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6 Most Trending iPhone Cases for 2017

Dana R
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6 Most Trending iPhone Cases for 2017

With the increase in iPhone demand all over the world, the iPhone accessories market has also become inundated with hundreds of phone cases in different shapes and sizes making it easy for consumers to find the right one for themselves. Among the best mobile-case stores online, www.casehaven.com.au provides its consumers a wide range of smartphone cases to suit their needs and lifestyle. I am listing here some of the latest iPhone cases that are stylish as well as user-friendly. Whether you are looking for a waterproof case or want to go all glitz and glamour, you can find the right iPhone case for yourself.

Image result for iPhone Cases
Source: www.cnet.com

iPhone 6/6S Signal Amplifier Case

Available for iPhone 6 and 6S, Mjoose smart case boosts your phone reception with the help of its active antenna technology. It reduces radiation by up to 70% and extends your phone’s battery life. It is a must have smartphone accessory protecting it against drops and other damages.

Palmo iPhone Case

This Ultra-light and fall protection award winning case gives you single handed control and increased safety with your iPhone. Its flexible silicone material allows your finger to be gripped between the phone and the case reducing the risk to fall off your hand and damage to the phone corners. The minimalistic X-form design of the case efficiently dissipates heat and reduces the unconscious stress of dropping the phone.

FYY’s Wallet iPhone Case

Made of high premium PU leather, FYY iPhone 6S wallet case is among the most selling cases available in the market. With three internal card slots for keeping valuables and a kickstand feature for movie watching or video chatting, this lightweight phone case feels like a full wallet.

JOTO Cellphone Dry Bag

IPX8 certified JOTO Cellphone Dry Bag case is waterproof and can handle a depth of 100 feet. Perfect for all sorts of water activities, the phone case features a simple snap and lock access, and is easy to keep out water, snow and dust. This bulky phone case offers waterproof protection to your smartphone while maintaining full touch screen functionality. It is designed for iPhone 6S, 6, 6S Plus.

Trianium ArmTrek Sports Exercise Armband

Ideal for jogging, running and workouts, this case is made of stretch resistant neoprene, so it easily bends, twists and folds without wrapping. Its comfort-grip with head phone and charger cutouts keeps the phone firmly on your arm during exercise and reduces fall risk. Its water resistant design protects against water and sweat. The protective screen cover gives you full liberty to use your iPhone 6/ 6S, and the built in key pocket provides space for storing your home key.

Apple Spring iPhone Leather and Silicone Cases

As of 2017, Apple has launched its new six leather and silicone cases in beautiful colors. The silicone case colors are pale blue Azure, muted brown pebble and pale pink Camellia. The colors in leather include Berry, Taupe and Sapphire. These colorful cases fit 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7. These shades give you option to color match your Apple devices.

Supvin Flowing Liquid Glitter Case

Easy to put on and clad in bling-enhanced fluid, this hard plastic glittery case protects the screen from fingerprints and scratches as well as provide easy accessibility to the productive apps on your device.

Spring Pruning: To Do or Not To Do?

Nancy Clayson
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Spring Pruning: To Do or Not To Do?

White Petaled Tree during Daytime

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/nature-flowers-spring-cherry-72473/

Every time spring comes, your yard comes back to life and everything is green and alive. However, did you also notice the excessive growth of the shrubs and trees? If you have, it may have come to your mind to want to trim them down a bit.

A general rule of thumb is that pruning your trees ought to be done during winter time when the trees are leafless. But of course, there can be exceptions to the rule. In this post, we’ll share with you some important information about spring pruning.

Pruning Your Trees During Springtime

If it is possible to prune your trees or shrubs before they start to grow, then that is the ideal time to do so and is still under the category of dormant pruning. When the trees start to bud or bloom during springtime, you would have to be more careful because pruning may harm your trees and plants.

What if the trees already have buds and leaves?

Apple tree flowers

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/apple-tree-flowers-5807/

If you prune your trees in springtime, the consequence could be that the plant’s bloom potential for that year may be affected. Another thing is that cutting the trees during springtime can make them more open to disease and insect infestation.

Safely Pruning Your Trees

If you must prune your trees during spring, then it is still possible and you can do it safely. What you have to keep in mind is that you have removed only less than ten percent of the tree’s branches.

There are two goals for pruning your trees during spring. One is that you prune so that you can remove any decaying, dying, or dead branches so as to keep both your home and the trees safe. The second one is pruning to keep the shape of the tree or for aesthetic purposes. Just remember not to cut more than ten percent of the branches when shaping your tree.

Trees that you can prune in late spring

  •       Birch trees
  •       Walnut
  •       Maple
  •       Magnolia
  •       Juneberry
  •       Lilac
  •       Flowering cherry
  •       Flowering plum
  •       Crabapple
  •       Dogwood
  •       Apricot
  •       Chokecherry

Trees that you should never prune in spring

  •       Honeylocust
  •       Elm
  •       Sycamore
  •       Oak

Be careful on when you prune these trees because if you prune them during spring, they will be more vulnerable to diseases such as stem cankers, anthracnose, oak wilt, or Dutch elm disease. So be sure to remember these things if you plan on pruning your trees during spring.

Takeaway

Pruning your trees is not that hard once you know the information we’ve shared above. However, if you find yourself in doubt and if you are still not sure on how to prune your trees or when to do so, it would be best to ask for the help of a tree trimming company so that they can do the work for you. Besides, they are experts when it comes to pruning and other services that you may require for your yard. Simply ask around your neighborhood or do a quick Google search to look for the best trimming services there is.

Salvează

Bill O’Reilly Dropped from Fox News over Harassment Claims

Nancy Clayson
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Bill O’Reilly Dropped from Fox News over Harassment Claims

Bill O’Reilly has been dropped from Fox News over harassment claims, the company says.

The network said in a one-sentence statement: “After a thorough and careful review of the allegations… Bill O’Reilly will not be returning.”

The presenter has been on holiday since April 12, and was seen shaking hands with Pope Francis at the Vatican on April 19.

Bill O’Reilly said it was “tremendously disheartening” to leave over “completely unfounded claims”.

More than 50 sponsors have withdrawn ads from his show, The O’Reilly Factor.

Pressure on Fox has mounted since recent reports that five women had received $13 million in payouts because of Bill O’Reilly’s behavior.

Bill O’Reilly, who has been with Fox News almost since its inception, has denied all of the allegations.

Image source Flickr

He said in a statement released after his dismissal: “It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims.

“But that is the unfortunately reality many of us in the public eye must live with today.”

Fox broadcaster Tucker Carlson will be taking over Bill O’Reilly’s slot, the company said in a follow-up statement.

In an internal memo sent to 21st Century Fox employees, the company wrote that the decision had been made after “extensive review done in collaboration with outside counsel”.

The letter – signed by Rupert Murdoch and his sons Lachlan and James – praised Bill O’Reilly as “one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news”.

It added that Fox News was committed to “fostering a work environment built on the values of trust and respect”.

The O’Reilly Factor drew nearly 4 million viewers per night.

The most recent allegation came on April 18 when lawyer for a former African-American clerical worker at Fox alleged her client had been harassed by Bill O’Reilly in 2008.

Lawyer Lisa Bloom said the Fox News host had referred to the unidentified woman as “hot chocolate”.

“He would leer at her,” said Lisa Bloom.

“He would always do this when no-one else was around, and she was scared.”

Media-watchers say the allegations had become too much of a liability for 21st Century Fox.

A concern for the Murdoch family is their pending $14 billion deal to buy out satellite provider Sky, which is being scrutinized by British regulators.

Earlier this month authorities with the European Commission cleared 21st Century Fox to acquire the remaining 61% of Sky that it does not yet own.

Sources at the company tell US media that Rupert Murdoch was in favor of keeping Bill O’Reilly in his post.

However, 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch reportedly argued that Bill O’Reilly should go.

The company reputation has taken a hit after harassment allegations were also leveled at Roger Ailes, the former head of Fox News.

Roger Ailes resigned in 2016 after being sued by a former Fox News presenter, Gretchen Carlson.

Serena Williams Pregnant with First Child

Lisa.Felice
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Serena Williams Pregnant with First Child

Serena Williams is pregnant and due in the autumn, her representative has confirmed.

The 35-year-old world No 2 had earlier posted a picture of herself on Snapchat posing in a mirror with the message: “20 weeks”, before deleting the post.

Serena Williams, who won an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam in Australia in January, will miss the rest of the season.

This includes three Grand Slams – the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Image source Getty Images

Serena Williams, who will return to world No 1 next week, would be eligible to retain her ranking under the WTA special ranking rule if she is ready to play her first tournament within 12 months of giving birth.

US Open Tennis responded to Serena Williams’ message by saying: “Serena Williams will have a new pride and joy to hug and call her own soon! Congratulations on the exciting baby announcement!”

Serena Williams, who is engaged to the co-founder of community news and chat site Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, is top of the all-time list of major winners since Grand Slams accepted professional players in 1968. She is second only to Australian Margaret Court on the list of women’s all-time Grand Slam singles titles leaders.

Six Easy Ways to Improve Health at Work

Dana R
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Six Easy Ways to Improve Health at Work

Since we spend so much of our time at work, it is so important to stay healthy while you are there. Many companies are slow to catch up with changing better health at work campaigns that are happening all over the world, so you need to think of a few changes that you can make yourself. Staying healthy means fewer missed health days, increased productivity and less stress. Here are a few of the ways that you can stay healthier at work.

Wash Your Hands Often

Photo Credit

Hand washing is one of the number one ways that you can help prevent yourself from getting sick. When you are in a working environment that is particularly dirty, or one that that has a lot of people in a confined space, this becomes particularly important. Try to get yourself into good hand washing habits throughout the day so it becomes like second nature to you.

Clean Up Your Workspace

Photo Credit

If you are an office worker, you will probably be alarmed to learn that the average desk harbors more bacteria than a toilet seat! Take some time out each day to organise your desk and then wipe everything down with sanitizing wipes. It also makes good sense to keep some anti-bacterial hand gel on your desk to help with the fight against germs!

Check Your Work Health Policy

Every workplace should have a policy that protects the health of its employees. Checking the steps that your employer makes is one of your rights as an employee. For example, you should be reassured that you are working in a clean environment and you are not under any unnecessary risk of something like asbestos exposure. If there is something that is ringing alarm bells, you should always speak up. Your health should be the number one priority while you are at work.

Drink More Water

water

Photo Credit

Sometimes, people are so busy at work that they forget to even drink! Always having a water bottle nearby to your workspace should encourage you to stay hydrated, which is so important to your productivity, energy levels and general health. As well as this, drinking water helps you to stay alert and encourages clear thinking.

Eat Well

healthy-food

Photo Credit

If you have a job that operates at the speed of light, you may well end up having a lunch that matches this lifestyle. Unfortunately, this often includes a lot of fast food or other meals that are easy to eat on the go. You should plan out your meals for the week, taking some time the night before to pack a healthy lunch for the following day. Lean protein, salad and fresh vegetables are all a good idea, along with fresh fruit to stave off the afternoon slump.

If you do need to snack, it might be worthwhile for your workplace to use a service like Aramark office snack delivery to get healthy snack options.

Stay Active

If you work in an office, it can be very difficult to find the time to stay active during the day. But sitting for long periods of time has been found to be detrimental to your health. Try to get up at least once an hour to have a brief walk around.      

Aaron Hernandez Kills Himself in Jail

Clyde K. Valle
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Aaron Hernandez Kills Himself in Jail

Aaron Hernandez has been found dead in jail in Massachusetts, prison officials say.

The former New England Patriots tight end hanged himself at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center and was pronounced dead later at hospital.

Aaron Hernandez, 27, was serving a life sentence for killing a man who was dating his fiancée’s sister.

Last week the former NFL star was acquitted of a drive-by double murder prosecutors said began over an argument about a spilled drink.

Aaron Hernandez had cried in court as that verdict was read, saying he was “very happy”.

His death comes on the day members of his former team visit President Donald Trump at the White House to be commended for their Super Bowl victory over Atlanta in February.

According to Massachusetts Department of Correction, Aaron Hernandez had tried to block the door to his single cell before hanging himself.

Lifesaving techniques were performed on him and he was taken to UMASS Leominster hospital where he was pronounced dead at 04:07 local time.

State police are on the scene and Aaron Hernandez’s next of kin have been notified, officials said.

State Department of Correction spokesman Christopher Fallon said in a statement that he was not aware a suicide note had been written and that officials had not been concerned that Aaron Hernandez would take his life.

Although Aaron Hernandez was acquitted of the double murder last week, he was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and the judge added five years to his sentence.

He had been accused of the fatal shooting of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado outside a Boston nightclub in 2012, one month before he signed a $40 million contract extension with the Patriots.

In April 2015, Aaron Hernandez had been found guilty of the first-degree murder of his friend, another American footballer, the semi-professional Odin Lloyd, in 2013.

Odin Lloyd’s body was found with six bullet wounds less than a mile from Aaron Hernandez’s home.

Within hours of his arrest for the 2013 shooting, the Patriots sacked Aaron Hernandez, considered one of the top tight ends playing the game.

Aaron Hernandez was given a life sentence without parole.

Donald Trump Signs Executive Order to Review H-1B Visa Program

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Signs Executive Order to Review H-1B Visa Program

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order to review a temporary visa program used to place foreign workers in high-skilled US jobs.

The order directs agencies to enforce government rules on excluding foreign contractors from bids for government projects.

President Trump signed the so-called Buy American, Hire American order on a visit to a tool factory in the Wisconsin.

The order is aimed at fulfilling his “America First” campaign promises.

However, it falls way short of Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to end the H-1B visa program.

President Trump will direct the departments of State, Justice, Homeland Security and Labor to propose reforms to the scheme, which allows American employers to bring foreign workers to fill US jobs.

“With this action we are sending a powerful signal to the world that were going to defend our workers, protect our jobs and finally put America first,” Donald Trump said at the Snap-On Inc headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Melania Trump used an H-1B visa in her early days as a model in New York.

The administration’s goal is to ensure such visas are given to the most qualified or highest-paid applicant, according to two senior officials.

The four departments will then submit their findings to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and release a report in 220 days.

In 2016, Disney was accused of taking advantage of the H-1B visa scheme to lay off American technology workers, who were forced to train their foreign replacements.

The government allows 85,000 immigrants each year through the H-1B visa program, which is reserved for foreign nationals in “specialty occupations” and is largely used by the technology industry.

The US government uses a lottery system to grant 65,000 visas every year and randomly distributes an additional 20,000 to graduate students.

In recent years, the US has been overwhelmed by applications for the program.

However, the number of applicants fell to 199,000 in 2017, down from 236,000 in 2016, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

A senior Trump administration official argued on April 17 that the H-1B visas are supposed to be awarded to highly qualified workers, but often bring in less skilled employees who earn lower wages than those they are meant to replace.

Under the new order, the H-1B visa would no longer serve as a cheap way for companies to replace US workers, the official added.

Tech companies contend the program is used to recruit top talent, but some of the H-1B visas are also used for outsourcing firms. Critics say these undercut unemployed Americans and fill lower-level information technology jobs.

Indian nationals are the largest group of recipients of the H-1B visas issued each year.

In 2016, more than 15% of Facebook’s US employees used a temporary work visa, according to a Reuters analysis of US Labor Department filings.

The executive order will also focus on reviewing waivers in free-trade agreements and whether they allow foreign companies to undermine American companies in the global government procurement market.

Steve Stephens Case: Mark Zuckerberg Addresses Facebook Killing at F8 Developers Conference

Nancy Clayson
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Steve Stephens Case: Mark Zuckerberg Addresses Facebook Killing at F8 Developers Conference

Mark Zuckerberg has paid his respects to the family of Robert Godwin, whose killing was filmed and posted on Facebook.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Robert Godwin Sr.,” said Mark Zuckerberg near the start of Facebook’s annual F8 developers conference.

Mark Zuckerberg’s social network had been criticized over the amount of time it had taken to take the clip offline.

About an hour before the event got underway, police had revealed that the murder suspect, Steve Stephens, had killed himself.

Steve Stephens had been the subject of a national manhunt.

The murder suspect was believed to have uploaded a video to Facebook showing his killing of 74-year-old Robert Godwin in Cleveland on April 16 and then boasting on subsequent Facebook Live streams that he had killed others.

Facebook subsequently acknowledged it had taken it more than two hours to remove the clips after the first video was posted, despite it having received complaints in the interim.

“We have a lot of work and we will keep doing all we can to prevent tragedies like this from happening,” added Mark Zuckerberg.

Image source Facebook

Cleveland’s police chief had referred to Facebook’s role in a separate press conference.

“I think the people on social media kind of know the power and I think they know the harm it can do,” said Calvin Williams.

“We’ve talked before about people not living their lives on social media and being truthful on social media and not harming people via social media.

“And this is a prime example, this is something that should not have been shared around the world. Period.”

Mark Zuckerberg went on to introduce new plans to include augmented reality experiences in Facebook apps, such as Messenger.

He suggested that, in the near future, it would be far more common to place digital objects in video and live streams viewed on mobile phones.

Animated artworks could be made visible at a particular physical location, for example, via the camera view of an app.

“Augmented reality is going to help us mix the digital and physical in all new ways,” he said.

“That’s going to help us make our physical reality better.”

3D filters that can be placed into real-life scenes, not unlike those unveiled by rival Snapchat, were also demoed.

New virtual reality experiences making use of the Oculus Rift headset were also detailed, including:

  • Facebook Spaces – where friends can hang out together in VR
  • avatars that are intelligently customized to suit users, based on their Facebook profile pictures
  • the ability to “call in” to Facebook Spaces with Messenger video calls if users do not have a VR headset

Facebook also announced improvements to its Messenger platform to encourage the use of bots – a facility first unveiled in 2016.

The software tools can be deployed by businesses to interact with customers in an automated manner, potentially allowing them to employ fewer call centre staff.

Facebook said 100,000 bots had been developed for Messenger to date.

The changes include:

  • the ability for users to add a business’ bot to a group chat, so several people can interact with it at once
  • support for QR codes, which can be displayed at events and be photographed by phones to activate associated bots that can answer questions about what is on show
  • the introduction of a “discover” tab to Messenger’s home screen, which shows recently used bots and ones that are currently popular with others

Messenger has also added the ability to include Spotify extensions, allowing music to be shared and played within chats, and said Apple Music would also be supported shortly.

And For My iPhone’s Next Trick…

Dana R
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And For My iPhone’s Next Trick…

Photo Source

As of last year, 90.1 million Americans had an iPhone. They have changed the way modern life is lived in so many different ways. For instance, before smartphones and apps and the internet, people used to actually write in to newspapers with a message about how lonely they were and how much they’d like to meet someone. It was published and then that person would start getting calls and going on dates. Maybe they’d find someone and maybe they wouldn’t. If not, they could try something else or put another ad in the newspaper for everyone to read. It was a slow, somewhat inconvenient system that has all but disappeared today. If it had one use it was to leave us with a wealth of witty reflections on the human condition that were no more than a few sentences long, and this was long before Twitter was invented too (check out these from the London Review of Books). In any case, you can now try to find your soulmate on a variety of free apps that inundate you with ads so that they can continue to match the next generation of Romeos and their Juliets.

Not content with changing the way we date, iPhones have taken it upon themselves to change all sorts of other things too. Uber, for all its controversy, has made a massive impact around the world and it was only set up in 2012. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter owe a lot of their popularity to the fact that people can use them wherever they are (this is especially true in the case of Twitter, which was cited as a contributing force behind the recent Arab Spring) and smartphones now facilitate over 40% of ecommerce sales. For all of its innovations, it is not stopping there and will continue to change things in the future. Here are a few things that you may not have heard is now possible with smartphone technology:

Whatever your political opinions about the NHS, you may find that it takes longer than you’d like to speak to a doctor. Companies like Babylon have developed artificial intelligence that can help you figure out what might be wrong with you and they can also set up a video chat with a GP if you need one. You can also get your prescription delivered to your house, all without leaving your phone. In terms of checking up on your health, you can use your phone to do all sorts of odd things now such as measure your own heartbeat and find out how well you are sleeping by detecting movement and noise throughout the night.

However, not all of the innovation in apps are geared towards helping people. The Global Shark Tracker app lets you track the location of sharks around the world that have been tagged for conservation purposes. If space is more your speed, there are now apps that let you track the International Space Station so you can look out for it as it passes over you. In any case, Apple’s 2009 advertising slogan ‘There’s an app for that!’ is becoming truer every day.

Stand Out From The Crowd With Your Jewelry

Dana R
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Stand Out From The Crowd With Your Jewelry

When it comes to choosing jewelry, it’s so easy to go for classic pieces which just look the same as everyone else’s. But then you will blend in with the rest of the crowd, and it will be hard to make your outfit look fantastic. And you will be surprised how much of a difference jewelry can make to your whole outfit. In fact, if you go for unique jewelry, it will turn heads when you are walking down the street. Therefore, here are some ways you can stand out from the crowd with your jewelry.

Pixabay

Pick something vintage

It’s so easy to go for modern pieces that you might find in the store when you are choosing jewelry. After all, you can easily pick something which is bang-on trend from the high street stores. However, if you want to stand out from the crowd, you should go for a classic piece instead. After all, if it’s a vintage piece, it will help your outfit to stand out. You will get comments aplenty about the stunning necklace or ring which you are wearing. And vintage is on-trend, so you can stay in the height of fashion while doing something different with your jewellery. You can either raid the thrift stores or look closer to home by asking your mom or grandma if you can use some of their old jewelry. And then you can ooze some old school glam like actress Amy Adams does every time she hits the red carpet with her vintage jewelry!

Vintage Jewellery Old Gold Chain Gold Chain

Image Credit

Opt for a unique diamond

A lot of people are walking around with similar rings on their fingers. After all, you can get the same old diamonds from every store. But while you are likely to get compliments, it’s unlikely to help your outfit to stand out. Therefore, you should opt for a custom diamond ring which will be different from everyone else’s jewelry choices. One way you can do this is by buying the diamond first and then creating a ring after with the stunning loose diamond. For example, you can get a 2 carat diamond from Diamond Registry which can then be converted into a gorgeous ring. And by choosing a unique diamond, you can ensure your ring stands out when you are out and about. Not only this but it can make your whole outfit look expensive if you have a unique ring!

Choose a color which is less common

When it comes to picking out jewelry, a lot of people go for the same old colors. After all, they tend to go for a classic black or gold. But a lot of the time it can just blend in with their outfit. So it doesn’t look eye catching and is easily missed. Therefore, to ensure you stand out from the crowd, you should opt for a bright color in future. For example, why not go for a yellow gold which will ensure you add some early summer sunshine to your outfit. In fact, the stars love to head out on the carpet in some yellow at this time of the year. Or go for a blue or purple sapphire necklace or ring to ensure you stand out from the crowd!

Image Source

And don’t be afraid to layer up necklaces or to stack up rings!

What Is Stress?

Dana R
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What Is Stress?

By now, almost every single human being on planet Earth should know that there is a link between stress and health. If it isn’t obvious, it has been spoken about at length, and there are plenty of books, films and videos on the subject. But what exactly does stress do to the body, and what exactly is stress?

Stress is how the body responds to demands. These could be demands or pressures of any kind and can be found in both positive and negative areas of life. When we are stressed, or feel pressured by something, our bodies release chemicals which trickle into our bloodstream. On some occasions, these chemicals help create adrenaline, and people find themselves performing better due to having more energy as a result of adrenaline. This is why some people at work ‘might perform better under pressure’. It can also be a huge negative, though – when adrenaline is created due to emotional stress, there can be no outlet for the adrenaline which then can lead to feelings of extreme anxiety.

What causes this stress, then? Identifying the causes of stress is a great way to find out how you can deal with the stress. Well, it comes from a lot of different areas. Physical stress is a fear of threat in a physical manner – like violence or crime. Emotional stress comes in the form of worries and pressure. Humans in most circumstances don’t have to worry about survival stress – where the threat of violence or death causes extreme stress. We might find internal stress a lot more common. This is when we worry for no reason and create all kinds of stress and panic ourselves that may or may not actually exist, or when we fear things out of our control. Our environment can cause stress due to pressure, work or other things and of course, we can suffer from being overworked. When we are pushed too hard or fail to manage our time and rest, we can build up a lot of stress.

man

(source)

In the modern day, a lot of this can come from the workplace. We can suffer emotional stress because of the internal stress we make while worrying, the environmental stress that we may suffer from because of pressures at work and the stress created by a lack of rest. All these three can combine for a nasty cocktail! It’s so easy to stack causes of stress and suffer more than ever. Stress can lead to heart disease and other ailments, it’s a big deal.

So how do we defeat stress? Well we identify the causes first and then work to change or cope. To change, we need to change our situation through our own methods or legal means. To cope, we need to adjust how we feel about the situation. It is easier said than done, though.

Stress can be a killer through it’s boosting of mental illnesses and the catalyst it provides to ailments such as stroke and high blood pressure. Take it seriously and learn to relax a little to avoid it.

Older Homes And Your Health

Dana R
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Older Homes And Your Health

Although older homes have a distinct rustic charm to them, they’re not without their drawbacks. They tend to be inefficient when it comes to utilities, and the need for regular maintenance is huge compared to modern homes. More importantly though, living in an older home can often be bad for your health. Here are three common health hazards that are found in older homes.

Mold

House Wall Drops Damp Window Rain Water Glass

Source: Max Pixel

It may not be the most serious health hazard you can find in a home, but mold is still worth paying attention to all the same. Damp, indoor surfaces, such as walls, carpets and hard floors, provide ideal conditions for mold spores to settle and begin to spread. These are invisible to the naked eye, but float on the air around us wherever the conditions are right. Any building is at some risk of developing mold, but older homes, particularly in humid areas, are much more prone to it as they tend to have poorer sealing, and fail to keep out condensation. Enough mold has the potential to cause respiratory issues, and will aggravate asthma. Allergic reactions to it are also fairly common. If you find any mold in your home, try to get rid of whatever moisture source is causing it. You can read more at Removemoldguide.com.

Asbestos

Mold can be the source of some serious health issues, but they’re all fairly benign compared to the damage asbestos can do. Asbestos is a subsection of natural minerals. Due to its strength and fire-proof properties, it has been used in countless construction projects over the past century, as a reagent of roof shingles, insulation, concrete, and various other products. Though it’s now banned as a construction material, there are still many buildings in the developed world which contain asbestos. The material is only a threat if it becomes loose, and the invisible fibers enter the air. If these are breathed in, they can become lodged in the lungs, scarring the tissues, and increasing the risk of cancers like mesothelioma, especially in a person who smokes. You can read more about his at Mesotheliomahelp.org. If you don’t know when your home was last swept for asbestos, or you’re considering buying an older house, it’s worth hiring a qualified inspector for a risk assessment.

Lead Paint

lead-paint

Source: Flickr

This is another toxic material that was commonly used in buildings for decades. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, any American home built before 1978 has a fair chance of having some lead-based paint in it. In its solid form, lead paint is fairly harmless unless ingested, and in many cases the interior paint would have been coated over many times with latex-based paint. The biggest risk is exterior paint flaking off over time and falling into the garden, where it may be ingested by pets or young children. They can also get into vegetable patches and contaminate the food growing there. If your exterior siding has lead-based paint on it, it’s generally a good idea to remove it completely.

Keep Your Employees Safe At Work

Dana R
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Keep Your Employees Safe At Work

If you have a business of your own, then you are no doubt aware of the huge importance of keeping your employees as safe as possible. The fact is that this is one of your main concerns of all, and there is a lot that you will need to consider if you want them to be as safe as they possibly can be. On the whole, it is a matter of ensuring that everyone knows what the rules and regulations are and that they follow them as closely as possible. As long as you do that, you should find that the rest will follow, but it is worth knowing exactly what you should be doing to keep them as safe as you can at all times. Let’s take a look in a little more detail so that you can better understand your role in it all.

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Easily Accessible Rules

It is clear that it’s obvious you need rules in order to keep people safe, but you also need to make sure that they are as easily accessible as possible. This means that they are located somewhere physically in the office where anyone can find them and read them at any time, but also that they are easy to understand. If anyone can’t understand them, then you can’t reasonably expect everyone to follow them to the letter. Make sure they are written as clearly as possible, and that way you are much less likely to have any kind of trouble. Moreover, be sure to have several copies around the workplace, just in case more than one person needs to refer to them at once.

Championing The Cause

Something that often makes a huge difference is if you put one person in charge of the process of keeping everyone safe. Using a champion in this way is a powerful way of ensuring that everyone follows the rules, and that they know why they need to. You might want to consider choosing someone who is particularly keen on it themselves, as this way you can be sure that they will do the job in the best possible manner. Having a champion is also a powerful way of demonstrating that you as an employer take health and safety seriously. This is useful to have in case you need to present a case to a lawyer, for example, or when you are checked externally for your health and safety regulations.

Self-Auditing

A great way of showing that you are a responsible employer is to carry out the occasional self-audit and follow up accordingly. This can be done by anyone, but it is more effective if you hire someone neutral to do it for you. They will be able to ensure that you are doing everything as a business to keep everyone as safe as possible. If you are not sure about how to self-audit, then consider hiring a professional to do it for you. You might be pleasantly surprised at what a difference this really can make.

Steve Stephens: Facebook Murder Suspect Found Dead in Apparent Suicide

Nancy Clayson
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Steve Stephens: Facebook Murder Suspect Found Dead in Apparent Suicide

Steve Stephens, who was suspected of randomly shooting a grandfather on an Ohio street and posting video of the killing to Facebook, has taken his own life, police say.

The 37-year-old man was spotted on April 18 in Erie County, Pennsylvania State Police tweeted.

“After a brief pursuit, Stephens shot and killed himself,” police tweeted.

Steve Stephens allegedly shot dead 74-year-old Robert Godwin as the victim walked home from Easter lunch on April 16 in Cleveland.

The suspect’s mobile phone signal was last tracked on Sunday afternoon to Erie, Pennsylvania, 100 miles from where police say he shot Robert Godwin.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson told a news conference: “We have closure in regards to the search for Steve Stephens.”

City police chief Calvin Williams told reporters that Pennsylvania State Police received a tip-off shortly after 11:00 on April 18.

Image source Facebook

Steve Stephens’ white Ford Fusion car had been spotted in the car park of a McDonald’s in the city of Erie, he said.

Calvin Williams said there was a brief police chase after which the suspect’s car stopped.

Steve Stephens took his own life with his gun as officers approached his vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene, added the police chief.

Calvin Williams said: “We would like to have brought Steve in peacefully and really talk to him to find out exactly why this happened… find out why he did what he did and what drove him to this.”

Steve Stephens had been added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List as the manhunt was extended from five states to nationwide.

Earlier in the day, police said that authorities had received more than 400 tips, including as far away as Texas.

The family of Robert Godwin – a father of 10 and grandfather of 14 – said on April 17 they forgave the suspected killer.

His daughter, Tonya Godwin-Baines, had urged Steve Stephens to surrender.

“Each one of us forgives the killer, the murderer,” she told Cleveland TV station WJW.

“We want to wrap our arms around him.”

“I forgive you and love you, but most importantly, God loves you. God can heal your mind and save your soul,” she said.

The victim’s son, Robert Godwin Jr., said: “Steve, I forgive you… I’m not happy what you did, but I forgive you.”

Cleveland officials had announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.

Facebook has launched a review of its procedures after criticism that the footage stayed on the site for hours.

Facebook’s vice-president of global operations, Justin Osofsky, said the first complaint made about the video showing the killing came nearly two hours after it was posted.

However, Justin Osofsky added: “We know we need to do better.”

Abror Azimov: St Petersburg Subway Bombing Suspect Says He Only Followed Instructions

Roy Siemens
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Abror Azimov: St Petersburg Subway Bombing Suspect Says He Only Followed Instructions

Abror Azimov, the man arrested in Russia on April 17 over St Petersburg subway attack, has denied he was behind the bombing that killed 14 people, Russian media say.

The suspect, who is reported to be from Kyrgyzstan, said he simply “followed” instructions, and “did not realize” what he was doing.

It came shortly after Abror Azimov’s lawyer told Russian media he had “fully confessed” to being behind the explosions.

A total of nine people have been detained over the April 3 attack.

Suicide bomber Akbarzhon Jalilov detonated a bomb between two subway stations.

More than 50 people were injured by the attack.

Russian security services previously said they believed Abror Azimov had trained Akbarzhon Jalilov, a Kyrgyz-born Russian, ahead of the bombing.

Image source AP

However, speaking in a Moscow court in on April 18, Abror Azimov said he “was involved, but not directly”.

He denied ever having confessed to organizing the attack.

“I did not understand that I was taking part in terrorist activity,” Abror Azimov said.

“I was given orders, and I only followed them.”

He told the court he was married, with one child, Vesti TV news reported.

Abror Azimov will be remanded in custody until June 3, while investigations continue.

Police had found Abror Azimov by examining Akbarzhon Jalilov’s phone contacts, Russian newspaper Kommersant said, citing sources.

Abror Azimov bought two new mobile phones and Sim cards on April 17, but gave away his location to security forces when he activated one of the cards, Kommersant added.

According to Russian media, Abror Azimov was born in Kyrgzstan in 1990, and moved to Russia in 2008. He reportedly became a Russian citizen in 2013.

The other eight people detained in connection with the attack – six in St Petersburg and two in Moscow – are also from Central Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqzCoN_2VFc

Venezuela Criticizes 11 Latin American Countries for Rude Interference

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela Criticizes 11 Latin American Countries for Rude Interference

Venezuela has criticized a joint communiqué by 11 Latin American countries calling on its government to “guarantee the right to peaceful protest”.

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez labeled the communiqué is a “rude meddling”.

The 11 countries also condemned the death of six people in Venezuela’s anti-government marches this month.

Venezuela’s opposition is planning a mass protest for April 19.

The government has called on its supporters to hold rival marches.

Venezuela is deeply divided between those who support the government of the socialist President Nicolas Maduro and those who blame him for the economic crisis and want him gone from power.

Image source Wikimedia

There has been a series of anti-government protests in Caracas and other major cities, as well as marches by government supporters.

In their joint statement, the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay rejected the violence, which led to the deaths of six people during the recent demonstrations.

The Latin American countries called on President Nicolas Maduro “to prevent any violence against protesters” and also called on opposition groups “to exercise their right to demonstrate responsibly so that the day remains peaceful with people expressing themselves calmly”.

They also called on the Venezuela government to quickly set dates for elections to be held “to solve the grave crisis which Venezuela is experiencing and which worries the region”.

Regional elections originally due to be held in December 2016 were postponed by the electoral council to 2017, but a date has not yet been set.

Municipal elections are also due to be held in 2017.

Minister Delcy Rodriguez also wrote that “these governments misuse international law to back interventionism in Venezuela to attempt to govern the country from abroad”.

Delcy Rodriguez ended a series of tweets by saying that “there is no imperialist force in this world which can defeat the sovereign people of Venezuela”.

Steve Stephens: Facebook Shooting Suspect Is a Self-Described Monster

Nancy Clayson
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Steve Stephens: Facebook Shooting Suspect Is a Self-Described Monster

Steve Stephens, the suspect who police say murdered a grandfather and posted the video on Facebook, is a self-described “monster” who blames others for his problems.

The 37-year-old man, who worked as a case manager for a children’s mental healthcare facility in Ohio, said in another video posted online that he had “just snapped”.

Steve Stephens, who police say had no criminal history, spoke of having “messed up” and also complained about gambling debts.

He wrote in a post on his now-deleted Facebook page: “I lost everything I ever had due to gambling at the Cleveland Jack Casino and Erie Casino.”

Steve Stephens said it was the fault of his ex-girlfriend, Joy Lane, that he had carried out April 16 apparently random shooting of 74-year-old grandfather Robert Godwin.

In a Facebook video broadcast from his car after the killing, Steve Stephens says: “You see, the thing is, man, I’m 37 and all my [expletive] life, man, I’ve always been a [expletive] monster, man.

“Always had to prove myself, always had to take the butts of people’s jokes. Just killing [expletive], man, and all because of this [expletive] called Joy Lane.

“She put me at my pushing point, man. You know, I was living over there with her, just woke up Friday, I just couldn’t take it no more, man.

“I just left, and yeah, here I am, massacring [expletive].” He laughs.

Image source Facebook

Joy Lane is now in protective custody.

Steve Stephens claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people, but police have so far been unable to verify his claims.

In the same video, broadcast from his car, Steve Stephens films himself on a phone telling an unidentified person that he feels “built-in anger and frustration”.

In another Facebook video rant shortly before the shooting, Steve Stephens also blames his mother.

He said he had told her beforehand that he was feeling “suicidal” and planning “to kill some people”.

“Didn’t care,” Steve Stephens said of his mother’s reaction.

He said she was “the one who created this [expletive] monster that I am”.

“I’m beat,” he adds, “I’m tired.”

His mother, Maggie Green, told CNN she last saw her eldest child a day before the shooting.

She said Steve Stephens had told her: “If you see me again, it’ll be a miracle.”

Turkey Referendum Result: Donald Trump Congratulates Recep Tayyip Erdogan on His Victory

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey Referendum Result: Donald Trump Congratulates Recep Tayyip Erdogan on His Victory

President Donald Trump has congratulated Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his victory in April 16 referendum that gave him sweeping new powers.

President Trump’s phone call contrasts with European concern that the result – 51.4% in favor of the constitutional changes – has exposed deep splits in Turkish society.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected criticism from international monitors who said he had been favored by an “unequal campaign”.

Turkey’s main opposition party is launching an appeal to invalidate the result.

Image source Al Manar

The constitutional changes – due to be introduced before presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2019 – will turn Turkey into a presidential republic similar to the US and France. This could enable President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stay in power until 2029.

Erdogan’s narrow victory was ruled valid by Turkey’s electoral body, despite claims of irregularities by the opposition.

On April 17, Turkey extended the state of emergency for three months. The measure, introduced after a failed coup in July 2016, was set to expire in two days.

Syria is one of the issues straining relations between Washington and Ankara.

Turkey is irked by the policy started by the Obama administration of supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria who are fighting ISIS.

Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) as a terror group linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside the country since 1984.

Turkey – a key NATO ally – has established closer co-operation with Russia recently.

The two sides are also at loggerheads over Fethullah Gulen. Turkey accuses the Pennsylvania-based cleric of orchestrating the failed coup and wants him extradited.

Officially Washington insists any decision on returning Fethullah Gulen to Turkey from the US remains a judicial rather than a political one.

President Trump’s comments contrasted with a statement by the US state department which mentioned concerns by international observers and urged Turkey to respect the rights of its citizens – chiming with sentiment in European capitals.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that the “tight referendum result shows how deeply divided Turkish society is and that means a big responsibility for the Turkish leadership and for President Erdogan personally”.

And the European Commission issued a similar call.

Steve Stephens: Cleveland Police Search for Facebook Killer

Nancy Clayson
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Steve Stephens: Cleveland Police Search for Facebook Killer

Cleveland police are searching for a suspect who fatally shot a “random” victim and posted the footage on Facebook.

Steve Stephens, 37, later said in a separate video post that he had killed 13 people and was looking to kill more.

Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams confirmed one killing but said they did not know of any other victims.

Calvin Williams said that “multiple forces” were looking for Steve Stephens, who “needs to turn himself in”.

The victim has been identified by Cleveland police as Robert Godwin, 74.

At a news conference on April 16, police chief Calvin Williams said: “There is no need for any further bloodshed in this incident tonight.

“We need to bring this to a conclusion today.”

He added: “We need to get Steve from the streets.”

He said that authorities had put out alerts “in the state of Ohio and beyond” over the “senseless” incident, and urged people not to approach the suspect, who he said was likely to remain armed and dangerous.

Image source Facebook

The Cleveland PD issued a photo of Steve Stephens on its website, describing him as a 6ft 1in (1.9m) tall black male of medium complexion.

Steve Stephens is thought to be driving a white or cream-colored SUV.

Calvin Williams said that the victim appeared to have been selected at random in what he described as a “senseless” murder.

He added that Steve Stephens “clearly has a problem” and urged him to come forward in order to “receive the help that he needs”.

The FBI is collaborating with local police as it investigates the incident, CNN reports.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said that he wanted Steve Stephens to know that “he will eventually be caught”.

A fundraising page set up to help the family of Robert Godwin had received more than half of its target of $20,000 within hours of publication.

Facebook said in a statement on April 16 that it co-operates fully with the authorities in incidents where there are “direct threats to physical safety”.

Responding to the reports involving Steve Stephens, Facebook said that it was “a horrific crime”, adding that it “does not allow this kind of content” on its site.

It is not the first time that a fatal shooting has been posted or streamed on Facebook.

In June 2016, a man was shot dead while live-streaming a video of himself on the streets of Chicago. In March, an unidentified man was shot 16 times while broadcasting live.

Facebook’s live-streaming feature, which was launched in 2010, allows anyone to broadcast online in real time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bydqVt3zbM

Turkey Referendum Result: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wins Vote to Expand His Powers

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey Referendum Result: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wins Vote to Expand His Powers

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s push for an executive presidency succeeded with just 51.4% of the referendum vote.

His win was met with both celebrations and protests across Turkey.

The main opposition party – the Republican People’s Party (CHP) – has said it will challenge the Turkey’s referendum result after Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a vote to expand his powers.

It has questioned the legitimacy of the close result, citing irregularities in the electoral process.

The CHP is refusing to accept the Yes victory and is demanding a recount of 60% of the votes, criticizing a decision to pass unstamped ballot papers as valid unless proven otherwise.

Three of Turkey’s biggest cities – Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir – all voted No to the constitutional changes.

Opposition supporters took to the streets of Istanbul to bang pots and pans – a traditional form of protest – in a series of noisy demonstrations.

Meanwhile, flag-waving supporters of President Erdogan celebrated as their leader praised them for their “historic decision” that could keep him in office until 2029.

Image source Wikipedia

With 99.97% of ballots counted, the Yes campaign had won 51.41% of the votes cast, while No had taken 48.59%. Turnout was said to be as high as 85%.

Separately, three people were shot dead near a polling station in the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir, reportedly during a dispute over how they were voting.

Responding to the referendum’s result, the European Commission issued a statement urging President Erdogan to respect the closeness of the vote and to “seek the broadest possible national consensus” when considering the far-reaching implications of the constitutional amendments.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at his official Istanbul residence, the Huber Palace: “Today… Turkey has taken a historic decision.

“With the people, we have realized the most important reform in our history.”

He called on everyone to respect the outcome of the vote.

President Erdogan also said Turkey could hold a referendum on bringing back the death penalty – a move that would end the country’s EU negotiations.

Turkey Referendum Result: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wins Vote to Expand His Powers

Easter 2017: Christians from All Over the World Celebrate Jesus Christ’s Resurrection

Diane A. Wade
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Easter 2017: Christians from All Over the World Celebrate Jesus Christ’s Resurrection

Christians from all over the world are gathering to celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

According to the Scripture, Jesus rose from the dead or came back to life three days after being crucified. It is marked as Jesus’ victory over death. The crucifixion of Jesus is commemorated on Good Friday, which is the Friday right before Easter.

Easter is celebrated as it signifies the rebirth of Jesus. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him.

Easter is the biggest day of the year for the Church. It is indeed the day we build towards every year through the season of Lent and all the Holy Week services. It is the “Hallelujah Chorus” of Sunday worship services. On this day we celebrate the greatest news ever proclaimed, “Christ is risen”, victory is won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MswL37USaiA

North Korea Fails to Launch Missille After Military Parade

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Fails to Launch Missille After Military Parade

According to South Korean and US military officials say, North Korea has failed to launch a missile on its east coast, a day after Pyongyang warned the US amid rising tension in the region.

The US said a ballistic missile exploded within seconds of the launch.

Hours earlier, North Korea paraded what appeared to be long-range ballistic missiles at a major military display.

North Korea has already conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches in contravention of UN resolutions.

The latest development comes as Vice-President Mike Pence heads to Seoul, where he is expected to discuss the best way to deal with North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.

“North Korea attempted to test an unidentified type of missile from [its eastern port of] Sinpo,” the South Korean defense ministry said, adding that the launch on April 16 had “failed”.

The ministry said that it was investigating for further details.

The US Pacific Command later confirmed the failed test, adding that it had detected and tracked what it believed to be a North Korean ballistic missile.

“The missile blew up almost immediately,” said US Navy Commander Dave Benham, quoted by Reuters.

One unnamed US official said it was unlikely to have been an intercontinental missile, but investigations were continuing.

On April 15, North Korea marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-sung, with a huge military parade in Pyongyang amid speculation that current leader Kim Jong-un could order a new nuclear test.

The event, which appeared to include new intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, was a deliberate show of strength.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “North Korea showing a variety of offensive missiles at yesterday’s military parade and daring to fire a ballistic missile today is a show of force that threatens the whole world.”

Tension continues to rise in the Korean Peninsula with the US Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group steaming towards the region.

VP Mike Pence’s long-planned 10-day trip marks his first official visit to the region, where he is expected to reaffirm the US commitment to stand by its regional allies.

It comes as Washington steps up the pressure on isolated North Korea, with President Donald Trump saying that the US is ready to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat.

At the parade on April 15, North Korean military official Choe Ryong-hae, who is believed to be the country’s second most powerful official, said that his country was “prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war”.

“We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks,” he said.

Earlier this month, North Korea test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile from Sinpo into the Sea of Japan.

The launch took place on the eve of a visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to the US to meet President Donald Trump. The two leaders later discussed how to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

North Korea is banned from any missile or nuclear tests by the UN, though it has repeatedly broken those sanctions.

Turkey Referendum to Determine if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Will Be Granted New Powers

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey Referendum to Determine if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Will Be Granted New Powers

Turkish voters are going to polls in a landmark referendum that will determine whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be granted sweeping new powers.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to replace Turkey’s parliamentary system with an executive presidency.

His supporters say the move would streamline and modernize Turkey, but opponents fear it could lead to greater authoritarianism.

A “yes” vote could also see Recep Tayyip Erdogan remain in office until 2029.

On April 15, Turkish politicians made their final appeals to voters preparing to cast their ballots on one of the most sweeping programs of constitutional change since Turkey became a republic almost a century ago.

Some 55 million people are eligible to vote across 167,000 polling stations, with the results expected to be announced late in the evening.

If the referendum vote falls in Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s favor, it would give him vastly enhanced powers to appoint cabinet ministers, issue decrees, choose senior judges and dissolve parliament.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the changes were needed to address the security challenges faced by Turkey, and to avoid the fragile coalition governments of the past.

Image source Wikipedia

Speaking at one of his final rallies in Istanbul’s Tuzla district, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told supporters that the new constitution would “bring stability and trust that is needed for our country to develop and grow”.

“Turkey can leap into the future,” he said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed the presidency, a largely ceremonial position, in 2014 after more than a decade as prime minister.

The referendum on constitutional change would abolish the post of prime minister altogether, allowing the president to bring all state bureaucracy under his control.

The president says the new system will resemble those in France and the US and will bring calm in a time of turmoil marked by a Kurdish insurgency, Islamist militancy and conflict in neighboring Syria that has led to a huge refugee influx.

The campaign, which has polarized Turkey, takes place under a state of emergency which was imposed following a failed coup last July. A government crackdown since then has seen tens of thousands of people arrested.

Opponents and critics of the proposed changes fear the move would make the president’s position too powerful, arguing that it would amount to one-man rule, without the checks and balances of other presidential systems.

They say his ability to retain ties to a political party – Recep Tayyip Erdogan could resume leadership of the AK Party (AKP) he co-founded – would end any chance of impartiality.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), told a rally in Ankara that a “yes” vote would endanger the country.

“We will put 80 million people on to a bus… we don’t know where it is headed. We are putting 80 million on a bus with no brakes,” he said.

The referendum has a simple “yes” or “no” choice on whether to endorse parliament’s approval of a new draft constitution.

The draft states that the next presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on November 3, 2019, and the president would have a five-year tenure, for a maximum of two terms.

Emma Morano: World’s Oldest Person Dies in Italy Aged 117

Nancy Clayson
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Emma Morano: World’s Oldest Person Dies in Italy Aged 117

Italian Emma Morano, the world’s oldest person, has died at the age of 117, reports say.

She was born on November 29, 1899, in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Emma Morano was officially the last person born in the 1800s still living.

She had attributed her longevity to her genetics and a diet of three eggs a day, two of them raw.

Emma Morano was the oldest of eight siblings, all of whom she has outlived. She died at her home in the northern city of Verbania.

Her life not only spanned three centuries but also survived an abusive marriage, the loss of her only son, two World Wars and more than 90 Italian governments.

Emma Morano had admitted that her longevity was partly down to genetics: her mother reached 91 and several sisters reached their centenary.

However, it was also down to a rather unusual diet of three eggs – two raw – each day for more than 90 years.

It was a regime she took up as a young woman, after the doctor diagnosed her with anemia shortly after World War One.

She had cut down to just two eggs a day, and a few biscuits recently.

Image source WIkimedia

Emma Morano’s doctor of 27 years, Carlo Bava, had told AFP that she rarely ate vegetables or fruit.

“When I met her, she ate three eggs per day, two raw in the morning and then an omelet at noon, and chicken at dinner.”

Emma Morano also credited her longevity to her decision, in 1938, to kick out her husband – a year after her baby boy died at just six months old.

The marriage had never been healthy, she said. She had been in love with a boy who was killed during World War One, and had no interest in marrying someone else.

However, Emma Morano told La Stampa newspaper in an interview when she was a spritely 112 that she was left with little choice.

“He told me: <<If you’re lucky you marry me, or I’ll kill you>>. I was 26 years old. I got married.”

Eventually, it became too much. Though they separated in 1938, they remained married until he died in 1978. Emma Morano, who worked until she was 75, chose never to marry again.

“I didn’t want to be dominated by anyone,” she told the New York Times.

Emma Morano had only taken on a full-time career a couple of years ago – but had not left her small two-room apartment for 20 years.

According to the US-based Gerontology Research Group (GRG), the world’s oldest human being is now Jamaican Violet Brown, who was born on March 10, 1900.

Todd Heap Accidentally Hits and Kills 3-Year-Old Daughter While Moving Truck

Clyde K. Valle
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Todd Heap Accidentally Hits and Kills 3-Year-Old Daughter While Moving Truck

Former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals tight end Todd Heap has accidentally killed his three-year-old daughter at his home in Arizona, police say.

Todd Heap, 37, was moving his truck in his driveway in the city of Mesa on April 14 when the accident occurred.

According to police, there were no suspicious circumstances and the former NFL star showed no signs of impairment.

Image source Flickr

Todd Heap was a two-time Pro-Bowler.

The accident occurred at about 16:00 local time on April 14.

The girl was taken to a local hospital after the accident but did not survive.

Todd Heap attended Arizona State University and was a first-round draft pick in 2001 for the Baltimore Ravens and played there for 10 seasons, becoming the team’s all-time leader in touchdown catches.

He played two seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and retired in 2013.

Todd Heap has raised money for sick and disadvantaged children through a charitable foundation, opening the Todd Heap Family Pediatric Center in Baltimore in 2010.

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