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Reality TV Star Seeks Palimony Payments

Sonia Pantiss
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Reality TV Star Seeks Palimony Payments

Tarek El Moussa, one of the hosts of HGTV’s popular Flip or Flop house makeover and resale program, demanded spousal support from soon-to-be-ex-wife and series co-host Christina El Moussa.

The couple, who married in 2009, apparently began having problems several years ago. Those issues came to a head in May 2016, when officers responded to a disturbance call at the couple’s Yorba Linda residence. Allegedly, the couple had a row and Mr. El Moussa fled the residence with a firearm in a suicidal state of mind. After he convinced officers that he was simply blowing off steam, they departed the scene, no arrests were made, and no charges were filed. Nevertheless, the couple formally separated shortly thereafter. In the divorce papers, Mr. El Moussa offered no basis for his request for spousal support.

 

Meanwhile, HGTV network executives, who apparently relied on the couple’s marriage to help this show stand out from the slew of similar reality programs, have supposedly threatened to sue the couple for breach of contract if they do not either reconcile or at least work together amicably.

 

Nontraditional Spousal Support

 

According to the Census Bureau, 40 percent of American households feature female “breadwinner” spouses who provide the primary, or only, source of income for the family. Yet less than 3 percent of divorced men receive spousal support payments. Observers say that many men are “shamed” into not asking for support because either they or their peers consider such requests to be emasculating. Furthermore, breadwinning female spouses often fight such requests, and the limited-income husbands sometimes have little financial resources with which to fight such court battles.

 

There may be a different dynamic as well. Divorced men usually rebuild wealth faster than divorced women, so they are often more optimistic about future financial prospects and see less need for spousal support. Many people, both men and women, are also more than willing to make financial sacrifices if they believe that such moves will foster a better co-parenting relationship.

 

Alimony Factors in California

 

According to Hossein Berenji, an attorney at Berenji & Associates Divorce Lawyers in Los Angeles, CA, “Spouses are not automatically entitled to alimony in California, although there is a strong legal presumption in favor of spousal support.” That presumption has changed over the years. Whereas many spouses once received support payments based on little more than the obligor spouse’s ability to pay, “most courts now balance that element with the obligee spouse’s financial need, and specifically what amount and duration of payments is needed to help obligee spouses become economically self-sufficient,” says Mr. Berenji

 

The primary factors, which are designed to give obligee spouses basically the same standard of living in divorce as they had while married, are laid out in Section 4320 of the California Family Code. Some of the major ones are:

 

  • Future Earning Potential: In addition to considering employment prospects and the current level of marketable skills, the court may also consider the time and money required (if any) to enhance these skills to the level that the person is self-sufficient.
  • Noneconomic Contributions: Many “caretaker” spouses put their careers on hold to assume this role, and people with extended gaps on their resumes are often at a competitive disadvantage in terms of both hireability and compensation.
  • Relative Health and Age of the Parties: If one spouse probably has significantly more working years ahead of him or her, the court may adjust the amount of spousal support accordingly.
  • Spousal Agreements: Most California judges honor voluntary pacts between husbands and wives, as long as such agreements are not blatantly one-sided.

 

Other factors include prior domestic violence convictions, the amount of both community and separate property awarded to each spouse, and custody provisions for minor children (especially if they are disabled).

 

Amount and Duration of Payments

 

California’s alimony system is highly subjective in terms of necessity, amount, and duration of payments, and although such systems have come under scrutiny in many other states, there has been very little reform effort in the Golden State.
To determine the amount of payments, most judges apply the 4320 factors, specifically with an eye toward self-sufficiency. As for the duration of payments, there is a rebuttable presumption that obligor spouses should pay support only until obligee spouses can become self-sufficient, and according to 4320(2)(l), that self-sufficiency must occur within “a reasonable period of time.” Courts have consistently defined this phrase to mean half the length of the relationship if the marriage lasted less than ten years; this presumption does not apply in longer marriages.

 

Gambia to Rejoin Commonwealth After Four Years

Diane A. Wade
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Gambia to Rejoin Commonwealth After Four Years

The Gambia intends to rejoin the Commonwealth, UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is in the West African country, has confirmed.

Boris Johnson’s visit, the first to The Gambia by a British foreign secretary, comes weeks after long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh went into exile after losing elections.

Yahya Jammeh took The Gambia out of the Commonwealth in 2013, calling it a neo-colonial institution.

Newly-elected President Adama Barrow had promised a return to the 52-nation grouping.

Before leaving for Banjul, Boris Johnson said: “We will ensure this happens in the coming months.

“The strength of our partnerships show that Global Britain is growing in influence and activity around the world.”

The Commonwealth secretariat said it welcomed the news, saying the formal process of rejoining would have to be agreed by the 52 heads of government.

A spokesman said: “When The Gambia left the Commonwealth in 2013, the heads of government… noted its decision with regret. We looked forward to the country’s eventual return because it was part of our very close knit family and our doors have always remained open.”

Last week, the EU promised The Gambia an aid package of nearly $81 million – almost three years after freezing its assistance to the West African nation.

Adama Barrow, who was sworn in last month, has also said The Gambia will reverse its move to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement on February 13, the government said it had written to UN chief Antonio Guterres to inform him of its decision “to discontinue the withdrawal notice”.

In 2016, a former Gambian information minister had referred to the court as “an International Caucasian Court for the persecution and humiliation of people of color, especially Africans”.

The move is a blow to Africa’s anti-ICC lobby – which includes South Africa, Namibia and Burundi.

At the annual African Union summit held this month, leaders called for a mass walk-out from the ICC, but faced opposition from other countries, including Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia.

The Foreign Office said as well as holding talks with Adama Barrow, Boris Johnson would visit the UK-funded Medical Research Council and speak to Chevening scholars and workers and employers in the tourism industry.

The Gambia is a popular holiday destination for Britons. Thousands had to be evacuated last month because of security concerns when Yahya Jammeh was refusing to hand over power after losing December’s elections.

Adama Barrow, whose swearing-in was held in neighboring Senegal, is to be inaugurated as president in a ceremony at the national stadium on February 18.

Several heads of state are expected to attend. Local dignitaries may include former VP Alhagie Saihou Sabally, who local media said had returned to the Gambia on February 13 after 22 years in exile.

Yahya Jammeh, who took power in coup in 1994, is now in exile in Equatorial Guinea after West African leaders deployed troops to The Gambia to ensure he left power.

Boris Johnson will go on to Ghana for talks with President Nana Akufo-Addo on February 15.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9qwmOvdCZk

Rolls-Royce Reports $5.7 Billion Loss for 2016

Clyde K. Valle
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Rolls-Royce Reports $5.7 Billion Loss for 2016

Rolls-Royce reported a record loss before tax of £4.6 billion ($5.7 billion) for 2016.

However, once one-off costs have been stripped out, the jet engine maker’s underlying profit was better than many experts had predicted.

Rolls-Royce agreed to pay £671 million ($838 million) to settle corruption cases with UK and US authorities and it has written off £4.4 billion ($5.5 billion) from currency related contracts.

Like many international businesses, Rolls-Royce usually “hedges” its bets to protect itself from fluctuating currency markets.

Most international aerospace contracts are priced in dollars, but, as a UK-based company, much of Rolls-Royce’s costs are in pounds.

It takes out long-term currency trades. These were designed to protect the firm against what seemed the most likely risk- the fall in the dollar – and many of them were put in place before the EU referendum was even announced.

Since the Brexit vote, the pound has fallen sharply against the US dollar, which has led to the accounting loss.

Rolls-Royce has apologized “unreservedly” for the corruption cases, which spanned 25 years, and involved illegally using local middlemen and paying bribes to win deals in Indonesia, Thailand, China and Russia.

Salvează

Kim Jong-nam Dead: Kim Jong-un’s Half Brother Killed in Malaysia

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-nam Dead: Kim Jong-un’s Half Brother Killed in Malaysia

Kim Jong-un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, has been killed in Malaysia, South Korean and Malaysian sources say.

The 45-year-old is said to have been targeted at the airport in Kuala Lumpur.

According to local media, his body was now undergoing an autopsy.

Kim Jong-nam was the eldest son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Malaysian police have confirmed to Reuters that a North Korean man who died in transit to hospital from the airport on February 13 was Kim Jong-nam.

Kim Jong-nam is thought to have fallen out of favor with Kim Jong-il in 2001 after he was caught trying to sneak into Japan using a false passport

According to a report from TV Chosun, a cable TV network in South Korea, Kim Jong-nam was poisoned at the airport by two women, believed to be North Korean operatives.

In 2001, Kim Jong-nam was caught trying to enter Japan using a false passport. He told officials that he was planning to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Once seen as a likely successor to Kim Jong-il, he was thought to have fallen out of favor with his father over the incident.

Bypassed in favor of his youngest half-brother for succession when their father died in 2011, Kim Jong-nam kept a low profile, spending most of his time overseas in Macau, Singapore and China.

Kim Jong-nam was quoted by Japanese media in 2011 as saying he opposed “dynastic succession”.

In a 2012 book, he was also quoted as saying he believed his younger half-brother lacked leadership qualities, the succession would not work and that North Korea was unstable and needed Chinese-style economic reform.

Kim Jong-nam was reportedly targeted for assassination in the past. A North Korean spy jailed by South Korea in 2012 was reported to have admitted trying to organize a hit-and-run accident targeting Kim Jong-nam.

Top 3 Things You Need To Know Before You Hire An SEO Company

Nancy Clayson
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Top 3 Things You Need To Know Before You Hire An SEO Company

You may think choosing an SEO company for your business is a tough decision to make. It can be hard for you if you don’t know where to begin. However, you don’t have to worry too much about that if you know the things that you should look for in an SEO company.

When you decide to hire an SEO company, you should be prepared for the possibility that it can either make or break your business. With a good SEO company, it will be possible for you to multiply your earnings each month. But with a bad one, it will only worsen your case. You might lose the existing search traffic that you already have.

That’s why you ought to know how to choose the right SEO company for your business. In this post, we will share with you the key points to look at when looking for an SEO company to help you out.

Different Types of SEOs

seo sem search engine optimization google business marketing

You may think there is only one kind, but in fact, there are plenty. There are individual consultants who are freelancers who can offer their expertise to businesses. There are companies and agencies who have SEO teams and processes to carry out the work that needs to be done. And then there are in-house SEOs. If your business is big, it will benefit you a lot if you have your own team of SEOs so you can devise your own strategies for your particular business.

Assuming you do not have an in-house SEO team, we’ll be talking about the first two types of SEO for this post. You can expect the same from freelancers and agencies – some can be great, while some can be terrible. That’s why you have to equip yourself with all the necessary knowledge to make sure you are choosing correctly. Let’s begin!

Steps to take in improving your search engine rankings

The basic thing you should know is that behind every significant result is a really good SEO strategy. You can attempt to build links or to target keywords, and you may get to see some results because of it. However, the results will never be as consistent as having a serious strategy for you SEO.

So, the lesson here is that be it for freelancers or for agencies; the good ones have a process for their SEO. They might not tell you the detailed aspects of the process such as which websites they are going to get the links from.

However, they might tell you about their strategy such as if they are going, to begin with an on-site SEO audit so they can see if there are any areas where they can quickly earn results. Other than that, they might tell you a bit about the keywords that they have identified and which ones they plan to target.

Transparency on website updates

apple, clouds, faceless

Experience with past clients

guy man typing working laptop computer technology business office leather bag briefcase suitcase people suit

Looking for an SEO agency or expert is the same as looking for the best clothes, shoes, bags, or watches. You get the idea. You want to know what other customers think about them. You want to know if they are any good and if the quality of the service they provide is outstanding.

In getting an SEO expert or agency, you would want to know who their clients were, the type of work they have done for their clients and the results that they were able to get from the SEO strategies provided by the expert or agencies.

If in case they can’t give your any name of their previous clients, then maybe they are still starting, or you can take it as a warning sign that maybe their clients were probably not happy with the results that they got from the expert or agency.

An SEO consultant with a good reputation can get your business growing at 5% to 15% every month. And you can get that growth consistently year after year.

Takeaway

Now that you know about these three things, it will be much easier for you to choose your SEO agency for your business. Try to explore on other things that will make you more confident with your decisions. Don’t hesitate to ask your SEO expert or agency because if they are any good, they will be ready to give you the answers that you need and are ready to work with you with your SEO campaigns and strategies.

 

Salvează

Shigenori Shiga: Toshiba CEO Resigns over Nuclear Loss

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Shigenori Shiga: Toshiba CEO Resigns over Nuclear Loss

Toshiba CEO Shigenori Shiga has resigned, hours after the Japanese conglomerate revealed details of a multi-billion dollar loss.

Earlier the company had delayed issuing its results, but it then said it was set to report a net loss of 390 billion yen ($3.4 billion) in the year to March 2017.

Toshiba said it expected to take a 712.5 billion yen ($6.3 billion) writedown at its US nuclear business.

The situation has led some analysts to warn the company’s future is at risk.

Shigenori Shiga was stepping down “to take management responsibility for the loss”, the company said.

Toshiba shares fell by as much as 9% on February 14 and have lost about 50% since late December, when it first warned about the extent of the problems.

The losses are linked to a deal done by Toshiba’s US subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric, when it bought a nuclear construction and services business from Chicago Bridge & Iron in 2015.

Assets that it took on are likely to be worth less than initially thought, and there is also a dispute about payments that are due.

Toshiba has already announced plans to sell off part of its profitable memory chip business to raise funds. It is the second largest chip maker in the world, behind Samsung.

It is still struggling to recover after it emerged in 2015 that profits had been overstated for seven years, prompting the chief executive to resign.

As well as detailing its losses, Toshiba is also widely predicted to announce it is scaling back its global nuclear business – and possibly getting out of the sector altogether, apart from its operations in Japan.

PewDiePie Dropped by Disney over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Lisa.Felice
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PewDiePie Dropped by Disney over Anti-Semitic Jokes

Disney has decided to cut ties with PewDiePie over allegations of anti-Semitism.

PewDiePie is the world’s highest paid YouTube star.

The decision came after several videos PewDiePie released over the past few months were found to contain Nazi references or anti-Semitic imagery.

PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, accepted the material was offensive, but said he did not support “any kind of hateful attitudes”.

He is reported to have made $15 million through YouTube in 2016.

Image source Wikimedia

The 27-year-old Swede has been associated with Disney via Maker Studios, a company with a network of YouTube stars, drawing several billions of views per month – generating vast income from advertising.

Maker Studios said: “Although Felix has created a following by being provocative and irreverent, he clearly went too far in this case and the resulting videos are inappropriate.”

In one of the controversial videos, Felix Kjellberg paid two Indians through a crowd-sourcing website to hold up a sign which read “Death to all Jews”.

In a response to the criticism, PewDiePie said he was “trying to show how crazy the modern world is, specifically some of the services available online” and that people “would say anything for five dollars”.

PewDiePie said it was “laughable” to suggest he endorsed that message but added that “though this was not my intention, I understand that these jokes were ultimately offensive”.

In other videos PewDiePie also showed swastikas drawn by a fan, played the Nazi Party anthem and did a brief Hitler salute – all of which he says was done as a joke.

In 2016, PewDiePie was temporarily suspended from Twitter after making jokes about ISIS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgGIrq6vaN4

National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Resigns over Contacts with Russia

Diane A. Wade
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National Security Adviser Michael Flynn Resigns over Contacts with Russia

Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, has resigned over his contacts with Russia, the White House has announced.

He is alleged to have discussed US sanctions with the Russian ambassador before Donald Trump took office.

Michael Flynn is said to have misled officials about the conversation.

Earlier, media reported that the DoJ had warned the White House about the contacts late last month.

They said that Michael Flynn might be vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

Image source Wikimedia

It is illegal for private citizens to conduct US diplomacy, and the calls happened late last year before Michael Flynn was appointed to the administration.

A number of senior Democrats had called for Michael Flynn to be fired.

The national security adviser is appointed by the president to serve as his or her chief adviser on international affairs and defense.

In his resignation letter, Michael Flynn said he had “inadvertently briefed the vice-president-elect and others with incomplete information regarding my phone calls with the Russian ambassador”.

A White House statement said Lt. Gen. Joseph Keith Kellogg had been appointed as interim replacement for the post.

Michael Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general, initially denied having discussed sanctions with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and VP Mike Pence publicly denied the allegations on his behalf.

However, he came under further pressure on February 13 when details of his phone call emerged in US media, as well as reports the justice department had warned the White House about him misleading senior officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail.

According to the Washington Post, the message was delivered by then-acting attorney general Sally Yates, who was subsequently dismissed by President Trump for opposing his controversial travel ban.

Michael Flynn, who was previously fired by Barack Obama as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, was an ardent supporter of Donald Trump during the campaign.

He became a close ally of both the president and his chief strategist, Steve Bannon.

Michael Flynn encouraged tougher policies on Iran and a softer policy on Russia, but questions were raised about his perceived closeness to Moscow.

Venezuela VP Tareck El Aissami Added to US Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions List over Trafficking Claims

Roy Siemens
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Venezuela VP Tareck El Aissami Added to US Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions List over Trafficking Claims

Venezuela’s newley appointed vice-president, Tareck El Aissai, has been added to the US narcotics “kingpin” sanctions list after being accused of involvement in international drug trafficking.

Sanctions were also slapped on wealthy businessman Samark Lopez, described as Tareck El Aissami’s “primary frontman”.

Tareck El Aissami was appointed last month by President Nicolas Maduro.

There was no immediate response from the vice-president or Samark Lopez, but Tareck El Aissami has previously denied criminal ties.

The sanctions freeze Tareck El Aissami’s assets in the US and bar him from entering the country.

Image source Flickr

The US Treasury statement says Tareck El Aissami facilitated huge shipments of narcotics from Venezuela by air and sea. It also says he was in the pay of convicted Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled for the protection of drug shipments.

John E. Smith, acting director of the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, said the sanctions were “the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela and demonstrates that power and influence do not protect those who engage in these illicit activities.

Tareck El Aissami was previously the governor of Aragua state and served as minister of the interior and justice in Venezuela from 2008 to 2012.

US media, citing leaked intelligence documents, say Tareck El Aissami has also been under investigation in the US for suspected ties to the militant group Hezbollah.

During his time as interior minister, fraudulent Venezuelan passports ended up in the hands of members of the Lebanese group, it is claimed.

Earlier this month, 34 members of the US Congress sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking for sanctions against Venezuelan officials.

They said that Tareck El Aissami’s appointment as vice-president put him in line to become Venezuela’s next leader which, they said, was “troubling given his alleged ties to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations”.

Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong Questioned for Second Time as Suspect

Diane A. Wade
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Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong Questioned for Second Time as Suspect

Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong has been questioned for a second time as a suspect in South Korea’s biggest political corruption scandal.

Prosecutors are expected to decide based on the hearing whether they will seek an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-yong.

Samsung is accused of giving donations to non-profit foundations run by a confidante of President Park Geun-hye in exchange for political favors.

Lee Jae-yong told reports before the hearing: “I will once again tell the truth.”

He had already been questioned with several other company executives in January but a subsequent court ruling decided there were insufficient grounds for an arrest.

Image source Wikimedia

Yet during the past weeks investigators reviewed the case and decided there were new aspects that required further questioning.

The claims against Samsung revolve around a merger between the electronics giant’s construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate company, Cheil Industries.

The prosecution alleges that Samsung gave 2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by President Park Geun-hye’s confidante Choi Soon-sil and her daughter, in return for political support for the deal.

The scandal led to President Park Geun-hye being impeached in December 2016.

Lee Jae-yong, also known as Jay Y. Lee, first gave evidence in front of a parliamentary hearing in December 2016. Since January he has been treated as an official suspect in the case.

At the parliamentary hearing, Samsung admitted giving a total of 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations, but denied seeking favors in return.

Lee Jae-yong also confirmed Samsung gave a horse and money to help the equestrian career of Choi Soon-sil’s daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, something he said he now regretted.

Choi Soon-sil is on trial for charges including corruption and coercion.

Grammys 2017: Adele Dominates Awards as She Wins Five Trophies

Sonia Pantiss
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Grammys 2017: Adele Dominates Awards as She Wins Five Trophies

Adele was the big winner at the 59th Grammy Awards on February 12, taking home five trophies.

Amongst her haul were three of the “big four” awards: Song of the year, record of the year and album of the year.

The last time someone achieved that was in 2012. And it was Adele.

The CBS network broadcast the show live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Image source Reuters

Adele said she couldn’t accept the award for best album because Beyonce’s Lemonade had more fizz.

The British singer also declared her undying love for Beyonce: “I adore you and I want you to be my mummy,” she joked, as she gestured at the heavily-pregnant star.

Beyonce put on a biblical performance of Love Drought and Sandcastles from her record, which won best urban contemporary album.

Adele brought her tribute to George Michael to a juddering halt after veering wildly off key – but made it up to the star on take two.

Chance the Rapper beat Kanye West and Drake to best rap album. He then took the LA crowd to church with the help of a gospel choir.

David Bowie received five posthumous awards including best alternative album for his final LP, Blackstar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaB_igy-Gmo

Grammys 2017: Winners Full List

Sonia Pantiss
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Grammys 2017: Winners Full List

Here’s a list of the winners and nominees in the main categories at the 59th Grammy awards. You can see the complete list of 84 categories on the official Grammys website.

Album Of The Year

  • WINNER: Adele – 25
  • Beyonce – Lemonade
  • Justin Bieber – Purpose
  • Drake – Views
  • Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide To Earth

Record Of The Year

  • WINNER: Adele – Hello
  • Beyonce – Formation
  • Lukas Graham – 7 Years
  • Rihanna ft Drake – Work
  • Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out

Song Of The Year

  • WINNER: Adele – Hello
  • Beyonce – Formation
  • Justin Bieber – Love Yourself
  • Lukas Graham – 7 Years
  • Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Best New Artist

  • WINNER: Chance The Rapper
  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • The Chainsmokers
  • Maren Morris
  • Anderson .Paak

Best alternative album

  • WINNER: David Bowie – Blackstar
  • PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
  • Bon Iver – 22, A Million
  • Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
  • Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool

Best pop album

  • WINNER: Adele – 25
  • Justin Bieber – Purpose
  • Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman
  • Demi Lovato – Confident
  • Sia – This Is Acting

Best rap album

  • WINNER: Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
  • De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody
  • DJ Khaled – Major Key
  • Drake – Views
  • Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
  • Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo

Best Pop Solo Performance:

  • WINNER: Hello – Adele
  • Hold Up – Beyonce
  • Love Yourself – Justin Bieber
  • Piece By Piece (Idol Version) – Kelly Clarkson
  • Dangerous Woman – Ariana Grande

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:

  • WINNER: Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
  • Closer – The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey
  • 7 Years – Lukas Graham
  • Work – Rihanna Featuring Drake
  • Cheap Thrills – Sia Featuring Sean Paul

Best Dance Recording

  • WINNER: Don’t Let Me Down – The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya
  • Tearing Me Up – Bob Moses
  • Never Be Like You – Flume Featuring Kai
  • Rinse & Repeat – Riton Featuring Kah-Lo
  • Drinkee – Sofi Tukker

Best Dance/Electronic Album:

  • WINNER: Skin – Flume
  • Electronica 1: The Time Machine – Jean-Michel Jarre
  • Epoch – Tycho
  • Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future – Underworld
  • Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII – Louie Vega

Best Rock Performance:

  • WINNER: Blackstar- David Bowie
  • Joe (Live From Austin City Limits) – Alabama Shakes
  • Don’t Hurt Yourself- Beyonce Featuring Jack White
  • The Sound Of Silence – Disturbed
  • Heathens – Twenty One Pilots

Best Metal Performance

  • WINNER: Dystopia – Megadeth
  • Shock Me – Baroness
  • Slivera -Gojira
  • Rotting in Vain- Korn
  • The Price Is Wrong – Periphery

Best Rock Song

  • WINNER: Blackstar – David Bowie
  • Burn the Witch – Radiohead
  • Hardwired – James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich
  • Heathens – Tyler Joseph, songwriter
  • My Name Is Human – Rich Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Stevens

Best Rock Album

  • WINNER: Tell Me I’m Pretty – Cage The Elephant
  • California – Blink-182
  • Magma – Gojira
  • Death Of A Bachelor – Panic! At The Disco
  • Weezer – Weezer

Best Alternative Music Album

  • WINNER: Blackstar – David Bowie
  • 22, A Million – Bon Iver
  • The Hope Six Demolition Project – PJ Harvey
  • Post Pop Depression – Iggy Pop
  • A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead

Best R&B Performance

  • WINNER: Cranes in the Sky – Solange
  • Turnin’ Me Up – BJ The Chicago Kid
  • Permission – Ro James
  • I Do – Musiq Soulchild
  • Needed Me – Rihanna

Best Urban Contemporary Album

  • WINNER: Lemonade – Beyonce
  • Ology – Gallant
  • We Are King – KING
  • Malibu – Anderson .Paak
  • Anti – Rihanna

Best Rap Performance

  • WINNER: No Problem – Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
  • Panda – Desiigner
  • Pop Style – Drake Featuring The Throne
  • All The Way Up – Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared
  • That Part – Schoolboy Q Featuring Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Performance

  • WINNER: Hotline Bling – Drake
  • Freedom – Beyonce Featuring Kendrick Lamar
  • Broccoli – D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty
  • Ultralight Beam – Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
  • Famous – Kanye West Featuring Rihanna

Best Rap Song

  • WINNER: Hotline Bling – Drake
  • All The Way Up – Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared
  • Famous – Kanye West Featuring Rihanna
  • No Problem – Chance The Rapper
  • Ultralight Beam – Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream

Best Country Album

  • WINNER: A Sailor’s Guide To Earth – Sturgill Simpson
  • Big Day In A Small Town – Brandy Clark
  • Full Circle – Loretta Lynn
  • Hero – Maren Morris
  • Ripcord – Keith Urban

Best Musical Theatre Album

  • WINNER: The Color Purple
  • Bright Star
  • Kinky Boots
  • Waitress

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

  • WINNER: Miles Ahead – Miles Davis & Various Artists
  • Amy – Various Artists
  • Straight Outta Compton Various Artists
  • Suicide Squad (Collector’s Edition) – Various Artists
  • Vinyl: The Essentials Season 1 – Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media

  • WINNER: Star Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams, composer
  • Bridge of Spies – Thomas Newman, composer
  • Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone, composer
  • The Revenant – Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, composers
  • Stranger Things Volume 1 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers
  • Stranger Things Volume 2 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers

Best Song Written For Visual Media

  • WINNER: Can’t Stop The Feeling! – Justin Timberlake
  • Heathens – Twenty One Pilots
  • Just Like Fire – P!nk
  • Purple Lamborghini – Skrillex & Rick Ross
  • Try Everything – Shakira
  • The Veil – Peter Gabriel

Best Producer

  • WINNER: Greg Kurstin
  • Benny Blanco
  • Max Martin
  • Nineteen85
  • Ricky Reed

Best Music Video

  • WINNER: Formation – Beyonce
  • River – Leon Bridges
  • Up & Up – Coldplay
  • Gosh – Jamie xx
  • Upside Down & Inside Out – OK Go

Best Music Film

  • WINNER: The Beatles: Eight Days A Week The Touring Years
  • I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead – Steve Aoki
  • Lemonade – Beyonce
  • The Music Of Strangers – Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
  • American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry – Various Artists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaB_igy-Gmo

Top Ten Things to Remember to Avoid an Unpleasant Travel Experience

Nancy Clayson
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0
Top Ten Things to Remember to Avoid an Unpleasant Travel Experience

The world is full of places with scenic attractions that please the eye and a travel expert’s pocket, notwithstanding the wealth spent. Some of these locations are in remote areas of the world. Topping the list are the seven wonders of the world:

  1. Great Pyramids of Giza
  2. The Colossus of Rhodes
  3. Lighthouse of Alexandria
  4. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
  5. Temple of Artemis
  6. Statue of Zeus
  7. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Among these seven wonders, only the Great Pyramids remained intact for decades. The others were ruined either by natural or human-made calamities.

louvre artwork sculpture design statue figure museum antiques egypt landmark Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/0CRPDGLB82

In today’s age of sophistication, people around the world can easily access the internet to search for unusual places of destination. However, some travelers are not aware of unpleasant facts, particularly, security threats that lie behind the excitement of travel. Most have decided to stop flying while others continue to do so.

Here are some unpleasant situations a travel expert need to know before he embarks to another future travel destination:

1) Don’t be in a hurry to board the plane

airplane travel adventure plane vacation trip transportation vehicle clouds sky people airport Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/J5AQI42431

When a person decides to travel, they get so excited that after paying the airfare tickets and hotels via credit/debit card, you forgot to counter check if the plane tickets are confirmed, and the hotel room you book is available.

What a disaster if upon arrival at the airport, you can’t board the aircraft because the details in your ticket are wrong or it was not confirmed. Same as when you arrive at your destination, no room is available in the hotel, all full. You might want to go into heated discussion with the concerned person, but it ruined your day, and all is left is a disappointment of what happened.

2) Be mindful of the weather

snow winter white cold weather ice trees plants nature people woman travel adventure trek dog woods forest Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/8E33WX1SF4

You’re all set to travel, and then you got stranded in the airport because of a big storm you don’t know. It will be uncomfortable if you have to sleep sitting down on the airport benches because of close hotels. Also, you don’t know when you will be able to fly again or get out of that airport. You might get stuck for a week or two until the storm is out of the area.

3) Language barrier

people men girls friends family picnic outdoor grass green food celebration eat drink party smoke talking sky trees building outside bike crowd Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/LTKV70U67U

You traveled to a place nobody knows your tongue. You’ll end up trying to learn “sign language” to get what you need.

4) Be Aware of Travel Advisories

still signs bicycle lane road street drawing illustration grass Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/T9JMGXJNUV

The place is exotic and fresh with waterfalls cascading down from the top, crystal clear pool and trees dancing with the wind, birds singing melodiously. What a beautiful place, peaceful and so relaxing. You’re about to spread out your sleeping mat to lie down. Suddenly, you hear voices and footsteps, in a split of a second, you were captured by armed natives. You didn’t know; your Embassy issued a travel advisory on this place. “Travel to this area is restricted!”

5) Eating beside a Tourist Spot

food appetizers cutting board bread cheese olives toothpicks cured meat cold cuts wine glass eating Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/1FFE9122BE

Never eat anywhere near a place where there is a tourist attraction. You will be paying an expensive menu but lacks taste. The food vendors are just after your money, not your appetite.

6) Never Avoid the Local Tourism Office

cup mug coffee laptop computer apple macbook office modern technology electronics table work desk research business study ipad mobile phone iphone keyboard mouse touchscreen green plant Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/92NRLPJRMO

Surprisingly, some travelers don’t visit a local tourism office. It should always be the first stop of your travel as they are familiar with travel advisories, current news and pathways or maps going to your destination. They also offer a discount card for food and accommodation. Further, they will be informed of your presence and can assist you when you need protection.

7) Stay Away from Taxis

car vehicle transportation highway urban city pedestrian taxi people shop mall store building establishment Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/A2839E5GPW

Taxis are not right for a ride. They’ll drain down your pocket by turning you around and around one point to the other until you can’t do anything but pay the high rate they demand or get mugged. And it’s not safe. Best to ride a bus with many passengers. The other passengers can assist you better.

Aside from this, it is safer to be with many passengers when you travel from one place to another. Your visibility to everyone is imperative because when something happens, the people who saw you can relate where you went and where you have been. Besides, you build a friendship with the local folks as you continue to speak with them while aboard the public utility vehicle.

If you’re good with reading maps, you can also try car rentals. Or if you plan to stay longer in a place, you may even decide to invest in a car, even a second-hand one. You can check out car parts dealers so you can get the best parts to replace the old ones in your pre-loved car.

8) Check your Travel Insurance

people girl female woman reading book knowledge study education leather jacket clothing Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/9LNS3XLF9Y

Better to check your insurance if it lapsed or not before you travel. Accidents always happen, you never know. What a big problem if you mixed up with some accidents and your insurance has expired.

9) Avoid Using Bank Cards with Interests

iphone mobile smartphone technology headphones earbuds recording audio voice business visa money finance credit card pen notepad travel Source: https://stocksnap.io/photo/1FN7NK2P5B

Try to apply for an ATM card (debit or credit) that don’t charge international fees. If possible, use cash when paying things. You will not incur charges when you make some purchases. Don’t forget to change your money to the local currency. It will be added expense if you run out of local change as you have to find places to transact money changing.

10) Scrap Traveler’s Cheques

Traveler’s check is from banks given for a particular value that allows the holder to convert the check to cash anytime worldwide. It’s not advisable as you will be bringing with you cash which is dangerous. Better to use ATM because you withdraw money per necessity only.

Takeaway

Travel experts have lots of experiences compared to newbies. They are the ones who have gone through ups and downs of travel. However, traveling is a relaxation, and whether you have had this scary feeling of something unpredictable might happen, the love of the journey pulls you out of your house and lets you fly to some destinations.

If you have been working all your life, you would wish to get out from the humdrum of the city and find a place to relax. A place by the sea or a tropical island or mountain climbing – these are all places of serenity and peace – just don’t get caught with the unpleasant facts – and you’ll surely enjoy your travel and want more.

Salvează

North Korea Says Pukguksong-2 Missile Launch Was A Success

Roy Siemens
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0
North Korea Says Pukguksong-2 Missile Launch Was A Success

North Korea announces it has “successfully” fired a ballistic missile on February 12 in a test supervised by leader Kim Jong-un.

According to the state news agency KCNA, the Pukguksong-2  is a “surface-to-surface medium-to-long-range ballistic missile”.

South Korea’s defense ministry called it an armed provocation to test the response of President Donald Trump.

North Korea’s latest ballistic missile test has been widely condemned.

The US, Japan and South Korea have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the incident.

KCNA reported that the test of the Pukguksong-2 missile, a new type of strategic weapon said to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, was overseen by Kim Jong-un.

The news agency added that the missile was fired at a high angle in consideration of neighboring countries.

The rocket used a solid-fuel engine, the report said, which gives ballistic rockets greater power and range.

South Korea military experts said the rocket had been launched by a “cold-eject” system, which uses compressed gas for its initial thrust, a system employed for submarine-launched missiles.

The report also said that Kim Jong-un “expressed great satisfaction” over the test launch, which it said “adds to the tremendous might of the country.

South Korean and American officials said the missile flew east towards the Sea of Japan for about 300 miles.

The missile reached an altitude of about 350 miles, the South Korean military said.

Experts suggest the tests are programmed for shorter distances to avoid a missile landing on Japan.

This was the latest in a series of tests in the past year, including North Korea’s fifth of a nuclear device.

The launch took place at 07:55 local time from the Panghyon air base in North Pyongan province on the west side of the Korean peninsula.

UN resolutions forbid North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile tests – part of wider efforts to prevent it becoming a fully nuclear-armed power.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said that “North Korea’s repeated provocations show the Kim Jong-un regime’s nature of irrationality, maniacally obsessed in its nuclear and missile development”.

NATO also condemned the missile test, with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urging North Korea “not to raise tensions further and to re-engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community”.

The EU joined the criticism, declaring in a statement that North Korea’s “repeated disregard of its international obligations is provocative and unacceptable”.

China, North Korea’s closest ally, has yet to comment. Beijing has joined in international efforts to press Kim Jong-un to rein in his nuclear ambitions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uJ5i1r2Xu0

Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump Impersonation Tricks Dominican Republic Newspaper

Lisa.Felice
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0
Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump Impersonation Tricks Dominican Republic Newspaper

Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump impersonation on Saturday Night Live tricked El Nacional newspaper in the Dominican Republic into thinking he was the real thing.

El Nacional has now apologized for accidentally publishing a still of Alec Baldwin, captioned as the American president, next to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The image accompanied an article about Israeli settlements.

El Nacional has said sorry to readers and “anyone affected”.

The picture was sent to the newspaper along with information about SNL.

No-one spotted the mistake, says El Nacional.

SNL is not Donald Trump’s favorite TV program. He says Alec Baldwin’s frequent impressions of him “stink”.

“Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!” Donald Trump once tweeted.

Swiss Citizenship Referendum: People Vote Whether to Make Third-Generation Immigrants Naturalization Easier

Diane A. Wade
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0
Swiss Citizenship Referendum: People Vote Whether to Make Third-Generation Immigrants Naturalization Easier

Swiss voters are going to the polls to decide whether Switzerland’s strict rules on citizenship should be relaxed.

Being born in Switzerland does not guarantee citizenship and non-Swiss residents must typically wait 12 years before applying.

Tests and government interviews are also required, which can be expensive.

The new proposal will allow third-generation immigrants to avoid some of that bureaucracy.

The referendum results will directly affect those born in Switzerland, whose parents and grandparents also lived in the country permanently.

Image source YouTube

Supporters of the plan to simplify the process argue that it is ridiculous to ask people who were born and have lived all their lives in Switzerland to prove that they are integrated.

However, opponents suggest that the measures could lead to further steps that will eventually allow all non-Swiss residents – 25% of the population – to gain easy citizenship.

An opposition poster, which features a woman in a burka, suggests that the new proposal could lead to a so-called “Islamization” of Switzerland.

The current vetting procedure, aimed at ensuring that new citizens are well integrated, includes interviews carried out by town councils. Questions put to interviewees can include requests to name local cheeses or mountains.

Those in favor of maintaining the current system also argue that the strict vetting rules make it superior to the more anonymous systems in neighboring France and Germany.

Over the past 30 years, three previous attempts to relax the rules have been defeated. This time, opinion polls suggest the vote on February 12 will be close. Big cities back the idea, while more conservative rural areas oppose it.

Greece: Huge Thessaloniki Evacuation over WWII Bomb Disposal

Roy Siemens
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0
Greece: Huge Thessaloniki Evacuation over WWII Bomb Disposal

Greek authorities evacuated at least 70,000 residents of Thessaloniki for the disposal of a 500lb World War Two bomb.

It is thought to be one of the largest wartime bombs to be found in urban Greece in addition to being one of the largest mass evacuations.

The bomb was discovered during road works last week and is due to be disposed of on February 12.

According to officials, the bomb is too degraded to tell if it is German or an Allied bomb.

Residents within a radius of about 1.2 miles of the bomb will be compelled to evacuate the area, security officials have said.

The operation has been described by one blog as the biggest evacuation of Greek civilians in peacetime. However, it is not possible to verify such a claim.

The military says an operation of this size and complexity is the first of its kind in a densely populated area of Greece and the disposal operation should take about eight hours – but may take as long as two days.

Image source Ekathimerini

About 1,000 police officers and 300 volunteers will be deployed ahead of the disposal operation. People in the city were warned to vacate their homes several days in advance.

The evacuation is expected to cause considerable disruption in Thessaloniki, with about 450 residents of a refugee camp due to be among thousands of others being evacuated to schools, sports halls and cultural centers.

The bomb was discovered last week near a petrol station during work to expand fuel storage tanks.

A state of emergency has been declared in the three municipalities affected by the defusion operation, Thessaloniki’s Deputy Governor Voula Patoulidou told the Associated Press.

The military say they will initially try to defuse the bomb’s detonator before taking the device in its entirety to an army firing range, where a decision will then be taken on how best to neutralize it.

Thessaloniki bus terminal will be closed down while trains will also stop operating. There is also expected to be some traffic disruption in addition to interruptions to church services.

It appears the bomb was dropped by British and US planes targeting German rail facilities on September 17, 1944.

North Korea Fires First Ballistic Missile Since Donald Trump Took Office

Roy Siemens
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0
North Korea Fires First Ballistic Missile Since Donald Trump Took Office

North Korea has conducted a ballistic test in for the first time since President Donald Trump took office.

President Trump assured Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe that “America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100%”.

The ballistic missile fired by North Korea flew east towards the Sea of Japan for about 310 miles, South Korean officials say.

PM Shinzo Abe said the test was “absolutely intolerable”. According to Japanese officials, the missile did not reach its waters.

Speaking at a joint press conference during a visit to the US, Shinzo Abe added that Donald Trump had also assured him that he was committed to “further enforcing our alliance”.

North Korea has conducted a number of nuclear tests in the past year in acts of aggression that continue to alarm and anger the region.

Image source Reuters

February 12 launch took place at 07:55 local time from the Banghyon air base in North Pyongan province on the west side of the Korean peninsula.

The missile reached an altitude of about 350 miles, according to a South Korean official quoted by Reuters, and appeared to be a Rodong medium-range missile.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said: “North Korea’s repeated provocations show the Kim Jong-un regime’s nature of irrationality, maniacally obsessed in its nuclear and missile development.”

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga confirmed the missile had not reached Japanese territorial waters, adding that Tokyo would make a “strong protest” to North Korea over the incident.

There has so far been no comment from North Korea.

Kim Jong-un said last month that North Korea was close to testing long-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

On a visit to South Korea last week, Defense Secretary James Mattis said that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would be met with an “effective and overwhelming” response.

James Mattis also reconfirmed plans to deploy a US missile defense system in South Korea later this year.

North Korea conducted its fifth test of a nuclear device in 2016, and claims it is capable of carrying out a nuclear attack on the US, though experts are still unconvinced that its technology has progressed that far.

North Korea has also said in recent weeks that it has a new intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of reaching the US mainland, which it is prepared to test launch at any time.

He Will Not Divide Us: Shia LaBeouf’s Exhibit Shut Down over Public Safety

Sonia Pantiss
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0
He Will Not Divide Us: Shia LaBeouf’s Exhibit Shut Down over Public Safety

Shia LaBeouf’s exhibit that lambasted President Donald Trump has been shut down because it had turned into “a flashpoint for violence”.

The piece of performance art encouraged the public to say “He will not divide us” into a camera mounted outside the Museum of the Moving Image in New York.

Shia LaBeouf was arrested after a fracas at the site, which police began manning round the clock.

The Transformers star criticized the museum’s decision to shut down the exhibit.

On Twitter, Shia LaBeouf posted an image of the live stream, which now reads: “The museum has abandoned us.”

Photo City of Austin

He co-founded the project, which was launched on the day President Trump was inaugurated, on January 20, with artists Luke Turner and Nastja Ronkko.

The live-stream ran for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the artists had planned to maintain it throughout Donald Trump’s presidency.

However, in the early hours of January 26, Shia LaBeouf was charged with assault and harassment after a confrontation with a man that was broadcast on the live-stream.

The New York Daily News reported that a number of white supremacists turned up at the site over the past three weeks, including one apparently wearing a Nazi hat.

In a statement, the museum said the atmosphere at the exhibit, named HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US, “deteriorated markedly” after Shia LaBeouf’s arrest.

There had been “dozens of threats of violence and numerous arrests” and it had become “a flashpoint for violence”, the statement added.

The museum said: “Until public safety concerns overrode the intent of the installation, HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US generated an important conversation allowing interaction among people from many backgrounds and with different viewpoints.”

A statement on the exhibit’s website says: “On February 10, 2017, the Museum of the Moving Image abandoned the project. The artists, however, have not.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q35nc3dIsns

Real Is Beautiful: Lithuania Tourism Department Used Overseas Photos to Promote Country

Nancy Clayson
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0
Real Is Beautiful: Lithuania Tourism Department Used Overseas Photos to Promote Country

The chief of Lithuania’s State Department of Tourism, Jurgita Kazlauskiene, has been forced to resign after an ad campaign to promote the country used photos of Finland and Slovakia.

The images ran under the slogan Real is Beautiful.

Jurgita Kazlauskiene told journalists: “I have decided to step down as the head of the state tourism department.”

Responding to the gaffe, the department and local media agencies insisted the overseas pictures were sufficient to “communicate emotion” – a claim widely mocked online.

Image source Facebook

The Real is the Beautiful page on Facebook had reportedly used stock photos from Shutterstock and the picture hosting site Flickr.

Lithuanian Facebook users have seen the funny side, with many posting shots of international landmarks, captioned as Lithuanian, with the hashtag #realisbeautiful.

Even PM Saulius Skvernelis joined in the joke, sharing a picture of the EU Commission’s Berlaymont building in Brussels.

He wrote: “From tomorrow, we start working in the new government building in Karoliniskes.”

Karoliniskes is a suburb in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. The post was signed off with a smiling emoji.

In a second more serious post, Saulius Skvernelis promised an investigation into the “fraudulent” episode.

Lithuania launched the Real is Beautiful campaign in October 2016, aiming to draw more tourists to its sandy beaches and lush woodlands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=xHU9ne-Mi7c

Disney to Take 99% Ownership of Disneyland Paris

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Disney to Take 99% Ownership of Disneyland Paris

Disney is to buy most of Disneyland Paris theme park operator Euro Disney.

The deal could end private investing in the company after more than 26 years, leaving just two shareholders.

Disney set up Euro Disney to run the Disneyland Paris resort, which opened in 1992.

The American company said it would plough 1.5 billion euros into Euro Disney and aims to buy out private investors, offering 2 euros per share.

The 2015 terror attacks on Paris and “challenging business conditions” in France and across Europe have dented its finances, it said.

The latest rescue follows a 1 billion-euro refinancing in 2014 in the wake of falling visitor numbers and spending.

Image source Flickr

Disney injected more than 400 million euros into the business, while about 600 million euros in debt was converted to shares in the US group.

While the 2 euro-a-share offer is 67% higher than February 9 closing price, it may not be as attractive to investors who bought shares earlier in the company’s history.

Disney first sold shares to the public in 1989 for 72 francs apiece, the equivalent of 10.98 euros, and the stock climbed as high as 165.2 francs in 1992.

It has had to bail the company out through restructuring its debt on a number of occasions and has been gradually increasing its stake. Before the latest announcement it owned 76.7% of Euro Disney.

The latest move includes buying 9% of the company’s stock from Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s Kingdom Holdings, which bought a stake in the company in 1994 during one of its early restructurings.

Kingdom Holdings will keep a 1% stake in Euro Disney, and if the remaining private shareholders agree to the latest offer, Disney will own the rest.

Shareholders could reject the offer and keep their shares, but if Disney buys enough of the stock to own more than 95% of the company, it will have to buy the rest under French stock market rules.

Despite being the largest theme park in Europe, Euro Disney has recorded losses in 18 of its 25 financial years. Fewer than expected visitors and fees charged by Disney for the use of its branding have been blamed by investors for its poor performance.

In 2016, Disney paid 75 million euros in royalties and management fees on revenue of 1.28 billion euros.

Donald Trump to Issue New Travel Ban

Diane A. Wade
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0
Donald Trump to Issue New Travel Ban

President Donald Trump is considering a new executive order to ban citizens of certain countries from traveling to the US after his initial attempt was overturned in the courts.

He told reporters on Air Force One that a “brand new order” could be issued as early as February 13 or 14.

The president made the announcement after an appeals court in San Francisco upheld a court ruling to suspend his original order.

The executive order barred entry from citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries.

It is unclear what a new US immigration order might look like.

Donald Trump said that it would change “very little”, but he did not provide details of any new ban under consideration.

Image source Getty Images

Despite his suggestion on February 10, President Trump’s administration may still pursue its case in the courts over the original order, which was halted a week ago by a Seattle judge.

“We’ll win that battle,” he told reporters.

Donald Trump added: “The unfortunate part is it takes time. We’ll win that battle. But we also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order.”

An unnamed judge from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which on February 9 upheld the stay on the original order, has called on all 25 judges of that court to vote on whether to hear the appeal again.

Technically known as an en banc review, a second hearing of the case would involve an 11-judge panel, rather than the three who initially heard the appeal.

Donald Trump’s travel ban, which was hastily unveiled at the end of his first week in office, caused chaos at US airports and sparked protests across the country.

On February 9, the appeals court said the administration failed to offer “any evidence” to justify the ban, which the president said was necessary to keep the US safe from terror attacks.

However, Donald Trump insisted that the executive order was crucial for national security and promised to take action “very rapidly” to introduce “additional security” steps in the wake of the court’s decision.

The president spoke as Virginia state lawyers argued in court that his policy “resulted from animus toward Muslims”.

Their challenge focuses on the travel restrictions imposed by the ban, rather than the four-month suspension of refugee admissions.

Lawyers for the US government in Virginia wrote that “judicial second-guessing” amounted to “an impermissible intrusion” on Donald Trump’s constitutional authority.

The appeals court ruling means that visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either.

However, the ruling does not affect one part of Donald Trump’s controversial executive order: a cap of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in the current fiscal year, down from the ceiling of 110,000 established under President Barack Obama.

Indian Rupee Withdrawal: Uttar Pradesh Election Seen as Referendum

Diane A. Wade
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0
Indian Rupee Withdrawal: Uttar Pradesh Election Seen as Referendum

Indian PM Narendra Modi faces his biggest electoral test since gaining power as the country’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, goes to the polls for a new state assembly.

Narendra Modi took Uttar Pradesh, which is home to over 200 million people, when he won the 2014 national election.

Uttar Pradesh election is being seen as a referendum on Narendra Modi’s decision to ban high value banknotes in India.

The move led to a cash shortage, hurting individuals and businesses.

Image source Reuters

The performance of Narendra Modi’s governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh was important because it will be seen as an indicator for India’s national politics.

The move to scrap 500 ($7.60) and 1,000 rupee notes in November 2016 was intended to crack down on corruption and so-called black money or illegal cash holdings.

However, his government has admitted that the withdrawal of high value banknotes, which was met with shock in India, has had an “adverse impact” on the economy.

Narendra Modi has defended the decision, which he said was made in the interests of the poor.

The prime minister has personally led the campaigning for his party with the aim of encouraging a strong showing at the polls, which would strengthen his chances of a second term in 2019.

Uttar Pradesh voted overwhelmingly for Narendra Modi’s BJP in 2014.

Reckitt Benckiser Agrees to Buy Mead Johnson for $16.6 Billion

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Reckitt Benckiser Agrees to Buy Mead Johnson for $16.6 Billion

Reckitt Benckiser has agreed to buy US baby formula maker Mead Johnson for $16.6 billion.

The UK-based household goods giant said the purchase would help it grow in China, and provide “a significant step forward” in its efforts to become a “leader in consumer health”.

Mead Johnson makes infant formula under the Enfa brand and had sales of $3.7 billion in 2016.

The deal is worth $17.9 billion once Mead Johnson’s debt is taken into account.

Mead Johnson chairman James Cornelius said Reckitt Benckiser’s offer provided “tremendous value” to shareholders.

Image source LinkedIn

They will receive $90 per share, 29% more than its $69.50 share price on February 1, before bid speculation began.

China’s 2015 decision to scrap its one-child policy could be an opportunity for consumer goods companies.

Couples are now allowed to have two children after concerns about China’s ageing population led the government to reverse the decades-long rule.

In 2016, China’s birth rate was the highest this century, with the number of newborns rising by 7.9% or 17.86 million in 2015.

As a result of this baby boom, analysts expect demand for food, formula, clothes and medicine to grow.

Reckitt Benckiser said it would fund the purchase with loans from its banks Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and HSBC, and through selling bonds.

The deal will need the approval of shareholders for both companies and regulators.

If Reckitt Benckiser shareholders reject the deal, the company will pay Mead Johnson $480 million.

Salvează

Renault Reports Record Annual Revenues

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Renault Reports Record Annual Revenues

Renault has reported record annual revenues after a revamp of its range boosted sales.

The French automaker’s revenues rose 13.1% to 51.2 billion euros in 2016, slightly ahead of expectations, while net income jumped by nearly 20% to 3.54 billion euros.

Earlier this week, Renault said it had sold 3.2 million vehicles in 2016, a 13.4% rise on 2015, with market share rising in all regions.

Renault sales have now overtaken French rival Peugeot Citroen.

The company’s financial director Clotilde Delbos said 2016 had been “a very good year” for the automaker, and the company had hit all of its targets.

She told a news conference: “These objectives, in particular that of exceeding 50 billion euros in sales, have been achieved by 2016.”

Clotilde Delbos added that the results had been achieved despite markets such as Brazil and Russia that “count a lot for us and which were strong in the past” but were still at “lower levels than in the past”.

Renault said it expected the global car market to grow by between 1.5% and 2% in 2018, with sales in Europe and France up 2%.

The automaker forecasts the markets in Brazil and Russia will be “stable”, but expects 5% growth in China and the Indian market to expand by 8%.

Last month, French authorities said they would investigate Renault over suspected “cheating” in diesel emissions tests.

Paris prosecutors are to conduct a probe into “cheating on key parts” of vehicles and into the quality of the tests.

The move comes in response to concerns raised in 2016 by the French consumer protection agency, which carried out an investigation into several carmakers in the wake of VW scandal.

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