Barry Gibb has revealed a man tried to molest him when he was a child, saying the memory was still “vivid”.
The Bee Gees star told Radio Times he had “never said this before”, adding: “Should I be saying it now?”
He explained: “A man tried to molest me when I was about four-years-old.
“He didn’t touch me, but other things happened and happened to other kids. And eventually they came and arrested him, and woke me up during the night.”
The singer added: “Four years old and a policeman on your bed at four in the morning interviewing you. If that doesn’t teach you about life, nothing does. But it’s vivid for me still. I’ve never told anyone.”
Image source Flickr
Barry Gibb was living with his family in the Isle of Man at the time.
He was speaking ahead of his performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury on June 25, 16:00 local time.
Barry Gibb is following in the footsteps of the likes of Johnny Cash, James Brown and Dolly Parton in the legends slot.
In 2016, Barry Gibb joined Coldplay, who were headlining Sunday night, performing renditions of To Love Somebody and Stayin’ Alive.
The new test detects cancer DNA in the blood, helping doctors check whether precision drugs are working.
However, larger studies involving more men needed to take place to confirm if doctors could rely on the test.
Blood samples from 49 men with advanced prostate cancer were collected by researchers, as part of the phase II clinical trial of olaparib.
This type of precision drug is seen as the future of cancer medicine but because it is a targeted treatment, the drug does not work for everyone.
Researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust said the test could help target treatment better and also reduce its side effects.
They used the test to identify men who were not responding to the treatment in 4 to 8 weeks and also to pick up signs that the cancer was evolving and becoming resistant to the drugs.
Prof. Johann de Bono, consultant medical oncologist at the two organizations, said: “From these findings, we were able to develop a powerful, three-in-one test that could in future be used to help doctors select treatment, check whether it is working and monitor the cancer in the longer term.”
“Not only could the test have a major impact on treatment of prostate cancer, but it could also be adapted to open up the possibility of precision medicine to patients with other types of cancer,” he added.
At least one man has died and 10 people have been injured after a man drove a van into worshippers near a north London mosque.
According to police, eight people were taken to hospital and several were seriously injured in the “terrorist attack”.
The van hit people just after midnight who were attending to a man who had collapsed in the street. He later died, but his cause of death is unclear.
Police said all the victims were Muslim and that a 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The van driver was arrested after being detained by members of the public at the scene following the collision.
Police said there were no reports of anyone suffering from knife injuries after speculation at the scene the driver was armed with a knife.
Image source Reuters
Video posted online of the aftermath showed a scene of chaos as people tried to help the injured.
One man could be seen giving CPR to a victim in the street while another man’s head injury was treated with a makeshift dressing.
Metropolitan Police’s deputy assistant commissioner Neil Basu said the “terrorist attack” began when the van was driven into a man who was already being given first aid by the public on the pavement.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that extra police are being deployed to reassure communities, especially those observing Ramadan.
The mayor also said his “thoughts and prayers” were with those affected by the “horrific terrorist attack on innocent people”.
“While this appears to be an attack on a particular community, like the terrible attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge it is also an assault on all our shared values of tolerance, freedom and respect,” he said.
Forensics officers are examining a white van which has Pontyclun Van Hire on it – a company from Rhondda Cynon Taff in Wales.
Many of the victims are believed to have just left evening prayers at the Muslim Welfare House after breaking the Ramadan fast.
PM Theresa May will chair a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee later.
She described it as a “terrible incident”, adding: “All my thoughts are with those who have been injured, their loved ones and the emergency services on the scene.”
La Republique en Marche, the party of French President Emmanuel Macron, has won a clear parliamentary majority, weeks after his own presidential victory.
The winning margin is lower than some expected, with turnout down from 2012.
La Republique en Marche was formed just over a year ago, and half of its candidates have little or no political experience.
The result has swept aside all of the mainstream parties and gives President Macron a strong mandate in parliament to pursue his pro-EU, business-friendly reform plans.
The second round of the parliamentary election was marked by weak voter turnout, estimated to be a record low of about 42%, down sharply on five years ago.
Correspondents say opponents of the 39-year-old president may simply have not bothered to turn out.
PM Edouard Philippe acknowledged the low turnout, promising his party would act for France as a whole.
The comfortable majority of La République en Marche (Republic on the Move or LREM) and MoDem – surpassing the 289-seat threshold required to control the National Assembly – will be a big blow to traditional parties on both the left and right.
The conservative Republicans and their allies could form a large opposition block, with 125-131 seats. But this figure is down from 200 seats in the last parliament.
The Socialists, who were in power for the past five years, alongside their partners, looked set to get only 41-49 seats – their lowest tally ever.
Socialist leader Jean-Claude Cambadélis announced his retirement from the post, and urged the left “to change everything, its form and its substance, its ideas and its organization”.
Marine Le Pen’s National Front (FN) party won eight seats, but it had set its sights on 15.
The 48-year-old leader has won a seat in parliament for the first time, representing Henin-Beaumont, a depressed former mining town in the north. However, two of her top aides, including her deputy leader, were eliminated.
Marine Le Pen said President Macron may have got a large parliamentary majority, but “he must know that his ideas are not of the majority in the country and that the French will not support a project that weakens our nation”.
The US authorities have been accused by North Korea of “literally mugging” its diplomats at a New York airport.
A spokesman for North Korea said the country’s officials had been “robbed” of a diplomatic package at John F. Kennedy Airport on June 16.
According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the incident proved the US was a “lawless gangster state”.
The White House – which considers “solving” the North Korea crisis a priority – has yet to comment.
Image source Wikimedia
The North Korean diplomats were reportedly returning from a UN conference on disability rights when the incident – branded by KCNA as an “illegal and heinous act of provocation” – took place.
The news agency said: “The international community needs to seriously reconsider whether or not New York, where such an outrageous mugging is rampant, is fit to serve as the venue for international meetings.”
This alleged incident marks the latest addition to a catalogue of increasingly strained tensions between the two countries.
Last week, North Korea released American student Otto Warmbier, more than a year after he had been sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor.
North Korea said Otto Warmbier’s coma was caused by botulism and a sleeping pill he took after his trial last year.
However, US doctors disputed this, while Otto Warmbier’s father said: “Even if you believe their explanation of botulism and a sleeping pill causing the coma – and we don’t – there’s no excuse for a civilized nation to have kept his condition secret and to have denied him top notch medical care.”
North Korea had accused Otto Warmbier – who had been on a tour of North Korea – of stealing a propaganda sign, claims disputed by those who were with him on the trip.
French voters go to polls in the second round of parliamentary elections on June 18, in a run-off between the top candidates from June 11 first round.
President Emmanuel Macron, 39, is seeking to obtain a strong mandate in parliament to help him pursue his reform plans.
His La République en Marche (Republic on the Move or LREM) with its MoDem allies is expected to win most seats.
Traditional parties are urging voters to back Emmanuel Macron’s rivals to stop a monopolization of power.
Emmanuel Macron formed his party just over a year ago, and half of its candidates have little or no political experience.
They include a retired bullfighter, a Rwandan refugee and a mathematician.
Image source Flickr
A party needs 289 seats to control the 577-seat National Assembly. LREM is predicted to win more than 400.
In the first round, Emmanuel Macron’s LREM and MoDem won 32.3% of the vote.
The center-right Republicans had 21.5%, while Marine Le Pen’s National Front (FN) had 13.2%, followed by the far-left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) on just over 11%.
The Socialists, previously France’s ruling party, and their allies won just 9.5%.
However, the turnout was low, despite claims that President Emmanuel Macron had re-energized the voting public.
Analysts said it reflected a sense of resignation among his opponents.
Only four seats were settled in the first round.
The second round will see the two top-placed contenders for each seat facing each other, along with any other candidate who won the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters in the district.
The president needs a majority to push through the changes that he promised in his campaign, which include budget savings of €60 billion ($65 billion) in the next five years, cutting the number of public servants by 120,000, reforming the labor market and generous state pension schemes, bringing them into line with private schemes.
The singer and her husband, Jay-Z, already have a daughter, Blue Ivy, aged 5.
There has been no official confirmation of the birth from Beyonce and Jay-Z themselves.
Other photos Beyonce posted after her pregnancy announcement showed her swimming under water, reclining on a bed of roses and sitting on a floral throne.
Speculation about the twins’ birth had grown in recent days after a woman was photographed entering a Los Angeles hospital on June 16 holding a card that read “B + J”.
Beyonce is the most-nominated star in the history of the Grammy awards, and her album Lemonade was the world’s best-selling record of 2016.
Rhode Island teacher Nikos Giannopoulos used a black lace fan during an official photo with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House.
Thanks to the fan the photo of the special education teacher, the president and the first lady has gone viral.
Nikos Giannopoulos, 29, had traveled to Washington from his home after being named Rhode Island Teacher of the Year.
Along with teachers from every state, Nikos Giannopoulos was invited to the White House to meet President Trump – and he made very specific decisions about what to wear.
Image source The White House
In a Facebook post, Nikos Giannopoulos revealed he wore a rainbow pin, in “gratitude to the LGBTQ community”, a blue jacket and black fan to “celebrate the joy and freedom of gender nonconformity”, and an anchor necklace in honor of the Rhode Island.
The black lace fan, which belonged to Nikos Giannopoulos’s partner, was the thing that really stole the show.
Nikos Giannopoulos told NPR that, despite the president’s immediate appreciation for the fan, which he praised as “stylish”, he was told by White House staff to put it away for the official picture.
However, Nikos Giannopoulos decided to quietly keep it by his side until it came time for the photo.
“I just asked the president, <<Do you mind if I use the fan for the photo?>>. He said, <<Absolutely go for it>>. So I popped my fan and did my pose.”
Cuban government has denounced President Donald Trump’s decision to roll back on policy changes towards Cuba.
However, Cuba says it will still co-operate with its larger neighbor.
Speaking earlier in Miami, Florida, President Trump said he was re-imposing certain travel and trade restrictions eased by the Obama administration, condemning a “completely one-sided deal”.
However, President Trump is not reversing key diplomatic and commercial ties.
Cuban state TV said: “The government of Cuba denounces the new measures toughening the embargo.”
However, Cuba also reiterated “its willingness to continue the respectful dialogue and cooperation”.
President Donald Trump says his new policy will tighten rules on travel and on sending funds to Cuba.
Announcing the changes on June 16, President Trump cited human rights concerns, saying doing a deal with the “brutal” Castro government was “terrible” and “misguided”.
Later that night, Cuban state news said: “Any strategy aimed at changing the political, economic and social system in Cuba – whether by pressure or imposition or through more subtle means – is destined to fail.”
However, President Donald Trump is not rowing back on all parts of Barack Obama’s deal.
Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl has died at the age of 87.
He was the architect of Germany’s reunification in 1990.
Helmut Kohl led Germany from 1982 to 1998. He is credited with bringing East and West Germany together after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Together with his French ally President Francois Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl was responsible for the introduction of the euro.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has ordered flags at EU institutions to be flown at half-mast.
Jean-Claude Juncker said in a tweet: “Helmut’s death hurts me deeply.
“My mentor, my friend, the very essence of Europe, he will be greatly, greatly missed.”
Image source Wikimedia
Former President George H.W. Bush paid tribute to the man he knew while in office from 1989 to 1993 as a “true friend of freedom” and “one of the greatest leaders in post-war Europe”.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel paid tribute to a “great German statesman and above all a great European”.
Helmut Kohl suffered a bad fall in 2008 and had been using a wheelchair.
According to Bild newspaper, Helmut Kohl died at his house in Ludwigshafen, in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Helmut Kohl, who led the center-right Christian Democrats, was the longest-serving chancellor of the 20th Century.
A passionate believer in European integration, he persuaded Germans to give up their cherished deutschmark in favor of euro.
Helmut Kohl fell from grace when a funding scandal under his leadership of the Christian Democrats came to light after he left office in 1998.
Angela Merkel publicly denounced Helmut Kohl and called for his resignation when it was revealed the party had received millions of dollars worth of illegal donations using secret bank accounts.
In 2011, in a series of interviews and statements, Helmut Kohl spoke out against Angela Merkel’s policy of strict austerity to deal with the European debt crisis.
Amazon has announced that it is buying Whole Foods in a $13.7 billion deal that marks its biggest push into traditional retailing yet.
The online retail giant, which has been experimenting with grocery offerings, will buy the upscale supermarket for $42 a share.
Founded in 1978 in Texas, Whole Foods was a pioneer of the move towards natural and organic foods.
Whole Foodshas grown to more than 460 stores in the US, Canada and the UK, and employs about 87,000 people globally.
Image source Wikimedia
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said: “Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy.
“Whole Foods Market has been satisfying, delighting and nourishing customers for nearly four decades – they’re doing an amazing job and we want that to continue.”
Whole Foods has been under pressure from investors amid declining same-store sales. Last month, the company named a new chief financial officer and new board members.
In April, activist investor Jana Partners called Whole Foods’ shares undervalued, noting “chronic underperformance”.
The price being paid by Amazon marks a 27% premium to the level Whole Foods’ shares closed at on June 15.
The takeover deal is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey said: “This partnership presents an opportunity to maximize value for Whole Foods Market’s shareholders, while at the same time extending our mission and bringing the highest quality, experience, convenience and innovation to our customers.”
John Mackey is expected to stay on as chief executive.
Those in government positions often sit at the top of the food chain when it comes to what happens in our country. They may not need to take defensive driving for auto insurance discounts like the rest of us, but they still have to get from place to another (and they can’t always take Air Force One to do it). Sometimes it’s fun to see what kinds of cars they drive to get more insight into who they are and what they want. Of all the vehicles in the world, they picked one to drive above all else. It doesn’t have to be fancy, perfect, or even expensive, it just has to connect with them in some way. See what some of the top names in our country have chosen throughout time as their one and only (at least, for a little while.)
Hillary Clinton (Oldsmobile Cutlass)
Hillary Clinton doesn’t tend to do a lot of driving these days, but could probably be considered one of the top 10 defensive drivers in the world due to her being an overachiever. When she did choose to get behind the wheel though, she went with a 1986 Cutlass. Not exactly the most exciting car, but the Cutlass did have a certain longevity about it. The Cutlass may not be well remembered today, but it won many awards after it debuted for its reliable drive. Believe it or not, people were pretty into the design as well.
George W. Bush (Ford F-150)
It’s tough not to expect a Texan to drive a truck. These manly vehicles are built to haul, and they seem to have a touched a nerve in the former President. He’s had a lot of cars throughout the years, but the F-150 pickup seems to be one of his favorites. This truck has been around since the late 1940s, and comes in a variety of engine sizes. The interior is comfortable, and the technology of Ford is made to keep you connected to all things entertainment.
Barack Obama (Ford Escape Hybrid)
Celebrities have been famously opting for more environmentally friendly cars over the flashy ones that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Just because they might be able to afford something better, doesn’t mean that they’re willing to sacrifice the Earth for a car that sucks down gas like it’s been in the desert for weeks without a sip of water. The Ford Escape Hybrid is obviously great on gas mileage, and it gives the President the family-friendly (not to mention safe) SUV you would expect a dad with two kids to want. With front-wheel drive and lots of room for the kids and their gear, this car gets up to 34 miles to the gallon.
John McCain (Cadillac CTS)
McCain may not have made his goal to be President, but he’s certainly had a lot of accomplishments under his belt. Just like the rest of these minted treasures, he’s had a lot of cars to his name. However, he seemed to be a huge fan of the CTS. Cadillacs have long been associated with wealth and comfort, and they certainly have enough space inside to ensure that no one feels crowded or cramped. With excellent fuel mileage, decent power, and incredible performance, it’s no wonder that Mr. McCain kept a special place in this heart for this vehicle.
Recognize any of the vehicles on this list as favorites of your own? Putting a space between politicians and you is the wrong way to think about the leaders of the country. They chose a different career path than you, but they look for many of the same things you do when it comes to getting around town!
Spotify has hit more than 140 million active monthly users.
However, the music streaming company is still deeply in the red.
The Swedish company had revenues of more than 2.9 billion euros in 2016, up more than 50% compared with 2015.
However, operating losses rose at nearly the same pace to 349.4 million euros.
Spotify is considering going public and listing on the stock market, so its latest figures will be under scrutiny.
“We believe we will generate substantial revenue as our reach expands and that, at scale, our margins will improve,” the company said.
“We will therefore continue to invest relentlessly in our product and marketing initiatives to accelerate reach.”
Spotify reported a net loss of 539.2 million euros, more than double the figure for 2015.
Nevertheless the number of people listening to music on the platform continues to rise rapidly.
Paying subscribers to its premium service, which does not have advertising, rose by 20 million to 48 million.
Apple Music, a key competitor, now has 27 million subscribers, almost double the number 12 months ago. Unlike Spotify it does not offer a free tier.
More than 30 million tracks are available on Spotify, which has signed deals committing it to pay a minimum of 2 billion euros in royalties to record companies over the next two years.
Spotify raised more than $1 billion from investors in 2016 which it said would give it flexibility to expand regardless of the state of the stock market.
Some of the terms are tied to the IPO, putting pressure on the company to go public.
Eurozone ministers have agreed to unlock the latest tranche of Greece’s bailout cash.
The bailout fund will disburse 8.5 billion euros to Greece, they said in a statement.
The latest tranche of the international bailout will help avert a fresh debt crisis in July when the next €7 billion euro repayment of loans becomes due.
The payment is still subject to parliamentary approvals in some countries.
IMF Director Christine Lagarde said she would propose an approval in principle to her executive board.
The International Monetary Fund wants clarity on longer-term debt relief for Greece once the current funding scheme, worth up to 86 billion euros, runs out next year.
Christine Lagarde said the IMF was ready to participate to the third bailout program for Greece after the meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Luxembourg which capped months of negotiations.
However, the IMF could join the program with a financial support “in the range of $2 billion” only after a full deal on additional measures of debt relief for Greece, she said.
Time was beginning to press for this payment. Greece has repayments on other loans due next month, which it could not otherwise have made.
The decision reflects economic policy actions already taken by Greece and the new commitment by the IMF’s managing director Christine Lagarde to recommend that her board contribute financially to this bailout.
An IMF contribution was politically important for Germany, especially to strengthen the perceived credibility of the bailout.
Are you stuck in a job that you hate and that is offering you no opportunities for promotion? Are you fed up of giving your all between 9 and 5 and being continually overlooked for promotions? Perhaps you like your job but you know that you need to earn some more money in order to balance your household budget?
It looks like it is time for you to get better qualified! This may leave you with a feeling of dread! If you didn’t like studying at school, the prospect of heading back into a classroom to get some further qualifications can be daunting. However, there is good news. The world of learning and education has changed drastically in the last couple of decades. There are now interesting and engaging courses that you could complete that will help you to get promoted or to switch to a more fulfilling or highly paid job.
All you have to do is decide which qualification you should pursue. You have the choice of qualifications that are highly relevant to your current position or those that are more transportable and that may help you in all jobs that you do in the future. The second option is best if you intend to change jobs. Some qualifications are also useful for your private life.
Qualifications enhance your CV
When you apply for a promotion or for a new job, you tell your prospective employer about yourself by presenting your CV. This is the way in which an employer finds out what you can bring to the role. They look carefully at your CV and decide if they want to interview you. The most impressive CVs are the ones that have a long list of qualifications on them but it is a little more complicated than that. An employer will look at the date that you obtained the qualifications. If they were awarded a long time ago then you are not showing that you are still capable of learning new skills.
If you have recent qualifications listed on your CV is shows that you are capable of grasping new concepts and learning new skills. It also shows that you are actively improving your skill set and are committed to developing your career. No employer wants an employee who is just coasting through their job and watching the clock.
Qualifications can make up for a lack of experience
Portable qualifications are useful in any role. Some portable qualifications are very highly prized by employers and first aid qualifications are one of them. It is very easy to attend CPR classes because they are available in all locations. You can study at a time and place that suits you. This qualification is especially useful because it says several things about you as an employee. It shows that you can handle an emergency situation and that you can show both initiative and crisis management. It shows that you are capable of learning skills. You will have displayed team-working, delegation and communication skills. This can make up for your lack of experience and is highly valued by employers.
If you have used your qualifications in a real situation, for example by volunteering as a first-aider at an event or for a charity, then that is even better.
Required qualifications
Perhaps you are applying for the wrong jobs? When you look at the job description, the qualifications are usually divided into ‘required’ and ‘desired’. There is no point in applying if you do not have the ‘required’ qualifications because these will be viewed as an absolute minimum. Some professions are degree entry only. For other jobs, you may even need a higher degree such as a Master’s degree or a professional diploma. There is usually more flexibility for the ‘desired’ qualifications but in a competitive field you may lose out.
It is worth exploring the possibility of taking some further qualifications in the evenings or on-line. Your current employer may even be willing to pay for you or to let you have time off in the working week to study. After all, your employer will benefit as well!
Qualifications lead to higher salaries
It is a basic that more highly qualified people earn more money. If you don’t bother to update your qualifications you risk being stuck in the same job whilst your colleagues are promoted to the higher paid jobs.
Qualifications are not a guarantee of riches but statistics show that gaining a qualification (especially a degree) equates to higher earning potential.
Takata has not commented on the reports in Japan, from sources close to the case, of imminent bankruptcy.
The company is said to be in talks about a potential deal with US auto parts maker Key Safety Systems. The latter may buy some of its assets under a restructuring plan.
In January, Takata agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties in the US for concealing dangerous defects in its exploding air bags. It also pleaded guilty to a single criminal charge.
Takata paid a $25 million fine, $125 million to people injured by the air bags and $850 million to carmakers that used them. However, it still faces the possibility of more lawsuits.
Most major auto makers, including GM and VW, have been affected.
Honda Motor, which as Takata’s biggest customer is one of the worst affected, started recalling their popular Accord and Civic models in 2008 because of the air bags.
The EU law abolishing roaming charges for people using mobile phones abroad comes into force on June 15.
According to the new rules, citizens traveling within the EU will be able to call, text and browse the internet on mobile devices at the same price they pay at home.
However, a UK consumer group warned phone users could face “unexpected charges”.
Until now roaming, or connection, charges have been added to the cost of calls, texts and internet browsing when consumers from one EU country traveled to another and connected to a mobile network there.
Image source Public Domain Pictures
In some cases, mobile users have faced huge bills if, for example, they have downloaded a movie.
The European Commission said in statement: “Each time a European citizen crossed an EU border, be it for holidays, work, studies or just for a day, they had to worry about using their mobile phones and a high phone bill from the roaming charges when they came home.”
It had been working hard over the last ten years to fix this “market failure”, it said.
“Eliminating roaming charges is one of the greatest and most tangible successes of the EU,” the Commission added.
In addition, different providers included different countries in their roaming territories, such as the Channel Islands and Switzerland.
Users should check the detail of their tariffs with their phone providers to avoid being caught out by surprise charges.
Regarding Brexit, it would be up to a future government to decide whether to have the EU price restrictions on roaming or not after the UK leaves the EU.
They are contained within a European regulation, not a directive, so they have not been incorporated into UK law.
According to recent reports, President Donald Trump is being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller for possible obstruction of justice.
Senior intelligence officials will be interviewed on whether President Trump tried to end an inquiry into his sacked national security adviser, and about the firing of FBI chief James Comey.
Robert Mueller is leading an FBI inquiry into Russian meddling in the election.
Donald Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia, describing the ongoing inquiry as a “witch hunt”.
The latest development was first carried in the Washington Post. Later the New York Times and Wall St Journal reported the story, citing their own sources.
The Washington Post said the decision by Robert Mueller to investigate President Trump’s own conduct is a major turning point in the investigation, which until recently focused on the Russian angle.
The latest media reports say the obstruction of justice investigation began just days after Donald Trump fired James Comey on May 9.
James Comey, who had been leading one of several Russia inquiries, testified to Congress last week that President Trump had pressured him to drop the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Mike Flynn was sacked in February for failing to reveal the extent of his contacts with Russian ambassador to Washington, Sergei Kislyak.
Image source Wikipedia
James Comey testified under oath that President Trump had told him during a private meeting: “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”
The White House has said President Trump “has never asked Mr. Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn”.
James Comey had testified he was “sure” Robert Mueller was looking at whether Donald Trump had obstructed justice.
However, James Comey also testified that, to his knowledge, President Trump had not tried to stop the Russia investigation.
Meanwhile, the Wall St Journal quoted a source as saying that Robert Mueller would examine whether James Comey’s sacking was an attempt by the president to alter the course of the investigation.
President Trump said he had fired James Comey because of the “Russia thing”.
He reportedly told Russian officials at an Oval Office meeting a day after sacking Director James Comey that his position had now eased.
“I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off,” Donald Trump said, according to a US official quoted by the New York Times.
The latest reports also speak of an investigation into possible money laundering among Trump associates.
A former senior official told the New York Times that any collusion between the Trump team and Russian officials would have involved a pay-off, and that there may have been attempts to hide the route of the payments by using offshore banking.
The three names being mentioned in media are Daniel Coats, the director of national intelligence, Mike Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency, and Richard Ledgett, until recently Admiral Rogers’ deputy.
At a Senate panel last week, Daniel Coats and Mike Rogers declined to answer questions about conversations with the president, but said that they had never felt pressured to interfere in investigations.
The Washington Post says the three have agreed to be interviewed by investigators and the questioning could happen as early as this week.
The three were not involved in the Trump campaign but may be asked whether President Trump sought their help to end the Flynn inquiry.
A separate Washington Post report has said that Daniel Coats told associates in March that the president had asked him to try to get the FBI to back off.
However, the Times points out that the latest questioning does not mean a criminal case is being built against President Trump, simply that information is being gathered by the FBI. It will be passed to prosecutors who will then have to decide.
We all know that person who says “I was here until 7pm last night” and you think to yourself; doing what? Just because someone stays late doesn’t mean they productive. We all have things in our lives that we would love to change to be more creatively driven, or to achieve more. With that said, how do you go about being more productive? Well sometimes it isn’t about doing more; it’s actually about doing less. Here are 6 common roadblocks stopping you from reaching peak productivity.
Work smarter not harder or longer
There are several arguments that suggest someone who works less, is actually more productive than those that work 14 hour days. However, to achieve this you need to make sure you have the resources necessary to succeed. Constantly reading emails, searching through folders or flicking between windows wastes time!
Check out this award-winning dual monitor mount, as this type of system means no more window changing, less time searching for the right document and offers a chance to work in two programs simultaneously. Productivity is all about working smarter, this system offers a chance to do that.
Say ‘yes’ less often
We are all busy people, so when we are presented with an opportunity to take some things off our plate, of course we will take it! This usually takes the form of asking someone else to help. Being more productive is about better understanding your workload. Learn to know when you aren’t able to offer something your best attention. Say no when you reach that point. You’ll be amazed at how this simple word can make you so much moreproductive.
Doing nothing isn’t always unproductive
It is important to clarify this point; I don’t mean sit down, watch TV all day and eat junk food. That would be unproductive and hazardous to your health. No, what I mean here is that time to turn off can be as productive as the time spent achieving goals. Walk away from your work, meditate, go for a walk or do some yoga. Allowing your mind to switch off a task you’ve been trying to do will allow you to approach the problem from a different perspective. Turning off will help boost your energy levels and make you happier as well.
Fail to plan, plan to fail
This is a saying I am sure you have heard so many times it’s beginning to lose all meaning. Allow me to reinvigorate it for you. So much time is lost every single day because of not knowing what to do next. Instead of accepting this unproductive time, take 5 minutes at the end of every day to plan out what you want to achieve tomorrow.
Plan both professional and personal goals.
Then, in the morning, review theplan and start working toward it. Following a clearly defined plan will help focus your mind on outcomes vs workload.
Notifications are a distraction
Everyone knows that friendly blue box in the bottom right hand corner of their computer screen a little too well. It’s a mini billboard that says, “stop what you’re doing and read me”. Emails are an important function in any workplace, but they are also a distraction that can act as a roadblock to reaching your peak productivity.
Instead, turn off the instant notifications or close your inbox all together during certain periods of the day. Allow yourself window periods of uninterrupted productivity without distraction. Alternatively, if you can’t close your inbox, make a rule that you don’t respond to emails until finishing a task at hand.
Learn to release control
As anyone who has worked for one will tell you, micromanagers are the worst.
As a human being there is no way to reach peak performance when you are tyring manage every little item in your life. Relinquish control of some things and watch the roadblocks disappear.
Have faith or trust that the people around you can handle things.
You don’t need to be across every little change, decision or moment in your day. By releasing control of the little things to others, you leave yourself more time to focus on the things that matter.
Reaching your peak productivity can be a difficult thing to do because there are so many distractions in life. But following these 6 simple tips can help you through the process of removing common roadblocks in your life. Do so and you are sure to reach peak productivity.
Volkswagen will provide a two year guarantee for the cars in Europe fitted with emissions cheating devices which it agreed to modify.
According to the auto maker, the two year guarantee will cover exhaust and emissions control parts.
The European Commission has been putting pressure on VW to compensate customers over its emissions scandal, but the company has refused.
And European class action lawsuits are picking up steam.
The guarantee has conditions attached -it will only cover certain car parts in vehicles that have been driven for under 250,000km (about 155,000 miles), and will depend on the service history of the car and the age of the affected parts.
In September 2015, VW admitted to US regulators that it had cheated on emissions tests there using software installed in as many as 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide – the majority of them in Europe.
In the aftermath of the diesel emissions scandal, VW agreed to modify millions of vehicles in Europe which were equipped with the software capable of undermining the emissions testing process.
The Fed policymakers have been grappling with when and how to alter the policies put in place after the 2008 financial crisis to boost economic activity.
At the time, they cut interest rates and bought up US treasuries and mortgage-backed securities to keep rates low.
The Fed has a $4.2 trillion portfolio of Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities, most of which were purchased in the wake of the financial crisis and recession.
On June 14, policymakers said they aim to reduce that balance sheet, by reinvesting payments from those securities only above certain caps, totaling $10 billion.
The cap would escalate in three month intervals. It would start implementing those policies this year, assuming economic growth continues.
Janet Yellen said she’s not sure how far the committee will want to reduce the holdings over the long run, but she said they would be levels “appreciably below” those seen in recent years though larger than before the financial crisis.
The Fed raised interest rates for the first time since the crisis in December 2015.
Policymakers acted in December 2016 and again in March.
The June 14 decision was made with an 8-1 vote, with Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, dissenting. Neel Kashkari also voted against the March rise.
Interest rates remain low by historic standards. The board expects to raise rates at least three times this year.
The moves depend on the strength of the economy, which has been mixed.
On June 14, the US Labor Department reported that prices for goods excluding food and energy increased by 1.7% from May 2016, slowing steadily from earlier in the year.
That fell short of the Fed’s target of 2%.
Janet Yellen said the bank is aware of the shortfall and it was “essential” to move back to the target.
However, she said this year’s data may be skewed by one-off factors, such as lower prices on cell phone plans.
“It’s important not to overreact to a few readings,” she said.
“Data on inflation can be noisy.”
For US consumers, interest rate increases tend to lead to increased borrowing costs.
Otto Warmbier is now being treated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after the flight carrying him landed in Ohio on June 13.
He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for attempting to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel.
Otto Warmbier was given a sleeping pill after becoming ill after his trial in 2016 and did not wake up, North Korea said.
His parents, Fred and Cindy, said: “We want the world to know how we and our son have been brutalized and terrorized by the pariah regime.”
Former US ambassador and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, who has previously served as special envoy to North Korea and in 2016 attempted to negotiate Otto Warmbier’s release, said the student’s family had updated him on their son’s condition.
“In no uncertain terms, North Korea must explain the causes of his coma,” Bill Richardson said.
If Otto Warmbier’s illness is the direct result of brutality in prison, there might be pressure on President Trump to take action against Kim Jong-un’s regime.
Otto Warmbier is an economics student from the University of Virginia, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Otto Warmbier appeared emotional at a news conference a month later, in which he tearfully confessed to trying to take the sign as a “trophy” for a US church, adding: “The aim of my task was to harm the motivation and work ethic of the Korean people.”
Foreign detainees in North Korea have previously recanted confessions, saying they were made under pressure.
In a statement on June 13, Otto Warmbier’s parents said: “Sadly, he is in a coma and we have been told he has been in that condition since March 2016. We learned of this only one week ago.”
They were quoted by the Washington Post as saying they had been told Otto Warmbier had contracted botulism, a rare illness that causes paralysis, soon after his trial in March 2016.
Otto Warmbier was given a sleeping pill and had been in a coma ever since, the newspaper said.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made no mention of Otto Warmbier’s condition in a statement, saying only that he was on his way home to be reunited with his family and would not make any further comment, out of respect for the privacy of the family.
Former model and actress Anita Pallenberg, best known for her relationships with members of the Rolling Stones, has passed away at the age of 73.
Anita Pallenberg’s death was made public by Stella Schnabel, daughter of painter and film director Julian Schnabel, who said she had “never met a woman quite like” her.
Stella Schnabel wrote on Instagram: “Go in peace my Roman mother.”
Anita Pallenberg was the girlfriend of Brian Jones but left him for fellow Rolling Stone Keith Richards.
The former model was also alleged to have had an affair with Mick Jagger while they were making 1970 movie Performance, though she always denied it.
Born in Rome in 1944 to German and Italian parents, Anita Pallenberg began her career as a model and spent time in the 1960s at Andy Warhol’s famous Factory.
Image source Wikimedia
Anita Pallenberg met Brian Jones in 1965 but left him two years later for Keith Richards. Brian Jones went on to leave the band and died shortly afterwards.
In his autobiography, Life, Keith Richards described Anita Pallenberg as a “very strong” woman who was “extremely bright” and “a great beauty”.
Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg had three children together, one of whom died as an infant, before they finally separated in 1980.
Anita Pallenberg sang backing vocals on classic Rolling Stones track Sympathy for the Devil and was said to have had a “profound” influence on the band by their one-time PA Jo Bergman.
She had roles in movies including 1969’s Barbarella and 2007’s Mister Lonely.
Anita Pallenberg was accused of manslaughter in 1979 after a man named Scott Cantrell killed himself with her gun in the New York home she shared with Keith Richards.
Known for her colorful lifestyle and fascination with black magic, Anita Pallenberg sought help for her addictions in 1987 and went on to study fashion at Central St Martins in London.
Anita Pallenberg is survived by her two children and five grandchildren.
Nearly 200 Democratic lawmakers have joined forces to file a legal case against President Donald Trump over receipt of payments from foreign governments via his businesses.
The plaintiffs accuse President Trump of violating the Constitution’s emoluments clause, prohibiting receipt of gifts without congressional approval.
They say this is the largest number of legislators ever to sue a US president.
State officials and private businesses are suing Donald Trump in similar cases.
Spokesman Sean Spicer said that “partisan politics” could be behind the lawsuit of the attorneys general.
Image source Flickr
The justice department declined to comment on the latest suit by legislators, but has said previously it is unconstitutional to sue the president in his private capacity.
At least 30 senators and 166 representatives are involved.
They say President Trump has not sought congressional approval for any payments received by his businesses from foreign governments since he took office.
“President Trump has conflicts of interest in at least 25 countries, and it appears he’s using his presidency to maximize his profits,” said Representative John Conyers, quoted by Reuters.
“We do this not out of any sense of pleasure or partisanship, but because President Trump has left us with no other option.”
Senator Richard Blumenthal said: “The president’s failure to tell us about these emoluments… mean that we cannot do our job. We cannot consent to what we don’t know. He’s interfering with our constitutional duty.”
Donald Trump’s worldwide organization includes more than 500 business entities, including hotels, golf courses and apartment buildings, many of which have done business with foreign governments.
Since taking office in January, Donald Trump has turned day-to-day control of his real estate empire and other assets over to a trust managed by his adult sons.
However, he has not sold them off as critics said he should do in order to avoid conflicts of interest.
A non-governmental organization, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), lodged a similar legal action in January.
Donald Trump’s lawyers have argued the emoluments clause is intended only to stop federal officials from accepting a special consideration or gift from a foreign power and does not apply to payments such as a bill for a hotel room.
