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The Interview: North Korea offers to hold joint inquiry with US into Sony cyber-attack

Sonia Pantiss
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The Interview: North Korea offers to hold joint inquiry with US into Sony cyber-attack

North Korea wants to hold a joint inquiry with the US into a cyber-attack on Sony Pictures after it strongly denied US claims that it is behind it.

The North Korean foreign ministry accused the US government of “spreading groundless allegations” and said a probe would refute the allegations.

The attack and subsequent threats against cinemas led Sony to cancel the release of The Interview, a satire including the fictional assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The film had been due to open on Christmas Day.

However, Sony Pictures said it was considering releasing it “on a different platform”.

The FBI said on December 19 that the Pyongyang government was responsible.

On December 20, the North Korean foreign ministry said: “As the United States is spreading groundless allegations and slandering us, we propose a joint investigation with it into this incident.”North Korea Sony attack

“Without resorting to such tortures as were used by the US CIA, we have means to prove that this incident has nothing to do with us.”

Yesterday, President Barack Obama criticized the film’s cancelation, saying he wished Sony executives had spoken to him before cancelling the release.

“We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship,” he said, vowing to “respond” to the cyber-attack in a “manner that we choose”.

Responding to the president’s comments, Sony Pictures chief executive and chairman Michael Lynton said the studio had not made an error in canceling the release.

“We have not given in, we have persevered,” he told CNN.

A Sony statement said the decision had been based on “the majority of the nation’s theatre owners choosing not to screen the film”.

“Without theatres, we could not release it in the theatres on Christmas Day. We had no choice,” the statement added.

“It is still our hope that anyone who wants to see this movie will get the opportunity to do so.”

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Barack Obama blocks export of goods, technology and services to Crimea

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama blocks export of goods, technology and services to Crimea

President Barack Obama has signed an executive order banning the export of goods, technology and services to Crimea.

The executive order also imposes new sanctions on certain Russian and Ukrainian individuals and companies.

The West has imposed various sanctions on Russia since it annexed Crimea after the removal of Ukraine’s pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

Barack Obama said his latest decision was to show that the US would not accept Russia’s annexation.

The annexation was followed in April by pro-Russian separatists taking control of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine and declaring independence.

Some 4,700 people have died and another million have been displaced by fighting since then, the UN says.

On December 19, five Ukrainian soldiers were killed in fighting – the highest death toll since the latest attempt at a ceasefire began on 9 December.

Barack Obama said in a statement: “The executive order is intended to provide clarity to US corporations doing business in the region and reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea.”

Photo AP
Photo AP

In addition to the goods, technology and services ban, US individuals or companies cannot now buy any real estate or businesses in Crimea or fund Crimean firms.

The new measures also include sanctions on 24 Ukrainian and Russian individuals and on a number of companies deemed to be destabilizing Ukraine.

They include the Russian equity investment group, Marshall Capital Partners, and the Night Wolves biker group, over its involvement in Crimean military action.

Meanwhile, the EU imposed its own new sanctions against the Crimea region.

Like the EU, Barack Obama said he would not yet impose new sanctions on Russia, urging it again to de-escalate the tension in eastern Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that “threatening new sanctions against Russia could undermine the possibility of normal cooperation between our countries for a long time”.

Barack Obama said: “I again call on Russia to end its occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, cease its support to separatists in eastern Ukraine, and fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreement.”

The agreement signed by Ukraine and the rebels in Minsk, in Belarus, in September, put in place a ceasefire and set out the terms for a peace process.

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Michael Phelps sentenced to one-year suspended prison for DUI

Clyde K. Valle
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Michael Phelps sentenced to one-year suspended prison for DUI

Michael Phelps has been given a one-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to DUI.

The 29-year-old swimmer is the most decorated Olympian of all-time.

The 18-time Olympic gold medalist was also sentenced to 18 months of supervised probation.

During that time Michael Phelps must totally abstain from drinking alcohol.

Michael Phelps tested at nearly twice the legal alcohol limit when he was arrested in Baltimore in September.

He was initially stopped for speeding after being caught going at 84mph in a 45mph zone.Michael Phelps DUI

The swimmer said he had also spent time at the Meadows addiction treatment centre in Arizona.

“During my 45-day program, I was able to find out a lot about myself that I never knew,” Michael Phelps told reporters.

“I’m looking at a much brighter future than I have had in the past,” he added.

Michael Phelps retired after winning his 22nd Olympic medal at the London Games in 2012 but came out of retirement earlier this year.

He was given a six-month ban from swimming after his arrest in September, but continues to train.

Michael Phelps, who is from Baltimore County, was previously charged for DUI in Maryland in 2004. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired in exchange for 18 months’ probation.

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Cairns children’s mother arrested on suspicion of murder

Nancy Clayson
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Cairns children’s mother arrested on suspicion of murder

The mother of 7 of 8 Australian children stabbed to death in a home in Cairns has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The 37-year-old mother was lucid and talking to investigators, police said. She has not been charged.

The woman was found at the property, suffering stab wounds, alongside the bodies of the eight children.

They were aged 18 months to 15 years. Police have not said how they died. The eighth child was her niece.

Confirming the arrest, Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said: “The 37-year-old mother of several of the children involved in this incident has been arrested for murder overnight and is currently under police guard at the Cairns Base Hospital.”Cairns children mother arrested

“At this stage we’re not looking for anybody else – we’re comfortable that the community at large is safe,” he added.

A coroner is due to conduct autopsies on the children to determine the cause of death.

Police found a number of weapons at the scene which are being examined as part of investigations.

The woman’s name has not been released. Her age was first given as 34 but has since been corrected to 37.

A candlelight vigil and church service was held on Friday evening for the children.

Australia’s PM Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an “unspeakable crime”.

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Fethullah Gulen: Turkish court issues arrest warrant for exiled cleric

Diane A. Wade
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Fethullah Gulen: Turkish court issues arrest warrant for exiled cleric

An arrest warrant has been issued by a Turkish court for the influential exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Fethullah Gulen, who is based in the US, is accused of establishing and running an “armed terrorist group”.

He was once an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but has now been accused of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government – a claim the cleric strongly denies.

The US is thought to be unlikely to act on any extradition request.

The move comes amid a national crackdown on perceived supporters of the cleric.

Over 20 journalists working for media outlets thought to be sympathetic to the Gulen movement were arrested last weekend.Fethullah Gulen arrest warrant issued in Turkey

Eight of them were freed on December 19 on the orders of a court in Istanbul. Those released include Ekrem Dumanli, editor-in-chief of Zaman newspaper.

Four others, including a TV station boss, remain in custody.

While the US and Turkey have an extradition agreement, the warrant is considered to be largely symbolic – and unlikely to be acted upon.

The relationship between Washington and Ankara has grown fractious, though they remain allies.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced criticism from international leaders and his opponents, who accuse him of authoritarianism and undermining free press.

Many abroad believe that the charges against Fethullah Gulen are politically motivated.

The wealthy cleric, who operates an international network of schools and businesses, has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999.

According to media reports, the prosecutor filing the arrest warrant accused Fethullah Gulen of leading an armed terrorist group – a charge that carries up to 15 years in prison.

The Interview: Barack Obama confirms North Korea cyber attack on Sony Pictures

Sonia Pantiss
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The Interview: Barack Obama confirms North Korea cyber attack on Sony Pictures

President Barack Obama has promised a strong response after North Korea’s alleged cyber-attack on Sony Pictures.

The president also said the studio “made a mistake” in refusing to release The Interview, a controversial satire depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On December 19 US authorities linked North Korea to the hack, which saw sensitive studio information publicly released.

Sony withdrew The Interview following continued threats.

“We will respond,” Barack Obama told reporters on December 19, declining to offer specifics.

“We will respond proportionately and in a space, time and manner that we choose.”

He added: “We cannot have a society in which some dictator someplace can start imposing censorship in the United States.”

Barack Obama said it was important to protect both public and private cyber-systems from attack which could have significant economic and social impacts.

He also noted he believed Sony Pictures was mistaken in failing to go ahead with the release.

“Americans cannot change their patterns of behavior due to the possibility of a terrorist attack,” he said.Barack Obama confirms North Korea attack on Sony

“That’s not who we are, that’s not what America is about.”

Earlier on Friday, FBI officially tied North Korea to the cyber-attack, linking the country to malware used in the incident.

Sony cancelled the holiday release of The Interview after national theatre chains refused to show it.

Hackers had earlier issued a warning referring to the 9/11 terror attacks, saying “the world will be full of fear” if the film was screened.

The movie 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 film was due to have been released over Christmas.

The film’s canceled release drew criticism in Hollywood, with some calling it an attack on the freedom of expression.

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.

North Korea earlier this month denied involvement in the hack – but praised the attack itself as a “righteous deed”.

However, the communist country 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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FIFA to release Michael Garcia’s World Cup corruption report

Clyde K. Valle
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FIFA to release Michael Garcia’s World Cup corruption report

World football’s governing body, Federation Internationale de Fooball Association (FIFA), agreed to publish a “legally appropriate version” of a report into allegations of World Cup bidding corruption.

However, FIFA insisted Russia and Qatar will stay as hosts of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments respectively.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said he asked the executive committee to vote in favor of publishing the report.

“We have always been determined the truth should be known,” he said.

“That is, after all, why we set up an independent ethics committee with an investigatory chamber that has all necessary means to undertake investigations on its own initiative.”

Only a disputed summary of Michael Garcia’s 430-page report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups has so far been published.

Releasing the full report, which is likely be heavily redacted to preserve witness confidentiality, is a change in FIFA policy.

However, it will only be published once ongoing investigations into five individuals are completed.

“We need to ensure that we respect the rules of our organization and that we do not breach confidentiality in a way that will prevent people from speaking out in the future,” added Sepp Blatter.

The 78-year-old Swiss, seeking a fifth term as president, insisted later that there was no reason for Russia and Qatar to lose their rights to stage future World Cups.

“At the current time, there is no reason to go back on our decisions,” he told a news conference, speaking in German.

“The two World Cups are in the calendar, the only thing missing is the precise dates for 2022, but these two World Cups will take place.”

Addressing Qatar specifically, Sepp Blatter added that only an “earthquake” could change FIFA’s decision to hold the 2022 tournament in the Gulf state.

“It would really need an earthquake, extremely important new elements to go back on this World Cup in Qatar,” he said.

The Ameican lawyer, Michael Garcia, was appointed FIFA’s independent ethics investigator in 2012 and spent two years investigating all nine bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups following claims of corruption and collusion.

Michael Garcia travelled the world speaking to bid officials and appealing for evidence of wrongdoing.

He eventually submitted a report to FIFA in September 2014.

FIFA subsequently released a 42-page summary that cleared Russia and Qatar of corruption.

However, Michael Garcia was unhappy with it, claiming it was “incomplete and erroneous”.

Earlier this week, Michael Garcia resigned, citing “lack of leadership” at FIFA.

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World’s deepest living fish discovered in Mariana Trench

James J. Williams
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World’s deepest living fish discovered in Mariana Trench

A new record has been set for the world’s deepest fish, British researchers have announced.

The bizarre-looking creature, which is new to science, was filmed 8,143m beneath the waves, beating the previous depth record by nearly 500m.

Several other new species of fish were also caught on camera, as well as huge crustaceans called supergiants.

The animals were discovered during an international expedition to the Mariana Trench, which lies almost 11,000 meters down in the Pacific Ocean.

The 30-day voyage took place from the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor, and is the most comprehensive survey of world’s deepest place ever undertaken.

The Hadal Ecosystem Studies (Hades) team deployed unmanned landers more than 90 times to depths that ranged between 5,000m and 10,600m. They studied both steep walls of the undersea canyon.World's deepest living fish Mariana Trench

The University of Aberdeen’s Hadal Lander – the UK’s deepest diving vehicle – recorded more than 100 hours of deep-sea footage.

Until this expedition, the deepest fish had been found in the Japan Trench, also in the Pacific Ocean. A 17-strong shoal of pink, gelatinous snailfish (Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis) were recorded 7,700m down.

The team thought they had broken the deepest-fish record, but then another pale pink species came to feed at the lander, which is loaded with bait, even further down at 8,143m.

Without catching the fish and bringing it back to the surface, the team is unable to confirm that it is a new species.

The new record-breaking creature is close to the depth-limit at which scientists believe fish can survive.

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Australia: Eight children found dead in Cairns home

Nancy Clayson
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Australia: Eight children found dead in Cairns home

The bodies of 8 children have been found in a Cairns home, northern Queensland, say Australian police.

Police said a 34-year-old woman who was the mother of at least seven of the children had been taken to hospital with stab wounds but was stable.

Police have not confirmed Australian reports that the children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, were stabbed.

Australian PM Tony Abbott said in a statement it was an “unspeakable crime”.

He said all parents would feel “gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened”.

The house in the Manoora suburb has been cordoned off and detectives are searching the yard.

Police have said it was a “tragic event” but there was no cause for public concern.

They have not made any arrests, but said the injured woman was assisting with their investigations.

Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar confirmed to reporters that the woman was the mother of at least seven of the children, but that formal identification of the bodies had not yet taken place.Australian children found dead in Cairns

“We believe the other child is a family member but that is being followed up,” he said.

He said police could not confirm how the children died until coroners’ reports were carried out.

Police are speaking to a range of people, he said, including a man seen near the house earlier in the day, but there are as yet no formal suspects.

Specialist police officers were being brought in from Brisbane, he said, including child trauma experts.

Queensland Police said in a statement earlier that they were called to a residence in Murray Street at 11.20AM local time following reports of a woman with serious injuries.

“During an examination of the residence police located the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years,” said the statement.

Local people have told reporters that the children were found by their elder sibling, a 20-year-old man, when he returned to the house, but police have not confirmed this.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the events.

The deaths come with Australia still reeling from the siege of a cafe in Sydney which ended on Tuesday morning, with the gunman and two hostages dead.

PM Tony Abbott said in his statement that these were “trying days for our country”.

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South Korea dissolves pro-North Korea political party

Diane A. Wade
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South Korea dissolves pro-North Korea political party

For the first time in decades, South Korea has banned a political party with a court ordering the organization accused of supporting North Korea to disband.

The government had petitioned the constitutional court last year to ban the leftist Unified Progressive Party (UPP), which has five members in parliament.

Some UPP members were previously arrested for plotting a rebellion.

The move has sparked concern about freedom of expression and association in South Korea.

The decision was closely watched by political groups, with hundreds gathered near the constitutional court in Seoul amid a tight security presence of about 1,000 riot police.

Both UPP supporters and its opponents held demonstrations, shouting slogans and waving signs, reports said.

It is the first time South Korea’s constitutional court has banned a political party since it was established in 1988, said AP news agency.

Eight out of nine judges agreed on December 19 to accept the government’s petition to disband the UPP, order it to forfeit its seats in parliament and ban an equivalent party from forming.South Korea bans leftist party

Chief Judge Park Han-chul said: “There was an urgent need to remove the threat posed by the party to the basic order of democracy.”

Justice Minister Hwan Kyo-ahn, making the government’s final argument before the court last month, said the UPP has attempted to “establish a pro-communist government and unification to realize North Korean-style socialism”.

However, the UPP has said it only wants greater reconciliation with North Korea.

The government’s petition was prompted by the arrest of several UPP members in 2013.

Seven members were eventually convicted of plotting to overthrow the South Korean government in the event war broke out with North Korea.

UPP’s leader Lee Jung-hee told reporters on December 19 that the decision “opened a dark age with an authoritarian decision” and had turned South Korea into a “dictatorial country”.

Amnesty International’s East Asia research director Roseann Rife said the ban “raises serious questions as to the authorities’ commitment to freedom of expression and association.”

“Security concerns must never be used as an excuse to deny people the right to express different political views,” she said.

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Oklahoma and Nebraska sue Colorado over legalization of marijuana

Diane A. Wade
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Oklahoma and Nebraska sue Colorado over legalization of marijuana

Oklahoma and Nebraska have asked the US Supreme Court to nullify a 2012 law that made marijuana legal in Colorado.

The two states allege that Colorado’s law is in violation of federal law.

They say that they are suing just Colorado, and not Washington state where marijuana is also legal, because they do not share a border with Washington.

Colorado’s attorney general said their suit was without merit.

“Federal law undisputedly prohibits the production and sale of marijuana,” said Nebraska attorney general Jon Bruning in a press release.

“Colorado has undermined the United States Constitution, and I hope the US Supreme Court will uphold our constitutional principles.”

Colorado’s attorney general John Suthers said in a statement that the state had been expecting legal action after Nebraska and Oklahoma complained about marijuana grown in Colorado coming into their states.Nebraska and Oklahoma sue Colorado over marijuana legalization

He said he would vigorously defend Colorado’s law as “it appears the plaintiffs’ primary grievance stems from non-enforcement of federal laws regarding marijuana, as opposed to choices made by the voters of Colorado”.

Colorado’s citizens voted to legalize marijuana in 2012, and earlier this year the state became the first in the US to offer marijuana for sale for recreational use.

Already, Colorado has collected $7 million in taxes from marijuana sales, adding a valuable revenue stream to the state’s coffers.

Washington state passed a similar measure in 2012, but marijuana only went on sale for recreational use there in 2014.

Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia recently voted to legalize marijuana in November.

Industry trade groups criticized the legal action.

“Colorado has created a comprehensive and robust regulatory program for the sale of marijuana in Colorado,” said Mike Elliott, the director of the Marijuana Industry Group.

“If Nebraska and Oklahoma succeed, they will put the violent criminal organizations back in charge.”

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5 Reasons to add Travel Insurance to Your Budget

Dana R
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5 Reasons to add Travel Insurance to Your Budget

For those that travel quite a bit, insurance can be very beneficial in the long run. Whether you do so for work or you travel for pleasure, this kind of an investment could save you money and relieve the headaches of various situations. Why should you include travel insurance within your monthly budget?

Cancelled Flights

Not every flight is guaranteed and sometimes it can be cancelled for a myriad of reasons. Some insurance plans can help you recuperate your losses in such an event reducing the money you lose. While you may not need insurance for a flight that is less than $100, an exotic cruise worth several thousand may be worth the expense.

travel-insurance
Photo Source: xltravelblog.com

Natural Disasters

Depending on your destination, natural disasters could easily cause you to vacate an area. Travel insurance plans may help you adapt financially as you evacuate a resort or even a cruise ship. The fury of nature is difficult to predict and a simple storm could easily turn into a hurricane.

Medical Emergencies Abroad

Should you fall and break your leg in a foreign country, are you able to pay for the medical expenses out of pocket? Some travel insurance plans cover such situations allowing you to relax when you suffer from medical emergencies or illnesses while in another country. Although you may be bed ridden, you won’t have to fret about exhausting your bank accounts should the unthinkable happen.

Illness Cancellations

As there are too many variables in society, it’s very difficult to ensure your health at any given time. Some travel insurance plans can cover you should an illness prevent you from traveling. The last thing you want to do is focus on wasting money for a trip while suffering from a 103 degree temperature.

Terrorist Activities

It seems that terrorist activities are more commonplace than they were a few decades ago. Insuring your vacation against such a situation could prevent some of the financial losses. Although you may be traveling to an innocent enough area for your vacation, you ever know where terrorist activities could propagate within any given locale.

Insurance of any kind can be considered an investment for stress-free living while protecting your family and assets. Speak to a local insurance agent today and discuss what kinds of plans are available for you. It could save you a great deal of money and time should something happen while you travel.

Jordan Axani found a Canadian Elizabeth Gallagher for RTW trip

Lisa.Felice
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Jordan Axani found a Canadian Elizabeth Gallagher for RTW trip

Jordan Axani has found a Canadian woman with the same name as his ex-girlfriend to travel with after booking a three-week holiday before they split up.

Jordan Axani, 28, broke up with Elizabeth Gallagher in May but couldn’t get a refund for the trip.

After putting out a request on Reddit for a travelling companion with the same name and a Canadian passport, Jordan Axani received thousands of responses.

One was from 23-year-old Elizabeth Quinn Gallagher from Nova Scotia.

Jordan Axani picked the student, a homeless shelter volunteer who has a boyfriend, after talking with her on the phone.

He said he was impressed with her social conscience.

“It’s totally platonic,” Jordan Axani said from New York, where the trip starts on Sunday, December 21.

“Do I think we’ll become friends? Sure.”

The pair will also be visiting Milan, Prague, Paris, Bangkok and New Delhi until January 8.Jordan Axani and Elizabeth Gallagher

Other responses to his Reddit post were more odd.

Jordan Axani, who’s from Toronto, said he heard from hundreds of people, male and female, who offered to legally change their names.

“I thought it was worth a shot,” he said.

“Why not throw something like this out there into the universe? And sure it’s a little weird.

“I’ll be the first person to say that but on the back side we had an incredible response which I never would have anticipated of people that haven’t had the chance to go on trips like this.

“My original post remains true to this day. All I wanted was someone to take the ticket and just go and enjoy themselves.

“Whether we travel together, or spend any time together, is totally irrelevant to me.”

The Canadian has now set up a charity called A Ticket Forward, which aims to fund trips for underprivileged people.

Jordan Axani said the original Elizabeth Gallagher had been in touch but didn’t want to say she had said to him.

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Ryan Gustafson: American arrested in Uganda over currency scam

Nancy Clayson
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Ryan Gustafson: American arrested in Uganda over currency scam

Ryan Gustafson has been arrested in Uganda for allegedly leading a large international counterfeiting ring.

Ryan Gustafson, a 27-year-old American citizen, was charged with conspiracy and counterfeiting outside the US after the fake currency was used at multiple American businesses.

The US Secret Service traced the money to Kampala, where they say they found a counterfeit ring also producing euros, rupees and various African currencies.

Ryan Gustafson faces 25 years in prison.

“We will hold cyber criminals accountable and bring them to justice no matter where they reside,” US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania David Hickton wrote in a statement.Uganda currency scam

Fake US currency was discovered at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, retail stores and businesses and traced to a postal box in the area.

Federal agents determined the currency was being sent from Uganda. A fingerprint on one of the packages led them to Ryan Gustafson, a US citizen who previously resided in Texas.

He is said to have located couriers through an online forum and established contact with them through private message.

The Secret Service coordinated with Ugandan authorities to set up an undercover sting operation to purchase counterfeit currency from the suspect.

Ryan Gustafson was arrested, and a subsequent search of his home netted a cache of fake Ugandan shillings, Congolese francs, Ghanaian cedis, Indian rupees and euros, as well as various counterfeiting materials.

US authorities estimate the suspect flooded the market with nearly $2 million in counterfeit currencies.

He has been charged with conspiracy, selling and dealing in counterfeit currency, and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Ryan Gustafson faces a lengthy prison sentence and a fine of $500,000.

North Korea to be referred to ICC to face charges of crimes against humanity

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea to be referred to ICC to face charges of crimes against humanity

North Korea will be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges of crimes against humanity.

The UN General Assembly voted the resolution with 116 to 20, with more than 50 abstentions.

The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the resolution on December 22, but it is likely to face stiff opposition from China and Russia.

North Korea said the resolution was “a product of political plot and confrontation”.

A UN report released in February revealed ordinary North Koreans faced “unspeakable atrocities”.

The report detailed wide-ranging abuses in North Korea after a panel heard evidence of torture, political repression and other abuses.North Korea ICC charges

It added that those accused of political crimes were “disappeared” to prison camps, where they were subject to “deliberate starvation, forced labor, executions, torture, rape and the denial of reproductive rights enforced through punishment, forced abortion and infanticide”.

Most of the evidence came from North Korean defectors who had fled the country.

North Korea refused to co-operate with the report and condemned its findings.

The report led to a vote in the UN’s human rights committee last month, which voted in favor of referring North Korea to the ICC.

China, North Korea’s main international ally, is expected to veto any Security Council resolution when the matter is discussed next week.

On December 18, the General Assembly also passed resolutions condemning the human rights records of Syria and Iran, but did not go as far as recommending a referral to the ICC.

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

Sonia Pantiss
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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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0
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.

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