Thursday, February 12, 2026
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 189

Healthcare Is Going Digital

Dana R
-
0
Healthcare Is Going Digital

In the modern world, everything is online these days and you might be surprised to learn that this now includes healthcare. Next time you take a trip to the doctors, have a look around. You might be surprised at how much tech there is and the important role it plays in medicine. Of course, there are lots of benefits to bringing digital tech into medicine.

Better Customer Care

A recent report revealed how little time doctors spend with patients and it’s quite shocking. It can be anything from ten minutes to one and a half hours but most visits fall closers to the former duration. Is this really enough time to give patients the care they need and a comprehensive diagnosis? It might be, but only if tech is used to gain all the information needed before the appointment. That way, treatments can be far more effective.

Security

It is true to say that one of the greatest issues facing industries these days is data protection and the medical business is no different. Medical practices must be able to protect their patients and the only way they can do this is by handling data more effectively. One possibility is to make sure that data is no longer stored on hard drives. That’s why many clinics are now fully connected to the cloud.

Productivity

Of course, the main advantage of new medical tech is about keeping things fast, effective and efficient. As well as meaning great levels of care of patients, high levels of productivity also mean that costs stay low. You can find out more in the following infographic.

Created by  The George Washington University Online Healthcare MBA Program

North Carolina Revokes Bathroom Bill

Nancy Clayson
-
0
North Carolina Revokes Bathroom Bill

The state of North Carolina has repealed a controversial law that limits protections for LGBT people.

A key element banned transgender people from using restrooms in accordance with their chosen gender, earning the measure the “bathroom law” tag.

The deal came late in the night hours before North Carolina was to lose key basketball fixtures.

However, the terms of the deal have angered LGBT activists.

It must also still pass both the state House and Senate in votes on March 30 and it remains unclear whether it has enough support.

The deal was announced late on March 29 by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and Republican state lawmakers.

Image source Wikipedia

Roy Cooper, who ran for office on a platform of repealing the measure, known as House Bill 2, said: “It’s not a perfect deal, but it repeals HB2 and begins to repair our reputation.”

Majority Republican leaders Tim Moore and Phil Berger said in a joint statement: “Compromise requires give and take from all sides, and we are pleased this proposal fully protects bathroom safety and privacy.”

The bathroom law had required transgender people to use toilets in schools and government buildings that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificates.

Although the deal repeals the law, state legislators will remain in charge of policy on multi-occupancy restrooms.

It creates a moratorium so that local government, state colleges and universities cannot pass measures extending non-discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity until December 2020.

The compromise angered LGBT activists.

Equality NC executive director Chris Sgro said before the proposal was agreed that it was “a train wreck that would double down on anti-LGBTQ discrimination. North Carolinians want a clean repeal of HB2, and we urge our allies not to sell us out”.

Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said: “At its core, it’s a state-wide prohibition on equality.”

Businesses, entertainers and sports teams had boycotted North Carolina in the wake of the law’s passage in 2016.

Charlotte lost the NBA All-Star game, which was moved to another state.

On March 30, North Carolina was set to lose its ability to host any NCAA basketball championships.

Roy Cooper beat Republican Pat McCrory, who had signed the law, in an election in December.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPHNL87Z3Vg

Trump Revised Travel Ban Blocked Indefinitely by Hawaii Judge

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Trump Revised Travel Ban Blocked Indefinitely by Hawaii Judge

Hawaii federal Judge Derrick Watson has indefinitely extended the suspension of President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban.

The judge’s ruling means President Trump will be barred from enforcing the ban on six mostly Muslim nations while it is contested in court.

In a lawsuit, the state of Hawaii says the ban would harm tourism and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers.

Donald Trump says his revised travel ban seeks to prevent terrorists from entering the US.

Judge Derrick Watson made the ruling on March 29 after hearing arguments from attorneys for the state of Hawaii and the DoJ.

Image source Flickr

The judge turned his earlier temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction that would have a more lasting effect.

President Trump’s executive order on March 6 would have placed a 90-day ban on people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen and a 120-day ban on refugees.

An earlier version of the order, issued in January, sparked confusion and protests, and was blocked by a judge in Seattle.

Other courts across the US have issued different rulings on President Trump’s revised ban, with a judge in Maryland halting a part of the ban earlier this month.

Donald Trump has complained of “unprecedented judicial overreach”, pledging to take the case “as far as it needs to go”.

An appeal against the Hawaii decision would be expected to go next to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals – the same court which in February said it would not block a ruling by a Seattle court to halt the original travel ban.

Under the revised order, citizens of six countries on the original January 27 order – Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – would once more be subject to a 90-day travel ban.

Iraq was removed from the list because its government had boosted visa screening and data sharing, White House officials said.

President Trump’s revised order also lifts an indefinite ban on all Syrian refugees and says Green Card holders (legal permanent residents of the US) from the named countries will not be affected.

From Work to Party: How To Transform Your Look From Day To Night

Dana R
-
0
From Work to Party: How To Transform Your Look From Day To Night

Life can be busy and hectic, there’s no doubt about it. I’m sure on more than one occasion you’ve found yourself with a jam-packed schedule, and wondered how you were going to find the hours to get everything done. A social life in particular can be difficult to keep up, and when something has to give unfortunately it’s usually the first thing to go. However it doesn’t have to be this way! If you don’t want to live for the weekends and are bored of the same sleep, eat, work, repeat routine then getting out and about in the week is sometimes essential. But what do you do when you have a social occasion and need to go right from work? Bringing an entire outfit and all of your cosmetics isn’t exactly practical! Instead you want to be able to change quickly, and glam up so that you don’t look like you’ve rolled in straight from work. But at the same time you don’t want to be spending forever getting ready, or it defies the whole object of dashing off to the party, out with friends or to a dinner date straight from work. Here are a few ways you can transform yourself from work to partywear without having to go home, and with as little hassle as possible.

Outfit

The trick to this is choosing an outfit that’s appropriate for work, but is still dressy enough to go out. It’s a delicate balance, but it can be done. Your best bet is to wear something plain, relatively smart and versatile. For example, a plain black skater or swing dress could be dressed up or down depending on what else you were wearing it with. You could wear a white collared blouse and tights underneath, and then take these off at the end of the work day. The same applies to black trousers, you could wear a vest top with a formal shirt over the top. After work, simply take off the shirt, and you have a versatile outfit which can easily be glammed up. Wearing a blazer or formal jackets over the top helps to make any outfit look more conservative for the daytime. And go with black, it’s perfect for both occasions. Smart, sophisticated and perfect for just about any occasion.

computer

Try a blazer over a vest top for a smart daytime look that can easily be dressed up- source

Footwear

An easy way to take an outfit from day to night, is by switching up your footwear. Change out your conservative work shoes to a pair of strappy heels and you will instantly transform your whole look. Your plain, dress or trousers with glamourous heels will no longer look the same as when you wore them to work! If you don’t want to take extra bags with you, wear a pair of thin flats to work and take your evening shoes in a carrier bag. After work, pop the flats in your handbag (they won’t take up too much space or weigh much) put on the strappy heels and throw the carrier bag in the bin. No messing around with extra bags and you have everything you need. If you’re wearing open toed shoes, don’t forget to paint your toenails the night before! The last thing you want is to realise at the last minute that you’re in need of a pedicure without any of the stuff you need with you. If you’re smart with your choice of shoes, you might even be able to get away with wearing the same pair for both day and evening. Some heeled black pumps for example would work well for both looks.

Black heeled pumps could work for both work wear and the evening too- source

Accessories

Accessories are another great way to transform a look. Add a statement necklace, some bracelets or earrings to your black dress for example, and you take it from day to night in an instant. Sites like Frost NYC have some unique and interesting pieces, allowing you to showcase your style and personality. Since your outfit will be quite plain (which allows it to work for both day and night), your accessories are really what will bring in some interest and are crucial for dressing it up. If you work in a professional workplace, chances are you won’t wear much jewelry or many accessories during work hours, so it’s another great way to distinguish a look between night and day. Another trick you could try if you’re wearing a dress is to add a thin colorful or metallic waist belt. Not only will this add some color and contrast to the black, but will also make what you’re wearing more form fitting too.

Add a statement necklace to instantly transform a plain outfit- source

Hair

For work, you could wear your hair in a tidy and professional looking French braid. This will keep it out of your face and look nice and neat. For the evening, undo it, and you’re left with voluminous waves. It’s a great way to transform your look and a way you can achieve texture and volume without the need for heat styling tools. Alternatively, you could wear your hair loose, and spruce it up at the end of your shift. If you bring a mini can of dry shampoo in your bag along with a teasing comb, you can volumize your roots. The perfect way to perk up flat hair and give if lift when you’ve been at work all day!

Makeup

Even with a simple outfit on, makeup can change your entire look and make it so much more evening appropriate. For your work makeup you could go with a simple, minimal look- some foundation to even out your complexion, some neutral eyeshadow, mascara and lip balm. Then if you bring a few essentials in your bag, it’s easy to glam it up for the night. Line your eyes with black kohl pencil, and add a cat flick along the upper lash line with a liquid eyeliner. A pair of false eyelashes will really finish the eye look and don’t take up much space in your bag. A swipe of bronzer to add definition and warmth to the skin, and some bold lipstick again will make you look completely different. A makeup bag with a couple of essential products is all you need. You could even go a step further and purchase ‘two in one’ products to save even more space. For example, a bronzer and highlighter compact duo. A two in one mascara/ liner with each product at either end. A few touches would only take five to ten minutes, and you could do it in your work’s bathroom at the end of your shift. It will make a huge difference and probably make you feel far more glamorous and confident too. If you think you might feel a little under dressed, a swipe of red lipstick will fix that in an instant!

A swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit look more evening appropriate- source

Perfume

Perfume is a great way to finish off your outfit. Of course, you need to keep it quite light at work, but in the evening you can go for something a bit heavier and more sultry. Don’t bring along a whole bottle with you, though, chances are you have samples and travel-sized fragrances stashed away since they’re often sent out as free gifts with purchase. If you’ve ever had a beauty subscription box, you’ll be drowning in these since they’re always included! While perfume sachets and tiny bottles might not be the most exciting, they’re so handy for times like this. A quick dab and you feel ultra feminine and ready for the night ahead!

Make the most of mini perfumes and samples and bring one in your bag- source

Freshening Up

After a long day at work, you might need to freshen up a little before heading out. A mini bottle of mouthwash and a travel sized deodorant are two other fantastic additions to your makeup bag. Chewing gum or mints will also do the trick, or if you’d prefer to actually clean your teeth, a travel toothbrush and toothpaste would also work. You can also buy ‘chewable toothbrushes’ from places like eBay and Amazon, they come in tiny spheres so good for saving space. Perfect for cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath before heading out.

A few simple tricks can save you hours of getting ready, and means you won’t miss social events even if you’re working that day! So say yes to more things, don’t just fall into a rut and devote your entire weekdays to work. Everyone has to work, but don’t forget to live too! Even if you have to push yourself to get out there, you’ll be glad that you did. After all, you work to earn money to give yourself the freedom to do these things!

Do you ever turn down social invites because they fall on a work night? Or are you the master of transforming yourself from day to night with a few clever hacks?

Ivanka Trump Appointed Assistant to the President

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Ivanka Trump Appointed Assistant to the President

Ivanka Trump is officially joining the Trump administration as an unpaid employee with the title Assistant to the President, the White House has announced.

Donald Trump’s daughter bowed to pressure following an outcry from ethics experts at her initial plans to serve in a more informal capacity.

Ivanka Trump, 35, said she had “heard the concerns some have with my advising the president in my personal capacity”.

Her husband, Jared Kushner, is a senior adviser to President Donald Trump.

In a statement, the White House said it was “pleased that Ivanka Trump has chosen to take this step in her unprecedented role as first daughter”.

The first daughter said in her statement that she had been “working in good faith with the White House Counsel and my personal counsel to address the unprecedented nature of my role”.

Image source Flickr

Ethics experts cried foul when it emerged last week that Ivanka Trump was to be given a West Wing office and security clearance, without formally joining the administration.

Critics said Ivanka Trump’s role ought to be made official so she could be bound by federal employee transparency and ethical standards, including a law prohibiting conflicts of interest.

Her lawyer, Jamie Gorelick, said her client will file the necessary financial disclosures and be subject to official ethics rules.

Former President Barack Obama’s ethics counselor, Norman Eisen, told the Associated Press that “for a change in what has largely been an ethics disaster, the White House came to their senses”.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out to be an isolated moment of sanity,” he added.

Norman Eisen was among several lawyers and government watchdog experts who wrote last week to White House counsel Don McGahn complaining about Ivanka Trump’s appointment.

Ivanka Trump has already taken steps to limit possible conflicts of interest in her business affairs.

She has passed management of her eponymous fashion label to the company president and established a trust for oversight.

Ivanka Trump has also stepped down from a leadership role in the Trump Organization, although she will continue to receive fixed payments from the real estate company.

What styles of sunglasses will be in fashion this summer

Lisa.Felice
-
0
What styles of sunglasses will be in fashion this summer

 

This year’s sunglasses are not just about what suits your face shape, this year the trend is all about style and exuding your personality through the latest eyewear trends.

From the catwalk to the high street the trend is all about bold style statements for all frame shapes and styles. There are less of the oversized frames that have been around for a number of seasons now, there are colours and textures, embellishments and patterns for everyone but smaller frame styles.

This year the trend has more of a nod back to the styles of the 1980s, 1990s with more shaped and angular frames such as those available on the high street, including the cat-eye style at Top Shop or the heart rimmed glasses at Urban Outfitters, perfect for the fashionista’s.

The first thing to realise however is this season, there is less and less of the heavily mirrored lenses that celebrities have been sporting in recent years, there is more of the muted colour pallet of lavender and pale blue lenses.  Mirrored lenses still have a place but a more lighter silver tone.

Metal frames will have a huge prominence this year, but not just the classic aviator style that has been so dominant in recent years. The metal frames styles are much thicker and include a lot of premium metals such as titanium, there will be a mixing of metals with woods and acetates.

Dita sunglasses are a classic example of this season’s style. Celebrities, the paparazzi have already picked up on this brand which is distinguished by its modern shapes and mixing of materials, creating a high-end style. This brand has captured all styles and shapes as well as the materials and colours that are popular for the season ahead. The Temptation glasses are a key example of the blend of styles and shapes that are popular this season.

The reintroduction of the general style from Ray-Ban has been met with a positive reception this year, a style reminiscent of the aviator but the general Ray-Ban has a double bridge and military inspired rims and lenses. This style encompasses the metals, the lenses and the shape of the 2017 season.

If metal frames are not really your style then the angular and shaped trend continues into bold colour, chunky acetate glasses, like those spotted at Mulberry. Another popular style is any frame finished in a tortoise-shell print for 2017, as inspired by the catwalks of Miu Miu.  Or for those of you that dare, heavily embellished frames such as those seen by Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci two brands never to be outshone when it comes to a bold style statement.  

2017’s style is about well-fitting and sleek sunglasses, or bold statements, with a completely flat rim to the face rather than a more classic rounded style of sunglasses. Rose gold will still be a popular rim colour choice as will other metals. These metallic frames will be balanced with a muted lens or a thicker metallic lens in a much more angular frame. Whatever the style 2017 is a good time to invest in a new pair of summer’s most essential accessory!

Frame your personality – with this year’s most stylish sunglasses! 

 

Missing Indonesian Man Found Dead Inside Python

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Missing Indonesian Man Found Dead Inside Python

A man was found dead inside the body of a python, according to Indonesian police.

Akbar, 25, went missing on March 26 on the island of Sulawesi, after leaving to harvest palm oil.

In the search for the missing man, police had found a huge snake they suspected had swallowed the man.

Image source Pinterest

The reticulated python, reported to be 23ft-long, was cut open and the man’s body was found.

Reticulated pythons are among the world’s longest reptiles and suffocate their victims before swallowing them whole.

Pythons rarely kill and eat humans, although there are occasional reports of them swallowing young children or animals.

Villagers reported to police that Akbar had been missing for 24 hours.

Police then conducted a search and found the snake near the family’s palm plantation.

While snakes normally avoid human settlements, they would see palm oil plantations as a good hunting ground as they attract animals like boars, primates or dogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1JyUY4KiRY

Online Gaming Celebrities Slammed by Media for Racist Views

Dana R
-
0
Online Gaming Celebrities Slammed by Media for Racist Views

Have you heard of PewDiePie? He’s an internet celebrity on the YouTube video platform that currently has over 54 million subscribers. He routinely pulls in several million dollars per year, and most of that money comes from advertising revenue that he earns on his videos. Each video can easily get several million views within a couple of days, and he currently has over 14 billion views across all of his videos. He is, by definition, a celebrity. But he’s not just any celebrity—he’s an online gaming celebrity.

PewDiePie’s claim to fame is all about his gaming. He uploads videos here he plays games, criticises them and essentially does stand-up comedy in front of a camera. Whether or not you find it entertaining is, of course, up to your personal tastes. However, there’s no denying that his content is loved and enjoyed by people all over the world—54 million of them.

Image Credit

With power comes responsibility

In other words, YouTube is a platform (among many others) that is being used as a way to breed online celebrities. However, with that power comes a lot of different responsibilities. PewDiePie has millions of people watching his content and they are typically teenagers or young adults. In other words, he holds a lot of influence over his viewers and whatever he says will easily get into the heads of the people that are watching his videos.

This is why the media were up in arms after he released a video that displayed the words “Death To All Jews” and laughed about it. It’s important to note that many different news publications took his video out of context. The video was meant to show that people would be willing to do anything for money and it did a good job of explaining that point. However, it’s arguable that the message given was a little tasteless and possibly even offensive, but the main point to take away here is that this video was shown to millions of young adults and teenagers that see PewDiePie as a source of influence.

There’s the matter of freedom of speech when it comes to saying things on the internet. People are more willing to speak their minds, they’re more willing to use racial slurs and scream offensive comments, and the feeling of anonymity helps them get their point across with little to no repercussions. This is known as the online disinhibition effect, the feeling that when you’re using the internet, you can forget about social norms that are applied to you in the real world. It’s easy to see this effect when you visit websites such as 4chan or Reddit, where people use different names to shield their identity and would converse about and say things that would not be acceptable in real life.

Image Credit

Becoming an online celebrity

With the advances in technology that we are seeing recently, it’s no wonder that online celebrities are becoming more and more popular. You can simply talk about something to a camera, upload it to Facebook or YouTube, and your video could be shared to millions of people on the internet. Do you prefer speaking to a live audience? Then broadcasting platforms such as Twitch.tv offer you a way to interact with viewers live while you play a game or go about your daily life.

It’s easy to make them look professional too. There are many Twitch banner template downloads available to pretty up your broadcasting page with beautiful graphics and clean fonts, and there are also dedicated services that will help you promote and design layouts on your broadcast to improve its quality. In fact, almost anyone with a fast enough internet connection can start broadcasting something on Twitch.tv and get viewers in a mere matter of minutes. As long as you’re doing something trendy or you have a great personality, you’ll get plenty of people coming back to watch you and speak with you. This effect snowballs, and if you put in enough time, then you could become a top broadcaster that pulls in 20 to 30 thousands viewers every night to make a living.

So whether you want to record and edit videos and upload them to YouTube, or if you want to broadcast to a live audience and interact with them, there are many options available to you thanks to the technology we have available.

Image Credit

The harsh reality of being an online celebrity

Recently, another online celebrity by the name of JonTron has also come under fire for racist comments. The media storm started with JonTron, or Jon Jafari, tweeted out a message that supported the Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders. It was further compounded when he was invited to an internet talk show where he further explained his points, mentioning points about mass immigration and displaying his anti-immigration views. The entire situation caused JonTron to lose a couple thousand subscribers on his YouTube channel but ultimately didn’t make a dent because the gap was quickly plugged when more people rushed to his defence.

The thing to learn here is that there is a divide between what is socially accepted in different communities and what is accepted as a whole on the internet. Unlike countries, there are no borders or barriers that separate one person from another on the internet. It’s a cultural melting pot and, as a result, has spawned some very unique personalities and standards that can’t be applied to the real world.

What we’re seeing here is the birth of a new form of celebrity, but also the problems that come with a celebrity who has online been exposed to online culture and not real-world media. If you step out of line and say something that would offend even a small percentage of viewers or people, then you will undoubtedly receive backlash from the media. Online celebrities need to embrace the idea that they’re slowly becoming real-world celebrities as well due to their influence on millions of people around the world. They can’t speak what’s on their minds forever, and that’s something they will have to accept if they want to grow their brand and stay out of trouble.

Donald Trump Signs Energy Independence Executive Order to End War on Coal

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Signs Energy Independence Executive Order to End War on Coal

Donald Trump has signed an executive order rolling back Barack Obama’s rules aimed at curbing climate change.

President Trump said this would put an end to the “war on coal” and “job-killing regulations”.

The Energy Independence Executive Order suspends more than half a dozen measures enacted by President Barack Obama, and boosts fossil fuels.

Business groups have praised the Trump administration’s move but environmental campaigners have condemned it.

Outside the White House, a few hundred protesters gathered to vent their displeasure at the executive order.

Inside, Donald Trump was flanked by coal miners as he signed the order, saying: “My administration is putting an end to the war on coal.

“With today’s executive action I am taking historic steps to lift the restrictions on American energy, to reverse government intrusion and to cancel job-killing regulations.”

Image source Getty Images

During the campaign, Donald Trump vowed to pull the US out of the Paris climate deal agreed in December 2015.

He takes a very different approach to the environment from President Obama. The former president argued that climate change was “real and cannot be ignored”.

Among the initiatives now rescinded is the Clean Power Plan, which required states to slash carbon emissions, to meet US commitments under the Paris accord.

The regulation has been unpopular in Republican-run states, where it has been subject to legal challenges – especially from businesses that rely on burning oil, coal and gas.

In 2016, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the plan, while the challenges are heard.

The Trump administration says that scrapping the plan will put people to work and reduce America’s reliance on imported fuel.

It says President Trump will be “moving forward on energy production in the US”.

“The previous administration devalued workers with their policies. We can protect the environment while providing people with work.”

During Donald Trump’s maiden visit to the Environmental Protection Agency, he signed the Energy Independence Executive Order, which cuts EPA regulations in order to support his plan of cutting the agency’s budget by a third.

President Trump recently appointed climate change skeptic Scott Pruitt as its new head.

Penelope Fillon Placed Under Formal Investigation

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Penelope Fillon Placed Under Formal Investigation

Penelope Fillon, the wife of French presidential candidate Francois Fillon, has been placed under formal investigation amid the continuing “fake jobs” inquiry.

She spent the day being questioned by magistrates.

Francois Fillon was placed under formal investigation earlier this month.

The center-right candidate is accused of paying hundreds of thousands of euros to his family for work they did not do. Francois Fillon and his Welsh-born wife deny any wrongdoing.

Until recently, Francois Fillon was the favorite to win the elections, which will be held in two stages in April and May.

Image source Wikimedia

However, the former prime minister has now slipped behind far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron in the race to become president.

Francois Fillon, 63, faces accusations that he arranged for his wife to be paid public money for work as his parliamentary assistant amid claims that: the work she did was trivial or non-existent; Penelope Fillon had no parliamentary pass; few were aware Penelope Fillon was a member of Francois Fillon’s staff; misleading information was included on timesheets.

Francois Fillon is also being investigated over payments to his two children, Marie and Charles, when he was a senator. He has said his children were paid as lawyers for specific tasks, but neither was a qualified lawyer at the time.

In all, Francois Fillon is suspected of diverting public funds, complicity in misappropriating funds, receiving the funds and not declaring assets fully.

There are also questions about a job Penelope Fillon had at a literary magazine owned by a billionaire friend of the couple, for which she allegedly did little or no actual work.

Neuralink: Elon Musk Launches Brain Electrode Company

James J. Williams
-
0
Neuralink: Elon Musk Launches Brain Electrode Company

Elon Musk has launched Neuralink, a start-up which aims to develop technology that connects our brains to computers.

A report from the Wall Street Journal, later confirmed in a tweet by Elon Musk, said Neuralink was in its very early stages and registered as a “medical research” company.

Neuralink will develop so-called “neural lace” technology which would implant tiny electrodes into the brain.

The technique could be used to improve memory or give humans added artificial intelligence.

Image source Flickr

According to the Journal, leading academics in the field have been signed up to work at the company which is being funded privately by Tesla chief executive.

Specialists in the field envision a time when humans may be able to upload and download thoughts.

In a tweet on March 28, Elon Musk confirmed the existence of Neuralink and said more details about the company would be made public next week via WaitButWhy – a site known for illustrating its lengthy post with often crude but charming stick figure drawings.

Elon Musk is considered one of Silicon Valley’s most visionary figures – and surely now its busiest.

As well as heading electric carmaker Tesla, Elon Musk is involved with running space exploration company Space X, a project to reinvent transport called Hyperloop and, most recently, a company investigating the feasibility of boring tunnels underneath Los Angeles – and a new project to power Australia.

Tweeting about Neuralink, Elon Musk conceded it would be “difficult to dedicate the time, but existential risk is too high not to”.

Salvează

Drake Postpones Amsterdam Show for Third Time in Three Months

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Drake Postpones Amsterdam Show for Third Time in Three Months

Drake has decided to postpone an Amsterdam show for the third time in three months, angering many of his fans.

The doors had already opened for the show and the Ziggo Dome was full.

According to the promoter, Drake was advised not to perform by a doctor after falling ill.

“I’m really sorry to tell you that tonight’s gig cannot take place. Drake got sick. His doctor told him not to perform.”

The postponed concert has been moved to March 29 instead.

This is the third time the Amsterdam show has been canceled.

Image source Wikimedia

The Canadian rapper’s performances on January 20 and 21were initially moved to January 26 and 27 January. But they were postponed again until March 27 and 28.

Another show in Amsterdam, rescheduled to January 28, went ahead as planned.

British fans who travelled from the UK to the Netherlands to see Drake weren’t happy.

Back in January, Drake also postponed the opening UK dates of his Boy Meets World tour.

Three dates – two in Glasgow and one in London – had to be rescheduled from the end of January to March.

A statement on London’s O2 Arena website put the delay down to “unforeseen production setbacks”.

Last month Drake promised to refund the crowd at London’s O2 Arena after guest singer Travis Scott fell into a hole onstage.

Drake hasn’t made any comment about the postponed concert on social media.

Cyclone Debbie Hits North-East Australia

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Cyclone Debbie Hits North-East Australia

Cyclone Debbie has hit the north-east Australian coast, causing major damage, torrential rain and power cuts to tens of thousands of homes.

The powerful cyclone made landfall between Bowen and Airlie Beach in Queensland as a Category 4 storm, whipping gusts of up to 163 mph.

Debbie is moving inland as a Category 3 storm but could cause damage for hours yet. One serious injury has been reported.

Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull told parliament he had activated a disaster response plan.

The extent of Cyclone Debbie’s devastation, which has a 30 mile-diameter eye wall, may not be known for some time, authorities said.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the storm’s slow speed had created a “battering ram effect”, adding: “We are going to get lots of reports of damage, and sadly I think we will also receive reports of injuries, if not death.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said assessing damage was difficult because communities had been cut off from power and phone reception.

Electricity providers said it was not known when power would be restored to houses.

Australian authorities warned people to stay indoors until it was safe to go outside.

 

Salvează

Fearless Girl Statue to Stay on Wall Street Until Next Year

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Fearless Girl Statue to Stay on Wall Street Until Next Year

New York’s popular Fearless Girl statue will stay in place until March 2018, Mayor Bill de Balsio has said.

The mayor said the relevant municipal agencies had backed the idea.

The bronze statue of a young girl staring down Wall Street‘s iconic Charging Bull was placed on March 8 to draw attention to gender inequality and the pay gap in the corporate world.

The statue – which has become an instant tourist draw – had been due to be removed on March 26.

Appearing next to the 4ft-tall statue in Manhattan on March 27, Mayor Bill de Blasio said it “means so much to the people of New York”.

The statue was “standing up to fear, standing up to power, being able to find in yourself the strength to do what’s right”, he added.

“She is inspiring everyone at a moment when we need inspiration.”

Fearless Girl by artist Kristen Visbal was commissioned by asset managers State Street Global Advisors (SSGA).

The company said the girl represented the future.

It added that one in four of the 3,000 largest traded American companies did not have even one woman on their board.

Wall Street’s Charging Bull statue was originally guerrilla art by Italian-born artist Arturo Di Modica.

Installed in 1989, the bronze statue was meant to represent the “strength and power of the American people” in response to the market crash in 1987.

Charging Bull become a popular attraction and was allowed to stay.

Jared Kushner to Be Questioned over Russia Ties

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Jared Kushner to Be Questioned over Russia Ties

Jared Kushner will be questioned by a committee investigating alleged ties between the Trump team and Russia.

According to the White House, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and aide has volunteered to speak to the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The committee is examining Russia’s alleged interference in November election.

The US intelligence community believes alleged Russian hacking during the presidential election was done to help Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

Russia has denied the allegations and President Trump has branded the story “fake news”.

There are two congressional investigations into the issue, plus an FBI one.

Image source Wikimedia

The Senate committee wants to question him about two meetings he allegedly arranged with senior Russians, officials told the New York Times say.

However, Jared Kushner’s staff have said that so far his offer to be questioned has not been answered.

Jared Kushner, 36, was a senior adviser to Donald Trump during the election campaign

His first meeting was with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at Trump Tower in New York in December. The second was with the head of Russia’s state-owned development bank.

White House staff told the New York Times nothing significant was discussed and members of the president-elect’s team routinely met Russians and other foreign delegations.

Meanwhile, Jared Kushner has been picked to lead a new White House team that aims to overhaul government bureaucracy.

It will have sweeping powers to reform procedures, with technology and data a key area and the help of Apple CEO Tim Cook and Microsoft founder Bill Gates reportedly enlisted.

Jared Kushner told the newspaper the “government should be run like a great American company”.

He is a property investor and media executive who is married to Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka.

Jared Kushner already advises the president on foreign relations, and is said to have been influential in helping President Trump choose staff for his campaign and in government.

Top Tips For Taking Advantage Of Professional Writing Services

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Top Tips For Taking Advantage Of Professional Writing Services

Millions of students worldwide choose to hire professional writing services when it comes to important academic assignments that can affect final results and grades. Foreign students find these services invaluable as young people that came from various countries may struggle with English language and it is extremely difficult for them to concentrate on making a research analysis and making sure they used the right grammar tense or the appropriate vocabulary.
The best way that guarantees excellent results and flawless paper is finding a reliable custom writing service that ensures high quality of every order and on time delivery.  Needless to say, that finding trustworthy service also demands time as today there are a lot of frauds online that easily could destroy your reputation and provide the customer with plagiarized material. Before placing an order make sure the company credible, read reviews and find out about its reputation. Addressing professional writers from https://essayfactory.uk/buy-essay is the best option that provides customers with following benefits:

  • 100% original, unique and made from scratch essay of outstanding quality;
  • Professional editing services and proofreading;
  • Compliance with customer’s deadlines;
  • Customer-friendly pricing policy. Available discounts;
  • Native English speaking writers from UK who understand requirements set by professors and have experience of meeting them;
  • Complete privacy and money back guarantee;
  • Perfect formatting of every paper;
  • 24/7 Customer support, and many more.

Choosing the right custom writing service students will get:

  • Free inquiry;
  • Free outline;
  • Free title page;
  • Free bibliography page;
  • Free unlimited revisions;
  • Free plagiarism check.

Moreover, every customer in ensured to get:

  • Top-notch quality of every order, excellence in providing best results;
  • Professionalism of experienced writers;
  • Individual approach to every costumer and respect to their needs.

Common mistakes every student does when writing an academic essay

Every student who is interested in improving writing skills and wants to write all academic assignments personally should know more about common mistakes that are often made in the process of writing:

  • Use of informal type pf language. It is recommended to avoid short forms, contractions, phrasal verbs, clichés, idioms, colloquial expressions, simplistic vocabulary, over-generalisation, emotional language is also not desirable;
  • Student shouldn’t refer blindly to statistics without reference to their source personally;
  • Incomplete sentences or series of short sentences. Don’t forget that complete sentence requires a subject and a verb;
  • It is also better not to use the second person pronoun you but to replace it with the pronoun one;
  • A lot of students don’t leave enough time for proofreading and editing, therefore, miss a lot of spelling mistakes and typos;
  • Make sure you title will be short and able to reflect the content of your essay;
  • Mistakes in citing and references are as well quite common.

Plan you work in advance and there will be plenty of time to ensure academic paper’s quality.

 

Be On The Lookout For Bounce House Injuries

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Be On The Lookout For Bounce House Injuries

This May is the one-year anniversary of one of the worst bounce house injury incidents in recent memory.

In England, high winds swept a large bounce house off its moorings and carried it about 150 yards through the air while a 7-year-old was trapped inside it. Summer Blackie was rushed from an Easter celebration in Essex, which is about 30 miles outside London, to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. At the time, authorities stated that the people in charge of the bounce house failed to secure it properly, but there were also some concerns over the inflatable playhouse’s structural integrity.

Less than a year earlier at that same park, several children were trampled when a bounce house suddenly and unexpectedly deflated.

Bounce House Injuries in California

Inflatable playhouse safety has improved a little since 2014, when a national magazine first shed light on the ongoing bounce house safety epidemic. According to one study, thirty-one children a day received treatment in hospital emergency rooms because of bounce house injuries; the average victim was seven years old and had typically sustained either a serious fracture or a spinal cord injury.

Unfortunately, many of the inflatable playhouses at today’s birthday parties, end-of-season sports team celebrations, and other assorted get-togethers were all made during this period. Experts point to several reasons for the uptick in injuries since 1995:

  • Bounce houses are much more popular than they were in the 1990s.
  • Many inflatable playhouses are much larger than they once were. Their steep slides and extremely big play areas greatly increase the risk of serious falls and of children playfully careening into one another.
  • While toy manufacturers make bounce houses bigger, they also make them from rather flimsy materials that are easy for parents to assemble.

As a result, many advocates say that bounce houses are just as hazardous as backyard trampolines, one of the most infamous dangerous toys to ever come off an assembly line.

Legal Issues

Manufacturers have a duty to make products that are both safe and effective. The exact nature of this duty usually comes from Section 2-134 of the Uniform Commercial Code. It states that manufactured goods must:

  • Pass Without Objection: If the buyer expresses concern about a potential defect, the seller cannot insist that the buyer is worried about nothing.
  • “Fair Average Quality”: Essentially, the good must be reasonably consistent with any written product description.
  • Conform to Promise or Affirmation: Similarly, if the label makes any claim about the product’s safety, use, or whatever, the product must meet or exceed the expectations that the manufacturer creates.
  • Fit for Ordinary Purpose: In this context, bounce houses must be able to accommodate lots of giggling children on a sunny afternoon, no matter what “warnings” the manufacturer affixes to the label.

These warranties cannot be waived unless the seller includes written language like “as is” or “without warranty.”

In a suit for damages against the manufacturer, the toy maker often hides behind the unintended use doctrine. This tactic is especially common in bounce house injury cases.

In this context, the “unintended use” is essentially a failure to follow safety instructions. Many bounce house manufacturers routinely include safety warnings with their products, such as only allow one child at a time into the bounce area, do not set up the inflatable if winds are higher than 10mph, and so on.

However, the manufacturer is still liable in situations that involve a foreseeable unintended use. The classic example is people who use screwdrivers to open paint cans. Even if the manufacturer warns people not to use screwdrivers in this way, they will still do it, so the use is foreseeable. Instead, the unintended use doctrine usually only applies if the product is used in a clearly unsafe and unforeseeable manner, something like using a gas-powered lawn trimmer to cut hair.

If the jury determines that the manufacturer sold an unsafe toy, the plaintiff is entitled to significant compensation for both tangible losses, such as medical bills, and intangible losses, such as pain and suffering. Punitive damages are available as well, in many product liability lawsuits.

 

San Diego Police Debuts Mobile Drug Tests

Nancy Clayson
-
0
San Diego Police Debuts Mobile Drug Tests

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, San Diego Police Department officers began swabbing drivers’ cheeks to look for evidence of marijuana and other impairing drugs.

In March 2017, the San Diego Police Foundation donated two Dräger DrugTest 5000 machines to the department. Each machine is about the size of a bookshelf stereo system, and after an officer obtains a saliva sample, the gadget can determine if the sample contains any opiates, methamphetamine, amphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, methadone or benzodiazepines (the main ingredient in Diazepam, Lorazepam, Valium, Xanax, and other prescription tranquilizers). Then, to determine if the driver was impaired, police must extract a blood sample from the driver. At an earlier news conference, Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said her department was concerned that Proposition 64, which legalized marijuana in some instances, would increase the number of drug-impaired drivers, and the percentage had already risen significantly in recent years. Chief Zimmerman said that, for now, officers would only use the Dräger DrugTest 5000 at checkpoints.

If the driver refuses to provide a saliva sample, officers will probably arrest the driver based on circumstantial evidence, assuming they believe the driver to be impaired.

DUI Drug Law in California

 

Proposition 64 did not “legalize” marijuana for all purposes, because it is still a drug under California law. So, driving while high violates Vehicle Code 23152(f), which states that it is illegal for any person to drive any vehicle while under the influence of any drug.

“Any” means “any.” That includes recreational-use marijuana, a prescription benzodiazepine, and even certain over-the-counter medications. In August 2015, a Fairfield man was arrested for driving under the influence of caffeine. Officers reportedly pulled over a man who was driving erratically, and they found some caffeine-based powder performance enhancers in his car. Prosecutors later dismissed those charges, but only because they felt they did not have enough evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The caffeine case illustrates the two-pronged nature of DUI drug cases in California. First, prosecutors must prove that the driver had ingested a drug, and the aforementioned saliva swab satisfies this element, at least with regard to the substances that the gadget is designed to detect. Under current law, officers usually do not need search warrants to obtain saliva evidence, because the test is noninvasive and the results normally cannot be saved and used for any other purpose.

Second, prosecutors must prove that the driver was under the influence of that substance. In this context, “under the influence” means that “your physical or mental abilities are impaired to such a degree that you no longer have the ability to drive with the caution characteristic of a sober person of ordinary prudence under the same or similar circumstances.”

There is a preliminary element as well, because the defendant must be “driving” the vehicle. This element is the same in both DUI drug and alcohol cases.

 

Driving the Car

It may be possible to contest the “driving” element in some cases, because it’s not unusual for a person to be behind the wheel but not “driving” the car in the ordinary sense of the word. Perhaps the driver is parked on the street or idling at a corner waiting for a passenger. Or, perhaps the person is in the car to have a private conversation over the phone or with someone else who is physically present.

Although the weight of authority indicates that all four of the above situations constitute driving, since the defendant has the ability to drive, a number of years ago, a California appeals court ruled that the car must be in motion for the defendant to be “driving” the car. So, especially in the latter two situations where there was no intent to drive, prosecutors may not be able to satisfy this element.

This question sometimes comes up in DUI drug cases because the defendant is parked and sleeping off the effects of a previously-ingested drug.

Nature of Substance

In some states, there is a list of prohibited substances, and if the driver did not ingest something on the list, the driver is not guilty as a matter of law. But in California, there’s that nasty “any” word in the statute, as discussed above.

Under the Influence

Prosecutors must rely on circumstantial evidence to establish this element, and that usually means the field sobriety tests. There are three approved FSTs in California:

  • HGN: It may sound odd, but the horizontal gaze nystagmus test (following a point with the eyes without moving the head) is arguably the most reliable and most unreliable FST. If administered properly under controlled circumstances, it is about 80 percent accurate, even though drug impairment is not the only cause of nystagmus. But, the environment at the scene, and even at the stationhouse, is usually not controlled.
  • HTT Walk: Conditions also play a significant role in the heel-to-toe walk test, because it is easier to walk heel-to-toe over an actual line (like a parking lot stripe) than an imaginary line, it is easier to walk heel-to-toe over a flat surface than an uneven one, and so on.
  • OLS: Officers frequently testify that the defendant “failed” the one leg stand due to technicalities like starting with the wrong foot or holding the foot at a slightly incorrect angle.

In these cases, the prosecutor must also prove that the defendant performed poorly on the FSTs because of the substance, and not because of fatigue, nervousness, or some other reason.

 

Alexei Navalny Arrest: EU Demands Immediate Release of Russian Protesters

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Alexei Navalny Arrest: EU Demands Immediate Release of Russian Protesters

The EU has demanded the release “without delay” of more than 500 people detained in protests across Russia on March 26.

The US state department also said protesters should be able to “exercise their rights without fear of retribution”.

The protesters urged Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to quit over corruption allegations.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who called the protests and was one of those arrested, appeared at court on March 27.

Alexei Navalny, 40, tweeted from the building: “Hello everyone from Tversky Court. The time will come when we will have them on trial (but honestly).”

He also said that PM Dmitry Medvedev should be summoned by the court as the chief organizer of the protests.

Alexei Navalny has yet to go before a judge but is likely to face charges relating to organizing banned protests and could be held for 15 days.

March 26 protests drew thousands of protesters nationwide, including in Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and several other cities, as well as Moscow.

At least 500 protesters were detained. Most of the marches were organized without official permission.

TV footages showed demonstrators chanting “Down with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin!”, “Russia without Putin!” and “Putin is a thief!”.

Correspondents say the marches appear to be the biggest since anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and 2012.

An EU spokesman said the Russian police action had “prevented the exercise of basic freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, which are fundamental rights enshrined in the Russian constitution”.

The statement added: “We call on the Russian authorities to abide fully by the international commitments it has made… and to release without delay the peaceful demonstrators that have been detained.”

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement: “The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment under the law, and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution.”

Alexei Navalny called for the nationwide protests after he published reports claiming that PM Dmitry Medvedev controlled mansions, yachts and vineyards – a fortune that suggests income that far outstrips his official salary.

His report, posted on YouTube, has been viewed more than 11 million times.

It includes the accusation that Dmitry Medvedev had a special house for a duck on one of his properties – and on March 26, some demonstrators held up images of yellow rubber ducks.

Others showed up with their faces painted green, a reference to a recent attack in which Alexei Navalny was hit with green liquid.

Salvează

Uber Pulls Driverless Cars After Arizona Crash

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Uber Pulls Driverless Cars After Arizona Crash

Uber has decided to pull its driverless cars from the roads after a car crash which left one of the vehicles on its side.

Images posted online showed the car on its right side on an Arizona street, next to another badly damaged vehicle.

The car – a Volvo SUV – was in self-driving mode at the time of the crash, on March 24, Uber said. No one was hurt.

A spokeswoman for the police in Tempe, Arizona, said the accident occurred when another vehicle “failed to yield” to the Uber car at a left turn.

Uber spokeswoman Josie Montenegro said: “There was a person behind the wheel. It is uncertain at this time if they were controlling the vehicle at the time of the collision.”

The company’s self-driving cars always have a human in the driving seat who can take over the controls.

Uber pulled its self-driving vehicles off the road in Arizona at first, followed by test sites in Pennsylvania and California – all three states where it operated the vehicles.

The incident follows a tumultuous few weeks for the car-hailing app service, after several negative stories about workplace practices and ethics.

A number of Uber’s executives have quit in recent weeks, including the president, Jeff Jones.

United Airlines Leggings Scandal

Nancy Clayson
-
0
United Airlines Leggings Scandal

United Airlines has come under fire on social media after two girls were reportedly barred from flying for wearing leggings.

The incident happened on a flight from Denver to Minneapolis on March 26, activist Shannon Watts said.

United said the girls were travelling on a special pass, for employees and their guests, which has a dress code.

The airliner has since clarified that all regular, paying customers are welcome to wear leggings.

The girls were “United pass travelers”, which are tickets for company employees or eligible dependents, it explained in a Twitter exchange on the issue.

“United pass travelers” are eligible for free or heavily discounted air travel.

The dress code for pass-holders states they should not wear “form-fitting lycra/spandex tops, pants and dresses”, among various other stipulations, including no exposed midriffs, no mini skirts and no flip-flops.

United Airlines has decided to honor airline tickets sold for as little as $0 because of a computer error

Shannon Watts tweeted about what happened to five girls when they tried to board a flight at Denver airport.

The activist said a United gate agent was “forcing” the girls, one of them aged 10, to change their clothes or wear dresses over the leggings.

Shannon Wats said three of the girls were allowed to fly after putting dresses over the top of their clothing, but two were prevented from boarding.

She criticized the airliner for its actions, asking: “Since when does United police women’s clothing?”

United later released a statement explaining the dress code requirement of its United pass travelers.

The statement said: “When taking advantage of this benefit, all employees and pass riders are considered representatives of United. And like most companies, we have a dress code that we ask employees and pass riders to follow.”

It added that the passengers on that flight had not complied to the dress code.

Shannon Watts’ tweets have been shared and responded to by thousands of users, including Patricia Arquette.

Flight attendant and author Heather Poole, who does not work for United, defended the airline’s policy on Twitter, saying the dress codes for staff travelling on free passes are common practice in the industry, and have evolved over the years.

Park Geun-hye Scandal: South Korean Prosecutors Seek Arrest Warrant

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Park Geun-hye Scandal: South Korean Prosecutors Seek Arrest Warrant

Prosecutors asked for an arrest warrant for South Korea’s former president Park Geun-hye, for her role in a corruption scandal.

Earlier this month, Park Geun-hye lost her presidential immunity and was dismissed from her post when the constitutional court upheld a decision by parliament to impeach her.

She is accused of allowing her close friend Choi Soon-sil to allegedly extort money from big companies.

Park Geun-hye, 65, has denied the allegations.

She apologized to the public last week, before being questioned by authorities for 14 hours.

On March 27, South Korean prosecutors said in statement: “The case is very grave as the suspect has demonstrated acts of abuse of power by making companies give money and infringing on the freedom of corporate management by using powerful position and authority as president.”

They argue that evidence like computer hard drives might be destroyed if Park Geun-hye is not arrested.

Image source Wikimedia

Choi Soon-sil has been charged with bribery and corruption and is already on trial.

She is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to non-profit foundations she controlled.

Lee Jae-yong, the acting head of electronics conglomerate Samsung, was arrested for his role in the scandal.

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.

Parliament voted to impeach Park Geun-hye in December 2016.

On March 10, the constitutional court ruled that Park Geun-hye’s actions “seriously impaired the spirit of… democracy and the rule of law”.

Judges said the president 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.

Park Geun-hye had “concealed completely Choi’s meddling in state affairs and denied it whenever suspicions over the act emerged and even criticized those who raised the suspicions,” the ruling said.

The Seoul Central District Court will now determine whether there are grounds to issue the arrest warrant for Park Geun-hye.

If it is issued, prosecutors will have up to 20 days to continue investigations and file charges against her, Reuters reports.

As president Park Geun-hye had enjoyed immunity and repeatedly refused to take part in questioning.

Now Park Geun-hye could face several charges, including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking government secrets.

Alexei Navalny Arrested at Moscow Anti-Corruption Protest

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Alexei Navalny Arrested at Moscow Anti-Corruption Protest

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested at an anti-corruption protest he organized in Moscow.

Thousands of people joined rallies nationwide, calling for the resignation of PM Dmitry Medvedev over corruption allegations.

At least 500 other protesters were detained in Moscow and across Russia.

Most of the marches were illegal, organized without official permission.

TV footages showed demonstrators chanting “Down with [Vladimir] Putin!”, “Russia without Putin!” and “Putin is a thief!”.

Correspondents say the marches appear to be the biggest since anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and 2012.

Alexei Navalny was detained as he arrived to join the rally in central Moscow. Protesters then tried to prevent a police van from taking him away.

Image source Wikimedia

In a tweet after his detention, Alexei Navalny urged fellow protesters to continue with the demonstration.

He said: “Guys, I’m fine. No need to fight to get me out. Walk along Tverskaya [Moscow main street]. Our topic of the day is the fight against corruption.”

Alexei Navalny later said police stormed the office of his foundation and detained its staff, who were broadcasting the protests live.

Demonstrations were also held in Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and several other cities, where arrests had also been reported.

In Moscow, protesters filled Pushkin square and some climbed the monument to poet Alexander Pushkin shouting “impeachment”. Turnout was estimated to be between 7,000 and 8,000, according to police.

The police said 500 protesters had been arrested in the capital alone, but a rights group, OVD Info, put that number at least 700.

The Kremlin has not commented on the demonstrations. It had said on Friday that plans for an unauthorized protest in central Moscow were an illegal provocation.

State TV channels did not cover the demonstrations.

Local media reports suggested the authorities pressured students not to attend. In some cities, exams were scheduled on March 26.

Alexei Navalny 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.

Alexei Navalny said on his website that protests were planned in 99 cities, but that in 72 of them authorities did not give permission.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf6hGYmGUSY

Cameo Nightclub Shooting: One Dead and 15 Injured in Cincinnati

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Cameo Nightclub Shooting: One Dead and 15 Injured in Cincinnati

A 27-year-old man has been killed and 15 others injured in a shooting at the Cameo Nightclub in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 26.

A “dispute” between several men escalated into a gunfight in the crowded venue, Police Chief Eliot Isaac said.

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said at a news conference that there was no indication the shooting was terrorism-related.

John Cranley went on: “However, to the victims, what difference does it make?”

Eliot Isaac said a “couple of hundred people” were inside the “very large establishment” when the incident occurred.

“Several local men got into some kind of dispute inside the bar and it escalated into shots being fired from several individuals,” he said.

Image source NBC

He said that despite security checks, several firearms had been brought into the nightclub. Investigators are still trying to identify the shooters.

One of the injured is in a very critical condition, Police Chief Eliot Isaac said, adding that emergency services began to receive calls at about 01:30 local time reporting that shots had been fired.

Earlier Captain Kimberly Williams told journalists there were at least two reported gunmen, who were still at large.

The Cameo Night Club had had problems in the past “but this is by far the worst”, she said. A shooting inside the club occurred on New Year’s Day in 2015, and in the car park in September that year, officials said.

Ohio Governor John Kasich said he was “saddened” by the shooting.

It comes less than a year after gunman Omar Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Omar Mateen killed 49 people in the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

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

Salvează

1...188189190...1,243Page 189 of 1,243