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Scotland unveils independence document

Diane A. Wade
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Scotland unveils independence document

Scotland has unveiled its blueprint for independence, ahead of next September’s referendum.

The 670-page document promises to “build a more democratic, more prosperous, fairer society”.

On September 18, Scots voters will be asked the yes/no question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”

The document, launched by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, pledged to tailor economic policy to Scottish businesses and industry.

Alex Salmond said independence would allow Scotland to harness its vast potential as a country.

The first minister went on: “Ultimately at the heart of this debate there’s only one question – do we, the people who live and work in Scotland, believe that we are the best people to take the big decisions about our future?”

The white paper also pledged to extend child care and scrap controversial UK government housing welfare changes, described by critics as the “bedroom tax”, should the Scottish National Party (SNP) be elected as the first government of an independent Scotland in the event of a “Yes” vote.

The document, Scotland’s future: Your guide to an independent Scotland, also said it would be in Scotland’s interest to keep the pound, but that would also benefit the rest of the UK, while the Bank of England would continue to be the “lender of last resort”.

Scotland has unveiled its blueprint for independence, ahead of next September's referendum
Scotland has unveiled its blueprint for independence, ahead of next September’s referendum

The SNP document pledges included:

  • 30 hours of childcare per week in term time for all 3 and 4-year-olds, as well as vulnerable 2-year-olds.
  • Trident nuclear weapons, currently based on the Clyde, removed within the first parliament.
  • Housing benefit reforms, described by critics as the “bedroom tax” to be abolished in first year of an independent Scottish parliament.
  • No rise in basic rate of tax.

The Scottish government described the white paper as a “landmark document”, with the case for economic growth and fairness at its heart.

The SNP has argued Scotland’s finances are healthier than those of the UK, providing a strong foundation to put the focus of the referendum campaign on Scotland’s future.

The Scottish government’s critics said the white paper would be judged on whether it tackled concerns over issues like financial challenges.

For the UK government, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said there were huge question marks over some of the policies already revealed by the SNP.

Alistair Carmichael said it was “highly unlikely” the Scottish government’s plan to keep the pound and retain the services of the Bank of England as part of a “currency union” with the rest of the UK would work, and said the SNP must set out a “Plan B”.

The Scottish government’s critics have also questioned its plan to get rid of Trident nuclear weapons – currently based on the Clyde – while being a member of NATO.

And they have said other SNP promises, on issues like pensions and welfare, are uncosted.

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NYC Sidewalk Santa Parade 2013 canceled due to rising costs

Nancy Clayson
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NYC Sidewalk Santa Parade 2013 canceled due to rising costs

The annual New York City Sidewalk Santa Parade has been canceled after more than a century due to rising costs involved in organizing the event.

The Sidewalk Santas, who for a century have marched up Fifth Avenue the morning after Thanksgiving to collect donations from Black Friday shoppers, are hanging up their suits.

NYC Sidewalk Santa Parade was an annual tradition organized by the Volunteers of America-Greater New York to raise money for its Hope & Hearth campaign, which last year gave over 1,200 families vouchers for groceries during the holiday season, communications director Rachel Weinstein said.

The annual New York City Sidewalk Santa Parade has been canceled after more than a century due to rising costs involved in organizing the event
The annual New York City Sidewalk Santa Parade has been canceled after more than a century due to rising costs involved in organizing the event

However, the one-day parade of about 50 bell-ringing volunteers never raised much money and the cost of storing, cleaning and transporting dozens of Santa suits was rising, Rachel Weinstein said.

“We wanted to expand the food voucher program and we needed to find ways to raise more money, and save money (where) we weren’t doing it before,” Rachel Weinstein said.

“In reality it wasn’t raising the money we need for this program.”

The tradition began in 1896 when Ballington Booth, the son of the Salvation Army founders, traveled by horse-drawn carriage across the city to deliver hot holiday meals to hungry New Yorkers.

With more hungry families in the city now than at any time since the Great Depression, Weinstein said cutting the parade costs was a practical decision. The group also takes private donations through its website, www.hopeandhearth.org.

Instead of the parade, the group has set up a collection bin at the Plaza Hotel to collect donations from the parents who bring their children to sit on the lap of the Plaza’s Santa.

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Pakistan anti-drone protests block NATO supply route

Roy Siemens
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Pakistan anti-drone protests block NATO supply route

Protesters in Pakistan have blocked the main supply route for provisions destined for NATO troops in Afghanistan to protest against US drone strikes.

Opposition politician Imran Khan called for the action and said it would continue until American drone attacks in north-west Pakistan came to an end.

He blames the drones for causing civilian deaths and for crushing any chance of peace with the Taliban.

But the timing of the campaign has led many to accuse him of appeasement.

Protesters in Pakistan have blocked the main supply route for provisions destined for NATO troops in Afghanistan to protest against US drone strikes
Protesters in Pakistan have blocked the main supply route for provisions destined for NATO troops in Afghanistan to protest against US drone strikes

It comes almost a month after Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a drone strike at a compound in North Waziristan.

Hakimullah Mehsud had given some indications he might be prepared to talk but his death reportedly came just a day before a team of mediators was due to meet him.

His successor Mullah Fazlullah – a militant with a savage reputation – appears to have rejected any peace initiative.

This blockade is centered on a road in Pakistan’s north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is used to ferry goods to and from Afghanistan and has been building since the weekend.

Protesters have taken the law into their own hands deciding who can pass and go on to Afghanistan, and who can’t.

They have been harassing truck drivers and turning back vehicles carrying NATO provisions.

Pakistan says it is committed to allowing supplies through, but as yet has done nothing to stop the vigilante action, which is causing such huge disruption.

There are two crossings in Pakistan used to take NATO troop supplies to and from Afghanistan – the other crossing in south-west Balochistan province has not been affected by a blockade.

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Sarah Teelow dies after fall at high-speed race on Sydney’s Hawkesbury River

Clyde K. Valle
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Sarah Teelow dies after fall at high-speed race on Sydney’s Hawkesbury River

World Waterski champion Sarah Teelow has died following a fall during a high-speed race on Australia’s Hawkesbury River.

Sarah Teelow, 20, came off her skis shortly after the start of the Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic near Sydney on Sunday.

She suffered serious spinal and head injuries and later died in hospital.

Sarah Teelow won the Formula 2 category at the World Waterski Racing Championships in Spain in September.

Sarah Teelow won the Formula 2 category at the World Waterski Racing Championships in Spain in September
Sarah Teelow won the Formula 2 category at the World Waterski Racing Championships in Spain in September

Ski Racing Australia described her as “one of the sport’s most accomplished young competitors”.

“The ski racing fraternity is deeply saddened by Sarah’s passing and extends its condolences to her family,” it said in a statement.

Sarah Teelow, from Wellington, was the daughter of two-time world water-ski champion Tania Teelow.

Local media say New South Wales police are investigating how Sarah Teelow came off her skis.

Skiers can reach speeds of more than 80 mph in the 70 miles Bridge to Bridge course.

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Thailand: PM Yingluck Shinawatra imposes curfews as protesters surround more ministries

Diane A. Wade
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Thailand: PM Yingluck Shinawatra imposes curfews as protesters surround more ministries

Thai protesters have surrounded several more ministries, as street demonstrations continue in Bangkok.

The protesters want Yingluck Shinawatra’s government to resign, saying it is controlled by her brother – ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

After a huge rally on Sunday, they marched to several Bangkok locations.

Late on Monday, Yingluck Shinawatra invoked special powers allowing officials to impose curfews and seal roads.

The protests have been triggered by a controversial political amnesty bill.

The demonstrators say the legislation – which failed in the Senate – would have allowed Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand without serving a jail sentence for corruption.

Thailand has been bitterly divided since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and the proposal re-ignited simmering political tensions.

Groups of protesters, who are being led by former opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Suthep Thaugsuban, camped out at the foreign and finance ministries overnight.

On Tuesday, they surrounded the interior, tourism, transport and agriculture ministries.

There were around 1,000 protesters gathered outside both the finance and interior ministries, blowing whistles and chanting “get out!”, reports said.

“We have to leave because they [the protesters] will cut the utilities,” Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak told AFP news agency.

Thai protesters have surrounded several more ministries, as street demonstrations continue in Bangkok
Thai protesters have surrounded several more ministries, as street demonstrations continue in Bangkok

Akanat Promphan, a protest spokesman, said: “We are occupying the finance ministry in a non-violent and peaceful way, so our supporters around the country can do the same and occupy all government offices.”

“Tomorrow there will be a nationwide movement,” he added.

However, Thida Thavornseth, a leader of the “red shirts”, who support Thaksin Shinawatra, told AFP news agency: “Suthep [Thaugsuban] is not trying to throw out the government… he wants to throw out democracy and replace it with an ultra-royalist administration.”

The opposition Democrat Party has also started a censure motion in parliament against the government, over its alleged misuse of the budget.

The motion highlights an expensive rice subsidy scheme launched by the government after it took office.

Under the scheme, the government bought rice directly from farmers, paying more than the market rate. India and Vietnam increased their share of global rice exports as a result, overtaking Thailand as the world’s largest rice exporter.

The government is expected to defeat the censure motion, since the ruling Pheu Thai party has a majority in parliament.

The protests are the biggest to hit Thailand since the violence of 2010, when “red-shirt” opponents of the then Democratic Party government occupied key parts of the capital.

More than 90 people, mostly civilian protesters, died over the course of the two-month sit-in.

A government led by Yingluck Shinawatra and the ruling Pheu Thai Party was subsequently elected and since then Thailand has remained relatively politically stable.

But the opposition accuses Thaksin Shinawatra of running the government from self-imposed exile overseas, and the now-shelved amnesty bill has served as a spark for renewed protests.

Yingluck Shinawatra invoked the Internal Security Act late on Monday. But she said on Tuesday the government would not use violence to end the protests.

“Everybody must obey the law and not use mob rule to upstage the rule of law,” she told reporters.

“If we can talk, I believe the country will return to normal,” she added.

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Argentina agrees to compensate Repsol for YPF nationalization

Diane A. Wade
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Argentina agrees to compensate Repsol for YPF nationalization

Argentina has agreed in principle to compensate Spain’s Repsol for the nationalization of energy firm YPF.

Argentina seized YPF last year without paying anything. The Spanish company had been demanding $10.5 billion in compensation.

In Buenos Aires, Repsol, YPF and Mexico’s Pemex, which holds a stake in Repsol, said they had reached a process for determining compensation.

No other details were released.

The agreement must be ratified by Repsol during a board meeting on Wednesday.

Argentina has agreed in principle to compensate Spain's Repsol for the nationalization of energy firm YPF
Argentina has agreed in principle to compensate Spain’s Repsol for the nationalization of energy firm YPF

YPF produces about a third of Argentina’s oil and a quarter of its gas.

Argentina has some of the world’s largest reserves of shale oil and gas.

The authorities in Argentina had accused YPF of not investing enough to increase output from its oil fields. Repsol replied that it had invested $20 billion in the country.

Repsol and the investment firm Texas Yale Capital Corp sued Argentina and demanded that it makes an offer for the YPF stake.

The EU also had filed a suit against Argentina’s import restrictions at the World Trade Organization.

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Adam Lanza had an obsession with Columbine, says Sandy Hook report

Nancy Clayson
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Adam Lanza had an obsession with Columbine, says Sandy Hook report

Adam Lanza, who killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last year, had “an obsession” with the 1999 Columbine massacre, an official report has found.

Police said there was evidence Adam Lanza, 20, had planned the shooting, which took fewer than 11 minutes.

However, they could not establish why he opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on December 14, 2012, before turning the gun on himself.

The case is now closed, and no charges will be brought, state police said.

While investigators noted Adam Lanza’s obsession with mass shootings, they said there was not enough evidence to understand a motive.

The report also noted Adam Lanza’s “significant mental health issues” – he was diagnosed in 2005 with Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder not linked to violence – but said “what contribution this made to the shootings, if any, is unknown”.

Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last year
Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last year

Stephen Sedensky, the prosecutor who drafted the report, also noted of Adam Lanza: “Despite a fascination with mass shootings and firearms, he displayed no aggressive or threatening tendencies.”

Before gunning down 20 children and six adults with a semi-automatic rifle at Sandy Hook, Adam Lanza shot dead his own mother at the family home.

“The obvious question that remains is: <<Why did the shooter murder twenty-seven people, including twenty children?>> Unfortunately, that question may never be answered conclusively,” Monday’s report said.

It represents just a part of the evidence collected by Connecticut State Police.

A state law passed earlier in the year said some evidence, including certain images or video of the victims, would never be made available to the public.

Police said “a review of electronic evidence or digital media” belonging to Adam Lanza “revealed that the shooter had a preoccupation with mass shootings, in particular the Columbine shootings and a strong interest in firearms”.

Twelve students and a teacher were killed in April 1999 when two teenagers opened fire in a planned attack at Columbine High School in Colorado.

Other documents at Adam Lanza’s home included a spreadsheet with mass murders listing information about each shooting, two videos showing suicide by gunshot and photocopied newspaper articles from 1891 relating to the shooting of schoolchildren.

The report also outlined the timeline of events as state police understands them.

The shooting began shortly after 09:30 when Adam Lanza forced his way into the locked school by shooting through a glass window near the front doors.

The first call to emergency services came at 09:35 and the last shot, believed to be Adam Lanza firing a handgun at himself, came at 09:40. Most of the deceased were killed in two classrooms.

“In fewer than 11 minutes twenty first-grade pupils and six adults had lost their lives,” the report said.

Donna Soto, the mother of Victoria Soto, one of the teachers killed by Adam Lanza, said in a statement that it was still not clear why her daughter and the others died.

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Wayne Mills shot dead in Nashville bar

Lisa.Felice
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Wayne Mills shot dead in Nashville bar

Country singer Wayne Mills has been fatally shot by a Nashville bar owner after the two got into an argument over the musician smoking a cigarette in a no-smoking area, authorities said.

Pit and Barrel owner Chris Ferrell shot Wayne Mills in self-defense around 5 a.m. on Saturday, after the bar had closed, The Tennessean reported.

Wayne Mills, 44, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Wayne Mills has been fatally shot by a Nashville bar owner after the two got into an argument over the musician smoking a cigarette in a no-smoking area
Wayne Mills has been fatally shot by a Nashville bar owner after the two got into an argument over the musician smoking a cigarette in a no-smoking area

Police spokeswoman Kris Mumford said investigators are looking into Chris Ferrell’s claim of self-defense. She said no arrests have been made. Ferrell had a valid handgun permit.

Wayne Mills, a native of Arab, Alabama, toured with the Wayne Mills Band, which played college towns for more than 15 years. Country music stars Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton, as well as American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, all opened for the band in their early careers, according to the group’s website.

Wayne Mills graduated from the University of Alabama with an education degree, and also played football for the school, according to the band’s website.

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Baby dinosaur skeleton discovered in Canada

James J. Williams
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Baby dinosaur skeleton discovered in Canada

An intact skeleton of a baby rhinoceros like dinosaur has been unearthed in Canada.

The baby dinosaur was just 3 years old and 5 feet long when it wandered into a river near Alberta and drowned about 70 million years ago. The beast was so well-preserved that some of its skin left impressions in the nearby rock.

The fossil is the smallest intact skeleton ever found from a group of horned, plant-eating dinosaurs known as ceratopsids, a group that includes the iconic Triceratops.

Finding intact baby dinosaurs is incredibly rare.

“The big ones just preserve better: They don’t get eaten, they don’t get destroyed by animals,” said study co-author Philip Currie, a paleobiologist at the University of Alberta. “You always hope you’re going to find something small and that it will turn out to be a dinosaur.”

Paleontologists had unearthed a few individual bones from smaller ceratopsids in the past. But without intact juvenile skeletons, such bones aren’t very useful, as scientists don’t really know how each bone changes during each stage of the animals’ lives, Philip Currie said.

The team was bone-hunting in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta when Currie came upon what looked like a turtle shell sticking out from a hillside. Upon closer inspection, the fossil turned out to be a frill, the bony decorative headgear that surrounds the back of the head in ceratopsids.

The baby dinosaur was just 3 years old and 5 feet long when it wandered into a river near Alberta and drowned about 70 million years ago
The baby dinosaur was just 3 years old and 5 feet long when it wandered into a river near Alberta and drowned about 70 million years ago

When the team excavated, they found the fossilized skeleton of a tiny dinosaur they identified as a Chasmosaurus belli, a species commonly found in the area.

Amazingly, almost the entire skeleton was intact, although sometime in the past, a sinkhole had opened up below the beast and the forelimbs had fallen away into an abyss. The fossil was so well-preserved that the tiny, rosette like pattern on its skin was imprinted in the rock below the dinosaur.

Based on its size, the team estimates the dinosaur was about 3 years old – just out of infancy – when it perished.

Like humans, these dinosaurs typically take about 20 years to reach maturity, at which point they have 6.5-foot-long skulls and weigh 3 to 4 tons.

The fossil was found in sediments associated with watery environments and didn’t have any bite marks or trace of injury, so it’s likely the dino toddler likely drowned.

“I think it may have just gotten trapped out of its league in terms of water current,” Philip Currie told LiveScience.

Soon after, the baby dinosaur was buried by sediments and left untouched for millions of years.

Aside from being cute, the new fossil helps paleontologists understand how these plant-eating dinosaurs grew. Paleontologists can then better identify and age the myriad individual bones from juveniles discovered over the years.

Already, the team has learned that Chasmosaur juvenile frills look different from those on adults, and that limb proportions don’t change much as they grow. Predatory theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex have disproportionately long limbs as juveniles, presumably to keep up with the adults in the pack.

By contrast, “in Chasmosaurians, the proportions are essentially the same, which probably means the adults were probably never moving that fast,” Philip Currie said.

“There was never priority for these animals to run to keep up with the adults.”

Tyler “Flip” Priddy from Street Outlaws committed suicide?

Lisa.Felice
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Tyler “Flip” Priddy from Street Outlaws committed suicide?

Six months after his death, there is no news regarding the death of Tyler “Flip” Priddy of the Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws.

According to talks in social media sites, Tyler Flip Priddy committed suicide.

However, there is no strong evidence to support this claim.

Six months after his death, there is no news regarding the death of Tyler “Flip” Priddy of the Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws
Six months after his death, there is no news regarding the death of Tyler “Flip” Priddy of the Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws

Tyler “Flip” Priddy died on May 28, 2013, at his home in Yukon, Oklahoma at the age of 31.

He is survived by his wife Morgan Amber and children Tovey Gene, Remey J, Dresdyn Rinot and Bennett William Edward.

Tyler “Flip” Priddy was the parts warehouse manager at Warren Caterpillar, where he worked for 10 years. He was a drag racing enthusiast who turned his passion towards reality show Street Outlaws, where he beat out several others to be selected for the show. Street Outlaws, which centers around the underground world of illegal street racing, debuted on Discovery Channel on June 10, 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uc77nl7kME

Xbox One console has disc drive issues, Microsoft admits

Nancy Clayson
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Xbox One console has disc drive issues, Microsoft admits

Owners of its new Xbox One console are experiencing problems with the disc drive, Microsoft has admitted.

Some users say the drive is making very loud noises when they try to insert a disc and in some cases is not reading discs at all.

Microsoft says only a very small number of users are affected.

The Xbox One was launched on November 22 and sold more than one million units in the first 24 hours.

More than 150 people contacted Kotaku, a gaming news website, claiming their new consoles were faulty. Other users uploaded videos apparently showing the problem to the gaming forum NeoGAF.

Owners of its new Xbox One console are experiencing problems with the disc drive
Owners of its new Xbox One console are experiencing problems with the disc drive

“The issue is affecting a very small number of Xbox One customers,” said Microsoft in a statement.

“We’re working directly with those affected to get a replacement console to them as soon as possible through our advance exchange programme.”

The Xbox One is the first new console from Microsoft in eight years and it broke all previous Xbox first-day sales records when it went on sale last week.

Microsoft said it had now sold out at most retailers and it was working to replenish stock as fast as possible.

This is not the first time Microsoft has experienced problems with the launch of an Xbox console. When the Xbox 360 was launched in 2005 some users reported faults with the hardware which led to three red lights flashing on the front of the device and the console becoming unusable. The problem became known as the “red ring of death”.

The launch of the Xbox One came a week after the US launch of Sony’s PlayStation 4. The two consoles are set to go head-to-head in the crucial Christmas season.

The PS4 also experienced technical issues after its launch with users complaining that a blue light continually flashed on the console affecting its operation and others reporting that sometimes the unit suddenly turned itself off.

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Iran deal: Global oil prices drop and European shares rise

Clyde K. Valle
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Iran deal: Global oil prices drop and European shares rise

Global oil prices dropped and European shares rose in early trading Monday morning after Iran agreed a deal to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for an easing of international sanctions.

Iran holds the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves, but its exports have been hurt by the tough sanctions against it.

Though Iran will not be allowed to increase its oil sales for six months, the deal has eased tensions in the Middle East – a key oil-producing area.

Brent crude fell more than 2% in early Asian trade on Monday.

Global oil prices dropped after Iran agreed the nuclear deal
Global oil prices dropped after Iran agreed the nuclear deal

It dropped by $2.42 to $108.63 per barrel, while US light sweet crude fell 84 cents to $93.64 per barrel.

Fuel-intensive companies, such as airlines and travel firms, received a boost on the stock markets as a result.

International Airlines Group, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, was up 2.87% in lunchtime trading, while Air France KLM rose 3.11%. Travel operator Thomas Cook lifted 3.68%.

World powers suspect Iran’s nuclear programme is secretly aimed at developing a nuclear bomb – a charge Iran has consistently denied.

In an attempt to force Tehran to curb its programme, the US and other leading economies have imposed a series of tough sanctions aimed at Iran’s oil exports – a key driver of its economy.

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Rhodes Scholars 2014: Full list of students

James J. Williams
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Rhodes Scholars 2014: Full list of students

The Rhodes Trust has announced that 32 American students have been named Rhodes Scholars and will enter Oxford University in October 2014.

The winners were selected from 857 applicants endorsed by 327 different colleges and universities. The scholarships, announced early Sunday, provide all expenses for two or three years of study at the prestigious university in England.

Rhodes Scholarships were created in 1902 by the will of British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes. Winners are selected on the basis of high academic achievement, personal integrity, leadership potential and physical vigor, among other attributes.

The value of the scholarships averages about $50,000 per year.

The American students will join an international group of scholars selected from 14 other jurisdictions around the world. Approximately 80 scholars are selected annually.

The 32 American students chosen as Rhodes Scholars for 2014, listed by geographical region:

District 1:

  1. Jessica Wamala, Milford, New Hampshire, Villanova University
  2. Alexander Joel Diaz, North Bergen, New Jersey, Harvard University

District 2:

  1. Elizabeth Hockfield Byrne, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University
  2. Katherine Elida Warren, Bainbridge Island, Washington, Harvard University

District 3:

  1. Isabel Emma Eggleston Beshar, Rye, New York, Yale University

    The Rhodes Trust has announced that 32 American students have been named Rhodes Scholars and will enter Oxford University in October 2014
    The Rhodes Trust has announced that 32 American students have been named Rhodes Scholars and will enter Oxford University in October 2014
  2. Paolo Poggioni Singer, Bronx, New York, Harvard University

District 4:

  1. Evan Barrett Behrle, Oxford, Pennsylvania, University of Virginia
  2. Alexander Gerard Wang, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, New York University, Abu Dhabi

District 5:

  1. Timothy Michael McGinnis, Charlotte, North Carolina, Princeton University
  2. Charles Samuel Tyson, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, University of Virginia

District 6:

  1. Brian Westfall McGrail, Arlington, Virginia, Williams College
  2. Emma Pierson, Arlington, Virginia, Stanford University

District 7:

  1. James O’Connell, Tampa, Florida, Wake Forest University
  2. Lindsay Evans Lee, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

District 8:

  1. Melissa Loreice McCoy, Dallas, Texas, Georgia Institute of Technology
  2. John Mikhael, Dallas, Texas, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

District 9:

  1. Adam Mastroianni, Monroeville, Ohio, Princeton University
  2. Courtney Wittekind, Mason, Ohio, Carnegie Mellon University

District 10:

  1. Vinay Nayak, Oak Brook, Illinois, Yale University
  2. Calla Glavin, Birmingham, Michigan, US Military Academy

District 11:

  1. Drew Alan Birrenkott, McFarland, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin
  2. Samuel Martin Greene, Spring Green, Wisconsin, University of Chicago

District 12:

  1. Donald Mayfield Brown, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Mississippi State University
  2. Joshua Allen Aiken, Eugene, Oregon, Washington University, St. Louis

District 13:

  1. Meredith Lukens Wheeler, Fort Collins, Colorado, Stanford University
  2. Erin Alexandra Tanith Mauldin, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US Military Academy

District 14:

  1. Suzanna Marie Fritzberg, Lake Forest Park, Washington, Yale University
  2. Andrew Scott Lea, Richland, Washington, Harvard University

District 15:

  1. Miles William Unterreiner, Santa Barbara, California, Stanford University
  2. Clarke Knight, Henderson, Nevada, Smith College

District 16:

  1. Aurora Catherine Griffin, Westlake Village, California, Harvard University
  2. Zarko Perovic, San Diego, California, University of California, Berkeley

Sandy Hook shooting report to be released

Nancy Clayson
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Sandy Hook shooting report to be released

Connecticut prosecutors said they are about to release the long-awaited report on their investigation over the Sandy Hook mass shooting.

However, the public will have to keep waiting for the full police report on the Newtown elementary school massacre.

The report on the December 14, 2012, shooting, in which 20-year-old Adam Lanza took the lives of 20 first graders, six school staffers and his mother before turning the gun on himself, was supposed to be released in June, then was pushed back to the fall.

The Office of the State’s Attorney for Danbury now says it will publish the summary report Monday afternoon on the state’s Division of Criminal Justice website, www.ct.gov/csao.

Connecticut prosecutors said they are about to release the long-awaited report on their investigation over the Sandy Hook mass shooting
Connecticut prosecutors said they are about to release the long-awaited report on their investigation over the Sandy Hook mass shooting

Mark Dupuis, a spokesman for Danbury State’s Attorney Stephen Sedensky III, declined to say whether the report has been shared with the families of those who died in the shooting, but he said his office is aware of families’ concerns and has taken steps to address those concerns.

The summary report to be released Monday will not include the full state police report on the shooting, which is expected to run thousands of pages. No date has yet been set for the release of the full police report, and some evidence from the state’s investigation will never be made available to the public.

A state law passed after the massacre exempts certain records of a homicide, including photos and film, from freedom-of-information requests from the press and the public if the records are believed to invade the privacy of survivors.

In advance of the summary report being issued, the interim superintendent of schools in Newtown has reached out to parents and sent a letter to ensure they’re prepared.

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Black Friday 2013: 5 tips for scoring great bargains

Nancy Clayson
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Black Friday 2013: 5 tips for scoring great bargains

1. Start tracking store sales in advance. Follow your favorite retailers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest before Black Friday. Not only will they reveal details about sales before they happen, many stores will also offer exclusive discounts on those sites. In the past, stores like RadioShack have offered savings to shoppers who “checked in” with the brand on Foursquare, a common smartphone app.

2. Shop online in the wee hours of Thanksgiving. Many sellers activate their online deals the day before -typically between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. ET on Thursday morning. So if you have your eye on a particular product or store, look early that morning to see if the savings are live yet. Any sale will usually hold through Friday. True, prices may go lower on Cyber Monday. But the odds of finding a good price are in your favor.

Focus on only Black Friday’s best bargains so you're not tempted to buy in the heat of the moment
Focus on only Black Friday’s best bargains so you’re not tempted to buy in the heat of the moment

3. On Black Friday, start online. The prices on Friday can be awesome, but about 70% of Black Friday deals are also available online, and 78% of them come with a free shipping offer, according to research from DealNews.com. Check just after midnight on Friday morning for new deals that didn’t go live on Thursday. Bonus: If an online retailer doesn’t have a physical store in your state, you may not have to pay sales tax.

4. Go for electronics. If you have a Blu-ray player or smartphone in mind, Black Friday is the day to shop, both online and in-store, according to experts. In past years, Apple has discounted iPads, iPods and other tech by 10% to 15% on Black Friday. Television prices will be at their lowest, too. In general, the best deal will be on an off-brand flat-screen, which is often discounted more deeply than a brand like Samsung.

5. Wait for Cyber Monday to purchase clothing. If you want a new outfit, hold off until Cyber Monday. Soft goods like cosmetics, shoes and apparel carry bigger discounts that day because retailers don’t want to compete with Friday’s giant tech bargains (a $5 shirt may not impress you when it’s next to a $200 TV). Last year Eddie Bauer gave 40% off on Cyber Monday, versus 30% on Black Friday. Also look for great travel deals on Monday.

American Music Awards 2013: Lady Gaga arrives on top of white horse on red carpet

Lisa.Felice
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0
American Music Awards 2013: Lady Gaga arrives on top of white horse on red carpet

Lady Gaga arrived on the red carpet at the 2013 American Music Awards on top of a fake white horse, which was operated by two people.

The singer was dressed in a lavender Versace gown after she was named the face of the fashion house.

Lady Gaga arrived on the red carpet at the 2013 American Music Awards on top of a fake white horse
Lady Gaga arrived on the red carpet at the 2013 American Music Awards on top of a fake white horse

Speaking of her dramatic entrance at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, 27-year-old Lady Gaga told E!’s Giuliana Rancic: “So much of ARTPOP is an infusion of disco.”

“It’s very Bianca Jagger arriving at Studio 54 on her white horse.”

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American Music Awards 2013: Taylor Swift wins four prizes

Sonia Pantiss
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American Music Awards 2013: Taylor Swift wins four prizes

Taylor Swift was the biggest winner at the American Music Awards 2013 in Los Angeles last night, winning four prizes.

Taylor Swift, 23, has been awarded with artist of the year, favorite pop/rock female artist, favorite country album and favorite female country artist.

Justin Timberlake picked up three awards including favorite soul and R&B male, while One Direction collected two prizes including best pop/rock group.

Katy Perry, Jenifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga were among the performers at the show in Los Angeles.

Taylor Swift was the biggest winner at the American Music Awards 2013 in Los Angeles
Taylor Swift was the biggest winner at the American Music Awards 2013 in Los Angeles

Taylor Swift beat Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis to win artist of the year for the third time, the most times an artist has won the category.

After picking up her fourth and final award for best country album for Red, the singer said: “This validates that if you voted for this, that we are heartbroken in the same way and we fall in love the same way and we’re happy in the same way, and if you listen to this, we’re on the same page … we’re pretty much in it together.”

Taylor Swift was also on hand to give out an award.

Rapper 2 Chainz, Kelly Osbourne and Fall Out Boy were among the other presenters at the 41st edition of the event.

Hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, who led the nominations with six nods, came away with two wins for favorite rap/hip-hop artist and favorite rap/hip-hop album for The Heist.

Rihanna appeared on stage with her mother to pick up the icon award.

The Bajan singer also performed on the night.

Ariana Grande was given the best new artist award and Avicii beat off Calvin Harris, Daft Punk and Zedd to win the favorite electronic dance music artist award.

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American Music Awards 2013: Winners full list

Sonia Pantiss
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0
American Music Awards 2013: Winners full list

2013 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS: Full List Of  Winners

Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock – Justin Timberlake

Favorite Female Artist, Soul/R&B – Rihanna

Favorite Album, Country – Taylor Swift/Red

Favorite Album, Rap/Hip-Hop – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis/The Heist

Favorite Artist, Alternative Rock– Imagine Dragons

Favorite Artist, Latin – Marc Anthony

Favorite Album, Pop/Rock – One Direction/Take Me Home

One Direction’s red carpet appearance at the American Music Awards 2013 in Los Angeles
One Direction’s red carpet appearance at the American Music Awards 2013 in Los Angeles

New Artist of the Year – Ariana Grande

Favorite Male Artist, Soul/R&B – Justin Timberlake

Favorite Female Artist, Country -Taylor Swift

Single of the Year –Cruise by Florida Georgia Line, featuring Nelly

Favorite Album, Soul/R&B – Justin Timberlake/The 20/20 Experience

Favorite Artist, Electronic Dance Music – Avicii

Favorite Male Artist, Country -Luke Bryan

Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Pop/Rock– One Direction

Artist of the Year – Taylor Swift

Favorite Female Artist, Pop or Rock – Taylor Swift

Favorite Band, Duo or Group, Country – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Favorite Artist, Adult Contemporary – Maroon 5

Favorite Artist, Contemporary Inspirational – Matthew West

Top Soundtrack – Pitch Perfect

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Thanksgiving travel 2013: Deadly storm heading toward East Coast

Nancy Clayson
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Thanksgiving travel 2013: Deadly storm heading toward East Coast

A deadly wintry storm heading toward East Coast threatens Thanksgiving travel plans for millions of Americans.

The storm threatens to dump snow on inland regions of several Northeast states on the eve of the holiday, a meteorologist said Monday.

The weather system has already heaped up to a foot of snow in the mountain regions of Utah and Colorado, and claimed 13 lives including a 4-year-old girl killed in a rollover smash on icy roads in New Mexico.

A deadly wintry storm heading toward East Coast threatens Thanksgiving travel plans for millions of Americans
A deadly wintry storm heading toward East Coast threatens Thanksgiving travel plans for millions of Americans

With the storm gathering pace and moving northeast, the 43 million people who are expected to travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving were warned to avoid driving during the worst conditions slated for Tuesday and Wednesday, said Kevin Roth, lead meteorologist at The Weather Channel.

Three million of these travelers expected to fly, and there is also a good chance flights could be delayed leaving from airports in New York, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.

Kevin Roth said this was due to forecast low cloud and high wind, however, rather than ice or snow.

Some 300 flights were canceled at DFW International Airport across Saturday and Sunday, with officials there anticipating icy conditions.

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EU sanctions against Iran could be lifted in December

Roy Siemens
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EU sanctions against Iran could be lifted in December

Some of the EU sanctions on Iran could be lifted as early as next month, as part of a nuclear deal with world powers, France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says.

Laurent Fabius was speaking after crowds in Tehran cheered negotiators who had agreed to curb some of Iran’s nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief.

The six-month interim deal agreed in Geneva prompted a fall in oil prices on markets on Monday.

Meanwhile, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the agreement is a “historic mistake”.

President Barack Obama phoned Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the deal on Sunday. He told the Israeli leader he understood Israel “has good reason to be skeptical about Iran’s intentions” and promised to consult its ally closely, the White House said.

Some of the EU sanctions on Iran could be lifted as early as next month, as part of a nuclear deal with world powers
Some of the EU sanctions on Iran could be lifted as early as next month, as part of a nuclear deal with world powers

Laurent Fabius told French radio on Monday that “Iran is committed to giving up the prospect of nuclear weapons. It’s perfectly clear”.

However, the French foreign minister insisted that the temporary deal could be reversed if its terms were not adhered to: “As long as some things remained to be settled, nothing is settled.”

EU foreign ministers would meet “in a few weeks” to put forward a proposal partially to lift some sanctions on Iran, which the 28-member bloc would then have to approve. The limited lifting of sanctions would take place “in December”, he added.

France, the UK and Germany, the US, Russia and China took part in the talks with Iran, hosted by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Under the deal which will last six months, Iran would receive some $7 billion in “limited, temporary, targeted, and reversible [sanctions] relief” while a permanent agreement is sought.

In return, Tehran has agreed to a series of measures surrounding its nuclear programme.

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Disputed islands: Japan describes China’s air defense identification zone as dangerous

Diane A. Wade
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Disputed islands: Japan describes China’s air defense identification zone as dangerous

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe has described China’s move to create a new “air defense identification zone” over disputed waters as “dangerous”.

China’s action had “no validity whatsoever on Japan”, Shinzo Abe added.

China has voiced anger at Japanese and US objections to the new air zone, and lodged complaints with their embassies.

The zone covers disputed islands that are claimed and controlled by Japan. China says aircraft entering the zone must obey its rules.

Shinzo Abe told parliament on Monday that the zone “can invite an unexpected occurrence and it is a very dangerous thing as well”.

“We demand China revoke any measures that could infringe upon the freedom of flight in international airspace,” he added.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has called the move a “destabilizing attempt to alter the status quo in the region”.

“This unilateral action increases the risk of misunderstanding and miscalculations,” Chuck Hagel said in a statement.

“This announcement by the People’s Republic of China will not in any way change how the United States conducts military operations in the region,” he added.

Japan described China’s move as an “escalation” on Saturday, after China announced the new zone.

On Sunday, Yang Yujun, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said Japan’s reaction was “absolutely groundless and unacceptable”.

The disputed islands in the East China Sea have been a source of tension between China and Japan for decades
The disputed islands in the East China Sea have been a source of tension between China and Japan for decades

“We strongly require the Japanese side to stop all moves that undermine China’s territorial sovereignty as well as irresponsible remarks that misguide international opinions and create regional tensions,” Yang Yujun said.

He also demanded that the US “earnestly respect China’s national security [and] stop making irresponsible remarks for China’s setup of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone”.

Meanwhile, South Korea said it found it “regretful” that China’s new zone partly overlapped with its own military air zone, and covered Ieodo, a submerged rock claimed by Seoul.

“I’d like to say once again that we have unchanging territorial control over Ieodo,” Kim Min-seok, a South Korean defense ministry spokesman, said on Monday.

Taiwan also claims the Japan-controlled disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Taiwan said that it would “defend its sovereignty over the archipelago.”

China said the air defense zone came into effect from 10:00 local time on Saturday.

Aircraft in the zone must report a flight plan, “maintain two-way radio communications” and “respond in a timely and accurate manner” to identification inquiries, China’s Defense Ministry said.

Aircraft that did not follow such rules would be subject to “defensive emergency measures”, the ministry added.

The disputed islands in the East China Sea have been a source of tension between China and Japan for decades.

In 2012, the Japanese government bought three of the islands from their private Japanese owner, sparking mass protests in Chinese cities.

Since then, Chinese ships have repeatedly sailed in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters.

China said that any attempt by Japan to shoot down Chinese aircraft would constitute “an act of war”.

China is also engaged in territorial disputes with several South East Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines. The disputes centre around ocean areas and two island chains in the South China Sea.

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Hunger Games: Catching Fire tops US box office with $161 million

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Hunger Games: Catching Fire tops US box office with $161 million

Hunger Games: Catching Fire has topped the US box office chart this weekend with takings of $161 million.

The Hunger Games sequel narrowly failed to become the biggest opener of the year, falling short of Iron Man 3‘s debut of $174 million.

However, Hunger Games: Catching Fire, starring Jennifer Lawrence, did achieve the most successful November opening of all time.

Its performance dominated cinema-going in North America, with nearest rival Thor taking in a mere $14.1 million.

The only other new entry, Disney comedy Delivery Man, starring Vince Vaughn, had to settled for fourth place and box office returns of $8.2 million.

Catching Fire managed the fourth biggest US opening of all time, behind The Avengers, Iron Man 3 and Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part II.

More complicated box office marketing in recent years has boosted box office returns, with higher-priced Imax and 3D tickets and early Thursday night screenings being taken into account.

Catching Fire earned 8% of its first weekend takings from higher priced Imax tickets.

Hunger Games: Catching Fire has topped the US box office chart this weekend with takings of $161 million
Hunger Games: Catching Fire has topped the US box office chart this weekend with takings of $161 million

The second outing of the Hunger Games franchise had a more lavish budget, outperforming the first film in its first week at cinemas, and appealing to a wider audience.

The first film, released last year, took $152 million in its opening weekend.

The latest film is based on Suzanne Collins’ trilogy of dystopian novels where young people fight one another to the death on live television.

North American box office Top 5:

1. Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $161 million

2. Thor: The Dark World – $14.1 million

3. The Best Man Holiday – $12.5 million

4. Delivery Man – $8.2 million

5. Free Birds – $5.3 million

Source: Hollywood.com

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Mount Sinabung volcano alert raised to highest level in Indonesia

James J. Williams
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Mount Sinabung volcano alert raised to highest level in Indonesia

Indonesia has raised the alert for the Mount Sinabung volcano in North Sumatra to the highest level.

The status was raised from “stand-by” to “caution” – the highest alert for volcanic activity – on Sunday.

People have also been warned to stay at least 3 miles from the crater.

Mount Sinabung has been showing signs of life since September, after being dormant for three years. Over the weekend, it shot ash and rocks far into the air, prompting the alert move.

More than 15,000 villagers in the area had already been moved to temporary shelters, disaster management officials said in a statement.

Indonesia has raised the alert for the Mount Sinabung volcano in North Sumatra to the highest level
Indonesia has raised the alert for the Mount Sinabung volcano in North Sumatra to the highest level

Airlines have also been advised not to fly near the area.

The disaster management agency said they had changed the alert level because they anticipated there would “more eruptions and because the intensity of eruptions has been increasing”.

A local official told Agence-France Presse agency that “loud thunderous sound and vibrations” accompanied the eruptions.

No casualties have been reported so far.

When the volcano last erupted in 2010, at least two people were killed and 30,000 others were displaced.

Before 2010, Mount Sinabung had not erupted in 400 years. It is one of around 130 active volcanoes in the country.

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Bangkok protests: Tens of thousands of Thai demonstrators ask PM Yingluck Shinawatra to step down

Diane A. Wade
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Bangkok protests: Tens of thousands of Thai demonstrators ask PM Yingluck Shinawatra to step down

Tens of thousands of protesters marched on Bangkok streets for a second day of anti-government demonstrations in Thailand, forcing their way into the finance ministry.

The protesters, who began their action over the weekend, want the government of PM Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.

After a huge rally on Sunday, crowds marched on Monday to several different locations in the city.

The protests have been triggered by a controversial political amnesty bill.

The legislation, which the opposition say would have allowed ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra – the current prime minister’s brother – to return to Thailand without serving a jail sentence for corruption, failed to pass in the Senate earlier this month.

But the proposed legislation led to a fresh outbreak of street protests, reigniting simmering political divisions and raising the specter of renewed political turmoil in the South East Asian nation.

On Monday the anti-government protesters, who are led by a former opposition Democratic Party lawmaker, marched to state offices, military headquarters and television stations.

Campaign leader Suthep Thaugsuban had said the protest would be peaceful, with crowds “blowing whistles and handing out flowers”.

But at the finance ministry, a group of around 40 people swarmed into the compound.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched on Bangkok streets for a second day of anti-government demonstrations in Thailand
Tens of thousands of protesters marched on Bangkok streets for a second day of anti-government demonstrations in Thailand

“Tomorrow [Tuesday] we will seize all ministries to show to the Thaksin system that they have no legitimacy to run the country,” AFP news agency quoted Suthep Thaugsuban as saying.

Sunday’s demonstration drew an estimated 100,000 people, who called on the government to step down.

“We have stood by silently while her [PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s] brother calls the shots and she runs the country into the ground with loss-making policies,” Reuters news agency quoted protester Suwang Ruangchai, 54, as saying.

About 40,000 government supporters held a separate rally in another part of the capital on Sunday.

Thailand has been bitterly divided since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a military coup in 2006.

Groups opposed to him occupied Bangkok’s main airport in 2008, shutting it down. Then in 2010, those who backed him and his allies held two months of street protests that paralyzed Bangkok.

Those demonstrations ended in a military crackdown. More than 90 people – mostly civilian protesters – died over the course of the two-month sit-in.

A government led by Thaksin Shinawatra’s sister was subsequently elected and since then Thailand has remained relatively politically stable.

But the opposition accuses Thaksin Shinawatra of running the government from self-imposed exile overseas, and the now-shelved amnesty bill has served as a spark for renewed protests.

The bill applied to offences committed during the upheaval after Thaksin Shinawatra was removed from office. Yingluck Shinawatra’s government had argued that the legislation was a necessary step towards reconciliation.

But critics said it would allow human rights abuses – such as the killing of civilian protesters – to go unpunished.

And the opposition viewed it as a way of overturning the jail sentence given to Thaksin Shinawatra, paving the way for his return.

Thaksin Shinawatra is a deeply polarizing figure in Thai politics. He drew huge support from Thailand’s rural poor but strong opposition from other sectors in society, and the divisions dating from the 2006 coup continue to dominate the political landscape.

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Honduras presidential election 2013: Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernandez both claim victory

Diane A. Wade
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0
Honduras presidential election 2013: Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernandez both claim victory

Both main candidates in the presidential election in Honduras are claiming victory.

With 42% of votes declared, the conservative Juan Orlando Hernandez leads with 34.15%, while Xiomara Castro has 28.45%, say election officials.

However, Xiomara Castro, wife of ousted ex-president Manuel Zelaya, has announced to reporters that she has won.

Turn-out was high in Honduras, with millions voting for a new president, members of parliament and local mayors.

Voting took place amid tight security, but no serious incidents were reported in Honduras, which has the highest murder rate in the world.

Polling was extended for one hour due to a big turn-out.

“Thank God and thank you to the Honduran people for this triumph,” posted Juan Orlando Hernandez on his Twitter page, at that stage with 24% of votes declared.

Xiomara Castro also used her Twitter account to announce that she had won: “Based on the exit poll results that I have received from the whole country, I can tell you: I am the president of Honduras.”

Both main candidates in the presidential election in Honduras are claiming victory
Both main candidates in the presidential election in Honduras are claiming victory

She is bidding to become the first female president of Honduras

“Today, we can say that we have won,” Xiomara Castro told reporters.

David Matamoros, president of the electoral court, said final results were not expected until early Monday.

“The preliminary results we have given so far do not show any tendency or declare any winner,” he said.

Opinions polls had pointed to a close race between Xiomara Castro and Juan Orlando Hernandez, the two leading candidates in the presidential race.

Juan Orlando Hernandez, whose National Party backed the military coup in 2009 against Manuel Zelaya, has vowed to restore order with more soldiers and police on the streets.

Xiomara Castro has proposed a community police force to tackle local crime, with more soldiers deployed to the borders to combat drug trafficking.

Around 5.4 million Hondurans were registered to vote and authorities say there was a “massive turn-out”.

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. It also has the world’s highest murder rate, averaging 20 a day.

Much of the violence is blamed on gang violence and drug traffickers.

A margin of just one vote is needed for a win – there is no run-off election.

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