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Keep Your Employees Safe At Work

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If you have a business of your own, then you are no doubt aware of the huge importance of keeping your employees as safe as possible. The fact is that this is one of your main concerns of all, and there is a lot that you will need to consider if you want them to be as safe as they possibly can be. On the whole, it is a matter of ensuring that everyone knows what the rules and regulations are and that they follow them as closely as possible. As long as you do that, you should find that the rest will follow, but it is worth knowing exactly what you should be doing to keep them as safe as you can at all times. Let’s take a look in a little more detail so that you can better understand your role in it all.

Credit

Easily Accessible Rules

It is clear that it’s obvious you need rules in order to keep people safe, but you also need to make sure that they are as easily accessible as possible. This means that they are located somewhere physically in the office where anyone can find them and read them at any time, but also that they are easy to understand. If anyone can’t understand them, then you can’t reasonably expect everyone to follow them to the letter. Make sure they are written as clearly as possible, and that way you are much less likely to have any kind of trouble. Moreover, be sure to have several copies around the workplace, just in case more than one person needs to refer to them at once.

Championing The Cause

Something that often makes a huge difference is if you put one person in charge of the process of keeping everyone safe. Using a champion in this way is a powerful way of ensuring that everyone follows the rules, and that they know why they need to. You might want to consider choosing someone who is particularly keen on it themselves, as this way you can be sure that they will do the job in the best possible manner. Having a champion is also a powerful way of demonstrating that you as an employer take health and safety seriously. This is useful to have in case you need to present a case to a lawyer, for example, or when you are checked externally for your health and safety regulations.

Self-Auditing

A great way of showing that you are a responsible employer is to carry out the occasional self-audit and follow up accordingly. This can be done by anyone, but it is more effective if you hire someone neutral to do it for you. They will be able to ensure that you are doing everything as a business to keep everyone as safe as possible. If you are not sure about how to self-audit, then consider hiring a professional to do it for you. You might be pleasantly surprised at what a difference this really can make.

Steve Stephens: Facebook Murder Suspect Found Dead in Apparent Suicide

Steve Stephens, who was suspected of randomly shooting a grandfather on an Ohio street and posting video of the killing to Facebook, has taken his own life, police say.

The 37-year-old man was spotted on April 18 in Erie County, Pennsylvania State Police tweeted.

“After a brief pursuit, Stephens shot and killed himself,” police tweeted.

Steve Stephens allegedly shot dead 74-year-old Robert Godwin as the victim walked home from Easter lunch on April 16 in Cleveland.

The suspect’s mobile phone signal was last tracked on Sunday afternoon to Erie, Pennsylvania, 100 miles from where police say he shot Robert Godwin.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson told a news conference: “We have closure in regards to the search for Steve Stephens.”

City police chief Calvin Williams told reporters that Pennsylvania State Police received a tip-off shortly after 11:00 on April 18.

Image source Facebook

Steve Stephens’ white Ford Fusion car had been spotted in the car park of a McDonald’s in the city of Erie, he said.

Calvin Williams said there was a brief police chase after which the suspect’s car stopped.

Steve Stephens took his own life with his gun as officers approached his vehicle, and was pronounced dead at the scene, added the police chief.

Calvin Williams said: “We would like to have brought Steve in peacefully and really talk to him to find out exactly why this happened… find out why he did what he did and what drove him to this.”

Steve Stephens had been added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List as the manhunt was extended from five states to nationwide.

Earlier in the day, police said that authorities had received more than 400 tips, including as far away as Texas.

The family of Robert Godwin – a father of 10 and grandfather of 14 – said on April 17 they forgave the suspected killer.

His daughter, Tonya Godwin-Baines, had urged Steve Stephens to surrender.

“Each one of us forgives the killer, the murderer,” she told Cleveland TV station WJW.

“We want to wrap our arms around him.”

“I forgive you and love you, but most importantly, God loves you. God can heal your mind and save your soul,” she said.

The victim’s son, Robert Godwin Jr., said: “Steve, I forgive you… I’m not happy what you did, but I forgive you.”

Cleveland officials had announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.

Facebook has launched a review of its procedures after criticism that the footage stayed on the site for hours.

Facebook’s vice-president of global operations, Justin Osofsky, said the first complaint made about the video showing the killing came nearly two hours after it was posted.

However, Justin Osofsky added: “We know we need to do better.”

Abror Azimov: St Petersburg Subway Bombing Suspect Says He Only Followed Instructions

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Abror Azimov, the man arrested in Russia on April 17 over St Petersburg subway attack, has denied he was behind the bombing that killed 14 people, Russian media say.

The suspect, who is reported to be from Kyrgyzstan, said he simply “followed” instructions, and “did not realize” what he was doing.

It came shortly after Abror Azimov’s lawyer told Russian media he had “fully confessed” to being behind the explosions.

A total of nine people have been detained over the April 3 attack.

Suicide bomber Akbarzhon Jalilov detonated a bomb between two subway stations.

More than 50 people were injured by the attack.

Russian security services previously said they believed Abror Azimov had trained Akbarzhon Jalilov, a Kyrgyz-born Russian, ahead of the bombing.

Image source AP

However, speaking in a Moscow court in on April 18, Abror Azimov said he “was involved, but not directly”.

He denied ever having confessed to organizing the attack.

“I did not understand that I was taking part in terrorist activity,” Abror Azimov said.

“I was given orders, and I only followed them.”

He told the court he was married, with one child, Vesti TV news reported.

Abror Azimov will be remanded in custody until June 3, while investigations continue.

Police had found Abror Azimov by examining Akbarzhon Jalilov’s phone contacts, Russian newspaper Kommersant said, citing sources.

Abror Azimov bought two new mobile phones and Sim cards on April 17, but gave away his location to security forces when he activated one of the cards, Kommersant added.

According to Russian media, Abror Azimov was born in Kyrgzstan in 1990, and moved to Russia in 2008. He reportedly became a Russian citizen in 2013.

The other eight people detained in connection with the attack – six in St Petersburg and two in Moscow – are also from Central Asia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqzCoN_2VFc

Venezuela Criticizes 11 Latin American Countries for Rude Interference

Venezuela has criticized a joint communiqué by 11 Latin American countries calling on its government to “guarantee the right to peaceful protest”.

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez labeled the communiqué is a “rude meddling”.

The 11 countries also condemned the death of six people in Venezuela’s anti-government marches this month.

Venezuela’s opposition is planning a mass protest for April 19.

The government has called on its supporters to hold rival marches.

Venezuela is deeply divided between those who support the government of the socialist President Nicolas Maduro and those who blame him for the economic crisis and want him gone from power.

Image source Wikimedia

There has been a series of anti-government protests in Caracas and other major cities, as well as marches by government supporters.

In their joint statement, the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay rejected the violence, which led to the deaths of six people during the recent demonstrations.

The Latin American countries called on President Nicolas Maduro “to prevent any violence against protesters” and also called on opposition groups “to exercise their right to demonstrate responsibly so that the day remains peaceful with people expressing themselves calmly”.

They also called on the Venezuela government to quickly set dates for elections to be held “to solve the grave crisis which Venezuela is experiencing and which worries the region”.

Regional elections originally due to be held in December 2016 were postponed by the electoral council to 2017, but a date has not yet been set.

Municipal elections are also due to be held in 2017.

Minister Delcy Rodriguez also wrote that “these governments misuse international law to back interventionism in Venezuela to attempt to govern the country from abroad”.

Delcy Rodriguez ended a series of tweets by saying that “there is no imperialist force in this world which can defeat the sovereign people of Venezuela”.

Steve Stephens: Facebook Shooting Suspect Is a Self-Described Monster

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Steve Stephens, the suspect who police say murdered a grandfather and posted the video on Facebook, is a self-described “monster” who blames others for his problems.

The 37-year-old man, who worked as a case manager for a children’s mental healthcare facility in Ohio, said in another video posted online that he had “just snapped”.

Steve Stephens, who police say had no criminal history, spoke of having “messed up” and also complained about gambling debts.

He wrote in a post on his now-deleted Facebook page: “I lost everything I ever had due to gambling at the Cleveland Jack Casino and Erie Casino.”

Steve Stephens said it was the fault of his ex-girlfriend, Joy Lane, that he had carried out April 16 apparently random shooting of 74-year-old grandfather Robert Godwin.

In a Facebook video broadcast from his car after the killing, Steve Stephens says: “You see, the thing is, man, I’m 37 and all my [expletive] life, man, I’ve always been a [expletive] monster, man.

“Always had to prove myself, always had to take the butts of people’s jokes. Just killing [expletive], man, and all because of this [expletive] called Joy Lane.

“She put me at my pushing point, man. You know, I was living over there with her, just woke up Friday, I just couldn’t take it no more, man.

“I just left, and yeah, here I am, massacring [expletive].” He laughs.

Image source Facebook

Joy Lane is now in protective custody.

Steve Stephens claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people, but police have so far been unable to verify his claims.

In the same video, broadcast from his car, Steve Stephens films himself on a phone telling an unidentified person that he feels “built-in anger and frustration”.

In another Facebook video rant shortly before the shooting, Steve Stephens also blames his mother.

He said he had told her beforehand that he was feeling “suicidal” and planning “to kill some people”.

“Didn’t care,” Steve Stephens said of his mother’s reaction.

He said she was “the one who created this [expletive] monster that I am”.

“I’m beat,” he adds, “I’m tired.”

His mother, Maggie Green, told CNN she last saw her eldest child a day before the shooting.

She said Steve Stephens had told her: “If you see me again, it’ll be a miracle.”

Turkey Referendum Result: Donald Trump Congratulates Recep Tayyip Erdogan on His Victory

President Donald Trump has congratulated Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his victory in April 16 referendum that gave him sweeping new powers.

President Trump’s phone call contrasts with European concern that the result – 51.4% in favor of the constitutional changes – has exposed deep splits in Turkish society.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected criticism from international monitors who said he had been favored by an “unequal campaign”.

Turkey’s main opposition party is launching an appeal to invalidate the result.

Image source Al Manar

The constitutional changes – due to be introduced before presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2019 – will turn Turkey into a presidential republic similar to the US and France. This could enable President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to stay in power until 2029.

Erdogan’s narrow victory was ruled valid by Turkey’s electoral body, despite claims of irregularities by the opposition.

On April 17, Turkey extended the state of emergency for three months. The measure, introduced after a failed coup in July 2016, was set to expire in two days.

Syria is one of the issues straining relations between Washington and Ankara.

Turkey is irked by the policy started by the Obama administration of supporting Kurdish fighters in Syria who are fighting ISIS.

Turkey views the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) as a terror group linked to Kurdish separatists waging an insurgency inside the country since 1984.

Turkey – a key NATO ally – has established closer co-operation with Russia recently.

The two sides are also at loggerheads over Fethullah Gulen. Turkey accuses the Pennsylvania-based cleric of orchestrating the failed coup and wants him extradited.

Officially Washington insists any decision on returning Fethullah Gulen to Turkey from the US remains a judicial rather than a political one.

President Trump’s comments contrasted with a statement by the US state department which mentioned concerns by international observers and urged Turkey to respect the rights of its citizens – chiming with sentiment in European capitals.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that the “tight referendum result shows how deeply divided Turkish society is and that means a big responsibility for the Turkish leadership and for President Erdogan personally”.

And the European Commission issued a similar call.

Steve Stephens: Cleveland Police Search for Facebook Killer

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Cleveland police are searching for a suspect who fatally shot a “random” victim and posted the footage on Facebook.

Steve Stephens, 37, later said in a separate video post that he had killed 13 people and was looking to kill more.

Cleveland police chief Calvin Williams confirmed one killing but said they did not know of any other victims.

Calvin Williams said that “multiple forces” were looking for Steve Stephens, who “needs to turn himself in”.

The victim has been identified by Cleveland police as Robert Godwin, 74.

At a news conference on April 16, police chief Calvin Williams said: “There is no need for any further bloodshed in this incident tonight.

“We need to bring this to a conclusion today.”

He added: “We need to get Steve from the streets.”

He said that authorities had put out alerts “in the state of Ohio and beyond” over the “senseless” incident, and urged people not to approach the suspect, who he said was likely to remain armed and dangerous.

Image source Facebook

The Cleveland PD issued a photo of Steve Stephens on its website, describing him as a 6ft 1in (1.9m) tall black male of medium complexion.

Steve Stephens is thought to be driving a white or cream-colored SUV.

Calvin Williams said that the victim appeared to have been selected at random in what he described as a “senseless” murder.

He added that Steve Stephens “clearly has a problem” and urged him to come forward in order to “receive the help that he needs”.

The FBI is collaborating with local police as it investigates the incident, CNN reports.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said that he wanted Steve Stephens to know that “he will eventually be caught”.

A fundraising page set up to help the family of Robert Godwin had received more than half of its target of $20,000 within hours of publication.

Facebook said in a statement on April 16 that it co-operates fully with the authorities in incidents where there are “direct threats to physical safety”.

Responding to the reports involving Steve Stephens, Facebook said that it was “a horrific crime”, adding that it “does not allow this kind of content” on its site.

It is not the first time that a fatal shooting has been posted or streamed on Facebook.

In June 2016, a man was shot dead while live-streaming a video of himself on the streets of Chicago. In March, an unidentified man was shot 16 times while broadcasting live.

Facebook’s live-streaming feature, which was launched in 2010, allows anyone to broadcast online in real time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bydqVt3zbM

Turkey Referendum Result: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wins Vote to Expand His Powers

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s push for an executive presidency succeeded with just 51.4% of the referendum vote.

His win was met with both celebrations and protests across Turkey.

The main opposition party – the Republican People’s Party (CHP) – has said it will challenge the Turkey’s referendum result after Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a vote to expand his powers.

It has questioned the legitimacy of the close result, citing irregularities in the electoral process.

The CHP is refusing to accept the Yes victory and is demanding a recount of 60% of the votes, criticizing a decision to pass unstamped ballot papers as valid unless proven otherwise.

Three of Turkey’s biggest cities – Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir – all voted No to the constitutional changes.

Opposition supporters took to the streets of Istanbul to bang pots and pans – a traditional form of protest – in a series of noisy demonstrations.

Meanwhile, flag-waving supporters of President Erdogan celebrated as their leader praised them for their “historic decision” that could keep him in office until 2029.

Image source Wikipedia

With 99.97% of ballots counted, the Yes campaign had won 51.41% of the votes cast, while No had taken 48.59%. Turnout was said to be as high as 85%.

Separately, three people were shot dead near a polling station in the south-eastern province of Diyarbakir, reportedly during a dispute over how they were voting.

Responding to the referendum’s result, the European Commission issued a statement urging President Erdogan to respect the closeness of the vote and to “seek the broadest possible national consensus” when considering the far-reaching implications of the constitutional amendments.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters at his official Istanbul residence, the Huber Palace: “Today… Turkey has taken a historic decision.

“With the people, we have realized the most important reform in our history.”

He called on everyone to respect the outcome of the vote.

President Erdogan also said Turkey could hold a referendum on bringing back the death penalty – a move that would end the country’s EU negotiations.

Turkey Referendum Result: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wins Vote to Expand His Powers

Easter 2017: Christians from All Over the World Celebrate Jesus Christ’s Resurrection

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Christians from all over the world are gathering to celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

According to the Scripture, Jesus rose from the dead or came back to life three days after being crucified. It is marked as Jesus’ victory over death. The crucifixion of Jesus is commemorated on Good Friday, which is the Friday right before Easter.

Easter is celebrated as it signifies the rebirth of Jesus. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him.

Easter is the biggest day of the year for the Church. It is indeed the day we build towards every year through the season of Lent and all the Holy Week services. It is the “Hallelujah Chorus” of Sunday worship services. On this day we celebrate the greatest news ever proclaimed, “Christ is risen”, victory is won.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MswL37USaiA

North Korea Fails to Launch Missille After Military Parade

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According to South Korean and US military officials say, North Korea has failed to launch a missile on its east coast, a day after Pyongyang warned the US amid rising tension in the region.

The US said a ballistic missile exploded within seconds of the launch.

Hours earlier, North Korea paraded what appeared to be long-range ballistic missiles at a major military display.

North Korea has already conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches in contravention of UN resolutions.

The latest development comes as Vice-President Mike Pence heads to Seoul, where he is expected to discuss the best way to deal with North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.

“North Korea attempted to test an unidentified type of missile from [its eastern port of] Sinpo,” the South Korean defense ministry said, adding that the launch on April 16 had “failed”.

The ministry said that it was investigating for further details.

The US Pacific Command later confirmed the failed test, adding that it had detected and tracked what it believed to be a North Korean ballistic missile.

“The missile blew up almost immediately,” said US Navy Commander Dave Benham, quoted by Reuters.

One unnamed US official said it was unlikely to have been an intercontinental missile, but investigations were continuing.

On April 15, North Korea marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-sung, with a huge military parade in Pyongyang amid speculation that current leader Kim Jong-un could order a new nuclear test.

The event, which appeared to include new intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, was a deliberate show of strength.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “North Korea showing a variety of offensive missiles at yesterday’s military parade and daring to fire a ballistic missile today is a show of force that threatens the whole world.”

Tension continues to rise in the Korean Peninsula with the US Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group steaming towards the region.

VP Mike Pence’s long-planned 10-day trip marks his first official visit to the region, where he is expected to reaffirm the US commitment to stand by its regional allies.

It comes as Washington steps up the pressure on isolated North Korea, with President Donald Trump saying that the US is ready to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat.

At the parade on April 15, North Korean military official Choe Ryong-hae, who is believed to be the country’s second most powerful official, said that his country was “prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war”.

“We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks,” he said.

Earlier this month, North Korea test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile from Sinpo into the Sea of Japan.

The launch took place on the eve of a visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to the US to meet President Donald Trump. The two leaders later discussed how to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

North Korea is banned from any missile or nuclear tests by the UN, though it has repeatedly broken those sanctions.

Turkey Referendum to Determine if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Will Be Granted New Powers

Turkish voters are going to polls in a landmark referendum that will determine whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be granted sweeping new powers.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to replace Turkey’s parliamentary system with an executive presidency.

His supporters say the move would streamline and modernize Turkey, but opponents fear it could lead to greater authoritarianism.

A “yes” vote could also see Recep Tayyip Erdogan remain in office until 2029.

On April 15, Turkish politicians made their final appeals to voters preparing to cast their ballots on one of the most sweeping programs of constitutional change since Turkey became a republic almost a century ago.

Some 55 million people are eligible to vote across 167,000 polling stations, with the results expected to be announced late in the evening.

If the referendum vote falls in Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s favor, it would give him vastly enhanced powers to appoint cabinet ministers, issue decrees, choose senior judges and dissolve parliament.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the changes were needed to address the security challenges faced by Turkey, and to avoid the fragile coalition governments of the past.

Image source Wikipedia

Speaking at one of his final rallies in Istanbul’s Tuzla district, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told supporters that the new constitution would “bring stability and trust that is needed for our country to develop and grow”.

“Turkey can leap into the future,” he said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed the presidency, a largely ceremonial position, in 2014 after more than a decade as prime minister.

The referendum on constitutional change would abolish the post of prime minister altogether, allowing the president to bring all state bureaucracy under his control.

The president says the new system will resemble those in France and the US and will bring calm in a time of turmoil marked by a Kurdish insurgency, Islamist militancy and conflict in neighboring Syria that has led to a huge refugee influx.

The campaign, which has polarized Turkey, takes place under a state of emergency which was imposed following a failed coup last July. A government crackdown since then has seen tens of thousands of people arrested.

Opponents and critics of the proposed changes fear the move would make the president’s position too powerful, arguing that it would amount to one-man rule, without the checks and balances of other presidential systems.

They say his ability to retain ties to a political party – Recep Tayyip Erdogan could resume leadership of the AK Party (AKP) he co-founded – would end any chance of impartiality.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), told a rally in Ankara that a “yes” vote would endanger the country.

“We will put 80 million people on to a bus… we don’t know where it is headed. We are putting 80 million on a bus with no brakes,” he said.

The referendum has a simple “yes” or “no” choice on whether to endorse parliament’s approval of a new draft constitution.

The draft states that the next presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on November 3, 2019, and the president would have a five-year tenure, for a maximum of two terms.

Emma Morano: World’s Oldest Person Dies in Italy Aged 117

Italian Emma Morano, the world’s oldest person, has died at the age of 117, reports say.

She was born on November 29, 1899, in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Emma Morano was officially the last person born in the 1800s still living.

She had attributed her longevity to her genetics and a diet of three eggs a day, two of them raw.

Emma Morano was the oldest of eight siblings, all of whom she has outlived. She died at her home in the northern city of Verbania.

Her life not only spanned three centuries but also survived an abusive marriage, the loss of her only son, two World Wars and more than 90 Italian governments.

Emma Morano had admitted that her longevity was partly down to genetics: her mother reached 91 and several sisters reached their centenary.

However, it was also down to a rather unusual diet of three eggs – two raw – each day for more than 90 years.

It was a regime she took up as a young woman, after the doctor diagnosed her with anemia shortly after World War One.

She had cut down to just two eggs a day, and a few biscuits recently.

Image source WIkimedia

Emma Morano’s doctor of 27 years, Carlo Bava, had told AFP that she rarely ate vegetables or fruit.

“When I met her, she ate three eggs per day, two raw in the morning and then an omelet at noon, and chicken at dinner.”

Emma Morano also credited her longevity to her decision, in 1938, to kick out her husband – a year after her baby boy died at just six months old.

The marriage had never been healthy, she said. She had been in love with a boy who was killed during World War One, and had no interest in marrying someone else.

However, Emma Morano told La Stampa newspaper in an interview when she was a spritely 112 that she was left with little choice.

“He told me: <<If you’re lucky you marry me, or I’ll kill you>>. I was 26 years old. I got married.”

Eventually, it became too much. Though they separated in 1938, they remained married until he died in 1978. Emma Morano, who worked until she was 75, chose never to marry again.

“I didn’t want to be dominated by anyone,” she told the New York Times.

Emma Morano had only taken on a full-time career a couple of years ago – but had not left her small two-room apartment for 20 years.

According to the US-based Gerontology Research Group (GRG), the world’s oldest human being is now Jamaican Violet Brown, who was born on March 10, 1900.

Todd Heap Accidentally Hits and Kills 3-Year-Old Daughter While Moving Truck

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Former Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals tight end Todd Heap has accidentally killed his three-year-old daughter at his home in Arizona, police say.

Todd Heap, 37, was moving his truck in his driveway in the city of Mesa on April 14 when the accident occurred.

According to police, there were no suspicious circumstances and the former NFL star showed no signs of impairment.

Image source Flickr

Todd Heap was a two-time Pro-Bowler.

The accident occurred at about 16:00 local time on April 14.

The girl was taken to a local hospital after the accident but did not survive.

Todd Heap attended Arizona State University and was a first-round draft pick in 2001 for the Baltimore Ravens and played there for 10 seasons, becoming the team’s all-time leader in touchdown catches.

He played two seasons for the Arizona Cardinals and retired in 2013.

Todd Heap has raised money for sick and disadvantaged children through a charitable foundation, opening the Todd Heap Family Pediatric Center in Baltimore in 2010.

How Will The Trump Administration Affect Small Businesses in 2017?

Small businesses in the U.S. make a significant contribution to the country’s economy. The Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that there are now an estimated 28 million small sized businesses in America which account for more than half or 54 percent of all sales in the U.S. They have also been providing 55 percent of all jobs and 66 percent of all new jobs in the country since the 1970s. Since 1982, their number has grown by 49 percent while in 1990, these small businesses provided 8 million new jobs.

With Donald Trump now as the new U.S. president, many business owners are optimistic of their future. Being a businessman himself, Trump is seen as a business-friendly president who can help improve their enterprises and the country’s economy in general.

While optimism is increasing at the moment, major players in the small business industry want Trump to focus on two most important issues which pertain to healthcare and access to capital. Some are also expecting new legislations to be passed in the future to clarify the employee-contractor distinction.

Image source Flickr

Positive Development

One area in the U.S. now experiencing positive growth among small businesses is Detroit. Business owner Joe Spencer revealed his restaurant achieved $1.2 million in sales last year prompting him to open a second branch. He expressed optimism over this development and remains hopeful that more investors will put their money in the country to generate more employment.

Another positive outcome of Trump’s presidency is the creation of new or startup companies. The Detroit metro area, in particular, saw 73 percent new entrepreneurs start companies in 2016 because of the opportunity available in the marketplace.

Business confidence is high in this area as well as in other parts of the U.S. and entrepreneurs are hopeful that the Trump administration will implement more reforms, invest in infrastructure and eventually make the country’s economy stronger.

A former head of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and senior fellow at the Harvard Business School, Karen Mills, also said the Federal government should create tax requirements to be able to source more from small supply chain companies based in the U.S. She added that Trump should use incentives to encourage companies to pay these suppliers faster than usual and invest in them as well by providing technology and skills training. The bigger companies, for their part, must treat their small business suppliers as partners.

Tax Reforms

When it comes to taxes, Trump should pursue his plan of reducing the business tax rate from the current 35 percent to 15 percent. This should be done along with the elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax as what he earlier proposed during the campaign period. Right now, the U.S. has one of the world’s highest corporate tax rates but with the proposed cut, the American economy is sure to grow and people will enjoy higher personal income.

The Trump administration is currently discussing two major comprehensive tax reform plans. One is the President’s own plan and the other is the so-called “Blueprint” created by the House Ways and Means Committee. Both are similar in many ways but differ in certain provisions.

These two tax reforms call for three tax brackets – 12, 25 and 33 percent but they differ on when each will apply. Also, they seek to scrap the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) which means that small business owners could eventually save up to 10.4 percent in their maximum tax rate.

Banking Regulations

President Donald Trump has earlier expressed his interest in making banking regulations lighter across the industries. The Wall St. Journal noted that he was even critical of the signing into law by President Obama of the Dodd-Frank regulatory amendments in 2010 saying that smaller banks were adversely affected by it.

If bank regulations are reduced, on the other hand, there’s a greater chance that banks including the smaller ones can approve business loans freely. This will then benefit entrepreneurs as they can easily obtain laws to expand and grow their businesses.

North Korea Warns US Not to Take Provocative Action in Region

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North Korea has said it is “ready to hit back with nuclear attacks” if the US will take provocative action in the region.

The comments came as North Korea marked the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founding president, Kim Il-sung.

Soldiers, tanks and other military hardware were paraded in the capital Pyongyang in a show of strength on April 15.

It comes amid speculation that the current leader, Kim Jong-un, could order another nuclear test.

North Korean military official Choe Ryong-Hae said: “We’re prepared to respond to an all-out war with an all-out war.”

He added: “We are ready to hit back with nuclear attacks of our own style against any nuclear attacks.”

Photo Reuters

North Korea staged an extravagant display of military strength at April 15 parade amid concern that mounting tensions in the region could lead to a conflict with the US.

Rows of military bands and columns of troops marched into Pyongyang’s main Kim Il-sung square in the heart of the city.

On display for the first time were what appeared to be submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), which could be developed to house nuclear warheads capable of reaching targets around the world.

With concerns that the state is getting closer to successfully producing a nuclear arsenal, the parade was an opportunity for Kim Jong-un to broadcast North Korea’s current military capabilities.

The event made clear how vital North Korea’s nuclear program is to its future ambitions as it continues to ignore growing pressure from the US to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches. Experts and government officials believe it is working to develop nuclear-warhead missiles that can reach the US.

On April, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that “conflict could break out at any moment”, adding that if war occurred there could be no winner.

China, North Korea’s only backer, fears conflict could cause the regime to collapse and problems on its border.

“We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage,” Wang Yi said.

Adding to Chinese unease, President Donald Trump said on April 13 that “the problem of North Korea” would be “taken care of”.

“If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.”

President Trump has recently demonstrated his willingness to resort to military methods. He ordered a cruise missile attack on Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack, and the US military just used a huge bomb against ISIS in Afghanistan.

Aaron Hernandez Acquitted of Drive-By Double Murder

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Ex-NFL player Aaron Hernandez has been acquitted of a drive-by double murder that prosecutors said began over an argument about a spilled drink.

On April 14, Aaron Hernandez was acquitted of seven charges, but was found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm.

The former tight end for the New England Patriots is already serving a life sentence for the killing of man who was dating his fiancée’s sister.

Aaron Hernandez cried in court as the verdict was read, saying he is “very happy”.

A judge added five years to Aaron Hernandez sentence after the verdicts were read.

Image source Wikimedia

The former NFL player had been accused of the fatal shooting of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado outside a Boston nightclub in 2012.

Prosecutors said it happened after the football star became enraged that one of the men had bumped into him causing him to spill his drink.

Lawyers for the state relied heavily on a former friend of Aaron Hernandez, Alexander Bradley, who said he had been the driver for the shooting.

Alexander Bradley, who is serving a prison sentence in another state, was granted immunity in order to testify.

He had also claimed that Aaron Hernandez shot him in the face, causing him to lose sight in his right eye, after becoming paranoid that he would tell someone about their crime.

Aaron Hernandez’s lawyers mocked the immunity agreement as the “deal of the century”.

One month after the deaths, Aaron Hernandez signed a $40 million extension contract with the Patriots.

Prosecutors pointed to one of Aaron Hernandez tattoos as evidence that he had committed the attack.

“That is not random. That is not art. That is evidence,” Patrick Haggan told the court about a depiction of a handgun beside five bullets – the same number fired in 2012.

“That is a confession,” the prosecutor said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsLoC27nXxU

Credit Suisse Cuts Top Executives’ Variable Compensations by 40%

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Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam and the bank’s board of directors have offered to cut their own bonuses by 40% ahead of its annual meeting.

The group also proposed to keep total board pay at the same level as 2015 and 2016.

The move follows pressure from Swiss lawmakers and Credit Suisse’ shareholders to address excessive executive pay.

Credit Suisse has posted two straight years of losses but its top 12 executives were awarded 78 million Swiss francs ($77 million) in pay this year.

Tidjane Thiam, who used to head insurance giant Prudential, was awarded 12 million Swiss francs in total pay in 2016.

Credit Suisse’s chief executive said the decision to reduce top executives’ variable compensation reflects “the total confidence” they have in fixing the Swiss bank’s fortunes.

In a letter to shareholders, he wrote: “My highest priority is to see through the turnaround of Credit Suisse which is under way.

“I hope that this decision will alleviate some of the concerns expressed by some shareholders and will allow the executive team to continue to focus on the task at hand.”

Credit Suisse investors are set to meet on April 28. Under Swiss law they get a binding annual vote on executive pay.

Turning Your Passion Into Your Profession

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Everyone seeks a career that they really love, that gets them out of bed in the morning with a thirst to get to work and get started. And while millions of people never reach this point, it isn’t impossible.

The most important thing to do is to make it a priority to develop those special interests into something that pays your bills. It sounds simple enough, but we already mentioned that millions of people never do it. They may prefer the down time of not owning the company. For some, it’s just more satisfying to clock out and be done with it for the day.

But you may hate being in that spot. How can you avoid that lifelong regret of slugging away in a boring 9-to-5 while others have an invigorating career that doesn’t feel like work? It takes time and persistence, but there’s a path. We’ll look at this from the perspective of an entrepreneurial opportunity, but there are lots of other avenues that will follow these same principles.

Find The Right Partners

You’re unlikely to have a “Eureka!” moment that turns your world on its ear, and even if you do, you’ll need other people to help you turn it over.

Getting the right people in your corner is essential to making your passion into your career. You need a lot of experts in this complicated business climate. You’ll need tech people who can give you a presence on social media, a data recovery company to protect your legal interests, and financial management experts who will ensure that you stay in the government’s good graces and that you are positioned for retirement.

It may sound premature to get these people on board very early in the game, but so many problems can be avoided if you set things up correctly in the very beginning. Matters like copyrights, trademarks, ownership arrangements, and much more will be at the forefront from Day One.

Developing Your Skill

Okay, so you may be a great amateur chef. You may have even won contests or reached other accolades that recognize your culinary skill. But if you’re self-taught, you may not have what it takes to run a restaurant or catering firm.

The same is true of any aspiration. You may have just enough skill to fail; if you strike out on your own when you’re still short of qualifications, you could wipe out.

In the earliest days of your foray into entrepreneurship, you need to plow some of your profits back into improving your skills, no matter how good you already think you are. There are all kinds of certifications that will be necessary in almost any field, whether it’s IT service, massage therapy, or anything else you may try. Get the education, get the letters after your name, get whatever you need to sustain your career.

Building A Long-Term Plan

So now that you’re on your way, you have to decide just where your way leads. Do you simply want to run your business until you reach retirement age, then sell out and go to the islands? Or do you want to hedge against economic downturns and build the company to a high value, then sell it and move forward as a serial entrepreneur?

Maybe you want to pass things down to your kids and give them the opportunity to have the same career enjoyment that you had. It’s entirely up to you; you’re the boss, after all. But whatever course you choose, there are things you’ll have to put in place to make it come to fruition.

If you want to sell, get your legal ducks in a row. Know your company’s value. If you want to retire, talk with advisors about how to structure your retirement funds. If you want to pass it on, get a good succession plan that won’t one day ding your kids with tax burdens (or you with capital gains.)

We all want to work at something we enjoy. For many, the option to report to work for 40 hours a week and walk away at 5pm is ideal. Others want to do more; if that’s you, it can be done. Just plan it and carry out your plan.

United Airlines Scandal: Dr. David Dao Describes Ordeal as More Horrifying than Vietnam War

Dr. David Dao, who was dragged screaming off a United Airlines flight, described his ordeal as “more horrifying” than his experiences in the Vietnam War, his lawyer says.

The 69-year-old Vietnamese-American physician lost two front teeth and suffered a broken nose and “significant” concussion in the incident.

David Dao’s daughter, Crystal Dao Pepper, told the news conference in Chicago they are “sickened” by his treatment.

Video of the incident has been watched millions of times online.

Law enforcement officials dragged Dr. David Dao off Sunday evening’s Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, flight because it was fully booked, and the airline wanted four passengers to make way for staff members.

The man had refused to leave, saying he needed to go home to see his patients.

Lawyer Thomas Demetrio told journalists on April 13: “He [Dr. David Dao] said that he left Vietnam in 1975 when Saigon fell and he was on a boat and he said he was terrified.

“He said that being dragged down the aisle was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced when leaving Vietnam.”

Crystal Dao Pepper, who lives in suburban Chicago, said: “What happened to my dad should have never happened to any human being, regardless of the circumstance.

“We were horrified and shocked and sickened to learn what happened to him and to see what happened to him.”

Image source Twitter

Dr. David Dao’s lawyers have filed an emergency court request for the airline to preserve evidence ahead of a hearing on April 17.

The filing with an Illinois state court demands that United Airlines and the city of Chicago preserve all surveillance videos, cockpit voice recordings, passenger and crew lists related to the flight.

The airline said it would refund the ticket costs of all passengers on April 9 flight.

Dr. David Dao was released on April 12 from a Chicago hospital, his lawyer said, adding that he planned to have reconstructive surgery.

Thomas Demetrio, and a second lawyer for David Dao, said that neither they nor the Dao family had heard from United Airlines yet.

“For a long time airlines, United in particular, have bullied us,” Thomas Demetrio told the press conference.

“We want respect and we want dignity, that’s it! Not a big deal.”

The lawyer said he did not believe Dr. Dao’s race played a factor, despite an email he had received suggesting he was “the modern day, Asian Rosa Parks”, a reference to the civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus in 1955.

Thomas Demetrio also said the family had not heard from United yet.

However, United said in a statement that its chief executive, Oscar Munoz, and the company had “called Dr. Dao on numerous occasions to express our heartfelt and deepest apologies”.

The airline did not comment on the potential litigation.

On April 12, United’s CEO Oscar Munoz said he felt “shame and embarrassment” and vowed it would never happen again.

More than 150,000 thousand people have signed online petitions calling for Oscar Munoz to resign, but he has refused to do so.

Oscar Munoz said Dr. David Dao had not been at fault, adding “no one should be treated that way. Period.”

However, Oscar Munoz initially described Dr. Dao as “disruptive and belligerent”.

United Airlines has confirmed it is offering compensation to customers on United Flight 3411 for their flights.

Three aviation security officers involved in removing Dr. David Dao from the plane have been “placed on leave”, says the Chicago Department of Aviation.

The US Department of Transportation is reviewing whether United Airlines complied with rules on booking.

Tesla to Unveil Electric Articulated Truck

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that his company will unveil an electric articulated truck in September 2017.

Additionally, the Tesla CEO said an electric pick-up truck would be shown off in around 18-24 months.

In 2016, Elon Musk expressed the company’s desire to branch out beyond cars.

However, analysts are concerned Tesla will not meet demand for its current projects.

Image source Flickr

The Model 3, a more mid-market car compared to what Tesla currently offers, has 400,000 pre-orders – vastly more than the company can manufacture in a year. The Model 3 is due to go into production later this year.

However, despite this hurdle, investors seem confident that Elon Musk will meet his ambitious promises – Tesla’s surging stock price saw it briefly become the most valuable car maker in the US on April 10.

Speaking about the truck, Elon Musk said his team had done an “amazing job” and the vehicle would be “seriously next level”.

In a string of tweets sent out on April 13, Elon Musk also said that the next version of its roadster sports car will be a convertible.

5 Amazing Ways You Can Monetize Your Love of Tehnology

If you’re one of the millions of people out there that love technology and want to get the most out of it, you might be thinking about how you can monetize that passion. When you do this, you can maybe even make a living and earn money doing something you genuinely love and have an interest in. Here are 5 amazing ways you can do just that.

  1. Create Passive Income Online

There are so many interesting ways in which you can create passive income for yourself online. For example, you can buy a website and try to make a success of it. Or you could write an ebook, start a blog or create video content. Because the content stays online once it’s there, you can make money from it passively for a long time to come. If you love the online realm and you know how to use it to make money, go for it and give it a try.

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  1. Offer Tech Support Remotely

Some people who know tech issues inside out decide to offer out tech support. You just need to be contactable by phone or online. Then you can work for a company that delivers tech support. Or you can try to work for yourself and generate your own income that way. These days, working from home and working for yourself are things that many people are doing. There is always going to be people out there who need this form of support too.

  1. Test Software and Games from Home

Another thing you can do from home is test software and games. Software always needs to be tested before it hits the market. Bugs and faults have to be found, and then they can be eradicated from the software before it reaches customers who have paid for it. And for gamers, the idea of testing games ahead of release sounds like an ideal job. And it can be pretty fun.

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  1. Lease Your Land to a Tech Company

If you have a lot of land, and you’re willing to lease it out, it can be a good idea to make money this way. Vertical Consultants can help you understand how this works. There are always tech companies out there that want to make the most of your land and what it has to offer. Phone companies need land to place towers. And that’s just one example of how you can lease out your land to a tech company. There are many other examples out there too.

  1. Monetize Your Tech Blog

If you have a tech blog, it can be a great way to make money. It relates to tech in two ways. First of all, you will be running a website, and that requires a certain degree of tech savviness. And on top of that, you will have to demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of tech to attract readers and keep them coming back to your blog time after time. It’s a challenge, but it can be a lot of fun too.

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Who Are The Sporting World’s Biggest Earners?

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LeBron James

LeBron James

When you think of big earners in sport, you will certainly think of soccer superstars such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. But do any other sports cross your mind? It’s not just the sports that get the most airtime that produce some very wealthy players. In fact, lots of very niche sports also pay out the big bucks to their successful players. Here are some of the world’s richest sports stars – how many have you actually heard of?

Basketball: LeBron James

It has been reported that one of basketball’s most famous players, LeBron James is all set to earn around 30 million dollars this year. But, to be fair, the king of B-ball sure has earned it! He first made the Forbes list of highest-earning athletes back in 2014 after helping his team win back-to-back NBA championships. Since then, James has earned three All-Star Honors and is now known as one of the all-time greats of basketball.

Golf: Phil Mickelson

Even though Phil Mickelson may only be 30th in the world ranking of golfers, he sure has brought in some big bucks already! Back in 2012, he was the world’s 7th highest-paid athlete after making just over 48 million dollars in one single year! Since then, his overall earnings may have dipped slightly but the money made from all his sponsorships – from the likes of Barclays and Rolex – still keep him up with the top earners in sport!

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson

Supercross: Ryan Villopoto

Now that Supercross has bagged Monster Energy as their official sponsor, it looks like the sport is going to continue paying some seriously high salaries to its top performers! One of whom is Ryan Villopoto, who earned around $150,000 last year. And that’s not too bad for a relatively little-known sport!

American Football: Cam Newton

The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback has sure some a long way since being obsessed with American Football as a youngster! After signing a five-year contract of just over 100 million dollars back in 2015, his average yearly salary works out at around the 20 million dollars mark. Last year, he was given the title of the AP Most Valuable Player, so it looks like his earnings might even increase!

Usain Bolt

Athletics: Usain Bolt

High earners aren’t only found in team sports, though. You just need to look at the athletics track to spot a few more. And one of the most profitable athletes has to be Usain Bolt. In 2016, the runner made a cool 33 million dollars! The super sports star earns plenty off the track thanks to sponsorship deals and has many global and local partners. His biggest backer has to be the sports brand Puma, which have signed a record ten-million-dollar deal with the iconic runner!

So, as you can see, the highest-earning sports stars aren’t always the most obvious. As long as they can get sponsorship and keep on achieving, there is no limit to how much they can earn! Can you think of any other top-earning players and athletes?

Sylvester Stallone Sues Warner Bros Studio over Demolition Man Profits

Sylvester Stallone is suing Warner Bros studio over profits he says he is owed from the 1993 movie Demolition Man.

The star says Demolition Man made at least $125 million at the box office, and under his deal with the studio, he is entitled to at least 15% of that.

Sylvester Stallone’s lawsuit says “motion picture studios are notoriously greedy” and Warner Bros “sat on the money owed” for years “without any justification”.

Warner Bros has not commented on the legal action.

Image source Wikimedia

Sylvester Stallone‘s legal papers say his representatives raised the issue of owed money with Warner Bros in 2014 but were told by the company that they didn’t have to pay him anything because Demolition Man had lost $66.9 million.

He queried this, and in April 2015 the studio sent the actor a cheque for $2.8 million.

The lawsuit alleges: “WB just sat on the money owed to [Sylvester Stallone’s company] Rogue Marble for years and told itself, without any justification, that Rogue Marble was not owed any profits.”

In the lawsuit, which was filed at Los Angeles Superior Court, Sylvester Stallone is seeking a full accounting of the movie’s proceeds, in addition to interest and damages.

The legal action also seeks “an end to this practice for all talent who expect to be paid by WB for the fruits of their labor”.

Sylvester Stallone starred in Demolition Man alongside Wesley Snipes. They played a cop and criminal who are cryogenically frozen and then brought back to life in the future into a world without crime.

Cyclone Cook Sparks New Zealand Evacuations

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New Zealand’s authorities have ordered evacuations in towns along the north coast, where severe weather warnings are in place ahead of Cyclone Cook.

Heavy rain has begun to hit the North Island, ahead of what is being called the worst storm in generations.

Cyclone Cook is due to make landfall from 19:00 local time over Bay of Plenty. Officials have warned of high waves, storm surges and landslides.

It is then expected to move to the South Island early on April 14.

Cyclone Cook comes after severe floods caused by the remnants of Cyclone Debbie hit some parts of New Zealand last week.

The storm – expected to bring torrential rain and winds gusting at up to 93mph – has been classified as an extra-tropical cyclone.

Image source Wikimedia

According to the New Zealand MetService, that means it has changed into a different kind of weather system on approach to New Zealand, but has not necessarily weakened or been downgraded.

Parts of New Zealand’s North Island are now under a state of emergency, with residents in the low-lying parts of Coromandel, which has already seen landslips and closed roads, being told to leave immediately.

Schools and businesses across the island have been shut early while residents in Auckland, which has already seen flooding, have been stocking up on emergency supplies.

The New Zealand military and emergency service teams are on standby. Flights across the country have either been delayed or canceled, and national carrier Air New Zealand has suspended operations from Tauranga Airport in the North Island.

Cyclone Cook formed around Vanuatu on April 9 and moved towards New Caledonia, bringing heavy rain and winds and causing cuts to power and water supplies. One man died in New Caledonia when he was trying to cross a river to a friend’s home.

New Zealand weather officials say that Cyclone Cook will be the worst to hit the country since 1968.

They have also warned that it is a “really tightly packed cyclone” that will bring a “phenomenal” amount of rain and wind, reported The New Zealand Herald, compared to Cyclone Debbie which was more spread out.

Cyclone Debbie hit Australia at the end of March, before its remnants moved towards New Zealand.

Authorities are now worried about how Cyclone Cook will impact land that is already saturated from heavy rains.

Charlie Murphy Dies of Leukemia Aged 57

Eddie Murphy’s older brother, comedian Charlie Murphy, has died of leukemia at the age of 57.

Charlie Murphy died on April 12 in hospital in New York, TMZ quoted his manager.

He starred on Dave Chappelle’s show and also appeared in movies including Jungle Fever, Night at the Museum and Lottery Ticket.

Image source Wikimedia

Charlie Murphy also co-wrote and appeared in some of his brother’s movies.

In a statement to Hollywood Reporter, the Murphy family said their “hearts are heavy with the loss today of our son, brother, father, uncle and friend Charlie”.

“Charlie filled our family with love and laughter and there won’t be a day that goes by that his presence will not be missed. Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and prayers,” the statement said.

Charlie Murphy arrived in Hollywood after working as a bodyguard for Eddie at the beginning of his career.

He has said that he was so fond of Eddie and found him so funny that he would not hesitate to confront people who did not laugh during his appearances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKwmVN7YN7M