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Sarah Palin Backs Donald Trump for President

Diane A. Wade
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Sarah Palin Backs Donald Trump for President

Sarah Palin has announced her endorsement for Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

The populist ex-governor of Alaska was the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008.

“Are you ready to stump for Trump?” Sarah Palin asked cheering supporters at a campaign rally in Iowa.

Sarah Palin was John McCain’s running mate in 2008 before they lost to Barack Obama.

Despite retiring from politics in favor of a media career, Sarah Palin remains an influential conservative voice.

Officially announcing her endorsement, Sarah Palin said Donald Trump was someone ready to let US troops “kick ISIS’ ass”.

“We are ready for a change,” she told the rally in Ames, Iowa.Sarah Palin backs Donald Trump

“He [DonaldTrump] is beholden to no one but ‘we, the people’. He is perfectly positioned to let you make America great again.”

Donald Trump, who leads the Republican race, said in a statement that he was “proud” to receive Sarah Palin’s backing.

She was a “trusted conservative” with a “proven record of being fiscally modest, staunchly pro-life and [she] believes in small government that allows businesses to grow and freedom to prosper”, the statement added.

Sarah Palin was just two years into her Alaskan governorship when she was picked by John McCain to be his running mate.

The self-described “hockey mom” soon garnered huge crowds and massive media attention.

After the election in 2009, Sarah Palin resigned as Alaska governor and has since forged a lucrative career as a writer and political commentator.

Ahead of the announcement, Sarah Palin tweeted a link to an article by her daughter Bristol attacking Donald Trump’s main rival for the key Iowa caucus, Ted Cruz.

Iowa is the first chance for voters to have their say in the nomination race.

Ted Cruz has himself praised Sarah Palin saying “without her support, I wouldn’t be in the Senate” – a reference to her backing that helped him to his surprise victory in a 2012 Senate run-off election.

“Regardless of what she does in 2016, I will always be a big fan,” Ted Cruz tweeted.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s campaign team tweeted caustically after the announcement to Sarah Palin “congrats to the YouTube commenter who wrote your remarks”.

Supreme Court to Review Barack Obama’s Immigration Plan

Diane A. Wade
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Supreme Court to Review Barack Obama’s Immigration Plan

One of President Barack Obama’s key immigration reform plans could be challenged by the Supreme Court.

The plan would lift the threat of deportation from 5 million migrants living illegally in the US.

A coalition of 26 mostly conservative states, led by Texas, has been successful in lower court challenges.

A decision from the Supreme Court is expected in the early summer, just as the election gets into full swing.

“We are confident that the policies will be upheld as lawful,” said White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine.

President Barack Obama announced the plan, known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), in November 2014.Barack Obama immigration plan at Supreme Court

He justified using his presidential powers, without Congress, by saying it was in response to inaction over the issue of immigration from Congress.

If allowed to go forward, it would allow people who have lived in the US for more than five years and who have children who are living in the country legally to apply for work authorization.

In announcing the plan, Barack Obama said it would allow those who qualify to “come out of the shadows and get right with the law”.

Challenges to the plan began shortly after President Barack Obama’s announcement, with a federal court in Texas effectively putting a pause on it in February.

The Obama administration lost an appeal in November, keeping the injunction in place.

The White House has vowed to kickstart the program if the Supreme Court was to rule in its favor, so that migrants could began enrolling before a new president takes office in January 2017.

One of the largest questions looming over the case is whether the state challengers have the right to do so.

Texas argues it will have to spend millions of dollars to provide driver’s licenses to people who are part of the program.

The issue of immigration has become a controversial and polarizing issue in the 2016 presidential race.

Leading Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said she would maintain and expand President Barack Obama’s reforms, while Republican front runner Donald Trump has said he would reverse the reforms and step up enforcement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnMTmRdh8w

Is Prince Harry Dating Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark?

Lisa.Felice
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Is Prince Harry Dating Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark?

Prince Harry is reportedly dating Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark.

According to Australian publication New Idea, the duo had been introduced by the Prince Harry’s cousin, Princess Beatrice, and the romance had the approval of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The 19-year-old fashionista is the daughter of Crown Prince Pavlov of Greece and his elegant wife Marie-Chantal.Prince Harry dating Princess Maria Olympia

Princess Maria-Olympia was born on 25 July 1996 in New York City – the first of five children and the only girl. The couple moved to London when Olympia was 7 so that their children could grow up near Prince Pavlov’s parents, former Greek monarch King Constantine and Queen Anne Marie.

The move also had the happy result of bringing her closer to godfather Prince Charles.

King Constantine is Prince Charles’ second cousin and the godfather of Prince William. Other royal relatives include Princess Olympia’s great aunts, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Sofia of Spain.

When Olpympia’s parents wed at Hampton Court Palace in 1995, the guest list was filled with impressively regal names and the bride wore pearl-entrusted Valentino.

Along with her mother, an American heiress from the wealthy Miller family, Princess Maria-Olympia is a regular on the front rows at fashion week.

Major Fire at Ritz Hotel in Paris

Nancy Clayson
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Major Fire at Ritz Hotel in Paris

A fire broke out on the top floor of the world’s most famous hotel, the five-star Ritz in Paris.

The fire is now under control.

About 150 workers had to leave the building on January 19 as the fire took hold. No injuries are reported.

Ritz hotel – which is famously where Princess Diana spent her last evening – is currently closed for renovations and there are no guests staying there.

The operation will take “a long time” as the fire is difficult to access, a fire service spokesman said.

The alert was raised at 07:00 local time and about 60 firefighters and 15 fire engines were sent to the scene.

The fire started on the seventh floor, took hold in the attic and spread to the roof.

Paris police tweeted that there was a “major fire”, and advised motorists to avoid the Place Vendome area.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The area was blocked off at the height of the morning rush hour, while firefighters on cranes sprayed the flames.

Fire captain Yvon Bot said the fire was unusually difficult to access and control.

“There is no longer any risk of it spreading, but the operation will still take a very long time,” he said.

“We are having to go meter by meter from the roof. It is too small to access from the interior.”

Yvon Bot said a “large” section of the building was affected.

The Ritz is a historic building in central Paris.

Princess Diana dined there on August 30, 1997. Later that night she and her companion Dodi al-Fayed were killed in a car crash. Dodi al-Fayed was the son of the hotel’s owner, Egyptian billionaire and Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed.

The Ritz was also the hotel of choice for Charlie Chaplin, Coco Chanel and Ernest Hemingway.

The hotel was due to re-open in March after a three-year closure for multi-million euro renovations.

The Ritz name, used for hotels around the world, comes from a Swiss hotelier called Cesar Ritz, who set up the Paris Ritz and the London Ritz more than a century ago. Both hotels are now independently owned.

Twitter Is Offline for Many Users

Nancy Clayson
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Twitter Is Offline for Many Users

Twitter is offline for many users, with web visitors being greeted by an error page.

Some mobile users are also unable to read or post tweets to the social network, which has over 300 million active members.

Twitter chose to communicate the problem via a tweet, in which the company said it was aware of the problem.

Some users took to Facebook to complain.

A spokesman for Twitter said that a tweet from the company’s @support account read: “Some users are currently experiencing problems accessing Twitter. We are aware of the issue and are working towards a resolution.”Twitter technical fault January 2016

According to Down Detector, the issue began shortly after 08:00 GMT.

For some users, the site appears to be intermittently accessible while the issue persists.

There were also issues with Twitter’s application program interface (API), which allows websites and apps to connect to Twitter.

Recently launched apps might not have been able to take advantage of live feedback on the site, something which Barclays took advantage of following the launch of the bank’s PingIt payments app in 2015.

Renault Recalls 15,000 New Diesel Cars over High Level of Harmful Emissions

Clyde K. Valle
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Renault Recalls 15,000 New Diesel Cars over High Level of Harmful Emissions

Renault, which has been under the spotlight over high levels of harmful emissions, has decided to recall 15,000 new diesel cars.

The move comes after tests showed emission levels from some of the French automaker’s cars were too high.

Last week, three of Renault’s sites were raided by fraud investigators.

The searches led to billions of euros being wiped off its market value, after fears that it could be another scandal similar to that at Volkswagen.

Renault has promised to come up with a “technical plan” to bring down the level of emissions from its vehicles.Renault recall 2016

French Energy Minister Segolene Royal said Renault was not the only car company in France to break the rules on carbon dioxide and nitrogen emissions, but she did not name the others involved.

Segolene Royal said the tests needed to be based on real driving conditions and not those of special testing facilities. It has been suggested that the emission readings are much lower in laboratory-style conditions.

“Renault has committed to recalling a certain number of vehicles, more than 15,000 vehicles, to check them and adjust them correctly so the filtration system works even when it is very hot or when it is below 17 degrees, because that’s when the filtration system no longer worked,” Segolene Royal said.

“We are working on a technical plan which should allow us to cut emissions,” Renault sales director Thierry Koskas said during a presentation on the group’s 2015 sales performance.

When asked how the test results differed from those conducted under real conditions, Thierry Koskas said: “Renault did not cheat… We are not using any software or other methods.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly0q0OOOrRc

Kate del Castillo Questioned over Links with El Chapo Guzman

Lisa.Felice
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Kate del Castillo Questioned over Links with El Chapo Guzman

Kate del Castillo has been called in for questioning over her links with the imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

The Mexican actress set up a meeting in October between El Chapo Guzman, who was then on the run, and Sean Penn.

Kate del Castillo and El Chapo Guzman exchanged dozens of messages before she and Sean Penn met him in northern Mexico.

El Chapo (Shorty) Guzman was arrested on January 8, six months after escaping from a high security jail.

The lord was captured by Mexican troops in the northern city of Los Mochis and taken back to the Altiplano prison.

Mexican authorities are considering El Chapo Guzman’s extradition to the US. In the meantime, they say he is being kept under 24-hour surveillance to prevent another escape.

Photo YouTube
Photo YouTube

Sean Penn interviewed El Chapo Guzman for Rolling Stone magazine.

The contact between Kate del Castillo and El Chapo Guzman helped Mexican police establish his whereabouts and eventually capture him.

Attorney General Arely Gomez said the security forces had been following El Chapo Guzman’s lawyer, who led them to Sean Penn and Kate del Castillo.

Mobile phone exchanges between Kate del Castillo and El Chapo Guzman reveal that he initially did not know who Sean Penn was.

He seemed to be infatuated by the actress, who is famous in Mexico.

Kate del Castillo is best known for her portrayal of drug boss Teresa Mendoza in the soap opera La Reina del Sur (Queen of the South).

El Chapo Guzman was planning to get Hollywood to produce a movie about his life.

Kate del Castillo persuaded El Chapo Guzman that Sean Penn had the experience and connections to realize his dream.

“I don’t have the means to pay for what you’re doing for me,” he wrote, according to transcripts obtained by El Universal newspaper.

Responding to rumors that she had become too close to El Chapo Guzman, Kate del Castillo tweeted on January 13 that she would tell her side of the story.

“As expected, many people have decided to manipulate the information and fabricate false stories to divert us from the real issue,” she wrote.

“I will soon give you my version.”

Mexican prosecutors said Kate del Castillo, who is in the US, will be allowed to be questioned at the embassy in Los Angeles.

El Chapo Guzman was Mexico’s most wanted man.

He was the founder of the Sinaloa drug cartel, which smuggled vast amounts of illegal drugs into the US.

El Chapo Guzman is linked to other crimes, including murder and extortion.

China Economy Marks Slowest Growth in 25 Years

Clyde K. Valle
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China Economy Marks Slowest Growth in 25 Years

The Chinese economy grew by 6.9% in 2015, compared with 7.3% in 2014, marking its slowest growth in 25 years.

China’s growth, seen as a driver of the global economy, is a major concern for investors around the world.

The government had set an official growth target of “about 7%” for the world’s second-largest economy.China economic growth 2016

PM Li Keqiang has said weaker growth would be acceptable as long as enough new jobs were created.

However, some observers say its growth is actually much weaker than official data suggests, though Beijing denies numbers are being inflated.

Analysts said any growth below 6.8% would likely fuel calls for further economic stimulus. Economic growth in Q4 of 2015 edged down to 6.8%, according to China’s national bureau of statistics.

After experiencing rapid growth for more than a decade, China’s economy has experienced a painful slowdown in the last two years.

Some argue that China’s focus on creating an economy driven by consumption is misplaced. They say as the country attempts to rebalance its economy, it should focus on productivity in order to sustain high growth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYvMdTePHI0

Nut Rage Scandal: South Korea Enacts Tougher Aviation Laws

Diane A. Wade
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Nut Rage Scandal: South Korea Enacts Tougher Aviation Laws

Tougher aviation laws against unruly air passengers have been enacted in South Korea, after the so-called nut rage scandal which saw top Korean Air executive Heather Cho jailed.

Under the new rules, passengers will pay a higher fine if they disturb the pilot. Transport officials say they revised laws because of public demand.

Heather Cho – also known as Cho Hyun-ah – was convicted in February 2015 after ordering a taxiing plane back to offload a steward who served the nuts in a way she deemed inappropriate.

The case attracted global attention.

In South Korea it reopened a national debate about elitism and the Korean business system, which is dominated by family firms known as chaebols.

Besides being the vice-president at Korean Air at that time, Heather Cho is the daughter of the airline’s chairman.

Photo AP
Photo AP

During the incident Heather Cho was angered that she was given macadamia nuts which she did not ask for, and was offended that they were served in a bag, not in a bowl.

After confronting flight staff, Heather Cho ordered the plane which was taxiing at New York’s JFK Airport to turn back and offload the chief steward.

Under the new law, passed by parliamentarians in 2015, anyone who disturbs the pilot during a flight could face up to five years in prison or a 50 million won ($41,200) fine.

Previously the same offence did not have a jail term and only had a 5 million won fine. Crew members are also now compelled to hand over unruly passengers to the police, or risk a 10 million won fine.

“The amended law reflects mounting public demand for enhanced aviation safety and the prevention of unruly behavior during flight following the Korean Air nut rage incident,” the transport ministry said in a press statement.

Heather Cho was convicted of violating airline safety. She served five months in jail before she was freed in May after an appeals court overturned the ruling saying she did not cause a change in flight path. Another conviction of using violence against flight attendants still stands.

Yasutaro Koide: World’s Oldest Man Dies Aged 112

Nancy Clayson
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Yasutaro Koide: World’s Oldest Man Dies Aged 112

World’s oldest man, Yasutaro Koide, has died at the age of 112 in Nagoya, Japan, local officials say.

Yasutaro Koide, who was born on March 13, 1903, was officially named the oldest man by Guinness World Records in August 2015.

At the time Yasutaro Koide was quoted as saying his secret to long life was not smoking or drinking, not to overdo things and to “live with joy”.Yasutaro Koide worlds oldest man died

Officials said Yasutaro Koide died of heart failure and pneumonia on January 19.

It is not yet clear who succeeds Yasutaro Koide as the oldest man.

The title of world’s oldest person is held by American woman Susannah Mushatt Jones, who is 116 years old.

Susannah Mushatt Jones took the title in 2015 after the death of Misao Okawa in Japan at the age of 117.

The oldest person who has ever lived according to Guinness World Records was Jeanne Calment of France, who lived 122 years and 164 days.

Jeanne Calment died in August 1997.

Don McLean Arrested for Domestic Violence Assault

Sonia Pantiss
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Don McLean Arrested for Domestic Violence Assault

Don McLean has been arrested on a charge of domestic violence assault, it has been reported.

The American Pie singer is said to have been released from Knox County Jail in Tennessee after posting $10,000 bail.

Don McLean, who lives in Camden, Maine, had a 1971 hit with American Pie, about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in a plane crash.

Photo Knox County Jail
Photo Knox County Jail

It was reported that Don McLean, 70, was held after police were called to a property at 02:00 local time on January 18.

The Wiscasset Newspaper published what it said was a mug shot of Don McLean.

He is reportedly set to appear at the Knox County Unified Court, Rockland, on February 22.

Don McLean has amassed more than 40 gold and platinum records worldwide during his career. He is understood to have last performed at a local lobster festival in August.

Glenn Frey Dead: Eagles Founder and Guitarist Dies Aged 67

Sonia Pantiss
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Glenn Frey Dead: Eagles Founder and Guitarist Dies Aged 67

Eagles founder and guitarist Glenn Frey has passed away at the age of 67, the band has announced.

Glenn Frey died in New York City on January 18 from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia.Glenn Frey dead at 67

“Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us,” Glenn Frey’s family and fellow band members said.

The Eagles were one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, with multiple hit singles including Hotel California, in 1976.

Glenn Frey co-wrote Hotel California with Don Henley. He wrote a number of the Eagles’ biggest songs on his own, including Heartache Tonight and Lyin’ Eyes.

Francois Hollande Sets out €2 Billion Job Creation Plan

Clyde K. Valle
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Francois Hollande Sets out €2 Billion Job Creation Plan

French President Francois Hollande has set out a €2 billion job creation plan in an attempt to lift France out of what he called a state of “economic emergency”.

Under a two-year scheme, companies with fewer than 250 staff will get subsidies if they take on a young or unemployed person for six months or more.

In addition, about 500,000 vocational training schemes will be created.

France’s unemployment rate is 10.6%, against a EU average of 9.8% and 4.2% in Germany.

Francois Hollande said money for the plan would come from savings in other areas of public spending.France state of economic emergency

“These €2 billion will be financed without any new taxes of any kind,” said Francois Hollande, who announced the details during an annual speech to business leaders.

“Our country has been faced with structural unemployment for two to three decades and this requires that creating jobs becomes our one and only fight.”

France was facing an “uncertain economic climate and persistent unemployment” and there was an “economic and social emergency”, he said.

Francois Hollande said recently that France’s social emergency, caused by unemployment, was as serious as the emergency caused by terrorism.

The president called on his audience to help “build the economic and social model for tomorrow”.

He also addressed the issue of labor market flexibility.

“Regarding the rules for hiring and laying off, we need to guarantee stability and predictability to both employers and employees. There is room for simplification,” Francois Hollande said.

“The goal is also more security for the company to hire, to adapt its workforce when economic circumstances require, but also more security for the employee in the face of change and mobility”.

British Parliament to Debate Barring Donald Trump from UK

Diane A. Wade
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British Parliament to Debate Barring Donald Trump from UK

The UK’s parliament is to debate on whether to ban Donald Trump from visiting the country.

The lawmakers will discuss a petition, which has attracted 574,000 signatures, urging a ban following Donald Trump’s call for all Muslims to be denied entry to the US.

They will also debate a counter-petition, signed by 43,000 people, claiming such a ban would be illogical.

Donald Trump’s spokeswoman said it was an “absurd waste” of lawmakers’ time.

The Republican presidential hopeful called for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the US in response to the shooting of 14 people in San Bernardino, California in December.

Donald Trump’s comments were criticized across the political spectrum in the US and Europe. He caused further anger by claiming that areas of London and other parts of the UK have become so radicalized that they have become no-go areas for the police.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The tycoon is leading several opinion polls in the race to be the Republican candidate for President ahead of the first primary contest in February.

All public petitions which attract more than 100,000 signatures are considered for debate by the House of Commons petitions committee.

The “Ban Trump” petition states that the UK “has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech” and argues that the rules must be “fairly applied to the rich as well as poor”.

The counter-petition argues that foreign nationals should not be banned “for their opinions on domestic actions” and that a ban would risk damaging US-UK relations given the possibility of a Trump victory in November’s election.

Today’s debate will take place in Westminster Hall, the Commons’ secondary debating chamber, rather than the main Commons chamber itself. There will be no vote at the end of it.

The UK home secretary has the power to ban people from entering the country on grounds of national security, if they are thought likely to incite racial hatred or if they are deemed not to be “conducive to the public good”.

Conservative home secretary Theresa May has banned more than 200 people since 2010, according to figures published last year, although she has declined to comment on whether Donald Trump could be added to the list.

PM David Cameron and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn have both said they would not want to see Donald Trump excluded, arguing he should be encouraged to visit to see first-hand the UK’s diversity, cohesion and tolerance.

However, former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who has been involved in a war of words with Donald Trump in recent months, has suggested a ban “would do him good”.

Donald Trump, who owns the Turnberry golf course among other assets in Scotland, has threatened to cancel $1.1 billion of planned investment if he is blocked from returning to the UK.

Ahead of the debate, Trump International Links Scotland issued a statement saying lawmakers should be spending their time debating the problems facing the Scottish and UK economies.

“For the UK to consider banning someone who made a statement in America, about American borders during a US election campaign is ridiculous,” said Sarah Malone, the company’s executive vice president.

“Westminster is creating a dangerous precedent on this issue and is sending a terrible message to the world.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1qBgeVOx0Y

David Bowie Tops American Album Charts for First Time

Sonia Pantiss
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David Bowie Tops American Album Charts for First Time

David Bowie has topped the American album charts for the first time with Blackstar, released two days before his death on January 10.

Blackstar sold the equivalent of 181,000 albums knocking Adele’s 25 off the top spot.

David Bowie’s highest-charting US album previously had been The Next Day, which peaked at No 2 in 2013.

Nineteen of his albums entered the UK album charts last week, after fans sought out his classic hits.

Blackstar is the first posthumous number one album in the US since Michael Jackson’s This Is It soundtrack topped the chart in November 2009.

Nine other David Bowie albums also made the Billboard 200 this week with the Best of Bowie reaching No 4 and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars at number 21.David Bowie Blackstar American album chart

David Bowie’s first hit on the US singles chart was in 1972 with Changes. The record did not initially find major success, only reaching No 66 that year.

However, the song returned to the chart in 1974, following David Bowie’s subsequent breakthrough on the American music scene with Space Oddity – his first top 40 hit which peaked at number 15.

David Bowie’s biggest selling single in the US was Let’s Dance, which reached the top of chart in 1983. He also achieved seven top 10 albums.

The iconic singer died on January 10 following an 18-month battle with cancer.

Fans around the world have been paying homage to the 69-year-old at tribute concerts and memorial sites linked to musician.

In Belgium, astronomers have paid tribute to David Bowie by dedicating a constellation to the self-proclaimed Starman. The constellation is made up of seven stars that, when connected, form the iconic lightning bolt seen on the cover of David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMIJky7ZQMc

How To Deal With Loneliness In The Age of Social Media

Kathryn R. Bown
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How To Deal With Loneliness In The Age of Social Media

Today at the age of social media technologies one can hardly believe that loneliness still exists and flourishes. Nevertheless, as the recent study shows Great Britain has the highest rate of people feeling lonely in comparison with other countries of the European Union. The result is rather sad, to put it mildly, and proves the fact that this problem has not gone away.

This feeling is comprehensive and appears by many reasons.

  • Death of a wife/husband, parents, siblings and close friends is hard to get thorough and leads to loneliness.
  • A divorce is another trigger often staying behind loneliness.
  • Constant failure to find a future spouse makes feel person unhappy and desolate.
  • Social networks are aimed to connect people more, but indeed, a person who is online all the time fakes one’s real life.
  • Aging is a biological natural reason that makes human beings less energetic, strong and beautiful. It is hard for people feeling loneliness to experience these physical and mental changes.
  • Scientists have found a genetic component responsible for loneliness.

The thing is that a body of socially isolated person is not happy with such a state of affairs. Its respond will be not long in coming. High blood pressure, dementia and depression are just few of possible consequences. This disease should be treated as soon as possible. Read on how to cope with loneliness.

how-to-deal-with-loneliness

  • Acceptance is half the battle. This may sound too simple. But it is what it is. Many people think that being lonely is like being defective. They try to hide this feeling deeply into their heart and numb the pain. Watching TV, social nets, video games, sleeping all the time, or, conversely, working all the time, or registering in and out a favorite dating site in UK are the signs saying that a person does not want to accept that he or she is lonely. So, the first step is to accept this emotional state.
  • Social contacts

There are a lot of people having the same feelings as you do. Find a support group of people who experienced the death, divorce and any other grief that made them lonely. By sharing your feelings you’ll relieve your pain and help others.  Another way is joining a social group of people sharing the same interests, values and way of life. It maybe sport club, dance classes, art group, charity organization and so on. While reaching a common goal, you’ll definitely meet friends. Social contacts restored will stop isolation and loneliness.

  • Enjoying the time spent alone

It may seem that this recommendation contradicts the below one. Actually, this piece of advice is mainly about feeling comfortable alone with yourself and overcoming panic. Remember your childhood and what did you want to do? You have time to do what you like and like to do. Do not be afraid to discover yourself and the world around you.

Naturally, recovery process will take time and efforts. However, just a nice smile can be the first thing you can do to stop loneliness from eroding your life and disturbing your balance.

What are your thoughts on these issues? Comment below.

Japan Stock Market Hits One-Year Low

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Stock Market Hits One-Year Low

Japan stock market hit a one-year low in January 18 trade following big falls in the US and as oil prices dropped below $28 a barrel for the first time since 2003.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 closed down 1.1% at 16,955.57 – its lowest close in a year.

In Australia, investors also reacted to falling oil prices.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0.7% at 4,858.70, with energy-related stocks and banking shares weighing on the index.

BHP Billiton shares fell 3%, Woodside lost 2.6%, and Santos shares fell 8.4%.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Australia’s big lenders also saw falls on January 18, with ANZ’s shares down 2% and Westpac’s down 1%.

In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi index closed flat at 1,878.45 after spending much of the day in negative territory.

In China, analysts said they expected markets to be hurt further this week by falling oil prices, together with continued worries about the country’s economic growth. China’s latest quarterly gross domestic product numbers are out on January 19.

Housing data released on January 18 showed house prices rose 1.6% in December from a year earlier. China’s housing market accounts for about 15% of the economy and the latest numbers mark the third consecutive month of year-on-year gains.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed down 1.5% at 19,237.45, while the Shanghai Composite finished the day 0.44% higher at 2,913.84.

Global Oil Price Drops below $28 a Barrel

Clyde K. Valle
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Global Oil Price Drops below $28 a Barrel

Oil prices have fallen below $28 a barrel amid fears the lifting of international sanctions on Iran could worsen the existing oversupply problem.

Brent crude, used as an international benchmark, fell as low as $27.67 a barrel, its lowest since 2003, before recovering slightly to trade at $28.17.

The price of US crude fell below $29 a barrel to $28.86.

The lifting of the Iran sanctions mean half a million barrels more oil per day could be produced, say analysts.

The decision to lift the sanctions against Iran came on January 17 after the international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said Iran had complied with a deal designed to prevent it developing nuclear weapons.Oil prices fall below 28

Iran has the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world, according to the US Energy Information Agency and any additional oil would add to the one million barrels a day of over-supply that has led to a more than 70% collapse in oil prices since the middle of 2014.

Analysts said Iran already had quite a lot of oil ready to sell.

The drop in the price of oil has been driven by oversupply, mainly due to US shale oil flooding the market.

At the same time, demand has fallen because of a slowdown in economic growth in China and Europe.

Historically, OPEC has cut production to support prices. But led by Saudi Arabia, by far the group’s most powerful member, the group has resolutely refused to trim supply this time.

Analysts expect supply to continue to outstrip demand over the next two years, which would keep prices low.

Democratic Debate 2016: Candidates Clash on Gun Control and Healthcare

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Debate 2016: Candidates Clash on Gun Control and Healthcare

Democratic candidates have clashed on gun control and healthcare in their liveliest TV debate so far.

Hillary Clinton attacked Bernie Sanders’ record on gun control, and said his healthcare plan risked derailing recent legislation.

Bernie Sanders accused Hillary Clinton of being in the pocket of financial institutions responsible for the 2008 crisis.

While Hillary Clinton leads nationwide, Bernie Sanders is a threat in key states.

Hours before the debate in South Carolina, Bernie Sanders – a Vermont senator – had unveiled a healthcare plan for all American citizens.

This was the final Democratic debate before caucuses in Iowa on February 1 show who the state’s voters prefer as their candidate.

Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, who is trailing Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in polls, also took part in the lively debate in which personal attacks were few and far between.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Bernie Sanders announced his universal healthcare plan two hours before the debate started.

Hillary Clinton said any moves to scrap the current Affordable Healthcare Act risked plunging the Democrats into “contentious debate”. Instead, the party should work on improving the program, known as ObamaCare.

Bernie Sanders responded: “Nobody is tearing this up.”

He said he wanted to build on ObamaCare.

Gun control was the first subject in the two-hour debate, that was held near a church in Charleston where nine parishioners were shot dead in June 2015.

Hillary Clinton released an advertisement this week attacking Bernie Sanders for his attitude towards gun control. His home state, Vermont, has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the US, with close to one in two households owning a weapon.

In the debate, Hillary Clinton again highlighted legislation she said showed that Bernie Sanders supported the gun lobby.

However, Bernie Sanders told the debate he had a “D minus voting record” from the National Rifle Association, and fully supported moves by President Obama for tougher background checks on gun buyers.

Martin O’Malley pointed out restrictions he passed against combat assault weapons in Maryland, adding: “I have never met a self-respecting deer hunter who needed an AR-15 [semi-automatic rifle] to down a deer.”

Polls indicate Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are neck-and-neck ahead of the caucus in Iowa, where voters will decide who they want as their preferred candidate. She had once commanded a large lead.

In New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders holds a lead in polls ahead of voting in the primary there eight days later.

Oxfam Report 2016: Richest 1% Has as Much Wealth as the Rest of the World Combined

Clyde K. Valle
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Oxfam Report 2016: Richest 1% Has as Much Wealth as the Rest of the World Combined

According to Oxfam’s latest report, the world’s richest 1% now has as much wealth as the rest 99%.

The organization uses data from Credit Suisse from October 2015 for the report, which urges leaders meeting in Davos this week to take action on inequality.

Oxfam also calculated that the richest 62 people in the world had as much wealth as the poorest 50% of the global population.

It criticized the work of lobbyists and the amount of money kept in tax havens.

Oxfam predicted that the 1% would overtake the rest of the world this time last year.

It takes cash and assets worth $68,800 to get into the top 10%, and $760,000 to be in the 1%. That means that if you own an average house in London without a mortgage, you are probably in the 1%.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The figures carry various caveats, for example, information about the wealth of the super-rich is hard to come by, which Credit Suisse says means its estimates of the proportion of wealth held by the 10% and the 1% is “likely to err on the low side”.

As a global report, the figures also necessarily include some estimates of levels of wealth in countries from which accurate statistics are not available.

According to Oxfam, the 62 richest people having as much wealth as the poorest 50% of the population is a remarkable concentration of wealth, given that it would have taken 388 individuals to have the same wealth as the bottom 50% in 2010.

“Instead of an economy that works for the prosperity of all, for future generations, and for the planet, we have instead created an economy for the 1%,” Oxfam’s report says.

The trend over the period that Credit Suisse has been carrying out this research has been that the proportion of wealth held by the top 1% fell gradually from 2000 to 2009 and has risen every year since then.

In fact, it is only in the 2015 figures that the proportion held by the top 1% overtakes the share taken by them in the first report in 2000.

Oxfam calls on governments to take action to reverse this trend.

It wants workers paid a living wage and the gap with executive rewards to be narrowed.

It calls for an end to the gender pay gap, compensation for unpaid care and the promotion of equal land and inheritance rights for women.

Oxfam wants governments to take action on lobbying, reducing the price of medicines, taxing wealth rather than consumption and using progressive public spending to tackle inequality.

Iran Nuclear Deal: US Imposes Fresh Sanctions over Ballistic Missile Test

Roy Siemens
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Iran Nuclear Deal: US Imposes Fresh Sanctions over Ballistic Missile Test

Fresh sanctions have been imposed on Iranian companies and individuals by the US over a recent ballistic missile test.

The new sanctions prevent 11 entities and individuals linked to the missile program from using the US banking system.

The move came after international nuclear sanctions on Iran were lifted as part of a deal hailed by President Barack Obama on January 17 as “smart”.

Four American-Iranians were also freed in a prisoner swap as part of the deal.

Among them was Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian – whom President Barack Obama described as “courageous”. A fifth American was freed separately.

Jason Rezaian and two of the others freed flew to a US base in Germany via Geneva for medical evaluation.US imposes new sanctions on Iran

Another, Nosratollah ­Khosravi-Roodsari, did not fly out with the others, US officials said. A fifth man, Matthew Trevithick, was freed in a separate process.

Meanwhile the US said it had offered clemency to seven Iranians being held in the US for sanctions violations.

Negotiations in December over the prisoner exchange delayed the US Treasury’s imposition of the latest sanctions.

They were only announced once the plane containing the former prisoners had left Iran, reports said.

They were triggered by Iran conducting a precision-guided ballistic missile test capable of delivering a nuclear warhead last October, violating a UN ban.

“Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a significant threat to regional and global security, and it will continue to be subject to international sanctions,” said Adam J. Szubin, US acting under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

Moments later, President Barack Obama hailed the nuclear deal, which is being implemented following verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran had restricted its sensitive nuclear activities.

“This is a good day because once again we’re seeing what’s possible with international diplomacy,” he said.

“For decades our differences meant our governments almost never spoke – ultimately, that did not advance America’s interests,” Barack Obama said.

The deal meant “Iran will not get its hands on a nuclear bomb”, he said.

Barack Obama said differences with Iran remained, and the US would “remain steadfast in opposing Iran’s destabilizing behavior elsewhere” – such as its missile tests.

The president defended a separate settlement at an international legal tribunal which will see the US repay Iran $400 million in funds frozen since 1981 plus a further $1.3 billion in interest – saying there was no point “dragging this out”.

Earlier, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the nuclear deal opened a “new chapter” in the country’s relations with the world.

Iran nuclear deal has been welcomed by many governments, the UN and EU – but disparaged by some US Republicans and Israel, which says it allows Iran to continue to “spread terror”.

Pope Francis Welcomes Thousands of Refugees at St. Peter’s Square

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis Welcomes Thousands of Refugees at St. Peter’s Square

Pope Francis has welcomed several thousand refugees in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican as the Catholic Church marked a day dedicated to them.

He said the refugees carried within themselves “a history, a culture, precious values” and urged them not to give up hope.

The refugees – including many asylum seekers – waved their nations’ flags during the address.

Europe is struggling to cope with an influx of refugees.Refugees at Vatican

Pope Francis has repeatedly called on European states to welcome people fleeing war and poverty.

Later the pontiff became only the third pope to visit Rome’s main synagogue.

Hundreds of armed police and security personnel were deployed for the occasion.

Rome’s chief rabbi, Ricardo Di Segri, has said the visit is considered as a sign of 50 years of improving Jewish-Catholic relations.

In December, the Vatican said that the Roman Catholic Church did not support efforts to convert Jews to Christianity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uemll0PSQSc

Citigroup Profits Jump in Q4 2015 after Big Fall in Legal Costs

Clyde K. Valle
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Citigroup Profits Jump in Q4 2015 after Big Fall in Legal Costs

Citigroup’s Q4 2015 profits jumped compared with a year earlier, helped by a big fall in legal costs.

The bank said its net profit rose to $3.34 billion compared with $344 million in the last quarter of 2014 when it paid $3.5 billion in legal and other charges.

The bank’s legal and repositioning costs fell to $724 million for this quarter.Citigroup profits Q4 2015

Citi – which is undergoing a restructuring – is the third largest US bank when ranked by assets.

The picture at Citi echoed that at JP Morgan Chase, which reported results on January 14. Profits there also jumped thanks to lower legal expenses and better cost control.

Citigroup has been restructuring to focus on more profitable businesses and markets, and has closed consumer operations in 11 overseas markets.

Operating expenses fell 23% to $11 billion, partly thanks to the fall in legal-related costs.

Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat said: “We have undoubtedly become a simpler, smaller, safer and stronger institution.

“We have sharpened our focus on target clients, shedding over 20 consumer and institutional businesses in the process.”

Europe Car Sales Reach 14.2 Million in 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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Europe Car Sales Reach 14.2 Million in 2015

European auto sales rose 9.2% in 2015 reaching 14.2 million vehicles.

However, it still remained below levels prior to the economic crisis.

The 9.2% increase was driven in large part by incentive schemes, according to the Brussels-based trade body, the Association of European Carmakers.

Several auto makers achieved double digit growth, including Daimler (17.7%) and Fiat-Chrysler (13.6%).

Amid the emissions scandal, VW’s sales climbed only 6.2% and the group’s market share slid from 25.5% to 24.8%.Europe car sales 2015

The annual figures were boosted by a strong December when sales jumped 15.9% to nearly 1.16 million, marking the 28th consecutive month of growth.

The figures include all EU members except Malta, and the three European Free Trade Association countries, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

Sales grew strongly in Spain (20.9%) and Italy (15.8%) in 2015, helped by government incentive schemes to encourage buyers. Sales also rose in the other major markets of France (6.8%), the UK (6.3%) and Germany (5.6%).

Car sales in the EU and the wider EFTA free trade area reached a peak of nearly 16 million in 2007. They subsequently fell to a low of just over 12.3 million in 2013 before rising again in 2014.

The association said the trend in 2015 was “positive, but in absolute terms, volumes remain low”.

Jakarta Attacks Death Toll Rises to Eight

Roy Siemens
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Jakarta Attacks Death Toll Rises to Eight

Jakarta attacks death toll rises to eight after an Indonesian wounded in the January 14 incidents dies in hospital, police said.

Officials originally believed there were five attackers, but later said one man thought to be a militant was actually a civilian.

All of the attackers, including two previously convicted militants, were killed.

ISIS has claimed it carried out the attacks.Jakarta attacks death toll

At least 20 people were injured, several of them in a serious condition.

One of the militants seen carrying a gun and rucksack during the attacks was named as Afif Sunakim. He was previously given a seven-year jail term for attending a militant camp.

The others have been identified as Dian Joni Kurniadi, M Ali, and Ahmad Muhazan bin Saron.

The attacks began with a series of bomb blasts at an intersection near a shopping mall and a Starbucks coffee shop. As people inside ran out, two gunmen waiting outside opened fire.

At least two militants also attacked the police box in the centre of the intersection in a suicide bomb attack.

The attackers planned to target government offices and foreigners in other Indonesian cities, a spokesman said.

So far, 12 arrests have been made and police have also shut down at least 11 websites and social media accounts.

The attackers are thought to have belonged to an ISIS faction made up mainly of Indonesians and Malaysians. The guns they used came from the Philippines, officials said.

Hundreds of people from Southeast Asian countries with significant Muslim populations have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight with the group.

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