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Edward Snowden offers to help Brazil over US spying in return for asylum

Nancy Clayson
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Edward Snowden offers to help Brazil over US spying in return for asylum

Edward Snowden offered to collaborate with Brazil’s investigation into the mass surveillance programs Tuesday, writing an open letter that hinted at his asylum request to the country.

In a letter published in the Folha De S. Paulo newspaper, Edward Snowden praised the “inspiring” reaction around the world – and in Brazil – after he unveiled the NSA’s far-reaching spying program, which included the monitoring of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s personal cellphone.

“I have expressed my willingness to assist wherever appropriate and lawful, but unfortunately the United States government has worked very hard to limit my ability to do so,” Edward Snowden wrote in An Open Letter to the Brazilian People.

“Until a country grants permanent political asylum, the U.S. government will continue to interfere with my ability to speak,” he added.

Edward Snowden offered to collaborate with Brazil's investigation into the mass surveillance programs
Edward Snowden offered to collaborate with Brazil’s investigation into the mass surveillance programs

Brazilian lawmakers have been trying to interview Snowden as part of their investigation but he seemed to suggest in his letter that he would only do so if he were welcomed into the country.

Edward Snowden previously requested asylum in Brazil but he has not received any response. He is currently living under temporary asylum in Russia, after spending weeks in limbo at Moscow’s international airport.

Documents Edward Snowden leaked exposed Brazil as the top NSA target in Latin America, with surveillance that included hacking into the network of state-run oil company Petrobras and monitoring Dilma Rousseff’s and ordinary Brazilians’ phones.

The revelations soured relations between Brazil and the US with President Dilma Rousseff canceling a state visit to Washington.

“Only three weeks ago, Brazil led the United Nations Human Rights Committee to recognize for the first time in history that privacy does not stop where the digital network starts, and that the mass surveillance of innocents is a violation of human rights,” Edward Snowden wrote, adding that “American officials should never decide the freedoms of Brazilian citizens.”

Edward Snowden’s open letter was also published on the Facebook page of David Miranda, partner of journalist Glenn Greenwald, who first published Snowden’s leaks in June. David Miranda has started a petition calling for Brazil to offer Edward Snowden asylum.

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Girl With The Dragon Tattoo fourth novel to be written by David Lagercrantz

Sonia Pantiss
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Girl With The Dragon Tattoo fourth novel to be written by David Lagercrantz

Writer David Lagercrantz has been hired to pen the fourth installment of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series by author Stieg Larsson, its Swedish publishers have said.

David Lagercrantz will write a new story about the characters of Lisbeth Slander and Mikael Blomqvist, which is due for publication in August 2015.

Stieg Larsson died in 2004 aged 50 and had started work on a fourth novel.

The original trilogy sold more than 75 million copies worldwide and has been turned into both Swedish and Hollywood movies.

Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara played the lead roles in the US film version of the story, which was directed by David Fincher.

David Lagercrantz has been hired to pen the fourth installment of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series by author Stieg Larsson
David Lagercrantz has been hired to pen the fourth installment of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series by author Stieg Larsson

Eva Gedin from publishing house Norstedts said: “We have now decided to let somebody take over and tell what happened next.”

David Lagercrantz, who co-authored a book about Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, said he has “already started writing it”, adding: “It’s terribly fun. It’s a fantastic world to step into.”

The new book will follow on from the tale of murder, corruption and family secrets told in the original trilogy and feature its central players.

Some plot lines from the existing novels will be picked up, while David Lagercrantz is likely to add his own touches to the book.

Stieg Larsson’s partner Eva Gabrielsson has said that the publisher did not have access to Larsson’s partially-completed manuscript for a fourth novel, so would be starting afresh.

She told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that she thinks it’s “distasteful to try to make more money” from the books.

Eva Gabrielsson has been engaged in a legal dispute with his family over his legacy.

Beatles ’63 rarities released on iTunes

Sonia Pantiss
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Beatles ’63 rarities released on iTunes

Beatles rarities from 1963 have been released on iTunes.

Fifty-nine tracks – unreleased outtakes, demos – have been released on iTunes to stop them falling out of copyright and into the public domain.

EU copyright law covers recordings for 70 years if they have had an official release or 50 years if they have not.

The 2-disc set was apparently released, then removed, early on Tuesday, causing speculation it was only being published briefly to extend the copyright period.

Fans posted screenshots of the collection on the New Zealand iTunes store, along with links which later became invalid.

Online reports suggested the same thing had happened in Australia, Russia and Saudi Arabia – although the EU’s copyright laws would not apply in any of these territories.

Beatles rarities from 1963 have been released on iTunes
Beatles rarities from 1963 have been released on iTunes

Gathering together live material and recording session offcuts, the compilation includes four alternate takes of She Loves You, two of From Me To You and several live versions of Roll Over Beethoven.

It also features three attempts at There’s A Place, as well as demos of two songs the group gave to other artists – Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s acoustic version of Bad to Me and Lennon’s piano demo of I’m in Love.

The tracks had been widely bootlegged, but never officially released until now.

After a recent change in the law, the master tape for The Beatles’ 1963 debut album Please Please Me is protected by copyright until 2033, but the unreleased session tapes for that album are not.

If the Beatles chose not to release the recordings before the end of the year, other record labels could theoretically put them out and profit from them next year.

The band’s 1962 debut single Love Me Do arguably slipped out of copyright last year before the EU’s copyright extension was signed into law.

At least one record company issued a “remastered” version of the song, although that has since been deleted.

The copyright law in question only covers the recordings – the composition of the songs remains the copyright of the songwriter for 70 years after his or her death.

Officially called The 50th Anniversary Collection, it carried a subtitle which explained its true purpose: The Copyright Extension Collection, Vol. 1.

Kelly LeBrock faces DUI allegations following arrest

Lisa.Felice
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Kelly LeBrock faces DUI allegations following arrest

Steven Seagal’s ex-wife, Kelly LeBrock, is facing allegations of DUI following an arrest in November.

Kelly LeBrock, 53, was pulled over by a California Highway Patrol officer on November 30 near Santa Barbara after she was reportedly spotted driving erratically, speeding and failing to brake at a stop sign.

Kelly LeBrock was reportedly spotted driving erratically, speeding and failing to brake at a stop sign
Kelly LeBrock was reportedly spotted driving erratically, speeding and failing to brake at a stop sign

Kelly LeBrock was taken into custody and booked after struggling to complete a field sobriety test, according to TMZ.com.

Russia cuts gas price for Ukraine

Clyde K. Valle
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Russia cuts gas price for Ukraine

Russia has decided to cut the price of the gas supplied to Ukraine from more than $400 (291 euros) per 1,000 cubic metres to $268.5.

Russia also agreed at talks in the Kremlin to buy $15 billion worth of Ukrainian government bonds.

President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych did not talk about Ukraine joining a Russian-led customs union.

Protests continued in Kiev over the deepening ties with Russia.

Victor Yanukovych’s U-turn on an EU association agreement deal last month sparked mass demonstrations.

He admitted his decision had been influenced by heavy pressure from Russia.

The current protests, the largest since Ukraine’s 2004 Orange Revolution, are pushing for the resignation of Viktor Yanukovych and his government, and snap elections.

The gas agreement signed between Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine’s Naftogaz amends a controversial 2009 deal signed by former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko, for which she was jailed two years ago.

Ukraine relies on imports of Russian gas – and heavy energy-intensive industries in eastern Ukraine are especially anxious to keep the price of gas down. Some 75% of Ukraine’s engineering exports go to Russia.

The cost of Russian gas supplied to Ukraine has been slashed by 33 percent
The cost of Russian gas supplied to Ukraine has been slashed by 33 percent

“Russia and Ukraine are… united both by many centuries of our friendship and by having lived a long time together in the same country,” Vladimir Putin said.

Trade between the two countries, he said, had dropped over the past two years, by 11% in 2012 and 14.5% this year.

“It is of course time to take vigorous action not only to return to the level of previous years, but also create conditions for moving forward,” he added.

Viktor Yanukovych said Ukraine would work with Russia and other ex-Soviet states to implement the free trade deal they signed two years ago.

“In the near future, we will not only have to co-ordinate this work between our countries, between Russia and Ukraine, but with other CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] countries as well, so that our free trade area could finally start operating at its full capacity,” he said.

With talks on resuming credit from the International Monetary Fund stalled, Ukraine requires urgent financial assistance in the coming months to keep the economy afloat.

Kiev also needs to find about $17 billion next year to pay its outstanding gas bill to Russia.

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers on Monday used a high-level meeting to reassure Russia that the association agreement with Ukraine would not undermine Moscow’s interests.

Supporters say closer ties with the EU could make the economy more open, transparent and prosperous, with greater competition and protection for investors.

But the EU partnership requires far-reaching and expensive reforms, which the government says would put at risk many enterprises reliant on trade with Russia.

Moscow has already put economic pressure on Ukraine, with customs delays and a ban on Ukrainian chocolates, and could escalate such measures.

Russia fears that such a deal would damage the country’s economy by letting in a massive flow of EU products via Ukraine.

Moscow wants Kiev to join the Customs Union instead of signing the EU pact.

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticizes Nelson Mandela’s funeral services

Diane A. Wade
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu criticizes Nelson Mandela’s funeral services

Archbishop Desmond Tutu – a long-time friend of Nelson Mandela – has said that South Africa’s first black president would have been appalled that Afrikaners were excluded from memorial services marking his death.

Desmond Tutu highlighted the absence of the Dutch Reformed Church and the limited use of the Afrikaans language at the services.

A mainly Afrikaner party introduced white minority rule, which Nelson Mandela opposed, spending 27 years in jail.

But after becoming South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela preached reconciliation with his former enemies.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu highlighted the absence of the Dutch Reformed Church and the limited use of the Afrikaans language at Nelson Mandela’s funeral services
Archbishop Desmond Tutu highlighted the absence of the Dutch Reformed Church and the limited use of the Afrikaans language at Nelson Mandela’s funeral services

Archbishop Desmond Tutu also strongly criticized the prominence of the governing African National Congress (ANC) during the week of events following Nelson Mandela’s death on December 5.

“I also believe it may have sent out a more inclusive message had the programme directors at the Memorial and Funeral – both national and State events – not both been senior office-bearers of the ruling party,” he said.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu fought apartheid, along with Nelson Mandela and the ANC, but has become increasingly critical of the party, recently saying he would vote for the opposition.

He almost did not attend Sunday’s funeral for his close friend, saying he had not been invited.

In a statement, Desmond Tutu described Nelson Mandela as a “nation builder” who “went out of his way” to include Afrikaners after the end of apartheid.

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Beyonce’s surprise album breaks iTunes sales record

Sonia Pantiss
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Beyonce’s surprise album breaks iTunes sales record

Beyonce’s fifth album has broken iTunes sales records, with 828,773 copies sold in just three days.

The majority of those sales came in the US, where it has racked up 617,213 sales since its release on Friday.

The tally broke Beyonce’s own first-week sales record, set by her second album B’day in 2006, which sold 541,000 copies across a full seven days.

Beyonce stealth-released the record exclusively on iTunes last Friday, surprising fans by unveiling 14 new songs and 17 videos without the usual build-up of radio play, marketing and magazine interviews.

Its success has been fuelled by a number of factors: By keeping the project secret, the star avoided leaks; while the inability to purchase individual tracks online meant fans had no choice but to pay for the whole album.

Beyonce's fifth album has broken iTunes sales records, with 828,773 copies sold in just three days
Beyonce’s fifth album has broken iTunes sales records, with 828,773 copies sold in just three days

Beyonce, 31, said the “visual album” was inspired by her memories of watching Michael Jackson’s Thriller video premiere in 1983.

The album was codenamed “Lily” by staff at her record label, Columbia, to avoid rumors spreading, and even key creative staff were kept in the dark about the release plans.

Reviews for the album were largely positive, with Billboard magazine praising Beyonce’s “creative audacity”.

Apple, which runs the iTunes store, said the album had broken its previous first-week sales record, set by Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience when it sold 580,000 in March.

The company has exclusive access to the album for a short period – thought to be a week. Physical copies of the record are expected in shops before Christmas.

Beyonce also went to number one in 104 countries, it reported.

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Angela Merkel confirmed as Germany’s chancellor for third term

Diane A. Wade
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Angela Merkel confirmed as Germany’s chancellor for third term

German parliament (Bundestag) has confirmed Angela Merkel as the country’s chancellor for a third term, at the head of a grand coalition.

The coalition between her centre-right CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democrats (SPD) has a huge majority, with 504 of the 631 seats in the lower house.

Angela Merkel was confirmed by 462 votes, with nine abstentions.

Germany’s tough stance on fiscal discipline is unlikely to change under the new coalition.

The SPD’s membership voted on Sunday to back the coalition after painstaking negotiations.

The party hammered out a minimum national wage, an hourly rate of 8.50 euros ($11.55) that will come into force for the first time in 2015.

Bundestag has confirmed Angela Merkel as Germany’s chancellor for a third term
Bundestag has confirmed Angela Merkel as Germany’s chancellor for a third term

The new government will be slightly to the left of the previous one, in which the Christian Democrats/Christian Social Union were in coalition with the market-oriented Free Democrats (FDP).

But the SPD will form a minority part of the government and no-one doubts that Chancellor Angela Merkel will be in charge.

As the EU’s most industrialized and populous state, with its biggest economy, Germany dominates decision-making for the eurozone.

For Tuesday’s vote, 621 members of the Bundestag were present, of whom 150 voted against Angela Merkel.

Between them, the Left Party and the Greens have 127 seats, so at least 23 of those who rejected her nomination were from the parties making up the new coalition.

The coalition talks had been the longest for any German government since World War II.

The CDU/CSU and SPD finally signed the deal, a 185-page agreement entitled “Shaping Germany’s Future”, late last month.

Angela Merkel was obliged to turn to the SPD after the FDP failed to win any seats in the 22 September election, falling short of the 5% hurdle to enter the Bundestag.

Trusted Angela Merkel ally Wolfgang Schaeuble will remain finance minister in the new government, one of 10 CDU/CSU politicians in the 16-strong cabinet.

“His name stands for euro stability and I’m glad that he’s continuing,” Angela Merkel said after news of the new line-up emerged.

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Japan adopts new defense policy package amid China tensions

Roy Siemens
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Japan adopts new defense policy package amid China tensions

Japan’s government has approved a new national security strategy and increased defense spending in a move widely seen as aimed at China.

Over the next five years, Japan will buy hardware including drones, aircraft and amphibious vehicles.

The military will also build a new marine unit, an amphibious force capable of retaking islands.

The move comes with Tokyo embroiled in a bitter row with Beijing over East China Sea islands that both claim.

It reflects concern over China’s growing assertiveness over its territorial claims and Beijing’s mounting defence spending.

“China’s stance toward other countries and military moves, coupled with a lack of transparency regarding its military and national security policies, represent a concern to Japan and the wider international community and require close watch,” the national security draft said.

PM Shinzo Abe has called for Japan to broaden the scope of activities performed by its military
PM Shinzo Abe has called for Japan to broaden the scope of activities performed by its military

Japan first increased defense spending in January, after a decade of cuts.

PM Shinzo Abe, who was elected a year ago, has called for Japan to broaden the scope of activities performed by its military – something currently tightly controlled by the post-war constitution.

He has also established a National Security Council that can oversee key issues.

Approving the national security strategy made Japan’s foreign and security policy “clear and transparent – for both the Japanese people and all the world to see”, he said.

The announcement comes weeks after China established an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over a swathe of the East China Sea, including islands controlled by Japan.

It says all aircraft transiting the zone must obey certain rules, such as filing flight plans, or face “measures”.

Japan, US and South Korea – which claims a rock that lies within China’s declared zone – have strongly criticised the move, with the US calling it a unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the region.

China, meanwhile, says it is “closely watching Japan’s security strategy and policy direction”.

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Italy: Mafia gangsters arrested over Christmas poinsettias extortion scam

Nancy Clayson
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Italy: Mafia gangsters arrested over Christmas poinsettias extortion scam

Four alleged mafia gangsters have been arrested in Italy over a Christmas extortion scam.

The men have been forcing shop owners to buy Christmas poinsettias – red-leaved plants known in Italy as Christmas Stars – for 100 times the wholesale price.

The gangsters in the southern city of Naples have been demanding as much as 100 euros ($137) for a plant for the past three festive seasons, police say.

The Mafia men have been forcing shop owners to buy Christmas poinsettias for 100 times the wholesale price
The Mafia men have been forcing shop owners to buy Christmas poinsettias for 100 times the wholesale price

Owners who refused the mob’s “Christmas offer” had their shops vandalized.

“It wasn’t someone dressed like Santa Claus tapping on the doors of shop owners and businesses… Instead there were four emissaries of the Mazzarella clan,” police said.

The men were trying to raise funds for the families and legal fees of jailed gang members, police said.

Sebastian Kurz becomes Europe’s youngest foreign minister at 27

Diane A. Wade
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Sebastian Kurz becomes Europe’s youngest foreign minister at 27

Sebastian Kurz has become Europe’s youngest foreign minister, after Austria swore in its new coalition government.

Sebastian Kurz, 27, was one of 12 ministers confirmed by Austrian President Heinz Fischer in the capital Vienna.

Before taking up his new role, Sebastian Kurz was state secretary for integration.

Austria’s ruling bloc, the Social Democrats and the conservative People’s Party, won the election in September.

The Social Democrats came top with 27.1%, while the People’s Party got 23.8%.

Seen as a rising star in the People’s Party, Sebastian Kurz had earned praise in his previous post for his work in schools and with Muslim immigrants.

Sebastian Kurz has become Europe's youngest foreign minister, after Austria swore in its new coalition government
Sebastian Kurz has become Europe’s youngest foreign minister, after Austria swore in its new coalition government

As secretary, he followed a policy of integrating immigrants into Austrian society by requiring their children to speak German before entering school.

Sebastian Kurz also established free language classes for Muslim religious leaders and launched a forum for dialogue with Islam.

Although the ruling parties have won another five-year term in a coalition, last month’s election was their worst result since World War II.

A series of scandals and perceived inertia have hit the parties’ popularity among the voters.

The anti-immigration and Eurosceptic Freedom Party appears to have benefited from this slump, reaping 21.4% of the vote.

The party has accused the coalition of bloating the public sector, corruption and permitting too much immigration.

Other people in positions of power around the world include Kim Jong-un, who became leader of North Korea at the age of 28 or 29 (his exact age is not known).

Roosevelt Skerrit was 32 years old when he became prime minister of Dominica in 2004.

Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is one of the youngest monarchs in the world. He became king of Bhutan in 2008 at the age of 28.

Swaziland’s King Mswati III was 18 when he was crowned in 1986.

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NSA mass surveillance unconstitutional

Nancy Clayson
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NSA mass surveillance unconstitutional

The National Security Agency’s mass collection of telephone data unconstitutional, Federal District Judge Richard Leon has ruled.

Judge Richard Leon said the NSA’s practice was an “arbitrary invasion”.

The agency’s collection of “metadata” including telephone numbers and times and dates of calls was exposed by ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

The White House dismissed the suggestion Edward Snowden receive amnesty if he stopped leaking documents.

In his ruling in a Washington DC federal court on Monday, Richard Leon called the NSA’s surveillance programme “indiscriminate” and an “almost Orwellian technology that enables the government to store and analyze the phone metadata of every telephone user in the United States”.

The ruling came in a lawsuit brought by conservative activist Larry Klayman, a user of a Verizon mobile telephone who challenged the NSA’s collection of metadata on his behalf and that of a client.

The NSA had ordered Verizon – one of the largest phone companies in the US – to disclose to it metadata, including telephone numbers, calling card numbers and the serial numbers of phones, of millions of calls it processes in which at least one party is in the US.

Federal District Judge Richard Leon has ruled the NSA's mass collection of phone data unconstitutional
Federal District Judge Richard Leon has ruled the NSA’s mass collection of phone data unconstitutional

Judge Richard Leon ruled the plaintiffs had demonstrated “a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of their Fourth Amendment claim and that they will suffer irreparable harm absent… relief”, referring to the clause in the US constitution that bars unreasonable search and seizure by the government.

He issued a preliminary injunction against the NSA surveillance programme but suspended the order to allow for an appeal by the justice department, thus enabling the programme to continue for now.

Through Glenn Greenwald, the former Guardian journalist with whom he has close ties, Edward Snowden issued a statement hailing the ruling.

“I acted on my belief that the NSA’s mass surveillance programs would not withstand a constitutional challenge, and that the American public deserved a chance to see these issues determined by open courts,” Edward Snowden wrote, according to the New York Times.

“Today, a secret program authorized by a secret court was, when exposed to the light of day, found to violate Americans’ rights,” he added.

“It is the first of many.”

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Princess Diana’s death: No credible evidence that SAS was involved

Nancy Clayson
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Princess Diana’s death: No credible evidence that SAS was involved

London Metropolitan Police has announced that there is “no credible evidence” the SAS was involved in the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Al Fayed.

The Met had received material in August about Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed’s deaths in a 1997 Paris car crash, which reports suggested related to claims the military was involved.

However, police said that having conducted a “scoping exercise” there was no basis to open a criminal investigation.

A 2008 inquest found the couple had been unlawfully killed.

The car crash in a Paris tunnel occurred partly due to the “gross negligence” of the driver, the inquest ruled.

Reports in several British Sunday newspapers in August had suggested the new material had been passed to the police by an Army source.

A statement from the Met on Tuesday said its assessment included “taking statements from a number of individuals and reviewing records”.

Police found that there is "no credible evidence" the SAS was involved in the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed
Police found that there is “no credible evidence” the SAS was involved in the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed

It said the investigating officers were given “unprecedented access” to Special Forces Directorate records.

The statement continued: “Every reasonable line of enquiry was objectively pursued in order to fully evaluate any potential evidence.

“The final conclusion is that whilst there is a possibility the alleged comments in relation to the SAS’s involvement in the deaths may have been made, there is no credible evidence to support a theory that such claims had any basis in fact.

“Therefore the MPS are satisfied there is no evidential basis upon which to open any criminal investigation or to refer the matter back to HM Coroner.”

Dodi Al Fayed’s father, former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, was “disappointed but not discouraged” by the outcome, his solicitor Simon McKay said.

He called the scoping exercise “the latest whitewash in a 16-year cover up”.

Princess Diana, the former wife of the Prince of Wales and the mother of princes William and Harry, was 36 when she died alongside Dodi Al Fayed, 42.

Henri Paul was driving when their hired Mercedes crashed into a pillar in Paris’s Pont de l’Alma tunnel.

The crash happened after the couple had left the Ritz Hotel and were pursued by paparazzi on motorbikes. Dodi Al Fayed’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, was the only survivor.

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Kim Jong-il commemorated in North Korea

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-il commemorated in North Korea

North Korea is commemorating its leader Kim Jong-il, two years after his death in 2011.

Images from Pyongyang showed ranks of thousands of officials at a ceremony to commemorate Kim Jong-il.

His son, Kim Jong-un, inherited the leadership after his death in 2011.

Last week he presided over the execution of Jang Sung-taek, his uncle and a powerful figure seen by outside observers as his mentor.

Jang Sung-taek was accused of multiple crimes, state media said, including forming a power base and attempting to overthrow the state.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Kim-moon described his execution as “very dramatic and surprising”.

North Korea is commemorating its leader Kim Jong-il, two years after his death in 2011
North Korea is commemorating its leader Kim Jong-il, two years after his death in 2011

He urged regional nations “while they must be vigilantly and carefully watching the development of situation, not to take any premature actions”.

Residents laid flowers at monuments to both Kim Jong-il and his father, Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s first leader.

Kim Jong-il, who ruled North Korea for almost two decades, died on December 17, 2011.

On Tuesday, his third son and chosen successor, Kim Jong-un, attended a ceremony to remember his father.

Kim Jong-un sat on the podium flanked by North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, and the head of the army.

“All our people and soldiers have struggled and achieved victory for the past two years by holding our great leader [Kim Jong-il] in high esteem,” Kim Yong-nam said in his speech.

On Monday thousands of North Korean soldiers lined up in front of the state mausoleum to pledge their allegiance to Kim Jong-un.

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Brian Griffin back from the dead for Family Guy Christmas special

Sonia Pantiss
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Brian Griffin back from the dead for Family Guy Christmas special

Brian Griffin is back from the dead for a very special Christmas episode of Family Guy.

“I mean, you didn’t really think we’d kill off Brian, did you?” Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane tweeted shortly after Sunday night’s Christmas-themed episode aired.

“Jesus, we’d have to be f**king high.”

Brian Griffin is back from the dead for a very special Christmas episode of Family Guy
Brian Griffin is back from the dead for a very special Christmas episode of Family Guy

Three weeks ago, Family Guy killed off fan-favorite Brian Griffin, the show’s martini-drinking anthropomorphic writer dog.

Brian Griffin, Stewie’s best friend, was hit by a car and almost immediately replaced by a new pet named Vinnie.

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Lamar Odom cheated on Khloe Kardashian because of his friends

Lisa.Felice
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Lamar Odom cheated on Khloe Kardashian because of his friends

Lamar Odom has reportedly blamed his cheating on wife Khloe Kardashian on his friends, because they brought girls around.

Khloe Kardashian filed from divorce from the NBA star on Friday, citing irreconcilable difference.

Lamar Odom blamed his cheating on wife Khloe Kardashian on his friends, because they brought girls around
Lamar Odom blamed his cheating on wife Khloe Kardashian on his friends, because they brought girls around

Lamar Odom bragged about cheating on Khloe Kardashian in a rap video he shot with a friend.

According to TMZ, Lamar Odom blamed his infidelity on his friends who are “supporting me the wrong way by bringing girls around,” the sources said.

“I can’t be with Khloe.  She brings out the bad side of me,” Lamar Odom reportedly told his friends.

Cody Walker to stand in for Paul Walker to finish Fast & Furious 7?

Lisa.Felice
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Cody Walker to stand in for Paul Walker to finish Fast & Furious 7?

Cody Walker, Paul Walker’s lookalike younger brother, could be under consideration to stand in for actor to finish Fast & Furious 7 movie.

Cody Walker, 25, may be under consideration for filming the deceased brother’s parts to finish up the final scenes for Fast & The Furious 7.

He works as a movie stuntman, and could take his brother’s place on the film after Paul Walker, 40, died November 30 in Santa Clarita, California, in a fatal car crash.

Cody Walker could be under consideration to stand in for Paul Walker to finish Fast & Furious 7 movie
Cody Walker could be under consideration to stand in for Paul Walker to finish Fast & Furious 7 movie

Paul Walker was on a break from filming the latest in movie franchise when he died, prompting Universal Pictures to immediately shut down production.

Universal Pictures had not commented on the possibility of using Cody Walker to stand in for his brother on the production.

“At this time we feel it is our responsibility to shut down production on <<Fast & Furious 7>> for a period of time so we can assess all options available to move forward with the franchise.  We are committed to keeping Fast & Furious fans informed, and we will provide further information to them when we have it.  Until then, we know they join us in mourning the passing of our dear friend Paul Walker,” Universal said.

Missy Robertson not big fan of Jase Robertson’s iconic beard

Sonia Pantiss
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Missy Robertson not big fan of Jase Robertson’s iconic beard

Duck Dynasty’s Missy Robertson revealed she’s not a big fan of husband Jase’s iconic beard.

In a recent interview with InTouch magazine, Missy Robertson said she’s not a huge fan of her husband’s signature beard.

Missy Robertson revealed she's not a big fan of husband Jase's iconic beard
Missy Robertson revealed she’s not a big fan of husband Jase’s iconic beard

“I’d much rather have the face that I fell in love with,” Missy Robertson said.

“He says, <<When the show is over, I’m shaving!>> .”

Missy Robertson: “It wasn’t love at first sight with Jase”

Sonia Pantiss
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Missy Robertson: “It wasn’t love at first sight with Jase”

Duck Dynasty‘s Missy Robertson revealed she didn’t immediately fall in love with Jase Robertson when they first met 23 years ago in high school.
In a recent interview with InTouch magazine, Missy Robertson said: “It wasn’t love at first sight with Jase.” 

Missy Robertson revealed she didn't immediately fall in love with Jase Robertson when they first met 23 years ago in high school
Missy Robertson revealed she didn’t immediately fall in love with Jase Robertson when they first met 23 years ago in high school

“It took me a while to get to know him before I knew I wanted to marry him.”

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Mia Robertson’s disability was biggest challenge in Missy and Jase’s marriage

Sonia Pantiss
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Mia Robertson’s disability was biggest challenge in Missy and Jase’s marriage

Duck Dynast ‘s Missy Robertson revealed the biggest challenge in her marriage to Jase Robertson was when they had their youngest child, Mia.

“She was born with a cleft lip and it was heartbreaking. It was especially tough on Jase to see his little girl with a disability, so we had to alternate who was the <<rock>> during that time,” Missy Robertson told InTouch magazine.

Missy Robertson revealed the biggest challenge in her marriage to Jase Robertson was when they had their youngest child, Mia
Missy Robertson revealed the biggest challenge in her marriage to Jase Robertson was when they had their youngest child, Mia

But now, 10-year-old Mia “just bursts into a room and starts talking – she’s even done public speaking in front of thousands of people!”.

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FDA warning over antibacterial soaps

Kathryn R. Bown
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FDA warning over antibacterial soaps

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that antibacterial chemicals in soaps and body washes may pose health risks.

The FDA called for a safety review of such products.

The agency proposed a rule requiring manufacturers to prove such soaps are safe and more effective against infection than plain soap and water.

Recent studies indicate an ingredient in such products could scramble hormone levels and boost drug-proof bacteria.

Manufacturers have until the end of 2014 to submit the results of clinical trials on their products, the FDA said. The new regulations would be finalized in 2016.

“New data suggest that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits,” Colleen Rogers, an FDA microbiologist, wrote in a statement on Monday.

The FDA has warned that antibacterial chemicals in soaps and body washes may pose health risks
The FDA has warned that antibacterial chemicals in soaps and body washes may pose health risks

Certain ingredients in such products – such as triclosan in liquid soaps and triclocarban in bar soaps – may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, the agency added.

Such products may also have “unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern”, according to the statement.

Recent studies of such chemicals on animals have shown they may alter hormones, the FDA said, but such results have not yet been proven in humans.

“Because so many consumers use them, FDA believes that there should be clearly demonstrated benefits to balance any potential risks,” the statement added.

If the FDA’s proposed rule is finalized, companies would be required to provide data to support their product’s health claims.

If they cannot, the products would be reformulated or relabeled in order to remain on the market.

In March, a federal appeals court approved a lawsuit by the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council, aimed at forcing the FDA to review the health impacts of triclosan.

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Edward Snowden amnesty rejected by White House

Nancy Clayson
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Edward Snowden amnesty rejected by White House

The White House has rejected the idea of an amnesty for fugitive Edward Snowden.

Earlier today, top National Security Agency (NSA) official had suggested that a deal could be reached if Edward Snowden stopped leaking documents.

However, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Edward Snowden still faced felony charges for leaking classified data.

It came as a federal judge ruled that the NSA’s snooping on telephone calls is likely to be unconstitutional.

US District Judge Richard Leon wrote that the programme probably violated Americans’ right to be free of unreasonable searches.

He stayed his own ruling pending an expected appeal by the government.

White House spokesman Jay Carney has rejected the idea of an amnesty for fugitive Edward Snowden
White House spokesman Jay Carney has rejected the idea of an amnesty for fugitive Edward Snowden

In Monday’s daily press briefing, Jay Carney said government officials continue to press Russia – where Edward Snowden has been granted asylum – to return him to the US.

“There’s been no change in our position,” Jay Carney told reporters.

Edward Snowden “faces felony charges here, he ought to be returned to the United States, again, where he will face full due process and protection under our system of justice, which we hope he will avail himself of”, Jay Carney added.

The US has charged Edward Snowden with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defense information and willful communication of classified communications intelligence.

Each of the charges carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.

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Russia deploys nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad

Roy Siemens
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Russia deploys nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad

Lithuania and Poland, the EU countries bordering Russia’s territory of Kaliningrad, say they are worried at reports that Moscow has deployed nuclear-capable missiles there.

Both countries issued statements of concern.

Russia has not confirmed the report but insists it has every right to station missiles in its western-most region.

Moscow has long threatened to move Iskander short-range missile systems to Kaliningrad in response to the United States’ own European missile shield.

Russia sees the missile shield as a threat to its nuclear deterrent.

It was one of the biggest sources of confrontation between Moscow and Washington during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin.

President Barack Obama tried to “reset” relations with Russia, and the shield system was revised – but it survived in a different form and continued to antagonize Russia.

Lithuania and Poland are worried at reports that Moscow has deployed nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad
Lithuania and Poland are worried at reports that Moscow has deployed nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad

The US insists that the missile shield is not aimed at Russia but designed to defend Europe from attack from “rogue states” – assumed to include Iran.

A Russian defense ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, did not confirm the report – in the German newspaper Bild – that the Iskander system had been deployed to Kaliningrad.

But he did say: “Iskander operational-tactical missile systems have indeed been commissioned by the Western Military District’s missile and artillery forces,” adding that Russia’s deployment “does not violate any international treaties or agreements”.

The Western Military District includes parts of western and north-western Russia, including the Kaliningrad exclave, which is separated from Russia proper and wedged between Poland, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea.

The Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on Monday that the missiles had already been stationed in the area for more than a year.

Lithuania’s Defense Minister Juozas Olekas said: “I am worried about signals that Russia is about to modernise missile systems it has deployed in Kaliningrad.

“Further militarization of this region, bordering the Baltic states and NATO, creates further anxiety, and we will be watching the situation there closely.”

The Polish foreign ministry said: “Plans to deploy new Iskander-M rockets in [Kaliningrad] are worrying.”

It added that such a deployment “would contradict effective Polish-Russian co-operation, in particular with respect to this region, and undermine constructive dialogue between NATO and Russia. We will raise this topic in our bilateral contacts with the Russian side.”

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Audrey Totter dies in LA hospital at the age of 95

Sonia Pantiss
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Audrey Totter dies in LA hospital at the age of 95

Film noir actress Audrey Totter has died at the aged of 95.

The radio actress became a silver screen star by playing femme fatales in 1940s film noir including Lady in the Lake.

Audrey Totter’s daughter, Mea Lane, told the Los Angeles Times that her mother died Thursday at a LA hospital. She had recently had a stroke.

Audrey Totter became a silver screen star by playing femme fatales in 1940s film noir
Audrey Totter became a silver screen star by playing femme fatales in 1940s film noir

The actress was under contract with MGM starting in 1944. After landing a small part in The Postman Always Rings Twice, Audrey Totter went on to a series of roles as tough-talking blondes.

Her breakthrough came with Lady in the Lake, the 1947 adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe detective tale. She also appeared in the thriller The Unsuspected and the boxing drama The Set-Up.

After retiring to raise a family, Audrey Totter later resurfaced on television.

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Nelson Mandela statue unveiled in Pretoria on South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation

Nancy Clayson
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Nelson Mandela statue unveiled in Pretoria on South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation

A statue of Nelson Mandela has been unveiled in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, a day after he was buried.

The 30ft bronze statue has been erected at the Union Buildings, South Africa’s government headquarters.

The statue, with Nelson Mandela’s hands reaching outward, was intended to show that he had embraced the whole nation, President Jacob Zuma said.

Nelson Mandela was given a state funeral at his ancestral home on Sunday.

African National Congress (ANC) members, veterans of the fight against apartheid and foreign dignitaries – including several African presidents and the Prince of Wales – attended the funeral ceremony in the village of Qunu in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

The funeral ceremony followed a 10-day period of mourning and celebrating Nelson Mandela’s life after his death at the age of 95.

The national flag was raised on Monday from its half-mast position, and was flying as normal.

Nelson Mandela statue has been erected at the Union Buildings in Pretoria
Nelson Mandela statue has been erected at the Union Buildings in Pretoria

Nelson Mandela statue was unveiled on South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation, a public holiday which marks the end of racial conflict in South Africa.

“Former President Mandela is associated with the promotion of reconciliation which is why the day was chosen for the unveiling,” said the government.

During white minority rule, December 16 was called the Day of Covenant to honor the victory of Afrikaners over a Zulu army in an 1838 clash known as the Battle of Blood River.

More than a century later, on December 16, 1961, Nelson Mandela launched an armed group, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), to fight South Africa’s white minority rule.

It led to his arrest and imprisonment for 27 years.

After he became president in 1994 at the end of minority rule, Nelson Mandela used the day to urge South Africans to set aside their differences and to unite.

During his address at the funeral on Sunday, Jacob Zuma pledged to build on Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

“As your journey ends today, ours must continue in earnest… South Africa will continue to rise because we dare not fail you,” Jacob Zuma said.

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