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Ebola experimental vaccine sent to Liberia

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola experimental vaccine sent to Liberia

The first batch of GSK’s Ebola experimental vaccine is on its way to Liberia.

The shipment will be the first potentially preventative medicine to reach one of the hardest hit countries.

However, experts say that, with Ebola cases falling, it may be difficult to establish whether the jab offers any protection against the virus.

The vaccine has been produced by British company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the US National Institutes of Health.

GSK said a plane carrying some 300 initial doses of the vaccine was expected to arrive in Monrovia on January 23.

The company hopes the first volunteer will be immunized in the next few weeks.

GSK CEO Andrew Witty said the pace of development was almost unparalleled and was comparable to only the development of a pandemic flu vaccine or new medicines for HIV.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Scientists aim to involve 30,000 volunteers in the trial in total, including frontline health workers.

If all regulations are met, 10,000 volunteers will be given the GSK vaccine.

A matching number will get a placebo, dummy vaccine. And there are plans for a further 10,000 people to get a separate experimental jab.

The results will be compared to see if either vaccine offers any meaningful protection against the virus.

A version of the vaccine has already been tested on 200 healthy volunteers across the UK, US, Switzerland and Mali.

GSK says it has been found to have an acceptable safety profile so far.

However, it is only in affected countries that experts can determine whether it provides adequate protection against the virus.

Dr. Moncef Slaoui, of GSK said: “Shipping the vaccine today is a major achievement and shows that we remain on track with the accelerated development of our candidate Ebola vaccine.

“The initial phase one data we have seen are encouraging and give us confidence to progress to the next phases of clinical testing.”

GSK stresses the vaccine is still in development and the World Health Organization, and other regulators, would have to be satisfied the vaccine is both safe and effective before any mass immunization campaigns could be considered.

Field trials of other promising vaccines – for example one involving the company Merck – are planned in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the months to come.

There are reports that a trial of an experimental drug called Zmapp might start in the next few weeks.

However, experts say with the number of Ebola cases falling opportunities to test vaccines and drugs could be limited.

Who is King Salman of Saudi Arabia?

Lisa.Felice
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Who is King Salman of Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia’s new king, Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, acceded to the throne on the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah, on January 23.

King Salman, 79, was governor of Riyadh province for 48 years before becoming defense minister in 2011 and crown prince a year later.

He had already taken on the duties of the king as Abdullah’s health faded.

King Salman is part of an influential faction within the royal family formed of sons and grandsons of the late King Abdulaziz (usually referred to as Ibn Saud) by a favorite wife, Princess Hassa al-Sudairi.

After the deaths of the former king, Fahd, who ruled from 1982 until 2005, and two previous crown princes, Sultan and Nayef, Salman was already the most powerful surviving member of this faction.

As governor of Riyadh, Salman oversaw its transformation from an isolated desert town into a crowded city of skyscrapers, universities and Western fast-food chains.King Salman of Saudi Arabia

The post raised Salman’s international profile as he hosted visiting VIPs and envoys and helped secure foreign investment.

As defense minister Salman was head of the Saudi military as it joined the US and other Arab countries in air strikes in Syria in 2014 against the Islamic State militant group.

King Salman’s sons include:

  • Deputy Oil Minister Prince Abdulaziz
  • Prince Faisal, the governor of Medina
  • Prince Sultan, the head of the tourism authority and a former Royal Saudi Air Force pilot and astronaut.

King Salman is not believed to be as personally interested in political or social reform as his predecessor and his priority will be to maintain stability in Saudi Arabia.

Commentators have drawn attention to King Salman’s reputation as a mediator within the huge Saudi royal family, with its complex network of competing factions.

This task has become more fraught as the second tier of senior political posts in Saudi Arabia – the control of key ministries and governorships – has passed from the sons to grandsons of the late King Abdulaziz.

King Salman’s own Sudairi faction within the family, once a powerful and united group of seven full brothers, has itself developed internal rivalries as the sons of those brothers establish their own power bases.

The king’s health has also been a concern. He is reported to have suffered at least one stroke that has left him with limited movement in his left arm.

Correspondents say King Salman has appeared alert and well-briefed in recent meetings but, given his age, there are concerns about his stamina.

After becoming king, Salman announced that the new crown prince would be his half-brother Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, the youngest surviving son of the late King Abdulaziz.

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McDonald’s sued by former employees for racial discrimination

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s sued by former employees for racial discrimination

McDonald’s is being sued in Virginia by ten former employees for racial discrimination.

The suit alleges that some employees were fired from one franchise because there were “too many black people”.

It is being backed by a group campaigning for better wages for fast-food workers and the local Virginia National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

McDonald’s has not yet commented specifically on the suit.

The company issued a general statement, saying: “McDonald’s has a long-standing history of embracing the diversity of employees, independent franchisees, customers and suppliers, and discrimination is completely inconsistent with our values.

“McDonald’s and our independent owner-operators share a commitment to the well-being and fair treatment of all people who work in McDonald’s restaurants.”

The suit is part of a continuing effort on the part of labor organizers to hold McDonald’s responsible for the behavior of its franchisees.McDonald's sued for racial discrimination

McDonald’s and other restaurant groups have argued that it should not be held responsible for the behavior and labor practices of franchisees.

However, their position has been weakened by the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

It ruled that McDonalds “could be held jointly liable for labor and wage violations by its franchise operators” in July.

Since then, current and former employees have filed lawsuits against many McDonald’s franchises and the larger corporation alleging wage theft and other illegal practices.

In the lawsuit filed in Virginia on January 22, which is not part of the NLRB’s larger activity, 10 former employees – nine of whom are African-American and one of whom is Hispanic – allege that they were subject to “rampant racial and sexual harassment” by supervisors at three restaurants run by McDonald’s franchisee Michael Simon.

Michael Simon became franchise operator of the three restaurants in late 2013, when the majority of the employees at the restaurants were African-American.

Soon after, the suit alleges Michael Simon instituted a plan to hire more white employees, with supervisors allegedly telling employees that the restaurants were “too dark” and they needed to hire new employees to “get the ghetto out of the store”.

Subsequently, in mid-2014, a large number of white employees were hired and several of the African-American employees who are part of the suit were fired.

The fired workers alleged that when they attempted to contact McDonald’s corporate office, there was no response.

McDonald’s is due to report its Q4 2014 earnings before US markets open on January 23.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dies from lung infection

Diane A. Wade
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King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dies from lung infection

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has died weeks after he was admitted to hospital, royal officials have announced.

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who was said to be aged about 90, had been suffering from a lung infection.

A statement released on January 23 said the king’s 79-year-old half brother, Salman, had become king.

King Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.

King Salman had recently taken on the ailing monarch’s responsibilities.

Before the announcement, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses, which often signifies the death of a senior royal.

The late king’s half brother Muqrin, who is in his late 60s, has been named the new crown prince, the official statement said.King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia dead

All three are sons of the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz, usually referred to as Ibn Saud, who died in 1953.

King Salman called on the royal family’s Allegiance Council to recognize Muqrin as his crown prince and heir.

“His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 01:00 this morning,” the statement said.

Following tradition, King Abdullah will be buried later on Friday in an unmarked grave.

President Barack Obama expressed his personal sympathies and those of the American people, on the death of King Abdullah.

“As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the US-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond,” he said.

Vice-President Joe Biden tweeted that he would lead a delegation to Riyadh to pay respects.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II cut short a visit to Davos, Switzerland, to travel to Saudi Arabia, as Jordan’s royal court declared 40 days of mourning.

Abdullah was the 13th of the 37 sons of King Abdulaziz. He is believed to have been born in August 1924 in Riyadh, although there is some dispute about his actual birth date.

In 1962 Abdullah was appointed commander of the Saudi National Guard, where he earned the respect and loyalty of the desert tribes.

When he came to the throne in 2005 he succeeded another half-brother, Fahd.

However, Abdullah had already been Saudi Arabia’s de-facto leader for 10 years because his predecessor had been debilitated by a stroke.

Correspondents say King Abdullah was seen as a reformer at home, albeit a slow and steady one.

He allowed mild criticism of his government in the press, and hinted that more women should be allowed to work.

King Salman spent 48 years as governor of Riyadh Province before becoming crown prince and defense minister.

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Yingluck Shinawatra impeached and banned from politics over rice subsidy scheme

Diane A. Wade
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Yingluck Shinawatra impeached and banned from politics over rice subsidy scheme

Thailand’s ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra has been impeached and banned from politics for five years following legislators vote.

The move relates to Yingluck Shinawatra involvement in a controversial rice subsidy scheme.

Earlier on Friday, the attorney general also announced that Yingluck Shinawatra would face a criminal charge over her role in the scheme.

A court removed Yingluck Shinawatra as prime minister in May 2014, days before the military ousted her government in a coup.

On Janaury 23, 190 out of 219 lawmakers present in the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted to impeach her. Eighteen voted against impeachment while the others abstained. One lawmaker was absent for the vote.

The votes were written on a whiteboard as they were tallied, and broadcast on national television.

Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, tycoon and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, remain hugely popular among Thailand’s rural poor, but are hated by an urban and middle-class elite who accuse them of corruption and abuse of power.Yingluck Shinawatra impeachment

Their party is the most popular in Thailand and has – under various different names – won every election since 2001.

The allegations against Yingluck Shinawatra centre around a scheme in which her Pheu Thai-led government bought rice from Thai farmers at a much higher price than on the global market.

It resulted in the accumulation of huge stockpiles of rice and hit Thailand’s rice exports hard.

Anti-corruption investigators have accused Yingluck Shinawatra and her party of using the scheme to buy votes from farmers, particularly from their power base in the north, and allowing government associates to profit from it.

Yingluck Shinawatra has maintained that she was not involved in the scheme’s day-to-day operations, and has defended it as an attempt to support the rural poor. She has also said that she could not be impeached as she has not held a position in the government for months.

Her supporters say the claims against her are a ruse to remove her from politics.

Yingluck Shinawatra also faces up to ten years in prison if she is found guilty of negligence of duty, which the attorney general charged her with on Friday morning.

Surasak Threerattrakul, director-general of the Office of the Attorney General, said after considering all the witnesses and evidence from the National Anti-Corruption Committee “we agree that the case substantiates a criminal indictment charge against Yingluck”.

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Tutankhamun’s beard glued back on with epoxy after suffering damages during cleaning

Sonia Pantiss
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Tutankhamun’s beard glued back on with epoxy after suffering damages during cleaning

Tutankhamun’s blue and gold braided beard on the burial mask of the pharaoh was stuck on with epoxy after it was knocked during cleaning, say staff at Cairo museum.

However, conservators at the Egypt museum in Cairo gave differing accounts of the exact circumstances.

It is not clear whether the mask was damaged during cleaning or if the beard was removed because it was loose.

The 3,000-year-old artefact, with other relics from the boy king’s tomb, is among Cairo’s biggest attractions.

An inquiry is under way into what happened to one of Egypt’s greatest treasures.

Instead of being taken to a conservation lab, the repair was performed quickly to put the mask back on display, conservators say.Tutankhamun’s beard glued back on

One of the museum conservators said quick-drying glue was used to re-attach the beard to the famed mask.

A second one who was present at the time of the repair said the glue had dried on the mask and that a colleague used a spatula to remove it, leaving scratches.

The director of the Egypt Museum, Mahmoud Al Hawagi, confirmed that a translucent adhesive material had appeared on the burial mask.

The ministry of antiquities was now investigating how this happened, he added.

The conservators spoke on condition of anonymity, but they agreed that orders for a quick fix must have come from above.

The Egypt Museum is among Cairo’s top tourist sites, but in some areas ancient artefacts lie unprotected from the public.

Tutankhamun’s burial mask was discovered in 1922 along with the pharaoh’s nearly intact tomb and sparked worldwide interest in archaeology and ancient Egypt.

Prince Andrew publicly denies Virginia Roberts claims during Davos speech

Lisa.Felice
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Prince Andrew publicly denies Virginia Roberts claims during Davos speech

Prince Andrew has denied claims by American Virginia Roberts that she was forced to have s** with him when she was 17 and says he wants to focus on his work.

In his first public appearance since the claims were made, the Duke of York said he wanted to “reiterate” the denials issued by Buckingham Palace.

Prince Andrew, 54, was speaking at a World Economic Forum reception in Davos, Switzerland.

Virginia Roberts’s lawyers have repeated the claims in new documents given to a court in Florida.

The woman, who is referred to in the case as Jane Doe #3, alleges she was forced by financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted s** offender, to have s** with Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Buckingham Palace has previously said the claims against Prince Andrew are “categorically untrue” and lack “any foundation”.Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts

Prince Andrew said: “Firstly I think I must, and want, for the record, to refer to events that have taken place in the last few weeks.

“I just wish to reiterate and to reaffirm the statements that have already been made on my behalf by Buckingham Palace.

“My focus is on my work and this evening’s reception allows me to tell you about just a couple of the initiatives that I have founded and am passionate about.”

The new documents, filed in Florida, mark the first time Virginia Roberts has given a statement about the allegations in her own words.

The woman’s lawyers said they had sent Prince Andrew a letter asking him to respond under oath to the allegations.

They say the letter was sent back to them as having been refused by the recipient.

The allegations against Prince Andrew emerged in evidence submitted to a US court in a case involving Jeffrey Epstein, who spent time in jail in 2008-2009.

Prince Andrew, the fifth in line to the throne, stepped down as UK trade envoy in July 2011 following controversy over his then friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York is not facing any legal proceedings over the claims made in the US case.

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Barack Obama declines Benjamin Netanyahu meeting

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama declines Benjamin Netanyahu meeting

President Barack Obama will not meet Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits in March to speak to Congress, the White House has announced.

Spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan cited a “long-standing practice” of not meeting heads of state close to elections, which Israel will hold in mid-March.

Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by House Speaker John Boehner in what is seen as a rebuke to Barack Obama’s Iran policy.

President Barack Obama has said he will veto attempts to add new sanctions on Iran.

He believes new measures will be harmful to negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, talks Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu has warned a deal between Iran and the US will pose a threat to Israel.Netanyahu obama israel

On January 22, Benjamin Netanyahu formally accepted the invitation from senior Republican John Boehner, saying it will give him the chance to “thank President Barack Obama, Congress and the American people for their support of Israel”.

Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to discuss Iran, as well as Islamic militant groups, in his address to Congress on March 3.

“As a matter of long-standing practice and principle, we do not see heads of state or candidates in close proximity to their elections, so as to avoid the appearance of influencing a democratic election in a foreign country,” Bernadette Meehan said in a statement.

She added President Barack Obama had “been clear about his opposition” about new sanctions legislation.

“The president has had many conversations with the prime minister on this matter, and I am sure they will continue to be in contact.”

Nancy Pelosi, the House’s top Democrat, said the visit, two weeks before Israel’s election and in the midst of “delicate” Iran talks, is not “appropriate and helpful”.

Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting a tough election against the Labor Party’s Yitzhak Herzog, who has focused on the prime minister’s cooler relations with Barack Obama.

New Jersey fire: Massive evacuation from Edgewater apartment building

Nancy Clayson
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New Jersey fire: Massive evacuation from Edgewater apartment building

As many as 400 people evacuated from apartment building that caught fire in Edgewater, New Jersey.

Edgewater Fire Chief Tom Jacobson said the fire started on the ground floor and quickly spread through the building on the Hudson River.

The city’s mayor says about 500 residents have been displaced. Two residents and two firefighters suffered minor injuries.New Jersey fire Edgewater building apartment

The fire was raging Wednesday evening in the apartment complex and was still smoldering on Thursday morning.

Local media reported the fire begin at 17:00 local time and continued to burn for hours.

Resident Hamza Abdul told the Bergen Record newspaper he was working when he got a call about the fire.

The apartment building, across from the Manhattan skyline, also housed New York Yankees play-by-play announcer John Sterling.

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Michael Brown case: No civil rights charges against Officer Darren Wilson

Nancy Clayson
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Michael Brown case: No civil rights charges against Officer Darren Wilson

The US Department of Justice will not bring civil rights charges against Officer Darren Wilson who killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

DoJ officials told the New York Times, who first reported the story, the investigation had concluded.

Michael Brown, 18, was shot by Officer Darren Wilson in August, sparking nationwide protests.

A separate investigation into alleged discriminatory policing by the Ferguson police department remains open.

A grand jury decided not to bring criminal charges against Darren Wilson in 2014, prompting further unrest in the St Louis suburb and elsewhere.Darren Wilson and Michael Brown

Now it appears that investigators will not recommended federal charges either, although the decision is ultimately up to outgoing US Attorney General Eric Holder.

In order to bring federal charges, the justice department would need to show Darren Wilson intentionally deprived Michael Brown of his civil rights – and prove he used more force than the law allowed.

Experts say the standard is difficult to meet and many high-profile cases have not resulted in similar charges.

In a statement, Michael Brown’s family said they would wait for official word from the justice department before commenting.

Councilman Antonio French, who has been outspoken during the protests, told CNN he thinks many will be disappointed if no charges are brought.

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Biggest snowstorm of season to hit Boston, NYC, Philadelphia over weekend

Nancy Clayson
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Biggest snowstorm of season to hit Boston, NYC, Philadelphia over weekend

The biggest snowstorm of this season is poised to hit NYC, Boston and Philadelphia over the weekend.

The storm could bring the first widespread heavy snowfall of the winter to the Interstate-95 Northeast corridor, the northern and western suburbs of the I-95 cities and parts of the Appalachians.

Even where moderate snowfall occurs or snow changes to rain, the storm can easily be the biggest snowstorm of the winter so far and bring substantial travel disruptions.

The storm responsible for spreading snow into New Mexico and Texas into Thursday will spread a swath of snow and rain to a large part of the East Friday night and Saturday.

How much snowfall versus rainfall will depend on the track of what will become a significant coastal storm.

Since the storm is still a couple of days away and the exact track is still somewhat uncertain, a shift in track farther to the east or west by as little as 50 miles could have a huge impact on snowfall accumulation.

People traveling to, from or through the I-81 and I-95 corridors on spanning Friday night into Saturday night should expect major delays due to rain in the South and snow or a wintry mix farther north.

Accumulating snow is most likely to fall from the mountains of western North Carolina, eastern Kentucky and western Virginia to southern and eastern Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, the lower Hudson Valley of New York state and southeastern and central New England. Enough snow is likely to fall to shovel and plow in this area.

Included in the potential swath of accumulating snow is the Interstate-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. Even though rain could mix in over all or part of this zone, roads will be slippery during much of the storm. Airline delays are likely with the potential for cancellations.

Motorists should expect difficult travel in the I-81 swath from Virginia to Pennsylvania due to slippery and snow-covered roads.

How quickly the storm strengthens will determine how nasty the weather gets in New England. A full-fledged nor’easter or blizzard could hit part of New England with blowing and drifting snow, as well as the potential for damaging wind gusts and coastal flooding.

The storm will behave differently than the storm from last Saturday in that in most cases this will be a snow, rain or snow/rain mix, rather than an extended period of freezing rain. Some sleet can be mixed in as the storm transitions to rain in some coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic and New England.

Over much of the southern Atlantic Seaboard and the Piedmont areas of the Carolinas, enough rain can fall to cause urban flooding problems. Where heavy rain follows heavy snow, along part of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coasts, there can be street and poor drainage area flooding.

Another storm with snow may swing from the Midwest to the coastal Northeast during the first part of next week.

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Dustin Diamond pleads not guilty in Wisconsin bar fight

Lisa.Felice
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Dustin Diamond pleads not guilty in Wisconsin bar fight

Saved by the Bell actor Dustin Diamond has pleaded not guilty to charges resulting from a bar fight in southeastern Wisconsin.

Dustin Diamond, 38, and his fiancée, Amanda Schutz, appeared in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on January 22 on charges stemming from the Christmas Day scuffle at a Port Washington bar.

The actor, who played Screech in the 1990s TV show, is accused of stabbing a man after Amanda Schutz became involved in an altercation. The stabbed man told police he had shoved Dustin Diamond forcefully and didn’t realize he had been cut until later.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Dustin Diamond pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless endangering safety, a felony, and two misdemeanors.

Amanda Schutz entered the same plea to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Dustin Diamond has been free on bond. The judge set a $500 signature bond for Amanda Schutz.

The actor is due back in court on February 19th.

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eBay to slash 2,400 jobs in Q1 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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eBay to slash 2,400 jobs in Q1 2015

eBay is planning to cut 2,400 jobs in Q1 2015, the e-commerce giant announced on January 21.

The company’s decision to cut about 7% of its workforce comes ahead of a plan to split from its online payment PayPal business this year.

eBay made the announcement in its fourth quarter earnings report, which had topped expectations on Wall Street.

It said in a statement it wanted to refocus the businesses and ensure it was “set-up to compete and win”.

The job cuts will range across its eBay Marketplaces, PayPal, and eBay Enterprise units.eBay job cut 2015

The tech giant also said it has made an agreement with activist investor, Carl Icahn, to give investors a greater say in its PayPal business once it is spun off in the second half of this year.

The billionaire investor had been trying to gather support for the proposed split before the company’s annual shareholder meeting in May last year.

eBay also announced that it was considering a sale or public offering of its enterprise unit.

Amid the business shake up, eBay forecast earnings between 68 cents and 71 cents a share in the first quarter, while revenue was expected to hit $4.35 billion to $4.45 billion. Both forecasts fell short of market expectations.

Its profit in Q4 2014 rose to $936 million on $4.9 billion in revenue.

eBay’s New York listed shares rose 2.6% in after-hours trade.

ECB announces €1.1 trillion QE to boost eurozone economy

Clyde K. Valle
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ECB announces €1.1 trillion QE to boost eurozone economy

The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled an €1.1 trillion ($1.3 trillion) plan to boost eurozone economy.

The ECB will buy bonds worth €60 billion ($72 billion) per month until the end of September 2016 and possibly longer, in what is known as quantitative easing (QE).

The bank has also said eurozone interest rates are being held at the record low of 0.05%, where they have been since September 2014.

ECB president Mario Draghi said the program would begin in March.

The eurozone is flagging and the ECB is seeking ways to stimulate spending.

Earlier this month, figures showed the eurozone was suffering deflation, creating the danger that growth would stall as businesses and consumers shut their wallets, as they waited for prices to fall.

Mario Draghi said the program would be conducted “until we see a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation”, which the ECB has pledged to maintain at close to 2%.

He told a news conference the ECB would be purchasing euro-denominated investment grade securities issued by euro-area governments and agencies and European institutions.Mario Draghi ECB QE plan

However, “some additional eligibility criteria” would be applied in the case of countries under an EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) adjustment program.

The value of the euro fell following Mario Draghi’s announcement, falling by more than a cent against the US dollar to $1.1472.

Lowering the cost of borrowing should encourage banks to lend and eurozone businesses and consumers to spend more.

It is a strategy that appears to have worked in the US, which undertook a huge program of QE between 2008 and 2014.

The UK and Japan have also had sizeable bond-buying programs.

Mario Draghi said the ECB’s own program had been taken “to counter two unfavorable developments”.

“Inflation dynamics have continued to be weaker than expected,” he said, with most inflation indicators at or close to historical lows.

“Economic slack in the euro area remains sizeable and money and credit developments continue to be subdued,” he added.

At the same time, it was necessary to “address heightened risks of too prolonged a period of low inflation”.

Mario Draghi said there had been a “large majority” on the ECB’s governing council in favor of triggering the bond-buying program now – “so large that we did not need to take a vote”.

Up until now, the ECB has resisted QE, although Mario Draghi reassured markets in July 2012 by saying he would be prepared to do whatever it took to maintain financial stability in the eurozone, nicknamed his “big bazooka” speech.

Since then, the case for quantitative easing has been growing.

In advance of the ECB’s announcement, there had been speculation that the central bank would not actually buy any bonds itself, but would invite the central banks of eurozone member governments to do so.

In the event, Mario Draghi said only 20% of the new asset purchases would require national central banks to shoulder risks outside their own borders.

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Ebola 2015: Falling cases show turning point

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola 2015: Falling cases show turning point

According to World Health Organization officials, there has been a “turning point” in the Ebola crisis, with cases falling in the three affected countries.

Just 8 cases were detected in Liberia in the last week down from a peak of 500-a-week in September. Guinea and Sierra Leone have also seen falls.

The WHO said the figures were the “most promising” since the outbreak started.

However, the agency continues to urge caution, and to highlight the need to find those who had contact with Ebola patients.

The largest outbreak of Ebola in human history has infected 21,724 people and killed 8,641 – largely in just three countries, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.Ebola 2015

All are now showing falls in weekly cases:

  • Cases in Liberia stand at 8-per-week down from a peak of 509
  • Cases in Guinea stand at 20 per week down from a peak of 292
  • Cases in Sierra Leone stand at 117-per-week down from a peak of 748

There are now some days in Liberia where no cases are reported at all.

A single case is enough to start an entire outbreak so identifying everyone who comes into contact with Ebola is vital.

Yet the latest WHO situation report says the number of people being traced “remains lower than expected in many districts”.

Western Sierra Leone remains another problem.

Of the 145 cases reported across all affected countries last week, more than 100 were in that region, which includes the capital Freetown.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner convinced Alberto Nisman’s death was not suicide

Diane A. Wade
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Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner convinced Alberto Nisman’s death was not suicide

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says she is convinced the death of federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman was not suicide.

Alberto Nisman, 51, was found shot dead in his apartment on January 18.

The prosecutor probing Alberto Nisman’s death said it appeared to be suicide.

In a letter published on January 22, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner cast doubt on that theory.

Alberto Nisman had been investigating the 1994 deadly bombing of a Jewish centre.

Eighty-five people died in the bombing in Buenos Aires. It was Argentina’s worst terrorist attack.

Days prior to his death, Alberto Nisman had accused Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman of involvement in a plot to cover up Iran’s alleged role in the 1994 bombing on the seven-storey AMIA community centre.

He died just hours before he was due to give details of his allegations to a congressional committee.

Alberto Nisman based his allegations on intercepted conversations which seem to suggest Argentine intelligence officers tried to whitewash the Iranian suspects in the 1994 bombing.Alberto Nisman death Argentina

In a 300-page report, Alberto Nisman alleged that after years of tension caused by the 1994 bombing, the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was keen to improve ties with Iran in order to trade Argentine grain for badly needed oil.

Government spokesman Anibal Fernandez dismissed the allegations on January 21 as “absolutely feeble”.

In a letter published on her Twitter account, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said Alberto Nisman had been provided with “false information” and that the spies he quoted were not really spies at all but had misled him deliberately.

She also referred to his death as “the suicide (I’m convinced) was no suicide”.

Investigating prosecutor Viviane Fein had said on January 19 that there had been “no intervention” from others in Alberto Nisman’s death.

The prosecutor said the bullet found lodged in his head had been fired at close range from the gun which had been found lying next to Alberto Nisman’s body.

Viviane Fein added that the apartment’s door had been locked from the inside and that the key was in the lock.

She said there was no evidence of any outside “intervention”, although she did not rule out the possibility that Alberto Nisman had been “induced” to kill himself.

Relatives and friends of Alberto Nisman, who had spoken to him in the days prior to his death, said he appeared confident and in good spirits, although he did mention receiving threats.

Media speculation about whether Alberto Nisman’s death was a suicide has been mounting as new statements and evidence emerge.

On January, it was revealed that a test failed to detect any gunshot residue on Alberto Nisman’s hands.

While Viviane Fein said that the negative result could be due to the small caliber of the gun, it reignited suspicion that Alberto Nisman did not pull the trigger.

Remarks made by the locksmith who was called to gain access to Alberto Nisman’s flat further fuelled speculation.

The man, who only gave his name as Walter, described how it had taken him only two minutes to get in.

He said that the service door “was closed but not locked” and that it had been easy to “simply push the key” which was on the inside with the help of a wire.

“If someone entered or not, I don’t know,” he added.

Apart from the locked main door and the service door, investigators have found a third way into the apartment.

They said a narrow corridor housing air conditioning equipment linked Alberto Nisman’s apartment to that of a neighbor.

Recent footprints and fingerprints found inside the corridor are currently being tested.

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Windows 10, HoloLens, Cortana: Microsoft announces its future

Nancy Clayson
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Windows 10, HoloLens, Cortana: Microsoft announces its future

Windows 10 will bring Microsoft’s voice-controlled assistant Cortana to PCs, the company has revealed.

Microsoft also unveiled the HoloLens headset that it said would one day project the operating system over views of the real world.

In addition, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be offered free of charge for devices running Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Phone.

The offer, which is limited to the Windows 10’s first year of release, may aid its adoption.

It marks a change in strategy from Microsoft’s previous policy of charging for major updates, and could help avoid a repeat of the relatively slow uptake of Windows 8.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the HoloLens headset represented a “magical moment” of “category creation” that developers lived for.

The wearable tech’s augmented reality see-through lenses represent a major leap forward over Google Glass and other existing eyewear – assuming the machine lives up to its on-stage demo, in which computer-generated elements appeared in the world surrounding the wearer.

Microsoft said that the final version of the machine would not need to be linked to other devices to work, and should be released within Windows 10’s “timeframe”.

It revealed NASA was already working with the kit, and said the US space agency hoped to start controlling its Mars rovers with a prototype version as soon as July.

Other demos involving the machine included the wearer:

  • playing Minecraft with the video game’s graphics appearing over living room furniture
  • seeing a Skype video appear as if it was taking place on a building wall
  • creating a model of a drone, which she saw in front of her face while shaping it by moving her hands and giving voice commands

Windows 10 brings the same operating system to devices of all sizes, rather than having different ones for PCs/tablets, mobile phones and the firm’s Xbox games console.Microsoft Windows 10

One of the key features that consumers will be able to use on PCs from “day one” is Cortana – the voice-controlled tool previously limited to Windows Phone handsets.

Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore demonstrated how the software could be told to:

  • bring up Powerpoint presentation documents
  • locate photos taken during a specific month
  • dictate and send emails
  • tell the user whether or not the weather forecast indicates they should wear a coat later
  • show where their car is parked

In addition, Joe Belfiore showed how the software could be used to respond to requests that had been typed, rather than spoken into a PC.

Windows 8 had been criticized by some for placing so much focus on touch-centric commands rather than the mouse and keyboard.

JoeBelfiore also highlighted one of the core benefits of Windows 10: a single app will run on multiple types of device, with the user interface reformatting itself to suit the machine it is running on, rather than having a different program for phones, tablets and PCs.

He showed how this meant more advanced versions of the firm’s popular Office programs Excel, Powerpoint and Word could be brought to handsets running Windows 10 than were possible under Windows Phone 8. He also demonstrated a new “universal” Photos app that collates and sorts pictures taken with different devices.

Joe Belfiore also confirmed reports that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser was being replaced by a new program codenamed Project Spartan.

This will have Cortana built-in to allow voice commands and provide extra personalized information – such as directions to a restaurant whose website is being looked at.

The software also includes a new “noting mode”, which will let users scribble or type over a page and then share it with others.

The new system also introduces the ability to stream Xbox One video games from the console to any other Windows 10 PC or tablet on the same Wi-Fi network.

This means that users will be able to play any game in their Xbox library on another device in another room of their home if the property’s main TV is being watched by someone else.

The facility is similar to the service Sony offers for its PlayStation 4 games machine that allows it to stream titles to Xperia phones and tablets and the PlayStation TV mini-console.

Offering Windows 10 free for the first year is a huge incentive to kickstart adoption.

Windows 10 is well positioned to capitalize on the resurgence of PCs.

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Rihanna wins legal battle against Topshop over T-shirt image

Lisa.Felice
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Rihanna wins legal battle against Topshop over T-shirt image

Rihanna has won a legal battle against fashion chain Topshop over a T-shirt bearing her image.

The Court of Appeal in London upheld a ban on the store selling a sleeveless T-shirt featuring a photo of Rihanna without obtaining her permission.

In the first successful celebrity case of its kind, three appeal judges agreed marketing the item without Rihanna’s approval amounted to “passing off”.

“Passing off” refers to the unauthorized used of a personal image.

Rihanna sued Topshop’s parent company Arcadia for $5 million back in 2013 over the T-shirts, which featured a photo taken during a video shoot in 2011.

In his ruling in July 2013, the judge found some buyers would have been deceived into buying the top because of a “false belief” it had been approved by Rihanna.Rihanna Topshop T-shirt legal battle

He said it was damaging to her “goodwill” and represented a loss of control over Rihanna’s reputation in the “fashion sphere”.

Topshop lawyers had urged the appeal judges to rule that previous judge had misunderstood the law on celebrity merchandising.

They argued the court was dealing with a “decorated T-shirt” similar to merchandise featuring images of stars such as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.

They also suggested Rihanna was using the law wrongly to claim “only a celebrity may ever market his or her own character”.

Topshop lawyers had previously argued there was “no intention to create an appearance of an endorsement or promotion”.

All three judges unanimously dismissed the appeal.

However, Rihanna’s victory does not necessarily pave the way for other celebrities to sue companies who use their image without permission.

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Davos 2015: Prince Andrew to host reception at World Economic Forum

Clyde K. Valle
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Davos 2015: Prince Andrew to host reception at World Economic Forum

Prince Andrew is set for his first public event since underage s** claims.

The Duke of York will host a reception of business people at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday evening.

Prince Andrew, 54, will speak and may make reference to the allegations and denials that have been issued but if he does any comments will be brief.

The woman, known legally as Jane Doe #3, alleges she was forced by financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted s** offender, to have s** with Prince Andrew at an age when she was a minor under Florida law.Prince Andrew Davos 2015

It is the first time the woman, named elsewhere as Virginia Roberts, has given a statement in her own words to the courts.

Her lawyers said they had sent Prince Andrew a letter asking him to respond under oath to the allegations.

Prince Andrew is not facing any legal proceedings over the claims made in the US case.

They say the letter was sent back to them as having been refused by the recipient.

The allegations against Prince Andrew emerged in evidence submitted to a US court in a case involving Jeffrey Epstein, who spent time in jail in 2008-2009.

Prince Andrew, the fifth in line to the throne, stepped down as UK trade envoy in July 2011 following controversy over his then friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Pablo Neruda case: Chile opens new investigation into poet’s death

Sonia Pantiss
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Pablo Neruda case: Chile opens new investigation into poet’s death

Chile has opened a new investigation into the death in 1973 of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda.

Government spokesman Francisco Ugas said there were indications that Pablo Neruda could have been poisoned.

Tests on Pablo Neruda’s exhumed body in 2013 found no trace of poison but more will now be done. His death certificate says he died of prostate cancer.

Pablo Neruda died 12 days after the military coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power.

Photo AFP/Getty Images
Photo AFP/Getty Images

Although he was best known for his poetry, Pablo Neruda was a lifelong member of Chile’s Communist Party, a lawmaker and a former ambassador to France.

Pablo Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971.

New forensic tests on Pablo Neruda’s remains will be looking for inorganic or heavy metals to try to determine a direct or indirect cause of death, officials said.

The investigation will focus on detecting if chemical agents caused any cellular or protein damage.

The previous tests looked specifically for the remains of poison.

“There is initial evidence that he was poisoned and in that sense the signs point to the intervention of specific agents,” Francisco Ugas, who is head of the government’s humans rights department, said.

Pablo Neruda’s body was exhumed in April 2013 to establish whether he died of poisoning, as his driver Manuel Araya and others suspected.

Manuel Araya said Pablo Neruda, who was 69, had called him from hospital in Santiago, and told him he was feeling sick after having been given an injection in the stomach.

Some believe Pablo Neruda was poisoned because he was a staunch supporter of deposed President Salvador Allende and it was believed he would become a leader of opposition to the dictatorship.

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Jerame Reid case: Video shows black man being shot dead by Bridgeton police officers

Nancy Clayson
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Jerame Reid case: Video shows black man being shot dead by Bridgeton police officers

A newly released video shows a black man being shot dead by police officers as he stepped out of a car with his hands raised.

Jerame Reid was a passenger in a car pulled over by police in Bridgeton, New Jersey, for going through a stop sign.

Before opening fire, one officer warns his partner about seeing a gun.

The case follows months of protests over the killings of unarmed black men by white police officers in New York and Ferguson, Missouri.

However, one of the two officers involved in the Bridgeton altercation is black.Jerame Reid shot dead by police officers

The newly released footage from a police dashboard camera shows police approach the car and then an officer warning his colleague about seeing a gun in the glove compartment.

An officer shouts at Jerame Reid to show his hands and warns him that: “If you reach for something, you’re going to be… dead.”

After the officer reaches into the car to retrieve what appears on the video to be a handgun, the car door opens and Jerame Reid steps out with his empty hands raised to his shoulders.

At that moment, the two officers fired several shots.

The killing on December 30 has already sparked protests in Bridgeton, a city of about 25,000 people south of Philadelphia.

Both officers have been given leave pending an investigation by the Cumberland County prosecutor’s office.

Activists say they want the prosecutor to transfer the case to the state attorney general.

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Tiger Woods tooth: Lindsey Vonn confirms incident

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Tiger Woods tooth: Lindsey Vonn confirms incident

Lindsey Vonn has confirmed her boyfriend Tiger Woods lost a front tooth while watching her winning the 63rd World Cup ski race in Italy.

World Cup ski champion posted to her Facebook account on January 20 that she was happy Tiger Woods surprised her by coming to the race, and that she felt ”terrible that his tooth got knocked out”.

”When he was in the finish area a cameraman accidentally knocked into him and took out his front tooth,” Lindsey Vonn wrote.

”He was still in great spirits though and didn’t complain once or ask for any special assistance or security. We were both just happy to share the moment together.”

Lindsey Vonn told USA Today in a phone interview: ”I didn’t see it happen, but I guess some photographer hit him in the face with a camera and it totally knocked his tooth out.”Tiger Woods missing tooth

Tiger Woods missing a tooth created a sensation January 19 after the race.

Tiger Wood’s agent, Mark Steinberg, said in an email that during a crush of photographers at the awards podium, ”a media member with a shoulder-mounted video camera pushed and surged toward the stage, turned and hit Tiger Woods in the mouth. Woods’ tooth was knocked out by the incident”.

The golfer first showed up in the athletes’ area when Lindsey Vonn’s father, Alan Kildow, escorted him in shortly after Vonn took the lead.

Tiger Woods then surprised Lindsey Vonn and gave the skier an emotional hug.

After about 10 to 15 minutes of standing near Lindsey Vonn with her family, Tiger Woods was escorted into a white tent usually reserved for measuring skis. He stayed there for nearly an hour, while the last lower-ranked skiers came down and during the podium celebration.

After the podium celebration, Tiger Woods was escorted by police to a waiting snowmobile and taken away.

Race organizers told The Associated Press they were not aware of the incident and that Tiger Woods requested extra security and a snowmobile to exit the finish area.

Tiger Woods had been wearing a scarf with a skeleton pattern over the lower part of his face, sunglasses and a stocking cap.

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Bruce Jenner InTouch Photoshop: Former Olympian to address changing look on KUWTK

Lisa.Felice
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Bruce Jenner InTouch Photoshop: Former Olympian to address changing look on KUWTK

Former Olympian Bruce Jenner was reportedly offended when InTouch magazine edited a photo of Kris Jenner’s ex-husband for its cover, giving him makeup and combining his image with that of Dynasty actress Stephanie Beacham.Bruce Jenner InTouch Photoshop

Bruce Jenner will address questions around his changing appearance on a forthcoming episode of Keeping up With the Kardashians, according to Us Weekly.

A source told the magazine Bruce Jenner “was upset by InTouch’s story”, which Russell Brand recently criticized as a transphobic “celebration of the worst aspects of human values”.

The source adds that Bruce Jenner’s family “has been pushing him to make a statement” about the magazine cover.

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Madonna leak probe: Hacking suspect arrested in Israel

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Madonna leak probe: Hacking suspect arrested in Israel

A man suspected of hacking into the computers of pop stars including Madonna and selling unreleased songs online has been arrested in Israel.

Israeli police said the man was suspected of stealing work from several unnamed international stars.

A private investigator connected to the case confirmed Madonna was among them.

Madonna rush-released a number of new songs last month after demos and unfinished mixes from her new album Rebel Heart made their way online.

The singer called the leak “a form of terrorism.”

Her manager Guy Oseary said the “devastating” action had prompted the surprise release of six songs from Rebel Heart in December, months earlier than planned.Madonna Rebel Heart leak

Asher Wizman, the owner of a private investigation firm in Israel, told the Reuters news agency he was contacted by Madonna’s team several weeks ago after rumors of an Israeli connection to the leak.

“Our investigator found her computers, at home and at a studio, were broken into from a computer in Israel,” he told Reuters.

“We tracked down the computer, and the man behind it. After gathering enough evidence, we turned to the police and he was arrested today.”

Police did not immediately name the 39-year-old man, although local reports identified him as a former contestant on one of Israel’s TV talent shows.

“He is suspected of computer hacking, copyright violation and fraudulent receipt of goods,” a police spokesman said.

“During the investigation it appeared the suspect had broken into the computers of a number of international artists, stole unreleased demos and final tracks and sold them over the internet.”

No charges have yet been filed.

Madonna is due to perform songs from Rebel Heart album at the Grammy Awards next month, while she is also rumored to be appearing at the Brits.

Rebel Heart sees her working with songwriter and producer Ryan Tedder and dance producer Diplo, who said he had written three “amazing smashes” with Madonna.

The arrest in Israel comes a day after Bjork was forced to release her new album Vulnicura two months ahead of schedule after it leaked over the weekend.

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Darren Shahlavi dead at 42

Sonia Pantiss
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Darren Shahlavi dead at 42

Mortal Kombat: Legacy and Arrow star Darren Shahlavi has died at the age of 42, his agent has confirmed.

According to his agent, Darren Shahlavi died in his sleep January 14. A cause of death was not revealed.

Darren Shahlavi recently finished shooting on Pound of Flesh with Jean-Claude Van Damme, and is also known for his work in Ip Man 2 (2010), Watchmen (2009), 300 (2006) and Alone in the Dark (2005).

He began martial arts training when he was 7 years old in Manchester, the UK.Darren Shahlavi dead at 42

Darren Shahlavi cut his teeth by moving to Hong Kong in the early ’90s and becoming a stuntman in kung fu films, before he was discovered by director Yuen Woo Ping, who cast him as the villain in kung fu film Tai Chi Chuan.

He then broke into Hollywood, scoring supporting roles as a boxer fighting Eddie Murphy in 2002’s I Spy and 2004’s The Final Cut with Robin Williams.

In TV, Darren Shahlavi was a guest star in Sanctuary, Human Target and Reaper.

In 2011, Darren Shahlavi appeared as Kano in Mortal Kombat: Legacy.

In the past few years, Darren Shahlavi had a guest role in the CW’s Arrow, appeared in 2012’s Metal Hurlant and had a starring role in 2012 TV movie Aladdin and the Death Lamp.

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