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You’ll Need a First Class Design for Your Business Website

Dana R
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You’ll Need a First Class Design for Your Business Website

When it comes time to open up your new business, you’ll need to do it in style. This means that the website you build for your company needs to be as attractive and efficient as possible. There is no room to skimp on quality when it comes to website design. The site you choose needs to be crammed to bursting with all of the latest modern conveniences that customers demand and deserve. A site that looks antiquated is one that customers will slowly but surely begin to pass over in favor of a brand new one from a competitor.

Why Is Website Design So Crucial to the Success of Your Business?

If you are wondering why a matter so seemingly simple as website design is so crucial to the success of your business, consider this: If you log on to an official company website that looks older than a few years, doesn’t it seem sort of antiquated? You may be old enough to remember the days of sites that were built with Geocities. But do you trust such a site to be secure enough to safely deposit your Paypal or credit card details on?

A First Impression Needs to Be as Positive as Possible

The first impression that a potential customer has of your official company website needs to be as positive as possible. They need to know that your site is stocked with all of the latest e-commerce conveniences so that they can order goods and services directly from you. They also need to know that your site is fully secured and safe for them to share their info on. These are the details that you want to quickly communicate to your customers.

What Do You Need to Think About When Choosing a Domain Host?

When it comes to procuring state of the art hosting and web design services, you need to shop smart. You need to make sure that you are signing with the service provider who can offer you the best possible deal for your dollar. This is important because the site that you pay for is the one you are going to be making use of for quite a long time to come. You don’t want to get stuck with a lemon that you need to spend extra money in order to replace.

Where Can You Go to Get Expert Web Hosting Service?

The web is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of potential web hosting providers who can also offer you expert design services. Your concern should be to make sure that the design you request is the one you end up with. You will also need to check the hosting arrangement contract to make sure that you retain the rights to your domain name in case you need to transfer it elsewhere in years to come. These are all valid concerns that you should keep in mind before you decide to sign on the dotted line.

Which Sports Are You Made For?

Dana R
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Which Sports Are You Made For?

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Staying healthy is always a balance. First, there is the diet, and then there is the exercise. Anyone that hopes to achieve their goals needs to eat well and work out regularly. It sounds easy on paper, but it’s far from easy in practice as leaving the house to go to the gym is a constant battle. Not only is it tiring, but it’s also not very fun. And, these are the reasons that people are turning to sports for all of their exercise needs. However, choosing one and sticking with it to the bitter death isn’t an excellent idea. To get the most out of sports, it’s essential to pick the ones which suit the individual the best.

Below are the tips which will help any sports enthusiast choose wisely.

Intensity – Higher Or Lower?

There is no need to run through the pain barrier every time you exercise. The myth that you need to work out at maximum intensity at all times is nonsense. Working out is like a diet – it needs balance. On the whole, less intense sports are just as useful as sports like squash if you don’t fancy bouncing off the walls for half an hour. Walking, for instance, is a great way to lose weight as long as the duration lasts over forty minutes. Golf is also another excellent way to exercise aerobically and use different muscle groups. Don’t feel like you have to look for running shoes because a browse of the best fairway woods for 2017 will suffice. It all depends on what you prefer.

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Pain Barrier

No one likes to feel pain, which is why most people avoid certain sports. Weightlifting is a sport that induces pain even when done properly. However, sports like cycling are also pretty agonizing under certain circumstances. It is all down to the pain barrier, and the barrier differs per person. Some people feel no pain at all, which means they can work out more often and at a higher intensity. Others feel pain quickly, and that will affect their regime. Always pick a sport that incorporates a mix of participation and competitiveness. You want to feel the burn, but you don’t want the burn to be excruciating. After all, the average person should work out more than once a week.

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Competitiveness

Let’s talk about competitiveness because it’s the elephant in the room. Everyone enjoys competition to one extent or another. Some thrive off it and need to feel it in the pit of their stomach while they exercise. Others like to compete, but prefer to get into the sport before they show their hand. The reason this feature is important is that particular environments promote a contest. Lacrosse is a perfect example. You may have all the warrior lacrosse gear you need and be ready to play, but since it’s a team sport, there aren’t many ways to play the game without competing against another team. Boxing, however, is different as you can work in the gym alone.

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Body Awareness

The one thing that prevents participation more than most is body awareness. It tends to affect women more than men, but boys feel the pressure too. On the whole, you won’t want to take part in a sport if you have body issues. Most people are scared about how they will look and how others will judge them on their appearance. It’s a valid fear and one that everyone needs to take into account. The reality is that some sports don’t care about your feelings, whereas others cater to your needs. There is a new fad called dancing in the dark which epitomizes this point. Participants do circuit drills for fitness purposes, but they do it in a darkly lit room. Sports that are frequented by similar people are also a safe choice. Yoga is a good one for women because lots of women take part. As such, they know there will be no men to put them off.

Focus

Are you focussed, or do you lose concentration after a short while? Far too many people don’t take their attention span into account, and it’s to their detriment. From your point of view, it’s a crucial factor. As soon as you lose focus, you will stop working out. It’s that simple. So, if you’re taking part in a sport which lasts for too long, the enjoyment will soon dissipate. Ninety-minute games of soccer aren’t for people that can’t concentrate on the whole match. Instead, try table tennis or badminton as the points are short and sweet.

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Take all of the above into account and you’ll find your ultimate sport.

Parkinson’s Disease Could Be Reversed with Brain Cell Therapy

Kathryn R. Bown
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Parkinson’s Disease Could Be Reversed with Brain Cell Therapy

Researchers believe they have found a way to treat and perhaps reverse Parkinson’s disease, by making replacement cells to mend the damaged brain.

They say human brain cells can be coaxed to take over the job of the ones that are destroyed in Parkinson’s.

Tests in mice with Parkinson-like symptoms showed that the therapy appeared to ease the condition.

However, many more studies are needed before similar tests can begin in people.

Scientists say the research published in Nature Biotechnology is hugely promising, although at a very early stage.

They still have to check if the treatment is safe, and whether the converted cells, which started out in life as astrocytes, can truly function like the dopamine-producing neurons lost in Parkinson’s.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the most common movement disorder

People with Parkinson’s lack enough dopamine because some of the brain cells that make it have died.

It is not known what kills the cells, but this loss causes debilitating symptoms, such as tremor and difficulty in walking and moving.

Doctors can prescribe drugs to help manage the symptoms, but cannot treat the cause.

Researchers have been looking for ways to replace the damaged dopamine neurons by injecting new ones into the brain.

However, the international team who carried out the latest work used a different approach that does not require a cell transplant.

They used a cocktail of small molecules to reprogram cells already present in the brain.

When they mixed a sample of human astrocytes with the cocktail in their laboratory, they produced cells that closely resembled dopamine neurons, although not a perfect match.

Next, they gave the same cocktail to sick mice.

The treatment appeared to work, reprogramming their brain cells and lessening their Parkinson’s symptoms.

North Korea Responds to Carl Vinson Strike Group Move

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Responds to Carl Vinson Strike Group Move

North Korea has to the US deployment of a Navy strike group to the Korean peninsula by saying it will defend itself “by powerful force of arms”.

The North Korean foreign ministry, quoted by state news agency KCNA, said the deployment showed “reckless moves for invading” had “reached a serious phase”.

The US Pacific Command says it is aimed at maintaining readiness in the region.

President Donald Trump has said the US is prepared to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea.

Meanwhile South Korea and China – North Korea’s closest ally – have warned of more stringent sanctions if Pyongyang conducts more missile tests.

Image source Wikimedia

The Carl Vinson Strike Group comprises an aircraft carrier and other warships. The warship was due to make port calls in Australia but instead has been diverted from Singapore to the west Pacific, where it recently conducted exercises with the South Korean Navy.

“We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,” said the foreign ministry statement quoted by KCNA.

“The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US,” it said.

The US naval deployment showed North Korea had been right to develop nuclear weapons capability for use in self defense or in a pre-emptive strike, the statement added.

On April 10, China’s envoy for the Korean peninsula, Wu Dawei met with South Korea’s foreign minister and top nuclear envoy.

Korean officials told reporters that the two countries had agreed to enact “strong additional measures” if North Korea conducts further nuclear or missile tests.

China, which is North Korea’s economic lifeline, has already imposed economic sanctions including a ban of all imports of North Korean coal since February.

Meanwhile South Korea, the US and Japan are arranging a meeting later this month to coordinate a joint response to North Korea, reported South Korean news agency Yonhap.

North Korea has carried out several nuclear tests and experts predict more could be in the offing as it moves closer towards developing a nuclear warhead that could reach the US.

There have been indications from Pyonyang that it may test an intercontinental missile, even though it is banned from any tests under UN resolutions.

North Korea says it is provoked by military exercises between the US and South Korea, which it sees as preparation for an invasion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUz2PSDTN2M

San Bernardino Shooting: Three Killed at North Park Elementary School

Nancy Clayson
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San Bernardino Shooting: Three Killed at North Park Elementary School

Three people, including a child, have been killed in a shooting in a classroom of a primary school in San Bernardino, California, police say.

The gunman, named as 53-year-old Cedric Anderson, shot dead his estranged wife, a teacher, and wounded two children who were behind her, one of whom died of his wounds.

He then turned the gun on himself, police said.

Police chief Jarrod Burguan described the incident as a suspected “murder-suicide” attempt.

The shooting happened at 10:30 local time at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino county, 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Image source Getty

The gunman had gained entry to the school as a visitor and kept his weapon concealed until he opened fire in the classroom where 15 children with special needs were being taught, authorities said.

Cedric Anderson killed his wife Karen Elaine Smith and fatally wounded 8-year-old Jonathan Martinez, who was airlifted to hospital but later died.

A 9-year-old pupil remains in hospital in a stable condition, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Jarrod Burguan tweeted shortly after the incident that the suspect was “down” and there was “no further threat”. The school was immediately evacuated.

Up to 600 students were transferred by bus to nearby Cajon High School, where they were later met by their parents.

“Police operations are continuing to secure the area,” Jarrod Burguan said earlier on Twitter.

He added: “However, we do believe the threat is down.”

In December 2015, 14 people were killed and 21 others wounded when a couple entered a disabled service centre in San Bernardino and began firing at a group of county health workers.

Pyotr Levashov: Russian Programmer Arrested in Spain over US Election Hacking

Nancy Clayson
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Pyotr Levashov: Russian Programmer Arrested in Spain over US Election Hacking

A Russian computer programmer has been arrested in Spain for alleged involvement in “hacking” the US election, Spanish media reported.

The man, named as Pyotr Levashov, was arrested on April 7 in Barcelona. He has now been remanded in custody.

A “legal source” also told the AFP that Pyotr Levashov was the subject of an extradition request by the US.

The request is due to be examined by Spain’s national criminal court, the agency added.

Image source Getty Images

Spanish news website El Confidencial has said that Pyotr Levashov’s arrest warrant was issued by US authorities over suspected “hacking” that helped Donald Trump’s campaign.

Pyotr Levashov’s wife Maria also told Russian broadcaster RT that the arrest was made in connection with such allegations.

Several cybersecurity experts have also linked Pyotr Levashov to a Russian spam kingpin, who uses the alias Peter Severa.

A US intelligence report released in January alleged that President Vladimir Putin tried to help Donald Trump to victory.

Donald Trump later commented that the outcome of the election had not been affected.

The report said that Russia’s objectives were to “undermine public faith” in the US democratic process and “denigrate” Donald Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton.

Russia’s efforts to this end allegedly included hacking into email accounts used by the Democratic National Committee; using intermediaries such as WikiLeaks to release hacked information; and funding social media users or “trolls” to make nasty comments.

However, there were no details of Vladimir Putin’s alleged involvement with such interference in the report.

Vladimir Putin has strongly denied allegations that Russia tried to influence the US election.

The Challenges of Investing & How to Contend with Them

Dana R
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The Challenges of Investing & How to Contend with Them

Investing your money is never easy to do. There are plenty of things waiting to trip you up and make your life more difficult. The first step towards dealing with these things is to understand them and how you can contend with them. If you’re about to jump in and start investing, now is the time to think about these issues. Below, you will find details that will help you with each of the major challenges you’ll face as an investor.

The Speed of Change and Development

Things are changing and developing so quickly on the stock market these days. It’s hard to keep up with all of the things that are happening. This may be worse today than ever before. But it’s not a particularly new problem, and investors have always had to juggle these issues. It’s a big struggle trying to stay on top of all the trends and changes that are taking in place. If you can’t keep up with that change, though, you will end up worse off and your investments might not go as well as you would like them to.

Using the Right Tools

Next, you need to make sure that you’re using the right tools as an investor. The options are really varied and very good nowadays. There are so many things you can do to make sure that you are always on the right track and able to invest to the very best of your abilities. First of all, make sure that you’re using a platform that works well for you. If you don’t have the right platform within reach at all times, making changes and backing an investment will be that much harder for you. There are platforms that even use apps, so you can make changes on the go.

Weighing Up All the Options

Weighing up every investment option out there is a big task, and it’s something that takes time. You won’t be able to get the right investments and investment strategy for you if you don’t weigh up all the options and see where the best opportunities for you lie. For example, you might not want to invest in stocks and shares at all. If that’s the case, you might want to consider investing in properties. Browse Sky Five Properties listings on Palm Island, and look at other property options too. Think about every form of investing and try a little of each of them to find out which you prefer.

Dealing with Market Uncertainty

Market uncertainty is a problem that is hard to mitigate. You can’t always be sure how uncertainty will play out. Sometimes, it can be a short-term issue that resolves itself pretty quickly. But on other occasions it can have a bigger impact on your investments than you have anticipated. Finding a way to deal with that uncertainty and make sure that it doesn’t take over your investments and put you in a bad financial situation will be one of the biggest challenges that you’ll face. So, keep this in mind and try not to panic whenever uncertainty arises.

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How Trump Might Shape The Energy Of Tomorrow

Dana R
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How Trump Might Shape The Energy Of Tomorrow

It’s tied into so much of our politics today even if we don’t always fully realize. The right and the left have been pushing back and forth on the issue of energy and the ways that we use it in all aspects of our lives. From the effects of the market on daily economics to the industries we work in and even the future of the world itself. Now that Trump is in power and the right have control over all three branches of government, what can we expect to see in the world of energy?

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Picture sourced by Pexels

Is coal becoming viable again?

The ‘war on coal’ has been waged and won again after the battle seemed done and dusted to most people. During the Obama administration, it looked like we were leaving coal behind but as of the end of last month, President Trump has effectively undone the work that President Obama left in place. To some, this represents a chilling step back on the path to shrugging off fossil-fuels. To many Americans, however, the coal industry means jobs. Stripping regulations and bringing back jobs in seemingly abandoned or hamstrung sectors has been a big part of Trump’s campaign promises. It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that America’s coal industries start growing again if he continues to keep that promise.

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Picture sourced by lalabell68

The price of oil

As https://oilandenergyinvestor.com/2011/04/why-gas-prices-are-outrunning-oil-prices/ states, oil hasn’t been showing serious growth for years now. Under President Trump’s regulation reversing revolution, we might see oil and natural gas prices tumbling further for the consumer. But while that’s good for stimulating local economies, making work more affordable for business owners and employees. However, lower prices are not necessarily good for the oil and gas industries which the US still relies heavily upon. In fact, some say that 35% of all E&P oil and gas companies are at risk of bankruptcy. Such a collapse of huge portions of such a vital industry could very well be the beginning of a new financial crisis not just in the States but across the world.

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Picture sourced by Unsplash

A greener future?

To those who care about the impact of human’s use of fossil fuels on the environment, reversing the Obama’s administration’s regulations look like nothing short of a disaster. The current administration certainly hasn’t done a lot to assuage fears that we are at risk of serious climate change. But for those in the throes of despair, there are reports like  http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/24/donald-trump-cant-stop-back-solar-and-wind-power.html  which say that it’s too late to turn the clock back on the rise of renewable fuels. Investors have continued to show more interest in renewable energy projects as opposed to the aforementioned trouble seen in oil and gas companies and lawmakers from all sides have renewed subsidies in many states for solar and wind energy companies.

There’s still a lot of concern over what exactly a Trump presidency will mean for the different ways energy works in our world. In terms of jobs, environmental impact and prices, there’s still plenty of time to be surprised by this administration.

Chuck Berry Funeral: Fans Allowed to View Open Casket

Sonia Pantiss
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Chuck Berry Funeral: Fans Allowed to View Open Casket

Fans paid their final respects to music legend Chuck Berry, who died last month aged 90.

They were allowed to view Chuck Berry’s body at the Pageant club in St Louis, Missouri, before a private family funeral on April 9.

As fans filed past the open casket, a musician played some of Chuck Berry’s greatest hits.

Chuck Berry died in Missouri after a seven-decade career.

Among those paying tribute to the rock and roll legend on April 9 was Kiss rocker Gene Simmons.

Former President Bill Clinton sent letter lauding “one of America’s greatest rock and roll pioneers”.

“He captivated audiences around the world,” the letter said, “and his music spoke to the hopes and dreams we all had in common.

Image source Wikimedia

“Me and Hillary grew up listening to him.”

Chuck Berry played at both of Bill Clinton’s presidential inaugurations.

As the private service for Chuck Berry began, the Rev Alex Peterson told the crowd that the aim of the day was “to celebrate Berry in a rock ‘n’ roll style”.

Among the floral arrangements was one in the shape of a guitar sent by the Rolling Stones.

Seen as one of the fathers of rock ‘n’ roll, Chuck Berry influenced generations of succeeding musicians, most notably The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys.

Chuck Berry was known for trademark four-bar guitar introductions and quickfire lyrics that reflected the rebelliousness of 1950s teenagers.

He received a lifetime achievement Grammy in 1984 and was among the first inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Chuck Berry was born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1926, and had his first hit, Maybellene, in 1955.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJoaAaU9doM

Hungary Protests Against Closure of George Soros’ Central European University

Diane A. Wade
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Hungary Protests Against Closure of George Soros’ Central European University

At least 50,000 of people have taken part in a protest in Hungary to demand the abolition of laws which could force the closure of one of the Central European University founded by George Soros.

New rules introduced by the government mean the CEU would be unable to award diplomas because it is registered in the US.

The legislation has already been rushed through parliament.

Demonstrators in Budapest on April 9 want President Janos Ader not to sign the controversial legislation backed by the governing right wing Fidesz party of PM Viktor Orban.

The protesters took to the streets both to defend the CEU and protest against attempts by the government to pressure human rights and environmental groups which support refugees.

The government passed amendments to the Higher Education Act last week which would make it impossible for the CEU to continue working in Budapest – 26 years after it was set up by Hungarian-born billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros.

Image source Flickr

The Hungarian government opposes the liberal outlook of both the university and many non-governmental organizations.

The CEU has vowed to fight the legislation. The English-speaking university is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world in eight disciplines.

George Soros has a strained relationship with Viktor Orban – a keen supporter of President Donald Trump – who has accused Soros of wanting a role in Hungarian politics and supporting the influx of migrants into Europe.

Viktor Orban recently claimed Hungary was “under siege” from asylum seekers.

However, the prime minister won a scholarship sponsored by George Soros to study at Oxford University and the pair were allies in the days immediately following the fall of communism in 1989.

The Central European University was founded to “resuscitate and revive intellectual freedom” in parts of Europe that had endured the “horrific ideologies” of communism and fascism. It occupies a building that began as an aristocrat’s palace before becoming state-owned offices for a planned socialist economy.

The university has 1,440 students – 335 from Hungary and the rest from 107 other countries and presents itself as a champion of free speech, with links to universities in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Kazakhstan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phDzI6O3thE

KT McFarland: Donald Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser Asked to Resign

Diane A. Wade
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KT McFarland: Donald Trump’s Deputy National Security Adviser Asked to Resign

KT McFarland, President Donald Trump’s deputy national security adviser, has been asked to resign after just three months.

A former Fox News analyst, KT McFarland, has been offered the role of ambassador to Singapore instead, Bloomberg and Reuters report.

The move comes days after President Trump removed his senior strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council (NSC).

Image source Wikipedia

The NSC advises the president on national security and foreign affairs.

Steve Bannon’s appointment in January raised fears that the circle of top advisers was being politicized.

Analysts say the latest moves show President Trump’s new national security adviser, Lt. Gen. HR McMaster, reshaping the NSC team appointed by his predecessor.

The previous national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, was fired after just three weeks and three days in the job after it emerged he had misled the vice-president over his conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the US.

Egypt Church Attacks: President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi Declares Three-Month State of Emergency

Roy Siemens
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Egypt Church Attacks: President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi Declares Three-Month State of Emergency

Egypt has declared a three-month state of emergency after attacks on two Coptic churches that left at least 44 dead on April 9.

The measure allows authorities to make arrests without warrants and search people’s homes, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said. It needs to be approved by parliament before it is implemented.

ISIS said it was behind the blasts in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm.

The group has targeted Copts in Egypt recently and warned of more attacks.

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said made a defiant speech at the presidential palace after a meeting of the national defense council to discuss the attacks.

He said the state of emergency would be implemented after all “legal and constitution steps” were taken. The majority in parliament backs President Sisi.

Image source Getty

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said had earlier ordered the deployment of the military across Egypt to protect “vital and important infrastructure”.

The attacks coincided with one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar, marking the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

ISIS said in a statement that two suicide bombers carried out the blasts. One targeted St George’s Coptic church in the northern city of Tanta, where 27 people were killed, the health ministry said.

Hours later, police stopped the bomber from entering the St Mark’s Coptic church in Alexandria. He detonated his explosives outside, leaving 17 dead, including several police officers.

The blasts came weeks before an expected visit by Pope Francis intended to show support for the country’s Christian minority, who have long complained of being vulnerable and marginalized.

The move by President Sisi is likely to raise concerns among human rights activists, observers say. The president, a former army chief, has been criticized by local and international groups for severe restrictions on civil and political rights in Egypt.

Human Rights Watch says tens of thousands people have been arrested in a crackdown on dissent, and that security forces have committed flagrant abuses, including torture, enforced disappearances and likely extrajudicial executions.

North Korea Nuclear Program: US Deploys Navy Strike Group to Korean Peninsula

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Nuclear Program: US Deploys Navy Strike Group to Korean Peninsula

Amid growing concerns about North Korea’s missile program, the US military has ordered a navy strike group to move towards the Korean peninsula.

The Carl Vinson Strike Group comprises an aircraft carrier and other warships.

US Pacific Command described the deployment – now heading towards the western Pacific – as a prudent measure to maintain readiness in the region.

President Donald Trump has said the US is prepared to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea.

US Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham said: “The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilizing program of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.”

The Carl Vinson Strike Group comprises the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser.

Image source Wikimedia

As well as massive striking power, the strike group has the capability to intercept ballistic missiles.

The group was originally due to make port calls in Australia but instead has been diverted from Singapore to the west Pacific – where it recently conducted exercises with the South Korean Navy.

North Korea has carried out several nuclear tests and experts predict more could be in the offing as the country moves closer towards developing a nuclear warhead with a big enough range to reach the US.

On April 5, North Korea test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile from its eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan.

The test – condemned by Japan and South Korea – came on the eve of a visit by China’s President Xi Jinping to the US to meet President Donald Trump.

President Trump and President Xi discussed how to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs as the US steps up the pressure on China, a historic ally of Pyongyang, to help reduce tension.

However, China has been reluctant to isolate North Korea, fearing its collapse could spawn a refugee crisis and bring the US military to its doorstep.

President Trump said in interview with the Financial Times that Washington was ready to act without Beijing’s co-operation: “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.”

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

Henrique Capriles Ban: Thousands of Venezuelans March in Protest

Diane A. Wade
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Henrique Capriles Ban: Thousands of Venezuelans March in Protest

Thousands of protesters took the streets in Venezuela to march against the banning from politics of opposition leader Henrique Capriles for 15 years.

In the capital, Caracas, police used tear gas to prevent demonstrators reaching the offices of the national ombudsman.

April 8 protest came after a week of anti-government demonstrations.

They were initially sparked by a Supreme Court ruling to curb the powers of the national assembly, a move which was later overturned.

Security police fired tear gas on one major avenue in Caracas while in the city of San Cristobal they shot rubber bullets towards protestors.

Many demonstrators carried signs reading “No to dictatorship!” and “Capriles for President”.

Image source Flickr

In the Caracas protest there was a moment of silence in memory of a young man shot dead on April 6 by police during demonstrations.

Henrique Capriles has been at the forefront of demands for a recall referendum on President Nicolas Maduro.

A former presidential candidate who has run twice, Henrique Capriles is seen as the oppositions’ best hope of defeating Nicolas Maduro in elections scheduled for next year.

The ruling by the Venezuelan comptroller said the ban on Henrique Capriles was due to “administrative irregularities” in his role as governor.

He is the latest in a series of prominent opposition politicians to be put out of action.

Two years ago, Maria Corina Machado, a former congresswoman was banned from office as was a former mayor, Daniel Ceballos.

In 2015, another prominent opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison on charges of inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014.

Venezuelans are dealing with the effects of a harsh economic crisis that has millions skipping meals, unable to afford soaring prices for basic goods and facing long lines for scarce products.

President Maduro’s socialist government have said that a US-backed business elite is responsible for Venezuela’s economic downturn and that it is trying to organize a coup to impose right-wing rule.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzk7w-hZkmE

March Unemployment Rate Falls to Lowest Level In 10 Years

Clyde K. Valle
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March Unemployment Rate Falls to Lowest Level In 10 Years

The US unemployment rate fell to a 10-year low in March, despite the economy adding a smaller than expected number of jobs.

Employers added 98,000 jobs in March 2017 – far fewer than the 180,000 expected by economists and less than half the figure for January and February.

However, the unemployment rate fell from 4.7% in February to just 4.5% – the lowest since May 2007.

Anything under 5% is considered to indicate “full employment”.

Image source Wikimedia

The US economy needs to create 75,000 to 100,000 jobs a month to keep pace with growth in the working-age population.

It had added more than 200,000 jobs in both January and February 2017, but March brought lower temperatures and a major storm to the North East, which was likely to have hit hiring.

Aberdeen Asset Management investment strategist Luke Bartholomew said the decline in job creation was another sign of a “pretty tight” labor market.

The dollar rose against the euro and pound, while the Dow Jones and S&P 500 were flat in morning trading in New York.

The US Labor Department also revised the number of jobs created in February down from 235,000 to 219,000, while the figure for January was lowered from 238,000 to 216,000.

The percentage of people in work or looking for a job held steady at 63%.

Tupac Shakur, Joan Baez and Pearl Jam Enter Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Sonia Pantiss
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Tupac Shakur, Joan Baez and Pearl Jam Enter Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Tupac Shakur, Joan Baez and Pearl Jam have all entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

They were inducted alongside the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Journey and Yes during a concert in New York.

However, it was not just a celebration: a number of artists chose to use the occasion to make impassioned pleas and remember lost friends.

Late rapper Tupac Shakur‘s award was collected by his friend, fellow rapper Snoop Dogg.

Joan Baez – as known for her activism as her singing – made a rallying call for resistance in the face of “the new political cultural reality”.

Image source Flickr

The 76-year-old folk singer, who admitted most younger people had never heard her work, made a return to the spotlight this week when her song Nasty Man went viral.

Joan Baez – imitating Donald Trump’s particular way of speaking – told the audience gathered at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center: “Let us together repeal and replace brutality and make compassion a priority. Let us build a great bridge, a beautiful bridge, to welcome the tired and the poor.”

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder tackled climate change, saying: “We cannot be the generation that history will look back upon and wonder, why didn’t they do everything humanly possible to solve this biggest crisis of our time?”

Snoop Dogg was on hand to collect Tupac Shakur’s trophy, more than two decades after he was shot dead in Las Vegas.

Calling Tupac “the greatest rapper of all time”, Snoop Dogg recalled how they were just “two black boys struggling to become men”, adding: “To be human is to be many things at once: strong and vulnerable, hard-headed and intellectual, courageous and afraid, loving and vengeful, revolutionary and, oh yeah… gangsta!”

Tributes were also paid to 1986 Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Berry, who died last month aged 90, with ELO playing one of his best known hits – Roll Over Beethoven.

Meanwhile, Nile Rodgers – lead guitarist of disco band Chic – was recognized for his contribution to production.

Eta Begins Process of Handing Over Its Remaining Weapons

Roy Siemens
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Eta Begins Process of Handing Over Its Remaining Weapons

Eta has begun the process of handing over its remaining weapons, formally ending the last remaining insurgency in Europe.

At a ceremony in the southern French city of Bayonne, an inventory of weapons, and their locations, was passed to the judicial authorities.

The Basque militant group killed more than 800 people and wounded thousands in more than 40 years of violence.

Eta declared a ceasefire in 2011 but did not disarm.

The group’s goal was to create an independent Basque state out of territory in south-west France and northern Spain.

Image source RTE

France and Spain refuse to negotiate with Eta, which is on the EU blacklist of terrorist organizations.

The Bayonne ceremony took place in the presence of the local mayor, an Italian archbishop and an Irish priest, and civil society representatives.

The Chairman of the International Verification Commission, Ram Manikkalingam, said he hoped this important step would help consolidate peace in the Basque region.

Speaking on April 7, Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said Eta “will get nothing from a democratic state like Spain”.

Inigo Mendez de Vigo demanded that Eta not only disarm, but also clarify who carried out past its attacks.

In recent years, police in France and Spain have put Eta under severe pressure, arresting hundreds of militants, including leadership figures, and seizing many of its weapons.

Eta was set up more than 50 years ago in the era of Spanish dictator General Franco. Its first known killing was in 1968, when a secret police chief, Meliton Manzanas, was shot dead in the Basque city of San Sebastian.

In 2014 the International Verification Commission of inspectors said Eta had put some of its weapons out of action, but the Spanish government dismissed the move as “theatrical”.

Salvează

Google Adds Fact Check Feature to Search Results

Nancy Clayson
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Google Adds Fact Check Feature to Search Results

In a bid to help tackle the spread of “fake news”, Google has added its fact check feature to search results globally.

Google will now highlight “authoritative sources” in search results, with a summary of claims that have been fact-checked.

The search giant says sites will be judged authoritative by an algorithm and the company will not be fact-checking news stories itself.

On April 6, Facebook announced a campaign to help people spot fake news.

Image source Google

Google introduced its fact check feature on its News search site in October 2016, but has now added it to its regular search results.

Publishers who have investigated a claim, for example a politician’s statements, will be displayed more prominently.

A summary of the fact-checked statements and whether they are judged to be true or false will also appear.

However, the feature will not affect the order of search results and will not label sites known to spread false information as untrustworthy.

Google acknowledged that different publishers may draw opposing conclusions about the validity of a news story or statement, but said the feature would help people understand the “degree of consensus” on a topic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoptzbPUQX8

Stockholm: Truck Attack Kills at Least Four People

Roy Siemens
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Stockholm: Truck Attack Kills at Least Four People

At least four people have been killed after a truck has smashed into a store in central Stockholm.

A dozen people were also injured in the incident on Drottninggatan (Queen Street), one of Stockholm‘s major pedestrian streets, on April 7.

Swedish PM Stefan Lofven said it was a terror attack.

One man has been arrested, after Swedish police released a CCTV image of a person who may be connected to the case.

Image source NBC News

In a speech, PM Stefan Lofven said Swedish values of democracy and freedom would not be “undermined by hatred”.

The prime minister also announced Sweden’s border controls had been strengthened.

The crash happened at the Ahlens department store just before 15:00 local time. Witnesses say the truck drove into the front window.

Swedish brewery Spendrups said its truck had been stolen on its way to a restaurant delivery earlier in the day.

“Someone jumped into the driver’s cabin and drove off with the vehicle while the driver was unloading,” a brewery spokesperson told the TT news agency.

The store sits close to Stockholm’s central station, which was evacuated.

The subway, central roads and various bus lines were also shut down after the attack.

Shots were reportedly fired in another part of the city, but Swedish police told local media there was no connection between the two incidents.

Stockholm authorities said they had made several spaces, including a number of school buildings, available as temporary accommodation for those who could not get home because of transport disruptions.

Lee Jae-yong Goes on Trial over Embezzlement and Perjury Charges

Diane A. Wade
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Lee Jae-yong Goes on Trial over Embezzlement and Perjury Charges

Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong has gone on trial in South Korea for his alleged role in a corruption scandal that led to the ousting of President Park Geun-hye.

Lee Jae-yong denies charges of embezzlement and perjury.

Prosecutors say Lee Jae-yong gave 43 billion Korean won ($38 million) to President Park Guen-hye’s friend, Choi Soon-sil, for political favors.

Park Geun-hye is suspected of colluding with Choi Soon-sil to get conglomerates to donate to Choi’s foundations.

The ousted president was arrested last week, after being impeached, and sent to a detention centre, although she has not yet been formally charged.

Image source Reuters

Lee Jae-yong, who appeared in court in handcuffs, has denied the bribery allegations, saying Samsung was coerced into handing over the funds.

Another four Samsung executives have also appeared in court in connection with the scandal. They also deny the accusations.

Lee Jae-yong’s case is “one of the most deep-rooted and typical cases involving unhealthy relations between politicians and businessmen,” said Special Prosecutor Park Young-Soo in his opening statement in Seoul’s Central District Court.

The 48-year-old vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics has been the parent company Samsung Group’s de facto head since his father Lee Kun-hee suffered a heart attack in 2014.

On April 7, the chairman of the powerful Lotte conglomerate, Shin Dong-bin, was also being questioned by prosecutors in connection with the widening corruption probe.

They are investigating whether donations given by Lotte to foundations allegedly controlled by Choi Soon-sil were bribes connected to the firm’s bid for a lucrative duty-free business.

Understanding Your Future Health, Now

Dana R
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Understanding Your Future Health, Now

The way we treat our bodies sets us up for life. If you plan to live a sedentary lifestyle, while eating foods that don’t optimise your health, your future is going to be affected in a bad way. Everything we do today in life is going to impact how we live in ten or twenty years from now. The job we hold, the relationships we have and the children we plan to have all affect our future, even if you don’t realise it at this moment.

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The world is moving forward in science and medicine at a rapid rate, but that doesn’t mean that you should slow your healthy lifestyle down because it’s there to help you. Science won’t save you if you don’t take care of yourself; it’s something you should want on your own. Eating the right food will affect everything in your body from your heart health to your fertility. Did you know that coronary heart disease is the USA’s leading cause of death?

Heart disease develops in later life, but if you don’t look after your heart when you are young, you have the potential to become another statistic. A simple diet change can decrease the risk of heart disease drastically, and a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains can help you to avoid it. You could be twenty years old and loving life; partying every weekend and not taking care of your diet or fitness because your high metabolism now keeps you at a healthy weight. Being a healthy weight doesn’t mean you are a healthy person, and the way you treat yourself now DOES matter.

People are living longer and healthier due to making better lifestyle choices. Food, fitness and a good understanding of their genetic history can make a big difference in how they live their lives. So, how does your lifestyle affect your future? How can you make changes to ensure you live a life of optimised health?

Food

Health is about food, we all know this. Enjoying what you eat is important, but ensuring you eat healthily is paramount. If you eat more calories than you burn, the surplus energy will convert to body fat and stick to your organs and your bones, making you overweight. This way of living is unhealthy and increases your risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease, joint pain and a general feeling of sluggishness. You should understand how your food habits impact your day to day choices.

Eating a diet full of saturated fats, sugars and carbohydrates is not going to do your body any favours as time goes on. It may taste wonderful to eat a few cheeseburgers after a heavy night of drinking, but it won’t help your health. Your weight doesn’t just affect your heart and risk of diabetes, but your fertility. If you plan to have children, a healthy lifestyle is a must if you want to conceive and be around long enough to watch your child grow. Food is the first place you should fix to ensure this isn’t going to be affected.

Ensuring you eat a healthy, balanced diet is the only way to live a healthy lifestyle. Alcohol shouldn’t be binged on during the week or at the weekend, as the effects of alcohol on the brain and the internal organs can lead to issues in later life. This is especially true of the liver. Binge drinking in young adulthood leads to liver diseases and other abdominal issues that sometimes cannot be overcome. Educate yourself on healthy eating habits and teach yourself how to cook from scratch. Cooking in healthy fats and oils can also do well for your heart and stave off any long-term diseases that can be painful to fix. Pacemakers may be an exciting medical advancement but it doesn’t mean you should want one inserted.

salad

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Fitness

A sedentary lifestyle isn’t the way to live. People who say they don’t have the time to exercise aren’t looking hard enough to find the minutes in the day to fit a workout in. With the range of high intensity interval training workouts like these on YouTube, there’s no excuse not to find ten minutes in the day to get that heart pumping and the body working. Not taking care of your fitness can lead to joint issues, heart issues and general pain that is hard to reverse. It sucks, but it can sometimes take killing yourself in your job and personal life and ending up with a health scare to nudge you into action.

Skipping the chance to work out in favour of going to work or going to the bar with your friends is like adding to your bank account by taking from your pension. It’s not going to work in the long term. You must realise that being young right now doesn’t last, and you must physically prepare your body now to last you when you’re older. Sure, we don’t walk carefully into our grave with our bodies preserved and in perfect shape. However, there’s no need to slide sideways into the same grave at a young age, waving a bottle of vodka and a pizza. Aerobic fitness isn’t just about getting lean, either. It can make you focused and smart. It can increase your heart health. It can mean your immune system tackles illnesses easier, because you are in your prime fitness and you can heal better. There are plenty of reasons not to exercise, but none of them are good enough to stop. An extra hour of sleep might well be nice, but you won’t thank yourself for it later that same day.

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Genetics

Our history has a huge effect on our future health. Understanding that history is important, so you can make better and more informed decisions over your wellbeing. Learning about your family’s genetic background can directly influence how your future unfolds and you can contact your doctor, or a private company to screen you to learn more about your genetics. See how 23andme compares to those companies and help yourself to understand the best healthy lifestyle for you. There are tests out there to determine if we have a genetic marker for cancer, or for cardiomyopathy. Human genome mapping is pioneering in medicine to help doctors to understand how to create unique medicinal pathways that can cure diseases that are tailored to our own makeup.

These advances in science and medicine are lightyears ahead of what they used to be. The more we understand about individual diseases, the more we can do to avoid them. If our genetics say we are predisposed to heart disease due to the family history, then making choices to avoid developing heart disease would be the correct decision to make.

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Relationships

The relationships we have today can directly impact our futures, and not just with the people we are dating or marrying. Our families have a profound effect on how we behave, what we believe in and the way we choose to live. If your family treated you well in childhood, you’re likely to be far more balanced than a person who was a victim of abuse. You may choose to live better and healthier because you have confidence in yourself and your future. If you were unlucky, and had a childhood full of pain, you are far more likely to resort to vices such as drugs or alcohol to help you forget the pain you went through as a child. It’s not an easy thing to talk about, but seeking help from therapy as early as possible can help you beat addiction and move you into a more secure and healthy phase of your life.

Articles like this one tell us that stresses in our life can ‘chemically silence’ certain genes in eggs and sperm. This means that environmental factors like smoking and stressed childhoods can be passed down in future generations. Evaluating your current relationships to understand where your stress is coming from is important to move forward free from the chains of sadness and depression. If your marriage is making your body react in a physical way due to stress, then couple’s counselling or divorce may be the way to go. Stress manifests itself in different ways for different people, but it can have an impact on your future health. Strain on the heart and the mind can lead to heart attacks and gastrointestinal issues – none of which are easily helped!

Hopefully you can make good, healthy decisions about your future that don’t involve lasting damage. It’s understanding that your current lifestyle will map out how your future unfolds and how long you will live, and tackling any issues that are affecting your current day to day living. Above all, you need to understand that your health does matter. Your future and your life are the only ones that you get and if you don’t take care of yourself in the now, you’ll be fighting to take care of yourself in the future.

How To Make A Stand And Protect Your Brand

Dana R
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How To Make A Stand And Protect Your Brand

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Your brand is your business. When the brand fails, the business fails. That’s why you need to not only create a captivating, engaging brand, but also one which stands the test of time and holds strong against obstacles or attacks which may come its way. Either through your fault or something else’s, there are so many things which can damage your business’ brand image and, as a result, ruin your relation with customers. If you want to make a stand and protect your brand, here are some suggestions as to things you should keep in mind.

Keep the brand genuine.

If you want your brand to stand up against criticism, it needs to be real. Getting caught out for false advertising is going to completely shatter any illusion your organisation was trying to create, so it’s important that you’re completely transparent and open about the nature of your business so as to ensure that all branding is accurate. If you want to put out an extravagant marketing campaign which shows off wonderful things that your business can achieve, then you should be striving to ensure that your business can do those things.

On another level, the key to ensuring your brand is real is to not only put on a smiling face for your customers but your employees too. The people behind your brand are your brand. Customers will be communicating with your business’ staff when they need help or when they’re being sold products and services, which means your staff need to project the image that your brand projects.

Maintain a good reputation.

Companies make mistakes, but it’s all about how you handle those mistakes. If you mess up a product, misjudge an advert or your website experiences downtime, you need to address the issue and apologise to your audience. You need to show that you’re still a professional and dedicated business, but you simply made a mistake. Of course, your reputation might not always be damaged through a fault of your own, and such an unexpected turn can sometimes come as the result of an attack from another individual or organisation. There are potential legal options out there if you feel your business has suffered a defamation of character, as long as you can prove such an attack was based on false claims.

Whatever the case, the point is that your business needs to always be on the defensive with regards to its reputation, as a sterling image is the cornerstone of any brand. You don’t want to be associated with values or adjectives which reflect badly on your company, whether they are justified or not. It’s your job to work hard to change any negative associations your brand may have.

Get social media right.

Online marketing is a crucial way to make a real connection with your target audience, but your business still needs to draw a line even when engaging in casual, humorous conversation. You need to ensure that you’re not promoting ideas or messages which mock or discriminate against certain kinds of people. Alongside alienating portions of potential customers, you’ll also paint a poor picture of your brand.

Donald Trump Welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-A-Lago

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-A-Lago

President Donald Trump is hosting China talks with President Xi Jinping at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago for their first summit.

President Trump said they had “developed a friendship” as they sat for dinner at Mar-a-Lago.

He is expected to press President Xi for action on North Korea, and the Chinese leader to seek assurances on Taiwan.

President Trump has said the summit “will be a very difficult one”. In 2016, he accused China of “raping the US”.

During the election campaign, Donald Trump said massive trade deficits and job losses could no longer be tolerated. However, at dinner on April 6, it was all smiles, with the leaders’ two wives, folk singer Peng Liyuan and First Lady Melania Trump also in attendance.

The meeting was, however, largely overshadowed later by a US airstrike on an airbase in Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack.

Despite his tough campaign talk, Donald Trump has so far not followed through on his threat to formally brand China a “currency manipulator”, nor to hit Chinese imports with punitive tariffs.

His blue-collar supporters will hope he can translate his China-bashing election rhetoric into concrete gains for American manufacturing workers.

One of the most urgent issues for the US is North Korea, which is trying to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the west coast of the US with a nuclear device.

North Korea fired a medium-range missile into the Sea of Japan on April 5, the latest in a series of launches.

Although Beijing has condemned this and previous missile tests, it has so far been reluctant to isolate its neighbor, fearing its collapse could spawn a refugee crisis and bring the US military to its doorstep.

Donald Trump is expected to call on Xi Jinping to arm-twist North Korea into halting its nuclear program by denying it access to banking institutions.

The president told the Financial Times this week he was prepared to act unilaterally, saying: “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.”

A senior White House official said North Korea would be a key test for the Trump-Xi relationship.

“The clock is very, very quickly running out,” the official said.

“All options are on the table for us.”

For his part, President Xi Jinping will seek assurances from President Donald Trump on US arms sales to Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province that must eventually reunify with the mainland.

Donald Trump outraged China in December when he took the unorthodox step of accepting a phone call from the Taiwanese president.

However, he later agreed to respect the “one China” policy in a telephone call with President Xi Jinping in February.

Climate change, which Donald Trump once dismissed as a Chinese hoax, and Beijing’s building of artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea, could also come up.

Some protesters lined the streets on April 6 to voice their opposition to China’s policy in the South China Sea.

President Xi Jinping’s visit will conclude with a working lunch on April 7.

However, there is unlikely to be any golf on the agenda. While Donald Trump is fond of hitting the fairway, Xi Jinping’s administration has cracked down on the sport in an anti-corruption drive.

US Launches Missile Strike Against Syrian Air Force Base In Response to Suspected Chemical Attack

Roy Siemens
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US Launches Missile Strike Against Syrian Air Force Base In Response to Suspected Chemical Attack

President Donald Trump has ordered a missile strike against a Syrian air base in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town on April 4.

Fifty-nine Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from two US Navy ships in the Mediterranean. According to the Syrian army, 6 people were killed.

It is the first direct US military action against forces commanded by Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

The Kremlin, which backs President Assad, has condemned the strike.

The strike comes just two days after dozens of civilians, including many children, died in the suspected nerve gas attack in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province.

On the orders of President Trump, Navy destroyers USS Porter and USS Ross fired dozens of cruise missiles at Shayrat airfield in western Homs province at about 04:40 Syrian time.

According to the Pentagon, they targeted aircraft, aircraft shelters, storage areas, ammunition supply bunkers and air defense systems at the Syrian government-controlled facility.

Iamge source Times of India

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, President Trump said he had acted in America’s “vital national security interest” to prevent the use of chemical weapons.

Donald Trump branded President Bashar al-Assad a “dictator” who had “launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians”.

The president said in a statement: “Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end this slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types.”

It is not known whether the six people killed were civilian or military.

The US has led a coalition carrying out air strikes against jihadist groups in Syria since 2014 but this is the first time it has targeted government forces.

President Donald Trump has previously spoken out against US military involvement in Syria, instead calling for a greater focus on domestic interests.

Only last week US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Washington was not prioritizing the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.

However, President Trump said “something should happen” against the Syrian leadership following the deaths in Khan Sheikhoun on April 4, without giving details.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also signaled a sudden shift in policy on April 6, saying that Bashar al-Assad should have no role in a future Syria.

The Kremlin is one of President Assad’s most important allies and its military has been targeting all rebel groups in Syria, including jihadists such as ISIS, but also the more moderate opposition forces that the US and other Western nations have been supporting.

The Pentagon said the Russian military had been informed ahead of the US action.

However, Russia reacted angrily to the US strike, which the Syrian army said had caused significant damage.

Devin Nunes Temporarily Steps Down amid House Ethics Committee Investigation

Diane A. Wade
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Devin Nunes Temporarily Steps Down amid House Ethics Committee Investigation

House Intelligence Committee chairman Devin Nunes, the head of congressional investigation into alleged Russian hacking, has temporarily stepped down amid an ethics inquiry into him.

Devin Nunes is now himself under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.

The panel is looking into claims that the Republican disclosed classified intelligence.

Devin Nunes called the charges “entirely false” and “politically motivated”.

Representative Mike Conaway will take control of the Russia investigation.

Image source Wikimedia

Devin Nunes said his decision came after “several leftwing activist groups have filed accusations against me with the Office of Congressional Ethics”.

The republican added he would continue to fulfill his other responsibilities as chairman and has requested to speak to the Ethics Committee “in order to expedite the dismissal of these false claims”.

Democrats have criticized Devin Nunes for his handling of the inquiry, which is also looking at possible links between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said he fully supported Devin Nunes’ decision.

Paul Ryan said he trusts Devin Nunes, describing him as “eager to demonstrate to the Ethics Committee that he has followed all proper guidelines and laws”.

However, he added that the inquiry “would be a distraction” for the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation.

Representative Adam Schiff, a ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he respected Devin Nunes’ decision.

Adam Schiff said in a statement the move was a “fresh opportunity to move forward in the unified and non-partisan way that an investigation of this seriousness demands”.

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