Home Blog Page 470

Pope Francis to make historic visit to Turkey

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Pope Francis to make historic visit to Turkey

Pope Francis will arrive in Turkey for what is billed as a historic visit to promote religious dialogue in the country.

The pontiff is to be greeted in Ankara by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will later travel to Istanbul to meet the head of the Orthodox Christian church.

This is only the fourth visit by a pope to Muslim-majority Turkey.

During his trip, Pope Francis is likely to touch on humanitarian issues, such as the plight of Syrian refugees.

The three-day papal visit comes as Islamic State insurgents have captured swathes of neighboring Iraq and Syria.

Turkey is now home to at least 1.6 million people from Syria, most of them living close to the border.

In an interview on the eve of his visit, Pope Francis made his feelings on the Syrian conflict known,.

The pontiff told an Israeli newspaper that the persecution of Christians in the region is “the worst” it has been since Christianity’s earliest days.

Vatican officials say religious tolerance will be high on the agenda when Pope Francis meets President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – whose AK Party is rooted in political Islam – and Mehmet Gormez, Turkey’s top cleric.

In Istanbul, Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed mosque, the 17th-Century place of worship popularly known as the Blue Mosque.

The pontiff is also due to sign a joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I, the leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians, on trying to bridge the divides between Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity.

Although most of Turkey’s 80 million citizens are Muslims, there are about 120,000 Christians in the country – once the centre of the Orthodox Christian world.

[youtube yiHSFLB0N0o 650]

One Direction’s Four album tops Billboard 200 chart

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
One Direction’s Four album tops Billboard 200 chart

One Direction has become the first group to have its first four albums debut at No 1 in the US.

Their fourth album, conveniently named Four, topped the Billboard 200 album chart having sold 387,000 copies in its first week.

Four is the second-fastest selling album of the year in the US. Only Taylor Swift’s 1989 sold more in its opening week with 1.28 million sales.

The album also went to No 1 in the UK on November 23.

One Direction members were named artists of the year at this week’s American Music Awards with Four also being named album of the year and favorite pop/rock album.

One Direction was also named best international artist at the Aria Awards in Australia on November 26.

Oil prices fall after OPEC meeting in Vienna

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Oil prices fall after OPEC meeting in Vienna

Oil prices plunged after the OPEC oil producers’ cartel decided not to cut output at its meeting in Vienna.

OPEC’s secretary general Abdallah Salem el-Badri said they would not try to shore up prices by reducing production.

“There’s a price decline. That does not mean that we should really rush and do something,” he said.

Following the announcement Brent crude fell below $72 a barrel, hitting lows previously seen in August 2010.

The 12 OPEC members decided to maintain production at 30 million barrels per day as first agreed in December 2011.

“We don’t want to panic. I mean it,” said Abdallah Salem el-Badri.

“We want to see the market, how the market behaves, because the decline of the price does not reflect a fundamental change.”

Crude oil prices have fallen 30% since June on sluggish global demand and rising production from the US.

The fall in the oil price has been causing concern for several members of the oil cartel, as most require a price above $80 a barrel to balance their government budgets and many need prices to be above $100 a barrel.

“Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states can resist for a while,” said Simon Wardell, energy expert at Global Insight.

“They have significant financial assets that mean they can sustain a lower oil price. They can secure their budgets without a higher oil price.”

Saudi Arabia is the largest producer within the OPEC oil producing cartel.

Analysts suggest the strategy of maintaining output may be aimed at retaining dominance of the market in the face of increasing shale oil production in the US.

The shale boom has been one of the drivers behind the decline in the oil price.

As the oil price dips, shale becomes less economical to produce.

If oil prices are allowed to remain low for some time that could cap shale production over the longer term.

OPEC accounts for a third of the world’s oil sales.

[youtube 0rHwmgg5pMk 650]

Ferguson decision: Governor Jay Nixon rejects calls for new grand jury

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Ferguson decision: Governor Jay Nixon rejects calls for new grand jury

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has reportedly rejected calls for a new grand jury to decide whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson for killing Michael Brown.

It follows two days of unrest in St Louis and 12 other cities over a ruling not to charge Darren Wilson for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Demonstrations appeared to dwindle on November 26 amid heavy snowfall on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday.

A handful of protesters remain in Ferguson, where Michael Brown was killed.

The family of Michael Brown said they were left “crushed” by the ruling, which has triggered nationwide debates over relations between black communities and law enforcement.

A spokesman for state governor Jay Nixon said he would not entertain the idea of bringing in a special prosecutor to present the case to a new grand jury, the St Louis Post reports.

Earlier, Jay Nixon said the “ramped up presence” of the National Guard – which more than tripled from 700 to 2,200 on Tuesday night – in the St Louis suburb had been “helpful”.

He said he would continue to monitor the situation to see if more resources were needed.

Monday’s ruling by a grand jury not to charge Darren Wilson led to violent protests and looting in Ferguson, and dozens of arrests.

Anger spread to 12 other cities, including Philadelphia, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Boston.

In Oakland, California, rallies turned violent when protesters started a street fire, while in Los Angeles there were reports of 130 people arrested.

Business owners and residents were seen clearing up the streets of Ferguson on November 26.

Some celebrities are reportedly calling for a boycott to take place on Black Friday – one of the country’s busiest shopping days after Thanksgiving – over the grand jury ruling.

[youtube eLVL_jFNGwI 650]

Thanksgiving Day travel 2014: Harsh weather along East Coast

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Thanksgiving Day travel 2014: Harsh weather along East Coast

East coast snowy weather has disrupted one of the busiest travel days ahead of the country’s Thanksgiving holiday.

More than 600 flights were cancelled and thousands delayed by a winter storm which brought snow, sleet and rain.

As much as 12in of snow was due in the heavily populated north-east, forcing people to change travel plans.

More than 46 million Americans are expected to be on the move on November 26, mostly by car.

That would make it the busiest Thanksgiving travel since 2007, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), with most people travelling by cars.

Snow has already begun falling in the East but New York City could see as much as four inches of snow, while between six and 12 inches is expected to fall further north.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center and had 1,800 snowplough operators standing by to clear roads between New York City and Albany.

Airlines were suggesting travelers switch to earlier flights, with some dropping change fees.

Snow is also expected in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.

[youtube GFZyr6x_EaQ 650]

Indian hanged girls: Badaun cousins committed suicide, were not killed

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Indian hanged girls: Badaun cousins committed suicide, were not killed

According to a federal investigation in India, the two teenage girls found hanging from a tree in May took their own lives and were not gang-raped and murdered.

The announcement came after months of inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following global outrage.

Three men arrested in connection with the case in northern Uttar Pradesh state were freed on bail in September.

It is unclear why the girls might have taken their lives. Correspondents say there are many unanswered questions.

Women’s rights activists say they are not happy with the latest findings and are urging the CBI to continue investigating.

The lower caste cousins, thought to have been 14 and 15, were found hanged from a mango tree in Badaun district on May 28.

They went missing after apparently going outside to relieve themselves during the night as they had no toilet at home.

A local post-mortem examination initially confirmed multiple s**ual assaults and death due to hanging.

However, forensic tests conducted since then have concluded the girls were assaulted, the CBI said.

“Based on around 40 scientific reports the CBI has concluded that the two minor girls in the Badaun case had not been raped and murdered as had been alleged in the FIR [first information report],” CBI spokeswoman Kanchan Prasad said on November 27.

“Investigation has concluded that it is a case of suicide.”

More details are due at a news conference later on Thursday.

Earlier, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha told the Hindustan Times newspaper they had “cracked the Badaun case”.

“The local police had erroneously conducted their probe along the lines that the sisters were killed,” he said.

Correspondents say the story of the hangings has become murkier and murkier over the past few months, with officials raising questions over the testimony of the victims’ families, accusing them of failing lie-detector tests.

Investigators also raised doubts about the credibility of the main witness, a neighbor of the girls, amid reports that he had been paid money by their families.

It is also became clear that the CBI did not trust the original local police investigation.

In September a court bailed the three accused after federal investigators refused to charge them, citing a lack of evidence.

Two constables, who were also arrested along with the accused and charged with dereliction of duty and criminal conspiracy for not taking the parents’ complaint seriously, were also bailed in September.

Federal investigators have said the clothes and personal effects of the girls were examined by the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hyderabad and it found no proof of assault.

[youtube 4ybP2zOcdMM 650]

Ebola vaccine passes safety test in human trial

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Ebola vaccine passes safety test in human trial

The experimental vaccine against Ebola is safe and may help the immune system to combat the virus, the first human trial results suggest.

Twenty volunteers were immunized in the US. Scientists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) described the results as “promising”.

The research is published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

None of those immunized suffered major side-effects and all produced antibodies.

The volunteers were divided into two groups, receiving either a low or high dose. The antibody response was stronger among those receiving the higher dose.

The investigators found that seven of the high dose and two of the lose dose volunteers produced T-cell immune responses, which may be important in protection against Ebola viruses.

The vaccine uses a chimpanzee cold virus which has been genetically engineered to carry a non-infectious Ebola protein on its surface.

There are four trials underway of this experimental vaccine.

The US vaccine is bivalent – aimed at giving protection against the Sudan and Zaire strains of Ebola. It is the latter which is responsible for the current outbreak.

Trials of a monovalent vaccine – against the Zaire strain – are also underway in Oxford, Mali and Switzerland.

If these also yield positive results then the monovalent vaccine will be offered to thousands of health workers in West Africa.

If the vaccine does work, it is unclear how long the protection would last.

These kinds of questions are usually settled during the early stages of human trials.

In an editorial in the NEJM Dr. Daniel Bausch said that while the trial left many questions unanswered, an Ebola vaccine was “one step closer”.

The experimental vaccine is being manufactured by the British drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

GSK says it can produce one million doses a month by the end of 2015.

[youtube atFi789CBic 650]

Kim Yo-jong: Kim Jong-un’s sister given senior North Korea role

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Kim Yo-jong: Kim Jong-un’s sister given senior North Korea role

Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, has been referred to as senior party official for the first time in the North Korean state media.

Kim Yo-jong, who is in her mid to late twenties, was identified as a vice-director of a department within the powerful Central Committee, KCNA said.

Kim Jong-un is the third generation of the Kim family to rule North Korea.

His aunt also had a prominent role in the party but disappeared after her husband was executed for treason.

Observers say could end up also playing a significant supportive leadership role.

She was first seen publically at the funeral of her father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011.

Since then Kim Yo-jong has on occasion been seen in political events and “field guidance trips” accompanying her brother but without any official title in the party.

Kim Jong-un, 31, and his sister are both children of Kim Jong-il and his late wife, Ko Yong-hui.

They are believed to have gone to the same boarding school in Switzerland as their older brother Kim Jong-chol.

Kim Jong-chol does not have any publicly defined role in the government.

[youtube zAQXylVlBW0 650]

Phillip Hughes dies of his injuries aged 25

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Phillip Hughes dies of his injuries aged 25

Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes has died aged 25, two days after being struck on the top of the neck by a ball during a domestic match in Sydney.

Australia team doctor Peter Brukner said the batsman passed away in hospital, never regaining consciousness.

Phillip Hughes, who also played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, was hit by a delivery from bowler Sean Abbott.

“It’s an understatement to say we’re completely devastated,” said Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland.

“The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is a real life tragedy.”

Australia captain Michael Clarke read out a statement on behalf of the Hughes family at a news conference held at St Vincent’s Hospital, where the player, who would have been 26 on November 30, was being treated.

Speaking on behalf of parents Greg and Virginia, sister Megan and brother Jason, Michael Clarke said: “We’re devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother, Phillip. It’s been a very difficult few days.

“We appreciate all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public.

“Cricket was Phillip’s life and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We would like to thank all the medical and nursing staff at St Vincent’s Hospital and Cricket New South Wales medical staff for their great efforts with Phillip. We love you.”

Phillip Hughes, batting for South Australia, collapsed face first on the ground after being hit by a bouncer from Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales.

He had been wearing a helmet but the ball struck him at the top of the neck, causing the injury.

Phillip Hughes had CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the ground before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, where he had a 90-minute operation to relieve pressure on his brain.

But his death was confirmed in a statement on November 27.

Speaking at the news conference, Peter Brukner explained that Phillip Hughes had died as a result of “vertebral artery dissection”.

[youtube K7QaD3l1yQA 650]

Why Your Meetings Should Be Digital

Dana R
-
0

Hosting an effective meeting can be a costly venture. Between travel expenses, charges for printing and creating effective literature, the cost of refreshments, and rental or purchase fees for equipment like projectors and corresponding screens, it can cost a pretty penny. Whether your meeting is across town or across the country, it’s going to cost you something to attend—the further you go, and the more people attend, the more it’s going to cost.

This all but cuts small to mid-size businesses out of the equation for professional and effective business meetings. More clients are lost, more remedial training is required, and less profit is made every time a cheaper, more simplistic meeting fails to satisfy the goal of getting together in the first place. But a truly professional meeting is bound to cost more than it earns for most small businesses, so what else is there to do? Even conference calls can rack up a phone bill to make any sole proprietor cringe. Thankfully, advances in modern technology have allowed an alternative to rise from the frustration of small business owners everywhere.

Make Virtual Your Business Reality

Going virtual with your business meetings and conferences is the best way to level the playing field when it comes to achieving effective and productive meetings. It takes a little practice, but a good service will work with you to make sure you get all the features your business needs at a price you can afford. The best services boast high customer satisfaction and multiple accolades—for instance, Blue Jeans Virtual Meetings were recently rated number one among all cloud-based video conference solutions.

The key is to know what to look for when you seek out a virtual meeting solution. Chron’s recommendation for virtual conferencing is a system that allows you to set up meetings in minute and connect instantly; the best solutions for any business, from mom and pop shops to Fortune 500 companies, offer key features:

  • Easy to use from the outset: Simple installation and launching, easy connection, screen sharing, etc.
  • Cross-compatible with multiple systems and devices: make sure it can run on your computer, your business partner’s computer, your iPad and your clients’ and employees’ various devices before you invest in a subscription or full system.
  • Economic options: establish the features you need, such as screen sharing, mobile call-in functionality and more, and find the solution that offers what you need over what you don’t. There’s no point paying for bells and whistles you’re never going to use.
  • Secure connections: protect your business’s most proprietary information by being certain that outsiders can’t crash—or hack into—your meeting.
  • Functional for multiple industries: some video conferencing solutions have terms that prohibit some industries from using their service, mostly for legal issues. Make sure, especially if you work in law or with any sensitive information, that the terms of service allow you to utilize your preferred system before you make a purchase.

The fact that so many solutions can offer these features to begin with proves that virtual is the best way to hold your next conference, but incorporating it into your business model could be a bit complicated if you’ve never worked with virtual meetings before. It’s best to start a free trial of the service that you’re most interested in—and is most suited to your business—and see how long it takes you to get used to the system. Make sure to introduce it to your employees and colleagues as you test it out; if you’re the only one that finds the system easy to use, you may need to see out an option that is more intuitive to your business connections.

See the Benefits

The Wall Street Journal reported that eliminating business travel from a company budget would save 17 percent in the first year—and that’s not counting the money saved on fuel to and from the office by employees who usually work remotely.

The benefits of choosing to substitute physical meetings for their efficient virtual cousin are many, but here are a few of the best:

  • Zero travel time, zero travel expenses, zero attendance hassle.
  • Digital presentations are easier and less expensive than working with paper and projectors.
  • Opportunity for attendance from employees, clients and business partners that normally would be cut out of the meeting due to matters of distance, health, or other issues.
  • Allow your business to go green—as helpfully pointed out by Bussines2Community in 2013, using less fuel and paper reduces your company’s carbon footprint.

Going virtual also eliminates concerns of limited space for large meetings and conferences, removes the need to pay for refreshments, and helps increase productivity as a whole by allowing attendees to stay on task.

Prepare for Launch

Virtual conferences and meetings aren’t the way of the future, they’re the way of today. Now is the time to get involved and stay ahead of the game, no matter how large or small your business might be, no matter what industry you work in. Once you go digital, you’ll never want to travel for a meeting again.

Gurtel scandal: Spain’s Health Minister Ana Mato resigns over illegal payments accusation

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Gurtel scandal: Spain’s Health Minister Ana Mato resigns over illegal payments accusation

The Spanish health minister, Ana Mato, has resigned after a judge accused her of benefitting from illegal payments.

The minister’s ex-husband, Jesus Sepulveda, was found to be linked to a huge corruption case involving the ruling People’s Party.

A court issued a formal ruling which signaled that Ana Mato had no knowledge of any possible crime.

The scheme caused a scandal for PM Mariano Rajoy, who apologized after party members were arrested by police.

Ana Mato has not been named as an official suspect in the case, but will have to sit in during court hearings, judicial sources have told Spanish press.

In a statement, Ana Mato said she had not herself been linked with any crime but that she was standing down for the good of the government.

Judges have been investigating the so-called Gurtel network, a huge scheme involving illegal party donations or kickbacks from businesses seeking contracts.

It is the largest pre-trial investigation in the history of Spain’s criminal court, and involves many Popular Party officials and public figures.

[youtube wRcjGLnQAwQ 650]

Michael Brown’s family crushed by Ferguson grand jury’s decision

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Michael Brown’s family crushed by Ferguson grand jury’s decision

Michael Brown’s family say they are “crushed” by the grand jury’s decision not to charge Officer Darren Wilson.

Michael Brown Sr. told NBC news his son’s character had been “crucified”.

Separately, Michael Brown’s mother said Darren Wilson had been “disrespectful”.

Darren Wilson, who shot dead Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on August 9, has told ABC he has a “clean conscience”.

There were protests over the ruling in 13 US cities on Tuesday night.

In Ferguson, there was some unrest as protesters scuffled with police, and a police car outside the town hall was set alight.

However, police said security was “much better” than Monday, when there was widespread rioting and looting, and more than a dozen buildings were set alight.

About 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed in the city on Tuesday night, up from 700 on Monday. Forty-four people were arrested.

Rallies in the area continued on November 26, as at least 200 protesters gathered outside St Louis City Hall, holding a mock trial for Darren Wilson.

Some demonstrators stormed the hall, shouting “shame, shame”, and forcing police to lockdown the building, AP news agency reported. Two people were reportedly arrested.

Anger at the ruling has spread to cities across the US.

Protests were reported on Tuesday night in 12 cities, in addition to Ferguson: Philadelphia, Seattle, Albuquerque, New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Oakland, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Portland, Chicago and Boston.

Those demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but rioting broke out in Oakland, California, where protesters started a street fire.

In Los Angeles, 130 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct, the LA Times reported.

Police also arrested several demonstrators in Boston, Atlanta and New York, Reuters said.

[youtube Y_vc-8I3Wgg 650]

Andy Murray and Kim Sears engaged after nine years of relationship

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Andy Murray and Kim Sears engaged after nine years of relationship

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray has got engaged to his long-term girlfriend Kim Sears, his agent has confirmed.

The 27-year-old tennis star and Kim Sears, 26, have been a couple since 2005 and she regularly watches his matches.

It is thought Andy Murray popped the question to Kim Sears on November 19.

Earlier this year Andy Murray joked during a question and answer session with fans that he was getting married after Wimbledon.

About an hour later, Andy Murray told his 2.3 million followers: “3 things.. I don’t smoke grass, I’m not getting married (yet) and I don’t want to kill Rafael Nadal..”

It would appear that Andy Murray has now proposed to Kim Sears, his partner of more than nine years.

Sussex-born Kim Sears, who is the daughter of former Lawn Tennis Association head of women’s tennis Nigel Sears, met Andy Murray at the US Open in 2005.

Kim Sears was once described by future mother-in-law Judy Murray as “the best thing to happen to Andy”.

[youtube vu-BIKVKZtU 650]

Tamir Rice shooting video released by Cleveland police

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Tamir Rice shooting video released by Cleveland police

Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old boy shot by Cleveland police, was told to show his hands three times by officers before they opened fire, a senior officer says.

Tamir Rice, whom the officers appeared to believe was much older, was shot twice and later died in hospital.

Cleveland police has released video and audio recordings of the incident.

CCTV video shows Tamir Rice pointing the toy gun at a passer-by from the playground where he was shot, which prompted a 911 emergency call.

Recordings of radio communications reveal a police officer at the scene describing Tamir Rice as aged “maybe 20” after the shooting.

A separate recording appears to confirm the officers were not told the gun might be fake.

Cleveland police said on November 26 that the family had given permission for CCTV recordings of the shooting to be released.

The footage shows Tamir Rice walking around a playground with a replica gun clearly in his hand.

Minutes later, a police car drives up and stops immediately next to him.

Chief Officer Edward Tomba said that the car door was open when the officers arrived, and that they had ordered the boy to show his hands three times as the car pulled up alongside.

Tamir Rice was then shot and fatally wounded.

In a recording immediately after the incident, a police officer is heard saying: “Shots fired, male down, black male, maybe 20.”

A recording of the call from the operator to police officers as they were dispatched to the scene appears to confirm that there was no mention of a replica gun.

The operator describes the incident as “a black male sitting on the swings, keeps pulling a gun out of his pants and pointing it at people”.

An audio recording of the 911 emergency call had previously revealed that the caller had said the gun was “probably a fake” on two occasions, before adding he was not sure whether it was “real or not”.

[youtube x1GaaMYhrw0 650]

Duck Dynasty Thanksgiving Special 2014: The Robertsons take over Good Morning Arklamiss

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Duck Dynasty Thanksgiving Special 2014: The Robertsons take over Good Morning Arklamiss

A special holiday episode of Duck Dynasty shows the Robertson family taking over the Thanksgiving special of a local TV show, Good Morning Arklamiss.

Each family member presents a special holiday segment, with Willie and Jase Robertson serving as anchormen, Uncle Si as the weatherman and Miss Kay presents her famous Thanksgiving recipes and the rest of the family offer up their unique tips for the holidays.

The show airs on Wednesday, November 26 at 9:30pm; Thursday, November 27 at 10:31pm on A&E.

James Watson becomes first living recipient to auction Nobel Prize medal

James J. Williams
-
0
James Watson becomes first living recipient to auction Nobel Prize medal

Molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist James D. Watson is to auction off his Nobel Prize medal he won in 1962 for the discovery of the structure of DNA.

Christie’s says the medal is the first to be auctioned by a living recipient and could fetch between $2.5 million and $3.5 million.

The prize was awarded in 1962 to James Watson, Maurice Wilkins and Francis Crick, with each receiving a gold medal.

The auction includes papers belonging to Prof. James Watson, including handwritten notes for his acceptance speech.

Christie’s estimates these at between $300,000 and $400,000.

The discovery of the structure of DNA – which encodes the instruction booklet for building a living organism – was made by James Watson and Francis Crick, using experimental data that had been gathered by Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin.

Prof. James Watson said part of the proceeds would go to the University of Chicago, Clare College at Cambridge University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island Land Trust and other charities.

Francis Crick’s Nobel medal sold for $2.2 million last year. He died in 2004.

Hong Kong protests: Seven police officers arrested over beating Ken Tsang

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Hong Kong protests: Seven police officers arrested over beating Ken Tsang

Seven police officers have been arrested in Hong Kong in connection with the beating of pro-democracy protester Ken Tsang.

A police statement said the policemen, who had already been suspended, were detained on suspicion of “assault resulting in grievous body harm”.

The incident took place on October 15 amid clashes while police cleared an underpass by the Admiralty camp.

Civic Party protester Ken Tsang was filmed being led away in handcuffs and beaten for several minutes.

Local TV network TVB later aired footage of his assault, and Ken Tsang’s lawyer said that the beatings had continued after he was taken to a police station.

The authorities immediately moved to suspend the officers and launched an investigation shortly after the clip was aired.

On November 26, a police spokesman said they had not delayed investigations into the case, and that Ken Tsang had promised to show up to identify his assailants, but failed to do so.

The spokesman called on Ken Tsang to “assist the police in investigations as soon as possible”.

The police also rejected previous criticism of their handling of the case, saying that their investigations had consistently followed the procedures for complaints against police officers.

“If any other officer is suspected of illegal behavior, the police will investigate impartially and not show favoritism,” said the spokesman.

Police used pepper spray and batons on October 15 to remove protesters from Lung Wo Road, arresting 45 people who had resisted the action.

Since then the authorities have attempted to clear parts of the three protest sites in Hong Kong, after the high court granted injunctions to several groups.

[youtube oGwVXBEvPcs 650]

Lidl’s Suddenly Madame Glamour perfume smells identical to Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Lidl’s Suddenly Madame Glamour perfume smells identical to Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle

According to bargain expert Martin Lewis, Lidl’s £4 ($6) Suddenly Madame Glamour perfume is “virtually indistinguishable” from Chanel’s £70 ($110) Coco Mademoiselle, The Independent reported.

Martin Lewis told The Independent: “There are many <<smell-alike>> perfumes on the market and a perfect example of this is the Lidl’s perfume and the Coco Mademoiselle.

“This is something we discovered on my TV show [Martin Lewis Money Show], when we got some people to smell them. About 50% of them either couldn’t tell the difference or preferred the cheap version.”

This Lidl’s fragrance “with citrus and floral notes, incorporating bergamot and jasmine” has become “one of the most popular beauty items and a household favorite”.

However, the difference is in the branding. Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle comes in a luxury bottle and box, and it is endorsed by actress Keira Knightley, who has fronted numerous campaigns for the French fashion house. In contrast, Lidl’s Suddenly Madame Glamour bottle is plain and less luxurious.

[youtube aRV-2_Un-kk 650]

Kim Dotcom declares himself broke

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Kim Dotcom declares himself broke

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has declared himself “broke”.

Kim Dotcom said he had spent $10 million on legal costs since being arrested in New Zealand in 2012 and accused of internet piracy.

He had employed a local law firm to fight the US’s attempt to extradite him, but his defense team stepped down two weeks ago without explaining why.

Kim Dotcom said he would now represent himself at a bail hearing on November 27.

He denies charges of racketeering, conspiring to commit copyright infringement and money laundering.

Kim Dotcom told a conference in London, via a video link, that his lawyers had resigned because he had run out of money.

“The [US authorities] have certainly managed to drain my resources and dehydrate me, and without lawyers I am defenseless,” he said.

“They used that opportunity to try and get my bail revoked and that’s what I’m facing.”

Kim Dotcom’s declaration comes seven months after he won back access to about $750,000 worth of property – including several of his cars – that had been taken at the time of his arrest. However, other assets, including dozens of bank accounts, remained frozen.

The German national’s finances have also been put under strain after he helped bankroll a political party that failed to win a seat in September’s general election in New Zealand.

“Before I started my political movement – the Internet Party – I was quite popular in New Zealand,” Kim Dotcom told the digital business conference.

“After I got involved in politics and the prime minister of New Zealand and his party attacked me viciously, labeling me a Nazi… and [saying] I’m only starting my political party to fight my extradition… New Zealanders unfortunately have bought into that narrative and today I’m a pariah.

“The witch-hunt worked, and everyone wants to see me burn, and next Thursday I might go to jail because of that.”

Kim Dotcom does, however, continue to retain a lawyer in the US, who gave an interview to Radio New Zealand after Kim Dotcom’s comments.

“There are assets frozen across the globe, there are mechanisms in place for getting relief from those frozen assets – we’re hopeful that courts across the globe, including in Hong Kong and New Zealand, will do the right thing and release funds to counsel,” said Ira Rothken.

“This is the largest copyright case in the history of the United States and New Zealand. It’s a very expensive case. And the governments are making this a war of attrition.

“They’re trying to outspend Kim Dotcom. They are trying to win on procedure rather than merit. And we’re going to do the best that we can so Kim Dotcom has a fair playing field.”

Ira Rothken added there were still about 20 lawyers working on the case.

Kim Dotcom launched a follow-up online storage company, Mega, in 2013, and in March said it was valued at 210 million New Zealand dollars ($164 million).

The business is set to be floated on New Zealand’s stock exchange later this year.

However, Kim Dotcom does not directly own a stake in the business himself and is no longer one of its directors.

Kim Dotcom’s wife, Mona, does own 16.2% of its shares, but the two are separated.

Mona Dotcom revealed in June that she had moved into a guest house about 165ft away from Kim Dotcom’s mansion so their five children could still be close to their father.

Kim Dotcom has revealed that his rent is pre-paid until mid-2015 and he plans to return to court “soon” to try to unfreeze more of his assets.

The next extradition hearing into his case is not scheduled until February 2015, providing him an opportunity to hire more local lawyers if he can obtain the funds.

The US Justice Department claims Megaupload made more than $175 million before it was closed and cost film, TV and other rights-holders more than $500 million.

Katekavia passengers push frozen plane in Siberia

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Katekavia passengers push frozen plane in Siberia

Passengers on board a Katekavia airline flight due to take off from Siberia had to get out and push the aircraft after its brake pads froze solid, Russian media reported.

The plane was trying to take off from the town of Igarka, but was unable to move after the temperature fell to -52C, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.

Passengers on board the flight, many of them shift workers, apparently offered to lend a hand, fearing that otherwise their journey home would be delayed, The Siberian Times reports.

The Katekavia airline flight later took off and landed safely in the city of Krasnoyarsk.Photo Siberian Times

“According to the initial account, the air temperature dropped to -52C, and the braking system in the plane’s landing gear froze in the parking position,” Oxana Gorbunova, a senior aide at the Western Siberia state transport prosecutor’s office, tells RIA Novosti.

“The pushback tractor was unable to budge the aircraft onto the taxiway, and the passengers decided to help give it a push, which is not permitted, as this can damage the aircraft skin.”

Prosecutors are now checking whether the airport, the airline, the crew or the passengers broke any air safety laws.

The town of Igarka lies 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle, so chilly winter temperatures are not unusual. However, -52C is significantly colder than normal; the average low temperature is closer to -30C.

Igarka’s airport is a regional airline hub used by 100,000 passengers a year, many of them working in Russia’s Arctic oil and gas fields.

[youtube rkqPqZKtWgw 650]

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman to star in Big Little Lies TV series

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman to star in Big Little Lies TV series

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are to star in Big Little Lies TV series by Ally McBeal writer David E. Kelley.

Based on the book Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, it tells of three mothers with children in nursery school who get caught up in a murder mystery.

The actresses will play two of those women, whose seemingly perfect lives unravel during a school fundraiser.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman will also co-executive produce alongside David E. Kelley.

The third role has yet to be cast.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman’s respective production companies, Pacific Standard and Blossom Films, had originally optioned the rights to the Australian author’s book earlier this year as a feature film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the comedy drama is being shopped to US cable networks and streaming services like Netflix as a “limited series”.

Although it could run as a one-off, a limited series still offers the opportunity for a show to be renewed for further episodes if it goes down well with viewers, like CBS sci-fi drama Under The Dome.

Reese Witherspoon last appeared on TV in 2000 in sitcom Friends, guest-starring as Jennifer Aniston’s on-screen sister Jill. She has also voiced characters in animated series King of the Hill and The Simpsons.

Nicole Kidman appeared in a number of Australian TV series at the start of her career including A Country Practice and Five Mile Creek.

She starred in TV movie Hemingway and Gellhorn alongside Clive Owen in 2012, which earned her a best actress Golden Globe nomination.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are the latest A-list stars try their hand at the small screen, joining the likes of Kevin Spacey, Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and, for one season only, Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in True Detective.

Sabah dies in Beirut at the age of 87

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Sabah dies in Beirut at the age of 87

Legendary singer Sabah, one of the Arab world’s best-known entertainers, has died in Beirut at the age of 87.

The Lebanese singer and actress, whose real name was Jeanette Gergis al-Feghali, first came to prominence in the 1950s as star of Egyptian movies.

During her more than six-decade long career, Sabah released over 50 albums and acted in 98 films.

Sabah died at her home in Beirut of an unspecified illness, reported Lebanon’s National News Agency.

She was the first Arab singer to perform at Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, Piccadilly Theatre in London and the Sydney Opera House.

Born in Bdadoun, a Lebanese town in the Baabda-Aley province, Sabah released her first song in 1940.

Sabah soon caught the eye of Egyptian film producer Asia Dagher, who immediately signed her for three films.

The first of these, El-Qalb Louh Wahid (The Heart Has Its Reasons), made her a star – and she was known by her character’s name, Sabah, ever after.

She also acquired several affectionate nicknames, including “Shahroura”, Arabic for “singing bird”, and “Sabbouha,” a diminutive of Sabah.

Among her most popular films were Soft Hands (1964), Ataba Square (1959) and The Second Man (1960), in which she played a cabaret singer who vows to avenge her brother’s death at the hands of a smuggling ring.

Sabah held Egyptian, Jordanian and US citizenship as well as Lebanese, and continued to perform and make television appearances into her 80s.

At home, she was humorously mocked for refusing to leave the limelight, as well as her garish outfits and use of cosmetic surgery.

Sabah married nine times, most notably to Egyptian actor Roshdi Abaza and Lebanese author-director Wassim Tabbara.

Her last marriage, to Lebanese artist Fadi Lubnan, lasted 17 years.

Sabah had two children, Dr. Sabah Shammas and actress Howayda Mansy, both of whom live in the US.

[youtube 9fGDDwMePTc 650]

William Shakespeare First Folio discovered in Saint-Omer library

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
William Shakespeare First Folio discovered in Saint-Omer library

William Shakespeare’s First Folio, regarded as the most important book in English literature, has been discovered in a library of a small French town.

The rare and valuable book had lain undisturbed in a library in Saint-Omer, near Calais in northern France, for 200 years.

It was discovered by librarians planning an exhibition on the historic links between the region and England.

“The work has several pages missing, including the title page,” librarian Remy Cordonnier told the press.

The loss of the first page and introductory material may have led to the book being catalogued as an unexceptional old edition, he added.

The Folio collects 36 of Shakespeare’s 38 known plays for the first time, and was originally printed in 1623, seven years after the playwright’s death.

Edited by his friends and fellow actors John Heminges and Henry Condell, it is credited with being the reason his literary legacy survived. It is the only source for 18 of his plays, including Macbeth.

It is thought that 800 copies were produced, of which 233 are believed to still exist.

New discoveries are made roughly once a decade, and they are scrutinized by scholars for minor variations (each copy is different) and what they might reveal about Shakespeare’s intentions.

The copy discovered in Saint-Omer is only one of two known to reside in France.

Remy Cordonnier, who runs the library’s rare books collection, said he had not initially realized the significance of his find.

“I didn’t instantly recognize it as a book of value,” he said.

“It had been heavily used and was damaged. It had seen better days.

“[But] It occurred to me that it could be an unidentified First Folio, with historic importance and great intellectual value.”

The librarian contacted one of the world’s foremost authorities on Shakespeare, Professor Eric Rasmussen of the University of Nevada, who happened to be in London working at the British Library.

“He was very interested by the elements I had sent him by mail and said he would come over and take a look,” said Remy Cordonnier.

Prof. Eric Rasmussen took the Eurostar to France last Saturday and authenticated the Folio within five minutes.

“This is huge,” he told the New York Times.

“First folios don’t turn up very often, and when they do, it’s usually a really chewed up, uninteresting copy. But this one is magnificent.”

“It was very emotional to realize we had a copy of one of the most famous books in the world,” said Remy Cordonnier.

“I was already imagining the reaction it would cause.”

The Folio contains several handwritten notes, which may illuminate how the plays were performed in William Shakespeare’s time.

In one scene from Henry IV, the word “hostess” is changed to “host” and “wench” to “fellow” – possibly reflecting an early performance where a female character was turned into a male.

The library says it has no plans to sell the book but intends to display it as the centerpiece of the forthcoming exhibition of its rare books by English authors.

However, the Folio is not the rarest book the Saint-Omer library owns. It also has a Gutenberg Bible, of which fewer than 50 are known to survive.

Lionel Messi becomes Champions League’s all-time top scorer

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Lionel Messi becomes Champions League’s all-time top scorer

Lionel Messi became the Champions League’s all-time top scorer with a hat-trick in Barcelona against Apoel Nicosia match.

Lionel Messi, 27, went into the Group F game in Cyprus level on 71 goals with former Real Madrid forward Raul.

Luis Suarez had already opened the scoring with his first goal for the club when Lionel Messi diverted Rafinha’s 38th-minute shot past the keeper.

Lionel Messi netted his second in the 58th-minute with a low right-foot finish before tapping home from close range.

“I am happy for having achieved such a nice record in a competition of this importance,” he said.

“But the really relevant thing is that we took the three points.

“Barcelona played a great match.”

It is Lionel Messi’s second major record in four days, having scored a landmark 253rd Spanish top-flight goal with a hat-trick against Sevilla on November 23.

Lionel Messi’s latest achievement earned him glowing praise from his manager Luis Enrique.

“I’ll say it again, he’s the best ever in this game,” said the former Spain midfielder.

Both teams finished with 10 men on November 25, Rafinha sent off for two bookable offences 20 minutes from time before Apoel Nicosia’s Joao Guilherme followed him 14 minutes later, also for a second booking.

It was Lionel Messi’s 28th Barcelona hat-trick, and his fifth in the Champions League.

The Argentina international now has 74 Champions League goals in 91 appearances in the competition.

Raul’s 71 goals came in 142 games.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who is expected to line up at Basel on November 26 in the competition, has 70 goals.

Barcelona had already qualified for the knockout stages before their visit to Cyprus.

Jean-Claude Juncker unveils €315 billion investment plan to kick-start EU economy

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Jean-Claude Juncker unveils €315 billion investment plan to kick-start EU economy

Jean-Claude Juncker, the newly appointed European Commission president, has revealed details of a €315 billion ($393 billion) investment plan to kick-start Europe’s economy.

At the heart of Jean-Claude Juncker’s 5-year agenda is a new €21 billion fund, which would be used as “seed money”, to entice private backers to “pitch in” most of the rest.

Only €8 billion of the original money would come from the EU budget itself.

The project would take the burden off national governments, already facing big debts after the financial crisis.

Critics have already suggested that the scheme is too small, and needs far more hard cash if it is to make a major difference.

However, Jean-Claude Juncker said Europe had to face “the challenge of a generation” head-on, without a money-printing machine, describing his plan as the greatest effort in recent EU history to trigger additional investment without changing the rules.

Illustrating the type of projects he had in mind, Jean-Claude Juncker said he had a vision of:

  • Schoolchildren walking into a brand new classroom equipped with computers in the Greek city of Thessaloniki
  • European hospitals saving lives with state of the art medical equipment
  • French commuters charging electric cars on motorways in the same way as petrol stations were used now
  • Households and companies becoming more energy efficient

The Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) would create the fund’s €21 billion reserve, according to Jean-Claude Juncker, which would then enable the EIB to fund loans worth €63 billion. Private investors would be expected to put forward the lion’s share of the money, some €252 billion.

Jean-Claude Juncker’s speech came a day after Pope Francis addressed the same parliament, criticizing an “elderly and haggard” Europe that had become less and less protagonist.

Initial reaction to Jean-Claude Juncker’s plan came from Chancellor Angela Merkel, who told the German parliament that her government supported the package in principle, but it had to be clear to everyone where the projects were in the future.

The Commission president, who came to office at the start of November, said he could not promise how much investment would go to each country, but he argued that investment in one country could only be good for growth in another.

Structural reforms were necessary to modernize Europe’s economy and fiscal responsibility was needed to restore confidence in public finance, but now investment had to be boosted as well, he said.

The start of the former Luxembourg prime minister’s term as president has been overshadowed by his country’s role in a tax break row.

Hundreds of multi-national firms were reportedly attracted to Luxembourg in legal tax avoidance schemes. Jean-Claude Juncker was prime minister at the time but denies wrongdoing.

Although a vote against Jean-Claude Juncker is due to take place at the European Parliament on November 27, it is unlikely to attract widespread support.

1...469470471...1,235Page 470 of 1,235