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January 21, 2016 10:55 p.m. Philanthropist George Soros says he believes Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump doesn't have "any chance of being elected." Soros, who was speaking at the World Economic Forum at Davos, said Trump is doing the work of the Islamic State group by "fear mongering."
Soros said the popularity of Trump will lead to a "landslide" for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, saying she is "campaigning for the general elections and the Republicans are fighting in the primary.

January 05, 2016 The Business Roundtable, made up of chief executive officers from large U.S. companies, will endorse the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement on Tuesday. A trade group representing manufacturers did the same Monday.
Their influence could make supporters in Congress more eager to take the agreement up in an election year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recently urged Obama to hold off on sending the agreement to Congress before the elections, warning that it didn't have the votes.
John Engler, president of the Business Roundtable, and a former Republican governor of Michigan, said his organization is hoping Congress will approve the pact before it heads home for its August recess.
"The hope is to send the signal now that we're getting pretty comfortable with the agreement and let's get ready to give it serious consideration," Engler told The Associated Press. The trade agreement took more than five years to stitch together. Participating nations would reduce or eliminate thousands of tariffs that apply to foreign-made goods. The agreement also rolls back regulatory requirements, such as the need to establish an office in a particular country or partner with a local entity, in order to access their markets.
Several presidential candidates in both parties as well as members of Congress have panned the Trans-Pacific Partnership since agreement on the deal's terms was announced in October. Donald Trump said it's a "terrible deal." Democrat Hillary Clinton said "it didn't meet my standards."
That's led to questions about whether Congress would pass the trade pact, even though lawmakers just last year passed legislation designed to speed TPP's passage without the threat of amendments or filibuster. Support from business groups could ease some lawmakers' concerns about the political environment.
The trade group representing manufacturers came out with its endorsement Monday. The group's president and CEO, Jay Timmons, said that without the agreement, the United States would be ceding economic leadership to other global powers, letting them set the rules of economic engagement in the region.
The group has frequently clashed with the Obama administration over new environmental regulations and recently sued to stop stricter limits on smog-causing pollution. Labor unions have come out overwhelmingly against the trade agreement, saying it will drive wages down, and it's clear that for Obama to get a legacy-setting victory, he'll have to rely on the Republican party to push the legislation to victory. Engler said he's confident that the pact would end up getting more votes than the fast-track legislation that passed last year.
He said not all members of the Business Roundtable supported TPP, but there was broad consensus. "We cannot have a robust economy if the goal is to make things here and sell it to ourselves," Engler said.
The White House said it welcomed the endorsements and that it showed that companies big and small feel the agreement is vital to their ability to compete globally. "We look forward to working with Congress to ratify this agreement as soon as possible, so that these job creators can begin to take advantage of the 18,000 tax cuts within the agreement and support more higher-paying American jobs," said White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine.

April 23, 2016 Many in Germany regard the planned Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, with suspicion. Protesters Saturday carried placards with slogans such as "Yes We Can — Stop TTIP!" Proponents argue that the agreement would boost business at a time of global economic uncertainty, but critics worry that it would erode consumer protection and environmental standards.

April 24, 2016 Obama, on a farewell visit to Germany as president, is trying to counter public skepticism about a trans-Atlantic trade deal with Europe, while also facing down criticism from the 2016 presidential candidates of a pending Asia-Pacific trade pact.
Despite all that, Obama said, "the majority of people still favor trade. They still recognize, on balance, that it's a good idea." "It is indisputable that it has made our economy stronger," Obama said about international trade. He said he was confident the trans-Atlantic trade deal could be completed by the end of year, to be presented for ratification. And he said that once the U.S. presidential primary season is over and politics settle down, the trans-Pacific pact can "start moving forward."
Obama, at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, made a strong public show of support for her handling of the migrant issue, saying she was "on the right side of history on this." Her decision to allow the resettlement in Germany of thousands fleeing violence in Syria and other Mideast conflict zones has created an angry domestic backlash. Merkel recently helped European countries reach a deal with Turkey to ease the flow, but she and the other leaders are now under pressure to revisit it.
Obama said Merkel was "giving voice to the kinds of principles that bring people together rather than divide them," and credited her with taking on some tough politics. But the president reiterated U.S. opposition to the idea of establishing a "safe zone" in Syrian territory, saying it would difficult to put in place.
"As a practical matter, sadly, it is very difficult to see how it would operate short of us essentially being willing to militarily take over a chunk of that country," he said. Merkel, in contrast, has endorsed the notion of creating areas that could provide safe haven for the thousands of migrants fleeing the violence, and said such zones would improve access to humanitarian aid. She insisted the proposal would not require outside intervention, saying safe areas should be part of the Geneva peace negotiations that involve the Syrian government and moderate opposition groups.
Obama, looking to project a united front with a leader he referred to as his "trusted partner," said making safe zones controlled by moderate opposition part of the peace talks shows that "here there's no space between us."
Obama spoke after Merkel rolled out the red carpet for him at Hannover's Herrenhausen Palace, a rebuilt version of the former summer royal residence destroyed in World War II. After reviewing German troops in a palace garden, they climbed a spiral staircase and stepped inside for private talks.
The two later spoke at the opening of the Hannover Messe, the world's largest industrial technology trade fair, where Obama made the case for swift action on the trans-Atlantic trade deal known as TTIP. The trade pact is a hard sell in much of Europe, particularly Germany.
After three years of negotiation on the deal, Obama said, "we've made important progress but time is not on our side." "If we don't complete negotiations this year, then upcoming political transitions in the United States and Europe could mean this agreement won't be finished for quite some time," he said.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Hannover to protest the trade deal on Saturday, before Obama arrived. Some carried placards that said "Yes We Can — Stop TTIP!" It was a riff on Obama's 2008 presidential campaign slogan.
In November, more than 100,000 people in Berlin protested against the proposed pact. Proponents say the deal would boost business at a time of global economic uncertainty. Critics fear the erosion of consumer protections and environmental standards.
Negotiators in Washington and Europe are trying to finalize key parts of the deal before the end of the year, after which Obama's successor and election campaigns in major European countries could further complicate the already difficult negotiations.
Obama said it was important to conclude negotiations even though ratification would be unlikely before he leaves office. "But if we have that deal, then the next president can pick that up rapidly and get that done," he told the BBC in an interview broadcast Sunday.
It's not certain that the next president would pick up where Obama leaves off on the trade deal. The pact has not been a top issue in the campaign to choose Obama's successor. Both leading candidates — Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump — oppose the Asia-Pacific trade pact for its potential impact on American jobs and wages.
On Monday, Obama was joining Merkel to tour the trade show and giving a speech on challenges facing the U.S. and Europe. Merkel also used the occasion of Obama's visit to invite the leaders of France, Britain and Italy to Hannover for a meeting Monday to discuss Syria, Libya, IS, migration and other issues.

April 15, 2016 Aron on Wednesday told industry trade publication Variety that the company was experimenting with the idea of having some cell phone friendly theaters. The notion was met with loud public criticism from both consumers and Hollywood creatives.
Aron said on Friday that the idea is now on the cutting room floor thanks to the outcry and that there would be no texting in any AMC theater in the foreseeable future. The comments came during CinemaCon, an annual gathering of theater owners and exhibitors in Las Vegas. CinemaCon ended on Thursday.

December 31, 2015 Disney and J.J. Abrams pushed 2015 over the mark days before its conclusion, but many factors helped make the year the biggest of all time — including social media and better theatrical experiences — which helped draw audiences away from their home entertainment centers and into the multiplex.
In 2014, "The Interview" was released in theaters and online at the same time, and this year saw streaming service Netflix enter theatrical feature territory with "Beasts of No Nation" and "The Ridiculous 6," both of which played in theaters and online simultaneously, alarming exhibitors. Yet attendance at the movies was up around four percent for the year, according to Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.' executive vice president of domestic distribution.
It didn't hurt that 2015 started off with some significant momentum from "American Sniper," had the "Jurassic World" juggernaut in the summer, and then ended on the enormous high note of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which on Wednesday became Disney's biggest domestic earner in just 13 days of release.
"It's like kicking the winning field goal at the end of the game. That's what 'Star Wars' did," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office tracker Rentrak. The overall slate didn't look very different from years past, with 688 new releases. There were the near annual installments of franchises that continue to rake in the money ("Furious 7," ''Avengers: Age of Ultron," ''Spectre," ''The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2," ''Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation"). And there were properties resurrected from years ago, some of which worked ("Jurassic World," ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens") and some that didn't ("Fantastic Four," ''Terminator Genisys"). There were franchise starters that hit ("Fifty Shades of Grey") and some that were dead on arrival ("The Man From U.N.C.L.E."). There were ambitious original ideas that succeeded ("Inside Out"), while others crashed and burned ("Tomorrowland," ''Crimson Peak," ''Jupiter Ascending"). Live action fairy tales flew ("Cinderella") and floundered ("Pan"). And there were the smaller investments that paid off big ("Pitch Perfect 2," ''Creed," ''Straight Outta Compton," ''Trainwreck").
Universal, which ranked fifth in 2014, skyrocketed to become the top studio of 2015, thanks to enormous hits like "Jurassic World," ''Furious 7," ''Fifty Shades of Grey," ''Minions" and "Pitch Perfect 2."
According to Nick Carpou, Universal's president of domestic distribution, the studio found success in scattering its diverse offerings throughout the year, finding audiences that might be underserved in certain months and translating that into big returns.
Social media also mattered more in the past year. Carpou, his industry counterparts and various box office analysts agreed that social buzz could make or break a movie almost immediately. "I think that's how 'Jurassic World' started the weekend looking like a big success and ended the weekend breaking all records," said Carpou. "That's people telling people."
Disney, which ranked second, followed a very different strategy, focusing on 15 new releases (to Universal's 26) from their various brands, whether homegrown or acquired, like Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and live-action reboots of their animated classics.
In third place, despite successes like "American Sniper," Warner Bros. struggled a bit more with some higher profile flops, such as "Pan." "It's all about content. We've always known that. If it's something the public wants to see, they're going to come out," said Goldstein.
Fox, with big successes such as "The Martian" and missteps like "Fantastic Four," came in fourth, while Sony, which did well with "Spectre" and "Hotel Transylvania 2," placed fifth. Sony's smaller labels helped, too, with films like "War Room" and "The Perfect Guy."
Beyond the appeal of individual movies, exhibitors were also wising up to consumer demands. The days of sticky floored venues with small seats and smaller screens may never go away completely, but audiences have more options now in screen size, visual and audio quality, reserved luxury seating, and even gourmet food service, all of which usually means higher ticket prices.
"We're giving them choices and we're giving them choices at every price point. It's like when you buy an airline ticket," said Goldstein. Erik Davis, managing editor of ticketing site Fandango.com, says this improved theatrical experience is becoming a big draw for people.
"I definitely think the more comfortable theaters are making it, the more people are inclined to go to the movies," Davis said. The boutique chain Cinépolis boasts a full bar, leather reclining seats and in-theater dinning with wait staff. Cinépolis currently operates in Southern California and Florida, with plans to expand to Texas, Virginia, Connecticut and Ohio in 2017. Meanwhile, bigger chains are clamoring to compete with these so-called "diamond theaters."
Technology, too, is being upgraded across the country from Dolby Atmos sound systems to IMAX screens, giving audiences a specific reason to seek out big movies in theaters. Release dates in 2015 were particularly well-spaced, said Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment. This allowed for multi-week runs of some of the year's biggest movies on the pricier IMAX screens.
"People who love movies love IMAX," said Foster. "We've carved out a position as the place that avid moviegoers see big tent pole blockbuster films." But the 2015 celebration just makes everyone more focused on the year ahead.
"2015 is not the one-hit wonder of box office years," said Dergarabedian.

April 16, 2016 "Thanks be to God," exulted Wafa, mother of two children who made the trip with her husband Osama as she arrived in Rome. "I thank the pope for this very human gesture." The three Muslim families, including six children, had all lost their homes in bombings, the Vatican said. They were plucked from a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, where they have been stranded for weeks. They were chosen because they had their documents in order, not to make a political point to Europe about the need to better integrate Muslims, the pope said.
"Their privilege is that they are children of God," Francis told reporters en route home to Italy after an emotional trip to Lesbos on Saturday. The Roman Catholic charity Sant'Egidio, which is providing the refugees with preliminary assistance, welcomed them at their headquarters in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood late Saturday. The mothers were given red roses, and they were applauded as they arrived.
Sant'Egidio released some details about the refugees but didn't give any of their last names due to privacy concerns. Hasan and Nour, both engineers, and their 2-year-old son fled their home in Zabadani, a mountainous area on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus that has been heavily bombed. They headed to Turkey and took a boat across the Aegean Sea to Lesbos, like hundreds of thousands before them, hoping to reach Europe. But Austria and several Balkan nations shut their borders to refugees in early March, stranding more than 50,000 people in Greece.
Ramy and Suhila, a couple in their 50s, came from Deir el-Zour, a Syrian city close to the Iraqi border that has been bombed by the Islamic State group. They arrived in Greece with their three children in February via Turkey. Ramy is a teacher, Suhila a tailor, Sant'Egidio said.
The third family, Osama and Wafa, hail from the Damascus suburb of Zamalka. Their youngest still wakes each night — and even stopped speaking for a time — apparently due to the trauma of the war and the journey to Europe.
Francis said his decision to bring the refugees to Italy was a "purely humanitarian" gesture and not a political act. Many human rights groups have criticized the European Union's new policy of deporting some migrants back to Turkey. The Vatican made sure that all 12 it selected Saturday had arrived on Lesbos before a March 20 deadline, and were not subject to any possible deportation to Turkey.
Speaking on the flight home with the refugees sitting behind him, Francis said the idea of bringing some refugees back came to him only a week ago from a Vatican official. He said he accepted it "immediately" because it was in keeping with the message of humanity that he wanted to send with his trip to Lesbos.
Francis said the Vatican would take full responsibility for the 12 Syrians. He said two Christian families had been on the original list, but they didn't have their documents in order. Speaking about his five-hour visit to the Greek island, Francis said he was particularly saddened by the trauma that the refugees' voyages have had on the children he met Saturday. He showed reporters a picture that a young Afghan child had given him of a sun weeping over a sea where boats carrying refugees have sunk.
"If the sun is able to weep, so can we. A tear would do us good," the pope said. Hundreds of migrants have died in the Aegean Sea this year as the flimsy dinghies supplied by smuggling gangs sink or capsize.
The pope cited Mother Teresa in responding to a question about whether his gesture of bringing 12 refugees to Italy would change the debate about Europe's migrant crisis. "It's a drop of water in the sea. But after this drop, the sea will never be the same," he said.

April 16, 2016 He said the United States wants to do more in the fight and is "only limited by our own ingenuity" and ideas. Carter expressed confidence that the White House will approve recommendations, saying nothing he has asked President Barack Obama for yet in the conflicts has been turned down.
Carter spoke to reporters at Al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, an important launching point for military operations against the Islamic State group in the region. His visit comes as the U.S. is considering moves to boost the number of American troops in Iraq, as well as other steps to help the Iraqis take on IS.
Carter suggested the U.S. may consider shifting the nature of its military campaign against the extremists, adding there could be more rapid targeting of the enemy as intelligence on the ground improves.
"As we've learned more and are more on top of the enemy, you can do more dynamic targeting," Carter said. Late last month, U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters that he and Carter believe there will be an increase in U.S. forces in Iraq in the coming weeks. Any final decision would be worked out with the Iraqi government and require Obama's approval.
It's unclear whether the increase would force the White House to formally approve a higher cap on troop levels in Iraq, now set at 3,780. The Pentagon says there are close to 3,400 U.S. troops there now. According to U.S. officials, however, there are actually as many as 5,000 American forces in the country, but some do not count against the cap because they are in Iraq on temporary duty.
Dunford and Carter have said that accelerating the fight against IS could mean using Apache helicopters for combat missions, deploying more U.S. special operations forces or using American military advisers in Iraqi units closer to the front lines.
The U.S. also is likely to provide additional artillery fire and targeting help for Iraqi forces advancing on Mosul. Those American forces, however, would remain well behind the front lines. Carter has said that Obama and other U.S. leaders will encourage other Gulf nations to contribute economically to the effort to rebuild Iraq once IS is defeated.
Obama and other U.S. officials are expected to attend the U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council leaders' summit next week in Saudi Arabia. The six member countries are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
Carter said Saturday that the U.S. hopes that the Gulf nations will support Iraq politically as it tries to establish a more successful multisectarian government. During his visit to the air base, Carter spoke with troops, including those who have been flying and supporting the airstrikes over Iraq and Syria.
Two large Global Hawk surveillance aircraft, an F-22 Raptor fighter jet and and F-15E strike fighter were arrayed in the hangar where Carter spoke. U.S. Air Force Col. Johnny Barnes, the vice commander of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing told reporters that Russian fighters in Syria haven't impeded U.S. airstrikes. But he acknowledged that there were moments in northwest Syria when the Russian jets were an "inconvenience.

There are plenty of mysteries in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and one of them involved iconic droid C-3PO. In case you didn’t notice, C-3PO had a red left arm instead of his usual gold-colored arm. This mysterious change was totally unexplained in the movie itself and we’ve never had any answer for it… until now.
Per iO9, the first issue of the new Marvel comic Star Wars: C-3PO #1 offers details about how C-3PO got his not-so-shiny new red arm. Spoilers obviously follow below.

10 secrets you missed while watching ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
The story starts off when C-3PO and a group of allied droids land on an unidentified planet to rescue Admiral Ackbar, who has been kidnapped by the First Order. As you might have guessed with anything involving Admiral Ackbar, the droids’ plan to rescue him is… well… “It’s a trap!”
In the ensuing fights with a number of different monsters on the planet, all of C-3PO’s droid companions are killed and C-3PO himself has his arm ripped off. The final droid to die in his crew just happened to have a red arm that C-3PO attached to his own body and decided to keep there as a reminder of his fellow droids’ sacrifices.