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Michael Flynn Resignation: Top Republicans Call for Russian Links Investigation

Diane A. Wade
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Michael Flynn Resignation: Top Republicans Call for Russian Links Investigation

Top Republicans have joined calls for a wide investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s links with Russia.

Michael Flynn quit on February 13 over claims he discussed US sanctions with Russia before President Donald Trump took office.

On February 14, a White House spokesman said President Trump knew weeks ago there were problems with the Russia phone calls.

However, calls for an independent investigation have encountered a cold response from some senior Republicans.

The development came as the New York Times reported that phone records and intercepted calls show members of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, as well as other Trump associates, “had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election”.

However, officials spoken to by the newspaper said they had not yet seen evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia on the hacking of the DNC or to influence the election.

Image source Wikimedia

As well as an FBI investigation, both the Senate and House intelligence committees are already examining Russian involvement in the election. It is not yet clear whether the latest claims will be included in their scope.

Michael Flynn stood down over allegations he discussed US sanctions with a Russian envoy in December, before Donald Trump took office.

The conversations took place about the time that then-President Barack Obama was imposing retaliatory measures on Russia following reports it attempted to sway the US election in Donald Trump’s favor.

Michael Flynn could have broken a law – known as the Logan Act – by conducting US diplomacy as a private citizen, before he was appointed as national security adviser.

The retired army lieutenant-general initially denied having discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. VP Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf.

The White House admitted it had been warned about the contacts on January 26 but President Trump initially concluded Michael Flynn had not broken any law.

White House lawyers then conducted a review and questioned Michael Flynn before reaching the same conclusion as Donald Trump, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said, but the trust had gone.

White House Counsellor Kellyanne Conway said on February 14: “In the end, it was misleading the vice-president that made the situation unsustainable.”

Michael Flynn was also reportedly questioned by FBI agents in his first days as national security adviser.

In an interview conducted with The Daily Caller on February 13, but published only on February 14, Michael Flynn said he “crossed no lines” in his conversation with the ambassador.

The former national security adviser said he discussed the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats over alleged hacking ahead of the election, but “it wasn’t about sanctions”.

Michael Flynn said he was concerned that the apparently classified information had been leaked. He said: “In some of these cases, you’re talking about stuff that’s taken off of a classified system and given to a reporter.

“That’s a crime.”

However, in his resignation letter, Michael Flynn said “the fast pace of events” during the presidential transition meant that he had “inadvertently briefed the vice-president elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador”.

In his first public comments about the controversy, President Trump tweeted on February 14: “The real story here is why are there so many illegal leaks coming out of Washington? Will these leaks be happening as I deal on N Korea etc?”

US House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes told reporters on February 14 he wanted to examine the leaks, and said the FBI should explain why Michale Flynn’s conversation had been recorded.

The Keys To Startup Success (Read Quick Before Someone Changes The Locks)

Dana R
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The Keys To Startup Success (Read Quick Before Someone Changes The Locks)

Starting a new business is always going to be tough. There are so many angles to cover that you are almost guaranteed to forget something important. However, we’ve tried to outline a general step-by-step process on this page. With a bit of luck, you can use the information to ensure you leave no stone unturned this year. Of course, you are the person best placed to decide what’s right for your company. So, you need to take this advice and then tailor it to suit your business model. At the end of the day, you are always going to encounter a few stumbling blocks along the way. It’s your ability to deal with them effectively that will determine your level of success. Also, you need to remember the corporate world is always evolving. That is why you must remain as flexible as possible in your approach.

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Create a plan to gain investment

There is no getting away from the fact that you’re probably going to need investment to get your concept off the ground. That means you have to spend time creating a business plan that will seem attractive to investors. You should then call banks in your local area and arrange meetings. In most instances, you just need to explain the nature of your idea and how it will create profit. If the bank manager sees worth in your opportunity, they will release capital. Just ensure you understand the repayment schedule and never fall behind. You can also contact private investors if you don’t have any luck at the bank. There are specialist websites you can use to save time doing that. So, now is the time to search online, note down the addresses, and design your strategy.

 

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Work on branding

Branding is important when launching a new operation. You need people to become as familiar with your company as possible. You also need to make sure you create the right image when consumers think of your operation. So, you’ll have to work long and hard to come up with the right concepts. You’ll have to choose standard fonts and design a logo at the very least. You should use them in every publication you create, and push them as much as possible. Try to keep things simple. Far too many people over-complicate their branding solutions and produce poor results. If you have enough cash in your accounts, it would be wise to employ the services of a branding expert. They will come to your place of business and perform an assessment before offering design suggestions.

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Launch a website

You should always publish your business website as early in the startup process as possible. You could even do it before you’re ready to trade. The website is your best tool for promoting your products or services. You can use advertising tools to drive lots of traffic and create interest in your brand. Social media websites like Facebook offer excellent promotional solutions that you’ll want to utilise. You should also learn the ins and outs of Google Adwords for the best results. At the end of the day, there is no minimum investment. That means you can start marketing your site on a shoestring budget. Just make sure you assess the results of every campaign and try to improve. So long as you know some basic information about your target market, you should have no trouble reaching them.

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Find suitable premises

The location of your business premises is everything. You’ll want to place yourself as close to the action as possible. However, property rental prices in the major cities are extortionate, and probably too expensive for a startup. With that in mind, you should place your company in a suburb near to all the main transport links. That way, you ensure you remain accessible, but you won’t have to spend thousands every month on rental costs. Of course, you can steadily move your business closer to the city as it becomes successful. The goal during the early stages is to limit your outgoings as much as possible. Hopefully, that should leave you with enough money in your accounts to deal with any unexpected issues. Like it or not, they are going to arise from time to time.

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Ensure you follow health and safety guidelines

Unless you want to end up in court, you must take health and safety seriously. Workplace compensation claims could cripple your operation before you’ve had a chance to find your feet. Also, you don’t want to live with the knowledge that you caused someone to lose a limb through negligence. That is why you must perform health and safety assessments on every operation within your company. If you don’t know how to do that, there’s no need to stress. You can find out more here about outsourcing the task and the benefits of doing so. Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget your responsibilities as an employer. Asking someone to work in a dangerous environment is fine if you inform them of the dangers.

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Be efficient in your approach to the employment process

When it comes to employing staff, you face an uphill struggle. You need the best and most experienced people working for your business. However, they are often hard to find. Don’t make the mistake of using government-run job boards if you don’t like a hassle. You will receive too many applications from unsuitable people who are forced to apply. Instead, you should search for industry-related job websites for the best results. Design an interview process that allows you to learn about the individual’s personality. At the end of the day, a CV will only tell you so much about a person’s work ethic. Again, there is lots of information and advice online that could make your life easier.

Now you’ve read our keys to business success; we hope you find yourself in a better position. As we said at the start of this article, we have published a general step-by-step guide. You just need to use it as a guideline for your actions this year. You still need to keep your eyes open for problems and opportunities every single day. Keeping an open mind and a flexible approach will benefit your ambitions more than anything else.

Harrison Ford Involved In Near-Miss at California Airport

Lisa.Felice
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Harrison Ford Involved In Near-Miss at California Airport

According to new reports, Harrison Ford has been involved in a near-miss while flying his plane in California.

Harrison Ford, 74, was instructed to land on a runway at John Wayne airport in Orange Country on February 13, but instead he mistakenly landed on a parallel taxiway, passing over a waiting American Airlines plane with 110 passengers and crew on board.

That plane safely departed minutes later.

The actor has not commented on the reported incident.

Just before the landing, Harrison Ford is quoted as asking air traffic controllers: “Was that airliner meant to be underneath me?”

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) confirmed that the pilot of the single-engine Aviat Husky plane had been cleared to land on the runway.

However, the FAA declined to confirm that the pilot was in fact Harrison Ford.

The incident was first reported by NBC and the TMZ.

Harrison Ford, who is a certified pilot, has been involved in several air accidents.

In 2015, the actor was injured when his vintage plane crashed on a golf course in LA.

In 1999, Harrison Ford crash-landed his helicopter during a training flight in LA but both he and the instructor were unhurt.

Harrison Ford took up flying when he was in his 50s and owns several aircraft.

Don’t Let Your Business Fail

Dana R
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Don’t Let Your Business Fail

With more and more startup businesses entering the market at an alarming pace, it can be a precarious situation for any new business owner as to when and where they decide to launch. If your business is a restaurant concept, which specialises in Italian cuisine – for example – there is a slim chance your business will succeed if you decide to set up a restaurant on the same street as an already established and popular Italian restaurant. The same goes for if your business sells vinyl and second hand CDs – do not decide to launch your business in close proximity to a popular music retail shop. This sort of situation can be said for absolutely any business out there, if you are launching it from a store and not online.

 

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If your business is all online based, then it needs to be different and offer something completely unique to anything else out there. This can be a pretty hard task, as with the amount of businesses saturating the market a lot of ideas have already been thought up and created. You will need to be very careful when creating an online business as a lot of ideas very similar to yours could possibly have been trademarked, and if you do not do meticulous research then you could end up with a lawsuit on your hands.

However, if you do decide to make a spontaneous choice and do end up setting up your business somewhere and in a way which means it is not making any profit, there are measures you can put in place to help it stay afloat and sustain a presence. A good idea could be to take stock of all your finances and see what is working and what is not. There are lots of websites and financial professionals who can assist you with this task, as it can be very time consuming. You should take a look around and do some research on websites like checkomatic.com/business-checks/printed rather than making the decision to look at all your finances yourself.

Another way you could help your business becoming profitable is through a good social media presence. Nearly everyone uses social media and this means that you can gain a wide reach of people by simply creating a social media account, updating your account (or accounts) regularly and ensuring you connect with potential customers in a positive way.

If you feel that a problem could be that you have overstocked on certain items and they are simply taking up space, then you could run a promotion or a deal on items which you have too much off. For example, if you run a restaurant and your freezers are packed with burgers, you could run a 2 for 1 deal on burgers or you could even set up a lunchtime deal. This will definitely bring more customers eager for a good deal to your business and it also means that you will have got rid of your overstocked items.

Surprising Health Impacts Of Having Terrible Neighbours

Dana R
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Surprising Health Impacts Of Having Terrible Neighbours

Everybody needs good neighbours, as they say. But did you know that having terrible neighbours can actually have a massive impact on the health of you and your loved ones? And when you hear that one in ten people move home as a primary result of their neighbours, it’s pretty alarming.

So, the big question for today is – how can these noisy, aggressive, and charmless people actually affect your health? Let’s take a look at some of the common health issues caused by having hellish neighbours.

pixabay.com

Depression and stress

First of all, as anyone with a noisy neighbour will attest, don’t be surprised if you start suffering from depression or stress when you have a nightmare living next door. Your home is supposed to be your private kingdom – the only place in the entire world where you can truly relax. And if next door is up to all kinds of noisy shenanigans day and night, it’s going to impact on you. Make sure you see your doctor as well as calling the local environmental health agency – and don’t let your stress develop. Heart disease, stroke, and dangerously high blood pressure can all occur when you are suffering from stress.

Injuries from aggression

Aggressive behaviour is an incredibly common complaint from people who think they have the neighbours from hell. Of course, there is never any excuse for violence, but the sad truth is that many people still resort to it. If you are injured by an act of aggression, report it to the police immediately. Ask around for witnesses to the event, too. If a dispute escalates into an assault, you may be able to take legal action against your neighbour.

Dangers from pests, pets, and dangerous animals

Another common complaint about nightmare neighbours is all down to animals. Dirty properties that never seem to have empty bins are a big attraction for rats and other pests – who might well move on to your side of the fence when they are finished. Illness and disease may not be too far from your door if this happens. And what is it with nightmare neighbours that they always seem to keep dangerous pets, too? We suggest keeping your distance unless you want to start finding out a little more about dog bite claim information. But if something does happen to your or, god forbid, your kids, you should call the police as soon as possible.

Increase likelihood of accidents

If nightmare neighbours are messy, you will need to be a lot more careful about walking near their property – or, indeed, in some parts of your garden. Bad neighbours are more likely to leave objects outside – in various states of disrepair. They also pay less attention the needs of their garden, which can lead to overhanging branches from trees or shrubs causing your kids danger when they are playing outside.

Of course, you should always try and speak to your neighbours before calling the authorities. But if they don’t seem fazed, don’t be afraid to get in touch with the relevant people – it’s the only way you can start guaranteeing your family’s good health.

World Record: India Overtakes Russia after Launching 104 Satellites on A Single Mission

James J. Williams
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World Record: India Overtakes Russia after Launching 104 Satellites on A Single Mission

India has successfully launched a record number of 104 satellites on a single mission, overtaking the previous record of 37 satellites launched by Russia in 2014.

All but three of the satellites are from foreign countries, most of them from the United States.

The launch took place from the Sriharikota space center in east India.

According to observers, it is a sign that India is emerging as a major player in the multi-billion dollar space market.

Image source India Today

Project director B Jayakumar was quoted as saying by Reuters: “This is a great moment for each and every one of us. Today we have created history.”

Indian PM Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate the scientists tweeting: “This remarkable feat by @isro is yet another proud moment for our space scientific community and the nation. India salutes our scientists.”

The phrase “world record” has also been trending on Twitter India on February 15.

Of the 104 small satellites, 96 belong to the US while Israel, Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and the Netherlands are the other foreign clients.

A majority of the satellites have earth-imaging capability and belong to American company Planet.

An Indian cartographic satellite, believed to be capable of taking high resolution images is also on board. It is expected to be used to monitor regional arch rivals Pakistan and China.

India has increased the 2017 budget for its space program and also announced plans to send a mission to Venus.

Over the past two decades, India has become a key player in the lucrative commercial space market offering a low-cost alternative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyJ2x8HyuqM

The benefits of live chat services

Dana R
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The benefits of live chat services

A live chat service can help online businesses supports sales and customer satisfaction. This feature allows customers to type questions in text format and receive replies in text format from a customer service representative. Live chat services are customer-driven.

During a live chat session, the customer may get a fast answer to his or her question. If not, the customer service rep is there to clarify information or answer additional questions. Because effective live chat assistance requires well-trained customer service representatives, it’s important to provide training and access to a product or service information the rep might need to assist a customer in a live chat.

Customer Channel Integration

The business or organization can add live chat to its menu of “contact us” options, including FAQs, email or telephone assistance. Oracle Corporation research shows that customers prefer live chat or help other than reviewing FAQs or sending an email to support.

J.D. Power’s most recent wireless customer performance study shows that the most consistently satisfied customers use live chat and prefer it to other contact options. In addition, customers like the fact that it’s possible to save the live chat session and review conversation content later.

Rules and Training for Live Chat Agents

It’s obviously essential to train live chat agents to provide the best customer experience possible. Some of the most sophisticated live chat systems software allows customer reps to access the customer’s service or purchase history.

The rep must know how to begin the chat session. For instance, he or she should offer a welcome greeting and their name as a start. In the session, the rep will probably need to ask clarifying questions to discern the type of support or assistance the customer needs.

Then, the rep needs to obtain the customer’s responses before deciding the next steps. The customer service rep may use a script that includes standard information about the company’s products, services or pricing but, most often, he or she will be asked to address a specific customer question or concern.

Reps must also be trained to close the live chat session. He or she should ask the customer if additional information is needed and thank the customer for the contact. At that point, the rep should tell the customer that the live chat session will be closed.

Timely Live Chat Service

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Reality TV Star Seeks Palimony Payments

Sonia Pantiss
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Reality TV Star Seeks Palimony Payments

Tarek El Moussa, one of the hosts of HGTV’s popular Flip or Flop house makeover and resale program, demanded spousal support from soon-to-be-ex-wife and series co-host Christina El Moussa.

The couple, who married in 2009, apparently began having problems several years ago. Those issues came to a head in May 2016, when officers responded to a disturbance call at the couple’s Yorba Linda residence. Allegedly, the couple had a row and Mr. El Moussa fled the residence with a firearm in a suicidal state of mind. After he convinced officers that he was simply blowing off steam, they departed the scene, no arrests were made, and no charges were filed. Nevertheless, the couple formally separated shortly thereafter. In the divorce papers, Mr. El Moussa offered no basis for his request for spousal support.

 

Meanwhile, HGTV network executives, who apparently relied on the couple’s marriage to help this show stand out from the slew of similar reality programs, have supposedly threatened to sue the couple for breach of contract if they do not either reconcile or at least work together amicably.

 

Nontraditional Spousal Support

 

According to the Census Bureau, 40 percent of American households feature female “breadwinner” spouses who provide the primary, or only, source of income for the family. Yet less than 3 percent of divorced men receive spousal support payments. Observers say that many men are “shamed” into not asking for support because either they or their peers consider such requests to be emasculating. Furthermore, breadwinning female spouses often fight such requests, and the limited-income husbands sometimes have little financial resources with which to fight such court battles.

 

There may be a different dynamic as well. Divorced men usually rebuild wealth faster than divorced women, so they are often more optimistic about future financial prospects and see less need for spousal support. Many people, both men and women, are also more than willing to make financial sacrifices if they believe that such moves will foster a better co-parenting relationship.

 

Alimony Factors in California

 

According to Hossein Berenji, an attorney at Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA, “Spouses are not automatically entitled to alimony in California, although there is a strong legal presumption in favor of spousal support.” That presumption has changed over the years. Whereas many spouses once received support payments based on little more than the obligor spouse’s ability to pay, “most courts now balance that element with the obligee spouse’s financial need, and specifically what amount and duration of payments is needed to help obligee spouses become economically self-sufficient,” says Mr. Berenji

 

The primary factors, which are designed to give obligee spouses basically the same standard of living in divorce as they had while married, are laid out in Section 4320 of the California Family Code. Some of the major ones are:

 

  • Future Earning Potential: In addition to considering employment prospects and the current level of marketable skills, the court may also consider the time and money required (if any) to enhance these skills to the level that the person is self-sufficient.
  • Noneconomic Contributions: Many “caretaker” spouses put their careers on hold to assume this role, and people with extended gaps on their resumes are often at a competitive disadvantage in terms of both hireability and compensation.
  • Relative Health and Age of the Parties: If one spouse probably has significantly more working years ahead of him or her, the court may adjust the amount of spousal support accordingly.
  • Spousal Agreements: Most California judges honor voluntary pacts between husbands and wives, as long as such agreements are not blatantly one-sided.

 

Other factors include prior domestic violence convictions, the amount of both community and separate property awarded to each spouse, and custody provisions for minor children (especially if they are disabled).

 

Amount and Duration of Payments

 

California’s alimony system is highly subjective in terms of necessity, amount, and duration of payments, and although such systems have come under scrutiny in many other states, there has been very little reform effort in the Golden State.
To determine the amount of payments, most judges apply the 4320 factors, specifically with an eye toward self-sufficiency. As for the duration of payments, there is a rebuttable presumption that obligor spouses should pay support only until obligee spouses can become self-sufficient, and according to 4320(2)(l), that self-sufficiency must occur within “a reasonable period of time.” Courts have consistently defined this phrase to mean half the length of the relationship if the marriage lasted less than ten years; this presumption does not apply in longer marriages.

 

Gambia to Rejoin Commonwealth After Four Years

Diane A. Wade
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Gambia to Rejoin Commonwealth After Four Years

The Gambia intends to rejoin the Commonwealth, UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is in the West African country, has confirmed.

Boris Johnson’s visit, the first to The Gambia by a British foreign secretary, comes weeks after long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh went into exile after losing elections.

Yahya Jammeh took The Gambia out of the Commonwealth in 2013, calling it a neo-colonial institution.

Newly-elected President Adama Barrow had promised a return to the 52-nation grouping.

Before leaving for Banjul, Boris Johnson said: “We will ensure this happens in the coming months.

“The strength of our partnerships show that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.”

The Commonwealth secretariat said it welcomed the news, saying the formal process of rejoining would have to be agreed by the 52 heads of government.

A spokesman said: “When The Gambia left the Commonwealth in 2013, the heads of government… noted its decision with regret. We looked forward to the country’s eventual return because it was part of our very close knit family and our doors have always remained open.”

Last week, the EU promised The Gambia an aid package of nearly $81 million – almost three years after freezing its assistance to the West African nation.

Adama Barrow, who was sworn in last month, has also said The Gambia will reverse its move to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement on February 13, the government said it had written to UN chief Antonio Guterres to inform him of its decision “to discontinue the withdrawal notice”.

In 2016, a former Gambian information minister had referred to the court as “an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans”.

The move is a blow to Africa’s anti-ICC lobby – which includes South Africa, Namibia and Burundi.

At the annual African Union summit held this month, leaders called for a mass walk-out from the ICC, but faced opposition from other countries, including Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia.

The Foreign Office said as well as holding talks with Adama Barrow, Boris Johnson would visit the UK-funded Medical Research Council and speak to Chevening scholars and workers and employers in the tourism industry.

The Gambia is a popular holiday destination for Britons. Thousands had to be evacuated last month because of security concerns when Yahya Jammeh was refusing to hand over power after losing December’s elections.

Adama Barrow, whose swearing-in was held in neighboring Senegal, is to be inaugurated as president in a ceremony at the national stadium on February 18.

Several heads of state are expected to attend. Local dignitaries may include former VP Alhagie Saihou Sabally, who local media said had returned to the Gambia on February 13 after 22 years in exile.

Yahya Jammeh, who took power in coup in 1994, is now in exile in Equatorial Guinea after West African leaders deployed troops to The Gambia to ensure he left power.

Boris Johnson will go on to Ghana for talks with President Nana Akufo-Addo on February 15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9qwmOvdCZk

Rolls-Royce Reports $5.7 Billion Loss for 2016

Clyde K. Valle
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Rolls-Royce Reports $5.7 Billion Loss for 2016

Rolls-Royce reported a record loss before tax of £4.6 billion ($5.7 billion) for 2016.

However, once one-off costs have been stripped out, the jet engine maker’s underlying profit was better than many experts had predicted.

Rolls-Royce agreed to pay £671 million ($838 million) to settle corruption cases with UK and US authorities and it has written off £4.4 billion ($5.5 billion) from currency related contracts.

Like many international businesses, Rolls-Royce usually “hedges” its bets to protect itself from fluctuating currency markets.

Most international aerospace contracts are priced in dollars, but, as a UK-based company, much of Rolls-Royce’s costs are in pounds.

It takes out long-term currency trades. These were designed to protect the firm against what seemed the most likely risk- the fall in the dollar – and many of them were put in place before the EU referendum was even announced.

Since the Brexit vote, the pound has fallen sharply against the US dollar, which has led to the accounting loss.

Rolls-Royce has apologized “unreservedly” for the corruption cases, which spanned 25 years, and involved illegally using local middlemen and paying bribes to win deals in Indonesia, Thailand, China and Russia.

Salvează

Kim Jong-nam Dead: Kim Jong-un’s Half Brother Killed in Malaysia

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-nam Dead: Kim Jong-un’s Half Brother Killed in Malaysia

Kim Jong-un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean and Malaysian sources say.

The 45-year-old is said to have been targeted at the airport in Kuala Lumpur.

According to local media, his body was now undergoing an autopsy.

Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Malaysian police have confirmed to Reuters that a North Korean man who died in transit to hospital from the airport on February 13 was Kim Jong-nam.

Kim Jong-nam is thought to have fallen out of favor with Kim Jong-il in 2001 after he was caught trying to sneak into Japan using a false passport

According to a report from TV Chosun, a cable TV network in South Korea, Kim Jong-nam was poisoned at the airport by two women, believed to be North Korean operatives.

In 2001, Kim Jong-nam was caught trying to enter Japan using a false passport. He told officials that he was planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Once seen as a likely successor to Kim Jong-il, he was thought to have fallen out of favor with his father over the incident.

Bypassed in favor of his youngest half-brother for succession when their father died in 2011, Kim Jong-nam kept a low profile, spending most of his time overseas in Macau, Singapore and China.

Kim Jong-nam was quoted by Japanese media in 2011 as saying he opposed “dynastic succession”.

In a 2012 book, he was also quoted as saying he believed his younger half-brother lacked leadership qualities, the succession would not work and that North Korea was unstable and needed Chinese-style economic reform.

Kim Jong-nam was reportedly targeted for assassination in the past. A North Korean spy jailed by South Korea in 2012 was reported to have admitted trying to organize a hit-and-run accident targeting Kim Jong-nam.

Top 3 Things You Need To Know Before You Hire An SEO Company

Nancy Clayson
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Top 3 Things You Need To Know Before You Hire An SEO Company

You may think choosing an SEO company for your business is a tough decision to make. It can be hard for you if you don’t know where to begin. However, you don’t have to worry too much about that if you know the things that you should look for in an SEO company.

When you decide to hire an SEO company, you should be prepared for the possibility that it can either make or break your business. With a good SEO company, it will be possible for you to multiply your earnings each month. But with a bad one, it will only worsen your case. You might lose the existing search traffic that you already have.

That’s why you ought to know how to choose the right SEO company for your business. In this post, we will share with you the key points to look at when looking for an SEO company to help you out.

Different Types of SEOs

seo sem search engine optimization google business marketing

You may think there is only one kind, but in fact, there are plenty. There are individual consultants who are freelancers who can offer their expertise to businesses. There are companies and agencies who have SEO teams and processes to carry out the work that needs to be done. And then there are in-house SEOs. If your business is big, it will benefit you a lot if you have your own team of SEOs so you can devise your own strategies for your particular business.

Assuming you do not have an in-house SEO team, we’ll be talking about the first two types of SEO for this post. You can expect the same from freelancers and agencies – some can be great, while some can be terrible. That’s why you have to equip yourself with all the necessary knowledge to make sure you are choosing correctly. Let’s begin!

Steps to take in improving your search engine rankings

The basic thing you should know is that behind every significant result is a really good SEO strategy. You can attempt to build links or to target keywords, and you may get to see some results because of it. However, the results will never be as consistent as having a serious strategy for you SEO.

So, the lesson here is that be it for freelancers or for agencies; the good ones have a process for their SEO. They might not tell you the detailed aspects of the process such as which websites they are going to get the links from.

However, they might tell you about their strategy such as if they are going, to begin with an on-site SEO audit so they can see if there are any areas where they can quickly earn results. Other than that, they might tell you a bit about the keywords that they have identified and which ones they plan to target.

Transparency on website updates

apple, clouds, faceless

Experience with past clients

guy man typing working laptop computer technology business office leather bag briefcase suitcase people suit

Looking for an SEO agency or expert is the same as looking for the best clothes, shoes, bags, or watches. You get the idea. You want to know what other customers think about them. You want to know if they are any good and if the quality of the service they provide is outstanding.

In getting an SEO expert or agency, you would want to know who their clients were, the type of work they have done for their clients and the results that they were able to get from the SEO strategies provided by the expert or agencies.

If in case they can’t give your any name of their previous clients, then maybe they are still starting, or you can take it as a warning sign that maybe their clients were probably not happy with the results that they got from the expert or agency.

An SEO consultant with a good reputation can get your business growing at 5% to 15% every month. And you can get that growth consistently year after year.

Takeaway

Now that you know about these three things, it will be much easier for you to choose your SEO agency for your business. Try to explore on other things that will make you more confident with your decisions. Don’t hesitate to ask your SEO expert or agency because if they are any good, they will be ready to give you the answers that you need and are ready to work with you with your SEO campaigns and strategies.

 

Salvează

Shigenori Shiga: Toshiba CEO Resigns over Nuclear Loss

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Shigenori Shiga: Toshiba CEO Resigns over Nuclear Loss

Toshiba CEO Shigenori Shiga has resigned, hours after the Japanese conglomerate revealed details of a multi-billion dollar loss.

Earlier the company had delayed issuing its results, but it then said it was set to report a net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the year to March 2017.

Toshiba said it expected to take a 712.5 billion yen ($6.3 billion) writedown at its US nuclear business.

The situation has led some analysts to warn the company’s future is at risk.

Shigenori Shiga was stepping down “to take management responsibility for the loss”, the company said.

Toshiba shares fell by as much as 9% on February 14 and have lost about 50% since late December, when it first warned about the extent of the problems.

The losses are linked to a deal done by Toshiba’s US subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric, when it bought a nuclear construction and services business from Chicago Bridge & Iron in 2015.

Assets that it took on are likely to be worth less than initially thought, and there is also a dispute about payments that are due.

Toshiba has already announced plans to sell off part of its profitable memory chip business to raise funds. It is the second largest chip maker in the world, behind Samsung.

It is still struggling to recover after it emerged in 2015 that profits had been overstated for seven years, prompting the chief executive to resign.

As well as detailing its losses, Toshiba is also widely predicted to announce it is scaling back its global nuclear business – and possibly getting out of the sector altogether, apart from its operations in Japan.

PewDiePie Dropped by Disney over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Lisa.Felice
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0
PewDiePie Dropped by Disney over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Disney has decided to cut ties with PewDiePie over allegations of anti-Semitism.

PewDiePie is the world’s highest paid YouTube star.

The decision came after several videos PewDiePie released over the past few months were found to contain Nazi references or anti-Semitic imagery.

PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, accepted the material was offensive, but said he did not support “any kind of hateful attitudes”.

He is reported to have made $15 million through YouTube in 2016.

Image source Wikimedia

The 27-year-old Swede has been associated with Disney via Maker Studios, a company with a network of YouTube stars, drawing several billions of views per month – generating vast income from advertising.

Maker Studios said: “Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate.”

In one of the controversial videos, Felix Kjellberg paid two Indians through a crowd-sourcing website to hold up a sign which read “Death to all Jews”.

In a response to the criticism, PewDiePie said he was “trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online” and that people “would say anything for five dollars”.

PewDiePie said it was “laughable” to suggest he endorsed that message but added that “though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive”.

In other videos PewDiePie also showed swastikas drawn by a fan, played the Nazi Party anthem and did a brief Hitler salute – all of which he says was done as a joke.

In 2016, PewDiePie was temporarily suspended from Twitter after making jokes about ISIS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgGIrq6vaN4

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Resigns over Contacts with Russia

Diane A. Wade
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0
National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Resigns over Contacts with Russia

Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, has resigned over his contacts with Russia, the White House has announced.

He is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with the Russian ambassador before Donald Trump took office.

Michael Flynn is said to have misled officials about the conversation.

Earlier, media reported that the DoJ had warned the White House about the contacts late last month.

They said that Michael Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

Image source Wikimedia

It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy, and the calls happened late last year before Michael Flynn was appointed to the administration.

A number of senior Democrats had called for Michael Flynn to be fired.

The national security adviser is appointed by the president to serve as his or her chief adviser on international affairs and defense.

In his resignation letter, Michael Flynn said he had “inadvertently briefed the vice-president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador”.

A White House statement said Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg had been appointed as interim replacement for the post.

Michael Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, initially denied having discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and VP Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf.

However, he came under further pressure on February 13 when details of his phone call emerged in US media, as well as reports the justice department had warned the White House about him misleading senior officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

According to the Washington Post, the message was delivered by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates, who was subsequently dismissed by President Trump for opposing his controversial travel ban.

Michael Flynn, who was previously fired by Barack Obama as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, was an ardent supporter of Donald Trump during the campaign.

He became a close ally of both the president and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.

Michael Flynn encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia, but questions were raised about his perceived closeness to Moscow.

Venezuela VP Tareck El Aissami Added to US Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions List over Trafficking Claims

Roy Siemens
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0
Venezuela VP Tareck El Aissami Added to US Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions List over Trafficking Claims

Venezuela’s newley appointed vice-president, Tareck El Aissai, has been added to the US narcotics “kingpin” sanctions list after being accused of involvement in international drug trafficking.

Sanctions were also slapped on wealthy businessman Samark Lopez, described as Tareck El Aissami’s “primary frontman”.

Tareck El Aissami was appointed last month by President Nicolas Maduro.

There was no immediate response from the vice-president or Samark Lopez, but Tareck El Aissami has previously denied criminal ties.

The sanctions freeze Tareck El Aissami’s assets in the US and bar him from entering the country.

Image source Flickr

The US Treasury statement says Tareck El Aissami facilitated huge shipments of narcotics from Venezuela by air and sea. It also says he was in the pay of convicted Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled for the protection of drug shipments.

John E. Smith, acting director of the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, said the sanctions were “the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities.

Tareck El Aissami was previously the governor of Aragua state and served as minister of the interior and justice in Venezuela from 2008 to 2012.

US media, citing leaked intelligence documents, say Tareck El Aissami has also been under investigation in the US for suspected ties to the militant group Hezbollah.

During his time as interior minister, fraudulent Venezuelan passports ended up in the hands of members of the Lebanese group, it is claimed.

Earlier this month, 34 members of the US Congress sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking for sanctions against Venezuelan officials.

They said that Tareck El Aissami’s appointment as vice-president put him in line to become Venezuela’s next leader which, they said, was “troubling given his alleged ties to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations”.

Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong Questioned for Second Time as Suspect

Diane A. Wade
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0
Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong Questioned for Second Time as Suspect

Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong has been questioned for a second time as a suspect in South Korea’s biggest political corruption scandal.

Prosecutors are expected to decide based on the hearing whether they will seek an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-yong.

Samsung is accused of giving donations to non-profit foundations run by a confidante of President Park Geun-hye in exchange for political favors.

Lee Jae-yong told reports before the hearing: “I will once again tell the truth.”

He had already been questioned with several other company executives in January but a subsequent court ruling decided there were insufficient grounds for an arrest.

Image source Wikimedia

Yet during the past weeks investigators reviewed the case and decided there were new aspects that required further questioning.

The claims against Samsung revolve around a merger between the electronics giant’s construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate company, Cheil Industries.

The prosecution alleges that Samsung gave 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by President Park Geun-hye’s confidante Choi Soon-sil and her daughter, in return for political support for the deal.

The scandal led to President Park Geun-hye being impeached in December 2016.

Lee Jae-yong, also known as Jay Y. Lee, first gave evidence in front of a parliamentary hearing in December 2016. Since January he has been treated as an official suspect in the case.

At the parliamentary hearing, Samsung admitted giving a total of 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations, but denied seeking favors in return.

Lee Jae-yong also confirmed Samsung gave a horse and money to help the equestrian career of Choi Soon-sil’s daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, something he said he now regretted.

Choi Soon-sil is on trial for charges including corruption and coercion.

Grammys 2017: Adele Dominates Awards as She Wins Five Trophies

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Grammys 2017: Adele Dominates Awards as She Wins Five Trophies

Adele was the big winner at the 59th Grammy Awards on February 12, taking home five trophies.

Amongst her haul were three of the “big four” awards: Song of the year, record of the year and album of the year.

The last time someone achieved that was in 2012. And it was Adele.

The CBS network broadcast the show live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Image source Reuters

Adele said she couldn’t accept the award for best album because Beyonce’s Lemonade had more fizz.

The British singer also declared her undying love for Beyonce: “I adore you and I want you to be my mummy,” she joked, as she gestured at the heavily-pregnant star.

Beyonce put on a biblical performance of Love Drought and Sandcastles from her record, which won best urban contemporary album.

Adele brought her tribute to George Michael to a juddering halt after veering wildly off key – but made it up to the star on take two.

Chance the Rapper beat Kanye West and Drake to best rap album. He then took the LA crowd to church with the help of a gospel choir.

David Bowie received five posthumous awards including best alternative album for his final LP, Blackstar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaB_igy-Gmo

Grammys 2017: Winners Full List

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Grammys 2017: Winners Full List

Here’s a list of the winners and nominees in the main categories at the 59th Grammy awards. You can see the complete list of 84 categories on the official Grammys website.

Album Of The Year

  • WINNER: Adele – 25
  • Beyonce – Lemonade
  • Justin Bieber – Purpose
  • Drake – Views
  • Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide To Earth

Record Of The Year

  • WINNER: Adele – Hello
  • Beyonce – Formation
  • Lukas Graham – 7 Years
  • Rihanna ft Drake – Work
  • Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out

Song Of The Year

  • WINNER: Adele – Hello
  • Beyonce – Formation
  • Justin Bieber – Love Yourself
  • Lukas Graham – 7 Years
  • Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Best New Artist

  • WINNER: Chance The Rapper
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • The Chainsmokers
  • Maren Morris
  • Anderson .Paak

Best alternative album

  • WINNER: David Bowie – Blackstar
  • PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
  • Bon Iver – 22, A Million
  • Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
  • Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool

Best pop album

  • WINNER: Adele – 25
  • Justin Bieber – Purpose
  • Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman
  • Demi Lovato – Confident
  • Sia – This Is Acting

Best rap album

  • WINNER: Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
  • De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody
  • DJ Khaled – Major Key
  • Drake – Views
  • Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
  • Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo

Best Pop Solo Performance:

  • WINNER: Hello – Adele
  • Hold Up – Beyonce
  • Love Yourself – Justin Bieber
  • Piece By Piece (Idol Version) – Kelly Clarkson
  • Dangerous Woman – Ariana Grande

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:

  • WINNER: Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
  • Closer – The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey
  • 7 Years – Lukas Graham
  • Work – Rihanna Featuring Drake
  • Cheap Thrills – Sia Featuring Sean Paul

Best Dance Recording

  • WINNER: Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya
  • Tearing Me Up – Bob Moses
  • Never Be Like You – Flume Featuring Kai
  • Rinse & Repeat – Riton Featuring Kah-Lo
  • Drinkee – Sofi Tukker

Best Dance/Electronic Album:

  • WINNER: Skin – Flume
  • Electronica 1: The Time Machine – Jean-Michel Jarre
  • Epoch – Tycho
  • Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future – Underworld
  • Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII – Louie Vega

Best Rock Performance:

  • WINNER: Blackstar- David Bowie
  • Joe (Live From Austin City Limits) – Alabama Shakes
  • Don’t Hurt Yourself- Beyonce Featuring Jack White
  • The Sound Of Silence – Disturbed
  • Heathens – Twenty One Pilots

Best Metal Performance

  • WINNER: Dystopia – Megadeth
  • Shock Me – Baroness
  • Slivera -Gojira
  • Rotting in Vain- Korn
  • The Price Is Wrong – Periphery

Best Rock Song

  • WINNER: Blackstar – David Bowie
  • Burn the Witch – Radiohead
  • Hardwired – James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich
  • Heathens – Tyler Joseph, songwriter
  • My Name Is Human – Rich Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Stevens

Best Rock Album

  • WINNER: Tell Me I’m Pretty – Cage The Elephant
  • California – Blink-182
  • Magma – Gojira
  • Death Of A Bachelor – Panic! At The Disco
  • Weezer – Weezer

Best Alternative Music Album

  • WINNER: Blackstar – David Bowie
  • 22, A Million – Bon Iver
  • The Hope Six Demolition Project – PJ Harvey
  • Post Pop Depression – Iggy Pop
  • A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead

Best R&B Performance

  • WINNER: Cranes in the Sky – Solange
  • Turnin’ Me Up – BJ The Chicago Kid
  • Permission – Ro James
  • I Do – Musiq Soulchild
  • Needed Me – Rihanna

Best Urban Contemporary Album

  • WINNER: Lemonade – Beyonce
  • Ology – Gallant
  • We Are King – KING
  • Malibu – Anderson .Paak
  • Anti – Rihanna

Best Rap Performance

  • WINNER: No Problem – Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
  • Panda – Desiigner
  • Pop Style – Drake Featuring The Throne
  • All The Way Up – Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared
  • That Part – Schoolboy Q Featuring Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Performance

  • WINNER: Hotline Bling – Drake
  • Freedom – Beyonce Featuring Kendrick Lamar
  • Broccoli – D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty
  • Ultralight Beam – Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
  • Famous – Kanye West Featuring Rihanna

Best Rap Song

  • WINNER: Hotline Bling – Drake
  • All The Way Up – Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared
  • Famous – Kanye West Featuring Rihanna
  • No Problem – Chance The Rapper
  • Ultralight Beam – Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream

Best Country Album

  • WINNER: A Sailor’s Guide To Earth – Sturgill Simpson
  • Big Day In A Small Town – Brandy Clark
  • Full Circle – Loretta Lynn
  • Hero – Maren Morris
  • Ripcord – Keith Urban

Best Musical Theatre Album

  • WINNER: The Color Purple
  • Bright Star
  • Kinky Boots
  • Waitress

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

  • WINNER: Miles Ahead – Miles Davis & Various Artists
  • Amy – Various Artists
  • Straight Outta Compton Various Artists
  • Suicide Squad (Collector’s Edition) – Various Artists
  • Vinyl: The Essentials Season 1 – Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

  • WINNER: Star Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams, composer
  • Bridge of Spies – Thomas Newman, composer
  • Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone, composer
  • The Revenant – Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, composers
  • Stranger Things Volume 1 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers
  • Stranger Things Volume 2 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers

Best Song Written For Visual Media

  • WINNER: Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
  • Heathens – Twenty One Pilots
  • Just Like Fire – P!nk
  • Purple Lamborghini – Skrillex & Rick Ross
  • Try Everything – Shakira
  • The Veil – Peter Gabriel

Best Producer

  • WINNER: Greg Kurstin
  • Benny Blanco
  • Max Martin
  • Nineteen85
  • Ricky Reed

Best Music Video

  • WINNER: Formation – Beyonce
  • River – Leon Bridges
  • Up & Up – Coldplay
  • Gosh – Jamie xx
  • Upside Down & Inside Out – OK Go

Best Music Film

  • WINNER: The Beatles: Eight Days A Week The Touring Years
  • I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead – Steve Aoki
  • Lemonade – Beyonce
  • The Music Of Strangers – Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
  • American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry – Various Artists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaB_igy-Gmo

Top Ten Things to Remember to Avoid an Unpleasant Travel Experience

Nancy Clayson
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0
Top Ten Things to Remember to Avoid an Unpleasant Travel Experience

The world is full of places with scenic attractions that please the eye and a travel expert’s pocket, notwithstanding the wealth spent. Some of these locations are in remote areas of the world. Topping the list are the seven wonders of the world:

  1. Great Pyramids of Giza
  2. The Colossus of Rhodes
  3. Lighthouse of Alexandria
  4. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
  5. Temple of Artemis
  6. Statue of Zeus
  7. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Among these seven wonders, only the Great Pyramids remained intact for decades. The others were ruined either by natural or human-made calamities.

louvre artwork sculpture design statue figure museum antiques egypt landmark Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/0CRPDGLB82

In today’s age of sophistication, people around the world can easily access the internet to search for unusual places of destination. However, some travelers are not aware of unpleasant facts, particularly, security threats that lie behind the excitement of travel. Most have decided to stop flying while others continue to do so.

Here are some unpleasant situations a travel expert need to know before he embarks to another future travel destination:

1) Don’t be in a hurry to board the plane

airplane travel adventure plane vacation trip transportation vehicle clouds sky people airport Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/J5AQI42431

When a person decides to travel, they get so excited that after paying the airfare tickets and hotels via credit/debit card, you forgot to counter check if the plane tickets are confirmed, and the hotel room you book is available.

What a disaster if upon arrival at the airport, you can’t board the aircraft because the details in your ticket are wrong or it was not confirmed. Same as when you arrive at your destination, no room is available in the hotel, all full. You might want to go into heated discussion with the concerned person, but it ruined your day, and all is left is a disappointment of what happened.

2) Be mindful of the weather

snow winter white cold weather ice trees plants nature people woman travel adventure trek dog woods forest Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/8E33WX1SF4

You’re all set to travel, and then you got stranded in the airport because of a big storm you don’t know. It will be uncomfortable if you have to sleep sitting down on the airport benches because of close hotels. Also, you don’t know when you will be able to fly again or get out of that airport. You might get stuck for a week or two until the storm is out of the area.

3) Language barrier

people men girls friends family picnic outdoor grass green food celebration eat drink party smoke talking sky trees building outside bike crowd Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/LTKV70U67U

You traveled to a place nobody knows your tongue. You’ll end up trying to learn “sign language” to get what you need.

4) Be Aware of Travel Advisories

still signs bicycle lane road street drawing illustration grass Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/T9JMGXJNUV

The place is exotic and fresh with waterfalls cascading down from the top, crystal clear pool and trees dancing with the wind, birds singing melodiously. What a beautiful place, peaceful and so relaxing. You’re about to spread out your sleeping mat to lie down. Suddenly, you hear voices and footsteps, in a split of a second, you were captured by armed natives. You didn’t know; your Embassy issued a travel advisory on this place. “Travel to this area is restricted!”

5) Eating beside a Tourist Spot

food appetizers cutting board bread cheese olives toothpicks cured meat cold cuts wine glass eating Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/1FFE9122BE

Never eat anywhere near a place where there is a tourist attraction. You will be paying an expensive menu but lacks taste. The food vendors are just after your money, not your appetite.

6) Never Avoid the Local Tourism Office

cup mug coffee laptop computer apple macbook office modern technology electronics table work desk research business study ipad mobile phone iphone keyboard mouse touchscreen green plant Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/92NRLPJRMO

Surprisingly, some travelers don’t visit a local tourism office. It should always be the first stop of your travel as they are familiar with travel advisories, current news and pathways or maps going to your destination. They also offer a discount card for food and accommodation. Further, they will be informed of your presence and can assist you when you need protection.

7) Stay Away from Taxis

car vehicle transportation highway urban city pedestrian taxi people shop mall store building establishment Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/A2839E5GPW

Taxis are not right for a ride. They’ll drain down your pocket by turning you around and around one point to the other until you can’t do anything but pay the high rate they demand or get mugged. And it’s not safe. Best to ride a bus with many passengers. The other passengers can assist you better.

Aside from this, it is safer to be with many passengers when you travel from one place to another. Your visibility to everyone is imperative because when something happens, the people who saw you can relate where you went and where you have been. Besides, you build a friendship with the local folks as you continue to speak with them while aboard the public utility vehicle.

If you’re good with reading maps, you can also try car rentals. Or if you plan to stay longer in a place, you may even decide to invest in a car, even a second-hand one. You can check out car parts dealers so you can get the best parts to replace the old ones in your pre-loved car.

8) Check your Travel Insurance

people girl female woman reading book knowledge study education leather jacket clothing Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/9LNS3XLF9Y

Better to check your insurance if it lapsed or not before you travel. Accidents always happen, you never know. What a big problem if you mixed up with some accidents and your insurance has expired.

9) Avoid Using Bank Cards with Interests

iphone mobile smartphone technology headphones earbuds recording audio voice business visa money finance credit card pen notepad travel Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/1FN7NK2P5B

Try to apply for an ATM card (debit or credit) that don’t charge international fees. If possible, use cash when paying things. You will not incur charges when you make some purchases. Don’t forget to change your money to the local currency. It will be added expense if you run out of local change as you have to find places to transact money changing.

10) Scrap Traveler’s Cheques

Traveler’s check is from banks given for a particular value that allows the holder to convert the check to cash anytime worldwide. It’s not advisable as you will be bringing with you cash which is dangerous. Better to use ATM because you withdraw money per necessity only.

Takeaway

Travel experts have lots of experiences compared to newbies. They are the ones who have gone through ups and downs of travel. However, traveling is a relaxation, and whether you have had this scary feeling of something unpredictable might happen, the love of the journey pulls you out of your house and lets you fly to some destinations.

If you have been working all your life, you would wish to get out from the humdrum of the city and find a place to relax. A place by the sea or a tropical island or mountain climbing – these are all places of serenity and peace – just don’t get caught with the unpleasant facts – and you’ll surely enjoy your travel and want more.

Salvează

North Korea Says Pukguksong-2 Missile Launch Was A Success

Roy Siemens
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0
North Korea Says Pukguksong-2 Missile Launch Was A Success

North Korea announces it has “successfully” fired a ballistic missile on February 12 in a test supervised by leader Kim Jong-un.

According to the state news agency KCNA, the Pukguksong-2  is a “surface-to-surface medium-to-long-range ballistic missile”.

South Korea’s defense ministry called it an armed provocation to test the response of President Donald Trump.

North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test has been widely condemned.

The US, Japan and South Korea have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the incident.

KCNA reported that the test of the Pukguksong-2 missile, a new type of strategic weapon said to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, was overseen by Kim Jong-un.

The news agency added that the missile was fired at a high angle in consideration of neighboring countries.

The rocket used a solid-fuel engine, the report said, which gives ballistic rockets greater power and range.

South Korea military experts said the rocket had been launched by a “cold-eject” system, which uses compressed gas for its initial thrust, a system employed for submarine-launched missiles.

The report also said that Kim Jong-un “expressed great satisfaction” over the test launch, which it said “adds to the tremendous might of the country.

South Korean and American officials said the missile flew east towards the Sea of Japan for about 300 miles.

The missile reached an altitude of about 350 miles, the South Korean military said.

Experts suggest the tests are programmed for shorter distances to avoid a missile landing on Japan.

This was the latest in a series of tests in the past year, including North Korea’s fifth of a nuclear device.

The launch took place at 07:55 local time from the Panghyon air base in North Pyongan province on the west side of the Korean peninsula.

UN resolutions forbid North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile tests – part of wider efforts to prevent it becoming a fully nuclear-armed power.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said that “North Korea’s repeated provocations show the Kim Jong-un regime’s nature of irrationality, maniacally obsessed in its nuclear and missile development”.

NATO also condemned the missile test, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urging North Korea “not to raise tensions further and to re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community”.

The EU joined the criticism, declaring in a statement that North Korea’s “repeated disregard of its international obligations is provocative and unacceptable”.

China, North Korea’s closest ally, has yet to comment. Beijing has joined in international efforts to press Kim Jong-un to rein in his nuclear ambitions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uJ5i1r2Xu0

Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump Impersonation Tricks Dominican Republic Newspaper

Lisa.Felice
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0
Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump Impersonation Tricks Dominican Republic Newspaper

Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump impersonation on Saturday Night Live tricked El Nacional newspaper in the Dominican Republic into thinking he was the real thing.

El Nacional has now apologized for accidentally publishing a still of Alec Baldwin, captioned as the American president, next to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The image accompanied an article about Israeli settlements.

El Nacional has said sorry to readers and “anyone affected”.

The picture was sent to the newspaper along with information about SNL.

No-one spotted the mistake, says El Nacional.

SNL is not Donald Trump’s favorite TV program. He says Alec Baldwin’s frequent impressions of him “stink”.

“Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!” Donald Trump once tweeted.

Swiss Citizenship Referendum: People Vote Whether to Make Third-Generation Immigrants Naturalization Easier

Diane A. Wade
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0
Swiss Citizenship Referendum: People Vote Whether to Make Third-Generation Immigrants Naturalization Easier

Swiss voters are going to the polls to decide whether Switzerland’s strict rules on citizenship should be relaxed.

Being born in Switzerland does not guarantee citizenship and non-Swiss residents must typically wait 12 years before applying.

Tests and government interviews are also required, which can be expensive.

The new proposal will allow third-generation immigrants to avoid some of that bureaucracy.

The referendum results will directly affect those born in Switzerland, whose parents and grandparents also lived in the country permanently.

Image source YouTube

Supporters of the plan to simplify the process argue that it is ridiculous to ask people who were born and have lived all their lives in Switzerland to prove that they are integrated.

However, opponents suggest that the measures could lead to further steps that will eventually allow all non-Swiss residents – 25% of the population – to gain easy citizenship.

An opposition poster, which features a woman in a burka, suggests that the new proposal could lead to a so-called “Islamization” of Switzerland.

The current vetting procedure, aimed at ensuring that new citizens are well integrated, includes interviews carried out by town councils. Questions put to interviewees can include requests to name local cheeses or mountains.

Those in favor of maintaining the current system also argue that the strict vetting rules make it superior to the more anonymous systems in neighboring France and Germany.

Over the past 30 years, three previous attempts to relax the rules have been defeated. This time, opinion polls suggest the vote on February 12 will be close. Big cities back the idea, while more conservative rural areas oppose it.

Greece: Huge Thessaloniki Evacuation over WWII Bomb Disposal

Roy Siemens
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Greece: Huge Thessaloniki Evacuation over WWII Bomb Disposal

Greek authorities evacuated at least 70,000 residents of Thessaloniki for the disposal of a 500lb World War Two bomb.

It is thought to be one of the largest wartime bombs to be found in urban Greece in addition to being one of the largest mass evacuations.

The bomb was discovered during road works last week and is due to be disposed of on February 12.

According to officials, the bomb is too degraded to tell if it is German or an Allied bomb.

Residents within a radius of about 1.2 miles of the bomb will be compelled to evacuate the area, security officials have said.

The operation has been described by one blog as the biggest evacuation of Greek civilians in peacetime. However, it is not possible to verify such a claim.

The military says an operation of this size and complexity is the first of its kind in a densely populated area of Greece and the disposal operation should take about eight hours – but may take as long as two days.

Image source Ekathimerini

About 1,000 police officers and 300 volunteers will be deployed ahead of the disposal operation. People in the city were warned to vacate their homes several days in advance.

The evacuation is expected to cause considerable disruption in Thessaloniki, with about 450 residents of a refugee camp due to be among thousands of others being evacuated to schools, sports halls and cultural centers.

The bomb was discovered last week near a petrol station during work to expand fuel storage tanks.

A state of emergency has been declared in the three municipalities affected by the defusion operation, Thessaloniki’s Deputy Governor Voula Patoulidou told the Associated Press.

The military say they will initially try to defuse the bomb’s detonator before taking the device in its entirety to an army firing range, where a decision will then be taken on how best to neutralize it.

Thessaloniki bus terminal will be closed down while trains will also stop operating. There is also expected to be some traffic disruption in addition to interruptions to church services.

It appears the bomb was dropped by British and US planes targeting German rail facilities on September 17, 1944.

North Korea Fires First Ballistic Missile Since Donald Trump Took Office

Roy Siemens
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0
North Korea Fires First Ballistic Missile Since Donald Trump Took Office

North Korea has conducted a ballistic test in for the first time since President Donald Trump took office.

President Trump assured Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe that “America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100%”.

The ballistic missile fired by North Korea flew east towards the Sea of Japan for about 310 miles, South Korean officials say.

PM Shinzo Abe said the test was “absolutely intolerable”. According to Japanese officials, the missile did not reach its waters.

Speaking at a joint press conference during a visit to the US, Shinzo Abe added that Donald Trump had also assured him that he was committed to “further enforcing our alliance”.

North Korea has conducted a number of nuclear tests in the past year in acts of aggression that continue to alarm and anger the region.

Image source Reuters

February 12 launch took place at 07:55 local time from the Banghyon air base in North Pyongan province on the west side of the Korean peninsula.

The missile reached an altitude of about 350 miles, according to a South Korean official quoted by Reuters, and appeared to be a Rodong medium-range missile.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said: “North Korea’s repeated provocations show the Kim Jong-un regime’s nature of irrationality, maniacally obsessed in its nuclear and missile development.”

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga confirmed the missile had not reached Japanese territorial waters, adding that Tokyo would make a “strong protest” to North Korea over the incident.

There has so far been no comment from North Korea.

Kim Jong-un said last month that North Korea was close to testing long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

On a visit to South Korea last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis said that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would be met with an “effective and overwhelming” response.

James Mattis also reconfirmed plans to deploy a US missile defense system in South Korea later this year.

North Korea conducted its fifth test of a nuclear device in 2016, and claims it is capable of carrying out a nuclear attack on the US, though experts are still unconvinced that its technology has progressed that far.

North Korea has also said in recent weeks that it has a new intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of reaching the US mainland, which it is prepared to test launch at any time.

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