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Wanda to Buy Controlling Stake in Legendary Studios for $3.5 Billion

Clyde K. Valle
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Wanda to Buy Controlling Stake in Legendary Studios for $3.5 Billion

Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group will buy a controlling stake in Hollywood film studio Legendary Entertainment in a deal valued at $3.5 billion.

The announcement, made at a press conference by both companies in Beijing, comes after a week of rumors about a possible deal.

Wanda is the world’s biggest movie theatre operator with a majority stake in the US chain AMC.

The rapidly growing group is led by China’s richest man Wang Jianlin.Wanda buys Legendary studios

Wang Jianlin has been looking to buy a Hollywood studio for several years and was reported to be in talks with DreamWorks Animation in 2015, but a deal was not announced.

Legendary is the maker of blockbuster hits such as Jurassic World, the Dark Knight Batman trilogy and Godzilla.

Chairman and CEO Thomas Tull, who also started the company, will remain as the head of the studio.

Wanda described the deal as “China’s largest cross-border cultural acquisition to date”. It is aimed at increasing ties between Hollywood and the world’s fastest growing movie market, China.

The Chinese conglomerate said that Legendary’s films have grossed over $12 billion globally.

Wang Jianlinsaid he plans to pair the Hollywood studio with its in-house film production unit and make a stock market listing. A timeline for the launch an initial public offering (IPO) was not given.

Wanda had released its earnings report a day earlier and said that its revenue rose 19% in 2015 from a year ago on a surge of sales in its leisure and financial businesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-luYTchFBM

Paris Attacks: Images of Fugitive Suspect Salah Abdeslam Emerge

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: Images of Fugitive Suspect Salah Abdeslam Emerge

Footage of the fugitive Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam are said to have emerged, according to French news channel BFM TV.

The images were captured on the morning of November 14 by CCTV cameras at a French petrol station, a day after the attacks in which 130 were killed.

In them, Salah Abdeslam seems relaxed, walking with his hands in his pockets.

Salah Abdeslam is thought to have been in charge of logistics for the groups of gunmen who carried out the attacks.

He is said to have called his two friends, Mohammed Amri and Salah Hamza Attou, from Paris early on November 14 to come and pick him up and take him to Belgium.

En route from Paris to Brussels, the three men stopped at a petrol station near the Belgian border for about 15 minutes, where a CCTV camera filmed them, BFM reports.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

At that point, the three men had already been through three police checks, but had not been stopped as Salah Abdeslam had not yet been connected to the Paris attacks.

Mohammed Amri and Salah Hamza Attou later dropped off Salah Abdeslam in the district of Laeken in Brussels.

The two were arrested in Molenbeek the next day and face terror charges, while Salah Abdeslam is still on the run.

The Paris attacks are believed to have been at least partly planned in Brussels. Belgian police have arrested 10 people as part of their investigation.

The suspected ringleader was Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian national. He and his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen died in a fierce gun battle five days after the attacks, when police raided a flat in Paris where they were hiding, heavily armed.

Sean Penn Has No Regrets regarding Interview with El Chapo Guzman

Nancy Clayson
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Sean Penn Has No Regrets regarding Interview with El Chapo Guzman

Sean Penn says he has no regrets regarding his secret interview with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

The actor has been asked by the AP if he was worried about images that claimed to show Mexican officials watching him before the visit.

“I’ve got nothin’ to hide,” Sean Penn wrote back in an email.

Mexican drug lord El Chapo Guzman was captured on January 8, three months after their meeting and six months after escaping from prison.

Sean Penn did not answer questions about whether he should have let El Chapo Guzman read his story in advance of publication, or whether he did enough to protect his source.

The actor was criticized for the interview – a White House spokesman said it was “maddening”, while Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio said it was “grotesque”.El Chapo Guzman and Sean Penn

The US has filed a request for El Chapo Guzman to be extradited to face charges of smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the country.

On January 11, Mexican officials said the process to extradite El Chapo Guzman to the US could take at least a year.

Sean Penn’s interview with El Chapo Guzman was conducted in the Mexican jungle, and unnamed Mexican officials have said the meeting helped them catch the 58-year-old boss of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

El Chapo Guzman has been returned to the maximum-security Altipano jail.

In July, he had escaped from there via a tunnel dug to the shower in his cell.

In the Rolling Stone magazine article, El Chapo Guzman said he was the world’s leading supplier of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

The Mexican authorities have not said whether they would investigate Sean Penn and Mexican actress Kate del Castillo who arranged the interview with El Chapo Guzman.

Baghdad Attack: Gunmen Kill at Least 17 at Al-Jawhara Shopping Center

Roy Siemens
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Baghdad Attack: Gunmen Kill at Least 17 at Al-Jawhara Shopping Center

At least 17 people have been killed in an attack on a shopping center in Baghdad, during which people were taken hostage.

About 20 gunmen stormed the al-Jawhara shopping center in the mainly Shia al-Jadeda area on January 11, after a car bomb exploded outside.Baghdad shopping center attack

Security forces sealed off the area and then stormed the building, killing the assailants and freeing their hostages, an interior ministry spokesman said.

It is not clear who the gunmen were.

However, Sunni jihadist militants from ISIS have frequently target Shia districts of Baghdad.

According to police, two of the assailants detonated explosive belts they had been wearing, killing several hostages.

Two other gunmen were shot dead, and another four arrested, police say.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcziVgeO8NE

Oscar Pistorius Seeks Appeal in Reeva Steenkamp Murder Case

Clyde K. Valle
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Oscar Pistorius Seeks Appeal in Reeva Steenkamp Murder Case

Oscar Pistorius on January 11 made a last-ditch attempt with South Africa’s top court to overturn his murder conviction for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The double-amputee athlete killed Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013 after firing four times through a locked toilet door.

A manslaughter verdict was overturned last month and a murder verdict introduced in its place.

Oscar Pistorius’ defense has lodged papers at the Constitutional Court, urging a review of his murder conviction.

The champion is currently under house arrest after spending one year of his original five-year sentence in jail.Oscar Pistorius appeal in murder case

South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in December that the lower court had not applied correctly the rule of dolus eventualis – whether Oscar Pistorius knew that a death would be a likely result of his actions.

Last month, Justice Eric Leach said that having armed himself with a high-caliber weapon, Oscar Pistorius must have foreseen that whoever was behind the door might die, especially given his firearms training.

Oscar Pistorius has always maintained he believed he was shooting at an intruder.

His lawyers say the appeals court made fundamental errors, claiming in appeal papers that the court “acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it rejected the factual finding of the Trial Court and replaced it with a contrary factual finding of its own”.

Oscar Pistorius’ lawyer, Andrew Fawcett, says the appeal is now in the hands of the director of public prosecutions, who must decide whether there are grounds for appeal.

If so, the case will go before the Constitutional Court.

Oscar Pistorius made history by becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, in London in 2012. He competed in the 400m, wearing carbon-fiber blades to run against able-bodied athletes.

Princess Cristina of Spain Tried for Embezzlement Scam

Diane A. Wade
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Princess Cristina of Spain Tried for Embezzlement Scam

Princess Cristina of Spain has become the first member of the country’s royal family to be put on trial.

The princess is charged with being an accomplice in an alleged embezzlement scam involving her husband Inaki Urdangarin and 16 other defendants, who all deny the charges.

Infanta Cristina, 50, faces eight years in jail if found guilty by a three-member panel of judges.

The trial in Palma, Majorca, is seen as an embarrassment for the royal family.

Princess Cristina arrived at the court in Palma on January 11 with Inaki Urdangarin, who is accused of embezzlement and money laundering.

They made no statement to reporters. A small group of anti-monarchists protested outside.

As the judges read out the charges, the princess sat at the back of a makeshift courtroom at the public administration school in Palma. Inaki Urdangarin sat in the same row but court rules prevented them from sitting together.

Three rows of six defendants sitting in court on blue chairs, facing the panel of judges.

Photo AP
Photo AP

In the third row, at one end, sits Princess Cristina, sixth in line to the Spanish throne.

It’s something many people in Spain thought they would never see – the powerful being held to account.

Princess Cristina’s lawyers will try to get charges against her dismissed. In a country where corruption has become a huge political issue, this is a big moment.

Inaki Urdangarin’s supposedly non-profit Noos Institute sports foundation was allegedly used as a vehicle to win falsely inflated contracts from regional government bodies, before channeling the money to personal accounts via tax havens.

Noos is alleged to have received more than €6 million ($6.5 million) of public money, most of it from the Balearic Islands and Valencia regional governments.

If found guilty, Inaki Urdangarin could face 19 years and six months in jail.

Princess Cristina was a board member at the foundation and, with Inaki Urdangarin, co-owned a real estate company called Aizoon, which prosecutors say was used to launder embezzled funds.

One of the allegations against Princess Cristina is that she made personal use of Aizoon funds for paying for clothes and dance lessons for the couple’s children as well as work on the couple’s Barcelona mansion.

The case was launched in 2010 by a judge investigating corruption among Balearic Islands officials. It has become highly symbolic of perceived corruption among Spain’s elites, including the royal family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POLBm1daTh0

El Chapo Guzman Extradition Process Launched in Mexico

Diane A. Wade
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El Chapo Guzman Extradition Process Launched in Mexico

Mexico has started the process of extradition to the United States of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

According to the Mexican authorities, Interpol officers served El Chapo Guzman’s papers at the Altiplano jail, near Mexico City.

El Chapo Guzman, 58, escaped from the maximum security jail in July and was recaptured on January 8.

Mexico is also considering whether to investigate Sean Penn, who interviewed El Chapo Guzman soon after his jail break.

Unnamed Mexican officials have said Sean Penn’s secret meeting helped lead them to the fugitive.

In the Rolling Stone magazine’s article, where Sean Penn’s 7-hour interview with El Chapo Guzman was published, the actor and the fugitive discuss various topics, including drug trafficking.

Mexico began extradition proceedings in line with US requests from 2014.El Chapo Guzman extradition to US

In a statement, Mexico’s attorney general’s office said Interpol Mexico agents went to El Chapo Guzman’s prison to execute two arrest warrants.

The US filed extradition requests so he could face charges of smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the country.

El Chapo Guzman, who was named Public Enemy Number One by the Chicago Crime Commission in 2013, has been indicted by at least seven US federal district courts.

Mexico and the US have an extradition treaty – but the process can take months.

El Chapo Guzman’s lawyers can raise motions to try and block any extradition and the process has to go through the judicial system.

Many people believe he should face justice in Mexico first. But the case goes beyond sovereignty and national pride.

Joaquin Guzman, who was one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers, escaped from jail through a tunnel dug in the showers.

That was his second escape – he was first arrested in Guatemala in 1993 and escaped from Puente Grande jail in 2001, reportedly in a laundry basket after bribing officials.

El Chapo Guzman was on the run for 13 years before being held again in 2014. Previous extradition requests from the US have been turned down.

Should You Have a Poster Printed or Should You Make Your Own?

Dana R
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Should You Have a Poster Printed or Should You Make Your Own?

It isn’t hard to find a company that could print you a beautiful poster. What you need to think about, therefore, is whether you need a printer at all, or whether you could find a different, more affordable option. It all depends on what your personal and specific wishes are. You could pay a lot of money and have a poster printed professionally, for instance. Alternatively, you can print just one document, asking it to be ‘tiled’. If you do this on proper poster printer paper, you can then puzzle your pieces together to form a single poster.

You can use various software tools that are in place specifically to help you properly enlarge a tile. These are designed to make sure you can print pieces of your document on individual pieces of standard A4 paper. Some even enable you to choose your paper sizes. Once you have it printed, you can stick the pieces together. This is a very low quality but very affordable way of printing a poster. However, it can take quite a bit of time to complete the poster, particularly if you want to hang up multiple ones.

If you have decided that a proper poster printer is necessary, it is likely that your price will be calculated based on their square foot of printing that you want to have completed. Volume is the important thing here. The more you print, the less you will be charged per square foot of printing as well. Make sure you ask your printer for a volume discount as well. They are usually more than happy to help you out with this. Before you start, however, you need to read and proofread your poster properly. Once you have done that, check it again. If the printer makes a mistake, you will be reimbursed for this. However, if you make the mistake, then you will be held responsible for it and you would also to pay for a rerun of your print. A poster with spelling mistakes on it is completely useless, as it doesn’t advertise your services but rather, it makes you look very silly.

There are a few more little things you need to know in order to get the most out of your poster, whether you do it yourself or whether you have it printed. The most important thing is that people are usually about three feet away from a poster when they view it. This is why it is not a problem to spot some grain when you look at the poster up close. Very few people will actually study it that close and, if they do, it is because they know the graininess can happen.

A final thing to be aware of is that it is always a good idea to find a proper poster paper company. This is also because they generally offer many other types of services as well. This includes things such as business cards, flyers and other promotional materials.

From Bamboo to Bali – The Beauty of Wood Blinds

Dana R
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From Bamboo to Bali – The Beauty of Wood Blinds

Blinds can be made of a wide variety of woods. Elegant dark hard woods can complement traditional rooms, green grass materials are perfect for bringing the outdoor in, natural woven bamboo fits with everything. As you can see, you have lots of flexibility in terms of your design. Wood is a natural material and incorporating natural materials into a home creates a wonderful, warm feeling that has a lot more character than any other material out there. Let’s take a look at some wooden blinds options that are out there.

Natural Woven Shades

A lot of people think all blinds are made from slats. However, these are actually just the Venetians and verticals. Instead, you can use grasses and reeds, jute and bamboo to make beautiful woven shades as well. Each has certain practical benefits and they can suit any type of design.

If you want to filter light, then woven options are perfect. They come in ranges from translucent to opaque and they can be used all over your house, regardless of your personal light requirements. You can also add privacy or blackout liners if you want to put the blinds up in a bedroom without getting bothered by the sunlight. There are panel tracks, waterfall design, Roman styles and flat fold shades to name but a few.

A lot of woven materials, and particularly bamboo, are renewable sources. In order to harvest bamboo, the tree does not have to be destroyed. Each piece of bamboo is completely unique and this creates a wonderful design.

They are very versatile materials that come in a range of different patterns and designs, and they are particularly suited for light filtering. Their insulating properties are an added benefit.

Wooden Blinds

A lot of blinds are made from vinyl or aluminum. While this is affordable and enables the creation of some quirky designs, wood is so much more beautiful. It adds a bit of warmth and comfort to any room, which plastic simply cannot achieve. Plus, because it is natural, it goes as well with a classical look as with a modern look. Wood can also be painted or stained to give it a certain darkness, lightness or shades. Wood blinds are available in both horizontal and vertical slats, with the latter being perfect for glass doors and large windows.

Again, wood has many practical benefits. It is an excellent insulator, stopping light, sound and heat. This means you have more privacy and lower energy bills. Hardwood in particular is often thermal treated to make the slats harden. This means they won’t warp, crack or split due to the harmful UV rays of the sun.

The Problem with Wood

There is only one real problem with wood, which is that it does not like to come into contact with moisture. As a result, wood blinds are not suitable for kitchens or bathrooms. However, there are also various faux wood materials available, which can be used in lieu.

Different Options for Accessing Your Loft and Attic

Dana R
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Different Options for Accessing Your Loft and Attic

A lot of people build lofts or attics as a storage solution. They are perfect, as they are underneath the roof. As such, they are a very affordable option that avoids you having to build a shed. Additionally, it means you can always access whatever you have stored up there. Sometimes, however, loft stairs can be a bit of an issue. Many homes do not have the space to put a staircase into their loft in place, for instance. Luckily, however, they can choose to get loft ladders instead.

Structure building is always a costly thing. Just the materials for staircases are quite costly. And, unless you are an established carpenter yourself, you will really struggle with building a full staircase, even if you do have the money and the space. You can expect to fork out a few thousand dollars for a staircase. Ladders, on the other hand, cost a few hundred if that.

Loft ladders come in all sorts of materials. The most popular ones tend to be aluminum, because it is very durable yet lightweight. Steel models are more durable and can be more suitable for heavy use lofts. Wood is also popular, mainly because it is very beautiful. However, wood also tends to be more expensive.

Three Section Ladders

The three section ladder is one of most popular models. They are very easy to install, which goes a long way towards explaining their popularity. Usually, they have wide, comfortable and safe treads as well. They also exist with extra hand rails, which are perfect to make the ladder safer overall. Once people start to age, for instance, it is more important than ever to have safety procedures in place.

Concertina Ladders

Concertinas are also very popular types of loft ladders. They are perfect for those lofts that have very limited floor space or a very small loft opening. Usually, these ladders are attached to the actual loft. A user simply grabs the handle and pulls it down, at which point it expands.

Telescopic Ladders

Then, there are the telescopic ladders. These are very easy to store and retract in a small space. Usually, these are aluminum ladders, which makes it really easy to carry the ladder around.

Before you shop for your ladder, you have a few things to think about. The size of your loft entrance is very important. You need to make sure that the ladder is neither too large nor too small. This is why you should have measurements before you go shopping. Measure not just the size of your loft opening, but also the amount of floor space that you have available. Also check what the distance is from the loft entrance to the floor, so that your ladder is long enough to reach.

There are a few considerations to make, including material, safety features and, naturally, price. Take some time to study your options before you decide which one you want to purchase.

Golden Globes 2016: Full List of Winners

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globes 2016: Full List of Winners

Full list of winners at the 73rd annual Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles:

Film

Best motion picture – drama

Winner: The Revenant

Carol

Mad Max: Fury Road

Room

Spotlight

Best motion picture – comedy or musical

Winner: The Martian

The Big Short

Joy

Spy

Trainwreck

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – drama

Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Will Smith, Concussion

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – drama

Winner: Brie Larson, Room

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Rooney Mara, Carol

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – comedy or musical

Winner: Matt Damon, The Martian

Christian Bale, The Big Short

Steve Carell, The Big Short

Al Pacino, Danny Collins

Mark Ruffalo, Infinitely Polar Bear

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – comedy or musical

Winner: Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Melissa McCarthy, Spy

Amy Schumer, Trainwreck

Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van

Lily Tomlin, GrandmaGolden Globes winners 2016

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture

Winner: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Paul Dano, Love & Mercy

Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

Michael Shannon, 99 Homes

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture

Winner: Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Jane Fonda, Youth

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

Helen Mirren, Trumbo

Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina

Best director – motion picture

Winner: Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant

Todd Haynes, Carol

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

George Miller, Max Max: Fury Road

Ridley Scott, The Martian

Best screenplay – motion picture

Winner: Steve Jobs

The Big Short

The Hateful Eight

Room

Spotlight

Best animated feature film

Winner: Inside Out

Anomalisa

The Good Dinosaur

The Peanuts Movie

Shaun the Sheep Movie

Best foreign language film

Winner: Son of Saul

The Brand New Testament

The Club

The Fencer

Mustang

Best original score – motion picture

Winner: The Hateful Eight

Carol

The Danish Girl

The Revenant

Steve Jobs

Best original song – motion picture

Winner: Writing’s On the Wall, Sam Smith – SPECTRE

Love Me Like You Do, Ellie Goulding – Fifty Shades of Grey

One Kind of Love, Brian Wilson – Love & Mercy

See You Again, Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth – Fast & Furious 7

Simple Song #3, Sumi Jo – Youth

TV

Best television series – drama

Winner: Mr. Robot

Empire

Game of Thrones

Narcos

Outlander

Best television series – comedy or musical

Winner: Mozart in the Jungle

Casual

Orange is the New Black

Silicon Valley

Transparent

Veep

Best mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Winner: Wolf Hall

American Crime

American Horror Story: Hotel

Fargo

Flesh and Bone

Best performance by an actor in a TV series – drama

Winner: Jon Hamm, Mad Men

Rami Malek, Mr. Robot

Wagner Moura, Narcos

Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul

Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan

Best performance by an actress in a TV series – drama

Winner: Taraji P Henson, Empire

Caitriona Balfe, Outlander

Viola Davis, How to Get Away with Murder

Eva Green, Penny Dreadful

Robin Wright, House of Cards

Best performance by an actor in a TV series – comedy or musical

Winner: Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

Rob Lowe, The Grinder

Patrick Stewart, Blunt Talk

Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Best performance by an actress in a TV series – comedy or musical

Winner: Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin

Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie

Best performance by an actor in a mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Winner: Oscar Isaac, Show Me a Hero

Idris Elba, Luther

David Oyelowo, Nightingale

Mark Rylance, Wolf Hall

Patrick Wilson, Fargo

Best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Winner: Lady Gaga, American Horror Story: Hotel

Kirsten Dunst, Fargo

Felicity Huffman, American Crime

Sarah Hay, Flesh and Bone

Queen Latifah, Bessie

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Winner: Christian Slater, Mr. Robot

Alan Cumming, The Good Wife

Damian Lewis, Wolf Hall

Ben Mendelsohn, Bloodline

Tobias Menzies, Outlander

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Winner: Maura Tierney, The Affair

Uzo Aduba, Orange is the New Black

Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey

Regina King, American Crime

Judith Light, Transparent

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

David Bowie Dead: Music Legend Dies of Cancer Aged 69

Sonia Pantiss
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David Bowie Dead: Music Legend Dies of Cancer Aged 69

David Bowie has died following a battle with cancer. He was 69.

The legendary singer’s official Facebook page posted the news tonight: “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

David Bowie’s son director Duncan Jones confirmed the news.

The singer only released his latest album Blackstar on his birthday on January 8.

His last live performance was at a New York charity concert in 2006.

Blackstar, which includes just seven songs, has been well received by critics.

David Bowie’s breakthrough came with 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.

Sean Penn’s Interview with El Chapo Guzman Criticized by Obama Administration

Diane A. Wade
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Sean Penn’s Interview with El Chapo Guzman Criticized by Obama Administration

Sean Penn’s interview with Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has been criticized by the Obama administration and Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio.

The interview was conducted in October in the Mexican jungle after El Chapo Guzman’s jail break, and published by Rolling Stone magazine.

A White House spokesman said Sean Penn’s “so-called interview” was “maddening”, while Marco Rubio said it was “grotesque”.

El Chapo (Shorty) Guzman, 58, was recaptured on January 8 after months on the run.

Unnamed Mexican officials say Sean Penn’s secret meeting helped lead them to the boss of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

El Chapo Guzman has now been returned to the maximum-security Altiplano jail, from where he escaped in July 2015 via a tunnel dug to the shower in his cell.

In the Rolling Stone article, the result of a seven-hour “sit-down”, El Chapo Guzman said he was the world’s leading supplier of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.Sean Penn and El Chapo Guzman interview

White House chief of staff Denis McDonough told CNN: “One thing I will tell you is that this braggadocious action about how much heroin he sends around the world, including the United States, is maddening.

“We see a heroin epidemic, an opioid addiction epidemic, in this country… But El Chapo’s behind bars – that’s where he should stay.”

The Mexican authorities would not say whether they would investigate Sean Penn and a Mexican actress, Kate del Castillo, who apparently arranged the interview.

Denis McDonough declined to answer a question about whether the US would hand Sean Penn over to Mexico for questioning.

“Well, it poses a lot of very interesting questions both for him and for others involved in this-so-called interview, so we’ll see what happens on that – I’m not going to get ahead of it,” he said.

Marco Rubio told ABC: “If one of these American actors who have benefited from the greatness of this country, who have made money from our free enterprise system, want to go fawn all over a criminal and a drug trafficker in their interviews, they have a constitutional right to do it. I find it grotesque.”

Mexico has said it will begin the process of extraditing El Chapo Guzman to the US, in line with extradition requests from 2015.

He is charged with smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the US.

No detail has been given about the timeframe for extradition but experts say the process could take months.

Mexico and the US have an extradition treaty but there are many steps that need to be taken and officials who need to approve the request.

Previous requests from the US have been turned down.

El Chapo Guzman, who was named Public Enemy Number One by the Chicago Crime Commission in 2013, has been indicted by at least seven US federal district courts.

Sean Penn Met El Chapo Guzman in Secret Location after Jail Break

Diane A. Wade
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Sean Penn Met El Chapo Guzman in Secret Location after Jail Break

Sean Penn interviewed Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman at a secret location soon after his jail break.

The interview, conducted in October in the Mexican jungle, is published in January 9 edition of Rolling Stone magazine.

El Chapo (Shorty) Guzman escaped from the maximum security Altiplano jail in July and was recaptured on January 8.

According to Mexican officials, Sean Penn’s secret meeting helped lead them to the fugitive who is back in Altiplano.

Their comments chime with public pronouncements by Attorney General Arely Gomez, who said on January 8 that an important aspect of his recapture “was discovering Guzman’s intention to have a biographic film made”.

“He contacted actresses and producers, which was part of one line of investigation.”

In the Rolling Stone article, the result of a seven-hour “sit-down”, Sean Penn and El Chapo Guzman discuss various topics, including drug trafficking.

El Chapo Guzman, 58, is quoted as saying: “If there was no consumption, there would be no sales.”

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

The drug lord also rejects responsibility for drug addiction, saying “the day I don’t exist, it’s not going to decrease in any way at all”.

The meeting, apparently arranged by Mexican actress Kate del Castillo, took place in a remote part of Durango state, a Mexican official told Associated Press. Durango borders Sinaloa state, the center of El Chapo Guzman’s operations.

A picture of El Chapo Guzman in Rolling Stone shaking hands with Sean Penn is dated October 2. Two weeks later, the Mexican authorities reported that the cartel leader narrowly evaded recapture in northwest Mexico and suffered face and leg injuries as he fled.

The authorities said they could have fired on El Chapo Guzman at his hideout, but decided against because he was with two women and a child.

Another source, quoted by Reuters, said the Mexicans were considering investigating Sean Penn and Kate del Castillo.

Mexico meanwhile says it will begin the process of extraditing Joaquin Guzman to the United States, in line with extradition requests from 2014.

El Chapo Guzman, who was one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers, escaped from jail through a tunnel dug in the showers.

That was his second escape – he was first arrested in Guatemala in 1993 and escaped from Puente Grande jail in 2001, reportedly in a laundry basket after bribing officials.

The drug lord was on the run for 13 years before being held again in 2014. Previous requests from the US have been turned down.

No detail was given about the time frame for an extradition but experts say the process could take months.

Mexico attorney general’s office said that lawyers for El Chapo Guzman would have three days to file objections and 20 more days to prove them, though that timeframe could be extended, AFP reports.

In a statement welcoming El Chapo Guzman’s recapture, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said he had caused “significant violence, suffering and corruption on multiple continents”.

The US filed requests in 2014 for his extradition so he could face charges of smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the country.

El Chapo Guzman, who was named Public Enemy Number One by the Chicago Crime Commission in 2013, has been indicted by at least seven US federal district courts.

He was recaptured in the north-western city of Los Mochis in his home state of Sinaloa – which he had come to dominate through his drugs cartel.

During the raid, El Chapo Guzman managed to flee through a drain but was later caught by marines in a shootout. Five suspects were killed in the operation and one marine wounded.

Lemmy Funeral Held In Los Angeles

Sonia Pantiss
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Lemmy Funeral Held In Los Angeles

Family and rock stars paid tribute to Motorhead frontman Lemmy at his funeral in Los Angeles.

Lemmy, who was born Ian Fraser Kilmister in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, died on December 28 at the age of 70, just two days after discovering he had an “extremely aggressive cancer”.

Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, and Slash from Guns N’ Roses all spoke at the service.

Fans were asked not to attend but a live stream was put on YouTube.

A photograph of Motorhead was on display at the service chapel, together with a bank of speakers, Lemmy’s boots and an urn shaped like the singer’s trademark black brimmed hat.

The service at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery began with an introduction by the band’s manager Todd Singerman, who welcomed guests to the “celebration of Lemmy’s life”.

The singer’s son Paul Inder recalled his father’s life as a “stage warrior” and “free spirit”.

Lemmy, who lived in Los Angeles, had “felt something was wrong” in August 2015 and appeared frail, Paul Inder said.Lemmy funeral

“He wasn’t a religious man and praying for a miracle was something he would have viewed as a delusional act, but he was profoundly spiritual,” he said.

“Travel well, my dear father. You are back out on the road for a longest tour to the great gig in the sky.”

Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash told the service: “Lemmy was somebody I just feel so honored to have been friends with. He lived his life the way he wanted to… his music and personality will last forever.”

The service also heard from Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich from Metallica, Judas Priest singer Rob Halford and Anthrax frontman Scott Ian.

It ended with an emotional speech from Dave Grohl in which he recalled his first meeting with Lemmy more than 20 years ago. He described him as “my hero… the one true rock ‘n’ roller” but also someone who “set such a great example because he was so kind to everyone”.

Then Lemmy’s bass guitar was plugged in to a stack of amplifiers and the volume turned up, with the congregation applauding as feedback from the speakers filled the chapel.

Fans were urged to watch the service together in a bar, club or at home, and the YouTube broadcast attracted more than 250,000 views across the world.

A message from Motorhead ahead of the service said: “Wherever you are, please get together and watch the service with fellow Motorheadbangers and friends.”

Lemmy formed Motorhead in 1975 after being thrown out of space-rock band Hawkwind, and went on to record 22 studio albums with the band.

Since Lemmy’s death, more than 100,000 fans have signed an online petition for the singer’s nickname to live on through a newly discovered chemical element, which they have asked to be named “Lemmium”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-nkqlRlNE

Catalonia to Elect New Regional President

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia to Elect New Regional President

Catalonia’s assembly is due to choose a new regional president after Artur Mas stepped down and pro-independence parties reached an agreement to form a coalition.

The anti-capitalist CUP party and the Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) alliance are expected to elect Carles Puigdemont as regional president.

The two sides had disagreed over whether Artur Mas could continue as Catalan president following elections.

Artur Mas has stepped aside in favor of Carles Puigdemont to avoid new elections.

Disagreements between secessionist parties, which gained a majority in September’s regional polls, have blocked the formation of a new Catalan government.Carles Puigdemont Catalonia

Artur Mas has been in power since 2010 and heads Junts pel Si, which won 62 of the 135 seats. However, the CUP (Popular Unity Candidacy), which holds 10 seats, has refused to support him.

Carles Puigdemont is the mayor of the town of Girona.

Nationally, Spain faces weeks of political uncertainty after an inconclusive general election on December 20.

In November, the Catalan parliament voted to start the secession process – a move declared unconstitutional by Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP), which ran the country before last month’s election.

Catalonia is a highly industrialized and populous region in Spain’s north-east that accounts for about a fifth of the country’s economic output.

Both the PP and the Socialists (PSOE), who came first and second respectively in Spain’s general election, oppose Catalan secession.

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

El Chapo Guzman Extradition Process to Begin in Mexico

Diane A. Wade
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El Chapo Guzman Extradition Process to Begin in Mexico

Mexico will begin the process of extraditing recaptured drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to the United States, the Mexican attorney general’s office has announced.

It said the move was in line with US extradition requests from 2014.

On January 8, El Chapo Guzman was detained and sent back to the maximum-security prison he escaped from six months ago.

El Chapo Guzman, who was one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers, escaped from the Altiplano prison in July through a tunnel dug in the showers.

That was his second escape – he was first arrested in Guatemala in 1993 and escaped from Puente Grande jail in 2001, reportedly in a laundry basket after bribing officials.

El Chapo Guzman was on the run for 13 years before being held again in 2014. Previous requests from the US have been turned down.

Photo AP
Photo AP

On January 9, Rolling Stone magazine published an article by Sean Penn based on a meeting he had with El Chapo Guzman at his secret hideout before his capture.

The two men discuss various topics, including drug trafficking. El Chapo Guzman is quoted as saying: “If there was no consumption, there would be no sales.”

No detail was given about the time frame for an extradition but experts say the process could take months.

The attorney general’s office said that lawyers for Joaquin Guzman would have three days to file objections and 20 more days to prove them, though that timeframe could be extended, AFP reports.

In a statement welcoming El Chapo Guzman’s recapture, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said he had caused “significant violence, suffering and corruption on multiple continents”.

The US filed requests in 2014 for his extradition so he could face charges of smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the country.

El Chapo Guzman, who was named Public Enemy Number One by the Chicago Crime Commission in 2013, has been indicted by at least seven US federal district courts.

He was arrested on January 8 in the north-western city of Los Mochis in his home state of Sinaloa – which he had come to dominate through his drugs cartel.

During the raid, El Chapo Guzman managed to flee through a drain but was later caught by marines in a shootout.

Five suspects were killed in the operation and one marine wounded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bURovLbm84k

Donald Trump Urged to Apologize to Muslim Woman Kicked out of His Rally

Diane A. Wade
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0
Donald Trump Urged to Apologize to Muslim Woman Kicked out of His Rally

Donald Trump has been urged by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to apologize to a Muslim protester ejected from one of his rallies.

CAIR said Rose Hamid’s eviction from the rally in South Carolina sent a “chilling message to American Muslims”.

Rose Hamid was removed after making a silent protest on January 8.

Donald Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States has been widely condemned.Donald Trump and Rose Hamid

During the rally in the town of Rock Hill, Rose Hamid stood up wearing a T-shirt bearing the words: “Salam, I come in peace.”

“Salam” is the Arabic word for peace.

When Rose Hamid stood up, the crowd around her began chanting “Trump! Trump!” as they had reportedly been instructed to do in the event of any interruption.

Rose Hamid, a 56-year-old flight attendant, was then told by a security officer that she had to leave. She was booed as she was escorted out.

CAIR said that as well as apologizing to Rose Hamid, Donald Trump should “make a clear statement that American Muslims are welcome as fellow citizens and as participants in the nation’s political process”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PecHVj3OROs

Argentina Manhunt: Only One of Three Fugitives Captured

Diane A. Wade
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Argentina Manhunt: Only One of Three Fugitives Captured

A huge manhunt is under way in Argentina as only one of three fugitives convicted of a triple murder has been captured; police say hours after officials claimed all had been caught.

The three escaped from a maximum-security prison almost two weeks ago.

President Mauricio Macri’s office initially said they are been captured north-west of Buenos Aires, but police later said that two remained at large.

The latest twist is a major embarrassment to the new president, correspondents say.

The police manhunt – shown on live television – has gripped Argentina.

Police say the man they captured, Martin Lanatta, was caught after the car the men were traveling in rolled over in the chase in Santa Fe province, about 300 miles from Buenos Aires.

The other two escaped on foot.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Victor Schillaci and brothers Christian and Martin Lanatta were serving life in prison for kidnapping and murdering three men allegedly connected to a drug trafficking ring.

President Mauricio Macri – a conservative who replaced Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner after December elections – had accused the previous administration of not doing enough to crack down on drug crime.

Last month the three men escaped from one of the country’s most secure prisons using a fake gun to threaten one of the guards.

Martin Lanatta had leapt into the political limelight in 2015 when he accused the presidential chief of staff, Anibal Fernandez, of complicity in the killings.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner denied the accusation but it damaged his campaign last October to become the new governor of Buenos Aires province.

The winning candidate, María Eugenia Vidal, dismissed the intrigue and said the jail-break had been an inside job.

María Eugenia Vidal sacked the head of the prison service.

Powerball Winning Numbers: No Winner for Record $950 Million Jackpot

Nancy Clayson
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Powerball Winning Numbers: No Winner for Record $950 Million Jackpot

Powerball lottery announced the six winning numbers for the record jackpot of $949.8 million on January 9.

The winning numbers were 32-16-19-57-34 and the Powerball number 13. All six numbers must be correct to win, although the first five can be in any order.Powerball jackpot winning numbers 2016

There was no winner in Saturday’s drawing as Wednesday’s jackpot is expected to hit $1.3 billion.

Since November 4, the Powerball jackpot has grown from its $40 million starting point as no one has won the jackpot. Such a huge jackpot was just what officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs the Powerball game, hoped for last fall when they changed the odds of matching all the Powerball numbers, from about one in 175 million to one in 292.2 million. By making it harder to win a jackpot, the tougher odds made the ever-larger prizes inevitable.

Powerball Jackpot Reaches $900 Million

Nancy Clayson
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Powerball Jackpot Reaches $900 Million

The current estimated jackpot for Powerball lottery has reached $900 million – the largest jackpot in American lottery history.

With this possible payout for January 9 draw, lottery fever in the US has resulted in long queues outside ticket vendors, driving up the jackpot value.Powerball jackpot 2016

The rise means that an individual could take home about $558 million if they choose a lump-sum prize.

The winner must match five numbers between one and 69 and a sixth number between 1 and 26.

Powerball lottery is played in 44 of 50 states and three American territories. It takes place each Wednesday and Saturday at 22:59 PM.

Lottery officials quoted in several outlets say the odds of winning are one in 292 million.

Catalonia Independence: Artur Mas Steps Down as Regional President

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia Independence: Artur Mas Steps Down as Regional President

President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Artur Mas has announced he will quit as the pro-independence head of the Spanish region, to avoid triggering new elections.

Disagreements between secessionist parties, which gained a majority in last year’s regional polls, have blocked the formation of a Catalan government.

Catalonia’s acting leader said he supported the mayor of the Girona region, Carles Puigdemont, as his replacement.

Artur Mas i Gavarró has been in power since 2010.

In September elections, Artur Mas’ Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) alliance won 62 of the 135 seats in the Catalan assembly.

However, a small anti-capitalist and pro-independence party, the CUP (Popular Unity Candidacy), which holds 10 seats, has refused to support Artur Mas as leader.

“I am stepping aside and will not be standing as a Junts pel Si candidate for the re-election of president of the regional government,” Artur Mas told a news conference in Barcelona.Artur Mas resignation

Nationally, Spain faces weeks of political uncertainty after an inconclusive general election on 20 December.

In November 2015, the Catalan parliament voted to start the secession process – a move declared unconstitutional by Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP), which ran the country before last month’s election.

Catalonia is a highly industrialized and populous region in Spain’s north-east that accounts for about a fifth of the country’s economic output.

Both the PP and the Socialists (PSOE), who came first and second respectively in Spain’s general election, oppose Catalan secession.

Ilya Zelendinov: Russian Doctor Kills Patient with Punch in Head

Nancy Clayson
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0
Ilya Zelendinov: Russian Doctor Kills Patient with Punch in Head

A shocking video shows a Russian hospital doctor punching a patient who collapsed and later died.

The incident took place in the city of Belgorod, 440 miles south of Moscow, on December 29.

The patient had earlier kicked a nurse, after which the doctor punched him in the head, Russian media reported.Russian doctor punches patient

Investigators think it was a case of “involuntary manslaughter”, one official told Russian TV, but have launched a criminal case.

The story went viral after the CCTV footage came to light.

Yelena Kozyreva from the local investigations committee said they believed there was no malicious intent in the doctor’s actions.

Relatives identified the patient as Yevgeniy Bakhtin, 56, a resident of Belgorod, LifeNews TV reported.

The doctor has been named as Ilya Zelendinov, according to the privately owned channel Ren TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn8WluSHCL8

Refugee Crisis: Angela Merkel Proposes Tougher Laws after Cologne Attacks

Diane A. Wade
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0
Refugee Crisis: Angela Merkel Proposes Tougher Laws after Cologne Attacks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced tougher refugee laws after the New Year’s Eve attacks on women in Cologne.

Angela Merkel has proposed changes to make it easier to deport asylum-seekers who commit crimes on German territory.

The attacks, which victims say were carried out by men of North African and Arab appearance, have called into question the German chancellor’s open-door migrant policy.

The police’s handling of the events has also been sharply criticized.

The anti-immigrant Pegida movement is due to protest in Cologne.

Angela Merkel, speaking after a meeting of her Christian Democrat party leadership in Mainz, proposed tightening the law on denying the right of asylum for those who have committed crimes.Angela Merkel Cologne attacks

Under the new plans, those on probation could be deported too.

“When crimes are committed, and people place themselves outside the law…there must be consequences,” Angela Merkel told reporters after the meeting.

Under current German laws, asylum seekers are only forcibly sent back if they have been sentenced to at least three years, and providing their lives are not at risk in their countries of origin.

The move, which will still need parliamentary approval, follows the New Year’s Eve attacks, which sparked outrage in Germany.

Victims described chaos as dozens of assaults and robberies were carried out with little apparent response from the authorities around the city’s main station.

Twenty-one people are being investigated for assault.

The identification of the attackers in Cologne as North African or Arab in appearance has caused alarm in Germany because of the influx of more than a million refugees in 2015.

Meanwhile German officials have warned that anti-immigrant groups have been trying to use the attacks to stir up hatred.

Similar attacks to those seen in Cologne were also reported in Hamburg and in Stuttgart on New Year’s Eve. In Bielefeld, hundreds of men tried to force their way into nightclubs Die Welt reports.

Police said several women had alleged assault.

As the investigation into the Cologne attacks continues, federal authorities say they have identified 18 asylum-seekers among 31 suspects. However, they are suspected of theft and violence, but not assault.

The suspects include nine Algerians, eight Moroccans, five Iranians, four Syrians, two Germans and one each from Iraq, Serbia and the United States.

Separately to the federal investigation focusing on what happened at the station itself, Cologne police are investigating 21 people in connection with the assaults. It is not known how many of these are asylum-seekers.

The North Rhine-Westphalia state police have recorded 170 complaints of crimes, 117 of which involve assault. There were two allegations of rape.

The interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Ralf Jaeger said on January 8 that he had suspended police chief Wolfgang Albers from his duties.

Wolfgang Albers has been accused of holding back information about the attacks, in particular about the origin of the suspects.

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