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Time Management For Time-Squeezed People

Dana R
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Time Management For Time-Squeezed People

(Flickr)

If you’ve got career goals that you want to achieve, but your working life feels overwhelmingly busy, it’s a good idea to take a step back and evaluate the situation. Rather than having way too many things to fit in, the issue may be the way you’re approaching them. Here are some great time management strategies that will help you to regain control.

Break Goals Down into Smaller Ones

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If you feel immediately defeated every time you think about your to-do list for the week ahead, try to break those big goals down into smaller, more manageable sections that you can tackle one at a time. If you focus more of your energy on working through these miniature goals, you’ll stand a much better chance of accomplishing your larger, overarching ones. Take some time to write down your smaller targets for the week ahead, and what you need to do to achieve each little milestone. Try to foresee any issues that will take things off track or push you behind schedule. Set out plans for getting around these issues, and organise people who can support you if needed.

Use A Timetable

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Setting yourself a timetable of the day can be very helpful, as it allows you to concentrate more on individual tasks, rather than having them all pile on at once. With time, you’ll also make it much easier to know what kind of tasks you can tackle, and how much time you have to leave yourself to meet certain deadlines. Trying to juggle the responsibilities of your day job, while keeping up with a demanding qualification like a healthcare administration bachelors, often requires strict time management. Just make sure you’re honest about how you spend your time. If you know you can’t resist a session on social media or reading the headlines, be sure to factor this in.

Step Back and Re-evaluate

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You may know from experience that setting yourself goals isn’t the only factor that goes into accomplishing things. Even after structuring your goals like this, if you feel that you’re still procrastinating over a certain task, it’s a good idea to step back and ask yourself why. Do you need some kind of extra support to remain on-task? Perhaps the task itself simply doesn’t feel all that important to you, or it feels too far away from the end-game rewards you’re actually gunning for. Perhaps one of your miniature tasks isn’t actually necessary, and there’s some other, better solution which you should be engaging in.

Appreciate your Own Achievements

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I saved the best tip until last: give yourself a break once in a while! Rather than dwelling on the things you haven’t achieved in the week for one reason or another, make a point of recognising what you have done. No matter how much you feel you’ve fallen short, there’s a fair chance that you’ve checked a lot of other things off in the process, and brought yourself at least a little bit closer to achieving your goal.

Canadian Teacher Suspended After Giving Crystal Meth Homework Assignment

Dana R
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Canadian Teacher Suspended After Giving Crystal Meth Homework Assignment

When parents send their children to school, they expect their kids to receive a good education. They want their offspring to learn more about topics such as math, geography, and history. However, for one Canadian parent, her 13-year-old son’s drama lesson at school was more akin to a narcotics project.

Delight Greenidge, of Ontario, was shocked when she learned her son had come home with instructions on how to cook crystal meth. Speaking to CBC News, Greenidge first discovered her son’s unusual assignment when the Grade 8 youngster asked her how to make a tourniquet.

Crystal

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

According to the stunned parent, when she asked her son why he needed to know that, he told her that his drama lesson assignment was on how to make and inject crystal meth. Aghast with shock, Greenidge says that she “popped a blood vessel” at the time.

School board astonished at shocking revelation

Greenidge’s son, who asked not to be identified, is a student at Erin Mills Middle School in Mississauga, Ontario. The boy claimed that his drama class teacher handed out the printed instructions for his group as part of an assignment.

The group was initially meant to make a skit about an old television program using emotions. At the time, the team’s idea didn’t come to fruition. Greenidge says that her son’s drama class teacher then suggested a crystal meth sketch instead.

The Peel District School Board shared Greenidge’s concerns when she brought the revelation up with Erin Mills Middle School. They have confirmed that the teacher in question handed out the crystal meth cooking instructions. But, they would not comment further except to say that the teacher has been suspended on full pay pending a full investigation.

Carla Pereira, the communications manager at the school board, says that they share Greenidge’s concerns. She also added that the teacher had downloaded the instructions from the Internet for the group in his drama class.

Seth Fletcher, a counselor with Canadian Centre for Addictions, adds that giving Grade 8 students such material (crystal meth cooking instructions) is dangerous. He also says that the perception of someone in the classroom thinking that it’s okay to take drugs is just as bad as being told how to take them.

The Peel District School Board is unlikely to make the results of the investigation public, stating that it’s a “personnel issue.”

What is crystal meth, and why is it a growing problem?

Depicted by TV programs such as Breaking Bad, crystal meth, also known as “ice” or “glass” is a colorless, odorless, powerful, and highly addictive synthetic psychostimulant. It gives users a long-lasting euphoric effect and produces similar effects to cocaine, boosting dopamine levels by 1,500%.

Often smoked in pipes, crystal meth has become a growing problem for Canada in recent years. According to official statistics, almost 5% of the population have admitted trying crystal meth, with 70% of crystal meth abuse happens during “rave” parties. Further, the country is also a big producer of the substance, with much of the drug exported to Europe and Japan.

Spouse Support: What Not To Do When Dealing With A Psychotic Loved One

Dana R
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Spouse Support: What Not To Do When Dealing With A Psychotic Loved One

Being diagnosed with a psychotic condition can make someone feel worthless. That is especially the case if the victim is aware of the illness. Some people with psychotic disorders will never admit to themselves that they have a problem. In many instances, that’s easier for loved ones because you can avoid the issue as much as possible. However, there are still lots of things you could get wrong. The last thing you want to do is make the situation worse, and so we’ve published some tips here today. Use them to ensure you always take the right approach when your partner or a family member becomes unwell.

Flickr

Don’t encourage their fantasies

While you don’t want to spend all day reminding your spouse they’re ill; it’s also sensible to refrain from taking part in their delusions. Playing along might seem like a harmless move, but it could make their condition worse. At the end of the day, you will effectively validate their fantasies and make it even harder for them to admit their problem. At the same time, you don’t want to push the issue too much either. Just change the subject if they start talking about something that doesn’t make sense.

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Don’t stop telling them to get help

It’s important that you remind your loved one they need to get help every day. That is of particular importance if they don’t have an official diagnosis. It can take a long time for someone to notice they’re acting in a strange manner. In many situations, they will feel like it’s the rest of the world that’s gone mad. Gentle reminders from people who care about them could go a long way towards making them understand their issue. That could be enough to encourage them to get the medication they require to improve. So, make sure you make a conscious effort to highlight their illness in a calm and collected way.

Flickr

Don’t add to their stresses

The last thing you want to do is add to the stresses of your spouse’s mental health problem. You could make the condition worse if you’re not careful. For example, people who have schizophrenia often deteriorate when they feel under too much pressure. Indeed, it can push them into a state where their body functions stop working. You might have heard the term before, but what is catatonic schizophrenia? Well, it’s a stage of the illness that can have drastic effects on someone’s ability to live a normal life. There’s lots of information online you should read if that applies to your situation.

You should now have a good idea about the things you shouldn’t do when dealing with a psychotic loved one. So, what about the things you SHOULD do? Well, in most instances it’s sensible for you to ensure they attend medical appointments. You could go along with them to provide support if they’re nervous. You also need to make sure they always take any prescribed medication. At the end of the day, it will help to balance their mood and remove all those delusions. You could also encourage them to get out of the house as much as possible. Many people with mental health issues shut themselves off from the world, and that just makes things worse.

Military Action against North Korea Is An Option on Table, Says Rex Tillerson

Roy Siemens
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Military Action against North Korea Is An Option on Table, Says Rex Tillerson

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said during a visit to South Korea that a military action against North Korea is “an option on the table”.

He said that the policy of “strategic patience” had ended and the US was exploring a new range of diplomatic, security and economic measures.

Rex Tillerson also defended the deployment of a US missile defense system in South Korea – a move that has angered Beijing.

Seoul and Washington say the system is needed to defend against North Korea.

Rex Tillerson spoke shortly after visiting the demilitarized zone which divides the two Koreas.

The secretary of state arrived in South Korea from Japan, where he said that 20 years of efforts aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions had failed.

Asked if the possibility for military action existed, Rex Tillerson said: “Certainly we do not want to, for things to get to military conflict.”

However, he added: “If they elevate the threat of their weapons program to a level that we believe requires action, then, that option’s on the table.”

Rex Tillerson also called on China to fully implement sanctions imposed by the UN in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests.

He said: “I don’t believe we have ever fully achieved the maximum level of action that can be taken under the UN Security Council resolution with full participation of all countries.”

The US accuses China, North Korea’s main ally, of not doing enough to rein it in. However, Beijing remains wary of any action that could destabilize the North Korean regime and potentially create chaos on its border.

China is also strongly opposed to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.

The US says the system is aimed at countering the threat North Korea, but China says its powerful radar will allow the US to spy on its territory.

In recent days there have been multiple reports of apparent economic retaliation aimed at South Korea by Beijing.

Secretary Rex Tillerson called these actions “unnecessary and troubling”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWc45Ukha4

Pharaoh Statue Is Not Ramses II, but Psamtek I

James J. Williams
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Pharaoh Statue Is Not Ramses II, but Psamtek I

According to Egypt’s antiquities minister Khaled el-Anani, an ancient statue which was pulled from the mud in Cairo is not the Pharaoh Ramses II, but could be another king.

The minister told a news conference the statue was almost certainly Psamtek I, who ruled between 664 and 610BC.

Experts had thought the statue was Ramses, who ruled 600 years earlier, because it was close to a temple dedicated to the ruler.

Image source Wikipedia

However, one of Psamtek’s five names was found engraved on the huge statue.

Even so, the find is still significant, Khaled el-Anani said.

The discovery was made after they moved the statue – which was 29ft tall originally – from a wasteland in between apartment blocks on the site of the ancient capital, Heliopolis, to the Egyptian museum in central Cairo.

It was found by an Egyptian-German archaeological team, and was partially submerged in water, and had split into a number of parts. Its torso alone weighed three tonnes.

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities said it hoped the two parts could be put back together again.

McDonald’s Deletes Tweet Insulting Donald Trump

Nancy Clayson
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McDonald’s Deletes Tweet Insulting Donald Trump

McDonald’s has apologized after it sent an insulting message to President Donald Trump and said its Twitter account was “compromised”.

The company tweeted: “You are a disgusting excuse of a President and we would love to have @BarackObama back.”

It also asserted that the president had “tiny hands”.

Not long after the message was removed, McDonald’s tweeted: “We deleted the tweet, secured our account and are now investigating this.”

McDonald’s said that it had been notified by Twitter that the account had been “compromised”.

It was not clear whether this meant that the account had been hacked or taken over by a rogue employee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0ENQnWlztQ

The Hottest Tech Careers Of The Future

Dana R
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The Hottest Tech Careers Of The Future

cloud-storage

Image Source

The best way to make money is to meet the demands of the future. Getting behind the latest tech trends could see you on a six figure salary in years to come. But with so many new technologies constantly being developed, which ones are not fads and are likely to really make a difference.

Cloud technology

More and more people are seeing the benefits of freeing up their hard-drives and storing files on the cloud. More cloud servers are having to be built as a result, which is resulting in a demand for more cloud computing specialists both for manufacture, maintenance and marketing. As more and more of are files go cloud-based, it’s thought that hackers are soon going to turn their sights this way. Already these servers are extremely secure, but digital security will constantly need to be improved to stop cybercriminals catching up. Such industries are thought to earn megabucks in the future.

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Analytics

Data analysts (or data scientists) are already earning huge salaries. Their job is to take huge amounts of data – that previously not computer could deal with – and use them to better the productivity of a business. By analysing huge amounts of web traffic, data scientists can find the places and best places to target when marketing a specific product. Huge masses of financial data can be dissected to find the best way of cutting costs and making profit for a company. As more and more data becomes available, analysts are thought to become even more sought after in all trades.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual and augmented reality is the stuff of sci-fi movies, now brought to life and readily available in our homes through headsets such as the Oculus Rift. The military, surgeons and pilots are all already using VR as a safe training tool. Estate agents are already using VR to give virtual tours of homes that are for sale. The future of AR and VR is thought to be extremely lucrative and may be something worth considering for those with a creative mind.

robotics

Image Source

Robotics

We already have automated hoovers, self-service scanners and, most recently, self-driving cars. Robotics is thought to continue to take off – quite literally in some cases as NASA continues to build new robots to journey into space. AI is thought to permeate huge sections of everyday life by 2025, with many people losing their jobs to robotic processes. Being the creator behind the robots will secure your job for years to come.

The Internet of Things

‘The internet of things’ is the linking of various items and objects through the power of the web. Once upon a time, we could only access the internet through our PCs. Soon phones and TVs started to broaden our connectivity and now kettles, fridges and central heating is all being linked to the internet. More household items are thought to become connected so that we can control them from our phone. On top of this, ‘smart cities’ are thought to emerge. Internet linked traffic lights and train timetables will monitor public transport delays, weather warnings and traffic jams and react accordingly.

Kim Jong-nam Assassination: Interpol Issues Red Notice for 4 North Koreans

Nancy Clayson
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Kim Jong-nam Assassination: Interpol Issues Red Notice for 4 North Koreans

Four North Koreans are wanted by Interpol in connection with the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-nam was killed at Kuala Lumpur airport with lethal VX nerve agent last month.

Malaysia said the four men were at the airport on the day Kim Jong-nam was killed and had since left the country. They are thought to be in North Korea.

A “red notice” issued by Interpol is the nearest equivalent to an international arrest warrant.

The move is unlikely to result in arrests as North Korea is not a member of Interpol.

Two women – one Vietnamese woman and one Indonesian – have been charged with killing Kim Jong-nam. Both reportedly believed they were participating in a TV prank.

Image source Getty Images

Malaysia has not directly blamed North Korea for the assassination, but there is widespread suspicion Pyongyang was behind it.

Investigators have demanded North Korea hand over suspects, three of whom are thought to be hiding in the North Korean embassy in Malaysia.

The four named in the Interpol red notice are Ri Ji-hyon, 33, Hong Song-hac, 34, O Jong-gil, 55, and Ri Jae-nam, 57.

North Korea strongly denies any role in the assasination and has demanded that Malaysia turn over Kim Jong-nam’s body.

Last week, Malaysia finally formally identified the murder victim as Kim Jong-nam. Authorities say this was done using DNA from one of his children, although they did not say which one.

Malaysia says Kim Jong-nam’s body has been embalmed to prevent it from decomposing.

It is not clear where Kim Jong-nam’s wife and children are, although his son appeared in a video last week and said the family members were together.

Kim Jong-nam, who was the estranged, elder half-brother of Kim Jong-un, had been passed over for the North Korean succession and was living in the Chinese territory of Macau at the time of his death.

Grasse School Shooting: Students Incident Sparks Terror Alert as Several Injured

Roy Siemens
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Grasse School Shooting: Students Incident Sparks Terror Alert as Several Injured

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in the southern French town of Grasse after two people were hurt in a shooting at a school, sparking a terror alert.

A second suspect was on the run with one French media report suggesting it was an incident between two students.

Image source EPA

Anti-terrorist commandos from the elite Raid force were sent to the scene.

Grasse, the capital of French perfume industry, is about 27 miles from Nice, where a truck attack killed 86 people in July 2016.

France remains under a state of emergency after a string of deadly attacks in the past two years.

Salvează

Donald Trump Budget: State Department Bracing for Dramatic Cuts in Foreign Aid

Clyde K. Valle
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Donald Trump Budget: State Department Bracing for Dramatic Cuts in Foreign Aid

The Trump administration has revealed plans to boost US defense spending by $54 billion while cutting funding for foreign aid.

The federal government budget plan will be submitted to Congress on March 16.

The state department, which oversees foreign affairs, faces a budget cut of about 28%.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in line for cuts to programs President Trump does not agree with, such as climate change and renewables.

These include initiatives intended to bring the US into line with its Paris Agreement climate deal obligations.

Image source Flickr

The New York Times reported that the EPA could be cut by 31%.

The defense department budget will be boosted by 10%, and homeland security will get a 6% boost.

The budget will include a $1.5 billion request for pilot schemes to determine construction methods and locations for Donald Trump’s promised wall between the US and Mexico.

The White House wants a 30% cut from an energy department office that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The energy department could see steep cuts for its 17 national laboratories, which conduct research into subjects including nuclear power and advanced materials for energy generation, storage and use.

There will also be a complete cut to funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the largest source of public broadcasting funding in the US.

The budget, known as a “skinny budget”, will be limited to the $1 trillion portion of the $4 trillion annual federal budget that pays for US agencies and departments.

The remainder of Donald Trump’s budget, which will include proposals on taxes, mandatory spending and deficits and projections on the economy, will not come out until May.

Hawaii Judge Blocks Donald Trump’s Revised Travel Ban

Diane A. Wade
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Hawaii Judge Blocks Donald Trump’s Revised Travel Ban

A Hawaii federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, hours before it was due to begin after midnight on March 16.

District Judge Derrick Watson cited “questionable evidence” in the government’s argument that the ban was a matter of national security.

President Donald Trump described the ruling as “unprecedented judicial overreach”.

The executive order would have placed a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim nations and a 120-day ban on refugees.

President Trump insists the move is to stop terrorists from entering the United States, but critics say it is discriminatory.

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

Judge Derrick Watson said the court had established a strong likelihood that, were the ban to go ahead, it would cause “irreparable injury” by violating First Amendment protections against religious discrimination.

Hawaii had argued that the ban would harm tourism and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers in the state.

The 43-page ruling argued that a “reasonable, objective observer” taking into account the context of the Executive Order would conclude it “was issued with a purpose to disfavor a particular religion”.

Image source Flickr

It notes statements made by Donald Trump such as a 2015 press release calling for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”, and his adviser Rudolph Guiliani, who said in a TV interview in January: “When [President Trump] first announced it, he said, <<Muslim ban>>. He called me up. He said: <<Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally>>.”

It also says there is a “dearth of evidence indicating a national security purpose”.

Speaking at a rally in Nashville, Tennessee on March 15, Donald Trump said the ruling in Hawaii was “flawed” and a case of “unprecedented judicial overreach”.

The Trump administration argues that the constitution gives the president the power to suspend immigration when he deems it to be in the national interest of the country, and that neither the initial or revised orders discriminate on the basis of religion.

DoJ lawyers argue that the revised ban is an extension of President Barack Obama’s move towards stricter screening of travelers from the six countries.

Donald Trump said he will take the case “as far as it needs to go”, including to the Supreme Court.

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 half the original travel ban.

However, also on March 15, five judges at that court wrote a letter saying they believed that decision was an “error”, and the first Executive Order was “well within the powers of the presidency”.

California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington are all taking part in legal actions against the revised ban.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who is attending a court hearing in Seattle in his efforts to block the travel ban, described the ruling as “fantastic news”.

Donald Trump to Bring Wiretap Evidence “Very Soon”

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump to Bring Wiretap Evidence “Very Soon”

President Donald Trump is standing by his claim that former President Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower in 2016.

The president told Fox News a “wiretap covers a lot of different things” and hinted more could emerge in the coming weeks.

Barack Obama has denied the charge and former spy chiefs and several lawmakers have said they have seen no evidence.

The latest senior figure to cast doubt on the allegation was the Republican chairman of the House intelligence committee, Devin Nunes.

He said on March 15 he doesn’t believe “there was an actual tap of Trump Tower”.

Earlier this month, President Trump tweeted that President Obama had wiretapped his phones during the presidential campaign.

In a series of tweets, Donald Trump accused his predecessor directly, asking: “Is it legal for a sitting President to be <<wire tapping>> a race for president?”

Image source Wikipedia

Talking to Fox News in an interview that was broadcast in full on March 15, he made his first comments about the wiretap accusation he made two weeks ago.

Donald Trump said: “Wiretap covers a lot of different things. I think you’re going to find some very interesting items coming to the forefront over the next two weeks.”

Despite repeated requests from reporters, the White House has not provided any evidence to support his claim.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has said President Trump “used the word <<wiretap>> in quotes to mean broadly surveillance and other activities”.

Sean Spicer also said that President Trump was not accusing Barack Obama personally.

Donald Trump asked Congress to examine the allegation as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in last year’s election.

Senator Lindsey Graham, who is leading the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation of allegations of Trump-Russia ties, has pressed the FBI to come forward with more details of its own probe into the issue.

Lindsey Graham said on March 15 he would use a court order to force FBI Director James Comey to submit details on its Russian investigation and whether there was any evidence of Donald Trump’s phones being wiretapped.

James Comey promised on March 15 to provide answers in a classified briefing.

Intelligence agencies found that Russia conducted cyber-attacks against the Democratic Party as part of an effort to influence the election in Donald Trump’s favor.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement.

Donald Trump has been dogged by claims that his advisers and staff had ties to Russian officials, but there has been no evidence of any collusion between his campaign and Moscow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKN9uj2HFbg

Fed Raises Interest Rate by 0.25% for Third Time In A Decade

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Fed Raises Interest Rate by 0.25% for Third Time In A Decade

The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25% for only the third time in a decade.

It voted to raise its key rate target to a range of 0.75% to 1%.

The central bank had been expected to raise rates after a robust February jobs report, solid pay gains, rising inflation and a dip in the unemployment rate to 4.7%.

Its policymakers are expected to increase rates a total of three times this year.

The Federal Reserve aims to keep the cost of lending between banks within a specified band, which it does by buying or selling financial assets.

It is raising that band by a quarter of a percent.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the committee judged that a “modest increase” in the rate is appropriate “in light of the economy’s solid progress.”

She added: “Even after this increase, monetary policy remains accommodative, thus supporting some further strengthening in the job market, and a sustained return to 2% inflation.”

The decision was approved with a 9-1 vote. Neel Kashkari, the head of the Fed’s regional bank in Minneapolis, cast the dissenting vote.

This is the second time the Fed has raised rates in three months. It signaled that further hikes this year will be gradual.

The Fed’s statement said its inflation target was “symmetric,” indicating that after a decade of below-target inflation it could tolerate a quicker pace of price rises.

Wall Street stock indexes jumped after the announcement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 112 points at 20,950 in afternoon trading.

The US dollar fell about 0.9% against the euro and more than 1% against the pound.

The Fed’s outlook for the economy changed little, with officials expecting economic growth of 2.1% this year and next year before slipping to 1.9% in 2019.

Those forecasts are far below the 4% growth that President Donald Trump has said he can produce with his economic program.

However, Janet Yellen told reporters that she didn’t believe it is “a point of conflict” between the Fed and the Trump administration.

“We would certainly welcome stronger economic growth in the context of price stability, and if policies were put in place to speed growth… those would be very welcome changes that we would like to see,” she said.

Salvează

Utah To Lower DUI BAC Level

Nancy Clayson
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Utah To Lower DUI BAC Level

Governor Gary Herbert said he would sign a measure that reduces the legal alcohol limit from .08 to .05. Other states may follow suit, and some people are curious as to the possible effect on civil liability.

After a spirited debate, House Bill 155 cleared the Senate by a fairly wide margin. Republicans, including Majority Whip Stuart Adams, claimed the bill “helps prevent drinking drivers from getting behind the wheel in the first place.” Many other countries already have a .05 BAC limit, he added. Democrats, including Sen. Jim Dabakis, expressed concern that the bill would damage hospitality and tourism because it made Utah look like a “peculiar” place.

Advocacy groups were split as well. The American Beverage Institute said the bill would do very little to reduce drunk driving crashes, since most of these drivers have a BAC over .15. On the other side, the Sutherland Institute praised House Bill 155 as a “common sense policy” that is supported by a “mountain of evidence [which] suggests that moving Utah’s DUI blood alcohol content (BAC) standard to .05 will save lives and improve public safety on Utah’s roads.”

 

Criminal vs. Civil Court

In Utah and most other states, prosecutors can use either direct or circumstantial evidence to convict people in DUI cases. With a lower BAC limit, it’s obviously easier to obtain convictions based on the per se law, but circumstantial evidence cases (normally the field sobriety tests) would be largely unaffected.

Also in Utah and most other states, victim/plaintiffs have two ways to establish liability for damages, and these methods are outlined below. The biggest difference is that the burden of proof in criminal court is much higher than the burden in civil court.

Prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which usually means that the evidence must be so overwhelming that guilty is the only possible verdict. Victim/plaintiffs must only establish liability for damages by a preponderance of the evidence, which means more likely than not. So, if one of the “scales of justice” is just a tiny bit higher than the other one, the plaintiff wins the case.

Image source Wikimedia

 

First Party Liability

Since drivers are impaired after just one drink, evidence of consumption is usually tantamount to evidence of impairment in civil court, because of the lower standard of proof. Such evidence often includes:

  • The point of departure (e.g. the negligent driver had just left a bar or restaurant),
  • Erratic driving,
  • Bloodshot eyes, and
  • An odor of alcohol.

If the tortfeasor (negligent driver) is arrested for DUI, the negligence per se shortcut usually applies. The exact rule varies from state to state, but typically the tortfeasor is liable as a matter of law if the driver:

  • Violated a safety law, and
  • That violation substantially caused the plaintiff’s damages,

The effect also varies. In some jurisdictions, negligence per se is conclusive proof of liability; in other places, negligence per se only creates a presumption in favor of liability.

 

Third Party Liability

Many states have dram shop laws that hold third-party alcohol providers, like bars, grocery stores, and party hosts, liable for damages in certain situations. Generally, if the tortfeasor was under 21, the provider is automatically responsible and there is no possible legal defense. If the tortfeasor was over 21, the plaintiff must also prove that the provider was somehow negligent, perhaps by serving someone who was obviously intoxicated.

Some states, including California, have done away with their dram shop laws. When asked why, Sherwin Arzani, an attorney that handles personal injury matters in California, responded, “It’s because some people believe such laws undercut personal responsibility in alcohol-related crashes.”

Third party liability may still apply even in the absence of a dram shop law, under a more complicated legal theory. For example, assume a party host promises to call a taxi for an intoxicated guest, the host does not make the call, the guest drives home, and causes a car crash along the way. Under these facts, the host could still be a responsible third party even if there is no dram shop law, under a theory called negligent undertaking.

 

The Netherlands Elections 2017: Race Dominated by Mark Rutte’s and Geert Wilder’s Parties

Diane A. Wade
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0
The Netherlands Elections 2017: Race Dominated by Mark Rutte’s and Geert Wilder’s Parties

Dutch voters are going to the polls in the first of three crucial eurozone elections in 2017.

The race is dominated by PM Mark Rutte’s center-right party and Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party, running on an anti-immigration platform.

Mark Rutte has said the election is an opportunity for voters to “beat the wrong sort of populism”.

Geert Wilders has pledged to take the Netherlands out of the EU, close all mosques and ban the Koran.

His party had been leading in opinion polls but they have since suggested his support may be slipping.

Voter turnout so far has been high, with turnout at midday at 33%, compared to 27% at the last election in 2012, Reuters reports.

Image source Getty Images

France goes to the polls next month to elect a new president while Germany is due to hold a general election in September.

March 15election also comes amid a diplomatic spat between the Netherlands and Turkey.

Geert Wilders declared after casting his vote: “Whatever the outcome of the elections today, the genie will not go back into the bottle and this patriotic revolution – whether today or tomorrow – will take place.”

Protracted coalition talks are the likely outcome.

After casting his vote, PM Mark Rutte asked his fellow citizens to imagine how the world would react if the Freedom Party came first.

“I think the rest of the world will then see that after Brexit, after the American elections, again the wrong sort of populism has won the day,” he said.

Earlier, in TV debates, Mark Rutte and Geert Wilders clashed over how to stem immigration.

Mark Rutte dismissed Geert Wilders’s plan to close borders and mosques and to ban the Koran as “fake solutions”.

Geert Wilders accused Mark Rutte of providing better healthcare for immigrants than for the Dutch themselves.

Lodewijk Asscher of the Labor Party, the junior party in Mark Rutte’s coalition, called Geert Wilders a man of “10,000 angry tweets and no solutions”.

Several of the smaller party leaders are being seen as potential power-brokers.

Seven of the 28 parties running could win more than 10 seats in the 150-seat parliament, the polls suggest.

Christian Democrat Sybrand Buma and liberal Alexander Pechtold might go into coalition in the event of Mark Rutte’s victory.

However, other parties could end up as king-makers too, such as the Green-Left under Jesse Klaver and the Socialist party.

None are likely to take part in a coalition with Geert Wilders.

All of the parties forecast to win 10 seats or more are led by men yet women made up more than a third of MPs in the outgoing parliament (58 out of 150).

In the past, the Green-Left was regularly led by a woman, including Femke Halsema, who held the post for more than eight years (2002-2010).

Now only some of the very small parties have female leaders: Sylvana Simons from Article One (which campaigns against discrimination) and Marianne Thieme from Party for the Animals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wrs2OoYhcA

Ben Affleck Struggled with Alcohol Addiction

Lisa.Felice
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Ben Affleck Struggled with Alcohol Addiction

Ben Affleck has revealed he completed treatment for alcohol addiction.

The actor said in a Facebook post that alcoholism was “something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront”.

Ben Affleck said the latest course of treatment was “the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery”.

The 44-year-old’s battles with drink problems stretch back more than 15 years, with his first reported stint in an alcohol treatment clinic taking place in 2001.

Photo PBS

In his new statement, Ben Affleck wrote: “I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be.

“I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.”

Ben Affleck praised wife Jennifer Garner, with whom he has three children. The pair announced their separation in 2015 but recent reports have suggested they “are giving things another try”.

The double Oscar-winner said: “I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do.

“This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.”

He recently pulled out of directing the upcoming standalone Batman, but will still produce and star in the movie.

Ben Affleck is also expected to direct and star in Witness for the Prosecution, based on the Agatha Christie story.

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

Donald Trump’s 2005 Tax Returns Leaked

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump’s 2005 Tax Returns Leaked

A leaked partial tax return of President Donald Trump shows that he paid $38 million in tax on more than $150 million income in 2005.

The two pages of tax return, revealed by MSNBC, also showed Donald Trump wrote off $103 million in losses. It gave no details on income sources.

The White House said publishing the tax return was against the law.

Donald Trump refused to release his tax returns during the election campaign, breaking with a long-held tradition.

The president has said he is under audit by tax authorities and that his lawyers advise against releasing tax returns.

The IRS has a policy not to confirm whether or not individuals are under audit, but says it does not stop anyone from releasing their own returns.

Donald Trump’s critics have created numerous petitions calling for their full release, including one that gathered over a million signatures.

Correspondents say that, despite the lack of detail in the 2005 documents, the leak is still significant because so little is known about Donald Trump’s tax affairs and the new information could increase pressure on him to release more.

The two pages show that President Trump paid $5.3 million in federal income tax and an extra $31 million in what is called alternative minimum tax (AMT).

Image source Flickr

AMT was set up nearly 50 years ago to stop the wealthiest people from using deductions and loopholes to avoid paying taxes. Donald Trump has called for it to be abolished.

The $38 million bill was an effective tax rate of about 24%, higher than the average American citizen would pay but below the 27.4% averaged by higher-earning taxpayers.

Although leaking federal tax returns is a criminal offence, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow argued that the network was exercising its right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment to the US Constitution to publish information in the public interest.

Journalist David Cay Johnston, interviewed on MSNBC, said he had received the documents in the post from an anonymous source.

In a statement issued before the broadcast, the White House said: “You know you are desperate for ratings when you are willing to violate the law to push a story about two pages of tax returns from over a decade ago.”

The statement said President Trump had a responsibility to pay no more tax than was legally required.

Every presidential candidate since 1976 has released their tax returns although there is no legal requirement to do so.

During last year’s election campaign, Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump in a head-to-head debate of paying no federal income tax.

Donald Trump responded: “That makes me smart.”

In October 2016, the New York Times revealed parts of Donald Trump’s 1995 tax returns that showed losses of $916 million. The newspaper said this could have affected his returns for up to 18 subsequent years, allowing him to legally avoid paying federal income taxes.

The forms disclosed on March 14 do not say whether the $103 million write-down was connected to the 1995 losses.

Park Geun-hye Accused of Abandoning Her Jindo Dogs

Diane A. Wade
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Park Geun-hye Accused of Abandoning Her Jindo Dogs

South Korean animal rights groups have accused impeached President Park Geun-hye of abandoning her dogs when she left the presidential palace.

The row comes as Park Geun-hye was called for questioning and named as a suspect in the wide-ranging corruption scandal that eventually led to her downfall.

The ousted leader was dismissed from her post last week when the constitutional court upheld her impeachment.

South Korea will hold its presidential election on May 9.

Park Geun-hye is South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be ousted.

Over the weekend she left the presidential palace, known as the Cheong Wa Dae, and moved into her house in an affluent district of Seoul.

Park Geun-hye’s nine Jindo dogs were not among the entourage that accompanied her.

The Busan Korea Alliance for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Busan KAPCA) noted the impeached president could have violated animal protection laws by leaving the dogs behind.

Image source BarkPost

The group, along with the Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), claimed Park Geun-hye had abandoned her pets, and both organizations offered to find new homes for the dogs.

A Cheong Wa Dae spokesman denied Park Geun-hye had abandoned her dogs, and told Reuters that they were left at the palace partly because it would not be good for them to be uprooted from their home.

“She told… staff to take good care of the dogs and to find good foster homes for the puppies if necessary,” said the spokesman.

Park Geun-hye was known to be fond of her pets, which had been dubbed the country’s “First Dogs,” the Korea Times reported.

When Park Geun-hye was inaugurated as president in 2013, she moved into Cheong Wa Dae with a pair of Jindo dogs which were given to her as a present.

The pair later produced several puppies, some of whom she kept while others were adopted. Jindo dogs are known for their loyalty and devotion.

South Korea has been run by PM Hwang Kyo-ahn since parliament voted to impeach Park Geun-hye in December.

The date for the next presidential election was set at a cabinet meeting on March 15.

At that meeting, Hwang Kyo-ahn said he would not run in the election, dealing a blow to conservatives looking for viable candidates, reported Yonhap news agency.

Park Geun-hye has also been summoned by prosecutors for questioning on March 21 over her alleged involvement in the corruption scandal surrounding presidential aide Choi Soon-sil.

She is accused of colluding with Choi Soon-sil in extorting large amounts of money and favors from conglomerates.

Park Geun-hye has denied all accusations and refused previous requests to take part in investigations.

The Best Places to Buy Discounted Cars

Dana R
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The Best Places to Buy Discounted Cars

Cars do not always die at the most opportune moment. If your car was totaled in an accident or needs an expensive repair that is not worth making, you may find yourself car shopping before you were ready to. If your finances are tight, the last thing you may want is an expensive car payment. As such, you may be looking for the top 10 Disneyland secrets or to buy a car at a discounted or bargain price. Knowing where to begin your search is half the battle. You aren’t likely to find a discounted price at a dealership, as they mark up their cars to make money. Fortunately, there are plenty of other places you can look for a bargain when you are car hunting. Here are three of the best places to buy discounted cars.

From Private Sellers

One of the best places to look when you are looking for a discounted car is with private sellers. Some private sellers just want to sell their car. They do not want to deal with the hassle of meeting person after person to test drive the car or they may want the money because they already bought a new car and don’t want to insure two cars. Whatever the case, some private sellers price a car low in order to move it fast. Drive around your neighborhood and look for people who have for sale signs in the window of the car or look on street corners for make shift car lots. Also, be sure to check out online classified sites. However, when you are buying a car from a private seller, be aware that the car has no warranty and lemon laws do not apply. Be sure you inspect the car well to ensure there are no problems.

From Auto Auctions

Another place to look for discounted cars is from auto auctions. There are many different entities that offer auto auctions. You can find auto auctions being held for repossessed cars, police impound cars or government car auctions. A repossessed car is a car that someone took out a loan and did not pay for. The lender wants to get what they still owe on the car, not necessarily what the car is worth. A police impound auction is done on cars that were impounded by the police and never picked up. This may be because someone had outstanding traffic tickets, did not register their car or were involved in criminal activity in the car. Regardless, these cars can go for less than blue book value. Government car auctions typically include cars that were used by government officials. When the government is ready to sell the cars and buy new ones, they auction off the old cars. Most agencies take good care of the cars, so this can be a great way to get a clean, well-maintained car.

Through Insurance Salvage Programs

The last place you can look for a discounted car is through insurance salvage programs. When a car is involved in an accident, and the cost to repair the car is more than blue book value, the insurance company salvages the car out. However, they take these cars and auction them off. Some of them are only good for the parts that are not damaged. Others can be repaired and become great cars. If you are handy with cars or don’t mind investing some money to make a car operable, buying a car through an insurance program may be a great way to get a car inexpensively. No matter where you purchase your car, auto insurance companies will usually give you a better rate if you have passed a defensive driving course.

If your current car is no longer operable and you need a new one quickly and cheaply, be sure to look for a car being sold by private sellers, through an auto auction or being offered from an insurance salvage program.

Oil Prices Drop to New 2017 Low

Clyde K. Valle
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Oil Prices Drop to New 2017 Low

Oil prices have fallen after the OPEC said global crude stocks had risen.

A surprise output jump from Saudi Arabia, OPEC’s biggest member, put further pressure on prices.

Gains made since OPEC announced output cuts in 2016 have nearly all been erased.

Saudi Arabia said it was “committed” to stabilizing the global oil market, and that its output was still in line with its OPEC target.

OPEC said in its report: “Despite the supply adjustment, stocks have continued to rise, not just in the US, but also in Europe.

“Nevertheless, prices have undoubtedly been provided a floor by the production accords.”

Photo Getty Images

In February, Saudi Arabia’s production increased to 10.011 million barrels per day, compared with 9.748 million barrels per day in January.

Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said the country “is committed and determined to stabilize the global oil market by working closely with all other participating OPEC and non-OPEC producers”.

Oil prices fell after the release of the OPEC report to trade close to $50 a barrel, their lowest since November.

Crude prices are still higher than $40 per barrel a year ago and a 12-year low of about $28 in January 2016.

Brent crude oil price settled about 0.5% down at $51.09 per barrel, while US crude was at $47.90.

4 Ways Coding Is Changing The Tech World

Dana R
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4 Ways Coding Is Changing The Tech World

Children born into the current times are growing up with technology thrust at them from every angle. Gone are the days you needed to have wires plugged into the computer to connect to the internet. Gone are the days you could only make a phone call with a house phone. Companies are going digital more than ever before and we are becoming comfortable with the advancements in our home technology. The thing is, it’s important to remember that these advancements do not appear out of thin air. They take a lot of work, a lot of creativity and they need continuous monitoring and upgrading. Technology can change lives, and coding is part of that change.

Coding is changing the world around us, and so many people are unaware of what coding is. Coders are making a huge contribution every day and it is, centrally, a very creative process. It’s the language of the technology that you use on a daily basis and you can read so much more about what it is used for here. The world of technology is advancing because of coding and here are four ways coding is making the world evolve at a faster pace:

laptop

Image Source

  1. The Web: Quite an obvious one, but the internet has changed lives in a way we cannot measure. Communication has advanced to be instantaneous from across the world. Companies are switching online on every platform possible and the amount of HTML that sits behind websites – both on computers and on smart phones and tablets is immense. Coding requires a lot of support and companies are studying up on the ultimate log4net tutorial for their business website with great interest.
  2. Databases: More than just something you use to sort your finances, programmers everywhere use databases to help computers to store information that a computer can read and write. They can also delete that information. Facebook holds huge databases of information about its users and businesses need to be able to hold information about their products, consumers and services.
  3. Online Shopping: The amount of coding that supports a website is already huge, but to support the services offered with online shopping, coders have their hands full. Programming that is required for the websites we often take for granted as easy to use is not always easy to implement. Online shopping is still somewhat of a revelation across the globe and programmers work tirelessly to make constant upgrades and changers to improve the user experience.
  4. Blogging: The blogging world is so popular and is evolving at a rapid pace. Coders are part of this evolution. Everyone has a voice and blogging is a platform that allows that voice to be heard. Without coding, the rapid growth of the blogging world would stall. Themes and templates are created by coders at great length and are always available online to look at such as here.

If you can create technology, you have the power to help the world evolve. Companies that understand this are those that will be successful in their technological ventures.

Francois Fillon Under Formal Investigation in France

Diane A. Wade
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Francois Fillon Under Formal Investigation in France

Francois Fillon has been placed under formal investigation over an alleged diversion of public funds, French prosecutors say.

The center-right presidential candidate is suspected of paying hundreds of thousands of euros to his family for work they may not have done.

Francois Fillon denies wrongdoing, but had earlier said he would quit the presidential race if placed under investigation.

Until recently, he was the favorite to win the elections in April and May.

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

Image source Wikimedia

On March 14, Francois Fillon, 63, was personally placed under formal investigation over suspicions that he arranged for his wife Penelope to be paid public money for work as his parliamentary assistant which she did not actually carry out.

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.

A magistrate had already been investigating the case, but until now the inquiry did not mention directly Francois Fillon.

The embarrassment is acute because this is the same Francois Fillon who before the campaign said it would be inconceivable for someone to remain as a candidate if placed in this legal situation, our correspondent adds.

In a separate development on March 14, French media report that Marine Le Pen is now suspected by the country’s tax authorities of undervaluing her share of two properties jointly owned with her father Jean Marie Le Pen.

Marine Le Pen has made no public comment on the issue.

Donald Trump to Donate His Salary to Charity

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump to Donate His Salary to Charity

President Donald Trump will donate his $400,000 salary to charity at the end of 2017, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has confirmed.

In an unexpected twist, the president wants the White House press corps to decide where it should go.

Before taking office, Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that he would not claim his presidential salary.

It was confirmed that it would be donated after multiple media outlets asked if he was keeping that pledge.

Sean Spicer told a press briefing: “The President’s intention right now is to donate his salary at the end of the year, and he has kindly asked that you all determine where that goes.”

Image source Wikipedia

He joked that letting the media choose a beneficiary would be “a way to avoid scrutiny”.

“In all seriousness, I think his view is he made a pledge to the American people he wants to donate it to charity and he’d love your help to determine where it should go,” Sean Spicer told the press.

President Trump’s salary has been fixed at $400,000 a year since 2001. Donald Trump had previously said he would take only $1 a year, because the president is required by law to receive a salary.

It is unclear which organization the press corps will choose to support.

Suggestions have included setting up a fund for journalism scholarships via the White House Correspondents’ Association.

Donald Trump is not the first president to forego a salary. Herbert Hoover, who made his fortune in mining before taking office, and John F. Kennedy, who inherited his wealth, both donated their pay to charity.

Winter Storm Stella Hits New York and New Jersey

Nancy Clayson
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Winter Storm Stella Hits New York and New Jersey

New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency as huge Winter Storm Stella sweeps in, threatening blizzard conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

On March 14, schools are closed and thousands of flights have been canceled.

The conditions caused German Chancellor Angela Merkel to postpone a trip to Washington to meet President Donald Trump.

With winds of up to 60mph, Winter Storm Stella is likely to cause severe disruption for commuters across many parts of the north-east on March 15, forecasters say.

A 24-hour blizzard warning was issued by the National Weather Service from midnight for New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Image source Flickr

Storm warnings were also posted from southern Maine to Virginia.

“During its height we could see snowfall rates of 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6cm), even up to four inches per hour,” said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist based in Taunton, Massachusetts.

More than 6,500 flights have been canceled, tracking service FlightAware reported, with airports in New York, Washington, Boston, Baltimore and Philadelphia worst hit.

Schools will be closed on March 14 in New York, Providence, Rhode Island and in some towns across Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Declaring a state of emergency, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said people should expect road closures, delays and cancelations.

He said in a statement: “I strongly urge everyone to limit unnecessary travel on Tuesday and if you must drive, please plan ahead, be careful, and stay safe.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also declared a state of emergency and ordered all state employees not involved in the response to stay at home.

Angela Merkel’s visit was planned for March 14 and has been rescheduled for March 17.

Winter Storm Stella follows a spell of unusually mild weather in the north-east, with last month being the second warmest February since record-keeping began in 1895.

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

White House Softens Donald Trump’s Wiretap Claims

Diane A. Wade
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White House Softens Donald Trump’s Wiretap Claims

President Donald Trump’s claims that he was wiretapped by former President Barack Obama were not meant literally, White House press secretary Sean Spicer says.

He said President Trump had broadly meant “surveillance and other activities” when he made the allegation in a tweet earlier this month.

Sean Spicer also suggested Donald Trump was not accusing his predecessor specifically.

Meanwhile, the DoJ has asked for more time to provide information about the allegations.

A congressional committee had set a March 13 deadline for the department to provide any evidence of President Trump’s claims but a spokeswoman said it needed “additional time… to determine what if any responsive documents may exist”.

Image source Wikipedia

The House Intelligence Committee said it would give the department until March 20 to comply with its request.

In his tweet President Trump said: “Just found out that Obama had my <<wires tapped>> in Trump Tower just before the victory.”

He added: “Is it legal for a sitting President to be <<wire tapping>> a race for president?”

Despite repeated requests, the White House has not given any evidence for the claim.

The White House has instead asked Congress to examine the allegation as part of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in last year’s election.

A spokesman for Barack Obama has said the accusation is “simply false”.

“The president used the word wiretap in quotes to mean broadly surveillance and other activities,” Sean Spicer told reporters.

“There’s a whole host of tactics that can be used to monitor somebody either through wiretap or other ways,” he added, without giving details.

Sean Spicer also suggested President Trump was referring to the actions of the Obama administration and not accusing the former president directly.

Earlier, Senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said she did not have any evidence to back up the wiretapping claim but said there were “many ways to survey each other now”.

“You can survey someone through their phones, certainly through their television sets – any number of ways… microwaves that turn into cameras. We know this is a fact of modern life,” Kellyanne Conway told New Jersey’s Bergen County Record.

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