Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 385

Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda Wins Presidency, Exit Polls Suggest

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda Wins Presidency, Exit Polls Suggest

Poland’s Incumbent President Bronislaw Komorowski has conceded election defeat to challenger Andrzej Duda following the release of exit polls.

The exit polls suggested conservative Andrzej Duda had taken the run-off vote by 53% to 47%.

Andrzej Duda had edged Bronislaw Komorowski, who had been the favorite, in the first round but did not gain the 50% needed to win outright.

Poland’s president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

The exit polls had been delayed after a woman died at a polling station on May 24.

Official results are expected on May 25.

Bronislaw Komorowski told voters at a gathering of his supporters: “I respect your choice.

“I wish my challenger a successful presidency.”Andrzej Duda wins Poland presidency

Speaking to supporters in Warsaw, Andrzej Duda said: “Thank you President Bronislaw Komorowski for the rivalry of this presidential campaign and for your congratulations.

“Those who voted for me voted for change. Together we can change Poland.”

The victory will be a wake-up call to PM Ewa Kopacz, an ally of Bronislaw Komorowski, ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn.

Bronislaw Komorowski, 62, took office five years ago after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash.

He had been the favorite according to previous opinion polls and had been looking for a second term.

Andrzej Duda, 43, is from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Lech Kaczynski’s twin brother, Jaroslaw.

In the first round Andrzej Duda attracted most support in the more conservative eastern regions of the country, near the border with Ukraine and Belarus.

Cannes 2015: Full List of Winners

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Cannes 2015: Full List of Winners

68th Cannes Film Festival top awards:

Palme D’Or: Dheepan

Grand Prix: Son of Saul

Jury Prize: The LobsterCannes 2015 winners

Best Director: Hou Hsiao-hsien

Best Actor: Vincent Lindon

Best Actress: Rooney Mara and Emmanuelle Bercot

Best Screenplay: Michel Franco (Chronic)

Camera d’Or (Best first feature): La Tierra Y la Sombra

Cannes 2015: Dheepan Wins Palme d’Or Award

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Cannes 2015: Dheepan Wins Palme d’Or Award

Jacques Audiard’s Dheepan has won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The refugee drama tells the story of people fleeing post-civil war Sri Lanka for a life in France.

Holocaust drama Son of Saul took the Grand Prix. Vincent Lindon won Best Actor while Rooney Mara and Emmanuelle Bercot shared Best Actress.

Dheepan tells of a former Tamil Tiger fighter who links up with two strangers to pretend to be a family and find a life of asylum in a tough, drug-infested housing estate on the edge of Paris.Cannes 2015 winner Dheepan

Director Jacques Audiard, who previously made A Prophet and Rust and Bone, said: “To receive a prize from the Coen brothers is something pretty exceptional. I’m very touched. I’m thinking of my father.”

Joel Coen said: “This isn’t a jury of film critics. This is a jury of artists who are looking at the work.”

The Grand Prix, essentially the runner-up prize, went to Hungarian newcomer Laszlo Nemes for Son of Saul and its depiction of the Auschwitz, gas chambers.

“This continent is still haunted by this subject,” Laszlo Nemes said.

Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos took the jury award, the third prize, for The Lobster, a dystopian comedy starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz.

Best Director went to Taiwan’s Hou Hsiao-hsien for martial arts film The Assassin, his first movie in eight years.

Rooney Mara shared Best Actress for her role in Carol, but her co-star Cate Blanchett was overlooked and instead the jury decided to honor Emmanuelle Bercot for her role in My King.

Vincent Lindon’s Best Actor award was for his role in Stephane Brize’s movie The Measure of a Man.

There were 19 in-competition films this year, though several were aired out of competition, including Mad Max: Fury Road and Pixar’s Inside Out.

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

John Nash Dead: A Beautiful Mind Mathematician and His Wife Killed in Car Crash

James J. Williams
-
0
John Nash Dead: A Beautiful Mind Mathematician and His Wife Killed in Car Crash

John Nash, the renowned mathematician who inspired the Oscar-winning movie A Beautiful Mind, has died in a car crash with his wife Alicia, police have said.

John Nash, 86, and his 82-year-old wife Alicia were killed when their taxi crashed in New Jersey, police say.

The mathematician is renowned for his work in game theory, winning the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1994.

John Nash’s breakthroughs in mathematics and and his struggles with schizophrenia were the focus of the 2001 A Beautiful Mind.

Russell Crowe, who played John Nash in the movie, tweeted: “Stunned… My heart goes out to John & Alicia & family. An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts.”

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Director Ron Howard, also tweeted his tribute to the “brilliant” John Nash and his “remarkable” wife.

Alicia Nash helped care for her husband, and the two later became prominent mental health advocates.

John Nash and Alicia Nash were thrown from their vehicle, police said. Media reports said the couple may not have been wearing seatbelts when they crashed.

Their taxi driver, and a passenger in another car, were also injured.

Born in Bluefield, West Virginia, John Nash first studied in Pittsburgh before moving to Princeton.

His recommendation letter contained just one line: “This man is a genius.”

John Nash married Alicia Larde in 1957, after publishing some of his breakthrough works.

He developed severe schizophrenia soon after, and Alicia had him committed for psychiatric care several times. The couple divorced in 1962.

John Nash said in an interview on the Nobel website: “I was disturbed in this way for a very long period of time, like 25 years.”

However, they stayed close, and John Nash’s condition had begun to improve by the 1980s. They remarried in 2001.

This week John Nash received the Abel Prize, another top honor in the field of mathematics.

 

Nepal Landslide Blocks Kali Gandaki River

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Nepal Landslide Blocks Kali Gandaki River

A number of landslides have hit Nepal since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake on April 25 which killed more than 8,000 people and injured many more.

The tremor was followed by a 7-3 magnitude quake on May 12.

Thousands of people have fled to safety following a landslide in western Nepal which blocked the flow of Kali Gandaki River.

A massive landslide has blocked Kali Gandaki River at Baisari in Bhagwati VDC of Myagdi district early Sunday morning.

The Kali Gandaki River in Myagdi district, about 90 miles north-west of the capital, Kathmandu, has created a deep and growing new lake.

There are no reports of casualties. Army soldiers are being sent to help.Nepal landslide blocks Kali Gandaki River

The landslide around midnight on May 24 has caused water levels to rise by about 600ft.

The landslip has buried 25 houses in Baisari. Panic-stricken locals in Baisari and areas including district headquarter Beni, Ghatan, Benibazar, Galeshwor, Pokharebagar have started to move to higher grounds after the river was blocked by the landslide.

“We have asked villagers along the riverside in these districts to move to safer places,” interior ministry official Laxmi Prasad Dhakal told Reuters news agency.

One of Nepal’s largest hydroelectric power plants in the area could be at risk, officials have warned.

Army helicopter were surveying the area with troops being sent to siphon off the water from the fast-growing lake.

Authorities say large areas could be at risk of flooding if the collected waters burst.

Kali Gandaki River flows into India where it eventually joins the Ganges.

Normally landslide is triggered by rain but in this case, the cracks triggered by earthquake led the debris to fall, according to experts. Rocks, boulders and mud are falling making huge sound.

Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda vs Bronislaw Komorowski in Run-Off Vote

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Poland Elections 2015: Andrzej Duda vs Bronislaw Komorowski in Run-Off Vote

Polish voters are going to the polls on May 24 to choose its new president in a run-off vote.

In the first round on May 10, neither Conservative challenger Andrzej Duda nor incumbent Bronislaw Komorowski gained the 50% needed to win outright.

Andrzej Duda edged Bronislaw Komorowski, who had been the favorite and is looking for a second term, by 34.7% to 33.7%.Poland Elections 2015 Andrzej Duda and Bronislaw Komorowski

Poland’s president has limited powers, but is head of the armed forces and can veto new laws.

Bronislaw Komorowski, 62, took office five years ago after his predecessor, Lech Kaczynski, died in a plane crash.

The incumbent president is an independent allied with the centre-right Civic Platform, which has been in government since 2007.

Opinion polls before the first round had put him comfortably in the lead and Bronislaw Komorowski said the result was “a serious warning for the entire team in power”.

Andrezj Duda, 43, is from the right-wing opposition Law and Justice party, which is led by former President Lech Kaczynski’s twin brother, Jaroslaw.

He attracted most support in the more conservative eastern regions of the country, near the border with Ukraine and Belarus.

The presidential vote comes ahead of parliamentary elections this autumn.

Vladimir Putin Signs Anti-Foreign NGO Bill

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Vladimir Putin Signs Anti-Foreign NGO Bill

President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill which allows foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to be banned from operating in Russia.

The new law allows the Russian authorities to prosecute foreign NGOs or companies designated as “undesirable” on national security grounds.

Individuals working for NGOs could face fines or up to six years in prison.

Critics say it is a Kremlin move aimed at stifling dissent.Vladimir Putin foreign NGO law

The definition of “undesirable” is open to interpretation, but the Interfax news agency said it would apply to organizations deemed to pose a threat to the “foundations of Russia’s constitutional order, defensive capacity and security”.

Organizations linked to politics in Russia already face restrictions under a 2012 law requiring them to register as “foreign agents”.

The new bill’s supporters say it is essential to prevent Russia from outside interference, amid ongoing tensions due to the country’s involvement in Ukraine.

There was concern from Western governments and NGOs about the implications.

The US State Separtment said it was “deeply troubled” by the law.

State Department’s spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement: “We are concerned this new power will further restrict the work of civil society in Russia and is a further example of the Russian government’s growing crackdown on independent voices and intentional steps to isolate the Russian people from the world.”

Amnesty International said the bill would “squeeze the life” from civil society, while Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned it would be locals who would be worst-hit.

Eurovision 2015: Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow Scoops Song Contest Crown

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Eurovision 2015: Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow Scoops Song Contest Crown

Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow has won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, beating Russia’s Polina Gagarina.

Mans Zelmerlow won with his upbeat pop track Heroes, which was accompanied by innovative animated visuals.

Italy came on the third place, followed by Belgium. Australia finished fifth in the country’s first Eurovision appearance.

A record number of countries – 27 – took part, including Australia – which was invited to compete for the first time to mark the event’s 60th anniversary.

Mans Zelmerlow was the bookmakers’ favorite throughout the build-up to this year’s contest.

“I’m so happy and I want to say thank you for voting for me,” he told the crowd.

“I want to say we are all Heroes, no matter who we love, who we are or what we believe in – we are all heroes.”

This is Sweden’s sixth Eurovision win – meaning they are now just one victory behind the contest’s record holders Ireland, who have won seven times.

The result also means the next year’s song contest will be held in Sweden – just three years after it last hosted the show.

This year’s contest was held in the Austrian capital’s Wiener Stadthalle following Conchita Wurst’s win last year.Sweden’s Mans Zelmerlow wins Eurovision 2015

But this year, the hosts, along with Germany, finished with zero points – the first time since 2003 that any country has drawn a blank.

Russian contestant Polina Gagarina was beaten by Mans Zelmerlow after being neck-and-neck for much of the voting.

Italian opera trio Il Volo who have enjoyed chart success around the world, finished third. Belgium’s 19-year-old Loic Nottet managed fourth.

And it was a respectable night for Guy Sebastian, one of Australia’s biggest pop stars, who came fifth after being sent to represent his country.

After the show, Eurovision organizers revealed there had been irregularities with the votes from the juries in Macedonia and Montenegro.

The points awarded by each country are normally determined by a combination of a jury and a public vote.

A statement said: “The jury results of FYR Macedonia and Montenegro for the grand final have been excluded after consultation of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the contest’s independent voting observer, and upon the decision of the executive supervisor and the chairman of the reference group.

“In both countries, televoting applied for 100%. The exclusion of two juries will be further discussed in the next reference group meeting in June.”

Around 200 million viewers were thought to have tuned in to the event on television, and it was screened live in China for the first time.

Michael Brelo: Cleveland Cop Not Guilty on All Charges

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Michael Brelo: Cleveland Cop Not Guilty on All Charges

Cleveland Officer Michael Brelo, who climbed on to a car bonnet and fired repeatedly through the windscreen at unarmed black occupants, has been cleared of all charges.

The victims, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, died in 2012 in a barrage of bullets fired by 13 officers in a car chase.

Michael Brelo, 31, the only police officer to be charged, was cleared of voluntary manslaughter at the court in Cleveland.

The US has seen a series of police race-related killings, some of which have led to serious civil unrest.

In Cleveland itself, the police shooting last November of a 12-year-old black boy, Tamir Rice, as he waved a replica firearm, fuelled the national debate over police use of deadly force.Cleveland Officer Michael Brelo not guilty

Community and city leaders were braced for possible unrest over the latest ruling.

Some 30 protesters gathered outside the cordoned-off courthouse, some chanting “hands up, don’t shoot!” They were faced off by an equal number of sheriff’s deputies.

The deaths of Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30, had sparked a department of justice inquiry that concluded Cleveland police had engaged in a pattern of excessive force and violation of civil rights.

Only Michael Brelo was charged because prosecutors said the car occupants were no longer a threat when he climbed on to the bonnet of their car and fired 15 shots through the windscreen in 7.4 seconds.

However, the judge said that as other officers had fired in a 137-shot barrage, he could not rule beyond reasonable doubt that Michael Brelo was responsible for the deaths.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John O’Donnell also cleared Michael Brelo of the lesser count of felonious assault.

The judge said he would not “sacrifice” Michael Brelo if the evidence did not warrant conviction.

“Guilty or not guilty, the verdict should be no cause for a civilized society to celebrate or riot,” said the judge.

County prosecutor Timothy McGinty said he was “profoundly disappointed” with the verdict.

Timothy Russell’s sister, Michele, said Michael Brelo would not “dodge this just because he was acquitted. God will have the final say”.

Michael Brelo had faced up to 22 years in jail if convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

The incident occurred when the car, a Chevy Malibu, backfired while speeding past Cleveland police HQ, and officers thought a gun had been discharged.

Some 62 police cars were then involved in a 22-mile chase at speeds up to 100 mph.

Both Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams had previous convictions and a crack pipe was found in the car.

Michael Brelo’s lawyer, Patrick D’Angelo, said his client had risked his life during the chase and that the prosecution of the case was “vicious and unprofessional”.

California Drought 2015: Farmers to Cut Water Usage by 25%

Nancy Clayson
-
0
California Drought 2015: Farmers to Cut Water Usage by 25%

California farmers have agreed to reduce their water usage by 25% in an effort to combat the record four-year drought.

A group of several hundred farmers made the concession after state officials threatened to cut their water rights.

California has already demanded a 25% reduction in cities and towns.

However, critics say state Governor Jerry Brown has not done enough to reduce usage by the farming industry’s powerful water rights holders.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

The deal between California’s Water Resources Control Board and the farmers – who have until now resisted pressure to commit to cutting back – is a sign of the worsening impact of California’s drought.

The US Drought Monitor said on May 21 that 94% of California was in severe drought or worse, and farmers used 80% of all water taken from the land in the state.

The agreement is the first of its kind in more than 30 years, and involves farmers in the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.

Others in this category – known as senior rights holders – are irrigation districts, utilities with hydropower stations, and cities, including San Francisco.

Thousands of the state’s junior water rights holders – those whose claims to water usage date back only as far as 1914 – have already had their water use curtailed this year. Those are mostly farmers getting no federal irrigation deliveries.

Under California’s system, junior water rights holders have to stop taking water from rivers and streams so there is enough flow left to satisfy the demand of those with older claims.

About 350 farmers met on May 21 to discuss an attempt to avoid deeper mandatory cuts to their water allowance.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll all participate” in the voluntary 25% reduction, said Michael George, the state’s water master for the delta. But he said he believed many would.

The farming industry has come under fire in recent weeks from residents who have been forced to turn off their sprinklers and time their showers under threat of heavy fines.

The agreement gives the farmers until June 1 to present plans for how they will make the proposed cuts.

Tanishq Abraham: 11-Year-Old Boy Graduates American River College with Three Associate’s Degrees

James J. Williams
-
0
Tanishq Abraham: 11-Year-Old Boy Graduates American River College with Three Associate’s Degrees

Tanishq Abraham, an 11-year-old Sacramento boy, graduated from American River College (ARC), California, alongside 1,800 students on May 20.

Tanishq Abraham, who has an abnormally high IQ, said regular school “bored” him.

He told KXTV that it “feels good to graduate with three Associate’s degrees,” which he earned in math and physical science, general science and foreign language studies.Tanishq Abraham graduates college at 11

The boy graduated from high school at the age of 10 and has been taking classes at ARC since he was 7 years old, NBC reported.

Tanishq Abraham first began taking a class in astronomy at River College, his local community college, at age of 7, while he was still being homeschooled in high school-level subjects by his parents.

Last year he reportedly passed California’s early-exit high school exam, officially graduating high school, and enrolled in college full time.

Home-schooled by his mother, Tanishq Abraham earned a 4.0 GPA in high school.

Tanishq Abraham has been a member of Mensa International, an academic and social organization for people whose IQs fall in the top 2% of the population, since he was 4 years old.

“The assumption is that he’s the all-time youngest,” a spokesman from American River College told KCRA.

“But we don’t have all the archives to completely confirm. He was definitely the youngest this year.”

This summer Tanishq Abraham plans to take a Calculus II course.

Tanishq Abraham lives in Sacremento with his parents and his 6-year-old sister, Tiara. Both of the siblings reportedly joined Mensa when they turned four years old.

They spend their free time singing, painting, and playing computer and video games. But Tanishq Abraham says his favorite past-time is writing articles for NASA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAGCdvNvBe0

Oscar Romero Beatification: At Least 250,000 People Expected to Fill San Salvador Streets

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Oscar Romero Beatification: At Least 250,000 People Expected to Fill San Salvador Streets

The beatification of Oscar Romero, Latin America’s martyr and hero, is attracting hundreds of thousands of people at the El Salvador ceremony.

The Roman Catholic archbishop murdered during the 1980-1992 civil war.

At least 250,000 people are expected to fill the streets of the capital San Salvador for the ceremony.

It is the last step before Archbishop Oscar Romero is declared a saint.

Oscar Romero was shot dead by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in a hospital chapel on March 24, 1980. No-one has been prosecuted for the murder.Oscar Romero beatification 2015

About 80,000 people died and 12,000 disappeared during the war in El Salvador.

The Archbishop of San Salvador, Luis Escobar Alas, and Vatican envoy Cardinal Angelo Amato are expected to preside over Saturday’s beatification ceremony.

The event will begin with a procession from the cathedral – where Oscar Romero’s remains lie in a crypt.

A letter will then be read proclaiming the archbishop “blessed”.

Giant TV screens have been placed across the capital so that those away from the stage can watch the ceremony.

Thousands of police officers have also been deployed.

Archbishop Oscar Romero was not just a churchman. He took a stand during El Salvador’s darkest moments.

When the US-backed Salvadorean army was using death squads and torture to stop leftist revolutionaries from seizing power, Oscar Romero was not afraid to speak out in his weekly sermons.

“The law of God which says thou shalt not kill must come before any human order to kill. It is high time you recovered your conscience,” he said in his last homily in 1980, calling on the National Guard and police to stop the violence.

“I implore you, I beg you, I order you in the name of God: Stop the repression.”

That was a sermon that cost him his life. A day later, while giving mass, he was hit through the heart by a single bullet.

Several conservative Latin American cardinals in the Vatican had blocked his beatification for years because they were concerned his death was prompted more by his politics than by his preaching.

Pope Benedict XVI finally reversed this in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWepx8Y8kQw

Annegret Raunigk: 65-Year-Old German Woman Gives Birth to Quadruplets

Kathryn R. Bown
-
0
Annegret Raunigk: 65-Year-Old German Woman Gives Birth to Quadruplets

Annegret Raunigk, a 65-year-old teacher from Berlin, has given birth to quadruplets, German television RTL reported on May 23.

The German woman’s pregnancy was widely criticized by medical professionals because of her age.Annegret Raunigk

Annegret Raunigk gave birth to a girl – Neeta – and three boys – Dries, Bence and Fjonn – by cesarean section at a Berlin hospital on May 19, RTL said.

The newborns, who were born in the 26th week of pregnancy, weighed between 655 grams (1 lb., 7 ounces) and 960 grams (2 lbs., 2 ounces) each.

A spokeswoman for RTL said the babies stood a strong chance of survival but possible complications couldn’t yet be ruled out. Their mother was doing well, the spokeswoman said.

Annegret Raunigk had signed a contract granting RTL exclusive access in return for an undisclosed sum, The Associated Press reported.

The woman already had 13 children ranging in age from 9 to 44, from five fathers. She told Germany’s Bild newspaper last month that she decided to become pregnant again because her 9-year-old daughter wanted a younger sibling. She also has seven grandchildren.

Annegret Raunigk traveled abroad to have donated, fertilized eggs implanted – a procedure that is illegal in Germany.

Egg Prices Reach Record Levels in US Bird Flu Outbreak

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Egg Prices Reach Record Levels in US Bird Flu Outbreak

Massive bird flu outbreak acorss the US is causing an egg shortage after a third of the egg-laying hens died over the last month in the top producing state of Iowa.

As a result, wholesale price almost tripled on May 22. The egg prices soared by a massive 70% over the last month.Egg prices bird flu outbreak 2015

According to officials, the bird flu virus spread appears to have slowed but not stopped.

Federal officials are planning an aggressive educational campaign to improve biosecurity around infected barns after tests have shown the disease is spreading from farm to farm.

The virus has led to 40 million dead birds in the US – mostly turkeys and egg-laying chickens – either from the disease or euthanized to prevent its spread, officials say.

Fuller House: Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen Not Returning for Full House Revival

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Fuller House: Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen Not Returning for Full House Revival

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen won’t return for Netflix’s upcoming Full House revival – Fuller House.

The twin actresses, who collectively played Michelle Tanner on the original series, will not be returning for the Netflix reboot, executive producer Robert L. Boyett announced on May 22.

Robert L. Boyett said in a statement: “Although Ashley and Mary-Kate will not be a part of <<Fuller House>>, I know how much <<Full House>> has meant to them and they are still very much considered family. It has been exciting to see how they have built their professional careers, and I support their choice to focus on their fashion brands and various business endeavors. I appreciate their support and good wishes towards <<Fuller House>>.”Ashely and Mary Kate Olsen skip Full House revival

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen’s participation on the new series has been a point of controversy since the project was announced. Mary-Kate Olsen had been quoted as saying that she and her sister hadn’t heard from John Stamos – who will guest on and produce the series – about the project.

However, there will be plenty of returning faces on the new show. In addition to John Stamos, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber will be on Fuller House, while Dave Coulier will appear on at least one episode.

Fuller House series, which has received a 13-episode order, will see Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin reprising their roles as D.J. and Stephanie Tanner, 20 years after the end of the original series in 1995.

In the new version, D.J. is now a veterinarian, pregnant and recently widowed, still living in San Francisco. Stephanie Tanner, an aspiring musician, and Kimmy Gibler (Barber), now a single mother herself, along with Kimmy’s teenage daughter Ramona, all move in to help take care of D.J.’s two boys – the rebellious 12-year-old J.D. and neurotic 7-year-old Max – and her soon-to-arrive baby.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No3X44vosSU

19 Kids and Counting Canceled over Josh Duggar Child Molestation Claims

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
19 Kids and Counting Canceled over Josh Duggar Child Molestation Claims

TLC has pulled long running reality show 19 Kids and Counting following revelations of alleged abuse by Josh Duggar.

The series 19 Kids and Counting on TLC stars a conservative Christian couple and their 19 children.

It has been alleged that the eldest son Josh Duggar molested five underage girls as a teenager.

Josh Duggar, 27, has not admitted to the abuse but has apologized for his behavior, saying he acted “inexcusably”.

He wrote in a statement on Facebook on May 21: “I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions.

“In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.”

Photo TLC
Photo TLC

TLC network also said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time,” the statement said.

Arkansas police said on May 22 they had received a court order to destroy records of a nearly decade-old investigation into Josh Duggar. No charges were filed against him.

Police concluded the statute of limitations had passed, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper.

On May 21, Josh Duggar resigned his role with a prominent conservative Christian group amid reports about the allegations.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, who has been supported by Josh Duggar’s parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, defended the family on his Facebook page on May 22, saying: “Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, <<inexcusable>>, but that doesn’t mean <<unforgivable>>.”

Mexico: At Least 43 Dead in Michoacan Cartel Shootout

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Mexico: At Least 43 Dead in Michoacan Cartel Shootout

More than 40 people have been killed in a shootout between Mexican security forces and an armed gang in the western state of Michoacan.

The large scale gunfight took place in Tanhuato near the Jalisco state border on May 22.

According to local reports, almost all the 43 dead were suspected criminals. At least one police officer was killed in the shootout.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

The area between Michoacan and Jalisco states is known as a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, which has mounted several large-scale attacks on federal and state forces in recent weeks.

The majority of those killed at a ranch are believed to have been members of the cartel, said National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido.

He told reporters that the gunfight had lasted for about three hours and that a number of weapons had been recovered from the scene, including more than 30 rifles.

The gunbattle began when the police and security forces were checking reports of an “invasion” of the 277 acres ranch by a group of armed men.

The authorities later called in air and ground support.

Two years ago vigilante groups formed in Michoacan to drive out the Knights Templar drugs cartel. However, last week a former vigilante leader running for mayor in next month’s elections was shot dead.

The Jalisco New Generation cartel has increased its presence in the area, with Michoacan and Jalisco becoming among Mexico’s most violent states. Gang members are believed to have killed at least 20 police and soldiers since March.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBXaEDsn3p4

Senate Blocks USA FREEDOM Act and PATRIOT Act Extension

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Senate Blocks USA FREEDOM Act and PATRIOT Act Extension

The Senate has blocked the USA FREEDOM Act – a bill that would have ended the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records by the NSA.

It also failed to authorize a temporary extension of the current legislation, the PATRIOT Act. Senators are to meet again on May 31 – a day before the bill is due to expire.

A US appeals court has already ruled the bulk collection illegal.

The NSA’s spying was leaked by its former contractor Edward Snowden in 2013.

Edward Snowden has since fled to Russia.

Photo Chicago Tribune
Photo Chicago Tribune

The NSA has collected data about numbers called and times, but not the content of conversations. It also allegedly spied on European companies.

Among individuals targeted was German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The White House has pressed the Senate to back the bill passed by the House of Representatives. Domestic phone records would remain with telephone companies subject to a case-by-case review.

The 57-42 Senate vote fell short of the 60-vote threshold.

Another vote held over a two-month extension to the existing programs – Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act – also failed to reach the threshold.

Supporters of the proposed FREEDOM Act, including privacy and civil rights advocates, say it protects privacy while preserving national security powers.

The PATRIOT Act was passed after the 9/11 attacks and which will expire on June 1.

Edward Snowden’s revelations in June 2013 caused an international outcry, despite US administrations insisting the program has been fully authorized.

The measures have been repeatedly approved in secret by a national security court since 2006.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkfqS1LtRSc

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban Welcomed as “The Dictator” at EU Summit in Riga

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Hungarian PM Viktor Orban Welcomed as “The Dictator” at EU Summit in Riga

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban has been welcomed as “the dictator” by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, Latvia.

“The dictator is coming!” Jean-Claude Juncker was overheard saying as Viktor Orban approached him. He then repeated the word to Viktor Orban’s face, following it with a warm handshake and a slap on the cheek.Viktor Orban dictator Ruga Summit 2015

Viktor Orban’s reaction was a smile and a bit of friendly shoving.

PM Viktor Orban is no stranger to controversy. From his less than subtle views on subjects ranging from immigration to the homeless, he has been on the receiving end of a fair share of finger pointing.

Last month, Jean-Claude Juncker vowed to “battle” Viktor Orban’s possible intent to restore the death penalty, saying it goes against EU rules.

Hillary Clinton Email Scandal: State Department Releases First Set of Private Emails

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Hillary Clinton Email Scandal: State Department Releases First Set of Private Emails

Hundreds of emails from Hillary Clinton’s private server – many relating to the 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya – have been released by the State Department.

The emails were previously provided to a congressional committee.

The former secretary of state has constantly defended her use of the private account since the launch of her presidential campaign.

More of Hillary Clinton’s emails are set to be released in the coming weeks.

This first batch is just a fraction of the approximately 55,000 emails that the State Department is currently reviewing for release.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

The State Department and Hillary Clinton have been subject to intense scrutiny by a congressional committee which is investigating the attack on a US diplomatic facility in Benghazi, during which Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement ahead of the release: “The emails we release today do not change the essential facts or our understanding of the events before, during or after the attacks.”

The New York Times has reviewed some of the emails ahead of the release and reported that they “appear to back up Mrs. Clinton’s previous assertions that she did not receive classified information at her private email address”.

The newspaper said that many of the emails detail Hillary Clinton’s concerns following the attack.

They also offer a snapshot of Hillary Clinton’s private life, including her radio listening preferences and compliments she received from a colleague regarding a photo in the press.

According to the State Department, Hillary Clinton did not have a government email address from 2009 to 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8rm47zBkIc

Riga Summit 2015: Ukraine to Receive 1.8 Billion Euro Loan from EU

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Riga Summit 2015: Ukraine to Receive 1.8 Billion Euro Loan from EU

Ukraine is to receive a €1.8 billion ($2 billion) loan from the European Union.

The move is described as a landmark deal for a non-EU member.

The agreement was signed at an EU summit in Riga, Latvia, with the leaders of six post-Soviet nations.

The EU loan aims to help cash-strapped Ukraine implement economic reforms, as fighting with pro-Russian rebels in the east has taken a heavy toll.

Ukraine is under pressure from the EU and other international lenders to curb corruption and liberalize the economy.

The EU also pledged €200 million in grants to Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, which have signed association agreements with the 28-nation bloc.

The other “Eastern Partnership” countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.Riga EU Summit 2015

Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are pushing for full integration with the EU, while Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus prefer limited co-operation with the bloc.

In addition, Armenia and Belarus are members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, seen by some analysts as a rival project to the EU.

The Riga summit declaration criticized Russia for its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula last year.

“The acts against Ukraine and the events in Georgia since 2014 have shown that the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders cannot be taken for granted in the 21st Century on the European continent,” it said.

“The EU remains committed in its support to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of all its partners.”

The declaration recognized “the sovereign right of each partner freely to choose the level of ambition and the goals to which it aspires” in ties with the EU.

At a news conference, European Council President Donald Tusk said he wanted to be as “ambitious as possible” in granting Georgia and Ukraine a visa-free regime, provided key conditions were met. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said “enormous progress” had been made on the issue.

Georgia and Ukraine countries had hoped for a positive decision on the visa issue at the Riga summit, but it will not happen until next year at the earliest.

Last year, Moldova was granted visa-free travel to the EU.

Ukraine’s crisis erupted in November 2013, when the previous Ukrainian government backed away from closer ties with the EU. The mass protests sparked by that move toppled President Viktor Yanukovych and led to the conflict in the east.

Ukraine’s economy continued its contraction in Q1 2015, and Kiev faces huge debt repayments to its international creditors.

Takata Airbag Recall: Mitsubishi and Mazda Recall 630,000 Cars

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Takata Airbag Recall: Mitsubishi and Mazda Recall 630,000 Cars

Mitsubishi and Mazda are recalling 630,000 vehicles in the largest Takata airbag recall.

The move comes just days after Takata said it was doubling the number of cars it had recalled to 34 million, affecting 11 carmakers.

Mazda is recalling 120,000 vehicles including the Atenza sedan, the Bongo van and two models that it builds for Nissan and Mitsubishi in Japan.

Mitsubishi is recalling 512,000 cars.

About 412,000 of those vehicles are outside Japan, the carmaker said.Takata airbag recall Mazda and Mitsubishi

Last week, Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Daihatsu all recalled millions of cars because of Takata’s potentially deadly airbags.

Six deaths have been linked to Takata airbags that have all been in Honda cars. The airbags have also been connected to more than 100 injuries.

The embattled company faces multiple class action lawsuits and criminal and regulatory investigations in North America.

On May 21, Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, also said that it would help to get to the bottom of the problems with Takata’s airbags.

Investigations have shown that Takata airbag inflators were not properly sealed and could be damaged by moisture. It is alleged that the airbags can burst under pressure, spraying shrapnel inside the car.

Toyota’s vow comes as doubts are growing over whether the Japanese carmaker has enough financial power to deal with all the defects – an issue that could take years.

Takata saw a 5 billion yen ($41 million) extraordinary loss for the fiscal fourth quarter, stemming from costs related to previously announced recalls.

HP Sells 51% of China Business Unit to Tsinghua Holdings

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
HP Sells 51% of China Business Unit to Tsinghua Holdings

Hewlett-Packard is selling a 51% stake in its Chinese business unit for $2.3 billion to local company Tsinghua Holdings.

The deal brings together HP with the investment arm of China’s Tsinghua University in a joint venture called H3C, worth $4.5 billion.

H3C is being touted as the leader in China for computer servers, storage and technology services.

It will have about 8,000 workers and $3.1bn in annual revenues, HP said.

HP CEO Meg Whitman said in a statement: “HP is making a bold move to win in today’s China.

“Partnering with Tsinghua, one of China’s most respected institutions, the new H3C will be able to drive even greater innovation for China, in China.” HP China sold to Tsinghua Holdings

H3C will become a subsidiary of Unisplendour, which is the publicly traded unit of Tsinghua Holdings.

Meanwhile, California-based HP, which is one of the world’s largest makers of personal computers, said it would still fully own its existing China-based enterprise services, PC business and other operations in China.

This latest move comes after HP announced a plan last year to split itself into two separate companies- with one focusing on PCs and printers, and the other on software and enterprise services.

It also follows reports of the Chinese government worried about US cyberspying through tech companies and encouraging Chinese businesses to use local technology services.

The sale of the Chinese unit is expected to be completed by the end of this year and is subject to shareholder vote and regulatory approvals.

Kim Jong-chul: Kim Jong-un’s Brother Spotted at Eric Clapton Concerts in London

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Kim Jong-chul: Kim Jong-un’s Brother Spotted at Eric Clapton Concerts in London

Kim Jong-un’s elder brother Kim Jong-chul has been spotted attending two Eric Clapton concerts in London.

The footage shows a man resembling Kim Jong-chul visiting the Royal Albert Hall.

Kim Jong-chul has previously been seen attending Clapton concerts abroad.

One North Korea observer said the man in the footage did appear to be Kim Jong-un, who was taken out of the leadership succession several years ago.

Video filmed by a Japanese television network on May 20 shows a car arriving outside the venue in west London, and a woman wearing a green leather jacket and sunglasses emerging from inside.Kim Jong chul at Eric Clapton concert in London

Cameras follow her briefly before another similar-looking man, dressed in identical clothes, also walks out of the car.

He is asked a number of questions by journalists but does not speak. Several minders surround him, and they push journalists and cameras away from the man.

The same visitors were seen at a second Eric Clapton concert in the same venue on May 21.

Kim Jong-chul has attended Eric Clapton concerts in Germany in 2006 and Singapore in 2011.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap said that the man stayed at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel in west London, where rooms can cost more than £2,100 ($3,290) a night.

He was due to board a flight to Moscow on May 22, Yonhap said.

Kim Jong-chul is the oldest child of the fourth wife of former ruler Kim Jong-il, and is 33 years old.

Like his full brother Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-chul was educated in Switzerland before returning to North Korea.

Kim Jong-chul plays an important support role for his brother. At one point, he worked in North Korea’s propaganda department.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v17oQ9WT40s

Some of the Most Popular and Common Types of Pipe Tobacco

Dana R
-
0
Some of the Most Popular and Common Types of Pipe Tobacco

Smoking pipe tobacco is said to be a dying art. This is a terrible shame, because the history of this type of tobacco is as old as time itself. Additionally, the scent of a good quality tobacco gives a truly homely, warming and welcoming feel to any room. Luckily, some people still continue to smoke pipe tobacco, and there is a lot of information out there about the different types of tobacco that can be used. Let’s take a look at some of these.

Burley

Burley is generally considered to be a tobacco used for cigarettes. This is because it is slow burning, low in sugar and high in nicotine. However, this does not mean it is not suitable for pipes. Generally, however, it is used as a blend, to give other tobaccos a different aroma or texture. Some 70% of all burley is produced in Kentucky, with a further 20% being produced in Tennessee. The remaining 10% is produced in various other states. Brazil is also a major producing country. Burley is an interesting tobacco, as it can actually hide within the blend itself. It is known as the chameleon of tobacco plants. In a bland, it gives a heavier mouth feel and increased body. However, it is important to only choose a high quality burley.

tobacco-plant
Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org

Cavendish

A lot of people talk about Cavendish as if it is a tobacco plant. This is incorrect. Indeed, it refers to the method of processing and cutting the tobacco itself. The methods used are designed to bring the sweet natural taste of tobacco out and they can be used on all tobaccos and tobacco blends. It is also often used in cigars.

First, leaves are pressed together, after which they are exposed to heat from steam or a fire. Then, the tobacco is left to ferment, creating a mild and sweet tobacco. Once dried and fermented, it is sliced. Each slice is then broken apart by hand rubbing it in a circular motion. In many cases, extra flavors are added at the pressing stage.

Cavendish comes in various colors, with Black Cavendish being the best known one. Additionally, it is very easy to add flavors to it, which is why it can be smoked in flavors such as chocolate, cherry, rum, coconut, vanilla, strawberry, bourbon and walnut.

Dark Fired Kentucky

A number of different blends feature Dark Fired Kentucky. It is a very dark type of tobacco that is not unlike Burley. It is first cured in a barn, using an open fire, not unlike Latakia. This process gives it a smoky feel, but not as woodsy as Latakia. Instead, it has an earthy flavor to it. It burns very well, has a high nicotine content and has a really good body.

These are just some of the commonly found pipe tobaccos and there are many more. It is important to research the different options if you want to start smoking pipes. This is true not in the least because you will have to spend some time getting used to it.

1...384385386...1,244Page 385 of 1,244