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Can Dundar: Turkish Journalist Shot outside Istanbul Court

Turkish journalist Can Dundar, who is standing trial on charges of revealing state secrets, has been attacked by a gunman outside an Istanbul court.

The gunman fired at least three shots outside the court, eyewitnesses said.

Can Dundar escaped unharmed but a reporter was reportedly injured.

Police say they have arrested the suspected gunman.Can Dundar shot outside Istanbul court

Erdem Gul, a former colleague of Can Dundar who is also on trial, said the attacker shouted “traitor” as he fired.

Can Dundar, a former newspaper editor, was briefing reporters outside the courthouse when the incident occurred.

The journalist is standing trial alongside Erdem Gul over a series of reports in Cumhuriyet newspaper that alleged Turkish intelligence operatives were transporting weapons to Syria in early 2014.

Can Dundar and Erdem Gul face life in prison if convicted.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced international criticism over the decision to prosecute the two journalists.

Can Dundar and Erdem Gul are among a number of journalists and human rights activists who have been detained or prosecuted in Turkey in recent months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YlDTDg2k1s

Kim Yo-jong: Kim Jong-un’s Sister to Take up Important Role in North Korea’s Core Leadership

Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, is expected to take up an important role in North Korea’s core leadership as the secretive country gears up for a rare party congress this weekend.

South Korea’s news agency Yonhap has quoted experts as saying that Yo-jong may take up a minister-level post within the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.

The move will likely be seen as part of a larger plan by Kim Jong-un to cement power within his party and over the country.

According to North Korea Leadership Watch, a website run by scholar Michael Madden, Kim Yo-jong is the youngest daughter of late leader Kim Jong-il, and shares the same mother as Jong-un and brother Jong-chol.

Born in 1987, Kim Yo-jong is said to be very close to Kim Jong-un, who is four years older than her. The two of them lived and studied in Berne, Switzerland at the same time.Kim Jong un sister Kim Yo jong

Kim Yo-jong is reportedly married to the son of Choe Ryong-hae, the powerful party secretary.

Her main job has been to protect her brother’s image, taking up a key role in the party’s propaganda department in 2014.

Kim Yo-jong is said to manage all his public appearances, including his itineraries and logistics, as well as act as a political adviser.

Kim Jong-un’s sister has sporadically been in the spotlight in recent years, appearing at the state funeral of her father in 2011 and the election of her brother in 2014, and occasionally seen trailing her brother in state media pictures.

In October 2015, Kim Yo-jong she was rumored to have been sacked from the propaganda department by Jong-un for doing a poor job.

However, observers believe that she is still destined for a top job in the leadership, with a place said to be carved out for her as early as 2008, when major succession planning was conducted following Kim Jong-il’s deterioration in health.

Kim Yo-jong was even speculated to be a possible, though unlikely, candidate to take over from her brother when Jong-un disappeared from public view for a prolonged period in 2014.

She has been described as having a sweet, good-natured disposition, with a bit of a tomboy streak in he.

However, reports say Kim Yo-jong also has had a sheltered upbringing, and other members of the Kim family have not interacted with her much.

School officials in Switzerland have said Kim Yo-jong was over-protected by the coterie of guards and caretakers – she once reportedly had a mild cold and was immediately pulled from school and taken to the hospital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3tTwPak4yk

North Korea Workers’ Party Holds Its First Congress Since 1980

The North Korean Workers’ Party is holding its first congress since 1980.

Analysts believe the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will cement his status within the party’s structure at this rare political gathering.

The first full congress of the ruling party in 36 years is being closely watched for any shift in policies or changes in political leadership.

Kim Jong-un is expected to reassert his nuclear ambitions, amid speculation he will soon conduct a fifth nuclear test.

Foreign media have been invited but are not allowed inside the venue.

Capital Pyongyang was spruced up ahead of the event and citizens laid flowers in central squares as it got under way.

The streets are lined with National and Workers’ Party flags with banners that read “Great comrades Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il will always be with us” and “Defend the headquarters of the Korean revolution at the cost of the our lives”.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

It is the seventh meeting of North Korea’s Worker’s Party and the first since 1980, and is being held inside the April 25 House of Culture, now covered in vast red and gold banners and massive images of the current leader’s father and grandfather.

This year’s event is shrouded in secrecy. About 100 foreign journalists have been invited to the congress and reporters are being closely monitored.

Kim Jong-un is inside the hall with guards lined up outside.

Instead of being allowed into the congress, reporters have instead been taken to on a factory tour.

The agenda and duration of the event is not known but experts say Kim Jong-un is likely to declare his so-called “byongjin” policy, which is the simultaneous push towards economic development and nuclear capability.

It could also see a new generation of leaders put in place.

The meeting will elect a new central committee, which appoints a Politburo – the central decision-making body of the Communist party – and many say loyalists to the current leader will be rewarded with high profile posts.

Who he chooses 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 in the establishment.

Some experts have said that Kim Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong, with whom he attended school in Switzerland, is tipped for promotion.

Many observers will scrutinize announcements carefully to evaluate North Korea’s commitment to a planned economy and hints at reform, but the congress is also being seen as the public stage for Kim Jong-un to define his leadership for the years to come.

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 twenties.

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.

Fort McMurray Fire: 8,000 People Airlifted by Authorities

Some 8,000 people who fled north of Fort McMurray have been airlifted by authorities as blaze engulfed the Canadian city.

Fort McMurray has been devastated by a massive wildfire.

Officials also hope that the only highway to the south will become safe on May 6 to move the remaining 17,000 people, who are in danger of becoming trapped.

The entire city of Fort McMurray – more than 88,000 people – was evacuated three days ago. Most fled south but some went north.

The fire in the province of Alberta has grown to 328.2 sq miles.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze using helicopters and air tankers.

Photo CBC
Photo CBC

The fire, which covers an area almost the size of Calgary, Alberta’s largest city, has slowed down and is now heading away from Fort McMurray.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley warned city residents that they were facing a long wait before they would be able to return home.

The blaze has already destroyed more than 1,600 homes and other buildings in Fort McMurray.

A rare province-wide fire ban has been declared to try to reduce risk of further blazes.

Most of those who fled north have been staying in oil sands work camps in the remote area.

About 4,000 of them have already been flown in military and civilian transport planes to Edmonton and Calgary and another 4,000 are expected to be rescued within hours.

The authorities hope that Highway 63, passing through Fort McMurray, will be safe on May 6 to move the rest. A helicopter is expected to lead that evacuation convoy.

The evacuees are being moved again because urban areas in the south are better able to support the displaced, officials say.

“Our focus right now is on getting those people south as quickly as possible,” Rachel Notley said.

“I must be very, very direct about this – it is apparent that the damage to the community of Fort McMurray is extensive and the city is not safe for residents.”

On the prospect of returning to the city Premier Rachel Notley said: “Unfortunately, we do know that it will not be a matter of days.”

The fire is growing in size due to high winds but it is “under control”, officials say.

It started on May 1 in Canada’s oil sands region and many oil sands projects have cut production.

Some people were forced to flee twice: first to temporary refuges south of Fort McMurray then again as the flames grew.

The government is working on finding temporary housing for families who lost their homes and belongings in the blaze.

There are still no known casualties from the fire but there was at least one vehicle crash with fatalities on the evacuation route.

Scott Long of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency called the blaze “an extreme fire event” and said that rain would be needed to fight it.

Cooler temperatures and rain are forecast, giving hope that it could become easier to contain the fire.

Donald Trump: “UK Would Be Better without EU”

In a recent interview, Donald Trump has said the UK would be “better off without” the European Union.

The Republican presidential hopeful told Fox News the migration crisis had been a “horrible thing for Europe” and blamed the EU for driving it.

Donald Trump said he was not making a “recommendation” but his “feeling” was that the UK should vote to sever ties with the EU in its June 23 referendum.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

When he visited the UK last month, Democratic President Barack Obama expressed support for the UK remaining in the EU.

Donald Trump, who has emerged as the Republican presumptive nominee for the US presidency, told Fox News: “I think the migration has been a horrible thing for Europe, a lot of that was pushed by the EU.

“I would say [the UK] are better off without [the EU], personally, but I’m not making that as a recommendation, just my feeling.

“I know Great Britain very well, I know the country very well, I have a lot of investments there.”

However, Donald Trump added: “I want them to make their own decision.”

Last month, President Barack Obama said Britain would go to the “back of the queue” for trade deals with the US if it votes to leave the European Union, sparking anger among Leave campaigners in the UK.

Barack Obama said Britain was at its best when “helping to lead” a strong EU and membership made it a “bigger player” on the world stage.

Brazil: Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha Suspended by Supreme Court

Brazil’s Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha has been suspended by the Supreme Court, following a request by the country’s attorney general, officials say.

Eduardo Cunha has been accused of trying to obstruct a corruption investigation against him and intimidating lawmakers.

He is an outspoken critic of President Dilma Rousseff and has led an impeachment drive against her.

Next week, the Senate is due to vote on whether to launch an impeachment trial against Dilma Rousseff.Eduardo Cunha corruption

If a simple majority votes in favor, Dilma Rousseff will be suspended from office for 180 days while Vice-President Michel Temer takes over as interim president.

Under Brazil’s constitution, Eduardo Cunha was the next in line for the presidency after Michel Temer, who is facing impeachment proceedings on charges similar to those facing Dilma Rousseff.

Dilma Rousseff has accused Michel Temer and Eduardo Cunha, who belong to the opposition PMDB party, of being the ringleaders of a “coup attempt” against her.

Eduardo Cunha is suspected of obstructing an investigation into allegations he took $5 million in bribes from companies seeking to secure contracts with state-oil giant Petrobras, which he denies.

Petrobras is at the centre of a massive kickbacks scandal which has led to the arrest of dozens of lawmakers and top businessmen.

Waldir Maranhao, who is also under investigation for his alleged role in the Petrobras corruption scandal, is to become the next Speaker of the House.

4 Problems A Chiropractor Can Fix

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lower-back-pain1

If you experience chronic pain of any kind, or have recently suffered an injury and are wondering how to deal with the new pain you’re feeling, then a visit to a chiropractor could benefit you. Chiropractors are experts in dealing with pain symptoms and offer a much wider range of treatment options than most people usually realize. Below are four common health problems that a chiropractor can fix.

1) Tension Headaches

Headaches are oftentimes caused by lingering tension in the muscles of a person’s neck or back. These types of pain are what licensed chiropractors alleviate for patients every single day. They do this by massaging and manipulating muscles to make them looser and less tense, which reduces headaches instantly. If you experience chronic headaches caused by neck and back tension, then regular visits to your chiropractor will help you manage your pain, and hopefully, eliminate it altogether. 

2) Lower Back Pain

For many chiropractors, the issues that they most often see while consulting with patients have to do with back pain, and particularly pain centered in the lower back. Lower back pain is typically caused by straining while moving or picking things up. Your chance of experiencing any kind of back pain also increases as your bones and muscles age. The good news here is that modern techniques for reducing back pain are highly effective. Much of the pain reduction work done on a person’s lower back will be concerned with the sacroiliac joint, which, when aligned in the proper way, will dramatically improve the health of a person’s back and help them to feel little or no pain at all going forward.

3) Discomfort During Pregnancy

Women who are pregnant have very limited options when it comes to pain medications, making alternative methods of pain reduction necessary. For pregnant women experiencing any sort of back or pelvic discomfort, this can usually be taken care of by a pelvic alignment performed by a licensed chiropractor. Chiropractic care can also benefit pregnant women during the labor process as research shows that proper pelvic alignment can decrease the pain a woman feels while in labor.

4) Whiplash Pain

Whiplash is a condition caused by a person’s head being jerked one way or another under great force. Most whiplash cases are caused by car accidents or other traumatic collisions. People suffering from whiplash feel intense neck and head pain, nausea, and dizziness, all of which are things a chiropractor can fix by way of muscle and spinal adjustments.

As you can see, the ways that a chiropractor can help a person manage pain are numerous. If you are experiencing pain from any of the sources mentioned here, consulting with a local chiropractor will set you on the path to a pain-free lifestyle.

Turkey: Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Step Down

Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu has announced he will resign at an extraordinary congress of his ruling AK Party later this month.

Ahmet Davutoglu is believed to have fallen from favor having disapproved of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to move Turkey to a presidential system of government.

However, in a speech, Ahmet Davutoglu pledged his loyalty to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he bore no anger to anyone.

His successor will be chosen when the congress meets on May 22.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Earlier on the day, presidential aide Cemil Ertem said there would be no snap elections following the appointment of a new leader.

Cemil Ertem also said Turkey and its economy would stabilize further “when a prime minister more closely aligned with President Erdogan takes office”.

Ahmet Davutoglu met Recep Tayyip Erdogan for nearly two hours on May 4 but differences were clearly not resolved.

The prime minister said he would continue as a party legislator and would not try to divide the AKP.

“I feel no reproach, anger or resentment against anyone,” Ahmet Davutoglu said.

“No-one heard, or will ever hear, a single word from my mouth, from my tongue or my mind against our president.”

After Recep Tayyip Erdogan was elected president in 2014, he hand-picked Ahmet Davutoglu to succeed him as head of the AK Party (Justice and Development Party).

However, the prime minister’s unease with Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans to move to a presidential system, among other policies, has been evident in recent months.

In a sign of his weakening influence, Ahmet Davutoglu was stripped last week of the authority to appoint provincial AK Party officials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKkU947fuks

Nairobi Collapse: Woman Pulled out Alive from Rubble After Six Days

A Kenyan woman has been rescued from rubble in Nairobi, six days after the building collapsed in heavy rains.

The woman is being taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, Kenya Red Cross says.

Thirty-six people have been confirmed dead following the building collapse of the six-storey residence on April 29 and more than 80 people are still missing.

The building’s presumed owners have been released on bail after being arrested on May 2.

Rescuers worked to get the survivor free after the woman was found on May 5.

Photo CBS News
Photo CBS News

Bystanders who had been watching the rescue in Nairobi’s Huruma neighborhood applauded as she was carried away on a stretcher.

The head of Kenya’s National Disaster Management Unit, Pius Masai, said there is still hope that more people would be found alive.

A six-month-old child was pulled alive from the rubble on May 3, but her mother was found dead the following day.

Nairobi authorities say they had earmarked the building for demolition after it was declared unfit for human habitation.

An official audit of Kenya’s buildings found that more than half in Nairobi are not suitable for people to live in.

Rolling Stones: Donald Trump Does NOT Have Permission to Use the Band’s Songs

The Rolling Stones have issued a statement saying that Donald Trump does not have permission to use the band’s music.

“The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately.”

The legendary rock band told the Republican candidate to stop playing their songs during his presidential campaign.

Donald Trump has been playing the Stones’ songs at his rallies for months.

Their 1969 hit You Can’t Always Get What You Want has been a particular favorite.

The Rolling Stones are not the first to protest at Donald Trump – now the Republican front-runner – using their music during his campaign.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In February, Adele issued a statement distancing herself from Donald Trump, after he had been playing her hit Rolling In The Deep as Trump’s “warm-up” music at his rallies.

Adele issued a statement making it clear she had “not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning”.

Aerosmith have also protested over their music being used in Donald Trump’s campaign

Steven Tyler’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter, saying the use of the band’s song Dream On “gives a false impression” he endorses Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

The singer, who is a registered Republican, said it was not a “personal” issue but one of permission and copyright.

Prior to that Neil Young demanded that Donald Trump stop using his song Rockin’ in the Free World, which the businessman had used when he announced his candidacy in June 2015.

Neil Young demanded that Donald Trump stop using the song and declared his support for Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders.

Michael Stipe from REM issued a strongly worded statement when Donald Trump then used the band’s song It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).

The statement read: “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”

Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, after his last rival John Kasich quit the race on May 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5yq-if_Lg

Craig Wright: Bitcoin Creator Cancels New Proof

Craig Wright, who has claimed to be the inventor of Bitcoin, has reneged on a promise to present new “proof” to support his case.

The Australian entrpreneur had pledged to move some of the virtual currency from one of its early address blocks, an act many believe can only be done by the tech’s creator.

This would have addressed complaints that earlier evidence he had published online was misleading.

On his blog, Craig Wright said: “I believed that I could put years of anonymity and hiding behind me.

“But, as the events of this week unfolded and I prepared to publish the proof of access to the earliest keys, I broke. I do not have the courage. I cannot.

“When the rumors began, my qualifications and character were attacked. When those allegations were proven false, new allegations have already begun. I know now that I am not strong enough for this.”

Craig Wright had earlier indicated that he would transfer some Bitcoins from “block 9” by using a private key thought to be known only to Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonym used by the person or team that designed the crypto-currency.Craig Wright Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto

Satoshi Nakamato is known to have used the address in 2009 to send coins to a computer scientist.

Craig Wright had promised the “proof” in light of a growing backlash against one of his blogs.

On May 2, he posted what seemed to be evidence that he had Satoshi Nakamoto’s key by describing a process that led to the creation of a “digital signature”.

However, soon after, this was attacked by security researchers who linked the signature to an earlier Satoshi Bitcoin transaction that could be found via a search engine.

Craig Wright subsequently wrote that he was the victim of “false allegations” and would prove his case by both moving the coins and by sharing “independently verifiable documents”.

His claims had initially been bolstered by the fact that two senior members of the Bitcoin Foundation – an organization set up to protect and promote the virtual currency – had said they were convinced he was indeed behind the technology.

Bitcoin is often referred to as a new kind of currency.

It may be best to think of its units being virtual tokens rather than physical coins or notes.

However, like all currencies its value is determined by how much people are willing to exchange it for.

To process Bitcoin transactions, a procedure called “mining” must take place, which involves a computer solving a difficult mathematical problem with a 64-digit solution.

For each problem solved, one block of bitcoins is processed. In addition the miner is rewarded with new bitcoins.

This provides an incentive for people to provide computer processing power to solve the problems.

To compensate for the growing power of computer chips, the difficulty of the puzzles is adjusted to ensure a steady stream of several thousand new bitcoins a day. There are about 15 million bitcoins currently in existence.

To receive a bitcoin a user must have a Bitcoin address – a string of 27-34 letters and numbers – which acts as a kind of virtual post-box to and from which the bitcoins are sent.

Since there is no registry of these addresses, people can use them to protect their anonymity when making a transaction.

These addresses are in turn stored in Bitcoin wallets which are used to manage savings.

Bitcoin wallets operate like privately run bank accounts – with the proviso that if the data is lost, so are the bitcoins owned.

Zimbabwe to Issue US Dollar Equivalent

Zimbabwe has announced it will print its own version of the US dollar in order to ease a cash shortage in the country.

John Mangudya, the governor of Zimbabwe’s central bank, said the cash, known as bond notes, will be backed by $200 million support from the Africa Export-Import Bank.

The specially-designed two, five, 10 and 20 dollar notes will have the same value as their US dollar equivalents.

Zimbabwe introduced the US dollar after ditching its own currency in 2009 following sustained hyperinflation.

In 2009, Zimbabwe started using foreign currencies, including the US dollar and South African rand, when inflation hit 500 billion per cent.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

John Mangudya stressed that the issuing of bond notes was not the first step on the way to reintroducing the defunct currency, the Zimbabwe Herald newspaper reports.

He also introduced a number of other measures to steer people away from using US dollar cash.

This includes setting a $1,000 limit on how much cash can be taken out of the country.

John Magudya wants to encourage people to make greater use of the rand since a large portion of Zimbabwe’s trade is with South Africa.

However, people are reluctant to hold rands as they are not confident that the currency will maintain its value against the dollar.

John Mangudya adds that not all shops and traders accept the full range of currencies officially in use.

Zimbabwe’s central bank brought in so-called bond coins of one, five, 10 and 25 cents, pegged to the US dollar, in 2014.

John Mangudya said the bank was still working on a design for the new notes, but they should be in circulation “within the next two months”, the Herald reports.

The Hazards And Highs Of Running A Startup

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You have an idea, and that’s where it will all start. One single idea can blossom into a successful business. It may be a simple vision of a product or service that makes someone’s life easier. And your ambition is to turn that into a profitable venture. Dreams of fame and fortune, accolade and adoration all creep into the mind when you know you have something special. But that doesn’t mean your startup will be plain sailing. Many entrepreneurs of note have tried and failed to get their startups off the ground. So what are the hazards and highs of following your dreams into entrepreneurship?

Money

Some would say ploughing money into a new business idea is a lot like gambling. There is certainly a degree of risk involved. Others would say that it is a calculated risk. After all, why would you throw your hard earned cash at something you didn’t truly believe in? Anyone with good business sense knows to research their investments thoroughly to be sure of a good return or profit. However, without that initial investment, it’s nearly impossible to get your startup off the ground.

money

Image provided by Flickr.com

Every business needs an initial investment. It may be in the form of raw materials, or simply business stationery. You may need formal premises so there is rent, rates, and utilities to consider. It takes money to make money. And this investment can appear in many guises. You may feel it is necessary to gain further qualifications to help boost your confidence and skill set for your business. Or you may just need a little bit of cash behind you while to feed your family while you’re getting things started.

Family

Your family will miss you when you leap into the world of the entrepreneur. There will be many occasions when you need to travel for meetings. This could involve a lot of overnight stays in strange cities away from your family. You’ll miss mealtimes because you’re busy calculating a profit projection. And attending soccer games and recitals could become a thing of the past. It’s easy to feel guilt when you need to prioritize your business over your family life. But you know that you’re doing this now to secure your family’s future.

If you have a partner, chances are they are incredibly understanding and supportive of your new role. They know this business is important to you, and they will do what it takes to make your home life worry-free. Of course, you want to spend time with your family. And if this start-up goes well, you may have a lot of time when you can retire early! But right now, your family may have to take a back seat. This can be incredibly challenging for all of you to cope with.

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle will also change as you work harder and harder to get your business off the ground. Social engagements may be put off for weeks or even months. Those lazy Sunday mornings could become a thing of the past as you leap out of bed to prepare the next contract. You know that your time is money. So many other things in your life, like hobbies and interests, have to be put aside for now. Life has become fast-paced and focused. And it’s all on you to keep up with it.

meeting

Image provided by Flickr.com

You may find you are living out of a suitcase more and more as you travel for work. Strange beds and strange cities become the norm very quickly as you try to secure more clients. Eating in restaurants or rest stops may also leave you missing the taste of a home-cooked meal. And you may not remember the last time you went for a leisurely walk.

Health

All this hard work, convenient meals, and lack of exercise will quickly take its toll. You may feel you don’t have enough time to sleep. But a lack of sleep will impair your cognitive function. This can lead to poor decision making and mistakes. Stress will also quickly take its toll on your health. High stress levels can lead to high blood pressure. This can be incredibly hazardous for your heart.

Hard working people who don’t give themselves the breaks they need can appear older too. Deep lines and wrinkles may start to appear. You may even start to gain weight now you can’t make it to the gym as frequently. Of course, health problems may motivate you to work harder. You want to provide for your family, so you’ll work hard while you can to make sure life is easier for them. You can look here for info about how one entrepreneur uses his own mortality as a motivator to push for success.

Economy

No matter how hard you work, the economy is going to affect your business. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the startup phase or you have a multinational, billion-dollar enterprise. A good entrepreneur is aware of the potential for crash and boom. Staying up to date with business and economy issues is easy. There are plenty of websites, online publications, and newspapers to detail the trends and movements.

strategy

Image provided by Flickr.com

A tough economy needn’t be one that beats you, though. Preparation for the tougher times will help prevent disaster for your business. We can’t all run businesses that are recession-proof. But we can tailor our companies to the needs of the customers as their spend needs to fluctuate. Cheaper versions of the products we sell or providing products to a new market that is less influenced by the economy could be a way to manage tough times.

Competitors

Your competitors will also be working just as hard as you to make sure you don’t steal their market share. One way to overcome this is to create a new market. Of course, everybody would love to have the ability to do this! Finding a completely new product that has zero competitors is almost impossible these days. Instead, we have to settle for a share of what may already be a pretty crowded marketplace.

Drawing a competitor’s customer toward you to increase your market share is the secret of success. It can feel a little cut-throat, but healthy competition is considered best for the consumer. The choice is important for the consumer. If you can provide the service, product, and access they desire then why wouldn’t they come to you?

Marketing

It all comes down to marketing. You may have the most incredible product idea in the world. You may even have found investors to mass produce it. But the stock will sit in the warehouse forever if you don’t let the paying consumer know they can have it. Product and brand awareness are enormously important if you want to sell anything. You need to carefully craft your marketing strategy to reach the maximum number of people that will want what you have.

Many entrepreneurs have a clear idea of the channels they wish to exploit. You may need to hire an agency to manage the creation and placement of your marketing messages. This can be incredibly expensive. It’s no wonder that the bulk of startup investment funds goes on marketing. However, no customers mean no sales. That will quickly translate into another failed business.

Hiring

As well as contracting outside agencies, you will undoubtedly need some staff working for you to build the business up. Sales, production and administration, are the most common areas that startups struggle to cover. You may need skilled machinists. Or perhaps you need a good closer to secure those big corporate clients. Don’t believe for a second you can go from zero to global without some help. Hiring can be expensive. You might prefer to use temps or freelancers in the beginning. Be wary of taking on staff if you are not well versed in the legal implications of doing so.

Business Meeting

Image provided by Flickr.com

Contracts And Deals

Your business relies on the goodwill of suppliers, business partners, and customers. And your customer relies on your assurances about the product quality and service you provide. Contracts between your business and others will define the expectations. They also give you legal backing should disagreements arise. Some suppliers will expect payments in a timely fashion. And you should make sure your contracts bring in the cash flow you need to honor them.

Making a deal with another business could be the boost your business needs to go from startup to successful corporation. Always use legal representation to ensure good deals don’t go bad. If all of your income is derived from just one or two key clients, you could be setting yourself up to fail.

Your Future

Some may say that the success of a business relies on hard work and luck. In reality, this may have an element of truth. But it is down to the entrepreneur to carefully navigate all the hazards and highs of running their startup. Without you and your good health, your company could fail. And without your due diligence, your business could fall foul of any number of hazards. Take care of you and your business to better your chance of success.

Fort McMurray Fire: State of Emergency Declared in Alberta Province

Canadian government has declared state of emergency in the province of Alberta after a wildfire forced all 88,000 residents of Fort McMurray to flee.

According to officials, the fast-moving blaze could destroy much of the city.

The blaze, which broke out on May 1 in the heart on the country’s oil sands region, has gutted 1,600 buildings, including a new school.

The evacuation was largest-ever in Alberta. Oil companies operating in the area have been forced to cut output.

Several companies have shut down some pipelines. This was done to help evacuate non-essential personnel, reports say.

Photo CBC
Photo CBC

So far there have been no reports of deaths or injuries in the wildfire, but two women gave birth in one evacuation centre, Reuters reported.

Bernie Schmitte, an official at Alberta’s agriculture ministry, said on May 4 that the “catastrophic fire” had so far “resisted all suppression methods”.

After flying over the burning city, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the blaze had moved north and east across Fort McMurray.

First Nation communities 30 miles south of Fort McMurray were given mandatory evacuation orders on May 4.

Unseasonably high temperatures and strong winds have combined with dry conditions to leave much of Alberta and neighboring Saskatchewan under an extreme fire risk warning.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said he would send military aircraft to help if they were needed.

Janet Jackson Pregnant! Superstar Is Expecting Her First Child at 49

Janet Jackson is pregnant with her first child at age 49, Us Weekly reports.

Last month, the superstar announced that she was delaying her Unbreakable World Tour to plan a family with her husband, Wissam Al Mana.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

On April 6, Janet Jackson revealed on Facebook that she was under “doctor’s orders” to rest.

In her video message, Janet Jackson, who turns 50 on May 16, said: “Hey, you guys. On August 31, I launched the Unbreakable World Tour.

“We’re in the second leg of the tour and there actually has been a sudden change. I thought it was important that you be the first to know. My husband and I are planning our family, so I’m going to have to delay the tour.”

Janet Jackson secretly wed Wissam Al Mana in 2012, but didn’t confirm the news until early 2013.

Prince Death: 911 Call Made by Addiction Specialist Andrew Kornfeld

According to a new report, Prince was scheduled to meet with an addiction specialist to help curb his reliance on painkillers the day that he died.

Prince’s team requested emergency support from leading addiction specialist Dr. Howard Kornfeld just a day before the singer died.

Dr. Howard Kornfeld was unable to make it from California to Minnesota immediately but sent his son.

In a strange turn of events, it was his son, Dr. Andrew Kornfeld, who called police after joining Prince’s staff to search for the missing singer.

The Kornfelds’ lawyer, William Mauzy, said neither had met Prince before his death.

William Mauzy told reporters on May 4 that Prince’s team contacted Dr. Howard Kornfeld on April 20, the day before Prince died.

Unable to make it to Minnesota, Dr. Howard Kornfeld dispatched his son, Andrew, and called a local doctor, who cleared his morning schedule to stabilize the singer.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

When Dr. Andrew Kornfeld arrived at Prince’s Paisley Park home, he was told that the singer was missing. He joined members of staff to search the property and made the emergency call when Prince’s unresponsive body was found.

William Mauzy said the plan was to stabilize the musician in Minnesota, before flying him to California to seek treatment at Dr. Andrew Kornfeld’s Recovery Without Walls rehab centre in Mill Valley.

The lawyer confirmed that Dr. Andrew Kornfeld had been interviewed by police, but was protected by Minnesota’s Good Samaritan law. The law offers some legal protections to those who make emergency calls, to encourage them to do so.

No details have been released from Prince’s autopsy report, but investigators are looking into whether the singer died from an overdose and if a doctor was prescribing him drugs in the weeks before his death.

They are also trying to establish whether a doctor was on Prince’s plane when it made an emergency landing less than a week before he died.

Prince was found unconscious on the plane after it stopped in Moline, Illinois, on April 15. Detectives investigating the musician’s death have asked to see fire and ambulance records related to the emergency landing.

It also emerged on May 4 that emergency calls were made from the Paisley Park complex 46 times in the past five years.

A log released by Minnesota authorities showed the 911 calls related to everything from medical emergencies to false fire alarms.

It included one call in 2011 in which an unidentified woman said she was concerned about Prince’s cocaine use, but no police action was taken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi5GUT2xiGE

John Kasich Suspends Campaign Leaving Donald Trump Sole Republican Candidate

John Kasich has decided to suspend his presidential campaign after struggling to gain traction against Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

The Ohio governor did not have a path to secure the nomination outright, but pledged to lobby for his candidacy during the Republican convention in July.

Donald Trump holds a commanding lead and is closing in on the nomination.

Despite being a popular governor, John Kasich only won his home state.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz dropped out of the race on May 3 after losing to Donald Trump in the Indiana primary.John Kasich suspends presidential campaign

John Kasich canceled events in Washington and announced an evening event in his home state on May 4.

Earlier, John Kasich released a Star-Wars themed advert describing himself as the “only hope” against Donald Trump.

Blocking from winning the nomination outright, John Kasich and Ted Cruz had hoped to force a contested convention, in which party officials, not voters, choose for the nominee.

Now it is all but certain Donald Trump will have the 1,237 delegates needed to become the nominee before the July convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

John Kasich had been widely seen as the most moderate and electable Republican candidate and polled well against Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.

However, John Kasich’s general election strength did not garner him enough support among Republican primary voters.

The Ohio governor promoted an optimistic message while campaigning, shunning negative attacks against other candidates.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who dropped out in March, garnered more delegates than John Kasich during primary elections.

Ted Cruz and John Kasich had announced an alliance to stop Donald Trump and “to ensure that we nominate a Republican who can unify the Republican Party and win in November” prior to the Indiana, New Mexico and Oregon state primaries, but that quickly crumbled.

Republicans are now divided over whether to support Donald Trump as the Republican nominee.

John Kasich’s name has been floated as a possible vice presidential pick but he has denied that he would accept a nomination.

Report Shows Industry Workers Are In Serious Danger

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Glass Blower, Glass Blowing, Craft, Flame, Glow, Glass

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Each day, hundreds of thousands of workers head into factories for their nine to five shifts. They work long and hard, producing items that will be in every home and business across the country. And every day, it seems that these workers are risking their lives. A recent report has revealed that manufacturing has one of the highest mortality rates compared to any other industry. Over one hundred deaths were reported and recorded last year. You might be wondering how this could be. These workers aren’t walking into a war-torn country. They spend their day in a controlled environment that should have a high level of safety. But it seems things are slipping through the cracks. So what are the dangers of working in a factory like this?

Environmental Issues

Work, Manufactures, Construction Worker

Image Via Pixabay

It’s likely that the high mortality rate is at least partially caused by environmental conditions. It shouldn’t be the case but in some factories, owners aren’t doing enough to keep the shop floor, safe. When you’re chopping wood or cutting metal, dust floods the air. If this occurs, it can get into your lungs and even stick to your clothes. You can take it home with you and then it affects your family’s health as well. There’s a simple solution and that’s to install dust collection pipes. But it seems factory owners are still rolling the dice with their employee’s health and cutting corners. Due to this, it’s not uncommon for factory workers to enter the hospital with breathing difficulties.

Heavy Items And Human Error

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We imagine that mortality rate is also caused by what’s expected from these workers. Workers in manufacturing plants are often lifting heavy materials. One slip or trip and it could very well be game over. In this example, it’s human error more than anything else playing its part. We underestimate just how dangerous these jobs are. These factories aren’t quite as safe as you might have been led to believe.

Bending Rules And Regulations

Metal Spinning, Family-Run Business, Craftsman

Image Credit

A factory should be the place where health and safety regulations are at their highest point. But again, this isn’t always true. In fact, businesses would rather reduce health and safety levels if it means work is completely more rapidly. Manufacturers are being pushed to cut costs where they can. Part of these cost cutting schemes could be endangering the lives of their workers.

Malfunctioning Machinery

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Lastly, there’s the issue of malfunctioning machinery and poor equipment. It’s not uncommon for businesses to cut corners in manufacturing by using, older, cheaper equipment. This isn’t as reliable and may be nearing the point where it’s dangerous to use. But rather than replace it, business owners keep this equipment on the shop floor. It will only be replaced if there is an accident, at which point it’s too late. The damage has already been done. Manufacturers should be getting their equipment checked regularly to make sure it’s still in good working order.

It seems clear that more needs to be done to protect the workers in our factories. Unfortunately, that responsibility largely falls on the shoulders of the business owner.

South Africa Opposition EFF Lawmakers Removed from Parliament

Members of South Africa’s opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have been removed from parliament after they tried to block President Jacob Zuma from speaking.

EFF lawmakers heckled and chanted “Zuma leave the house” during the president’s first appearance in parliament since two damning court rulings against him.

The speaker ordered security officers to throw them out.

On April 29, a court said that Jacob Zuma should be charged with corruption.

The case is related to a multi-billion dollar arms deal the government negotiated in 1999.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruled that Jacob Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money used to upgrade his private home in the rural area of Nkandla.

Jacob Zuma denies any wrongdoing, and says he will continue to “shepherd” the nation. His term is due to end in 2019.

Punches were exchanged and parliamentary benches knocked over as plain-clothed security officers dragged the EFF MPs out of their seats and evicted them from the chamber, AFP news agency reports.

The lawmakers had earlier denounced Jacob Zuma as an “illegitimate” ruler who should step down.

The High Court said on April 29 that prosecutors should review their 2009 decision to drop 783 charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering against Jacob Zuma over the arms deal.

After the Constitutional Court ruling, the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, failed in a bid to impeach Jacob Zuma after the governing African National Congress (ANC) rallied behind him in parliament.

China: Apple Must Share iPhone Name with Xintong Tiandi

Chinese company Xintong Tiandi Technology which sells handbags and other leather goods can continue to use the name “iPhone” after Apple lost the trademark fight in China.

The Beijing Municipal High People’s Court ruled in favor of Xintong Tiandi, the official Legal Daily newspaper reported.

Xintong Tiandi trademarked “IPHONE” for leather products in China in 2010.

Apple filed a trademark bid for the name for electronic goods in 2002, but it was not approved until 2013.

The Legal Daily is widely recognized as the official mouthpiece for China’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Its report came out in late April but has only just been widely circulated.Apple loses iPhone trademark fight in China

Xintong Tiandi sells handbags, mobile phone cases and other leather goods branded with the name “IPHONE” and the “R” registered trademark symbol.

Apple first brought the case against the company to the Chinese trademark authority in 2012. When that failed, Apple filed a lawsuit in a lower Beijing court.

Both ruled against Apple, so the tech giant appealed to the higher court.

The higher court ruled that Apple could not prove it was a well-known brand in China before Xintong Tiandi filed its trademark application in 2007.

Apple iPhones first went on sale in China in 2009.

The ruling comes close to Apple’s latest quarterly earnings report which showed a 13% drop in revenue on slower iPhone sales. Sales in China had plunged by 26%.

Apple is also facing difficulties in other operations in China. In March, Beijing passed a law that required all content shown in China to be stored on servers based on the Chinese mainland.

The move has widely been seen as a blow to Apple as China is the second biggest market for its products.

Fiat Chrysler and Google Sign Self-Driving Car Deal

Fiat Chrysler and Google have signed a deal to double the size of the tech giant’s fleet of self-driving cars.

The auto maker will supply 100 Chrysler Pacifica vans and provide engineers to help integrate the technology.

Fiat and Google described the deal as the most advanced partnership to date between Silicon Valley and a traditional auto maker.

Google wants to add more vehicles to its fleet to increase the amount of road testing it does.

Fiat CEO Srgio Marchionne has in the past raised also concerns about the tech industry’s impact on the auto makers.

Photo Google
Photo Google

Sergio Marchionne called tech companies moving into the sector “disruptive interlopers” and questioned the caliber of the vehicles they could produce.

John Krafcik, Google’s head of self-driving cars, said: “The opportunity to work closely with [Fiat] engineers will accelerate our efforts to develop a fully self-driving car that will make our roads safer.”

Google has said it believes driverless cars could be ready to goes on sale by 2020.

The announcement of the partnership came a week after Astro Teller, the head of “Moon Shots” at Google said the driverless cars project may soon move from under the umbrella of the Google X division that focuses on futuristic innovations and projects.

Google will own the Fiat cars, and both companies will be free to work with other companies to develop driverless technology.

The deal could propel Fiat to the head of the self-driving pack and position it to become a major manufacture for Google.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EgmkZARzQU

What keeps families together?

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Family is what keeps us happy and healthy, the most important part of our lives. Being close to our family is one of the first things we learn ever since we are born. Our parents raise us, and teach us so that we know how to overcome every challenge that life has for us. One of the main things that our parents also teach us is how to communicate.

Communication is vital for the society we live in. We need to communicate with people around us in order to fulfill many tasks and achieve the goals we set. We also need to communicate so that we don’t feel lonely and keep our spirits up. For that reason, communication is one of the headstones that keep a family together. We need to communicate with our family, not only to keep in touch, but also to maintain a healthy relationship with them and this makes us feel happy, too. We never know what the future holds; sometimes we are meant to live miles away from our loved ones. We might have to travel for work, or simply decide to live in another city or country.

How VoIP and the Internet replaced letters

We live in a society where everything is based on fast communication and internet. Not many people take the time to write letters, they simply choose to send a text message instead. The Internet allows us to communicate in real time with people all over the world. A few centuries ago, no one would have thought that something like this would be possible.

Mobile phones are really handy and easy to use. Nowadays, everyone has a mobile phone, regardless of their age. Children and teenagers are born in the era of technology, on the other hand, adults and seniors get access to a wide range of communication devices. No matter how far we are from our parents and family, we feel close to them thanks to mobile phones. We could even say that we are only a phone call away. The technology comes in handy especially with our busy schedules, which do not allow us to visit the ones we love as often as we would like to. Even 10 minutes a day of speaking with our family can give us a boost of energy and good mood. If your family lives abroad, you can use international prepaid cards like Enjoy Prepaid to communicate with them at the lowest prices possible. This service allows you to talk to your beloved ones either from your phone or the computer. It is extremely easy to use and cheap, bringing the ones you love closer in no time at all.

Use communication to your advantage

The absence of communication of the kids with their parents can affect their future life, their behaviour and even their character. Once they get at a certain age, children can experience communication problems and become introverts, they might also suffer from trust issues. A few minutes a day children spend talking with their parents will ensure the healthy and happy development of the child. Often communication maintains a healthy relationship and a healthy mind, too!

Canada Wildfire Triggers Mass Evacuation In Fort McMurray

Fort McMurray’s entire population of 60,000 people has been evacuated after a huge wildfire hit the Canadian city.

The fire has destroyed a number of homes, dropping ash on the streets of Fort McMurray in the province of Alberta.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Fleeing residents have caused gridlock on the main road leading from the city, 235 miles north of Edmonton.

The evacuation from Fort McMurray – which lies in an oil sands region – is the biggest in Alberta’s history.

Homes in at least two neighborhoods have been gutted, and the fire has now spread to Highway 63 – the main road into Fort McMurray from the south.

Firefighters are continuing to tackle the fire, but the local authorities have called for reinforcements, including a water-dumping helicopter.

So far there have been no reports of any injuries.

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

Chanel in Cuba: Fashion House Displays Cruise Collection in Havana

Chanel has staged the first international fashion show in Cuba since the 1959 communist revolution.

World celebrities gathered in Havana at the Prado promenade turned into a catwalk for Chanel’s Cruise collection, even though the French fashion house’s goods are not sold in Cuba.

Ordinary Cubans were held behind police lines around the event venue, and many voiced their frustration.Chanel in Cuba

Chanel’s show is the latest sign in Cuba’s warming relations with the West.

Earlier this week, a US cruise ship docked in Havana after sailing from Miami – the first such crossing in more than 50 years.

Cuba and the US restored diplomatic relations in 2015.

Celebrities – including actor Vin Diesel and supermodel Gisele Bundchen – attended the show at the Prado promenade to see Chanel’s leading designer Karl Lagerfeld displaying the new collection.

Karl Lagerfeld said the line was inspired by Cuba’s “cultural richness”.

However, Havana residents could only watch from behind the security cordon lines as VIP guests arrived at the show in specially rented antique American sedans.

Donald Trump Becomes Republican Nominee as Ted Cruz Suspends Campaign

Donald Trump’s victory in Indiana has made him the Republican presidential nominee as rival Ted Cruz has been forced to pull out from the race.

The New York businessman, unpopular with many in his own party, now has a clear path to the 1,237 delegates needed to claim his party’s crown.

That would mark a stunning victory for a businessman few took seriously when he launched his campaign in 2015.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders has defeated Hillary Clinton in Indiana’s Democratic race.

Bernie Sanders trails Hillary Clinton in the all-important delegate count but after this victory he said the contest was still alive.

“Clinton campaign thinks this campaign is over. They’re wrong,” he said.

Ted Cruz’s advisers had targeted Indiana as the Texas senator’s best hope of halting Donald Trump’s march to the nomination.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“We gave it everything we’ve got, but the voters chose another path,” Ted Cruz told supporters in Indiana.

Ted Cruz’s departure means Donald Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee, with plenty of state contests this month and next to reach the 1,237 delegates required to win.

Donald Trump is the first nominee since Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 to lack any previous experience of elected office.

Ohio Governor John Kasich has vowed to remain in the Republican race, but trails far behind Donald Trump in terms of delegates.

“It is a beautiful thing to watch, and a beautiful thing to behold,” Donald Trump said during a victory speech in Indiana.

“We are going to make America great again.”

Donald Trump praised Ted Cruz as a “tough, smart competitor”, which marked a sharp reversal in tone after a day when the two men slung mud at each other from close quarters.

The verbal attacks reached a new level of intensity when Ted Cruz attacked Donald Trump as a “pathological liar” and “serial philanderer”.

That was provoked by a bizarre claim from Donald Trump that Ted Cruz’s father was linked to one of the most traumatic episodes in US history, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

It is now increasingly likely that Donald Trump will face Hillary Clinton in the autumn in the battle to succeed President Barack Obama, who will be leaving the White House after two terms.

However, Republicans have expressed reservations about Donald Trump’s outspoken remarks, which have offended women and Hispanics.

There are also concerns about some of Donald Trump’s policies on immigration and national security, like building a wall on the southern US border paid for by Mexico, a ban on Muslims coming to the US and the killing of the families of terrorists.