Twenty-two people have been killed and 59 injured in a suicide attack at Manchester Arena at the end of Ariana Grande’s concert.
The explosion happened in the foyer at 22:35 local time on May 22.
According to police, the lone male attacker, who died in the blast, detonated an improvised explosive device.
Relatives are using social media to hunt for missing loved ones, and an emergency number, 0161 856 9400, has been set up.
Sixty ambulances attended the incident and those wounded are now being treated at six hospitals around the city.
Image source AP
Eyewitnesses described seeing metal nuts and bolts among the debris, and spoke about the fear and confusion that gripped the concert-goers.
Police have established a help centre at the Etihad Stadium, access Gate 11, for anyone who needs assistance in tracing loved ones.
Twitter has been flooded with appeals from relatives and friends of missing concertgoers via the hashtag #MissingInManchester.
Facebook also activated a safety check feature so that people can let their family and friends know they are safe.
The blast happened close to the entrance to Victoria railway and tram station. The station has been closed and all trains canceled.
Police also carried out a precautionary controlled explosion in the Cathedral Garden area of the city at about 01:32 AM. The force later confirmed it was not a dangerous item.
The Manchester Arena or MEN is the city’s largest indoor venue with a concert capacity of around 21,000.
President Donald Trump’s fired national security adviser Michael Flynn has refused to hand over files to a Senate panel probing alleged Russian political meddling into US election.
He invoked his legal right against self-incrimination, his lawyers told the committee.
The Senate Intelligence Committee is investigating possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Michael Flynn stood down in February after it emerged he lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.
Two other former top Trump aides – Paul Manafort and Roger Stone – have complied with the committee’s request for information, it was reported on May 22.
The panel, another congressional committee and the FBI are investigating claims that Russian hackers tried to help Donald Trump win last November’s presidential election, and whether members of his campaign colluded with the alleged Russian conspiracy.
Michael Flynn’s name has cropped up repeatedly in the matter, but his letter to the Senate panel emphasizes his refusal to comply is not an admission of wrongdoing.
The former Army lieutenant general is invoking the 5th amendment to the US constitution, which protects Americans from being legally compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal case.
Image source Wikimedia
The letter said Michael Flynn’s decision was a response to the current political climate and an “escalating public frenzy against him”.
His attorneys argued that “any testimony he provides could be used against him”.
Republican Senator James Lankford, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted: “It is Mike Flynn’s right to plead the 5th.
“We will get to the truth one way or another.”
If Michael Flynn continues to refuse to comply, it is thought Senate investigators could vote to hold him in contempt of Congress, or even refer his case for possible criminal charges.
Michael Flynn’s legal representative has previously demanded immunity from “unfair prosecution” before his client testifies.
Last week the committee’s chairman, Senator Richard Burr, told reporters that Mike Flynn was “not co-operating” with the investigation.
Shortly after Michael Flynn left the White House, the Department of Defense also launched an inquiry into payments he received for a speech in Russia and for lobbying on Turkey’s behalf.
Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates testified to senators earlier this month that she had warned the White House 18 days before Michael Flynn was fired that he was vulnerable to Russian blackmail.
Michael Flynn misled the White House about discussing US sanctions against Russia with Moscow’s envoy, Sergei Kislyak, before DonaldTrump took office.
President Trump injected a fresh impetus into the Senate investigation after he himself met the Russian ambassador and foreign minister in the White House earlier this month.
Donald Trump said in that encounter that he had just fired the FBI director because he was a “real nut job” and his dismissal eased “a great pressure because of Russia”, the New York Times reported.
During the Oval Office chat, which media were not invited to cover, Donald Trump also reportedly divulged secret information on the military campaign against ISIS.
Israel was reportedly the source of that sensitive intelligence.
However, while in Jerusalem on May 22, President Trump told reporters repeatedly that he “never mentioned the word Israel” in his meeting with Russian officials.
Former FBI director Robert Mueller was appointed last week as special counsel to lead the FBI investigation following President Trump’s firing of the law enforcement agency’s director, James Comey.
Jim Hackett is replacing Mark Fields as Ford CEO following a major reshuffle at the US car giant.
Mark Fields’ departure comes as Ford faces weak sales, falling profits and a near-40% decline in its share price since he took up his role in 2014.
Jim Hackett, 62, is described by the company as a “transformational business leader”.
The former boss of office furniture company Steelcase joined Ford in 2016 to run its autonomous driving division.
Executive chairman Bill Ford said Jim Hackett was a “true visionary” and the right person to lead the car maker.
Jim Hackett will focus on modernizing Ford and “transforming the company to meet tomorrow’s challenges”.
Ford shares rose 1.3% in morning trading in New York.
Last week, Ford said it planned to cut 10% of its salaried workforce in North America and Asia Pacific this year, on a voluntary basis.
The auto maker employed more than 200,000 people globally at the end of 2016, including about 101,000 in North America and 23,000 in Asia.
Sales in April were down 7% in the US and 11% lower in Europe compared with the same month last year. Ford has also been hit by costs related to safety recalls.
GM reported a record performance in the first three months of 2017, with revenue 10.6% higher at $41.2 billion, helped by strong sales of trucks and SUVs in the US.
Ford’s revenue in the first three months of 2017 was $39.1 billion, a rise of 4%.
At the time Mark Fields said the quarter was “an investment in Ford’s future”.
Ford launched new vehicles and he said it was “fortifying our core business, while also investing in emerging opportunities that will deliver profitable growth”.
In recent years, Ford has been investing heavily in self-driving technology and ride-sharing services.
David Lynch’s cult TV series Twin Peaks is back after 26 years.
The return of Twin Peaks was greeted with both praise and bafflement by critics, one of whom called it “familiarly inscrutable”.
Kyle MacLachlan reprises his role as FBI agent Dale Cooper in the 18-episode series, which began its run on May 21 on Showtime.
The first two episodes saw Kyle MacLachlan’s character still trapped in the mysterious “black lodge” where the original series left him in 1991.
Other characters to return included Laura Palmer, whose murder was the basis of the original show, and <<The Log Lady>>, played by the late Catherine Coulson.
Future episodes, all directed by David Lynch himself, will see Michael Cera, Laura Dern and Naomi Watts join the cast.
Walking Dead star Jeffrey Dean Morgan was among those to welcome Twin Peaks’ return on Twitter, praising David Lynch for “outLynching the bejesus” out of his celebrated creation.
In Israel, Donald Trump will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders during the course of his two-day stop.
He has called an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement “the ultimate deal”, but has been vague about what form it should take.
Donald Trump has said he prefers to leave it to both sides to decide between them in direct talks.
According to the Associated Press and Israel’s Haaretz, President Trump’s flight between Saudi Arabia and Israel was likely to be the first between the two countries, that have no diplomatic relations.
Image source Reuters
The president has been widely seen as considerably more supportive of Israel than his predecessor, Barack Obama. Donald Trump has taken a softer position on the contentious issue of Israeli settlements, suggesting that their expansion rather than their presence might hamper the search for peace.
More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, land Palestinians claim for a future state.
The Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
President Trump has also sent mixed signals on the issue of Jerusalem, pledging to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, angering Palestinians and delighting Israelis.
However, he has since stalled, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently telling NBC News that President Trump was weighing it up.
Israel regards the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim the east as their capital. The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.
There has been some consternation in Israel in the run-up to President Trump’s trip over remarks made by administration officials.
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Rex Tillerson’s suggestion that moving the embassy might harm the peace process, while a US Consulate official caused outrage by saying the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, was “not in your [Israel’s] territory but part of the West Bank”.
The White House later said: “The Western Wall is in Jerusalem… such alleged statements would not have been authorized by the White House, [and] do not reflect the US position, and certainly not the president’s position.”
President Trump is expected to visit the Western Wall, located in the Old City of East Jerusalem, in a private capacity on May 22 – the first sitting US president to do so.
Donald Trump will also visit the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where according to Christian tradition Jesus was buried and resurrected.
His trip also comes days after it was reported that the president had leaked to Russia’s foreign minister classified intelligence information said to have come from an Israeli source. The incident has raised questions about the confidentiality of secret intelligence passed to the US by its closest Middle Eastern ally.
A huge security operation is under way for Donald Trump’s visit, during which he will hold separate meetings with PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on May 22 and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem the following day.
A day before Donald Trump was due to arrive, Israel’s announced economic and development concessions for Palestinians, including easing some restrictions on movement and approving industrial construction projects.
Before you start any marketing campaign online, you need to find the perfect keywords. Use the right keywords, and you will be able to acquire and maintain the attention of your target audience. Keyword optimized web pages rank higher on Google SERP and offer many more benefits to website owners.
Develop relevant content
When you have the right keywords, it would be easy to produce content that helps to drive relevant traffic to your website. Create keyword-rich content that is readable, high quality, unique, and adds value to your readers. Having the perfect keywords serves as a guide on the kind of content that would be fit for your community.
Generate higher conversion rates
By having relevant content, you are going to attract the right people to your website. It’s easier to convert the right target audience than people who just bumped into your web pages. When people engage with your brand, either through content or communicating to a representative, they are more likely to convert. Perfect keyword selection helps you to drive the right people to your business.
Save time and resources
When you have a list of keywords to use, you will spend less time trying to figure out what kind of content you need to create for your target audience. The keywords act as a guide on what kind of information, tips, and ideas your target audience would enjoy reading. You can begin to track the performance of your blog posts that have certain keywords and focus on the ones that lead to success. Using the right keywords can ultimately impact on your ROI.
Generate leads
Having a list of well-selected keywords can also help you to generate qualified leads. Some keywords can have minuscule search volumes but are cheaper to rank for and also attract more targeted audiences. Using a set of relevant keywords, you can grab the attention of customers who are interested in your product or service. This gives you an opportunity to remarket to the same clients in different ways such as sending emails or SMS.
Boost organic search rankings
Having a perfect list of keywords can ultimately help your site to rank organically on SERP. You need to place the keywords in your page title, tags and anchor text among other locations to make sure search engines crawl to your website. Do not just rely on paid ads, use keywords to rank organically as well.
Takeaway
Now that you know the many good reasons why you should choose the right keywords for your online marketing campaign, all you have to do now is get started on doing your keyword research. You can do this on your own, or you can ask the assistance of SEO experts. That can be a reasonable investment on your part. If you don’t feel so confident in your SEO skills yet, don’t fret, there are plenty ofSEO expertswho can help you when it comes to choosing the right set of keywords and helping you make money in the process.
Cathay Pacific has announced it will cut nearly 600 jobs as part of the biggest restructuring in 20 years.
The cuts include 190 management jobs and 400 non-management staff working at Cathay Pacific’s head office in Hong Kong.
In March, the Hong Kong’s flagship carrier said it would save 30% in employee costs at its head office after the company posted its first annual loss in eight years.
The cuts are part of a three year program to turn around the losses.
Image source Wikimedia
Cathay Pacific said in a statement that the job cuts would be complete by the end of the year, with most of the affected employees to be informed on May 22, and over the next month.
The changes will be overseen by Cathay Pacific’s new chief executive, Rupert Hogg, who replaced Ivan Chu Kwok-leung earlier this month.
Rupert Hogg cited increasing competition and a challenging business outlook for what he called “tough but necessary decisions for the future of our business and our customers”.
Cathay has been facing tough competition from Chinese and Middle Eastern airlines that have expanded rapidly in the Asia Pacific region.
Earlier this year, Cathay posted a net loss of HK$575 million ($74 million) for 2016. It was only the third time Cathay Pacific posted a full-year loss in its 70 year history.
It stressed the importance of North Korea “immediately showing sincere commitment to denuclearization through concrete action”.
The UN Security Council is now scheduled to meet behind closed doors on May 23 – a meeting requested by the US, South Korea and Japan.
South Korea’s foreign ministry earlier said the launch was “reckless and irresponsible”, while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described it as “disappointing” and “disturbing”.
The latest missile flew about 350 miles towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Last week’s missile travelled about 435 miles.
Japanese news agencies said the missile probably fell into the sea outside Japan’s waters.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference a protest had been lodged with North Korea.
South Korea said the latest test was conducted in Pukchang, in the west of the country. A missile exploded soon after take-off from Pukchang last month.
Earlier on May 21, North Korea’s state-run media had said it would continue to launch more “weapons capable of striking” the US.
In early May, the US said a missile defense system it had installed in South Korea was now operational.
The THAAD system can intercept North Korean missiles, although full operational capability is still some months away. North Korea and its ally China have condemned the installation of the system.
However, there is no sign that THAAD was used against the missile tested on May 21.
Newly-installed South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is seeking deeper engagement with North Korea, has convened an urgent meeting of his national security council in response.
Who has not been in a situation, when you work hard, but the salary is still not satisfying? The first solution that comes to mind is to take more working hours. However, it is not the only way to make extra money.
If there is a financial emergency, it is possible to get some extra funds fast with the help of small loans.
Profit-Making Hobbies
It is a common misconception that your hobbies may bring only joy, but not money. Some pleasant activities and interests are considered to be not serious and absolutely non-profitable. A lot of successful people proved that fact to be wrong. Your passion may become a way of making money without feeling that you are actually working. For instance, if you are fond of photography, you can make shootings for other people that will be happy to pay for their photos to be done.
If you are good at any kinds of crafts like knitting, jewelry making, sewing, it is possible to sell these wares. Gardening, cooking, nails art, make-up, dancing, drawing, and anything you enjoy doing might become not only things you are good at but also a way to get some additional funds.
Passive Income Stream
Nowadays it becomes popular to have a passive income stream that does not require a lot of time and effort. Something that would bring money while you are not actually working and enjoying other activities seems to be very tempting.
A passive revenue stream requires a lot in the beginning. It is essential to create a unique and appealing content to get your audience. After getting a lot of followers, earning does not demand a lot of maintenance. It might be a well-developed and popular blog, a YouTube channel, an Instagram account that allows making money on advertising. It might take a while before getting results, but it is worth trying.
Drive and Earn
If you do not want to invest in a passive revenue stream or cannot wait so long until your blog will become lucrative, there is another way to make money on advertising. Your car might become an advertising space and bring you some funds while you drive to work, school or other purposes. There are companies that are eager to place their information on your transport and pay you for that. Do not forget to check your partners and make sure they are reliable before any agreement. It is possible to find some feedbacks online to avoid dealing with scammers.
Short-term Rent
If you have some real estate or a spare room that might be rented, it might be another option to earn some money. The online platforms will help you to make an announcement and find a renter. If you do not have a spare space but you are often away on weekends, it is possible to rent a room in your apartment for a short-term. While you are on vacation or visiting your parents in another city, you will still be able to make money renting your property for a week or two. Consider also checking the local laws and the rules of renting in your area to avoid fines and other troubles.
Current Job Options
Your current job can also be more profitable without any additional activities and extra working hours. Taking extra shifts might be a good solution. People are usually not eager to work on weekends, holidays or at night and the companies offer more money for working at this time. You will work the same amount of hours but they will bring more.
You may also discuss your work agreement with your boss and make a few changes. For example, some days of a week you may work from home. It will save some time for the road and you may spend it either on your other jobs or personal stuff. If you have a fixed salary, discuss getting also a bonus for good results or commissions from the sales that will motivate you and be profitable for the company as well.
President Donald Trump is expected to underline the need to confront extremism in Islam when he makes a speech in Saudi Arabia on May 21.
Donald Trump’s address, to a summit of regional leaders, will come on the second day of his first presidential trip abroad.
It is expected President Trump will attempt to strike a collaborative tone in attempts to bolster support for the US fight against ISIS militants.
On May 20, the US signed trade deals of $350 billion with Saudi Arabia.
This included the largest arms deal ever made in US history, which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said was aimed at countering the “malign” influence of Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival.
Image source Getty Images
However, Donald Trump’s visit has been overshadowed by his political difficulties at home, namely the fallout over his sacking of FBI chief James Comey.
Donald Trump caused controversy during his campaign by calling for Muslims to be temporarily banned from entering the US over security concerns. Legislation aimed at restricting travel from several Muslim-majority countries remains tied up in the US courts.
According to a report by CNN, the same man who wrote the travel ban – adviser Stephen Miller – has written President Trump’s speech about Islam.
The Associated Press, which was given copies of the speech by two sources, said the speech aimed to cast extremism as a battle between good and evil.
AP said President Trump will say: “We are not here to lecture — to tell other peoples how to live, what to do or who to be. We are here instead to offer partnership in building a better future for us all.”
President Trump has made a number of controversial comments about Islam, including suggesting he would be open to creating a database of all the Muslims in the US, linking the religion with violence.
He has also criticized other politicians for not using the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” – a phrase which, according to advisers quoted in the US media, will not feature in the speech.
Donald Trump’s eight-day trip will also take in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Brussels, the Vatican, and Sicily.
The botulism outbreak in Sacramento, California, that left nine people hospitalized has been linked to cheese sauce sold on nacho crisps at a family-run petrol station.
Health officials have stopped Valley Oak Food and Fuel selling food.
Cases of botulism, a rare and sometimes fatal form of food poisoning, were first reported on May 5 and in total nine people are confirmed to have it.
Image source CBS News
One of the victims is reportedly so ill she cannot speak or keep her eyes open.
Dr. Oliva Kasirye of the Sacramento County Public Health Department told reporters that preliminary testing showed the cheese was carrying botulism.
The family of one of the affected patients has already filed a lawsuit against the petrol station, claiming neglect.
Botulism poisoning is caused by toxins released by a type of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.
Human digestive processes cannot break down the toxic chemical, which moves to the nervous system. Symptoms emerge in adults 18-36 hours after eating contaminated food.
In this case, it is thought the nacho cheese sauce may have been canned. Tinned food is a risk for botulism because the bacterium grows best when there is no oxygen around.
In adults, symptoms – including difficulty walking or swallowing, impaired vision and potential convulsions or paralysis – will emerge between 18 and 36 hours after eating the contaminated food.
Depending on how quickly botulism is detected and how much of the bacterium has been swallowed, botulism may be treated with an anti-toxin drug.
There isn’t a more appealing career than working from home. Picture the scene. You wake up, you roll out of bed, and you start work. You don’t answer to anyone but yourself, you get to choose your working hours, and there’s no need to wear business attire. In fact, most people tend to wear PJs. But, isn’t this just a pipedream for the lucky few? Nope, working from home can be your reality if you pick a lucrative job that you love. And, there are plenty of positions which fit the category.
Come on and take a look.
Online Surveys
You don’t even have to ask the question because I know what you’re thinking. Yep, you are right – there are bogus survey schemes on the web. Obviously, you want to avoid these like the plague. Still, that doesn’t mean that every provider is a cowboy that isn’t going to pay. The truth is that there are plenty of decent outfits like Opinion Outpost and MySurvey. These businesses pay people a healthy rate, and they pay on time, which is why they are two very reputable companies. As long as you find one that you can trust, there is a lot of money to make.
Declutter
Okay, so it isn’t an official job title, but there is no need to be official. Thanks to eBay and Decluttr, all you need to do is sell your old things to start the ball rolling. In today’s society, this tactic is more effective than ever before for a couple of reasons. The first is the internet. Before the World Wide Web, people had to shop in charity stores to find a bargain, which wasn’t very appealing. Now, online stores make it quicker and easier and negate the stigma. Secondly, retro things are in vogue because of the hipster culture. People will take your old belongings off your hands, and they will pay a lot of money in the process.
There is no need to sell physical items if you don’t have any taking up room in your closet. People think that to sell a product or service it has to be tangible. Well, that isn’t true because you can sell your knowledge. Hopefully, you will have knowledge and experience that other people lack. If so, you can offer to tutor them so as to pass on your wisdom. Music teachers make a killing from this very technique on a daily basis, and so can you. The trick is to think of skills you have that others want.
Don’t worry because there is no need to move. In this sense, ‘selling your home’ means selling the floor space. With the help of a site like Airbnb, it is easy to put the property up for rent. All you have to do is choose what your preferences and wait for the offers to flood in. For example, you can rent the whole house out for a few days, or just a single room. Whatever you decide, there will always be people looking to take advantage.
Making money legitimately is never easy, but it’s a lot easier with these tips.
Whether you’ve done it before or not, buying a home and planning a family move is a stressful time. The cost of rent is skyrocketing all over the country, forcing more and more families to reevaluate the next move they make very carefully. Many potential homeowners are looking at condominiums and town houses as possible substitutes for the traditional single-family home as they are smaller, more modern and will often have group associations that take care of chores like maintenance and landscaping.
The typical family home is no longer the norm, which makes a lot of room for alternative housing that is still just as valuable to the buyer and the overall family experience. Let’s take a deeper look into condos, town houses and single-family homes and weigh the benefits of each.
Image source Flickr
Condominiums
Depending on where you’re looking, you can usually find condos marked at a much lower price-point than single-family homes. They also usually come with desirable amenities that would not typically be affordable for an individual home owner, such as a swimming pool, golf course, or fitness center. Often even the physical location—if it is on a beachfront or close to a ski-resort—can be huge draws.
However, it’s important to note that condos do not appreciate in value at the same speed that houses do. When the time comes to sell, you may take a loss. The potential for depreciation of value over time is without a doubt the biggest downside of purchasing a condo. Especially if many of your neighbors are moving at the same time, you’ll have a hard time differentiating yourself from the competition and may have to sit on the property as it depreciates in value right before your eyes.
Town Houses
On the surface, condos and town houses are very similar. They are communities of homes that share walls and certain communal spaces. The major difference with town houses is that the owner will not only own the interior of the home (as is the case with condominiums), but the exterior of the building, which includes the roof, lawn and drive. When you buy a town house, there is an enhanced sense of ownership. Especially when compared to condominiums, which are essentially apartments that you can buy instead of rent.
Single-Family House
Let’s do an exercise. Close your eyes and imagine the ‘American Dream’—it’s a pretty clear picture, right? A single-family home with a white picket fence and 2.5 children. It’s an image that has been around for a long, long time and isn’t going anywhere any time soon. They are a staple of the modern American suburb. They will typically come with a garage, a big yard, and all the privacy that comes with not having to share walls with anyone else.
However, with all that freedom and space comes the responsibility of maintaining it by yourself. Many people take pride in their lawns and over landscape of their yard, although this is not the case for everyone. Landscaping costs aren’t the only the additional costs associated with owning a home. For example, compare homeowners insurance quotes for all of the above and you will find that owning a home is much costlier than owning a town house or condominium.
Whether you opt for a condo, a town house or a traditional single-family home, the choice is ultimately up to you and what is right for your family. It depends on your stage of life, how much you’re looking to invest right off the bat and what you aim to do in the future.
However, there is no provision under existing law for the emperor to abdicate and be succeeded by Crown Prince Naruhito.
The bill will now pass to the parliament, where it is widely expected to be passed.
It would be the first time a Japanese emperor has stepped down since Emperor Kokaku in 1817.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on May 19 that the government “hopes for the smooth passage of the legislation”.
Emperor Akihito, who has had heart surgery and was treated for prostate cancer, has been on the throne since the death of his father, Hirohito, in 1989 and is loved and revered by many Japanese.
Image source Wikipedia
In a rare address to the nation in August 2016, Akihito said he was beginning to feel “various constraints such as in my physical fitness” which caused him to “contemplate on my role and my duties as the emperor in the days to come”.
The emperor is constitutionally barred from making any comments on politics, so he could not say explicitly that he wanted to stand down.
The bill approved by the cabinet on May 19 mentions the widespread public support for the emperor’s wishes, Japanese media reported.
It says that on abdication, Crown Prince Naruhito would immediately take the Chrysanthemum Throne, but that neither he nor his successors would be allowed to abdicate under the same law.
The government will set the date for the abdication, which is expected to be in December 2018.
Women are not allowed to inherit Japan’s throne and so Princess Aiko, the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito, cannot succeed her father.
A debate about whether or not a woman should be able to ascend the throne was triggered in 2006 when the emperor had no grandsons, but was postponed after a boy was born to the imperial family.
A US aircraft has been “unprofessional” intercepted by two Chinese Sukhoi Su-30 jets, the US military said.
One of the Chinese jets came as close as 150ft to the US WC-135 plane and flew upside down above it, according to US officials cited by CNN.
According to the US military, the plane was on a mission to detect radiation in international airspace over the East China Sea.
Tensions have repeatedly risen over US activity near the resource-rich international waters off China’s coast.
The intercept, which took place on May 17, was deemed unprofessional “due to the maneuvers by the Chinese pilot, as well as the speeds and proximity of both aircraft”, Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Lori Hodge said.
He said the issue was “being addressed with China through appropriate diplomatic and military channels”, and a military investigation was under way.
Image source Wikimedia
China has not commented on the incident, but it accuses the US of carrying out reconnaissance flights over Chinese coastal waters and regularly calls on the US to reduce patrols in the area.
It claims sovereignty over almost all of the disputed territory in the South and East China seas, though several other countries in the region have competing claims.
China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols.
The US plane has previously been used to detect evidence of possible nuclear tests by North Korea.
Separately, China and South East Asian countries have agreed a framework for a long-awaited code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea, China’s foreign ministry said, without giving details on the content.
The draft will now be submitted to the foreign ministers of the countries in August.
Over the years, the US, China and several of the South East Asian countries have had disputes over rival activity in the South China Sea.
President Donald Trump has reacted to the decision to appoint former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the inquiry into Russia’s influence on his election.
The president tweeted on May 18: “This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history.”
Donald Trump’s reaction differed from yesterday when he was quoted in a White House statement as saying: “I look forward to this matter concluding quickly.”
In naming Robert Mueller, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said it was in the public interest to pick an outsider.
Robert Mueller’s appointment has been welcomed by politicians from both sides.
“With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign and the Obama Administration, there was never a special councel [sic] appointed,” he tweeted on May 18.
President Trump later reposted the same tweet, after correcting his misspelling of the word “counsel”.
Image source Wikipedia
A number of times previously, President Trump has likened the investigation into potential collusion between his campaign and the Russian government to a witch hunt.
Donald Trump’s latest tweets came hours before he was to hold a joint press conference with the visiting Colombian president.
On May 17, Donald Trump said no politician in history “has been treated worse or more unfairly” than himself.
The announcement of a special counsel apparently took the White House by surprise, with President Trump only being informed of it after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had signed the order.
The FBI and Congress are looking into potential links between Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia. Robert Mueller will take over the FBI investigation.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that former Trump aide Michael Flynn told his transition team at the beginning of January – earlier than was previously thought – that he was under federal investigation for working as a paid lobbyist for Turkey during the election campaign.
Donald Trump appointed Michael Flynn as his national security adviser weeks later despite the warning, but he was sacked after just 24 days.
In his statement announcing Robert Mueller’s appointment, Rod Rosenstein said: “The public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.”
Robert Mueller, who will have wide-ranging powers, said simply: “I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability.”
Just over an hour after the news of Robert Mueller’s appointment emerged, President Trump predicted the new investigation would clear him and his team.
“A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know – there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity,” he said.
Soundgarden and Audioslave lead singer Chris Cornell has died at the age of 52, his representatives have confirmed.
He was also best known for performing the theme song to the 2006 James Bond movie Casino Royale, You Know My Name.
In a statement, Chris Cornell’s representative Brian Bumbery said his death was “sudden and unexpected”.
The statement also also said the family would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause and asked for privacy.
Chris Cornell died shortly after playing a concert with Soundgarden in Detroit on May 17.
Image source Flickr
The show was part of a wider tour and the group had a number of live dates scheduled for later this month.
Elton John led the tributes, tweeting: “Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of @chriscornell. A great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man.”
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page added: “RIP Chris Cornell. Incredibly talented, incredibly young, incredibly missed.”
Chris Cornell was born on July 20, 1964.
As a solo artist, Chris Cornell released four studio albums – most recently 2015’s Higher Truth.
2006’s You Know My Name, which was the theme song to Casino Royale, made him the first male American artist to write and perform the theme song for a James Bond movie.
However, he was perhaps most famous as the lead singer of Seattle band Soundgarden, which formed in 1984 and went on to release six studio albums.
In 2016, Soundgarden confirmed they were returning to the studio to record new material and a tour was announced for this year.
On May 17, the Fox Theatre in Detroit tweeted pictures of the band while they were live on stage.
Chris Cornell himself tweeted about the show that evening, writing: “Finally back to Rock City!”
In 2001, Chris Cornell joined rock Audioslave, which consisted of Cornell on lead vocals, together with Rage Against The Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (drums).
Audioslave released three albums, but disbanded in 2007.
Feeling relaxed in the morning seems to be an asset which only a few people get to experience. Most individuals protest because they don’t get enough sleep at night and feels exhausted when they wake up.
Despite the fact that sleep deprivation can be a medical condition, in many cases, insomnia is the outcome of living in inefficient environments. It means that the atmosphere in your bedroom may be keeping you from sleeping.
With hectic and stressful lives, our emotional, physical, and mental health depend on our sleep. If you are not getting enough Zs, here are some bedroom decorating ideas to help you get back to the time when sleeping was a satisfaction, and waking up was invigorating.
Clean Sweep
Remove the mess to have yourself some clear mind. Remember that at night, a filthy bedroom will have an effect on you. Even if you don’t notice it, you know the mess is there. Don’t leave items around or under your bed, and allow the area to breathe. Throw away those things that don’t do a real purpose and get rid of distractions such as overflowing dressers and open closets.
Balancing Act
Place your bed against a solid wall and face away from openings such as windows and doors to feel balanced and centered on sleeping. And use a well-built headboard to establish a sense of stability in your bed.
Mattress Upgrade
If you’re sleeping on an old and run-down mattress, consider getting a new one. Take a look at MattressNerd’s innerspring mattresses, they are a great choice for an upgrade.
Sleepy Colors
A relaxing and serene ambiance uses quiet and muted colors. These colors are soothing and can boost sleep and relaxation. Apply warm and cool shades and utilize neutrals to form a balance. Soft hues of blue, green, peach, and yellow are ideal.
No More Bright Lights
A comforting room that helps you sleep faster must be dark or with a soft lighting. Get dimmer switches that will enable you to manage the light in your room and switch it off when you’re getting ready for bed. Diminish lighting coming from the outside. Incorporate blackout liners on draperies to impede light from interrupting your sleep.
Lose the Electronics
You always bring your phone with you even you’re on your dining tables eating your meal, but you should keep any distractions away by eliminating all electronics inside your bedroom.
There might be cravings for using your laptop, watching television, and having your smartphone in the room, when in fact, they only make problems worse. If you need to have a television, conceal it in an armoire. As for your smartphone and laptop, you should only use them outside the bedroom.
All About You
You can design your bedroom with style and still stick to the ideas provided in this article. Opt for colors that soothe you and aspects which relax you. Use decorations that serve their purpose, but they shouldn’t interrupt your sleep.
Takeaway
The bedroom can be a multifunctional room because you can use it as a library or office, but in the end, it is a haven for sleep. Your bedroom should be the most luxurious and personal area in any home, and a soothing sanctuary that is beneficial to comfort and relaxation. Style does not hinder your sleep, and that’s because of a solid headboard against a solid wall, no clutter, and subtle colors.
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has been named special counsel to oversee an inquiry into Russia’s alleged meddling in the election and any Trump campaign ties.
In naming Robert Mueller, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said it was in the public interest to have an outsider.
The appointment was widely endorsed by politicians from both sides.
Calls for a special investigation had mounted since President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey last week.
The announcement apparently took the White House by surprise, with President Trump only being informed of it after Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had signed the order.
US intelligence agencies believe Moscow tried to tip the election in favor of Donald Trump.
In his statement announcing the move, Rod Rosenstein said: “The public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.”
Robert Mueller, who will have wide-ranging powers, said simply: “I accept this responsibility and will discharge it to the best of my ability.”
Just over an hour after the news of Robert Mueller’s appointment emerged, President Trump predicted the new investigation would clear him and his team. Previously, the White House had said there was no need for an outsider to lead an inquiry.
Image source Wikimedia
“A thorough investigation will confirm what we already know – there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity,” said President Trump.
The top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, said Robert Mueller was “exactly the right kind of individual for this job”.
However, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi was more cautious, saying: “A special prosecutor is the first step, but it cannot be the last.
“He cannot take the place of a truly independent, outside commission that is completely free from the Trump administration’s meddling.”
Republican leaders were also restrained.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the appointment “confirms that the investigation… will continue.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan said: “My priority has been to ensure thorough and independent investigations are allowed to follow the facts wherever they may lead… The addition of Robert Mueller as special counsel is consistent with this goal.”
Normally US prosecutors answer to the attorney general. However, for investigations into high-ranking officials in the executive branch the attorney general – or in this case Rod Rosenstein – can appoint a special counsel with greater independence from the executive.
However, while special counsels are free from day-to-day supervision by the justice department, they must notify the attorney general of any “significant” action and they would need to ask permission to expand the investigation beyond their mandate.
Robert Mueller has the authority to investigate not only links or co-ordination between Russia and Trump campaign officials, but also “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation”.
The role should not be confused with that of independent counsel, a role introduced in legislation by Congress after the 1970s Watergate scandal.
Appointed by a three-judge panel, the independent counsel operated outside the jurisdiction of the justice department.
However, after the experiences of the Iran-Contra investigation during the Reagan administration and the inquiry into President Bill Clinton’s Whitewater land deal, the law fell out of favor with both Republicans and Democrats, and Congress failed to renew it in 1999.
President Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was forced out in February after he misled the vice-president about his conversations with Russia’s ambassador before Donald Trump took office.
Robert Mueller, 72, served as FBI director for 12 years under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama as the longest serving bureau chief since J. Edgar Hoover.
Princess Mako of Japan will lose her royal status by marrying a commoner.
The 25-year-old eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito will become engaged to law firm worker Kei Komuro, also 25, whom she met while studying together.
Japan’s imperial law requires a princess to leave the royal family after marrying a commoner.
The move is expected to reignite debate on royal succession, with the emperor also possibly abdicating soon.
Princess Mako and Kei Komuro met in 2012 at a restaurant, when they were both studying at the International Christian University in Tokyo.
Image source Wikimedia
The Imperial Household told local media that plans were under way for the princess’s engagement.
According to AP, a public announcement will be made, and then a wedding date will be set. The news agency said the couple would also make a formal report to the emperor and empress.
The engagement will only be official after a ceremonial exchange of gifts, local media said.
Asked about their engagement plans, Kei Komuro on May 17 was quoted as saying: “Now is not the time for me to comment, but I want to speak at the right time.”
Princess Mako’s aunt, Princess Sayako, married a commoner in 2005 – the first time a Japanese royal became a commoner.
Princess Sayako’s wedding to an urban planner for the Tokyo city government, was described as a low key event. She was left to adjust to her more humble surrounding.
The princess moved into a one-bedroom apartment, had to learn how to drive, shop in a supermarket and buy furniture.
Princess Sayako is the only daughter of Emperor Akihito.
Emperor Akihito, 83, hinted last August that he wanted to stand down, saying his age could interfere with his duties.
No Japanese emperor has abdicated for two centuries and the law currently does not allow it, but Japan is currently considering legal changes to allow the emperor to abdicate.
However, the new legislation is expected to leave unchanged a males-only succession law – which has been at the centre of debate for many years.
Because of that law there are only four heirs to the Chrysanthemum Throne: Akihito’s sons Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Fumihito, Prince Hisahito (Fumihito’s son) and the emperor’s younger brother, Prince Masahito.
After news of Princess Mako’s upcoming engagement broke, Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was quoted by Reuters as saying: “There is no change in our view to proceed with consideration of steps to ensure stable imperial succession.”
VW CEO Matthias Muller is being investigated by Stuttgart prosecutors in connection with the emissions scandal that erupted at the auto maker in late 2015.
It is the first time Mathias Muller has been named in connection with official investigations into the affair.
His predecessor, Martin Winterkorn, and the current VW chairman, Hans-Dieter Poetsch, are also under scrutiny.
However, at the time he was a board member of Porsche SE, the holding company which owns a majority of voting shares in the Volkswagen Group.
Image source Wikimedia
Mathias Muller was also chief executive of the Porsche sports car business, a subsidiary of the VW Group and Porsche SE.
The investigation is not looking into the causes of the scandal itself, but at how the board of Porsche SE, including Mathias Muller, responded to it.
Prosecutors suspect that executives deliberately delayed releasing information to investors about the scale of the scandal, as well as its financial consequences.
In the wake of the scandal, VW’s share price dropped dramatically. Investigators are examining whether executives knew about the magnitude of the unfolding scandal – which began in the US – but failed to inform the markets in a timely manner.
As a rule, executives are expected to keep investors updated as soon as potentially price-sensitive information comes to light.
Porsche SE said the allegations were unfounded, adding it had complied with disclosure rules.
The holding company is based in Stuttgart. It is owned by the Porsche and Piech families – descendants of Ferdinand Porsche, the man who designed the Volkswagen Beetle and founded the sports car business that bears his name.
Being in business can mean a lot of things. It can mean that your work for a firm, are involved in sales or development, or that you have your own company. But there is one thing that unites all of these, and that is the skills that you need to triumph. Read on to find out what they are.
Leadership
As they suggest at https://www.inc.com/, leadership is a vital quality if your aim is to triumph in the business world. This is because you need to be charismatic enough to get people to do what you are asking of them. This might mean that they buy your product. Or that your team does that little bit extra work to hit the deadline that is looming.
Also, strong personalities are usually well respected in the business arena, and being a good leader will contribute towards this. Remember if you want to get spotted you to be at the head of the herd, and not at the back.
Communication
Another skill that you need to be proficient at in the business world is communication. Not only do you have to be excellent at conveying your points for presentations and sales pitches, but you also need to be able to successfully build and maintain positive relationships with clients and suppliers over the long term.
Of course, that means your spoken and written language skills need to be on point, whether you are working in English or another language. To help you with this, you can take courses like the one on offer at EffortlessEnglishClub.com. Which will ensure you are fully confident in what you are saying and the accuracy and meaning behind it.
Now, negotiation is a skill that is close to communication, but it isn’t quite the same. Whereas communication is about getting your point across, negotiation is about finding an agreement in which both parties are happy. Basically, you are looking for win-win situations.
That means you need to be wary of anyone that says there can only be one winner in negotiation. As most are not done is such a hostile environment. In fact, a lot of negations will be with people that you work with on a day to day basis. So you want to make sure that both parties leave the dialogue as happy and motivated as possible.
Of course, another skill that you will need to triumph over your competitors in the business world is the focus. You can be the best at doing something, or have the best idea, but if you can’t edit and focus your attention on what needs to be done right at this time, then you won’t achieve your goals.
Many people think that focus is a talent, but it it’s something that can be learned just like anything else. All you need to do is find the right motivator or system for doing things. For example, some folks swear by the Pomodoro technique where you work for 50 minutes and then break for 10 to improve their focus.
