North Korea to Hold Vote for Rubber Stamp Parliament
North Korea has announced that it will hold elections for its rubber stamp parliament in March, the first such vote to take place under Kim Jong Un.
The official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday the election for the Supreme People's Assembly will be held March 9.
The election, held every five years, is largely a formality, with only one approved candidate standing in each district.
However, because the body is composed of many top officials, the outcome will be watched closely to see if Kim further consolidates power.
Last month, Kim ordered the execution of his once-powerful uncle, Jang Song Thaek, along with several of his top aides in a shocking leadership purge.
Jang, who was widely considered to be Kim's mentor and second-in-command, was accused of plotting to overthrow the state.
In a New Year's Day speech, Kim said Jang's execution was necessary to cleanse "factional filth" from the ruling Worker's Party.
Jang was a member of the Supreme People's Assembly, and the new makeup of the body could reveal further changes in the country's secretive power structure.
Although it is symbolically important, the assembly has little actual power. It convenes only twice a year, typically to unanimously approve government budgets, constitutional amendments and official appointments.
The last parliamentary election was held in March 2009 under ex-leader Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011 and passed power to his son, Kim Jong Un.
Source-Voice Of America
Will Smith pays tribute to Bel-Air co-star James Avery
Will Smith has paid tribute to his former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-star James Avery, who died last week.
Smith, who played Avery's nephew in the 1990s sitcom, posted a photo of him with Avery and other cast members on his Facebook page.
He wrote that the picture was taken the last time they were together.
"Some of my greatest lessons in Acting, Living and being a respectable human being came through James Avery," added Smith.
"Every young man needs an Uncle Phil. Rest in Peace."
Avery, who played Judge Philip Banks in more than 140 episodes of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, died aged 68 from complications after heart surgery.
Other cast members from the show have also paid tribute to the actor.
Alfonso Ribeiro, who played his son Carlton, tweeted: "I'm deeply saddened to say that James Avery has passed away.
"He was a second father to me. I will miss him greatly."
Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith's actress wife, said they had "lost yet another friend" on her Facebook page.
She added: "Our condolences to aunt Florence (his mother), Miss Barbara (his wife) and all those who loved him. Rest in peace James."
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air originally aired on America's NBC network from September 1990 to May 1996.
Source-Newsbeat
IMF to raise its global growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund will raise its forecast for global growth according to its managing director, Christine Lagarde.
She said the revision would come in the next three weeks but did not elaborate, saying that it would be premature to say any more.
In October the IMF lowered its growth forecasts, saying the global economy "remains in low gear".
It cut its growth forecast for 2014 by 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.6%.
It also reduced the estimate for 2013 growth by 0.3 of a point to 2.9%.
Back then it warned that a slower pace of expansion in emerging economies such as Brazil, China and India, was holding back global expansion.
Many economists have been surprised at the strength of the rebound in developed economies, particularly the United States and the UK.
Last month the US Commerce department revised US growth upwards to its fastest pace since late 2011.
It said GDP grew at an annualised rate of 4.1% between July and September, up from an earlier 3.6% estimate.
Citing those stronger growth figures, US President Barack Obama has said 2014 will be a "breakthrough year" for the US economy.
Also last month, growth estimates for the UK economy in 2013 were upgraded.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) raised its forecast for annual growth to 1.9% from 1.5%.
Ms Lagarde made the comments during a press conference in Nairobi.
The IMF has lent $750m to Kenya to support reform and the government's financial position.
Source-BBC
Angry Dennis Rodman defends North Korea visit
Dennis Rodman has angrily defended his visit to North Korea, ahead of a basketball game to mark leader Kim Jong-un's birthday.
In an interview with CNN, Rodman was asked if he would raise the issue of a US citizen jailed in North Korea.
The former NBA player responded with a rant that at one point appeared to point blame at the man, Kenneth Bae.
Rodman's visit has been criticised by rights groups, with Washington making it clear he does not represent the US.
His team of former National Basketball Association (NBA) players will take on a North Korean team in an exhibition match later on Wednesday in Pyongyang.
Rodman says the match is to celebrate Kim Jong-un's birthday, although his official birthday and age have not been confirmed.
It comes weeks after the execution of Mr Kim's uncle, Chang Song-thaek, once seen as a major power in North Korea. His rapid and brutal purge has sparked concern over stability inside the country.
Meanwhile, state news agency KCNA has announced that elections for North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament will be held on 9 March - something which could provide a hint of who the key players are in the wake of Mr Chang's execution.
This visit is Dennis Rodman's fourth to North Korea. He has in the past described Mr Kim as a friend and says he is on a "basketball diplomacy" mission. He remains the highest-profile American to have met the young leader.
Source-BBC
Chinese, Russian Vessels Break Free from Antarctic Ice
Reports from Antarctica say a Chinese icebreaker and a Russian research vessel broke free from thick ice on Tuesday, with both vessels moving toward open waters.
China's official Xinhua news agency, reporting from on board the Xue Long, said the ship reached open waters late Tuesday Beijing time after spending nearly a week icebound. The breaker became trapped and isolated after using one of its helicopters to rescue passengers from the stranded Russian research ship Akademik Shokalskiy.
The Russian vessel left New Zealand November 28 in an attempt to recreate Australian explorer Douglas Mawson's century-old voyage to Antarctica, before getting stuck December 24. The Chinese breaker got stuck after rescuing the Russian vessel's 52 passengers.
Authorities said late Tuesday the services of U.S. Coast Guard ice breaker Polar Star, dispatched earlier this week to help, were no longer needed. The ship will now continue on its original resupply mission to a key U.S. base on the frozen continent.
Source-Voice Of America
Record Cold Freezes Much of United States
Relief is on the way to the United States, which has seen days of life-threatening cold due to record low temperatures.
Temperatures are expected to rise to near normal in the Midwest by Thursday with spring-like weather expected in the East by the end of the week.
Temperatures in all or parts of each of the 50 states were below freezing at some point Tuesday -- even in Hawaii where it was minus six degrees Celsius on top of the state's highest mountain.
The cold that froze over such midwestern cities as Chicago and Minneapolis spread to the East Tuesday. It was minus 10 degrees Celsius in Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Boston with the wind chill making it feel much colder.
Temperatures also reached record lows in the normally temperate South.
The bitter cold shut down schools, disrupted train service, and led to the cancellation of thousands of flights. At least five deaths have been reported nationwide.
The frigid weather was caused by what meteorologists call a polar vortex -- a rotating mass of cold dense air that usually stays in place in northern Canada, but was pushed south by the jet stream.
Source-Voice Of America
Pentagon Announces New Troop Deployment to South Korea
The Pentagon has announced the deployment of an additional 800 troops to South Korea, along with combat tanks and other military hardware, as Washington seeks to counter any regional threats from North Korea.
Tuesday's deployment announcement came as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met in Washington with his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se. Kerry used the meeting to assure Yun of Washington's commitment to South Korea's nuclear defense, in his words, "so that we are prepared to face any threat."
Kerry said the two diplomats are "deeply focused on the challenge of North Korea, particularly with events that have taken place in recent weeks" in Pyongyang.
His comments appeared to reference a recent political purge that included the execution of the uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The killing in December of Jang Song Thaek, a powerful member of the politburo, is seen by some Western analysts as a move by Kim to consolidate power, and by others as evidence of political instability within the North Korean hierarchy.
A Pentagon statement said elements of the 1st Army Battalion from Ft. Hood, Texas will deploy to two locations in South Korea by February 1, in what a spokesman described as part of an ongoing shift of U.S. military power toward East Asia.
Source-Voice Of America
Israel Seeking to Extend Peace Talks Beyond April Deadline
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon says Israel is looking for a framework to extend peace talks with the Palestinians beyond the April deadline.
Yaalon said Tuesday it is clear there are big gaps with the Palestinians that are not new; but, he said it is definitely in Israel's interest to continue the talks and stabilize relations.
The State Department says extending the nine-month deadline set last July is an option; but, it says the focus remains on getting a framework agreement before the end of April. Officials say both Israeli and Palestinian leaders remain engaged and committed.
Before leaving Jerusalem Sunday, Secretary of State John Kerry said he is making progress towards peace. He said a framework would be a "significant breakthrough," but would not meet his goal of a comprehensive deal by April.
Israelis and Palestinians are accusing each other of sabotaging peace efforts. Israel says the Palestinians hail terrorists just freed from prison as heroes and have not recognized a Jewish state. Palestinians say Israel continues to build Jewish settlements in lands that would be part of a future state.
Source-Voice Of America
EMA fines Petrotrin $20M in Trinidad
The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) has fined State-run Petrotrin $20 million for breaching the terms of its certificates of environment clearance (CEC) by its allegedly poor response to the December 17 oil-spill at La Brea that ruined marine-life, beaches and communities on Trinidad’s south west coast.
Petrotrin has agreed to pay the fine which the EMA said would be used for various remediation steps at the oil-spill site.
EMA chairman, Dr Alan Bachan, held a news conference yesterday at the EMA office, Elizabeth Street, St Clair, with fellow directors Michael Rooplal, Dr Rai Ragbir and Gayatree Badree- Maharaj.
The EMA said Petrotrin was fined for failings in its response after the oil-spill, but that it is outside of the EMA’s remit to punish Petrotrin for the oil-spill itself, but said that any affected resident might sue Petrotrin under the common law for say the tort offence of nuisance.
Petrotrin president, Khalid Hassanali, yesterday told Newsday the EMA’s $20 million fine was harsh. He said, “In respect to the measures we have taken in respect of the environment and in respect to the persons and communities affected, I do find it is a bit harsh.”
In a statement issued at the news conference, the EMA said that last Friday it had served two notices of violation (NOV) on Petrotrin for violation of the EMA Act.
These breaches include Petrotrin’s failure get approval for its methods of disposal of oil-spill waste; failure to promptly report all accidents, emergencies and spills; failure to comply with health and air-monitoring requirements; and failure to submit a complete written report of the incident.
“Petrotrin, in response to the EMA’s action, made representations to the EMA and admitted to the violations articulated in the respective NOVs,” said the EMA statement. “A consent agreement was entered into in which Petrotrin was fined a sum of $20 million. The monies would be used towards the assessment, remediation and rehabilitation of the impacted sites...”.
The statement listed 12 examples of activities that the $20 million would be used to pay for to counter the effects of the oil-spill.
Source-CMC
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Ex-Miss Venezuela Murdered in Robbery
A former Miss Venezuela-turned-soap opera star and her ex-husband have been found shot to death in the South American country in an apparent robbery attack.
Authorities say the bodies of 29-year-old Monica Spear and her 39-year-old former husband were found in their car, along with their 5-year-old daughter, who survived the Monday night attack but was injured in the leg. Venezuelan authorities said the little girl was in stable condition after being treated for her injuries.
The car was discovered on the highway between Venezuela's major port city of Puerto Cabello and the city of Valencia. Spear was reportedly vacationing in Venezuela, with local media reporting the car had broken down before the attack.
Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with armed robberies, carjackings and kidnappings commonplace.
Spear was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2004 and went on to appear in several soap operas on the U.S.-based Telemundo network, including her most recent -- "Forbidden Passion."