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New Year Terror Plot: Six People Arrested in Brussels

Roy Siemens
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New Year Terror Plot: Six People Arrested in Brussels

Six people have been arrested in Brussels in connection with an alleged plot to target the Belgian capital on New Year’s Eve, prosecutors say.

The arrests come as cities around the world heighten security measures ahead of large-scale New Year celebrations.

The arrests in Brussels were made during raids in suburbs including Molenbeek, which was used as a base by the November 13 Paris attackers.

Brussels’ main fireworks display has been cancelled over the feared plot.

Photo AP
Photo AP

None of the six people arrested on December 31 have been identified. Two people arrested in Brussels earlier this week, named as 30-year-old Said S and 27-year-old Mohammed K, have been charged with threatening to carry out a terrorist attack.

According to Brussels police, the apparent plots to target New Year celebrations are not related to the network behind the Paris attacks.

Security is being stepped up in major European cities ahead of New Year celebrations, with officials wary of possible terror plots.

New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in Brussels and extra measures are being put in place in other cities, including Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow.

Meanwhile in Turkey, security services say they have thwarted a major plot to attack celebrations in Ankara.

Israel Summer Programs – Why Spending Your Summer in Israel is a Great Idea

Lisa.Felice
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Israel Summer Programs – Why Spending Your Summer in Israel is a Great Idea

You work very hard during the school year, focusing on your school work and balancing it against the extracurricular activities, such as sports, music and other hobbies, as well as social life. All of these things make up who you are! Guidance counselors and college acceptance manuals state that well-rounded individuals, who show that they excel not only in the academic work but also in other domains of their lives, have a better chance of getting into a college of their choice. Summer academic programs further signal to prospective schools and employers of your dedication to learning new things.  On the other hand, after a long academic year, who doesn’t deserve a break? Students need to hit a refresh button and get ready to start a new school year or their first job out of high school or college with replenished energy reserves, excitement and a relaxed body and mind. So how is it possible to use summertime to further your education and career goals while having meaningful experiences, meeting new friends and giving your brain and your body a chance to rest? The answer is to spend your summer in an amazing, diverse and dynamic place while learning about its history and politics and gaining academic credit. In other words, choose one of Israel summer programs for high school students.

Israel is amazing at any time of the year. But summer is really special here. During the summer the country comes alive with special events and festivals that create truly authentic and immersive experiences for study-abroad program participants.

Most Israel summer programs, programs last for about 6 weeks and allow participants to learn Israel’s rich history where it really happened. Israel itself becomes the classroom with lectures held on the beach, in the mountains, or on a hiking trail. Outdoors class time is supplemented with fun activities, be it swimming in the Mediterranean, Red and Dead seas, kayaking, attending concerts of local and visiting bands, volunteering, visiting outstanding Israeli startups, tasting Israeli foods, exploring outdoor food markets and just hanging out in Israeli cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa.

Both students of the Jewish descent and those with a different cultural heritage will create a special bond with Israel, learn about the incredible diversity in this land, as well as a unique geopolitical situation, and how everyday life in Israel is very much different from that portrayed in the media. Students have the chance to meet and engage with Jews, Arabs, Ethiopians, Bedouins, Druze and other ethnic groups that make Israel into a fascinating melting pot. Israel, which is the size of New Jersey, has a wealth of landscapes — the desert, mountains, wetlands, endless beaches and the Dead Sea, the lowest inland point on Earth, all of which will impress even the most seasoned traveler.

Learning about Israel’s past, analyzing the current political climate and building predictions for the future in the region create an excellent learning opportunity, as well as provide on-the-ground explanations for those interested in Middle Eastern politics and culture. Israel summer abroad programs create an immersive experience that creates life opportunities, from assistance in the college admissions process to gaining independence and learning subjects that may influence academic and career decisions.

King Dalindyebo of South Africa Begins 12-Year Jail Sentence

Diane A. Wade
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King Dalindyebo of South Africa Begins 12-Year Jail Sentence

South Africa’s King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has begun a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping, assault and arson.

King Dalindyebo, who is a nephew of the late Nelson Mandela, reported to prison after his legal attempts to overturn his conviction failed.

The case against King Dalindyebo was related to a dispute he had with some of his subjects about 20 years ago.

He comes from the Thembu clan, to which Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, belonged.

King Dalindyebo, 51, is the first monarch to be jailed in South Africa since minority rule ended in 1994.

He ascended to the throne in 1989, and has about 700,000 subjects.King Dalindyebo jailed

South Africa has 10 officially recognized monarchs representing different ethnic groups and clans.

They play a largely ceremonial role, and attend to minor disputes within their communities.

King Dalindyebo was accused of kidnapping a woman and her six children, setting their home on fire and beating up four youths, one of whom died, because one of their relatives had failed to present himself before the king’s traditional court.

He handed himself to prison authorities in the eastern city of Mthatha in compliance with a court order after a judge refused to extend his bail on December 30, the justice ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, Justice Minister Michael Masutha turned down his request for a retrial, saying there was no legal justification for doing so.

King Dalindyebo had maintained his innocence, saying he disciplined his subjects under customary law.

Sentencing him in October, the Supreme Court of Appeal said: “His behavior was all the more deplorable because the victims of his reign of terror were the vulnerable rural poor, who were dependent upon him. Our constitution does not countenance such behavior.

“We are a constitutional democracy in which everyone is accountable and where the most vulnerable are entitled to protection.”

Many people feel King Dalindyebo has disgraced the royal family, and that he will be hard-pressed to find any sympathy, correspondents say.

There is already talk of his son, Prince Azenethi Dalindyebo, being crowned as the next monarch.

King Dalindyebo defected from the governing African National Congress (ANC) to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party during his legal battles.

The DA revoked King Dalindyebo’s membership following the ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Air Canada Flight 88 Makes Emergency Landing after Turbulence Injures 21 Passengers

Nancy Clayson
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Air Canada Flight 88 Makes Emergency Landing after Turbulence Injures 21 Passengers

An Air Canada plane with 332 passengers and 19 crew on board was forced to make an emergency landing after severe turbulence injured 21 passengers, including three children, officials said.

Air Canada flight AC88 from Shanghai to Toronto was diverted to Calgary after the turbulence hit.

Photo CBC
Photo CBC

Eight passengers suffered neck and back injuries and 13 more were taken to hospital for observation.

The injured were in a stable condition, an emergency services spokesman said.

Some passengers were taken off the plane strapped to stretchers. Emergency Medical Services spokesman Stuart Brideaux said the injuries were limited to non-life-threatening neck and back injuries.

Air Canada COO Klaus Goersch said the passengers had been through a “very unsettling experience”.

He praised the crew’s response and said some of the injured had been quickly discharged.

The Boeing 777 landed at Calgary without further incident, the airline said in a statement.

Katrina Pierson: Donald Trump’s Spokesperson Criticized for Wearing Bullet Necklace

Nancy Clayson
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Katrina Pierson: Donald Trump’s Spokesperson Criticized for Wearing Bullet Necklace

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign spokesperson Katrina Pierson responded to criticism of her appearance during a CNN interview on December 28.

Katrina Pierson, who made a name for herself defending Donald Trump against various attacks, boasted a necklace composed of bullets and their shell casings on CNN. The segment didn’t have anything to do with guns, gun violence or gun control, but the necklace was quite noticeable.Katrina Pierson bullet necklace

Hours after the interview first aired, Shannon Watts – the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – tweeted sarcastically that “surely” Katrina Pierson had worn the bullet necklace “to bring attention to 90 Americans fatally shot daily”.

Shortly after that, Katrina Pierson responded to Shannon Watts’ implicit criticism with a promised trolling of her own: “Maybe I’ll wear a fetus next time& bring awareness to 50 million aborted people that will never ger to be on Twitter.”

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

Midwest Flooding: 12 Million People in Danger

Diane A. Wade
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Midwest Flooding: 12 Million People in Danger

Rivers in Midwest brought flood warnings for over 12 million people on December 30 as scores of buildings were submerged after days of intense rain in which 24 people have died.

Two rivers west of St. Louis crested at historic levels, flooding local towns, disabling sewer plants and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents.

Major rivers including the Mississippi are expected to reach record highs as flood waters rush toward the Gulf of Mexico, the National Weather Service said.

The flooding has closed many roads and parts of I-44, a major artery running from west Texas to St. Louis. It poses a threat to livestock and crops in farm areas stretching from Illinois to Louisiana.

Water rose to the rooftops of homes and businesses in Missouri, where Governor Jay Nixon called the flooding “historic and dangerous”.Midwest flooding 2015

Jay Nixon spoke with President Barack Obama on December 30 and received a pledge of federal support.

About 300 people in Valley Park, Missouri, west of St. Louis, were evacuated in case a levee is breached on the Meramec River, said Chief Rick Wilken of the Valley Park Fire District.

At least 24 people have died, mostly from driving into flooded areas, in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and Oklahoma after days of downpours with as much as 12 inches of rain.

In Eureka, Missouri, along the Meramec River, Mayor Kevin Coffey said a man was rescued from atop the cab of his pick-up truck after spending the night in a parking lot to watch over his gun shop business.

Historic floods on the Mississippi in 1993, 1995 and 2011 occurred during warm weather, after snow melts in the north.

While the rains have stopped for now, freezing weather is setting in.

Agriculture experts said water standing more than a week could kill the soft red winter wheat crop. Export premiums for corn and soybeans were at their highest levels in weeks because of stalled barge traffic on swollen rivers.

Specialty Apparel Retailers Lose $500 Million Due to Warm Temperatures

Clyde K. Valle
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Specialty Apparel Retailers Lose $500 Million Due to Warm Temperatures

Specialty apparel retailers lost more than $500 million in sales this holiday season due to warm temperatures, analysts say.

While the promise of colder weather in the New Year should finally provide a boost to cold-weather apparel, analysts said any spike in demand would be too little too late.

Further adding to retailers’ woes are predictions that spring will get off to an unusually cool start across much of the United States, which could cause an even bigger blow to apparel sales than the warm December.

Photo Zara
Photo Zara

According to Planalytics, a consulting firm that analyzes the effect of weather on consumer demand, specialty apparel stores lost $421 million in sales due to weather between November 1 and December 19. That number ballooned to more than $500 million through December 26 – and it doesn’t even account for the losses at department stores.

These retailers are also expected to report anemic sales during the fourth quarter, with Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren warning in last month that consumers would have a “field day” this holiday shopping season, as the company would be forced to slash prices to get rid of its excess inventory.

Planalytics’ data show that demand for outerwear declined 10% nationally in December, compared to 2014, while demand for boots and hats, gloves and scarves each fell 4%.

Caitlyn Jenner Settles Lawsuit with Prius Driver Jessica Steindorff

Lisa.Felice
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Caitlyn Jenner Settles Lawsuit with Prius Driver Jessica Steindorff

Caitlyn Jenner has succeeded to settle her lawsuit with Jessica Steindorff, the driver of the Prius involved in the reality star’s fatal crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in February.

The reality star, then known as Bruce Jenner, slammed into a Lexus while driving down the busy Los Angeles parkway. The car’s driver, Kim Howe, was then sent into oncoming traffic, where she was struck and killed by a Hummer. After hitting Kim Howe’s car, Bruce Jenner then crashed into Jessica Steindorff’s Prius.

Jessica Steindorff, whose car was nearly totaled in the accident, sued Caitlyn Jenner in June. In her legal papers, the plaintiff maintained that in addition to the property damage, she was also seeking compensation for personal injuries suffered. The amount of the settlement has not been undisclosed.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

However, Caitlyn Jenner’s insurance company reportedly paid for all of the damages.

The reality star still has two additional lawsuits in progress.

Caitlyn Jenner faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Kim Howe’s stepchildren, but Jenner has been fighting to get that claim dismissed, arguing that the plaintiffs had no relationship with their late stepmom and did not depend on her financially. Additionally, the five occupants of the Hummer involved in the collision filed a civil suit against Caitlyn Jenner earlier this month, alleging she was responsible for the accident due to driving recklessly and at an unsafe speed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCnYayeUH3w

Vital essentials you need to know about hormone replacement therapy

Dana R
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Vital essentials you need to know about hormone replacement therapy

For a number of years, doctors routinely recommended HRT or hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of menopause and the various uncomfortable symptoms associated with it. They also prescribed HRT for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and other coronary heart diseases. Then later in the year 2002, after the results were published of a federal study called the Women’s Health Initiative, there were many questions that rose about the actual benefits and risks of HRT, causing around two-thirds women to stop using it. So, what actually is HRT and for whom is this a perfect kind of treatment? Read on to know more on it.

Hormone replacement therapy – What is it actually?

HRT is a treatment which is used to normalize the natural hormone levels of our body, either in the form of estrogen therapy (ET) or as estrogen with progesterone therapy. While the former is done for women who have had surgical menopause, the latter is done for women who have gone through natural menopause in their midlife.

Some important things you should know about HRT

Here are some points to check out about HRT before you take a plunge and invest your dollars.

  1. When you might require HRT: Do you sweat during midnight? Do you experience pain during sexual intercourse? Do you suffer from anxiety and mood swings? Well, these are some common symptoms of menopause which you might experience once your body stops producing the essential female hormones. During such a time, taking replacement hormones is a way of managing them. However, ensure weighing the benefits and risks of this with your doctor.
  2. HRT within your limits: There was a time when doctors were of the opinion that all women who faced menopause would require hormones to manage their post-menopause symptoms and prevent bone loss and heart diseases. But later, a study by the NIH or the National Institutes of Health found out that taking artificial doses of hormone could aggravate the chances of stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.
  3. HRT off limits: You should inform your doctor about your entire medical history in case you’re opting for HRT. Remember that this therapy is not for you if you’re already suffered from cervical, endometrial, ovarian or any other hormone-sensitive cancer form. If you’ve had a history of liver problems, heart diseases, blood clots, stroke or other cardiovascular illnesses, you shouldn’t opt for HRT.
  4. Hormones in HRT: As mentioned above, there are 2 types of HRT, estrogen alone and with progesterone. Estrogen causes the uterus lining to thicken and can increase risk of endometrial cancer. Adding progesterone can reduce this risk. However, if you’re experiencing menopause due to surgery (hysterectomy), you won’t require the combination treatment.
  5. Whom to seek help: After knowing so much about HRT, you must be wondering about whom to seek help of if you consider undergoing this treatment. If your doctor thinks that HRT is suitable for you, he will give you a prescription of the drugs. You can also allow National HRT to help you find the best doctor for HRT.
  6. HRT routine may differ according to your needs: If you have the goal of relieving yourself of the menopausal symptoms, a few months of treatment would be enough. Nevertheless, symptoms could again arise once you stop. Ensure re-evaluating your regimen with your gynaecologist.

Hence if you’re intrigued by the benefits of HRT, you might opt for it. But take into account the word of caution mentioned above so that you don’t end up with some other fatal disease in your pursuit to stay young and happy.

Interstellar Tops List of Most Pirated Movies of 2015

Sonia Pantiss
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Interstellar Tops List of Most Pirated Movies of 2015

Interstellar is the most pirated movie of 2015, according to piracy tracking company Excipio.

According to Excipio, Interstellar was illegally downloaded 47 million times between January 1st and December 25.

That beats the figure for 2014 list-topper, the Wolf of Wall Street, which was downloaded 30 million times.

All of 2015 top 10 most pirated movies had over 30 million downloads, Excipio said.Interstellar most pirated movie

Top 10 most pirated movies of 2015:

  1. Interstellar – 46.8 million downloads
  2. Fast & Furious 7 – 44.7 million
  3. Avengers: Age of Ultron – 41.6 million
  4. Jurassic World – 36.9 million
  5. Max: Fury Road – 36.4 million
  6. American Sniper – 33.9 million
  7. Fifty Shades of Grey – 32.1 million
  8. The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies – 31.6 million
  9. Terminator: Genesis – 31 million
  10. Kingsman: The Secret Service – 30.9 million

Separate research from the news site TorrentFreak indicated that Game of Thrones was the most pirated TV show for the fourth year in a row.

The HBO drama was downloaded an estimated 14.4 million times via BitTorrent – up from eight million times last year

That does not include illegal online streaming or file-hosting services, TorrentFreak said, meaning total piracy numbers would be higher.

The news may surprise some, given the rise of subscription video on demand services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.

According to Excipio, Brazil was responsible for the most illegal film downloads in 2015, followed by Russia, China and India.

The US was positioned fifth, down from third in 2014.

Top 10 pirated TV shows of 2015:

  1. Game of Thrones– 14.4 million downloads
  2. The Walking Dead – 6.9 million
  3. The Big Bang Theory – 4.4 million
  4. Arrow – 3.9 million
  5. The Flash – 3.6 million
  6. Mr. Robot – 3.5 million
  7. Vikings – 3.3 million
  8. Supergirl – 3 million
  9. The Blacklist – 2.9 million
  10. Suits – 2.6 million

Stalin’s Sofa: Gerard Depardieu to Play Joseph Stalin in New Movie

Sonia Pantiss
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Stalin’s Sofa: Gerard Depardieu to Play Joseph Stalin in New Movie

Gerard Depardieu is to play Russian dictator Joseph Stalin in a new movie, according to reports.

The French actor will star in the project, translated as Stalin’s Sofa, which will be directed by actress Fanny Ardant, said The Hollywood Reporter.

The movie is based on French author Jean-Daniel Baltassat’s 2013 novel.

Gerard Depardieu was presented with a Russian passport by Vladimir Putin in 2013 after moving to avoid higher taxes in his native France.Gerard Depardieu to play Joseph Stalin

The actor’s move to Russia came after he criticized French President Francois Hollande’s plans to raise taxes to 75% for those earning more than 1 million euro.

Gerard Depardieu accused the government of punishing “success, creation and talent”.

In 2011, Gerard Depardieu played the lead role in Rasputin, a Franco-Russian production about the life of eccentric monk.

He also recently announced a movie about WW2 French fighter aces who flew alongside Red Air Force pilots over the Eastern Front.

Joseph Stalin, the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for more than 25 years, helped the allies defeat Nazism.

However, Joseph Stalin’s regime of terror caused the death and suffering of tens of millions.

The new movie, to be produced by French/Portuguese company Leopardo Filmes, is to be set in the 1950s Soviet Union and will center on a young artist commissioned to create Joseph Stalin’s monument.

Apple Agrees to Pay €318 Million to Settle Italy Tax Evasion Case

Nancy Clayson
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Apple Agrees to Pay €318 Million to Settle Italy Tax Evasion Case

The Italian subsidiary of tech giant Apple has agreed to pay €318 million ($348 million) following an investigation into tax fraud allegations, Italy’s tax office says.

Italy’s tax authorities say Apple failed to pay €880 million in tax between 2008 and 2013, according to La Repubblica.

The settlement follows an investigation by prosecutors in Milan.

The tech giant has not commented on the deal. It has previously denied attempting to escape paying tax owed on profits made around the world.

Apple Italia is part of the company’s European operation which is headquartered in Ireland, a country with one of the lowest levels of corporation tax in the EU.

A spokesman for the tax agency confirmed the newspaper’s report was accurate but would not divulge further details.

Ireland taxes corporate earnings from normal business activities at a rate of 12.5% compared with 27.5% in Italy.Apple Italia tax fraud

Investigators in Italy say they found a huge gap between the company’s revenues in Italy of over €1 billion between 2008 and 2013 and the €30 million that was paid in tax in the country.

The settlement comes amid a European Commission investigation into the tax arrangements of numerous multinational companies accused of using cross-border structures to reduce their tax bills, sometimes with the help of secret and potentially illegal “sweetheart” deals.

The issue of Apple’s Irish arrangements is separate from but related to the broader one of multinational companies “parking” revenues and profits in low-tax countries.

Apple’s activities in the Republic of Ireland are currently subject to that investigation, which is due to announce soon whether tax breaks designed to secure the company’s extensive investment in Ireland amounted to illegal state aid.

Apple’s European operations have been headquartered in Cork since 1980.

The company is expanding its workforce there to 6,000 and it has been joined in Ireland by other tech companies including Twitter, Microsoft and Google.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has rejected accusations that the company has been sidestepping US taxes by stashing cash overseas, insisting: “We pay every tax dollar we owe.”

Tim Cook said on a visit to Ireland in November that he was confident the Dublin government and his company would be found to have done nothing wrong.

El Nino 2016: Current Weather Phenomenon Could Equal 1998 Event

James J. Williams
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El Nino 2016: Current Weather Phenomenon Could Equal 1998 Event

NASA has warned that the effects of the current El Nino weather phenomenon could be as bad as those of 1998, the strongest on record.

That El Nino played havoc with world weather systems and was blamed for several extreme weather events.

The current El Nino has been linked to several floods and unusually warm conditions in the northern hemisphere.

The phenomenon sees warm waters of the central Pacific expand eastwards towards North and South America.

El Nino, which occurs every two to seven years, usually peaks late in the calendar year, although the effects can persist well into the following spring and last up to 12 months.

Photo NASA
Photo NASA

NASA says the current El Nino “shows no signs of waning”, based on the latest satellite image of the Pacific Ocean.

It bears “a striking resemblance” to one from December 1997, NASA says, “the signature of a big and powerful El Nino”.

This year’s El Nino has been linked to the worst floods seen in 50 years in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

The floods there have forced more than 150,000 people from their homes.

More than 100,000 of those have been in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion alone.

In the US, 13 people have died in Missouri as a result of flooded rivers after tornadoes and storms hit the region.

El Nino has also been cited as a factor in the floods that have hit northern parts of the UK, forcing thousands from their homes and leaving thousands more without power.

Storm Frank, which is expected to bring fresh rain and flooding to the UK this week, is part of a weather system which could see temperatures at the North Pole 50F higher than normal for this time of year.

Higher temperatures than the seasonal average have been noted in many parts of Europe and the US.

Average temperatures on Christmas Day in France were the second highest on record, just below those of 1997.

The mild weather has forced farmers to harvest crops such as salad, strawberries and asparagus early, with reports of large amounts of produce going to waste.

In Italy, experts say the unusually calm and dry weather has exacerbated pollution over the cities of Milan and Rome.

By contrast, in Mexico El Nino is being blamed for freezing temperatures in the north of the country, with snow seen in parts of the Sonoran desert for the first time in 33 years. Three deaths have been blamed on the cold in Sonora.

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

White House 2016: George Pataki Pulls out Race for Republican Nomination

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: George Pataki Pulls out Race for Republican Nomination

Former New York Governor George Pataki has pulled out of the race for the Republican nomination.

Correspondents say George Pataki has failed to make any impact in the polls.

In a tweet on December 29, George Pataki said he was suspending his campaign but was “confident we can elect the right person”.George Pataki suspends presidential campaign

George Pataki launched his campaign in May, positioning himself as a moderate in a heavily conservative field.

However, he has barely registered in state or national polls and was not eligible to take part in televised debates involving the high-profile candidates.

Bruce Breton, a member of George Pataki’s New Hampshire steering committee, said the former governor had told him on Tuesday that he would be leaving the race.

He said George Pataki’s campaign had struggled to win media attention or to raise funds.

“He said he couldn’t get any traction. He worked hard, it’s just a different type of year,” Bruce Breton said.

Donald Trump Planning to Spend $2 Million a Week on Campaign

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Planning to Spend $2 Million a Week on Campaign

Donald Trump has announced he is planning to spend $2 million a week on campaign advertising.

The Republican presidential hopeful said he would bring out “substantial” adverts in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina ahead of primary elections in February.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Donald Trump, a property tycoon, has previously said that he is funding his campaign himself and wouldn’t be in the pocket of lobbyists or powerful corporate entities. He has also insisted that he has spent very little on his campaign so far, and yet is the frontrunner.

“I’ll be spending a minimum of $2 million a week and perhaps substantially more,” Donald Trump said in a video broadcast on CNN.

“I’m going to be doing big ads in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and they’re going to be very substantial.”

Donald Trump’s campaign so far has been marked by a series of controversial statements.

The billionaire, who has no political experience, leads the polls nationally among Republican voters, and is also ahead in some key states.

The primary contests begin at the start of February and the presidential election is in November.

Missouri Floods 2015: Mississippi River Closed near St Louis

Nancy Clayson
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Missouri Floods 2015: Mississippi River Closed near St Louis

A 5-mile section of the Mississippi River near St Louis, Missouri, has been closed to vessels as rising water levels caused “hazardous conditions”, the US Coast Guard announced.

Storms and tornadoes have lashed the region in recent days, swelling rivers and causing flash flooding.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said 13 people in the state had died in the floods.

Jay Nixon said the National Guard had been called in to help local authorities.

Aerial footage showed water from the Mississippi River engulfing buildings in the evacuated town of West Alton, north of St Louis, on December 29.

In the town of Union, about 50 miles west of St Louis, buildings were partly submerged by severe flooding from the Missouri, Meramec and Bourbeuse rivers.

Coast Guard spokesman Capt Martin Malloy said the high water levels and fast currents had led them to close the section of the Mississippi near St Louis – a busy route for commercial shipping.

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

River levels are forecast to peak on December 31 and Gov. Jay Nixon warned that the situation could get worse before it gets better.

Jay Nixon said the National Guard would provide security in evacuated areas and direct traffic away from closed roads.

“These citizen soldiers will provide much-needed support to state and local first responders, many of whom have spent the last several days working around the clock responding to record rainfall and flooding,” the governor said in a statement.

Jay Nixon added that three new flood-related deaths had been discovered on December 29, raising the death toll in the state since the storms began over the weekend to 13.

Many of the victims have been trapped in vehicles swept off flooded roads.

South-west of St Louis, a section of Interstate 44 was closed by flooding near the town of Rolla while part of Interstate 70 was also closed in the neighboring state of Illinois.

Many other smaller roads were also closed across the two states, where flood warnings were in effect.

Floods also inundated a wastewater treatment plant south of St Louis on December 28, causing sewage to flow directly into rivers and streams.

The flooding in Missouri and southern Illinois began over the weekend after as much as 10ins of rain fell in some areas in a matter of hours.

It came after severe storms over the Christmas holiday claimed at least 49 lives across the South and Midwest.

Parts of eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and Illinois are still subject to flood warnings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhOIECA7dyg

Kim Yang-gon: North Korean Senior Official Dies in Car Crash Aged 73

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Yang-gon: North Korean Senior Official Dies in Car Crash Aged 73

Kim Yang-gon, a top aide to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has died in a car crash on December 29, state news agency KCNA has said.

Kim Yang-gon, 73, was the director of the United Front Department of the ruling Workers’ Party and was in charge of ties with South Korea.

He was part of a high-level delegation from North Korea that helped ease a stand-off with South Korea in August, after an exchange of artillery fire.

KCNA called Kim Yang-gon Kim Jong-un’s “closest comrade and a solid revolutionary partner”.Kim Yang gon dead in car crash

“Comrade Kim Yang-gon, a Workers’ Party secretary and member of the party Central Committee Politbureau… died in a traffic accident at 6:15AM, Tuesday, at age 73,” KCNA said, without giving details.

It added that Kim Jong-un would lead an 80-member state funeral for Kim Yang-gon on December 31.

Tension between North Korea and South Korea increased in August when a border blast injured two South Korean soldiers.

Meetings at that time eventually led to the two Koreas stepping away from a military confrontation.

Kim Ynag-gon was succeeded by Jun-Scol Nic as director of the United Front Department of the Workers’ Party.

Laquan McDonald Death: Officer Jason Van Dyke Denies Murder

Diane A. Wade
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Laquan McDonald Death: Officer Jason Van Dyke Denies Murder

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke has denied murder over the death of black teenager Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times in 2014.

Jason Van Dyke was heckled as he arrived at court where he denied six counts of first-degree murder.

Video released earlier this year showing the shooting of Laquan McDonald sparked an outcry and the resignation of the chief of police.Laquan McDonald death Chicago

A federal investigation into Chicago’s police is under way amid a national debate about the police use of force.

The inquiry will explore whether race plays a part in the police use of force and whether officers are properly held accountable.

Laquan McDonald, who was 17 at the time, was armed with a knife when he was stopped by police.

The dashcam footage showed him moving away from police when Officer Jason Van Dyke opened fire.

Days of protests followed the release of the video, which President Barack Obama said was “disturbing”.

There were calls for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to resign and Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy quit his job.

On December 26, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the city “deserved answers” after a police officer accidentally shot and killed a 55-year-old woman when responding to a domestic disturbance.

Paris Attacks: ISIS Commanders Killed in US-Led Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria

Roy Siemens
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Paris Attacks: ISIS Commanders Killed in US-Led Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria

Ten ISIS commanders have been killed in US-led coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in the past month, a US military spokesman has said.

Some were linked to last month’s attacks in Paris and planning further attacks on the West, Col. Steve Warren added.

He named one as Charaffe al-Mouadan, who he said had a direct link to Paris attack cell leader Abdelhamid Abaaoud.

Another was a UK-educated Bangladeshi computer systems engineer, Col. Steve Warren said.

The US-led coalition has been targeting ISIS in Iraq and Syria for over a year. Russia recently began its own air attacks against armed opponents of the Syrian government, including ISIS.ISIS leaders Paris attacks

Syria-based Charaffe al-Mouadan was killed in an airstrike on December 24, said Col. Steve Warren.

Another man with connections to the Paris attackers, Abdul Qader Hakim, died two days later in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, he added.

Col. Steve Warren added that an earlier airstrike, on December 10, killed the UK-educated Bangladeshi computer engineer – who, he said, had supported ISIS hacking activities, anti-surveillance technology and weapons development.

“Over the past month we’ve killed 10 ISIL [ISIS] leadership figures with targeted air strikes, including several external attack planners, some of whom are linked to the Paris attacks,” he said.

“Others had designs on further attacking the West.

“As long as ISIL external attack planners are operating, the US military will hunt them and kill them.”

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian national, was killed in a police raid in a Paris suburb just days after the November 13 attacks in the French capital which killed 130 people at multiple venues in the city. Most of the attackers also died.

Whole Foods Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Settle Overcharging Accusations

Nancy Clayson
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Whole Foods Agrees to Pay $500,000 to Settle Overcharging Accusations

Whole Foods has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle accusations by New York authorities that it routinely overcharged customers.

The city’s Department for Consumer Affairs (DCA) said the upmarket grocery chain had to meet standards on weighing and labeling.

The deal means customers “are better protected from overcharging”, it said.Whole Foods overcharging settlement

Whole Foods admitted to making mistakes but said there was “no evidence of systematic or intentional misconduct”.

The natural foods and organic retailer said it agreed to the settlement, which was below the $1.5 million originally demanded by the DCA, “to put this issue behind us so that we can continue to focus our attention on providing NYC customers with the highest level of quality and service”.

The DCA first accused Whole Foods in June after an investigation found mislabeled weights on 80 types of pre-packaged products it tested.

Whole Foods was said to have overstated weights of pre-packaged meat, dairy and baked products.

In 2014, Whole Foods agreed to pay $800,000 in penalties and improve pricing accuracy after a separate investigation into alleged pricing irregularities in California.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Moanb-U42w

Game of Thrones Most Pirated TV Show of 2015

Sonia Pantiss
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Game of Thrones Most Pirated TV Show of 2015

HBO’s Game of Thrones has topped a list of the most pirated TV shows for the fourth year running.

According to Torrentfreak, Game of Thrones Season 5 finale was illegally downloaded 14.4 million times. More than half of those came in the week after its US premiere.

The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory were also in the top three, with 6.6 million and 4.4 million downloads respectively.Game of Thrones most pirated TV show in 2015

Earlier this year, Game of Thrones broke a record when more than 258,000 users shared the show simultaneously.

The number of illegal downloads for Game of Thrones is almost double the 8 million people who regularly watch the show legally in the US.

The first four episodes of Season 5 leaked online before they aired in April, after one pirate uploaded content from the DVD screeners sent out to critics for review.

The HBO drama was nominated for 24 Emmy Awards in July and, earlier this month, was nominated for the Golden Globe for best drama series.

Game of Thrones Season 6 is due to begin in April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VjXDWmWpGI

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Condemns Selahattin Demirtas’ Call for Kurdish Autonomy

Diane A. Wade
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan Condemns Selahattin Demirtas’ Call for Kurdish Autonomy

Selahattin Demirtas’ call for Kurdish autonomy has been condemned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “treason”.

Recep Tayip Erdogan said, referring to Selahattin Demirtas, co-leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP): “What the co-leader has done is treason, provocation.”

At the weekend the HDP and other pro-Kurdish groups called for self-rule in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish south-east.

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into those comments.

The Turkish military has stepped up operations against the rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is fighting for Kurdish self-rule. The army says it has killed more than 200 PKK militants in the latest fighting.Recep Tayyip Erdogan slams Selahattin Demirtas call for Kurdish autonomy

The PKK is regarded as a “terrorist” organization by Turkey, the US and EU.

The HDP won 59 seats in Turkey’s 550-seat parliament in the November 1 elections. It came third, behind Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Speaking on December 29, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Selahattin Demirtas and other Kurdish leaders would be “taught a lesson” by the people and the law.

He accused Selahattin Demirtas of challenging Article 14 of the constitution, which bans activities deemed to “violate the indivisible integrity of the state”.

On December 27, Selahattin Demirtas backed a declaration by a Kurdish umbrella group – the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) – which called for “autonomous regions” and “self-governance bodies”.

The declaration, issued in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, said the “rightful resistance” of Kurds against Turkish state policies “is essentially a demand and struggle for local self-governance and local democracy”.

It called for the “formation of autonomous regions, to involve several neighboring provinces in consideration of cultural, economic and geographic affinities”.

The PKK has been battling the Turkish military for three decades, in a separatist conflict that has killed more than 40,000 people.

Ehud Olmert: Israel ex-PM Sentenced to 18 Months in Jail for Bribery

Diane A. Wade
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Ehud Olmert: Israel ex-PM Sentenced to 18 Months in Jail for Bribery

Israel’s ex-PM Ehud Olmert has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for bribery.

Ehud Olmert, 70, had been sentenced to six years by a lower court in 2014, but this was reduced by the Supreme Court.

He was convicted over a real estate deal that took place while he served as mayor of Jerusalem, prior to becoming prime minister in 2006.

Ehud Olmert, who stepped down in 2009, will become the first former Israeli head of government to go to prison.

He is due to begin his sentence on February 15.Ehud Olmert in jail for bribery

The Supreme Court acquitted Ehud Olmert of receiving a 500,000-shekel ($130,000) bribe from the developers of Holyland, a controversial block of flats in Jerusalem, after he appealed against the March 2014 conviction.

A separate conviction of illicitly taking a 60,000-shekel payment for another project was upheld.

Ehud Olmert said following the ruling: “A heavy weight was lifted from my chest today, when the Supreme Court exonerated me of the main charge, of Holyland.

“No bribe was ever offered to me and I never accepted one.”

Several other government officials and businesspeople were convicted alongside Ehud Olmert in 2014.

The judge at the time said he was guilty of “moral turpitude”.

In a separate case, Ehud Olmert was sentenced earlier this year to eight months in prison for fraud and breach of trust for accepting illegal payments from an American businessman.

The Supreme Court is yet to rule on Ehud Olmert’s appeal in that case.

Guinea Declared Free of Ebola Virus

Kathryn R. Bown
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Guinea Declared Free of Ebola Virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Guinea free of Ebola, two years after the epidemic began in the country.

Guineans are expected to celebrate the landmark with concerts and fireworks.

Ebola killed more than 2,500 people in Guinea and a further 9,000 in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Sierra Leone was declared free of Ebola in November, but new cases have emerged in Liberia, which had been declared Ebola-free in September.

A country is considered free of human-to-human transmission once two 21-day incubation periods have passed since the last known case tested negative for a second time.

Photo WHO
Photo WHO

Local health workers echoed a warning from medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres that vigilance was still vital despite the mood of celebration.

“We have to be very careful, because even if open transmission has been stopped, the disease has not been totally defeated,” said Alpha Seny Souhmah, a Guinean health worker and Ebola survivor.

According to the UN, 6,220 Guinean children have lost one or both parents to Ebola.

More than 100 health workers also lost their lives in the fight against the disease.

Many survivors still live in fear of the stigma and long-term side effects associated with the virus.

Guinea’s government has blamed the virus for poor economic performance and says it has also caused people to distrust the country’s health services.

President Alpha Conde has doubled the health budget since winning re-election in October 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8vB-YnEX_k

New Year Plot: Two Suspects Arrested in Belgium

Roy Siemens
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New Year Plot: Two Suspects Arrested in Belgium

Two people have been arrested in Belgium on suspicion of planning attacks in Brussels on New Year’s Eve.

Raids took place on December 27 and December 28 in Brussels and the provinces of Flemish Brabant and Liege.

Police seized military clothing and computer equipment in the raids, but no weapons or explosives.

Belgium has been on high alert since the attacks of November 13 in Paris. Several of the perpetrators are thought to have been based in Belgium.

However, the latest arrests are not linked to the Paris attacks, prosecutors say.

Photo AP
Photo AP

One of those arrested is suspected of leading and recruiting for a terrorist cell.

The suspects are accused of planning attacks against several “symbolic targets” in Brussels, as well as on the police, according to the Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

Propaganda for ISIS was among the materials seized.

Another four people were questioned in the raids and released without charge.

In November, Brussels was placed under a four-day lockdown closing universities, schools and the metro system, amid fears of a Paris-style attack.

The presumed ringleader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was a Belgian national who had travelled to fight in Syria.

Police in Belgium and beyond have been hunting Salah Abdeslam, a French national who was born in Brussels, in connection with the attacks. His brother Brahim blew himself up during the attacks, investigators say.

Belgium has struggled to contain Islamist militancy in recent years – more Belgians have gone to fight for ISIS than any other European country, per capita.

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