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Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine Approved in UK

Kathryn R. Bown
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Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine Approved in UK

The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has been approved in the UK, paving the way for mass vaccination.

The UK becomes the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine.

Britain’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, says the vaccine, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe to be rolled out.

The first 800,000 doses will be available in the UK from next week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.

People should wait to be contacted by the NHS, he added.

Pfizer Vaccine Appears to Protect 94% of Adults over 65 Years Old

Moderna Vaccine Shows Nearly 95% Protection Against Covid-19

Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

Elderly people in care homes and care home staff are top of the priority list, followed by over-80s and health and care staff.

However, because of the limited stocks and need to store at -70C, the very first vaccinations are likely to take place at hospitals so care home residents may not be immunized until later.

The Pfizer/BioNTech product is the fastest vaccine to go from concept to reality, taking only 10 months to follow the same steps that normally span 10 years.

The UK has already ordered 40 million doses of the free jab – enough to vaccinate 20 million people.

The doses will be rolled out as quickly as they can be made by Pfizer in Belgium, Matt Hancock said, with the first load next week and then “several millions” throughout December.

UK’s PM Boris Johnson said: “It’s the protection of vaccines that will ultimately allow us to reclaim our lives and get the economy moving again.”

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be non-compulsory and there will be three ways of vaccinating people across the UK:

  • Hospitals
  • Vaccination centers
  • In the community, with GPs and pharmacists.

Around 50 hospitals are on stand-by and vaccination centers – in venues such as conference centers or sports stadiums – are being set up now.

Because the initial doses are being delivered to hospitals, which already have the facilities to store the vaccine at -70C, the very first vaccinations are likely to take place at hospital hubs – for care home staff, NHS staff and patients – so none of the vaccine is wasted.

It is thought the vaccination network could start delivering more than one million doses a week once enough doses are available.

The Leadership Life of Andy Miller

Nancy Clayson
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The Leadership Life of Andy Miller
Image source: Wikipedia

For more than 30 years, Andrew Miller has been leading global businesses to their full potential and highest achievements. Serving as CEO for Tandberg and Polycom, Inc., two $1B plus public companies, he has led not only these companies, but numerous others, to exponential milestones.

An Early Career with a Promising Future

Andy began his early leadership career in a big way. Miller successfully led Cisco as Vice President of Sales by taking the business to rapid growth of 1,000 to over 40,000 employees. He not only directed Cisco in sales from $250M to $20B, but also headed the $1.2B flagship unit that first introduced IP Telephony in the US.

Leading Aggressive Growth and Profitability

Placing his focus on the video-enabled communications company, Tandberg, Miller commanded the quadrupling revenues to $400M and global market leadership. Three technology customers were successfully acquired, strong relationships were formed in the investment community, and significant footholds were achieved in major global markets, including Asia-Pacific, under Miller’s guidance. Aside from negotiating strategic alliance agreements with both Cisco and Microsoft while at Tandberg, Miller then set out to direct Monster Worldwide and IPC Systems, Inc. While at these two companies he held P&L responsibility for global sales. He also developed a strategic go-to-market plan to battle emerging global rivals while at the $1.1B business, Monster Worldwide.

Polycom, Inc.’s Complete Transformation

Miller then set forth to lead Polycom’s go-to-market strategy and full redesign of the company’s go-to-market model. By incorporating cloud, virtualized software, and SaaS offerings, he achieved a strategic transformation within the company. Miller was a key force in the growth of Polycom’s $940M business to $1.5B in four short years, in addition to launching a best-in-class collaboration ecosystem that included Microsoft, IDM, and AT&T. Thanks to Miller leading the firm to a strategic rebranding plan, Polycom was later identified as the global leader in unified communications.

Broadsoft Acquisition

After his time at Polycom, Miller broadened his experience by becoming the Board Director and Managing Director for Broadsoft. Throughout his time at Broadsoft, many goals were achieved and exceeded including the execution of M and A for Contract Center allowing for expansion to SP and Enterprise accounts. He also focused on the expansion of federal business opportunities into DOD, civilian, state, and local sectors. Broadsoft’s footprint was then expanded from service provider to enterprise, leading to the $2 billion acquisition of Broadsoft by Cisco.

Focusing on Strategy with Journey Inc.

As a new board of directors and main strategic advisor for Journey Inc., his most recent venture will concentrate on leading the executive team in areas focused on policy, investors, and key clients. He aims to help Journey Inc. expand by using his strategic planning expertise while growing the profitability of the organization.

A Leader for Decades to Come

Andy Miller has been hard at work transforming multinational companies to their full potential for the past 30 years. It’s crucial to have a respected and accomplished CEO in place to ensure success. For many businesses, Andy has been this person.

This or That? How to Make Healthier Food Choices at Work

Dana R
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This or That? How to Make Healthier Food Choices at Work

The working day can be filled with stress, and, what helps stress? Food. When you are at work it can be super difficult to get out of a routine of instant ramen, fast food and vending machine snacks. Here are some small changes that you can make to start to make healthier choices at work.

Eat a filling breakfast

You know what they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why do so many of us skip it? We have all been guilty of running out of the house with only a coffee in hand, making our commute to work with nothing in our stomachs. A filling breakfast can enhance productivity, and it can be as simple as adding a breakfast berry-and-granola smoothie to your morning routine.

Take a simple, healthy lunch from home

This may seem like a lot of effort, but you can very easily make your lunchtime meals in advance for the whole week in bulk. You could batch cook a load of veggie-filled soup or make a few different salads. You could even make a wrap with leftovers from dinner. Keep it simple and keep it healthy.


https://www.pexels.com/photo/variety-of-dishes-1640771/

Make the most of your breaks

As many as 82% of us admit that we don’t always take our breaks at work, instead opting to eat convenience foods at our desks while we catch up on work. However, not only does the food you consume matter, but the way in which you eat it too!

Taking a moment to appreciate our food and have a breath of fresh air can actually make incredible changes to our mental attitude. It is equally important to be healthy and happy. A wellbeing program can help you to create positive behavioral change with nutrition, healthy habits, fitness, weight management, and overall wellbeing.

https://pixabay.com/photos/lunch-box-picnic-sandwich-200762/

Pack your own snacks

Workplace vending machines have been the downfall of diets since the dawn of time. No matter what your reasoning for eating healthily, make sure to pack some healthy snacks for if you get ‘peckish’ and tempted with your mid-afternoon cuppa’.

Drink lots of water

Getting enough water a day is very important for the health of your body. Water helps your body regulate temperature, lubricate and cushion your joints, protects your spinal cord, and gets rid of nasty stuff like toxins. It is recommended we drink about 2 litres, or around 8 glasses of water a day.

This may seem like a lot until you think about how many bottles of fizzy drinks you get from the vending machine! Try to choose water over sugary drinks and sodas. You could also try drinking black coffee or tea, flavoured water, or sparkling water as an alternative way to get your daily water intake. These are relatively low, or no, calories, but should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.

Just try your best

All you can do is try your best. Some days you might want fries- and that is okay once in a while! Eating a balanced diet does not mean anything is off limits: everything is fine as long as it’s in moderation.

Trump Pardons Investigated over Secret Lobbying Scheme

Diane A. Wade
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Trump Pardons Investigated over Secret Lobbying Scheme

The DoJ is looking into claims that lobbyists have tried to use bribes to secure a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump, unsealed court papers show.

They say that in August investigators began investigating a “secret lobbying scheme” possibly involving attempts to contact White House officials.

The redacted filings do not give any names, but the DoJ says no government official is being probed.

President Trump tweeted: “Pardon investigation is Fake News!”

It is common for outgoing presidents to use their right to issue pardons, which wipe out convictions.

Donald Trump – who is due to leave office in January, although he is still contesting his election defeat in the courts – has used the procedure a number of times.

Last week, President Trump pardoned Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

President Donald Trump Pardons Ex-Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Meanwhile, media say President Trump has been discussing the possibility of pardoning family members.

The document released by a federal court in Washington DC on December 1 relates to a request by the DoJ to use emails and other communications seized in a bribery-for-pardon inquiry.

The data, prosecutors say in the paper, points to potential “criminal activity”.

According to prosecutors, individuals – whose identities are redacted – appear to have “acted as lobbyists to senior White House officials without complying with the registration requirements” for such activity.

Their aim, according to the papers, may have been to secure “a pardon or reprieve of sentence” for another unidentified individual.

According to the documents, prosecutors in August sought a court order “so that the investigative team [could] access” the communications and confront the suspects.

It is unknown who the people targeted were.

On December 1, the DoJ said: “No government official was or is currently a subject or target of the investigation disclosed in this filing.”

According to the Pew Research Center, President Trump has so far been less enthusiastic in using his right to grant clemency than any of his recent predecessors.

President Barack Obama, whom Donald Trump replaced in 2013, granted 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations – the most since President Harry Truman in the 1940s and 1950s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIIiqhUVN04

Ultimate Checklist for Hiring a Contractor in New Mexico

Nancy Clayson
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Ultimate Checklist for Hiring a Contractor in New Mexico
Image by Zahid Hasan from Pixabay

Hiring a contractor will save you time, energy, and effort in dealing with how to build your new home. However, sometimes this is not the case especially if you make the mistake of choosing someone who isn’t really up to the task. Yes, I’m saying this right from the start because ultimately, you have to take responsibility for the kind of person or company that you would hire to lead this important life project.

So to avoid the hassle and headache of choosing the wrong contractor (especially if you’re living in New Mexico), I’ve listed down a complete checklist of things you need to consider before you sign any paperwork to get started!

License

Contractors in New Mexico must be licensed with the CID in order to get any legitimate projects. So be wary of those who can’t even show you proof of their license before getting started. Having a license ensures you of a particular contractor’s experience in building homes, buildings, and other structures. I know it might be a bit more pricey, but it’s worth the cost if your home or structure stands the test of time.

Call the Better Business Bureau

If the potential contractor does show you a license but you’re not that convinced, you can contact the Better Business Bureau and check if their business is listed in the agency. It’s always a good practice to look at the BBB’s list of legitimate businesses in your area before making any deals with someone. This is very important for anyone who wants to make it a point to hire the right guys for the job.

Well-written contract

Now that you’ve established the authenticity of the company you’re going to work with, it’s time to draft your contract. The contract is an important part of your project because it details the extent of liability that your contractor has. The same goes for you. The contract can stipulate how long the project will last, how much is the cost, and other important designs.

Be sure to check this thoroughly before signing the agreement. If you’re not aware of some legal terms, you can also have it checked with a lawyer to make sure you won’t get shortchanged. Remember to put in a cancellation provision and any extension of work for reasons like natural calamities and shipment delays.

Keep in mind that the contract is meant to protect you and the contractor so don’t neglect reading through it thoroughly.

Ask for a warranty

While New Mexico doesn’t really require licensed contractors to provide warranties, you may want to ask your contractor about this still. Why? Well, of course, it protects you from possible issues arising from the work for a good amount of time after project completion. Your contractor will likely agree, especially if he’s pretty confident about his workmanship.

Proof of insurance

Aside from the warranty, you must also know if your contractor protects his work and his workers, too. You can be aware of this by asking for proof of insurance from your contractor. This adds an additional layer of security for the work the company will be doing for you.

Inspect quality work and materials used

While everything looks good on paper and with the BBB, you still have to visit the construction site from time to time to inspect how the work is going and what materials are being used during construction. Good contractors will display a good sense of rhythm during work hours and it will show how efficient they work and the quality of materials they are using and you won’t find that out if you’re just going to wait for the project to be finished.

If all these conditions have been met, then there is no reason for you not to engage with this specific contractor for a long time. You can even recommend the company to your friends and family to make sure that they, too, are getting the same excellent quality service in New Mexico.

Germany: Four Died as Car Ploughs Through Pedestrian Zone in Trier

Nancy Clayson
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Germany: Four Died as Car Ploughs Through Pedestrian Zone in Trier
Image source: Wikipedia

Four people including a nine-month-old baby have been killed after car has ploughed through a pedestrian area in the German city of Trier, police say.

The driver, a 51-year-old local man, has been arrested. The prosecutor said the suspect had drunk a significant amount of alcohol.

Authorities said they were not working on the assumption that the incident was politically or religiously motivated.

Trier’s mayor described the scene as “horrible”.

Witnesses said people screamed in panic and some were thrown in the air by an SUV travelling at high speed in Trier’s Fleischstrasse pedestrianised street, near the city’s famous Roman gate, the Porta Nigra.

The incident happened at around 13:45 local time, and the suspect drove for 0.6 mile “hitting people at random on his way” before being stopped by a police car, Trier police spokesman Karl-Peter Jochem said earlier.

The victims were two women, aged 25 and 73, a 45-year-old man and a nine-month-old baby.

Breitscheidplatz Truck Attack: Urgent Manhunt Under Way Across Europe for Suspect

Munich Attack: Gunman Obsessed With Mass Shootings

Footage posted on social media appeared to show the presumed driver being held by several officers next to the damaged car. Police have been questioning the suspect, who was alone, and has been identified by German media as Bernd W.

Initial indications “suggest that psychiatric problems possibly played a role”, prosecutor Peter Fritzen told reporters. The man did not have a criminal record, had no fixed address and was living in the car, which had been lent to him by someone else.

Earlier, Mayor Wolfram Leibe said up to 15 people had been injured, some of them seriously.

He said at a news conference: “We [had] a driver who ran amok in the city… I just walked through the city centre and it was just horrible. There is a trainer lying on the ground, and the girl it belongs to is dead.”

Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement: “The news from Trier is very sad. My sympathy goes to the relatives of people who were torn from their lives so suddenly and forcibly. I also think of those who have suffered severe injuries and I wish them much strength.”

Trier is a medieval city of around 110,000 people and 450-mile west of Berlin, near the border with Luxembourg. A Christmas market that is usually held in the area was cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but shops were open.

The incident brought back memories of the 2016 attack in Berlin when an Islamist militant drove a hijacked truck into a Christmas market in 2016, killing 12 people and injuring dozens of others. He was shot dead by Italian police four days later.

Trump Coronavirus Adviser Dr Scott Atlas Resigns

Diane A. Wade
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Trump Coronavirus Adviser Dr Scott Atlas Resigns
Image source: Getty Images

Dr. Scott Atlas, President Donald Trump’s controversial special adviser on the coronavirus, has resigned.

Thanking President Trump for the honor of serving the American people, Dr. Atlas said he had “always relied on the latest science and evidence without any political consideration or influence”.

During his four months in the role, Dr. Atlas questioned the need for masks and other measures to control the pandemic.

He also repeatedly clashed with other members of the coronavirus task force.

Dr. Scott Atlas, a radiologist and senior fellow at Stanford University’s conservative Hoover Institution, joined the task force in August. As well as questioning the usefulness of masks he was against lockdowns and supported herd immunity as a strategy to deal with the outbreak.

He sparked further controversy last month when he tweeted “people rise up” in response to new restrictions imposed in Michigan.

Dr. Atlas’ tweet came just weeks after it emerged Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was the subject of an alleged kidnapping attempt by militia members opposed to virus mitigation efforts.

Public health officials – including top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci – had accused Dr. Atlas of giving President Trump misleading information about the spread of the virus.

As of November 29, the number of Covid-19 cases recorded in November in the US surpassed four million, double the figure recorded in October.

Academics at Stanford University welcomed Dr. Atlas’ resignation, saying it was “long overdue and underscores the triumph of science and truth over falsehoods and misinformation”.

President Trump Admits He Downplayed Coronavirus, Bob Woodward’s Book Reveals

Coronavirus: President Trump Claims He Saw Evidence Virus Started In China Lab

Fox News said Dr. Atlas had joined the administration on a 130-day contract, which was set to expire this week.

In his resignation letter, carried by Fox, Dr. Atlas said his advice had “always focused on minimizing all the harms from both the pandemic and the structural policies themselves, especially to the working class and poor”.

He also spoke of the “free exchange of ideas that lead to scientific truths”, adding: “Indeed, I cannot think of a time where safeguarding science and the scientific debate is more urgent.”

President-elect Joe Biden has taken a markedly different stance to his predecessor, urging everyone to wear masks and pledging a bedrock of science to his policy on tackling the pandemic.

Japan: Crown Prince Fumihito Approves Princess Mako’s Wedding

Lisa.Felice
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Japan: Crown Prince Fumihito Approves Princess Mako’s Wedding
Image source Wikimedia

Japan’s Crown Prince Fumihito said he “approves” of Princess Mako’s long-postponed plans to marry her university boyfriend, media reports say.

The crown prince’s daughter was originally set to wed non-royal Kei Komuro in 2018, a year after they announced their engagement.

The palace later denied the delay was linked to Kei Komuro’s mother’s rumored financial problems.

However, Prince Fumihito reiterated the money issues must be dealt with first, according to Kyodo news agency.

“In order for many people to be convinced and celebrate (the marriage), I have said it is important for the issue to be dealt with,” said Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito and the first in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

“From my point of view, I think they are not in a situation where many people are convinced and pleased (about their marriage),” Crown Prince Fumihito, also known as Crown Prince Akishino, added.

Princess Mako of Japan Announces Engagement to Commoner Kei Komuro

Princess Mako of Japan to Lose Royal Status after Marrying A Commoner

Kei Komuro, who is currently completing further studies at Fordham University’s law school in New York, according to Kyodo, said last year his family had no financial difficulties.

He said the issue of an unpaid loan to his mother’s ex-fiancé had been settled. But the former fiancé told local media the issue was unresolved.

It is unclear when the couple, both 29, will hold their ceremony. Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko, will be stripped of her royal status upon marriage to Kei Komuro.

However, earlier this month Princess Mako expressed her strong resolve to go ahead with the wedding, local media said.

Crown Prince Fumihito has now also backed it.

“The constitution says marriage shall be based only on the mutual consent of both sexes. If that is what they really want, then I think that is something I need to respect as a parent,” he said, according to Kyodo, Japan’s leading news agency.

Joe Biden Fractures His Foot while Playing with His Dog

Nancy Clayson
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Joe Biden Fractures His Foot while Playing with His Dog
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Joe Biden has fractured his foot while playing with one of his dogs, his doctor has announced.

The president-elect twisted his ankle on November 28 when he slipped while with Major, one of his two German shepherds.

Joe Biden visited an orthopedist in Newark, Delaware, a day later “out of an abundance of caution”.

His personal physician, Kevin O’Connor, said initial x-rays did not show an “obvious fracture”, but ordered a more detailed CT scan.

The subsequent scan found that the 78-year-old had suffered “hairline fractures” of two small bones in the middle of his right foot, the doctor said.

Dr. O’Connor said: “It is anticipated that he will likely require a walking boot for several weeks.”

On November 29, President Donald Trump tweeted: “Get well soon!”

Joe Biden, who beat President Trump in November’s election, is due to receive his first presidential daily briefing on November 30. This was made possible by the announcement a week ago that the transition process had begun.

Joe Biden will become the oldest US president to take office after he’s inaugurated on January 20 next year.

Given this, his health is expected to be watched closely by allies and opponents.

Dr. O’Connor described him as “healthy, vigorous” and “fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency” in a medical report released last December.

Joe Biden is set to bring his two German shepherds – Champ and Major – with him to the White House.

The Democrat and his wife, Jill Biden, fostered Major from a dog shelter in Delaware and made his adoption official in November 2018.

Champ lived with the Bidens on Capitol Hill in Washington DC during Barack Obama’s presidency, when Joe Biden was vice-president.

Diego Maradona’s Doctor Investigated for Possible Manslaughter

Clyde K. Valle
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Diego Maradona’s Doctor Investigated for Possible Manslaughter
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Diego Maradona’s doctor is being investigated by Argentine prosecutors for possible manslaughter following the soccer legend’s death four days ago.

Police in Buenos Aires have searched the house and private clinic of Leopoldo Luque as they try to establish if there was negligence in Diego Maradona’s treatment following surgery.

Maradona died of a heart attack at his home where he was recuperating. He was 60.

Dr. Luque, 39, denies wrongdoing and says he is co-operating with the inquiry.

Diego Maradona had a successful operation on a brain blood clot earlier in November and had been due to be treated for alcohol dependency.

Some 30 police officers raided Dr. Luque’s house on November 29 – with another 30 going into his clinic in the capital Buenos Aires.

The raids were ordered by prosecutors trying to build a picture of Diego Maradona’s last days at home.

Diego Maradona Dies Aged 60

There are suspicions that Maradona’s convalescence at home might not have met the conditions of his discharge from the clinic, such as a 24-hour team of nurses “specialized in substance abuse”, the on-call presence of doctors and a stand-by ambulance equipped with a defibrillator.

Officials want to know how often Dr. Luque went to see Maradona at his house.

In an emotional press conference on November 29, Dr. Luque – who has been described as Maradona’s personal physician – cried, saying he had done all he could to save the life of a friend. He said Maradona had been very sad lately.

At one point, the doctor shot back at reporters: “You want to know what I am responsible for? For having loved him, for having taken care of him, for having extended his life, for having improved it to the end.”

Dr. Luque said he had done “everything he could, up to the impossible”.

Then addressing some of the concerns authorities are looking into, Dr. Luque cast doubt on what his role actually was. ”If you ask me, I’m a neurosurgeon and my job ended. I was done with him,” he said referring to November’s surgery – and insisting Maradona’s convalescence at home was not his responsibility.

“He [Maradona] should have gone to a rehabilitation center. He didn’t want to,” Dr. Luque said, calling the late star “unmanageable”.

Dr. Luque also said he did not know why there was no defibrillator or who was responsible for the fact that there was no ambulance outside Maradona’s house.

He added: Diego “was very sad, he wanted to be alone, and it’s not because he didn’t love his daughters, his family, or those around him”.

Diego Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarter-finals.

He played for Barcelona and Napoli during his club career, winning two Serie A titles with the Italian side. He started his career with Argentinos Juniors, also playing for Sevilla, and Boca Juniors and Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland.

Diego Maradona scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina, representing them in four World Cups.

Trump’s Pennsylvania Lawsuit Rejected by Federal Appeals Court

Diane A. Wade
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Trump’s Pennsylvania Lawsuit Rejected by Federal Appeals Court
Image source: Getty Images

The Trump campaign’s attempt to block President-elect Joe Biden from being declared winner in Pennsylvania has been rejected by a federal appeals court.

The panel of three judges deemed the case was without merit, saying the Trump campaign had not made specific allegations or provided proof.

The ruling is another major setback for Donald Trump in his attempts to overturn the November 3 election.

On November 26, President Trump said he would give way if Joe Biden was declared the winner.

However, on the next day he again made unfounded allegations of “massive voter fraud”, tweeting: “Biden can only enter the White House as President if he can prove that his ridiculous ‘80,000,000 votes’ were not fraudulently or illegally obtained.”

Trump Administration Allows Biden Transition to Begin

Joe Biden Wins Georgia Recount by 12,000 Votes

Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals had been asked to consider a lower court’s decision to dismiss the Trump campaign’s attempts to invalidate millions of mail-in votes in Pennsylvania.

The lower court ruling had paved the way for the battleground state to certify Joe Biden’s win, giving him 20 vital Electoral College votes and effectively the presidency.

In giving the appeal court’s opinion, Judge Stephanos Bibas wrote: “Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so.”

“Charges require specific allegations and then proof. We have neither here,” wrote Judge Bibas, who was nominated by President Trump.

Following the ruling, Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis wrote: “On to SCOTUS!”

The Trump campaign has filed a slew of lawsuits alleging voter fraud in several states, but with little success.

Joe Biden is projected to defeat President Trump 306 to 232 in the US electoral college, which determines who becomes president – far above the 270 he needs to win.

Time is running out as states have until December 8 to resolve election disputes before the Electoral College meets on December 14 to formally declare the victor.

Donald Trump’s refusal to concede has upended the process that normally follows a US election.

However, it is not a requirement for Donald Trump to concede in order for Joe Biden to be sworn in as the 46th US president.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: Iran’s Most Senior Nuclear Scientist Assassinated

Roy Siemens
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Mohsen Fakhrizadeh: Iran’s Most Senior Nuclear Scientist Assassinated
Image source Wikimedia

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran’s most senior nuclear scientist, has been assassinated near Tehran, the country’s defense ministry has confirmed.

He died in hospital after an attack in Absard, in Damavand county.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, has condemned the killing “as an act of state terror”.

Western intelligence agencies believe Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was behind a covert Iranian nuclear weapons program.

Iran insists its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.

However, news of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s killing comes amid fresh concern about the increased amount of enriched uranium that Iran is producing. Enriched uranium is a vital component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.

A 2015 deal with six world powers had placed limits on its production, but since President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, Iran has been deliberately reneging on its agreements.

President Donald Trump Pulls US Out of Iran Nuclear Deal

Are We Safe? Key Facts About The Iran Nuclear Deal People Won’t Tell You

President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to reengage with Iran when he takes over the US presidency in January, despite longstanding opposition from Israel .

Between 2010 and 2012, four Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated and Iran has accused Israel of complicity in the killings.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s name was specifically mentioned in Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s presentation about Iran’s nuclear program in May 2018.

There has been no comment from Israel on the news of the assassination. The Pentagon has also declined to comment, according to Reuters.

In a statement on November 27, Iran’s defense ministry said: “Armed terrorists targeted a vehicle carrying Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, head of the ministry’s research and innovation organization.

“After a clash between the terrorists and his bodyguards, Mr. Fakhrizadeh was severely injured and rushed to hospital.

“Unfortunately, the medical team’s efforts to save him were unsuccessful and minutes ago he passed away.”

Iranian media reports said the attackers opened fire on the scientist in his car.

Fars news agency earlier reported there was a car explosion in Absard town, with witnesses reporting that “three to four individuals, who are said to have been terrorists, were killed”.

Turkey: 337 Given Life Sentences for 2016 Coup Plot Against Erdogan

Roy Siemens
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Turkey: 337 Given Life Sentences for 2016 Coup Plot Against Erdogan
Photo Reuters

337 military officers and others have been given life sentences by a court in Turkey, in one of the biggest trials linked to the 2016 coup attempt.

Air force pilots and army commanders were among the nearly 500 defendants accused of trying to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They allegedly directed the plot from the Akinci air base near Ankara.

President Erdogan says US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen masterminded the plot, which led to mass arrests.

Fethullah Gulen has denied any involvement in the attempted coup in July 2016 that killed 251 people and injured more than 2,000. Presidnet Erdogan was on vacation at the time at a resort.

Thousands of civilians rallied in support of Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a night of turmoil, confronting rogue soldiers and preventing the plotters from seizing power.

The trial began in August 2017, and the charges included seeking to kill President Erdogan and seize key state institutions. Turkey’s biggest court – in Sincan near Ankara – was packed for the verdicts.

Turkey Coup Trial: 104 Army Plotters Sentenced to Life in Prison

Turkey Coup Attempt: More Than 50,000 People Purged by Government

Turkey Coup Attempt: 2,839 Soldiers and Officers Arrested

Officers who conspired against President Erdogan seized aircraft at the Akinci base, taking then chief of staff Gen Hulusi Akar and some other officers hostage.

Former air force commander Akin Ozturk was jailed for life last year for his role in the plot.

The indictment states that 25 pilots in F-16s bombed targets in Ankara, including parliament, which was hit three times, as well as key security buildings. The bombing killed 68 people in Ankara and injured more than 200.

Twenty-five of those in the dock were generals and 10 were civilians.

More than 10 of the military officers – including F-16 fighter pilots – and four civilians got 79 “aggravated” life sentences each. The “aggravated” sentence requires harsher prison terms than for a normal life sentence.

Six were put on trial in absentia, including Fethullah Gulen and Adil Oksuz, a theology lecturer accused of being a key coordinator in the coup plot.

Among those receiving “aggravated” life terms was businessman Kemal Batmaz, accused of assisting Adil Oksuz.

The Hizmet movement led by Fethullah Gulen has been branded a “terrorist” organization by Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He was once an ally of the president, but since the coup attempt the 79-year-old cleric has remained a fugitive in Pennsylvania and Turkey wants his extradition.

President Erdogan carried out a sweeping purge of state institutions after the plot, sacking or suspending more than 100,000 public sector employees, including teachers and judges, who were accused of links to Fethullah Gulen.

There have been many trials of alleged plotters and courts have issued more than 2,500 life sentences.

Video Script & Voice In Harmony? Checkout These Expert Tips

Nancy Clayson
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Video Script & Voice In Harmony? Checkout These Expert Tips
Image source: pxfuel.com

If you’re recording a video with a voice over these tips will help you make sure everything is in sync for a successful result.

If you are about to start recording with a professional voice artist you can ensure that the script and vocals are in harmony by making sure everything is well and truly planned out. Relying on everything working out on the day is a recipe for disaster, especially if your project is on a tight budget. Check out these expert tips to help you get your script and voice actor well in sync, for the perfect video voice over results:

Get Your Direction Right

Your artist can only do so much to interpret your script and needs. Directing them well, gives them the extra details they need to fully bring your words to life. Be prepared to fully guide them so they know what to give you. If you don’t seem like you know what you want, they can only go so far to perform well. If you’re unsure what you want, try working with the voice over service to get a better idea of direction down. That way when the big day comes, you’ll know exactly how to guide your voice actor.

Who Is Your Voice Actor?

You can work with your professional voice over company to ensure you get the right actor for the job. This is a head start as to getting the right tone for your video. Beyond that it can help to create a character for your voice actor. Even if you’re making up the background, it will give your actor more to work with. Are they the angry customer? The theatre guide? The helpful sales person? The more they know, the closer to your idea they can get.

Who Is Your Actor Addressing?

If an actor doesn’t know who a letter they are reading is for, they may interpret the words differently to how you intended them to be read. Let them know who their target audience is. If they know they are reading to, for example, a lonely singleton, talking about a dating app, they may add more hopefulness to their voice. Knowing who they are speaking to will change the tone in their voice for a more targeted performance.

Be Descriptive

Being descriptive can be really helpful for a voice over actor when they are reading your script. This is especially true if you are sending directions through with your script and you won’t be there when they record. Try using words that go further than basic description. For example; instead of feminine, use the words soft, gentle and kind.

Give Examples

Voice recording examples from Youtube or other channels, like this video, can be useful for giving your voice actor something solid to work from. Your professional voice over service should have a library of examples for you to listen to yourself which you can then select for reference.

Set The Mood

You can set the mood for your voice actor with music, recordings of dialogue for the video, or with visuals they can see. Let them have those things before your recording session so they can get into the role beforehand.

Be Clear About Pronunciation

Pronounciation should never be assumed, especially if you have an actor with a regional accent, or if you are using regional dialect. Make extremely specific notes on your script about how things are pronounced and if you are unsure, check those details before the recording. The last thing you want is having to re-record because of multiple mispronunciations that don’t align with your video message.

With the right planning and a great voice over service you can ensure your voice over recording and script are well aligned. The result will hopefully be a fantastic, professional voice over that completely fits with your video script, for a fantastic reception from your target audience.

How Living on Campus at Elevations RTC Provides Outstanding Student Support

James J. Williams
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How Living on Campus at Elevations RTC Provides Outstanding Student Support
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Teenagers who enroll at Elevations RTC are looking for a way to get their lives back on track. Every individual has a story to tell, and on the road to recovery, there is a need for all types of support. There are numerous ways to get help from different areas, but this program’s major selling point is living on campus.

Like attending a small college or going away for camp/boarding school, living on campus in a remote location in Utah with limited distractions can provide numerous benefits. Having a closed campus living situation also helps with receiving proper support. Is it the right decision for all students considering a residential treatment center? The success of graduates speaks for themselves.

A sense of community

Trouble teenagers often find themselves feeling isolated at times. With no one to turn to who might adequately understand what they have been through, teenagers are tempted to go to a dark place.

While on campus, the focus of every single staff member is on setting students up for success. Teachers are fully accredited and bring years of experience working with troubled teens dealing with all sorts of issues. The medical staff keeps track of how students progress based on their initial assessment when they first arrive on campus. Medical assistance or mental health needs are addressed as quickly as possible, never allowing students to have that isolated feeling.

Community goes beyond the staff, as every student has the opportunity to interact with others and create friendships while on campus. All students live in residential halls, and they take advantage of many activities outside of the classroom. Seeing the same people every day can fast forward friendships and allow students to lean on each other in many cases. For some teens, this is the first time they have an opportunity to talk with someone else going through a challenging point in their life. Having someone relatable can give teens a different perspective that helps provide a clearer picture for themselves.

Embracing individualism

It is encouraged to socialize and receive support from peers and staff on campus, but a campus that feels too small and intertwined can have a negative impact. As important as emotional and social support is for students, Elevations RTC also understands that supporting individual time is essential.

Students are encouraged to find areas of focus that are interesting to them. They never have to feel like they must fit in a specific box to have success. Some students might get into music, while others enjoy the arts. Finding a passion that can last a lifetime is one of the best ways to stay on the right track towards long-term success.

Protected from distractions

The campus at Elevations RTC is large enough that students never feel like they are trapped. Some residential treatment centers do not have the resources necessary to give students the necessary options. Without options, eliminating distractions while staying on campus can backfire because there is not enough to do.

Elevation RTC’s campus is close enough for accessibility to Salt Lake City but far enough away that it can feel like its own world for teenagers. This type of isolation can allow for a stronger focus on the significant task at hand. A big goal at Elevations RTC is to create new habits that a person can work with back home. The lack of distractions surrounding the learning process speeds up the capability of forming these habits.

Creating a turning point in life

Teens heading to Elevations RTC have likely tried other methods to turn their life around. It rarely becomes the first option, but eventually, families realize that it is necessary to make a real impact. As soon as a student moves in on campus, it creates a new stage in life.

Living on campus is a way to create a turning point in a teenager’s life. It might not be something apparent initially, but it is a massive decision for a family to send a loved one away for such a long time. When reality sets in, students tend to realize that it is time to be serious.

It is natural for some to be less than thrilled on campus initially, but it becomes what most need as time goes on. Living on campus provides a unique perspective that just can’t be replicated at home, going to therapy, or getting treatment a few hours at a time. This is a fully immersed way of turning life around and getting the necessary help to progress socially and academically.

The time away from home is tough on the family and the teen, which is why Elevations RTC offers different ways for loved ones to stay connected. Even if they are thousands of miles away, they can feel like they are part of the learning process thanks to modern technology. Everything from phone calls with teachers to weekly group meetings with other families provides excellent opportunities to stay engaged.

Moving in at Elevations RTC

The thought of a teenager moving into Elevations RTC seems intimidating at first, but most families wonder why they waited so long to start the process. Having the time to focus on a better life socially and academically can pay enormous dividends in adulthood in a relatively short amount of time. Addressing it sooner rather than later is always best.

Diego Maradona Dies Aged 60

Clyde K. Valle
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Diego Maradona Dies Aged 60
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Soccer legend Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 60.

The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home.

Diego Maradona had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.

He was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the quarter-finals.

In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed “its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend”, adding: “You will always be in our hearts.”

Declaring three days of national mourning, Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez said: “You took us to the top of the world. You made us immensely happy. You were the greatest of them all.

“Thank you for having existed, Diego. We’re going to miss you all our lives.”

Diego Maradona Accuses Claudia Villafane of Stealing $9 Million

Diego Maradona defends Luis Suarez as Giorgio Chiellini brands his ban excessive

Diego Maradona played for Barcelona and Napoli during his club career, winning two Serie A titles with the Italian side.

He scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for Argentina, representing them in four World Cups.

Diego Maradona led Argentina to the 1990 final in Italy, where they were beaten by West Germany, before captaining them again in the US in 1994, but was sent home after failing a drugs test for ephedrine.

During the second half of his career, Diego Maradona struggled with cocaine addiction and was banned for 15 months after testing positive for the drug in 1991.

He retired from professional soccer in 1997, on his 37th birthday, during his second stint at Argentine giants Boca Juniors.

Having briefly managed two sides in Argentina during his playing career, Diego Maradona was appointed head coach of the national team in 2008 and left after the 2010 World Cup, where his side were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals.

Diego Maradona subsequently managed teams in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico and was in charge of Gimnasia y Esgrima in Argentina’s top flight at the time of his death.

Trump Administration Allows Biden Transition to Begin

Diane A. Wade
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Trump Administration Allows Biden Transition to Begin
Image source: Getty Images

President Donald Trump has accepted a formal transition should begin for President-elect Joe Biden to take office.

He said the federal agency overseeing the handover must “do what needs to be done”, even as he vowed to keep contesting his election defeat.

The General Services Administration (GSA) said it was acknowledging Joe Biden as the “apparent winner”.

It came as Joe Biden’s victory in the state of Michigan was officially certified, a major blow to President Trump.

The GSA announcement means the president-elect now has access to top security briefings, office space and government officials as he prepares to take office on January 20.

Joe Biden’s transition website has now changed to a government domain. He will begin announcing the people he wants in the top jobs in his cabinet on November 24.

Biden’s team welcomed the start of the transition process as the Democratic president-elect gears up to be sworn in.

A statement said: “Today’s decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track.”

Earlier, Joe Biden unveiled his nominations for his foreign policy and national security team, consisting of old colleagues from his years in the Obama administration.

Joe Biden Wins Georgia Recount by 12,000 Votes

Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat

CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims

Joe Biden is set to appoint Anthony Blinken as secretary of state and John Kerry as climate envoy, while Janet Yellen is tipped to be the first female US treasury secretary.

The list of selections came ahead of a formal announcement on November 24. Most of the appointments will require Senate confirmation.

President Trump tweeted as the GSA, which is tasked with formally beginning presidential changeovers, informed the Biden camp that it would start the transition process.

GSA administrator Emily Murphy said she was making $6.3 million in funds available to the president-elect.

President Trump said: “In the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.”

However, Donald Trump did not concede and went on to repeat unsubstantiated claims of corruption, pledging to keep up the “good fight”. It is worth noting that Donald Trump does not have to concede for Joe Biden to be sworn in as the 46th US president.

5 Step Guide to Buy Property in Florida

Clyde K. Valle
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5 Step Guide to Buy Property in Florida
Image source: Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

The Sunshine State is Florida’s nickname. A lot of people want to move there. The reasons why this state is so attractive isn’t only the amazing coastline, incredible flora, and fauna, a beautiful climate, but also a great economic situation.

The largest cities in Florida are Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville. This state is a combination of impressive nature and a wealthy economy. Unfortunately, the process of buying a property here may be confused for some people. Fortunately, this 5-step guide below will help you to purchase a home in Florida.

1. Examine Your Finances

Firstly, you need to check your finances and do thorough accounting. You need to examine your savings to discover what amount of money you can spend. If you decide to take a mortgage, you also need to take care of your income and credit score.

In case you’re not good with numbers and always used academic help at college, do not hesitate to hire an accountant.

If there are some negative records in your debt history, it will be hard to lend money for purchasing a property. Also, you should be sure that you’ll have a stable way of income to cover your monthly mortgage payments for the next 15 or more years.

Therefore, if you’re a student, don’t be shy to order assignments online, just tell, “I need help writing a paper?” appears. It will help you increase your college score and get a well-paying job after graduation.

2. Find a Property

Once you’re sure that you want to purchase a property in Florida, start your search. For sure, the most reliable way is to hire a regional representative who knows all ins and outs of this market. Also, you can begin exploring real estate listings and make posts on the Internet. If you want someone to create an engaging post for you, order it online from a writing service but make sure it is a reliable one. So, don’t hesitate to ask: “is speedypaper legit?”

To make the process of finding the best property easier and more straightforward, you should determine what you need at the very beginning. Consider the location, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, design, and other crucial components that the home of your dream should have to narrow your search.

3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Unless you’re not going to use cash to buy a house, you have to get a pre-approval letter. It will confirm your willingness and ability to buy a property to a seller. Note that it is a final step before buying a place.

Since pre-approval requests negatively affect your credit score, you should get it when you are 100% sure that you want to buy a property.

4. Make an Offer

At this step, you can contact a seller and discover if there are any bids. If other people want to purchase a home, you should make a higher offer. Vice versa, if there are no bids yet, you are free to go lower. After this, a seller can confirm your request or send a counteroffer.

It may repeat until you both get satisfied with numbers. Therefore, if you’re getting higher education, don’t hesitate to ask your friends, “Don’t you know someone who can help me write an essay?” to free your schedule and find a compromise with a seller.

Also, don’t forget to inspect a property. If an inspector finds something that requires servicing, you should contact a seller to lower the price to cover extra expenses.

5. Close a Deal

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to pay for your home to move in. A large number of different fees, taxes, and charges may become a surprise for you. Therefore, you need to be ready to spend roughly 3% of a property’s price to cover all the additional expenses.

Helpful Recommendation

The process of getting a property in Florida may seem simple and straightforward. However, if you have zero experience buying property, hire a skilled and experienced real estate agent.

As well as services like papercoach.net that provide academic help to students, a real estate attorney will help you avoid a lot of problems and guide you through all the circumstances.

How to Get More People to Click-Through Your Email?

Diane A. Wade
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How to Get More People to Click-Through Your Email?

The primary goal of businesses using email marketing is to put the word out about their brand and get people to notice and engage with it. If you must be using email marketing for your business, you must have tracked two key metrics- the open rate and the click-through rate. Once you get your email delivered to your subscribers’ inbox and get them to open it, the next crucial step is to get them to engage with your email. The email click-through rate determines how many people engage with your emails.

What is Email Click-through Rate?

The click-through rate is the number of email recipients who click on at least one of the links on your email. It is among the most significant metrics that decides the success of your email marketing campaign. A reasonable click-through rate means your email is relevant to your subscribers, and they are engaging with it. According to a benchmark report by Mailchimp experts, the average click rate for all industries is 2.62%.

It would help if you improved your email open rate before you focus on improving the click-through rate. To improve your open rate, you need to get people to opt-in to your list voluntarily, use a reputable email address and sender name, and use enticing subject lines that make people curious to know more about what’s inside the email.

Further, to get them to click-through the links or CTA, you need to create emails that your subscribers find useful and engage with. Here are some ways to get more people to click through your email.

Relevant and Personalized Content

In order to get people to click-through, you need to send emails that are relatable to them. It is therefore crucial to send targeted and specific content to your subscribers. This can be done by dividing your subscriber list into smaller, specific segments and creating highly relevant and personalized content for each segment. Ask them questions that tell you about their preferences and interests during the opt-in and use the information collected to create relevant content.

Check out this example from Bespoke Post that asks the users to fill out their preferences by answering a few questions to send them customized content.

Source: Really Good Emails

Effective Links and CTAs

A clear and effective CTA is the key to win more clicks. Refrain from using cliched copies like “Click Here” or “Buy Now” and get innovative to prompt the subscribers to take action. The placement of the CTA also plays a vital role in improving the click rates. Make it prominent by placing it above the fold and use contrasting colors for the CTA buttons and links to make it accessible for everyone. Apart from these, add social sharing icons in your email to boost engagement and increase the chances of clicks.

Here’s an example from the brand B&Q. It uses creative text and bright colors for the CTAs that make them stand out throughout the email.


Source: Really Good Emails

Do you want to create such appealing emails for your brand? Try Mailchimp email templates, Salesforce templates, and Pardot templates that follow the email design best practices and help you deliver awesome emails that get clicked.

Proper Formatting and Layout

Get the email layout and formatting right to get people to read it entirely and click through it. Since more people read emails on their mobile phones, it is essential to use a single column layout that renders well on multiple screen sizes and devices. Use short and concise paragraphs and align the text properly. Moreover, make use of proper white space to improve the readability of your email.

Check out this well-formatted email from the brand Ritual. The copy is short and concise and the important parts of the message are highlighted in larger fonts.

Source: Really Good Emails

Send at the Right Time

The email send time and frequency plays an important role in getting your subscribers to notice and click through your emails. Following the email marketing triad of conveying the right message at the right time to the right person is important to improve the click-through rates. Get your timing right by experimenting on various send times and A/B testing, and find out what works best for your campaign.

A/B Test your Emails

Once you have your email ready, run several A/B tests to ensure all the elements are on point. Through A/B testing, you can evaluate multiple versions of your email and track engagement to see which version of your email drives the most results. It helps you test for several variations of email content, images, layout, CTA, send timing, etc. and improve the open rates and click-through rates.

Wrapping Up

Incorporating the above points in your emails will lead to better click-through rates and help you win more sales. Moreover, it is also important to maintain a healthy email list by removing inactive subscribers and giving them an option to unsubscribe whenever they want.

Which tactics have worked in successfully increasing your email click-through rates? According to Email Uplers to get the higher email click through rate businesses should create good subject lines, customized email templates with CTA and a high converting landing pages to boost the ROI.

Donald Trump Jr Tests Positive for Covid-19

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump Jr Tests Positive for Covid-19
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Donald Trump Jr. has tested positive for coronavirus, according to his spokesman.

President Donald Trump’s oldest son was diagnosed at the start of this week and has been quarantining at his hunting cabin since the result, the spokesman said.

The statement said: “He’s been completely asymptomatic so far and is following all medically recommended Covid-19 guidelines.”

Donald Trump Jr., 42, is the second of the president’s children to test positive.

Barron Trump, 14, was also diagnosed last month, but made a swift recovery.

A firebrand speaker, Don Jr. played a major role in his father’s presidential campaign.

There has also been speculation that Donald Jr. is interested in running for the White House, conjecture he hasn’t tried to tamp down.

His partner, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host, tested positive for the disease in July, and also recovered. He apparently did not contract the infection at the time.

Barron Trump Had Covid-19, First Lady Confirms

Earlier on November 20, Andrew Giuliani, a special assistant to President Donald Trump, announced he had tested positive for coronavirus.

Andrew Giuliani, the son of the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, tweeted that he was experiencing mild symptoms after receiving his positive test on November 20.

According to CBS News, at least four other White House aides have tested positive for Covid-19 in a new outbreak there.

Earlier this month, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows was among several aides who tested positive for the infection. https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.36.3/iframe.html President Trump spent three nights in hospital at the beginning of October after being hit by Covid-19. First Lady Melania Trump also had a bout of the infection.

Last month, Donald Trump Jr. was criticized for downplaying the US coronavirus death toll.

In an interview with Fox News, he argued that the media was focusing on the caseload, while ignoring the mortality rate.

Donald Trump Jr. said: “I was like, ‘Well, why aren’t they talking about deaths?’ Oh, oh, because the number is almost nothing. Because we’ve gotten control of this, and we understand how it works.”

The virus has infected 11.8 million Americans and killed more than 253,000.

On November 20 alone, 192,000 people tested positive for coronavirus, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

Pfizer Applies for Covid-19 Vaccine Approval in US

Kathryn R. Bown
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Pfizer Applies for Covid-19 Vaccine Approval in US

Pfizer and BioNTech are filing for emergency authorization in the US of their Covid-19 vaccine on Friday, November 20.

The FDA will decide if the vaccine is safe to roll out.

It is not clear how long the FDA will take to study the data. However, the US government expects to approve the vaccine in the first half of December.

Data from an advanced trial showed the vaccine protects 94% of adults over 65.

Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s trial involved 41,000 people worldwide. Half were given the vaccine, and half a placebo.

If FDA authorization does come in the first half of next month, Pfizer and BioNTech will “be ready to distribute the vaccine candidate within hours”, the two companies said.

This would be remarkably quick for vaccine development – within 10 months of detailing the genetic code. The average wait for approval in the US is nearer eight years.

On November 19, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that the filing for emergency use was a “milestone in our journey to deliver a Covid-19 vaccine to the world”.

Initial doses would be scarce, though, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) will decide who is first in line.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU could move quickly too – by the end of the year.

Pfizer Vaccine Appears to Protect 94% of Adults over 65 Years Old

Moderna Vaccine Shows Nearly 95% Protection Against Covid-19

Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

Data released this week suggested the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine had 95% effectiveness.

This effectiveness was also consistent across age groups – essential given the vulnerability of the elderly – as well as ethnicities and gender.

The vaccine also had only mild-to-moderate and short-lived side-effects.

It uses an experimental approach, called mRNA, which involves injecting part of the virus’s genetic code into the body to train the immune system.

Antibodies and T-cells are then made by the body to fight the coronavirus.

The US this week passed 250,000 deaths in the coronavirus outbreak, by far the largest number in the world.

Its confirmed cases since the pandemic began stand at 11.7 million, according to Johns Hopkins University research, again a global first.

Cases have also been soaring over the past week, reaching record daily highs.

Joe Biden Wins Georgia Recount by 12,000 Votes

Diane A. Wade
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0
Joe Biden Wins Georgia Recount by 12,000 Votes
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

President-elect Joe Biden has won Georgia by 12,284 votes, according to the audit required by state law.

His narrow victory in Georgia will be officially certified by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

It comes as legal efforts by President Donald Trump’s allies to challenge his defeat were dismissed in three other states.

On November 20, Brad Raffensperger said he was disappointed that his party lost but that “numbers don’t lie”.

Joe Biden is set to take office in January as the 46th US president.

His victory margin in the public vote overall stands at more than 5.9 million. His victory in the Electoral College system is projected to be 306 to 232 – far above the 270 he needs to win.

President Trump has so far refused to concede and has made allegations of widespread electoral fraud, without providing any evidence.

The latest defeat comes as he has summoned Michigan state lawmakers to the White House on November 20 ahead of that state’s deadline to certify election results.

White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany denied that President Trump was holding a campaign “advocacy meeting” with the lawmakers, saying it was instead a routine check-in with local officials.

On November 19, Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger – who oversees the election process – said the hand audit of ballots had not altered Joe Biden’s victory in the state.

He said in a statement: “Georgia’s historic first statewide audit reaffirmed that the state’s new secure paper ballot voting system accurately counted and reported results.”

On November 20, the self-proclaimed Trump supporter went on to say: “Like other Republicans. I’m disappointed, our candidate didn’t win Georgia’s electoral votes.

“I live by the motto that numbers don’t lie. As secretary of state, I believe that the numbers that we have presented today are correct.”

Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat

CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims

Trump Still Planning Legal Challenges in Key States

The Democrats’ victory is their first in a presidential race in Georgia since Bill Clinton was elected in 1992.

The recount found the error rate was no greater than 0.73% in any county and Joe Biden’s margin of victory over Donald Trump remained at under 0.5%. The results will be certified on November 20.

Trump campaign senior legal adviser Jenna Ellis said the audit had gone “exactly as we expected” because, she said without evidence, the state had recounted illegal ballots.

Gabriel Sterling, a Republican who serves as Georgia’s voting system implementation manager, told CNN on Thursday: “One of the big complaints is these machines somehow flipped votes or changed votes or did stuff. They didn’t, at least not in Georgia. We proved it.”

During the audit this week, nearly 6,000 untallied votes were found – paring back Joe Biden’s lead slightly – but they were the result of human error and not fraud, Gabriel Sterling said.

Officials in Floyd County have fired their election manager over the matter, local media reported on November 19.

He was speaking after a virtual meeting with governors, including Democrats and Republicans, about the coronavirus crisis.

Asked about President Trump’s lack of concession, Joe Biden said the president was sending “incredibly damaging messages… to the rest of the world about how democracy functions” and that he would be remembered “as being one of the most irresponsible presidents in American history”.

Republicans lost their final lawsuit in Georgia as a court rejected their effort to block the results’ certification, which happened on November 20. The judge who dismissed the case was appointed by President Trump last year.

In Arizona, a judge rejected a lawsuit filed last week by the state Republican Party seeking a new audit of ballots in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix – the state capital and largest city.

In Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign lost their bid in state court to throw out more than 2,000 postal ballots.

At a briefing on November 19, Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani continued to lay out unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and accusations of electoral fraud.

He railed against the reporting of his team’s legal challenges, saying the media had shown an “irrational pathological hatred for the president”.

Rudy Giuliani also said the campaign was withdrawing its last remaining lawsuit in Michigan. He said it had achieved its aim of stopping the certification of the result in one key county.

Mike Pompeo Visits Israeli Settlement in West Bank and Golan

Roy Siemens
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Mike Pompeo Visits Israeli Settlement in West Bank and Golan
Image source Wikimedia

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made an unprecedented visit to Psagot, a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank – the first such visit by a top US official.

The trip to Psagot came a year after Mike Pompeo said the settlements did not contradict international law, reversing a long-held US position.

The declaration outraged Palestinians, who oppose settlements on land they claim for a future independent state.

Mike Pompeo later paid a similar visit to the occupied Golan Heights.

Last year, President Donald Trump officially recognized Israeli sovereignty over the strategic plateau, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in 1981.

President Trump is a close ally of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and analysts say Mike Pompeo’s actions could be seen as a valedictory gesture before he and the president leave the world stage.

The secretary of state arrived in Israel on November 18 for what is likely to be his last trip to Israel before leaving office in January.

After meeting PM Netanyahu in Jerusalem on November 19, he announced that the state department would declare as anti-Semitic the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which campaigns for a complete boycott of Israel over its policies towards the Palestinians.

Israel says that BDS opposes the country’s very existence and is motivated by anti-Semitism. BDS rejects the charge, saying Israel is using it as a cover for its actions.

President Donald Trump: Israeli Settlements Could Complicate Peace Process with Palestinians

Israeli Settlements: UN Condemns Plans to Build 2,500 More Homes in West Bank

Israeli Settlements: PM Benjamin Netanyahu Condemns as Biased John Kerry’s Speech

Mike Pompeo also told reporters that “for a long time the state department took the wrong view of settlements” in the West Bank.

He said: “It took a view that didn’t recognize the history of this special place and instead now today the United States department of state stands strongly to the recognition that settlements can be done in a way that’s lawful and appropriate and proper.”

Mike Pompeo then travelled by helicopter to the Psagot winery, in a Jewish settlement close to Ramallah.

More than 600,000 Jews live in about 140 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Pfizer Vaccine Appears to Protect 94% of Adults over 65 Years Old

Kathryn R. Bown
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Pfizer Vaccine Appears to Protect 94% of Adults over 65 Years Old

Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine appears to protect 94% of adults over 65 years old.

More data released from their ongoing phase three trial suggests the vaccine works equally well in people of all ages, races and ethnicities.

The companies say they will now apply for authorization for emergency use of the jab in the US.

The findings are based on two doses given to more than 41,000 people around the world.

Last week, Pfizer and BioNTech published preliminary data showing the vaccine offered 90% protection against Covid-19 and there were no safety concerns.

This was followed by impressive data on another vaccine, made by US company Moderna, suggesting nearly 95% protection.

November 18 data from Pfizer and BioNTech, which builds on last week’s data, suggests the vaccine is 95% effective based on 170 cases Covid-19 developing in volunteers.

Just eight were in the group given the vaccine, suggesting it offers good protection. The rest of the cases were in the placebo group given a dummy jab.

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Scientists said the data was further encouraging news.

Although the full trial data has yet to be published, the companies say there have been no serious safety concerns.

However, they did notice headaches and fatigue in about 2% of volunteers given the vaccine, although older people seemed to experience minimal side effects.

There is also evidence that the vaccine protects against severe Covid – but this is based on only 10 cases.

It’s still unclear how long protection from the vaccine lasts and if it stops people transmitting the virus.

In the trial, 42% of all participants are from diverse ethnic backgrounds and 41% are aged between 56 and 85 years old.

The trial, which is testing people at 150 sites in the US, Germany, Turkey, South Africa, Brazil and Argentina, will collect data on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for another two years.

Pfizer and BioNTech expect to produce up to 50 million doses of the vaccine this year and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021.

There are hundreds of vaccines in development around the world, and about a dozen in the final stages of testing, known as phase three.

The first two to show any results – made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna – both use an experimental approach, called mRNA, which involves injecting part of the virus’s genetic code into the body to train the immune system.

Antibodies and T-cells are then made by the body to fight the coronavirus.

Russia’s Sputnik vaccine has also released early data from phase three based on a smaller number of volunteers and Covid cases.

There are some logistical challenges with mRNA vaccines, namely the need to store them at cold temperatures.

The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at around minus 80C, although it can be kept in a fridge for five days.

Moderna’s vaccine needs to be stored at minus 20C for up to six months and kept in a standard fridge for up to a month.

Hurricane Iota Hits Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast as Category Four Storm

Diane A. Wade
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Hurricane Iota Hits Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast as Category Four Storm
Image source: Wikipedia

Hurricane Iota has brought torrential rains and strong winds to Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, two weeks after another devastating storm hit.

Iota made landfall as a category four storm near the town of Puerto Cabezas, where patients had to be evacuated from a makeshift hospital after its roof was ripped off.

Residents are in shelters, and there are fears of food shortages.

Iota has weakened and Honduras is expected to be hit on November 17.

According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Iota was now a category two storm, but warned it could bring life-threatening storm surges, catastrophic winds, flash flooding and landslides.

The hurricane struck Nicaragua on November 16 with sustained winds of nearly 155mph , the NHC said. It strengthened at sea to a category five storm but it weakened as it made landfall.

In Puerto Cabezas, also known as Bilwi, Iota damaged wooden homes, flooded streets and cut off electricity. Residents said the wind ripped away the roofs of houses “like they were made of cardboard”.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Nicaraguan officials said around 40,000 people had been evacuated from areas in the storm’s path.

“[Iota] is the strongest hurricane that has touched Nicaraguan soil since records began,” said Marcio Baca, director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Earth Studies.

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Hurricane Iota is forecast to move inland across the country before hitting southern Honduras. The effect of the rains could be particularly devastating in areas already drenched by Hurricane Eta. Iota made landfall just 15 miles south of where Eta hit on November 3.

In Honduras, officials said at least 50,000 people had been removed from high-risk areas. Speaking at a news conference on November 16, President Juan Orlando Hernández warned: “What’s drawing closer is a bomb.”

Before reaching Central America the storm moved past the Colombian island of Providencia in the Caribbean, cutting off electricity and killing at least one person, officials said.

Colombian President Iván Duque said 98% of the infrastructure in Providencia, home to around 5,000 people, had been damaged.

Iota is the strongest Atlantic hurricane of the year and only the second November hurricane to reach category five – the last was in 1932.

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