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Ford Invests $4.5 Billion to Expand Electric Car Fleet

Clyde K. Valle
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Ford Invests $4.5 Billion to Expand Electric Car Fleet

Ford has announced it will invest $4.5 billion to expand its fleet of plug-in and hybrid electric cars, and will start selling 13 new electric models by 2020.

That will include a new Ford Focus that charges more quickly and has a longer range, the car giant said.

Ford also intends to move into the commercial ride-hailing market occupied by companies such as Uber and Lyft.

The market is worth $5 trillion, Ford said.

The initiatives are part of a broader effort by CEO Mark Fields to counter companies offering alternatives to car ownership and regulators who want vehicles to emit less carbon dioxide.

Mark Fields said the company wants 40% of its vehicles to have electric versions by 2020, up from 13% now.

The new Focus will take an 80% charge in 30 minutes, about two hours faster than the current version, the automaker said. It will also have an estimated 100-mile range, as opposed to 76 miles.

Photo Ford
Photo Ford

Ford also plans to introduce a Mondeo hybrid and a C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid in China next year.

The company currently sells electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of its Focus, Fusion, C-Max and Lincoln MKZ cars.

Ford also wants to expand an employee van-hailing service beyond its sprawling corporate campus, and develop it commercially.

“The market for vehicle miles travelled is $5 trillion,” Mark Fields said.

“We get zero of that.”

Ken Washington, Ford’s vice president of research, said: “Our vision is to be a mobility service provider, beyond building a vehicle that would be in somebody else’s fleet. We see this as a business we want to be in.”

Donald Trump in Twitter Rant with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump in Twitter Rant with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal

Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has described Donald Trump as a “disgrace to America”.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on Twitter that Donald Trump should give up his presidential ambitions because he would never win.

It follows the Republican presidential hopeful’s call for Muslims to be barred from entering the US for security reasons.

Donald Trump tweeted back, calling the prince “dopey”.

“You are a disgrace not only to the GOP [Republican Party] but to all America,” Prince Alwaleed bin Talal tweeted.

“Withdraw from the US presidential race as you will never win.”Donald Trump Prince Alwaleed bin Talal

Donald Trump responded by accusing the prince of wanting to use what he called “daddy’s money” to control US politicians.

That would not happen, Donald Trump said, when he got elected.

The real estate mogul has been widely criticized for his call for a ban on Muslims entering the US.

On December 10, Damac Properties – a Dubai company building a golf complex with Donald Trump – removed his name and image from the property.

Donald Trump’s comments came following the San Bernardino shootings, carried out by two Muslims who the FBI said were radicalized.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, 60, is the nephew of King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. He completed a business degree in California in 1979.

The prince was named world’s richest Arab in Forbes’ 2015 list as he worth an estimated $32 billion.

He has stakes in Disney, 21st Century Fox, News Corp, Apple, GM, Twitter, and a string of hotel chains and luxury hotels, including the Plaza in New York and the George V in Paris.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is the owner of 95% of Kingdom Holdings, a publicly-traded company on the Saudi stock exchange. He is considered Westernized and progressive on most issues. He champions women’s rights and most of his staff are women.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXplhAWne8Y

Paris Climate Deal Final Draft Text Ready for Adoption

James J. Williams
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Paris Climate Deal Final Draft Text Ready for Adoption

A climate deal final draft text has been reached after nearly two weeks of intensive negotiations, Paris climate talks organizers say.

An official in the office of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the AFP the draft would be presented to ministers on December 12.

No details of the proposed agreement have been released so far.

The tentative deal was reached nearly 16 hours after the talks had been scheduled to close.

“We have a text to present,” the official said, adding that the draft would be now translated into the UN’s six official languages.Paris climate deal final draft

According to analysts, this is not a done deal – it will only be finally adopted if there are no objections raised at today’s ministerial meeting, and even this is unlikely to come before afternoon in Paris.

Laurent Fabius, who has presided over the talks, had said earlier that the “conditions were never better” for a strong and ambitious agreement.

One positive note came with the announcement that Brazil was willing to join the so-called “high-ambition coalition” of countries including the EU, the US and 79 countries. The alliance said it would push for an ambitious and legally binding deal with a strong review mechanism.

President Barack Obama spoke to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping by phone on December 11, with both leaders saying they were committed to an “ambitious” deal.

“Both leaders agreed that the Paris conference presents a crucial opportunity to galvanize global efforts to meet the climate change challenge,” a White House statement said.

“They committed that their negotiating teams in Paris would continue to work closely together and with others to realize the vision of an ambitious climate agreement.”

Gambia Proclaimed Islamic Republic

Diane A. Wade
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Gambia Proclaimed Islamic Republic

President Yahya Jammeh has declared Gambia an Islamic republic, saying the move marks a break with the colonial past.

Yahya Jammeh told state TV the proclamation was in line with Gambia’s “religious identity and values”.

The Gambian president added that no dress code would be imposed and citizens of other faiths would be allowed to practice freely.

Some 90% of Gambians are Muslim. The former British colony’s economy relies heavily on tourism.Gambia declared Islamic republic

However, relations with the West have soured recently.

The EU temporarily withheld aid money to Gambia last year over its poor human rights record.

Yahya Jammeh has been president of Gambia for 21 years.

“As Muslims are the majority in the country, the Gambia cannot afford to continue the colonial legacy,” he told state TV, explaining his decision to proclaim an Islamic republic.

Other Islamic republics include Iran, Pakistan and – in Africa, Mauritania.

Yahya Jammeh withdrew Gambia from the Commonwealth in 2013, describing the organization as neo-colonial.

In 2007, Yahya Jammeh claimed to have found herbal cure for AIDS.

 

Saudi Women Allowed to Vote for First Time

Diane A. Wade
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Saudi Women Allowed to Vote for First Time

Saudi women are allowed to vote for the first time in the kingdom’s municipal elections.

Women are also standing as candidates, another first, despite the conservative kingdom being the only nation where women are not allowed to drive.

A total of 978 women have registered as candidates, alongside 5,938 men.

Female candidates have had to speak behind a partition during campaign appearances or be represented by a man.

About 130,000 women have registered to vote, officials say. That figure still falls well short of male voter registration, which stands at 1.35 million.Saudi women voting for first time

Elections themselves are a rare thing in the Saudi kingdom – November 12 will be only the third time in history that Saudis have gone to the polls.

There were no elections in the 40 years between 1965 and 2005.

The decision to allow women to take part was taken by the late King Abdullah and is seen as a key part of his legacy.

In announcing the reforms, King Abdullah said women in Saudi Arabia “have demonstrated positions that expressed correct opinions and advice”.

Before he died in January, King Abdullah appointed 30 women to Saudi Arabia’s top advisory Shura Council.

There are 2,100 council seats available in today’s vote. An additional 1,050 seats are appointed with approval from the king.

The results of the elections are expected to be announced later on Saturday, December 12.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H6Dw8nF5sg

Cuba and US Agree to Restore Direct Mail Service

Diane A. Wade
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Cuba and US Agree to Restore Direct Mail Service

The US and Cuba have agreed to restore a direct mail service, suspended 52 years ago at the height of the Cold War.

A pilot postal service will be launched shortly, but it is not clear when a full service will be implemented.

The move is part of the rapprochement process that was announced by presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro on December 17, 2014.

The United States and Cuba have since restored diplomatic ties and reopened embassies.

The two countries began re-establishing postal links in 2013, before the change of policy was announced.Cuba and US direct mail service

Mail and parcels between Cuba and the US have been re-routed through a third country, usually Mexico or Canada.

In March, direct phone connections with the US were restored after more than 15 years.

Previously, phone calls also needed to go through a third country.

While delays in the mail services have caused frustration for decades, their use in the 21st Century is becoming limited.

Couriers carry mail and small packages between Miami and Havana on a regular basis.

As Cuba gradually opens up to the internet, new generations of Cubans are writing fewer letters than their parents and grandparents used to.

Despite remarkable improvement in relations in recent years, Cuba says that relations will not be fully normalized until the US pulls out of Guantanamo Bay and lifts an economic embargo imposed on the communist-run island.

The US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1959 after Fidel Castro and his brother Raul led a revolution toppling US-backed President Fulgencio Batista.

Cuba established a revolutionary socialist state with close ties to the Soviet Union.

The following year, the US imposed a trade embargo covering nearly all exports to Cuba.

This was expanded by President John F. Kennedy into a full economic embargo that included stringent travel restrictions.

The embargo is estimated to have cost the Cuban economy more than $1.1 trillion and the US economy $1.2 billion a year.

President Barack Obama has also called for the embargo to be lifted, saying it had “failed to improve the lives of the Cuban people”.

However, the change needs to be approved by the Congress, which is controlled by the Republican opposition.

Hannibal Gaddafi: Muammar Gaddafi’s Son Freed after Kidnap in Lebanon

Diane A. Wade
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Hannibal Gaddafi: Muammar Gaddafi’s Son Freed after Kidnap in Lebanon

Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Moutassim Gaddafi aka Hannibal, has been freed after being briefly kidnapped by an armed group in Lebanon, security sources say.

In a video shown on Lebanese TV, Hannibal Gaddafi was seen appealing for more information concerning the 1978 disappearance of the prominent Lebanese Shia cleric Musa al-Sadr.

The late Libyan leader’s son was freed in the city of Baalbek and dispatched to Beirut, police told AP.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Hannibal Gaddafi, a 40-year-old former playboy, was given sanctuary in Oman in 2012.

His father Muammar was overthrown by rebels in a 2011 uprising.

Musa al-Sadr, one of the most prominent Shia clerics of the 20th Century, disappeared along with two others during a trip to Libya in 1978.

Muammar Gaddafi denied any involvement in his disappearance, but many suspect him of having orchestrated it.

The case has long soured relations between the two countries.

It is not known how long Hannibal Gaddafi has been in Lebanon.

Hannibal Gaddafi was under house arrest while in Oman with his sister Ayesha and mother Safiya.

VW Global Sales Fall 2.4% in November 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Global Sales Fall 2.4% in November 2015

VW global sales fell 2.4% in November 2015 following the emissions scandal, the German automaker announced on December 10.

The total for the 11 months of 2015 was down 4.5% compared with 2014.

The annual tally was likely to fall short of last year’s total as a result.

VW-brand board member Jurgen Stackmann said: “In view of the current challenging situation, I don’t believe VW will be able to make up the gap in the remaining days of the year.”

Volkswagen said it sold 496,100 VW-brand cars worldwide in November.VW sales November 2015

Sales plunged in Brazil, with a 51.4% fall, and slid by 31.8% in Russia, although economic problems in both countries were largely to blame for those declines rather than the emissions scandal.

The VW brand delivered 6.12 million cars in total in 2014.

The automaker said last week that US sales fell 24.7% in November compared with the same month last year.

Volkswagen group chairman Hans Dieter Potsch said on December 10 that a “chain of errors” led to the emissions scandal and that the entire company was now focused on regaining the trust of customers.

In September, US regulators found that some VW diesel cars had a “defeat device” – or software – to cheat emissions tests.

VW said the situation arose when it decided to launch a large-scale promotion of diesel vehicles in the US in 2005, but found it impossible to meet strict emissions limits in force in that country in time.

Hand Dieter Potsch said: “No business justifies crossing legal and ethical boundaries.”

VW CEO Matthias Muller said he was confident that customers would overcome their reluctance to buy the group’s vehicles in the coming weeks.

Guo Guangchang Detained by Police

Clyde K. Valle
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Guo Guangchang Detained by Police

Chinese tycoon Guo Guangchang, who was previously reported to be missing, has been detained by police.

Guo Guangchang’s company, Fosun International, confirmed on December 11 that he was assisting authorities with an investigation.

The confirmation followed reports that he had gone missing.

Financial magazine Caixin said that staff at Fosun had been unable to contact Guo Guangchang since Thursday afternoon, December 10.

Photo LinkedIn
Photo LinkedIn

Fosun, one of China’s biggest private conglomerates, halted trading of its Hong Kong shares following the reports.

The company said that its shares would resume trading on December 14.

Fosun said that Guo Guangchang, 48, who has been described as China’s Warren Buffett, was still able to be involved in major decisions.

It was not clear why police had detained him.

Guo Guangchang was linked to a corruption court case in August.

Fosun Group has interests spanning media, insurance, real estate and retail. It recently took control of French holiday group Club Med.

Fosun International, the parent company of Shanghai-based Fosun Group, was listed in Hong Kong in 2007.

Guo Guangchang launched Fosun with a group of fellow students in 1992.

Headquartered in Shanghai, the company’s initial success came from pharmaceutical and real estate investments.

Forsun’s business interests and investments now include insurance, industrial operations, real estate and asset management, among others.

After nearly two years of takeover efforts, Fosun finally clinched control of the French holiday group Club Mediterranee in February.

Today, the conglomerate has a wide range of international investments including Greek fashion brand Folli Follie and the Chase Manhattan building in New York.

Fosun International posted a 24% rise in profit for the year to December 2014 to 6.8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion).

Knowing Your State: How Food Handler Laws Vary

Kathryn R. Bown
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Knowing Your State: How Food Handler Laws Vary

If you’re a restaurant chain or general food retailer with non-English speaking employees that is looking to expand into new states due to considerable success in your home market, one of the first things you need to take into consideration is the variances in individual state laws when it comes to food handlers.

Different Laws – Different States

Based on the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, powers that are not expressly given to the federal government as outlined by the constitution are in effect reserved for each individual state. Legalmatch.com states that this setup is due to how the U.S. was initially created as a confederation of independent states which manifested in the present day manner of each state dealing with the implementation of specific laws and issues under their individual prerogatives. This helps to explain why there are differing levels of implementation when it comes to aspects related to taxation, food safety, workers compensation, food inspection, limitations on hiring practices as well as a wide assortment of different laws, provisions and regulations that impact the day to day operations of restaurants and other food-related services.

Impact on Food Handling

All business operations in the U.S. that handle food on a daily basis are required by law to have their food handlers undergo a process of training/instruction when it comes to food safety, food hygiene and other related aspects of proper food handling. However, despite the rules required in proper food handling being more or less the same across multiple states, the fact remains that a food handler from one state cannot simply work the same type of job in another state despite already having the years of training and certifications needed when it comes to proper food handling. For example, food handlers in California are required to have a Food Handler Card which is issued by the state as a way of indicating that a person has passed the necessary prerequisites when it comes to knowing the necessary food safety practices. While this card allows them to work in a variety of establishments in California that handle food, this does not confer to them a similar right to do the same job in a different state. If they wanted to work in Texas, for example, they would have to get the Texas food handlers license.

Examples of Differences in Guidelines

One of the best examples of how food handling laws vary can be seen in the cases of California and Illinois. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, California requires food handlers to have a card indicating that they have passed a food safety course. Within California, food service facilities can actually provide the needed food safety courses themselves so long as the training course that is provided actually matches the requirements set by the state regarding the type of training and information that is given to their workers. In fact, Calrest.org explained that California’s food safety training laws are actually quite flexible since it also allows food service facilities to utilize food safety training programs that are not in adherence to local guidelines so long as these guidelines have already been approved by another state. This allows companies that utilize their own in-house training programs to easily provide the necessary training for their workers or show that their workers have already been sufficiently trained based on the requirements of other states. This allows for a greater level of customization on the part of the company since they can combine different types of training into a single course which saves a lot of time when it comes to getting new employees ready for work. The case of Illinois though differs considerably from that of California where Ansi.org explained that food handlers need to attend ANSI-accredited training providers that meet the ASTM E2659-09 certification standard. This means that in that in-house food safety training is not feasible in this case.

Why are Extensive Food Safety Guidelines Needed?

Proper food safety guidelines are an absolute necessity due to the potential dangers that improper training could have on the public at large due to errors in food handling that could very well lead to outbreaks of otherwise preventable food poisoning cases. Over the years, numerous processes have been developed in order to ensure that the handling and storage of food are conducted in a safe and sterile manner. These processes have been developed in response to various types of bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni and a plethora of similar pathogens that can develop in food that has not been handled, processed or stored properly. Cases of food poisoning can range from mild to severe symptoms and can even lead to death.

What is the conclusion?

Based on what has been presented to far, getting food safety licenses for non-English speaking employees is a lot more complex than it seems and, as such, it is recommended that you acquire the services of the Bilingual Food Handlers School certified by ServSafe® to ensure that you can get your employees the right sort of training they need regardless of the state certification process.

Vladimir Putin Orders Russian Military to Take Extremely Tough Action on Syria Threats

Roy Siemens
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Vladimir Putin Orders Russian Military to Take Extremely Tough Action on Syria Threats

Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to take “extremely tough” action against any threat to its forces in Syria.

Such targets must be “immediately destroyed”, the Russian president told defense officials in TV comments.

Vladimir Putin did not elaborate on specific threats but Turkey and Russia are currently locked in a dispute over the downing of a Russian jet by Ankara.

Turkey said the bomber had entered its airspace, something denied by Russia.

A Russian pilot was killed in the downing of the Su-24 bomber, as was a marine sent on a rescue mission, badly damaging the normally close ties between Ankara and Moscow.

Vladimir Putin warned against “further provocations” without naming Turkey directly.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Russia began air strikes in Syria in September, at the request of its ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In an update on Russian operations, Vladimir Putin said the military was now supporting Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces.

There has been no confirmation from the FSA, who are fighting Bashar al-Assad and have been bombed by Russia.

The Kremlin has denied accusations by the US-led coalition operating in Syria it often targets moderate Syrian opposition, rather than ISIS.

Vladimir Putin also said was important to develop co-operation “with all states who have a real interest in destroying the terrorists”.

That includes “contacts to ensure flight safety with the Israeli air force HQ and the US-led coalition forces,” he said.

In a separate development in Syria, at least 22 people are reported to have died in a triple truck bomb attack in a Kurdish-controlled town in northern Syria.

Syrian opposition politicians meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh have also agreed a statement to guide peace talks with the government.

ISIS Made More than $500 Million Trading Oil

Roy Siemens
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ISIS Made More than $500 Million Trading Oil

According to the US Department of Treasury, ISIS has made more than $500 million trading oil.

A treasury official said ISIS’ “primary customer” has been the government of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, despite its ongoing battle to overthrow the regime.

ISIS had also looted up to $1 billion from banks in territory it held, Adam Szubin told the BBC.

A US-led coalition has been bombing ISIS targets, including oil facilities, in Syria and Iraq for over a year.

ISIS’ finance chief was recently killed in one such mission, Pentagon officials announced on December 10.ISIS oil trading

“The two are trying to slaughter each other and they are still engaged in millions and millions of dollars of trade,” Adam Szubin said of Syria and ISIS, in comments reported by Reuters news agency.

The group was estimated to be making as much as $40 million a month from the oil trade, including from buyers in Turkey, he added.

ISIS’ other main source of funding comes from extorting money from people in the territory under its control, said Adam Szubin.

Cutting off the group’s cash flow was a key part of the coalition strategy to defeat ISIS, he said.

Unlike other designated terrorist groups, ISIS did not rely on funding from foreign donors, but generated money from its own operations, Adam Szubin said.

The US-led coalition has recently launched a military campaign, dubbed Tidal Wave 2, intensifying air strikes on ISIS oil fields, refineries and tankers being used by the group.

Justin Trudeau Welcomes First Syrian Refugees Arriving in Canada

Diane A. Wade
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Justin Trudeau Welcomes First Syrian Refugees Arriving in Canada

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has welcomed the first 163 Syrian refugees to his country.

The first military plane carrying Syrian refugees has landed at Pearson on December 10.

Justin Trudeau said Canada was “showing the world how to open our hearts”.

The newly elected Liberal government has pledged to take in 25,000 refugees by the end of February 2016.

Canada’s stance on the issue differs sharply to that of the US, which has been reluctant to take in refugees.

Another military plane is due in Montreal on December 12.

Immigration Minister John McCallum said all 10 provinces in Canada are in favor of accepting the refugees.

“This is a great moment for Canada,” he said.

“This shows the way we really are. It truly is a non-partisan, national project.”

Photo The Canadian Press
Photo The Canadian Press

Since early November, hundreds of Syrians have already arrived in Canada via commercial aircraft.

A total of about 300 Syrians will arrive this week.

The Toronto Star, Canada’s largest-circulation daily newspaper, ran a cover story on December 10 welcoming the refugees.

The US administration has said it will take in 10,000 refugees over the next year. Some Republican governors have unsuccessfully tried to keep them from coming to their states after deadly terrorist attacks in France and California.

Leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said after the California attacks that all Muslims should be blocked from coming to the US, drawing condemnation across the globe.

About 800 refugees are going through screening tests in Lebanon and Jordan daily, John McCallum said.

Justin Trudeau, who swept the October 19 Canadian elections, has a different stance on refugees from that of his predecessor, the conservative Stephen Harper, who did not wish to resettle more people.

Unaccompanied men will be excluded from the resettlement program, but officials said this had nothing to do with national security concerns.

“We want them to have a roof over their head, and the right support,” said John McCallum.

“It takes a bit of time to put that all in place. We’re happy to take a little more time than originally planned to bring our new friends into the country.”

Those who will be considered refugees include families, women deemed to be at risk, and gay men and women.

Guo Guangchang: China’s Warren Buffett Reported Missing

Clyde K. Valle
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Guo Guangchang: China’s Warren Buffett Reported Missing

Chinese tycoon Guo Guangchang is reported to be missing.

According to financial magazine Caixin, staff at Guo Guangchang’s company, Fosun International, had been unable to contact their boss since Thursday afternoon, December 10.

Fosun, one of China’s biggest private conglomerates, halted trading of its Hong Kong shares following the reports.

There is speculation that Guo Guangchang, described as China’s Warren Buffett, has been detained by the police.

Caixin quoted social media messages saying Guo Guangchang had last been seen with police in Shanghai.Guo Guangchang missing

Fosun said it would release further details later. Guo Guangchang was linked to a corruption court case in August.

The tycoon’s empire extends across the world, while the publisher Forbes estimates his fortune at $7 billion.

Fosun Group has interests spanning media, insurance, real estate and retail. Recently, it took control of French holiday group Club Med.

Fosun International, the parent company of Shanghai-based Fosun Group, was listed in Hong Kong in 2007.

In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on December 11, Fosun said its shares would be halted from trade “with effect from 9:00 on Friday, December 11, 2015 pending the release of an announcement containing inside information”.

As part of the statement, Guo Guanchang’s name was included in the list of Fosun’s executive directors.

Fosun International posted a 24% rise in profit for the year ending in December 2014 from a year earlier to 6.86 billion yuan ($1.1 billion). Its shares fell close to 2% on the news, however, by mid-afternoon they had recovered lost ground to be down 0.45%.

Michel Platini Loses FIFA Suspension Appeal

Clyde K. Valle
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Michel Platini Loses FIFA Suspension Appeal

Michel Platini has failed in his bid to have his 90-day provisional suspension from soccer lifted.

UEFA president’s request was denied by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on December 11, which means Michel Platini will not be allowed to attend the Euro 2016 finals draw in Paris on December 12.

Michel Platini, 60, was suspended along with FIFA President Sepp Blatter in October while corruption claims are investigated.

Both deny any wrongdoing.Michel Platini FIFA suspension

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter will have personal hearings with FIFA’s ethics committee next week, following allegations that a 2 million euro payment was made in 2011 for work Platini did as Blatter’s adviser.

A verdict is expected on December 21.

Ethics investigators for football’s world governing body, who handed down the initial 90-day suspension, have recommended a life ban for Michel Platini.

Sepp Blatter has announced he will stand down from his post, and FIFA’s next president will be chosen at a special congress on February 26, 2016.

Michel Platini is one of the favorites to replace Sepp Blatter and still plans to stand.

Golden Globe Nominations 2016: Carol Leads with Five Nods

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globe Nominations 2016: Carol Leads with Five Nods

Carol movie has topped the 2016 Golden Globe Awards nominations with five nods.

Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are both up for best actress in a drama for their roles in the 1950s-set movie about a glamorous housewife who falls for a younger woman.

Carol was also nominated for best film drama, original score and best director for Todd Haynes.

The Revenant, The Big Short and Steve Jobs all received four nominations.

Carol will go up against Alejandro G Inarritu’s The Revenant to be named best film drama, along with Mad Max: Fury Road, kidnap drama Room and real life abuse drama Spotlight.Golden Globe nominations 2016

The best drama actress category also sees Room‘s Brie Larson nominated against Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, as well as Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn and Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in The Revenant was recognized for best drama actor, alongside Bryan Cranston in biopic Trumbo, Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs and Will Smith in Concussion.

Eddie Redmayne, who won the award last year for his role in The Theory of Everything, is nominated again this year for his portrayal of transgender pioneer Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl.

In the musical or comedy film categories, The Big Short is up for best film, competing against Spy, Trainwreck and surprise nominees The Martian and Joy.

Jennifer Lawrence is also nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in Joy – a biopic about the inventor of the Miracle Mop – along with Melissa McCarthy for Spy, Amy Schumer in Trainwreck, Maggie Smith in The Lady in the Van and Lily Tomlin in Grandma.

The best actor in a musical or comedy category sees The Big Short‘s Christian Bale and Steve Carell nominated with Matt Damon for The Martian, Al Pacino in Danny Collins and Mark Ruffalo in Infinitely Polar Bear.

Sam Smith has a best original song nod for Writing’s on the Wall – the theme to James Bond film Spectre.

In the television categories there was a much broader spread of nominations. American Crime, Fargo, Mr. Robot, Outlander, Transparent and Wolf Hall all landed three nominations each.

Empire, Game of Thrones, Mr. Robot, Narcos and Outlander will compete for the best drama TV series honor.

Meanwhile Casual, Mozart in the Jungle, Orange is the New Black, Silicon Valley, Transparent and Veep are all nominated for best musical or comedy TV series.

Among the best TV drama actors and actresses who received nods include Jon Hamm for the final series of Mad Men, Taraji P. Henson for Empire, while Jamie Lee Curtis and Rob Lowe were also nominated for their new shows Scream Queens and The Grinder in the TV comedy categories.

Another surprise nomination came for Lady Gaga, recognized in the best actress in a miniseries for her role in American Horror Story: Hotel.

The nominations and eventual winners are decided by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – a group of entertainment editors and writers from 55 countries who report on the industry year-round.

Ricky Gervais will return to host the ceremony on January 10, 2016 – his third time fronting the awards.

Mauricio Macri Sworn in as Argentina’s President

Diane A. Wade
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Mauricio Macri Sworn in as Argentina’s President

Mauricio Macri has been sworn in as Argentina’s president in a Buenos Aires ceremony.

The newly-elected president vowed to unite the nation and revive the economy.

The center-right Mauricio Macri took the oath of office in Congress but his inauguration was boycotted by his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in a row over the venue.

In his inaugural speech, Mauricio Macri vowed to tackle corruption, poverty and drug trafficking.

He also pledged “team work” and an end to confrontation in politics.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Mauricio Macri, 56, told Congress: “As president I want to be a citizen who can communicate with all Argentines.

“Politics for me is not a competition to see who’s got the bigger ego. It’s working together for the good of the people.”

“Today a dream is being achieved,” he said.

On December 9, outgoing President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had bid farewell to supporters in an emotional speech, urging people to take to the streets if they felt betrayed by the new centre-right government.

This is the first time since the end of the military dictatorship in 1983 that a president has not attended the inauguration of a successor.

Mauricio Macri triumphed in last month’s election run-off, beating Cristina Fernandez’s chosen successor, Daniel Scioli.

The newly-elected president has promised to move from a largely state-controlled economy under the leftist Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to one that is more free market-orientated, easing trade and currency controls.

Mauricio Macri has also promised to improve relations with the US.

In his speech in Congress he said: “We’ve got to take confrontation out of the centre of politics. With fighting no-one wins, with dialogue, everyone wins.

“A new time is coming, a time of dialogue, a time of teamwork.”

Mauricio Macri said those who had voted for him wanted three goals – zero poverty, an end to drug trafficking and the unity of all Argentines.

To applause, he said he wanted a judiciary cleaned of its political affiliations.

Marta Gabriela Michetti was sworn in as vice-president.

Mauricio Macri then travelled to the presidential palace to receive the sash and baton of office.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had insisted that the handover of the symbols of office should also take place in Congress, where her party holds a majority of seats.

She argued this was a tradition established by her and her late husband and predecessor in office, Nestor Kirchner.

Mauricio Macri argued that according to presidential protocol, the handover should be held in the palace, as it was before 2003.

Local media reported that Mauricio Macri’s decision was probably driven not just by tradition but also by a concern that followers of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner could disrupt the ceremony in Congress.

After Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner declined to attend the ceremonies, Mauricio Macri’s party sought a court injunction affirming that her term ended at midnight on December 9.

VW Emissions Scandal: Chairman Hans Dieter Potsch Admits Chain of Errors

Clyde K. Valle
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VW Emissions Scandal: Chairman Hans Dieter Potsch Admits Chain of Errors

VW chairman of the board of directors Hans Dieter Potsch says a chain of errors led to the emissions scandal and that its top priority is winning back trust.

Speaking at a news conference, Hans Dieter Potsch said: “We are talking here not about a one-off mistake but a chain of errors.”

He said Volkswagen would be “relentless in seeking to establish who was responsible” for the scandal.

VW CEO Matthias Muller said it was “fighting for every customer”.

However, he said a massive slump in sales had not occurred in the wake of the scandal.Hans Dieter Potsch and Matthias Muller press conference

In September, US regulators found some VW diesel cars had a “defeat device” – or software – to cheat emissions tests.

The automaker said the problem began when it decided to launch a large-scale promotion of diesel vehicles in the US in 2005, but found it impossible to meet strict emissions limits in force in that country in time.

VW said it had agreed steps to improve supervision of engine software development to prevent future manipulation.

Matthias Mueller said it was relatively simple and inexpensive to fix the millions of affected cars, but this had not been possible before, as the technology for the fixes was not available when the cars were built. In any case, the company was unaware at the time that there was a problem.

VW will in future undertake “real-life” tests, which will be checked by both internal and external third parties.

Hans Dieter Potsch said: “No business justifies crossing legal and ethical boundaries.”

He said it was likely that only a limited number of people took part in the deception and said they would not be named as yet, adding that it was impossible to stop misconduct by individuals.

However, he added that the actions taken by the company would make such actions that much more difficult in future.

Law firm Jones Day is conducting an investigation into what happened. That, Hans Dieter Potsch said, was making good progress, but would take some time to conclude.

The cheat device affects up to 11 million VW cars worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDAXIXorbZU

Donald Trump Cancels Trip to Israel

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Cancels Trip to Israel

Donald Trump has announced he is postponing a planned trip to Israel until “after he is elected”.

The leading Republican presidential candidate tweeted that the trip would take place “at a later date after I become President of the US”.

Earlier this week, Donald Trump proposed a temporary halt on Muslims entering the United States.

Donald Trump’s proposal was met with criticism from around the world, including from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

His proposed Muslim ban made the trip political awkward for the Israeli leader.

“[Benjamin Netanyahu] said we have a meeting and he looks forward to the meeting and all of that. But I didn’t want to put him under pressure,” Donald Trump told Fox News on December 10.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Donald Trump’s remarks were met with swift criticism. Muslim leaders, the UN and foreign leaders criticized the call as dangerous and divisive, while the White House said real estate mogul should be disqualified from serving as president.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin implicitly rebuked the leading Republican candidate saying “we have no war with Islam”.

“We have war against those who are using ideas in order to create extremism and threats toward the whole innocent people of the world,” Reuven Rivlin said.

Earlier this week, reports suggested that Donald Trump would visit Jordan in addition to Israel. He denied these reports on Twitter.

Meanwhile, in the UK a petition calling for Donald Trump to be barred from entering the UK has garnered more than 418,000 names – meaning lawmakers will have to consider it.

In response, Donald Trump took to Twitter on December 10 saying “the United Kingdom is trying hard to disguise their massive Muslim problem,” and “many people in the UK agree with me”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1OESN8nMLw

Kim Jong-un Suggests North Korea Has Hydrogen Bomb

Roy Siemens
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Kim Jong-un Suggests North Korea Has Hydrogen Bomb

Kim Jong-un has appeared to suggest North Korea possesses a hydrogen bomb, in comments published on state media.

North Korea was “ready to detonate a self-reliant A-bomb and H-bomb”, KCNA quoted Kim Jong-un as saying.

If true, the development would mark a significant advancement in North Korean nuclear capabilities.

However, the claim has not been independently verified and has drawn skepticism from experts.Kim Jong un North Korea H bomb

The North Korean leader made the remarks as he inspected a historical military site in the capital Pyongyang.

The work of his grandfather Kim Il-sung had turned North Korea into a “powerful nuclear weapons state ready to detonate a self-reliant A-bomb and H-bomb to reliably defend its sovereignty and the dignity of the nation”, Kim Jong-un is quoted as saying.

While North Korea has made previous claims about its nuclear weapons capabilities this is thought to be its first reference to an H-bomb.

Such devices use fusion to create a blast far more powerful than a more basic atomic bomb.

North Korea has carried out three underground nuclear tests before, but experts cast doubt over the latest suggestions.

Independent observers are rarely allowed access to the secretive communist state, making verifying the authorities’ claims difficult.

Can Drug Toxicity Really Be Classed as Accidental Death? The New Life Lodge Story

Dana R
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Can Drug Toxicity Really Be Classed as Accidental Death? The New Life Lodge Story

Lindsey Poteet was at the end of her month-long drug rehabilitation program at New Life Lodge.  However, tragic events unfolded and instead of being reunited with her young daughter, she instead lay brain dead and on life support in a hospital bed.

Things had looked much more positive when she initially agreed to treatment, but within a few weeks of being admitted she had become very ill with pneumonia. And her illness and subsequent death have raised many questions regarding her care and the level of in-patient service offered at the facility.

One particular question is why she wasn’t able to receive competent medical care when at the facility and instead had to be driven to hospital, where she died en route.

The Events Leading up to Death

It’s not clear how Lindsey took ill with pneumonia, but an investigation found that she wasn’t the only patient at the facility to fall ill, and that New Life Lodge had a reputation for being over crowded, with barely enough beds, and enough staff to look after patients adequately.

As she became ill, her family reported concern when speaking to her by phone that her breathing had become very labored and that she was coughing a lot.

On the day that her treatment was planned to end, she was almost too weak to stand and was hurried off to hospital.  However, many questions remain about why the decisions that were taken, had been made.

Quality of Care

For one, she was not cared for adequately at the facility, and it was decided that she had to be driven to hospital.  But instead of being driven to the nearest hospital around eight miles away, was instead taken to one over thirty miles away.

Plus the person driving her took her in a van belonging to the facility, rather than Lindsey being taken in an ambulance.  And the driver was not medically trained.  This situation came to a head during the journey when it was reported that Lindsey wasn’t breathing.

The driver called 911 urgently and was asked to check whether Lindsey was still breathing.  The driver wasn’t sure how to check this, or how to look after Lindsey in such an emergency.

By the time Lindsey reached hospital, she was declared brain dead and put on life support.  It was determined that she would never regain normal function and her mother had to make the decision to remove the life support.

The Autopsy Results

In Lindsey’s autopsy it was revealed that the cause of death was due to the toxic combination of anti-depressant and therapeutic drugs in her system.

Through the government, media, and legal investigations that followed, this was ruled an accidental death.  However, these investigations did uncover other deaths that same year, and more deaths followed in the years after.

These deaths have resulted in multi-million dollar lawsuits by family members, and certain insurers ending patient referrals to the facility.  The negative publicity has continued to surround the facility, although it still houses a very significant number of patients each year.

Muhammad Ali Criticizes Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban Proposal

Diane A. Wade
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Muhammad Ali Criticizes Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban Proposal

Muhammad Ali has criticized Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering America.

Without naming Donald Trump, the 73-year-old boxing legend said that Muslims “have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda”.

The three-time world heavyweight champion is a cultural icon and one of the world’s most famous Muslims.

Donald Trump says he will never leave the race, despite widespread criticism.

The White House had said that the Republican presidential hopeful’s comments about Muslims “disqualified” him from running for the presidency.

Muhammad Ali’s statement was directed at “presidential candidates proposing to ban Muslim immigration to the United States”.

“They have alienated many from learning about Islam,” he said.

Muhammad Ali also strongly criticized violence committed by jihadists from ISIS.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so called Islamic Jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion,” he said.

“These misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is.”

Meanwhile, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg also expressed solidarity with Muslims.

In a Facebook post on December 9, Mark Zuckerberg wrote: “After the Paris attacks and hate this week, I can only imagine the fear Muslims feel that they will be persecuted for the actions of others.

“As a Jew, my parents taught me that we must stand up against attacks on all communities. If you’re a Muslim in this community, as the leader of Facebook I want you to know that you are always welcome here and that we will fight to protect your rights.”

In his statement, Muhammad Ali said there was there was “nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world”.

The former boxer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984, after quitting the sport. Born by the name of Cassius Clay, he converted to Islam and changed his name in 1964.

Muhammad Ali’s statement comes after President Barack Obama’s TV address to the nation on December 6, in which he called on Americans to turn away from discrimination.

“Muslim Americans are our friends and our neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes,” President Barack Obama said.

Donald Trump reacted to Barack Obama’s statement saying: “Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who?”

The New York billionaire has met Muhammad Ali several times, and even received an award named after the former heavyweight champion in 2007.

Donald Trump’s comments about Muslims came after the deadly shootings in San Bernardino, California.

He called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.

A Muslim couple, believed to have been radicalized, killed 14 people at a health centre and left scores injured.

Donald Trump is the current frontrunner among the Republicans running for president, six weeks before the primary contests begin for each party to pick their nominee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8pMJ9gcTc

First IVF Puppies Born at Cornell University

James J. Williams
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First IVF Puppies Born at Cornell University

First ever IVF puppies have been born to a surrogate mother after years of attempts, say scientists at Cornell University in New York.

The IVF success paves the way for conserving endangered breeds and could help in the fight against human and animal diseases, say researchers.

The seven beagle and cross-bred beagle-spaniel puppies were born to a surrogate mother.

They were from the same litter but have three sets of parents.

Frozen embryos were implanted in a female dog using techniques similar to those used in human fertility clinics.

Photo Cornell University
Photo Cornell University

Problems with freezing embryos have caused difficulties in the past, but the researchers say they have perfected this and other techniques.

Lead researcher Dr. Alex Travis, from Cornell’s college of veterinary medicine, said: “We have seven normal happy healthy puppies.”

He added: “Since the mid-1970s, people have been trying to do this in a dog and have been unsuccessful.

“Now we can use this technique to conserve the genetics of endangered species.”

The researchers say IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a powerful tool to help endangered species of dog such as the African wild dog.

It could also be used in the study of inherited human and dog diseases.

Dogs share many similar diseases with humans – almost twice as many as for any other species.

Dr. Alex Travis said the work was an important milestone.

The puppies were born on July 10, but their existence was kept secret until the findings were formally announced to the scientific world this week.

They have reportedly been named Ivy, Cannon, Beaker, Buddy, Nelly, Red and Green, and all but one has gone to a new home.

The research, published in the journal PLoS One, has been described as a “major step forward” in medicine.

Salman Khan Cleared in Hit and Run Case

Sonia Pantiss
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Salman Khan Cleared in Hit and Run Case

Salman Khan’s conviction for a 2002 hit-and-run case has been overturned by Mumbai’s high court.

In May, a lower court convicted the Bollywood star of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years in jail for driving over and killing a man sleeping on a pavement.

However, the appeals judge ruled there was not enough evidence.

Salman Khan is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi movies, and has a huge fan following.

It was only when the judge insisted that Salman Khan must be present before the verdict was read out, that the actor hurried to the court in south Mumbai on December 10.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

“The appeal is allowed and the decision of the trial court is quashed and set aside. Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges,” AFP quoted the Bombay high court judge Anil Ramchandra Joshi as saying.

The prosecution “failed to establish [the charges] beyond reasonable doubt”, the judge added.

Salman Khan, surrounded by his family members, broke down after hearing the verdict, the Press Trust of India reported.

Today’s verdict is the latest twist in a case that began 13 years ago when Salman Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser car veered off the road, killing one man and seriously injuring four others.

During his trial in the lower court, Salman Khan had argued that his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Now the high court has said that key evidence – including testimony from a policeman who has since died – was not reliable.

The prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict, reports say.

Argentina Elections 2015: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Delivers Emotional Farewell Speech

Diane A. Wade
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Argentina Elections 2015: Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Delivers Emotional Farewell Speech

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has made an emotional farewell speech to supporters in the capital, Buenos Aires.

The outgoing president urged people to take to the streets if they feel betrayed by the new center-right government.

Conservative Mauricio Macri, who won a run-off election last month, is due to be sworn in as president later.

Mauricio Macri inherits problems including high inflation and a low level of foreign currency reserves.

He has promised a new era of change and reconciliation.

Addressing tens of thousands of cheering supporters outside the La Casa Rosa presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner defended her record.Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner farewell speech

“We believe in what we have achieved so we need to have a positive attitude to ensure that these things will not be destroyed,” she said.

“When you feel that those who you trusted and voted for have betrayed you, take up your flags,” she added.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is to skip today’s swearing-in after the two became embroiled in a row over the ceremony’s location.

It will be the first time since the end of Argentina’s military dictatorship in 1983 that a president has not attended the inauguration of a successor.

Mauricio Macri sought a court injunction affirming that Cristina Fernandez’s term ended at midnight on December 9.

During her speech, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchener joked: “I can’t talk much because after midnight I’ll turn into a pumpkin.”

Power will now be transferred to the new president by Senate Speaker Federico Pinedo, who is acting act as temporary head of state for 12 hours.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her late husband, Nestor Kirchner, held power in Argentina for 12 years.

She is revered by some Argentines for expanding welfare benefits, nationalizing some companies and introducing new civil rights such as gay marriage.

However, critics say she created a culture of handouts and clogged Latin America’s third-largest economy with interventionist policies.

Mauricio Macri – the outgoing mayor of Buenos Aires and a former president of football club Boca Juniors – defeated Cristina Fernandez’s preferred candidate Daniel Scioli by 51.4% to 48.6% in a run-off vote last month.

He is the first center-right leader to come to power since Argentina returned to democracy.

Mauricio Macri has not detailed his economic policies, but said that he will need to implement swift and radical changes in order to win back market confidence.

However, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s party still holds the most seats in the legislature and could make it hard for him to implement big changes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuIDBtSQyeQ

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