Home Blog Page 223

Donald Trump Wants to Cancel Air Force One Boeing Order

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Donald Trump Wants to Cancel Air Force One Boeing Order

Donald Trump has announced he wants to cut government costs by cancelling the order for new planes to carry the American president.

Six weeks ahead of taking office, the president-elect tweeted: “Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!”

The government has a contract with Boeing to build two or more new planes.

They would enter service around 2024.

Boeing shares fell more than 1% after Donald Trump’s tweet, but recovered most of their losses in afternoon trading.

Donald Trump would not fly on the new planes unless he won a second term in the 2020 election.

He also announced on December 6 that Japan’s SoftBank has agreed to invest $50 billion in the US aimed at creating 50,000 new jobs.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Donald Trump revealed the plan after meeting with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son at Trump Tower.

The president-elect tweeted: “Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!”

Donald Trump now uses his own plane, but as president he would travel aboard Air Force One, which is equipped with special safety, defensive and communications equipment.

The real estate mogul is known for his admiration of his Trump-branded Boeing 757 jet, boasting to Rolling Stone in 2015 that his aircraft was “bigger than Air Force One, which is a step down from this in every way”.

“Did you know it was featured on the Discovery Channel as the world’s most luxurious jetliner?” Donald Trump said at the time.

He told reporters on December 6 at Trump Tower in New York that Boeing was “doing a little bit of a number” and the cost was “ridiculous”.

“We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money,” Donald Trump added.

The US Air Force released a statement saying it had budgeted $2.7 billion for the project, “but expects this number to change as the program matures with the completion of the risk reduction activities”.

The White House said it was not clear where Donald Trump got the $4 billion figure he cited to replace the Air Force One plane.

Spokesman Josh Earnest said: “Some of the statistics that have been cited, shall we say, don’t appear to reflect the nature of the financial arrangement between Boeing and the Department of Defense.”

The Government Accountability Office estimates that the project’s overall cost will be $3.2 billion, a figure that is expected to rise.

Boeing spokesman Todd Blecher, in a statement, said: “We are currently under contract for $170m to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the president of the United States.

“We look forward to working with the US Air Force on subsequent phases of the programme, allowing us to deliver the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer.”

Fashion Awards 2016: Gigi Hadid Named International Model of the Year

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Fashion Awards 2016: Gigi Hadid Named International Model of the Year

Gigi Hadid has won international model of the year award at this year’s Fashion Awards.

The 21-year-old beat off competition from her sister Bella and best friend Kendall Jenner at the ceremony in London.

To celebrate, Gigi Hadid took part in a mannequin challenge on stage at the Royal Albert Hall with the audience getting involved as well.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Other winners on the night included Jayden Smith and Willow Smith as new fashion insiders.

Accepting her international model of the year award, Gigi Hadid said: “I just want to say that I know that I’m in the generation of social media, and I’m so blessed for that.

“But the fashion industry is my family, and you guys are the ones that I’m here for.”

The model continued: “To everyone who has been so genuine and looked beyond what the rest of the world looked for, that has meant so much to me.”

Gigi Hadid is the daughter of LA real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and former model Yolanda Hadid, who appears in reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The model is dating former One Direction singer Zayn Malik and her sister Bella is also a top model.

Peter Vaughan Dead: Game of Thrones Star Dies Aged 93

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Peter Vaughan Dead: Game of Thrones Star Dies Aged 93

Game of Thrones star Peter Vaughan has died at the age of 93, his agent has confirmed.

The British actor played Maester Aemon in the HBO series.

Peter Vaughan’s many other roles included parts in TV shows Porridge, Citizen Smith, Chancer and Our Friends in the North.

Sally Long-Innes said: “This is to confirm that very sadly Peter Vaughan passed away at approximately 10.30 this morning. He died peacefully with his family around him.”

Peter Vaughan began acting in the 1950s and became a recognizable face by playing numerous mainly supporting roles on stage, TV, radio and movie.

Image source HBO
Image source HBO

He specialized in characters with a tough edge – such as police officers, secret agents and authoritarian elders.

Peter Vaughan described himself as a character actor, saying he did not have the looks to play romantic leads.

He was never out of work for long, but Peter Vaughan was not overly fond of only being recognized for Porridge.

However, Game of Thrones brought Peter Vaughan a new level of fame with a younger audience at the age of 86, and he remained in the show for five years.

Peter Vaughan was married to actress Billie Whitelaw for 14 years until 1966 and then married Lillias Walker.

Grammy Nominations 2017: Full List of Nominees

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Grammy Nominations 2017: Full List of Nominees

The 59th Grammy Awards will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12, 2017, and will be hosted by James Corden.

Album Of The Year

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

Record Of The Year

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

Song Of The Year

  • Adele – Hello
  • Beyonce – Formation
  • Justin Bieber – Love Yourself
  • Lukas Graham – 7 Years
  • Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In IbizaGrammys 2017

Best New Artist

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

Best alternative album

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

Best pop album

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

Best rap album

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z_3AV5ahLc

Grammys 2017: Beyonce Earns Nine Nominations

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Grammys 2017: Beyonce Earns Nine Nominations

Beyonce has scored nine nominations for the 2017 Grammy Awards, extending her lead as the most-nominated woman in Grammys history.

The singer is up for the main prize, album of the year, for her ambitious visual album, Lemonade, which tackles themes of race and female identity.

Beyonce’s single Formation is also up for song and record of the year.

In all three categories, Beyonce is up against Adele – who previously won the ceremony’s top three prizes in 2012.

Beyonce now has 62 Grammy nominations across her work as a solo artist and as part of Destiny’s Child, making her the fourth most-nominated artist ever.

Beyonce has topped Forbes’ Highest-Paid Women In Music List in 2014

The pop star has won 20 trophies altogether, although she has yet to clinch the album of the year prize, having been beaten to the title by Beck in 2015 – much to the disgust of Kanye West, who stormed the stage in protest.

Kanye West receives eight nominations this year for his album The Life Of Pablo – all in the rap categories.

Rihanna and Drake also have eight nominations, including three for their hit collaboration, Work.

Making Grammy history is Chicago-born musician Chance The Rapper, whose album Coloring Book is the first streaming-only record to be recognized by the Recording Academy.

Chance The Rapper achieves seven nominations, including best new artist, without ever releasing a physical album or digital download.

Beyonce and Adele go head to head with Justin Bieber, Drake and Sturgill Simpson in the best album category.

If Adele wins, she will become only the second woman to receive the best album prize twice, after Taylor Swift.

Notably absent from the shortlist is David Bowie, who was tipped to win for his critically-acclaimed Blackstar album.

The record does make an appearance in the best alternative album category, as does Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool.

Coldplay have also fared badly, receiving just one nomination – best music video – despite selling millions of copies of their latest album, A Head Full Of Dreams.

Prince receives a posthumous nomination for his final album, Hit N Run Phase Two, in the best engineered, non-classical category, where Blackstar also makes the shortlist.

British star James Corden will host

The 2017 Grammy Awards, which take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12, will be hosted by James Corden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z_3AV5ahLc

Jayalalitha Death: Tens of Thousands Mourn Indian Influential Politician

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Jayalalitha Death: Tens of Thousands Mourn Indian Influential Politician

Thousands of Indians are flocking to pay their respects to Jayaram Jayalalitha, one of the country’s most influential and colorful politicians.

J Jayalalitha, the chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu suffered a heart attack on December 4 and died at 23:30 local time on December 5 at the age of 68, Chennai’s Apollo Hospital says.

The politician’s body, draped in the Indian flag, is on display at a large public hall.

India’s PM Narendra Modi was among those who visited to pay tribute.

Extra police have been deployed in the state amid fears of unrest.Jayaram Jayalalitha to return as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

The extreme devotion J Jayalalitha inspires among her supporters, many of whom refer to her as “Amma” (mother) have led to concerns that they could resort to self-harm or violence.

Earlier reports of J Jayalalitha’s death, which were swiftly withdrawn, prompted scuffles between police and her supporters outside the private hospital.

However, lines have been orderly so far, despite the visible emotion among the crowds who are queuing up to catch a final glimpse of Jayalalitha. Many are openly weeping while some are beating their heads and chests.

A seven-day period of mourning has been declared in Tamil Nadu. The central government in Delhi has announced that December 6 will be a national holiday as a mark of respect and that J Jayalalitha will be given a funeral with full state honors.

She had been receiving treatment for months.

J Jayalalitha is revered by many but was seen by her critics as having created a cult of personality over the years.

Tributes began to pour in for J Jayalalitha as soon as her death was confirmed by Apollo, which had been treating her since September 22.

Her AIADMK party – which had earlier lowered the flag to half-mast before hoisting it up once more – also confirmed she had died, tweeting “our beloved leader, the Iron lady of India… Amma, is no more”.

“RIP Jayalalitha” has been trending on Twitter, while Facebook is also filled with elegies for a woman who is widely respected for managing to hold her own in the male-dominated world of Tamil Nadu politics.

A senior AIADMK politician, O Panneerselvam, was sworn in as chief of Tamil Nadu within hours of J Jayalalitha’s death, the party’s Twitter account confirmed.

Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung, Hyundai and other South Korean Companies Face Corruption Inquiry

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Choi Soon-sil Scandal: Samsung, Hyundai and other South Korean Companies Face Corruption Inquiry

Eight of South Korea’s biggest businesses, including Samsung and Hyundai, are being questioned by parliament in a rare TV hearing as part of a huge corruption inquiry.

The companies admitted giving millions of dollars to funds linked to President Park Geun-hye, but denied seeking favors.

Samsung admitted to giving the daughter of Park Geun-hye’s friend an expensive horse.

Parliament is due to vote on December 9 on the president’s impeachment over her involvement in the scandal.

Massive protests have been held in recent weeks demanding the president’s resignation.

The executives are being questioned by a cross-party committee of lawmakers. The panel has no power to punish but its chairman has said the hearing is a place for apology.

One of the corporate bosses acknowledged that it was difficult for companies to say no to government requests.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

“It’s a South Korean reality that if there is a government request, it is difficult for companies to decline,” said Huh Chang-soo, head of the GS Group and chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries lobby group.

The conglomerates all gave large donations to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a close confidante of Park Geun-hye.

Choi Soon-sil has been charged with coercion and attempted fraud.

Lawmakers spent the most time grilling Samsung’s Lee Kun-hee. Samsung has been accused of giving donations in exchange for support of a controversial merger that effectively strengthened his position in the company.

Samsung gave a total of 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations.

Like the other leaders, Lee Kun-hee denied the allegations, saying Samsung “never provided support or gave donations in return for something”.

However, he admitted that his company provided a one billion won ($855,000) horse to Choi Soon-sil’s daughter, a professional equestrian, and said he regretted it.

Lee Kun-hee apologized for Samsung’s involvement in the scandal and said his company would “take all responsibility” if there was any.

South Korea’s family-owned conglomerates, known as chaebols, have increasingly been perceived as a symbol of the out-of-touch elite, and have become a target of public fury in recent protests calling for Park Geun-hye’s resignation.

The president has apologized multiple times to the public for allowing Choi Soon-sil inappropriate access to government decisions but has stopped short of resigning.

Last week Parke Geun-hye said she would leave it to parliament to decide her fate, and on December 6 she was quoted by her party’s leader as saying she would accept the outcome of December 9 impeachment vote.

What is PTSD?

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder which can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or a prolonged traumatic experience.

People naturally feel afraid when in danger, but the legacy of some traumatic events is a change in perception of fear.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

They may feel stressed or frightened in day-to-day life.

PTSD can be caused by any traumatic event – including military conflict, serious road accidents, natural disasters, assaults, and muggings.

Patients typically tend to re-experience the event in flashbacks, avoid talking about it, have trouble sleeping, or experience a change in mood.

Lady Gaga Reveals She Suffers from PTSD Since Being Raped

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Lady Gaga Reveals She Suffers from PTSD Since Being Raped

Lady Gaga has revealed she has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since being raped at the age of 19.

The pop star talked about her mental illness during a visit to a homeless shelter for young LGBT people last month.

In a TV interview about the visit, Lady Gaga said: “I suffer from a mental illness – I suffer from PTSD. I’ve never told anyone that before.”

The 30-year-old singer first spoke publicly about the rape two years ago.

Lady Gaga has since admitted she blamed herself and did not tell anyone about it for seven years.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

She made the revelation during an interview with the Today Show, which was broadcast on NBC on December 5.

It is the first time Lady Gaga has talked about having PTSD.

During her visit to the Ali Forney Centre in New York, Lady Gaga told the homeless LGBT teenagers that her trauma helped her understand others.

She said: “The kindness that’s been shown to me, by doctors as well as my family and my friends, it’s really saved my life.”

“Meditation helps me to calm down,” the singer said, adding that she was struggling with her mental illness “every day”.

The pop star brought presents to the teenagers at the center.

Lady Gaga later tweeted: “Today I shared one my deepest secrets w/ the world. Secrets keep you sick w/ shame.”

A tearful young person from the center she visited said: “Lady Gaga’s act of kindness today was a reminder that love still exists – and that there’s still some for me.”

On social media, Lady Gaga’s fans opened up with their own experiences in response.

She is one of the world’s most successful contemporary artists, with a string of hits across her first five albums. Her sixth album, Joanne, was released two months ago.

Lady Gaga has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ community; campaigning for Hillary Clinton during the election and protesting outside Trump Tower when the results were announced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7xEHWq19mE

Italy Referendum 2016: PM Matteo Renzi to Hand in His Resignation

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Italy Referendum 2016: PM Matteo Renzi to Hand in His Resignation

Italy’s PM Matteo Renzi will meet President Sergio Mattarella to hand in his resignation after suffering a defeat in a constitutional referendum.

President Sergio Mattarella must either appoint a new prime minister or call early elections, as demanded by Italy’s opposition anti-establishment parties.

The president might also try to persuade Matteo Renzi to stay in charge until the 2017 budget is passed later this week, reports say.

European leaders have been playing down the risks of fallout from the crisis.

Matteo Renzi’s resignation comes amid fears of long-term instability for Italy’s troubled banking sector in the long-term. Shares in Italian banks lost ground following news of Matteo Renzi’s defeat.

Matteo Renzi is the youngest prime minister in Italy's history, and one of its least experienced

The No vote in December 4 constitutional referendum was widely seen as a rejection of establishment politics in Italy.

Matteo Renzi held a final cabinet meeting on December 5, before traveling to the presidential palace to submit his formal resignation.

In spite of the pressure from the opposition, early elections are thought to be unlikely.

Instead, the president may appoint a caretaker administration led by Matteo Renzi’s Democratic Party, which would carry on until an election due in the spring of 2018.

Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan is the favorite to succeed Matteo Renzi as prime minister.

With most ballots counted, the No vote leads with 60% against 40% for Yes, with a 70% turnout, a heavier than expected defeat for the government.

Matteo Renzi staked his political future on his attempt to change Italy’s cumbersome political system. He wanted to strengthen central government and weaken the Senate, the upper house of parliament.

His opponents – including some within his own party – had argued that the reforms would give the prime minister too much power. The electorate agreed.

However, more than a resounding victory for the No camp, it was a chance for a medley of populist parties to reject establishment politics.

The opposition, headed by the Five Star Movement, capitalized on Matteo Renzi’s declining popularity, years of economic stagnation, and the problems caused by tens of thousands of migrants arriving in Italy from Africa.

After the vote, Matteo Renzi defended his record, saying exports and job numbers were up and unemployment was down to 11.7%.

Five Star’s leader, Beppe Grillo, has called for an election “within a week”.

President Sergio Mattarella, who praised the high voter turnout, called for a political climate with “serenity and mutual respect”.

There are obligations and deadlines which Italy’s institutions will have to honor “guaranteeing a response that meets the problems of the moment,” he said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZzP8TIIc-g

Oscars 2017: Jimmy Kimmel to Host Academy Awards Ceremony

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Oscars 2017: Jimmy Kimmel to Host Academy Awards Ceremony

Jimmy Kimmel has been tapped to host the 2017 Oscars, it has been announced.

It will be the first time Jimmy Kimmel has fronted the ceremony, which takes place on February 26, 2017.

Jimmy Kimmel addressed Kanye West's profanity-studded Twitter rant during Thursday’s monologue
Jimmy Kimmel addressed Kanye West’s profanity-studded Twitter rant during Thursday’s monologue

Jimmy Kimmel has previously hosted the American Music Awards and has twice fronted the Emmys – in 2012 and 2016.

Previous presenters of the Oscars include Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Seth MacFarlane, Whoopi Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris.

Since 2003, Jimmy Kimmel has hosted his own nightly hour long talk show – Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Regular features on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show include celebrity guests reading out insulting tweets about themselves and parents filming their children’s reaction to being told all of their Halloween chocolate has been eaten.

Jimmy Kimmel has also made cameo appearances in movies such as Pitch Perfect 2 and Ted 2, as well as TV shows including Sesame Street and Entourage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRp68xs7cno

Donald Trump Picks Ben Carson to Lead US Housing

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Picks Ben Carson to Lead US Housing

Donald Trump has picked Ben Carson as secretary of housing and urban development.

“Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities,” the president-elect said in a statement about his former rival for the Republican nomination, adding that the two had discussed his “urban renewal agenda”.

Ben Carson is the first African-American to be nominated for Donald Trump’s cabinet.

The retired neurosurgeon endorsed Donald Trump in March after ending his own bid for the White House.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a presidency representing all Americans,” Donald Trump’s statement said.

However, Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi criticized the nomination of Ben Carson calling him a “disconcerting and disturbingly unqualified choice to lead a department as complex and consequential as housing and urban development”.

The agency has an annual budget of about $50 billion.

Donald Trump has not always been so positive about the man he has chosen to join his administration.

In November 2015, when Ben Carson briefly overtook him in the polls for the Republican nomination, Donald Trump launched sustained attacks on his rival’s character.

In one tweet, he brought together three of Ben Carson’s most controversial statements, bringing up Carson’s own admissions about his violent behavior growing up in a poor family in Detroit.

Ben Carson has since reiterated statements about his teenage years first made in his autobiography, in which he admitted to wanting to hit his mother on the head with a hammer and to trying to stab a friend.

His assertion that the Egyptian pyramids were not built to entomb pharaohs but instead by the Biblical figure Joseph to store grain were widely ridiculed when they emerged in November.

Ben Carson is a devout Protestant Christian who is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church.

Cabinet appointments need to be confirmed by the Senate.

There are still major cabinet positions yet to be announced, including the next secretary of state.

As well as his top team, Donald Trump has about 4,000 government positions to fill.

Preparing Your Startup For Additional Costs Before The Business Frosts

Dana R
-
0
Preparing Your Startup For Additional Costs Before The Business Frosts

The overriding factor in any startup environment, aside from the location or the people you need, is the finances. If you evaluate your business plan in enough detail, you will understand how much money is needed in order to get the venture started with enough money to spare. This is a common misconception among smaller businesses, that if you start out strong you can keep the momentum. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. If you run out of resources early on, you can run the business into the ground very quickly. Prior to starting your business officially, there are some things that you can prepare for, and all it involves is making lists.

profits

pixabay.com

Business Assets

These are what you will need in the long term. The fundamental items of equipment you will need, in other words, the inventory. From the machinery and tables, right down to the din 2093 spring, make an inventory of what you will need at the outset. These will consist of your starting assets, discounting the money you have in the bank. For each item, you need to make an educated guess of what each item will cost. If you really are not sure, either do some research or overestimate.

Business Expenses

Different from an asset, as everything you purchase is not an asset. You can spend business money on expenses, for example, the cost of setting up your business website, or the cost to fix up your offices, or the salaries you pay your employees. Now you add the starting assets and the starting expenses together to calculate the vast majority of your starting costs.

Figure Out The Amount Of Money You Will Need To Begin

This is the last piece of the jigsaw. Knowing how much money you will need in your accounts for the first few uncertain months of the business will be the deciding factor in keeping the business afloat. Now, there are different ways to do this. A lot of people would say that you need to cover 6 months of expenses, maybe 12 months, but the best way would be to estimate the sales, the expenses and the costs of the sales and expenses over the first year. You may wish to create a sales forecast to help guide you.

What you should now have is a list of 12 months with the costs, expenses and estimated sales for each individual month. The costs and the expenses are then subtracted from the sales for each month, you should then see if you are short of money or not. Using that, you can then start to see how long it will take for you to break even and how much cash you are lacking in. The amount is what you need to have behind you as the total starting cash for the business.

stock-exchange

https://pixabay.com/en/stock-exchange-world-economy-man-911609/

The great thing about this method of calculation, is that if you have not had a business plan put in place, this will be a starting point for you to make a business plan! Get prepared, by understanding your additional costs!

Austria Elections 2016: Alexander Van der Bellen Defeats Norbert Hofer in Presidential Poll

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Austria Elections 2016: Alexander Van der Bellen Defeats Norbert Hofer in Presidential Poll

Austria’s far-right presidential candidate Norbert Hofer has lost the country’s election.

On Facebook, Norbert Hofer described himself as “infinitely sad” and congratulated Alexander Van der Bellen, former head of the Greens, on his victory.

Although the president’s role is ceremonial in Austria, the poll had been seen as a sign of how well populist candidates might do elsewhere in Europe.

Alexander Van der Bellen called the result a vote for a “pro-European” Austria based on “freedom, equality and solidarity”.

Referring to the Austrian flag, he said a “red-white-red signal of hope and change, a red-white-red signal today goes from Austria to all the capitals of the EU.

“Finally, you know, I will try to be an open-minded, a liberal-minded and first of all a pro-European federal president of the Republic of Austria.”

December 4 vote was a re-run of May’s election, which Alexander Van der Bellen narrowly won but was marred by postal vote irregularities.

Photo euractiv.com
Photo euractiv.com

The Green Party’s said there had been significant changes – Brexit, the US election – since then, along with an increase in political interest – “an enormously broad electoral movement”.

Alexander Van der Bellen’s margin in May – 30,000 votes – had now increased tenfold.

EU leaders have been welcoming the result, which comes amid fears of populism undermining established parties.

European Council President Donald Tusk conveyed “wholehearted congratulations” while Germany’s Social Democrat Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, called the result “a clear victory for reason against right-wing populism”.

France’s President Francois Hollande thanked Austria for “choosing Europe and openness”.

Germany, France and the Netherlands all face elections next year in which anti-mainstream and anti-immigration parties are gaining ground.

A referendum under way in Italy is being closely followed for further signs of anti-establishment populism, with polls suggesting a setback for centre-left PM Matteo Renzi.

But the Austrian results surprised many.

Opinion polls in the run-up to December 4 vote suggested the result was too close to call.

Projections now give Alexander Van der Bellen roughly 53% to 46% for Norbert Hofer.

The election campaign ahead of December 4 vote was bitter, with both candidates trading insults and election posters being defaced.

Norbert Hofer, the candidate for the anti-immigration Freedom Party, conceded within minutes of the first projections in this rerun.

He thanked supporters and described himself as “infinitely sad that it hasn’t worked out”.

Norbert Hofer called on all Austrians to work together, “regardless of how we cast our ballots”.

He had campaigned on an anti-immigration platform amid disquiet in Austria at an influx of refugees. Establishment parties feared a victory for him could give a boost to the Freedom Party in the next parliamentary election.

Norbert Hofer had also suggested Austria could follow the UK’s Brexit with a referendum of its own but later appeared to backtrack, suggesting instead changing the bloc into a purely economic association.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s anti-immigration Front National, congratulated the Freedom Party on its campaign and looked forward to victory in Austria’s parliamentary poll.

Full official results are not expected until December 5 once postal ballots have been counted. Nearly 6.5 million Austrians were eligible to vote.

Donald Trump Threatens 35% Tax on US Companies that Move Jobs Overseas

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Donald Trump Threatens 35% Tax on US Companies that Move Jobs Overseas

Donald Trump has vowed to impose punitive taxes on US companies that move manufacturing overseas.

The president-elect promised a 35% tax on products sold in the United States by any business that fired American workers, and built a factory elsewhere.

Companies should be “forewarned prior to making a very expensive mistake”, he said.

Donald Trump has promised to help blue-collar workers, as well as reduce taxes and regulations on businesses.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

He tweeted: “The US is going to substantialy [sic] reduce taxes and regulations on businesses, but any business that leaves our country for another country, fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant in the other country, and then thinks it will sell its product back into the US without retribution or consequence, is WRONG!”

Donald Trump went on: “There will be a tax on our soon to be strong border of 35% for these companies wanting to sell their product, cars, A.C. units etc., back across the border.

“This tax will make leaving financially difficult, but these companies are able to move between all 50 states, with no tax or tariff being charged.

“Please be forewarned prior to making a very expensive mistake! THE UNITED STATES IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.”

Last week Donald Trump tweeted a warning to Rexnord Corp, an industrial supplier based in Milwaukee that plans to move a bearings plant and its 300 jobs from Indiana to Mexico.

“Rexnord of Indiana is moving to Mexico and rather viciously firing all of its 300 workers. This is happening all over the country. No more!” he wrote.

Experts have warned that the president-elect will face legal challenges if he tries to impose tariffs on specific companies without congressional approval.

Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, predicted that the US courts would block such a move.

Fidel Castro Funeral: Cuban Revolution Leader’s Ashes Buried in Santiago

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Fidel Castro Funeral: Cuban Revolution Leader’s Ashes Buried in Santiago

The ashes of late Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro have been laid to rest in the city of Santiago, nine days after his death at the age of 90.

Crowds lined the streets to see the cortege heading to the Santa Ifigenia cemetery for a private ceremony.

On December 3, Fidel Castro’s brother, Cuban President Raul Castro, promised “to defend the fatherland and socialism”.

In a family ceremony, Fidel Castro’s ashes were interred next to those of the 19th Century Cuban independence hero, Jose Marti.

The city of Santiago is known as the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution.fidel-castro-funeral

The funeral brings an end to nine days of national mourning across Cuba.

Fidel Castro’s remains arrived in December 3 in Santiago after a four-day journey from the capital, Havana.

He was part of the small group of revolutionaries who launched an attack on the Moncada barracks in Santiago on July 26, 1953.

The attacked failed, but it was considered the first act of the revolution that would depose the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959.

Opinion on Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost half a century, remains divided.

Raul Castro took over when his brother’s health deteriorated in 2006.

The Cuban president has announced that his government will ban naming any monuments or roads after Fidel Castro, at the request of the late leader who “strongly opposed any manifestation of cult of personality”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6ERu129w5E

Ghost Ship Fire Death Toll Rises to 30

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Ghost Ship Fire Death Toll Rises to 30

According to Oakland officials, 30 people were found dead inside the site of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire, and that number is expected to rise.

Only about 20% of the building has been searched and “a significant number” of people are still missing, officials said.

It is unclear what caused the fire at the converted warehouse.

The safety record of the building is under close scrutiny. There were no sprinklers. The only exit from the second floor was a makeshift stairwell.

Meanwhile, a man identified by former residents as the collective’s co-operator, has drawn criticism for a Facebook post, in which he wrote that “everything I worked so hard for is gone”, without acknowledging those who died.

Oakland Fire Chief Teresa Deloach-Reed said between 50 and 100 people were inside the venue when the fire started on December 2.

Image source abc7
Image source abc7

The old warehouse, known as the Ghost Ship, was hosting a concert by electronic group Golden Donna and six other acts.

The fire caused the roof to collapse on to the second floor, part of which then fell through to the ground floor.

The building did not have a sprinkler system and firefighters did not hear any alarms when they arrived, Teresa Deloach-Reed said.

The warehouse, which housed artists in improvised studios, was packed with furniture, mannequins and other objects, obstructing firefighters’ efforts to put out the blaze, she added.

“It was filled end to end with furniture, whatnot, collections. It was like a maze, almost.”

Fire crews worked all night at the scene. The search for bodies is expected to continue for at least another 48 hours.

Oakland Fire Dept. Batt. Chief Melinda Drayton said firefighters were going through the debris “bucket by bucket”.

“It was quiet, it was heartbreaking,” she said, choking back tears.

“This will be a long and arduous process.

“We don’t believe we have even gotten close to the origin of the fire.”

Melinda Drayton said every precaution was being taken to treat the victims’ remains with respect.

Only three of the bereaved families are believed to have had their loved ones’ deaths confirmed, due to issues with identification.

Oakland’s Planning Department said it had opened an investigation into the premises last month after complaints from neighbors about rubbish, and of people living inside, against building regulations.

One former resident, Shelley Mack, told the AP the building was “like a horror house”, adding that there was no electricity or running water.

Media in Oakland named Derick Ion as the co-operator of the collective with his partner, Micah Allison.

A Facebook post by Derick Ion lamenting the loss of his belongings but saying he was “blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel safe and sound” drew a barrage of criticism online.

Neither co-owner has commented publicly and their whereabouts are unknown.

Much of the work in the wake of the fire has focused on securing the building to allow search teams and investigators to enter.

Relatives of those who are missing have gathered at the Oakland coroners’ office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A67Ujrhu0c

Italy Referendum 2016: High Turnout in Vote on Matteo Renzi’s Fate

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Italy Referendum 2016: High Turnout in Vote on Matteo Renzi’s Fate

Italy voted in a constitutional referendum which is being closely watched for further signs of anti-establishment sentiment in Europe.

The vote, called by center-left PM Matteo Renzi, is formally on plans to streamline parliament but is expected to be used as a chance to register discontent.

Populist parties support a No vote.

The turnout on December 4 referendum has been very high by Italian standards – about 60% on average.

Nearly two-thirds of the electorate has voted in prosperous northern Italy but the turnout was much lower in the south.

Voting began at 07:00 and ended at 23:00 local time.

Matteo Renzi is the youngest prime minister in Italy's history, and one of its least experienced

PM Matteo Renzi, who has said he will resign if he loses, is set to address the Italian people at midnight.

In brief, the reforms include reducing the power of the Senate. Its members would be cut from 315 to 100, with most drawn from mayors and regional representatives.

Matteo Renzi, 41, says the reforms would speed up the cumbersome law-making process in Italy, which has had 60 governments since 1948.

Opponents say the proposals would concentrate too much power in the prime minister’s hands.

Some 50 million Italians have the right to vote in the referendum – many voters are fed up with years of economic stagnation.

An opinion poll in November gave the No vote a lead of at least five percentage points. But many Italians are thought to be still undecided.

The No campaign in Italy has been spearheaded by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, led by Beppe Grillo. It wants a referendum on whether Italy should keep the euro.

Populists, including the Five Star Movement and the anti-immigrant Northern League, would receive a boost from the prime minister’s defeat.

If Italy votes No, it would follow a similar trend seen with the UK’s vote in June to leave the EU, as well as the rise of the anti-immigrant Front National in France and populist parties elsewhere (along with Donald Trump’s unexpected win in the US presidential election).

The possibility of Matteo Renzi falling from power has reignited concerns about financial stability in the eurozone’s third largest economy.

If Matteo Renzi does lose, it is still not entirely certain that he will be out of power.

President Sergio Mattarella could ask Matteo Renzi to form a new government or appoint a technocratic prime minister to serve until elections due in 2018.

Recount 2016: Jill Stein’s Campaign Changes Strategy in Pennsylvania Bid

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Recount 2016: Jill Stein’s Campaign Changes Strategy in Pennsylvania Bid

Jill Stein and her party have changed their strategy in seeking a state-wide recount in Pennsylvania.

Her campaign says it will go to the federal courts, hours after dropping an appeal in a Pennsylvania state court.

The Green Party had earlier said voters could not afford the $1 million bond ordered by the state court.

Jill Stein has tried to force recounts in Michigan and Wisconsin as well; all three were narrowly won by Donald Trump.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

The Greens’ decision comes two days before a court hearing was scheduled on the case in Pennsylvania where Donald Trump’s margin of victory was 49,000, or less than 1%.

Donald Trump’s supporters are trying to block the recount bid, which are unlikely to change the polls results if they take place.

“Make no mistake, the Stein campaign will continue to fight for a state-wide recount in Pennsylvania,” recount campaign lawyer Jonathan Abady said in a statement.

“We are committed to this fight to protect the civil and voting rights of all Americans.”

Jonathan Abady said barriers to a recount in Pennsylvania are pervasive and the state court system is ill-equipped to address the problem.

Jill Stein, who was the Green Party’s presidential candidate, says the recount bid is needed to explore whether voting machines and systems had been hacked and the election result manipulated.

Her campaign has so far offered no evidence of hacking, and supporters of Donald Trump have asked the state court to dismiss the case.

A recount has already started in Wisconsin, which Donald Trump won by 22,000 votes. On December 2, a federal court rejected a request by Donald Trump’s supporters to immediately halt the recount there, but allowed a lawsuit to proceed.

In Michigan, Donald Trump’s team filed a complaint with the elections board to block a recount of all 4.8 million ballots cast in the state, which he won by 10,700 votes. A recount there could begin next week.

Hillary Clinton, who lost to Donald Trump, has kept silent on the matter, but her campaign has said it would co-operate with Jill Stein’s recount efforts.

Austria Elections 2016: Norbert Hofer vs Alexander Van der Bellen in Re-run Vote

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Austria Elections 2016: Norbert Hofer vs Alexander Van der Bellen in Re-run Vote

Austria is voting in a re-run of a presidential election which pits the leader of the far-right Freedom Party Norbert Hofer against former Green Party head Alexander Van der Bellen.

Last May’s vote was narrowly won by Alexander Van der Bellen, but the result was overturned by Austria’s highest court because of irregularities in the count.

If Norbert Hofer wins, he will become the EU’s first far-right head of state.

Opinion polls held in November suggest the vote is too close to call.

Although the president’s role is largely ceremonial in Austria, the vote is being watched as a barometer of how well populist candidates will do in upcoming elections.

Photo euractiv.com
Photo euractiv.com

France, the Netherlands and Germany all face elections in 2017 and anti-mainstream and anti-immigration parties are gaining ground.

The direction in which Austria will take with regard to the EU is also closely watched.

Norbert Hofer has campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, and initially said Austria could follow Britain’s vote to leave the EU with a referendum of its own. Alexander Van der Bellen has told Austrians it is proof that Norbert Hofer is in favor of “Oexit” (a reference to Austria’s name in German, Oesterreich).

However, at a party meeting on December 2, Norbert Hofer said opponents who repeatedly accused him of seeking a break with the EU were themselves damaging Austria.

“People who permanently talk about Oexit and accuse others of damaging the country with talk of Oexit should take a look at themselves and think about whether they are the ones damaging Austria the most,” he said.

In April 2015, Norbert Hofer won the first round of presidential elections by knocking out centrist candidates from parties that have dominated Austria since WWII.

Alexander Van der Bellen won the second round, but by just 31,000 votes. The Freedom Party then challenged the result which was then annulled due to irregularities.

The election campaign has been long and bitter, with both men trading insults, and with posters of both being defaced.

In the final TV debate on December 1, Norbert Hofer called Alexander Van der Bellen a liar 24 times, and had the insult returned three times, according to the Kurier newspaper.

Austria’s vote coincides with a closely-watched referendum in Italy, where center-left PM Matteo Renzi is staking his political future on a package of political reforms that is being challenged by the populist Five-Star Movement of Beppe Grillo.

Fidel Castro Funeral: Final Tributes Led by Raul Castro at Santiago Ceremony

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Fidel Castro Funeral: Final Tributes Led by Raul Castro at Santiago Ceremony

The final tributes to late Cuban leader Fidel Castro have been led by his brother, President Raul Castro, at a ceremony in the city of Santiago.

Tens of thousands of Cubans attended the event, as well as world leaders.

The Cuban president vowed to honor the socialist principles and goals of the revolution led by Fidel Castro, who died on November 25 at the age of 90.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Raul Castro also announced that Cuba would ban naming any monuments or roads after Fidel Castro, at the request of the late leader.

“The leader of the revolution strongly opposed any manifestation of cult of personality,” said Raul Castro.

No statues or busts of Fidel Castro will be erected in Cuba, he said.

The urn with his ashes will be interred on December 4 in Santiago, known as the birthplace as the Cuban Revolution.

It arrived on December 3 in Santiago, after a four-day journey from the capital, Havana.

Large crowds shouting “Long live Fidel!” and “I am Fidel!” greeted his funeral cortege through the streets of Santiago.

The leaders of Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have attended the ceremony.

Fidel Castro was part of the small group of revolutionaries who launched an attack on the barracks on July 26, 1953.

The attacked failed, but it was considered the first act of the revolution that would depose the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959.

Opinion on Fidel Castro, who ruled Cuba as a one-party state for almost half a century, remains divided.

Supporters say Fidel Castro returned Cuba to the people and praise him for some of his social programs, such as public health and education.

However, critics call him a dictator, who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent.

Raul Castro took over when his brother’s health deteriorated in 2006.

Fidel Castro’s ashes will be placed in the Ifigenia Cemetery, where Cuban independence hero Jose Marti is buried.

Oakland Fire: At Least Nine People Die at Ghost Ship Nightclub

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Oakland Fire: At Least Nine People Die at Ghost Ship Nightclub

At least nine people have died and other 25 are missing after a fire broke up at the Ghost Ship nightclub in Oakland, California.

According to authorities, the fire started at 11:30PM local time on December 2.

The fire became so out of control that at one point all fire units were ordered out of the building.

The venue was hosting a concert by electronic group Golden Donna as part of its 100% Silk tour.

Image source Twitter
Image source Twitter

Local broadcasters said some 13 other people were missing. The KTVU network said about 50 people were inside.

The building housed artists in studios, it said. It did not appear to be a formal concert venue.

One of the artists who lived in the building, photographer Bob Mule, told the East Bay Times he tried but failed to help a friend get out.

“I literally felt my skin peeling and my lungs being suffocated by smoke,” he said.

“I couldn’t get the fire extinguisher to work.”

Fire chief Teresa Deloach-Read told the newspaper the building had no sprinkler system.

Videos posted on social media by the fire department showed a large fire burning through the roof of the building. Three fire engines were called out.

The event’s Facebook page said the event, that featured seven acts, was to be held in a secret location in the east of Oakland that was announced only on the day it was held.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5aJoztRc1w

Football Leaks Reveal Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho Avoided Paying Tax on Millions of Dollars

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Football Leaks Reveal Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho Avoided Paying Tax on Millions of Dollars

Real Madrid soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho have been accused of tax avoidance, according to claims based on a huge document leak.

They allegedly avoided paying tax on millions of dollars of earnings by moving large sums to the British Virgin Islands.

The allegations are said to be based on two terrabytes of leaked information which include original contracts.

Both of them deny the claims.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Soccer agency Gestifute, which represents Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho, said in a statement: “Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are fully compliant with their tax obligations with the Spanish and British tax authorities.

“Any insinuation or accusation made to Cristiano Ronaldo or Jose Mourinho over the commission of a tax offence will be reported to the legal authorities and prosecuted.”

The claims were published by an international consortium of journalists which obtained a trove of about 18 millions documents. Other top players were named in the documents.

The European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) consortium includes German newspaper Der Spiegel, Spain’s El Mundo and the UK’s Sunday Times. It says it intends to publish a series of articles under the banner “Football Leaks” over the next few weeks.

The leak comes eight months after the so-called Panama Papers lifted the lid on how the world’s rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth.

One of the newspapers in the consortium, the Dutch NRC, alleges that Cristiano Ronaldo moved €63.5 million ($67.7 million) to the British Virgin Islands at the end of 2014.

The paper says Cristiano Ronaldo received sponsorship fees which were moved via two Irish companies to the tax haven, 11 days before Spain changed an advantageous tax law.

The NRC says the striker has so far not responded to questions asked by the consortium.

According to El Mundo, the leaked documents relate to the time that Jose Mourinho spent as manager of Real Madrid, between 2010 and 2013.

Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo’s current employer, did not respond to requests from news agencies for comment.

Manchester United said the allegations related to events before Jose Mourinho’s arrival at the club and so it would not comment.

Jose Mourinho is reported to have moved €12 million ($13.2 million) into a Swiss account owned by a British Virgin Islands company, according to the EIC.

According to the reports, December 2 first batch of leaks centered on “a system” put in place by Jorge Mendes, whose company has denied any wrongdoing.

Jorge Mendes’ company, Gestifute, said in a statement that neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Jose Mourinho “have been implicated in legal proceedings of the tax evasion commission in Spain”.

Gestifute noted it had taken legal redress against claims of tax evasion and stressed it had always acted with “the highest degree of professionalism in relations with [its] clients and authorities”.

It accused the media consortium of operating in an “insidious” way concerning the stars’ tax obligations.

Donald Trump Taiwan Call: China Foreign Ministry Lodges Complaint with US

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Taiwan Call: China Foreign Ministry Lodges Complaint with US

China’s foreign ministry says it has lodged a complaint with the US after Donald Trump spoke to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in a phone call.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. US policy set in 1979 cut all formal relations with Taiwan.

However, Donald Trump’s transition team said he and Tsai Ing-wen noted “close economic, political, and security ties” in a phone call.

China said it had lodged a “solemn representation” with Washington.

According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, China urged the US “to cautiously, properly handle Taiwan issue to avoid unnecessary disturbance to Sino-US relations”.Taiwan elections Tsai Ing wen

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi dismissed the call as a “petty trick” by Taiwan, Chinese state media said.

Donald Trump tweeted on December 2 that Tsai Ing-wen had called Donald Trump to congratulate him on winning the US election.

His team said that the US president-elect had also congratulated Tsai Ing-wen on becoming the president of Taiwan last January.

It is highly unusual for a US president or president-elect to speak to a Taiwanese leader directly.

Following media reports pointing out the risks of angering China, Donald Trump tweeted: “Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.”

The White House has said Donald Trump’s conversation does not signal any change in US policy. And according to media reports, the White House learned of the call only after it had happened.

Donald Trump’s spokeswoman said he was “well aware” of US policy towards Taiwan.

The split between China and Taiwan goes back to 1949, when the Republic of China (ROC) government fled the mainland to Taiwan. After 1945, it held China’s seat on the UN Security Council and was, for a while, recognized by many Western nations as the only Chinese government.

In 1971, the UN switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing and the ROC government was forced out. Only a handful of countries now recognize Taiwan’s government.

The US cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1979, expressing its support for Beijing’s “One China” concept, which states that Taiwan is part of China.

China has hundreds of missiles pointing towards Taiwan, and has threatened to use force if it seeks independence.

President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first female leader, led the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to a landslide victory in the January 2016 election.

The DPP has traditionally leaned towards independence from China. President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration does not accept the One China policy.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it opposed any official interaction or military contact between the US and Taiwan, according to the People’s Daily, a Communist Party mouthpiece.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the conversation between Donald Trump and Tsai Ing-wen was “just a petty trick by Taiwan” that he believed would not change US policy toward China, state media reported.

“The One China policy is the cornerstone of the healthy development of China-US relations and we hope this political foundation will not be interfered with or damaged,” he was quoted as saying.

The comment was repeated in a formal statement by the Foreign Ministry reported by Xinhua.

Despite the cut in formal ties nearly four decades ago, the US has still maintained friendly non-official relations with Taiwan.

Following Donald Trump’s phone call, the White House said the US remained firmly committed to its “One China” policy.

Barack Obama: Donald Trump Should Elect A Cybersecurity Ambassador Within First 100 Days

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Barack Obama: Donald Trump Should Elect A Cybersecurity Ambassador Within First 100 Days

According to a new report, President Barack Obama has recommended to President-elect Donald Trump to elect a cybersecurity ambassador to help keep the US secure.

The 100-page document highlights areas where the US falls short and calls on the private sector to help hasten the improvement of digital services.

President Barack Obama set up the commission in preparation for the new administration.Barack Obama blames media for Donald Trump coverage

The outgoing president said its recommendations should be followed within the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency.

“Now it is time for the next administration to take up this charge and ensure that cyberspace can continue to be the driver for prosperity, innovation, and change both in the United States and around the world,” Barack Obama said.

However, the report is only advisory and Donald Trump could choose to ignore its suggestions.

In its 16 recommendations, the Presidential Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity also suggested implementing a kind of “nutritional label” system for devices. The label would contain independent advice on how secure a particular device may or may not be.

The report’s backdrop comes amid ongoing concern about how weak cybersecurity is allowing other nations to interfere with US governance.

1...222223224...1,249Page 223 of 1,249