Latest 2018 World News: Porn actress says she was threatened to keep silent on Trump fling

source: AFP
Porn actress says she was threatened to keep silent on Trump fling

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / Ethan Miller, Olivier Douliery A combination photo showing porn actress Stormy Daniels, who says she had a fling with President Donald Trump in 2006

Porn actress Stormy Daniels said she was threatened in a bid to keep her silent about her alleged fling with Donald Trump, which she detailed in a highly-anticipated primetime TV interview broadcast Sunday.

She is seeking to be released from a non-disclosure agreement she signed 11 days before the 2016 presidential election that brought Trump to power, for which she was paid $130,000 -- leading to allegations that the payment amounted to an illicit contribution to his campaign.

Daniels told Anderson Cooper on CBS's "60 Minutes" that Trump had not asked her to keep their 2006 sexual encounter secret, but said she was approached by a man in a Las Vegas parking lot after agreeing to sell her story for $15,000 in 2011.

"I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter. Taking, you know, the seats facing backwards in the back seat, diaper bag, you know, gettin' all the stuff out," she said.

"And a guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.' And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, 'That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom,'" Daniels said.

Cooper asked: "You took it as a direct threat?"

"Absolutely," Daniels said.

"I was rattled, I remember going into the workout class and my hands were shaking so much I was afraid I was gonna drop her," she said of her daughter.

- Magazine spanking -

Daniels said she was introduced to Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in July 2006. He invited her to his hotel suite, the only time they had sex.

The conversation "started off all about him, just talking about himself," with Trump asking if Daniels had seen his picture on the cover of a magazine, she said.

"I was like, does this, does this normally work for you? And he looked very taken back."

She told him: "Someone should take that magazine and spank you with it."

She took the magazine and told Trump to drop his pants, which he did -- with underwear still on -- "and I just gave him a couple swats," said Daniels.

The real estate mogul "was a completely different person" after that, and he stopped talking about himself.

Trump told her, "'Wow, you, you are special. You remind me of my daughter.' You know, he's like, 'You're smart, beautiful and a woman to be reckoned with,'" she said.

Trump's wife Melania -- who had recently given birth to their son -- came up only briefly: "I asked, and he brushed it aside, said, 'Oh yeah, yeah, you know, don't worry about that, we have separate rooms,'" Daniels said.

She said she and Trump had unprotected sex, despite the fact that she was not attracted to a man who was over 30 years her senior.

But "I didn't say no. I'm not a victim," Daniels said.

She stayed in contact with Trump after the encounter because the tycoon said he would try to get her on "The Apprentice," the reality TV show he hosted at the time.

"I thought of it as a business deal," she said, but it did not pan out.

- 'I'm telling the truth' -

Daniels said her main motive for speaking out now was to set the record straight.

"I'm not okay with being made out to be a liar," she insisted.

Asked what she would say to Trump if he were watching the interview, she said: "He knows I'm telling the truth."

While Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet about the alleged fling, the White House has denied any sexual encounter between him and Daniels.

Trump arrived back at the White House shortly before the interview aired on Sunday. Melania remained in Florida for spring break.

Daniels declined to discuss evidence to back her encounter with Trump, the possibility of which was teased by her lawyer prior to the interview.

Michael Avenatti posted a picture on Twitter of a computer disc along with the text: "If 'a picture is worth a thousand words,' how many words is this worth????? #60minutes #pleasedenyit."

Avenatti filed a lawsuit on behalf of Daniels -- whose real name is Stephanie Clifford -- earlier this month seeking to toss out her non-disclosure agreement, for which she was paid by Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Cohen claimed that Daniels is liable for at least $20 million for violating the agreement -- $1 million for each time she did so -- in a court filing made prior to the CBS interview.

"This is about the cover-up," Avenatti said on "60 Minutes."

"This is about the extent that Mr Cohen and the president have gone to intimidate this woman, to silence her."

Viagra rising: how the little blue pill revolutionized sex

source: AFP
Viagra rising: how the little blue pill revolutionized sex


AFP/File / HENNY RAY ABRAMS Pfizer's Viagra, approved by US regulators 20 years ago, was the first pill aimed at helping men get erections

Twenty years ago, a little blue pill called Viagra unleashed a cultural shift in America, making sex possible again for millions of older men and bringing the once-taboo topic of impotence into daily conversation.

While the sexual improvement revolution it sparked brightened up the sex lives of many couples, it largely left out women still struggling with dysfunction and loss of libido over time. They have yet to benefit from a magic bullet to bring it all back, experts say.

About 65 million prescriptions have been filled worldwide for the blockbuster Pfizer drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on March 27, 1998.

It was the first pill aimed at helping men get erections.

Suddenly, talk of an amazing drug that could make an older man's penis hard again was all over television and magazines.

The Viagra boom also coincided with the rise of the internet, and the explosion of online pornography.

Ads for Viagra were designed to reframe what had been known as "male impotence" as "erectile dysfunction" or ED, a medical condition that could finally be fixed.

Republican senator, military veteran and one-time presidential candidate Bob Dole became the first television spokesman for Viagra, admitting his own fears about erectile dysfunction to the masses.

"It's a little embarrassing to talk about ED, but it is so important for millions of men and their partners," he said.

The strategy worked.

Before Viagra, men wanted to talk about their erectile problems, and did, but the conversations were awkward and difficult, recalled Elizabeth Kavaler, a urology specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

"Now, sexuality in general is very out there," she added.

"Sex has become an expected part of our lives as we age. And I am sure Viagra has been a big part of that."

- 'Thanks, Viagra' -


 AFP/File / HO Viagra is still often misunderstood, and is not an aphrodisiac

Viagra has had a "major impact" -- on a par with the way antibiotics changed the way infections are treated, and how statins became ubiquitous in the fight against heart disease, said Louis Kavoussi, chairman of urology at Northwell Health, a New York-area hospital network.

Viagra's release also came amid a "sort of a clampdown on physicians interacting with companies," he said.

"So this was a perfect medicine to advertise to consumers. It was a lifestyle type of medicine."

Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, was first developed as a drug meant to treat high blood pressure and angina.

But by 1990, men who took part in early clinical trials discovered its main effect was improving their erections, by boosting blood flow to the penis.

For all its popularity, Viagra is still often misunderstood.

"It isn't an aphrodisiac," said Kavoussi.

"A lot of men who ask about it say, 'My wife isn't very interested in relations," he added.

"And I say, 'Viagra is not going to change that.'"

- 'Thanks, Viagra' -

In 2000, the comedy show "Saturday Night Live" featured a spoof on ads that showed sexually satisfied men saying, "Thanks, Viagra."

In it, one eye-rolling actress after another was featured groaning "Thanks, Viagra," as a horny male partner groped her from behind or gripped her in a slow-dance.

The skit was funny because it reflected a reality few people were talking about.

"We are a very puritanical society, and I think Viagra has loosened us up," said Nachum Katlowitz, director of urology and fertility at Staten Island University Hospital.

"But for the most part, the women have been left out of the sexual improvement revolution."

Pfizer finally did include women in its marketing for Viagra, in 2014. The commercials featured sultry women, including at least one with a foreign accent, speaking directly to the camera, telling men to get themselves a prescription.

- 'Female Viagra' flops -

In 2015, the FDA approved a pill called Addyi (flibanserin), which was cast in the media as the "female Viagra," and was touted as the first libido-enhancing pill for women who experienced a loss of interest in sex.

The pill was controversial from the start.

A kind of anti-depressant, women were warned not to drink alcohol with it. It also cost hundreds of dollars and came with the risk of major side effects like nausea, vomiting and thoughts of suicide.

"It didn't go over too big," said Katlowitz.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals bought Addyi for $1 billion in 2015, but sold it back to the developer, Sprout Pharmaceuticals, at a steep discount last year.

Older women's main problem when it comes to sex is vaginal dryness that accompanies menopause, and can make sex painful.

Solutions tend to include hormones, or laser treatments that revitalize the vagina. They are just beginning to grow in popularity, but still cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, said Kavaler.

"We are at least 20 years behind men," she said.

For Katlowitz, Viagra was a prime example of "the greed of the pharmaceutical industry."

Viagra cost about $15 per pill when it first came out, and rose to more than $50. It finally went generic last year, lowering the price per pill to less than $1.

"There was absolutely no reason to charge $50 a pill," said Katlowitz.

"It was just that they could, so they did."

Afghan mum cradling baby during university exam goes viral

Source: afp
Afghan mum cradling baby during university exam goes viral


Yahya Erfan/AFP / Yahya Erfan The photo of Afghan student Jahantab Ahmadi sitting an extrance exam with her baby in her lap has gone viral

Afghan farmer Jahantab Ahmadi sits on the ground, her baby resting in her lap, as she focuses on the university entrance exam she hopes will help her fulfil her dreams.

The powerful photo, taken by a professor at Nasir Khusraw private university in central Afghanistan, has gone viral after striking a chord in a country where most women are illiterate and treated as second-class citizens.

The picture has sparked an outpouring of admiration and offers of financial help for the 25-year-old mother of three.

"I don't want to be deprived of my studies," Ahmadi, who comes from a remote farming village in Daikundi province where wheat, corn and potatoes provide a meagre income, told AFP in Kabul.

"I want to work outside the house. I want to become a doctor, someone who serves women in my community or society."

Ahmadi passed the exam after undertaking an arduous journey to reach the provincial capital Nili -- two hours on foot through mountains and nine hours in public transport on a bumpy road.


AFP / WAKIL KOHSAR Jahantab Ahmadi's determination to be educated has struck a chord in a country where most women are illiterate


An online GoFundMe campaign launched by the Afghan Youth Association to help pay for her university fees has so far raised more than $14,000 -- a fortune in a country where about 39 percent of the population lives in poverty.

Ahmadi appears a little bemused by the attention triggered by the photo of her cradling baby Khizran during the exam last month, which she only found out about later.

"My friends in the village told me 'you have been photographed'. I said 'how did I not know that I was being photographed and they said 'you were concentrating on the paper," she said, smiling shyly.

At the beginning of the test, which was held outdoors, Ahmadi sat at a desk with Khizran in her lap.

But the infant had an ear ache and would not stop crying. To keep her quiet and not disturb others, Ahmadi sat on the ground in the shade of another person -- and kept writing.

"I had to concentrate on the baby and do the paper," she said.

- University a 'life goal' -

Ahmadi's story has resonated with social media users across the country, who have praised her determination to be educated.

"You are a true world champion, you have shown that a Hazara girl can do anything in any conditions or circumstances," Nazar Hussein Akbari wrote on Facebook, referring to her ethnicity.

Another user posted: "I hope this hard-working woman reaches her goals."


AFP / WAKIL KOHSAR Ahmadi and her family are now staying in the capital Kabul where she is hoping to enter a private university

Afghan women's rights activist Zahra Yagana was also impressed. She contacted Ahmadi and convinced her to come to Kabul to study.

The family is staying with Yagana while she helps Ahmadi get into a private university in the Afghan capital.

"If she had to study in Daikundi it would be difficult for her," Yagana told AFP at her apartment.

"The standard of education is low. There is no student hostel in Daikundi and she would have to live in a rented house.

"We will give her a house (in Kabul). There are many friends who have promised to help her. We are trying to find a job for her husband and also raise money for her children to go to school."

For Ahmadi, this would be the fulfilment of her dreams.


AFP / WAKIL KOHSAR Ahmadi's life goal was to enter university, but her family's poverty meant she had to set aside her dreams for years


"My life goal was to get admitted into university," said Ahmadi, who finished high school after she got married at the age of 18.

"But due to our poor economic situation and poverty I could not afford to study for three or four years."

Afghanistan's general literacy rate is one of the lowest in the world -- just 36 percent, according to official figures. It is much lower for women.

"I don't want to be left behind," she said.

Street art makes a splash in Hong Kong

source: AFP
Street art makes a splash in Hong Kong


 AFP / Anthony WALLACE A pedestrian runs past a mural spray painted by British artist Dan Kitchener in an alleyway near a market in the Wanchai district of Hong Kong

From murals made famous by Instagram to painting battles, Hong Kong's once largely underground street art scene has exploded in recent years, and is now blossoming across the city's walls and alleyways.

The commercial high end of the art world is at the fore in March, with gallerists, collectors and celebrities descending on Hong Kong for the annual Art Basel fair.


AFP / Anthony WALLACE British artist Dan Kitchener made his third visit to Hong Kong this month to depict atmospheric urban scenes with spray paint in its narrow and steep streets


But English mural artist Dan Kitchener, drawn to the city's unique geography and energy, made his third visit to Hong Kong this month to depict atmospheric urban scenes with spray paint in its narrow and steep streets.

"Hong Kong's got that feel to me -- the epic scale and the skyscrapers, and then it's got these little tiny alleyways," Kitchener told AFP while balancing on bamboo scaffolding as he painted on the outside wall of a city bar.


AFP / Philip FONG Hong Kong lacks a world-class art museum but the city's once largely underground street art scene has exploded in recent years

Trained for many years in watercolour and acrylic painting, 43-year-old Kitchener is particularly fond of portraying neon lights, reflections and rain -- sights that first captivated him in Tokyo.

He had just finished a detailed mural of a street market in the bustling Wan Chai district, before moving on to paint outside a watering hole in downtown Central.

 
AFP / Philip FONG A woman and her dog stand in front of a mural by Australian artist Anthony Lister in Hong Kong


Just opposite the bar is a mural by graffiti artist Alex Croft said to be the city's most photographed wall, featuring rows of old townhouses on a bright blue background.

Hong Kong lacks a world-class art museum and marquee exhibitions rarely make a stop in the southern Chinese city, where it can be difficult to secure permission for public shows.

But street art has enjoyed a boost from growing demand in Asia and an increasing number of exhibitions in recent years, giving it a higher profile and more commercial spin in the city.

In 2015 a mosaic of 1970s American cartoon character Hong Kong Phooey by French artist Invader sold at auction in Hong Kong for HK$2 million ($258,000).

The popular piece of street art had been destroyed by the city's authorities, infuriating residents, and was later recreated for sale.

China urges US to 'stop economic intimidation' over tariffs

source : afp
China urges US to 'stop economic intimidation' over tariffs


AFP/File / - China has unveiled a list of $3 billion worth of US goods, including pork, fruits and wine, that could be targeted with tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminium tariffs -- if negotiations fail

China on Monday lashed out at US "economic intimidation" following President Donald Trump's announcement of new import tariffs, but said it was open to negotiations to resolve trade frictions.

The two countries have traded threats and heated rhetoric in recent days, ratcheting up fears that the world's two biggest economies are heading towards a damaging trade war.

Trump said last Thursday that the United States would impose new tariffs on some $60 billion of Chinese imports over the "theft" of intellectual property, rattling global financial markets.

Vice President Mike Pence boasted that the measures mean that the "era of economic surrender is over".

Asked about the remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a press briefing on Monday that "it would have been more appropriate to say that it's time to stop the US's economic intimidation and hegemony".

Beijing has not stood idle. On Friday, it unveiled a list of $3 billion worth of US goods, including pork, fruits and wine, that could be targeted with tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminium tariffs -- if negotiations fail.

"We also have the confidence and the capacity to safeguard our legitimate and legal interests, whatever the circumstances," Hua said. "Now the ball is in the US court."

While the two sides have traded barbs in public, US and Chinese officials have begun behind-the-scenes negotiations to improve American access to the Asian country's huge market, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"We keep saying that the Chinese side is willing to negotiate with the US to properly manage divergences, on the basis of mutual respect and equal mutual benefits," Hua said when asked about the report.

"Our door is always wide open to dialogue and consultation."

China urges US to 'stop economic intimidation' over tariffs

China urges US to 'stop economic intimidation' over tariffs



AFP/File / - China has unveiled a list of $3 billion worth of US goods, including pork, fruits and wine, that could be targeted with tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminium tariffs -- if negotiations fail

China on Monday lashed out at US "economic intimidation" following President Donald Trump's announcement of new import tariffs, but said it was open to negotiations to resolve trade frictions.

The two countries have traded threats and heated rhetoric in recent days, ratcheting up fears that the world's two biggest economies are heading towards a damaging trade war.

Trump said last Thursday that the United States would impose new tariffs on some $60 billion of Chinese imports over the "theft" of intellectual property, rattling global financial markets.

Vice President Mike Pence boasted that the measures mean that the "era of economic surrender is over".

Asked about the remarks, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a press briefing on Monday that "it would have been more appropriate to say that it's time to stop the US's economic intimidation and hegemony".

Beijing has not stood idle. On Friday, it unveiled a list of $3 billion worth of US goods, including pork, fruits and wine, that could be targeted with tariffs in retaliation for steel and aluminium tariffs -- if negotiations fail.

"We also have the confidence and the capacity to safeguard our legitimate and legal interests, whatever the circumstances," Hua said. "Now the ball is in the US court."

While the two sides have traded barbs in public, US and Chinese officials have begun behind-the-scenes negotiations to improve American access to the Asian country's huge market, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"We keep saying that the Chinese side is willing to negotiate with the US to properly manage divergences, on the basis of mutual respect and equal mutual benefits," Hua said when asked about the report.

"Our door is always wide open to dialogue and consultation."

Latest World News: Puigdemont in German court as arrest ignites Catalan protests

Puigdemont in German court as arrest ignites Catalan protests
source: afp


AFP/File / Emmanuel DUNAND Exiled former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested as he crossed the Danish-German border

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is to appear in court Monday following his arrest in Germany which triggered a wave of protests in Catalonia where thousands of separatists faced off with police.

Puigdemont spent the night in a German jail cell following his arrest Sunday after he crossed the border from Denmark, under a European warrant issued by Spain.

The arrest comes five months after Puigdemont went on the run as Spanish prosecutors sought to charge him with sedition and rebellion in the wake of a vote by the Catalan parliament to declare independence.

It marks the latest chapter in a secession saga that has bitterly divided Catalans and triggered Spain's worst political crisis in decades.

According to Puigdemont's lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas, he was on his way back to Belgium, where he fled after Spanish authorities moved to impose direct rule over Catalonia.

The ousted Catalan leader, 55, will be brought before a German court Monday to confirm his identity. It will later decide if he is to remain in custody pending extradition proceedings.

- 'Delicate' situation -


AFP/File / LLUIS GENE Catalan protestors scuffled with police in Barcelona following the arrest in Germany of Carles Puigdemont


"It will take place in the course of the day, probably in the afternoon," a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office for Schleswig-Holstein state told AFP.

Calling the situation "very delicate", Alonso-Cuevillas told Catalonia's Rac1 radio it was "very likely that he will not be allowed to leave Germany".

Clashes erupted as protesters took to the streets in Catalonia on Sunday following his arrest.

Catalan police decked out in riot gear shoved and hit demonstrators with batons to keep the crowd from advancing on the office of the Spanish government's representative in Barcelona, the capital of the wealthy northeastern region.

Officers fired warning shots in the air to try to contain the demonstrators, who pushed large recycling containers towards police. Some people threw glass bottles, cans and eggs at police.


AFP/File / LLUIS GENE Protesters held a banner reading "Freedom to political prisoners" during a demonstration in Barcelona after Catalonia's former president was arrested in Germany

About 90 people were slightly injured during the protests in Barcelona, ​​including 22 police officers, emergency services said.

Another seven people were injured at a protest in Lleida, about 150 kilometres (90 miles) west of Barcelona and one person was injured in Tarragona to the south.

- 'Solution can be found' -

The case lands an unwanted diplomatic hot potato in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's lap less than two weeks after her new government was sworn in.

Her spokesman insisted Monday that the decision on Puigdemont's extradition rested solely in the hands of the German regional justice authorities, while Spain had the right to decide how to handle the accusations against him and the broader Catalonia issue.


AFP / Patrik STOLLARZ
Demonstrators gathered in Germany where former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont was to appear in court

"Spain is a democratic state based on the rule of law. The German government is convinced that a solution to the Catalonia conflict has to be found within Spain's legal and constitutional order," he said.

When asked whether the case would weigh on relations with Spain, Seibert responded with a simple "no".

"It angers us that they arrested Puigdemont, he is our highest representative," 22-year-old architecture student Judit Carapena told AFP at the Barcelona protest.

Catalan parliament speaker Roger Torrent appealed for calm in an address broadcast on regional television.

"I have no doubt that Catalan society will act as it always has, with non-violence," he said.

Aside from Puigdemont, nine other Catalan separatist leaders are in jail in Spain over the region's failed bid for independence.


AFP / LLUIS GENE Some 90 people were slightly injured during the clashes in Barcelona, ​​including 22 police officers

His arrest came two days after Spain's supreme court issued international arrest warrants for 13 Catalan separatists including Puigdemont and his nominated successor Jordi Turull.

The court said they would be prosecuted for "rebellion", a charge which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Twelve more face less serious charges like disobedience.

Issuing the warrant for Puigdemont on Friday, Judge Pablo Llarena accused the ousted Catalan leader of organising an independence referendum in October last year despite a ban from Madrid.

The vote had been swiftly followed by the Catalan parliament's declaration of independence on October 27.

- 'Revenge and repression' -

Puigdemont had been visiting Finland since Thursday, but slipped out of the country before Finnish police could detain him.

Elsa Artadi, a lawmaker with Puigdemont's Together for Catalonia party, said he should fight his extradition.

"Spain does not guarantee a fair trial; only revenge and repression," she wrote on Twitter.

While separatist parties won Catalonia's regional elections in December called by Madrid, they have been unable to elect a president and form a government as they have picked candidates who are now either in exile, in jail or facing prosecution.

After Puigdemont was forced to withdraw his bid for the presidency as he could not return to Spain without facing arrest, another pro-independence leader Jordi Sanchez followed suit when a judge refused to let him out of jail to be sworn in. The third candidate, Turull, was placed in custody on Friday.

Fresh regional elections will be triggered if a new leader is not elected by May 22.

burs-dlc/mfp/txw

64 dead in Russian shopping mall inferno

source: afp

64 dead in Russian shopping mall inferno

Kommersant Photo/AFP / Sergei GAVRILENKO Dozens died after a fire tore through a shopping mall in Kemerova, Siberia, in the deadliest blaze in Russia in recent years

A total of 64 people, many of them children, perished in a fire that ravaged a busy shopping mall in an industrial city in Siberia, officials said Monday as rescuers searched through piles of charred rubble to recover bodies.
Russian television showed images of thick black smoke pouring out of the roof of the Winter Cherry shopping centre in the city of Kemerovo, which also houses a sauna, a bowling alley and a multiplex cinema and was packed with people on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services minister Vladimir Puchkov said on Russian television: "We have recorded that unfortunately as a result of the accident 64 people died."
He said this was the "final figure", and included six people still buried under the rubble.
Russia's Investigative Committee said the roof collapsed in two theatres of the cinema in the blaze, which erupted at around 4 pm local time (0900 GMT) Sunday.

Witnesses told Russian television that some did not hear alarms or did not take them seriously and that the fire took hold very quickly, leaving many children separated from their parents.

"The alarm system didn't work, people ran out screaming and in panic", said a teenager, Milena, who had visited the mall with her parents.

 

 RUSSIAN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY/AFP / HO  

The fire is believed to have broken out on the top floor of the four-storey mall, causing floors and the roof to collapse

 

Several witnesses said the doors of one of the shopping centre's cinemas, where children were watching cartoon films, were locked.
"Whole classes of children from nearby villages were there, they were locked in (the cinema)," a witness who gave his name as Konstantin told Business Radio FM.

- 'My daughter kept calling me' -

Alexander Lillevyali, who lost 11-year-old twin daughters and a five-year-old daughter in the fire, told Meduza news site that his children called him to say they could not open the cinema's door.
"My daughter kept calling me. I just shouted to her to try to and get out of the cinema but I couldn't do anything, there were already flames in front of me," he said.
Locals told RBK newspaper that the cinema often locked its doors to stop people going in without tickets because it was understaffed.

The prosecutor general's office said on Monday that all of the country's shopping malls with entertainment areas will be checked for fire safety.

 

Kommersant Photo/AFP / Sergei GAVRILENKO 

 More than 500 firefighters on Monday were struggling to break down walls and clear rubble amid smoke-filled air and high temperatures

 

The local office of Russia's emergency services ministry said the fire broke out on the top floor of the four-storey mall, causing floors and the roof to collapse.
One witness, Anastasia Klepova, told Rossiya 24 television: "The evacuation signal only went off twice. We didn't believe in the evacuation at first."

"We emerged out of darkness and smoke. We were already all black. In two or three minutes, such smoke had risen up."
Witnesses said many children were separated from adults, after coming to enjoy facilities including a trampoline centre.

- 'It was just awful' -

"People started running around, it was just awful. There were a lot of children, children without parents," said witness Klepova.

Health minister Veronika Skvortsova said that the most seriously injured survivor was an 11-year-old boy who jumped from the top floor to escape the fire, which killed all his family, but there were hopes for his survival.

 

 RUSSIAN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MINISTRY/AFP / HO  

Witnesses said some did not hear alarms or did not take them seriously and that the fire took hold very quickly, leaving many children separated from their parents

 

She said an 18-year-old boy was also seriously injured after jumping from the top floor, while nine other people were suffering from smoke inhalation.
On Monday more than 500 firefighters were struggling to break down walls and clear rubble amid smoke-filled air and high temperatures, deploying drones.

The Investigative Committee said it had opened a criminal inquiry and four people, including the tenant renting the premises where the fire broke out and the head of the company that manages the mall, had been arrested.
President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences and cancelled a prize-giving ceremony, the Kremlin said.

Local authorities have announced three days of mourning in the Siberian region starting Tuesday.
It was the deadliest blaze in Russia in recent years.

 

AFP / John SAEKI 

 Where the fire broke out in the industrial Siberian city of Kemerovo

A shopping mall fire in March 2015 killed 11 people in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan some 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of Moscow.

In April 2013, a fire ravaged a psychiatric hospital in the Moscow region, killing 38 people, most of them patients who were engulfed by flames as they slept behind barred windows.

Just months later, in September 2013, 37 people were killed when a fire swept through a psychiatric hospital in the village of Luka in northwest Russia.

In 2009, 156 were killed in a nightclub fire in the city of Perm, 1,200 kilometres east of Moscow in one of the deadliest accidents in Russia's modern history.

Egypt heads to polls to choose between Sisi and 'rival'

source: afp

An Egyptian soldier stands guard outside a Cairo polling station as voters prepare to cast ballots in a presidential election on March 26, 2018

Egyptians headed to the polls Monday in a presidential election to choose between incumbent Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and a little-known politician who has struggled to make the case he is a serious contender.

Polling stations opened at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) for the three-day vote, in which Sisi is all but guaranteed to win a second four-year term.

The president was among the first voters, shown on Egyptian television casting his ballot at a school in Cairo's Heliopolis district under tight security.

Voters turned up early at polling stations and queued to cast their votes. Outside some stations, musical troupes showed up to celebrate the election.

"What's the alternative other than Sisi? If we don't come to vote would that benefit the country?" said Adel Sameeh, 66, an insurance consultant.

Security forces were deployed across the country to protect polling booths and armoured vehicles were stationed at several points around Cairo.

"Nothing will scare the Egyptian people. Not terrorism or anything else," Prime Minister Sherif Ismail told state television after casting his vote.

The Islamic State group's Egyptian affiliate, which has killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians, has threatened attacks on election infrastructure.

On Saturday, two policemen were killed in a car bomb attack targeting the provincial head of security for the northern Alexandria governorate. The security chief was unharmed.

Some 60 million people in Egypt, the most populated Arab country, are registered to vote on March 26, 27, and 28. Official results are expected on April 2.

They will have the choice between Sisi and Moussa Mostafa Moussa, who registered immediately before the close date for applications, saving the election from being a one-horse race.

Moussa, who has denied he is a "puppet", had been leading a Sisi re-election campaign until the moment he registered as a candidate.

Other opponents have been sidelined, including former military chief of staff Sami Anan, who was detained in January, shortly after announcing his candidacy.

The military said the reserve general broke the law by illegally declaring his candidacy.

- Authorities hope for high turnout -

In an interview broadcast on Egyptian television last week, 63-year-old Sisi said the lack of serious opponents was not his doing.

"I wish we had one, or two, or three, or 10 of the best people and you choose however you want," he said.

Sisi won his first term in 2014, a year after the former army chief ousted his predecessor Mohamed Morsi following mass protests demanding the divisive Islamist's resignation.

In that election, Sisi faced Hamdeen Sabbahi, an established left-wing politician much better known than Moussa. Sisi won with 96.9 percent of the vote.


 AFP / KHALED DESOUKI Egyptian voters flash the victory sign whilst queuing outside a polling station in Cairo's southwestern Giza district for a presidential election on March 26, 2018

With Sisi's victory effectively guaranteed, authorities will be hoping for a large turnout to enhance the vote's legitimacy.

Sisi has stressed in his pre-election appearances the importance of voters turning out in large numbers.

In 2014, about 37 percent of voters participated in the two-day election, prompting authorities to add a third day to obtain a final participation rate of 47.5 percent.

It is unlikely that this year's turnout will even reach the 37 percent threshold, said analyst Mostafa Kamel al-Sayed.

"The result is known in advance, and this does not encourage Egyptians to go out and vote," he said.

 
AFP / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED Egyptians dance and celebrate with national flags as some wear t-shirts depicting incumbent President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, outside a polling station in the capital Cairo

During the campaign, Sisi appeared frequently on television and in newspapers, hailing factories and infrastructure projects built over the past four years.

Egyptian cities, especially Cairo, are flooded with banners showing Sisi and messages of support from business owners. Posters vowing support for Moussa, 65, are rarely seen.

But with an economic crisis and gruelling price hikes -- and the return of a regime seen as at least as authoritative as that of ex-leader Hosni Mubarak -- support for Sisi appears to be slightly in decline.

Fresh rebel withdrawals from Syria's shrinking Ghouta

source: afp

Syrian Red Crescent ambulances wait as people prepare to leave the town of Arbin in the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus on March 25, 2018 under an evacuation deal

A new group of Syrian rebels and civilians prepared to leave Eastern Ghouta on Monday after the largest exodus yet from the opposition enclave, as talks stalled over the final pocket of resistance.

Five weeks since government troops launched a ferocious offensive on Ghouta, they hold more than 90 percent of the long-besieged opposition stronghold on the doorstep of Damascus.

The area has been ravaged by heavy bombardment and emptied by an exodus of tens of thousands of residents and negotiated withdrawals of rebels.

A convoy of more than 5,400 fighters and civilians left a pocket of territory held by Islamist rebel group Faylaq al-Rahman late Sunday and reached northwest Syria the following day.

It was the single largest one-day evacuation yet from Eastern Ghouta, after nearly 1,000 people were bussed out from the same area on Saturday.

Syria's ally Russia has been deeply involved in the process, negotiating with rebels and placing masked military escorts aboard buses leaving Ghouta.

More pull-outs were expected Monday from the towns of Arbin and Zamalka and the neighbouring district of Jobar, all held by Faylaq al-Rahman.

The group's spokesman Wael Alwan on Monday confirmed that "the evacuations are continuing today", but could not provide detailed numbers. Continue Reading >>>

Yemen rebels stage show of force hours after missile attacks

source: AFP


Hundreds of thousands of Huthi rebel supporters flooded the streets of Yemen's capital Monday to mark three years of war, hours after Riyadh said it had intercepted seven missiles fired from rebel territory.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen on March 26, 2015 to try to restore the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi after the Iran-backed Shiite Huthis and their allies took over large parts of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

After the missile attacks that resulted in the first reported death in the Saudi capital, Sanaa's Sabaeen Square on Monday was a sea of Yemeni flags as rebel authorities ordered all schools and government offices shut for the anniversary.

Huthi supporters carried portraits of rebel chief Abdulmalik al-Huthi and speakers blasted out a fiery speech by Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement allied with the insurgents, praising the "steadfastness" of the Yemeni people. Continue Reading >>>>

US expels 60 Russian intelligence officers in response to ex-spy's poisoning

source: abcnews

President Trump is expelling 60 Russian intelligence officers from the United States and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, the White House announced Monday.

The expulsions are in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Salisbury, U.K., earlier this month.

Of the 60 Russians, 48 are members of the Russian embassy, while 12 are stationed at the Russian mission to the United Nations, where senior administration officials said they were operating under the guise of diplomacy but were deemed to be conducting covert activities.

"Today’s actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences. The United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government’s behavior."

A senior administration official said the expulsions will remove a "large number of the unacceptably numerous Russian intelligence officers who abide in the United States" but noted that more Russian intelligence operatives remain on U.S. soil. The officials didn't rule out future actions to address the remaining operatives.

Although the Russian government has been notified of the expulsions, the issue did not come up when Trump and Russian President Vladmir Putin spoke by phone last week.

The Russian operatives being expelled will be given seven days to leave the country, according to senior administration officials.

These officials defended the administration's delay in announcing the move, saying that time was necessary to make sure the actions were taken properly and in coordination with other allies who are also announcing disciplinary responses to the Russian attack in the United Kingdom.

"We do not act alone, we take these actions in concert with similar steps by our allies and partners around the world," said one U.S. official.

"It's been three weeks since the attack, and we're looking at this point at more than a dozen allies who are acting in coordination with us," the official noted. "That takes time and it needed to be done the right way, so I think the way that we've gone about it is the way it needed to be handled."

The expulsions are the second in less than two years. In December of 2016 President Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials and shut down two diplomatic compounds in response to Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election.

LATEST WORLD NEWS: Israel PM lauds US law to curb Palestinian aid

SOURCE: abcnews



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is praising the U.S. government for passing a law that suspends some financial aid to the Palestinians over the stipends paid to families of Palestinians killed or jailed in fighting with Israel.

The Taylor Force Act, named after an American killed in Israel by a Palestinian in 2016, was folded into a $1.3 trillion spending bill signed by President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Netanyahu called the law a "powerful signal by the U.S. that changes the rules" by cutting "hundreds of millions of dollars for the Palestinian Authority that they invest in encouraging terrorism."

The Palestinians say the families are victims of violence. Palestinian official Nabil Abu Rdeneh condemned the law, saying it doesn't "allow for the creation of an atmosphere conducive to peace."

Latest World news: Israel strikes Hamas in Gaza for second day

source: yahoo


A file picture shows Israeli soldiers and their tanks monitoring an area near Israel's border with Gaza, on February 18, 2018 (AFP Photo/MENAHEM KAHANA)

Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - An Israeli tank struck two Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip late Sunday after bullets were fired from the Palestinian enclave, the Israeli army said.

Two observation points belonging to the armed wing of the Islamist movement were struck in the northern part of the enclave, the army said.

Palestinian security sources said there had been no casualties.

It was the second night in a row that Israel had struck the coastal territory.

The strikes came ahead of a planned protest on Friday in which Palestinians have been urged to camp along Gaza's border with Israel.

On Sunday night Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system was activated and sirens sounded near the border, but it later turned out these were false alarms.

The army said it was investigating why the systems turned on, but said "unusual machine gun fire towards Israel was identified."

Hamas's armed wing began a military training operation Sunday which is expected to end Monday morning.

It included firing rockets into the sea, Palestinian security sources said.

Overnight Saturday, Israel bombed a Hamas position after four Palestinians infiltrated the border and tried to damage equipment.

Israel is wary of Friday's planned protests to mark Land Day, which commemorates the death of six unarmed protesters in 1976.

The protest is expected to grow from then until around May 14, the date the United States is set to inaugurate its capital in Jerusalem.

President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move the embassy there infuriated Palestinians.

Black Dragon: This Is Taiwan's Super 'Gun' That Would Blast China in a War

Straight from World War II.

Black Dragon: This Is Taiwan's Super 'Gun' That Would Blast China in a War

I had no idea these weapons still existed, and was frankly amazed they’re still in service. In the video below, Taiwanese troops roll a Black Dragon on rails from its underground lair on Kinmen — before firing it with a really big bang. It’s worth remembering there was a time when the islands were at the front line of a long and violent conflict, one characterized by frequent artillery duels and commando raids. Now the islands are tourist attractions and Taiwan’s military presence fell sharply … decades ago.

The 240-millimeter M1 howitzer, or “Black Dragon,” was the heaviest piece of field artillery the U.S. Army deployed in World War II. The huge guns smashed the Axis Powers’ concrete fortifications in Europe to rubble, and blasted Chinese mountain bunkers during the Korean War.

“There was little call for the type to be employed whenever the fighting was fluid as it took too long to emplace the weapons or get them out of action, but when they were used the heavy 163.3 kg (360-lb) high explosive shells were devastating weapons,” Chris Bishop wrote in the exhaustive Complete Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II.

The Army retired them in the 1950s. And that would have been the end of the story, were it not for Taiwan burying them deep inside forts on the Kinmen and Matsu islands a short hop from the Chinese mainland. From Kinmen, the Black Dragon’s 14-mile range can reach Xiamen, a city of five million people along China’s southeast coast.

The message — intimidation. Deterrence. Don’t invade.

I had no idea these weapons still existed, and was frankly amazed they’re still in service. In the video below, Taiwanese troops roll a Black Dragon on rails from its underground lair on Kinmen — before firing it with a really big bang.

It’s worth remembering there was a time when the islands were at the front line of a long and violent conflict, one characterized by frequent artillery duels and commando raids. Now the islands are tourist attractions and Taiwan’s military presence fell sharply … decades ago.

Beijing’s military is also now considerably stronger and can fight from even longer distances than conventional artillery, rendering a 1940s-era super howitzer more or less pointless. But still, it’s impressive.

This piece first appeared in WarIsBoring here.

Read full article here>>>

China Prepares Death Blow To The Dollar

source: yahoo

On March 26 China will finally launch a yuan-dominated oil futures contract. Over the last decade there have been a number of “false-starts,” but this time the contract has gotten approval from China’s State Council.

With that approval, the “petroyuan” will become real and China will set out to challenge the “petrodollar” for dominance. Adam Levinson, managing partner and chief investment officer at hedge fund manager Graticule Asset Management Asia (GAMA), already warned last year that China launching a yuan-denominated oil futures contract will shock those investors who have not been paying attention.

This could be a death blow for an already weakening U.S. dollar, and the rise of the yuan as the dominant world currency.

But this isn’t just some slow, news day “fad” that will fizzle in a few days.

A Warning for Investors Since 2015

Back in 2015, the first of a number of strikes against the petrodollar was dealt by China. Gazprom Neft, the third-largest oil producer in Russia, decided to move away from the dollar and towards the yuan and other Asian currencies.

Iran followed suit the same year, using the yuan with a host of other foreign currencies in trade, including Iranian oil.

During the same year China also developed its Silk Road, while the yuan was beginning to establish more dominance in the European markets.

But the U.S. petrodollar still had a fighting chance in 2015 because China’s oil imports were all over the place. Back then, Nick Cunningham of OilPrice.com wrote…

Despite accounting for much of the world’s growth in demand in the 21st Century, China’s oil imports have been all over the map in recent months. In April, China imported 7.4 million barrels per day, a record high and enough to make it the world’s largest oil importer. But a month later, imports plummeted to just 5.5 million barrels per day.

That problem has since gone away, signaling China’s rise to oil dominance…

The Slippery Slope to the Petroyuan Begins Here

The petrodollar is backed by Treasuries, so it can help fuel U.S. deficit spending. Take that away, and the U.S. is in trouble.

It looks like that time has come…






A death blow that began in 2015 hit again in 2017 when China became the world’s largest consumer of imported crude…

Now that China is the world’s leading consumer of oil, Beijing can exert some real leverage over Saudi Arabia to pay for crude in yuan. It’s suspected that this is what’s motivating Chinese officials to make a full-fledged effort to renegotiate their trade deal.

So fast-forward to now, and the final blow to the petrodollar could happen starting on March 26. We hinted at this possibility back in September 2017…

With major oil exporters finally having a viable way to circumvent the petrodollar system, the U.S. economy could soon encounter severely troubled waters.

First of all, the dollar’s value depends massively on its use as an oil trade vehicle. When that goes away, we will likely see a strong and steady decline in the dollar’s value.

Once the oil markets are upended, the yuan has an opportunity to become the dominant world currency overall. This will further weaken the dollar.

The Petrodollar’s Downfall Could be a Lift for Gold

Amongst all the trouble ahead for the dollar, there are some good news too. The U.S. might have ditched the gold standard in the 1970’s, but with gold making a return to world headlines… we could see a resurgence.

For the first time since our nation abandoned the gold standard decades ago, physical gold is being reintroduced to the global monetary system in a major way. That alone is incredibly good news for gold owners.

A reintroduction of gold to the global economy could result in a notable rise in gold prices. It’s safe to assume exporters are more likely to choose a gold-backed financial instrument over one created out of thin air any day of the week.

Soon after, we could see more and more nations jump on the bandwagon, resulting in a substantial rise in gold prices.

By Zerohedge.com

Latest World News: China mulls higher tariffs on U.S. imports

Source: Xinhua

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) -- China announced Friday that it is considering higher tariffs for imported U.S. products worth about 3 billion U.S. dollars to balance losses caused by the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from China.

This came after the United States, despite worldwide objection, decided to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum, with initial exemptions for Canada and Mexico.

The U.S. move, restricting imports on national security grounds, has severely undermined the multilateral trade system led by the World Trade Organization (WTO), disrupted international trade order, and has drawn opposition from other WTO members, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on its website.

China will take legal action under the WTO framework and work with other WTO members to safeguard the stability and authority of the multilateral trade rules, it said.

According to the ministry's Friday announcement, the measures, or the suspension of tariff concessions, will target 128 U.S. products, including pork, wine, and seamless steel tubes.

It will include an additional 15-percent tariff on products including fruit, nuts, wines, and seamless steel tubes, and an additional 25-percent tariff on pork and recycled aluminum products.

The measures will be implemented in two stages: in the first stage, the 15-percent tariff will be imposed if the two countries cannot reach an agreement on trade issues within a scheduled time; in the second stage, the 25-percent import tax will be imposed after evaluating the impact caused by the U.S. policies, the ministry said.

China has urged the United States to address its concerns as soon as possible, settle disputes through dialogue and consultation, and avoid damaging overall China-U.S. cooperation.

In a separate statement, opposing the U.S. tariff plan on imports from China, the MOC Friday urged the United States to apply the brakes and be careful not to put bilateral trade relations in jeopardy, calling the recent U.S. restrictive measures on China "a very bad precedent."

Overnight, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to 60 billion dollars of imports from China.

The unilateral move triggered a market sell-off, as both countries' stock markets tumbled. It prompted the biggest percentage plunges in Wall Street's three major stock indexes in six weeks, and a 2.78-percent fall at the opening in the Shanghai bourse.

Why China Will Lose a Trade War With Trump

source:thedailybeas



Why China Will Lose a Trade War With Trump
Beijing can huff and puff, but America holds the high cards. Expect the Chinese to back down quickly—or watch their economy and political system fall apart.


“Let me assure those people who intend to fight a trade war,” Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the U.S., told China Daily, Beijing’s official English-language newspaper. “We will certainly fight back. We will retaliate. If people want to play tough, we will play tough with them and see who will last longer.”

Most assume, as trade frictions intensify, that China will outlast the U.S.—yet it is America, because it runs persistent trade deficits and for other reasons, that will likely eventually prevail.

Effective Friday, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from various countries, including China, pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

More significantly, on Thursday he signed a memorandum that will soon lead, pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, to the levying of tariffs on perhaps $60 billion of Chinese goods. At the same time, he directed the Treasury Department to consider the imposition of curbs on Chinese investment.

Much—most—of the reaction from around the world has been negative. Observers, trade groups, and others have worried that Trump is starting a trade war. Markets panicked. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 1,149 points Thursday and Friday, a 4.66 percent drop off Wednesday’s close. Asian bourses also fell hard on trade war fears.

It certainly looks like a trade war is brewing. China’s Ministry of Commerce on Friday announced tariffs of 15 percent and 25 percent on almost $3 billion of American products in 128 categories, retaliation for Trump’s Section 232 tariffs.


At the same time, Chinese officials have been making threats, especially promising to not buy American agricultural products or to reduce purchases of U.S. Treasury debt.



Experts, believing China holds more leverage, ignore important realities. First, that country is growing more dependent on access to the American market. In 2016, a stunning 68.0 percent of China’s overall merchandise trade surplus related to sales to the U.S. In 2017, that figure increased to 88.8 percent. Trade-surplus countries, as history shows, generally suffer more in trade wars.

Beijing, therefore, is generally vulnerable to being pushed around by Washington. “If trade is so unimportant to China, why has China’s trade predation lasted so long and taken so many different forms?” Alan Tonelson, an independent Washington, D.C.-based trade analyst, asked, in comments to The Daily Beast over the weekend.

Second, the American economy is far bigger than the Chinese one. Beijing claimed gross domestic product of $12.84 trillion in 2017. America’s economy, by way of contrast, clocked in at $19.39 trillion last year.

China’s GDP numbers are surely overstated because, especially during the last two years, the country’s growth was less than half that reported by the official National Bureau of Statistics. America’s larger economy is, at the moment, in fact growing at a faster clip than China’s.

It should go without saying that big economies push smaller ones around, especially when the gap is this large.

Third, the American economy, for all its faults, is stable, and China’s, by most accounts, is on the verge of a debt crisis. China’s debt-to-GDP ratio looks like it is somewhere, depending on the amount of so-called hidden debt, between 350 percent and 400 percent.

Chinese concern about the state of the economy led to extraordinary capital flight in 2015 and 2016, with net capital outflow probably reaching $2.1 trillion in the two-year period. Only the imposition of draconian capital-control measures beginning in the fall of 2016 stopped the outbound torrent of capital.

In this regard, Beijing has been, on balance, selling American Treasury obligations since the middle of 2014 in order to defend its currency, the renminbi, and this has not caused any noticeable effect on the ability of the U.S. to finance deficits. China’s Cui can threaten selling greenbacks in response to Trump’s tariffs as he did last week, but his government either has to dump dollars or clamp down even harder on money flows. Clamping down can only work in the short term, so dollar sales will eventually occur, whatever Trump does or does not do on trade.

In addition to ignoring the fundamental balance of power between China and the U.S., experts in recent days have been making specific arguments that are particularly unconvincing. First, let’s look at points put forth by Columbia University’s Joseph Stiglitz. The economist, according to China Daily, “said that the U.S. government is very constrained in what it can do as it has become very dependent on low-cost imports.”

“For instance, if the tariffs imposed on Chinese textiles and apparel increase, the cost of living in the U.S. will go up, the Federal Reserve by its mindset will increase interest rates, which will slow the economy and create unemployment,” Stiglitz said Saturday at the China Development Forum in Beijing.

We hear a variation of this argument when American retailers, politicians, and others contend that Trump’s tariffs will punish Americans, who have become accustomed to buying cheap goods.

Yet China, as its promoters have told us for a half-decade, is no longer the lowest-cost producer of many items. Take Stiglitz’s example of apparel. At the beginning of this century, about 90 percent of apparel sold at Walmarts was made in China. By the end of 2012, that balance between China and the rest of the world essentially reversed. Then, my wife, surveying our local Walmart, found that every item of the store’s house brand, George, was made in Bangladesh. Simply Basic sleepwear came from Cambodia. Items with the Hanes label were stitched together in Guatemala and El Salvador. Wrangler jeans were imported from Nicaragua, and Fruit of the Loom clothes came in from Honduras. Danskin garments? They were made in the Middle East and Africa: Jordan, Egypt, and Kenya.

Trump's tariffs on apparel or other items, even if they make Chinese goods more expensive or unavailable, will not result in significant cost increases beyond a month or two. Americans will soon be buying their low-cost items from other producers, which are already, if I may use the phrase, beating the pants off China.

Second, Stiglitz has also been making the authoritarian-societies-are-good-at-weathering-storms argument. “China is better positioned and has wider range of instruments than the United States to absorb economic disturbance if the trade tension between the two countries intensifies,” he said, as summarized by China Daily. “China has more ability to direct some parts of the economy as the country has increasingly shifted toward domestically-driven demand and it can use government projects to increase demand in areas that might be suffering.”

It’s true that Trump, presiding over a free-market economy, cannot do what Stiglitz says Beijing can accomplish. Yet the Nobel-prize-winning economist misunderstands what has been happening in China.

Even if Beijing’s statistics regarding consumption’s contribution to economic output are correct—extremely unlikely—consumption is ultimately not the driver of growth in China. The ultimate driver remains investment. Consumption in China falls whenever Beijing reduces the flow of state-directed investment. And because of debt concerns, Chinese technocrats are losing the ability to create growth by investing.

For decades, Chinese leaders have staked their legitimacy primarily on the continual delivery of prosperity. Trump not only threatens the Chinese economy but also the Communist Party’s political system. That gives China’s leaders great incentive to hold back retaliatory moves.

Third, analysts love to point out that China can retaliate by not buying U.S. products. “American firms may not profit from a trade war with China, but both Airbus and Brazilian farmers have to be salivating at the prospect,” writes Colin Grabow of the Cato Institute in “Americans Will Pay the Price for Trump’s Toughened Approach with China,” posted Friday on the website of The National Interest.

Boeing executives and American soybean producers are right to be nervous, but they surely know how global markets work. If China does not buy soybeans from the American heartland and purchases them from Brazil instead, American producers will sell soy to Brazil’s customers.

There are only so many soybeans in the world at the moment, and the same principle generally holds for commercial aircraft. Airlines and leasing companies are unlikely to wait years longer because Airbus’ production has been diverted to China to fill orders that would have gone to Boeing. In most cases, Airbus customers will opt for Boeing craft to fill needs.

In short, Trump holds the high cards when it comes to China, and, unlike his predecessors, he knows it.

So, yes, Ambassador Cui, we will see who lasts longer if you choose to go toe-to-toe with president No. 45.

Latest world news: Philippine defense chief says China sea dispute still a challenge

source: reuter


Three units of Beechcraft TC90 aircraft from the JMOD flies over before arriving for a transfer ceremony of the aircrafts to the Philippine Navy at the NAG headquarters in Sangley Point, Cavite city
Three units of Beechcraft TC90 aircraft from the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) flies over before arriving for a transfer ceremony of the aircrafts to the Philippine Navy at the Naval Air Group (NAG) headquarters in Sangley Point, Cavite city, south of Manila, Philippines March 26, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco


MANILA (Reuters) - The territorial dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea remained a security challenge despite an improvement in bilateral ties, the Philippine defense chief said on Monday as he accepted three maritime surveillance planes from Japan.

Delfin Lorenzana, in a speech at a naval base south of the capital Manila, said the three Japanese donated second-hand TC90 planes will definitely boost the navy's capability to gather intelligence in the disputed South China Sea.

"We must admit that much still has to be done to boost our military capability equipment in order to meet a number of persistent maritime security challenges," Lorenzana said, identifying territorial disputes with China, and other countries, over resource-rich areas in the South China Sea.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, where about $5 trillion worth of sea-borne goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have conflicting claims in the strategic waterway.

Tensions between the Philippines and China over the disputed sea have eased since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in July 2016 and improved relations with Beijing via Chinese trade and investments.

Lorenzana said the Philippines was also concerned with piracy and the movement of armed insurgents in the Sulu Sea and other transnational crimes, including smuggling of illegal drugs and poaching into rich fishing grounds in territorial waters.

Japan planned to lease five surveillance planes but decided last year to transfer without cost the aircraft after changes were made in Tokyo's self-defense forces law allowing donation of excess defense and military equipment to partner countries.

Japan's vice minister for defense, Tatsuo Fukuda, said Tokyo was willing to help its allies improve its capabilities help secure the safety of international sea lanes and benefit not only the Philippines but the entire region.

During the handover ceremony, Lorenzana and Fukuda watched the planes land at a naval base guarding the mouth of Manila Bay, hundreds of miles southeast of the disputed Scarborough Shoal now patrolled by Chinese coast guard ships.

The navy said the surveillance planes have a range of 300 km (186 miles), twice the capability of its existing aircraft and could patrol into China's seven artificial islands in the Spratly, which had been converted into military bases.

The navy said it has a budget of nearly 6 billion peso ($114.65 million) to acquire two brand new long-range maritime patrol aircraft to enhance its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.

(Reporting By Manuel Mogato; Editing by Michael Perry)

China in military drills to ‘prepare for war’ as British frigate due to sail through contested South China Sea

source: telegraph


The Chinese air force conducts drills in South China Sea - Barcroft Media

China's air force and navy have announced drills in the South China Sea to help develop preparedness for war, military leaders said, after the British defence secretary indicated the UK would sail a warship through the disputed region.

The Chinese military's latest fighters and bombers were involved in the exercises over the disputed region, as China continues to flex its muscles on the world stage.

The drills come after Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, gave a nationalist speech last week when he warned of Beijing's willingness to fight a "bloody battle" against its enemies.

They also come after Gavin Williamson, British Defence Secretary, said last month that the HMS Sutherland, an anti-submarine frigate, would sail through the South China Sea to assert freedom of navigation rights.

The warship was expected to make the patrol during March. However, Chinese military officials said its recently announced drills were not aimed towards any country.

China's airforce carried out a "high-sea training mission" in the West Pacific and a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea, according to the airforce's social media account, which did not say when the drills took place.

The exercises tested China's latest military hardware, such as its H-6K bombers and Su-30 and Su-35 fighters.

Meanwhile, the PLA Navy also said last Friday it was planning to hold drills in the South China Sea to test the navy's "combat readiness".

The Air Force said on its social media account that the exercises were "rehearsals for future wars and are the most direct preparation for combat."

Meanwhile, Chen Liang, commander of a naval air force, said: "Pilots will all march ahead without fear, no matter how complicated the drill environments are and how unfamiliar the drill regions are.

"They always maintain mentally prepared for wars," he told the Chinese language website of the Global Times newspaper.

China claims nearly all of the strategic South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims from Taiwan and several south-east Asian nations including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Observers say China is developing its military capabilities by fortifying and building infrastructure on what were previously reefs and partially-submerged islets in the sea, where more than $5 trillion (£3.8 trillion) of trade passes every year.

The US Navy has conducted a series of freedom of navigation patrols in the region.

The latest, last Friday, saw a US Navy destroyer come within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island China has built in the South China Sea, sparking anger from Beijing.

Additional reporting by Christine Wei

Israel blows hundreds of thousands firing Iron Dome missile at nothing in a bizarre, costly mistake

source: pulse


israel iron dome misfire
(Twitter / Business Insider)
Israel blows hundreds of thousands firing Iron Dome missile at nothing in a bizarre, costly mistake
Israel's military fired off a salvo of ten or so missile interceptors in a bizarre mistake that likely cost the country around a half million dollars.
Israel said it mistook machine gun fire and sirens for rocket launches, which is a pretty bizarre mistake to make.

Israel's military fired off a salvo of ten or so missile interceptors in a bizarre mistake that likely cost the country around a half million dollars.


Israel activated its Iron Dome missile defense shield on Sunday night, and videos on social media show at least 10 missiles streaking across the night sky.

But the missiles were fired in error, Israel later admitted.

"Following reports of sirens sounding in southern Israel, unusual machine gun fire towards Israel was identified. No rocket launches were identified. The (military) is looking into the circumstances which led to the activation of the Iron Dome system," a statement from Israel's army said.

A Hamas spokesperson also told Reuters that no rockets had been fired towards Israel

Israel's Iron Dome missile shield is composed of multiple different missile defense systems and batteries, and none of them run cheap. It's likely the missiles cost anywhere from $40,000 to $90,000 each.

Typically, the Iron Dome has a high rate of success and is one of the world's more battle-tested, effective missile defenses. Machine gun fire and sirens, while loud, hardly match the profile of a rocket launch, and isn't entirely uncommon around the Gaza strip, making it a bizarre mistake to make.

In warfare, it's common for adversaries to use cost imposing strategies against each other. Prompting hundreds of thousands of dollars in Israeli missile launches with some cheap machine gun fire would be an extremely efficient execution of such a strategy.

British High Commission (BHC) Graduate Corporate Services HR Officer Recruitment

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Corporate Services HR Officer

Ref Id: 04/18 LOS
Location: Lagos
Grade: A2 (L)
Type of Position: Permanent
Job Category: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
Job Subcategory: HR
Start Date: 1st May 2018

Main Purpose of Job

• The Corporate Services HR Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Corporate Services Lagos.
• The candidate will assist the Corporate Services Team in Lagos, effectively and efficiently managing day to day HR functions in line with the HR Operating Procedures.
• The Corporate Services HR Officer will be responsible and accountable for delivering high quality customer service as well as provide appropriate and swift administrative business support.

Roles and Responsibilities

• To collect detailed staff information from employees so payroll checks can be accurately calculated, distributed and deposited.
• Day to day HR administration of post HR Functions as defined in Regional Operating Procedures
• Meeting all payroll deadlines and delivery.
• Maintain third party relationships with our external service providers e.g. Health Management Organizations, Life Assurance Broker, Pension Fund Administration
• Signpost staff to Hub for response to HR enquires
• Organize logistics for HR related training events and induction days.
• Act as L&D champion at post.
• Keep track of spend on L&D budget. Hold Government Procurement Card to manage L&D spend where necessary
• Provide support for all other Corporate Services functions including supporting the Corporate Services Team to meet tasks as required.
• Willing to perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Corporate Services Managers or Heads of the department.
• To perform all duties according to the standards set out by Corporate Services Charter.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Microsoft office word and basic excel
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Attention to detail and initiative
• Good customer service skills coupled with an ability to handle difficult customers
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good organising skills

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Payroll experience
• Basic finance processes experience
• Events coordination experience

Language requirements:

• Language: English
• Level of language required: Excellent Spoken and Written

Required Competencies:

• Seeing the Big Picture, Leading and Communicating, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace

Other Benefits and Conditions of Employment
Learning and development opportunities:

• Mandatory e-learning
• Access to job shadowing
• Access to L&D budget

Starting Monthly Salary
N438,934

Application Closing Date
30th March, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply now

Additional Information

• Applicants must be able to live and work in Nigeria.
• Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
• Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
• The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
• Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Lagos are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in Nigeria.
• All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit.
• The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocation
• The British High Commission does not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so.
• Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
• Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework Please note: AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
• Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.

2018 Project Lead at a Four Seasons Travel Managers Limited - Proten International

Proten International - Our client, a Four Seasons Travel Managers Limited, a holistic travel manager offering high-quality business and leisure travel services with a personal and relational touch. We offer everything you need for a stress free travel. we offer flight bookings, tour planning, hotel reservations, visa support, airport pick-ups and drop offs etc.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Lead

Location: Nationwide

Job Role

• The Project Lead role entails managing/coordinating tours across the country.
• The candidate will be required to travel ahead of time to inspect tour locations, make all necessary enquiries and preparations including negotiations before execution.
• The candidate will be in charge of managing Tours from start to finish.

Key Roles and Responsibility

• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation, plans and reports
• Ensure standards and requirements are met through conducting quality assurance tests
• Coordinate Tour project management activities, resources, equipment and information
• Break projects into doable actions and set time-frames
• Travel ahead of time to Tour Locations, to make necessary preparations
• Assess Tour Sites and liaise with site operators
• Assign tasks to internal teams and assist with schedule management
• Help prepare Tour budgets
• Analyze risks and opportunities that may arise
• Handle and make negotiations regarding logistics
• Any other duties as may be required by the CEO.

Requirements

• An ability to prepare and interpret flowcharts, schedules and step-by-step action plans
• Solid organizational skills, including multitasking and time-management
• Strong client-facing and teamwork skills
• Familiarity with risk management
• Time Flexibility
• B.Sc in any field.

Preferred Requirements:

• Female candidate who is available to travel to different Tour Sites across Nigeria
• Relevant experience in Travels and Tours.

Application Closing Date
23rd April, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV's to: recruitment@protenintl.com 

2018 Job For Bike Riders at Proten International

Proten International - We are currently recruiting for our client Gokada, the first on demand motorcycle taxi service app in Nigeria.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Bike Rider

Location: Lagos

Summary

• We seek safety conscious Bike Riders who will be in charge of picking Riders from their various locations across Lagos to their appropriate destinations.

Requirements

• Minimum of SSCE
• Should possess a valid Rider’s License
• 3 - 5 years Bike ride experience
• Ability to work independently
• Must have good knowledge of Lagos routes
• Ability to use GPS enabled devices
• Service and sales-oriented mindset

Benefits

• Percentage Profit shared {Riders take up 60% of monthly revenue}
• Hire purchase of bikes also available for 200cc bikes.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume to: jobs@protenintl.com using "Bike Rider" as the subject of the mail

Latest 2018 Graduate Accountant at Cheki Nigeria Limited

Cheki Nigeria Limited is an online marketplace where all of Nigeria's leading car dealers, importers and private sellers post their cars for sale in Nigeria. We do not sell cars directly but rather offer a state of the art advertising medium for users to buy and sell their cars, 4WDs, vans, bikes and trucks and other vehicles.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Accountant

Location: Lagos

Responsibilities

• Examine statements to ensure accuracy
• Ensure that statements and records comply with laws and regulations
• Compute taxes owed, prepare tax returns, ensure prompt payment
• Inspect account books and accounting systems to keep up to date
• Organize and maintain financial records
• Improve businesses efficiency where money is concerned
• Make best-practices recommendations to management
• Suggest ways to reduce costs, enhance revenues and improve profits.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Degree
• 3 – 5 years of experience.

Skills:

• Accounting, Corporate Finance, Reporting Skills, Attention to Detail, Deadline-Oriented, Reporting Research Results, SFAS Rules, Confidentiality, Time Management, Data Entry Management, General Math Skills.

Application Closing Date
19th April, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications and CV's to: application@cheki.com.ng