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Fun Ways To Be Healthier

Dana R
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Fun Ways To Be Healthier

Pasta penne with tomato and rucola

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Many of us feel that we could look and feel much better if we were healthier. But it can seem like a lot of work and self-deprivation. Social media emphasises gruelling workouts, marathons and green smoothies. As a result, getting healthy can seem unappealing. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Making healthier choices can be fun, empowering and encourage us to try new things. Healthier food can actually taste better. Healthy activities can sometimes be more fun and relaxing than just lying on the couch. And ditching unhealthy habits can be the change we need to make to feel more motivated and positive on a daily basis. If you’re hoping to get healthy, pick changes and habits that you can sustain and enjoy. Browse these suggestions for how to make getting healthy fun.

Get Your Friends Involved

Things are usually much more fun with friends or family involved. What could be an average walk around the block can become a great way to catch up and unwind if you take a friend with you. Going to an exercise class or walking a new route to work can seem daunting or a hassle, but add a pal and it can become a great new routine. Involving others can be an important way to make the changes that we can actually sustain. Things become fun and sociable rather than a daunting chore. The next time you’re thinking of doing something fun, take a friend!

Going Out

We can easily slip into unhealthy habits when we go out. We want to feel carefree, spontaneous, and like we can let our hair down. So it makes sense why our healthy habits can go out of the window! But with fun substitutions, we can stay on track and still have a great night. Alcohol-free cocktails can still have the amazing flavours and sweetness of their alcoholic versions. But they are lower on calories and a great choice if we are limiting alcohol intake. No-one other than us needs to know we’re not drinking if we feel we might be under pressure! Social smoking can also be difficult to resist so why not try vaping for a fun (and healthier) alternative? Amazing flavours like space jam e liquid can still feel like a treat without the guilt.

Learn To Cook

Developing a new skill can be an excellent, fun way to take control. More than ever before, we have access to recipes and instructions that can make anyone feel like a real chef. Cooking our own meals needn’t be expensive and time consuming, but can help us to be aware of exactly what we’re eating. A vegetarian day a week has been praised by many health professionals, and there are some fabulous recipes to ensure you won’t miss the meat. We can avoid a lot of harmful fats, preservatives and additives simply by starting from scratch. We can save money and calories by preparing homemade lunches in advance, and will feel fuller for longer if we have a fresh breakfast. Having a few extra skills in the kitchen can help us make healthier choices on a daily basis. You never know, you might discover a genuine talent!

Htin Kyaw Sworn In as Myanmar President

Diane A. Wade
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Htin Kyaw Sworn In as Myanmar President

Htin Kyaw has been sworn in as Myanmar’s new president in a joint session of parliament in the capital Nay Pyi Taw.

The 69-year-old is the first elected civilian leader in more than 50 years.

Htin Kyaw from the National League for Democracy (NLD) takes over from Thein Sein, who introduced wide-ranging reforms during his five years in power.

Although NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency, she has said she will rule by proxy.Htin Kyaw sworn in as Myanmar president

The handover completes the transition that began after the NLD won a landslide win in elections in November 2015.

Htin Kyaw said he would be “faithful” to the people of Myanmar, as he took the oath of office.

Vice-presidents Henry Van Thio and Myint Swe, who lost to Htin Kyaw in the presidential vote earlier this month, were also sworn in, as were new cabinet ministers.

Most of the ministers belong to the NLD. The list includes Aung San Suu Kyi who will be in charge of foreign affairs, the president’s office, education, and energy and electric power.

However, the military is appointing its own nominees for three key ministries – defense, home affairs and border affairs.

In a brief speech, Htin Kyaw noted challenges ahead including the need for a nationwide ceasefire. The government has been engaged in armed conflicts with various ethnic groups for decades.

Htin Kyaw also spoke about the constitution complying with modern democratic values, in a nod to the NLD’s stated goal during the election campaign of changing the constitution.

Correspondents say this is perhaps the most sensitive issue in the NLD government’s relationship with the army, who have 25% of parliamentary seats. It means the army retains the power to veto any changes to the constitution, as that would require more than 75% of votes.

The constitution contains a controversial clause barring anyone with family members who have another nationality from becoming president – widely seen as aimed at preventing Aung San Suu Kyi from taking power, as her two sons are British.

Despite the restriction Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains hugely popular and prominent in Myanmar, has vowed to act “above the president”.

Weird Things You Should Know About Ben Affleck And Henry Cavill Before Seeing Batman VS Superman

Sonia Pantiss
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Weird Things You Should Know About Ben Affleck And Henry Cavill Before Seeing Batman VS Superman

Before going to see the new Batman VS Superman: Dawn Of Justice film why not read some facts about the main characters of the film? Both Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill are hugely famous actors and there are various rumours going around about both of them. Here is an extensive list of weird things that are true and that anyone should know before seeing their new film.

Blackjack Fan

Most people have already heard that Ben Affleck made headlines for getting banned from the blackjack table at a very popular casino in Las Vegas. Since then he has confirmed that the incident was a true story. Apart from blackjack Ben Affleck doesn’t indulge in any other gambling. If you’re looking to master a game like Ben Affleck, he simply took some time to learn about the game and became such a good player that the casino thought he was counting cards.Batman v Superman weird things

To Be Or Not To Be

Those who are Twilight fans may already know this by Henry Cavill Was actually first choice to portray Edward Cullen. Stephenie Meyer did not picture Robert Pattinson as her ideal Edward Cullen, the only actor she imagined playing her beloved character was in fact Henry Cavill. As well as being Stephenie Meyer’s first choice he could have been a leading man in many other popular films including Batman Begins, James Bond and even Superman Returns but lucked out to other actors.

Work It Out

To be as physically fit as Batman, Ben Affleck began an intense two hour a day workout regimen the day after he was cast as Batman in 2013. Henry Cavill also had to work just as hard to portray Superman, he endured many phases with the most extensive being the bulking phase. For Henry Cavill to achieve his physique for Superman in the bulking phase he centred on Olympic weight lifting movements, a very complex system but with many effective lifts that build muscle, strength and power.

Multilingual

Both Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill are extremely multi-talented actors. Both of them can speak a few languages fluently. Ben Affleck can speak Spanish and French. It was first rumoured that Henry Cavill could speak up to 9 different languages fluently. However the actual truth is that he is actually only fluent in 4 languages including English, French, Spanish and Italian. It seems that Batman and Superman aren’t all that different in their talents.

Always A Superhero

As well as Ben Affleck playing Batman he has been a superhero many times including Superman and Daredevil. In his role as Daredevil he tried doing as many of his own stunts as possible feeling that it would add more credibility to the film. In the 2003 version of Daredevil Ben Affleck also had four other stunt doubles each one with a different speciality such as fighting and wire works. Henry Cavill has previously played Superman in Man of Steel, and reprised his character in Batman VS Superman: Dawn of Justice, a film not to be missed.

Dilma Rousseff Impeachment: PMDB Quits Governing Coalition

Diane A. Wade
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Dilma Rousseff Impeachment: PMDB Quits Governing Coalition

Brazil’s largest party, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), has voted to pull out from the governing coalition.

The centrist party called for an “immediate exit” from President Dilma Rousseff’s government.

The move could hasten impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff, correspondents say.

Opposition lawmakers want to remove Dilma Rousseff over claims that she manipulated accounts to hide a growing deficit.

The PMDB’s decision comes a day after tourism minister Henrique Eduardo Alves from the party stood down.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

At a leadership meeting on March 29, the PMDB decided that its six remaining ministers in Dilma Rousseff’s cabinet must resign or face ethics proceedings.

“The decision was taken by acclaim in a historical meeting marking the withdrawal from Dilma [Rousseff’s] government,” Senator Romero Juca tweeted.

Dilma Rousseff could now be temporarily suspended from office by Congress as early as May.

She would be replaced by Vice President Michel Temer, leader of the PMDB, while the Senate decides if she should permanently leave her post.

Analysts say a considerable number of lawmakers from the PMDB have felt uneasy about their alliance with the left-wing Workers’ Party for a while.

Their unease has been compounded by calls for Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment and a widening corruption scandal involving senior members in the Workers’ Party.

Dilma Rousseff needs one third of the members of the lower house of Congress to vote against her impeachment for the proceedings to be shelved.

Without the PMDB, the president could lose as many as 69 votes at once in the 513-member Chamber of Deputies.

Another of Dilma Rousseff’s coalition partners, the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) said it had given its lawmakers a free vote in any possible impeachment proceedings.

On March 28, Dilma Rousseff’s mentor and predecessor in office, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, likened the moves to impeach her to a coup.

However, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva himself is under pressure.

The Supreme Court suspended Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s appointment as Dilma Rousseff’s chief of staff earlier this month and is due to take a final decision on the matter next week.

Opponents of the government said Dilma Rousseff had given Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva the post so he could escape investigation and possible proceedings over allegations of money laundering.

Under Brazilian law, cabinet members can only be investigated by the Supreme Court, not by lower courts.

There have been mass protests demanding the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff in cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

There have also been rallies in support of the government by those who say Dilma Rousseff is the victim of a campaign to drive the Workers’ Party from government.

Patty Duke Dies at the Age of 69

Sonia Pantiss
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Patty Duke Dies at the Age of 69

Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke has died at the age of 69.

Patty Duke won an Oscar for playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker in 1963.

As well as a best supporting Oscar, Patty Duke won an Emmy in 1980 for playing Helen Keller’s teacher in a TV movie.

Patty Duke also starred in The Patty Duke Show in the 1960s in which she took the roles of “identical” teenage cousins.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The actress was the mother of actor Sean Astin, who played the hobbit Sam in the Lord of the Rings trilogy of films.

Patty Duke’s representative, Mitchell Stubbs, said in a statement that she had died on March 29 of sepsis from a ruptured intestine.

She underwent a heart bypass in 2004.

Mitchell Stubbs said: “She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a mental health advocate and a cultural icon. She will be missed.”

A statement from Patty Duke’s family read: “This morning, our beloved wife, mother, matriarch and the exquisite artist and champion of mental health, Anna Patty Duke, closed her eyes, quieted her pain and ascended to a beautiful place.”

Patty Duke died in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, according to her son Sean’s publicist, Teri Weigel.

She was a child star, making her first TV appearance at the age of 12.

In The Miracle Worker, 16-year-old Patty Duke played blind and deaf girl Helen Keller whose tutor – played by Anne Bancroft – breaks through her isolation and helps her to communicate.

Among her other awards were Emmys for My Sweet Charlie in 1970 and Captains and the Kings in 1976.

Patty Duke also appeared in the Broadway musical Oklahoma!.

In her autobiography, Patty Duke revealed that in the 1980s she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

In later life Patty Duke became a strong advocate for increasing awareness, funding and research for people with mental illness.

Corey Lewandowski: Donald Trump’s Campaign Manager Charged with Assaulting Journalist

Diane A. Wade
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Corey Lewandowski: Donald Trump’s Campaign Manager Charged with Assaulting Journalist

Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, has been charged with assaulting a journalist at a campaign event.

He is charged with simple battery for his encounter with former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields on March 8.Corey Lewandowski assaults Michelle Fields

Corey Lewandowski allegedly yanked Michelle Fields to the ground when she tried to ask a question and bruised her arm.

Police in Jupiter, Florida, where he was arrested, have released new footage of the alleged assault.

Corey Lewandowski plans to plead not guilty, the Trump campaign said in a statement.

Cannes 2016: Cafe Society to Open Film Festival

Sonia Pantiss
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Cannes 2016: Cafe Society to Open Film Festival

Cafe Society, Woody Allen’s latest movie, will open this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The film, starring Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg and Steve Carell, centers on the buzzing cafe society of 1930s Hollywood.

Woody Allen has become the first director to present three opening-night films at Cannes.

Hollywood Ending opened the festival in 2002 and Midnight in Paris in 2011.

Photo IMDb
Photo IMDb

According to the festival organizers, Cafe Society tells the story “of a young man who arrives in Hollywood during the 1930s hoping to work in the film industry, falls in love, and finds himself swept up in the vibrant cafe society that defined the spirit of the age”.

Café Society marks a romantic reunion for Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg who appeared together in American Ultra.

The movie will screen out of competition at this year’s event, which runs from May 11 to 22, ahead of its release later this year.

Jodie Foster’s Money Monster starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, and Steven Spielberg’s The BFG are already confirmed to screen at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The full official selection will be announced mid-April.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfU-TUdDY8I

Barack Obama Blames Media for Rise of Donald Trump

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama Blames Media for Rise of Donald Trump

President Barack Obama has blamed the media for the rise of Republican Donald Trump as a political force.

Speaking at an event for political reporters, Barack Obama said it was not enough to give “someone a microphone”.

Donald Trump, who has made waves with a series of controversial remarks, is winning the race to be GOP’s presidential nominee.

The New York businessman and the other two Republicans in contention will appear on TV later.

CNN is hosting a town hall event on March 29 ahead of a crucial primary in Wisconsin next week.

Giving a keynote address at a journalists’ award dinner, Barack Obama did not mention Donald Trump by name but his target was clear.

Politicians, journalists and citizens are all responsible for the divisive and bitter political atmosphere, the president said, but reporters should be digging deeper on the 2016 presidential candidates.Barack Obama blames media for Donald Trump coverage

In a reference to Donald Trump’s domination of the news cycle, Barack Obama said the job of a political reporter was “more than just handing someone a microphone”.

Billions of dollars in free media should come with serious accountability, especially when politicians issue unworkable plans or make promises they cannot keep, Barack Obama said.

Donald Trump has had a rough couple of days in the state that will next make its choice for Republican and Democratic presidential candidates, Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin primary is on April 5, with Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz neck-and-neck in the state’s polls.

First Donald Trump faced a hostile conservative talk-radio host, Charlie Sykes, who grilled him on his donations to Democrats and his insults to women, most recently Ted Cruz’s wife.

“Wouldn’t it be a good way to start off your Wisconsin campaign by saying that wives should be off-limits and that you apologize for mocking her looks?” Charlie Sykes asked Donald Trump during the interview.

Charlie Sykes also wrongfooted Donald Trump on air by revealing he was part of the #NeverTrump movement.

Conservative websites The Federalist and RedState said Donald Trump “fell apart live on-air when asked tough questions”.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said on March 29 he was backing Ted Cruz because he was the candidate most likely to win the election in November.

EgyptAir Hijacker Arrested in Cyprus

Roy Siemens
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EgyptAir Hijacker Arrested in Cyprus

The EgyptAir hijacker has been arrested in Cyprus hours after he diverted the domestic Egyptian flight to Larnaca airport and all hostages were released.

EgyptAir Flight MS181 was taken over by a passenger claiming to be wearing a suicide explosive belt.

Airline officials later said they had been told by Cypriot authorities that the belt was fake.

The hijacker’s motives remain unclear but Cyprus President Nicos Anastasides said the incident was not terrorism-related.

No-one was injured in the hijacking, Cypriot government spokesman Nikos Christodulides tweeted.

After a morning of tension, the hijacker was seen walking down aircraft steps at Larnaca airport with his hands raised.EgyptAir hijacking Larnaca

Some reports said the Egyptian man – named by Cypriot officials as Seif Eldin Mustafa – wanted to talk to his estranged Cypriot wife who lives on the Mediterranean island, while others said he was seeking the release of female prisoners in Egypt.

The hijacker’s surrender came shortly after several people were seen fleeing the aircraft. One – apparently a crew member – escaped by climbing out of the aircraft’s cockpit window.

In a tweet, the Cypriot foreign ministry confirmed the end of the crisis: “It’s over. The hijacker arrested.”

Throughout the morning, passengers had been seen leaving the aircraft after appearing to have been released.

Local media reports said the hijacker had handed over a four-page letter in Arabic after the plane landed at Larnaca in the morning, and that later a woman thought to be his wife had arrived at the airport.

Earlier, President Nicos Anastasiades had responded to a reporter’s question about whether the hijacker was motivated by romance, by laughing and saying: “Always there is a woman involved.”

EgyptAir said the Airbus A320 was carrying 56 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo, along with six crew members and a security official. It had initially said 81 passengers were on board.

A statement from Egypt’s civil aviation ministry said 26 foreign passengers were on board, including eight Americans, four Dutch citizens, four Britons, two Greeks, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian and a Syrian.

Larnaca airport, on the south coast of Cyprus, has been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eFF5DMUwUc

Successfully Working Away From Home – What You Need To Know

Dana R
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Successfully Working Away From Home – What You Need To Know

There might be many reasons we need to work away from home. A job might have arisen that suits our needs, but it is not possible to fully relocate. The industry we work in may not be thriving in our hometown but we already have roots here. So it is necessary to separate our home and our job. It may be a temporary solution but still a considerable change such as several months or even a fixed term of years.

More and more people are finding that they must work away from home in order to achieve their financial and professional goals. Without careful planning, this can put a strain on home life and any existing relationships. However, with some awareness and consideration, working away from home can be positive and successful.

Stack of magazines & pencils in gray cup

Image from

Identify Your Goals

Before begin your time working away from home, identify some clear goals. Think carefully about why you are doing this and what you hope to achieve. It might be financial. You might be hoping to generate a certain amount that you can then put towards a home, car, or savings for example. It might be a professional reason, such as getting your work noticed by the right people or networking effectively. It might even be that you wish to broaden your horizons personally, or test out a new area or industry before fully committing and relocating. Whatever your reason, try to formulate it and then write it down in an accessible place. There will be time while you are away from home that you may become discouraged. You may feel lonely or lost. You may have experienced a setback at work or not be flourishing in the ways that you hoped. You may simply be exhausted or feeling down for no particular reason. Having written down your goals and encouragements, now is a good time to revisit them. Clarify in your mind why you are putting in the extra effort or why it will be worth any hardships. Having goals has many advantages. Not only will it be easier to identify if you are going off track, but it will be quicker and easier to motivate yourself again.

Get Organised

Many people begin to find working away from home stressful because they have not fully got organised before they leave. They have neglected to tell certain people they are no longer at home full-time, for example. They may have forgotten to register with a dentist or doctor in a new area. They may even have completely forgotten to redirect important mail. These are all understandable but must be addressed if working away will be successful. Make things easier for yourself. Consider digitising your mail with a virtual mailbox for rent, for example.

Visit your new workplace or home ahead of schedule so that you don’t feel completely lost when you first arrive. It can also be an important step to set a routine for staying in touch with family and loved ones. It can be easy to become overwhelmed in a new job and to forget to get in touch with people, even when we mean to. This can put enormous worry and strain on the people we love. Set a routine and stick to it. If you can only make a weekly phone call, that is fine, but never miss it. If you can do daily texts or emails, even better!

Maserati Recalls 21,000 Vehicles in China

Clyde K. Valle
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Maserati Recalls 21,000 Vehicles in China

Maserati has decided to recall nearly 21,000 cars in China over a design defect that could increase the risk of a collision.

The affected vehicles include the Quattroporte and Ghibli models made between March 2013 and December 2015, state-owned media said.

China’s quality watchdog claims a design problem with the floor mat and accelerator could lead to the pedal getting stuck in the working position.

The Italian luxury car maker will replace the pedals.Maserati recall China 2016

Luxury car brands have seen sales suffer in China in recent years due to the slowing economy and a government crackdown on corruption and overt displays of wealth.

However, companies like Maserati are now looking to online retailing as a new source of growth. China is the world’s biggest e-commerce market with nearly 700 million internet users.

Maserati launched its flagship store on Alibaba’s online shopping site Tmall last week, listing 100 of its new SUV Levantes for advance sale. All the cars reportedly sold out in 18 seconds.

Levantes is due to officially launch in China in July.

Samsung Pay Launches in China in Co-operation with UnionPay

Nancy Clayson
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Samsung Pay Launches in China in Co-operation with UnionPay

Samsung’s mobile wallet service has been launched in China, in co-operation with local vendor UnionPay.

Instead of using cards, Samsung Pay allows shoppers to use their smartphones to pay for in-store purchases.

Last month, Apple launched its own Apple Pay system in China, also in partnership with UnionPay.

China’s smartphone market, the largest in the world, presents a huge business opportunity for mobile-payment systems.Samsung Pay launches in China

Apple Pay and Samsung Pay will now compete with Alibaba’s Alipay, which currently dominates China’s electronic payments market.

However, analysts say that mobile payment services provided by Alipay and WeChat were so dominant in China that international newcomers such as Apple and Samsung would face an uphill battle to win market share.

Tencent’s WeChat also has a payment system which is popular in China, and telecommunications giant Huawei launched its own service earlier this month.

Samsung Pay was now available in China on a range of smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5, the South Korean electronics giant said.

Samsung said it would have “the opportunity to support additional mid-range models in the future”.

In announcing its official launch, which has been expected since late last year, Samsung said that Samsung Pay currently supports select credit and debit cards of nine major banks in China including China CITIC Bank, China Construction Bank and China Everbright Bank.

The company has previously said it has one critical fact that will in its favor – its technology works with a much larger number of existing payment terminals.

There has been a rapid take-up of smartphones in China, with an estimated 68% of the population now owning one. And digital wallets are becoming a more popular way to pay for goods and services.

Samsung said on March 29 that its payment system was “simple, safe and easy to use” and that it worked “virtually anywhere you can swipe or tap your card in China”.

Unlike Google Wallet and several other earlier payment apps, Samsung says there is no need to unlock its phones to launch a special app to get started.

Like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay will use near field communication technology (NFC), which needs a separate transaction device, but it will also support magnetic secure transmission technology which works on regular credit card machines.

Samsung Pay is currently available in South Korea and the US.

FBI Unlocks San Bernardino Gunman’s iPhone without Apple’s Help

Nancy Clayson
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FBI Unlocks San Bernardino Gunman’s iPhone without Apple’s Help

The Feds have revealed the FBI has managed to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino gunman without Apple’s help, ending a court case.

Apple had been resisting a court order issued last month requiring the company to write new software to allow officials to access Syed Rizwan Farook’s phone.

However, officials have announced on March 28 that it had been accessed independently and asked for the order to be withdrawn.

Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife killed 14 in San Bernardino, California, in December.

They were later shot dead by police.

The FBI said it needed access to the phone’s data to determine if the attackers worked with others, were targeting others and were supported by others.FBI v Apple San Bernardino gunman iPhone

According to officials, Syed Rizwan Farook’s wife, Tashfeen Malik, had pledged allegiance to ISIS on social media on the day of the shooting.

Last week, prosecutors said “an outside party” had demonstrated a possible way of unlocking the iPhone without the need to seek Apple’s help.

A court hearing with Apple was postponed at the request of the justice department, while it investigated new ways of accessing the phone.

At the time, Apple said it did not know how to gain access, and said it hoped that the government would share with them any vulnerabilities of the iPhone that might come to light.

On March 28, a statement by Eileen Decker, the top federal prosecutor in California, said investigators had received the help of “a third party”, but did not specify who that was.

Investigators had “a solemn commitment to the victims of the San Bernardino shooting”, Eileen Decker said.

“It remains a priority for the government to ensure that law enforcement can obtain crucial digital information to protect national security and public safety, either with co-operation from relevant parties, or through the court system when co-operation fails,” the statement added.

Responding to the move, Apple said: “From the beginning, we objected to the FBI’s demand that Apple build a backdoor into the iPhone because we believed it was wrong and would set a dangerous precedent. As a result of the government’s dismissal, neither of these occurred. This case should never have been brought.”

Apple said it would “continue to increase the security of our products as the threats and attacks on our data become more frequent and more sophisticated”.

An Israeli newspaper last week reported that data forensics experts at cybersecurity firm Cellebrite, which has its headquarters in Israel, are involved in the case.

Cellebrite website, however, states that one of its tools can extract and decode data from the iPhone 5C, the model in question, among other locked handsets.

The court order had led to a vigorous debate over privacy, with Apple receiving support from other tech giants including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.

FBI director James Comey said it was the “hardest question” he had tackled in his job.

However, James Comey said, law enforcement saved lives, rescued children and prevented terror attacks using search warrants that gave it access to information on mobile phones.

EgyptAir Hijack: Plane Forced to Divert to Larnaca Airport

Roy Siemens
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EgyptAir Hijack: Plane Forced to Divert to Larnaca Airport

Part of the passengers on board a hijacked EgyptAir plane that was forced to divert to Cyprus have been freed, the airline says.

The Egyptian airliner said negotiations had resulted in the release of all those on board Flight MS181 apart from the crew and four foreign passengers.

Video from Larnaca airport has shown people leaving the plane and boarding a bus.

It was taken over after a passenger said he was wearing an explosives belt.Egyptair hijack Larnaca airport

Latest reports from Cyprus media suggest there is just one hijacker who was motivated by “personal reasons” and may be seeking asylum – although this has not been confirmed.

EgyptAir said the Airbus A320 was carrying 81 passengers from Alexandria to Cairo.

A senior Alexandria airport official said those on board the flight when it took off included 30 Egyptians, eight Americans, four Dutch, four Britons, two Belgians and one Italian.

Larnaca airport, on the south coast of Cyprus, has been closed and scheduled flights diverted elsewhere.

“The pilot said that a passenger told him he had an explosives vest and forced the plane to land in Larnaca,” the Egyptian civil aviation ministry said in a statement.

Dilma Rousseff Impeachment: Brazil’s Tourism Minister Resigns

Diane A. Wade
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Dilma Rousseff Impeachment: Brazil’s Tourism Minister Resigns

Brazil’s tourism minister Henrique Eduardo Alves has stepped down before vote on President Dilma Rousseff’s coalition.

Opposition lawmakers want to remove Dilma Rousseff over claims she manipulated accounts to hide growing deficit.

Officials from Dilma Rousseff’s coalition allies, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), will vote to leave the alliance on March 29, members said.

Tourism Minister Henrique Eduardo Alves became the first PMDB member to resign from government on March 28.Henrique Eduardo Alves resigns from Brazil government

Dilma Rousseff, a former political prisoner during Brazil’s military government, began her second term in office 14 months ago.

However, her popularity has plummeted amid corruption allegations around senior members of the governing Workers’ Party.

The speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha, agreed in December to open impeachment proceedings against her.

Last week, Dilma Rousseff, who denies wrongdoing, said the procedure amounted to a coup. She met officials from the PMDB ahead of that party’s national leadership meeting on March 29.

However, a number of lawmakers from the PMDB said ahead of the meeting that most members had already decided to abandon the coalition.

The PMDB is headed by Michel Temer, Dilma Rousseff’s deputy, who would become president should she be removed.

The loss of support by his party’s 69 lawmakers could have consequences for the impeachment proceedings. Dilma Rousseff needs the support of a third of the 513 members of the lower house of Congress to stave off impeachment.

The Workers’ Party has been in power since former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in for his first term in 2003.

It has been hit by a long-running investigation into bribes from contractors working for state oil company Petrobras.

A recent attempt by Dilma Rousseff to appoint Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as her chief of staff was seen by critics as an attempt to shield him from money-laundering charges – which he denies – connected with the case.

His appointment was blocked by a judge earlier this month.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on March 28 he expected Dilma Rousseff to survive growing pressure, and said he would speak to Michel Temer to work out how to save her job.

Protests involving tens of thousands of people have taken place across Brazil to call for Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment.

According to poll by the Datafolha poll in late February, only 11% of respondents across the country said President Dilma Rousseff’s performance was “good or excellent”.

Fidel Castro Criticizes Barack Obama’s Cuba Visit

Diane A. Wade
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Fidel Castro Criticizes Barack Obama’s Cuba Visit

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has broken his silence over President Barack Obama’s Cuba visit in a damning letter published in state-run newspaper Granma.

Fidel Castro, who handed power to his brother Raul a decade ago, said Cuba didn’t need any gifts from the “empire”.

He described Barack Obama’s words of reconciliation as “syrupy” and warned they could give Cubans a heart attack.

President Barack Obama had suggested that it was time to bury the last remnant of the Cold War in the Americas.Fidel Castro about Barack Obama visit to Cuba

In his 1,500-word letter, Fidel Castro also reminded readers of the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, in which a CIA-sponsored paramilitary force of Cuban exiles attempted to take over the island.

However, Fidel Castro also said his “modest suggestion” was that Barack Obama “reflects and doesn’t try to develop theories about Cuban politics”.

During his visit, Barack Obama invoked “a future of hope” for Cuba in an unprecedented live TV address delivered from the Grand Theater in Havana.

Barack Obama told Cuban President Raul Castro that he did not need to fear a threat from the US nor from “the voice of the Cuban people”.

The US president also called for the lifting of the 54-year old US trade embargo against Cuba, a remark which was met by loud applause.

The embargo remains one of the main sticking points in US-Cuban relations but can only be lifted by the US Congress.

Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba was the first by a president since the Communist revolution in 1959.

Brussels Attacks: Suspect Faycal C Released for Lack of Evidence

Roy Siemens
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0
Brussels Attacks: Suspect Faycal C Released for Lack of Evidence

The only person arrested and charged with involvement in the Brussels attacks – man known as Faycal C – has been released on March 28 for lack of evidence.

Belgian media named him as Faycal Cheffou and said he was suspected of being the mystery third man seen in CCTV footage of the bombers.

Last week’s attacks on Brussels airport and the city’s metro system killed 35 people and injured more than 300.

The attacks were claimed by ISIS.

Police have blocked off a Brussels square, Place de la Bourse, which saw clashes between police and nationalist protesters on March 27.

People were allowed to stay in the square, where mourners have placed candles, wreaths and messages for victims of the bomb attacks.

Of the 35 victims, seven have still to be identified, the country’s crisis centre said on March 28.

At least 12 of the victims are foreign nationals from the US, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and China, it said earlier.

The death toll does not include three attackers, two of whom blew themselves up at the airport and one in the metro.

EU institutions based in Brussels will reopen on March 29, following the Easter break, “with important additional security measures in place”, European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva said in a tweet.

The man referred to officially as Facyal C was released on March 28 after being arrested on March 24 in Brussels and charged with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempted terrorist murders”.

In a statement, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said: “The clues that led to the arrest of Faycal C were not substantiated by the ongoing inquiry.

“As a result, the subject has been released by the examining magistrate.”

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

He had been charged only two days before with “taking part in a terrorist group, terrorist murder and attempted terrorist murder”.

Belgian public TV and Le Soir daily identified the freed man as Faycal Cheffou, a freelance journalist.

CCTV footage released by Belgian police on March 28 shows the two airport bombers alongside a third man, who is wearing light-colored clothing and a dark hat. Each is pushing a loaded luggage trolley.

Twin blasts struck the main terminal of Zaventem Airport. A third, even bigger, bomb was abandoned, prosecutors said at the time. It exploded after the security forces had secured the scene and nobody was hurt, they added.

The man in the hat is believed to have fled the scene.

Brussels was the second large-scale attack on an EU capital city claimed by ISIS, after gunmen and bombers killed 130 people in Paris on November 13.

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

Brussels Attacks: CCTV Footage of Third Airport Attacker Released

Roy Siemens
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0
Brussels Attacks: CCTV Footage of Third Airport Attacker Released

In a bid to identify the third attacker at Brussels airport, whose bomb did not explode and who fled, Belgian police have released a new CCTV footage.

The attacker is seen wearing light-colored clothing and a hat.

The death toll from March 22 attacks in Brussels rose to 35 after four people died of their injuries in hospital.

More than 300 people were also injured in the attacks, which were claimed by ISIS.

The death toll does not include three attackers, two of whom blew themselves up at the airport and one in the metro.

Investigators have not commented on reports in the Belgian media that the third airport attacker is Faycal Cheffou, a freelance journalist arrested on March 24 outside the prosecutor’s office.Brussels third attacker CCTV

On March 26, a man named Faycal C was charged with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempted terrorist murders”, a prosecutor’s statement said.

Separately, three men were charged on March 28 with belonging to a terrorist group.

The three, whose names were given as Yassine A, Mohamed B and Aboubaker O, were arrested during raids on 13 addresses on March 27. A fourth man was released without charge.

Belgian Health Minister Maggie De Block announced the latest deaths in a tweet: “Four patients deceased in hospital. Medical teams did all possible. Total victims: 35. Courage to all the families.”

Of the 35 victims, seven have still to be identified, the Belgian crisis center said on March 28.

At least 12 of the victims are foreign nationals from the US, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, Italy and China, it said earlier.

More arrests have also taken place in relation to what authorities say were planned attacks on France.

A man already in Belgian custody was reported to have been charged in connection with a foiled attack in the Paris region.

Separately, Dutch police announced on March 27 that they had detained a 32-year-old Frenchman in Rotterdam at the request of French authorities.

The man was arrested on suspicion of preparing an attack in France and will be extradited to the country. Three other people were also detained.

The Frenchman is allegedly linked to Reda Kriket, who was arrested in a Paris suburb on March 24 and said to be in the “advanced stage” of plotting an attack, AFP news agency reported, citing a police source.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsPNBJGpI8k

Al Jazeera Cuts 500 Jobs Worldwide

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Al Jazeera Cuts 500 Jobs Worldwide

Al Jazeera is cutting 500 jobs worldwide, the Qatar-based media network has announced.

The job reduction would affect posts worldwide but most of the losses would be in Qatar.

Acting director general Mostefa Souag said the decision was “difficult” but the group was “confident it is the right step”.

Al Jazeera, funded by the Qatari government, was founded in 1996 and has more than 70 bureaus worldwide.

The network described the latest move as “a workforce optimization initiative” in response to “the ongoing transformation of the media landscape”.

Mostefa Souag said: “While our decision is consistent with those being made across the media industry worldwide, it was difficult to make nonetheless.

“However, we are confident it is the right step to ensure the Network’s long-term competitiveness and reach.”

Earlier this year, Al Jazeera America announced it would shut its cable news channel despite spending heavily to break into the US marketAl Jazeera job cut 2016

CEO Al Anstey said the business model was “simply not sustainable in light of the economic challenges”.

Al Jazeera spent millions of dollars hiring top US journalists but struggled to bring viewers to its news programs.

Japan Stock Market Recovers Helped by Lower Yen against Dollar

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Japan Stock Market Recovers Helped by Lower Yen against Dollar

Japan stock market has recovered on March 28 helped in part by a lower yen against the dollar.

Nikkei 225 index finished up 0.77% to 17,134.37.

Shares in troubled Japanese electronics giant Sharp rose as much as 8% in early trade on hopes of a bailout deal.Tokyo stock market 2016

The Nikkei business daily newspaper reported that a deal for Sharp may finally be signed this week.

Sharp has been in talks with Taiwan’s Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

However, the deal will be smaller than originally planned, reports said.

Sharp’s shares finished the Easter Monday session up almost 5%.

In China, the Shanghai Composite spent much of the day in positive territory.

Data released on the weekend showed industrial profits returned to growth during January and February, which gave a boost to manufacturing shares.

However, by late afternoon, the index had lost ground and was down 0.33% to 2,968.9.

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index finished the session flat at 1,982.54.

Markets in Hong Kong and Australia reopen on March 29 after the Easter holidays.

El Chapo Guzman’s Money Launderer King Midas Arrested in Mexico

Diane A. Wade
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El Chapo Guzman’s Money Launderer King Midas Arrested in Mexico

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s top money launderer, Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, has been arrested while on holiday in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexican authorities say.

El Chapo Guzman, a former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, is currently awaiting extradition to the United States.

The Mexican drug lord was recaptured in January after breaking out of a high-security prison.King Midas and El Chapo Guzman

Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, nicknamed Rey Midas (King Midas) is suspected of laundering $300 million-$400 million a year for the Sinaloa cartel through a network of companies and currency exchange centers.

A US federal court in Washington had requested Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza’s arrest and he is likely to be extradited.

El Chapo Guzman himself is also facing extradition to the US on charges of drug trafficking in California, and murder in Texas.

Earlier this month, the drug lord asked for the extradition process to progress rapidly so he could receive better treatment in prison.

Since El Chapo Guzman’s recapture in January, six months after he escaped from prison, he has been subject to a stricter regime.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Takes $424M Globally

Sonia Pantiss
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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Takes $424M Globally

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has taken $424 million at the global box office in its first five days despite poor reviews.

The global total – the fourth-highest ever – included $170.1 million in the US, a record for a March debut and the sixth-highest US opening weekend.

Batman v Superman brings the two superheroes together for the first time is a welcome success for Warner Bros.

Warner Bros has been hit by a series of expensive failures such as Jupiter Ascending and Pan in recent months.Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice Takes $424M Globally

The DC Comics adaptation, which cost more than $250 million to make, was Warner Bros’ second-highest international opening after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

Dawn of Justice opened on more than 40,000 screens in 66 markets, including 16,000 in China, 4,242 in the US, 1,701 in the UK and 1,696 in South Korea.

The Zack Snyder-directed film, starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavil, is the first of 10 DC Comics adaptations planned by Warner Bros over the next five years, including Wonder Woman and the Flash.

The first, Suicide Squad, will hit the big screen in August.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens still holds the record for the biggest box office debut weekend globally, with ticket sales of $529 million in December 2015, including $248 million in the United States.

Lahore Park Explosion Leaves 69 Dead and Hundreds Injured

Roy Siemens
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0
Lahore Park Explosion Leaves 69 Dead and Hundreds Injured

An explosion at a public park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore left at least 69 people dead and scores injured, officials say.

The park was crowded with families, some celebrating Easter. Many victims are said to be women and children.

According to police, it appeared to be a suicide bomb. A Pakistan Taliban faction said it carried out the attack.

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain has condemned the blast and the regional government has announced three days of mourning.

All the major hospitals in the area were put on an emergency footing after the blast early on Sunday evening.

The explosion appears to have been at the main gate to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in an area where cars are usually left – and a short distance from the children’s swings.Lahore park explosion March 2016

One eyewitness said there was chaos, with a stampede starting and children separated from their parents in the rush to escape.

According to Lahore’s deputy commissioner, Mohammad Usman, the number of injured was 193.

Facebook has activated its feature for people in Lahore to mark themselves as safe, as news of the blast spread.

Lahore is the capital of Punjab, Pakistan’s largest and wealthiest province and the political powerbase of PM Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar told local and Western media it was behind the attack.

“We claim responsibility for the attack on Christians as they were celebrating Easter,” spokesperson Ehansullah Ehsan told Pakistan’s Express Tribune.

Pakistan has suffered regular incidents of Taliban-related violence, sectarian strife and criminal gang activity.

Meanwhile in the capital, Islamabad, police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters who marched in support of Islamist gunman Mumtaz Qadri, whom they see as a religious hero.

Mumtaz Qadri was hanged last month for the murder of Punjab governor Salman Taseer five years ago.

Salman Taseer had defended a Christian woman jailed on blasphemy charges.

Vaxxed: Robert De Niro Pulls MMR Vaccine Documentary from Tribeca Film Festival

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Vaxxed: Robert De Niro Pulls MMR Vaccine Documentary from Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca Film Festival has withdrawn Vaxxed, a controversial film about the MMR vaccine, festival founder Robert De Niro announces.

On March 25, Robert De Niro stood by his decision to include Vaxxed by anti-vaccination activist Andrew Wakefield in next month’s festival.

The link Vaxxed makes between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism has been widely discredited.

“We have concerns with certain things in this film,” said Robert De Niro.Vaxxed withdrawn from Tribeca Film Festival

Robert De Niro, who has a child with autism, said he had hoped the documentary would provide the opportunity for discussion of the issue.

However, after reviewing the documentary with festival organizers and scientists, the actor said: “We do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for.”

Vaxxed was directed and co-written by Andrew Wakefield, who described it as a “whistle-blower documentary”.

In a statement issued following the Tribeca Film Festival’s decision, Andrew Wakefield and the film’s producer Del Bigtree said that “we have just witnessed yet another example of the power of corporate interests censoring free speech, art and truth”.

The British doctor was the lead author of a controversial study published in 1998, which argued there might be a link between MMR and autism and bowel disease.

Andrew Wakefield suggested that parents should opt for single jabs against mumps, measles and rubella instead of the three-in-one vaccine.

His comments and the subsequent media furor led to a sharp drop in the number of children being vaccinated against these diseases.

The study, first published in The Lancet, was later retracted by the medical journal.

Andrew Wakefield was subsequently found guilty of fraud by the General Medical Council and struck off the medical register.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdCU2DfMBpU

Syrian Army Retakes Palmyra from ISIS

Roy Siemens
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0
Syrian Army Retakes Palmyra from ISIS

Syrian army has re-captured the ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS, say state media and a monitoring group.

The Syrian government forces had been gaining ground for several days, supported by Russian air strikes. Military sources say the army now has “full control”.

ISIS seized the UNESCO World Heritage site and modern town in May 2015.

Images released by the Syrian military on March 26 showed helicopters and tanks firing at positions in Palmyra.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The date of the footage could not be independently verified.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, there was still gunfire in the eastern part of the city, but the bulk of the ISIS force had pulled out and retreated further east.

In a statement released on March 26, Russia’s defense ministry said the strikes hit 158 ISIS targets killing more than 100 militants.

When ISIS seized Palmyra it destroyed archaeological sites, drawing global outrage. Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins.

ISIS, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighboring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous.

The prospect of Palmyra’s liberation was welcomed by UNESCO, which has described the destruction of the ancient city as a war crime.

The head of Syria’s antiquities authority, Mamoun Abdelkarim, promised to repair as much of the damage as possible as a “message against terrorism”.

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