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Ouch, WWE Sued By Retired Wrestlers Over Brain Injuries

Dana R
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Ouch, WWE Sued By Retired Wrestlers Over Brain Injuries

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Over fifty wrestlers are suing the WWE for brain injuries they suffered during their time with the company. World Wrestling Entertainment has been employing skilled professionals for years. They hire them to perform incredible stunts with breathtaking moves. This time, though, it could be the company that takes the hit. Famous yesteryear stars such as Mr. Wonderful have joined the campaign. Due to this, it’s attracting a lot of publicity.

The controversy surrounding sports and brain injuries is not a new topic. Just last year, the Will Smith biopic ‘concussion’ was released. It was based on the research into brain injuries NFL players have suffered. The film attracted controversy when it was revealed the NFL were given rights to veto parts of the film. What’s shocking about this story is that WWE wrestling isn’t a sport at all. In fact, if you watch WWE you’ll find it’s closer to an episode of Arrow than it is to the NFL Superbowl. All the fights are scripted, and the winner of each match is chosen long before the final punch is thrown. In fact, WWE wrestling could be seen as a type of dancing. It is similar to almost every other form of performance fighting. Each move that is performed the arena is heavy choreographed and staged.

However, this court case shows that while the violence may be staged, the danger is real. Filming a movie, the footage is edited to make it look like stunts are being performed. They can do this using pulley systems. During WWE fights moves are performed. One slip, trip or miscalculation could result in a serious injury.

That’s not the case these fighters are putting forward. They claim that the moves they performed were completed correctly. The alleged brain injuries they suffered were due to the fact they did not receive appropriate medical care. They claim, due to a lack of treatment they did develop brain injuries.

The question many people might be wondering is why these performers are coming forward now. Until recently there was no precedent for sports athletes to sue based on brain injuries. Recently, NFL players were awarded $765 million dollars in a similar case action. Despite the choreography involved, WWE wrestling is still considered a sport in America. As such it’s possible that these wrestlers may feel they deserve the same type of payout for the injuries they have suffered.

They may have only recently started to see the effect of these injuries. Traumatic brain injury attorneys claim signs and symptoms can take months, even years to fully develop. Therefore, these wrestlers could have been living without symptoms until recently.

For the WWE, the situation could be dicey. It could set a precedence for other wrestlers to come forward in the future. In may even put the entire ‘sport’ in danger if merit is found in the case. A recent statement released by the company claimed they are confident the action will be dismissed. However, the tide certainly appears to be turning for employers who have put their employees in danger of brain injuries. Could modern wrestlers like Superstar Dwayne Johnson and John Cena be next to get in line behind the campaign?

WWE WRESTLEMANIA 28 Rock vs Cena by KCWallpapers

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Solar Impulse 2 Ends Epic Global Journey in Abu Dhabi

James J. Williams
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Solar Impulse 2 Ends Epic Global Journey in Abu Dhabi

Solar Impulse 2 has completed its historic round-the world trip, after the aircraft touched down in Abu Dhabi.

Pilot Bertrand Piccard conducted the final leg of the epic journey, steering the plane safely from the Egyptian capital Cairo to the UAE.

He has been taking turns at the controls with Swiss compatriot Andre Borschberg, with the mission aiming to promote renewable energy.

It brings to an end a voyage that began in Abu Dhabi on March 9, 2015.Solar Impulse lands in Phoenix

Arriving into Abu Dhabi, Bertrand Piccard said: “The future is clean. The future is you. The future is now. Let’s take it further.”

The 17-stage journey covered some 42,000km, taking in four continents, three seas and two oceans.

The longest leg, an 8,924km flight from Nagoya in Japan to Hawaii, US, lasted nearly 118 hours and saw Andre Borschberg break the absolute world record for longest (time duration) uninterrupted solo flight.

It was just one of 19 official aviation records set during the global adventure.

Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg have been working on the Solar Impulse project for more than a decade.

They had hoped to complete the challenge in 2015 but progress was not quite swift enough to get the best of the weather in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer.

When battery damage was sustained on that epic five-day, five-night passage over the western Pacific in June/July 2015, the decision was taken to ground the effort for 10 months.

Solar Impulse is no heavier than a car, but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747. It is powered by 17,000 solar cells.

The solar-powered aircraft’s experimental design presents a number of technical difficulties, with the airplane being very sensitive to weather conditions.

Democratic Convention 2016: Michelle Obama Denounces Donald Trump Hate

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Convention 2016: Michelle Obama Denounces Donald Trump Hate

Michelle Obama has denounced Donald Trump’s “hate” while backing Hillary Clinton for president at the Democratic National Convention.

In her speech in Philadelphia, the first lady said to loud cheers and applause: “The hateful language… from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country.

“Don’t stoop to their level. Our motto is, when they go low, we go high.”

Earlier, Bernie Sanders urged Democrats to back Hillary Clinton.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Hillary Clinton will accept the Democratic presidential nomination on July 28, when a roll call of how states’ delegates are voting is to be read out.

“While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” Bernie Sanders said.

Some of Bernie Sanders’ supporters booed at mention of Hillary Clinton’s name; others wore duct tape with the word “silenced” over their mouths.

Michelle Obama’s speech was widely seen as an attack on Donald Trump, although she did not mention the Republican nominee by name.

The first lady said she wanted her husband to be succeeded by “somebody who knows this job and takes it seriously” and that could only be Hillary Clinton.

Because of the Democrats’ candidate, Michelle Obama said, “my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”

In other remarks, Michelle Obama praised Hillary Clinton as a “true public servant” who had shown “devotion to our nation’s children” and “never buckles under pressure”.

After the first lady’s speech, President Barack Obama tweeted: “Incredible speech by an incredible woman. Couldn’t be more proud & our country has been blessed to have her as FLOTUS [first lady]. I love you, Michelle.”

Donald Trump, who has criticized his rivals, both Republican and Democrat, in sometimes colorful language on Twitter, said Bernie Sanders had “sold out” to Hillary Clinton.

The Republican billionaire also condemned other speakers at the Democratic convention including senators Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren, but made no mention of Michelle Obama.

Democratic Convention 2016: Bernie Sanders Backs Hillary Clinton for President

Diane A. Wade
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Democratic Convention 2016: Bernie Sanders Backs Hillary Clinton for President

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has said that Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States, in a speech at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.

Bernie Sanders received a three-minute standing ovation when he took the stage.

First Lady Michelle Obama also received a rapturous reception for a powerful speech in which she took on Republican nominee Donald Trump.

“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again,” Michelle Obama said, referring to Donald Trump’s signature slogan “Make America Great Again”.

“Because this, right now, is the greatest country on earth,” the First Lady added.

Earlier in the evening, Bernie Sanders’ fans had booed any mention of Hillary Clinton, who will accept the party’s presidential nomination on July 28.

And as he urged Democrats to back Hillary Clinton, his former rival, in the final major speech of the night, they held aloft their blue “Bernie” signs and chanted his name.

Some supporters broke into tears while others wore duct tape emblazoned with the words “silenced” over their mouths.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Bernie Sanders continued: “While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

“If you don’t believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country.”

Members of the audience had earlier disrupted the event’s opening prayer, chanting “Bernie!” while also jeering as Democratic National Committee chair Marcia Fudge delivered remarks.

The commotion prompted Bernie Sanders to send an email saying the credibility of the progressive movement would be damaged by “booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays” of protests.

Revelations from an email leak which showed DNC officials allegedly plotted against Bernie Sanders’ primary campaign threatened to overshadow the event as it fuelled the anger of his voters.

WikiLeaks released emails that revealed the DNC was biased against Bernie Sanders when he ran against Hillary Clinton in the hard-fought primary contest.

The FBI has confirmed that it is investigating the leak.

Democratic chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned on July 24 as pressure built on the party to address the scandal.

Democratic party bosses later issued an apology to Bernie Sanders for “inexcusable” emails which tried to undermine his White House campaign.

However, Bernie Sanders refused to let the email scandal eclipse his message to his supporters.

“Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her here tonight,” said the Vermont senator before leaving the stage.

About 5,000 party delegates are among the 50,000 people expected to attend the four-day Democratic convention, which will end on July 28 with Hillary Clinton formally accepting the nomination for president.

How success in sport translates to business

Dana R
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How success in sport translates to business

On the face of it, sport and business are completely different. However, if you were to scrutinize the two in-depth, you’d soon start to see some glaring similarities and how successful practices can translate between the two.

Sure, reaching a profit target is a little different to a home run. However, the processes can be very similar if you look at them from one perspective, as we’ll now take a look at some of them in greater detail.

Sport teaches discipline and determination

This first one actually came courtesy of Rene Escobar Bribiesca, a successful Mexican businessman who also successfully ran triathlons.

He went on to say that there were two key things he took out of his sporting achievements; discipline and determination.

As anyone who has participated in a triathlon will verify, it’s one of the toughest challenges around. The training is intense and to become a success you really have to be disciplined in the way that you prepare for the events. It’s for this reason why he also mentioned dedication as hugely important – without the dedication the discipline just wouldn’t exist.

In terms of business, it goes without saying that these attributes are vital. Without them, you’ll give up at the first opportunity and you’ll also struggle to put any sort of plan into action.

international-business-owners-opening-a-business-in-the-us

Team-play is essential

This next point should go without saying.

It doesn’t matter if you’re starting your business alone, at some point you are going to rely on others to take you to the next level.

Suffice to say, the same applies in sport. For teams like football, it’s obvious. For something like golf or tennis, one might be surprised to see the number of professionals who work in the background to support their player – from physiotherapists right the way through to nutritionists.

Unfortunately, we’re not built to achieve everything ourselves. You might think that you know your business better than anyone, but doing the buying, selling and everything else in-between is a recipe for disaster.

Not only do you need to build a team, but you need to be able to trust it and help it develop with you.

There are positions in both sport and business

This leads perfectly on from the last point we have just discussed.

As we all know, in most sports players have their preferred position. In soccer it could be a striker, in baseball it could be the pitcher. Trying to put square pegs in round holes and play players out of position has been proven not to work – it won’t yield the correct results and the team won’t perform to its potential.

Well, the same apples in business. Being able to recognize exactly where each member of your team works the best is key for any successful entrepreneur. As well as developing your team, you need to play to their strengths and ensure they are well-equipped to deal with the task that you have entrusted them with.

Verizon Acquires Yahoo’s Internet Business for $5 Billion in Cash

Clyde K. Valle
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Verizon Acquires Yahoo’s Internet Business for $5 Billion in Cash

Yahoo’s internet business has been sold to Verizon Communications for nearly $5 billion in cash.

It will be combined with AOL, another faded internet star, which Verizon bought in 2015.

The deal does not include Yahoo’s valuable stake in Chinese firm Alibaba.

The price tag for the deal is well below the $44 billion Microsoft offered for Yahoo in 2008 or the $125 billion it was worth during the dot.com boom.Verizon buys Yahoo

Verizon said the deal for Yahoo’s core internet business, which has more than a billion active users a month, would make it a global mobile media company.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said: “Yahoo is a company that has changed the world, and will continue to do so through this combination with Verizon and AOL.”

In an email to staff, Marissa Mayer said she was “planning to stay”, adding: “I love Yahoo, and I believe in all of you. It’s important to me to see Yahoo into its next chapter.”

However, the takeover, which is due to be completed in early 2017, raises questions about whether the Yahoo brand could disappear.

AOL chief executive Tim Armstrong said the deal was about “unleashing Yahoo’s full potential”, and creating a major player in mobile media.

Together AOL and Yahoo will have more than 25 brands, including Yahoo Mail, Flickr and Tumblr as well as AOL’s Huffington Post and Techcrunch news sites.

Marissa Mayer, who took the helm at Yahoo in 2012, has made little progress in returning the company to profit.

Last week Yahoo reported a $440 million loss in Q2, but said the board had made “great progress on strategic alternatives”.

 

 

5 Things Famous University Dropouts Taught Us

Nancy Clayson
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5 Things Famous University Dropouts Taught Us

All of us are already familiar with the life of certain celebrities who decided to skip college and commit to a career that eventually made them famous. Some of these examples are Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, etc. This, of course, does not mean that after reading this text you should rush to leave your university. On the contrary, these are just tips that can be helpful in whatever life cycle you currently are.

5 Things Famous University Dropouts Taught Us

Follow your dream

You got into a certain college because that move was expected of you or you simply thought that you can find happiness in doing a certain profession. If you happen to realize that this college and future job are not for you, you can always take a step back. This is the time to clearly analyze the situation as well as your own wishes and preferences. Focus on something that fulfils you. By doing so, you can find a completely new career that would suit you the best and change colleges. In case you’re still not ready to choose and accept that you need and deserve some more time, it’s perfectly fine to dedicate yourself to a hobby and redirect your talents to whatever feels comfortable even if it doesn’t seem profitable in the beginning.

Listen to your inner voice

Be persistent even when your immediate surroundings aren’t. Nobody got rich overnight. Work hard to achieve the goal you want. This clearly defined goal can be your secret strength and power when your enthusiasm fails you or when negative thoughts such as finding no perspective in what you do occupy your mind. If you feel it right in your gut, you’ve definitely made a right choice.

Believe in yourself

Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and use them both to your advantage. Believing in yourself doesn’t mean that you have to negate your whole personality to make room for positive traits only.  Actually, if you’re aware of your weaknesses you can make an effort to overcome them and be wary of them. Also, don’t be modest with your personal virtues. Use everything you’ve got as an advantage over the competition.

Improve yourself

Improve yourself constantly

No one is born with the entire world’s knowledge. Just because you’ve decided that sitting in the university lectures is not for you doesn’t mean that you should give up studying. Quite the opposite. Take up a course in the area of your personal interest. That way you can meet like-minded people who can help and direct you. Also, this is a much faster way to obtain a certificate which can serve as a springboard for your future career advancement.

Do not waste time on insignificant details

You must have noticed that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg always dress the same. They decided that spending time picking clothes is only going to waste when they can use this time wisely and do something constructive at their job. If you have your own small business do both of you a favor – wear branded promotional T-shirts that you use as a promotional gift. That way you won’t have to worry about your outfit and will do some smart advertising at the same time. Be practical and don’t let little things distract you from the desired goal.

Learn to listen to your needs. If you feel constrained and stressed dare to take a step out of the comfort zone. No one knows better than you what you need at any given time. Be brave and bold. If you don’t try to move, you increase the risk of depression. Do what it takes to get up in the morning with a big smile and in good spirits. Change yourself and your environment in a positive way and be an example to others that anything is possible.

Nintendo Shares Fall Sharply on Pokemon Go Profit Warning

Clyde K. Valle
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Nintendo Shares Fall Sharply on Pokemon Go Profit Warning

Nintendo shares have plunged sharply after the company said Pokemon Go‘s success would have a limited impact on its profits.

The Japanese gaming giant’s shares dropped by 17.7% after they more than doubled in value since Pokemon Go’s launch on July 6.

Pokemon Go was developed by American company Niantic and Nintendo said profits from licensing and fees would be limited.Nintendo Pokemon Go profit

However, even with the decline, Nintendo shares are still up 60% since the release of Pokemon Go.

Overall, Japanese shares traded sideways with the Nikkei 225 index finishing flat at 16,620.29.

Nintendo said the accounting scheme for recognizing revenues from Pokemon Go meant its profits would not materially change.

The sharp drop was the biggest decline since October 1990, the stock down by 5,000 yen – the maximum daily limit allowed.

Nintendo is due to report first-quarter results this week and said it did not plan to revise its earnings outlook for now.

“Taking the current situation into consideration, the company is not modifying the consolidated financial forecast for now,” Nintendo said in a stock filing.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Resign as DNC Chair Amid Leaked Email Row

Diane A. Wade
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Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Resign as DNC Chair Amid Leaked Email Row

Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has announced she will resign as a row over leaked emails threatens efforts for party unity ahead of the presidential nominating convention.

Her move follows a leak of emails appearing to suggest that party insiders tried to thwart the campaign by Hillary Clinton’s rival.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders had pressed for the party chairwoman to step down.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Hillary Clinton is to be officially nominated at the Philadelphia meeting.

Bernie Sanders had said Debbie Wasserman Schultz “should not be chair” of the Democratic National Committee.

He told ABC’s This Week: “And I think these emails reiterate that reason why she should not be chair.”

In a statement, Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she would “step down as party chair at the end of this convention.”

“We have planned a great and unified convention this week and I hope and expect that the DNC team that has worked so hard to get us to this point will have the strong support of all Democrats in making sure this is the best convention we have ever had,” she said.

Bernie Sanders and his supporters have also expressed disappointment at Hillary Clinton’s choice of Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate, preferring someone further to the left.

However, the Vermont senator did say: “I have known Tim Kaine for a number of years… Tim is a very, very smart guy. He is a very nice guy.”

Hillary Clinton’s campaign received a boost on July 24 with the announcement that Michael Bloomberg, who was elected New York mayor as a Republican, will speak to endorse her this week.

The Democrats’ four-day convention starts on July 25, with speeches by First Lady Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders.

The Democratic convention comes just after the Republican convention that saw Donald Trump declared the Republican presidential nominee.

Ali Sonboly: Munich Gunman Planned Attack for Year

Roy Siemens
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Ali Sonboly: Munich Gunman Planned Attack for Year

David Ali Sonboly, the teenager who killed nine people in Munich on July 22, had been planning his attack for a year, German authorities say.

The 18-year-old, who killed himself after the attack, had a Glock pistol that police believes he may have bought on the so-called dark net.

Meanwhile police in Munich have announced the arrest of a 16-year-old Aghan friend of David Ali Sonboly.

They say he is under investigation for not reporting Ali Sonboly’s plans.

“There is a suspicion that the 16-year-old is a possible tacit accomplice to the attack,” a statement on Munich police’s Facebook page says.

The statement goes on to say that the youth reported to police immediately after the shooting on July 22, and was interviewed as somebody with a connection to Ali Sonboly.

In the course of the interviews, they discovered discrepancies in his statements.

Police say they are now investigating the teenager on suspicion of failing to report a planned crime.

The investigations will have to show to what extent he was responsible for a Facebook post inviting people to meet at a cinema complex near the main railway station in Munich.Ali Sonboly Munich attacker

Ali Sonboly himself had put up a Facebook post before his attack, inviting people to come to the McDonald’s restaurant where the shooting began.

Seven of the dead in the shooting at the Olympia shopping centre were teenagers – two Turks, two Germans, a Hungarian, a Greek and a Kosovan.

A further 35 people were injured, but only four of them have bullet wounds – many were hit fleeing the scene.

According to the state government officials, the victims of the attack had not been specifically targeted and were not classmates of the gunman.

Also they did not include three youths allegedly involved in bullying Ali Sonboly when he was at school.

Head of Bavaria’s criminal police Robert Heimberger said Ali Sonboly had been planning the attack since he paid a visit last year to the town of Winnenden – the scene of a previous school shooting in 2009 – and took photographs.

Robert Heimberger said it was likely the Glock pistol – which had been reactivated – was bought on the “dark net” market, an area accessible only with the use of special software. It had been a theatre prop.

Ali Sonboly was said to be a keen player of “first-person shooter” video games.

Robert Heimberger added that the parents of the gunman remained in shock and were not able to be interviewed.

He also said police had not found the manifesto of Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik when they searched Ali Sonboly’s room at his parents’ flat.

A day earlier, officials had raised the possibility of a link to Anders Breivik, whose own attack was carried out five years earlier to the day.

As to Ali Sonboly’s state of mind, a spokesman for the Munich prosecutors’ office told a news conference that the gunman had spent two months as an inpatient at a mental care facility in 2015 and was afterwards treated as an outpatient.

“The suspect had fears of contact with others” and also depression, Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said.

However, there was no evidence of any political motivation.

Senior German politicians have called for tighter controls on the sale of guns in the wake of the shooting at the Olympia shopping centre.

Munich’s police chief has urged the media to respect the privacy of those affected by the attack on July 25, when schools reopen.

Turkey Anti-Coup Demonstration Joined by Tens of Thousands

Roy Siemens
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Turkey Anti-Coup Demonstration Joined by Tens of Thousands

Tens of thousands of Turks have joined a pro-democracy rally in Istanbul, condemning Turkey’s failed coup and defending the republic.

The rally was organized by the opposition party CHP (Republican People’s Party) but was backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK party (Justice and Development Party), in a rare show of unity.

CHP’s leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said “democracy won!” but he also warned against the dangers of authoritarianism.

One banner read: “No to the coup, no to dictatorship”.

Many of the CHP supporters gathered in Taksim Square waved flags with a picture of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Despite Turkey’s political divisions, Istanbul’s mayor and other AK party leaders joined the opposition demonstrators.

Posters at the rally proclaimed “No to coups”.

In his speech, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said that amid the turmoil, “the parliament stood proudly, Turkey stood proudly, lawmakers stood proudly, people in this square have stood proudly, and democracy won!”

However, Kemal Kilicdaroglu also stressed the importance of a free press and freedom of assembly, as well as the dangers of dictatorship and authoritarianism.

The CHP leader said: “The state cannot be governed by grudge, anger and prejudice. Those responsible for the coup should be tried lawfully, with the understanding of abiding by the rule of law.”

In a rare move, pro-government TV channels broadcast the speech live.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a widespread crackdown following the attempted coup, arresting thousands of service personnel and sacking or suspending thousands of judges, government officials, school teachers and university heads.

Human Rights group Amnesty International said it had received credible evidence of detainees being subjected to beatings and torture, including rape, since the coup attempt.

Amnesty’s Europe director John Dalhuisen in a statement: “It is absolutely imperative that the Turkish authorities halt these abhorrent practices and allow international monitors to visit all these detainees in the places they are being held.”

A state of emergency was declared on July 20, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also extended the period in which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days.

Ankara’s chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak has been reported by Turkish media as saying that 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup have now been released.

Those released were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention.

On July 23, Turkey’s presidential guard regiment was disbanded after nearly 300 of its members were detained following the failed coup.

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

Rio 2016: Russia Avoids Blanket Ban from Olympic Games

Clyde K. Valle
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Rio 2016: Russia Avoids Blanket Ban from Olympic Games

Russia will not be totally banned from Rio 2016 following the country’s doping scandal.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will leave it up to individual sports’ governing bodies to decide if Russian competitors are clean and should be allowed to take part.

The IOC decision follows a report in which Canadian law professor Richard McLaren said Russia operated a state-sponsored doping program from 2011 to 2015.

The Rio Olympic Games start on August 5.

Russian competitors who want to take part in the Games will have to meet strict criteria laid down by the IOC.

Any Russian who has served a doping ban will not be eligible for next month’s Olympics. Track and field athletes have already been banned.

IOC president Thomas Bach said: “We have set the bar to the limit by establishing a number of very strict criteria which every Russian athlete will have to fulfill if he or she wants to participate in the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

“I think in this way, we have balanced on the one hand, the desire and need for collective responsibility versus the right to individual justice of every individual athlete.”

IOC’s decision not to impose a blanket ban came after a three-hour meeting of the body’s executive board, and reaction came quickly.Russia banned from Rio Olympics 2016

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko described the decision as “objective” but “very tough”, while the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) claimed the IOC had “refused to take decisive leadership”.

The 28 individual federations now have just 12 days to “carry out an individual analysis of each competitor’s anti-doping record, taking into account only reliable adequate international tests, and the specificities of each sport and its rules, in order to ensure a level playing field”.

The International Tennis Federation quickly confirmed on July 24 that Russia’s seven nominated tennis players meet the IOC requirements, having been subjected to “a rigorous anti-doping testing program outside Russia”.

Russia’s full Olympic team would consist of 387 competitors.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has already ruled that Russian track and field athletes will not compete at the Games, a decision which was upheld on July 21 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe said: “The IAAF team are ready to offer advice to any International Sports Federations given our experience and what we have learned over the last eight months.”

World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) president Craig Reedie said previously that his organization, which commissioned the McLaren report, wanted the IOC to “decline entries for Rio 2016 of all athletes” submitted by the Russian Olympic and Paralympic committees.

The IOC also confirmed it will not allow whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to compete as a neutral athlete in Rio.

Yulia Stepanova has previously failed a doping test and also did not satisfy the IOC’s “ethical requirements”.

The statement added: “The executive board would like to express its appreciation for Mrs. Stepanova’s contribution to the fight against doping and to the integrity of sport.”

The IOC was “expressing its gratitude” to Yulia Stepanova by inviting her and her husband to Rio as guests.

USADA chief Travis Tygart described the decision to exclude Yulia Stepanova as “incomprehensible”, adding it will “undoubtedly deter whistleblowers in the future from coming forward”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9JsNqxfSpw

California Sand Fire: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations Near Los Angeles

Nancy Clayson
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California Sand Fire: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations Near Los Angeles

Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes in mountains north of Los Angeles, California, the authorities say.

The fast-moving wildfires had covered an area of 20,000 acres by July 23, sending a pall of smoke across parts of Los Angeles County.

About 300 people have been evacuated near the city of Santa Clarita.

Public swimming pools in Pasadena and Glendale closed because of smoke and falling ash.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The wildfires, known as the Sand Fire, are being driven by high temperatures and strong winds, as forecasters warn the conditions are set to continue.

They broke out on July 22 in the Sand Canyon area near Santa Clarita and winds quickly fanned them towards the Angeles National Forest.

About 900 firefighters are battling the flames, helped by helicopters and planes dumping water and fire retardant.

According to LA County Deputy Fire Chief John Tripp, about 1,000 homes were currently in danger but if the situation worsened, up to 45,000 homes, mostly in the San Fernando Valley, could be at risk.

Among those evacuated to safety were about 400 animals from the Wildlife Waystation, a sanctuary for rescued exotic animals within the national forest.

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

Turkey Presidential Guard to Be Dissolved After 300 Members Were Detained

Roy Siemens
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Turkey Presidential Guard to Be Dissolved After 300 Members Were Detained

Turkey’s presidential guard regiment will be dissolved after nearly 300 of its members were detained following last week’s attempted coup.

PM Binali Yildirim told A Haber TV channel that there was “no need” for the regiment.

Earlier, Turkey detained Muhammet Sait Gulen – a nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who, it says, was behind the uprising.

Fethullah Gulen strongly denies the claim.

A key aide of Fethullah Gulen has also been arrested, a presidency official said.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched a widespread crackdown following the attempted coup, arresting thousands of service personnel and sacking or suspending thousands of government officials, school teachers and university heads.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

A state of emergency was declared on July 21, allowing the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.

PM Binali Yildirim told the A Haber TV channel: “There will no longer be a presidential guard, there is no purpose, there is no need.”

The presidential guard numbers up to 2,500 soldiers but at least 283 were detained after the uprising.

Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has called on the US government to block Turkey’s attempts to extradite him.

Muhammet Sait Gulen was detained in the north-eastern city of Erzurum to be taken to the capital Ankara for questioning, the Anadolu news agency says.

A presidential official quoted by Reuters said Halis Hanci, described as Fethullah Gulen’s right-hand man, had been “captured”.

According to the official, Halis Hanci had apparently entered Turkey two days before the coup attempt.

On July 23, Recep Erdogan extended the period in which suspects can be detained without charge to 30 days.

A statement carried by state media also ordered the closure of more than 1,000 private schools and more than 1,200 associations.

Also on July 23, Ankara’s chief prosecutor Harun Kodalak was reported by Turkish media as saying that 1,200 soldiers detained in the wake of the coup had been released.

Those freed were said to be low-ranking soldiers. Thousands of other service personnel, including more than 100 generals and admirals, remain in detention.

Recep Erdogan’s tough measures have been criticized by human rights groups, as well as by France, Germany and senior EU officials.

He told France 24 television on July 23 the EU was “biased and prejudiced” against Turkey.

Amnesty International has said Recep Tayyip Erdogan is going “well beyond what might be considered a legitimate response to the coup attempt”.

Munich Attack: Gunman Obsessed With Mass Shootings

Roy Siemens
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Munich Attack: Gunman Obsessed With Mass Shootings

The 18 year-old attacker who killed nine people in Munich on July 22 was obsessed with mass shootings and had an obvious link to Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, German police say.

Police who searched the gunman’s room say they found written material on attacks.

The young man, who later killed himself, had a 9mm Glock pistol and 300 bullets.

Police are investigating whether he may have lured his victims through a Facebook invitation to a restaurant.

The man is suspected of using a fake account under a girl’s name to invite people to the McDonald’s restaurant where he launched his attack.

Anders Breivik murdered 77 people in Norway on July 22, 2011, killing eight with a bomb in the capital Oslo before shooting dead 69 at a summer camp for young centre-left political activists on the island of Utoya.

Now 37, Anders Breivik is held in solitary confinement in Norway after being sentenced to 21 years in 2012. He recently won an appeal against the tough regime of his incarceration.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Breivik harbored radical right-wing views and said his attack was aimed at stopping Muslim immigration to Europe.

Yesterday’s attack at Munich’s Olympia shopping mall also left 27 people injured, including children.

Seven of the dead were teenagers. Three victims were from Kosovo, three from Turkey and one from Greece.

According to police, the gunman had been in psychiatric care, receiving treatment for depression.

“We are in deep mourning… we share your grief,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel after chairing a meeting of the national security council.

Flags are to be flown at half-mast across Germany in mourning

Munich police chief Hubertus Andrae said there was an “obvious” link between the new attack and yesterday’s fifth anniversary of Anders Breivik’s attacks in Norway, when he murdered 77 people.

A spokesman for the Munich prosecutor, Thomas Steinkraus-Koch, said the killer might have been receiving psychiatric care.

“We are assuming that he may have suffered from depression,” he said.

“As far as we know he has no criminal record. In 2012 and 2010 he was a victim of an attack – on one occasion he was beaten by three young offenders.”

Hubertus Andrae warned the number of injured could increase if people who had fled the scene came forward. Ten people were critically ill, including a 13-year-old boy, he said.

First reports of the shooting came in just before 18:00 local time on July 22.

Witnesses say the attacker opened fire on members of the public in Hanauer Street before moving on to the shopping mall.

A grainy video appears to show a man firing a gun outside McDonald’s as people flee.

Another video shows the gunman walking around alone on a flat roof before again opening fire. He can be heard shouting at the person filming, saying at one point: “I’m German.”

Police said the gunman was a dual German-Iranian national who was born in Munich. His name has not been released.

The attacker’s body was found about half a mile from the mall. He had no known links to ISIS, police said.

Police have ruled out any connection to ISIS.

Fears of a new ISIS attack had been high just four days after a teenage Afghan asylum seeker stabbed and injured five people on a train in Bavaria before being shot dead by police.

Claiming the attack, ISIS later released a video showing the 17-year-old brandishing a knife and making threats.

Hillary Clinton Announces Tim Kaine as Her Running Mate

Diane A. Wade
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Hillary Clinton Announces Tim Kaine as Her Running Mate

Hillary Clinton has announced Tim Kaine, a 58-year-old centrist senator from Virginia, as her running mate.

The Democratic presidential candidate broke the news in a tweet on July 22. She plans a formal announcement on July 23.

Hillary Clinton passed over more left-leaning candidates in favor of Tim Kaine, who is a strong supporter of free-trade agreements.

Tim Kaine’s home state of Virginia is a major battleground in the coming election.

He speaks fluent Spanish and could help the Clinton campaign maintain its support among Hispanic Americans – a growing voting bloc.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

An experienced politician who has been toughly vetted, Tim Kaine is considered a “safe” choice for the vice-president slot. He personally opposes abortion but supports abortion rights.

Tim Kaine was a finalist to be Barack Obama’s running mate in 2008 and served as Virginia governor before his time in the Senate.

Hillary Clinton also reportedly interviewed liberal firebrand Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Senator Cory Booker, an African-American senator from New Jersey. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was said to have been on her shortlist.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump, in a text to his supporters, described President Barack Obama, Hilalry Clinton and Tim Kaine as “the ultimate insiders” and appealed to voters to not “let Obama have a third term”.

GOP chief Reince Priebus tweeted scornfully: “Hillary Clinton’s choice of Tim Kaine does nothing to unify a fractured Democrat base repelled by her dishonesty and cronyism.”

Bosnian Pokemon Go Players Warned About Landmines

Nancy Clayson
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Bosnian Pokemon Go Players Warned About Landmines

Pokemon Go players in Bosnia are being warned to avoid straying into areas still sown with landmines from the war in the 1990s.

A Bosnian demining charity, Posavina bez mina, issued its warning after hearing reports of Pokemon Go users venturing into risky areas.

Pokemon Go players use their smartphones to hunt for cartoon monsters in the real world.

At least 600 people have been killed in landmine accidents in Bosnia since the end of the war in 1995.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

According to a Bosnian demining group, an estimated 120,000 mines remain undiscovered.

As the popularity of Pokemon Go has soared, there have been numerous incidents and accidents involving gamers.

Posavina bez mina said on Facebook: “We received information that some users of the Pokemon Go app in Bosnia were going to places which are a risk for mines, in search of a pokemon.”

“Citizens are urged not to do so, to respect demarcation signs of dangerous mine fields and not to go into unknown areas,” it added.

Earlier this week, two teenagers in Florida were shot at by a householder who mistook them for burglars.

Pokemon Go, however, has had some unexpected positive effects: in one UK town police said players reported a theft while hunting for monsters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBqqVnF_O5U

Munich Attacks: Major Police Operation as Multiple People Shot Dead

Roy Siemens
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0
Munich Attacks: Major Police Operation as Multiple People Shot Dead

At least six people have been shot dead during multiple attacks in Munich, Germany.

The shooting started at a shopping mall, police say.

According to police, at least three gunmen are involved in “suspected terror attack”

A big operation is under way. Police are telling people to stay at home and avoid the streets.

Several people have also been injured at the shopping center in the north-western Moosach district.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

Reports speak of one or more attackers. Some shopworkers are reportedly unable to leave the building.

The police Facebook page quoted eyewitnesses as saying they had seen three attackers carrying guns.

Police are now describing it as “an acute terror situation”.

The security forces have been on alert after a teenage refugee stabbed and injured five people on a train in Bavaria on July 18.

The authorities had warned of the danger of further attacks.

Public transport has been suspended as the extensive security operation continues.

NTV reports that special forces are at the scene. Munich’s central station has been evacuated.

Munich police said they did not know where “the perpetrators” were.

“Look after yourselves and avoid public places.”

People stranded by the emergency and unable to get home are being offered shelter by locals. The initiative was launched with the Twitter hashtag #Offenetür (open door).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTMrnQVf3_Q

Prince George’s Third Birthday: Kate Middleton and Prince William Release Four Official Pictures

Lisa.Felice
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Prince George’s Third Birthday: Kate Middleton and Prince William Release Four Official Pictures

Kate Middleton and Prince William have marked Prince George’s third birthday by releasing four official pictures.

The photos show Prince George at the family’s Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, and were taken in mid-July by photographer Matt Porteous.

One of them shows him playing with the family dog Lupo.

Prince George Alexander Louis – aka His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge – was born on July 22 2013.

Photo PA
Photo PA

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The Duke and Duchess hope that people will enjoy seeing these new photographs.

“They would like to thank everyone for all the lovely messages they have received as Prince George celebrates his third birthday.”

However, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has criticized the picture of the little prince holding an ice cream close to the mouth of the family dog.

A RSPCA spokesman said: “It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog, Lupo, cool in these high temperatures.

“We would advise people to be cautious when giving their dogs food meant for human consumption as some items, like chocolate, can be highly toxic to dogs and dairy items can be difficult for them to digest.

“Instead of ice cream we would suggest making an ice lolly from pet-friendly ingredients. Making these can be really fun for children and the end product is both safe and enjoyable for dogs.”

Pokemon Go Launched in Japan

Nancy Clayson
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Pokemon Go Launched in Japan

Nintendo has finally launched Pokemon Go in Japan, the birthplace of the little virtual monsters.

Amid a flurry of social media excitement, Niantic Labs, the software company behind Pokemon Go, announced it was “finally broadcasting” in Japan.

First released in the US, Australia and New Zealand on July 6 and now available in more than 30 countries, Pokemon Go has been a global phenomenon.

The Japanese launch comes with a McDonald’s sponsorship deal.

McDonald’s restaurants were expected to be advertised as places where people were guaranteed to find Pokemon, or as “gyms” where players can train up their captured monsters for virtual fights.

However, a McDonald’s spokesman said restaurants would “call on players not to become a bother to customers who are eating”.

On July 22, excited Japanese fans began tweeting that they had been able to start playing.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

After weeks of stories about people in other countries running into trouble playing Pokemon Go, Japanese authorities have taken precautions and issued a nine-point safety guide, in cartoon form.

The warnings, by the National Centre of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity, included asking users to register with “cool names that are different from real names” and cautioning them against heatstroke as they walk around in the sun.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on July 21: “I want people to abide by the warning so that people can play it on smartphones safely.”

Just a few hours after the launch, there were already reports of an accident.

A student at Osaka’s Kindai University reportedly fell down the stairs while playing Pokemon Go and was taking to hospital, said users on social media.

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game on smartphones which has millions of people worldwide obsessively capturing small creatures in public spaces.

The game works by showing you a picture of your real surroundings as caught by the phone’s camera, then uses GPS to place virtual little monsters within that picture on your screen.

The mix of virtual and real worlds allows players to, for instance, fight a dragon circling Big Ben or chase a spaceship moving down their street.

Pokemons were first popular in the 1990s when they started on the Nintendo Game Boy. Back then, trading cards were a huge hit in school playgrounds and the new game manages to build on that legacy.

Donald Trump Accepts Republican Nomination at GOP Convention

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Accepts Republican Nomination at GOP Convention

Donald Trump has officially accepted the Republican presidential nomination at the GOP National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

In his speech at the Quicken Loans Arena on July 21, Donald Trump vowed to tackle multiple threats facing the US.

“The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end,” the New York billionaire told the Republican convention.

Donald Trump promised his presidency would usher in a new era putting America and ordinary people first.

His nomination has been clouded by the refusal of major party figures like Senator Ted Cruz to endorse him.

Ted Cruz, who was Donald Trump’s bitter rival during the primary contests, was booed off the stage by Trump supporters.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Other Trump opponents such as members of the Bush family stayed away from the convention altogether.

Donald Trump, who was written off when he launched his campaign a year ago, said he hoped his speech would ease tensions and unite the Republican Party.

Speaking for well over an hour, Donald Trump said the security of the country was under threat from Islamist radicals, undocumented immigrants and trade deals that failed American workers.

“We will lead our country back to safety, prosperity, and peace,” he said.

“We will be a country of generosity and warmth. But we will also be a country of law and order.”

Addressing the “forgotten Americans” who worked hard but no longer had a voice, Donald Trump said: “I am your voice.”

The Republican nominee attacked his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, at every opportunity, blaming the former secretary of state for “death, destruction and weakness”.

In his speech, Donald Trump presented his plan to “put America first”:

  • Promising to build a “great border wall” to stop illegal immigration, gangs and drugs
  • Accusing Hillary Clinton of proposing mass amnesty, mass immigration and mass lawlessness
  • Saying that decades of immigration have produced lower wages for African Americans and Latinos
  • Accusing President Barack Obama of failing US inner cities on education, jobs and crime
  • Saying that nearly 180,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records were “roaming free” to threaten citizens
  • Promising to end trade deals that had “destroyed [America’s] middle class”
  • Promising that “Americanism, not globalism” would be the tenet of foreign policy

Donald Trump was introduced in glowing terms by his daughter Ivanka, who said her father valued women workers and that he would make quality childcare affordable.

Not long into his speech, the audience began calling for the jailing of Hillary Clinton, chanting “Lock her up!”.

Donald Trump promised to defeat Hillary Clinton in November.

In a departure from Republican orthodoxy, Donald Trump took up the theme of acceptance of gay rights, framing it in terms of American values.

“I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence… of the hateful foreign ideology,” he said to some cheers from the crowd.

“As a Republican it is so nice to hear you cheering for what I just said,” Donald Trump added.

In a key moment earlier in the night, Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel told the convention he was proud to be gay.

The chairman of the Hillary for America campaign, John Podesta, attacked Donald Trump’s speech as divisive.

“Tonight, Donald Trump painted a dark picture of an America in decline,” he said.

“And his answer – more fear, more division, more anger, more hate – was yet another reminder that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be president.”

Texas Senator Ted Cruz caused a storm on July 20 when he pointedly refused to back the nominee, sparking outrage and boos.

He later defended his decision, saying he would not be a “servile puppy” to someone who had attacked his family.

Donald Trump has previously criticized the appearance of Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi.

Donald Trump’s nomination has been a source of conflict within the party, with some like Ted Cruz questioning his conservative principles.

Others like former nominee Mitt Romney are concerned about Donald Trump’s strident tone and extreme stance on immigration.

Businesses Now Use Custom Software Development Because Of These Reasons

Dana R
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0
Businesses Now Use Custom Software Development Because Of These Reasons

Human effort has been drastically reduced by the use of computer applications. Software now improves everything in business so choosing the appropriate programs becomes a huge necessity for every single firm out there. It is really important that the program offers the features that are needed for the company to be able to operate at a really high efficiency. This is possible through bespoke app development, you can read more here about it. If you do know some, here are the reasons why businesses use custom development.

Business Process Coordination

Nowadays, the use of business web applications allows the firm to properly coordinate various different processes, all through the use of central information repositories. This allows much better communication between departments. Stakeholders can now use software that is centralized, thus increasing efficiency and delivery of services. Custom business software developers are going to analyze the needs of the firm and offer software that will improve process coordination.

Business Meeting

New Content Update

Companies can manipulate and update content with the use of the custom software. This brings in so many interesting advantages. A website is now capable of always having accurate details, just as an example. In this case we see a business like a real estate agency always having up-to-date listings online. Since expensive cities attract investors, speed brings in huge advantages for the agencies that are capable of updating everything really fast.

Business Function Integration

Custom business software is important for the modern business because basically all business functions can be integrated, based on the needs of the clients. Programs will fit the processes that the organization has and integrating multiple functions is much easier. The employees are going to be able to access the different features that are needed even from their mobile phones, thus drastically increasing speed and efficiency. To make matters even more interesting, training is normally really easy and everyone in a company can learn how to use all the features included by the bespoke software developer.

Conclusions

As you can easily notice, custom software can be really effective for the modern business because of many interesting advantages. Keep in mind that we only mentioned some of them. Many other scan be included in the list. We are faced with a fast growing competition in basically all niches so custom software manages to offer that extra edge that is necessary for so many these days.

On the whole, we can say that investing in custom software is something that has to be taken into account by every single company owner out there. We are faced with quite a high initial cost but that money will soon be covered by the increase in profit that is sure to come. There are not many disadvantages that are associated with the use of the bespoke software solutions but it is important that what is created lives up to the high standards that the industry has at the moment. You will surely appreciate the fact that better quality is offered for you.

Are Your Kids Really Safe At School?

Dana R
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Are Your Kids Really Safe At School?

school

Credit Image

You would think that school is one of the safest places your kids could be, right? However, worrying news reports and recent research may show that simply isn’t the case. Your child’s school could be far more dangerous than you realize due to violence, peer pressure, cleanliness, and hygiene. Let’s look at some of these issues and think about how they could be a danger to your child’s health.

Bullying

Bullying is a lot more dangerous than people realize and lately, it’s become a far stronger presence in schools. This is mainly due to technology and new ways that children are able to bully under the radar. Social media is one of the common ways children now bully others. They can set up profiles online for that individual, post pictures or send hateful messages. This could be happening in school environment without you ever realizing there’s an issue. Teach may not even realize it’s going on and could argue it’s out of their jurisdiction. Particularly, if the messages are being sent out of school hours. Unfortunately, bullying can have severe and often fatal consequences. Cases of bullying have been linked to numerous child suicides over the years and increase the chance of self-harm.

Bullying, Hands, Face, Curl Up, Her, Girl, Sad, Tired

Image Location

Dangerous Individuals

Teachers working in a school should have been put through extensive checking procedures. Unfortunately, it seems that more often than not, dangerous individuals do slip through the cracks. There have been cases of teachers with a history of sexual offenses as well as staff with mental illness. It is clear that there needs to be more checks on anyone working with children. Background checks must be thorough, and they should go back years. Otherwise, how can we guarantee that our kids are safe in school? The answer is that quite simply, we can’t.

Cleanliness

You may not think of cleanliness in schools as a major issue. But think how many sick days could be prevented if schools were held to a higher standard of hygiene. Thousands of pupils are off school every year. This is due to illnesses that could have been prevented with better measures for cleanliness. The issue is that schools are facing tighter budgets. Many are trying to cut back in an area that doesn’t seem important, and that’s cleanliness. There should be a school cleaning checklist so that owners can make sure all the areas are completely covered. This will certainly reduce to the number of viruses and bugs kids contract in school.

Violence

Finally, from the knifing of a teacher in England to the shootings in America, it’s clear schools aren’t as safe as they used to be. It seems every year; there is another tragedy involving a school pupil involved in an attack. We need to be doing more to protect the children inside the school walls. This does not mean that staff should now be armed. However, it is a time we had metal detectors in every school across the country. We need to make sure that an armed civilian can never again enter a school and attack the children.

Rio 2016: Russia Banned from Track and Field Events Following Doping Scandal

Clyde K. Valle
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Rio 2016: Russia Banned from Track and Field Events Following Doping Scandal

Russia will remain banned from track and field events at this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics following claims the country ran a state-sponsored doping program.

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and 68 Russian athletes attempted to overturn the suspension, implemented by the IAAF.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled the suspension can stand.

A handful of Russian athletes could still compete as neutrals at the Rio Games, which start on August 5.

“It’s sad but rules are rules,” said Olympic 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt, who will be chasing more gold medals in Rio.

Usain Bolt said it was important to send a strong message to the dopers.

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva – one of the 68 to appeal to CAS – said the ruling was “a blatant political order”.

The 2012 gold medalist, 34, told the Tass news agency: “Thank you all for this funeral for athletics.”

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said it was “pleased CAS has supported its position”, adding that the judgement had “created a level playing field for athletes”.Russia banned from Rio Olympics 2016

IAAF president Lord Coe added: “This is not a day for triumphant statements. I didn’t come into this sport to stop athletes from competing.

“Beyond Rio, the IAAF taskforce will continue to work with Russia to establish a clean safe environment for its athletes so that its federation and team can return to international recognition and competition.”

Separately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering calls to ban all Russian competitors across all sports from the Rio Games following a second report into state-sponsored doping.

Some Russian athletes could compete in Rio as neutrals if they meet a number of criteria, including being repeatedly tested outside their homeland.

At least two – 800m runner and doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova and US-based long jumper Darya Klishina – have gone down that path.

Now the CAS ruling has cleared the way for more to follow.

CAS said the ROC could still nominate athletes to compete as neutrals. However, there appears to be little time for athletes to comply with the criteria.

Russia was suspended from track and field events by the IAAF in November 2015 following the publication of an independent World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report that showed a culture of widespread, state-sponsored doping.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko apologized for Russia’s failure to catch the cheats but stopped short of admitting the scandal had been state-sponsored.

However, another WADA-commissioned report delivered earlier this week – the McLaren report – contained more damaging allegations and suggested senior figures in Russia’s sports ministry were complicit in an organized cover-up.

The report implicated the majority of Olympic sports in the cover-up and claimed that Russian secret service agents were involved in swapping positive urine samples for clean ones.

Following July 18 publication of the McLaren report, the IOC faced calls to ban all Russian competitors from the 2016 Olympics and will hold an second emergency meeting on July 24 to decide its course of action.

The Russian authorities have already suggested that they will look at ways to continue legal action.

Following the ruling, sports minister Vitaly Mutko said CAS had set “a certain precedent” by punishing a collective group for doping offences by individuals.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “The principle of collective responsibility cannot be acceptable. The news is not very good.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HaSomI161Y

Turkey Coup Attempt: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Declares State of Emergency for Three Months

Roy Siemens
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0
Turkey Coup Attempt: Recep Tayyip Erdogan Declares State of Emergency for Three Months

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a state of emergency for three months following the failed army coup in Turkey.

The state of emergency allows the president and cabinet to bypass parliament when drafting new laws and to restrict or suspend rights and freedoms.

Speaking at the presidential palace in Ankara, President Erdogan vowed that “all the viruses within the armed forces will be cleansed”.

Thousands of people have been arrested or sacked since the failed coup.

More than 600 schools have also been closed and thousands of state workers sacked in a crackdown by the president.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after announcing the state of emergency: “This measure is in no way against democracy, the law and freedoms.”

The government will be allowed to rule by decree, with the powers of regional governors increased.

A re-organization of the police, intelligence services and the command structure of the armed forces is also expected.

Critics of President Erdogan have accused him of consolidating power on a scale largely unprecedented since Turkey’s first democratic elections in 1946 and of using the emergency to acquire more power for the presidency.

They say the president normally would need to alter the constitution to create an executive presidency and win back some of the powers he relinquished when his tenure as prime minister ended in 2014.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised those who were killed fighting against the coup as “martyrs”. Some 246 people were killed resisting the attempted coup, according to the government.

He was speaking after holding meetings of Turkey’s national security council and the cabinet in the capital.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier responded to Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s speech by urging the Turkish government to maintain both the rule of law and a sense of proportionality in its response to the coup attempt.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed the coup attempt on US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally whose followers run a worldwide network of schools.

He has called for Fethullah Gulen to be extradited to Turkey, but Secretary of State John Kerry said on July 20 that Turkey must provide hard evidence the cleric was behind the coup attempt for any extradition to take place.

Earlier, Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of further arrests and suspensions to come as Turkish authorities continued to pursue those they believed responsible for the thwarted putsch.

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