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Iridium-1: SpaceX Resumes Rockets Launch

James J. Williams
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Iridium-1: SpaceX Resumes Rockets Launch

SpaceX has resumed flights, launching a new Falcon 9 rocket, Iridium-1 NEXT, from the Vandenberg Air Force Base on the California coast.

It is the first mission by SpaceX since one of its vehicles exploded on the launch pad in September 2016.

The return to operations sees SpaceX start to renew what was the original global handheld satellite phone network, run by Iridium.

Lift-off took place at 09:54 local time on January 14.

A few minutes later, the first stage of the rocket landed successfully on a platform in the Pacific Ocean. An hour and 15 minutes after launch, the mission was complete with the Iridium payload safely in orbit.

Image source Flickr

SpaceX must now follow through with a steady but rapid series of further flights.

It has a long queue of customers all waiting for a ride to orbit – including NASA, the nation’s military, and multiple outfits in the commercial sector.

Iridium has six further missions it wants to complete with SpaceX inside the next 18 months.

On this flight were 10 spacecraft for the Iridium satellite voice and data company. The batch represents the first phase in the roll-out of Iridium’s NEXT constellation.

A total of 81 satellites have been ordered from the European manufacturer Thales Alenia Space to completely overhaul the original but now ageing network.

Matt Desch, chief executive officer of Iridium, said: “Today Iridium launches a new era in the history of our company and a new era in space as we start to deliver the next-generation of satellite communications.

“We have been working endless hours for the last eight years to get to this day, and to finally be here with 10 Iridium NEXT satellites successfully launched into low-Earth orbit is a fulfilling moment.”

Iridium-1 is famous for being the very first commercial company to provide global, hand-held satphone coverage, and supplying voice connections to anywhere on the planet is still very much part of its business.

Its network has increasingly been used to feed data from remote systems, such as pipelines, ocean buoys, and mining equipment.

Iridium-1 has become a big player in what is termed M2M, or “machine to machine” services. And SpaceX is banking on that market getting ever bigger as more and more systems are linked together.

John Lewis Defended In Row with Donald Trump

Diane A. Wade
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John Lewis Defended In Row with Donald Trump

Congressman and civil rights campaigner John Lewis has been defended by politicians, entertainers and many others after he became embroiled in a row with President-elect Donald Trump.

The president-elect tweeted that John Lewis was “all talk” and should focus on his constituents, after he said Donald Trump was not a legitimate president.

However, John Lewis’ supporters reacted with anger, saying he was a hero and icon.

John Lewis was a leading figure in the 1960s civil rights movement.

He is the last surviving speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, led by Martin Luther King.

The row came as civil rights activists led by Rev. Al Sharpton began a week of protests ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

Several thousand protesters braved near-freezing temperatures to march to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington DC, chanting: “No justice, no peace.”

In a separate development on January 14, African American Broadway star Jennifer Holliday pulled out of performing at the inauguration after pressure from followers, many of them from the LGBT community.

Jennifer Holliday, who has sung for both Republican and Democrat presidents, apologized for her “lapse of judgement” and said she did not realize her participation would be seen as expressing support for Donald Trump.

Democrat John Lewis said on January 13 he would not attend the inauguration on the grounds that he did not see Donald Trump as a legitimate president.

He told NBC’s Meet the Press: “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected.

“And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”

Donald Trump tweeted on January 14: “Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime-infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!”

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Divorce Finalized

Lisa.Felice
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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Divorce Finalized

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s divorce has been finalized after months of wrangling over the final terms of the break up.

The 53-year-old Hollywood star has agreed to pay Amber Heard $7 million, which the actress says she will donate to two charities.

Amber Heard, 30, will get to keep the couple’s dogs, Pistol and Boo, who were at the center of scandal when she took them to Australia illegally in 2015.

She had accused Johnny Depp of domestic abuse – a claim he denies.

According to court documents, Amber Heard said Johnny Depp had been physically abusive to her, culminating in him throwing a mobile phone at her face during a fight in February 2016.

Johnny Depp’s lawyer denied the allegations, saying Amber Heard was “attempting to secure a premature financial resolution by alleging abuse”. Police officers attending the scene said they had found no evidence of a crime.

Amber Heard had filed for a restraining order, but this was dropped after the majority of the terms of the divorce were settled in August.

The divorce was only finalized this week because lawyers could not agree over whether Johnny Depp should make the payments directly to the charities or not.

Amber Heard said she would donate the money from the divorce settlement to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.

The actress’ lawyer, Pierce O’Donnell, said it was a “great day” for his client, adding: “All Amber wanted was to be divorced and now she is.”

Johnny Depp’s lawyer, Laura Wasser, said they were “all pleased to put this unpleasant chapter in Mr. Depp and his family’s lives behind them”.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, who have no children together, were married for just under 18 months when they split in May 2016.

Johnny Depp has two children from a previous relationship with Vanessa Paradis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ1tVrDr_rQ

Kim Kardashian Paris Robbery: Six New Suspects Placed under Investigation

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian Paris Robbery: Six New Suspects Placed under Investigation

Six new suspects have been placed under formal investigation in France over the Kim Kardashian robbery, officials say.

A total of ten people – all arrested on January 9 – now face preliminary charges ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping and handling stolen goods.

Those brought before an investigating judge on January 13 include the alleged “mastermind”, reports say.

Kim Kardashian was held at gunpoint and tied up by robbers while staying at an exclusive flat in Paris in October.

Photo Twitter

She was attacked while her bodyguard looked after her sister at a nightclub. The gang stole €9 million ($9.5 million) of jewellery, including a diamond ring valued at about €4 million.

Four people were placed under investigation on January 12, including a man – named as Yunice A, aged 63 – accused of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint and leaving her bound and gagged.

The suspects brought before a judge on January 13 include a 60-year-old believed to be the mastermind of the plot, French media report.

Police have been investigating whether the gang was tipped off that the star’s bodyguard was not at the residence at the time of the robbery.

Although there has been no trace yet of Kim Kardashian’s missing jewellery, police did recover an estimated €300,000 worth of items during raids on January 9.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d49faUQz5lc

Takata Agrees to Pay $1BN Settlement over Exploding Air Bags Scandal

Clyde K. Valle
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Takata Agrees to Pay $1BN Settlement over Exploding Air Bags Scandal

Takata has agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties in the US for concealing dangerous defects in its exploding air bags.

The Japanese car parts maker also pleaded guilty to a single criminal charge, the company and the DoJ said.

Takata will pay a $25 million fine, $125 million to people injured by the air bags and $850 million to automakers that used them.

The faulty air bags have been linked to at least a dozen deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide.

Most major automakers have been affected by the fault, with about 100 million Takata air bags recalled globally.

Takata CEO Shigehisa Takada, said: “Takata deeply regrets the circumstances that have led to this situation and remains fully committed to being part of the solution.”

The company has previously acknowledged some of its air bag inflators expanded with too much force and sprayed metal shrapnel into cars.

Andrew Weissmann, head of the Justice Department’s fraud section, said: “For more than a decade, Takata repeatedly and systematically falsified critical test data related to the safety of its products, putting profits and production schedules ahead of safety.”

Calvin L. Scovel, inspector general of the US Department of Transportation, said: “I offer my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who died and to those who were injured as a result of the Takata Corporation’s failure to fulfil its obligation to ensure the safety of its airbag systems.”

Three former Takata executives were also charged by the US authorities on January 13 for their part in the scandal.

The charges for conspiracy and wire fraud were filed against Shinichi Tanaka, Hideo Nakajima and Tsuneo Chikaraishi.

All three were long-serving executives at Takata until 2015.

Arrest warrants have also been issued for the three executives, although a spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office in Detroit said it was unclear where the defendants were. They do not have a date to appear in court.

On January 13, Takata shares closed almost 17% higher in Tokyo on reports of the settlement with US regulators.

Takata has not disclosed the total cost of the global recall, but reports have suggested it is working on a restructuring deal and potential bankruptcy protection.

Kamiyah Mobley: Stolen Baby Girl Found Alive in South Carolina After 18 Years

Nancy Clayson
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Kamiyah Mobley: Stolen Baby Girl Found Alive in South Carolina After 18 Years

Kamiyah Mobley – a baby girl stolen as a newborn from a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida – has been found alive in South Carolina after more than 18 years, police say.

The girl, who was abducted in July 1998, was found after a tip.

Gloria Williams, 51, have been charged with kidnapping, authorities in Walterboro, South Caroline, have said.

Kamiyah Mobley was living under another name and believed Gloria Williams to be her mother. Her biological family has been notified of the news.

Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office said DNA tests had confirmed Kamiyah Mobley’s identity.

She appeared in good health, a “normal 18-year-old woman”, the office said.

It said it had acted on 2,500 tips since the abduction and received one last year to @MissingKids that eventually broke the case.

The office showed the original composite images released at the time of the kidnapping, along with a photograph of Gloria Williams, who was arrested at her home on January 13.

The baby girl was only eight hours old when she was taken by a woman posing as a health care worker at the University Medical Center, now known as UF Health Jacksonville.

Gloria Williams told Kamiyah Mobley’s mother, Shanara, that her baby had a fever and needed to be checked. The woman took the baby out of the room and disappeared.

The case brought significant media attention as Shanara Mobley tried to locate her child.

Although the biological family had been notified of the discovery and were “elated”, the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office said: “It is up to the victim on how contact will be made. The victim is now an adult.”

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said: “She had an idea that something may have occurred but… imagine her trying to process this.

“She was abducted as a newborn and needs time to process this… We want to respect her privacy and we ask that you do too.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15Fhq5fJ6A

Donald Trump Turns Fire on Hillary Clinton as Investigation on FBI’s Actions Was Launched

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Turns Fire on Hillary Clinton as Investigation on FBI’s Actions Was Launched

Donald Trump has turned his fire on Hillary Clinton, after an investigation was launched into the action taken by the FBI during the election campaign.

The FBI and the DoJ face questions over their handling of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

FBI director James Comey’s decision to reopen an investigation 11 days before the election shook up the race.

Donald Trump tweeted that Hillary Clinton was “guilty as hell”.

He continues to fire out tweets on a range of subjects just a week before his inauguration.

In the latest batch his anger over alleged compromising material held on him by Russia shows no sign of abating, again calling it “fake news” and “phony allegations” put together by “my political opponents and a failed spy afraid of being sued”.

Donald Trump then turned to January 12 announcement that a US government watchdog was to investigate the actions taken by the FBI and the justice department during the election campaign.

After he won the election, Donald Trump had toned down his rhetoric against his opponent, refusing to follow up on his election mantra that she should be “locked up” for criminal behavior.

On January 13, the president-elect tweeted: “What are Hillary Clinton’s people complaining about with respect to the FBI. Based on the information they had she should never have been allowed to run – guilty as hell.

“They were VERY nice to her. She lost because she campaigned in the wrong states – no enthusiasm!”

On January 12, the DoJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he would look into “certain actions” by the FBI and DoJ.

Although Hillary Clinton was cleared of any wrongdoing days before the US voted, her team blamed James Comey’s announcement as a key factor in her defeat.

Michael Horowitz said his review would look at a news conference in July 2016 when James Comey said he would not recommend charges against Hillary Clinton.

A letter to Congress on October 28, in which James Comey said there were more emails to look at, will also be subject to this new inquiry.

Michael Horowitz said his investigation had come in response to “numerous” requests from the public and from members of Congress.

Hillary Clinton said she had set up a home email server for reasons of convenience, but admitted it was a mistake.

In clearing her in July, the FBI said Hillary Clinton and her staff were “extremely careless” in handling classified materials. However, there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing, it said.

Then in October they briefly reopened the investigation after finding new related emails but nothing was found on them and the case was closed for a second time.

In another of his tweets, the president-elect repeated that: “My people will have a full report on hacking within 90 days!”

In his press conference on January 11, Donald Trump said he wanted a report into hacking of all types, including defense and industry.

The president-elect also admitted for the first time “I think it was Russia” when asked about hacking of the election campaign, but said many others had also hacked the US.

US intelligence agencies this month released an unclassified version of a report alleging that the Russian government had a “clear preference” for Donald Trump to win the US election.

The report says Russian President Vladimir Putin “ordered” a campaign aimed at influencing the outcome.

US intelligence agencies are also weighing claims that Moscow is holding compromising information about Donald Trump.

Unsubstantiated allegations suggest Donald Trump’s election team colluded with Russia and that there were salacious videos of his private life, including claims of using prostitutes at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow.

In his series of tweets on January 13, Donald Trump called the claims “made-up facts by sleazebag political operatives”.

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

Nintendo Switch Release Date Announced for March 3

Nancy Clayson
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Nintendo Switch Release Date Announced for March 3

Nintendo has announced the release date of its long-awaited new console, the Nintendo Switch, for March 3.

Nintendo Switch will cost $299.99 in the US and 29,980 yen ($260) in Japan, more than some analysts and gamers had been expecting.

The stakes are high for the Japanese company after its most recent console, the Wii U, failed to replicate the success of the original Wii.

Nintendo shares dipped as details of the launch trickled out.

It revealed in October 2016 that the games machine would be a handheld device that doubles as a home console.

Previously code-named NX, the Switch looks like a tablet computer with Joy-Con controllers that attach to its sides. The screen is touch-sensitive and the controllers can detect movement, like the Wii Remote.

Image source Flickr

When used at home, the tablet component slots into a dock that connects to a TV set.

Games will be delivered on small cartridges, a nod to older Nintendo consoles.

Nintendo said that about 80 games were in development, including a new Mario game called Super Mario Odyssey, out late in 2017.

One of the new titles unveiled was Arms, a motion-controlled boxing game, due to be released this spring.

Initially, there was some negative reaction online to the pricing of the console’s accessories.

A Pro Controller, in the style of a traditional console controller, costs $69.99, additional Joy-Con controllers are $79.99 and a spare dock to use the Switch with another TV or monitor is $89.99.

The pricing was described as a “bad, bad joke” by video game news site Polygon.

Some analysts believe the device could be Nintendo’s “last shot” at selling a home console, after the Wii U proved a flop.

The Wii U was rapidly outsold by Sony’s PS4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One, although Nintendo has enjoyed success with its handheld 3DS device.

Tips to avoid injuries during winter

Dana R
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Tips to avoid injuries during winter

It is now the season of winter, which for many states across the continental USA means a lot of snow, ice, and blizzards. Historically, it is also during this cold season that a lot of personal injuries occur, more than any other season. A person is at risk for injury during the wintertime even while doing very simple activities, thanks to the slippery ice. Injuries to different parts of the body such as your head, back, arms, legs, and neck are not uncommon during this time. As such, it is important to keep in mind helpful tips and advices in order to prevent injuries as much as possible.

Regularly salt driveways, stairs, and walkways around your home. By doing so, you are lessening the possibility of slipping on the ice, although you still need to be careful as you are walking around.

Make sure to have the proper footing when shoveling snow. When doing heavier work like shoveling snow from the driveway, make sure to wear the appropriate shoes and make sure that your footing is secure before attempting to dig into the snow. It is also advisable to stretch before actually shoveling as this can be considered strenuous work.

Image result for avoid injuries during winter

Walk carefully. Needless to say, you need to be walking around carefully and not rush into anything, especially on noted slippery spots. It is also advisable to hold on to your young children and keep a close eye on them.

Install winter tires on your vehicles. For those in cities that experience a lot of snowfall, it is important to install winter-grade tires to avoid the chance of losing control while driving, due to the slippery, icy roads. These tires are specifically designed for the wintertime and it is a wise decision to invest on them and install them as soon as the snow arrives.

Always have your mobile phone with you, especially when driving. Accidents can happen due to the snowy conditions and icy roads, so it might require you to call emergency services, a tow truck, or your family members. If there is one time to not forget bringing your mobile phone along, it is during winter.

Never drink and drive. This is a tip not limited to the winter season, as it should be followed all year round. However, driving while under the influence of alcohol in hazardous road conditions such as those presented in a winter evening can be very dangerous, and very much deadly. Due to the holiday season, a lot of people drive drunk which is why the winter is the most dangerous season in terms of deaths and personal injuries due to driving.

Since the winter and holiday seasons present a lot more accidents than normal, a lot more personal injuries and fatalities occur. “Over 116,000 Americans are injured and over 1,300 killed due to the icy road conditions we experience every winter,” according to Curtis Quay, a San Diego personal injury lawyer.

In some instances, it would be wise to seek legal advice when injuries happen to you, especially if it is related to driving. If you were injured due to the negligence of the government in clearing ice from the roads and sidewalks, then you may also be entitled to compensation, for medical expenses among other things.

However, It is best to avoid injuries by following the tips stated above and taking the necessary precautions in order to be safe during the winter season. By doing these and even more, you lessen your chances of getting hurt.

Barack Obama Ends Visa-Free Residency Policy for Cuban Immigrants

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama Ends Visa-Free Residency Policy for Cuban Immigrants

In his final days in office, President Barack Obama has decided to end a longstanding policy that grants residency to Cubans who arrive in the US without visas.

According to the 20-year-old policy, Cuban immigrants who reach US soil to become legal permanent residents after a year.

In exchange, Havana has agreed to start accepting Cubans who are turned away or deported from the United States.

Many Cubans in the US say Washington is rewarding a regime which has failed to address human rights concerns.

However President Barack Obama says he is trying to continue the thawing of relations with Cuba: “With this change we will continue to welcome Cubans as we welcome immigrants from other nations, consistent with our laws.”

Image source Wikimedia

In a statement on state TV, the Cuban government praised the move as “an important step in advancing relations” between the US and Cuba.

It is unclear where relations between the two countries will go now.

Barack Obama’s successor, President-elect Donald Trump, has taken a much tougher stance and could reverse the change.

Until now, the so-called “wet foot, dry foot” policy has applied solely to Cubans, tens of thousands of whom reached US soil in 2016, including by land.

Thousands of other Cubans are intercepted at sea every year by the US coast guard before they can get a dry foot on land.

Immigrants from other countries who come to the US without a visa could be arrested and deported.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said: “I believe changing this outdated policy – in order to be fair to all and also to prevent people from abusing the system – is the right thing to do.”

However, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, a Cuban exile, blasted President Obama for giving Raul Castro a parting gift: “This is just a going-away present from Obama to Raul Castro.”

Tomas Regalado does not believe ending the policy will slow the flow of Cubans coming to the US.

VP Joe Biden Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction

Diane A. Wade
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VP Joe Biden Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction

VP Joe Biden has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honor.

President Barack Obama praised Joe Biden for his “faith in your fellow Americans, for your love of country and your lifetime of service”.

The award comes as both men prepare to leave office when Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20.

The vice-president has said he plans to stay active in Democratic Party politics.

A visibly emotional Joe Biden stood by as President Obama heaped praise on what he called the “best possible choice, not just for me, but for the American people”.

According to the New York Times, the medal was awarded with distinction.

Image source NBC News

That additional honor has been reserved in recent administrations for just a handful of recipients, including Pope John Paul II.

Barack Obama joked that the internet would have one last chance to mock the pair’s “bromance”.

Joe Biden said he was “part of the journey of a remarkable man who did remarkable things”.

The vice-president said that he had had no idea the award was coming.

“I had no inkling. I thought we were coming over to Michelle for you, Jill and Barack and I and a couple of senior staff to toast one another and say what an incredible journey it’s been.

“Mr. President, you got right the part about my leaning on Jill but I’ve also leaned on you and a lot of people in this room.

“Mr. President, I’m indebted to you. I’m indebted to your friendship. I’m indebted to your family.”

Barack Obama said that Joe Biden’s career was “nowhere close to finished” both at home or abroad.

The vice-president has said he plans to work on policy issues at institutes at the University of Delaware and University of Pennsylvania, and continue his efforts tackling cancer, which claimed his son Beau in 2015.

Joe Biden gave an hour-long interview with media outlets on January 12 in which he strongly criticized Donald Trump for his condemnation of the US intelligence services.

“It is really very damaging in my view to our standing in the world for a president to take one of the crown jewels of our national defense and denigrate it,” he said.

“It plays into, particularly now, the Russian narrative that America doesn’t know what it’s doing.”

However, Joe Biden was full of praise for his successor, Mike Pence, saying he had sent him memos on how to handle certain situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fl4d4oq1DI

The 5 Worst Mistakes That Recovering Addicts Make

Dana R
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The 5 Worst Mistakes That Recovering Addicts Make

Image Source

Recovering from an addiction can be ridiculously difficult, and the road to recovery can be long and full of obstacles. Ultimately, the feeling of success once the habit is kicked can be really rewarding, and maintaining that can be a real source of pride for people. Staying on the straight and narrow can be really tricky, with a constant tug of war occurring in your brain between the right and the wrong decisions. Here are the worst mistakes that a recovering addict can make, and how to avoid them.

  1. Looking for a cure

Addiction isn’t something that can be cured. There is no magic wand or elixir that will make you all of a sudden stop craving that substance. It’s a long process, and it’s important to acknowledge that it’s something you will have to monitor for the rest of your life. The longer you’re in recovery from an addiction, the lower the chance or relapsing, but it’s always possible, and people who don’t acknowledge that are far more likely to fall foul of it.

  1. Going it alone

Recovering from addiction isn’t something you can do alone from the comfort of your own bedroom. It requires the help of people around you, professionals, and support networks. Going it alone increases the sense of isolation, and makes the probability of depression and relapsing far higher. Some people find it easier to check into a rehab facility such as www.Beachway.com, while others find that a local therapist and support group will suffice.

  1. Believing you can just control your intake

Many addicts believe the right path to recovery is by slowly limiting their intake of their substance of choice. In fact, this just serves to continue to feed the addiction, and doesn’t make quitting any more likely. That very first taste of the substance in the morning is what sparks the neurological addiction, meaning that binging throughout the day becomes likely.

  1. Switching substances

Swapping one substance for another might seem like a way to decrease the harmfulness of a particular addiction, but it doesn’t confront the real psychological issues that prop up the addiction, meaning that you’re not closer to recovery.

  1. Going back to old friends

Old habits die hard, and it’s difficult to move on with your life when  you’re stuck with the people from before. Going back to old friends can put a real spanner in the works of recovery. Yes, you need to surround yourself with people, but they have to be people who are promoting the kind of life you want, not the kind of life you had. If they’re bad influences, ditch them. It’s hard, but your life and health have to come first.

Recovering from addiction is never going to be easy, but making these mistakes can make it so much more difficult to be successful. Remember that you’re not perfect, don’t beat yourself up if you slip up, just keep on going, and make sure that end goal stays in sight.

Masala Dosa Burger: McDonald’s May Introduce Indian Breakfast Menu

Nancy Clayson
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Masala Dosa Burger: McDonald’s May Introduce Indian Breakfast Menu

McDonald’s India is reportedly planning to launch a new product, the classic dish masala dosa in the form of a burger.

The hugely popular masala dosa is a type of rice pancake with a potato filling.

Reports say that “dosa burgers” may soon be sold at McDonald’s outlets.

While the news has amused some Twitter users, others are angry at the attempt to “mess around” with Indian dishes.

Twitter has been abuzz ever since the Economic Times reported that McDonald’s new Indian dishes would feature items like the dosa burger and anda bhurji (masala scrambled eggs).

Amit Jatia, vice-chairman of Westlife Development, which runs McDonald’s restaurants in parts of India, was quoted as saying by the newspaper: “We continue to look at inspiration from Indian cuisine and bring it as a McDonald’s format which will give you flavors from the west but the familiarity of Indian.”

The Best Solutions To Heal Your Back Pain

Dana R
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The Best Solutions To Heal Your Back Pain

Back pain is a health problem that’s sweeping the nation. It comes in different types, but one thing remains the same; it hurts. So, this article will help provide some solutions for everyone suffering with a bad back, to heal your pain:

back-pain

(Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/AHpESt)

Stretching & Strengthening Exercises

In most cases, back pain is caused by muscular imbalances in the pelvic region. More specifically, excessive sitting has caused tight and shortened hip flexors, which tighten your lower back too. This leads to weak and lengthened abdominal and gluteal muscles. So, to alleviate your pain, you should stretch the tight muscles and strengthen the weak ones. This brings more balance to the area and helps improve posture. The same is said for upper back pain which is sometimes caused by tight chest muscles that pull the shoulders forward causing your upper back muscles to lengthen and be weak. Again, strengthen what’s weak and stretch what’s tight.

Surgery

Depending on the nature of your back pain, surgery could be the best option to relieve pain forever. If you have muscle problems that cause your pain, surgery isn’t going to be the solution for you. However, for disk or spinal issues, surgery is an excellent idea. There are many spine surgery methods that deal with the source of your pain and rectify it – hopefully, for good! This includes surgery where metal rods are inserted to straighten your spine if it’s too curved and causing too much pain. The best course of action would be to consult your doctor and ask about any surgical procedures that might benefit you. If they think surgery is needed to cure your daily back pain, then it’s well worth going through with it. Especially if you’ve tried everything else and you’re still in pain.

Myofascial Release

If your back often feels tight and knotted, then you could do with some myofascial release to heal the pain. This is a massage method that focuses on muscle knots, or ‘trigger points’, and works them until they release and your muscles relax. It’s a great way to get almost instant relief from persistent back pain. You can enjoy this via a professional masseuse and make regular trips to keep your back pain-free. Or, you can buy things like foam rollers or massage balls to do it at home by yourself.

Sit Less

A really simple way to cure your back pain is to sit less. I already mentioned how a lot of pain is caused by too much sitting. If you work an office job, then you’ll sit for hours then sit in your car and sit on the sofa. Stand up and go for a walk around the office or lie down on your back when you get home. Do anything that doesn’t involve you sitting for hours on end, and you’ll see drastic improvements.

Always make sure you consult a medical professional if you have any back pain. Look for second and third opinions too, to be extra sure you know the cause of your problem. This will help you figure out which route is the best to go down for curing pain.

James Clapper Rejects Donald Trump’s Claim of Intelligence Community Leak

Diane A. Wade
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James Clapper Rejects Donald Trump’s Claim of Intelligence Community Leak

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper has rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s claim that US intelligence leaked content from a classified briefing.

Donald Trump accused US spies of leaking allegations that Russia had compromising material on him.

However, James Clapper said he was “profoundly dismayed” by the leak.

James Clapper also said the intelligence community had not “made any judgment” that the information was reliable.

His statement said he had spoken to Donald Trump on January 11, after the president-elect’s first press conference.

James Clapper said: “I emphasized that this document is not a US Intelligence Community product and that I do not believe the leaks came from within the IC.”

He added that they agreed the security breach was “extremely corrosive and damaging to our national security” and the intelligence community “stands ready to serve his administration”.

Donald Trump gave a press conference in which he responded to unsubstantiated allegations that his election team colluded with Russia and there were salacious videos of his private life.

CNN first reported the claims on January 10, although did not give details, and then Buzzfeed published a 35-page dossier of allegations.

An enraged Donald Trump pointed the finger and said: “I think it’s pretty sad when intelligence reports get leaked out to the press.”

The president-elect called Buzzfeed a “failing pile of garbage” and refused to take a question from a CNN reporter.

Tensions between Donald Trump and the intelligence agencies have been strained in recent weeks.

Donald Trump had failed to accept assessments that Russia had hacked the Democratic Party to help him win the election.

On January 10, FBI Director James Comey refused to say whether the FBI was investigating any possible ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HGYqtOkwfY

Ethics Chief Walter Shaub Criticizes Trump Organization Handover Plan

Diane A. Wade
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0
Ethics Chief Walter Shaub Criticizes Trump Organization Handover Plan

Walter Shaub, the director of the US Office of Government Ethics, has sharply criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to hand his global business empire to his sons before his inauguration on January 20.

Donald Trump’s plan does not match the “standards” of US presidents over the last 40 years, Walter Shaub said.

A Trump lawyer said earlier the new trust would face “severe restrictions” on new deals.

However, Walter Shaub said the plan would not remove conflicts of interest.

Image source YouTube

Referring to a process whereby Donald Trump would sell off his corporate assets and put the profits into a blind trust run by an independent trustee, Walter Shaub said: “Every president in modern times has taken the strong medicine of divestiture.”

At a news conference on January 11, lawyer Sherri Dillon said that management of the Trump Organization would be transferred to a trust controlled by Donald Trump’s sons Don and Eric and CFO Allen Weisselberg.

The Trump Organization is an umbrella company for Donald Trump’s hundreds of investments in real estate, brands and other businesses.

Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong Questioned as Corruption Suspect

Diane A. Wade
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0
Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong Questioned as Corruption Suspect

Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong has been quizzed at the prosecutor’s office in Seoul as a suspect in South Korea’s biggest political corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.

Samsung is accused of giving donations to several non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a close friend to President Park Geun-hye.

The donations were allegedly made in exchange for political support of a controversial merger.

The Choi Soon-sil scandal has led to President Park Geun-hye being impeached by South Korea’s parliament last month.

Image source Wikimedia

Lee Jae-yong told reporters upon arriving on January 12: “I deeply apologize to the people for failing to show a positive image because of this incident.”

Earlier this week two other Samsung executives were questioned by the special prosecutors, but were treated as witnesses rather than suspects.

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

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

Lee Jae-yong, known professionally as Jay Y. Lee, has already given evidence to politicians over the scandal, but this is the first time he has been questioned as a suspect by investigators.

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

Jay Y. Lee 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.

President Park Geun-hye’s position began to unravel in October 2016, when details of her friendship with Choi Soon-sil began to emerge.

They included revelations that Park Geun-hye had allowed Choi Soon-sil – who holds no government role – to edit political speeches.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of protestors have gathered every weekend in Seoul to demand Park Geun-hye’s resignation.

Park Geun-hye denies wrongdoing but has apologized for the way she managed her relationship with Choi Soon-sil, who also denies committing criminal offences.

The Many Factors that Will Affect Your Application for a Home Loan

Dana R
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0
The Many Factors that Will Affect Your Application for a Home Loan

Many folks are blissfully unaware that home loan applications depend on more than just a good credit score. Lenders tend to tout the importance of credit scores and overall financial well-being when it comes to loan applications. However, we now know that many other factors come into play when determining a person’s eligibility for a home loan. These include your housing history, credit decisions and your social media presence among others. True to form, credit scores are often regarded as the #1 reason somebody gets denied or approved for a home loan, but in and of itself it’s not enough. Of course, the importance of a good credit score cannot be underestimated.

home-loan

Lenders Consider the Following Factors As Part of Their Decision to Grant You a Home Loan

Debt to income ratios otherwise known as payment to income ratios are an important determinant of a person’s eligibility for a home loan. This simply calculates how much debt you have relative to your income. If that ratio is under 40%, you’re generally considered to be in a favorable category when it comes to home loans. However, your payment history is equally important. Clients with a poor payment history and poor credit are automatically flagged. Your recent missed payments are going to be the most important aspects of the decision-making process. Payments that you missed from several years ago are unlikely to feature as prominently with lenders.

Your employment history is another important consideration. This is particularly true with subprime lenders. These companies make a big deal of stable employment. They will often reject applications where the borrower does not have stable employment. Much the same is true of a person’s housing history. If an individual is peripatetic, or is unable to hold down a residence, this is indicative of money-management problems or instability. This also makes it more difficult for the borrower to track down the home loan applicant if he or she defaults on the mortgage repayment. If a borrower does not have a regular source of income, a 401(k) or similar retirement plan may come into the mix. Borrowers will almost always evaluate your tax history, previous bank statements and even your pay stubs as proof of your eligibility for a loan. Nowadays, banks and other financial institutions are carefully analyzing social media profiles as evidence of a person’s eligibility for credit. If your public social media profile displays irresponsible financial behavior, you will likely be denied for a home loan.

Yes – Credit Scores Are Important Too

In case you’re wondering what’s a good credit score, it all depends. Each borrower is different, and there are 3 major credit bureaus in the US. These include Transunion, Experian and Equifax. Experian credit scores range between 360 and 840, Equifax scores range between 280 and 850, and Transunion credit scores range between 300 and 850. Your FICO score will affect your eligibility for all types of loans. FICO is otherwise known as the Fair Isaac Corporation. With the FICO rating scale, excellent credit is regarded as a score between 720 and 850. A good credit score ranges between 690 and 719, fair or average credit ranges between 630 and 689, and poor credit ranges from 300 to 629. Maintaining a healthy credit score is easy. Simply make your payments on time, ensure that the money you owe does not exceed 30% of your income, keep a clean credit history, and don’t apply for too many new lines of credit over a short period.

VW Emissions Scandal: Company Agrees to Pay $4.3 BN Settlement and Pleads Guilty to Three Criminal Charges in US

Clyde K. Valle
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0
VW Emissions Scandal: Company Agrees to Pay $4.3 BN Settlement and Pleads Guilty to Three Criminal Charges in US

German automaker Volkswagen has pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in the United States and will pay fines totaling $4.3 billion to settle charges over the emissions-rigging scandal.

VW will pay $2.8 billion in criminal fines and $1.5 billion in civil penalties.

US Attorney-General Loretta Lynch said the company denied and then lied in a bid to cover up its actions.

The fines amounted to one of the biggest clean air penalties ever achieved, Loretta Lynch added.

Six VW executives and managers have also been charged over their role in the emissions cheating.

Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Müller said the company “deeply regrets” its actions.

Hans Dieter Pötsch, chairman of VW’s supervisory board, said: “We are no longer the same company we were 16 months ago.”

The DoJ said VW had a long-running scheme to sell about 590,000 diesel vehicles in the US fitted with a defeat device to cheat on emissions tests.

VW will be on probation for three years and be overseen by an independent monitor during that period.

The company has agreed to co-operate with the DofJ’s investigation and prosecution of six executives involved in the crimes.

VW is pleading guilty to “participating in a conspiracy to defraud” the US and its American customers, as well as breaking the Clean Air Act by using cheating software in its cars.

The company is also charged with obstruction of justice for destroying documents related to the scheme, and with importing the cars into the US “by means of false statements about the vehicles’ compliance with emissions limits”.

There are still investor and consumer lawsuits pending in Europe.

The $4.3 billion fines means that the total costs associated with the emissions cheating scandal are set to exceed the $19.2 billion VW has set aside to deal with the issue.

VW has already agreed to a $15 billion civil settlement with environmental authorities and car owners in the US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wQUy1a7NT0

Donald Trump Holds First Press Conference as President-Elect

Diane A. Wade
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0
Donald Trump Holds First Press Conference as President-Elect

In his first press conference as president-elect, Donald Trump says allegations Russia has compromising material on him are “fake news, phoney stuff”, put together by “sick people”.

Donald Trump was replying to unsubstantiated allegations that his election team colluded with Russia and there were salacious videos of his private life.

Intelligence agencies considered the claims relevant enough to brief both President-elect Donald Trump and President Barack Obama last week.

Donald Trump also said for the first time that Russia was behind hacking attacks.

He went on to confirm he was handing total control of his businesses to his two sons.

His first briefing was scheduled in order for Donald Trump to give details about his business affairs, but was dominated by the allegations of compromising material.

Donald Trump said the information “should never have entered paper… it should never have been released”.

Image source Flickr

“It’s all fake news, it’s phoney stuff, it didn’t happen,” he said, adding that “sick people” had “put that crap together… it’s an absolute disgrace”.

Donald Trump thanked the news organizations that chose not to run with the claims, which have been circulating for months.

He said he could not talk about what he heard in last week’s intelligence agency briefing, but said there had been “many witnesses” there and that it would be a “tremendous blot” on the reputation of intelligence agencies if they had been responsible for leaking the details.

“That’s something that Nazi Germany would have done,” he said.

In response White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was “deeply misguided for anybody, at any level, to question the integrity and motives of the patriots” in the nation’s intelligence agencies.

A 35-page dossier of allegations has been published in full on Buzzfeed and reported by CNN.

Donald Trump called Buzzfeed a “failing pile of garbage” and accused CNN of “going out of their way to build it up”.

The allegations claim Russia has damaging information about Donald Trump’s business interests, and salacious video evidence of his private life, including claims of using prostitutes at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow.

Denying any such claims, Donald Trump said that as a high-profile person he was extremely cautious about all that he did when travelling abroad.

Russia has also strongly denied the allegations.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said they were “pulp fiction” and a “clear attempt to damage relations”.

Donald Trump said he “respected” Vladimir Putin for putting out a statement.

He was also asked about the hacking scandal that dominated the US election campaign, with the intelligences concluding Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic Party emails.

Donald Trump said for the first time “I think it was Russia”, but added that “we get hacked by other people”.

The president-elect said: “We talk about the hacking and hacking’s bad and it shouldn’t be done.”

But he added: “Look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking… Hillary Clinton got the questions to the debate and didn’t report it.”

Donald Trump added: “If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability.”

He did not answer directly when asked whether his team had communicated with Russia during the election campaign, but he did say that any hacking by Vladimir Putin must stop.

“He shouldn’t be doing it. He won’t be doing it.”

Before today’s briefing, the Trump team acted to dismiss news of the compromising material.

Michael Cohen, a lawyer to Donald Trump named in the 35-page dossier, denied a specific claim that he went to Prague in August or September 2016 to meet Kremlin representatives to talk about the hacking.

He tweeted: “I’ve never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews.”

Reince Priebus, Donald Trump’s chief of staff, called the dossier report “phoney baloney garbage”.

US media suggest the alleged salacious videos were prepared as “kompromat” – material collected about a politician or public figure in order to create a threat of negative publicity, if needed.

The allegations began circulating in political and media circles in recent months. The existence of the documents was first reported by Mother Jones in October 2016.

Rex Tillerson Hearing: Trump’s Pick for Secretary of State Accepts Vladimir Putin Knew of Russian Hacking

Diane A. Wade
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Rex Tillerson Hearing: Trump’s Pick for Secretary of State Accepts Vladimir Putin Knew of Russian Hacking

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Donald Trump’s pick as secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said it is a “fair assumption” that Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind US election hacks.

The former CEO of Exxon Mobil told the hearing committee the intelligence report on Russian tampering “clearly is troubling”.

Rex Tillerson’s comments came after Senator Marco Rubio pressed him to admit Vladimir Putin’s role in the cyber-breach.

His reported good ties with Vladimir Putin have alarmed some in the United States.

Rex Tillerson, 64, faced tough questions from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 11.

In a heated exchange, Marco Rubio grilled him on whether intelligence reports about Russia’s involvement in hacks on the US election were accurate and if Vladimir Putin had directed the attacks.

Rex Tillerson said he had no inside information on the detailed intelligence about Russia’s hacking, but he had read the declassified US report released last week on the issue.

The Florida senator suggested that Vladimir Putin was responsible for war crimes because of Moscow’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and bombing of Aleppo.

However, the Texan multimillionaire told Marco Rubio he would not describe Vladimir Putin as a war criminal.

Image source Flickr

Rex Tillerson said: “I would not use that term.”

“Those are very, very serious charges to make and I’d want to have much more information before reaching that conclusion,” he added.

Marco Rubio – who was one of Donald Trump’s rivals for the Republican nomination – said he had “serious concerns” about Rex Tillerson as America’s top diplomat.

While Rex Tillerson was grilled by senators in Washington DC, up in New York Donald Trump was rejecting claims that Russian intelligence agencies have compromising information about the president-elect.

In his first news conference in nearly six months on January 11, at Trump Tower, Donald Trump dismissed the allegations against him as “fake news” and “phony stuff” crafted by “sick people”.

Russia has called the allegations “pulp fiction” and a “clear attempt to damage relations”.

In his Senate statement, Rex Tillerson warned that Americans should be “clear-eyed about our relationship with Russia”.

“Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests. It has invaded Ukraine, including the taking of Crimea, and supported Syrian forces that brutally violate the laws of war,” he said.

“Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia,” he added.

It is Rex Tillerson’s connections to Russia that have drawn the most flak in recent months.

Rex Tillerson has forged multi-billion-dollar deals with Russia’s state oil company, Rosneft, spoken out against international sanctions imposed on Moscow and in 2013 was awarded an Order of Friendship by the Kremlin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DycOPMSk168

Common Sense Or Business Sense? Three Incredibly Simple Ways To Improve Your Business

Dana R
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0
Common Sense Or Business Sense? Three Incredibly Simple Ways To Improve Your Business

https://www.pexels.com/photo/suit-up-suit-hand-man-29642/

It pretty much goes without saying that you want your business to succeed, right? Of course. That’s a completely ridiculous question. Every single budding entrepreneur wants their business to succeed. Otherwise, what’s the point? To help ensure that your business is successful, you’ve probably read a great deal about the things that your business needs and how to improve it. And that’s great, that’s one of the best things that you can do. The internet is filled with fantastic advice on how to make sure that you are running the best possible business. But sometimes the kind of advice you read about running a business gets so bogged down in the minutiae that it ends up missing some incredibly important points. A lot of the time this is simply because people assume that these points are so obvious they don’t even need mentioning. But businesses do miss them. A lot of startups fail because they are so focussed on the little details that they forget about the broad strokes. So here are three ways to improve your business that are so blindingly obvious, there’s a good chance you might have missed them entirely.

Always shop around

Your business is going to require equipment; that’s true not matter what it is. And that equipment is going to be an investment. If you’re a small business, you really can’t afford to spend huge amounts of money on equipment. So what do you do? You shop around. Find the best possible deals, haggle with manufacturers and distributors. If you’re running a medical practice then why not look for discounted medical supplies. A lot of the time these things will still be high quality, you’ve just got to be smart with where you look.

Hire the right people

There’s a tendency with small businesses to offer jobs to people that the business owner is close to personally. Now this can be a fantastic thing to do. It gives people a chance they might not otherwise have had and it gives you the opportunity to mold someone into the kind of employee that you want. But you should always make sure that whoever you’re hiring is right for your company. Find out their strengths and weaknesses, what they’re passionate about and what their goals are. For a small company, hiring the wrong employees can be a seriously risky prospect with far-reaching consequences.

Learn to leave work alone

The issue with a startup is that it’s often very hard to separate your personal life from your professional life. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but it can become a serious problem. Without a decent work-life balance, your work ends up eating up most of your free time, and you come to resent your company for the way that it’s taking over. It can have an impact on your personal relationships as well as the quality of the work that you’re doing. One of the most important things that almost every business owner forgets is that, sometimes, it’s important just to put your business down and walk away.

Kim Kardashian Paris Robbery: Limo Driver Released Without Charge

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian Paris Robbery: Limo Driver Released Without Charge

French police investigating a Paris jewellery robbery that targeted Kim Kardashian have released three people without charge.

They include the reality star’s driver in Paris, Michael Madar. The three were among 17 people arrested in co-ordinated raids across France on January 9.

Michael Madar’s brother is still being questioned by police, reports say.

Kim Kardashian, 36, was held at gunpoint and tied up by the robbers while staying at a hotel in Paris in October 2016.

Photo Twitter

The reality star was targeted at the exclusive flat near Place de la Madeleine while her bodyguard looked after her sister at a nightclub.

The gang stole €9 million ($9.5 million) of jewellery, including a diamond ring valued at around €4 million.

The two witnesses to the robbery – Kim Kardashian herself as well the night-watchman – apparently both told police that their aggressors were men “of a certain age”. CCTV footage on the street outside also provided crucial evidence.

Throughout the inquiry, police have been investigating whether the gang was tipped off that Kim Kardashian’s bodyguard was not at the hotel residence at the time of the robbery.

Among those arrested on January 9 were several figures in their 60s and one in his 70s. The raids took place mainly in the Paris region and at Rouen in the north. An Algerian, identified as 72-year-old Pierre B., was detained at Grasse on the French Riviera.

Although there has been no trace yet of Kim Kardashian’s missing jewellery, police did recover an estimated €300,000 during January 9 raids.

Russia Denies Claims Its Intelligence Has Donald Trump Compromising Info

Diane A. Wade
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0
Russia Denies Claims Its Intelligence Has Donald Trump Compromising Info

The Kremlin has strongly denied claims Russia’s intelligence agencies have compromising material about Donald Trump.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the allegations were “pulp fiction” and a “clear attempt to damage relations”.

The unsubstantiated claims say Donald Trump’s presidential campaign secretly communicated with Moscow. They also say Russia has information about Donald Trump involving prostitutes.

The president-elect has condemned the reports.

He responded on Twitter: “FAKE NEWS – A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!”

Later on January 11, Donald Trump went on to write: “Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA – NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!”

Image NBC News

Donald Trump is due to hold a news conference on January 11, nine days before he takes office.

It was meant to be about his attempts to separate himself from his business commitments, to address concerns about conflicts of interest.

However, it now comes at an awkward time for Donald Trump.

Last week, US intelligence agencies released an unclassified report saying Russia ran a hacking campaign to influence the US presidential elections.

Separate reports circulating in media now say Russia has damaging information about Donald Trump’s business interests and salacious video evidence of his private life.

Among the claims included in a 35-page dossier are that Donald Trump’s aides were involved with the alleged Russian hack of the Democratic Party of his rival Hillary Clinton.

Michael Cohen, a lawyer to Donald Trump named in the memos, has denied a specific claim that he went to Prague in August or September 2016 to meet Kremlin representatives to talk about the hacking.

“I’ve never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews,” he tweeted.

Media suggest the videos were prepared as “kompromat” – compromising material collected about a politician or public figure in order to create a threat of negative publicity, if needed.

Jay Y. Lee: Who Is Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong?

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Jay Y. Lee: Who Is Samsung VP Lee Jae-yong?

Lee Jae-yong, known professionally as Jay Y. Lee, is the grandson of Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, son of current chairman Lee Kun-hee.

Aged 48, Lee Jae-yong has spent his entire career in the company and is vice chairman of Samsung Electronics.

Image source Wikimedia

Lee Jae-yong is currently vice-president of Samsung Electronics. But since his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014, he is considered de facto boss of the entire Samsung Group conglomerate.

In 2015, Lee Jae-yong was nominated to join the board of Samsung Electronics – an appointment confirmed on October 27.

He is widely expected to take overall control of Samsung once his 74-year-old father steps down.

Critics say Lee Jae-yong’s position on the board is due to his birth, not his business experience.

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