Toyota has announced its support for a group of engineers who are developing a flying car.
The Japanese auto maker will give 40 million yen ($355, 000) to the Cartivator group that operates outside Toyota city in central Japan.
The Nikkei Asian Review reports Toyota and its group companies have agreed in principle to back the project.
So far, crowdfunding has paid for development of the so-called Skydrive car, which uses drone technology and has three wheels and four rotors.
Measuring 9.5ft by 4.3ft, Skydrive claims to be the world’s smallest flying car.
It has a projected top flight speed of 100km/h (62mph), while traveling up to 10m above the ground.
The team of 30 volunteers developing the Skydrive car hopes its prototype could be used to light the Olympic flame when Tokyo hosts the summer games in 2020.
Flying cars are something of a flavor-of-the-month at present, with companies from the US, Germany, Netherlands, China and Japan looking to turn science fiction into reality.
As we move past the first 100 days of the Trump administration, focus has started to fall upon President Donald Trump’s Asian foreign policy.
Although many think tanks have not yet evaluated the results of President Barack Obama’s “Pivot to Asia,” they have broadly agreed on its necessity. Now that withdrawal from the TPP has been settled, the major issues concerning the US Asian foreign policy at this time are continuing to maintain the strong military alliance between the United States, Japan, and South Korea and whether or not to oppose the threat of North Korea.
In South Korea, a new president has been elected who wants to revolt against the United States. Speaking in front of his supporters, President Moon Jae-in’s recent remark of “Which president will stand up to America?” can sound as being anti-American and is still fresh in our memories. What is it the new president of South Korea wants to say to President Trump?
Photo source: www.salon.com
President Jae-in has pledged his commitment to easing tensions with North Korea. This path puts President Jae-in in opposition with America’s hardline policy on North Korea and the United Nations’ resolution to impose economic sanctions against the recluse nation. At a parade just after his inauguration, the new president declared his intention to begin talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if the circumstances were right. It will be interesting to see if he can follow through on his promise. With the international community continuing to put pressure on North Korea, President Jae-in’s statements signify a huge difference between his plans and that of the United States which has only hinted at the possibility of negations with North Korea. In what way is South Korea putting pressure on North Korea? Even if talks between the two countries never actually happen, the act itself by President Jae-in’s administration of attempting dialogue without applying pressure is contrary to the Security Council Resolution and could make them the enemies of the world.
President Jae-in has also persisted in pushing his anti-Japanese agenda, suggesting his country withdraws from the Japan-South Korea Agreement on the “Comfort Women” Issue. Were this to happen, it would be an obvious violation of an international treaty as the agreement states that it is “final and irreversible.” South Korea has broken numerous promises before, so it is understandable that the Trump administration would be bothered by this.
South Korea is sparking feelings of victimization and anti-Japanese sentiments among its citizens with its “map of comfort women statues.” Already unnecessary within the country itself, the South Korean government has recent released an international version of this map, expanding such brainwashing abroad. Not only displaying the location of the statues, but of monuments as well, the government propaganda has spread its tentacles to the US, Germany, Australia, and elsewhere. The comfort women issue is between Japan and South Korea, and other nations have no interest in being dragged into a problem with which they have no involvement.
However, the more pressing issue is that the agreement was made a reality through mediation by the United States. Far from just refusing to remove the comfort woman statue in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul as per the agreement, the South Korean government is accelerating the installation of more such statues and monuments. Violating an international treaty is already a huge issue, but President Jae-in’s trampling of the goodwill of his ally in the United States cannot be said to be anything but a complete revolt against America.
South Korea’s escalation of anti-American and Anti-Japanese sentiment will likely cause the relationship between Japan and South Korea to cool even further and force President Trump to make difficult decisions about his Asian foreign policy.
North Korea has carried out another ballistic missile test, just few days after Moon Jae-in took office in South Korea.
According to Japanese officials, the missile was launched from north-western Kusong.
South Korea’s newly elected President Moon Jae-in, who campaigned on a platform of better engagement with North Korea, said it was a provocation.
President Donald Trump has called for “stronger sanctions” against North Korea, while China is urging restraint.
A series of North Korean missile tests this year – which are banned by the UN – has sparked international alarm and raised tensions with the US.
Two missile launches last month both failed, with the rockets exploding just minutes into flight.
The nature of the launch is still being determined, but analysts have said the test could suggest a longer range than previously tested devices.
According to the Japanese defense minister, the missile flew for about 30 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan and could be a new type of missile, Reuters reported.
Tomomi Inada said it covered a distance of 435 miles, reaching an altitude of more than 1,245 miles – higher than that reached by an intermediate-range missile North Korea fired in February.
The US Pacific Command said in a statement the type was being assessed but that its flight was not consistent with that of an intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM], which would have the range to reach the US mainland.
After hosting an emergency meeting of his security council, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in condemned the latest launch as a “provocation”.
“The president said while South Korea remains open to the possibility of dialogue with North Korea, it is only possible when the North shows a change in attitude,” his spokesman said.
The White House said President Donald Trump “cannot imagine Russia is pleased” because the missile did not land far from Russian territory.
It added that the new launch should serve as a call for stronger sanctions against North Korea.
A Kremlin spokesperson later said Russian President Vladimir Putin was concerned by the test.
China, North Korea’s only major ally, called for restraint by “all relevant parties” in the wake of the latest test.
North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests despite UN sanctions and is also developing long-range missiles.
Portugal’s Salvador Sobral has won the Eurovision Song Contest with his love ballad Amar Pelos Dois, which was written by his sister.
It is for the first time in the competition’s history when Portugal is the winner.
Salvador Sobral, 27, said on receiving the trophy: “We live in a world of fast food music. This is a victory for music… music isn’t fireworks, music is feeling.”
Bulgaria came second and Moldova third.
Salvador Sobral, who has a serious heart condition that saw him miss the first week of rehearsals, reprised his song at the end of the show and was joined by his sister Luisa for a duet.
Their song, which translates as For the Both of Us, won top marks from both from the televoters and the countries’ professional juries, getting 758 points altogether. This dwarfed Jamala’s win last year for Ukraine with 534 points.
Portugal had been one of the favorites to win, along with Italy’s entry, which came sixth.
It wasn’t all about the singing, though – last year’s winner Jamala had her performance briefly interrupted by a man flashing his bottom.
The Ukrainian TV identified him as “scandalous” prankster Vitaliy Sedyuk. Jamala continued to sing “unfazed”, the broadcaster 1+1 TV said.
The stage invader, wrapped in an Australian flag, was swiftly wrestled off the stage by a security guard.
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest took place in the Kiev International Exhibition Center in Ukraine. The host country could only manage 23rd place out of 26 this time round.
Portugal will host the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a fierce defense of the healthy eating initiatives she championed.
At a public health summit in Washington, Michelle Obama hit back after the Trump administration loosened nutritional standards aimed at making US school lunches healthier.
“Think about why someone is OK with your kids eating crap,” she said.
According to government figures, one in five American children is obese.
In thinly-veiled criticism of the policies of the new administration, Michelle Obama told the audience: “This is where you really have to look at motives, you know.
“You have to stop and think, why don’t you want our kids to have good food at school? What is wrong with you? And why is that a partisan issue? Why would that be political? What is going on?”
The former first lady added: “Take me out of the equation – like me or don’t like me. But think about why someone is OK with your kids eating crap.
“Why would you celebrate that? Why would you sit idly and be okay with that? Because here’s the secret: If someone is doing that, they don’t care about your kid.”
While in the White House, Michelle Obama championed the “Let’s Move” campaign, which encourages exercise and healthy eating among young people.
The 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act made federal grants for school meals conditional on reductions in calories, sodium and trans fat content and increases in fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
However, earlier this month, US Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue postponed reductions in sodium, relaxed requirements for whole grains and allowed sweetened flavored milk back.
Sonny Perdue said some aspects of the standards had “gone too far”.
The agriculture department said the change would give schools “greater flexibility”.
The FBI probe and parallel congressional investigations into alleged Russian political meddling, and whether any Trump campaign officials colluded with the Kremlin, have dogged his young presidency.
The search for a new FBI director is beginning on May 13, with four possible candidates being interviewed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Image source Flickr
In yesterday’s daily briefing, Sean Spicer refused to comment on questions about whether President Trump had been making surreptitious recordings in the White House.
Donald Trump tweeted hours earlier that James Comey had “better hope there are no tapes” of their conversations.
Sean Spicer denied the tweet was a threat.
“The president has nothing further to add on that,” he told reporters repeatedly when pressed about the post.
“The tweet speaks for itself.”
However, James Comey believes “if there is a tape, there is nothing he is worried about”, a source told CNN.
Donald Trump’s comments provoked fresh comparisons between his administration and that of disgraced President Richard Nixon, who famously recorded conversations, speeding his downfall during the Watergate scandal.
The top Democrats on the House judiciary and oversight committees wrote to the White House on May 12 demanding copies of any recordings.
John Conyers and Elijah Cummings’ letter noted “it is a crime to intimidate or threaten any potential witness with the intent to influence, delay or prevent their official testimony”.
James Comey has declined an invitation to testify to the Senate Intelligence Committee on May 16.
President Trump told NBC News that James Comey requested the one-on-one dinner, but the former FBI director reportedly maintains it was the president who invited him.
James Comey had said he was “uneasy” before the dinner, according to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
James Clapper told MSNBC on May 12 that he had spoken to James Comey before the White House meal.
The FBI chief had confided he was concerned it might compromise his Trump-Russia inquiry, said James Clapper.
President Trump has said James Comey told him three times he was not a target of the FBI inquiry, fuelling accusations the president was interfering in the investigation.
Still chafing at media coverage of the firing, President Trump tweeted on May 12: “Maybe the best thing to do would be to cancel all future <<press briefings>> and hand out written responses for the sake of accuracy???”
Sean Spicer said the president was a “little dismayed” that his press team’s attempts to give out information were being turned into a “game of gotcha” by the media.
President Trump doubled down in an interview with Fox News by threatening to hold the press briefings only once a fortnight, with himself at the podium.
“Unless I have them every two weeks and I do them myself, we don’t have them,” he said.
“I think it’s a good idea. First of all, you have a level of hostility that’s incredible and it’s very unfair.”
Francesco Schettino had handed himself in to the Rebibbia prison in Rome after the verdict, his lawyer said.
He was sentenced in 2015 after a court found him guilty of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident and abandoning ship.
The Costa Concordia cruise ship capsized after hitting rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio.
Francesco Schettino was nicknamed “Captain Coward” by the media, after the coastguard released recordings of him in a lifeboat resisting orders to return to the stricken vessel.
More than 4,000 people were aboard at the time and were forced into a chaotic evacuation.
Prosecutors say Francesco Schettino steered too close to the island to show off to a dancer, Domnica Cemortan, who was with him at the helm.
However, he blamed communication problems with the Indonesian helmsman.
The court ruling was welcomed by a lawyer representing relatives of the victims, who said it represented justice at last.
The sentence included 10 years for manslaughter, five for causing the shipwreck, one for abandoning the ship before passengers and crew were clear, and one month for lying to the authorities afterwards.
Costa Crociere, the company that owned the Costa Concordia, sidestepped potential criminal charges in 2013 by agreeing to pay a €1 million ($1.1 million) fine.
Five of Francesco Schettino’s colleagues were also jailed for up to three years in earlier cases.
The last outbreak of Ebola in the DR Congo was in 2014 and killed 42 people.
The case was confirmed from tests on nine people who came down with a hemorrhagic fever on or after April 22 in Bas-Uele province in the country’s far north, a health ministry statement said.
WHO Congo spokesman Eric Kabambi told Reuters: “It is in a very remote zone, very forested, so we are a little lucky. Bu we always take this very seriously.”
Exhibiting at a trade show is a fantastic way to showcase your business, a chance to interact with customers, generate leads, find new suppliers, allowing businesses and customers to come together and forge new and hopefully profitable relationships. It is important therefore to maximise this opportunity and ensure as much traffic as possible is attracted to your stand. Here are some tips to make sure your next trade show gives you value for money and maximum customer exposure.
Let people know you are there…
The work of a trade show starts before your set up, you need to let your prospective clients know that you are going to be there, make sure you are featured on the exhibition’s literature and social media channels, link in to your company’s social media, announce a special feature, giveaway or any incentive to encourage traffic to your stand, to raise awareness you are going to be there. You want them to come looking for you.
Presence is everything…
You may have the best product but if your stand does not appeal to customers then you will never have the chance to demonstrate this. To create a show stopping stand, that is unique and generates the right image is important. A well planned and thought outtrade show booth designcan generate more business that the cost of creating it. You may have the best in house creatives for your marketing campaigns, you may have amazing sales staff that have the product knowledge but a trade stand is a different skill. This may be where you decide to invest in outside help in a professional service, that can design and create a unique stand for you that can surprise and delight your customers and put fear into your competitors.
Know your audience…
Like every good marketing tool, effectiveness is down to knowing yourtarget market. Trade shows attract a wide span of people who have an interest in your industry, what you need to know is who do you want to target, this can then allow your sales team to develop a suitable strategy and for the team to focus and interact with the correct prospects. For example, is your show all about sales on the day or is it about long term relationships. If you have multiple targets make sure your team is briefed on their strategy for the day, providing a more slick and professional result on the day. Make sure your supporting materials are reflective of this and that they cover all basis.
‘Swag’
Everyone loves a freebie, whether it is a pen, a bag (often the most useful giveaway) the client can takeaway your literature and collect ‘swag’ from other stalls and all the while they are displaying your brand as they do so, effectively working the trade show for you. Tune in to what is popular and get some branded ‘swag’.
Trade shows can account for a large portion of a marketing budget therefore you want to make that investment pay. For a cohesive exhibition experience, consider the expertise of a company such asContemporanea Eventi, they offer a unique and custom service trade show booth service, reneowned for creative designs and they are often reported to have the stands with the most traffic and most attention at tradeshows.
Recently, Netflix aired the series 13 Reasons Why. It depicts the story of a high school community, and how their lives are shattered when one of the students, Hannah Baker, kills herself. The 13 reasons for her suicide are laid out on a series of tapes, which are sent to the people she holds responsible for her death.
The series has split critics down the middle, and mental health professionals have questioned Netflix’s decision to air the series, afraid it might lead to copycat instances and paint the wrong picture about suicide. However, where the series succeeds is in giving a wake-up call to parents, students, and educational professionals. The suicide rate amongst teenagers has risen considerably over the years, and it is our responsibility to understand why this is happening.
The following are just some of the factors that can lead to the stresses of a student’s life. It is not meant to be exhaustive and is only a guide.
Bullying
Bullying is not a new phenomenon. It happens in every school and can be physical through acts of violence, and emotional, such as purposefully excluding someone or spreading false rumors. With the rise of social media, cyberbullying has now become a serious problem, and once something is posted online about somebody, it is often difficult to remove it. For the bully, they cannot see the harm they are doing to their victim, and so acts of cruelty online are now commonplace.
Parents and school staff need to take the problem seriously. When somebody comes to you for help, don’t dismiss the problem, even if you think it is insignificant.
Eating disorders
Many teenagers have an issue with their self-image. The media and peer pressure have given students an unfair expectation on how they should look. Being too fat or thin can lead to bullying from others, and parents and teachers can unwittingly cause a problem by advocating better body shape for sport and competitive activities.
Signs of eating disorders, such as anorexia, are skipping meal times, using laxatives and self-harming.
Educational pressure
Our young people are bombarded with SAT tests and exams. Parents, teachers, and other students can cause extra pressure during these difficult times. Towards the end of high school, there is further stress when it comes time to choose what college to attend. Often, students are overwhelmed by the opinions of parents, peers, and teachers who push them into a direction they do not want to take.
Relationships
Young people need acceptance, attention, and love. To fit into high school culture, some students feel forced to have sex before they are emotionally ready. Addictions such as drugs and alcohol are an increasing problem in our schools too, and students conform to the pressure to experiment. Relationships may be strained at home too with parents and siblings, and divorce can be an added source of anxiety.
In a recent interview, President Donald Trump has insisted he is not under investigation, while dismissing FBI Director James Comey he fired as a “showboat” and “grandstander”.
James Comey was leading an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the last year’s election and possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Moscow.
Donald Trump has dismissed the probe as a “charade”, a claim directly contradicted by James Comey’s successor.
In his first interview since firing the FBI director, President Trump told NBC News on May 11 he had asked James Comey whether he was under investigation.
“I said, if it’s possible would you let me know, <<Am I under investigation?>>. He said: <<You are not under investigation>>.”
“I know I’m not under investigation,” President Trump told the interviewer, repeating a claim he made in May 9 letter of dismissal to James Comey.
Donald Trump said James Comey first told him this at a dinner at the White House, which the FBI chief had requested because “he wanted to stay on” in his post under the new administration.
However, NBC later quoted an unnamed former senior FBI official close to James Comey as saying it was the White House that had requested the dinner, and that Comey would not have told the president he was not under investigation.
“He would say, <<Look sir, I really can’t get into it, and you don’t want me to>>,” the former official was quoted as saying.
Image source Wikipedia
The White House has rejected concerns raised by legal experts that the conversation, as described by President Trump, may have been improper.
Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she “did not see it as a conflict of interest”.
According to the New York Times, two people who had heard James Comey’s account – apparently of the same dinner – said the former FBI director declined a request to pledge loyalty to President Trump, but said he would be honest with him.
Donald Trump also appeared to undercut the initial White House explanation that he had fired James Comey on the recommendation of top justice officials.
“He’s a showboat. He’s a grandstander. The FBI has been in turmoil. I was going to fire Comey. My decision,” President Trump said.
White House officials had previously pinned the decision on a memo written by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, which President Trump refers to in the opening paragraph of his termination letter to James Comey, saying: “I have accepted their recommendation.”
However, the president told NBC: “I was going to fire him regardless of the recommendation.”
Donald Trump also denied that he wanted the FBI inquiry on Russia dropped, saying he, instead, wanted it “speeded up”.
“I want to find out if there was a problem with the election having to do with Russia… or any other country, I want that to be so strong and so good, and I want it to happen.”
This is despite what he tweeted on May 8: “The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?”
“There’s no collusion between me and my campaign and the Russians,” the president told NBC.
Donald Trump said he had just sent a letter via a law firm to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stating that he has no stake in Russia.
“I have nothing to do with Russia,” he said.
“I have no investments in Russia. I don’t have property in Russia. I’m not involved with Russia.”
The White House has depicted the Russia inquiry as “probably one of the smallest things” that the FBI has “got going on their plate”.
However, acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe said on May 11 that it was “a highly significant investigation”.
In testimony to the Senate intelligence committee, Andrew McCabe also cast doubt on White House claims that James Comey had lost the confidence of his staff.
“I can confidently tell you that the vast majority of employees enjoyed a deep and positive connection to Director Comey,” he said.
Andrew McCabe vowed not to update the White House on the status of the investigation and to notify the Senate panel of any attempt to interfere with the inquiry.
Republican committee chairman Richard Burr asked Andrew McCabe if he had ever heard James Comey tell Donald Trump the president was not the subject of investigation.
Andrew McCabe said he could not comment on an ongoing inquiry.
The acting FBI director did not confirm reports that Director Comey had asked for more resources for the agency’s Russia inquiry.
Andrew McCabe said he believed the FBI had sufficient funding to conduct the probe.
Hyundai and Kia Motors have been ordered to recall about 240,000 cars after a tip off from a whistleblower.
The whistleblower, an ex-Hyundai employee, raised concern about defects which affected 12 different car models.
It is the first time South Korea’s transport ministry has issued a compulsory vehicle recall.
Hyundai and Kia had refused to act voluntarily, saying any problems which did exist did not compromise safety.
Kia is an affiliate of Hyundai, and officials are asking South Korea’s prosecutor to look for any evidence of a cover up at the auto makers.
The models affected include Hyundai’s i30 hatchback, its Sonata midsize sedan, the luxury Genesis and Kia’s Mohave as well as its Carnival minivan. These models and others were found to have issues with vacuum pipes, fuel hoses, parking brake light issues and several other faulty parts.
The planned recalls will add to the 1.5 million cars which Hyundai and Kia offered to fix last month in South Korea and the US over possible engine stalling.
Hyundai Motor said in a statement that it accepted and respected the recall, but that there had been no “reported injuries or accidents from the cited issues”.
“Safety is always Hyundai-Kia’s number one priority and we make decisions on recalls or any other customer protection steps in compliance with regulators around the world and stringent internal procedures.”
Kushner Companies, owned by Jared Kushner’s sister, has pulled out of presentations planned for China this weekend.
The company was scheduled to pitch real estate opportunities to investors in the southern cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou at the weekend.
Last week, Nicole Meyer Kushner came under fire for using her brother’s name in a pitch. Jared Kushner is President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and Ivanka Trump’s husband.
Image source Flickr
Critics accused Nicole Meyer Kushner’s company of playing up the family’s White House links. Kushner Companies was courting investors for a New Jersey development called 1 Journal Square. Ethics watchdogs said Meyer appeared to be leveraging family ties to the White House to enrich the family business.
Kushner Companies said the comments were misconstrued but has apologized.
Nicole Meyer Kushner and Kushner Companies president Laurent Morali had been included in promotional material for the upcoming events.
However, on May 11, James Yolles, a spokesman for the company, said in a statement: “No one from Kushner Companies will be in China this weekend.”
The word addiction is used in a lot of ways – sometimes fun. You can love watching your sports team, but your sports team might always fall short in every single game. In this instance a close friend might note that you are ‘addicted to pain,’ you’re not – but you always watch your sports team and it is a sure bet that they will lose. You could be addicted to talking and talk too much, or addicted to videogames and spend far too much time glued to the screen. A lot of addictions have positive beginnings, and the word doesn’t always have to be a negative one!
What is true addiction though? Well, addiction is a medical and psychological condition that stems from indulgence. There are plenty of substances that are pleasurable to consume including alcohol, junk food, and drugs. However, upon over indulging in these substances, we can become attached to the substance, and thus its consumption can become compulsive. Addiction can be defined as when the ingestion or attachment to a substance or activity becomes compulsive. The effects of this behavior can wreak havoc on our lives and change the fabric of who we are. In fact, a lot of people who have developed an addiction might not be aware that they have one – and even then, they might know they have an issue, but they won’t know the impact of their behavior upon themselves or others.
The effects of true addiction can be incredibly serious. Physical addiction focuses on biology and the reaction of our bodies to substances. When we consume addictive substances, namely drugs, our body can adapt to them so that we no longer gain the same effect from the substance as we did when we initially consumed the substance. This leads to a compulsive quest to feel the same way as we did upon the initial consumption and the following ‘high.’ This almost never returns and means that the addicted person will consume more and more quantities of a substance having built up a certain level of tolerance. Alcohol, for instance, can easily be resisted by the body – this leads to people’s bodies being drunk, but the effects not being felt. People who chase the buzz of alcohol and try to live a normal life while doing so, such as performing a simple task like driving could find themselves requiring a DUI Attorney before long. The effects of addiction can harm more people than just the person who is addicted and it doesn’t have to be something like a car crash to cause harm. Addictions can damage relationships. People with severe addictions will treat objects and substances with greater value than other humans (some addictions will lead to people treating other people like objects or dispensaries). This can cause severe upset, even when the addicted person doesn’t mean to cause any.
Addiction? It is a very dangerous state of mind and a serious medical condition as well as being something that can cause to severe damage to more than just the addicted person.
Nissan’s annual profits jump 27%, boosted by better sales in China, the US and Europe.
The company had net profits of 663.5 billion yen ($5.8 billion) in the year to the end of March.
However, Nissan forecast profits would drop by about 20% this financial year, partly due to currency fluctuations.
Earlier this week rival Toyota reported a fall in annual profits for the first time in five years, and warned this year risked being tougher still.
The yen has been strengthening against the dollar and this tends to hurt Japanese auto makers as it reduces profits repatriated from overseas.
Globally, Nissan sold a total of 5.63 million cars across the year, with the biggest jump in sales being its 8.4% growth in China. Sales were up by 4.2% in the US while sales in Europe excluding Russia were up by 7.2%.
The new financial year at Nissan also marks a new era of leadership, with Carlos Ghosn stepping down as chief executive but remaining as chairman.
Hiroto Saikawa, who was Nissan’s co-chief executive, now has the top job.
Hiroto Saikawa joined Nissan in 1977, and since 1999 has served in a number of senior management positions, including overseeing operations in the Americas and Europe.
Both companies are grappling with sliding sales at US department stores where their products have traditionally been sold.
Coach shares rose 4.6% in New York, while Kate Spade jumped 8.2%.
Image source Flickr
Coach was founded in 1941, while Kate Spade was established in 1993 by former journalist Kate Brosnahan Spade.
The handbag maker expanded quickly and its products stocked by upmarket retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Although Coach and Kate Spade sell shoes and clothing both are best-known for their handbags.
Kate Spade’s handbags have found favor with millennials due to their subtle logos and quirky and colorful designs, including bags shaped like cats and cars.
Coach CEO Victor Luis said the acquisition would allow his company to target “a new customer segment”.
Prices for a Kate Spade tote bag starts at about $150 and rise to around $450. A Coach equivalent begins at about $285 but can rise to as much as $2,500.
Victor Luis, who took over as chief executive in 2014, has been working to expand Coach’s lines and two years ago acquired shoe company Stuart Weitzman.
The Senate Intelligence Committee investigating Russian interference in last year’s election has issued a rare formal demand for documents from President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
Michael Flynn has failed to voluntarily co-operate with the investigation, the committee says.
The national security adviser was forced to resign in February after failing to disclose the content of his talks with Russian diplomats.
Meanwhile, the fallout continues over the firing of the FBI director.
The White House maintained that James Comey was removed on May 9 for his handling of the inquiry over Hillary Clinton’s emails.
However, senior Democrats said James Comey had recently asked the justice department for more resources for his Trump-Russia investigation.
The Senate Intelligence Committee said it issued a subpoena after Michael Flynn rejected its request on April 28 to submit documents relevant to the investigation.
Michael Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, misled the White House about discussing US sanctions against Russia with the country’s envoy, Sergei Kislyak, before President Trump’s inauguration in January.
Image source Wikimedia
His links to Russia are being scrutinized by the FBI and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, as part of wider investigations into claims Moscow sought to tip the election in favor of Donald Trump, and into contacts between Russia and members of the president’s campaign team.
Reaction to James Comey’s firing continued on May 10, with a White House spokeswoman saying that President Trump had been considering sacking the FBI director since he was elected.
Howver, critics accuse President Trump of firing the nation’s top law enforcement official because he was leading the Russian inquiry.
The White House has rejected calls to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin over last year’s election.
The Senate Intelligence Committee invited James Comey to testify next week.
In a farewell letter to staff, James Comey said he would not “spend time on the decision or the way it was executed”.
“I have long believed that a President can fire an FBI Director for any reason, or for no reason at all,” he wrote.
“It is very hard to leave a group of people who are committed only to doing the right thing,” James Comey added.
“My hope is that you will continue to live our values and the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution.”
President Trump stood by his actions, saying James Comey was fired “because he was not doing a good job”.
On May 10, Democratic senators Dianne Feinstein and Richard Durbin told media that James Comey had asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein – who wrote the memo on which President Trump says the sacking decision was based – for more resources for the FBI investigation.
Justice department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores called those reports “totally false”.
Either way, Republicans and Democrats vowed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees’ investigations into the Russia claims would continue.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said if President Trump believed replacing James Comey would halt the inquiries “he made a big mistake”.
Boeing has decided to temporarily suspend test flights of its new 737 MAX plane due to possible issues with the engine.
The stoppage came days before Boeing was due to make its first delivery of 737 MAX to a customer.
However, Boeing said it was sticking with plans to begin MAX deliveries this month, adding that production of the jets would continue.
American Airlines, Southwest, and China’s Shandong Airlines are among those who have placed orders.
Earlier this year Indian airline SpiceJet placed an order for 205 new planes from Boeing, in a deal valued around $22 billion. Boeing had said the first of the 737 MAX planes would be delivered to SpiceJet in 2018.
The MAX fleet is designed to be a more fuel-efficient version and replaces Boeing’s previous 737 model which has been a best-seller for the aerospace giant.
Boeing says it was notified last week of a potential issue involving turbine engine discs manufactured by a supplier to CFM International.
CFM is the joint venture between General Electric (GE) and French-based Safran – the companies making the engines for the 737 MAX fleet.
Boeing says it has not experienced any problems with the discs during more than 2,000 hours of testing.
The 737 MAX 8, the first version of the plane to be built, carries a list price of $110 million but airlines generally receive steep discounts.
The next model, the 737 MAX 9, has more seating capacity. That aircraft completed a successful maiden flight last month.
Sales and profits slipped at Boeing in 2016, mainly due to lower deliveries of its military aircraft.
Boeing celebrated its 100th year in business in 2016.
While the simplest way to keep pests away in a household is by good old fashion prevention measures, normal sanitation and regular maintenance, it sometimes occurs that you will be faced with a much more troublesome infestation of certain pests. In that case, you will want to call in the experts to handle it. Finding the best service for these situations is an endeavor in and of itself.
Similar to any other service, you will have to look for the best possible quality and for the best value for your money. Cost should not always be the singular factor when you determine the company itself. Competency will probably be your main concern. You will not want to invest a large sum of money into a service that will not only not solve your pest issue, but might also cause property and health damage.
There are a few things you need to take into consideration when contracting such a company.
Research the issue and a service
As soon as pests are detected, most people just want the issue to be removed immediately. However, chances are that this pest problem will not cause any immediate damage and you have time research it and a company to solve this issue. You can read through reviews and see if the company is highly regarded, you will have time to check out pricing and even contact them to describe your issue. You may want to consult multiple companies to see if they agree on the issue, most provide these consulting services for free.
Once you have more or less decided on the company you will want to solve your issue, consider doing some checking up on its history. See for how long have they been active and contact legal authorities to confirm that they are running a legal business. They might also provide any insight on complaints that might have been raised regarding them.
Besides the company itself, you will also want to look into the person who will be actually performing these services. They must be a licensed applicator of pesticides in order for them to safely handle the necessary equipment.
Other Points to take into Consideration
It is generally a good idea to make the home as tidy as possible to ensure that the applicator has ample space to work, and for your belongings to not be exposed to pesticides.
Besides this, you will also want to ensure that children and pets are kept safe away from the area where pesticides have been applied.
Toyota has suffered first profit fall for the first time in half a decade.
The Japanese auto maker said it sold more cars in the year to March 2017 than in the previous 12 months but that higher costs and currency fluctuations hit results.
The profit of 1.83 trillion yen ($16.1 billion) was down 21% from 2016-2017.
The company’s prediction is based on a forecast that the yen will average around 105 to the US dollar in the year through to March 2018, compared with 108 yen in the last financial year.
However, income from those sales was slightly down at 27.6 trillion yen.
Toyota has been struggling in the US, its biggest market. Sales fell in North America as the company battled to meet demand for bigger cars such as SUV’s, which have become more affordable to drive thanks to lower petrol prices.
Walt Disney profits jumped 11% in Q1 of 2017, bolstered by attendance at its theme parks and resorts.
Profits in the first quarter of the year were $2.4 billion. But the media giant’s revenue gains more muted, up 3% year-on-year to at $13.3 billion.
Walt Disney remains on track for modest growth, in spite of subscriber losses at its sports television network ESPN.
“We’re extremely pleased with our results,” said Disney CEO Robert Iger.
Disney’s business ranges widely, including movie studios such as Marvel and Pixar, theme parks, merchandise – even a cruise line.
Its TV networks, which include ABC, Disney and the sports-focused ESPN, are the biggest earners, together accounting for more than 40% of the company’s total revenue in the last financial year.
However, ESPN has struggled with millions of subscriber losses and advertising declines in recent years, as live sports services have begun to feel the pressure from online TV and viewer demands for cheaper cable packages.
Image source Flickr
This spring, ESPN laid off more than 100 people, including writers and on-air personalities.
Robert Iger said the company is confident of the demand for ESPN and pleased with the traction it is gaining on platforms such as TV streaming service Hulu.
Revenue in the media unit increased 3% year-on year.
Robert Iger said the company is focused on its mobile audience, aiming for an increasingly customized experience that allows fans to focus on news about their favorite teams.
The company plans to sell ESPN-branded streaming directly to viewers by the end of the calendar year, and that kind of personalization is also likely to be part of the package, he added.
“Consumers will be able to buy the sports they want, when they want,” he said.
Robert Iger asked analysts for “a little bit of credit” for being candid with its thinking as it grapples with the changes.
“We wanted to signal that we had our eyes wide open about what was going on,” he said.
Revenue at Disney’s studio operations declined 1% year-on-year, as strong audiences at Beauty and the Beast couldn’t match the company’s success in 2016 with films such as Zootopia and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Strong visitor numbers at Disney theme parks and its new Shanghai resort in China helped lift the results, Robert Iger said. The park is on track to welcome its 10 millionth guest as it nears its first anniversary, he said.
Complete happiness relies on health, amongst other things. It works the reverse way too, if we’re healthy we’re usually happy. That’s because health and happiness encompass so many different things. Sure, being healthy includes what we eat and how often we exercise. But it also includes our mental health. How social we are, how anxious, how happy. More and more studies are showing that the key to unlocking happiness is a healthy lifestyle and everything that entails. So if you’re looking to boost your happiness take into account your environments, at work and home, your social life, and your exercise and diet. How could you make them all more healthy?
Happiness is largely reliant on how healthy we are, in every aspect of our life. A healthy relationship, mental state, and physicality are far more likely to make us happy than money. Depression and anxiety are some of the largest deterrents to happiness. These feelings usually come about because we don’t have a healthy mental state. We could have low self-esteem or more severe mental illnesses which impede our happiness. The link between health and happiness is undeniable. But all too often we only think of health in relation to our bodies, rather than our mindset too.
So it’s clear that we need to be more healthy, both physically and mentally. If we are, we’ll be happier. We spend so much of our time at work and at home. Yet we often overlook how important these environments are to our mental health. They certainly do impact our mental health and we could be doing more to make that a positive thing rather than a negative one.
Take clutter, for example. Leading psychologists agree that clutter in our homes can cause stress. This upsets our mental state and makes us less happy. Instead happiness is replaced with feelings of stress, chaos, and anxiousness. Clutter and untidiness provide our brains with a stimuli overload. This leads to feelings of frustration, upset, and stress, as we concentrate on unnecessary stimuli. It makes it difficult for us to relax and encourages feelings of guilt and anxiety. The solution to clutter is simple, tidy it! You may have heard it said that the way we treat our environments reflects what’s going on inside our heads, and vice versa. By de-cluttering your home you will be able to relax and feel less stress and anxious. Not just that, but it should be a cathartic experience and feel like you’re de-cluttering your mind too. Start by getting rid of anything you don’t need. What’s left can be stowed away, out of eyesight, in storage boxes.
Living in poor housing conditions increases stress and reduces feelings of empowerment and control. Take control of your environment and replace clutter with stimuli that soothe and aid out mental health instead. Start, very simply, by putting on display items you love. Don’t go overboard, but do hang a painting, display an ornament, or throw down a rug. These pleasing visual stimuli look aesthetically pleasing and will engender feelings of positivity. Furthermore having artwork around the house can help us to feel more creative and motivated. Also, consider investing in some houseplants. Houseplants are an amazing way to increase ventilation in a room. Some researchers have found that houseplants even reduce stress! They make a great addition to a living room and will absorb toxins from the air and give out oxygen. Fresh flowers are another good touch. They work much like scented candles to release pleasing smells, which are positive stimuli and help us to relax. Kohl’s coupons will get you money off home furnishings and accessories like candles and plant pots. At work, you’ll need to find ways to stay healthy and happy too. Incorporate some of your home tips in the office too. A desk plant is a perfect way to create a more relaxing ambiance. Similarly, instead of a painting, display a family photo which will motivate and inspire you.
Having a healthy social life is a great way to make sure we’re looking after our general health and wellbeing. Regularly meeting up with friends and family helps us to feel less isolated and more connected. In turn, this helps us to feel increasingly valued and boosts our self-esteem. Both of which are great for staving off mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
Make time for what’s important and schedule catch ups with your friends. Surrounding yourself with supportive people who care about you is a great way to look after your mental health and be happy. Unfortunately, we all have, or had, people in our life who were toxic influences. Sometimes we may not even realize it but these people are impacting our mental health, and therefore our happiness. If somebody you know has the power to lower your self-esteem and causes you to lose your temper, it’s probably best to part ways with them. Over time small comments and put-downs can really affect us. Try talking to your friend or colleague about what they’re doing, but otherwise limit contact with them. This takes away their power to make us feel bad.
In your spare time plant to be as social as possible. Of course, we all need days spent binge-watching our favorite series or indulging in a duvet day! But do push yourself to do fun activities with your friends, you’ll be far healthy and happier for it.
This is what most of us immediately think of when we talk about health. Funnily enough physical health also affects our mental health. Doing exercise is actually a common aid to combatting depression. It forces us to motivate ourselves and take care of ourselves. Two things which can be incredibly challenging for those suffering from depression. Exercise also releases endorphins and endocannabinoids. These two chemicals make us feel good. Beyond that exercise forces us into the outside world, something which is good for those suffering from depression. It allows us to be a part of society and look after our mental health. It also helps with self-esteem. Most of us feel better when we’re doing something proactive to keep in shape. It could be about losing weight, or getting stronger, or increasing our stamina. Whatever it is, exercise allows us to set goals and achieve them. Increasing our self-esteem and happiness in the process.
Diet is a trickier one. Some of us do feel happy after eating burgers and pizzas even though it isn’t healthy. Ultimately, however, being healthy and free of illness will make us happy long-term. So this means avoiding processed foods. Heart failure, obesity, and even type-3 diabetes can be caused by eating the wrong types of food. Not only can they be caused by it, but some studies suggest cardiovascular diseases can even be reversed and cured by eating healthily. We’ve previously underestimated what a powerful tool our diet is in terms of our health and happiness. But there is increasing evidence that it is hugely important.
If you haven’t taken your exercise or diet seriously, start off small. Some long walks are an easy way to get started. As are some simple home workouts like lunges, ski-sits, planks, and sit-ups. One you feel ready, start to incorporate running into your exercise regime. In terms of diet try cutting out processed foods. Eat fresh wherever possible. This means eating more fruit and vegetables and buying less pre-prepared meals. Try cutting down on the amount of meat and fish you eat too. It’ll force you to view vegetables and the center of your dish and be more inventive.
President Donald Trump has decided to fire FBI Director James Comey over his handling of the inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s emails, the administration says.
The White House shocked Washington by announcing that James Comey “has been terminated and removed from office”.
However, Democrats said James Comey was fired because the FBI was investigating alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia.
The move came as it emerged James Comey gave inaccurate information about Hillary Clinton’s emails to Congress last week.
James Comey, 56, was addressing FBI agents in Los Angeles when, according to media, he learned he had just been fired when he saw the news on TV.
He reportedly laughed, thinking it was a prank.
James Comey was three-and-a-half years into his 10-year term as FBI director.
Image source Wikipedia
The White House said the search for a successor would begin immediately. It is only the second time the head of the FBI has been fired.
President Trump wrote in a letter to James Comey that he agreed with US Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recommendation that “you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau”.
Jeff Sessions said the department of justice was “committed to a high level of discipline, integrity, and the rule of law”, and “a fresh start is needed”.
Many have expressed surprise that James Comey should be fired for his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server for sensitive government business, given that Donald Trump once praised the FBI director’s conduct in the matter.
In the final days of the presidential campaign, Donald Trump told a rally it “took guts” for James Comey to reopen the inquiry.
“What he did brought back his reputation,” Donald Trump said.
However, on May 9, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said he “cannot defend the director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary [of State Hillary] Clinton’s emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgement that he was mistaken”.
“Almost everyone agrees the director made serious mistakes; it is one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives.”
Democrats swiftly suggested that President Trump had fired James Comey to influence the FBI inquiry into whether members of the Trump election campaign colluded with Russia.
The House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees are looking into the same allegations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference on May 9: “Were these investigations getting too close to home for the president?
“This does not seem to be a coincidence.”
President Trump responded on Twitter that Chuck Schumer had recently expressed his lack of confidence in the FBI chief.
Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted the Russia allegations are “fake news”.
Moon Jae-in has been sworn in as South Korea’s new leader following his decisive win in the presidential election.
He vowed to address the economy and relations with North Korea in his first speech as president.
Moon Jae-in, 64, said that he would even be willing to visit Pyongyang under the right circumstances.
He took his oath of office in Seoul’s National Assembly building a day after his victory.
The former human rights lawyer and son of North Korean refugees is known for his liberal views.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula remain high and recent weeks have seen the US and North Korea trade angry rhetoric as speculation about another nuclear test grows.
Moon Jae-in has also vowed to unify a divided country reeling from a corruption scandal which saw his predecessor, Park Geun-hye, impeached.
In his inauguration speech, Moon Jae-in said he would “do everything I can to build peace on the Korean peninsula”.
Image source Wikipedia
“If needed I will fly to Washington immediately,” he said.
“I will also go to Beijing and Tokyo and even Pyongyang in the right circumstances.”
Moon Jae-in added that he would have “serious negotiations” with the US and China over the controversial deployment of anti-missile system THAAD.
North Korea has yet to officially comment on Moon Jae-in’s victory and remarks. It had previously hinted that Moon Jae-in was its preferred candidate.
Moon Jae-in has been critical of the two previous conservative administrations, which took a hard-line stance against Pyongyang, for failing to stop North Korea’s weapons development.
Since the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953, there have only been two summits where the leaders of the two Koreas have met, both held in Pyongyang.
Moon Jae-in spearheaded preparations for the second meeting in 2007, when serving as a presidential aide.
The US, South Korea’s most important ally, has congratulated Moon Jae-in on his victory.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the US looked forward to continuing to “strengthen the alliance” and “deepen the enduring friendship and partnership”.
Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe said their countries faced common challenges “led by responses to the North Korean issue” but they could “further contribute to peace and prosperity of the region by working together”.
China’s President Xi Jinping said he “always attaches great importance to the relationship between China and South Korea”, and that he was “willing to diligently work with” with Moon Jae-in to ensure both countries benefit, reported Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham wants to launch an investigation into President Donald Trump’s business dealings for any potential links to Russia.
The Republican senator raised the issue a day after former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified before a Senate panel.
Lindsey Graham said it would be “helpful” to see Donald Trump’s tax returns.
“I want to know more about Trump’s business dealings,” he told CNN on May 9.
Photo Wikipedia
However, he added it was too soon to determine whether he would be willing to subpoena them from the White House.
During May 8 testimony, James Clapper was asked whether he had any concerns about President Trump’s business interests and a possible connection to Russia.
“Not in the course of the preparation of the intelligence communities assessment,” said James Clapper, who served under former President Barack Obama.
However, when Lindsey Graham pressed the former spy chief on whether he had ever discovered any Trump business ties to Moscow, James Clapper alluded to an ongoing FBI investigation.
“Senator Graham I can’t comment on that because that impacts an investigation,” he said.
President Trump took to Twitter to cast doubt on any questions surrounding James Clapper’s refusal to comment on May 8.
He wrote: “Director Clapper reiterated what everybody, including the fake media already knows- there is <<no evidence>> of collusion w/ Russia and Trump.”
President Trump later added: “The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?”
