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Olympic Games 2024: Hamburg Residents Vote against Hosting Summer Olympics

Clyde K. Valle
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Olympic Games 2024: Hamburg Residents Vote against Hosting Summer Olympics

Hamburg residents have voted against hosting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Hamburg was one of five cities left in the running, alongside Rome, Paris, Budapest and Los Angeles.

However, 51.7% of residents of the city and nearby Kiel, where sailing events would have taken place, voted no in a referendum on November 29.

German Olympics officials had picked Hamburg as their preferred candidate city ahead of Berlin.Hamburg Olympics 2024

Hamburg’s mayor Olaf Scholz said: “That’s a decision that we didn’t want, but it’s clear.”

Germany has not hosted the Games since 1972 in Munich.

Critics of the plan said it was wasteful, at a cost of €11.2 billion ($11.9 billion), only a small fraction of which had been promised by city authorities.

In 2013, Munich residents also voted against the Olympics, turning down the chance to host the 2022 Winter Games.

In July 2015, the city of Boston decided to withdraw from the race to be host for 2024 amid a lack of public support.

The winning city will be selected in September 2017.

COP21: World Leaders Gather in Paris for Climate Change Conference 2015

James J. Williams
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COP21: World Leaders Gather in Paris for Climate Change Conference 2015

World leaders are gathering in Paris amid tight security for a critical UN climate meeting.

The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties, known as COP21, starts on November 30 and will try to craft a long-term deal to limit carbon emissions.

Observers say that the recent terror attacks in Paris will increase the chances of a new agreement.

Around 40,000 people are expected to participate in the event, which runs until December 11.

The gathering of 147 heads of state and government is set to be far bigger than the 115 or so who came to Copenhagen in 2009, the last time the world came close to agreeing a long term deal on climate change.

While many leaders including Presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping were always set to attend this conference, the recent violent attacks in Paris have encouraged others to come in an expression of solidarity with the French people.Paris climate change conference 2015

Unlike at Copenhagen, the French organizers are bringing the leaders in at the start of the conference rather than waiting for them to come in at the end, a tactic which failed spectacularly in the Danish capital.

Delegates are in little doubt that the shadow cast over the city by the attacks will enhance the chances of agreement.

While the mood music around the event is very positive, there are still considerable differences between the parties.

One key problem is what form an agreement will take. The US for instance will not sign up to a legally binding deal as there would be little hope of getting it through a Senate dominated by Republicans.

“We’re looking for an agreement that has broad, really full participation,” said US lead negotiator Todd Stern at a news briefing earlier this week.

“We were quite convinced that an agreement that required actually legally binding targets would have many countries unable to participate.”

Many developing countries fundamentally disagree, as does the European Union.

“We must translate the momentum we have seen on the road to Paris into an ambitious, operational, legally binding agreement,” said EU commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, in a statement.

As well as the form there are also many issues with the content.

There are a wide range of views on what the long-term goal of the agreement should be.

While it will ostensibly come down to keeping temperatures from rising more than 2C above the pre-industrial level, how that will be represented in the text is the subject of much wrangling.

Some countries reject the very notion of 2C and say 1.5C must be the standard. Others want to talk about decarbonising the world by the middle or end of this century.

For major oil producers the very idea is anathema.

While the fact that more than 180 countries have put forward national plans to cut emissions is a major strength of this conference, there are still big questions marks about how to verify those commitments that will actually be carried out.

Zika Fever: Brazil Links Mosquito-Borne Virus to High Incidence of Birth Defects

Kathryn R. Bown
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Zika Fever: Brazil Links Mosquito-Borne Virus to High Incidence of Birth Defects

Brazil’s health ministry has confirmed a link between a mosquito-borne virus from Africa, Zika Fever, and a high incidence of birth defects.

The fever is behind a spike in cases of micro-encephalitis – an inflammation of the brain contracted in the first months of pregnancy.

It has recorded two adult deaths and 739 cases of the disease, which can stunt the growth of the fetus’ head.

A World Health Organization team arrives in Brazil next week.

The Brazilian ministry said doctors had found Zika virus in the blood and tissue of a baby with micro-encephalitis in the north-eastern state of Ceara.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

It said it was also the first time in the world that adult deaths from Zika virus had been registered.

Most cases have been in the north-east of Brazil but cases also rapidly appeared in the south-east, in Rio and Sao Paulo.

The first confirmed case of death was of a man in the city of Belem, in Para state, who was being treated for Lupus, a disease of the immune system.

The second case, also in Para, was of a 16-year-old girl who was admitted with suspected Dengue fever but who was found to have died of Zika.

The virus was first detected in Brazil in April and has spread rapidly to 18 states.

It appears relatively harmless at first, causing a rash and a fever for a few days.

However, ministry officials have issued warnings to women to think carefully about getting pregnant at the moment in areas where there are Zika fever cases.

Zika is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known to carry the yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya viruses.

The Brazilian ministry said Zika had become a serious risk to public health and that Brazil must embark on an emergency program to control the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prevent the virus’ spread.

HSBC Closes Private Banking Bussiness in India

Clyde K. Valle
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HSBC Closes Private Banking Bussiness in India

Swiss bank HSBC has decided to close its private banking unit in India, where the increasing number of wealthy individuals has led to intense competition for their business.

Clients will be given the choice to move to HSBC’s retail unit.

The future of the wealth management unit’s 70 staff will be decided early next year, when it is due to close.

The move follows the lead of RBS and Morgan Stanley, which have sold their onshore private operations in Asia’s third-largest economy.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Despite the growth in the number of multi-millionaires and a fast-growing wealth management market in India, it has been hard for foreign banks to attract business.

Indian companies can appeal to investors in small as well as large cities. They are not weighed down by high costs and international regulatory restrictions.

In June, HSBC CEO Stuart Gulliver announced the bank was going to cut thousands of jobs from its global workforce as part of his restructuring program.

Since taking over his role in 2011, Stuart Gulliver has sold scores of businesses and taken on more compliance staff to deal with the increased regulatory oversight of the industry.

An HSBC spokesperson in India said: “This marks further progress in the HSBC group strategy to simplify business and deliver sustainable growth.”

HSBC employs about 32,000 people in India, where it offers corporate, retail and investment banking services.

Herve Falciani: HSBC Tax Leaker Gets Five-Year Sentence in Absentia

Clyde K. Valle
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Herve Falciani: HSBC Tax Leaker Gets Five-Year Sentence in Absentia

Former HSBC employee Herve Falciani has been convicted of economic espionage and sentenced to five years in jail in absentia, a Swiss court has ruled.

Herve Falciani was on trial for leaking bank data that led to tax evasion probes worldwide against prominent clients with accounts in Switzerland.

He did not attend the trial and because France does not extradite its own citizens, it is unlikely he will serve the sentence.

Herve Falciani told AP news agency he had “no reaction” to the sentencing.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

He had refused to travel from France to appear before the Swiss Federal Tribunal in Bellinzona for a trial that began last month.

Herve Falciani was charged with illegally obtaining data, economic espionage, breach of business confidentiality and breach of bank secrecy while working at a Swiss HSBC subsidiary between 2006 and 2008.

The court rejected all the charges except for one alleging a violation of economic intelligence, for having made public information about foreign entities in Lebanon, France, Germany, and the UK.

HSBC, which argued that Herve Falciani had illegally downloaded details from clients and accounts, welcomed the decision against its former employee, who was an IT worker at HSBC Private Bank (Suisse).

“HSBC has always maintained that Falciani systematically stole clients’ information in order to sell it for his own personal financial gain,” the bank said in a statement.

West Point Bans Annual Pillow Fights

James J. Williams
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West Point Bans Annual Pillow Fights

The prestigious West Point military academy has banned annual mass pillow fights among cadets marking the end of summer training, officials say.

A recent event at the end of August left at least 30 soldiers injured.

At least 24 cadets were reported to have been left unconscious because pillows were stuffed with hard objects.

West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen said the academy was pursuing unspecified disciplinary measures against those involved in the fights.

He was quoted in the New York Times as saying that those facing such measures included “senior military members and cadets alike”.

Gen. Robert L. Caslen was not reported to have identified or provided the ranks of those who may be punished, but said he was determined “to send a clear message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated”.

An army investigation dated the pillow fights to 2001, but congressional testimony reported in the New York Times suggests they date back more than a century.West Point pillow fight

One cadet suffered a broken nose in the August pillow fight, while others had dislocated shoulders.

West Point academy argued at the time the fight was designed to build “esprit de corps”. None of the injuries was severe and all cadets have returned to duty, it said.

Video of the fight posted online shows crowds of yelling cadets, some wearing body armor as well as helmets, surging together in a central quad.

The annual night-time event has been described as a harmless way of blowing off steam at the end of a grueling summer of training.

However,this year’s event seems to have been a little over-exuberant, with pillow cases reported to have been stuffed with hard objects, thought to have been helmets.

A report into the incident cited by the New York Times said that the injuries were largely caused by cadets being struck by “elbows or other body parts” or from being knocked down.

Prince Harry Thrown from His Horse during Polo Match in South Africa

Lisa.Felice
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Prince Harry Thrown from His Horse during Polo Match in South Africa

Prince Harry dramatically fell from his horse during a charity polo match in Cape Town, South Africa.

The 31-year-old royal pulled up his horse but was thrown forward head-first to the ground and broke his fall with his hands.

Play was stopped at the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup as Prince Harry was left on his knees before he got up apparently unhurt and swapped mounts.

He captained a team in the event near Cape Town, in aid of his Sentebale charity which supports underprivileged young people in Lesotho.

As the match came to an end, Prince Harry tumbled to the ground again this time falling between two other players.

Prince Harry is an accomplished polo player like his father the Prince of Wales, and grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh, and regularly plays in competitive and charity matches.Prince Harry falls off horse South Africa polo match

The first charity polo match for Sentebale was held in 2010, and more than $4.5 million has been raised from events in the UK, US, Brazil, Barbados and Abu Dhabi.

Writing a joint message in the official match program with Sentebale co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, Prince Harry said the support from the event’s backers was “vital”.

“The success of our previous five polo events has helped Sentebale make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children in Lesotho,” he said.

“The situation in Lesotho remains critical and every day children continue to lose their parents to the HIV/Aids epidemic.

“Sentebale works to protect and support these children providing them with basic necessities we take for granted: food, shelter, care and access to education.”

Prince Harry’s Sentebale team was beaten 8-7 by opponents Royal Salute at the Val de Vie Estate, with the prince scoring one of the goals.

SU-24 Crash: Russia Announces Economic Sanctions against Turkey

Roy Siemens
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SU-24 Crash: Russia Announces Economic Sanctions against Turkey

Moscow has announced a package of economic sanctions against Turkey over the Russian warplane downing on the Syrian border on November 24.

The decree signed by President Vladimir Putin covers imports from Turkey, the work of Turkish companies in Russia and any Turkish nationals working for Russian companies.

It also calls for an end to charter flights between Russia and Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refused to apologize to Russia.

On November 27, Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Moscow of “playing with fire” in its Syria operations. However, on November 28, the Turkish said he was “saddened” by the downing of the Russian fighter jet.Russia economic sanctions Turkey

Turkey and Russia have important economic links. Russia is Turkey’s second-largest trading partner, while more than three million Russian tourists visited Turkey in 2014.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 28 that there were close to 90,000 Turkish nationals working in Russia. Taking family members into account, that figure rises to 200,000, he said.

The decree also urges Russian tour operators to refrain from selling packages to Turkey, while Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens against non-essential travel to Russia “until the situation becomes clear”.

On November 27, Russia suspended its visa-free arrangement with Turkey.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked for a meeting with Vladimir Putin, who wants an apology from Turkey before he will agree to talks.

Turkey says the Russian plane had intruded into its airspace and ignored warnings to leave.

Moscow maintains that its SU-24 fighter jet was downed by a missile fired from a Turkish jet inside Syria.

Vladimir Putin has also firmly rejected any suggestion Turkey did not recognize the plane as Russian. He said it was easily identifiable and its co-ordinates had been passed on to Turkey’s ally, the US.

Russia has sent troops and aircraft to Syria to back up the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad in the civil war.

Turkey, which is a member of NATO and of a US-led coalition in the region, insists Bashar al-Assad must step down before any political solution to the Syrian conflict is found.

SU-24 Crash: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saddened by Russian Warplane Downing

Roy Siemens
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SU-24 Crash: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saddened by Russian Warplane Downing

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he is “saddened” by the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkish forces on the Syrian border on November 24.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he wished the incident had not happened and hoped it would not happen again.

The Turkish president has so far refused to apologize to Russia, accusing Moscow of “playing with fire” in its Syria operations.

His remarks came as Turkey warned its citizens against non-essential travel to Russia.

The Foreign Ministry said visits should be avoided “until the situation becomes clear”, citing problems such as anti-Turkish demonstrations outside Turkey’s embassy in Moscow.

On November 27, Russia suspended its visa-free arrangement with Turkey and is planning to introduce a wide range of economic sanctions.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Vladimir Putin wants an apology from Turkey before he will agree to talks.

The Turkish president again defended the incident and criticized Russia’s operations in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad, whom Ankara opposes.

He renewed his call for a meeting with Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Paris Climate talks next week, saying that both sides should approach the issue more positively.Recep Tayyip Erdogan Saddened by Russian Warplane Downing

“We wish it hadn’t happened, but it happened,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, quoted by the Associated Press.

“I hope something like this doesn’t happen again.”

Russia has sent troops and aircraft to Syria to back up the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad in the civil war.

Turkey, which is a member of NATO and of a US-led coalition in the region, insists Bashar al-Assad must step down before any political solution to the Syrian conflict is found.

Both countries say they are trying to rid the region of ISIS, which claimed the recent attacks on Paris, Ankara and also on a Russian airliner.

On November 27, Russia said it had strengthened its anti-aircraft defenses by moving a cruiser towards the coast and deploying new missiles at its main base.

The Moskva cruiser’s long-range air defense system will provide cover for Russian aircraft, as will the S-400 missiles which arrived on November 26.

Turkey says the Russian combat jet had intruded into its airspace and ignored warnings to leave.

Moscow maintains that the downed SU-24 fighter jet was downed by a missile fired from a Turkish jet inside Syria.

Vladimir Putin has also firmly rejected any suggestion Turkey did not recognize the plane as Russian. He said it was easily identifiable and its co-ordinates had been passed on to Turkey’s ally, the US.

On November 26, Russia on said it was drafting a wide-ranging list of economic sanctions against Turkey that would hit food imports and joint investment projects among other things.

Turkey and Russia have important economic links. Russia is Turkey’s second-largest trading partner, while more than three million Russian tourists visited Turkey in 2014.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest statement on the downing of the plane came in an address to supporters in Balikesir, western Turkey, following the murder of a senior Kurdish lawyer, Tahir Elci, in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir on November 28.

Tahir Elci was shot dead by an unknown gunman as he called for an end to violence between Turkey and the Kurdish rebel PKK group, which resumed in July.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4Potfymub4

Tutankhamun’s Tomb Scans Support Hidden Chamber Theory

James J. Williams
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Tutankhamun’s Tomb Scans Support Hidden Chamber Theory

Evidence grows for a hidden chamber in King Tutankhamun’s tomb, Egyptian officials say.

Experts say they are “90% sure” that there is a hidden chamber in the tomb.

Egypt’s Antiquities Ministry said it had carried out scans to gather more information about the theory.

Archaeologist Nicholas Reeves from the University of Arizona believes Tutankhamun’s remains may have been rushed into an outer chamber of what was originally Queen Nefertiti’s tomb.

The remains of Tutankhamun, who may have been her son, were found in 1922. He died 3,000 years ago aged 19.

At a press conference with the Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh el-Damaty on November 28, Nicholas Reeves said: “Clearly it does look from the radar evidence as if the tomb continues, as I have predicted.”

“The radar, behind the north wall [of Tutankhamun’s burial chamber] seems pretty clear. If I am right it is a continuation – corridor continuation – of the tomb, which will end in another burial chamber,” he said.

Mamdouh el-Damaty said the scans would now be sent to Japan for further analysis.Tutankhamun's Tomb Scans Support Hidden Chamber Theory

Dr. Nicholas Reeves developed his theory after the Spanish artistic and preservation specialists, Factum Arte, were commissioned to produce detailed scans of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The scans were then used to produce a facsimile of the 3,300-year-old tomb near the site of the original Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

While assessing the scans last February, Dr. Nicholas Reeves spotted what he believed were marks indicating where two doorways used to be.

The archaeologist says he believes Nefertiti may lie inside.

Tutankhamun’s tomb was the most intact ever discovered in Egypt. Close to 2,000 objects were found inside.

However, its layout has been a puzzle for some time – in particular, why it was smaller than those of other kings’ tombs.

Dr. Nicholas Reeves believes there are clues in the design of the tomb that indicate it was designed to store the remains of a queen, not a king.

His theory has yet to be peer-reviewed and leading Egyptologists have urged caution over the conclusion.

Japan to Restart Whaling Program in Antarctic despite ICJ Ruling

James J. Williams
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Japan to Restart Whaling Program in Antarctic despite ICJ Ruling

Japan will resume whaling in the Antarctic in 2016 after a break of more than a year.

The decision comes despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that Japan cease all whaling.

The Japanese government says it has taken into account the court ruling and its “scientific” whaling program will be much smaller.

However, Japan’s announcement has been condemned by environmental groups and the Australian and UK governments.

“We do not accept in any way, shape or form the concept of killing whales for so-called <<scientific research>>,” said Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt.

“We are deeply disappointed with Japan’s decision to restart whaling in the Southern Ocean,” said the UK environment ministry.

Japan’s whaling fleet could set sail again within weeks and head for the Southern Ocean.Japan resumes whaling program

Under Japan’s revised plan, it will reduce the number of minke whales caught each year by two thirds to 333.

The Japanese authorities believe their plan is scientifically reasonable but it is unlikely to placate opponents, in particular the Australian government.

In 2014 Australia won a case against Japan in the international court of justice in the Netherlands.

The court ruled that Japan’s “scientific” whaling program was not scientific at all – and ordered Tokyo to recall its fleet.

Japan started its whaling program in 1987 – a year after an international moratorium was enacted.

It accuses critics of being sentimental about whales and disregarding scientific evidence about the sustainability of whaling.

The ICJ says Japan has caught some 3,600 minke whales since its current program began in 2005.

What is Planned Parenthood?

Kathryn R. Bown
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What is Planned Parenthood?

Two civilians and a police officer were killed when a gunman opened fire at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic in a nearly six-hour standoff on November 27, 2015.

Planned Parenthood is a healthcare non-profit-making group with 59 affiliates and 700 clinics around the United States and the largest single provider of abortion.

Its family planning clinics provide many other healthcare services including cancer screening.Planned Parenthood family planning

Planned Parenthood dates back to 1916 when social activist and nurse Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control and family planning centre in Brooklyn, New York.

The group says each year 2.7 million people in the US visit its health centers for health care services and information. Abortion is among the services Planned Parenthood clinics provide, an issue that’s made the organization a target in the past.

Planned Parenthood has faced sharp criticism in Washington and from some Republican presidential candidates on the campaign trail after an anti-abortion group released a series of videos alleging that the family planning clinic engaged in the selling of fetal organs and parts for profit.

The clinic has strongly disputed the videos and contended the tapes provide a distorted account because they are heavily edited.

At least three Planned Parenthood buildings have been vandalized since September.

In 2014, abortion providers in the United States saw 12 incidents of vandalism, one burglary, one invasion, one arson attack, one death threat and four stalking incidents, according to the National Abortion Federation.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Planned Parenthood affiliates were at the fore of many court fights to make abortion legal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev5oiiUa8fo

Planned Parenthood Shooting: Three Dead in Colorado Springs Incident

Nancy Clayson
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Planned Parenthood Shooting: Three Dead in Colorado Springs Incident

The shooting at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs has left two civilians and a police officer dead, with the suspected gunman under arrest.

Nine other people were injured during the standoff at the family planning clinic, which lasted five hours before the suspect surrendered.

A number of people were trapped inside the building as shots were exchanged.

The motive remains unclear. The Planned Parenthood group has drawn anti-abortion protests in the past.

A law enforcement source identified the suspect as Robert Lewis Dear, from North Carolina. No other details were given.

“I want to convey to the loved ones of the victims, this is a terrible, terrible tragedy that occurred here in Colorado Springs today,” Mayor John Suthers told a news conference.Planned Parenthood shooting Colorado Springs

“Obviously, we lost two civilian victims. We mourn the loss of a very brave police officer.”

The dead police officer was named as Garrett Swasey, 44, who was married with two children.

Colorado Springs Police Chief Peter Carey said five police officers were among the injured, who were being treated in local hospitals.

Police had sealed off streets around the centre as officers tried to make contact with the suspect.

“We did get officers inside the building,” police Lt Catherine Buckley said.

“They were able to shout to the suspect and make communication with him and at that point they were able to get him to surrender and he was taken into custody.”

According to police, the suspect had been seen carrying “some bags” into the building and teams were combing the area for possible explosives.

Robert Lewis Dear’s car which was found nearby was also being checked for explosives, CNN reported.

The manager of a nearby hair salon said she had heard as many as 20 gunshots in less than five minutes.

Denise Speller told a local newspaper she had seen one of two police officers appear to fall to the ground and the other attempt to get the wounded officer behind their police vehicle.

Police had told shoppers at a nearby centre to stay indoors.

In a statement, the family planning clinic said it was not yet clear “if Planned Parenthood was in fact the target of this attack”.

“Our concern is for the safety of our patients, staff and law enforcement,” said its CEO, Vicki Cowart.

Planned Parenthood has been the focus of protests recently after an anti-abortion organization secretly recorded a Planned Parenthood official discussing how to obtain aborted fetal tissue for medical research.

Pro-life advocates say this proves Planned Parenthood is selling fetal parts for profit – which is illegal – but this is disputed by the organization.

New York’s city police said it had deployed critical response vehicles to Planned Parenthood sites in the city because of the Colorado incident, but said there was no threat in the city.

Pope Francis Honors Christian Martyrs in Uganda

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Honors Christian Martyrs in Uganda

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are attending a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Uganda.

Pope Francis is speaking at a Catholic shrine dedicated to Christians martyred for their faith in the 19th Century, on the second stage of his three-country trip to Africa.

The Mass marks the 50th anniversary of the martyrs’ canonization.

There were huge cheers as Pope Francis began the open-air ceremony at Namugongo, near Kampala.

It was there where many of the 45 Anglican and Catholic martyrs were burned alive.

The martyr’s execution was ordered by a king worried about the spread of Christianity.Pope Francis Honors Christian Martyrs in Uganda

Thousands of pilgrims braved rain to spend the night holding a vigil near the martyrs’ shrines and there were long lines of pilgrims still trying to access the shrine as Pope Francis began to address the crowds on Saturday morning.

Uganda is a deeply religious country, with over 14.1 million Catholics – and even adherents of other faiths will be paying close attention to the Pope’s words, say correspondents.

Pope Francis arrives in Uganda during the third week of a presidential campaign being fought by the country’s ruler for the past 29 years, President Yoweri Museveni.

Francis is the third Pope to visit Uganda, and he is likely to continue to preach his message of mercy and care for the poor, and to speak out against corruption – a message that was welcomed by people in Kenya.

The pontiff may also talk of the need for reconciliation amongst different tribes and, perhaps, pray for a peaceful vote here in February 2016.

However, there were critical references to the Pope’s visit on Twitter – with some wondering “how many people have HIV today because contraception isn’t allowed?” while others accused him of ignoring extreme anti-gay attitudes in Uganda.

Pope Francis will travel to the Central African Republic (CAR), which has been hit by serious violence between Christian and Muslim militias in recent years, on November 29.

Brazil Dam Burst: Government to Sue Samarco for $5.2 Billion

James J. Williams
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Brazil Dam Burst: Government to Sue Samarco for $5.2 Billion

Brazil will sue mining company Samarco $5.2 billion for the environmental damage caused after a waste water dam at an iron-ore mine collapsed.

At least 13 people died when the dam burst earlier this month in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais.

A village was destroyed and drinking water polluted over a wide area.

Brazil’s Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira said money was needed for environmental recovery and to compensate victims.Brazil dam burst

“There was a huge impact from an environmental point of view,” she told reporters in the capital Brasilia.

“It is not a natural disaster, it is a disaster prompted by economic activity, but of a magnitude equivalent to those disasters created by forces of nature.”

Izabella Teixeira said about 310 miles of the Rio Doce – one of Brazil’s most important rivers – would have to be dredged in parts, vegetation replanted and fresh water springs cleared.

Samarco is owned by mining giants Vale, from Brazil, and Anglo-Australian company BHP Billiton.

On November 26, the UN said the dam burst had unleashed a flood of “toxic mud”.

However, mining giant BHP said in a statement that the water in the dam – a by-product of iron ore extraction – did not pose any threat to humans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDUV2w8kjLw

Colorado Springs Shooting: Four Officers Injured near Planned Parenthood

Nancy Clayson
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Colorado Springs Shooting: Four Officers Injured near Planned Parenthood

Four officers and an unknown number of civilians have been injured in an “active shooter” incident in Colorado Springs, police say.

Officers at the scene say they are still encountering gunfire, Colorado Springs police said in a tweet.

The incident is taking place near a Planned Parenthood clinic, but it is not clear whether the building itself has been targeted.

Police said they did not know if hostages had been taken.

“We do not have the shooter at this point but we do have all of our resources brought to bear,” Lieutenant Catherine Buckley told local TV.

The city’s Penrose hospital said it had received five patients from the incident.Colorado Springs shooting Planned Parenthood

The manager of a nearby haircut salon said she heard as many as 20 gunshots in under five minutes.

Denise Speller told a local newspaper that she saw one of two police officers appear to fall to the ground and the other attempt to get the wounded officer behind their police vehicle.

Police have told shoppers at a nearby centre to stay indoors.

Planned Parenthood said it was monitoring the situation.

“Our concern is for the safety of our patients, staff and law enforcement,” said its CEO Vicki Cowart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWDQPdVKJ1c

SU-24 Crash: Turkey Warns Russia over Retaliatory Measures

Roy Siemens
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SU-24 Crash: Turkey Warns Russia over Retaliatory Measures

In a TV address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin not to “play with fire” over Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane on Syrian border.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said he wanted to meet Vladimir Putin “face-to-face” at climate talks in Paris to resolve the issue.

Vladimir Putin wants an apology from Turkey before he will speak to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Russian president’s aide said.

Russia has suspended its visa-free arrangement with Turkey in the latest of a range of retaliatory measures.

Turkey says the Russian warplane was in its airspace when the decision was taken to shoot it down on November 24 – Russia insists the plane was flying over Syria at the time.

Tensions have been heightened by the fact that the two countries are pursuing different aims in Syria.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad since late September, while Turkey, which is a member of a US-led coalition, insists Bashar al-Assad must step down before any political solution to the crisis is found.

However, all are united in trying to rid the region of ISIS, also known as Daesh.

In a televised speech, Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Russia it was “playing with fire to attack the Syrian opposition, who have international legitimacy, under the pretext of fighting against Daesh”.Turkey and Russia tensions

The Turkish president said Moscow was also playing with fire to use the downing of the jet “as an excuse to make unacceptable accusations against us”, and accused Russians of “mistreating” Turkish citizens who were in the country for a trade fair.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he hoped to meet Vladimir Putin face-to-face on the sidelines of the climate summit in Paris next week “to bring the issue to a reasonable point. We are disturbed that the issue has been escalated”.

While he has refused to apologize, Recep Tayyip Erdogan did say on November 26 that had Turkey known the plane was Russian, “maybe we would have warned it differently”.

Vladimir Putin has firmly rejected any suggestion Turkey did not recognize the plane as Russian. He said it was easily identifiable and its coordinates had been passed on to Turkey’s ally, the US.

A senior Russian commander went further on November 27 and claimed the Russian warplane was “ambushed” by two Turkish F-15s.

Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Russian and Syrian radar data showed the F-16s had been flying in the area for more than an hour and the plane that fired the missile did so from 1.2 miles inside Syria.

The Russian jet was shot down 3.4 miles south of the Turkish border, he said.

The Turkish military earlier in the week released audio of what it said were repeated warnings to the Russian jet to change its course, and claimed the jet had spent 17 seconds in Turkish air space before being shot down.

Announcing the suspension of a visa-free travel regime with Turkey from January 1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he believed the Turkish leadership had “crossed the line of what is acceptable”.

On November 26, Russia said it was drafting a wide-ranging list of economic sanctions against Turkey that would hit food imports and joint investment projects among other things.

Turkey and Russia have important economic links. Russia is Turkey’s second-largest trading partner, while more than three million Russian tourists visited Turkey in 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKEW8fcWjRk

Your iPhone 6s Plus Deserves The Best In Protection

Ricky Robinson
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Your iPhone 6s Plus Deserves The Best In Protection

Tech-savvy people know that a delicate smartphone like the iPhone 6s Plus can’t be left uncovered. It would be as ill-advised as taking a walk down the street without wearing your shoes. Like your vulnerable feet, your 6s Plus isfragile and susceptible to damage. Without a protective covering, your iPhone can rub up against sharp keys or meets its end on the sidewalk. If you don’t want your smartphone to sustain serious harm during your day out and about, then you know you need a protective covering to save it from the elements and unfortunate situations.

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But the iPhone 6s Plus can’t take just any kind of protection. It’s one of the greatest phones on the market, as its 64-bit A9 chip makes it faster and more powerful than most other cellphones. It’s formidable enough to run the expansive iOS 9, which lets you download and tap through all of your favourite apps, including those built-in ones like Touch ID and 3D Touch. The protection you choose should reflect the status of your phone.

It may seem like the iPhone 6s Plus has set an impossibly high standard, but some retailers have managed to meet it. Those that produce iPhone 6s Plus skins have matched the smartphone’s innovative design in using precision-cut genuine 3M vinyl. For those expecting something more space-age to complement the 6s Plus’ 7000 Series aluminum alloy, you’re in for a surprise. The modest 3M vinyl is an impressive material that protects and defends your phone in many ways.

When wrapped around your smartphone, it creates a second skin that will absorb damages caused by rough surfaces and sharp objects. Its water resistant surface makes spilled drinks a cinch to wipe up before they seep into seams and fry your precious A9 chip, and it defies the grime from your fingers from gunking up your buttons. And while it’s doing all of that, the skin (also known as a wrap) gives your palms and fingers something to grip onto, so you won’t watch in slow motion as your 6s Plus slips through your grasp to shatter on the ground.

Once you try it out, you’ll wonder how you’ve ever used your iPhone without it. In fact, you’ll find that you’ll want to share your new found love for skins with every iPhone user in your life. The great thing is, iPhone 6s Plus wraps and skins make excellent presents for anyone in your life who’s celebrating an upcoming birthday. They also make inexpensive stocking stuffers for the family and friends who will be making merry this December. You can customize each wrap in a unique colour or texture that befits the person you’re buying for, or you can make a whole line of matching skins for your squad. The possibilities are endless, so consider iPhone 6s Plus wraps as a gift this upcoming holiday.

A fully protected and stylish iPhone 6s Plus might be the best present you’re friends and family have ever received because it protects the expensive investment that an iPhone is. It’s also the best present you’ll ever give to yourself, as you’ll be sure to keep a skin for your own iPhone!

Black Friday 2015: Spending Moves Online

Nancy Clayson
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Black Friday 2015: Spending Moves Online

According to analysts, the Black Friday shopping phenomenon has shown signs of moving online, with no repeat of last year’s chaos in some stores.

The 2014 Black Friday saw buyers fighting over bargains, websites crashing and delivery companies struggling to cope.

Black Friday, the discount day has its origins in the US, where it takes place the day after Thanksgiving, traditionally kick-starting the Christmas shopping period.

Online activity is said to be up, but expectations are for a longer period of discounts and shopping.Black Friday shopping

In the US, some retailers started offering deals early.

Macy’s said about 15,000 shoppers waited outside its Manhattan department store in readiness for its opening on Thanksgiving evening.

Amazon offered discounts in the lead up to the shopping event.

Washington-based National Retail Federation estimates that about 135.8 million Americans will shop during the four-day holiday compared with 133.7 million in 2014.

The US shopping bonanza has spread not only in Europe, but also countries such as Brazil and India.

Black Friday is still dwarfed by China’s Singles Day – the world’s biggest online shopping event. On November 11, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba reported sales worth 91.2 billion yuan ($14.3 billion), a 60% increase from 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HG2MYX4N4s

Why You Should Always Choose a Natural Gas Powered Generator

Dana R
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Why You Should Always Choose a Natural Gas Powered Generator

Today, there is a real drive towards cheaper, safer, more sustainable energy sources. This is important because our current energy usage is destroying the planet and human life. Pollution must be eradicated, which means that we must all commit to moving away from gasoline and diesel.

It is now believed that natural gas is currently the cheapest type of energy usage, as well as being renewable. If there is a severe blackout or power outage, however, generators should be used sparsely regardless of their fuel type. Overall, however, it is best to use a gas generator. Diesel or gasoline motors are not as efficient, as well as being more polluting.

Why Use Natural Gas Generators?

So why is natural gas so efficient? First, it is because it is very similar to both gasoline and coal in as such that it is changed from a liquid to a gas stated through the pipes that run all over the city. These pipes are basically gas channels. The way society is today, more people should commit to using natural gas because it is so clean. Compared to oil and gasoline, it has far fewer harmful emissions, including nitrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur and more.

Plus, natural gas doesn’t have a foul odor like the one that is found in gasoline fueled generators. You will also notice that there is much less consumption in a natural gas generator, particularly if you compare it to an electrical powered one. This is why natural gas is also the cheapest type of generator out there in terms of usage.

In fact, natural gas generators, in terms of consumption, are some 40% cheaper than their diesel or gasoline counterparts. Businesses and homes alike have a fantastic, affordable, clean source of energy within their reach and they don’t even have to buy extra fuel. The gas pipes are already in place, after all. If the generator is portable, the high quality tanks can be used to store the gas in. They really offer the perfect solution.

Current research is being conducted to find ways to increase the production of natural gas, while at the same time reducing the dependence of society on oil to fuel generators and electricity. It is believed that, with the advances in technology, new and better alternatives will start to be developed ensuring that more natural gas can be retrieved.

Yes, even natural gas is a pollutant. However, compared to that of diesel, gasoline and oil, it is truly minimal. Taking all that into consideration and it quickly becomes clear that it is perhaps the best alternative energy source available to us today and it can mean significant progress for the plant and for humanity.

The world cannot sustain itself anymore, so the time to commit to change is now. This may be a tough reality to accept, but the fact is that we won’t have a planet to leave to our children if we continue to behave in the way we do.

Steel Storage Containers – Buy or Rent?

Dana R
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Steel Storage Containers – Buy or Rent?

If you ever have to shop large sized products, or large quantities, then the best way to achieve that will be by using steel storage containers. This is firstly because they are a very spacious, standard size. You can use them as a convenient storage area as well, which adds to their usefulness. In fact, a lot of people use steel storage containers as an additional storage space, particularly because they are available as very low cost rentals. While they were originally designed for transport, a large amount now idly sits in storage areas and can be either rented or purchased at very low prices. They are particularly useful for large and medium capacities.

Some Information about the Containers

The idea behind steel storage containers actually comes from the United States Army. They needed something of a standard shape that could carry anything from tanks to soldiers. This is where the rectangular idea came from. After the war, the containers became more commercially available and people quickly started to see that they were suitable not just for the shipping industry, but for the storage industry as well. Because containers are built for transportation, they are also popular with people who want to move home. The container can be brought to a property where it can be filled up, after which it is taken to a new property to be unloaded, perhaps with some storage time in between. The question is, however, should you buy or rent one?

Buying or Renting Containers

Renting is more expensive in the long run. This is because you are expected to only use them for a short period of time. However, they are generally still cheaper than other storage facilities. Plus, if you rent for a longer period of time, your rates will generally drop quite significantly. However, the reality is that when you rent a container, you will never quite own it. Hence, if you intend to rent it for a very long period of time, buying it may be a better option.

There are two problems with buying a container, however. These are:

  1. You will have to pay the full purchase price up front.
  2. If you ever want to move your container, you have to pay for that yourself as well.

As such, it is a question of weighing up your pros and cons. If you have significant assets behind your name and you know that you will frequently use storage facilities, then buying the container may be the better option. Yes, you will have to pay every time you want to move it, but that will still be less than rental fees. On the other hand, rental is often so cheap that it is very easy to budget for it, whether you are a business or an individual. And, if you do rent it, you may have insurance and security included with it. What matters most is that these containers are more affordable and of better quality than any other option, particularly storage warehouses.

Some Things to Think about When Choosing Your Next Window Blinds

Dana R
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Some Things to Think about When Choosing Your Next Window Blinds

Blinds come in a variety of materials, colors and prices. Size is also important, because they have to fit your windows properly. This is why you have to learn how to measure your blinds before you buy them. Additionally, you need to have a look around to see what types of blinds are out there before making your decision.

Some Things to Think about

You can get blinds in a variety of styles, including mini blinds, vertical blinds, wood blinds and faux wood blinds.

If you want a stylish and truly sophisticated look, then real wood blinds are perfect. While they tend to be on the more expensive range, there are solutions out there for every budget. These blinds really bring out the wood in all of your other furniture.

If, however, you are on a budget, then faux wood is probably the better option. Not just that, they are also better for areas with high moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms. These blinds can resist different temperatures as well.

Then, there are mini blinds. These are great for offices as well as for people on a budget, because they come in standard sizes and are easy to install. They are available in uncountable colors and styles.

Vertical blinds are also available, which really streamline the overall look of your window. They are perfect for large windows, or for very narrow and long windows and doors. Many people are now doing away with curtains, choosing wood or vinyl vertical blinds instead. They also come with various ‘draw factors’, which means that they can open up in different ways, from either one of the sides or either from the middle. Some of them even have remote controls!

People also like blinds because they are so easy to maintain and clean. Additionally, they provide your home with insulation during both warmer and colder months. Furthermore, they allow you to have more control over the amount of light in your property, and how much people can actually see inside your home. It helps you to set a mood and to control your privacy in other words.

There are even blinds that work as a sunscreen and these are particularly suitable for viewing rooms. They allow you to subdue the light that comes into your home, without blocking off your view of the outdoors. They help to reduce the glare of the sun but some light is able to filter through, which means you don’t have to invest in artificial light. At the other end of the spectrum is the blackout blind, which is perfect for children’s bedrooms, or for your own bedroom if you or someone else works shifts and has to sleep during the day.

As you can see, the choices you have are endless. Whatever your personal needs and requirements, you are guaranteed to find a blind that suits them. And this includes your personal budgetary options, as they come in a huge range of prices.

How to Be Accepted for a Loan if You Have Bad Credit

Dana R
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How to Be Accepted for a Loan if You Have Bad Credit

If you have bad credit, you will know how hard it is for you to find any type of finance. Although there are some lenders out there who offer products to people like yourself, they tend to have incredibly high interest rates. However, there are options out there to help you find a loan that won’t cost you the earth. It is about knowing what to look for, which will make sure you don’t end up in a spiral of negative debt.

Get Your Basics Right

First of all, you have to take a good, long, hard look at yourself. Know what your financial situation is like and be honest with yourself. This will give you a more realistic picture of what you can expect. When you apply for loans, you have to have realistic expectations.

Do also have a very good, full time, employment status. You have to have a good income that shows you will be able to actually make the repayments.

Look at your credit score and see what you can improve on, thereby making your application more successful.

Always aim for the lowest amount you could possibly lend to meet whatever it is you want to pay for. Just because you can get $5,000 doesn’t mean you should. Remember that the less you borrow, the less you will pay as well, and the more likely it is that you will be accepted.

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Photo Source: articles.bplans.com

Find the Right Lender

Now that you know yourself, you need to find the lender with the best terms possible. This installment loan direct lender website is certainly an example of good practice and you can use it to compare others, for instance. Online lenders tend to be more sympathetic to people with bad credit, so this is a good place to start.

You can also use online comparison sites, but remember that they often take some sort of cut. Hence, once you have identified a lender, try to go to them directly instead of through the comparison website. After all, you don’t want to pay any hidden charges.

Don’t ignore traditional lenders either. Do have a chat with your own bank. They know your financial history and financial behavior and may be willing to consider you even if you do have bad credit.

Choose the Right Loan

You may want to apply for the first nice looking deal that you see, but is it right for you? For instance, do you want a secured or unsecured loan? If your credit is poor, it may be more difficult to apply for an unsecured loan. This is particularly true when you want to apply for a large loan. However, that doesn’t mean you should just get a secured loan without thinking about it either. Secured loans put your property at risk, so you have to make sure that you will be able to pay for it.

Hopefully, this information will help you to make the right financial decision.

Paris Attacks: France Holds Memorial Service for Victims

Diane A. Wade
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Paris Attacks: France Holds Memorial Service for Victims

France is holding a national memorial service for the 130 people who died in a series of attacks in Paris two weeks ago.

Around 1,000 people attended the service in central Paris, including President Francois Hollande, survivors of the attacks and victims’ families.

A minute’s silence was held and the names of all the victims read out.

Attackers with assault rifles and suicide belts targeted a number of sites in the capital. ISIS later said it was behind the assault.

In his speech, President Francois Hollande said France would “do all it can to destroy this army of fanatics”.

“It will operate relentlessly to protect its children,” he said.

Francois Hollande vowed that France would respond with more music, concerts and sporting events, after some of the attacks targeted a concert venue and a stadium.

Among those attending the service were the parents of British victim Nick Alexander, who said that they were now “intrinsically linked” to those who had also lost loved ones.Paris attack memorial service

However, not all the victims’ families accepted the invitation to attend the service at the grand Les Invalides complex that houses a military museum and Napoleon’s tomb.

The family of one victim told French media they had refused, saying not enough had been done to protect the nation in the wake of other attacks earlier this year.

In the November 13 attacks, the gunmen opened fire on restaurants and bars in Paris and stormed the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people were shot dead.

Three more attackers blew themselves up outside the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, after staff denied them entry to a football match between France and Germany.

More than 350 people were injured in the attacks – the worst in recent French history.

At least nine people are believed to have been directly involved in carrying out the latest attacks.

They are all dead, but two more men, including suspect Salah Abdeslam, are still on the run as a huge manhunt continues in France and Belgium.

Some of the attackers – including suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who died in a police raid in Paris last week – had lived in Brussels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RalCC4m3b2w

China Stock Market Closes down by More than 5%

Clyde K. Valle
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China Stock Market Closes down by More than 5%

China stock market closed down by more than 5% after several major brokerage companies announced they were under investigation.

The Shanghai Composite index ended the day 5.5% lower at 3,436.3 points – marking its biggest drop since August.

On November 26, it was announced that China’s securities regulator was investigating the country’s largest brokerage, CITIC Securities.

CITIC Securities is being probed over the possible breaking of market rules.

Rival brokerage Guosen Securities is also being investigated, and shares in both CITIC and Guosen fell by 10%, the maximum allowed in one day.

In addition, trading in China Haitong Securities shares was halted and later in the day the company also confirmed it was under investigation.China stock market brokerage investigation

Chen Xingyu, an analyst at Phillip Securities, told the AFP news agency: “The biggest reason for such a sudden drop today is because of regulator’s investigation of the top brokers. It has triggered a broader sell-off.”

Analysts said there was little information on the specific reasons for the probes other than violations of securities regulations.

Reuters reported that the Chinese regulator was urging brokerages to stop financing investors’ stock purchases through swaps in an attempt to curb leveraged trading.

A crackdown on leveraged and margin trading has been underway since the Chinese market’s dramatic plunge over the summer.

Market sentiment was already wavering ahead of a new batch of initial public offerings set to make their debut next week.

More negative economic data on the Chinese economy also did little to boost investors’ confidence, with government figures showing that industrial profits in October fell 4.6% from a year ago.

The fifth consecutive decline in profits earned by Chinese industrial companies added more fuel to concerns over a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.

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