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Southeast storm brings drenching rain, minor flooding and travel delays

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A storm will hit the South during Saturday night and much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England on Sunday bringing a dose of drenching rain, minor flooding and travel delays.

Those taking to the roadways should expect poor visibility from the driving rain and be wary of water collecting on portions of the highway that drain poorly.

The rain will be heavy enough to cause flash, urban and small stream flooding. However, fast movement of the storm system will prevent widespread and major flooding of larger streams and rivers. A general 1 to 2 inches, with locally 3 inches of rain is forecast and should be handled with few problems on the major rivers.

Downpours, fog and low cloud ceilings can lead to flight delays.

The storm was already spreading rain across the Gulf Coast on Saturday morning. It was a wet drive along the I-10 corridor from much of Louisiana to Mississippi and Alabama.

Atlanta can expect rain on Saturday afternoon through Saturday night, but improving travel conditions on Sunday.

The storm will hit the South during Saturday night and much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England on Sunday
The storm will hit the South during Saturday night and much of the mid-Atlantic and southern New England on Sunday

Farther northeast along the I-85 corridor, rain will soak the Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., areas on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Expect a miserable drive Saturday night along I-77 with rain, but also fog over the high ground.

The rain will reach Richmond and Roanoke, Virginia, late on Saturday night.

In the I-95 swath from Jacksonville, Florida to Savannah, Georgia, along the coasts of South and North Carolina, to southeastern Virginia, thunderstorms will also affect some locations with strong, gusty winds and blinding downpours

A couple of the strongest storms can produce a short-lived tornado.

On Sunday, rain and thunderstorms will push southeastward across the Florida Peninsula, while clearing sweeps from west to east across the interior South.

Farther north along I-95 from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and New York City on Sunday, rain will spread northward. A breeze will cause the rain to be windswept at times, further reducing the visibility and adding misery to those attending NFL games.

The rain will reach across southern New England on Sunday afternoon and evening from Hartford, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island, to Boston.

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Cairo al-Azhar campus set on fire during protests

Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed with Egyptian police and Cairo university buildings were set on fire killing one student.

State TV blamed protesters for the fire at al-Azhar University’s business faculty, where exams had to be postponed, and the agriculture faculty.

The Muslim Brotherhood said police were “fabricating” the charges.

Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed with Egyptian police and Cairo university buildings were set on fire killing one student
Muslim Brotherhood supporters clashed with Egyptian police and Cairo university buildings were set on fire killing one student

The crackdown on the group began when President Mohamed Morsi, who belongs to it, was deposed by the army in July.

The campus fires had been brought under control by Saturday afternoon, and some 60 people had been arrested, reports said.

The Muslim Brotherhood, which had been banned since September from all activity, was declared a terrorist group on Wednesday following a suicide bombing of a police headquarters in the Nile Delta.

The government said the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the attack – a charge it strongly denied.

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Justin Bieber has a new pet, seven-week-old Bulldog named Petey

Justin Bieber has bought another animal, nine months after abandoning his pet monkey Malley.

Justin Bieber, 19, stopped by a pet store in Stratford, Canada, on Thursday and decided to treat himself to a belated Christmas present by spending $600 on a seven-week-old Bulldog named Petey, according to TMZ.com.

The singer came under fire in March after Mally, his capuchin monkey, was seized by German authorities because he did not have the required documentation for the animal to enter the country.

Justin Bieber’s new pet is a seven-week-old Bulldog named Petey
Justin Bieber’s new pet is a seven-week-old Bulldog named Petey

He never claimed the primate and Malley was eventually transferred to a local zoo.

Justin Bieber also previously owned a hamster, but offloaded the animal to a fan. The rodent subsequently died.

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Iraq: MP Ahmed al-Alwani arrested during deadly raid in Ramadi

Iraqi troops arrested MP Ahmed al-Alwani and killed his brother and at least three of his guards during a raid on his home in the western city of Ramadi.

Ahmed al-Alwani, a member of the Sunni community, had backed protests against the mainly Shia government of PM Nouri al-Maliki and was reportedly wanted on terrorism charges.

Police said Ahmed al-Alwani’s guards opened fire as officers arrived to detain him.

Another 18 people were wounded in the ensuing skirmish, an official said.

“Security forces attacked the residence of MP Ahmed al-Alwani in central Ramadi to arrest him this morning, sparking a battle with his guards with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades,” a police major told AFP news agency.

“Five of Alwani’s guards and his brother were killed and eight others wounded, while 10 security forces members were also wounded,” the major said.

Ahmed al-Alwani, a member of the Sunni community, had backed protests against the mainly Shia government of PM Nouri al-Maliki and was reportedly wanted on terrorism charges
Ahmed al-Alwani, a member of the Sunni community, had backed protests against the mainly Shia government of PM Nouri al-Maliki and was reportedly wanted on terrorism charges

Some reports suggest that a sister of the MP – a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc – was also among those killed in the raid.

The reasons for Ahmed al-Alwani’s arrest were not immediately clear. Associated Press news agency said he was wanted on terrorism charges.

He has also been a prominent supporter of a group of activists camped on a highway near Ramadi protesting against the perceived marginalization and persecution of Iraqi Sunnis by the Shia-dominated government.

PM Nouri al-Maliki has reportedly threatened to shut down the camp, saying it has become a headquarters of al-Qaeda.

Ahmed al-Alwani’s arrest comes as Iraq remains in the grip of sectarian fighting which has made this the deadliest year since 2008.

Devyani Khobragade arrest in New York sparks India-US diplomatic row

India is checking the tax statuses of Americans working at schools in the country, after the arrest this month of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York.

Devyani Khobragade – the deputy consul general of India in New York – was handcuffed and strip-searched while in custody.

Her detention on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper sparked outrage in India.

India would no longer turn a blind eye to tax violations by diplomats’ spouses taking up work in the country, Reuters cited an unnamed official as saying.

Delhi has also withdrawn some privileges enjoyed by American diplomats and their families in the country, added the official.

“Spouses and children have no more immunity. So if there is a parking offence or… something else happening in Bangalore etcetera, they would be held liable.”

While US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed his “regret” over Devyani Khobragade’s arrest, the state department has said it will not drop charges, as requested by India.

Delhi has also demanded an apology from the US over the diplomat’s alleged “humiliation”.

Devyani Khobragade’s detention on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper sparked outrage in India
Devyani Khobragade’s detention on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper sparked outrage in India

India’s deputy consul general in New York was arrested in the city on December 12 on suspicion of visa fraud and making false statements, after being accused of underpaying her Indian maid.

She was handcuffed and strip-searched after a complaint from the maid, Sangeeta Richard.

The diplomat, who has been released on bail, denies all the charges and has in turn accused Sangeeta Richard of theft and attempted blackmail.

Delhi had already ordered a series of reprisals against the US.

Security barricades around the US embassy in Delhi were removed and a visiting US delegation was snubbed by senior Indian politicians and officials.

According to documents filed in a New York court, Devyani Khobragade wrote on a visa application that the maid would be paid $4,500 a month.

But investigators said she instead paid only $573 per month – less than the New York state minimum wage.

If found guilty, Devyani Khobragade faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for visa fraud and five years for making false statements.

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Sandy Hook shooting final report released

Thousands of documents related to police investigation into the killing of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut have been released.

Officials described as “painful” some of the details in the report, which includes photos and transcripts.

The report reveals new facts about the life of gunman Adam Lanza, 20, said to have suffered from mental health issues.

Adam Lanza turned a gun on himself after opening fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in December 2012.

Before killing 20 children and six adults with a semi-automatic rifle, Adam Lanza shot dead his own mother at the family home. She had bought him the weapons used in the rampage.

Last month, Connecticut police published a summary of their findings, showing that Adam Lanza had “an obsession” with the 1999 Columbine massacre, during which two teenagers killed 12 students and a teacher.

Adam Lanza turned a gun on himself after opening fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in December 2012
Adam Lanza turned a gun on himself after opening fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in December 2012

Investigators also found that Adam Lanza had acted alone and planned the shooting, which took less than 11 minutes.

The final report contains evidence that Adam Lanza’s mother discussed her son’s “disabilities” with a friend they day before the Sandy Hook attack.

The student would “write 10 pages obsessing over battles, destruction and war”.

The findings also reveal autopsy reports and new information about how the shooting unfolded.

A teacher hiding in a closet said he heard janitor Rick Thorne challenge Adam Lanza. Rick Thorne, who survived the attack, apparently yelled: “Put the gun down.”

Among the audiovisual material released on Friday were photos of items found in Adam Lanza’s home, including numerous rounds of ammunition, gun magazines, shooting earplugs and a gun safe with a rifle in it.

The files were heavily redacted to protect the students’ identity and to withhold gruesome details of the crime.

The Newtown shooting prompted a renewed US campaign for stricter firearms controls.

While no legislation was passed at a national level, some states – including Connecticut and Colorado – imposed tougher gun laws. Other states loosened restrictions.

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China changes one-child policy

China has formally adopted a resolution easing the country’s one-child policy, the state news agency Xinhua reports.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed a resolution allowing couples to have two children if either parent is an only child.

A proposal to abolish re-education through labor camps was also approved.

The changes in policy were announced following a meeting of top Communist Party officials in November.

The reforms, which came at the end of a six-day meeting of the congress, have already been tested in parts of the country.

They needed formal legislative approval to be put into effect.

China has formally adopted a resolution easing the country's one-child policy
China has formally adopted a resolution easing the country’s one-child policy

It is expected that reforms will be rolled out gradually and incrementally around the country, with provincial authorities entrusted to make their own decisions on implementation according to the local demographic situation.

Factors other than the one-child policy, such as a lack of social security support, have also encouraged couples to limit their offspring.

China is now believed to have a birth rate of just over 1.5 children per woman of child-bearing age – which is, in fact, higher than many of its regional neighbors, including Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

Niger has the world’s highest birth rate per woman, with over seven, India has 2.55 and the US has 2.06.

China introduced its one-child policy at the end of the 1970s to curb rapid population growth.

But correspondents say the policy has become increasingly unpopular and that leaders fear the country’s ageing population will both reduce the labor pool and exacerbate elderly care issues.

By 2050, more than a quarter of the population will be over 65.

The one-child policy has on the whole been strictly enforced, though some exceptions already exist, including for ethnic minorities.

Previous reforms also permitted couples to have a second child where both were only children or, in the case of rural couples, where their first-born child was a girl.

The traditional preference for boys has created a gender imbalance as some couples opt for gender-selective abortions.

By the end of the decade, demographers say China will have 24 million “leftover men” who, because of China’s gender imbalance, will not be able to find a wife.

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Akademik Shokalskiy: Snow Dragon icebreaker fails to reach stuck Antarctic ship

Russian Akademik Shokalskiy scientific mission ship, trapped in dense pack ice off East Antarctica, is still awaiting rescue after Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon failed to reach it.

The Snow Dragon icebreaker was itself stalled by heavy ice, officials say.

It had been trying to cut a path through the ice in order to help the research vessel reach open water.

The Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been trapped since Christmas Day, has 74 on board and is being used by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

They are following the route explorer Douglas Mawson travelled a century ago.

One of the leaders of the expedition, Chris Turney, earlier tweeted an image of the Snow Dragon icebreaker – also known as the Xue Long – on the horizon as it approached the research ship.

The Chinese vessel came within seven nautical miles of the expedition ship, but encountered heavy ice and was forced to return to the open sea.

Akademik Shokalskiy scientific mission ship is still awaiting rescue after Snow Dragon icebreaker failed to reach it
Akademik Shokalskiy scientific mission ship is still awaiting rescue after Snow Dragon icebreaker failed to reach it

“Our rescue boat, the Xue Long, has had to turn back because the ice was too thick for it to get through,” said Alok Jha, a journalist on board the Shokalskiy.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is coordinating the rescue, confirmed that a French vessel had also failed to penetrate the ice.

The agency said another boat, the Aurora Australis, was on its way to the Russian vessel and expected to arrive on Sunday.

“I think we’re probably looking at another 24 hours of twiddling our fingers and waiting for something to happen,” the expedition’s spokesman Alvin Stone told the Associated Press.

Correspondents say expedition members could be winched to safety by a helicopter if the weather remains favorable.

The research ship Shokalskiy was trapped by thick sheets of ice that were driven by strong winds about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart – the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania.

There had also been fears that blizzards could hamper the rescue effort.

The Shokalskiy is well stocked with food and is in no danger, according to the team.

Although trapped for the moment, the scientists are continuing their experiments. They have been measuring temperature and salinity through cracks in the surrounding ice.

Kate Middleton pregnant again?

Kate Middleton is not pregnant with baby No 2, despite tabloid reports suggesting that another royal child is on the way in 2014.

Star magazine wrote on its front page: “It’s official: Kate’s Pregnant Again!”

Kate Middleton is not pregnant with baby No 2, despite tabloid reports suggesting that another royal child is on the way in 2014
Kate Middleton is not pregnant with baby No 2, despite tabloid reports suggesting that another royal child is on the way in 2014

The tabloid says that pictures taken in early December of Kate Middleton pushing a stroller on the grounds of Kensington Gardens show a “developing baby bump”.

Star says that at a recent gala, Kate Middleton was “glowing”, rested her hand “gently on her stomach”, and appeared to have a “little bump”.

The tabloid further states that Queen Elizabeth was told the good news at a Christmas lunch, and that Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, wants it to be named Diana.

Evelyn Lozada announces engagement to Carl Crawford on Christmas Day

Evelyn Lozada has announced her engagement to Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford on Christmas Day.

The 38-year-old Basketball Wives star, who is seven months pregnant with Carl Crawford’s child, is coming off a short-lived marriage to former football star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.

Evelyn Lozada and Chad Johnson had been filming a planned VH1 reality series, Ev & Chad, just over a month into their marriage when Johnson headbutted his new bride during a fight.

Evelyn Lozada has announced her engagement to Carl Crawford on Christmas Day
Evelyn Lozada has announced her engagement to Carl Crawford on Christmas Day

She filed for divorce shortly after the August 2012 incident.

Evelyn Lozada had become entangled with Chad Johnson on the rebound after a 10-year relationship with NBA forward Antoine Walker. She also has a daughter, 20-year-old Shaneice Lozada, from a previous relationship.

She broke the engagement news on her Instagram account, posting a picture of a 14.5 carat diamond ring on her finger with the caption: “Yes!”

The ring is valued at $1.4 million, TMZ reported.

Carl Crawford, 32, is rounding the third year of a seven-year $142 million contract he originally signed with the Boston Red Sox.

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Phil Robertson gives Miss Kay a wedding ring for Christmas

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson gave his wife Miss Kay a special Christmas present – a wedding ring.

“After 50 years of marriage Papaw Phil finally gave Mamaw Kay a wedding ring for Christmas ??” their granddaughter Sadie Robertson tweeted.

Phil Robertson gifted Miss Kay a wedding ring as a Christmas present
Phil Robertson gifted Miss Kay a wedding ring as a Christmas present

Phil Robertson, 67, gifted Miss Kay a wedding ring as a Christmas present – the first such band she’s apparently gotten from her husband since they were married in 1966.

2014 Oscar nominations voting begins

Voting for the 2014’s Academy Awards nominees has begun today.

Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are invited to cast secret ballots for their favorite film work from 2013 until January 8, 2014.

Nominations for the 86th Academy Awards will be announced January 16
Nominations for the 86th Academy Awards will be announced January 16

The academy is offering electronic voting for the second consecutive year. It announced last week that 289 feature films are eligible for best-picture consideration.

Nominations for the 86th Academy Awards will be announced January 16.

Ellen DeGeneres will host the ceremony when the Oscars are presented on March 2.

Classic 70s and 80s video games go online

Internet Archive is putting online a collection of classic video games from the 1970s and 1980s.

The video games can be played within a web browser just for free.

The collection has launched with games from five early home consoles, including the Atari 2600 and Colecovision.

The games do not have sound, but will soon, the Internet Archive said.

“In coming months, the playable software collection will expand greatly,” archivist Jason Scott wrote.

“Making these vintage games available to the world, instantly, allows for commentary, education, enjoyment and memory for the history they are a part of.”

The other machines included are the Atari 7800, the Magnavox Odyssey (known as the Philips Videopac G7000 in Europe) and the Astrocade.

Internet Archive is putting online a collection of classic video games from the 1970s and 1980s
Internet Archive is putting online a collection of classic video games from the 1970s and 1980s

Well-recognized titles such as Pacman, Space Invaders and Frogger are all in the archive – with more consoles and games expected soon.

Unlike today’s titles, which are stored on disks or even simply downloaded directly to a console, many older machines would use bespoke cartridges to store games.

As the consoles fell into disrepair and became ever scarcer, playing these games has become difficult.

For many years, communities of gamers have created ROMs – read-only memory – images of games. These files can be played on a normal PC by using an emulator.

However, in many cases, gaming in this way can be illegal – particularly when the games involved are made by the likes of Nintendo and Sega, which clamp down on such activity, deeming it a form of counterfeiting.

Older games such as the ones found on the Internet Archive fall into something of a legal grey area.

Publishers and developers often turn a blind eye as, with the games no longer available to buy, the ROMs mean the titles are still able to be played by many.

Yet with smartphone gaming on the rise, publishers are now in a position where these old titles can be revived, cashing in on the timeless quality of the games, as well as fans’ nostalgic urges.

GM recalls 1.5 million Buick and Chevrolet cars in China

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About 1.5 million Buick and Chevrolet cars are being recalled by General Motors and its partner company in China amid concerns about their potential safety.

GM and Shanghai General Motors make the car recall in one of the biggest operations of its kind to date in China.

The cars could have issues with a bracket securing the fuel oil pump, said China’s quality watchdog.

About 1.5 million Buick and Chevrolet cars are being recalled by General Motors and its partner company in China amid concerns about their potential safety
About 1.5 million Buick and Chevrolet cars are being recalled by General Motors and its partner company in China amid concerns about their potential safety

At the same time, Ford will recall up to 81,000 of its Kuga cars.

Ford and its joint venture partner, Chongqing Changan Automobile, are calling in the cars over concerns about a steering part.

Volkswagen’s Chinese unit recalled 640,309 vehicles last month to check they were using the right oil.

12 Years A Slave posters withdrawn in Italy over race bias

Italian film distributor BiM Distribuzione has apologized after releasing unauthorized posters which promoted white actors over black actors in Twelve Years A Slave.

Unofficial posters for the film gave prominence to white stars Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt over the film’s leading man, Chiwetel Ejiofor.

BiM Distribuzione apologized for the “inappropriate” promotional material.

“We are very proud of the film and regret any distraction this incident may have caused,” a statement said.

“We apologize for creating and releasing unauthorized posters for 12 Years A Slave in Italy featuring Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender in a manner inconsistent with approved advertising materials,” said BiM on Friday.

BiM Distribuzione has apologized after releasing unauthorized posters which promoted white actors over black actors in Twelve Years A Slave
BiM Distribuzione has apologized after releasing unauthorized posters which promoted white actors over black actors in Twelve Years A Slave

“All inappropriate materials have now been withdrawn.”

12 Years A Slave tells the true story of New Yorker Solomon Northup who was kidnapped and sold into the slave trade in 1841.

Protagonist Solomon Northup is played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, earning him a Golden Globe nomination earlier this month.

Michael Fassbender, who has attracted strong notices for his supporting role, plays a sadistic plantation owner, while Brad Pitt – who is a producer on the film – has a minor role as a laborer.

The posters, which appeared across Italy earlier this week, prompted a widespread criticism on social media, for their focus on Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt.

Responding to criticism, sales agent Lionsgate’s Summit said, earlier in the week, that the posters in Italy were not authorized or approved by the producers of the film.

A statement said the company was “investigating and taking immediate action to stop the distribution of any unauthorized posters and to have those posters currently in the marketplace recalled”.

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Turkey corruption scandal: Army does not want to be involved in political debates

Turkish army has released a statement saying that it does not want to get involved in “political arguments”, amid a major political corruption scandal.

The crisis has forced PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reshuffle his cabinet following the resignations of three ministers.

The ministers’ sons were among dozens of people detained as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe.

The scandal has caused Turkey’s lira to fall to a new low against the dollar.

Turkish corruption scandal has forced PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reshuffle his cabinet following the resignations of three ministers
Turkish corruption scandal has forced PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reshuffle his cabinet following the resignations of three ministers

Meanwhile, Turkey’s top administrative court has blocked a government decree ordering police to inform their superiors before launching investigations.

The government introduced the decree last week after a series of police raids on senior figures as part of the corruption inquiry.

The Council of State’s ruling on Friday, blocking the regulation, is seen as the latest setback in Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s efforts to stop the political fallout from the scandal.

The Turkish army’s statement, posted on its website, comes in response to a suggestion in the media by an ally of the prime minister that the corruption scandal might be a plot to trigger a military coup.

“The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) does not want to be involved in political debates. On the other hand, the TSK will keep on closely following the developments regarding its corporate identity and the legal positions of its members,” the statement said.

Turkey has a history of military takeovers but its power has been curbed during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decade in power.

TJ Jackson’s guardianship of Michael Jackson’s children challenged

TJ Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, has asked a judge to dismiss a petition filed by his cousin, Anthony Jackson II, who is challenging TJ’s guardianship of the King of Pop’s three children.

TJ Jackson, 35, was placed in charge of Prince, Paris and Blanket in July 2012, following a family feud, which was sparked by the apparent disappearance of family matriarch Katherine Jackson.

Katherine Jackson had previously been appointed the guardian of her grandkids following the Michael Jackson’s death in 2009.

TJ Jackson was placed in charge of Prince, Paris and Blanket in July 2012
TJ Jackson was placed in charge of Prince, Paris and Blanket in July 2012

She subsequently agreed to co-parent the youngsters with TJ, but the pair has since been faced with a new fight from Anthony Jackson II, who has filed his own legal papers asking to be named the children’s new guardian.

However, TJ Jackson claims Anthony, who is said to be his cousin, has failed to properly outline the reasons for his petition and he is therefore requesting the challenge be thrown out of court, reports TMZ.

In his documents, TJ, son of Tito Jackson, reveals he and Katherine Jackson are doing well as co-guardians and insists Prince, Paris and Blanket are happy with the arrangements.

Games of Thrones is most-pirated TV show of 2013

Games of Thrones is the most-pirated TV show of 2013, beating out AMC’s Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, which ranked second and third, respectively.

According to TorrentFreak, HBO’s Games of Thrones – based on author George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novels – easily topped the list after the Season 3 finale was downloaded 5.9 million times, half a million more than the 5.4 million viewers that tuned in to watch the episode on television.

Breaking Bad, which ended its five-season run last fall, was estimated to have been downloaded 4.2 million times, while an estimated 10.28 million viewers tuned in to watch the unspecified episode.

An episode of Walking Dead was estimated to have been downloaded 3.6 million times, and watched by over 16.1 million viewers.

Games of Thrones is the most-pirated TV show of 2013
Games of Thrones is the most-pirated TV show of 2013

Games of Thrones previously beat its own piracy record last June, when 171,572 people shared the HBO series’ Season 3 finale simultaneously, compared to the 163,088 simultaneous fileshares for the Season 3 premiere.

Top 10 most-pirated TV shows of 2013:

1. Game of Thrones (5.9 million)

2. Breaking Bad (4.2 million)

3. The Walking Dead (3.6 million)

4. The Big Bang Theory (3.4 million)

5. Dexter (3.1 million)

6. How I Met Your Mother (3 million)

7. Suits (2.6 million)

8. Homeland (2.4 million)

9. Vikings (2.3 million)

10. Arrow (2.2 million)

12 Days of Giveaways 2013: Ellen DeGeneres’ show scores highest ratings ever

Ellen DeGeneres’ show posted record ratings during this year’s 12 Days of Giveaways.

Her daytime talker reported her highest-rated week ever for the one beginning on December 9. The show averaged a 3.2 household (HH) rating during the time period — a 7% increase from prior week, which had previously tied for the highest-rated one ever.

The week of December 9 also pulled in a daily average of 4.4 million total viewers.

Ellen DeGeneres’ show posted record ratings during this year's 12 Days of Giveaways
Ellen DeGeneres’ show posted record ratings during this year’s 12 Days of Giveaways

Ellen show posted a 3.4 HH rating on December 9, matching her highest-rated episode ever, which also happened to occur on the prior telecast. December 6’s show hit the same high mark, which Ellen show had posted twice before that. This year’s Halloween episode also had earned a 3.4 HH rating, as did a show in February 2007.

The guests on the December 9 episode were Jake Gyllenhaal, who was plugging the Prisoners DVD release, and Guest DJ Loni Love. The telecast got 4.7 million viewers.

Tom Hanks and Lea Michele from Glee also stopped by during the record-breaking week.

Ellen DeGeneres’ 12 Days of Giveaways spanned from December 5 to December 23, which represented a surprise 13th day.

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Japan agrees Okinawa US military airbase relocation

Japan has approved a US military airbase’s relocation on its southern island of Okinawa, officials said.

The governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, agreed to landfill work to develop a new base in a less densely populated part of the island, officials said.

The agreement is a breakthrough following years of deadlock over where a new US base should be placed.

The US has around 26,000 troops on Okinawa under a long-standing security alliance with Japan.

However, the bases are unpopular locally and there is growing pressure from residents for the US military footprint to be reduced.

The US Futenma airbase will now be relocated to a new site near Nago, a less densely populated area in the North of the island.

Japan has approved a US military airbase’s relocation on its southern island of Okinawa
Japan has approved a US military airbase’s relocation on its southern island of Okinawa

The move comes after years of negotiations. In 1996, Japan and the US agreed to close the Futenma airbase.

However, Okinawa’s local government had been opposed to building a new base on the coast.

Some critics have demanded that the US airbase move out of Okinawa prefecture completely and the decision has already prompted furious reactions.

“What the governor has done is unforgivable,” Yuichi Higa, head of the assembly in Nago, where the new base is to be built, is quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

“Residents who are opposed will surely resort to the use of force, such as blocking roads to stop this from happening,” he adds.

The decision is politically difficult for Hirokazu Nakaima who was re-elected in 2010 opposing the relocation of the base on Okinawa.

Hirokazu Nakaima’s decision came after Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe met him on Wednesday to urge him to agree to a new base.

Shinzo Abe pledged an economic stimulus package to Okinawa every year until 2021.

There has been a US military presence on Okinawa since the Americans invaded the island during World War II.

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Theatre director Attilio Maggiulli drives car into Elysee Palace rear gate

Attilio Maggiulli has driven his car into the rear gate of the Elysee Palace, the Paris residence of French President Francois Hollande.

Attilio Maggiulli, 67, a theatre director of Italian nationality, was arrested as he tried to force his way through the Grille du Coq gate on Thursday.

Police officials said he was protesting against cuts in subsidies to his small theatre in Paris.

Attilio Maggiulli had already been arrested on Wednesday near the Elysee Palace after pulling a Harlequin puppet from his car and setting it alight.

“He then threw around some leaflets denouncing the cuts in subsidies for his theatre,” a police source told Reuters news agency.

Police had arrested Attilio Maggiulli but let him go shortly afterwards.

Theatre director Attilio Maggiulli was arrested as he tried to force his way through Elysee Palace’s Grille du Coq gate
Theatre director Attilio Maggiulli was arrested as he tried to force his way through Elysee Palace’s Grille du Coq gate

He was slightly injured in the collision and has been taken to a Paris hospital.

Police sources said he runs a 100-seat theatre in the Montparnasse district.

Attilio Maggiulli has been arrested on suspicion of endangering the lives of others.

“If his aim was to be talked about, he has succeeded. But he may have to pay for that,” a source close to the investigation told AFP.

A local shopkeeper told Le Parisien newspaper she had “heard an almighty bang and seen a grey car”.

“The police and Republican Guards came quickly and pulled out an unconscious man from the vehicle,” she said.

The 19th-century gate was reportedly only scratched in the crash, which happened at slow speed.

It is not clear if President Francois Hollande was in the palace at the time of the incident.

Francois Hollande has pushed though cuts to the French cultural budget in an effort to reduce the government’s deficit.

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Akademik Shokalskiy ship trapped in Antarctic ice close to be rescued by Chinese icebreaker

The Russian scientific mission ship, trapped in dense pack ice off East Antarctica since Christmas Day, is close to being rescued as Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon nears.

The crew can see the Snow Dragon icebreaker, which will try to cut a path through the ice allowing the research vessel to reach open water.

The Akademik Shokalskiy ship has 74 on board and is being used by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition.

They are following the route explorer Douglas Mawson travelled a century ago.

Akademik Shokalskiy ship has 74 on board and is being used by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition
Akademik Shokalskiy ship has 74 on board and is being used by the Australasian Antarctic Expedition

One of the leaders of the expedition, Chris Turney, tweeted an image of the Snow Dragon icebreaker on the horizon as it approached the ship.

The Chinese icebreaker – twice the length of the Shokalskiy – may ask for assistance from two other boats, the French vessel L’Astrolabe and Australia’s Aurora Australis.

The research ship was trapped by thick sheets of ice that were driven by strong winds about 1,500 nautical miles south of Hobart – the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania.

There had also been fears that blizzards could hamper the rescue effort

The Shokalskiy is well stocked with food and is in no danger, according to the team.

Although trapped for the moment, the scientists are continuing their experiments. They have been measuring temperature and salinity through cracks in the surrounding ice.

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Kenya: East Africa’s leaders meeting on South Sudan crisis

Kenya is holding a meeting of East Africa’s leaders on growing violence in South Sudan, where more than 1,000 people are believed to have died.

The talks come a day after South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit met the Kenyan president and Ethiopian PM.

Meanwhile, the UN said the first peacekeeping reinforcements were expected to arrive in 48 hours.

South Sudan violence erupted 12 days ago between forces loyal to Salva Kiir and those backing his ex-deputy Riek Machar.

Kenya talks come a day after South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit met the Kenyan president and Ethiopian PM in Juba
Kenya talks come a day after South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit met the Kenyan president and Ethiopian PM in Juba

The fighting has forced more than 100,000 to flee their homes, with about 60,000 seeking refuge at UN compounds across the country, UN officials say.

East African regional leaders from the eight-member bloc, known as IGAD, are meeting in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to follow up on issues raised during Thursday’s talks with President Salva Kiir in South Sudan’s capital Juba.

Salva Kiir met Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Desalegn. The talks were described by Ethiopia as “very constructive and very candid”.

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Thai government seeks military poll help

Thai government said it would ask the army to provide security for February’s elections, as the military called for restraint on both sides.

Thailand is facing increasingly violent protests, with two killed and dozens injured in recent days.

On Thursday, the Electoral Commission said the polls should be postponed to ensure the safety of candidates.

However, government officials said parliament was already dissolved so there was no legal reason for a delay.

Fighting broke out on Thursday at a stadium where election candidates were being registered.

A group of protesters, some throwing stones and evidently some who were armed, tried to break into the stadium.

One police officer and one protester were killed in the clashes.

Thailand is facing increasingly violent protests, with two killed and dozens injured in recent days
Thailand is facing increasingly violent protests, with two killed and dozens injured in recent days

Deputy PM Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the government would ask the army to help secure candidate registrations on Saturday.

“I will also ask the military to provide security protection for members of the public on the 2 February elections,” he added in a televised address.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha did not address the government’s request.

Instead, he urged restraint on both sides and an end to street violence and said the army had shown “red traffic lights to both sides so things will calm down”.

When asked if the army would intervene, Prayuth Chan-ocha said: “That door is neither open nor closed.”

The army, which mounted a successful coup only seven years ago, remains a powerful player in Thai politics.

The army has staged several coups in the past, and ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who is also brother to current premier Yingluck Shinawatra, in 2006.

Yingluck Shinawatra called the snap election earlier this month, following weeks of protests.

However, the opposition Democrat party is boycotting the polls.

Yingluck Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party won the last election in 2011 and has a big majority in parliament.

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Lebanon: Beirut explosion kills ex-Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah and four others

Lebanon’s ex-Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah and four others have been killed in a huge explosion in central Beirut.

Mohamad Chatah was an adviser to the former PM Saad Hariri, a Sunni Muslim. A car was seen in flames near government offices and the parliament.

The Syrian conflict has increased sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Shia militant movement Hezbollah has sent fighters to Syria to back the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Bashar al-Assad comes from the Alawite sect, a heterodox offshoot of Shia Islam.

Lebanon’s ex-Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah and four others have been killed in a huge explosion in central Beirut
Lebanon’s ex-Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah and four others have been killed in a huge explosion in central Beirut

Some of the Syrian rebel groups are affiliated with the Sunni Muslim al-Qaeda network.

Iran, which backs Hezbollah, saw its embassy in Beirut attacked last month.

The Beirut blast damaged several buildings near the Phoenicia Hotel and set several cars ablaze.

Dozens of people were reported injured.

Mohamad Chatah became finance minister in 2008. After Saad Hariri lost the premiership in early 2011 Mohamad Chatah served as his senior adviser.

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