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The Interview: Sony Pictures hack attack seen as US security issue

Sonia Pantiss
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0
The Interview: Sony Pictures hack attack seen as US security issue

The cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment that forced the cancellation of The Interview movie release is being seen as a serious national security matter, the White House says.

A White House spokesman said the US believed the hacking was the work of a “sophisticated actor” – but refused to confirm if North Korea was responsible.

Sony Pictures withdrew The Interview, a new comedy film about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after threats from hackers.

Hackers have already released sensitive information stored on Sony computers.

They later issued a warning to members of the public planning to see The Interview.

Referring to the 9/11 terror attacks, they said “the world will be full of fear” if the film was screened.Sony Pictures hack attack seen as US security issue

Many cinemas scrapped plans to show the film, and Sony then cancelled the release of the film altogether – moves criticized in Hollywood as an attack on the freedom of expression.

At a White House briefing on December 18, spokesman Josh Earnest said US officials had held daily discussions about the Sony cyber attack and were considering an “appropriate response”.

However, he refused to comment on who was responsible, saying he did not wish to pre-empt an investigation by the Department of Justice and the FBI.

The Interview, made by Sony Pictures, features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists who are granted an audience with Kim Jong-un.

The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him.

The Interview was due to have been released over Christmas.

In November, a cyber attack crippled computers at Sony and led to upcoming films and workers’ personal data being leaked online.

The hackers also released salary details and social security numbers for thousands of Sony employees – including celebrities.

Earlier this month, North Korea denied hacking into Sony’s computers – but praised the attack itself as a “righteous deed”.

An article on North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency, quoting the country’s top military body, said suggestions that Pyongyang was behind the attack were “wild rumor”.

However, it warned the US that “there are a great number of supporters and sympathizers” of North Korea “all over the world” who may have carried out the attack.

In the article, Sony Pictures was accused of “abetting a terrorist act” and “hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership” of North Korea by producing the movie.

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Virna Lisi dies aged 78

Sonia Pantiss
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Virna Lisi dies aged 78

Italian film star Virna Lisi has died at the age of 78.

Virna Lisi, feted for her beauty and blonde locks, carved out a successful career in Hollywood, starring in films such as How To Murder Your Wife.

She was a force in European cinema, winning best actress at Cannes for 1994 French historical epic La Reine Margot.

The last of her movies was made in her native Italy in 2002.

However, Virna Lisi had been due to make a return to the screen in Italian comedy Latin Lover, which is due to be released in 2015.

Virna Lisi’s love affair with Hollywood ended with a fear that she was being typecast as the dumb blonde, leading her to terminate her contract with Paramount film studios in the late 1960s.

Her role in comedy How To Murder Your Wife, opposite Jack Lemmon, saw her pop out of a wedding cake clad in a bikini in one famous scene.

Virna Lisi also appeared in Assault on a Queen opposite Frank Sinatra in 1966 and performed alongside Tony Curtis in Not With My Wife, You Don’t! in the same year.

She turned down the role in director Roger Vadim’s classic Barbarella, eventually filled by Jane Fonda, leading to a break from acting during the early 1970s.

Later on in her career, Virna Lisi was awarded an honorary Italian Golden Globe award in 2004 in recognition of her cinematic achievements.

Virna Lisi was regularly lauded in her homeland for her work, winning seven David di Donatella awards in the 1980s and 90s, culminating in a special honor in 2009.

She had begun her film career as a teenager in the early 1950s with a string of roles in Italian movies.

Virna Lisi is survived by a son, Corrado, and three grandchildren. Her husband of 53 years, Italian architect Franco Pesci, died in 2013.

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Cuba policy: Barack Obama’s opponents threaten to block changes

Diane A. Wade
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Cuba policy: Barack Obama’s opponents threaten to block changes

Congressmen who are against President Barack Obama’s new Cuba policy have threatened to block his efforts to restore diplomatic relations after 50 years of hostility.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio promised on CNN to block the nomination of any US ambassador to Cuba.

Other anti-Castro legislators suggested Congress would removing funding for any normalized ties with the country.

US-Cuban ties have been frozen since the early 1960s – a policy of isolation Barack Obama condemned as a failure.

On December 17, President Barack Obama said it was time for a new approach.

As part of the deal, US contractor Alan Gross, 65, and an unnamed intelligence officer loyal to the US were released from Cuban prison in return for three Cubans held in the US.

The US will now seek to set up an embassy in Cuba, expand US visitors to Cuba, open up banking and increase caps on how much cash Cubans can post to relatives on to the island.

Only Congress has the power to end the full trade embargo, and with many Republicans deeply opposed to such a change, correspondents say it is unlikely to happen soon.

Among those opposed to restoring diplomatic relations was Democratic Senator Robert Menendez who said he was “deeply disappointed”.

“It’s a fallacy to believe that Cuba will reform because an American president opens his hands and the Castro brothers will suddenly unclench their fists.”Cuba policy in the US

Fellow Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said he would be among those trying to pass legislation to undercut funding for policy changes, including setting up an embassy.

“Normalizing relations with Cuba is a bad idea at a bad time,” tweeted Lindsey Graham, who will become chairman of a committee that determines state department funding in January.

Republican Senator Marco Rubio slammed the deal as “inexplicable”.

“Appeasing the Castro brothers will only cause other tyrants from Caracas to Tehran to Pyongyang to see that they can take advantage of President Obama’s naiveté during his final two years in office,” Marci Rubio said in a statement.

Marco Rubio told CNN on Wednesday he reserved the right “to do everything within the rules of the Senate to prevent that sort of individual from ever even coming up for a vote,” referring to the confirmation process for ambassadors in relation to Cuba.

Their objections mirror the concerns of some dissident Cubans living in the US.

“It is a betrayal. The talks are only going to benefit Cuba,” Carlos Munoz Fontanil said at a protest in Miami’s Calle Ocho.

Meanwhile, other world leaders have welcomed the move.

Leading the praise, Pope Francis sent “warm congratulations” to Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro for overcoming “the difficulties which have marked their recent history”.

The announcement followed more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving the pontiff.

The EU, which is in the process of normalizing ties with Cuba, described the move as a “historical turning point”, while leaders meeting at a Latin America summit in Argentina broke into applause at the news.

Canadian PM Stephen Harper, whose country never broke off ties with Cuba, welcomed what he called the “overdue development”.

Officials said that Barack Obama and Raul Castro spoke by telephone on December 16 for nearly an hour – the first presidential-level talks between the two nations since Cuba’s 1959 revolution.

In exchange for Alan Gross, who was in poor health, and the unnamed intelligence officer, Washington released three members of the so-called “Cuban Five” who were serving lengthy sentences for espionage.

Alan Gross’s five-year imprisonment had undermined previous attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries.

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The Interview: Sony Pictures cancels movie release internationally

Sonia Pantiss
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The Interview: Sony Pictures cancels movie release internationally

Sony Pictures Entertainment has confirmed it has no plans to release The Interview movie internationally, in any form, following threats from hackers.

Cinemas in the US canceled screenings of the film, about a plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un prompting Sony to shelve it altogether.

There has been dismay in Hollywood, with Ben Stiller calling the move “a threat to freedom of expression”.

Hackers had issued a warming to cinema-goers who planned to watch the movie.

President Barack Obama recommended that “people go to the movies”, but stressed that the hack was “very serious”.

Speaking to ABC, the president added: “We’ll be vigilant – if we see something that we think is serious and credible, then we’ll alert the public.”

Several other famous names have criticized the decision to shelve the movie, accusing the studio of caving in to the hackers’ threats.

On December 17, it emerged that Steve Carell’s planned film project, a thriller called Pyongyang about a Westerner working in North Korea, was scrapped ahead of Sony’s announcement.

Sony said it was “deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie”.

“We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatre-goers,” the studio said.The Interview release date canceled

It added: “We stand by our film-makers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

The cancellation comes after hackers calling themselves Guardians of Peace released emails and data stolen from Sony in late November.

In a later warning to cinemas screening The Interview, they referred to the 9/11 attacks, claiming “the world will be full of fear”.

“Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time,” the hacker group wrote, in a message on December 16.

“Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment.”

Sony had given theaters in the US and Canada the option to bow out of showing The Interview in the wake of the threats.

Regal Cinemas, AMC Entertainment and Cinemark Theatres – the top three theatre chains in North America – subsequently announced they were postponing screenings, and Canada’s biggest theatre firms also pulled out, leaving Sony seemingly no choice but to postpone the film.

However, the Alamo Drafthouse cinema in Texas has decided to replace The Interview with a screening of Team America, a film featuring a marionette of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the father of Kim Jong-un.

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Ruble crisis: Vladimir Putin insists Russian currency’s dramatic fall will stabilize

Clyde K. Valle
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Ruble crisis: Vladimir Putin insists Russian currency’s dramatic fall will stabilize

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to ease fears over his country’s economy, insisting that the dramatic fall in the ruble will stabilize.

Speaking at his end-of-year news conference, which lasted over three hours, Vladimir Putin blamed “outside factors” for the currency hitting an all-time low.

However, he admitted Russia’s central bank could have acted more swiftly.

Russia is on the verge of recession due to falling oil prices and sanctions over its role in the Ukraine crisis.

However, Vladimir Putin denied pursuing an “aggressive” foreign policy and accused the US and EU of conspiring to weaken Russia.

He accepted Russia had failed to diversify its economy for the past two decades and relied too heavily on its oil and gas exports.

But the president insisted the nation’s currency reserves were sufficient to keep the economy stable, saying the central bank should not “burn” its $419 billion reserves.

“I don’t believe you can call it a crisis – you can call it what you like,” he told a packed conference hall.

If the economic problems persisted, Vladimir Putin said, the government would have to “reduce social spending and future growth”.

He added: “Our economy will get out of this crisis. How long? Maybe two years, but after that, growth is inevitable.”

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

Although the ruble strengthened on Thursday morning, it has taken a battering in recent days.

The currency’s collapse came after a drastic 6.5 percentage point rise in Russian interest rates to 17%.

Earlier this week, there were reports of Russians flocking to the shops to spend their cash before prices shoot back up. Many were said to be buying cars and home appliances.

Vladimir Putin estimated that Western sanctions, put in place after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March, had accounted for roughly 25-30% of the ruble’s troubles.

On Ukraine, he said he was hopeful the conflict could be solved through peace talks.

Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country to conduct a quick “all for all” prisoner swap before Christmas.

Ukraine and the West accuse the Russian president of sending troops to fight with the rebels, but the Kremlin denies the allegations.

Vladimir Putin accused the US of hypocrisy, saying that Russia has just two military bases outside its borders while there are American bases “all over the world”.

Meanwhile, the EU approved further sanctions against Russia on December 18. They target investment in Crimea and oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea and come into force on Saturday.

“We are doing this because the EU has said the annexation [of Crimea] is illegal and what we’re doing is part of implementation of non-recognition of this policy by Russia,” EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters.

President Barack Obama is also expected to sign legislation this week authorizing new economic sanctions on Russia.

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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appears in court for first time

Nancy Clayson
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev appears in court for first time

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has appeared in court for the first time over the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

The final pre-trial hearing in the case was held in Boston ahead of jury selection for a federal trial, which is due to begin on January 5.

Suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, faces the possibility of the death penalty if he is convicted of the April 2013 bombings.

Three people were killed and more than 260 injured when two bombs detonated near the marathon’s finish line.Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in court

The Associated Press news agency reports that the courtroom for Thursday’s hearing was packed with FBI agents, police who worked on the case, and survivors and family members.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who was led into the courtroom by US marshals, was wearing a black sweater and grey trousers and sporting a beard, the agency adds.

Prosecutors allege that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his older brother, Tamerlan, built and planted the two pressure-cooker bombs.

Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev lived in the Massachusetts town of Cambridge, home of the prestigious Harvard University, after emigrating to the US in 2002 from the Caucasus region of southern Russia.

Officials believe the brothers set off the bombs as an act of retaliation against the US for its military action in Muslim countries.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed during a shootout with police days after the bombing.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was wounded and was eventually found by police hiding inside a boat in a residential neighborhood.

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Switzerland interest rate to turn negative

Clyde K. Valle
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Switzerland interest rate to turn negative

The Swiss National Bank will bring in a negative interest rate cutting the value of large sums of money left on deposit in Switzerland.

SNB is imposing a rate of minus 0.25% on “sight deposits” – a form of instant access account – of more than 10 million Swiss francs ($9.77 million).

It is trying to lower the value of the Swiss franc, which has risen recently.

Russia’s market meltdown and a dramatic plunge in the oil price have led investors to seek “safe havens”.

The announcement sent the franc lower, and in early trading the euro was buying 1.201 Swiss francs, fewer than the 1.203 it was worth before the news, just within the target.

Switzerland typically sees money flow in during economic uncertainty.

The new rate will be introduced on January 22.Swiss central bank cuts interest rate to negative

A negative rate means depositors pay to lend the bank their money.

SNB said in a statement: “Over the past few days a number of factors have prompted increased demand for safe investments.

“The introduction of negative interest rates makes it less attractive to hold Swiss franc investments, and thereby supports the minimum exchange rate.”

The central bank has a cap of one euro equals 1.20 Swiss francs, above which it tries to prevent the franc rising.

Too high a rate has the effect of making Swiss export products more pricey.

Switzerland is also chary about attracting yet more money into its banking heavy small country.

The European Central Bank (ECB) also introduced negative interest rates, albeit for very different reasons.

The ECB wants to keep money out of its banks, not because it wants to reduce the value of the euro but because it wants money flowing round the eurozone countries to boost investment and spending.

Germany’s Commerzbank also recently introduced negative interest rates for bigger corporate clients, but it said that was linked to the ECB’s negative rates policy.

US-Cuba breakthrough hailed by world leaders

Diane A. Wade
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US-Cuba breakthrough hailed by world leaders

The US historic move to end more than 50 years of hostility towards Cuba and restore diplomatic relations has been welcomed by world leaders.

Pope Francis joined leaders from Latin America and Europe in praising the “historic” deal which saw the release of prisoners from both countries.

However, dozens of dissident Cubans oppose the move, which some Republicans have labeled a “retreat” by the US.

US-Cuban ties have been frozen since the early 1960s.

President Barack Obama said the “rigid and outdated policy” of isolating Cuba since then had clearly failed and that it was time for a new approach.

President Raul Castro, meanwhile, has urged the US to ends its trade embargo, which has been in place since the Cuba turned to Communism more than 50 years ago.

Power to lift the embargo, which Raul Castro says has caused “enormous human and economic damage”, lies with the US Congress, and correspondents say many Republicans are still deeply opposed to this.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Leading the praise, Pope Francis sent “warm congratulations” to Barack Obama and Raul Castro for overcoming “the difficulties which have marked their recent history”.

The announcement followed more than a year of secret talks in Canada and at the Vatican, directly involving the pontiff.

The EU, which is in the process of normalizing ties with Cuba, described the move as a “historical turning point”, while leaders meeting at a Latin America summit in Argentina broke into applause at the news.

Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz hailed it as “the beginning of the end of the Cold War in the Americas”.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, whose predecessor Hugo Chavez was a close ally of Fidel Castro, said it was a “moral victory” and “victory for Fidel”.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said increased US engagement in Cuba in the future should “encourage real and lasting reforms for the Cuban people”.

Canadian PM Stephen Harper, whose country never broke off ties with Cuba, welcomed what he called the “overdue development”.

However, the move was not applauded by everyone, with dozens of Cubans living in exile in the US state of Florida protesting after the announcement on December 17.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Marco Rubio slammed the deal as “inexplicable”, adding that it did nothing to address the issues of Cuba’s political system and human rights record.

As part of the deal, US contractor Alan Gross, 65, was released from Cuban prison in return for three Cubans held in the US.

President Barack Obama said the US was looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months.

Officials said that Barack Obama and Fidel Castro spoke by telephone on December 16 for nearly an hour – the first presidential-level talks between the two nations since Cuba’s 1959 revolution.

In exchange for Alan Gross, who was in poor health, and an unnamed American intelligence officer, Washington released three members of the so-called “Cuban Five” who were serving lengthy sentences for espionage.

Alan Gross’s five-year imprisonment had undermined previous attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries.

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Technology in the Field of Medicine

Dana R
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Technology in the Field of Medicine

Technology has advanced many fields beyond our wildest dreams. Information technology alone has made the world a smaller place where individuals, families and corporations can work together throughout the year, both day and night. The medical profession has changed extensively in the last 10 years with products that help doctors and other healthcare professionals to diagnosis and monitor diseases and injuries in people and animals.

Medical Alert Systems

The elderly and other people who need constant monitoring can be fit with a device that will summon help in the event of a medical emergency. This allows them and their caretakers to have more independence with the surety that the patient will have the help they need. You can see a wide variety of medical alert systems reviewed by TopTenReviews, and select a device and monitoring system that suits your needs.

Robots

Medical technology has made it possible for miniature robots to perform spinal surgeries that just a few years ago were considered very complex and dangerous. There are miniaturized pacemakers that the patient isn’t even aware is there, and there are drugs that are activated by light to seek out the diseased cells. Some medications can be swallowed, but will not be activated until they reach the right organ.

Technology-Medical-Field
Photo Source: aid-n.com

Technology and Medical Jobs

There is automated laboratory equipment that enables the analysis of blood and cells that will detect diseases earlier that ever before. This means that clinical laboratory technicians need to learn a whole new method in the lab. As this technology becomes main stream, it also means more and more labs throughout the country and world can have state-of-the-art lab equipment.

The Stuff of Sci-Fi

Medical technology is becoming smaller and smaller. As devices are miniaturized, new therapies will be discovered and existing therapies will be modified. There may be nano-robots to examine blood, organs and internal tissue. Replacement organs will be created in the lab as scientists continue to work on biological engineering.

Some Medical Technology Used Today

• Melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer, can be detected without a surgical biopsy with a hand-held tool for multispectral analysis on tissue morphology.

• A tool is being developed that can block severe migraine and cluster headaches at the first sign that one is developing. It is a permanent implant in the gum on the side of the head where the headache usually comes. The patient has a hand-held remote that sends signals to the implant to block the pain-causing neurotransmitters.

• Diabetes care without a needle is the latest technology being developed. It consists of a biosensor that reads blood analytes with a patch and no needle. It does this through a top layer of skin cells, and the data is sent to a remote monitor. An audible alarm will sound if the glucose levels are out of the patient’s ideal limit.

• Telemedicine is already being used for emergencies, but today monitors can cruise up and down hospital hallways and the doctor’s face will be seen on the screen. He or she can talk to the patient on a two-way screen and monitor the patient’s medical equipment.

These innovations benefit doctors, nurses, caregivers and patients by being faster and more accurate. This allows doctors to catch diseases early giving the patient a better chance of full recovery.

EU Court: Obesity can constitute a disability in certain circumstances

Kathryn R. Bown
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EU Court: Obesity can constitute a disability in certain circumstances

The EU’s highest court has ruled that obesity can constitute a disability in certain circumstances.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) was asked to consider the case of a male childcare in Denmark who says he was sacked for being too fat.

The court said that if obesity could hinder “full and effective participation” at work then it could count as a disability.

The ruling is binding across the EU.

Judges said that obesity in itself was not a disability – but if a person had a long term impairment because of their obesity, then they would be protected by disability legislation.

The case centers around childcare Karsten Kaltoft who weighs about 320 lbs.Obesity can constitute a disability in certain circumstances

He brought a discrimination case against his employers of 15 years, Billund local authority, after he was sacked.

The authority said a fall in the number of children meant Karsten Kaltoft was no longer required.

Howerver, Karsten Kaltoft said he was dismissed because he was overweight.

The Danish courts asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether obesity was a disability.

The ECJ ruled: “The Court finds that if, under given circumstances, the obesity of the worker entails a limitation which results in particular from physical, mental or psychological impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder the full and effective participation of that person in professional life on an equal basis with other workers, and the limitation is a long-term one, such obesity can fall within the concept of ‘disability’ within the meaning of the directive.”

Rulings from the ECJ are binding for all EU member nations.

The courts in Denmark will now have to assess Karsten Kaltoft’s weight to see if his case can be classed as a disability.

George Stinney case: South Carolina judge overturns 1944 murder conviction

James J. Williams
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George Stinney case: South Carolina judge overturns 1944 murder conviction

South Carolina Judge Carmen T. Mullen has overturned the conviction of 14-year-old George Stinney Jr. executed for murder in the 1940’s.

George Stinney’s prosecution for the killing of two white girls in South Carolina was a great injustice, the judge said.

The boy was arrested, convicted and executed in 1944 in the space of three months, and with no appeal.

Supporters said his trial was tainted by racism and lack of evidence.

In her ruling, Judge Carmen T. Mullen said that the prosecution at the time had failed to safeguard George Stinney’s constitutional rights.

The boy was arrested after two girls, aged 7 and 11, were found beaten to death a day after they reportedly spoke to him and his sister.

After a search party found the girls, the teenager was reportedly taken from his parents and interrogated without a lawyer.George Stinney execution 1944

George Stinney remains the youngest person executed in the US in 100 years.

According to contemporary accounts, George Stinney’s size – he weighed 95lb and stood about 5ft 2in tall – meant he was too small for the straps of the electric chair, and an electrode was too big for his leg.

Reports say George Stinney had to sit on a phone book in the electric chair.

Most evidence in the state’s case, including George Stinney’s alleged confession, had been lost over time.

Prosecutors have said that the loss of evidence did not mean it was deliberately destroyed.

The case was brought to renewed public attention in large part by George Frierson, one of George Stinney’s most outspoken supporters.

“When I get home, I’m going to get on my knees and thank the Lord Almighty for being so good and making sure justice prevailed,” George Frierson said after hearing of the ruling.

During the 1940s South Carolina was a centre of the southern US states’ official segregationist racism, known as the Jim Crow system.

Sony Pictures cancels The Interview Christmas Day release

Sonia Pantiss
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Sony Pictures cancels The Interview Christmas Day release

Sony Pictures Entertainment has decided to cancel The Interview movie release on December 25, after major cinema chains decided not to screen it.

The Interview is about a fictional plot to kill North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Hackers have already carried out a cyber attack on Sony and warned the public to stay away from cinemas screening the film.

The US government said it was considering a “range of options” on how to respond to the attack.

“We know that criminals and foreign countries regularly seek to gain access to government and private sector networks – both in the United States and elsewhere,” a National Security Council statement said, adding that the FBI was leading the investigation.

“We take very seriously any attempt to threaten or limit artists’ freedom of speech or of expression.”

The statement came after US media quoted anonymous officials as saying that the FBI had linked North Korea to the attacks.

On December 17, the New York premiere of The Interview was canceled.

Sony says it understands its partners’ decision.Sony Pictures cancels The Interview release

However, in a statement it said it was “deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie”.

“In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release,” it said.

“We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theatre-goers.”

The statement added: “We stand by our film makers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

Hackers calling themselves Guardians of Peace have released emails and data stolen from Sony in late November.

In a recent warning they mentioned the 9/11 attacks, claiming “the world will be full of fear”.

“Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time,” the hacker group wrote in a message on December 16.

“Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment.”

Earlier, Sony had given theatres in the US and Canada the option to bow out of showing The Interview in the wake of the threats.

Regal Cinemas, AMC Entertainment and Cinemark Theatres – the top three theatre chains in North America – subsequently announced they were postponing screenings, and Canada’s biggest theatre firms also pulled out, leaving Sony seemingly no choice but to postpone the film.

Jimmy Kimmel tweeted that the decision by theatres to refuse to show the film was “an un-American act of cowardice that validates terrorist actions and sets a terrifying precedent.”

The Interview cost Sony an estimated $42 million to produce – not nearly as much as action films like The Hunger Games or the X-Men films – but still a significant amount for a comedy film.

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How to Cheer up a Girl Pal who has January Blues

Dana R
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How to Cheer up a Girl Pal who has January Blues

Once the holiday season is over many people get the January blues. The weather is cold, wet and miserable and your bank balance is almost non-existent due to the busy festive period.  As December is such a busy month, when it comes to January people feel like they are less sociable, less attractive from all the Christmas chocolates and start evaluating their lives which can make them over analyse different aspects, which in effect, makes them feel down in the dumps. Here are some ideas to help you cheer up a friend who is suffering from the January blues whilst also preventing you from getting the dreaded mind-frame too.

Remind them of fun memoriesIndulge in January Sale Therapy
Why not head down to the sales and treat yourselves to a bargain? Nothing makes a girl feel better than buying something that flatters her. Even if it’s as simple as buying a new nail varnish or some new pyjamas, it will make her feel better about herself. You can arrange a time with your girlfriends to meet up and show off your new items that you have both bought. If your friends have the same taste as the both of you they will most likely compliment your new items, making you both feel good about yourselves.

Keep on celebrating
Just because the Christmas festivities are over doesn’t mean you have to stop celebrating. Think of a random reason such as just being alive to celebrate. Get a fancy frock on, invite the girls round and go out for a night on the town. Who ever said you can’t celebrate in January? Just because the rest of the world is being a hermit doesn’t mean you need to be too.

Buy them some flowers

Buy them some flowers
If it’s your friends that is suffering from January blues, why not buy them some flowers or if you’re hard up on cash, get your other girl pals to club in with you. What girl doesn’t love receiving a bouquet? Not many that’s for sure. It will make them feel thought of and cared about, and remind them what great friends she has, when she’s sat at home watching Bridget jones and feeling sorry for herself.

Remind them of fun memories
Another great idea for a friend who is suffering from January blues is to dig out some cute photos of you, her and the girls from great memorable times. You could even get them printed on personalised photo coasters so when she’s warming her tummy from the cold weather with a cup of tea, she will cheered up by your beautiful faces (teehee).

Take them away
One final way get rid of the January blues is to go away on a weekend break, it doesn’t have to be far but just getting away from the same household chores and routine can make you feel lots better. Why not arrange a family break or a trip with the girls. It’ll take your mind of feeling sorry for yourself as you relax and enjoy your surroundings.

Bradley Stone: Pennsylvania killer found dead in woods

Nancy Clayson
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Bradley Stone: Pennsylvania killer found dead in woods

The body of Pennsylvania killer Bradley Stone has been was found in a wooded area near his home on December 16, bringing to an end a 36-hour manhunt

Bradley Stone, a 35-year-old Iraq War veteran, was suspected of killing his ex-wife and five of her relatives.

He had been sought in connection with the fatal shootings of six people near Philadelphia on December 15.

His ex-wife, her mother, her grandmother, her sister, her sister’s husband and their daughter were killed.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman told reporters that police found Bradley Stone’s body about half a mile from his home in Pennsburg.

He died of “self-inflicted cutting wounds” to the centre of his body, she said.Bradley Stone Pennsylvania killer

Reports said the shootings may have been triggered by a custody dispute.

“[Ex-wife Nicole Stone] would tell anybody who would listen that he was going to kill her and that she was really afraid for her life,” Evan Weron, a neighbour in Harleysville, told the Associated Press news agency.

Bradley Stone had reportedly filed an emergency motion to the court earlier this month, although those records are currently sealed.

The shootings in Souderton, Lansdale and Harleysville began at about 04:00 local time on December 15.

The first took place at the home in Souderton of Bradley Stone’s former sister-in-law, Patricia Flick. She was killed along with her husband, Aaron Flick, and the couple’s daughter, Nina, 14. The couple’s 17-year-old son, Anthony Flick, was badly wounded.

He is currently in very serious but stable condition in hospital, authorities said.

The next shooting was at a house in nearby Lansdale where Nicole Stone’s mother, Joanne Hill, and grandmother Patricia Hill were killed.

Nicole Stone was later killed at her home in Harleysville. Neighbors reported seeing Bradley Stone fleeing with their two children and raised the alarm.

The children were found safe a short distance away, and Bradley Stone’s current wife and infant child were also secured.

It was the second large-scale manhunt in Pennsylvania in the last few months.

Eric Frein spent 48 days on the run after a September ambush in which he killed a police officer.

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Ruble crisis: Russian currency regains some ground from all-time low

Clyde K. Valle
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Ruble crisis: Russian currency regains some ground from all-time low

The Russian ruble has regained some ground from yesterday’s all-time low, although trading remains edgy and volatile.

The currency opened 4% lower on December 17, but then edged up. By early afternoon, one US dollar bought 68 rubles, far fewer than the record low of 79 on December 16.

The ruble has been hit by worries over the Russian economy, which has been affected by cheaper oil and sanctions.

Russia’s Finance Ministry said the currency was “undervalued” and that it was intervening in the market.

It also gave details of the amount it spent on such action, saying it had spent almost $2 billion on December 15 in an attempt to stop the ruble sliding.

Deputy finance minister Alexei Moiseyev said Russia was going to sell foreign currency from its treasury accounts “as much as necessary and as long as necessary”.Russian ruble crisis 2014

The drastic 6.5 percentage point rise in Russian interest rates to 17% early on December 16 failed to halt the slide in the currency.

The rate rise, which was meant to strengthen the ruble, helped it to hit 58 to the dollar early on Tuesday but the rate then collapsed to a record low of 79.

There is not much more Russia can do to prop up its currency, which has only been allowed to move in line with the world’s currency markets in the past year.

Capital controls, where money is restricted from moving out of the country, are the main, final option.

Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev ruled that out. Speaking at an emergency meeting of ministers and industry leaders, he said he was confident that Moscow could contain the crisis: “Central bank and the government have worked out a package of measures to stabilize the situation. What we are seeing today is mainly emotional games.

“It is in our interests to bring order to the markets, no one gains from instability. But at the same time, there is no need for tough regulations, as used to happen in the past. It does not bring anything good – we shall use market tools.”

The ruble has lost more than half its value against the dollar this year, hit by Western sanctions and the fall in the oil price which have both weakened the Russian economy.

Russia’s economy is expected to shrink next year, although the amount by which it does is closely linked to the price of oil, with the economy rising or falling in line with that.

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Alan Gross released from Cuban prison after 5 years

Diane A. Wade
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Alan Gross released from Cuban prison after 5 years

American Alan Gross has been released from a Cuban prison after a deal agreed by the US and Cuba, US officials have announced.

Alan Gross, 65, was accused of helping to hook people up to the internet illegally on the communist island and spent 5 years in prison.

He left Cuba on a US government plane and was freed on humanitarian grounds, a US official told Associated Press.

His arrest and imprisonment has undermined attempts to thaw diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Alan Gross was jailed for 15 years for committing “acts against the integrity of the state”.

His work in building internet access for local communities involved bringing in satellite equipment that is illegal in Cuba.

The Cuban authorities saw Alan Gross’ activities as a covert attempt at regime change, although Washington protested his innocence.

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Norman Bridwell dead: Clifford the Big Red Dog’s creator dies aged 86

Sonia Pantiss
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Norman Bridwell dead: Clifford the Big Red Dog’s creator dies aged 86

Clifford the Big Red Dog’s creator, Norman Bridwell, died on Friday, December 12, at the age of 86 following a fall at his home in Massachusetts.

Norman Bridwell’s loveable character first made an appearance in 1963 and went on to star in more than 40 stories, selling 120 million copies worldwide.

Clifford’s image has gone on to appear on merchandise and in US buildings, including the White House.

Norman Bridwell had completed two more books which are due for release in 2015.

Dick Robinson, president of Norman Bridwell’s long-time publisher Scholastic said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our loyal and talented friend whose drawings and stories have inspired all of us and generations of children and their parents.”

The author’s wife of 56 years, Norma, said: “A lot of people were Clifford fans and that makes them Norman fans too.”

She was responsible for naming the character Clifford after her imaginary childhood friend.

Over the decades, the bright red dog featured in a host of stories, including Clifford Goes To Hollywood and Clifford and The Grouchy Neighbors, which became popular bedtime reading for children across the US and beyond.

The dog regularly got into trouble before redeeming himself with a daring rescue or doing a good deed.

Norman Bridwell’s wife said there were parallels between the author and his creation.

“He’s never been able to recognize that. Clifford tries to do the right thing, Norman tries to do right the thing, and he makes a mess of it. But he’s the most lovable grown-up man. He’s just a nice guy.”

Before he found fame with Clifford, Norman Bridwell worked as a commercial artist during the 1950s.

He made numerous attempts to break into children’s publishing, until a New York book editor suggested he created a story around an illustration he had submitted of a child and her oversized dog.

Further rejections followed, until publishers Scholastic saw his creation’s potential – a move which led to lasting success for the company.

In more recent years, the character was animated in a series of cartoons for TV, while a feature film – Clifford’s Big Red Movie – was made in 2004.

Norman Bridwell is survived by his wife, a son and three grandchildren. A small private funeral service will be held along with a more public celebration of the author’s life and work, his family said.

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Hot air balloon crash kills Chinese tourist in Turkey

Nancy Clayson
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Hot air balloon crash kills Chinese tourist in Turkey

A Chinese tourist has died and nine others injured in a hot air balloon crash in Turkey.

The balloon, which was carrying Chinese and Malaysian tourists, came down in the Güvercinlik Valley in Cappadocia at 08:15Am local time on December 17.

The tourist killed was identified by Turkish media as Tang Yi, while a Malaysian was reported to be in a critical condition.

Reports from Turkey said the cause of the incident was as yet unknown.Turkey hot air balloon crash

The balloon had taken off from Goreme in Nevsehir province in Central Anatolia on Wednesday morning.

Paramedics and security forces were dispatched to the scene of the crash.

In 2009, a balloon crash in the same region killed a British tourist and injured nine other people.

Three Brazilian tourists were killed, and 20 people injured, when two balloons collided in Cappadocia in 2013.

Cappadocia, in central Anatolia, is famed for its “fairy chimney” volcanic cones, subterranean cities carved out of soft stone, and early Christian churches.

Ballooning has become a popular tourist business in the region over the past decade.

McDonald’s Japan rations French fries

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s Japan rations French fries

Fast food giant McDonald’s is running out of French fries in Japan.

McDonald’s says it can’t get hold of enough potatoes because of industrial action in America.

As a result the company has to ration French fries for customers.

“Unfortunately without this sales restriction step, we would run the danger of running out of fries at some of our stores around the end of the year,” said McDonald’s Japan spokeswoman Kokoro Toyama.

There are more than 3,100 McDonald’s outlets in Japan.McDonald's Japan rations French fries

For now they will only serve small portions of fries, though they won’t restrict how many portions customers can order.

More than 1,000 tonnes of potatoes have already been flown in to try to boost supplies. They started arriving this week.

A further 1,600 tonnes will be imported by sea but they won’t arrive until January.

The industrial dispute in America is between 20,000 dockworkers and terminal operators and shipping lines at 29 ports on the west coast of the US.

This isn’t the first time that Japan’s been hit by a food shortage in recent weeks.

For most of this month supplies of butter have been so low that supermarkets have had to limit customers to one pack each.

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Apple stops Russian online sales over ruble crisis

Clyde K. Valle
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Apple stops Russian online sales over ruble crisis

Apple has announced it stops selling products online in Russia because the ruble’s value is too volatile for it to set prices.

The technology giant stopped sales of its iPhones, iPads and other products in Russia after a day in which the currency went into free-fall.

The ruble has lost more than 20% this week, despite a dramatic decision to raise interest rates from 10.5% to 17%.

Early on Wednesday, the ruble was down 5% with one dollar buying 71 rubles.

The currency all time low, set on December 17, saw one dollar buying as many as 79 rubles.Apple stops Russia online sales

Apple last month increased its prices in Russia by 20% after the weakening ruble left products in Russia cheaper than in the rest of Europe.

Russia’s central bank said on December 17 it had spent almost $2 billion intervening in the currency market on December 15.

It has spent around $80 billion trying to prop up its ruble this year, but despite that, the currency has lost more than half its value against the dollar since January, with cheaper oil and Western sanctions over its stance over Ukraine the chief factors.

Both of these have weakened the Russian economy.

Russia’s central bank has pledged fresh further measures to try to stabilize its currency, with First Deputy Governor Sergei Shvetsov describing the situation as “critical”.

The ruble’s slide this week was prompted by fears that the US was considering a fresh set of sanctions against the country for its support for separatists in Ukraine.

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The Interview: NYC premiere canceled amid threats from hackers

Sonia Pantiss
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The Interview: NYC premiere canceled amid threats from hackers

The NYC premiere of The Interview movie, a comedy about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been cancelled amid threats from hackers.

A spokesman for the cinema chain due to host the screening said it had been shelved.

Hackers targeting Sony Pictures had threatened to attack US cinemas showing the studio’s film.

They belong to the same group which has released emails and data stolen from Sony.

Calling themselves Guardians of Peace, the hackers mentioned the 9/11 attacks in a recent warning, claiming “the world will be full of fear”.

“Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time,” the hacker group wrote in a message on .The Interview NYC premiere canceled

“If your house is nearby, you’d better leave,” they add.

“Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment.”

A spokesman for Landmark, the cinema chain due to host the New York premiere, confirmed the showing had been cancelled but gave no reason, Reuters news agency reported.

Executives from Sony had previously said they would not object if cinemas chose not to show The Interview.

Carmike Cinemas, which operates 278 venues across the US, has cancelled planned screenings, according to several news outlets.

The company has not yet commented publicly on the reports.

Guardians of Peace have also released a new trove of Sony company data, calling it a “Christmas gift”.

A cache of company emails, social security numbers and salary details had already been released.

On December 16, two former Sony Pictures employees sued the California company for not providing adequate security to prevent the computer breach.

The studio earlier attempted to limit the damage by contacting some news outlets to block the publication of the emails.

North Korea has denied involvement in the attack, but has described it as a “righteous deed” that may have been carried out by its “supporters and sympathizers”.

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Barack Obama to sign new Russia sanctions bill

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama to sign new Russia sanctions bill

President Barack Obama will sign a bill imposing new Russian sanctions despite reservations, the White House has announced.

The bill – which primarily sanctions Russia’s defense industries – passed with overwhelming support in Congress.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the bill sent “a confusing message to our allies” but President Barack Obama will sign it because it “preserves flexibility”.

The Russian ruble has lost half its value this year amid lower oil prices and Western sanctions.Barack Obama Russia sanctions bill

The currency went into free-fall in trading on December 16.

The bill would also give Barack Obama the authority to provide lethal and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine, but not require him to do so.

The US and European powers have sanctioned Russia previously over the country’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Secretary of State John Kerry, who met Russia’s foreign minister in Rome, said: “These sanctions could be lifted in a matter of weeks or days, depending on the choices that President Putin takes.”

However, John Kerry said Russia had made “constructive” moves in recent days.

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Man Haron Monis was wanted in Iran since 2000

Roy Siemens
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Man Haron Monis was wanted in Iran since 2000

Man Haron Monis – the gunman behind Sydney café siege – was wanted in Iran since 14 years ago, but Australia refused to hand him over.

The head of Iran’s police, General Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, told reporters that Man Haron Monis was wanted for fraud at the time.

He said Man Haron Monis had fled to Australia via Malaysia in the late 1990s.

Man Haron Monis and two hostages were shot dead on Tuesday morning, when commandos stormed the Sydney cafe where he had been holding captives for 16 hours.

Gen. Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam said Man Haron Monis was known in Iran as “Manteqi”.

“In 1996, he was the manager of a travel agency and committed fraud,” the general told reporters.Man Haron Monis wanted Iran

“He then fled to Malaysia and from there, to Australia under a fake name.”

He added that “since we did not have an agreement on the extradition of criminals with Australia, the Australian police refused to extradite him”.

Man Haron Monis applied for political asylum to obtain refugee status in Australia, Gen. Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam said, describing the incident as “a play”.

Meanwhile the Australian government has announced it is investigating why Man Haron Monis was released on bail on separate charges.

He had a history of religiously inspired activism, but officials say there is as yet no evidence his actions were linked to international Islamist movements.

In 2008, Man Haron Monis he was convicted of sending offensive letters to the families of fallen Australian soldiers in 2009.

In 2013, he was charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, and given bail.

Man Haron Monis also faced more than 40 s**ual and indecent assault charges.

Bill Withers to be inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015

Sonia Pantiss
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Bill Withers to be inducted to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015

Bill Withers is to be inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

The musician, whose hits include Lean On Me and Lovely Day, has not released any new material since 1985 and makes very few public appearances.

Bill Withers, 76, told Rolling Stone magazine he would attend the Hall of Fame ceremony on April 18, 2015, joking: “I guess I’ll have to go buy a suit.”

Asked whether he would sing, Bill Withers replied: “I don’t know if I can.”

“I’ll find out between then and now,” he added.

“There are some people that can sing in their later years and some of them that can’t,” he continued.

“I don’t want to be one of those old guys that sounds like a gerbil trying to give birth to a hippopotamus.

“I’ve gotta see if I can’t conjure it up.”Bill Withers Hall of Fame

Bill Withers was announced as a nominee for the Hall of Fame in October, alongside The Smiths, Lou Reed, Sting, Green Day, NWA and Nine Inch Nails.

Bill Withers’ name was selected for induction following a vote by fellow artists, historians, music industry insiders and the public.

“It was kind of odd to get nominated,” he told Rolling Stone.

“I just never felt that anyone owed me this.”

Other artists to be given a spot include I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll hitmaker Joan Jett, late guitar virtuoso Stephen Ray Vaughan and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Lou Reed and Green Day also earned places, but The Smiths, NWA and Sting all missed out – as did disco pioneers Chic and German electronic band Kraftwerk.

However, Ringo Starr will also receive a special award for musical excellence at the ceremony, making him the last Beatle to be inducted as a solo artist.

Artists are eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame 25 years after their first recording was released.

Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Joni Mitchell, Madonna, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin and Elton John have all earned their places over the years.

Rock and Roll hall of fame – 2015 inductees:

  • Lou Reed
  • Green Day
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
  • Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
  • Bill Withers
  • Paul Butterfield Blues Band
  • The 5 Royales
  • Ringo Starr

Jeb Bush 2016: George Bush’s brother actively explores presidential run

Diane A. Wade
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Jeb Bush 2016: George Bush’s brother actively explores presidential run

George W. Bush’s brother, Jeb Bush, has announced he himself is looking into running for the White House in 2016.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush will “actively explore the possibility of running for President” as he wrote on Facebook on December 16.

He will also create a political action committee to “facilitate conversations with citizens across America”.

Jeb Bush has pro-immigration views, an issue likely to top the 2016 campaign.

But his views on this subject and on education have enraged some conservative Republicans.

Jeb Bush is not the only familiar name circling the upcoming election.Jeb Bush 2016

Former First Lady and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is currently the frontrunner for the 2016 Democratic ticket.

The announcement marks the first major Republican candidate to make a formal move toward announcing candidacy for the 2016 presidential nomination.

“In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America,” Jeb Bush wrote on Facebook.

His committee, named Leadership PAC, will help “support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans”.

He is not expected to announce his decision until next year “after gauging support”, Kristy Campbell, a spokeswoman for Jeb Bush, told the Associated Press news agency.

“This is a natural next step and represents a new phase of his consideration process,” she added.

Jeb Bush’s Facebook statement is the strongest yet to indicate he plans to attempt to become the third member of his family – after his father, George H.W. Bush, and brother, George W. Bush – to become the president of the US.

During two terms as governor of Florida, he overhauled the state’s education system and pushed for substantial tax cuts.

In a recent televised interview, Jeb Bush claimed he “would be a good president” and promised to release a cache of emails from his time as governor.

Other names in the frame for the Republican nomination include Senators Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, and Governor Chris Christie.

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