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Mario Cuomo dies at 82 just hours before son Andrew is inaugurated as NY governor

Nancy Clayson
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Mario Cuomo dies at 82 just hours before son Andrew is inaugurated as NY governor

Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo has died just hours before his son Andrew was inaugurated for a second term as governor, family sources say.

Mrio Cuomo, 82, refused a number of proposals to seek the US presidency during the course of a long career.

The three-time Democratic governor died of heart failure at his home.

The New York Times described Mario Cuomo as a “liberal beacon” who “commanded the attention of the country with a compelling public presence”.

It said that he will be remembered for his “exhaustive ruminations about whether to run for president”.

Mario Cuomo was urged by the Democrats twice to run for the White House – in 1988 and 1992 – but on each occasion rejected their overtures.

A renowned political orator, Mario Cuomo led New York during volatile times from 1983 to 1994 and many of his ambitious plans were stifled by recession and cash shortages.

Mario Cuomo did not attend his son’s inauguration speech on January 1st because he was not well – however the current governor used the occasion to honor his father.Mario Cuomo dead at 82

“He is in the heart and mind of every person who is here,” Andrew Cuomo said.

“He is here and his inspiration and his legacy and his experience is what has brought this state to this point, so let’s give him a round of applause.”

Mario Cuomo’s moved in public prominence in 1982 when he won the Democratic nomination for governor of New York, beating Ed Koch, the mayor of New York City. He then went on to defeat conservative millionaire Republican Lewis Lehrman.

His reputation for powerful oratory began at the 1984 Democratic National Convention when he delivered his Tale of Two Cities keynote address, in which he contrasted wealthy New York with its poorer areas.

Correspondents say that the son of Italian immigrants and avid baseball fan was an unusually deep-thinking politician whose eloquence was often matched by his prickliness.

Mario Cuomo won two more terms as governor in 1986 and 1990, and frequently vetoed legislation that would have restored the death penalty in New York.

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Thomas Piketty turns down Legion D’Honneur award

Clyde K. Valle
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Thomas Piketty turns down Legion D’Honneur award

Best-selling author of Capital in the 21st Century Thomas Piketty has turned down France’s top award, the Legion D’Honneur.

The French economist said: “I do not think it is the government’s role to decide who is honorable.”

His book examines income inequality in society and became a surprise hit, topping the bestseller list in the US.

Thomas Piketty, who was once close to the Socialist Party but has criticized the government of Francois Hollande, said he was unable to accept the award.Thomas Piketty refuses Legion D'honneur

“I have just learned that I was nominated for the Legion D’Honneur. I refuse this nomination because I do not think it is the government’s role to decide who is honorable,” he told the news agency AFP.

“They would do better to concentrate on reviving [economic] growth in France and Europe.”

Capital, a book of almost 600 pages, sold half a million copies and was much-debated, particularly in the US.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman called it “the most important economics book of the year – and maybe of the decade”.

In 2014, cartoonist Jacques Tardi also turned down the Legion D’Honneur.

Others to have refused the award include philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and radiology pioneers Pierre and Marie Curie.

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Jeb Bush 2016: Former Florida governor scales back business commitments

Diane A. Wade
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Jeb Bush 2016: Former Florida governor scales back business commitments

George W. Bush’s younger brother, Jeb Bush, has reportedly scaled back his business commitments as he thinks seriously about a 2016 White House run.

One of the Republican’s aides told the Washington Post the former Florida governor had ended his board memberships and resigned as a paid adviser to an education company.

Jeb Bush last month announced he was “exploring” running for president.

A 2016 bid could bring him up against the former first lady, Hillary Clinton.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Jeb Bush’s father, former President George H.W, Bush, was defeated by Hillary Clinton’s husband, Bill Clinton, in the 1992 election.

Hillary Clinton is the Democratic frontrunner and widely expected to run, although she says she will make a decision in 2015.

Jeb Bush’s spokeswoman Kristy Campbell told the Post his decision to shed a large number of his business commitments, effective from New Year’s Day, meant he could focus on a “potential” run for president.

The Post reported that Jeb Bush has even stepped down from the board of his education foundation.

He recently terminated a consulting deal with Barclays, the British investment bank that reportedly paid him more than $1 million a year.

When he announced he was thinking about a presidential run, Jeb Bush said he would set up a political action committee in January to gauge support among donors and supporters.

Although he became the immediate frontrunner among the Republican candidates, Jeb Bush’s pro-immigration views have enraged some conservatives in his party.

Jeb Bush, a moderate conservative, has a Mexican-born wife, Columba, and three children. He speaks excellent Spanish and spent eight years as Florida governor, until 2007.

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Kim Jong-un offers to hold high level talks with South Korea in New Year address

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-un offers to hold high level talks with South Korea in New Year address

In his New Year address, Kim Jong-un has offered to hold talks at the highest level with South Korea.

The North Korean leader was giving his New Year message broadcast on state television.

Kim Jong-un said if Pyongyang’s conditions were met, he would even be prepared to hold a summit meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

South Korea said the move was “meaningful”, and talks should include “practical and frank discussions on all issues of mutual concern”.

“Our government hopes for dialogue between the South and North Korean authorities in the near future without limits on format,” said Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae, quoted by the South’s Yonhap news agency.

On December 29, Ryoo Kihl-jae had called for dialogue to resume on issues including reunions for families separated by the Korean War, adding that he hoped North Korea would respond positively.Kim Jong-un New Year speech 2015

Ryoo Kihl-jae offered to meet in Seoul, Pyongyang or any other South or North Korean city agreed with North Korean officials.

In his address, Kim Jong-un said the “tragic” division of Korea could no longer be tolerable and acceptable.

“Depending on the mood and circumstances, there is no reason not to hold a high-level summit,” he said.

Later in his speech, Kim Jong-un condemned joint US-South Korean defense drills for deepening tensions on the peninsula.

“In a tense mood of such war-preparatory exercises, trust-based dialogue can’t be possible, and North-South relations can’t move forward,” he said.

North Korea has previously seen South Korea’s unification plans as an attempt to take it over.

The last formal high-level talks were in February 2014, leading to rare reunions for Korean families separated for over 60 years since the end of 1950-1953 Korean War.

More talks planned in October were dropped after North Korea accused South Korea of not doing enough to stop activists sending anti-Northern leaflets across the border on balloons.

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Shanghai stampede kills at least 36 at New Year’s Eve celebrations

Nancy Clayson
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Shanghai stampede kills at least 36 at New Year’s Eve celebrations

Thirty six people have been killed and others 47 injured in a stampede at New Year’s Eve celebrations in Shanghai, Chinese officials say.

The stampede happened in Chenyi Square in Shanghai’s historic Bund district overlooking the Huangpu river.

Thousands of people had gathered to see in 2015.

Social media reports suggest the stampede was triggered by people stopping to pick up fake money thrown from the balcony of a nightclub.

The Shanghai City government said the situation began to deteriorate at 23:35 local time and that a “working group” had been set up to handle the incident.Shanghai stampede New Year's Eve

Pictures posted on social media showed people receiving first aid on the road and large numbers of police securing the area.

Many of the dead are believed to be students, with 25 of them women, state media report.

President Xi Jinping has told the Shanghai government to find the causes of the crush as soon as possible, according to state TV.

A traditional new year fireworks display on the Bund had already been cancelled due to official fears of overcrowding, the Shanghai Daily reports.

In a statement, the Shanghai City government said that those hurt had been transferred to hospitals across the city, and that the Shanghai party secretary had visited some of the injured.

Earlier, Shanghai’s police department wrote on its verified social media account that some “tourists” had “fallen over” at the Bund, and urged people to leave the area in an orderly fashion.

According to the Shanghai Daily, close to 300,000 people turned up for New Year’s Eve celebrations last year, leading to traffic problems.

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Happy New Year 2015! Celebrations begin around the globe

Diane A. Wade
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Happy New Year 2015! Celebrations begin around the globe

People around the globe have gathered to welcome in the New Year, with New Zealand and Australia leading the celebrations.

A giant clock in Auckland’s Sky Tower counted down the minutes until midnight, when fireworks erupted.New Year celebrations 2015

Up to 1.5 million people have lined the shores of Sydney harbor in preparation for the city’s famous firework display.

Celebration plans have been muted in Indonesia, however, in the wake of the AirAsia Flight QZ8501 crash.

In Brazil, more than one million people will join the crowds on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, while New Yorkers will watch the city lower its trademark crystal ball over Times Square.

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Yahya Jammeh returns to Gambia after coup plot

Diane A. Wade
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Yahya Jammeh returns to Gambia after coup plot

President Yahya Jammeh has returned to The Gambia after a reported coup attempt, sources say.

Heavy gunfire was heard near the presidential palace in Banjul on December 30 but officials say the military takeover was thwarted.

Details remain sketchy but Yahya Jammeh, 49, said there had been an attempted invasion from neighboring Senegal.

Yayha Jammeh seized power in Gambia in 1994, and is accused of not tolerating any opposition.

A pro-opposition radio station says most businesses are closed, while the market in the biggest town, Serekunda, is deserted.

The pro-opposition Freedom newspaper reports that four people were killed, including the alleged ringleader Lamin Sanneh, a former head of the presidential guards, but this has not been confirmed.Yahya Jammeh returns to Gambia after coup plot

Yahya Jammeh was said to have been in either France or Dubai during Tuesday’s unrest but different sources agree he has now returned.

The president claims to be able to cure HIV/AIDS and in 2011, he told the BBC he would rule for “a billion years”

Yahya Jammeh has won several elections since seizing power but critics say they were neither free nor fair.

Numerous officials and opposition leaders have fled the country, saying they fear for their lives.

Apart from a short Atlantic coast, The Gambia is entirely surrounded by Senegal.

The Gambia’s main foreign currency earners are tourism and peanut exports.

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Christine Cavanaugh dies aged 51

Sonia Pantiss
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Christine Cavanaugh dies aged 51

Cartoon voice Christine Cavanaugh, who brought to life characters including Babe and Chuckie on Nickelodeon cartoon Rugrats, has died aged 51.

Christine Cavanaugh’s sister, Deionn Masock, confirmed the actress had died on December 22 at her home in Utah.

Deionn Masock said the cause of death was not known.

“She was able to do incredible and amazing things with her voice and bring lots of smiles and many laughs to many people,” her family said.

Announcing in the death in the Los Angeles Times, they wrote: “Her imagination, humor and intelligence were evident to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her.

Photo AP
Photo AP

“Many know of her from the roles she played, but in each role there was a part of her showing through that the ones who truly knew her could see.”

Christine Cavanaugh was a prolific actor, providing the voices of dozens of cartoon characters in the 1990s.

She began her career with small parts on TV shows including Cheers, before landing her first big role in 1991 as Gosalyn Mallard on Darkwing Duck.

In 1995, Christine Cavanaugh gave her voice to the title character in the hit movie Babe, based on Dick King-Smith’s 1983 novel The Sheep-Pig, about a talking pig who wants to be a sheepdog.

Christine Cavanaugh also provided the voice to kid genius Dexter in Cartoon Network’s Dexter’s Laboratory for seven series from 1996.

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AirAsia plane crash: First bodies arrive in Surabaya

Diane A. Wade
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AirAsia plane crash: First bodies arrive in Surabaya

AirAsia Flight QZ8501 bodies arrived back in the Indonesian city of Surabaya, where relatives are waiting.

Next of kin have been asked for DNA samples to help identify the victims.

The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people from Surabaya to Singapore, disappeared on December 28 and remains were located in the sea on December 30.

The authorities say seven bodies have been retrieved, but bad weather is hampering further salvage efforts.

A public memorial will be held in Surabaya on Wednesday evening local time.

All New Year’s Eve celebrations have been cancelled.

On board the plane were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew.AirAsia bodies arrive in Surabaya

It is not yet clear what happened to the plane but its last communication was a request from air traffic control to climb to avoid bad weather. The pilot did not respond when given permission.

A three-day search ended on December 30 when remains including aircraft parts, luggage and the bodies were found in the Karimata Strait, south-west of the town of Pangkalan Bun in the Indonesian part of Borneo.

The bodies were flown to Surabaya’s Juanda airport on Wednesday afternoon from a hospital in Pangkalan Bun, where they had been sent from the crash site.

Another five bodies are reported to be on board a ship on their way to a harbor near Pangkalan Bun.

Four of the seven bodies are male and three female, one of them a flight attendant.

Strong winds and high waves have slowed down the recovery of bodies and debris, with helicopters mostly grounded and divers prevented from searching the waters.

The weather is forecast to deteriorate further, with heavy rains until January 2, 2015.

Next of kin of passengers and crew have been asked for DNA samples to help identify the bodies when they come in.

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Veronica J. Rutledge: Woman accidentally shot dead by her 2-year-old son in Hayden Wal-Mart

Nancy Clayson
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Veronica J. Rutledge: Woman accidentally shot dead by her 2-year-old son in Hayden Wal-Mart

Veronica J. Rutledge has been killed at an Idaho Wal-Mart after her two-year-old son accidentally shot her with a gun he found when reaching into her handbag.

The 29-year-old mother was shot in a Wal-Mart in Hayden, a town in Idaho’s northern panhandle.

Veronica J. Rutledge had been shopping with several children at the time, a spokesman for the office said.Veronica J. Rutledge accidentally shot dead by her 2-year-old son

Officials said she had had a concealed weapons permit.

Veronica J. Rutledge and her children had been in the rear of the store near the electronics area when the shooting occurred, they said.

The Wal-Mart closed after the shooting and is not expected to reopen until December 31.

Witnesses and video surveillance from the store helped officials determine the shooting was accidental, said broadcaster KREM.

Veronica J. Rutledge came from Blackfoot, a town in the south of Idaho, the sheriff’s office said in a statement on Facebook.

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Beji Caid Essebsi sworn in as Tunisia’s president

Diane A. Wade
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Beji Caid Essebsi sworn in as Tunisia’s president

Beji Caid Essebsi has been sworn in as Tunisia’s president after winning the country’s first free presidential poll.

Beji Caid Essebsi, 88, secured victory last week over incumbent Moncef Marzouki.

His triumph means Tunisia – where the Arab Spring began – remains the only Arab country to move from authoritarian rule to democracy in that period.

On December 29, electoral authorities confirmed that Beji Caid Essebsi had won a run-off vote against Moncef Marzouki.

The new president took his oath of office at a ceremony in the newly elected parliament – where his party Nidaa Tounes also holds the largest number of seats.

The swearing in comes four years after protests that eventually toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Journalist Naveena Kottoor in Tunis says that while this is the latest democratic milestone for Tunisia, many in the country are arguing that political transition will only succeed if newly-elected politicians usher in social and economic changes.

Beji Caid Essebsi has urged all Tunisians to “work together” for stability but critics say his win marks the return of a discredited establishment, pointing out that he served under President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

This month’s vote was the first time Tunisians have been able to vote freely for their president since independence from France in 1956.

The new president will have restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year.

Beji Caid Essebsi will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister.

Venezuela’s economy falls into recession

Clyde K. Valle
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Venezuela’s economy falls into recession

Venezuela’s economy has entered recession, after contracting for the third consecutive quarter of the year.

The Central Bank announced that the economy had shrunk by 2.3% in Q3 2014.

President Nicolas Maduro said the Venezuelan economy had been affected by political instability and dropping oil prices in international markets.

He accused the US of flooding the markets with oil as part of an economic war against Russia.

The central bank also said inflation had reached 63.6% in the 12 months to November, one of the highest rates in the world.

Nicolas Maduro announced a number of measures to boost economic growth and control inflation, including reforms to Venezuela’s currency control system.

“The details will be extensively explained after the New Year’s greeting,” he told reporters.Venezuela's economy enters recession in Q3 2014

Nicolas Maduro said speculation had affected inflation but he also praised government efforts to rein in the increases.

He said Venezuela was suffering the consequences of an economic war launched by US President Barack Obama “to destroy” the oil producers’ cartel, OPEC.

“It is a two-year plan, which is affecting the prices of commodities and many developing economies,” Nicolas Maduro said.

“The US wants to impose a unipolar world controlled from Washington. That is madness.”

The crisis offered a “great opportunity for Venezuela to change its economic model,” the president added.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, with its economy highly dependent on oil exports.

The Venezuelan opposition blames the socialist policies of Nicolas Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez, for a shortage of many staples, such as corn oil and milk, amid a serious economic crisis.

Venezuela’s economy shrank by 4.8% and 4.9% respectively in Q1 and Q2 2014.

Elements for determining medical negligence

Kathryn R. Bown
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Elements for determining medical negligence

You may not like the treatment you have received from your doctor or your hospital. But, that does not necessarily mean you have been the victim of medical negligence. Your care team may have done everything that they could and still not managed a favourable outcome. So, just how do you decide whether you or your loved one has suffered from medical or clinical negligence? Well, there are four main stages or elements used for determining whether medical negligence has taken place…

A duty of care

First, you must show that the individual or organisation you believe caused you to suffer unnecessarily had a duty of care to you. While in other cases of negligence, this could be hard to prove, in medical negligence, when you are talking about doctors, nurses, dentists, opticians or other healthcare professionals, it’s usually a simple step. As soon as a clinician or medical professional has accepted a responsibility to provide care or treatment to a patient, then they owe a legally enforceable duty of care to them.

Elements for determining medical negligence
Elements for determining medical negligence

Breach of duty

Once you’ve proved that duty of care existed, then the next step is to show there has been a breach of that duty. It comes down to whether the standard of medical treatment you received was not up to scratch. A clinician may have failed to do something. Perhaps, for example, they have failed to diagnose a condition which they should reasonably have been expected to spot. Or they could have done something they shouldn’t have. In extreme cases, surgeons have operated on the wrong side of the body or anaesthetists have made mistakes leading to patients waking up mid-operation. Of course, not everything goes perfectly and mistakes do happen. That doesn’t mean medical negligence has occurred in all cases.

Causation

This stage involves showing that the injury or condition you’re suffering from has been caused as a direct result of the negligent treatment you have received. Any pain or suffering that could have been expected as a result of treatment won’t be taken into account. In medical negligence, you are essentially claiming for any pain or suffering which is additional or which should not have happened at all. This part of any action is often referred to as the “but for” principle. For example, but for the surgical swab left inside her body, she wouldn’t have needed extra surgery or but for the lack of a diagnosis, her condition could have been successfully treated.

Damages

Once the initial stages have been proved, then it is up to you to show that you have suffered a loss or damage as a result of the negligence you have suffered. This isn’t limited to financial damage. You may have suffered from emotional damage as a result of losing a loved one due to medical negligence or of suffering a serious injury yourself. You may also have suffered a financial loss. Perhaps, for example, you’ve been unable to work for a period of time because of the negligent treatment which took place. Or maybe you’ve had to give up work to care for a family member who has suffered as a result of medical negligence.

When we’re ill or injured, it’s natural to put our faith in the hands of medical professionals. Usually, that faith is more than justified. But, when it’s not, it’s important to think about whether the care you’ve received could have been negligent under these four stages, to make sure you get any compensation you’re entitled to.

Edmonton mass murder: Gunman kills six adults and two children before suicide

Nancy Clayson
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Edmonton mass murder: Gunman kills six adults and two children before suicide

Nine people, 7 adults and two children, have been found dead at three separate locations in the Canadian city of Edmonton after a man carried out what police called a “senseless mass murder” linked to “extreme domestic violence”.

The gunman is believed to have killed himself after the murders. Police are not looking for any other suspects.

The incident unfolded in three different locations in Edmonton, in the western province of Alberta.

Seven bodies were found in the same house, police chief Rod Knecht said.

Two “very young” children are among the dead, Rod Knecht said.

He said it was the worst mass killing in Edmonton since six people were killed in 1956.

“It appears to be an extreme case of domestic violence gone awry,” Rod Knecht told a press conference, describing the killings as “planned and deliberate”.

“This series of events are not believed to be random acts, and there is no risk to the broader public. These events do not appear to be gang-related, but rather tragic incidents of domestic violence.”Edmonton mass murder December 2014

Police say that the gunman used a stolen 9mm handgun and later killed himself at a restaurant north of Edmonton. They have only released the names of one of the victims and have not detailed the relationship between the shooter and his victims.

Rod Knecht said that the man who committed suicide had a criminal record going back to 1987.

Police discovered the body of a woman, Cyndi Duong, 37, at a house in south Edmonton at 18:00 local time on December 29, he said.

They later responded to reports of a despondent and depressed man at an address in north Edmonton at around 20:30 but were unable to find him.

When they returned at about midnight after receiving new information they found seven bodies – three women, two men and two children.

Rod Knecht said that the house where the seven bodies were discovered presented his officers with a “horrific and chaotic” scene – the worst crime he had dealt with in 39 years of policing.

In the early hours of December 30, they found a body matching the description of the suicidal male at a restaurant 25 miles north-east of Edmonton.

Rod Knecht said police would not be releasing the names of all the victims or the killer yet.

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Alexei Navalny detained at Moscow rally after breaking house arrest

Diane A. Wade
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Alexei Navalny detained at Moscow rally after breaking house arrest

Alexei Navalny and more than 100 other demonstrators have been arrested at a rally in central Moscow, activists say.

The Russian opposition leader had urged protesters to gather in Manezh Square near the Kremlin after his brother, Oleg Navalny, was sentenced to jail.

Police detained Alexei Navalny at the protest and took him home, where he has been under house arrest since February.

Alexei Navalny says the legal cases against him and his brother are motivated by his opposition to President Vladimir Putin.

Hours earlier, a court in Moscow handed Alexei Navalny a suspended prison sentence of three-and-a-half years for defrauding two firms. His brother Oleg was given a three-and-a-half-year custodial sentence for the same offence.

Alexei Navalny accused authorities of trying to punish him by jailing his brother, and called for his supporters to gather in central Moscow in protest.

Around 2,000 people gathered in temperatures below -10C.Alexei Navalny arrested at Moscow rally

Pro-government protesters are staging a counter-demonstration nearby.

At least 171 people were detained by police said OVD Info, a campaign group that monitors political detentions. However there was no official confirmation of the number of arrests.

Upon arriving at the rally, police detained Alexei Navalny and drove him to his house in a police van.

He said he was not allowed out of his flat and that five soldiers stood guard outside.

After his arrest, Alexei Navalny sent a tweet saying that he “had not got as far as the square”.

“I call on everyone not to leave until they are forced to,” he said.

“They cannot arrest everyone.”

Just before his arrest, Alexei Navalny told reporters that his motivation was “not my brother, my family, myself or some specific people” but “this disgusting outrage that has been going for many years”.

Prosecutors had demanded 10 years in prison for Alexei Navalny and eight years for his brother Oleg.

Alexei Navalny has been under house arrest since February as part of a separate five-year suspended sentence for the alleged theft of 16 million rubles from a timber firm in 2009.

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Woman shot dead by two-year-old boy at Wal-Mart Idaho

Nancy Clayson
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Woman shot dead by two-year-old boy at Wal-Mart Idaho

A woman has been killed in a Wal-Mart in Hayden, Idaho, after a two-year-old boy accidentally shot her with a gun he found when reaching into her handbag.

A sheriff’s spokesman said the woman was shopping with several children and it was unclear if they were related.Woman shot dead by toddler at Wal-Mart Idaho

Officials said she had a concealed weapons permit but her identity has not been released.

The Wal-Mart closed after the shooting.

Local media reported the woman was visiting the area and died at the scene.

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Norman Atlantic: Two Albanian seamen killed while towing fire-stricken ferry

Diane A. Wade
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Norman Atlantic: Two Albanian seamen killed while towing fire-stricken ferry

According to new reports, two Albanian seamen have been killed on a tugboat while towing the fire-stricken Norman Atlantic ferry.

Both men died after being hit by a connecting cable between the vessels on December 30, Albanian officials say.

At least 11 others were killed and more than 400 were rescued, after fire broke out on the ferry in stormy seas.

It is unclear how many passengers are still missing. Rescue helicopters have been diverted after another ship sent a distress signal nearby.

Italian authorities said they were continuing to search the ferry Norman Atlantic. An 11th body was found on December 30.

They have been unable to verify the precise number of people originally on board.Norman Atlantic ferry recovery

The operator said 478 people had been on the ferry when it left the Greek port of Patras for Ancona in Italy, but Italy’s final tally following the rescue comes to only 437, including those who died.

Prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe told reporters in the Italian port of Bari that it was likely that other victims would be found on the wrecked ship because a number of those rescued had not been on the passenger list.

Italian Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi said on December 29 that a definitive figure could not be given because of errors on the passenger list, no-shows at boarding or people getting off on a stopover at the Greek port city of Igoumenitsa.

An Albanian port authority official in Vlore told Reuters news agency that the two seamen had been hit by the broken cable.

“One man died on the spot when one cable broke after it got stuck in the propeller,” the official said.

“The other died on board a few minutes ago when being assisted by a helicopter medical team.”

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George H.W. Bush released from Houston hospital

Nancy Clayson
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George H.W. Bush released from Houston hospital

Former President George H.W. Bush has been released from hospital in Texas more than a week after being admitted suffering from a shortness of breath.

George H.W. Bush, 90, was released from the Houston Methodist Hospital and continues his recovery at home, his spokesman said.

Two years ago, George H.W. Bush was treated in the same hospital for more than two months for bronchitis and other issues.

He was president from 1989 to 1993, and heads a famous political dynasty.

His son George W. Bush served as president from 2001 to 2009.George HW Bush released from Houston hospital

Another son, Jeb Bush, said this month he would “actively explore the possibility of running for president” in 2016.

A statement from George H.W. Bush’s spokesman, Jim McGrath, confirmed the former president had been discharged.

“He is now resting at home, grateful to the doctors and nurses for their superb care.”

George H.W. Bush is the oldest living former US president and a World War Two veteran.

The former president can no longer use his legs, but in June celebrated his 90th birthday by making a tandem parachute jump.

Heather Cho arrested: Former Korean executive charged with violating aviation safety law

Nancy Clayson
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Heather Cho arrested: Former Korean executive charged with violating aviation safety law

Former Korean Air executive Heather Cho, who delayed a plane over how nuts were served, has been arrested.

TV footage showed Heather Cho, also known as Cho Hyun-ah, being led away, shortly after a court in South Korea granted a warrant for her arrest.

Heather Cho, the daughter of Korean Air’s CEO, is being charged with violating aviation safety law and impeding crew in their duties.

She ordered the plane to turn back on the runway in New York after nuts were served in a bag, not on a plate.

She has denied physically assaulting the chief steward, Park Chang-jin, who says she made him kneel and beg for forgiveness before jabbing him with a document folder.Heather Cho arrested in South Korea

Heather Cho has already apologized and resigned as head of the airline’s flight service.

TV images on December 30 showed the 40-year-old Heather Cho being taken away by prosecutors, with her head bowed.

When asked by reporters for a comment, she said: “I’m sorry.”

Another airline executive has also been arrested, accused of destroying evidence relating to the case.

South Korea’s transport ministry said this month that it would take disciplinary measures against the airline in the wake of the incident.

Korean Air could face either a partial flight ban or a fine, the ministry said.

A government investigation found that Heather Cho screamed and shouted abuse at a flight attendant after he served her macadamia nuts in a bag.

She then ordered the plane to go back to the terminal at New York’s JFK airport to offload the attendant, who was fired on the spot before the plane proceeded on its journey. He has since been reinstated.

The incident forced the flight to Seoul to be delayed.

Her father, Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-Ho, has apologized for his daughter’s “foolish act”.

Cho Yang-ho also said his daughter would step down from all her posts in companies under the Cho family-owned Hanjin Group, which also owns Korean Air.

The Hanjin Group is one of South Korea’s top family conglomerates, called chaebol.

Ukraine: Radioactive leak detected at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine: Radioactive leak detected at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant

Ukraine reports claim that a radioactive leak has been detected at Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe.

Levels of radiation are 16.8 times the legally permitted norm media report says, citing the country’s emergency services.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

LifeNews.ru published a leaked report by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which denies an earlier assessment by the plant’s authorities that the radiation at the facility is equal to the natural background following an incident on December 28.

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Ebola outbreak: Patient zero Emile Ouamouno likely infected by playing with bats

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ebola outbreak: Patient zero Emile Ouamouno likely infected by playing with bats

According to scientists, a two-year-old boy called Emile Ouamouno from Guinea – the Ebola victim who is believed to have triggered the current outbreak – may have been infected by playing in a hollow tree housing a colony of bats.

Scientists made the connection on an expedition to the boy’s village, Meliandou.

They took samples and chatted to locals to find out more about Ebola’s source.

The team’s findings are published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.

Meliandou is a small village of 31 houses.

It sits deep within the Guinean forest region, surrounded by towering reeds and oil palm cultivations – these are believed to have attracted the fruit bats carrying the virus passed on to Emile Ouamouno.Two-year-old Emile Ouamouno is the Ebola victim who is believed to have triggered the current outbreak

During their four-week field trip in April 2014, Dr. Fabian Leendertz, from the Robert Koch Institute in Germany, and colleagues found a large tree stump situated about 165ft from Emile Ouamouno’s home.

Villagers reported that children used to play frequently in the hollow tree.

Emile Ouamouno – who died of Ebola in December 2013 – used to play there, according to his friends.

The villagers said that the tree burned on March 24, 2014 and that once the tree caught fire, there issued a “rain of bats”.

A large number of these insectivorous free-tailed bats – Mops condylurus in Latin – were collected by the villagers for food, but disposed of the next day after a government-led ban on bushmeat consumption was announced.

While bushmeat is thought to be a possible source of Ebola, the scientists believe it didn’t trigger the outbreak.

Instead, it was Emile Ouamouno’s exposure to the bats and their droppings as he played with his friends in the hollowed tree.

The scientists took and tested ash samples from the tree and found DNA traces that were a match for the animals.

While they were unable to test any of the bushmeat that the villagers had disposed of, they captured and tested any living bats they could find in and around Meliandou.

No Ebola could be detected in any of these hundred or so animals, however.

But previous tests show this species of bat can carry Ebola.

Dr. Fabian Leendertz and his colleagues say this must be a pretty rare occurrence though.

He said: “That is also obvious when you think about how many tonnes of bat meat is consumed every year.

“If more bats carried the virus, we would see outbreaks all the time.”

Dr. Fabian Leendertz says it is vital to find out more about the bats.

“They have moved into human settlements. They do not just live in the trees but also under the roofs of houses in the villages.

“The Ebola virus must jump through colonies from bat to bat, so we need to know more.”

He added: “We need to find ways to live together with the wildlife. These bats catch insects and pests, such as mosquitoes. They can eat about a quarter of their body weight in insects a day.

“Killing them would not be a solution. You would have more malaria.”

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AirAsia plane crash: Forty bodies recovered from Java Sea

Diane A. Wade
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AirAsia plane crash: Forty bodies recovered from Java Sea

Rescue teams in the search for missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 have recovered at least 40 bodies from the sea, the Indonesian navy says.

The bodies were spotted along with debris floating in the Java Sea off the Indonesian part of Borneo, in one of the search zones for the plane.

There has been no official confirmation that the remains come from the plane.

The Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore, disappeared on Sunday.

The search operation is now in its third day, with the area widened to cover 13 zones over land and sea.

In a separate development, there were reports of a second incident involving an AirAsia plane at Kalibo in the central Philippines. The reports said the plane overshot the runway.

During a news conference by the head of the search operation, shown live on Indonesian TV, pictures of the debris were shown including a body floating on the water.

Relatives of passengers on the plane watching the pictures were visibly shocked.

Later, the Indonesian navy reported that 40 bodies had been retrieved by one warship.AirAsia bodies recovered from Java Sea

Its spokesman said the rescuers were continuing to recover bodies and were “very busy now”.

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes tweeted to the families: “My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia, my condolences.”

Search operation head Bambang Soelistyo said he was 95% certain the objects shown were from the plane, adding that a shadow was spotted under water which appeared to be in the shape of a plane.

All resources were now being sent to the area where the debris was found, he said.

Bambang Soelistyo added that ships with more sophisticated technology were being deployed to check whether larger parts of the plane were submerged beneath the debris.

Indonesian civil aviation chief Djoko Murjatmodjo, quoted by AFP news agency, said “significant things” such as a passenger door and cargo door had been found.

Djoko Murjatmodjo added that the objects had been found 100 miles south-west of Pangkalan Bun in Borneo’s Central Kalimantan province.

At least 30 ships, 15 aircraft and seven helicopters joined the operation when it resumed at 06:00AM local time on December 30.

The operation, led by Indonesia, includes assistance from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, with other offers of help from South Korea, Thailand, China and France. The US destroyer USS Sampson is on its way to the zone.

On board the plane were 137 adult passengers, 17 children and one infant, along with two pilots and five crew.

Most were Indonesian but the passengers included one UK national, a Malaysian, a Singaporean and three South Koreans.

AirAsia Flight QZ8501 left Surabaya at 05:35 Jakarta time on December 28 and had been due to arrive in Singapore two hours later.

Safety officials say the captain had asked for permission to take the plane higher but, by the time permission was granted, communication with the plane was lost.

The plane was officially declared missing at 07:55.

AirAsia previously had an excellent safety record and there were no fatal accidents involving its aircraft.

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Venezuela denies ice cream shortage amid Coromoto row

Clyde K. Valle
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Venezuela denies ice cream shortage amid Coromoto row

Venezuela’s tourism ministry has denied reports that a shortage of milk is behind the closure of a famous ice cream shop in the city of Merida.

Coromoto is famous for offering more than 850 flavors of ice cream ranging from beer to beans.

In a Facebook post on December 26, Coromoto announced that it would be closing “for the high season due to a lack of milk”.

However, the ministry says there is no shortage of ingredients and that other local ice cream shops remain open.

Venezuela, which depends on imports for many products, is experiencing shortages of some staples, such as corn oil and powdered milk.

According to the latest official figures released by Venezuela’s central bank, the scarcity index stood at 29,4% in March.Venezuela ice cream shortage Coromoto

This suggests that out of 100 goods, 29 were not always available everywhere at the time.

While this does not mean that Venezuelans cannot get access to food, it does mean that they may have to go to different supermarkets and search over several days to get everything on their shopping list.

Critics of socialist President Nicolas Maduro say government mismanagement is behind the scarcity.

The government blames unscrupulous businesspeople, who it says hoard goods to drive up prices.

Officials also point to the fact that up to 40% of goods Venezuela subsidizes for its domestic market are being smuggled into neighboring Colombia, further exacerbating the shortages.

In a statement published on its website, the tourism ministry said on December 29 that “despite the manipulation spread by a number of national and international media and the sign posted by the Coromoto ice cream shop, in which they blame their closure on a <<lack of ingredients>>, paradoxically the rest of these businesses is serving more and more tourists and residents as they have all that’s needed to prepare ice cream”.

The statement goes on to quote the managers of two ice cream shops in Merida who say they are open for business.

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Luise Rainer dies of pneumonia aged 104

Sonia Pantiss
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Luise Rainer dies of pneumonia aged 104

Oscar-winning star Luise Rainer, who became the first winner of consecutive awards in the 1930s, has died at the age of 104.

German-born Luise Rainer was named best actress in 1936 and 1937 – a feat achieved by only five actors in Academy Awards history to date.

Luise Rainer’s achievement made her a force in the golden age of Hollywood cinema, but was also a curse, making her last major film in 1943.

She settled in London and made occasional appearances on film and TV.

Luise Rainer appeared in small screen series The Loveboat in 1984, while her last substantial film role came in 1998, playing opposite Michael Gambon and Dominic West in The Gambler.

The actress appeared in a number of German films before being talent-spotted by Hollywood studio MGM and making her debut in 1935.Luise Rainer dead at 104

In 1936, Luise Rainer scooped an Academy Award for her performance in The Great Ziegfeld, playing the legendary theatrical impresario’s wife.

In one famous scene, her face was tear-stained as she congratulated her former husband on his marriage to another actress.

In 1937, Luise Rainer’s portrayal of a Chinese peasant in The Good Earth won her a second statuette, at a time when Oscar winners were disclosed some time before the ceremony.

After clashing with MGM over a lack of artistic freedom and losing out to Ingrid Bergman in Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls, she broke her contract with them.

Luise Rainer was married twice, and second husband Robert Knittel died in 1989 after their marriage of 44 years.

They had one daughter, Francesca Knittel-Bowyer, who said her mother had died from pneumonia at her London home.

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Alexei Navalny gets suspended sentence while his brother is jailed in fraud case

Diane A. Wade
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Alexei Navalny gets suspended sentence while his brother is jailed in fraud case

Vladimir Putin’s critic Alexei Navalny has avoided jail after getting a suspended sentence in a high-profile fraud case.

Alexei Navalny, 38, was given a suspended prison sentence of three-and-a-half years for defrauding two firms.

His brother, Oleg Navalny, is facing a three-and a-half year custodial sentence.

Alexei Navalny has consistently said the charges were politically motivated. He accused President Vladimir Putin’s government of targeting the relatives of his opponents.

The Navalny brothers were convicted of stealing 30 million rubles ($518,000) from the companies, one of which is an affiliate of French cosmetics giant Yves Rocher.

Prosecutors had demanded 10 years in prison for Alexei Navalny and 8 years for his brother Oleg. Although both were found guilty of embezzlement, only his younger brother will be jailed.

Alexei Navalny denounced the verdict as political “pressure”.Alexei Navalny avoids jail in fraud case

He tweeted: “Of all of the possible types of sentence, this is the meanest.”

Alexei Navalny was shocked by the outcome of the trial for his brother.

“Why are you putting him in prison?” he asked the judge.

“To punish me even harder?”

Alexei Navalny has been one of Vladimir Putin’s fiercest critics for several years, leading mass protests against his government in 2011 and 2012.

Tuesday’s verdict is the latest in a series of criminal cases against Alexei Navalny, which he says are fabricated to neutralize his political influence.

In 2013, Alexei Navalny came second in Moscow’s mayoral election, supported by 27% of voters.

He is already under house arrest, serving a 5-year suspended sentence for the alleged theft of 16 million rubles ($276,000) from a timber company in 2009.

The latest verdict was due to have been announced next month, but the court session was abruptly moved forward to December 30 after thousands of his supporters announced plans for a big protest rally on January 15.

After sentencing, Alexei Navalny called on his supporters to protest.

“I call on everyone to take to the streets today,” he said.

Thousands have already said on Facebook that they plan to attend a rally in Moscow’s Manezh Square, near the Kremlin, at 19:00 local time on December 30.

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