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Hillary Clinton Makes History by Accepting Democratic Nomination

Diane A. Wade
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Hillary Clinton Makes History by Accepting Democratic Nomination

Hillary Clinton made history by accepting the Democratic nomination at the party’s national convention in Philadelphia.

The former secretary of state has told voters the presidential election is a “moment of reckoning”.

Speaking on the final night of the Democratic convention, the first woman nominated by a major party said there were huge challenges.

Hillary Clinton accused her Republican opponent in November’s election, Donald Trump, of sowing discord.

“He wants to divide us – from the rest of the world, and from each other.”

Donald Trump tweeted that the speech had failed to address the threat posed by radical Islam, making Hillary Clinton unfit to lead the country.

Before taking the stage, Hillary Clinton’s daughter Chelsea shared personal memories of her mother.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“My wonderful, thoughtful, hilarious mother,” she said.

Chelsea Clinton added: “She was always there for me.”

After embracing her daughter, Hillary Clinton delivered a speech which featured a stark admission about the threats to national unity.

“Bonds of trust and respect are fraying. And just as with our founders there are no guarantees. It truly is up to us. We have to decide whether we’re going to work together so we can all rise together.”

The former secretary of state and first lady added: “We are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have.”

The risk to American prosperity included inequality, limited social mobility, political gridlock, “threats at home and abroad” and frustration over wage stagnation, Hillary Clinton said.

However, the Democratic nominee was confident these challenges could be overcome with the American values of “freedom and equality, justice and opportunity”.

Hillary Clinton acknowledged that too many Americans had been “left behind” by economic forces and addressed them directly: “Some of you are frustrated – even furious. And you know what? You’re right.”

Another highlight at the convention on July 28 was when the father of a fallen Muslim soldier challenged Donald Trump over his Muslim ban, prompting an ovation.

General John Allen, former commander of US forces in Afghanistan, appeared on stage with other military veterans and gave Hillary Clinton a ringing endorsement as commander-in-chief.

Hillary Clinton’s high-stakes remarks on the closing night of the four-day convention followed a rousing speech by President Barack Obama.

Barack Obama said on July 27 there had never been a man or woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are set for an election battle widely considered to be a tight race when voters head to the polls in November.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Becomes World’s Third Richest Person

Clyde K. Valle
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Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Becomes World’s Third Richest Person

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has become the world’s third richest person, according to Forbes, after strong earnings from the company.

Jeff Bezos owns 18% of Amazon’s shares, which rose 2% in trading on July 28.

Forbes estimated Jeff Bezos’ fortune to be $65.3 billion.

Amazon’s revenue beat analysts’ expectations, climbing 31% from last year to $30.4 billion in Q2 of 2016.

The company’s profit was $857 million, compared with $92 million in 2015.

According to Forbes estimates, Jeff Bezos’ fortune is only surpassed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, worth $78 billion, and the $73.1 billion fortune of Zara founder Amancio Ortega.Amazon Prime Air drone testing

Amazon had developed a reputation for announcing little or no profit each quarter, but appeared to hit a turning point last year and has seen improving earnings since.

Amazon shares have spiked 50% since February.

Its Prime membership, which offers extra services including free shipping for an annual fee, saw impressive international growth.

In June, Amazon launched Prime in India to take advantage of the country’s large consumer market.

Jeff Bezos said: “It’s been a busy few months for Amazon around the world, and particularly in India – where we launched a new [Amazon Web Services] Region, introduced Prime with unlimited free shipping, and announced that Prime Video is coming soon, offering Prime members in India exclusive access to Amazon Original Series and Movies – including original content featuring top Indian creators and talent.”

Amazon has boosted Prime membership by improving its video streaming offerings, an area in which it competes with Netflix.

Prime Day, Amazon’s annual promotional shopping festival earlier this month, was the company’s largest ever sales day.

Amazon does not release figures for its Prime membership, but Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimated US membership to be close to 63 million. Members spend an average of $1,200 a year, compared with $500 by non-members, according to the research company.

The company’s cloud computing unit also spiked. Revenue for Amazon Web Services (AWS), climbed 58.2% to $2.89 billion, beating analysts’ exceptions of $2.83 billion.

Sales growth for the unit in North America climbed 10% and 8% in the rest of the world.

Amazon has grown its market share in cloud computing compared with rivals such as Microsoft and Google.

It introduced a new Asia Pacific region for its cloud unit this quarter.

Amazon has also been looking to expand its presence in other areas. The company has now launched its online grocery store in the UK.

Earlier this month, it announced a partnership with US bank Wells Fargo to offer discounts on student loans for members of its Prime Student services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3M3YEYrvyQ

Turkey Government Closes 131 Media Organizations as Crackdown Continues

Roy Siemens
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Turkey Government Closes 131 Media Organizations as Crackdown Continues

More than 130 media organizations have been close in Turkey, as a crackdown continues following the failed coup on July 15.

According to Turkish authorities, 3 news agencies, 16 TV channels, 23 radio stations, 45 papers, 15 magazines and 29 publishers will be shut.

In March, Zaman, once one of Turkey’s biggest newspapers, was put under state control. Arrest warrants have been issued for 47 staff.

Many of the media outlets are linked to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen

The government says Fethullah Gulen was behind the army-led attempted coup, a claim he denies.Turkey media crackdown

Separately, the government announced on July 27 that nearly 1,700 members of the armed forces, including 149 generals and admirals had been discharged.

At least 246 people died during the coup, and more than 2,000 people were injured.

Both the closure of the media outlets and the soldiers’ dismissal were announced in Turkey’s official Resmi Gazete.

While most are relatively small provincial outlets, several with a national audience have also been targeted.

Zaman‘s readers were mostly Fethullah Gulen supporters, who stopped reading it after the state takeover in March, rendering it unprofitable.

In addition to the warrants issued for the 47 Zaman staff, authorities had sought the arrest of 42 other journalists earlier in the week.

Among those discharged from the armed forces are 87 army generals, 30 air force generals and 32 admirals.

The Turkish army also revealed that 8,651 members, or 1.5%, of the nation’s armed forces had taken part in the failed coup.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge state bodies of the “virus” he says caused the revolt.

Last week, Turkey declared a three-month state of emergency, allowing the president and the government to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.

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

Democratic Convention 2016: Barack Obama Praises Hillary Clinton

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Convention 2016: Barack Obama Praises Hillary Clinton

President Barack Obama praised Hillary Clinton at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, as the most qualified person ever to run for the White House.

He urged voters to help continue his legacy by carrying Hillary Clinton to victory at the polls in November.

Barack Obama said voters faced a choice between hope and fear, attacking “homegrown demagogue” Republican Donald Trump.

Donald Trump rejected the president’s optimistic portrayal tweeting: “Our country does not feel <great already> to the millions of wonderful people living in poverty, violence and despair.”

Vice-President Joe Biden also delivered his own spirited address, saying Donald Trump “backs torture”, “religious intolerance” and “betrays our values”.

“He has no clue about what makes America great,” Joe Biden said, before the crowd started chanting, “Not a clue!”

President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a rare joint interview for CBS’ 60 Minutes
President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a rare joint interview for CBS’ 60 Minutes

Barack Obama closed the evening by recounting his key victories over his past eight years in office and painting an optimistic future for the country.

He extolled Hillary Clinton’s character, calling her a “leader with real plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American”.

However, the president also addressed Donald Trump’s grim portrait of America, noting it was “not the America I know”.

Instead, President Obama described his nation as “full of courage”, “decent and generous”, but also concerned about racial divisions and “frustrated with political gridlock”.

Praising the qualities of American people, Barack Obama addressed them directly when he said: “Time and again, you’ve picked me up. I hope, sometimes, I picked you up, too.

“Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me.  I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me.”

Hilalry Clinton joined the president on stage for a hug after he finished speaking.

In his response, Donald Trump said in a statement that the Democrats had described a vision of America that did not exist for most people.

Seventy percent of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track, said the Republican nominee, who defied all predictions to win the Republican primary contest.

“Never has a party been so disconnected from what is happening in our world.”

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine took the stage to “humbly” accept his party’s nomination for vice-president and then go on the attack.

“Folks, you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth,” he said.

The crowd then erupted into chants of “Not one word!”

Hillary Clinton will officially accept the nomination on July 28, setting up an election fight with Donald Trump that will take them to the presidential election in November.

North Korean Defector Enters South Korean Consulate in Hong Kong

Roy Siemens
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North Korean Defector Enters South Korean Consulate in Hong Kong

A North Korean defector has entered the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong seeking asylum, the South China Morning Post reports.

The publication reported that the 18-year-old

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

defector participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad held in Hong Kong recently.

Police patrols around the area have been boosted and security stepped up.

China, which has authority over Hong Kong’s diplomatic issues, has reportedly been notified.

South Korea’s foreign ministry declined to comment, with an official saying the government’s position was not to make any comments related to defectors from Pyongyang.

Local media suggests the Hong Kong government is keen to avoid a similar outcome of a saga in 2013 where US whistle-blower Edward Snowden hid in a Hong Kong hotel before flying to Russia for temporary asylum.

Under Hong Kong’s Basic Law, the constitutional document of the territory, China has authority over diplomatic issues.

China usually sends back North Koreans found entering its territory illegally. South Korea usually takes in and rehabilitates North Koreans who escape.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry’s website says more than 29,000 North Koreans have defected to the South since the end of the Korean War.

What a Professional Mover Can Not Do for You

Dana R
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What a Professional Mover Can Not Do for You

Generally speaking, professional movers like to say that they can do everything to do with your move for you. And this is not untrue. For instance, you can be in a foreign country and ask a removal company here to empty your house and move everything to a new place. However, those are atypical situations and, if you do need them, they will cost you a lot of money. If we stick to a regular, run of the mill, house move, there are a few things that DC movers won’t do, nor should you expect them to either.

What Movers Probably Won’t Help You With

  1. Taking an inventory. While you may find a company willing to do this for you, you shouldn’t ask them to. Taking an inventory is a legal matter that you do in order to prove that everything taken in one place arrives at the next one. It would defeat the object to ask your movers to do this for you.
  2. Liaising with utility companies. You have to take meter readings and have utilities switch off in one property and back on in the next one yourself.
  3. Draining down any fuel. This could be held in cars, motorbikes, scooters, lawnmowers, and other things that you may want to be moved. You usually have to drain them for insurance purposes. Some removal companies will be able to do this for you, but don’t count on it.
  4. Running errands. This would make sense, but you would be surprised how often professional movers are asked to quickly get some cigarettes or a bottle of milk while they are driving to the new property, often “since they are passing anyway”. That really isn’t appropriate.
  5. Speaking to your neighbors before the move. If you live in a narrow street, for instance, and a truck would block off the road, it is your responsibility to forewarn your neighbors about that, not that of your removal company. Remember this is true at both ends of your move as well.
  6. Getting rid of trash and leftover belongings in attics, basements, and garages. Yes, removal men will help you to get things out of those spaces and into the removal van, and they will help you put it into your new property as well. They will not, however, sit down and declutter with you. The expectation is that this will all be done for them, and they only have to do the physical side of moving things.

Professional movers are generally incredibly flexible people. They will be more than happy to go above and beyond the terms and conditions in the contract you sign with them. However, there are certain things that they will not do, such as those described above, and it would actually be quite impolite of you to expect anything else. That said, if you really are incapable of doing anything yourself, for instance if you have a physical disability, then special arrangements can generally be made.

Understanding the Gastric Balloon Procedure

Dana R
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Understanding the Gastric Balloon Procedure

The gastric balloon is an increasingly popular procedure, mainly because it is minimally invasive. It involves a balloon being placed into the stomach through an endoscopic procedure, after which it is filled with a saline solution. This stops people from being able to eat as much, leading to weight loss. As a pretty novel procedure, it is important to learn about what it actually is and how it works.

Gastric Balloon Installation

  • The balloon is inserted through the mouth into the stomach.
  • The stomach will first be examined for problems through an endoscopy.
  • If no issues are present, the balloon will be placed by passing it through the mouth, down the esophagus, into the stomach.
  • The balloon is made from a silicone elastomer material and is inserted in a deflated form.
  • A throat spray will be applied to make the swallowing process easier, as well as medication to relax the muscles.
  • Once in place, the surgeon will fill the balloon with a saline solution through a catheter.
  • The catheter will be gently removed from your stomach.
  • The balloon seals itself and will float in your stomach.
  • It takes around half an hour for the procedure to be completed.

Keeping the Balloon in Place

  • A gastric balloon is usually left for six months.
  • The balloon’s material will weaken over time due to high acidity levels, deflating it over time.
  • If the balloon has to be in place for longer than six months, it will have to be replaced.
  • You may have to take medication to reduce the levels of stomach acid, thereby preventing damage to the balloon.

Removing the Balloon

  • After six months, the balloon will be removed through an endoscopic procedure.
  • A catheter will be inserted through the mouth, into the stomach.
  • The balloon will be punctured and deflated.
  • The balloon is grasped through special tools and removed through the catheter.

Possible Complications

A number of complications are possible with the gastric balloon. These include:

  • Minor bleeding.
  • Back or abdominal pain.
  • Vomiting and nausea for a few days after the procedure.
  • Feeling sea sick.
  • Having a heavy feeling in the stomach.
  • Indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux.
  • The balloon rupturing, although this is only a theoretical complication that has not yet happened. Should it happen, however, the balloon would simply pass through the digestive system and out through the stools.

Recovery Period After a Gastric Balloon Procedure

  • Usually, the gastric balloon is placed on an outpatient ward, meaning you will go home the same day. You will first be checked for a short period of time to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction and, all being well, you will be able to simply go home.
  • You will only be able to consume liquids for the first few weeks, moving on to soft pureed food and, finally, solid food.
  • Recovery time after a gastric balloon is usually just one or two days, which means you won’t need too much time off work.
  • Nausea and vomiting is common, but generally only lasts for a few days.

Ice Bucket Challenge Funded NEK1 Gene Discovery

Kathryn R. Bown
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Ice Bucket Challenge Funded NEK1 Gene Discovery

According to ALS Association, the Ice Bucket Challenge has funded an important scientific gene discovery in the progressive neurodegenerative disease ALS.

The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral in 2014 and raised $115 million from people, including prominent celebrities, pouring cold water over themselves and posting the video on social media.

The project was criticized as a stunt, but has funded six research projects.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Scientists have identified a new gene contributing to the disease, NEK1.

Research by Project MinE, published in Nature Genetics, is the largest-ever study of inherited ALS, also known as motor neurone disease (MND).

More than 80 researchers in 11 countries searched for ALS risk genes in families affected by the disease.

Lucie Bruijn of the ALS Association says: “The sophisticated gene analysis that led to this finding was only possible because of the large number of ALS samples available.”

The identification of gene NEK1 means scientists can now develop a gene therapy treating it.

Although only 10% of ALS patients have the inherited form, researchers believe that genetics contribute to a much larger percentage of cases.

Social media was awash with videos of people pouring cold water over their heads to raise money for ALS in the summer of 2014.

More than 17 million people uploaded videos to Facebook, which were then watched by 440 million people worldwide.

iPhone Sales Drop for Second Consecutive Quarter

Clyde K. Valle
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iPhone Sales Drop for Second Consecutive Quarter

iPhone sales dropped for a second consecutive quarter, Apple has reported.

However, the 15% drop was not as bad as analysts had feared.

Apple sold 40.4 million iPhones in its third quarter, slightly above forecasts of 40.02 million.

CEO Tim Cook said the results reflected “stronger customer demand… than we anticipated”.

Apple said it expected sales to fall again in Q4 to between $45.5 billion and $47.5 billion.

Demand for Apple’s flagship product has been slowing since the second quarter when the company reported the first drop in iPhone sales since their 2007 launch.

The iPhone makes up for around two-thirds of Apple’s sales and accounts for even more of its profits.apple-iphone-smartphone

The slowdown in iPhone sales sent profit down 27% to $7.8 billion in the three months to June 25, while revenues fell 14.6% to $42.4 billion.

Apple’s sales in Greater China – defined by the company as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan – plunged 33%.

The company blamed economic uncertainty and people not upgrading their phones as often for the drop.

China accounts for almost a quarter of Apple’s sales, more than all of Europe combined.

Apple chief financial officer Luca Maestri said: “It is very clear that there are some signs of economic slowdown in China, and we will have to work through them.

“We understand China well and we remain very, very optimistic about the future there.”

Results were also hit by the impact of a stronger dollar.

Nonetheless, shares, which have fallen almost 20% over the past year, rose over 7% in after-hours trading because Apple’s overall performance was not as bad as analysts had expected.

Luca Maestri said comparisons to the second quarter of 2015, when iPhone 6 sales surged 35%, made its performance seem worse than it was.

He also pointed to its services business, which includes the App Store, Apple Pay, iCloud and other services, as a bright spot.

The division made nearly $6 billion in revenue, up 18.9% from the same time last year, and is now Apple’s second-largest sales generator after the iPhone.

Democratic Convention 2016: Bill Clinton Argues Why Hillary Should Become President

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Convention 2016: Bill Clinton Argues Why Hillary Should Become President

Bill Clinton has backed why his wife and “best friend” Hillary for president at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Bill Clinton told the audience that Hillary was the “best darn change-maker I’ve ever known”.

In a very personal speech, the former president spoke warmly about how they met and her dedication to public service.

Hours earlier, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to be officially nominated for president by any major US party.

Hillary Clinton ended the night with a video message, saying: “I can’t believe we just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet.

“And if there are any little girls out there who stayed up late to watch, let me just say, I may become the first woman president but one of you is next.”

Hillary and Bill Clinton were to headline Senator Tom Harkin's annual steak fry fundraiser in rural Indianola
Hillary and Bill Clinton were to headline Senator Tom Harkin’s annual steak fry fundraiser in rural Indianola

Earlier, Bill Clinton shared the story of how he and Hillary met at Yale Law School in the spring of 1971.

“I married my best friend,” said the ex-president.

“We’ve been walking and talking and laughing together ever since.”

Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state and first lady, was uniquely qualified to be president, her husband said.

“Hillary opened my eyes to a whole new world of public service by private citizens,” Bill Clinton said before recounting her early career.

Hours before he spoke, Hillary Clinton passed the 2,382 delegates needed to claim the nomination after South Dakota announced its delegate vote count.

In a symbolic gesture of party unity, former Democratic rival Senator Bernie Sanders took the microphone to declare Hillary Clinton as the nominee by acclamation, to an eruption of cheers.

The second night of the Democratic convention focused on race and justice, topics that dominated last week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Dissention on the convention floor plagued the first day when Bernie Sanders supporters booed throughout the event.

At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton called for a vote for Barack Obama by acclamation, ending the roll call vote in an effort to unite the party behind his candidacy.

Hillary Clinton will face off against Donald Trump in November.

Recent national polls suggest Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be in a tight race for the White House.

Patrick Dwyer: One of the most sought-after financial advisors in the US

Dana R
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Patrick Dwyer: One of the most sought-after financial advisors in the US

Since entering the financial advice industry in the 1990s, it would be fair to say that Patrick Dwyer has tasted all mannerisms of success.

While his current role is certainly impressive, if one was to scrutinize his past achievements it makes for hugely impressive reading. All of the major financial publications have classed him as one of the best financial advisors in the country, with some going as far as saying he is up there with the best in the world.

Following on from this, here is a breakdown on Dwyer’s career so far and the achievements he has made.

Current role

Patrick Dwyer’s Merrill Lynch role involves serving as managing director in the company’s wealth management division.

This means that a lot of his role surrounds affluent families, who are aiming to build long-term wealth and start to develop diversified portfolios that can survive for years to come.

Education

Having achieved a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami in 1993, it would be fair to say that Dwyer’s career started on a strong footing.

From this point on, he proceeded to accrue the relevant professional training before his career in financial advising really kicked off.

Achievements

If you have already mulled over the Barron’s lists prior to reading this page, you’ll probably know all about Dwyer’s status as one of the Top 100 Financial Advisors in the nation. To put this into perspective, between 2007 and 2016 he has been consistently been named in this list – highlighting his worth in the industry.

However, this isn’t the only achievement that can be noted on his CV. Barron’s also classed him as the Top Florida Advisor in four different years (2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016) – and little else needs to be said about that either.

As well as Barron’s, there are other publications which have been keen to credit Dwyer’s achievements. For example, the Financial Times classed him in their list of the top 400 Advisors in both 2014 and 2015. If you then turn to other publications in the industry, such as Fortune and Spears, you’ll quickly see that he is regularly named in the country’s top 100 lists in relation to financial advisory services as well.

Guest speaking

Unsurprisingly, such achievements lead on to a whole host of other opportunities. Dwyer is regularly invited to Providence College, Rhode Island to speak about the industry – while he is also invited back to the University of Miami.

Additionally, on the subject on his links with education, he is on the board of trustees for several schools and foundations including the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and Neuroscience Centers of Florida Foundation.

Hobbies and interests

As well as his busy schedule, Dwyer is known to be a mountain bike enthusiast and also likes to hike and paddle board.

It’s understood that he tends to enjoy such activities with his family; comprised of his wife Marisa and four children.

Ouch, WWE Sued By Retired Wrestlers Over Brain Injuries

Dana R
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Ouch, WWE Sued By Retired Wrestlers Over Brain Injuries

fighter

Flickr Picture

Over fifty wrestlers are suing the WWE for brain injuries they suffered during their time with the company. World Wrestling Entertainment has been employing skilled professionals for years. They hire them to perform incredible stunts with breathtaking moves. This time, though, it could be the company that takes the hit. Famous yesteryear stars such as Mr. Wonderful have joined the campaign. Due to this, it’s attracting a lot of publicity.

The controversy surrounding sports and brain injuries is not a new topic. Just last year, the Will Smith biopic ‘concussion’ was released. It was based on the research into brain injuries NFL players have suffered. The film attracted controversy when it was revealed the NFL were given rights to veto parts of the film. What’s shocking about this story is that WWE wrestling isn’t a sport at all. In fact, if you watch WWE you’ll find it’s closer to an episode of Arrow than it is to the NFL Superbowl. All the fights are scripted, and the winner of each match is chosen long before the final punch is thrown. In fact, WWE wrestling could be seen as a type of dancing. It is similar to almost every other form of performance fighting. Each move that is performed the arena is heavy choreographed and staged.

However, this court case shows that while the violence may be staged, the danger is real. Filming a movie, the footage is edited to make it look like stunts are being performed. They can do this using pulley systems. During WWE fights moves are performed. One slip, trip or miscalculation could result in a serious injury.

That’s not the case these fighters are putting forward. They claim that the moves they performed were completed correctly. The alleged brain injuries they suffered were due to the fact they did not receive appropriate medical care. They claim, due to a lack of treatment they did develop brain injuries.

The question many people might be wondering is why these performers are coming forward now. Until recently there was no precedent for sports athletes to sue based on brain injuries. Recently, NFL players were awarded $765 million dollars in a similar case action. Despite the choreography involved, WWE wrestling is still considered a sport in America. As such it’s possible that these wrestlers may feel they deserve the same type of payout for the injuries they have suffered.

They may have only recently started to see the effect of these injuries. Traumatic brain injury attorneys claim signs and symptoms can take months, even years to fully develop. Therefore, these wrestlers could have been living without symptoms until recently.

For the WWE, the situation could be dicey. It could set a precedence for other wrestlers to come forward in the future. In may even put the entire ‘sport’ in danger if merit is found in the case. A recent statement released by the company claimed they are confident the action will be dismissed. However, the tide certainly appears to be turning for employers who have put their employees in danger of brain injuries. Could modern wrestlers like Superstar Dwayne Johnson and John Cena be next to get in line behind the campaign?

WWE WRESTLEMANIA 28 Rock vs Cena by KCWallpapers

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Solar Impulse 2 Ends Epic Global Journey in Abu Dhabi

James J. Williams
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Solar Impulse 2 Ends Epic Global Journey in Abu Dhabi

Solar Impulse 2 has completed its historic round-the world trip, after the aircraft touched down in Abu Dhabi.

Pilot Bertrand Piccard conducted the final leg of the epic journey, steering the plane safely from the Egyptian capital Cairo to the UAE.

He has been taking turns at the controls with Swiss compatriot Andre Borschberg, with the mission aiming to promote renewable energy.

It brings to an end a voyage that began in Abu Dhabi on March 9, 2015.Solar Impulse lands in Phoenix

Arriving into Abu Dhabi, Bertrand Piccard said: “The future is clean. The future is you. The future is now. Let’s take it further.”

The 17-stage journey covered some 42,000km, taking in four continents, three seas and two oceans.

The longest leg, an 8,924km flight from Nagoya in Japan to Hawaii, US, lasted nearly 118 hours and saw Andre Borschberg break the absolute world record for longest (time duration) uninterrupted solo flight.

It was just one of 19 official aviation records set during the global adventure.

Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg have been working on the Solar Impulse project for more than a decade.

They had hoped to complete the challenge in 2015 but progress was not quite swift enough to get the best of the weather in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer.

When battery damage was sustained on that epic five-day, five-night passage over the western Pacific in June/July 2015, the decision was taken to ground the effort for 10 months.

Solar Impulse is no heavier than a car, but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747. It is powered by 17,000 solar cells.

The solar-powered aircraft’s experimental design presents a number of technical difficulties, with the airplane being very sensitive to weather conditions.

Democratic Convention 2016: Michelle Obama Denounces Donald Trump Hate

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Convention 2016: Michelle Obama Denounces Donald Trump Hate

Michelle Obama has denounced Donald Trump’s “hate” while backing Hillary Clinton for president at the Democratic National Convention.

In her speech in Philadelphia, the first lady said to loud cheers and applause: “The hateful language… from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country.

“Don’t stoop to their level. Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.”

Earlier, Bernie Sanders urged Democrats to back Hillary Clinton.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Hillary Clinton will accept the Democratic presidential nomination on July 28, when a roll call of how states’ delegates are voting is to be read out.

“While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” Bernie Sanders said.

Some of Bernie Sanders’ supporters booed at mention of Hillary Clinton’s name; others wore duct tape with the word “silenced” over their mouths.

Michelle Obama’s speech was widely seen as an attack on Donald Trump, although she did not mention the Republican nominee by name.

The first lady said she wanted her husband to be succeeded by “somebody who knows this job and takes it seriously” and that could only be Hillary Clinton.

Because of the Democrats’ candidate, Michelle Obama said, “my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”

In other remarks, Michelle Obama praised Hillary Clinton as a “true public servant” who had shown “devotion to our nation’s children” and “never buckles under pressure”.

After the first lady’s speech, President Barack Obama tweeted: “Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn’t be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS [first lady]. I love you, Michelle.”

Donald Trump, who has criticized his rivals, both Republican and Democrat, in sometimes colorful language on Twitter, said Bernie Sanders had “sold out” to Hillary Clinton.

The Republican billionaire also condemned other speakers at the Democratic convention including senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren, but made no mention of Michelle Obama.

Democratic Convention 2016: Bernie Sanders Backs Hillary Clinton for President

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Convention 2016: Bernie Sanders Backs Hillary Clinton for President

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has said that Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States, in a speech at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.

Bernie Sanders received a three-minute standing ovation when he took the stage.

First Lady Michelle Obama also received a rapturous reception for a powerful speech in which she took on Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again,” Michelle Obama said, referring to Donald Trump’s signature slogan “Make America Great Again”.

“Because this, right now, is the greatest country on earth,” the First Lady added.

Earlier in the evening, Bernie Sanders’ fans had booed any mention of Hillary Clinton, who will accept the party’s presidential nomination on July 28.

And as he urged Democrats to back Hillary Clinton, his former rival, in the final major speech of the night, they held aloft their blue “Bernie” signs and chanted his name.

Some supporters broke into tears while others wore duct tape emblazoned with the words “silenced” over their mouths.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Bernie Sanders continued: “While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

“If you don’t believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country.”

Members of the audience had earlier disrupted the event’s opening prayer, chanting “Bernie!” while also jeering as Democratic National Committee chair Marcia Fudge delivered remarks.

The commotion prompted Bernie Sanders to send an email saying the credibility of the progressive movement would be damaged by “booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays” of protests.

Revelations from an email leak which showed DNC officials allegedly plotted against Bernie Sanders’ primary campaign threatened to overshadow the event as it fuelled the anger of his voters.

WikiLeaks released emails that revealed the DNC was biased against Bernie Sanders when he ran against Hillary Clinton in the hard-fought primary contest.

The FBI has confirmed that it is investigating the leak.

Democratic chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned on July 24 as pressure built on the party to address the scandal.

Democratic party bosses later issued an apology to Bernie Sanders for “inexcusable” emails which tried to undermine his White House campaign.

However, Bernie Sanders refused to let the email scandal eclipse his message to his supporters.

“Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her here tonight,” said the Vermont senator before leaving the stage.

About 5,000 party delegates are among the 50,000 people expected to attend the four-day Democratic convention, which will end on July 28 with Hillary Clinton formally accepting the nomination for president.

How success in sport translates to business

Dana R
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How success in sport translates to business

On the face of it, sport and business are completely different. However, if you were to scrutinize the two in-depth, you’d soon start to see some glaring similarities and how successful practices can translate between the two.

Sure, reaching a profit target is a little different to a home run. However, the processes can be very similar if you look at them from one perspective, as we’ll now take a look at some of them in greater detail.

Sport teaches discipline and determination

This first one actually came courtesy of Rene Escobar Bribiesca, a successful Mexican businessman who also successfully ran triathlons.

He went on to say that there were two key things he took out of his sporting achievements; discipline and determination.

As anyone who has participated in a triathlon will verify, it’s one of the toughest challenges around. The training is intense and to become a success you really have to be disciplined in the way that you prepare for the events. It’s for this reason why he also mentioned dedication as hugely important – without the dedication the discipline just wouldn’t exist.

In terms of business, it goes without saying that these attributes are vital. Without them, you’ll give up at the first opportunity and you’ll also struggle to put any sort of plan into action.

international-business-owners-opening-a-business-in-the-us

Team-play is essential

This next point should go without saying.

It doesn’t matter if you’re starting your business alone, at some point you are going to rely on others to take you to the next level.

Suffice to say, the same applies in sport. For teams like football, it’s obvious. For something like golf or tennis, one might be surprised to see the number of professionals who work in the background to support their player – from physiotherapists right the way through to nutritionists.

Unfortunately, we’re not built to achieve everything ourselves. You might think that you know your business better than anyone, but doing the buying, selling and everything else in-between is a recipe for disaster.

Not only do you need to build a team, but you need to be able to trust it and help it develop with you.

There are positions in both sport and business

This leads perfectly on from the last point we have just discussed.

As we all know, in most sports players have their preferred position. In soccer it could be a striker, in baseball it could be the pitcher. Trying to put square pegs in round holes and play players out of position has been proven not to work – it won’t yield the correct results and the team won’t perform to its potential.

Well, the same apples in business. Being able to recognize exactly where each member of your team works the best is key for any successful entrepreneur. As well as developing your team, you need to play to their strengths and ensure they are well-equipped to deal with the task that you have entrusted them with.

Verizon Acquires Yahoo’s Internet Business for $5 Billion in Cash

Clyde K. Valle
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Verizon Acquires Yahoo’s Internet Business for $5 Billion in Cash

Yahoo’s internet business has been sold to Verizon Communications for nearly $5 billion in cash.

It will be combined with AOL, another faded internet star, which Verizon bought in 2015.

The deal does not include Yahoo’s valuable stake in Chinese firm Alibaba.

The price tag for the deal is well below the $44 billion Microsoft offered for Yahoo in 2008 or the $125 billion it was worth during the dot.com boom.Verizon buys Yahoo

Verizon said the deal for Yahoo’s core internet business, which has more than a billion active users a month, would make it a global mobile media company.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said: “Yahoo is a company that has changed the world, and will continue to do so through this combination with Verizon and AOL.”

In an email to staff, Marissa Mayer said she was “planning to stay”, adding: “I love Yahoo, and I believe in all of you. It’s important to me to see Yahoo into its next chapter.”

However, the takeover, which is due to be completed in early 2017, raises questions about whether the Yahoo brand could disappear.

AOL chief executive Tim Armstrong said the deal was about “unleashing Yahoo’s full potential”, and creating a major player in mobile media.

Together AOL and Yahoo will have more than 25 brands, including Yahoo Mail, Flickr and Tumblr as well as AOL’s Huffington Post and Techcrunch news sites.

Marissa Mayer, who took the helm at Yahoo in 2012, has made little progress in returning the company to profit.

Last week Yahoo reported a $440 million loss in Q2, but said the board had made “great progress on strategic alternatives”.

 

 

5 Things Famous University Dropouts Taught Us

Nancy Clayson
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5 Things Famous University Dropouts Taught Us

All of us are already familiar with the life of certain celebrities who decided to skip college and commit to a career that eventually made them famous. Some of these examples are Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, etc. This, of course, does not mean that after reading this text you should rush to leave your university. On the contrary, these are just tips that can be helpful in whatever life cycle you currently are.

5 Things Famous University Dropouts Taught Us

Follow your dream

You got into a certain college because that move was expected of you or you simply thought that you can find happiness in doing a certain profession. If you happen to realize that this college and future job are not for you, you can always take a step back. This is the time to clearly analyze the situation as well as your own wishes and preferences. Focus on something that fulfils you. By doing so, you can find a completely new career that would suit you the best and change colleges. In case you’re still not ready to choose and accept that you need and deserve some more time, it’s perfectly fine to dedicate yourself to a hobby and redirect your talents to whatever feels comfortable even if it doesn’t seem profitable in the beginning.

Listen to your inner voice

Be persistent even when your immediate surroundings aren’t. Nobody got rich overnight. Work hard to achieve the goal you want. This clearly defined goal can be your secret strength and power when your enthusiasm fails you or when negative thoughts such as finding no perspective in what you do occupy your mind. If you feel it right in your gut, you’ve definitely made a right choice.

Believe in yourself

Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and use them both to your advantage. Believing in yourself doesn’t mean that you have to negate your whole personality to make room for positive traits only.  Actually, if you’re aware of your weaknesses you can make an effort to overcome them and be wary of them. Also, don’t be modest with your personal virtues. Use everything you’ve got as an advantage over the competition.

Improve yourself

Improve yourself constantly

No one is born with the entire world’s knowledge. Just because you’ve decided that sitting in the university lectures is not for you doesn’t mean that you should give up studying. Quite the opposite. Take up a course in the area of your personal interest. That way you can meet like-minded people who can help and direct you. Also, this is a much faster way to obtain a certificate which can serve as a springboard for your future career advancement.

Do not waste time on insignificant details

You must have noticed that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg always dress the same. They decided that spending time picking clothes is only going to waste when they can use this time wisely and do something constructive at their job. If you have your own small business do both of you a favor – wear branded promotional T-shirts that you use as a promotional gift. That way you won’t have to worry about your outfit and will do some smart advertising at the same time. Be practical and don’t let little things distract you from the desired goal.

Learn to listen to your needs. If you feel constrained and stressed dare to take a step out of the comfort zone. No one knows better than you what you need at any given time. Be brave and bold. If you don’t try to move, you increase the risk of depression. Do what it takes to get up in the morning with a big smile and in good spirits. Change yourself and your environment in a positive way and be an example to others that anything is possible.

Nintendo Shares Fall Sharply on Pokemon Go Profit Warning

Clyde K. Valle
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Nintendo Shares Fall Sharply on Pokemon Go Profit Warning

Nintendo shares have plunged sharply after the company said Pokemon Go‘s success would have a limited impact on its profits.

The Japanese gaming giant’s shares dropped by 17.7% after they more than doubled in value since Pokemon Go’s launch on July 6.

Pokemon Go was developed by American company Niantic and Nintendo said profits from licensing and fees would be limited.Nintendo Pokemon Go profit

However, even with the decline, Nintendo shares are still up 60% since the release of Pokemon Go.

Overall, Japanese shares traded sideways with the Nikkei 225 index finishing flat at 16,620.29.

Nintendo said the accounting scheme for recognizing revenues from Pokemon Go meant its profits would not materially change.

The sharp drop was the biggest decline since October 1990, the stock down by 5,000 yen – the maximum daily limit allowed.

Nintendo is due to report first-quarter results this week and said it did not plan to revise its earnings outlook for now.

“Taking the current situation into consideration, the company is not modifying the consolidated financial forecast for now,” Nintendo said in a stock filing.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Resign as DNC Chair Amid Leaked Email Row

Diane A. Wade
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Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Resign as DNC Chair Amid Leaked Email Row

Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has announced she will resign as a row over leaked emails threatens efforts for party unity ahead of the presidential nominating convention.

Her move follows a leak of emails appearing to suggest that party insiders tried to thwart the campaign by Hillary Clinton’s rival.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had pressed for the party chairwoman to step down.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Hillary Clinton is to be officially nominated at the Philadelphia meeting.

Bernie Sanders had said Debbie Wasserman Schultz “should not be chair” of the Democratic National Committee.

He told ABC’s This Week: “And I think these emails reiterate that reason why she should not be chair.”

In a statement, Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she would “step down as party chair at the end of this convention.”

“We have planned a great and unified convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had,” she said.

Bernie Sanders and his supporters have also expressed disappointment at Hillary Clinton’s choice of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate, preferring someone further to the left.

However, the Vermont senator did say: “I have known Tim Kaine for a number of years… Tim is a very, very smart guy. He is a very nice guy.”

Hillary Clinton’s campaign received a boost on July 24 with the announcement that Michael Bloomberg, who was elected New York mayor as a Republican, will speak to endorse her this week.

The Democrats’ four-day convention starts on July 25, with speeches by First Lady Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders.

The Democratic convention comes just after the Republican convention that saw Donald Trump declared the Republican presidential nominee.

Ali Sonboly: Munich Gunman Planned Attack for Year

Roy Siemens
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Ali Sonboly: Munich Gunman Planned Attack for Year

David Ali Sonboly, the teenager who killed nine people in Munich on July 22, had been planning his attack for a year, German authorities say.

The 18-year-old, who killed himself after the attack, had a Glock pistol that police believes he may have bought on the so-called dark net.

Meanwhile police in Munich have announced the arrest of a 16-year-old Aghan friend of David Ali Sonboly.

They say he is under investigation for not reporting Ali Sonboly’s plans.

“There is a suspicion that the 16-year-old is a possible tacit accomplice to the attack,” a statement on Munich police’s Facebook page says.

The statement goes on to say that the youth reported to police immediately after the shooting on July 22, and was interviewed as somebody with a connection to Ali Sonboly.

In the course of the interviews, they discovered discrepancies in his statements.

Police say they are now investigating the teenager on suspicion of failing to report a planned crime.

The investigations will have to show to what extent he was responsible for a Facebook post inviting people to meet at a cinema complex near the main railway station in Munich.Ali Sonboly Munich attacker

Ali Sonboly himself had put up a Facebook post before his attack, inviting people to come to the McDonald’s restaurant where the shooting began.

Seven of the dead in the shooting at the Olympia shopping centre were teenagers – two Turks, two Germans, a Hungarian, a Greek and a Kosovan.

A further 35 people were injured, but only four of them have bullet wounds – many were hit fleeing the scene.

According to the state government officials, the victims of the attack had not been specifically targeted and were not classmates of the gunman.

Also they did not include three youths allegedly involved in bullying Ali Sonboly when he was at school.

Head of Bavaria’s criminal police Robert Heimberger said Ali Sonboly had been planning the attack since he paid a visit last year to the town of Winnenden – the scene of a previous school shooting in 2009 – and took photographs.

Robert Heimberger said it was likely the Glock pistol – which had been reactivated – was bought on the “dark net” market, an area accessible only with the use of special software. It had been a theatre prop.

Ali Sonboly was said to be a keen player of “first-person shooter” video games.

Robert Heimberger added that the parents of the gunman remained in shock and were not able to be interviewed.

He also said police had not found the manifesto of Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik when they searched Ali Sonboly’s room at his parents’ flat.

A day earlier, officials had raised the possibility of a link to Anders Breivik, whose own attack was carried out five years earlier to the day.

As to Ali Sonboly’s state of mind, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors’ office told a news conference that the gunman had spent two months as an inpatient at a mental care facility in 2015 and was afterwards treated as an outpatient.

“The suspect had fears of contact with others” and also depression, Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said.

However, there was no evidence of any political motivation.

Senior German politicians have called for tighter controls on the sale of guns in the wake of the shooting at the Olympia shopping centre.

Munich’s police chief has urged the media to respect the privacy of those affected by the attack on July 25, when schools reopen.

Turkey Anti-Coup Demonstration Joined by Tens of Thousands

Roy Siemens
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Turkey Anti-Coup Demonstration Joined by Tens of Thousands

Tens of thousands of Turks have joined a pro-democracy rally in Istanbul, condemning Turkey’s failed coup and defending the republic.

The rally was organized by the opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party) but was backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK party (Justice and Development Party), in a rare show of unity.

CHP’s leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said “democracy won!” but he also warned against the dangers of authoritarianism.

One banner read: “No to the coup, no to dictatorship”.

Many of the CHP supporters gathered in Taksim Square waved flags with a picture of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Despite Turkey’s political divisions, Istanbul’s mayor and other AK party leaders joined the opposition demonstrators.

Posters at the rally proclaimed “No to coups”.

In his speech, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said that amid the turmoil, “the parliament stood proudly, Turkey stood proudly, lawmakers stood proudly, people in this square have stood proudly, and democracy won!”

However, Kemal Kilicdaroglu also stressed the importance of a free press and freedom of assembly, as well as the dangers of dictatorship and authoritarianism.

The CHP leader said: “The state cannot be governed by grudge, anger and prejudice. Those responsible for the coup should be tried lawfully, with the understanding of abiding by the rule of law.”

In a rare move, pro-government TV channels broadcast the speech live.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a widespread crackdown following the attempted coup, arresting thousands of service personnel and sacking or suspending thousands of judges, government officials, school teachers and university heads.

Human Rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of detainees being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, since the coup attempt.

Amnesty’s Europe director John Dalhuisen in a statement: “It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held.”

A state of emergency was declared on July 20, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also extended the period in which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days.

Ankara’s chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak has been reported by Turkish media as saying that 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup have now been released.

Those released were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention.

On July 23, Turkey’s presidential guard regiment was disbanded after nearly 300 of its members were detained following the failed coup.

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

Rio 2016: Russia Avoids Blanket Ban from Olympic Games

Clyde K. Valle
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Rio 2016: Russia Avoids Blanket Ban from Olympic Games

Russia will not be totally banned from Rio 2016 following the country’s doping scandal.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will leave it up to individual sports’ governing bodies to decide if Russian competitors are clean and should be allowed to take part.

The IOC decision follows a report in which Canadian law professor Richard McLaren said Russia operated a state-sponsored doping program from 2011 to 2015.

The Rio Olympic Games start on August 5.

Russian competitors who want to take part in the Games will have to meet strict criteria laid down by the IOC.

Any Russian who has served a doping ban will not be eligible for next month’s Olympics. Track and field athletes have already been banned.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: “We have set the bar to the limit by establishing a number of very strict criteria which every Russian athlete will have to fulfill if he or she wants to participate in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

“I think in this way, we have balanced on the one hand, the desire and need for collective responsibility versus the right to individual justice of every individual athlete.”

IOC’s decision not to impose a blanket ban came after a three-hour meeting of the body’s executive board, and reaction came quickly.Russia banned from Rio Olympics 2016

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko described the decision as “objective” but “very tough”, while the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) claimed the IOC had “refused to take decisive leadership”.

The 28 individual federations now have just 12 days to “carry out an individual analysis of each competitor’s anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of each sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field”.

The International Tennis Federation quickly confirmed on July 24 that Russia’s seven nominated tennis players meet the IOC requirements, having been subjected to “a rigorous anti-doping testing program outside Russia”.

Russia’s full Olympic team would consist of 387 competitors.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has already ruled that Russian track and field athletes will not compete at the Games, a decision which was upheld on July 21 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe said: “The IAAF team are ready to offer advice to any International Sports Federations given our experience and what we have learned over the last eight months.”

World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) president Craig Reedie said previously that his organization, which commissioned the McLaren report, wanted the IOC to “decline entries for Rio 2016 of all athletes” submitted by the Russian Olympic and Paralympic committees.

The IOC also confirmed it will not allow whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to compete as a neutral athlete in Rio.

Yulia Stepanova has previously failed a doping test and also did not satisfy the IOC’s “ethical requirements”.

The statement added: “The executive board would like to express its appreciation for Mrs. Stepanova’s contribution to the fight against doping and to the integrity of sport.”

The IOC was “expressing its gratitude” to Yulia Stepanova by inviting her and her husband to Rio as guests.

USADA chief Travis Tygart described the decision to exclude Yulia Stepanova as “incomprehensible”, adding it will “undoubtedly deter whistleblowers in the future from coming forward”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9JsNqxfSpw

California Sand Fire: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations Near Los Angeles

Nancy Clayson
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California Sand Fire: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations Near Los Angeles

Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes in mountains north of Los Angeles, California, the authorities say.

The fast-moving wildfires had covered an area of 20,000 acres by July 23, sending a pall of smoke across parts of Los Angeles County.

About 300 people have been evacuated near the city of Santa Clarita.

Public swimming pools in Pasadena and Glendale closed because of smoke and falling ash.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The wildfires, known as the Sand Fire, are being driven by high temperatures and strong winds, as forecasters warn the conditions are set to continue.

They broke out on July 22 in the Sand Canyon area near Santa Clarita and winds quickly fanned them towards the Angeles National Forest.

About 900 firefighters are battling the flames, helped by helicopters and planes dumping water and fire retardant.

According to LA County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp, about 1,000 homes were currently in danger but if the situation worsened, up to 45,000 homes, mostly in the San Fernando Valley, could be at risk.

Among those evacuated to safety were about 400 animals from the Wildlife Waystation, a sanctuary for rescued exotic animals within the national forest.

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

Turkey Presidential Guard to Be Dissolved After 300 Members Were Detained

Roy Siemens
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Turkey Presidential Guard to Be Dissolved After 300 Members Were Detained

Turkey’s presidential guard regiment will be dissolved after nearly 300 of its members were detained following last week’s attempted coup.

PM Binali Yildirim told A Haber TV channel that there was “no need” for the regiment.

Earlier, Turkey detained Muhammet Sait Gulen – a nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who, it says, was behind the uprising.

Fethullah Gulen strongly denies the claim.

A key aide of Fethullah Gulen has also been arrested, a presidency official said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a widespread crackdown following the attempted coup, arresting thousands of service personnel and sacking or suspending thousands of government officials, school teachers and university heads.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

A state of emergency was declared on July 21, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.

PM Binali Yildirim told the A Haber TV channel: “There will no longer be a presidential guard, there is no purpose, there is no need.”

The presidential guard numbers up to 2,500 soldiers but at least 283 were detained after the uprising.

Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has called on the US government to block Turkey’s attempts to extradite him.

Muhammet Sait Gulen was detained in the north-eastern city of Erzurum to be taken to the capital Ankara for questioning, the Anadolu news agency says.

A presidential official quoted by Reuters said Halis Hanci, described as Fethullah Gulen’s right-hand man, had been “captured”.

According to the official, Halis Hanci had apparently entered Turkey two days before the coup attempt.

On July 23, Recep Erdogan extended the period in which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days.

A statement carried by state media also ordered the closure of more than 1,000 private schools and more than 1,200 associations.

Also on July 23, Ankara’s chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak was reported by Turkish media as saying that 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup had been released.

Those freed were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention.

Recep Erdogan’s tough measures have been criticized by human rights groups, as well as by France, Germany and senior EU officials.

He told France 24 television on July 23 the EU was “biased and prejudiced” against Turkey.

Amnesty International has said Recep Tayyip Erdogan is going “well beyond what might be considered a legitimate response to the coup attempt”.

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