CHINA PREPARING PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE AGAINST US

China has deployed an HQ-9 surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries in its significant development of new military constructions and placement of new naval and aerial military assets in the Paracel Islands, a disputed territory in the South China Sea.

New photos of the islands that make up the Paracels, showing significant construction on all of them, has been published by The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS) Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

The most developed island is Woody Island, which China has long used as its central base in the region. Woody Island, CSIS notes, now possesses “an airstrip, hangars, and a deployment of HQ-9 surface-to-air missile batteries.”

CSIS found seven new harbors on the islands, as well as one under construction, and five helipads.

While Chinese officials have insisted for years that the South China Sea/ (part of West Philippine Sea) has been under Beijing’s control “since ancient times,” the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague found last year that China’s claims over the territory are invalid and the establishment of military bases in the area are illegal.

UK SCRAMBLES FIGHTER JETS TO INTERCEPT INTRUDING RUSSIAN BOMBER PLANES

British Royal Air Force (RAF) scrambled fighter jets on Thursday morning to intercept Russian bomber planes that spent more than five hours skirting the edges of British airspace.

The Russian Tu-160 “Blackjack” bombers entered the UK’s area of interest from the north-east at around 10 a.m. yesterday, flying between the Shetland and Faroe islands, then down the west coast of Ireland and over the Bay of Biscay, The Independent said.

French and Spanish aircraft took over the interception but the two planes then turned around to head towards Russia, flying back into the British military’s “patch” while heading north. The bombers passed the coast of the Outer Hebrides shortly after 3 p.m.

RAF spokesman said: “We can confirm that quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby scrambled to monitor two Blackjack bombers while they were in the UK area of interest. At no point did the Russian aircraft enter UK territorial airspace.”

LARGEST DAM ABOUT TO COLLAPSE IN CALIFORNIA

An immediate evacuation of all people below the damaged huge Oroville dam, has been ordered by the sheriff in Butte County, California on Monday, Feb. 13 morning, Reuters reports.

It is feared to be in danger of imminent collapse according to the report. Butte County Sheriff Facebook statement said: “Immediate evacuation from the low levels of Oroville and areas downstream is ordered. This is NOT A Drill. This is NOT A Drill. This in NOT A Drill.”

The Oroville Dam in northern California is the tallest with a 770-foot (230 m) embankment dam completed in 1968. Five of the ten highest dams in the U.S. are located in California.

“DO NOT TRAVEL NORTH TOWARD OROVILLE,” the Yuba County Office of Emergency Services said on Facebook, urging evacuees to travel safely in all other directions and help the elderly.

The dam’s spillway was “predicted to fail within the next hour,” the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said at around 4:30pm PST Sunday (00:30 GMT Monday).

BRITAIN PLANNING TO DEPLOY THESE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, WARPLANES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the United States, recently told a Washington think tank that Britain will send aircraft carriers and warplanes to the South China Sea and across the Pacific.

“Certainly, as we bring our two new aircraft carriers onstream in 2020, and as we renew and update our defense forces, they will be seen in the Pacific,” Darroch announced.

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters, which arrived in Japan in October for joint exercises, are scheduled to fly over the South China Sea, the ambassador added.

“And we absolutely share the objective of this U.S. administration, and the next one, to protect freedom of navigation and to keep sea routes and air routes open.”

Assuming the Queen Elizabeth–class carriers and their F-35B aircraft are ready by 2020—two big ifs, given the history of these two programs—then each carrier will accommodate perhaps fifty aircraft at most, including F-35B vertical/short takeoff and landing strike fighters, as well as assorted airborne early-warning and antisubmarine aircraft and helicopters.

US AIRCRAFT FLIES 300 METERS CLOSE TO CHINESE PLANE IN SCARBOROUGH SHOAL

Reuters on Friday morning, (5:55pm EST) reported U.S. Navy P-3 plane and a Chinese military aircraft encounter face-off over the South China Sea in an incident the Navy believes was unexpected.

Citing an unnamed U.S. military official, Reuters said the aircraft came within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of each other on Thursday in the vicinity of the Scarborough Shoal, between the Philippines and the Chinese mainland.

The US Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy.

Such interactions between Chinese and American aircraft are infrequent, with only two occurring in 2016, the official said.

INDIA BEATS NASA, RUSSIA AFTER EXTRAVAGANT SATELLITE LAUNCHING

India has created a world record on Wednesday by successfully launching 104 satellites on a single mission, overtaking the previous record of 37 satellites launched by Russia in 2014 and the US space agency’s NASA which launched 29.

Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) workhorse rocket PSLV created a record today by launching 104 satellites in a single mission from the space centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV, in its 39th flight (PSLV-C37), launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation along with 103 co-passenger satellites, together weighing about 664 kg at lift off.

A big chunk of those space probes — 88, in fact — belong to Planet, a US private imaging company with high ambitions of continuously monitoring the Earth from space.

Speaking on the record launch, ISRO Chairman Kiran Kumar had earlier said the aim was to maximise the capability with each launch and it was not to set a record.

“We are not looking at it as a record or anything like that; we are just trying to maximise our capability with each launch, in trying to utilise that launch for the ability it has got and getting the maximum return,” he had said.

DENR orders cancelling of 75 mining contracts throughout the country

The latest Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) order cancelling 75 mining contracts throughout the country is consistent with the law, but due process must still be observed before its enforcement, a Malacañang official clarified Wednesday.“The cancellation of 75 mineral production sharing agreements (MPSAs) by Secretary Regina Lopez is consistent with Republic Act 7942 that mining applications are closed to proclaimed watershed forest reserves,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement distributed to media.

“However, as agreed upon in the last Cabinet meeting, the DENR is to establish that it has gone through due process before enforcing the applicable laws, rules, or regulations,” Abella said.According to the Palace official, “the DENR is to issue a show cause order for concerned mining companies and they will be given seven days to reply.”

Lopez on Tuesday ordered the cancellation of the 75 mining contracts in an intensified campaign to stop extraction of resources in sensitive areas.

The cancelled contracts, which cover projects that are still in the exploration stage or are not yet in production, are all located in watershed zones.

These include the USD5.9-billion Tampakan gold and copper project in South Cotabato, potentially the country’s biggest foreign investment and believed to be one of the largest gold prospects in the world.

Also affected by the cancellation order was the USD1.2-billion copper-gold project of Philex Mining Corp., one of the country’s biggest miners, in Mindanao.

Lopez said that she had to order the cancellation of the MPSAs because they could endanger the water supply.

Earlier, the DENR chief ordered the closure of 23 of the country’s 41 mineral mines while five other mines were suspended.

The February 2 decision to close or suspend existing mine operations followed a months-long audit of the mines.

This prompted an outcry from the mining industry, represented by the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), which maintained that due process were not observed in the proceedings.

On February 7, Abella said that President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet decided to give affected mining firms the opportunity to present their side.

“This means companies affected by mining closures for violations of environmental laws and regulations will be given the opportunity to respond to or dispute the audit, or make the necessary remedies to ensure compliance with government standards,” Abella said.

Amazing Photos Show The Most Solitary Places On Earth! #6 Is My Dream House...

Are you looking for a place where you can spend your vacation, completely secluded from the rest of the world? These amazing photos show you the most solitary places on Earth!

#1 Village of Gásadalur – Vágar, Faroe Islands: This little lovely village is really separated and if you want to visit this you have rent a car. The population is 18 not so big but maybe, therefore this village has a special milieu.

#2 The Crystal Mill – Crystal, Colorado, USA: The water and nature connecting in this place. The difficult-to-access structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 5, 1985. You can visit this nice piece of art and you can take amazing photos here.

#3 Casa do Penedo (House of Stone) – Guimarães, Fafe Mountains, Portugal: This interesting building was built in 1974. An interesting detail that in this house no electricity just candles and you feel that you are in the past centuries.

#4 Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa – Huvadhu Atoll, Maldives: Lots of people’s aim in summer this nice island. Very nice, and peaceful place and about this island lots of tourists can take amazing photos. The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is one of the many luxury resorts that can be found in the nation.

#5 Bishop Rock – Isles of Scilly, Great Britain: The Guinness Book of World Records lists Bishop Rock, 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, as the smallest island in the world with a building on it. The lighthouses are important for the ships, therefore, it is an important building.

#6 La Rinconada – Peru: At an elevation of 16,700 feet, La Rinconada is considered the highest inhabited settlement in the world. This lovely village economy is based on gold mining.

#7 Katskhi Pillar – Imereti, Georgia: This amazing piece of the building is 1300 steps high. This is a church, church contains a wine cellar and a crypt, among other features. The view sure amazing and you can take amazing photos here.

#8 House on the Vestmannaeyjar Archipelago – Ellidaey Island, Iceland: Five families inhabited the island roughly 300 years ago. And this plan really good for this one who are loves the peace, no big population, and the calm. But there isn’t a hospital or a doctor but it sure that you don’t have to worry about someone rob you.

#9 Meteora – Thessaly, Greece: Meteora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We can understand that because we can see how big, nice and amazing place this monastery.

#10 Chess Pavilion – Mount Hua, China: Lots of people love China’s nature and buildings. The view will be unbelievable and you can take amazing photos here.

Here Are A Few Reasons Why Chocolate Might Actually Make You Smarter

Chocolate is always a good choice when you would like to surprise yourself with something sweet. You probably know that is has several health benefits, but is dark chocolate really good for you? Of course, it can even make you smarter! Let’s discover the latest study about the topic and don’t forget: everything in moderation!

Believe it or not, we have got very, very good news for lovers of all things cocoa!

Georgina Chrichton carried out the study on roughly 1,000 participants. She realised that according to the study, people who ate chocolate at least once a week displayed superior brain functionality.

This study was published in a journal called Appetite. People who eat chocolate at least once a week are more capable of thinking in abstractions and can excel in critical-thinking exercises.

It is said that participants were asked to complete fairly simple tasks, such as memorizing phone numbers and remembering items on lists. Researchers connect the ability to carry out such tasks with more efficient cognitive function.

Did you know that foods containing flavanols tend to heighten brain activity? Fortunately for us, not just dark chocolate is one of those foods, but simple milk chocolate contains flavanols as well.

What’s more, it’s not the only study that supports the theory that the flavanols found in chocolate have significant benefits.

In 2009, a study concluded that people solved arithmetic problems more easily after they were given hot cocoa.

In 2014, another study showed that diets rich in cocoa could stave off dementia and memory loss.

So as you can see, everyone’s favourite treat does as much for the mind as it does for the sweet tooth.

Thank you for reading our article of “Is Dark Chocolate Good For You? Guess What! It Can Even Make You Smarter”!

Finally free of blackheads! With two simple ingredients never have unclean skin again.

Finally free of blackheads! With two simple ingredients never have unclean skin again.

Blackheads are a pain and do mostly appear on forehead, nose and chin, the so called T-Zone, as the skin in that area produces a lot of excessive oil, which clogs up the pores. 

It is best to not squeeze the nasty blackheads with your fingers, as bacteria can enter your pores and cause an inflamed pimple. This face mask with only two ingredients will clean your pores easily.

You will need a sachet of gelatin and some milk. If you do not want to use gelatin, the plant-based adhesive pectin is a good alternative.

Mix the gelatin with two tablespoons of milk in a small bowl and stir it with a spoon, until the mixture looks like runny yoghurt.

Heat the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds. Test with your finger if the mixture is not too hot to apply on your skin.

An old make up brush, for example a foundation brush, is ideal to apply the mask on your skin. Brush on the mixture in a rather thick layer, but don´t make it too thin or else it will be very difficult to pull off and do not make it too thick, then it won´t dry.

It is advisable to wax your upper lip before you use this face mask as it will pull out the small hairs on your face which can be painful. Is your skin very sensitive in certain areas? Do not apply the mask there! The mask will make your skin very sensitive after the use.

Let the mask dry for 15 minutes. If you keep it on your face too long, it will make your skin sore. As soon as it is dry, the layer should break easily. Now it´s time to do some funny grimaces to split up the mask! Pull from the outside of your nose to the bridge – this way you will remove all blackheads. You will be surprised by the amount of blackheads the face mask removed from your skin!

 Close your pores by washing your face with very cold water or rubbing an ice cube over your skin.

Gelatin can dry out the skin, apply a toner and a moisturiser to refresh the skin. Protect your now very sensitive skin with a sunblock.

An end to the pain in your mouth. 5 home remedies.

If you find a white spot like this in your mouth, you should act fast. These 5 home remedies can work wonders.

A sore spot in your mouth can cause you more trouble than a skinned knee. What causes the white wounds, the canker sores? Well, reasons for canker sores vary, it might be a hormone fluctuation, a weak immune system or your body lacks vitamin B12. One of the white wounds is no reason to worry, but if you have issues with canker sores frequently you should consult a doctor. These home remedies will ease your pain and help your mouth to heal!

Canker sores can be painful, the white spots with a red edge occur on the oral mucosa (the skin in your mouth) or the gums. Usually, the sores are not deep and 80 – 90 % of the canker sores heal in a few days, but sometimes the little wounds are deeper then the upper layer of the skin in your mouth and won´t heal for weeks. To speed up the healing process, try these 5 home remedies.

Low-fat curd cheese is a natural remedy against the sores in your mouth. Apply some of the curd cheese on the canker sore and let it work for a couple of minutes.

Tea tree oil will ease the pain instantly. Dab a cotton swab soaked in tea tree oil on the wound and apply it two to three times a day until the sore is gone.

This natural remedy is yummy on top! Chew a piece of papaya, that will relieve the nasty pain.

Aloe Vera juice is fantastic to soothe pains: rinse your mouth with the Aloe Vera juice. A change for the better will be noticeable immediately, your sore will heal faster.

Another great remedy can be found in your kitchen: baking soda. Just a bit of baking soda sprinkled on your canker sore and it soon will disappear.

To prevent canker sores, check your toothpaste: sodium lauryl sulfate can be found in some toothpastes. The chemical is caustic and irritates the oral mucosa, which can lead to sores. Try a different toothpaste, which does not contain that chemical. If your canker sores just don´t want to vanish, ask a doctor for advise.

Obese Woman Was Made Fun Of Online Because She Tipped Over With Her Scooter

Jennifer Knapp Wilkinson of Missouri had an unfortunate little accident in the Walmart while shopping around. It all happened five years ago and she became quite famous because someone took a picture of the moment when she tipped over with her mobility scooter.

All she experienced after falling was a quick flashlight and giggling teenagers somewhere behind her. She didn’t think of anything bad back then because as she recalls she had already been used to people laughing at her sometimes.

When she found a meme made of her picture and read the comments below she was shocked. She remembers that she even hurt herself when she fell and she couldn’t imagine how so many people could laugh at such an incident.

 Four years later she decided to speak out:

 She said that she also understood that people only saw a fat woman tipping over with a scooter but it is more than just that.

 “I have a condition in my spine called “spondylolisthesis” where a vertebra slips forward and out of place. That causes my legs go numb if I stand for too long. That they I felt extremely weak and that contributed to the accident,” She explained.

She added that she really wants people to be aware that fat people are human beings too and they shouldn’t be made fun of. She continued explaining that she was not lazy or didn’t choose to be obese and she was even a member of a gym. She spoke for all people who have ever become a victim of the emotionless online world where people treat other people like objects and ridicule them as if they didn’t have an internet connection and could never find themselves there. She wants people to know that it hurts a lot and everyone should treat other people as humans.

welcome new year 2017

While contemplating at my seat during the eve of 2017's first day, the thoughts of another year full of adventures excited me and that made me imagine new places, new faces and of course brand new photo gallery sets. Well, I better be more active with creating my photo book since there's a huge pile of back logs from the past year. I am worried I won't be able to complete everything but that's a good problem to think about.

But there is no better way to start the new year than with a clear plan and firm resolve. I know this will be a year of more quality traveling with my husband and perhaps with family and friends. Last year, we get to travel with just ourselves so we are making this year's travel stories to include some of our friends and family members too!

The Dark Circles around Your Eyes

Those dark circles around your eyes may not always be the cause of lack of sleep. They may tell of other health issues; such as allergies.

If you already have enough sleep and still these dark circles or shadows around your eyes have not disappeared, then you must consider the possibility of allergies, according to a specialist from the famous Mayo Clinic.

If this is the case, you have to check what is causing your allergy.

Aside from allergies, one of the main causes of dark circles is nose congestion.

I quote, “When your nose gets congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened and darker.” These are the dark circles around your eyes.

On the other hand, when your nose is congested, here are two options to clear it:

· Rinse your sinuses with a salt-water solution by mixing ¼ teaspoon of sea salt and 2 cups of warm water; or

· Use over- the-counter saline spray to relieve the congestion.

Thank you for reading.