Author: Amy Jonson
Renee Patterson’s most precious present this Christmas won’t be under her tree, and it didn’t come from a store. This holiday, she said, she got her life back.
Google have announced today that newspaper publishers will be able to put a cap on the number of news articles accessible for free through Google. Google is allowing publishers to set a limit of 5 free article views a day for news subscription sites.
Airing on Sunday, December 14, 2009, Oprah Winfrey’s “Christmas at the White House” special revealed Obama’s opinion on his leadership the past eleven months. Obama stated that he deserves a B+ because he believes that, under his leadership,
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has announced that Cabinet decided on Monday that the controversial Maori sovereignty flag Tino Rangatiratang from 2010 is to be to be flown on New Zealand’s national day, Waitangi Day on Auckland Harbour Bridge, Premier House, Parliament and other significant sites controlled by the Government.
Miss Gibraltar Kaiane Aldorino has won the Miss World competition of 2009, beating out the projected winner Miss Puerto Rico Mayra Matos. The first runner-up was Miss Mexico, Perla Beltran Acosta. During her acceptance speech Aldorino said “I just have no words to explain how I feel! I am just so, so happy!” In Gibraltar she is an administrative clerk with 4 years experience.
The European Union has emerged from its worst recession since World War II, with the announcement on Friday that the region posted a modest growth in the third quarter. Despite the news, some EU economies including Spain and the United Kingdom are still struggling.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in San Raffaele Hospital overnight in Milan following an assault during an autograph session at the end of a rally. The 73 year-old media mogul received a punch in the face from an assailant who police named as 42 year-old Massimo Tartaglia, a local man who has been undergoing mental health treatment for ten years. Tartaglia was holding a replica of Milan’s famous Domo Cathedral as he struck the premier; the composition of the replica is unknown, but eyewitnesses suggest it may have been made from marble, iron or another heavy material.
At the United Nations Framework on Climate Change in Copenhagen, after four days of negotiations, Africa countries have made the first draft version of future possible treaty, to replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol. Africa leaders demand 5% of GDP of developed world citizens to be given as a finance to developing countries for struggle with global warming. Along with this, developing countries expect rich countries to increase their emissions cuts goals.
Thai customs officials said today that they had intercepted a North Korean cargo plane loaded with 35 tons (31 Mg) of “heavy weapons”. The Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, registered in Belarus, was stopped at Bangkok’s Don Muang airport, after a tip from the US government. The crew of four North Korean nationals (who have dual citizenship with Kazakhstan) and one Belarusian were arrested on site.
The government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates has agreed to give US$10 billion to its neighboring emirate, allowing the state-owned Dubai World conglomerate to repay its immediate debt obligations. Dubai says more than $4 billion of the injection will be given to Dubai World’s property firm, Nakheel, to repay its Islamic bond that matures Monday. The remaining funds will go towards additional expenses.