The ministry said in a statement: “The objective of the measure is to attract new investments, generating wealth for the country and employment and income for society, always based on the precepts of sustainability.”
However, opposition Senator Randolfe Rodrigues denounced the move as “the biggest attack on the Amazon of the last 50 years”, O Globo newspaper reported.
Maurício Voivodic, head of the conservation body WWF in Brazil, warned last month that mining in the area would lead to “demographic explosion, deforestation, the destruction of water resources, the loss of biodiversity and the creation of land conflict”.
According to the WWF report, the main area of interest for copper and gold exploration is in one of the protected areas, the Biological Reserve of Maicuru.
There is also said to be gold in the Para State forest, which lies within the area.
The WWF says there is potential for conflict too in two indigenous reserves that are home to various ethnic communities living in relative isolation.
WWF’s report said that a “gold rush in the region could create irreversible damage to these cultures”.
Chicago police have reportedly confiscated more than 5,000 guns in the city since the beginning of the year. The city, faced with rising gun and violent crime issues, has focused police efforts on making the streets of Chicago safer. So far this year, these efforts have resulted in 32 percent more gun-related arrests than last year. As police get tough on gun crime and violent crime it is important to understand Illinois’ gun laws. Legitimate gun owners can get caught up in the crackdown on violent crime if they are not up to date on the most recent gun laws.
Who Can Buy and Own a Gun in Illinois?
Illinois requires that anyone who is interested in purchasing a gun or ammunition goes through a vetting process. Illinois residents who are interested in purchasing a gun must successfully apply for a Firearms Owner’s Identification Card (FOID). The FOID will be granted to Illinois residents over the age of 21 (or adults over the age of 18 with written parental consent) who meet certain safety criteria. FOIDs may only be issued if the applicant:
Has never been convicted of a felony;
Is not addicted to narcotics;
Has not been a patient in a mental health facility in the past 5 years (unless written certification for approval is provided);
Has not been involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility;
Is not intellectually or developmentally disabled;
Is not an illegal alien;
Is not subject to an existing order of protection;
Has not been convicted of certain crimes in which a gun was used (e.g., battery, assault, violation of an order of protection); and
Has not been convicted of a crime of domestic violence after 2012.
There are other circumstances under which an Illinois resident may be denied the FOID. A complete list can be found here. Generally, if you are over the age of 21 and have no criminal record or history of mental health issues you should have no issues with the FOID application.
Once the FOID is granted, Illinois residents have a fairly easy path to gun ownership. When purchasing a gun or ammunition, a buyer must show a valid FOID. There is a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for handguns and a 24-hour waiting period for other firearms, including shotguns and rifles. These waiting periods, however, do not apply to guns purchased at gun shows.
Is Concealed Carry Legal in Illinois?
In Illinois, it is generally illegal to carry or possess a concealed firearm without a license. There are exceptions to this rule. You are permitted to conceal the presence of a firearm when you are on your own land, in your own home, or in your fixed place of business. You are also permitted to transport weapons to and from target ranges and while hunting, trapping, or fishing with a license. Licensed weapons must be broken down and non-functioning during transit, unloaded, and kept in a location that is not immediately accessible. Locked firearm carrying cases, containers, and trunks are generally accepted locations.
Illinois residents may, however, apply for a concealed carry permit. The Illinois concealed carry permit expands gun owner’s rights and privileges. To apply for a concealed carry permit, Illinois residents over the age of 21 must be fingerprinted and complete at least 16 hours of training. Illinois residents who have been convicted of certain crimes, are the subject of a pending criminal matter, or have been in drug or alcohol treatment program within 5 years of the application will be disqualified.
Can You Still Get In Trouble If You Have All of the Required Licenses?
Yes. Generally, Illinois residents who have both the FOID and a concealed carry permit generally enjoy the ability to own and carry a weapon freely. However, lawful gun owners must still abide by Illinois criminal and gun-specific laws and regulations. According to Chicago criminal defense attorney Gus Kostopoulos, “Illinois has some detailed and complex gun ownership laws. Those laws, which can limit when and where you can carry a gun, are constantly changing.” Reflecting back on his own practice, Mr. Kostopolous explains that it Illinois law makes it easy for legitimate gun owners to get caught up in legal trouble. “A concealed carry permit does not mean that you can bring a gun with you anywhere. The list of places where concealed carry is irrelevant is constantly growing. It is important to stay on top of these changes to make sure that you don’t mistakenly bring a firearm somewhere it is illegal to have one.”
Bars or any restaurant with significant alcohol sales;
Zoos, stadiums, and museums; and
Permitted festivals and parades.
See how this could be tricky? For example, in Illinois, it is illegal to carry a firearm in any restaurant that attributes more than 50% of its sales to alcohol. You probably don’t know the revenue breakdown of each restaurant in Chicago. If you walk into the wrong place for dinner while carrying your gun you could face some serious consequences. Having a gun in a bar (or qualifying restaurant) is a Class 4 Felony. While you may not be the primary target of a crackdown on gun crime, you could certainly wind up in the middle of it.
What Should You Do If You Are Arrested on a Gun Possession Charge?
The first thing you should do after an arrest is contact an experienced Chicago criminal defense attorney. As the Chicago police continue to crack down on gun crimes it is possible for legitimate gun owners to stumble into legal trouble. It is important to understand your rights as a gun owner. This knowledge can help you and your attorney fight any criminal charges you may face.
US markets closed lower on August 23, sliding back after President Donald Trump gave a fiery speech suggesting more political drama lies ahead.
At a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 22, President Trump said he would be willing to shut down the government if Congress resists funding the Mexican border wall.
The president also said he was still considering terminating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Investors are also concerned about the prospect of political fights next month, when Congress will be considering a budget proposal and are likely to be asked to raise the debt limit.
In 2013, a fight over the debt limit led to a government shutdown that disrupted the US economy, particularly in states closely tied to the federal government and its contractors.
Economists say scrapping NAFTA would also hurt business in the US, which counts Canada and Mexico among its biggest trade partners.
Retailer Lowe’s fell 3.7% after reporting lower than expected growth in the quarter.
United Technologies bounced 1.1% after a report suggested that it may be the target of activist investors.
The battle between gun control extremists and those wanting open carry have not died down but rather are no longer at the forefront of the news. The fact that President Trump and a majority of congress is republican has a lot to do with this. Regardless of how hard activists fight to get bills sent to the senate it simply will not work with the overwhelming advantage the republicans have in congress. Each president and congress has a different impact on the gun industry and below delves into some of the impacts Donald Trump has had since taking over as president.
How Has It Gone
The surprising fact is that gun gales have gone down significantly since Trump was elected president. For many people this might be confusing as a pro gun candidate might cause a surge in sales. The truth is that people went out to buy guns when they were scared that former president Barack Obama would increase regulations on the sales and ownership of guns. Congress having a majority of democrats at some points during the Obama administration influenced gun buyers immensely. Nobody was sure of when a law would pass or be voted on as many of these regulations are wrapped up in much more complicated bills.
Does The Industry Need a Democrat To Boom Again
The question becomes when the gun industry has seen a slump since the election of Trump of whether an anti-gun president would help sales skyrocket. This can be a very slippery place for those gun suppliers as supporting this candidate in a few years could all but ruin the gun industry in the country. A democratic president combined with a democratic congress could lead to much harsher restrictions or even a gun registry which violates a myriad of constitutional rights. Restrictions on bulk ammo online as well as other tactical gear could become much more extreme. The best case for those in the gun industry is a congress that is split with a president that is pro-gun rights. This reduces the chances for any extreme changes but still puts fear in people that they might be disarmed by their own government.
Suppliers Need To Focus On Government Contracts
For gun suppliers and manufacturers the golden ticket is getting a government contract to provide weapons for the US military. Regardless if there is a recession as far as personal gun buyers goes, the US seems to be prepping for military action in multiple areas. These firearms can be bought to help protect US soldiers as well as their allies overseas. Other great contract to sign is that of a law enforcement agency whether it is a county police force or a federal law enforcement agency. Hover here…
State and City Laws Still Restrict Certain Firearms
The common person does not realize that many gun laws are on the state and city level. A city can ban guns with a certain caliber or capacity like New York City where a gun with a capacity of more than 6 bullets cannot be used. A majority of automatic weapons are restricted in many states with semi-automatic guns like the AR-15 coming to the forefront of debate as multiple mass shooters used this specific gun. In states like Arizona there are open carry laws which allow those to carry their registered and licensed firearms in the street. Modifications of weapons are illegal if they turn the weapon into a fully automatic rifle as these can only be used by law enforcement as well as military personnel.
The gun industry is not exactly booming with Trump at the head of our country. With all of the conflicts and all-around shooting going on in today’s world the gun industry is sure to recover. The most important thing that can be done is more thorough psychological testing for those purchasing guns. Every American has the right to own a gun if they are of sound mind and haven’t forfeited their civil rights by committing a felony.
President Donald Trump says he is willing to close down the US government if necessary to build his wall along the Mexico border.
He told supporters at a “Make America Great Again” rally in Phoenix, Arizona, that the opposition Democrats were being “obstructionist”.
During the 80-minute speech, President Trump also took aim at the media, blaming them for giving far right groups “a platform”.
However, Donald Trump selectively quoted his initial response to violence at a far-right rally that left one woman dead.
The president omitted the much-criticized claim that “many sides” had to shoulder the blame for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
He wants Congress to finance his controversial plan to build a “big, beautiful” wall along the United States’ border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants.
However, Republicans will need the support of Democrats to secure funding for the wall in a government spending bill, which they are unlikely to get.
In his speech, President Trump said the Democrats were “putting all of America’s safety at risk” by opposing the wall. He said immigration officers who worked in the area said it was “vital” to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.
He said that, if it came to it, he would risk a government shutdown – which is what happens when legislation funding the federal government cannot be passed by Congress and non-essential services stop.
“Now the obstructionist Democrats would like us not to do it, but believe me if we have to close down our government, we are building that wall,” President Trump said, adding that “the American people voted for immigration control”.
If he wants a government shutdown all he has to do is refuse to sign a funding bill sent to him by Congress.
Capitol Hill is set to debate a new budget measure this autumn, and unless it is passed federal operations will be in limbo by October 1.
Donald Trump attacked the media in the campaign-style speech, saying reporters had misrepresented his “perfect” words in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, where Heather Heyer was killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of people protesting against far-right demonstrators including neo-Nazis.
The president accused “truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media” of “trying to take away our history and heritage” because, he said, they “don’t like our country”.
Donald Trump quoted his first public response to the violence on August 12, which was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for not clearly condemning the far-right.
He said: “This is what I said on Saturday: <<We’re closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia,>> – this is me speaking. <<We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.>> That’s me speaking on Saturday, right after the event.”
However, the president’s full quote was: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”
Separately, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has criticized the US for what it said was a “failure at the highest political level” to reject “racist violent events”.
Referring to Charlottesville, the committee it was issuing a rare “early warning”, which has been used in recent years in countries including Burundi, Iraq, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.
President Donald Trump says he is willing close down the US government if necessary to build his wall along the Mexico border.
He told supporters at a “Make America Great Again” rally in Phoenix, Arizona, that the opposition Democrats were being “obstructionist”.
During the 80-minute speech, President Trump also took aim at the media, blaming them for giving far right groups “a platform”.
However, Donald Trump selectively quoted his initial response to violence at a far-right rally that left one woman dead.
The president omitted the much-criticized claim that “many sides” had to shoulder the blame for violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
He wants Congress to finance his controversial plan to build a “big, beautiful” wall along the United States’ border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants.
However, Republicans will need the support of Democrats to secure funding for the wall in a government spending bill, which they are unlikely to get.
In his speech, President Trump said the Democrats were “putting all of America’s safety at risk” by opposing the wall. He said immigration officers who worked in the area said it was “vital” to stem the flow of illegal immigrants.
He said that, if it came to it, he would risk a government shutdown – which is what happens when legislation funding the federal government cannot be passed by Congress and non-essential services stop.
“Now the obstructionist Democrats would like us not to do it, but believe me if we have to close down our government, we are building that wall,” President Trump said, adding that “the American people voted for immigration control”.
If he wants a government shutdown all he has to do is refuse to sign a funding bill sent to him by Congress.
Capitol Hill is set to debate a new budget measure this autumn, and unless it is passed federal operations will be in limbo by October 1.
Donald Trump attacked the media in the campaign-style speech, saying reporters had misrepresented his “perfect” words in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, where Heather Heyer was killed after a car ploughed into a crowd of people protesting against far-right demonstrators including neo-Nazis.
The president accused “truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media” of “trying to take away our history and heritage” because, he said, they “don’t like our country”.
Donald Trump quoted his first public response to the violence on August 12, which was criticized by both Republicans and Democrats for not clearly condemning the far-right.
He said: “This is what I said on Saturday: <<We’re closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia,>> – this is me speaking. <<We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.>> That’s me speaking on Saturday, right after the event.”
However, the president’s full quote was: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.”
Separately, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has criticized the US for what it said was a “failure at the highest political level” to reject “racist violent events”.
Referring to Charlottesville, the committee it was issuing a rare “early warning”, which has been used in recent years in countries including Burundi, Iraq, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.
Walmart and Google are teaming up to enter the voice-shopping market, currently dominated by Amazon.
Starting with September, US consumers will be able to buy Walmart products using the voice-activated Google Assistant platform on phones and home devices.
Amazon’s AI virtual assistant Alexa already enables users to shop directly from the online retail giant.
The partnership enables Walmart to challenge Amazon’s dominance of the American voice shopping market.
Walmart’s head of e-commerce Marc Lore wrote in a blog post that the retailer plans to expand the use of voice-activated shopping across its 4,700 stores to “create customer experiences that don’t currently exist within voice shopping anywhere else”.
For example, Walmart could offer consumers the choice of picking up an order in store at a discount, or enable users to use voice shopping to purchase fresh groceries across the country.
Image source Wikimedia
Hundreds of thousands of products will be available.
Amazon has long challenged brick-and-mortar retailers by offering items at cheaper prices, often with free delivery.
Even though most retailers now have their own online stores, Amazon continues to dominate online sales, and the threat has only increased with its forays into same-day delivery and artificial intelligence-based voice shopping.
Google has been offering high street retailers a way to fight back by offering their products on its Google Express online shopping mall.
Walmart will be offering the most items of any retailer on the Google Express platform.
All users must do is link their Walmart accounts to Google Express.
Walmart has been making a gradual march onto Amazon’s turf.
In April, Amazon expanded the Prime Now same-day delivery service to include certain items like food and medicines. Now Walmart has teamed up with ride-hailing app Uber to offer online grocery deliveries in six states.
In June, Amazon accused Walmart of “bullying” its technology suppliers into shunning Amazon’s cloud computing service.
Walmart has also challenged Amazon by offering discounts to customers who buy online and pick up in-store, and free two-day shipping for purchases of $35 or more. The latter move prompted Amazon to lower its own threshold for free shipping in order to stay competitive.
Over the past two years, Amazon has been making an increasing play for offline bricks-and-mortar shops – from the physical book shop Amazon Books, launched in Seattle in 2015, to its ongoing acquisition of the organic food chain Whole Foods.
The US has hit a dozen Russian and Chinese companies and individuals with sanctions over helping North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
The move comes after the UN Security Council, including Russia and China, voted for further sanctions against North Korea.
The US Treasury said its actions would “increase pressure” on North Korea, but the move has angered China.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised North Korea for “a level of restraint” in recent days.
He said: “We have had no missile launches or provocative acts on the part of North Korea since the unanimous adoption of the UN Security Council resolution.”
This, Rex Tillerson said, could pave the way for talks between the two sides “sometime in the near future”.
The US Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 10 companies and six individuals in its sanctions.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said: “[The] Treasury will continue to increase pressure on North Korea by targeting those who support the advancement of nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and isolating them from the American financial system.”
The action means American individuals and companies are no longer permitted to do business with these companies.
China responded swiftly, calling on the US to “immediately correct its mistake” of punishing its companies.
A series of missile tests by North Korea in recent months – along with its repeated threats to carry out a sixth test of a nuclear device – have increased tensions between Pyongyang and the US.
North Korea has been angered, as it is every year, by scheduled US-South Korea military drills, and threatened to launch missiles near the US island of Guam in the South Pacific.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, threatened the isolated regime with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”.
In North Korea’s latest propaganda video, released on August 22, an image of President Trump is shown at a cemetery which is apparently meant to be in Guam.
Vice-president Mike Pence is also pictured engulfed in flames.
Rex Tillerson’s comments on August 22 appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone.
The secretary of state said North Korea had not launched any missiles since the UN unilaterally imposed new sanctions, and had “demonstrated some level of restraint that we’ve not seen in the past”.
“We hope that this is the beginning of this signal that we’ve been looking for – that they are ready to restrain their level of tensions, they’re ready to restrain their provocative acts and that perhaps we are seeing our pathway to sometime in the near future having some dialogue,” he said.
However, speaking at UN-backed disarmament conference in Geneva on August 22, a North Korean diplomat insisted that the weapons program was “justifiable and a legitimate option for self-defense”.
He said: “As long as the U.S. hostile policy and nuclear threat remains unchallenged, the DPRK will never place its self-defensive nuclear deterrence on the negotiating table or step back an inch from the path it took to bolster the national nuclear force.”
Your financial adviser’s overriding duty is to maximize your return on investment year after year. All other considerations, including the adviser’s own earnings, are secondary.
Right?
Not necessarily. Financial advisers have to make money somehow, or they wouldn’t be in business to help you make money.
Commission-Based vs. Fee-Only Advising: What’s the Difference?
One of the financial planning industry’s many fault lines opens around the question of advisers’ compensation for the services they provide.
Some advisers earn money from commissions on sales of equities and other financial products. They’re known as ‘commission-based advisers.’ They often have other sources of income, including kickbacks from the funds they recommend. Commission-based advisers aren’t always required to disclose such kickbacks, and many don’t, so it’s not always clear to clients when they’re subject to charges that eat into their returns.
Image source Creative Commons Images
Reputable fee-only financial advisers don’t take commissions or kickbacks from funds. Instead, their recurring fees (usually paid quarterly or annually) are calculated as a percentage of their clients’ total assets under management (AUM). Investment management fees typically decrease as AUM increases — for instance, a retail fee-only adviser might charge 1% on assets under £500,000, 0.75% on assets between £500,000 and £1,000,000, and 0.50% on assets above £1,000,000.
Which Is Better?
By definition, fee-only financial advisers earn money through fees only. Their compensation structures are inarguably more client-friendly. If you’re looking for an adviser that won’t nickel-and-dime you, fee-only is the way to go.
The proof of fee-only financial advisers’ superiority is in the tape. In the 1970s, fee-only financial advisers were virtually unheard of. Today, they’re everywhere, and growing more common by the day.
Why? Simple. They treat clients better and their investments tend to perform better year after year — though past performance is not necessarily determinative of future results.
Questions to Ask Financial Adviser Candidates
Now that you have a basic understanding of the difference between commission-based and fee-only financial advisers, you’re ready to begin researching and evaluating prospective advisers. Use these questions to hone in on the right fit for your needs.
How are you compensated? Fee-only advisers are increasingly the gold standard for long-term investors. Choose accordingly.
What is your investing philosophy and approach? Some advisers hew to a passive approach that seeks merely to match the market. Others use active investing strategies to beat the market. Your appetite for risk will determine which approach you favour.
How have your clients’ investments performed over time? Don’t enter into an adviser relationship without carefully evaluating their investments’ short-, medium-, and long-term performance.
Are you a member of any professional financial advising or planning organizations? A stamp of approval from reputable organizations like the Financial Conduct Authority helps assuage concerns about legitimacy and experience.
Remember, investing for the long haul is a marathon, not a sprint. You won’t do yourself any favours by rushing into a relationship with a new financial adviser.
President Donald Trump has ruled out a US withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying that the move would leave a vacuum for terrorists to fill.
Donald Trump said his original instinct was to pull US forces out, but had instead decided to stay and “fight to win” to avoid the mistakes made in Iraq.
The president said he wanted to shift from a time-based approach in Afghanistan to one based on conditions on the ground, adding he would not set deadlines.
However, President Trump warned it was not a “blank cheque” for Afghanistan.
He said: “America will work with the Afghan government, so long as we see commitment and progress.”
The Taliban responded by saying that Afghanistan would become “another graveyard” for the US if it did not withdraw its troops.
President Trump has committed to stepping up the US military’s engagement in Afghanistan, but details were few and far between.
The president said his new approach would be more pragmatic than idealistic, and would switch from nation building to “killing terrorists”.
However, Donald Trump refused to get drawn on how many extra troops, if any, would be deployed and gave no timeline for ending the US presence in Afghanistan.
Washington is expected to send up to 4,000 additional troops, but President Trump did not comment on this.
He did, however, put pressure on neighboring Pakistan, warning that the US would no longer tolerate it offering “safe havens” to extremists – an accusation swiftly dismissed by a Pakistani army spokesman.
President Trump also, for the first time, left the door open for an eventual peace deal with the Taliban, saying: “Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan.”
However, he said there would be an escalation in the battle against groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.
“[They] need to know they have nowhere to hide – that no place is beyond the reach of American arms,” President Trump said.
Meanwhile, he made it clear he expects his existing allies – singling out India – to support him in his new strategy, and urged them to raise their countries’ contributions “in line with our own”.
Before his presidency, Donald Trump was not shy about criticizing his predecessors on their Afghanistan policy. He previously supported pulling US troops out of the conflict, which began under President George W. Bush in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.
In November 2013, he said: “We have wasted an enormous amount of blood and treasure in Afghanistan. Their government has zero appreciation. Let’s get out!”
However, early on in his presidential campaign, he did acknowledge that US troops would have to stay in order to avoid the total collapse of the Afghan government.
This long-awaited announcement came after a months-long review, with the president himself acknowledging that his original instinct to pull-out had been reversed after discussions with national security advisers.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the plan, saying: “The US-Afghan partnership is stronger than ever in overcoming the threat of terrorism that threaten us all.”
He said the new strategy would enhance the training of Afghan security forces.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also praised the move and said the alliance, which has about 12,000 troops in Afghanistan, would not allow the country to become “a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our own countries”.
General John Nicholson, the head of both US and international forces in Afghanistan, said it “means the Taliban cannot win militarily”.
However, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed President Trump’s strategy as “nothing new”, telling the US to think of an exit strategy “instead of continuing the war”.
US combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014, more than 8,000 Special Forces continue to provide support to Afghan troops.
The Afghan government continues to battle insurgency groups and controls just half of the country.
At least two women have died and 39 people are injured after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Italian island of Ischia.
Rescuers are desperately trying to reach two brothers trapped under rubble after the quake brought down several buildings.
They pulled free the boys’ seven-month-old brother at around 04:00 local time, several hours after the tremor struck.
The island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, has a population of about 50,000.
Ischia is extremely popular with tourists, many of whom were out in the bars and restaurants when the earthquake hit at 20:57 – striking at a depth of around 3 miles just north of the Casamicciola commune.
One elderly woman was reportedly killed by debris falling from a church, while another body was found in the rubble of collapsed building.
At least 1,500 people have been left homeless, Il Messagero reports.
The seven-month-old boy was rescued from a family home that collapsed, to cheers from the emergency workers.
The father and two women, one of whom is pregnant, were also saved from the rubble.
Now rescuers are trying to reach the baby’s two brothers. They have been given water by the emergency workers, local media reported.
Angelo Borrelli, head of civil protection, told was quoted by La Repubblica as saying they were cautiously optimistic of reaching the boys, but warned as “more time passes the more the situation becomes complicated”.
Parts of the island were said to be without power.
A hospital in another badly hit commune, Lacco Ameno, had to be evacuated. According to local media, the injured were treated outside the building and a number of patients were airlifted to Naples.
The Italian Red Cross confirmed on Twitter they were working with local authorities.
Extra ferries, from Naples to Ischia, were laid on during the night to bring more rescue workers to the island and allow holidaymakers to leave. Dozens of people are said to have ended their holidays early and Italian media said some tourists were sleeping on benches waiting for boats to arrive.
An emergency response team was quickly on the scene, partly because additional numbers were already on Ischia to fight localized bush fires.
During the summer, we all want to make the most of the good weather, and to do that, we need to feel our best. Even though the summer is coming to an end, you still have enough time to jump into a healthy fitness routine! With this in mind, the following tips aim to keep you fit and healthy this season so you can enjoy everything the summer has got to offer.
Take a look at your diet
With so many sweet treats readily available, the summer can sometimes be a time when we let our eating habits run wild. And while there is no reason why we shouldn’t indulge ourselves occasionally, the summer seasons are a great time to take a closer look at our diet and eat lighter, healthier meals. Fresh salad ingredients, berries, which are full of health giving flavonoids, fresh fish, and lean meats are just some of the foods that will help contribute to healthier summer eating.
Fuel your mind and body
Sometimes, a good diet just isn’t enough and our minds and bodies can benefit from extra nutrients. If you want to keep your mind sharp, your moods balanced and your skin healthier, there are several supplements that can assist with this. For instance, B complex vitamins can enhance the look of your skin and hair as well as help your body to cope with stress and improve your mood. Minerals like magnesium can also boost the mood and support the body when it is under strain. In addition, nootropics have been recognized for the role they play in boosting brain power, improving mental clarity, and in creating resistance to stress.
Exercise
There’s no better time for getting outside and exercising than in the summer months, so there’s no excuses for not getting fit even if you don’t like the gym! Take advantage of the warmer weather by swimming or walking to help tone your body and burn excess calories – and make exercise a part of your regular routine. See more…
Drink adequate water
Are you experiencing headaches and feeling over tired? Then these could be signs of dehydration. The amount of water we need varies depending on several factors including our age, weight and activity levels, however, most of us require more water during the summer months. If you’re not sure if you’re drinking enough water to stay healthy this summer, use the hydration calculator here.
Don’t forget your sunscreen
While a tanned body looks great, you’ll want to avoid the inevitable sunburn that can come with summer living. If you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer or sunbathing, then apply adequate sunscreen before you go out and apply it at regular intervals.
The above tips provide five simple steps that you can take to help maximize your health throughout the summer months. Incorporate them into your daily routine to help maintain your well-being all summer long and into autumn!
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel has confirmed that his US tour with Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra has been canceled.
The star conductor said the cancelation, which came just days after President Nicolás Maduro publicly criticized him, was “heartbreaking”.
In May, Gustavo Dudamel spoke out against President Maduro’s government.
President Maduro replied: “May God forgive you for letting yourself be fooled.”
Gustavo Dudamel, 36, is the music director of both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.
He gained further fame by becoming the youngest musician to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s concert in 2017.
Gustavo Dudamel had stayed silent on the politics of his homeland until the beginning of May, when after a month of anti-government protests, he called on the government “to listen to the people”.
As the political crisis in Venezuela worsened, Gustavo Dudamel spoke out again in July, this time in opinion pieces published in the New York Times and Spanish daily El País criticizing the constituent assembly the president had convened.
Image source Wikimedia
On August 18, President Nicolas Maduro responded: “Welcome to politics, Gustavo Dudamel, but act with ethics, and don’t let yourself be deceived into attacking the architects of this beautiful movement of young boys and girls.”
The president referred to the young musicians which form part of Venezuela’s praised musical education program, El Sistema.
Nicolas Maduro also had a dig at the conductor for living abroad: “I don’t live abroad, true. None of us lives abroad, in Madrid or in Los Angeles.
“Where do we live? In Venezuela and we have to work for the Venezuelans.”
On August 21, three days after that public criticism, Venezuelan media reported that the US tour of Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel had been canceled by the president’s office.
On August 22, Gustavo Dudamel confirmed the reports on Twitter, saying: “Heart-breaking cancellation of our 4-city NYOV US tour.”
No reason for the cancelation of the tour has been given so far.
Some Venezuelan media speculated that the tour was canceled “in revenge” for Gustavo Dudamel speaking out against the government but others pointed out the high cost of transporting the young musicians to the US at a time when the Venezuelan government is running low on foreign currency reserves.
President Maduro is also an outspoken critic of “the imperialist US”, which he blames for many of Venezuela’s problems.
Four Confederate monuments have been removed by the University of Texas overnight in the wake of violent clashes in Charlottesville earlier this month.
A statue of General Robert E. Lee was among those taken down from the Austin campus on August 21.
Monuments to Confederate figures are symbols of “modern white supremacy and neo-Nazism”, the college said.
Heather Heyer’s death at a far-right rally in Charlottesville has reignited debate over America’s racial legacy.
University of Texas at Austin President Greg Fenves said on August 20: “Last week, the horrific displays of hatred at the University of Virginia and in Charlottesville shocked and saddened the nation.
“These events make it clear, now more than ever, that Confederate monuments have become symbols of modern white supremacy and neo-Nazism.”
As well Gen Robert E. Lee, who was military commander during the 1861-1865 American Civil War, a statue of another rebel general, Albert Sidney Johnston, and of Confederate postmaster John H. Reagan were taken down.
They were moved to a centre for American history on campus.
A statue of Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg, who served from 1891 to 1895, was also removed and will be considered for re-installation at another site.
“The University of Texas at Austin has a duty to preserve and study history,” Greg Fenves continued.
“But our duty also compels us to acknowledge that those parts of our history that run counter to the university’s core values, the values of our state and the enduring values of our nation do not belong on pedestals in the heart of the Forty Acres.”
The university removed a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from its campus in 2015 following a mass shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Greg Fenves added that he spoke with members of faculty, students and alumni following the deadly demonstrations in Virginia.
Dozens of schools and local governments have begun removing statues dedicated to the Confederacy, which was a pro-slavery rebellion against the federal government.
It follows violent clashes at a march on August 12 in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacists and neo-Nazis protested against the removal of a monument of General Lee.
Last week, four Confederate-era statues were taken down in Baltimore, Maryland, while the governors of Virginia and North Carolina have ordered the removal of similar monuments in their states.
Recent removals of Confederate statues has sparked backlash among an outspoken group of Americans who view the statues as symbols of US history and southern culture.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the debate on August 17, tweeting that controversial monuments are “beautiful”, adding that they would be “greatly missed” from US cities.
Watching a total solar eclipse is a rare and memorable experience. However, without the right precautions, it can also be dangerous.
The Sun’s rays are so intense you can feel their warmth from 150 million km away. That’s why looking at the Sun directly, even for a few seconds, can seriously damage your eyes. It allows ultraviolet (UV) light to flood in and burn the light-sensitive cells – causing potentially permanent blurry vision and blind spots.
Watching an eclipse with normal sunglasses provides virtually no protection. In fact, they trick your eyes to let in more light, so they can cause even more damage. But there are three easy ways to view an eclipse safely that can be set up in a few minutes.
Build a pinhole projector
The safest way to view a solar eclipse is to project it onto a piece of paper. Using a cardboard box, you can make a pinhole projector.
You will need:
A long cardboard box, a sheet of white paper, some aluminum foil, a craft knife, scissors, a drawing pin, duct tape and glue. If you can’t find a long box then try taping two smaller boxes together.
Safety measures:
Remember: DO NOT look directly at the Sun without appropriate protection, such as special eclipse glasses. Children should get an adult to help build and use this projector. Take extra care when using sharp tools like craft knifes and scissors.
What will you see?
A bright beam of sunlight will project onto the paper at the far end of the box. This is the Sun’s disc. When an eclipse occurs you’ll see an image of the Moon’s disc sweeping across your projection. The size of the image will be about one hundredth of the length of the box – so the longer the box, the bigger the projected image.
Image source Wikimedia
Using binoculars safely
Pinhole viewers are cheap and easy to make. However, with a bit more time you can get a much better image by projecting the Sun with binoculars. The advantage of this method is that you can watch the eclipse with others as the projected image is much bigger.
You will need:
A pair of large binoculars (a telescope works just as well), a tripod (or another sturdy object you can securely fix the binoculars to), a sheet of white paper, a large piece of cardboard, scissors, some duct tape and some large plain paper or a flip-chart.
Safety measures:
Binoculars and telescopes concentrate sunlight, so never directly look at the Sun with them, as you will permanently damage your eyes. Don’t look directly at the Sun without appropriate protection, such as special eclipse glasses. Keep the binoculars lenses covered until you are ready to use them as this will avoid them getting hot. Children should get an adult to help build and use this projector. Take extra care when using sharp tools like scissors.
What will you see?
As sunlight shines through the binoculars, an image of the Sun will be projected onto your flip-chart. Adjust the distance between the binoculars and the flip-chart until your image is about the size of a small plate. If it’s blurry, focus your binoculars until it becomes sharp. While you wait for the eclipse to happen, look out for dark specks and patterns in your projection – these are sunspots.
Never look at the Sun unless you are wearing a pair of special eclipse glasses. Check they meet required safety standards.
Test their condition by putting them on as you’re looking away from the Sun. You shouldn’t be able to see anything. If any light is entering through the glasses, this could mean that they are scratched and won’t provide the right protection. When you’re satisfied the glasses aren’t damaged, turn to look at the Sun. This should be the only thing you can see – a big, orange globe surrounded by a black sky.
Don’t look at the Sun through a pair of binoculars or a camera, as they will concentrate the Sun’s powerful rays into your eye. If you want to use equipment like this, you need a professional solar filter that fits tightly onto the front lenses.
The US is preparing for the spectacular sight of a total solar eclipse.
The Moon is set to pass in front of the Sun, casting a deep shadow that will sweep over the US from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east.
It is the first such event since 1918 where the path of darkness crosses both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
It is also the first total solar eclipse to make landfall exclusively in the US since independence in 1776.
People lucky enough to be directly in the path of deepest shadow (“totality”) – and blessed with a clear sky – will witness the Sun’s light blocked out for up to two minutes and 40 seconds.
Those who stand off to the side will experience a partial eclipse, which on this occasion will encompass all of North America and northern parts of South America.
There are even parts of Western Europe that will snatch a sight of the Moon’s disc taking a bite out of the Sun just as it sets.
Wherever people watch the total solar eclipse, they are urged to take care. Looking directly at the Sun with the naked eye can be dangerous.
Many commentators believe August 21 eclipse will prove to be the most observed, most photographed, and best documented such event in human history.
It will certainly challenge the numbers that saw the 2009 eclipse that swept across India and China.
More than 12 million people live in the 70 mile-wide path of totality. Nearly four times that many live within a two-hour’s drive, and over 200 million live within a day’s drive.
State and local authorities have been preparing for August 21 as if they were about to confront the fallout from some natural disaster.
Carbondale in Illinois has billed itself as the “Eclipse Crossroads of America” because it is in the path of darkness both on August 21 and when the next US eclipse occurs in 2024.
Given this status, Carbondale authorities anticipate a huge influx of visitors. Its regular population numbers 26,000 people, but for August 21 more than 60,000 extra car parking spaces have been organized.
It is not just urban settlements that will be stretched; the National Park Service has been bringing truck loads of portable toilets on to its lands.
Many skywatchers will be waiting until as late as possible before deciding where to go, based on up-to-date weather forecasts. Many of those who planned ahead will have consulted historical weather data.
This information suggests the highest probability of clear skies will be in the northwest. Madras in Oregon is a favorite.
The time of year and its position leeward of the Cascade Mountains mean it would expect a more than 70% chance of an unobstructed view of the eclipse. In contrast, the further east along the path of totality, the higher the historical probability of cloud.
The “eclipse show” for land-dwellers begins on the Oregon coast at 09:05 local time when skywatchers will see the Moon start to traverse the Sun. Totality is reached at 10:16 and, assuming none of the region’s famous coastal fogs are in attendance, people will get one minute and 59 seconds of full darkness.
The Moon’s shadow then races across the continent through 13 more states (less than two square kilometers of the extreme southwest of Iowa is in the path) – a journey that will take roughly 90 minutes.
The place that will experience the longest period of totality (2 minutes and 40 seconds) is about 6 miles south of Carbondale, Illinois.
The last region in the path of deepest shadow is South Carolina. The Atlantic coastal city of Charleston experiences its eclipse at 14:47 local time.
It is around this time that Europeans will be catching their partial view of the event.
Ireland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland see a full partial eclipse.
Other notable successes included The King of Comedy in 1983, in which he played a talk show host stalked by Robert de Niro.
Image source Wikimedia
Fellow celebrities paid tribute as news of Jerry Lewis’ death broke. Whoopi Goldberg called it “a gain for heaven, but big loss for comedy”.
Jim Carrey, whose comedy style was strongly influenced by Jerry Lewis, said: “That fool was no dummy. Jerry Lewis was an undeniable genius an unfathomable blessing, comedy’s absolute. I am because he was!”
Jimmy Kimmel wrote on Twitter: “Jerry Lewis was a genius comedian, actor, director, inventor, humanitarian.”
Jerry Lewis was born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian-Jewish parents who were both in show business.
He started performing on stage at the age of five alongside his parents.
Jerry Lewis teamed up with Dean Martin in the late 1940s, acting the goofy sidekick to Martin’s suave persona.
Over the next 10 years they appeared in nightclubs, on TV and in movies, but their partnership ended with a bitter split.
Jerry Lewis was also the host of the long-running MDA Telethon which raised many millions of dollars for muscular dystrophy.
In 1995, he became the highest-paid star in Broadway history as Mr. Applegate in the musical Damn Yankees. He also won acclaim as a writer.
Dick Gregory has passed away at the age of 84, his family has announced.
The comic legend and civil rights activist died at hospital in Washington DC after being admitted with an undisclosed illness.
His family shared the news of their “enormous sadness” in a post on social media on August 19.
From the 1960s, Dick Gregory mocked racism in his stand-up routines. He was among the first American black comedian to perform regularly in front of white audiences.
Image source Wikimedia
His son, Christian, wrote on Instagram: “It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, DC.”
He added that the family “appreciates the outpouring of support and love” but requested that their privacy be respected “during this very difficult time”.
Civil rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson paid tribute to Dick Gregory on Twitter, saying: “He taught us how to laugh. He taught us how to fight. He taught us how to live. Dick Gregory was committed to justice. I miss him already. #RIP”
Dick Gregory was a no-holds-barred comedian, delivering lines in his performances that were likely to raise eyebrows.
He once said: “A Southern liberal? That’s a guy that’ll lynch you from a low tree.”
“Segregation is not all bad,” Dick Gregory said on another occasion.
“Have you ever heard of a collision where the people in the back of the bus got hurt?”
Dick Gregory was also involved in a number of civil rights activities in the 1960s. He campaigned against the Vietnam War and his protests often involved hunger strikes.
Muhammadu Buhari, who took office in May 2015, handed over power to Vice President Osinbajo to allay concerns of a void at the helm of Africa’s biggest economy.
The president’s absence sparked numerous protests, including demands that he should resign, as well as calls for more transparency about his condition.
There has been speculation about Muhammadu Buhari’s health since June 2016, when he first went to London for treatment of what his aides said was a persistent ear infection.
Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman said he will address Nigerians on August 21.
Up to 30,000 people attended the counter-protest, The Boston Herald reported. Demonstrators had gathered at a Boston sports centre and then marched en masse to the common.
The crowd chanted “No Nazis, no KKK, no fascists in the USA!” and carried banners with slogans such as “Stop pretending your racism is patriotism”.
Hundreds of police, many on cycles, were deployed but no violence was reported. Large vehicles were positioned along with concrete barriers to prevent access to the park.
The organizers of the rally said that “misinformation in the media” was “likening our organization to those that ran the Charlottesville rally”.
“While we maintain that every individual is entitled to their freedom of speech and defend that basic human right, we will not be offering our platform to racism or bigotry,” the group wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to the event.
“We denounce the politics of supremacy and violence.”
The list of speakers for the free speech event changed a number of times in previous days. At times it included speakers who have been associated with the far right.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have decided not to attend the Kennedy Center Honors to allow those taking part “to celebrate without political distraction”, the White House announces.
Some of those due to take part in the arts awards ceremony had said they would boycott the White House reception held before the awards ceremony.
The Kennedy Center Honors recognize the lifetime contributions of performing artists.
Many artists have been angered by President Trump’s plans to scrap funding.
In his budget outline in March, the president pushed for the end of federal support for public broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Donald Trump is also mired in controversy over his response to recent violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Republicans and Democrats alike have criticized the president for insisting that anti-racism protesters were equally to blame for the violence that ended in the death of a woman.
The White House said in a statement: “The president and first lady have decided not to participate in this year’s [Kennedy Center Honors] activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction.
“First Lady Melania Trump, along with her husband President Donald J Trump, extend their sincerest congratulations and well wishes to all of this year’s award recipients for their many accomplishments.”
Dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, who is due to be honored at the December ceremony, said earlier this week that she would boycott the related White House reception for honorees.
She said in a statement: “In light of the socially divisive and morally caustic narrative that our existing leadership is choosing to engage in, and in keeping with the principles that I and so many others have fought for, I will be declining the invitation to attend the reception at the White House.”
Lionel Richie had also suggested he might not attend, telling the NBC’s Today: “I’m not really happy with what’s going on right now with the controversies. They’re weekly, daily, hourly.”
TV producer Norman Lear, who is to receive a lifelong artistic achievement award, also said he would not attend the White House reception.
He said: “It is more important now than ever that we stand up for artists, for artistic expression, and for the valiant fight that artists fight to reveal the wonder and oneness of the human spirit.”
Venezuela’s new constituent assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favor of assuming the powers of the opposition-led parliament.
However, parliament has rejected the move. President Nicolas Maduro says the new assembly will end political unrest, but many say it is a slide towards dictatorship.
Meanwhile Colombia says Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz has arrived in the capital Bogota.
Luisa Ortega Diaz said she feared for her life after being dismissed by the controversial assembly.
Once a staunch supporter of Nicolas Maduro, Luisa Ortega had become a strong critic of the president’s socialist government in recent months.
The former chief prosecutor’s whereabouts had been unknown following her dismissal on August 5.
On August 18, Luisa Ortega told a regional conference via videolink that she had evidence that President Maduro was embroiled in a corruption scandal involving the Brazilian construction company, Odebrecht.
Odebrecht has admitted paying bribes to win contracts in 12 countries, though no Venezuelans have been named.
Venezuela’s parliament said citizens and the international community would not recognize the constituent assembly’s new powers.
The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro called the move an “illegitimate dissolution” of the elected parliament.
Regional economic bloc Mercosur – which includes the region’s two biggest economies Brazil and Argentina – also condemned the move.
Earlier this month, Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely, urging President Maduro to release prisoners and begin a political transition.
The heads of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled parliament and the new assembly have been trading insults on social media.
Parliament head Julio Borges accused the constituent assembly of a “coup” while new assembly head Delcy Rodriguez – a close ally of President Maduro – denounced his “lies”.
President Maduro’s wife and son are among the 545 members of the new assembly, which was set up following a controversial election earlier this month.
More than 120 people have been killed in Venezuela’s violent protests since April.
Nicolas Maduro’s opponents want to hold a vote to remove him, blaming his left-wing administration for food shortages and soaring inflation in the oil-rich country.
Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run.
Venezuela has seen waves of violent protests, and President Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting “reconciliation and peace”.
An ally of Nicolas Maduro, former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, is president of the new body
The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud.
Venezuela’s electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated.
The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly.
The US has imposed sanctions on Presidnet Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a “dictator”.
The EU and major Latin American nations say they will not recognize the new body.
Nicolas Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas.
On August 18, the US announced it planned to look into hacking and reports that the Chinese government is steering investment into US companies in key industries as a way to gain access to new technology.
US officials will gather comments and hold a hearing in October as part of the so-called Section 301 investigation.
Penalties might be targeted against individual companies, or more wide-ranging, which will shape China’s reaction.
On August 15, China’s commerce ministry warned: “If the US side takes actions that impair the mutual trade relations, disregarding the facts and disrespecting multilateral trade rules, China will not sit idle.”
Two people have been stabbed to death and at least six others wounded in an attack in Turku in south-west Finland, say police.
Police, who were on the scene within minutes, shot the suspected attacker and arrested him.
The suspect has been taken into custody.
The attack took place in the Puutori-Market Square area of Turku. Police initially asked people to stay away from the city centre but then said the incident was over.
Finish Interior Minister Paula Risikko described the suspect as “foreign-looking” and linked the attack to the murder of 14 people in Barcelona. Finnish authorities have said, however, that it is too early to describe the incident as terrorism.
The attack was over in a matter of minutes.
Finish police said the alarm was raised at 16:02 local time and that the suspect was arrested three minutes later.
A later Twitter post by police read: “The police are searching for possibly more perpetrators in Turku.”
Finland’s PM Juha Sipila said his government was monitoring the situation closely. The interior minister and national police commissioner also said they were travelling to the city.
Security was also increased at key sites in the capital of Helsinki, where armed police could be seen at the central train station and the airport.
In the ad, which is titled Kit Kat: Breakout, a row of people, of varying ages and appearance, share a sofa and play a video game during their work break. In the game depicted, a primitive paddle moves side-to-side to bounce a ball into a collision with the horizontal bars ranged across the top of the screen.
Atari alleges that the similarity with its original game “is so plain and blatant that Nestle cannot claim to be an <<innocent>> infringer”.
The legal complaint against Nestle, filed in a San Francisco court on August 17, claims that Nestle had hoped to exploit “the special place [Breakout] holds among nostalgic Baby Boomers, Generation X, and even today’s Millennial and post-Millennial <<gamers>>”.
A Nestle spokesperson said: “This is a UK TV advert that ran in 2016. The ad no longer runs and we have no current plans to re-run it.
“We are aware of the lawsuit in the US and will defend ourselves strongly against these allegations.”
