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Traveling Solo to Bangalore? Here are 7 Tips to Abide By!

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A hot, crispy dosa was served on the banana leaf with oozed goodness— the kind of goodness that you want if you’ve navigated five hours of road journey which is full of potholes. However, it was only a few minutes into ordering that first dosa and seconds into dipping dosa into sambar when someone interrupted me. “Yes?”, I asked. “I ‘am sorry but are you alone?” one of them asked.

I nodded politely and turned to my dosa. “So, we will leave you with your meal”, they ventured. “See you around”, I replied with a smile. I successfully convinced the two men that I am more interested in enjoying the dosa made by Shiharan Bhayia than talking to them. They might be shocked to see a solo woman traveller.

You see, solo travelling is one of the most romantic chapters which you can add to your travel diary. Here’s a woman travelling alone, here’s a woman who is so liberating and here is a woman who agrees to fight her demons. All true and incredibly powerful.

It was my first solo trip to Bangalore and what I discovered—there is so much to do in Bangalore, even if you are travelling alone.

Having undergone a vast change over the past few years, Bangalore or Bengaluru is not merely the country’s IT hub. From local and international eateries serving lip smacking food, heritage spots showcasing the bright history of the city to swanky malls and nightclubs which are fun to explore, Bangalore as the city never disappoints travellers who come to soak in its charm. Then there is all-the-year pleasant weather of Bangalore, which augments its beauty. Above all, Bangalore is well-connected with nearby states and cities, like Goa, Mysore, Ooty, Chennai, etc.

So, why should you wait for someone to join you if you want to roam around the city? Let’s tell yourself— I am off to see the hills, mountains and beaches and that too solo!”

No matters how much I enjoy solo travelling, I take care of several factors to experience a hassle-free journey. From keeping your confidence high during the journey to travelling light, there are several tips to make your solo vacation to Bangalore fun and pleasing. Let’s talk about them=

  1. Be Confident= Even when you’re lost or in trouble, don’t bring it on your face. Be assertive and attentive at all times, no matter how painful the situation is. When you successfully deal with all adversities, believe me, you will be ready to face the worse situations in your life. Just remember, though the road has a few more hiccups than usual, everything will be fine at the end.
  2. Safety Comes First= Your safety is in your hands, so be vigilant while travelling. Make sure to carry basic things like a map, guide book, water bottle, first aid box, etc.
  3. Travel Light= Instead of burdening yourself with unnecessary luggage, pack, and travel light. Go for a backpacker and bon voyage. Hotels near majestic Bangalore are well-equipped with amenities and therefore, except basic toiletries and medications, you can leave everything at home and utilise laundry service available at hotels.
  4. Do Prior Research=Before taking a final plunge, gather all the information about your destination as much as you can. It will also help you in planning your travel itinerary and give a quick review of cultural background which will be like an added convenience.
  5. Choose a well-connected Hotel = Dig out the information about the hotels in Bangalore situated near to railway stations, bus terminals, etc. In this way, you will not have to waste time in commuting and you will have enough time for exploring the place. For finding good hotels in Bangalore, you can take the help of online travel portals like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Yatra, etc. Prices, especially airfares and hotel tariffs are much cheaper on online travel portals, like Yatra, as compared to what you can find offline.
  6. Travel during the day= It is obvious—travelling during day is safe as compared to evening and night when most of the assault and harassment cases tend to happen. Even if you are required to travel at night, choose a safe mode of transpiration.
  7. Keep your family members updated= Though you are travelling alone, it doesn’t mean you should sever all ties with your family. While travelling, keep your family members updated about your whereabouts through calls or texts. In short, leave a trail.

Embrace the beauty of your solo journey

Don’t be afraid, the world is inherently a good place. Go far, travel solo, and you will meet a new you—An independent, carefree, and yes, a confident girl!

Russia Investigation: Jared Kushner Is under FBI Scrutiny

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According to recent reports, Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is under FBI scrutiny as part of the Russia investigation.

Reports say investigators believe Jared Kushner has relevant information, but he is not necessarily suspected of a crime.

The FBI is looking into potential Russian meddling in the last year’s election and links with Donald Trump’s campaign. The president denies any collusion.

Jared Kushner’s lawyer said his client would co-operate with any inquiry.

Donald Trump has described the Russia investigations as “the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history”.

US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to tip the election in favor of Donald Trump, who beat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Image source Wikimedia

US officials, who were not named, told NBC News that the interest in Jared Kushner did not mean the investigators suspected him of a crime or intended to charge him.

Separately, the Washington Post reported that the investigators were focusing on meetings Jared Kushner held last year with the Russian ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, and a banker from Moscow, Sergei Gorkov.

Sergei Gorkov is the head of Vnesheconombank, which has been subject to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Vnesheconombank is under the control of Russian PM Dmitri Medvedev and other members of the government, and has been used to fund major projects such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in the southern Russian resort of Sochi.

Jared Kushner, 36, has said he did not discuss sanctions with Sergei Gorkov.

Last week, former FBI Director Robert Mueller was named by the justice department as special counsel to oversee the Russia inquiry.

Congress is also looking into Moscow’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election and any Trump campaign ties.

Jared Kushner has already agreed to discuss his Russian contacts with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Calls for a special investigation have mounted since President Trump fired the most recent FBI director, James Comey, earlier this month.

The White House has been engulfed in crisis over allegations that President Trump asked James Comey to drop an inquiry into links between his ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia.

Michael Flynn was forced out in February after he misled the vice-president about his conversations with Russia’s ambassador before Donald Trump took office in January.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the US presidential election.

Mark Zuckerberg Returns to Harvard to Get Honorary Degree after Dropping Out

Mark Zuckerberg has returned to Harvard University to give a graduation speech and receive an honorary degree.

The Facebook founder and world’s fifth-richest person, worth $62.3 billion, famously dropped out of Harvard after launching the global social-networking website.

Mark Zuckerberg, 33, called for students to “not only create new jobs, but create a new sense of purpose”.

Political experts think he may be positioning himself to run for office.

During his remarks on May 25, Mark Zuckerberg told graduates that “we live in an unstable time”.

“There’s pressure to turn inwards,” he said about those that feel left behind by increased globalization.

Photo Facebook

“This is the struggle of our time. The forces of freedom, openness and global community against the forces of authoritarianism, isolationism and nationalism.”

Mark Zuckerberg pointed to the dormitory where he launched Facebook, and remarked that meeting his wife, Priscilla, there was the best thing to happen to him at the university.

Before giving remarks, Mark Zuckerberg received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during Harvard’s 366th graduation ceremony.

On May 24, he did a Facebook Live broadcast from his old dorm room.

“This is literally where I sat,” Mark Zuckerberg says, pointing to a small wooden desk and chair inside Kirkland House, which is due to be renovated over the summer.

“I had my little laptop here. And this is where I programmed Facebook,” he tells the camera.

During his commencement address, Mark Zuckerberg told students: “There is something wrong with our system when I can leave here and make billions of dollars in ten years when millions of students can’t afford to pay off their loans, let alone start a business.”

“When you don’t have the freedom to take your idea and turn it into a historic enterprise we all lose,” he continued.

Mark Zuckerberg told stories of meeting “children in juvenile detention and opioid addicts, who told me their lives could have turned out differently if they just had something to do”.

He appeared to get choked up at one point during a story about an high school student who feared he would not be able to enroll in university because he was an undocumented immigrant.

More than 1.9 billion people log onto Facebook every day.

Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has inspired many other social media competitors, including Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.

In 2007, another Harvard drop-out, Bill Gates, returned for an honorary degree.

Bill Gates addressed students shortly after stepping down from the world’s largest software company, Microsoft, to launch to focus on his charity.

Donald Trump: “All NATO Allies Must Pay Their Fair Share of Defense Spending”

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President Donald Trump has told his NATO allies in Brussels that all members of the alliance must pay their fair share of defense spending.

“Massive amounts of money” were owed, President Trump said, voicing a long-held US concern that others are not paying enough.

However, NATO states’ contributions are voluntary and a target of spending 2% of GDP on defense is only a guideline.

Again condemning May 22 bombing in Manchester, Donald Trump said terrorism must be “stopped in its tracks”.

The president called for a moment of silence in memory of the 22 adults and children killed in the “savage attack”.

Before visiting NATO’s new HQ, which was formally opened at May 25 gathering, Donald Trump met several EU leaders for the first time, including France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron.

Image source Flickr

Donald Trump’s first foreign tour as president will end on the Italian island of Sicily at a G7 summit on May 26.

According to NATO’s 2016 annual report, only five countries met the 2% defense spending target – the US, the UK, Greece, Poland and Estonia.

The alliance hopes that all 28 member-states will reach this target by 2024.

“This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States, and many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years and [from] not paying in those past years,” Donald Trump said.

Germany spent 1.2% on defense in that period, but Berlin argues that its spending on development aid also contributes to international security.

Donald Trump has been criticized for his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin. and his administration is embroiled in allegations of close ties with Russian interests.

However, at NATO HQ, Donald Trump said: “The NATO of the future must include a great focus on terrorism and immigration, as well as on threats from Russia and on NATO’s eastern and southern borders.”

There was some concern that President Trump had not mentioned Article Five, NATO’s commitment to mutual defense in the event of an attack on a member, but an unnamed White House official told Reuters that the president stood united with other NATO leaders.

Earlier, European Council President Donald Tusk said after meeting Donald Trump: “I’m not 100% sure we can say that we have a common position… on Russia although when it comes to the conflict on Ukraine we were on the same line.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPjC4gdckXY

DeepMind AlphaGo Defeats Go No 1 Player Ke Jie

Google’s AI, DeepMind AlphaGo, has defeated the world’s No 1 Go player Ke Jie.

AlphaGo secured the victory after winning the second game in a three-part match.

Ke Jie had played “perfectly” and “pushed AlphaGo right to the limit”, said DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis.

Image source Wikimedia

Following the defeat, Ke Jie told reporters: “I’m a little bit sad, it’s a bit of a regret because I think I played pretty well.”

In Go, players take turns placing stones on a 19-by-19 grid, competing to take control of the most territory.

Go is considered to be one of the world’s most complex games, and is much more challenging for computers than chess.

AlphaGo has built up its expertise by studying older matches and playing thousands of games against itself.

The company says the eventual plan is to deploy its artificial intelligence “in areas of medicine and science”.

Donald Trump to Attend NATO Summit in Brussels

President Donald Trump has arrived in Brussels for what his team is describing as “tough” talks with other members of the NATO military alliance.

President Trump is now meeting EU leaders. He has been critical of both blocs.

NATO has agreed to Donald Trump’s request to join the US-led coalition against ISIS. The president may also press members to pay their full financial share.

European leaders will seek assurances of President Trump’s commitment to US allies.

European Council President Donald Tusk wrote on Twitter: “I’ll aim to convince POTUS [President of the US] that euro-atlanticism means the free world co-operating to prevent post-West world order.”

After landing in Brussels on May 24, President Trump met the Belgian king and queen while thousands demonstrated against his presence in the center of the city.

Earlier, President Trump was granted a short private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The NATO summit will see the alliance agree to a US plan for the military alliance to take a bigger role in the fight against Islamist militants, particularly jihadist group ISIS – but France and Germany insist the move is symbolic.

Image source Flickr

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Today we will decide to expand our support to the coalition with more AWACS [Airborne Warning and Control System] flight time, more information sharing and air-to-air refueling.

“This will send a strong political message of NATO’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and also improve our coordination within the coalition but it does not mean that NATO will engage in combat operations.”

Donald Trump has voiced criticism of other NATO countries for spending less on defense than an agreed 2% of national output.

Ahead of May 25 meetings, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters that President Trump “really wants to persuade NATO members to step up and fully meet their obligations”.

He added: “I think you can expect the president to be very tough on them and say… <<We are doing a lot. The American people are doing a lot for your security, for joint security. You need to make sure you’re doing your share for your own security as well>>.

“That’s going to be the core of his message to NATO.”

Rex Tillerson also said President Trump had yet to make a final decision on whether the US would remain in the Paris climate agreement.

Before going to NATO HQ, where he will deliver a short speech, Donald Trump is due to have a private lunch with new French President Emmanuel Macron after meeting the leaders of the European Commission and European Council.

Emmanuel Macron is expected to try to persuade Donald Trump not to renege on the Paris climate accord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8llt_PJZfAc

Donald Trump Meets Pope Francis at the Vatican

President Donald Trump has arrived at the Vatican and met Pope Francis for a short private audience on the third leg of his overseas trip.

According to the Vatican, there had been an “exchange of views” on international issues, and President Trump and the Pope spoke of the need to continue good relations.

President Trump said they had a “fantastic meeting”. The two men have in the past clashed on issues such as migration, climate change and a Mexico-US wall.

The president also met Italy’s president and prime minister while in Rome.

Donald Trump is now flying on to Brussels for a NATO summit.

He arrived in Europe from Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he vowed to try and achieve peace in the region.

President Trump began his foreign trip with a two-day stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalization.

The president and his entourage arrived at the Vatican just before 08:30AM, in a meeting that was arranged at the last minute.

Donald Trump was greeted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the head of the papal household, and escorted by the Swiss Guard to the offices of Pope Francis.

Correspondents say President Trump seemed subdued during their initial meeting, while Pope Francis was not as jovial as he sometimes is with world leaders.

The two men appeared much more relaxed at the end of their 30-minute private meeting.

The Vatican said later that they shared a commitment to “life, and freedom of worship and conscience” and expressed hope that they can collaborate “in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to migrants”.

On international affairs, their “exchange of views” covered the “promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue”, and highlighted the need to protect Christian communities in the Middle East.

After the meeting, Pope Francis and President Trump exchanged gifts. The president gave the Pope a boxed set of writings by the civil rights leader Martin Luther King.

Pope Francis gave President Trump a signed copy of a message he delivered for World Peace Day, along with some of his writings about the need to protect the environment.

The pontiff also presented him with a small sculptured olive tree, telling President Trump through an interpreter: “It is my desire that you become an olive tree to construct peace.”

President Trump responded by saying: “We can use some peace.”

He also said he would read the texts the Pope gave him.

After the meeting, President Trump tweeted: “Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.”

President Trump was joined not only by First Lady Melania Trump, daughter and son-in-law but also Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser HR McMaster.

Both Melania and Ivanka Trump were dressed in black with their heads partially covered, in keeping with a traditional Vatican protocol that is no longer expected to be rigorously observed.

Melania Trump, a Catholic, asked the Pope to bless her rosary beads.

In a light-hearted exchange, Pope Francis asked Melania Trump what she gave her husband to eat. It was initially thought he had suggested “pizza” to her, but in fact he said potica, which is a cake from Melania Trump’s home country of Slovenia. She laughed in response, and agreed with him.

This is Donald Trump’s first visit to Europe since taking office in January.

Security has been stepped up across Rome, with the areas around the Vatican City, the Italian presidential palace and the American ambassador’s residence, where President Trump is staying, temporarily closed to traffic.

Despite the heavy police presence, about 100 anti-Trump protesters held a rally in one of Rome’s squares on May 23.

Significant protests are also expected in Brussels where President Trump will meet EU and NATO officials.

Donald Trump will end his tour on the Italian island of Sicily at the G7 summit on May 26.

Sydney Cafe Siege Inquest: Police Acted Too Slowly

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According to an Australian inquest, police should have ended the 2014 Sydney cafe siege as soon as the hostage-taker began shooting.

In December 2014, gunman Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside the Lindt cafe until police stormed the building 17 hours later.

A coroner on Wednesday ruled it

The attack was a “terrorist incident” for which Man Haron Monis was solely responsible, a coroner said on May 24.

However, New South Wales Coroner Michael Barnes found authorities had made major errors, including by delaying entry, during which time a hostage was killed.

Cafe manager Tori Johnson was executed in the 10 minutes between Man Haron Monis firing his first shot and police storming the building, the coroner said.

Heavily armed officers shot Man Haron Monis dead, but stray police bullet fragments killed a second hostage, barrister Katrina Dawson.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller conceded police “should have gone in earlier”, in an interview released after the coroner’s findings.

Michael Barnes ruled police were ill-equipped to handle the siege, relied too heavily on a sole psychiatrist, and employed a “contain and negotiate” strategy which failed.

He also savaged an earlier decision allowing bail to Man Haron Monis, who had been charged with 43 assaults and being an accessory to his ex-wife’s murder.

Although Michael Barnes stressed the deaths were “not the fault of police”, he found failings with their actions, including:

  • a 10-minute delay between Man Haron Monis firing his first shot and police entering the building, allowing Tori Johnson to be “executed in the meantime”
  • relying on “erroneous” advice from a psychiatrist who did not have sufficient terrorism expertise
  • underestimating the gunman’s preparedness to kill or injure hostages
  • allowing eight calls by hostages to police to go unanswered
  • having some confusion around the lines of command.

Michael Barnes said a prosecutor had given inadequate information when Man Haron Monis faced an earlier bail hearing over his ex-wife’s murder.

“That [prosecution] solicitor erroneously advised the court that Monis did not have to show exceptional circumstances before he could be granted bail on the murder charges,” Michael Barnes said.

Man Haron Monis, an Iranian-born Australian citizen, had pledged allegiance to ISIS not long before the siege.

“It remains unclear whether Monis was motivated by Islamic State to prosecute its bloodthirsty agenda, or whether he used the organization’s reputation to bolster his impact in pursuit of his own ends,” Michael Barnes said.

On May 22, the families of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson criticized a police command tactic to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.

“I’ll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die,” Tori Johnson’s mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).

In an ABC interview released on May 24, the police chief said it had been “wrong” to wait 10 minutes after Man Haron Monis first fired his shotgun.

After the findings, Tori Johnson’s partner, Thomas Zinn, said he still had respect for police despite the “failures of various authorities”.

“The pain deep in our hearts from losing Tori is as strong now as it was in December 2014,” he said.

“Everybody who knew Tori would agree that we lost a guardian angel that night.”

The state’s police union had criticized the inquest as a “witch hunt” that had scrutinized police officers “as if they were on trial”.

Michael Barnes acknowledged the police response carried extreme risk, and stressed his findings were specific to this incident.

His 45 recommendations included:

  • police reassess their “contain and negotiate” strategy in possible terror scenarios
  • developing a “cadre of anti-terrorist negotiators” with specialized expertise
  • giving officers specific guidelines on assessing imminent risk
  • creating a bail “mechanism” that authorities in all Australian jurisdictions could access
  • more effective sharing of information between government agencies.

How do you know you’ve found the best place to live?

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Out of all the places in which you could possibly live on this planet, how do you know that the ones you live in is the right one for you? Many people are searching for an answer to this question while many others aren’t happy where they currently live in the first place. But there are certain ways in which you can know that the place in which you are is for you. You can call them intuitions or just your subconscious telling you something that you couldn’t pick up on by yourself. Want to know whether Midtown Square apartments Md is the place for you or if you can find your next long term home on http://www.carmelapartments.com/kapilina-beach-homes-ewa-beach-hi or http://www.carmelapartments.com/pearl-dtc-denver-co? Check out the rest of this article to see exactly what you need to look out for.

Do you want to go inside?

This is pretty much the first step that you will take, quite literally actually, in your new home. That is of course, if it is your first step. Usually when we go in strange houses we don’t really feel the need to stay for that long, and we always tread carefully while we visit. However, if you find yourself enticed to walk around its corridor or sit on the furniture then maybe it’s the place for you. You are in fact feeling like you’re at home already, which is a great start for any house-owner relationship.

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Do you want to tell your friends?

When you buy a house, you do it for the good of your family and yourself. But you can’t stop but brag about your sweet new house to your friends. At the very least you’ll feel the urge to drop subtle hints about all the cool features that it has. If you find yourself fantasizing about doing this before you even inquire about a bid, then you might just got yourself a winner. You wouldn’t be so eager to brag about that house if you didn’t think it was for you.

Do you defend all of its flaws?

It’s a known fact that people can be very stubborn in their ways and if they set out to prove something (like if a house is good or bad) they will keep at it no matter what arguments you throw at them. Taking that ideology into this context, you might find yourself defending every single flaw that you and the ones you are visiting the house with find. At times, even the landlord or sales agent my point out a flaw or two, but you will be quick to argument that they aren’t important or that they can easily be fixed. It’s like you were doing their job for them. If that’s the kind of attitude you find yourself adopting during the visit, you might have just stumbled across your future home sweet home.

Manchester Arena Attack: UK’s Threat Level Raised from Severe to Critical

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The UK has raised terror threat level from “severe” to “critical”, its highest level, meaning further attacks may be imminent, PM Theresa May has announced.

Military personnel will now be deployed to protect key sites as a result of the new threat level.

Meanwhile, the mother of 15-year-old Olivia Campbell said her daughter died in Monday night’s Manchester bombing, which killed 22 and injured 59.

Writing on Facebook, Charlotte Campbell paid tribute to her “precious” daughter.

She had issued an emotional plea for information on her daughter’s whereabouts after the Ariana Grande concert.

According to Reuters, the Polish foreign minister has said that two Polish people who went missing after the attack are among those killed.

The change in terror threat comes after investigators were unable to rule out whether suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, PM Theresa May said.

Image source AP

She said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public.

Military personnel may also be seen at other events over the coming weeks, such as concerts, the prime minister said, working under the command of police officers.

Theresa May said she did not want the public to feel “unduly alarmed” but said it was a “proportionate and sensible response”.

A hotline has been set up for people concerned about loved ones – 0800 096 0095.

The highest threat level, which is decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre – a group of experts from the police, government departments and agencies – has only been reached twice before.

The first time the threat level was raised to critical was in 2006 during a major operation to stop a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs.

In 2007, security chiefs raised it once more as they hunted for the men who had tried to bomb a London nightclub, before going on to attack Glasgow Airport.

Former Salford University student Salman Abedi – understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent – is thought to have blown himself up in the arena’s foyer shortly after 22:30 local time on May 22.

Fans were beginning to leave a concert by Ariana Grande.

Three of his victims have been named – Saffie Rose Roussos, eight, Georgina Callander – thought to be 18 – and John Atkinson, 28.

ISIS has said – via its channels on the messaging app Telegram – it was behind the Manchester attack, but this has not been verified.

Marc Kasowitz Appointed to Represent Donald Trump in Russia Inquiry

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According to recent reports, President Donald Trump has appointed lawyer Marc Kasowitz to represent him in an inquiry into Russia’s alleged meddling in the presidential election and any links to the Trump campaign.

President Trump has used services of the New York lawyer – known as a tenacious litigator – for more than a decade.

Last week, former FBI boss Robert Mueller was named special counsel for the Department of Justice inquiry.

Donald Trump denies any collusion between his campaign and Russia.

Image source kasowitz.com

However, US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to tip the 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump.

Marc Kasowitz and the White House have so far made no public comments on the reported appointment.

He is well known to Donald Trump, and it was he who – during the presidential campaign – threatened to sue the New York Times if it didn’t retract a story about Donald Trump touching women inappropriately.

The New York Times stood by its story and a retraction was never published.

Calls for a special investigation had mounted since President Trump fired the most recent FBI director, James Comey, earlier this month.

The FBI and Congress are also looking into potential links between Donald Trump’s campaign team and Russia.

Roger Moore Dies at the Age of 89

Roger Moore has died at the age of 89, his family has announced.

The actor was best known for playing James Bond in seven Bond movies including Live and Let Die and A View to a Kill.

Roger Moore’s family confirmed the sad news on Twitter, saying he had died after “a short but brave battle with cancer”.

The statement, from the actor’s children, read: “Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people.”

“With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated,” they said in a Twitter post.

Roger Moore took the character of James Bond in a more humorous direction than his predecessor Sean Connery.

Image source Wikimedia

His James Bond was calm and suave – a smooth operator who could seemingly get himself out of a tricky situation with ease.

Roger Moore, who died in Switzerland, will have a private funeral in Monaco in accordance with his wishes, his children said.

“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone,” read the statement from Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian.

“Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [Tholstrup, Roger Moore’s wife] at this difficult time.”

The statement added: “We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.”

Along with his famous James Bond role, Roger Moore was also known for 1960s TV series The Persuaders and The Saint.

Roger Moore was also well known for his humanitarian work – he was introduced to UNICEF by the late Audrey Hepburn and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador in 1991.

The Dao United Debacle: What Happened In The End?

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Image from Wikimedia

On April 9th of this year, shocking videos emerged of passenger Doctor David Dao, being dragged from his seat on board a United Airlines plane. In the video, passengers watch with horror as police grapple with Dao, before dragging him from his seat. In the background, other passengers plead the officers to stop. At one point, the statement ‘Look at what you’ve done to him’ can be heard in the background.

The video went viral in no time at all, sparking outrage across the nation. It also prompted apologies from United CEO Oscar Munoz. Munoz claimed to be ‘disturbed’ by what had happened and offered a ‘deep’ apology to Dao and his family. The officers involved were less sympathetic. They gave statements under duress and claimed Dao caused his injuries. But, with Dao coming out of the experience with a concussion, broken nose and lost teeth, nobody’s sure what to believe. There’s no denying that Dao offers resistance in the video, but the force used still seems excessive. And, the pleas of other passengers doesn’t help their case. Is it any wonder that the world was up in arms about the situation?

Dao didn’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer to fight his case for him. But, though undisclosed, the payout he received may not have been as much as he was expecting. When you break the case down, Dao’s injuries aren’t long lasting, which makes a huge difference in a case of this sort. The best claim he could make were for his broken teeth. Again, though, the injury is only painful before dental treatment. In court, it isn’t considered a long-lasting problem.

dao-united

Image from Wikimedia

Those in outrage after watching the video may find it hard to believe, but this is the reality of personal injury claims. If Dao did want to see any real payout, he might have had to wait until long-lasting effects of his concussion become apparent. In reality, the waiting game is often why injury cases take so long to resolve. It may explain why 95-96% of claimants settle out of court. This may, in part, be a patience issue. But, the risk with waiting to see any long-lasting damage is that you won’t get anything if nothing emerges.

This is certainly what Dao realized. In fact, the public outrage was the only real reason United offered any payout at all. And, that amount would decrease with each day the story moved out of the public eye. In many ways, he made the right choice to settle when he did. And, the chances are he still received a significant amount.

But, for those of us who watched events unfold with horror, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Pictures later released showed blood flowing from the 69-year-old doctor’s mouth. And, his injuries indeed sound bad enough to warrant compensation. If nothing else, this is proof of how challenging the world of personal injury can be. Anyone who thinks these are easy cases to win can think again.

Park Geun-hye Trial Begins in South Korea

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South Korea’s ex-President Park Geun-hye has pleaded not guilty at her trial for corruption, the latest stage in her dramatic fall from grace.

Park Geun-hye faces charges including bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets.

In her first appearance in public since her arrest in March, Park Geun-hye arrived at court handcuffed in a prison van.

The maximum sentence for corruption in South Korea is life.

Park Geun-hye is accused of colluding with her friend, Choi Soon-sil, to extort money from some of South Korea’s biggest companies, including Samsung, in return for political favors.

Image source kremlin.ru

Choi Soon-sil, who is also facing charges, sat alongside Park Geun-hye at the opening of the trial. She also denies wrongdoing.

As the trial opened in Seoul, Park Geun-hye’s lawyers said there was “no reason for President Park to force companies to donate money which she was unable to use for herself”.

She is facing a total of 18 charges, with the charge sheet running to about 120,000 pages, South Korean media report.

Prosecutors say she allowed Choi Soon-sil to use her presidential connections to pressure companies to give money to a foundation she established, earning them tens of millions of dollars.

In exchange, the companies would receive favorable treatment from the government, it is alleged.

Park Geun-hye is also accused of leaking state secrets by giving Choi Soon-sil access to her work – including asking her to edit her speeches – and of running a blacklist of media figures who were to be barred from receiving state support because they had been critical of her government.

The ousted president is the third South Korean leader on trial for corruption but the first democratically elected one.

The two previous cases involved former military dictators imprisoned on corruption in the 1990s.

Park Geun-hye’s hearing takes place in the very same court room as the previous trials.

Dozens of people have now been investigated or arrested in connection with the scandal. All have maintained their innocence.

Choi Soon-sil has been on trial since December, while her daughter, Chung Yoo-ra – alleged to have received help getting a university placement – was arrested in Denmark in January.

The acting head of Samsung Group, Lee Jae-Yong, and four other Samsung executive are on trial for allegedly giving bribes to Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil in exchange for government support for a controversial merger.

Former health minister Moon Hyung-pyo and the chief investment officer of the National Pension Service (NPS) Hong Wan-seon are on trial for allegedly pressuring the NPS to accept the merger.

Last week, two plastic surgeons who treated the image-conscious former president – including one who injected Park Geun-hye with human placenta extracts – were convicted of lying about having treated her.

Manchester Arena Attack: 22 Killed and 59 Injured in Suicide Bombing at Ariana Grande Concert

Twenty-two people have been killed and 59 injured in a suicide attack at Manchester Arena at the end of Ariana Grande’s concert.

The explosion happened in the foyer at 22:35 local time on May 22.

According to police, the lone male attacker, who died in the blast, detonated an improvised explosive device.

Relatives are using social media to hunt for missing loved ones, and an emergency number, 0161 856 9400, has been set up.

Sixty ambulances attended the incident and those wounded are now being treated at six hospitals around the city.

Image source AP

Eyewitnesses described seeing metal nuts and bolts among the debris, and spoke about the fear and confusion that gripped the concert-goers.

Police have established a help centre at the Etihad Stadium, access Gate 11, for anyone who needs assistance in tracing loved ones.

Twitter has been flooded with appeals from relatives and friends of missing concertgoers via the hashtag #MissingInManchester.

Facebook also activated a safety check feature so that people can let their family and friends know they are safe.

The blast happened close to the entrance to Victoria railway and tram station. The station has been closed and all trains canceled.

Police also carried out a precautionary controlled explosion in the Cathedral Garden area of the city at about 01:32 AM. The force later confirmed it was not a dangerous item.

The Manchester Arena or MEN is the city’s largest indoor venue with a concert capacity of around 21,000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adT6vaQRwtg

Michael Flynn Invokes 5th Amendment and Won’t Comply with Senate Subpoena

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President Donald Trump’s fired national security adviser Michael Flynn has refused to hand over files to a Senate panel probing alleged Russian political meddling into US election.

He invoked his legal right against self-incrimination, his lawyers told the committee.

The Senate Intelligence Committee is investigating possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Michael Flynn stood down in February after it emerged he lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.

The Senate committee issued a subpoena – a legal summons – two weeks ago to obtain documents about his contacts with Russians dating back to June 2015.

Two other former top Trump aides – Paul Manafort and Roger Stone – have complied with the committee’s request for information, it was reported on May 22.

The panel, another congressional committee and the FBI are investigating claims that Russian hackers tried to help Donald Trump win last November’s presidential election, and whether members of his campaign colluded with the alleged Russian conspiracy.

Michael Flynn’s name has cropped up repeatedly in the matter, but his letter to the Senate panel emphasizes his refusal to comply is not an admission of wrongdoing.

The former Army lieutenant general is invoking the 5th amendment to the US constitution, which protects Americans from being legally compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal case.

Image source Wikimedia

The letter said Michael Flynn’s decision was a response to the current political climate and an “escalating public frenzy against him”.

His attorneys argued that “any testimony he provides could be used against him”.

Republican Senator James Lankford, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted: “It is Mike Flynn’s right to plead the 5th.

“We will get to the truth one way or another.”

If Michael Flynn continues to refuse to comply, it is thought Senate investigators could vote to hold him in contempt of Congress, or even refer his case for possible criminal charges.

Michael Flynn’s legal representative has previously demanded immunity from “unfair prosecution” before his client testifies.

Last week the committee’s chairman, Senator Richard Burr, told reporters that Mike Flynn was “not co-operating” with the investigation.

Shortly after Michael Flynn left the White House, the Department of Defense also launched an inquiry into payments he received for a speech in Russia and for lobbying on Turkey’s behalf.

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates testified to senators earlier this month that she had warned the White House 18 days before Michael Flynn was fired that he was vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

Michael Flynn misled the White House about discussing US sanctions against Russia with Moscow’s envoy, Sergei Kislyak, before DonaldTrump took office.

President Trump injected a fresh impetus into the Senate investigation after he himself met the Russian ambassador and foreign minister in the White House earlier this month.

Donald Trump said in that encounter that he had just fired the FBI director because he was a “real nut job” and his dismissal eased “a great pressure because of Russia”, the New York Times reported.

During the Oval Office chat, which media were not invited to cover, Donald Trump also reportedly divulged secret information on the military campaign against ISIS.

Israel was reportedly the source of that sensitive intelligence.

However, while in Jerusalem on May 22, President Trump told reporters repeatedly that he “never mentioned the word Israel” in his meeting with Russian officials.

Former FBI director Robert Mueller was appointed last week as special counsel to lead the FBI investigation following President Trump’s firing of the law enforcement agency’s director, James Comey.

Jim Hackett Replaces Mark Fields as Ford Chief Executive

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Jim Hackett is replacing Mark Fields as Ford CEO following a major reshuffle at the US car giant.

Mark Fields’ departure comes as Ford faces weak sales, falling profits and a near-40% decline in its share price since he took up his role in 2014.

Jim Hackett, 62, is described by the company as a “transformational business leader”.

The former boss of office furniture company Steelcase joined Ford in 2016 to run its autonomous driving division.

Executive chairman Bill Ford said Jim Hackett was a “true visionary” and the right person to lead the car maker.

Jim Hackett will focus on modernizing Ford and “transforming the company to meet tomorrow’s challenges”.

Ford shares rose 1.3% in morning trading in New York.

Last week, Ford said it planned to cut 10% of its salaried workforce in North America and Asia Pacific this year, on a voluntary basis.

The auto maker employed more than 200,000 people globally at the end of 2016, including about 101,000 in North America and 23,000 in Asia.

Sales in April were down 7% in the US and 11% lower in Europe compared with the same month last year. Ford has also been hit by costs related to safety recalls.

In 2016, Ford sold 6.65 million vehicles worldwide, while rival General Motors sold 9.97 million, according to Statista.

GM reported a record performance in the first three months of 2017, with revenue 10.6% higher at $41.2 billion, helped by strong sales of trucks and SUVs in the US.

Ford’s revenue in the first three months of 2017 was $39.1 billion, a rise of 4%.

At the time Mark Fields said the quarter was “an investment in Ford’s future”.

Ford launched new vehicles and he said it was “fortifying our core business, while also investing in emerging opportunities that will deliver profitable growth”.

In recent years, Ford has been investing heavily in self-driving technology and ride-sharing services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qnhnTF_5P0

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Twin Peaks Returns on Showtime After 26 Years

David Lynch’s cult TV series Twin Peaks is back after 26 years.

The return of Twin Peaks was greeted with both praise and bafflement by critics, one of whom called it “familiarly inscrutable”.

Kyle MacLachlan reprises his role as FBI agent Dale Cooper in the 18-episode series, which began its run on May 21 on Showtime.

The first two episodes saw Kyle MacLachlan’s character still trapped in the mysterious “black lodge” where the original series left him in 1991.

Other characters to return included Laura Palmer, whose murder was the basis of the original show, and <<The Log Lady>>, played by the late Catherine Coulson.

Future episodes, all directed by David Lynch himself, will see Michael Cera, Laura Dern and Naomi Watts join the cast.

Walking Dead star Jeffrey Dean Morgan was among those to welcome Twin Peaks’ return on Twitter, praising David Lynch for “outLynching the bejesus” out of his celebrated creation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujDB5ao1JCg

Donald Trump Begins First Official Visit to Israel

President Donald Trump is continuing his first foreign trip with Israel after visiting Saudi Arabia.

The president flew in from Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, where he gave a speech to Arab and Muslim leaders at a summit.

In Israel, Donald Trump will hold talks with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders during the course of his two-day stop.

He has called an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement “the ultimate deal”, but has been vague about what form it should take.

Donald Trump has said he prefers to leave it to both sides to decide between them in direct talks.

According to the Associated Press and Israel’s Haaretz, President Trump’s flight between Saudi Arabia and Israel was likely to be the first between the two countries, that have no diplomatic relations.

Image source Reuters

The president has been widely seen as considerably more supportive of Israel than his predecessor, Barack Obama. Donald Trump has taken a softer position on the contentious issue of Israeli settlements, suggesting that their expansion rather than their presence might hamper the search for peace.

More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel’s 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, land Palestinians claim for a future state.

The Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

President Trump has also sent mixed signals on the issue of Jerusalem, pledging to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, angering Palestinians and delighting Israelis.

However, he has since stalled, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently telling NBC News that President Trump was weighing it up.

Israel regards the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim the east as their capital. The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

There has been some consternation in Israel in the run-up to President Trump’s trip over remarks made by administration officials.

Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Rex Tillerson’s suggestion that moving the embassy might harm the peace process, while a US Consulate official caused outrage by saying the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, was “not in your [Israel’s] territory but part of the West Bank”.

The White House later said: “The Western Wall is in Jerusalem… such alleged statements would not have been authorized by the White House, [and] do not reflect the US position, and certainly not the president’s position.”

President Trump is expected to visit the Western Wall, located in the Old City of East Jerusalem, in a private capacity on May 22 – the first sitting US president to do so.

Donald Trump will also visit the nearby Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where according to Christian tradition Jesus was buried and resurrected.

His trip also comes days after it was reported that the president had leaked to Russia’s foreign minister classified intelligence information said to have come from an Israeli source. The incident has raised questions about the confidentiality of secret intelligence passed to the US by its closest Middle Eastern ally.

A huge security operation is under way for Donald Trump’s visit, during which he will hold separate meetings with PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on May 22 and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem the following day.

A day before Donald Trump was due to arrive, Israel’s announced economic and development concessions for Palestinians, including easing some restrictions on movement and approving industrial construction projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsFIE400Kbk

How Choosing the Right Keywords Can Help You Make Money Easily

Before you start any marketing campaign online, you need to find the perfect keywords. Use the right keywords, and you will be able to acquire and maintain the attention of your target audience. Keyword optimized web pages rank higher on Google SERP and offer many more benefits to website owners.

Develop relevant content

When you have the right keywords, it would be easy to produce content that helps to drive relevant traffic to your website. Create keyword-rich content that is readable, high quality, unique, and adds value to your readers. Having the perfect keywords serves as a guide on the kind of content that would be fit for your community.

Generate higher conversion rates

By having relevant content, you are going to attract the right people to your website. It’s easier to convert the right target audience than people who just bumped into your web pages. When people engage with your brand, either through content or communicating to a representative, they are more likely to convert. Perfect keyword selection helps you to drive the right people to your business.

Save time and resources

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When you have a list of keywords to use, you will spend less time trying to figure out what kind of content you need to create for your target audience. The keywords act as a guide on what kind of information, tips, and ideas your target audience would enjoy reading. You can begin to track the performance of your blog posts that have certain keywords and focus on the ones that lead to success. Using the right keywords can ultimately impact on your ROI.

Generate leads

Having a list of well-selected keywords can also help you to generate qualified leads. Some keywords can have minuscule search volumes but are cheaper to rank for and also attract more targeted audiences. Using a set of relevant keywords, you can grab the attention of customers who are interested in your product or service. This gives you an opportunity to remarket to the same clients in different ways such as sending emails or SMS.

Boost organic search rankings

Black Samsung Tablet Computer

Having a perfect list of keywords can ultimately help your site to rank organically on SERP. You need to place the keywords in your page title, tags and anchor text among other locations to make sure search engines crawl to your website. Do not just rely on paid ads, use keywords to rank organically as well.

Takeaway

Now that you know the many good reasons why you should choose the right keywords for your online marketing campaign, all you have to do now is get started on doing your keyword research. You can do this on your own, or you can ask the assistance of SEO experts. That can be a reasonable investment on your part. If you don’t feel so confident in your SEO skills yet, don’t fret, there are plenty of SEO experts who can help you when it comes to choosing the right set of keywords and helping you make money in the process.

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Cathay Pacific to Cut 590 Jobs in Restructuring Move

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Cathay Pacific has announced it will cut nearly 600 jobs as part of the biggest restructuring in 20 years.

The cuts include 190 management jobs and 400 non-management staff working at Cathay Pacific’s head office in Hong Kong.

In March, the Hong Kong’s flagship carrier said it would save 30% in employee costs at its head office after the company posted its first annual loss in eight years.

The cuts are part of a three year program to turn around the losses.

Image source Wikimedia

Cathay Pacific said in a statement that the job cuts would be complete by the end of the year, with most of the affected employees to be informed on May 22, and over the next month.

The changes will be overseen by Cathay Pacific’s new chief executive, Rupert Hogg, who replaced Ivan Chu Kwok-leung earlier this month.

Rupert Hogg cited increasing competition and a challenging business outlook for what he called “tough but necessary decisions for the future of our business and our customers”.

Cathay has been facing tough competition from Chinese and Middle Eastern airlines that have expanded rapidly in the Asia Pacific region.

Earlier this year, Cathay posted a net loss of HK$575 million ($74 million) for 2016. It was only the third time Cathay Pacific posted a full-year loss in its 70 year history.

North Korea Conducts New Missile Test

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According to South Korea’s military, North Korea has conducted another missile test on May 21.

Meanwhile, the White House said the medium-range missile had a shorter range than those used in North Korea’s last three tests.

The move comes a week after North Korea tested what it said was a new type of rocket capable of carrying a large nuclear warhead.

On May 15, the UN Security Council again demanded that North Korea conduct no further such tests.

It stressed the importance of North Korea “immediately showing sincere commitment to denuclearization through concrete action”.

The UN Security Council is now scheduled to meet behind closed doors on May 23 – a meeting requested by the US, South Korea and Japan.

South Korea’s foreign ministry earlier said the launch was “reckless and irresponsible”, while Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described it as “disappointing” and “disturbing”.

The latest missile flew about 350 miles towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Last week’s missile travelled about 435 miles.

Japanese news agencies said the missile probably fell into the sea outside Japan’s waters.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference a protest had been lodged with North Korea.

North Korea is known to be developing both nuclear weapons – it has conducted five nuclear tests – and the missiles capable of delivering those weapons to their target. Both are in defiance of UN sanctions.

South Korea said the latest test was conducted in Pukchang, in the west of the country. A missile exploded soon after take-off from Pukchang last month.

Earlier on May 21, North Korea’s state-run media had said it would continue to launch more “weapons capable of striking” the US.

In early May, the US said a missile defense system it had installed in South Korea was now operational.

The THAAD system can intercept North Korean missiles, although full operational capability is still some months away. North Korea and its ally China have condemned the installation of the system.

However, there is no sign that THAAD was used against the missile tested on May 21.

Newly-installed South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is seeking deeper engagement with North Korea, has convened an urgent meeting of his national security council in response.

Top 5 List to Make More Money without Working Extra Hours

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Who has not been in a situation, when you work hard, but the salary is still not satisfying? The first solution that comes to mind is to take more working hours. However, it is not the only way to make extra money.

If there is a financial emergency, it is possible to get some extra funds fast with the help of small loans.

Profit-Making Hobbies

It is a common misconception that your hobbies may bring only joy, but not money. Some pleasant activities and interests are considered to be not serious and absolutely non-profitable. A lot of successful people proved that fact to be wrong. Your passion may become a way of making money without feeling that you are actually working. For instance, if you are fond of photography, you can make shootings for other people that will be happy to pay for their photos to be done.

If you are good at any kinds of crafts like knitting, jewelry making, sewing, it is possible to sell these wares. Gardening, cooking, nails art, make-up, dancing, drawing, and anything you enjoy doing might become not only things you are good at but also a way to get some additional funds.

Passive Income Stream

Nowadays it becomes popular to have a passive income stream that does not require a lot of time and effort. Something that would bring money while you are not actually working and enjoying other activities seems to be very tempting.

A passive revenue stream requires a lot in the beginning. It is essential to create a unique and appealing content to get your audience. After getting a lot of followers, earning does not demand a lot of maintenance. It might be a well-developed and popular blog, a YouTube channel, an Instagram account that allows making money on advertising. It might take a while before getting results, but it is worth trying.

Drive and Earn

If you do not want to invest in a passive revenue stream or cannot wait so long until your blog will become lucrative, there is another way to make money on advertising. Your car might become an advertising space and bring you some funds while you drive to work, school or other purposes. There are companies that are eager to place their information on your transport and pay you for that. Do not forget to check your partners and make sure they are reliable before any agreement. It is possible to find some feedbacks online to avoid dealing with scammers.

Short-term Rent

If you have some real estate or a spare room that might be rented, it might be another option to earn some money. The online platforms will help you to make an announcement and find a renter. If you do not have a spare space but you are often away on weekends, it is possible to rent a room in your apartment for a short-term. While you are on vacation or visiting your parents in another city, you will still be able to make money renting your property for a week or two. Consider also checking the local laws and the rules of renting in your area to avoid fines and other troubles.

Current Job Options

Your current job can also be more profitable without any additional activities and extra working hours. Taking extra shifts might be a good solution. People are usually not eager to work on weekends, holidays or at night and the companies offer more money for working at this time. You will work the same amount of hours but they will bring more.

You may also discuss your work agreement with your boss and make a few changes. For example, some days of a week you may work from home. It will save some time for the road and you may spend it either on your other jobs or personal stuff. If you have a fixed salary, discuss getting also a bonus for good results or commissions from the sales that will motivate you and be profitable for the company as well.

Donald Trump to Deliver Speech on Islam in Saudi Arabia

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President Donald Trump is expected to underline the need to confront extremism in Islam when he makes a speech in Saudi Arabia on May 21.

Donald Trump’s address, to a summit of regional leaders, will come on the second day of his first presidential trip abroad.

It is expected President Trump will attempt to strike a collaborative tone in attempts to bolster support for the US fight against ISIS militants.

On May 20, the US signed trade deals of $350 billion with Saudi Arabia.

This included the largest arms deal ever made in US history, which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said was aimed at countering the “malign” influence of Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival.

Image source Getty Images

However, Donald Trump’s visit has been overshadowed by his political difficulties at home, namely the fallout over his sacking of FBI chief James Comey.

Donald Trump caused controversy during his campaign by calling for Muslims to be temporarily banned from entering the US over security concerns. Legislation aimed at restricting travel from several Muslim-majority countries remains tied up in the US courts.

According to a report by CNN, the same man who wrote the travel ban – adviser Stephen Miller – has written President Trump’s speech about Islam.

The Associated Press, which was given copies of the speech by two sources, said the speech aimed to cast extremism as a battle between good and evil.

AP said President Trump will say: “We are not here to lecture — to tell other peoples how to live, what to do or who to be. We are here instead to offer partnership in building a better future for us all.”

President Trump has made a number of controversial comments about Islam, including suggesting he would be open to creating a database of all the Muslims in the US, linking the religion with violence.

He has also criticized other politicians for not using the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” – a phrase which, according to advisers quoted in the US media, will not feature in the speech.

Donald Trump’s eight-day trip will also take in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Brussels, the Vatican, and Sicily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5ehd-hPIxc

Sacramento Botulism Outbreak Linked to Gas Station Nacho Cheese Sauce

The botulism outbreak in Sacramento, California, that left nine people hospitalized has been linked to cheese sauce sold on nacho crisps at a family-run petrol station.

Health officials have stopped Valley Oak Food and Fuel selling food.

Cases of botulism, a rare and sometimes fatal form of food poisoning, were first reported on May 5 and in total nine people are confirmed to have it.

Image source CBS News

One of the victims is reportedly so ill she cannot speak or keep her eyes open.

Dr. Oliva Kasirye of the Sacramento County Public Health Department told reporters that preliminary testing showed the cheese was carrying botulism.

The family of one of the affected patients has already filed a lawsuit against the petrol station, claiming neglect.

Botulism poisoning is caused by toxins released by a type of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.

Human digestive processes cannot break down the toxic chemical, which moves to the nervous system. Symptoms emerge in adults 18-36 hours after eating contaminated food.

In this case, it is thought the nacho cheese sauce may have been canned. Tinned food is a risk for botulism because the bacterium grows best when there is no oxygen around.

In adults, symptoms – including difficulty walking or swallowing, impaired vision and potential convulsions or paralysis – will emerge between 18 and 36 hours after eating the contaminated food.

Depending on how quickly botulism is detected and how much of the bacterium has been swallowed, botulism may be treated with an anti-toxin drug.