Home Blog Page 279

Massive Tornadoes Hit Southern US Killing at Least Three People

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Massive Tornadoes Hit Southern US Killing at Least Three People

Several powerful tornadoes hit the southern United States on February 23, killing at least three people, officials said.

Homes and businesses have been destroyed after tornadoes lashed Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.

The deaths occurred when mobile homes were destroyed in Louisiana and Mississippi, officials said.

Meteorologists said the storm system could hit Alabama and Georgia later on Wednesday, February 24.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Two people died at a trailer park in Convent, southern Louisiana, where 90% of the homes were destroyed, emergency services said.

“These travel trailers were picked up, thrown a considerable distance and just mangled,” Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said.

John Bel Edwards said it was a “minor miracle” that more people had not been killed because most of the trailers were occupied when the storm hit.

At least 30 people were taken to hospital in Louisiana, most of them from the trailer park.

The other death occurred near the southern Mississippi town of Purvis, the National Weather Service said.

A tornado was also reported in the northern Florida town of Pensacola, the weather service said.

According to local media, three buildings in an apartment complex had been badly damaged and thousands of people in the region were without power.

Donald Trump Wins Nevada Cementing His Lead in GOP Nomination Race

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Wins Nevada Cementing His Lead in GOP Nomination Race

Donald Trump has easily won Nevada, cementing his lead in the race for GOP nomination.

The Republican presidential hopeful now has three consecutive wins, after victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, who have been attacking each other this week, are vying for second place.

GOP officials said they were looking into reports of double voting and not enough ballots at one caucus site.

Some volunteers also wore clothing in support of Donald Trump, but officials said this was not against the rules.

Photo AP
Photo AP

In his victory speech, Donald Trump told a roaring crowd of supporters: “We’re winning, winning, winning the country, and soon the country is going to start winning, winning, winning.”

Nevada, typically a swing state with a substantial Latino population, is crucial to the election process. Hillary Clinton won the state on February 20 in the Democratic race.

Some 30 delegates – around 1% of the total – are up for grabs in the Nevada caucuses, the first Republican test in the west of the United States.

Early results show Donald Trump has a 42% lead over the rest of the Republican pack, with his closest rival Marco Rubio getting 25% of the vote.

In the Democrats’ caucus in Nevada last week, Hillary Clinton beat rival Bernie Sanders by five percentage points.

On February 27, both candidates face each other in South Carolina, where they are focusing their campaigns on the black vote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdA4ru5Z1aI

Guantanamo Bay Closure: Barack Obama Presents Plans to Congress

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Guantanamo Bay Closure: Barack Obama Presents Plans to Congress

President Barack Obama has presented to Congress a plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

The Guantanamo Bay closure is one of the president’s long-standing goals.

Barack Obama wants to transfer the remaining 91 detainees to their home countries or to US military or civilian prisons.

However, Congress is deeply opposed to terror suspects being held on US soil and is expected to block the move.

The prison costs $445 million to run annually and closing it was a 2009 promise from President Barack Obama.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Human rights campaigners have repeatedly complained about the prison in Cuba, which has held 780 detainees since it opened in 2002.

Barack Obama told reporters on February 23 it undermined national security.

“This is about closing a chapter in our history,” he said.

“It reflects the lessons we’ve learned since 9/11 – lessons that must guide our nation going forward.”

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio was scathing in his criticism, saying Guantanamo prisoners do not belong on US soil.

“These are literally enemy combatants,” he said, adding he would ship terrorists straight to Guantanamo “to find out what they know”.

It estimates the move would save up to $180 million a year in cost savings.

Barack Obama, who will complete his second and final term in January, said it was important not to pass the problem on to his successor.

“Keeping this facility open is contrary to our values. It undermines our standing in the world. It is viewed as a stain on our broader record of upholding the highest standards of rule of law.”

Guantanamo Bay is located on an American naval base in south eastern Cuba.

Former President George W. Bush opened it to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 9/11 attacks on the US.

One of the key complaints from human rights groups is that many detainees have been held there without charge or trial.

The plan does not specify where in the US detainees would go.

The Pentagon has considered 13 different locations in the US, including seven prisons in Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas, and six other places on military bases.

Mars Chocolate Recall Spreads to 55 Countries

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Mars Chocolate Recall Spreads to 55 Countries

Mars Inc. has announced it is recalling Mars and Snickers bars from 55 countries, according to the AP news agency.

The move comes after bits of plastic were found in a product.

Mars initially issued a recall in Germany, but it is believed to have spread to the UK, France, Belgium, Italy and Spain.Mars chocolate recall 2016

Mars Netherlands spokesman Roel Govers is quoted by AP as saying that the recall affects 55 countries.

Other products affected include Milky Way Minis and Miniatures and certain kinds of boxes of Celebrations.

The products involved have best before dates from June 19, 2016 to January 8, 2017.

Mars has not said how many bars are affected or how much it will cost it.

A full list of products affected can be found on the company’s website, www.mars.de, but that address appeared not to be responding on February 23.

Mars said in a statement: “With this recall, we would like to prevent consumers who have purchased one of the above-mentioned products from consuming it.”

Keep Your Business Profit Margins High

Dana R
-
0
Keep Your Business Profit Margins High

The key to running the business you want is to ensure that you keep your profit margins high. If we’re being honest, that’s what running a company is all about. You need to generate as much cash as you can to keep the business running and help it expand.

Remember, when you run a business, your brand is your livelihood, and the profits will also help you to live your life. So you need to make sure your company focuses on keeping high-profit margins. Business owners regularly share their secrets for maximising profits. Here are a few ideas for you to think about and apply to your business.

Source

Low Waste

There are a lot of areas of your business that will cost you a lot of money. And, one of the main offenders in the waste levels of the business. Now, this is something you need to make sure you work on and regulate. High levels of waste can leave you haemorrhaging cash and will adversely affect your profits. Try to sort out your ordering, so it’s a little more efficient and try to make sure you waste as little as possible. This will help improve the day to day running of the company, as well as saving valuable cash to go back into the budget of the business.

Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing is the process of making your business more efficient. Essentially, you are running your business in the most efficient way using the least materials and services possible. An advantage of this is that it saves you money and increases the productivity and efficiency of the business. This is a concept that is becoming much more popular among businesses today. Along with outsourcing, it’s another way to increase efficiency and generate greater long-term profits.

Consultants

A lot of business owners know that they need to make more profits, but they often don’t know where to start. That’s why it’s often such a good idea to use business consultants these days. They will be able to give you advice and suggestions to help you improve the business. If you talk to them about the situation then together you can formulate a solution. They might well think of things that you would overlook, or wouldn’t even consider sorting out. This is a great way of making sure you get fresh ideas to help you generate higher profits.

Pixabay.com

Prioritize Your Employees

The most amount of money your business is going to make will be made by your staff. They are the heartbeat and soul of the company. So you need to do what you can to make them your priority as a business owner. This means taking care of the staff and making sure they are okay. It also means encouraging them and making the work environment a pleasant place for them to be. It’s also important to use Advance Systems to monitor their attendance and absences. You need to work together to ensure your employees are at work as much as possible, driving the business and selling to clients.

Upsell

There’s a technique you might be familiar with known as upselling. This is the process of trying to secure additional sales on top of the one the customer is already poised to make. The way to do this is to offer add-ons or reduced items as extra. Upselling is a great way of securing extra business and increasing your profit margins. And it means the customers are going to be more receptive to it the next time you try to do it. Make sure everyone in the business is encouraged to upsell, and understands how it works. You’re using the existing tools you have to try to boost your business profits.

Reduce Expenditure

The best way to make money is to save money, and the same applies in business. So, a great starting point is going to be reducing expenditure. These days it’s so expensive to run a business so you need to try to make savings wherever you can. In order to avoid the financial pitfalls of running a business, you need to focus on profits. Take a look at the different areas of the business where you’re spending a lot of money. Then you can figure out where out where you can make changes and cut costs. Get rid of anything you don’t need, and try to be a little more eco-friendly while you’re at it.

Link to Image

It is expensive to run a business these days, but even still you need to make sure you keep your profit margins high. Running a successful startup is all about making as many profits as you can. The good news is that there are so many things you can do these days to try to improve your profit margins. Use some of the ideas on this post to help you achieve the best profit margins for your company.

Dutch Train Crash Kills at Least One Person near Dalfsen

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Dutch Train Crash Kills at Least One Person near Dalfsen

At least one person died after a passenger train has derailed near the Dutch town of Dalfsen, officials say.

The train hit a hydraulic crane on a crossing, tilted over and went into a field, leaving several carriages lying on their sides.

According to residents, the crane had been crossing the line, east of the city of Zwolle, when the train ran into it.

The local mayor said one person was dead. Another six were hurt, and one had serious injuries.

Witnesses said the train driver had been killed but there was no immediate confirmation from the operator, Arriva.Dalfsen train crash

Mayor Han Noten told Dutch media that 10 to 15 people had been on board at the time of the crash, shortly before 09:00 local time.

“Luckily it wasn’t the busiest train, so as regards casualties it won’t be as bad as it could have been,” he said, although it was a tragedy for the dead and wounded.

Emergency services said some managed to clamber out of the carriages but they were searching the wreckage for anyone still trapped.

The train had been heading east from Zwolle, RTV Oost reported. Local services on the line were likely to be disrupted for the rest of the day while an investigation was carried out by the Dutch Safety Board.

Police were talking to the crane driver who had managed to jump clear shortly before the accident.

It was not yet clear whether he was being treated as a suspect. Little was left of the crane’s cabin after the crash.

There were 30 accidents on Dutch level crossings in 2015 which claimed the lives of 13 people, reports said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRr9pNCjQiQ

3 Great Tips For SMS Marketing

Dana R
-
0
3 Great Tips For SMS Marketing

Marketing is important for every business, but for small businesses it’s almost everything! If you don’t reel in enough revenue during your opening months, your business could be in danger of failing. With all the modern emphasis on social media and SEO, you might not consider a lot of other marketing strategies. SMS marketing is a highly effective technique you could be tapping into. Here’s how to use it!

phones

Image: Flickr

One popular strategy is encouraging customers to interact with your business. Think about the internet going portable and the speed of modern communications. The average customer expects businesses to be fairly engaged with them. If you received a simple “buy now” message from a company, I’m sure you wouldn’t be won over very easily. A lot of consumers even end up resenting brands for this kind of outreach. You need to make your customers feel valued and rewarded with your SMS campaigns. Try sending out a promotional code or a password to enter into a competition. You don’t even need to offer a solid incentive, just make sure you’re encouraging interaction!

apple-iphone-smartphone

Image: Pexels

If your business has a few physical outlets, then you might want to try localising your SMS campaigns. This is another way of making your customer base feel special and valued. Plan out a few in-store promotions or competitions, and then limit your SMS campaign to subscribers who are linked to one local outlet. You could use localised SMS marketing to encourage further interaction as well. For example, if you’re selling car accessories, you could set up a dedicated number to help your customers find ones which will fit with their car. Display the number in-store, and ask your customers to text in their model name. Then, have a program which replies with a list of different parts which would fit their car. When you throw in these fun little gimmicks, your customers will be much more receptive to bulk SMS campaigns.

My final tip is to link your SMS marketing with other marketing channels. The world of marketing has come a long way since billboards and newspaper ads. All campaigns are now rooted in the digital arena. You need to fit in with this to make sure you’re not falling behind your competitors. While everyone with a phone can receive SMS messages, not everyone is that involved with social media. Try sending your customer base mentions of exciting social media promotions over time. You’ll find that lot of them become even more invested in your business. Almost everyone can exit their messaging app, and get straight onto Twitter or Facebook with a couple of taps. You need to keep the state of modern technology in mind, and make sure you’re not skipping out any channels. Of course, this is not reserved only for businesses, you could also use it as a mass texting service for nonprofits.

These tips don’t cover everything you need to know about SMS, but they’re certainly the most helpful I can give. I’ll leave it with one little warning: always get permission. Nothing will stir up resentment for your brand faster than a stream of unwanted texts!

United Technologies Rebuffs New Merger Offer from Honeywell

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
United Technologies Rebuffs New Merger Offer from Honeywell

United Technologies has rejected a new merger offer from Honeywell International on concerns it will not be approved by antitrust regulators.

Honeywell is said to have offered $108 per share for United Technologies last week, a more than 20% premium to the share price at the time.

United Technologies said the two companies only held “preliminary” conversations.

A tie up would have created one of the aerospace industry’s largest companies worth more than $160 billion.United Technologies Honeywell merger offer

However, United Technologies broke off talks because a deal “would face insurmountable regulatory obstacles and strong customer opposition”.

“[It] could either be blocked outright or conditioned on significant divestitures after a lengthy and disruptive review period that would destroy shareholder value,” the company said in a statement.

This isn’t the first time Honeywell and United Technologies have held merger talks.

Honeywell and United Technologies explored combining in 2000 but United Technologies ended discussions after General Electric submitted a rival bid.

The subsequent GE and Honeywell deal was rejected by European regulators on fears it would lead to higher prices for airlines and consumers.

Interesting Ways Hospitals Are Trying To Increase Productivity

Dana R
-
0
Interesting Ways Hospitals Are Trying To Increase Productivity

hospital

(Link to picture: https://goo.gl/RXA7mZ)

Hospitals often come in for a lot of stick because they seem unproductive. You have long waiting times and, when you’re a patient, it feels like nothing ever gets done. This is not the case, of course, things are getting done in hospitals, and they’re trying to be more productive.

In fact, I did a bit of research and figured out how they aim to do just that:

Scientific Research

Hospitals rely on scientific research a lot. It’s the only way that cures get found, drugs get created, and diseases can be treated. Without it, there would be a lot of doctors running around trying to figure out what to do. Imagine a hospital with no drugs or treatment for patients? It would be madness. But, luckily, there have been great strides in medical research over the years. More drugs are being developed, and more cures are being found. This means that doctors can treat more diseases, and help more patients. So, they can be more productive as a result of this. Naturally, as the research continues to improve, hospitals will become even more productive.

Quicker Information

Technology makes everyone more productive, and it’s extremely effective in hospitals. On a daily basis, hospitals will use various pieces of technology to remain productive and get more things done on time. For example, they use new x-ray tech that lets them analyse results within seconds. Similarly, they use Radiology Information Systems to help keep track of things in the radiology department. Likewise, doctors keep patient records in online files, so it’s easier for them to obtain. If a patient is transferred to a new hospital, the doctors there can get their records in just a few moments. Life is considerably easier for hospital workers because of the use of technology in the workplace.

Social Media For Doctors

Following on from the point about quicker information, doctors are also using social media to exchange info. Of course, it’s against the law for them to discuss patients on regular sites like Twitter or Facebook. Instead, there are social networking sites that have been created specifically for doctors to use. The only way you’ll be able to access these sites is if you’re a registered doctor. On them, they can speak to one another about certain cases and ask for help to solve them. It means that one doctor is now being helped by numerous other doctors, while still doing their work. While they’re off seeing a patient, loads of doctors from all over the country could be on social media solving the problem they asked. The end result is this; doctors are solving more cases, and in quicker times too. So, productivity increases.

Scheduling

Much is made of the way doctors and nurses work during the day. The scheduling patterns are tough and awkward, but they’re trying to change that. Hospitals are looking for new ways to schedule their staff for shifts. The aim is to ensure the place is fully staffed at all times, and there’s no waiting period between shifts.

As you can see, hospitals are trying to improve productivity. It’s not easy, but they’re trying their best to provide top of the range healthcare to patients.

Delhi Water Supply Partially Restored

Diane A. Wade
-
0

Water has begun to return to Delhi residents, where up to 10 million of people were affected after protesters sabotaged a key canal.

The Indian army took control of the Munak canal in neighboring Haryana state on February 22 after Jat community protesters, angry at caste job quotas, seized it.

Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra said the “crisis was still not over” and urged people to use water carefully.

The city’s schools, which were closed because of the crisis, have reopened.

Sixteen million people live in the Indian capital Delhi, and around three-fifths of the city’s water is supplied by the Munak canal, which runs through Haryana.

Kapil Mishra tweeted on February 23 that “some water has been released” from the canal. This had led to the restoration of partial supplies in north and central Delhi, he said.

He said more than 70 water tankers from these areas had been moved to the western part of the city, where partial supplies would be “hopefully” restored by Tuesday evening.

“The supply will be limited till the time the Munak [canal] is totally repaired. The crisis is not yet over. People should use water carefully,” he said.

Senior water board official Neeraj Semwal told the AFP news agency that four of Delhi’s nine water treatment plants were operating, forcing rationing of supplies to many areas.

“We are hoping to restore partial services in the next two to three days and 100% supply within the next 15 days,” Neeraj Semwal said.

It is not clear how many households are still without water.

Prior warnings meant that people had managed to save water, and tankers had been dispatched to affected areas of the city, but that this has not been enough to make up for the shortfall.

The army took control of parts of the canal on Monday morning, but repairs are expected to take time. Eighteen people have been killed and hundreds injured in three days of riots.

Protesters went on the rampage despite a curfew and the deployment of the army, which is reported to have opened fire on them, in the districts of Rohtak and Jhajjar.

Fiji: Cyclone Winston Death Toll Rises to 29

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Fiji: Cyclone Winston Death Toll Rises to 29

The death toll of cyclone Winston that hit Fiji at the weekend has risen to 29, with officials warning the clear-up could take months.

About 8,500 people are still sheltering in evacuation centers.

Cyclone Winston, a category 5 storm, has flattened many buildings in parts of the main Viti Levu island and Koro islands, Fijian officials said.

It brought winds of over 200mph, torrential rain and waves of up to 40ft.

The storm has been described by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation as the worst to ever hit the country.Cyclone Winston death toll Fiji

Government spokesman Ewan Perrin told Radio New Zealand that the houses of 2,000 families who lived on Koro island had been “pretty much flattened”.

Eight bodies were found there on February 22.

Rescue workers warned that the death toll could rise further as some of the worst-hit outlying islands have yet to be reached.

The New Zealand Air Force has helped Fijian rescuers carry out aerial inspections across almost all the islands, Ewan Perrin said.

Officials say the priority now is to provide water and shelter to Fijians as they begin rebuilding their homes.

Many parts of the country remain without power.

However, officials said the destruction could have been far worse had the storm not changed direction at the last minute, sparing the capital Suva its full impact.

The government has declared a state of emergency and called on private companies to help provide transport and relief supplies.

Officials had also put in place a nationwide curfew, giving police extra powers of arrest, but it was lifted on February 22.

Schools have shut for a week, but the main airport has reopened to receive humanitarian supplies and allow tourists to leave.

Australia and New Zealand have authorized the release of emergency aid supplies held in Suva.

How To Embrace Your New Life As A Mom

Dana R
-
0
How To Embrace Your New Life As A Mom

pregnancy

Image sourced

Becoming a mom is one of the most life-changing things to happen in a woman’s life. It’s one long journey. A journey of sleepless nights and milestones. The never ending questions and anxious feelings of failure. All mixed with having to lead the life you had before. But you’re different, you are not the same person anymore.

How could you be? Now you are not only responsible for yourself but a tiny baby that needs you more than you could ever know. To feed and care for them, to love them unconditionally. To bring them up the best way you can and keep them safe from all harm. You have no choice, and of course, you are happy to do it. You made the conscious decision to become a mom in the first place. But no one ever knows how much their lives will change when they welcome that precious bundle of joy.

A lot of women struggle with this. Few are aware that it’s all normal behavior. But as time goes on you realize you have lost a little bit of yourself. It’s difficult to understand where the baby ends and you as a person begins.

We lose our identity, some of us lose friends, we become isolated and desperate for a little bit of ourselves back.

It’s not all bad. Life as a mom can be fantastic, and witnessing your child grow up is an absolute honor.

But there are ways that you can have the best of both worlds. You can be mom but also have your own identity. Here’s how you can achieve just that.

baby-feet

Image Sourced

Take some time for yourself

Me time is so important as a new mom. If you can get a family member to watch your little one for a while then fantastic, but if you are restricted on childcare don’t let that put you off. Make sure you take advantage of every baby free moment you have. When the baby has a nap, you get some rest yourself. When the baby is in bed at night, run yourself a nice hot bath and take some time for you.

Read a new book and drink a hot drink without being disturbed. Spend some time with your partner or friends. Do what you would have done for yourself before a baby because you still need that time to unwind. As much as we love being with our little ones, we also still have hobbies we enjoy or interests we want to pursue.

mom

Image Sourced

Find your new identity and embrace it.

Your figure may have changed. Maybe your have noticed that your style is a little different. Perhaps you have long hair but want to have a shorter style for convenience. Whatever it is about your identity embrace it and go with it. Love your new figure and rock it. You have just had a baby; you are amazing! If you want a new hairstyle, then go for it. If you are worried about your style and find yourself wearing the same things then now is the time to be experimental. Styled By marie claire could provide you with some inspiration and open up your mind to a whole new you. Fashion and beauty trends that you may not have considered before are now ready for the taking. Don’t let your own opinion of yourself hold you back, what you see in the mirror is definitely not what the world is seeing.

Be aware of your feelings

It’s an ordinary feeling to suffer from the baby blues. The majority of new moms will have a few tears here and there and be worried about how they are doing. But be aware of when it is something a bit more than just a little cry from time to time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If you need someone to help around the house, ask someone. If you need to catch up on some sleep let your partner or family take over for a while and you get some rest.

There is nothing wrong with admitting you need help. It’s when new mom’s try to carry on that the problems can start.

Be aware of your limits

One thing you have to remember is you are not supermon. No one is. We all have our days when we feel like we are winning and we all have days when life can be too much. Accepting this and knowing your limits is one of the best pieces of advice you can follow.

Find your mom tribe

Being a mom can be lonely, so the sooner you can make some friends in a similar situation to yourself the better. Getting out into the park or attending a Gymboree class can help with your mood and feelings, as well as present you with opportunities to chat to other moms.

Once you have your tribe, make weekly arrangements. It will be the advice of these mom’s, their laughter and encouragement, and their confidence that will get you through some tough times. It’s also amazing to have someone there who can relate to how you feel. This will become invaluable to you.

Google is your friend and your foe

Don’t worry about little things and let google searching worry you. Google can have a vast amount of information, some of which won’t be relevant, so use it wisely and sparingly. The truth is you will know what to do as that motherly instinct you have heard so much about will kick in. It won’t be just you going through it. Someone somewhere will have been through exactly what you are going through. So don’t worry.

Being a mom is the most challenging thing you can do as a woman. But at the same time, it’s the most rewarding thing as well. It’s tough but amazing. Yes, embrace your new mom style, own your decisions and rock it. But most importantly enjoy every minute you have, because they really do grow up so quickly. They won’t be babies for long.

Syria Crisis: US and Russia Agree on February 27 Ceasefire

Roy Siemens
-
0
Syria Crisis: US and Russia Agree on February 27 Ceasefire

Russia and the US have agreed on a Syrian ceasefire scheduled to come into effect at midnight on February 27, a draft of the plan reveals.

The timing follows US-Russian talks at the weekend.

On February 12, Russia and the US had agreed a truce to come into effect within a week, but that deadline passed and skepticism remains over the new plan.

Violence has continued unabated in Syria, with 140 killed in bombings in Homs and Damascus on February 21.

More than 250,000 Syrians have died in the conflict which began in March 2011.Syria ceasefire 2016

Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom 4 million have fled abroad – including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe.

Reuters quoted Western diplomatic sources as saying the ceasefire would not include ISIS or the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.

US officials said the plan required government forces and the other armed opposition groups to signal their agreement to the truce by February 26.

An official announcement is expected after President Barack Obama speaks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by phone on February 22.

The deal also sets up a communications hotline and calls for a working group to monitor ceasefire violations.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on February 21 he and Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, had reached a provisional agreement on the terms for the truce. The two powers back opposing sides in the war, with Russia being President Bashar al-Assad’s strongest ally.

On February 20, President Bashar al-Assad had said he would be ready for a ceasefire, if what he termed “terrorists” did not take advantage of the lull in the fighting.

Government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, have been making advances against rebels around the northern city of Aleppo.

Analysts say there will be huge skepticism about the possibility of an effective ceasefire, given the current fighting and failure of the first deadline.

Even if the partial truce holds, Russia is likely to continue its air strikes, which the US coalition says are mainly targeting anti-Assad forces and are hitting civilians.

It is also unclear whether Kurdish forces, which have been making ground in the north, sparking artillery fire from Turkey, will abide by any truce.

Delhi Water Crisis: Ten Million of People Affected by Jat Quota Protest

Diane A. Wade
-
0

Ten million of people in Delhi, India, are without water despite the army regaining control of its key water source after protests, officials say.

According to officials, it would take “three to four days” before normal supplies resumed to affected areas.

Jat community protesters demanding more government jobs seized the Munak canal, Delhi’s main water source on February 19.

Sixteen people have been killed and hundreds hurt in three days of riots.

The Munak canal supplies around three-fifths of water to Delhi’s 16 million residents.

Schools in the city were also closed after supplies from the canal were sabotaged during the protests.Delhi water crisis

The army took control of parts of the canal on February 22, but repairs are expected to take time.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that the army was “trying to assess in how much time water would reach Delhi and whether any damage had been done to the canal”.

Protesters went on the rampage despite a curfew and the deployment of the army, which is reported to have opened fire on them in the districts of Rohtak and Jhajjar.

Haryana state minister Ram Bilas Sharma said the situation was returning to normal, traffic had resumed on national highways and that railway lines between Delhi and the cities of Jaipur and Chandigarh had reopened.

Ram Bilas Sharma also confirmed that the government would introduce a bill on reservations and quotas for the Jat community in the next assembly session, although he did not say when that would be.

Meanwhile, India’s federal government has said it will set up a top-level committee to look into the grievances of Jats.

The violence had earlier forced the closure of several key roads and national highways, and paralyzed the railway system in northern India.

Bolivia Referendum: President Evo Morales Loses Fourth Term Bid

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Bolivia Referendum: President Evo Morales Loses Fourth Term Bid

Bolivian President Evo Morales has narrowly lost a referendum to allow him to stand for a fourth term in office, exit polls suggest.

One poll suggests 52.3% voted against the proposal to amend the constitution, while another suggests it was 51%.

However, Evo Morales’s deputy has predicted Bolivia’s first head of state of indigenous origin could still win, as official results trickle in.

The constitution change would have let Evo Morales remain in power until 2025.

Opposition supporters have been celebrating the referendum result in parts of the main city, La Paz.

Evo Morales, an indigenous Aymara and former coca leaf producer, took office in January 2006 after being elected for the first time in 2005. He won a referendum in August 2008 on whether he should stay in office, and then a few months later a referendum approved his plans for a new constitution. He was re-elected for a second term in 2009.Evo Morales fourth term referendum

In 2014, Evo Morales was able to run again despite the 2009 constitution limiting presidents to two consecutive terms in office. The Constitutional Court ruled his first term should not count because it had not taken place under the new constitution. His current terms ends in 2020.

Evo Morales is still a popular leader and the economy has grown steadily over the past decade.

However, many thought he should not be allowed to serve 19 consecutive years as president.

Opposition leader Samuel Doria Medina urged Evo Morales to “recognize the results” and focus on solving Bolivia’s problems in his remaining time in office instead of trying to run for another term.

However, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera said the results so far were a “technical tie”.

He urged people to wait for the official results and said any celebrations by the opposition were premature.

Vote counting has been slower than usual.

The electoral authorities say the delay is affecting mostly ballots from rural areas, which largely support the president.

In the eastern province of Santa Cruz, angry voters set fire to ballot papers and ballot boxes after a delay to the opening of several polling stations.

Despite a drop in the international price of oil and natural gas, the Bolivian economy has performed well in the past 10 years, growing on average 5% a year.

The government’s socialist policies have also been successful in reducing extreme poverty.

However, recent allegations that Evo Morales used his influence to favor a Chinese construction company in Bolivia have damaged his approval ratings.

A former girlfriend of Evo Morales, Gabriela Zapata, holds an important position in the company, CAMC, which has secured more than $500 million in contracts with the Bolivian government.

Evo Morales rejected the allegations and said he had nothing to hide. He ordered an investigation into how the contracts were awarded.

Patriarch Kirill Prays in Front of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Patriarch Kirill Prays in Front of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer

Patriarch Kirill has prayed in front of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Latin America tour began last week, with a historic meeting with Pope Francis in Cuba.Patriarch Kirill at Christ the Redeemer

Patriarch Kirill arrived in Brazil after visiting Paraguay and a Russian scientific base in the Antarctica.

From Rio, Patriarch Kirill traveled to Sao Paulo and held mass at a Russian Orthodox church, in the last stop of his visit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0JPjIu0KrE

Harper Lee Funeral: To Kill a Mockingbird Author Buried in Monroeville

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Harper Lee Funeral: To Kill a Mockingbird Author Buried in Monroeville

Harper Lee has been buried in a private funeral in her hometown in Alabama.

Close family and friends of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, who died on February 19 aged 89, gathered for a church service in Monroeville.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, about racial intolerance in the Deep South, sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.

The author released the sequel, Go Set a Watchman, in 2015 – 55 years later.Harper Lee funeral

A statement from Harper Lee’s family confirmed the acclaimed author had died in her sleep on Friday morning.

The funeral service was held at First United Methodist Church in Monroeville on February 20, with history professor Wayne Flynt, a long-time friend, delivering the eulogy.

She was then laid to rest at her family burial plot, alongside her father and sister, Alice Lee.

Harper Lee used Monroeville as a model for the imaginary town of Maycomb, the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird.

To Kill a Mockingbird remains a towering presence in American literature, telling the tale of a white lawyer defending a black man accused of rape.

Jeb Bush Suspends Presidential Campaign

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Jeb Bush Suspends Presidential Campaign

Jeb Bush has decided to suspend his campaign on February 20 after disappointing finishes in the first three primaries of the 2016 election cycle.

The son of George H. W. Bush and brother of George W. Bush entered the race to huge expectations in June, and quickly fueled them with fundraising. Working with a super PAC that has supported his candidacy, Jeb Bush and allies raised more than $150 million by the end of 2015 – far more than any of his GOP rivals.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Jeb Bush, 63, the former two-term governor of Florida, failed to inspire Republican primary voters whose mood and needs had changed dramatically since he left government in 2007. In what turned out to be the year of the unconventional outsider, Jeb Bush conducted his campaign as the conventional insider.

In an emotional speech in South Carolina after his third straight disappointing finish in the early voting states, Jeb Bush said: “I’m proud of the campaign that we’ve run to unify our country.

“The people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken, and I really respect their decision.”

Donald Trump Wins South Carolina Primary as Hillary Clinton Takes Nevada

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Wins South Carolina Primary as Hillary Clinton Takes Nevada

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has won the South Carolina primary, cementing his status as the man to beat for GOP’s nomination.

In the Democratic contest, Hillary Clinton beat Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in a tight race in Nevada.

Both results will be key ahead of the “Super Tuesday” round on March 1, when a dozen more states make their choice.

Donald Trump’s victory claimed a major scalp when former Florida Governor Jeb Bush dropped out of the race.

Jeb Bush finished a distant fourth, days after his brother, former President George W. Bush, made a rare political appearance to boost his flagging campaign.

Republican senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were locked in a battle for second place in the state.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

“There’s nothing easy about running for president,” Donald Trump said at his victory rally in Spartanburg on Saturday evening.

“It’s tough, it’s nasty, it’s mean, it’s vicious. It’s beautiful – when you win it’s beautiful.”

Donald Trump’s supporters erupted at his campaign headquarters when the projected results were announced.

His campaign has been dogged in controversy, with his latest spat with Pope Francis on Christian values hitting the headlines this week.

Thousands of miles west, Hillary Clinton narrowly beat Bernie Sanders, who had beaten her convincingly in New Hampshire in their last contest.

“Some may have doubted us, but we never doubted each other,” Hillary Clinton told supporters at a victory rally in Las Vegas.

“This is your campaign.”

The battle between them has grown increasingly close in recent weeks, with Hillary Clinton expected to win Nevada in double digits just weeks ago.

However, Ted Cruz, who has successfully galvanized young voters with his calls for free university education, appears to have performed better than expected among Hispanics in Nevada.

According to NBC exit polls, Bernie Sanders won among Hispanics with 53% of the vote but lost among black voters earning just 22% of their vote.

Hillary Clinton’s next test will be in the Democrats’ South Carolina primary on February 27. Republicans will hold their own caucuses in Nevada on February 23.

Once each state has voted in the primaries or caucuses, the delegates won by each party candidate will go on to endorse them at party conventions in July.

Antonin Scalia Funeral: Thousands Attend Washington Mass

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Antonin Scalia Funeral: Thousands Attend Washington Mass

Thousands of mourners have attended a funeral Mass celebrated in Washington for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last weekend at the age of 79.

The service was held in the largest Catholic church in the US.

Antonin Scalia’s coffin had earlier lain in the Supreme Court with President Barack Obama among those paying respects.

The death of Antonin Scalia, who was seen as a hero by the US right, has sparked a political row over his successor.

Thousands of people filled the vast Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on February 20.

One of Antonin Scalia’s nine children, Rev Paul Scalia, led the Mass, ahead of a private burial.

Rev. Paul Scalia, who serves the diocese of Arlington, Virginia, said: “We are gathered here because of one man. A man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more, a man loved by many, scorned by others, a man known for great controversy, and for great compassion.”

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

He then added: “That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth.”

It was because of Jesus that “in confidence we commend Antonin Scalia to the mercy of God”.

The country’s eight remaining Supreme Court justices attended the service.

One of them, Clarence Thomas, offered a Bible reading.

The Supreme Court says more than 6,000 visitors viewed the casket in the Great Hall on February 19.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were among those paying their respects at the flag-draped coffin, but were not at the funeral.

VP Joe Biden was at the Mass – he has a close personal relationship with the Scalia family – as was Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Barack Obama’s attendance could have created security issues.

Ted Cruz has been among those demanding there be no nomination of a successor until after the November presidential election.

Barack Obama has insisted he will go through with the nomination.

Antonin Scalia’s death leaves the Supreme Court evenly divided between liberal and conservative justices ahead of crucial cases on abortion, voting rights and immigration.

According to the constitution, the president nominates justices to the court and the Senate uses its “advice and consent” powers to confirm or reject that person.

Antonin Scalia died unexpectedly at his remote Texas ranch on February 13.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdGe3SNxyvw

Cyclone Winston Hits Fiji as Category Five Storm

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Cyclone Winston Hits Fiji as Category Five Storm

A powerful storm has made landfall on Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu.

Cyclone Winston – a category five storm – brought winds of over 200 mph, torrential rain and waves of up to 40ft.

Flights have been canceled, evacuation centers activated and a nationwide curfew put in place.Cyclone Winston Fiji

The storm is expected to move westwards over the main island overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning.

Before it landed, PM Frank Bainimarama warned that Fiji was facing “an ordeal of the most grievous kind”.

“We must stick together as a people and look after each other. Be alert and be prepared,” he said.

Cyclone Winston has already brushed some of Fiji’s smaller islands, but the extent of the damage is unclear.

Assessment teams are being sent to the affected areas, the Fiji Times reported.

The Fijian capital Suva is likely to be spared the full forces of the storm but tourist resorts are close to the cyclone’s centre. About 900,000 people live on Fiji.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZodSkHxq6I

Donald Trump Calls for Apple Boycott over San Bernardino Gunman’s Phone

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Donald Trump Calls for Apple Boycott over San Bernardino Gunman’s Phone

Donald Trump has called for a boycott of Apple until the tech giant helps unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino killers.

Apple has clashed with the DoJ over a court order forcing the company to help break the encryption on one of its phones.

On February 19, the DoJ called Apple’s refusal a “marketing strategy”.

Apple said it will not help break into the phone, citing wider privacy concerns for its users.

The phone belonged to one of the two people who opened fire at an office event in San Bernardino, California, in December 2015. Fourteen people were killed in the attack.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Speaking at a campaign rally, Donald Trump said: “Boycott Apple until such time as they give that information.”

On February 18, a court ordered the tech giant to help break the encryption.

The government has called the request narrow and argued it is only focused on this particular iPhone.

The DoJ filed another motion in court on February 19 after Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company would continue to refuse the order.

A California court has set March 22 for the hearing.

In a letter to customers published on Apple’s website, Tim Cook called the implications of the order “chilling”.

“While we believe the FBI’s intentions are good, it would be wrong for the government to force us to build a backdoor into our products. And ultimately, we fear that this demand would undermine the very freedoms and liberty our government is meant to protect.”

Harper Lee Dead: To Kill a Mockingbird Author Dies Aged 89

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Harper Lee Dead: To Kill a Mockingbird Author Dies Aged 89

To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee has died at the age of 89.

Mockingbird remains a towering presence in American literature, telling the tale of a white lawyer defending a black man accused of rape in the Deep South.

The book sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and 55 years after it was published, in 2015, Harper Lee released the sequel, Go Set a Watchman.

Tributes have been paid to the writer, who rarely gave interviews despite her fame.

George W. Bush, who awarded Harper Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007, said she was “a legendary novelist and lovely lady”.Harper Lee dead at 89

Harper Lee was born 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She was the youngest of four children of lawyer Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee.

She was a guardedly private person, respected and protected by residents of her town, rarely giving interviews.

Harper Lee’s literary agent Andrew Nurnberg said: “Knowing Nelle these past few years has been not just an utter delight but an extraordinary privilege.

“When I saw her just six weeks ago, she was full of life, her mind and mischievous wit as sharp as ever. She was quoting Thomas More and setting me straight on Tudor history. We have lost a great writer, a great friend and a beacon of integrity.”

The manuscript for the sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set A Watchman was discovered and published in 2015.

Many bookshops remained open all night to cope with demand on the day of the novel’s release last July.

The book is set 20 years after the events of To Kill a Mockingbird – although Harper Lee actually wrote Go Set a Watchman first.

Watchman contains some of the same characters as Mockingbird, including Scout and her father Atticus Finch.

The publication proved controversial as early reviewers noted that Atticus Finch expresses racist views in the story.

In 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird was made into a film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch and Mary Badham as Scout. The novel is currently being adapted for the stage.

Umberto Eco Dies Aged 84

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Umberto Eco Dies Aged 84

Writer and philosopher Umberto Eco has died at the age of 84, his family has announced.

The Italian author passed away on February 19 at his home. No further details were given.

Umberto Eco’s best known novel, The Name of the Rose, was made into a film in 1989 starring Sean Connery.

The writer, who also wrote the novel Foucault’s Pendulum, continued to publish new works, with Numero Zero released in 2015.Umberto Eco dead at 84

Umberto Eco also wrote children’s books and literary criticism.

He once wrote that “books always speak of other books, and every story tells a story that has already been told”.

Umberto Eco founded the communications department at the University of San Marino in the 1980s.

He was later professor emeritus and chairman of the Higher School of Humanities of the University of Bologna.

Umberto Eco was born in Alessandria, northern Italy, on January 5, 1932.

At the time of his death, Umberto Eco was a professor emeritus at the University of Bologna, a position that he had held since 2008.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5EfaYr2bVg

iPhone Error 53: Apple Apologizes and Issues Fix

Nancy Clayson
-
0
iPhone Error 53: Apple Apologizes and Issues Fix

Apple has apologized to iPhone customers whose phones were disabled after third-party repairs, and issued a fix for the problem.

Some customers found that their iPhone stopped working following servicing by a non-Apple technician and saw an “error 53” message in iTunes.

Previously, Apple had said the error was a “security measure” taken to prevent fraudulent transactions.iPhone error 53

Now, Apple has released a software update to fix the error.

In a statement, Apple said that “error 53” occurs when a device fails a standard security test designed to ensure that the Touch ID fingerprint scanner is working correctly.

However, the company added: “We apologize for any inconvenience, this was designed to be a factory test and was not intended to affect customers.

“Customers who paid for an out-of-warranty replacement of their device based on this issue should contact AppleCare about a reimbursement.”

A software update has now been released so that iPhone customers with disabled phones may restore their device via iTunes on a PC or Mac.

Apple had even faced a class action lawsuit led by a Seattle-based company over error 53-disabled phones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OHr9NfkmVA

1...278279280...1,234Page 279 of 1,234