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White House 2016: Jeb Bush Endorses Ted Cruz for President

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: Jeb Bush Endorses Ted Cruz for President

Jeb Bush has decided to endors Texas Senator Ted Cruz for president, calling him a “principled conservative”.

The former governor of Florida dropped out of the Republican race last month after poor showings in state contests.

Jeb Bush said Ted Cruz has shown the ability to appeal to voters and win primary contests, like in Utah on March 22.

Republicans must “overcome the divisiveness and vulgarity” Donald Trump has introduced, he said.

If not, the GOP will certainly lose the White House to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush wrote in a Facebook post.

“Republicans can win back the White House and put our nation on a path to security and prosperity if we support a nominee who can unite our party and articulate how conservative policies will help people rise up and reach their full potential,” Jeb Bush wrote, and linked to Ted Cruz’s website.

Ted Cruz, speaking to CNN on March 23, said Jeb Bush’s endorsement proved his candidacy had garnered support among Republicans.

Former 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also recently endorsed Ted Cruz, strongly urging fellow Republicans not to back Donald Trump.Jeb Bush endorses Ted Cruz

Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner, currently has the highest delegate count and has said there may be “riots” if he is denied the Republican nomination come the party’s convention this summer.

Anti-Trump Republicans are hoping for a brokered convention, in which party officials, not delegates, would chose the nominee, but that is only possible if Donald Trump falls short of the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

After contests in Utah and Arizona on March 22, Donald Trump has 739 delegates and Ted Cruz has 465.

In 2012, Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney for president, but now the former Republican candidate calls Trump a “phony” and a “fraud”.

When Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, was still in the race, Donald Trump called him “pathological”. Now Ben Carson has endorsed him.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who attacked Donald Trump on the campaign trail, backs the billionaire now that he is out of the race.

Former Republican presidential candidates Carly Fiorina and Lindsey Graham have also endorsed Ted Cruz.

Ted Cruz has urged Ohio Governor John Kasich to drop out of the race, and said he would probably find a place for him in his administration.

He said John Kasich was a “spoiler” by taking votes that could go to him and help the Republicans defeat Donald Trump.

The nasty battle between the leading Republicans worsened this week when Donald Trump warned Ted Cruz he would “spills the beans on your wife” after an anti-Trump group ran ads in Utah featuring a photo of Trump’s wife Melania from an old GQ magazine spread.

Ted Cruz said in response: “Donald, if you try to attack Heidi, you’re more of a coward than I thought.”

Syrian Government Forces Reach Outskirts of Palmyra

Roy Siemens
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Syrian Government Forces Reach Outskirts of Palmyra

Syrian army has reached the outskirts of the ancient city of Palmyra, after driving back ISIS militants.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian government troops were now only 1.2 miles south of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins.

ISIS militants seized Palmyra and the adjoining modern town in May 2015.

They subsequently destroyed two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers, drawing global outrage.

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

UNESCO has condemned the destruction as a war crime.Syrian army reaches Palmyra

The Syrian Observatory, which relies on a network of sources on the ground in Syria, told the AFP news agency that government forces were on March 23 only 1.2 miles from Palmyra’s southern outskirts and 3 miles from its western edge.

The governor of Homs province, Talal Barazi, confirmed the advance and said troops were now stationed on several hills overlooking the Greco-Roman ruins.

“There is continuous progress by the army from all directions,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Talal Barazi added that he expected “positive results” over the next few days.

Syrian government forces launched an offensive to retake Palmyra at the beginning of March, backed by heavy Russian air strikes.

Last week, the Russian military said its aircraft were flying up to 25 sorties a day over Palmyra to help liberate what President Vladimir Putin has described as a “pearl of world civilization”.

Palmyra is also situated in a strategically important area on the road between Damascus and the contested eastern city of Deir al-Zour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPFeDCZkr3M

Get Your Car Prepared for the Summer

Dana R
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Get Your Car Prepared for the Summer

summer-car

Flickr

Spring has officially begun! We seemed to spend all winter writing articles anticipating spring. But now that spring is here, everyone seems eager for it to get out of the way as soon as possible. That’s because it’s currently in the way of summer!

It’s nice to be saying goodbye to the wicked chill of winter. But don’t let that make you forget that summer brings its own problems! Let’s not pretend that all that extra sunshine and heat is a perfect thing. One thing you’ll find out (or be reminded of) very quickly is its effects on driving. Using your car in the summer isn’t always a barrel of fun!

Make sure you and your family are prepared for those upcoming summer car journeys.

Air conditioning

The first thing that probably pops to mind here is your air conditioning. The interior of your car is going to get hot and stuffy if you don’t have the right cooling and ventilation systems. Getting too hot in your car can make you feel uneasy, tired and dizzy. Those are the last things you need to be when you’re on the road! You should ensure your car has strong air conditioning. You shouldn’t just rely on open windows. There may be times when you’ll be in dusty or wet environments where you shouldn’t have your windows down.

dogs-in-car

Flickr

Cooling system

The hot weather will also affect your cooling system. An alarming amount of drivers don’t perform adequate maintenance on the cooling system under their hood. You should be checking that everything is okay there at least once a week in hot weather! The cooling fan needs to be functioning and the coolant levels need to be correct. If these things aren’t in check then your cooling system is at risk of overheating. This will have catastrophic effects on your engine – and your wallet! Make sure you know what coolant you need and how to adjust your coolant levels.

Tyres

A scorching summer will get the roads baking. You can feel the heat of the tarmac underneath your feet. You may not realise that these hot roads are actually affecting how your tyres operate. It affects rubber of your tyres, which can negatively affect speed and handling. Thankfully, there are tyres out there that have been created with summer roads in mind. Tyres like the Michelin Primacy 3 are designed to keep your comfort and handling consistent throughout summer. That means your safety, too! It’s generally accomplished by using softer rubber, which works better against hot surfaces.

summer-tyres

Flickr

Other items

In the hot weather, you’ll be getting dehydrated much quicker. The sun is also going to get extremely bright, which will affect your vision in possibly dangerous ways. You need to make sure you’re keeping a good supply of drinking water in the car. Bring a new, cool bottle with you for every journey. Don’t leave one big bottle in the car over a period of a week! The water will just get warm and nasty. Make sure you’re also equipped with sunglasses. Consider getting a spare pair used solely in the car and keep them in your glove compartment.

Brussels Attacks: Brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui Named as Suspects

Roy Siemens
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Brussels Attacks: Brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui Named as Suspects

Brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui have been named as the two of the men who carried out attacks in Brussels on March 22, Belgian media report.

The RTBF broadcaster said Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui were known to police. It is believed at least one was among three suspects seen in a CCTV image at Zaventem airport.

Twin explosions at Zaventem airport and another at the Maelbeek metro station left about 34 dead and 250 wounded.

Belgium is observing three days of national mourning.

ISIS has said it was behind the attacks and warned that more would follow.

A minute’s silence for the victims will be held at midday.

Photo Belgium Police
Photo Belgium Police

RTBF said the brothers were known to police and had criminal records.

The broadcaster, quoting a police source, said that Khalid el-Bakraoui, 27, had used a false name to rent the flat in the Forest area of Brussels where police killed a gunman in a shootout last week.

It was during that raid that police found a fingerprint of Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris terror attacks of November 13.

Salah Abdeslam was arrested in a raid in Brussels on March 18 and is due to appear before a pre-trial court on March 23.

Khalid el-Bakraoui is on the Interpol website. It says he is being sought for terrorist activities.

RTBF said Khalid el Bakraoui was jailed for five years in 2011 for car-jacking while his brother Brahim, 30, was sentenced in October 2010 for firing at police.

It is not known if both of the brothers are in the CCTV image handed out by police of the three men at the airport.

Some Belgian media say that one of the brothers may have carried out the metro attack.

Meanwhile, Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure said that the man wearing the hat in the airport CCTV image is Najim Laachraoui.

Najim Laachraoui was named earlier in the week by police as a wanted accomplice of Salah Abdeslam.

Federal prosecutors have not commented on the latest reports but said they would provide more information on March 23.

The three men were seen pushing trolleys carrying suspected bombs at Zaventem airport just before the blasts at a check-in hall.

Two were believed to have died in the attack, while the man in the hat is still being sought.

The airport explosions happened in quick succession shortly after 08:00 local time, killing about 14 people.

A third bomb was found and destroyed in a controlled detonation.

About an hour later another explosion ripped through a train at the Maelbeek metro station in Brussels, killing about 20 people.

The first of the victims to be named is Peruvian Adelma Tapia Ruiz, 37.

Adelma Tapia Ruiz had been at Zaventem airport with her Belgian husband and twin four-year-old daughters, who were unharmed, her brother told Peruvian radio.

Belgium has raised its terrorism alert to the highest level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjTgkht-fJU

White House 2016: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Win Arizona Primary

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Win Arizona Primary

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have continued to win new states, now taking Arizona.

The issue of immigration loomed large in Arizona, the biggest prize in the latest round of contests.

Polls showed that Donald Trump’s anti-immigration message resonated with Arizona’s conservative voters.

With the state’s growing Latino population, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton continued her success by courting minority voters.

Keeping his campaign in the race, rival Democrat Bernie Sanders decisively won caucuses in two smaller states, Idaho and Utah.

The Utah Republican caucuses were won by Texas Senator Ted Cruz.Donald Trump wins Arizona primary

During a victory speech in Seattle, Hillary Clinton addressed the terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, pushing back against the Republican candidates’ response to the bombings.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump reiterated his plan to ban Muslims from travelling to US and suggested that the US should torture terrorism suspects.

The Republican primary in Arizona was a winner-take-all race, adding 58 delegates to Donald Trump’s sizable lead.

Donald Trump’s win complicates efforts by Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich to stop him from securing a majority of delegates.

If Donald Trump falls short in the delegate count, the party could hold a brokered or contested convention where party leaders, not voters, choose the nominee.

However, that scenario is looking less likely as Donald Trump continues to win states.

Arizona residents’ preference for early voting, with many mailing in their ballots, may have affected the race.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who left the race on March 15, has secured more than 70,000 votes thus far.

As the final voters headed to the polls on March 22, the Republican race took another nasty turn.

Mistakenly believing the Cruz campaign had produced an attack advert about his wife Melania, DonaldTrump on Twitter threatened to “spill the beans” on Ted Cruz’s wife, Heidi.

Ted Cruz responded saying his campaign did not produce the advert, calling Donald Trump “classless” and a “coward”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbAo5OXajTo

China: 37 Arrested in Shandong over Vaccine Scandal

Kathryn R. Bown
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China: 37 Arrested in Shandong over Vaccine Scandal

Thirty-seven people have been arrested in Shandong, eastern China, over a huge vaccine scandal, the Chinese state media report.

Shandong police announced last month they had arrested a mother and her daughter accused of buying and selling vaccines illegally.

The estimated $88 million worth of vaccines were not properly refrigerated or transported.

The illegal vaccine ring, said to have been in operation since 2011, has sparked widespread anger in China.

The scandal has led to a crackdown, with checks ordered on vaccine makers, wholesalers and buyers.

Photo PA
Photo PA

The products were bought from a variety of sources, both licensed and unlicensed, then sold on to both illegal agents and legal local disease control and prevention centers at inflated prices, reported the Xinhua news agency.

The ring is alleged to have involved hundreds of people across 20 provinces, it said.

Though authorities had known about it since April 2015, they only made the news public on March 18 when they issued a call demanding that suppliers come forward to help them trace potential victims.

The delay has angered many people in China who questioned why the authorities had not alerted the public earlier.

Local authorities have now been given a deadline of March 25 to identify who bought the medicines.

Three pharmaceutical companies are being investigated, Xinhua reports, citing people handling the case. One, Shandong Zhaoxin Bio-tech Co, has been ordered to suspend operations, it added.

The China office of the World Health Organization (WHO) said vaccines needed to be handled properly or they can become less effective.

It stressed that improperly kept vaccines did not in themselves present much danger.

“It is important to note, however, that improperly stored or expired vaccine seldom if ever causes a toxic reaction. Therefore there is likely to be minimal safety risk in this particular situation,” the WHO said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4n-1-zqDB4

Brussels Attacks: At Least 34 Killed and 250 Injured

Roy Siemens
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Brussels Attacks: At Least 34 Killed and 250 Injured

At least 34 people are believed to have been killed and dozens injured in attacks at Brussels international airport and Maelbeek metro station.

Twin blasts hit Zaventem airport at about 8:00 local time, with 14 people reported killed.

Another explosion struck Maelbeek metro station near EU headquarters an hour later, leaving about 20 people dead.

Brussels police have issued a wanted notice for a man seen pushing a luggage trolley through the airport.

The manwas pictured in CCTV footage with two other suspects who are believed to have died in the blasts.

ISIS said it was behind the attacks in a statement issued on the ISIS-linked Amaq agency.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Belgium has raised its terrorism alert to its highest level. Three days of national mourning have been declared.

Belgian PM Charles Michel called the latest attacks “blind, violent and cowardly”, adding: “This is a day of tragedy, a black day… I would like to call on everyone to show calmness and solidarity.”

Two explosions tore through the departures area of Zaventem airport shortly after 08:00 local time.

A suicide bomber was “probably” involved, the Belgian prosecutor said.

Eleven people were killed and 81 wounded in the blasts, Belgian Health Minister Maggie de Block said.

Some witnesses reported hearing shots fired and shouts in Arabic before the two explosions.

Others said that people fled the first blast, only to get caught in the second.

A third bomb failed to detonate and was destroyed by the security services.

The metro explosion occurred shortly after 09:00 during the rush hour at Maelbeek station.

It struck the middle carriage of a three-carriage train while it was moving away from the platform.

Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur said “about 20” people had died and more than 100 had been injured, 17 of them severely.

Local and international travel has been suspended or disrupted and security tightened across Europe.

All flights have been cancelled. The airport is due to reopen on March 23.

Eurostar has cancelled all trains to and from Brussels. The Thalys France-Benelux train operator says the entire network is closed.

In France the government has held an emergency meeting. There is also extra security at Dutch airports.

Rob Ford Dead: Former Toronto Mayor Loses Battle with Cancer at 46

Nancy Clayson
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Rob Ford Dead: Former Toronto Mayor Loses Battle with Cancer at 46

Toronto ex-mayor Rob Ford has died at the age of 46 after fighting cancer, his family has announced.

Rob Ford, who battled drug and alcohol addiction, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2014.

He gained international notoriety after admitting smoking crack cocaine in 2013, but he was loved by supporters.

“A dedicated man of the people, Councillor Ford spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto,” his family said in a statement.

Rob Ford could not run for re-election as mayor in 2014 due to his cancer diagnosis, but won a city council seat in a landslide result.

His image contrasted sharply with Canada’s usual calm, buttoned-up politics.Rob Ford dead at 46

Reacting to his death, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau weeted: “Rob Ford fought cancer with courage and determination. My condolences and best wishes to the Ford family today.”

The current mayor of Toronto, John Tory, said in a statement that “the city is reeling with this news”.

“He was a man who spoke his mind and who ran for office because of the deeply felt convictions that he had.

“I know there are many who were affected by his gregarious nature and approach to public service.”

While serving as Toronto mayor, Rob Ford was videotaped and photographed intoxicated in public areas.

“Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,” he told reporters.

“But… do I? Am I addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago.”

Despite the crack-smoking scandal, Rob Ford’s popularity remained high with fans lining up to take photo with him.

He appealed to conservative, working-class people with his populist message. Many of his supporters in the 2010 Toronto mayoral election came from the outer suburbs of the city.

One of his key campaign promises was to “stop the gravy train” of government spending and he pledged to end “the war on the car”.

He grew up in Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto, dropping out of university after one year to work in his family business.

Rob Ford is survived by his wife Renata and his two children, Stephanie and Doug.

Raymond Moore: Indian Wells CEO Steps Down After Women’s Tennis Comments

Clyde K. Valle
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Raymond Moore: Indian Wells CEO Steps Down After Women’s Tennis Comments

Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore has resigned after his controversial comments about women’s tennis.

Raymond Moore, 69, said the women’s game “rides on the coat-tails” of the men.

Women’s world No 1 Serena Williams said Raymond Moore’s statement was “offensive and very inaccurate”.

However, Novak Djokovic claimed his tour should fight for more money.

Raymond Moore said female players “should get down on their knees” in thanks to male counterparts such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Photo NBC News
Photo NBC News

The South African – a former player – later apologized for his “erroneous” remarks.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova said Raymond Moore’s comments were “extremely prejudiced”, adding female players may boycott Indian Wells if Moore stayed.

Novak Djokovic, who won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on March 20, described Raymond Moore’s remarks as “not politically correct”.

However, he suggested men should get more prize money because more people watch their matches.

There has been equal prize money in all four majors – the Australian Open, US Open, French Open and Wimbledon – since 2007, and combined Masters events such as Indian Wells and Miami pay the same to men and women.

In a statement, Indian Wells tournament owner Larry Ellison said: “Ray let me know he has decided to step down from his roles as CEO and tournament director effective immediately. I fully understand his decision.”

Brussels: Two Explosions Strike Zaventem Airport

Roy Siemens
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Brussels: Two Explosions Strike Zaventem Airport

Two explosions have struck the departures area of Zaventem airport in Brussels, Belgium.

Belgian officials have confirmed casualties but have given no numbers. The cause of the explosions is unknown.

Another explosion has now been reported at the Maelbeek metro station close to the EU institutions. The whole metro system has been closed.

The explosions come four days after the capture in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the jihadist attacks in Paris in November 2015.

Belgium has now raised its terror threat to its highest level.

Emergency services are clearing the airport completely. Belgium’s Het Laatste Nieuws reports that more bombs have been found.

The airport is being evacuated and has been closed to flights.

Shots were fired and shouts in Arabic were heard before the two explosions, the Belga news agency reports.

Images on social media showed smoke rising from one of the buildings, amid reports of panic as people fled the airport.

Rail transport to the facility has been halted and people have been told not to come to the airport.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

All flights have been diverted.

Other reports say at least one of the explosions was close to the American Airlines check-in area but this has not been confirmed.

The Belgian broadcaster RTBF quoted a witness as saying there were people injured or unconscious in the departure area, opposite the Sheraton hotel.

There are few reports yet about the metro blast.

Belgium’s Interior Minister Jan Jambon had said on March 21 that the country was on the highest level of alert for possible revenge attacks after the capture of Salah Abdeslam.

He told Belgian radio: “We know that stopping one cell can… push others into action. We are aware of it in this case.”

Zaventem airport is 7 miles north-east of Brussels and dealt with more than 23 million passengers in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE8vaMgR10c

Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi Nominated to Head Up Foreign Affairs in New Cabinet

Diane A. Wade
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Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi Nominated to Head Up Foreign Affairs in New Cabinet

Aung San Suu Kyi will reportedly head up foreign affairs, energy, education and be minister in Myanmar’s new cabinet.

Her party, the NDL, won historic elections in the country.

Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from the presidency herself and had been widely expected not to take a ministry.

Her name was on a list of 18 submitted to parliament by President-elect Htin Kyaw.

There are no other women appointed to the cabinet.

Myanmar’s constitution, drafted by the outgoing military rulers, prevents Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president because her two sons have British passports.Aung San Suu Kyi Myanmar foreign affairs

President-elect Htin Kyaw is Aung San Suu Kyi’s close ally, and she previously said that she would be “above the president” anyway, governing through a proxy.

The cabinet announcement came as a surprise – many had assumed that Aung San Suu Kyi would control the government from the outside.

If Aung San Suu Kyi does become foreign minister, under the complex political structure she will have to stand down as a lawmaker and refrain from all NLD activities.

Fifteen of the names on the list were chosen by Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate and former political prisoner, and three by the commander-in-chief of the army.

Parliament is expected to vote later in the week to confirm the posts.

After his election last week, Htin Kyaw said his appointment was “Aung San Suu Kyi’s victory”.

The NLD has a huge majority in both houses of parliament, despite the military occupying 25% of seats, so the candidate it backed was all but guaranteed to win.

Despite weeks of negotiation prior to the vote in parliament, the NLD was unable to persuade the military to remove or suspend the clause that prevented Aung San Suu Kyi taking office.

Zika Virus: First Case Confirmed in South Korea

Kathryn R. Bown
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Zika Virus: First Case Confirmed in South Korea

The first case of the Zika virus infection has been confirmed in South Korea.

The patient is a man who had recently returned from Brazil.

According to the Korea’s Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the 43-year-old was diagnosed on March 22 and was being treated in Gwangju city.Zika virus South Korea

Zika, a mosquito-borne virus, has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus has spread rapidly in Brazil and the Americas, and is suspected of causing birth defects.

WHO experts caution the link between the virus and microcephaly – in which babies are born with underdeveloped heads – is not yet proven.

Isolated Zika infections have been reported in a handful of countries in Asia.

South Korea said the infected man had been quarantined and his movements tracked since returning home, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Apple Launches iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7-Inch

Nancy Clayson
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Apple Launches iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7-Inch

Apple has unveiled smaller versions of the iPhone and iPad Pro – the iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7-inch – at an event hosted in San Francisco and streamed online.

The company said the iPhone SE has the same processing and graphics performance of the larger Apple 6S and can capture 4K video.

The new iPad Pro will have a 9.7 inch screen – the same size as the original iPad.

The iPhone SE will be available in 110 countries by the end of May.

Photo Apple
Photo Apple

With a starting price of $399/$499, the new iPhone is the “most affordable” handset Apple has ever released, the company said.

Apple also said the new iPad Pro would be available in three different storage sizes with an extra large 256GB version.

Pricing will begin at $599 for the smallest version and will ship in the US at the end of the month.

Apple said it sold 30 million four-inch handsets in 2015; however, its handset sales have slowed in recent months in line with the overall smartphone market.

Some analysts are predicting up to a 15% decline in shipments in the first quarter of 2016 alone.

Apple also showed off a recycling robot called Liam which can strip down old iPhones into their components for reuse.

The Apple Watch is to come down in price to $299 from its launch price of $349, CEO Tim Cook also announced.

Donald Trump Reveals First Members of His Foreign Policy Advisory Team

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Reveals First Members of His Foreign Policy Advisory Team

Donald Trump has revealed the first members of his foreign policy team.

The advisers include academics and former military officers with expertise on the Middle East and energy issues.

The Republican frontrunner told the Washington Post that he would name more advisers in the coming days.

Several of Donald Trump’s advisers have served as experts for other Republican presidential candidates such as Mitt Romney and Ben Carson.

On March 21, Donald Trump named retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Walid Phares and retired Gen. Joseph Schmitz.

The team is led by Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama who has helped shape Donald Trump’s policies, most notably on immigration.Donald Trump foreign policy advisory team

Donald Trump has come under criticism in recent days over his policy credentials. When cable news network MSNBC asked him who was advising him on policy, Donald Trump named himself.

While some members of his team are not well known in Republican academic circles, others are seen as controversial figures.

Gen. Joseph Schmitz resigned from the military in 2005 amid accusations of misconduct. However, Joseph Schmitz was never charged with wrongdoing.

Another adviser, Walid Phares, was criticized when he was named as part of Mitt Romney’s foreign policy team in 2011.

Muslim advocacy groups took issue with Walid Phares’s close ties to right-wing Christian militia groups during the Lebanese civil war.

He is an outspoken critic of Sharia, or Islamic religious law, and has appeared on Fox News and other conservative media outlets as an expert on the Middle East.

George Papadopoulos recently served as an adviser to Ben Carson, who dropped out of the race in February. George Papadopoulos has worked as a consultant for energy companies in the Middle East.

Donald Trump also said the US should spend less money on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“We are paying disproportionately,” he told CNN.

“It’s too much and frankly it’s a different world than it was when we originally conceived of the idea.”

Barack Obama and Raul Castro Hold Historic Joint News Conference

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama and Raul Castro Hold Historic Joint News Conference

President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro have held a historic joint news conference in Havana, discussing human rights and lifting the trade embargo.

Both presidents agreed to work together, despite wrangling over human rights.

Raul Castro said more needed to be done to lift the US embargo on trade with Cuba and that the Guantanamo Bay detention camp must close.

Barack Obama, the first sitting US president to visit Cuba since 1959, said the trade embargo would be fully lifted.

Raul Castro took questions from reporters – a rarity for him.Barack Obama and Raul Castro news conference Havana

“Cuba’s destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other nation… The future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans not by anybody else,” Barack Obama said.

Asked about political prisoners in Cuba, Raul Castro denied it, telling journalists to “give him a list” and then they would be released “tonight”.

The Cuban president also defended his country’s record on human rights and pointed to problems in the US.

“We defend human rights, in our view civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are indivisible, inter-dependent and universal,” Raul Castro said.

Raul Castro is not usually subject to any aggressive questioning from reporters and called the prisoners question “not polite”, later ending the news conference by saying: “I think this is enough.”

“Actually we find it inconceivable that a government does not defend and ensure the right to healthcare, education, social security, food provision and development,” he said.

Barack Obama could not say exactly when the trade embargo would be lifted, but recognized it was necessary.

“The reason is what we did for 50 years did not serve our interests or the interests of the Cuban people,” he said.

His administration has done what it can on lifting trade restrictions, Barack Obama said, but further action will require Congress which is “not as productive in an election year”.

Barack Obama also said further easing of the trade embargo will depend on actions Cuba takes on human rights.

He said it is not just Cuba that the US has “deep disagreements” about human rights with – it also has disagreements with China and Vietnam.

“I believe if I engage frankly, clearly, stating our beliefs but I can’t force change on any country – it ultimately has to come from within – that is a more useful strategy,” he said.

“I have faith in people.”

Reporters described the press conference as “tense” and “remarkable”.

Before the speech, it was announced that Google was opening an online technology center for free Internet access at much higher speeds than what is available in Cuba now.

Google hopes the center will be part of a larger effort to improve Internet access in Cuba.

Najim Laachraoui Identified as Salah Abdeslam’s Accomplice

Roy Siemens
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Najim Laachraoui Identified as Salah Abdeslam’s Accomplice

Najim Laachraoui has been identified as an accomplice of captured Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam, Belgian prosecutors say.

The 24-year-old man is still on the run. A statement said he had been using false ID and that his DNA had been found in houses used by the suspected jihadist network.

Salah Abdeslam was captured in Brussels on March 18 and is still being interrogated.

However, Belgium’s federal prosecutor said he was “still far from solving the puzzle” of the Paris attacks.

“We have quite a few pieces of the puzzle and in the last few days several pieces have found their place,” Frederic Van Leeuw told journalists in Brussels.

ISIS said it was behind the Paris attacks.

The prosecutor’s statement said that Salah Abdeslam had traveled twice to the Hungarian capital Budapest, using a rental car in September 2015.Najim Laachraoui Paris attacks

In the car were two other men, using fake Belgian identity cards with the names Samir Bouzid and Soufiane Kayal.

Soufiane Kayal has now been identified as Najim Laachraoui by DNA found at houses in the town of Auvelais and the Brussels district of Schaerbeek.

“The investigation showed that Soufiane Kayal can be identified as Najim Laachraoui, born on 18 May 1991 and who traveled to Syria in February 2013,” the statement said.

Belgian police said Samir Bouzid was “most probably” Mohamed Belkaid. He was killed by a police sniper in a raid on a flat outside Brussels on March 15.

The prosecutor appealed for public help in finding Najim Laachraoui.

Also still sought is Mohamed Abrini, who was filmed at petrol stations with Salah Abdeslam two days before the Paris attacks.

Salah Abdeslam’s lawyer, Sven Mary, meanwhile told Belgian radio that his client appeared “relieved” that the hunt was over.

He said: “Salah wants to co-operate and he’s done that since Saturday. Are we going to apply for the status [of informer]? He’s never said he wants to be an informer. I’ve never said that he’s asked for that.”

The lawyer added: “I have said that he can be of invaluable worth for different parties. He can give invaluable information for police as well as judges and lawyers.

“The statements of the French prosecutor… could ensure that Abdeslam is scared off.”

Sven Mary was referring to comments over the weekend by Paris prosecutor Francois Molins that Salah Abdeslam had admitted he wanted to blow himself up during the attacks, but then changed his mind.

Salah Abdeslam’s lawyer has filed a legal complaint against the prosecutor for violating secrecy.

Sven Mary also said he would continue to fight a transfer to France, but added: “Let’s be quite clear. He’s going to France – there is no single reason that he won’t go to France. It’ll be the investigating judge who decides when he goes.”

Paul McCartney Files Termination Notice to Get Back Beatles Catalogue

Sonia Pantiss
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Paul McCartney Files Termination Notice to Get Back Beatles Catalogue

Paul McCartney has filed a termination notice in the US reclaiming the publishing rights to The Beatles’ back catalogue.

Although Paul McCartney co-wrote most of The Beatles’ hits, he has never controlled the publishing.

However, the US copyright act of 1976 gives writers the opportunity to reclaim the rights after 56 years.Paul McCartney Beatles catalogue

The Lennon-McCartney catalogue becomes available in 2018, and Paul McCartney has recently moved to recapture it.

According to Billboard, Paul McCartney filed a termination notice for 32 songs with the US Copyright Office in December.

Most of the songs date from 1962 – 1964, although others come from much later in The Beatles’ career. Some of those, including Come Together and Why Don’t We Do It In The Road, are not due to become available until 2025.

An unnamed source told the magazine Paul McCartney would only regain publishing rights for his half of the compositions, most of which he co-wrote with John Lennon. Furthermore, the act only applies to the US, so The Beatles’ back catalogue would remain in the hands of Sony / ATV in the rest of the world.

Prince to Publish Memoir in 2017

Sonia Pantiss
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Prince to Publish Memoir in 2017

Prince has confirmed he is writing a memoir, to be published in 2017.

The pop star told an audience in New York on March 18 it would start “from [his] first memory” and “hopefully… go all the way up to the Super Bowl” half-time performance he gave in 2007.

Prince’s book is titled The Beautiful Ones, after a track from the singer’s 1984 Purple Rain album.

Publisher Spiegel & Grau said it would “take readers on an unconventional and poetic journey” through Prince’s life.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The publishing house, an imprint of Random House, said the memoir would include stories about Prince’s music, “the family that shaped him and the people, places and ideas that fired his creative imagination.”

“The good people of Random House have made me an offer that I can’t refuse,” Prince is quoted by the New York Times to have said.

Prince, 57, said he was working on the book with his “brother Dan” – a reference to Dan Piepenbring, web editor of The Paris Review.

The singer said: “He’s a good critic and that’s what I need.

“He’s not a <<yes man>> at all and he’s really helping me get through this.”

Chris Jackson, Spiegel & Grau’s executive editor, added: “We’re thrilled to be publishing Prince’s powerful reflections on his own life in his own incandescently vivid, witty and poetic voice.”

Barack Obama Arrives in Cuba for Historic Visit

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama Arrives in Cuba for Historic Visit

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have arrived in Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with President Raul Castro.

Barack Obama is the first sitting US president to visit Cuba since the 1959 revolution, which heralded decades of hostility.

“Looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people,” he tweeted on arrival.

President Barack Obama will meet Cuban President Raul Castro, but not retired revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, and the pair will discuss trade and political reform.

Barack Obama emerged smiling from Air Force One with First Lady Michelle and their daughters Sasha and Malia.

Holding umbrellas, the party walked in light drizzle along a red carpet to be greeted by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Barack Obama’s visit is the highpoint of a recent easing of ties, which included the opening of embassies last year.

Only hours before his arrival, protesters calling for the release of political prisoners were arrested in the capital, Havana.

Police took away dozens of demonstrators from the Ladies in White group, formed of political prisoners’ wives, from outside a church where they attempt to hold weekly protests.

Correspondents say the visit – the first by a sitting US president for 88 years – marks a huge turnaround in US-Cuban relations.

Barack Obama’s visit represents the opening of a new chapter in the affairs of the two nations.

Raul Castro and Barack Obama will sit together at a state dinner, there will be a joint news conference and they will discuss trade.

The White House has made it clear President Barack Obama will meet political dissidents, whether the Cuban authorities like it or not. That is expected to include members of the Ladies in White group.

However, this visit does not mark a complete normalization in US- Cuban relations.

The 54-year-old US economic embargo of Cuba is still in place and can only be lifted by a vote in Congress. Meanwhile, Cuba still complains about the occupation of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Glastonbury 2016: Adele to Headline Pyramid Stage on Saturday

Sonia Pantiss
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Glastonbury 2016: Adele to Headline Pyramid Stage on Saturday

Adele has announced she will headline Saturday night at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

The singer revealed the news live on stage at London’s O2, where she is in the middle of a six-night residency.

“Who’s going to Glastonbury this year?” she asked.

“See you there. I’ll be there. I’ll be headlining on the Saturday night this year.”Adele Glastonbury 2016

“I’ve had to keep that secret for years!” Adele added.

Glastonbury organizers later confirmed on Twitter that Adele will headline the Pyramid Stage.

Adele now joins Muse and Coldplay at the top of the bill when the festival takes place in June from 22 to 26.

Festival organizer, Emily Eavis, said: “What a great honor it is to have the wonderful Adele confirmed for this year’s Saturday night headline spot!”

Adele’s latest album, 25, has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide, and is currently No 1 in the UK albums chart.

Starwood Becomes First American Company to Sign a Deal with Cuba

Clyde K. Valle
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Starwood Becomes First American Company to Sign a Deal with Cuba

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has become the first American company to agree a deal with the Cuban authorities since the revolution of 1959.

The hotel and leisure company will renovate and run three hotels in Havana.

A Starwood spokesman said the company would be making a “multimillion-dollar investment to bring the hotels up to our standards”.Starwood Cuban deal

The news comes on the eve of President Barack Obama’s visit to Cuba – the first by a US president in almost 90 years.

The deal is a welcome reminder of how far things have come between the US and Cuba since they decided to normalize ties.

Tourism in Cuba is at an all-time high, including a sharp rise in the number of US visitors, especially since travel restrictions were eased by President Barack Obama.

Donald Trump Protesters Block Arizona Highway

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Protesters Block Arizona Highway

Some 50 protesters blocked a highway in Arizona as Donald Trump prepared to stage a rally near Phoenix.

Donald Trump addressed supporters in Fountain Hills.

Demonstrators caused traffic jams as they held up posters with slogans such as “Dump Trump”.

Donald Trump’s rallies have been marred by a series of recent incidents. A meeting in Chicago a week ago was cancelled after protests.

Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered at the University of Illinois and fighting broke out between supporters and protesters in the auditorium where Donald Trump was due to speak.

In the latest disturbance, protesters marched down the highway leading to Fountain Hills. Police made several arrests before the demonstrators dispersed.Donald Trump protesters block Arizona road

Some, heavily outnumbered by Trump supporters, made their way to the edge of the rally venue in Fountain Park.

Speaking later at a rally in Tucson, Donald Trump described the protesters as “disgraceful” and said they were “representing [Democratic front-runner] Hillary Clinton”.

“They arrested three people and everybody else left… They left!” the Republican front-runner told a cheering audience.

“I love our police, but we should do a little bit more of that, you would have a lot less protesters, you would have a lot less agitators.”

Demonstrations also broke out there and the police had to escort out a number of people.

In Donald Trump’s home city of New York, several hundred protesters gathered outside Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Some chanted slogans accusing him of racism and being anti-gay. The gathering included immigrants’ rights activists and socialists.

Several protesters carrying “Vote Trump” placards were also present, explaining that they wanted to demonstrate their right to support Donald Trump.

On March 12, a man tried to rush Donald Trump as he spoke on stage in Ohio but was prevented from doing so by Secret Service agents.

A Donald Trump supporter was also charged with assault after multiple videos showed him punching a protester at a campaign rally in North Carolina.

Donald Trump has been accused of creating tension through divisive rhetoric, but he denies using hate speech or playing any part in fostering division.

The Arizona rally was the Republican hopeful’s second visit to the state in three months. A primary takes place there on March 22.

The winner in Arizona takes all 58 delegates at stake. Donald Trump leads the polls in the state.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnc50KHbvuM

Brazil: Dilma Rousseff Sues Senator Delcidio Amaral over Corruption Claims

Diane A. Wade
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Brazil: Dilma Rousseff Sues Senator Delcidio Amaral over Corruption Claims

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has said she will take legal action against Senator Delcidio Amaral who has accused her of involvement in corruption at the state oil company Petrobras.

Delcidio Amaral said Dilma Rousseff knew of wrongdoings and tried to block investigations.

Dilma Rousseff has denied any involvement.

Meanwhile, the new justice minister has threatened to remove teams from the Petrobras inquiry if any more material is leaked to the press.

In a statement, Brazil’s presidency said Dilma Rousseff will sue Senator Delcidio Amaral for defamation over his interview with a magazine.

Delcidio Amaral was the leader of her Workers’ Party in the Senate and had agreed a plea bargain with prosecutors after being arrested as a result of the Petrobras scandal.

The inquiry has led to the arrest or investigation of dozens of executives and politicians, suspected of overcharging for contracts with Petrobras and using part of the money to pay for bribes and electoral campaigns.Delcidio Amaral accuses Dilma Rousseff

There is widespread public support for the investigation, known as Operation Car Wash, but Dilma Rousseff and her allies have criticized its leading judge, Sergio Moro.

They argue the inquiry has become politicized and some of his actions have been illegal.

Last week, Judge Sergio Moro released phone recordings suggesting Dilma Rousseff had appointed her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as her chief of staff to spare him arrest over money-laundering charges he denies.

Even though Dilma Rousseff vehemently denies it, Supreme Court judge Gilmar Mendes has suspended Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s nomination, and a final decision is yet to be announced.

If Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a minister, any charges against him can only be dealt with by the Supreme Court, which operates more slowly, and not by Sergio Moro.

Earlier this month, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained and questioned at Sergio Moro’s request.

Dilma Rousseff’s supporters have also criticized leaks of questioning and details of the investigation to the media.

New Justice Minister Eugenio Aragao questioned the publication of the unverified phone tap conversations between Dilma Rousseff and Lula and said the Car Wash investigation was losing its objectivity.

The release of the recordings has also been criticized by Supreme Court judge Marco Aurelio Mello, who has questioned its legality.

However, the content of the phone calls has increased pressure on Dilma Rousseff, who is facing growing calls for her removal.

Additionally, there has been a resurgence in allegations of media bias against Dilma Rousseff and her Workers’ Party.

Much of the criticism has been against Globo, Brazil’s largest media group and one of the biggest in the world, allegations it denies.

In 2013, Globo issued an announcement about its support of the 1964 military coup, which led to a two-decade military dictatorship, and admitted it had made a “mistake”.

Pope Francis Gains 10,000 Followers within Hours after Joining Instagram

Nancy Clayson
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Pope Francis Gains 10,000 Followers within Hours after Joining Instagram

Pope Francis gained 10,000 followers within hours after joining Instagram on March 19.

The Pontiff has only posted two photos so far but there are an estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world.

Pope Francis is using the name @Franciscus, Latin for Francis.

The first photo wasn’t a selfie, it was a picture showing Pope Francis kneeling with his head bowed in prayer.

The accompanying caption reads “Pray for me” and is repeated in eight other languages.

The Instagram account won’t be maintained by Pope Francis himself – other people within the Vatican will be responsible for the content.Pope Francis joins Instagram

Pope Francis is no stranger to social media, he already has a Twitter account using the handle @Pontifex.

He used that to announce his presence on Instagram.

It’s thought the Vatican is trying to engage with younger Catholics through the use of social media.

According to Dario Viganò, from the Pope Francis’ communications team the account “will help recount the Papacy through images.”

He explained that it was “to enable all those who wish to accompany and know more about Pope Francis’ pontificate to encounter his gestures of tenderness and mercy”.

Instagram chief executive and co-founder Kevin Systrom met up with Pope Francis earlier this month.

Salah Abdeslam Charged with Terrorism Offences in Belgium

Roy Siemens
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Salah Abdeslam Charged with Terrorism Offences in Belgium

Salah Abdeslam has revealed he wanted to blow himself up but then changed his mind, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins says.

The 26-year-old Paris attacks suspect has been charged with terrorism offences in Belgium a day after he was seized in a dramatic raid.

Salah Abdeslam will fight extradition to France but has been co-operating with police, his lawyer says.

The Paris attacks on November 13 left 130 people dead and dozens injured.

ISIS said it was behind the bombings and shootings.

Salah Abdeslam is charged with participation in terrorist murder and the activities of a terrorist group, Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office says.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins told a news conference: “Salah Abdeslam today during questioning by [Belgian] investigators affirmed that, and I quote, <<he wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France and that he had backed down>>.”Salah Abdeslam charged with terrorism

Salah Abdeslam’s assertions should be treated with caution, the prosecutor added.

The French national, born in Belgium, is in custody following his arrest in Brussels on March 18 after four months on the run.

Investigators hope Salah Abdeslam, who was shot in the leg during his arrest, will reveal more information about the ISIS network behind the Paris attacks, its financing and plans.

They believe he helped with logistics, including renting rooms and driving suicide bombers to the Stade de France.

Salah Abdeslam is believed to have fled shortly after the attacks, returning to the Molenbeek district of Brussels.

Interpol has meanwhile urged “extra vigilance” at borders following yesterday’s raid in Brussels, saying more accomplices may try to flee Europe.

The subject of a massive manhunt, Salah Abdeslam was arrested about 1,600ft from his home in Molenbeek. His brother, Brahim, was one of the Paris attackers, who blew himself up.

Another man arrested at the same time as Salah Abdeslam on March 18, Monir Ahmed Alaaj, has also been charged with participation in terrorist murder and the activities of a terrorist group, the Belgian prosecutors say.

Yesterday’s raid also saw three members of a family detained.

They include Abid Aberkan, described as a friend of Abdeslam, who has been charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist organization and harboring criminals.

Another family member, identified as Djemila M, has been charged with harboring criminals, but is not in custody, the prosecutor’s office says.

Abid Aberkan’s mother, Sihane, has been freed and faces no charges.

The raid came after Salah Abdeslam’s fingerprints were found in a flat in another Brussels district, Forest, raided on March 15.

Dramatic footage showed Salah Abdeslam being bundled into a police car on March 18 after a volley of gunfire. Monir Ahmed Alaaj was also injured during the arrests, but both suspects were discharged from hospital on March 19.

France’s President Francois Hollande said Salah Abdeslam’s arrest was “an important moment”.

Prosecutors said Monir Ahmed Alaaj had travelled with Salah Abdeslam to Germany last October, where his fingerprints were taken during an identity check.

A false Syrian passport in Monir Ahmed Alaaj’s name and Belgian identity papers under an alias were found in a flat in Forest raided on March 15.

More details have meanwhile emerged about an Algerian national, Mohamed Belkaid, shot dead in March 15 raid.

Associated Press says it has been passed documents by the Syrian opposition news site, Zaman al-Wasl, suggesting he joined ISIS in 2014 and asked to be a suicide bomber.

Belgian investigators say he is likely to have been an associate of Salah Abdeslam.

Along with the Stade de France, the Paris bombings and shootings targeted the Bataclan concert hall and bars and restaurants.

Officials have identified most of the people they believe to have carried out the assaults and on March 18 Francois Hollande predicted that more arrests could follow.

Most of the suspects either died during the attacks or were killed in subsequent police raids.

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