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Top Ten Things to Remember to Avoid an Unpleasant Travel Experience

Nancy Clayson
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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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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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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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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.

He Will Not Divide Us: Shia LaBeouf’s Exhibit Shut Down over Public Safety

Sonia Pantiss
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He Will Not Divide Us: Shia LaBeouf’s Exhibit Shut Down over Public Safety

Shia LaBeouf’s exhibit that lambasted President Donald Trump has been shut down because it had turned into “a flashpoint for violence”.

The piece of performance art encouraged the public to say “He will not divide us” into a camera mounted outside the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.

Shia LaBeouf was arrested after a fracas at the site, which police began manning round the clock.

The Transformers star criticized the museum’s decision to shut down the exhibit.

On Twitter, Shia LaBeouf posted an image of the live stream, which now reads: “The museum has abandoned us.”

Photo City of Austin

He co-founded the project, which was launched on the day President Trump was inaugurated, on January 20, with artists Luke Turner and Nastja Ronkko.

The live-stream ran for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the artists had planned to maintain it throughout Donald Trump’s presidency.

However, in the early hours of January 26, Shia LaBeouf was charged with assault and harassment after a confrontation with a man that was broadcast on the live-stream.

The New York Daily News reported that a number of white supremacists turned up at the site over the past three weeks, including one apparently wearing a Nazi hat.

In a statement, the museum said the atmosphere at the exhibit, named HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US, “deteriorated markedly” after Shia LaBeouf’s arrest.

There had been “dozens of threats of violence and numerous arrests” and it had become “a flashpoint for violence”, the statement added.

The museum said: “Until public safety concerns overrode the intent of the installation, HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US generated an important conversation allowing interaction among people from many backgrounds and with different viewpoints.”

A statement on the exhibit’s website says: “On February 10, 2017, the Museum of the Moving Image abandoned the project. The artists, however, have not.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q35nc3dIsns

Real Is Beautiful: Lithuania Tourism Department Used Overseas Photos to Promote Country

Nancy Clayson
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Real Is Beautiful: Lithuania Tourism Department Used Overseas Photos to Promote Country

The chief of Lithuania’s State Department of Tourism, Jurgita Kazlauskiene, has been forced to resign after an ad campaign to promote the country used photos of Finland and Slovakia.

The images ran under the slogan Real is Beautiful.

Jurgita Kazlauskiene told journalists: “I have decided to step down as the head of the state tourism department.”

Responding to the gaffe, the department and local media agencies insisted the overseas pictures were sufficient to “communicate emotion” – a claim widely mocked online.

Image source Facebook

The Real is the Beautiful page on Facebook had reportedly used stock photos from Shutterstock and the picture hosting site Flickr.

Lithuanian Facebook users have seen the funny side, with many posting shots of international landmarks, captioned as Lithuanian, with the hashtag #realisbeautiful.

Even PM Saulius Skvernelis joined in the joke, sharing a picture of the EU Commission’s Berlaymont building in Brussels.

He wrote: “From tomorrow, we start working in the new government building in Karoliniskes.”

Karoliniskes is a suburb in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. The post was signed off with a smiling emoji.

In a second more serious post, Saulius Skvernelis promised an investigation into the “fraudulent” episode.

Lithuania launched the Real is Beautiful campaign in October 2016, aiming to draw more tourists to its sandy beaches and lush woodlands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=xHU9ne-Mi7c

Disney to Take 99% Ownership of Disneyland Paris

Clyde K. Valle
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Disney to Take 99% Ownership of Disneyland Paris

Disney is to buy most of Disneyland Paris theme park operator Euro Disney.

The deal could end private investing in the company after more than 26 years, leaving just two shareholders.

Disney set up Euro Disney to run the Disneyland Paris resort, which opened in 1992.

The American company said it would plough 1.5 billion euros into Euro Disney and aims to buy out private investors, offering 2 euros per share.

The 2015 terror attacks on Paris and “challenging business conditions” in France and across Europe have dented its finances, it said.

The latest rescue follows a 1 billion-euro refinancing in 2014 in the wake of falling visitor numbers and spending.

Image source Flickr

Disney injected more than 400 million euros into the business, while about 600 million euros in debt was converted to shares in the US group.

While the 2 euro-a-share offer is 67% higher than February 9 closing price, it may not be as attractive to investors who bought shares earlier in the company’s history.

Disney first sold shares to the public in 1989 for 72 francs apiece, the equivalent of 10.98 euros, and the stock climbed as high as 165.2 francs in 1992.

It has had to bail the company out through restructuring its debt on a number of occasions and has been gradually increasing its stake. Before the latest announcement it owned 76.7% of Euro Disney.

The latest move includes buying 9% of the company’s stock from Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s Kingdom Holdings, which bought a stake in the company in 1994 during one of its early restructurings.

Kingdom Holdings will keep a 1% stake in Euro Disney, and if the remaining private shareholders agree to the latest offer, Disney will own the rest.

Shareholders could reject the offer and keep their shares, but if Disney buys enough of the stock to own more than 95% of the company, it will have to buy the rest under French stock market rules.

Despite being the largest theme park in Europe, Euro Disney has recorded losses in 18 of its 25 financial years. Fewer than expected visitors and fees charged by Disney for the use of its branding have been blamed by investors for its poor performance.

In 2016, Disney paid 75 million euros in royalties and management fees on revenue of 1.28 billion euros.

Donald Trump to Issue New Travel Ban

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump to Issue New Travel Ban

President Donald Trump is considering a new executive order to ban citizens of certain countries from traveling to the US after his initial attempt was overturned in the courts.

He told reporters on Air Force One that a “brand new order” could be issued as early as February 13 or 14.

The president made the announcement after an appeals court in San Francisco upheld a court ruling to suspend his original order.

The executive order barred entry from citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries.

It is unclear what a new US immigration order might look like.

Donald Trump said that it would change “very little”, but he did not provide details of any new ban under consideration.

Image source Getty Images

Despite his suggestion on February 10, President Trump’s administration may still pursue its case in the courts over the original order, which was halted a week ago by a Seattle judge.

“We’ll win that battle,” he told reporters.

Donald Trump added: “The unfortunate part is it takes time. We’ll win that battle. But we also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order.”

An unnamed judge from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which on February 9 upheld the stay on the original order, has called on all 25 judges of that court to vote on whether to hear the appeal again.

Technically known as an en banc review, a second hearing of the case would involve an 11-judge panel, rather than the three who initially heard the appeal.

Donald Trump’s travel ban, which was hastily unveiled at the end of his first week in office, caused chaos at US airports and sparked protests across the country.

On February 9, the appeals court said the administration failed to offer “any evidence” to justify the ban, which the president said was necessary to keep the US safe from terror attacks.

However, Donald Trump insisted that the executive order was crucial for national security and promised to take action “very rapidly” to introduce “additional security” steps in the wake of the court’s decision.

The president spoke as Virginia state lawyers argued in court that his policy “resulted from animus toward Muslims”.

Their challenge focuses on the travel restrictions imposed by the ban, rather than the four-month suspension of refugee admissions.

Lawyers for the US government in Virginia wrote that “judicial second-guessing” amounted to “an impermissible intrusion” on Donald Trump’s constitutional authority.

The appeals court ruling means that visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either.

However, the ruling does not affect one part of Donald Trump’s controversial executive order: a cap of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in the current fiscal year, down from the ceiling of 110,000 established under President Barack Obama.

Indian Rupee Withdrawal: Uttar Pradesh Election Seen as Referendum

Diane A. Wade
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Indian Rupee Withdrawal: Uttar Pradesh Election Seen as Referendum

Indian PM Narendra Modi faces his biggest electoral test since gaining power as the country’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, goes to the polls for a new state assembly.

Narendra Modi took Uttar Pradesh, which is home to over 200 million people, when he won the 2014 national election.

Uttar Pradesh election is being seen as a referendum on Narendra Modi’s decision to ban high value banknotes in India.

The move led to a cash shortage, hurting individuals and businesses.

Image source Reuters

The performance of Narendra Modi’s governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh was important because it will be seen as an indicator for India’s national politics.

The move to scrap 500 ($7.60) and 1,000 rupee notes in November 2016 was intended to crack down on corruption and so-called black money or illegal cash holdings.

However, his government has admitted that the withdrawal of high value banknotes, which was met with shock in India, has had an “adverse impact” on the economy.

Narendra Modi has defended the decision, which he said was made in the interests of the poor.

The prime minister has personally led the campaigning for his party with the aim of encouraging a strong showing at the polls, which would strengthen his chances of a second term in 2019.

Uttar Pradesh voted overwhelmingly for Narendra Modi’s BJP in 2014.

Reckitt Benckiser Agrees to Buy Mead Johnson for $16.6 Billion

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Reckitt Benckiser Agrees to Buy Mead Johnson for $16.6 Billion

Reckitt Benckiser has agreed to buy US baby formula maker Mead Johnson for $16.6 billion.

The UK-based household goods giant said the purchase would help it grow in China, and provide “a significant step forward” in its efforts to become a “leader in consumer health”.

Mead Johnson makes infant formula under the Enfa brand and had sales of $3.7 billion in 2016.

The deal is worth $17.9 billion once Mead Johnson’s debt is taken into account.

Mead Johnson chairman James Cornelius said Reckitt Benckiser’s offer provided “tremendous value” to shareholders.

Image source LinkedIn

They will receive $90 per share, 29% more than its $69.50 share price on February 1, before bid speculation began.

China’s 2015 decision to scrap its one-child policy could be an opportunity for consumer goods companies.

Couples are now allowed to have two children after concerns about China’s ageing population led the government to reverse the decades-long rule.

In 2016, China’s birth rate was the highest this century, with the number of newborns rising by 7.9% or 17.86 million in 2015.

As a result of this baby boom, analysts expect demand for food, formula, clothes and medicine to grow.

Reckitt Benckiser said it would fund the purchase with loans from its banks Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and HSBC, and through selling bonds.

The deal will need the approval of shareholders for both companies and regulators.

If Reckitt Benckiser shareholders reject the deal, the company will pay Mead Johnson $480 million.

Salvează

Renault Reports Record Annual Revenues

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Renault Reports Record Annual Revenues

Renault has reported record annual revenues after a revamp of its range boosted sales.

The French automaker’s revenues rose 13.1% to 51.2 billion euros in 2016, slightly ahead of expectations, while net income jumped by nearly 20% to 3.54 billion euros.

Earlier this week, Renault said it had sold 3.2 million vehicles in 2016, a 13.4% rise on 2015, with market share rising in all regions.

Renault sales have now overtaken French rival Peugeot Citroen.

The company’s financial director Clotilde Delbos said 2016 had been “a very good year” for the automaker, and the company had hit all of its targets.

She told a news conference: “These objectives, in particular that of exceeding 50 billion euros in sales, have been achieved by 2016.”

Clotilde Delbos added that the results had been achieved despite markets such as Brazil and Russia that “count a lot for us and which were strong in the past” but were still at “lower levels than in the past”.

Renault said it expected the global car market to grow by between 1.5% and 2% in 2018, with sales in Europe and France up 2%.

The automaker forecasts the markets in Brazil and Russia will be “stable”, but expects 5% growth in China and the Indian market to expand by 8%.

Last month, French authorities said they would investigate Renault over suspected “cheating” in diesel emissions tests.

Paris prosecutors are to conduct a probe into “cheating on key parts” of vehicles and into the quality of the tests.

The move comes in response to concerns raised in 2016 by the French consumer protection agency, which carried out an investigation into several carmakers in the wake of VW scandal.

Universal Music to Acquire Prince’s Private Archive

Sonia Pantiss
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Universal Music to Acquire Prince’s Private Archive

Universal Music has struck a deal to release much of Prince’s private archive.

The world’s biggest music label said the deal gave it exclusive licensing rights to Prince’s “highly anticipated trove of unreleased works”.

Universal has also acquired the rights to 25 albums that Prince released through NPG Records, the label that he founded.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

Photo Getty Images

However, last October, reports emerged that the unreleased music was up for sale for $35 million.

In a statement, Universal Music Group said it had reached a multi-year agreement with the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson and NPG Records.

Under the terms of the deal it will be collaborating with the estate “with regard to Prince’s vault of prized unreleased works from throughout his career, including outtakes, demos and live recordings”.

The musician, who died in April 2016, was renowned for the many songs he recorded and then kept in the basement at his Paisley Park home in Minneapolis.

Prince was the only person with the code to open the safe.

From 2018 the new deal also gives Universal US rights to certain Prince albums released between 1979 and 1995.

Universal’s executive vice president, Michele Anthony, said it was an honor “professionally and personally to be entrusted with these cherished recordings, including his storied ‘vault’ of unreleased music, and to partner with his estate and heirs to preserve and expand Prince’s legacy”.

Over the course of his career Prince sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.

Donald Trump Agrees to Honor America’s One China Policy During Call with Xi Jinping

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Agrees to Honor America’s One China Policy During Call with Xi Jinping

The White House has announced that President Donald Trump agreed to honor America’s “One China” policy in a phone call with President Xi Jinping.

The “One China” policy is the diplomatic acknowledgement that there is only one Chinese government.

Donald Trump had placed the long-standing policy in doubt when he had a phone call with Taiwan’s president.

Previous presidents have followed China’s lead in not recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation.

Under the “One China” policy, the US recognizes and has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province to be reunified with the mainland one day.

The White House said the two presidents discussed a wide range of issues during a lengthy call on February 9.

A statement described the call as “extremely cordial” and said the two leaders had invited each other to visit.

The call followed a letter sent by Donald Trump to Xi Jinping on February 9 – the president’s first direct approach to the Chinese leader.

Donald Trump baited China throughout his campaign, accusing it of unfair trade practices and threatening to challenge its military build up in the South China Sea.

Beijing responded cautiously, expressing “serious concern” about Donald Trump’s position on the One China policy and urging the US to maintain close ties with China.

What You Need To Know About Running A Website To Succeed In Business

Nancy Clayson
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0
What You Need To Know About Running A Website To Succeed In Business

If you provide products and services online, you certainly need a website. No buts. No Ifs. Not to have one is business suicide. And you also need the latest gadgets iPad, iPhone, Android phone, laptop, etc. to reinforce the website you will create.

By reading this article, you come closer to your goal of success online. Yes, you are! Many people are still confused about what a website can do to their business. But of course not you.

What do you need to do now?

Now that you are aware of your need for a website allocate a few hours to create a remarkable website for your business. Be assured; the next few hours would be fascinating and fun for you as you start building a showcase for your products and services online.

What will you accomplish?

After reading this article, you have done the following:

  • Made a website design.
  • Enhance a highly compelling website that generates potential customers and convinces them to rally behind your website promotion.
  • Create a remarkable and exclusive website, one that has a professional look and appealing.
  • Publish the website for all to see.

What will you need?

  • Passion and predilection to create a website for your business.
  • Cool picture of you.
  • Editing photo tools. All these software are for free plus some powerful website tools online for you: Photofunia, Picnik, Pixlr, FotoFlexer, and BeFunky. As you go on creating the website, you will learn how to utilize them.
  • Hosting webs with the website builder. Take note, free website hosting is not stable and not secure, so it is not advisable to create it for your business. Choose one that has a reputation.

The advantage of website building is that expert computer designers take the fundamentals of web usage and web formats (consistency/fonts, etc.) care.

It will allow you so much time to design your website, and that is what draws and persuades customers to employ your services.

However, some newbies commit mistakes by using templates outside the box. Don’t do that! Your website is not a VA generic so why make your site a generic?

It is best if you customize your website and be entirely your own and you can make use of dummy-proof visuals and pdf orientation to implement this one.

There are two platforms in a website we can suggest, GoDaddy Domain and HostGator Website Hosting. HostGator feature includes Plesk Website Builder, and GoDaddy offers 5-page websites for free.

It comes with it an ad as a temporary setting-up. I recommend for you to purchase a paid account with an add free to have a professional look.

How to Plan Your Website?

people man writing paper pen plan hand ring table office work Source:https://stocksnap.io/photo/RGRCNHCEYG

Failure to plan is a plan to fail. Ensure that you are much aware why you want to create a website before you begin. Have concrete information about your clients’ needs and what they want to gain in viewing your page.

The most significant goal is for you to convince them to support whatever design you will create on the web.

How to Create Your Website?

It is the exciting part! Whenever you’re ready, follow the 3-15 minutes tutorial on how you can create your website. No need for you to learn the HTML or CSS.

It will give you guidance how to convert your photo into an artistic artwork. You can download Pdf tutorials for your guide. At the end of the session, guaranteed, you have published your website, live!

Why Oh Why, Do You Need a Website?

You are not in need of a website if –

Can you engage in a VA business without an existing internet site? Of course, you can! But your potential development is limited. There are some situations where you don’t need a website. Try to analyze the situations below if you do not need a website.

You don’t need a website if:

  • You just want the internet site for a hobby, not for a business to succeed.
  • You just want to get along, and not distinguish yourself.
  • You are contented with an endless cycle of search job-apply job-do the job-search job; you don’t need success.

If all of the above applies to you, then, yes you don’t need to build a website because you’ll be just wasting your time.

What Are The Five Big “Buts?”

Here are the five common fears about building a website and why they should not compel you.

  • “I have no knowledge of HTML” It is alright. You don’t require an HTML to build a website of your own.
  • “But it is so laborious.” Well, if you are employing the old school of website building, then, yes, it’s difficult. But with today’s technology where everything is like a click-and-play, it’s so easy to create one.
  • “But I will spend much time” No, you will not! You will have one published and live in just a few minutes.
  • “But I am not creative” No worries with that! There are now lots of free designs or applications online where you can transform a dull photo into an original art. Plus you can put all your notes and sketches on your notebooks and sketchpads.
  • “But it is expensive” Website builders and hosting only cost a few dollars per month, a small investment compared to the potential profit and reputation you will generate from having a website of your own.

What Are The 4 Important Reasons In Creating a Website?

computer mac apple programming coding programmer designer technology business office desk working code Source:https://stocksnap.io/photo/825303XHAE

The website that you will create is where you will build trust and confidence with your prospective customers. It is where you will start building an identity of your business and reputation as well.

And when all these elements are suitably enhanced, then this is where business transaction starts with your clients.

  1. To Build Trust. For you to obtain trust from a prospective client, you have to draw their attention initially. On work boards, it is not easy to implement as there are hundreds of bidders contesting for the attention of the client.

You have to convince the customer to visit your website and see the writings and portfolios you publish. The items that you display in your website will speak for you, and it will be a manifestation that the client can trust you.

  1. To Be Distinguished and Demand Higher Rate. Jobs on board (eLance, LimeExchange, Freelancer, oDesk), you are just one among hundreds of bidders. Competition is too tight, and your capacity to be different becomes dim because of the pressure of systems that job boards employ.

The only chance for you to be distinguished from competitors is to display your portfolio, writings, and articles on board your website for the client to see and analyze. They can easily assess the look of it and see that you’re different from the others.  Most job boards and bid prices are consumer driven, so your offer of a higher or lower rate will depend on your clients.

However, flexibility is too weak as there are other VA’s who have access to them, and can quickly embrace drop-dead rates which you cannot contest. It’s better to drive the clients to your website so that you have much more control and price demand the moment they see all your portfolio.

  1. To Enhance and Develop Status of Expertise. It is a competition of perception online. The one equipped with competence draws an influx of clients. However, you might be the competent secretary or whatnot in this planet, but if you are not known to be such, there’s a probability that you end up bankrupt or broke because you do not have any client.

Nevertheless, those who can position right on time and build on the perception of their client needs will surely garner all the customers. And that is because they are the first to create a website and display a broad range of their products and services that suit the client’s needs.

  1. To have a 24/7 Marketing Mechanism. The website you create is your biggest asset, and good organizing and planning will funnel sales leads and transform them into paying customers, even while you’re sleeping.

Takeaway

Building an excellent website will pave the way to enhancing your business. It is easy to display all your products and services on your site, so you’ll just have to think of strategies for converting your visitors into customers.

If you have a website, it will cut down operational costs in your business because you don’t need to go door to door to make your product and services known.

By placing the right keywords in your web content, you can draw hundreds of viewers to your site. And to make sure the viewers will be attracted to your website, so they keep coming back, arrange the content of your site in such a way that when viewers read it, they will see all the things they are looking for as seamlessly as possible.

Salvează

9th Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Trump Travel Ban’s Suspension

Diane A. Wade
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0
9th Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Trump Travel Ban’s Suspension

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a bid to reinstate President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration ban.

The court said it would not block a lower-court ruling that brought President Trump’s executive order to a halt.

Donald Trump made the order temporarily banning people from seven mainly Muslim countries, because of terror threats he said put national security at risk.

Image source Flickr

However, the executive order sparked protests and confusion as people were stopped at US borders.

Lawyers representing the DoJ had argued that the ban was a “lawful exercise” of presidential authority.

However, two US states said the ban was unconstitutional and discriminated against Muslims.

The case is now likely to end up at the highest court, the Supreme Court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNQ8YGGrrt4

Amal Clooney Pregnant with Twins

Lisa.Felice
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1
Amal Clooney Pregnant with Twins

George Clooney’s wife, Amal, is expecting twins, CBS’s The Talk revealed.

The babies are due in June, according to host Julie Chen.

Another source close to the couple, quoted by People, said they were “very happy”. The Clooneys’ representatives have not yet commented.

George and Mal Clooney married in Venice in 2014 with a star-studded list of guests who included Matt Damon and Bill Murray.

Rumors that they might be expecting began to circulate last month when Amal Clooney, 39, was spotted wearing a loose-fitting dress.

George Clooney, 55, has starred in numerous Hollywood films and has won two Academy Awards.

Amal Clooney, a prominent human rights lawyer, has represented a number of high profile figures, including former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko and Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Kellyanne Conway Promotes Ivanka Trump’s Products on Live TV

Nancy Clayson
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0
Kellyanne Conway Promotes Ivanka Trump’s Products on Live TV

President Trump’s senior aide Kellyanne Conway promoted Ivanka Trump’s products on live TV.

Earlier this month, Nordstrom dropped Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, citing a lack of sales.

However, Kellyanne Conway told Fox News on February 9: “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff.”

Jason Chaffetz, a Republican who heads the oversight committee in Congress, said the promotion was “clearly over the line, unacceptable”.

Federal ethics rules prevent White House employees giving an “endorsement of any product, service or enterprise”.

Jason Chaffetz said the White House should notify the Office of Government Ethics so it could initiate an inquiry. There have been numerous concerns over possible conflicts of interest for White House staff.

Image source Nordstrom

He said he and his Democratic counterpart would write to President Donald Trump.

Nordstrom became the fifth retailer to drop the Ivanka Trump clothing line, citing lack of sales.

The move comes amid a boycott of all Trump products, which activists have dubbed #GrabYourWallet, in reference to a 2005 comment Donald Trump made about women’s bodies.

Nordstrom said the decision was based on the brand’s performance, which is what the company repeated on February 8: “Sales of the brand have steadily declined to the point where it didn’t make good business sense for us to continue with the line for now.”

The company added that Ivanka Trump was personally informed of the decision in early January.

Nordstrom shares briefly fell 0.7%, before rising later in the day.

Ivanka Trump does not have a fixed role in the White House, but has been a regular fixture since her father’s inauguration.

Her husband, Jared Kushner, is a key Trump adviser.

Ivanka Trump gave up operating control – but not ownership – of her businesses after her father’s election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtJs8A0cYlI

Eiffel Tower To Get Reinforced Glass Wall as Protection against Terror Attacks

Nancy Clayson
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0
Eiffel Tower To Get Reinforced Glass Wall as Protection against Terror Attacks

French authorities have decided to build an 8ft-high wall of reinforced glass around Paris’ Eiffel Tower as protection against terror attacks.

According to the Paris mayor’s office, the wall will replace metal fences put up for the Euro 2016 soccer tournament.

The project, if approved, is expected to cost about €20 million ($21 million) and work should start later this year.

Paris has been on high alert since attacks by jihadists in November 2015 left 130 people dead.

Photo AFP

In July 2016, 86 people were killed when a truck ploughed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern city of Nice.

The Eiffel Tower, one of France’s most famous landmarks, attracts more than six million visitors each year and the wall is designed to stop individuals or vehicles storming the site, said the assistant mayor for tourism, Jean-Francois Martins.

He said: “The terror threat remains high in Paris and the most vulnerable sites, led by the Eiffel Tower, must be the object of special security measures.

“We will replace the metal grids to the north and south with glass panels which will allow Parisians and visitors a very pleasant view of the monument.”

Jean-Francois Martins added: “We have three aims – to improve the look, make access easier and strengthen the protection of visitors and staff.”

The project will also involve reorganizing pathways around the tower.

Earlier this month, a man wielding two machetes attack Louvre Museum.

However, President Francois Hollande said there was little doubt it was a terrorist act.

Alcohol Abuse: Recognising The Signs

Dana R
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0
Alcohol Abuse: Recognising The Signs

Image Source

Most of us drink. Some of us may even binge every other weekend. But where do you draw the line between moderate/social use and alcoholism? Generally a good indicator is when friends and family start to worry about you, or when you personally start to worry or feel ashamed about drinking. Talking a doctor or counsellor will allow you to properly determine whether you have a problem. In the meantime, it may be worth reading into these signs to see if you fit the bill.

Your drinking has got you a criminal conviction

If you’ve been arrested or warned by police for drunken behaviour, this is generally a sign that you need to tone things down a bit. This could include being drunk and disorderly, trespassing into an area whilst intoxicated or drinking under the influence. It may pay to think back to any previous dangerous or unlawful situations that you’ve found yourself, whether or not you got caught in the act. If you can easily identify such situations, then this a sign that alcohol is taking control of your actions for the worse.

There are many things you can do to wipe clean your criminal convictions and start fresh. Whilst they may haunt you forever on a DBS check, you may be able to legally contest having to pay fines or serve sentences by showing that you’re making a recovery. There are specialist lawyers that can deal with individual charges such as DUI attorney for a drink driving charge.

alcoholic

Image Source

Your drinking is causing you to neglect responsibilities

Failing to turn up at work or school because you were drinking, neglecting your kids or forgetting important commitments are all clear signs that alcohol is negatively affecting your life. Such behaviour when taking to the extreme could result in getting fired, suspended or having social services intervene.

Start to record the amount of times this is happening, and start setting alarms and keeping calendars so that you’re on time to events and know when to limit your drinking. If you still find it hard to keep by this code, you may need to seek help elsewhere.

Drinking is damaging your relationships

If your family or partner does not like your drinking habits and it is resulting in arguments, ultimatums, splits or physical violence, alcohol could be ruining your personal life. Of course, relationship problems can be due to a number of factors, but if alcohol is the running theme, then it may be worth taking the advice of your friends and family. There are also counselling services that can help with this area.

You need to drink to de-stress

A lot of us may use a glass of wine or a few beers to unwind after a hard day’s work, but you shouldn’t have to rely on these things to de-stress. If your first reaction to every argument or bit of bad news is to hit the bottle, this could masking problems or creating an unhealthy reliance. Start experimenting with other methods of de-stressing such as exercise, listening to music, meditations, reading, gaming or simply going for a walk – whatever gives you comfort without involving alcohol.

7 Useful Tips For Coping With Chronic Pain

Dana R
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0
7 Useful Tips For Coping With Chronic Pain

night-sleep

Image Credit

People living with chronic pain can find every aspect of their life is affected. From sleeping to working, relationships to mental health, nothing is left alone, and people can find it truly challenging. While the very nature of chronic pain means that the source is tough to treat, it is possible to treat the symptoms to some extent. Different people find a variety of ways to treat their symptoms, and it can vary widely from person to person. If you’re suffering from chronic pain, here are seven things you can do to help alleviate and manage your symptoms.

  1. Address your mental health

Mental health and chronic pain are intrinsically connected. The isolation that many people experience as a result of the pain and exhaustion they experience can cause severe depression and anxiety which, in a harsh, vicious cycle, can cause the chronic pain to worsen. It’s a tremendously difficult cycle to break, but by carefully monitoring your own mental health, it’s possible to ensure you do not fall into this cycle. Managing your stress is the first way to do this – stress and chronic pain are unfortunate bedfellows, so it’s important not to allow this to happen to you. Keep your responsibilities to their minimum level, and avoid biting off more than you can chew. When things become too much, always ask for help – your health is more important than anything else, so don’t let work or other responsibilities come first.

Image Credit

  1. Understand your medication

Chances are you’ll be on a few different bits of medication to manage the cause of your chronic pain. Understanding how this medication works allows you to communicate fully with your doctor regarding your needs, and will also help to manage side effects. It also allows you to understand which complementary therapies might work, such as reflexology, acupuncture, or medical marijuana (if it’s legal in your area) which can be easily administered with enail box mod attachments for e-cigarettes. Speak to your doctor before you invest in any of these, but express an interest in trying them out.

  1. Exploit your body’s natural pain relief

The human body has a great ability to treat a certain amount of pain on its own. While it probably won’t be able to rid you of it altogether, a little bit of natural pain relief won’t hurt. Light exercise is a great way to encourage your body to release endorphins, which are the hormones that improve your mood, with the added bonus of blocking pain signals to the brain. Exercise also keeps your blood pressure down, your weight at a healthy level, and reduces your risk of heart disease or diabetes, so it’s a win-win situation.

Image Source

  1. Find a support group

Feeling isolated is a very natural part of the chronic pain, especially as it can be difficult to get out and socialize like you did pre-illness. Finding a support group of other chronic pain sufferers allows you to surround yourself with people who are understanding about what you’re experiencing, but who can also offer advice for treatment and coping mechanisms.

  1. Try to eat well

Eating a healthy diet not only reduces cholesterol and the risk of diabetes, but it can even help you to feel better more immediately. A low sodium, balanced diet of protein, fats, carbohydrates, and lots of fruit and veggies will give you more energy, and make you feel more healthy while your body isn’t at its best.

  1. Keep track of everything

Seemingly innocuous things can affect your mood and pain levels when you’re suffering. Keeping track of diet, exercise, energy and sleep, and the resulting pain levels allow you to monitor the cause and effect of your actions. This is useful information for both your doctor, who can use it to understand your condition better, and yourself, who can use it to better manage your condition in the future. Keeping it all in a handy journal or on a useful app, and regularly looking for patterns in the data means you can start to draw correlations and change how you manage your pain.

meditation

Image Credit

  1. Explore meditation

Many chronic pain sufferers find that meditation and deep breathing techniques are a great way to manage symptoms. They help to take the tension out of the muscles, which can ease pain and release stress. Focussing on deep, long breaths, or the repetitive beat of the heart, allows sufferers to distract themselves from the pain and become mindful of their body in other ways, which can have great long term benefits when explored for any significant length of time.

Managing chronic pain isn’t easy, but it is possible – give some of these a go and let me know what you think.

Jeff Sessions Confirmed as Attorney General

Diane A. Wade
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0
Jeff Sessions Confirmed as Attorney General

President Donald Trump’s nomination for attorney general, Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, has been confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 52 to 47.

Jeff Sessions’ confirmation follows a series of divisive hearings during which Democrats attacked his record on civil rights.

Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren was silenced after recalling historic allegations of racism against Jeff Sessions.

Jeff Sessions’ nomination was among Donald Trump’s most controversial.

Voting largely followed party lines, with just one Democratic senator – Joe Manchin of West Virginia – voting for Jeff Sessions.

Image source Flickr

Jeff Sessions’ Republican colleagues in the chamber applauded him as their majority carried him over the line. He will now take charge of the justice department and its 113,000 employees, including 93 US attorneys.

Addressing the chamber after the vote, Jeff Sessions said: “There is no greater honor than to represent the people of Alabama in the greatest deliberative body in the world.

“I appreciate the full debate we’ve had and thank those afterwards who found sufficient confidence to cast their vote to confirm me as the next attorney general.

“I fully understand the august responsibility of this office.”

However, Jeff Sessions added that “denigrating people who don’t agree with us is not good for our politics”.

During debates ahead of the vote, Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic senators recalled criticism of Jeff Sessions by Martin Luther King’s widow, who opposed his nomination as a federal judge in 1986, alleging he had intimidated black voters.

That nomination was rejected by a US Senate panel amid concerns over allegedly racist comments made by Jeff Sessions, and remarks which appeared to be sympathetic to white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan.

David Duke, the former leader of the KKK, welcomed the confirmation, writing on Twitter: “Mr. Trump’s appointment of Bannon, Flynn and Sessions are the first steps in the project of taking America back.”

Elizabeth Warren, who was temporarily banned from the chamber, wrote: “If Jeff Sessions makes even the tiniest attempt to bring his racism, sexism & bigotry into the Justice Department, he’ll hear from all of us.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmVAbxDgV2s

Dakota Pipeline: ETP to Resume Work After Getting US Army Permission

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Dakota Pipeline: ETP to Resume Work After Getting US Army Permission

Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the company building the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline, says it plans to resume work immediately after getting permission from the US Army.

ETP said the remaining work on Dakota pipeline would take about three months to complete.

The $3.8 billion project had stalled for months due to opposition from Native American protesters.

According to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, the pipeline could endanger its drinking water and desecrate sacred sites.

The final section of the project is a crossing under Lake Oahe that would carry North Dakota oil through the pipeline to Illinois.

The Army had begun further study of the river crossing after contamination fears raised by the Standing Rock tribe, but it notified Congress on February 7 that it would stop the study and grant ETP permission to continue work.

The decision came after Donald Trump formally backed the project last month in one of his first executive orders as president.

Image source Flickr

Thousands of predominantly Native American protesters have boycotted the pipeline’s construction in the state of North Dakota.

The 1,172 mile, four-state project is almost finished except for the one-mile stretch under Lake Oahe, where demonstrators have set up protest encampments.

The Obama administration announced in September 2016 that it would not allow the project to proceed, but Donald Trump overturned the decision.

The Army’s statement on February 7 said: “The Department of the Army announced today that it has completed a presidential-directed review of the remaining easement request for the Dakota Access pipeline, and has notified Congress that it intends to grant an easement.”

An easement is a special permit that allows a company to cross private land. North Dakota’s two senators welcomed the Army’s announcement.

Standing Rock Sioux lawyers said approval of the project cannot be “legally granted at this time”.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, and the Center for Biological Diversity have criticized the decision and vowed to fight the pipeline.

They accused the Trump administration of putting corporate profits ahead of Native Americans and the environment.

Nearly 700 people have been arrested since protests first began in 2016, according to law enforcement officials.

Just last week 76 protesters were arrested after refusing to leave land owned by the energy company.

5 Cruel Effects Of A Bad Night’s Sleep That You Should Know

Nancy Clayson
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0
5 Cruel Effects Of A Bad Night’s Sleep That You Should Know

It is not surprising for people to be irritable after a bad night’s sleep. If you’re the one who didn’t have enough amount of sleep, how would you feel?

We bet you’ll experience some of the most common effects such as a headache; it can make you grumpy, and may even let someone who lacks sleep experience back pain when you wake up in the morning. Did you know that it can do so many things when it comes to your physical and mental health?

In this article, we will give you some of the surprising but serious effects of sleep deprivation. Here are some of those:

  1. It may cause accidents

accident, banana skin, be carefulhttps://www.pexels.com/photo/slippery-foot-dangerous-fall-36763/

Did you know that behind the greatest disasters in the world history such as the oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska (also known as Exxon Valdez oil spill), the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 and much more massive accidents are commonly factored by one thing? Sleep deprivation.

Aside from that, it has been common that lack of sleep is also one factor in different road accidents. The feeling of being sleepy can have the same effect as drunk driving.

Studies also show that those who lack sleep causes more accidents in work and those who suffer from drowsiness has more sick days compared to those who had an adequate amount of sleep according to reports.

  1. Lack of sleep makes you dumb

awareness, cross, dumbhttps://www.pexels.com/photo/walk-human-trafficking-12136/

A right amount of sleep plays a vital role when it comes to your cognitive function and learning. There are tons of adverse effects when you lack sleep. The not so serious type is when you can’t focus or concentrate, it also makes your attention span shorter than normal.

At night, the amount of sleep that you’re getting contributes to the consolidation of memories when you sleep. If you don’t sleep well that night, expect that you can’t remember tomorrow what you learned and gone through yesterday.

  1. Sleeping poorly ages your skin

White Heart Shape on Human Skinhttps://www.pexels.com/photo/white-heart-shape-on-human-skin-161608/

Those who lack sleep for several nights may experience puffy eyes and yellowish skin. But eventually, it can lead to dull skin, some fine lines, and dark circles the eyes.

What happens when we don’t get enough sleep is that our body produces cortisol (a stress hormone). As a result, the protein that makes our skin glow and keeps it healthy, which is collagen, is broken into pieces by this stress hormone.

  1. Gain weight is another effect of inadequate amount of sleep

Brass Analog Weighing Scalehttps://www.pexels.com/photo/brass-analog-weighing-scale-38084/

Many studies associated lack of sleep to obesity and increase in appetite. According to a survey conducted in 2004, those who sleep in less than six hours every day are more likely to gain weight and become obese than those who sleeps seven to nine hours a day.

Lack of sleep does not solely increase your appetite. It’s like a thing that also acts as a stimulant that makes you crave for food with high-fat content or highly carbonated food or drinks. Therefore, some programs for weight loss should be thinking about sleep deprivation as a factor and should be a necessary part of the program.

  1. Sleep deprivation affects our judgment

White King Chess Piece on Chess Boardhttps://www.pexels.com/photo/white-king-chess-piece-on-chess-board-39655/

Unsurprisingly, we all know that when we lack sleep, we tend to have wrong interpretations of the events that are happening to us. As a result, it hurts our capability to make right decisions and judgments because we cannot evaluate the current situations fairly and it hinders us to think and function wisely.

Those who lack sleep may believe that this is not a serious issue, but it is (especially if you are someone who makes huge decisions as this may cause you big troubles in the future).

Takeaway

Deprivation of sleep is never good for someone. Inadequate amount of sleep is unhealthy; it may also lead to several unfortunate outcomes in the future. Make use of your beds at home. If your bed is the one that hinders you from sleeping, it may be best to change them.

Having a good night sleep has a huge effect than what we thought. It is best to give yourself enough time to revitalize and refresh you for you to perform your day-to-day tasks efficiently and swiftly.

Salvează

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