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Kenya: Raila Odinga Sworn-in as People’s President

Diane A. Wade
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Kenya: Raila Odinga Sworn-in as People’s President

Kenyan TV stations have been shut down by authorities to prevent live coverage of a swearing-in event by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who boycotted last year’s disputed presidential election.

Raila Odinga declared himself the “people’s president” in front of thousands of his supporters in the capital, Nairobi.

The result of the last August election was annulled following allegations of irregularities.

Uhuru Kenyatta won a re-run in October, but Raila Odinga did not take part.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November 2017.

He warned the media not to cover the January 30 event and the attorney general said holding such a ceremony amounted to treason.

However, the main TV stations streamed the event on their websites and on YouTube and Facebook.

Holding a bible in his right hand at a park in Nairobi, Raila Odinga declared that he was answering to a “high[er] calling to assume the office of the people’s president of the Republic of Kenya”.

People had had enough of election rigging and the event was a step towards establishing a proper democracy in the East African state, he told a cheering crowd.

Image source Wikimedia

Kenya Elections 2017: Raila Odinga Pull Out of Election Re-Run

Kenya Presidential Election Annulled by Supreme Court

Uhuru Kenyatta Inaugurated for a Second Term as Kenya’s President

Raila Odinga’s deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka was not as the event. Raila Odinga said he would be sworn in at a later date.

Speaking earlier to Kenyan broadcaster KTN, Raila Odinga said the media ban “confirms we have descended to the level of Uganda”, which stopped media coverage during elections in 2016.

He said that his “swearing-in” was intended to “show the world that what we are doing is legal, constitutional and not something you can remotely describe as a coup”.

Kenyan journalists have denounced the move as outrageous, in a statement calling for “respect of the constitution” and an end to the “unprecedented intimidation of journalists”.

Uhuru Kenyatta was officially re-elected with 98% of the vote on October 26 but just under 39% of voters turned out. He was inaugurated in November.

His victory is not recognized by Raila Odinga, who argues he was elected by a small section of the country.

Uhuru Kenyatta also won the original election on August 8, but that result was annulled by the Supreme Court, which described it as “neither transparent nor verifiable”.

When the repeat vote was called, Raila Odinga urged his supporters to shun it because he said no reforms had been made to the electoral commission.

Correspondents say the election dispute has left Kenya deeply divided. About 50 people are reported to have been killed in violence since the August ballot.

Africa Rising: 4 Reasons Why the Future of IT in Africa is Shining Brighter than Ever

Dana R
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Africa Rising: 4 Reasons Why the Future of IT in Africa is Shining Brighter than Ever

About 500 years ago, Africa was booming. Indeed, as reported by the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper, the first European explorers to reach Africa circa 1500 were stunned and amazed by its wealth — both financially and culturally.

Why does this matter? Because Africa —the continent that was allegedly described by a certain world leader as being (to put it very mildly) home to sub-par countries with sub-par people — is on the rise again, and the world is taking notice. Except this time, instead of showcasing gold, silver, pearls, silk and amber, the spotlight is shining on Africa’s vision and leadership in the world of information technology.

Here are four key reasons why the future of IT across the world will be significantly — and perhaps even predominantly — led and shaped by Africa:

Image result for Africa Rising

  1. Population Growth

While many countries are in population decline as families get smaller and many adults choose to forgo parenthood, the opposite is happening in Africa: the population numbers are booming. In the century ahead, this will position Africa to have a very favorable and enviable “dependency ratio” (the number of working people compared to the number of children and elderly who depend on their labor and income).

  1. Economic Growth

The bulk of the world’s fastest-growing economies aren’t in Asia or South America — they’re in Africa, with countries like Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, West Congo, Ghana, Zambia and Nigeria enjoying substantial year-over-year GDP and GNP growth. Naturally, this surge is also increasing the ranks of an all-important middle class that will crave and consume technology: everything from IoT appliances to self-driving cars, and the list of technology-led solutions goes on.

  1. Innovation

As reported by the United Nations, a big driver of Africa’s technological growth is fueled by unprecedented innovation — especially when it comes to mobile technology. More than 80 percent of Africans own at least one smartphone, and the continent continues to be the fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world; outranking digital heavyweights like the U.S. and India.

  1. Increased Investment

Technology and R&D need two things: great ideas and plenty of money. A growing roster of highly educated and entrepreneurial-minded Africans are supplying the former, and tech investors from within and beyond the continent are supplying the latter. Granted, foreign investment levels aren’t (yet) at those enjoyed by other markets, such as parts of South America or Southeast Asia. However, the numbers are rising each year, as more tech investors look to tap into Africa’s enormous potential. It’s as if the continent has unfurled giant banner signs that say: INVEST HERE!

The Bottom Line

Africa’s history is a complex and unique story; one tends to be poorly understood in other parts of the world. Still, the fact remains: Africa’s rise is real, and the future of IT across the continent is brighter than ever.

The Most Financially Savvy Strategies For Boosting The Value Of Your Home

Dana R
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The Most Financially Savvy Strategies For Boosting The Value Of Your Home

If you own a property, you will want to keep in as good as condition as possible. Both for the enjoyment you get living there, but also for the value that it can add to your investment. Of course, there are many ways that you can increase the value of your home, but some are much more valuable than others. With that in mind read below to discover the most financially savvy strategies for boosting your home’s worth.

Create a driveway

One method of improving the value of a home is to create a robust driveway. This is a desirable element because it allows homeowners to keep their vehicles safe and off the road. It also ensures that there will always be parking near to the house, and it can provide added privacy to a property.

There are a range of different driveway styles that you can pick from, although its best to find something that matches well with the era and style of the home you have. That means for older more characterful houses, driveways laid with gravel can work best. While more modern homes can suit concrete driveways better. Something that you will need to use square edge road forms to create in your property. After all, you want it to look good as well as serve a practical purpose.

Improve the frontage

Next, a strategy that can increase the value of your home very simply is to improve the frontage.

This means painting, or having the bricks or stone at the front of the house cleaned to look their best. Also, remember to trim down any climbing plants, so they look neat and under control.

In addition, paying attention to the quality and condition of the window frames at the front of your property is always a good idea. Make sure that they are clean and freshly painted to improve the overall effect.

Add an extra room

Adding an extra room to your home is something that most folks know can increase their value. However, it is important that you consider this option carefully before doing ahead.

In particular, you need to think about where that extra room will be located and what it will be used for. The reason for this is because rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms nearly always add additional value to a home when you come to sell it.

However, additional living space such as living room and games rooms might not always do this, Unless you are working with a particularly small area, to begin with, and the extension is created to be sympathetic to the original building.

Spruce up the decoration

Last, of all, remember that very basic improvements in the interior decor of a house can raise its value. Bear in mind that to sell, it helps to ensure a property is finished to a high standard in the most neutral of decor.

living-room

Picture here

Of course, doing this can work very well for you if you are living there at the moment too. This is because it means you will have a clean, calm space to enjoy that is also a fantastic investment for the future.

Russia Accuses US of Election Meddling

Diane A. Wade
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Russia Accuses US of Election Meddling

Russia suggests that an expected US report that could sanction Kremlin-linked oligarchs is an attempt to influence its March presidential election.

The treasury department report is expected to detail the closeness of senior Russian political figures and oligarchs to President Vladimir Putin, who is standing for re-election.

US officials accuse Russia of meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.

President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the forthcoming report would be analyzed.

During 2017, President Donald Trump enacted new sanctions on Russia but he accused Congress of overreaching itself and preventing him from easing penalties on Russia in the future.

President Trump has repeatedly rejected any allegations that his campaign staff colluded with Russia to help him defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton at the November 2016 presidential election.

The allegations voiced by the US intelligence community are currently being investigated by Congress and Robert Mueller.

Dmitry Peskov said the US report was a “direct and obvious attempt to influence the elections” on March 18.

However, the spokesman added that he was sure the list would not affect the vote.

Russia Election Hacking: Robert Mueller Likely to Interview Donald Trump

Donald Trump: “President Putin Feels Insulted by Allegations of Russian Interference in US Election”

The Kremlin has pledged to help limit further damage to Russian oligarchs and businesses that could be on the list.

In 2018, President Vladimir Putin reportedly met top businessmen behind closed doors to discuss the issue.

Vladimir Putin is seen as the clear favorite to win the March elections.

His main opposition rival, Alexei Navalny, has been barred from standing in the race.

Alexei Navalny was briefly detained during a protest rally on January 28.

The US treasury department has to finalize the document on January 29, after which it is expected to hand the report over to Congress.

It is not known whether the names of those on the list will be publicly revealed or kept secret or indeed how many people and entities are on the list.

Being on the list does not automatically trigger sanctions but such penalties could be activated any time later by the United States.

Grammys 2018: Bruno Mars Wins Six Trophies, Including Top Three Prizes

Sonia Pantiss
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Grammys 2018: Bruno Mars Wins Six Trophies, Including Top Three Prizes

Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar were the biggest winners at this year’s Grammys ceremony grabbing most of the awards.

Bruno Mars took the album of the year trophy that most critics assumed would go to Kendrick Lamar’s rap tour de force, Damn.

However, Kendrick Lamar dominated the rap categories.

Alessia Cara won best new artist – making her the only female artist to win a major prize.

Female stars were overlooked, with only 17 awards (out of a total of 86) going to women or female-fronted bands.

The imbalance was particularly incongruous on a night that highlighted the #TimesUp and #MeToo campaigns.

Image source Flickr

Grammys 2016: Taylor Swift Becomes First Woman to Win Album of the Year Twice

Most performers arrived for the show wearing a white rose to symbolize their support for the movements, which tackle harassment and inequality.

Kesha also gave a powerful, stirring performance of her single Praying, which addresses her own experience of surviving abuse.

The singer was backed by an all-star choir, including Cyndi Lauper and Camila Cabello, who were dressed in white to reflect the white rose campaign.

The night’s other pivotal moment was a tribute to the music-loving victims of the tragedies in Manchester and Las Vegas.

Handwritten notes bearing the names of the dead were projected on the stage as country music stars Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne performed Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven.

All three acts played at the Route 91 festival last October before a gunman opened fire on the audience, killing 58.

By the end, Bruno Mars took a total of six trophies, including the three biggest prizes: Album of the year, song of the year and record of the year.

Speaking onstage, Bruno Mars paid tribute to his fellow nominees, saying: “You guys are the reason why I’m in the studio pulling my hair out.”

As well as the star’s own prizes, his recording engineers won a further award for their work on the album.

Bruno Mars’ victory robbed Kendrick Lamar’s more urgent, political album of the night’s main prizes – but the Compton-born star still took home five trophies, including best rap album, best rap song and best rap performance.

Kendrick Lamar’s victories came at the expense of rap veteran Jay-Z and his soul-baring album 4:44.

Jay-Z won none of his eight nominations and chose not to perform at the three-hour show. However, Kendrick Lamar tipped his hat to the elder star, declaring “Jay for president!” as he collected the best rap album award.

The night also saw performances from Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Pink and Patti LuPone, who sang Evita’s Don’t Cry For Me Argentina as part of a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Ed Sheeran, who could not attend the ceremony, won two prizes – best pop vocal performance for Shape Of You and best pop album for Divide.

There were also posthumous awards for Leonard Cohen and actress Carrie Fisher, who won best spoken word album for the audio version of her memoirs, The Princess Diarist.

Ingvar Kamprad, Man Who Founded IKEA, Dies Aged 91

Clyde K. Valle
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Ingvar Kamprad, Man Who Founded IKEA, Dies Aged 91

IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has died at the age of 91, the Swedish furniture chain has announced.

Ingvar Kamprad – who pioneered flat-pack furniture – died at his home in Småland, the company confirmed in a statement.

IKEA said that Ingvar Kamprad was “one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century”.

The billionaire, who was born in 1926 in Småland, founded IKEA at the age of 17.

Ingvar Kamprad used some money his father had given him as a gift for performing well at school despite his dyslexia.

In the later years of his life, Ingvar Kamprad faced questions over his past links to fascist groups – something he admitted, but said was a “mistake”.

Image source Flickr

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In a statement on January 28, IKEA said that Ingvar Kamprad had “peacefully passed away at his home”.

It added: “He worked until the very end of his life, staying true to his own motto that most things remain to be done.”

Ingvar Kamprad eventually stepped down from the company’s board in 2013, at the age of 87.

IKEA’s designs became popular in part because of their simplicity and value.

Ingvar Kamprad is reported to have come up with the idea of flat-pack furniture after watching an employee remove the legs from a table in order to fit it into a customer’s car.

He was renowned for his devotion to frugality, reportedly driving an old Volvo and travelling by economy class.

In a 2016 interview with Swedish television channel TV4, Ingvar Kamprad said that it was “in the nature of Småland to be thrifty”.

#MeToo: Steve Wynn Resigns as RNC Finance Chair over Harassment Allegations

Nancy Clayson
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#MeToo: Steve Wynn Resigns as RNC Finance Chair over Harassment Allegations

Steve Wynn has resigned as finance chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) amid harassment allegations.

A Wall Street Journal report on January 26 alleged that the 76-year-old casino mogul harassed massage therapists and abused one staff member.

Steve Wynn, the son of an East Coast bingo parlour operator, who is now worth an estimated $3.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine, has denied wrongdoing, calling the stories “preposterous”.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel told media she had accepted his resignation.

Steve Wynn has blamed his ex-wife, whom he is fighting in court, for the “slander”. He has been locked in legal battles with his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, for more than seven years. The pair co-founded Wynn Resorts.

According to the Wall Street Journal, which said it had interviewed dozens of people who worked with Steve Wynn, he is accused of engaging in a pattern of abuse in which he often harassed massage therapists while alone in his private office.

Image source Wikimedia

#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

#MeToo: Michael Douglas Accused of Harassment by Former Employee Susan Braudy

#MeToo: Catherine Deneuve Warns About New Puritanism Sparked by Harassment Scandals

The gambling industry giant paid $7.5 million to one manicurist who alleged she had been abused by Steve Wynn, the paper claims citing court documents.

Female employees would fake appointments in order to avoid seeing him, or enlist others to pretend to be their assistants in order to avoid being alone with him.

Some would even hide in bathrooms or closets if they heard Steve Wynn was coming to their salon, the paper claimed.

Steve Wynn is also a Republican Party donor and fundraiser.

After harassment allegations were made against Hollywood executive producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017, Ronna McDaniel and other leading Republicans called for the Democratic Party to return his donations.

Now some Democrats are asking if the same rules should apply regarding allegations against Steve Wynn.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has attacked the RNC for remaining silent.

Last year, Ronna McDaniel said in a statement: “If Democrats and the DNC truly stand up for women like they say they do, then returning this dirty money should be a no brainer.”

Saudi Arabia Anti-Corruption Purge: Detainees Released After Paying Huge Settlements

Diane A. Wade
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Saudi Arabia Anti-Corruption Purge: Detainees Released After Paying Huge Settlements

Some of the Saudi princes, politicians and wealthy businessmen detained in November in an anti-corruption purge have been released.

Among those set free are Waleed al-Ibrahim, the head of MBC television network, and Khalid al-Tuwaijiri, a former chief of the royal court.

According to reports, they have paid substantial financial settlements, though the amounts have not been made public.

More than 200 Saudis were detained in the crackdown.

Since then, they have been held in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which is due to reopen on February 14.

The settlements are likely to have been costly.

Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was released at the end of November, paid more than $1 billion.

Image source Wikimedia

Saudi Arabia $100 Billion Scandal: Over 200 People Detained in Anti-Corruption Purge

Media reports suggest that Waleed al-Ibrahim’s deal may have included his controlling share in MBC – the largest media company in the Middle East.

The anti-corruption drive was instigated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman – who has been accused of using the investigation to remove opponents and consolidate his power.

In the aftermath of the purge, Saudi Arabia’s attorney general said at least $100 billion had been misused through systemic corruption and embezzlement going back decades.

The detentions – and the expensive settlements – are being characterized by the state as an attempt to recover those funds.

Many more of those detained remain in the Ritz Carlton under guard, until it reopens for Valentine’s Day in mid-February.

Those who do not reach settlements before then are expected to be sent to prison to await trial.

Meanwhile, one of the highest-profile detainees, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told Reuters on January 27 that he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing and “released from custody within days”.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal – who is one of Saudi Arabia’s richest people – said he expected to keep full control of his investment firm.

USA Gymnastics Board to Resign Following Larry Nassar Abuse Scandal

Clyde K. Valle
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USA Gymnastics Board to Resign Following Larry Nassar Abuse Scandal

The USA Gymnastics (USAG) board will resign over the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, complying with a US Olympic Committee’s (USOC) ultimatum.

The USOC earlier said the 18-member board must step down by January 31 or lose status as a sports governing body.

It outlined steps the board must take after ex-USAG doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years for abusing young athletes.

Five directors of the USAG board have already resigned amid the fallout.

Two Michigan State University (MSU) officials have also quit after the school became embroiled in the scandal.

Mark Hollis, the Michigan State athletic director, stepped down on January 26 following reports that the school knew of the abuse claims but failed to take action.

He said he was “brought to tears” as he listened to Larry Nassar’s victims during his sentencing on January 23.

Mark Hollis said in a statement: “My heart breaks thinking about the incomprehensible pain all of them and their families have experienced.”

Dr. Larry Nassar, 54, worked at MSU between 1997 and 2016 and served as national medical co-ordinator for USAG from 1996 to 2014. Nearly 160 women have accused him of abuse.

USAG has admitted dragging its feet on alerting the authorities when it learned of abuse allegations against the physician in 2015.

Multiple molestation complaints from young athletes against Dr. Nassar between 1997 and 2014 were ignored by MSU.

On January 25, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun wrote in a letter that USAG board directors had six days to resign and until February 28 to replace them with an interim panel.

He said: “While the USOC encourages USAG to think and act broadly on reforming its culture, we also believe that reform must start with an entirely new board.”

Image source Getty Images

#MeToo: Former USA Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar Pleads Guilty to Seven Charges of Assault

Scott Blackmun outlined six steps the sports body must take, including:

  • The entire interim board should be replaced in the next 12 months
  • USAG must co-operate with “an independent investigation” looking into whether the anyone knew of and ignored the abuse allegations against Dr. Larry Nassar
  • The board “must substantially discuss” plans for combating abuse.

In a statement on January 25, USAG said it “completely embraces the requirements outlined” in the letter and “appreciates the opportunity to work with the USOC to accomplish change”.

Michael Burns, the head men’s gymnastics coach at the University of Minnesota, became at least the fifth member to resign from USAG’s board on January 26.

He confirmed in an email he submitted his resignation letter on Janaury 24.

Both USAG and MSU deny there was a cover-up, but some victims have criticized both organizations for not doing enough to prevent the abuse.

Mark Hollis’ resignation from the university comes a day after the Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon quit amid increasing calls for her resignation over the case.

However, it was revealed on January 26 that Lou Anna Simon can opt to return to a faculty position and take a 12-month leave of absence to conduct research, during which time she would receive her $750,000 salary, according to her contract, which was provided to CNN by Michigan State spokesman Jason Cody.

Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, who testified at Larry Nassar’s sentencing, slammed USOC in a tweet on January 25.

On January 26, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee announced it would launch an investigation into abuse in organized sports following Larry Nassar’s case.

The committee sent letters to USOC, USAG, MSU, USA Swimming, and USA Taekwondo.

#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

Sonia Pantiss
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0
#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

Casey Affleck has decided to pull out of this year’s Academy Awards, his publicist has confirmed.

By tradition, Casey Affleck – who won best actor for Manchester By The Sea in 2017 – would have been expected to present the best actress award this year.

Ben Affleck’s brother was sued by two female crew members for alleged harassment in 2010.

The actor denies the allegations and the lawsuits were settled out of court.

An Oscars spokeswoman confirmed that Casey Affleck would not attend, saying: “We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this year.”

Casey Affleck’s accusers, producer Amanda White and director of photography Magdalena Gorka, say they were harassed during the making of the mockumentary I’m Still Here, which Affleck directed.

Image source Wikimedia

#MeToo: Michael Douglas Accused of Harassment by Former Employee Susan Braudy

#MeToo: James Franco Accused of Inappropriate Behavior by Five Women

Amanda White claimed that Casey Affleck had refused to pay her salary because she would not spend the night in a hotel room with him.

Magdalena Gorka alleged that Casey Affleck, who was married at the time, had crawled into bed with her as she slept.

Casey Affleck’s lawyers argued that the allegations were part of a scheme to extort money from the actor.

The claims against Casey Affleck have drawn renewed attention in the months since abuse allegations were leveled against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

The Weinstein allegations sparked the rise of the #MeToo hashtag, which inspired a global movement of women and men to share their stories of sexual abuse and harassment.

More than 300 actresses, writers and directors responded by launching Time’s Up – a project to help fight harassment in the film industry and other workplaces.

The initiative was announced via a full-page ad printed in the New York Times.

This year’s Oscars ceremony will take place on March 4 in Los Angeles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiVC1OuTLlM

DACA: President Trump Planning to Offer Citizenship for 1.8 Million Dreamers

Diane A. Wade
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DACA: President Trump Planning to Offer Citizenship for 1.8 Million Dreamers

The White House is suggesting an immigration plan for 1.8 million people to become American citizens in exchange for funding for a controversial border wall with Mexico.

The idea was suggested by a senior Trump aide, ahead of legislative negotiations with Democrats.

The proposed bill, to be unveiled on January 29, requests $25 billion in funds for a wall on the Mexican border.

The Democrats, who oppose funding for the wall, have criticized the plan.

According to media, the details emerged in a conference call on January 25 between White House policy chief Stephen Miller and Republican congressional aides.

Stephen Miller reportedly described the White House plan as a “dramatic concession”.

Image source Wikimedia

DACA: Top Democrats Reach Deal with President Trump over Dreamers

DACA: President Trump Expected to End Program Protecting Young Undocumented Immigrants

The blueprint sets out a 10-12-year path to citizenship for 1.8 million people.

This includes some 700,000 so-called Dreamers, immigrants who illegally entered the United States as children and were protected from deportation under an Obama-era program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The other 1.1 million would be immigrants who did not apply for DACA, but are eligible for the scheme.

The White House framework also seeks to end two other initiatives often criticized by President Donald Trump.

It proposes to curtail so-called chain migration, permitting US residents only to get visas for their spouse and children, not for extended family members.

The White House also wants to scrap the diversity visa lottery, under which 50,000 people from around the world every year win Green Cards at random.

Last September, President Trump canceled the program and gave Congress a March 2018 deadline to come up with a new plan.

He has so far rejected bipartisan proposals that have been presented to him.

Congress’ failure to secure a deal on immigration triggered a brief shutdown of the federal government over the weekend.

On January 24, President Trump said he was optimistic that a deal on immigration would be reached that included keeping the so-called Dreamers in the country.

The president added that it was an “incentive” for so-called Dreamers to work hard and “do a great job”.

President Trump has made it clear that in exchange for making a concession to help accomplish a Democratic priority, he wants the party’s backing for his signature campaign promise to deliver a border wall.

However, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer this week withdrew an offer of funding for President Trump’s proposed border barrier.

Nutella Discount Sparks Violent Scenes at France’s Intermarché

Nancy Clayson
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Nutella Discount Sparks Violent Scenes at France’s Intermarché

Violent scenes were seen in French supermarkets chain Intermarché as customers jostled to grab a bargain on the Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread.

Intermarché supermarkets offered a 70% discount on Nutella, bringing the price down from €4.50 to €1.40.

Police were called when people began fighting and pushing one another.

One customer told French media: “They are like animals. A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a bloody hand.”

Image source Wikimedia

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A member of staff at one Intermarché store in central France told the regional newspaper Le Progrès: “We were trying to get in between the customers but they were pushing us.”

Similar scenes have been reported across France, with some being described as “riots”.

According to the producer, some 365 million kilos of the hazelnut chocolate spread is consumed every year in 160 countries around the world.

Nutella was created by the Ferrero family in the 1940s in the Piedmont region of Italy, which is famed for its hazelnuts.

Ferrero said it regretted January 25 violence, but noted that the discount had been unilaterally decided by Intermarché.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGhnOo-Xzm0

President Donald Trump Prepared to Be Questioned by Robert Mueller

Diane A. Wade
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0
President Donald Trump Prepared to Be Questioned by Robert Mueller

President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to be questioned under oath as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

The president said he was “looking forward” to it, subject to the advice of his lawyers.

Investigators are assessing if the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election in his favor – a claim denied by both Donald Trump and Russia.

Investigators will also determine if President Trump obstructed the inquiry.

The US intelligence community has already concluded that Russia tried to sway the presidential election in favor of Donald Trump.

He had previously said he thought an interview was unlikely because there had been no collusion

President Trump has called the Russia investigation a “witch hunt” and a “hoax”.

Speaking at the White House on January 24, President Trump maintained he was “absolutely” prepared to be questioned under oath by the top investigator.

He said: “There’s been no collusion whatsoever, there’s no obstruction whatsoever.”

Image source Flickr

Russia Election Hacking: Robert Mueller Likely to Interview Donald Trump

Donald Trump Believes He Will Be Treated Fairly By Robert Mueller’s Investigation

President Donald Trump Denies He Is Planning to Fire Robert Mueller

Donald Trump’s lawyers have been talking to the investigation team led by justice department special counsel Robert Mueller about an interview, and the form it might take.

The questioning could happen face-to-face, in writing, or it could be a combination of both.

As to when it might happen, President Trump said: “Yesterday they were talking about two to three weeks.”

Asked if he thought Robert Mueller would be fair, the president replied: “We are going to find out… I hope so.”

President Trump told reporters that his former rival Hillary Clinton was not prepared to be interviewed under oath by the FBI about her use of a private email server.

He also said he did not recall asking an acting FBI director about his voting record.

“I don’t think I did,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s the big deal with that.”

Andrew McCabe, who took over the FBI after the president fired its previous director, James Comey in May 2017, said he found President Trump’s Oval Office question “disturbing”.

Andrew McCabe said he told the president that he did not vote in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Washington Post.

Robert Mueller is thought to be investigating whether James Comey’s firing was an attempt to obstruct justice.

Las t week, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed by the Mueller inquiry for several hours.

Jeff Sessions is thought to be the first member of the Trump cabinet to be questioned.

Four people have already been criminally charged as part of Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a meeting with a Russian ambassador.

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has been charged on 12 counts, including conspiring to defraud the US in his dealings with Ukraine, and conspiracy to launder money.

Paul Manafort’s business associate Rick Gates was also charged with conspiracy to launder money.

A third adviser to the campaign – George Papadopoulos – pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Venezuela to Hold Early Presidential Elections in April

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela to Hold Early Presidential Elections in April

Venezuela’s Constituent Assembly has ordered fresh presidential elections before the end of April.

President Nicolas Maduro told thousands of his supporters at a rally that he is ready to seek another six-year term.

He said: “It’s the right decision. Imperialism and the right were plotting to take over the economy.”

The opposition is weakened and divided and many of Nicolas Maduro’s main potential challengers are in self-imposed exile or in jail.

However, former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said the government was so unpopular that it could lose the vote.

He tweeted, urging the opposition to unite to save democracy: “The government and its leaders annoy the majority of Venezuelans.”

Henrique Capriles cannot stand in the presidential vote as he was banned from public office for 15 years in April for mismanaging public funds as governor of Miranda state.

He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges were politically motivated.

Image source Wikipedia

Venezuela’s Main Opposition Parties Banned from 2018 Presidential Election

Venezuela: Henrique Capriles Leaves Opposition Coalition

Nicolas Maduro said the presidential poll would go ahead “with or without the opposition”.

Meanwhile, the former speaker of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Henry Ramos Allup, said the decision to call an early vote was in retaliation against recent EU sanctions against senior government officials.

Henry Ramos Allup accused the government of usurping the people’s legitimate power with the creation of the Constituent Assembly which effectively bypassed the National Assembly.

The election for the Constituent Assembly was boycotted by the opposition.

The country has for several years struggled with shortages of basic items, including food staples and medication.

President Maduro says foreign nations, and especially the US and Spain, are leading a campaign to bring down Venezuela’s socialist government.

The opposition blames corruption and the policies of the Socialist Party, which has been in power since 1999, for rampant violence and the collapse of the economy.

Nicolas Maduro was elected in April 2013 to succeed his mentor, the late Hugo Chavez, who died of cancer.

The president has urged Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to “fix the earliest possible date” to hold the poll.

Nicolas Maduro told his supporters in Caracas: “Let’s get over with this, win the president poll and put an end to the imperialist threat.

“It it was for me, the election would be held next Sunday.”

6 Steps for Moving Across the Country Stress Free

Dana R
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6 Steps for Moving Across the Country Stress Free

The prospect of moving across the country is not an easy choice; you have to take into consideration several moving pieces – quite literally – and so many details that need to be dealt with. However, if you know that moving cross country is the best course of action for you – due to a new job or better opportunities – here are moving steps that can help make the process that much smoother and stress free. Like any other major project you undertake, the secret to pulling off moving across the country is breaking the process up into smaller pieces or steps. Of course, it’s generally recommended to start the planning phase by getting in touch with cross country moving companies.

Step 1: Get Rid of Extra Stuff

Anything that is not sentimental or necessary has to go – no matter how painful the process will be. If your couch has stains or broken springs, it’s time you consider getting a new one, and the time to do so is after you have moved. Get rid of linens, old clothes, even artwork that you have not hung on your walls in a long time, and the board games you haven’t dusted off in years.

You don’t need to carry everything you own, so the more you can cut down, the easier it will be when you move. If you’re having trouble parting with some of your possessions, consider moving as a great excuse for starting a new chapter in life. For example, if you start out with new furnishings, it’s a great way to turn the page.

Step 2: Make Sure Everything is Clean

Before you pack anything in a box, ensure that you wipe it. This process may take a long time, but you will love having everything clean and nice as you unpack in your new home.

Step 3: Make Use of Strong Packing Material

When your stuff is put in a moving truck, you have no idea how many bumps the truck will hit or even the number of sharp turns on the route. It will get rough in there, so protecting your items by packing them in sturdy material with lots of padding is always a good idea. You could also use plastic bins in place of cardboard boxes; they are generally more durable and waterproof, and you can reuse them later once you get to your new home, making the move a little greener in the process.

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Step 4: Label Everything

When you make your move more complicated, your items will likely to get lost in the maze. The best solution is to start early by keeping a detailed inventory list of boxes you have and the items in each box. This might sound like more work, but you’ll appreciate the value of documentation in case something is missing.

Additionally, once you arrive to a new city, life will be overwhelming at first. Therefore, having a list of your items once you arrive there will be a good tactic for reducing stress.

Step 5: Consider Your Mode of Transportation

If you have a car and intend to bring it along with you, you have the option of driving it to your new destination along with the moving truck or hiring the services of a company like Executiveautoshippers.com. You can also hire movers to load up and drive the moving truck for you, and they will even pack and unpack your stuff at an extra fee.

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Step 6: Plan Your Route

It’s never fun getting lost in the middle of a move. Even though you can rely on GPS, make sure that you map out your route early, before the move. It doesn’t hurt to print out a detailed map, door-to-door, from your current location to your destination.

London’s Top Property Area ripe for the picking

Clyde K. Valle
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London’s Top Property Area ripe for the picking

As the UK housing market surpasses £6tn for the first time, it’s the perfect moment to share in the opportunities that London’s prosperous housing market has to offer. With an unquestionable track-record as an area of great investment, those with an interest in property and the ability to enhance their current property portfolio would be wise to consider Mayfair given its standing in the prime property market and current price-decreases.

Homes in the district are currently sat at an average of 15% below their peak, three years ago, causing industry experts to suggest that there has not been a better moment to consider investment in the last three decades. Mayfair estate agents, Wetherell, commented that ‘over the past 35 years we have seen Mayfair flourish and we haven’t seen a better time for investors in residential property for many a year. Whilst the price of property is low, the volume remains high, and in an area as renowned as Mayfair, opportunities such as this don’t last long.’

In the past three decades, house prices in London have tripled, with an almost continuous pattern of growth enforcing a trend that many prospective home owners and investors were unconvinced would ever come to an end. However, amidst Brexit fuelled uncertainty, increases in stamp duty for second home owners and those investing in property over £1M, increased supply in housing given a significant effort to shift from commercial to residential property and changes in financial regulations which have discouraged large mortgage lending, a downfall in prices has occurred and is affecting properties In the top 5-10%, most significantly.

Image source Wikimedia

Mayfair has recently undergone a rebirth in a manner similar to that witnessed in neighbouring Knightsbridge. In compliance with the ‘Considerate Contractors Scheme,’ implemented by the City of Westminster, it has seen the addition of 410 homes over the course of the past decade, with some 160 apartments currently under construction. What sets Mayfair apart from other prime London locations? Arguably its ability to modernise, adapting to social and political changes as necessary. From the Second World War, where large properties were converted into offices for matters of preservation, to the 21st century, where its apartments appeal to its increasingly youthful, affluent and educated clientele.

Mayfair promises long-term investment potential with a rich history to back it up. It has seen a 72% rise in average price per square foot, compared with 65% across the rest of prime central London. Demonstrating stability in the buy to let market, gross yields have remained at a consistent rate of 3% since the economic downturn, with a noted increase in those seeking to rent. In addition, Mayfair property values have consistently topped every other asset class since 2004, aside from gold. This includes property throughout the rest of prime central London and the FTSE index.

With a make-up of over 5100 permanent residents of more than 42 nationalities, Mayfair maintains its position as an internationally renowned location for those seeking a high standard of living, access to good schooling, a rich cultural scene, short commute distances and great long-term investment opportunities. The coming of the Elizabeth Line in 2018 is only set to enhance the area’s desirability, driving further interest in the area. It’s a buyer’s market in Mayfair and now is the time to invest.

 

Neil Diamond Cancels March Tour Dates After Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Sonia Pantiss
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Neil Diamond Cancels March Tour Dates After Parkinson’s Diagnosis

Neil Diamond has canceled his March tour dates for Australia and New Zealand after a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

The singer, who turns 77 on January 24, was midway through his 50th anniversary tour.

In a statement, Neil Diamond said he took the decision “with great reluctance and disappointment”.

The singer said: “I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years.

“My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows.”

Image source Wikimedia

Rev. Jesse Jackson Reveals Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis

Study: Parkinson’s Disease May Be Caused by Gut Bacteria

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition in which the brain becomes damaged. It can lead to tremors, difficulty moving, speech changes and eventually memory problems.

Neil Diamond hopes to continue writing and recording for some time to come, a post on his website reads.

“My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world,” he said.

“You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement.”

Neil Diamond, who has sold over 130 million albums worldwide, is set to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy Awards on January 28.

How To Become A Success

Dana R
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How To Become A Success

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Everyone wants to be a success in their lives. Whether it be taking on the world of business, finding ourselves a family to love or becoming that person we’ve always wanted to be.

Success doesn’t come easy, it takes a huge amount of hard work and dedication. There are people all over the world who spend every minute of every day striving for what they believe in and getting what they want out of life, so why can’t you?

If you have no idea where to start, here are some ways to become successful this year…

  1. Focus on commitment

If you look at some of the most successful people in the world such as Saʿud ibn Saqr al-Qasimi, Bill Gates and Richard Branson… they all have one thing in common: they are totally committed to what they believe in. Are you willing to sacrifice your time and resources to get what you want out of life? It’s not enough to be motivated to do things, you need to show that you are totally committed to the cause.

  1. Seek knowledge

The way that many successful people stay focused and willing to work is by always learning more about their subject. There is always more that you can learn about in life, and it is the willingness to explore and experiment in the field which will keep you afloat and help you truly immerse yourself into this world.  You need to stay in the mentality that the discovery is just as fun as getting the results. If you keep this frame of mind you will be much more likely to succeed.

  1. Make it fun

Just because you might be working incredibly hard to get what you want doesn’t mean it can’t be fun along the way. It is your life and your decisions, make sure that you make the most of it and have a little fun with everything as you go. You will find that your motivation will stay much higher if you have some fun with your work.

  1. Get rid of negative thoughts

It can be incredibly difficult to shake those nagging doubts which creep up when you are trying to work towards your dream. Thoughts which compromise the way we think can be dangerous and will be able to affect the way we feel and our motivation to carry on with work. Make sure to put these thoughts on the back burner and focus on everything which is positive about what you are doing right now.

  1. Use your imagination

Once you have rid all of those negative thoughts from your mind, you will want to get your imagination involved in everything. Set yourself a challenge to think of everything in a positive way for a few days. It can be difficult to put a positive spin on a difficult boss or a late bus, but if you use your imagination to think of what that person taught you and the fresh air to chain by being outside, you will start to feel much better even if the situation hasn’t changed! This can be what sets you apart from everyone else because you learn the ability to put a positive spin on situations and make the most out of what you have. This will in turn help you keep that motivation to get what you want in life.

  1. Be hard on yourself

You will probably notice that most of the articles out their about life tell yo tos top being so hard on yourself, however that might be exactly the kick up the butt you need to take action. In order to motivate yourself to do better in life you need to start acting hard on yourself. Think about all of the times you have throughout about working out or cooking a healthy meal and instead have stayed at home and eaten a takeaway. This is the time you need to look at yourself and take some action. Force yourself to buy a piece of clothing which is a tiny bit too small. Try it on every single day as a reminder of your goals and you will find that you reach it much more easily. The trick is to blackmail yourself in a way so that you will do what you need to do in order so stay successful.

  1. Get rid of distractions

When you sit down to work on your project or learn something new, put the phone away and on silent. The last thing you want is to be distracted by the thought of answering text messages or checking your Facebook. Think about how much time scrolling through your phone can take up, when you could have been working on what you want and honing your skills. Make sure though that you do leave yourself enough time to relax and reset in the evening before you go to bed.

  1. Don’t rely on others

Although it’s amazing to have your partner, your family and your friends there to support you during achieving your goals, you cannot rely on them to make you do it. Don’t let your partner be the one who has to remind you to workout or write another page of your book, you need to be your own motivation.

  1. Plan

It is always important to plan out everything in our lives and take the time to give ourselves reminders. Try to always be three steps forward from where you are, and plan for when you will be spending time on your project. It is incredibly important to plan out and write ourselves a weekly calendar to schedule in the time to complete these tasks within it. It could even be a great idea for you to start a bullet journal to keep yourself on track. It I’ll allow you to set yourself weekly goals and also daily tasks to complete to keep you motivated and so that you always know what you need to be doing on any given day.

  1. Protect yourself from burnout

It is very easy to be motivated for a couple of weeks and feel as if you have nailed this habit, and then end up burning out and quitting altogether. It is a sad fact that this often happens to us, and is often the downfall of many New Year’s resolutions. If you don’t protect yourself from burning out you will never be able to succeed and all of your goals will end up being forgotten.

You need to recognise when it is time to step back and take a rest from your work. Resting is almost as important and completing the task itself because your body needs that time to compute all of the information you have fed it as well as reset and refresh for the next day. If we don’t give our mind and body the time to rest, it doesn’t matter how motivated we are. Our body and mind will eventually both shut down due to fatigued and you will not be able to do anything at all.

Make sure that you always work to the best of your ability and make the time you have to work on it productive. There’s no point booking out an hour in your day and then just sitting there staring at your yoga mat or your computer. Plan out what needs to be done and then once you have completed what you wanted to do, shut the computer down and have a rest.

Arrested For Feeding The Homeless. How Can This Be A Crime?

Dana R
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Arrested For Feeding The Homeless. How Can This Be A Crime?

The ever growing problem of homelessness in America is at an all time high, with record breaking figures staring at us right in the face. There is little action being done to help the state of our streets as we walk by thousands of lonely, cold and poor people who are forced to reside on our roads. Each evening, it has been quoted by the National Alliance to End Homelessness that over five hundred thousand people are forced to sleep outside or seek out an alternative overnight arrangement, whether that is an emergency support shelter or a transitional housing unit. This is no way for anybody to live and it is safe to say that homeless people are being treated poorly in this day and age.

The world is developing at an astounding rate and even with billions of dollars being shelled out on new technologies and buildings there still doesn’t seem to be enough money in the budget to help out those who are struggling each and every day. The problem is quite simple appalling and America is doing little or nothing to address the escalating disaster. With the cost of living increasing each and every second it is becoming more and more difficult for people to keep up with rental payments. No matter how hard people are attempting to make ends meet, they are simply being forced to spend their time on the streets as nobody is around to listen to them.

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Over the years there have been inhumane laws passed, which have made it illegal to sleep in public places, live in vehicles and share food. The hard work from teams at Habitathm.ca are trying to create homes for those who need it, but no matter how hard these companies try and do good for the country, the laws are stopping every day people from helping those in need on the streets. Ending the the bout of homelessness is a long-term and complex problem which can only become better over time. More money and effort needs to go into financing these groups who are helping to build safe shelters and homes for people.

In the colder states it is becoming increasingly disturbing at the number of health issues that homeless people are facing, due to adverse weather conditions. Some states are even issuing fines and carrying out arrests for those who are feeding the homeless without permission. These places include Daytona Beach, Atlanta and Houston. But what sort of world are we living in where we can’t offer kind gestures and help those who are suffering? Activists are infuriated that they are no longer allowed by law to help the local people they come across on the streets every day. Just a few days ago a group of twelve people called ‘Break The Ban’ were arrested in broad daylight for feeding their city’s homeless population.

Ultimately, these groups will keep fighting for the cause they believe in and it will be up to the states whether they become more lenient with their laws and allow them to carry out dutiful gestures to those who are most in need.

What To Do After a Car Accident

Dana R
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What To Do After a Car Accident

carcar-accident

Very few people know what to do after surviving a car accident. Doing the right thing after an accident can mean the difference between having a straightforward claim or having one that will drag on for months. You need to know what the insurance provider expects from you if you want to do the right thing. One thing you should NOT do, according to Andy Ellis, an experienced car accident attorney in Los Angeles, is accept money from the insurance company before you’ve spoken to a lawyer.

Here are some of the things that you should do after being involved in a car accident:

Assess the Damage

You need to perform a quick assessment of the accident scene to see the damage your car has sustained. Even if the impact happened at low speed, you should not assume that the damage is minimal. Make sure that you look for dents, leaks, and cracks that were not there before the accident.

If there is little damage and you see no need to involve lawyers, you should come to an agreement with the other party and settle the issue. However, if you have sustained some injuries that need medical attention, you might have to involve attorneys such as Buffalo personal injury lawyers. Make sure that you seek treatment immediately even if you think that the injury is minor.

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Call the Police

If you cannot resolve the issue, you should call the police. The officer will help you to assess the damage and tell you who is at fault. However, for the police officer to give an accurate account of what happened, you should not move the vehicles. Moreover, you need to contact your insurance agent for advice on what to do.

If you have a camera or a good camera phone, you should take pictures of the scene and make sure that you capture the damage. Before deciding to leave the cars alone, you should scan the area to ensure that it is safe to wait there. If you are hindering traffic, you might have to move the cars to the side of the road – make sure that you take plenty of pictures before moving them.

Report the Accident to Your Insurer

Once you have all the necessary information from the scene, you should formally alert your car insurance provider. Depending on their assessment, you will be told whether you can drive to the nearest authorized garage or call a tow truck to remove your car from the scene of the accident. Your insurance provider will send an insurance claim adjuster to evaluate the value of damage to your vehicle.

Keep Track of Your Treatment

You should write down the names of any doctor who treats your injuries after the accident. You also have to keep track of the medication that you take and the treatments you receive. Moreover, you also need to request copies of medical bills and reports because they will come in handy when proving your expenses later.

Although documenting treatments is easy, it will be much harder to prove your pain and suffering. You need to record how the injuries have affected your daily life: family life and missed workdays.

Filing a Claim

You need to file a motor insurance claim if you want to get compensation for damages. Once you fill in the form, you should attach the necessary documents before sending it back: copy of your driver’s license and the police report. Hiring an attorney is necessary because you might not know what to do at this point, but an attorney does.

An accident attorney can help you get the maximum settlement. If you do not have money to hire a lawyer, do not worry because most accident lawyers work on contingency – you pay them if you win the case.

Creating an Effective Human Resource Development Plan

Dana R
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Creating an Effective Human Resource Development Plan

Human resource departments play a critical role in helping organizations achieve their core business goals, as well as creating efficiency in all aspects of business operations. The career in itself is a rewarding, albeit daunting task. Being able to undergo plenty of roles require extensive knowledge on a variety of fields. If you’re thinking of getting into the profession, you can get ahead with a human resources mba and you’ll surely be up for the tasks in demand. Just as it’s crucial to have a clear strategic vision and business plan, organizations also need an effective human resource development plan to get everyone ready to execute their key business strategies and achieve their goals.

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Every organization’s HR department plays a key role in preparing current staff and anticipating human resource needs and requirements as they arise. What are the proven steps inf creating an effective human resource development plan?

Assess the Entire Workforce

When it comes to strategic human resource planning, organizations must first identify their current employees’ skills, abilities and level of knowledge. A good understanding of their individual strengths, education levels, professional certifications, additional training and capabilities will form the basis of your HR development plan. Ask yourself: Do they have talents that could benefit your business?

It’s advisable to have an interactive system that helps you track employee roles, performance, training and career progress. According to Accuchex, a workforce management solutions provider, effective human resource management within an organization depends on the ability to focus on systems and policies like California labor laws breaks, which go a long way in helping organizations improve and develop their workforce.

Provide Skill-Based Training

There is a huge difference between having qualified employees and having a winning team that delivers. How can you develop employees to be problem solvers, industry experts, innovative thinkers and excellent communicators? Skill-based training is the key to achieving a productive workforce. You’ll need to evaluate their abilities and level of experience and then create a simple action plan based on progressive training to help them achieve their career objectives.

For instance, you could enroll your accounting department on training programs like financial policy and advisory services. The importance of training and development cannot be overstated; whether you opt for on-the-job training conducted by qualified supervisors or highly specialized training, it’s important to understand that your organization’s success in the marketplace is dependent on your employees’ abilities to function efficiently and effectively.

Draft a Succession Plan for Your Organization

Change is inevitable in any HR development plan. To avoid any disruptions in business operations, it’s important to create a clear succession plan in your different organizational departments. Whether there’s a shift in top executive management or you’re reorganizing departments, it’s important to be prepared.

To do so, identify all critical roles in your organization and current employees with qualified skills needed to immediately fill up those positions in case an employee leaves. Depending on your business culture, a succession plan can be developed in consultation with employees directly or behind the scenes. Such plans should also be backed by a strong recruitment process.

Perform a Gap Analysis

Performing a gap analysis helps your organization identify all the resources available to your business and those that will be needed in the future, so you can make improvements. The analysis should focus on your human resource practices and infrastructure to determine areas where your business is falling short.

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The results of a gap analysis will help your organization introduce new business practices like job evaluations, performance reviews, departmental evaluations, development programs and other tasks to help you achieve better performance. A gap analysis should regularly be conducted, so you can reassess your strategy to make changes when necessary.

Be Ready for the Future

As your organization grows, so will your HR and staffing needs. Ask yourself: is your workforce productive enough? Do you need more employees? Do they have the skills needed to remain competitive and help you achieve your goals? The answers to these questions lie in learning how to promote and recruit from within. As you think of what new roles your business needs and who can fill them, keep in mind that human resource development is an ongoing process.

Government ShutDown: Federal Workers Unable to Report for Work

Diane A. Wade
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Government ShutDown: Federal Workers Unable to Report for Work

The majority of federal workers will be unable to report for work on January 22, as the Senate struggles to end a government shut-down.

Some will not be paid until the stalemate is resolved.

On January 21, a rare Sunday session of the Senate yielded no agreement between Democrats and Republicans, with immigration one of the main sticking points.

Essential services will still run but famous sites such as the Statue of Liberty have already been affected.

The monument was closed on January 21, but New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would dip into state funds to pay the daily employment bill and reopen the popular tourist site.

It missed a deadline. At midnight on January 19, lawmakers failed to agree on a spending bill. The bill was not a plan for funding for the whole of 2018, but would have kept things running until the middle of next month.

Image source Wikimedia

Government Shutdown: Senate Fails to Pass New Budget

Democrats refused to back a temporary deal until their concerns on immigration reform were dealt with.

Efforts to reach a compromise ahead of the working week failed on January 21.

A vote to end the shutdown was postponed until midday on January 22, meaning many federal government offices will not open and the shutdown enters its third day.

Under Senate rules, the bill needs 60 votes in the 100-member chamber.

The Republicans currently have 51 senators, so they need some Democratic support to pass a budget.

Democrats want President Donald Trump to negotiate over immigration as part of a budget deal, but Republicans say no agreement is possible while federal government services are closed.

Republicans want funding for border security – including a proposed border wall with Mexico – and immigration reforms, as well as increased military spending.

On January 20, President Trump said the “nuclear option” of a simple majority vote was necessary to end the impasse.

It means no pay for those federal employees who are “furloughed” – on unpaid leave – even though their workplaces are not open.

Most staff in the departments of housing, environment, education and commerce will be staying at home on January 22. Half of workers in the treasury, health, defense and transportation departments will also not be going to work.

Visa and passport processing could be delayed.

However, essential services that protect “life or human property” will continue, including national security, postal services, air traffic control, some medical services, disaster assistance, prisons, taxation and electricity generation.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration said it planned to keep national parks open – their closure in the 2013 shutdown provoked an angry public reaction.

The shutdown began on the first anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration. His trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, has also been called into question.

The last government shutdown was in 2013, and lasted for 16 days.

It cost the government $2 billion in lost productivity and led to “significant negative effects on the economy”, the OMB said at the time.

This is the first time a government shutdown has happened while one party, the Republicans, controls both Congress and the White House.

January 19 vote fell 50-49, far short of the 60 needed to advance the bill. This is due to a number of key disagreements.

Democrats have demanded protection from deportation of more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjH4CLb4muw

Ed Sheeran Announces Engagement to Cherry Seaborn

Lisa.Felice
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Ed Sheeran Announces Engagement to Cherry Seaborn

Ed Sheeran has announced he and his girlfriend Cherry Seaborn are now engagged.

The singer posted their picture on Instagram, saying: “Got myself a fiancé just before new year. We are very happy and in love, and our cats are chuffed as well xx.”

Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn met in school although they only got together in 2015, spending most of 2016 travelling the world during his year off from music.

Cherry Seaborn is a hockey star and helped England U21’s win the bronze medal at the 2012 European Championships.

Image source Flickr

Ed Sheeran Quits Twitter Following Abusive Comments

In 2017, Ed Sheeran said that he’d finally had the chance to fall in love after taking a break from music.

He was forced to cancel some of his tour dates at the end of last year after a bike accident.

According to Official Charts data, Ed Sheeran’s single Shape of You was 2017’s biggest selling single.

Ed Sheeran is nominated at next month’s Brit awards for album of the year, British single, British video and British male.

Government Shutdown: Senate Fails to Pass New Budget

Clyde K. Valle
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Government Shutdown: Senate Fails to Pass New Budget

The US Senate has failed to pass the new budget and prevent the shutdown of many federal services.

A bill to fund the federal government for the coming weeks did not receive the required 60 votes by the deadline of midnight on January 19.

President Donald Trump accused the Democrats of putting politics above the interests of the American people.

The Democrats blame him for rejecting bipartisan compromise proposals.

Negotiations in both houses of Congress continued on January 20, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the chamber would be back in session on the next day to try to end the impasse.

The White House budget chief has expressed optimism that a resolution will be found before January 22.

Image source Wikipedia

US government shutdown cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion

Monica Lewinsky and 1995 government shutdown

If not, hundreds of thousands of federal workers face the prospect of no work and shuttered offices at the start of the working week.

The last government shutdown was in 2013, and lasted for 16 days.

This is the first time a government shutdown has happened while one party, the Republicans, controls both Congress and the White House.

The January 19 vote was 50-49, falling far short of the 60 needed to advance the bill. With a 51-seat majority in the Senate, the Republicans did not have enough seats to pass the bill without some support from the Democrats.

They want funding for border security – including the border wall – and immigration reforms, as well as increased military spending.

The Democrats have demanded protection from deportation of more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children.

The Republicans added a sweetener in the form of a six-year extension to a health insurance program for children in lower-income families. However, Democrats want this program extended permanently.

President Trump accused the Democrats of being “far more concerned with illegal immigrants than they are with our great military or safety at our dangerous southern border”.

However, the leading Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, blamed the president, saying President Trump was under pressure from “hard-right forces within the administration”.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders warned: “The president will not negotiate on immigration reform until Democrats stop playing games and reopen the government.”

The US budget must be approved by October 1 – the start of the federal financial year.

However, Congress has often failed to meet this deadline and negotiations continue well into the new year, with the previous year’s funding to federal agencies extended on a temporary basis.

Because Congress failed to agree an extension that would have maintained government funding through to February 16, it means many federal agencies effectively closed for business as of 00:01 on January 20.

Most staff in the departments of housing, environment, education and commerce will be staying at home on January 22. Half of workers in the treasury, health, defense and transportation departments will also not be going to work.

Handling A Traffic Ticket In Alberta

Dana R
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Handling A Traffic Ticket In Alberta

If you are used to driving a lot in order to get to and from work, chances are you are familiar with the automated traffic traps that you can find in cities like Calgary.  They aren’t everywhere, but they are in enough places so that it is possible for you not to notice that you have even committed a driving infraction until you receive a ticket in the mail that says you did.

 

You then may find out that what the ticket alleges doesn’t sound like any circumstances that occurred at all.  Fortunately, there are options available for people that would like to challenge the tickets that they receive in Alberta.  Here are some good reasons to not only challenge the ticket but use a partner that goes to court on your behalf:

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There is a discount built into the ticket payment process:

Cities like Calgary are quite cosmopolitan.  The last thing they want to become known as is the place where there are no chances for someone who may have been not guilty of something that they were accused of.  They therefore have a system that allows surrogate companies to show up in court on your behalf and argue your case for you when you get something like a Calgary speeding ticket.  They may be successful, They may be unsuccessful- but the important thing to remember is that a local court rule states that they will be compensated for their efforts through a discount in the ticket.  In other words, regardless of whether or not they are able to make your ticket penalty smaller, you won’t pay any more than the actual levied fine in most cases.

They have a professional relationship with the court:

One driver was on their way to work and had a police officer walk across the street in the crosswalk.  They got onto the sidewalk on the other side and then as the driver started forward, the undercover officer swiveled around to face them and pointed at their car.  They were pulled over and given a large ticket for ignoring pedestrians despite the fact that no one was in the crosswalk.  The officer ended up saying that their idea was to walk to one side of the street, gain the sidewalk, and then swivel around and walk back the other way.  Because their intent was to return to the street, they were a potential pedestrian again.  The person that was ticketed decided to punt and give the right of appeal over to a ticket company that worked with the court.  They managed to shrink the ticket considerably because they knew the court well and were not likely to be antagonistic like the driver that was ticketed might have been.

So if you get a ticket in Alberta and would like to fight the outcome but do not have the time to go all the way into court to do so, consider using a traffic ticket agency that can lower your fine and the number of demerits that you have accrued.

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