 	
 	// make a silent HTTP GET request to the click tracking URL provided in the JSON's link field
     class func trackNewsClick(_ link: String) {
-        #if DEBUG
-            print("HighFiApi.trackNewsClick(\(link))")
-        #endif
-        let settings = Settings.sharedInstance
-		
-		DispatchQueue.global(qos: DispatchQoS.QoSClass.default).async {
-			Alamofire.request(link, parameters: ["APIKEY": settings.APIKEY, "appID": settings.appID])
-	            .response { response in
-    	            #if DEBUG
-        	            print("trackNewsClick, request: \(String(describing: response.request))")
-            	        // print("trackNewsClick, response: \(response)")
-                	    // print("trackNewsClick, error: \(error)")
-                	#endif
-	        }
-		}
+        if !link.isEmpty {
+            #if DEBUG
+                print("HighFiApi.trackNewsClick(\(link))")
+            #endif
+            let settings = Settings.sharedInstance
+            
+            DispatchQueue.global(qos: DispatchQoS.QoSClass.default).async {
+                AF.request(link, parameters: ["APIKEY": settings.APIKEY, "appID": settings.appID])
+                    .response { response in
+                        #if DEBUG
+                            print("trackNewsClick, request: \(String(describing: response.request))")
+                            // print("trackNewsClick, response: \(response)")
+                            // print("trackNewsClick, error: \(error)")
+                        #endif
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 	
 	// e.g. https://fi.high.fi/api/?act=listCategories&usedLanguage=finnish


        let url = "https://" + settings.domainToUse + "/api/"
        
        let request = Alamofire.request(url, method: .get, parameters: ["act": settings.highFiActCategory, "usedLanguage": settings.useToRetrieveLists, "APIKEY": settings.APIKEY, "deviceID": settings.deviceID, "appID": settings.appID])
        request.validate()
        request.responseJSON { response in
			

        }
//        print("categoriesHidden=\(categoriesHidden)")
		
        let request = AF.request(feed, method: .get, parameters: ["includePaid": settings.includePaid, "APIKEY": settings.APIKEY, "deviceID": settings.deviceID, "appID": settings.appID, "jsonHideSections": categoriesHiddenParam])

            request.validate()
            request.responseJSON{ response in
