- The United States is likely to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the EU Thursday, according to a source familiar with the decision.
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the situation, said the tariff decision is coming this morning and is "99.9" percent done. The U.S. expects the EU will retaliate in due course.
Metal producers in the countries affected had been granted a temporary exemption from the tariffs earlier this year, but they are due to expire Friday.
The tariffs were originally announced on March 1 when PresidentDonald Trump said that the United States was being treated unfairly.
"People have no idea how badly our country has been treated by other countries. By people representing us who didn't have a clue," Trump said, arguing that trade trends "destroyed" American steel and aluminum industries.
On Wednesday, a trade delegation led by U.S. Commerce Secretary,Wilbur Ross, met with European Union counterparts in Paris but those talks appear to have failed.
Prior to the expected announcement, the French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, said Thursday that Europe would take "all necessary measures" to respond. The EU has previously said it will impose its own tariffs on U.S. products such as motorcycles and jeans.
That message has been reinforced by the German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz who said in an interview with Reuters Thursday that the EU's response to the tariffs must be "clear, strong, and smart."
When asked if there were any signs that the trade dispute could be resolved Scholz added: "No, there are no such signs." ContinueReading
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Most popular vitamin and mineral supplements provide no health benefit, study finds
- The most commonly consumed vitamin and mineral supplements provide no consistent health benefit or harm, suggests a new study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto.
Published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the systematic review of existing data and single randomized control trials published in English from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C—the most common supplements—showed no advantage or added risk in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death. Generally, vitamin and mineral supplements are taken to add to nutrients that are found in food.
"We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume," said Dr. David Jenkins, the study's lead author. "Our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm—but there is no apparent advantage either."
The study found folic acid alone and B-vitamins with folic acid may reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants showed a very small effect that might signify an increased risk of death from any cause.
"These findings suggest that people should be conscious of the supplements they're taking and ensure they're applicable to the specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies they have been advised of by their healthcare provider," Dr. Jenkins said.
His team reviewed supplement data that included A, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folic acid), C, D and E; and β-carotene; calcium; iron; zinc; magnesium; and selenium. The term 'multivitamin' in this review was used to describe supplements that include most vitamins and minerals, rather than a select few.
"In the absence of significant positive data—apart from folic acid's potential reduction in the risk of stroke and heart disease—it's most beneficial to rely on a healthy diet to get your fill of vitamins and minerals," Dr. Jenkins said. "So far, no research on supplements has shown us anything better than healthy servings of less processed plant foods including vegetables, fruits and nuts." ContinueReading
Published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the systematic review of existing data and single randomized control trials published in English from January 2012 to October 2017 found that multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin C—the most common supplements—showed no advantage or added risk in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke or premature death. Generally, vitamin and mineral supplements are taken to add to nutrients that are found in food.
"We were surprised to find so few positive effects of the most common supplements that people consume," said Dr. David Jenkins, the study's lead author. "Our review found that if you want to use multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium or vitamin C, it does no harm—but there is no apparent advantage either."
The study found folic acid alone and B-vitamins with folic acid may reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, niacin and antioxidants showed a very small effect that might signify an increased risk of death from any cause.
"These findings suggest that people should be conscious of the supplements they're taking and ensure they're applicable to the specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies they have been advised of by their healthcare provider," Dr. Jenkins said.
His team reviewed supplement data that included A, B1, B2, B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folic acid), C, D and E; and β-carotene; calcium; iron; zinc; magnesium; and selenium. The term 'multivitamin' in this review was used to describe supplements that include most vitamins and minerals, rather than a select few.
"In the absence of significant positive data—apart from folic acid's potential reduction in the risk of stroke and heart disease—it's most beneficial to rely on a healthy diet to get your fill of vitamins and minerals," Dr. Jenkins said. "So far, no research on supplements has shown us anything better than healthy servings of less processed plant foods including vegetables, fruits and nuts." ContinueReading
Monday, May 28, 2018
Plastic fantastic?: EU Proposes a Total Ban on Plastic Forks and Other Products
bloomberg.com - The European Commission proposed a total ban on some single-use plastic products and measures to drastically cut the consumption of others, in the latest push by the EU to reduce carbon emissions and marine litter threatening its seas.
The ban will apply to plastic cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and sticks for balloons, according to the proposal unveiled on Monday and is subject to approval by EU governments and the European Parliament. Member states will also be forced to reduce the use of plastic food containers and drink cups by prohibiting their free-of-charge distribution.
“Plastic can be fantastic but we need to use it more responsibly,” Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said in a statement. “Today’s proposals will help business and consumers to move towards sustainable alternatives.”
The measures come as the EU seeks to seize leadership in creating sustainable goods, a market that is worth 2.5 trillion euros ($2.9 trillion), according to Unilever. With some plastic possibly taking 1,000 years to decompose, the EU proposes for companies to set up re-use systems such as deposit refund schemes to ensure a stable supply of high quality material.
Under the commission’s proposal, member states will have to collect 90 percent of single-use plastic drink bottles by 2025. Producers will also be required to chip in the cost of waste management and label how waste will be disposed, “the negative environmental impact of the product, and the presence of plastics in the products.”
The proposed directive aims to save consumers a projected 6.5 billion euros a year as of 2025, and the emission of 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the commission.
The ban will apply to plastic cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers and sticks for balloons, according to the proposal unveiled on Monday and is subject to approval by EU governments and the European Parliament. Member states will also be forced to reduce the use of plastic food containers and drink cups by prohibiting their free-of-charge distribution.
“Plastic can be fantastic but we need to use it more responsibly,” Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said in a statement. “Today’s proposals will help business and consumers to move towards sustainable alternatives.”
The measures come as the EU seeks to seize leadership in creating sustainable goods, a market that is worth 2.5 trillion euros ($2.9 trillion), according to Unilever. With some plastic possibly taking 1,000 years to decompose, the EU proposes for companies to set up re-use systems such as deposit refund schemes to ensure a stable supply of high quality material.
Under the commission’s proposal, member states will have to collect 90 percent of single-use plastic drink bottles by 2025. Producers will also be required to chip in the cost of waste management and label how waste will be disposed, “the negative environmental impact of the product, and the presence of plastics in the products.”
The proposed directive aims to save consumers a projected 6.5 billion euros a year as of 2025, and the emission of 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the commission.
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Bahrain sees 'no glimmer of hope' for ending Qatar crisis soon
“The information in our hands today does not indicate any glimmer of hope for a solution now, as the matter does not happen suddenly,” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa told Alsharq Alawsat newspaper on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed travel and trade ties with Qatar last June, alleging it was backing Iran and supporting terrorism. Qatar denies this and says the boycott is an attempt to impinge on its sovereignty and rein in its support for reform.
After initially disrupting Qatar’s imports and triggering the withdrawal of billions of dollars from its banks by depositors from the four states, the world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas quickly developed new trade routes and deployed tens of billions of dollars from its sovereign wealth fund to protect its domestic lenders.
The dispute has evaded mediation attempts by Kuwait and Washington, which has strong alliances with both sides and fears the split among Sunni Muslim U.S. allies could benefit Iran in a decades-old tussle for influence in the Middle East.
Bahrain’s foreign minister said Qatar was prolonging the crisis by taking its case to Western allies, instead of dealing with it inside the Gulf Arab bloc.
“We were expecting from the beginning of the crisis with Qatar that the emir of Qatar would go to Saudi (Arabia) but this did not happen,” he told the pan-Arab newspaper.
Saudi and UAE officials have said that Doha has yet to meet 13 demands made by the four states, including closing the state-funded Al Jazeera television station and reducing ties to Iran.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said last week on Twitter that Qatar had not dealt wisely with those demands: “Perhaps the passing of a year of the boycott will produce a new thought and a wiser approach from Doha”.
The dispute has evaded mediation attempts by Kuwait and Washington, which has strong alliances with both sides and fears the split among Sunni Muslim U.S. allies could benefit Iran in a decades-old tussle for influence in the Middle East.
Bahrain’s foreign minister said Qatar was prolonging the crisis by taking its case to Western allies, instead of dealing with it inside the Gulf Arab bloc.
“We were expecting from the beginning of the crisis with Qatar that the emir of Qatar would go to Saudi (Arabia) but this did not happen,” he told the pan-Arab newspaper.
Saudi and UAE officials have said that Doha has yet to meet 13 demands made by the four states, including closing the state-funded Al Jazeera television station and reducing ties to Iran.
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said last week on Twitter that Qatar had not dealt wisely with those demands: “Perhaps the passing of a year of the boycott will produce a new thought and a wiser approach from Doha”.
Saturday, May 26, 2018
'G-d save us from becoming Venezuela.' Colombians to vote in bitter presidential race
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA - As Alberto Solis heads to the polls Sunday to cast his vote for Colombia's president, he knows what he wants — and what he doesn't.
“This country has its problems and we need a young, capable leader,” said the 76-year-old pharmacist. “And God save us from becoming Venezuela.”
Colombians are voting for president amid an avalanche of disastrous news from their neighbor to the east. Food shortages, hyperinflation and human rights abuses have forced more than 800,000 Venezuelans to immigrate to Colombia in recent years.
And Colombian voters see an object lesson in the Venezuelan collapse: Even the richest and most democratic nations can be turned into authoritarian wastelands by bad leadership. Colombia, only a year into its peace deal with the guerrilla group known as the FARC after 50 years of conflict, may be vulnerable to upheaval, depending on who wins.
“This country has its problems and we need a young, capable leader,” said the 76-year-old pharmacist. “And God save us from becoming Venezuela.”
Colombians are voting for president amid an avalanche of disastrous news from their neighbor to the east. Food shortages, hyperinflation and human rights abuses have forced more than 800,000 Venezuelans to immigrate to Colombia in recent years.
And Colombian voters see an object lesson in the Venezuelan collapse: Even the richest and most democratic nations can be turned into authoritarian wastelands by bad leadership. Colombia, only a year into its peace deal with the guerrilla group known as the FARC after 50 years of conflict, may be vulnerable to upheaval, depending on who wins.
Friday, May 25, 2018
15 wounded in Canada restaurant explosion
Police said Friday two suspects with their faces covered to conceal their identity entered the Bombay Bhel restaurant late Thursday, dropped the improvised explosive device and fled. Peel Regional Sergeant Matt Bertram said an object resembling a pail or paint can was carried into the restaurant by one of the suspects in his hand.
“There is no indication that this is a terrorism act. There is no indication that this is a hate crime at this time. We haven’t ruled anything out as we start our investigation,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Jennifer Evans.
“Every police resource is being used right now to locate the people responsible for this horrendous act.”
Officials said three Indian-Canadians suffered critical injuries and were taken to the hospital while the remaining 12 victims suffered what Evans described as minor and superficial injuries. Police later updated the condition of the three critically injured patients to stable. The ages of the injured range from 23 to 69. Children under the age of 10 were present but were not hurt.
The explosion happened just after 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, and the plaza where the restaurant is located was still sealed off on Friday. Television footage showed an injured woman limping away from the restaurant.
“Nothing was said by these individuals,” Bertram said. “It appears they just went in, dropped off this device and took off right away.”
Rafael Conceicao, a student from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was near the restaurant when the explosion occurred. He said there was a child’s birthday party inside the restaurant at the time.
“Glass was broken in the street … Everything was destroyed. Lots of blood in the floor. Many people were screaming. They were trying to run out from the restaurant,” he said. ContinueReading
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Taiwan loses second ally in a month amid China pressure
Reuters - Taiwan now has only one diplomatic ally left in Africa – the tiny kingdom of Swaziland - and formal relations with just 18 countries worldwide, many of them poor nations in Central America and the Pacific like Belize and Nauru.
The Burkina foreign ministry’s statement made no direct mention of China, but said “the evolution of the world and the socio-economic challenges of our country and region push us to reconsider our position”.
Speaking at a hastily arranged news conference in Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan would not engage in “dollar diplomacy” and denounced Beijing’s methods.
“China toys with dollar diplomacy and promises huge sums of money to entice many countries to build relations,” Tsai said.
“I want to emphasize again that China’s pressure will only lead to Taiwan’s ties with its partners in the international community getting closer. We will not cower at all.”
Taiwan has accused China of luring its friends away with offers of generous aid packages. China denies this, and says Taiwan is a part of China with no right to formal diplomatic ties with any other country.
Speaking shortly before the president, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said he had offered his resignation to her.
Wu said that Taiwan cannot compete with China’s financial resources.
“I along with our country’s people feel sad, angry and regretful,” he said.
“China grabbing our allies and giving us pressure in the diplomatic space will not shrink the distance across the (Taiwan) strait and will not let cross-strait relations walk on a peaceful, friendly path.”
China’s foreign ministry said in a brief statement it welcomed Burkina to “join in China-Africa friendly cooperation as soon as possible”.
The Burkina foreign ministry’s statement made no direct mention of China, but said “the evolution of the world and the socio-economic challenges of our country and region push us to reconsider our position”.
Speaking at a hastily arranged news conference in Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan would not engage in “dollar diplomacy” and denounced Beijing’s methods.
“China toys with dollar diplomacy and promises huge sums of money to entice many countries to build relations,” Tsai said.
“I want to emphasize again that China’s pressure will only lead to Taiwan’s ties with its partners in the international community getting closer. We will not cower at all.”
Taiwan has accused China of luring its friends away with offers of generous aid packages. China denies this, and says Taiwan is a part of China with no right to formal diplomatic ties with any other country.
Speaking shortly before the president, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said he had offered his resignation to her.
Wu said that Taiwan cannot compete with China’s financial resources.
“I along with our country’s people feel sad, angry and regretful,” he said.
“China grabbing our allies and giving us pressure in the diplomatic space will not shrink the distance across the (Taiwan) strait and will not let cross-strait relations walk on a peaceful, friendly path.”
China’s foreign ministry said in a brief statement it welcomed Burkina to “join in China-Africa friendly cooperation as soon as possible”.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
People who sleep in on weekends avoid dying young, study suggests
- Sleeping in on a day off feels marvelous, especially for those of us who don't get nearly enough rest during the workweek. But are the extra weekend winks worth it? It's a question that psychologist Torbjorn Akerstedt, director of the Stress Research Institute at Stockholm University, and his colleagues tried to answer in a study published Wednesday in the Journal of Sleep Research.
Akerstedt and his colleagues tracked more than 38,000 people in Sweden over 13 years, with a focus on their weekend vs. weekday sleeping habits. This peek at weekend slumber fills in an “overlooked” gap in sleep science, Akerstedt said.
Previous sleep studies asked people to count their hours of sleep for an average night, without distinguishing between workdays and days off. Not in the new study. People under the age of 65 who slept for five hours or less every night, all week, did not live as long as those who consistently slept seven hours a night.
But weekend snoozers lived just as long as the well-slept. People who slept for fewer than the recommended seven hours each weekday, but caught an extra hour or two on weekends, lived just as long as people who always slept seven hours, the authors reported.
“It seems that weekend compensation is good” for the sleep-needy, Akerstedt said, though he cautioned that this was a “tentative conclusion” of this new research.
Epidemiologists who spoke with The Washington Post described the result as a plausible finding, if not a statistically robust one, that deserves more investigation.
Akerstedt and his colleagues tracked more than 38,000 people in Sweden over 13 years, with a focus on their weekend vs. weekday sleeping habits. This peek at weekend slumber fills in an “overlooked” gap in sleep science, Akerstedt said.
Previous sleep studies asked people to count their hours of sleep for an average night, without distinguishing between workdays and days off. Not in the new study. People under the age of 65 who slept for five hours or less every night, all week, did not live as long as those who consistently slept seven hours a night.
But weekend snoozers lived just as long as the well-slept. People who slept for fewer than the recommended seven hours each weekday, but caught an extra hour or two on weekends, lived just as long as people who always slept seven hours, the authors reported.
“It seems that weekend compensation is good” for the sleep-needy, Akerstedt said, though he cautioned that this was a “tentative conclusion” of this new research.
Epidemiologists who spoke with The Washington Post described the result as a plausible finding, if not a statistically robust one, that deserves more investigation.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Israel Lodges Official Protest Over Dutch Parody of Eurovision Winner 'Toy'
oh deer..
- Israel's Embassy in the Netherlands has lodged an official letter of protest over a parody of the Israeli Eurovision winner that critics said bordered on being anti-Israel.
A satirical Dutch TV show has lampooned Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest-winning song “Toy,” with new lyrics that harshly attack Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians.
Israel's ambassador to The Hague sent the protest to the Dutch television channel that broadcast the video, the Foreign Ministry and Central Jewish Board – the umbrella group for Holland's Jewish community.
"Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and satire, are important elements of a democratic and pluralistic society, as exists in the Netherlands and Israel," said the Israeli protest letter. "We cherish and respect these principles, yet in that show you went too far."
The letter went on to say that Israelis "don't rejoice when Palestinians are killed. When people lose their lives, and it doesn’t matter on which side, we don't laugh. You shouldn’t either!" The letter went on to say that the impression of Barzilai was good and the song was performed well, "but all the rest was very problematic."
Monday, May 21, 2018
Strength: Border Patrol agent questions two U.S. citizens for speaking Spanish in Montana gas station
- Two U.S. citizens at a northern Montana gas station were questioned by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer for speaking Spanish.
Ana Suda told multiple news outlets she and her friend Mimi Hernandez were about pay for eggs and milk at a convenience store gas station on Wednesday in Havre, Mont., about 35 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border, when a Border Patrol officer asked for her identification.
Suda recorded the encounter, where the agent says the two were brought outside for questioning because they were "speaking Spanish in the store, in a state where it’s predominantly English-speaking.”
“I was so embarrassed … being outside in the gas station, and everybody’s looking at you like you’re doing something wrong. I don’t think speaking Spanish is something criminal, you know?” Suda told The Washington Post. “My friend, she started crying. She didn’t stop crying in the truck. And I told her, we are not doing anything wrong.”
Suda told Montana TV station KRTV they were not allowed to leave the gas station for about 35 minutes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reviewing the case "to ensure that all appropriate policies were followed," according to a statement sent to USA TODAY.
"Although most Border Patrol work is conducted in the immediate border area, agents have broad law enforcement authorities and are not limited to a specific geography within the United States," U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in the statement. "They have the authority to question individuals, make arrests, and take and consider evidence."
Suda told The Post she plans to take legal action.
Ana Suda told multiple news outlets she and her friend Mimi Hernandez were about pay for eggs and milk at a convenience store gas station on Wednesday in Havre, Mont., about 35 miles south of the U.S.-Canada border, when a Border Patrol officer asked for her identification.
Suda recorded the encounter, where the agent says the two were brought outside for questioning because they were "speaking Spanish in the store, in a state where it’s predominantly English-speaking.”
“I was so embarrassed … being outside in the gas station, and everybody’s looking at you like you’re doing something wrong. I don’t think speaking Spanish is something criminal, you know?” Suda told The Washington Post. “My friend, she started crying. She didn’t stop crying in the truck. And I told her, we are not doing anything wrong.”
Suda told Montana TV station KRTV they were not allowed to leave the gas station for about 35 minutes.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reviewing the case "to ensure that all appropriate policies were followed," according to a statement sent to USA TODAY.
"Although most Border Patrol work is conducted in the immediate border area, agents have broad law enforcement authorities and are not limited to a specific geography within the United States," U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in the statement. "They have the authority to question individuals, make arrests, and take and consider evidence."
Suda told The Post she plans to take legal action.
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Macedonian PM says Greece agrees to discuss proposed name
abcnews- Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Saturday (May 19) he is ready to go ahead with a new name for his country in order to solve a centuries-long name dispute with Greece and pave the way for full integration of the small Balkan country into the European Union and NATO.
But Greek political leaders briefed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras rejected the Macedonian proposal outright and the Greek government itself, in a response to Zaev's remarks, was evasive about the particular name proposal.
Zaev said that "Republic of Ilindenska Macedonia" is the compromise name acceptable to both sides. The adjective "Ilindenska," meaning, literally, "the day of the prophet Elijah" refers to a 1903 uprising against Turkish occupiers.
"With this possible solution, we preserve the dignity, we confirm and strengthen our Macedonian identity," Zaev said, but added that final say on the new name will be put to a referendum.
Zaev reiterated that Macedonia has no territorial claims to its southern neighbour and confirmed the inviolability of the borders. "Macedonia is ready to confirm this in all necessary ways," Zaev said.
Macedonia was a part of the former Yugoslavia and declared independence in 1991. Greece claims the country's name implies territorial designs on its northern province of Macedonia.
He also said that with the new name proposal "we make a complete distinction with the Macedonia region in Greece".
In Athens, premier Tsipras briefed Greece's president and opposition leaders. All the opposition leaders said the name "Ilinden Macedonia" was unacceptable because, as Communist Party leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas said, it is "neither a geographical nor a temporal" designation, as agreed in nearly two decades of talks mediated by the United Nations. Some opposition leaders called the proposal a provocation on Macedonia's part.
A statement released by the Greek government reflected its ambivalence about the name.
"We welcome the acceptance by (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) that a solution to the nomenclature cannot exist without the adoption of ... a name for all uses," the statement said, meaning that Macedonians could not simply call their country "Macedonia" domestically, while having another name for international use.
"However, we encourage our neighbours to continue working together to find a commonly accepted name with a geographical or temporal designation, just as the package of proposals tabled by the U.N Special Envoy, Matthew Nimetz, also provides," the Greek statement added.
Zaev did not have an easy time with his country's opposition leaders, either.
The leader of the main conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE party Hristijan Mickoski said after meeting with Zaev that his party is against the name change. He reiterated that his party will not support a change of the constitution and of Macedonia's constitutional name "Republic of Macedonia".
Zaev has urged Macedonians to support the proposed name.
That was quick: Macedonia's main opposition party rejects proposal for new country name
Saturday, May 19, 2018
One dead, one injured in shooting outside high school graduation ceremony
JONESBORO, Ga. — One person was killed and another wounded when an argument led to a shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony Friday night in metro Atlanta, police said.
The incident happened as people headed to their cars, Clayton County schools’ safety chief Thomas Trawick said. He said he couldn’t provide details about the injuries and had no information about any suspects.
The shooting followed a ceremony for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. It happened on the campus of Mount Zion High School, which provided overflow parking for people attending the ceremony at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Atlanta.
Trawick said his initial reaction “wasn’t pleasant,” given news of a fatal shooting earlier in the day in Texas.
“The last thing you want to do is have a situation at a graduation that results in anyone being injured, and definitely not being shot,” he said.
A police presence remained at the scene late Friday night. Three cars were being towed away; Scott Stubbs of Clayton County police said they’d be part of the investigation. But he and other officers on the scene said they couldn’t release any further information.
The incident happened as people headed to their cars, Clayton County schools’ safety chief Thomas Trawick said. He said he couldn’t provide details about the injuries and had no information about any suspects.
The shooting followed a ceremony for graduates of the Perry Learning Center, which prepares students for careers as an alternative to traditional high schools. It happened on the campus of Mount Zion High School, which provided overflow parking for people attending the ceremony at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Atlanta.
Trawick said his initial reaction “wasn’t pleasant,” given news of a fatal shooting earlier in the day in Texas.
“The last thing you want to do is have a situation at a graduation that results in anyone being injured, and definitely not being shot,” he said.
A police presence remained at the scene late Friday night. Three cars were being towed away; Scott Stubbs of Clayton County police said they’d be part of the investigation. But he and other officers on the scene said they couldn’t release any further information.
Friday, May 18, 2018
K-pop eyes 'next wave' of success in U.S. music industry
nbcnews.com - Selling out more than a dozen concerts in North American arenas used to be something Korean artists only dreamed of, but nearly a year after becoming the first K-pop group to win a Billboard Music Award, boy band BTS has sold out 14 Canada and U.S. dates on its upcoming international tour.
The septet are also scheduled to perform at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20 just two days after they released their third Korean-language album, “Love Yourself: Tear.”
The world tour is scheduled to kick off in August in Seoul. The North American portion in the fall includes nine more shows than the boy band’s 2017 North American leg and is scheduled to follow a summer concert season that sees well over 20 K-pop acts planning to perform Stateside between concert tours and events like KCON.
BTS is just one of an increasingly growing new wave of K-pop-affiliated musical acts attempting to break into the U.S. mainstream.
Atlanta-born Eric Nam is one of the artists heading to the U.S. from Seoul. After college, the now 29-year-old left the States to compete on a South Korean talent search show in 2011. He has since carved out a niche as a bilingual musician and television personality.
He’ll return to the U.S. this summer for his most-expansive North American K-pop concert tour ever, with 16 shows in 15 cities.
Previously working with Gallantand Timbaland, Nam has straddled the Korean and American music scenes for a few years. But with his latest album “Honestly,” he has begun to explore in detail the differences between the two markets.
“I think Korea is so focused on just the charts, and what’s going to chart and what’s not, and I’m sure it’s like that way in the States as well, to a certain degree,” Nam said. “But I enjoy working in the States a little bit more. Because it’s more about making music that is the right sound and the right fit to me, not so much just chasing the charts.”
Music Interlude
Thursday, May 17, 2018
US Birth Rate Hits All-Time Low: What's Behind the Decline?
livescience - The number of babies being born in the United States continues to fall, with the birth rate reaching a new record low in 2017, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, about 3.8 million babies were born in the U.S., which is 2 percent lower than the number born in 2016, and the lowest recorded number of births in 30 years, according to the report.
What's more, there were about 60 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, which is 3 percent lower than the rate in 2016, and the lowest recorded rate since the government started tracking birth rates in 1909.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Guatemala opens embassy in Jerusalem, two days after U.S. move
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Guatemala opened an embassy in Jerusalem on Wednesday, two days after the United States inaugurated its new site in the contested city in a move that infuriated Palestinians and drew international condemnation.
Israeli troops shot dead dozens of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border on Monday when the high-profile opening of the U.S. Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem by the administration of President Donald Trump raised tension to boiling point after weeks of anti-Israeli demonstrations.
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended the embassy’s opening on Wednesday in an office complex in west Jerusalem.
“It’s not a coincidence that Guatemala is opening its embassy in Jerusalem right among the first. You were always among the first. You were the second country to recognize Israel,” Netanyahu said at the ceremony, referring to its founding in 1948.
Guatemala was one of only a few nations that backed Trump’s decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and is only the second country to move its embassy to the holy city. Paraguay said it will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of May.
Trump’s move reversed decades of U.S. policy, upsetting the Arab world and Western allies.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
7 governors sign letter backing Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — - South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and a group of fellow governors are backing President Donald Trump's nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing what they called Trump's "transformative efforts to bring peace to the Korean peninsula."
In a letter this week to Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Berit Reiss-Andersen, McMaster and six fellow governors wrote that Trump's "firm stance against nuclearization, coupled with his willingness to engage one-on-one with Pyongyang, has succeeded in opening new avenues of cooperation, friendship and unity between the two Koreas - and the rest of the world."
The letter follows one from 18 U.S. House Republicans, who earlier this month formally nominated Trump for the award amid preparations for a historic summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also promoted the idea, sending an email encouraging supporters to "Nominate President Trump to Win the Nobel Peace Prize" by adding their name to a list.
McMaster was an early Trump supporter in the 2016 election, formally backing him ahead of South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary. Then the state's lieutenant governor, the longtime South Carolina politician became governor when Trump picked then-Gov. Nikki Haley as his U.N. ambassador.
Trump is backing McMaster in next month's five-way South Carolina GOP primary. The president appeared at an October fundraiser, and McMaster has featured footage from that event prominently in his television ads.
Other signatories to the governors' letter include Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo; Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant; Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer; Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey; West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice; and Maine Gov. Paul LePage. ContinueReading
In a letter this week to Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman Berit Reiss-Andersen, McMaster and six fellow governors wrote that Trump's "firm stance against nuclearization, coupled with his willingness to engage one-on-one with Pyongyang, has succeeded in opening new avenues of cooperation, friendship and unity between the two Koreas - and the rest of the world."
The letter follows one from 18 U.S. House Republicans, who earlier this month formally nominated Trump for the award amid preparations for a historic summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also promoted the idea, sending an email encouraging supporters to "Nominate President Trump to Win the Nobel Peace Prize" by adding their name to a list.
McMaster was an early Trump supporter in the 2016 election, formally backing him ahead of South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary. Then the state's lieutenant governor, the longtime South Carolina politician became governor when Trump picked then-Gov. Nikki Haley as his U.N. ambassador.
Trump is backing McMaster in next month's five-way South Carolina GOP primary. The president appeared at an October fundraiser, and McMaster has featured footage from that event prominently in his television ads.
Other signatories to the governors' letter include Guam Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo; Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant; Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer; Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey; West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice; and Maine Gov. Paul LePage. ContinueReading
Sunday, May 13, 2018
26 killed in rural Burundi attack amid tensions over president's bid to keep power
- Twenty-six people were killed and seven wounded in an attack in a rural area of Burundi, the country's security minister said Saturday, calling it the work of a "terrorist group" he did not identify.
Speaking at the scene, Alain Guillaume Bunyoni told reporters that 24 people were killed in their homes Friday night and two others died of their wounds at a local hospital.
He gave no further details about the attack in the Ruhagarika community of the rural northwestern province of Cibitoke.
The attack came shortly before a May 17 referendum that could extend the president's term. It was not immediately clear if the attack was related.
One survivor told the Associated Press the attackers came around 10 p.m. local time and "attacked households and set fire on houses." Some victims were hacked with machetes and others were shot or burned alive, she said.
Her husband and two children were killed, she said. She spoke on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.
This East African country has seen deadly political violence since early 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza successfully pursued a disputed third term. An estimated 1,200 people died.
Now Burundians are being asked to vote on a proposed constitutional change to extend the president's term from five years to seven, which would allow Nkurunziza to rule for another 14 years.
Campaigns ahead of the referendum have been marred by hate speech, with one ruling party official sent to prison after he called for those who oppose the referendum to be drowned.
The United States earlier this month denounced "violence, intimidation and harassment" against those thought to oppose the referendum and expressed concern about the "nontransparent process" of changing the constitution.
Human Rights Watch has noted "widespread impunity" for authorities and their allies, including the ruling party's youth wing, as they try to swing the vote in the president's favor.
Many in Burundi, a poor country that still relies heavily on foreign aid, worry that a new round of bloodshed will follow the referendum, no matter its results.
Already more than 400,000 people have fled the country since the political unrest began in April 2015, according to the United Nations.
Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, rose to power in 2005 after Burundi's civil war, which killed about 300,000 people. He was reelected unopposed in 2010 after the opposition boycotted. He said he was eligible for a third term in 2015 because lawmakers, not the general population, chose him for his first term.
Campaigns ahead of the referendum have been marred by hate speech, with one ruling party official sent to prison after he called for those who oppose the referendum to be drowned.
The United States earlier this month denounced "violence, intimidation and harassment" against those thought to oppose the referendum and expressed concern about the "nontransparent process" of changing the constitution.
Human Rights Watch has noted "widespread impunity" for authorities and their allies, including the ruling party's youth wing, as they try to swing the vote in the president's favor.
Many in Burundi, a poor country that still relies heavily on foreign aid, worry that a new round of bloodshed will follow the referendum, no matter its results.
Already more than 400,000 people have fled the country since the political unrest began in April 2015, according to the United Nations.
Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader, rose to power in 2005 after Burundi's civil war, which killed about 300,000 people. He was reelected unopposed in 2010 after the opposition boycotted. He said he was eligible for a third term in 2015 because lawmakers, not the general population, chose him for his first term.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Iraqis Vote in First Election Since Victory Over IS
IRBIL, IRAQ — Dressed for the occasion in flowing gowns and a traditional suit, Payman Salih, her husband and four of her daughters waited outside a polling station in Iraq for a final family member to cast their ballot.
For the first time since Islamic State militants were driven out last year of the cities, towns and villages inhabited by millions of people, citizens are voting for a new parliament — and ultimately a new government.
"We want freedom and a peaceful life away from militant groups," she said. "Hopefully the next government will be good. Because for the last four years they did nothing."
Many Kurdish voters, like Salih, do not support Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi after a political crisis last year led to Baghdad closing Kurdish airports and seizing land then held by the semi-autonomous region.
For many other Iraqis, Abadi is the face of victory over IS, and a favorite to once again be prime minister. Other leading contenders include former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki and Hadi al-Amiri, one of the leaders of the Hashd Shaaby, the primarily-Shiite military force that supported Iraqi forces in the fight with IS.
Despite Abadi's popularity, it is too soon to say if he will be appointed prime minister, with months of negotiations expected before a government emerges.
Iraq's political parties traditionally fall almost precisely along ethnic and religious lines. But campaigns this year have demonstrated a shift toward cross-sectarian alliances, complicating the process.
Iraq's government is based on a quota system negotiated after the U.S. invasion in 2003. Positions are designated for sections of the population and the head of state is chosen from the majority, which is Shiite Muslim. Sunni Muslims and Kurdish politicians take other leading positions, with additional places held for women, Christians and other minorities.
Outside one polling station, Irbil Governor Nawzad Hadi said he hopes this new dynamic will help resolve divisions between Kurdish and Arab officials.
"We fought against IS," he said. "Now we want to start a new page with Baghdad." ContinueReading
For the first time since Islamic State militants were driven out last year of the cities, towns and villages inhabited by millions of people, citizens are voting for a new parliament — and ultimately a new government.
"We want freedom and a peaceful life away from militant groups," she said. "Hopefully the next government will be good. Because for the last four years they did nothing."
Many Kurdish voters, like Salih, do not support Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi after a political crisis last year led to Baghdad closing Kurdish airports and seizing land then held by the semi-autonomous region.
For many other Iraqis, Abadi is the face of victory over IS, and a favorite to once again be prime minister. Other leading contenders include former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki and Hadi al-Amiri, one of the leaders of the Hashd Shaaby, the primarily-Shiite military force that supported Iraqi forces in the fight with IS.
Despite Abadi's popularity, it is too soon to say if he will be appointed prime minister, with months of negotiations expected before a government emerges.
Iraq's political parties traditionally fall almost precisely along ethnic and religious lines. But campaigns this year have demonstrated a shift toward cross-sectarian alliances, complicating the process.
Iraq's government is based on a quota system negotiated after the U.S. invasion in 2003. Positions are designated for sections of the population and the head of state is chosen from the majority, which is Shiite Muslim. Sunni Muslims and Kurdish politicians take other leading positions, with additional places held for women, Christians and other minorities.
Outside one polling station, Irbil Governor Nawzad Hadi said he hopes this new dynamic will help resolve divisions between Kurdish and Arab officials.
"We fought against IS," he said. "Now we want to start a new page with Baghdad." ContinueReading
Friday, May 11, 2018
Australia's worst mass shooting in 22 years leaves family of 7 dead
CANBERRA, Australia — A family of seven including four children was found dead with gunshot wounds Friday at a rural property in southwest Australia in what could be the country's worst mass shooting in 22 years, police and news media said.
The children died with their mother and grandparents. The three generations had moved in 2015 to Osmington, a village of fewer than 700 people near the tourist town of Margaret River, to grow fruit, media reported.
Police would not comment on the possibility of murder-suicide, but said they are not looking for a suspect.
After being alerted by a phone call before dawn, police found the bodies and two guns at the property, Western Australia state Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said. Police wouldn't say who made the call.
The bodies of two adults were found outside a house and the others were found inside. They all resided at the property, he said.
Police said they have no information that would raise concerns about wider public safety, suggesting a shooter is not at large.
"Police are currently responding to what I can only describe as a horrific incident," Dawson told reporters.
"This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and, in particular, the local communities in our southwest," he added.
Police were attempting to make contact with the victims' relatives, Dawson said. He declined to release the names or ages of the dead.
Australia's gun laws are widely acclaimed as a success, with supporters including former U.S. President Barack Obama saying Australia has not had a single mass shooting since they were implemented.
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad sworn in after shock comeback victory
BBC - Mahathir Mohamad has been sworn in as prime minister of Malaysia again after a shock election victory, 15 years after he stood down.
Supporters waved flags and cheered outside the Istana Negara palace in Kuala Lumpur as took the oath inside.
The former strongman who governed for more than two decades has become, at 92, the world's oldest elected leader.
He came out of retirement and defected to the opposition to take on and beat former protege Najib Razak.
His historic win ousted the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has been in power since independence in 1957.
Supporters waved flags and cheered outside the Istana Negara palace in Kuala Lumpur as took the oath inside.
The former strongman who governed for more than two decades has become, at 92, the world's oldest elected leader.
He came out of retirement and defected to the opposition to take on and beat former protege Najib Razak.
His historic win ousted the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which has been in power since independence in 1957.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
New Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of the Congo
The WHO said that it was working with the country's government to clamp down on any potential for the disease spreading, following an Ebola outbreak in in the northern part of the country last year.
“Working with partners and responding early and in a coordinated way will be vital to containing this deadly disease,” Peter Salama, WHO deputy director-general of emergency preparedness and response, said in a statement.
Out of five patients tested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two results came back positive for Ebola and more are being tested, according to WHO officials.
This is the ninth outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the virus was discovered in 1976.
In the last five weeks, 17 people overall have died of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever, which is caused by several viruses, including Ebola.
The WHO is releasing $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies in an effort to stop Ebola from spreading to nearby provinces and countries. The current outbreak is in Bikoro, in the northwestern part of the country.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo saw an outbreak of Ebola last year, and was “quickly contained,” according to the WHO, which attributed this success to the quick testing of blood samples, announcing the outbreak early, a rapid response from health authorities and more.
Officials have sought to quickly clamp down on Ebola following an outbreak in West Africa in 2014 that garnered attention worldwide and resulted in over 11,000 deaths.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Israel serves Japanese Prime Minister Dessert in Shoe, Causing Offense
- An Israeli chef prepared dinner for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on May 2, but his dessert left a bad taste in diplomats' mouths.
Celebrity chef Moshe Segev served chocolate pralines in a man's shoe—a brogue—and was so proud of his creation that he shared numerous images of the dessert on Instagram over the past week.
The video of the dish received little attention, but Segev’s picture of himself with the diners and a close-up of the dessert attracted dozens of negative comments that spiraled into a diplomatic migraine.
Japanese etiquette is rigid when it comes to footwear, as the Lonely Planet website informs travelers. Shoes are banned from most private homes, as well as some museums and restaurants.
"Never wear shoes on tatami mats," the guide warns, referring to Japan's traditional flooring and bed mats—advice the chef failed to heed, as he served the dessert brogue on a tatami-style table mat.
"There is nothing more despised in Japanese culture than shoes. Not only do they not enter their houses while wearing shoes, you will not find shoes in their offices either. Even the prime minister, ministers and members of parliament do not wear shoes to work…. It is equivalent to serving a Jewish guest chocolates in a dish shaped like a pig."
A Japanese diplomat was also outraged. "No culture puts shoes on the table," the unnamed official told Yediot. He added, "If this is meant to be humor, we do not find it funny. I can tell you that we are offended for our prime minister."
It's clear Segev, who previously created a dessert bearing the silhouettes of Netanyahu and Donald Trump when the Israeli leader hosted the American president, meant no offense. "Great honor to cook for you!" he wrote as a caption to the picture with the two leaders and their partners. ContinueReading
Monday, May 7, 2018
‘He’s Not Our Tsar’: Russians Protest Putin Ahead of Inauguration
- Two days before President Vladimir Putin is due to be inaugurated for a fourth time, more than 1,600 people were detained across Russia at protests against his extended rule.
It was the first major protest against Putin since January. Then, opposition politician Alexei Navalny had called for a boycott of the March elections after he was barred from standing due to a fraud conviction that his supporters say is politically motivated. The mostly peaceful protests drew thousands onto the streets.
They did not, however, stop Putin from winning 77 percent of the vote. The president was re-elected with a record number of ballots, making him the longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin.
Unlike January’s demonstration, the protests on Saturday turned violent. While thousands across the country — from Vladivostok in the Far East to Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea — marched in the protests which were called by Navalny last month, it was in the capital where the clashes were most severe.
By the time Navalny’s supporters arrived at Pushkin Square at 2 p.m., several hundred pro-Kremlin “volunteer” militia had already occupied the square. Wearing orange-and-black St. George’s ribbons — a symbol of patriotism — they approached protesters aggressively, tearing up signs that read: “He is not our tsar” and “I am against corruption.”
As the groups converged, a pro-Kremlin activist punched Alexei Berezhkin, a 27-year-old Navalny supporter. A policeman intervened, telling the aggressor to disperse. Then he spoke sternly to Berezhkin. “The policeman told me I was blocking the man’s way,” Berezhkin told The Moscow Times.
Then came the arrests. Only fifteen minutes after Navalny’s supporters arrived en masse, riot police, known colloquially as “cosmonauts” for their bulbous helmets and armor, spilled into the square, snatching protesters one by one.
Those who weren’t taken stood firm. And when Navalny arrived on the scene around 2:25 p.m., they burst into cheers. Addressing the crowd, Navalny said, “I am proud of us for coming out here today.”
It was the first major protest against Putin since January. Then, opposition politician Alexei Navalny had called for a boycott of the March elections after he was barred from standing due to a fraud conviction that his supporters say is politically motivated. The mostly peaceful protests drew thousands onto the streets.
They did not, however, stop Putin from winning 77 percent of the vote. The president was re-elected with a record number of ballots, making him the longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin.
Unlike January’s demonstration, the protests on Saturday turned violent. While thousands across the country — from Vladivostok in the Far East to Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea — marched in the protests which were called by Navalny last month, it was in the capital where the clashes were most severe.
By the time Navalny’s supporters arrived at Pushkin Square at 2 p.m., several hundred pro-Kremlin “volunteer” militia had already occupied the square. Wearing orange-and-black St. George’s ribbons — a symbol of patriotism — they approached protesters aggressively, tearing up signs that read: “He is not our tsar” and “I am against corruption.”
As the groups converged, a pro-Kremlin activist punched Alexei Berezhkin, a 27-year-old Navalny supporter. A policeman intervened, telling the aggressor to disperse. Then he spoke sternly to Berezhkin. “The policeman told me I was blocking the man’s way,” Berezhkin told The Moscow Times.
Then came the arrests. Only fifteen minutes after Navalny’s supporters arrived en masse, riot police, known colloquially as “cosmonauts” for their bulbous helmets and armor, spilled into the square, snatching protesters one by one.
Those who weren’t taken stood firm. And when Navalny arrived on the scene around 2:25 p.m., they burst into cheers. Addressing the crowd, Navalny said, “I am proud of us for coming out here today.”
Ten minutes later, he, too, was detained.
As the riot police formed barricades to push protesters out of the square, they ran into the neighboring streets, cheering and clapping and chanting: “Down with the tsar!” and “Putin is a thief!”
Some protesters lit smoke bombs and threw bricks at policemen. Others were beaten bloody with batons in scenes that were reminiscent of the massive clashes between law enforcement and protesters on the eve of Putin’s inauguration in 2012. That day six years ago marked the beginning of a clampdown on Russia’s emerging opposition movement.Sunday, May 6, 2018
Lebanon Votes in Election Dominated by Regional Tensions
BEIRUT—Lebanese headed to the polls Sunday to choose a new government in the country’s first election in nearly a decade, a vote that has become a proxy contest between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The capital was flooded with campaign posters and slogans, and security forces patrolled across the city amid heightened security measures. After a calm morning, the interior ministry said turnout across the country had reached 24% at 2 p.m. local time.
With the election unfolding in the shadow of a war in neighboring Syria, regional tensions have eclipsed debate about policy in Lebanon. The main candidates have cast themselves as loyal to either Riyadh or Tehran, which are vying for greater influence in the region.
Saudi Arabia supports the incumbent prime minister, Saad Hariri, and his Future Movement party, while Iran backs Hezbollah, a political group that also fights in Syria in the form of a militia. The Future Movement and Hezbollah are part of Lebanon’s current coalition government that was formed after years of political impasse.
Western countries, which see the rare Arab democracy as a bastion against Iranian power, have pledged billions of dollars in soft loans to Mr. Hariri’s government in recent weeks to provide a counterbalance to Hezbollah.
“Let me be clear: Beirut will not become Damascus, or San’a or Baghdad,” Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk, a member of Mr. Hariri’s party, said when meeting voters in the capital last week, referring to regional capitals under the influence of Iran.
Saturday, May 5, 2018
California's economy is now the 5th-biggest in the world, and has overtaken the United Kingdom
- California's economy is so large, and has grown so quickly, that it is now the fifth-biggest in the world all by itself, according to US government data.
Figures released on Friday by the US Department of Commerce put California's effective GDP from 2017 at around $2.747 trillion. It said the state's economy grew by 3.4% in the past year.
That growth puts it ahead of the United Kingdom, which has a GDP of $2.625 trillion, according to data published last month by the International Monetary Fund.
According to the Associated Press, California's boom has been especially pronounced because of its thriving tech, entertainment and agricultural industries.
The difference is even more stark in light of the respective economies' populations: Britain has around 66 million inhabitants, compared to California's 40 million.
The United Kingdom has experienced sluggish growth in the past year and many consider its future economic prospects in peril because of its impending exit from the European Union, characterised by fraught negotiations.
It also highlighted currency fluctuations which helped increase the US dollar figure for California's economy at the expense of Britain's.
Figures released on Friday by the US Department of Commerce put California's effective GDP from 2017 at around $2.747 trillion. It said the state's economy grew by 3.4% in the past year.
That growth puts it ahead of the United Kingdom, which has a GDP of $2.625 trillion, according to data published last month by the International Monetary Fund.
The difference is even more stark in light of the respective economies' populations: Britain has around 66 million inhabitants, compared to California's 40 million.
The United Kingdom has experienced sluggish growth in the past year and many consider its future economic prospects in peril because of its impending exit from the European Union, characterised by fraught negotiations.
It also highlighted currency fluctuations which helped increase the US dollar figure for California's economy at the expense of Britain's.
ETA Formally Ends Armed Fight, but Spain Vows to Prosecute
MADRID (AP) — Basque separatist group ETA publicly declared its dissolution Thursday, bringing an end to a campaign against Spain that saw more than 850 people killed over more than four decades of bombings and shootings.
In an open letter to the Basque people, ETA said it has "completely dismantled all of its structures" and "will no longer express political positions, promote initiatives or interact with other stakeholders."
Its announcement was dismissed as propaganda by victims' groups, while the Spanish government said it would continue to prosecute anyone with any links to any of the violence conducted during the ETA campaign, which blighted Spain's transition to democracy from the late 1970s onwards.
ETA formally announced its dissolution in a letter read out at the headquarters of a conflict resolution group in Geneva. That came a day after the group's intentions were known in a separate leaked letter that had been sent in April to the Basque regional government, workers' unions and others.
David Harland, the executive director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, which has been involved in peace negotiations between ETA and the Spanish government dating back to 2004, told The Associated Press that Thursday's announcement was a "unilateral" move by the group.
Basque-language website naiz.eus also published audio with the voices of two well-known ETA members, Josu Urrutikoetxea — also known as Josu Ternera — and Marixol Iparragirre, reading the letter's content.
In response, the Spanish government vowed to continue prosecuting the organization's militants who had sought to create a new Basque homeland in northern Spain and southern France.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stuck to his government's hard line and called ETA's disbanding "noise and propaganda."
"Whatever ETA does or says, it won't find any loophole for impunity," Rajoy said. "ETA can announce its disappearance, but its crimes or the action of the judiciary won't disappear."
ETA, which stands for "Basque Homeland and Freedom" in the Basque language and was born in 1958, carried out bombings, shootings and kidnappings, most of them after Spain transitioned to democracy from the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco after his death in 1975.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Flat Earthers Say You Can’t Fall Off The Edge Of The Earth Because Of ‘Pac-Man’
techtimes - In a stunning new theory, flat Earthers believe we don't fall off the edge of the Earth even though it's flat because of the same rules of physics found in a video game.
Over the weekend in Birmingham, England, 200 flat Earthers discussed their various theories on the planet's shape and sought to disprove those who challenge their beliefs.
To them, Earth is definitely flat, regardless of what elementary school textbooks, rules of science, and countless hours of aerial footage dictate. They're no longer content with the idea that the Earth is just a flat disk with a giant wall of ice around it. In the convention, the flat Earthers presented a number of ideas on the planet's true shape, as The Telegraph reports.
One theory comes from Darren Nesbit, alleging that Earth is actually in the shape of a diamond and is supported by pillars.
"I'm not saying this is definitely what is going on, but I think it is a plausible model," said Nesbit.
Indeed, there are people who impassionedly believe that our dear planet is not a globe despite overwhelming evidence proving so. They have all sorts of theories on its actual shape and have laid out explanations that support their model. Flat Earth societies haven't really settled on a universal theory on why the Earth is flat, but they do irrepressibly believe it is.
Even still, there's a popular counterpoint flat Earthers have never properly answered yet: if the Earth is truly flat, why don't we fall off the edge of our planet? Nesbit, however, has an answer: the "Pac-Man effect."
Flat Earth And 'Pac-Man'
Everyone has probably played Pac-Man at least once in their lives, but for those who haven't, Pac-Man is a video game featuring an insatiable yellow character. Players navigate a maze-like environment in search of food, and the goal is to eat as much as Pac-Man can without running into enemies.
What Nesbit seems to be referring to in his theory is the left and right sections of the maze, which act like portals — if you enter the left portal, you instantly end up on the right, and vice versa. Earth, he believes, works like this. We are able to teleport from one side of the planet to the opposite side just like that. That's why no one has ever fallen off the edge.
"One logical possibility for those who are truly free thinkers is that space-time wraps around and we get a Pac-Man effect," said Nesbit. ContinueReading
Over the weekend in Birmingham, England, 200 flat Earthers discussed their various theories on the planet's shape and sought to disprove those who challenge their beliefs.
To them, Earth is definitely flat, regardless of what elementary school textbooks, rules of science, and countless hours of aerial footage dictate. They're no longer content with the idea that the Earth is just a flat disk with a giant wall of ice around it. In the convention, the flat Earthers presented a number of ideas on the planet's true shape, as The Telegraph reports.
One theory comes from Darren Nesbit, alleging that Earth is actually in the shape of a diamond and is supported by pillars.
"I'm not saying this is definitely what is going on, but I think it is a plausible model," said Nesbit.
Indeed, there are people who impassionedly believe that our dear planet is not a globe despite overwhelming evidence proving so. They have all sorts of theories on its actual shape and have laid out explanations that support their model. Flat Earth societies haven't really settled on a universal theory on why the Earth is flat, but they do irrepressibly believe it is.
Even still, there's a popular counterpoint flat Earthers have never properly answered yet: if the Earth is truly flat, why don't we fall off the edge of our planet? Nesbit, however, has an answer: the "Pac-Man effect."
Flat Earth And 'Pac-Man'
Everyone has probably played Pac-Man at least once in their lives, but for those who haven't, Pac-Man is a video game featuring an insatiable yellow character. Players navigate a maze-like environment in search of food, and the goal is to eat as much as Pac-Man can without running into enemies.
What Nesbit seems to be referring to in his theory is the left and right sections of the maze, which act like portals — if you enter the left portal, you instantly end up on the right, and vice versa. Earth, he believes, works like this. We are able to teleport from one side of the planet to the opposite side just like that. That's why no one has ever fallen off the edge.
"One logical possibility for those who are truly free thinkers is that space-time wraps around and we get a Pac-Man effect," said Nesbit. ContinueReading
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Workers around the world mark May Day
In the Russian capital, thousands of people led by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin marched across the Red Square to commemorate the May Day.
The day, dedicated to workers around the world, is a public holiday in many countries.
It commemorates the struggle of the working class to win fair employment standards, historian Tatyana Sidorova told Anadolu Agency in Moscow on Tuesday.
People who worked most, earned less and did not have time to study and to top up their qualification, she added.
"These unjust conditions resulted in appearance of labor unions and labor movements which met a great resistance from the side of the industrial elite. But when the labor movement became mass, employers were forced to meet the demands and to improve work conditions," she said.
In Austria, over 100,000 people gathered in front of the Municipality of Vienna building, where far-right groups protested.
Thousands of workers and students in the Greek capital Athens protested against the government’s “belt-tightening” policies at the Sintagma Square where the parliament is located.
Some groups protested against NATO outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
In the Balkans region, various protests were held in Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo, pointing out poor conditions for workers in their countries.
In several major cities of Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, labor unions voiced concern over lack of rights of workers.
In Manila, a crowd of around 20,000 individuals from different labor groups -- the biggest number of protesters recorded since Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte assumed presidency in 2016 -- gathered on Tuesday and protested against labor contract executive order.
Earlier Tuesday, Duterte had signed an executive order aimed at ending illegal contracts and providing security to Filipino workers; however, protesters claimed it was "anti-workers" and useless.
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