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Jay Carney: Robert Levinson not a government employee at the time of his disappearance

Roy Siemens
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Jay Carney: Robert Levinson not a government employee at the time of his disappearance

The White House spokesman Jay Carney has said ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson, who is believed to have been held in Iran for the last seven years, was not working for the US government at the time of his disappearance.

Jay Carney spoke the day after the Associated Press news agency reported Robert Levinson was on an unauthorized mission for the CIA.

Robert Levinson has been missing since March 2007.

Jay Carney declined to comment on what Robert Levinson was doing in Iran at the time he disappeared.

The Associated Press report, which Jay Carney labeled “highly irresponsible”, says Robert Levinson had done contract work for the CIA in his capacity as a former FBI expert in Russian organized crime.

But at the time Robert Levinson disappeared, his CIA contract was out of money, though the CIA analysts with whom he was working were trying to authorize more, the AP reported.

Jay Carney said there remained an ongoing investigation into Robert Levinson’s disappearance, and dismissed accusations by Levinson’s family that the US government had not done all it could to locate him.

Robert Levinson has been missing since March 2007
Robert Levinson has been missing since March 2007

“Since Bob disappeared the US government has vigorously pursued and continues to pursue all investigative leads,” Jay Carney said.

“We continue to be focused on everything we can to bring Bob home safely to his family. This remains a top priority of the US government.”

The Associated Press report alleges Robert Levinson was in Iran on an unapproved intelligence-gathering mission that, when revealed, caused serious tumult within the CIA.

The US agency reportedly paid Robert Levinson’s family $2.5 million to avoid a public lawsuit, and also disciplined 10 veteran analysts.

The team of analysts is said to have paid Robert Levinson to gather intelligence prior to his disappearance.

Three of the CIA analysts who hired him – who reportedly had no authority to run spy operations – were allegedly later forced out of the agency.

The media outlet says it was asked by the US government three times since 2010 to hold the story about Robert Levinson’s CIA ties.

The news agency said it decided to run the report after all efforts to locate and free Robert Levinson seemed to have failed.

On Friday, Jay Carney said the US government “strongly urged the outlet not to publish out of concerns for Robert Levinson’s safety”.

Neither the identities of the former FBI agent’s captors nor his whereabouts have been confirmed, but US officials asked for Iran’s assistance in finding him just days after Iran and Western powers signed an interim agreement aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme in late November.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she believed Robert Levinson was being held in south-west Asia.

Robert Levinson, 64 when he went missing, was initially said to have been investigating cigarette counterfeiting as a private detective when he disappeared.

His family received images of Robert Levinson in April 2011, showing him wearing a long grey beard and an orange jumpsuit, and looking gaunt.

His family was also sent a video in November 2010, which they released in December 2011 to try to aid the investigation.

In the 54-second clip, Robert Levinson pleads: “Help me get home.”

Iran has said it does not know where Robert Levinson is and that there is no evidence he is in the country.

Investigators traced the phone used to send the photographs to Afghanistan, but the phone’s owner was not involved. The video was sent from a Pakistan internet cafe.

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Jang Sung-taek execution rekindles fears of instability in North Korea

Diane A. Wade
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Jang Sung-taek execution rekindles fears of instability in North Korea

Jang Sung-taek’s execution in North Korea has rekindled fears of instability in the secretive nuclear-armed state.

South Korean defense chief Kim Kawn-jin promised “heightened readiness” after the purge of Jang Sung-thaek.

Kim Kawn-jin said the execution could be seen as part of a “reign of terror” by the North Korean leader.

Jang Sung-taek, Kim Jong-un’s uncle, was executed for “acts of treachery” after appearing before a military trial.

Jang Sung-taek’s execution in North Korea has rekindled fears of instability in the secretive nuclear-armed state
Jang Sung-taek’s execution in North Korea has rekindled fears of instability in the secretive nuclear-armed state

He was dramatically removed from a special party session by armed guards earlier this week.

South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae warned that the purge could be followed by military moves from Pyongyang, including another nuclear test.

He told lawmakers that “the North usually curbs internal (agitation) through waging provocations externally”.

North Korea carried out its third nuclear test in February, to widespread international condemnation.

As tensions rose, Pyongyang threatened attacks on Japanese, South Korean and US military targets in the region.

China, North Korea’s ally and neighbor, described Jang Sung-taek’s execution as an “internal matter”.

“As a neighboring country, we hope for North Korea to maintain stability…” South Korean foreign ministry spokesman said.

Victor Cha, a former senior White House adviser on Asia, warned that Kim Jong-un’s purge could spread further than Jang Sung-taek.

“If he has to go as high as purging and then executing Chang, it tells you that everything’s not normal,” Victor Cha said.

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Nelson Mandela funeral: Lying in state ends with final rush from hundreds of people

Diane A. Wade
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Nelson Mandela funeral: Lying in state ends with final rush from hundreds of people

Hundreds of people pushed through police lines in a last-ditch bid to see Nelson Mandela lying in state in South Africa’s capital Pretoria.

They were hoping to be the last of some 50,000 people to pass through the Union Buildings on Friday, where the former president’s body has lain.

Officials say at least 100,000 people have visited the venue over the past three days to pay their respects.

Nelson Mandela’s coffin was taken from the building shortly after doors closed.

The coffin was escorted by a guard of honour to a waiting hearse as military helicopters circled over the city.

Nelson Mandela’s body will remain in Pretoria overnight, and there will be a ceremony at a local air force base on Saturday morning to allow members of the governing African National Congress to say a last farewell.

Hundreds of people pushed through police lines in a last-ditch bid to see Nelson Mandela lying in state
Hundreds of people pushed through police lines in a last-ditch bid to see Nelson Mandela lying in state

The coffin will then be flown to the Eastern Cape ahead of the burial at Nelson Mandela’s ancestral home in Qunu on Sunday.

The funeral will mark the end of a period of commemorations in South Africa since Nelson Mandela died at 95 on December 5.

“The third day closed with over 50,000 paying their respects to our national icon and first democratically elected President of our country,” the South African government said in a statement.

Shortly before the lying in state came to an end, at 17:45 local time, hundreds of people towards the front of the queue pushed through in the hope to be one of the last through the door.

One police officer told the AFP news agency: “There are too many people. The whole of the Republic of South Africa wants to say goodbye.”

Many people waited in the line for 11 hours for the chance to see Nelson Mandela’s body.

Some were angry more time had not been allowed for this ceremonial; others said even if they could not reach Nelson Mandela’s coffin for a personal farewell it was enough simply to be there.

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Colorado school shooting: Arapahoe High School gunman dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound

Nancy Clayson
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Colorado school shooting: Arapahoe High School gunman dead of self-inflicted gunshot wound

A student at Arapahoe High School in Colorado shot and wounded another student before dying of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police have said.

The shooting occurred the day before the anniversary of the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 schoolchildren and six workers were killed at a primary school.

The gunman brought a shotgun to the school and was looking for a specific teacher when confronted by a classmate, the Arapahoe County sheriff said.

The teacher left the school after learning he or she was sought. Another student suffered a minor injury.

The Arapahoe High School shooting occurred the day before the anniversary of the shooting in Newtown
The Arapahoe High School shooting occurred the day before the anniversary of the shooting in Newtown

The school and others in the area were placed on lockdown.

Upon the initial reports of a shooting, heavily armed police trained in “active shooter” scenarios stormed the building, ordering students outside with their hands over their heads.

Inside, they found the dead suspected gunman and two other injured students, one of whom had suffered a minor wound, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.

Police have not yet released the name of the suspect.

The school has more than 2,200 students and 70 classrooms.

The building is just 8 miles east of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, the site of a mass school shooting in April 1999 which left 14 students dead.

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Khloe and Lamar divorce: Khloe Kardashian files for divorce after four years of marriage

Lisa.Felice
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Khloe and Lamar divorce: Khloe Kardashian files for divorce after four years of marriage

Khloe Kardashian is reportedly filing for divorce from Lamar Odom after four years of marriage.

According to TMZ, Khloe Kardashian, 29, will be citing irreconcilable differences in her divorce papers.

Khloe Kardashian is reportedly filing for divorce from Lamar Odom after four years of marriage
Khloe Kardashian is reportedly filing for divorce from Lamar Odom after four years of marriage

The couple have been estranged for several months, thanks largely to revelations about Lamar Odom’s drug use.

Khloe Kardashian has not been photographed with her wedding ring since November 23, and has hinted at heartbreak in several recent posts on Instagram and Twitter.

Khloe Kardashian and Lamara Odom married in September 2009 after one month of dating.

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Nigella Lawson’s former PA accuses her of lying in court

Lisa.Felice
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Nigella Lawson’s former PA accuses her of lying in court

Nigella Lawson’s former PA Elisabetta Grillo has accused the TV cook and her husband Charles Saatchi of lying in court.

Elisabetta Grillo, 41, told Isleworth Crown Court that she was the only one telling the truth in the case.

She also said that Nigella Lawson’s other PAs, who have given evidence in court, had also lied.

Nigella Lawson’s former PA Elisabetta Grillo has accused the TV cook and her husband Charles Saatchi of lying in court
Nigella Lawson’s former PA Elisabetta Grillo has accused the TV cook and her husband Charles Saatchi of lying in court

Former PAs Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who are sisters, deny fraudulently using credit cards.

Elisabetta Grillo told the court that Nigella Lawson gave her permission to pay for designer shoes and a language course on a credit card provided by Charles Saatchi.

The court was told that Elisabetta Grillo did not mention that Nigella Lawson had taken drugs in her original defense statement made in August because she “felt a remnant of sympathy” towards the TV chef.

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Prince Harry reaches the South Pole after two-week expedition

Nancy Clayson
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Prince Harry reaches the South Pole after two-week expedition

Prince Harry successfully reached the South Pole after more than two weeks of travelling.

The royal joined members of Walking With the Wounded (WWTW) charity for the South Pole travel.

“Unlucky for some, lucky for us,” Prince Harry said shortly before the finish line.

Prince Harry, 29, who headed one of the hike’s three teams (along with actors Alexander Skarsgard and Dominic West and a dozen wounded veterans), did it to raise money and awareness for the UK-based WWTW organization, which retrains injured soldiers.

Prince Harry successfully reached the South Pole after more than two weeks of travelling
Prince Harry successfully reached the South Pole after more than two weeks of travelling

Rougher than usual conditions forced organizers to call off the competitive part of the journey, but that didn’t dampen spirits.

The prince, who served as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, had nothing but praise for his teammates.

“Duncan [Slater, who was wounded in Afghanistan], it’s just remarkable the fact that someone with no legs has made it here,” he said.

“And Ivan [Castro] as well, when I look across I see him being guided around, totally blind, from America, and absolutely hates the cold, and you know he’s not doing it for himself, he’s doing it for his buddies back home, and that goes for everybody, every single one here.”

Prince Harry called finishing “an amazing feeling,” adding: “It will just prove to everybody that there’s so much that can be made possible when you think that nothing is left. I’m so proud, I’m so chuffed and I’m so privileged to be here with all these guys and girls.”

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Justin Bieber skateboarding accident in Simi Valley

Lisa.Felice
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Justin Bieber skateboarding accident in Simi Valley

Justin Bieber, who has capped off a benevolent visit to typhoon victims in the Philippines, proved that he is all too human.

Justin Bieber, 19, posted an Instagram video that shows him wiping out on his skateboard as he attempts to perform a move.

Justin Bieber wiping out on his skateboard as he attempts to perform a move
Justin Bieber wiping out on his skateboard as he attempts to perform a move

The inspirational, Belieber-aimed caption said: “Always get up when u get knocked down.”

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Paul Walker death: Relatives watch final film Hours at private screening

Lisa.Felice
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Paul Walker death: Relatives watch final film Hours at private screening

Paul Walker’s relatives watched his final film, Hours, at a private screening in La Canada Flintridge, California.

“His family was very stoic,” a rep for the Eric Heisserer-directed film told Us Weekly.

“But they enjoyed the film and had a really lovely evening.”

Paul Walker’s 15-year-old daughter Meadow, however, did not attend the screening.

Paul Walker’s relatives watched his final film, Hours, at a private screening in La Canada Flintridge
Paul Walker’s relatives watched his final film, Hours, at a private screening in La Canada Flintridge

The Hours rep tells Us Weekly Meadow Walker and the actor’s father, Paul Walker III, already viewed the film at this year’s Southwest Film Festival.

In the film – which opens in theaters Friday, December 13 – Paul Walker plays a father who struggles to keep an infant daughter alive in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. For the role, Paul Walker drew from his own experiences with Meadow, who moved in with him last year after living with her mother (his ex-girlfriend) in Hawaii.

Film director Eric Heisserer told CNN: “I’d asked him to bring baby pictures of Meadow. During some of the scenes where there was just a monologue by him to give to the baby in the incubator, we set the baby photos in the incubator so he could connect with his daughter that way.”

Paul Walker died at the age of 40 in a fiery car accident on November 30 in Santa Clarita, California.

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Thamsanqa Jantjie: Nelson Mandela interpreter failed in 2012 with self-invented gestures

Nancy Clayson
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Thamsanqa Jantjie: Nelson Mandela interpreter failed in 2012 with self-invented gestures

Sign language interpreter Thamsanqa Jantjie, who claimed to suffer an on-stage schizophrenic episode during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, failed to communicate a single word of a speech made by South African President Jacob Zuma more than a year ago.

The Deaf Federation of South Africa alleged that “100% of the information was omitted” by Thamsanqa Jantjie after he appeared at an event in January 2012.

According to NBC News, the group described Thamsanqa Jantjie’s interpreting for Jacob Zuma as “a mockery” and claimed his gestures appeared “self-invented”.

Thamsanqa Jantjie’s abilities came into question after he was accused by deaf groups of performing meaningless gestures during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. Some groups suggested he was a “fake.”

He translated while standing three feet away from world leaders including President Barack Obama.

The Deaf Federation of South Africa complained to ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe following the party’s centenary celebrations last year.

The federation’s national director Bruno Druchen wrote that Thamsanqa Jantjie’s sign language at that event was “meaningless” and “self-invented.”

Thamsanqa Jantjie failed to communicate a single word of a speech made by President Jacob Zuma in 2012
Thamsanqa Jantjie failed to communicate a single word of a speech made by President Jacob Zuma in 2012

In the letter, which is dated January 21, 2012, Bruno Druchen compares an extract from Jacob Zuma’s speech with what Thamsanqa Jantjie actually conveyed through his sign language.

Bruno Druchen quoted Jacob Zuma as saying:

“Deputy president of the ANC and officials of the African National Congress, National Executive Committee of the African National Congress, ANC women league , Youth League (crowd scream and applaud) African National Congress leadership of MK military . Leadership from SACP, SATU and SANCO.

Friends from all over Africa and the world, comrades and compatriots, the ANC is the oldest liberation movement on the African continent is 100 years old today. We have come from all corners of South Africa , Africa and the World.”

Bruno Druchen then translated the sign language Thamsanqa Jantjie was using on stage to convey Jacob Zuma’s words (some of his corresponding hand movements are in brackets):

“All heart (ten hand move forward) which had no meaning, together (hand move back to the heart) then the sign for C is used. The hands go down to side and then point left with his right hand (no meaning) sign for beg is used repeatedly and the sign is placed on different levels in front of torso with a rocking movement. Both hands in claw shape in the air with movement with no meaning , then again the sign for beg, tree and the help sign and then the hands go forward indicating future.”

Bruno Druchen goes on to say that the interpreter did not use facial expressions, a crucial part of any form of sign language, and describes his performance as a “mime.”

“The signs used are not recognized by the deaf community in South Africa…the interpreter is unknown to the deaf community,” he said.

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said he has no knowledge of the complaint ever being made. He said his party is investigating the incident and reviewing its hiring and vetting procedures.

The South African government has launched an investigation into the Mandela’s memorial incident.

According to Thamsanqa Jantjie, he was paid a $85 day rate for appearing at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service.

On Thursday, South African government minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu pointed out that most qualified sign language interpreters charge $125 to $165 per hour and speculated that a junior official might have opted for the cheapest quote.

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Friday the 13th 2013: Why number 13 is considered so treacherous?

James J. Williams
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Friday the 13th 2013: Why number 13 is considered so treacherous?

Despite this year being 2013, Friday the 13th didn’t occur more than usual, happening twice (in September and December).

In 2012, there were three Fridays on the 13th of a month, each 13 weeks apart.

There are different theories on how Friday the 13th came to be, but the prevailing one is linked to The Last Supper. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th person to arrive at dinner, making 13 an unlucky number on any day of the week. Add to that the fact that Jesus died on a Friday, and Friday the 13th gets its bad rap.

Although people are far less superstitious now than they were in the past, the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina estimates that 17 to 21 million people in the US have a diagnosable phobia of Friday the 13th. The illness is called friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Part of the reason the number 13 is considered so treacherous, is simply because it’s right after 12. Numerologists consider 12 a “complete” number: 12 months complete a year, 12 signs complete the zodiac and 12 inches complete a foot.

Friday the 13th didn't occur more than usual in 2013
Friday the 13th didn’t occur more than usual in 2013

The hangman’s noose traditionally contained 13 coils. The condemned also had to walk up 13 steps to the gallows.

You may have noticed that most buildings leave out the 13th floor, but did you know that planes often lack a 13th row and some hotels eliminate a Room 13? In Florence, the house between 12 and 14 is actually addressed as 12 and a half.

Some estimates suggest that the US economy loses up to $900 million every time there’s a Friday the 13th – many people avoid business deals, or even work altogether, on the allegedly doomed date.

There’s no proof that natural disasters are more likely to occur on Friday the 13th, but Australia’s biggest wildfire, Florida’s costly Hurricane Charley and Kansas’s “Great Flood of 1951” all occurred on a Friday the 13th.

To prove Friday the 13th superstitions as nonsense, a group of affluent New Yorkers started a “Thirteen Club” in 1881. Thirteen people met every Friday the 13th and dined in Room 13. During the gathering, guests walked under ladders and through piles of spilled salt.

In some cases, unlucky days just depend on the language. Tuesday the 13th is unluckier than Friday the 13th in Spanish-speaking countries since “Martes” (“Tuesday” in Spanish) is derived from the name of the Roman god of war and destruction, Mars. The movie Friday the 13th was even renamed to Martes 13 in some parts of the world.

Mega Millions jackpot grows to $400 million

Nancy Clayson
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Mega Millions jackpot grows to $400 million

Mega Millions lottery game is sporting its second-largest jackpot ever, an estimated $400 million, for Friday’s drawing.

Today’s multi-state Mega Millions drawing is the fifth largest lottery jackpot of any kind in US history, according to game officials.

The jackpot has been growing since October 1st and has rolled over 20 times without a winner – thus the estimated $400 million jackpot, which also carries a $216 million cash payout option before taxes.

Mega Millions lottery game is sporting its second-largest jackpot ever
Mega Millions lottery game is sporting its second-largest jackpot ever

Mega Millions had been outshined somewhat by the massive jackpots of the Powerball game, which doubled ticket prices to $2 in January 2012, enriching jackpots as it also added a number of secondary prizes.

Mega Millions received a makeover of its own in October specifically to increase the size of jackpots. The biggest change was lowering the odds of winning, which led to fewer winners and more rollovers.

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Nelson Mandela funeral: South Africans warned not to join queue at Union Buildings

Diane A. Wade
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Nelson Mandela funeral: South Africans warned not to join queue at Union Buildings

South African government has warned people not to attempt to go to see Nelson Mandela’s body in the capital, Pretoria, unless they are already in the queue.

Nelson Mandela’s body is lying in state at the Union Buildings, where he was sworn in as South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

More than 50,000 people were waiting for buses when the warning came.

Nelson Mandela will be buried at his ancestral home in Qunu on Sunday, December 15. He died on December 5 at the age of 95.

His body is to be flown to the rural area of the Eastern Cape where he grew up.

Friday is the last of three days for people to file past the body in Pretoria.

The government said it could not guarantee everyone already waiting for buses would get in.

The response from the public to view Nelson Mandela, known by his clan name Madiba, had been “overwhelming and heart-warming”, government spokesman Phumla Williams said in a statement.

South African government has warned people not to attempt to go to see Nelson Mandela's body in Pretoria, unless they are already in the queue
South African government has warned people not to attempt to go to see Nelson Mandela’s body in Pretoria, unless they are already in the queue

Between 12,000 and 14,000 people had paid their respects to Nelson Mandela on the first day he laid in state “with two people passing every three seconds on day two”, she said.

If any additional numbers came on Friday it would make it physically impossible for people to get the opportunity to file past the body, she added.

“We appeal to members of the public who have not had the opportunity to pay their respects to President Mandela at the Union Buildings, to say goodbye in their own personal way.”

Correspondents who have visited the coffin said Nelson Mandela’s body could be seen through a glass screen, dressed in one of his trademark patterned shirts.

At each end of the casket stood two navy officers clad in white uniforms, with their swords pointing down.

Some mourners stopped briefly to pray, while a number of people reportedly fainted.

At the end of the day, Nelson Mandela’s body will be returned to One Military Hospital before being flown from Waterkloof Military Airbase near Pretoria to Mthatha on Saturday.

Lt-Gen Xolani Mabangu, from the defense force, said chief mourners among the Madiba clan and Mandela family, as well as senior government officials, would accompany the body, the South African Press Association reports.

A military guard of honor will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.

Nelson Mandela’s body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.

A national day of reconciliation will take place in South Africa on December 16, when a statue of Nelson Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.

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Earl Dennison Woods Jr.: Tiger Woods’ stepbrother arrested in Phoenix over false bomb threat

Clyde K. Valle
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Earl Dennison Woods Jr.: Tiger Woods’ stepbrother arrested in Phoenix over false bomb threat

Tiger Woods’ half-brother, Earl Dennison Woods Jr., was arrested Thursday in Phoenix.

He is accused of making a false bomb threat at the government building where he works.

According to Phoenix police, Earl Dennison Woods Jr., 58, called in the threat at the Department of Economic Security (DES) building about 8:30 a.m. MT Thursday.

Police say they were called after DES employees alerted building security.

Earl Dennison Woods Jr. is accused of making a false bomb threat at the government building where he work
Earl Dennison Woods Jr. is accused of making a false bomb threat at the government building where he work

More than 100 people were evacuated from the building before Earl Dennison Woods came forward and told police the phone call was meant as a joke and he didn’t expect his co-workers to take it seriously.

Police said Earl Dennison Woods Jr. has been booked on suspicion of attempting to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass others.

He was apologetic and cooperating with the investigation.

Earl Dennison Woods’ daughter, Cheyenne Woods, is a professional golfer.

Beyonce releases fifth album on iTunes overnight

Lisa.Felice
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Beyonce releases fifth album on iTunes overnight

Beyonce has surprised her fans by unexpectedly releasing her fifth album on iTunes overnight, with 14 new songs and 17 music videos.

The self-titled record is the follow-up to 2011’s 4, and features guest spots from her husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy.

“Surprise!” wrote Beyonce in a press release, adding she was “bored” of releasing music the traditional way.

“I am able to speak directly to my fans,” she continued.

Beyonce’s record is one of the few major releases of recent years not to leak in advance.

Many records are leaked during the manufacturing and distribution stage – but Beyonce’s record is currently exclusive to iTunes.

Beyonce has surprised her fans by unexpectedly releasing her fifth album on iTunes overnight
Beyonce has surprised her fans by unexpectedly releasing her fifth album on iTunes overnight

Physical copies only started pressing on Friday morning, and are expected in shops on December 21.

The instantaneous release follows a precedent set by David Bowie who, in January this year, came out of retirement by releasing a single with no prior warning.

However, Beyonce’s project is on a much larger scale, with every track on the album accompanied by its own music video.

Beyonce, 32, explained she had been inspired by her memories of watching Michael Jackson’s Thriller video premiere in 1983.

“I miss that immersive experience,” she said.

“Now people only listen to a few seconds of a song on their iPods and they don’t really invest in the whole experience.

“It’s all about the single, and the hype. I felt like, I don’t want anybody to get the message when my record is coming out.

“I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.”

However, the album has had a troubled gestation period. It was widely expected to debut after Beyonce’s performance at the SuperBowl last February, but never appeared.

Beyonce’s Standing On The Sun, which previewed on tour and in an advertisement for H&M, failed to make the final cut. Grown Woman, which was heard in a Pepsi commercial earlier this year, only appears as a video.

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Robert Levinson: Ex-FBI agent captive in Iran working for CIA

Diane A. Wade
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Robert Levinson: Ex-FBI agent captive in Iran working for CIA

Ex-FBI agent Robert Levinson, who is believed to have been held in Iran for the last seven years, was working for the CIA on an unapproved mission, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Robert Levinson went missing during a business trip to the Iranian island of Kish in March 2007.

US government officials have repeatedly called on Iran to help locate him.

“We have no comment on any purported affiliation between Mr. Levinson and the US government,” said a CIA statement.

“The US government remains committed to bringing him home safely to his family,” added CIA media spokesperson Todd Ebitz.

The Associated Press report alleges that the CIA paid off Robert Levinson’s family and reprimanded several analysts involved.

The media outlet writes that Robert Levinson was in Iran on an unapproved intelligence-gathering mission that, when revealed, caused a serious internal CIA scandal.

The CIA reportedly paid Robert Levinson’s family $2.5 million to avoid a public lawsuit, and also disciplined 10 veteran analysts.

The team of analysts is said to have paid Robert Levinson to gather intelligence prior to his disappearance.

Three of the CIA analysts – who reportedly had no authority to run spy operations – were allegedly later forced out of the agency.

The Associated Press investigation reportedly included interviews with top US and foreign officials and access to confidential documentation.

Robert Levinson went missing during a business trip to the Iranian island of Kish in March 2007
Robert Levinson went missing during a business trip to the Iranian island of Kish in March 2007

The media outlet alleges it was asked by the US government three times since 2010 to withhold information related to Robert Levinson’s CIA ties.

The news agency said it decided to run the report after all efforts to return Robert Levinson to the US were seen to have failed.

“The US government strongly urged the AP not to run this story out of concern for Mr. Levinson’s life,” said National Security Council spokesperson Caitlin Hayden.

“We regret that the AP would choose to run a story that does nothing to further the cause of bringing him home.”

There is no confirmation of who captured the former FBI agent or where he may be held, but US officials asked for Iran’s assistance in finding him just days after Iran and Western powers signed an interim agreement aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme in late November.

“We reiterate the commitment of the United States Government to locate Mr. Levinson and bring him home safely to his family, friends, and loved ones,” White House spokesman Jay Carney wrote in a statement at the time.

“We respectfully ask the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to assist us in securing Mr. Levinson’s health, welfare, and safe return.”

In August, Secretary of State John Kerry also asked for Iran’s assistance in freeing Robert Levinson and two other US citizens held in Iran, a former marine and a Christian pastor.

Robert Levinson, 64 when he went missing, was initially believed to have been investigating cigarette counterfeiting as a private detective when he disappeared.

His family received images of Robert Levinson in April 2011, showing him wearing a long grey beard, in an orange jumpsuit, holding up five signs that read:

  • 4th YEAR… You can’t or you don’t want…?
  • This is the result of 30 years serving for USA
  • Why you cannot help me?
  • I am here in Guantanamo – Do you know where it is?
  • Help me

The family was also sent a video in November 2010, which it released in December 2011 to try to aid the investigation.

In the 54-second clip, Robert Levinson pleads: “Help me get home.”

Although he has appeared in images and videos as a captive, Iran has said it does not know where he is and that there is no evidence he is in the country.

Investigators traced the phone used to send the photographs to Afghanistan, but the owner was not involved. The video was sent from a Pakistan internet cafe.

The FBI offered a $1 million reward in March 2012 for information leading to Robert Levinson’s safe return.

However, the US government has not received any sign Robert Levinson is alive in nearly three years, the Associated Press reports.

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Winter storm hits Jerusalem and occupied West Bank

Nancy Clayson
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Winter storm hits Jerusalem and occupied West Bank

A rare snowstorm has hit Jerusalem area and parts of the occupied West Bank, choking off the city and stranding hundreds in vehicles on impassable roads.

Israeli authorities said at least 20 inches of snow had fallen since Thursday and more was forecast.

A rare snowstorm has hit Jerusalem area and parts of the occupied West Bank
A rare snowstorm has hit Jerusalem area and parts of the occupied West Bank

“In my 54 years I don’t remember a sight like this, such an amount I cannot recall,” said Nir Barkat, mayor of Jerusalem.

The Israeli military helped police rescue hundreds of people stranded in vehicles on highways near the city.

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Jang Sung-taek executed for treachery in North Korea

Diane A. Wade
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Jang Sung-taek executed for treachery in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Sung-taek, has been executed after being purged for “acts of treachery”, state media say.

Jang Sung-taek was dramatically removed from a Communist Party session by armed guards earlier this week.

It was the biggest upheaval since Kim Jong-un succeeded his father two years ago.

State news agency KCNA said Jang Sung-taek had admitted at a military trial on Thursday to attempting to overthrow the state, and was executed immediately.

Jang Sung-taek, who is thought to have mentored his nephew during the leadership transition from Kim Jong-il to his son Kim Jong-un in 2011, was “worse than a dog”, said the agency.

He had admitted abusing his positions of responsibility to form a faction against the state and to harboring his own political ambitions, it said in a lengthy and detailed report.

The White House said it could not independently verify the reports but had “no reason to doubt” them.

“If confirmed, this is another example of the extreme brutality of the North Korean regime. We are following developments in North Korea closely and consulting with our allies and partners in the region,” it said in a statement.

Jang Sung-taek – married to the elder Kim Jong-il’s sister – had held senior posts in the ruling party and the National Defense Commission, the North’s top military body.

He was frequently pictured alongside his nephew and seen by some observers as the power behind the throne.

But in early December, it emerged that he had been removed from his senior military position and that two of his aides had been executed.

Then on Monday, KCNA broadcast footage of him being removed from a party session by uniformed guards.

Jang Sung-taek has been executed after being purged for acts of treachery
Jang Sung-taek has been executed after being purged for acts of treachery

In a long report on Friday, KCNA described Jang Sung-taek as a “traitor” and “human scum”.

It said: “Chang dreamed such a foolish dream that once he seizes power by a base method, his despicable true colors as <<reformist>> known to the outside world would help his <<new government>> get <<recognized>> by foreign countries in a short span of time.”

KCNA also said Jang Sung-taek:

  • Attempted to “overthrow the state”
  • Transformed his department into “a ‘little kingdom'” and attempted to “trigger off discontent” within the army to mobilize a coup
  • Took control of the “major economic fields of the country” and “schemed to drive the economy of the country and people’s living into an uncontrollable catastrophe”
  • Committed corruption by transferring construction units to his contacts
  • Committed irregularities related to a joint economic zone with China, Rason
  • Was responsible for unpopular currency reforms in 2009. In December 2009 Pyongyang’s reported redenomination of the won knocked two zeros off the nominal value of each banknote.

Jang Sung-taek admitted his “crimes” in court and a death sentence was “immediately executed”, KCNA said.

Analysts say his fall from grace could be seen as the latest in a series of carefully calibrated moves to demonstrate Kim Jong-un’s authority and an assertion of his independence.

In August 2012, Jang Sung-taek made a high profile trip to China, where he met then-President Hu Jintao. The two sides later signed a raft of economic deals, including the development of two special economic zones: Rason, on North Korea’s east coast, and Hwanggumphyong, on the border with China.

As news of the purge emerged earlier this week, South Korean President Park Geun-hye warned the North was “carrying out a reign of terror” to reinforce Kim Jong-il’s position.

She said the volatile relationship between the two countries was likely to become “more unstable” as a result.

On Friday, South Korea’s military said it had tightened surveillance on Pyongyang, news agency Yonhap reported.

Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Eyi-do said the government had “deep concerns” about the latest developments and was “watching the situation closely”.

Meanwhile, Japan’s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said: “We will calmly monitor the situation while communicating with other countries and collect relevant information.”

Chinese state media reported on Jang Sung-taek’s execution, but there has been no official government response so far.

Who is Jang Sung-taek:

  • Born 1946, he married Kim Jong-il’s sister in 1972
  • Joined Korean Workers’ Party administrative ranks in 1970s
  • Elected to Central Committee in 1992
  • Sidelined in 2004, but rehabilitated in 2006
  • 2011: Got top military post under Kim Jong-un
  • November 2013: Dismissed from his position
  • December 2013: Executed as a “traitor”[youtube rsiqP8eIA9o 650]

Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for war crimes in Bangladesh

Roy Siemens
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Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for war crimes in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi Islamist leader Abdul Kader Mullah, who was convicted of atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan, has been executed in Dhaka.

Abdul Kader Mullah is the first person convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to be executed.

The ICT was set up in 2010 to investigate abuses committed during the 1971 conflict.

Abdul Kader Mullah was a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party.

At his trial earlier this year, Abdul Kader Mullah was described by prosecutors as the “Butcher of Mirpur”, a suburb of Dhaka where he is alleged to have carried out his crimes. These included the massacre of unarmed civilians and the killing of intellectuals who supported independence from Pakistan.

Abdul Kader Mullah always denied the charges.

Four other leading figures in Jamaat-e-Islami have also been convicted by the ICT and face the death penalty.

The execution of Abdul Kader Mullah took place at Dhaka Central Jail at 22:01 local time on Thursday evening, officials announced.

His family were allowed a final meeting with the 65-year-old and found him “calm”.

Abdul Kader Mullah was convicted of atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan
Abdul Kader Mullah was convicted of atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence with Pakistan

“He told us that he is proud to be a martyr for the cause of the Islamic movement in the country,” Abdul Kader Mullah’s son, Hasan Jamil, told the AFP after the meeting.

Hundreds of people gathered in central Dhaka to celebrate the news of his death.

But Jamaat-e-Islami – which has warned it will avenge his death – called for a general strike on Sunday.

Security has been tightened in Dhaka and around the country amid fears the execution is likely to inflame tensions.

At least three people are reported to have died on Thursday in sporadic clashes between Jamaat-e-Islami supporters and security forces.

Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan 42 years ago after a war which saw killings on a mass scale, the exodus of more than 10 million refugees and military intervention by neighboring India.

The government set up the special court to deal with those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces who attempted to stop East Pakistan, as Bangladesh was then, from becoming an independent country. The two wings of Pakistan were held together mostly by a shared religion.

While many Bangladeshis have welcomed the work of the ICT, Jamaat supporters say it is a politically-motivated attempt to eradicate its leaders.

UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay had written to the Bangladeshi authorities urging them to stay the execution of Abdul Kader Mullah, saying the trial had not met the international standards required for the death penalty.

Abdul Kader Mullah had been scheduled to be hanged on Tuesday, before gaining a reprieve pending a last-minute appeal against his death sentence.His appeal was dismissed earlier on Thursday by the Bangladeshi Supreme Court.

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Weinstein brothers sue Warner Bros over The Hobbit installments

Sonia Pantiss
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Weinstein brothers sue Warner Bros over The Hobbit installments

Weinstein brothers, Bob and Harvey, are suing Warner Bros over its decision to divide The Hobbit into three films, which will mean they receive no payment from the second and third installments.

Miramax, founded by Weinstein brothers, sold its rights to The Hobbit to New Line, part of the Warner group, in 1998.

New Line agreed to make payments for the “first motion picture” only.

Bob and Harvey Weinstein claim the studio adapted the book into three films “solely to deprive plaintiffs” of agreed revenue.

Weinstein brothers are suing Warner Bros over its decision to divide The Hobbit into three films
Weinstein brothers are suing Warner Bros over its decision to divide The Hobbit into three films

“This case is about greed and ingratitude,” said the Weinsteins and Miramax, in a complaint filed on Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court.

The film producers are suing Time Warner Inc for at least $75 million, alleging Warner Bros’ decision to create a trilogy of films from JRR Tolkien’s standalone novel was a pretext to deprive them of 5% of the gross receipts from the last two films.

A spokesman for Warner Bros accused the Weinsteins of “one of the great blunders in movie history”.

“Fifteen years ago Miramax, run by the Weinstein brothers, sold its rights in The Hobbit to New Line. No amount of trying to rewrite history can change that fact,” said Paul McGuire.

“They agreed to be paid only on the first motion picture based on The Hobbit. And that’s all they’re owed.”

The second instalment of The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug, directed by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, is due to be released worldwide on Friday.

The first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, was released in 2012 and grossed more than $1 billion.

Golden Globes 2014 Nominations: Full list

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globes 2014 Nominations: Full list

The 2014 Golden Globes Awards ceremony takes place on January 12.

The full list of nominations for the 2014 Golden Globes Awards as voted for by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

Film

Best motion picture – drama

12 Years A Slave

Captain Phillips

Gravity

Philomena

Rush

Best motion picture – musical or comedy

American Hustle

Her

Inside Llewyn Davis

Nebraska

The Wolf Of Wall Street

Best director

Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips

Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Alexander Payne – Nebraska

David O Russell – American Hustle

Best actor – drama

Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Idris Elba – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Robert Redford – All is Lost

Best actor – musical or comedy

Christian Bale – American Hustle

Bruce Dern – Nebraska

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street

Oscar Isaac – Inside Llewyn Davis

Joaquin Phoenix – Her

Best actress – drama

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Judi Dench – Philomena

Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks

Kate Winslet – Labor Day

Best actress – musical or comedy

Amy Adams – American Hustle

Julie Delphy – Before Midnight

Greta Gerwig – Frances Ha

Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Enough Said

Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

Best supporting actor

Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips

Daniel Bruhl – Rush

Bradley Cooper – American Hustle

Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Best supporting actress

Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

June Squibb – Nebraska

Best screenplay

The 2014 Golden Globes Awards ceremony takes place on January 12
The 2014 Golden Globes Awards ceremony takes place on January 12

Her – Spike Jonze

Nebraska – Bob Nelson

Philomena – Jeff Pope, Steve Coogan

12 Years A Slave – John Ridley

American Hustle – Eric Warren Singer, David O Russell

Best original score

Alex Ebert – All Is Lost

Alex Heffes – Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom

Steven Price – Gravity

John Williams – The Book Thief

Hans Zimmer – 12 Years A Slave

Best original song

Atlas – Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion

Let It Go – Frozen – Kristen Anderson Lopez, Robert Lopez

Ordinary Love – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Brian Burton

Please Mr. Kennedy – Inside Llewyn Davis – Ed Rush, George Cromarty, T Bone Burnett, Justin Timberlake, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Sweeter Than Fiction – One Chance – Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff

Best foreign language film

Blue is the Warmest Color – France

The Great Beauty – Italy

The Hunt – Denmark

The Past – Iran

The Wind Rises – Japan

Best animated feature

The Croods

Despicable Me 2

Frozen

Television

Best TV series – drama

Breaking Bad

Downton Abbey

The Good Wife

House Of Cards

Masters Of Sex

Best TV series – comedy

The Big Bang Theory

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Girls

Modern Family

Parks and Recreation

Best mini-series or motion picture made for TV

American Horror Story: Coven

Behind The Candelabra

Dancing on the Edge

Top of the Lake

White Queen

Best actor – drama

Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad

Liev Schreiber – Ray Donovan

Michael Sheen – Masters of Sex

Kevin Spacey – House of Cards

James Spader – The Blacklist

Best actress – drama

Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife

Tatiana Maslany – Orphan

Taylor Schilling – Orange Is The New Black

Kerry Washington – Scandal

Robin Wright – House Of Cards

Best actor – comedy

Jason Bateman – Arrested Development

Don Cheadle – House of Lies

Michael J Fox – The Michael J Fox Show

Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory

Andy Samberg – Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Best actress – comedy

Zooey Deschanel – New Girl

Lena Dunham – Girls

Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie

Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

Amy Poehler – Parks and Recreation

Best Actor – mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Matt Damon – Behind the Candelabra

Michael Douglas – Behind the Candelabra

Chiwetel Ejiofor – Dancing on the Edge

Idris Elba – Luther

Al Pacino – Phil Spector

Best Actress – mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Helena Bonham-Carter – Burton and Taylor

Rebecca Ferguson – White Queen

Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Coven

Helen Mirren – Phil Spector

Elisabeth Moss – Top of the Lake

Best supporting actor – series, mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Josh Charles – The Good Wife

Rob Lowe – Behind the Candelabra

Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad

Corey Stoll – House of Cards

Jon Voight – Ray Donovan

Best supporting actress – series, mini-series or motion picture made for TV

Jacqueline Bisset – Dancing on the Edge

Janet McTeer – White Queen

Hayden Panettiere – Nashville

Monica Potter – Parenthood

Sofia Vergara – Modern Family

Le Petite Syrah cafe charges rude customers extra

Nancy Clayson
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Le Petite Syrah cafe charges rude customers extra

The price list at Le Petite Syrah cafe in Nice, France, suggests that being polite could cut the price for a cup of coffee.

Ordering simply “a coffee” at the Le Petite Syrah cafe will cost you 7 euros ($9.5) according to the prices on the chalkboard menu.

However, if you add “please”, the price drops to 4.25 euros ($6).

Going for the full, “Good morning, a coffee, please,” the politeness discount gets even steeper, 1.4 euros ($2).

Price list at Le Petite Syrah cafe in Nice
Price list at Le Petite Syrah cafe in Nice

Le Petite Syrah cafe owner Fabrice Pepino said: “We’re just a tiny restaurant with my wife and I’m also the wine waiter in the wine shop.”

“We started to notice at lunchtime people are a bit more rude and stressed and were sometimes rude to us when they ordered a coffee.”

The sign, inspired by those he saw in Italy and France, started as a joke – Fabrice Pepino never charged more than 1.4 euros for a coffee.

“I don’t even think it’s legal,” he said. But it has made his customers act differently.

“They started at the beginning to say, <<Hello, your highness, will you serve me one of your beautiful coffees>>, exaggerating it even more polite than the sign to try and get free coffee.”

Mostly though, it has amused customers and helped them relax.

“The sign reminds us that we are still human beings. It doesn’t matter if the guest is the president,” Fabrice Pepino said.

Fabrice Pepino was bemused that the photo of the sign, which he put up in the summer, went viral after a French journalist passing through tweeted a photo of it. French TV stations started calling him up right away wanting to descend on his shop.

Google to charge advertisers only for viewed ads

Nancy Clayson
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Google to charge advertisers only for viewed ads

Google has announced that it will only charge advertisers for ads that have been seen by users.

More than half of all ads bought online are not seen by anyone, because they appear too far down the page, or for other factors.

Google says an ad is considered “viewed” only if 50% or more of it is visible for more than one second on the page.

It is the first major digital ad network to announce such a move.

Google has announced that it will only charge advertisers for ads that have been seen by users
Google has announced that it will only charge advertisers for ads that have been seen by users

“Even the jingliest, jolliest ad of the season can’t work its magic unless it gets seen,” wrote Google in a blog post announcing the change.

“Today, we’re taking an important step towards this goal by making it possible to buy based on viewability – in real time – across the more than two million sites in the Google Display Network…

“In other words, you can now choose to pay for only those impressions where your ad has a chance to be seen.”

Google accounted for 32.84% of all digital ad spending worldwide in 2013, according to eMarketeer. That translates to more than $38 billion of the estimated $117.6 billion global digital advertising market.

Thamsanqa Jantjie: South African government investigates fake interpreter security checks

Nancy Clayson
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Thamsanqa Jantjie: South African government investigates fake interpreter security checks

South Africa’s Deputy Disability Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu says the government is investigating how interpreter Thamsanqa Jantjie, who faked sign language at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service was given security clearance.

Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood alongside world leaders at the event, has denied being a fraud, and said he panicked when he began hallucinating.

The sign interpreter said he had schizophrenia, which had in the past made him act violently.

The agency that employed him, SA Interpreters, has reportedly vanished.

Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood alongside world leaders at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, has denied being a fraud
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood alongside world leaders at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service, has denied being a fraud

The African National Congress (ANC) said it had used Thamsanqa Jantjie as an interpreter several times before, and “had not been aware of any of complaints regarding the quality of services, qualifications or reported illnesses” of the interpreter.

Tuesday’s memorial at a stadium in Johannesburg was organized by the state, not the ANC, so the ruling party could not comment on security arrangements.

The South African Translators’ Institute said earlier there had been complaints over Thamsanqa Jantjie’s work before, but that the ANC had taken no action.

The ANC said it would “follow up the reported correspondence that has supposedly been sent to us in this regard and where necessary act on it”.

During the memorial, Thamsanqa Jantjie stood on the stage next to key speakers including President Barack Obama, South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren, translating their eulogies.

Thamsanqa Jantjie ‘s performance was watched on television by millions of people worldwide and angered the South African deaf community. Pressure has been mounting on the government to explain why he was hired for such an important event.

Deputy Disability Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told a news conference on Thursday: “Firstly, I don’t think South Africa as a country would put at risk anybody’s security, especially those of heads of state.

“Secondly, when somebody provides a service of a sign language interpreter, I don’t think… somebody would say: <<Is your head ok? Do you have any mental disability?>> I think the focus was on: <<Are you able to sign? Can you provide the services?>>”

But she said: “In terms of security clearance that is in a process, we are requesting to check his vetting.”

Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu apologized to the deaf community but said there was no reason for South Africa to be embarrassed.

Spain to block Catalonia independence referendum

Diane A. Wade
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Spain to block Catalonia independence referendum

Spain’s government has vowed to block plans by parties in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence on November 9, 2014.

“The poll will not be held,” Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon told journalists moments after Catalonia’s President, Artur Mas, announced a deal.

Artur Mas said agreement had been reached on the date and on two questions.

Spain’s government has vowed to block plans by parties in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence on November 9, 2014
Spain’s government has vowed to block plans by parties in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence on November 9, 2014

Voters would be asked if they wanted Catalonia to be a state and if they wanted it to be an independent state.

Artur Mas announced that an agreement had been reached in principle and had still to be approved formally by the parties internally.

Both Spain’s ruling conservatives, the Popular Party of PM Mariano Rajoy, and the Socialist opposition have long made clear they oppose a referendum.

Catalonia is one of Spain’s most developed regions, with a population of 7.5 million.

The region already has a wide degree of autonomy but the recent economic crisis has fuelled Catalan nationalism.

Opinion polls suggest Catalans are evenly split over independence.

The EU and NATO have warned that Catalonia would be excluded if it broke away from Spain.

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