News Headlines - 15 December 2011

▽Britain's big freeze set to last into next week as Met Office issues warnings - Metro
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/884945-britains-big-freeze-set-to-last-into-next-week-as-met-office-issues-weather-warnings
The UK is to suffer a big freeze running into next week, with snow and icy conditions set to add to the misery today and tomorrow, the Met Office has warned.

▽French ex-President Jacques Chirac guilty of corruption - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16194089
A French court has given former President Jacques Chirac a two-year suspended prison sentence for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.

▽Vladimir Putin warns on dangers of protests during live phone-in - Telegraph.co.uk
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8957748/Vladimir-Putin-warns-on-dangers-of-protests-during-live-phone-in.html
Facing down the biggest challenge of his almost twelve years in power, the strong man Russian prime minister insisted that the disputed parliamentary election which triggered the protests was not flawed.

▽US to lower flag to end Iraq war - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16192105
The American flag has been lowered in Baghdad bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end.

▽Research shows hands-free phones just as risky - The Associated Press
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hyNZTKmEmCTcsJwV25jASW06s4BA?docId=463b4362c8024cf29467114ea6124c2a
Like it or not, when someone is talking to you, your brain is listening, processing and thinking about what's being said — even when you're in the driver's seat trying to concentrate on traffic.
That's why drivers get distracted during cellphone conversations, even when using hands-free phones, researchers said.