BREAKING NEWS : 7.4 earthquake hits the Kermadec Islands - north of New Zealand in the Pacific Ocean

A massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck the Kermadec Islands the Pacific Ocean sparking a tsunami warning. 

New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management issued a beach warning, telling locals to expect unusually strong, hazardous currents and unpredictable surges near the shore. 

The quake struck at about 9am (AEST) near the Kermadec Islands region - about midway between Auckland and Tonga. 

Preliminary investigations suggest New Zealand may avoid the tsunami, but Kiwi's are urged to take care near the foreshore.

The severity of currents and surges in tide may be unpredictable in the coming hours. 

If a tsunami does hit New Zealand, it is not predicted to arrive for at least another two hours. 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a statement warning a tsunami threat exists more urgently for parts of the Pacific located closer to where the earthquake took place. 

Based on preliminary investigations, coastlines within a 300km radius of the epicenter could be threatened.    

Concerned locals have been encouraged to keep updated by checking in with the website www.civildefence.govt.nz and Twitter @NZCivilDefence. 

There is no current threat to Australia.  

Bernie Sanders: Americans 'will be delighted to pay more in taxes' for free health care, education

Senator Bernie Sanders continued to defend Democratic socialism and argued that Americans would be "delighted to pay more in taxes" if his policies are carried out.

On Wednesday,  sanders  attempted to persuade voters into the ideology of the Democratic socialism  and argued in favor for what he called an "Economic Bill of Rights," where every American would have a right for items like free health care and education. He also insisted that Donald Trump  is a "corporate socialist" for providing billions in subsidies and tax breaks for corporations.

During an appearance, the Democratic candidate was asked how he will respond to Trump's attacks on the campaign trail specifically when the president invokes Venzuela as an example of failed socialism.

"Look, what we have to understand, for example... the United States is the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people as a right," Sanders explained. "In many countries in Europe, Germany for one, you go to college and the cost of college is zero. I think in Finland they actually pay you to go to college. In most countries around the world the level of income and wealth inequality, which in the United States today is worse than at anytime since the 1920s... that level of income and wealth inequality is much less severe than it is right here in the United States."

"But as you know, the taxes in many of those countries are much higher than they are- the individual and personal tax, are much higher than they are in the United States," Cooper told the 2020 candidate."Yeah, but I suspect that a lot of people in the country would be delighted to pay more in taxes if they had comprehensive health care as a human right," Sanders claimed. "I live 50 miles away from the Canadian border. You go to the doctor any time you want. You don't take out your wallet. You have heart surgery, you have a heart transplant, you come out of the hospital, it costs you nothing. Your kids in many countries around the world can go to the public colleges and universities tuition-free, wages in many cases are higher."

He continued, "So there is a trade-off, but at the end of the day, I think that most people will believe they going to be better off when their kids have educational opportunities without out-of-pocket expenses, when they have healthcare as a human right, when they have affordable housing, when they have decent retirement security, I think most Americans will understand that is a good deal."

Sarah Sanders leaving White House post after fraught tenure

Sarah Sanders Leaves her position at the end of the month, capping a tumultuous tenure as the President's chief spokeswoman in which she largely redefined the role.

President Donald Trump announced on Twitter that Sanders will return to her home state of Arkansas and floated the possibility of a gubernatorial run for the White House press secretary. Speaking at an event later Thursday afternoon, Trump praised her as a "warrior."

The descriptor reflected both the combative nature of Sanders' tenure and extent to which Trump has admired her pugnacity amid a fire hose of controversies. Her departure leaves Trump without one of his chief public defenders, longest-serving advisers and closest aides.

The announcement of her exit, which coincided with the 94th day since she last appeared at the podium, also cast a spotlight on the scope of change she ushered in, offering a vanishing degree of accountability to the position.

Speaking at an event shortly after the announcement, Sanders called her role "the honor of a lifetime" and an experience she "will treasure forever."

Bill introduced to make adoption more affordable to families

U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.), Bob Casey (Pa.), and James Inhofe (Okla.)  announced the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act, legislation that makes the current adoption tax credit fully refundable. Making the tax credit fully refundable will ensure that more families can benefit from this critical support.

"Over 100,000 children are waiting for adoption into a family who can give them the loving home they deserve," Blunt said. "This bipartisan bill will restore the refundability portion of the tax credit to make adoption more affordable for hardworking families. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to make adoption a more viable option for parents who are eager to welcome a child into their home."

"It is a common misconception that only wealthy families adopt," Casey said. "We must do all we can do to ensure that all children are afforded the opportunity to grow up in a permanent, loving home. This legislation is a commonsense approach to improve lower-income families' ability to adopt and support children from foster care."

"My family knows firsthand the joys and blessings adoption brings," Inhofe said. "But adoption is not without its difficulties and, too often, can be a costly process. Making the adoption tax credit fully refundable will ease that financial burden so more families can choose to adopt and welcome children into their homes."

The adoption tax credit was made permanent in the American Taxpayer Relief Act in January 2013. However, that law did not extend the refundability provisions that applied to the adoption tax credit in 2010 and 2011. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act would restore the refundable portion of this critical support for families wishing to adopt.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, about one-third of all adopted children live in families with annual household incomes at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. Despite the common misperception that only wealthy families adopt, nearly 46 percent of children adopted from foster care live in families with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Many of these families' income taxes are so low that they cannot benefit from the adoption tax credit at all unless it is refundable.

Data from 2011, which is the last year the adoption tax credit was refundable, indicates that nearly 62 percent of families who filed for the adoption tax credit benefited from refundability. Forty-one percent of families who benefited from refundability (25 percent of all families who took the tax credit) had AGIs under $50,000. This data indicates that a refundable adoption tax credit plays a significant role in lower-income families' ability to adopt and support a child from foster care. 

Getting more children into permanent homes also benefits taxpayers. The cost of adoption and permanency is significantly lower than the cost to federal, state and local governments to provide long-term foster care.

Link

TRENDING: Maine governor signs abortion bill allowing non-doctors to perform procedure

Maine’s Democratic governor signed an abortion bill into law on Monday that allows medical professionals who are not doctors to perform the procedure.

Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill expanding abortion access which she introduced herself. It will formally go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns, around September.

But the law is facing criticism for expanding the list of professionals who could perform an abortion. Critics say it could potentially make the procedure less safe.

“Expanding who is allowed to perform an abortion does not expand the safety of the procedure,” Republican state Sen. Stacey Guerin has said.

Carroll Conley, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, also echoed the safety concerns and told the New York Times that it’s unclear whether nurses and other health care professionals will receive enough training to administer abortion by the time the law takes effect.

She added that the legislation is more about politics as there’s no evidence that women in Maine are experiencing problems in getting abortion services due to proximity.

In most states, only physicians perform abortions, but Maine is now set to allow nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse-midwives to provide abortion medication and perform in-clinic abortions.

Maine will be the second state after California with a law allowing non-doctors to perform in-clinic abortions, according to Maine’s Office of Policy and Legal Analysis.

Nearly two dozen states, including Vermont and New Hampshire, have expanded their list of abortion-medication providers following court or agency rulings.

Supporters of the bill say abortion is one of the safest medical procedure and the restrictions on who can perform the procedure are outdated.

“States across the country, including Vermont and New Hampshire, have already eliminated this outdated restriction on abortion care,” said Sara Gideon, the speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. “This law will allow women to receive the care they need from a provider they trust and eliminate the financial and logistical hurdles they face today.”

The law in Maine comes after other Democrat-led states moved to protect or expand abortions access in their states following a series of pro-life measures in red states, most notably in Alabama where abortion was banned after six weeks.

“Maine is defending the rights of women and taking a step toward equalizing access to care as other states are seeking to undermine, rollback, or outright eliminate these services,” the state governor said.

The law also came in the wake of lawsuits from advocacy groups and abortion clinic suing Maine over its abortion provider restrictions and ban on state Medicaid funds for abortions.

Link  https://www.foxnews.com/

Trending: Supreme Court rejects atheists' attempt to scrub 'In God We Trust' off US currency

A case was rejected on Monday by the 'US' Supreme Court brought up by an atheist to remove "In God We Trust" the national motto, from all coins and currency from the Department of Treasury.

Michael Newdow, the same activist attorney who tried to remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, lost his case, arguing Congress' mandate to inscribe "In God We Trust" on currency was a government endorsement of religion and a violation of the First Amendment.

Newdow argued in his petition to the Supreme Court that because his clients are all atheist individuals or atheist groups, the government violated their "sincere religious belief" that there is no God and turned them into "political outsiders" by placing the phrase "In God We Trust" on their money.

The justices rejected his petition without comment.

The phrase was first put on an American coin in 1864, due to "increased religious sentiment." It was added to both coins and paper bills in 1955.

Newdow also tried to silence prayer and any religious references at the inaugurations of President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.

BREAKING: Botswana scraps gay sex laws in big victory for LGBTQ rights in Africa

Botswana's High Court has overturned a colonial-era law criminalizing consensual same-sex relations in a landmark victory for Africa's LGBTQ movements.

The judgement comes just a month after Kenya's high court upheld its laws making homosexuality a crime

Under section 164 of Botswana's Penal Code, "carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature," was an offense that carried a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment. Section 167 made "acts of gross indecency"  whether in public or private, a punishable offense, with up to two years in prison.

The case was brought to court in March by Letsweletse Motshidiemang, a 21-year-old student at the University of Botswana, who argued that society had changed and that homosexuality was more widely accepted.

While homophobic attitudes continue to prevail in parts of the country, Botswana's LGBTQ activists and supporters have marked some victories for the movement in recent years. The 2010 Employment Act made it illegal for employers to terminate contracts on the basis of sexual orientation, two land mark in October and December 2007 laid the foundation for trans people to more easily change their official gender on identity documents.

N1.77tr Have Been Pulled Out By Foreign Investors In Nigeria.

N1.77 trillion has been pulled out from the nation’s stock market in the last two years, by foreign investors, citing insecurity and economic uncertainties. Many blue-chip companies quoted on the stock exchange also experienced huge losses within the period.

Specifically, N435.31 billion in foreign portfolio investment outflow was recorded in 2017, while foreign investors withdrew N642.65 billion during the corresponding period in 2018.

In the same vein, foreign transactions accounted for about 51 per cent of the total transactions carried out in 2018, while domestic transactions constituted about 49 per cent during the same period.

Operators at the weekend expressed concern on the spillover effect and volatility caused by over-dependence on foreign investors in the nation’s stock market. They linked the huge investment outflow from foreign investors to uncertainties that shrouded the nation’s economic outlook, occasioned by insecurity, kidnapping and recurrent farmers-headers clashes.

According to them, this gives credence to the fact that while the large presence of foreign investors in the market signifies strong attraction to the country, their sudden reversal also portends great danger, given the bearish mode currently being witnessed in the market.

The operators insisted that the major reason for the depressed state of the market is the selldown by foreign investors who play a dominant role in the nation’s stock market.

After the January and mid-February 2018 rally, the market recorded unprecedented reversal in performance contrary to predictions by analysts. The capitalisation, which stood at N15,549 trillion as at Wednesday, February 28, 2018, dropped to N13,766 trillion Thursday, May 30, 2018, representing N1,783 trillion or 12.9 per cent loss.

Also, the All-Share Index declined by 12,076 points or 38.6 per cent to 31,254.19 from 43,330.54, achieved as at February 28, 2018.

The operators based their position on the claim that between 2007 and 2010 financial year, domestic transactions executed by retail investors outperformed foreign investors by close to 80 per cent as retail patronage dominated activities in various sectors in the equities market.

The dominance of foreign investors in the nation’s stock market could be traced from 2011, immediately after the global financial crisis that burnt the fingers of many domestic investors.

A breakdown of foreign, domestic investors’ participation in the stock market before the 2009 global financial crisis showed that domestic participation was worth N9,496 billion between 2007 and 2010, while foreign investors’ patronage constituted only N2,405 billion within the same period

The operators linked the inability to sustain the upward trend in local participation to failure on the part of the government and regulators to attract retail investors (who incurred huge losses during the crises) back to the market and improve the general performance of the exchange.

The foreign investors are nervous about Nigeria’s macroeconomic and monetary outlook, especially the increasing political risks. Therefore they suggested that local institutions with strong capacity must invest in the market, to reduce the dependence on foreign investors and prevent unnecessary shocks. They also believe that creating policies that would attract retail investors back to the market would improve the general performance of the exchange.

Breaking! Rohr Drops Iheanacho and Ajayi from 2019 AFCON Squad

The Head Coach Of The Super Eagles Gernot Rohr has dropped two players from Leicester City  'Kelechi Iheanacho' and Rotherham United Midfielder 'Semi Ajayi' from the squad for the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Kelechi Iheanacho endured a difficult time with his English Premier League club side last season,with 'Jamie Vardy' preferred in Leicester City’s 'Brenda Rodgers' attacking formation.

The former Manchester City youngster only scored once in the league last season as he struggled for game time , however he was a super inclusion in his country’s 25 provisional squad for the African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

 The Head coach 'Rohr' had previously hinted that the forward Kelechi lacks confidence and due to the competition in the squad, the coaching crew cannot continue to give players gift.

 Rohr decided not to include Iheanacho in Super Eagles friendly match against Zimbabwe in Asaba last night, decision that sealed his fate.

 Semi Ajayi on his part will find it difficult to accept the decision, as he one was of the most consistent Nigerian players in Europe last season, he featured in over 40 games for Rotherham United.

 With Rohr welcoming Captain John Mikel Obi back into the team and with Wilfred Ndidi and Oghenekaro Etebo in top form , the former Arsenal youngster was likely to be the casualty.

 Meanwhile, the other 23 players and the technical crew will depart Nigeria for Ismaili in Egypt later today to continue preparations for the tournament.

Trump compares himself and his "record setting" economy to President Obama. "No Credit Have Been Given To Me"

Trump compares himself and his "record setting" economy to President Obama.
"No Credit Have Been Given To Me"

President Donald Trump has compared his record to that of former President Barack Obama while defending his new deal with Mexico to reduce illegal immigration, and in Trump’s opinion, it’s no contest.

“If President Obama made the deals that I have made, both at the Border and for the Economy, the Corrupt Media would be hailing them as Incredible, & a National Holiday would be immediately declared,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “With me, despite our record setting Economy and all that I have done, no credit!”

The comment came after Trump lashed out at the New York Times in a series of tweets for casting doubt on the breakthrough he claimed for his deal with Mexico to avoid tariffs and “stem the tide” of migrants on their way to the U.S. southern border. The Times disputed the credit he said he deserved, reporting that aspects of the agreement had already been agreed upon months before the president’s tariff threat.

The deal, the “U.S.-Mexico Joint Declaration,” which was released by the State Department after Trump’s announcement, outlined measures that would be taken by Mexico to reduce the surge of immigrants, mostly from Central America, passing through Mexico on their way to seek asylum in the U.S., including the “deployment of its National Guard throughout Mexico, giving priority to its southern border.”

“But the Mexican government had already pledged to do that in March during secret talks in Miami between Kirstjen Nielsen,  the secretary of Homeland security, and Olga Sanchez, the Mexican secretary of the interior,” Times correspondents Michael D. Shear and Maggie Haberman wrote, pointing out that Mexico had already agreed to several other aspects of the deal months before Trump’s tariff threat.

Trump defended his deal on Sunday, saying, “We have been trying to get some of these Border Actions for a long time, as have other administrations, but were not able to get them, or get them in full, until our signed agreement with Mexico for many years,” 
“Mexico was not being cooperative on the Border in things we had, or didn’t have, and now I have full confidence, especially after speaking to their President yesterday, that they will be very cooperative and want to get the job properly done.”

President Obama faced what he described as “an actual humanitarian crisis” at the border when a surge of unaccompanied Central American children arrived in 2014, and his administration placed them in temporary camps on military bases until the number of shelters contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services was expanded to properly house them.

(Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador) where violence and poverty have increased over the past few years.

“Immigration officers have made 266,000 arrests of criminal aliens in the last two fiscal years,” the White House said in a February statement, when Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border in order to unilaterally shift funds from other departments to build his long-promised wall.

As illegal immigration overwhelmed border officials and facilities, Trump responded with a threat of tariffs on Mexico that were scheduled to go into effect Monday, but he “indefinitely suspended” them in light of the newly announced U.S.-Mexico deal.

“There is now going to be great cooperation between Mexico & the USA, something that didn’t exist for decades,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “However, if for some unknown reason there is not, we can always go back to our previous, very profitable, position of Tariffs - But I don’t believe that will be necessary.”

He noted that one provision of the deal was being kept secret and would be disclosed “at the appropriate time.”