The group, which included student leader Joshua Wong, had staged a protest at an iconic sculpture symbolizing the handover.
Image source Reuters
The golden sculpture of a bauhinia flower – Hong Kong’s emblem – by the city’s harbor was a gift from China.
President Xi Jinping arrived for the three-day visit with his wife Peng Liyuan at Hong Kong’s main Chek Lap Kok airport. The couple was welcomed by a marching band and children waving flags.
In a brief speech on the tarmac, President Xi said Hong Kong was “always in my heart”.
Beijing’s central government “has always been a strong backer of Hong Kong” and “will, as always, support Hong Kong’s economic development and improvement of people’s lives”.
President Xi also said Beijing was “willing to work with all sectors of Hong Kong’s society in maintaining Hong Kong’s extraordinary journey these past 20 years”, and would “ensure ‘one country, two systems’ will continue with stability”.
Hong Kong was handed back from British to Chinese rule in 1997.
Beijing agreed to govern it under “one country, two systems”, granting the city its own legal system, limited democracy with multiple political parties, and rights like freedom of assembly and free speech.
However, China’s growing influence has been met with unease and concerns that the mainland could undermine Hong Kong’s more politically liberal traditions.
Activists have been campaigning for years for Hong Kong to have more political freedom.
Two of the smaller headlines – which promise stories on President Barack Obama, climate change, and the financial crisis – were taken from the genuine March 2, 2009 edition of Time, whose cover star was Kate Winslet.
Time has said there was no March 1, 2009 issue of Time, and Donald Trump did not feature on the magazine’s cover that year.
A spokesperson said the magazine had asked the Trump Organization to remove the fake cover.
The Washington Post, which first reported the story, said the mock-up had been displayed in two spots at Donald Trump’s resort in Doral, outside Miami.
It also hung in the members’ dining room at the Trump golf course in Loudoun County, Virginia.
Photographer Scott Keeler tweeted a picture showing it on the wall of the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
In an address from the presidential palace, Nicolas Maduro said the helicopter had flown over the Supreme Court and also the justice and interior ministries.
Officials quoted by Reuters said four grenades were dropped on the court and 15 shots had been fired at the interior ministry.
No injuries were reported but President Maduro said “a social event” had been taking place at the Supreme Court and the attack could have caused “dozens of deaths”. One of the grenades failed to detonate, he added.
Nicolas Maduro has placed the military on alert.
“I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace,” he said.
“Sooner or later, we are going to capture that helicopter and those who carried out this terror attack.”
The police officer identified himself as Oscar Pérez in video statements posted on the social media platform Instagram.
Appearing in military fatigues and flanked by armed, masked men in uniform, he appealed to Venezuelans to oppose “tyranny”.
Michael Nyqvist has died at the age 56, his family has announced.
The Swedish actor was best known for starring in the movie adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Michael Nyqvist played journalist Mikael Blomkvist in that movie and its sequels, which formed the Millennium trilogy.
He died on June 27 after suffering from lung cancer for a year, according to a family statement.
Michael Nyqvist’s love of the arts was “felt by all who had the pleasure of working with him”, the family added.
“Michael’s joy and passion were infectious to those who knew and loved him,” the actor’s family said.
“His charm and charisma were undeniable.”
They said Michael Nyqvist had left a “huge void behind him”, local media report.
Image source Wikipedia
The actor’s death was announced “with deep sadness” by a family representative who said that “one of Sweden’s most respected and accomplished actors” had “passed away quietly surrounded by family”.
The popular actor and writer began his training at the Malmö Theatre Academy in Sweden.
He was best known for his role in Dragon Tattoo (2009), starring as the investigative reporter who teams up with feisty computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, played by Noomi Rapace.
In a subsequent American version of the movie, his role was performed by James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
Michael Nyqvist later appeared in a number of Hollywood blockbusters. He played the villain alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and starred as Viggo Tarasov in John Wick with Keanu Reeves.
He went on to star in the 2015 movie Colonia, opposite Daniel Brühl and Emma Watson.
Michael Nyqvist also wrote an acclaimed memoir, Just After Dreaming, published in 2010, about his earliest childhood memories following adoption and how he later traced his biological parents.
Michael Nyqvist is survived by his wife, Catharina Ehrnrooth, and their children, Ellen and Arthur.
Stieg Larsson himself died in 2004, a year before the first of his Millennium trilogy crime novels was published.
The IMF has cuts its growth forecasts for the US economy due to uncertainty about White House policies.
The organization now expects growth of 2.1% in 2017 and 2018, against earlier estimates of 2.3% in 2017 and 2.5% in 2018.
The forecast is also below the 3% rate targeted by the White House.
Proposals such as cuts to spending on programs that benefit low and middle income households could lead to even slower growth, the IMF warned.
“The consultation revealed differences on a range of policies and left open questions as to whether the administration’s proposed policy strategies are best suited to achieve their intended purpose,” the IMF said.
The US is enjoying its third longest economic expansion since 1850.
However, the US is having trouble adjusting to the challenges produced by technology and demographic changes, the IMF said.
The US economy is also “effectively” at full employment, making further growth difficult, the IMF said. Meanwhile poverty and income divisions have inhibited demand.
The organization said it supported ideas such as tax reform, family leave policies and investment in infrastructure as a way to boost growth.
However, the IMF cautioned against some of the other measures supported by the Trump administration.
It urged the US to preserve the current system of financial oversight, maintain a commitment to free trade and retain recent gains in health insurance coverage.
The IMF’s earlier forecasts had assumed the economy would receive a boost from the Trump administration’s policies, but it has now dropped those assumptions.
The IMF said: “During the Article IV consultation it became evident that many details about these plans are still undecided.
“Given these policy uncertainties, the IMF’s macroeconomic forecast uses a baseline assumption of unchanged policies.”
A career in life is one of those things that can put a great amount of pressure on ourselves. We might second-guess our choices; we might feel pressured to jump straight out of college into a degree, we might chase pay at the cost of happiness. These things mean a career change is likely something that will happen in your lifetime – especially so if you have rushed into a decision. You might want happiness; you might want more flexibility. You might even want to do something else with your life. If you’re looking for freedom, why not consider a career built on long stretches of open road in some of the most rewarding fields known to mankind. Being a truck driver might something you’re looking to do.
As valuable as your choice is, it’s not the be all and end all – becoming a truck driver takes serious work and skills. You can’t just choose to be it and find yourself in the cab on the open road. You’ll need to work your way into a role. Logistics firms need drivers that they can trust, so you’ll need to be someone that they can trust if you want to drive a truck for a career! And hey, this role isn’t for everyone. If you don’t like being behind the wheel, you need to consider a different path – especially if you don’t like driving long-haul (think cross country). Not only that, but this is a solitary role, you’ll be on your own, and you won’t often be in big cities. You’ll have to be totally 100% prepared to be spending time with yourself.
You have to ensure you’re a responsible driver as well – accidents do happen on the road, but driving a truck is relatively safe – you need to be more worried about the smaller cars and motorcycles around you. You need to be aware of the road and aware of the vast power you are controlling, and you need to pay extra diligence to your driving, because it won’t be you that gets hurt in an accident. As for other things, you’ll need to nail down the numbers of a truck accident attorney, roadside repairs and all sorts of other services as a life on the road can bring up some surprising situations. It is not for everyone, especially not for those who dislike driving.
Truck driving isn’t just about pushing the pedal to the floor and driving from A to B. It’s going to require an intricate knowledge of road law and networks, it’s going to require communication. It’s going to ask a lot of your abilities not just as a driver, but concentrating for hours and hours at a time without a break. Certainly, you can find trucking roles that see you return home at the end of each day, but you’ll find a lot of long-haul jobs that could last for months. You might be responsible for loading the truck on your own at some points as well – so understand your role and make sure you meet the requirements.
According to a congressional report published on June 26, some 22 million Americans could lose their health insurance over the next decade under a Senate bill to replace ObamaCare.
The non-partisan Congressional Budgetary Office (CBO) said the bill would reduce the budget deficit.
Similar legislation passed by the House was also said to leave millions uninsured. Some Republicans have voiced reservations about the plan.
However, the White House disputed the CBO’s figures.
Image source Wikimedia
Responding to the report, it said: “The CBO has consistently proven it cannot accurately predict how healthcare legislation will impact insurance coverage.”
The report is a review of draft legislation unveiled by the Republican Party last week.
It is unlikely to be approved by Democrats, who see the proposals as cruel and unfair.
The CBO said that 15 million more people would be uninsured by 2018 under the proposed legislation than under current law, largely because the penalty for not having insurance would be eliminated.
President Donald Trump’s party is struggling to secure the 50 votes it needs to get its bill through the Senate when it comes to the floor.
The Senate bill would slash taxes for the wealthy offering less help for working families to buy medical insurance.
Republicans have rejected the notion that anyone will die as a result of their healthcare plan.
No matter how well planned we think our lives are, sometimes disaster strikes, an unexpected event which can change our lives forever. You ask yourself, “why me,” but there are no easy answers. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and we are left to pick up the pieces. If you have been through a distressing situation, you know that sometimes there are no words that can help, especially so close to the moment. However, there is always hope, and if you have suffered in the past, you may have the experience necessary to help others going through the same. In this article, we are specifically talking about being involved in an accident, but there is advice here for anybody who has suffered a trauma, or for any one of us who could one day face the pain involved. I hope the advice given here can help you.
Understand traumatic stress You may never understand why an accident happened to you, other than you being in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, it is possible to move on with your life when you understand the stress you are going through. Your body may have been hurt physically, but mentally and emotionally you are going to suffer. Have a look at this website, which covers some of the emotions you are going to face, and how you can eventually overcome them. Time does heal, and this includes your emotional wounds as well as your physical ones. There may always be scars, but the bulk of the pain will go away as you move on with your life. Legal justice No amount of money can replace the stress of the trauma you have been through, but as you seek to understand the meaning to what happened, seeking a legal resolution may help your peace of mind. You may risk a loss of finance from taking time off work to recover, and in the event of a car accident, your vehicle may have been written off. Therefore, seek legal advice. Auto accident lawyers are specialists in car injuries, and understand how the recklessness of others has affected your life. If the accident happened at work, you shouldn’t be afraid to take your employers to court as it is illegal for them to fire you. Seek justice, and receive the compensation you deserve to help you move on with your life. Focus on the positive There are positive things in your life, even though it may be difficult to see through the pain. Think about the people who love and care for you. Be thankful for having the chance to continue in life, despite the new challenges you may have to face. You don’t have to go it alone so draw close to your family and friends, and see a counselor if you have troubling thoughts. Dwelling on the negative is not going to help you in the healing process. Be kind to yourself, accept what cannot be changed and be grateful for the gift of life.
Salvador Dali’s body has to be exhumed to get samples for a paternity suit, a judge in Madrid has ruled.
A Spanish woman, Maria Pilar Abel Martínez, who was born in 1956, said her mother, a maid, had a clandestine affair with Salvador Dali in 1955.
In ordering the exhumation, the judge said there were no biological remains or personal objects of the surrealist painter to be used in the paternity test.
Salvador Dali died in Spain 1989, at the age of 85.
The artist was buried in the theater and museum he designed himself, in his home town of Figueres in the north-eastern Catalonia region.
Image source Flickr
Maria Pilar Abel Martínez, a tarot card reader who was born in Girona, made the claim for the first time in 2015.
The woman said her mother, Antonia, had worked for a family that spent time in Cadaqués, next to where Salvador Dali had a home.
Her mother then left her job in 1955, moved to a different city and married another man.
Maria Pilar Abel Martínez claimed that her mother told her several times that Salvador Dalí was her father, on many occasions in front of others.
“The only thing I’m missing is a moustache,” she once said, according to El Mundo.
At the time of the alleged affair, Salvador Dalí was married to his muse Gala, born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova. The couple had no children.
The decision also cites that Maria Pilar Abel Martínez underwent two paternity tests, both in 2007, but never received the results.
Her legal action is against the Spanish state, to which Salvador Dalí left his estate. The court said the decision could be appealed.
If the woman is confirmed to be Salvador Dali’s daughter, she could use his surname and be entitled to part of his estate – but Spanish media say she would have to legally request it.
Maria Pilar Abel Martínez’s lawyer said there was no date for the exhumation, but that it could happen as soon as July. The Gala Dalí Foundation has not commented.
South Korea’s sports minister had suggested a joint ice hockey team – even going as far as to suggest they might allow the north to host skiing events – to help make the 2018 games a “peace Olympics”.
President Moon Jae-in, who advocates greater dialogue with South Korea’s neighbors, then put forward the idea of a wider unified Olympic squad.
How Chang Un said the games should not be used for political purposes, adding: “As an expert of the Olympics, it is a little late to be talking about co-hosting. It’s easy to talk about co-hosting, but it is never easy to solve practical problems for that. It’s the same for forming a joint team for ice hockey.”
South Korean officials have said they continue to be open to the idea.
The two sides remain technically at war as the fighting at the end of the Korean War in 1953 did not end with a peace treaty. Tensions have risen recently following repeated missiles tests carried out by Pyongyang.
Presenting a professional image when you run a business needs to be one of your top priorities. If you don’t look like you want to be taken seriously, people are likely to pass you by and consider other businesses instead. There are so many small ways you can fail to look like a professional business, as well as bigger mistakes you can make. Avoiding these problems will give your business more of a legitimate air, so people will be more willing to consider it. If you’re not sure if your business looks as professional as it could, here are some of the things you might be doing wrong.
Sloppy Documents and Communications
The way you communicate with people can have a huge effect on how they see you. When you talk to someone in person or even over the phone, it can seem easier to make sure you’re projecting a professional image. But if you’re communicating through the written word, it can make it seem a little more difficult. Your emails, documents, and even instant messages need to carry the right tone and look good too. You can improve the documents you send with tools like invoice templates to help you be consistent. You can include your logo and a smart header and layout. Using an email signature is another way to be more consistent with your professional image.
Professional graphics are vital for any business that you want people to take seriously. While you might think you can draw up some simple graphics on your own, they’re often not as good as you think they are. Even when you pay someone else to do them, it’s important to make sure you don’t try to cut costs too much. If you’re only willing to spend a small amount of money, you’re not going to get the best quality. A professional logo is the least you need.
No Domain Name
This might seem like an obvious mistake to make, but many business owners don’t realize how important it is. People who might have come to the internet late often don’t pay attention to this step, in particular. The lack of a dedicated domain name makes your business look either out of date or very new. Even if you have a domain name, many people then fail to extend it to their email address. Asking people to email a Hotmail or Yahoo email address doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in your business.
No Business Contact Details
Does your contact page list a mobile phone number and your personal address and email address? Maybe you don’t even have a contact page. Making sure you have these details for your business makes you look better to your website visitors and to search engines. You can get a dedicated phone number using Google Voice and use a virtual address service if your business is based from your home.
Don’t make these mistakes if you want your business to look professional. Pay close attention to how other businesses improve their images.
Takata has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and Japan.
The Japanese car parts maker is facing billions of dollars in liabilities over its defective air bags, which have been linked to at least 17 deaths worldwide.
Some of the air bags contained faulty inflators which expanded with too much force, spraying metal shrapnel.
KSS CEO Jason Luo: “Although Takata has been impacted by the global airbag recall, the underlying strength of its skilled employee base, geographic reach, and exceptional steering wheels, seat belts and other safety products have not diminished.”
More than 100 million cars with Takata air bags, including around 70 million vehicles in the US, have been recalled since concerns first emerged in 2007. It is the biggest safety recall in automotive history.
The final years of anyone’s life can be challenging. There can be physical health issues that result in a loss of mobility and this can severely limit how you can get about. If you have an elderly relative (perhaps a parent or grandparent) who is experiencing this at the moment it can be very distressing to witness. Eventually, these health issues may make it impossible for them to live safely in their own homes.
Other senior citizens suffer from mental health issues. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are both increasing in incidence and are most common in people aged over 70 years of age. Sufferers become confused and disorientated and it can be very frightening for them to live alone. You may have space in your home and the time to look after them yourself. This is a big decision and something that you as a family must decide. However, your work and family commitments, or the size of your house, may mean that you cannot do this.
This is when you have to make the difficult decision to move them into residential accommodation. Nearly 1.4 million people in the U.S. live in nursing homes so this is a common issue facing many families. There are many nursing homes to choose from and you will want to pick the best one for your relative. Here are some things that you should look out for when you visit a nursing home.
Check on the food
Food is one of the great pleasures of life and can become even more important as you get older. If you are not busy doing other things, your next meal becomes very important. It is vital that it is something that you can enjoy. There are two things that affect how enjoyable the meal is. They are where you eat it and what you eat.
Take a good look at the dining room. Is it a pleasant environment to enjoy a meal? Would you be allowed to visit your relative and enjoy a meal with them? It is also important that your relative has the option of eating in their own room sometimes if they don’t feel like venturing into the dining area. Is the seating pleasant and is the dining room light and airy?
The food itself is also vitally important. It needs to be both palatable and well presented. It also needs to be suitable for each resident. Some may have allergies, some may be on low-sodium diets and some may need pureed food. All needs and requirements must be catered for.
It is also important that a record is kept of what the resident has eaten. Anorexia is a real problem in some elderly people. They lose their appetite and simply stop eating. This needs to be detected early on and interventions put in place.
Listen carefully when you are in the nursing home
Use all your senses to make up your mind about the home. You may hear crying out and shrieks but you should not be alarmed as this is common for residents with dementia. However, it is important to listen to how the staff talk to the residents. They should be addressing them using their names and not using names such as ‘Pops’ or ‘Gramma’ as this indicates that they have not bothered to learn the resident’s names. They should enquire how your elderly relative wants to be addressed. They may prefer a more formal ‘Mr’ or ‘Mrs’ to begin with until they begin to feel more relaxed.
What does the nursing home smell like?
This is a delicate subject. There will inevitably be some incontinent residents and this can present a challenge to the nursing home owners and employees. There will always be the odd accident but, to retain the dignity of the resident and to make it more pleasant for other residents, this situation should be controlled. If the home strongly smells, it means that the monitoring and cleaning regimes are not up to scratch.
The staff should not look stressed
If the carers are rushing around and don’t have time to talk to you, it could indicate that the nursing home is understaffed and this is a problem. It could mean that they do not have time to attend to your relative’s basic needs. It also means that they will not have the time to chat and comfort your relative and this makes a lot of difference.
Can you see any of the employees stopping and talking to the residents? Are they sharing a joke with them or taking the time to walk with them out in the garden? There have been instances where poor staffing levels have led to residents being neglected and suffering psychological or physical harm. You are perfectly within your rights to consult a nursing home injury lawyer if you suspect that this has happened to a member of your family. Your lawyer can investigate your concerns and prepare a personal injury claim if the home has failed in their duty of care. If you win your case, you will get some compensation and it sends a message to the nursing home that they have to improve their procedures.
Signs that things are going wrong
There are several signs that the care provided in a home is not up to the required standards. If several residents have physical injuries this may mean that they are being abused. It can also mean that they are experiencing trips and falls. Measures should have been taken to prevent this. Residents should not have bed sores. There are strict protocols that should be followed to prevent this from happening.
They should also look happy and content. There should be a variety of activities, both inside and outside the home, and there should be evidence that these actually take place. It is not enough for them to be written in the brochure, ask if you can visit when they are actually happening.
With the correct care, your elderly relative can enjoy their final years in a well-run nursing home.
Ed Sheeran has closed this year’s Glastonbury Festival at the Pyramid Stage, just six years after his debut at one of the festival’s smallest venues.
In 2011, Ed Sheeran played the solar-powered Croissant Neuf stage, playing “to about 500 people”.
On June 25, he closed the festival, attracting a much younger audience than Friday and Saturday’s headliners, Radiohead and Foo Fighters.
Ed Sheeran, 26, admitted he was “very nervous but very excited” to be there.
Image source Flickr
“For those of you who haven’t seen one of my shows before or haven’t heard one of my songs, please pretend that you know them,” the singer told the audience.
“For those of you who have, please sing all of the words.”
He added: “The aim of tonight is to lose our voices.
The audience took Ed Sheeran up on the challenge; joining in wistfully as he sang the ballads Photograph and Thinking Out Loud.
They didn’t quite keep up, however, with the spittle-flecked Take It Back – a whirlwind of wordplay in which Ed Sheeran declared: “I’m not a rapper, I’m a singer with a flow.”
Ed Sheeran played, as he usually does, without a band; using a loop pedal to layer his vocal and guitar lines and create a backing track live, on the spot.
He also invited traditional Irish band Beoga on stage to accompany him on Nancy Mulligan, a song about his paternal grandmother.
It was a moment that reeked of cheese but, watched from the side of the stage by his grandfather, Ed Sheeran made it seem genuine.
This year saw more pop and grime acts than ever, from Charli XCX to Katy Perry; from Wiley to Stormzy.
On June 25, the festival also saw sets from Royal Blood, Courteeners, Foo Fighters, The Jacksons, Radiohead and The Killers – who played a secret show on the John Peel stage on Sunday evening.
Generally, childhood is considered to be the best part of one’s life. Children are happy and free of the stresses that concern an adult. They do not suffer from emotional problems and mental problems, as adults do. However, research has proved over and over again that children experience similar psychological problems as adults. They also suffer from clinical depression and may be at a risk of committing suicide. According to an estimate, every hour 57 children and teenagers attempt suicide and every day 18 of these children and teenagers succeed.
These glaring facts definitely prove that mental illness is not just a creative imagination of a crooked mind. This also shows that parents need to provide them the special care and attention they need in order to prevent such mental illnesses.
Although some are biological in nature, some arise due to the circumstances they have faced while they were growing up. These illnesses can be taken care of if identified on time.
Depression
Prevalent in adults, depression is not rare or uncommon in children. Research shows that one in 10 children suffer from depression during the age of 6 to 12. Here are some facts about Australia alone. Its symptoms may be similar to those in adults such as hopelessness, excessive guilt, fatigue and change in sleep patterns. However, they may not be able to communicate their feelings. You can look for behaviors such as school performance, heightened anxiety and fear and constant wringing of hands. Depression can be caused due to biological reasons or may have its link with the family environment that the child is living in. For example, a divorce among parents, loss of a parent or an abusive parent might be some reasons triggering depression. It can be treated with therapy or antidepressants.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention deficit disorder influences the child’s ability to concentrate and learn. This is 10 times more common in boys and usually develops before the age of 7. However, it is diagnosed between 8 to 10 years of age. Symptoms include lack of concentration in running and participating in active games. The reasons can be biological or environmental. Environmental problems might include the exposure of the child to cigarette smoke and alcohol. This can be easily cured through therapy and medication.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder appears in children when they are separated from a parent or a sibling. It usually appears suddenly and is extreme in the sense that it may hinder the normal activities of the child. The child may refuse to go to school, leave the house alone and may shadow parents by following them around all the time. They may also have difficulty in sleeping. The reasons may vary depending on the environment the child is exposed to or the biological characteristics. Any stressful personal experience might also trigger such a disorder. It may be cured with detailed evaluation, therapy and medication. For troubled parents, it is better to consult with a family law Sydney for child custody, family violence and divorce cases.
Although, not an exhaustive list, these are some of the typical mental illnesses prevalent in children. When identified at an early age, they can be cured and the child would live a normal life.
Former Miss Italy finalist Gessica Notaro has returned to work as a sea lion trainer, five months after being severely disfigured by acid thrown in her face.
The 28-year-old said that she was doing so to encourage other women to fight back against bullying.
Gessica Notaro posted a picture of herself on social media with sea lions at the aquarium where she works in east Italy.
Her former boyfriend is being prosecuted over the attack but denies any involvement.
Gessica Notaro is scheduled to host the aquarium’s night-time performances later this year at the Adriatic resort of Rimini.
She was in danger of losing the sight in her left eye in the aftermath of the attack.
Gessica Notaro has had several operations since, and her injured eye remains bandaged.
In a Facebook post, the former Miss Italy finalist said: “My strength? Here it is,” as she touched a sea lion.
Gessica Notaro’s story caught the public imagination when she revealed her suffering on social media.
In April, she went on national TV to denounce former boyfriend Jorge Edson Tavares.
“I want you to see what he did to me. This isn’t love,” Gessica Notaro said.
“While the acid ate away at my face I was on my knees praying to God to take away my beauty but at least leave me with my sight.”
Gessica Notaro broke up with Jorge Edson Tavares last summer.
After she went to police to complain that she was being stalked, a restraint order was imposed on him.
On January 10, Gessica Notaro was doused in hydrochloric acid by a man she identified as Jorge Edson Tavares.
Jorge Edson Tavares has strenuously denied any involvement in the attack.
The United Nations has warned that Yemen is now facing the worst cholera outbreak anywhere in the world.
A statement by UNICEF and the WHO says the number of suspected cholera cases in Yemen has exceeded 200,000.
So far more than 1,300 people have died – one quarter of them children – with the death toll expected to rise.
UNICEF and the WHO say they are doing everything they can to stop the outbreak from accelerating.
Image source Al Jazeera
“We are now facing the worst cholera outbreak in the world,” the statement says.
“In just two months, cholera has spread to almost every governorate of this war-torn country,” it says, with an estimated 5,000 new cases every day.
The country’s health, water and sanitation systems are collapsing after two years of war between government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and the rebel Houthi movement.
The Houthi rebels control much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.
Hospitals are overcrowded and severe food shortages have led to widespread malnutrition, making Yemenis – especially children – even more vulnerable to cholera.
The UN says it is deploying rapid-response teams to go house-to-house telling people how to protect themselves by cleaning and storing drinking water. However, clean water is in short supply.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.
Most of those infected will have no or mild symptoms but, in severe cases, the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.
The war has left 18.8 million of Yemen’s 28 million people needing humanitarian assistance and almost seven million on the brink of famine.
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied any Russian interference into the presidential election.
According to the Washington Post article, President Obama was told early last August by sources deep within the Russian government that President Putin was directly involved in a cyber campaign to disrupt the election, injure Hillary Clinton and aid a Trump victory.
Image source AP
The Post said Barack Obama secretly debated dozens of options to punish Russia but in the end settled on what it called symbolic measures – the expulsion of 35 diplomats and closure of two Russian compounds. They came in late December, well after the election.
The paper reported that Barack Obama was concerned he might himself be seen as trying to manipulate the election.
The Post quoted a former administration official as saying: “From national security people there was a sense of immediate introspection, of, <<Wow, did we mishandle this>>.”
Measures President Obama had considered but which were not put into action included planting cyber weapons in the Russian infrastructure and releasing information personally damaging to Vladimir Putin.
President Trump tweeted on June 23: “The Obama Administration knew far in advance of November 8th about election meddling by Russia. Did nothing about it. WHY?”
The president followed that up with two more tweets on June 24, the second saying: “Obama Administration official said they “choked” when it came to acting on Russian meddling of election. They didn’t want to hurt Hillary?”
Donald Trump repeats the argument in an interview with Fox News, which will air on June 25.
“If he had the information, why didn’t he do something about it? He should have done something about it. But you don’t read that. It’s quite sad.”
Allegations of collusion between the Trump team and Moscow officials during the election have dogged the president’s first five months in office.
Donald Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling the investigations a “witch hunt”.
Media say special counsel Robert Mueller is also investigating Donald Trump for possible obstruction of justice over the Russia inquiries.
They involve Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey, who led one of the inquiries, and President Trump’s alleged attempt to end a probe into sacked national security adviser Mike Flynn.
Qatar has rejected a list of 13 conditions set by four Arab states for lifting sanctions with its foreign minister saying it is neither reasonable nor actionable.
The Arab country is under strict sanctions from Saudi Arabia and its allies, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain. They accuse Qatar of backing terrorism.
Among other things, the four countries have demanded the closure of Al Jazeera TV, which is funded by the Qatari government.
Al Jazeera accused them of trying to “silence freedom of expression”.
Qatar has been under unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions for more than two weeks, with Iran and Turkey increasingly supplying it with food and other goods.
It denies accusations that it is funding terrorism and fostering regional instability.
The four countries also want Qatar to reduce its ties with Iran and close a Turkish military base, setting a deadline on June 23 of 10 days.
The government is reviewing the demands, a spokesman has said.
However, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, quoted by Al-Jazeera, said: “The US secretary of state recently called upon the blockading nations to produce a list of grievances that was <<reasonable and actionable>>.
“The British foreign secretary asked that the demands be <<measured and realistic>>. This list does not satisfy that [sic] criteria.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the demands were proof that the sanctions had “nothing to do with combating terrorism… [but] limiting Qatar’s sovereignty, and outsourcing our foreign policy”.
In a statement, Al Jazeera said: “We assert our right to practice our journalism professionally without bowing to pressure from any government or authority.”
Qatar’s main import routes – by land from Saudi Arabia and by sea from container ships docked in the UAE – have been disrupted and much of the surrounding airspace has been closed to its air traffic.
However, Qatar has so far avoided economic collapse by finding alternative routes.
Qatari citizens living in neighboring countries or with family living there have been hit harder, Reuters notes, because of ultimatums issued for them to leave.
Correspondents say there has been frustration in Washington over the time taken by the Saudis and others to formalize their demands.
At least 140 people are feared buried in a landslide in Sichuan province in south-western China, state media say.
According to local media, about 40 homes were destroyed in Xinmo village in Maoxian county, after the side of a mountain collapsed at about 06:00 local time.
Rescue teams are frantically searching for survivors trapped beneath rocks.
Image source Wikipedia
Pictures posted by the People’s Daily newspaper show bulldozers moving earth and large boulders as the rescue effort continues.
The landslide blocked a 1.2-mile stretch of a river, Xinhua news agency reports, citing local officials.
Local police told state broadcaster CCTV the landslide had been triggered by recent heavy rains in the region and that the situation was made worse by a lack of vegetation in the area.
Roads in the county were closed on June 24 to all traffic except emergency services, the news agency said.
In 2008, 87,000 people were killed when an earthquake struck Wenchuan county in Sichuan province. In Maoxian county, 37 tourists were killed when their coach was buried in a landslide caused by the earthquake.
President Donald Trump has questioned the neutrality of the investigator of the Russian interference in last year’s election.
President Trump said Robert Mueller’s friendship with James Comey, who had been heading the inquiry until sacked from his role as FBI chief, was “bothersome”.
Asked on Fox News whether Robert Mueller should step down, Donald Trump said: “We’re going to have to see.”
However, President Trump did call Robert Mueller an “honorable man”.
Robert Mueller was given the role of special counsel by the justice department to lead its investigation into alleged Russian interference after James Comey was sacked on May 9.
Robert Mueller has not given any details of his investigation but US media have reported he is investigating President Trump for possible obstruction of justice, both in the firing of James Comey and whether Donald Trump tried to end an inquiry into sacked national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Donald Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia, calling it a “witch hunt”.
The president did so again in his interview with Fox & Friends on June 23, saying “there has been no obstruction. There has been no collusion.”
He called the accusations of obstruction of justice “ridiculous”.
Asked whether Robert Mueller should recuse himself from the inquiry because of his friendship with James Comey, President Trump said: “Well he’s very, very good friends with Comey which is very bothersome. But he’s also… we’re going to have to see.”
Image source Wikimedia
President Trump also said that “the people that’ve been hired were all Hillary Clinton supporters”.
When Robert Mueller was appointed President Trump was said to be furious, but the special counsel won widespread initial praise from both Republicans and Democrats.
However, lately some influential conservatives have intensified their attacks, openly calling for Robert Mueller’s dismissal.
President Trump advocate Newt Gingrich urged the president to “rethink” Robert Mueller’s position, saying: “Republicans are delusional if they think the special counsel is going to be fair.”
The New York Times has reported that President Trump has considered firing Robert Mueller but has so far been talked out of it by aides.
Ten days ago, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: “While the president has every right to” fire Robert Mueller “he has no intention to do so”.
On June 23, her colleague Sean Spicer repeated there was “no intention” to dismiss Robert Mueller.
In his Fox interview, President Trump said: “Robert Mueller is an honorable man and hopefully he’ll come up with an honorable conclusion.”
Earlier this month, James Comey testified to Congress that President Trump had pressured him to drop the investigation into Mike Flynn.
Mike Flynn was sacked in February for failing to reveal the extent of his contacts with Russian Ambassador to Washington Sergei Kislyak.
James Comey testified he was “sure” Robert Mueller was looking at whether Donald Trump had obstructed justice.
According to media, Robert Mueller was also examining whether James Comey’s sacking was an attempt by the president to alter the course of the investigation.
On June 16, Donald Trump sent out a tweet appearing to accept he was under investigation, although later his aides suggested that was not the intention.
On June 22, President Trump also made it clear that he had not made secret recordings of his conversations with James Comey, despite an earlier hint to the contrary.
The president’s tweet came a day before he was required by Congress to hand over any such tapes.
Donald Trump had kick-started speculation of the recordings in a tweet he posted days after firing James Comey, saying: “James Comey better hope there are no <<tapes>> of our conversations.”
Allegations of collusion between the Trump team and Moscow officials during the election have dogged the president’s first five months in office.
Investigators are looking into whether Russian cyber hackers targeted US electoral systems in order to help Donald Trump win – something Moscow has strongly denied.
Johnny Depp appeared to threaten President Donald Trump during a speech at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
The star asked the audience, as he introduced a screening of his film The Libertine: “Can you bring Trump here?”
After receiving jeers from the crowd, Johnny Depp added: “You misunderstand completely. When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?”
He added: “I want to clarify, I’m not an actor. I lie for a living [but] it’s been a while. Maybe it’s about time.”
Johnny Depp acknowledged that his comments – which may have been a reference to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth in 1865 – would prove controversial.
“By the way, this is going to be in the press and it’ll be horrible,” he said.
“It’s just a question, I’m not insinuating anything.”
Johnny Depp is not the first celebrity to allude to killing the president.
At a rally in Washington DC, Madonna said she thought “an awful lot about blowing up the White House” and Snoop Dogg shot a toy gun at a Donald Trump character in a music video.
However, on social media, some have criticized Johnny Depp’s comments – which come days after a gunman shot and injured Republican congressman and four others in Virginia.
According to ABC News, the Secret Service is aware of Johnny Depp’s comments,.
Glastonbury audience met Johnny Depp’s comments about President Trump with laughter, albeit mixed with shock.
Johnny Depp – wearing distressed jeans and a black fedora – was mobbed by fans as he arrived at Worthy Farm.
Due to the secretive nature of all of North Korea’s military activity, it is hard for experts to assess how close the country is to building a reliable ICBM.
On June 21, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged China to use more diplomatic pressure on North Korea “if they want to prevent further escalation in the region”.
China is seen as North Korea’s main ally and the US hopes Beijing can have greater influence on the totalitarian state to stop both its missile tests and nuclear program.
President Donald Trump has said he would like to solve the North Korea crisis diplomatically, but has previously warned that a “major, major conflict” is possible.
Tensions spiked once again last week when American student Otto Warmbier, who was serving a hard labor sentence in North Korea for stealing a propaganda sign, died shortly after returning home in a coma.
The US has also ramped up its military presence in the region, conducting drills with Japan as well as South Korea, and is installing a controversial missile defense system in South Korea, known as Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD).
However, South Korea recently said it was suspending the further deployment of the system until an environmental assessment was completed.
Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of South Korea’s former President Park Geun-hye, has been jailed for three years for corruption.
Her conviction for soliciting favors for her daughter is the first in a wide-reaching influence-peddling scandal which brought down President Park Geun-hye.
She also faces charges that she accepted bribes for Park Geun-hye.
Park Geun-hye has denied all allegations of corruption.
Choi Soon-sil was found guilty of using her position to influence officials at a university to admit her daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, as well as give her daughter grades for papers or exams she never took.
Image source Getty Images
According to the Yonhap news agency, the court stated in its verdict that “she committed too much wrongdoing to consider the actions were out of love as a mother who wants the best for her child”.
Two former officials at the prestigious Ewha Womans University in Seoul have also been jailed for colluding with Choi Soon-sil.
Choi Soon-sil still faces other charges including abuse of authority, coercion, attempted coercion and attempted fraud.
Prosecutors say Chung Yoo-ra, a 21-year-old award-winning dressage rider, was involved in economic crimes, exam fraud, obstructing business and concealing criminal proceeds.
She has denied all these accusations and said she had no knowledge of her mother’s dealings, including those with Park Geun-hye.
She is currently not in detention in Seoul. On June 20, a local court said there was no need to detain her and refused the prosecution’s request for an arrest warrant.
Choi Soon-sil is on trial accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit foundations she controlled.
In exchange, it is alleged they received preferential treatment from the government.
Park Geun-hye is alleged to have been personally involved, instructing Choi Soon-sil and two presidential aides to collect money for the launch of the foundations.
The claims have swept up some of South Korea’s biggest companies, including electronics giant Samsung.
Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong is on trial. Several other Samsung executives and former presidential aides are also either facing trial or are under investigation.
Choi Soon-sil is also accused of having received confidential government documents from Park Geun-hye.
Park Geun-hye was arrested in April and preliminary hearings began in May.
The former leader has previously admitted to some lapses, such as consulting Choi Soon-sil for advice and letting her edit presidential speeches, and has apologized for them.
The House Intelligence Committee had earlier this month asked the White House to hand over any such recordings.
Image source Flickr
James Comey was heading the FBI inquiry into alleged Russian interference in last year’s presidential election, and whether the Trump team had any links to Russia, when he was fired on May 9.
In the days that followed, a succession of stories appeared in US newspapers with allegations surrounding a private meeting President Trump had with James Comey in the Oval Office in February.
It was in that context that President Trump sent his tweet, hinting that there were tapes of the conversation.
Appearing before Congress earlier this month, James Comey confirmed he had been asked by the president to “let go” any possible prosecution of Mike Flynn for lying to federal agents about a conversation with the Russian ambassador.
James Comey said he was also asked by the president in no uncertain terms to give assurances that he would be loyal.
When asked whether he thought the conversation had been recorded, James Comey replied: “Lordy, I hope there are tapes.”
