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Ananta Bijoy Das: Third Secular Blogger Killed in Bangladesh

Diane A. Wade
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Ananta Bijoy Das: Third Secular Blogger Killed in Bangladesh

Secular blogger Ananta Bijoy Das has been killed in north-eastern Bangladesh in the country’s third such deadly attack since the beginning of 2015.

Ananta Bijoy Das was attacked by a masked gang wielding machetes in the north-eastern city of Sylhet, police said.

He wrote blogs for Mukto-Mona, a website once moderated by Avijit Roy, himself hacked to death in February.Secular blogger Ananta Bijoy Das killed in Bangladesh

Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-born US writer, had criticized religious intolerance.

He was killed in a machete attack while he was visiting the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, as he returned with his wife from a book fair in the city. His widow suffered head injuries and lost a thumb.

In March, another blogger, Washiqur Rahman, was hacked to death in Dhaka.

The attack on Avijit Roy prompted massive protests from students and social activists, who accused the authorities of failing to protect critics of religious bigotry.

An Islamist has been arrested over Avijit Roy’s murder, while two madrassa students have been arrested over Washiqur Rahman’s killing.

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

Chinese Billionaire Li Jinyuan Takes 6,400 Employees on Holiday to France

Kathryn R. Bown
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Chinese Billionaire Li Jinyuan Takes 6,400 Employees on Holiday to France

Tiens Group has treated more than half of its 12,000 employees to a four-day holiday in Paris and Nice.

The huge Chinese company booked up 140 hotels in Paris as part of the package, a French foreign ministry spokeswoman said on May 7.

The trip by the 6,400-strong group included a mass visit to the Louvre museum, Le Parisien reported.

The members of one of the biggest Chinese groups ever to come to Europe arranged themselves on the Promenade des Anglais in the southern resort town of Nice to spell out the phrase “Tiens’ dream is Nice in the Cote d’Azur”.Tiens Group French vacation

Guinness World Records inspectors duly declared that the visitors had created the longest human-made phrase visible from the sky. The mass trip to France, and the stunt in Nice, were organized to mark 20 years of the Tiens Group.

Tiens Group chairman Li Jinyuan, 57, met France’s foreign minister Laurent Fabius on May 6.

He booked 4,760 rooms in 79 four-and five-star hotels in Cannes and Monaco. The tourists also required 146 buses to drive them around. Nice was estimated to be €20 million ($22 million) better off for the visit.

According to the Tiens website, Li Jinyuan founded the group in 1995 and has expanded it into an international conglomerate with businesses in biotechnology, health management, ecommerce, hotel and tourism, among others.

Li Jinyuan is listed on the Forbes 2011 list of the world’s billionaires.

Burt Reynolds Walks with Cane at Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia

Lisa.Felice
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Burt Reynolds Walks with Cane at Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia

Burt Reynolds appeared a bit frail as he supported himself with a cane as he made his debut at the Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia on May 9.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The 79-year-old Hollywood icon was on hand to speak to the audience during a Q&A session about his second memoir, But Enough About Me, coming out in November.

The book will reportedly focus on the people Burt Reynolds’ worked with throughout his illustrious career.

Though Burt Reynolds claims to have gotten along with 98 percent of the people he worked with, there’s still an ample 2 percent – of his films starting from 1959 – that will be grilled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr4_rVHIjtU

John Kerry Visits Russia for First Time Since Ukraine Crisis

Diane A. Wade
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John Kerry Visits Russia for First Time Since Ukraine Crisis

Secretary of State John Kerry flies to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin during his first visit to the country since the beginning of Ukraine in early 2014.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the visit a “positive step” and said the Russian president was prepared for “extensive” discussions at the meeting in Sochi.

Jonh Kerry will also meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

The West accuses Russia of arming rebels in eastern Ukraine and sending troops there – charges Moscow denies.John Kerry to meet Vladimir Putin in Sochi

More than 6,000 people have been killed since fighting began in April 2014 between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The conflict followed Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said John Kerry’s trip was “part of our ongoing effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure US views are clearly conveyed”.

Dmitry Peskov praised John Kerry’s decision to travel to Russia, adding: “We are always open to showing a political will for a broader dialogue.

“Through dialogue, it is possible to look for paths to a certain normalization, to a closer co-ordination in decisions.”

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said Russia was prepared to discuss international “hot spots” as well as bilateral relations, and that the issue of Western sanctions against Russia would not be raised by the Russian side.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement blaming the US for provoking the Ukraine crisis and attempting to “isolate Russia” while demanding its allies follow suit.

John Kerry’s visit comes two days after German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended a wreath-laying ceremony in Moscow to commemorate the Russians killed during World War Two.

At a joint news conference with Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel said the annexation of Crimea had caused “a serious setback in our relations”.

Angela Merkel and other Western leaders boycotted a military parade in Red Square on May 9.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGDqmbK8_aM

New Nepal Earthquake Strikes Near Mount Everest

Diane A. Wade
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New Nepal Earthquake Strikes Near Mount Everest

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has struck eastern Nepal, near Mount Everest, killing at least four people.

The new tremor hit the country two weeks after more than 8,000 died in another devastating quake.

An unknown number of people are injured in the latest earthquake, according to aid agencies.

The quake hit near the town of Namche Bazaar, near Mount Everest.

According to the US Geological Survey, the latest earthquake had a magnitude of 7.3.Nepal earthquake 2015

The April 25 earthquake, centered in western Nepal, had a magnitude of 7.8.

The latest tremor was felt in northern India and Bangladesh.

In the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, which was badly damaged last month, people rushed out of buildings as the quake struck at 12:35 local time.

At least four people were killed in the town of Chautara, east of the capital, Kathmandu, where a number of buildings are reported to have collapsed.

The International Organization for Migration said bodies were being pulled from rubble there.

The epicenter of the latest earthquake was 52 miles east of Kathmandu, in a rural area close to the Chinese border.

It struck at a depth of 11.5 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.

The April 25 earthquake was 9.3 miles deep. Shallower earthquakes are more likely to cause more damage at the surface.

Si Robertson Stars in War Movie Faith of Our Fathers

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson Stars in War Movie Faith of Our Fathers

Duck Dynasty ’s Uncle Si Robertson stars in Stephen Baldwin’s war drama Faith of Our Fathers.

Directed by Carey Scott, the movie is about two sons on a road trip to learn about their fathers. It is set in 1969 during Vietnam the War, where the two young fathers report to duty. One father has a strong faith and the other one is a cynic. Years later, their sons, Wayne and John Paul, meet as strangers and they form a friendship as they try to retrace their fathers’ footsteps.Si Robertson stars Faith of Our Fathers

Guided by handwritten letters from their fathers from the battlefield, they embark on an unforgettable journey to The Wall-the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Along the way, they discover the devastation of war cannot break the love of a father for his son.

Si Robertson, a Vietnam veteran himself, says he is proud to be part of a movie that promotes patriotism.

The Duck Dynasty star, who plays a gas station clerk in the war drama, believes the movie is important because it shows the many sacrifices made by the men who fought in wars.

Si Robertson wrote on his Facebook page: “Faith of Our Fathers does its best to honor the men who gave up their lives for their country. Hey, it’s a must see Jack!”

Faith of Our Fathers, also starring Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Downes and David A.R. White, will premiere on July 1st on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

Francois Hollande Meets Fidel Castro in Havana

Diane A. Wade
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Francois Hollande Meets Fidel Castro in Havana

Francois Hollande has arrived in Havana to meet former Cuban leader Fidel Castro on a historic trip to the Communist island.

The French president is using the one-day trip to Cuba to build business and diplomatic relations five months after a detente between Havana and Washington.

Fidel Castro and Francois Hollande’s meeting was due at 15:00 local time on May 11, away from TV cameras, said the Elysee Palace.

Francois Hollande is the first French president to visit Cuba since 1898.

Speaking at the University of Havana, Francois Hollande said France would do its utmost to ensure that “the measures which have so badly harmed Cuba’s development can finally be repealed”.Francois Hollande in Cuba

Francois Hollande was referring to the US trade embargo with Cuba, which remains in place, although relations between the US and Cuba have improved in recent months.

He was due to meet his current Cuban counterpart, Fidel Castro’s brother and successor Raul, later on Monday evening.

The visit is the first trip by a Western head of state to the Communist island since the diplomatic thaw between Cuba and the US was announced in December 2014.

Francois Hollande announced plans to double the number of scholarships to enable Cuban students to continue their studies in France, as part of attempts to increase academic and scientific co-operation between the two nations.

Earlier on Monday, Francois Hollande bestowed France’s highest award, the Legion of Honour, on the head of the Catholic Church in Cuba, Cardinal Jaime Ortega.

The Cuban Catholic Church has acted as a mediator between dissidents and the Communist government.

Unlike some other European countries, France has long maintained reasonably good relations with Cuba and wants to benefit from the new economic openness.

After landing at Havana airport, Francois Hollande said the visit was a moment of “great emotion”.

Before arriving, Francois Hollande told reporters that France sought to “be the first among European nations, and the first among Western nations, to be able to say to the Cubans that we will be at their side if they decide themselves to take needed steps toward opening up”.

A number of high-ranking US and European politicians have visited Cuba since December 17, when the US and Cuba announced they would move towards re-establishing diplomatic ties.

They include New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini and top diplomats from Japan and Russia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_y2h8rEuaU

Greece Makes €750 Million Debt Interest Payment to IMF

Clyde K. Valle
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Greece Makes €750 Million Debt Interest Payment to IMF

The Greek government has started the transfer of €750 million ($834 million) in debt interest to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The move was carried out as eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels in a bid to unlock the final €7.2 billion tranche of Greece’s €240 billion EU/IMF bailout.

The eurozone finance ministers said Greece had made “progress” but more work was needed.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said his country faced a cash crisis within a “couple of weeks”.

“The liquidity issue is a terribly urgent issue. It’s common knowledge, let’s not beat around the bush,” he told reporters after the talks.Greece IMF payment

The Greek government has until the end of June to reach a reform deal with its international creditors.

Its finances are running so low that it has had to ask public bodies for help.

Eurozone governments have insisted that Greece agree to economic reforms in return for further bailout funding, and there had been fears that the country could default on its latest IMF debt repayment.

However, a Greek finance ministry official was quoted as saying that the order for repayment had been executed on May 11. Almost €1 billion has been handed over to the IMF in interest payments since the start of May.

It is unclear how the Syriza-led government came up with the funds, but the mayor of Greece’s second city Thessaloniki revealed last week that he had handed over cash reserves in response to an appeal for money.

No breakthrough was expected in Brussels on Monday, but Greece was seeking a confirmation that it had made sufficient progress in negotiations.

It was hoping that part of the EU/IMF bailout money could be paid out and that the European Central Bank would restore liquidity to the country’s beleaguered banks.

In a statement, the eurozone finance ministers said they “welcomed the progress that has been achieved so far” in the negotiations, but added: “We acknowledged that more time and effort are needed to bridge the gaps on the remaining open issues.”

Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said there had to be a full deal on the bailout before Greece received any further payments.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Is Remorseful About Boston Marathon Bombings

Nancy Clayson
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Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Is Remorseful About Boston Marathon Bombings

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has expressed remorse over the bombings, a defense witness testified as his lawyers finished their case to spare his life.

Forty witnesses testified for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, including anti-death penalty advocate Sister Helen Prejean.

Helen Prejean testified on May 11 that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev told her of the bombing victims: “No one deserves to suffer like they did.”

The April 2013 bombings killed three people and injured more than 260.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, has expressed genuine regret and sorrow over the bombings, the Roman Catholic said.

Prosecutors pushed to exclude her testimony, but a judge decided to allow it.

Helen Prejean began prison ministry in 1981 in New Orleans and corresponded with Patrick Sonnier, a death row inmate who had been convicted of killing two teenagers.Sister Helen Prejean Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial

She wrote a best-selling book on her experiences called Dead Man Walking, which was later turned into a movie.

Prosecutors will now call rebuttal witnesses. Both sides will deliver closing arguments before the jury decides Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s fate.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s lawyers have admitted he played a role in the attacks but said that his older brother, Tamerlan, was the driving force.

The defense emphasized on young age of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev who was 19 at the time of the attacks.

Lawyers also highlighted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s rough family life. The Tsarnaevs – ethnic Chechens – had lived in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan and the volatile Dagestan region of Russia, near Chechnya, before moving to the US in 2002.

Teachers called Dzhokhar Tsarnaev “sweet” and “hardworking” while other witnesses said his mother was obsessed with religion and his father had post-traumatic stress disorder, contributing to his actions.

Thames: Missing Police Dog Found Alive After Seven Days

Nancy Clayson
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Thames: Missing Police Dog Found Alive After Seven Days

New Zealand police dog Thames has been found alive in the bush after spending seven days on the run.

Four-year-old, sable-colored German Shepherd Thames went missing in the Mt Holdsworth area west of Carterton, after becoming separated from handler Constable Mike Wakefield during a training exercise on May 3.

Three police teams searched for the missing dog in the Tararua Ranges last week.Thames missing police dog

One of the search team was his handler, Mike Wakefield, who resumed looking for the dog on May 10 and said he was encouraged to find signs of the dog.

“We found some fresh signs, a big footprint in the mud, that can only be described as Thames’ big boofy foot,” he said.

“I whistled and called but he ran off as if to say come this way before running back and giving me a big lick.

He wolfed down half of my salami which is a treat for him, I gave him a cuddle and we had a big play. I was just lost for words,” said Mike Wakefield.

Mike Wakefield said Thames was in good condition but would be checked out by a vet and both he and the dog would now have a few weeks break.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw926KbRlhg

Gulf Leaders Skip Camp David Summit on Iran Deal

Roy Siemens
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Gulf Leaders Skip Camp David Summit on Iran Deal

Gulf leaders have announced they will not attend the summit of US and allied Arab states at Camp David later this week.

Their substitution with more junior leaders is being seen as a rebuff to President Barack Obama’s negotiations with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia announced on May 10 that he would not attend.

The White House, which has not publicly commented, previewed King Salman’s visit as recently as May 8.

The talks, which will now be largely attended by leaders at the ministerial level, were designed to reassure the Arab allies of US support on a number of issues including talks with Iran and instability in several Arab states.

The official reason for the Saudi leader’s absence is that the summit coincides with a humanitarian cease-fire in Yemen, where a Saudi-led alliance is battling Shiite Houthi rebels.

Photo AP
Photo AP

President Barack Obama had planned to meet with King Salman on May 13 – the day before the summit was supposed to take place at Camp David, near Washington.

Leading the Saudi delegation now will be Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who also serves as the country’s interior minister.

King Salman’s son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, will also be in the delegation.

Separately, the tiny island kingdom of Bahrain, whose leadership has close ties to the Saudis, said that it would be sending its crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, to the meeting.

Bahrain plays host to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which is Washington’s main maritime counterbalance to Iran, and is in charge of US operations around the Arabian Peninsula and northern Indian Ocean.

The Sultan of Oman and the President of the United Arab Emirates are both known to be very ill, and do not travel for non-medical purposes – and were not expected to attend.

The Kuwaiti emir, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, will attend the summit and has already arrived in the Washington area.

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is expected to attend as well.

The Saudi king will likely call President Barack Obama on May 11 to talk about his decision not to attend the summit, the New York Times reported citing an anonymous White House official.

King Salman, who came to power in January, has not travelled outside of Saudi Arabia since assuming the throne.

US Economy Adds 223,000 New Jobs in April 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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US Economy Adds 223,000 New Jobs in April 2015

The US economy created 223,000 new jobs in April 2015, a much larger increase than the month before.

According to the US Department of Labor, the unemployment rate dropped to a seven-year low of 5.4%, down from 5.5% in March.

Big job gains in the service sector helped to offset weakness in mining,

Investors welcomed the report, sending shares broadly higher on Wall Street.US jobs report April 2015

Many see the report as a sign of solid strength in the economy.

The total was a big improvement on March’s payroll figures, which were revised to show a gain of just 85,000 jobs.

Experts blamed such factors as the exceptionally cold winter in the north-east of the country for weighing on hiring in March.

April’s report also showed gains in employees’ wages, with average hourly earnings up 2.2% from the same period last year.

That was a smaller rise than many market watchers expected.

However, it could provide a boost to US consumer spending, a key driver of the US economy.

Investors are paying close attention to all figures to check that the US recovery is maintaining momentum.

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates later this year if the economy continues to improve. Benchmark lending rates are currently close to zero.

Most Popular Baby Names of 2014: Noah and Emma

Nancy Clayson
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Most Popular Baby Names of 2014: Noah and Emma

According to the Social Security Administration, Noah and Emma are the most popular baby names in the US for 2014.

For the second year in a row, Noah topped of the list for boys. Liam, Mason, Jacob and William rounded out the top five.

Emma is on top again for the first time since 2008 followed by Olivia, Sophia, Isabella and Ava.US baby names for 2014

Religion and pop culture have been influences for baby naming trends throughout history.

Emma‘s popularity was influenced by Friends series in 2002 when one of the characters, Rachel, named her daughter Emma.

Before the announcement Kate Middleton and Prince William are naming their baby daughter Charlotte, the name cracked the top 10 for the first time, at No. 10.

John and Mary were the top baby names in 1880, the first year for which the Social Security Administration website provides an annual list.

John is now number 26 and Mary has fallen to number 120.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP-2Q9Fz9To

Michelle Obama Speaks on Racism at Tuskegee University

Nancy Clayson
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Michelle Obama Speaks on Racism at Tuskegee University

Speaking to graduates at Tuskegee University in Alabama, Michelle Obama has talked about having to fight misperceptions when Barack Obama started running for president in 2008.

First Lady Michelle Obama says she had to deal with more scrutiny, because of the color of her skin.

On her commencement speech at the university, Michelle Obama described the kind of focus she found herself under.

“Back when my husband started campaigning for president, folks had all sorts of questions of me,” the first lady said.

“What kind of First Lady would I be, what kind of issues would I take on?” she said.Michelle Obama commencement speech Tuskegee University

“The truth is those kind of questions would be posed to any candidate’s spouse, that’s just the way the process works.

“But as potentially the first African-American First Lady, I was also the focus of another set of questions and speculations, conversations sometimes rooted in the fears and misperceptions of others.

“Was I too loud, or too angry? Or too emasculating? Or was I too soft?

“But eventually I realized, if I wanted to keep my sanity, and not let others define me, there was only one thing I could do, and that was to have faith in God’s plan for me.”

Michelle Obama added: “I love our daughters more than anything in the world, and that may not be the first thing some folks want to hear from an Ivy League educated lawyer, it is truly who I am.

“By staying true to the me I’ve always known, I’ve found that this journey has been incredibly freeing, because no matter what happened I had the peace of mind of knowing that all of the chatter, the name calling the doubting, all of it was just noise.

“It did not define me, it didn’t change who I was, and most importantly it couldn’t hold me back.”

Nick Cannon’s Heartfelt Message to Mariah Carey on Mother’s Day

Lisa.Felice
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Nick Cannon’s Heartfelt Message to Mariah Carey on Mother’s Day

Nick Cannon has paid an emotional tribute to his estranged wife Mariah Carey on Mother’s Day with a heartfelt message to the singer, along with a photo of her with their twins.

He wrote on Instagram: “Gotta represent for the Mother of my children. She is such a wonderful, thoughtful, festive, loving and nurturing Soul.

“I will forever be in debt to you for blessing me and the rest of the world with Roc & Roe. A true #Queen Will love you always @MariahCarey #HappyMothersDay.”

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon filed for divorce in December 2014.

However, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey have been increasingly interactive with each other on social media over the last month.

When their kids Moroccan and Monroe turned 4 in April on their sixth wedding anniversary, Nick Cannon posted on Instagram: “Grateful and forever in debt to @MariahCarey for blessing me and the rest of the world with these 2 Angels, Morrocan Scott Cannon and Monroe Cannon on this day 4 years ago. Happy Birthday!!! I Love yall!”

Just one day before that, Nick Cannon also plugged Mariah Carey’s new album, even though some interpreted her single “Infinity” as a diss towards him. Cannon, however, wrote on Instagram: “#TheQueen #NoHate #HardestWorkingWomanIKnow.”

Avengers: Age of Ultron Tops US Box Office for Second Weekend

Sonia Pantiss
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Avengers: Age of Ultron Tops US Box Office for Second Weekend

Avengers: Age of Ultron has ruled the US box office for a second weekend.

The movie took $77 million, which is more than five times the earnings of its closest rival, action comedy Hot Pursuit.

Hot Pursuit, which stars Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara, made $13.3 million to take second place.

The Avengers sequel has now taken $313 million in just 10 days in the US.

It is the joint second fastest film to pass $300 million, tying with The Dark Knight.Avengers Age of Ultron tops US box office

The first movie in the Avengers series, which features Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Black Widow, reached that mark in just nine days in 2012.

Warner Bros admitted Hot Pursuit‘s opening weekend total was “a little lighter” than it had hoped, with the studio having estimated takings of $18 million or higher.

That should all change next week though, when Mad Max: Fury Road and Pitch Perfect 2 open.

Blake Lively’s fantasy drama The Age of Adaline was this weekend’s third placed movie with takings of $5.6 million, while Furious 7 took $5.2 million in 4th place.

Furious 7, starring Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker, has earned $1.5 billion globally to date.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 completed the top five with takings of just under $5.2 million.

North American box office Top 5:

  1. Avengers: Age of Ultron – $77.2 million
  2. Hot Pursuit – $13.3 million
  3. The Age of Adaline – $5.6 million
  4. Furious 7 – $5.2 million
  5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 – $5.2 million

Mandatory EU Refugee Quotas to Be Proposed

Diane A. Wade
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Mandatory EU Refugee Quotas to Be Proposed

EU countries should take in refugees under a quota scheme, according to a European Commission proposal.

According to the UN, 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean in 2015.

Migrants are being driven to make the journey by “horrific abuse” in Libya, Amnesty International says.

More than 1,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean only in 2015, a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014.

Photo AP
Photo AP

The European Commission’s migration policy, to be announced on May 13, will also propose organizing legal means for migrants to come to Europe so they do not turn to traffickers.

However, it will need to be agreed by EU states.

European leaders will discuss the proposals at a summit at the end of June.

The measures proposed by the European Commission are the latest in a series of steps designed to stop migrants drowning in the Mediterranean.

More than 200,000 migrants fleeing conflict or poverty from countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia are estimated to have crossed the Mediterranean in 2014, with thousands dying making the journey.

Quotas would be determined using a number of factors, including a country’s population, economic indicators and the number of asylum seekers previously accepted.

Germany keenly supports the idea of quotas, having received 200,000 asylum applications in 2014.

Countries such as Italy and Malta, where large numbers of migrants arrive by boat, have also called for EU members to share responsibility for migrants more evenly.

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann has described a quota as “a question of fairness”, adding that asylum is “not an act of mercy but a human right”.

However, other EU countries are fiercely opposed to the idea of quotas.

Leaders in Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia have also objected to a quota system, with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban calling it “a crazy idea”.

Prince Harry Meets Namesake Lizard in New Zealand

Lisa.Felice
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Prince Harry Meets Namesake Lizard in New Zealand

During the second day of his visit to New Zealand, Prince Harry has met his reptilian namesake, a 100-year-old Tuatara lizard called Henry.

The Tuatara is only found in New Zealand where it is revered in native Maori culture as a messenger of the gods.Prince Harry and namesake lizard

Prince was christened Henry Charles Albert David when he was born in 1984, even though he is known as Harry.

The prince met the reptile at Invercargill Airport before flying to New Zealand’s most southern and remote community on Stewart Island.

Prince Harry also visited Stewart Island, a remote island with just 380 residents, before making it onto Ulva Island, a rainforest paradise.

The island hosts an assortment of wildlife and has been visited by both Prince Philip and Prince Edward on previous trips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97mAAG87vkI

Greece Crisis: Government Seeks Eurozone Approval of Fiscal Progress

Clyde K. Valle
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Greece Crisis: Government Seeks Eurozone Approval of Fiscal Progress

Greece is hopeful that Eurozone ministers will recognize the fiscal progress it has made.

Eurozone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels on May 11 to continue negotiations on a deal to release a portion of billions of bailout funds.

Greek ministers say they will honor a payment of €750 million ($834 million) to the IMF due on May 12.

No breakthrough is expected at today’s talks, with many issues unresolved.

Greece’s left-wing government has said it will not break anti-austerity electoral promises, something that has put the country at odds with European creditors.Greece eurozone

The country has until June to agree a new reform deal with its creditors.

PM Alexis Tsipras is reported to have told his cabinet that Europe needs to acknowledge the economic reforms that Greece has made.

Eurozone ministers are not hopeful of a deal being struck.

“We have made progress, but we are not very close to an agreement,” Eurogroup chair Jeroen Dijsselbloem told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

“It will surely not be reached at the Eurogroup meeting on Monday,” he said.

Greece did meet May 6 deadline to pay €200 million in interest to the IMF.

Mother’s Day 2015: Deals and Freebies

Nancy Clayson
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Mother’s Day 2015: Deals and Freebies

Several restaurants, retailers and attractions will be offering freebies, deals and sweepstakes for moms on or around Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10.

The modern American holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, which now holds the International Mother’s Day Shrine.

In 1912, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases “second Sunday in May” and “Mother’s Day”, and created the Mother’s Day International Association.

Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar is treating moms to a free meal (up to a $15 value) on Mother’s Day with a purchase of equal or greater value. Arooga’s has nine locations in central Pennsylvania.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is giving moms a free meal on Mother’s Day with a purchase of equal or greater value. The chain of sports pubs has more than 200 locations in 23 states.

Brick House Tavern & Tap is treating moms to a free brunch entrée with the purchase of an entrée at participating locations. Reservations for brunch are required. Brick House has 23 locations nationwide.

California Pizza Kitchen has a Dear Mom Sweepstakes you can enter by uploading a photo and story about mom with the hashtag #CPKDearMomSweeps on Instagram, Twitter or the restaurant chain’s Facebook page for a chance to win a weekend getaway that includes roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas, a two-night stay at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, $500 spa credit, $500 shopping spree and lunch or dinner for two at CPK Summerlin. You can enter through May 31, and a winner will be chosen June 3.

Chuck E. Cheese’s has a coupon for a free individual thin and crispy pizza for mom with a $29.99 purchase of a large pizza, four drinks and 30 tokens. The family dining and entertainment chain has locations in 47 states.

Corner Bakery, with 188 locations in 21 states and D.C., has a coupon for a free six-pack of bundt cakes for mom with the purchase of a lunch or dinner entrée.

Fogo de Chao Brazillian Steakhouse will give a mom who dines on Mother’s Day at one on its locations in 26 U.S. cities a complimentary lunch or dinner during her next visit.Mothers Day 2015

Hurricane Grill & Wings is offering moms a free dessert of their choice with the purchase of an entrée at participating locations in 12 states.

Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar will offer moms $5 “Momosa” drinks on Mother’s Day, and moms can take home the champagne glass (while supplies last). Lazy Dog has locations in Las Vegas and California.

McCormick & Schmick’s is giving moms a complimentary chocolate-covered strawberry with brunch on Mother’s Day. The restaurant chain operates in 24 states.

Museums and gardens. Admission to many public gardens across the country is free on National Public Gardens Day May 8 — and through Mother’s Day weekend. For example, The Fells Historic Estate and Gardens in Newbury, N.H., is offering free admission to all May 8-10. Search for gardens near you to see if any have special offers for Mother’s Day.

Museums, zoos and other attractions often offer free admission to moms on Mother’s Day. For example, the Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum in Montgomery, Ala., are offering free admission for moms May 10. Check with museums in your area for similar offerings.

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt is treating moms to a free 8-ounce cup of frozen yogurt on Mother’s Day. There are more than 300 locations in 37 states.

Outback Steakhouse wants guests to celebrate Mother’s Day early with a downloadable coupon for 15% off your entire check through May 7. Plus, if you buy $50 in gift cards through June 21, you’ll receive a bonus $10 gift card.

PDQ is offering moms a free combo meal (three-piece chicken tenders, salad or sandwich combo) on Mother’s Day with the purchase of a kids combo meal. The fast-casual restaurant chain has locations in seven states.

Princess Cruises has a Mother’s Day sale on fares for cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, New England, the Panama Canal, Hawaii and California. Plus, it’s offering up to $200 worth of free onboard spending money. The sale runs through May 14.

RA Sushi will be offering an all-day happy hour on Mother’s Day with select sushi, appetizers and drinks starting at $3.49 at its 26 locations in nine states.

Safe Step Walk-in Tub Co. is giving away one of its hydrotherapeutic tubs for Mother’s Day. You can nominate your mom on Safe Step’s Facebook page by uploading a photo of you and your mom, telling why your mom deserves a Safe Step tub, then sharing the photo on Facebook so friends and family can vote. A winner will be selected from the five moms with the most votes.

Shoney’s is giving moms a free slice of strawberry pie on Mother’s Day with the purchase of a buffet or entree. Shoney’s has 160 locations in 16 states.

Snapfish has printable cards, breakfast-in-bed menus, origami flowers and party banners for Mother’s Day that you can download for free.

Spaghetti Warehouse is offering a free appetizer for registering for its Mother’s Day photo album. You can upload a photo of your mom and tell why she’s special for a chance to win a $100 Spaghetti Warehouse gift card. The restaurant chain also is offering moms who dine at one of its locations in seven states on May 10 a free strawberry lemonade and one of five gifts: a free “Make it a Feast” entrée, a buy-one-get-one free spaghetti or lasagne, a free brownie sundae, a free spaghetti or lasagne entrée, or a $25 Spaghetti Warehouse gift card, says Kathy Wan, director of marketing for Spaghetti Warehouse Restaurants Inc.

TGI Fridays will offer half-priced bottles of wine for its Mother’s Week celebration May 5-10 at participating restaurants.

Raul Castro and Pope Francis to Meet at Vatican

Diane A. Wade
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Raul Castro and Pope Francis to Meet at Vatican

Cuban President Raul Castro will meet Pope Francis in a private audience at the Vatican.

The Argentine Pope played a key role in a recent diplomatic rapprochement between the US and Cuba.

Raul Castro, who is stopping off as he returns from Russia’s WW2 Victory Day parade, wishes to thank Pope Francis for his help, Vatican radio says.

The Roman Catholic Church has maintained relations with Cuba since the 1959 revolution.Raul Castro and Pope Francis meeting

Pope Francis will visit Cuba on his way to the US in September.

In 1996, Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to receive a Cuban leader when Fidel Castro travelled to the Vatican.

Raul Castro, the brother of Fidel, was last in Rome in 1997 when he was defense minister. At the time he was preparing the historic visit of John Paul II to Havana the following year.

The Catholic Church has organized a series of secret diplomatic meetings to broker the US-Cuban rapprochement.

The talks directly involved Pope Francis. The US had imposed a trade embargo soon after Cuba’s revolution, which it began to lift at the end of 2014.

Pope Francis, 78, will be the third pontiff to travel to Cuba, following visits there by John Paul II in 1998 and Benedict XVI in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22DPKUO-JvA

Poland Elections 2015: President Bronislaw Komorowski Hopes to Win Second Term

Diane A. Wade
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Poland Elections 2015: President Bronislaw Komorowski Hopes to Win Second Term

Poles are voting to elect the country’s president for the next five years.

Poland’s presidential elections on May 10 have a colorful cast of candidates whose antics are providing most of the drama, because there is little suspense about the result: incumbent President Bronislaw Komorowski expected to easily win a second term in office.

Opinion polls put Bronislaw Komorowski in the lead, but if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote there will be a second round.

Bronislaw Komorowski took office in 2010 after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash.

The president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.Poland presidential election Bronislaw Komorowski

Bronislaw Komorowski, 62, is an independent allied with the centre-right Civic Platform, which has been in government since 2007.

His main challenger is Andrzej Duda, from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Lech Kaczynski’s twin brother, Jaroslaw.

Rock musician Pawel Kukiz looks likely to gather protest votes, but has trailed the leading pair in opinion polls. Another eight candidates are standing.

During a period of tension with Russia over the unrest in Ukraine, President Bronislaw Komorowski says he has promoted stability.

The presidential vote comes ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn, and may give pointers to Civic Platform’s chances of retaining power.

If no candidate wins more than 50%, a second round will be held on May 24.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=113iWzSVWKA

Pele Leaves Hospital After Prostate Surgery

Clyde K. Valle
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Pele Leaves Hospital After Prostate Surgery

Pele has left a Sao Paolo hospital after undergoing prostate surgery.

The 74-year-old Brazil soccer legend was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paolo on May 5 for the second time in six months.

Pele, the three-time World Cup winner, was treated for a urinary infection in November 2014 after having kidney stones removed.Pele prostate surgery

He was named FIFA’s Player of the Century and won 91 caps for Brazil, scoring 77 goals.

Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Pele scored a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during his 21-year career.

He played 14 games at the World Cup, scoring 12 goals, and was awarded the FIFA Golden Ball as the best player at the 1970 tournament.

Pele has only one kidney, having had one removed towards the end of his playing career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_qK400AEPc

General Kenan Evren Dies in Ankara Hospital Aged 97

Diane A. Wade
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General Kenan Evren Dies in Ankara Hospital Aged 97

Turkey ex-president, General Kenan Evren, has died on May 9 at the age of 97.

On September 12, 1980, General Kenan Evren launched a coup that overthrew the government. He went on to serve as president until 1989.

Kenan Evren was put on trial in his 90s and was handed a life sentence for the coup in 2014.

Some 600,000 people were detained and 50 executed by hanging in the coup. All political parties were banned, with left-wing activists heavily targeted.

Kenan Evren died at a hospital in Ankara.

He had been in ill health since 2012 and was unable to appear in court when convicted.Kenan Evren Dead at 97

The 1980 coup was the last and bloodiest of Turkey’s coups and came to symbolise the military’s long-standing dominance over Turkish politics.

Gen. Kenan Evren believed that his actions saved the country from descending into anarchy after deadly fighting between political extremists.

“Should we feed them in prison for years instead of hanging them?” he said in a speech in 1984, defending the decision to execute political activists.

Despite allegations of deaths and torture it appeared unlikely that the former president would ever face trial.

However, a constitutional clause granting the general immunity from prosecution was overturned after a referendum in 2010, as part of then PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s attempts to rein in the power of the army.

In 2014, a Turkish court convicted Kenan Evren of crimes against the state for setting the stage for army intervention and conducting the coup.

Kenan Evren’s career’s begin as an officer from a military academy, was made a general and rose to become chief of the general staff.

During the years leading up to the 1980 coup, there was widespread political violence on the streets involving far-right and far-left activists, which the military said the government was incapable of controlling.

After the coup, parliament was dissolved and Kenan Evren ruled the country as the head of the National Security Council.

The council oversaw the drawing up of a new constitution, which was approved by a referendum and made Kenan Evren president for a seven-year term.

Parliamentary elections were held during this time and Turkey applied to join the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union.

During Kenan Evren’s retirement two plots to assassinate him were thwarted and he took up painting.

Prince Harry Takes Maori Salute During New Zealand Trip

Lisa.Felice
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Prince Harry Takes Maori Salute During New Zealand Trip

Prince Harry got a traditional Maori welcome during his visit to New Zealand.

The royal arrived in New Zealand for a week-long tour of the country.

Prince Harry flew in from Australia after a month of training with the country’s armed forces, meeting injured soldiers and Aboriginal communities.

New Zealand’s PM John Key greeted the prince as he landed in Wellington.

Prince Harry then went on to a ceremony at the National War Memorial in the capital where he laid a wreath.

John Key tweeted: “Great to welcome Prince Harry to New Zealand on a brilliant Wellington day.”

The prime minster also tweeted pictures of the “fantastic crowd” waiting for Prince Harry as well as a puppy that the prime minister brought along to welcome him.Prince Harry Moari salute New Zealand

Kensington Palace tweeted a picture of Prince Harry watching a powhiri – a Maori welcoming ritual – followed by a haka.

He was treated to the ceremonial welcome on the lawn in front of Government House, the home of the Governor General Jerry Mateparae and his wife Janine.

Performed by members of the New Zealand armed forces, the powhiri started with a wero, an ancient tradition to determine whether visitors come in peace.

At the house he was invited to hongi, where he clasped hands and pressed his nose up against the people he met.

Prince Harry also saw a mass haka by students from a local college and was given a 21-gun salute.

The fifth in line to the British throne then met school children, one of whom presented him with a card for his new-born niece, Princess Charlotte.

Harry tucked the envelope into his suit pocket and told her: “I won’t open it, I’ll keep it safe and I’ll make sure she gets it.”

He also visited the National War Memorial Park and paid his respects at its Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Prince Harry left a note on a wreath laid during his visit to the memorial park, which read: “In memory of all those who have paid the ultimate price and in grateful recognition of those who have served NZ.”

He also inspected a guard of honor made up of members of the Royal New Zealand Navy, Army Logistic Regiment, and the Air Force before watching a rugby game between Wellington’s Hurricanes and South Africa’s Durban-based Sharks.

The week-long visit is the first Prince Harry has made to New Zealand and throughout the trip he is expected to be given a broad introduction to Kiwi culture and society, including visiting the country’s most southern and very remote community on Stewart Island.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhXpv6SzSdA

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