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California Mudslide 2018: Death Toll Rises to 15

Nancy Clayson
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California Mudslide 2018: Death Toll Rises to 15

At least 15 people have died after mudslides and flooding hit southern California.

Rescue workers are now searching for survivors.

More than 30 miles of the main coastal road have been closed and police said the scene “looked like a World War One battlefield”.

A group of 300 people are reportedly trapped in Romero Canyon neighborhood east of Santa Barbara, with rescue efforts due to resume at daybreak.

The death toll is expected to rise.

Up to now, more than 50 people have been rescued, but many places are still inaccessible. Several roads are closed, including the major Highway 101.

Some 163 people have been taken to hospital while other 20 had “storm-related injuries” and four were critically hurt.

The first rain in months caused mudslides when it hit ground that had been scorched by December’s huge wildfires.

According to specialists, after a wildfire, burned vegetation and charred soil create a water repellent layer which blocks water absorption. Together with the loss of vegetation, this leads to an increased risk of mudslides and floods.

Image source Flickr

Thomas Fire Becomes Largest Blaze in California’s History

California Fires Death Toll Rises to 31 as Hundreds Remain Missing

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says the risk of flooding stays “significantly higher” for up to five years after a wildfire.

The National Weather Service said in a statement: “Recent burn areas will be especially vulnerable where dangerous mud and debris flows are possible.”

According to officials, in some places mud was waist-deep.

Thousands had to leave their homes, many for the second time in two months. The emergency services declared an exclusion zone, saying anyone moving around the area would be in the way of rescuers and would be subject to arrest.

Those who have stayed in the area have been warned to boil their tap water before drinking it.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason said that heavy rain run-off caused a mudflow in the community of Montecito, where some homes were knocked off their foundations.

On January 9, County Fire Captain Dave Zaniboni said that five people were found dead in Montecito, possibly as a result of the storm.

The upmarket neighborhood includes homes owned by celebrities such as Rob Lowe, Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey.

The US Coast Guard has sent “multiple airships to support rescue operations” and warned the public not to fly drones, otherwise the flights would be grounded.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this comes after a record-setting year of $306 billion of weather and climate-related disaster costs in the US, with 2017 the third warmest year on record.

California has suffered severe drought in five out of six of the past years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG9ydw1-YqY

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

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

In an open letter, Catherine Deneuve and other French women has said that men should be “free to hit on” women.

The veteran actress is one of 100 French women who wrote the letter, warning about a new “puritanism” sparked by recent harassment scandals.

The letter deplores a wave of “denunciations” after claims that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has raped or assaulted dozens of women.

Harvey Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual contacts.

However, the mogul has admitted that his behavior has “caused a lot of pain”.

The letter by French women writers, performers and academics was published in France’s Le Monde newspaper on January 9.

The letter said: “Men have been punished summarily, forced out of their jobs when all they did was touch someone’s knee or try to steal a kiss.

“Rape is a crime, but trying to seduce someone, even persistently or clumsily, is not – and nor is men being gentlemanly a chauvinist attack.”

The authors argued that there was a new “puritanism” afoot in the world.

The signatories said that while it was legitimate and necessary to speak out against the abuse of power by some men, the constant denunciations have spiraled out of control.

Image source Wikimedia

#MeToo: Craig McLachlan Denies Harassment Allegations

#MeToo: Corey Lewandowski Accused of Assault

#MeToo: Anita Hill to Lead Hollywood Commission Against Harassment

According to the writers, this is creating a public mood in which women are seen as powerless, as perpetual victims.

Catherine Deneuve is by far the most prominent of them.

The other 99 women who signed the document include some well-known figures, such as actress Christine Boisson; conservative journalist Élisabeth Lévy; talk-show host Brigitte Lahaie; Catherine Millet, a writer and magazine editor.

There are also lesser-known names from the worlds of entertainment, the arts, the media, and academia. Most of them, however, are professionals who are not known to the French public.

The letter has stirred debate in France. On January 10, a group of about 30 feminists issued a statement accusing Catherine Deneuve and her co-signatories of seeking to “close the lid” on the scandals uncovered by the Weinstein case, and of “pouring scorn” on victims of harassment.

On social media, many expressed either anger or sadness at the open letter.

The debate has mostly pitted those belonging to the older generation, who view #Metoo and similar campaigns as a threat to the liberation achieved in the 1960s, against younger, activist types who feel that the battle against harassment is the latest stage in the fight for women’s rights.

Catherine Deneuve, 74, is not known as an activist star. However, last year she spoke out against social media campaigns shaming men accused of harassing women.

Women and men from all over the globe who have been harassed have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag #MeToo.

In France, Twitter users are using #Balancetonporc (“rat on your dirty old man”) to encourage women to name and shame their attackers.

Catherine Deneuve, an Oscar-nominated actress, has been in more than 100 movies, making her debut in 1957.

Steve Bannon Steps Down from Breitbart News amid Fire and Fury Scandal

Nancy Clayson
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Steve Bannon Steps Down from Breitbart News amid Fire and Fury Scandal

Steve Bannon has left Breitbart News organization, where he built his reputation.

The move comes amid a furore over remarks Donald Trump’s former chief strategist reportedly made about the president’s son, Donald Jr.

Steve Bannon described a meeting Donald Trump Jr. held in New York with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 presidential election campaign as “treasonous”.

He was one of Donald Trump’s most trusted – and controversial – aides.

However, Steve Bannon left his post last summer after reports of a power struggle among President Trump’s White House staff.

Steve Bannon’s subsequent attempt to take on the Republican establishment suffered a severe blow when Roy Moore, the Senate candidate he championed in a special election in Alabama, lost to a Democrat – the first time that party has won in the state in decades.

Image source Flickr

Fire and Fury: Steve Bannon Tries to Reverse Treason Remark

Fire and Fury: Michael Wolff’s Donald Trump Book Goes on Sale Days Ahead Its Scheduled Release

Steve Bannon Book: Donald Trump’s Lawyers Issue Cease-And Desist Notice

President Trump has recently taken to referring to Steve Bannon as “Sloppy Steve”, a derogatory reference to his former aide’s famously disheveled appearance.

Rebekah Mercer, a wealthy benefactor of Steve Bannon, said at the weekend she had ended her support for his political efforts.

On January 7, Steve Bannon insisted that his “treason” comments – quoted in an inside account of the Trump White House, Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury – were not directed at Donald Trump’s son but at another former aide, Paul Manafort, who was also present at the meeting in Trump Tower.

The Senate, House of Representatives and a special counsel are all investigating alleged Russian interference in the presidential election, allegations denied by both Russia and President Trump.

Steve Bannon had served as executive chairman of Breitbart since 2012.

Breitbart issued a statement saying it and Steve Bannon would “work together on a smooth and orderly transition”.

The organization quoted Steve Bannon as saying: “I’m proud of what the Breitbart team has accomplished in so short a period of time in building out a world-class news platform.”

Larry Solov, the Breitbart chief executive, was quoted as saying: “Steve is a valued part of our legacy, and we will always be grateful for his contributions, and what he has helped us to accomplish.”

North Korea and South Korea to Hold Military Talks for First Time in Two Years

Roy Siemens
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North Korea and South Korea to Hold Military Talks for First Time in Two Years

North Korea has accepted South Korea’s proposal to hold military talks to defuse border tension, after their first high-level meeting in two years.

It will also send a delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games taking place in South Korea in February.

According to the South Korean government, an agreement was also reached to reinstate a military hotline suspended two years ago.

However, the North Korean delegation was negative on the subject of denuclearization, South Korea added.

The US gave a cautious welcome to the meeting.

The state department said the United States remained in close consultations with South Korean officials who would ensure North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics did not violate UN sanctions.

After a day of negotiations, both Koreas issued a joint statement which confirmed they had agreed to hold military talks on defusing military tension.

North Korea also agreed to send a National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, cheerleaders, art performers, spectators, a taekwondo demonstration team and media to the games, while South Korea would provide the necessary amenities and facilities.

The statement also referred to exchanges in other, unspecified areas and other high-level talks to improve relations, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reports.

Image source Wikipedia

North Korea Crisis: Kim Jong-un Offers Threats and Hopes in New Year Speech

UN Imposes New Sanctions on North Korea over Ballistic Missile Tests

South Korea asked North Korea to end any hostile acts that might raise tension, while the North agreed there was a need to guarantee a peaceful environment on the peninsula, a statement from the South’s government said.

The South also proposed that athletes from both Koreas march together at the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang as they did at the 2006 Winter Olympics. It also pushed for the reunion of family members separated by the Korean War – a highly emotional issue for both countries – to take place during the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls in the middle of the Games.

South Korea said it would consider temporarily lifting relevant sanctions, in co-ordination with the UN, to facilitate North Korea’s participation in the Olympics.

North Korea’s reaction to these proposals is not known.

In his opening remarks, the head of North Korea’s delegation, Ri Son-gwon, was fairly neutral. He said he hoped the talks would bring a “good gift” for the new year and that his country had a “serious and sincere stance”.

Talks were held in the Panmunjom “peace village” in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the border.

Five senior officials on each side attended and the leaders of both were said to have watched the talks via a CCTV feed.

In his New Year address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had said he was considering sending a team to the Olympics. South Korea’s Olympics chief had said last year that North Korea’s athletes would be welcome.

Following Kim Jong-un’s overture, South Korea then proposed high-level talks to discuss North Korea’s participation, but the North only agreed to the talks after the US and the South agreed to delay their joint military exercises until after the Olympics. North Korea sees the annual drills as a rehearsal for war.

Some critics in the US see North Korea’s move as an attempt to divide the US-South Korea alliance.

Russia Election Hacking: Robert Mueller Likely to Interview Donald Trump

Diane A. Wade
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Russia Election Hacking: Robert Mueller Likely to Interview Donald Trump

According to recent reports, President Donald Trump’s legal team is in talks with investigators who are seeking to interview him as part of a justice department probe.

The Washington Post, quoting an unnamed person close to President Trump, says investigation lead by Robert Mueller is likely to interview him within weeks.

President Trump’s legal team has not confirmed the reports.

Robert Mueller is investigating possible collusion between Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia in the US elections.

Tensions between Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed to look into alleged Russian interference, and the president have risen since the investigation led to charges against several former members of Donald Trump’s campaign team.

Donald Trump’s administration denies working with Russia on the election, and the president has labeled the investigation “a witch hunt”.

Image source Flickr

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

Robert Mueller Accused of Unlawfully Obtaining Emails

According to The Post, Robert Mueller first raised the possibility of interviewing the president in a meeting with his lawyers, John Dowd and Jay Sekulow, in late December.

President Trump’s lawyers are reluctant to allow him to sit down for open-ended questioning and are discussing whether to allow him to provide written answers to some of the questions, The Washington Post and NBC News report.

According to NBC, which cited three people close to the story, the talks are “preliminary and ongoing”.

President Trump’s lawyers did not confirm the reports, but told both media outlets: “The White House is continuing its full co-operation with the OSC [Office of Special Counsel Robert Mueller] in order to facilitate the earliest possible resolution.”

The Post, quoting an unnamed source, says the two sides planned to meet again to continue discussions on terms and substance of any interview.

Aside from the Russia angle, special counsel Robert Mueller may also look into whether the president and his inner circle sought to obstruct justice while in office following the firing of FBI director James Comey.

Robert Mueller was appointed by the justice department as special counsel shortly after James Comey’s dismissal.

Sitting presidents have been interviewed by prosecutors in the past, most notably when Democrat President Bill Clinton testified before a grand jury in 1998 over his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Samsung Expects to Deliver Record Profits for Q4 of 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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Samsung Expects to Deliver Record Profits for Q4 of 2017

Samsung Electronics forecasts record profits for Q4 of 2017, but the estimate missed analyst expectations.

The world’s biggest memory chip maker forecast operating earnings of 15.1 trillion won ($14.1billion) – up 64% from a year earlier.

However, while chip prices boosted margins, a stronger won weighed on the figures.

The record guidance comes despite a corruption scandal engulfing Samsung top leadership.

The operating profit forecast is slightly below the 15.9 trillion won estimated by analysts surveyed by Reuters.

The forecast keeps the South Korean company on track for record annual profits, in a year when prices for computer memory chips kept surging.

However, the 2018 outlook is less certain, with Samsung shares having fallen nearly 10% from their all-time high in November, as some investors bet on an end to the chip boom.

Image source Samsung

Lee Jae-yong: Samsung Heir Sentenced to Five Years in Jail for Corruption

Galaxy Note Fan Edition: Samsung Launches New Phone Reusing Galaxy Note 7 Parts

Meanwhile, the market for smartphones and other mobile devices is facing increasing competition from Chinese rivals.

As well as the jailing of its heir apparent Lee Jae-yong for bribery and corruption, Samsung’s reputation was also hit by the global recall of its flagship Note 7 smartphone in 2016, following the fiasco with its overheating and exploding batteries.

However, the problems with the handset did not cause major disruption to Samsung’s finances, helped by its chip business as well as customers seeming unfazed by the incident.

Samsung Electronics is regarded as the jewel in the crown of the Samsung Group conglomerate, which is made up of 60 interlinked companies and is one of South Korea’s massive family-run businesses known as chaebols.

#MeToo: Craig McLachlan Denies Harassment Allegations

Lisa.Felice
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#MeToo: Craig McLachlan Denies Harassment Allegations

Craig McLachlan has denied allegations of harassment made against him by three women.

The accusations against the 52-year-old Australian actor concern his time performing in a 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show.

Three cast members accused the former Neighbors actor of inappropriate touching and harassment.

Craig McLachlan stepped down from the Rocky Horror Show‘s current Australian run on January 8, but rejected the allegations as “entirely false”.

The actor wrote in response to allegations published by the Australian Broadcasting Corp: “Frankly, they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety.”

The three actresses, Christie Whelan Browne, Erika Heynatz and Angela Scundi, said they had come forward to protect other cast members. Craig McLachlan had been reprising his role as Dr. Frank N. Furter in Adelaide.

The allegations, also published by Fairfax Media on January 8, include Craig McLachlan’s inappropriate behavior against Whelan Browne during a performance.

“I think people who know him know that he’s very generous, warm, funny… I saw a very different side come out in him which was terrifying,” Whelan Browne told the ABC.

Image source IMDb

#MeToo: Corey Lewandowski Accused of Assault

#MeToo: Anita Hill to Lead Hollywood Commission Against Harassment

Erika Heynatz, who played Magenta, said she was forcibly kissed by the actor, while Angela Scundi, a chorus member, said she was the subject of unwanted advances.

Two actresses raised concerns with the show’s senior producers but no action was taken, the reports said.

In a statement on January 8, the musical’s production company said it was “shocked” to learn of the accusations.

Gordon Frost Organization said in a statement: “In response, we have spoken to Craig and have mutually agreed that it is not appropriate for him to continue in the current production of the show.”

It said it would co-operate with authorities and conduct and internal investigation.

Craig McLachlan is a veteran of the Australian entertainment industry, having won Australia’s top TV award – the Gold Logie – and starred in programs including Home and Away and the Doctor Blake Mysteries.

Golden Globes 2018: The Full List of Winners

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globes 2018: The Full List of Winners

Fill list of winners at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards, held in Los Angeles on January 7, 2018.

Film categories

Best motion picture – drama

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best motion picture – comedy or musical

Lady Bird

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – drama

Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – drama

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – comedy or musical

James Franco, The Disaster Artist

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – comedy or musical

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture

Alison Janney, I, Tonya

Best director – motion picture

Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

Best screenplay – motion picture

Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best animated film

Coco

Best foreign language film

In the Fade

Best original score – motion picture

The Shape of Water

Best original song – motion picture

This Is Me – The Greatest Showman

Golden Globes 2018: Anti-Harassment Speeches Dominate Awards Ceremony

Golden Globes 2018: Oprah Winfrey to Receive Cecil B DeMill Award

Television categories

Best television series – drama

The Handmaid’s Tale

Best television series – comedy

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Best actor in a television series – drama

Sterling K. Brown, This is Us

Best actress in a television series – drama

Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale

Best actor in a television series – musical or comedy

Aziz Ansari, Master of None

Best actress in a television series – musical or comedy:

Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Best television limited series or motion picture made for television:

Big Little Lies

Best actor in a limited series or motion picture made for television:

Ewan McGregor, Fargo

Best actress in a limited series or motion picture made for television:

Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies

Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television:

Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies

Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television:

Laura Dern, Big Little Lies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J51mIRCCdk8

Golden Globes 2018: Anti-Harassment Speeches Dominate Awards Ceremony

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globes 2018: Anti-Harassment Speeches Dominate Awards Ceremony

Anti-harassment speeches and powerful statements of unity have dominated this year’s Golden Globe awards.

It was the first major Hollywood awards ceremony since the film industry was hit by harassment scandals, with stars wearing black to honor victims.

Oprah Winfrey summed up the mood, saying “a new day is on the horizon” as she collected an honorary award at the 75th edition of Golden Globes.

The big winner of the night was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which took home four awards.

It won the best film drama award, with its star Frances McDormand also picking up a trophy for best actress.

Frances McDormand stars as a grieving mother who challenges police over the fact her daughter’s killer has not been found.

Big Little Lies won the most awards in the TV categories, including honors for its stars Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgard. It was also named best limited TV series.

Nicole Kidman won the first award of the night for her role as a victim of domestic violence.

She dedicated her win to her castmates, daughters and mother, saying: “Wow, the power of women.”

Image source Flickr

Time’s Up: Hollywood Stars Launch Initiative Against Harassment

Golden Globes 2018: Oprah Winfrey to Receive Cecil B DeMill Award

The Golden Globes are organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and are seen as an indicator of which films are likely to do well at the Oscars, which take place on March 4.

The main focus on the night was on the current atmosphere in Hollywood and campaigns like Me Too and Time’s Up, which are focused on bringing about change for women not only in the entertainment industry but also around the world.

Many winners and presenters at the Beverly Hills ceremony addressed the ongoing scandal – with host Seth Meyers setting the tone with his opening monologue.

It was Oprah whose speech had the biggest reaction, with stars applauding and rising to their feet.

Speaking as she was awarded the honorary Cecil B. DeMille trophy – the first black woman to get the honor – Oprah Winfrey said: “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.

“For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!”

The theme was echoed by Laura Dern, winner of a best supporting actress for Big Little Lies, who said: “Many of us were taught not to tattle.

“It was a culture of silencing, and that was normalized… May we teach our children that speaking out without the fear of retribution is our culture’s new North Star.”

Barbra Streisand used her presenting slot to express outrage that she remains the only woman to win the best director award at the ceremony – and that was back in 1984.

She said: “Folks, time’s up. We need more women directors and more women to be nominated for best director.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss6qQM054B0

Fire and Fury: Steve Bannon Tries to Reverse Treason Remark

Nancy Clayson
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Fire and Fury: Steve Bannon Tries to Reverse Treason Remark

Steve Bannon has tried to reverse remarks in which he called President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Jr., “treasonous”.

His accusation appears in Michael Wolff’s new book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.

Donald Trump’s former chief strategist was referring to a meeting in June 2016 between Donald Trump Jr. and a group of Russians.

However, on January 7, Steve Bannon said the barb was directed at former aide Paul Manafort, who was also present.

The Senate, House of Representatives and a special counsel are all investigating alleged Russian interference in the presidential election, allegations denied by both Russia and President Trump.

In a statement first reported by news site Axios, Steve Bannon called Donald Jr. “both a patriot and a good man”.

“My comments were aimed at Paul Manafort, a seasoned campaign professional with experience and knowledge of how the Russians operate,” he said. “He should have known they are duplicitous, cunning and not our friends. To reiterate, those comments were not aimed at Don Jr.”

Image source Wikimedia

Fire and Fury: Michael Wolff’s Donald Trump Book Goes on Sale Days Ahead Its Scheduled Release

Steve Bannon Book: Donald Trump’s Lawyers Issue Cease-And Desist Notice

The original remark, published in Michael Wolff’s book and not disputed by Steve Bannon, appeared to take aim at all three Trump campaign officials in the room, including Donald Jr.

It read: “The three senior guys in the campaign thought it was a good idea to meet with a foreign government inside Trump Tower in the conference room on the 25th floor – with no lawyers. They didn’t have any lawyers.

“Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately.”

Steve Bannon’s attempt to clarify follows repeated denunciations by President Trump, who dubbed him “Sloppy Steve” and said his former aide “cried when he got fired”.

It also follows the loss of the main financial backer of his conservative Breitbart website, heiress Rebekah Mercer, who said in a rare public statement that she had cut off Steve Bannon from funding following his remarks to Michael Wolff.

Steve Bannon went on in his statement to say he regretted waiting five days to say something, and called Michael Wolff’s reporting “inaccurate”.

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House rocketed to the top of the Amazon bestseller list upon publication last week and became the talk of Washington DC and beyond.

Based on first-hand reporting at the White House and, according to Michael Wolff, more than 200 interviews with top administration figures and others, it portrays the president as impatient, unable to focus and with no interest in reading or attempting to understand policy.

France Gall Dies from Cancer Aged 70

Sonia Pantiss
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France Gall Dies from Cancer Aged 70

French singer France Gall has died at the age of 70.

The singer, who rose to fame in the 1960’s, was suffering from cancer for two years.

France Gall was taken to hospital near Paris last month for a severe infection.

She won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1965 representing Luxembourg with the song Wax Doll, Rag Doll (Poupée de cire, Poupée de son).

France Gall enjoyed more international success in 1987 with her tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, Ella, Elle l’a.

The singer was born in October 1947 into a musical family – her father was singer and songwriter Robert Gall, who penned songs for music legends Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour, among others.

France Gall was known for her childish smile and sweet voice and, in the words of Le Figaro website, “embodied the emancipation of French girls in the post-war era”. Her career spanned 50 years and Culture Minister Françoise Nyssen described her as “a timeless icon of French song”.

She was just 16 when her first single, Don’t Be So Stupid (Ne Sois Pas Si Bête), sold some 200,000 copies.

However, it was France Gall’s Eurovision victory with Poupée de cire – written by Serge Gainsbourg, one of the biggest figures in French popular music – that helped catapult her to fame and make her a star on France’s Yé-yé (yeah yeah) pop scene, so-called because of its nod to English music at the time.

Image source Wikimedia

Johnny Hallyday Dies Aged 74

France Gall’s death comes a month after the loss of another giant of French music, Johnny Hallyday – widely seen as the leader of the Yé-yé singers.

Her collaboration with Serge Gainsbourg later came under scrutiny, however, after she admitted she had been too young to fully understand the double meanings of some of his songs.

One of France Gall’s biggest hits was Les Sucettes (Lollipops), which tells the story of a girl who is “in paradise” every time “that little stick is on her tongue”.

Once she realized its full meaning, France Gall refused to perform the song and vowed never to work with Serge Gainsbourg again.

Her 1987 album Babacar, which included her tribute to jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald, saw her shoot to international fame.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted about France Gall’s death: “She leaves behind songs that everyone in France knows and set an example of a life devoted to others.”

France Gall had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer in the mid-1990s, not long after the death of her husband and fellow singer Michel Berger at the age of 44 in 1992. He had written the music and lyrics for her Babacar album.

She retired from her music career following the death of the eldest of her two children, Pauline, from cystic fibrosis in 1997.

France Gall spent the final years of her life working on various humanitarian projects.

Fire and Fury: Michael Wolff’s Donald Trump Book Goes on Sale Days Ahead Its Scheduled Release

Nancy Clayson
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Fire and Fury: Michael Wolff’s Donald Trump Book Goes on Sale Days Ahead Its Scheduled Release

Michael Wolff’s book, Fire and Fury : Inside the Trump White House, went on sale on January 5, days ahead of its scheduled release, despite President Donald Trump’s attempts to block its publication.

The book reveals how White House employees believed Donald Trump’s “mental powers were slipping” and how his team was shocked and horrified by his election win.

Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former chief strategist, and the author have both been the target of the president’s ire over the past few days. Steve Bannon cried when he lost his job last year, President Trump said and Michael Wolff had written a book “full of lies”, the president added.

Image source Amazon.com

Steve Bannon Book: Donald Trump’s Lawyers Issue Cease-And Desist Notice

The book also claims that Melania Trump was in tears of sadness on election night – though she has denied this and the president’s son, Donald Jr., engaged in “treasonous” behavior, according to former Trump aide Steve Bannon (claims denied by the Trumps).

On January 5, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told CNN that he had “no reason to question” President Trump’s mental fitness.

Rex Tillerson said Donald Trump was “not typical of presidents of the past”.

“I think that’s well recognized. That’s also though why the American people chose him,” the secretary of state said.

Camp David Summit 2018: President Donald Trump Meets GOP Leaders to Thrash Priorities

Diane A. Wade
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Camp David Summit 2018: President Donald Trump Meets GOP Leaders to Thrash Priorities

President Donald Trump and leading GOP members are meeting to thrash out their priorities for 2018.

According to recent reports, the two-day retreat at Camp David is expected to focus heavily on a strategy before crucial congressional elections in November.

The meeting takes place as a row continues between President Trump and Michael Wolff, the author of a new tell-all book about his presidency.

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House raises concerns over Donald Trump’s mental health. The president called Michael Wolff a “total loser”.

Image source WhiteHouse.gov

Steve Bannon Book: Donald Trump’s Lawyers Issue Cease-And Desist Notice

The Camp David summit begins two weeks before the end of President Trump’s first year in office. It will seek to tie up unfinished business by Republicans, who have rallied around Donald Trump during the release of Michael Wolff’s book.

President Trump said as he left for the Maryland retreat: “We have a lot of things to work on, a lot of things to accomplish.”

The agenda is not public, but various media outlets have said the talks could also look at immigration and the opioids crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TiyOektUw8

Bomb Cyclone: East Coast Temperatures Hit Record-Breaking Low

Nancy Clayson
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Bomb Cyclone: East Coast Temperatures Hit Record-Breaking Low

The US East Coast is shivering in a record-breaking freeze in the wake of a deadly “bomb cyclone” that dumped snow as far south as Florida.

In parts of US and Canada, temperatures were forecast to fall below -20F, with wind chill making it feel more like -90F on January 5.

In Canada, high winds have knocked out power for tens of thousands of residents in Nova Scotia.

Thousands of snow ploughs are clearing roads across the East Coast.

On January 5, the National Weather Service (NWS) predicted dangerously low temperatures moving into the weekend as frigid air lingering over the North Pole prowls towards the US mid-Atlantic region.

In Massachusetts, residents of Boston, which received over 1ft of snowfall, were clearing the streets with shovels.

It comes just days after a phenomenon described as a “bomb cyclone” brought heavy snowfall to a wide area along the East Coast, as well as hurricane-force winds.

Image source Fox News

Storm Eleanor Causes Power Outages and Affects Transport in Northern Europe

Giant waves caused by the storm saw freezing floodwaters inundate parts of the New England coast.

According to reports, the extreme weather has so far been linked to up to 19 deaths in the US and two more in Canada.

Four deaths were reported in traffic accidents in North and South Carolina. Further fatalities occurred in Wisconsin, Kentucky and Texas.

In Philadelphia, a car was unable to stop at a railway line at the bottom of a steep hill and was hit by a commuter train, killing a passenger in the vehicle.

In Virginia, a girl was fatally struck by a car while sledging, and a 75-year-old man was killed after being hit by a snow plough.

In Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where the temperature averaged 20F on January 4, a 13-year-old girl died and 35 others suffered carbon-monoxide poisoning in an apartment building. Seven of those treated were first responders.

The extreme weather caused travel chaos and led to the cancellation of thousands of flights on January 4 and 5.

Most flights have since resumed at airports in New York and Boston.

Experts say the so-called bomb cyclone storm drew moisture and strength from as far south as the Caribbean Sea.

New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, which boasts of having the “world’s worst weather”, was forecast to experience a wind chill temperature as low as -90F on January 5.

Law enforcement in Indiana issued a joke warrant for the arrest of the heroine in Disney movie Frozen, blaming her for the cold snap.

Serena Williams Pulls Out of Australian Open 2018

Clyde K. Valle
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Serena Williams Pulls Out of Australian Open 2018

Serena Williams has decided to pull out of this year’s Australian Open in Melbourne.

The former world No 1 last week played her first match since giving birth in September.

Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner and the reigning Australian Open champion, said: “Although I am super close, I’m not where I want to be.”

On January 4, Andy Murray pulled out of the tournament, which starts on January 15.

Serena Williams, 36, was eight weeks pregnant with daughter Olympia when she won her seventh Australian Open title in 2017.

The now world No 22 said: “My coach and team always said ‘only go to tournaments when you are prepared to go all the way’.

“I can compete – but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.

“The memory of last year’s Open is one that I will carry with me, and Olympia and I look forward to coming back again.”

Image source Getty Images

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian Wedding: A-Listers Storm New Orleans Star-Studded Bash

Serena Williams Welcomes Baby Girl

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said: “I’ve been in constant contact with Serena and her team and know this is why she has pushed it and pushed it until the 11th hour to make her final decision.

“Serena transcends the sport in the way she approaches all aspects of her life. It was never going to be good enough for her to just compete.”

Serena Williams lost an exhibition contest against Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi on December 30, 2017, in her first match since giving birth in September.

It is the first time since 2011 that Serena Williams has missed the tournament.

On January 4, men’s world No 4 Kei Nishikori withdrew because of a wrist injury.

There are also doubts over the fitness of No 1 Rafael Nadal and Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, who won the title in 2014.

Novak Djokovic, a six-time Australian Open champion, may also miss out with an elbow injury.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itU1UGxEy7g

Afraid of Flying? Don’t Be, 2017 Just Proved to Be The Safest Year In Record

Dana R
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plane

Flying is not the ideal way of traveling for a significant proportion of the population (image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flight-flying-plane-air-travel-59519/)

2017 has been the best year for the aviation industry for two reasons: it has been a year in which no passenger-carrying jets have crashed, and when most people have flown to destinations all around the world. If you are anything like 25 percent of the US population, however, it is likely that you will take this news with a pinch of salt. This is the proportion of citizens that has admitted to being afraid of flying, and with the media regularly showing horrific images of plane crashes, it is a surprise only a quarter of the American population feels this way.

While it is normal to feel slightly nervous about taking off and landing, anyone who has been on a rollercoaster will recall the butterflies they have felt in the stomach when the ride goes down, having a life-limiting phobia that stops you from traveling the world by plane is something you should address sooner or later. Otherwise, you will be stranded in your hometown or traveling only to places that are accessible by a land vehicle, and that is no fun!

Here, we share a few tips so that you can put your mind at rest ahead of you or your family boarding a plane.

Meditate

While meditation will not solve all your fear-related problems, it will help you see the bigger picture for you to cope better with your nervousness surrounding this accessible means of travel. Meditation is no magic tool to remove your fear of flying, but it is a resource you can use and will help you quiet your mind from all that fear talk. Do you find yourself playing the same thought over and over again in your mind before boarding a plane? Are you fidgety when flying? Do you anticipate horrible scenarios in the days before flying? If this is the case, it is time to give meditation some thought. All you will need to do is find a quiet area where you can relax and sit with your eyes closed while you feel your body inhale and exhale. This meditation app will help you with your practice.

Get legal representation

This might sound too formal, but you might be surprised at how much calmer getting legal representation might make you feel. In 2016, 217 people lost their lives in seven fatal crashes, compared to 471 in 2015. While air travel is getting safer with technology having contributed massively to the aviation industry, fatalities are still a reality, and some people are taking measures to ensure they are covered in the unlikely event of an air travel-related death or major accident. “The risks to civil aviation remain high as shown by the seriousness of some of the non-fatal accidents,” said Senior Aviation Consultant Adrian Young. Slack & Davis have represented hundreds of passengers who have been involved in complex aviation crashes.

Do some good research

If boarding a plane fills you with horror, there is something else you can do to calm your mind. That is doing as much research as possible about your fear of flying and trying to figure out where it stems from. Fear is an irrational thing, and we are all afraid of one thing or another, but we can usually find the reason behind this. If it makes you feel more at ease, you could even research the type of airplane that you will be flying on and gather facts around air travel and what allows for planes to be able to fly, etc. Knowledge is the best tool against fear, and this will be a beneficial exercise for you. While you won’t be able to control the plane in question and fly this to your destination, you can still learn as much as possible about the act of flying and hopefully realise that air travel is still the safest mode of transportation there is.

Take a course

Spending your hard-earned cash on combating your fear of flying might not be an ideal scenario for you right now, but experts in the field say this is one of the best methods to get over the uncomfortable feeling you get every time you are about to board a plane. These courses are available all over the country, and they consist of workshops that will help you feel at ease with the idea of air travel. Facts surrounding the aviation industry will be given to you in an effort to appease your worries, and these will be delivered by experts with years of experience in the field. “Fear of flying affects all ages, all levels of wealth, all levels of flying experience” claims the Fear of Flying Clinic, and with this irrational behaviour manifesting itself at any time in our lives, a course to combat it will be one of the best investments you ever make.

Whether you need to fly for business, leisure or to visit family and friends in a faraway destination, if fear of flying is stopping you from taking any of these trips, it is time to put a stop to it and become confident in your abilities to remain calm while up in the air. Embracing your fear and enjoying the ride will not only allow you to visit new destinations and revisit old ones, but it will also make you feel more confident and able to conquer any other challenges that may come your way.

Living in fear is not a way to live, and you know it. Start 2018 by confronting your deepest worries surrounding air travel so that you can broaden your horizons and live a life beyond your wildest dreams. You are entitled to a life based on freedom and so are your friends and family. If you would like to see how this is done, try the tips above to overcome your fear of flying this year. You will never look back.

Is Solar Power Really The Best Way To Generate Clean Energy?

Dana R
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Is Solar Power Really The Best Way To Generate Clean Energy?

Renewable energy is a hot topic at the moment and more countries are starting to drive toward the end goal of generating all of their energy from renewable sources. A huge amount of the research is going into wind and solar energy and that’s what most people tend to use on their houses if they want to generate their own power, but what about the other sources? The research into solar and wind energy is mostly directed at efficiency because there are a lot of downfalls. If you live in a country that isn’t particularly sunny or windy it’s going to be patchy. Relying on something completely out of your control to generate your power isn’t ideal which is why some of these alternative energy sources are a lot better.

Hydroelectricity

dam

Pixabay

Hydroelectricity is a fairly well established source of renewable energy. It works by putting turbines in a dam which are then turned by the flow of the river. The initial costs are obviously going to be fairly high when compared with wind turbines or solar energy but after that large outlay, it’s a lot cheaper. The cost of generating hydroelectric power is around 3 times cheaper than the cost of solar panels and you can get a far larger yield out of it as well.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy isn’t something that is used all that much but it has the benefit of recycling materials as well as producing clean energy. Bioenergy – Renewable energy uses waste in a lot of different ways to produce energy. A large amount of it comes from farms but there are all sorts of sources. Biodiesel was one of the options for clean cars but it hasn’t taken off as of yet. Bioenergy is one of the only clean forms of energy that can directly replace fossil fuels so we can still make use of those power plants without too many expensive modifications.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is a clever way of producing power using the temperature difference above ground and below ground. Like hydroelectricity, there are quite significant costs initially because you need to bury a lot of the equipment below ground. However, it doesn’t require much maintenance afterwards and it’s a lot cheaper than solar energy. It works out about the same price as wind energy but you don’t have to deal with the added issue of people that don’t want wind turbines near their house because it’s an eyesore.

Coal

fire

Pexels

Coal is obviously a terrible source of energy, but only in the way that we use it right now. It sounds like an impossibility but there is such a thing as clean coal. By using new equipment that filters out a lot of the pollutants so they can be buried deep underground, it is actually possible to burn coal without damaging the environment. It would take a lot of modification to update the power plants but once it’s done, the energy produced would still be about half the cost of solar energy.

Solar and wind energy are still valuable sources of clean energy but these options are often cheaper and more reliable.

Steve Bannon Book: Donald Trump’s Lawyers Issue Cease-And Desist Notice

Diane A. Wade
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Steve Bannon Book: Donald Trump’s Lawyers Issue Cease-And Desist Notice

After Steve Bannon announced his tell-all book, President Donald Trump’s lawyers have written to his former strategist, saying he has violated a non-disclosure agreement.

The cease-and-desist notice accuses Steve Bannon of defaming President Trump in speaking to author Michael Wolff.

Michael Wolff’s forthcoming tell-all book describes Donald Trump as being unprepared for the president job.

The 64-year-old writer is a former columnist for New York magazine and Vanity Fair. He also wrote a biography of media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

His book is reportedly based on more than 200 interviews.

President Trump responded by saying Steve Bannon had “lost his mind” after losing his White House position.

The president’s lawyers said Steve Bannon had broken his employment agreement by speaking to Michael Wolff about Donald Trump and his family, “disclosing confidential information” and “making disparaging statements and in some cases outright defamatory statements to Mr. Wolff about Mr. Trump, his family members, and the Company”, the letter said.

Image source Flickr

Steve Bannon Fired as White House Chief Strategist

Steve Bannon Removed from National Security Council

Donald Trump Jr. Releases Private Twitter Correspondence with WikiLeaks

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House makes many explosive claims, including that Steve Bannon thought a meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a group of Russians was “treasonous”. The Trump team was shocked and horrified by his election win and Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, was in tears on election night. Donald Trump was angry that A-list stars had snubbed his inauguration and the new president “found the White House to be vexing and even a little scary”.  The book also claims that Ivanka Trump had a plan with her husband, Jared Kushner, that she would be “the first woman president”. Ivanka Trump mocked her dad’s “comb-over” hairstyle and “often described the mechanics behind it to friends”.

The book also alleges that former UK PM Tony Blair told Donald Trump during a meeting in February 2017 that the British intelligence services may have been spying on him and his campaign, according to a report in The Times.

The Times says Tony Blair was hoping to get a job advising Donald Trump on the Middle East.

A spokesperson for Tony Blair told The Times that the allegations were a “total fabrication: and said the former prime minister had not suggested himself as Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy.

In March 2017, then-White House press secretary Sean Spicer told journalists UK intelligence services could have been involved in an alleged spying operation on Trump Tower in New York. GCHQ said the allegation was “nonsense”.

According to New York magazine, which first published the extracts from Michael Wolff’s book, the author was able to take advantage of the Trump administration’s political inexperience to gain an unusual amount of insight.

“There were no ground rules placed on his access, and he was required to make no promises about how he would report on what he witnessed,” it says.

Michael Wolff said he was able to take up “something like a semi-permanent seat on a couch in the West Wing” following the president’s inauguration.

In a statement on January 3, President Trump said: “Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency.

“When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind.”

“Steve was a staffer who worked for me after I had already won the nomination by defeating seventeen candidates, often described as the most talented field ever assembled in the Republican party,” the president continued.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders described the book as “filled with false and misleading accounts from individuals who have no access or influence with the White House”.

“Participating in a book that can only be described as a trashy tabloid fiction exposes their sad desperate attempts at relevancy.”

Steve Bannon, the president’s former chief strategist, was considered a key player in the Trump White House and helped shape Donald Trump’s “America First” campaign message before he left his post in August.

In April, President Trump had declined to affirm that Steve Bannon still had his support, removing him from his elevated role on the crucial National Security Council.

He then appeared to downplay Steve Bannon’s role, declaring in a New York Post interview: “I’m my own strategist.”

After leaving the White House, Steve Bannon returned to his role as the head of the right-wing Breitbart News website, where he said he planned to help the Trump administration as a “wingman outside”.

Donald Trump reportedly spoke to Steve Bannon as recently as December 13, the day of the special Senate election in Alabama that saw the defeat of Republican Roy Moore, whom Bannon supported.

Storm Eleanor Causes Power Outages and Affects Transport in Northern Europe

Nancy Clayson
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Storm Eleanor Causes Power Outages and Affects Transport in Northern Europe

Most of northern Europe, including France and Germany and the UK, has been battered by winter storm Eleanor leaving tens of thousands of homes without power and affecting transport.

In France, a skier died in the Alps and 15 others were injured elsewhere in the country, four of them seriously.

A train was blown off its tracks in Switzerland, leaving several people with minor injuries. One person was hit by a falling tree in the Netherlands.

Wind gusts may reach 124mph.

In northern France, Eleanor cut power to more than 200,000 households and it is set to move to other regions throughout the day, including Corsica.

Air travel was also disrupted in the capital, Paris, and in the east of the country.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was closed because of the strong winds. The French capital’s parks have also been closed until the storm dies down because of worries over falling tree branches.

A skier was killed by a falling tree in Morillon, in the Haute-Savoie region of eastern France.

Image source Flickr

In Germany, the storm – named Burglind there – has swept over much of the country. It packed gusts of more than 75mph in the west of the country and led to transport disruption, reports say.

Switzerland has also been badly hit, with some 14,000 homes without power. The high winds left several people stranded in a ski lift in St Gallen canton, overturned a light airplane in Stans and snapped the 42ft high Christmas tree in the capital Bern, Reuters reports.

Meanwhile, record wind gusts of 122mph were recorded on Pilatus Peak near the Swiss city of Lucerne, broadcaster SRF reported.

Belgium was put on “orange” alert, the third of four warning levels, with officials urging people to be cautious when going out because of tree branches and other flying objects.

In the Netherlands, gusts of more than 68mph were recorded as hundreds of flights were cancelled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

Several main roads and train lines were also closed.

Dutch authorities have, for the first time, shut all five major sea barriers to prevent flooding, as large areas of the country are below sea level.

In the UK thousands of homes are without power and travel has been disrupted after Storm Eleanor hit there.

Specialists recorded gusts reaching 100mph overnight with a weather yellow warning still in place for Wales, England, most of Northern Ireland and parts of southern Scotland.

In the Republic of Ireland, 97mph gusts were recorded, and there was flooding, travel disruption and damage to buildings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpzDs4GNvjE

Donald Trump Responds to Kim Jong-un’s Nuclear Button Threaten

Roy Siemens
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Donald Trump Responds to Kim Jong-un’s Nuclear Button Threaten

President Donald Trump has responded to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un saying his nuclear button is “much bigger” and “more powerful”.

In a tweet, the president warned: “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”

President Trump’s tweet is the latest contribution to the bickering, increasingly personalized feud between the nuclear-armed leaders.

Earlier this week, Kim Jong-un threatened that his nuclear launch button was “always on my table”.

Photo AP

North Korea Crisis: Kim Jong-un Offers Threats and Hopes in New Year Speech

Donald Trump’s Tweet Calls Kim Jong-un Short and Fat

Unsurprisingly, Donald Trump’s unorthodox words sent social media into a frenzy.

It ended a quick-fire day of tweeting that included taking credit for a lack of airplane crashed, announcing awards for “corrupt media”, and threatening to pull aid from Palestinians who do not show “appreciation or respect”.

President Trump’s latest comment states the obvious: any US president has immediate access to the nuclear codes and the US has the world’s biggest nuclear arsenal.

Many people online have expressed alarm at the apparently light-hearted use of nuclear threats by world leaders.

However, Donald Trump’s supporters have defended him, saying his comments are both factually accurate and show American strength and resolve.

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump had a long-running spat with Marco Rubio over the size of his hands.

At the time, he insisted: “He referred to my hands – ‘if they are small, something else must be small’. I guarantee you there is no problem. I guarantee”.

This connection was not missed by social media users.

Let 2018 Be the Year That You Live Your Healthiest Life

Dana R
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Let 2018 Be the Year That You Live Your Healthiest Life

It’s never too early or too late in life to start taking your health seriously; whether 2018 means the former or the latter for you, and no matter your age this year, just know that this can be the year that your life becomes the healthiest it has ever been. For advice on how to make 2018 your healthiest year yet, make sure to read on.

Image source

Accept help when it comes to lifestyle planning

If you feel that you were held back from being or becoming the healthiest version of yourself in 2017 because of a lack of assistance on the matter, then why not buck the trend this year and ask for help? It really is as simple and as easy as that, and there are plenty of people and services out there that you can turn to for help. Le-Vel Thrive, for instance, offer an 8-week premium lifestyle plan that will see your health improve no end even before the year really gets going (before the cold months of winter are gone for another year). So, the point is don’t be afraid to seek help if help is what you need to attain your healthiest possible life.

Work around your schedule

Yes, you have commitments and responsibilities that dictate how, when and where you spend your time. Yes, you have to go to work in order to standard of life you and your family need to get by. Yes, your life might leave you fatigued and devoid of enough time to dedicate to getting healthy. But, if you truly want to be healthy then you have to work around your schedule. You have to be doing things like blending yourself together healthy and fulfilling green smoothies to drink of a morning if you are somebody that one, missed breakfast regularly, or two, always has unhealthy breakfasts. You have to do things like take healthy and legal substances in order to aid yourself when it comes to muscle growth. And you have to do things like forgo sitting down where you can and instead opting for a standing up position. When you do these sorts of things you work around your schedule and your way of life, and when you do that you’ll soon find yourself becoming gradually more and more healthy.

Do not rush healthiness

No, despite what you might think it is NOT a good idea to rush healthiness. When you do so and you attempt to do things like quitting drinking or smoking cold turkey you make it likely that your venture will fail even before it reaches the first hurdle. So, take your time with your new health kick and work at a pace that suits you — only then will you truly put yourself in good stead to rid your life of all the unhealthiness that plagues you for good and all the headaches you encounter when it comes to attaining good health.

So, there you have it, three things to do to help you live your healthiest life in 2018 that you may never have been told before.

Time’s Up: Hollywood Stars Launch Initiative Against Harassment

Sonia Pantiss
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Time’s Up: Hollywood Stars Launch Initiative Against Harassment

More than 300 Hollywood A-list women, including actresses, writers and directors, have launched Time’s Up project to help fight harassment in the film industry and other workplaces.

The Time’s Up initiative was announced via a full-page advert printed in the New York Times.

The project is described as a “unified call for change from women in entertainment for women everywhere”.

It comes in the wake of abuse allegations by high-profile actresses against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

In a solidarity letter published on its website, Time’s Up says the “struggle for women to break in, to rise up the ranks and to simply be heard” must end.

It added: “Time’s up on this impenetrable monopoly.”

The letter, which is aimed at “every woman… who has had to fend off s**ual advances”, goes on to say that such harassment can often continue because “perpetrators and employers never face any consequences”.

Image source Wikimedia

#MeToo: Anita Hill to Lead Hollywood Commission Against Harassment

#MeToo: Matt Lauer Fired from NBC News over Assault Allegations

The Time’s Up campaign, which is backed by hundreds of actresses including Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Eva Longoria and Emma Stone, has already raised more than $13 million of its $15 million target.

The funds raised will be used as legal support for both female and male victims of harassment at work.

The project is aimed primarily at those who are unable to meet the payments to defend themselves, such as agricultural or factory workers, caretakers and waitresses.

The Time’s Up initiative also calls for “gender inequality and the imbalance of power” to be addressed, stressing the need for more women to gain positions of authority and parity of pay.

Last month, Time magazine named “the Silence Breakers” – women and men who spoke out against abuse and harassment – as its “Person of the Year” for 2017.

2017 also saw the rise of the #MeToo hashtag, which inspired a global movement of women and men to share their stories of abuse and harassment.

The #MeToo hashtag gained momentum after actress Alyssa Milano took to Twitter to ask victims of assault to come forward in a show of solidarity.

Between October and December 2017, #MeToo was used on Twitter and Facebook more than six million times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjtHZ9CRs2A

North Korea Crisis: Kim Jong-un Offers Threats and Hopes in New Year Speech

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea Crisis: Kim Jong-un Offers Threats and Hopes in New Year Speech

In a New Year speech, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said a nuclear launch button is “always on my table” and warned the US it will never be able to start a war.

Kim Jong-un said the entire US was within range of North Korean nuclear weapons, adding: “This is reality, not a threat.”

However, he also offered a potential olive branch to South Korea, suggesting he was “open to dialogue”.

Kim Jong-un also announced that North Korea may also send a team to the Winter Olympics in Seoul.

When asked by reporters to respond to Kim Jong-un’s latest threats, President Donald Trump said: “We’ll see, we’ll see.”

President Trump was speaking at the sidelines of New Year’s Eve celebrations at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

North Korea has come under increased criticism and sanctions over the past year because of its nuclear weapons program and repeated testing of conventional missiles.

During the time, North Korea claimed to have a fully deployable nuclear weapon, though there is still some international skepticism about its true capacity to carry out such an attack.

In his televised speech, Kim Jong-un re-emphasized his focus on the weapons program, but implied the country still has a few stages left to go before achieving its ambitions. North Korea must “mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and speed up their deployment”, he said.

Donald Trump’s Tweet Calls Kim Jong-un Short and Fat

US Wants New Sanctions Against North Korea Including Freeze on Kim Jong-un’s Assets

Kin Jong-un also said they would not use their weapons unless they felt that peace was threatened.

While his language against the United States remained tough, Kim Jong-un did not employ his typically antagonistic tone when speaking about his neighbors in South Korea.

He said: “The year 2018 is a significant year for both the North and the South, with the North marking the 70th anniversary of its birth and the South hosting the Winter Olympics.

“We should melt the frozen North-South relations, thus adorning this meaningful year as a year to be specially recorded in the history of the nation.”

A spokesperson for South Korean President Moon Hae-in said their office had “always stated our willingness to talk with North Korea at anytime and anywhere”.

“We hope the two Koreas will sit down and find a solution to lower tensions and establish peace on the Korean peninsula.”

Kim Jong-un also said he would also consider sending a delegation to the Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February – a gesture which South Korea has previously suggested would be welcome.

“North Korea’s participation in the Winter Games will be a good opportunity to show unity of the people and we wish the Games will be a success,” he said.

“Officials from the two Koreas may urgently meet to discuss the possibility.”

Lee Hee-beom, the president of the PyeongChang Games’ organizing committee, told South Korea’s news agency Yonhap he was delighted to hear of the potential participation.

He said: “[The committee] enthusiastically welcomes it. It’s like a New Year’s gift.”

The only two North Korean athletes who qualified for the Games are figure skaters Ryom Tae-Ok and Kim Ju-Sik.

Although North Korea has missed the official deadline to confirm their participation, the skaters could still compete with an invitation by the International Olympic Committee.

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in last month suggested delaying an annual joint military drill with US troops until after the Games. North Korea usually denounces any such exercises as a rehearsal for war.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXgHC4CuykY

Iran Protests: Revolutionary Guards Threaten Crackdown

Roy Siemens
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Iran Protests: Revolutionary Guards Threaten Crackdown

After three days of anti-government protests in Iran, demonstrators have been warned by the Revolutionary Guards that they will face the nation’s “iron fist” if political unrest continues.

The protests erupted over falling living standards.

However, a Revolutionary Guards commander said the protests had degenerated into people chanting political slogans and burning public property.

The recent protests are the biggest show of dissent since huge pro-reform rallies in 2009. There are reports of two deaths.

In the cities of Khoramabad, Zanjan and Ahvaz there were calls for the removal or death of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutions Guards Corp is a powerful force with ties to the country’s supreme leader, and is dedicated to preserving the country’s Islamic system.

Brigadier-General Esmail Kowsari told the ISNA news agency: “If people came into the streets over high prices, they should not have chanted those slogans and burned public property and cars.”

The interior minister has also warned the public that protesters will be held accountable.

Image source Wikimedia

Iran: Shootings at Parliament Building and Ayatollah Khomeini Shrine

Are We Safe? Key Facts About The Iran Nuclear Deal People Won’t Tell You

Protests began in the north-eastern city of Mashhad on December 28 and spread to other major cities on December 29.

A small demonstration in the capital Tehran grew to several thousand people on December 30, and students clashed with police. The protests also became violent in several other towns.

Iran is a key provider of military support to the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. It is also accused of providing arms to Houthi rebels fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which it denies, and is an ally of Lebanon’s powerful Shia movement Hezbollah.

The Iranian authorities are blaming anti-revolutionaries and agents of foreign powers for the outbreak.

Also on December 30, thousands of pro-government demonstrators turned out for pre-arranged rallies to mark the eighth anniversary of the suppression of the 2009 street protests.

The US has led international support for the protesters.

President Donald Trump tweeted: “Oppressive regimes cannot endure forever, and the day will come when the Iranian people will face a choice. The world is watching!”

Iran’s foreign ministry called earlier comments from President Trump and other US officials “opportunistic and deceitful”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_YV0f_h9_o

Eric Garner’s Death: Black Lives Matter Activist Erica Garner Dies Aged 27

Nancy Clayson
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Eric Garner’s Death: Black Lives Matter Activist Erica Garner Dies Aged 27

Eric Garner’s daughter, Erica, who became a civil rights activist against police brutality after the death of her father in 2014, has died aged 27.

Three years ago, a video of Eric Garner, in a police chokehold complaining he could not breathe, sparked national protests.

Erica Garner became a prominent member of the Black Lives Matter movement following her father’s death.

She had been in a coma since December 23 after suffering a heart attack triggered by an asthma attack.

Erica Garner’s official Twitter account, being run by her family, said she had suffered major brain damage from a lack of oxygen.

A tweet posted to her account said: “When you report this you remember she was human: mother, daughter, sister, aunt. Her heart was bigger than the world. It really really was.”

“She cared when most people wouldn’t have. She was good. She only pursued right, no matter what. No one gave her justice.”

Image source Wikimedia

Eric Garner’s death: Grand Jury testimony will remain secret in chokehold case

Eric Garner death: Thousands protest in Staten Island over police chockhold death

Forty-three-year-old father-of-six Eric Garner was detained by police for allegedly selling loose cigarettes on Staten Island in July 2014.

Eric Garner also had asthma, and was filmed telling officers multiple times: “I can’t breathe.”

His words became a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter protesters, and the video of the arrest made headlines around the world.

Eric Garner’s death was ruled a homicide by medical examiners, but a grand jury did not charge any arresting officers in the case.

In a 2015 civil lawsuit, New York City agreed to pay $5.9 million to Eric Garner’s family.

Erica Garner was a mother-of-two, and had a son in August whom she named after her father.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BlbySyBp2s

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