The Duck Dynasty video game is available at a low price for Black Friday.
The game is available on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4 and Nintendo 3DS.
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Duck Dynasty video game available at low price for Black Friday
Duck Dynasty family shares tips for celebrating Thanksgiving
Members of Duck Dynasty family share tips for celebrating Thanksgiving when they take over a local television show.
The Robertsons are cookin’ up a redneck Thanksgiving.
Watch the Robertson’s Turkey Day takeover Wednesday, November 26, at 9.30/8.30 C on A&E.
University of Texas buys Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s personal archive
University of Texas in Austin has acquired the personal archive of Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, including manuscripts for 10 of his books.
Colombian Culture Minister Mariana Garces said it was a loss for Colombia, but the author’s family said the government had not approached them.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died in April at the age of 87, was born in Colombia but did much of his writing in Mexico.
The archive spans more than 50 years and includes letters between Gabriel Garcia Marquez and writers such as Graham Greene, Gunter Grass and Carlos Fuentes.
There is also material related to Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s political work and his close friendship with Fidel Castro.
Among the manuscripts is the original One Hundred Years of Solitude, perhaps Garcia Gabriel Marquez’s most famous book.
The collection will be placed in the University of Texas’s research library, the Harry Ransom Center.
University of Texas president Bill Powers said: “The University of Texas at Austin with expertise in both Latin America and the preservation and study of the writing process, is the natural home for this very important collection.”
Brain has a weak spot for Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia, say researchers
British researchers have identified a weak spot in the brain which is responsible for developing Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
According to the scientists who have pinpointed the region using scans, the brain area involved develops late in adolescence and degenerates early during ageing.
At the moment, it is difficult for doctors to predict which people might develop either condition.
The findings, in the journal PNAS, hint at a potential way to diagnose those at risk earlier, experts say.
Although they caution that “much more research is needed into how to bring these exciting discoveries into the clinic”.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) team who carried out the study did MRI brain scans on 484 healthy volunteers aged between 8 and 85 years.
The researchers, led by Dr. Gwenaëlle Douaud of Oxford University, looked at how the brain naturally changes as people age.
The images revealed a common pattern – the parts of the brain that were the last to develop were also the first to show signs of age-related decline.
These brain regions – a network of nerve cells or grey matter – co-ordinate “high order” information coming from the different senses, such as sight and sound.
When the researchers looked at scans of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and scans of patients with schizophrenia they found the same brain regions were affected.
The findings fit with what other experts have suspected – that although distinct, Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia are linked.
Prof. Hugh Perry of the MRC said: “Early doctors called schizophrenia <<premature dementia>> but until now we had no clear evidence that the same parts of the brain might be associated with two such different diseases. This large-scale and detailed study provides an important, and previously missing, link between development, ageing and disease processes in the brain.
“It raises important issues about possible genetic and environmental factors that may occur in early life and then have lifelong consequences. The more we can find out about these very difficult disorders, the closer we will come to helping sufferers and their families.”
Wizard of Oz’s Cowardly Lion costume fetches $3 million at New York auction
The costume of Cowardly Lion from classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz has sold for more than $3 million at an auction in New York.
The famous outfit went for $3.07 million at a Bonham’s auction of Hollywood memorabilia on November 24.
It had been authenticated as the one Bert Lahr wore in more than a dozen scenes in the film. Its face is a sculpted likeness of the late actor.
The outfit was made out of real lion hide.
Other items that went under the hammer included a piano from 1942 film Casablanca, which sold for $2.9 million.
The instrument was sold along with more than 30 items from the World War II drama.
The piano, one of two used in the film, had been owned by Los Angeles dentist Gary Milan.
Dr. Gary Milan said the piano came with chewing gum under the keyboard, but that the owner of the fingerprint embedded in it was unknown.
In one famous scene, Humphrey Bogart uses the piano as a hiding place for illegal transit papers.
The “letters of transit” were also sold at auction, fetching more than $100,000.
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How to Break Through Your Company’s Plateau of Growth by Using a Smartphone
You may have been successfully running your business for quite some time without any major hiccups or complications. However, as is the case with most new businesses, you will eventually reach a plateau or stopping point where you are no longer able to generate very much growth.
In order to break down that wall and continue growing your business, you need to find an efficient way to increase revenue and sales opportunities. Using a mobile device, such as your smartphone, as an effective business tool can help you to do just that.
Manage Time Wisely with Productive Applications
Chances are that you are already using some sort of mobile application on a daily basis with your smartphone or tablet for personal purposes. One report shows that over 102 million mobile applications have been downloaded around the world. That figure is projected to rise to well over 268 million by 2017, according to Statista. Whether you are using an Apple or Android device, there are literally hundreds of thousands of applications that are easily accessible through your smartphone or tablet.
You can actually use this accessibility to your advantage when it comes to breaking through that stopping point. There is an abundance of applications specifically designed for time management and productivity purposes that can save you a considerable amount of time each day when it comes to time-consuming tasks, such as file management and administrative work. By taking the time to explore those options, you may find that you have more time to work on more profitable aspects of your business and less time with those tedious and time-consuming obligations.
Expand Your Hours with Mobile Sales
One of the best ways to use your smartphone to break through the plateau is to embrace the world of mobile sales. Perhaps you have a traditional, brick-and-mortar storefront that requires customers to come to you during your hours of operation. On the other hand, you might run an eCommerce business from the comfort of your own home.
Either way, you are still confined to a physical space with its own requirements. Using a smartphone will allow you to expand your hours in order to remain flexible for your prospective customers, because you will be able to use the device as a credit card processing system whenever and wherever you need it.
Create Sales Opportunities in the Community
Another effective way to break through the plateau is to create brand new sales opportunities for your company within the community. Within your physical or virtual business, you might currently be limiting to your sales potential to the traffic that flows directly to your storefront. However, you can maximize exposure and increase your sales by using the mobile capabilities of your smartphone to search for profitable opportunities elsewhere.
For example, you can sell your products and services at local trade shows or conventions. Perhaps the service that you offer can be done remotely instead of from your office – such as a mobile mechanic or IT specialist. Even though these opportunities would require you to be a little more flexible with your scheduling, the sales opportunities that they will create as a result will make it all worthwhile.
Cut Down Overhead Costs and Related Expenses
In most cases, the overhead costs and related expenses that you have to pay out every month just to keep your business running can also hinder the business from growing due to the decrease in profit that they cause. Therefore, an efficient course of action to take would be to study your current list of overhead expenditures – searching for target areas that can be drastically (or even slightly) reduced.
For instance, you might currently use a standard POS system to process your front-end transactions. This type of equipment can easily cost thousands of dollars to purchase upfront and tens of thousands of dollars to maintain over time due to recurring charges and licensing fees, according to Entrepreneur.
Investing in a mobile POS system, such as an equipment kit offered by Shopify, will allow you to process your front-end transactions efficiently for a fraction of that overwhelming cost. Remember, the more money that you save on the frontend, the more money you will be able to keep on the backend which will place your company in a position for positive, long-term growth.
Stay Connected to Your Customers
Use your mobile technology to stay connected to your customers and clients. Doing so will allow you to drastically improve the quality of your customer service, especially when it comes to responding to their complaints and issues in a timely manner. Keep in mind that nearly 90 percent of consumers stop doing business with the average company after having a poor customer service experience, according to Sales Force.
However, the same study shows that resolving issues in a timely manner will increase the chances of winning those customers back. Using your smartphone or tablet to respond to email inquiries, social media messages and other types of correspondence between yourself and your customers will open more doors of opportunity for your business – including repeat customers and referrals.
400,000 People Suffer From Work-Related Stress In US
With working hours getting longer and pay staying the same, many people in the US are now suffering from stress. Few people realize the impact that their working life has on their well-being. Work-related illnesses are a growing issue in the country. When people think of their general health, they often neglect their mental health. Surprisingly, there is still a huge stigma when it comes to psychological issues. With the number of suffers growing in strength every year, the question is, how much is too much?
Image by Eneas De Troya
How stressful is your job?
The first thing that people have to consider is how stressful their job is on a day to day basis. Professionals, like doctors, teachers and social workers, are all in a high-risk stress category. People who work long hours are likely to suffer from stress. Last year, doctors across the country noted a significant rise in people with stress and anxiety. When you are working long hours and fail to get an adequate break, you might struggle at home.
It is your boss’ duty to look over your work situation and see whether there are ways in which he or she can change your experience. Remember, your boss should care about your health and safety at work. He or she has a responsibility to you when you are on the premises. Many people avoid talking about their mental health, but they shouldn’t fear expressing themselves. If you feel as though you are unhappy in your workplace, you must talk to someone about it as soon as possible.
Signs of work-related stress
When you feel anxious, you might not even realize it yourself. Often, other people will pick up on certain behavioral and personality changes. If people start to worry about your welfare, it is likely that they have noticed a change in the way that you behave. Stressed people tend to become angry easily. If you used to be well-mannered and calm, but now freak out about the slightest thing, workplace stress could be to blame.
There are also physical signs of stress. Many people think that their emotional state has no impact on their physical health, but they are wrong. When you stress yourself out every day, your body feels the strain. You might begin to sweat whilst you are at work or in stressful situations. You may also notice that your heart speeds up when you are anxious. These minor changes are not normal and can lead to serious health complaints. You may also experience frequent headaches, blurred vision and sickness. If you have any of these symptoms, you need to see a medical professional sooner rather than later. He or she can talk to you about your issues and help you to work out a plan of action.
Prolonged stress can lead to diseases and sickness
When people suffer from prolonged bouts of stress, it can lead to serious health conditions. Stress and anxiety put extra pressure on your heart on a daily basis. Your heart is a muscle and can only take a certain amount of strain. If you are stressing your heart out every day, it will not function well. Many people who suffer from stress end up having heart conditions in later life. If you fail to treat stress, you may find that you struggle when it comes to health issues.
The other major concern is that the stress may depress people. Depression is a serious affliction that affects one in three people in the country. When people have depression, they fail to function in society. They sometimes have to have time off from work. There is a common misconception that people can overcome depression alone. That is not always the case. People with severe forms of depression need to get help for their illness. Without the help that they need, these people can fall further into their mental illness. Suicide rates are consistently increasing in the US. There is a strong correlation between people with stress and suicide victims.
What happens if you need to take time off?
If you need to take time off because of work-related stress, you should talk to your employer. Explain your situation and why you need time off. Don’t make the mistake of lying to your employer about your situation. Stress is a legitimate affliction, and you should tell your employer about it. Whilst you are off, you will get sick pay from your employer for the first six months. You can gain compensation for your stress-related illnesses if you need to. Sometimes people need compensation money to sustain themselves while they are ill or to pay medical bills. Contact a company, such as the russellworthsolicitors personal injury firm, so that you can get help.
Who can you talk to about stress?
If you are anxious and work stresses you out, you need to talk to someone. Top psychologists suggest that talking to family members and friends might be helpful. In fact, having a strong social support system around you will make a world of difference to your situation. If you feel as though you can’t confide in your friends or family, you can see your doctor. Few people realize that their doctor can help them with psychological issues. The lack of understanding of mental issues in society means that some people don’t see the stress as an illness. It is an illness, and you deserve help for it.
How can you reduce stress in your workplace?
People who suffer from stress need to find coping mechanisms in their workplace. Your employer will work with you to find ways to help you cope. You should never take on more work than you can handle. You need to make sure that you manage your time well while you are at work. You can also start doing breathing exercises so that you can control your heart rate. When you stop your heart from speeding up, you can stay calm. If you struggle at work and feel anxious, make sure that you take action for the good of your health.
Pope Francis arrives in Strasbourg to address European Parliament and Council of Europe
Pope Francis is visiting Strasbourg where he will address the European Parliament and Council of Europe on social and economic issues.
The Pope is expected to speak about anti-immigration sentiment and unemployment during his four-hour trip.
Many of Strasbourg’s Catholics are upset that he will not meet them or visit the city’s cathedral.
Some Catholics have accused the Pope of neglecting Europe since his election in 2013.
Pope Francis visited the Italian island of Lampedusa in July 2013 to meet and pray for illegal immigrants, and went to Albania in September. The Pope has said that he is planning a second visit to France in 2015.
Residents of Strasbourg have been told they can watch both of the pontiff’s speeches on a giant screen that will be installed inside the cathedral, which is celebrating its millennial anniversary.
Pope Francis is making the second papal visit to Strasbourg after Pope John Paul II visited the city in 1988.
Pope John Paul II addressed the European parliament where he was heckled by Northern Irish MEP the Rev Ian Paisley.
During his speech the late Pope called Europe “a beacon of civilization”.
However, Pope Francis has called Europe a “tired” continent which worships the “idol of money”.
In Strasbourg, Pope Francis is expected to call for greater tolerance and inclusion in response to the success nationalist parties have seen in parts of Europe.
In May, several of these parties performed strongly in the European parliamentary elections.
Pope Francis is also thought likely to address Europe’s ongoing economic crisis and the social problems that it has created.
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Women need equal respect rather than equality
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said women cannot be treated as equal to men, and has accused feminists of rejecting motherhood.
“You cannot put women and men on an equal footing,” the Turkish president told a meeting in Istanbul.
“It is against nature.”
He also said feminists did not grasp the importance of motherhood in Islam.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously urged women to have three children, and has lashed out against abortion and birth by Caesarean section.
His latest remarks were delivered at a women’s conference in Istanbul.
“In the workplace, you cannot treat a man and a pregnant woman in the same way,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, according to the Anatolia news agency.
Women cannot do all the work done by men, he added, because it was against their “delicate nature”.
“Our religion regards motherhood very highly,” he said.
“Feminists don’t understand that, they reject motherhood.”
He said women needed equal respect rather than equality.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan also told the Istanbul meeting that justice was the solution to most of the world’s issues – including racism, anti-Semitism, and “women’s problems”.
The Turkish leader often courts controversy with his statements.
Earlier this month, he claimed that Muslims had discovered the Americas more than 300 years before Christopher Colombus.
In his 11 years as prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan became a crucial player in regional politics.
However, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reputation has suffered recently over the crisis in Syria, and accusations of authoritarianism.
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Ferguson grand jury decision is not to bring charges over Michael Brown’s killing
The Ferguson grand jury’s decision not to bring charges over the killing of Michael Brown sparked violence in the St Louis suburb.
A local police chief said the violence was “probably much worse than the worst night we ever had in August” after the black teenager was killed.
St Louis county police chief Jon Belmar said he had heard 150 shots fired by crowds.
Michael Brown was shot by white police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, sparking protests.
Many in the African American community had called for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.
President Barack Obama joined Michael Brown’s family on November 24 in appealing for calm, urging Americans to accept the decision was “the grand jury’s to make”.
“I didn’t see a lot of peaceful protest out there tonight, and I’m disappointed about that,” Jon Belmar said.
“Unfortunately this spun out of control.”
Most of at least a dozen burned businesses were “total losses”, he said, and two police cars had been “basically melted”.
“I don’t think we were underprepared,” he added.
“But I’ll be honest with you, unless we bring 10,000 policemen in here, I don’t think we can prevent folks who really are intent on destroying a community.”
Some protesters charged barricades and taunted police. Chants of “murderer” could be heard.
Police responded with smoke and tear gas.
After the situation calmed down, he added, he hoped there would be an “opportunity to really grow and change a lot of things, and make sure [Michael Brown’s] death didn’t mean nothing”.
Explaining the jurors’ decision, state prosecutor Robert McCulloch said their job had been to separate fact from fiction, and that some witness statements had been contradicted by physical evidence.
“These grand jurors poured their hearts and soul into this process,” he said.
Protesters have been chanting, “Hands up, don’t shoot” – a reference to statements by some witnesses who said Michael Brown had had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot.
Police say there was a struggle between Michael Brown and Darren Wilson before the shooting.
In his own testimony, Darren Wilson says that before the shooting Michael Brown pushed him back into his car, hit him and briefly grabbed his drawn gun.
The jury was made up of 12 randomly picked citizens – nine white and three black.
At least nine votes were needed in order to issue an indictment.
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Michael Brown case: Grand jury reaches decision over whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson
A grand jury has made a decision over whether to charge Officer Darren Wilson over the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
Michael Brown’s family confirmed that the jury’s decision is expected to be announced later on Monday.
Michael Brown, 18, was killed by Darren Wilson on August 9 in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.
The teenager’s death sparked protests, sometimes violent, as police were criticized for using military grade riot gear.
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency in the area and called in 400 National Guard troops in anticipation of protests, should charges not be filed in the case.
A White House spokesman said that President Barack Obama had urged those who wished to protest against the jury’s decision to “do so peacefully”.
The case has stoked racial tensions in the US, with many in the African American community calling for Darren Wilson to be charged with murder.
Witnesses say Michael Brown had his hands up in apparent surrender to the officer when he was shot.
Police have said there was a struggle between the teenager and the officer before the shooting.
Protests have continued in the area over the past few days in anticipation of a grand jury decision, including in Clayton, where the grand jury is meeting.
Police have put up barricades around the court house, while many shops in Ferguson have boarded up their windows ahead of the announcement.
Michael Brown’s family has appealed for calm ahead of a grand jury decision against the officer.
His father, Michael Brown Sr., said “hurting others or destroying property it not the answer” in a video posted online.
On November 24, the family called for four-and-half-minutes of silence following the jury’s decision, according to a spokeswoman for the mayor of St Louis.
Correspondents say that leaks from the grand jury testimony, including the official autopsy report, indicate there may be no indictment.
The grand jury is responsible for deciding whether Darren Wilson should be charged with any one of four possible crimes: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.
Nine out of the 12 members of this jury must vote yes to indict.
The jury consists of 12 randomly picked impartial citizens – six white men, three white women, one black man and two black women.
If the grand jury decides not to indict, the state prosecutor, Robert McCulloch, could still bring a case against Darren Wilson.
However, Robert McCulloch has already said he would not do this, but would seek permission to release as much information as possible so the public could understand the decision.
Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014: Route and best places to watch
The 95th annual 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on November 27 starting with 8.30 AM.
Parade route:
- Start point: 20th Street and JFK Boulevard. From there, the parade proceeds east on JFK Boulevard to 16th Street.
- The Parade turns left onto 16th Street, marching towards Arch Street and making a left onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
- The Parade continues on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway until reaching Logan Circle.
- The Parade loops around the south side of Logan Circle and then continues on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Eakins Oval
. - The Parade proceeds along the south side of Eakins Oval finishing in front of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Best places to watch:
- One of the best places to watch is at the parade’s finish at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- The south side of Eakins Oval (in front of the Art Museum) is also recommended. Campbell’s Soup sponsors a tent there where there’s hot food, warm drinks and entertainment for kids.
- Other locations along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, like Logan Circle, are also good bets.
- You can also watch the parade begin at 20th and JFK Boulevard and then take a shortcut on foot heading north on 20th Street five blocks to the Parkway and catch the parade again as it goes by. If you need to warm up, head to the nearby Comcast Building and catch the Comcast Holiday Spectacular on the massive Comcast Experience Video Wall.
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Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014: Philadelphia holds oldest parade in US
The 95th annual Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade opens the holiday season in Philadelphia on Thursday, November 27.
The parade broadcast begins at 8:30AM and ends at approximately 12 noon.
The 1.4-mile 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade is the oldest Thanksgiving parade in the US and a true Philadelphia tradition.
Philadelphia’s streets make way for massive floats and giant balloons, plus local performers from choirs, dance groups, marching bands and more.
Santa himself arrives in grand fashion, ushering Philadelphia into the holiday season.
The annual Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day parade promises another visual and celebratory feast.
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H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014: Street closures and parade route in Houston
The H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade will welcome the holiday season by celebrating all things Houston, including a salute to the world-acclaimed Texas Medical Center.
Presiding over the 65th annual parade as Grand Marshals will be the stars from TLC’s television series The Little Couple, Bill Klein and Dr. Jennifer Arnold along with their children, Will and Zoey.
The fun begins at 9AM on Thanksgiving Day when the downtown business district streets will come alive with zesty marching bands, imaginative floats and colorful balloons.
Parking is available for a fee at multiple locations.
Parade route and street closures:
Wednesday, November 26, 2014:
Pre-closures for staging – McKinney (from Bagby to Louisiana) at 9:00AM; Brazos (from Dallas to Lamar / east curb lane to remain open) at noon; Smith (from Walker to Lamar) at 6:00PM, Lamar (from Bagby to Smith) at 6:00PM.
Thursday, November 27, 2014:
Parade begins at 9:00AM on Lamar at Smith, north on Smith, east on Walker, south on Milam, west on Pease, north on Louisiana, west on Clay, north on Smith and concludes on at Smith at Dallas. Closures for parade route begins at 8:15AM. Closures for staging begins at 6:00AM on Allen Pkwy (inbound) at Taft, Allen Pkwy (outbound) from Bagby to Sabine street, Allen Pkwy at Clay (split ), Bagby at Rusk (south bound direction) and Bagby at Dallas (northbound direction). Disbanding on Allen Pkwy (inbound ) between Bagby and Taft street.
METRO buses will be running on holiday schedule. Bleacher and specialty seating will not be available however; spectator access along the parade route is free and open to the public. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets so you can enjoy the parade in comfort. Food trucks and vendors will be available along the parade route.
The 65th Annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is produced by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, Susan Christian, Director and Parade Producer.
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Band Aid 30: Do They Know It’s Christmas? goes straight to No 1
Charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas? has gone straight to No 1 in the UK and 62 other countries.
The Band Aid 30’s single shifted more than 312,000 copies last week, making it 2014’s fastest-selling single so far.
It is the fourth version of the track to be released, and featured artists include Bastille and Rita Ora. Each version has made it to No 1.
Organizer Bob Geldof said the UK version of the song is also number one in France and 61 other countries.
All proceeds from the song go towards the fight against Ebola in West Africa.
Bono, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Emile Sande and Ellie Goulding are also among those who perform on the single.
The song outsold the rest of the top five combined, scoring the biggest one-week sales since Impossible by the X Factor’s James Arthur shifted 489,000 copies in 2012.
The original Band Aid 1984 sold a million copies in the first week alone and became fastest-selling single at the time in the UK, raising £8 million ($10 million) for famine relief.
Sales of Band Aid 30 are expected to rise once a physical CD version is released on December 8.
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Iran nuclear deal: Deadline extended until June 2015
The deadline for Iran nuclear deal has been extended until June 30, 2015, after talks in Vienna failed to reach a comprehensive agreement.
Six world powers want Iran to curb its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions.
Tehran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but wants atomic energy.
The six countries – the US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany – have been in negotiations with Iran to finalize a preliminary deal reached last year in Geneva.
Iran would be allowed to continue accessing $700 million per month in frozen assets during that period.
Diplomats expect to reach a political agreement by March 1, 2015, with the full technical details of the agreement confirmed by July 1, 2015.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is to give a national address this evening, Iranian news agencies reported.
There are thought to have been three key sticking points in the negotiations:
- Western states want to reduce Iran’s capacity for uranium enrichment in order to prevent it acquiring weapons-grade material but Tehran is set on expanding it nearly twentyfold in the coming years
- Iran wants sanctions lifted immediately but Western states want to stagger their removal to ensure Tehran abides by its commitments
- Iran has failed to explain explosives tests and other activity that could be linked to a nuclear weapons program and has denied international nuclear inspectors access to its Parchin military site
Highly enriched uranium can be used to make a nuclear bomb, but uranium enriched to lower levels can be used for energy purposes.
Under the terms of international treaties, countries have the right to develop nuclear energy, which Iran insists is its only aim.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it has been unable to confirm Tehran’s assertions that its nuclear activities are exclusively for peaceful purposes.
The UN Security Council has adopted six resolutions since 2006 requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium, with sanctions to persuade Iran to comply.
The US and EU have imposed additional sanctions on Iranian oil exports and banks since 2012, hitting Iran’s oil revenue badly.
Both Saudi Arabia and Israel are also vehemently opposed to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal visited Vienna at the weekend for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry, though his country is not formally involved in the discussions.
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Chuck Hagel to resign as defense secretary
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will resign after less than two years in the top military post, media report.
President Barack Obama is expected to confirm Chuck Hagel’s resignation in a White House address later on Monday morning.
Chuck Hagel, 68, a Vietnam war veteran and former senator, became defence secretary in 2013.
Last month, it was reported that Chuck Hagel was sharply critical of the US strategy against Islamic State (ISIS) and in relation to the Syria regime.
He is expected to stay on as secretary until his successor is confirmed.
An unnamed official told the Associated Press that Chuck Hagel and Barack Obama both “determined that it was time for new leadership in the Pentagon” and had been discussing the move for weeks.
The New York Times reported that Barack Obama had asked Chuck Hagel to step down after the defense secretary opened up discussions of his leaving.
Chuck Hagel, who served as Republican senator for his home state of Nebraska for 12 years, became critical of US involvement in Iraq despite voting to authorize the war.
He replaced Leon Panetta as defense secretary in Barack Obama’s second term, taking on the task of winding down the Afghanistan war and making a military shift towards Asia.
The future of US military policy has changed amid air strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
US media report there was increasing tension between Chuck Hagel and the administration over decisions in Syria and working styles, citing Hagel confidantes and senior defense officials.
Barack Obama is not expected to announce a nominee to replace Chuck Hagel on November 24. One named, the nominee would have to be confirmed by the Senate.
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Cornelius Gurlitt’s Nazi art accepted by Bern Art Museum
Bern Art Museum in Switzerland has agreed to accept hundreds of artworks bequeathed by German Nazi-era art hoarder Cornelius Gurlitt.
Many of the works are expected to remain in Germany until their rightful owners can be identified.
Cornelius Gurlitt, the son of Adolf Hitler’s art dealer, amassed a priceless collection of works, including pieces by Picasso and Monet.
He died in May aged 81 with the Bern museum named his “sole heir”.
The Bavarian authorities seized some 1,280 artworks from his Munich flat as part of a tax evasion probe in February 2012.
The find, which was not made public until November last year, has triggered legal disputes surrounding works taken illegally by the Nazis.
The Bern museum’s president, Christoph Schaeublin, told a news conference in Berlin on November 24 that the museum would accept the bequest.
But “no work suspected of being looted” would enter the museum, he said.
The museum pledged to work with German authorities to ensure that “all looted art in the collection is returned” to its rightful owners.
“The foundation council’s decision was anything but easy and there certainly weren’t emotions of triumph,” said Christoph Schaeublin.
“These would be entirely inappropriate considering the historic burden weighing heavily on this art collection.”
Cornelius Gurlitt’s father, Hildebrand Gurlitt, was ordered to deal in works that had been seized from Jews, or which the Nazis had considered “degenerate” and removed from German museums.
Among the collection were works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Emil Nolde and Max Liebermann.
A German task force is investigating the art amid claims from descendants of the original owners, including the family of art dealer Paul Rosenberg.
Cornelius Gurlitt initially refused to give up the paintings but then changed his position, agreeing to co-operate with the German authorities on establishing the paintings’ provenance, and then return them if they were shown to be stolen.
Cornelius Gurlitt’s cousin, 86-year-old Uta Werner, said on November 21 she was contesting his fitness of mind when he wrote the will naming the Bern museum as his sole heir.
Super Bowl 2015: Katy Perry to headline NFL half-time show
Katy Perry will headline the NFL Super Bowl half-time show in February 2015.
Katy Perry, 30, tweeted she had “already started testing out ideas” for the show on February 1 in Arizona.
The show is the most-watched musical event of the year, with a record 115 million viewers in the US watching this year’s half-time show.
Katy Perry joins the likes of Bruno Mars, Beyonce and Madonna who have previously performed.
The announcement of Katy Perry’s upcoming performance was made at half-time during the Cowboys-Giants game on Sunday night.
It was accompanied by a video featuring Katy Perry at a “half-time show testing facility” apparently trying out ideas for her show.
It includes a glitter-filled stadium, unicorns, giant sharks breathing fire, kittens and the suggestion Katy Perry could be wrapped in bacon.
Katy Perry’s performance will be the NFL’s fourth consecutive show to include younger acts after previous performers Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones, and The Who.
Katy Perry is currently on her Prismatic world tour in Australia.
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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 tops US box office with $123 million
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 has topped the US box office with $123 million, a significant drop from last year’s installment, Catching Fire, which took $152 million on its debut.
The movie adaptations of The Hunger Games, based on the best-selling teen books by Suzanne Collins, have taken more than $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office.
In the North American box office rundown, Walt Disney’s animated action film Big Hero 6 was in second place this weekend, with ticket sales of $20.1 million.
Space adventure Interstellar, which has taken $121 million since its release at the beginning of November, took $15 million this weekend and was at number three.
Former number ones, comedy Dumb and Dumber To and thriller Gone Girl, rounded out the top five.
Lionsgate, which has split the final Hunger Games book into two parts, will release the final installment in 2015.
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Rurik Jutting ruled mentally fit to stand trial for Hong Kong double murder
Rurik Jutting, who was charged with the murder of two women in Hong Kong, has been ruled mentally fit to stand trial by a judge.
British Rurik Jutting, a 29-year-old banker, was remanded in custody in Hong Kong earlier this month and referred for psychiatric testing.
He is accused of killing Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih, who were found dead in his flat on November 1.
The two Indonesian women were in Hong Kong as domestic workers but working in the s** trade.
Judge Bina Chainrai ruled that Rurik Jutting was mentally fit to stand trial after spending two weeks having tests in a secure psychiatric centre, the AFP news agency said.
The case has now been adjourned until July 6, 2015, at the request of the prosecution who argued that several months were needed to examine the evidence in detail.
Wearing the same T-shirt as his last two court appearances, with New York written on the front, Rurik Jutting said he understood he would be held in custody until next year.
Rurik Jutting has not entered a plea. If found guilty, he could face a life sentence.
On November 1, he called police to his up-scale home in the Wan Chai nightlife district. Two days later police charged him with the murders which appear to have happened a few days apart.
Seneng Mujiasih’s body was found in the living room with knife wounds to her neck and buttock.
Sumarti Ningsih’s body was found a few hours later in a suitcase on the balcony. She had sustained neck injuries and police believe she was killed on October 27.
Rurik Jutting, originally from Cobham, Surrey, is a Cambridge University graduate and also studied at Winchester College, an independent boarding school in Hampshire.
Rurik Jutting was working in Hong Kong as a securities trader at Bank of America Merrill Lynch until just before the women died.
Hillary Clinton 2016: Barack Obama says Bill Clinton’s wife would be a great president
In a recent interview, President Barack Obama has said that Hillary Clinton would be a “great president” if she decided to run for the White House in 2016.
Barack Obama told ABC News Hillary Clinton was not “going to agree with me on everything”, which could be a welcome break for voters after his eight years in office.
Hillary Clinton, 67, lost the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination campaign to Barack Obama.
She is expected to announce whether she will run again in the early 2015.
President Barack Obama said he talked regularly with Hillary Clinton, describing her as a “friend”.
He said a number of possible Democratic contenders for the top job would do well, but Hillary Clinton was the only one he mentioned by name.
He added the wife of former President Bill Clinton would make a “formidable” and “great” president.
At the same time, Barack Obama acknowledged that Hillary Clinton, who had served in his administration as secretary of state, might do things differently from him.
“One of the benefits of running for president is you can stake out your own positions, and have a clean slate, a fresh start.”
Barack Obama also admitted that voters would want what he described as a “new car smell” in the 2016 elections, hinting that he may not have a high-profile role in the campaign.
Hillary Clinton played a prominent role in last month’s mid-term elections, in which the Republicans took control of the Senate.
For two months, Hillary Clinton criss-crossed the country campaigning hard to help Democrats in tight races.
Hilary Clinton her husband, ex-President Bill Clinton, were the surrogates every Democrat wanted while President Barack Obama was spurned.
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Tamir Rice: Cleveland police officers kill 12-year-old boy over replica gun
Cleveland police shot dead a 12-year-old boy after carrying what turned out to be a replica gun in a playground.
The medical examiner for Cuyahoga County identified the boy as Tamir Rice.
Police say an officer fired two shots at Tamir Rice after he failed to obey an order to raise his hands.
A caller reported the boy to police for scaring people with a gun but said that he did not know if it was real.
One of the officers was in his first year on the local force, the other had more than 10 years of experience.
Tamir Rice was shot on Saturday afternoon and died in hospital early on Sunday morning.
Cleveland deputy police chief Ed Tomba said Tamir Rice was shot twice after pulling the gun from the waistband of his trousers.
The boy did not make any verbal threats nor point the gun towards the officers, Ed Tomba added.
Police said the weapon was an “airsoft” replica gun that resembled a semi-automatic pistol, adding that an orange safety indicator had been removed.
The caller said the boy was pulling the gun in and out of his trousers.
“I don’t know if it’s real or not,” the caller told police.
Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland police association, said the two officers at the scene were not told about the caller’s comments.
An investigation is under way and both officers have been placed on administrative leave.
He says there have already been calls for tighter controls on fake guns, with one local lawmaker – Alicia Reece – saying she intends to introduce legislation that would require fake guns sold in Ohio to be brightly colored.
Cleveland’s police force has come under increased scrutiny in recent years, most notably over a high-profile car chase in 2012 that ended with two deaths and officers firing 137 shots.
The US Justice Department is currently conducting an investigation of the force’s pursuit and use-of-force practices.
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Chicago building collapse: Two people pulled from rubble near Washington Park
Two people were pulled from the rubble of a three-unit apartment building that collapsed following an explosion on Chicago’s South Side on November 23, fire officials said.
The two victims are now in serious condition in hospital.
The two people, one of them described as an elderly woman, were believed to be the only ones inside at the time of the explosion at the three-story building at East 58th Street and South Calumet Avenue, about a block from Washington Park, the fire department said.
A dog was also rescued alive, fire officials said.
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Regin: Symantec discovers new computer spying bug
Symantec has discovered Regin, one of the most sophisticated pieces of malicious software ever seen.
The leading computer security company says Regin was probably created by a government and has been used for six years against a range of targets around the world.
Once installed on a computer, Regin can do things like capture screenshots, steal passwords or recover deleted files.
Experts say computers in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ireland have been hit most.
It has been used to spy on government organizations, businesses and private individuals, they say.
Researchers say the sophistication of the software indicates that it is a cyber-espionage tool developed by a nation state.
They also said it likely took months, if not years, to develop and its creators have gone to great lengths to cover its tracks.
Sian John, a security strategist at Symantec, said: “It looks like it comes from a Western organization. It’s the level of skill and expertise, the length of time over which it was developed.”
Symantec has drawn parallels with Stuxnet, a computer worm thought to have been developed by the US and Israel to target Iran’s nuclear program.
That was designed to damage equipment, whereas Regin’s purpose appears to be to collect information.