Serena Williams has welcomed a baby girl at a clinic in Florida on September 1.
The 35-year-old tennis star, whose partner is Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, was admitted to the St Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach on August 30.
Serena Williams said last month she was planning to return to tennis for the Australian Open in January.
Congratulations have been pouring in from sports stars and celebrities.
News of the birth came as her sister Venus Williams prepared to go out on court at the US Open.
“Obviously I’m super-excited,” Venus Williams said.
“Words can’t describe it.”
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian are yet to confirm the birth themselves but Serena’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, tweeted: “I am so happy for you and I feel your emotion.”
He added: “Btw … I wish you a speedy recovery… we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Serena Williams admitted she had revealed her pregnancy to the world in April by accident, after mistakenly uploading a photograph on Snapchat.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner confirmed she won the Australian Open title this January while newly pregnant, and in an article in Vogue last month she said she wanted to defend her title.
She said: “It’s the most outrageous plan.
“I just want to put that out there. That’s, like, three months after I give birth.”
In June, Serena Williams appeared in a cover photo for Vanity Fair, saying: “I don’t know what to do with a baby.”
The news has delighted the tennis world, with Rafael Nadal among the first to tweet his congratulations.
At a news conference Garbine Muguruza joked: “A baby girl? Well, I hope she doesn’t play tennis,” Reuters reported.
Beyonce also posted a portrait of a pregnant Serena Williams on Instagram, with the message: “Congratulations Serena!”
The result of Kenya’s presidential election has been annulled by the country’s Supreme Court after citing irregularities.
The court ordered a new election within 60 days.
The election commission had declared incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta the winner by a margin of 1.4 million votes.
His opponent, Raila Odinga, said the commission was “rotten” and demanded resignations and prosecutions.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said he would respect the court’s decision but also branded the judges “crooks”.
Other elections in Africa have been annulled or canceled but this appears to be the first time on the continent that an opposition court challenge against a presidential poll result has been successful.
Chief Justice David Maraga said the August 8 election had not been “conducted in accordance with the constitution” and declared it “invalid, null and void”.
He said the verdict was backed by four of the six Supreme Court judges.
The announcement drew cheers from opposition supporters both inside and outside the courtroom.
Justice David Maraga said the election commission had failed “to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution”.
He said the commission had committed irregularities “in the transmission of results”, adding that the court would provide details in a full judgment within 21 days.
Dissenting judges said that the Nasa opposition alliance – which had petitioned the Supreme Court – failed to prove claims that the polls had been rigged.
The election sparked days of sporadic protests, in which at least 28 people were killed. The vote had raised fears of major political violence – as was the case after a disputed poll in 2007.
Raila Odinga, 72, said the ruling marked “a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent of Africa”.
He said: “It is now clear that the entire [electoral commission] is rotten.
“It is clear that the real election results were never shared with Kenyans. Someone must take responsibility.”
He added: “We won the elections and we are going to win them again.”
In a TV address, President Kenyatta said that it was “important to respect the rule of law even if you disagree with the Supreme Court ruling”.
He called for calm, saying: “Your neighbor will still be your neighbor, regardless of what has happened… My primary message today to every single Kenyan is peace. Let us be people of peace.”
Uhuru Kenyatta, 55, added: “We are ready to go back again to the people with the same agenda that we delivered to the people.”
The president was more combative later at a rally of supporters in a market in Nairobi.
He referred to Justice David Maraga and his fellow judges as wakora (crooks in Swahili), saying they had “decided to cancel the election”. He warned the chief justice that as the poll had been annulled he was now the president again, not president-elect.
“Do you understand me? Maraga should know that he is now dealing with the serving president,” the president said.
“We are keeping a close eye on them. But let us deal with the election first. We are not afraid.”
After the election, international monitors from the EU, the African Union and the US had said there was no major fraud on polling day and urged Raila Odinga to concede.
On September 1, Marietje Schaake, the head of the EU Observer Mission, said the court ruling represented “a historic day for Kenya and we have always said that people who feel aggrieved should seek the path of the courts”.
She said the monitors had at the time pointed to irregularities and encouraged the Kenyan authorities to deal with them.
Marietje Schaake said the monitors were awaiting the full details of the ruling.
Have you ever encountered that stain on the kitchen sink or on the carpet that just won’t go away? You decide to clean it up vigorously but to no avail. Finally, you leave it for a week in the hope that something would just take away the stain. Then finally, after a week’s past, you walk along and see that darn stain. You become hopeless as the stain feels like staring back at you.
You consider to call in the big guns or the professional cleaners but decide that it’s too expensive or it’s too much force for just one annoying stain. You feel hopeless again. However, the situation isn’t as hopeless as you think. As you begin to sulk in the corner, a yellow glimmer comes shining at the corner of your eye: The Lemons.
A lot of people think that lemons are just for making lemonades and lemon cakes. However, the humble lemon can do all sorts of magic when you want to clean up. In fact, a lot of food can become a useful tool for cleaning almost any stain or mess. If that’s not enough to excite you, certain food items can also fill the air with their sweet and fresh scents.
Before you pick up that lemon and finally say goodbye to that nasty and annoying stain, here’s a list of food items that are just probably sitting in your fridge.
Lemons
Remember that first bite of a lemon as a kid? Remember how your face would swell up due to the sourness? Well, that’s what that annoying stain will get to experience. Lemons contain citric acid which has cleaning and antibacterial properties. Lemons are probably the most versatile food item in this list which has a lot of cleaning purposes.
Cut a lemon in half and rub it smoothly on a stain or even on brass kitchenware. For a fresh and lemony scent all around your house, try adding chopped lemon rinds to a vinegar solution and clean away!
Baking Soda
Baking Soda is the second most versatile cleaning ingredient in this list. Its power is most useful when combating foul odors, without any damage to any surfaces. Baking soda is also abrasive, which means it can leave a surface clean and smelling good without leaving any scratches or stains behind.
Another use baking soda excels in is when you have pets living in the house. These cuddly companions of ours will inevitably leave their scents, urine stains, and poop in the house. Try adding baking soda to it and smell the foul odors vanish.
For clogged pipes that emit a bad smell, try pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain and cover it for a few minutes. Vinegar and baking soda have violent chemical reactions which can certainly make clogs and oily residues soften up. After the popping and crackling stops, pour in hot water to finish off the job.
Vinegar
Vinegar has two main components: Water and Acetic Acid. Acetic acid is a strong acid that when used on stains, works wonders in removing them. Although vinegar is a good cleaning material, it’s sour scent can sometimes discourage people in using it as a cleaning liquid. To prevent that vinegary smell from acting up, try diluting vinegar with water and add heavy scented ingredients to the mix.
You can add lemon rinds, basil leaves, tea leaves, and other scented ingredients, so you won’t have to worry about that pungent smell that pure vinegar leaves behind.
Table Salt
Due to its abrasiveness, salt is a perfect addition to your cleanup arsenal. Brass kitchenware or other brass type items with time, lose that shiny and attractive look. To make any brassware as good as brand new, squeeze a cut lemon on a sponge and add salt. Rub it vigorously on the brass surface, and rinse it with water thoroughly. Salt dissolved in water also creates saline, which most bacteria and fungi hate.
The Unusuals
Believe it or not, there are more unusual food items that can also be good cleaning materials. Ketchup is one example of this food. Just add salt and brush away silver and other metal kitchenware. After cleaning, rinse the item with water, and it will get its brand new glow from before.
Mayonnaise is another unique food item that doubles as a cleaner and is also a good thing to use to shine the leaves of any indoor plants that you have. Use a clean cloth to apply the mayonnaise on the leaves and leave it on for at least three to five minutes. Afterwards, use a damp cloth to wipe away excess mayonnaise on the leaves. The leaves will look more healthy and vibrant for weeks to come.
See that rust stain inside the toilet bowl? Ever wonder how to get rid of such an annoying stain? Here’s another quirky food ingredient you can cleverly use to remove that awful stain. Try mixing powdered juice and water and brush the stain with the mixture. Not only does the citric acid in the powdered mix help with softening up the stain, but it’ll also make your bathroom smell fruitily fresh.
Takeaway
Who would have imagined that a lot of food in your fridge could double as reliable cleaning materials? In humid areas, some may find turning the ac in Houston as increasing the pungent smell that these food emit when used as a cleaning agent. However, with a little tweaking here and there, these scents won’t be a problem.
From lemons to powdered fruit juices, the list of unusual cleaning items goes on. Even ketchup is a good cleaning material if properly applied to silverware. With a little research and ingenuity, checking the fridge for food won’t be the same anymore.
The White House has announced it will ask the Congress for emergency funding to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
President Donald Trump is expected to propose an initial $5.9 billion. Texas authorities say the state might need more than $125 billion.
At least 39 people have died in the storm and its aftermath. East of Houston, floodwaters are still rising.
Visiting Texas, VP Mike Pence promised federal help to “rebuild bigger and better than ever before”.
Mike Pence said 311,000 people had registered for disaster assistance. It is not yet clear how quickly funds might reach victims.
Visiting the battered town of Rockport, Mike Pence paid tribute to the people of Texas: “The resilience of the people of Texas has been inspiring.”
He added: “The American people are with you. We are here today, we will be here tomorrow and we will be here every day until this city and this state and this region rebuild bigger and better than ever before.”
The White House also said President Trump would donate $1 million of his own money to the relief effort.
Firefighters in Houston have been carrying out door-to-door searches for survivors and bodies in an operation that could take up to two weeks.
Rescue operations are still continuing further east, where floodwaters are still rising.
Hundreds of thousands of residents who were evacuated or chose to leave are being warned not to return home until they are told it is safe to do so.
Earlier, a senior White House aide said about 100,000 homes, not all of which were fully insured, had been affected by the storm and the flooding that accompanied it.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said its teams had rescued more than 3,800 people, and more than 90,000 had already been approved for disaster assistance.
FEMA also warned that residents were being targeted by scams. There are reports of criminals impersonating inspectors and immigration officials.
Others were receiving fraudulent calls about flood insurance claiming a premium must be paid or coverage would be lost.
Energy suppliers in southern Texas were forced to shut down refineries and close off pipelines, sending petrol prices higher across the US. Many have restarted operations, but it could take weeks before production is back to normal.
Residents returning to their homes are also facing challenges.
The Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents that floodwater can contain bacteria and other contaminants from overflowing sewers. It said the biggest threat to public health was access to safe drinking water.
One chemical plant in Crosby, near Houston, caught fire on August 31, and more fires are expected in the coming days.
Chemicals stored at the flooded Arkema plant are no longer being refrigerated, making them combustible.
Residents have been evacuated from the plant in a 1.5 mile radius, and smoke was seen rising from the site on August 31.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are expected to return to Texas on September 2.
The president visited Texas earlier in the week but limited his visit to Corpus Christi, which avoided the worst of the flooding, over fears his presence could divert resources from rescue efforts.
Storm Harvey has been downgraded to a tropical depression and is expected to dissipate in Ohio on Saturday evening.
Several inches of rainfall are expected in Tennessee and Kentucky over the next two days, and flood warnings remain in effect in parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, and Louisiana.
The US ordered Russia to close its San Francisco consulate and two trade missions in response to “unwarranted” Russian action, the State Department has announced.
The San Francisco consulate, and annexes in New York and Washington, must close by September 2.
The State Department’s move follows Moscow’s reduction of US diplomatic staff in Russia last month.
That in turn followed new US sanctions on Russia over Crimea and alleged election interference, which led to the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats.
In December 2016, former President Barack Obama had ordered those expulsions, along with the closure of two compounds.
Although Russian President Vladimir Putin did not respond initially to that move, with President Trump set to assume office, he then announced on July 31 a reduction of 755 US diplomatic staff in Russia, in retaliation for the US sanctions.
The US diplomats expelled have until September 1 to leave Russia – a day before the US closures of the Russian consulate and two annexes, which are trade missions, must be completed.
Image source Wikimedia
A senior administration official said on August 31 that the consulate and the residence attached to it as well as the two trade missions would close but no Russian staff would be required to leave the US.
Russia will be allowed to maintain the properties, but not use them, the official added.
According to the State Department, the US actions were “in the spirit of parity”. It blamed Russia for what it called a downward spiral in bilateral ties, but suggested it wanted an end to the current spat.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement: “The United States hopes that, having moved toward the Russian Federation’s desire for parity, we can avoid further retaliatory actions by both sides and move forward to achieve the stated goal of both our presidents: improved relations between our two countries and increased co-operation on areas of mutual concern.”
The move leaves each country with three consulates in place, Heather Nauert added.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on August 31, expressing “regret at the escalation of tensions in bilateral relations”.
According to a statement from the Russian foreign ministry, Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would study the order and respond accordingly.
Sergei Lavrov and Rex Tillerson are due to meet in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The president, who wanted warmer ties with Russia, had opposed the bill, which included a provision that limits his ability to lift sanctions and forces him to consult Congress first.
President Trump has been dogged by claims that Russia tried to sway the election in his favor and several investigations are under way to determine whether anyone from his campaign colluded with Moscow.
However, Russia has repeatedly denied interfering and President Trump has insisted that there was no collusion, calling the investigations a “witch hunt”.
Everyone likes to get their news in different ways. How you enjoy learning about what’s happening in the world, or just in your town, will often depend on your lifestyle. Some people like to take in the news when they’re relaxing and have some time to really think about it. Others will read or listen to what they can while they’re on their daily commute or just waiting around for something else to happen. Here are some of the favorite ways for people to consume news.
Websites and Mobile Apps
It’s no secret that the internet has taken over when it comes to the media. You can’t get away from the internet, and sometimes it can be exhausting to be kept up to date with the news all the time. But mobile devices and various websites, from newspapers and media organizations to blogs, help us to check up on the news whenever we want.
Social Media
While social media posts often link to an external website, it’s still one of the ways many people get their news. In fact, thanks to the instantaneous nature of social media, many people hear about the latest stories on Twitter or Facebook before they see them confirmed elsewhere.
Television and Radio
Television and radio are still popular ways to hear about the news. Listening to the radio is great for many people while they’re driving. TV gives you a more visual way of learning about the news. And they can both be streamed over the internet.
Newspapers
Newspapers are still popular, both online and in print. They’re trying to keep up with the times, and many of them are managing.
Have you ever wondered how companies are able to manage an international supply chain that delivers their goods perfectly?
A good place to start is by controlling all costs by sourcing everything (to an extent) at a local level. If the items can’t be done this way, you will want to send as many items at a time as you can – in bulk. This will minimize the overall cost of transportation.
The only problem is that when you pass to an international element to your supply chain, it makes everything a whole lot more complicated. Having said that, there are ways to maintain the supply chain in an easier fashion. Here are a few tips.
Teamwork is a must
It’s all about the teamwork. It’s no good having one team working on operations, while the other team is looking at the numbers not understanding why they’re paying so much money for duty costs.
The first thing you will want to do is get everyone together for a team meeting so that everyone knows and understands the plan of action inside and out. Remember that in order to manage a successful supply chain, you must not only work with a few of the main departments, but the entire company as a whole.
Visit the experts first
You can’t expect to do everything on your own. No matter how many areas you cover on a daily basis, you will still need help when going international. You need someone with the expertise on the best locations, for example. This means searching for local, reputable producers that are known for delivering the best results.
You need to find yourself a business partner that is a master in the specific market that you’re looking to get into. It’s very important to work alongside someone that can help you develop your brand even further than you already have.
If you’re managing a smaller business, find a consultant that specifically deals with clients in that location. That way they can help you to figure out the best way to deal with transit options and taxes. The more time your potential business partner has spent in the country, the more knowledge you will be receiving from them. Having the right consultant can save you an awful lot of money, so don’t think you’re wasting your time, because really you’ll just end up wasting your precious money.
Timing changes everything
Time is one of those elements that can either make you as a business or break you just as easily. Use it the right way, and you can be building your supply chain and opening endless doors of opportunity. On the other hand, lose valuable time, and it could all be over in a second.
Good sales forecasting is essential
Timing is key when trying to keep up with sales forecasting. This is where you can either ride at a slow monotone pace, or become very successful in managing your supply chain.
It all comes down to having the realistic idea of how much bulk you are able to move from your inventory and sell. Moving goods internationally takes a lot longer, so if it doesn’t sell, you’re going to be left with a whole load of stock and nothing to do with it.
Companies like the Moons Industries, for example, have a very large inventory to shift, and they manage to move it because their product is used to manufacture 3D printers, stage lighting, security equipment and more. It works because not only is the product a handy one, but they meet their delivery times and excel on their customer’s demands.
Never just assume
One of the most common mistakes that get made is when small businesses consider international expansion and guess far too much, instead of going off facts. People assume that different cultures operate the same way – but they don’t – far from it in fact.
For example, internet access is very easy to get your hands on in the US, so dealing with business and clients is simple, whereas in another country it may not be so simple to get access to.
So now you know how to manage a supply chain internationally, you should be more confident in the actions you take when moving forward. You know all the things you need to look out for, and you know the best way to get things done. Now all that’s left to do is find the appropriate business partners that will help your company grow even stronger.
Houston, America’s fourth most populous city, has implemented a night-time curfew to prevent looting from abandoned homes as authorities and volunteers battle to rescue stranded people and provide shelter for those made homeless by the rising waters.
The curfew runs from 00:00-05:00 local time for an indefinite period. Relief volunteers, first responders, and those going to and from work are exempt.
According to the National Weather Service, the rainfall in Texas set a new record for the continental US. A rain gauge in Cedar Bayou recorded nearly 52in of rain since August 25.
President Donald Trump visited Texas on August 29 to survey the damage brought by Harvey.
He arrived in Corpus Christi, where Hurricane Harvey first made landfall last week, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump.
President Trump said he wanted the relief effort to stand as an example of how to respond to a storm.
“We want to do it better than ever before.
“This storm, it’s epic what happened. But you know what, it happened in Texas and Texas can handle anything.”
President Trump will not be visiting Houston.
According to the White House, the president did not want his visit to disrupt the emergency response.
President Trump has declared a federal state of emergency in both Texas and Louisiana. The move releases emergency government funding and other assistance.
Harvey was the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years when it made landfall at Corpus Christi, 220 miles south-west of Houston. The storm is expected to continue dumping huge amounts of rain in the coming days over already flood-hit areas.
Venezuela’s controversial constituent assembly has unanimously voted to put opposition leaders on trial for treason.
It said it would pursue those it accuses of supporting US economic sanctions against Venezuela.
The US approved the measures last week in response to what it called the “dictatorship” of President Nicolás Maduro.
Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of trying to cripple Venezuela’s economy amid an ongoing economic crisis.
On August 25, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban trade in Venezuelan debt or the sale of bonds from its state oil company.
The president’s reasons included “serious abuses of human rights” as well as the creation of the “illegitimate” constituent assembly, which the US accuses of usurping the democratically elected parliament.
The constituent assembly, which was convened by President Nicolás Maduro and is made up of government supporters, has been condemned by international leaders as unconstitutional.
On August 29, members of the assembly unanimously approved a decree calling for the investigation of “traitors” who supported the economic sanctions.
During the three-hour session, they took turns denouncing those who have been critical of the government in ever more colorful language.
Among those they attacked for allegedly being “engaged in the promotion of these immoral actions against the interests of the Venezuelan people” were not only members of opposition parties but also former supporters of the socialist government.
The sacked chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega, who over the past months has become one of the most vocal critics of the government, came in for particular vitriol.
Constituent assembly member Iris Varela called Luisa Ortega “scum”. She also said that Luisa Ortega “crawled like a worm” and “sold her homeland for a few dollars she stole from this country”.
Luisa Ortega was fired by the constituent assembly in its first session earlier this month and replaced by a loyal government supporter, Tarek William Saab.
She has since traveled to a number of Latin American countries denouncing alleged government corruption in Venezuela.
The head of the opposition-controlled parliament, Julio Borges, was named as “one of the real enemies of Venezuela” for asking US bank Goldman Sachs to stop buying Venezuelan bonds.
Julio Borges reacted by saying that it was time the government stopped looking for others to blame for Venezuela’s economic and political crisis.
“The only one responsible is Maduro and it’s time he takes a look in the mirror and accepts he has ruined Venezuela,” Julio Borges told reporters.
Former Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has been appointed as Uber’s new chief executive, following a unanimous vote by its board, the company confirms.
Dara Khosrowshahi will meet with staff for the first time on August 30, a statement from Uber said.
His appointment ends months of speculation about who would take the top job at the troubled company.
Dara Khosrowshahi replaces co-founder Travis Kalanick, who resigned in June following investor pressure after months of turmoil.
He came to America when he was 9-year-old, after his family fled Iran on the eve of the Iranian Revolution.
Image source LinkedIn
In 2005, Dara Khosrowshahi became chief executive of the online travel site Expedia, which operates in more than 60 countries.
In an email to staff posted on its website on August 29, the company said it was confident Dara Khosrowshahi was “the best person to lead Uber into the future.”
The announcement was widely anticipated, as Dara Khosrowshahi had already told news outlets he planned to leave Expedia for Uber.
He told Bloomberg News he was aware of the challenges, but was interested in working at a company that is “redefining the transportation industry”.
“Are there difficulties? Are there complexities? Are there challenges? Absolutely, but that’s also what makes it fun.”
“I am not in this to coast. I’m in it to get my hands dirty and build a team and do something that people will look back on with tonnes of satisfaction,” he said.
Dara Khosrowshahi earned about $2.5 million in total compensation at Expedia last year.
His pay has fluctuated wildly because of stock options. In 2015, he earned more than $94 million in total compensation, primarily due to stock awards.
Dara Khosrowshahi will face a number of challenges in his new role, as he seeks to improve both the bottom line and the company’s tarnished image.
Uber said on August 29 that it is cooperating with a US probe into possible bribery law violations.
Travis Kalanick left the firm in June after clashes with regulators in many countries, a trade secrets lawsuit and controversies about harassment.
The euro has reached an 18-month high against US dollar as the prospect of a US interest rate rise recedes.
The European currency hit $1.20 for the first time since January 2015.
Hurricane Harvey’s impact has led analysts to assume the Federal Reserve will not want to risk curbing economic growth and fears over North Korea’s activities have unnerved investors.
A rise in interest rates tends to draw investors to a currency, taking advantage of the higher returns.
Meanwhile, the euro has itself been gaining against a range of currencies.
Against the dollar, the euro has risen by almost 15% so far this year.
The euro has strengthened in recent months, as the eurozone’s economy improves and markets predict the European Central Bank could start to cut back the money-printing program it has been running to repair the ravages of the eurozone crisis and credit crunch of the late 2000s.
The dollar was also undermined by August 25 annual meeting of central bankers at the Jackson Hole resort in Wyoming at which Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen’s speech gave no hint that the central back was planning any policy change that would support the dollar.
At the same event, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi did nothing to talk down the euro.
Euro strength has left the pound at its weakest for almost a year. It buys 1.0759 euros in the wholesale currency markets, making a euro worth a much as 92.95p.
Sterling buys $1.2955 currently.
Tourist rates tend to be below those of the markets, sometimes by quite a bit.
Mark Zuckerberg has announced the birth of his second child with Priscilla Chan – a baby girl named August – in a new letter published on August 28.
The Facebook’s co-founder has urged his young daughter to play outside and enjoy the wonders of being a kid, in the heartfelt letter posted on his social media site.
In the gushing missive, Mark Zuckerberg and Pricilla Chan speak about the magic of childhood and the importance of play.
He wrote on his Facebook page: “Priscilla and I are so happy to welcome our daughter August! We wrote her a letter about the world we hope she grows up in, and also hoping she doesn’t grow up too fast.”
The post, which appears alongside a family photo on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook page, encourages the new baby not to “grow up too fast”.
“The world can be a serious place. That’s why it’s important to make time to go outside and play,” said the letter, signed “Mom and Dad”.
The call to discover a childhood outdoors is at odds with the aims of Mark Zuckerberg’s social media empire.
“I hope you run as many laps around our living room and yard as you want. And then I hope you take a lot of naps,” the parents wrote.
“Childhood is magical. You only get to be a child once, so don’t spend it worrying too much about the future,” they added.
It marks a lighter tone from the open letter written to welcome baby daughter Max, which reflected on the problems facing younger generations and how technological progress will drive change.
At that time, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan said they would donate their fortune to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to make the world a better place for Max to grow up in.
However, the parents wanted to shield their latest addition from these kinds of concerns, telling their daughter not to worry about the future, adding: “You’ve got us for that.”
“You will be busy when you’re older, so I hope you take time to smell all the flowers and put all the leaves you want in your bucket now,” Mark Zuckerberg and Pricilla Chan said.
It’s pretty fair to say that debt is an inescapable part of everyday life for a lot of people. If you want to buy a home, then you have to take out a mortgage; most people who want go to college depend on student loans; people even use credit cards to fund their holidays. But that raises the question: when do people reach the point where they’re relying too much on debt?
How much is too much?
These days, as many as one in four families use credit to pay things like their regular bills as well as supporting their lifestyle overall. Every day, more and more people are putting themselves into the red as a method of staying on top of their regular finances. For many, this is a sign that the cost of living is simply too high and a lot of people aren’t being paid a decent living wage to make up for that. However, there are those who believe that it’s simply a matter of people wanting to spend more money than they have.
What can be done?
Of course, for a lot of the families who are using credit to get by on a day-to-day basis, it can feel as though the debt that they’re in will never be wiped away. However, there are things people can do to limit the impact of debt on their lives. For one thing, it’s important to make sure that you’re fully aware of all of the repayment terms of any loan or line of credit. Companies like auto.loan specialise in helping people find the best interest rates and repayment options for automobile loans, and there are plenty of others available. The reality is that debt is not going to stop being a central part of our economy, and the best that many individuals can manage is to think more carefully about the kinds of credit that they’re using.
What not to do
It is very easy to panic when you find yourself in debt, and many families end up resorting to drastic measures in order to cover it. One of the worst things that many people end up doing is that they try to cover the debt with more debt. This can be especially risky with things like short term cash loans which have very high-interest rates. Doing this is just going to cause a cycle of more and more debt until it becomes untenable. Not only that but doing this makes it much harder to get any line of credit in the future.
If you’re worried about the amount of debt in your life, then there are plenty of organisations that you can get into contact with who can offer a great deal of help and support to you and your family. Whether it’s helping you get control of your spending habits or simply helping you get your finances back into the black, there are always services out there and ways in which you can help yourself.
The popular press is awash with news that hackers have breached HBO’s cyber defenses and have allegedly stolen steal than 1.5 terabytes of data, including scripts from unaired Game of Thrones episodes. As fascinating as this news may be to consumers of popular culture, it obscures more serious cyberattack news stories that have far deeper consequences. Consider, for example, the five most significant network hacks from the past several years.
In 2014, hackers exploited a vulnerability in OpenSSL using a tool known as “Heartbleed” to break into a virtual private network (VPN) that a major corporation had used to encrypt data and communications. Individuals and businesses routinely rely on the added encryption provided by a VPN to ensure confidentiality of communications. This recent hack reveals that even VPNs have their weaknesses.
A foreign government was believed to be behind a 2015 hack attack on the insurance giant, Anthem Health. That hack compromised more than 78 million consumer health and insurance records. More recently, the governments or government proxies of North Korea, China, Russia, and the United States have all been accused of participating in hacking activities.
Image source Flickr
The “Petya” ransomware attack crippled more than 60 percent of computers and networks in the Ukraine in early 2017. A subsequent analysis of the attack suggested that although the attackers demanded a ransom to release frozen systems, the attack might have had a moiré sinister purpose of disabling the Ukraine’s technology infrastructure.
The Dyn distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack that struck a significant number of computers and networks in North America and Europe in late 2016 was the largest ever cyberattack launched on the internet. The attack continued for several days, affecting servers utilized by Twitter, Netflix, CNN, and other major web players.
The Wannacry ransomware attack in early 2017 was stopped early in its tracks by good luck and quick thinking on the part of the individuals who first noticed it. Still this cyberattack crippled parts of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service and enriched the hackers who demanded and were paid more than $100,000 to release various systems and networks.
The scope and scale of these massive cyberattacks should cause all businesses, regardless of size, to reassess their cybersecurity strategies. In all likelihood, like HBO, the entities that were affected by these cyberattacks had erected defenses against hacking and gave their employees at least some rudimentary education and training in eliminating the human error and conduct that exposes a network to cyberattacks. Yet as these attacks suggest, even commonly-suggested cyber defense strategies, such as VPNs, are not fully effective against determined groups of hackers, particularly if those hackers have government resources behind them.
This does not suggest that businesses should abandon all hope and give up on their cyber defenses. Rather, they need to confirm that those strategies are up-to-date and consistent with the latest tools and techniques to fend off cyberattacks. Realizing, however, that none of those tools and techniques will be foolproof, businesses also need to develop a plan to respond when they do experience a successful attack. Cyber security insurance is a mandatory part of that plan.
Cyber security insurance will cover a business’s direct losses when a cyberattack damages data and hardware, which gives the business some assurances that its profits will not be entirely consumed by the need to recover those elements. Insurance can also protect a business against third party liabilities and regulatory fines that may be levied when a business loses its customers’ personal or financial information. Depending on the size of the business, a single cyberattack can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $2 million or more. Few businesses are equipped to absorb these kinds of costs directly. Cyber security insurance can cover these losses and allow a business to continue its operations with a minimum of interruptions after it experiences a cyberattack.
North Korea has fired a missile over northern Japan.
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe called the move an “unprecedented” threat to his country.
The missile, launched early on August 29, flew over Hokkaido Island before crashing into the sea.
The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting in response.
North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile tests recently, but this is the first time it has fired what is thought to be a ballistic weapon over Japan.
On the two previous occasions its rockets crossed Japan – in 1998 and 2009 – North Korea said they were for satellite launch vehicles, not weapons.
According to the South Korean military, the missile was fired eastward just before 06:00 local time from near Pyongyang – which is rare.
Early analysis of the launch suggests the missile flew a distance of more than 1,680 miles and reached a maximum altitude of about 342 miles, lower than most previous North Korean tests. The missile was likely a Hwasong-12, a newly developed intermediate range weapon, and fell into the North Pacific Ocean 740 miles off the Japanese coast after breaking into three pieces.
No effort was made by the Japanese to shoot down the missile but it issued a safety warning telling citizens in Hokkaido to take shelter in “a sturdy building or basement”.
US and Japanese forces are currently taking part in training drills in Hokkaido.
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in ordered a show of “overwhelming” force in response to the launch. Four South Korean jets staged a live bombing drill on August 29.
Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe said he had spoken to President Donald Trump and that both agreed to increase pressure on North Korea.
Shinzo Abe said the North Korea’s “reckless action is an unprecedented, serious and a grave threat to our nation” which also “greatly damages regional peace and security”.
The prime minister said his government was doing its utmost to protect people’s lives.
North Korea’s conventional and nuclear weapons programs are a breach of international sanctions, so the test is being seen as a major provocation and an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Earlier this month, North Korea threatened to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam, while President Donald Trump warned Pyongyang would face “fire and fury” if it continued to threaten the US.
There have also been some reports in recent months that North Korea is preparing to carry out its sixth nuclear test.
However, last week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the fact that North Korea had not carried out any missile launches since the UN imposed a fresh round of sanctions was an indication of restraint by Pyongyang.
Harvey made landfall as a category-four hurricane on August 25. It was later downgraded to a tropical storm.
Up to 2,000 people have been rescued in and around Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, where about 6.6 million people live in the metropolitan area.
An inundated care home in Dickinson, about 30 miles south east of Houston, has now been evacuated by helicopter after an image of several elderly women sitting in a lounge in waist-deep water went viral on social media.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) says conditions are “unprecedented”. A “flash flood emergency” is in force across the Houston area, with travel near impossible.
Thousands of homes are without electricity. Many schools are closed – as are the two main airports, with runways completely flooded.
Best Fight Against the System: The Hamilton Mixtape – Immigrants (We Get the Job Done), Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful, John Legend – Surefire, Logic feat Damian Lemar Hudson – Black Spiderman, Big Sean – Light, Taboo feat. Shaliene Woodley – Stand up/ Stand N Rock #NoDapl
Best Direction: Dave Meyers and The Little Homies (for Kendrick Lamar – Humble)
Best Cinematography: Kendrick Lamar – Humble
Best Art Direction: Kendrick Lamar – Humble
Best Choreography: Kanye West – Fade
Song of the Summer: Lil Uzi Ver – XO Tour L1if3
Best Visual Effects: Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley – Chained to the Rhythm
Kendrick Lamar was the biggest winner at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), taking home six prizes and opening the show with a message about police brutality.
Fellow rapper Cardi B also touched on the issue when she gave a shout-out to NFL player Colin Kaepernick who has been side-lined after protesting against racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem before games.
“As long as you kneel with us, we’re gonna be standing for you,” she said.
Taylor Swift failed to appear at the event, but debuted her comeback music video for Look What You Made Me Do.
Her video has been watched more than 12 million times on YouTube already.
Earlier this year MTV announced it was abandoning traditional male and female categories, switching to gender-neutral awards instead.
Susan Bro handed out the Fight Against the System Award, just 15 days after Heather Heyer was killed during a protest against a far-right march in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Paying tribute to her daughter, she said: “I miss her, but I know she’s here tonight.”
Susan Bro was introduced by the stage by Reverend Robert Wright Lee IV, a descendant of the controversial general on the Confederate side of the US Civil War.
“We have made my ancestor an idol of white supremacy, racism, and hate,” he said.
All six nominees for the award shared the prize. Somali nominee K’naan, whose cover of a Hamilton track paid tribute to the work of immigrants, wore a mock Make America Great Again written in Arabic.
Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris also spoke out against the violence in Charlottesville, calling out “Nazi white supremacist jerks”.
“We as a nation with liberty as our slogan – we have zero tolerance for their violence, their hatred and their discrimination. We must resist.”
Artists mostly avoided referring to President Trump directly, but criticized his policies and events indirectly.
Host Katy Perry, who campaigned for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election mocked Donald Trump with the new award: “Listen, guys, this is one election where the popular vote actually matters…so vote online, but hurry up, before some random Russian pop star wins!”
Musician Logic performed a powerful rendition of his song 1-800-273-8255 (named after the US suicide prevention hotline) with the lyrics: “I want you to be alive / You don’t gotta die today.”
He shared the stage with survivors of suicide attempts wearing “You are not alone” t-shirts.
Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto paid tribute to vocalists Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell who both took their own lives earlier this year.
California is home to some of the country’s most beautiful and congested roads. Millions call California home and millions of others visit each year to take in the seascapes, landscapes, and tourist attractions. Each year, individual California drivers log an average of 13,636 miles, which exceeds the national average of 9,363 miles per driver. Collectively, Californians drive over 300 billion miles. These numbers do not take into account (a) tourists, (b) businesspeople, and (c) out-of-state drivers passing through.
Image source Wikipedia
Hundreds of Car Accidents on California Roads Every Day
With so many cars on the road and so many miles being driven it should not be surprising that injury-causing auto accidents occur quite frequently. In 2013, the latest year for which data was available, more than 157,000 traffic accidents caused more than 223,000 injuries in California. That is 430 accidents and 610 injuries each and every day in the Golden State. Research points to a correlation between an improving economy, the number of vehicles on the road, and injury causing accidents. “We’ve seen a huge spike of car crash personal injury claims in our office” say Sherwin Arzani, an attorney that handles car accident cases in Los Angeles, CA. “As the economy continues to grow it is likely that we will continue to see hundreds of traffic accidents in California each day,” Mr. Arzani goes on to say.
Injuries caused by a California car accident can be severe. A personal injury lawsuit for damages against those responsible for causing the crash can be a great way to get the much needed financial support you require to get back to your day-to-day life. Make sure to consult your doctor and attorney before returning to work. Injuries that car accident victims often seek to recover compensation for include:
Traumatic brain injury;
Spinal cord injury;
Internal organ damage;
Internal bleeding;
Loss of limbs;
Whiplash;
Disfigurement;
Paralysis; and
Death.
What kind of compensation will you be able to ask for in your personal injury lawsuit? The answer is directly related to the kinds of injuries you sustained. These injuries could be physical, emotional, psychological, or even financial. Damages are generally broken down into two categories: economic and noneconomic.
Economic damages are paid to compensate you for verifiable and easily identifiable losses. These often include past and future medical costs, lost wages, projected lost future wages, and costs of property damage repair or replacement. If a loved one is killed in a car accident, families may seek to recover costs associated with the funeral and/or burial of the victim.
Noneconomic damages are paid to compensate you for losses that are more difficult to assign a monetary value. These losses are often very personal and depend on more subjective details. Noneconomic damages may include emotional distress, embarrassment, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and loss of enjoyment of life. If a loved one is killed in a car accident, families may seek to recover costs associated with their own emotional distress, loss of consortium or companionship, and grief.
Why Should I Hire a California Car Accident Attorney After My Accident?
The time following a car accident can be overwhelming. This is especially true if you sustain serious injuries and need to find a way to pay your medical bills. Hiring an attorney can help to reduce the stress you face and maximize the compensation you are able to recover. Attorneys have experience dealing with the complexities of personal injury claims and understand the nuances of the law. Insurance companies will want to take advantage of victims shortly after an accident and prey on a lack of specialized legal knowledge. Hiring an attorney can help to ensure that your rights are protected and that you recover the compensation you deserve – and not a penny less. When you hire an attorney to represent you they may:
Review the police report, photographs of the scene of the accident, and medical evaluations;
Independently investigate the accident;
Consult with experts, including medical professionals and accident recreationists;
Find and interview witnesses;
Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies;
Determine potentially responsible parties;
Research similar cases to help maximize compensation;
Draft compelling legal arguments to persuade defendants and the court; and
Communicate with you and explain the process.
At Citywide Law Group, a trusted Los Angeles personal injury law firm, we do not want to add more stress to a victim’s life after an accident. We understand the financial pressure that often accompanies a car accident. To help ensure that victims are not afraid of seeking legal representation we offer our services on a contingency fee basis. This means that we do not get paid until we recover compensation for you. If you have been injured in a California car accident, contact our office today for a free, no-commitment consultation.
If you have taken a few dance lessons and are starting to get serious about dance, it might be time to purchase a pair of appropriate shoes that will not hurt your feet. A good pair of shoes will help you to dance better and they will last longer.
Here are some tips that will help you choosing the right pair of dance shoes:
They Should Fit Like a Glove
When trying on a pair of dance shoes, ensure that they fit snugly without applying too much pressure on your feet. This will allow you to have better control over your shoes after you break them in. This means that you should go at least half a size down when buying dance shoes.
You can get the right pair of shoes at an affordable price on the internet by visiting sites such as JustforKix.com or similar where you will find well-fitting shoes that will take your dance skills to the next level.
Heel Heights
If you are taking ballroom or Latin dance classes, opt for a heel size of between 1.5 and 3 inches. As a beginner, pay attention to choose a height that gives you the maximum comfort. If you have never worn heels in your life, consider starting with a lower height.
You also have to choose between different heel shapes, including flared and slim. A flared heel is good because it provides more stability. For men’s shoes, a one-inch heel is ideal for ballroom dance styles while a 1.5” is made for Latin dance styles. Unless you are in a dance competition, a one-inch heel is ideal for both dance styles.
Closed Vs. Open Toe
In general, open toe shoes are worn for rhythm and Latin dances like swing and salsa, which require the dancers to point their toes and articulate their feet. With open toed shoes, you will be able to point your toes easily and execute your footwork in a precise manner.
On the other hand, closed shoes are for smooth dances like the foxtrot and waltz.
Unless you have already picked a particular dance, you can choose any shoe style that you like. However, beginners should stick to wearing closed shoes to prevent other beginners from stepping on their toes.
Suede Sole Shoe
For your dance shoes, a suede sole is recommended because it gives traction, allowing you to have more control and feel more balanced. You need to scrub the sole using a wire shoe brush to maintain its rough texture.
Buying Shoes In-Store vs. Online
Whether you buy your shoes in a physical store or online, visit a dance supply shop to try on a similar pair. Because shoe sizes change depending on the brand. Compare different sizes and models to make sure that you have the right fit. Once you do that, you will be able to make online purchases feeling confident they will be the right fit.
Cost
The cost of Latin and ballroom dance shoes ranges between 80 and 300 dollars per pair depending on the quality and brand. For about 200 dollars, you can get a pair of high quality dancing shoes. It is worth to spend a bit more because a high quality pair of shoes will offer more support and last longer.
Maintenance
The number one thing that kills a shoe is moisture. Think about buying a shoe tree that will absorb any moisture from your shoes and maintain their shape. Additionally, if you want to fight shoe odor, get cedar shoe trees.
Keep in mind that dance shoes are not made to last long because of frequent use and the delicate materials they are made of. If you want to extend the life of your shoes, buy two pairs and alternate them.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said he fears of severe flooding as the rains from Tropical Storm Harvey continue to lash the state.
The governor said the cities of Houston and Corpus Christi had already received as much as 20in of rain.
Greg Abbott said another 40in of rain could be due before the storm subsides midweek.
Rescue efforts are being hampered by strong winds and thousands are without power. Two deaths have been confirmed, in the Rockport area and Houston.
In Aransas County, where Rockport is the chief town, a person died in a house fire on August 25.
A woman died in Houston as she drove through flooded streets on August 26.
Houston, the fourth biggest city in the US, could see 2in-3in of a rain an hour on Saturday night, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
According to officials, about 4,500 inmates from prisons south of Houston are being evacuated to other prisons in east Texas because the Brazos River nearby is rising significantly.
Harvey began as a major category 4 hurricane – the first to make landfall in the US in 12 years – before it was downgraded to a tropical storm later on August 26.
Governor Abbott warned of the “potential for very dramatic flooding” from the storm while expanding a declaration of emergency in the state from 30 counties to 50.
He has mobilized 1,800 military personnel to help with rescue and repair operations.
Forecasts say that up to 40in of rain could fall in some areas of the middle and upper Texas coast, the hurricane center (NHC) warned. Such precipitation could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and near water outlets and rivers.
The National Weather Service cautioned that the storm was so severe that many areas could be uninhabitable for months.
Harvey has now mostly moved inland, officials say, with several places already reported to have received well over 10in of rain.
However, coastal areas will also be flooded by storm surges during high tide, the NHC said.
Meteorologist Wendy Wong told the Houston Chronicle that at least seven tornadoes stemming from the hurricane had struck the Houston area between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.
The tornadoes destroyed buildings and homes and are likely to continue throughout Sunday and Monday.
Earlier, Hurricane Harvey made a double landfall: north-east of the city of Corpus Christi initially late on Friday local time, then just north of Rockport a few hours later.
When Harvey struck close to Corpus Christi it had winds of up to 130mph, but by noon its sustained winds had dropped to 70mph – therefore becoming a tropical storm.
It was moving at an extremely low speed – 2mph.
The port of Corpus Christi – which closed on August 24 in preparation for the storm – only received “minor damage”. Its navigation channel is due to reopen after a survey is completed by engineers.
Texas City also expects to open its port within 48 hours.
Utility companies say nearly 300,000 customers have been without electricity.
President Donald Trump has freed up federal aid for the worst-affected areas and Governor Greg Abbott praised the administration for “stepping up”.
In a teleconference with cabinet members, President Trump “emphasized his expectations that all departments and agencies stay fully engaged and positioned to support his number one priority of saving lives”, the White House said.
At least 18 people have been rescued from vessels in distress by Coast Guard helicopters. ABC News has tweeted a video of four people being rescued off the coast of Port Aransas.
Rockport, normally home to about 10,000 people, appears to have been the hardest hit town.
Port Aransas, a city on Mustang Island, near Corpus Christi, is also reported to have extensive damage. Local media reports say a search and rescue operation is under way at a trailer park.
Harvey is the first major storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. It is forecast to meander across south-east Texas until Wednesday.
President Trump is likely to visit Texas early next week, the White House said.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Harvey is the strongest storm to hit the US since Charley in August 2004 and the most powerful to hit Texas since Hurricane Carla in 1961, which killed 34 people.
President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio over his criminal contempt conviction was wrong, Paul Ryan has said.
The top-ranking Republican in Congress said that he did not agree with the decision.
Joe Arpaio, 85, was found guilty after he defied a court order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected immigrants.
The former sheriff said his conviction was “a witch hunt by the Obama justice department”.
Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan is the latest senior politician to condemn Joe Arpaio’s pardon.
His spokesman said in a statement: “Law enforcement officials have a special responsibility to respect the rights of everyone in the United States. We should not allow anyone to believe that responsibility is diminished by this pardon.”
Other prominent Republican critics include Arizona Senator John McCain and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Arizona’s other Republican Senator Jeff Flake also condemned the move as did Democrats and human rights campaigners.
Joe Arpaio’s lawyer Jack Wilenchik said that those critical of his pardon were wrong because he was unfairly prosecuted – there was no jury in his case.
The former sheriff was an eager supporter of Donald Trump’s campaign to become president and backed tougher policies to combat illegal immigration.
In a statement announcing the pardon, his first, President Trump said: “Arpaio’s life and career, which began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the military after the outbreak of the Korean War, exemplify selfless public service.
“Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration.
“Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is a worthy candidate for a presidential pardon.”
Joe Arpaio has said that he may consider running for political office again, despite his age.
He lost a bid for re-election in Arizona’s Maricopa County in November 2016, after 24 years in office.
Joe Arpaio could have faced six months in jail at his sentencing in October.
He served in the US military before he became a police officer – where he quickly acquired a reputation for his anti-immigration stance and tough enforcement tactics.
The viability of the health care system in the UK has been under fire for some time, with pundits along with patient advocacy groups, citizens, and medical providers all adding to the heated discussion. Each month, it seems new data is published that sheds less than optimistic light on the operations of the NHS, and the latest reports are no exception. In July, details about the success of meeting patient wait time targets was released, highlighting the fact that intended marks have been missed consecutively for the past two years. Accident and emergency units (A&E) throughout the system have failed to meet the 95% target of no more than four hours, leaving between 5 and 10% of patients waiting an extended period to receive the care they need.
Although some argue that patient wait times have improved since targets were introduced, the recent data suggests otherwise. The health care system millions of people depend on each year is under a great amount of pressure from external and internal sources, creating an environment where providing the highest quality patient care, including appropriate wait times, is a challenge. The aging population combined with an increased reliance on emergency units for medical issues ranging from acute to severe means patient wait times may not be realistically lowered in the near future. Other moves within the NHS are also plaguing the success of the health care system throughout the country.
A&E Unit Closures
The missed targets for patient wait times are not the only unsettling news coming from the NHS in recent months. Earlier this year, the closure or downgrade of several emergency units was announced, based on a sustainability and transformation plan set in motion last year. The health care system has been working toward more efficiency in its operations as part of a five-year strategic plan, and a two dozen A&E units are on the chopping block as part of the initiative. This drastic change is meant to force patients to rely less on emergency departments and providers for care that could be managed in a primary care facility, ultimately releasing some of the pressure put on already stretched thin units. Consolidating care facilities is planned by staffing non-emergency facilities with GPs, and tapping into the power of recent technology to provide care options within a patient’s home. Because wait time targets include patients being seen for all varieties of illnesses and injuries, the NHS believes that putting more focus on primary care services will help A&E wait times even as several units close.
Each of these strategies is meant to empower patients to take a closer look at the way they view health care, potentially transitioning the country toward a more preventative mindset. In the process, the hope is that the operating costs of hospitals are reduced which then gives way to adding staff, increasing provider pay, and improving the way patients receive medical treatment when it is needed.
The Risk to Patient Care
Even though the shifts within the NHS and specifically the A&E space come from a good place, many are concerned the heavy focus on cost reduction will do little in the realm of patient care quality. A solicitor from a medical negligence firm that handles several accident and emergency claims each year explains that there are more factors to consider in the debate. In the last year, the rate of bed occupancies has reached an all-time high, and that results in delays across the board. Not only are current patients kept in the hospital longer than necessary due to lack of at-home or social care service availability, new patients in need of diagnosis and treatment are left waiting in the wings. Combining these issues with A&E closures means wait times for patients may not hit intended targets any time in the near future, putting patients’ health and well-being at unnecessary risk.
The rapid aging of the population and the increased number of patients seeking care each year are not easily solved issues for any country’s health care system. But the NHS’ focus on reduction of cost under the guise of improved medical care may not prove beneficial to patients in the long run. The A&E closures and downgrades currently taking place have the potential to help shift the population away from seeking urgent treatment for health issues that are less severe, but only time will tell if this transition will ultimately improve the experience patients have when utilising the health care system.
Former Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra fled to Dubai ahead of the verdict in her trial over a rice subsidy scheme, members of her party have said.
Puea Thai Party sources said Yingluck Shinawatra left Thailand last week.
It was revealed on August 25 that Yingluck Shinawatra, who is charged with negligence, had gone abroad but the destination was not known.
When the former prime minister failed to appear in court, an arrest warrant was issued and her bail was confiscated.
Dubai is where her brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, lives in self-imposed exile. He went there to avoid a 2008 jail sentence for corruption.
“We heard that she went to Cambodia and then Singapore, from where she flew to Dubai. She has arrived safely and is there now,” a senior member of the Shinawatras’ party told Reuters.
Deputy national police chief General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul said police had no record of Yingluck Shinawatra leaving the country and were following the matter closely.
Thailand’s Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said Yingluck Shinawatra’s location would “be clear soon”.
Judges have postponed the negligence verdict until September 27.
Yingluck Shinawatra, 50, has denied any wrongdoing in the rice subsidy scheme, which cost Thailand billions of dollars.
If found guilty at the end of the two-year trial, the former prime minister could be jailed for up to 10 years and permanently banned from politics.
Yingluck Shinawatra’s lawyer had requested a delay in the ruling, telling the Supreme Court that she had vertigo and a severe headache and was unable to attend.
However, the court said in a statement that it did not believe she was sick as there was no medical certificate, and that the alleged sickness was not severe enough to prevent her travelling to court.
The statement said: “Such behavior convincingly shows that she is a flight risk. As a result, the court has issued an arrest warrant and confiscated the posted bail money.”
Yingluck Shinawatra posted $900,000 bail at the beginning of her trial.
Thailand’s first female prime minister was impeached in 2015 over the rice scheme by a military-backed legislature, which then brought the legal case.
The scheme, part of Yingluck Shinawatra’s election campaign platform, was launched shortly after she took office.
It was aimed at boosting farmers’ incomes and alleviating rural poverty, and saw the government paying farmers nearly twice the market rate for their crop.
However, it hit Thailand’s rice exports hard, leading to a loss of at least $8 billion and huge stockpiles of rice which the government could not sell.
Though it was popular with Yingluck Shinawatra’s rural voter base, opponents said the scheme was too expensive and open to corruption.
Ex-Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been convicted of criminal contempt, has been pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Joe Arpaio, 85, was found guilty after he defied a court order to stop traffic patrols targeting suspected immigrants. He was due to be sentenced in October.
President Trump had hinted at the pardon at a rally in Phoenix on August 22.
Thanking the president, Joe Arpaio said his conviction was “a political witch hunt by holdovers in the Obama justice department”.
Joe Arpaio tweeted: “Thank you…. for seeing my conviction for what it is.”
“I’m not going away,” he said, while declining to say whether he would run for sheriff again.
President Trump has frequently praised the former sheriff, who is known for his controversial hard-line stance on immigration.
Joe Arpaio appeared on the campaign trail with President Trump in 2016 – describing him as “the law-and-order candidate”.
In a statement announcing the pardon, his first, President Trump said: “Arpaio’s life and career, which began at the age of 18 when he enlisted in the military after the outbreak of the Korean War, exemplify selfless public service.
“Throughout his time as sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration.
“Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now 85 years old, and after more than 50 years of admirable service to our nation, he is a worthy candidate for a presidential pardon.”
Joe Arpaio, who styled himself as “America’s toughest sheriff”, rose to national prominence for his sweeps of undocumented immigrants in Hispanic communities, and for detaining Spanish-speakers under suspicion of being undocumented immigrants.
In July 2017, the former sheriff was found guilty of violating a 2011 order to stop detaining immigrants.
The decision to pardon the former policeman was condemned by Democrats and civil rights groups.
Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said it was “disheartening that [the president] set the bar so very low for his first pardon”.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton called the move a slap in the face for the Latino community and those who had been victimized.
Joe Arpaio, who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, could have faced six months in jail at his sentencing in October.
He served in the US military before he became a police officer – where he quickly acquired a reputation for his anti-immigration stance and tough enforcement tactics.
Joe Arpaio lost a bid for re-election in Arizona’s Maricopa County in November 2016, after 24 years in office.
He famously forced the prisoners to wear pink underwear and socks and old-fashioned black-and-white striped prison jumpsuits. The inmates lived outdoors while enduring sweltering Arizona desert temperatures.
Joe Arpaio also revived chain gangs, including a voluntary one for female prisoners.
