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Lady Gaga Cancels European Tour Due to Severe Pain

Sonia Pantiss
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Lady Gaga Cancels European Tour Due to Severe Pain

Lady Gaga has halted the European leg of her Joanne World Tour due to “severe pain”.

In a tweet, Lady Gaga apologized to fans and said she was “devastated”, but needed to put “myself and my well-being” first.

Lady Gaga has fibromyalgia, a long-term condition which can cause pain all over the body.

In her statement, the singer said the “tough decision” had been made on February 2 with “strong support from her medical team”.

Ticket holders can apply for a refund from February 6, the statement added.

Image source Flickr

Lady Gaga Hospitalized with Severe Physical Pain

Lady Gaga Reveals She Suffers from PTSD Since Being Raped

Lady Gaga, 31, wrote: “I’m so devastated I don’t know how to describe it.

“All I know is that if I don’t do this, I am not standing by the words or meaning of my music.”

The announcement comes after the Grammy-winner started the UK leg of her tour at Birmingham Arena.

The European leg of Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour had already been rescheduled due to her condition and followed a decision to pull out of a performance at Rock In Rio in Brazil in September, after she was hospitalized with “severe physical pain.”

Lady Gaga was due to perform in Zurich, Cologne, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Paris and Berlin in the coming weeks.

At the end of 2017, Lady Gaga announced a two-year residency in Las Vegas, starting late in 2018.

Fidel Castro’s Son, Fidelito, Kills Himself in Havana

Nancy Clayson
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Fidel Castro’s Son, Fidelito, Kills Himself in Havana

Fidel Castro’s son, Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart, has killed himself in Havana, according to Cuban state media.

The 68-year-old was found on February 1 and is said to have suffered from depression.

The first-born son of the late Cuban president was nicknamed “Fidelito”, or Little Fidel, after his father.

Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart was a nuclear physicist, trained by the former Soviet Union.

Cuba’s official newspaper Granma reported – little more than a year after Fidel Castro’s death: “Fidel Castro Díaz-Balart, who had been treated by a group of doctors for several months due to deep depression, took his life this morning.”

Image source vanguardia.cu

Fidel Castro Dead: Cuba’s Former President and Leader of Communist Revolution Dies Aged 90

Cuban state TV said he had been receiving medical treatment as an outpatient in recent months, following a hospital stay.

At the time of his death, Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart was a scientific adviser for the Cuban Council of State and he served as vice president of Cuba’s Academy of Sciences.

He headed Cuba’s nuclear program from 1980 to 1992, before it was suspended after the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart was married to María Victoria Barreiro and had three children from his previous marriage – Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, Mirta María Castro Smirnova and Jos­é Raúl Castro Smirnov.

He was born in 1949, during his father’s brief first marriage to Mirta Díaz-Balart, the daughter of a prominent pre-revolution politician.

Fidel Castro went on to overthrow the US-backed dictator, Fulgencio Batista, in 1959 – when Mirta Díaz-Balart’s family fled Cuba and went to Florida.

Fidelito’s parents divorced and he spent some of his early years in the US before his father managed to bring him back to Cuba.

This history explains why some of his close maternal relatives are among the most committed critics of the Cuban government – such as his cousin, Mario Díaz-Balart, a US congressman.

Fidelito himself was loyal to the ideals of the Cuban revolution, but was said in recent years to have grown weary – both of living in his father’s shadow and having been sidelined from Cuban decision-making on energy resources, said reports.

The TV announcement said Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart’s funeral would be planned by his family, but no further details were given.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwYWKZ2AfDg

42 in Every 100,000 in US Die From Unintentional Injuries Every Year

Dana R
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42 in Every 100,000 in US Die From Unintentional Injuries Every Year

Terrifying as it may sound, significant numbers of people in the US are still dying from injuries due to unintentional accidents. This means, according to the NCHS there are 30.6 million emergency room visits each and every year, with unintentional death being the fourth most common cause of fatalities. What can be done to curtail this epidemic? Read in to find out more.

Traffic

10.6 of the deaths per 100,000 people are caused by traffic accidents. Of course, we live in a society in which almost everyone requires a car to be able to get to work, get their kids to school, and do the everyday parts of life that are essential. However, it is clear that people are still not taking driving safety seriously enough.

With this in mind, actions that increase the safety of vehicle journeys for passengers, and other road user need to be prioritized. These may include providing more comprehensive drivers Ed, including defensive driving techniques and demonstrating the results of an accident at high impact as a deterrent measure. Government subsidies for vehicles with advanced safety features such as ABS and collision avoidance systems would also be a welcome development.

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Falls

10.0 of the deaths per 100000 people are caused by falls from height. Sadly this is an area in which such fatalities could often be avoided if only the victim were made aware of the safety risk beforehand. That is what an essential part of tackling this particular concerns is educated people in safe practices when working at height both in the home and at work.

However, there is only so much the individual can be held accountable for accidental falls. After all, if they do don’t know there is a risk, they will go ahead with action whether its safe or not.

That is why it is also vital that employers take on their due responsibilities and step up to the mark where safer equipment and signage is concerned.

Picture source

After all, they have a moral and legal duty to preserve the life and well being of their employees while they are performing the task they ask of them. That means professionals like Derrick Law Firm can help victims and their families make a claim against them if they do not live up to these duties. Something that can prevent such tragic accidents happening again.

Poisoning

A shocking 13.2 out of every 100,000 deaths are caused by unintentional poisoning in the US. Sadly many of these deaths are attributed to poisoning by drug use, a problem that has doubled and tripled for men and women respectively, over the last few year.

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Obviously, preventing such deaths is a complicated issue that is not just about preventative education. In fact, it needs to also involve economic and social reform, better higher education opportunities and the provision of rehabilitation and counseling for those that are already using.

In addition, the use of drugs such as Naloxone and the facility to carry them by the police and fire services also has the potential to drastically reduce this figure over the longer term. Something that makes it issues that more people should speak out on.

Robert Wagner Is Person of Interest in Natalie Wood’s Death, Police Say

Sonia Pantiss
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Robert Wagner Is Person of Interest in Natalie Wood’s Death, Police Say

Police investigating the death of Natalie Wood say her husband, Robert Wagner, is now a person of interest.

According to LA investigators, Robert Wagner has “constantly changed his story”, adding that his version of events does not “add up”.

Natalie Wood was found drowned in 1981 during a California boat trip with Robert Wagner and actor Christopher Walken.

The movie star’s death was ruled to have been an accident but questions have lingered.

Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office told CBS News: “As we’ve investigated the case over the last six years, I think [Robert Wagner] is more of a person of interest now.”

“We know now that he was the last person to be with Natalie before she disappeared,” he said.

“I haven’t seen him tell the details that match all the other witnesses in this case.”

Lt Corina added: “I think he’s constantly changed his story a little bit. And his version of events just don’t add up.”

Conflicting versions of what happened on the yacht have contributed to the mystery of how Natalie Wood died in November 1981.

Family members have previously asked for authorities to re-examine the findings of the original investigation.

Natalie Wood, who starred in West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause, had been partying the night before her death. The coroner’s investigation ruled she had been drinking and may have slipped trying to board a dinghy.

However, police say two new witnesses have corroborated accounts of a fight between Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood on the night she disappeared.

Witnesses say it appears Natalie Wood was the victim of an assault. The post-mortem report said the actress had bruises on her body and arms as well as a facial abrasion on her left cheek.

Image source Flickr

Natalie Wood’s death certificate changed to “Undetermined”

Lana Wood claims Robert Wagner left Natalie Wood to drown

Natalie Wood’s death case re-opened as a homicide

Natalie Wood death: Robert Wagner declines to be interviewed into reinvestigation

The boat’s captain, Dennis Davern, told NBC News in 2011 that he lied to police during the initial investigation and that a fight between Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner had led to her death.

Robert Wagner, now 87, has not commented on the latest developments but acknowledged in his memoir that he had argued with his wife before she disappeared.

Investigators say he has refused to speak to them since the case was reopened in 2011.

In 2012, Natalie Wood’s death certificate was amended to reflect the uncertainty surrounding her death. It now says the actress died as a result of “drowning and other undetermined factors” and the circumstances of how she ended up in the water are “not clearly established”.

Natalie Wood was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Rebel Without a Cause, and for best actress for Splendor in the Grass and Love with the Proper Stranger.

As a child, Natalie Wood featured in movies like Miracle on 34th Street and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5VX-xfO-mA

Parental Control App And The First Mobile Of Children!

Kathryn R. Bown
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Parental Control App And The First Mobile Of Children!

The children of increasingly younger ages are protagonists in the phenomenon of mobile connectivity. From two or three years old, they begin to lean out on their parents’ phones and to manage theses devices regularly, becoming familiar with their functionalities almost before being able to speak clearly, or to learn to read. This fluid handling usually makes us very funny in such small children, but we should not let them relate to these devices in an uncontrolled way. To make the use positive and the main way to prevent misuse or risk behaviors that can lead to future problems is to get involved in this technology education from the beginning. The key is as much in knowing how to orient the learning, as in not radically prohibiting it.

When to buy your kid their first mobile phone?

The children at a very younger age see mobile phone as a toy that they use to play games, to paint or color, and even watch videos of cartoons. However, as they grow, this playful use gives way to other functions. The phone becomes a device to communicate with. Therefore, the main use of the telephone is to be in contact with parents and, above all, with friends. To have a mobile phone is to belong to the group. The child sees that everyone around him has it and begins to ask for his own terminal, each time at younger ages. Thus, parents suffer emotional blackmail, coupled with some social pressure.

So, when should we buy our kids their first mobile phone? Well, there is no specific age, but you have to look at each case, at the maturity of each child, and at the specific circumstances of your lifestyle that make them need this device. And it is that at certain ages it can be relatively useful, but it is not really necessary. What we should make clear to our kids from the first moment is that the main function of the telephone is communication, and that is why it is advisable to have it.

In this sense, experts recommend that children do not have their own phone before age 12. From this age, they sharpen their need for independence and already spend more time away from us. In addition, access to a new stage in school, Secondary Education, and this is a big change for them. It is now a good time for them to begin to take on responsibilities such as those involved in having their own mobile phone.

To the parents, the device will serve us to be in continuous contact with them, to have them located, and to be able to control their exits. All this becomes possible with the use of the parental controls app such as FamilyTime parental control app that let parents view contact, call history, SMS threads, installed apps, app preferences, app usage frequency, web history and much more. In addition to supervising, parents can also take needed actions.

For example, with the app, parents can watchlist contacts, block unwanted or inappropriate apps, schedule auto screen locks and remotely lock devices, etc.  There is a lot more parents can do with this app in hand. Dp you wish to give the app a try for free? You can! Get the trial version with premium features from the Google Play store and iTunes.

How You Can Help Others That Are in Financial Trouble

Dana R
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How You Can Help Others That Are in Financial Trouble

Anybody can be stricken with the plight that is financial trouble, absolutely anybody. And, if it were you that were stricken with it, you’d want others to help you out in regards to it, wouldn’t you? Yes, you would, and that is why you should always go out of your way to help others who are stricken with it.

 

To see just what you can do to help others when you know they they are suffering with financial problems, make sure to read on.

reaching

Image source

Help them financially

Of course, the first thing to do when you see somebody struggling financially is to provide them with the sum they need to sort their problems out. But, this doesn’t have to necessarily mean the whole sum. No, whether this be 100% of the amount of money they need to free themselves of their debt, 50% of it or just 10% of it, whatever you give them will be a bonus and will go some way in assisting them in beating their financial problems. The point is, don’t be afraid to help someone financially, but don’t put yourself into your financial trouble by doing so.

Give them advice on professional lending companies

If you can’t gift or borrow your friend the money they need to beat their financial affliction, then give them advice on where they can get the money instead. Specially, give them advice on professional lending companies because they provide a host of borrowing options, one such option being the payday loan. But, just make sure that when you give them this advice that you also tell them that they will have to pay any money they borrow back by a deadline and with interest.

Co-sign on a bank loan with them

If your friend or family member is looking to take out a loan from their bank but has thus far been refused because of their poor financial status or because they have bad credit, then it could be a good idea for you to co-sign on the loan with them. By doing so you will be allowing your friend to utilise your good credit score and reap the benefits of it. But, when doing so, just know that should your friend, for whatever reason, fail in paying the loan back then it will be down to you to do so. So, trust must work both ways in this venture — trust on their part for you co-signing in the first place, trust on your part that they will not leave you high and dry to pay off the loan in the end.

Help them draw up a budget

Sometimes, budgeting is so difficult when we do it for ourselves because its hard to see past what we want to spend on our money on in order to see what we need to spend it on. But, by offering your friend the outsiders perspective you might just provide them with the budgeting support they need to cut their budget right down. More to the point, you might just provide them with the clarity they need in regards to knowing what they want to spend on, and what they need to spend on.

Find them some employment

Of course, the best way to beat a financial problem and get that cash flowing flowing steadily again is to find employment and reap the benefits of the financial stability it provides. So, if you’re lucky enough to be in contact with somebody looking to hire somebody, or if you, yourself, own your own business, then make sure you are doing all you can to help your friend find a job. Or, if you do not have contacts in these ways, then simply sit down with your friend and make sure they are applying for a plethora of jobs every day.

Offer or find them emotional support

Sometimes, financial difficulties extend way past being just little money troubles. Yes, sometimes it’s not just a person’s personal finances that are negatively impacted by financial trouble, sometimes it’s the person themselves. Specifically, sometimes, a person that is going through a rough patch with their finances will have their wellbeing, their health and their emotional state be negatively impacted by their financial plight. And, if your friend were to be experiencing the denial, anxiety or depression of such a state, then it would be down to you to find them a professional non-profit credit counselling service to help them out, or to seek to help them out yourself. Seriously, by doing so you might just save their life.

For more advice on how you can help others who are suffering with financial problems, make sure to head here.

Train Carrying Republicans Hits Garbage Truck Killing Driver

Nancy Clayson
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Train Carrying Republicans Hits Garbage Truck Killing Driver

A train carrying Republican lawmakers to a retreat hit a truck on the track in Virginia, killing the driver, says the White House.

According to authorities, six people were injured, including another truck passenger who was airlifted out with critical injures.

No members of Congress or their staff were among the seriously hurt, officials said.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed they are investigating the cause of the accident.

The members of Congress – who included House Speaker Paul Ryan – were on their way to their annual retreat in Greenbrier, West Virginia, when the specially chartered Amtrak train crashed at 11:20 local time on January 31.

A photograph from the scene showed train passengers aiding emergency responders in helping the injured.

The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Christopher Foley, one of two passengers in the truck, which was a waste disposal vehicle.

Some train passengers were hurled from their seats by the collision, which happened near Crozet, Virginia, about 110 miles south-west of Washington DC.

Jason Lewis, a congressman from Minnesota, was taken to the hospital and treated for a possible concussion, his office said.

The congressman said: “I’m fine compared to, tragically, the truck drivers, and thankful for the prompt action of our doctors and first responders. My thoughts are with the family of the driver who passed away.”

Image source AFP

According to Utah Senator Mike Lee, the “garbage truck” was “cut in half”.

During a meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump said, “the train accident was a tough one. A tremendous jolt”.

The president said: “We don’t have a full understanding yet as to what happened but it was a train hitting a truck going at a pretty good speed.

“It looks like the driver of the truck was killed, it’s very sad to see that.”

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: “There is one confirmed fatality and one serious injury. There are no serious injuries among members of Congress or their staff.

“Senior Administration officials are in regular contact with Amtrak and state and local authorities.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone that has been affected by this incident.”

President Donald Trump is due to visit the retreat on February 1.

Security officials and doctors for the lawmakers – as well as two congressmen who are ex-doctors – helped emergency officials, lawmakers said.

A Michigan congressman said that train passengers had gathered outside the train in prayer.

Tennessee Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said he was walking to the train’s toilet when the collision occurred, and he was injured.

According to a report by the Federal Railroad Administration, incidents between trains and cars crossing at railway tracks have increased in recent years. This is likely due to a higher traffic volume of cars on the road.

The NTSB said on January 31 that they had ruled out foul play as a possibility, but were investigating a range of factors in the crash.

TPS: Trump Administration Extends Temporary Protection for Nearly 7,000 Syrians

Diane A. Wade
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TPS: Trump Administration Extends Temporary Protection for Nearly 7,000 Syrians

President Donald Trump has extended a temporary protection for 6,900 Syrians in living in the United States as war continues to ravage their country.

Syrians were shielded from deportation under a humanitarian program, Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

President Trump has cancelled TPS programs for various countries in recent months, affecting immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua.

However, the extension does not apply to any new or recent applicants from Syria.

For Syrians already living and working in the United States, TPS will be extended for another 18 months. Syrians who entered the country after August 2016 will be excluded from the program.

Image source Flickr

President Trump Signs New Immigration Executive Order

White House Details New Immigrations Measures

Created in 1990, TPS program allows immigrants from countries deemed unsafe to lawfully live and work in the United States.

The program is used by hundreds of thousands of people from 10 designated countries that have been hit by problems such as natural disasters or civil conflicts.

Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in a civil war that has caused millions to flee and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

Protections were set to expire for Syrians on March 31, but with the extension will now last at least another 18 months.

Secretary of Homeland (DHS) Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen said in a statement: “It is clear that the conditions upon which Syria’s designation was based continue to exist, therefore an extension is warranted under the statute.

“We will continue to determine each country’s TPS status on a country-by-country basis.”

Earlier this month, DHS announced it would end protected status for 262,500 Salvadorians with an 18-month delay.

In November 2017, the administration said status Haitians and Nicaraguans would also end in 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZTgGPi66D8

#MeToo: Hillary Clinton Admits She Should Have Fired Burns Strider over Harassment

Nancy Clayson
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#MeToo: Hillary Clinton Admits She Should Have Fired Burns Strider over Harassment

Hillary Clinton has admitted that she should have fired her adviser, Burns Strider, who was accused of harassment during her 2008 presidential campaign.

Burns Strider was initially docked pay and told to seek counseling but was later fired from a campaign group after again being accused of harassment.

He has not commented on the allegations.

Hillary Clinton posted the statement moments before President Donald Trump began his state of the union speech.

Her move has prompted some speculation that she was seeking to bury her apology in the storm of media coverage around the address.

According to New York Times, the 30-year-old woman who made the complaint shared an office with Burns Strider when it broke the story of the claims last week.

The report said that, according to three former campaign officials, she had told a campaign official that Burns Strider had rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent suggestive emails.

When the woman’s complaint was investigated, two advisers, including her campaign manager, recommended Burns Strider be fired, but instead Hillary Clinton moved her to a new role, while Strider stayed in place.

Photo Getty Images

#MeToo: Steve Wynn Resigns as RNC Finance Chair over Harassment Allegations

#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

#MeToo: Catherine Deneuve Warns About New Puritanism Sparked by Harassment Scandals

The matter has raised questions about Hillary Clinton’s judgment and stated commitment to women’s advancement.

Hillary Clinton said in a statement posted on Facebook: “I’m being asked as to why I let an employee on my 2008 campaign keep his job despite his inappropriate workplace behavior.

“The short answer is this: If I had it to do again, I wouldn’t.”

The former presidential candidate says she understands the scrutiny of her decision to retain Burns Strider given her work to “support and empower women”.

Hillary Clinton then goes on to explain her reasoning in detail.

She decided to do so, she says, “because I didn’t think firing him was the best solution to the problem.

Hillary Clinton wrote: “He needed to be punished, change his behavior, and understand why his actions were wrong. The young woman needed to be able to thrive and feel safe.

“I thought both could happen without him losing his job.”

Hillary Clinton also says she has “reached out” to the woman in question: “The fact that [she] felt heard and supported reinforced my belief that the process worked – at least to a degree.”

However, she points out that the events took place long before the “seismic shift” in social attitudes towards harassment.

Burns Strider was Hillary Clinton’s faith adviser and has continued to send her scripture readings over recent years, the New York Times reported.

Getting to Know Your Ammunition

Dana R
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Getting to Know Your Ammunition

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/bullet-cartridge-ammunition-crime-408636/

If you’re new to guns, there’s plenty to learn. Knowing what to put in your gun is a big part of being a responsible gun owner. Bullets can seem intimidating, especially when they’re piled up in front of you. Ammo boxes are often covered in a myriad of numbers, and if you’re not sure what you’re looking for, it’s easy to make the wrong choice.

Before you learn how to shoot, you need to learn about the types of ammunition that can be loaded into your gun. Keep reading to learn a little more about what kind of ammunition is available to you and what’s the most appropriate for you to use.

Know Your Gun’s Caliber and/or Size

First things first. Knowing what the exact ammo your gun can take is extremely important. Luckily, firearm manufacturers make this easy by putting the caliber of your weapon on the side of the firearm. It’s important to make note of every detail when determining the caliber of your gun.

For example, there is a huge difference between a .380 and a .38 handgun. Likewise, don’t let anyone tell you that a .223 and a 5.56 are the same thing. And speaking of the .223, rifles that are chambered for .300 rounds should only use .300 Blackouts and not .223s.

The best case scenario when buying the wrong ammo is that it won’t fit in your gun. Worst case scenarios involve combustion and serious injuries. You do not want that.

.22 Long Rifle

The most common rifle and pistol caliber is the faithful .22 Long Rifle (LR). The .22 LR is ideal for beginners, target practice, and getting rid of small pests like squirrels, snakes, and rabbits. Not to be confused with the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire round, the .22 LR is the most common ammunition in the world.

When looking at for .22 LR ammo for sale, look for large bricks and only purchase at low prices in bulk. A lot of .22 LR ammo for sale in the market now are reloaded ammunition. Reloaded ammo is safe to shoot, but this information should be disclosed upon sale and should be offered at an even lower price.

Full Metal Jacket Rounds

A full metal jacket (FMJ) round is a standard bullet entirely encased in an outer shell. FMJ rounds are an excellent choice for target practice, due to its inexpensive prices, availability in bulk quantities, and a low chance of jamming a gun. Due to the fact that FMJ rounds are likely to penetrate a target and go through it, the FMJ is less likely to create a fatal wound and much more likely to damage things behind the target—making it a poor choice for defensive shooting.

For example, imagine there’s a burglar in your house and he is standing between you and your children. Luckily, you have a gun, but unluckily, it’s loaded with full metal jacket rounds. You do not want to shoot him using a FMJ bullet, as it may go through him and potentially hit your children as well. That’s every parent’s worst nightmare.

Hollow Point Rounds

The hollow point is a bullet with a hollowed tip designed to expand upon impact of the target. Expanding allows the hollow point to decrease the level of penetration, cause more damage, and maximize stopping power. Hollow point rounds are much more expensive and harder to find in bricks or buckets—but they are ideal for guns being used for defensive or hunting purposes as hollow points can hit the target without penetrating them. 

One More Tip

Knowing everything about ammunition can be a long and tedious process, especially with the fact that there are different types in the market today and even more are being developed by manufacturers around the world. The ammunition you choose isn’t just about the caliber, and there are a myriad of details you can absorb as your gun knowledge grows. Ammunition is an essential part of gun ownership, so read the boxes before you buy, and research anything you don’t understand.

Always be aware of the type of bullet that’s in your gun. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s best to use a different round that you already know. But don’t let that stop you from exploring other kinds of ammo. Go to your range today and practice shooting new bullets.

State of the Union 2018: President Donald Trump Proclaims “New American Moment”

Diane A. Wade
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State of the Union 2018: President Donald Trump Proclaims “New American Moment”

President Donald Trump has proclaimed a “new American moment” as he delivered his first State of the Union speech to Congress.

The Republican president said he was “extending an open hand” to Democrats to work together.

Donald Trump also said he was ordering Guantanamo Bay to be kept open, reversing an Obama-era directive to close the controversial detention camp.

The American economy is booming but President Trump’s approval rating languishes.

He said his administration was “building a safe, strong and proud America”.

President Trump told lawmakers in a one-hour-and-20-minute speech: “There has never been a better time to start living the American dream.”

As many as 40 million TV viewers were expected to tune in as he implored the nation to come together as “one team, one people and one American family”.

President Trump made a plea for the kind of bipartisan co-operation that has been in short supply during a turbulent first year in office.

“Tonight I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color and creed,” he said.

Donald Trump, who has enraged Democrats by withdrawing protections for immigrants who entered the US illegally as children, offered an olive branch.

However, the president insisted on a border wall with Mexico and other concessions from Democrats as part of any over-arching immigration deal.

Image source Wikimedia

State of the Union 2016: Barack Obama to Deliver Final Address

DACA: President Trump Planning to Offer Citizenship for 1.8 Million Dreamers

President Donald Trump Has A Normal Cognitive Ability

Some Democrats booed when President Trump said he wanted to curtail an allowance for legal immigrants to bring family members into the US.

The president again touted his pet plan to rebuild America’s ageing roads and other infrastructure, though he did not offer many details.

He said that 2.4 million jobs had been created on his watch.

Since Donald Trump came to office, the stock market has soared and the unemployment rate is at a 17-year low as the US continues its recovery from the recession of a decade ago.

However, Donald Trump had an average job approval last year of 38%, the lowest first-year rating for any president in the history of Gallup polling.

Massachusetts congressman Joseph Kennedy III, a great-nephew of President John F. Kennedy, delivered the Democratic rebuttal.

Joseph Kennedy III, 37, attempted to seize Donald Trump’s political mantle by purporting to speak for “Americans who feel forgotten and forsaken”.

Bewailing a “fractured country” and depicting the Trump presidency as “chaos”, he said: “Many have spent the past year anxious, angry, afraid.”

“Bullies may land a punch. They might leave a mark. But they have never, not once, in the history of our United States, managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defense of their future,” he added.

In one telling moment from President Trump’s speech, members of the Democratic Congressional Black Caucus sat in stony-faced silence amid a standing ovation as the president noted African-American unemployment has hit a record low.

About a dozen Democratic lawmakers said they would boycott President Trump’s speech.

Glee Star Mark Salling Found Dead in Suspected Suicide

Sonia Pantiss
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Glee Star Mark Salling Found Dead in Suspected Suicide

Former Glee star Mark Salling has been found dead near his Los Angeles home in a suspected suicide, weeks before he was due to be jailed over possessing child abuse images.

Mark Salling, 35, was expected to get between four and seven years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing child abuse images. The actor’s sentencing was due on March 7.

He played footballer Noah “Puck” Puckerman on Glee from 2009 to 2015.

Image source Wikimedia

Cory Monteith autopsy report reveals he died of drug and alcohol cocktail

Mark Salling entered into a plea deal last October, avoiding a lengthier prison sentence of up to 20 years.

He was arrested in 2015 after a tip-off that he was in possession of images of children being abused.

Investigators ultimately found tens of thousands of abuse images on his laptop and hard drive.

Mark Salling’s body was found in woodland near to where he lived in Sunland, Los Angeles, media reports suggest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5JK6eEHwIQ

Kenya: Raila Odinga Sworn-in as People’s President

Diane A. Wade
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0
Kenya: Raila Odinga Sworn-in as People’s President

Kenyan TV stations have been shut down by authorities to prevent live coverage of a swearing-in event by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who boycotted last year’s disputed presidential election.

Raila Odinga declared himself the “people’s president” in front of thousands of his supporters in the capital, Nairobi.

The result of the last August election was annulled following allegations of irregularities.

Uhuru Kenyatta won a re-run in October, but Raila Odinga did not take part.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November 2017.

He warned the media not to cover the January 30 event and the attorney general said holding such a ceremony amounted to treason.

However, the main TV stations streamed the event on their websites and on YouTube and Facebook.

Holding a bible in his right hand at a park in Nairobi, Raila Odinga declared that he was answering to a “high[er] calling to assume the office of the people’s president of the Republic of Kenya”.

People had had enough of election rigging and the event was a step towards establishing a proper democracy in the East African state, he told a cheering crowd.

Image source Wikimedia

Kenya Elections 2017: Raila Odinga Pull Out of Election Re-Run

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Uhuru Kenyatta Inaugurated for a Second Term as Kenya’s President

Raila Odinga’s deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka was not as the event. Raila Odinga said he would be sworn in at a later date.

Speaking earlier to Kenyan broadcaster KTN, Raila Odinga said the media ban “confirms we have descended to the level of Uganda”, which stopped media coverage during elections in 2016.

He said that his “swearing-in” was intended to “show the world that what we are doing is legal, constitutional and not something you can remotely describe as a coup”.

Kenyan journalists have denounced the move as outrageous, in a statement calling for “respect of the constitution” and an end to the “unprecedented intimidation of journalists”.

Uhuru Kenyatta was officially re-elected with 98% of the vote on October 26 but just under 39% of voters turned out. He was inaugurated in November.

His victory is not recognized by Raila Odinga, who argues he was elected by a small section of the country.

Uhuru Kenyatta also won the original election on August 8, but that result was annulled by the Supreme Court, which described it as “neither transparent nor verifiable”.

When the repeat vote was called, Raila Odinga urged his supporters to shun it because he said no reforms had been made to the electoral commission.

Correspondents say the election dispute has left Kenya deeply divided. About 50 people are reported to have been killed in violence since the August ballot.

Africa Rising: 4 Reasons Why the Future of IT in Africa is Shining Brighter than Ever

Dana R
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0
Africa Rising: 4 Reasons Why the Future of IT in Africa is Shining Brighter than Ever

About 500 years ago, Africa was booming. Indeed, as reported by the U.K.’s Guardian newspaper, the first European explorers to reach Africa circa 1500 were stunned and amazed by its wealth — both financially and culturally.

Why does this matter? Because Africa —the continent that was allegedly described by a certain world leader as being (to put it very mildly) home to sub-par countries with sub-par people — is on the rise again, and the world is taking notice. Except this time, instead of showcasing gold, silver, pearls, silk and amber, the spotlight is shining on Africa’s vision and leadership in the world of information technology.

Here are four key reasons why the future of IT across the world will be significantly — and perhaps even predominantly — led and shaped by Africa:

Image result for Africa Rising

  1. Population Growth

While many countries are in population decline as families get smaller and many adults choose to forgo parenthood, the opposite is happening in Africa: the population numbers are booming. In the century ahead, this will position Africa to have a very favorable and enviable “dependency ratio” (the number of working people compared to the number of children and elderly who depend on their labor and income).

  1. Economic Growth

The bulk of the world’s fastest-growing economies aren’t in Asia or South America — they’re in Africa, with countries like Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, West Congo, Ghana, Zambia and Nigeria enjoying substantial year-over-year GDP and GNP growth. Naturally, this surge is also increasing the ranks of an all-important middle class that will crave and consume technology: everything from IoT appliances to self-driving cars, and the list of technology-led solutions goes on.

  1. Innovation

As reported by the United Nations, a big driver of Africa’s technological growth is fueled by unprecedented innovation — especially when it comes to mobile technology. More than 80 percent of Africans own at least one smartphone, and the continent continues to be the fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world; outranking digital heavyweights like the U.S. and India.

  1. Increased Investment

Technology and R&D need two things: great ideas and plenty of money. A growing roster of highly educated and entrepreneurial-minded Africans are supplying the former, and tech investors from within and beyond the continent are supplying the latter. Granted, foreign investment levels aren’t (yet) at those enjoyed by other markets, such as parts of South America or Southeast Asia. However, the numbers are rising each year, as more tech investors look to tap into Africa’s enormous potential. It’s as if the continent has unfurled giant banner signs that say: INVEST HERE!

The Bottom Line

Africa’s history is a complex and unique story; one tends to be poorly understood in other parts of the world. Still, the fact remains: Africa’s rise is real, and the future of IT across the continent is brighter than ever.

The Most Financially Savvy Strategies For Boosting The Value Of Your Home

Dana R
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0
The Most Financially Savvy Strategies For Boosting The Value Of Your Home

If you own a property, you will want to keep in as good as condition as possible. Both for the enjoyment you get living there, but also for the value that it can add to your investment. Of course, there are many ways that you can increase the value of your home, but some are much more valuable than others. With that in mind read below to discover the most financially savvy strategies for boosting your home’s worth.

Create a driveway

One method of improving the value of a home is to create a robust driveway. This is a desirable element because it allows homeowners to keep their vehicles safe and off the road. It also ensures that there will always be parking near to the house, and it can provide added privacy to a property.

There are a range of different driveway styles that you can pick from, although its best to find something that matches well with the era and style of the home you have. That means for older more characterful houses, driveways laid with gravel can work best. While more modern homes can suit concrete driveways better. Something that you will need to use square edge road forms to create in your property. After all, you want it to look good as well as serve a practical purpose.

Improve the frontage

Next, a strategy that can increase the value of your home very simply is to improve the frontage.

This means painting, or having the bricks or stone at the front of the house cleaned to look their best. Also, remember to trim down any climbing plants, so they look neat and under control.

In addition, paying attention to the quality and condition of the window frames at the front of your property is always a good idea. Make sure that they are clean and freshly painted to improve the overall effect.

Add an extra room

Adding an extra room to your home is something that most folks know can increase their value. However, it is important that you consider this option carefully before doing ahead.

In particular, you need to think about where that extra room will be located and what it will be used for. The reason for this is because rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms nearly always add additional value to a home when you come to sell it.

However, additional living space such as living room and games rooms might not always do this, Unless you are working with a particularly small area, to begin with, and the extension is created to be sympathetic to the original building.

Spruce up the decoration

Last, of all, remember that very basic improvements in the interior decor of a house can raise its value. Bear in mind that to sell, it helps to ensure a property is finished to a high standard in the most neutral of decor.

living-room

Picture here

Of course, doing this can work very well for you if you are living there at the moment too. This is because it means you will have a clean, calm space to enjoy that is also a fantastic investment for the future.

Russia Accuses US of Election Meddling

Diane A. Wade
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0
Russia Accuses US of Election Meddling

Russia suggests that an expected US report that could sanction Kremlin-linked oligarchs is an attempt to influence its March presidential election.

The treasury department report is expected to detail the closeness of senior Russian political figures and oligarchs to President Vladimir Putin, who is standing for re-election.

US officials accuse Russia of meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

Russia has repeatedly denied the allegations.

President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the forthcoming report would be analyzed.

During 2017, President Donald Trump enacted new sanctions on Russia but he accused Congress of overreaching itself and preventing him from easing penalties on Russia in the future.

President Trump has repeatedly rejected any allegations that his campaign staff colluded with Russia to help him defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton at the November 2016 presidential election.

The allegations voiced by the US intelligence community are currently being investigated by Congress and Robert Mueller.

Dmitry Peskov said the US report was a “direct and obvious attempt to influence the elections” on March 18.

However, the spokesman added that he was sure the list would not affect the vote.

Russia Election Hacking: Robert Mueller Likely to Interview Donald Trump

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The Kremlin has pledged to help limit further damage to Russian oligarchs and businesses that could be on the list.

In 2018, President Vladimir Putin reportedly met top businessmen behind closed doors to discuss the issue.

Vladimir Putin is seen as the clear favorite to win the March elections.

His main opposition rival, Alexei Navalny, has been barred from standing in the race.

Alexei Navalny was briefly detained during a protest rally on January 28.

The US treasury department has to finalize the document on January 29, after which it is expected to hand the report over to Congress.

It is not known whether the names of those on the list will be publicly revealed or kept secret or indeed how many people and entities are on the list.

Being on the list does not automatically trigger sanctions but such penalties could be activated any time later by the United States.

Grammys 2018: Bruno Mars Wins Six Trophies, Including Top Three Prizes

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Grammys 2018: Bruno Mars Wins Six Trophies, Including Top Three Prizes

Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar were the biggest winners at this year’s Grammys ceremony grabbing most of the awards.

Bruno Mars took the album of the year trophy that most critics assumed would go to Kendrick Lamar’s rap tour de force, Damn.

However, Kendrick Lamar dominated the rap categories.

Alessia Cara won best new artist – making her the only female artist to win a major prize.

Female stars were overlooked, with only 17 awards (out of a total of 86) going to women or female-fronted bands.

The imbalance was particularly incongruous on a night that highlighted the #TimesUp and #MeToo campaigns.

Image source Flickr

Grammys 2016: Taylor Swift Becomes First Woman to Win Album of the Year Twice

Most performers arrived for the show wearing a white rose to symbolize their support for the movements, which tackle harassment and inequality.

Kesha also gave a powerful, stirring performance of her single Praying, which addresses her own experience of surviving abuse.

The singer was backed by an all-star choir, including Cyndi Lauper and Camila Cabello, who were dressed in white to reflect the white rose campaign.

The night’s other pivotal moment was a tribute to the music-loving victims of the tragedies in Manchester and Las Vegas.

Handwritten notes bearing the names of the dead were projected on the stage as country music stars Maren Morris, Eric Church and Brothers Osborne performed Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven.

All three acts played at the Route 91 festival last October before a gunman opened fire on the audience, killing 58.

By the end, Bruno Mars took a total of six trophies, including the three biggest prizes: Album of the year, song of the year and record of the year.

Speaking onstage, Bruno Mars paid tribute to his fellow nominees, saying: “You guys are the reason why I’m in the studio pulling my hair out.”

As well as the star’s own prizes, his recording engineers won a further award for their work on the album.

Bruno Mars’ victory robbed Kendrick Lamar’s more urgent, political album of the night’s main prizes – but the Compton-born star still took home five trophies, including best rap album, best rap song and best rap performance.

Kendrick Lamar’s victories came at the expense of rap veteran Jay-Z and his soul-baring album 4:44.

Jay-Z won none of his eight nominations and chose not to perform at the three-hour show. However, Kendrick Lamar tipped his hat to the elder star, declaring “Jay for president!” as he collected the best rap album award.

The night also saw performances from Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Pink and Patti LuPone, who sang Evita’s Don’t Cry For Me Argentina as part of a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Ed Sheeran, who could not attend the ceremony, won two prizes – best pop vocal performance for Shape Of You and best pop album for Divide.

There were also posthumous awards for Leonard Cohen and actress Carrie Fisher, who won best spoken word album for the audio version of her memoirs, The Princess Diarist.

Ingvar Kamprad, Man Who Founded IKEA, Dies Aged 91

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Ingvar Kamprad, Man Who Founded IKEA, Dies Aged 91

IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad has died at the age of 91, the Swedish furniture chain has announced.

Ingvar Kamprad – who pioneered flat-pack furniture – died at his home in Småland, the company confirmed in a statement.

IKEA said that Ingvar Kamprad was “one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century”.

The billionaire, who was born in 1926 in Småland, founded IKEA at the age of 17.

Ingvar Kamprad used some money his father had given him as a gift for performing well at school despite his dyslexia.

In the later years of his life, Ingvar Kamprad faced questions over his past links to fascist groups – something he admitted, but said was a “mistake”.

Image source Flickr

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In a statement on January 28, IKEA said that Ingvar Kamprad had “peacefully passed away at his home”.

It added: “He worked until the very end of his life, staying true to his own motto that most things remain to be done.”

Ingvar Kamprad eventually stepped down from the company’s board in 2013, at the age of 87.

IKEA’s designs became popular in part because of their simplicity and value.

Ingvar Kamprad is reported to have come up with the idea of flat-pack furniture after watching an employee remove the legs from a table in order to fit it into a customer’s car.

He was renowned for his devotion to frugality, reportedly driving an old Volvo and travelling by economy class.

In a 2016 interview with Swedish television channel TV4, Ingvar Kamprad said that it was “in the nature of Småland to be thrifty”.

#MeToo: Steve Wynn Resigns as RNC Finance Chair over Harassment Allegations

Nancy Clayson
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0
#MeToo: Steve Wynn Resigns as RNC Finance Chair over Harassment Allegations

Steve Wynn has resigned as finance chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) amid harassment allegations.

A Wall Street Journal report on January 26 alleged that the 76-year-old casino mogul harassed massage therapists and abused one staff member.

Steve Wynn, the son of an East Coast bingo parlour operator, who is now worth an estimated $3.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine, has denied wrongdoing, calling the stories “preposterous”.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel told media she had accepted his resignation.

Steve Wynn has blamed his ex-wife, whom he is fighting in court, for the “slander”. He has been locked in legal battles with his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, for more than seven years. The pair co-founded Wynn Resorts.

According to the Wall Street Journal, which said it had interviewed dozens of people who worked with Steve Wynn, he is accused of engaging in a pattern of abuse in which he often harassed massage therapists while alone in his private office.

Image source Wikimedia

#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

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#MeToo: Catherine Deneuve Warns About New Puritanism Sparked by Harassment Scandals

The gambling industry giant paid $7.5 million to one manicurist who alleged she had been abused by Steve Wynn, the paper claims citing court documents.

Female employees would fake appointments in order to avoid seeing him, or enlist others to pretend to be their assistants in order to avoid being alone with him.

Some would even hide in bathrooms or closets if they heard Steve Wynn was coming to their salon, the paper claimed.

Steve Wynn is also a Republican Party donor and fundraiser.

After harassment allegations were made against Hollywood executive producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017, Ronna McDaniel and other leading Republicans called for the Democratic Party to return his donations.

Now some Democrats are asking if the same rules should apply regarding allegations against Steve Wynn.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has attacked the RNC for remaining silent.

Last year, Ronna McDaniel said in a statement: “If Democrats and the DNC truly stand up for women like they say they do, then returning this dirty money should be a no brainer.”

Saudi Arabia Anti-Corruption Purge: Detainees Released After Paying Huge Settlements

Diane A. Wade
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Saudi Arabia Anti-Corruption Purge: Detainees Released After Paying Huge Settlements

Some of the Saudi princes, politicians and wealthy businessmen detained in November in an anti-corruption purge have been released.

Among those set free are Waleed al-Ibrahim, the head of MBC television network, and Khalid al-Tuwaijiri, a former chief of the royal court.

According to reports, they have paid substantial financial settlements, though the amounts have not been made public.

More than 200 Saudis were detained in the crackdown.

Since then, they have been held in the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, which is due to reopen on February 14.

The settlements are likely to have been costly.

Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, who was released at the end of November, paid more than $1 billion.

Image source Wikimedia

Saudi Arabia $100 Billion Scandal: Over 200 People Detained in Anti-Corruption Purge

Media reports suggest that Waleed al-Ibrahim’s deal may have included his controlling share in MBC – the largest media company in the Middle East.

The anti-corruption drive was instigated by Prince Mohammed bin Salman – who has been accused of using the investigation to remove opponents and consolidate his power.

In the aftermath of the purge, Saudi Arabia’s attorney general said at least $100 billion had been misused through systemic corruption and embezzlement going back decades.

The detentions – and the expensive settlements – are being characterized by the state as an attempt to recover those funds.

Many more of those detained remain in the Ritz Carlton under guard, until it reopens for Valentine’s Day in mid-February.

Those who do not reach settlements before then are expected to be sent to prison to await trial.

Meanwhile, one of the highest-profile detainees, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, told Reuters on January 27 that he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing and “released from custody within days”.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal – who is one of Saudi Arabia’s richest people – said he expected to keep full control of his investment firm.

USA Gymnastics Board to Resign Following Larry Nassar Abuse Scandal

Clyde K. Valle
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0
USA Gymnastics Board to Resign Following Larry Nassar Abuse Scandal

The USA Gymnastics (USAG) board will resign over the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, complying with a US Olympic Committee’s (USOC) ultimatum.

The USOC earlier said the 18-member board must step down by January 31 or lose status as a sports governing body.

It outlined steps the board must take after ex-USAG doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years for abusing young athletes.

Five directors of the USAG board have already resigned amid the fallout.

Two Michigan State University (MSU) officials have also quit after the school became embroiled in the scandal.

Mark Hollis, the Michigan State athletic director, stepped down on January 26 following reports that the school knew of the abuse claims but failed to take action.

He said he was “brought to tears” as he listened to Larry Nassar’s victims during his sentencing on January 23.

Mark Hollis said in a statement: “My heart breaks thinking about the incomprehensible pain all of them and their families have experienced.”

Dr. Larry Nassar, 54, worked at MSU between 1997 and 2016 and served as national medical co-ordinator for USAG from 1996 to 2014. Nearly 160 women have accused him of abuse.

USAG has admitted dragging its feet on alerting the authorities when it learned of abuse allegations against the physician in 2015.

Multiple molestation complaints from young athletes against Dr. Nassar between 1997 and 2014 were ignored by MSU.

On January 25, USOC CEO Scott Blackmun wrote in a letter that USAG board directors had six days to resign and until February 28 to replace them with an interim panel.

He said: “While the USOC encourages USAG to think and act broadly on reforming its culture, we also believe that reform must start with an entirely new board.”

Image source Getty Images

#MeToo: Former USA Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar Pleads Guilty to Seven Charges of Assault

Scott Blackmun outlined six steps the sports body must take, including:

  • The entire interim board should be replaced in the next 12 months
  • USAG must co-operate with “an independent investigation” looking into whether the anyone knew of and ignored the abuse allegations against Dr. Larry Nassar
  • The board “must substantially discuss” plans for combating abuse.

In a statement on January 25, USAG said it “completely embraces the requirements outlined” in the letter and “appreciates the opportunity to work with the USOC to accomplish change”.

Michael Burns, the head men’s gymnastics coach at the University of Minnesota, became at least the fifth member to resign from USAG’s board on January 26.

He confirmed in an email he submitted his resignation letter on Janaury 24.

Both USAG and MSU deny there was a cover-up, but some victims have criticized both organizations for not doing enough to prevent the abuse.

Mark Hollis’ resignation from the university comes a day after the Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon quit amid increasing calls for her resignation over the case.

However, it was revealed on January 26 that Lou Anna Simon can opt to return to a faculty position and take a 12-month leave of absence to conduct research, during which time she would receive her $750,000 salary, according to her contract, which was provided to CNN by Michigan State spokesman Jason Cody.

Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, who testified at Larry Nassar’s sentencing, slammed USOC in a tweet on January 25.

On January 26, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee announced it would launch an investigation into abuse in organized sports following Larry Nassar’s case.

The committee sent letters to USOC, USAG, MSU, USA Swimming, and USA Taekwondo.

#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

Sonia Pantiss
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0
#MeToo: Casey Affleck Pulls Out of Oscars Following Harassment Allegations

Casey Affleck has decided to pull out of this year’s Academy Awards, his publicist has confirmed.

By tradition, Casey Affleck – who won best actor for Manchester By The Sea in 2017 – would have been expected to present the best actress award this year.

Ben Affleck’s brother was sued by two female crew members for alleged harassment in 2010.

The actor denies the allegations and the lawsuits were settled out of court.

An Oscars spokeswoman confirmed that Casey Affleck would not attend, saying: “We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and on the great work of this year.”

Casey Affleck’s accusers, producer Amanda White and director of photography Magdalena Gorka, say they were harassed during the making of the mockumentary I’m Still Here, which Affleck directed.

Image source Wikimedia

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Amanda White claimed that Casey Affleck had refused to pay her salary because she would not spend the night in a hotel room with him.

Magdalena Gorka alleged that Casey Affleck, who was married at the time, had crawled into bed with her as she slept.

Casey Affleck’s lawyers argued that the allegations were part of a scheme to extort money from the actor.

The claims against Casey Affleck have drawn renewed attention in the months since abuse allegations were leveled against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

The Weinstein allegations sparked the rise of the #MeToo hashtag, which inspired a global movement of women and men to share their stories of sexual abuse and harassment.

More than 300 actresses, writers and directors responded by launching Time’s Up – a project to help fight harassment in the film industry and other workplaces.

The initiative was announced via a full-page ad printed in the New York Times.

This year’s Oscars ceremony will take place on March 4 in Los Angeles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiVC1OuTLlM

DACA: President Trump Planning to Offer Citizenship for 1.8 Million Dreamers

Diane A. Wade
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0
DACA: President Trump Planning to Offer Citizenship for 1.8 Million Dreamers

The White House is suggesting an immigration plan for 1.8 million people to become American citizens in exchange for funding for a controversial border wall with Mexico.

The idea was suggested by a senior Trump aide, ahead of legislative negotiations with Democrats.

The proposed bill, to be unveiled on January 29, requests $25 billion in funds for a wall on the Mexican border.

The Democrats, who oppose funding for the wall, have criticized the plan.

According to media, the details emerged in a conference call on January 25 between White House policy chief Stephen Miller and Republican congressional aides.

Stephen Miller reportedly described the White House plan as a “dramatic concession”.

Image source Wikimedia

DACA: Top Democrats Reach Deal with President Trump over Dreamers

DACA: President Trump Expected to End Program Protecting Young Undocumented Immigrants

The blueprint sets out a 10-12-year path to citizenship for 1.8 million people.

This includes some 700,000 so-called Dreamers, immigrants who illegally entered the United States as children and were protected from deportation under an Obama-era program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The other 1.1 million would be immigrants who did not apply for DACA, but are eligible for the scheme.

The White House framework also seeks to end two other initiatives often criticized by President Donald Trump.

It proposes to curtail so-called chain migration, permitting US residents only to get visas for their spouse and children, not for extended family members.

The White House also wants to scrap the diversity visa lottery, under which 50,000 people from around the world every year win Green Cards at random.

Last September, President Trump canceled the program and gave Congress a March 2018 deadline to come up with a new plan.

He has so far rejected bipartisan proposals that have been presented to him.

Congress’ failure to secure a deal on immigration triggered a brief shutdown of the federal government over the weekend.

On January 24, President Trump said he was optimistic that a deal on immigration would be reached that included keeping the so-called Dreamers in the country.

The president added that it was an “incentive” for so-called Dreamers to work hard and “do a great job”.

President Trump has made it clear that in exchange for making a concession to help accomplish a Democratic priority, he wants the party’s backing for his signature campaign promise to deliver a border wall.

However, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer this week withdrew an offer of funding for President Trump’s proposed border barrier.

Nutella Discount Sparks Violent Scenes at France’s Intermarché

Nancy Clayson
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0
Nutella Discount Sparks Violent Scenes at France’s Intermarché

Violent scenes were seen in French supermarkets chain Intermarché as customers jostled to grab a bargain on the Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread.

Intermarché supermarkets offered a 70% discount on Nutella, bringing the price down from €4.50 to €1.40.

Police were called when people began fighting and pushing one another.

One customer told French media: “They are like animals. A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a bloody hand.”

Image source Wikimedia

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A member of staff at one Intermarché store in central France told the regional newspaper Le Progrès: “We were trying to get in between the customers but they were pushing us.”

Similar scenes have been reported across France, with some being described as “riots”.

According to the producer, some 365 million kilos of the hazelnut chocolate spread is consumed every year in 160 countries around the world.

Nutella was created by the Ferrero family in the 1940s in the Piedmont region of Italy, which is famed for its hazelnuts.

Ferrero said it regretted January 25 violence, but noted that the discount had been unilaterally decided by Intermarché.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGhnOo-Xzm0

President Donald Trump Prepared to Be Questioned by Robert Mueller

Diane A. Wade
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0
President Donald Trump Prepared to Be Questioned by Robert Mueller

President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to be questioned under oath as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

The president said he was “looking forward” to it, subject to the advice of his lawyers.

Investigators are assessing if the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election in his favor – a claim denied by both Donald Trump and Russia.

Investigators will also determine if President Trump obstructed the inquiry.

The US intelligence community has already concluded that Russia tried to sway the presidential election in favor of Donald Trump.

He had previously said he thought an interview was unlikely because there had been no collusion

President Trump has called the Russia investigation a “witch hunt” and a “hoax”.

Speaking at the White House on January 24, President Trump maintained he was “absolutely” prepared to be questioned under oath by the top investigator.

He said: “There’s been no collusion whatsoever, there’s no obstruction whatsoever.”

Image source Flickr

Russia Election Hacking: Robert Mueller Likely to Interview Donald Trump

Donald Trump Believes He Will Be Treated Fairly By Robert Mueller’s Investigation

President Donald Trump Denies He Is Planning to Fire Robert Mueller

Donald Trump’s lawyers have been talking to the investigation team led by justice department special counsel Robert Mueller about an interview, and the form it might take.

The questioning could happen face-to-face, in writing, or it could be a combination of both.

As to when it might happen, President Trump said: “Yesterday they were talking about two to three weeks.”

Asked if he thought Robert Mueller would be fair, the president replied: “We are going to find out… I hope so.”

President Trump told reporters that his former rival Hillary Clinton was not prepared to be interviewed under oath by the FBI about her use of a private email server.

He also said he did not recall asking an acting FBI director about his voting record.

“I don’t think I did,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s the big deal with that.”

Andrew McCabe, who took over the FBI after the president fired its previous director, James Comey in May 2017, said he found President Trump’s Oval Office question “disturbing”.

Andrew McCabe said he told the president that he did not vote in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Washington Post.

Robert Mueller is thought to be investigating whether James Comey’s firing was an attempt to obstruct justice.

Las t week, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed by the Mueller inquiry for several hours.

Jeff Sessions is thought to be the first member of the Trump cabinet to be questioned.

Four people have already been criminally charged as part of Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about a meeting with a Russian ambassador.

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has been charged on 12 counts, including conspiring to defraud the US in his dealings with Ukraine, and conspiracy to launder money.

Paul Manafort’s business associate Rick Gates was also charged with conspiracy to launder money.

A third adviser to the campaign – George Papadopoulos – pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

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