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Luke Somers’ family in video appeal to AQAP to release American photojournalist

Roy Siemens
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Luke Somers’ family in video appeal to AQAP to release American photojournalist

Luke Somers’ family has appealed in a video to al-Qaeda militants in Yemen to “show mercy” and release him.

In the online statement, the mother of the UK-born American hostage, Paula Somers, says: “Please… give us an opportunity to see our Luke again.”

A man identifying himself as Luke Somers, who was abducted in 2013, appeared in a separate video on December 3, saying his life was in danger and asking for help.

The US has revealed it tried to rescue Luke Somers in November 2014.

“Regrettably, Luke was not present, though hostages of other nationalities were present and were rescued,” the National Security Council said on December 4.

In a video posted on YouTube, Luke Somers’ mother and brother said he was “only trying to do good things for the Yemeni population”.

“Luke is only a photojournalist and is not responsible for any actions the US government has taken,” his brother, Jordan, said.

Noting that her son “appears healthy” in his captors’ video, Paula Somers said: “We thank you for that.”Luke Somers hostage in Yemen

Luke Somers, 33, worked as a journalist and photographer for local news organizations and his material appeared on international news outlets.

In the video released on December 3, a member of al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) threatens to kill Luke Somers unless unspecified demands are met.

In a statement afterwards, the White House said President Barack Obama had authorized a rescue operation to free Luke Somers and other hostages last month, but that he was not present at the time of the raid.

On November 25, US and Yemeni forces rescued six Yemenis, a Saudi and an Ethiopian being held by AQAP in an operation at a mountain cave in the remote Hajr al-Sayar district of Hadramawt province. Seven militants were reportedly killed.

AQAP’s threat to kill Luke Somers follows the murder of five Western hostages – including three Americans – since August by the Islamist militant group Islamic State, which controls parts of Syria and Iraq.

The Obama administration has been criticized for not paying ransoms, not allowing hostage families to speak out and not taking opportunities to negotiate.

AQAP is regarded by the US as one of the deadliest offshoots of al-Qaeda.

The group is based in eastern Yemen and has built up support amid the unrest which has beset the impoverished country since the overthrow of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2011.

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King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand cancels public appearance on his 87th birthday

Diane A. Wade
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King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand cancels public appearance on his 87th birthday

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has cancelled a public appearance to mark his 87th birthday, on medical advice.

The news comes amid growing concern about the health of the king, who is highly revered by Thais.

Thousands of people had turned out in the capital, Bangkok, in the hope of seeing the king at the Royal Palace.

Events are also being held across Thailand, which is still under martial law after the army ousted the government in May.

In a statement released on December 5, King Bhumibol’s office said doctors had examined the him and “agreed that he is not ready to grant a royal audience, therefore they have recommended he cancels royal activities”.

King Bhumibol, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, was last seen in public in November.

He has spent the past few months in hospital and recently underwent an operation to remove his gall bladder.King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

Crowds of supporters massed outside the hospital on December 5 to wish him well.

There is deep affection for the king in Thailand, but the country is also governed by harsh lese majeste laws which punish any criticism of the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison.

King Bhumibol’s heir is Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, but the laws mean any discussion of succession is extremely sensitive issue, and many aspects cannot be reported from inside the country.

In late November, it emerged that the crown prince had asked the government to strip his wife’s family of their royally-bestowed name.

The move is widely expected to be a first step to divorce – the couple were already known to be estranged.

Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn ‘s order followed the arrest of seven of the princess’s close relatives in a purge of officials allegedly involved in corruption.

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Phil Rudd charged with making phone threat

Lisa.Felice
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Phil Rudd charged with making phone threat

According to New Zealand prosecutors, the charges faced by former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd relate to an alleged threat to kill a man and his daughter.

The details of the allegations have been made public for the first time, a day after Phil Rudd breached his bail by having contact with a witness.

Phil Rudd, 60, has denied threatening to kill and drug possession.

He was originally also charged with attempting to procure murder, but this was later dropped for lack of evidence.

New Zealand prosecutors on December 5 released details of their allegations against him, stating that on the morning of September 26, Phil Rudd had made two phone calls.

The first was to a business associate where he allegedly “spoke about what he wanted done to” the unnamed man, who had been working for him for three years.Phil Rudd phone threat

The second phone call was to the man himself, in which Phil Rudd allegedly “threatened to kill him and his daughter”.

On November 6, police searched Phil Rudd’s home in Tauranga and found 130g (4.6 ounces) of marijuana and 0.7g of methamphetamine.

Phil Rudd acknowledged possessing the marijuana, prosecutors allege, but denied both threatening to kill the contractor and making the phone calls.

He could be jailed up to seven years if found guilty of threatening to kill. Possession of cannabis carries a sentence of three months and methamphetamine possession six months.

On December 4, Phil Rudd was recalled to Tauranga District Court after he was found to have breached his bail conditions by coming into contact with a prosecution witness. The encounter ended in scuffles.

Phil Rudd’s lawyer said he had run into the witness at a coffee shop in a shopping centre by chance.

The drummer was re-released on bail but the conditions were tightened to specifically include a ban on taking illegal drugs.

Eric Garner verdict: Fresh protests in New York and across US

Nancy Clayson
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Eric Garner verdict: Fresh protests in New York and across US

Fresh protests have been held in New York and across the US for a second night over the death of Eric Garner, a black man held in an apparent chokehold by a white New York police officer.

Thousands of people took to the streets in New York and other cities, disrupting traffic and holding sit-ins.

The protests began on December 3, after a grand jury decided not to press charges over the death of Eric Garner.

Civil rights activists are pinning their hopes on a federal investigation into the case.

The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, said the city’s 22,000-strong police force would be retrained in how to better communicate and remain calm when making arrests, and they will be fitted with body cameras.

President Barack Obama welcomed Bill de Blasio’s commitment to act, adding: “Too many Americans feel deep unfairness when it comes to the gap between our professed ideals and how laws are applied on a day to day basis.”

America saw a wave of race-related unrest only last week over the decision not to indict another white police officer who had shot dead a young black man, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri.

UN human rights experts have expressed “legitimate concerns” over the decisions not to bring to trial the cases of both Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

Photo AP
Photo AP

On Thursday night in New York, protesters carried coffins across the Brooklyn Bridge and marched in several groups through Manhattan, carrying banners saying “Racism kills” and “This stops today”.

Police in riot gear told protesters staging sit-ins that they would face arrest if they did not move along. Police arrested more than 80 people in Wednesday’s protests, though the demonstrations have been largely peaceful.

Smaller-scale protests were held in cities including Chicago, Washington, Denver, and Boston. In Minneapolis, some protesters blocked traffic by marching or lying in the middle of a highway.

Activists have called for another march in Washington on December 13, followed by a summit on civil rights.

EricGarner, 43, was stopped on a street in New York on July 17 on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

After a confrontation with police officer Daniel Pantaleo placed his arm round Eric Garner’s neck. Eric Garner, who had asthma, was wrestled to the ground and restrained by force.

On video of the incident, he can be heard repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe”. He became unresponsive and later died.

The city’s medical examiner’s office found in the summer that Eric Garner’s death was caused by “the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police”.

Police unions and Daniel Pantaleo’s lawyer have said that he used an accepted takedown maneuver on Eric Garner, rather than a chokehold, which is banned under New York City police regulations.

District attorney Daniel Donovan sought to defend the grand jury decision not to bring charges.

Daniel Pantaleo admitted hearing Eric Garner say “I can’t breathe” but said he had believed that once he got him down on the ground and put him on his side, he would be revived by paramedics.

The police officer also testified that he had tried in vain to talk Eric Garner into complying with police instructions – something not seen on the video.

“Let’s make this easy, you’ve been through this before,” the police officer is said to have told Eric Garner.

Attorney General Eric Holder promised “an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious” federal investigation into potential civil rights violations in the case.

A review of how to heal a “breakdown in trust” between police and communities is also under way.

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Cardinal George Pell: Vatican has millions of Euros tucked away off balance sheets

Clyde K. Valle
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Cardinal George Pell: Vatican has millions of Euros tucked away off balance sheets

Cardinal George Pell, the man responsible for the Vatican’s finances, says he has found millions of Euros “tucked away” off balance sheets.

Cardinal George Pell, who heads the Vatican’s Secretariat for the Economy, said it meant the Holy See’s finances were better than expected.

He made the comments in the Catholic Herald, in an essay outlining his vision for the Vatican.

Pope Francis appointed Cardinal George Pell as part of his efforts to reform the Church and make it more transparent.

“It is important to point out that the Vatican is not broke,” Cardinal George Pell wrote.Cardinal George Pell Vatican finance

“Apart from the pension fund (…) the Holy See is paying its way, while possessing substantial assets and investments.

“We have discovered that the situation is much healthier than it seemed, because some hundreds of millions of Euros were tucked away in particular sectional accounts and did not appear on the balance sheet,” he added.

There have been a number of scandals at the Vatican Bank in 2013 when allegations were made the bank had been used by money launderers.

Cardinal George Pell did not say any wrongdoing had been found but said Vatican departments long had “an almost free hand” with their finances.

Pope Francis’ reforms, he said, were “already past the point where it would be possible to return to the ‘bad old days'”.

They aimed to make Vatican finances “boringly successful”, he added.

At the time of Pope Francis’ election, Cardinal George Pell – who is Australian – had been vocal in his calls for financial reform.

Silicon Valley homeless camp cleared by police

Nancy Clayson
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Silicon Valley homeless camp cleared by police

California police have begun clearing what is thought to be the largest homeless encampment, in Silicon Valley.

The network of tents, bunkers and even a tree-house, known as “the Jungle”, was once home to more than 200 people.

Residents of the camp in San Jose, California, were given a 72-hour notice to vacate by early Thursday morning.

Officials believed about 50 people were still living in the camp. Social services are helping find residents alternative accommodation.Silicon Valley homeless camp

There have been no reports of violence or people refusing to leave.

City leaders said the camp’s closure was essential as it had become unsafe and unsanitary.

Silicon Valley is one of the wealthiest regions in the US, home to tech giants like Apple and Google.

It also has some of the highest homelessness rates in the country, with an estimated 5,000 sleeping on the streets each night in San Jose.

The booming tech industry has pushed up housing costs, pricing people out of the market.

Work clearing the camp is expected to be finished by December 19.

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Robert Mugabe accuses VP Joice Mujuru of plotting to assassinate him

Diane A. Wade
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Robert Mugabe accuses VP Joice Mujuru of plotting to assassinate him

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has spoken of his anger that his embattled VP Joice Mujuru allegedly plotted to assassinate him and accused her of being a thief.

Speaking at the ruling Zanu-PF party’s congress, Robert Mugabe said he would act against all corrupt officials.

Joice Mujuru’s absence from the congress showed she was “scared”, he added.

She is also Vice-President of Zanu-PF.

Robert Mugabe, 90, had targeted Joice Mujuru to advance the “fortunes” of his wife Grace, the former Zanu-PF spokesman added.

Joice Mujuru, who has previously denied the allegations, had been seen as a potential successor to Robert Mugabe, with whom she fought for Zimbabwe’s independence from white-minority rule.

However, her career ran into trouble when Grace Mugabe entered into politics this year, and accused her of plotting against her husband.Joice Mujuru and Robert Mugabe scandal

The congress, being held in the capital Harare, is expected to elect Grace Mugabe as the head of Zanu-PF’s women’s wing.

Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, will remain as Zanu-PF leader.

He told thousands of delegates that he welcomed the fact that his wife had exposed Joyce Mujuru’s attempt to oust him.

“Thieves never succeed… look at all the transgressions. Her corruption is now exposed,” Robert Mugabe said.

Robert Mugabe, while speaking in the local Shona language, said Joice Mujuru planned to assassinate him but in English he only accused her of trying to have him “kicked out” by bribing delegates.

“But you delegates are not foolish. You can’t be bought,” he added.

Vowing to tackle corruption, Robert Mugabe said: “If you were a minister, you will lose your job. Some will face the full might of the law.”

Joice Mujuru was first accused in the state-owned media of plotting to kill Robert Mugabe and has instructed her lawyers to take legal action to clear her name.

Referring to her and her allies’ failure to attend the congress, Robert Mugabe said: “As you see we have empty spaces on the stage. We didn’t chase them away but they chose not to come.”

Correspondents say Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa is now among the candidates being tipped to succeed Joyce Mujuru, her long-time rival.

Joice Mujuru, 59, took part in the 1970s guerrilla war against white-minority rule when her nom de guerre was Teurai Ropa (Spill Blood). She married Solomon Mujuru, the former army chief seen as Zimbabwe’s king-maker in 1977. Solomon Mujuru died in a fire at his farm in 2011.

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Franco Nieto dead: Tiro Federal player dies following attack at 33

Clyde K. Valle
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Franco Nieto dead: Tiro Federal player dies following attack at 33

Argentine soccer player Franco Nieto has died at the age of 33 after being struck in the head following a match on November 30.

Franco Nieto, the captain of regional club Tiro Federal, was attacked by hooligans after a match against rivals Chacarita Juniors in the town of Aimogasta, in north-west Argentina.

The match was stopped 15 minutes before full time after the referee sent off eight players for fighting.

This year, 15 people have died in football-related violence in Argentina.Franco Nieto dead

Franco Nieto’s cousin, Pablo Nieto, said three people surrounded the player as he was going to his car with his wife and one-month-old daughter.

They kicked and punched him before one of the attackers struck Franco Nieto in the head with a stone, leaving him unconscious.

Franco Nieto was operated on December 2 but died on December 3.

Local police chief Fabian Bordon told local media that three people had been detained in connection with the attack.

Football violence is a huge problem in Argentina.

According to the NGO Salvemos el Futbol (Let’s Save Football), deaths caused by football-related violence have tripled in 2014.

The main culprits are the so-called Barras Bravas, gangs of radical supporters who control the terraces and the streets around the stadiums.

Ian McLagan dies from stroke complications at 69

Sonia Pantiss
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Ian McLagan dies from stroke complications at 69

Small Faces and the Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan has died at the age of 69 due to complications from a stroke suffered earlier this week.

“It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of [a] rock and roll icon,” read a statement on his official website.

Ian McLagan, known as Mac, played on such memorable Small Faces tracks as Lazy Sunday and Itchycoo Park in the 1960s.

The band became the Faces when Rod Stewart and Ron Wood joined in 1969.Ian McLagan dead

Ian McLagan went on to record and perform with the Rolling Stones and also worked with Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

The Hounslow-born musician was about to embark on a North American tour, supporting label mate Nick Lowe, at the time of his death in his adopted home town of Austin, Texas.

As a member of Small Faces, Ian McLagan was known for his dexterity on the Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer electric piano.

When Rod Stewart departed to go solo and Ron Wood left to join the Stones, the group continued as the Small Faces, before disbanding in 1978.

The Faces reformed at the end of the 2000s, with Mick Hucknall filling in for Rod Stewart, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

According to the announcement on his website, Ian McLagan had a stroke on December 2 and died the following day “surrounded by family and friends”.

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Anny Schilder diagnosed with breast cancer

Lisa.Felice
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Anny Schilder diagnosed with breast cancer

Former BZN vocalist Anny Schilder has been diagnosed with breast cancer this summer.

After performing surgery in secret, Anny Schilder began her first chemotherapy in October, Vosound Records director Jos Lauwers confirmed.

Anny Schilder and her duo partner Jan Keizer have recently joined the label of fellow townsman Jan Smit.
Jos Lauwers said: “Anny and the treating physicians are hopeful that the disease can be conquered. The singer is shocked. But I know her as a strong woman who will beat through here.

“She is rather less cheerful, but fights with his head on.” Anny Schilder breast cancer

Anny Schilder, 55, has deliberately chosen not to remain silent about her condition as Jos Lauwers said: “She wants that way for speculation and prevent.”

In September, Anny Schilder and Jan Keizer, 65, launched Unforgettable Duets which includes their new single Felicità.
Due to Anny Schilder’s health condition a number of the duo’s concerts in South Africa were canceled.

An already planned Christmas tour in Romania has been also canceled.

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Violinist Kyung-Wha Chung publicly berates parents of coughing child during concert

Sonia Pantiss
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Violinist Kyung-Wha Chung publicly berates parents of coughing child during concert

South Korean violinist Kyung-Wha Chung has shocked audiences at the Royal Festival Hall by publicly berating the parents of a coughing child.

The 66-year-old musician had been absent from the London stage for 12 years, partly due to a finger injury.

Kyung-Wha Chung took offence at a child coughing during her performance of Mozart’s Sonata In G.

“Maybe bring her back when she’s older,” she scolded the parents from the stage.Violinist Kyung-Wha Chung

Anna Picard, music critic for The Times, said the atmosphere in the hall had already been tense, such was the anticipation surrounding the violinist’s comeback.

British violinist Thomas Gould was also in the audience, and tweeted: “Difficult to be charmed by Kyung-Wha Chung’s Mozart after her curious outburst at parents of a coughing child.

“But the raised temperatures added an extra belligerence to her taut Prokofiev.”

Fellow string player Elizabeth Stahlmann noted that there were “plenty of people coughing” during the performance and it was “not cool to pick on a child”.

Coughing is a particular problem for classical performers in the winter months. An academic paper released in 2013 even suggested that people appear to cough more in concerts than in they do in normal life.

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Frozen Fever to be screened ahead of Cinderella in March 2015

Sonia Pantiss
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Frozen Fever to be screened ahead of Cinderella in March 2015

Frozen follow-up, Frozen Fever, will be screened ahead of Kenneth Branagh’s live-action Cinderella in March 2015.

Frozen Fever, a one-off short film, will once again feature Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf the snowman.

Frozen is the biggest animated feature of all time, making more than $1.25 billion at the worldwide box office.

The original team behind Frozen Fever will reunite, including directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee,

The plot will see Elsa’s icy powers threaten to overshadow her sister Anna’s birthday party.

The short will also feature a new original song by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

Voice actors Kristen Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff) and Josh Gad (Olaf) will to return to their Frozen roles in the short.Frozen Fever short film

Frozen has become the fifth highest-grossing film in box office history and won two Oscars, for best animated feature and best original song for Let It Go.

The movie, which was released in November 2013, has taken $1.27 billion worldwide, overtaking Iron Man 3‘s total haul.

It now stands behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, with $1.34 billion in global ticket sales.

The animated hit has sold more than three million copies on DVD/Blu-ray and is on track to become the biggest seller of the decade, according to the Official Charts Company.

Cinderella stars Lily James Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter.

Disney announced the film in 2010 following the success of its live-action version of Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tim Burton.

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Orion: NASA’s Mars ship set for maiden flight

James J. Williams
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Orion: NASA’s Mars ship set for maiden flight

NASA’s Orion space capsule that is set to get humans to Mars is about to make its maiden flight.

Orion will be launched on a Delta rocket out of Cape Canaveral in Florida on a short journey above the Earth to test key technologies.

The conical vessel is reminiscent of the Apollo command ships that took men to the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, but bigger and with cutting-edge systems.

Given that this is a first outing, there will be no people aboard.

Nonetheless, the NASA describes the demonstration as a major event.

NASA has a window in which to launch Orion of about two-and-a-half hours, which began at 07:05 local time.

The launch preparations had to be stopped shortly before the opening of the window because a boat strayed into the eastern part of the launch range. After that, the countdown had to be held because of strong winds and a technical issue.Orion spacecraft to Mars

Orion is being developed alongside a powerful new rocket that will have its own debut in 2017 or 2018.

Together, they will form the core capabilities needed to send humans beyond the International Space Station to destinations such as the Red Planet.

For Thursday’s flight, the Delta IV-Heavy rocket – currently the beefiest launcher in the world – is being used as a stand-in.

It will send Orion twice around the globe, throwing the ship up to an altitude of almost 3,600 miles.

This will set up a fast fall back to Earth, with a re-entry speed into the atmosphere close to 20,000mph – near what would be expected of a capsule coming back from the Moon.

It should give engineers the opportunity to check the performance of Orion’s critical heat shield, which is likely to experience temperatures in excess of 4,000F.

They will also watch how the parachutes deploy as they gently lower the capsule into Pacific waters off Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula.

Spectre: Title and details of 24th James Bond film unveiled

Sonia Pantiss
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Spectre: Title and details of 24th James Bond film unveiled

Spectre has been announced as the title of the 24th official James Bond film.

Director Sam Mendes revealed the title at a launch event at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, where principal photography is due to begin on December 8.

Daniel Craig will play 007 for the fourth time in the film, to be released in the UK on October 23, 2015.

Other cast members were also announced at Thursday’s event, which was beamed around the world.

They include Andrew Scott, as a Whitehall-based character called Denbigh, and Dave Bautista, playing a henchman called Mr. Hinx.

Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux have been unveiled as the new Bond girls, named Lucia Sciarra and Madeleine Swann respectively.

As previously reported, Christoph Waltz will have a role in the film, playing a character called Oberhauser.

The name of the character is the same as that of James Bond’s former ski instructor, though it has been rumored Christoph Waltz will really be playing Bond’s old nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld.Spectre James Bond

Spectre – Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion – was the name of an international crime syndicate, whose Number One was Ernst Stavro Blofeld himself.

The organization featured in the Bond films of the 1960s and was part of a legal tussle with a rival film producer that was recently resolved after many years.

Thursday’s event also saw the unveiling of the Aston Martin DB10 which James Bond will be driving in his latest screen adventure.

The car manufacturer had had a long association with the James Bond series, starting with Goldfinger in 1964.

Daniel Craig, 46, first played Ian Fleming’s legendary secret agent in 2006’s Casino Royale, then in 2008’s Quantum of Solace and 2012’s Skyfall.

The 007 production will be based at Pinewood Studios and on location in London, Mexico City, Rome and Tangier and Erfoud, in Morocco.

James Bond will return to the snow once again, this time in Solden, along with other Austrian locations, Obertilliach, and Lake Altaussee.

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Vladimir Putin delivers annual address to Russian parliament

Diane A. Wade
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Vladimir Putin delivers annual address to Russian parliament

President Vladimir Putin has delivered his annual state of the nation address to parliament.

Speaking to both chambers in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin condemned Western governments for seeking to raise a new iron curtain around Russia.

Western sanctions, in response to Russia’s role in eastern Ukraine, and falling oil prices have hit hard.

The government has warned that Russia will fall into recession next year.

In an attempt to kick-start the economy he proposed a “full amnesty” for capital to return to Russia. Capital flight is estimated at more than $100 billion this year.

He also proposed a four-year freeze on tax rates.

On Decemebr 1, the rouble suffered its biggest one-day fall since 1998.

The currency slid almost 9% against the dollar before rallying after suspected central bank intervention.Vladimir Putin national address

From the outset of his speech, in front of an audience of 1,100 people, Vladimir Putin defended Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March, saying that the Ukrainian peninsula’s residents were “our people”.

He insisted that the “tragedy” in Ukraine’s south-east had proved that Russian policy had been right, but said Russia would respect its neighbor as a brotherly country.

Condemning the “pure cynicism” of the West, Vladimir Putin complained that even if Crimea had not been annexed, the West would have come up with a different pretext to impose sanctions to contain Russia’s resurgence.

Then he began to accuse Western governments of trying to raise a new iron curtain around Russia. While he asserted that Russia would not enter an “expensive arms race”, it would provide its own security so that nobody would gain military domination. Russia had enough “power, will and courage” to protect itself, he added.

Moving on to the economy, Vladimir Putin pledged that Russia would be open to the world – to foreign investment and joint projects. But he warned that it faced a “hard time ahead: much depends on each of us at our workplace”. Western sanctions should be seen as a stimulus, he argued.

Western sanctions over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its role in destabilizing eastern Ukraine are contributing to the country’s economic problems.

The estimated cost of sanctions and falling oil prices to Russia is $140 billion a year, according to Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov.

Over the last year the rouble has lost around 40% of its value against the dollar and inflation is expected to reach 10% early next year.

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Typhoon Hagupit heads for Philippines

Nancy Clayson
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Typhoon Hagupit heads for Philippines

The Philippines are braced for the arrival of Typhoon Hagupit, expected to hit land on December 6.

Hagupit, which is building strength over the Pacific, is slowly bearing down on the region devastated by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago.

The typhoon has gusts of up to 105mph and is expected to be a category 4 storm by December 6.

Thousands of people, many still living in temporary shelters, have been told to go to evacuation centers.

Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda, was the most powerful typhoon ever recorded over land.Typhoon Hagupit Philippines

It tore though the central Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 7,000 dead or missing.

Typhoon Hagupit is not expected to be a powerful as Haiyan, but could bring storm surges up to one storey high.

The vice-mayor of Tacloban, the city which was worst hit by Haiyan, said the authorities were enforcing evacuation orders.

“We have no more excuse, we have gone through Yolanda, and to lose that many lives, it’s beyond our conscience already,” Jerry Yaokasin told reporters on December 3.

He told AFP news agency: “Our problem is: we don’t have enough evacuation centers.”

Meteorologists say there is a chance Hagupit could veer north towards Japan and miss the Philippines altogether, but officials said they were preparing for a worst case scenario.

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Gangnam Style exceeds YouTube’s view limit prompting counter upgrade

Sonia Pantiss
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Gangnam Style exceeds YouTube’s view limit prompting counter upgrade

Psy’s Gangnam Style exceeded YouTube’s view limit, prompting the site to upgrade its counter.

YouTube said the video – its most watched ever – has been viewed more than 2,147,483,647 times.

It has now changed the maximum view limit to 9,223,372,036,854,775,808, or more than nine quintillion.

Gangnam Style became a worldwide hit when it was released in 2012, largely due to the surreal video.

YouTube’s counter previously used a 32-bit integer, which is a unit used to represent data in computer architecture. This means the maximum possible views it could count was 2,147,483,647.Gangnam Style YouTube record

On December 1, it posted a statement saying: “We never thought a video would be watched in numbers greater than a 32-bit integer… but that was before we met Psy.”

Google, which owns YouTube, later told website The Verge that engineers “saw this coming a couple months ago and updated our systems to prepare for it”.

YouTube now uses a 64-bit integer for its video counter, which means videos have a maximum viewer count of 9.22 quintillion.

Psy has yet to comment although news of YouTube’s change was posted on his Facebook and Twitter pages.

The second most-watched video on YouTube – Baby by Justin Bieber – lags behind Gangnam Style by more than a billion views.

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Eric Garner case: Civil rights investigation to be launched into New York death

Nancy Clayson
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Eric Garner case: Civil rights investigation to be launched into New York death

A civil rights investigation into the death of Eric Garner, a black man who was placed in an apparent chokehold by a white New York police officer, is to be launched by the US Justice Department.

The inquiry was announced by Attorney General Eric Holder after a grand jury decided against charging the officer.

That decision prompted street protests in New York. Activists have called for a march in Washington next week.

President Barack Obama said the case “speaks to larger issues”.

The decision not to charge the officer came just a week after another grand jury, in Ferguson, Missouri, decided not to charge a white police officer who shot and killed black teenager Michael Brown.Eric Garner chokehold

The ruling into the death of Michael Brown in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson sparked riots and protests across the country.

Eric Garner, 43, was stopped on a street in New York on July 17 on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

The case drew attention when mobile phone video of police officer Daniel Pantaleo arresting Eric Garner surfaced.

The video shows a lengthy exchange between Eric Garner and police, during which he verbally refuses to be handcuffed.

Several officers then move to restrain Eric Garner, with Daniel Pantaleo holding him by the neck.

The detainee, who is asthmatic, can be heard shouting: “I can’t breathe!”

That cry was echoed by protesters who marched through the streets in New York late on Wednesday, occasionally disrupting traffic. They chanted “I can’t breathe!” and “Hands up – don’t choke!”

Attorney General Eric Holder announced “an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious” investigation into potential civil rights violations in the case.

The justice department, he said, would conduct a “complete review” of material gathered in the local investigation.

“All lives must be valued – all lives,” Eric Holder added.

Urging demonstrators to remain peaceful, he said he was continuing a review of how to heal a “breakdown in trust” between police and communities.

After the grand jury decision President Obama said: “When anybody in this country is not being treated equally under the law, that is a problem, and it’s my job as president to help solve it.”

Eric Garner family lawyer Jonathon Moore said he was “astonished” by it.

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Venezuela: Maria Corina Machado to be investigated over alleged plot to assassinate Nicolas Maduro

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Maria Corina Machado to be investigated over alleged plot to assassinate Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela’s leading opposition figure Maria Corina Machado is to be investigated over an alleged plot to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.

Maria Corina Machado, a former congresswoman, led a major street protest against President Nicolas Maduro’s government in January.

She dismissed the accusations as a charade designed to silence her.

The alleged plot came in a series of emails which Maria Corina Machado says are fake.

She said the charges were designed to distract Venezuelans from a growing economic crisis.

Officials produced the emails in the midst of months of street protests.

They said they contained conversations between Maria Machado and US State Department officials discussing a plot to overthrow the Venezuelan government.Maria Corina Machado Venezuela

Maria Machado said the messages used her old email accounts and had been manipulated and were fabricated.

She said on her social media account that the conspiracy charges were in retribution for demanding a new leadership at the state elections council.

Maria Machado had helped lead demonstrations which had initially been started in January in the western state of Tachira by university students.

They were protesting against the high rate of crime on campuses and the country’s struggling economy.

She was expelled from the National Assembly in March after she backed the protests which had spread across the country.

The President of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello said Maria Machado had been expelled because she had incited violent protests in which over forty protesters and police officers died.

Before her court appearance, she said: “Our protest movement has always been peaceful in its essence. Violence is what the regime does to frighten people and de-motivate citizen protest.”

She said she would continue to support all types of protests in the country against what she described as “daily abuses committed by the government”.

Since narrowly winning an election last year to succeed his mentor, the late President Hugo Chavez, Nicolas Maduro has said there have been five assassination attempts against him and more than a dozen acts of sabotage and conspiracy.

Conspiracy carries a prison sentence of between eight and 16 years in Venezuela.

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Anna Cardwell asks fans for financial help after June Shannon allegedly stole trust fund money

Lisa.Felice
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Anna Cardwell asks fans for financial help after June Shannon allegedly stole trust fund money

Honey Boo Boo’s elder sister Anna “Chickadee” Cardwell is asking her fans to help her financially after revealing that her mother, June Shannon, had stolen her trust fund money.

Anna Cardwell recently created a GoFundMe campaign for herself and has pleaded with fans to send their donations, TMZ reports.

As TLC has cancelled reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Anna Cardwell’s trust fund money was allegedly stolen, she is allegedly struggling to stay afloat financially.Honey Boo Boo's sister Anna Cardwell GoFundMe

However, her fans immediately slammed Anna Cardwell and refused to offer donations to a famous and once highly paid reality TV star, TMZ reports.

Following the backlash, Anna Cardwell reportedly issued an apology before deleting the GoFundMe page: “I’m deleting my fund me cause everyone thinks I’m money hungry.”

“And I have been think about everyone’s opinions and I got alot of chooses and I have done there idea and I get the s*** end of the stick.”

Anna Cardwell is also looking to write a tell-all book about her family or star in her own spin-off reality TV show.

TLC canceled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo following the news that Mama June was dating convicted child molester Mark McDaniel, who also allegedly molested June Shannon’s daughters.

Hollie Giangreco celebrates her birthday on December 3

Lisa.Felice
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Hollie Giangreco celebrates her birthday on December 3

Hollie Giangreco celebrates her birthday on December 3.Hollie Giangreco birthday

Hollie Giangreco, formerly known as Hollie Strano, is the meteorologist on Channel 3 News Today weekday mornings from 4:30 to 7:00 AM. She also co-hosts Live on Lakeside weekdays from 11AM to 12:30 PM.

Thanking to her fans, Hollie Giangreco wrote on her Facebook page: „Thank you for all the birthday wishes! Love you guys! My husband said cake for every meal! Xo”

Hungary summons US charge d’affaires over John McCain remarks

Diane A. Wade
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Hungary summons US charge d’affaires over John McCain remarks

Hungary has summoned US charge d’affaires Andre Goodfriend after Senator John McCain described PM Viktor Orban as a “neo-fascist dictator”.

The Hungarian government rejected the remarks, which it said were totally unacceptable.

Republican John McCain was speaking in the Senate on December 2 before a vote on the appointment of former TV soap opera producer Colleen Bell as ambassador to Hungary.

Colleen Bell was “totally unqualified” for such a role, he said.

John McCain had been unimpressed with Colleen Bell this year when he questioned her during her confirmation hearing about what she planned to do differently from her predecessor as ambassador to Budapest.

The former The Bold and The Beautiful producer was widely seen as giving a faltering performance.

Colleen Bell, John McCain said, was a political appointee who had contributed $800,000 to President Barack Obama’s last election campaign.John McCain Hungary scandal

However, it was his next comments that most riled the Hungarian government and prompted Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to summon US charge d’affaires Andre Goodfriend.

“I am not against political appointees,” John McCain said.

“I understand how the game is played, but here we are, a nation [Hungary] on the verge of ceding its sovereignty to a neo-fascist dictator, getting in bed with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, and we’re going to send the producer of The Bold and The Beautiful as our ambassador.”

Viktor Orban has in recent months adopted closer relations with Russia, opposing EU and US sanctions imposed on key officials in Moscow because of the conflict in Ukraine. He has also advocated turning Hungary into an “illiberal democracy”.

The foreign ministry state secretary in Budapest said Hungary rejected John McCain’s remarks, both about Viktor Orban and relations with the government in Moscow.

Peter Szijjarto added that voters had three times backed the ruling Fidesz party’s vision of “how they imagine the future of the country”.

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Sweden: PM Stefan Lofven to call snap elections after losing budget vote

Diane A. Wade
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Sweden: PM Stefan Lofven to call snap elections after losing budget vote

Swedish PM Stefan Lofven says he will call snap elections after his minority government lost a budget vote less than three months after coming to power.

The center-left prime minister said a new poll would take place on March 22.

The government failed to push its budget through parliament, when the far-right Sweden Democrats sided with the opposition.

The Sweden Democrats emerged as a power broker after September’s elections.

The party now holds 49 seats and, voting with the centre-right opposition on December 3, defeated the government’s budget by a margin of 182 to 153.

At a hastily called news conference after the vote, Stefan Lofven told reporters that new elections would enable voters to “make a choice in the face of this new political landscape”.

Under the constitution the prime minister cannot officially call a national poll until December 29.Stefan Lovfen calls snap elections

Accusing the centre-right parties of failing to engage constructively over the budget, Stefan Lofven complained that the opposition had allowed the far right to dictate terms.

“We have formed a government, we have a budget, and we will go into the elections with that,” he said, standing alongside a spokesman from his coalition partner, the Greens.

The Sweden Democrats became the country’s third largest party, with 13% of the vote, and is demanding a reversal in Sweden’s liberal immigration laws, which party spokesman Mattias Karlsson has condemned as an “extreme immigration policy”.

Sweden has offered permanent residence to all Syrians fleeing the conflict and has the highest rate of asylum applications per capita of any EU country.

Sweden’s Migration Board said this year that as many as 2,000 people were applying every week. Most were from Syria, although there had also been an increase from Eritrea.

Stefan Lofven’s Social Democrats formed a minority government with the Greens but between them they have only 138 seats in the 349-seat parliament.

Tracy Morgan car crash: Walmart deny deliberately stalling legal action

Sonia Pantiss
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Tracy Morgan car crash: Walmart deny deliberately stalling legal action

Walmart has refuted claims that it is deliberately stalling a legal action related to a car crash which injured Tracy Morgan and killed fellow comedian James McNair.

Tracy Morgan’s attorneys have accused the retailer of using truck driver Kevin Roper at the centre of the accident to block a resolution to the 30 Rock star’s case.

Kevin Roper is trying to put Tracy Morgan’s legal action on hold while he faces separate criminal charges.

He was at the wheel of a Walmart truck that crashed into Tracy Morgan’s bus.

James McNair died in the crash on the New Jersey Turnpike last June, while Tracy Morgan suffered a traumatic brain injury and broken bones.Tracy Morgan crash Walmart

Kevin Roper, who is not named in Tracy Morgan’s action, has been charged with death by vehicle and four counts of assault by vehicle.

Last month he filed a request to delay Tracy Morgan’s federal lawsuit while his criminal case proceeds in New Jersey’s state court.

Walmart said the accusation that it was “somehow behind Kevin Roper’s motion in an attempt to delay discovery is simply false”.

Its statement followed claims from Tracy Morgan’s legal team that Walmart was “attempting to gain an unfair advantage” and using Kevin Roper’s request as “a ploy to further delay this trial”.

Tracy Morgan’s legal team has accused Walmart of being “careless and negligent” in requiring Kevin Roper to drive while fatigued.

Walmart have contended that Tracy Morgan’s injuries and James McNair’s death were partly their own fault because they were not wearing seatbelts.

Deven Verma dies in Pune at 77

Sonia Pantiss
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Deven Verma dies in Pune at 77

Bollywood actor Deven Verma has died at the age of 77, in the western city of Pune.

The veteran actor, who became popular playing comic roles, suffered a severe cardiac arrest and kidney failure on Tuesday morning, his family said.Deven Verma

Deven Verma acted in nearly 80 Bollywood films, including Golmaal, Chori Mera Kaam, Chor Ke Ghar Chor and Angoor.

He was awarded the prestigious Filmfare Best Comedian award thrice.

Deven Verma’s fans and colleagues from Bollywood have been taking to social media sites to mourn the actor’s death.

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