Chinese zodiac: what will the new year bring you?
Ahead of Chinese New Year on 28 January 2017, let's look at what the year of the Rooster will bring you. Here's to new beginnings »
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Huge but empty pyramid hotel a sphinx-like N. Korean mystery
Pyongyang's pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel, which poetically enough was built with some help from Egyptians, is one of the world's strangest landmarks and most conspicuous construction-project fails. Intended ...
Associated Press -
Britain's Prince Charles warns of return to 'dark days of 1930s'
Britain's Prince Charles warned against intolerance towards refugees fleeing religious persecution on Thursday, saying the rising tide of populism was reminiscent of the "dark days" of the 1930s. "We are now seeing the rise of many populist groups across the world that are increasingly aggressive towards those who adhere to a minority faith." The 68-year-old, in his third broadcast for the "Thought for the Day" section of popular news programme Today, added: "All of this has deeply disturbing echoes of the dark days of the 1930s." Charles said his comments applied not just to Christians fleeing parts of the Middle East but also to other persecuted faiths in the world including Yazidis, Jews, Ahmadi Muslims and Baha'i people. Prince Charles, who will become the supreme governor of the Church of England when he succeeds his mother Queen Elizabeth II, often speaks out about the plight of Christian minorities in the Middle East.
AFP News -
China tycoon moves jobs to US, citing high taxes at home
A Chinese auto glass tycoon has caused a stir by shifting part of his empire to the United States and setting up a factory in Ohio, citing high taxes and soaring labour costs at home. Cao Dewang's $600-million investment comes after Donald Trump threatened to declare Beijing a currency manipulator and slap 45 percent punitive tariffs on Chinese imports to protect American jobs. The 70-year-old tycoon's decision to open a glass factory in the eastern American state of Ohio in October -- a rare case of jobs being exported from China to the US -- triggered an outpouring of criticism on social media.
AFP News -
Nicole Kidman 'barely knew' Keith Urban when they married
Nicole Kidman admitted her friends and family thought the marriage was "a huge mistake".
Cover Media -
De Lima returns, says Duterte is the real addict
Embattled Sen. Leila de Lima is back in the country after receiving an award abroad amid President Duterte’s allegation that she benefited from the illegal drug trade when she was justice secretary. De Lima was happy when greeted by journalists upon her return. De Lima was also asked about the state of her love life.
Philippine Star -
Fingerprints of Tunisian suspect in Berlin attack found on truck door - media
By Michelle Martin and Michael Nienaber BERLIN (Reuters) - Investigators found fingerprints of a Tunisian suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack on the door of the truck that ploughed through the crowds, killing 12, German media said on Thursday, as a nationwide manhunt for the migrant was underway. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in which a truck smashed through wooden huts selling gifts, mulled wine and sausages on Monday evening. The media did not name their source for the report about 24-year-old Anis Amri's fingerprints and police declined to comment.
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The Latest: Trump son to stop raising money for charity
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST):
Associated Press -
Russia bids farewell to slain Turkey envoy
Russia on Thursday laid to rest its envoy Andrei Karlov after a packed memorial ceremony in Moscow for the diplomat who was assassinated by an off-duty policeman in Ankara this week. Dozens of colleagues and relatives attended the ceremony for Karlov, the ambassador to Turkey whose death Moscow labelled an act of terror. Russian President Vladimir Putin laid red roses at the foot of Karlov's coffin and spoke with his relatives but left the ceremony without making a statement.
AFP News 52 mins ago -
Lindelof ready to take next step, says Ibrahimovic
(Reuters) - Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes his fellow Swede Victor Lindelof has the talent to shine for the world's top teams amid growing speculation the Benfica defender is set to join his compatriot at Manchester United in January. British media reported that United have opened talks with Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira over a 38 million-pound move for Lindelof, who has 11 international caps, in the upcoming transfer window. "He (Lindelof) is growing.
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Alan Thicke died from ruptured aorta
The actor was laid to rest on Monday (19Dec16).
Cover Media -
Pope in Christmas speech blasts Vatican resistance to reform
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Thursday denounced the resistance he's encountering in reforming the Vatican bureaucracy, saying some of it is inspired by the devil and that the prelates who work for him must undergo "permanent purification" to serve the Catholic Church better.
Associated Press -
Sofia Vergara's son makes modelling debut
Sofia Vergara's son Manolo looks dapper in a new photoshoot for publication Paper.
Cover Media -
Marine sniper honored for terrorists’ slay
A Marine sniper who killed eight suspected terrorists during heavy fighting in Sultan Kudarat last year was among the top awardees in yesterday’s 81st anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) held at Camp Aguinaldo.
Philippine Star -
Singapore jails third banker in Malaysian 1MDB scandal
Singapore on Thursday jailed a third private banker for his role in an international money-laundering scandal involving neighbouring Malaysia's state fund 1MDB. Singaporean Yeo Jiawei, a former wealth manager with Swiss bank BSI, was sentenced to 30 months for witness tampering and obstructing the city-state's 1MDB-linked investigations. In handing down the sentence, judge Ng Peng Hong said he had taken into consideration Yeo's efforts to frustrate investigations, findings of money-laundering and cheating, and the fact that Yeo had committed the offences while on bail.
AFP News -
US returns Alibaba website to counterfeits blacklist
The United States put a division of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba back on a blacklist of "notorious markets" known for selling counterfeit goods and violating intellectual property rights. The office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which removed Alibaba from its annual list four years ago, included the company's online platform Taobao in its latest release, saying it is not doing enough to curb sales of fake and pirated goods. "The Taobao.com e-commerce platform is an important concern due to the large volume of allegedly counterfeit and pirated goods available and the challenges right holders experience in removing and preventing illicit sales and offers of such goods," the agency said.
AFP News -
Korean Air says crew followed procedure on unruly passenger
South Korea's top carrier Korean Air said its staff followed company procedure in restraining an unruly passenger after 80s pop singer Richard Marx tweeted that he helped the "ill trained" crew handle the situation. Marx said he and his wife were flying from the Vietnamese capital Hanoi to Incheon airport, the South's main hub, when a passenger started physically attacking another passenger sitting next to him and the crew members. Crew completely ill trained," Marx said on Twitter, posting a series of photos showing him trying to hold down the unruly passenger.
AFP News -
In town of Jesus' birth, craftsmen take on Chinese knockoffs
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Christmas is approaching and pilgrims and tourists have begun to arrive, crowding the souvenir shops that line the narrow streets and alleys of Bethlehem, the biblical town revered as Jesus' birthplace.
Associated Press -
MP: Explain funding for TRX takeover
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — The Finance Ministry must disclose how it plans to raise funds needed to execute the Tun Razak Exchange project that it will take over from 1Malaysia Development Bhd, said...
The Malay Mail Online -
Births in Japan expected to fall below million for first time this year
The number of births in Japan is likely to fall below a million this year for the first time since data became available in 1899, the government said on Thursday, reflecting a fast-ageing society and the high cost of child care. Japan will also post a natural population decline this year as deaths outpace births, its 10th consecutive drop, according to an estimate by the Health Ministry. The number of births is estimated at 981,000 this year, down from slightly more than a million last year, data from the ministry showed.
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Shawcross hopes surprise recruit Allen can haunt Liverpool
(Reuters) - Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross was surprised Liverpool let Joe Allen leave after the Welsh midfielder shone at the Euro 2016 tournament and prepares to return to Anfield for the first time when the Potters face the Merseyside club on Tuesday. Allen was one of the most impressive performers in France as Wales reached the semi-finals but was sold to Stoke shortly after, having failed to nail down a spot in Liverpool's starting line-up under manager Juergen Klopp.
Reuters
