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Hershey’s bars import of Cadbury chocolates in US

Clyde K. Valle
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Hershey’s bars import of Cadbury chocolates in US

A lawsuit brought by Hershey’s effectively bars the import of chocolates made in the UK by Cadbury.

Using the hashtag #boycotthershey, Cadbury products lovers called for a boycott of the American chocolate giant on Twitter and Facebook.

A protest petition on MoveOn.org had over 22,000 signatures by January 28.

The protest comes after Hershey’s, which holds a license to manufacture Cadbury chocolates in the US, agreed on a settlement with the New Jersey importer of Cadbury chocolates, Let’s Buy British (LBB).

Hershey’s accused LBB of infringing its brand trademark rights and importing British products that were not intended for sale in the US, The New York Times reported.Hershey's bans Cadbury in US

Last week, LBB agreed to stop shipments of any Cadbury products made in the UK to the US.

Many expat Brits insist that Cadbury chocolate tastes better (despite Cadbury being owned by U.S. food giant Kraft Foods’ snacks business Mondelez).

It is true that British and American chocolate are different in terms of constitution. To qualify as chocolate in the UK, a product must contain at least 20% cocoa solids; in the US, the minimum is 10%.

Cadbury products are not the only ones to fall fowl of Hershey’s lawsuit, with other brands. Switzerland’s Nestle also came under fire because they look like existing Hershey’s products.

Toffee Crisps, which are made by chocolate giant Nestle in the UK and are a favorite with the British public, have also been banned because their bright orange packaging resembles that of Hershey’s Peanut Butter Cups too closely.

Nestle’s Yorkie bars also face the chop as they sound too much like Hershey’s York Peppermint Patties. Maltesers also resemble a Hershey’s product of an almost identical name.

Hershey’s spokesman Jeff Beckman defended the company’s lawsuit and settlement, telling The New York Times last week that it was: “Important for Hershey to protect its trademark rights and to prevent consumers from being confused or misled when they see a product name or product package that is confusingly similar to a Hershey name or trade dress.”

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Northeast blizzard 2015: New England digs out of heavy snow

Nancy Clayson
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Northeast blizzard 2015: New England digs out of heavy snow

New England residents are digging out after up to 36in of snow fell in a day-long blizzard.

The Northeast snow storm, which also destroyed part of a seawall and flooded parts of coastal Massachusetts, is being blamed for two deaths in Long Island.

Clean-up is being hindered by freezing temperatures in the coming days forecast to be as low as 10F.

However, New York City and areas south were spared from an earlier prediction of a “potentially historic blizzard”.

New York City officials imposed a driving ban and took the unprecedented step of shutting the subway on Monday evening but less than a foot of snow fell overnight.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio denied he had overreacted to warnings, saying he could only go on information available and would rather err on the side of safety

The National Weather Service (NWS) has admitted its forecasts were wrong, saying the storm moved faster than they expected.New England blizzard 2015

National Weather Service director Louis Uccellini said his agency should have done a better job of communicating the uncertainties in the forecast.

In Massachusetts, heavy snow – falling as fast as four inches an hour – and high winds combined to created blizzard and white-out conditions.

More than 24in of snow coated Boston’s Logan Airport, the sixth-highest in recorded history. Worcester got 33.5in, the highest amount recorded since 1905, and Auburn and Lunenburg each reported 36in.

More than two feet fell in parts of Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Portland, Maine and Providence, Rhode Island both set a daily record for snowfall.

A 110-ft replica of a Revolutionary War ship in Newport, Rhode Island was damaged after the storm flipped it. Wind gusts were as high as 78mph.

On January 28, Boston’s transport system began running again and the first flight since January 26 took off from Logan Airport.

Snowploughs struggled to clear the roads, and Boston police drove several dozen doctors and nurses to work at hospitals.

Further south, the eastern tip of Long Island saw as much as 30in of snow.

Police have connected two deaths there with the snow – a 17-year-old who crashed into a lamp post while in an inflatable tube and an 83-year-old with dementia found dead in his backyard.

The storm also caused coastal flooding in Massachusetts. High tides breached a sea wall and damaged 11 homes in Marshfield, 30 miles south of Boston.

Massachusetts’ only nuclear power station shut down after the blizzard interrupted its power flow.

Thousands of people are still without power, many of them in Massachusetts.

Governor Charlie Baker said the snow had been “fluffier and lighter”, meaning there were fewer power outages than anticipated.

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Tesco to close 43 stores across UK

Clyde K. Valle
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Tesco to close 43 stores across UK

Tesco has named the 43 stores it is closing across the UK, a move that will see 2,000 staff lose their jobs.

The supermarket giant is currently informing staff at the affected stores.

The Express and Home Plus stores will close on March 15 with the Tesco Metros and Superstores on the list closing on April 4.

Tesco warned earlier this month that 43 stores would be shut as part of plans to cut costs.

The company’s CEO Dave Lewis said the decision to close the stores was “exceptionally difficult”.Tesco to close 43 stores in UK

“Our priority is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and, wherever possible, offer them alternative roles with Tesco,” he added.

Superstore closures include those in Doncaster and Chatham, while the DIY and homeware Homeplus closures include stores in Edinburgh and Southampton.

In total, 18 Express, 12 Metro, seven superstores and six Homeplus stores are shutting their doors.

Tesco’s announcement marks a stark contrast to Tuesday’s update from online grocery shopping Waitrose that detailed plans to create 2,000 jobs in new shops and by expanding existing sites.

The retailer is opening 14 new shops from spring this year, seven of them smaller convenience outlets.

However, of the so-called “big four” supermarkets, which includes Tesco as well as Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda, most are shelving expansion plans or even closing stores.

In November, Sainsbury’s said it was scrapping plans for new stores, while Morrissons plans to close 10 loss-making stores this year.

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Bart the Miracle Cat: Florida cat buried by his owner crawls out of grave

Nancy Clayson
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Bart the Miracle Cat: Florida cat buried by his owner crawls out of grave

A Florida cat has had surgery after apparently clawing its way out of his grave following a collision with a car.

Bart the cat was discovered by its owner’s neighbor in Tampa five days after he was found lying in the road stiff in a pool of blood, and was presumed dead.

The cat is now recovering after treatment for a broken jaw and ruptured eye.Bart the Miracle Cat

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, which is caring for the animal they have dubbed “Bart the Miracle Cat”, say they have never seen a case like it.

Bart’s owner, Ellis Hutson, told the Tampa Bay Times he “couldn’t stand” to bury the animal and asked his neighbor Dave to dig him a shallow grave.

Five days later, bedraggled Bart was found meowing for food by another of Ellis Hutson’s neighbors, Dusty Albritton.

“At first it blew me away,” Dusty Albritton said.

“All I knew was this cat was dead and <<Pet Sematary>> is real,” she added, referring to the horror film and book by writer Stephen King.

A shocked but delighted Ellis Hutson, discovering that vets’ bills would be too expensive, took Bart to Tampa’s Humane Society.

Bart had surgery on January 27 to remove his ruined eye and treat his broken jaw, and is now resting comfortably according to the society’s Facebook page.

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Alexis Tsipras first cabinet meeting: Greece will not default on its debts

Clyde K. Valle
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Alexis Tsipras first cabinet meeting: Greece will not default on its debts

Addressing his first cabinet meeting, Greece’s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says his country will not default on its debts.

Alexis Tsipras said he would negotiate with creditors over the €240 billion ($270 billion) bailout.

“We won’t get into a mutually destructive clash but we will not continue a policy of subjection,” said the left-wing Syriza party leader.

Germany’s vice-chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said it was unfair of Greece to expect other states to pick up its bills.

“I cannot imagine a haircut [debt reduction],” Sigmar Gabriel said.

As Alex Tsipras made his debut cabinet speech, Greek government bond yields rose to their highest since the 2012 debt restructuring, amid investor concern that the anti-austerity coalition was gearing up for a clash with international creditors.

The Athens Stock Exchange fell by 8% in response to Alexis Tsipras’s remarks, and as it emerged that his government was putting on hold major privatization projects, including the port of Piraeus and the main power company, the Public Power Corporation of Greece.Alexis Tsipras first cabinet meeting

Greece has endured tough budget cuts in return for its 2010 bailout, negotiated with the “troika” – the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB).

The country’s economy has shrunk drastically since the 2008 global financial crisis, and high unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty.

Vowing to defend Greek dignity, Alexis Tsipras said a renegotiation of the Greek debts would aim for a “viable, fair, mutually beneficial solution”. He did not give any details.

Alexis Tsipras promised “realistic proposals” for an economic recovery and vowed to fight corruption and tax evasion. His recovery plan, he said, was aimed at preventing deficits in the future.

The new coalition government – with the right-wing but equally anti-austerity Greek Independents – was sworn into office on January 27.

Its chief economics spokesman, Euclid Tsakalotos, has argued that it is unrealistic to expect Greece to repay its huge debt in full.

The current bailout program of loans to Greece ends on February 28. There are still 1.8 billion euros of loans that could be disbursed to Greece if it meets the conditions imposed by the troika.

Economists estimate that Greece needs to raise about 4.3 billion euros in Q1 2015 to help pay its way, with Athens possibly having to ask the IMF and eurozone countries.

Sigmar Gabriel, who is also economy minister and leads the junior partner in Angela Merkel’s coalition government, said: “Our aim must be to keep Greece in the eurozone but solidarity and fairness work both ways.”

“Citizens of other euro states have a right to see that the deals linked to their acts of solidarity are upheld,” he said.

“Every country in Europe has its own history and cannot separate itself from this through new elections.”

Sigmar Gabriel urged the Greek government to talk to its partners before going ahead with decisions such as halting the privatization of the port of Piraeus.

“Things that Greece itself won’t do cannot be shunted on to the taxpayers and employers in neighboring states,” the German Social Democrat leader said.

Greek 10-year bond yields climbed above 10%, reflecting fears that investors may not get their money back.

The yield of a bond is inverse to its price: as the price goes down, the yield grows.

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Demis Roussos was held hostage for five days in 1985

Sonia Pantiss
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Demis Roussos was held hostage for five days in 1985

Demis Roussos, the Greek singer who is best known for his soaring voice, has died on January 25 at the age of 68.

Few people remember that the larger-than-life singer was held hostage for five days in 1985.

On 14 June, 1985, Demis Roussos boarded TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Rome – and found himself at the mercy of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Two hijackers, who had smuggled a pistol and grenades through airport security, held the passengers at gunpoint, demanding the release of 17 members of Hezbollah and the Iraqi Islamic Daawa Party.

The plane was diverted to Beirut, then Algiers, and 23-year-old US Navy Petty Officer Robert Dean Stethem was killed.

Demis Roussos spent five days – including his 39th birthday – in captivity, before being released in Beirut (another 40 or so passengers, mainly from the US, endured a further two weeks on the plane).Demis Roussos held hostage in 1985

Speaking at a press conference after his release, Demis Roussos said he had been “treated quite well”.

“They gave me a birthday cake and they gave me a guitar, to sing,” Demis Roussos said.

“They have been very polite and very nice with us.”

Over the years, some papers said Demis Roussos had serenaded the hijackers. Others claimed the singer had pledged allegiance to Hezbollah.

Demis Roussos, who rarely spoke about the incident, admitted he was riled by the exaggerations in an interview with Australia’s Daily Telegraph in 2006: “It is not every day that a pop superstar gets involved with terrorism as a victim, so the press takes advantage of that to say things they think are funny.

”I would like to see the journalist [who first reported the claim] in front of gunpoint like I was. Believe me, if he was there he would be so scared he wouldn’t care about writing such stupidities like that.”

The experience changed the singer’s life, and Demis Roussos spent years promoting peace through music.

“Musicians are like a preacher, a teacher, an actor,” Demis Roussos said.

“You are the mediator who can transfer the energy of beautiful music to the others.”

Demis Roussos spent half a million dollars trying to break America

Sonia Pantiss
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Demis Roussos spent half a million dollars trying to break America

Demis Roussos sold 30 million albums in Europe in the mid-70s, rivaling The Beatles in several countries.

His success earned him a mansion outside Paris, a private jet and an estate in the south of France.

But Demis Roussos wanted something more: to break the US.

In 1978, Demis Roussos bank-rolled a promotional trip to the US and Canada to the tune of $500,000 ($1.8 million in 2014 terms).Demis Roussos trying to break America

With a billboard on Sunset Boulevard and an exhausting run of TV appearances, Deemis Roussos set about his conquest.

The famous Greek singer told Canada’s Courier and Mail: “If I succeed, it will be as a pioneer of the European invasion, breaking a few barriers and not appealing only to Greeks or the French or the Italians in America.

“I am not like any other singer in America – I am a new creation.”

America, however, remained largely unmoved.

His album, That Once In A Lifetime, spent 11 weeks on the Billboard chart, but never climbed higher than 47.

Demis Roussos died on January 25 in an Athens hospital. He was 68. A cause of death was not made public.

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What was underneath Demis Roussos’ kaftans?

Sonia Pantiss
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What was underneath Demis Roussos’ kaftans?

Demis Roussos, who died on January 25 at the age of 68, was famed for his voluminous kaftans and soaring voice.

The Greek singer was a fixture on the European charts in the mid-70s, scoring a number one single with Forever and Ever and global album sales of more than 60 million.

Demis Roussos’ trademark stage outfits earned him the nickname “the king of the kaftan” – or, more cruelly, “the singing tent”.Demis Roussos King of Kaftan

He told the Daily Mirror in 2002: “Designers from all over the world used to make them for me.

“I had some very dramatic designs. People liked them, I liked them and I felt great in them.”

When Demis Roussos decided to sell his kaftan collection for charity in the 1990s, it required three auctions – one each in the UK, Germany and France.

Asked whether he wore anything underneath those billowing robes, Demis Roussos once replied: “Of course not. I never did.

“It was fantastic. It was funny. When I was on stage there were always women in the front row who’d try and look up my kaftan.”

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666: Demis Roussos and Aphrodite’s Child created rock’s first concept album

Sonia Pantiss
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666: Demis Roussos and Aphrodite’s Child created rock’s first concept album

Famous Greek singer Demis Roussos has died on Sunday, January 25, at the age of 68.

Demis Roussos’ first musical endeavor was in the 1960s band Aphrodite’s Child, a Greek trio which also featured Vangelis Papathanassiou, the composer who later scored Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner.

The final release of Aphrodite’s Child, 666, was a double album based on the Book of Revelation.Demis Roussos 666 album

Demis Roussos’ excitable, operatic wail lends the music an escalating sense of panic, while the extended instrumentals and improvisations presage the progressive rock movement.

666 is it viewed as one rock’s first concept albums.

After Aphrodite’s Child disbanded, Demis Roussos continued to record with Vangelis, even during his successful easy listening years.

Demis Roussos and Vangelis’ most successful collaboration was Race to the End – a vocal adaption of the theme to Chariots of Fire.

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Disneyland measles outbreak: 87 cases confirmed in seven states and Mexico

Kathryn R. Bown
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Disneyland measles outbreak: 87 cases confirmed in seven states and Mexico

At least 87 cases of measles have been confirmed in seven states and Mexico, health officials said, as the outbreak centered in California continues to spread.

The California Department of Public Health said on January 26 there were now 73 cases in the state, of which 50 can be linked directly to Disneyland.

Some people who were contagious visited in January as well as December.

Four new measles patients who visited Disneyland were reported in Arizona, bringing Arizona’s total number of Disneyland-related patients to five. Cases connected to Disneyland also have been confirmed in Utah (3), Washington state (2), Oregon (1), Colorado (1), Nebraska (1) and Mexico (1).

The measles outbreak has also expanded beyond those who visited Disneyland in December and January and is infecting people in the broader community.

Nine counties in California have confirmed measles cases: Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Ventura.

Orange County now has 23 confirmed cases. Los Angeles County follows with 15 cases and San Diego County with 13.

The California patients range in age from 7 months to 70 years. The vaccination status is known for at least 39 of the patients. Of those, 32 were unvaccinated and seven were fully vaccinated.

Of the cases in California, about one in four has had to be hospitalized, officials said.Disneyland measles outbreak 2015

Across California, officials have been scrambling to get ahead of the outbreak, identifying farmers markets, grocery stores, malls and other public locations where contagious people have been.

Health officials are urging people suspected of having the measles to first call their health provider before going to a clinic, enabling caregivers to make special preparations so patients don’t risk infecting others in the waiting room. An urgent-care clinic in the San Diego suburb of La Mesa was forced to shut down for a few hours when five people arrived with a rash. Anyone without proof of vaccination who came in contact with the five at the clinic was put under a mandatory quarantine for 21 days.

At Santa Monica High School, students and parents were alerted Friday night that a freshman baseball coach had been diagnosed with measles. Health officials concluded that because every student on the baseball team had a record of measles immunization, it was unlikely that students could have caught the highly contagious virus.

No students have been asked to stay away from campus at this time, school officials said.

After Disneyland officials confirmed that five of its employees had been diagnosed with measles, all Disneyland employees who could have been in contact with those five were asked to provide vaccination records or do a blood test that showed they had built immunity to the disease.

Any employees who had not been vaccinated or could not confirm their immunity status were asked to go on paid leave until their status could be confirmed, company officials said.

Health care officials said it was safe to go Disneyland and other venues with large crowds if you were immunized for measles.

“I think it is absolutely safe for you to go to Disneyland if you’re vaccinated,” said Dr. Gil Chavez, California state epidemiologist.

However, he cautioned that those with infants too young to be immunized should avoid large crowds where international travelers are concentrated, such as theme parks and airports. Six of the California cases occurred in infants who were too young to be immunized, state officials said.

Symptoms of measles include fever as high as 105, cough, runny nose, redness of eyes, and a rash that begins at the head and then spreads to the rest of the body. It can lead to inflammation of the brain, pneumonia and death.

Federal recommendations call for the first dose of measles vaccination, known as MMR, to be given at 12 to 15 months of age, with a second between ages 4 and 6. California law requires two doses of measles vaccination before kindergartners can enroll, but parents can obtain exemptions for the vaccines if they say the inoculations conflict with their personal beliefs.

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Michelle Obama causes stir in Saudi Arabia after not wearing a head scarf

Lisa.Felice
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Michelle Obama causes stir in Saudi Arabia after not wearing a head scarf

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama visited Saudi Arabia to pay respects to late King Abdullah and the first lady’s outfit caused a stir in a country known for its oppression of women.

Michelle Obama chose a fairly conservative outfit with loose sleeves that covered her from neck to toe. She wore a colorful long jacket with sleeves over a bright blue blouse and long black pants.Michelle Obama outfit in Saudi Arabia

However, it was her uncovered hair and the lack of a head scarf that drew scrutiny.

Saudi women are required to cover their heads in public, although it is not required of visitors.

Politico reported that Saudi Arabians on Twitter criticized the first lady for forgoing this custom, using hashtags such as “Michelle—Obama—Immodest.”

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Big Sean denies stealing Naya Rivera’s Rolex watch

Lisa.Felice
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Big Sean denies stealing Naya Rivera’s Rolex watch

In the February edition of Complex magazine, Big Sean opens up about the theft his ex-fiancée Naya Rivera accused him of.

After deciding to call off their wedding, the rapper and his Glee-starring ex started hating each other rather publicly and turned to social media, music and any forum they could find to trash one another.

Naya Rivera even went so far as to accuse Big Sean of stealing a pricey Rolex Submariner from her.

“@bigsean stealing rolexes from a lady’s house now. Maybe cuz I’m on Glee and making more money or something. #triflin,” Naya Rivera tweeted at the time. She later deleted it.

Although she married Ryan Dorsey three months later, their apparent hatred for one another continued as Big Sean then released I Don’t F— With You, which was rumored to be about Naya Rivera.Big Sean and Naya Rivera

Big Sean told the publication: “First of all, why would I have to steal a Rolex?”

“Second of all, every Rolex that I have, I have receipts for, papers for, certificates of authenticity for. I would never steal a Rolex from anybody.

“You see [Naya Rivera’s] tweet got deleted in like 20 seconds,” the rapper adds.

Big Sean doesn’t comment on whether or not rumors of Naya Rivera’s alleged jealousy and controlling tendencies are true, but he does open up about the reason why their relationship dissolved.

He said they began fighting more than they did anything else. But he does add that he “wasn’t surprised” by her accusation.

Big Sean said: “I felt like it was unnecessary drama ’cause in my eyes it wasn’t true. I wasn’t surprised by it.

“Even though I didn’t steal anything, I wasn’t surprised by it.”

Big Sean is now dating Ariana Grande. He says that they began as really good friends, which is one of the aspects he respects most about their relationship.

 

GM ignition switches fault death toll rises to 50

Clyde K. Valle
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GM ignition switches fault death toll rises to 50

According to compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg, 50 death cases are eligible for money due to crashes caused by faulty General Motors ignition switches.

Kenneth Feinberg’s decision came few days before the deadline to seek payments.

The expert, who was hired by GM to handle death and injury claims, released new totals earlier this week.

Camille Biros, deputy administrator of the compensation fund, says she expects a flurry of claims before January 31 deadline, and the number of deaths and injuries to rise.

Kenneth Feinberg, in an internet posting, determined that as of January 30 the families of 50 people killed and 75 people injured are eligible for payments. The fund has received 338 death claims and 2,730 claims for injuries. Of those, 58 death claims have been rejected as ineligible for compensation, as have 328 injury claims.

The expert is either reviewing or awaiting documentation on 230 additional death claims and 2,327 injury cases.GM ignition switches death toll

GM was aware of faulty ignition switches on Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade, but it didn’t recall them until 2014. On 2.6 million of them worldwide, the switches can slip out of the “on” position, causing the cars to stall, knocking out power steering and turning off the air bags.

In 2014, GM set aside $400 million to make payments, but conceded that could grow to $600 million. The company’s chief financial officer told analysts earlier in January that those numbers had not changed. Compensation for deaths starts at $1 million.

Camille Biros said that so far the GM claims are following the usual pattern for compensation cases with a large number of claims at the beginning, a lull in the middle, and a large number toward the deadline.

Kenneth Feinberg is among the nation’s most prominent compensation experts. He previously handled payments to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the BP oil spill.

Claims filed by mail will trickle in next week and will be considered as long as they are postmarked by January 31.

Kenneth Feinberg has promised to decide the claims within 90 to 180 days from when he determines they are substantially complete. His law firm expects to continue working on claims at least through the northern spring, and perhaps into the summer.

The ignition switch debacle, which brought congressional and Justice Department investigations and the maximum $35 million fine from the government’s auto safety agency, touched off a companywide safety review. That brought a total of 84 recalls involving more than 30 million vehicles.

As of Friday, GM had fixed just over 56 per cent of the 2.19 million cars with faulty ignition switches that are still on the road in the US, according to documents filed with federal safety regulators. The company said it could not reach about 80,000 of the car owners.

GM hasn’t been able to get all the owners to have their cars repaired about a year after the recalls started. It’s not unusual for some car owners to ignore recall notices. The average completion rate one-and-a-half years after a recall begins is 75%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Northeast blizzard 2015: Why did forecasters get it wrong?

Nancy Clayson
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Northeast blizzard 2015: Why did forecasters get it wrong?

According to several independent meteorologists, National Weather Service experts misjudged the path and impact of the blizzard that struck the Northeast on January 26 and 27, in large part because they trusted the wrong forecasting model.

Rather than rely on their own forecasting system—upgraded in recent weeks—the federal experts placed their faith instead on a well-regarded European computer model that predicted the worst of this storm would squarely hit New York City. That system earlier had outperformed the US forecasting system in predicting the path of superstorm Sandy.

This time, the European forecasting model was wrong, several commercial forecasters said. That model, one of four complex computer simulations normally used to calculate weather patterns along the Eastern seaboard, predicted that the heaviest snow would fall between 50 and 100 miles farther west than actually occurred.NYC blizzard 2015

As predicted, the storm pounded parts of Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine, with winds in excess of 50 mph and snow in some locales up to 30 in deep.

The National Weather Service had recently improved its own system, called the Global Forecast System, and its forecast correctly predicted that the storm would go farther out to sea, away from New York City.

In a statement on January 27, the National Weather Service’s New York office said: “The science of forecasting storms, while continually improving, still can be subject to error, especially if we’re on the edge of the heavy precipitation shield. Efforts, including research, are already under way to more easily communicate that forecast uncertainty.”

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Solar Power: The Future of Renewable Energy Resource

Dana R
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Solar Power: The Future of Renewable Energy Resource

The consumption of non-renewable resources has been increasing around the world at a rapid rate. New technologies have made it possible to harness solar energy to fuel our electricity and mechanics, making it possible to decrease the amount of non-renewable resources being used. Solar energy technology has spread and is now largely used worldwide. Many countries have built solar power plants to fuel factories and many people are now using solar panels to fuel their own residences.

What is Solar Energy?

 solar-energy

Image via Flickr by KUTAustin

Solar energy is a term that refers to energy from the sun. This is considered environmentally friendly and is a renewable resource that we can never use up. The sun is one of the most natural forms of energy and has been producing this energy for eons. Whether we are harnessing the energy or not, it will always be there. Solar energy comes in a form that we do not have to burn, as we do with fossil fuels, and therefore produces no airborne pollutants.

This natural source of energy is available all around the world and only requires an installation of the solar panels. Because of this and the affordable cost of home solar panels, many people have taken to using solar energy in their homes. This is one of the many reasons why it has spread so well worldwide. So how are countries around the world able to harness solar power energy and how do they use it to fuel solar power plants as a major source of electricity?

Germany

In 2014, Germany produced one of the highest amounts of solar energy worldwide. The country generated approximately 31 percent of its electricity from renewable resources. Now this percentage can also include wind power and hydropower, but it is a start in a greener direction. Germany has advanced to using solar power energy for as much as possible, lining solar panels along the rooftops of residential homes and businesses, along train tracks, and even around the outskirts of what used to be coal mines.

In one day in 2012, Germany produced approximately 22 gigawatts of energy from the sun, which is equal to the energy produced by 20 nuclear power plants. Germany also experienced a huge price cut in the cost of using solar power energy, costing about 2000 euros/kW in 2012 and decreasing to about 1200 euros/kW by 2015. The cost of using this more efficient source of energy has almost been cut in half, making it much more affordable and accessible to companies and residences.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s production of solar energy has rapidly increased over the past few years, making them also one of the highest solar energy producing countries. Despite the fact that the UK gets about half as many hours of sunlight as many other countries in Europe, the UK government predicted that by 2020, they will be able to produce enough energy to power 4 million homes across the country with the sun’s natural energy. By the end of 2011, there were as many as 230,000 solar power projects in the works.

Residences in the United Kingdom have been greatly encouraged to use solar energy to fuel their homes. The UK government funded the Energy Savings Trust, a government program which gives out loans in order for people to install solar power panels into their homes. The Green Energy for Schools program installed solar panels into about 100 schools across the country. In a continuing effort to make solar energy affordable and accessible, IKEA stores in the UK began selling solar panel packages for residential homes in 2014.

China

Solar production in China continues to increase and currently the country has over 400 different solar energy companies. The installation of panels has increased from 2.5 GW in 2011 to about 11.3 GW installed in 2013. The Chinese government has created a five-year plan, set to end in 2015. This plan produces a layout to install 1,000 more MW of solar panelling by the end of 2015.

Although the initial installation rate was slow for residential homes and businesses in China, the National Energy Administration has stepped up to help distribute more solar projects and subsidies to schools and hospitals. Continuing efforts will ensure that more residences across the country switch to using solar energy.

Solar power energy is increasing worldwide and becoming more efficient for residences and businesses alike. With continuing advances, solar energy will take the place of nuclear energy in the near future.

Apple reports biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company

Clyde K. Valle
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Apple reports biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company

Apple has posted the biggest quarterly profit ever made by a public company.

The giant tech reported a net profit of $18 billion in its fiscal first quarter, which tops the $15.9 billion made by ExxonMobil in Q2 2012, according to Standard and Poor’s.

Record sales of iPhones were behind the surge in profits.

Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones in the three months to December 27 – well ahead of most analysts’ expectations.

In a conference call with financial analysts Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook said that demand for phones was “staggering”.

However, sales of the iPad continued to disappoint, falling by 18% in 2014 from a year earlier.

The demand for Apple’s larger iPhone 6 Plus model appeared to help boost profits and increase the iPhone’s gross profit margin – or how much Apple makes per phone – by 2% to 39.9%.Apple biggest profit in history

However, Apple did not give a breakdown of sales for the iPhone 6 and other models.

Apple shares rose more than 5% in trading after the US markets had closed.

Apple’s revenue grew to $74.6 billion in 2014 – a 30% increase from a year earlier.

However, on a conference call to discuss earnings, Tim Cook complained of “fierce foreign exchange volatility”, which added Apple to a growing list of US firms who have been hurt by the strong dollar abroad.

Apple said that currency fluctuations shaved 4% from its Q1 2015 revenue.

Sales in greater China hit $16 billion in 2014 – a 70% increase from a year earlier, and almost equaling the $17 billion in sales the company recorded in Europe last year.

A report by research firm Canalys released on Tuesday said that Apple had overtaken competitors to become China’s number one seller of smartphones by units shipped in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Apple also said that its newest product, the Apple Watch, was still on schedule and would begin shipping in April.

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Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in May

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in May

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accepted an invitation to Moscow in May, South Korea’s Yonhap reports.

The news agency cites a written response from the Kremlin, but says it does not mention Kim Jong-un by name.

Yonhap quotes a Unification Ministry official as saying the reference to the leader could be ambiguous, as Kim Yong-un is the nominal head of state.

Kim Jong-un has not made any overseas visits since taking power in North Korea in late 2011.

His first destination will been keenly watched for what it might indicate about his policies and strategy.

Earlier this month, reports emerged suggesting Russia could be the recipient of Kim Jong-un’s first official visit.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists on January 21 that Russia had invited Kim Jong-un to the May 9 celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two.Kim Jong un to visit Russia in May

He said that the “first signal was positive” from the North Korean government.

Yonhap news agency said the response from the Russian presidential office confirmed that North Korea’s leader was among heads of state from 20 nations who had confirmed plans to attend.

However, the response did not specify Kim Jong-un by name and said: “The list of attendees has not been finalized yet, as we continue a process of confirming the attendance of those invited,” Yonhap reported.

There has been no statement from North Korea. Kim Yong-un, whose official title is president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, has more traditionally represented North Korea at overseas events.

Visits by Kim Jong-un’s late father, Kim Jong-il, were never announced ahead of his departure.

The late Kim Jong-il visited Russia in August 2011, shortly before his death. But he paid more regular visits to China which, under his leadership, was seen as Pyongyang’s closest ally.

If Kim Jong-un did choose to visit Moscow ahead of Beijing, the decision would be seen as significant – and as a snub to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In recent years, China has come under pressure from Japan, South Korea and the US to exert more pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.

Beijing has, on some occasions, expressed exasperation with its northern neighbor via official media channels.

It also backed UN resolutions strengthening sanctions on Pyongyang after its recent missile and nuclear tests in 2013.

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Demis Roussos public funeral to take place at First Cemetery of Athens on January 30

Sonia Pantiss
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Demis Roussos public funeral to take place at First Cemetery of Athens on January 30

A public funeral for legendary Demis Roussos is to take place on Friday, January 30, at the First Cemetery of Athens, a resting place for many Greek politicians and cultural figures.

Demis Roussos has died on Sunday, January 25, at the age of 68.

The singer died in Athens at the Igia Clinic, the medical facility where he was being treated, and his death was announced on Monday, January 26. A cause of death was not made public yet.Demis Roussos funeral

Demis Roussos, who was famous for his high-pitched voice and melodies inspired by Greek folklore, sold about 60 million records worldwide.

He had long struggled with his weight, but he later trimmed down and even wrote a diet book called A Question of Weight.

In subsequent years Demis Roussos suffered ill-health that kept him chair-bound.

He recorded and toured until 2009, when he released his last album.

One of Demis Roussos’ last public appearances was in Athens in 2013, when he received the Legion of Honor – France’s highest distinction – for his life’s work.

Greece: Alexis Tsipras’ anti-austerity government sworn in

Diane A. Wade
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Greece: Alexis Tsipras’ anti-austerity government sworn in

Greece’s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has formed a new cabinet with Yanis Varoufakis as finance minister and right-winger Panos Kammenos as defense minister.

Yanis Varoufakis is an outspoken critic of the conditions imposed on Greece in return for the 2010 bailout.

He will have the tough job of leading talks with the EU over the Syriza party’s pledge to renegotiate Greece’s massive international bailout.

Panos Kammenos is a member of the anti-bailout Independent Greeks party.

It joined a coalition with Syriza, after the left-wing party narrowly failed to secure a majority in parliament in Sunday’s elections.

The EU has meanwhile warned that the new government must stick to its creditor commitments.Alexis Tsipras prime minister

The government’s chief economics spokesman, Euclid Tsakalotos, has argued that it is unrealistic to expect Greece to repay its huge debt in full.

Correspondents say that the appointment of Yanis Varoufakis – who holds dual Greek and Australian nationality – is a signal that the new Syriza-led coalition will take an uncompromising stance when renegotiating Greece’s €240 billion ($270 billion) EU-IMF package.

Yanis Varoufakis insists that Greece cannot restore its finances until its debt is lessened and has described the bailout as “fiscal waterboarding”.

Before the appointment of Yanis Varoufakis, PM Alexis Tsipras said EU leaders needed now to show that they were willing to work with Syriza – and that it would be his “worst nightmare” if the eurozone collapsed because Greece fell.

The appointment of Panos Kammenos into the 11-minister cabinet is also likely to be controversial, correspondents say, because of his claims that Germany is to blame for his country’s economic woes by its insistence on budgetary belt tightening.

Other key appointments made by the prime minister include: Nikos Kotzias as foreign minister, Nikos Pappas as state minister, Nikos Voutsis as interior minister, Panagiotis Lafazanis as production and environment minister, Panos Skourletis as labor and social solidarity minister.

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Dementia linked to commonly used drugs

Kathryn R. Bown
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Dementia linked to commonly used drugs

According to a recent study, dementia is linked to commonly used medicines, including OTC treatments for conditions such as insomnia and hay-fever.

All of the types of medication in question are drugs that have an “anticholinergic” effect.

Experts say people should not panic or stop taking their medicines.

In the US study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, higher doses and prolonged use were linked to higher dementia risk in elderly people.

The researchers only looked at older people and found the increased risk appeared when people took drugs every day for three years or more.

All medicines can have side-effects and anticholinergic-type drugs that block a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine are no exception.

Patient information leaflets accompanying such drugs warn of the possibility of reduced attention span and memory problems as well as a dry mouth.

However, researchers say people should also be aware that they may be linked to a higher risk of developing dementia.Dementia OTC drugs

Dr. Shelly Gray and colleagues from the University of Washington followed the health of 3,434 people aged 65 and older who had no signs of dementia at the start of the study.

They looked at medical and pharmacy records to determine how many of the people had been given a drug with an anticholinergic effect, at what dose and how often and compared this data with subsequent dementia diagnoses over the next decade.

The study does not name specific brands, but does outline the types of treatments investigated, which include: tricyclic antidepressants for treating depression, antihistamines used to treat hay-fever and allergies and antimuscarinics for treating urinary incontinence.

Most of the drugs were given on prescription, rather than bought at the pharmacy over-the-counter.

The most commonly used anticholinergic-type drugs were medicines for treating depression, antihistamines for allergies such as hay-fever or to aid sleep/promote drowsiness, and drugs to treat urinary incontinence. Nearly a fifth were drugs that had been bought over the counter.

Over the course of the study, 797 of the participants developed dementia.

The study estimated that people taking at least 10 mg/day of doxepin (antidepressant), four mg/day of diphenhydramine (a sleep aid), or five mg/day of oxybutynin (a urinary incontinence drug) for more than three years would be at greater risk of developing dementia.

The researchers say doctors and pharmacists might want to take a precautionary approach and offer different treatments instead. And when there is no alternative, they could give the lowest dose for the shortest time possible.

Dr. Shelly Gray says some of the study participants have agreed to have an autopsy after their death.

“We will look at the brain pathology and see if we can find a biological mechanism that might explain our results.”

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Northeast snowstorm: National Weather Service admits its snow forecasts were wrong

Diane A. Wade
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Northeast snowstorm: National Weather Service admits its snow forecasts were wrong

The National Weather Service (NWS) has admitted its forecasts were wrong, after predicting a “potentially historic blizzard” would strike.

The storm piled deep snow on Connecticut and Massachusetts, but New York City was largely spared.

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, defended claims he had overreacted to warnings, saying he had only acted on the information available.

Blizzard warnings remain along the coast from Long Island to Maine.

“Rapidly deepening winter storms are very challenging to predict,” the NWS wrote on its Facebook page.

“The storm has moved further east and will be departing faster than our forecasts of the past two days.

“The result is much less snow than previously predicted for the western half of our region,” it added.

On January 26 an emergency was declared in a swathe of north-eastern states, and meteorologists predicted up to 36in of snow. Officials later downgraded the numbers.Northeast snowstorm 2015

The New York City authorities imposed a driving ban – since lifted – and took the unprecedented step of shutting the subway.

On January 27, New Yorkers awoke to a blanket of snow less deep than feared, and since then city life has been getting back to normal.

“Would you rather be prepared or unprepared? Would you rather be safe or unsafe?” said Bill de Blasio, defending the moves.

“My job as the leader is to make decisions and I will always err on the side of safety and caution.”

Other areas of New York state saw much heavier snowfall, with a teenage boy killed in a sledging accident on Long lsland.

Worst affected elsewhere were Connecticut and Massachusetts, which saw 20.5in and 26.2in respectively, compared to the 5.5in seen in New York’s Central Park.

Thousands of people are without power, mostly in Massachusetts. The state’s only nuclear power station shut down after the blizzard interrupted its power flow.

Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker said the snow had been “fluffier and lighter” than anticipated, meaning there were less power outages.

The NWS is still warning of potentially life-threatening conditions along the New England coast, as the storm heads north into Canada.

Meteorologists expect the snow and strong winds to continue throughout Tuesday, before weakening overnight.

Air travel remains disrupted, with more than 5,000 flights cancelled, according to flightaware.com.

Schools across the region are expected to remain closed until January 28, with public transport expected to be back to normal in New York by then too.

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Kim Kardashian reveals that Bruce and Kris Jenner starred in 90’s workout infomercial for Power Walk Plus

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian reveals that Bruce and Kris Jenner starred in 90’s workout infomercial for Power Walk Plus

Bruce and Kris Jenner starred in a 90’s workout infomercial for Power Walk Plus, Kim Kardashian has revealed.

The reality star tweeted the humorous flashback Vine video, with the caption reading: “Who knew that Kris & Bruce Jenner had their very own tape? #PowerWalkPlus.”Bruce and Kris Jenner starred in 90's workout infomercial for Power Walk Plus

In the clip, Bruce Jenner is really selling the Power Walk Plus, saying: “You can pick it up, but you control the pace, as long as you stay nice and erect, you’re gonna be OK.”

Bruce and Kris Jenner both seem to be in great shape as they sport matching all-black exercise outfits in the vintage video.

Kris Jenner, 59, officially filed for divorce from Bruce, 65, in September 2014 after 23 years of marriage.

The Kardashians matriarch has since been romantically linked to 33-year-old Corey Gamble.

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Joan Rivers death: Melissa Rivers sues New York medical clinic

Lisa.Felice
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Joan Rivers death: Melissa Rivers sues New York medical clinic

Melissa Rivers has filed a malpractice claim against the New York medical clinic that treated her mother, Joan Rivers, days before she died.

Joan Rivers, 81, suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing a procedure to examine her throat at the Yorkville Endoscopy centre in August 2014.

The legal claim alleges doctors were not adequately trained and performed unauthorized procedures on the comedian.

Joan Rivers’ family is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

In November, state health investigators said the clinic failed to follow standard protocols while treating Joan Rivers, who died a week later.

The Department of Health cited multiple errors, including failing to detect the comedian’s deteriorating vital signs during the procedure, but negligence was not suspected.

The New York medical examiner’s office ruled Joan Rivers died of brain damage due to lack of oxygen during the procedure.

The death was classified as a “therapeutic complication”, meaning it was a known risk.Joan Rivers' daughter sues clinic over death

However, Melissa Rivers claims doctors mishandled the endoscopy and performed another procedure – carried out by specialist Gwen Korovin who was not cleared to work at the clinic – without consent.

During the second procedure, gastroenterologist Dr. Lawrence Cohen and Gwen Korovin took pictures on their mobile phones of themselves with the sedated comedian.

Gwen Korovin later said she thought Joan Rivers would have wanted to see the images. Dr. Lawrence Cohen has since resigned.

The legal claim alleges staff were not properly trained to detect Joan Rivers’ deteriorating vital signs or deal with the type of emergency airway obstruction she suffered before going into cardiac arrest.

It also claims Gwen Korovin left the room at this point because she knew she was not permitted to be there and “wanted to avoid getting caught”.

Melissa Rivers said filing the lawsuit was one of the most difficult decisions she had to make.

“What ultimately guided me was my unwavering belief that no family should ever have to go through what my mother, Cooper and I have been through,” she said, referring to her son.

“The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency, disrespect and outrageous behavior is shocking and frankly, almost incomprehensible.”

The Yorkville Endoscopy centre said it was not appropriate to comment on the legal action.

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Alexander Litvinenko’s death: Ex-Russian spy may have been poisoned twice

Diane A. Wade
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Alexander Litvinenko’s death: Ex-Russian spy may have been poisoned twice

The public inquiry into Alexander Litvinenko’s death has heard that the ex-Russian spy may have been poisoned with polonium “not once but twice”.

Alexander Litvinenko died from radiation poisoning in a London hospital in November 2006 at the age of 43, nearly three weeks after drinking tea laced with the substance.

Russians,Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, have denied any involvement.

Alexander Litvinenko may also have been poisoned in October 2006, counsel to the inquiry Robin Tam QC said.

He had fled to the UK where he became a vocal critic of the Kremlin and worked for the UK’s intelligence service MI6.

Alexander Litvinenko had recalled feeling unwell around the time of a meeting at a security company in mid-October and “vomiting on one occasion about two or three weeks before being hospitalized”, Robin Tam said.Alexander Litvinenko’s death inquiry

“Hair samples that are available indicate that Mr. Litvinenko may well have been poisoned twice and that the first occasion being much less severe than the second.”

The two men suspected of killing Alexander Litvinenko made three trips to London in the run up to his death and brought Polonium to try to kill him each time.

The judge-led inquiry was officially opened by presiding judge Sir Robert Owen at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Judge Robert Owen said Alexander Litvinenko’s death from radiation poisoning in London in 2006 had attracted “worldwide interest and concern”.

Alexandr Litvinenko’s widow Marina says he blamed the Kremlin as he lay dying in hospital, but Russia denies any involvement.

Her lawyer has described his murder as “an act of state-sponsored nuclear terrorism on the streets of London”.

Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, following a meeting with two Russians at the Millennium Hotel in central London.

Dmitry Kovtun and former KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi – whom the UK police have identified as suspects in the case – have been invited to give evidence via videolink from Russia, Robert Owen said.

Andrei Lugovoi told Russian television station LifeNews TV on January 27 that there could be no fair trial in Britain.

“They classified the materials, saying Litvinenko co-operated with English intelligence. How can it be investigated impartially after that?” he said.

“This is why we pulled out in protest – we want it to be investigated but we want it to be impartial and, moreover, we want it investigated in Russia.”

Judge Robert Owen said sensitive evidence had established there was a “prima facie case” as to the culpability of the Russian state in Alexander Litvinenko’s death.

The judge said the use of polonium could have killed large numbers of people “or spread general panic and hysteria among the public”.

“The issues to which his death gives rise are of the utmost gravity and have attracted worldwide interest and concern,” he said.

Judge Robert Owen was originally appointed as the coroner at Alexander Litvinenko’s inquest but he called for a public inquiry because the inquest could not consider sensitive evidence due to national security fears.

The UK government resisted the move at first but later changed its stance last July, amid worsening relations with Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine.

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Fidel Castro breaks silence on Cuba-US thaw

Diane A. Wade
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Fidel Castro breaks silence on Cuba-US thaw

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro appears to have given tacit approval to the recent decision by Cuba and the US to restore diplomatic relations.

In a letter, Fidel Castro wrote: “I don’t trust the policy of the US, nor have I exchanged a word with them, but this does not mean I reject a peaceful solution to conflicts.”

These were Fidel Castro’s first comments since December’s historic move by Cuba and the US after decades of hostilities.

High-level talks were held last week.Fidel Castro breaks silence on Cuba-US thaw

In the letter published by the state-run newspaper Granma, Fidel Castro, 88 wrote: “We will always defend cooperation and friendship with all the people of the world, including with our political adversaries.”

The former leader appeared to be backing decisions taking by his younger brother Raul Castro – the current Cuban president who succeeded him in 2008.

Fidel Castro, the letter stated, “has taken the pertinent steps in accordance with his prerogatives and the powers given to him by the National Assembly the Communist Party of Cuba”.

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