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Maria Sharapova Drug Test: Nike Suspends Sponsorship Deal

Clyde K. Valle
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Maria Sharapova Drug Test: Nike Suspends Sponsorship Deal

Maria Sharapova’s sponsors have moved quickly to distance themselves from the tennis champion after she admitted failing a drug test.

Nike has suspended its relationship with the five-time Grand Slam tennis champion, while Tag Heuer has cut its ties.

The sportswear giant said it was “saddened and surprised” at Maria Sharapova’s admission that she tested positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open in January.

The former world No 1 said she had been taking meldonium since 2006, on the advice of her family doctor.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Maria Sharapova, 28, is one of the highest paid female athletes with earnings of over $30 million 2015 from winnings and endorsements.

In addition to the moves from Nike and Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer, automaker Porsche said it was “postponing planned activities” with Maria Sharapova until the situation became clearer.

Maria Sharapova’s relationship with Nike dates back to when she was 11 years old.

The sportswear giant said: “We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues.

“We will continue to monitor the situation.”

In 2010, the Russian tennis player signed a new eight-year contract with Nike worth $70 million as well as a cut on sales of her own branded clothes.

Tag Heuer was in talks to extend its deal with Maria Sharapova, which ran out at the end of last year.

The Swiss watchmaker said those talks had now been suspended and the company had decided not to renew the contract.

In 2014, Porsche named her as its first female ambassador and she signed a three-year deal with the car company.

That contract is due to end at the end of this year.

In a statement, the carmaker said: “We are saddened by the recent news announced by Maria Sharapova. Until further details are released and we can analyze the situation, we have chosen to postpone planned activities.”

Maria Sharapova is also the face of Avon perfume, Luck, and the water company Evian. They have yet to comment on the matter.

She tested positive for meldonium, a substance she said she had been taking since 2006 for health issues.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said Maria Sharapova would be provisionally suspended from March 12.

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

Home Energy Savings Made Easy

Nancy Clayson
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Home Energy Savings Made Easy

Everyone wants to lower energy costs. But it’s not always so simple. What if you could make changes that not only kept you comfortable, but added up to real savings on your energy bills?

It’s possible! There are simple, free things that you can do that will save you money immediately. Did you know that something as simple as keeping closet doors closed can save you $50 a year? Unplugging electronics that you rarely use can save you another $100 a year.

One of the quickest and easiest changes you can make is your lighting. Using an Energy Star LED lightbulb in place of a traditional incandescent lightbulb will save you almost $4 a year – per bulb. Although Energy Star LED bulbs may costs a little more up front, they last 50 times as long as an incandescent bulb, so you’ll more than recoup your money over time.

Energy Star appliances, although more expensive than non-Energy Star appliances, will also save you money over time. Energy Star appliances can save you 20-30% on your energy costs and can make you eligible for tax rebates and utility credits.

In the following infographic published by Griffith Energy Services, you will learn that there are more home energy efficiency ideas that involve making just a few personal changes that either don’t cost anything or cost very little, but can help you save significant money in the long run.

Energy-Savings-Final

Emadeldin Elsayed Agrees to Voluntarily Leave US after Donald Trump Threat

Diane A. Wade
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Emadeldin Elsayed Agrees to Voluntarily Leave US after Donald Trump Threat

Egyptian student Emadeldin Elsayed has agreed to voluntarily leave the US after posting on Facebook that the world would thank him if he killed Donald Trump.

The 23-year-old student pilot was not charged with a crime but the authorities sought to deport him, his attorney, Hani Bushra, said.

Immigration authorities said they would allow Emadeldin Elsayed to return home voluntarily as long as he departed by July 5.

Emadeldin Elsayed is being held in a jail in California after his visa was revoked.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Hani Bushra said on March 7 that Emadeldin Elsayed’s detention was illegal.

“He’s being detained, I think, primarily because he’s a Muslim and he’s a Middle Easterner,” Hani Bushra told the AP news agency.

“This kid is going to become a poster boy for hating America.”

Secret Service agents interviewed Emadeldin Elsayed in early February after he posted a photo of Donald Trump on Facebook and wrote he was willing to serve a life sentence for killing the billionaire, and the world would thank him, Hani Bushra said.

Emadeldin Elsayed had said earlier that he never intended to hurt anyone. He said he wrote the post because of Donald Trump’s comments about Muslims.

Donald Trump, a front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination for the presidency, has promised a crackdown on immigration. He has vowed to build a wall along the entire Mexican border and called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.

AC/DC Stop Touring as Brian Johnson Risks Deafness

Sonia Pantiss
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AC/DC Stop Touring as Brian Johnson Risks Deafness

AC/DC have decided to halt the rest of their US tour after Brian Johnson was warned he is going deaf.

The band posted a statement on their website saying doctors had advised Brian Johnson to stop touring immediately or “risk total hearing loss”.

AC/DC said they would likely perform with a guest vocalist in rescheduled shows later this year.

Brian Johnson, 68, has been lead singer with AC/DC since 1980.AC DC stop US touring

The news is the latest in a series of setbacks for the band.

Former drummer Phil Rudd was convicted last year of drug possession and making threats to kill. He served eight months of home detention.

In 2014, it emerged that founding member and guitarist Malcolm Young would not be joining the band on tours as he was suffering from dementia.

AC/DC released its latest album Rock or Bust in November that year and has been touring ever since to promote it.

7 Tips for Expanding Your E-Commerce Business

Nancy Clayson
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7 Tips for Expanding Your E-Commerce Business

Your domestic e-commerce business is doing well, and you’re ready to look at international markets. Expanding globally is a large project that takes great planning, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to grow your business, make new connections, and reach people around the world with your products.

Discover Your Target International Markets

If you run an online store, you probably already have customers, or at least website visitors, from other countries. Check your sales data to see if any patterns exist; maybe one of your products is doing great in the London market, and another is popular in South Africa. You don’t have to have customers from a specific market to look into it. Expand your search into other markets to see if you have a product line that might do well.

Focus On a Few Initial Test Markets

Once you’ve researched potential international markets, begin your global expansion by focusing on the one or two markets that have the most potential. Research your test markets extremely rigorously, from the local economy to labor costs to taxes, to decide whether it’s a suitable place to focus your global business expansion. You should also do market research so you know which products to make available, and which ones to push.

Use Online Software for Money Matters

Expanding globally means taking other currencies as payment. Accept as many forms of payment as you can through your website. Having the right software is immensely helpful when it comes to taking payments; when you automate the process online, tracking payments from other countries becomes easier. The best payment software directly connects with accounting software, which is what Sage’s intuitive electronic payment systems do. Electronic payment software helps protect you from fraud, too, for which the business can now be held liable.

Image via Flickr by ganderssen1
Image via Flickr by ganderssen1

Get a Feel For the Country

The best way to explore an international market is to visit in person. If business travel is possible for you, then visit your target markets with the intention of making business connections and finding out more about how the local population makes purchasing decisions. When an in-person visit isn’t possible, use professional social media sites to connect with business people from those regions. Connect with potential customers, too. A few tweets or blog comments can go a long way.

Think Logistics

Learn the laws and regulations about importing to the countries you want to reach. Think about whether you’re going to manufacture goods overseas, or ship them to the destinations. In either case, you need a plan in place. Customers want to know how long they must wait before their orders arrive. Think about local taxes in the regions you’ll be reaching, and get the right information about exporting from the U.S.

Advertise Appropriately

The advertisements you use for domestic audiences aren’t going to work internationally, sometimes for reasons as simple as language barriers, and sometimes for complicated cultural reasons. Research how your industry does its marketing. Learn from other industries’ marketing, too. Both your advertisements and your web presence should change based on who is on the other end of the connection. Take, for example, makeup trends in the U.S. versus Japan. Ads for something as simple as a black eyeliner crayon will differ drastically based on each country’s fashion trends.

Create an Infrastructure

You’ll be starting small, but that doesn’t mean you want to stay small. As you’re doing your research and planning your entry into a new market, create a plan for expansion, complete with growth stages. Make it as general as possible, so you can do it again in other markets by filling in the required data. If you have the steps laid out, and a basic infrastructure set up for entering into and expanding within a new international market, you’ll be able to repeat the process much more quickly next time.

Remember that research and planning is key. You’ll need more research than you did when you started selling locally, because these markets and cultures are unfamiliar to you. Though the process is time-consuming, by following these tips you can absolutely expand your e-commerce business globally.

Ready or Not Here Comes Climate Change

James J. Williams
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Ready or Not Here Comes Climate Change

Climate change has been a very heated topic in the U.S. for several years now. At first hailed as a hoax by many conservative politicians, climate change is now widely viewed as a very real and proven threat caused by humans. However, several states that face some of the worst effects of global warming are still either rejecting climate change entirely or very grudgingly beginning to make minor changes to better prepare for these effects.

Two States in Denial

Both North Carolina and Florida, two states that border the ocean, one of which is entirely surrounded by water, are known for their controversial and outdated views on climate change. North Carolina and Florida stand to receive some of the worst effects of climate change, such as increasing sea levels that could force many residents to abandon their homes.

Despite the overwhelming scientific evidence that supports the climate change theory, these states’ governments have taken elaborate steps to quiet environmentalists and scientific reports, and condemn the climate change theory as false.

North Carolina

As recently as 2012, North Carolina effectively outlawed climate change.

After receiving a report that detailed how sea levels along the coast would rise as much as 39 inches over a span of 100 years, the General Assembly outlawed any communities from passing new laws based on the information provided in the report.

The popular Comedy Central TV show, The Colbert Report, made North Carolina’s ruling national news when it ridiculed the state government’s decision on air. Due to the backlash North Carolina’s government received from this, the state finally accepted a new report in 2015 that laws could be based on, reversing the decision to essentially outlaw climate change. However, the new report shows less dire sea level increases since it only looks ahead about 30 years. Hardly a victory for passionate environmental residents in North Carolina hoping to see real changes being made.

Florida

Florida, on the other hand, is still actively in denial on the issue of climate change. According to scientists, Florida is one of, if not the most susceptible state in the country to the effects of climate change.

The Florida government, however, does not seem concerned given the fact that officials throughout the state’s government and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection were banned from even mentioning the phrases “climate change,” “global warming,” and “sustainability” by Gov. Rick Scott in 2011. This law still seems to be in effect today. How can any promising changes be made when officials aren’t even allowed to mention the issue by name?

Image via Flickr by John Englart
Image via Flickr by John Englart

What You Can Do

Residents of states like North Carolina and Florida are left to their own devices to figure out how they can actively become more environmentally conscious. All hope is not lost, though. There are a variety of steps you can take if you reside in one of these problem states, or anywhere in the U.S. Here’s a list of ideas to help you, your family, and your community lessen the effects of climate change:

  • Recycle, recycle, recycle: recycling and reusing materials is more important than ever as waste pollution is having a more damaging effect on the planet every day.
  • Support green businesses: Be selective where you take your business. Try to support local businesses that work to be as energy-efficient and green as possible, like Air Treatment Inc. This local North Carolina HVAC company does their best to debunk home maintenance myths and raise the energy efficiency of every home, reduce carbon emissions, and keep indoor air quality up.
  • Drive less, walk more: If you can, try to use your car as little as possible and instead take public transportation, walk, or carpool with friends.
  • Bring your own bags: Single-use plastic bags are now being banned by entire cities, and even one state so far, due to their destructive and wasteful impact. If your city is still using them, be sure to bring reusable bags with you to the store and pass on the plastic.

Climate change is a very real threat. Although your state government may ignore the scientific evidence, don’t stop fighting to make your community as environmentally conscious and eco-friendly as possible.

Maria Sharapova Failed Drug Test at Australian Open 2016

Clyde K. Valle
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Maria Sharapova Failed Drug Test at Australian Open 2016

Maria Sharapova has revealed she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open in January.

The 28-year-old former world No 1 tested positive for meldonium, a substance she has been taking since 2006 for health issues.

Maria Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, is provisionally suspended from March 12 pending further action.

“I did fail the test and take full responsibility for it,” she said.

“For the past 10 years I have been given a medicine called mildronate by my family doctor and a few days ago after I received a letter from the ITF [International Tennis Federation] I found out it also has another name of meldonium, which I did not know.”

Maria Sharapova won the Wimbledon title as a 17-year-old in 2004.

The Russian, who lives in Florida, provided the anti-doping sample in question on January 26, the day she lost to Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) analyzed the sample and returned a positive for meldonium, leading to the Russian being charged on March 2.

“It is very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on WADA’s banned list and I had been legally taking that medicine for the past 10 years,” said Maria Sharapova.

“But on January 1 the rules had changed and meldonium became a prohibited substance, which I had not known.”

Maria Sharapova added: “I received an email on December 22 from WADA about the changes happening to the banned list and you can see prohibited items – and I didn’t click on that link.”

She has been the highest-earning female athlete in the world for the past 11 years, according to the Forbes list.

She first reached world No 1 in August 2005 and is currently seventh in the rankings – but she has played just four tournaments since Wimbledon last July as she struggled with an arm injury.

Maria Sharapova, who turns 29 in April, hopes to be able to return to tennis in the future.

However, there had been speculation Maria Sharapova was going to announce her retirement and a large media contingent gathered for the Los Angeles news conference, which was streamed live online.

“I know many of you thought that I would be retiring today but if I was ever going to announce my retirement it would not be in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with this fairly ugly carpet,” she said.

Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) president Steve Simon said he is “very saddened” at Maria Sharapova’s failed test.

“Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity,” he added.

“As Maria acknowledged, it is every player’s responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.

“This matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures. The WTA will support the decisions reached through this process.”

Oil Price Reaches $40 a Barrel for First Time in 2016

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Oil Price Reaches $40 a Barrel for First Time in 2016

Oil price has reached $40 a barrel for the first time this year as commodities continue to rally.

Brent crude later fell slightly and was trading at $39.81 a barrel.Oil price March 2016

Oil dropped below $28 in January, but has since risen as part of a wider recovery in energy and metal prices.

The price of iron also shot up, rising 19% amid greater optimism about Chinese economic growth and demand for the metal in the country’s refineries.

Iron ore is heading for the biggest price increase in a single day since 2009, according to data from MetalBulletin.

The price of copper has increased by 6.9% in 2016 and aluminum is up 5.3%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ORNkQtvFw

Nigeria: Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh Accused of Stealing $20 Million

Diane A. Wade
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Nigeria: Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh Accused of Stealing $20 Million

Former Nigerian chief of defense Alex Badeh has been accused of stealing $20 million from the air force and buying a mansion.

Retired Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh denies 10 charges of fraud, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

He was appointed chief of defense two years ago.

ACM Alex Badeh is accused of using the funds to buy a mansion in the capital Abuja along with a string of other properties.Alex Badeh arrested

More than $1 million in cash was also reportedly found at one of his homes.

Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, front-line troops complained that they were ill-equipped to fight the militants and discipline in the army was breaking down as soldiers refused to carry out orders.

An investigation has alleged that a total of $2 billion meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram had gone missing.

The former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki, was charged in December in connection with the case involving $68 million that is alleged to be missing. He was accused of awarding phantom contracts to buy helicopters, fighter jets and ammunition, which he denied.

Twelve other senior Nigerian army officers were handed over to the anti-corruption agency in February for their alleged involvement in the arms scandal.

Muhammadu Buhari won elections a year ago on promises to tackle both Boko Haram and corruption.

Refugee Crisis: Turkey and EU Emergency Summit Held in Brussels

Diane A. Wade
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Refugee Crisis: Turkey and EU Emergency Summit Held in Brussels

Leaders from Turkey and EU have gathered in Brussels for an emergency summit on tackling Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War Two.

The EU aims to stem the flow of refugees and plans to declare the route north through the Balkans closed.

It will press Turkey to take back economic migrants and has pledged to give Ankara €3 billion ($3.3 billion).

In 2015, more than a million people entered the EU illegally by boat, mainly going from Turkey to Greece.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Many refugees leave Greece in a bid to reach northern Europe, but eight countries have introduced temporary border controls.

Some 13,000 refugees are currently stranded in northern Greece, after Macedonia, backed by Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia, closed its border to all but a trickle of refugees.

The human cost of the migrant crisis was brought home again on Sunday when a boat capsized off Turkey with the loss of 25 lives.

EU states remain divided over their response to the crisis with strains showing this year even in Germany and Sweden, seen as the countries most open to refugees.

Anti-migrant parties won a general election in Slovakia on March 5 which saw the far right gaining seats.

The summit will be in two parts – the first session will involve Turkey, while in the second part UK Prime Minister David Cameron will join other EU leaders in seeking to reach a common approach to the crisis.

The EU is expected to ask Turkey to take back thousands of refugees who do not qualify for asylum.

In return the EU will discuss plans to resettle in Europe some refugees already in Turkey.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated last week Turkey was ready to take back all migrants apprehended in Turkish waters.

EU leaders are also likely to raise the issue of the Zaman newspaper, the biggest opposition journal in Turkey.

On March 4, a Turkish court ordered the seizure of the Zaman, increasing fears for media freedom. Two days later it was publishing pro-government articles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfp1-bn4smA

North Korea Angered by US and South Korea War Games

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea Angered by US and South Korea War Games

North Korea has threatened the US and South Korea with nuclear strikes as the two begin their largest ever military drills.

The US and South Korean exercises, Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, are an annual event and always generate tension.

The order for a “pre-emptive nuclear strike of justice” was made in a statement put out by Pyongyang.

Such rhetoric is not uncommon, and experts doubt North Korea’s ability to put nuclear warheads on its missiles.

North Korea says it sees the annual US-South Korean war games as a rehearsal for invasion.

In 2015, North Korea threatened to turn Washington into a “sea of fire”.

“We will launch an all-out offensive to decisively counter the US and its followers’ hysteric[al] nuclear war moves,” a newsreader on the state-run North Korean KRT news channel said of the latest exercises.North Korea threatens with nuclear strikes

Approximately 17,000 US forces are participating in the exercises, alongside around 300,000 South Korean troops – both significant increases on 2015’s numbers.

Despite starting on the same day, Key Resolve is more computer simulation-driven and ends on March 18, while Foal Eagle is more focussed on field exercises and runs until 30 April.

South Korea’s defense ministry has warned Pyongyang against any “rash act that brings destruction upon itself”.

“If North Korea ignores our warning and makes provocations, our military will firmly and mercilessly respond to it,” said spokesman Moon Sang-gyun.

Japan’s foreign minister also demanded that North Korea show restraint.

Though unconfirmed, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing military sources, has reported that the exercises will include training for precision attacks on North Korean leadership and its nuclear and missile facilities.

Seoul is expected to announce more sanctions of its own on March 8, which is likely to draw another angry response from Pyongyang.

Bernie Sanders Wins Maine Caucuses

Diane A. Wade
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Bernie Sanders Wins Maine Caucuses

Democrat Bernie Sanders has won the Maine caucuses, beating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nomination race.

With 91% of the vote counted, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is polling 64%, while former Hillary Clinton has 36%.

In the Republican race, Marco Rubio easily won Puerto Rico’s primary, beating Donald Trump.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump remain overall leaders in the nomination campaigns.

On March 6, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clash on a number of issues in a CNN-hosted debate in Flint, Michigan.

They traded accusations on economy and trade, with Hillary Clinton saying her rival voted against a bailout of the US car industry in 2009.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“I went with them. You did not. If everybody had voted the way he [Bernie Sanders] did, I believe the auto industry would have collapsed, taking four million jobs with it,” Hillary Clinton said.

Bernie Sanders countered by saying: “I will be damned if it was the working people of this country who have to bail out the crooks on Wall Street.”

He described the measures taken at the time as “the Wall Street bailout where some of your [Hillary Clinton’s] friends destroyed this economy”.

During March 5 voting, Bernie Sanders took two states – Kansas and Nebraska – but Hillary Clinton maintained her Democratic front-runner status after a big victory in Louisiana.

While the win in Puerto Rico will boost Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s campaign, it sends just 23 delegates to the Republican convention which nominates a presidential candidate.

Republican hopefuls need the votes of 1,237 delegates to get the nod for the presidential race proper.

Marco Rubio still trails well behind Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Speaking after wins in the Republican Kentucky caucuses and Louisiana primary election on Saturday, Donald Trump told a news conference: “I would love to take on Ted Cruz one on one.”

“Marco Rubio had a very very bad night and personally I call for him to drop out of the race. I think it’s time now that he dropped out of the race. I really think so.”

Ted Cruz – who won Republican caucuses in Kansas and Maine – said he believed that “as long as the field remains divided, it gives Donald an advantage”.

Ray Tomlinson Dead: Email Inventor Dies at 74

Nancy Clayson
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Ray Tomlinson Dead: Email Inventor Dies at 74

Raymond Tomlinson, who is credited with the invention of email, has passed away at the age of 74.

The Internet pioneer came up with the idea of electronic messages that could be sent from one network to another in 1971.

Ray Tomlinson’s invention included the ground-breaking use of the “@” symbol in email addresses, which is now standard.

He died of an apparent heart attack on March 5, according to reports.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Ray Tomlinson sent what is now regarded as the first email while working in Boston as an engineer for research company Bolt, Beranek and Newman.

Bolt, Beranek and Newman played a big role in developing an early version of the internet, known as Arpanet.

However, Ray Tomlinson later said he could not remember what was in that first test message, describing it as “completely forgettable”.

Ray Tomlinson’s work was recognized by his peers in 2012, when he was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_P0uaO0Q_M

Babak Zanjani Sentenced to Death for Corruption

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Babak Zanjani Sentenced to Death for Corruption

Iranian billionaire Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption, justice officials say.

Babak Zanjani, 42, was arrested in December 2013 after accusations that he withheld billions in oil revenue channeled through his companies. He denies the allegations.

One of Iran’s richest men, Babak Zanjani was convicted of fraud and economic crimes, a judiciary spokesperson said at a press briefing.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

The billionaire was blacklisted by the US and EU for helping Iran evade oil sanctions.

Two others were sentenced to death along with him and all were ordered to repay embezzled funds. The ruling can be appealed.

In a separate development, a cargo of Iranian crude oil arrived at a Spanish refinery in San Roque on March 6, the first delivery to an EU state since sanctions were lifted.

The Monte Toledo offloaded 1 million barrels at the refinery belonging to Spanish oil company Cepsa.

Before the oil embargo imposed by the EU in 2012, one in every five barrels of crude Iran exported was sold to refineries in Europe.

Marco Rubio Wins Puerto Rico Primaries

Diane A. Wade
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Marco Rubio Wins Puerto Rico Primaries

Republican Marco Rubio has won the latest contest in the battle to be the GOP’s presidential candidate, a day after being urged to quit the race.

With more than a quarter of votes counted, Marco Rubio has nearly 75% of the vote in Puerto Rico.

Despite his projected second victory in the state-by-state contest, Marco Rubio still trails Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

On March 5, Donald Trump called for a “one-on-one” battle with Ted Cruz, urging other rivals to quit the race.

Photo marcorubio.com
Photo marcorubio.com

In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are awaiting the outcome of a nominating contest in Maine, and preparing for a Sunday night debate in Flint, Michigan.

Speaking after wins in the Republican Kentucky caucuses and Louisiana primary election on Saturday, Donald Trump told a news conference: “I would love to take on Ted Cruz one on one.”

“Marco Rubio had a very very bad night and personally I call for him to drop out of the race. I think it’s time now that he dropped out of the race. I really think so.”

Meanwhile, Texas Senator Ted Cruz – who won Republican caucuses in Kansas and Maine – said he believed that “as long as the field remains divided, it gives Donald an advantage”.

While the win in Puerto Rico will boost Marco Rubio’s campaign, it sends just 23 delegates to the Republican convention which nominates a presidential candidate. Republican hopefuls need the votes of 1,237 delegates to get the nod for the presidential race proper.

Nancy Reagan Dies of Congestive Failure Aged 94

Nancy Clayson
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Nancy Reagan Dies of Congestive Failure Aged 94

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan has passed away at the age of 94.

She died of congestive heart failure at her Bel Air home, the Reagan library said.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Nancy Reagan’s 52-year marriage to ex-President Ronald Reagan was once described as the US presidency’s greatest love affair.

From 1981-89 Nancy Reagan was one of the most influential first ladies in US history; initially criticized for an expensive renovation of the White House, but later becoming a much-loved figure.

Nancy Reagan will be buried next to her husband, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, the library said in a statement.

President Barack Obama said Nancy Reagan “redefined the role” of First Lady.

Slovakia Elections 2016: Robert Fico Loses Parliamentary Majority

Diane A. Wade
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Slovakia Elections 2016: Robert Fico Loses Parliamentary Majority

Anti-refugee PM Robert Fico has won Slovakia’s general election but lost his parliamentary majority, almost complete results show.

The leftist-nationalist prime minister will now need to find coalition partners to return for a third term.

Gains by small parties, including an extreme right one, may produce a divided parliament with no clear path to forming a majority government.

Robert Fico, 51, has vowed not to accept “one single Muslim” migrant.Robert Fico Slovakia elections 2016

Slovakia takes over the EU’s rotating presidency in July. His hard-line views on migration echo those of Polish, Czech and Hungarian leaders.

In all, nine parties, including the far-right Our Slovakia led by Marian Kotleba, will be represented in parliament. Our Slovakia won more than 8% of the vote.

With about 50% of the vote counted, Robert Fico’s Smer-Social Democracy party is on about 29% support, which would give it 48 seats in the 150-member parliament.

As the leader of the strongest party in Saturday’s poll, Robert Fico is expected to be asked to form a new government.

Robert Fico is known for populist policies such as free train travel for students and pensioners.

He has fiercely opposed EU quotas on migrant resettlement from Greece and Italy, which would see his country take about 2,600 people.

Slovakia received only 260 asylum requests in 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRa_xxz7QVE

Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch’s Wedding Celebrated at Journalists’ Church in London

Lisa.Felice
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Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch’s Wedding Celebrated at Journalists’ Church in London

Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch have celebrated their marriage with a service at the “journalists’ church” in London.

Family and friends of the media mogul and the former supermodel gathered at St Bride’s near Fleet Street a day after their civil ceremony.

The church has a long association with newspapers and writers.

Around 100 guests attended, including the couple’s 10 children from previous relationships.Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall wedding London

It is Rupert Murdoch’s fourth marriage and the first for Herry Hall, 59, after her 1992 Bali wedding to Mick Jagger was later deemed legally void.

Australian-born Rupert Murdoch 84, whose News UK company publishes The Times and The Sun newspapers, tweeted he was “the luckiest and happiest man in world”.

St Bride’s says it offers “a spiritual home to all who work in the media” lying in the heart of an area which was once the home of most UK national newspapers.

Rupert Murdoch’s decision to dispense with his Fleet Street newsroom in the late 1980s marked a key stage in the abandonment of the area by the media industry.

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

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Urge Rival Candidates to Quit Nomination Race

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Urge Rival Candidates to Quit Nomination Race

Republican Donald Trump has called for a “one-on-one” battle with Ted Cruz, urging other rivals to quit the nomination race.

Ted Cruz also suggested it was time for other hopefuls, like Marco Rubio and John Kasich, to step aside.

Donald Trump and Ted Cruz won two states each in March 5 voting.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In the Democratic race, Bernie Sanders took two states – but Hillary Clinton maintained her front-runner status after a big victory in Louisiana.

Speaking after wins in the Republican Kentucky caucuses and Louisiana primary election, Donald Trump told a news conference: “I would love to take on Ted Cruz one on one.”

“Marco Rubio had a very very bad night and personally I call for him to drop out of the race. I think it’s time now that he dropped out of the race. I really think so.”

Meanwhile, Texas Senator Ted Cruz – who won Republican caucuses in Kansas and Maine – said he believed that “as long as the field remains divided, it gives Donald an advantage”.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Ohio Governor John Kasich have so far made no public comments on the issue.

Ted Cruz now appears to be the only candidate who can stop Donald Trump, analysts say, after a week in which the Republican establishment did everything it could to attack the New York billionaire.

Observers also point out that Ted Cruz and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders – who beat Hillary Clinton in Kansas and Nebraska – both won in states holding caucuses but lost in the Louisiana primary elections, involving far more voters.

They say that the Louisiana race also appears to have exposed Bernie Sanders’ lack of support among African-American voters.

Hillary Clinton said she was thrilled to add to her delegate count.

The former secretary of state said: “No matter who wins this Democratic nomination, I have not the slightest doubt that on our worst day we will be infinitely better than the Republicans on their best day.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-FZbAiEWsM

Dilma Rousseff Visits Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after Questioning

Diane A. Wade
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Dilma Rousseff Visits Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after Questioning

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has visited ex-leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a day after he was questioned over corruption allegations at the state oil company, Petrobras.

Dilma Rousseff appeared with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the balcony of his apartment and waved to hundreds of people who had gathered below.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said his brief arrest on March 4 is part of a campaign to sully his image and that of Dilma Rousseff.

Police are looking into payments and donations made to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s institute.

Some of Brazil’s wealthiest people as well as dozens of politicians from both the governing coalition and the opposition are also being investigated for involvement in the alleged Petrobras corruption scheme.Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Petrobras case

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a left-wing icon, left office in 2011. His Workers’ Party has been hit hard by the long-running scandal.

After his interrogation on March 4, he told reporters he was the victim of a “prejudice as a working-class man”.

Dilma Rousseff turned up at his home on March 5, along with hundreds of people showing support for the former president.

Today’s rally was peaceful in contrast to angry scenes on March 4 when protesters clashed with police outside the building.

“She is going to meet with Lula as a gesture of solidarity and support,” a press officer at the presidential palace told the Associated Press news agency.

Dilma Rousseff later could be seen on the balcony with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife Marisa.

The Workers’ Party has held the Brazilian presidency since 2003, both under Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff.

In the latest operations, police enforced 33 search and 11 detention warrants in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Bahia, officials said.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, 70, is suspected of receiving about 30 million reais ($8 million) in speaking fees and donations to his charity.

The former president’s home was among the premises targeted, as was the headquarters of the institute in Sao Paulo.

AMC Entertainment Buys Rival Carmike for $1.1 Billion

Diane A. Wade
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AMC Entertainment Buys Rival Carmike for $1.1 Billion

AMC Entertainment is acquiring rival Carmike for $1.1 billion, creating the largest US movie theater chain.

AMC is owned by Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda.AMC Entertainment buys Carmike

The Carmike acquisition comes on the heels of Wanda buying studio Legendary Entertainment, the company behind blockbusters like Jurassic World and The Dark Knight.

Dalian Wanda, the world’s biggest movie theatre operator, took over AMC in 2012 for $2.6 billion.

The rapidly growing company is led by China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin.

Wang Jianlin has been looking to buy a Hollywood studio for several years and was reported to be in talks with DreamWorks Animation in 2015, but a deal was not announced.

AMC Entertainment currently has 387 locations and 5,426 screens while Carmike has 276 theaters with 2,954 screens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ_MH2kznV8

Zaman Takeover: Authorities Take Control of Turkey’s Biggest Newspaper

Diane A. Wade
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Zaman Takeover: Authorities Take Control of Turkey’s Biggest Newspaper

The biggest Turkish newspaper, Zaman, has condemned its takeover by the authorities in a defiant last edition published just before police raided it.

March 5 edition said Turkey’s press had experienced “one of the darkest days in its history”.

Police raided Zaman‘s offices hours after a court ruling placed it under state control, but managers were still able to get the edition to print.

Zaman readers are protesting against the takeover outside the offices.

Unconfirmed reports say police have now dispersed the protest, numbering about 500 people, with tear gas and water cannon.

Zaman is closely linked to the Hizmet movement of influential US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, which Turkey says is a “terrorist” group aiming to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.

Fethullah Gulen was once an ally of Recep Tayyip Erdogan but the two fell out.

Many Hizmet supporters have been arrested.

The government in Ankara has come under increasing international criticism over its treatment of journalists.Zaman takeover 2016

Zaman’s latest edition was printed before the government-backed administrators had taken control.

“The Constitution is suspended,” a headline in large font on a black background reads on the front page.

“The Turkish press has experienced one of the darkest days in its history,” the paper adds.

“Turkey’s mass circulation newspaper was seized despite Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s assurance that <<free press is our redline>>.”

The English-language echoed its sister paper with the headline: “Shameful day for free press in Turkey.”

The court ruled on March 4 that Zaman, which has a circulation of some 650,000, should now be run by administrators. No explanation was given.

Police entered the building in Istanbul on March 4, firing tear gas at protesters who had gathered outside.

Hundreds of Zaman supporters defied the police. One held a placard saying: “We will fight for a free press.”

“I believe that free media will continue even if we have to write on the walls,” Zaman‘s editor-in-chief Abdulhamit Bilici said shortly before the raid.

“I don’t think it is possible to silence media in the digital age.”

Abdulhamit Bilici was speaking to the Cihan news agency, which was also affected by the court order.

North Korean Cargo Ship Jin Teng Seized in Philippines

Diane A. Wade
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North Korean Cargo Ship Jin Teng Seized in Philippines

A North Korean cargo ship has been seized in the Philippines in line with tightened UN sanctions targeting the country’s nuclear program.

Deputy presidential spokesman Manolo Quezon said the Philippines “has to do its part to enforce the sanctions”.

The Jin Teng cargo ship is one of 31 ships operated by North Korean company Ocean Maritime Management, which is subject to an asset freeze and sanctions.

The ship is currently docked in Subic Bay and is unloading palm kernels.North Korea Jin Teng seized in Philippines

New UN sanctions were imposed after North Korea’s recent nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

They include mandatory inspections of all cargo going to or from the DPRK.

The Philippines government says it will impound the Jin Teng and eventually deport the crew.

Safety issues were reportedly found during an inspection of the vessel by the Philippine coast guard on March 4.

A second inspection took place on March 5, coastguard spokesman Commander Armand Balilo told AFP news agency.

He said the crew of 21 had been “very cooperative”.

Ocean Maritime Management was blacklisted by the UN Security Council in 2014 after one of its ships was seized in July 2013 near the Panama Canal with Cuban weapons hidden under sugar sacks.

The company was accused in 2015 of renaming and reflagging its vessels to evade asset freezes.

The Jin Teng was sailing under a Sierra Leone flag.

Pyongyang reacted to this week’s sanctions by firing six short-range missiles into the sea.

Kim Jong-Un later ordered that North Korea’s nuclear weapons should be “ready for use” at any time.

Jerry Hall Marries Rupert Murdoch in London Ceremony

Lisa.Felice
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Jerry Hall Marries Rupert Murdoch in London Ceremony

Jerry Hall has married media mogul Rupert Murdoch in London ceremony.

Rupert Murdoch, whose News company publishes The Times and The Sun newspapers, and Jerry Hall married in a civil ceremony at Spencer House.

It is 84-year-old Rupert Murdoch’s fourth marriage and the first for Jerry Hall, 59, after her 1992 Bali wedding to Mick Jagger was later deemed legally void.

Australian-born Rupert Murdoch, who now has US nationality, tweeted he was “the luckiest and happiest man in world”.Rupert Murdoch marries Jerry Hall

Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch will hold a private ceremony of celebration on March 5 at London’s St Bride’s Church, in Fleet Street, which proclaims itself as the “spiritual home of the media”.

They announced their engagement in the births, marriages and deaths section of The Times in January.

Rupert Murdoch, whose family controls 120 newspapers in five countries, split up with his third wife Wendi Deng in 2013.

His relationship with Jerry Hall reportedly began last summer and they are rumored to have got engaged while in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall are reported to have been introduced to each other in Australia by one of Murdoch’s sisters and his niece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J6zJMwHcQk

Study: Early Exposure to Peanut Products Offers Long-Lasting Allergy Protection

Kathryn R. Bown
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Study: Early Exposure to Peanut Products Offers Long-Lasting Allergy Protection

A new research has showed that eating peanut products as a baby could cut the risk of allergy.

Last year, a study claimed early exposure to peanut products could cut the risk by 80%.

Now researchers say “long-lasting” allergy protection can be sustained – even when the snacks are later avoided for a year.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the new study looked at 550 children deemed prone to developing a peanut allergy.Peanut allergy study

The latest paper builds on the results of the 2015 research, which was also carried out by King’s College London and marked the first time scientists were able to suggest that exposing children to small amounts of peanut snacks could stave off an allergy.

The new study suggests that if a child has consumed peanut snacks within the first 11 months of life, then at the age of five they can afford to stop eating the food entirely for a year, and maintain no allergy.

The researchers used the same children who took part in the 2015 study – half of whom had been given peanut snacks as a baby while the remainder had been fed on a diet of breast milk alone.

The children taking part in the study were considered prone to peanut allergy, because they had already developed eczema as a baby – an early warning sign of allergies.

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