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Making Money in Business: Where to Plow Your Profits

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It’s exciting when your small business starts to turn over a profit. Not only are you doing well, but you’ve now got money left over. You can pay for all your expenses, from employees to supplies, and still have more income to consider. The big question is: what should you do with your profits? You’ve made an amount significant enough to consider investing it to turn it into more profits. However, deciding just how to invest it isn’t easy. It’s not the same as investing as an individual because your business is at stake. Try considering these top investments for your small business’s profits.

profits

Source: Pixabay

Back into the Company

The first thing you should think about doing is plowing the money back into your company. If you’re trying to build the business, you should think about ways you can grow. There are several areas where your business could benefit. For example, have you thought about investing in your employees? You can offer training to help them develop their skills. Or perhaps you can buy new desk chairs or furnish a new break room. You might also consider putting money toward new equipment or increasing your stock. There are lots of ways you could improve your business.

Investing in Stocks and Bonds

You might consider investing the money in stocks and bonds. This is something you could do if you want to make some long-term investments. You won’t see the benefits right away, but you could grow your profits over time. You can find tips for investing all over the internet, on sites such as The Fortunate Investor. You can also read books, listen to podcasts and high advisors to help you. If you want to invest in stocks or bonds, you should make sure you do your research. You need to know where your money is going before you start. Also, make sure you want your business associated with the companies you choose.

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Source: Pixabay

Expand Your Business Portfolio

If you have built a significant amount in profits, you might look at other options. One thing you could do is consider buying another business. Perhaps by now you are largely hands-off with your existing small business. You can delegate the majority of tasks, and you think you have time to give your attention to another business. If you want to do this, you have to make sure you do a lot of research. You need to ensure that a business will be profitable for you before you decide to purchase it.

Buy Real Estate

Real estate is an excellent private investment and can be terrific for your business too. You might choose to buy an office or building for your business to move into. On the other hand, you could buy commercial or residential property to rent or sell to others. Real estate can be profitable if you know what you’re doing. Be careful not to go into it lightly if you want to have success.

You can choose to invest your business profits in a variety of ways. Find the methods you think will work for you and make your choice.

Mohamed Morsi Death Sentence Overturned by Egypt’s Court of Cassation

The death sentences against Egypt’s ousted President Mohamed Morsi and five other Muslim Brotherhood leaders have been overturned by the country’s highest court of appeal.

Egypt’s Court of Cassation ordered that the six men face a retrial in connection with a mass prison break during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

Twenty-one life sentences for other Brotherhood members were overturned.

Mohamed Morsi was elected president in 2012 but was removed by the military in 2013 after protests against his rule.

Although the former president is no longer at risk of execution, he is serving three lengthy prison sentences relating to other convictions.

Mohamed Morsi and more than 100 other people were sentenced to death in May 2015 after being convicted of colluding with foreign militants – from the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and Lebanon’s Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement – to organize a mass prison break.Mohamed Morsi sentenced to 20 years in jail

He was being held at Wadi Natroun prison in January 2011 when armed men overcame the guards, freeing thousands of inmates.

Mohamed Morsi and his co-defendants, including the Brotherhood’s general guide Mohammed Badie, were also found guilty of the murder and kidnapping of guards, damaging and setting fire to prison buildings and looting the prison’s weapons depot.

In June 2015, a court upheld the death sentence against Mohamed Morsi and 98 others after consulting Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Shawi Allam.

It was not immediately clear why the Court of Cassation overturned the sentences on November 15, but Brotherhood lawyer Abdel Moneim said it had applied the law correctly.

Mohamed Morsi has also been sentenced to life in prison for allegedly conspiring to commit terrorist acts with foreign organizations and to another 40 years for allegedly leaking state secrets and sensitive documents to Qatar.

The former president was sentenced to 20 years after being convicted of ordering the unlawful detention and torture of opposition protesters during clashes with Brotherhood supporters outside a presidential palace in Cairo in December 2012.

Mohamed Morsi’s prosecution has taken place amid a wider crackdown on the Brotherhood, which President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has outlawed and vowed to wipe out. Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands of people imprisoned in the past three years.

His supporters have said the trials are politically motivated and attempts to give legal cover to a coup. They claim they are based on unreliable witnesses and scant evidence.

Also on November 15, the Court of Cassation approved the decision to release Hosni Mubarak’s two sons from prison, the state-owned Mena news agency reported.

In October 2015, a lower court ruled that the time Alaa and Gamal Mubarak had spent in temporary detention exceeded the legal limit.

Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, who were arrested soon after the 2011 uprising, were sentenced along with their father to three years in prison for embezzlement in May 2015.

Ape In Heels: West Virginia Officials Come under Fire After Racist Michelle Obama Post

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A controversial Facebook post about First Lady Michelle Obama has sparked outrage after involving a town mayor in West Virginia.

Pamela Ramsey Taylor, who runs a local non-profit group in Clay County, wrote on Facebook: “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified first lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels.”

Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling responded with “just made my day Pam”.

Beverly Whaling is mayor of the town of Clay, which has a population of just 491.

Clay has no African American residents, according to the 2010 census. In Clay County as a whole, more than 98% of its 9,000 residents are white.Michelle Obama dancing White House Easter Egg Roll 2015

Despite the small population in the region, the controversial Facebook post spread across US and international media outlets.

A petition calling for both women to be sacked has collected more than 85,000 signatures.

According to the Washington Post and New York Daily News, Pamela Ramsey Taylor was removed from her position on November 14.

Pamela Ramsey Taylor told local news outlet WSAZ, which first carried the story, that she acknowledged her Facebook post could be “interpreted as racist, but in no way was intended to be”, and that she was expressing a personal opinion on attractiveness, not the color of a person’s skin.

She told the news station she was considering legal action for slander against unnamed individuals.

The Clay County Development group, of which Pamela Ramsey Taylor is the director, is partly funded through state and federal grants, and the group provides services to elderly and low-income residents.

In a statement given to the Washington Post, Mayor Beverly Whaling said: “My comment was not intended to be racist at all” and apologized for the comment “getting out of hand.”

“I was referring to my day being made for change in the White House! I am truly sorry for any hard feeling this may have caused! Those who know me know that I’m not of any way racist!” the mayor said.

Owens Brown, director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People West Virginia chapter, said it was “unfortunate that people still have these racist undertones”.

West Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore issued an apology to Michelle Obama “on behalf of my fellow Mountaineers”, referring to a nickname for inhabitants of the state.

“West Virginia truly is better than this. These radical, hateful, and racist ideals are exactly what we at the West Virginia Democratic Party will continue to fight against,” she said in a statement.

West Virginia voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election with 68.7% of the vote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F7YDb310QI

Barack Obama Addresses Concerns About Donald Trump Presidency

President Barack Obama is seeking to assure United States allies that President-elect Donald Trump will honor the country’s international alliances when he takes office in January.

He told reporters that Donald Trump had “expressed a great interest” in maintaining the US commitment to NATO.

During the campaign, Donald Trump said he might abandon a guarantee of protection for fellow NATO countries.

The Republican candidate’s statements alarmed the Baltic states, which fear Russian aggression.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty commits allies to come to the aid of a member state under attack.

In July, the Republican candidate said the US would only come to the aid of allies if they have “fulfilled their obligations to us”.

The US has long been pressing its European allies to spend more on defense.

President Obama was speaking hours before his arrival in Greece, on his final official overseas trip.Barack Obama blames media for Donald Trump coverage

He will later travel on to Germany and then to Peru.

Security has been stepped up in the Greek capital Athens, where anti-US protests are planned.

Barack Obama is expected to use his final foreign visit to calm nerves over the forthcoming administration of Donald Trump.

Donald Trump’s surprise election victory has raised concern among some world leaders after a string of controversial statements he made during his campaign.

At a White House news conference on November 14, President Obama said Donald Trump had “expressed a great interest in maintaining our core strategic relationships”.

He said this included “strong and robust NATO” partnerships, which he said would convey “enormous continuity” to the world.

The president said that in last week’s White House meeting with his successor, he had urged Donald Trump to send “some signals of unity… and to reach out to minority groups or women or others that were concerned about the tenor of the campaign”.

President Obama said he “absolutely” had concerns about Donald Trump but urged his fellow Democrats to accept the result and “recognize that that is how democracy works”.

On November 15, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence about the Western alliance’s future.

“President-elect Donald Trump stated during the election campaign that he is a big fan of NATO, and I am certain that he will be a president… who will live up to all the commitments of the United States in the alliance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on November 14 that President Vladimir Putin had spoken by phone to Donald Trump and agreed to work with him towards improving US-Russia relations.

Donald Trump has repeatedly praised Vladimir Putin, describing him as a stronger leader than Barack Obama.

Greek minister of state Nikos Pappas said there was surprise in Greece as elsewhere at the election result, but added: “Everybody would be expecting the US government to continue to be on our side.”

“The mood of Greek people for this political change is <<wait and see>>,” he said.

High on the agenda in talks between Barack Obama and PM Alexis Tsipras on November 15 will be Greece’s crippling debt problems.

The US and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have urged restructuring of the debt but face resistance from EU states, particularly Germany.

As preparations for Barack Obama’s visit went ahead, Greek anarchist and left-wing groups announced they were planning protest marches “against the representative of imperialist powers”.

Police banned public gatherings in central Athens and near the city’s international airport until after Barack Obama’s departure. Extra officers are also being deployed.

The last official visit to Greece of a sitting US president – by Bill Clinton in 1999 – was marked by extensive violent protests.

Alexei Ulyukayev: Russian Economy Minister Detained over Alleged $2Million Bribe

Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has been detained after being charged with taking a bribe to endorse a state takeover.

According to the country’s Investigative Committee (SK), Alexei Ulyukayev received a payment of $2 million.

He is the highest-ranking Russian official held since the 1991 coup attempt in what was then the USSR.

The SK said Alexei Ulyukayev had “threatened” to create obstacles for Rosneft’s operations when it took a 50% stake in another state oil company, Bashneft.

According to SK spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko, “Ulyukayev was caught red-handed”, receiving a $2 million bribe on November 14 for giving a favorable assessment of the Rosneft deal.

Image source kremlin.ru
Image source kremlin.ru

The apparent sting operation came after months of electronic surveillance, including phone-tapping, officials said.

Alexei Ulyukayev’s arrest was big news on Russia’s state-run TV channels, under the headline “Battle against corruption”.

If found guilty, Alexei Ulyukayev could face a prison sentence of between eight and 15 years.

Alexei Ulyukayev, 60, was appointed economy minister in 2013. An economic liberal in the 1990s, he became deputy chairman of Russia’s central bank in 2004.

It was only in October that Rosneft, an oil giant controlled by the Russian government, bought 50% of Bashneft for 330 billion roubles ($5 billion). Bashneft itself was one of Russia’s largest state oil companies.

Russia is in the middle of an economic slump, largely because of the fall in crude oil prices, and had lined up several state companies for privatization to replenish state coffers.

The sell-off of Bashneft had been shelved in August, reportedly by the Kremlin because of a dispute over who would take it over.

The controversial privatization returned to the agenda early last month, apparently because of the government’s need to raise money.

Alexei Ulyukayev promised last month that the entire sum paid by Rosneft would go to the Russian budget.

Economic liberals had fiercely opposed the idea of a state-owned company acquiring the government’s share in another state oil firm. It was seen as a victory for Rosneft’s chief executive, Igor Sechin, who has long been a close adviser to President Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin said last month that he had been “rather surprised” by the government’s earlier position to delay the deal as Rosneft was “strictly speaking” not a state company as part of it was owned by BP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSIYVdqb9NE

Joseph Lau Places Full-Page Ads to Announce Split with Yvonne Lui

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Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung has placed full-page ads in local newspapers revealing details of his split with girlfriend Yvonne Lui.

Joseph Lau Luen-hung, 65, said he broke up with Yvonne Lui in 2014 but had given her HK$2 billion ($26o million) worth of gifts during their relationship.

Ranked as the world’s 65th richest man by Forbes magazine with a net worth of $13.1 billion, and convicted money-launderer, Joseph Lau Luen-hung made his fortune in real estate.

His ad sparked a debate in Hong Kong on the meaning of wealth.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Joseph Lau Luen-hung Lau has two children with Yvonne Lui, who is believed to be 26 years his junior.

The billionaire said his announcement was made in response to “untrue reports” about their relationship.

Yvonne Lui was now “a very wealthy woman” after receiving “lots of money, jewellery and other gifts” from him and no longer needed his “financial support”, he said, though added he would continue to support their children.

A former beauty pageant contestant, Yvonne Lui also has a PhD degree in chemical engineering from King’s College London.

Yvonne Lui had earlier released a cryptic statement on her website: “The children and I hope that you will recover soon and distance yourself from people who have been troubling you.”

Joseph Lau’s very public announcement has become the talk of Hong Kong, with many questioning the motives behind it.

He divorced his first wife in 1992 and has two adult children. He also has two children with his current girlfriend, a former entertainment reporter almost 30 years younger than him.

The billionaire has been seen in a wheelchair and is suffering from renal failure, heart disease and diabetes.

Joseph Lau, who was convicted of bribery and money-laundering in Macau in 2014, is well-known for his love affairs with movie stars and his extravagant romantic gestures.

It is not the first time he has used newspaper ads to get his message across.

In 2006, Joseph Lau bought a full-page ad anonymously wishing happy birthday to an ex-girlfriend.

Nutella Burger: McDonald’s Italy Launches Sweety con Nutella

McDonald’s Italy has announced it is revamping its menu with a Nutella burger.

The fast-food giant made the announcement on its Facebook page on November 10.

Image source Facebook
Image source Facebook

The new sandwich is called Sweety con Nutella and is really more a dessert than a burger. It features Nutella spread between two hamburger buns and comes in a cardboard box similar to the hamburger containers.

Fans of the chocolate-hazelnut spread have declared the sandwich the best thing since sliced bread.

It’s just Nutella slathered on a bun.

“A soft sweetness has arrived that you will not be able to resist. Try Sweety with Nutella now: soft bread with a creamy, indulgent center,” McDonald’s Italy announced on its Facebook page.

Unfortunately, Nutella burger is only available in Italy.

Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff Defends Stephen Bannon’s Appointment

Donald Trump’s new chief of staff, Reince Priebus, has defended the choice of right-wing media man Stephen Bannon as chief strategist, calling him a “force for good”.

A number of critics have denounced Stephen Bannon as supporting white supremacism.

Reince Priebus said this was “not the Steve Bannon that I know”, adding he was a “very, very smart person”.

His appointment is seen as an attempt by Donald Trump to improve links to the Republican establishment.

Donald Trump himself said he fought the election as the “ultimate outsider”, and it would fall to Reince Priebus, the current chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), to act as a conduit both to the party and to Congress.Donald Trump hails Brexit referendum result

One of Reince Priebus’ first tasks was to defend the appointment of Stephen Bannon, who had stepped aside from his role as chief executive of the Breitbart News Network – a combative conservative site with an anti-establishment agenda – to act as Donald Trump’s election campaign chief.

Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, said of Stephen Bannon: “It is easy to see why the KKK views Trump as their champion when Trump appoints one of the foremost peddlers of White Supremacist themes and rhetoric as his top aide.”

Jonathan Greenblat, of the Anti-Defamation League civil rights group, said: “It is a sad day when a man who presided over the premier website of the <<alt-right>> – a loose-knit group of white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists – is slated to be a senior staff member in the <<people’s house>>.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center group said: “Stephen Bannon was the main driver behind Breitbart becoming a white ethno-nationalist propaganda mill… Bannon should go.”

However, Reince Priebus told Good Morning America: “I don’t know where they’re coming from… that’s not the Steve Bannon that I know.”

On November 13, Stephen Bannon on thanked Donald Trump for his appointment, saying: “We had a very successful partnership on the campaign, one that led to victory. We will have that same partnership in working to help President-elect Trump achieve his agenda.”

In a statement released by his campaign, Donald Trump described Reince Priebus and Stephen Bannon as “highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign and led us to a historic victory”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0am080Z3oEM

Julian Assange Questioned by Sweden’s Chief Prosecutor

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being questioning by Sweden’s chief prosecutor about a rape allegation at the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

Julian Assange denies the allegation that he raped a Swedish woman in 2010.

Prosecutor Ingrid Isgren is listening as an Ecuadorean prosecutor puts the questions to Julian Assange.

The WkiLeaks founder took refuge in the embassy four years ago, fearing extradition. He says the relation was consensual and believes the allegations are politically motivated.

The accusations relate to a visit Julian Assange made to Stockholm in August 2010 to give a lecture.Julian Assange assault inquiry dropped

Julian Assange has refused to travel to Sweden for questioning citing concerns he would be extradited to the US over WikiLeaks’ release of 500,000 secret military files on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

However, lawyers argue that his extradition from Sweden would be even less likely than from the UK.

He is accused of raping a woman, named in legal papers as SW, at her home in August 2010.

Swedish prosecutors dropped part of their investigation in 2015 because of a statute of limitations.

At the embassy Julian Assange is beyond the reach of the UK authorities. Sweden has issued an arrest warrant for him, which he has appealed against.

Shortly after Ingrid Isgren entered the embassy, a cat – said to belong to Julian Assange – appeared at one of the windows and began watching the journalists and Assange supporters gathered outside.

The cat has its own Twitter feed, which says it lives with Julian Assange and is “interested in counter-purrveillance”.

A statement on behalf of the Swedish prosecutors, quoted by the Press Association, said the investigation would remain confidential, including the interview at the embassy.

One of Julian Assange’s lawyers, Per Samuelson, said his client “is very happy that he finally will be given the opportunity to give his statement to the Swedish prosecution.

How has vaser liposuction changed lives?

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Our bodies are like stroppy toddlers: they’re needy, constantly complaining and categorically refuse to do what we ask of them. As we get older, the struggle to keep our bodies in check gets even more difficult. At every turn something else is going wrong and our efforts to keep up start to feel like a fruitless battle. There is still a lot of stigma around liposuction. We hear about it going on pretty often, but for a lot of us it is still something we associate with Beverly Hills housewives or stars of reality television. We could never imagine actually getting it done to ourselves. Well, that’s about to change.

Image source Pixabay
Image source Pixabay

As we get older, our metabolisms slow down to what feels like a complete stop. The cakes and burgers we scoffed in our twenties are now off limits and even that piece of toast in the morning is starting to feel like a risk. It’s a normal thing that happens to pretty much everyone, but it can still be upsetting to notice things wobbling and drooping that hadn’t before. Times are changing for the older generations, though. The years of grandmas and grandpas wearing corduroys and PVC rain macs are over. Older men and women are breaking down the barriers of fashion, setting trends and showing everyone that beauty really is timeless. Their setting their own standards of fashion and none of those include glossy pop-socks and blankets. What we’re also seeing at the same time is a rise of beauty conscious seniors. Plastic surgery is on the increase in the older generation and there isn’t any shame in that. One treatment that a lot of older men and women are looking into is vaser liposuction. It’s a form of liposuction that uses vibration to break down fat cells in target areas, which is a lot safer and less taxing on the body than traditional liposuction. Because it isn’t as damaging to the body, it’s becoming a favoured option for the slightly less durable older generation and helping them rediscover their love for their body.

Sometimes getting liposuction isn’t about wanting to be thinner. Our bodies distribute fat in very strange ways. A lot of women have an issue with being unable to get rid of the fat on their hips and for a lot of men their stomach is one of the hardest places to get rid of fat. When these little things go wrong in our bodies we might have a tendency to obsess over them. You could be as healthy and as fit as an athlete and these things wouldn’t change, no matter how much work you put in. It’s just the way our bodies work: they’re strange and mysterious and they never do what we want them to do. Sometimes fat distribution can be especially strange; we can find it collecting under our chins and around our ankles and it’s almost impossible to shift it in these sorts of places without dieting to an unhealthy extreme. This is where vaser liposuction can really make a difference. There are cases of people getting fat removed from their knees or from under their arms and feeling like they can finally be proud of their body. It’s the little things that make a difference. Not necessarily to other people, but for the person getting the treatment it could mean finally gaining the confidence to wear what they want to wear and carry themselves with confidence.

Venezuela Crisis: President Nicolas Maduro Rules Out Holding Early Elections

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has ruled out holding early elections amid calls from opposition groups for him to resign.

In a TV address, Nicolas Maduro said “nobody should get obsessed with electoral processes that are not in the constitution”.

The president’s comment comes a day after the government and opposition groups agreed on a road map to resolve Venezuela’s political and economic crisis.

President Maduro’s term ends in early 2019.

The opposition blames him and his government for the dire state of Venezuela’s economy.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Venezuela is suffering from sky-high inflation and there are shortages of many basic goods, including medical supplies.

According to a recent poll, more than three-quarters of Venezuelans are unhappy with Nicolas Maduro’s leadership.

However, an attempt by the opposition to organize a referendum to oust Nicolas Maduro from office has stalled after the Supreme Court ruled that there had been fraud during the early stages of the process.

The move caused outrage among opposition groups which then began to call for early elections as an alternative way to remove Nicolas Maduro from his post.

Speaking on his weekly TV program on November 13, Nicolas Maduro asked: “An electoral way out? Way out to where?”

Negotiators for the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) and the government met on November 11 for two days of Vatican-backed talks on how to end the political and economic crisis.

They released a joint statement in which they pledged to “live together in peace” and laid out a road map on how to defuse the situation.

While there was no mention of early elections in the joint statement, opposition lead negotiator Carlos Ocariz later announced that the MUD coalition would stay at the negotiating table only until it obtained early elections or a recall referendum.

After ruling out early elections, Nicolas Maduro mocked Carlos Ocariz’s statement saying that “it makes me very happy that the MUD will continue in the dialogue until December 2018”.

December 2018 is when the next presidential election is due to be held if no early polls are called.

The next round of talks between the opposition and the government is scheduled for December 6.

However, a number of opposition leaders have already called for protests, which had been halted as a sign of goodwill ahead of the talks, to resume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRsLcQ51Xx8

Supermoon 2016: Earth’s Satellite Makes Its Closest Approach Since 1948

Observers are preparing for the “supermoon” as Earth’s satellite makes its closest approach since 1948.

Europe’s best chance to see it will be on Monday evening, November 14, although the Moon will be at its closest – only 221,524 miles away – at 11:21 GMT.

To viewers, the Moon will appear about 7% larger than normal and about 15% brighter – although the human eye is barely able to discern that difference.

Yet the Moon won’t be this close again until November 25, 2034.

Extra-supermoon, the largest and brightest full moon of the year, will be rising on the evening of August 10

As the Moon traces its orbit around the Earth, we see different proportions illuminated by the Sun. Once in each orbit, our satellite is totally illuminated – a full moon.

As the Moon orbits the Earth every 27 days or so, it travels in an elliptical or oval shape.

This means that its distance from our planet is not constant but varies across a full orbit.

Within this uneven orbit there are further variations caused by the Earth’s movements around the Sun.

These mean that the perigee – the closest approach – and full moon are not always in sync.

However, occasions when the perigee and full moon coincide have become known in popular parlance as supermoons.

To observers, the differences between a supermoon and a normal full moon are quite subtle.

Generally, supermoons can be up to 14% larger and 30% brighter, but only when compared with the furthest point the Moon gets to within its orbit.

Donald Trump Gives Key Roles to Reince Priebus and Stephen Bannon

Donald Trump has made his first picks for his incoming team.

The president-elect has named Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), as his chief of staff.

In this role, Reince Priebus, 44, will set the tone for the new White House and act as a conduit to Congress and the government.

Stephen Bannon, from the Breitbart News Network, will serve as Donald Trump’s chief strategist.

The 62-year-old stepped aside as executive chairman of Breitbart – a combative conservative site with an anti-establishment agenda that critics accuse of xenophobia and misogyny – to act as Donald Trump’s campaign chief.

In a statement released by his campaign, Donald Trump described Reince Priebus and Stephen Bannon as “highly qualified leaders who worked well together on our campaign and led us to a historic victory”.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

Reince Priebus acted as a bridge between Donald Trump and the Republican party establishment during the campaign.

He is close to House Speaker Paul Ryan, a fellow Wisconsinite, who could be instrumental in steering the new administration’s legislative agenda.

During the election race, Stephen Bannon saw it as his aim to “bolster the business-like approach of Mr. Trump’s campaign”.

A former naval officer, investment banker and Hollywood producer, Stephen Bannon took over at Breitbart in 2012, when he promised to make it the “Huffington Post of the right”.

Breitbart is linked to the alternative right movement – or alt-right – which tends to reject both left-wing ideology and mainstream conservatism.

The movement often emphasizes free speech and the right to offend. Opponents call it racist, anti-Semitic and sexist.

Stephen Bannon said on November 13: “I want to thank President-elect Trump for the opportunity to work with Reince in driving the agenda of the Trump administration.

“We had a very successful partnership on the campaign, one that led to victory. We will have that same partnership in working to help President-elect Trump achieve his agenda.”

Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff called Stephen Bannon’s appointment “unsurprising but alarming”.

Adam Schiff tweeted: “His alt-right, anti-Semitic & misogynistic views don’t belong in WH.”

Elected chairman of the RNC in 2011, Reince Priebus has acted as the party’s spokesman and chief fundraiser. He said it was “truly an honor” to join Donald Trump in the White House as chief of staff.

“I am very grateful to the president-elect for this opportunity to serve him and this nation as we work to create an economy that works for everyone, secure our borders, repeal and replace ObamaCare and destroy radical Islamic terrorism,” he added.

Correspondents say one of the big challenges of the new administration will be reconciling Donald Trump with the mainstream GOP, where sharp divisions emerged during the primaries.

Both houses of Congress are under Republican control.

Donald Trump will take over at the White House on January 20, when President Barack Obama steps down after two terms in office. He defeated Hillary Clinton in last week’s presidential vote.

On November 13, Donald Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two agreed to meet at “an early date”, Chinese state media said.

Moldova Elections 2016: Pro-Russia Igor Dodon Wins Presidency

Pro-Moscow candidate Igor Dodon has won the second round of Moldova’s presidential election.

With almost all the ballots counted, Igor Dodon, who wants to restore close ties with Russia, had 52.37% of the vote, while pro-European candidate Maia Sandu, polled 47.63%.

The national vote marks the first direct presidential election in Moldova since 1996.

Since 1996, Moldova’s president has been chosen by parliament.

Image source Publika.md
Image source Publika.md

The election was seen as a battle between those supporting closer ties with Russia and those wanting integration with the EU.

Speaking shortly after the closure of polling stations on November 13, Igor Dodon called on Maia Sandu to preserve public order and abstain from protests.

Igor Dodon, 41, was a deputy prime minister in the Party of Communists government before 2009. He blames widespread corruption in Moldova on the pro-EU parties that have ruled the country since then.

Both candidates criticized the vote as badly organized, highlighting the shortage of ballot papers for overseas voters.

The final voter turnout was 53.3%.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic with has close historical ties with Moscow, declared independence after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The country also has a breakaway region supported by Russia, Trans-Dniester.

Moldova has moved to forge closer ties with the EU in recent years, a course championed by Maia Sandu.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upi-t3Y4mOc

Leon Russell Dies In His Sleep Aged 74

Leon Russell died in his sleep at the age of 74 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The rock’n’roll hall of famer was best known for his “gospel-infused southern boogie piano rock, blues, and country music”, his website says.

Leon Russell played anonymously as a studio pianist in the 1960s before his breakthrough in the 1970s.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

The singer was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. Elton John has called him his “biggest influence as a piano player, a singer and a songwriter”.

Leon Russell’s had a relatively brief period of stardom in the 70s which was later revived in 2010 with the help of Elton John when the two collaborated on an album called The Union.

The record took third place in a list of 2010’s best albums by the Rolling Stones.

Over his career, Leon Russell recorded more than 35 albums and was best known for his A Song for You.

A Song for You was recorded and covered by the Carpenters, the Temptations, Neil Diamond, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and his good friend Willie Nelson.

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

New Zealand Earthquake Kills at Least Two People in South Island

At least two people have died in New Zealand after a powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck South Island.

PM John Key said further details were not yet known.

According to US Geological Survey, the tremor hit just after midnight, some 59 miles from Christchurch.

New Zealand’s officials have confirmed that Christchurch cathedral will be demolished after the 2011 earthquake rendered it beyond repair

A tsunami arrived about two hours later. Officials warned everyone along the eastern coast to head inland or for higher ground.

According to Weatherwatch.co.nz, a gauge at Kaikoura,112 miles north of Christchurch, measured a wave of 8ft 2ins in the early hours of the morning.

At one point, the ministry of civil defense suggested tsunami waves as tall as 16ft could hit the eastern coast.

By just after 08:00 local time, the warning was scaled back to a “marine and beach threat” with waves of just 3ft along a small stretch of coast, including the Chatham Islands, an archipelago 423 miles south-east of the mainland.

Aerial images show tunnels along the coastal highway close to Kaikoura, a popular tourist destination, covered by a landslide. Other pictures of the devastated area show at least one collapsed home.

New Zealanders are used to earthquakes. The country lies on the notorious Ring of Fire, the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim.

Christchurch is still recovering from the 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people and destroyed the city center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld7lfYKKkRk

Donald Trump to Deport Up to 3 Million Illegal Immigrants

In his first extensive post-election interview on 60 Minutes that will be aired on November 13 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, President-elect Donald Trump has said he will deport or jail up to three million illegal immigrants initially.

Those targeted would be immigrants with criminal records, such as gang members and drug dealers, Donald Trump said.

The president-elect also confirmed that another election promise, to build a wall with Mexico, still stood but could include fencing.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in November 8 presidential vote.

His victory shocked many who had expected Hillary Clinton to win following favorable opinion polls.

Donald Trump is due to take over at the White House on January 20, when President Barack Obama steps down after two terms in office.

Both houses of Congress are also under Republican control.

Asked about his plans for the Mexican border, Donald Trump said “a wall is more appropriate” in some parts but “there could be some fencing”,

Other undocumented immigrants would be assessed once the border was secured, Donald Trump added.

However, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said earlier that border security was a greater priority than mass deportation.

“We are not planning on erecting a deportation force,” he told CNN’s State of the Union program.

“I think we should put people’s minds at ease.”

Forcing Mexico to pay for a border wall became a rallying cry among Donald Trump supporters during the campaign.

Donald Trump caused outrage by suggesting Mexicans were exporting “their rapists” to the US, along with drugs and other crime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_3xNybXAec

Choi Soon-sil Scandal: South Korean President Park Geun-hye to Be Questioned by Prosecutors

South Korean President Park Geun-hye will be questioned over allegations of political corruption in a scandal that has engulfed her presidency.

According to officials, this will be the first time a sitting president has been questioned by prosecutors.

Park Geun-hye is accused of allowing her friend Choi Soon-sil to manipulate power from behind the scenes.

Hundreds of thousands rallied on November 12 to demand her resignation.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted officials as saying Park Geun-hye’s questioning should take place no later than November 16.

Prosecutors have also questioned top executives at Samsung, Hyundai and Korean Air.

Lee Jae-Yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was questioned over whether Park Geun-hye pressured the company into donating millions to foundations controlled by her friend Choi Soon-sil.

Choi Soon-sil is accused of trying to extort huge sums of money from South Korean companies and is under arrest on charges of fraud and abuse of power.

She is suspected of using her friendship with President Park Geun-hye to solicit business donations for a non-profit fund she controlled.

Park Geun-hye, whose approval ratings have plummeted to 5% because of the scandal, has said she is “heartbroken”.

On November 12, organizers said some one million people encircled the presidential compound in the South Korean capital of Seoul, in the largest anti-government rally the country has seen.

It was the latest in weeks of demonstrations against President Park Geun-hye.

On November 13, the presidential office said Park Geun-hye was “earnestly considering ways to normalize state affairs” and that she had “heard the voices of the people at the rally”.

South Korea’s constitution does not allow a sitting president to be prosecuted, but investigations are permissible.

Park Geun-hye has 15 months left in her term. If she steps down elections must be held within 60 days.

Singles Day 2016: Alibaba Announces Record $18BN Sales

Alibaba has announced record sales record its annual Singles Day event.

The e-commerce giant said sales this year had reached 121 billion yuan ($18 billion), a rise of 32% on 2015 sales which were worth $14.3 billion.

However, some have questioned the accuracy of the numbers, amid claims of inflated sales data at Chinese online retailers.

Merchants passing off counterfeit goods as genuine is also a problem in the industry.

The company reported 82% of purchases had been made on mobile phones during Singles Day.Alibaba Singles Day 2015

Alibaba has also been experimenting with new technology including augmented reality and virtual reality to give shoppers other ways of buying items.

This year’s Singles Day had a blistering start with sales hitting $5 billion in the first hour, Alibaba said, though that total included pre-orders made by customers who could “lock in” prices. It took 90 minutes to hit that milestone in 2015.

Singles Day is held every year on November 11. The day is also referred to as Double Eleven because of its date.

Originally claimed as a celebration for China’s young singletons, Alibaba turned it into a shopping bonanza in 2009.

While Alibaba is undeniably the driving force behind Singles Day, other retailers have also started to piggyback off the idea, including extending the concept to Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Alibaba’s rival JD.com, which focuses more on electronics, reported receiving more orders in the first nine hours of trading on Friday than it had done during the whole of Singles Day 2014.

JD.com said sales passed last year’s Singles Day total in the early afternoon, but gave no figures.

As has now become tradition, Singles Day was kicked off with a televised gala event which this year included a performances by One Republic and appearances by basketball legend Kobe Bryant, soccer legend David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham.

Katy Perry, who had been scheduled to perform, withdrew citing a family emergency.

Analysts have predicted this year’s Singles Day could see Alibaba rack up sales of $20 billion despite a slowdown in China’s economy, partly due to the event having a broader audience.

Venexodus: Venice Residents Protest Against Rapid Depopulation

Venice’s residents have staged a protest against the rapid depopulation of the Italian city.

Hundreds of protesters hung a sign over Venice’s famous Rialto bridge and some carried suitcases to symbolize having to leave.

Locals say they are being forced out by high rents, housing shortages and a surge in the number of apartments being rented to visitors at inflated prices.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Venice’s population has dropped to under 55,000, from about 175,000 in 1951.

Some of the demonstrators were received by the city hall and later said they were encouraged by the meeting.

The number of people in the picturesque and car-free lagoon-side city swells in the daytime, especially in peak season when as many as 60,000 tourists can visit.

Earlier this year, people on small boats tried to stop a cruise ship from docking.

Venice’s mayor has proposed taxing day trippers to help deal with the problem.

“Venice is losing 1,000 residents each year,” said Matteo Secchi, head of the association venessia.com which organized the rally.

“We are turning into Pompei, a town which people come to visit and say it’s magnificent, but no-one lives there.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWPSE1VFi3A

Hillary Clinton Blames Election Loss on FBI Director James Comey

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has blamed her surprise election loss on interventions by the FBI director, James Comey.

James Comey had revived the inquiry into her use of email while secretary of state shortly before Election Day had stopped her campaign’s momentum, Hillary Clinton said.

She was speaking to top party donors in a phone call, which was leaked to the media.

Protests are continuing against Donald Trump’s win.

In New York, about 2,000 marchers headed for the skyscraper where the president-elect lives, shouting “not my president”.Hillary Clinton on Brussels attacks

Anti-Trump activists have held daily protests in US cities since his election victory was confirmed on Wednesday.

Donald Trump seems to be rowing back on some of his campaign pledges. Having promised to scrap President Barack Obama’s Affordable Act – ObamaCare – he now says he is open to leaving intact key parts of the act.

The Republican is due to be sworn in on January 20, taking over from President Obama, who will have completed two terms in office.

Hillary Clinton, who served as Barack Obama’s secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, has been keeping a low profile since conceding victory.

On October 28, James Comey informed Congress that the FBI was examining newly discovered emails sent or received by Hillary Clinton, thus reviving an investigation which had been completed in July.

Then, on November 6, two days before the election, James Comey announced in a second letter that he was standing by his original assessment – that Hillary Clinton should not face criminal charges.

“There are lots of reasons why an election like this is not successful,” Hillary Clinton told the donors on a farewell conference call on November 12.

“But our analysis is that Comey’s letter raising doubts that were groundless, baseless, proven to be, stopped our momentum. We dropped, and we had to keep really pushing ahead to regain our advantage.”

Hillary Clinton added that James Comey’s later recommendation that she should face no charges had energized Donald Trump’s supporters.

Her campaign team said that despite Hillary Clinton being cleared of criminal behavior, the move only revived Donald Trump’s claim that the Democratic candidate was being protected by a rigged system.

Sting Concert Reopens Bataclan One Year After Paris Attacks

Paris’ Bataclan hall will reopen for the first time since 90 people were killed by ISIS with a Sting concert.

Scores of survivors are expected to attend the concert, which is being held on the eve of the first anniversary of France’s bloodiest terror attacks.

Organizers said they decided to reopen the famed Paris concert venue to prevent it becoming a “tomb”.

Sting will donate the proceeds from the concert to two victims’ charities.

The Bataclan was the last place the militants targeted on November 13, 2015.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

The co-ordinated attack had already struck the Stade de France and restaurants filled with people enjoying their evening.

The 130 people who lost their lives that night will be remembered in a series of low-key events over the weekend.

The concert at the Bataclan, where about 1,500 people had been watching American band Eagles of Death Metal when the gunmen burst in last year, is one of the most symbolic.

Jules Frutos, who has co-run the venue for the last 12 years, told AFP: “We had to go on after such horror and not leave a mausoleum, a tomb.”

He contacted Sting, who first performed at the Bataclan in 1978, about the concert after reading he wanted to help.

Sting says he hopes the concert will “respect the memory as well as the life affirming spirit of those who fell”.

The 1,000 tickets on offer for the concert sold out within 30 minutes of going on sale.

Hundreds of tickets were held for survivors, and there will be psychologists and counselors on stand-by for anyone who needs.

The concert venue will be closed on November 13, the actual anniversary, when a plaque is due to be unveiled in memory of those who lost their lives.

The Bataclan, the interior of which has been completely replaced, is opening again on November 16 for a series of concerts by Pete Doherty, Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour and British Sixties legend Marianne Faithfull.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_jPJl9MmSA

Invictus Games 2018: Prince Harry Announces Sydney as Event Host

Sydney will host the 2018 Invictus Games for injured, wounded and sick armed forces veterans, Prince Harry has announced.

The prince confirmed the chosen city in a video message, which ended with the backing of pop star Kylie Minogue.

The Invictus Games are a Paralympic-style multi-sport event ranging from archery and wheelchair rugby to road cycling and swimming.

The event began in London in 2014 and visited Orlando, Florida, in May ahead of Toronto in 2017.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

In the video message, Prince Harry said: “We have raised the bar higher with each successive games. I am happy to say the Invictus Games journey won’t end there.”

The prince said the competition had “shown us what can be achieved when wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women rediscover their fighting spirit through sport”.

He has been heavily involved in the organization of the event, after attending the Warrior Games, a similar gathering held in the US.

Prince Harry himself served 10 years in the Armed Forces and saw action in Afghanistan twice.

The video message, filmed at the Tourism Australia offices in Australia House, London, shows Prince Harry’s mobile phone ringing to the sound of the Kylie Minogue hit I Should Be So Lucky.

Prince Harry, surrounded by members of the Australian military, announces to cheers that the caller is Kylie.

He says: “Hi Kylie, good timing, the 2018 Invictus Games is coming to Sydney, can I guarantee the Aussies are going to bring it?”

In her own video message in reply, Kylie Minogue says: “Hey Prince Harry, listen – we’re stoked the Invictus Games is coming to Sydney, but you don’t need to tell the Aussies to bring it – it’s guaranteed, no worries.”

Prince Harry, who is patron of the Invictus Games Foundation which oversees the delivery of the tournament, said Sydney was chosen because it is an iconic location with a proud military heritage and a population that is “absolutely sports mad”.

The 2018 Invictus Games are set to take place in New South Wales from October18-29.

Robert De Niro Offered Italy Refuge After Donald Trump Win

Ferrazzano, where Robert De Niro’s great-grandparents lived, has offered the actor refuge, after he said he would move there if Donald Trump won the presidency.

Antonio Cerio, the mayor of the Italian town, told local media: “We are ready to welcome him with open arms.”

Robert De Niro has used strong language to describe Donald Trump, saying he would like “to punch him in the face”.

The actor’s ancestors emigrated from Ferrazzano in 1890.

Robert De Niro said he's happy to play supporting roles as his time as a leading actor is over

Nowadays Ferrazzano is home to 3,000 residents, and appears ready to welcome one more.

“If after the disappointment of Trump, he wants to take refuge here, we are ready to welcome him,” said Antonio Cerio.

“Naturally it would be an honor and give us great pleasure.”

The local emigration association has suggested making Robert De Niro president of Molise – the region where Ferrazzano lies – if only for a day.

The association noted that the Oscar-winning actor “is tied to his Molise origins and even speaks a good Italian-Molise dialect, even if he doesn’t like to flaunt it”.

Robert De Niro has both American and Italian citizenship.

“I’m going to probably have to move there,” he joked on the day of the election result.

Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, Robert De Niro conceded that knocking Donald Trump out was now off the table.

“I can’t [punch Donald Trump] now, he’s the president. And I have to respect that position,” Robert De Niro said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lZ0r1-mvMY

Donald Trump Pledges to Keep Key Parts of ObamaCare

Donald Trump has said he is open to keep key parts of President Barack Obama’s healthcare bill, the ObamaCare.

The president-elect, who has pledged to repeal the 2010 law, said he will keep the ban on insurers denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he also favored allowing young adults to be insured on their parents’ policies.

“I like those very much,” he said of the two pillars of the bill.

Photo AP
Photo AP

It was his meeting with President Obama on November 10 that had made him reconsider his calls for an all-out replacement of the Affordable Care Act, he told the newspaper.

Asked whether he would implement a campaign promise to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while secretary of state, Donald Trump said: “It’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought, because I want to solve healthcare, jobs, border control, tax reform.”

Meanwhile, protesters angered by Donald Trump’s election gathered in several cities for a third night on November 11. Thousands took to the streets of Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, voicing anger at the president-elect’s comments about immigrants, Muslims and women.

In a separate interview with CBS, Donald Trump said the parts of ObamaCare he was “going to try to keep” were “the strongest assets”.

He said that while the bill would be repealed and replaced, the changes would provide Americans with “great healthcare for much less money”.

Donald Trump made the statement during an interview with the 60 Minutes program, which is due to air on November 13.

Also on November 11, Donald Trump put Vice-President-elect Mike Pence in charge of his transition team, replacing New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.