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12 Ways To Stay Healthy!

Dana R
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2
12 Ways To Stay Healthy!

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A lot of people try and live a healthy lifestyle, but it can be hard when illnesses can occur at any time. The stresses of work and family mean we can end up eating too much food and not exercising enough. We also forget to go to appointments where we can find out earlier if something is up. Staying healthy is the ultimate way of prolonging your life. Here are the best 12 ways to keep your mind and body healthy.

Eat breakfast

It’s hard to fit everything in before going to work in the morning. By the time you get up early and have had a shower, there is often no time to enjoy a healthy breakfast. But having breakfast can help you keep to a healthy weight. If you don’t have breakfast, you can end up snacking all morning meaning you will be consuming a higher calorie intake. Breakfast is also perfect for helping you feel motivated till lunch. If you don’t eat anything, you can end up feeling distracted and losing concentration on the work you are meant to be doing. Have a bowl of cereal or enjoy some toast; both of these don’t take long to make. An egg is also a popular choice for breakfast and will keep you full until lunch.

Join an exercise class

Another way to stay healthy is to join an exercise class in your local area. Consider what kind of exercise you fancy trying. By choosing something that interests you, you will be more likely to get involved and make the effort to go. An exercise class is always good for helping you to maintain your weight. It’s a set time you can go and exercise every week. Arrange to go to a class with a friend; this will encourage you to go every time. Otherwise, you will let your friend down. Remember if you don’t like the class you attend, try a different one.

Healthy weight

The best way to stay healthy is to keep to a healthy weight. Once you become overweight, you may end up with health problems such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart problems. You can find out if you are a healthy weight by checking your Body Mass Index  (BMI). You can work out your BMI by checking your height against your weight. You might be surprised to know that over 9% of Americans over 20 were classed as either overweight or obese when checking their BMI. Once you know yours, you can make movements to try and lose weight by eating healthier and exercising regularly.

Attend check-ups

If you want to stay healthy, you should be ensuring that you go for check-ups at your doctor when necessary. As we get older, there are several checks that you should go for including getting your cholesterol checked every five years. Your blood sugar level and blood pressure should be tested every three years. Read about more check-ups you should go for here. Don’t delay in going to the doctors if you are worrying about a mole or a lump you have found. Who knows what it could be, and it’s a good idea to get it checked sooner rather than later. It’s probably nothing, but it will help ease your worry if it isn’t anything to stress about.

Go to the dentist

Just as it’s so important to go to the doctor regularly, you should be ensuring that you go to the dentist at least once a year to ensure you stay healthy. They can check your teeth to make sure that there are no cavities that have developed. If you don’t go to the dentist, you will end up having to get teeth removed and could end up with gum disease. Remember to take your kids once they start developing teeth.

Visit opticians

It’s so easy in our busy lives to forget to attend eye appointments. But your eyes are so important, and you need to ensure that you are looking after them properly by attending appointments. You should go every couple of years to the opticians. They will be able to tell you how your eyes are doing and will inform you if you need glasses or contact lenses. You will be surprised to know that the opticians can also tell if you have a brain tumor. If they spot unusual symptoms, they will refer you on to your doctor for further investigation.

Meditate

You need to look after your mind, as well as your body, and a good way to do this is to meditate. Meditation is a fantastic way to clear your thoughts so that you can feel happier in your life. It’s also great for calming you down after having a stressful day. You can meditate in your own home, or you can look into attending a class where you can do it. It can be easier as you will follow the instructor. You can listen here at The Alternative Daily for info on how to add meditation into your life.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/crdot/6903711925

Wash your hands

A lot of people pick up illnesses because they are not washing their hands after touching food. After preparing food, you should be ensuring that you wash your hands. You can’t touch raw meat and then pick up something else as any bacteria would have passed onto that food. And then once cooked, you could end up causing food poisoning. You should also ensure you wash your hands after you have been to the toilet. Although we have limited time at work to meet that important deadline, it’s essential that we wash our hands before leaving the bathroom. Remember to get your kids to do it too. Otherwise, they will be passing on germs as well.  

Don’t take too many pills

In life when we get a bad belly or have a headache, we decide to take a tablet to ease the pain. But you may be surprised to know that too many pills are not good for you and your body. As we talked about previously, too many painkillers can damage your liver and the function of your kidneys. Your body can also be desensitized to the tablets, meaning the next time you take them, it won’t be effective. Make sure you limit yourself to how many you take, and if the problems keep happening, it might be wise to go to the doctor to find out why. Remember to stick to the amount they suggest to take, as it can be easy to become addicted to painkillers.

Cut out stress

If you want to live a healthy life, you need to make sure that you don’t get too stressed out. The more stressed you get, the more of a chance you could develop anxiety and depression. As this article explains, you need to try and cut down on the stressful factors in your life. Consider what is making you so unhappy. If you and your partner are always fighting, it might be time to separate. Or your job might be making you miserable, which means you should look for a new one. Try and eliminate the stress in your life so you can stay happy. You should smile more so that your whole body will be happier. Spend time with people that make you feel healthier and happier.

Control your eating

To ensure you stay healthy, you need to make sure you are controlling your eating habits. The best way to do this is to figure out why you are eating so much. It might be that you are eating when you are unhappy to combat those feelings. Or you might have associated eating with a hobby such as watching a movie or television. Also, when you are going shopping, you need to ensure you go when you have a full stomach. If you don’t, you will end up buying extra food that you fancy as you are hungry. Try and buy more food which you can freeze as well. If you buy fresh food that needs eating, you could end up consuming way too many calories in one day! Once you know why you are overeating, it becomes much easier to control.

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Stop smoking

To stay healthier for longer, you should try and stop smoking. The tobacco in smoking can lead to chest and lung problems. Talk to your doctor about the fact that you want to cut it out of your lifestyle, and they can recommend what you can do to cut it out. Going cold turkey is a bad decision because most people will end up craving it and giving in. Try nicotine patches or chewing gum to help you cut back on smoking. A lot of people are also trying e-cigarettes which help you feel like you are smoking but cuts out the tobacco element.

Remember the most important thing is to enjoy your life. It’s so short that you need to enjoy every moment, but live a healthy life too.

5 Types Of Software Your Business Needs To Invest In

Dana R
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0
5 Types Of Software Your Business Needs To Invest In

In recent years, we’ve gotten to a point where our day-to-day business operations would be a mess without technology. We’d be lost without smartphones, constant email access, and Microsoft Office. Most of our daily tasks are completed with pieces of software on PC’s and laptops. We’ve got to a point where we are so reliant on them; we couldn’t actually operate without them! If you’ve just started a new business, or you need a technological refresher, here are five types of software packages to consider.

Accounting

I don’t know of any businesses that don’t use accounting software to manage those all-important finances. The most popular piece of software used for this task is SAGE. Most businesses use it as a means of managing their accounts, although there are plenty of alternatives on the market as well. Don’t be scared to spend big money on important software like this; it’s crucial to the well-being of your business.

Backup

You need a good backup procedure in place to ensure those all-important files don’t get erased accidentally. While you don’t necessarily need software to get this done, it can make the job so much easier. You’ll find automated services that will ensure your files are backed up on a daily basis. You don’t have to do anything, so the risk of losing those files should never become an issue.

Office Suite

We’ve already mentioned about Microsoft Office, and the truth is; you’ll struggle to find a business that doesn’t use it in some form. Still, there are alternatives out there if you aren’t so keen on lining Microsoft’s pockets. The most popular alternative office suite is OpenOffice, which is entirely free and sports many of the same features. It isn’t identical, though, so you might find that documents don’t look quite the same when opened with Microsoft’s suite.

Sales

Any company that is involved in sales will need software to ensure those sales go smoothly. This is an area where custom software is often built for the needs of the company. Software escrow is important to consider when it comes to custom software of any kind. You need to ensure that your company will continue to operate effectively even if something goes wrong with that software. You don’t want to be in a position where you can’t process any sales because the software company has gone out of business and shut everything down.

Security

In order to protect all that valuable confidential data, you need to make sure you’ve got adequate security in place. Software packages like AVG and Avast offer free ways to keep your devices secure. When it comes to business, however, you’re ideally going to want to invest in paid security software. Some of the added extras are just novelty features, but you’ll also get increased protection, which is always worth it. The last thing you want is to deal with viruses and corrupted data.

There are more types of software that can benefit your company. All you need to do is look around, and you’ll find something that can help your business to thrive.

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Pic – https://pixabay.com/

Fort McMurray: 90% of City Saved from Massive Wildfire

Nancy Clayson
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0
Fort McMurray: 90% of City Saved from Massive Wildfire

More than 90% of buildings in the evacuated city of Fort McMurray have survived the massive wildfire, Alberta’s provincial premier Rachel Notley said on a visit.

She said the hospital and most schools were intact but 2,400 out of 25,000 structures had been burnt.

“It was a miracle we got the entire population out safely,” Rachel Notley told reporters.

More than 80,000 people were evacuated from Fort McMurray last week.

Nobody was killed in the fire but two people died in a car crash when they were leaving the city.

Photo CBC
Photo CBC

Officials said they hoped to provide a schedule within two weeks for the return of residents.

Alberta government declared a state of emergency and promised C$100 million ($77 million) in cash to evacuees whose homes have been gutted.

According to officials, the battle to contain the wildfires reached a turning point on May 9 thanks to drizzle and favorable winds.

Premier Rachel Notley visited Fort McMurray for a first look at the destruction caused by the massive fire. She said she was “very much struck” by the power it had to cause devastation.

The wildfire covered 622 sq miles on May 8, Rachel Notley said, and was about 20-25 miles from the neighboring province, Saskatchewan.

The gas in Fort McMurray has been turned off and the power grid is damaged, while the water is not drinkable.

The team from the provincial government will begin preliminary planning on repairing damage in Fort McMurray.

Mitsubishi Motors Shares Recover Following Compensation Reports

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Mitsubishi Motors Shares Recover Following Compensation Reports

Mitsubishi Motors shares have risen on media reports the auto maker will compensate customers after it admitted falsifying fuel efficiency data.

Shares in the Japanese auto maker have lost some 50% of their value since the scandal. On May 10 shares rose 1.9%.

The Nikkei 225 benchmark index closed 2.2% higher at 16,565.19 points.Mitsubishi fuel test 2016

Meanwhile, Takata shares shed 7.4% on reports of an additional seven million recalls of its faulty airbags.

On May 9, Takata had also said it was expecting a loss instead of a profit for the fiscal year until March due to the soaring costs of their global airbag recall.

In China, markets were reacting to fresh inflation data showing April’s price increases steady from the previous year.

China’s consumer price index (CPI) was up by 2.3% on the same month the previous year.

The Shanghai Composite index was flat at 2,832.59 points at the close of Tuesday’s session. Meanwhile Hong Kong’s Hang Seng closed higher by 0.4% at 20,242.68.

Australia’s ASX/200 finished trading 0.4% higher at 5,342.80, despite the country’s commodity giants suffering from lower iron ore prices.

Philippines Elections 2016: Digong Duterte Wins Presidency after Opponents Withdrawal

Diane A. Wade
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0
Philippines Elections 2016: Digong Duterte Wins Presidency after Opponents Withdrawal

Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte has won the Philippine presidential elections, following the withdrawal of his opponents.

Although the official result has not yet been declared, main rival Mar Roxas admitted defeat after polls gave Digong Duterte an unassailable lead.

The 71-year-old Maverick anti-crime candidate said he accepted the mandate with “extreme humility”.

Digong Duterte stirred controversy during campaigning with his incendiary comments.

He has credited his success to his tough stance on law and order.Digong Duterte wins Philippines presidency

Rodrigo Duterte’s record as the crime-crushing mayor of the southern town of Davao, once notorious for its lawlessness, earned him the moniker The Punisher and resonated with voters.

Other driving issues of the election campaign were pervasive corruption, as well as the poverty and inequality experienced by many Filipinos despite economic growth under outgoing President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

According to election officials, there was a record turnout at polling stations, with more than 81% of the 54 million registered voters casting a ballot. Senators and about 18,000 local officials including mayors are also being elected.

The PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) poll monitor said that with 90% of the presidential ballots counted, Digong Duterte had more than 14.8 million votes – about 39%. The PPCRV is accredited by the election commission to monitor counting but its reporting does not represent an official tally.

Mar Roxas, a former interior minister and Digong Duterte’s closest rival, had 8.6 million votes.

As the extent of his lead became clear, Digong Duterte told AFP news agency: “It’s with humility, extreme humility, that I accept this, the mandate of the people.”

Mar Roxas accepted his rival’s win, saying: “There are many tears in the room. Let me tell you this is not a time for tears. For our country, we have had a peaceful, successful transfer of power.”

Another key rival, Senator Grace Poe, was the first to concede defeat, promising to “co-operate with the healing process” after a turbulent campaign.

In the election to be vice-president, Leni Robredo, a social activist, is currently slightly ahead of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, the son of a former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Benigno Aquino is standing down as the constitution limits presidents to one six-year term.

As Digong Duterte rose in opinion polls ahead of voting, Beningno Aquino had tried to unite other candidates against him, warning his election could mean a return to dictatorship for the Philippines.

North Korea Congress Ends with Mass Rally in Pyongyang

Diane A. Wade
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0
North Korea Congress Ends with Mass Rally in Pyongyang

North Korea is holding a huge rally in capital Pyongyang to mark the end of the Workers’ Party Congress, the first in 36 years.

The congress of North Korea’s ruling party cemented the position of leader Kim Jong-un, elevating him to the role of party chairman.

On May 10, state media announced that Kim Jong-un’ sister, Kim Yo-jong, had been elected to the ruling committee.

The Congress also endorsed the national policy of building nuclear capability alongside economic development.

Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have joined the rally in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong-un was seen waving to the crowds and chatting with military and party officials.

People marched through the square waving pink paper flowers, colored balloons and red party flags. Floats were also moved through the square, some of them carrying mock-ups of missiles.North Korea mass rally after congress

The confirmation of a new title for Kim Yo-jong had been widely expected.

Kim Jong-un’s younger sister is already influential as vice-director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, but her elevation to the central committee is seen as a further consolidation of power around her brother.

More than 100 foreign reporters have been granted visas to cover the congress, although only a few were, briefly, allowed in to watch the meeting.

The congress, which began on May 6, also launched a new five-year plan for the economy, which has been hit by some of its strongest sanctions yet after the country’s recent nuclear and rocket tests.

Kim Jong-un also used a speech to say North Korea would not use its nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty was threatened.

China has sent a message of congratulations to Kim Jong-un on his new position, though it declined to send a representative to the gathering.

Panama Papers Posted Online

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Panama Papers Posted Online

The Panama Papers relating to more than 200,000 offshore accounts have been posted online.

The huge database belonging to Mossack Fonseca law firm became accessible on the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) website offshoreleaks.icij.org.

The documents have shown how some wealthy people use offshore companies to evade tax and avoid sanctions.

The papers were leaked by a source simply known as “John Doe”. The company denies any wrongdoing.

Last week Mossack Fonseca issued a “cease and desist ” order to prevent the database being made public but the organization that has the documents, the ICIJ, appears to be going ahead.

The papers have revealed the hidden assets of hundreds of politicians, officials, current and former national leaders, celebrities and sports stars.

They list more than 200,000 shell companies, foundations and trusts set up in more than 20 tax havens around the world.

Among those whose affairs have come under scrutiny include, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and Mauricio Macri of Argentina, UK PM David Cameron along with Argentinean soccer star Lionel Messi, actor Jackie Chan and Spanish movie director Pedro Almodovar.

Iceland’s PM Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson resigned after the matter came to light.What are Panama Papers

Mossack Fonseca says it has never been accused or charged with criminal wrongdoing. It says it is the victim of a hack.

Offshore companies are not illegal but their function is often to conceal both the origin and the owners of money, and to avoid tax payments.

Some 2.6 terabytes of information – 11.5 million documents – was originally given to the German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, by “John Doe” more than a year ago.

The ICIJ insists that today’s online database is not be a data dump of the kind used by the WikiLeaks organization.

The ICIJ said: “The database will not include records of bank accounts and financial transactions, emails and other correspondence, passports and telephone numbers. The selected and limited information is being published in the public interest.”

On May 9, 300 economists signed a letter urging world leaders to end tax havens, saying they only benefited rich individuals and multinational corporations, while boosting inequality.

Although the name John Doe is used, the gender of the source has not been revealed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5IMW25dnTU

Mercury Makes Rare Transit In Front of the Sun

James J. Williams
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0
Mercury Makes Rare Transit In Front of the Sun

Mercury has made a rare transit in front of the Sun, the third such pass of 14 the planet will make this century.

The little planet’s sojourn between Earth and the Sun lasted from 11:12 until 18:42 GMT.

Mercury will not make another transit until 2019 and then 2032.

The event was impossible – and dangerous – to view with the naked eye or binoculars, but astronomy groups worldwide were offering the chance view it through filtered telescopes.

Live views from space and ground telescopes were also available online.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

They show Mercury as a tiny black circle, smaller but darker than many sunspots, slowly traversing the Sun’s giant yellow disc.

Mercury spins around the Sun every 88 days, but its orbit is tilted relative to the Earth’s. It is that discrepancy which makes it relatively rare for the three bodies to line up in space.

From Western Europe, north-western Africa and much of the Americas, Mercury’s seven-and-a-half-hour glide across the Sun was visible in its entirety.

The only land masses to miss out completely are Australasia, far eastern Asia and Antarctica.

Because Mercury is so small – just one-third as big as Earth and, from our perspective, 1/150th of the Sun’s diameter – its transit can only be glimpsed under serious magnification; the “eclipse glasses” used by thousands of people to view last year’s solar eclipse will be useless.

To avoid permanent eye damage, any telescope must be fitted with a solar filter before being trained on the Sun.

Mercury has already been visited by two NASA probes: Mariner 10 flew past in 1974 and 1975 and Messenger spent four years in orbit until its planned crash landing in 2015.

Takata Airbag: Honda to Recall Additional 20 Million Faulty Airbags

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Takata Airbag: Honda to Recall Additional 20 Million Faulty Airbags

Shares in Japanese airbag maker Takata fell as much as 3.5% in morning trade before recovering, as media reports suggested more recalls over faulty airbags supplied by the company.

An additional 20 million Takata airbags would be recalled by car maker Honda, Nikkei newspaper reported on May 8.

Honda shares rose 1.6% in Tokyo, while Takata shares closed 0.3% down.Takata airbag recall 2015

Meanwhile Nikkei 225 index rose by 0.7% to close at 16,216.03, following last week’s gains in the US.

In China, shares fell in response to the disappointing trade data released on May 8, which showed that both exports and imports fell more than expected in April.

The mainland benchmark Shanghai Composite fell 2.8% to close at 2,832.11 points while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fared better. That market index closed up 0.2% at 20,156.81.

In South Korea, the Kospi index fell 0.5% to close at a one-month low, at 1,967.81 points.

Australia’s benchmark ASX/200 rose 0.5%, closing at 5,320.70.

Philippines Elections 2016: Digong Duterte Tipped to Win Presidency

Diane A. Wade
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0
Philippines Elections 2016: Digong Duterte Tipped to Win Presidency

Filipinos are voting for a new president and other leaders, with outspoken mayor Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte the favorite to win.

Five candidates are running but Digong Duterte led polls ahead of voting, despite controversial comments while campaigning and a hard-line stance.

The campaign has been driven by public concerns about the economy, inequality and rampant corruption.

More than 100,000 police officers are on duty amid violence ahead of voting.

On May 9, seven people were shot dead in an ambush by unknown gunmen in the town of Rosario, in Cavite province, south of the capital, Manila.

The region had been considered an area of concern because of its political rivalries, said local media.

On May 8, a mayoral candidate was murdered in the south of the country.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino is standing down as the constitution limits presidents to one six-year term. Filipinos will also pick a vice-president and local officials.

The election campaign has focused on reforming the economy, infrastructure, tackling corruption and crime and on the territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.Philippines elections 2016

Rodrigo Duterte has run a campaign focused on law and order issues, but made many controversial statements, including saying that he would butcher criminals.

A former state prosecutor nicknamed “The Punisher”, Rodrigo Duterte has been mayor of the southern city of Davao for more than 22 years.

He recently joked that, as mayor, he should have been first to rape an Australian missionary murdered in a prison riot, but he later apologized.

Digong Duterte’s closest rivals in the opinion polls are Grace Poe – a former schoolteacher and first-term senator – and Mar Roxas, a former investment banker and the grandson of the first president of the Philippine Republic.

President Benigno Aquino has been leading attempts to bring together other candidates in an effort to defeat Rodrigo Duterte.

He warned that if Digong Duterte were to be elected, it could mean a return to dictatorship.

In a final rally on May 7, Benigno Aquino appealed to voters: “I need your help to stop the return of terror in our land. I cannot do it alone.”

However, the other four candidates – also including Jejomar Binay and Miriam Defensor-Santiago – refused to step aside.

A vice-president, senators and about 18,000 local officials including mayors will also be elected.

More than 54 million Filipinos are registered to vote across the archipelago of 7,000 islands.

Voting began at 06:00 local time and is due to end at 17:00.

Voting could be extended in some areas, because of problems with new electronic voting equipment, election officials said.

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

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne to Divorce After 33 Years of Marriage

Lisa.Felice
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0
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne to Divorce After 33 Years of Marriage

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne have decided to end their marriage after more than 33 years, ET reports.

The 67-year-old rock legend and the 63-year-old The Talk co-host, who wed on July 4, 1982, share three children together: Aimee, 32, Kelly, 31, and Jack, 30.

Sharon Levy first met Ozzy Osbourne in the 1970s when his band, Black Sabbath, was rising to fame and later became his manager.

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are rumored to have moved out of the mansion that they share and into separate houses
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are rumored to have moved out of the mansion that they share and into separate houses

In 2013, she denied divorce rumors during a taping of The Talk, but confirmed Ozzy Osbourne’s sobriety struggles at the time.

Sharon Osbourne said: “He’s been using alcohol and prescription drugs for the past year and a half. That’s true. That’s very true. Everybody knows he’s been struggling with this his entire life.

“I never knew he was using prescription drugs. I knew he was drinking occasionally, but I didn’t realize to the extent.”

Sharon Osbourne’s comments came days after Ozzy made a Facebook post apologizing to his family and friends for his “insane behavior” during that period and giving a positive update on his sobriety.

Donald Trump: “Taxes for Rich People May Go Up”

Diane A. Wade
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0
Donald Trump: “Taxes for Rich People May Go Up”

In an apparent reversal of his stated policy, Donald Trump has said taxes for rich people may have to go up.

The Republican presidential hopeful told ABC’s This Week: “On my plan they’re going down. But by the time it’s negotiated, they’ll go up.”

Donald Trump also apparently reversed his position on the minimum wage, saying: “I’m allowed to change.”

The billionaire is all but certain to become the official Republican candidate for the November presidential election.

Several top Republicans have said they will not vote for Donald Trump.

Photo LA Times
Photo LA Times

Donald Trump’s tax plan says the wealthiest individuals would get a tax break.

However, the real estate mogul told This Week his “optimum plan” would be negotiated with Democrats, but not be approved as such.

Donald Trump’s top priorities would be lowering taxes on businesses and the middle class, not helping the rich.

On the minimum wage, Donald Trump said: “I haven’t decided in terms of numbers. But I think people have to get more.”

He has previously said he is against increasing the minimum wage.

When asked about the change of position, Donald Trump said: “I’m allowed to change. You need flexibility.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzcT9NN0wXU

Fort McMurray Wildfire Spreads Towards Saskatchewan

Diane A. Wade
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0
Fort McMurray Wildfire Spreads Towards Saskatchewan

The Fort McMurray fire is growing further and could spill in to neighboring province of Saskatchewan, Canadian officials say.

Hot, dry and windy conditions are hampering efforts by hundreds of firefighters to tackle the blaze.

The blaze has already caused the evacuation of 80,000 people from the oil city of Fort McMurray, and thousands are still stuck to the north.

Their evacuation, originally planned for May 7, will now take place on May 8.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said: “In no way is this fire under control.”

The wildfire now covers an area of more than 700 sq miles, which includes areas still ablaze and areas already burnt.

It was being propelled by high winds to the north-east towards Saskatchewan.

Smoke from the fire has already spread there, and air quality statements have been issued for both Saskatchewan and North-West Territory.

“Fire conditions remain extreme,” said the Alberta Emergency Management Agency on May 7.

There is the possibility of rain on the next days, but officials say the fire can only be put out by sustained heavy rains.

Earlier this week, most evacuees headed south but some fled north, sheltering in work camps beyond Fort McMurray.

Thousands have since been shuttled out by road and air, with small convoys passing through the fire-ravaged city on May 7.

The blaze has ruined entire neighborhoods, with residents warned it could be some time before they can return. Officials say the power grid is damaged and the water not drinkable.

As much as a quarter of the country’s oil production has been halted by the fire, raising concerns about the effect on the Canadian economy.

Kim Jong-un: North Korea Will Not Use Nuclear Weapons Unless Its Sovereignty Is Threatened

Roy Siemens
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0
Kim Jong-un: North Korea Will Not Use Nuclear Weapons Unless Its Sovereignty Is Threatened

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country will not use nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty is threatened, state media report.

North Korea first tested nuclear weapons in 2006, after withdrawing from an international treaty.

The secretive country has made repeated threats of nuclear strikes against South Korea and the US.

However, Kim Jong-un reportedly told the Workers’ Party Congress in Pyongyang that he is willing to normalize ties with previously hostile countries.

It appears Kim Jong-un tends to send mixed messages and movement observed at North Korea’s nuclear site is consistent with preparations for another nuclear test.Kim Jong un aunt plastic surgery

State media also quoted Kim Jong-un as saying there should be more talks with South Korea to build trust and understanding.

Kim Jong-un said North Korea would “faithfully fulfill its obligation for non-proliferation and strive for global denuclearization”.

The meeting is the first congress of North Korea’s ruling party since 1980.

The KCNA news agency reported Kim Jong-un as saying: “As a responsible nuclear weapons state, our Republic will not use a nuclear weapon unless its sovereignty is encroached upon by any aggressive hostile forces with nukes.”

Kim Jong-un said the government would “improve and normalize the relations with those countries which respect the sovereignty of the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] and are friendly towards it, though they had been hostile toward it in the past”.

North Korea withdrew from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 2003 and started testing nuclear weapons three years later.

International sanctions on North Korea were tightened in March this year after it claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb and launched a missile into space.

The sanctions include export bans on materials used in nuclear and military production as well as restrictions on luxury goods and banking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNaHMXN12ek

El Chapo Guzman Transferred to US Border Jail

Roy Siemens
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0
El Chapo Guzman Transferred to US Border Jail

Mexican convicted drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has been moved to a prison close to the border with the US.

He was taken to a prison near Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso in Texas, as part of a normal rotation of prisoners for security reasons, officials said.

The head of the Sinaloa drug cartel, El Chapo Guzman, also known as Shorty, was re-captured in January, six months after he escaped from prison.

Joaquin Guzman is wanted in the US on charges of smuggling drugs into the country.

Photo AP
Photo AP

His transfer to Ciudad Juarez was not a precursor to extradition, Mexican officials told Reuters.

According to Mexico’s National Security Commission, the move was in line with security protocols, and it had rotated more than 7,400 inmates as part of new security strategy.

The authorities said that El Chapo Guzman was moved to a new prison “because of works taking place to reinforce security” in Altiplano – his old prison near Mexico City.

Analysts suggested the move was to prevent him escaping during the works.

El Chapo Guzman, who was named Public Enemy Number One by the Chicago Crime Commission in 2013, has been indicted by at least seven US federal district courts.

According to Mexican officials, the process to extradite him to the US could take at least a year.

In March, El Chapo Guzman asked to be extradited rapidly so he could receive better treatment in prison.

His lawyer said El Chapo Guzman had asked him to stop fighting his extradition because guards at his prison would not let him sleep.

El Chapo Guzman was captured in January and returned to the Altiplano maximum security jail near Mexico City after six months on the run.

He had escaped from Altiplano in July through a one mile-long tunnel under the floor of his shower stall in his cell.

Leaked security footage of El Chapo Guzman’s prison break showed how guards failed to detect his escape until more than 20 minutes after it had happened, despite the sound of loud banging coming from his cell.

Mexican marines arrested him in the western state of Sinaloa after he fled a safe house through a storm drain.

Altiplano director and a number of guards were arrested in connection with El Chapo Guzman’s escape.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia Dismisses Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi

Clyde K. Valle
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King Salman of Saudi Arabia Dismisses Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi

Saudi Arabia’s veteran oil minister Ali al-Naimi has been removed by King Salman as part of a broad government overhaul.

Ali al-Naimi has been replaced after more than 20 years in the role by former health minister Khaled al-Falih.

Saudi Arabia – the world’s largest crude exporter – unveiled major economic reforms in April, aimed at ending the country’s dependence on oil.

In 2015, about 70% of Saudi Arabia’s revenues came from oil, but it has been hit hard by falling prices.

The Saudi government shake-up, announced in a royal decree, sees a number of ministries merged and others, such as the ministry of electricity and water, scrapped altogether.King Salman of Saudi Arabia Removes Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi

A public body for entertainment is being created, and another for culture.

King Salman’s son Prince Mohammad directs Saudi Arabia’s economic policy, and Ali al-Naimi’s removal is an indication that he wants tighter control over the commodity.

Khaled al-Falih has spent more than 30 years working at state oil giant Aramco, most recently serving as chairman.

He will take charge of a new department managing energy, industry and mineral resources.

Years of oil profits have allowed the Saudi government to offer generous benefits and subsidies to its citizens.

However, with another huge budget deficit forecast in 2016, last month saw the approval of wide reforms including plans to create the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund and widen the participation of women in the workforce.

Many of the changes announced by King Salman in this overhaul focus on areas where reforms have been promised.

Nobel Laureates: Sanctions Imposed on North Korea Hamper Health and Science

James J. Williams
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Nobel Laureates: Sanctions Imposed on North Korea Hamper Health and Science

A group of three Nobel laureates have said that sanctions imposed on North Korea are hampering health and science and should be eased.

They were speaking in Beijing after visiting Pyongyang in what was billed as an attempt to promote dialogue.

International sanctions on North Korea were further tightened in 2016 after the secretive country claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb and launched a missile into space.

The laureates’ visit came as a rare Workers’ Party congress opened in North Korea, with Kim Jong-un hailing his country’s “great success” in its nuclear advancements.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

The congress is widely seen as a chance for Kim Jong-un to cement his power within the ruling party.

South Korea urged the foreign delegation not to visit North Korea, fearing it would become a propaganda coup for the North.

“We didn’t come to criticize them,” said Aaron Ciechanover, who won a Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2004.

“We really came to converse and to exchange dialogue with students.”

On sanctions, Aaron Ciechanover said “you cannot turn penicillin into a nuclear bomb… You don’t pressurize via making people sicker”.

Foreign visits to North Korea are carefully monitored and public access to information such as the internet strictly limited.

Nobel laureate for medicine Richard Roberts said he was “quite impressed” with what North Korean scientists had achieved despite sanctions.

“This embargo is really hurting the scientists and that’s a great shame,” he said.

The visit was organized by the Vienna-based International Peace Foundation (IPF) and also included Nobel laureate for economics Prof. Finn Kydland, Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein and IPF chairman Uwe Morawetz.

The latest sanctions on North Korea, approved by the UN in March, included export bans on materials used in nuclear and military production as well as restrictions on luxury goods and banking.

A UN resolution stressed the new sanctions were not intended to have “adverse humanitarian consequences” for civilians, many of whom face financial hardships and shortages of food.

Fort McMurray Fire to Double in Size over Next 24 Hours

Nancy Clayson
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Fort McMurray Fire to Double in Size over Next 24 Hours

According to Canadian officials, the huge wildfire which devastated the oil town of Fort McMurray could double in size over the next 24 hours.

The fire now covers an area larger than New York City and is being fanned by winds and feeding on dry vegetation.

The flames are moving away from Fort McMurray, most of whose inhabitants have reached safety.

Many are still stuck north of Fort McMurray and evacuations by road and air are resuming.

More than 80,000 people were evacuated from the city earlier this week.

Photo CBC
Photo CBC

Thousands of people have been airlifted out but a mass convoy evacuating people from oil worker camps in the north was halted on May 6 as huge flames flanked the road.

At least 2,500 made it through the flame-damaged city and small convoys resumed early on Saturday. Another 4,000 people are also due to be flown out.

There is growing concern over the air quality for those still north, CBC reported.

The provincial government said on May 6 that the fire had grown to 386 sq miles.

Wildfire prevention manager Chad Morrison said there was a “high potential that the fire could double in size” by the end of Saturday, May 7.

However, he added that it would expand into a more remote forested area north-east of Fort McMurray.

Dry conditions and 27C heat were expected during the day, but cooler temperatures would prevail and there was a possibility of rain on May 8 and 9.

No deaths or injuries have been reported.

Alberta provincial government has declared a state of emergency and will provide C$100 million ($77 million) in cash to evacuees.

According to the Canadian government, more than 1,000 fire fighters and 150 helicopters, 295 pieces of heavy equipment and 27 aircraft tankers have been deployed.

Despite the evacuation order, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they found an elderly man and a family of five in Fort McMurray. They were led to safety.

Entrain App Reveals World’s Sleeping Patterns

Kathryn R. Bown
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Entrain App Reveals World’s Sleeping Patterns

A new research has revealed the world’s sleeping patterns after analyzing data collected from the Entrain app.

The team at the University of Michigan released the Entrain app in 2014 to help people overcome jetlag.

The new study, published in Science Advances, showed the Dutch have nearly an hour more in bed every night than people in Singapore or Japan.

It also found women routinely get more sleep than men, with middle-aged men getting the least of all.

The researchers say the findings could be used to deal with the “global sleep crisis”.Entrain app sleeping pattern

Entrain app users could choose to share data on their sleeping habits with the research group.

The study found people in Japan and Singapore had an average of seven hours and 24 minutes sleep while the people in the Netherlands had eight hours and 12 minutes.

Prof. Daniel Forger, one of the researchers, said there was a conflict between our desire to stay up late and our bodies urging us to get up in the morning.

The study also showed women had about 30 minutes more per night in bed than men, particularly between the ages of 30 and 60.

And that people who spend the most time in natural sunlight tended to go to bed earlier.

A strong effect of age on sleep was also detected. A wide range of sleep and wake-up times was found in young people but “that really narrows in old age,” said Prof. Daniel Forger.

Disrupted sleep in shift workers has been linked to a range of health problems, including type 2 diabetes.

Who Is Supporting Donald Trump’s Nomination?

Diane A. Wade
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Who Is Supporting Donald Trump’s Nomination?

Here is a list of major Republican figures and where they stand on Donald Trump -right now:

Supporting:

  • New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte
  • Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson
  • Former Vice President Dick Cheney
  • Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
  • Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
  • New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
  • Former Senator Bob Dole
  • Former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
  • Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
  • Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

    Photo Getty Images
    Photo Getty Images

Not supporting:

  • House Speaker Paul Ryan
  • Former President George H. W. Bush
  • Former President George W. Bush
  • Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush
  • South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham
  • Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
  • Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse

Yet to comment:

  • Texas Senator Ted Cruz
  • Ohio Governor John Kasich
  • Florida Senator Marco Rubio

 

Elections 2016: Jeb Bush Refuses to Support Donald Trump’s Campaign

Diane A. Wade
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Elections 2016: Jeb Bush Refuses to Support Donald Trump’s Campaign

Jeb Bush has said he will not vote for his former rival Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.

The former Florida governor joins several high-profile Republicans who have refused to support Donald Trump’s campaign.

On May 5, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he “was not ready” to support Donald Trump, but will meet him next week.

Breaking with tradition, Jeb Bush’s father and brother – both former presidents – also withheld support.

Some Republicans have said they would back Democrat Hillary Clinton but Jeb Bush ruled that out.Jeb Bush Hispanic

He said: “Donald Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character.

“And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy.”

Jeb Bush had previously pledged to support the eventually Republican nominee while he was still a candidate for president.

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina also announced on May 6 that he would not vote for Donald Trump.

He told CNN: “I think Donald Trump is going to places where very few people have gone and I’m not going with him.”

Donald Trump swiftly responded to Lindsay Graham who also was a Republican candidate for president: “While I will unify the party, Lindsey Graham has shown himself to be beyond rehabilitation. And like the voters who rejected him, so will I.”

Many Republican candidates for lower offices are concerned about running on the same ballot as Donald Trump, who has alienated minority voters through his rhetoric about building a wall with Mexico and banning US entry to Muslim travelers.

Many Americans choose to vote for either the Democrat or Republican Party, rather than weighing the individual candidates.

Republican representatives fear that voters who oppose Donald Trump may eschew the Republican Party all together.

Some Republicans have begun to openly call for the party to oppose the presumptive nominee and to work to independently elect a conservative candidate, such as Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, who has indicated that he will not be supporting Donald Trump.

Cumhuriyet Trial: Can Dundar and Erdem Gul Jailed for Revealing State Secrets

Diane A. Wade
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Cumhuriyet Trial: Can Dundar and Erdem Gul Jailed for Revealing State Secrets

Turkish prominent journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul have been jailed for revealing state secrets, in a case widely criticized by international observers.

Erdem Gul received five years and Can Dundar five years and 10 months.

Can Dundar and Erdem Gul, editor and Ankara bureau chief of opposition daily Cumhuriyet, had reported that Turkey had tried to ship arms to rebels fighting the Syrian government.

Shortly before the verdict, a gunman attempted to kill Can Dundar.

The attacker fired several shots while Can Dundar was briefing reporters outside the courthouse. The journalist escaped unharmed and the gunman was arrested. A reporter was lightly injured in the leg.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Speaking after the verdict, Can Dundar said the sentence, and the assassination attempt, were “not given only to suppress and silence us” but to “intimidate the Turkish media and make us scared of writing”.

Can Dundar and Erdem Gul were acquitted of more serious charge of espionage, which could have carried with it a life sentence. But their very prosecution has proved controversial, drawing sharp criticism from human rights campaigners and fellow journalists.

The two journalists are expected to appeal against the verdicts.

John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Director for Amnesty International, called the convictions a “travesty of justice”.

He said: “The decision, which punishes good journalism with five years’ imprisonment, shows how the law has buckled and broken under political pressure in Turkey.”

Can Dundar and Erdem Gul were charged in November with espionage after their reports in May 2015 alleging that Turkey’s intelligence services were sending weapons and ammunition to Islamist rebels fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Turkish security forces intercepted a convoy of trucks near the Syrian border in January 2014, and Cumhuriyet alleged these vehicles were linked to Turkey’s MIT intelligence organization.

Alongside the newspaper report was video footage showing police discovering crates of weapons hidden beneath boxes of medicine.

The Turkish government insisted that the trucks were not carrying weapons to the Islamist rebels as alleged, but bringing aid to Syria’s Turkmen minority, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the video footage was a state secret, and by publishing it Cumhuriyet newspaper had engaged in an act of espionage.

He said in a TV address: “Whoever wrote this story will pay a heavy price for this. I will not let him go unpunished.”

Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Can Dundar said: “Today, we know that the reason for the threats we have been receiving for weeks and the bullets fired from that gun today are due to the fact that we have been shown as targets by the highest office in the state.”

Media freedom has plummeted in Turkey, which now ranks 151st of 180 countries in an index by the watchdog Reporters without Borders.

John Doe: Panama Papers Source Speaks for First Time

Diane A. Wade
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John Doe: Panama Papers Source Speaks for First Time

John Doe, the anonymous source behind the leak of the Panama Papers, has spoken for the first time, offering to help law authorities make prosecutions in return for immunity.

In a 1,800-word statement, the source reveals he has never worked for a spy agency or a government.

John Doe starts the statement by citing “income equality” as a motive.

The Panama Papers have shown how some wealthy people use offshore firms to evade tax and avoid sanctions.

The documents were leaked from the Mossack Fonseca law firm. The company denies any wrongdoing and says it is the victim of a hack.

The Panama Papers were investigated by hundreds of investigative journalists, who worked in secret with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for months.

The documents have revealed the hidden assets of hundreds of politicians, officials, current and former national leaders, celebrities and sports stars.

They list more than 200,000 shell companies, foundations and trusts set up in tax havens around the world.What are Panama Papers

The John Doe statement came shortly before President Barack Obama delivered an address on the economy, in which he cited the Panama Papers as highlighting the problem of corruption and tax evasion.

Barack Obama said the US would require banks to identify those behind shell corporations. He said his administration’s actions would allow it to do a better job of making sure people paid taxes.

Although the name John Doe is used, the gender of the source has not been revealed.

In the statement, The Revolution will be Digitized, John Doe starts by saying: “Income equality is one of the defining issues of our time.”

He adds: “Banks, financial regulators and tax authorities have failed. Decisions have been made that have spared the wealthy while focusing instead on reining in middle- and low-income citizens.”

John Doe goes on to say: “Thousands of prosecutions could stem from the Panama Papers, if only law enforcement could access and evaluate the actual documents.

“ICIJ and its partner publications have rightly stated that they will not provide them to law enforcement agencies.

“I, however, would be willing to co-operate with law enforcement to the extent that I am able.”

John Doe adds: “Legitimate whistleblowers who expose unquestionable wrongdoing, whether insiders or outsiders, deserve immunity from government retribution.”

Responding to speculation about his or her identity, John Doe’s statement says: “For the record, I do not work for any government or intelligence agency, directly or as a contractor, and I never have.

“My viewpoint is entirely my own, as was my decision to share the documents with Suddeutsche Zeitung and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), not for any specific political purpose, but simply because I understood enough about their contents to realize the scale of the injustices they described.”

John Doe says that global judicial systems have “utterly failed to address the metastasizing tax havens spotting Earth’s surface”.

He says: “I decided to expose Mossack Fonseca because I thought its founders, employees and clients should have to answer for their roles in these crimes, only some of which have come to light thus far.

“It will take years, possibly decades, for the full extent of the firm’s sordid acts to become known.”

Panama-based Mossack Fonseca says it was hacked by servers based abroad and has filed a complaint with the Panamanian attorney general’s office.

Mossack Fonseca says it has not acted illegally and that information was being misrepresented.

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

Erdogan: Turkey Will NOT Change Anti-Terror Laws in Return for Visa-Free Travel

Roy Siemens
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Erdogan: Turkey Will NOT Change Anti-Terror Laws in Return for Visa-Free Travel

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told the European Union that his country will not change its anti-terror laws in return for visa-free travel.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “We’ll go our way, you go yours.”

In response, the EU says Turkey needs to narrow its definition of terrorism to qualify for visa-free travel – which is part of a larger deal between the sides aimed at easing Europe’s migration crisis.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking a day after Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who largely negotiated the EU deal, said he was stepping down.

Ahmet Davutoglu had also reportedly opposed Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plan to give more power to the presidency. The president said the proposed constitutional changes were a national need, not a personal requirement.Recep Tayyip Erdogan song Germany

The wide-ranging EU-Turkey deal involves the return of refugees, mainly Syrians, from Greece to Turkey, along with increased aid and other measures.

One of these is to allow Turkish citizens visa-free travel for short stays in the EU’s Schengen area which comprises 22 EU and four non-EU members.

However, the EU wants Turkey to narrow its broad definition of terrorism to match tighter EU standards. It is one of five EU criteria Turkey still has to agree to in order to meet the visa-free requirements.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected this, saying in a TV speech on May 6: “Turkey, when it’s under attack from terrorist organizations from all sides, the European Union is telling us to change the anti-terror law in exchange for the visa deal.”

Referring to tents erected by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, near the EU parliament in Brussels, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “You [the EU] will let terrorists build tents and provide them with opportunities in the name of democracy.

“And then [you] will tell us ‘if you change this [anti-terrorism legislation], I will lift the visas’. Sorry, we’ll go our way, you go yours.”

In recent months, the Turkish government has used the terms “terrorist” or “terrorist supporter” to prosecute critics including journalists, suggesting they are supporting Kurdish militants or other armed organizations.

If Recep Tayyip Erdogan does not meet the EU requirements, the European Parliament and EU leaders will not vote on the visa waiver at the end of June.

Another part of the EU-Turkey deal had been to hold new talks on Turkish accession to the EU.

However, analysts say Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been less convinced of EU alignment than Ahmet Davutoglu, and he will certainly be a tougher negotiator.

Kim Jong-un Opens North Korea Workers’ Party Congress by Praising Nuclear Achievements

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-un Opens North Korea Workers’ Party Congress by Praising Nuclear Achievements

Kim Jong-un has opened the North Korea’s Workers’ Party congress by praising the country’s nuclear achievements.

Appearing before thousands of delegates, the North Korean leader said: “Unprecedented results have been accomplished.”

This year, North Korea announced its fourth nuclear weapon test and that it sent a rocket into space.

The showpiece congress, the first in 36 years, is a chance for Kim Jong-un to cement his power.

More than 100 foreign journalists were invited but were barred from the April 25 House of Culture, where the party congress is being held.

Photo AP
Photo AP

They were instead taken on a tour round a wire-making factory.

News of Kim Jong-un’s comments came via state television, which showed him on stage speaking to a packed venue.

This is the seventh meeting of the North Korea’s Worker’s Party and it is being closely scrutinized for any signs of political or economic change.

Few details were released before the congress, but it is due to elect a new central committee, which appoints a Politburo – the central decision-making body of the Communist party.

The appointments will be watched carefully.

In 2013, Kim Jong-un had his uncle executed for “acts of treachery” and there have followed many reports of purges of high-profile figures.

Some experts have said that Kim Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong is tipped for promotion.

Pyongyang was spruced up ahead of the event, with North Koreans planting flowers and hanging up huge banners with slogans like “Defend the Headquarters of the Korean Revolution at the Cost of our Lives”.

No congress was held during the rule of Kim Jong-un’s father, Kim Jong-il. His death in 2011 brought Kim Jong-un to power when he was still in his 20s.

The 1980 congress, held before Kim Jong-un was born, saw Kim Jong-il presented as successor to the North’s founding leader Kim Il-sung.

Despite his death in 1994, Kim Il-sung, who has been named North Korea’s “eternal president”, still officially presides over the latest congress, which is expected to run for several days.

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