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Boko Haram Releases 82 Chibok Girls After Negotiations

Roy Siemens
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Boko Haram Releases 82 Chibok Girls After Negotiations

Boko Haram has released 82 schoolgirls from a group of 276 they abducted in north-eastern Nigeria three years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari’s office says.

The girls were handed over in exchange for Boko Haram suspects after negotiations.

They will be received by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on May 7, a statement said.

The abduction of the so-called “Chibok girls” triggered a global outcry and sparked a huge social media campaign.

Before the latest release, about 195 of the girls were still missing.

The number of Boko Haram suspects released by authorities remains undisclosed.

Christian pastor Enoch Mark, whose two daughters were among those kidnapped, told AFP: “This is good news to us. We have been waiting for this day. We hope the remaining girls will soon be released.”

It was unclear whether his daughters had been freed.

A statement from a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari said he was deeply grateful to “security agencies, the military, the Government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and local and international NGOs” for playing a role in the operation.

After the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state, was raided in April 2014, more than 50 girls quickly escaped and Boko Haram then freed another 21 in October 2016, after negotiations with the Red Cross.

The campaign for the return of the girls drew the support of then First Lady Michelle Obama and many Hollywood stars.

Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said the Nigerian government remained “in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed”.

Many of the Chibok girls were Christian, but were encouraged to convert to Islam and to marry their kidnappers during their time in captivity.

Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of other people during its 8-year insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic caliphate in north-eastern Nigeria.

More than 30,000 others have been killed, the government says, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee from their homes.

Salvează

C919: China’s First Big Jetliner Completes Maiden Flight

Clyde K. Valle
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C919: China’s First Big Jetliner Completes Maiden Flight

The C919, China’s first large domestically made passenger aircraft has completed its maiden flight, mounting a major challenge to Boeing and Airbus.

After about 90 minutes in the air the C919 landed safely back at Pudong airport in Shanghai.

The plane is a key symbol of Beijing’s soaring ambitions to enter the global aviation market.

Made by state-owned company COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), it has been in planning since 2008 but the flight was repeatedly pushed back.

For May 5 maiden flight, the C919 carried only its skeleton crew of five pilots and engineers and took off in front of a crowd of thousands of dignitaries, aviation workers and enthusiasts.

Image source COMAC

Ahead of the flight, state TV said the plane would fly at an altitude of only 3,000m (9,800 feet), some 7,000m lower than a regular trip, and reach a speed of around 300km/h (186mph).

The Chinese plane is designed to be a direct competitor to Boeing’s 737 and the Airbus A320.

In an interview carried out in March but released on Chinese TV shortly before the launch, test pilot Cai Jun said he had full confidence in the plane.

“A pilot knows clearly the condition of a plane. He knows very well whether it will work. So I’m not afraid at all, but focusing more on whether the plane is in its best shape now,” he said.

Cai Jun also described halting an earlier taxiing test in late 2016 because of a problem with the brakes.

“It’s just like driving a car. I put the brakes on, and the plane started to shake,” he said.

The pilot said he had had to argue with the plane’s engineers help refine the design.

“For the designers, the plane is their baby, which they believe is perfect. But our task is to tell them that their baby is not perfect, it has strengths and weaknesses, and they have to make improvements,” Cai Jun said.

The C919 still relies on a wide array of imported technology though, it is for instance powered by engines from French-US supplier CFM International.

Orders have already been placed for more than 500 of the planes, with commitments from 23 customers, say officials, mainly Chinese airlines. The main customer is China Eastern Airlines.

Europe’s aviation safety regulator has started the certification process for the C919 – a crucial step for the aircraft to be successful on the international market.

China has had ambitions to build its own civil aircraft industry since the 1970s, when leader Mao Zedong’s wife, Jiang Qing, personally backed a project.

However, the Y-10, built in the late 1970s, was impractical due to its heavy weight and only three of the aircraft were ever made.

It is estimated that the global aviation market will be worth $2 trillion over the next 20 years.

Stephen Colbert Investigated by FCC over Anti-Trump Joke

Sonia Pantiss
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Stephen Colbert Investigated by FCC over Anti-Trump Joke

Stephen Colbert is to be investigated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over a joke about President Donald Trump.

The FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the commission received several complaints about the monologue, which some viewers branded homophobic.

It concerned references involving Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

On Twitter, angry users set hashtag #FireColbert trending worldwide.

Ajit Pai told radio host Rich Zeoli he had now had a chance to watch the controversial clip, which aired on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show on May 1.

“We have received a number of complaints,” he said.

Image source Wikimedia

“We’ll follow the standard operating procedures, as we always do, and make sure we evaluate what the facts are and apply the law fairly and fully.”

CBS could be fined if the FCC decides that Stephen Colbert’s joke was indecent.

The FCC definition includes remarks that appeal to “an average person’s prurient interest and, taken as a whole, lack serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value”.

Despite demands for him to be fired over the alleged slur, Stephen Colbert said on May 3 that he would change “some of the words” in the monologue but did not regret it.

Stephen Colbert then offered an olive branch to the LGBT community, saying: “Anyone who expresses their love for another person in their own way is, to me, an American hero.”

One Trump supporter who took part in the movement #GaysForTrump, tweeted on May 3 that Stephen Colbert’s original rant was “homophobic” and “disgusting”, while others repeated calls for his sacking.

However, many defended the comedian.

Others noted that Donald Trump had himself been recorded using inappropriate language.

Former Republican Governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee argued that Stephen Colbert should be protected by the First Amendment, which enshrines the right to free speech in the US.

5 Key Areas Of Business To Channel Your Focus

Dana R
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5 Key Areas Of Business To Channel Your Focus

https://www.pexels.com/photo/architecture-building-business-city-316879/

Running a business comes with a lot of complexities. Not only do you need to be able to wear a bunch of different hats, you have to be able to excel in a range of different areas if you want succeed. Whether you choose to outsource some of the responsibility or take on some of the tasks yourself, you’ll often find that there are five key areas of business to focus on in order to grow your business and see it flourish. To harness your business’ potential power, here is where you should be channeling your efforts.

Customers

Your customers should always be your primary focus. Without them, you have no business. Whether you operate in B2B markets or a consumer based industry, without the people that are prepared to part with money for your product or service, you can not find success. So, you need to be able to focus on understanding your customer by doing your own research or using something like shopper lab and tailoring your marketing and sales efforts towards their needs.

Promotions

Your promotional activity can see you through hard times and help to grow your customer base. But, for your marketing to be successful, you need to be able to ensure it is both targeted and integrated. By making sure that your efforts are tailored to your customer market segment and consistent across all of your marketing channels, you’ll stand a better chance at not only targeting the right people but winning their business too.

Employees

Regardless of your business operations or industry, your employees will always be the backbone of your business. Not only do they make the day to day running possible, but they can often be responsible for some of your successes. Keeping your employees safe, content and nurtured is crucial in any business. If you want to do well, your employees need to be looked after. People work for people, and people make a business what it is. Focus on training, offer benefits and above all else, always be a fair boss.

Suppliers

Whether you offer a service or a product, your supplies will always hold a certain level of power. Even if you have a great relationship, you will always find that what they do is crucial to your operations. It’s in your best interest to channel efforts into keeping your suppliers happy. You might need to push down costs or ask for a higher quality of supply in the future, and without a strong relationship, they may not be inclined to help you out with that.

Profits

In business, your profits are everything. Without a profit, it’s not justifiable to be in business. So, alongside nurturing the four other key areas of your business, you need to be able to keep the idea of maximizing profits at the center of what you do. Whether that’s negotiating better overheads, running a killer promotion, or hiring a new member of staff – if it’s not going to improve your profits now or in the future, you may need to rethink taking any action.

France Elections 2017: Emmanuel Macron Targeted By Massive Hacking Attack

Diane A. Wade
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France Elections 2017: Emmanuel Macron Targeted By Massive Hacking Attack

Emmanuel Macron’s campaign says it has been the target of a “massive hacking attack” after a trove of documents was released online.

The campaign of French presidential candidate said that genuine files were mixed up with fake ones in order to confuse people.

It said it was clear that hackers wanted to undermine Emmanuel Macron ahead of May 7 second round vote.

The centrist will face off against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

The documents were leaked on a file sharing website on May 5 and the Macron camp condemned the action just before the official campaigning period ended at midnight.

Candidates and the media now face restrictions until the polls close on May 7, meaning Emmanuel Macron cannot issue further statements.

Opinion polls had indicated the former economy minister carried a lead of 20 percentage points or more over Marine Le Pen.

About nine gigabytes of data were posted online by an anonymous user.

Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche movement said internal campaign documents, including emails and financial data, had been taken in an “act of massive, co-ordinated hacking”.

“The leaked files were obtained several weeks ago by hacking personal and professional email accounts of several officials of the movement,” the party said in a statement.

Image source Wikimedia

The campaign said the documents showed only legitimate campaign activities.

France’s election commission warned that publication or republication of the leaked information could be a criminal offence.

That too remains unclear. The Macron camp has not blamed any specific party but said the hack clearly aimed to damage it and undermine French democracy.

It compared it to the leak of Democratic Party emails in last year’s US presidential election that was blamed on Russian hackers.

WikiLeaks, which published those emails, posted a link to the Macron documents on Twitter but implied it was not responsible.

Emmanuel Macron’s team has already been the victim of hacking attacks, for which it has blamed groups based in Russia and Ukraine. It suspects the Kremlin of wanting to help Marine Le Pen, who supports a pro-Moscow foreign policy.

Macron campaign servers went down for several minutes in February after attacks apparently originating in Ukraine. Last month, security experts from the company Trend Micro said that Russian hackers were targeting Emmanuel Macron’s campaign, using phishing emails, malware and fake net domains in an attempt to grab login names, passwords and other credentials of campaign staff.

Russia has denied that it is behind attacks aimed at Emmanuel Macron.

On May 4, Emmanuel Macron filed a lawsuit over online rumors that he had a secret bank account in the Caribbean.

The centrist candidate called the allegations “fake news and lies” and said some of the sites spreading them were “linked to Russian interests”.

Separate security alerts in and around Paris marred May 5 final scramble by the candidates to court voters.

A suspected radical Islamist possessing weapons and a pledge of allegiance to ISIS was arrested north of Paris.

Greenpeace activists scaled the Eiffel Tower to unfurl a banner, sparking an emergency police meeting.

French voters have rejected the two big political parties – the Socialists and the Republicans – that have governed for decades.

Voters will be making a decision on the country’s future direction and on its place at the heart of the EU.

If they opt for liberal Emmanuel Macron, they will be backing a candidate who seeks EU reform as well as deeper European integration, in the form of a eurozone budget and eurozone finance ministers.

If instead they choose far-right Marine Le Pen she promises quite the opposite. She wants a Europe of nations to replace the EU.

“I give myself six months to negotiate with the EU the return of sovereignty. Then it will be the French who decide,” Marine Le Pen tweeted.

The assumption is that Marine Le Pen would fail and a referendum would take place initially on France’s membership of the euro.

After the Brexit vote in the UK and the election of President Donald Trump, France is the latest country to deal a blow to politics as usual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57s055REz3M

France Bans Underweight Models

Lisa.Felice
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France Bans Underweight Models

A law banning the use of unhealthily thin fashion models has come into effect in France.

According to the new law, models will need to provide a medical certificate attesting to their overall physical health, with special regard to their body mass index (BMI).

BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height.

France’s health ministry says the aim is to fight eating disorders and inaccessible ideals of beauty.

Image source Wikimedia

Digitally altered photos will also have to be labeled from October 1.

Images where a model’s appearance has been manipulated will need to be marked photographie retouchée (English: retouched photograph).

A previous version of the bill had suggested a minimum BMI for models, prompting protests from modeling agencies in France.

However, the final version, backed by lawmakers in 2015, allows doctors to decide whether a model is too thin by taking into account their weight, age, and body shape.

Employers breaking the law could face fines of up to 75,000 euros ($82,000) and up to six months in jail.

France is not the first country to legislate on underweight models – Italy, Spain and Israel have all done so.

Anorexia affects between 30,000 to 40,000 people in France, 90% of whom are women.

Growing a Landscaping Business: What you Need to Know

Dana R
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Growing a Landscaping Business: What you Need to Know

Are you a landscaper looking to grow your business? It is no easy feat to get a landscaping business off of the ground and running efficiently and properly. If you have managed to achieve it, then it’s time to look at the next phase of your company’s lifecycle; growth.

Growing a Landscaping Business the Right Way

You are now at a new crossroads. The survival stage of your business cycle has ended and it’s time to begin growing a landscaping business that is profitable and sustainable. The crux of growth comes from establishing systems and policies within your business.

The systems and policies must provide clear instructions on the operations of your business. Every business activity must be logged to enable you to track your business data. This data provides you the information on where you need to focus on improvement and where you are doing well.

People are the other major impact on your business. Hiring the right people can increase productivity and profit. Unfortunately, poor hires can sometimes cost your business time and money.

Establishing clear policies on hiring and human resources is a crucial area to concentrate on when growing a landscaping business. By creating exact roles and functions of your people and benchmarks of what you expect in their performance, you can track their results.

Growing a landscaping business is determined by your own abilities to execute. You need to be constantly aware of areas in your business that need your attention. Managing the growth of your business can be as challenging as planning it. Make sure that you work with the best people to ensure your chances of success.

Image result for Landscaping Business

You Need a Solid Plan for Growing a Landscaping Business

These systems and policies must be included in your business plan. Things have now taken a new direction for your landscaping business and you need to take this time to adjust your plan.

Adjustments are everything and forming your new plan will require you to review and update all of your business goals and milestones. If you have business mentors, then use their knowledge and experience to help you with updating your business plan.

Mentors can help reduce your learning curve dramatically. You can benefit from their past mistakes and the lessons they have learned. Take this lessons and use them in your own business.

5 Quick Tips for Growing a Landscaping Business

  1. Evaluate your position. Where are you now and what has been the keys to your business survival?
  2. Know where you want to go. What are your new goals for this phase of your business?
  3. Think Big. You have made it this far, what if anything were possible?
  4. Write it down. Goals are just dreams until they are written down and focused on.
  5. Find someone to talk to.A mentor is the greatest advantage you can give yourself to ensure the achievement of your goals.

In Conclusion

Growing a landscaping business is an exciting opportunity. Leverage your resources and grow into the future with further success by using good planning and taking advice from those you trust.

Jordan Edwards Shooting: Officer Roy Oliver Charged with Murder

Nancy Clayson
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Jordan Edwards Shooting: Officer Roy Oliver Charged with Murder

Texas Police Officer Roy Oliver has been charged with murder after shooting teenager Jordan Edwards, who was a passenger in a car as it drove away from a house party in Dallas.

Roy Oliver opened fire on the vehicle, killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards, with a single bullet in the head on April 29.

Police initially said the car reversed “aggressively” towards the officer, but then admitted that was not the case.

The police use of lethal force against African Americans has been a subject of fierce protest and debate for years.

Image source Mesquite Independent School District

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for Roy Oliver’s arrest on May 5.

In a statement, the office said there was evidence to suggest Roy Oliver “intended to cause serious bodily injury and commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that caused the death of an individual”.

The tragedy unfolded after police responded to reports of underage drinking at a house party in Balch Springs, a Dallas suburb.

Officers were inside the home trying to find the owner when they heard what they believed to be gunshots, and people began to flee from the house in panic.

Jordan Edwards was with his two brothers and two other friends in a car that left the party at this time.

Roy Oliver opened fire with a rifle, shooting Jordan Edwards as he sat in the front passenger seat.

The police officer was fired by the department earlier in the week.

A vigil was held for Jordan Edwards on May 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXfp8qZ4Sis

Trayvon Martin to Get Posthumous Degree from Florida Memorial University

Nancy Clayson
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Trayvon Martin to Get Posthumous Degree from Florida Memorial University

Trayvon Martin will receive a posthumous college degree from Florida Memorial University, five years after the black teenager was shot dead by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman.

His family will accept a degree in aeronautical science on his behalf on May 13.

The Florida HBCU said it wants to honor the 17-year-old’s ambition to become a pilot before he died in 2012.

Trayvon Martin’s death prompted nationwide protests and a fierce debate about race relations in the US.

Image source Wikimedia

The unarmed black teenager was walking home from a shop in Sanford, Florida, when he got into an altercation with George Zimmerman.

George Zimmerman, the son of a white father and Hispanic mother, argued he acted in self-defense and with justifiable use of deadly force.

A jury acquitted George Zimmerman of second-degree murder in 2013.

Following the verdict, protests erupted in cities across the US including Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington and Atlanta.

Treyvon Martin case was instrumental in launching the national Black Live Matter social movement.

Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, Trayvon’s parents will accept the degree in Miami Gardens, where his mother went to school.

Roslyn Clark, the university’s president, said in a Facebook post the school was honoring Trayvon Martin for “his long dream and the steps he took during his young life toward becoming a pilot”.

“Sybrina, our alum, epitomizes strength and dignity as she uplifts other victims of violence while effecting change for a more equal and just society,” Roslyn Clark added.

Sybrina Fulton said she was “grateful” for her son’s honorary degree.

She said in a Facebook post: “In 1997 I graduated from FMU with a Bachelors degree in English with a minor in Mass Communications. It’s now 20 years later & now my son #TrayvonMartin will receive his Bachelors in Aviation, something he loved.”

Kanye West Deletes His Twitter and Instagram Accounts

Lisa.Felice
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Kanye West Deletes His Twitter and Instagram Accounts

Kanye West has deleted his Twitter and Instagram accounts, which had tens of millions of followers.

The reasons why were unclear but last November the rapper ended a tour early.

Kanye West had accused fellow rapper Jay-Z of trying to kill him and walked off stage after announcing he would vote for Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian, remains on Twitter and has 51 million followers.

Photo Instagram

She has been promoting her and her husband’s children’s clothing line.

Shortly after Kanye West’s accounts were deactivated, Kim Kardashian tweeted that he had hand drawn a logo for the clothing line.

Fans responded by pleading with her to persuade Kanye West to return.

The rapper had already adopted a quieter approach to social media earlier this year and reportedly deleted some of his previous pro-Trump tweets.

Kanye West’s breakdown also came after Kim Kardashian was robbed of jewellery worth an estimated €10 million ($10.5 million) in Paris in October 2016.

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

US Economy Adds 211,000 Jobs in April 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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US Economy Adds 211,000 Jobs in April 2017

US jobs growth was bigger than expected in April as businesses added 211,000 posts.

According to the US Department of Labor figures, the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.4%, compared with 4.5% in March.

The rebound in the jobs market could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in June.

The US economy needs to create 75,000 to 100,000 jobs a month to keep pace with growth in the working-age population.

An unemployment rate of anything under 5% is considered to indicate full employment. The rate of 4.4% is the lowest since May 2007.

The rise in employment was driven by the leisure and hospitality sectors, health care and social assistance, financial activities and mining.

The report also showed average hourly earnings rose by 2.5% year-on-year, although this was down slightly on March’s figure.

Recent GDP figures showed the US economy grew at an annual rate of 0.7% in the first three months of this year, the slowest rate since the first quarter of 2014, raising concerns that the economy could be weakening.

Earlier this week, the Fed kept its key interest rate on hold in a range of 0.75% to 1%.

However, central bank also said it viewed “the slowing in growth during the first quarter as likely to be transitory” and still expected economic activity to “expand at a moderate pace”.

Oil Prices Drop Further on Oversupply Concerns

Clyde K. Valle
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Oil Prices Drop Further on Oversupply Concerns

Oil prices have dropped further, adding to near 5% losses seen on May 4, as concerns about a worldwide supply glut resurfaced.

Brent crude fell 1.8% at $47.49 a barrel, while US crude dropped 2.1% to $44.58 a barrel.

Oil is at its lowest level since November 2016, when OPEC struck a deal to cut output.

Investors are worried that OPEC nations will fail to rein in output further at their next meeting later this month.

Oil prices down by about 15% since the start of the year, despite Opec’s agreement in November which cut output by 1.8 million barrels a day.

Photo Getty Images

Supply is still outpacing demand, with US oil production alone up by 10% since summer 2016.

It now pumps out some 9.3 million barrels a day – not far short of the two giant oil producing nations of Russia and Saudi Arabia.

OPEC and other oil nations are meeting on May 25 where they will discuss the success of the six-month cutback and whether it should be deepened.

Russia, one of the non-OPEC countries to sign up to the cuts, gave mixed signals on May 4 about whether it would continue.

Data released on May 2 indicated US crude stocks fell 930,000 barrels last week. Analysts had been expecting a drop of 2.3 million barrels.

The fall in crude prices hit global energy and commodity stocks.

On May 4, US oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil were two of the biggest fallers on Wall Street, dropping 2% and 1.3% respectively.

KPMG Investigated over Rolls-Royce Audit

Clyde K. Valle
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KPMG Investigated over Rolls-Royce Audit

UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has opened an investigation into KPMG’s audit of the accounts of Rolls-Royce.

The FRC will probe the accountancy giant’s oversight of Rolls-Royce’s financial statements covering four years.

It follows Rolls-Royce’s settlement of £671 million ($800 million) with the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in January over corruption allegations.

KPMG said it was co-operating and was “confident in the quality” of its work.

In a statement, the accountancy watchdog said: “The FRC has commenced an investigation under the Audit Enforcement Procedure into the conduct of KPMG Audit Plc, in relation to the audit of the financial statements of Rolls-Royce Group plc for the year ended December 31, 2010, and of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc for the years ended 31 December 2011 to December 31, 2013.

“The decision to investigate follows the SFO announcement on January 17, 2017, of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement between the SFO and Rolls-Royce which relates to offences including conspiracy to corrupt and a failure to prevent bribery.”

Image source Flickr

The agreements relate to bribery and corruption scandals involving intermediaries in overseas markets such as Indonesia and China.

Rolls-Royce first passed information to the SFO in 2012 after facing “allegations of malpractice” in the two countries, after which the fraud squad launched a formal investigation.

The aero-engine maker said at the time that its own investigations had found “matters of concern” in additional overseas markets.

KPMG, one of the world’s largest accountancy firms, said: “It is important that regulators acting in the public interest should review high profile issues. We will co-operate fully with the FRC’s investigation, which follows the SFO’s investigations into Rolls-Royce.

“We are confident in the quality of all the audit work we have completed for Rolls-Royce, including the 2010-2013 period the FRC is considering.”

The company has audited Rolls-Royce for 26 years, but is due to replaced in 2018 by PwC.

Rolls-Royce apologized “unreservedly” after the SFO settlement.

The SFO revealed 12 counts of conspiracy to corrupt or failure to prevent bribery in seven countries – Indonesia, China, Russia, Thailand, India, Nigeria and Malaysia.

Often described as “a jewel in the UK’s industrial crown”, Rolls-Royce makes engines for military and civil planes, as well as for trains, ships, nuclear submarines and power stations.

However, in addition to the corruption claims, Rolls-Royce has been hit by a string of profit warnings that sparked a tumble in the share price in the past couple of years.

TrumpCare: Republican Healthcare Bill Narrowly Passed By the House

Diane A. Wade
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TrumpCare: Republican Healthcare Bill Narrowly Passed By the House

ObamaCare is “dead”, said President Donald Trump after the Republican healthcare bill was narrowly passed by the House.

The 217-213 vote marked Donald Trump’s first legislative victory and goes some way to keeping a key campaign promise to roll back his predecessor’s law.

Democrats say the American Health Care Act will leave millions uninsured.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Republicans have indicated they will cast it aside and write a new law.

Protesters shouted “Shame on you!” as lawmakers left Capitol Hill after the knife-edge vote.

However, there were celebrations moments later on the White House lawn, where President Trump laid on a reception for Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Six weeks ago, the Republicans’ healthcare attempts appeared doomed when they did not have enough support to have a vote.

However, that bill has undergone several revisions to satisfy both the conservative and moderate wings of the GOP.

“Make no mistake, this is a repeal,” said a triumphant Donald Trump in the Rose Garden. ObamaCare, he added, was “essentially dead”.

“Premiums will be coming down, deductibles will be coming down, but very importantly it’s a great plan.”

The Democrats think the effect of this bill would be the opposite, stripping insurance from the poor, giving tax breaks to the wealthy and casting doubt on health provisions for the chronically sick.

Senator Bernie Sanders said: “Thousands of Americans would die because they would no longer have access to care.”

Groups representing hospitals and doctors have also expressed concerns about the Republican plan, which they say has yet to be properly assessed.

The ill-fated Republican bill in March would result in 24 million more Americans losing insurance within a decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said at the time.

One amendment added since then to placate conservatives means states can opt out of providing essential benefits such as cancer treatment and emergency room visits.

When $8 billion over five years was thrown in towards coverage for sick people who otherwise might face higher costs, several moderate Republicans changed course and backed it.

About 20 million Americans gained healthcare coverage under President Barack Obama’s 2010 Affordable Care Act, but Republicans viewed it as an overreach of the federal government and said patients had less choice and higher premiums.

The New York attorney general said on May 4 that he would challenge the bill in court if it became law, on the basis that it would deny people access to care.

The bill, if it becomes law, would mark a major overhaul in the US health system.

However, key elements could be ditched by Republican senators, who have said they will start fresh.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said she would like “a clean slate”, while Senator Bob Corker said the current bill has “zero” chance in the Senate.

Creating a Dream Deck in Your Backyard

Dana R
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Creating a Dream Deck in Your Backyard

The weather is warming up and we’re heading outdoors to soak in the sunshine. With spring in full force in many areas across the country, homeowners are looking for ways to entertain outside and take advantage of nature’s majesty. If you’ve always imagined having a luxury outdoor living space and feel the green monster of jealousy rear its head every time you see a home with a massive deck, it’s time to consider adding this gorgeous feature to your home. Make the most out of your yard and create a functional, comfortable hangout space for friends and family by following these tips for creating your dream deck.

Add a Water Feature

No yard is complete without a lush water feature. Why not include the relaxing sounds of bubbling waters and the soothing appeal of running streams on your deck? Whether you install a demure fountain or find a wall-installed waterfall, guests are sure to ooh and ahh over your design scheme. Add a small pond next to your deck or incorporate a water basin with a constantly refreshing flow of water. A high-quality water features adds an air of refinement regardless of your yard’s style or motif, and is an easy way to implement upscale appeal.

outdoor

The Right Lighting

If all goes according to plan, you’ll be wanting to use your deck late into the evening. Instead of sitting around with guests in the dark and dealing with the fire hazard of candles, install some smart lighting systems that are both energy-efficient and sure to complement the evening’s atmosphere. From string lights to exterior wall sconces, you’ve got plenty of options to choose from.

Add a Fire Pit

Want to inspire late night chats and keep the party going outdoors even in the cooler autumn months? Install a fire pit on your deck and make for a fantastic focal point that provides landscaping interest and functional heat. Check out the modern fire pits from StartFireDirect.com; with a bevy of styles, you’re sure to find an option that suits your deck design.

outdoor-living

Transition Your Landscaping Features

Don’t think of your new deck as disjointed from your yard’s vegetation. Extend landscaping features from yard to deck in a few simple ways. Plant vegetation and flowers in pots that you can place on the deck, install a lush plant wall complete with unique succulents on the exterior wall of your home, or leave an area open in the center of your deck for a tree or bush to grow from. The more you can blend your landscaping from yard to deck, the better. As you landscape, be sure to consider the ways you can conserve water and energy. Consider drought tolerant landscaping if you live in an area that’s low on water, and take a look at the natural turf options that are more realistic looking than ever. Check out www.renovateamerica.com. This company offers energy efficient and water saving landscaping upgrades through the HERO Program, allowing homeowners to finance important home improvements without breaking the bank.

Provide Some Overhead Shade

Spending hours outdoors sounds wonderful, but baking in the sun for that amount of time can prove to be a little too hot—and result in aching sunburns. If you’re looking for something a little more aesthetically pleasing than an old fashioned patio umbrella, consider building a pergola. Simply train climbing plants to stretch their way up these structures, and within a year’s time you’ll have lush shade and gorgeous vegetation in one nice package. If you’re considering a modern outdoor kitchen you will need shade but be careful to give the structure some vertical space for the heat coming off the grill and to protect food from the direct sunlight.

Consider an Outdoor Kitchen

Looking to transfer much of your indoor living into the great outdoors? Consider investing in a high-tech outdoor kitchen setup. Homeowners are increasingly interested in the idea of a staycation, and what better way to relax at home than basking in the sunshine while eating a fresh meal made with all the comforts of a chef’s kitchen on your deck? Wining and dining outside has never been simpler. We’ve long moved past the simple barbecue sets that were once a staple of nearly every American’s backyard. Instead, homeowners are installing kitchen counters outdoors complete with refrigerators, sinks, and barbecue features to drool over. If you’re the quintessential entertainer and love cooking up new concoctions, consider how you can turn your deck into a chef’s dream. Creating your dream deck is possible if you follow these tips and incorporate fantastic features. Make an investment in your property’s value and your family’s happiness with these stylish backyard additions.

Hidden Costs Of Buying A Convertible Car Like The Ford Mustang

Dana R
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Hidden Costs Of Buying A Convertible Car Like The Ford Mustang

For some people, the cost of buying a luxury convertible car like the Ford Mustang isn’t something that they have to think very hard about.The just open their wallets and get out the gold card! But for us mere mortals, the folks that can just about one, it’s a hell of a big decision to make. That is why we need to know about any hidden costs that might occur, as it could just be the deciding factor in whether we go for the purchase or not. Keep reading to find out more.

The call of the convertible

Convertibles are such wonderful cars, and the Mustang with its sleek look and great handling is no exception. You can really get the feeling of speed and intensity when you are driving with the top down.

mustang
Image

This sort of car is not just a way of getting from A to be B but also a real driving experience that most petrol heads enjoy. But traditionally, convertibles are known as being an expensive way to get around. Especially as there some costs that remain hidden until you dig a little deeper.

The cost of the car itself

For examples, the first cost that you need to consider is when you actually buy your convertible like the Ford Mustang is the price of the car itself. Not only do you need to be aware of when the new models are due to hit the showrooms, as this can decrease the price of the one’s issues before. But you also need to be aware of the seasonal change in price.

Logically, it makes sense. No one wants to buy a convertible Mustang in the middle of winter when they are not going to get any use out of it. Instead, folks are going to want them at the beginning of summer to take road trip vacations in; and enjoy the good weather.

But you can use this to your advantage if you are in the market for this sort of vehicle. As if you play the waiting game, you will be able to buy one at a reduced cost, instead of an inflated price. That is you have the foresight and patience of course.

Another way that it is possible to save on your convertible purchase is to expand your search location to try and grab a bargain on this type of car. You may just get lucky and find a bargain that little bit further away than you would have like. Luckily, firms like Shiply have covered carriers that are perfect for transport convertibles over a long distance without risking their interior or paint work.

Cleaning costs

Now, something else that might put you off investing in a car like the powerful and fast Mustang convertible is the cleaning and maintenance costs involved.

Unlike traditional cars that are largely protected from the elements, convertible are vulnerable to have their interiors damaged at any time.

It could be that you get caught in a rainstorm before you get the chance to get the top up. Or that someone decides to be a smart guy and throw their milkshake cup, that isn’t quite empty into your passenger seat!   

Things like this can cost a fortune to fix, and if they happen regularly enough can seriously affect your enjoyment in owning the car.

Prince Philip to Retire from Royal Duties

Lisa.Felice
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Prince Philip to Retire from Royal Duties

Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, is retiring from royal duties this autumn, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The decision was made by the Duke of Edinburgh himself and is supported by the Queen, a palace spokesman said.

Prince Philip, who turns 96 next month, will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August but will not accept new invitations.

The Queen “will continue to carry out a full program of official engagements”, the palace said.

Prince Philip carried out 110 days of engagements in 2016, making him the fifth busiest member of the royal family, according to Court Circular listings.

Image source Wikimedia

The duke is patron, president or a member of more than 780 organizations and will continue to be associated with them, but “will no longer play an active role by attending engagements”, Buckingham Palace said.

In the statement, the palace spokesman said the duke “may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time”.

Prince Philip attended Lord’s Cricket Ground to open a new stand on Wednesday and was heard joking at the event that he is the “world’s most experienced plaque unveiler”.

He is famed for off-the-cuff remarks he has made at royal engagements around the world over the years.

PM Theresa May said she offered the UK’s “deepest gratitude and good wishes” to the duke following his announcement.

She added: “From his steadfast support for Her Majesty the Queen to his inspirational Duke of Edinburgh Awards and his patronage of hundreds of charities and good causes, his contribution to our United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the wider world will be of huge benefit to us all for years to come.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wished the duke “all the best in his well-earned retirement”, saying: “He has dedicated his life to supporting the Queen and our country with a clear sense of public duty.

“His Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme has inspired young people for more than 60 years in over 140 nations.”

Prince Philip set up the awards in 1956 and they have become one of the UK’s best-known youth programs, with young people carrying out challenges to earn bronze, silver or gold awards.

France Elections 2017: Emmanuel Macron Wins Final Presidential Debate

Diane A. Wade
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France Elections 2017: Emmanuel Macron Wins Final Presidential Debate

Emmanuel Macron was more impressive than rival Marine Le Pen in last night’s final TV debate for French presidential debate, a viewers’ poll says.

The candidates traded insults for more than two hours, arguing over terrorism, the economy, and Europe.

The French broadcaster BFMTV found voters had a more favorable view of Emmanuel Macron than Marine Le Pen in most categories.

Emmanuel Macron was the “most convincing” of the pair in the opinion of 63% of viewers.

Marine Le Pen lambasted her rival for his finance and government background, accusing him of being “the candidate of savage globalization” and said his version of France “is a trading room, where it will be everyone fighting for themselves”.

In turn, Emmanuel Macron said Marine Le Pen had openly lied, proposed nothing, and exaggerated the concerns of the public.

“The high priestess of fear is sitting before me,” he said.

Image source AFP

Both candidates were hoping to make an impression on the estimated 18% of undecided voters in the first election the country has ever held without a candidate from the two traditional mainstream parties.

The second round run-off between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen takes place on May 7.

The BFMTV poll found that Emmanuel Macron was deemed the “most convincing” during the TV debate for two-thirds of those who voted for both left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the first round, and for 58% of those who voted for Republican François Fillon.

Emmanuel Macron also led among voters when they were asked about which candidate was most honest, most aligned with the voters’ values, and who had the best plans.

It was carried out among 1,314 people over the age of 18 who watched the debate.

Emmanuel Macron already enjoys a lead in the opinion polls, which predict he will pull in about 59% of votes.

However, Marine Le Pen hammered her rival on his record during the key debate.

On unemployment, which stands at around 10% nationally, Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that France had not tackled the problem – and Marine Le Pen asked why he had not handled it during his recent time as economy minister.

Marine Le Pen also accused Emmanuel Macron of complacency about the threat of radical Islamist terrorism.

“Security and terrorism are major issues that are completely missing from your program,” she said.

In response, Emmanuel Macron said the measures she proposed – “eradicating” Islamic fundamentalism by shutting down extremist mosques, and expelling preachers of hate – played into terrorists’ hands and the desire they have for a “a civil war”.

They also clashed on the future of the EU, where they have clearly opposed views.

Marine Le Pen has said she would call for an in-out referendum on EU membership, and in recent days declared the euro currency finished.

During the debate, the National Front leader said she would restore France’s national currency and give companies and banks an option on which currency to pay in – a proposal which Emmanuel Macron labeled “nonsense”.

“How can a big company pay in euros on one hand and pay its employees in another currency?” he asked.

Last night’s debate marked the last time the two candidates faced each other before May 7 vote.

Just two days of campaigning remain before reporting restrictions come into force late on May 5 – and remain in place until polls close on May 7.

House to Hold Vote on ObamaCare Repeal Bill

Diane A. Wade
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House to Hold Vote on ObamaCare Repeal Bill

The House will hold a vote on May 4 on a revised healthcare bill that Republicans hope will replace ObamaCare.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the leadership in the party was confident it had secured enough votes for the bill to pass.

The bill would then go to the Senate where it could face a more tricky passage.

President Donald Trump made the repeal of Barack Obama’s signature law a central campaign promise.

The president has played a personal role this week in persuading wavering Republicans to come on board.

Their first attempt at getting a healthcare bill collapsed in disarray in March, despite the party controlling both legislative chambers and the White House.

However, several key Republicans this week reversed course, partly due to an amendment by Congressman Fred Upton to provide $8 billion over five years towards coverage for sick people.

Image source Wikimedia

But Democrats said the amount was woefully inadequate.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said: “The Upton amendment is like administering cough medicine to someone with stage four cancer.”

Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of ultraconservative lawmakers, indicated the Upton amendment would not be a deal-breaker for them.

In March, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said 24 million people would lose health insurance under the bill, which is called the American Health Care Act.

The bill has been amended several times as Republicans have tried to balance demands from opposing wings of their party.

Conservatives want to see a complete rollback of ObamaCare, while moderates are concerned about losing voters who like the existing law.

President Barack Obama’s overhaul of healthcare extended insurance coverage to millions of Americans, but some have experienced rising premiums in recent years.

One of ObamaCare’s popular elements is that it bans insurers from denying coverage to patients who are ill with “pre-existing conditions”.

President Donald Trump has insisted the revised bill will keep that, although it is thought that states will be able to opt out of making that an absolute provision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzxKX2onplg

Health, People And Work: The Key To Making Life Better

Dana R
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Health, People And Work: The Key To Making Life Better

When you think of a better life, you may be imagining yourself in the jacuzzi of a millionaire’s villa with a glass of champagne in hand. While this may sound lovely – nobody denies it – the definition of a better life is a little more complex than that, see here http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/blog/the-meaning-of-better-lives.htm. Happiness and well-being are essential elements, just as much as education, income and the access to vital factors such as clean water and air. But if you were to boil a better life to its core meaning, it is a life that provides you with everything that matters:  A healthy sense of purpose, a quality of health and support, the ability to reach for better in terms of income and responsibilities, and the power to share your wisdom with the next generations.

Robin Sharma

Stay Healthy At Work

While it is understood that you need to work to guarantee a regular income, it is essential that your professional activity doesn’t damage your health. Indeed, your sense of purpose that comes from fulfilling tasks at work would be damaged, and so would be your health and your regular income too. In short, staying healthy at work is key to your happiness. All you need is to follow simple and straightforward tips, such as washing your hands to avoid any germ contamination, drinking plenty of water, and getting up regularly for a brief walk. This not only keeps your body healthy but your mind too.

Make People’s Life Easier

Sometimes, your work is about improving the quality of someone else’s life, especially helping them to gain access to essential services that could help them. A career in this kind of work environments helps you to visibly make people’s lives better day after day. Whether you choose to be a Samaritan in a public mental health center or a carer, it’s something that, with the right education – such as www.ultimatemedical.edu/program/health-and-human-services – can make a real difference in the community. Improving someone’s life is not only a great skill, but it is also the chance to give someone a fresh start anew. It’s telling them that they have a chance, and that is exactly what happiness is made of.

Care for others

Help People To Improve Their Skills

Having a chance in life starts at a young age, at school already. If you have children, your role as a parent goes beyond driving them to school every morning. You need to help them to learn the skills they need to decide of their future. The first lesson is that failing is part of the journey. Failing, even at a test, is not important, assuming that you show them that they can learn from it and improve their score. Developing a learning attitude can improve a child’s performance, and give them better options to build a happy life in future.

Teach Tolerance To Your Children

Finally, tolerance is an important lesson to make life better. At the core of happiness and of everything that matters in life, leaving no room for discrimination – whether racial, sexual, or other – maintains your happy status. It is not about parenting skills, but about helping people of all age to improve and look at life in its full beauty.

A lesson of tolerance

France Elections 2017: Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron in Final TV Debate

Diane A. Wade
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France Elections 2017: Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron in Final TV Debate

Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron go head to head on in a TV debate seen as the climax of a long and bitter campaign for France’s presidential election.

The aim for centrist Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen is to win the votes of large numbers of undecided or reluctant voters.

While Emmanuel Macron is well ahead in the polls, his lead has narrowed and an estimated 18% of voters are undecided.

For the first time, neither candidate is from a mainstream French party.

Although Marine Le Pen’s father qualified in 2002 for the run-off as head of her party, the National Front (FN), his rival and eventual winner, Jacques Chirac, refused to take part in a debate because of the FN leader’s extremist views.

Image source AFP

Both candidates have limited their campaigning in recent days in preparation for the debate, set for 21:00 on May 3 and due to last two hours 20 minutes.

There have been TV debates ahead of the first round but so far the two main candidates have not sparred face to face. And this is being billed as the moment of truth, on the two biggest TV channels in front of some 20 million French viewers.

All the big campaign themes will be tackled, from France’s 10% unemployment rate and the economy to security, health policy and the EU.

For Marine Le Pen it is her big chance to land some blows and make up ground by exposing her 39-year-old rival’s relative inexperience.

Emmanuel Macron as favorite arguably has most to lose.

The French debate is not similar to the US presidential debate where the candidates stand behind lecterns. This is a direct confrontation.

The two candidates will sit at a big desk, Marine Le Pen on the left, Emmanuel Macron on the right. The presidential debate is a tried and tested event in France, going back to 1974.

The two moderators, Nathalie Saint-Cricq and Christophe Jakubyszyn are heavyweight political journalists, but not the big TV presenters France is used to. That is because the candidates objected to the initial choices.

The temperature will be regulated at 19C to keep the candidates cool.

The debate is must-see TV for French voters but there could be a battle over the remote.

AS Monaco go head to head against Juventus 15 minutes before the debate starts in the semi-final of the Champions League, in a match broadcast on pay TV.

Marine Le Pen’s campaign is based on a patriotic “Choose France” slogan. According to her, she is the real thing, and her rival is an impostor backed up by the old guard of French politics.

Her supporters leapt on a rumor on May 2 that Emmanuel Macron was threatening to walk out of the debate if she started using him as a “punching-ball”.

Marine Le Pen tweeted: “If Mr. Macron doesn’t feel comfortable he can always ask [President] François Hollande to come and hold his hand, I won’t stand in his way.”

However, to convince voters wary of a far-right leader she may project a softer image too, while her opponent will need to show a firm streak.

Emmanuel Macron’s aim is to seek the moral high ground by showing that he has authentic policies while his rival’s ideas are simplistic and dangerous for France.

“I want to go head-to-head, to get to the bottom of the issues, to show that these are false solutions,” he said on May 2.

iPhone Sales Drop in Q1 of 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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iPhone Sales Drop in Q1 of 2017

iPhone sales dropped in the first three months of 2017 than a year ago, Apple said in its latest results.

Apple, which is due to release a new phone later this year, said it sold 50.8 million iPhones in the Q1 of 2017, down 1% year-on-year.

The company’s CEO Tim Cook blamed a “pause” as customers wait for the next iPhone.

Apple shares fell nearly 2% in after-hours trading after earlier hitting a record high on expectations of better results.

The company reported a 4.6% rise in revenue across the whole company to $52.9 billion, slightly below analysts’ forecasts.

The dip in iPhone sales was offset by services, including Apple Pay, iCloud and the App store, which recorded an 18% increase in sales to $7 billion.

Tim Cook also pointed to growth in sales of Apple Watch, as well as its AirPods and Beats earphones.

Despite falling unit sales, revenue from iPhones still climbed 1% to $33.2 billion due to “robust” sales of its bigger, more expensive iPhone 7 Plus.

China, which was partly to blame for the slowdown in 2016, was again difficult for Apple. Revenue from China dropped 14%, although Tim Cook partly blamed currency fluctuations for the fall.

Apple said quarterly profits were $11 billion worldwide, up 4.9% from the same period in 2016.

The company also announced it would return an extra $50 billion to shareholders.

Apple’s cash holdings have risen to a record $256.8 billion and the company has come under increasing pressure to disclose its plans for the money.

Fugitive Redbull Heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya Located in Singapore

Nancy Clayson
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Fugitive Redbull Heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya Located in Singapore

Red Bull empire heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya, who is wanted in Thailand over the death of a police officer, has fled to Singapore, Thai police say.

Thai authorities have said Vorayuth Yoovidhya left on April 25, days before an arrest warrant was issued for him after he failed to show up to face charges.

Vorayuth Yoovidhya allegedly knocked down the officer while speeding in 2012.

The high-profile case has attracted criticism that the elite enjoy special treatment from Thai authorities.

Singapore airport authorities had confirmed with them that Vorayuth Yoovidhya’s private plane was in the country as of April 25, the AP reports.

Singapore does not have an extradition agreement with Thailand, but the two countries frequently co-operate in transnational cases.

Image source EPA

Vorayuth Yoovidhya has repeatedly failed to meet Thai police to face charges of speeding, reckless driving causing death, and fleeing the scene of an accident. Some charges have since expired.

Red Bull heir’s representatives have said each time that he was either away for business or too ill to meet police.

Thai news outlets quoted police as saying that Vorayuth Yoovidhya traveled to Singapore on April 25, and that they were unable to stop him as this was before the warrant was issued on April 28.

A police spokesman also told The Nation newspaper that they did not put in place a travel ban as the case was about recklessness rather than one of criminal intent.

Thai investigators are now seeking to cancel Vorayuth Yoovidhya’s passport.

Alton Sterling Death: Police Officers Not Charged for Baton Rouge Shooting

Nancy Clayson
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Alton Sterling Death: Police Officers Not Charged for Baton Rouge Shooting

The DoJ has reportedly decided not to charge two white officers who shot and killed Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last summer.

Video footage appearing to show the officers holding down the 37-year-old black man as they fired their weapons sparked days of protests in Baton Rouge.

News of the decision leaked to media on May 2 before the Baton Rouge mayor or the Sterling family had been told.

People soon began gathering outside the shop where the incident happened.

A vigil was organized for May 2, with small crowds gathering near Baton Rouge’s police headquarters.

The civil rights investigation was opened soon after Alton Sterling was killed outside the grocery shop he was selling CDs.

At the time, a series of fatal police shootings involving African-Americans had sparked a debate about police use of force.

The federal decision not to prosecute the two officers comes with a new US government and a new head of the Justice Department, Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Image source Facebook

It does not mean the state of Louisiana could not bring its own charges.

Police were called after reports of a man threatening people with a gun outside a shop.

Mobile video footage appeared to show two officers wrestling a man in a red shirt to the floor.

One of the officers pinned the man’s arm to the floor with his knee and then appeared to pull out his gun and point it at the man.

A voice is heard shouting: “He’s got a gun!”

Then shots ring out and the camera moves away.

Alton Sterling, a father of five, died at the scene.

Police said the man refused to comply with the officers’ commands so they used a stun gun to bring him to the ground.

The officers say they saw a gun in one of his pockets and saw his arm move there as if he was reaching for it, just before he was shot.

There were nearly 200 arrests in the protests over Alton Sterling’s death, which preceded a turbulent couple of weeks in US race relations.

A day after the fatal confrontation, a black driver in Minnesota was shot dead in a traffic stop, and in the same week five police officers in Dallas were killed.

Less than two weeks later, three police officers in Baton Rouge were killed in an ambush, further inflaming tensions in that community.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who called the video footage “disturbing” called for a federal investigation into Alton Sterling’s death.

Venezuela Opposition Sets Up Roadblocks and Demands Early Elections

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela Opposition Sets Up Roadblocks and Demands Early Elections

Venezuela opposition has set up roadblocks and staged demonstrations demanding elections as the country’s political and economic crisis deepens.

Protesters responded with defiance to President Nicolas Maduro’s call for a new constitution to end unrest that has killed 28 people.

Nicolas Maduro said his move was necessary to fend off a foreign-backed plot against him.

The US said it was a bid to cling to power, while Brazil called it a “coup”.

President Maduro’s opponents want to hold a vote to remove him, blaming the left-wing president for food shortages that have led to rioting.

The president has rejected their calls and issued a presidential decree creating a 500-member “constituent assembly” to rewrite the constitution, a step that would bypass the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Photo Reuters

Nicolas Maduro announced the step to thousands of his supporters at a May Day rally two days ago.

Elsewhere, security forces deployed tear gas and water cannon at anti-government demonstrators.

Opposition leaders have called for a “mega protest” on May 3.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles tweeted: “People, into the streets!

“You must disobey such lunacy!”

There has been widespread international criticism of the move.

The head of the Washington-based Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, called it wrongheaded, unconstitutional and fraudulent.

The US state department spokesman Michael Fitzpatrick told reporters: “We have deep concerns about the motivation for this constituent assembly which overrides the will of the Venezuelan people and further erodes Venezuelan democracy.

“What President Maduro is trying to do yet again is change the rules of the game.”

Meanwhile, Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes called the move a “coup”.

“It’s another step in breaking the democratic order, which contradicts the country’s own constitution,” he said.

In Venezuela itself, in the opposition-controlled National Assembly, lawmakers voted to reject the new body with many saying President Nicolas Maduro was attempting to sideline the legislature and avoid new elections.

Nicolas Maduro was elected in 2013 to succeed the late Hugo Chavez, a popular figure who introduced wide-ranging social welfare programs.

However, since then, falling prices for Venezuelan oil exports have cut government revenue and there have been shortages of food, baby milk, medicine and other basics.

The IMF has forecast that inflation in Venezuela will be above 700% in 2017.

Presidential elections are due at the end of 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDIVj3GpdtE

Salvează

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