of Murphy's death. Bertolotti divorced her mother when Murphy was young and hadn't seen Murphy in the past few years. He said he used to be in the mob and served prison time on federal drug charges.

"She was just talented," Bertolotti said. "And I loved her very much."

Meanwhile, Murphy's publicist, Nicole Perna, said in a statement: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."

Born Nov. 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy grew up in New Jersey and later moved with her mother to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Her career started in the early 1990s with small roles in television series, commercials and movies. She is best known for parts in "Girl, Interrupted," "Clueless" and "8 Mile."

Her on-screen work had lessened of late, but Murphy's voice gave life to numerous animated characters, including Luanne Platter on more than 200 episodes of Fox's "King of the Hill" and Gloria the penguin in the 2006 feature "Happy Feet."

She is due to appear in Sylvester Stallone's upcoming film, "The Expendables," set for release next year.
Her role in "8 Mile" led to more recognition, Murphy told AP in 2003. "That changed a lot," she said. "That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not."
Murphy credited her mother, Sharon, with being a key to her success.

"When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me," Murphy said. "I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn't stifle any of that. She always believed in me."

She dated Ashton Kutcher, who costarred with Murphy in 2003's romantic comedy "Just Married."
Kutcher sent a message on Twitter Sunday morning about Murphy's death: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine," Kutcher wrote. "My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."
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AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney and Matt Sedensky in Miami contributed to this report.

About the Rumor on President Yar'Adua's death

The rumor flying around about the death of President Yar'Adua is not authentic, but the president health is now something to write home about. It is believed that President' Yar'Adua went to Saudi arabia for health check up.

FOR the umpteenth time, the rumour mill was, on Wednesday, agog that the Nigerian President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, might have passed on at an unnamed hospital in Saudi Arabia. The rumour started from Saudi Arabia, where the president had gone for medical checkup since Monday.

As early as 5.00 a.m, series of telephone calls started coming from all parts of the country and from all kinds of people who were anxious to know the true state of health of the ailing president.

The president had, before his electoral victory and his inauguration in May 2007, been embarking on medical trips abroad, particularly to Saudi Arabia. The president, who himself disclosed that he had a kidney problem, spent about two weeks at a Saudi hospital in August 2008.

President Yar’Adua, on Monday, left the country and was admitted to a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for another round of medical tests. Demonstrating the level of anxiety on the present state of health of the president, an anonymous text message from a Nigerian currently performing the yearly pilgrimage to Mekkah disclosed that the rumour of the president’s death had spread to Jeddah.

According to the text message, the rumour became rife on Tuesday night, with many Nigerians becoming apprehensive about the state of the health of the president.

According to the text message, Nigerians were seen gathering in groups, discussing and praying for, the president. One of the special advisers to the wife of the president, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, according to the report, was said to have immediately left Muna in Saudi Arabia and headed straight for the hospital, where the president was admitted, at around 7.00 p.m (Nigerian time) on Wednesday.The rumour and speculations about the state of the health of the president were further heightened by the refusal of many of his aides to give information about what was really happening to him.

While his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, only disclosed that the president was away “for follow-up medical checks,” the Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, refused to speak to newsmen about the development.

Yar’Adua, on arrival at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, on Tuesday, was said to have been admitted to an unnamed hospital same day with the doctor who attended to him refusing to disclose what was happening on the ground, that he was not permitted to do so.

While the state of health of the president remained an official secret, information available to the Nigerian Tribune revealed that activities at the nation’s seat of power, Abuja, were at the lowest ebb Wednesday evening.

The usual human traffic, which was the hallmark of governance at Aso Rock, was said to have been significantly reduced, with the Vice-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, visibly absent.

Frantic phone calls to the ‘appropriate quarters’ met a brickwall, as none of the people contacted could ascertain the true state of health of the president. However, one of the senators from the South-West who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said that though he heard the rumour, he could not confirm whether the president was dead or alive.

One of the Nigerian pilgrims currently in Jeddah called to confirm that it was true that the rumour was rife in Saudi Arabia that Yar’Adua was dead, but was quick to add that the special adviser to Turai, who left Muna, had called some few minutes later to inform them the president was alive. Also, some Nigerian pilgrims said Saudi Arabia also aired it on a radio station that the president was alive.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that some top level consultations were ongoing among the nation’s top leaders, with Vice-President Jonathan, President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, and some high-ranking officials said to have held a meeting to review information available to them.

It was gathered that the leaders were in touch with the Saudi hospital, where the resident is receiving treatment. A source in government said that the president’s situation might have been exaggerated, but, added that the president needed the prayer of all.

It was gathered that the meeting by Mark and Bankole was aimed at ensuring that the top government functionaries were well briefed on the situation on the ground.

It was gathered that the top officials wore no long faces after the consultations. A source said that “the whole environment of government is sluggish. Something is happening but you don’t expect everybody to be cheerful when the president is sick.”

39-Year Scott man dies at home of Swine Flu

Kentucky health officials on Tuesday said a sixth Kentuckian has died of H1N1 flu, a 39-year-old Scott County man who suffered at home for several days without seeing a doctor.

“According to family members, he had not sought medical treatment for this illness, nor for several years prior,” Scott County Coroner John Goble said in a statement, adding that the man was home-bound before his death. “But it does not appear he had any significant underlying medical conditions.”

Swine-flu related deaths have also been reported in Fayette, Jefferson, Caldwell and Christian counties, with two in Fayette and one in each of the other counties.

Health officials said people don’t need to see doctors for mild illness but should heed the warning signs of more serious problems and seek immediate medical attention.

In adults, emergency warning signs include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pressure, dizziness, confusion and severe or persistent vomiting. In children, emergency warning signs include fast or troubled breathing, bluish skin color, lack of thirst, failure to wake up easily or interact, not wanting to be held, return of fever and worse cough after improvement of symptoms and fever with a rash.

Officials said people can prevent flu by frequent hand washing and good hygiene and by getting the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available to the public later this month or early next month.

“We will continue our strong community efforts in taking necessary steps to prevent the flu this season and hope that people in the community will continue as well,” said Crystal Caudill, public health director of the Wedco District Health Department, which includes Scott County. “Getting vaccinated is the No. 1 way to prevent the flu.”