"With leaders from five continents on hand, Venezuela prepared for a day of distinctly different ceremonies — first the formal state funeral of Hugo Chavez, then the controversial swearing in of his anointed interim successor, who the opposition charges has no constitutional right to the job.
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: "CARACAS, Venezuela -- With leaders from five continents on hand, Venezuela prepared for a day of distinctly different ceremonies – first the formal state funeral of Hugo Chavez, then the controversial swearing in of his anointed interim successor, who the opposition charges has no constitutional right to the job.
Friday's funeral promises to be a final turn on the world stage for Chavez after 14 tumultuous years in power, though in some ways the polarizing former paratrooper is not going anywhere: Venezuela announced Thursday that it would embalm his body and put it on permanent display." info@als-alexander.orgor interalex1@yahoo.com
"Earth's temperature is higher than it has been in the last 11,300 years, and is rising faster than ever, scientists have found.
Using data from 73 sites around the world, scientists reconstructed Earth's temperature history back to the end of the last Ice Age, revealing that the planet today is warmer than it has been during 70 to 80% of the time over the last 11,300 years." info@als-alexander.orgor interalex1@yahoo.com
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"A prisoner who was held in solitary confinement for two years has been awarded $15.5m (£10.3m) in compensation. A court in southern New Mexico reached the record settlement to end Stephen Slevin's long-running legal battle over the case. The payout - one of the largest federal civil rights settlements in history - stems from mediation ordered by a federal appeals court. Dona Ana County had appealed against a lower court decision to uphold the original \$22m (£14.6m) judgement that was awarded last January." info@als-alexander.orgor interalex1@yahoo.com
"Venezuela will bid farewell to Hugo Chávez on Friday with a massive funeral the like of which South America has not seen since the death of Evita Perón, clearing the stage for a tumultuous election campaign.
At least 14 world leaders and hundreds of thousands of supporters are expected in Caracas for an emotional ceremony amid last-minute wrangling over where the president will be buried and increasing uncertainty over the country's future, with speculation the election could be delayed.
Under the constitution, a vote should be held within 30 days of Tuesday's announcement of Chávez's death but politicians and officials have signalled there may not be time to organise so quickly.
Admiral Diego Molero Bellavia, the defence minister, fuelled the febrile mood by urging Venezuelans to vote for Chávez's designated heir, the vice-president, Nicolás Maduro, and to give opposition "fascists a good hiding" at the polls. He told state TV that the armed forces' "mission" was to put Maduro in the presidency." info@als-alexander.orgor interalex1@yahoo.com