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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source Wikimedia

Ryanair Cancels Thousands of Flights Due to Shortage of Pilots

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Build Your Brand By Implementing Proven Digital Advertising Strategies

Dana R
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Build Your Brand By Implementing Proven Digital Advertising Strategies

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

Image source Flickr

Social Media Marketing. 

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

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

Web Design And Development. 

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

Online Reputation Management.

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

Content Optimization.

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

Start Growing Your Company Online Now!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source Wikimedia

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Nate also caused extensive damage to infrastructure in Nicaragua.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He tweeted: “There is no need to panic.

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

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

2017 Nobel Prize In Literature Awarded to English Author Kazuo Ishiguro

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

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

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

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

Kazuo Ishiguro said the award was “flabbergastingly flattering”.

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

Image source Wikimedia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source Wikimedia

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

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

Catalonia Independence Referendum Begins Amid Police Crackdown

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Omega-3 and the Good Cholesterol

Burger With Ham Ketchup

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

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

Veggies can make you Healthy

Cooked Broccoli Soup

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

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

Supplements can never replace Food

Spilled Bottle of Yellow Capsule Pills

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

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

Processed food is never good

Sausage on White Plate

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

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

Takeaway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image source ABC News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jim Hackett Replaces Mark Fields as Ford Chief Executive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Catalonia Independence Referendum Begins Amid Police Crackdown

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

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

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

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

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

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

Points To Ponder: The Significance of Biohazard Cleanup Services

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

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

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

Why is cleaning the crime scene hazardous?

Grayscale Photo of Person Holding a Gun

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

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

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

Should you report to the law enforcement right away?

People Walking on Subway With Lights Turned on

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

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

Why should you hire a biohazard cleanup institution?

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

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

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

Takeaway

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

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

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

Photo Credit

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

Picture Source

Accommodation

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

Safety

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

Health Care

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

Transport

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

singapore

Image Source

Things to Do

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

Holidays

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

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

Cuba Sonic Attack: US Expels 15 Cuban Diplomats

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

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

The Cuban personnel have been given seven days to leave.

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

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

Image source Wikipedia

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

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

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

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

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

MH 370: Australian Investigators Deliver Final Report on Missing Flight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tom Petty Dies in California Aged 66

Sonia Pantiss
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0
Tom Petty Dies in California Aged 66

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Petty has died in California aged 66, a statement issued on behalf of his family has announced.

Tom Petty was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest at his Malibu home on October 3.

The singer was taken to hospital, but could not be revived and died later that evening.

He was best known as the lead singer of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers rock band, producing such hits as American Girl, Breakdown, Free Fallin’, Learning to Fly and Refugee.

His long-time manager Tony Dimitriades said: “He died peacefully at 20:40 Pacific time surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends.”

Tom Petty was also a co-founder of the Traveling Wilburys group in the late 1980s, touring with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne and George Harrison.

Image source Wikimedia

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“It’s shocking, crushing news,” said Bob Dylan, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“I thought the world of Tom. He was great performer, full of the light, a friend, and I’ll never forget him.”

Tom Petty also found solo success in 1989 with his album Full Moon Fever, which featured one of his most popular songs Free Fallin’, co-written with Jeff Lynne.

In 2002, Tom Petty was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The musician was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1950.

According to legend, Tom Petty decided to become a musician after shaking Elvis Presley’s hand in the 1950s. He traded his slingshot for a box of records and never looked back.

At the age of 17, Tom Petty dropped out of school to join Mudcrutch with future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench.

The band learned their craft by listening to pop radio, he once told NPR.

In the early 1970s, they moved to Los Angeles in the hope of finding a record contract. Tom Petty succeeded, but the band fell apart soon after.

It was not until 1975 that the musicians reunited and The Heartbreakers were formed. The quintet released their self-titled debut a year later.

The Art Of Walking In Safety

Dana R
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The Art Of Walking In Safety

If you are a fan of walking, you might be well aware of the many possible dangers of doing so. No matter where you are walking to, or even if you just like walking for the sake of it, you need to make sure that you are considering the safety aspects of it at all times. If you do not, then you might well find that you are the victim of an unfortunate circumstance. Every day, there are walking injuries and accidents the world over, and much of it is the result of a lack of awareness about the best way to avoid such a thing occurring. In this post, we are going to look at some of the rules of walking in safety – no matter where you might be walking to or from.

Image Source

Face The Traffic

If you are walking alongside a road, you should always face against the flow of traffic. This is important for a number of reasons. For a start, it obviously means that you can see any oncoming vehicles, so you can be more likely to move out of the way if they are coming towards you quite fast. But it also means of course that they can see you more easily, and this means they are more likely to get out of the way in time. Both of you can take evasive action much more swiftly, and that could even save your life one day.

Walk Single File

If you are walking in busy areas or near roads at all, it is always best to walk in single file. This makes a difference in a number of ways. Most of all, it ensures that you are safer as a group should any vehicle come around a sharp bend or corner at a high speed. Drivers will not expect to see you walking hand in hand with someone, and it is more likely that it will cause a crash, so you should try to ensure that you are single file for as much of the roadside walk as possible. This will ensure that you are all as safe as possible, and then after you have got past the road you can walk side by side again.

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Wear Reflective Gear

While this is particularly important at night, it is also fair to say that it is almost always a good idea anyway. If you wear reflective material, everyone will be able to see you much more easily, and this will mean that drivers and other people alike will have much more of a chance of getting out of the way in time. At night this is especially important, but even during the day wearing high-visibility gear is going to make a difference to how likely you are to go unharmed. There is another important reason to ensure you wear the proper gear at all times. If anything happens and you find you need to get in touch with pedestrian accident lawyers at Kelly & Soto Law, you will also want to be able to show that you were upholding your own part of the safety laws.

Use A Flashlight At Night

If you are walking at night, you must make sure that you don’t go out without a flashlight. Even if the area you intend to walk is littered with streetlights, having your own source of light is going to make a huge difference. The more powerful, the better, but you also need to think about where you are showing it, especially if you are walking along a road. While it can help drivers to spot you more easily, you need to make sure that you are not doing anything to shine it in their eyes, as this can actually very easily cause a crash. As long s you are careful with it however, this is one of the most important items you can possibly carry with you as you go walking at night.

Image Source

Keep Your Senses Open

You need to do everything you can to stay as aware of your present situation as possible at all times. This means not drowning out the sound of the world with earphones, as you cannot then hear approaching traffic around bends and so on. It also means keep your eyes peeled – and unless it is inordinately sunny, leave your sunglasses at home. The more aware you are with all the senses, the more you will be able to remain safe and well while still enjoying your walk as much as possible.

Nissan Unveils Prototype Sweat-Sensing Car Seat

Clyde K. Valle
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Nissan Unveils Prototype Sweat-Sensing Car Seat

Nissan has unveiled a prototype sweat-sensing car seat which it says could help prevent road accidents.

The new technology, called Soak, changes color if perspiration is high in salt, suggesting dehydration.

Image source Wikimedia

Previous research by the European Hydration Institute and Loughborough University found that dehydrated drivers were as error-prone as those who had drunk alcohol.

There are currently no plans to bring Soak into production.

The sweat-sensitive coating, which was developed with Dutch design company Droog, is also applied to the steering wheel and changes it and the front seats from blue to yellow to signal dehydration.

Las Vegas Mass Shooting UPDATE: At Least 58 Killed and 515 Injured

Nancy Clayson
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Las Vegas Mass Shooting UPDATE: At Least 58 Killed and 515 Injured

According to recent reports, the death toll of the last night mass shooting in Las Vegas has risen to 58.

More than five hundreds have been also injured after a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Harvest festival.

The gunman, named as 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel towards the open-air music festival attended by 22,000.

Stephen Paddock killed himself as police stormed the room where 10 guns were found.

Investigators have found no link to international terrorism, despite a claim from ISIS.

FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse told a news conference: “We have determined at this point no connection to an international terrorist organization.”

ISIS had claimed to be behind the attack, saying that Stephen Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago.

However, ISIS provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.

In an address from the White House, President Donald Trump described the attack as “pure evil”.

The president praised the efforts of the emergency services, saying their “miraculous” speed saved lives, and announced he would be visiting Las Vegas on October 4.

The attack is the worst mass shooting in recent US history.

Stephen Paddock’s motives remain unclear. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a “lone wolf” attack.

“We have no idea what his belief system was,” Joe Lombardo said.

Image source Getty Images

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According to a police statement, the shooting began at 22:08 local time on October 1. Stephen Paddock came from the small town of Mesquite, some 60 miles north-east of Las Vegas, and had resided in the hotel since September 28.

Police in Mesquite have searched Paddock’s premises and recovered a number of weapons. However, they say he had not crossed paths with the police in the past. A second property has also been searched.

Las Vegas police say the number of people injured now stands at 515.

Among those killed was an off-duty police officer.

Earlier, police announced they were seeking a woman, Marilou Danley, in connection with the shooting.

In his latest update, Sheriff Joe Lombardo said she had now been located outside the US and was not thought to have played any role.

Marilou Danley is believed to have lived with Stephen Paddock, and Sheriff Lombardo said he used some of her identity documents to check in to the hotel.

Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were fired.

Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos posted on social media.

Many hotels on the Las Vegas Strip close to the scene remained on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut.

People sheltered in hotels, restaurants and at Las Vegas McCarran airport.

The Route 91 Harvest festival had been taking place since September 29 at several hotels on the Las Vegas Strip.

Jason Aldean, who was rushed off stage when the shooting started, shared on Instagram that he was safe but heartbroken and did not know what to say.

“Tonight has been beyond horrific,” the country music singer wrote.

“It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”

Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the US.

People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner.

Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pETJDaInZ2w

Kim Jong-nam Murder: Women Suspects Plead Not Guilty in Malaysia Trial

Diane A. Wade
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Kim Jong-nam Murder: Women Suspects Plead Not Guilty in Malaysia Trial

The two women suspected of murdering Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, have pleaded not guilty at their trial in Malaysia.

The brazen nature of Kim Jong-nam’s killing, using the highly toxic VX nerve agent as he waited for a flight at Kuala Lumpur airport in February, shocked the world.

Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, 29, and Indonesian Siti Aisyah, 25, are accused of rubbing the chemical on Kim Jong-nam’s face.

Doan Thi Huong and Siti Aisyah say it was a TV prank and they were tricked by North Korean agents.

North Korea has denied any involvement in the killing, but in court prosecutors said that four men – believed to be four North Koreans who fled Malaysia on the day of murder – were also charged in the case.

The incident led to a bitter diplomatic row and strained the once cordial ties between North Korea and Malaysia, which expelled each other’s ambassadors.

The trial has been eight months in the making and the two women are the only suspects actually charged so far with the murder of Kim Jong-nam.

After the charges were read to them in court in Indonesian and Vietnamese, the two women entered their pleas through interpreters.

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If found guilty, the women face the death penalty. Their defense lawyers are likely to argue that the real culprits are North Korean agents, who left Malaysia.

However, in his opening remarks, the prosecutor said he aims to prove that the women, along with four people still at large, had the “common intention” to kill Kim Jong-nam.

The prosecutor said the women had carried out practice runs in Kuala Lumpur shopping malls before the attack, under the “supervision” of the four people, who were not named in court.

Dozens of witnesses, including airport staff who came into contact with Kim Jong-nam, are expected to take the stand in the trial which will run for weeks.

The murder is notable for its sheer audacity, taking place as it did mid-morning in full view of security cameras at Kuala Lumpur’s airport.

On February 13, the two women were seen threading through crowds of people and accosting Kim Jong-nam, before rubbing their hands on his face.

Then there was the speed with which Kim Jong-nam died. Immediately after the attack he sought help from airport staff, who led him to a clinic, but he collapsed and died just minutes later.

After a post-mortem examination, Malaysian authorities announced Kim Jong-nam had been killed by VX, a toxin so lethal that it is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations.

The two women, who were arrested days after the killing, have insisted that they were tricked by North Koreans into taking part in what they thought was a TV prank. Four North Korean men who fled Malaysia shortly after the incident are believed to suspects. In March, Interpol issued “red notices” for the North Koreans arrest.

Malaysia has named and questioned other North Koreans in relation to the case.

However, authorities also allowed three of them to leave the country in late March, in return for North Korea releasing nine Malaysian diplomats and their families.

Kim Jong-nam, who was in his mid-40s, was the estranged older half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

At the time of his death, Kim Jong-nam was believed to have been living in self-imposed exile in Macau and was thought to have had some links to China.

Pros and Cons of Undergoing a Cochlear Implant Surgery

Kathryn R. Bown
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Pros and Cons of Undergoing a Cochlear Implant Surgery
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Getting a cochlear implant (CI) helps deaf people improve their hearing. The surgery is not meant to restore your sense of hearing, but to improve it so you can have a simpler life experience. A team of professionals will assess your condition and decide whether or not the procedure will be suitable for you. Also, they will advise you on what to expect.

The procedure involves the implanting of electrical devices that convert sound to electrical stimulation. That way, a deaf person can have the sensation of hearing. The procedure has been highly controversial, although it still comes with its advantages.

How do the Implants Work?

The cochlear is the inner part of the ear and is filled with fluid. It also has small hairs that move in response to sound waves.

Each of these hairs responds to sounds at specific frequencies, and the signals are transferred to the brain for interpretation. Deaf people have this system damaged, but the implants work similarly. The surgery will involve the insertion of a small sound processor that converts noises to digital stimulations.

The converted signals are then sent to a cochlear in which many electrodes have been implanted in the place of the tiny hairs. Each of these electrodes will respond to specific sound frequencies, and the results are interpreted in the brain.

Pros of undergoing a CI Surgery

1) Improves your Hearing

Once you find a doctor, you will be advised on how effective the implants will be. Cochlear Implants improve your hearing, even though they don’t fix it completely. In an environment with little noise, you will enjoy communicating with people without necessarily having to use sign language. In addition to the implants, reading lips will make communication easier.

2) Helps to Prevent Danger

Sounds in nature, on the streets, and even at home help to signal danger. For example, a car coming towards you will honk in an attempt to get your attention. With the implants, you will stand a better chance of getting the signal and potentially save your life.

3) Allows you to enjoy Melodic Sounds

After undergoing a cochlear implant surgery, you will be able to relax to the music of your choice. Sounds in nature will also improve your general life experience.

4) Can give you access to Education

People with complete loss of hearing have limited opportunities in education and even at work. Many schools will charge you a lot more if you are deaf since the condition warrants special attention.

5) Can allow you greater Employment Opportunities

Some employment opportunities may not suit deaf people well since the condition might affect their performance in the given roles. Some improvement in your hearing will, therefore, allow you to live a complete life with more opportunities.

Cons of undergoing CI Surgery

1) Does not work for Everybody

The procedure is not recommended for people who were born deaf since they will find it harder to find the meaning of different sounds.

However, it still does not work well for everyone who became deaf at some point in their lives. It is still hard for doctors to predict the success of their procedures. Some work incredibly well, while others become almost useless. That said, most of the procedures have been successful.

2) It might make People forget about your Condition

Some people will imagine that your condition is gone and that you are now normal, just because you got a CI surgery. That will affect your interactions and general life experience since they will stop making efforts in effectively getting messages across to you. In fact, many patients can only get the sound signals in silent rooms.

3) Is very Expensive

Cochlear Implants are very expensive and are well beyond what most people can afford. There is also a good chance that the implants will be a disappointment and all your money will go to waste.

Also, you will need to continuously change the batteries, replace the wires, and cater to many maintenance costs. It is worth noting that some insurance programs cover the cost of the surgery.

4) The Technology is still underdeveloped

The technology used in this procedure is quite poor. If there are many background noises, a person with CI will not be able to engage in a conversation. This is because the electrodes can send signals to the brain through the same neural populations.

As a result, a lot of confused interpretation will occur in the brain, therefore, making communication harder. That said, scientists are working on improving the technology, and we should see improvements in the near future.

5) Requires Maintenance

The batteries and wires need to be occasionally changed. You also need to remap the sound processor.

 Conclusion

Sean Forbes is a 35-year old man who makes rap music, despite being deaf. He has been deaf since he was just a few months old, but none of that is stopping him from living his dream.

Cochlear implants are highly controversial among deaf people. The technology has helped many deaf people experience near-normal hearing once again, although the number of unsuccessful procedures is still very high. Ideally, you should go for a cochlear implant surgery if you spent some years of your life with normal hearing.

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

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia Independence Referendum: Carles Puigdemont Says Spanish Region Won Right to Statehood

President of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont says the Spanish region has won the right to statehood following a contentious referendum that was marred by violence.

Carles Puigdemont, 54, said the door had been opened to a unilateral declaration of independence.

According to Catalan officials, 90% of those who voted backed independence on October 1. The turnout was 42.3%.

Spain’s constitutional court had banned the vote and hundreds of people were injured as police used force to try to block voting.

Officers seized ballot papers and boxes at polling stations.

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said Catalans had been fooled into taking part in an illegal vote.

According to Catalan authorities, more than 2.2 million people were reported to have voted, out of 5.3 million registered voters. A Catalan spokesman said more than 750,000 votes could not be counted because polling stations were closed and urns were confiscated.

In a TV address, Carles Puigdemont said: “With this day of hope and suffering, the citizens of Catalonia have won the right to an independent state in the form of a republic.

“My government in the next few days will send the results of today’s vote to the Catalan parliament, where the sovereignty of our people lies, so that it can act in accordance with the law of the referendum.”

He said the EU could no longer “continue to look the other way”.

Image source Wikimedia

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Meanwhile, PM Mariano Rajoy spoke of a “mockery” of democracy.

“At this hour I can tell you in the strongest terms what you already know and what we have seen throughout this day. There has not been a referendum on self-determination in Catalonia,” he said.

Large crowds of independence supporters gathered in the centre of the regional capital Barcelona on Sunday evening, waving flags and singing the Catalan anthem. Anti-independence protesters have also held rallies in Barcelona and other Spanish cities.

In another development, more than 40 trade unions and Catalan associations called a region-wide strike on October 3 due to “the grave violation of rights and freedoms”.

TV footage showed Spanish police kicking would-be voters and pulling women out of polling stations by their hair.

Catalan medical officials said 844 people had been hurt in clashes, including 33 police. The majority had minor injuries or had suffered from anxiety attacks.

In Girona, riot police smashed their way into a polling station where Carles Puigdemont was due to vote, and forcibly removed those inside. He voted at another station.

TV footage showed riot police using batons to beat a group of firefighters who were protecting crowds in Girona.

The national police and Guardia Civil – a military force charged with police duties – were sent into Catalonia in large numbers to prevent the vote.

The Catalan police – the Mossos d’Esquadra – have been placed under Madrid’s control, however witnesses said they showed little inclination to use force on protesters.

Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau condemned police actions against the region’s “defenseless” population, but Spain’s Deputy PM Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said police had “acted with professionalism and in a proportionate way”.

Catalan authorities said 319 of about 2,300 polling stations across the region had been closed by police while the Spanish government said 92 stations had been sealed off.

Since September 29, thousands of people have occupied schools and other buildings designated as polling stations in order to keep them open.

Many of those inside were parents and their children, who remained in the buildings after the end of lessons on September 29 and bedded down in sleeping bags on gym mats.

The anti-independence Societat Civil said there were voting irregularities, including the same people voting twice.

Catalonia is a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain and has its own language and culture.

However, Catalonia has a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognized as a separate nation under the Spanish constitution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKm3o8iw1Q

Las Vegas Shooting: At Least Two Dead and 24 Injured at Route 91 Harvest Festival

Nancy Clayson
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0
Las Vegas Shooting: At Least Two Dead and 24 Injured at Route 91 Harvest Festival

At least two people died and other 24 have been injured in a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas.

A gunman opened fire at an open-air country music festival at the Mandalay Bay Hotel on Las Vegas Strip.

Hundreds of people fled the scene and the sound of what appeared to be prolonged automatic gunfire could be heard on videos posted on social media.

According to police, a suspect “was down”. There are reports of at least one other incident on the Las Vegas Strip.

Image source Getty Images

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Parts of the area were shut down as armed police arrived at the scene of the attack on the Route 91 Harvest festival.

The shooting took place at around 22:30 local time. Witnesses reported that hundreds of shots were fired.

Some flights have been diverted from Las Vegas McCarran airport while the incident continues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3HSNQ9zHRM

O.J. Simpson Leaves Nevada Jail On Parole

Nancy Clayson
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O.J. Simpson Leaves Nevada Jail On Parole

O.J. Simpson has been released on parole after nine years in a Nevada jail.

The former NFL player had been serving time for armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and 10 other charges over a 2007 confrontation at a Las Vegas hotel.

O.J. Simpson was approved for early parole release at a board hearing in July.

In 1995, he was acquitted of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

In a Facebook post, Nevada Department of Corrections released an image and video of O.J. Simpson signing documents and leaving Lovelock Correctional Centre on October 1.

They confirmed the 70-year-old had been released from the facility at 00:08.

O.J. Simpson will face restrictions – including up to five years of parole supervision.

He was sentenced to a maximum 33-year prison sentence in 2008 after storming a Las Vegas hotel room with five others in an effort to seize items from two sports memorabilia dealers.

Image source Wikimedia

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O.J. Simpson said the belongings, which he described as images of his family and friends, were later handed over to him by officials after they were legally deemed to belong to him.

In 2013, the Nevada Board of Parole granted O.J. Simpson parole on some of his convictions, but not for the more violent charges. In July this year, the former football player was granted parole and approved for release in October.

Bruce Fromong, who was one of O.J. Simpson’s victims in the robbery, testified in favor of him being granted freedom.

O.J. Simpson was found guilty in 2008 exactly 13 years to the day after he was famously acquitted in the double-murder case.

Despite the 1995 not-guilty verdict, a civil court jury held O.J. Simpson liable for the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman, awarding $33.5 million to their families.

A lawyer representing Ron Goldman’s family told Associated Press this amount had nearly doubled with interest under Californian state law, and that the family would continue to seek payment from O.J. Simpson after his release.

O.J. Simpson has expressed his desire to move to Florida after leaving jail.

On September 27, his lawyer Malcolm LaVergne said that he was feeling “very upbeat” ahead of the release.

Catalonia Independence Referendum Begins Amid Police Crackdown

Diane A. Wade
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Catalonia Independence Referendum Begins Amid Police Crackdown

Catalonia’s independence referendum has begun despite Spanish police’s attempt to prevent the vote from taking place.

The Spanish government has pledged to stop a vote that was declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court.

The interior ministry says police officers began seizing ballot papers and boxes as the polls opened.

Riot police blocked potential voters from entering a polling station in the regional capital Barcelona.

Thousands of separatist supporters occupied schools and other buildings that have been designated as voting centers ahead of the polls opening.

Many of those inside are parents and their children, who remained in the buildings after the end of lessons on September 29 and bedded down in sleeping bags on gym mats.

In some areas, farmers positioned tractors on roads and in front of polling station doors, and school gates were taken away to make it harder for the authorities to seal buildings off.

Police insisted polling stations would not be allowed to open, and that those inside would be evicted.

On October 1, dozens of national police vehicles left their base in the port of Barcelona as officers were deployed.

Referendum organizers have called for peaceful resistance to any police action.

Catalan government officials have predicted a big turnout.

The ballot papers contain just one question: “Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?” There are two boxes: Yes or No.

Image source Wikimedia

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Ahead of the polls opening, the Catalan government said voters could use any polling station if their designated voting place was shut.

The referendum has been declared illegal by Spain’s constitutional court, and thousands of extra police officers have been sent to the region.

The Spanish government has put policing in Catalonia under central control and ordered the regional force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, to help enforce the ban.

In a show of force ahead of the poll, Spanish authorities have seized voting materials, imposed fines on top Catalan officials and temporarily detained dozens of politicians.

Police have also occupied the regional government’s telecommunications center.

The head of the Catalan police has urged officers to avoid using force.

Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people in north-eastern Spain, has its own language and culture.

It also has a high degree of autonomy, but is not recognized as a separate nation under the Spanish constitution.

Pressure for a vote on self-determination has grown over the past five years.

However, Spanish unionists argue Catalonia already enjoys broad autonomy within Spain, along with other regions like the Basque Country and Galicia.

PM Mariano Rajoy says the vote goes against the constitution, which refers to “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards”.

Central government spokesman Iñigo Mendez de Vigo accused the Catalan government of being inflexible and one-sided, but it is a charge that Catalan nationalists throw back at Madrid itself.

Demonstrations by independence campaigners have been largely peaceful.

On the eve of the vote, thousands of demonstrators calling for Spanish unity held rallies in cities across the country, including in the Catalan capital Barcelona.

They waved Spanish flags and carried banners reading “Catalonia is Spain”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGQL0WuszJE

Donald Trump Slams Puerto Rico Officials for “Wanting Everything Done for Them”

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Slams Puerto Rico Officials for “Wanting Everything Done for Them”

President Donald Trump has lashed out at Puerto Rico officials over their criticism of US relief efforts on the island following Hurricane Maria.

Hurricane Maria a week ago killed 16 people in Puerto Rico and left millions in need of aid.

In a series of tweets, President Trump said that Puerto Rican officials showed “poor leadership ability” and “want everything to be done for them”.

His comments come after the Mayor of San Juan made a desperate plea for federal help.

In a news conference, Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said: “We have no time for patience any more.

“I am asking the president of the United States to make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives.

“I am done being polite. I am done being politically correct. I am mad as hell.”

The mayor then appeared in a T-shirt that said “Help us, we’re dying” for a CNN interview.

Carmen Yulin Cruz, who is living in a shelter after her home was destroyed, said Puerto Rico is set to be without power for six to eight months after the storm damaged 90% of homes on the island.

More bad weather is in the offing, with the National Weather Service in San Juan warning that a strong thunderstorm would imminently affect the east of the island, with torrential rain and strong winds expected.

Almost half Puerto Rico’s 3.4 million-population is without drinking water, the Defense Department said on September 28.

Efforts are being made on the island to clear road access and restore hospitals to working conditions.

Image source defense.gov

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In a series of tweets on September 30, President Trump suggested the mayor had been told “to be nasty to Trump” by his Democratic opposition.

The president also said he would visit Puerto Rico on October 3 with First Lady Melania.

The visit comes after widespread criticism of his administration’s response to the hurricane.

Responding to President Trump’s tweets in an interview, Carmen Yulin Cruz said: “I was asking for help. I wasn’t saying anything nasty about the president.

“I will continue to do what I have to do, say what I have to say, compliment the people that I have to compliment, and call out the people that I need to call out.

“This isn’t about me. This isn’t about anyone. This is about lives that are being lost.”

On September 28, President Trump announced shipping restrictions had been lifted to help provide aid to Puerto Rico.

The US military general in charge of the relief operation said on September 29 that about 4,500 troops were already involved.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said 95% of Puerto Rico remained without power and 55% of people did not yet have access to drinking water, but that most petrol stations had reopened.

Concerns were raised on September 28 that thousands of shipping containers of aid were sitting in a San Juan undistributed. Ground transportation has been hindered by a lack of fuel and blocked roads.

The US navy has deployed a hospital ship and has assigned engineers to repair the island’s damaged power grid, the Department of Defense said on September 29.

Puerto Rico is a US territory but does not have direct voting representation.

Marilyn Manson Crushed by Giant Stage Prop during New York Concert

Sonia Pantiss
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Marilyn Manson Crushed by Giant Stage Prop during New York Concert

Marilyn Manson has been badly injured during a concert in New York when a large prop fell on him on stage.

The prop – apparently two large guns held together with metal scaffolding – fell as the rock star was performing at the Hammerstein Ballroom on September 30.

It appears Marilyn Manson, 48, laid on stage for up to 15 minutes covered by a sheet before he was carried out on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

The singer’s condition is not currently known.

Image source Wikimedia

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In videos of the incident posted online, stage crew and band members can be seen lifting the prop off Marilyn Manson but he does not get back up.

A black sheet was put around the singer until he could be taken off stage, when an announcement was made that the show was canceled “due to injury”.

A representative told Rolling Stone magazine: “Manson suffered an injury towards the end of his incredible NYC show. He is being treated at a local hospital.”

Marilyn Manson was three dates into his The Heaven Upside Down Tour. He was due to perform in Boston on October 2.

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