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Walmart and Google Agree Voice-Shopping Deal

Nancy Clayson
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Walmart and Google Agree Voice-Shopping Deal

Walmart and Google are teaming up to enter the voice-shopping market, currently dominated by Amazon.

Starting with September, US consumers will be able to buy Walmart products using the voice-activated Google Assistant platform on phones and home devices.

Amazon’s AI virtual assistant Alexa already enables users to shop directly from the online retail giant.

The partnership enables Walmart to challenge Amazon’s dominance of the American voice shopping market.

Walmart’s head of e-commerce Marc Lore wrote in a blog post that the retailer plans to expand the use of voice-activated shopping across its 4,700 stores to “create customer experiences that don’t currently exist within voice shopping anywhere else”.

For example, Walmart could offer consumers the choice of picking up an order in store at a discount, or enable users to use voice shopping to purchase fresh groceries across the country.

Image source Wikimedia

Hundreds of thousands of products will be available.

Amazon has long challenged brick-and-mortar retailers by offering items at cheaper prices, often with free delivery.

Even though most retailers now have their own online stores, Amazon continues to dominate online sales, and the threat has only increased with its forays into same-day delivery and artificial intelligence-based voice shopping.

Google has been offering high street retailers a way to fight back by offering their products on its Google Express online shopping mall.

Walmart will be offering the most items of any retailer on the Google Express platform.

All users must do is link their Walmart accounts to Google Express.

Walmart has been making a gradual march onto Amazon’s turf.

In April, Amazon expanded the Prime Now same-day delivery service to include certain items like food and medicines. Now Walmart has teamed up with ride-hailing app Uber to offer online grocery deliveries in six states.

In June, Amazon accused Walmart of “bullying” its technology suppliers into shunning Amazon’s cloud computing service.

Walmart has also challenged Amazon by offering discounts to customers who buy online and pick up in-store, and free two-day shipping for purchases of $35 or more. The latter move prompted Amazon to lower its own threshold for free shipping in order to stay competitive.

Over the past two years, Amazon has been making an increasing play for offline bricks-and-mortar shops – from the physical book shop Amazon Books, launched in Seattle in 2015, to its ongoing acquisition of the organic food chain Whole Foods.

North Korea Crisis: US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese and Russian Companies

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Crisis: US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese and Russian Companies

The US has hit a dozen Russian and Chinese companies and individuals with sanctions over helping North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

The move comes after the UN Security Council, including Russia and China, voted for further sanctions against North Korea.

The US Treasury said its actions would “increase pressure” on North Korea, but the move has angered China.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson praised North Korea for “a level of restraint” in recent days.

He said: “We have had no missile launches or provocative acts on the part of North Korea since the unanimous adoption of the UN Security Council resolution.”

This, Rex Tillerson said, could pave the way for talks between the two sides “sometime in the near future”.

Photo AP

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The US Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 10 companies and six individuals in its sanctions.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said: “[The] Treasury will continue to increase pressure on North Korea by targeting those who support the advancement of nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and isolating them from the American financial system.”

The action means American individuals and companies are no longer permitted to do business with these companies.

China responded swiftly, calling on the US to “immediately correct its mistake” of punishing its companies.

A series of missile tests by North Korea in recent months – along with its repeated threats to carry out a sixth test of a nuclear device – have increased tensions between Pyongyang and the US.

North Korea has been angered, as it is every year, by scheduled US-South Korea military drills, and threatened to launch missiles near the US island of Guam in the South Pacific.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, threatened the isolated regime with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”.

In North Korea’s latest propaganda video, released on August 22, an image of President Trump is shown at a cemetery which is apparently meant to be in Guam.

Vice-president Mike Pence is also pictured engulfed in flames.

Rex Tillerson’s comments on August 22 appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone.

The secretary of state said North Korea had not launched any missiles since the UN unilaterally imposed new sanctions, and had “demonstrated some level of restraint that we’ve not seen in the past”.

“We hope that this is the beginning of this signal that we’ve been looking for – that they are ready to restrain their level of tensions, they’re ready to restrain their provocative acts and that perhaps we are seeing our pathway to sometime in the near future having some dialogue,” he said.

However, speaking at UN-backed disarmament conference in Geneva on August 22, a North Korean diplomat insisted that the weapons program was “justifiable and a legitimate option for self-defense”.

He said: “As long as the U.S. hostile policy and nuclear threat remains unchallenged, the DPRK will never place its self-defensive nuclear deterrence on the negotiating table or step back an inch from the path it took to bolster the national nuclear force.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnCB526R5Q8

Does Your Financial Adviser Have Your Best Interests at Heart?

Clyde K. Valle
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Does Your Financial Adviser Have Your Best Interests at Heart?

Your financial adviser’s overriding duty is to maximize your return on investment year after year. All other considerations, including the adviser’s own earnings, are secondary.

Right?

Not necessarily. Financial advisers have to make money somehow, or they wouldn’t be in business to help you make money.

Commission-Based vs. Fee-Only Advising: What’s the Difference?

One of the financial planning industry’s many fault lines opens around the question of advisers’ compensation for the services they provide.

Some advisers earn money from commissions on sales of equities and other financial products. They’re known as ‘commission-based advisers.’ They often have other sources of income, including kickbacks from the funds they recommend. Commission-based advisers aren’t always required to disclose such kickbacks, and many don’t, so it’s not always clear to clients when they’re subject to charges that eat into their returns.

Image source Creative Commons Images

Reputable fee-only financial advisers don’t take commissions or kickbacks from funds. Instead, their recurring fees (usually paid quarterly or annually) are calculated as a percentage of their clients’ total assets under management (AUM). Investment management fees typically decrease as AUM increases — for instance, a retail fee-only adviser might charge 1% on assets under £500,000, 0.75% on assets between £500,000 and £1,000,000, and 0.50% on assets above £1,000,000.

Which Is Better?

By definition, fee-only financial advisers earn money through fees only. Their compensation structures are inarguably more client-friendly. If you’re looking for an adviser that won’t nickel-and-dime you, fee-only is the way to go.

The proof of fee-only financial advisers’ superiority is in the tape. In the 1970s, fee-only financial advisers were virtually unheard of. Today, they’re everywhere, and growing more common by the day.

Why? Simple. They treat clients better and their investments tend to perform better year after year — though past performance is not necessarily determinative of future results.

Questions to Ask Financial Adviser Candidates

Now that you have a basic understanding of the difference between commission-based and fee-only financial advisers, you’re ready to begin researching and evaluating prospective advisers. Use these questions to hone in on the right fit for your needs.

  • How are you compensated? Fee-only advisers are increasingly the gold standard for long-term investors. Choose accordingly.
  • What is your investing philosophy and approach? Some advisers hew to a passive approach that seeks merely to match the market. Others use active investing strategies to beat the market. Your appetite for risk will determine which approach you favour.
  • How have your clients’ investments performed over time? Don’t enter into an adviser relationship without carefully evaluating their investments’ short-, medium-, and long-term performance.
  • Are you a member of any professional financial advising or planning organizations? A stamp of approval from reputable organizations like the Financial Conduct Authority helps assuage concerns about legitimacy and experience.

 

Remember, investing for the long haul is a marathon, not a sprint. You won’t do yourself any favours by rushing into a relationship with a new financial adviser.

Donald Trump Decides to Keep US Troops in Afghanistan

Roy Siemens
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Donald Trump Decides to Keep US Troops in Afghanistan

President Donald Trump has ruled out a US withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying that the move would leave a vacuum for terrorists to fill.

Donald Trump said his original instinct was to pull US forces out, but had instead decided to stay and “fight to win” to avoid the mistakes made in Iraq.

The president said he wanted to shift from a time-based approach in Afghanistan to one based on conditions on the ground, adding he would not set deadlines.

However, President Trump warned it was not a “blank cheque” for Afghanistan.

He said: “America will work with the Afghan government, so long as we see commitment and progress.”

The Taliban responded by saying that Afghanistan would become “another graveyard” for the US if it did not withdraw its troops.

President Trump has committed to stepping up the US military’s engagement in Afghanistan, but details were few and far between.

The president said his new approach would be more pragmatic than idealistic, and would switch from nation building to “killing terrorists”.

However, Donald Trump refused to get drawn on how many extra troops, if any, would be deployed and gave no timeline for ending the US presence in Afghanistan.

Washington is expected to send up to 4,000 additional troops, but President Trump did not comment on this.

He did, however, put pressure on neighboring Pakistan, warning that the US would no longer tolerate it offering “safe havens” to extremists – an accusation swiftly dismissed by a Pakistani army spokesman.

Image source Wikipedia

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President Trump also, for the first time, left the door open for an eventual peace deal with the Taliban, saying: “Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan.”

However, he said there would be an escalation in the battle against groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.

“[They] need to know they have nowhere to hide – that no place is beyond the reach of American arms,” President Trump said.

Meanwhile, he made it clear he expects his existing allies – singling out India – to support him in his new strategy, and urged them to raise their countries’ contributions “in line with our own”.

Before his presidency, Donald Trump was not shy about criticizing his predecessors on their Afghanistan policy. He previously supported pulling US troops out of the conflict, which began under President George W. Bush in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.

In November 2013, he said: “We have wasted an enormous amount of blood and treasure in Afghanistan. Their government has zero appreciation. Let’s get out!”

However, early on in his presidential campaign, he did acknowledge that US troops would have to stay in order to avoid the total collapse of the Afghan government.

This long-awaited announcement came after a months-long review, with the president himself acknowledging that his original instinct to pull-out had been reversed after discussions with national security advisers.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the plan, saying: “The US-Afghan partnership is stronger than ever in overcoming the threat of terrorism that threaten us all.”

He said the new strategy would enhance the training of Afghan security forces.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also praised the move and said the alliance, which has about 12,000 troops in Afghanistan, would not allow the country to become “a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our own countries”.

General John Nicholson, the head of both US and international forces in Afghanistan, said it “means the Taliban cannot win militarily”.

However, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed President Trump’s strategy as “nothing new”, telling the US to think of an exit strategy “instead of continuing the war”.

US combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014, more than 8,000 Special Forces continue to provide support to Afghan troops.

The Afghan government continues to battle insurgency groups and controls just half of the country.

Italy Earthquake: At Least Two Dead and 39 Injured in Ischia

Nancy Clayson
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Italy Earthquake: At Least Two Dead and 39 Injured in Ischia

At least two women have died and 39 people are injured after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Italian island of Ischia.

Rescuers are desperately trying to reach two brothers trapped under rubble after the quake brought down several buildings.

They pulled free the boys’ seven-month-old brother at around 04:00 local time, several hours after the tremor struck.

The island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, has a population of about 50,000.

Ischia is extremely popular with tourists, many of whom were out in the bars and restaurants when the earthquake hit at 20:57 – striking at a depth of around 3 miles just north of the Casamicciola commune.

One elderly woman was reportedly killed by debris falling from a church, while another body was found in the rubble of collapsed building.

Image source CBC

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At least 1,500 people have been left homeless, Il Messagero reports.

The seven-month-old boy was rescued from a family home that collapsed, to cheers from the emergency workers.

The father and two women, one of whom is pregnant, were also saved from the rubble.

Now rescuers are trying to reach the baby’s two brothers. They have been given water by the emergency workers, local media reported.

Angelo Borrelli, head of civil protection, told was quoted by La Repubblica as saying they were cautiously optimistic of reaching the boys, but warned as “more time passes the more the situation becomes complicated”.

Parts of the island were said to be without power.

A hospital in another badly hit commune, Lacco Ameno, had to be evacuated. According to local media, the injured were treated outside the building and a number of patients were airlifted to Naples.

The Italian Red Cross confirmed on Twitter they were working with local authorities.

Extra ferries, from Naples to Ischia, were laid on during the night to bring more rescue workers to the island and allow holidaymakers to leave. Dozens of people are said to have ended their holidays early and Italian media said some tourists were sleeping on benches waiting for boats to arrive.

An emergency response team was quickly on the scene, partly because additional numbers were already on Ischia to fight localized bush fires.

Key Tips for Staying Fit and Healthy This Summer

Dana R
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Key Tips for Staying Fit and Healthy This Summer

During the summer, we all want to make the most of the good weather, and to do that, we need to feel our best. Even though the summer is coming to an end, you still have enough time to jump into a healthy fitness routine! With this in mind, the following tips aim to keep you fit and healthy this season so you can enjoy everything the summer has got to offer.

  1. Take a look at your diet

With so many sweet treats readily available, the summer can sometimes be a time when we let our eating habits run wild. And while there is no reason why we shouldn’t indulge ourselves occasionally, the summer seasons are a great time to take a closer look at our diet and eat lighter, healthier meals. Fresh salad ingredients, berries, which are full of health giving flavonoids, fresh fish, and lean meats are just some of the foods that will help contribute to healthier summer eating.

  1. Fuel your mind and body

Sometimes, a good diet just isn’t enough and our minds and bodies can benefit from extra nutrients. If you want to keep your mind sharp, your moods balanced and your skin healthier, there are several supplements that can assist with this. For instance, B complex vitamins can enhance the look of your skin and hair as well as help your body to cope with stress and improve your mood. Minerals like magnesium can also boost the mood and support the body when it is under strain. In addition, nootropics have been recognized for the role they play in boosting brain power, improving mental clarity, and in creating resistance to stress.

  1. Exercise

There’s no better time for getting outside and exercising than in the summer months, so there’s no excuses for not getting fit even if you don’t like the gym! Take advantage of the warmer weather by swimming or walking to help tone your body and burn excess calories – and make exercise a part of your regular routine. See more…

  1. Drink adequate water

Are you experiencing headaches and feeling over tired? Then these could be signs of dehydration. The amount of water we need varies depending on several factors including our age, weight and activity levels, however, most of us require more water during the summer months. If you’re not sure if you’re drinking enough water to stay healthy this summer, use the hydration calculator here.

  1. Don’t forget your sunscreen

While a tanned body looks great, you’ll want to avoid the inevitable sunburn that can come with summer living. If you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer or sunbathing, then apply adequate sunscreen before you go out and apply it at regular intervals.

The above tips provide five simple steps that you can take to help maximize your health throughout the summer months. Incorporate them into your daily routine to help maintain your well-being all summer long and into autumn!

Salvează

Venezuela Crisis: Conductor Gustavo Dudamel Confirms US Tour Cancelation

Sonia Pantiss
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Venezuela Crisis: Conductor Gustavo Dudamel Confirms US Tour Cancelation

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel has confirmed that his US tour with Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra has been canceled.

The star conductor said the cancelation, which came just days after President Nicolás Maduro publicly criticized him, was “heartbreaking”.

In May, Gustavo Dudamel spoke out against President Maduro’s government.

President Maduro replied: “May God forgive you for letting yourself be fooled.”

Gustavo Dudamel, 36, is the music director of both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela.

He gained further fame by becoming the youngest musician to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s concert in 2017.

Gustavo Dudamel had stayed silent on the politics of his homeland until the beginning of May, when after a month of anti-government protests, he called on the government “to listen to the people”.

As the political crisis in Venezuela worsened, Gustavo Dudamel spoke out again in July, this time in opinion pieces published in the New York Times and Spanish daily El País criticizing the constituent assembly the president had convened.

Image source Wikimedia

On August 18, President Nicolas Maduro responded: “Welcome to politics, Gustavo Dudamel, but act with ethics, and don’t let yourself be deceived into attacking the architects of this beautiful movement of young boys and girls.”

The president referred to the young musicians which form part of Venezuela’s praised musical education program, El Sistema.

Nicolas Maduro also had a dig at the conductor for living abroad: “I don’t live abroad, true. None of us lives abroad, in Madrid or in Los Angeles.

“Where do we live? In Venezuela and we have to work for the Venezuelans.”

On August 21, three days after that public criticism, Venezuelan media reported that the US tour of Venezuela’s National Youth Orchestra under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel had been canceled by the president’s office.

On August 22, Gustavo Dudamel confirmed the reports on Twitter, saying: “Heart-breaking cancellation of our 4-city NYOV US tour.”

No reason for the cancelation of the tour has been given so far.

Some Venezuelan media speculated that the tour was canceled “in revenge” for Gustavo Dudamel speaking out against the government but others pointed out the high cost of transporting the young musicians to the US at a time when the Venezuelan government is running low on foreign currency reserves.

President Maduro is also an outspoken critic of “the imperialist US”, which he blames for many of Venezuela’s problems.

Tensions between Venezuela and the US have risen further this month after President Trump said he did not rule out a military option in dealing with Venezuela’s crisis.

One hundred and eighty young musicians had been rehearsing for three months for the four-city US tour scheduled for September.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAXYpnm24Sc

Texas University Removes Confederate Statues Overnight

Nancy Clayson
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Texas University Removes Confederate Statues Overnight

Four Confederate monuments have been removed by the University of Texas overnight in the wake of violent clashes in Charlottesville earlier this month.

A statue of General Robert E. Lee was among those taken down from the Austin campus on August 21.

Monuments to Confederate figures are symbols of “modern white supremacy and neo-Nazism”, the college said.

Heather Heyer’s death at a far-right rally in Charlottesville has reignited debate over America’s racial legacy.

University of Texas at Austin President Greg Fenves said on August 20: “Last week, the horrific displays of hatred at the University of Virginia and in Charlottesville shocked and saddened the nation.

“These events make it clear, now more than ever, that Confederate monuments have become symbols of modern white supremacy and neo-Nazism.”

Image source Wikimedia

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As well Gen Robert E. Lee, who was military commander during the 1861-1865 American Civil War, a statue of another rebel general, Albert Sidney Johnston, and of Confederate postmaster John H. Reagan were taken down.

They were moved to a centre for American history on campus.

A statue of Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg, who served from 1891 to 1895, was also removed and will be considered for re-installation at another site.

“The University of Texas at Austin has a duty to preserve and study history,” Greg Fenves continued.

“But our duty also compels us to acknowledge that those parts of our history that run counter to the university’s core values, the values of our state and the enduring values of our nation do not belong on pedestals in the heart of the Forty Acres.”

The university removed a statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis from its campus in 2015 following a mass shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Greg Fenves added that he spoke with members of faculty, students and alumni following the deadly demonstrations in Virginia.

Dozens of schools and local governments have begun removing statues dedicated to the Confederacy, which was a pro-slavery rebellion against the federal government.

It follows violent clashes at a march on August 12 in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white supremacists and neo-Nazis protested against the removal of a monument of General Lee.

Last week, four Confederate-era statues were taken down in Baltimore, Maryland, while the governors of Virginia and North Carolina have ordered the removal of similar monuments in their states.

Recent removals of Confederate statues has sparked backlash among an outspoken group of Americans who view the statues as symbols of US history and southern culture.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the debate on August 17, tweeting that controversial monuments are “beautiful”, adding that they would be “greatly missed” from US cities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mleb-QMywaQ

How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse

James J. Williams
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How to Safely Watch a Solar Eclipse

Watching a total solar eclipse is a rare and memorable experience. However, without the right precautions, it can also be dangerous.

The Sun’s rays are so intense you can feel their warmth from 150 million km away. That’s why looking at the Sun directly, even for a few seconds, can seriously damage your eyes. It allows ultraviolet (UV) light to flood in and burn the light-sensitive cells – causing potentially permanent blurry vision and blind spots.

Watching an eclipse with normal sunglasses provides virtually no protection. In fact, they trick your eyes to let in more light, so they can cause even more damage. But there are three easy ways to view an eclipse safely that can be set up in a few minutes.

Build a pinhole projector

The safest way to view a solar eclipse is to project it onto a piece of paper. Using a cardboard box, you can make a pinhole projector.

You will need:

A long cardboard box, a sheet of white paper, some aluminum foil, a craft knife, scissors, a drawing pin, duct tape and glue. If you can’t find a long box then try taping two smaller boxes together.

Safety measures:

Remember: DO NOT look directly at the Sun without appropriate protection, such as special eclipse glasses. Children should get an adult to help build and use this projector. Take extra care when using sharp tools like craft knifes and scissors.

What will you see?

A bright beam of sunlight will project onto the paper at the far end of the box. This is the Sun’s disc. When an eclipse occurs you’ll see an image of the Moon’s disc sweeping across your projection. The size of the image will be about one hundredth of the length of the box – so the longer the box, the bigger the projected image.

Image source Wikimedia

Using binoculars safely

Pinhole viewers are cheap and easy to make. However, with a bit more time you can get a much better image by projecting the Sun with binoculars. The advantage of this method is that you can watch the eclipse with others as the projected image is much bigger.

You will need:

A pair of large binoculars (a telescope works just as well), a tripod (or another sturdy object you can securely fix the binoculars to), a sheet of white paper, a large piece of cardboard, scissors, some duct tape and some large plain paper or a flip-chart.

Safety measures:

Binoculars and telescopes concentrate sunlight, so never directly look at the Sun with them, as you will permanently damage your eyes. Don’t look directly at the Sun without appropriate protection, such as special eclipse glasses. Keep the binoculars lenses covered until you are ready to use them as this will avoid them getting hot. Children should get an adult to help build and use this projector. Take extra care when using sharp tools like scissors.

What will you see?

As sunlight shines through the binoculars, an image of the Sun will be projected onto your flip-chart. Adjust the distance between the binoculars and the flip-chart until your image is about the size of a small plate. If it’s blurry, focus your binoculars until it becomes sharp. While you wait for the eclipse to happen, look out for dark specks and patterns in your projection – these are sunspots.

Looking directly at the Sun

Watching an eclipse directly is possible – but it’s vital to protect your eyes with the correct equipment.

Never look at the Sun unless you are wearing a pair of special eclipse glasses. Check they meet required safety standards.

Test their condition by putting them on as you’re looking away from the Sun. You shouldn’t be able to see anything. If any light is entering through the glasses, this could mean that they are scratched and won’t provide the right protection. When you’re satisfied the glasses aren’t damaged, turn to look at the Sun. This should be the only thing you can see – a big, orange globe surrounded by a black sky.

Don’t look at the Sun through a pair of binoculars or a camera, as they will concentrate the Sun’s powerful rays into your eye. If you want to use equipment like this, you need a professional solar filter that fits tightly onto the front lenses.

Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Deep Shadow to Sweep over US from Oregon to South Carolina

James J. Williams
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Total Solar Eclipse 2017: Deep Shadow to Sweep over US from Oregon to South Carolina

The US is preparing for the spectacular sight of a total solar eclipse.

The Moon is set to pass in front of the Sun, casting a deep shadow that will sweep over the US from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east.

It is the first such event since 1918 where the path of darkness crosses both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

It is also the first total solar eclipse to make landfall exclusively in the US since independence in 1776.

People lucky enough to be directly in the path of deepest shadow (“totality”) – and blessed with a clear sky – will witness the Sun’s light blocked out for up to two minutes and 40 seconds.

Those who stand off to the side will experience a partial eclipse, which on this occasion will encompass all of North America and northern parts of South America.

There are even parts of Western Europe that will snatch a sight of the Moon’s disc taking a bite out of the Sun just as it sets.

Image source Wikipedia

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Wherever people watch the total solar eclipse, they are urged to take care. Looking directly at the Sun with the naked eye can be dangerous.

Many commentators believe August 21 eclipse will prove to be the most observed, most photographed, and best documented such event in human history.

It will certainly challenge the numbers that saw the 2009 eclipse that swept across India and China.

More than 12 million people live in the 70 mile-wide path of totality. Nearly four times that many live within a two-hour’s drive, and over 200 million live within a day’s drive.

State and local authorities have been preparing for August 21 as if they were about to confront the fallout from some natural disaster.

Carbondale in Illinois has billed itself as the “Eclipse Crossroads of America” because it is in the path of darkness both on August 21 and when the next US eclipse occurs in 2024.

Given this status, Carbondale authorities anticipate a huge influx of visitors. Its regular population numbers 26,000 people, but for August 21 more than 60,000 extra car parking spaces have been organized.

It is not just urban settlements that will be stretched; the National Park Service has been bringing truck loads of portable toilets on to its lands.

Many skywatchers will be waiting until as late as possible before deciding where to go, based on up-to-date weather forecasts. Many of those who planned ahead will have consulted historical weather data.

This information suggests the highest probability of clear skies will be in the northwest. Madras in Oregon is a favorite.

The time of year and its position leeward of the Cascade Mountains mean it would expect a more than 70% chance of an unobstructed view of the eclipse. In contrast, the further east along the path of totality, the higher the historical probability of cloud.

The “eclipse show” for land-dwellers begins on the Oregon coast at 09:05 local time when skywatchers will see the Moon start to traverse the Sun. Totality is reached at 10:16 and, assuming none of the region’s famous coastal fogs are in attendance, people will get one minute and 59 seconds of full darkness.

The Moon’s shadow then races across the continent through 13 more states (less than two square kilometers of the extreme southwest of Iowa is in the path) – a journey that will take roughly 90 minutes.

The place that will experience the longest period of totality (2 minutes and 40 seconds) is about 6 miles south of Carbondale, Illinois.

The last region in the path of deepest shadow is South Carolina. The Atlantic coastal city of Charleston experiences its eclipse at 14:47 local time.

It is around this time that Europeans will be catching their partial view of the event.

Ireland, Northern Ireland, northern England and Scotland see a full partial eclipse.

Jerry Lewis Dies in Las Vegas Aged 91

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Jerry Lewis Dies in Las Vegas Aged 91

Jerry Lewis, one of Hollywood’s most successful comedians, has died at the age of 91, his family announced.

In a statement, Jerry Lewis’ family said he died of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas on August 20.

Jerry Lewis’s ten-year partnership with Dean Martin saw them star in 16 films and achieve huge box office success.

The comedian became the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, chalking up hits such as The Bell Boy, Cinderfella and The Nutty Professor.

Other notable successes included The King of Comedy in 1983, in which he played a talk show host stalked by Robert de Niro.

Image source Wikimedia

Fellow celebrities paid tribute as news of Jerry Lewis’ death broke. Whoopi Goldberg called it “a gain for heaven, but big loss for comedy”.

Jim Carrey, whose comedy style was strongly influenced by Jerry Lewis, said: “That fool was no dummy. Jerry Lewis was an undeniable genius an unfathomable blessing, comedy’s absolute. I am because he was!”

Jimmy Kimmel wrote on Twitter: “Jerry Lewis was a genius comedian, actor, director, inventor, humanitarian.”

Jerry Lewis was born Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey, to Russian-Jewish parents who were both in show business.

He started performing on stage at the age of five alongside his parents.

Jerry Lewis teamed up with Dean Martin in the late 1940s, acting the goofy sidekick to Martin’s suave persona.

Over the next 10 years they appeared in nightclubs, on TV and in movies, but their partnership ended with a bitter split.

Jerry Lewis was also the host of the long-running MDA Telethon which raised many millions of dollars for muscular dystrophy.

In 1995, he became the highest-paid star in Broadway history as Mr. Applegate in the musical Damn Yankees. He also won acclaim as a writer.

However, in his later years, Jerry Lewis courted controversy with racist and misogynistic jokes, and in 2007 he was forced to apologize after making an anti-gay slur during a telethon.

Dick Gregory Dies Aged 84

Sonia Pantiss
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Dick Gregory Dies Aged 84

Dick Gregory has passed away at the age of 84, his family has announced.

The comic legend and civil rights activist died at hospital in Washington DC after being admitted with an undisclosed illness.

His family shared the news of their “enormous sadness” in a post on social media on August 19.

From the 1960s, Dick Gregory mocked racism in his stand-up routines. He was among the first American black comedian to perform regularly in front of white audiences.

Image source Wikimedia

His son, Christian, wrote on Instagram: “It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, DC.”

He added that the family “appreciates the outpouring of support and love” but requested that their privacy be respected “during this very difficult time”.

Civil rights activist Rev Jesse Jackson paid tribute to Dick Gregory on Twitter, saying: “He taught us how to laugh. He taught us how to fight. He taught us how to live. Dick Gregory was committed to justice. I miss him already. #RIP”

The Civil Rights Division of the United States Justice Department

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Dick Gregory was a no-holds-barred comedian, delivering lines in his performances that were likely to raise eyebrows.

He once said: “A Southern liberal? That’s a guy that’ll lynch you from a low tree.”

“Segregation is not all bad,” Dick Gregory said on another occasion.

“Have you ever heard of a collision where the people in the back of the bus got hurt?”

Dick Gregory was also involved in a number of civil rights activities in the 1960s. He campaigned against the Vietnam War and his protests often involved hunger strikes.

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

Nigeria: President Muhammadu Buhari Returns Home After Three Months

Diane A. Wade
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Nigeria: President Muhammadu Buhari Returns Home After Three Months

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country on August 19, after three months in London for medical treatment.

Officials refused to disclose what the president was being treated for.

It was Muhammadu Buhari’s second spell of medical leave this year – leading many Nigerians to question whether he was well enough to run the country.

Muhammadu Buhari, 74, walked unaided from the plane after landing in capital Abuja.

The president was greeted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has acted as interim leader, and was accorded a military salute.

He made no statement and immediately traveled to the presidential residence.

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Muhammadu Buhari, who took office in May 2015, handed over power to Vice President Osinbajo to allay concerns of a void at the helm of Africa’s biggest economy.

The president’s absence sparked numerous protests, including demands that he should resign, as well as calls for more transparency about his condition.

There has been speculation about Muhammadu Buhari’s health since June 2016, when he first went to London for treatment of what his aides said was a persistent ear infection.

Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman said he will address Nigerians on August 21.

Boston: Thousands Protest Against Right-Wing Free Speech Rally

Diane A. Wade
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Boston: Thousands Protest Against Right-Wing Free Speech Rally

Tens of thousands of anti-racism protesters have marched against the “Free Speech” rally in Boston that featured right-wing speakers.

The rally on Boston Common, which attracted only a small crowd, disbanded early and the participants were escorted out by police.

The conservative rally organizers had said they would not give a platform to racism or bigotry.

Tensions are high after violent demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virgina, last weekend turned deadly.

Up to 30,000 people attended the counter-protest, The Boston Herald reported. Demonstrators had gathered at a Boston sports centre and then marched en masse to the common.

Many wore stickers with the face of Heather Heyer, who died when a car was driven into a crowd of counter-protesters at last Saturday’s far-right rally in Charlottesville.

Image source Getty Images

The crowd chanted “No Nazis, no KKK, no fascists in the USA!” and carried banners with slogans such as “Stop pretending your racism is patriotism”.

Hundreds of police, many on cycles, were deployed but no violence was reported. Large vehicles were positioned along with concrete barriers to prevent access to the park.

The organizers of the rally said that “misinformation in the media” was “likening our organization to those that ran the Charlottesville rally”.

“While we maintain that every individual is entitled to their freedom of speech and defend that basic human right, we will not be offering our platform to racism or bigotry,” the group wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to the event.

“We denounce the politics of supremacy and violence.”

The list of speakers for the free speech event changed a number of times in previous days. At times it included speakers who have been associated with the far right.

The violence in Charlottesville began with a protest and counter-protest over the planned removal of a statue of Confederate commander General Robert E. Lee.

In the aftermath, Confederate statues across America have come under renewed scrutiny.

On August 19, Duke University in North Carolina removed a statue of Robert E. Lee from its chapel entrance, following vandalism earlier in the week.

President Trump and First Lady to Skip Kennedy Center Honors

Sonia Pantiss
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President Trump and First Lady to Skip Kennedy Center Honors

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have decided not to attend the Kennedy Center Honors to allow those taking part “to celebrate without political distraction”, the White House announces.

Some of those due to take part in the arts awards ceremony had said they would boycott the White House reception held before the awards ceremony.

The Kennedy Center Honors recognize the lifetime contributions of performing artists.

Many artists have been angered by President Trump’s plans to scrap funding.

In his budget outline in March, the president pushed for the end of federal support for public broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Donald Trump is also mired in controversy over his response to recent violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Image source Wikimedia

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Republicans and Democrats alike have criticized the president for insisting that anti-racism protesters were equally to blame for the violence that ended in the death of a woman.

The White House said in a statement: “The president and first lady have decided not to participate in this year’s [Kennedy Center Honors] activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction.

“First Lady Melania Trump, along with her husband President Donald J Trump, extend their sincerest congratulations and well wishes to all of this year’s award recipients for their many accomplishments.”

Dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, who is due to be honored at the December ceremony, said earlier this week that she would boycott the related White House reception for honorees.

She said in a statement: “In light of the socially divisive and morally caustic narrative that our existing leadership is choosing to engage in, and in keeping with the principles that I and so many others have fought for, I will be declining the invitation to attend the reception at the White House.”

Lionel Richie had also suggested he might not attend, telling the NBC’s Today: “I’m not really happy with what’s going on right now with the controversies. They’re weekly, daily, hourly.”

TV producer Norman Lear, who is to receive a lifelong artistic achievement award, also said he would not attend the White House reception.

He said: “It is more important now than ever that we stand up for artists, for artistic expression, and for the valiant fight that artists fight to reveal the wonder and oneness of the human spirit.”

Venezuela Constituent Assembly to Assume Powers of Opposition-Led Parliament

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela Constituent Assembly to Assume Powers of Opposition-Led Parliament

Venezuela’s new constituent assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favor of assuming the powers of the opposition-led parliament.

However, parliament has rejected the move. President Nicolas Maduro says the new assembly will end political unrest, but many say it is a slide towards dictatorship.

Meanwhile Colombia says Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz has arrived in the capital Bogota.

Luisa Ortega Diaz said she feared for her life after being dismissed by the controversial assembly.

Once a staunch supporter of Nicolas Maduro, Luisa Ortega had become a strong critic of the president’s socialist government in recent months.

The former chief prosecutor’s whereabouts had been unknown following her dismissal on August 5.

On August 18, Luisa Ortega told a regional conference via videolink that she had evidence that President Maduro was embroiled in a corruption scandal involving the Brazilian construction company, Odebrecht.

Odebrecht has admitted paying bribes to win contracts in 12 countries, though no Venezuelans have been named.

Image source Wikipedia

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Venezuela’s parliament said citizens and the international community would not recognize the constituent assembly’s new powers.

The head of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro called the move an “illegitimate dissolution” of the elected parliament.

Regional economic bloc Mercosur – which includes the region’s two biggest economies Brazil and Argentina – also condemned the move.

Earlier this month, Mercosur suspended Venezuela indefinitely, urging President Maduro to release prisoners and begin a political transition.

The heads of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled parliament and the new assembly have been trading insults on social media.

Parliament head Julio Borges accused the constituent assembly of a “coup” while new assembly head Delcy Rodriguez – a close ally of President Maduro – denounced his “lies”.

President Maduro’s wife and son are among the 545 members of the new assembly, which was set up following a controversial election earlier this month.

More than 120 people have been killed in Venezuela’s violent protests since April.

Nicolas Maduro’s opponents want to hold a vote to remove him, blaming his left-wing administration for food shortages and soaring inflation in the oil-rich country.

Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run.

Venezuela has seen waves of violent protests, and President Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting “reconciliation and peace”.

An ally of Nicolas Maduro, former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, is president of the new body

The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud.

Venezuela’s electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated.

The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly.

The US has imposed sanctions on Presidnet Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a “dictator”.

The EU and major Latin American nations say they will not recognize the new body.

Nicolas Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas.

US Launches Investigation into China’s Intellectual Property Policies

Clyde K. Valle
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US Launches Investigation into China’s Intellectual Property Policies

The US has launched an investigation into China’s intellectual property policies.

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said his office had “determined that these critical issues merit a thorough investigation”.

The move was expected after President Donald Trump asked Bob Lighthizer to review China’s practices.

China has voiced “serious concern” over the investigation, which could result in US trade sanctions.

The annual cost to the US economy from counterfeit goods, pirated software and theft of trade secrets has been estimated at up to $600 billion.

Image source Flickr

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On August 18, the US announced it planned to look into hacking and reports that the Chinese government is steering investment into US companies in key industries as a way to gain access to new technology.

US officials will gather comments and hold a hearing in October as part of the so-called Section 301 investigation.

Penalties might be targeted against individual companies, or more wide-ranging, which will shape China’s reaction.

On August 15, China’s commerce ministry warned: “If the US side takes actions that impair the mutual trade relations, disregarding the facts and disrespecting multilateral trade rules, China will not sit idle.”

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

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Steve Bannon Fired as White House Chief Strategist

Diane A. Wade
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Steve Bannon Fired as White House Chief Strategist

Steve Bannon has been fired as the White House Chief Strategist.

He is the latest top aide of President Donald Trump to leave his post.

On August 18, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that Friday was Steve Bannon’s last day.

His exit follows a review of his position by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.

Steve Bannon, a right-wing nationalist and former head of Breitbart.com, helped shape the “America First” message of Donald Trump’s election campaign.

However, critics had accused him of harboring anti-Semitic and white supremacist views.

Image source Flickr

Charlottesville Violence: Steve Bannon Attacks White Nationalists as “Clowns”

Steve Bannon Removed from National Security Council

Steve Bannon is known to have competed for influence in the West Wing against more moderate factions, including members of the Trump family.

President Trump fuelled speculation when asked last week about Steve Bannon’s future as he replied: “We’ll see.”

Steve Bannon’s interview this week with the American Prospect, a liberal magazine, reportedly infuriated the president.

He was quoted as dismissing the idea of a military solution in North Korea, undercutting President Trump.

He told the magazine the US was “at economic war with China” and that he aimed to push out moderates whom he believed were soft on China.

Steve Bannon told associates he thought it was an off-the-record chat and didn’t realize he would be quoted.

He has pushed for imposing additional tariffs on China and other trade partners to reduce deficits with those countries.

Steve Bannon also advocated for a travel ban on citizens of certain Muslim-majority countries.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ statement said: “White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve’s last day.

“We are grateful for his service and wish him the best.”

Source familiar with the decision said Steve Bannon had been given the chance to leave on his own terms.

Steve Bannon took over as chief of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in August 2016.

He was formerly a US Navy officer, Goldman Sachs investment banker, Hollywood movie producer and head of Breitbart News.

Steve Bannon has reportedly told friends he could go back to the right-wing outlet that has boisterously supported Donald Trump.

In a potentially worrying sign for the White House, Breitbart‘s senior editor-at-large Joel Pollak tweeted: “#WAR”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjzMPr6fUEU

Finland Attack: Two People Stabbed to Death and Six Injured in Turku

Roy Siemens
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Finland Attack: Two People Stabbed to Death and Six Injured in Turku

Two people have been stabbed to death and at least six others wounded in an attack in Turku in south-west Finland, say police.

Police, who were on the scene within minutes, shot the suspected attacker and arrested him.

The suspect has been taken into custody.

The attack took place in the Puutori-Market Square area of Turku. Police initially asked people to stay away from the city centre but then said the incident was over.

Image source Facebook

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Finish Interior Minister Paula Risikko described the suspect as “foreign-looking” and linked the attack to the murder of 14 people in Barcelona. Finnish authorities have said, however, that it is too early to describe the incident as terrorism.

The attack was over in a matter of minutes.

Finish police said the alarm was raised at 16:02 local time and that the suspect was arrested three minutes later.

A later Twitter post by police read: “The police are searching for possibly more perpetrators in Turku.”

Finland’s PM Juha Sipila said his government was monitoring the situation closely. The interior minister and national police commissioner also said they were travelling to the city.

Security was also increased at key sites in the capital of Helsinki, where armed police could be seen at the central train station and the airport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=001LRtu7ND8

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Nestle Accused of Copying Atari’s Breakout Game in Kit Kat Ad

Nancy Clayson
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Nestle has been accused of copying Breakout, the 1970s popular computer game, in a Kit Kat marketing campaign.

Atari, the company behind some of the most popular early video games, has filed a suit alleging Nestle knowingly exploited the game’s look and feel.

The ad showed a game similar to Breakout but where the bricks were replaced with single Kit Kat bars.

The Swiss chocolate maker said it was aware of the lawsuit and would defend itself “strongly” against the allegations.

Breakout was created as a successor to “Pong” by Apple founders, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.

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In the ad, which is titled Kit Kat: Breakout, a row of people, of varying ages and appearance, share a sofa and play a video game during their work break. In the game depicted, a primitive paddle moves side-to-side to bounce a ball into a collision with the horizontal bars ranged across the top of the screen.

Atari alleges that the similarity with its original game “is so plain and blatant that Nestle cannot claim to be an <<innocent>> infringer”.

The legal complaint against Nestle, filed in a San Francisco court on August 17, claims that Nestle had hoped to exploit “the special place [Breakout] holds among nostalgic Baby Boomers, Generation X, and even today’s Millennial and post-Millennial <<gamers>>”.

A Nestle spokesperson said: “This is a UK TV advert that ran in 2016. The ad no longer runs and we have no current plans to re-run it.

“We are aware of the lawsuit in the US and will defend ourselves strongly against these allegations.”

Las Ramblas Attack Death Toll Rises to 14 as Five Suspected Terrorist Shot Dead in Cambrils

Roy Siemens
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Las Ramblas Attack Death Toll Rises to 14 as Five Suspected Terrorist Shot Dead in Cambrils

Five suspected terrorists have been shot dead in the town of Cambrils in a second vehicle attack, hours after another in Barcelona killed 14 people and injured dozens, Spanish police say.

According to police, the men were linked to the Barcelona attack, which ISIS said it had carried out.

Police are still hunting the man who drove his van into crowds on Las Ramblas in Barcelona on August 17.

Spanish media have named 18-year-old Moussa Oubakir as the suspect.

Moussa Oubakir is the brother of Driss Oubakir, whose documentation was allegedly used to rent the van involved in the attack.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has condemned what he called a “jihadist attack”. He has announced three days of national mourning and a minute’s silence was held at noon on August 18.

Seven people, including a police officer, were wounded when a car was driven into them on August 18 in the morning, Catalan emergency services said. One later died in hospital.

Image source Twitter

The attackers’ vehicle overturned and when the men got out they were quickly fired upon by police, media say. One was reportedly brandishing a knife.

According to police, the men were wearing what appeared to be explosive belts and a series of controlled explosions was carried out. The belts proved to be fake, Catalan regional head Carles Puigdemont later told local radio.

Police say the situation in Cambrils – a popular seaside resort 68 miles south-west of Barcelona – is now under control.

A rented van was driven down Las Ramblas, a popular street in the center of Barcelona on August 17, mowing down tourists and locals.

Witnesses said the van deliberately targeted people, weaving from side to side.

The driver of the van, believed to be the sole attacker, fled on foot and is still being hunted by police.

Las Ramblas is a central boulevard that runs 0.75 miles through the center of Barcelona from the city’s Plaça de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront.

Citizens of some 24 countries were killed or injured in the Las Ramblas attack, the Catalan government has said.

The confirmed dead are: Spaniard Francisco López Rodríguez, who was in his 60s; Italian Bruno Gulotta, 35; unnamed Italian; unnamed Belgian.

France’s foreign ministry said on August 18 that 26 French nationals were injured, with at least 11 in a serious condition.

Another 13 German citizens were wounded, some seriously. A 5-year-old Irish boy suffered a broken leg.

Hong Kong, Taiwan and Greece are among those saying their citizens were injured. Pakistani, Philippine, Venezuelan, Australian, Romanian, Peruvian, Dutch, Danish, Algerian and Chinese nationals were also among the casualties, officials said.

Two people were detained on August 17 over the Las Ramblas attack, but not the driver of the van.

One of those held is Driss Oubakir, whose documents were used to rent the van, local media say.

According to local media, Driss Oubakir is in his 20s, and was born in Morocco. However, latest reports suggest he has told police he was not involved, and that his documents were stolen.

Spanish media also report that his younger brother, Moussa Oubakir, rented two vans, the one used in the attack and another found hours later in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona, and intended as a getaway vehicle.

The second man arrested was born in Melilla, the autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. He has not been named.

On August 18, Spanish police announced a third arrest had been made in the Catalan town of Ripoll.

ISIS has said it was behind the Las Ramblas attack, saying in a brief statement carried by its Amaq news outlet that it was carried out by “Islamic State soldiers”. The group gave no further evidence or details to back this claim.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ox43J7CQeo

Donald Trump Denounces Removal of Confederate Statues

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Denounces Removal of Confederate Statues

President Donald Trump has denounced the removal of “beautiful” Confederate statues amid a heated national debate about US race relations.

He tweeted: “Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments.”

“You can’t change history, but you can learn from it,” the president continued.

President Trump drew outrage by defending organizers of a white supremacist rally that left one person dead and dozens hurt.

The rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, supported by neo-Nazis and white supremacists, was in protest of the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee, a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the Civil War.

The protest turned deadly when a driver ploughed into a crowd of counter protesters, inflicting fatal injuries on Heather Heyer.

Image source Wikipedia

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In a series of tweets on August 17, President Trump said: “Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson – who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish!”

“The beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!”

The recent removal of controversial statues, including some to leaders of the pro-slavery rebellion defeated in the US Civil War, has been the latest flashpoint in racial tensions across the country.

Critics say monuments to the Confederacy are racially offensive, but supporters say they are important symbols preserving Southern heritage.

On August 17, Maine’s Governor Paul LePage, a Republican, said that taking down Confederate statues is “just like” removing a monument to the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

However, relatives of Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate leader President Trump mentioned in his tweets, wrote an open letter to the mayor of Richmond, Virginia, urging him to remove the statue of their great-great-grandfather and all other Confederate statues in town.

Jack and Warren Christian, Stonewall Jackson’s great-great-sons, said removing the statues would “further difficult conversations about racial justice”.

“While we are not ashamed of our great-great-grandfather, we are ashamed to benefit from white supremacy while our black family and friends suffer,” the pair wrote.

“We are ashamed of the monument.”

Robert E. Lee V, the great-great-grandson of the famous Confederate general, also issued a statement condemning the violence in the wake of the statue removals.

Donald Trump’s comments came after a week of turmoil over his response to the violent clashes in Charlottesville.

The president was criticized for blaming both sides for the violence, but belatedly condemned the white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups on August 14.

During a heated news conference on August 15, President Trump backtracked and again blamed left-wing counter-protesters for the incident, too.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only black Republican in the upper chamber, said in an interview with Vice News that President Trump’s “moral authority” had been “compromised”.

“I’m not going to defend the indefensible… [Donald Trump’s] comments on Monday were strong. His comments on Tuesday started erasing the comments that were strong,” Senator Scott said.

“What we want to see from our president is clarity and moral authority. And that moral authority is compromised.”

Amid the fallout over President Trump’s response, corporate leaders and CEOs began resigning from two White House business councils.

On August 16, the Strategy and Policy Forum announced it would disband as Presidnet Trump said he would end the council as well as a manufacturing one.

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Barcelona Van Attack Kills at Least One and Injures 32 on Las Ramblas Street

Roy Siemens
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Barcelona Van Attack Kills at Least One and Injures 32 on Las Ramblas Street

At least one person has been killed and 32 others injured after a van ploughed into crowds in Barcelona’s famous Las Ramblas tourist area.

The vehicle sped along the pedestrian area, sending many fleeing for cover in shops and cafes.

Witnesses said the van had deliberately targeted people before coming to a stop.

According to El Pais newspaper, the driver of the vehicle had fled on foot after mowing down dozens of people.

Police are treating the incident as a terror attack.

Image source Twitter

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Spanish media reports say one or two armed men barricaded themselves inside a bar in the area after the attack.

Vehicles have been used to ram into crowds in a series of attacks across Europe since July last year.

A suspect has been arrested by Spanish police and a possible name has been released: Detenido “Driss” Oukabir.

A rental van has driven over a crowd of people crossing a busy intersection in the tourist area of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain. According to the AP, the van “jumped” the sidewalk and hit people. Ultima Ahora reports at least 13 are dead.

Las Ramblas is Barcelona’s central boulevard that runs 0.75 miles through the city’s center. It runs from Barcelona’s Plaça de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront.

The boulevard is popular with tourists because of its market stalls, bars and restaurants.

Barcelona city council restricted traffic flow on Las Ramblas because of heavy pedestrian use of the street.

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

Gen Joseph Dunford: North Korea War Would Be Horrific

Roy Siemens
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Gen Joseph Dunford: North Korea War Would Be Horrific

According to General Joseph Dunford, the top military adviser to President Donald Trump, a military response to North Korea would be “horrific” but remains an option.

The US Joint Chiefs of Staff made the comments while visiting China.

Gen. Joseph Dunford was responding to remarks by a top Trump aide ruling out military action over North Korea’s nuclear program.

Tensions have flared between the US and North Korea after Pyongyang made advances in its missile testing.

President Trump has warned North Korea that it faces “fire and fury”, while Pyongyang has threatened to strike the American territory of Guam.

However, the sharp rhetoric of last week has since softened, with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un putting the Guam plans on hold – a move praised by President Trump.

Image source Wikimedia

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On August 16, White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon said there could be no military solution to the stand-off.

He told The American Prospect: “Until somebody solves the part of the equation that shows me that 10 million people in Seoul don’t die in the first 30 minutes from conventional weapons, I don’t know what you’re talking about, there’s no military solution here, they got us.”

Gen. Dunford agreed a military solution would be “horrific” but went on to say “what’s unimaginable to me is not a military option”.

“What is unimaginable is allowing [North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un] to develop ballistic missiles with a nuclear warhead that can threaten the United States and continue to threaten the region.”

He said President Trump “has told us to develop credible, viable military options, and that’s exactly what we’re doing”.

A senior Chinese military official who met Gen. Joseph Dunford told him that military action should be ruled out and that “dialogue” was the only option, the Chinese defense ministry said.

China is North Korea’s only major ally. The US has criticized China for not doing enough to rein it in, but Beijing says it has begun halting iron, iron ore and seafood imports from North Korea, in line with new UN sanctions.

Could You Relocate For Work?

Dana R
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Could You Relocate For Work?

airplane

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The world is a very big place made up of many countries and cultures. Trying to see as much of the world as possible is important in life, and part of that is planning things so that you can have those experiences and not rely on vacations to get you there. You could be very comfortable where you are with your current city and current employer, but that doesn’t mean the idea of relocation won’t cross your mind. If the opportunity to move to another country and explore a new culture falls into your lap, you have a lot of things to consider.

Moving for a job is exciting, but it doesn’t mean you won’t meet a certain number of challenges head on. You have to identify the pros and cons of what would happen when you relocate and whether you could cope with being more than a tourist. Being a visitor in another country is very different to applying for temporary visas and doing an Aadhar card download ready for working. Relocation has to be about more than the job you could move for. It has to be about the place you are going to and whether you can cope with the changes that come with embracing a new culture. So, what things should you ask yourself before you can decide whether you can make the step to relocate somewhere entirely new?

mumbai

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What are the benefits? When you get offered a job abroad, you have to decide whether it would be worth more in salary, benefits and experiences before you make the leap. Are you going to be living somewhere with a better climate, making those days off more fun? These are important things you should look into before you say yes.

Will this move better your career prospects? A lot of people relocate for the cultural experiences and the chance for a different view out of the office window, but if it’s not going to give your resume a rich lift, is it really worth it? Weigh up what kind of future this role could offer you, and whether this role could help you climb the ladder better than where you are now.

Can this move make your life more enriched? Immersion into a new culture and living like a local can give you a different perspective on the area you have agreed to take a job in. If this new place can give your life more meaning and give you enriched experiences that you will never be able to get again, then it can feel like a no-brainer!

Will this change your life? We all go into different experiences with the goal that we can do something better in our lives, and if this role is going to elevate the life you already have then surely this experience is going to be worth the change?

Life is all about embracing new places, new people and new cultures and if you can get the chance to move and work abroad, you should grab it with both hands. If it doesn’t work out, you can always come home!

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