Qatari nationals in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been given two weeks to leave.
Qatar denies backing militants and its foreign minister has called for “a dialogue of openness and honesty”.
Egypt has announced it was closing off its airspace to Qatar from 04:00 GMT on June 6 “until further notice”.
Travel disruption is expected as the airport in Doha, Qatar’s capital, is a major hub for international flight connections.
Image source Wikipedia
Airlines affected will include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates.
When avoiding the massive neighbor to the west, Saudi Arabia, Qatari planes will inevitably have to take longer routes leading to longer flight times.
However, Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, told broadcaster Al Jazeera the country would “still have access to the world through international sea lanes and international airspace”.
An anonymous Somali official told AP at least 15 Qatar Airways flights had used Somalia’s airspace on June 5, many more than on a normal day.
The states joining the move against Qatar, a tiny but gas-rich peninsula, on June 5 include some of the biggest powers in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE closed all transport ties by air, land and sea to Qatar.
They gave all Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave their territory, and banned their citizens from travelling to Qatar.
The UAE and Egypt expelled Qatari diplomats, giving them 48 hours to leave.
Saudi Arabia closed down a local office of Al Jazeera, but said Qatari citizens would still be allowed to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Egypt, Yemen, Libya’s eastern-based government and the Maldives later followed suit in severing diplomatic ties.
It has taken Bob Dylan until now to issue his taped lecture, which cites Buddy Holly as an influence.
Bob Dylan had until June 10 to deliver the lecture or forfeit the prize money.
He mentioned three influential books – Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, Homer’s The Odyssey and Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front – in his lecture.
Sara Danius, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, which awards the prize, wrote in a blog post: “The speech is extraordinary and, as one might expect, eloquent. Now that the lecture has been delivered, the Dylan adventure is coming to a close.”
Bob Dylan said: “If I was to go back to the dawning of it all, I guess I’d have to start with Buddy Holly… He was the archetype. Everything I wasn’t and wanted to be.”
The singer said he “had to travel a hundred miles to get to see him play” and “wasn’t disappointed”.
Image source Wikipedia
Describing the encounter, Bob Dylan said Buddy Holly “was powerful and electrifying and had a commanding presence”.
“Out of the blue, the most uncanny thing happened. He looked me right straight dead in the eye, and he transmitted something. Something I didn’t know what. And it gave me the chills.
“It was a day or two after that that his plane went down… somebody handed me a Leadbelly record with the song Cottonfields on it. And that record changed my life right then and there.”
This lead Bob Dylan on to other Leadbelly artists including Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, the New Lost City Ramblers and Jean Ritchie.
“By listening to all the early folk artists and singing the songs yourself, you pick up the vernacular. You internalize it.”
Bob Dylan then went on to talk about his literary influences: “Specific books that have stuck with me ever since I read them way back in grammar school – I want to tell you about three of them: Moby Dick, All Quiet on the Western Front and The Odyssey.”
The musician described Moby Dick as “a fascinating book, a book that’s filled with scenes of high drama and dramatic dialogue”.
“All Quiet on the Western Front is a horror story. This is a book where you lose your childhood, your faith in a meaningful world, and your concern for individuals.
“The Odyssey is a great book whose themes have worked its way into the ballads of a lot of songwriters: Homeward Bound, Green, Green Grass of Home, Home on the Range, and my songs as well,” Bob Dylan said.
He also spoke about the meaning in songs, saying: “If a song moves you, that’s all that’s important. I don’t have to know what a song means. I’ve written all kinds of things into my songs. And I’m not going to worry about it – what it all means.”
Bob Dylan concluded: “Our songs are alive in the land of the living. But songs are unlike literature. They’re meant to be sung, not read. The words in Shakespeare’s plays were meant to be acted on the stage. Just as lyrics in songs are meant to be sung, not read on a page.
“And I hope some of you get the chance to listen to these lyrics the way they were intended to be heard: in concert or on record or however people are listening to songs these days. I return once again to Homer, who says, <<Sing in me, oh Muse, and through me tell the story>>.”
As everyone knows by now, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is one of the most integral parts when it comes to finding content online. Targeting the right customer with the right words can boost your content.
There are mainly two kinds of SEO: paid and organic. The paid kind can create a lot of traffic by posting ads on different places over the Internet. Organic SEO doesn’t do that; it generates traffic in a more natural manner.
You can also do the same by producing a perfect keyword for your content that you want to submit on the Internet. In this article, we are going to look at everything you need to know about SEO and how to boost user-engagements on your site.
Keeping Your Keyword Volume High
The number of searches that a particular keyword gets is the volume of that keyword. A keyword is the single most important thing when somebody is searching something on the Internet. If the keyword is not right, obviously the volume will not be good. So when someone is searching on the web, they will not be able to find your content. To make your content automatically visible for the users, you need to have some high keyword.
Order for the Right SEO
Without the proper foundation, you only cannot build the structure that you want to make. Just like that, you cannot do a great SEO without the right format, especially when it’s geo-targeted. High internal linking is a must to do an effective SEO. The setup of proper tracking is also vital.
Another essential thing is the content of your sites; it must look trustworthy because, without it, it will result in nothing. When you are building any site, you have to keep in mind that keywords vary from season to season, so you need to pick the right keyword which will get the most hit throughout the year. You can also pick the seasonal keyword, for example, game season or some famous movie releasing season such as film fests.
Making the Keywords more Specific
Keywords that are not unique will not be getting many hits, but keywords that are way too specific can get hit close to zero. To prevent that, you need to be specific and general at the same time when you are picking the keywords for your content.
You also need to think about the title long before you start writing your content. That’s why basic keyword search process is so important. You need to research about your product, collect data, and analyze them before managing them in the right order. A specific keyword can get you more volume, and do that you have to think about what the users want to see.
Optimize the Link Profile
Optimizing the link profile is the single most indicator for SEO health. Your pages can go up and up if it has high-authority backlinks. This is not easy because you need to focus on the quality as well as the quantity.
The links which are not desirable for your site should be removed, and only the high profile links should be there to boost your site. The title should be very strong as mentioned before and the subheadings should be related to the heading. Another thing to keep in mind is that different device user such as mobile and PC, search differently, so you have to remember that, too. Make your pages mobile-friendly.
Takeaway
Don’t worry if your niche volume is not too high; you can still manage to make your site a good one by using search engine optimization on it. After reading the whole article, you may get some idea to boost your site even with a low niche volume. You don’t need a paid method all the time to produce significant traffic for your site. What you need are hard work and good strategies. You need to dedicate a good amount of time to make sure your site is one of the best.
Five countries – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen – have cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilizing the region.
They say Qatar backs militant groups including ISIS and al-Qaeda, which Qatar has denied.
The Saudi state news agency SPA said Riyadh had closed its borders, severing land, sea and air contact with the tiny peninsula of Qatar.
Qatar called the decision “unjustified” and with “no basis in fact”.
Image source Flickr
The unprecedented move is being seen as a significant split between powerful Gulf countries, who are also close US allies.
It comes in the context of increased tensions between Gulf countries and their near-neighbor Iran. The Saudi statement accused Qatar of collaborating with Iranian-backed militias.
The diplomatic withdrawal was put into motion by Bahrain then Saudi Arabia on June 5. Their allies swiftly followed.
SPA cited officials as saying the decision was taken to “protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism”.
The three Gulf countries have given Qatari nationals two weeks to leave their territory.
More broadly, there are two key factors driving June 5 decision: Qatar’s ties to Islamist groups, and the role of Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival.
While Qatar has joined the US coalition against ISIS, the Qatari government has been forced to repeatedly deny accusations from Iraq’s Shia leaders that it provided financial support to ISIS.
However, wealthy individuals in the emirate are believed to have made donations and the government has given money and weapons to hard-line Islamist groups in Syria. Qatar is also accused of having links to a group formerly known as the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
The SPA statement accused Qatar of backing these groups, as well as the widely-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, and that it “promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly”.
The UN has imposed new targeted sanctions against North Korea in response to a series of missile tests conducted by Pyongyang this year.
The measures impose a travel ban and asset freeze on four entities and 14 officials, including the head of North Korea’s overseas spying operations.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously to back the sanctions after weeks of negotiations between the US and China.
North Korea has defied a UN resolution banning all nuclear and missile tests.
The sanctions resolution was adopted by the 15-member council on June 2.
Among the 14 North Korean officials is Cho Il-u, who leads Pyongyang’s foreign espionage operations.
The other blacklisted officials are senior members of North Korea’s Workers’ Party and heads of trading companies funding Pyongyang’s military program.
North Korea’s strategic rocket force, the Koryo Bank and two trading companies were also added to the list.
The Koryo Bank is linked to a party office that manages finances of North Korea’s top officials, including leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea has been testing its missiles at an unprecedented pace. It says its nuclear program is defensive and intended to counter US aggression.
However, experts fear the tests indicate progress towards North Korea’s ultimate goal of putting a nuclear warhead on a missile that could strike the continental US.
President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that America’s “strategic patience” over North Korea’s nuclear ambitions came to an end.
At least 36 bodies have been recovered from a casino and hotel complex in the Philippine capital, Manila, where a lone gunman opened fire overnight.
According to officials, most of the dead suffocated in thick toxic smoke after the man set fire to casino tables.
The attacker, whose nationality is not yet known, began shooting in the casino in Resorts World Manila in the early hours on June 2.
Police said the gunman later killed himself by setting himself on fire.
Authorities initially said there were no casualties, but appear to have only found the bodies while sweeping the complex after the gunman’s body was recovered.
Photo AP
Officials insisted that the incident was a robbery attempt, and was not terrorism-related despite a claim by ISIS.
ISIS, which posted the claim on June 2 via the messaging app Telegram, offered no further details.
The gunman, who has yet to be named, entered the casino shortly after midnight and began firing an assault rifle, sparking widespread panic.
He also set gaming tables on fire and filled a backpack with gambling chips worth 113 million Philippine pesos ($2.3 million).
The gunman later fled to the hotel section of the complex, leaving behind the backpack, and entered a hotel room.
The shooting sparked a security lockdown and a manhunt in the complex, which ended when the gunman’s body was found.
Resorts World Manila said in a statement that the man also shot himself after setting himself on fire, and that he was found dead around 07:00 local time.
Police released CCTV images of the man, showing him dressed in black and carrying his rifle.
There has been some speculation on the part of local media and some officials that the gunman could have been a foreigner on the basis that he spoke English well. Early reports said he appeared to resemble a Caucasian.
Authorities have also told reporters that the man appeared to be “mentally disturbed”. Resorts World Manila has called the casino shooting a “cowardly act of a deranged mind”.
Police say the gunman was acting alone, unconnected to any Islamist group. Over the last week militants allied to ISIS have been engaged in street battles in the far south of the Philippines.
Police said the suspect poured petrol over the furniture and rugs, causing them to catch fire immediately. Although the fire was not large, thick smoke caused the deaths.
Those who escaped the casino have said they saw smoke filling the complex.
Resorts World Manila chief operating officer Stephen Reilly has told reporters that fire safety equipment worked, and that there was “proper ventilation”.
More than 50 people have been sent to a hospital to be treated for injuries, including fractures.
Contrary to popular belief, creating a budget can be fun. As we get older we need to prioritize what we spend. It’s not fun in the short-term but in the long-term it’s rewarding. Planning allows you to create goals, pay off debt, contribute to an emergency fund and invest. Heed these steps now and you will be on the right track to responsible spending.
List Essential Expenses
Make a list of all of your expenses starting with the most important. Essential expenses like rent, mortgage, debt and insurance are first. Next, evaluate your family expenditures like medical bills, groceries, babysitting and daycare. Compare your income accordingly. Does your income match what you spend? If you can barely keep your head above water every month, it’s time to cut back on spending or earn a second income. Hire a financial advisor to help you find a strategy to keep your budget on track. Ideally you should have enough money at the end of the month to contribute to an emergency fund and a retirement account. If you’re in good financial standing, a financial advisor can even help you invest in the housing or stock market.
Minimize Unnecessary Spending
You may wonder where all your money goes at the end of the month. Without a budget, your paycheck will disappear into the ether. You’ll wonder why some months you have more money and other months you have less. This isn’t a good habit; reckless spending distracts from long term financial goals. To keep track of your spending use an old-fashioned checkbook or download a money management app like Wally and a savings app like Acorns. Wally is one of the best apps to track your spending habits and Acorn automatically invests the change from your daily purchases into your bank account. Download Wally and see how much your small expenses add up. You may be surprised; a hundred dollars can disappear quickly in a weekend. Try simple habits like making your own coffee in the morning instead of going to Starbucks or cutting back grocery spending. If you have enough wiggle room, prioritize the little things you want as a tradeoff for other expenses.
Envision a Goal
Goals move people forward. What good is money for if you don’t have something to strive for? For some it may be purchasing a home or car, and for others it may be a backpacking trip through South America. Wherever your interests lie, create a long-term goal to achieve. Plan your dream wedding on Pinterest or visit travel websites and dream about the possibilities. When you start dreaming, suddenly those small expenses don’t seem as important. Create a goal now and you’ll thank yourself in the future.
Earn Money on the Side
If you’re driven toward a goal and you want to get there faster, try earning some extra income on the side. Turn your knitting hobby into a small business on Et sy or walk your neighbor’s dogs for extra cash; apps like Wag allow you to create a profile to become a professional dog walker. If you don’t mind driving, Uber and Lyft are great avenues for extra income. Rent out a room in your home to AirBnB or tutor students on weekends. Technology has made it easier to put yourself out there so try something new and earn more money.
Reward Yourself
Budgeting isn’t all about restricting yourself—it’s also about rewarding yourself. Small rewards make budgeting worth it as you work toward a goal. The difference between rewards and frivolous spending is the way you plan it. Rewards are planned expenses. It may be a nice pair of shoes you budgeted a few months for, or it could be a weekend getaway with friends. Rewards make it easier to save and enjoy your new lifestyle.
Budgeting is a way to take control of your future. Beat the budgeting blues by following these steps now. If you need help reach out to a financial advisor or tax experts at a reputable company like Community Tax.
London is home to more than 4,000 start-ups, creating around quarter of a million jobs and only looking to grow in the coming years. This creates a highly competitive yet potentially fruitful environment for launching a new business. While there may be a lot of competition, there is also plenty of support and infrastructure in place to make your company a success. These are four essentials every start-up in the capital requires to make it big.
Money
Starting capital is vital to get your new business off the ground. Whether this is acquired through grants, loans, savings or any other method isn’t the issue; it’s how you spend it. Along with having enough money to run a start-up, you need a sound financial plan that details where money will come in and go out, ensuring balance. Avoid blowing cash on needless overheads, choosing cost-effective options where possible, and make sure that your business will soon be supported by client revenue rather than initial capital to be a true success.
Image source Pixabay
Strong Recruitment
If your team’s right then your business will run a lot smoother. Again, balance is key, with a good mix of experience and skills required. Identify any areas that are lacking and decide if you need to hire someone full or part-time, can freelance or outsource. Whichever you choose, getting the right people who are motivated and work well together should give your start-up a better opportunity to thrive. Look online or use recruitment firms to get the best match.
Quality
An extra touch of quality is vital for London start-ups to attract new clients, investors and even staff. Especially when money is tight at the beginning, it may be hard to afford some of the finer offices or facilities. A great idea for start-ups is to use societyM meeting rooms when meeting with potential clients or investors. For a one-off they provide that professional image without the associated costs, really impressing them.
Drive
There are many challenges facing London start-ups, from financial to resources and recruitment. Despite its size, the extra costs and competition can make it easy to give up within the first few months. For this reason, a strong drive and belief in your start-up is required to help you overcome the challenges you will face on the way. Even with the best, most innovative product or service, without any drive it could all fall apart quickly.
Ensure you have all these requirements before setting up your start-up in London to improve your chances of success.
World’s leaders reacted to President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
UN chief Antonio Guterres’ spokesman called President Trump’s announcement “a major disappointment” while the EU said it was “a sad day for the world”.
However, senior Republicans and the US coal industry backed the move.
President Trump said the accord “punished” the US and would cost millions of American jobs.
In an address at the White House, the presdient said he was prepared to negotiate a new agreement or re-enter the accord on improved terms.
“I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris,” Donald Trump said.
The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels and “endeavor to limit” them even more, to 1.5C.
Only Syria and Nicaragua did not sign up to the deal.
Donald Trump characterized the Paris agreement as a deal that aimed to hobble, disadvantage and impoverish the US.
He claimed the agreement would cost the US $3 trillion in lost GDP and 6.5 million jobs – while rival economies like China and India were treated more favorably.
Image source Flickr
President Trump said he was fulfilling his “solemn duty to protect America and its citizens”.
He added: “We don’t want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore – and they won’t be.”
Donald Trump did not give a timescale. However, under the agreement, a nation seeking to leave the pact can only give notice three years after the date it entered into force – November 16, 2016.
The process of leaving then takes another year, meaning it would not be complete until just weeks after the US presidential election in 2020.
US payments to the UN Green Climate Fund, which helps developing countries cope with the effects of climate change, will stop.
Former President Barack Obama, who agreed to the Paris deal, immediately criticized Donald Trump’s move, accusing the Trump administration of “rejecting the future”.
Disney CEO Robert Iger and the entrepreneur Elon Musk both resigned from White House advisory councils.
Elon Musk said: “Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.”
However, Republican congressional leaders and the US coal industry backed the move, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell supporting President Trump “for dealing yet another significant blow to the Obama administration’s assault on domestic energy production and jobs”.
The US biggest coal mining company, Peabody Energy, said the agreement would have badly affected the US economy.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the decision “one of the worst policy moves made in the 21st Century because of the huge damage to our economy, our environment and our geopolitical standing”.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said he was “deeply disappointed” by President Trump’s decision.
UK’s PM Theresa May, who expressed her disappointment and told President Trump in a phone call that the deal protects the “prosperity and security of future generations”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he respected Donald Trump’s decision but believed it was a “mistake both for the US and for our planet”.
Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso said: “I’m not just disappointed, but also feel anger.”
President Trump indicated he was open to another climate deal, saying he would “begin negotiations to re-enter either the Paris accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States”.
However, Donald Trump’s words suggested this was not a priority.
“We will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine,” he said.
During Donald Trump’s election campaign he dismissed climate change as a “hoax”.
French, German and Italian leaders quickly issued a joint statement rejecting a renegotiation of the agreement.
The statement said: “We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economies.”
President Emmanuel Macron reflected the defiance among the remaining signatories, saying “we are fully committed”.
Reworking one of Donald Trump’s own phrases, President Macron added: “Wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again.”
The Chinese foreign ministry said the parties to the Paris accord “should cherish this hard-won outcome”.
Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of New York, California and Washington all quickly vowed to respect the terms of the Paris deal.
Earlier this year, Abhishek Gattani, a Silicon Valley CEO, was arrested and charged with domestic violence for reportedly beating up his wife. Gattani, who has a previous felony charge for domestic abuse, struck a plea deal with the State of California – reportedly in an effort to reduce the chances of his deportation. Rather than face serious repercussions for felony domestic violence convictions, Gattani pled “no contest to felony accessory and a misdemeanor count of offensive touching.”
Gattani was charged with a felony assault in 2013 after a postal worker witnessed him beating his now estranged wife on the sidewalk in front of their home. The charges were reduced to a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace – reportedly to avoid adverse immigration action.
It is now four years later and Gattani’s wife has had enough. In support of new charges, provided substantial evidence supporting her allegations of physical abuse and verbal threats against her safety and well-being. Despite the evidence, prosecutors pushed for a “lesser form of a felony.” A lesser felony would allow Gattani to serve as little as two weeks in county jail, expunge his record after a certain period of time, and – once again- keep him in the country.
Image source Wikimedia
Gattani’s estranged wife has been vocal about her thoughts on this domestic violence plea deal. She argues that “justice is being thwarted” simply to keep her wealthy abuser in the country. Gattani’s wife supplied the prosecution with more evidence than victims of domestic violence and abuse are generally able to gather. However, it appears as though her efforts were in vain. Gattani will likely walk away from the situation with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Gattani’s wife, who honestly believes her life to be in danger as long as her estranged husband is a free man, will probably not be able to rest peacefully knowing her abuser could be nearby.
Why would the prosecution want to push a lesser form of a felony when Gattani’s estranged wife had overwhelming evidence of the abusive, violent, and dangerous behavior? Certain crimes are viewed to be more sinister and damaging than others. Domestic violence is one of these morally reprehensible crimes – commonly referred to as crimes of moral turpitude. Conviction of a violent felony and/or domestic violence offenses could trigger immigration issues, including deportation. Even immigrants who are in the country legally could be sent back to their home countries if they are convicted of these morally objectionable crimes.
In 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law that required criminal prosecutors to “consider the avoidance of adverse immigration consequences” when negotiating plea bargains with violent criminals to “reach a just resolution.” The law aims to avoid the routine and/or mandatory deportation of criminals who are charged with a morally objectionable crime, but leaves room for truly violent and dangerous offenders to walk away with a slap on the wrist. In negotiating Gattani’s plea bargain, the prosecution appears to have given his potential deportation a considerable amount of gravity.
The interesting thing is that Gattani had not one – but two – felony domestic violence charges reduced in an effort to keep him in the country. Crimes of domestic violence and abuse are categorized as morally reprehensible. While the 2015 law may be an attempt to keep legal immigrants from adverse immigration action, it appears as though it may grant state prosecutors with far too much latitude and discretion when negotiating plea bargains. Should there be a limit on the number of felony charges that can be reduced for the purpose of avoiding adverse immigration actions?
Vikas Bajaj, a domestic violence lawyer in San Diego, CA, explained that it would be unwise to issue a hard and fast rule limiting the discretion prosecutors were granted under the 2015 law. “Plea bargains present an opportunity to weigh all factors and considerations in complex cases,” Bajaj said “There are far too many cases that are based on false allegations or that have little to no evidence to support a questionable allegation. While the outcome in this particular case is unfortunate, it would be unjust to deny wrongfully-accused persons the ability to stay in a country where they have established a home for themselves and their families.”
Bajaj goes on to emphasize the importance of “balancing the totality of the circumstances, the weight of the evidence, and, if applicable, the criminal history of the accused” when negotiating lesser charges in a plea agreement. “Stripping prosecutors of the ability to weigh the impact of a deportation would be shortsighted,” he explains.
On one hand, it is important to consider that allegations of domestic violence could be unsubstantiated and purposefully raised to cause trouble for an ex-spouse or partner. Alternatively, it is important to ensure that victims of domestic violence have the ability to see their abusers brought to justice for their heinous acts. Given that the 2015 law is relatively new it may take time to see how future plea negotiations proceed.
If you have been injured in an accident you may be considering a personal injury claim for damages to help pay for the costs related to medical care, lost wages, or repairs to material possessions. There are thousands of personal injury attorneys out there – how do you choose the one who is best suited to handle your claim? We’ve compiled a list of 6 things to keep in mind when choosing a personal injury attorney to represent you.
Personality
It may seem like an odd thing to consider when choosing a personal injury attorney to represent you in your quest for compensation. However, it is important to choose an attorney with whom you can be 100% open and honest. Failure to communicate openly with your attorney can lead to disaster. Most of the time, we tend to be open with people we are comfortable with.
If you are fearful of your attorney or don’t trust them, what are the chances of establishing transparency and good communication? The more comfortable you are with your personal injury attorney, the more successful your case will be.
Experience Matters
A personal injury attorney’s record and experience are great indicators of whether they’ll be well-suited to handle your claim. While experience should by no means be the only factor you consider, it is helpful to gauge whether or not they are equipped to handle your claim. Attorneys with experience understand what to look for, which details can make or break a case, and how to best apply the facts of your specific case to general legal concepts.
New attorneys with little to no experience may have a general idea of how to approach a case, but may not have had the opportunity to really fine-tune their approach. Many times, however, new attorneys will practice under the supervision of older, more experienced attorneys, so it is important to take this into consideration.
Specialization Within Personal Injury
“Personal injury attorney” is a broad title that really captures a great number of areas of specialization. While many personal injury attorneys will be open to handling just about any “personal injury” case, others have specific areas of focus. For example, some attorneys may specialize in slip and fall/premises liability/negligence cases, others focus on medical malpractice claims, while others specialize in claims stemming from car/motorcycle/truck accidents.
While each of these attorneys may advertise him or herself as a personal injury attorney, his or her area of specialization is more specific. Finding an attorney whose specialty aligns with your accident can help to maximize recovery. Attorneys will be familiar with nuances of the specific area of law in which they generally focus.
They’ll Stake Their Reputation on It
Personal injury attorneys develop reputations with clients, adversaries, courts, experts, and just about everyone else they encounter on a daily basis. An attorney with a better reputation will be more likely to be successful in negotiating a better settlement for an injured client. To find the right personal injury attorney for your case, try getting recommendations from friends or family.
Technology and the internet have really expanded our ability to research and learn about personal injury attorneys in our local area(s). Try checking websites such as Avvo, Martindale, Super Lawyers, and Nolo to see what others have to say about your potential personal injury attorney.
Client Load
Busy law offices can indicate a successful legal practice. However, if you have a seemingly minor personal injury claim that won’t generate much of a fee for the attorney you choose, your claim may not receive the attention it deserves if an attorney is overextended. Just because an attorney has a heavy client load does not necessarily mean that they will neglect your case. In many law offices, attorneys are able to assign legal tasks to paralegals or other attorneys in the office so that the caseload can be handled efficiently and effectively.
When deciding if an attorney is right for you, it is simply important to ask questions that will determine whether they have the requisite time to properly tend to your case. Fortunately, research about an attorney’s experience, reputation, and personality may help to shed some light on this ability.
Cost
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they do not charge an up-front fee, but collect a percentage of your settlement or award at the end of your case. This allows injured clients to obtain necessary legal counsel without worrying about paying for unanticipated medical expenses, fixing a car or motorcycle, or dealing with lost wages due to missing work in addition to expensive legal fees. It is important, though, to ask personal injury attorneys for the exact percentage that they will take and whether this percentage covers court costs and fees.
Alternatively, some attorneys may request a small amount of money up-front to pay for filing fees, court costs, expert witnesses, and other expenses associated with a personal injury claim.
ERP is the perfect example of a true enterprise app. It is something that staff at all levels will rely on. And it manages the single most valuable asset your business owns – data. That is why you must carefully and comprehensively evaluate various options before making any formal commitments.
There are lots of ways to go about your due diligence – requesting a demo, reaching out to current customers, getting an expert evaluation of the underlying tech, considering on-premises vs. cloud etc. But one of the most illustrative resources available to you is case studies relevant to specific ERP products.
Case studies reveal a lot about a product and even more about a vendor, even if they have been created by the vendor themselves. A close reading of these documents can tell you much about the level of performance, service, and support you can expect by picking one vendor over another. Here are some features to focus on as you start diving into case studies.
Whether a Product Aligns with Your Business Needs
Most vendors will claim their product is perfectly suited to your enterprise and point to experience in or around your industry to prove it. Case studies allow you to examine how that ERP performs in environments that are as similar as possible to your own. Looking for case studies written about your competitors, about companies with similar sizes/structures, or about companies facing the same issues as you can lead you to products with a proven relevance to your enterprise.
How Smoothly You can Expect the Implementation to Go
You can find countless case studies highlighting both successful and wildly unsuccessful implementation efforts. The outcomes are important, but it is the details that are most instructive. You want to partner with a vendor that streamlines the implementation while troubleshooting the myriad issues that inevitable arise. Don’t look for case studies that describe a perfect process perfectly executed. Look for case studies that describe how the vendor and the client were able to overcome setbacks and mistakes using superior ERP resources.
The Level of Support Your Vendor is Willing to Provide
A lot of case studies taper off after the implementation. They suggest that everything has worked perfectly without a single user having questions or issues. But this is wildly unrealistic, and the second half of the story has been left off for a reason. Quality ERP support is essential, but many vendors are either unwilling or unable to be the authoritative, on-demand resources users are looking for. Case studies that obscure or ignore the importance of support should raise red flags.
Whether Claims are Facts or Fictions
ERP vendors will try and court you by making bold claims and enticing promises. But it is easy to promise anything and much harder to back it up with metrics, facts, and figures. A big reason to scour case studies is so you can put the vendor’s promises in context. For instance, if a vendor claims that its ERP has boosted productivity by 30%, the case study should tell you how, and whether there is more to that story than the figures suggest.
The information in any case study should be taken with a grain of salt. But it should never be ignored. At the very least, case studies can help you to enhance the way you interview and evaluate various vendors. Once you’ve read how they interact with other clients, you’re in a better position to explore the positives and negatives of forming your own relationship. If you want to go beyond the case studies, use them to find contacts for executives and decision makers who can give you honest, unvarnished information.
A hot, crispy dosa was served on the banana leaf with oozed goodness— the kind of goodness that you want if you’ve navigated five hours of road journey which is full of potholes. However, it was only a few minutes into ordering that first dosa and seconds into dipping dosa into sambar when someone interrupted me. “Yes?”, I asked. “I ‘am sorry but are you alone?” one of them asked.
I nodded politely and turned to my dosa. “So, we will leave you with your meal”, they ventured. “See you around”, I replied with a smile. I successfully convinced the two men that I am more interested in enjoying the dosa made by Shiharan Bhayia than talking to them. They might be shocked to see a solo woman traveller.
You see, solo travelling is one of the most romantic chapters which you can add to your travel diary. Here’s a woman travelling alone, here’s a woman who is so liberating and here is a woman who agrees to fight her demons. All true and incredibly powerful.
It was my first solo trip to Bangalore and what I discovered—there is so much to do in Bangalore, even if you are travelling alone.
Having undergone a vast change over the past few years, Bangalore or Bengaluru is not merely the country’s IT hub. From local and international eateries serving lip smacking food, heritage spots showcasing the bright history of the city to swanky malls and nightclubs which are fun to explore, Bangalore as the city never disappoints travellers who come to soak in its charm. Then there is all-the-year pleasant weather of Bangalore, which augments its beauty. Above all, Bangalore is well-connected with nearby states and cities, like Goa, Mysore, Ooty, Chennai, etc.
So, why should you wait for someone to join you if you want to roam around the city? Let’s tell yourself— I am off to see the hills, mountains and beaches and that too solo!”
No matters how much I enjoy solo travelling, I take care of several factors to experience a hassle-free journey. From keeping your confidence high during the journey to travelling light, there are several tips to make your solo vacation to Bangalore fun and pleasing. Let’s talk about them=
Be Confident= Even when you’re lost or in trouble, don’t bring it on your face. Be assertive and attentive at all times, no matter how painful the situation is. When you successfully deal with all adversities, believe me, you will be ready to face the worse situations in your life. Just remember, though the road has a few more hiccups than usual, everything will be fine at the end.
Safety Comes First= Your safety is in your hands, so be vigilant while travelling. Make sure to carry basic things like a map, guide book, water bottle, first aid box, etc.
Travel Light= Instead of burdening yourself with unnecessary luggage, pack, and travel light. Go for a backpacker and bon voyage. Hotels near majestic Bangalore are well-equipped with amenities and therefore, except basic toiletries and medications, you can leave everything at home and utilise laundry service available at hotels.
Do Prior Research=Before taking a final plunge, gather all the information about your destination as much as you can. It will also help you in planning your travel itinerary and give a quick review of cultural background which will be like an added convenience.
Choose a well-connected Hotel = Dig out the information about the hotels in Bangalore situated near to railway stations, bus terminals, etc. In this way, you will not have to waste time in commuting and you will have enough time for exploring the place. For finding good hotels in Bangalore, you can take the help of online travel portals like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Yatra, etc. Prices, especially airfares and hotel tariffs are much cheaper on online travel portals, like Yatra, as compared to what you can find offline.
Travel during the day= It is obvious—travelling during day is safe as compared to evening and night when most of the assault and harassment cases tend to happen. Even if you are required to travel at night, choose a safe mode of transpiration.
Keep your family members updated= Though you are travelling alone, it doesn’t mean you should sever all ties with your family. While travelling, keep your family members updated about your whereabouts through calls or texts. In short, leave a trail.
Embrace the beauty of your solo journey
Don’t be afraid, the world is inherently a good place. Go far, travel solo, and you will meet a new you—An independent, carefree, and yes, a confident girl!
According to recent reports, Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is under FBI scrutiny as part of the Russia investigation.
Reports say investigators believe Jared Kushner has relevant information, but he is not necessarily suspected of a crime.
The FBI is looking into potential Russian meddling in the last year’s election and links with Donald Trump’s campaign. The president denies any collusion.
Jared Kushner’s lawyer said his client would co-operate with any inquiry.
Donald Trump has described the Russia investigations as “the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history”.
US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to tip the election in favor of Donald Trump, who beat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
Image source Wikimedia
US officials, who were not named, told NBC News that the interest in Jared Kushner did not mean the investigators suspected him of a crime or intended to charge him.
Separately, the Washington Post reported that the investigators were focusing on meetings Jared Kushner held last year with the Russian ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, and a banker from Moscow, Sergei Gorkov.
Sergei Gorkov is the head of Vnesheconombank, which has been subject to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Vnesheconombank is under the control of Russian PM Dmitri Medvedev and other members of the government, and has been used to fund major projects such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in the southern Russian resort of Sochi.
Jared Kushner, 36, has said he did not discuss sanctions with Sergei Gorkov.
Last week, former FBI Director Robert Mueller was named by the justice department as special counsel to oversee the Russia inquiry.
Congress is also looking into Moscow’s alleged meddling in the 2016 election and any Trump campaign ties.
Jared Kushner has already agreed to discuss his Russian contacts with the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Calls for a special investigation have mounted since President Trump fired the most recent FBI director, James Comey, earlier this month.
The White House has been engulfed in crisis over allegations that President Trump asked James Comey to drop an inquiry into links between his ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia.
Michael Flynn was forced out in February after he misled the vice-president about his conversations with Russia’s ambassador before Donald Trump took office in January.
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in the US presidential election.
President Donald Trump has told his NATO allies in Brussels that all members of the alliance must pay their fair share of defense spending.
“Massive amounts of money” were owed, President Trump said, voicing a long-held US concern that others are not paying enough.
However, NATO states’ contributions are voluntary and a target of spending 2% of GDP on defense is only a guideline.
Again condemning May 22 bombing in Manchester, Donald Trump said terrorism must be “stopped in its tracks”.
The president called for a moment of silence in memory of the 22 adults and children killed in the “savage attack”.
Before visiting NATO’s new HQ, which was formally opened at May 25 gathering, Donald Trump met several EU leaders for the first time, including France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron.
Image source Flickr
Donald Trump’s first foreign tour as president will end on the Italian island of Sicily at a G7 summit on May 26.
According to NATO’s 2016 annual report, only five countries met the 2% defense spending target – the US, the UK, Greece, Poland and Estonia.
The alliance hopes that all 28 member-states will reach this target by 2024.
“This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States, and many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years and [from] not paying in those past years,” Donald Trump said.
Germany spent 1.2% on defense in that period, but Berlin argues that its spending on development aid also contributes to international security.
Donald Trump has been criticized for his admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin. and his administration is embroiled in allegations of close ties with Russian interests.
However, at NATO HQ, Donald Trump said: “The NATO of the future must include a great focus on terrorism and immigration, as well as on threats from Russia and on NATO’s eastern and southern borders.”
There was some concern that President Trump had not mentioned Article Five, NATO’s commitment to mutual defense in the event of an attack on a member, but an unnamed White House official told Reuters that the president stood united with other NATO leaders.
Earlier, European Council President Donald Tusk said after meeting Donald Trump: “I’m not 100% sure we can say that we have a common position… on Russia although when it comes to the conflict on Ukraine we were on the same line.”
President Donald Trump has arrived in Brussels for what his team is describing as “tough” talks with other members of the NATO military alliance.
President Trump is now meeting EU leaders. He has been critical of both blocs.
NATO has agreed to Donald Trump’s request to join the US-led coalition against ISIS. The president may also press members to pay their full financial share.
European leaders will seek assurances of President Trump’s commitment to US allies.
European Council President Donald Tusk wrote on Twitter: “I’ll aim to convince POTUS [President of the US] that euro-atlanticism means the free world co-operating to prevent post-West world order.”
After landing in Brussels on May 24, President Trump met the Belgian king and queen while thousands demonstrated against his presence in the center of the city.
The NATO summit will see the alliance agree to a US plan for the military alliance to take a bigger role in the fight against Islamist militants, particularly jihadist group ISIS – but France and Germany insist the move is symbolic.
Image source Flickr
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Today we will decide to expand our support to the coalition with more AWACS [Airborne Warning and Control System] flight time, more information sharing and air-to-air refueling.
“This will send a strong political message of NATO’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and also improve our coordination within the coalition but it does not mean that NATO will engage in combat operations.”
Ahead of May 25 meetings, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters that President Trump “really wants to persuade NATO members to step up and fully meet their obligations”.
He added: “I think you can expect the president to be very tough on them and say… <<We are doing a lot. The American people are doing a lot for your security, for joint security. You need to make sure you’re doing your share for your own security as well>>.
“That’s going to be the core of his message to NATO.”
Rex Tillerson also said President Trump had yet to make a final decision on whether the US would remain in the Paris climate agreement.
Before going to NATO HQ, where he will deliver a short speech, Donald Trump is due to have a private lunch with new French President Emmanuel Macron after meeting the leaders of the European Commission and European Council.
Emmanuel Macron is expected to try to persuade Donald Trump not to renege on the Paris climate accord.
President Donald Trump has arrived at the Vatican and met Pope Francis for a short private audience on the third leg of his overseas trip.
According to the Vatican, there had been an “exchange of views” on international issues, and President Trump and the Pope spoke of the need to continue good relations.
President Trump said they had a “fantastic meeting”. The two men have in the past clashed on issues such as migration, climate change and a Mexico-US wall.
The president also met Italy’s president and prime minister while in Rome.
Donald Trump is now flying on to Brussels for a NATO summit.
He arrived in Europe from Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he vowed to try and achieve peace in the region.
President Trump began his foreign trip with a two-day stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalization.
The president and his entourage arrived at the Vatican just before 08:30AM, in a meeting that was arranged at the last minute.
Donald Trump was greeted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the head of the papal household, and escorted by the Swiss Guard to the offices of Pope Francis.
Correspondents say President Trump seemed subdued during their initial meeting, while Pope Francis was not as jovial as he sometimes is with world leaders.
The two men appeared much more relaxed at the end of their 30-minute private meeting.
The Vatican said later that they shared a commitment to “life, and freedom of worship and conscience” and expressed hope that they can collaborate “in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to migrants”.
On international affairs, their “exchange of views” covered the “promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue”, and highlighted the need to protect Christian communities in the Middle East.
After the meeting, Pope Francis and President Trump exchanged gifts. The president gave the Pope a boxed set of writings by the civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
Pope Francis gave President Trump a signed copy of a message he delivered for World Peace Day, along with some of his writings about the need to protect the environment.
The pontiff also presented him with a small sculptured olive tree, telling President Trump through an interpreter: “It is my desire that you become an olive tree to construct peace.”
President Trump responded by saying: “We can use some peace.”
He also said he would read the texts the Pope gave him.
After the meeting, President Trump tweeted: “Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world.”
President Trump was joined not only by First Lady Melania Trump, daughter and son-in-law but also Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser HR McMaster.
Both Melania and Ivanka Trump were dressed in black with their heads partially covered, in keeping with a traditional Vatican protocol that is no longer expected to be rigorously observed.
Melania Trump, a Catholic, asked the Pope to bless her rosary beads.
In a light-hearted exchange, Pope Francis asked Melania Trump what she gave her husband to eat. It was initially thought he had suggested “pizza” to her, but in fact he said potica, which is a cake from Melania Trump’s home country of Slovenia. She laughed in response, and agreed with him.
This is Donald Trump’s first visit to Europe since taking office in January.
Security has been stepped up across Rome, with the areas around the Vatican City, the Italian presidential palace and the American ambassador’s residence, where President Trump is staying, temporarily closed to traffic.
Despite the heavy police presence, about 100 anti-Trump protesters held a rally in one of Rome’s squares on May 23.
Significant protests are also expected in Brussels where President Trump will meet EU and NATO officials.
Donald Trump will end his tour on the Italian island of Sicily at the G7 summit on May 26.
The attack was a “terrorist incident” for which Man Haron Monis was solely responsible, a coroner said on May 24.
However, New South Wales Coroner Michael Barnes found authorities had made major errors, including by delaying entry, during which time a hostage was killed.
Cafe manager Tori Johnson was executed in the 10 minutes between Man Haron Monis firing his first shot and police storming the building, the coroner said.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller conceded police “should have gone in earlier”, in an interview released after the coroner’s findings.
Michael Barnes ruled police were ill-equipped to handle the siege, relied too heavily on a sole psychiatrist, and employed a “contain and negotiate” strategy which failed.
He also savaged an earlier decision allowing bail to Man Haron Monis, who had been charged with 43 assaults and being an accessory to his ex-wife’s murder.
Although Michael Barnes stressed the deaths were “not the fault of police”, he found failings with their actions, including:
a 10-minute delay between Man Haron Monis firing his first shot and police entering the building, allowing Tori Johnson to be “executed in the meantime”
relying on “erroneous” advice from a psychiatrist who did not have sufficient terrorism expertise
underestimating the gunman’s preparedness to kill or injure hostages
allowing eight calls by hostages to police to go unanswered
having some confusion around the lines of command.
Michael Barnes said a prosecutor had given inadequate information when Man Haron Monis faced an earlier bail hearing over his ex-wife’s murder.
“That [prosecution] solicitor erroneously advised the court that Monis did not have to show exceptional circumstances before he could be granted bail on the murder charges,” Michael Barnes said.
Man Haron Monis, an Iranian-born Australian citizen, had pledged allegiance to ISIS not long before the siege.
“It remains unclear whether Monis was motivated by Islamic State to prosecute its bloodthirsty agenda, or whether he used the organization’s reputation to bolster his impact in pursuit of his own ends,” Michael Barnes said.
On May 22, the families of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson criticized a police command tactic to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.
“I’ll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die,” Tori Johnson’s mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
In an ABC interview released on May 24, the police chief said it had been “wrong” to wait 10 minutes after Man Haron Monis first fired his shotgun.
After the findings, Tori Johnson’s partner, Thomas Zinn, said he still had respect for police despite the “failures of various authorities”.
“The pain deep in our hearts from losing Tori is as strong now as it was in December 2014,” he said.
“Everybody who knew Tori would agree that we lost a guardian angel that night.”
The state’s police union had criticized the inquest as a “witch hunt” that had scrutinized police officers “as if they were on trial”.
Michael Barnes acknowledged the police response carried extreme risk, and stressed his findings were specific to this incident.
His 45 recommendations included:
police reassess their “contain and negotiate” strategy in possible terror scenarios
developing a “cadre of anti-terrorist negotiators” with specialized expertise
giving officers specific guidelines on assessing imminent risk
creating a bail “mechanism” that authorities in all Australian jurisdictions could access
more effective sharing of information between government agencies.
Out of all the places in which you could possibly live on this planet, how do you know that the ones you live in is the right one for you? Many people are searching for an answer to this question while many others aren’t happy where they currently live in the first place. But there are certain ways in which you can know that the place in which you are is for you. You can call them intuitions or just your subconscious telling you something that you couldn’t pick up on by yourself. Want to know whether Midtown Square apartments Md is the place for you or if you can find your next long term home on http://www.carmelapartments.com/kapilina-beach-homes-ewa-beach-hi or http://www.carmelapartments.com/pearl-dtc-denver-co? Check out the rest of this article to see exactly what you need to look out for.
Do you want to go inside?
This is pretty much the first step that you will take, quite literally actually, in your new home. That is of course, if it is your first step. Usually when we go in strange houses we don’t really feel the need to stay for that long, and we always tread carefully while we visit. However, if you find yourself enticed to walk around its corridor or sit on the furniture then maybe it’s the place for you. You are in fact feeling like you’re at home already, which is a great start for any house-owner relationship.
Do you want to tell your friends?
When you buy a house, you do it for the good of your family and yourself. But you can’t stop but brag about your sweet new house to your friends. At the very least you’ll feel the urge to drop subtle hints about all the cool features that it has. If you find yourself fantasizing about doing this before you even inquire about a bid, then you might just got yourself a winner. You wouldn’t be so eager to brag about that house if you didn’t think it was for you.
Do you defend all of its flaws?
It’s a known fact that people can be very stubborn in their ways and if they set out to prove something (like if a house is good or bad) they will keep at it no matter what arguments you throw at them. Taking that ideology into this context, you might find yourself defending every single flaw that you and the ones you are visiting the house with find. At times, even the landlord or sales agent my point out a flaw or two, but you will be quick to argument that they aren’t important or that they can easily be fixed. It’s like you were doing their job for them. If that’s the kind of attitude you find yourself adopting during the visit, you might have just stumbled across your future home sweet home.
The UK has raised terror threat level from “severe” to “critical”, its highest level, meaning further attacks may be imminent, PM Theresa May has announced.
Military personnel will now be deployed to protect key sites as a result of the new threat level.
Writing on Facebook, Charlotte Campbell paid tribute to her “precious” daughter.
She had issued an emotional plea for information on her daughter’s whereabouts after the Ariana Grande concert.
According to Reuters, the Polish foreign minister has said that two Polish people who went missing after the attack are among those killed.
The change in terror threat comes after investigators were unable to rule out whether suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, PM Theresa May said.
Image source AP
She said soldiers would be placed in key public locations to support armed police in protecting the public.
Military personnel may also be seen at other events over the coming weeks, such as concerts, the prime minister said, working under the command of police officers.
Theresa May said she did not want the public to feel “unduly alarmed” but said it was a “proportionate and sensible response”.
A hotline has been set up for people concerned about loved ones – 0800 096 0095.
The highest threat level, which is decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre – a group of experts from the police, government departments and agencies – has only been reached twice before.
The first time the threat level was raised to critical was in 2006 during a major operation to stop a plot to blow up transatlantic airliners with liquid bombs.
In 2007, security chiefs raised it once more as they hunted for the men who had tried to bomb a London nightclub, before going on to attack Glasgow Airport.
Former Salford University student Salman Abedi – understood to be a 22-year-old born in Manchester to parents of Libyan descent – is thought to have blown himself up in the arena’s foyer shortly after 22:30 local time on May 22.
Fans were beginning to leave a concert by Ariana Grande.
Three of his victims have been named – Saffie Rose Roussos, eight, Georgina Callander – thought to be 18 – and John Atkinson, 28.
ISIS has said – via its channels on the messaging app Telegram – it was behind the Manchester attack, but this has not been verified.
According to recent reports, President Donald Trump has appointed lawyer Marc Kasowitz to represent him in an inquiry into Russia’s alleged meddling in the presidential election and any links to the Trump campaign.
President Trump has used services of the New York lawyer – known as a tenacious litigator – for more than a decade.
Donald Trump denies any collusion between his campaign and Russia.
Image source kasowitz.com
However, US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to tip the 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump.
Marc Kasowitz and the White House have so far made no public comments on the reported appointment.
He is well known to Donald Trump, and it was he who – during the presidential campaign – threatened to sue the New York Times if it didn’t retract a story about Donald Trump touching women inappropriately.
The New York Times stood by its story and a retraction was never published.
Roger Moore has died at the age of 89, his family has announced.
The actor was best known for playing James Bond in seven Bond movies including Live and Let Die and A View to a Kill.
Roger Moore’s family confirmed the sad news on Twitter, saying he had died after “a short but brave battle with cancer”.
The statement, from the actor’s children, read: “Thank you Pops for being you, and being so very special to so many people.”
“With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated,” they said in a Twitter post.
His James Bond was calm and suave – a smooth operator who could seemingly get himself out of a tricky situation with ease.
Roger Moore, who died in Switzerland, will have a private funeral in Monaco in accordance with his wishes, his children said.
“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone,” read the statement from Deborah, Geoffrey and Christian.
“Our thoughts must now turn to supporting Kristina [Tholstrup, Roger Moore’s wife] at this difficult time.”
The statement added: “We know our own love and admiration will be magnified many times over, across the world, by people who knew him for his films, his television shows and his passionate work for UNICEF which he considered to be his greatest achievement.”
Along with his famous James Bond role, Roger Moore was also known for 1960s TV series The Persuaders and The Saint.
Roger Moore was also well known for his humanitarian work – he was introduced to UNICEF by the late Audrey Hepburn and was appointed as a goodwill ambassador in 1991.
On April 9th of this year, shocking videos emerged of passenger Doctor David Dao, being dragged from his seat on board a United Airlines plane. In the video, passengers watch with horror as police grapple with Dao, before dragging him from his seat. In the background, other passengers plead the officers to stop. At one point, the statement ‘Look at what you’ve done to him’ can be heard in the background. The video went viral in no time at all, sparking outrage across the nation. It also prompted apologies from United CEO Oscar Munoz. Munoz claimed to be ‘disturbed’ by what had happened and offered a ‘deep’ apology to Dao and his family. The officers involved were less sympathetic. They gave statements under duress and claimed Dao caused his injuries. But, with Dao coming out of the experience with a concussion, broken nose and lost teeth, nobody’s sure what to believe. There’s no denying that Dao offers resistance in the video, but the force used still seems excessive. And, the pleas of other passengers doesn’t help their case. Is it any wonder that the world was up in arms about the situation?
Dao didn’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer to fight his case for him. But, though undisclosed, the payout he received may not have been as much as he was expecting. When you break the case down, Dao’s injuries aren’t long lasting, which makes a huge difference in a case of this sort. The best claim he could make were for his broken teeth. Again, though, the injury is only painful before dental treatment. In court, it isn’t considered a long-lasting problem.
Those in outrage after watching the video may find it hard to believe, but this is the reality of personal injury claims. If Dao did want to see any real payout, he might have had to wait until long-lasting effects of his concussion become apparent. In reality, the waiting game is often why injury cases take so long to resolve. It may explain why 95-96% of claimants settle out of court. This may, in part, be a patience issue. But, the risk with waiting to see any long-lasting damage is that you won’t get anything if nothing emerges. This is certainly what Dao realized. In fact, the public outrage was the only real reason United offered any payout at all. And, that amount would decrease with each day the story moved out of the public eye. In many ways, he made the right choice to settle when he did. And, the chances are he still received a significant amount. But, for those of us who watched events unfold with horror, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Pictures later released showed blood flowing from the 69-year-old doctor’s mouth. And, his injuries indeed sound bad enough to warrant compensation. If nothing else, this is proof of how challenging the world of personal injury can be. Anyone who thinks these are easy cases to win can think again.
The maximum sentence for corruption in South Korea is life.
Park Geun-hye is accused of colluding with her friend, Choi Soon-sil, to extort money from some of South Korea’s biggest companies, including Samsung, in return for political favors.
Image source kremlin.ru
Choi Soon-sil, who is also facing charges, sat alongside Park Geun-hye at the opening of the trial. She also denies wrongdoing.
As the trial opened in Seoul, Park Geun-hye’s lawyers said there was “no reason for President Park to force companies to donate money which she was unable to use for herself”.
Prosecutors say she allowed Choi Soon-sil to use her presidential connections to pressure companies to give money to a foundation she established, earning them tens of millions of dollars.
In exchange, the companies would receive favorable treatment from the government, it is alleged.
Park Geun-hye is also accused of leaking state secrets by giving Choi Soon-sil access to her work – including asking her to edit her speeches – and of running a blacklist of media figures who were to be barred from receiving state support because they had been critical of her government.
The ousted president is the third South Korean leader on trial for corruption but the first democratically elected one.
The two previous cases involved former military dictators imprisoned on corruption in the 1990s.
Park Geun-hye’s hearing takes place in the very same court room as the previous trials.
Dozens of people have now been investigated or arrested in connection with the scandal. All have maintained their innocence.
Choi Soon-sil has been on trial since December, while her daughter, Chung Yoo-ra – alleged to have received help getting a university placement – was arrested in Denmark in January.
The acting head of Samsung Group, Lee Jae-Yong, and four other Samsung executive are on trial for allegedly giving bribes to Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil in exchange for government support for a controversial merger.
Former health minister Moon Hyung-pyo and the chief investment officer of the National Pension Service (NPS) Hong Wan-seon are on trial for allegedly pressuring the NPS to accept the merger.
Last week, two plastic surgeons who treated the image-conscious former president – including one who injected Park Geun-hye with human placenta extracts – were convicted of lying about having treated her.
