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Stock Markets Tumble as Oil Prices Continue to Fall

Clyde K. Valle
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Stock Markets Tumble as Oil Prices Continue to Fall

Global stock markets have tumbled with investors unsettled by the continued slide in oil prices and fears about the impact on global growth.

Germany’s Dax, the UK’s FTSE 100, and the Cac 40 in Paris were all down by about 3%, wiping out the gains recorded on January 19.

The drop in the FTSE puts it on the brink of a so called “bear market” – a 20% fall from April’s all-time high.

The falls came after Asian stocks closed sharply lower.

Dubai markets closed at a 28-month low, while in Japan shares fell to their lowest level since October 2014.Global stock markets fall

Top emerging market shares and currencies were also caught up in the turmoil, with the Russian ruble hitting a new record low of 80.295 against the dollar.

The downwards move came after oil prices continued to slide, with the price of international benchmark Brent Crude down 2.4% at $28.08 a barrel, around a 12-year low.

The oil price has plummeted 75% since mid-2014 as oversupply, mainly due to US shale oil flooding the market, has driven down the cost of the commodity.

At the same time, demand has fallen because of a slowdown in economic growth in China and Europe.

The world’s energy watchdog warned on January 19 that the market could “drown in oversupply”.

The International Energy Agency, which advises countries on energy policy, said it expected the global glut to last until at least late 2016.

The IMF’s decision on January 19 to downgrade its global growth forecast for this year and issue a warning about the outlook added to the dark mood among investors.

World stocks are now at their lowest levels since 2013, with the MSCI world equity index down 9.9% in January, its biggest drop since 2009.

Analysts said they expected the volatility to continue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bghdf0CeGkM

St Elijah: Iraq’s Oldest Christian Monastery Destroyed by ISIS

Roy Siemens
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St Elijah: Iraq’s Oldest Christian Monastery Destroyed by ISIS

The oldest Christian monastery in Iraq has been destroyed by ISIS, satellite images confirmed.

St. Elijah’s monastery, or Dair Mar Elia, stood on a hill near the northern city of Mosul for 1,400 years.

Now, St. Elijah’s has joined a growing list of more than 100 demolished religious and historic sites, including mosques, tombs, shrines and churches in Syria and Iraq. The extremists have defaced or ruined ancient monuments in Nineveh, Palmyra and Hatra. Museums and libraries have been looted, books burned, artwork crushed – or trafficked.

Analysts said the images, obtained by the Associated Press, suggested St. Elijah’s had been demolished in late 2014, soon after ISIS seized Mosul.

Photo Flickr
Photo Flickr

A Catholic priest from Mosul warned that its Christian history was “being barbarically leveled”.

“We see it as an attempt to expel us from Iraq, eliminating and finishing our existence in this land,” said Father Paul Thabit Habib, who now lives in Kurdish-administered Irbil.

ISIS has targeted Christians in Iraq and neighboring Syria, seizing their property and forcing them to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or flee.

The group has also demolished a number of monasteries and churches, as well as renowned pre-Islamic sites including Nimrud, Hatra and Nineveh in Iraq and Palmyra in Syria.

St. Elijah’s Monastery was believed to have been constructed by Assyrian monks in the late 6th Century. It was later claimed by a Chaldean Catholic order.

In 1743, its monks were given an ultimatum by Persian forces to convert to Islam. They refused and as many as 150 were massacred.

Pablo Escobar’s Florida Mansion Demolished

Nancy Clayson
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Pablo Escobar’s Florida Mansion Demolished

A Florida mansion once owned by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is being demolished.

The mansion’s new owners have hired professional treasure hunters to comb through the rubble in the hope of finding items belonging to the former leader of the Medellin cartel.

The pink mansion in Miami Beach was seized by the US government in 1987.

Pablo Escobar, who was one of the world’s richest men at the time of his death, was killed by Colombian police in 1993.

Christian de Berdouare and his wife Jennifer Valoppi said they were unaware of its history when they bought the four-bedroom mansion from a private owner in 2014.

Pablo Escobar bought the mansion in 1980 and had it for seven years before it was seized by the US authorities.

The new owners said Pablo Escobar never lived there but had visited the property on occasion.Pablo Escobar Miami house demolished

They have hired a team to search for stashes of drugs, money or jewellery, which they suspect may have been hidden inside the mansion or its garden, as was the custom of members of the Medellin cartel.

Jennifer Valoppi said the workers had found a buried safe but that it was stolen before they could open it.

“It was in the ground under some marble and was discovered by some of our workers, but before we even had a chance to remove it, it was stolen, so we’ve been working with police on that,” she said.

Christian de Berdouare, who paid just under $10 million for the mansion, said he was “very excited to see the house of the devil disappearing right before our eyes”.

“This was the biggest criminal in the history of the world. I would like to be associated with something more uplifting, but nevertheless it’s part of the city,” he added.

He said that he believed Pablo Escobar bought the mansion in a residential neighborhood in order “to conduct illicit trade”. He plans to build a new mansion on the site.

Miami was a key entry point for drugs flooding in from South America in the 1980s and many drug lords had mansions and luxury apartments in the city.

The Miami mansion was built in 1948 and has direct access to Biscayne Bay and views of the Miami skyline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpQpXquQ5II

Gavi Signs $5 Million Deal for Ebola Vaccine Deal

Kathryn R. Bown
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Gavi Signs $5 Million Deal for Ebola Vaccine Deal

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has signed a $5 million deal for an Ebola vaccine, to protect against future outbreaks of the deadly disease.

The deal commits pharmaceutical company Merck to keeping 300,000 vaccines ready for emergency use or further clinical trials.

It will also submit an application to license the vaccine by the end of 2017, which would the next step towards enabling Gavi to prepare a global stockpile.

More than 11,000 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The sheer scale of the outbreak – the largest in history – led to an unprecedented push on vaccines, which condensed a decade’s work into less than a year.

Merck has led trials of the VSV-EBOV vaccine – which combines a fragment of the Ebola virus with another safer virus in order to train the immune system to beat Ebola.Gavi Ebola vaccine

Early evidence from studies in West Africa suggest it may give 100% protection, although more data is still being collected.

Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley said: “The suffering caused by the Ebola crisis was a wake-up call to many in the global health community.

“New threats require smart solutions, and our innovative financing agreement with Merck will ensure that we are ahead of the curve for future Ebola outbreaks.”

Gavi is an alliance of public bodies and companies committed to saving lives through vaccination.

It announced the advanced-purchase commitment at the World Economic Forum held at Davos in the Swiss Alps.

The $5 million paid to Merck will be offset against any vaccines Gavi orders once the shot is licensed.

The World Health Organization declared West Africa Ebola-free last week, after all of the affected countries had gone 42 days without a case.

However, just hours later, a death in Sierra Leone was confirmed to be from Ebola.

The WHO has warned more flare-ups are expected.

Pakistan University Attack: At Least 19 People Killed in Charsadda

Roy Siemens
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Pakistan University Attack: At Least 19 People Killed in Charsadda

At least 19 people were killed and 50 injured in a gun and bomb attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, north-west Pakistan.

Four suspected attackers were killed in a battle that lasted nearly three hours.

Security forces continued to secure the campus, checking classrooms and dormitories, amid fears more bodies would be found.

There are conflicting reports about whether the Taliban militants carried out the assault

The group killed 130 students at a school in the city of Peshawar, 30 miles from Charsadda, in 2014.

About 3,000 students are enrolled at Bacha Khan but hundreds of visitors were also expected on January 20 for a poetry event.Bacha Khan University attack

Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif said in a statement, quoted by Reuters news agency: “We are determined and resolved in our commitment to wipe out the menace of terrorism from our homeland.”

Attackers struck at around 09:30 local time, reportedly climbing over a back wall under cover of the thick winter fog.

Intense gunfire and explosions were heard as security guards fought the attackers.

Students and staff ran to find cover in toilets and examination halls.

Images from inside the university show a pool of blood on the floor of a dormitory and the charred corpses of two alleged militants lying on a staircase.

Nineteen bodies were taken to a local mortuary. It was not immediately clear if the attackers were among them.

A senior Taliban commander, Umar Mansoor, told media that the attack was in response to a military offensive against militant strongholds. He said four suicide attackers had carried out the attack.

The university is located in an open area some distance east of Charsadda town, surrounded by open agricultural fields.

Bacha Khan is a new university, founded in 2012, its website says.

Just days ago, some schools in Peshawar were closed by the authorities amid reports that militants were planning an attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkJOnXQ67D8

ISIS Confirms Jihadi John Died in November 2015

Roy Siemens
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ISIS Confirms Jihadi John Died in November 2015

ISIS has confirmed the British militant Mohammed Emwazi known as Jihadi John died in a drone strike in November 2015.

The Islamic State group’s online propaganda magazine Dabiq published an obituary for the jihadist.

In November the US military said it was “reasonably certain” it had killed him in the ISIS-stronghold of Raqqa.

Mohammed Emwazi appeared in beheading videos of victims including UK aid worker David Haines and taxi driver Alan Henning.

In the eulogy, Kuwaiti-born Mohammed Emwazi is referred to as Abu Muharib al-Muhajir, his nickname in the group and the details of his death confirm the US version of events.

The jihadist group said Jihadi John was killed on November 12 “as the car he was in was targeted in a strike by an unmanned drone in the city of Raqqa, destroying the car and killing him instantly”.Johadi John Death

A smiling picture of the militant, who appears unmasked looking towards the ground, accompanies the text, which is written in tribute form to a man they describe as an “honorable brother”.

Mohammed Emwazi first emerged in August 2014 when he appeared masked in a video in which US journalist James Foley was apparently murdered.

Dubbed “Jihadi John” by the media, he was identified as Mohammed Emwazi, a computer programming graduate who grew up in London, in February 2015.

Jihadi John also appeared in videos of the beheadings of American journalist Steven Sotloff, David Haines, Alan Henning, as well as American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known as Peter, and Japanese journalist Kenji Goto.

He became a top target for US and British intelligence agencies, even though he is thought to have played no military role within ISIS.

At the time of Jihadi John’s reported death in November, UK’s PM David Cameron said targeting Mohammed Emwazi had been “the right thing to do”.

He said the UK had been working with its US allies “literally around the clock” to track Mohammed Emwazi down.

Three drones – one British and two American – were involved in the strike. One of the American drones hit the car, and it is believed there was one other person in the vehicle.

North Korean Scientists Invent Hangover-Free Alcohol

Nancy Clayson
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North Korean Scientists Invent Hangover-Free Alcohol

According to Pyongyang reports, North Korean scientists have invented a hangover-free alcohol.

The state-run Pyongyang Times says the “suave” liquor will spare you wincing when you wake, despite boasting 30%-40% alcohol.

The brew is reportedly made from a type of indigenous ginseng called insam and glutinous rice, and cultivated by an organic farming method.

North Korean media is known for making often outlandish claims about its domestic achievements.

In 2015, North Korea said medical products containing extracts from the insam plant could cure MERS, SARS and even AIDS.

Photo AP
Photo AP

The Pyongyang Times said the new alcohol “exudes national flavor”, without dampening your national fervor the following morning.

Among its other unique selling points, according to the paper – the spirit “is highly appreciated by experts and lovers”.

The newspaper article, titled, Liquor wins quality medal for preserving national smack, says the Taedonggang Foodstuff Factory has been working for years on the elixir.

The drink derives from Kaesong Koryo insam – a natural herb thought to have medicinal properties. According to the Pyongyang Times, replacing sugar with the scorched, glutinous rice removed the bitterness from the insam and, crucially, the hangover.

“Koryo Liquor, which is made of six-year-old Kaesong Koryo insam, known as being highest in medicinal effect, and the scorched rice, is highly appreciated by experts and lovers as it is suave and causes no hangover,” the article reads.

The liquor “has already been registered as a national scientific and technological hit”, it adds.

Sarah Palin Backs Donald Trump for President

Diane A. Wade
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Sarah Palin Backs Donald Trump for President

Sarah Palin has announced her endorsement for Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

The populist ex-governor of Alaska was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008.

“Are you ready to stump for Trump?” Sarah Palin asked cheering supporters at a campaign rally in Iowa.

Sarah Palin was John McCain’s running mate in 2008 before they lost to Barack Obama.

Despite retiring from politics in favor of a media career, Sarah Palin remains an influential conservative voice.

Officially announcing her endorsement, Sarah Palin said Donald Trump was someone ready to let US troops “kick ISIS’ ass”.

“We are ready for a change,” she told the rally in Ames, Iowa.Sarah Palin backs Donald Trump

“He [DonaldTrump] is beholden to no one but ‘we, the people’. He is perfectly positioned to let you make America great again.”

Donald Trump, who leads the Republican race, said in a statement that he was “proud” to receive Sarah Palin’s backing.

She was a “trusted conservative” with a “proven record of being fiscally modest, staunchly pro-life and [she] believes in small government that allows businesses to grow and freedom to prosper”, the statement added.

Sarah Palin was just two years into her Alaskan governorship when she was picked by John McCain to be his running mate.

The self-described “hockey mom” soon garnered huge crowds and massive media attention.

After the election in 2009, Sarah Palin resigned as Alaska governor and has since forged a lucrative career as a writer and political commentator.

Ahead of the announcement, Sarah Palin tweeted a link to an article by her daughter Bristol attacking Donald Trump’s main rival for the key Iowa caucus, Ted Cruz.

Iowa is the first chance for voters to have their say in the nomination race.

Ted Cruz has himself praised Sarah Palin saying “without her support, I wouldn’t be in the Senate” – a reference to her backing that helped him to his surprise victory in a 2012 Senate run-off election.

“Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan,” Ted Cruz tweeted.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign team tweeted caustically after the announcement to Sarah Palin “congrats to the YouTube commenter who wrote your remarks”.

Supreme Court to Review Barack Obama’s Immigration Plan

Diane A. Wade
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Supreme Court to Review Barack Obama’s Immigration Plan

One of President Barack Obama’s key immigration reform plans could be challenged by the Supreme Court.

The plan would lift the threat of deportation from 5 million migrants living illegally in the US.

A coalition of 26 mostly conservative states, led by Texas, has been successful in lower court challenges.

A decision from the Supreme Court is expected in the early summer, just as the election gets into full swing.

“We are confident that the policies will be upheld as lawful,” said White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine.

President Barack Obama announced the plan, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), in November 2014.Barack Obama immigration plan at Supreme Court

He justified using his presidential powers, without Congress, by saying it was in response to inaction over the issue of immigration from Congress.

If allowed to go forward, it would allow people who have lived in the US for more than five years and who have children who are living in the country legally to apply for work authorization.

In announcing the plan, Barack Obama said it would allow those who qualify to “come out of the shadows and get right with the law”.

Challenges to the plan began shortly after President Barack Obama’s announcement, with a federal court in Texas effectively putting a pause on it in February.

The Obama administration lost an appeal in November, keeping the injunction in place.

The White House has vowed to kickstart the program if the Supreme Court was to rule in its favor, so that migrants could began enrolling before a new president takes office in January 2017.

One of the largest questions looming over the case is whether the state challengers have the right to do so.

Texas argues it will have to spend millions of dollars to provide driver’s licenses to people who are part of the program.

The issue of immigration has become a controversial and polarizing issue in the 2016 presidential race.

Leading Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said she would maintain and expand President Barack Obama’s reforms, while Republican front runner Donald Trump has said he would reverse the reforms and step up enforcement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnMTmRdh8w

Is Prince Harry Dating Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark?

Lisa.Felice
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Is Prince Harry Dating Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark?

Prince Harry is reportedly dating Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark.

According to Australian publication New Idea, the duo had been introduced by the Prince Harry’s cousin, Princess Beatrice, and the romance had the approval of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The 19-year-old fashionista is the daughter of Crown Prince Pavlov of Greece and his elegant wife Marie-Chantal.Prince Harry dating Princess Maria Olympia

Princess Maria-Olympia was born on 25 July 1996 in New York City – the first of five children and the only girl. The couple moved to London when Olympia was 7 so that their children could grow up near Prince Pavlov’s parents, former Greek monarch King Constantine and Queen Anne Marie.

The move also had the happy result of bringing her closer to godfather Prince Charles.

King Constantine is Prince Charles’ second cousin and the godfather of Prince William. Other royal relatives include Princess Olympia’s great aunts, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Sofia of Spain.

When Olpympia’s parents wed at Hampton Court Palace in 1995, the guest list was filled with impressively regal names and the bride wore pearl-entrusted Valentino.

Along with her mother, an American heiress from the wealthy Miller family, Princess Maria-Olympia is a regular on the front rows at fashion week.

Major Fire at Ritz Hotel in Paris

Nancy Clayson
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Major Fire at Ritz Hotel in Paris

A fire broke out on the top floor of the world’s most famous hotel, the five-star Ritz in Paris.

The fire is now under control.

About 150 workers had to leave the building on January 19 as the fire took hold. No injuries are reported.

Ritz hotel – which is famously where Princess Diana spent her last evening – is currently closed for renovations and there are no guests staying there.

The operation will take “a long time” as the fire is difficult to access, a fire service spokesman said.

The alert was raised at 07:00 local time and about 60 firefighters and 15 fire engines were sent to the scene.

The fire started on the seventh floor, took hold in the attic and spread to the roof.

Paris police tweeted that there was a “major fire”, and advised motorists to avoid the Place Vendome area.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The area was blocked off at the height of the morning rush hour, while firefighters on cranes sprayed the flames.

Fire captain Yvon Bot said the fire was unusually difficult to access and control.

“There is no longer any risk of it spreading, but the operation will still take a very long time,” he said.

“We are having to go meter by meter from the roof. It is too small to access from the interior.”

Yvon Bot said a “large” section of the building was affected.

The Ritz is a historic building in central Paris.

Princess Diana dined there on August 30, 1997. Later that night she and her companion Dodi al-Fayed were killed in a car crash. Dodi al-Fayed was the son of the hotel’s owner, Egyptian billionaire and Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed.

The Ritz was also the hotel of choice for Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway.

The hotel was due to re-open in March after a three-year closure for multi-million euro renovations.

The Ritz name, used for hotels around the world, comes from a Swiss hotelier called Cesar Ritz, who set up the Paris Ritz and the London Ritz more than a century ago. Both hotels are now independently owned.

Twitter Is Offline for Many Users

Nancy Clayson
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Twitter Is Offline for Many Users

Twitter is offline for many users, with web visitors being greeted by an error page.

Some mobile users are also unable to read or post tweets to the social network, which has over 300 million active members.

Twitter chose to communicate the problem via a tweet, in which the company said it was aware of the problem.

Some users took to Facebook to complain.

A spokesman for Twitter said that a tweet from the company’s @support account read: “Some users are currently experiencing problems accessing Twitter. We are aware of the issue and are working towards a resolution.”Twitter technical fault January 2016

According to Down Detector, the issue began shortly after 08:00 GMT.

For some users, the site appears to be intermittently accessible while the issue persists.

There were also issues with Twitter’s application program interface (API), which allows websites and apps to connect to Twitter.

Recently launched apps might not have been able to take advantage of live feedback on the site, something which Barclays took advantage of following the launch of the bank’s PingIt payments app in 2015.

Renault Recalls 15,000 New Diesel Cars over High Level of Harmful Emissions

Clyde K. Valle
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Renault Recalls 15,000 New Diesel Cars over High Level of Harmful Emissions

Renault, which has been under the spotlight over high levels of harmful emissions, has decided to recall 15,000 new diesel cars.

The move comes after tests showed emission levels from some of the French automaker’s cars were too high.

Last week, three of Renault’s sites were raided by fraud investigators.

The searches led to billions of euros being wiped off its market value, after fears that it could be another scandal similar to that at Volkswagen.

Renault has promised to come up with a “technical plan” to bring down the level of emissions from its vehicles.Renault recall 2016

French Energy Minister Segolene Royal said Renault was not the only car company in France to break the rules on carbon dioxide and nitrogen emissions, but she did not name the others involved.

Segolene Royal said the tests needed to be based on real driving conditions and not those of special testing facilities. It has been suggested that the emission readings are much lower in laboratory-style conditions.

“Renault has committed to recalling a certain number of vehicles, more than 15,000 vehicles, to check them and adjust them correctly so the filtration system works even when it is very hot or when it is below 17 degrees, because that’s when the filtration system no longer worked,” Segolene Royal said.

“We are working on a technical plan which should allow us to cut emissions,” Renault sales director Thierry Koskas said during a presentation on the group’s 2015 sales performance.

When asked how the test results differed from those conducted under real conditions, Thierry Koskas said: “Renault did not cheat… We are not using any software or other methods.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly0q0OOOrRc

Kate del Castillo Questioned over Links with El Chapo Guzman

Lisa.Felice
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Kate del Castillo Questioned over Links with El Chapo Guzman

Kate del Castillo has been called in for questioning over her links with the imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

The Mexican actress set up a meeting in October between El Chapo Guzman, who was then on the run, and Sean Penn.

Kate del Castillo and El Chapo Guzman exchanged dozens of messages before she and Sean Penn met him in northern Mexico.

El Chapo (Shorty) Guzman was arrested on January 8, six months after escaping from a high security jail.

The lord was captured by Mexican troops in the northern city of Los Mochis and taken back to the Altiplano prison.

Mexican authorities are considering El Chapo Guzman’s extradition to the US. In the meantime, they say he is being kept under 24-hour surveillance to prevent another escape.

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

Sean Penn interviewed El Chapo Guzman for Rolling Stone magazine.

The contact between Kate del Castillo and El Chapo Guzman helped Mexican police establish his whereabouts and eventually capture him.

Attorney General Arely Gomez said the security forces had been following El Chapo Guzman’s lawyer, who led them to Sean Penn and Kate del Castillo.

Mobile phone exchanges between Kate del Castillo and El Chapo Guzman reveal that he initially did not know who Sean Penn was.

He seemed to be infatuated by the actress, who is famous in Mexico.

Kate del Castillo is best known for her portrayal of drug boss Teresa Mendoza in the soap opera La Reina del Sur (Queen of the South).

El Chapo Guzman was planning to get Hollywood to produce a movie about his life.

Kate del Castillo persuaded El Chapo Guzman that Sean Penn had the experience and connections to realize his dream.

“I don’t have the means to pay for what you’re doing for me,” he wrote, according to transcripts obtained by El Universal newspaper.

Responding to rumors that she had become too close to El Chapo Guzman, Kate del Castillo tweeted on January 13 that she would tell her side of the story.

“As expected, many people have decided to manipulate the information and fabricate false stories to divert us from the real issue,” she wrote.

“I will soon give you my version.”

Mexican prosecutors said Kate del Castillo, who is in the US, will be allowed to be questioned at the embassy in Los Angeles.

El Chapo Guzman was Mexico’s most wanted man.

He was the founder of the Sinaloa drug cartel, which smuggled vast amounts of illegal drugs into the US.

El Chapo Guzman is linked to other crimes, including murder and extortion.

China Economy Marks Slowest Growth in 25 Years

Clyde K. Valle
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China Economy Marks Slowest Growth in 25 Years

The Chinese economy grew by 6.9% in 2015, compared with 7.3% in 2014, marking its slowest growth in 25 years.

China’s growth, seen as a driver of the global economy, is a major concern for investors around the world.

The government had set an official growth target of “about 7%” for the world’s second-largest economy.China economic growth 2016

PM Li Keqiang has said weaker growth would be acceptable as long as enough new jobs were created.

However, some observers say its growth is actually much weaker than official data suggests, though Beijing denies numbers are being inflated.

Analysts said any growth below 6.8% would likely fuel calls for further economic stimulus. Economic growth in Q4 of 2015 edged down to 6.8%, according to China’s national bureau of statistics.

After experiencing rapid growth for more than a decade, China’s economy has experienced a painful slowdown in the last two years.

Some argue that China’s focus on creating an economy driven by consumption is misplaced. They say as the country attempts to rebalance its economy, it should focus on productivity in order to sustain high growth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYvMdTePHI0

Nut Rage Scandal: South Korea Enacts Tougher Aviation Laws

Diane A. Wade
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Nut Rage Scandal: South Korea Enacts Tougher Aviation Laws

Tougher aviation laws against unruly air passengers have been enacted in South Korea, after the so-called nut rage scandal which saw top Korean Air executive Heather Cho jailed.

Under the new rules, passengers will pay a higher fine if they disturb the pilot. Transport officials say they revised laws because of public demand.

Heather Cho – also known as Cho Hyun-ah – was convicted in February 2015 after ordering a taxiing plane back to offload a steward who served the nuts in a way she deemed inappropriate.

The case attracted global attention.

In South Korea it reopened a national debate about elitism and the Korean business system, which is dominated by family firms known as chaebols.

Besides being the vice-president at Korean Air at that time, Heather Cho is the daughter of the airline’s chairman.

Photo AP
Photo AP

During the incident Heather Cho was angered that she was given macadamia nuts which she did not ask for, and was offended that they were served in a bag, not in a bowl.

After confronting flight staff, Heather Cho ordered the plane which was taxiing at New York’s JFK Airport to turn back and offload the chief steward.

Under the new law, passed by parliamentarians in 2015, anyone who disturbs the pilot during a flight could face up to five years in prison or a 50 million won ($41,200) fine.

Previously the same offence did not have a jail term and only had a 5 million won fine. Crew members are also now compelled to hand over unruly passengers to the police, or risk a 10 million won fine.

“The amended law reflects mounting public demand for enhanced aviation safety and the prevention of unruly behavior during flight following the Korean Air nut rage incident,” the transport ministry said in a press statement.

Heather Cho was convicted of violating airline safety. She served five months in jail before she was freed in May after an appeals court overturned the ruling saying she did not cause a change in flight path. Another conviction of using violence against flight attendants still stands.

Yasutaro Koide: World’s Oldest Man Dies Aged 112

Nancy Clayson
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Yasutaro Koide: World’s Oldest Man Dies Aged 112

World’s oldest man, Yasutaro Koide, has died at the age of 112 in Nagoya, Japan, local officials say.

Yasutaro Koide, who was born on March 13, 1903, was officially named the oldest man by Guinness World Records in August 2015.

At the time Yasutaro Koide was quoted as saying his secret to long life was not smoking or drinking, not to overdo things and to “live with joy”.Yasutaro Koide worlds oldest man died

Officials said Yasutaro Koide died of heart failure and pneumonia on January 19.

It is not yet clear who succeeds Yasutaro Koide as the oldest man.

The title of world’s oldest person is held by American woman Susannah Mushatt Jones, who is 116 years old.

Susannah Mushatt Jones took the title in 2015 after the death of Misao Okawa in Japan at the age of 117.

The oldest person who has ever lived according to Guinness World Records was Jeanne Calment of France, who lived 122 years and 164 days.

Jeanne Calment died in August 1997.

Don McLean Arrested for Domestic Violence Assault

Sonia Pantiss
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Don McLean Arrested for Domestic Violence Assault

Don McLean has been arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault, it has been reported.

The American Pie singer is said to have been released from Knox County Jail in Tennessee after posting $10,000 bail.

Don McLean, who lives in Camden, Maine, had a 1971 hit with American Pie, about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in a plane crash.

Photo Knox County Jail
Photo Knox County Jail

It was reported that Don McLean, 70, was held after police were called to a property at 02:00 local time on January 18.

The Wiscasset Newspaper published what it said was a mug shot of Don McLean.

He is reportedly set to appear at the Knox County Unified Court, Rockland, on February 22.

Don McLean has amassed more than 40 gold and platinum records worldwide during his career. He is understood to have last performed at a local lobster festival in August.

Glenn Frey Dead: Eagles Founder and Guitarist Dies Aged 67

Sonia Pantiss
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Glenn Frey Dead: Eagles Founder and Guitarist Dies Aged 67

Eagles founder and guitarist Glenn Frey has passed away at the age of 67, the band has announced.

Glenn Frey died in New York City on January 18 from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia.Glenn Frey dead at 67

“Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us,” Glenn Frey’s family and fellow band members said.

The Eagles were one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, with multiple hit singles including Hotel California, in 1976.

Glenn Frey co-wrote Hotel California with Don Henley. He wrote a number of the Eagles’ biggest songs on his own, including Heartache Tonight and Lyin’ Eyes.

Francois Hollande Sets out €2 Billion Job Creation Plan

Clyde K. Valle
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Francois Hollande Sets out €2 Billion Job Creation Plan

French President Francois Hollande has set out a €2 billion job creation plan in an attempt to lift France out of what he called a state of “economic emergency”.

Under a two-year scheme, companies with fewer than 250 staff will get subsidies if they take on a young or unemployed person for six months or more.

In addition, about 500,000 vocational training schemes will be created.

France’s unemployment rate is 10.6%, against a EU average of 9.8% and 4.2% in Germany.

Francois Hollande said money for the plan would come from savings in other areas of public spending.France state of economic emergency

“These €2 billion will be financed without any new taxes of any kind,” said Francois Hollande, who announced the details during an annual speech to business leaders.

“Our country has been faced with structural unemployment for two to three decades and this requires that creating jobs becomes our one and only fight.”

France was facing an “uncertain economic climate and persistent unemployment” and there was an “economic and social emergency”, he said.

Francois Hollande said recently that France’s social emergency, caused by unemployment, was as serious as the emergency caused by terrorism.

The president called on his audience to help “build the economic and social model for tomorrow”.

He also addressed the issue of labor market flexibility.

“Regarding the rules for hiring and laying off, we need to guarantee stability and predictability to both employers and employees. There is room for simplification,” Francois Hollande said.

“The goal is also more security for the company to hire, to adapt its workforce when economic circumstances require, but also more security for the employee in the face of change and mobility”.

British Parliament to Debate Barring Donald Trump from UK

Diane A. Wade
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British Parliament to Debate Barring Donald Trump from UK

The UK’s parliament is to debate on whether to ban Donald Trump from visiting the country.

The lawmakers will discuss a petition, which has attracted 574,000 signatures, urging a ban following Donald Trump’s call for all Muslims to be denied entry to the US.

They will also debate a counter-petition, signed by 43,000 people, claiming such a ban would be illogical.

Donald Trump’s spokeswoman said it was an “absurd waste” of lawmakers’ time.

The Republican presidential hopeful called for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the US in response to the shooting of 14 people in San Bernardino, California in December.

Donald Trump’s comments were criticized across the political spectrum in the US and Europe. He caused further anger by claiming that areas of London and other parts of the UK have become so radicalized that they have become no-go areas for the police.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The tycoon is leading several opinion polls in the race to be the Republican candidate for President ahead of the first primary contest in February.

All public petitions which attract more than 100,000 signatures are considered for debate by the House of Commons petitions committee.

The “Ban Trump” petition states that the UK “has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech” and argues that the rules must be “fairly applied to the rich as well as poor”.

The counter-petition argues that foreign nationals should not be banned “for their opinions on domestic actions” and that a ban would risk damaging US-UK relations given the possibility of a Trump victory in November’s election.

Today’s debate will take place in Westminster Hall, the Commons’ secondary debating chamber, rather than the main Commons chamber itself. There will be no vote at the end of it.

The UK home secretary has the power to ban people from entering the country on grounds of national security, if they are thought likely to incite racial hatred or if they are deemed not to be “conducive to the public good”.

Conservative home secretary Theresa May has banned more than 200 people since 2010, according to figures published last year, although she has declined to comment on whether Donald Trump could be added to the list.

PM David Cameron and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn have both said they would not want to see Donald Trump excluded, arguing he should be encouraged to visit to see first-hand the UK’s diversity, cohesion and tolerance.

However, former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who has been involved in a war of words with Donald Trump in recent months, has suggested a ban “would do him good”.

Donald Trump, who owns the Turnberry golf course among other assets in Scotland, has threatened to cancel $1.1 billion of planned investment if he is blocked from returning to the UK.

Ahead of the debate, Trump International Links Scotland issued a statement saying lawmakers should be spending their time debating the problems facing the Scottish and UK economies.

“For the UK to consider banning someone who made a statement in America, about American borders during a US election campaign is ridiculous,” said Sarah Malone, the company’s executive vice president.

“Westminster is creating a dangerous precedent on this issue and is sending a terrible message to the world.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1qBgeVOx0Y

David Bowie Tops American Album Charts for First Time

Sonia Pantiss
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David Bowie Tops American Album Charts for First Time

David Bowie has topped the American album charts for the first time with Blackstar, released two days before his death on January 10.

Blackstar sold the equivalent of 181,000 albums knocking Adele’s 25 off the top spot.

David Bowie’s highest-charting US album previously had been The Next Day, which peaked at No 2 in 2013.

Nineteen of his albums entered the UK album charts last week, after fans sought out his classic hits.

Blackstar is the first posthumous number one album in the US since Michael Jackson’s This Is It soundtrack topped the chart in November 2009.

Nine other David Bowie albums also made the Billboard 200 this week with the Best of Bowie reaching No 4 and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars at number 21.David Bowie Blackstar American album chart

David Bowie’s first hit on the US singles chart was in 1972 with Changes. The record did not initially find major success, only reaching No 66 that year.

However, the song returned to the chart in 1974, following David Bowie’s subsequent breakthrough on the American music scene with Space Oddity – his first top 40 hit which peaked at number 15.

David Bowie’s biggest selling single in the US was Let’s Dance, which reached the top of chart in 1983. He also achieved seven top 10 albums.

The iconic singer died on January 10 following an 18-month battle with cancer.

Fans around the world have been paying homage to the 69-year-old at tribute concerts and memorial sites linked to musician.

In Belgium, astronomers have paid tribute to David Bowie by dedicating a constellation to the self-proclaimed Starman. The constellation is made up of seven stars that, when connected, form the iconic lightning bolt seen on the cover of David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMIJky7ZQMc

How To Deal With Loneliness In The Age of Social Media

Kathryn R. Bown
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How To Deal With Loneliness In The Age of Social Media

Today at the age of social media technologies one can hardly believe that loneliness still exists and flourishes. Nevertheless, as the recent study shows Great Britain has the highest rate of people feeling lonely in comparison with other countries of the European Union. The result is rather sad, to put it mildly, and proves the fact that this problem has not gone away.

This feeling is comprehensive and appears by many reasons.

  • Death of a wife/husband, parents, siblings and close friends is hard to get thorough and leads to loneliness.
  • A divorce is another trigger often staying behind loneliness.
  • Constant failure to find a future spouse makes feel person unhappy and desolate.
  • Social networks are aimed to connect people more, but indeed, a person who is online all the time fakes one’s real life.
  • Aging is a biological natural reason that makes human beings less energetic, strong and beautiful. It is hard for people feeling loneliness to experience these physical and mental changes.
  • Scientists have found a genetic component responsible for loneliness.

The thing is that a body of socially isolated person is not happy with such a state of affairs. Its respond will be not long in coming. High blood pressure, dementia and depression are just few of possible consequences. This disease should be treated as soon as possible. Read on how to cope with loneliness.

how-to-deal-with-loneliness

  • Acceptance is half the battle. This may sound too simple. But it is what it is. Many people think that being lonely is like being defective. They try to hide this feeling deeply into their heart and numb the pain. Watching TV, social nets, video games, sleeping all the time, or, conversely, working all the time, or registering in and out a favorite dating site in UK are the signs saying that a person does not want to accept that he or she is lonely. So, the first step is to accept this emotional state.
  • Social contacts

There are a lot of people having the same feelings as you do. Find a support group of people who experienced the death, divorce and any other grief that made them lonely. By sharing your feelings you’ll relieve your pain and help others.  Another way is joining a social group of people sharing the same interests, values and way of life. It maybe sport club, dance classes, art group, charity organization and so on. While reaching a common goal, you’ll definitely meet friends. Social contacts restored will stop isolation and loneliness.

  • Enjoying the time spent alone

It may seem that this recommendation contradicts the below one. Actually, this piece of advice is mainly about feeling comfortable alone with yourself and overcoming panic. Remember your childhood and what did you want to do? You have time to do what you like and like to do. Do not be afraid to discover yourself and the world around you.

Naturally, recovery process will take time and efforts. However, just a nice smile can be the first thing you can do to stop loneliness from eroding your life and disturbing your balance.

What are your thoughts on these issues? Comment below.

Japan Stock Market Hits One-Year Low

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Stock Market Hits One-Year Low

Japan stock market hit a one-year low in January 18 trade following big falls in the US and as oil prices dropped below $28 a barrel for the first time since 2003.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 closed down 1.1% at 16,955.57 – its lowest close in a year.

In Australia, investors also reacted to falling oil prices.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7% at 4,858.70, with energy-related stocks and banking shares weighing on the index.

BHP Billiton shares fell 3%, Woodside lost 2.6%, and Santos shares fell 8.4%.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Australia’s big lenders also saw falls on January 18, with ANZ’s shares down 2% and Westpac’s down 1%.

In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed flat at 1,878.45 after spending much of the day in negative territory.

In China, analysts said they expected markets to be hurt further this week by falling oil prices, together with continued worries about the country’s economic growth. China’s latest quarterly gross domestic product numbers are out on January 19.

Housing data released on January 18 showed house prices rose 1.6% in December from a year earlier. China’s housing market accounts for about 15% of the economy and the latest numbers mark the third consecutive month of year-on-year gains.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 1.5% at 19,237.45, while the Shanghai Composite finished the day 0.44% higher at 2,913.84.

Global Oil Price Drops below $28 a Barrel

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Global Oil Price Drops below $28 a Barrel

Oil prices have fallen below $28 a barrel amid fears the lifting of international sanctions on Iran could worsen the existing oversupply problem.

Brent crude, used as an international benchmark, fell as low as $27.67 a barrel, its lowest since 2003, before recovering slightly to trade at $28.17.

The price of US crude fell below $29 a barrel to $28.86.

The lifting of the Iran sanctions mean half a million barrels more oil per day could be produced, say analysts.

The decision to lift the sanctions against Iran came on January 17 after the international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said Iran had complied with a deal designed to prevent it developing nuclear weapons.Oil prices fall below 28

Iran has the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world, according to the US Energy Information Agency and any additional oil would add to the one million barrels a day of over-supply that has led to a more than 70% collapse in oil prices since the middle of 2014.

Analysts said Iran already had quite a lot of oil ready to sell.

The drop in the price of oil has been driven by oversupply, mainly due to US shale oil flooding the market.

At the same time, demand has fallen because of a slowdown in economic growth in China and Europe.

Historically, OPEC has cut production to support prices. But led by Saudi Arabia, by far the group’s most powerful member, the group has resolutely refused to trim supply this time.

Analysts expect supply to continue to outstrip demand over the next two years, which would keep prices low.

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