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Stage and screen stars honored along with Ebola fighters

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British actor Idris Elba poses during a photocall prior to a screening of the film "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Elba was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's 2016 New Year's Honours List.

Veteran actress Barbara Windsor — familiar for decades since her work on the Carry On films — Wednesday was given a damehood for her services, and celebrated "Swan Lake" choreographer Matthew Bourne was made a knight in recognition of his string of innovative successes.
Other honors were given to revered actress Imelda Staunton, made a Commander of the British Empire for her stellar stage work, and Luther star Idris Elba — touted as a possible future James Bond — who was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or OBE.
Britain's honors are bestowed twice a year by the monarch at New Year's and on her official birthday in June. Recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public.
The honors last a lifetime and convey serious prestige: knights are addressed as "sir" and dames are called "dame." Recipients of the lesser honors have no title but can put the letters after their names.
Veteran Welsh stage actress Sian Philips was also made a dame, and actors David Oyelowo — who recently played Martin Luther King Jr. in the film "Selma" — and James Nesbitt got OBEs. The honor's list goes far beyond entertainment. This year the queen's list has recognized the work of injured Falklands war veteran Simon Weston, who has founded a charity to help others suffering grave disfigurement cope with the massive changes to their lives.
Weston has refused to let his severe injuries and resulting disfigurement keep him in the shadows, and his charity has done the same for others. He was made a Commander of the British Empire in recognition.
"When I was injured, I feared that I would never be relevant again — not just in a military sense but also as a human being. Maybe it was my bullishness or my military background, but I was not going to let that happen," he said. "The charity Changing Faces recently published figures saying that 70% of people with a disfigurement don't go outside. I hope that with me being in the public eye it can inspire others — that you can live your life and can enjoy it despite what has happened."
Honors also go to Dr. Michael Jacobs, who received a knighthood for helping three British health care workers who contracted the Ebola virus while trying to prevent its spread in west Africa. Dr. Timothy Brooks received a CBE for leading the British laboratory response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, and many other awards were made to Britons involved with the crisis response.
On the political front, there was some controversy over the knighthood awarded to Lynton Crosby, a prominent architect of Prime Minister David Cameron's general election strategy. On a lighter note, the queen recognized the man who designs many of her own one-of-a-kind outfits. Designer Stewart Parvin was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order.

Merkel thanks Germans for helping 1 million refugees

German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses after recording her New Year's speech at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool Photo via AP)

Merkel says in her speech which will be aired on public Television at 1700GMT Thursday: "Thank you for the overwhelming and really moving wave of spontaneous helpfulness that we experienced this year, when so many people came via often life-threatening ways to us looking for refuge."
The chancellor said that if tackled the right way, the integration of the many new arrivals would be opportunity for the country in the future. She warned that society should not become divided over the issue and made clear there's no room for those expressing hatred toward the newcomers.

Van Gaal back under scrutiny as Swansea visits Man United

Manchester United's manager Louis van Gaal arrives for the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015.

That's how far a mighty club has fallen, with the stalemate with Chelsea on Monday appearing to give some breathing space for under-pressure manager Louis van Gaal. Lose to manager-less and relegation-threatened Swansea at Old Trafford on Saturday, though, and United will put Van Gaal even closer to the brink.
The record 20-time English champions are winless in their last eight games in all competitions, marking their worst run of form since 1990, and have collected only three points from their last six league games. Almost as worrying for United is that the team has scored only one goal in its last four home games.
Van Gaal may say he enjoys the backing of the United board, and has backtracked on previous comments that he could quit as manager, but there might be no way back if Swansea leaves Old Trafford with three points.
Put simply, 2016 has to start better than 2015 ended for the Dutchman. "If anything, we are all playing for our own futures as well," United defender Chris Smalling said, with the team having fallen five places adrift of the Champions League places.
On paper, Swansea looks the ideal opponent for United to get back to winning ways: No manager following Garry Monk's firing on Dec. 9, one place above the bottom three, only one away win — against last-place Aston Villa — this campaign. Yet the Welsh club has won its last three games against United, all 2-1, including a home-and-away league double last season.
What Van Gaal must ensure is that United plays the same way as against Chelsea, when his players were more positive, took more risks with their passing and looked to play more forward. United's fans could see the team was trying and seemed to warm to Van Gaal and his players. But how long will the goodwill last?
"Inside of the club, the players are willing to fight for every meter, the manager is willing to fight, the members of staff are willing to fight and the board is very confident in the staff and the manager," Van Gaal said.
Above sixth-place United, the top four is separated by just four points heading into the second half of the season. It is the most unpredictable of title races, with surely few predicting that Leicester and Tottenham would be in the Champions League positions at the turn of the year.
Here's what else to look out for this weekend, as the grueling run of matches in the festive period comes to an end:

ASSIST KING

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has 16 assists so far this season, and is only four off the Premier League record held by Thierry Henry. Ozil must like his chances of getting even closer on Saturday when his table-topping side hosts Newcastle at Emirates Stadium.
Henry, one of Arsenal's greatest players, set the record in the 2002-03 season and believes it will get broken by Ozil.
"The guy is just amazing," Henry said. "Finally we're starting to see what type of player he can be . It's his vision, he always puts the ball where you need it. He sees everything, and when you play with a player like that, anything can happen at any time."
Arsenal is ahead of Leicester on goal difference, with Man City three points back in third place.

DOUBLE ACT

It seems Leicester hot-shots Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have some competition as the most lethal double act in the Premier League — Watford pair Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney.
Ighalo has scored in each of his last six games heading into Saturday's match against Man City at Vicarage Road, and finished 2015 with 30 league goals for the year — the best in English football.
Deeney, meanwhile, has six goals and four assists in his last 10 games.
They are the reason why promoted Watford is only two points off the European positions, and must be relishing the prospect of facing a City defense missing captain Vincent Kompany (calf).

LEICESTER REPRIEVE

Leicester's surprising title challenge was supposed to falter in a six-game run that included matches against Chelsea, Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Everton. Yet the team lost only once in that period and looks to be the real deal.
Things get slightly easier for Leicester in January, starting against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Also Saturday, it's: West Ham vs. Liverpool; Norwich vs. Southampton; Sunderland vs. Aston Villa; and West Bromwich Albion vs. Stoke. On Sunday, it's: Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea; and Everton vs. Tottenham.

English teams seek new inspiration as transfer window opens

Manchester United's manager Louis van Gaal leaves at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015.

Lagging behind in the race for Champions League qualification, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool could be the most active of the country's major powers as they look for a strong finish to arguably the most unpredictable season in the Premier League's 24-year history.
Then there's the scramble to avoid the costliest-ever relegation from England's top division. Next season ushers in the start of the Premier League's new three-year TV deal worth a record $8 billion, and no club will want to miss out on a share of that bounty.
So, count on England being the place where most deals are done over the next month, as usual. Last January, English clubs were easily the biggest spenders, splashing out about 130 million pounds (then $213 million) to shatter the record for the season as a whole at 760 million pounds (then $1.25 billion).
Top teams operating strategic transfer plans rarely do major deals in this period. Likely targets can be ruled out of the Champions League and managers can be scared off by inflated prices. This season could be different.
Chelsea is in 14th place, three points above the relegation zone, in the most woeful title defense that the Premier League has seen. A top new signing by caretaker coach Guus Hiddink could inspire a revival, and the striker department needs refreshing.
"The window is wide open," Hiddink said Wednesday. Just as it will be at Man United, where Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney are the only two strikers at a club struggling to score goals. A world-class striker could make all the difference for under-pressure United manager Louis van Gaal, who is likely to add to the $375 million he's already spent in his 18 months in charge.
It is Juergen Klopp's first transfer window since becoming Liverpool manager. Will he return to his old hunting ground of Germany to bolster Liverpool's squad? It will also be interesting to see whether Leicester, remarkably in second place after half of the Premier League campaign, splashes out to stay in the title contention. And if the team manages to keep hold of striker Jamie Vardy.
On Wednesday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said it would be a "busy" month for his club, with a midfielder needed to solve an injury crisis. Here is a look around the continent:

SPAIN

Barcelona has been unable to register new players until January because of a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, so 2015 signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal have spent the last six months training away from the squad.
Turan joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in July and is expected to reinforce the club's left flank. Vidal arrived from Sevilla and likely will be the back-up for Dani Alves at right back.
Real Madrid made a mess of trying to sign goalkeeper David de Gea from Manchester United at the end of the last transfer window and embattled club president Florentino Perez may try to make amends.
However, Spanish clubs don't usually spend big on January acquisitions and there has been no major speculation about any major signings.

GERMANY

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are likely to give up some rarely used players rather than bring in major new signings.
Bayern's situation is made more complicated by the upcoming departure of coach Pep Guardiola, so any new players would probably have to be cleared by incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will try hard to stay out of the limelight and not to seem to be interfering in Guardiola's job.
Dortmund has already given up attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Many top German coaches don't like signing new players in mid-season, considering them expensive and risky.

FRANCE

Defending French champion Paris Saint-Germain has fielded questions about the possible departures of Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who has played only two matches this season following the arrival of Kevin Trapp from Frankfurt.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc dismissed talk of transfers during PSG's winter training camp this week in Qatar, noting that none of his players are out of contract in January.

AP Sports Writers John Leicester in Paris and Nesha Starcevic in Frankfurt, and Associated Press writer Harold Heckle in Madrid contributed to this report.

Belgium: New searches, detentions in holiday plot probe

Tourists make pictures as an armed policeman guards the Grand Place in Brussels on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. Two people have been arrested in Belgium on suspicion of planning attacks in Brussels during the holidays, the federal prosecutor's office said Tuesday. A source close to the investigation said the Belgian capital's main square, thronged this time of year with holiday shoppers and strollers, was one of the suspected targets.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office said Thursday the police searches were executed in the morning in various Brussels-area locations. It said a magistrate will decide whether arrest warrants should be issued against six people brought in for questioning.
Two men have already been arrested in connection with the suspected plot, both members of a motorcycle club. On Thursday, a judge ordered them held for another month.

Ballots counted after pivotal C. African Republic election

A election official writes as people cast their ballots during elections in Bangui, Central African Republic, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. Thousands in Central African Republic's capital voted Wednesday in national elections with hope that a new president will lead to greater stability after years of violence.

The National Electoral Authority said lines were moving until polling stations closed in Wednesday's vote. No violence was reported. The African Union observation mission head said that no major issues were seen. However, voters and candidates remarked that names were missing from ballots and some materials were not available.
Voters are choosing a government to replace the transitional leaders put in place in 2014. More than 1.8 million people were registered to vote at more than 500 polling stations nationwide. United Nations peacekeepers and national security forces provided security at polling stations.
The nation has been rocked by unrest since March 2013.

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