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Creating a Dream Deck in Your Backyard

Dana R
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Creating a Dream Deck in Your Backyard

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

Add a Water Feature

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

outdoor

The Right Lighting

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

Add a Fire Pit

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

outdoor-living

Transition Your Landscaping Features

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

Provide Some Overhead Shade

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

Consider an Outdoor Kitchen

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

Hidden Costs Of Buying A Convertible Car Like The Ford Mustang

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

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

The call of the convertible

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

mustang
Image

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

The cost of the car itself

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

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

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

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

Cleaning costs

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

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

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

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

Prince Philip to Retire from Royal Duties

Lisa.Felice
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Prince Philip to Retire from Royal Duties

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

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

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

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

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

Image source Wikimedia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

France Elections 2017: Emmanuel Macron Wins Final Presidential Debate

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source AFP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

House to Hold Vote on ObamaCare Repeal Bill

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source Wikimedia

But Democrats said the amount was woefully inadequate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robin Sharma

Stay Healthy At Work

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

Make People’s Life Easier

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

Care for others

Help People To Improve Their Skills

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

Teach Tolerance To Your Children

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

A lesson of tolerance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source AFP

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

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

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

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

Emmanuel Macron as favorite arguably has most to lose.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

iPhone Sales Drop in Q1 of 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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iPhone Sales Drop in Q1 of 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fugitive Redbull Heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya Located in Singapore

Nancy Clayson
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Fugitive Redbull Heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya Located in Singapore

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source EPA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source Facebook

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

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

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

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

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

Then shots ring out and the camera moves away.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Venezuela Opposition Sets Up Roadblocks and Demands Early Elections

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Reuters

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

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

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

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

“You must disobey such lunacy!”

There has been widespread international criticism of the move.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Presidential elections are due at the end of 2018.

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

Salvează

Alitalia Requests to Enter Bankruptcy Proceedings

Clyde K. Valle
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Alitalia Requests to Enter Bankruptcy Proceedings

Alitalia will formally request to enter bankruptcy proceedings, after workers rejected a restructuring plan.

Italy’s troubled flagship airline said its flight schedule would continue to operate as planned, while administrators examine whether the company can be turned around.

Alitalia has received more than 7 billion euros from the Italian government over the last decade.

However, without further support, the airline may end up permanently grounded.

Image source Wikimedia

Last week, Alitalia employees voted against a plan to cut jobs and salaries that would have allowed it to secure new funds.

The airline said in a statement that Italian shareholders and Etihad, the Abu Dhabi airline that owns 49% of Alitalia, had been “committed to recapitalize and finance the plan with 2 billion euros”, but that without the approval of workers, it could not go ahead.

Rome has given Alitalia a 400 million-euro bridging loan to allow it to keep operating during the bankruptcy process.

However, Italy’s finance minister has ruled out renationalizing, or providing further funds for Alitalia.

Public opinion seems to be behind the decision. Italians have taken to social media in recent days calling for politicians to resist bailing the airline out again. An opinion poll published on April 28 suggested 77% of Italians believe the airline should be left to fail.

However, with an election looming in 2018, politicians may be reluctant to see Alitalia’s 12,500 employees lose their jobs.

Alitalia’s board said that because of “the serious economic and financial situation of the company, of the unavailability of the shareholders to refinance, and of the impossibility to find in a short period of time an alternative”, they had decided to proceed with the filing for extraordinary administration.

Marine Le Pen Accused of Plagiarizing Francois Fillon’s Speech

Diane A. Wade
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Marine Le Pen Accused of Plagiarizing Francois Fillon’s Speech

Marine Le Pen has been accused of plagiarizing defeated rival Francois Fillon in a speech she delivered on May 1.

Several sections of French presidential candidate’s speech in Villepinte, north of Paris, appear to repeat almost word-for-word comments Francois Fillon made in an address on April 15.

An official of her National Front party said Marine Le Pen had made a “nod” to Francois Fillon and it showed she was “not sectarian”.

Marine Le Pen faces centrist Emmanuel Macron in the final round on May 7.

The similarity in the speeches was pointed out by the Ridicule TV YouTube channel, initially set up by François Fillon’s supporters to attack Emmanuel Macron before the first round of voting that saw Fillon eliminated from the contest.

Ridicule TV said the far right presidential candidate had plagiarized Francois Fillon’s speech “word for word” and set the two speeches side by side, inviting viewers to make up their own minds.

The videos were also posted on Twitter.

Photo Reuters

The Liberation newspaper said that what was supposed to have been a key speech for the second phase of voting in the election became instead a focus of ridicule for social media users.

However, Florian Philippot, deputy chairman of the National Front, told Radio Classique the party had owned up to the similarities and that Marine Le Pen’s speech was “nod-and-a-wink” to Francois Fillon’s speech to “launch a real debate” on French identity.

He earlier told AFP that the speech showed “she is not sectarian”.

Marine Le Pen’s campaign manager, David Rachline, also played down the accusations of plagiarism, saying the speech was a form of tribute to Francois Fillon, which “was appreciated” by his supporters.

Francois Fillon was a leading candidate for the presidency, representing the establishment conservative Republicans, but his campaign foundered after a funding scandal.

Recent opinion polls suggest Emmanuel Macron is heading for victory on May 7, carrying around 60% of the vote.

In a speech on May 1 he said he would fight “until the last second” against Marine Le Pen’s ideas “of what constitutes democracy”.

Gorsuch’s Confirmation Gives Senate Republicans Another Achievement

Dana R
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Gorsuch’s Confirmation Gives Senate Republicans Another Achievement

After having trouble getting traction during President Obama’s tenure in some ways, Senate Republicans dug their heels in when Judge Samuel Alito passed away, blocking any practical conversation on a replacement until a new president could be sworn in.

According to one senator at the time, Mike Crapo of Idaho, “The current Supreme Court vacancy should be filled by an individual nominated by the next President of the United States.”  Today, Mike Crapo can say that he delivered tangible results, helping Republicans find an alternative Justice that was well-respected by legal minds on both sides of the aisle.

Alito’s mysterious death:

For those that follow Washington policy making, last year’s death of Justice Alito could have easily appeared as something out of a mystery novel.  An ailing judge books a dream trip to a Texas hunting lodge mostly alone.  He checks into his room and is found later dead in his bed.  He is then buried without any autopsy.

Naturally, there were some questions thrown at the process and the idea that there was no due process that was put into place to ensure that he was actually just perishing because of his heart condition.  The judge that was asked to do the decision-making determined that Alito died of natural causes and left it at that.

Some of the disquiet on the Republican side immediately following the announcement that there would be no autopsy has to do with the state of weapons in today’s society.  The Navy, the Army, gangs, real estate crews that ‘move’ targets pointed out by business rivals, and ‘we’ll help you lose your job’ crews have all trained with radar and sonic in order to be able to hit people with heart shots from up to a mile away.  It isn’t hard for them to figure out how to push someone who has a bad heart condition anyway over the edge.  In fact, there is some conjecture that John Roberts, the chief justice, was hit by a sonic attack many years ago in New England.

Part of the problem, perhaps is that according to the Pentagon, when you hit someone’s vagus nerve with a sonic or wave weapon so that it palpitates a bad heart, if it ends up causing a fatal heart attack there is no way that modern medicine can currently determine that it actually happened.  You manipulated a nerve with a frequency.  It doesn’t retain a record of that manipulation.

So, regardless of how people die when they are in positions of power, you will likely see the death attributed to natural causes until they can figure out how to measure whether or not it is different.

Led to a stalemate:

After Alito’s death, President Obama nominated his own candidate, someone who was conservative, yet not completely palatable to Republicans because the majority of them seemed to be saying that President Obama needed to recuse himself from nomination.  The net result was a stalemate that caused the nomination to be tabled until the election of President Trump.

In some ways, the timing of the nomination and the way the voting took place were unprecedented in the history of the Senate.  At the end of the day, a group of Senate Republicans took a stand and ended up winning the right to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice as a new President looked on.

North Korea Crisis: THAAD Missile Defense System Now Operational in South Korea

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Crisis: THAAD Missile Defense System Now Operational in South Korea

The controversial THAAD missile defense system is now operational in South Korea, the US military says.

The system can intercept North Korean missiles although full operational capability is still some months away.

Tensions have been rising around the Korean peninsula, with repeated threats from North Korea and the presence of a group of US warships and a submarine.

North Korea reacted angrily to the latest military exercise, accusing the US of risking a nuclear war.

The rise in tension comes only a day after President Donald Trump said he would be “honored” to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in the right circumstances.

The US announced last week it would activate THAAD, which was not expected to be in use until late 2017, within days.

THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) has been installed at a former golf course in the central county of Seongju, amid angry protests.

Image source Wikimedia

Many locals believe the system is a potential target for attacks and endangers the lives of those living nearby.

China also strongly opposes the system, believing it interferes with the security of its own military operations. On May 2, Beijing demanded the deployment be halted.

China would “firmly take necessary measures to uphold our interests”, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

However, Geng Shuang welcomed President Trump’s suggestion of meeting Kim Jong-un, saying China had “always believed that dialogue and consultation… is the only realistic and viable way to achieve denuclearization”.

When the announcement of the THAAD deployment was made last year, North Korea promised a physical response, with state media expressing the “unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike”.

A spokesman for the US forces based in South Korea said THAAD now had “the ability to defend the Republic of Korea”.

However, the system only has “initial intercept capability”, a US defense official told AFP. It will be strengthened later this year as more parts of the system arrive.

North Korea and the US have traded heated rhetoric in recent weeks as Pyongyang continues to defy a UN ban on missile tests.

Pyongyang has carried out two failed missile launches in recent weeks and has said it is ready to carry out its sixth nuclear test at any time.

North Korea reacted angrily on May 2 to a joint US-South Korea military exercise the day before involving two supersonic B-1B Lancer bombers, which it said was a “nuclear bomb dropping drill”.

“The reckless military provocation is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war,” North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said.

Three Stellar Ways To Boost Happiness in the Workplace

Dana R
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Three Stellar Ways To Boost Happiness in the Workplace

Think about where you work and who you work with; are you happy there? One of the biggest things that can affect our happiness in life is where we work and who we work with. If we are working full-time, then the chances are that you’ll see the people that you work with even more than you might see your family. So it is important to be happy in the workplace. When you enjoy going to work and doing your job, it won’t feel like work after all. If you dread going to work, then you’re not going to put much effort into it. So the bottom line is that happier employees mean more productive employees. And when they’re more productive, it means more profit. So as an employer, it is your job to be aware of this and your employee’s needs. So here are some things to consider, to ensure a happy work environment for all of your team.

workplace

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Provide Clarity

Many people, especially in the workplace, like be told as it is. They want to know what they need to do and when. If you have asked them to perform a certain task, then reconfirming it with them, and allowing them to ask questions to show they’ve understood, should be welcomed. One way to provide clarity for your team could be to use and display and organizational chart. One of the ways to use organizational charts is to provide clarity for your team. You can let them know the structure of things and let them know what is expected of them in their role or with a certain task. As it is a visual aid, it can be useful too. There is no confusion, and a lot of people learn better by seeing something, rather than reading something.

Graphics Tablet Phone Office Company Workplace

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Allow Creativity

Creativity is strongly connected to happiness. So it would make sense that in the workplace you would allow some creativity to help the happiness levels of your team. There are various ways of doing it, that you might not have thought of before. Keeping meetings to a minimum length of time is a good way to allow your team to be more creative. Allow them to make suggestions, rather than just telling them that this is your idea so that it what you’ll do. Encourage them to get involved with decision making. Again, if they are just told what to do, then it doesn’t even require them to think much about it. So there is no creativity when they are just told something. So allow them to flourish by sharing thoughts and ideas.

Be Supportive and Flexible

It is important to remember that your team are not just robots; they are thinking and feeling, and yes, even have a life outside of the workplace. So if they need a little bit of flexibility, then it can help massively. Offer a day to work at home, for instance, or time off when they have a child’s concert to attend. They will be more likely to be open and honest about things with you when you are flexible and open with them too.

Jimmy Kimmel Talks About His Son’s Illness And Launches Plea for ObamaCare

Sonia Pantiss
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Jimmy Kimmel Talks About His Son’s Illness And Launches Plea for ObamaCare

Jimmy Kimmel has talked about his newborn son’s illness and brush with death last week.

At the end of his story, the TV host made a plea for people to support the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.

Jimmy Kimmel said: “No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life.”

President Donald Trump made repealing ObamaCare one of the central tenets of his campaign, castigating its costs and calling it a “disaster”.

In March Donald Trump’s attempt to replace ObamaCare failed, in an embarrassing setback for the new administration, but Republicans still aim to change the system.

Jimmy Kimmel told the studio audience on his regular show that three hours after a normal birth, his son Billy started to turn purple.

Photo AP

One nurse spotted it and took him away for checks, soon finding that he had a heart illness. The situation looked serious, and “we had atheists praying for us,” he said.

However, Billy went through open heart surgery at three days old and, thanks to the efforts of the staff at the children’s hospital, he survived.

The TV host said: “You know, before 2014, if you were born with congenital heart disease like my son was, there was a good chance you wouldn’t be able to get health insurance because you had a pre-existing condition.

“If your parents didn’t have medical insurance, you might not live long enough to even get denied.”

Jimmy Kimmel continued: “If your baby is going to die and doesn’t have to it shouldn’t matter how much money you make.

“I mean I think that’s something that whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat or something else – we all agree on that, right?

“This isn’t football. There are no teams; we are the team. No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life. It just shouldn’t happen, not here.”

One of the people behind the Affordable Care Act, Andy Slavitt, tweeted that those who watched Jimmy Kimmel’s monologue should use it as inspiration to lobby Congress.

Personal injury lawyers will support the accident victims and offer best services

Dana R
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Personal injury lawyers will support the accident victims and offer best services

Rich man will become beggar quickly when he is knocked down by a speeding bus or other transport vehicles. Hospital will charge exorbitant amount from the accident victim for various types of treatment and discharge him only when he pays full amount. These expenses will normally run to several hundred dollars and the victims will be left to lurch when these types of major accident takes place. But the good news for these types of road victims is that they can sue the negligent drivers in the court of law and get the medical reimbursement very quickly when they file the case through this affluent law firm which has experienced and tamed personal injury lawyers. Companies have to maintain the floors properly round the clock and if due to negligence of the owner the visitors slips and falls due to wet floor they can sure the culprit in the court of law through this law firm.

Personal injury lawyers working here have years of experience in slip and fall and other major car accident laws. They will bring the negligent owner to the court of law and punish him immediately. Slip and fall accident normally occurs in Hospitals, shopping centers and other such commercial establishments. Administration department has to maintain all the floors properly and if someone falls due to we floor the administration executive will have to face the trail in the court of law. Judge will decide the compensation after taking into various parameters such as disfigurement, emergency medical expenses, loss of income, emotional distress and so on and the petitioner will get wonderful compensation from the court of law.

People those who are seriously injured due to car accidents can enter this office

Poor office upkeep and maintenance is a very serious offense and accident arising out of these problems will be taken seriously by this law firm. People those who have accidentally slipped on the wet floor should raise a complaint with the administration department, report the matter to top personnel, create evidence and approach this law firm. It is worth to note that this legal entity is one of the best Law firms in California. Customers those who have received very low compensation from the insurance companies can engage one of the personal injury lawyers working here and fight for higher compensation.

When these lawyers take up the cases the insurance companies will increase the compensation amount and oblige. Some of the professional services that are offered by this world class law firm are eminent domain, personal injury cases and litigation. Visitors will be happy when they explore the blog and showcase interest to hire one of the experienced personal injury attorneys immediately. They will understand the capabilities and intellectual thinking of these lawyers when they watch the videos that are posted on this site. Negligent drivers should not roam around in the city and they should be punished through this law firm. This firm has dealt with bicycle, pedestrian and other types of road accidents in a professional manner.

Author’s Bio: Rangamani is an author for this content who has enough knowledge about the law and law firms.

Jacob Zuma Leaves May Day Rally After Being Booed

Diane A. Wade
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Jacob Zuma Leaves May Day Rally After Being Booed

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has abandoned a May Day rally after he was booed by workers demanding his resignation.

Scuffles broke out between President Zuma’s supporters and opponents, resulting in all speeches being canceled.

The main labor federation, Cosatu, called on Jacob Zuma to step down last month after he sacked his widely respected finance minister.

President Zuma’s allies say he will remain in office until his term ends in 2019.

He was seen on live TV hastily leaving the podium and being whisked away in a motorcade from the rally in Bloemfontein city, Reuters reports.

Jacob Zuma attended the rally despite the fact that powerful affiliates of Cosatu, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, had opposed his presence.

Cosatu is part of a formal alliance with the governing African National Congress (ANC).

Earlier, sections of the crowd sang a song which, loosely translated, means: “Have you good news? Zuma is going”, heard the South Africa’s privately owned News24 site reports.

Cosatu leader Sdumo Dlamini said the rally had been marred by “chaos”, forcing its cancelation.

Photo Getty Images

The protest required “thorough reflection” on the part of the country’s leaders, he said.

Senior ANC officials were also booed at a May Day rally in Durban city, the political heartland of Jacob Zuma.

Pressure on Jacob Zuma to resign has been mounting since he sacked Pravin Gordhan as finance minister in March.

It led to global rating agencies downgrading South Africa to junk status.

The reshuffle was condemned by trade unions, big business, the opposition and and senior members of the government, including Deputy President Cyril Rampahosa.

The opposition has repeatedly accused President Zuma of being corrupt, and says the reshuffle was aimed at giving him and his allies greater access to government money.

Jacob Zuma said the reshuffle was aimed at promoting “radical economic transformation” to benefit the poor black majority.

He has been dogged by allegations of corruption for more than a decade.

In 2016, a court ruled that he should face corruption charges over a 1999 arms deal.

Jacob Zuma is appealing against the ruling.

In a separate case in 2016, South Africa’s highest court ruled that he had breached his oath of office by failing to repay government money used to upgrade his private residence.

He repaid the money, but rejected calls to sep down.

Jacob Zuma is due to step down as leader of the ANC in December, and as South Africa’s president in 2019.

His ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Rampahosa are vying to succeed him in both positions.

Val Kilmer Confirms He Had Cancer

Sonia Pantiss
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Val Kilmer Confirms He Had Cancer

Val Kilmer has confirmed he had cancer, after previously claiming he had “no cancer whatsoever”.

While answering questions put to him by Reddit users, Val Kilmer revealed he “did have a healing of cancer” and was still dealing with a swollen tongue.

The 57-year-old star wrote: “Because I don’t sound my normal self yet people think I may still be under the weather.”

Speculation over Val Kilmer’s health grew last year after Michael Douglas said he was “dealing with” throat cancer.

Image source Facebook

Val Kilmer responded at the time by saying Michael Douglas was “misinformed”.

“He was probably trying to help me cause press probably asked where I was these days,” the actor wrote while taking part in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) last week.

Writing on Facebook in 2016, Val Kilmer said his only recent contact with Michael Douglas had been to seek advice over a lump in his throat.

Known for his roles in such films as Heat, The Doors and Tombstone, Val Kilmer worked with Michael Douglas on The Ghost and the Darkness.

Following Michael Douglas’s comments last year, it was reported that Val Kilmer had been reluctant to seek medical treatment due to his Christian Science faith.

Many Christian Scientists believe that diseases can be healed with prayer, although the Church does not forbid adherents seeking medical aid.

North Korea Crisis: Japan Dispatches Izumo Helicopter Carrier

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Crisis: Japan Dispatches Izumo Helicopter Carrier

Japan has dispatched its biggest helicopter carrier, Izumo, in the first such operation since it passed controversial laws expanding the role of its military.

The Izumo is escorting a US supply vessel within Japanese waters.

The US ship is heading to refuel the naval fleet in the region, including the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group.

North Korea has threatened to sink the Carl Vinson and a US submarine, amid rising tensions in the region.

On April 30, North Korea also carried out a failed missile test, despite repeated warnings from the US and others to stop its nuclear and missile activity.

Image source Defencyclopedia

According to The Japan Times, the 249m-long Izumo can carry up to nine helicopters, and resembles US amphibious assault carriers.

Kyodo news agency said it was leaving its base in Yokosuka south of Tokyo to join the US supply ship, and accompany it to waters off Shikoku in western Japan.

Under PM Shinzo Abe, Japan is gradually pushing the limits of what its modern and powerful military is allowed to do, and with tensions high on the Korean peninsula.

Japan’s post-World War Two constitution bars its military from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defense.

The Izumo is the first warship deployed outside of military exercises under new laws passed in 2015 that allow Japan to come to the aid of an ally under attack known as “collective self-defense”.

Shinzo Abe’s government, which pushed for the change, faced criticism that the new laws could lead Japan into unnecessary wars abroad – something the prime minister has rejected.

The Izumo’s deployment follows recent joint exercises conducted by Japan and the US, and other naval developments.

A French amphibious assault ship arrived in south-west Japan on April 29 for an exercise also involving Japanese, US and British naval forces. South Korea has been conducting joint exercises with the US as well.

China last week also launched its second aircraft carrier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivGdRgqWbB0

Budget Talks: Congressional Negotiators Reach Agreement on Spending Bill

Diane A. Wade
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Budget Talks: Congressional Negotiators Reach Agreement on Spending Bill

Top Capitol Hill negotiators have reached an agreement on a spending bill to keep the government running until September 30.

The bipartisan deal boosts military spending but does not include funding for President Donald Trump’s proposed wall on the Mexico border.

The reported $1 trillion-deal needs to be approved by lawmakers.

On April 28, Congress approved a stop-gap spending bill that averted a government shutdown at midnight on that day.

That gave Congress one more week to work out federal spending for the last five months of the fiscal year.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on the package in the coming days.

The failure to act would have closed national parks and monuments and laid off federal employees.

The last shutdown, in 2013, lasted for 17 days.

Full details of the agreement on a spending bill are yet to be made public.

Image source Wikimedia

However, media reports that it gives President Donald Trump a $12.5 billion increase in defense spending and another $1.5 billion for border security.

White House proposals to cut popular programs – such as funding medical research and community development grants – were rejected.

Democrats also fended off potential cuts to women’s healthcare provider Planned Parenthood.

New York City will reportedly receive a $68 million boost for local law enforcement, in recompense for the cost of protecting President Trump and his family.

The deal also gives coal miners $1.3 billion in health benefits, which will be funded by a rise in customs fees.

There were a number of key disputes during tense negotiations, and Republicans – who control the Congress, Senate and White House – were forced to make concessions.

Democrats had leverage in the talks because their votes will be needed to pass the bill.

The Senate requires 60 votes to pass legislation, so the 52 Republicans there will need support from at least eight Democrats.

President Donald Trump earlier had to yield to Democratic demands not to include funding for the proposed wall on the US-Mexico border in the spending bill.

Another concession was over ObamaCare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act.

President Trump made scrapping it a key campaign pledge, but divisions among Republicans have so far prevented attempts to get his own health plan through Congress.

In a statement on April 30, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the deal “a good agreement for the American people” that “takes the threat of a government shutdown off the table”.

Chuck Schumer said the measure would increase investment in medical research, education, and infrastructure.

John Czwartacki, a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget, said: “Reports that the package makes a major down payment towards the president’s security priorities are encouraging.”

Eminem Takes New Zealand’s Governing Party to Court over Lose Yourself

Sonia Pantiss
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Eminem Takes New Zealand’s Governing Party to Court over Lose Yourself

Eminem has sued New Zealand’s governing over one of his biggest hits it used for a campaign ad.

The rapper says the song, used in the 2014 advert by the National Party, was an unlicensed version of Lose Yourself.

However, the party’s lawyers argue it was not actually Lose Yourself, but a track called Eminem-esque which they bought from a stock music library.

The case began on May 1, with the two tracks played in court.

A lawyer for Eight Mile Style – a publishing group representing the artist – said Lose Yourself was “iconic” and “without doubt the jewel in the crown of Eminem‘s musical work”.

The 2014 ad featured shots of rowers and a voiceover urging people to “keep the team that’s working” and return the National Party to office at the coming election.

The backing track, Eminem-esque, was strikingly similar to Lose Yourself, which appeared in Eminem‘s 2002 film 8 Mile.

It had the same insistent driving rhythm, though did not feature any words.

Image source Flickr

The track had been taken from a library made by production music company Beatbox.

Songs which sound similar to famous tracks – but different enough to avoid breaching copyright – routinely feature in free-to-use commercial music libraries.

However, Eight Mile Style lawyer Gary Williams said the use of the song had been a breach of copyright.

Gary Williams told the court that emails showed some in the National Party campaign team had raised copyright concerns at the time, but decided the composer, not them, would be liable.

That was “just wrong, in law” he said, according to the New Zealand Herald.

Gary Williams said permission had only very rarely been given for use of Lose Yourself.

“When licensed, it can command in the millions of dollars. That’s how valuable it is,” he said.

The National Party denies being responsible for any copyright infringement.

Defense lawyer Greg Arthur said copyright was “not in any way proven by the name given to a piece of music”.

The case is expected to continue for six days.

Donald Trump Launches Scathing Attack on US Media at 100-Day Rally

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Launches Scathing Attack on US Media at 100-Day Rally

President Donald Trump has attacked the US media during a rally marking 100 days in office.

Donald Trump told supporters in Pennsylvania that he was keeping “one promise after another”, dismissing criticism as “fake news” by “out of touch” journalists.

He decided to skip the White House Correspondents’ Dinner – the first president to miss the event since an injured Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Earlier, big rallies were held against Donald Trump’s climate change policies.

At the rally in Harrisburg, Donald Trump said the media should be given “a big, fat, failing grade” over their coverage of his achievements during his first 100 days and told the cheering crowd he was “thrilled to be more than 100 miles from Washington”.

The president quipped that at the same time “a large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling themselves” at the correspondents’ dinner “that will be very boring”.

Image source Getty Images

Until now, late President Ronald Reagan was the last leader to miss the annual dinner, as he was recovering from an assassination attempt in 1981.

Turning to his election pledges, President Trump said the first 100 days had been “very exciting and very productive”.

Donald Trump said he was “delivering every single day” by: ending “jobs theft” and bringing them back to the US from overseas; easing regulations on energy exploration, including halting a “war on coal”; pulling out of international deals not beneficial to the US, including the Trans-Pacific Patnership.

The president also said the administration of Barack Obama had resulted in “a mess”, stressing that he was ready for “great battles to come and we will win in every case”.

On climate change, Donald Trump said “a big decision” would be taken within the next two weeks.

He earlier described climate change as a hoax, vowing to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.

Ahead of the speech, tens of thousands took part in protests across the US against the Trump administration’s stance on climate change. The People’s Climate March was timed to coincide with the 100th day of his presidency.

In Washington, the demonstrators marched from the Capitol to the White House.

Organizers said they wanted to put the climate debate firmly on the agenda for next year’s midterm elections.

Pope Francis Calls for Mediation In North Korea Crisis

Roy Siemens
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Pope Francis Calls for Mediation In North Korea Crisis

Pope Francis has urged for international mediation to ease rising tensions between the US and North Korea over Pyongyang’s nuclear activity.

The Pope suggested that Norway, for example, was “always ready to help”.

Pope Francis warned the crisis risked sparking a devastating war in which “a good part of humanity” would be destroyed.

The pontiff’s comments come hours after North Korea test-fired another ballistic missile, which the US and South Korea say exploded shortly after take-off.

The missile was fired from a site in South Pyeongan province, north of Pyongyang, South Korea said.

President Donald Trump accused Pyongyang of showing “disrespect” towards China and its president.

He recently hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and praised him for “trying very hard” on North Korea.

The test came just hours after the UN Security Council had discussed North Korea’s missile program.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane after a visit to Egypt, Pope Francis said: “There are so many facilitators in the world, there are mediators who offer themselves, such as Norway for example.”

The pontiff warned that the situation had become “too hot” and said: the “path is the path of negotiations, of a diplomatic solution”.

In 2003 six-party talks – involving the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia – were launched to address concerns over North Korea’s nuclear program. However, Pyongyang withdrew from the negotiations in 2009.

Tensions in the region have increased lately, with both North and South Korea conducting military exercises.

North Korea is believed to be continuing efforts to miniaturize nuclear warheads and fit them on long-range missiles capable of reaching the US.

It is not known what kind of missile was unsuccessfully launched on April 29. However, US officials told Reuters that it was probably a medium-range missile known as a KN-17.

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