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Donald Trump Wins Enough Delegates for Republican Presidential Nomination

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Wins Enough Delegates for Republican Presidential Nomination

Donald Trump has reached the number of delegates needed to secure Republican presidential nomination.

On May 26, in North Dakota, Donald Trump thanked 15 unbound delegates from the state who he said “got us right over the top”.

Donald Trump defeated 16 other Republican contenders and according to the Associated Press has 1,238 delegates, one more than needed.

Republicans will finalize their nomination at a convention in July.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

While Donald Trump has the required amount of delegates, his nomination by a divided GOP is not yet secured.

Unbound delegates in the party are free to support the candidate of their choice.

If his nomination is confirmed, Donald Trump will face former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who are vying for the Democrat nomination.

On May 25, Donald Trump suggested going against Bernie Sanders in a TV debate in California before the state’s primary on June 7.

Bernie Sanders agreed to the debate in a tweet, saying: “Game on.”

On May 26, Donald Trump said: “The problem with debating Bernie? He’s going to lose.”

The New York billionaire also threw a barb in Hillary Clinton’s direction, saying: “Here I am watching Hillary fight and she can’t close the deal. That should be such an easy deal to close.”

Earlier, President Barack Obama said that world leaders “had good reason to be rattled” by Donald Trump, whose proposals he said were “either ignorance of world affairs or a cavalier attitude”.

In response to that, Donald Trump told reporters in North Dakota that rattling leaders of other countries was a “good thing”.

“[President Barack Obama] knows nothing about business,” Donald Trump said.

“Many of the countries in our beautiful world have been absolutely abusing us and taking advantage of us.

“We’re going to have great relationships with these countries but if they’re rattled in a friendly way that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”

What Types of Danger Are Found in the Workplace?

Dana R
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What Types of Danger Are Found in the Workplace?

The workplace is the last place any of us want to be injured. Of course, no-one really wants to get injured anywhere at any time. But the fact that you were just trying to do your job at the time definitely adds a bit of a sting to the deal!

In an ideal world, no worker would ever be in danger when they’re at work. But the sad reality is that many workers all over the world are at some risk of injury, even if a relatively small one. In fact, there are very few jobs that don’t come with some kind of risk to your body!

Here is a rundown of the most common workplace hazards. Whenever you’re on the job, keep these things in mind!

Wikipedia

Falls and falling objects

These are probably the most common injuries in any workplace. Of course, when you say “falls”, a lot of people will automatically think of construction work. But dangerous falls can occur in pretty much any workplace. A spilled liquid on the wrong surface that isn’t correctly cleaned up can result in a slip, for example. An officer worker may also have to deal with the dangers of boxes that have been incorrectly stacked.

Of course, it is definitely more of a concern in construction that anywhere else. This is why such sites are now regulated by OSHA. It’s also why innovative new technologies are being developed to keep workers safe and stay compliant with OSHA. Things like the smart hard hat help protect your head and monitor your vital signs!

File:Truck accident-India.JPG

Wikimedia

Automobile accidents

For anyone whose work involves driving or working around vehicles, this is a clear risk. Car accidents are one of the most common causes of injury in America. Taxi drivers and delivery people are at frequent risk of such injuries. But even people who only have to drive a vehicle occasionally are taking a risk – again, this includes construction workers!”

Truck drivers, who often have to drive for more than twelve hours a day, are at particular risk. Highway travel at high speeds doesn’t usually scream “safety”, as I’m sure you know! Such dangers are why truck accident attorneys exist. If you need legal help regarding such an accident, call Sean Park Law’s office.

Încheietura mâinii Durere 2

Public Domain Pictures

Repetitive strain injury

Does your job mostly involve you sitting at your desk and typing all day? You may think you’re completely safe from work-related injuries. Unfortunately, the nature of your job actually puts you at risk of RSI – repetitive strain injury.

This is a sort of umbrella term for any injury you can suffer when repeating those motions in your hands and arms for so long. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the more famous examples. RSI shouldn’t be underestimated. They can have long-term effects on your ability to work. It’s why ergonomics – also known as the combination of comfort and work – is important to investigate in your office.

There are, of course, a number of others risks that come with any job. Remember that it is always your employer responsibility to keep you safe.

Greece Bailout: Eurogroup Agrees to Unlock 10.3 Billion in New Loans

Clyde K. Valle
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Greece Bailout: Eurogroup Agrees to Unlock 10.3 Billion in New Loans

In a major breakthrough deal, eurozone finance ministers have agreed to extend further bailout loans to Greece as well as debt relief.

After Brussels talks, the ministers agreed to unlock 10.3 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in new loans.

The move came two days after the Greek parliament approved another round of spending cuts and tax increases demanded by international creditors.

The 19 eurozone ministers – known as the Eurogroup also said debt relief would be eventually offered to Greece.

This had been a key demand from the IMF, which says public debt is unsustainable at current levels of about 180% of Greece’s gross domestic product.Greece bailout Wikileaks

The deal was announced after 11 hours of talks between the Eurogroup ministers.

Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem told reporters on May 25: “We achieved a major breakthrough on Greece which enables us to enter a new phase in the Greek financial assistance program.”

Jeroen Dijsselbloem said a package of debt measures would be “phased in progressively”, adding that he was “glad to confirm” the IMF would now stay on board.

Poul M. Thomsen, director of the IMF’s European Department, welcomed the recognition that Greek debt was unsustainable and relief was needed.

He warned, however, that the IMF board in Washington still had to agree to the fund’s participation. He also said that the extent of debt relief was still not clear.

The IMF and the Eurogroup have been at odds for months over the issue of reducing Greece’s debt.

Greece’s parliament passed new budget cuts and tax rises at the weekend, in order to unblock much-needed aid to help meet the country’s debt repayments over the coming months.

The bill also created a state privatization fund requested by eurozone finance ministers.

Opponents of the measures demonstrated outside parliament on May 22.

The Greek government, led by the leftist Syriza coalition, agreed to a third bailout worth €86 billion ($96 billion) in 2015.

 

Donald Trump New Mexico Rally Hit by Violent Protests

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump New Mexico Rally Hit by Violent Protests

A Donald Trump rally in New Mexico has been hit by violent protests with demonstrators throwing burning T-shirts and bottles and clashing with police.

Riot police fired smoke grenades into the crowd. Protesters also interrupted Donald Trump’s speech at the rally in Albuquerque.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, wants a wall to be built along the border with Mexico.

New Mexico is the most Hispanic state in the US.

The protesters had gathered outside the Albuquerque Convention Center, with banners that read “Trump is Fascist” and “We’ve heard enough”.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

According to the Albuquerque Journal, as the rally got under way, the crowd grew angry – throwing stones at police and trying to set fire to Trump T-shirts they had stolen from a seller.

In a series of tweets, Albuquerque police said bottles and rocks had been thrown at officers and police horses, and damage to a Convention Center window may have been caused by a pellet gun.

Speaking to a crowd of 4,000 people, Donald Trump was typically robust in his response to the protesters.

“How old is this kid?” he asked of one that disrupted the rally, adding: “Still wearing diapers.”

To others, the Republican candidate said: “Go home to mommy.”

Albuquerque is the first stop of Donald Trump’s tour of New Mexico.

Republican Governor Susana Martinez has been critical of Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrants and has not yet said if she will support his candidacy for the presidential election.

Susana Martinez and other senior members of the local Republican party stayed away from Tuesday’s rally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agDCVD19O8I

Facebook Announces Changes in Trending Topics Feed

Nancy Clayson
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Facebook Announces Changes in Trending Topics Feed

Facebook is changing to the way it runs its Trending Topics feed, following an internal investigation.

The social network has announced more training for staff and that the feed will no longer rely on a list of news organizations, including the Washington Post, the BBC and Buzzfeed News, to validate subjects.

The feed, which lists popular headlines along with a brief description, has been accused of political bias.

However, Facebook’s report found no evidence of this.

The investigation analyzed 3,000 reviewer decisions following allegations that conservative issues were being suppressed, Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch said.Fcebook Trending Topics

Facebook was accused by anonymous former employees of tampering with its Trending Topics feature, promoting “progressive” views and websites over content presenting views from the American right.

Current and former staff were also interviewed by the company.

The findings were revealed in a 12-page letter, addressed to Senator John Thune but also published online, in response to Senator Thune’s questions about the workings of Trending.

The Trending Topics feed currently works as a mixture of AI and human input, with potential subjects being suggested via algorithm and then reviewed by staff.

They are a mixture of popular subjects discussed on the social network and sourced from 1,000 media organizations. There was also a list of 10 organizations used to determine importance.

However, “as much as half” of the topics suggested algorithmically are rejected “because they do not make sense at the time or are duplicative”, Colin Stretch said.

So-called “stale topics” – events still popular in discussions after two days but with no new developments – and “junk hashtags” – popular topics not related to actual events – are also sidelined, he added.

Colin Stretch added that topics with sources in foreign languages may also not be included on the grounds that the team may be unable to identify them.

The report did find that historically some topics that were discussed over a long period of time did not show up algorithmically.

For example, hashtags relating to the Black Lives Matter campaign failed to appear in December 2014 and were not manually inserted by the Trending Topics review team either.

However, the topic “Ferguson”, which related to the police shooting of Michael Brown in Missouri, was added to compensate for this, wrote Colin Stretch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX-TgitC62w

North Korean Restaurant Workers Defect to Southeast Asia

Diane A. Wade
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North Korean Restaurant Workers Defect to Southeast Asia

Three North Korean workers at a state-run restaurant overseas have defected, South Korea has confirmed.

According to South Korea’s Unification Ministry, the North Koreans had “broken away”, but refused to comment further. It said they would now come to South Korea.

The defectors had been in China but were currently in a third country in South East Asia, says Yonhap News Agency, citing an unidentified source.North Korea restaurant workers defection

This would be the second restaurant defection this year.

Last month, a group of 13 North Koreans workers defected to South Korea from a restaurant in Ningbo, China.

Pyongyang has accused Seoul of abducting them, but South Korea strongly denies this.

North Korea runs some 130 restaurants in other countries, a vital source of income.

Workers at the North Korean restaurants are usually chosen for their loyalty to the communist country’s leadership.

Why National Security Is At The Top Of The Political Agenda, And Will Remain So

Dana R
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Why National Security Is At The Top Of The Political Agenda, And Will Remain So

It’s been a taxing time for global geopolitics. Eastern countries sense that the West is in crisis, with its rising debts and aging populations. And the West, like a cornered bear protecting it’s young, is growling and showing its teeth.

But underneath this structural change in the balance of power, lies a few more unsettling trends. One is the fact that the Middle East hasn’t become a new American Midwest with palm trees. In fact, by many accounts, it’s now far more unstable than it was before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Back then, Western countries were riding high on the success of their intervention in Kosovo. The removal of dictators on the edge of Europe was a massive and resounding success. Allied powers, emboldened, turned their attention to the Middle East, expecting a similar result. All they needed to do was depose the dictators, install a democratic government. Iraq and the others would become as peaceful and as benign as Serbia and Montenegro are in today’s Europe.

Well, we all know how that turned out. The Middle East has become a very unstable place. In fact, thanks to the action of NATO countries, the risks to national security appear to be higher than ever before. Countries in the Middle East have become a hotbed for terrorism. It’s clear now that there aren’t any so-called “good guys” in these regions. The people the West supports tend to end up being more radical and more violent than the people the West deposes.

This is where Donald Trump comes in. He’s said on many occasions that he actually favors the despots in the Middle East. At least, he says, they were “good at killing terrorists.”

And this brings us to our second, unsettling trend – the proliferation of terrorism itself. The Washington Forum, organized by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, will meet later this year. They will ask the question of whether or not Jihadism can be defeated.

It’s an important question to ask. This isn’t your average pitched battle between nation states where a victory is well-defined. This is a battle with a set of ideas – ideas that can be communicated instantly over Twitter and other, less well known messenger services. Controlling terrorism, therefore, is like trying to stop the flow of a river. You might block one channel, but it will just reroute itself, and find a new direction in which to flow.

File:National Security Agency.svg

commons.wikimedia.org

Right now, terrorism is a significant threat. But the problem is it’s potential to grow as a threat. The terrorist of today have access to makeshift bombs, able to kills hundreds, maybe thousands of people. The terrorists of tomorrow will have access to biological weapons, able to kill far more.

It’s this sobering reality that is forcing the subject of national security to the top of the agenda. And it’s this trend that will drive its importance well into the future. So long as Jihadism remains an idea, the West will have to be vigilant.

Venezuela Sugar Shortage Hits Coca-Cola Production

Clyde K. Valle
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Venezuela Sugar Shortage Hits Coca-Cola Production

Coca-Cola has been forced to stop producing soft drinks in Venezuela amid an escalating food and energy shortage.

The company said that sugar suppliers in Venezuela will “temporarily cease operations due to a lack of raw materials”.

The announcement comes after Venezuela’s biggest brewer, Empresas Polar, closed plants due to a barley shortage.

Venezuela’s economy has contracted sharply as oil prices plunge.

A Coca-Cola spokeswoman said the company would continue producing sugarless drinks such as Coca-Cola Light (Diet Coke).

She said: “We are engaging with suppliers, government authorities and our associates to take the necessary actions for a prompt solution.”Coca Cola Venezuela sugar shortage

Sugarcane production has been falling due to price controls and rising production costs, as well as problems in obtaining fertilizer.

As a result, many smaller farmers have turned to other crops that are not price controlled and thus generate higher income.

Venezuela is expected to produce 430,000 tonnes of sugarcane in 2016/17, down from 450,000 tonnes for the previous 12 months, and import 850,000 tonnes of raw and refined sugar, according to USDA figures.

The country’s economic problems have forced many consumers to queue for hours to buy basic foodstuffs.

Venezuela’s economy is expected to shrink by 8% in 2016 after it contracted by 5.8% in 2015.

Its reliance on oil to generate foreign currency and investment has made it a victim of regular recessions.

President Nicolas Maduro has declared a state of emergency in an effort to combat the economic crisis. Critics argue it is an attempt to strengthen his grip on power.

Meanwhile, Bridgestone said on May 23 it was selling its Venezuelan business after six decades in the country.

Bridgestone’s Venezuelan assets will be sold to Grupo Corimon.

Other multinational companies such as Procter & Gamble, Ford and Halliburton have either slowed or abandoned their investments in Venezuela.

MS804: EgyptAir Plane Did Not Swerve and Change Direction before Disappearing

Roy Siemens
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MS804: EgyptAir Plane Did Not Swerve and Change Direction before Disappearing

According to a senior Egyptian aviation official, EgyptAir MS804 that crashed in the Mediterranean did not swerve and change direction before disappearing.

The Airbus A320 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people aboard when it vanished from radar early on May 19.

According to Greece’s defense minister, the plane turned 90 degrees left and then did a 360-degree turn towards the right before plummeting.

Ehab Azmy, the head of Egypt’s state-run provider of air navigation services, said there was no unusual movement.

He told Associated Press the plane had been flying at its normal height of 37,000ft before dropping off the radar. Some debris has since been found.

“That fact degrades what the Greeks are saying about the aircraft suddenly losing altitude before it vanished from radar,” he said.EgyptAir MS804 debris

Greece’s defense minister Panos Kammenos had said the radar showed the Airbus A320 making two sharp turns and dropping more than 25,000ft before plunging into the sea.

Ehab Azmy added that there were no problems with the plane as it entered Egyptian airspace, where it was tracked for “nearly a minute or two before it disappeared”.

Greek aviation officials had said air traffic controllers spoke to the pilot when he entered Greek airspace and everything appeared normal.

They tried to contact him again at 02:27 Cairo time, as the plane was set to enter Egyptian airspace, but “despite repeated calls, the aircraft did not respond”.

In a statement to Egypt’s al-Ahram newspaper, Ehab Azmy also denied a report there had been contact between the pilot of the plane and Egyptian air traffic control.

Ehab Azmy did not elaborate on his denial to al-Ahram in further interviews with AP and Reuters.

On May 22, Egypt deployed a robot submarine to search for the flight data recorders of the missing EgyptAir plane.

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said there was “no particular theory we can affirm right now” for what caused flight MS804 to crash.

Egypt’s civil aviation minister has said the possibility of a terror attack was stronger than technical failure, but President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi said establishing the cause could take a long time, adding “all scenarios are possible”.

The Egyptian military released images on May 21 of life vests, personal items and debris showing the EgyptAir logo which were found during the search in the Mediterranean Sea.

The search has also reportedly found body parts and luggage. The main body of the plane and the two “black boxes” which record flight data and cockpit transmissions have not yet been located.

Austria Elections 2016: Alexander Van der Bellen Wins Presidency

Diane A. Wade
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Austria Elections 2016: Alexander Van der Bellen Wins Presidency

Independent Alexander Van der Bellen has won Austria’s presidency after beating the Freedom Party’s Norbert Hofer by just 31,000 votes among the 4.64 million cast in May 22 election.

The victor accepted there was a “rift” but said: “We are two sides of the same coin. Together we make up Austria.”

Far-right Norbert Hofer had run on a Eurosceptic, anti-immigration platform.

If Norbert Hofer had won, he would have become the first far-right head of state of a EU nation.Alexander Van der Bellen wins Austria presidency

In his victory speech, Alexander Van der Bellen, a pro-EU candidate backed by the Greens, said he accepted that many people believed that they were not being heard.

Austria’s newly-elected president said: “We need a different culture of dialogue and a political system which deals with people’s fears and anger.”

Alexander Van der Bellen, 72, said he would “work towards winning the trust of Norbert Hofer’s voters” and try to be “a non-partisan president for all the people in Austria”.

He added: “There’s been a lot of talk about this country’s rifts. But I think you can also interpret the split as a sign that we are two sides of the same coin and each side is as important as the other.”

Austria’s Chancellor Christian Kern said the vote was “worryingly close… and therefore it is of particular importance to us that… no voter feels like they have lost.”

Mainstream European politicians expressed relief at the result. Many nations have seen a surge in nationalist and anti-immigration parties amid the migrant crisis and economic uncertainty.

The Austrian presidency is largely a ceremonial post. But the president can dissolve the lower house of parliament and call elections without the need for permission from the ruling party.

Norbert Hofer said on his Facebook page it was a “sad day” but added: “Please don’t be disheartened. The effort in this election campaign is not wasted, but is an investment for the future.”

Alexander Van der Bellen is the first environmental activist to become Austrian president.

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

US Lifts Embargo on Lethal Arms Sales to Vietnam

Roy Siemens
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US Lifts Embargo on Lethal Arms Sales to Vietnam

The US is fully lifting its embargo on sales of lethal weapons to Vietnam, its one-time enemy, President Barack Obama has announced.

Speaking during a visit to Vietnam and talks with its leaders, President Barack Obama said the move removed a “lingering vestige of the Cold War”.

The US is trying to bolster its relationship with its Pacific allies, as China asserts territorial claims.

However, Barack Obama said the embargo decision was not related to US policy on China.

“It’s based on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process of moving towards normalization with Vietnam,” the president said in Hanoi.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Vietnam is one of several countries in the region involved in maritime disputes with China. The US insists on the right to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

In 2014, a row over a Chinese oil rig near the Paracel islands led to clashes between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels and anti-China riots in Vietnam.

According to White House officials, the arms ban, in force since 1984, would be lifted only if human rights in Vietnam improved.

Barack Obama said after talks with President Tran Dai Quang: “Sales will need to still meet strict requirements, including those related to human rights, but this change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself.”

Vietnam had been arguing for an end to the embargo, which was partially lifted in 2014.

Barack Obama’s visit comes 41 years after the end of the Vietnam War in which the US sought to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam.

Several million Vietnamese – civilians, communist fighters and South Vietnamese soldiers – were killed, as well as more than 58,000 US soldiers.

By the end of the war in 1975, the communists had gained control of the entire country.

While in Vietnam, Barack Obama is expected to meet dissidents and make the case for Vietnam to remove obstacles to the US-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal.

Barack Obama flies later to Japan for a summit of the G7 industrialized nations. His visit will include a tour of Hiroshima, where the world’s first nuclear attack was carried out in 1945 by the US, killing at least 140,000 people.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Ashes Flown from Mexico to Colombia

Sonia Pantiss
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Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Ashes Flown from Mexico to Colombia

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s ashes have been laid to rest in the Colombian city of Cartagena.

The ashes of the late Nobel Prize winning novelist were flown home from Mexico where he had lived for years and where he died in 2014 at the age of 87.

A ceremony was held in the cloisters of Cartagena University, near Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s family home in the city.

The author is best known for his magic realist novels One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.

A bronze bust of Gabriel Garcia Marquez was unveiled by the writer’s son Rodrigo Garcia Barcha in the center of the cloisters of the university as the centerpiece of the memorial.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was considered the finest writer of the Spanish language since Cervantes
Gabriel Garcia Marquez was considered the finest writer of the Spanish language since Cervantes

“It’s a day of joy mixed with sorrow,” the writer’s sister Aida Rosa Garcia Marquez told the French news agency AFP.

“But there is more joy than sorrow because to see a brother get to where Gabito reached can only bring joy.”

Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born in the town of Aracataca near Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast and started working as a journalist in the late 1940s in Cartagena.

The writer had lived since the 1980s in Mexico but his family decided he should be buried in Cartagena where many of his family members were also interred.

“Cartagena is the city where the Garcia Marquez family is based. It is where my grandparents are buried,” said Gonzalo Garcia Barcha, one of the writer’s two sons, from France where he now lives in an interview with AFP.

“It seemed natural to us that his ashes should be there too.”

Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a love-hate relationship with Cartagena; the city appears in several of his novels often depicted as a decadent place full of conflict with a class-ridden and racist society.

Bayer Makes $62 Billion Offer for Monsanto

Clyde K. Valle
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Bayer Makes $62 Billion Offer for Monsanto

German chemicals giant Bayer has made a $62 billion offer for American multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation Monsanto, in a deal that would create the world’s biggest agricultural supplier.

Both companies confirmed last week that Bayer had launched an offer for the US seeds giant.

Monsanto is primarily known for genetically modified crops, often leading to vocal activist criticism.

The offer comes amid a wave of mergers in the industry.

Rivals DuPont, Dow Chemical, and Syngenta have all announced tie-ups recently, although they have yet to be cleared by regulators.Bayer to buy Monsanto

Bayer said the offer of $122 per share represented a 37% premium on the price of Monsanto shares before rumors about the takeover bid emerged in the media.

When news about the takeover offer broke last week, Bayer shares took an 8% hit and a number of large Bayer investors voiced their criticism of the prospective deal.

Bayer has a market value of about $90 billion, making it the second-largest producer of crop chemicals after Syngenta.

Monsanto, which has a market capitalization of $42 billion, attempted to buy Swiss rival Syngenta in 2015.

However, Syngenta ended up accepting a $43 billion offer from ChemChina in February, although that deal is still being reviewed by regulators in the US.

Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto is expected to be bigger in value than the ChemChina-Syngenta deal.

The biggest merger in the chemicals industry took place late last year when Dow Chemical teamed up with Du Pont to form a new $130 billion company.

Elvis Presley’s Guitar Sells for $334,000 at New York Auction

Sonia Pantiss
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Elvis Presley’s Guitar Sells for $334,000 at New York Auction

One of Elvis Presley’s guitars has sold for $334,000 at an auction in New York.

The guitar was given by his father, Vernon Presley.

It is thought that Vernon Presley changed the finish on the Gibson Dove to black after his son earned a black belt in karate.Elvis Presley guitar auction

Elvis Presley gave the guitar to a fan during a concert in North Carolina in 1975.

Auctioneers Julien’s also sold John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for The Beatles’ Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite! for $354,400.

Other items in the sale included a red neoprene vinyl jacket which Michael Jackson wore for his 1996-97 HIStory world tour, and Elvis Presley’s first piano.

Michael Jackson’s jacket sold for $256,000, over four times the pre-sale estimate, while the piano fetched $140,025 – about $60,000 under what had been predicted.

Lady Gaga’s first piano, which had been valued at $100,000, failed to find a buyer, as did Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Fender Broadcaster electric guitar, which was estimated at over $400,000.

Cannes 2016: I, Daniel Blake Wins Palme d’Or for Best Picture

Sonia Pantiss
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Cannes 2016: I, Daniel Blake Wins Palme d’Or for Best Picture

I, Daniel Blake is the biggest winner of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

This year’s Palme d’Or was Ken Loach’s second award for best picture at the festival after 2006’s The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

Ken Loach, 79, attacked the “dangerous project of austerity” as he accepted the award for his movie about a middle-aged widower and the UK welfare system.

Andrea Arnold won the competition’s Jury Prize for her road movie American Honey.

It was the 13th time that Ken Loach, a social campaigner for most of his career and the director of more than 50 movies, has competed at the event.

I, Daniel Blake, which stars stand-up comedian Dave Johns in the title role, was written by Ken Loach’s long-time collaborator Paul Laverty.I Daniel Blake Cannes 2016

The movie documents what happens when an older man living in Newcastle has a heart attack and can no longer do his job.

He is declared fit for work, meaning his benefits are stopped, and he begins to go hungry.

Accepting the festival’s top prize from Mel Gibson, Ken Loach said: “We must give a message of hope, we must say another world is possible.

“The world we live in is at a dangerous point right now. We are in the grip of a dangerous project of austerity driven by ideas that we call neo-liberalism that have brought us to near catastrophe.”

In the movie, Dave Johns meets single-mother of two Katie, who moves to Newcastle from London.

Cannes judges praised the actors’ depictions of the characters who “find themselves in no-man’s land, caught on the barbed wire of welfare bureaucracy as played out against the rhetoric of ‘striver and skiver’ in modern day Britain”.

It was the first movie role for Dave Johns, who said he was delighted by the French film prize.

Dave Johns said: “Ken made a film 50 years ago called Cathy, Come Home and this is actually in the same vein, saying that people who are on the bottom rung of life, you know are struggling.

“I’m a stand-up comic. Working with Ken was just absolutely the most amazing thing and this news that we’ve won the Palme D’Or – I’m just blown away with it. “

Ken Loach was up against directors including Spanish Oscar-winner Pedro Almodovar, Sean Penn and Paul Verhoeven.

Iranian movie Forushande (The Salesman) by Asghar Farhadi won two awards at the 69th staging of Cannes – best screenplay, and best actor, won by Shahab Hosseini.

The Grand Prix went to Juste la Fin du Monde (It’s Just the End of the World), directed by Canada’s Xavier Dolan, while Philippines’ Jaclyn Jose won best actress for her role in Brillante Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa.

Andrea Arnold won the competition’s Prix du Jury (Jury Prize) for American Honey.

American Honey, starring Shia LaBeouf, follows a group of wild youths as they travel through US states selling hard luck stories and magazine subscriptions.

Austria Elections 2016: Far-Right Norbert Hofer Faces Alexander Van der Bellen in Runoff

Diane A. Wade
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Austria Elections 2016: Far-Right Norbert Hofer Faces Alexander Van der Bellen in Runoff

Austria is voting in a presidential runoff poll that could elect the EU’s first far-right leader, Norbert Hofer.

Freedom Party’s Norbert Hofer faces 72-year-old independent Alexander Van der Bellen, backed by the Greens.

Norbert Hofer, 45, topped the first vote but fell well short of an outright majority. The runoff is expected to be close.

For the first time since World War Two, both the main centrist parties were knocked out in the first round.

The refugee crisis has become the key issue.

Photo euractiv.com
Photo euractiv.com

In 2015, 90,000 people claimed asylum in Austria, equivalent to about 1% of the Austrian population, and the Freedom Party has run a campaign against immigration.

While the presidency is a largely ceremonial post, the president has powers to dismiss the government – something Norbert Hofer has already threatened to do.

A Norbert Hofer victory could be the springboard for Freedom Party success in the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for 2018.

Polls opened at 07:00 and close at 17:00, with projected results expected shortly afterwards.

However, postal ballots, which could be crucial if the result is close, will only be tallied on May 23.

In the first round, Norbert Hofer secured 35% of the votes, while Alexander Van der Bellen polled 21%.

At his final election rally on May in Vienna, Norbert Hofer sought to hammer home his message that refugees needed to integrate.

The presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz, have both expressed concern that Norbert Hofer could win.

Alexander Van der Bellen told his final rally in Vienna that it was likely to be a close race.

“I think it could be on a knife edge – 50-50 who will win, so this time, as with previous votes, but more than ever for this important election, every vote will count,” he said.

At a news conference, he said: “As you know, I am 72 years old and I’ve experienced how Austria rose from the ruins of World War Two, caused by the madness of nationalism.”

Norbert Hofer and Alexander Van der Bellen had engaged in a TV debate earlier in the week, described as “political mud-wrestling” by commentators.

The Social Democrats and the People’s Party have governed Austria for decades, either alone or in coalition.

At the last general election in 2013, they together won just enough votes to govern in a “grand coalition”.

Incumbent President Heinz Fischer, 77, could not run again after two terms in office.

MH17: Passengers’ Relatives Sue Russia and Vladimir Putin

Roy Siemens
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MH17: Passengers’ Relatives Sue Russia and Vladimir Putin

Relatives of victims of downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 are suing Russia and its President Vladimir Putin in the European Court of Human Rights.

Flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board.

The West and Ukraine say Russian-backed rebels were responsible while Russia accuses Ukrainian forces.

The claim is based on the violation of a passenger’s right to life, News.com.au reported.

Photo PA
Photo PA

It is for 10 million Australian dollars ($7.2 million) for each victim, and the lawsuit names both the Russian state and Vladimir Putin as respondents.

Jerry Skinner, a US-based aviation lawyer leading the case, told News.com.au it was difficult for the families to live with, knowing it was “a crime”.

He said: “The Russians don’t have any facts for blaming Ukraine, We have facts, photographs, memorandums, tons of stuff.”

They were waiting to hear from the ECHR whether the case had been accepted, Jerry Skinner said.

The Kremlin said it was unaware of the claim, the Interfax news agency reported, but a senator with Vladimir Putin’s party is quoted in state media as saying it was “legally nonsensical and has no chance”.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, there are 33 next-of-kin named in the application – eight from Australia, one from New Zealand with the rest from Malaysia.

Sydney-based law firm LHD Lawyers is filing the case on behalf of the victims’ families.

Flight MH17 crashed at the height of the conflict between Ukrainian government troops and pro-Russian separatists.

According to a Dutch report released in 2015, the plane was downed by a Russian-made Buk missile, but did not say who fired it.

Most of the victims were Dutch and a separate criminal investigation is still under way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LPMm-Ba99A

MS804: First Pictures of EgyptAir Debris Released

Roy Siemens
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MS804: First Pictures of EgyptAir Debris Released

First pictures of items found during the search in the Mediterranean Sea for missing Egypt Air flight MS804 have been released by the Egyptian Armed Forces.

Photos show life vests, parts of seats and objects clearly marked EgyptAir.

The Airbus A320 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people aboard when it vanished from radar early on May 19.EgyptAir MS804 debris

Investigators have confirmed smoke was detected in various parts of the cabin three minutes before it disappeared, but say the cause is still not known.

Speaking on May 21 after meeting relatives of victims, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said “all theories are being examined and none is favored”.

The search has also reportedly found body parts and luggage.

The main body of the plane and the two “black boxes” which show flight data and cockpit transmissions have not yet been located.

While no bodies have been recovered, memorials have been taking place for the victims.

A service was held in a Cairo church on May 21 for air hostess Yara Hani, who was aboard the doomed plane.

MS804: Smoke Alerts Activated Before EgyptAir Plane Crash

Roy Siemens
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MS804: Smoke Alerts Activated Before EgyptAir Plane Crash

According to new reports, there were smoke alerts inside the cabin of the EgyptAir MS804 before it crashed in the Mediterranean on May 19.

Data published on air industry website the Aviation Herald has revealed that smoke was detected in the toilet and the aircraft’s electrics, just minutes before the signal was lost.

However, there has been no official confirmation of the data.

Flight MS804 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people on board.

The Aviation Herald said it had received flight data filed through the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) from three independent channels.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

According to the publication, the system showed that at 02:26 local time on May 19 smoke was detected in the Airbus A320 toilet.

A minute later – at 00:27 GMT – there was an avionics smoke alert.

The last ACARS message was at 02:29, the air industry website said, and the contact with the plane was lost four minutes later at 02:33 local time.

ACARS is used to routinely download flight data to the airline operating the aircraft.

Greece earlier said that radar showed the Airbus A320 had made two sharp turns and dropped more than 25,000ft before plunging into the sea.

Debris and body parts were found on May 20 by teams searching for the wreckage of the Airbus320, Greek and Egyptian officials said.

Items including seats and luggage have also been retrieved by Egyptian search crews.

The debris was discovered about 180 miles north of Alexandria, the Egyptian military said.

ESA satellites spotted an oil slick in the area where the flight had vanished – but the organization said there was no guarantee it was from the plane.

The search is now focused on finding the plane’s flight recorders, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Egypt has said the plane was more likely to have been brought down by a terrorist act than a technical fault.

However, there has been “absolutely no indication” so far as to why the plane came down, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on May 20.

Turrialba Volcano Ash Covers Central Costa Rica

Nancy Clayson
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Turrialba Volcano Ash Covers Central Costa Rica

Turrialba volcano has erupted in central Costa Rica, spewing smoke and ash up to 9,840ft into the air.

Hundreds of people have been hospitalized, complaining of breathing difficulties and skin problems.Turrialba volcano eruption 2016

Some schools were shut and some flights into the country cancelled or diverted.

People in the capital San Jose, about 30 miles west of the Turrialba volcano, said layers of ash had coated buildings and cars and there was a fierce smell of sulphur.

Costa Rica’s National Emergencies Commission has advised people to wear masks and tight clothing to protect their lungs and skin.

Volcanologist Gino Gonzalez told reporters: “It seems to me to be the strongest [Turrialba] eruption in the past six years.”

Costa Rica is home to dozens of volcanoes, but most of them are dormant.

El Chapo Guzman Extradition to US Approved

Diane A. Wade
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El Chapo Guzman Extradition to US Approved

Mexico has authorized the extradition of drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman to the US to face charges including smuggling and murder.

El Chapo Guzman’s lawyers have 30 days to appeal and even if it proceeds it could be months before he is sent north.

He was recaptured in January, six months after escaping through a tunnel from his maximum-security prison cell.

Earlier in May the Mexican authorities transferred El Chapo Guzman to a prison near the US border.El Chapo Guzman Altiplano prison

Mexican officials denied the move to Ciudad Juarez, just across the border from El Paso, Texas, was a precursor to extradition.

El Chapo Guzman faces charges from seven US federal prosecutors. He is also accused of money-laundering, and arms and drugs possession.

The drug lord’s lawyer, Juan Pablo Badillo, told Reuters news agency he would file “many” legal challenges in the coming days.

Mexico’s foreign ministry has said the US has guaranteed El Chapo Guzman will not face the death penalty if the extradition goes ahead.

Born to a farming family, El Chapo Guzman went on to become head of the Sinaloa cartel, at one point thought to be responsible for a quarter of all drugs entering the US via Mexico.

Before his escape in 2015, El Chapo Guzman had already fled prison, going on the run for more than a decade.

MS804: Debris from Missing EgyptAir Plane Found in Mediterranean Sea

Diane A. Wade
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MS804: Debris from Missing EgyptAir Plane Found in Mediterranean Sea

Body parts, personal belongings of passengers and debris from missing EgyptAir plane have been found in the Mediterranean Sea, Greek and Egyptian officials say.

Flight MS804 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 passengers and crew when it vanished on May 19.

Seats and luggage has also been retrieved by Egyptian search crews.

The debris was discovered about 180 miles north of Alexandria, the Egyptian military said.

European Space Agency (ESA) satellites spotted an oil slick in the area where the flight had vanished but the organization said there was no guarantee it was from the missing plane.EgyptAir MS804 debris

The search is now focused on finding the plane’s flight recorders, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has expressed his “utmost sadness and regret” at the crash.

Military units from Greece, Egypt, France and the UK have been taking part in a search operation near the Greek island Karpathos.

Greece said radar showed the Airbus A320 had made two sharp turns and dropped more than 25,000ft before plunging into the sea.

Egypt says the plane was more likely to have been brought down by a terrorist act than a technical fault.

However, there has been “absolutely no indication” so far as to why the plane came down, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on May 20.

Three investigators from the French air accident investigation bureau, along with a technical adviser from Airbus, have joined the Egyptian inquiry.

The missing plane was forced to make an emergency landing in 2013 after the pilot noticed the engine overheating, but an official report said defect was repaired.

In France, the focus is on whether a possible breach of security happened at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

After last year’s attacks in the French capital, some airport staff had their security clearance revoked over fears of links to Islamic extremists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD6fhqRbEyI

Tricks to Making a Small Space Feel Larger

Nancy Clayson
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Tricks to Making a Small Space Feel Larger

When a house, office, or room is small, there is a fine line between comfortable and cramped. While most people appreciate having the room to spread out, a larger space isn’t always possible or affordable in some areas. But this doesn’t mean that one has to settle for living in perpetual clutter. It is possible to make a smaller-than-average space feel roomy and neat. Accomplishing this feat often requires careful consideration and a few creative tricks.

Create a Clean and Clutter-Free Space

Creating extra space is a good time to clean up an area by removing any unwanted and unused items. Generally, these are the things that take up space but have no real purpose. Divide these items into piles that can be given away, sold online or in a garage sale, donated, or thrown out. For unused items that are difficult to part with, consider renting an outside storage unit.

Photo Flickr
Photo Flickr

Add the Right Colors

The idea of adding color to a small space may initially sound like the wrong thing to do; however, the right colors can make a room feel open, airy, and spacious. Generally, lighter colors have the ability to make a space look larger than it is. A monochromatic color scheme, using various shades of one color, is also helpful in adding depth and dimension to a space. If brighter colors are desired, use them sparingly and not on focal pieces.

Bring in Light

Whether artificial or natural, lighting is yet another way to open up a space. At night or in dim spaces, consider a torch lamp, which is often thin and spreads light up and out. Another, even less intrusive way to light a room is to use recessed lighting instead of a floor or desk lamp. Vertical or mini aluminum blinds are a nice alternative to heavy shades or drapes. During the day, open blinds completely to bring in the maximum amount of bright outdoor light.

Use Furniture to Your Advantage

The right type of furniture, and even certain accessorizes, can also make a space feel larger and more spacious. Wall mirrors, for example, can make a room seem longer than it is. Instead of a sofa, use a loveseat, and generally aim to avoid using large items that take up important space. Ideally, items that can be used for more than one purpose are best, as they help reduce the amount of furniture in a room. For example, furniture with hidden compartments provides smart, out-of-sight storage. Glass coffee or side tables take up little visual space courtesy of the clear surface, which makes them yet another option to consider.

Turkey Parliament Approves Bill Lifting Immunity from Prosecution

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey Parliament Approves Bill Lifting Immunity from Prosecution

Turkish lawmakers have voted a controversial bill that will strip them of their immunity from prosecution.

However, pro-Kurdish lawmakers say this is essentially a move to expel opposition members from parliament.

The new law is seen as targeting the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) as well as the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Turkey has led an offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), accused of being a terror group.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses the HDP of being the PKK’s political arm, and has called for pro-Kurdish MPs to face terrorism charges.

This vote could be a first step towards making that happen.

Calling the move “historic” as lawmakers voted, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a crowd in his hometown of Rize: “My people do not want to see guilty lawmakers in this parliament.”Turkey and Russia tensions

Critics also say the move aims to strengthen the ruling AK Party and consolidate support in the assembly for the executive presidential system Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to implement.

HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtas said the move was a blow against the people’s will and could not be accepted as democratic.

Selahattin Demirtas said his party would challenge the decision at Turkey’s top court.

The bill was backed by 376 lawmakers in the 550-seat legislature, which means it will become law directly without being put to a referendum.

It now needs to be ratified by the president.

Some 138 lawmakers, the vast majority from the two opposition parties, could be at risk of prosecution.

Violent scuffles marred parliamentary debates this month, with frustrated lawmakers exchanging fisticuffs and kicks.

Today’s vote was not without incident as CHP lawmakers walked out in protest.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said she would raise concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey when she met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan next week.

Angela Merkel, who has led the push to conclude a refugee deal with Ankara, has been criticized by human rights groups for turning a blind eye to violations in Turkey in return for co-operation.

Make Your Dating Profile More Popular

Lisa.Felice
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0

Your dating profile is the first impression you’ll make in the online dating world, and you want to make sure that you’re building a profile that sends the right message. If you’re struggling to make many connections through your online dating efforts, you can improve your dating profile dramatically with a few smart swaps and targeted tweaks. Learn what viewers are looking for, then fit some of these keywords and smart photo strategies into your profile.

As you’re completing the text you’ll use to shape your dating profile, pay attention to the words you’re using. Men do best when they describe themselves as sweet, ambitious, thoughtful, spontaneous, and physically fit. Guys will also get attention if they mention tattoos, yoga, puppies and the ocean. Women should use words like physically fit, ambitious, perceptive, passionate and optimistic. They can also mention travel destinations and physical activities to round out their profiles.

While you want to use some of these popular words and phrases in your profile when applicable, you’ll also want to represent yourself accurately. No one wants to meet someone who isn’t as well represented on his or her profile. People tend to add two inches to their height and 20 percent to their income, for example, and many profile photos are out of date. Make yourself stand out as an attractive, honest person in your dating profile. Check out some buzzword and photo tips below that you can use to enhance the quality of your dating profile.

How to Optimize Your Dating Profile Infographic

Originally Published on Review Weekly

 

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