Nivea has apologized and removed “white is purity” ad that was deemed discriminatory.
The ad was posted on the German skincare company’s Facebook page, geographically aimed at its followers in the Middle East. Nivea accepted the post was “misleading”.
Many on social media complained the post was racist, but it was also widely-shared among alt-right users.
The ad on the Nivea Facebook page (since deleted) was posted alongside the caption: “Keep it clean, keep it bright. Don’t let anything ruin it.”
The Facebook post was directed at its audience in the Middle East, although Nivea has 19 million fans globally on its page.
However, the ad was also picked up by alt-right social media accounts who trolled the Nivea account with comments, including of Hitler and Pepe the frog, who was branded a hate symbol in 2016.
One alt-right account said: “#Nivea: the official moisturizer/anti-perspirant of the #AltRight.”
A spokesperson for Nivea’s owners Beiersdorf said: “There have been concerns risen about ethnic discrimination due to a post about NIVEA Deodorant Invisible for Black & White on our NIVEA Middle East Facebook page.
“We are deeply sorry to anyone who may take offense to this specific post. After realizing that the post is misleading, it was immediately withdrawn.
“Diversity and equal opportunity are crucial values of NIVEA: The brand represents diversity, tolerance, and equal opportunity.
“We value difference. Direct or indirect discrimination must be ruled out in all decisions by, and in all areas of our activities.”
A statement said: “Both President Trump and President Putin agreed that terrorism must be decisively and quickly defeated.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the attack as a “barbaric act” and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Europe’s thoughts were with the Russian people.
First images from the scene showed a train at Tekhnologichesky Institut station with a hole blown in its side and wounded passengers on the platform.
Initial reports suggested there had been two explosions, one each at Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations.
However, the Russian National Anti-Terrorist Committee later confirmed there had been only one explosion, between the two stations, at about 14:30 local time.
Senior investigator Svetlana Petrenko told Russian media the train driver’s decision to continue to the next station almost certainly helped save lives, as it allowed people to be rescued quickly.
Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said 10 people had died – seven at the scene, one in an ambulance and two in hospital. The death toll was later raised to 11.
Andrei Przhezdomsky, the head of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee, said the blast was caused by “an unidentified explosive device”.
The discovery of an explosive device at another station, Ploshchad Vosstaniya, also suggested a co-ordinated attack.
Interfax said the focus was now on a 23-year-old man from Central Asia known to have links to radical Islam.
The news agency said the man died in a suicide blast and was identified through his remains.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has declared an “economic, social and ecological emergency” as the first victims of the Mocoa landslide were buried.
The president said the government was also putting 40,000m pesos ($13.9 million) towards “addressing humanitarian priorities”.
However, the hunt still continues for any survivors.
The Red Cross told AFP they were still within the 72-hour window where they would hope to find people alive.
Image source Reuters
However, hopes were fading among residents still desperate to find family members swept away in the torrent of mud, rocks and debris which struck the south-western town of 40,000 early on April 1.
The flood came after a night of extremely heavy rain, which raised the water levels of the Mocoa River and three tributaries, sweeping away entire neighborhoods.
Those who remain are now awaiting the arrival of humanitarian assistance.
According to El Espectador, there was at least 40 tons of emergency humanitarian assistance on its way to the town, including 2,000 food kits and 1,000 tents.
Meanwhile, President Juan Manuel Santos said 7,000 blankets and 6,000 mats had just been delivered, El Pais reported.
On April 2, Colombia’s Farc rebel group offered to help rebuild the town, but their involvement has yet to be approved by the government.
President Juan Manuel Santos has vowed investment will be made to make Mocoa better than it was before, and put Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas in charge of the rebuilding of the town.
However the president’s critics said more should have been done to protect the area from such disasters.
At least 11 people have been killed and 50 injured in an explosion between two subway stations in St Petersburg, Russia.
According to the head of Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee, the blast hit a train between Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations.
The committee said an explosive device was later found and made safe at another station nearby.
An anti-terror investigation has been opened, but other possible causes are being investigated.
The first images posted on social media showed a train at a platform in Tekhnologichesky Institut station with a hole blown in its side, along with a number of casualties.
Initial reports suggested there had been two explosions, one each at Sennaya Ploshchad and Tekhnologichesky Institut stations.
However, the Russian National Anti-Terrorist Committee later confirmed there had been only one explosion, between the two stations, at about 14:30 local time.
Image source Getty Images
Senior investigator Svetlana Petrenko told media the train driver’s decision to continue to the next station almost certainly helped save lives, as it allowed people to be rescued quickly.
Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said 10 people had died – seven at the scene, one in an ambulance and two in hospital. The death toll was later raised to 11.
Andrei Przhezdomsky, the head of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee, said the blastwas caused by “an unidentified explosive device” but that the exact cause had yet to be determined.
President Vladimir Putin said all causes, especially terrorism, were being investigated. He was in St Petersburg at the time of the blast, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The discovery of an explosive device at another station, Ploshchad Vosstaniya, indicates the attack was deliberate, and reports in Russia say the explosion came from a briefcase left on the train.
St Petersburg’s subway system is the 19th busiest in the world, with more than two million passengers every day, but it has not suffered attacks before.
Several transport hubs in Russia have, however, been attacked. In 2010, 38 people died in a double suicide bombing on the Moscow subway.
In 2011, a bomb exploded on a high-speed train travelling between Moscow and St Petersburg, killing 27 and injuring another 130.
S&P Global has cut South Africa’s credit rating to junk status.
The ratings agency said that South Africa’s political upheaval, including the recent sacking of finance minister Pravin Gordhan, was endangering the economy.
S&P also expressed concern over government debt, and in particular the expense of supporting the state energy firm Eskom.
The news put more pressure on the rand, which was down 2% against the US dollar.
Pravin Gordhan’s sacking, seen as a safe pair of hands and with a reputation for financial prudence, led to a 4% fall in the rand on March 31 and prompted strong criticism.
His replacement as finance minister by Malusi Gigaba was part of a cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma.
However South Africa’s deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, called Pravin Gordhan’s sacking “totally, totally unacceptable” and the Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), also opposed it.
The financial downgrading is likely to make it more expensive for South Africa to borrow money on the international markets, as lending to the country would be seen as riskier.
S&P explained its decision, stating that: “Internal government and party divisions could, we believe, delay fiscal and structural reforms, and potentially erode the trust that had been established between business leaders and labor representatives (including in the critical mining sector).”
“An additional risk is that businesses may now choose to withhold investment decisions that would otherwise have supported economic growth,” it added.
Most of the people are having a hard time whether to declare bankruptcy or not. One of the reasons that they consider is it will put them or their business in a bad light. However, will you still be able to think of that reason if it’s your only option? If you need a legal action, these are the two common types of bankruptcy codes that will totally help you. Chapter 7
This is the most popular type of bankruptcy. The experts usually sell the property of the debtor to pay her credits. However, since they cannot sell that property that is exempt the law, most of the debtors can still keep the majority of their properties so no need to worry about losing your favorite car, if you have one. When it comes to the time frame, this code usually takes three up to four months only. The only people who are eligible for this system are those business owners who have low incomes or those who pass the mean assessment. However, those business-owners who have high incomes are not eligible for this code. You can file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy code even if you don’t have a lawyer. However, if you want a satisfactory result, make sure that you own a little property or no property at all, your income is not higher than the median state and you have not made money or property payments to your preferred creditors. Also keep in mind that even if you didn’t get a lawyer, you are still obliged to pay the $335 Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fee plus the $50 personal finance management class. The final decision whether to get a lawyer or not will always be yours. Chapter 13
If you want to pay your creditors through a repayment plan the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy code is the best one for you. The repayment plan is the agreement between you and your creditor that pinpoint how the debts will be paid back. The timeframe for this usually takes three to five years, depending on your income. Filing this type of bankruptcy can also be done without a lawyer. However, would you take the time to research all law and represent yourself to the court? Getting an attorney will be easier for you and for your case to be approved. Unlike the Chapter 7 code, another good thing about filing chapter 13 code is you can still keep all your property so no need to worry about selling your boat, farm house or expensive electronics if you have one. Takeaway Declaring a bankruptcy doesn’t mean that you have lost the battle in the corporate world. There are some times that things don’t go with how you wanted them to be, but it doesn’t mean that you, or your business, is unavailing. If you feel like you already need help to save your business or yourself still, then filing for the proper bankruptcy code is always an option.
Sasha’s death had been predicted by some fans after it was announced in December that actress Sonequa Martin-Green would be joining Star Trek: Discovery.
There was speculation Sonequa Martin-Green wouldn’t be able to juggle major roles in both shows, but her character’s fate was only confirmed on Sunday.
Sasha joined the show in Season 3 as Tyreese’s sister, but her character was never in the comic book series.
Lots of people worry about what might happen to them when the time finally comes to retire. However, there is no need to stress if your financial situation is in order. Retirement could become the best period of your life if you get things right. With that in mind, we’ve listed some tips and information on this page that will help you to avoid mistakes. At the end of the day, financial security will mean you can do the things you’ve always wanted. For example, you might like the idea of spending six months traveling around the world. You might also want to migrate to a warmer country for your last few years on this planet. If you put the advice from this page to good use, there’s no reason you can’t achieve that goal.
Before you do anything else, you need to make sure you have a good retirement plan in place. Ideally, you want to pay for it from when you are as young as possible. However, if you’ve had it in place since you hit the ages of forty, you should be okay. Check the details of the plan to ensure it suits your ambitions. In some instances, you will have the opportunity to take a lump sum on the day you retire. Even so, that will affect your monthly income from the pension. Some employers also offer great pensions. CNBC highlighted the best ones here http://www.cnbc.com/2010/09/21/10-Companies-with-the-Best-Retirement-Plans.html. So, you need to consider all your options and weigh the pros and cons of each. If there is a lot of money on the account, you can probably afford to take a lump sum. That said, sometimes it’s better to leave it alone because you will accumulate more interest. Also, your monthly payments will rise. If you struggle to work out the best solution; speak to a financial advisor as soon as you can.
Pay off all your debts
The last thing you want to do is enter retirement with lots of debts. That would significantly reduce the amount of cash you have to survive. It’s especially important to settle any outstanding balances if your debts have reached a collection agency. Failing to do that could mean your credit score is ruined forever. It’s hard to make an improvement once you’ve retired because you no longer have a high income. It says at https://creditrepaircompanies.com/paying-off-collections/ that you need to make debt a priority. When all’s said and done, you don’t need someone chasing you for money while you’re trying to enjoy your twilight years. So, do yourself a favor and sort it out now. Don’t worry if you haven’t got enough money to cover the obligation. You can always apply for consolidation loans or try to get an IVA. In your situation, it’s likely you will succeed.
If you were smart enough to start any businesses during your life, you’d want to get rid of them when you retire. That could mean handing them over to one of your children or selling them on the open market. The process of finding a buyer and putting all the paperwork in place can take a long time. So, you’ll want to start advertising the opportunity as soon as possible. Of course, there are lots of websites that help facilitate the action these days. You just need to search Google for the best domains that promote businesses for sale. You can then get in touch with them and inquire about getting a listing. If your company turns over a lot of money, you might want to contact an expert first. Find someone who can make an accurate evaluation of your firm’s value. You should then place it on the market for slightly less than its worth if you want a quick sale.
Consider downsizing your home
When you reach retirement ages, most people have paid their mortgages in full. That means you now own an expensive asset that you can turn into cash. The property will have increased in value considerably since you made the purchase. So, you stand to make a healthy profit if you decide to sell the home now. You could also apply for a loan against your property. Of course, that means you’ll have to buy or rent somewhere new, and your monthly outgoings will increase. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, and the right move depends on how much your house is worth. If you can make over $200,000 from the sale, it’s almost always a wise move. You wouldn’t spend anywhere near that amount in rent if you decided to lease another property for the rest of your life. So, that leaves thousands of dollars you can use to enjoy life. That round the world cruise doesn’t seem so far away now, does it?
All responsible parents will want to ensure they leave a nest egg for their children. You’ll want to sweeten the news that you’ve passed away with a gift that could improve your children’s lives. In most situations, people choose to leave their homes. However, you might not want to do that if you’re planning to sell yours to raise some cash. Instead, you’ll want to leave them whatever you have left in your bank accounts. Even so, there are rules about cash lump sums, and sometimes your kids will have to pay tax. For that reason, you should contact an expert retirement planner and ask for their assistance. For a small fee, they will highlight the best course of action and ensure you make the right moves. There are lots of ways to guarantee your children will get all the money you leave. In some situations, you just have to be smart.
Save as much as possible
Saving for your retirement is essential, and it’s something you need to start doing as soon as possible. Ideally, you should open a savings account and start adding to it from the age of forty. That gives you the best part of thirty years to build your find. Sure, you might have to dip into it from time to time due to emergencies. However, you should manage to save more than $50,000 without noticing the difference. Alongside your pension payments, that’s money you can use to improve your life when you stop working. Just make sure you contact lots of different banks to ensure you get the best savings account. You need to find the deal that allows you the highest rate of interest possible. That is how you will guarantee your savings work for you.
If you’re the type of person who gets bored when there’s no work to do, you might consider becoming an investor. You could use the money from your savings to try to create more. Of course, there is always an element of risk involved. For that reason, you would have to perform a lot of research and increase your knowledge. Still, you can always use the services of a broker if you want a greater chance of success. People make millions from the stock market every single year. Getting involved could give you something interesting to do when you retire. It could keep your mind active and contribute towards you living longer.
Now you know some of the key steps you need to take when preparing for retirement, we hope you get things right. The last few years of your life are the most important. So, you don’t want to spend them sitting alone in a small house with no money to enjoy yourself. Remember that during the next few years and ensure you start to set the wheels in motion. We hope you have a fantastic retirement, and that you get to do the things you’ve always wanted. Just remember to plan, and everything will turn out fine.
The internet is the true land opportunity. Almost anything is possible on the internet thanks to a mix of anonymity and constant technological advances. If you want to study online and obtain a degree in something you love, you can. If you want to become a celebrity known for gaming, then you can do that too. If you want to roleplay as someone of the opposite sex, then there are places to do that as well.
For all the shady things that the internet offers, you can’t deny that there are countless opportunities waiting for you somewhere in the digital realm we refer to as the internet. However, there are of course some limitations to this, but when it comes to legitimate beliefs and dreams you have, there’s almost nothing stopping you from doing something wild or productive.
If you want to stay on the academic path but can’t due to expensive tuition fees or your current location blocks you from doing so, then there are plenty of online resources that can teach you anything from driving a car to designing a website. For instance, you could attend an OLOL college online to learn how to become a nurse. This is great if you want to get a headstart for medical school, if you want to test what it’s like to care for others, or if you’re looking for a career change to something more compassionate. There are countless things to learn online and you can do it for the sake of fun, to start a job, or even to learn new skills for your current choice of career.
Become known for something strange
If there are people on YouTube with hundreds of thousands of subscribers for diving into bathtubs full of slime and hot sauce, then you can carve your own niche and become known for something ridiculous as well. For instance, the infamous HowToBasic channel involves a man behind a camera that throws eggs, makes a mess, and puts his thumb up to indicate his satisfaction with what he’s just done. And the best thing about it? These aren’t just hobbies or silly side activities they do, but they’re actually jobs because of the amount of YouTube views they get. So if you want to do something ridiculous and get paid for it, try starting a YouTubing career.
Live a second life (literally)
There are people who love to play video games not just for fun, but for the sake of escaping reality and sometimes even living a second life. For instance, there is a well-known multiplayer online video game called Second Life which came out in 2003 and has yet to be dethroned despite its somewhat dated appearance. Second Life allows players to not only play as a character but also create their own worlds. It enables players to buy and sell virtual fashion items, become a monster, a fantasy creature, or even a person of the opposite sex. They can dress up, play games, meet people, and quite literally live a Second Life. In the past, there were even talks of Second Life becoming a new frontier for educational uses, such as showing exhibitions inside the game or even starting lectures.
Accusations of fraud sparks over Ecuador’s presidential elections after early results projected victory for the incumbent party’s candidate.
Results show former VP Lenin Moreno of the Socialist Party has 51.12% of the vote, with just 4% of districts still waiting to be counted.
However, challenger Guillermo Lasso had already begun celebrations after an exit poll predicted his victory.
Guillermo Lasso demanded a recount, and called on supporters to take to the streets.
He also alleged electoral fraud had been used to grant victory to his opponent.
In a series of tweets, Guillermo Lasso told the public to “peacefully defend your vote” and said he was “going to defend the will of the people”.
Final official results have yet to be announced.
If Lenin Moreno is declared the winner, he will continue a decade of left-wing leadership begun by President Rafael Correa in 2007.
Image source Wikipedia
He would also become one of a small number of disabled world leaders – he became paraplegic after being shot in the back during a robbery in 1998.
An apparent victory for Lenin Moreno was welcomed by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – as Guillermo Lasso had vowed to evict him from his asylum in the country’s London embassy if victorious.
Julian Assange tweeted that he “cordially invites” Guillermo Lasso to leave the country within 30 days – referencing the timeframe the candidate gave for Assange’s own eviction.
Guillermo Lasso, a former banker who wants to promote foreign investment, called for a recount after Lenin Moreno started to take a lead in the preliminary results.
Exit polls released on April 2 had suggested an extremely tight race.
A poll by Periles de Opinion had shown Lenin Moreno leading with 52.2%, while a poll by Cedatos showed Guillermo Lasso winning with 53.02%.
Incumbent President Rafael Correa, meanwhile, tweeted criticism of what he termed “violence” in several cities as early results emerged.
Local media reported that some of Guillermo Lasso’s supporters had gathered in the capital of Quito, as well as the city of Guayaquil. According to The El Comercio newspaper, the crowd removed barriers placed in the road, and bottles were thrown by some in Guayaquil.
When he was first elected in 2007, Rafael Correa was one of a group of left-wing leaders in power in Latin America.
However, in the decade since, conservative politicians have taken power in Argentina and Brazil. A victory for Guillermo Lasso would have continued that trend.
President Trump has said the US will “solve” the nuclear threat from North Korea, with or without China’s help.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Donald Trump said: “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will. That is all I am telling you.”
Pressed on whether he thought he could succeed alone, President Trump replied: “Totally.”
Donald Trump was speaking ahead of a scheduled visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.
“China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t. And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don’t it won’t be good for anyone,” he told the Financial Times.
Asked if he meant “one-on-one” unilateral action, Donald Trump said: “I don’t have to say any more.”
The president did not give any further details on what action he would take.
Donald Trump’s brief comments, published just days before the key meeting with Xi Jinping at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on April 6, are the latest in a series of warnings over North Korea’s nuclear development.
There are fears that North Korea could eventually develop the ability to launch long-range nuclear missiles capable of striking the mainland US.
A month earlier, Defense Secretary James Mattis warned that any use of nuclear weapons would be met with an “overwhelming” response.
However, President Trump is expected to put pressure on President Xi to do much more at their meeting this week – and he has implied that the issue of trade could be used as leverage.
Donald Trump told the Financial Times that “trade is the incentive. It is all about trade”. However, he said he did not plan to discuss tariffs during the meeting.
At the end of March, President Trump signed two executive orders to deal with the US trade deficit, reviewing current rules and foreign trade abuses.
White House officials insisted China was not the focus of his orders – but it is the largest source of the US trade deficit, accounting for about $347 billion a year, out of a total of $502 billion.
Donald Trump himself tweeted that “the meeting next week with China will be a very difficult one in that we can no longer have massive trade deficits”.
He has not said how he will negotiate trade with China while also pressing them to influence North Korea.
China is a historic ally of North Korea although ties have been strained in recent years. It has taken action in light of the reclusive nation’s latest missile tests.
Analysts say China has maintained its support for Pyongyang as it fears a complete collapse of the North Korean regime could lead to Korean unification, with US soldiers based in a country with a land border with China.
It is thought that China is also concerned at the prospect of millions of North Korean refugees entering its borders.
The total death toll of the devastating mudslides in south-west Colombia is now 254, with hundreds also injured.
According to President Juan Manuel Santos, dozens of children are among those killed.
Heavy rain flooded the town of Mocoa in Colombia’s south-west, with mud and rocks burying whole neighborhoods and forcing residents to flee their homes.
More than 1,000 soldiers and police are involved in the relief effort in Putumayo province.
President Juan Manuel Santos, who flew to the area on April 1 after the landslide struck, said: “Until we have the last person identified we are not going to stop.”
The relief efforts continued throughout the weekend.
At least 170 of the dead identified, including 44 children, said the president.
Image source Reuters
The army had previously reported 200 people missing, but the president tweeted on April 2 that there were officially no disappeared persons.
Earlier in the day, video footage from Mocoa showed residents crying over a list of missing children, with their names and aged pinned to a board.
The exact death toll is hard to confirm with the rescue operation still under way – some local media estimate up to 300 people have been killed.
The Colombian Red Cross said it was working to help family members contact each other, and the Air Force has brought supplies.
President Juan Manuel Santos has vowed investment will be made to make Mocoa better than it was before.
His critics said more should have been done to protect the area from such disasters.
The landslide struck in the early hours of April 1, when many people were asleep in bed.
Colombia’s director of the National Disaster Risk Management Unit told the AFP that a third of the region’s expected monthly rain fell during one night.
Although rainfall is abundant in the area, this downpour was unusually heavy and caused rivers to burst their banks.
The overflow then picked up mud and debris, creating a cascade.
Video footage of the aftermath showed currents so strong that abandoned trucks were propelled through the flooded streets.
A senior UN official in Colombia, Martin Santiago, blamed climate change, saying it had caused “tremendous results in terms of intensity, frequency and magnitude of these natural effects” in the region.
Others said deforestation has also played a role.
With no running water in Mocoa, one resident told El Tiempo newspaper that they had been collecting rainwater. Power lines are also out across the area.
Photos posted to social media by the air force showed some patients being evacuated by air.
Landslides have struck the region several times in recent months.
In November 2016, nine people died in the town of El Tambo, about 90 miles from Mocoa, during a landslide that followed heavy rain.
Less than a month before that, another landslide killed several people near Medellin, almost 300 miles to the north.
Russian opposition has called for the resignation of PM Dmitry Medvedev over corruption allegations.
A smaller group of about 100 people began marching through Moscow on April 2, but were blocked by police.
While police said 31 people had been arrested for “breaches of public order”, OVD-Info, a website monitoring detentions, said 56 people including four minors were arrested.
Those who organized the protest via social media are now facing an investigation.
Image source AFP
March 26 demonstrations in Moscow and across Russia were prompted by main opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was later arrested.
Police said 500 people were held, but OVD-Info said at least 1,000 people were arrested in Moscow alone.
Alexei Navalny had published reports claiming that Dmitry Medvedev controlled mansions, yachts and vineyards – a fortune that far outstripped his official salary.
PM Dmitry Medvedev’s spokeswoman called the allegations “propagandistic attacks”, but the prime minister himself has not commented on the claims.
Alexei Navalny has announced his intention to run for president in 2018 against Vladimir Putin. However, he is barred from doing so after being found guilty in a case he said was politicized.
The opposition leader was sentenced to 15 days in prison for his role in March 26 demonstrations. His spokesman said on Twitter that he had nothing to do with the new protest.
Organizers told news agencies that they had planned to march towards the Kremlin on April 2 when they were stopped by police.
Russia’s Interfax news agency reported that about 400 people had taken part in an authorized anti-corruption rally in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk.
Swedish Academy officials previously said Bob Dylan would not deliver his Nobel lecture, a traditional condition of receiving the 8 million krona ($900,000) prize money, at the event.
Bob Dylan, 75, is expected to deliver a taped version of the lecture later.
If he does not deliver a lecture by June, the singer will have to forfeit the prize money.
A member of the Swedish Academy, which awards the prize, told the Associated Press “it went very well indeed”, and that Bob Dylan was “a very nice, kind man”.
In an earlier blog post, the academy’s secretary said the setting would be “small and intimate”. No media were present at Bob Dylan’s request.
After receiving the prize, Bob Dylan performed a concert on April 1 at the Stockholm Waterfront venue. A second concert is planned for April 2.
The Nobel Prize for literature has usually been associated with poets and novelists.
Bob Dylan failed to attend the December ceremony, citing previous commitments. In a speech read on his behalf, he said it was “truly beyond words” and he thought his odds of winning were as likely “standing on the moon”.
According to recently released White House documents, its senior staff held millions of dollars in assets.
The White House financial disclosure also detail salaries of several other high-profile figures in the administration.
Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, have assets valued between $240 million and $740 million.
That includes a stake in Trump International Hotel, which earned Ivanka Trump between $1 million and $5 million in 2016.
Ethics regulations require such financial disclosures for staff working in the White House. The documents show income and assets at the time they started working for the US government – before any assets were sold or disposed of.
Neither President Donald Trump nor VP Mike Pence were part of the disclosure release, which came on March 31.
The documents, which have been uploaded online, list asset values within a range, rather than giving precise figures.
Among the revelations include financial data about: Steve Bannon, now a senior White House adviser, was paid $191,000 in consulting fees by conservative media outlet Breitbart, in addition to at least $1 million in other employment income; Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, was paid $260,000 for his role as chief strategist and communications director at the Republican National Committee, and holds several real estate assets; Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign chief turned advisor, earned more than $800,000, mostly for consulting services, including Donald Trump’s campaign; Gary Cohn, head of the White House National Economic Council and a former Goldman Sachs president, has assets worth at least $230 million – but potentially more, as many of his assets are simply listed as worth “over $1m”. The White House said Gary Cohn resigned from all his positions at Goldman Sachs.
Image source Nordstrom
In a briefing before the release, White House officials stressed that “these are not the current holdings that everyone has today. These are the holdings that everybody had at the time when they came into office”.
Potential conflicts of interest may have already been eliminated.
Reuters quoted a White House official as saying about 25% of President Trump’s administration staff were classified as having “extremely complex” filings, indicating they were very wealthy.
They appeared much wealthier than officials in previous administrations, including Barack Obama’s White House.
Since Donald Trump’s election in November, the president’s own business empire has been scrutinized by ethics experts – who say it poses major conflicts of interest.
Fears have been raised that interest groups or foreign governments might stay at the luxury Trump hotel in Washington in a bid to win the administration’s favor.
Donald Trump’s two oldest sons now control his extensive assets, but watchdogs have complained that the arrangements are insufficient to avoid conflicts.
The Office of Government Ethics has urged President Trump either to divest fully, or to set up a blind trust for his assets.
Donald Trump has also refused to release his tax returns, breaking with a long-held tradition.
Paraguay’s congress has been set on fire amid violent protests against a bill that would let the president seek re-election.
The head of the main opposition party said an activist had been shot dead.
Paraguay’s 1992 constitution, introduced after 35 years of dictatorship, limits the president to a single five-year term.
However, sitting President Horacio Cartes is trying to remove the restriction and run for re-election.
Demonstrators were photographed smashing in windows of the congress building in Asuncion on March 31 and setting fire to the interior.
According to the AFP, protesters “ransacked” the offices of those who backed the bill.
Police used mounted units, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Local media reports said dozens of people had been injured, including protesters, politicians, and police officers.
Image source Getty
The head of Paraguay’s opposition Liberal party, Efrain Alegre, said a young man had been killed during the protests. Police are yet to confirm this.
In a statement released on Twitter, President Horacio Cartes appealed for calm.
He said: “Democracy is not conquered or defended with violence and you can be sure this government will continue to put its best effort into maintaining order in the republic.”
The attorney general’s office said it had followed the events closely and was investigating the violence.
Earlier, the crowd took to the streets following a private meeting of 25 senators – a slight majority of the house – which approved a bill to amend the constitution.
The bill must also be approved by the other house of parliament – the chamber of deputies – where Horacio Cartes’ party holds a majority.
The chamber’s president, Hugo Velázquez, told ABC Color that the sitting planned for the following morning would no longer take place and no decision would be made on April 1.
Opponents say the bill will weaken Paraguay‘s democratic institutions.
Opposition senator Desiree Masi said: “A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us.”
Paraguay was controlled by military ruler General Alfredo Stroessner, who seized power in a coup, from 1954 until 1989.
The new constitution in 1992 created the modern government, but there has been a long period of political instability and party infighting, as well as a failed coup attempt.
President Horacio Cartes’ term is due to end in 2018.
The change, if approved, would also allow former president Fernando Lugo to run again.
Fernando Lugo was ousted in 2012 over his handling of a land eviction in which 17 people were killed.
“The body of the DPRK citizen who died in Malaysia and relevant DPRK citizens have returned to the DPRK today via Beijing,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a regular press briefing, using the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Three North Koreans who had been wanted for questioning have now been allowed to leave Malaysia, Malaysia’s chief of police said.
Image source Getty Images
“We have obtained whatever we wanted from them” and are “satisfied” with the statements, Khalid Abu Bakar said.
In the wake of Kim Jong-nam’s killing on February 13, Pyongyang reacted angrily when Malaysia refused to hand over the body immediately, without an autopsy.
Malaysian authorities said they had the right to conduct an autopsy as he had been killed on Malaysian soil, and that they would only release the body to Kim Jong-nam’s family.
On March 30, Malysian PM Najib Razak said a formal request had been received from the family, but gave no further details.
A day later, national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said “legally speaking, Kim Jong-un is the next-of-kin” but declined to say who the request had come from.
King Jong-nam’s own family previously lived in Macau but they are now thought to be in hiding.
His son Kim Han-sol appeared in a video earlier this month confirming he was with his mother and sister at an unspecified location.
Although Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of the former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un was passed over for the leadership and was living outside North Korea at the time of his father’s death.
Kang Chol was expelled and the Malaysian ambassador to North Korea was also recalled.
North Korea then said it would ban all Malaysians in the country from leaving until the “situation was resolved”, which Malaysia’s PM Najib Razak called an “abhorrent act” that effectively held his citizens hostage.
Kuala Lumpur enacted a tit-for-tat exit ban on North Koreans.
Under the deal, the nine Malaysian nationals returned to Kuala Lumpur on March 31, where they were met by relatives.
They include Malaysia’s counselor to North Korea, Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain, embassy staff, and their families.
The exact circumstances of how the deal was struck remain unclear. PM Najib Razak described the negotiations as “challenging”.
Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman hailed the exchange as a success of diplomacy and “level-headedness”.
Reuters reported that TV footage showed two North Koreans on the flight to Beijing with the body: Hyon Kwang-song, the second secretary at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Kim Uk-il, a North Korean state airline employee.
The third was named Ri Ji-u, who had been holed up with them in the North Korean Embassy, Reuters quoted the chief of police as saying.
Former Trump aide Michael Flynn wants immunity to testify on alleged Russian election meddling, his lawyer says.
Robert Kelner says his client “has a story to tell”, but needs to guard against “unfair prosecution”.
President Donald Trump said that his former national security adviser was right to ask for immunity, accusing Democrats of orchestrating a “witch hunt”.
Congress is investigating the allegations, with one senator warning of Kremlin “propaganda on steroids”.
His links to Russia are being scrutinized by the FBI and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, as part of wider investigations into claims Russia sought to help Donald Trump win the presidential election, and into contacts between Russia and members of President Trump’s campaign team.
Robert Kelner said in a statement that his client “has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit”.
He said he would not comment on his discussions with congressional panels conducting the investigation.
The lawyer said the media was awash with “unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo”.
Image source Wikimedia
“No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch-hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution,” Robert Kelner said.
Three other former Trump aides, former campaign chief Paul Manafort and former advisers Roger Stone and Carter Page, have offered to testify without requesting immunity.
The Senate Intelligence Committee opened its hearing on March 30 with one member saying Moscow had sought to “hijack” the US election.
Democrat Mark Warner said Russia may have used technology to spread disinformation, including fake news for voters in key states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
“This Russian ‘propaganda on steroids’ was designed to poison the national conversation in America,” he said.
Republican panel chairman Richard Burr warned: “We are all targets of a sophisticated and capable adversary.”
Richard Burr also confirmed there had been “conversations” about interviewing Michael Flynn, but his appearance had not been confirmed.
Donald Trump regularly dismisses the claims as “fake news” and Russia has also ridiculed the allegations.
Vladimir Putin did so again on March 30 at an Arctic forum, describing them as “nonsense” and “irresponsible”.
Michael Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, initially denied having discussed US sanctions against Russia with the country’s ambassador, Sergei Kislyak.
However, he stood down after details of his phone call emerged, along with reports that the Department of Justice had warned the White House about Michael Flynn misleading officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail.
At last summer’s GOP convention, Michael Flynn led chants of “lock her up” aimed at Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server.
In September, Michael Flynn said in a TV interview that it was unacceptable that some of the Democratic candidate’s aides had been granted immunity from prosecution.
“When you get given immunity that means you’ve probably committed a crime,” Michael Flynn told NBC News.
As we become more interconnected, technology is changing just about every industry including the healthcare arena. Healthcare has been one of the most exciting new frontiers.
The promise of unprecedented opportunities for technologies is reshaping different health platforms around the world. If you think you’ve got it all with your current fitness app on your smartphone, you’re definitely mistaken.
If you are a health enthusiast who wants to discover and use the trendiest health gadgets, then this article is for you. Below are the latest trends in healthcare technology that will invade 2017 and beyond.
The Wearable Technology
Wearable technology is already dominating the healthcare market with its sophisticated features, advanced user interface, and sleek portability. For people who are always on the go but can’t compromise healthcare maintenance, wearables are the perfect solution.
Smart wristbands, shoes, watches, eyeglasses, belts, and necklaces are some of the popular forms of wearables. Most of these items have built-in sensors that gather data that are then fed to software application or database for analysis. This analysis typically triggers a response.
Although wearables are a typical sight nowadays, especially fitness trackers, studies show that abandonment rates among consumers are actually high. Most devices failed to keep the interests of users for how many months. The reasons cited for this neglect are physical discomfort, failure to bring actual results, and inconveniences of always needing to sync them with smartphones.
Developers are constantly exploring new ways to develop new wearable products that can provide remarkable health benefits minus the inconveniences in the long run.
Predictions about the future of wearables vary, but a consensus of health care analysts shows that it will project a high-growth potential in the upcoming years.
Promising Telehealth
Many healthcare providers and industries are now taking advantage of telecommunication technologies to keep up with the demands of growing population.
It is a method of using digital information and communication technologies like computers and smartphones to manage health and well-being. It was developed as a solution for delivering services directly to patients who have no access to possible medical treatments on the rural areas. The system is also proven to be effective in reducing costs for patients and improving health accounts apart from supporting clinical education programs.
2017 is projected to be the defining year for telehealth. Until then, healthcare providers continue to develop new methods to provide health care services to patients by using phone, webcam or emails.
Medical Health Apps
The rate of smartphone ownership is undeniably growing higher every year. You can even see a toddler finger playing on tablets and smartphones nowadays. It is no longer surprising that many healthcare providers are tagging along with the trend, developing user-friendly health apps available to everyone.
Gaining access to health information has never been easier. According to a recent study, users of mobile health applications has doubled over the last few years. From 33 % in 2016, it is expected to reach 50 % by the end of 2017.
According to research, hospital readmission rate reduced to 92 percent and emergency room visits to 82 percent because of using mobile health apps.
As of today, there are more than 250,000 mobile health applications available on major app stores and 13,000 publishers that joined the market since 2015.
Takeaway
As consumers continue to look for high-quality yet affordable healthcare, providers also struggle to meet these demands. We all look forward to a future where everyone has access to health cares systems and would no longer worry about getting sick. Technology is indeed a vessel of promising possibilities, and those possibilities are endless.
Do you want salon ready hair even if you haven’t been to the salon? What if you could go to the salon every day and have your own personal stylist create a look that suits your style? While many of us can’t afford that type of luxury, we can create a salon ready look at home that rivals some of the best spas in the industry. Get ready for our exclusive top tips, tricks and hair product buys that will have your hair looking like you just left the salon, even when you haven’t.
Here are our top tips on how to replicate salon ready hair at home:
Pre-Treat Dry Hair with a Nourishing Mask
Always make sure you pre-treat your hair with a conditioning mask. The high heat from your hair dryer can leave your hair looking stressed and feeling parched, and if your hair is already dry or damaged you’ll struggle to get that shiny, healthy looking finish.
Always Use a Heat-Protector
Protecting your hair from heat is important and that is why we recommend using a heat protector before blow drying. This will protect your hair and shorten the time it takes to blow dry it.
Tame Frizz with a Hair Oil
For fine or frizzy hair, add a hair oil both before and after you blow dry your hair. This will make it more manageable and help tame the frizz.
Increase Volume with a Thickening Spray
Using a weightless styling spray can create volume that lasts all day while helping to thicken the strands from root to tip. This is perfect for those with finer hair as it won’t weigh it down.
Let It Air Dry
By letting your hair air dry, you will reduce the amount of heat it endures keeping it healthier and moisturised. If you have fine hair, you may want to use a hair dryer for a couple of minutes before letting it air dry the rest of the way.
Give Your Roots Extra Lift at the Crown
Creating height at the crown will help stop your hair from falling flat and achieve that a big, bouncy style. Brush from the roots upwards following the brush with a hair dryer.
Use Lighter Styling Products for A Power Blow-Dry
Using a light volumising shampoo and conditioner instead of a super nourishing one, will keep your hair feeling light making it easier to achieve the style you are looking for.
Give Your Hair Blow-Dry ‘Memory’
Using a blow-dry lotion will give your hair ‘memory’ once it’s been blown into shape and will keep it looking good for a couple of days.
Twist Your Hair
To make your blow-dry last throughout the night, twist it into a loose bun and use a light-hold grip to pin it up. When you wake up and let it down, your hair will maintain a beautiful and voluminous bounce.
Less Frizz with a Silk Pillow Case
Sleeping on a silk pillow case will reduce friction, and stop any unwanted frizz from happening. Your hair will look and feel much better when you wake up.
Avoid Strong Hold Hair spray
Using a strong hold hair spray will weigh your hair down and give it the feeling of needing a wash more often. Use a light hair spray and brush gently to keep it feeling light and clean.
Use Quality Hair Tools
When it comes to your hair products, you always want the best. Be sure to use the same logic when it comes to choosing your hair tools. A high quality hair dryer will make drying your hair more efficient and could also reduce the amount of heat your hair endures.
The Seoul Central District Court earlier issued a warrant to detain Park Geun-hye while she is investigated on charges of bribery, abuse of authority, coercion and leaking government secrets.
Image source Wikimedia
It followed a nearly nine-hour court hearing on March 30 that Park Geun-hye attended.
The court said in a statement: “It is justifiable and necessary to arrest [Park Geun-hye] as key charges were justified and there is risk of evidence being destroyed.”
Live TV footage showed a black sedan carrying her to the detention facility from the prosecutor’s office where she had been waiting.
Despite the early hour, some 50 supporters, waving national flags and demanding her release, were at the gate to greet her, the AFP reports.
Park Geun-hye can be held for up to 20 days before being formally charged.
If convicted the former president could face more than 10 years in prison.
Park Geun-hye lost her presidential immunity and was dismissed from her post when the constitutional court upheld a decision by parliament in December to impeach her.
Park Geun-hye is alleged to have been personally involved in this, and to have given Choi Soon-sil unacceptable levels of access to official documents.
Judges had said Park Geun-hye had broken the law by allowing Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents.
Choi Soon-sil and Samsung’s acting head Lee Jae-yong, also involved in the scandal, are being held in the same detention centre to where Park Geun-hye has been sent. They are also being tried separately.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is loyal to Park Geun-hye, is now the acting president and an election is to be held by May 9.
He told the Albuquerque Journal: “They landed without incident, taxied to the gate and were met by medical personnel.”
None of the passengers was injured.
American Airlines confirmed the pilot’s identity as first officer William “Mike” Grubbs.
Media quoted airline spokeswoman Polly Tracey as saying: “We’re taking care of first officer Grubbs’ family and colleagues and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time.”
In the hearing’s opening remarks chairman Republican Richard Burr said “we are all targets of a sophisticated and capable adversary”.
Ranking Democrat Mark Warner said “Russia sought to hijack our democratic process” by employing a disinformation campaign on social media, which he describes as “Russian propaganda on steroids”.
Mark Warner said March 30 session would examine how Russia may have used technology to spread disinformation in the US, including the possible generation of fake news for voters in key states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
“We are in a whole new realm around cyber that provides opportunity for huge, huge threats to our basic democracy,” he said.
“You are seeing it right now.”
Image source Getty Images
Former NSA director Keith Alexander will be one of those testifying on March 30.
Jared Kushner, who is married to President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, volunteered to speak to the Senate Intelligence Committee, the White House has said, and is scheduled to appear next week.
Committee chairman Richard Burr said the panel would not shy away from the truth.
“This investigation’s scope will go wherever the intelligence leads,” he said.
When asked if he had seen any links between Donald Trump and Russian interference, he said: “We know that our challenge is to answer that question for the American people.”
Richard Burr said that there had been “conversations” about interviewing Michael Flynn – who was sacked by President Trump as national security adviser for misleading the vice-president over his contacts with the Russian ambassador – but his appearance is not confirmed.
The Trump presidency has been unable to shake off allegations that members of its team colluded with Russian officials during the election campaign. The president has regularly dismissed the claims as “fake news” and Russia has also ridiculed the allegations.
Richard Burr was a security adviser to the Trump campaign but insists he remains objective.
The House Intelligence Committee’s inquiry into the matter has been beset by partisan disputes.
Ranking Democrat Adam Schiff has insisted panel chairman Devin Nunes remove himself, after accusing him of colluding with the White House.
Last week, Devin Nunes went straight to the White House after hearing allegations about surveillance of Donald Trump’s team, rather than sharing them with Democrat colleagues on the panel.
Devin Nunes later apologized but insists he remains an objective chairman and will not step down.
As well as the two houses of Congress, the FBI is also conducting an investigation into the matter.
