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North Korean Hackers Reportedly Stole US, South Korea War Plans and Other Military Secrets

Roy Siemens
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North Korean Hackers Reportedly Stole US, South Korea War Plans and Other Military Secrets

According to new reports, North Korean hackers have stolen a large cache of military documents from South Korea, including a plan to assassinate the country’s leader Kim Jong-un.

South Korean lawmaker Rhee Cheol-hee said the information was from his country’s defense ministry.

The compromised documents include wartime contingency plans drawn up by the United States and South Korea.

The documents also include reports to the allies’ senior commanders.

The South Korean defense ministry has so far refused to comment about the allegation.

Plans for South Korea’s special forces were reportedly accessed, along with information on significant power plants and military facilities in the South.

Rhee Cheol-hee belongs to South Korea’s ruling party, and sits on its parliament’s defense committee. He said some 235 Gb of military documents had been stolen from the Defense Integrated Data Centre, and that 80% of them have yet to be identified.

The hack took place in September 2016. In May 2017, South Korea said a large amount of data had been stolen and that North Korea may have instigated the cyber attack – but gave no details of what was taken.

US Denies War Declaration Against North Korea

Pentagon: US Bombers Fly Close to North Korea’s East Coast In Show of Force

North Korea Claims It Has Developed Hydrogen Bomb

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, Seoul has been subject to a barrage of cyber attacks by its North Korea in recent years, with many targeting government websites and facilities.

North Korea is believed to have specially-trained hackers based overseas, including in China.

Pyonyang has accused South Korea of “fabricating” the claims.

News that North Korea is likely to have accessed the Seoul-Washington plans for all-out war in the Koreas will do nothing to soothe tensions between the US and North Korea.

The US and North Korea have been at verbal loggerheads over Pyongyang’s nuclear activities, with the US pressing for a halt to missile tests and the North vowing to continue them.

North Korea recently claimed to have successfully tested a miniaturized hydrogen bomb, which could be loaded onto a long-range missile.

In a speech at the UN last month, President Donald Trump threatened to destroy North Korea if it menaced the US or its allies, and said its leader “is on a suicide mission”.

Kim Jong-un responded with a rare statement, vowing to “tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire”.

President Trump’s latest comment took the form of a cryptic tweet at the weekend, where he warned that “only one thing will work” in dealing with North Korea, after years of talks had proved fruitless. The president did not elaborate further.

California Wildfires Kill at Least 13 in Wine Country

Nancy Clayson
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California Wildfires Kill at Least 13 in Wine Country

At least 13 people have been killed by fast-spreading fires that are ravaging parts of California’s wine region.

Mass evacuations have been ordered in the region after 1,500 properties were destroyed and a state of emergency was declared in northern areas.

About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in response to some California’s worst-ever wildfires.

Such fires are more common in southern California but a combination of dry weather and strong winds has fuelled the destruction in the north.

On October 10, Cal Fire officials said that 17 wildfires in nine counties have burned more than 115,000 acres in just the past 12 hours.

California Governor Jerry Brown said: “These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents.”

Image source Wikimedia

California Wildfires 2015: Thousands of Residents Forced to Leave Their Homes

California wildfires spark evacuations

California Sand Fire: Wildfires Prompt Evacuations Near Los Angeles

On October 9, the governor appealed to President Donald Trump in a five-page letter to declare a major disaster and send federal emergency aid to the fire-ravaged state.

Meanwhile, in southern California, a separate wildfire burnt 24 homes or other buildings in the wealthy Anaheim Hills area of Orange County, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.

The fires – considered among the deadliest in state history – have sent smoke as far south as San Francisco, located about 60 miles away.

A new fire is reportedly burning near the Oakmont area of Santa Rosa, a city that has already been devastated by the blazes.

Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the city by flames so hot that glass melted on cars.

Details of how the seven people died in Sonoma were not immediately available, but country sheriff Rob Giordano said he expected the death toll to rise.

“There is a lot of burned homes and a lot of burned areas, so it’s just logical that we’re gonna find more people,” he said.

Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley.

Sonoma County officials said they had received more than 150 missing-person reports by Tuesday.

Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight.

Wineries belonging to the rich and famous were abandoned. One belonging to musician Dave Matthews was closed and at risk of being burned to the ground, staff said, as was the nearby Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked.

It is not yet known how the fires started on October 8, but such blazes are particularly fast-spreading because of a combination of 60mph winds, low humidity and hot, dry weather.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bYu649MuQo

Melania Trump Firing Back at Ivana Trump’s First Lady Comments

Lisa.Felice
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Melania Trump Firing Back at Ivana Trump’s First Lady Comments

First Lady Melania Trump has responded through a spokeswoman to the president’s ex-wife Ivana, who claimed during an ABC’s Good Morning America interview that she is the actually the first lady.

Melania Trump’s spokeswoman described comments made by Ivana Trump as “attention seeking and self-serving noise”.

Ivana Trump told GMA she was “basically first Trump wife, I’m first lady”.

Donald Trump’s ex-wife said she had a direct line to the White House but did not want to “cause any kind of jealousy”.

Ivana Trump is promoting her book Raising Trump, to be released on October 10.

She was married to Donald Trump in 1977 but they divorced in the 1990s over his affair with Marla Maples, who became his second wife.

Ivana and Donald Trump had three children – Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric Trump.

She described President Trump as a dad: “He was not the father which would take a stroller and go to Central Park.”

Image source Wikipedia

NYT Reporter Jacob Bernstein Apologizes for Melania Trump Comments

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Melania Trump Rejects Claims She Violated Immigration Laws

Ivana Trump also told GMA she spoke to her former husband about once a fortnight.

“I have the direct number to White House, but I no [sic] really want to call him there because Melania is there,” she said.

“I don’t want to cause any kind of jealousy or something like that because I’m basically first Trump wife. I’m first lady, OK?”

First Lady Melania Trump responded with a barbed statement through her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham.

The statement read: “Mrs. Trump has made the White House a home for [their son] Barron and The President.

“She loves living in Washington, DC and is honored by her role as First Lady of the United States. She plans to use her title and role to help children, not sell books.

“There is clearly no substance to this statement from an ex. Unfortunately only attention seeking and self-serving noise.”

The exchange is thought to be the only public row between a first lady and a president’s former wife.

Before Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan was the only divorcee president.

2017 Nobel Prize for Economics Awarded to Richard Thaler

James J. Williams
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2017 Nobel Prize for Economics Awarded to Richard Thaler

This year’s Nobel Prize for Economics has been awarded to American economist Richard Thaler, one of the founding fathers of behavioral economics.

Prof. Richard Thaler, of Chicago Booth business school, co-wrote the global best seller Nudge, which looked at how people make bad or irrational choices.

Judges said Richard Thaler, 72, had demonstrated how “nudging” – a term he coined – may help people to exercise better self-control.

He will receive 9 million Swedish krona from the committee.

“I will try to spend it as irrationally as possible!” Richard Thaler said.

Image source Wikimedia

2017 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

2017 Nobel Prize In Literature Awarded to English Author Kazuo Ishiguro

One of the Nobel prize judges, Per Stroemberg, said Prof. Richard Thaler’s work had explored how human psychology shaped economic decisions.

“Richard Thaler’s findings have inspired many other researchers coming in his footsteps and it has paved the way for a new field in economics which we call behavioural economics,” Per Stroemberg said.

The panel said Prof. Richard Thaler’s insights helped people to recognize marketing tricks and avoid bad economic decisions.

In particular, his work looked at how to “nudge” people into doing more long-term planning, such as saving for a pension.

Richard Thaler also made a cameo appearance in the Hollywood movie, The Big Short, explaining the complex financial instruments that led to the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008.

It is the final Nobel to be announced this year, after prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace were awarded last week.

The economics prize is the only Nobel not created by Alfred Nobel, and was instead launched in 1968, long after the philanthropist’s death.

To date the US has dominated the prize, with American economists accounting for roughly half of laureates since it started. Between 2000 and 2013, American academics won or shared the prize every year.

Venezuela Crisis: Argentine Airlines Becomes Latest Carrier to Suspend Flights to Caracas

Clyde K. Valle
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Venezuela Crisis: Argentine Airlines Becomes Latest Carrier to Suspend Flights to Caracas

Argentine Airlines is the latest carrier to suspend flights to Venezuela.

The carrier said it had concerns over security in Venezuela because of increasing criminal violence and political uncertainty.

Aerolineas Argentinas joins dozens of airlines who have taken similar action.

IATA, the trade body for the world’s airlines, says Venezuela is becoming increasingly isolated.

The body’s vice-president, Peter Cerdá, said last week: “The situation has become increasingly difficult, most of IATA’s members have left Venezuela. There are only six or seven carriers left operating a very low flight frequency.

“Venezuela is becoming disconnected, it’s practically disconnected from the rest of the world, above all by air, and we can’t see any solution in the short term.”

Since 2003 Venezuela has operated a series of currency exchange controls managed by the government.

Image source Wikimedia

US Extends Travel Ban to North Korea, Venezuela and Chad

Venezuela Crisis: Conductor Gustavo Dudamel Confirms US Tour Cancelation

Venezuela Crisis: The Impact of Civil War?

Airline companies have been attempting for years to change the local bolivar currency it receives when it sells tickets in Venezuela into dollars.

However, the government strictly controls the amount of foreign currency it allows onto the market.

Peter Cerdá said passenger traffic in Venezuela had dropped by 75% in the last four years.

Most of the airlines that have left reported disputes with the Venezuelan government over unpaid contracts and worries over crew safety.

In August 2017, the president of the Panamanian airline Copa, Pedro Heilbron, told AFP that the company would continue to operate in Venezuela despite the difficulties.

He said: “We are becoming practically the only operator in the market but our intention is not to leave, not to abandon the market in Venezuela.”

Pedro Heilbron said Copa crews would not stay the night in Venezuelan cities.

American airlines United and Delta, and the Colombian airline Avianca, suspended flights to Venezuela this year. Lufthansa left in 2016.

Between 2014 and 2015, Air Canada, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Lan, Tam, and Gol suspended their flights to Venezuela.

US and Turkey Mutually Suspend Most Visa Services Following Diplomatic Row

Diane A. Wade
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US and Turkey Mutually Suspend Most Visa Services Following Diplomatic Row

The US and Turkey have become embroiled in a consular row, mutually suspending most visa services.

The Turkish embassy in Washington said it needed to “reassess” the US government’s commitment to the security of the mission and personnel.

A very similar statement was earlier made by the US embassy in Ankara.

This comes after a US consulate worker in Istanbul was held last week on suspicion of links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed for the 2016 failed coup in Turkey.

The US condemned the move as baseless and damaging to bilateral relations.

According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency, the arrested consulate employee was a male Turkish citizen.

Image source Wikimedia

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Turkey Referendum Result: Donald Trump Congratulates Recep Tayyip Erdogan on His Victory

Dutch Citizens Warned over Travel to Turkey

In its statement on October 8, the Turkish embassy in Washington said: “Recent events have forced the Turkish government to reassess the commitment of the government of the US to the security of the Turkish mission facilities and personnel.

“In order to minimize the number of the visitors to our diplomatic and consular missions in the US while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all visa services regarding the US citizens at our diplomatic and consular missions in the US.

“This measure will apply to sticker visas as well as e-visas and border visas.”

The Turkish’s embassy statement is virtually the same as the earlier American one, with only country names being replaced.

The American mission said that “all non-immigrant visa services at all US diplomatic facilities in Turkey” had been suspended.

Non-immigrant visas are issued to those travelling to the US for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.

Those seeking citizenship or permanent residency apply for US immigrant visas.

Turkey has for months been pressing the US to extradite Fethullah Gulen over his alleged role in the coup attempt in July 2016.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Fethullah Gulen of instigating the unrest – a charge the cleric denies.

In the aftermath of the coup attempt, which was led by military officers, 40,000 people were arrested and 120,000 sacked or suspended.

Nelly Arrested on Second Degree Rape Charge

Lisa.Felice
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Nelly Arrested on Second Degree Rape Charge

Nelly has been arrested in Auburn after a woman accused him of raping her on his tour bus following a concert near Seattle.

Auburn police said they arrested the rapper after a woman called emergency services at 03:48 to report an assault.

Nelly strongly denies the allegations and has now been released.

The artist tweeted: “I have not been charged… therefore no bail was required.

“I was released, pending further investigation.”

Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., tweeted that he was “beyond shocked that I have been targeted with this false allegation”.

“I am completely innocent,” the artist said.

“I am confident that once the facts are looked at, it will be very clear that I am the victim of a false allegation.”

Image source WIkimedia

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Shailene Woodley Arrested During Dakota Access Pipeline Protest

Namewee Arrested In Malaysia for Insulting Islam

According to TMZ, Nelly was taken into custody on a second degree rape charge.

In a statement, the artist’s lawyer also described the allegation as “completely fabricated”.

Scott Rosenblum said in a statement: “Our initial investigation clearly establishes this allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness.”

Nelly, 42, is best known for his No 1 hits Hot in herre and Dilemma, but has not released new music for a number of years.

In 2015, the rapper was arrested on felony charges after police found drugs and guns on board his tour bus.

He is currently on tour with the Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line, and performed in Auburn on October 6.

The bus was parked near a local Walmart at the time of the alleged incident. A police statement said they were continuing to investigate.

Nelly was due to perform on the Smooth Stadium Tour in Ridgefield near Portland on October 7.

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

Hurricane Nate Hits Louisiana and Mississippi

Nancy Clayson
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Hurricane Nate Hits Louisiana and Mississippi

Hurricane Nate has it the Gulf Coast bringing strong winds, torrential rain.

The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 85mph, made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana on October 7.

Moving north, Nate made a second landfall at Biloxi, Mississippi.

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and parts of Florida earlier issued warnings and evacuation orders amid fears of rapidly rising sea waters.

Tropical Storm Nate killed at least 25 people in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Honduras.

It then strengthened to a category one hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale as it headed towards the US.

Although not as strong as last month’s Maria and Irma, officials had warned Nate was a fast-moving storm that could bring flooding to low-lying areas.

On October 7, President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Louisiana, allowing the state to seek federal help with preparation and possible relief efforts.

Image source Wikimedia

Tropical Storm Nate Kills At Least 22 in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras

Hurricane Maria Leaves Puerto Rico Without Power

Hurricane Irma: Six Died at Florida Nursing Home

In Alabama, Republican Governor Kay Ivey urged residents in areas facing heavy winds and storm surges to take precautions.

Five ports along the Gulf Coast were closed to shipping as a precaution.

Most oil and gas platforms in the US Gulf of Mexico evacuated their staff and stopped production ahead of the storm.

In an update at 03:00 GMT, the NHC said a hurricane warning was in effect for the “mouth of the Pearl River to the Alabama-Florida border”.

Evacuation orders were put in place for some low-lying areas.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency ahead of the hurricane, saying more than 1,000 National Guard troops had been mobilized with a number sent to New Orleans to monitor the drainage pumps there.

A mandatory curfew from 18:00 local time was in place in New Orleans, where residents from areas outside the city’s levee system were evacuated.

A tropical storm warning is currently in effect for New Orleans.

The NHC said that Hurricane Nate “is expected to weaken quickly after landfall, and it is likely to become a tropical storm on October 8.

“It should degenerate into a remnant low late Monday.”

Nate went past Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – home to the popular beach resorts of Cancun and Playa del Carmen – on Friday night as it headed north, the NHC said.

Nate caused heavy rains, landslides and floods which blocked roads, destroyed bridges and damaged houses as it tore through central America.

At least 13 people died in Nicaragua, eight in Costa Rica, three in Honduras and one in El Salvador.

The tail of the storm is still causing problems in the region, where thousands have been forced to sleep in shelters and some 400,000 people in Costa Rica were reported to be without running water.

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

2017 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

James J. Williams
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2017 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has been awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Geneva-based group was formed in 2007 and inspired by a similar campaign to ban the use of landmines.

As a coalition of hundreds of NGOs from across the world, they have highlighted the humanitarian risk of nuclear weapons.

The group’s 10 years of advocacy helped pave the way for the introduction of a UN treaty banning the weapons, which was signed this year.

While 122 countries backed the treaty, the talks were notably boycotted by the world’s nine known nuclear powers and the only NATO member to discuss it, the Netherlands, voted against.

Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Nobel committee chair, said: “We live in a world where the risk of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for a long time.”

2015 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet

Nobel Peace Prize 2014: Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi share award

2012 Nobel Peace Prize: European Union awarded for six decades of work in advancing peace

Tensions between President Donald Trump and North Korea have been mounting for several months over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

President Trump is also threatening to withdraw from an agreement which monitors and limits Iran’s nuclear development.

In a statement posted on Facebook, ICAN said the prize “shines a needed light on the path the ban treaty provides towards a world free of nuclear weapons”.

“This is a time of great global tension, when fiery rhetoric could all too easily lead us, inexorably, to unspeakable horror,” the statement read.

“If ever there were a moment for nations to declare their unequivocal opposition to nuclear weapons, that moment is now.”

The number of nuclear weapons worldwide has been steadily decreasing since the 1980s, but none of the world’s nuclear powers have fully disarmed – an ambition set out in the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Nuclear armed nations boycotted the latest talks because they favor working within the NPT’s original framework to reduce stockpiles.

Unlike the NPT, the 2017 treaty explicitly bans nuclear weapons. It calls for signatories not to develop, test or threaten to use the weapons. It also forbids nations from having weapons tactically stationed in their countries from allied partners.

However, so far it has only been acceded to by 53 of the world’s countries including Cuba, Ireland and New Zealand.

Trump Administration Rolls Back Free Birth Control Access

Diane A. Wade
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Trump Administration Rolls Back Free Birth Control Access

President Donald Trump has rolled back the access to birth control as his government issued a ruling that allows employers to opt out of providing free birth control to millions of Americans.

The rule allows employers and insurers to decline to provide birth control if doing so violates their “religious beliefs” or “moral convictions”.

About 55 million women benefited from the Obama-era rule, which made companies provide free birth control.

Before taking office, Donald Trump had pledged to eliminate that requirement.

The mandate requiring birth control coverage had been a key feature of ObamaCare – President Obama’s efforts to overhaul the healthcare system.

However, the requirement included a provision that permitted religious institutions to forgo birth control coverage for their employees.

Image source Wikimedia

Supreme Court rules on Hobby Lobby birth control mandate

Philippine Supreme Court backs birth control law defying Catholic Church

Risk of birth defects quadrupled by diabetes

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on October 6 it was important to expand which organizations can opt out and deny free contraceptive coverage.

“We should have space for organizations to live out their religious ideas and not face discrimination because of their religious ideas,” said one HHS official, who did not wish to be named.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, praised the decision as “a landmark day for religious liberty”.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Women’s Law Center have announced that they will sue the federal government over the decision.

In announcing the rule change, HHS officials cited a study claiming that access to contraception encourages “risky s**ual behavior”.

The HHS disputes reports that millions of women may lose their birth control coverage if they are unable to pay for it themselves.

Roger Severino, the director of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, argued that only a small percentage of employers will choose to opt out, and therefore only a limited number of women will be affected.

However, many health policy analysts say employers that do not wish to pay for their employees’ contraceptive coverage will now be able to.

Catalonia Independence: Mossos d’Esquadra Major Josep Lluis Trapero In Madrid Court on Suspicion of Sedition

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia Independence: Mossos d’Esquadra Major Josep Lluis Trapero In Madrid Court on Suspicion of Sedition

Catalonia’s chief of police Josep Lluis Trapero is appearing before a judge in Madrid on suspicion of sedition against the state.

His Mossos d’Esquadra force is accused of failing to protect Spanish national police from protesters ahead of the October 1 independence referendum.

Another Catalan police officer and two leading independence activists are also being questioned as suspects.

Catalonia’s independence vote was declared illegal under Spanish law.

The hearing is taking place at the national criminal court in Madrid. The defendants are accused of failing to help Guardia Civil police tackle thousands of pro-independence protesters outside the Catalan Economy Department in Barcelona on September 20.

According to El Pais, the accusation against the Mossos is extraordinary in post-Franco democratic Spain.

The crime of sedition has been in every Spanish penal code since 1822 and carries a potential prison term of up to 15 years. It amounts to rebellion against state decisions or national security forces.

Image source Wikimedia

Catalonia Independence: Spain’s Constitutional Court Suspends Catalan Parliament’s Session

Catalonia Independence: King Felipe VI of Spain Says Referendum Organizers Put Themselves Outside the Law

Catalonia Independence Referendum: Carles Puigdemont Says Spanish Region Won Right to Statehood

As recently as August the Mossos was being widely praised for quickly tackling the Islamist cell that carried out the Barcelona terror attack in that month.

Following October 1 vote the Catalan regional government says it might unilaterally declare independence within days.

Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy will chair a cabinet meeting to discuss the next moves in the confrontation with Catalonia.

Referendum organizers put the turnout at 42%, with 2.2 million people taking part. They say 90% voted for independence, but have not published final results. There have been several claims of irregularities.

There was violence at polling stations as police, trying to enforce a Spanish court ban on the vote, attempted to seize ballot boxes and disperse voters.

Ryanair Crisis: CEO Michael O’Leary Offers Pilots Better Pay and Conditions to Stay

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Ryanair Crisis: CEO Michael O’Leary Offers Pilots Better Pay and Conditions to Stay

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has offered the airline’s pilots better pay and conditions.

The improved conditions came after Ryanair was forced to cancel thousands of flights in recent weeks.

In a letter to pilots, Michael O’Leary also apologized for changes that caused disruptions to their rotas and urges them not to leave the airline.

The chief executive’s apology came after he accused the pilots of being “full of their own self-importance”.

However, in the letter seen by the Irish Independent newspaper, Michael O’Leary urges pilots to stay with Ryanair “for a brighter future”.

Ryanair has been in crisis after the rota changes – brought about to comply with new aviation rules – led to a shortage of pilots because the airline failed to plan for enough leave.

The airline announced its first wave of 2,100 cancelations in the middle of September, after it rearranged pilots’ rosters to comply with new aviation rules requiring a change in how their flying hours are logged.

Towards the end of September Ryanair announced 18,000 further flights would be canceled over the winter season. These moves affect more than 700,000 passengers.

Image source Wikimedia

Ryanair Cancels Thousands of Flights Due to Shortage of Pilots

Ryanair Accuses Lufthansa and German Government of Air Berlin Conspiracy

Ryanair cancels over 250 flights to France ahead of traffic controllers strike

Ryanair blamed the flight fiasco on its own mistaken decision to force its pilots to take their remaining annual leave before the end of this year, rather than by the end of the financial year next March.

That left the airline without enough pilots to fly all its scheduled flights in September and October.

However, passengers have complained about the short notice of the cancellations and the consumer group Which? said Ryanair’s compensation information was “woefully short”.

Many of Ryanair’s 4,200 pilots had joined unions over the past two weeks over discontent with the disruptions caused by the rota changes.

Michael O’Leary’s letter implored the pilot team not to leave Ryanair and offered them improved terms and working conditions.

The sweeteners included pay increases, loyalty bonus payments, improved rotas and better compensation for pilots forced to work away from their home base.

Michael O’Leary stressed that Ryanair was a “very secure employer” and he emphasized that the airline’s pilots “are the best in the business”.

He asked them not to allow competitor pilots or their unions “to demean or disparage our collective success”.

The Ryanair boss also urged the airline’s pilots not to join “one of these less financially secure or Brexit-challenged airlines”.

Michael O’Leary’s letter asked the pilots to take note of “the recent bankruptcies of Air Berlin, Alitalia and Monarch”, as well as the difficulties faced by another budget airline, Norwegian Air, which has been under pressure to boost its finances.

Build Your Brand By Implementing Proven Digital Advertising Strategies

Dana R
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Build Your Brand By Implementing Proven Digital Advertising Strategies

In today’s world, “brand-building” has become a big term in the marketing sector. Although defined broadly, brand-building is basically about making your product or service line more appealing and attractive to members of the target audience by creating consistent images and ideas around it. This marketing strategy is important because it increases the likelihood that members of your target audience will remember specific details about your product line. Once this happens, they’re more likely to buy your product when given a choice between your brand and a line they’ve never heard of. Digital advertising can play a big role in the brand-building process because it makes your company increasingly visible in the online world. Luckily, there are hundreds of digital advertising techniques you can deploy to make this happen. Here are some of them:

Image source Flickr

Social Media Marketing. 

If you’re serious about optimizing and accelerating the brand-building process in the online domain, get serious about social media marketing. This form of marketing can help you share your brand in a dynamic way because it enables you to connect with people in a casual, light-hearted manner through social channels like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and much more. Another big benefit of social media marketing is that it empowers you to enhance your level of communication with the audience. For example, social media marketing enables you to speak directly with your prospect or client through channels like Twitter. At the same time, a good social media optimization (SMO) campaign will enable you to develop ongoing, back-and-forth communication with the client, thereby putting the relationship-building process in full swing.

An example of a social media marketing strategy you might deploy is Twitter polls. Twitter polls are important and effective because they enable you to learn what the target audience thinks about one or more of the products/services you offer!

Web Design And Development. 

Web design and development is still one of the most important components of a solid brand-building campaign in the digital domain. Site development is important because there are now thousands and thousands of websites flooding the internet. As such, you need to maintain an entertaining, information-rich, or otherwise compelling website to ensure that your organization catches the attention of the individuals who may be interested in your brand. Good web developers possess the knowledge, open-minded attitude, and diverse skill set necessary to put together compelling content, intriguing images, and all of the other site components that set your website apart from what your competitors have constructed. Also know that companies such as 1shopping cart will provide you with ecommerce shopping cart software to help shorten and simplify the client’s experience of selecting products and checking out!

Online Reputation Management.

In addition to tapping into the power of web design and development, make sure that you incorporate online reputation management (ORM) into your digital advertising campaign. ORM is essentially about implementing customized strategies that will limit negative feedback about your brand in the online world. This marketing strategy is immensely important because when numerous people say negative things about your products or level of customer service, you can experience a significant decrease in your conversion rates. This is not what you want, and a good digital marketing team will work with intelligence and expedience to prevent it from happening. One ORM strategy that a digital marketing firm might deploy to ensure that your organization maintains a positive, dynamic online image is asking satisfied clients to write reviews of your brand and post them through internet mediums such as Yelp!

Content Optimization.

Online content is still one of the most important components of the digital advertising process. Specifically, people go online and read through the content about specific brands so that they can develop clear concepts of what certain products and services are all about. If you have compelling, information-rich content that really shares your brand with online audiences in a dynamic way, you can almost count on building a bigger internet audience and experiencing a substantive increase in your conversion rates. Hiring the right team of content writers is the simple key to success with this process, and hundreds and hundreds of digital marketing firms now employ individuals who have extensive experience in this sector.

Start Growing Your Company Online Now!

Four digital strategies that can build your brand in the online realm include social media marketing, web design and development, online reputation management, and content optimization. When you’re ready to really push your brand forward in digital space, begin incorporating these techniques into your marketing plan.

Tropical Storm Nate Kills At Least 22 in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras

Nancy Clayson
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0
Tropical Storm Nate Kills At Least 22 in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras

At least 22 people have been killed in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras as Tropical Storm Nate moves north towards the US.

A state of emergency has been declared in the Central American countries, where more than 20 people are missing.

Nate has caused heavy rains, landslides and floods which are blocking roads, destroying bridges and damaging houses.

In Costa Rica, nearly 400,000 people are without running water and thousands are sleeping in shelters.

At least 8 people have died in the storm there, while another 11 were killed when it moved north and reached Nicaragua, where as much as 15ins of rain had been predicted to fall by the US’s National Hurricane Center.

Three people have been killed in Honduras, including two youths who drowned in a river, and several are reported missing.

One man was also reportedly killed in a mudslide in El Salvador, according to emergency services.

On October 5, all train journeys were suspended and dozens of flights canceled in Costa Rica.

More than a dozen national parks popular with tourists have been closed as a precaution.

Image source Wikimedia

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Nate also caused extensive damage to infrastructure in Nicaragua.

Nicaragua’s VP Rosario Murillo advised people to be cautious in the heavy rains.

“Sometimes we think we think we can cross a river and the hardest thing to understand is that we must wait,” he said on state radio.

“It’s better to be late than not to get there at all.”

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm was expected to move off the eastern coast of Honduras at 23:00 ET on October 5.

Forecasters say Nate will gain strength and become a category one hurricane before it makes landfall on the southern coast of the United States on October 8.

Residents from Florida to Texas have been told to prepare for the storm, which, if it does strike, might be the third major storm to hit the southern coast his year.

Both Texas and Florida are still recovering from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Harvey, which hit the former in August and caused “unprecedented damage”, and Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in Florida in September.

A state of emergency was declared in 29 Florida counties, and in New Orleans in Louisiana.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu told people who live on low-lying ground to evacuate.

He tweeted: “There is no need to panic.

“Be ready and prepare. Get a plan. Prepare to protect your personal property.”

Oil companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico says they are evacuating staff from platforms which lie along the predicted path of Tropical Storm Nate.

2017 Nobel Prize In Literature Awarded to English Author Kazuo Ishiguro

James J. Williams
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2017 Nobel Prize In Literature Awarded to English Author Kazuo Ishiguro

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to the English author Kazuo Ishiguro.

Kazuo Ishiguro, 62, was praised by the Swedish Academy as a writer “who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world”.

His most famous novels The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go were adapted into highly acclaimed films. The novelist was made an OBE in 1995.

Kazuo Ishiguro said the award was “flabbergastingly flattering”.

The author has written eight books, which have been translated into over 40 languages.

Image source Wikimedia

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Kazuo Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954, he moved to England with his family when his father was offered a post as an oceanographer in Surrey.

He read English and philosophy at the University of Kent after a gap year that included working as a grouse beater for the Queen Mother at Balmoral.

Kazuo Ishiguro studied an MA in creative writing at the University of East Anglia, where his tutors were Malcolm Bradbury and Angela Carter.

His thesis became his critically acclaimed first novel, A Pale View of Hills, published in 1982.

Kazuo Ishiguro won the Booker Prize in 1989 for The Remains of the Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFL3zXXhkhI

Catalonia Independence: Spain’s Constitutional Court Suspends Catalan Parliament’s Session

Diane A. Wade
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0
Catalonia Independence: Spain’s Constitutional Court Suspends Catalan Parliament’s Session

Spain’s Constitutional Court has decided to suspend October 9 session of Catalan parliament, in a bid to pre-empt a possible push for independence.

According to the court, such a move would be “a breach of the constitution”.

Earlier PM Mariano Rajoy warned Catalonia’s regional government against declaring independence after a disputed vote on October 1.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont had indicated that he could make such a declaration at next week’s session.

Image source Wikimedia

Catalonia Independence: King Felipe VI of Spain Says Referendum Organizers Put Themselves Outside the Law

Catalonia Independence Referendum: Carles Puigdemont Says Spanish Region Won Right to Statehood

Catalonia Independence Referendum Begins Amid Police Crackdown

The court’s ruling on October 5 upheld a challenge by Catalonia’s Socialist Party, which opposes secession from Spain, and not from the government in Madrid.

Allowing the regional parliament to meet and declare independence, the court said, would violate the rights of the party’s lawmakers.

An earlier ruling by the court aimed at stopping October 1 vote was ignored by Catalonia’s leaders. That challenge to the court had come from Spain’s government, which condemned the referendum as illegal.

Organizers of October 1 vote put the turnout at 42%, with 2.2 million people taking part. They say 90% voted for independence, however they have not published final results. There have been several claims of irregularities.

There was violence at polling stations as police, trying to enforce a Spanish court decision to ban the vote, attempted to seize ballot boxes and disperse voters.

Healthy and Happy- Facts about Healthy Food you didn’t know

Nancy Clayson
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Healthy and Happy- Facts about Healthy Food you didn’t know

A lot of people tend to stick to fads and trends when it comes to diet and a healthy lifestyle. If a celebrity does this miracle workout or eats this “magic bullet” meal, then it automatically becomes a trend that a lot of people follow. Most of the time, these diets do work for a select few individuals.

However, it’s a good thing to keep in mind that these celebrities have personal trainers and their work involves them in getting that hard, chiseled body for a role they are going to portray. A better solution for average people like you and me is that we do research and stick to the facts about the food we consume. Here are some facts that you need to know to ensure that you are living healthy and happy.

Omega-3 and the Good Cholesterol

Burger With Ham Ketchup

Most of the time when people think of cholesterol, they immediately think of greasy burgers, bacon, and other unhealthy treats. Most of them consider cholesterol as bad for the body. However, there are classifications of cholesterol that the body recognizes as healthy.

HDL or High-Density Lipoproteins are the good cholesterol which helps lower the risk of a heart attack. LDL or Low-Density Lipoproteins are the bad cholesterol which increases the risk of heart attacks and obesity. Typically found in deep sea fish such as tuna, Omega-3 is a healthy oil which pairs up with HDL and makes the body more healthy.

Veggies can make you Healthy

Cooked Broccoli Soup

Well, Captain Obvious is right. Eating vegetables does make a person healthy. Admit it, most of us don’t like veggies because of their taste and smell. In reality, behind the awful taste and smell of most vegetables, these plants are packed with vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients.

Eating vegetables does make you healthy, but be sure to check your sources. Pesticide filled crops often defeat the benefits of healthy veggies. When preparing such food, it’s a good idea to wash them before cooking thoroughly. Another foolproof way to avoid such chemicals is by going organic.

Supplements can never replace Food

Spilled Bottle of Yellow Capsule Pills

Although taking supplements is a good way to acquiring vitamins and nutrients, these small pills simply cannot replace the nutritional value of food. It’s a worrying trend that a lot of nutrition enthusiasts insist on Nutritionism. The basics of nutritionism argue that the same nutrients in food are also in supplements.

No amount of supplements can ever replace real, organic food. The taste, the smell, the nutritional values, everything that comes from good-natured food is too good to give up. And no amount of supplements can heal a lifestyle that depends on a bad diet.

Processed food is never good

Sausage on White Plate

Although a lot of processed food often gives us convenience, over-consumption of such food is harmful to us. In fact, during the “processing” of these foods, a lot of essential and healthy components are lost.

Healthy components such as fiber get removed and get replaced with unhealthy trans fat, sugar, and anything refined. Preservatives and other additives such as coloring also are dangerous for the health. When trying to eat healthily, try eating real, organic food.

Takeaway

To be healthy, people need to wise up and try living happily and healthily. By eating healthy and leading a lifestyle that’s free from anything unhealthy, people can begin to feel the rewards of how a person should be in the optimal state.

A lot of times people are misled by some facts and tend to settle on beliefs. However, with a little research and reading, people will find out that being healthy isn’t that difficult to achieve. Get all day health just by eating the right type of food.

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Rebecca Bredow: Michigan Mom Sentenced to 7 Days in Jail for Not Vaccinating Her Son

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Rebecca Bredow: Michigan Mom Sentenced to 7 Days in Jail for Not Vaccinating Her Son

Rebecca Bredow, a mother-of-two from Michigan, has been sentenced to seven days in jail after she refused a judge’s order to have her son vaccinated.

The woman would not let her 9-year-old boy be immunized after initially agreeing with the father to do so.

Rebecca Bredow’s ex-husband has now been awarded temporary primary custody in order to get the boy the jab.

Michigan parents are legally allowed to skip or delay their children’s vaccinations due to personal beliefs.

However, Rebecca Bredow fell foul of the law because she reneged on agreements with her former spouse dating back to November 2016 to have the boy immunized.

On October 4, she was sentenced for contempt of court after flouting a court order last week to have her son vaccinated.

Image source ABC News

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Rebecca Bredow and her ex-husband decided at the time of their child’s birth that they would space out and delay jabs for their son.

The couple separated in 2008, according to ABC News, but they shared parental custody and the father still wanted the boy vaccinated.

Oakland County Court Judge Karen McDonald said that even though Rebecca Bredow was the child’s primary caregiver: “Dad gets a say.”

Rebecca Bredow, from the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, said in court on October 4: “I am an educated vaccine-choice mother.”

She argued that to immunize her son “goes against my beliefs”.

“I would rather sit behind bars standing up for what I believe in, than giving in to something I strongly don’t believe in,” she added.

Anti-vaccination advocates – whose claims have been widely debunked by the medical community – fear the procedure exposes children to harm, and could be the cause of autism.

According to Mlive, child immunization rates in Michigan are among the worst in the nation, ranking 43rd among the 50 US states.

The federal government does not legislate child immunization, only issuing recommendations while leaving requirements to states or local school districts.

If a parent does not comply with a school’s vaccination guidelines, the child is not permitted to attend school and the parent can be jailed for the pupil’s truancy.

Ford to Shift Resources from Traditional Cars to SUV’s and Trucks

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Ford to Shift Resources from Traditional Cars to SUV’s and Trucks

Ford Motor Company’s new president and CEO Jim Hackett has outlined plans which he says will make the car giant “fit” to compete in a changing industry.

Jim Hackett said Ford would shift resources from traditional cars to SUVs and trucks, while investing in electric power and tech services.

Ford will also automate its manufacturing processes more to help to cut costs by $14 billion.

Jim Hackett identified the goals after a 100-day review.

He became Ford’s president and CEO in May, replacing Mark Fields, who had been in the top job for only three years.

During that time, Ford had two of the most profitable years in its history, but the share price drifted lower.

Jim Hackett Replaces Mark Fields as Ford Chief Executive

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Investors have been concerned that Ford is not moving quickly enough in markets such as China and in sectors such as automated cars to fend off competitors, including new ones emerging from Silicon Valley.

Jim Hackett said Ford needs to automate and simplify its production processes and invest $7 billion in its successful products, such as SUVs and light trucks, which have driven US sales this year.

Ford is also planning to make its vehicles more tech-savvy, with 90% of its vehicles sold around the world “built with connectivity” by 2020.

Executives said those features – such as easy compatibility with phones and other devices – would help attract customers to the brand.

They said they also opened opportunities for new lines of business, such as medical transport, ride-hailing and goods delivery.

Ford already operates a shuttle bus service called Chariot in four US cities and is set to expand it further by the end of the year. It said it has signed agreements to work with cities such as Mumbai on transport.

Jim Hackett said Ford had been slow to shift to electrification because of the costs. But it is working on partnerships with companies such as Zotye in China, where the government has called for quotas related to electric car sales.

How to pass the exam if you do not know anything?

James J. Williams
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0
How to pass the exam if you do not know anything?

In fact, the exam is a competition, or you can even say a fight between a person who wants to say something on this topic and the other side, which is all so tired of spitting and gone, but the rigid frameworks do not allow this to happen. And no writing essay service here will help. The student taking the exam is like a gladiator going out to the arena. If a student knows the material firmly enough, then he will not be afraid of anything. A teacher with an experienced ear will hear familiar notes in the story and will understand that this student knows something.

How to prepare cribs?

Worse, when the student knows only the name of the subject. In this case, you can be safe, prepare a crib or other tool that carries the necessary information. Preparing cribs are better for yourself, with thesis writing anything in memory is set aside. When applying for a written exam, auxiliary tools help you better than oral, as you work in writing, and go from the audience.

When passing the exam of any kind, oral or written, you can use the technical means of communication, the benefit of them is now very much. The headset is inserted into the ear, it is not visible from the outside. You just need to have at least a minimum of artistic inclinations, so that a teacher who does not keep up with the trends of the time and watches for the novelties, did not see the behaviour, he is getting ready or listening to something.

Image source Th Blue Diamond Gallery

How to behave on an exam?

With an oral exam, the case goes worse. The main rule of the student at the oral exam is not to lose self-control. There is no such thing as not knowing anything. Any germinal knowledge or general erudition should allow the examiners to enter a conversation with the examiner, prove something to him, talk about this topic and next to the topic. The basic rule of conduct is not silence. Some custom essay writing can sometimes help. They say that the truth is that silence is gold, but no one has grown rich from this. If the examiner started responding to the conversation, you can carefully go back to the home or political theme. It is necessary to try to make the conversation a bit delayed. For the exam, clear timeframes are defined, they can be stretched out, but there are limits, the exam is made up of several people. With the examiner you can and must argue, defend your point of view, it is respect for the interlocutor. Psychologically, it is very difficult to put an unsatisfactory person, with whom you speak on all sorts of topics. It is possible, of course, to stumble upon an impregnable teaching, but this is already an element of failure. The next time it is not worth taking an exam to this type.

You can usually use the old as a world way, to try to cry in the waistcoat teacher, they say, the aunt or woman is ill, some kind of cataclysms in the family and the material remained uneducated. But it rarely works.

There is still the same old way – money. To offer a bribe to the teacher is simply stupid, you can get the effect of a boomerang. It is best to study the environment, and senior students can tell from which side to approach such an issue. There will always be a lively assistant or assistant at the department that will help solve the problem.

All of the above apply to university exams. Examination of a different kind is simply necessary to give it up to itself and without blessing, because from this in the future life depends not only on one’s own. So, it is very important to prepare for the exam during the entire academic semester, since the guarantee of whether you will be able to read it or not will not give anyone. And writing thesis at lectures will help prepare him later.

Catalonia Independence: King Felipe VI of Spain Says Referendum Organizers Put Themselves Outside the Law

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia Independence: King Felipe VI of Spain Says Referendum Organizers Put Themselves Outside the Law

In a rare TV address, King Felipe VI of Spain said Catalonia referendum’s organizers put themselves “outside the law”.

The king said the situation in Spain was “extremely serious”, calling for unity.

Hundreds of thousands of people across Catalonia have been protesting over Spanish police violence during the vote, during which nearly 900 people were hurt.

Catalonia Independence Referendum: Carles Puigdemont Says Spanish Region Won Right to Statehood

Catalonia Independence Referendum Begins Amid Police Crackdown

According to local medical officials, during the vote, 33 police officers were also injured.

In his TV address to the nation, King Felipe said the Catalan leaders who organized the referendum showed their “disrespect to the powers of the state”.

“They have broken the democratic principles of the rule of law.”

“Today, the Catalan society is fractured,” the king said, warning that the poll could put at risk the economy of the wealthy north-eastern region and the whole of Spain.

However, King Felipe stressed that Spain “will overcome difficult times”.

Spain’s central government has described the Catalan referendum as illegal.

Points To Ponder: The Significance of Biohazard Cleanup Services

Nancy Clayson
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Points To Ponder: The Significance of Biohazard Cleanup Services

Crime picture cleanup involves accurate assessment to the place of action to decide the most efficient way to discard affected items without putting a life in danger at present and in coming days. It is better to utilize a biohazard accredited specialist that is well-trained and skilled to clear away blood and other items that have body fluids.

Home materials such as pieces of furniture, carpet, wallpaper, walls, flooring, and much more are taken out and disposed in the appropriate red biohazard bags and disposed at a site controlled by a government entity. Using a garbage can is forbidden for it opposes the law. The state requires that a biohazard cleanup company save documents or records of who discarded the items and where were the items discarded, those documents should only be for 30 years maximum.

Why is cleaning the crime scene hazardous?

Grayscale Photo of Person Holding a Gun

Cleaning up a following a crime scene may look effortless, but it isn’t. You need to be cautious that bloodborne diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, and other fatal diseases may be present. Also, numerous items are sharp which can puncture the skin. Trying to remove a bloodstained bedding may be challenging and may spill blood on the cleaner’s eyes and mouth by accident.

What is the estimated time duration for a crime scene cleanup?

Crime scene cleanup can take between 4 hours and 8 hours, relying upon the severity and the quantity of the workforce used. Some task may take around two days, but it is infrequent.

Should you report to the law enforcement right away?

People Walking on Subway With Lights Turned on

It is highly recommended to report a crime. Investigators perform an important role in solving suicides, brutal crimes, homicides and tragic accidents. The faster you report the crime, the easier the investigators to collect sufficient evidence to get to the outset of things for there is nothing like first-hand evidence.

They will meticulously observe the crime scene before making recommendations. Cleaning the crime scene happens after the investigators have left the scene and always remember to not to clean a crime scene before reporting for it may result in a felony which is punishable by imprisonment for more than a year or worse.

Why should you hire a biohazard cleanup institution?

For homeowners and property managers, reporting a scene such as murder, suicide and much more is the last condition they are prepared to handle. Employees, family members, friends or others who try to body fluid, clean blood, human tissue, decomposing bodies, needles, and much more find this activity mentally overwhelming.

Also, cleaning after a crime is recommended to the cleaning specialist to be in contact with hazardous materials associated with blood and bloodstained materials, tissue and decomposition products. You should be aware that the psychological and physiological drama does not stop when the incident takes place.

Many cleanup specialists who clean up after a scene have to deal with the emotional concerns while meticulously cleaning. If the stress continues, it may lead to the spreading of contamination and expose other people in the crime scene to hazardous pathogens.

Takeaway

A traumatic experience should not be taken easy and must be dealt with right away to prevent stress disorder. It is the same with crime, it must be reported immediately to prevent destroying the crime scene and to avoid the alteration of the pieces of evidence as well. Have the initiative to report to the bureau, and that is it, you have done good enough as a citizen of the state. Leaving the crime scene cleanup to the authorities is the best action to take after reporting.

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Singapore Retains Its Position As Most Lavish Place for Expats to Live

Dana R
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Singapore Retains Its Position As Most Lavish Place for Expats to Live

Photo Credit

When people talk about expats, images of the retired often spring to mind. But there are plenty of reasons why people may move to another country at any point during your life. Embarking on a journey to another country can be extremely daunting, especially if you’re used to having lived in your country of birth for the majority of your life. You can move to almost anywhere you please and the place that you are used to or have been raised in may not be the location that your personality is best suited to. So, always bear in mind that the world is your oyster. There are 195 unique countries out there, each with their own pros and cons. But there are certain countries that retain popularity for expats year after year. Belgium, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Hong Kong all prove amiable choices for various reasons. But for now, let’s focus on Singapore. After all, this area’s benefits are reflected in the soaring prices for expats. According to the Economic Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest league tables, Singapore has retained its position as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates for the fourth year in a row. Here are a few reasons why this investment is entirely worth it!

Picture Source

Accommodation

Singapore is densely populated, so most accommodation is relatively small and majoritively takes the form of high-rise apartments or condos. So, if you are looking for a large family home with a garden, the inner city probably isn’t the place for you. However, you will have more luck in the suburbs. If you’re happy living in a smaller space and frequenting the numerous green spaces that the city has to offer rather than confining yourself to a private backyard, then you could easily fit right into the inner city. There is plenty of housing available, as tower blocks and other highrise developments spring up around the entire city. If you want a privately owned property, you will be able to find one. These increasingly have access to pools, gyms and function rooms on site. Rent is typically high, as land is high demand, especially in the city centres or desirable neighbourhoods such as Orchard Road and Holland Village. However, you can lower the cost by making the most of an HDB (or government owned) property. For more information on hdb resale price, check out this page of Singapore property news.

Safety

High costs of living in this Singapore fall down to more than high demand on space alone. The island has surprisingly low crime rates, making it an extremely safe place to live. Though there aren’t all that many police officers and police cars about, you can feel comfortable walking the streets. In the whole of 2016, there were just over 30,000 crimes committed by a population of more than five million and the majority of crime in the area remain commercial offences over the internet. Already low crime rates concerning violent or serious property offences, housebreaking, theft, and unlicensed money lending harassment have decreased, and risks of terrorism are some of lowest in the world. One area of safety to watch out for is road safety, as pedestrians and cyclists do not have right of way on the roads. You should also use dedicated crossings to make your way from one side of the road to another. Bear in mind that cyclists may use the pavement and as pavements are often narrow (for the sake of sparing space), you should be extra wary when walking. However, Singapore are trialling new safety measures, such as flashing pavements at crossing spaces.

Health Care

Healthcare in Singapore is astounding. It ranks sixth in the World Health Organisation’s ranking of health care systems! It largely falls under the jurisdiction of Singapore Government’s Ministry of Health, which places strict rules on compulsory savings, subsidies and price controls in order to ensure that it is accessible and affordable. Sadly, there is no free healthcare system, so you will have to pay for treatment, however, this is mainly to reduce overuse of the healthcare system rather than being instated purely as a means of profit. If you have the means available to you, you can make use of the completely private sector in Singapore, which will reduce waiting times for surgery and other procedures dramatically. All in all, any healthcare experience that you may have in Singapore is more likely than not to be positive.

Transport

As aforementioned, you should be wary when cycling or walking in Singapore. However, the road networks and public transport systems are extremely well developed. Public transport is surprisingly cheap, and new links are being regularly built. Taking taxi cabs is also an affordable option. If you plan on driving, you are looking at spending more cash. There are heavy customs fees, high taxes and insurance generally cost a lot. To add to this, there are high parking fees and toll charges. However, with the brilliant public transport available, this isn’t absolutely necessary and could just be seen as an optional extra.

singapore

Image Source

Things to Do

There’s a multitude of things to do year round in Singapore, so whatever your tastes or interests, there will be something to please you. If you’re into art, the state has a national art week in January, consisting of over one hundred individual and distinct events including art fairs, gallery openings, art walks, and interactive exhibits. Specialist talks inform you of Singapore’s art history as well as the direction that local art is taking in the present day. Other cultural days out can see you immerse yourself in nature. Singapore’s Botanic Gardens are a UNESCO world heritage site and rightfully so: over 60,000 plant species make it a paradise for anyone in touch with nature and the natural world. The orchid gardens are beautiful beyond belief and there are rubber seedlings that have come on leaps and bounds since their transportation to Singapore from London’s Kew Gardens. Occasionally free concerts are held in the park too! If music is more your thing, you may want to check out ZoukOut, one of Asia’s largest music festivals. This expansive outdoor beach party draws DJs and music fans from around the world and is commonly referred to as Singapore’s biggest party. Techno, trance and hip-hop combine to put together one of the most exciting weekends you could wish to be a part of. For partygoers, the city’s nightlife is amongst the best. Zouk (the club which inspired the name of ZoukOut festival) is Singapore’s central nightclub and revellers can’t seem to get enough of it. If you prefer alternative sounds, head over to hipster bar Blu Jaz Cafe in the Kampong Glam Area. Upstairs you can find hip-hop, jungle and unique events. More casual drinkers who want a tasty beverage in a more laid back atmosphere have a whole host of options too. Bespoke cocktail bars are springing up around the city. Some require reservations, while others are more relaxed, allowing you to walk right in, so always call up before heading out to reduce chances of disappointment or being turned away.

Holidays

There are numerous festivities throughout the year in Singapore. Chinese New Year is one of the biggest and falls early in the year, between January and February (as it runs on a lunar cycle). Many individuals celebrate by meeting up with family and friends for steamboat dinners and offering loved ones ang boa (red pockets containing money). There is also an annual celebration called River Hongboa, which is an exciting festival held on the floating platform at Marina Bay. The Chingay Parade, filled with stilt walkers and other costumed performers is also one to watch out for. Later in the year in September, the mid-Autumn festival sees people gather together to celebrate the harvest by carrying lanterns and eating traditional mooncakes. If you’re a big fan of Christmas, don’t fret. The event is just as big in Singapore as any other celebration. While there’s no chance of real snow and reindeers are highly unlikely, but you will definitely be able to get plenty of gingerbread, mulled wine and other festive treats at the city’s Christmas Wonderland. This beautiful array of over 20,000 lights is set up near the world renowned Garden by the Bay draws in around 1.6 million people visiting the event each and every year. An astounding ice palace is home to a rink and has a snow playground too! So the region’s warm and humid weather won’t stop you from getting your dose of frosty fun. These are just a few of the varied holidays and festivities. Singapore is extremely multicultural, so there are many more celebrations to be experienced!

As you can see, Singapore has so many benefits. It’s not surprising that so many people place it top of their list of places to live. Its rich culture, history and constantly expanding and improving structure see it becoming highly desirable. So if you’re considering a move, start looking sooner rather than later.

Cuba Sonic Attack: US Expels 15 Cuban Diplomats

Diane A. Wade
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0
Cuba Sonic Attack: US Expels 15 Cuban Diplomats

Fifteen Cuban diplomats have been expelled from the US after Havana failed to protect US diplomats from mysterious acoustic attacks.

The Cuban personnel have been given seven days to leave.

The State Department’s move follows last week’s US withdrawal of more than half of its own diplomats from the Cuban capital.

Nearly two dozen US personnel have suffered ill health after unexplained attacks in Havana.

Image source Wikipedia

Cuba Sonic Attack: US Withdraws Embassy Staff

Cuba Sonic Attack: State Department Reveals Details of Suspected Acoustic Attack on US Diplomats

Cuba Mystery Illness: Canadian Diplomat Treated for Hearing Loss and Headaches

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement on October 3: “The decision was made due to Cuba’s failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention. This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations.”

At least 21 people working at the US’s embassy in Havana have reported health problems, ranging from mild brain trauma and deafness to dizziness and nausea.

Earlier reports suggested sonic attacks were to blame, but nothing has been proven.

Havana denies targeting embassy staff, and the US has not blamed the Cuban government for the suspected attacks.

Rex Tillerson added in his latest statement: “We continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba, and will continue to co-operate with Cuba as we pursue the investigation into these attacks.”

MH 370: Australian Investigators Deliver Final Report on Missing Flight

Diane A. Wade
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MH 370: Australian Investigators Deliver Final Report on Missing Flight

The final report into missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 has been released by the Australian investigators.

The report is saying it is “almost inconceivable” the aircraft has not been found.

MH370 disappeared in 2014 while flying to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board.

The search for the plane, also involving Malaysia and China, was called off in January after 1,046 days.

Australian searchers said they “deeply regretted” it had not been found.

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MH370: Debris Found in Mozambique Almost Certainly Came from Missing Plane

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said on October 3: “It is almost inconceivable and certainly societally unacceptable in the modern aviation era with 10 million passengers boarding commercial aircraft every day, for a large commercial aircraft to be missing and for the world not to know with certainty what became of the aircraft and those on board.

“Despite the extraordinary efforts of hundreds of people involved in the search from around the world, the aircraft has not been located.”

Their report reiterated estimates from December and April that the Boeing 777 was most likely located 25,000 sq km (9,700 sq miles) to the north of the earlier search zone in the southern Indian Ocean.

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