How the world will ring in the New Year

Sydney will kick-start the global New Year's Eve party with its biggest fireworks display ever, but fear of jihadist attacks has cast a pall with Brussels scrapping celebrations and many cities tightening security.

The show from the Harbour Bridge and Opera House in Australia's largest city is traditionally the world's first major event to ring in the New Year.

Despite safety concerns, organisers are expecting a one million plus crowd before the chimes of midnight move across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally the Americas.

"It just keeps getting better every year," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said of the Aus$7 million (US$5.1 million), 12-minute fireworks extravaganza.

The 2016 theme is "City of Colour" and seven tonnes of fireworks will go up in smoke, including 11,000 shells, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 individual "pyrotechnics effects" under forecasts of a fine summer night sky.

Acknowledging Australia's Aboriginal culture, a "welcome to country" indigenous ceremony will also be marked through images projected on the bridge's pylons.

Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore and other Asian cities may rival Sydney's pyrotechnic splash, but Brunei offers a sober evening after banning Christmas in a shift to hardline Islamic law.

Jakarta remains on high alert after anti-terror police foiled detailed plans for an alleged New Year suicide attack in the Indonesian capital.

High security in Europe

At the heart of Europe, annual festivities and fireworks in Brussels have been cancelled as the Belgian capital -- home to NATO and the European Union -- remains on high alert.

"It's better not to take any risks," mayor Yvan Mayeur said Wednesday after police arrested two people suspected of plotting to launch attacks during the festivities at Brussels landmarks.

The French capital, still reeling from the November 13 slaughter of 130 people, has also cancelled its fireworks display.

But authorities agreed France's biggest public gathering since the attacks can go ahead on the Champs Elysees avenue, with bolstered security.

"The people of Paris and France need this symbolic passage into the New Year," said Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.

"After what our city has lived through, we have to send a signal to the world," she told the weekly Journal du Dimanche.

In Turkey, police have detained two Islamic State suspects allegedly planning to stage attacks in the centre of Ankara which is expected to be packed on New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, in Moscow police will for the first time close off Red Square where tens of thousands of revellers traditionally gather.

"It's no secret that Moscow is one of the choice targets for terrorists," Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said recently.

In Madrid, thousands of people will flock to Puerta del Sol square, however police will limit the number allowed in to just 25,000.

London is also trying to control the crowds by again charging for access to central riverside areas to see the fireworks, with more than 113,000 10-pound (US$15) tickets already sold.

Berliners will do better with about a million expected at the Brandenburg Gate for a free mega-street party.

Party at the pyramids

Cairo meanwhile is trying desperately to attract tourists to bolster the economy.

The government is staging celebrations in front of the pyramids near the Egyptian capital, with ambassadors, artists and intellectuals all invited.

Egypt has been in turmoil since the 2011 uprising but was further hit by the October 31 crash of a Russian airliner over the Sinai killing 224 people.

On the nearby Gaza Strip, the Islamist group Hamas has banned public New Year's Eve parties.

Police spokesman Ayman al-Batinji told AFP such celebrations were "incompatible with our customs, traditions, values and the teachings of our religion".

In stark contrast, Sierra Leone's capital Freetown is hoping to reclaim its mantle as host of the best beach parties in Africa after Ebola scared people away.

The city of 1.2 million was deserted 12 months ago during the worst Ebola outbreak ever recorded.

"This New Year's Eve I am going to dance and party until the cock crows," said 35-year-old Franklyn Smith.

Celebrations away from the palm-fringed beaches will be muted, however, as people remember almost 4,000 victims of the epidemic.

In the Philippines, stray bullets and exploding firecrackers have killed one person and injured almost 200 others as the country plunged into its annual chaotic revelry.

In New York, despite a pledge of tight security for Times Square, another million people are expected to turn out to see the ball descend.

This year's show includes performances by artists Demi Lovato, Daya and Jessie J. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

European supremo doubtful Russia will be at Rio Olympics

PARIS, France - European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen has expressed doubts whether Russia, currently suspended from all athletics competitions following allegations of state-sponsored doping, will have made necessary reforms in time to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Russia were hit with an indefinite suspension by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) last month after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) independent commission report revealed that Russia's anti-doping agency had "routinely" violated global testing standards.

A team of experts named by WADA have begun work in Moscow to help Russia implement the necessary reforms with an IAAF inspection team due to visit Russia on January 10-11.

They will then report back to the IAAF Council by the earliest at its March 27 meeting in Cardiff, leaving just over four months before the Olympics get underway on August 5.

"For the moment they (Russia) have to fulfill the conditions, but I cannot really see them competing in Rio," Hansen said in a interview with athleticsweekly.com.

"We will have the first report to the IAAF in March but for the moment they have to really, really put a lot of effort in to compete in Rio.

"They must have a cultural change. They must get rid of all those people from before."

The former Norwegian athletics chief believes that the necessary changes are being put in place but it will take time.

"They are now working very, very hard to have this improved. They have been faced with very, very tough conditions but I think they want to play along," he said.

"We know some good people in Russian athletics and I'm sure they will be elected. We hope that some new people will come in who really understand that this must be changed." — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Allergies may boost chances of anxiety or depression symptoms

Kids who have allergies at an early age are more likely than others to also have problems with anxiety and depression, according to a new study.

As the number of allergies increase, so do internalizing behavior scores, the researchers found.

Internalizing behaviors include disorders, like anxiety or depression, that develop when people keep their problems to themselves, or "internalize" them.

“I think the surprising finding for us was that allergic rhinitis has the strongest association with abnormal anxiety/depression/internalizing scores compared to other allergic diseases,” said lead author Dr. Maya K. Nanda of the division of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rhinitis includes the “hay fever” symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes.

The researchers studied 546 children who had skin tests and exams at age one, two, three, four and seven and whose parents completed behavioral assessments at age seven. They looked for signs of sneezing and itchy eyes, wheezing or skin inflammation related to allergies.

Parents answered 160 questions about their child’s behaviors and emotions, including how often they seemed worried, nervous, fearful, or sad.

Kids who had allergic sneezing and itchy or watery eyes or persistent wheezing at age four tended to have higher depressive or anxiety scores than others at age seven, the researchers reported in Pediatrics.

Anxiety and depression scores increased as the number of allergies increased.

“This study can't prove causation. It only describes a significant association between these disorders, however we have hypotheses on why these diseases are associated,” Nanda told Reuters Health by email.

Children with allergic diseases may be at increased risk for abnormal internalizing scores due to an underlying biological mechanism, or because they modify their behavior in response to the allergies, she said.

Like other chronic diseases, allergic diseases may trigger maladaptive behaviors or emotions, she said, but some prior studies support a biologic mechanism that involves allergy antibodies triggering production of other substances that affect parts of the brain that control emotions.

Earlier studies have found links between allergies and anxiety disorders such as panic attacks or generalized anxiety disorders, Nanda said.

The new study took race, gender and other factors into account, “so the strong association between allergic disease and internalizing disorder we found is definitely present,” she said.

The severity of mental health symptoms varied in this study. Some children had anxiety and depression that needs treatment, while others were at risk and required monitoring, she said.

“We think this study calls for better screening by pediatricians, allergists, and parents of children with allergic disease,” she said. “Too often in my clinic I see allergic children with clinical anxiety [or] depressive symptoms; however, they are receiving no care for these conditions.”

“We don't know how treatment for allergic diseases may effect or change the risk for internalizing disorders and we hope to study this in the future,” Nanda said. — Reuters

No need to avoid ‘happy baby pose’ in prenatal yoga?

Even though women are often advised to steer clear of certain yoga poses late in pregnancy, many of these moves might not be a problem for women or their babies, a small US study suggests.

Yoga can have many benefits during pregnancy, including helping women maintain flexibility and muscle tone and develop breathing techniques that may be useful during labor. But late in pregnancy women are often warned against poses that require them to lie on their backs, such as "happy baby pose" or "corpse pose," and inversions such as "downward facing dog" that might reduce circulation to the fetus and contribute to a spike in fetal heart rate.

To see how much caution might be warranted, researchers monitored fetal heart rate while a group of 25 healthy women in the final weeks of pregnancy tried 26 common yoga poses.

Fetal heart rate remained normal through all of the poses, and none of the women reported decreased fetal movement, contractions, fluid leakage or vaginal bleeding in the 24 hours after their yoga sessions, researchers report in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.

"Though this is a preliminary study, I found there were no adverse changes in maternal or fetal wellbeing in the 26 studied poses," said lead author Rachael Polis, who conducted the research at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and is currently with Kosair Children's Hospital Gynecology Specialists in Louisville, Kentucky.

"Postures suspected to be contraindicated—e.g. downward facing dog, child's pose, happy baby and corpse pose—were also well tolerated," Polis added by email.

None of the women in the study had a history of hypertension or other complications during pregnancy, and none of them had any medical conditions that required them to avoid exercise.

The women were near the end of their third trimester, at about 35 to 37 weeks pregnant. Ten of the 25 participants did yoga regularly, while eight were familiar with yoga and seven had never done it before.

Each woman completed a one-on-one yoga session with a certified yoga instructor, with an obstetrician and a medical resident in the room. They had stress tests before going through the poses and again afterward.

Given the size of their bellies, they didn't do any yoga poses lying on their stomachs. They also avoided complete inverted poses such as hand stands or head stands. To avoid falls or other injuries, they could modify poses by using blocks, chairs or the wall for support.

Beyond the small size of the study, other limitations include yoga sessions that might not match the duration or intensity of a typical community yoga class, the authors concede. The women in the study were typically of a normal healthy weight, too, while more than half of pregnant women tend to be overweight or obese.

It's also possible that women might encounter poses not covered by this experiment that could cause problems during pregnancy, noted Kathryn Curtis, a researcher at York University in Toronto who wasn't involved in the study.

"I encourage pregnant women to seek out studios that offer specialized prenatal yoga classes that are taught by teachers who have prenatal yoga training," Curtis said by email.

"Women should practice hatha based, restorative practices with breath awareness components, rather than heated or strength focused practices, for safety precautions for both the mother and baby," Curtis added.

In a separate study reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 52 pregnant women who had never tried yoga were randomly assigned to either participate in a one-time, one-hour yoga class, or to attend a one-time, one-hour PowerPoint presentation about exercise, nutrition, and obesity in pregnancy.

In this study too, there was no significant change in fetal blood flow immediately after the moms did yoga, according to Dr. Shilpa Babbar of the University of Missouri Kansas City and colleagues.

"Yoga can be recommended for low risk women to begin during pregnancy," Babbar's team concluded. —Reuters

Understanding Mesothelioma Symptoms

If you have been exposed to asbestos, either through your work, in a home, school, or office building, or through a spouse or parent who brought home asbestos fibers on work clothing, it pays to be vigilant for signs of asbestos diseases. The thin, spiky fibers of this toxic mineral can lodge in lung tissue and cause long-term irritation that may eventually lead to mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. It can take many years – often decades – for this irritation and inflammation to lead to mesothelioma symptoms.


While researchers search for a cure for mesothelioma, the best way to improve your life expectancy if you have this form of cancer is to catch it early, when surgery or chemotherapy have the best chance to slow the progress of the disease.

As we age, it can be harder to tell the difference between normal aches and pains and signs of something more serious. Understanding mesothelioma symptoms can help you decide when you should consult your doctor and ask for testing.

 Mesothelioma Basics

Although you may not have heard of it, the mesothelium is a membrane that serves a vital function in your body. This thin lining surrounds your abdominal organs, giving them a lubricated surface so they can move. The mesothelium also protects your heart, lungs, and reproductive organs.


Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer, caused by exposure to asbestos, that affects this membrane. Pleural mesothelioma, is cancer of the lining around the lungs. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the sac around the heart and peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the protective lining around the organs in the abdomen. Like many cancers, mesothelioma comes in a number of different forms. Asbestos exposure is the known cause of mesothelioma.

Recognizing Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms may be hard to recognize because, taken individually, most symptoms could have a range of other, more mundane, causes. Here are some symptoms that might be a warning sign of mesothelioma as well as other types of cancer:


    Excessive tiredness without a clear cause
    Unexplained or sudden weight loss


The warning signs for each type of mesothelioma may be slightly different. Here are some signs that you should get checked for pleural mesothelioma, which affects your lungs:


    Chest or back pain
    Difficulty breathing, short of breath
    Persistent cough, wheeziness, or hoarseness
    Coughing up blood
    Difficulty swallowing
    Fever
    Swelling in the upper body, especially around the face or arms.


In addition, if your doctor notices that you have fluid around your lungs or a blood clot in one of the arteries that supplies blood to your lungs, you might want to get checked for pleural mesothelioma. If you are experiencing some of these mesothelioma symptoms, and especially if you have been exposed to asbestos, you may want to ask your doctor to check for mesothelioma.

For peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining around your abdominal organs, you may experience a somewhat different set of mesothelioma symptoms, including:

    Pain in the stomach or groin
    Swollen belly caused by excess fluid
    Difficult bowel movements or constipation
    Nausea that can’t be explained by other causes

Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining around your heart, can look a lot like other heart problems. Symptoms may include:

    Chest pain
    Difficulty breathing, especially when lying on your back
    Coughing
    Tiredness
    Swelling in your abdomen
    Heart palpitations (fast, irregular heartbeat)
    Heart failure

In advanced cases of mesothelioma, you may notice some additional mesothelioma symptoms:

    Jaundice, which gives your skin and eyes a yellowish tinge
    Extreme and noticeable fluid retention or swelling
    Low blood sugar


Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you have worked with or otherwise been exposed to asbestos, you should keep an eye on your health. If you are experiencing mesothelioma symptoms, your doctor has several tools to determine whether you are suffering from this cancer or if there is another reason you aren’t feeling up to par.

Your physician will probably start by checking your breathing and listening to your lungs. The next step may be X-rays to look for telltale signs of mesothelioma. Your doctor may want to do additional imagining such as a CT or CAT scan or an MRI. If these tests indicate that mesothelioma may be present, a tissue biopsy will be needed to make the final determination whether this rare cancer is the cause of your symptoms. In most cases, the biopsy can be done through minor, outpatient operation that requires a very small incision.

Early Detection to Help Fight Mesothelioma


No one wants to hear the bad news that they have cancer, least of all one as malicious as malignant mesothelioma. The only thing worse is not getting diagnosed. If you think you may be having mesothelioma symptoms, make sure your doctor knows your full work and medical history.

While there is no cure yet, there are treatments that can slow the growth and spread of mesothelioma, so you can have more time to spend with the people you love. If your doctor thinks you might have mesothelioma, early testing is your best chance to extend your life.

source:  .mesotheliomacircle.org

The Cause of Mesothelioma is Asbestos

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer that attacks the thin lining of cells inside your chest and abdomen, and in the spaces around your heart. This layer of mesothelial cells, known as “mesothelium,” also surrounds the majority of your internal organs.


The mesothelium protects you internally by creating a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move against each other. For example, this fluid makes it easier for your lungs to expand and contract inside the chest when you breathe.

Malignant mesothelioma tumors are most often found in the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall (the pleura), but can also appear in the linings of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), heart (pericardium), or testis (tunica vaginalis).


Cause of Mesothelioma 

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States.  In fact, 70 to 80% of all reported mesothelioma cases are directly linked with a history of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

According to the World Health Organization, every year over 107,000 people around the world die due to mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.  Many of these people have worked in careers such as mining, where they inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers, or were exposed to airborne asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. Many others have been exposed through their service to our country in the military-especially the Navy.

What is Asbestos?  

Asbestos fibers are thin, natural minerals that are durable, resistant to heat, fire, acids and electrical friction. They are virtually indestructible.

For this reason, asbestos became the insulation material of choice by the late 19th century.  Large-scale asbestos mining began when manufacturers found that asbestos properties, combined with other materials, could be used in thousands of industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products.

Also, asbestos fibers are long, thin and flexible, so that they can be woven into cloth and other textile products.

The use of asbestos continued to grow throughout the 20th century, long after medical research gradually revealed that breathing in minuscule asbestos fibers starts a chain of physical and metabolic events that ultimately leads to serious health problems, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, or an incurable breathing disorder called asbestosis.

Today, asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen, and by far the major cause of mesothelioma.

Asbestos Products

Asbestos mineral fiber established a long history of heavy usage within the manufacturing and construction industries due, in large part, to profound strength, insulating features, affordability, and fire resistant properties.

The following list shows the wide range of materials and products that could contain asbestos:

    Insulation products (eg., pipe and block insulation, sprayed on insulation)
    Gaskets and packings
    Fireproofing/acoustical textu-*re products (includes decorative plaster, fire curtains, fire doors)
    Textile and cloth products (eg., blankets and asbestos gloves)
    Spackling, patching and taping compounds (eg., caulking, joint compounds, adhesives)
    Asbestos-cement pipe and sheet material
    Tiles, wallboard, siding and roofing (eg., shingles, vinyl sheet flooring)
    Friction materials (eg., car brakes and clutches)
    Vermiculite (found in potting mixes, brake pads, acoustic tiles)
    Laboratory hoods and table tops

Asbestos may also be found in automobile and elevator brake shoes, elevator equipment panels, ductwork, electrical panel partitions, electrical cloth, cooling towers, and chalkboards.

In 1973, under the EPA’s Clean Air Act, most spray-applied asbestos products were banned for fireproofing and insulating purposes. Mining for asbestos ceased in 1983 in the United States. In 1989, the EPA tried to enact a full ban that included most but not all asbestos containing products. Two years later, in 1991, that asbestos ban was overturned by an appellate court ruling. The decision to overturn the ban did not include these six asbestos-containing products which remain banned: Corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial paper, specialty paper, flooring felt, and perhaps most notably, any new asbestos products

Asbestos Exposure

Occupational Exposure: More than 75 different types of jobs in America have been known to expose workers to asbestos.  Occupations in the construction industry have been hit the hardest. Plumbers, pipefitters and electricians have been the most vulnerable to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The occurrence of mesothelioma, in both the shipbuilding and the electrical power industries,  has also been abnormally high.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you are experiencing what you believe to be mesothelioma symptoms you should consult a physician immediately. Inquire about medical tests for asbestos related diseases and a pulmonary function test. Imaging tests, biopsy tests, and blood tests may be part of the process to determine whether you have mesothelioma.  Consequently, the process for your doctor to determine a mesothelioma diagnosis is based on your past exposure to asbestos (where-when-how), your symptoms, a physical examination, and test results.

Mesothelioma Specialists

Beyond your primary care doctor or internist, the following is a partial list of the types of medical professionals you may need to consult during the diagnosis process:

    Pulmonologist: A lung disease diagnosis and treatment specialist
    Radiologist. A specialist who understands and interprets x-ray testing
    Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer
    Pathologist: A doctor who identifies cancerous diseases through tissue and cell examination

 source: mesotheliomacircle.org

Equities pulled lower by oil, China concerns

NEW YORK - Global equities were lower on Monday, pressured by another downdraft in oil prices and worries over growth in China's economy, while the holiday season kept trading volumes muted.

Prices of both Brent and U.S. crude dropped more than 3 percent , reversing a brief rebound and dragging U.S. energy shares down 1.8 percent as the worst performing of the major S&P sectors.

Crude again moved within sight of an 11-year low. Brent settled at $36.62 and U.S. crude settled at $36.81 as last week's short-covering dried up and players worried that prices had more room to swoon.

"You have energy and tax-loss harvesting moving markets back and forth in these last few weeks," said Tim Courtney, Chief Investment Officer at Exencial Wealth Advisors, which oversees $1.4 billion in assets.

In contrast to oil, U.S. natural gas prices settled up 10 percent at $2.228 per million British thermal units as forecasts for colder temperatures led to bets that long-delayed winter weather was finally arriving.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 23.9 points, or 0.14 percent, to 17,528.27, the S&P 500 lost 4.45 points, or 0.22 percent, to 2,056.54 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 7.51 points, or 0.15 percent, to 5,040.99.

A weak batch of industrial profits raised concerns about China's economy and sent Chinese stocks lower by almost 3 percent, their biggest drop in a month.

Profits at Chinese industrial companies in November fell 1.4 percent from a year earlier, the sixth consecutive month of decline and another sign that the world's chief engine of growth for the past decade is sputtering.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gave up early modest gains to fall 0.53, putting it on track for a 12-percent loss this year.

With trading light in the United States and Europe between Christmas and the upcoming New Year's holidays, as well as a holiday on Monday in the United Kingdom, markets could see exaggerated moves this week.

MSCI's all-country world index lost 0.22 percent, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index closed down 0.54 percent.

In Europe, the drop in oil prices put pressure on energy stocks such as Repsol and Total.

Yields on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes inched down to 2.2322 percent, up 3/32 in price.

The dollar edged lower against a basket of major currencies, off 0.03 percent at 97.951 as bullish bets on the currency this year on a U.S. Federal Reserve rate hike met year-end profit-taking.

But the drop in oil prices hurt currencies linked to the commodity, such as the Australian and Canadian dollars.

The Australian dollar fell 0.1 percent to $0.7248 while its Canadian counterpart fell 0.6 percent to $1.3902, heading back towards this month's 11-year lows.

Spot gold was down 0.7 percent at $1,068.19 an ounce and was on track for its sixth straight quarterly decline, its longest run of quarterly losses since the mid-1970s. —Reuters

Asian stocks subdued as oil resumes fall

TOKYO - Asian stocks were subdued on Tuesday, with Japanese and South Korean equities slipping, after crude oil prices resumed their slide and cooled investor sentiment.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan were effectively unchanged, and looked set for a loss of around 12 percent for the year.

Japan's Nikkei lost 0.3 percent and South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.4 percent. Australian stocks bucked the trend and rose 0.4 percent.

On Monday, prices of both Brent and US crude dropped more than 3 percent , reversing a brief rebound and dragging US energy shares down 1.8 percent as the worst performing of the major S&P sectors.

Brent was at $36.60 a barrel, near an 11-year low of $35.98 struck last week.

The Dow dipped 0.1 percent and the S&P 500 lost 0.2 percent overnight after trading resumed following the Christmas break, but activity is expected to remain thin until after the long New Year holiday weekend.

In currencies, the dollar edged down 0.1 percent to 120.33 yen, within striking distance of a two-month low of 120.05 struck late last week.

The greenback has been sapped by profit taking after the Federal Reserve this month hiked interest rates for the first time in nine years. The currency market will wait for the Fed to send fresh signals about when the second rate hike could take place in 2016 for potential dollar support.

The euro nudged up 0.1 percent to $1.0977.

The dollar fared better against its Canadian counterpart, which was weighed down as crude oil prices weakened again.

The Canadian dollar stood little changed at C$1.3894 to the greenback after losing 0.7 percent overnight. The loonie fell to an 11-year low of C$1.4003 against the dollar earlier this month.

"We are looking for USD/CAD to break 1.40 and head towards 1.45 in the first half of 2016. The oil industry is experiencing its biggest downturn since the 1990s and prices could fall another $10 a barrel before bottoming," wrote Kathy Lien, managing director at BK Asset Management.

The Australian dollar gained 0.2 percent to $0.7262 while the New Zealand dollar rose 0.2 percent to $0.6859. Both currencies were confined to a narrow range ahead of the year's end. —Reuters

San Francisco demands Justin Bieber remove graffiti

SAN FRANCISCO, United States - Justin Bieber launched an aggressive promotional push for his latest album but don't count the city of San Francisco among the Beliebers.

Officials demanded Monday that companies linked to the Canadian singer's campaign clean up ads spray-painted on sidewalks to publicize his album "Purpose."

Graffiti that appeared in busy areas of San Francisco and other cities including New York gave the title and sometimes the album's November 13 release date.

Yet after more than a month that included rain, the ads remain visible with Bieber's entourage apparently using real spray-paint rather than chalk.

Dennis Herrera, who holds the elected position of city attorney, said that the guerrilla marketing campaign "illegally exploits" San Francisco streets and could cause dangerous distractions to pedestrians.

Herrera posted pictures of the persistent graffiti on his official website with a line taken from one of the album's songs: "It's too late now to say sorry."

The graffiti "irresponsibly tells our youth that like-minded lawlessness and contempt for public property are condoned and encouraged by its beneficiaries -- including Mr. Bieber and the record labels that produce and promote him," he said in a letter to Bieber's Def Jam label and its distributor, conglomerate Universal.

Mohammed Nuru, the city's public works director, said that San Francisco sidewalks were "not canvasses for corporate advertising."

"Yet these guerrilla marketers believe they are above the law when it comes to blighting our city and we will take a strong stand against them," he said in a statement.

San Francisco authorities asked for cooperation to clean up the graffiti, threatening if this were not the case to pursue legal action that could cost Bieber's label and distributor up to $2,500 per graffiti site.

The famously left-leaning city has previously forced other corporations including IBM and NBC Universal to pay the costs of clean-up, according to Herrera's office.

There was no immediate response from Bieber, Def Jam or Universal.

"Purpose" is the first album in three years for Bieber, after a period in which he became better known for off-stage legal issues including a vandalism charge for throwing eggs at a neighbor's house in an upscale part of the Los Angeles area.

With the aggressive advertising and Bieber's new tropical house sound, "Purpose" opened at number one in the United States and numerous other countries but was quickly eclipsed on the top of the charts by Adele's blockbuster "25." — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Valeant chief hospitalized for pneumonia

MONTREAL, Canada - The chief executive of embattled Canadian pharmaceutical company Valeant, J. Michael Pearson, has been admitted to hospital for "severe" pneumonia, a spokeswoman said Friday.

"Mike Pearson was recently admitted to the hospital and is receiving treatment for a severe case of pneumonia," spokeswoman Laurie Little said by email, without providing further details about his condition.

"We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to him returning to work when he is feeling better," Little added.

It has been a challenging few months for the Canadian drug maker, which has been the target of concerns over its pricing and distribution policies. Valeant has rejected all accusation that it has engaged in deceptive business practices.

In October, Valeant Pharmaceuticals said it was cutting ties with mail-order pharmacy Philidor RX, following a furor over their relationship.

Valeant had nurtured Philidor in its infancy when it sold only two Valeant acne drugs by mail order. The two signed a deal last year that effectively gave Valeant limited control over Philidor as a distribution channel for its drugs, and an option to buy the pharmacy.

The partnership saw Philidor aggressively market Valeant's more expensive drugs over cheaper generics preferred by insurers, which caught the attention of US lawmakers and investigators now looking into its pricing.

Earlier this month, Valeant announced a drug distribution deal with pharmacy giant Walgreens that will lower prices of many medications by 10 percent in the United States.

The deal applies to Valeant's branded dermatology and ophthalmology prescription drugs, including the high-selling Jublia treatment for toe fungus. — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Toys'R'Us to shut flagship Times Square store

New York City is set to lose another landmark toy shop when Toys"R"Us shutters its Times Square flagship store on December 30.

The location, which boasts 110,000 square feet, will close after the toy chain declined to renew its lease, which expires in January. The store first opened in November 2001.

Closing Times Square enabled Toys"R"Us to "realize meaningful rent savings," a company representative said.

"We have not signed a lease agreement for a new location at this time, but we are actively searching for another location in Manhattan."

The company continues to operate 17 locations of Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us in the greater New York area, the representative added.

The move comes on the heels of the closing of the iconic FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue earlier this year.

At the time, Toys"R"Us, which owns FAO Schwarz, cited soaring real estate costs, but said it could reopen FAO Schwarz elsewhere in Manhattan at a future date.

Conventional specialty retail chains like Toys"R"Us are under pressure from general merchandise retailers like Wal-Mart and Target that sell toys, as well as from Amazon and other online stores.

On December 15, Toys"R"Us reported a loss in the third quarter of $167 million. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Maine Mendoza shows off fashion style in Japan vacation

Kalyeserye sweetheart Maine Mendoza is rocking fabulous hats and fashionable double layers in Japan this Christmas.

After her success in Eat Bulaga that saw her starring in commercials and an official entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the Dubsmash Queen is spending the holidays with her family for a much-needed respite.

But despite the chic outfit, Maine still couldn't help but goof around in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Walking along the streets of Tokyo be like pic.twitter.com/Ih0D4Ck78a

— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) December 25, 2015

As Maine roams around Japan, her film with Alden Richards "My Bebe Love" is opening across the Philippines as an entry in the MMFF.

My Bebe Love is a romantic comedy starring the phenomenal love team AlDub and comedians Vic Sotto and AiAi delas Alas. —Jessica Bartolome/JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Beatles end streaming boycott in time for Christmas

The Beatles, the top-selling band in musical history yet a persistent holdout on new technology, announced Wednesday they would end a boycott of streaming in time for Christmas.

The Fab Four's full catalog will be available on all major services including leader Spotify, removing the most glaring musical absence from the booming sector of streaming that allows unlimited on-demand music online.

The website of The Beatles -- who have sold some 600 million albums worldwide -- announced the move in a short video that featured a medley of the band's hits including "Let It Be," "Hey Jude" and "Help!"

"Happy Crimble, with love from us to you," said a statement, employing a slang term for Christmas used by The Beatles.

The Beatles catalog will start streaming at 12:01 am on Christmas Eve local time in each region of the world.

Ringo Starr, one of two surviving Beatles along with Paul McCartney, mentioned the streaming news on Twitter with a slew of  emojis, a means of expression more in line with a younger generation.

"We are coming to you from out of the blue," Starr wrote, adding, "Peace and love peace love."

- Also resisted iTunes -The Beatles were the top-selling and one of the most critically acclaimed groups of all time, releasing 13 studio albums including classics such as "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Abbey Road" and "Revolver" before breaking up in 1970.

Despite The Beatles' phenomenal success, the band has repeatedly taken a slow approach to new technology.

The streaming announcement came just five years after the Liverpool-born group's back catalog was first made available for purchase on Apple's iTunes.

The announcement means that fans will be able to listen to the band's songs on nine services -- Spotify, Apple Music, Slacker, Tidal, Groove, Rhapsody, Deezer, Google Play and Amazon Prime.

The Beatles already appear on Internet radio provider Pandora and satellite radio service Sirius XM which have different regulations.

The band's recordings are controlled by its own management company, Apple Corps, and music conglomerate Universal which took over the catalog from defunct label EMI.

- Few other streaming holdouts -The move is a major win for streaming companies, which have faced criticism from a string of artists over the amount of money they make.

Taylor Swift removed her whole back catalog from Spotify last year but agreed to put her blockbuster album "1989" on Apple Music when it launched in June.

Adele, however, is not streaming on any service her new album "25" which nonetheless is the fastest-selling record in the United States and Britain since tracking services started keeping statistics.

The British singer, in a recent interview with Time magazine, said she did not use streaming herself and considered it "a bit disposable."

Several other classic artists who initially resisted streaming have recently relented including Led Zeppelin and AC/DC.

Big names who maintain full or partial boycotts of streaming sites include folk rockers Neil Young and Bob Seger, Radiohead's experimental frontman Thom Yorke and country star Garth Brooks.

Since reports first emerged on The Beatles' streaming decision, the industry has speculated whether the Fab Four would reach a deal with only one service or, as the band ultimately decided, all of them.

Swift has released a film of her latest tour exclusively on Apple Music while Tidal, led by rap mogul Jay Z, has heavily promoted unique content including the full catalogue of Prince.

Tidal and Rhapsody both said that they planned interactive features to go along with The Beatles' music.

Streaming has opened up a new source of revenue to a long-stagnant music industry, but critics say it is not enough to offset declining CD sales.

Revenue from streaming has overtaken that from downloads in 37 countries around the world, according to the IFPI recording industry body, with subscription revenues worth 23 percent of the overall digital market. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Gum disease linked to breast cancer risk in older women

Middle-aged and older women with gum disease are slightly more likely than those without gum problems to develop breast cancer, suggests a new study.

The risk increase was most pronounced for women with gum disease who smoked cigarettes or had quit within the past 20 years, although the authors caution that the reasons for the links are still not known.

“We don’t know if it’s causal, we need to keep that in mind,” said lead author Jo Freudenheim, distinguished professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health in the University at Buffalo’s School of Public Health and Health Professions in New York State.

It could be that these characteristics are correlated with something else that’s causing both gum disease and breast cancer, she told Reuters Health.

The researchers analyzed data on more than 73,000 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study who did not have breast cancer to start with.

About one quarter said they had periodontal disease, a chronic inflammation and infection of the gum tissue around the base of teeth. Gum disease has also been tied to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some other cancers.

After an average of about six and a half years of follow-up, about 2,100 women had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer was 14 percent higher for those with gum disease compared to those without it, according to the results in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

When researchers adjusted for a variety of other breast cancer risk factors, including age, weight, exercise, alcohol use and smoking, the extra breast cancer risk associated with gum disease fell to 11 percent.

Researchers then looked at women with breast cancer grouped by smoking status, and found that 23 percent of never smokers had gum disease, 34 percent of former smokers had gum disease and 47 percent of current smokers had gum disease.

In this analysis, never smokers with gum disease had a very small 6 percent increased risk of breast cancer compared to those without gum disease, and for former smokers who had quit more than 20 years earlier there was a similarly small risk increase. For more recent quitters, however, the added risk was 36 percent higher and for current smokers, it was 32 percent higher.

“It could be that periodontal disease means there’s kind of a general inflammation in the body,” Freudenheim said. “Inflammation is related to a number of cancers and stroke and heart disease, so it could be that chronic inflammation is causing both.”

“Another possible mechanism could be that bacteria from the periodontal lesions could enter the blood stream and lead to changes in the tissues which are distant from the mouth,” said Gerard Linden, professor of periodontology at the Center for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

“There are changes in sex hormone levels related to the menopause that may affect the response of breast tissues to a stimulus such as exposure to bacteria,” said Linden, who was not part of the new study, by email.

Postmenopausal women should be sure to have regular dental checkups, he said.

“We’re just starting now to understand how important what we call the microbiome is to general health,” and the mouth and gut are full of important microbes, Freudenheim said.

Smoking is strongly tied to gum disease, and less strongly linked to breast cancer, she said.

It’s too early to say that treating or preventing gum disease lowers breast cancer risk, she said.

But, “if what people do in response to this is take care of their teeth that can’t be a bad thing,” she said. — Reuters

Clinton proposes doubling funds to fight Alzheimer's

Democratic White House frontrunner Hillary Clinton on Tuesday unveiled a plan to battle Alzheimer's, saying she would more than double federal funding for research and treatment of the disease.

Fighting Alzheimer's, a form of dementia which affects five million Americans and currently has no cure, is a steadily growing effort in the United States.

Congress recently increased the federal research budget by $350 million, on top of the $586 million that the National Institutes of Health spent this past year.

But Clinton proposed raising that budget to $2 billion per year until 2025.

"We owe it to the millions of families who stay up at night worrying about their loved ones afflicted by this terrible disease and facing the hard reality of the long good-bye to make research investments that will prevent, effectively treat and make a cure possible by 2025," she said in a statement.

The Clinton campaign notes that some two-thirds of Alzheimer's patients are women, and that prevalence in elderly African-Americans is twice as high as in elderly whites.

Investment is vital, Clinton said, because the disease is already costing $200 billion per year in the United States and that figure will only grow with the country's ageing population.

"Our main bottleneck in this field has been funding," Rudolph Tanzi, a neurology professor at Harvard Medical School and chair of the Cure Alzheimer's Fund Research Consortium, told reporters on a call arranged by the Clinton campaign.

"We are a budget-constrained, not a knowledge-constrained field," he said.
— Agence France-Presse

saource: gmanetwork.com

Djokovic and Serena Williams named ITF players of the year

LONDON - Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named men's and women's world champions for 2015 by the International Tennis Federation on Tuesday.

The Serb ended the year as men's world number one for the fourth time after taking three majors - the Australian, Wimbledon and US Open, as well as finishing runner-up to Stan Wawrinka in the French.

Williams also narrowly missed a calendar-year grand slam, winning the Australian, French and Wimbledon and reaching the her home US Open semi-final.

Martina Hingis, of Switzerland, and India's Sania Mirza were named women's doubles world champions, with Jean-Julien Rojer, of the Netherlands, and Romania's Horia Tecau taking the men's award.

Hingis thus became an ITF world champion again 15 years after being crowned singles champion.

Dalma Galfi, of Hungary, and USA's Taylor Fritz were named ITF junior champions. — Reuters

Bucks coach Kidd to have hip surgery

Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd is to undergo hip surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely, the team announced on Sunday.

Kidd, in his second year with the Bucks, will have the procedure on Monday and assistant coach Joe Prunty will take over the head coaching duties in his absence.

"I have every confidence in Joe to lead our team during my absence," Kidd told the team's website.

"I tried to put off surgery for as long as I could, but after consulting with my doctor, he advised that the best course of action was to have the procedure now."

Kidd's hip ailment is a chronic condition that dates back to his playing days.

A 10-time All Star, Kidd enjoyed a highly successful 19-year career before delving straight into head coaching following his retirement in 2013.

He guided Brooklyn to the playoffs in his rookie coaching season, then led Milwaukee to the post-season in his first year at the helm of the Bucks last season.

Milwaukee are off to a disappointing 11-18 start this campaign, though they are the only team to beat defending champions Golden State (26-1). — Reuters

Klea Pineda shares plans after winning StarStruck 6

Si Klea Pineda ang itinanghal na Ultimate Female Survivor ng StarStruck Season 6 ng GMA Network kagabi, December 19.

Base sa combined votes ng judges, texts, at online voting, masyadong dikit ang boto nila ng kanyang mahigpit na katunggali, ang itinanghal na First Princess na si Ayra Mariano.

Pagkatapos ng live telecast ng show, eksklusibong nakapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ang 16-year-old na dalaga na tubong-Caloocan City.

Naiiyak na bungad ni Klea, “Hindi po. Hindi ko po talaga inaasahan… Hindi ko po talaga inaasahan ang pangyayaring ito, Ultimate Female Survivor."

"Kasi gusto ko lang po talaga dito ay madaanan ako ng kamera. Ayun lang po talaga. Hanggang sa dumagdag nang dumagdag sa akin yung bonus ni Lord, yung blessings sa akin. Sobrang nagpapasalamat po ako sa Kanya.”

Bilang Ultimate Female Survivor, nanalo si Klea ng isang milyong piso, bahay at lupa, limang taong kontrata sa GMA Artist Center, at mapapasama rin sila ng Ultimate Male Survivor na si Migo Adecer sa magbabalik na GMA telefantasya na Encantadia.

Sa palagay ni Klea, ano ang naging lamang niya kay Ayra at siya ang nagwagi ng titulo?

Sabi ni Klea, na patuloy pa rin ang pagluha, “Siguro po nakikita nila ang pagiging determinado ko sa ginagawa ko, yung pagmamahal ko po sa craft ko.”

TO BECOME A STAR.

Dati na raw pangarap ni Klea ang pagiging artista. Kaya raw nagpursige siyang makamit ito sa pamamagitan ng pagsali sa reality-based artista search ng Kapuso Network.

Saad niya sa PEP, “Bata pa lang po ako, artista na po talaga ang gusto kong mangyari paglaki ko."

"Yung sumunod na maging gusto ko ay yung maging beauty queen.

"Yun po talaga, yung artista, beauty queen, tapos ngayon po matutulungan ko na yung mga kamag-anak ko na kailangang-kailangan ng tulong.”

Sa darating na March 19, 2016, sa kanyang ika-17 na kaarawan, nais daw ni Klea na magsimula ng isang foundation.

“Balak ko po na magkaroon ng foundation para sa mga cancer patients na bata. Yun po yung gusto kong mangyari sa birthday ko.”

Ang una namang balak gawin ni Klea ngayong tapos na ang kumpetisyon ay magbabawi ng tulog.

Mensahe naman niya sa lahat ng mga sumuporta sa kanya: “Sa mga fans, supporters, at family pati kay God, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyo."

“Simula umpisa, simula sa pinakamababa, hanggang ngayon dito sa dulo, sinuportahan niyo po ako at naniwala po kayo sa kakayahan ko. Naniwala po kayo sa akin na magagawa ko po bawat challenges dito."

"Maraming salamat sa pagboto niyo at pagsuporta. Sa pag-cheer every live show, every may mall tour, maraming-maraming salamat po. Kabilang po kayo sa tagumpay kong ito. Salamat po.” —PEP.ph

For the full story, visit PEP.ph.

source: gmanetwork.com

Pia Wurtzbach's first video interview after winning Miss Universe

The road to the Miss Universe crown is never easy. A message from Miss Universe 2015, Pia Alonzo    Wurtzbach.

 Posted by Miss Universe on Sunday, December 20, 2015



Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach was grasping for words to describe her win at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant. Standing next to second runner up Miss USA Olivia Jordan, the beauty queen described the moment as "very 2015."

During the announcement of winners, Pia was visibly stunned when she was bumped up from first runner up to Miss Universe 2015 after host Steve Harvey admitted his mistake in reading the official results.

Miss Colombia Ariadna María Gutiérrez Arévalo was equally genial in her response to the blunder, expressing gratitude for the support she received. She also told her fans that she's happy and that "everything happens for a reason."

Harvey and the organizers of the pageant have released official statements of apologies to both beauty queens. --Aya Tantiangco/JST, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Messi, Neymar to start Club World Cup final

Lionel Messi and Neymar were both named in Barcelona's starting line-up for the Club World Cup final against River Plate on Sunday.

Argentine Messi had been doubtful after missing Thursday's semi-final against Guangzhou Evergrande because of a kidney stone, while Brazilian Neymar had also missed the 3-0 win over the Asian champions through injury.

The pair will lineup alongside Uruguayan Luis Suarez, who scored a hat-trick in the semi-final.

Barcelona are aiming to win the title for the third time and River Plate are hoping to become the first South American side to lift the trophy since Corinthians beat Chelsea in 2012. - Reuters

Fil-Am boy is this year's Nutcracker at Lincoln Center

Every morning, Emil Jose Kelso, 12, wakes up at 5:45 a.m. to be on time for the 8:00 a.m. opening of his public school. Three times a week after school and also on Saturday mornings, he rides the subway to go to Lincoln Center for a 90-minute ballet class from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.


These days, however, Emil is staying up later. Starting November 29, Emil started playing the role of the Nutcracker in New York City Ballet‘s yearly performances.

Emil, whose mom Tricia Capistrano is an immigrant from the Philippines, is one of three boys selected to play the role of Nutcracker who turns into a Prince. There are three rotating casts of principal children for the ballet company’s 49 shows. The performances start on November 25 and end on January 3.

Emil has been going to the School of American Ballet for six years. He is currently in the Boys 3 class of the SAB where he attends ballet class four times a week. His teachers include former NYC Ballet Soloist Arch Higgins, Principal Jock Sotto, and Children’s Ballet Master Dena Abergel. SAB and New York City Ballet were founded by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein.

Emil has been in the following New York City Ballet shows: “Sleeping Beauty” (2013), “Swan Lake” (2013, 2015), a member of the party scene in “The Nutcracker” (2013, 2014), and “La Sylphide” (2015). This is the first time he is playing the role of the Prince.

Emil’s performances have won applause from theater sites. BroadwayWorld.com writes that the character Nutcracker that turned into the Nutcracker Prince was “well danced by Emil Jose Kelso.” Black Tie Magazine describes as “charming” Emil’s portrayal of Herr Drosselmeier’s nephew in another Nutcracker performance.

There are four other Filipino Americans in this year’s Nutcracker.

Ruby Cosgrove and Isabelle Nebres are also from the School of American Ballet and will be in the Party Scene in Act 1 and Angels Scene in Act 2, respectively. Georgina Pazcoguin, a soloist performs as Coffee on December 15 and December 20 and Hot Chocolate on December 17. Anthony Huxley, a principal dancer of the New York City Ballet will dance as the Candy Cane on December 17 and the Cavalier on December 20.

It is a taxing schedule for a 12-year-old but for Emil and the other children at the School of American Ballet, it is worth it, said his mom Tricia, a book author and writer.

“After each show, at midnight, in a small NYC apartment, Emil is still dancing,” she said.

Emil Jose Kelso’s Performance Dates/ Times: Sunday, Dec. 13( 1 p.m.); Wednesday, Dec. 16 (2 p.m.); Friday, Dec. 18 (8 p.m.); Sunday, Dec 20 (1 p.m.); Tuesday, Dec. 22 (7 p.m.); Thursday, Dec. 24 (2 p.m.); Sunday , Dec. 27 (1 p.m.); Tuesday, Dec. 29 (2 p.m.); Wednesday, Dec. 30 (7 p.m.); and Saturday, Jan. 3 (5 p.m.). —The FilAm

source: gmanetwork.com

‘Star Wars’ cast and crew revel as fans and critics praise movie

LONDON - With fans and critics giving "The Force Awakens" the thumbs up, cast and crew of the latest "Star Wars" film expressed "huge relief" as the movie rolls out in cinemas worldwide.

The seventh episode of the popular sci-fi saga won over fans globally after months of secrecy surrounding the film, billed as the biggest movie release of the year.

Few details on the J.J. Abrams-directed picture have been released, except some broad character outlines in the run-up to this week's release.

As reviews were published on Wednesday following an embargo, cast and crew relished the positive feedback at the movie's European premiere in London after first hearing from the critics while travelling from Los Angeles, where "The Force Awakens" premiered on Monday.

"We were just getting ready to land and started looking at the reviews coming in and it was pretty exciting," producer Kathleen Kennedy told Reuters.

"There is nothing better than working really hard ... like we have on something that has such huge expectation and have it being well received. ... I was sitting behind J.J. Abrams and he kept turning around (saying) 'listen to this.' ... We were really excited."

The critical receipt to work done revitalising a franchise that began in 1977 and whose latest film came out 10 years ago was a "huge relief," Kennedy added.

Veteran "Star Wars" actor Anthony Daniels, known for his C-3PO character, said the reviews reflected work done filming.

"It sort of mirrors what I felt on the set because the atmosphere was so exciting, so loving, so full of fun ... it didn't matter what job anyone was doing, everybody felt good to be there," he said.

John Boyega, who plays troubled Stormtrooper Finn, said he had not yet read reviews but was "glad to hear there's positive feedback."

"I'm now fixated on the fans having a good time and having positive feedback also," he said.

"Star Wars" old hand Mark Hamill who reprises his role as Luke Skywalker, was happy the story was finally coming out.

"Secrecy is agonising, it's not fun," he said. "They're not trying to tease anyone they're just trying to keep the surprises for the movies instead of letting it out all on the Internet."

Newcomer Daisy Ridley, who portrays scavenger Rey, welcomed the reviews, but said there was one audience's views she was still awaiting.

"I think it's wonderful that ... everyone's work has been appreciated," she said. "I just want my family to like it." — Reuters

Adele’s ‘25’ reigns for 3rd week on Billboard chart, Coldplay at No.2

NEW YORK - Adele's record-breaking new album "25" sold another 728,000 copies last week, easily trumping Coldplay's new release, "A Head Full of Dreams," to retain the top spot on the Billboard 200 album charts for a third week.

Coldplay, which like Adele initially held back its album from streaming service Spotify and other free platforms, sold some 209,000 copies in its debut week, according to data from Nielsen Music on Monday.

The British rock band, which is to play the coveted halftime show at the 2016 Super Bowl in February, said last week it would stream "A Head Full of Dreams" on Spotify in its second week of release.

Adele's "25," already the biggest selling album in the US for 2015, has sold some 5.19 million copies since its Nov. 20 release.

The singer on Monday announced her first North American tour in five years. She will play 56 dates starting in July in St. Paul, Minnesota and end on Nov. 15 in Mexico City. Her UK and European tour is already sold out.

The strong showing by Adele and Coldplay pushed Justin Bieber's "Purpose" into 3rd place on the Billboard 200, with about 150,000 copies sold for the week. A cappella group Pentatonix slipped to 4th place with "That's Christmas To Me."

The Billboard 200 chart tallies units from album sales, song sales (10 songs equal one album) and streaming activity (1,500 streams equal one album).

New entries by rappers G-Eazy ("When It's Dark Out") and Rick Ross ("Black Market") landed at No. 5 and 6, respectively. South African-born Australian actor and singer Troye Sivan, 20, took 7th place with his album "Blue Neighborhood."

On the Digital Songs chart, which measures online download sales, Adele's single "Hello" was ousted from the No.1 spot by Jordan Smith, a finalist on TV competition show "The Voice," whose rendition of the Queen classic "Somebody to Love" sold more than 164,000 copies compared with 158,000 for "Hello." —Reuters

Djokovic, Serena reign despite sudden impact shocks

PARIS - Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams celebrated seasons of epic proportions, claiming six of eight Grand Slam titles in a march to greatness dented only by two players producing once-in-a-lifetime performances.

Djokovic ended 2015 with 11 titles, 82 wins and just six defeats in a haul which included three of the four majors—the Australian and US Opens and Wimbledon.

His on-court earnings of $21 million swelled his career total to a mind-boggling $94 million while the 28-year-old Serb now has 10 Grand Slam titles among his 59 career trophies.

Djokovic won six of the nine Masters and topped it off with a fourth successive end-of-season World Tour Finals triumph in London.

"I'm very proud to have these achievements with my team," said Djokovic. "It's been a long season, but the best of my life."

Djokovic reached the final of every tournament he played with the exception of his 2015 bow in Doha where Ivo Karlovic stunned him in the quarter-finals.

From then on it was one-way traffic—indoors, outdoors, hardcourt, clay and grass— the Australian Open, Masters in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome and then Wimbledon, US Open, Beijing, the Shanghai and Paris Masters and London

But Djokovic was still left with a case of 'what might have been' thanks to a single-handed backhand blitz delivered by Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros where a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 defeat left him still seeking a first French Open and a career Grand Slam.

Wawrinka fired 59 winners past Djokovic who finished runner-up for the third time in four years. The defeat left him in tears.

Roger Federer, who hasn't added to his 17 majors since 2012 Wimbledon, continued to defy the critics.

Despite passing 34 in August, the Swiss reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals and handed Djokovic a rare defeat in the round-robin section of the World Tour Finals before the Serb swept to a comfortable revenge in the title match.

The Swiss ended the year at three in the world and then ended his two-year partnership with coach Stefan Edberg.

Andy Murray finished at two after a season which saw him win his first titles on clay, announce that he will become a father in February and lead Britain to a first Davis Cup in 79 years.

Vinci stunner

Meanwhile, 14-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal may have lost his iron-grip on the French Open and suffer his worst rankings slump in a decade, but there were encouraging signs of life as the year ticked away.

He made the finals in Basel and Beijing and the semi-finals in London before ending 2015 back at five in the world.

The men's tour also endured a seedy controversy when controversial Nick Kyrgios was fined for an ugly sex slur aimed at Wawrinka in Montreal.

What Wawrinka did to Djokovic in Paris in June, unheralded Italian Roberta Vinci did to Serena Williams in New York in September.

Williams was looking to complete the calendar Grand Slam and win a 22nd major.

She looked on course for a routine semi-final win when she took the first set 6-2 against the 32-year-old, wafer-thin Italian who was playing in her first last-four clash at the highest level.

But from nowhere, the world number 43 raced through the next two sets for a famous win and a place in the final against fellow Italian and childhood friend Flavia Pennetta.

Pennetta triumphed for a first Grand Slam crown and promptly announced her retirement.

Williams was so stunned that she called time on her season, sitting out the last three months, an absence which helped Agnieszka Radwanska lift the WTA Championship title.

Williams was still the standout player of 2015, winning five titles in all, including the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon.

Her record read 53 wins against just three losses and she finished as the year-end world number one for a fifth time and third consecutive season.

She also inflicted a 17th successive win over long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon semi-finals with the Russian star then forced to sit out the US Open with a leg injury.

Sharapova recovered her fitness to make a rare Fed Cup appearance in November's final against the Czech Republic but even her two singles wins weren't enough to prevent a 3-2 win for the Czechs. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

Exercise helps manage hip arthritis pain

Water- or land-based exercise should provide some short-term benefit in pain management for hip osteoarthritis, though there are few well-designed trials testing it, according to a new review.

Americans develop three million new cases of osteoarthritis each year. Most vulnerable are those who are older, obese, have previous joint injuries, overuse, weak muscles or genetic risk factors.

“It is nice to finally have some hip-specific data, as hip and knee osteoarthritis are often grouped together and it is almost certain that there are differences between these groups of patients, as well as differences in those with multiple joint osteoarthritis,” said Dr. Amanda E. Nelson of the Thurston Arthritis Research Center at the University of North Carolina Medical Center in Chapel Hill, who was not part of the new study.

“However, the studies are still small and heterogeneous, and larger, longer-term studies of more specific interventions are certainly needed to provide more specific recommendations,” she said.

The review only considered pain, not joint function, which may also improve with physical activity, Nelson told Reuters Health by email.

The researchers, lead by Kay M. Crossley of La Trobe University in Bundoora, Australia, reviewed 19 studies of water-based or land-based exercise therapy or manual therapy for hip pain, 10 of which were designed specifically for hip osteoarthritis.

Four studies found short-term benefits, up to three months later, with water-based exercise compared to minimal pain management. Six found similar benefit for land-based exercise therapy in the short term, but there was no evidence for benefit in the medium or long term, up to one year after therapy.

Manual therapy, which includes joint manipulation, active stretching and massage, did not appear to provide additional benefit on its own or in combination with exercise, the researchers reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

That’s not encouraging, said Dr. Kim Bennell of The University of Melbourne in Australia, who was also not part of the review. “However, the number of studies is relatively small and there was a lot of variation in the methods of the studies, so further research is needed in this area to confirm the results.”

Most doctors do not recommend exercise therapy, relying instead on pain-relieving drugs for osteoarthritis, despite agreement across guidelines and organizations that non-drug approaches are worthwhile, Nelson said.

“There are numerous potential barriers to recommendation and treatment including access to care, financial concerns, and the burden of managing multiple medical conditions in a short visit with a provider, among others,” she said. “Therefore, although the guidelines are in agreement, it is likely that the majority of patients are not receiving this recommendation from their providers, and that even fewer actually follow through on the recommendation if given.”

The 19 studies in the review all tested different type, frequency and duration of exercise, so the best sort of exercise, how much and how often to do it, remains to be determined, she said.

It would appear that a 12-week program with exercises generally including strengthening and range of motion three times per week is beneficial, Bennell told Reuters Health by email.

“Based on the overall body of work in physical activity, though, any regular physical activity is likely to be beneficial to most patients,” Nelson said. “It is safe to say that most adults do not get enough physical activity, and that this is even more of an issue among those with osteoarthritis.” — Reuters

Maine apologizes to Julie Anne backstage at Sunday Pinasaya

Kung napuno ng kasiyahan at kilig ang stage ng Sunday Pinasaya ngayong araw, December 13, lingid sa kaalaman ng marami ay mayroon palang naganap na iyakan sa backstage.

Ito ay dahil sa paghaharap nina Julie Anne San Jose at Maine Mendoza sa dressing room.

Si Julie Anne ay mainstay sa naturang comedy-musical program ng GMA Network, habang si Maine naman ay special guest ngayong araw.

Kabilang din sa Sunday Pinasaya ang ka-loveteam ni Maine at kalahati ng AlDub na si Alden Richards.

Ayon sa tweet ng isa pa sa mga mainstay ng programa na si Gladys Guevarra, nilapitan at niyakap daw ni Maine si Julie Anne.

Humingi rin daw ng paumanhin si Maine sa singer-actress.


Clueless ako, i swear. So nice of @mainedcm napaka humble, i just saw her hugging @MyJaps ???? apologizing si Yaya Dub. Ano meron??????

— gladys guevarra (@igladysguevarra) December 13, 2015



Nakita rin diumano ni Gladys na umiyak si Julie Anne.

 Bebe @MyJaps crying ???? Smile ka na ????

— gladys guevarra (@igladysguevarra) December 13, 2015

Pero "clueless" daw si Gladys kung ano dahilan ng nasaksihan niyang eksena.

Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, hindi sinasadyang nagkaroon ng isyu sa pagitan ni Julie Anne at nina Maine at Alden dahil sa hindi pagkakaunawaan na nagsimula sa Twitter noong December 7, Lunes.

Isang Twitter follower ng direktor ng Sunday Pinasaya na si Rich Ilustre ang nagtanong kung ang girlfriend ba ni Alden sa tunay na buhay ay si Julie Anne.

Sinagot ito ng direktor ng "yup."

Ngunit sa pakikipag-usap ng entertainment columnist na si Allan Diones kay Direk Rich, sa pamamagitan ng text, ipinaliwanag nitong inaantok pa raw siya nang mabasa ang nasabing tweet ng fan.

Ang basa raw kasi niya noong una ay "friend" sa halip na "girlfriend" kaya sumagot siya ng "yup."

Nang ma-realize niyang mali ang kanyang pagkakabasa at ang naging sagot ay agad daw niya itong binura.

Pero kumalat na raw ito agad sa social media at umusok na ang galit ng AlDub Nation.

Dahil sa gulong naidulot ng kanyang pagkakamli ay humingi ng paumanhin si Direk Rich kina Maine, Alden, at pati na sa AlDub Nation.

Nadawit din sa galit ng AlDub fans si Julie Anne, na inulan ng batikos sa social media kahit wala naman siyang direktang kinalaman sa isyu.

Kaya sa pagkikita nina Maine at Julie Anne kanina sa studio ng Sunday Pinasaya, si Maine na mismo ang lumapit kay Julie Anne upang humingi ng dispensa kung anuman ang mga masasakit na salitang nakarating sa kanya.

Hindi naman nabanggit ni Gladys sa kanyang tweet kung naroon din si Alden nang magyakapan sina Maine at Julie Anne.

Wala rin daw kumuha ng litrato ng naganap na eksena bilang respeto na rin sa dalawa. —PEP

For the full story, visit PEP.

source: gmanetwork.com

Donaire defeats Mexican, back as world champion

Nonito Donaire once again became a world champion after surviving a slugfest against Mexican fighter Cesar Juarez to capture the WBO junior featherweight title on Saturday (Manila time).

The Filipino Flash scored two early knockdowns in the fourth round but won via unanimous decision, 116-110, 116-110, 117-109.

With the victory, Donaire completed his year with three wins, bouncing back tough to clinch his first belt after losing to Nicholas Walters in 2014.

Earlier in the year, he defeated Brazilian William Prado and French Anthony Settoul both via technical knockouts. —ALG, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Donaire: 'KO to Walters was a blessing, I'm in a must win fight'

Nonito Donaire Jr. says there losing his WBA world featherweight title by knockout to Nicholas Walters last year had a positive effect.

Donaire, who just turned 33 last November, says the KO loss made him re-dedicate himself to the sport and regain the focus he once forgot.

"When I was down on the canvas in the Walters fight I thought to myself, 'this is a blessing.' It was a blessing because I had lost my way, not giving boxing the respect it deserves," Donaire quipped.

"I was searching for something. I was unsatisfied. I went home and re-dedicated myself to the sport. I worked harder in the gym. I got out of bed early in the mornings and did my running."

Donaire (35-3, 23KOs) is currently riding a 2-0 knockout win streak since that fateful evening.

Now back at the 122-pound division, Donaire is once again in contention for the world championship when he battles Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13KOs) on December 11 (December 12 PHL time) for the vacant WBO world super bantamweight title.

"My opponent is a tough guy and he is hungry like a wolf. My job is to beat the wolf.  He's actually ranked higher than me (by the WBO). He is no. 1 and I am no. 2," said Donaire.

"I must win on Friday night. I am out of setbacks. My speed has increased. I can feel my power is much stronger. I had a great camp. I must win." - JM Siasat/RAF, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Leonardo DiCaprio to star in historical epic ‘The Revenant’

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in what movie critics consider his latest most powerful performance -- 'The Revenant,' a historical epic film directed, produced, and co-written by Academy Award winner director Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Inspired by true events and based on author Michael Punke’s “The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge,” the film explores life in 1823 America. DiCaprio plays Hugh Glass, whose journey for survival and revenge shows a man's transformation amid harsh conditions and unpredictable peril.

“The Revenant is an incredible journey through the harshest elements of an uncharted America. It’s about the power of a man’s spirit," DiCaprio says in a press release.

"Hugh Glass’s story is the stuff of campfire legends, but Alejandro uses that folklore to explore what it really means to have all the chips stacked against you, what the human spirit can endure and what happens to you when you do endure," he added.

The rest of the cast includes Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck, Paul Anderson, Kristoffer Joner, Joshua Burge and Duane Howard.

'The Revenant' opens in Philippine cinemas this January 27. — Jessica Bartolome/RSJ, GMA News

 source: gmanetwork.com

Pope Francis opens Catholic Holy Year dedicated to mercy

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis on Tuesday launched an extraordinary Catholic Jubilee year by opening a "Holy Door" in the walls of St Peter's, embracing a 700-year-old tradition while urging the Church to reach out and embrace the modern world with mercy.

"This is the door of the Lord. Open to me the gates of justice," the Argentinian pontiff said before being helped up three marble steps to push the giant bronze doors open.

In a break with tradition that reflected Francis's modernising instincts, the order to open the doors was delivered in Italian rather than Latin.

The 78-year-old then paused on the threshold of the renaissance basilica for two minutes of silent prayer before walking inside in an act to be carried out by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in the coming months.

Francis was followed through the door by his predecessor, the now-retired Benedict XVI, 88, and by hundreds of cardinals, bishops and male and female members of religious orders.

Clutching a walking stick in his right-hand and looking extremely pale, Benedict was helped into the basilica on the arm of a young cleric.

Amid heightened security following recent terror attacks around the world, an estimated 50,000 pilgrims packed into St Peter's square and surrounding streets to watch Francis open the usually bricked-up wall in the facade of the renaissance basilica.

Many had tears rolling down their cheeks or eyes clenched shut in prayer as Francis ordered the door open for the first time since the last Jubilee, in 2000.

The first pilgrims had been in the square since before dawn in search of a prime spot to watch the latest enactment of a ceremony laden with religious symbolism.

"To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them," Francis said in a homily during the preceding mass.

Francis also underlined the significance of his decision to start the Jubilee on the 50th anniversary of the end of the second Vatican Council, a gathering of bishops credited with a modernisation of the Church that Francis is attempting to emulate.

Francis said the 1960s council had allowed the Church to emerge from self-enclosure.

"It was the resumption of a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces," he said.

"Wherever there are people, the Church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the gospel."

For Francis's predecessor, the German-born Joseph Ratzinger, Tuesday's ceremony represented a rare public outing.

The Emeritus Pope, as he is officially known, has lived in seclusion within the Vatican since retiring in 2013 as failing health left him incapable of running an institution beset by the clerical sex abuse scandal and internecine bickering in its upper echelons.

Tuesday's celebrations will conclude in the evening when images by some of the world's greatest environmental photographers will be projected onto the facade of Saint Peter's in an initiative linked to the ongoing global climate conference in Paris.

Mercy not judgement
The Jubilee, which runs until November 20, 2016, was called by Francis with the express goal of changing the way the Church is perceived by the faithful, lapsed believers and the rest of the world.

"How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy," he said on Tuesday.

"We have to put mercy before judgment ... Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved."

In a surprise move reflecting that aim, Francis announced in September that for the duration of the Jubilee, priests would be given special dispensation to absolve women who have had abortions.

In addition, some 800 priests around the world are to be designated "missionaries of mercy" tasked with encouraging higher levels of confession amongst believers.

Those involved have been selected for their ability to preach well, understand human frailty and ensure the confessional is not experienced "like a torture chamber" as the pope has put it.

Francis's push for a less judgemental, more understanding Church has encountered fierce resistance from traditionalists opposed to any relaxation of teaching on hot-button subjects such as homosexuality, divorce and unmarried cohabitation.

Traditionally, Catholics were expected to make a pilgrimage to Rome to benefit from the indulgences on offer to the faithful who pass through the Holy Doors during Jubilee years.

Francis has effectively done away with this custom by ordering cathedrals around the world to open their own Holy Doors. That will happen on Sunday, when Francis himself opens the door at one of Rome's major churches, St John Lateran. —Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com

'Star Wars' director faces hype, history in 'Force Awakens

LOS ANGELES - The new installment in the "Star Wars" movie saga opens in theaters this month against a formidable force: the galactic hopes of devoted fans who have waited a decade to revisit their beloved universe of Jedi, droids and lightsabers.

Can "The Force Awakens," the seventh episode in the celebrated sci-fi series, meet those expectations when it debuts in theaters on December 18? "No," said director J.J. Abrams. "How can anything live up to any expectation like that?"

What the movie will offer, Abrams told Reuters, is great performances and visual effects, music "that breaks your heart and soars," plus a story, characters and creatures that are new, but feel like they fit in the universe created by George Lucas in the original 1977 film.

"George was creating a world that we wanted to go back to in order to tell a story we'd never seen yet," Abrams said. "In a way, we were going backward to go forward."

For example, he said, the filmmakers created droids "to feel completely new and different and at the same time something that was so of 'Star Wars.' That was always the challenge."

Lucas bowed out of "Star Wars" after he sold his film studio to Walt Disney Co in 2012 for $4 billion.

"There's no way that I can imagine anything touching the magic of what he did," Abrams said, "and yet we all did the best we could to make that happen."

Set 30 years after "Return of the Jedi," the new movie brings characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) back to their galaxy far, far away. Newcomers Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega) lead a younger generation that grapples with the conflicts that haunted the past.

Disney is guarding details about the plot of "Force Awakens." The secrecy has stirred rampant online speculation, particularly about the fate of Skywalker, who is absent from trailers and posters promoting the new film.

Abrams said the character was purposely left off to keep key parts of the story under wraps.

"It's just what our narrative is," Abrams said, "so if it's driving anyone crazy, apologies. But it's mostly about wanting to protect the experience for the people who might go see the movie."

Ridley, who plays a scavenger, said the film captures the "delightful" tone of the earlier movies. "'Star Wars' never had like insane violence or anything," she said. "It's always joyful and always uplifting even though bad things happen."

"Force Awakens" also features "classic Star Wars humor, choppy dialogue," said Boyega, who described his role as a conflicted Stormtrooper.

Adam Driver plays Kylo Ren, a character dressed similar to Darth Vader who is presumed to play the main villain, though that depends on the perspective.

"I don't think he's evil at all," Driver said. "I think he's right."

Aside from fan anticipation, the movie faces lofty box office projections for the opening weekend, from $170 million to $220 million in just the United States and Canada, a level never achieved in December. "Jurassic World" holds the record with $208.8 million in June. —Reuters