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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty has died in California aged 66, a statement issued on behalf of his family has announced.
Tom Petty was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest at his Malibu home on October 3.
The singer was taken to hospital, but could not be revived and died later that evening.
He was best known as the lead singer of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers rock band, producing such hits as American Girl, Breakdown, Free Fallin’, Learning to Fly and Refugee.
His long-time manager Tony Dimitriades said: “He died peacefully at 20:40 Pacific time surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”
Tom Petty was also a co-founder of the Traveling Wilburys group in the late 1980s, touring with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and George Harrison.
“It’s shocking, crushing news,” said Bob Dylan, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“I thought the world of Tom. He was great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.”
Tom Petty also found solo success in 1989 with his album Full Moon Fever, which featured one of his most popular songs Free Fallin’, co-written with Jeff Lynne.
In 2002, Tom Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The musician was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1950.
According to legend, Tom Petty decided to become a musician after shaking Elvis Presley’s hand in the 1950s. He traded his slingshot for a box of records and never looked back.
At the age of 17, Tom Petty dropped out of school to join Mudcrutch with future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench.
The band learned their craft by listening to pop radio, he once told NPR.
In the early 1970s, they moved to Los Angeles in the hope of finding a record contract. Tom Petty succeeded, but the band fell apart soon after.
It was not until 1975 that the musicians reunited and The Heartbreakers were formed. The quintet released their self-titled debut a year later.
If you are a fan of walking, you might be well aware of the many possible dangers of doing so. No matter where you are walking to, or even if you just like walking for the sake of it, you need to make sure that you are considering the safety aspects of it at all times. If you do not, then you might well find that you are the victim of an unfortunate circumstance. Every day, there are walking injuries and accidents the world over, and much of it is the result of a lack of awareness about the best way to avoid such a thing occurring. In this post, we are going to look at some of the rules of walking in safety – no matter where you might be walking to or from.
If you are walking alongside a road, you should always face against the flow of traffic. This is important for a number of reasons. For a start, it obviously means that you can see any oncoming vehicles, so you can be more likely to move out of the way if they are coming towards you quite fast. But it also means of course that they can see you more easily, and this means they are more likely to get out of the way in time. Both of you can take evasive action much more swiftly, and that could even save your life one day.
Walk Single File
If you are walking in busy areas or near roads at all, it is always best to walk in single file. This makes a difference in a number of ways. Most of all, it ensures that you are safer as a group should any vehicle come around a sharp bend or corner at a high speed. Drivers will not expect to see you walking hand in hand with someone, and it is more likely that it will cause a crash, so you should try to ensure that you are single file for as much of the roadside walk as possible. This will ensure that you are all as safe as possible, and then after you have got past the road you can walk side by side again.
While this is particularly important at night, it is also fair to say that it is almost always a good idea anyway. If you wear reflective material, everyone will be able to see you much more easily, and this will mean that drivers and other people alike will have much more of a chance of getting out of the way in time. At night this is especially important, but even during the day wearing high-visibility gear is going to make a difference to how likely you are to go unharmed. There is another important reason to ensure you wear the proper gear at all times. If anything happens and you find you need to get in touch with pedestrian accident lawyers at Kelly & Soto Law, you will also want to be able to show that you were upholding your own part of the safety laws.
Use A Flashlight At Night
If you are walking at night, you must make sure that you don’t go out without a flashlight. Even if the area you intend to walk is littered with streetlights, having your own source of light is going to make a huge difference. The more powerful, the better, but you also need to think about where you are showing it, especially if you are walking along a road. While it can help drivers to spot you more easily, you need to make sure that you are not doing anything to shine it in their eyes, as this can actually very easily cause a crash. As long s you are careful with it however, this is one of the most important items you can possibly carry with you as you go walking at night.
You need to do everything you can to stay as aware of your present situation as possible at all times. This means not drowning out the sound of the world with earphones, as you cannot then hear approaching traffic around bends and so on. It also means keep your eyes peeled – and unless it is inordinately sunny, leave your sunglasses at home. The more aware you are with all the senses, the more you will be able to remain safe and well while still enjoying your walk as much as possible.
Nissan has unveiled a prototype sweat-sensing car seat which it says could help prevent road accidents.
The new technology, called Soak, changes color if perspiration is high in salt, suggesting dehydration.
Image source Wikimedia
Previous research by the European Hydration Institute and Loughborough University found that dehydrated drivers were as error-prone as those who had drunk alcohol.
There are currently no plans to bring Soak into production.
The sweat-sensitive coating, which was developed with Dutch design company Droog, is also applied to the steering wheel and changes it and the front seats from blue to yellow to signal dehydration.
According to recent reports, the death toll of the last night mass shooting in Las Vegas has risen to 58.
More than five hundreds have been also injured after a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest festival.
The gunman, named as 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel towards the open-air music festival attended by 22,000.
Stephen Paddock killed himself as police stormed the room where 10 guns were found.
Investigators have found no link to international terrorism, despite a claim from ISIS.
FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse told a news conference: “We have determined at this point no connection to an international terrorist organization.”
ISIS had claimed to be behind the attack, saying that Stephen Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago.
However, ISIS provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.
In an address from the White House, President Donald Trump described the attack as “pure evil”.
The president praised the efforts of the emergency services, saying their “miraculous” speed saved lives, and announced he would be visiting Las Vegas on October 4.
The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history.
Stephen Paddock’s motives remain unclear. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a “lone wolf” attack.
“We have no idea what his belief system was,” Joe Lombardo said.
According to a police statement, the shooting began at 22:08 local time on October 1. Stephen Paddock came from the small town of Mesquite, some 60 miles north-east of Las Vegas, and had resided in the hotel since September 28.
Police in Mesquite have searched Paddock’s premises and recovered a number of weapons. However, they say he had not crossed paths with the police in the past. A second property has also been searched.
Las Vegas police say the number of people injured now stands at 515.
Among those killed was an off-duty police officer.
Earlier, police announced they were seeking a woman, Marilou Danley, in connection with the shooting.
In his latest update, Sheriff Joe Lombardo said she had now been located outside the US and was not thought to have played any role.
Marilou Danley is believed to have lived with Stephen Paddock, and Sheriff Lombardo said he used some of her identity documents to check in to the hotel.
Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were fired.
Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos posted on social media.
Many hotels on the Las Vegas Strip close to the scene remained on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut.
People sheltered in hotels, restaurants and at Las Vegas McCarran airport.
The Route 91 Harvest festival had been taking place since September 29 at several hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.
Jason Aldean, who was rushed off stage when the shooting started, shared on Instagram that he was safe but heartbroken and did not know what to say.
“Tonight has been beyond horrific,” the country music singer wrote.
“It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”
Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the US.
People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner.
Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately.
The two women suspected of murdering Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, have pleaded not guilty at their trial in Malaysia.
The brazen nature of Kim Jong-nam’s killing, using the highly toxic VX nerve agent as he waited for a flight at Kuala Lumpur airport in February, shocked the world.
Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, and Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, are accused of rubbing the chemical on Kim Jong-nam’s face.
Doan Thi Huong and Siti Aisyah say it was a TV prank and they were tricked by North Korean agents.
North Korea has denied any involvement in the killing, but in court prosecutors said that four men – believed to be four North Koreans who fled Malaysia on the day of murder – were also charged in the case.
The incident led to a bitter diplomatic row and strained the once cordial ties between North Korea and Malaysia, which expelled each other’s ambassadors.
The trial has been eight months in the making and the two women are the only suspects actually charged so far with the murder of Kim Jong-nam.
After the charges were read to them in court in Indonesian and Vietnamese, the two women entered their pleas through interpreters.
If found guilty, the women face the death penalty. Their defense lawyers are likely to argue that the real culprits are North Korean agents, who left Malaysia.
However, in his opening remarks, the prosecutor said he aims to prove that the women, along with four people still at large, had the “common intention” to kill Kim Jong-nam.
The prosecutor said the women had carried out practice runs in Kuala Lumpur shopping malls before the attack, under the “supervision” of the four people, who were not named in court.
Dozens of witnesses, including airport staff who came into contact with Kim Jong-nam, are expected to take the stand in the trial which will run for weeks.
The murder is notable for its sheer audacity, taking place as it did mid-morning in full view of security cameras at Kuala Lumpur’s airport.
On February 13, the two women were seen threading through crowds of people and accosting Kim Jong-nam, before rubbing their hands on his face.
Then there was the speed with which Kim Jong-nam died. Immediately after the attack he sought help from airport staff, who led him to a clinic, but he collapsed and died just minutes later.
After a post-mortem examination, Malaysian authorities announced Kim Jong-nam had been killed by VX, a toxin so lethal that it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations.
The two women, who were arrested days after the killing, have insisted that they were tricked by North Koreans into taking part in what they thought was a TV prank. Four North Korean men who fled Malaysia shortly after the incident are believed to suspects. In March, Interpol issued “red notices” for the North Koreans arrest.
Malaysia has named and questioned other North Koreans in relation to the case.
However, authorities also allowed three of them to leave the country in late March, in return for North Korea releasing nine Malaysian diplomats and their families.
Kim Jong-nam, who was in his mid-40s, was the estranged older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
At the time of his death, Kim Jong-nam was believed to have been living in self-imposed exile in Macau and was thought to have had some links to China.
Getting a cochlear implant (CI) helps deaf people improve their hearing. The surgery is not meant to restore your sense of hearing, but to improve it so you can have a simpler life experience. A team of professionals will assess your condition and decide whether or not the procedure will be suitable for you. Also, they will advise you on what to expect.
The procedure involves the implanting of electrical devices that convert sound to electrical stimulation. That way, a deaf person can have the sensation of hearing. The procedure has been highly controversial, although it still comes with its advantages.
How do the Implants Work?
The cochlear is the inner part of the ear and is filled with fluid. It also has small hairs that move in response to sound waves.
Each of these hairs responds to sounds at specific frequencies, and the signals are transferred to the brain for interpretation. Deaf people have this system damaged, but the implants work similarly. The surgery will involve the insertion of a small sound processor that converts noises to digital stimulations.
The converted signals are then sent to a cochlear in which many electrodes have been implanted in the place of the tiny hairs. Each of these electrodes will respond to specific sound frequencies, and the results are interpreted in the brain.
Pros of undergoing a CI Surgery
1) Improves your Hearing
Once you find a doctor, you will be advised on how effective the implants will be. Cochlear Implants improve your hearing, even though they don’t fix it completely. In an environment with little noise, you will enjoy communicating with people without necessarily having to use sign language. In addition to the implants, reading lips will make communication easier.
2) Helps to Prevent Danger
Sounds in nature, on the streets, and even at home help to signal danger. For example, a car coming towards you will honk in an attempt to get your attention. With the implants, you will stand a better chance of getting the signal and potentially save your life.
3) Allows you to enjoy Melodic Sounds
After undergoing a cochlear implant surgery, you will be able to relax to the music of your choice. Sounds in nature will also improve your general life experience.
4) Can give you access to Education
People with complete loss of hearing have limited opportunities in education and even at work. Many schools will charge you a lot more if you are deaf since the condition warrants special attention.
5) Can allow you greater Employment Opportunities
Some employment opportunities may not suit deaf people well since the condition might affect their performance in the given roles. Some improvement in your hearing will, therefore, allow you to live a complete life with more opportunities.
Cons of undergoing CI Surgery
1) Does not work for Everybody
The procedure is not recommended for people who were born deaf since they will find it harder to find the meaning of different sounds.
However, it still does not work well for everyone who became deaf at some point in their lives. It is still hard for doctors to predict the success of their procedures. Some work incredibly well, while others become almost useless. That said, most of the procedures have been successful.
2) It might make People forget about your Condition
Some people will imagine that your condition is gone and that you are now normal, just because you got a CI surgery. That will affect your interactions and general life experience since they will stop making efforts in effectively getting messages across to you. In fact, many patients can only get the sound signals in silent rooms.
3) Is very Expensive
Cochlear Implants are very expensive and are well beyond what most people can afford. There is also a good chance that the implants will be a disappointment and all your money will go to waste.
Also, you will need to continuously change the batteries, replace the wires, and cater to many maintenance costs. It is worth noting that some insurance programs cover the cost of the surgery.
4) The Technology is still underdeveloped
The technology used in this procedure is quite poor. If there are many background noises, a person with CI will not be able to engage in a conversation. This is because the electrodes can send signals to the brain through the same neural populations.
As a result, a lot of confused interpretation will occur in the brain, therefore, making communication harder. That said, scientists are working on improving the technology, and we should see improvements in the near future.
5) Requires Maintenance
The batteries and wires need to be occasionally changed. You also need to remap the sound processor.
Conclusion
Sean Forbes is a 35-year old man who makes rap music, despite being deaf. He has been deaf since he was just a few months old, but none of that is stopping him from living his dream.
Cochlear implants are highly controversial among deaf people. The technology has helped many deaf people experience near-normal hearing once again, although the number of unsuccessful procedures is still very high. Ideally, you should go for a cochlear implant surgery if you spent some years of your life with normal hearing.
President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont says the Spanish region has won the right to statehood following a contentious referendum that was marred by violence.
Carles Puigdemont, 54, said the door had been opened to a unilateral declaration of independence.
According to Catalan officials, 90% of those who voted backed independence on October 1. The turnout was 42.3%.
Spain’s constitutional court had banned the vote and hundreds of people were injured as police used force to try to block voting.
Officers seized ballot papers and boxes at polling stations.
Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said Catalans had been fooled into taking part in an illegal vote.
According to Catalan authorities, more than 2.2 million people were reported to have voted, out of 5.3 million registered voters. A Catalan spokesman said more than 750,000 votes could not be counted because polling stations were closed and urns were confiscated.
In a TV address, Carles Puigdemont said: “With this day of hope and suffering, the citizens of Catalonia have won the right to an independent state in the form of a republic.
“My government in the next few days will send the results of today’s vote to the Catalan parliament, where the sovereignty of our people lies, so that it can act in accordance with the law of the referendum.”
He said the EU could no longer “continue to look the other way”.
Meanwhile, PM Mariano Rajoy spoke of a “mockery” of democracy.
“At this hour I can tell you in the strongest terms what you already know and what we have seen throughout this day. There has not been a referendum on self-determination in Catalonia,” he said.
Large crowds of independence supporters gathered in the centre of the regional capital Barcelona on Sunday evening, waving flags and singing the Catalan anthem. Anti-independence protesters have also held rallies in Barcelona and other Spanish cities.
In another development, more than 40 trade unions and Catalan associations called a region-wide strike on October 3 due to “the grave violation of rights and freedoms”.
TV footage showed Spanish police kicking would-be voters and pulling women out of polling stations by their hair.
Catalan medical officials said 844 people had been hurt in clashes, including 33 police. The majority had minor injuries or had suffered from anxiety attacks.
In Girona, riot police smashed their way into a polling station where Carles Puigdemont was due to vote, and forcibly removed those inside. He voted at another station.
TV footage showed riot police using batons to beat a group of firefighters who were protecting crowds in Girona.
The national police and Guardia Civil – a military force charged with police duties – were sent into Catalonia in large numbers to prevent the vote.
The Catalan police – the Mossos d’Esquadra – have been placed under Madrid’s control, however witnesses said they showed little inclination to use force on protesters.
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau condemned police actions against the region’s “defenseless” population, but Spain’s Deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said police had “acted with professionalism and in a proportionate way”.
Catalan authorities said 319 of about 2,300 polling stations across the region had been closed by police while the Spanish government said 92 stations had been sealed off.
Since September 29, thousands of people have occupied schools and other buildings designated as polling stations in order to keep them open.
Many of those inside were parents and their children, who remained in the buildings after the end of lessons on September 29 and bedded down in sleeping bags on gym mats.
The anti-independence Societat Civil said there were voting irregularities, including the same people voting twice.
Catalonia is a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain and has its own language and culture.
However, Catalonia has a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognized as a separate nation under the Spanish constitution.
O.J. Simpson has been released on parole after nine years in a Nevada jail.
The former NFL player had been serving time for armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and 10 other charges over a 2007 confrontation at a Las Vegas hotel.
O.J. Simpson was approved for early parole release at a board hearing in July.
In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.
In a Facebook post, Nevada Department of Corrections released an image and video of O.J. Simpson signing documents and leaving Lovelock Correctional Centre on October 1.
They confirmed the 70-year-old had been released from the facility at 00:08.
O.J. Simpson will face restrictions – including up to five years of parole supervision.
He was sentenced to a maximum 33-year prison sentence in 2008 after storming a Las Vegas hotel room with five others in an effort to seize items from two sports memorabilia dealers.
O.J. Simpson said the belongings, which he described as images of his family and friends, were later handed over to him by officials after they were legally deemed to belong to him.
In 2013, the Nevada Board of Parole granted O.J. Simpson parole on some of his convictions, but not for the more violent charges. In July this year, the former football player was granted parole and approved for release in October.
Bruce Fromong, who was one of O.J. Simpson’s victims in the robbery, testified in favor of him being granted freedom.
O.J. Simpson was found guilty in 2008 exactly 13 years to the day after he was famously acquitted in the double-murder case.
Despite the 1995 not-guilty verdict, a civil court jury held O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman, awarding $33.5 million to their families.
A lawyer representing Ron Goldman’s family told Associated Press this amount had nearly doubled with interest under Californian state law, and that the family would continue to seek payment from O.J. Simpson after his release.
O.J. Simpson has expressed his desire to move to Florida after leaving jail.
On September 27, his lawyer Malcolm LaVergne said that he was feeling “very upbeat” ahead of the release.
Catalonia’s independence referendum has begun despite Spanish police’s attempt to prevent the vote from taking place.
The Spanish government has pledged to stop a vote that was declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court.
The interior ministry says police officers began seizing ballot papers and boxes as the polls opened.
Riot police blocked potential voters from entering a polling station in the regional capital Barcelona.
Thousands of separatist supporters occupied schools and other buildings that have been designated as voting centers ahead of the polls opening.
Many of those inside are parents and their children, who remained in the buildings after the end of lessons on September 29 and bedded down in sleeping bags on gym mats.
In some areas, farmers positioned tractors on roads and in front of polling station doors, and school gates were taken away to make it harder for the authorities to seal buildings off.
Police insisted polling stations would not be allowed to open, and that those inside would be evicted.
On October 1, dozens of national police vehicles left their base in the port of Barcelona as officers were deployed.
Referendum organizers have called for peaceful resistance to any police action.
Catalan government officials have predicted a big turnout.
The ballot papers contain just one question: “Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?” There are two boxes: Yes or No.
Ahead of the polls opening, the Catalan government said voters could use any polling station if their designated voting place was shut.
The referendum has been declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court, and thousands of extra police officers have been sent to the region.
The Spanish government has put policing in Catalonia under central control and ordered the regional force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, to help enforce the ban.
In a show of force ahead of the poll, Spanish authorities have seized voting materials, imposed fines on top Catalan officials and temporarily detained dozens of politicians.
Police have also occupied the regional government’s telecommunications center.
The head of the Catalan police has urged officers to avoid using force.
Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain, has its own language and culture.
It also has a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognized as a separate nation under the Spanish constitution.
Pressure for a vote on self-determination has grown over the past five years.
However, Spanish unionists argue Catalonia already enjoys broad autonomy within Spain, along with other regions like the Basque Country and Galicia.
PM Mariano Rajoy says the vote goes against the constitution, which refers to “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards”.
Central government spokesman Iñigo Mendez de Vigo accused the Catalan government of being inflexible and one-sided, but it is a charge that Catalan nationalists throw back at Madrid itself.
Demonstrations by independence campaigners have been largely peaceful.
On the eve of the vote, thousands of demonstrators calling for Spanish unity held rallies in cities across the country, including in the Catalan capital Barcelona.
They waved Spanish flags and carried banners reading “Catalonia is Spain”.
President Donald Trump has lashed out at Puerto Rico officials over their criticism of US relief efforts on the island following Hurricane Maria.
Hurricane Maria a week ago killed 16 people in Puerto Rico and left millions in need of aid.
In a series of tweets, President Trump said that Puerto Rican officials showed “poor leadership ability” and “want everything to be done for them”.
His comments come after the Mayor of San Juan made a desperate plea for federal help.
In a news conference, Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said: “We have no time for patience any more.
“I am asking the president of the United States to make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives.
“I am done being polite. I am done being politically correct. I am mad as hell.”
The mayor then appeared in a T-shirt that said “Help us, we’re dying” for a CNN interview.
Carmen Yulin Cruz, who is living in a shelter after her home was destroyed, said Puerto Rico is set to be without power for six to eight months after the storm damaged 90% of homes on the island.
More bad weather is in the offing, with the National Weather Service in San Juan warning that a strong thunderstorm would imminently affect the east of the island, with torrential rain and strong winds expected.
Almost half Puerto Rico’s 3.4 million-population is without drinking water, the Defense Department said on September 28.
Efforts are being made on the island to clear road access and restore hospitals to working conditions.
In a series of tweets on September 30, President Trump suggested the mayor had been told “to be nasty to Trump” by his Democratic opposition.
The president also said he would visit Puerto Rico on October 3 with First Lady Melania.
The visit comes after widespread criticism of his administration’s response to the hurricane.
Responding to President Trump’s tweets in an interview, Carmen Yulin Cruz said: “I was asking for help. I wasn’t saying anything nasty about the president.
“I will continue to do what I have to do, say what I have to say, compliment the people that I have to compliment, and call out the people that I need to call out.
“This isn’t about me. This isn’t about anyone. This is about lives that are being lost.”
On September 28, President Trump announced shipping restrictions had been lifted to help provide aid to Puerto Rico.
The US military general in charge of the relief operation said on September 29 that about 4,500 troops were already involved.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said 95% of Puerto Rico remained without power and 55% of people did not yet have access to drinking water, but that most petrol stations had reopened.
Concerns were raised on September 28 that thousands of shipping containers of aid were sitting in a San Juan undistributed. Ground transportation has been hindered by a lack of fuel and blocked roads.
The US navy has deployed a hospital ship and has assigned engineers to repair the island’s damaged power grid, the Department of Defense said on September 29.
Puerto Rico is a US territory but does not have direct voting representation.
Marilyn Manson has been badly injured during a concert in New York when a large prop fell on him on stage.
The prop – apparently two large guns held together with metal scaffolding – fell as the rock star was performing at the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 30.
It appears Marilyn Manson, 48, laid on stage for up to 15 minutes covered by a sheet before he was carried out on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
In videos of the incident posted online, stage crew and band members can be seen lifting the prop off Marilyn Manson but he does not get back up.
A black sheet was put around the singer until he could be taken off stage, when an announcement was made that the show was canceled “due to injury”.
A representative told Rolling Stone magazine: “Manson suffered an injury towards the end of his incredible NYC show. He is being treated at a local hospital.”
Marilyn Manson was three dates into his The Heaven Upside Down Tour. He was due to perform in Boston on October 2.
Debt is a dirty word to a lot of people. In our personal lives, when we think of debt, we think of how to get rid of it as soon as possible. However, in business, you’re playing a financial long game. Sometimes, taking on a little debt is necessary for the long-term financial health of the company. So, how do you live with debt without taking over your life?
Businesses should not be regularly using credit cards for small expenses. It’s an easy way to get caught in a debt trap if your finances take a sudden nose-dive. Rather, all use of credit and loans should be specifically aimed. Reasons to take out a loan include expanding with new real estate, purchasing equipment and inventory, and even to get through periods of poor cash flow. Don’t borrow unless you know exactly why you’re borrowing.
When you borrow, make sure you take very careful note of it. Immediately start budgeting for the payments you’re going to make back, and know how your debts balance with current income and cash flow projections. They should always be on your mind, in part. Otherwise, it’s easier than you think to lose track of them, rack up interest, and get in a dangerous situation.
The better your credit, the better the terms you can expect from loans. However, many people go into business with a line of credit that’s already unhealthy. What are they to do to get back on top of the situation? For one, small business loans for bad credit won’t only help you get the funding you need when you need it. Successfully sticking to the terms of the agreement can help you start building a credit history if you don’t have one, or can improve your score. That will make more favorable loans available to you in future.
It sounds like a given, but the truth is that unless you start learning the habits of responsible credit use, it’s easy to very irresponsible instead. For instance, use accounting software instead of keeping sums by hand so that the figures are always easy to track. Enforce spending limits on any cards you use. Document a spending policy for employees to follow to avoid charges going where they shouldn’t. Most importantly, keep it very strictly business.
Part of living with debt is being aware you have to constantly make moves to reduce it, especially if you use it often. Beyond budgeting to a repayment plan, this might also mean being aware of tools like debt consolidation to help you get more favorable repayment strategies.
Smart borrowing, realistic expectations, and debt-reduction strategies are going to help you be a lot more financially flexible. You’ll be able to invest when otherwise you couldn’t and survive tough times that would otherwise sink you. There are plenty of perks to sharing a business with debt from time to time.
Divorce is never easy for both parents and children. Everyone in the family feels an immense sense of anxiety and loss. The family who falls under the affliction of divorce will no longer be the same. Parents need to settle their own emotions, particularly the occurring guilt they feel towards their children.
While you cannot take away your child’s pain, you can help them deal with the various disappointments that a separation brings. Here are the things you can do.
How To Break the News?
Have a sincere conversation with your children together with your spouse. Then explain that you two are getting a divorce. Don’t try to sugarcoat, speak honestly but don’t include the ugly details.
Confess that the experience will be sad. See to it that your child understands that a divorce is only between the two of you. And repeatedly remind your child that he or she is not the reason for the divorce and that both of your love for him or her didn’t change.
Expect Different Reactions
It’s normal for children to show interests in concrete things such as “Do I need to change schools?”, “ Where will I live?” or “Who’s going to take me to my extra-curricular lessons?” You need to maintain your child’s routine as much as possible while working out the terms of the divorce. Your child feels secure when he or she knows what to expect.
When the reality of the divorce finally settles to your children’s mind, expect to receive different reactions such as;
Toddlers. A child at this age might respond by becoming clingy, irritable or waking up at night.
Preschoolers. A child in this age needs extra help in comprehending that he or she is not the root of the divorce. He or she also needs aid in understanding that there’s nothing he or she can do to bring you and your ex-spouse together.
Elementary schoolers. Children in this age bracket are more likely to express anger. They fantasize about you getting back together, might worry about what will happen to you and your spouse and look for someone to blame including themselves.
Teenagers and adults. An older child is more likely to feel depressed or worried that he or she will also fall in the same situation someday. Teens might consider risky behavior and question their beliefs.
The situations above are just the common possibilities for a child’s reaction. Hence, it’s vital to encourage your child to open up his or her feelings about the divorce.
Make Sure Your Child Feels Well-loved
According to M. Gary Neuman, author of Helping Your Kids Cope With Divorce the Sandcastles Way and creator of the Sandcastles Divorce Therapy Program, children assume that they are somehow to blame when a parent regularly doesn’t come through.
If only they behaved more or do better in school, then surely their parents will stay together and be with them. As a result, their confidence hurdles. Thus, you need to reassure your child that your ex-spouse’s commitment issues have nothing to do with his or her lovability.
Don’t Bend The Rules
It could be tempting to take a break from your parental duties while your child is mourning over the divorce, but it will only generate more insecurity. Children thrive on structure, routine and consistency even if they insist on testing limits and boundaries. If your child divides time between two households, try to retain the same rules in two homes.
Consider Counseling
You can consider using the services of a family or divorce mediator if you and your spouse need help in reaching decisions about your child before, during or after the divorce. Most local and international divorce attorney would recommend you of doing so because your kids could also benefit from counseling especially if he or she is showing signs of anxiety and distress.
Takeaway
Divorce is always a hard blow for everyone, however, if both parents continue to build a calm and stable environment for their children and make them feel loved, children will survive the situation in good shape. And they will be calmer as they gradually accept everything.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that the US is in “direct contact” with North Korea.
He also said Washington was “probing” the possibility of talks with Pyongyang, “so stay tuned”.
During a trip to China, Rex Tillerson said: “We have lines of communications to Pyongyang.
“We’re not in a dark situation.”
In recent months, North Korea and the US have engaged in heated rhetoric, but it was not previously known they had lines of communication.
President Donald Trump has threatened to annihilate North Korea, saying Kim Jong-un, “is on a suicide mission”, which led the North Korean leader to release a statement vowing to “tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire”.
On September 30, North Korea continued the rhetoric, releasing a statement calling President Trump an “old psychopath” bent on the “suicidal act of inviting a nuclear disaster that will reduce America to a sea of flames”.
The war of words comes against a backdrop of repeated missile tests and North Korea’s claim that, on September 3, it successfully tested a miniaturized hydrogen bomb which could be loaded on to a long-range missile.
The tests were internationally condemned, with the UN bringing in sanctions against the secretive country in an attempt to force it to stop its weapons program.
Rex Tillerson is in China meeting with President Xi Jinping and other officials, hoping to encourage them to implement the sanctions.
China this week told North Korean businesses operating in its territory to close down. However, China remains keen to see negotiations with North Korea.
President Trump said last month that “talking is not the answer”.
However, there were reports of so-called back channels between the two administrations.
According to the Associated Press, the US and North Korea had been engaged in quiet discussions for months, with “diplomatic contact… occurring regularly” between the US envoy for North Korea policy and “a senior North Korean diplomat at the country’s UN mission”.
Rex Tillerson has also previously hinted there are channels available between the two countries, AP added.
More widely known is the role Sweden plays in negotiating with North Korea on Washington’s behalf.
In August, Ulv Hanssen from the Swedish Institute of International Affairs told Reuters Sweden could step in again because it was trusted by both US and North Korea.
“Sweden has done so on numerous occasions before, especially in relation to imprisoned Americans,” he said.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the speculation.
Volkswagen has announced that the diesel emissions scandal will cost the company an extra $3 billion (€2.5 billion), because engines are proving “far more technically complex and time consuming”.
The additional cost, for fixing engines in the US, takes the total bill to $30 billion.
Two years after the diesel emission cheating scandal first emerged, VW is still struggling to put the crisis behind it.
Separately Munich prosecutors made an arrest in connection with the scandal.
German media reports have named the person taken into custody as Wolfgang Hatz, former board member at VW unit Porsche. But there has been no official confirmation of his identity.
Wolfgang Hatz was head of Research and Development at VW-owned Porsche and had held other roles in the VW group, including in engine development at Audi. He was suspended after the diesel emissions test-cheating was exposed. He then left the company.
In 2016, Porsche said no evidence had been found against Wolfgang Hatz.
Wolfgang Hatz was reportedly close to former VW chief executive, Martin Winterkorn, who has denied any knowledge of the “defeat devices” which allowed vehicles to artificially reduce emissions during tests before their existence was exposed publicly.
Another former Audi executive, Giovanni Pamio, was taken into custody earlier this year, at the request of the US Department of Justice. One man has so far been jailed in connection with the scandal: Volkswagen engineer James Liang received a 40 month sentence in a US court last month.
News of the additional financial burden from dealing with vehicles in the US underlines the difficulty VW is having extricating itself from the scandal.
VW shares initially fell sharply on September 29 although they later recovered most of the lost ground.
The automaker first admitted in September 2015 that it had used illegal software to cheat US emissions tests.
Since then VW has been adapting its cars to meet legal requirements. However, the process in the US is proving tougher than expected.
It is also amending cars in Europe, but the process there is more straightforward, VW said.
The additional costs will be reflected in Volkswagen’s third quarter results, which will be reported next month.
Health Secretary Tom Price has been forced to resign after using expensive private planes for official business.
Tom Price previously apologized after making 26 private flights since May at a cost of $400,000 to taxpayers.
Government officials, except those dealing with national security matters, are required to take commercial flights for work related travel.
Three other members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet are under scrutiny for using private planes while on the job. According to Politico and the Washington Post, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke flew from Las Vegas to Montana last June on a private jet that cost taxpayers more than $12,000. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is accused of flying with his wife to view last month’s solar eclipse. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt has spent more than $58,000 on non-commercial travel.
A White House statement said President Trump had accepted Tom Price’s resignation, adding that Don J. Wright had been designated as acting health secretary.
An investigation by the political news website Politico found that Tom Price’s travels had cost more than $1 million.
As well as the $400,000 for private flights, that figure includes the cost of military aircraft used for Tom Price’s trips abroad, Politico added.
President Trump had earlier said he was “not happy” with the expense.
Hours before Tom Price’s resignation, President Trump told White House reporters: “He’s a very fine man. We’re going to make a decision sometime tonight. He’s a very, very fine man.”
More than half of the people working for the US embassy in Cuba have been withdrawn in response to mysterious attacks which left its diplomats unwell.
Washington is also warning Americans not to visit Cuba because some attacks occurred in hotels.
At least 21 embassy staff reported health problems ranging from mild brain trauma and deafness to dizziness and nausea.
Describing the US decision as “hasty”, Cuba said it would affect bilateral ties but co-operation would continue.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the two countries would continue to co-operate in investigating the attacks and said diplomatic ties would be maintained.
Earlier reports suggested that sonic attacks were to blame, but Cuba denies any involvement.
At least two Canadians were also affected.
The US is ordering all non-essential staff in the embassy in Havana to leave, along with all family members. Only “emergency personnel” will remain.
The US has suspended visa processing in Cuba indefinitely.
A US state department official said: “Until the government of Cuba can ensure safety of our people, we will be reduced to emergency personnel.”
“At least 21 employees have been targeted in specific attacks,” the official said.
Despite an investigation involving the FBI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Cuban authorities, there is still no full explanation as to the cause of the incidents since late 2016.
Earlier reports suggested there were sonic attacks in which staff in Havana were targeted by audio waves, leaving several with chronic hearing issues.
Using an inaudible sound device for a stealth attack “is quite plausible from a technical point of view”, Denis Bedat, a specialist in bio-electromagnetics, told AFP this week.
“Ultrasonic waves, beyond the acoustic capacity of humans, can be broadcast with an amplifier, and the device does not need to be large, or used inside or outside a house.”
He gave as an example the Active Denial System (ADS), an anti-riot gun used by US police forces that emits electromagnetic waves which produce a sudden unbearable burning sensation.
The US has not blamed Cuba for the suspected attacks.
According to the state department official, both the US and Cuban governments “have not yet identified the guilty party”.
“We have not ruled out the possibility of a third country as a part of the investigation but that investigation continues,” he added.
Cuban President Raul Castro had reportedly given his personal assurance to the then-US charge d’affaires in Havana that Cuba was not behind the attacks.
The US reopened its embassy in Havana in 2015 following decades of frozen relations.
