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Two People Murdered at Jacksonville Video Game Tournament

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Killings in America continue. This time, a mass shooting took place in Jacksonville, Florida, at a tournament for competitive players of a football video game called Madden. The winners of the tournament here would travel to Las Vegas where they could win large cash prizes as this one is a higher level of competition.

The participants arrived at the Jacksonville Landing Complex, which is an open-air marketplace with stores, bars, and restaurants located along the St. Johns River. One of the participants was David Katz, a 24-year-old gamer from Baltimore, Maryland. He was in Jacksonville for the tournament at GLHF Game Bar, but he had other intentions. David brought a gun and opened fire on Sunday, killing two people, but after that, he pointed the gun on himself as Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said. Police still struggles to find a motive behind such an act.

Source:edition.cnn.com

The sheriff confirmed that Katz used one handgun at least and nine other people were injured at the site, with two of them while trying to flee the area. Luckily, the wounded were sent to the hospital quickly, and they are all in stable condition.

The horror was caught in an online stream of the event which people could have watched on the website Twitch. The video is disturbing, and the game stopped after several shots were fired. People started screaming. After 1:30 p.m., people started calling 911, according to Williams and the officials were at the site of the shooting within two minutes.

One of the participants, Ryan Aleman said that he managed to run into the bathroom and wait for ten minutes for everything to pass. “I’m still shocked, I can hardly talk,” he told CNN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVnCW2Z3oxY

Firefighters Joining

The members of the Jacksonville Fire Station 1 known as “The Rock” had routine training across the street from the Landing at a parking site, and they saw people running, said Randy Wyse, the president of the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters. One of the people who ran showed them a gun wound, and another people followed behind him.

Several firefighters provided the first aid, while the others ran towards the Landing, said Wyse to flag down a police officer. Those who came to the site started treating victims, and they found three dead bodies, one of which was Katz’s.

One of the better players

Source:metro.us

Katz’s named himself Bread, and he managed to win Madden tournaments in 2017, as multiple gamers confirmed for CNN. In February, the Buffalo Bills posted a tweet of him, after winning the Madden 17 Bills Championship and they wrote: “Congrats to David Katz, the Madden 17 Bills Championship winner! Thanks for following along, Bills fans.”
After that victory, Katz said: “I think personally I’m one of the better players.”

All eyes on Florida

In recent years, there have been several mass shootings in Florida. One of those was when 17 were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, whereas last year five were murdered at the Fort Lauderdale airport. And two years ago, 49 were gunned down at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

“We have got to change,” Gov. Rick Scott told reporters Sunday night. “We’ve got to really stop and say to ourselves: there’s something wrong. Why are young men willing to give up their life, or why don’t they value somebody else’s life? We’ve got to figure this out.”

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in a mass shooting, said in a statement: “The nation once again looks to Florida with grief and heavy hearts. The massacre in Jacksonville is a tragic reminder of the threats we face from gun violence, no matter who we are or where our day takes us. And it’s yet another devastating indictment of this country’s inability to keep our kids safe.”

One of the gamers, who was only 19 and goes by the name of “Drini” was shot in the thumb, but he managed to escape. “To have someone walk into an event like this that’s all about good sportsmanship and teamwork and just good vibes, and do something like this, it’s heartbreaking,” he said. “I think the e-sports industry as a whole is going to have to step back and take a look at further strengthening our security.”

A Quick Primer On Trade Wars And Effects

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Since January of 2018, primarily in the spring and summer, much was said and speculated about a potential trade war on the horizon with the onslaught of the Trump Tariffs imposed on many countries that previously had longstanding trading relationships with the US. Countries like China, Canada, Mexico, and those in the European Union have been affected by the tariffs. Experts forecast that an ongoing trade war would have hazardous effects on international economic growth, trade activity, and supply chains; plus, there would be immeasurable confidence lost among corporations and consumers.

There are a few strategies to help businesses who rely on the health and efficiency of global supply chains but avoiding an all-out war would be the preferable option for the most parties. Reuters surveyed over 100 economists about steel and aluminum tariffs, and zero of them said these tariffs would benefit the US economy.

What exactly is a trade war and what are the effects?

Tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods or services that are meant to encourage consumers and businesses to purchase goods domestically. They are meant to promote the health of businesses within a country. Naturally, companies buy from suppliers from where they can fetch the best prices, even with tariffs, so international trade is regular and frequent. A trade war occurs when one country raises tariffs on another, who in turn retaliates by raising tariffs on the first country.

This can begin in one industry or sector, like steel and aluminum, and then other goods and services get pulled in during the retaliation process. These tariff tactics end up affecting other nations involved in the supply chain who are forced to charge their own tariffs to attempt to compensate for the damage. Trade wars are a part of Protectionism, which is an ideological stance, set of policies, and laws that aim to inhibit or restrict international trade in the hopes of bolstering homegrown business and eliminate foreign competition.

Nations and businesses may try to cope by raising tariffs, duties, and taxes, altering supply chain strategies, and raising prices. Shipping with an Importer of Record that offers tax recovery services can help companies get a refund for indirect taxes incurred in foreign nations but only for certain types of goods and services and only between certain countries. If you’re dealing with the EU, you can get your import VAT refund with their assistance. Consumers lose confidence and investors may move their money away in response.

A trade war can affect the home nation negatively and in ways that are difficult to accurately predict. Businesses will always buy from where they can get the best price for comparable goods and services. Others will keep their supply chains as is but raise prices for consumers, angering the local population. With the prevalence of online shopping and global companies like Amazon and eBay, consumers will buy from wherever they can get the best deals. Lost consumer confidence can also mean purse-tightening and lower household spending.

It’s difficult to predict a rise or change in tariffs, but it’s wise for businesses to have multiple supply chain strategies in places for hypothetical scenarios and emergencies. In the case of tariffs being raised, a Plan B that includes alternative sources and partnerships, and changes in the percentages of materials coming from each country, can be switched to in a crisis, with less of a disruption in the supply chain flow. Getting help from experts to maximize refunds on import taxes, VAT, duty, co-location taxes, etc. will help lower costs, regardless of the current economic climate and trade war scenarios.

Powerful Dollar Could Weaken Oil

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The oil industry has been the cornerstone of the economy of the United States as well as its foreign policy, and now, the currency is threatening to weaken it. In the last few weeks, the US Energy Information Administration has filed some reports stating that the prices of benchmark crude oil fell to $70 per barrel for Brent and $67 for a barrel for West Texas Intermediate. These were priced at $80 and $75 respectively.

What is worrying is that these reports come just a few months after the predictions that the benchmark crude prices would soar in the upcoming year. But considering everything that is going on – President Donald Trump’s tariffs on certain goods as well as the rise of the dollar – this is going to slow down the oil industry on a global level.

And if we scratch under the surface, you get to see how tariffs are affecting the emerging markets. When Washington introduced steel and aluminum tariffs as well as duties on solar panels and washing machines, for instance, countries such as China, Turkey, and South Korea responded by devaluating their currencies, effectively making the exports less costly.

“Suppose you were exporting something for $100 before the tariffs, then President Trump says we’re going to put on a 25-percent tariff – if you devalue your currency by 20 percent, that brings you back to close to $100,” says Steven Kopits, president of Princeton Energy Advisors, a consulting firm. “So there’s a natural tendency that countries depreciate their currency to maintain the transactions.”

What we have as a result is the more expensive US dollar, by comparison. As we know, the crude oil is traded in dollars, which means that oil becomes costlier to import and that will lower the demand and slow down the countries that chose to devalue their currencies to counter Trump tariffs. This transfers to the economic slowdown for the global market and can backfire and affect the US economy as well.

“This is one of those things where, can I go over and set my neighbor’s house on fire? Sure, you could. Does it mean that my house won’t burn down? Well it might not, but it could burn down your house, too,” Kopits says. “So if you set your neighbor’s house on fire, you probably have a problem.”

“The reaction within 60 minutes of this EIA release was wave after wave of selling,” Tom Kloza, head of global energy analysis at Oil Price Information Service, wrote after last week’s EIA analysis. “There have been several false ‘dive’ alarms sounded this summer, but this particular report may be the one that inflicts more lasting damage.”

image source: dollarsandart.com

Although the US stockpiles of crude oil have gone up, the oil used to keep the refineries that are running at a breakneck pace and crude exports are going down. “This is very bullish, as it suggests U.S. refiners anticipate strong refined product demand, either domestically or via exports,” Kopits says.

We have witnessed recent declines, but the oil prices are still on the highest points since the fall of 2014. According to Kloza, the EIA’s recent bulletins might seem “to cast plenty of doubt on crude oil and product prices headed into the final third of the year,” but they can “sometimes be taken too seriously.”

“I do believe the currency aspect of oil prices has been understated as of late,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.com, writes in an email. “As we prepare for the conclusion of the U.S. summer driving season, the largest seasonal consumption in the world, oil prices may remain under [downward] pressure for the early fall. I can’t think of a time in the past that such policy has played such a role in oil prices globally, and this doesn’t look like it will end soon as the U.S. lashes out against multiple trading partners, cutting into the strength of their currency, and leading the dollar to higher ground.”

Russia and China are Killing US Dollar

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According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, countries which are under the sanctions should start doing business in their national currencies, as he suggested on Tuesday. Other than Russia, countries which can opt for such a move are also Iran and Turkey, and this means that the days of the US dollar as the international reserve currency could come to an end.

The person who will be the happiest about it is President Donald Trump. Why Trump?

Yale economist Robert Triffin explained in the 1950s that when a currency is the international reserve currency, it runs a current account deficit. In case of a replacement, it is more likely to have trade surpluses, which is what happened when the US dollar replaced the British pound in the 1920s and which is what POTUS aims for.

Currently, all over the world, nations use the dollar as the currency to trade with each other. When purchases oil from Iran, they use the US dollar to complete the transaction. Basically, more US$ flow out of the country than it flows in and that creates a big current account deficit.

With the dollar as the international reserve currency, we have a thing called “monetary seignorage.” In other words, it is what the US government earns with all of those dollars circulating around the world, outside of the US. It is a minimum cost to print money whereas countries which use $ such as China and Russia pay the full value of it in goods and services.

But not everyone wants to see the dollar as the world’s currency. As China claims, the international role of the US dollar was one of the things that caused the financial crisis ten years ago. There was a chance back then for another currency to replace it, but none did.

Let’s jump to the present. Last week, Trump reimposed sanctions on Iran and he said that any company which is doing deals with the Iranians in dollars would also be hit by sanctions. Also under sanctions are several Russian companies.

Lavrov visited Turkey and he told at the press conference that “unilateral enforcement measures are illegitimate in international affairs,” which is a clear reference to the sanctions imposed by the USA. “One way to counter these illegitimate barriers and restrictions is we can use national currencies on our bilateral trade,” he concluded.

image source: america.aljazeera.com

According to Lavrov, Russia has already switched to local currencies when they strike trade deals with countries such as China and Iran. He also believes that a large number of other countries will start doing the same. “I strongly believe that abuse of the role the U.S. dollar plays as an international currency will eventually result in its role being undermined,” Lavrov said. “A growing number of countries — even those not affected by US sanctions — will more and more stay away from the dollar and will rely on more reliable partners using their (own) currency.”

To some extent, Lavrov is right. But will the Chinese be content when they receive the payment in Turkish lira, knowing that the currency will be worth much less by the time the ship reaches its destination? What the US dollar has that no other currency can guaranty: It is safe, dependable and easy to exchange.

We mentioned that this change in role for the US$ is making Trump happy. While he may be thrilled with lower trade deficits because the dollar loses its role of being the international reserve currency, this is not going to happen soon. We will still have to wait for a major change when it comes to the international currency and at the moment none can replace the US dollar.

US Ready To Sanction Russia Because Of Poisoning!

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The relations between The United States of America and Russia are always up and down. As soon as they get better, things take a big turn for the worse not that long after. Well, that is exactly what is going to happen again after this move that The States are about to make.

The red, white and blue are planning on imposing new sanctions on Russia since they had found out that Moscow is the one that is behind the poisoning a former Russian spy and his daughter. The poisoning happened in March this year, on the British soil.

It means that the Russians straight up broke the law since they used a lethal substance against the spy and his daughter, at least according to the State Department.

Back in March, Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yuila were found unconscious on the bench in Salisbury, a small British town. Novichok was the name of the substance that was used in order to make them sick. It’s a nerve agent that was developed during the Soviet-era. Luckily, they survived.

Of course, the Brits are going to welcome these sanctions by the United States of America. Even though Russia hasn’t made an official comment about this move that the US is making, the fact of the matter is that they have already denied any involvement in the poisoning of their former spy and his daughter.

image source: foxnews.com

Kremlin also stated that they had no involvement in the poisoning near Salisbury just a couple of months ago when a couple from The Great Britan was sickened – with one person surviving and one dying.

It has been said that the couple also picked up the bottle that had Novichok in it, the same lethal stuff that put Skripal’s in big trouble.

Trump did state that “nobody has been tougher on Russia” than The States, but this is a move that they have to make, not a choice of theirs.

California Fire – State Of Emergency

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A massive fire in Cranston, California forced Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency in Riverside County. Thousands of acres were destroyed as the fire near Idllywild is not slowing down due to hot weather wave that hit the entire state.

Idyllwild area has been hit the most and thousands of people fleed their homes. Five homes were burned down, and other fires in the county require additional personnel to be deployed and spread over multiple locations.

This is not the only fire in the area as Ferguson is hit by another blaze. Riverside County is about 300 miles away from this one, and as a result, some parts of Yosemite National Park needed to be closed, and according to county officials, they might open during the next week.

What do we know about Cranston Fire?

It has been reported that Brandon N. McGlower, a 32-year-old man from Temecula, has been arrested as the authorities suspect him of starting the fire. He is also responsible for several other blazes in southwest Riverside County, as it has been stated by the officials.

Desert Sun article suggests that he is set to remain in Jail and that his bail has been set at $1 million. McGlower is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.

Location struck by Cranston fire

Everything started in the San Jacinto Mountains on July 25, and the blaze soon devastated about 4,700 acres. Few communities that are in that region have been ordered to evacuate, and those include the Apple Canyon Area, Idyllwild, the Lake Helmet, Mountain Center Community and the Hurkey Creek area. It has been reported that a few campgrounds and picnic areas in San Bernardino Nation Forest will be closed.

Containment?

According to Risk Free Serv  about 700 firefighters and other personnel are struggling to contain the fire, but it seems that it is spreading. On Thursday evening it has been said that it now has grown to 7,500 acres with 5% containment. Additionally, information suggests that approximately 3,200 people were evacuated and that 2,200 homes are potentially jeopardized.

Dallas Police Motorcycle Officer Killed in Crash During Funeral

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A Dallas police officer was killed after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while on a funeral escort early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Sr. Cpl. Earl Jamie Givens, a 32-year veteran of the force, was killed after an SUV struck him while he was blocking an entrance ramp on Interstate 20, Chief U. Renee Hall said. The officer was doing a courtesy escort for fellow officer Tyron Andrews who died from cancer. Givens had been part of the motorcycle unit since 2012.

Givens was transported to the Baylor University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival, FOX 4 reported.

The officer was stationary with his motorcycle’s lights on at the time when he was struck “at a high rate of speed” by the car. All eastbound lanes on I-20 were closed following the crash.

The SUV collided into a concrete divider and the driver of the vehicle, a 25-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and a field sobriety test was conducted. He has not been identified.

Fred Frazier, the vice president of the Dallas Police Association, said he was friends with Givens.

“He was a great guy with a great, big heart,” Frazier told Dallas News. “How tragic could this be. He’s escorting a fallen officer to make sure that he’s honored the way he would want to be honored, and he gets killed by a drunk driver.”

Frazier said Givens did a lot of fundraising for charities, including the Assist the Officer Foundation.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings expressed his condolences.

“Our hearts are broken once again. Please pray for the Givens family and for the brave @DallasPD officers who protect us every day,” he tweeted.

News Source: www.foxnews.com

More links:

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/dallas-police/2018/07/21/motorcycle-crash-sends-dallas-officer-hospital

https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/dallas-police-officer-killed-in-crash-during-funeral-escort/287-8196396

https://www.easttexasmatters.com/video/top-video/dallas-officer-killed-in-crash_20180721173439/1314681751

 

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TORNADO WARNING Florida: Gadsden, Grady, Leon Counties

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Tornado Warning for Gadsden, Grady, and Leon Counties until 1:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service of Tallahassee FL provided this information at 1:03 p.m. on Saturday July 21, 2018:

  • Gadsden County
  • Grady County
  • Leon County

Take Action. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.

Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands.

Source: www.wtxl.com

Original story:

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for northeast Gadsden and northern Leon counties.

The warning is in effect until 1:30 p.m. and includes Bradfordville. It’s about 12 miles south of Cairo, Georgia, and moving at about 40 mph. The radar indicates rotations and there is a possibility of quarter-size hail.

Source: tallahassee.com

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