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The Dangers (And Consequences) of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Dana R
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The Dangers (And Consequences) of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

It’s a split-second decision. You’ve been having a great time and now it’s time to go home. You think you’re fine, you only had a few drinks. So, you decide it isn’t worth the hassle to call a ride or stay over.

Driving drunk is one of the worst decisions you’ll ever make. In the state of Texas, there are almost 1,500 deaths due to drunk driving every year. Will this be your last drive?

Here we discuss the dangers, and consequences, of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Lonely and thirsty

How Alcohol Affects Your Ability to Drive

There are a number of different ways alcohol affects your brain and body, even if you’ve only had a few drinks. 

Let’s dive into some specifics about how alcohol impairs all your senses.

Your Brain on Alcohol

The first effects of drinking are on your brain. 

After a single drink, the neurons in your noggin start firing incorrectly. The blocked chemical synapses lead to impulsive behavior, slurred speech, poor memory, and slowed reflexes. 

This means that even if you have only had a couple of drinks you’re already more prone to aggressive driving and less able to avoid a collision.

Heavier drinking leads to long term damage to your brain by eliminating certain signals forever. Continuing to drink regularly and in heavy amounts can also lead to brain shrinkage and a higher probability of death from stroke or other brain disorders.

Your Body on Alcohol

In addition to the brain, the body also goes into a toxic state while drinking. While this helps you let loose and have a great time at a party by making it easier to talk to people it makes it a horrible idea to get behind the wheel.

The physical effects of drinking on your body are a lower core temperature, higher blood pressure, loss of coordination, lack of judgment, and dulled vision. This makes you more likely to miss important road signals or even pass out while behind the wheel.

Continuing a habit of heavy drinking also leads to being at higher risk for a variety of different cancers. From the throat to the liver, to colorectal, and esophageal and everything in between. 

Heavy drinking also leads to irregular heartbeat, higher risk of stroke, and a higher risk of a heart attack. All of these risks get worse when you’ve been drinking so any one of these things could happen behind the wheel.

The Legal Ramifications of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

The first thing people think about when they come up with reasons to not drive while drinking is the potential of DUI/DWI. 

Driving Under the Influence, or Driving While Intoxicated (DUI/DWI)

So, you’ve had those couple drinks and you’re only a couple of miles from home so you decide to drive yourself home. You’re hungry so you decide to swing into the Taco Bell drive-thru to grab a burrito.

A police officer is sitting in the parking lot of the fast-food establishment and watches you take the turn into the drive-thru wide and curb your car. He listens to your order and hears the distinct slur in your words as you ask for your burrito and soda.

When you pull through the police officer puts his lights on and has you pull into a parking spot. What happens next?

The police officer will ask you to blow into a breathalyzer machine to determine your blood alcohol level or BAC. Anything over 0.08 percent, while driving a vehicle, is considered intoxicated.

The police officer will also put you through a series of field sobriety tests. Make you walk a straight line, touch your nose while standing on one foot, etc. All of these will be almost impossible while drunk.

Then you’ll be taken to jail and charged with DUI/DWI. You can face some jail time, a long suspension of your driver’s license, tons of fees, and will usually be forced into an alcohol recovery system such as Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA.

As soon as you can, you’ll want to call a DWI lawyer who specializes in this type of case.

Vehicular Manslaughter

Driving while under the influence of alcohol makes it much more likely that you’ll be in an accident. It’s also likely you’ll walk away from the accident, but the person or people you hit may not be so lucky.

The worst day of your life is realizing you took another human’s life because you couldn’t be bothered to book an Uber. If someone dies in a crash that you caused you can expect a charge of vehicular manslaughter in addition to your DUI case.

In Texas, being found guilty of vehicular manslaughter while drinking can get you up to 20 years in prison. It’s considered a second-degree felony with a guaranteed 2 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Having a Drink? Don’t Get Behind the Wheel, Driving Under The Influence of Alcohol is Not Worth It

We hope this will make you pause the next time you’re heading out to a friend’s house for a party or to the bar to watch the game. There’s no excuse to drive drunk, not in the age of smartphones and ride-sharing apps.

If you know you’ll be drinking take an Uber or Lyft, don’t even bring your car. Don’t tempt yourself. Don’t give yourself an excuse to put you and everyone else on the road at risk.

Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol, period.

Looking for more great content? Check out the rest of our blog.

What Is Impeachment and How Does It Work?

James J. Williams
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What Is Impeachment and How Does It Work?
Image source Wikipedia

Congress can remove a president from office before the end of their term.

Impeachment is the first part – the charges – of a two-stage political process by which Congress can remove a president from office.

While it’s commonly used to mean removing someone from office, it actually refers to the filing of formal charges in Congress.

These charges then form the basis of a trial.

How does the impeachment process begin?

It has to be started by the House of Representatives, which is one of the two chambers of Congress. (The other is the Senate).

A simple majority (51%) needs to vote in favor of articles of impeachment for the process to move to the next stage.

If the House of Representatives votes to pass articles of impeachment, the Senate is forced to hold a trial.

What happens next?                  

A Senate vote requires a two-thirds majority to convict and remove the president – unlikely in this case, given that President Donald Trump’s party controls the chamber.

A team of politicians from the House of Representatives act as prosecutors. The president has their own defense lawyers and senators act as the jury.

The chief justice of the Supreme Court presides over proceedings and the president is tried.

Only two US presidents in history – Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson – have been impeached, but neither was convicted.

President Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached.

House Judiciary Committee Unveils Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump

Diane A. Wade
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House Judiciary Committee Unveils Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump
Image source Wikipedia

House Judiciary Committee has unveiled charges against President Donald Trump, a key move in impeaching him.

The first article revealed by committee chief Jerry Nadler accuses President Trump of abuse of power and the second accuses him of obstructing Congress.

The Republican president is said to have withheld aid to Ukraine for domestic political reasons.

Donald Trump has urged the Senate to try him “sooner than later”.

He insists he has done “nothing wrong” and has dismissed the impeachment process as “madness”.

If the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives Judiciary Committee votes to approve the articles later this week, they will then be submitted to the lower chamber for a full vote.

If, in turn, the articles are approved by the House, an impeachment trial in the Republican-held Senate will take place, possibly early in January.

The impeachment process was launched after an anonymous whistleblower complained to Congress in September about a July phone call by Donald Trump to the president of Ukraine.

President Trump is alleged to have committed “high crimes and misdemeanors” (a phrase from the US Constitution) on two counts outlined by Jerry Nadler:

  • The first allegation is that he exercised the powers of his public office to “obtain an improper personal benefit while ignoring or injuring the national interest”, by allegedly putting pressure on Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 presidential election;
  • The second allegation is that “when he was caught, when the House investigated and opened an impeachment inquiry, President Trump engaged in unprecedented categorical and indiscriminate defiance of the impeachment inquiry”, thereby obstructing Congress.
Articles-of-ImpeachmentDownload

President Donald Trump Invited to House Judiciary Committee’s Impeachment Hearing

Trump Impeachment Hearings: Former White House Aide Fiona Hill Claims President Trump Promoted Discredited Ukraine Theory

Trump Impeachment Hearings: David Holmes Reveals What President Trump Said on Ukraine Phone Call

President Trump “sees himself as above the law”, Jerry Nadler said.

“We must be clear, no-one, not even the president, is above the law.”

In the July phone call to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump appeared to tie US military assistance for Ukraine to its launching of investigations that could help him politically.

In return for those investigations, Democrats say President Trump offered two bargaining chips – $400 million of military aid that had already been allocated by Congress, and a White House meeting for President.

Democrats say this pressure on a vulnerable US ally constitutes an abuse of power.

The first investigation President Trump wanted from Ukraine was into former VP Joe Biden, his main Democratic challenger, and his son Hunter. Hunter Biden joined the board of a Ukrainian energy company when his father was President Barack Obama’s deputy.

The second Trump demand was that Ukraine should try to corroborate a conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the last US presidential election. This theory has been widely debunked, and US intelligence agencies are unanimous in saying Moscow was behind the hacking of Democratic Party emails in 2016.

President Trump railed at the announcement of the charges, declaring again on Twitter that it was a “witch hunt”.

Roxette Singer Marie Fredriksson Dies Following Long Battle with Cancer

Sonia Pantiss
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Roxette Singer Marie Fredriksson Dies Following Long Battle with Cancer
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Swedish pop singer, songwriter, pianist and painter Marie Fredriksson has died aged 61, her manager has confirmed.

The Roxette singer achieved global success in the 1990s with hits like Joyride, The Look and It Must Have Been Love, from the film Pretty Woman.

A statement said Marie Fredriksson had died on December 9 “following a 17-year long battle with cancer”.

Her bandmate Per Gessle said: “You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years.

“Things will never be the same.”

Marie Fredriksson was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002, after collapsing in her kitchen following a workout.

The tumor cost her the vision in her right eye – but after three years of treatment, she returned to public life and toured successfully again with Roxette from 2008 to 2016.

However, the cancer eventually returned.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Chris O’Neill fairytale wedding in Stockholm

Abba The Museum to open to public in May

According to Marie Fredriksson’s family, she had died following a recurrence of “her previous illness” earlier this week.

Per Gessle said in a heartfelt statement: “Thank you, Marie, thanks for everything.

“You were an outstanding musician, a master of the voice, an amazing performer. Thanks for painting my black and white songs in the most beautiful colors. You were the most wonderful friend for over 40 years.

“I’m proud, honored and happy to have been able to share so much of your time, talent, warmth, generosity and sense of humor. All my love goes out to you and your family.”

Hailing from Halmstad, Sweden, Roxette first met in the late 1970s, when Marie Fredriksson was a member of the pop outfit Strul & Ma Mas Barn and Gessle was playing with Gyllene Tider, one of Sweden’s biggest groups.

They teamed up in 1986, becoming huge stars in their homeland with the single Neverending Love, followed by a hit album, Pearls of Passion.

Despite their popularity in Scandinavia, Capitol Records declined to release their records in the US.

It wasn’t until an American student studying in Sweden brought a copy of their second album home to Minneapolis, and persuaded a local radio DJ to play The Look, that they achieved international fame.

That song became the first of four US number ones for the band, while its parent album, Look Sharp!, went platinum.

They achieved their biggest success when their 1987 Christmas single, It Must Have Been Love, was re-written for inclusion on the Pretty Woman soundtrack in 1990.

Roxette continued to tour and release albums throughout the 1990s – eventually selling more than 80 million records worldwide.

Why So Many Businesses Are Failing With DevOps

Clyde K. Valle
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Why So Many Businesses Are Failing With DevOps
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Although the DevOps concept is just a decade old, the philosophy has found its way into the offices of corporations around the world—and especially among newer businesses and startups. DevOps isn’t just a singular notion; it’s a philosophy and culture movement built upon the foundation that companies should have processes in place to integrate communication between development and operations team. 

The overarching goal is to deliver quicker, and in a more secure way. DevOps tools are designed to automate many of the processes involved in development work. Today, there are even platforms like JFrog that help businesses run a fully automated DevOps pipeline from code to production. Overall, you’ll benefit from better company culture, a higher level of transparency, and quicker deliverables. 

Since DevOps hit the scene, many companies have attempted to nix their traditional, siloed approach to development in favor of this trending, integrated approach. And while big businesses like Amazon and Netflix are succeeding with DevOps, other companies are still strongly to bring it into their organizations. Here’s why: 

Fear of Change

The development world is experiencing a major culture shift, but for many organizations and developers, this level of change is scary. This is especially true for software businesses that have been around for quite some time. They trust their processes, and are accustomed to running the business a certain way. However, it’s important to understand that businesses that don’t adopt and embrace new technology will quickly find themselves left behind in the dust of their tech-savvy competitors. 

Fear of change is normal, but it’s important to address those fears head on—particularly when the future of the company depends upon it. This might mean you have to do some restructuring and hire leaders who understand DevOps and can facilitate its integration. Businesses should be careful not to move too quickly, which can cause further unrest as employees across different departments struggle to learn and catch up. 

Not Focusing on Building DevOps Architecture 

One of the biggest reasons companies fail with DevOps is because they don’t set up the technology and processes that fuel it correctly. DevOps is about much more than a mindset centered around conjoining business operations. You’ll also need the tools in place to carry your goals through. Many companies believe that if they start investing in technology that aligns with DevOps, they can simply push code quicker right away. This isn’t the case. Like anything else, you have to build your foundation before it can hold anything at all. 

While the goal of DevOps is to shorten development lifecycles, spearheading DevOps for the first time requires you to take a step back and slow down. Analyze areas of your workflow and identify bottlenecks and communication gaps. From here, you can decide which tools contribute to solutions. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.” The same concept can be applied to DevOps. Even the strongest man would have trouble chopping a tree with a dull ax. Similarly, put in the necessary steps to ensure you have the proper workflows in place to progress. 

Not Treating It Like a Product

As previously mentioned, a foundation is necessary to propel with DevOps successfully. It helps to treat DevOps implementation just as you would a product build. First thing’s first: you need a road map. A big bang approach can quickly spiral out of control. With a detailed pipeline and micro steps, you’re less likely to run into issues or overburden your team. 

For example, you might break down your DevOps goals by quarter. In one quarter, you might focus on shifting company culture and preparing the organization for what’s to come. In the next, you might integrate database administrators into the DevOps process. After that, you’ll focus on the technology necessary to automate your deployments. 

Failing to Measure

Any time you start a new project or goal, there needs to be a method in place for measuring progress. For instance, if you want to lose weight, you should measure your starting weight and come back to compare new results. But it’s not just about the starting and ending numbers: everything in between matters, too. Creating SMART goals is crucial here. Do you want to push applications to the frontline quicker? Improve code quality? Reduce the amount of bug fixes? These are all metrics you should be able to come back to later on to determine how DevOps played a role in those goals. Understanding where your successes are also motivates you to continue on. 

US and Iran Conduct Prisoner Swap

Roy Siemens
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US and Iran Conduct Prisoner Swap

In a rare sign of co-operation between the US and Iran, the two countries have conducted a prisoner swap.

The exchange involved Chinese-American researcher Xiyue Wang, who was convicted of spying in Iran and Iranian scientist Massoud Soleimani, who was held by the US. Both men deny wrongdoing.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he was glad as he announced the exchange.

Hours later, President Donald Trump tweeted: “Thank you to Iran on a very fair negotiation. See, we can make a deal together!”

Xiyue Wang was arrested in Iran in 2016 for “collaborating with foreign governments”.

Massoud Soleimani, a stem cell expert, was arrested at a Chicago airport in 2018. He was accused violating trade sanctions by trying to export biological material to Iran.

President Donald Trump Re-Imposes Iran Sanctions Removed Under Nuclear Deal

President Donald Trump Pulls US Out of Iran Nuclear Deal

The US and Iran have had an increasingly strained relationship in recent years and share no diplomatic links.

Both countries have thanked the Swiss government for its assistance as an intermediary facilitator.

Xiyue Wang was flown in a Swiss government plane from Tehran to Zurich, and then to Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he will undergo medical check-ups before heading home.

Massoud Soleimani was also flown to Zurich and then on to Iran.

Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted photos of himself with Massoud Soleimani after his release.

He was the first to announce the news, via Twitter: “Glad that Professor Massoud Soleimani and Mr. Xiyue Wang will be joining their families shortly.”

In a formal statement, President Donald Trump said Xiyue Wang had been “held under the pretence of espionage”.

The statement said: “Freeing Americans held captive is of vital importance to my Administration, and we will continue to work hard to bring home all our citizens wrongfully held captive overseas.”

Hua Qu, Mr

Xiyue Wang’s wife, Hua Qu, wrote in statement: “Our family is complete once again. Our son Shaofan and I have waited three long years for this day and it’s hard to express in words how excited we are to be reunited with Xiyue.

“We are thankful to everyone who helped make this happen.”

Princeton University, where Xiyue Wang was studying as a postgraduate, said in a statement it was “overjoyed” with the news of his release and was looking forward to “welcoming him back to campus”.

Xiyue Wang was arrested in Iran in August 2016 as he was leaving the country.

He had been doing research in Iran for a university dissertation and was accused of seeking to gather “highly confidential articles” for US and British academic institutions.

Xiyue Wang was sentenced to 10 years in jail for spying.

Massoud Soleimani was detained in October 2018 on accusations of attempting to export biological materials to Iran in violation of trade sanctions on the country over its nuclear program.

US-Iran tensions have risen significantly in the last two years.

After President Donald Trump took power, the US pulled out of a 2015 treaty that aimed to limit Tehran’s nuclear program.

Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, but the US voiced concerns about potential weapon building.

President Donald Trump also reinstated sanctions on Iran, which have led to its currency plummeting and inflation soaring.

Donald Trump Delays Plans To Designate Mexican Drug Cartels as Terrorist Groups

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Delays Plans To Designate Mexican Drug Cartels as Terrorist Groups
Image source Wikipedia

President Donald Trump has decided to delay his plans to legally designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups.

He had vowed to label the gangs as terrorists after the killing last month of nine American citizens from a Mormon community in Mexico.

However, the president has put the plans on hold on the request of his Mexican counterpart, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The Mexican president said: “I celebrate that he has taken our opinion into account.”

“We thank President Trump for respecting our decisions and for choosing to maintain a policy of good neighborliness, a policy of cooperation with us,” Andrés Manuel López Obrador added.

Jenni Rivera was involved with Mexican drug cartels before she died in plane crash

President Trump’s original announcement came after three women and six children of dual US-Mexican nationality were killed in an ambush in a remote area of northern Mexico.

Following the attack the victims’ community, the LeBarons, petitioned the White House to list the cartels as terror groups, saying: “They are terrorists and it’s time to acknowledge it.”

The move would have widened the scope for US legal and financial action against cartels but Mexico saw it as a violation of its sovereignty.

President Trump has now put the plans on hold.

He tweeted: “All necessary work has been completed to declare Mexican Cartels terrorist organizations.

“Statutorily we are ready to do so.”

However, he said his Mexican counterpart is “a man who I like and respect, and has worked so well with us,” adding that he was temporarily holding off on the designation and stepping up “joint efforts to deal decisively with these vicious and ever-growing organizations!”

President Trump did not comment on how long the delay would last.

Mexico’s brutal drug war claims tens of thousands of lives every year, as powerful trafficking groups battle for territory and influence.

In 2017 more than 30,000 people were killed in Mexico, with the murder rate having more than tripled since 2006.

What Is Regenerative Medicine?

Kathryn R. Bown
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What Is Regenerative Medicine?
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

In the past three decades, modern medicine has gained extraordinary ground. In addition to refining our understanding of stem cells and how they function, we’ve quickly moved to bioengineering sheep and other animals from somatic cells, as well as tissues that could possibly be used for transplants. It’s seemingly the stuff of science fiction. But it’s happening; it’s called regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine is the science of using living human cells to fight, repair, replace and/or otherwise heal damaged, diseased or decaying ones. It’s a broad term and can be applied in and for a variety of different situations and conditions. Many people may only associate regenerative medicine with sports injuries since several well-known athletes have made headlines by undergoing a stem cell treatment to help alleviate the effects of their acute or chronic injuries. But while stem cell therapy is one type of regenerative procedure, it’s not the only one. Regenerative medicine includes all of the following clinical therapies:

Cellular Therapy

Stem cells are at the heart of regenerative medicine. After all, they are the body’s “master cells,” capable of making many, if not all (as in the case of embryonic stem cells), of the body’s different cell types. But other cells can be used for cell therapy, as well, including red blood cells, certain types of immune cells and islet cells. Red blood cells, for example, can be harvested to create a platelet rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells can be used to treat pain and inflammation for degenerative joint conditions.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cellular therapy, but it also includes the transfer of certain proteins and monoclonal antibodies and/or other molecular material such as interleukins and interferons. Its goal is not so much to repair cells but to fight “bad cells.” It does this by either strengthening the body’s overall immune system so that it can fight a disease (usually cancer) on its own or by creating an “army of cells” specifically programmed to target certain “bad” cells (like those in a tumor). In either case, specific immune cells are harvested from a donor, grown and/or modified in a lab and then injected into a patient to effectuate healing.

Transplantation and Bioengineering

Finally, regenerative medicine can also refer to those treatments that aim to replace or repair large areas of damaged tissue (like organs, large portions of the skin and bone marrow). A traditional organ transplant, for instance, is a type of regenerative procedure. Indeed, some transplants are also stem cell transplants, such as when bone marrow and its accompanying hematopoietic stem cells are harvested and then transplanted into a recipient to treat leukemia. And sometimes, tissues can be manufactured using living cells so that they can be transplanted into a body to provide a conducive environment for cell proliferation and growth. Examples of this include using bone grafts to treat cancerous or badly broken bones or growing artificial skin to cover severe burns.

5 Foods That Heal Your Body from an Injury

Dana R
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5 Foods That Heal Your Body from an Injury

In 2015 alone, nearly 30 million people received hospital treatment for an injury. Whether we like it or not, chances are that we’ll experience some sort of harm one day.

And, the road to recovery isn’t always easy. Even after medical treatment, you may still find yourself wishing you could speed things up and get back to your normal routine.

Luckily, there are a handful of foods that can help promote healing.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about foods that heal.

Imagini pentru Probiotics

1. Probiotics

Foods that contain probiotics (which are living microorganisms) will help fight and prevent disease.

This friendly bacteria is found within yogurts and soy-based drinks, making them an accessible and effective option to recover from ailments like viral or skin infections.

2. Dairy

We’re taught from a young age that drinking milk leads to having strong bones.

This is due to the abundance of vitamin D and calcium that are found in dairy products. Calcium helps repair muscle and bone injuries, while vitamin D improves how effective calcium is at doing its job.

Food items like milk and yogurt are great meal options for people who have sprains or broken bones.

3. Carrots

Brimming with plenty of vitamin A, carrots are one of the most effective foods you can consume to promote healing.

This vitamin helps prime your body’s white blood cells for fighting infection. Even if you don’t currently have an infection, recovering from an injury can make your immune system less effective at protecting your body.

So, extra vitamin A will make sure you stay healthy while you recover.

4. Fish

Not everyone has a taste for seafood. But, those who are able to consume it will find it has plenty of beneficial properties.

Seafood like salmon and tuna are packed with protein and fatty acids (omega-3’s) that both reduce inflammation and heal damaged muscles and bones.

If your injury was the result of someone else’s negligence and you feel entitled to compensation, view this legal site for more information on moving forward.

5. Kelp

A commonly overlooked nutrient is iodine, an absence of which can cause mood swings and general fatigue. Kelp has plenty within its fibers, and this food is especially useful for boosting low thyroid levels.

It also has plenty of magnesium and potassium, which can both help reduce high blood pressure.

Other Contenders

There are plenty of other foods out there that can help you heal. A few are:

  • Eggs
  • Almonds
  • Lean meats (turkey, chicken)
  • Oranges (and other fruits with vitamin C)
  • Mushrooms

So, if your appetite doesn’t include any of the above five foods, try something from this list instead!

Foods That Heal: Final Thoughts

While it may seem unbelievable, simple foods can play a large role in the healing process.

With the above information about foods that heal in mind, you’ll be well on your way to making progress in your recovery as quickly as possible.

Then, you’ll come back even stronger than before!

NATO Summit London: Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron Set Out Opposing Views on NATO

Diane A. Wade
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NATO Summit London: Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron Set Out Opposing Views on NATO
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

President Donald Trump and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, have set out opposing views ahead of a NATO summit in London.

In an occasionally tense press conference, Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron sparred over NATO’s role, Turkey, and ISIS.

President Trump had described Emmanuel Macron’s comments about NATO as “nasty”, but the French president said he stood by his words.

World leaders gathered in London to mark the Western military alliance’s 70th anniversary.

The NATO summit has already been marked by strained relations between Turkey and other member states.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he will oppose NATO’s plan for the defense of the Baltic region if it does not back Turkey over its fight against Kurdish groups it considers terrorists.

On December 3, Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Downing Street in a four-way meeting that also included German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the host, UK PM Boris Johnson.

Ties between President Trump and Emmanuel Macron were already strained amid a trade dispute, and after the French president described NATO as “brain dead” last month because, he said, the US commitment to the alliance was fading.

On December 3, President Trump hit back by saying Emmanuel Macron had been “very disrespectful”, adding that France had “a very high unemployment rate” and “nobody needs NATO more than France”.

At a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron later, President Trump was less combative, stressing that the two countries had “done a lot of good things together”. Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, said he stood by his comments.

The two sides then clashed over foreign ISIS fighters who were captured in Syria.

President Trump jokingly offered them to France, saying: “Would you like some nice [ISIS] fighters? You can take everyone you want.”

Sounding stern, Emmanuel Macron said “Let’s be serious” and that ISIS fighters from Europe were “a tiny minority”, and that the “number one priority” was to get rid of the terrorist group.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan Shows Anti-Kurdish Video to Republican Senators

President Trump then retorted: “This is why he is a great politician because that was one of the greater non-answers I have ever heard, and that’s OK.”

He also criticized NATO countries who were paying less than the NATO guidelines of at least 2% of GDP towards the alliance.

President Trump said he did not want countries to be “delinquent” and pay less than their share, adding: “Maybe I’ll deal with them from a trade standpoint.”

Emmanuel Macron said France – which currently spends 1.84% of its GDP on defense – would reach the minimum, and acknowledged that the US had “overinvested” in NATO for several decades.

However, he added that there were other pressing issues to discuss.

The two leaders also discussed Turkey’s decision to buy a Russian S-400 missile system.

President Trump said they were “looking at” whether to impose sanctions, while Emmanuel Macron asked: “How is it possible to be a member of the alliance… and buy things from Russia?”

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been key allies of the US-led coalition against ISIS in Syria. However, Turkey views a section of the group – the YPG – as terrorists.

Ahead of his departure for London, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not approve a plan to defend Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the event of a Russian attack unless NATO recognized the Kurdish YPG militia as terrorists.

Russia: Vladimir Putin Signs Controversial “Foreign Agent” Media Law

Diane A. Wade
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Russia: Vladimir Putin Signs Controversial “Foreign Agent” Media Law
Image source Wikimedia

Independent journalists and bloggers in Russia could be labeled as “foreign agents” after a controversial law has been amended on December 2.

The “foreign agent” label already applies to certain media organizations and NGOs which engage in politics and receive funding from abroad.

The EU, Amnesty International and the OSCE international security body condemned the amended law.

“Foreign agent” was a Soviet-era term of abuse for political dissidents.

President Vladimir Putin signed the amended “foreign agent” media law.

Russia says the original media bill, introduced in 2017, was its response to a US requirement for Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT to register as a foreign agent in the US.

Russia: State Duma passes law requiring internet companies to store citizens’ personal data inside country

Mikhail Gorbachev denounces Russia new laws as attack on citizens’ rights

The first “foreign agent” law, introduced in 2012, targeted non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including charities and civil society groups, which get foreign funding and engage in political activity in Russia.

In 2015 Russia’s justice ministry listed Memorial – a distinguished chronicler of human rights abuses – as a “foreign agent”.

The anti-corruption organization of anti-Putin campaigner Alexei Navalny has also been declared a “foreign agent”.

Groups, and now individuals, labeled as “foreign agents” have to put that label on their publications and submit detailed paperwork to the authorities, or face fines for not doing so.

The media law was steered through parliament’s lower house – the Duma – by lawmakers Leonid Levin and Pyotr Tolstoy.

Leonid Levin explained that for an individual to be labeled a “foreign agent” two criteria must be valid: they must be producing or spreading material from a “foreign agent” media source, and they must be getting foreign funding.

He said that re-tweeting “foreign agent” news would only make an individual a “foreign agent” too if he or she was also receiving foreign funding.

There has been a chorus of disapproval from human rights groups for the new law.

OSCE media freedom representative Harlem Désir said the law “represents a disproportionate interference in the freedom of expression and media freedom”.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS), said the legislation “imposes an additional administrative and financial burden, as well as stigmatizes the media or NGO concerned, thus restricting the exercise of fundamental freedoms”.

She said: “Taking into account the already limited space for free media in the country, a further extension of the scope of the legislation is yet another worrying step against free and independent media and access to information, as well as a further attempt to silence independent voices in Russia.”

According to Amnesty International the new law “will have a detrimental impact on the already restrictive environment for independent journalism in Russia, and must be dropped”.

Samjiyon: North Korea Unveils Newly-Reconstructed “Utopia” Town

Roy Siemens
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Samjiyon: North Korea Unveils Newly-Reconstructed “Utopia” Town
Image source: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has cut the red ribbon at the new town, Samjiyon, near Mount Paektu.

The North Korean media called the town as the “epitome of modern civilization”.

It is hailed as one of the country’s most important construction projects.

State media KCNA said Samjiyon – which is able to accommodate 4,000 families – boasts new apartments, a ski slope, and a stadium amongst other facilities.

However, forced labor is said to have gone into the construction of the new town.

Samjiyon – even if it lives up to state media billing – will be an outlier in North Korea, where the majority of people live in poor conditions.

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Kim Jong-un Climbs Mount Paektu on Horseback

Kim Jong-un climbs Mount Paektu

According to non-governmental organization the National Committee on North Korea, many “suffer from shortages of food, fuel, electricity, running water and other necessities”.

However, Samjiyon has not exactly been built from the ground up.

A town already existed before the reconstruction. Some buildings were remodeled, while many more were torn down and replaced with new buildings.

State media previously reported that more than 450 new buildings would be constructed, including industrial and recreational facilities.

KCNA said Samjiyon had undergone a “drastic change”, describing it as a “utopia town under socialism”.

It is not clear if anyone has moved in, but Samjiyon was previously home to some residents – though it is also unclear how many.

It is not known how much money has gone into construction of the town.

Construction happened at a time when North Korea is under tough sanctions, and its completion shows how much importance the government placed on the project.

The town is important for its proximity to Mount Paektu – considered to be a sacred mountain in North Korea and said to be the birthplace of Kim Jong-un’s father.

Samjiyon has also been presented as a model for other towns in the country to look up to.

In his annual new year’s address this year, Kim Jong-un directly referenced Samjiyon, calling it an “ideal socialist village”.

He said in his speech: “The whole party, the entire army, and all the people should turn out to transform Samjiyon into a model of modern mountainous city, an ideal socialist village.”

Samjiyon opening is just one part of a bigger scheme. It’s the second stage of a three-stage plan to boost the entire county the town is located in.

The three-stage construction project is expected to be complete by October 2020.

Why UK vapers don’t need to worry about US restrictions

Dana R
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Why UK vapers don’t need to worry about US restrictions

The use of E-cigarettes is growing around the world – massively in America and modestly in Britain. In recent years American government at the Federal and state level have made moves to clamp down on Vaping in America due to the huge number of young smokers. In the United Kingdom, however, there has not been a similar move. This can be explained by a number of factors, including different approaches to regulation and advertising. Read on to find out why, despite the increase in the number and severity of restrictions on vaping across the Atlantic, British smokers should not be overly concerned by these restrictions.

Different regulatory approaches and contents of e-cigarettes

In Britain, CNN reports, e-cigarettes are used by around 5% of 11-18 year olds. 3.3% of these children and young people say they vape less than once a week, with the other 1.6% saying that they smoke more than once week. This adds up to a large number of people, but pales in comparison to America’s young vapers. One quarter of American high school students have vaped. This fivefold difference in youth uptake can be explained largely by Britain’s far tighter advertising regulations. Nicotine products cannot be advertised online or on the radio, although they can be advertised in public places and buses and so on.

In America, where five times as many young people vape, the media have recently picked up on an outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, that may be linked to seven deaths in the country from potentially illicit THC fluids, which is behind much of the public health outcry. However, besides the non-regulation THC cannabinoid oils likely responsible for these incidents, nicotine-based e-cigarettes, especially those sold in the United Kingdom, are notably safer.

Along with its far higher uptake, the e-cigarettes available in the United States can often contain as much as double the nicotine as those sold in the United Kingdom. Poor regulatory limits can expose American vapers to unnecessary levels of risk which British vapers are not affected by, due to stricter controls and lower nicotine contents.

E-cigarettes around the world

In the wake of the American media attention Norway and Australia have banned the sale of e-cigarettes with nicotine in them, and there are similar bans in place in Japan, Thailand and Singapore. However, the story of vaping in the United Kingdom gives a different picture to elsewhere, with smoking being used mostly by adults looking to quit smoking, as vaping is considered to be 95% less dangerous than smoking. At present, the number of young people who vape regularly and had never previously smoked is only 1% of vapers. Vaping, therefore, is shown to be playing a largely positive role in British public life.

If you feel unsure about vaping in the wake of hearing about American regulations, remember that in the United Kingdom vaping is far safer than smoking. Due to a well-managed regulatory system, you can be confident that any vape fluid you buy from a recognised seller such as VSAVI will be a strong safe step towards quitting smoking.

How To Cheer Up A Sick Person

Kathryn R. Bown
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How To Cheer Up A Sick Person
Image source PxHere

In wedding vows, most couples make promises to stand by each other in both sickness and health, and there is a reason why they include sickness along with health. You will mostly find people who will be there with you in the good times of health, but those numbers deplete in the challenging times of sickness.

Therefore, it is imperative to be with our beloveds who are going through the challenging times of sickness. In this thread, we have compiled a few ways by which you can cheer up those who need happiness the most.

Open up to them:

Sometimes, all you need to comfort someone is to let them know how you feel and how much you are worried about them. Now that you are living in a digital world and are reluctant to have a heart to heart conversation, you can do it on a phone call or may send a text.

There are so many modes of communication these days that not being able to communicate face to face should not be a problem.

Make them a personalized card:

Another heart touching way of communicating your feelings is by making customized cards. Live conversations tend to go off-topic, and one can get carried away with emotions. This can result in your message being conveyed improperly.

But personalized cards do not only give you time to write and express peacefully but also reflect the effort you are making in trying to cheer your beloved up.

Be a good listener

Do not merely focus on being expressive but also work hard to be a good listener. If your downtrodden beloved is not being able to speak, ask open-ended questions, and that will start the flow of discussion inconspicuously.

Try to Help

Most of us have a lot on our plate, and this is the kind of world we live in. So in this setting, sickness can get overwhelming. Hence, try to facilitate those who are in sickness by helping them out in their daily responsibilities like picking up their kids from school, getting grocery and other routine stuff.

This help can go a long way in healing that person much sooner than later.

Keep them engaged

It so often happens that when we are in a negative space, we get flooded with negative thoughts, and it becomes so important to drive ourselves away from this negative dimension.

We must realize that being sick is like being in an extremely negative state of mind, and we should try to engage our sick beloveds so that they do not get a lot of time to think. We can play with them their favorite game, or watch their favorite movie or listen to their favorite songs.

Make them a gift basket:

Another thing you can do to cheer your beloved up is to make them customized get well gift baskets. You can get all of their favorite things, like chocolates, candies, flowers, books, etc. and make them realize that how much you love them.

Sickness can befall any of us anytime, even during relaxing activities like going on vacations, and therefore we must be sensitive to the illness of others.

All of the efforts mentioned above sound manageable, but it is not only the highs and lows of sickness that demand attention, but the middle parts are vital as well. Therefore, ensure that all of your efforts are long term and sustainable because healing takes time and your efforts must span across that time.

Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder: Maltese Businessman Yorgen Fenech Charged with Complicity in Murder

Diane A. Wade
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Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder: Maltese Businessman Yorgen Fenech Charged with Complicity in Murder
Image source Malta Today

Maltese prosecutors have charged businessman Yorgen Fenech with complicity in the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017.

Yorgen Fenech, one of Malta’s wealthiest men, pleaded not guilty to that charge and four others including membership of a criminal gang.

Relatives of Daphne Caruana Galizia were present in the court in Valletta.

The investigation into the blogger’s death has rocked the Maltese government. PM Joseph Muscat is under pressure to resign.

The prime minister’s chief aide, Keith Schembri, resigned this week amid reports he was being questioned by police, while Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi also quit and Economy Minister Chris Cardona took the decision to suspend himself.

Three people are awaiting trial for the journalist’s murder in a car bombing but the police investigation is now focusing on who ordered the killing and why.

Yorgen Fenech has been repeatedly questioned over the killing since trying to leave the island on his yacht on November 20, and sought a pardon in return for providing information but his request was rejected.

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According to Maltese media, Yorgen Fenech was familiar with Melvin Theuma, a taxi driver with links to criminal enterprises who has been described in local media as a potential “middleman” in the murder.

The businessman is a well-known figure in Malta who has served as head of the Tumas business group and a director of energy company Electrogas but recently resigned from both positions.

Yorgen Fenech was identified last year as being the owner of a mysterious Dubai-registered company, 17 Black.

17 Black was listed in the Panama Papers – confidential documents leaked from a Panamanian law firm in 2016 which revealed how the wealthy and powerful use tax havens to get around the law.

Daphne Caruana Galizia had written about 17 Black eight months before her death, alleging it had links to both Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi.

North Korea: “Japan May See What A Real Ballistic Missile Is”

Roy Siemens
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North Korea: “Japan May See What A Real Ballistic Missile Is”
Image source kremlin.ru

North Korea has accused Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe of mislabeling its latest weapons test, branding him an “imbecile” and “political dwarf”.

The Japanese prime minister condemned North Korea for “repeated launches of ballistic missiles” after two projectiles were fired on November 28.

However, North Korea insisted it was testing a “super-large multiple-rocket launcher”.

On November 30, state media said Japan “may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future”.

North Korea is banned from firing ballistic missiles under UN Security Council resolutions.

It is under various sets of sanctions over its missile and nuclear programs. Lifting the sanctions has been a key aim of North Korea in talks with the US – Japan’s ally – but these have stalled since a summit between its leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump broke down in February.

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North Korea fired what observers in South Korea called two “unidentified projectiles” from its South Hamgyong province into the Sea of Japan on November 28.North Korea Launches New Ballistic Missile over JapanNorth Korea fired what observers in South Korea called two “unidentified projectiles” from its South Hamgyong province into the Sea of Japan on November 28.

Condemning the launch, PM Shinzo Abe said: “North Korea’s repeated launches of ballistic missiles are a serious defiance to not only our country but also the international community.”

North Korea issued images said to be of Kim Jong-un inspecting the launch.

The KCNA state media said on November 30: “It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from a multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report.”

It added: “Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose. Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile and a political dwarf.”

Negotiations between North Korea and the US remain stalled since the collapse of February’s summit in Hanoi.

President Trump and Kim Jong-un did meet again in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides the Koreas in June and agreed to restart working-level talks.

These began in October, but failed to make any progress.

North Korea has demanded the US change its approach by the end of the year, and was lukewarm in response to a tweet by President Trump hinting at another meeting with Kim Jong-un.

In May, Shinzo Abe said he was ready to meet Kim Jong-un “without conditions”, raising hopes of renewed negotiations on the nuclear issue as well as on the lingering historical issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens.

The Japanese were kidnapped by North Korea in the 1970s and 80s to help train its spies. Japan believes 17 citizens were abducted, only five of whom have since been repatriated.

However, PM Abe’s offer has not come to fruition. North Korea said this month that the Japanese leader would never set foot in Pyongyang after he condemned an earlier weapons test.

Leonardo DiCaprio Accused by Brazil’s President of “Giving Money to Set Amazon on Fire”

James J. Williams
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Leonardo DiCaprio Accused by Brazil’s President of “Giving Money to Set Amazon on Fire”
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Leonardo DiCaprio has been accused by Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro of “giving money to set the Amazon on fire”.

President Bolsonaro gave no evidence but in the past has accused NGOs critical of his policies of starting fires that ravaged the rainforest this year.

Several arrests have been made in Brazil amid controversial and unproven allegations fires were started to obtain funding.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who has pledged $5 million for the Amazon, denied President Bolsonaro’s claim.

The latest comments appear to arise from the arrest of 4 volunteer firefighters from northern Pará state on allegations they started fires to generate NGO donations.

NGOs, rights groups and critics claimed the police operation against them was politically motivated and an attempt to harass environmental groups.

Fires that burned in August this year caused global concern for the “lungs of the planet”.

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Jair Bolsonaro’s latest accusation came during brief remarks at the presidential residence on November 29.

He said: “This Leonardo DiCaprio is a cool guy, right? Giving money to torch the Amazon.”

The president gave no evidence and did not elaborate, although the statement appeared to echo a live webcast he gave on November 28.

The live webcast revolved around the environmental organization, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and allegations, denied by the WWF, that it had paid for images taken by the arrested firefighters, who have since been released.

President Bolsonaro said: “So what did the NGO do? What is the easiest thing? Set fire to the forest. Take pictures, make a video. [WWF] makes a campaign against Brazil, it contacts Leonardo DiCaprio, he donates $500,000.

“A part of that went to the people that were setting fires. Leonardo DiCaprio, you are contributing to the fire in the Amazon, that won’t do.”

Leonardo DiCaprio and environmental activist released a statement saying: “Although they are certainly worth supporting, we have not funded the organizations that are currently under attack.

“The future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake and I am proud to be part of the groups that protect them.”

The actor praised “the people of Brazil working to save their natural and cultural heritage”.

WWF also said it had received no donations from the actor, whose Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation focuses on environmental projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOQHJi09zZ8

London Bridge Stabbing Attack Leaves Two Dead

Roy Siemens
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London Bridge Stabbing Attack Leaves Two Dead
Image source: aljazeera.com

At least two people were killed and another three injured in a stabbing attack at London Bridge, police has announced.

Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick told a press conference the stabbing attack, which has been declared a terrorist incident, began at an event at Fishmonger’s Hall.

Within five minutes of being called officers confronted the suspect – who was shot dead by police – she said.

The suspect was wearing what is thought to have been a hoax explosive device.

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Dozens of people were in attendance, including students from Cambridge University and former prisoners.

Cambridge University said it was “gravely concerned” about reports of its students and staff being caught up in the attack and was urgently seeking further information.

Cressida Dick said police were working at “full tilt” to understand what had happened and whether anyone else was involved.

Officers were still working to identify the dead, she said.

Of the injured people, one is critical but stable, a second is stable and a third has less serious injuries, the head of the NHS, Simon Stevens said.

Details of what happened are still emerging, but videos on social media appear to show passers-by holding down the suspect on London Bridge.

Another man in a suit could be seen running from him, having apparently retrieved a large knife.

Footage then shows an officer arriving, seeming to indicate to the group to move, and firing a shot.

The actions of the public have been widely praised, including by PM Boris Johnson.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland Accused of Misconduct

Diane A. Wade
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Ambassador Gordon Sondland Accused of Misconduct
Image source: Wikipedia

US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland has been accused by three women of sexual misconduct.

The accusations, co-published by Portland Monthly magazine and ProPublica, date back to before he became an ambassador.

At the time of the alleged incidents Gordon Sondland was developing hotels in Portland and Seattle in the Pacific Northwest.

Gordon Sondland denies all of the allegations, and accuses the women of targeting him for his role in President Donald Trump’s impeachment hearings.

He said in a statement: “These untrue claims of unwanted touching and kissing are concocted and, I believe, co-ordinated for political purposes.

“They have no basis in fact, and I categorically deny them.”

All three women said Gordon Sondland retaliated against them professionally after they rejected his advances – by verbally abusing them at their workplace, reneging on a promised investment, and withdrawing offers of professional introductions.

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One of the women, Nicole Vogel, said she met Gordon Sondland for dinner in 2003 in order to secure investment for her new magazine.

Nicole Vogel is the owner of Portland Monthly. The magazine said she was not involved editorially in the story, and it had teamed up with ProPublica, a respected non-profit news group, to report the claims independently.

She said that after dinner Gordon Sondland took her to one of his hotels and invited her to see a room. He then requested a hug, she added, but instead “grabs my face and goes to kiss me”.

Nicole Vogel said she deflected him and left the hotel, and later received an email from Gordon Sondland changing the terms of his investment.

A second acuser, Jana Solis, said she met Gordon Sondland in 2008 when she was seeking work as a hotel safety expert.

When Sondland offered her the job, she said, he called her “my new hotel chick” and slapped her rear. She then said that on another occasion he invited her to his home in Portland to evaluate his art collection, before exposing himself.

On a third occasion, Sondland asked her to inspect his penthouse apartment and then forcibly kissed her, she said.

The third woman, Natalie Sept, was working in local politics in Portland for a candidate Gordon Sondland had donated money to.

After they were introduced through her boss, she claims Gordon Sondland invited her to dinner to discuss work opportunities. She said he asked for a hug at the end of the night, but then pushed himself towards her and tried to forcibly kiss her.

In response, Gordon Sondland described the article as “underhanded journalism” that was “fundamentally false”.

He said he intended to take legal action against the two publications.

Gordon Sondland provided key testimony at President Trump’s impeachment hearing last week, where he said he followed the president’s orders to pressure Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

President Trump Tweets Pic with His Head on Rocky’s Body

Nancy Clayson
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President Trump Tweets Pic with His Head on Rocky’s Body
Image source Twitter

Following the footsteps of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump boasted to his fans at his “homecoming” rally on November 27 in Sunrise, Florida about his “gorgeous chest,” which he claims proves he didn’t have a heart attack on November 17.

The president also claimed his visit to Texas on November 18 was more proof of his good health.

Speculation about the President Trump’s real health status went viral on social media with his unscheduled and sudden visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), which is only some nine miles from the White House. The visit wasn’t on the president’s calendar.

President Trump said that his unannounced trip to Walter Reed was for a “a very routine physical.”

However, rumors about the president’s health problems, and that he might have had either a series of mini-strokes or have suffered a heart attack continued to swirl.

He blasted the media for reporting on his visit to Walter Reed, saying: “They [the media] said he wasn’t wearing a tie; this is a sign of a massive heart attack.

“They said, he went into the hospital – and it’s true, I didn’t wear a tie – why would I wear a tie if the first thing they do is say take off your shirt, sir, and show us that gorgeous chest?”

President Trump then took another step to assuring people he was fine. He tweeted a photoshopped picture of his unsmiling face superimposed on the body of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

President Trump Signs Hong Kong Human Rights Act Into Law

Diane A. Wade
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President Trump Signs Hong Kong Human Rights Act Into Law
Image source Getty Images

President Donald Trump has signed The Human Rights and Democracy Act into law as a support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

The bill mandates an annual review, to check if Hong Kong has enough autonomy to justify its special status with the US.

President Trump said he signed the law “out of respect for President Xi [Jinping], China, and the people of Hong Kong”.

He is currently seeking a deal with China, in order to end a trade war between the two countries.

Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry threatened “counter measures” if the US continued “going down the wrong path”.

The Chinese foreign ministry statement said: “The US has been disregarding facts and distorting truth.

“It openly backed violent criminals who rampantly smashed facilities, set fire, assaulted innocent civilians, trampled on the rule of law, and jeopardized social order.”

The foreign ministry summoned the US ambassador to demand that Washington stops interfering in Chinese internal affairs.

Hong Kong’s government also reacted, saying the American bill would send the wrong signal and would not help to ease the situation.

However, a key activist in the Hong Kong protest movement, Joshua Wong, said the US law was a “remarkable achievement” for “all Hongkongers”.

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President Trump had previously been non-committal about whether he would sign the bill, saying he was “with” Hong Kong but also that President Xi was “an incredible guy”.

However, the bill had widespread congressional support, which meant that even if he vetoed it, lawmakers could potentially have voted to overturn his decision.

President Trump also signed a second bill, which bans the export of crowd-control munitions to the police in Hong Kong – including tear gas, rubber bullets and stun guns.

He said: “[The bills] are being enacted in the hope that leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences, leading to long-term peace and prosperity for all.”

The bill was introduced in June in the early stages of the protests in Hong Kong, and was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives last month.

It says: “Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.

“The [annual review] shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong’s civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong’s Basic Law.”

Among other things, Hong Kong’s special trading status means it is not affected by US sanctions or tariffs placed on the mainland.

The bill also says the US should allow Hong Kong residents to obtain US visas, even if they have been arrested for being part of non-violent protests.

Hong Kong’s protests started in June against a proposed law to allow extradition to mainland China but it has since transformed into a larger pro-democracy movement.

The protests have also seen increasingly violent clashes, with police being attacked, and officers firing live bullets.

The last week elections saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councilors.

Pembrolizumab: Immunotherapy Drug Can Be Effective In Some Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Kathryn R. Bown
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Pembrolizumab: Immunotherapy Drug Can Be Effective In Some Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer
Image source: Keytruda

An immunotherapy drug can be effective in some men with advanced prostate cancer, a major trial has shown.

The phase II clinical trial, led by the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden, involved 258 men with advanced prostate cancer who had run out of all other options on treatment.

The men had stopped responding to the main treatment options.

According to researchers, a small proportion of men, described as “super responders”, remained well even after the trial ended, despite a very poor prognosis before treatment.

Last week it was reported the same drug had proved effective in treating advanced head and neck cancers.

Immunotherapy uses our own immune systems to recognize and attack cancer cells.

The therapy is already being used as a standard treatment for some cancers such as melanomas – and being tested on many others too.

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The study found that one in 20 men with advanced prostate cancer responded to the drug pembrolizumab – and saw their tumors actually shrink or disappear altogether.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that although a relatively small number, some of the men gained years of extra life.

A further 19% saw some evidence of improvement.

Most patients in the study lived for an average of eight months on the drug.

The most dramatic responses were seen in patients whose tumors had mutations in genes involved in repairing DNA.

Researchers are now investigating whether this group might benefit the most from immunotherapy in a larger trial.

But first, a test to pick out who will respond best is needed, so that doctors know which patients to give it to.

The number of people diagnosed with prostate cancer has been rising over the last 10 years.

This is probably because the population is getting older and more people are having PSA tests.

Around 30% of men with advanced or stage four prostate cancer survive their cancer for five years or more after diagnosis.

Last week, a separate trial found the same drug kept some people’s advanced head and neck cancers at bay for an average of two years – five times longer than under chemotherapy.

Both studies are part of a growing body of research suggesting immunotherapy could offer hope to an increasing number of cancer patients.

Thanksgiving Travel Jeopardized by Heavy Storms

Nancy Clayson
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Thanksgiving Travel Jeopardized by Heavy Storms
Image source ABC News

Two powerful storms are moving across the United States, from the West Coast to the Midwest threatening the holiday plans of millions o Americans on the eve of Thanksgiving Day.

The US National Weather Service is advising millions of people to delay their travel plans due to the weather and hundreds of flights were grounded.

And the “bomb cyclone” that’s been pummeling the West Coast could bring a third storm to the east, the Washington Post reports.

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President Donald Trump Invited to House Judiciary Committee’s Impeachment Hearing

Diane A. Wade
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President Donald Trump Invited to House Judiciary Committee’s Impeachment Hearing
Image source Wikipedia

President Donald Trump has been invited to the Congress’ first impeachment hearing on December 4.

Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler said President Trump could either attend or “stop complaining about the process”.

If the president does attend, he would be able to question witnesses.

The hearing would mark the next stage in the impeachment inquiry, which centers on a July phone call between PresidentTrump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In that call, President Trump asked Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden, currently the front-runner to be the Democratic candidate in next year’s presidential election, and his son Hunter Biden, who had previously worked for Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

The probe is looking into whether President Trump used the threat of withholding US military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating the Bidens. Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a “witch hunt”.

Last week, the House Intelligence Committee wrapped up two weeks of public hearings, which followed several weeks of closed-door witness interviews.

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Democratic chairman of the Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff said the committees leading the probe – Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs – are now working on their report, which will be issued on December 3.

On November 26, the latest transcript of inquiry evidence was released, detailing testimony by senior budget official Mark Sandy.

Mark Sandy told the House investigators that two White House budget officials had resigned following the withholding of military aid to Ukraine. He said that one, a lawyer, had expressed concern that the action could be a violation of a 1974 budget law.

Jerrold Nadler said in a statement that he had written to President Trump inviting him to the hearing next month.

He said: “At base, the president has a choice to make.

“He can take this opportunity to be represented in the impeachment hearings, or he can stop complaining about the process.

“I hope that he chooses to participate in the inquiry, directly or through counsel, as other presidents have done before him.”

In his letter to the president, Jerrold Nadler said the hearing would be an opportunity to discuss the historical and constitutional basis for impeachment.

He has given President Trump until 18:00 EST on December 1 to confirm whether or not he will be at the hearing, and if so, to let the committee know who his counsel will be.

The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting articles of impeachment – which are the charges of wrongdoing against the president – in early December.

After a vote in the Democratic-controlled House, a trial would be held in the Republican-run Senate.

If Donald Trump was convicted by a two-thirds majority – an outcome deemed highly unlikely – he would become the first US president to be removed from office through impeachment.

3 Tips to Keep Your Holiday Light and Easy

Kathryn R. Bown
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3 Tips to Keep Your Holiday Light and Easy

The holiday season is coming. Soon, guests will fill homes to make memories that will last a lifetime. One of the biggest challenges of the holidays is creating magic moments without driving yourself crazy with stress trying to achieve those golden memories. With the right tools, you can enjoy a wonderful holiday without being overwhelmed by stress.

Organization is Key

To keep your sanity during the holidays, you need to plan early. Guests can be stressful and the holidays are no exception. The more details you can handle before the guests arrive, the smoother things will go.

Plan the menu. If you are hosting the main holiday meal, it can take days to shop for and prepare all the food. Start early. Make lists and double-check them. Do all the shopping you can before the guests arrive so you can focus on your guests and enjoying time with your loved ones.

Make a guest list. Details such as who is coming to dinner and any food allergies are important. Use your guest list and compare it to the menu to balance the number of guests with the food. If you invite a dozen people to dinner and serve up one pie, your stress level soar will soar.

Will there be overnight guests? Where will they sleep? The more issues you can iron out before the guests arrive, the better things will go. Unexpected issues will always come up. If you address all the big details before the last minute, you’ll have more time to address the last minute disasters as they occur.

Schedule Downtime

Between cooking meals, entertaining guests, and attending to a million details, holiday entertaining can be overwhelming. To be a good host and keep your stress levels in check, you need to give yourself a few moments to catch your breath. Sneak a few moments of downtime and allow yourself to put your feet up to keep your sanity.

The longer you will have guests visiting, the more you need to schedule downtime. Get creative with efforts to get self-care if you need to. Send guests off shopping together or to visit another relative, and sneak a quick hot bath to soak aching muscles. If there are no options to sneak a few moments of downtime, a family movie with popcorn and holiday-themed candy cane cocoa, using flavoured syrup, can be a good way to enjoy family and reduce stress.

A big part of a warm and fuzzy holiday is being able to enjoy family time without a mental breakdown. While stress is a part of any holiday, giving yourself a few moments to tend to self-care is crucial. Spending time with your loved ones should and can be a joy, but you need to take care of yourself while tending to everyone else.

Stay On Budget

It is easy to get swept up in the season’s magic. A big part of managing stress is keeping your budget intact. Sit down before you plan your holiday and have a serious discussion about what you can afford. Perhaps a potluck meal with everyone bringing a side dish would be best for your budget. Maybe you need to avoid spending on gifts. Figure out what you can afford and stick to it.

It is possible to stay on a budget and have a holiday to remember. Stores often run sales on holiday meal staples just before the holiday season. Take advantage of coupons and cashback offers, if you can. A popular option for many holiday gatherings is for everyone to bring their special dish while the host provides the main course. Most people have a dish they love and will jump at the offer to bring it. Turkey giveaways are also popular. There are many ways to host a holiday meal without breaking the bank.

Gift-giving is another place that the holidays can bust a budget and cause stress. We all want to give a gift that will wow our loved ones. Overspending on gifts is the quickest way to make your stress level rise. The best gifts do not come from stores. If your budget does not allow for a ton of pricey material items, then get creative and go with gifts that don’t cost a thing. Keeping to your budget will help reduce your holiday stress.

The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. If you go into the season with the right plan, it will be wonderful and stress-free too.

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