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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turkey Coup Attempt: 2,839 Soldiers and Officers Arrested

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Video Script & Voice In Harmony? Checkout These Expert Tips

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

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

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

Get Your Direction Right

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

Who Is Your Voice Actor?

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

Who Is Your Actor Addressing?

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

Be Descriptive

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

Give Examples

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

Set The Mood

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

Be Clear About Pronunciation

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

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

How Living on Campus at Elevations RTC Provides Outstanding Student Support

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

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

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

A sense of community

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

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

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

Embracing individualism

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

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

Protected from distractions

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

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

Creating a turning point in life

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

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

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

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

Moving in at Elevations RTC

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

Diego Maradona Dies Aged 60

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diego Maradona Accuses Claudia Villafane of Stealing $9 Million

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Administration Allows Biden Transition to Begin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joe Biden Wins Georgia Recount by 12,000 Votes

Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat

CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims

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

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

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

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

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

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

5 Step Guide to Buy Property in Florida

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

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

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

1. Examine Your Finances

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

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

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

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

2. Find a Property

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

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

3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

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

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

4. Make an Offer

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

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

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

5. Close a Deal

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

Helpful Recommendation

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

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

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

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

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

What is Email Click-through Rate?

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

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

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

Relevant and Personalized Content

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

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

Source: Really Good Emails

Effective Links and CTAs

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

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


Source: Really Good Emails

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

Proper Formatting and Layout

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

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

Source: Really Good Emails

Send at the Right Time

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

A/B Test your Emails

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

Wrapping Up

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

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

Donald Trump Jr Tests Positive for Covid-19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barron Trump Had Covid-19, First Lady Confirms

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pfizer Applies for Covid-19 Vaccine Approval in US

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moderna Vaccine Shows Nearly 95% Protection Against Covid-19

Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Joe Biden Wins Georgia Recount by 12,000 Votes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat

CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims

Trump Still Planning Legal Challenges in Key States

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mike Pompeo Visits Israeli Settlement in West Bank and Golan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moderna Vaccine Shows Nearly 95% Protection Against Covid-19

Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

Scientists said the data was further encouraging news.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hurricane Laura Kills Six in Louisiana

Hurricanes and Home Insurance – What All Homeowners Should Know

Hurricane Dorian Upgraded To Category 4 as It Heads toward East Coast

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

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

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

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

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

Investing 101: Basic Investment “Need to Knows” to Get Familiar With Today

Clyde K. Valle
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Investing 101: Basic Investment “Need to Knows” to Get Familiar With Today
Image source: Pexels

As human beings riddled with regret from life choices we’ve made in the past, there are lots of things we’ve said or done in the past that we wish we could go back and change, knowing what we know today. Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn back the hands of time but we can move forward making better and smarter choices, especially in terms of our finances and investing opportunities.

To be fair, investing isn’t something you’re taught in grade school, and you have to have a specific interest in it in college to even know if any courses on investing are even offered… But a lot of people who are what you would call “heavy hitters” in the investment industry, didn’t start until later in life simply because they weren’t informed or educated about it enough while they were younger.

Many didn’t know how lucrative investing in real estate was until becoming aware of how borrowing from a direct lender can help investors grow their portfolio of single-family rental properties. If only we knew then what we know now…

But there’s no sense in dwelling on the past. If you’re wanting to seriously get into the world of investing, there are a few “basics” you need to know about early on before investing a cent. From the “hows” and “whys” of investing to maintaining the ability to see the bigger picture amid uncertainty and turmoil, here are some aspects of investing you need to get acquainted with now.

“Need to Knows” of Investing

The Earlier You Invest, the Better the Return

One of the most important things to understand about investing is that it’s a long-term game, and the longer time you give yourself to play the game, the greater the rewards you’ll reap.

Let’s look at compound interest. Compound interest is the interest you’ve earned from your own personal contributions, plus, the interest you’ve earned already… So let’s say you start investing at 18 years old and don’t withdraw any money from the market until you’re 66… That means you’ve had 48 years for interest to grow on however many accounts you had since you were 18.

The older you will thank the younger you tremendously, especially when you get to retirement age. Reports have stated that the millennial generation and younger, shouldn’t expect to receive full social security benefits upon reaching retirement age. Not only has the pandemic wiped out future funding but the amount of social security money available prior to the pandemic had already been dwindling down to nearly nothing already. To secure your future when you’re older, you need to start making investment moves now because there’s a good chance that there won’t be any readily available money for you when you need it most… well, not from the government.

Have a Clear Understanding of Why You Want to Invest

As you know, investing is a long-term game, and because of that, you need to keep your why at the forefront of your mind to keep you motivated.

There will be times where you stop and ask yourself why you’re putting your money there and not spending it? Why not splurge now?

Your future is what you have to keep in mind. What will your life look like at 55? Will you be living paycheck to paycheck still or will you be able to live comfortably by then? You have to keep the big picture in mind constantly.

Adjust Your Investments With the Market

The market changes all the time, and while you may have conducted thorough research on various companies, products, and services, past performance doesn’t necessarily dictate future performance. But that’s not to say that you can’t mitigate the risks involved with a changeable market…

Pinterest is a stock to look out for in 2021 based on its current performance and how people are doing more crafts since being stuck at home due to coronavirus but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will keep its speed either.

To mitigate your risks in investing, you have the power to adjust your holdings or diversify your accounts… anything to prevent high fees, of course. The market isn’t something you “set and forget”… In fact, the market is something you want to continuously keep an eye on to see how your investment is paying off.

Moderna Vaccine Shows Nearly 95% Protection Against Covid-19

Kathryn R. Bown
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Moderna Vaccine Shows Nearly 95% Protection Against Covid-19

A new coronavirus vaccine made by Moderna showed nearly 95% protection against Covid-19.

Early data results come hot on the heels of similar results from Pfizer, and add to growing confidence that vaccines can help end the pandemic.

Pfizer and Moderna used a highly innovative and experimental approach to designing their vaccines.

Moderna says it is a “great day” and they plan to apply for approval to use the vaccine in the next few weeks.

However, this is still early data and key questions remain unanswered.

The trial involved 30,000 people in the US with half being given two doses of the vaccine, four weeks apart. The rest had dummy injections.

The analysis was based on the first 95 to develop Covid-19 symptoms.

Only five of the Covid cases were in people given the vaccine, 90 were in those given the dummy treatment. The company says the vaccine is protecting 94.5% of people.

The data also shows there were 11 cases of severe Covid in the trial, but none happened in people who were immunized.

Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

Moderna says it will apply to regulators in the US in the coming weeks. It expects to have 20 million doses available in the country.

The company hopes to have up to one billion doses available for use around the world next year and is planning to seek approval in other countries too.

We still do not know how long immunity will last as volunteers will have to be followed for much longer before that can be answered.

There are hints it offers some protection in older age groups, who are most at risk of dying from Covid, but there is not full data.

It is not known whether the vaccine just stops people becoming severely ill, or if it stops them spreading the virus too.

All these questions will affect how a coronavirus vaccine is used.

No significant safety concerns have been reported, but nothing, including paracetamol, is 100% safe.

Short lived fatigue, headache and pain were reported after the injection in some patients.

Both vaccines use the same approach of injecting part of the virus’s genetic code in order to provoke an immune response.

The preliminary data we have seen so far is very similar – around 90% protection for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and around 95% for Moderna’s.

However, both trials are still taking place and the final numbers could change.

Moderna’s vaccine appears to be easier to store as it remains stable at minus 20C for up to six months and can be kept in a standard fridge for up to a month.

Pfizer’s vaccine needs ultra-cold storage at around minus 75C, but it can be kept in the fridge for five days.

The Sputnik V vaccine, developed in Russia, has also released very early data which suggests it is 92% effective.

5 Mobile Development Tools Accelerating Enterprise Deployments In 2020

Clyde K. Valle
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5 Mobile Development Tools Accelerating Enterprise Deployments In 2020

There are several mobile development tools accelerating enterprise deployments in 2020. Since COVID-19 lockdowns, business app usage has surged over 200% compared to 2019 data. As enterprises switch to remote settings, productivity, collaboration, and video conferencing software are in high demand. Similarly, some companies now need custom software to simplify the way you run your small business in the new work environment. With this rapidly growing market, mobile app developers need the latest tools to increase their delivery speed. This way, you can meet increasing customer demands as you grow your enterprise. Read on to learn about the most important mobile development tools accelerating enterprise deployments in 2020.

Native App IDEs

First, native integrated development environments (IDEs) are one of the most important mobile tools to boost efficiency. With native software, you can develop applications for a particular system, platform, or device. Typically, native development software integrates sophisticated code editing tools to increase your programming efficiency. For example, some iOS environments utilize live rendering interfaces to display your user interface code as you write it. This feature instantly reflects changes in your code, allowing you to notice functional errors quicker. Certainly, unified design and coding processes makes native IDEs a great tool to increase your development efficiency.

Application Design Templates

Next, application design templates are another tool that has dominated the app market in recent years. Undoubtedly, designing an application from scratch uses your enterprise’s time, money, and resources. Using a design template, you can develop attractive applications faster. In addition, templates often have a built-in user-friendly UI. Importantly, user-friendly applications tend to rank higher in the app store. In this way, you can actually increase your app’s exposure and usability together. Fortunately, many templates are easily customizable and free to use. Nevertheless, always check the licenses and terms of use before using any design. This is key to using them properly. Surely, application design templates are a perfect time-saving solution to accelerate your mobile enterprise deployments.

Advanced Container Registries

In addition, you can also install an advanced container registry to accelerate your enterprise deployment speeds in 2020. Containerization software provides a single access point to organize your Docker images. For example, JFrog’s Container registries integrate into your build system to support your Kubernetes deployments. With this mobile app tool, you can avoid Docker Hub retention issues and increase your development efficiency. Additionally, advanced container registries are built to scale with your enterprise. As you take on more clients and develop more applications, it is essential to use a container software that supports your growth. In short, advanced container registries offer reliable scalable storage solutions to boost your mobile app development efficiency.

Open-Source Automation Frameworks

Moreover, open-source automation frameworks are also key mobile app development tools to accelerate your delivery speed. These powerful frameworks are powered by artificial intelligence, or AI. Many automation frameworks support code reuse across various native mobile platforms. This is essential to save time as you write your programs. In addition, some automation frameworks allow you to create user interface tests for your mobile app. Typically, these frameworks support multiple programming languages. Then, you can integrate these tests into your continuous integration (CI) server to automate your testing process. For this reason, open-source automation frameworks are great accessible mobile tools to increase your build, test, and deployment speed.

Low-Code Visual Development Platforms

Furthermore, low-code visual development platforms are another tool to increase your deployment efficiency this year. Namely, these platforms are designed to accelerate the development process. This allows your enterprise to evolve with tech industry trends. Typically, these platforms utilize user-friendly drag and drop tools, allowing you to develop apps quickly. Some low-code tools infuse AI and machine learning technology to reduce friction and errors as well. These features can also guide you throughout the development process and can even automate some of your build procedures. Definitely, low-code visual development platforms are another tools to accelerate your 2020 deployment times.

There are several mobile development tools accelerating enterprise deployments in 2020. First, you should utilize react-native IDEs, especially when coding for a specific mobile device. Next, application design templates offer user-friendly UIs, while increase build efficiency. In addition, you can install an advanced container registry to store your Docker images reliably and efficiently. Moreover, open-source automation frameworks are great resources for code reuse and continuous integration server integration. Furthermore, low-code development platforms utilize AI to reduce errors as you build. Implement these mobile development tools to accelerate enterprise deployments in 2020.

Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Continues to Deny Election Defeat
Image source Wikipedia

President Donald Trump has insisted he is not conceding the election, despite seemingly acknowledging for the first time that Democrat Joe Biden won.

He tweeted: “He won because the Election was Rigged.”

About an hour later the president said he was not conceding the November 3 vote.

President Trump has launched a slew of lawsuits in key states, but has not provided any evidence to back his claims of fraud.

All the lawsuits have so far been unsuccessful.

On November 13, election officials said the vote was the “most secure in American history” and there was “no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes or was in any way compromised”.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden remains president-elect.

He has 306 votes in the Electoral College which far exceeds the 270 threshold to win. Any recounts or legal challenges are not expected to overturn the overall result.

Joe Biden’s lead in the popular vote has also surpassed five million.

Nevertheless, President Trump had refused to acknowledge Joe Biden’s victory until – apparently – now.

In a news conference on November 13, Presiden Trump said “who knows” which administration would be in power in the future.

The president’s refusal to concede has heightened concerns about the US government’s ability, going forward, to tackle growing Covid-19 infection rates.

Twitter added warnings to President Trump’s latest allegations of wrongdoing on November 15, saying: “This claim of election fraud is disputed.”

The Trump campaign has launched a series of lawsuits saying Republican poll watchers were wrongly denied access to observe the counting of ballots in key battleground states.

CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims

Trump Still Planning Legal Challenges in Key States

Joe Biden Wins Presidency as Donald Trump Does Not Plan to Concede

Election officials have denied this and insisted rules were followed. Most of the lawsuits have been dismissed over lack of evidence.

However, thousands of President Trump’s supporters protested in Washington DC on November 14 to back his appeals.

Flag-carrying demonstrators were joined by members of far-right groups including the Proud Boys, some wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests.

The largely peaceful demonstration saw some violence later in the evening, as Trump supporters and counter-protesters clashed in several skirmishes.

Officials said 20 people had been arrested on a variety of charges, including assault and weapons possession. One stabbing was reported. Two police officers were also injured.

Donald Trump’s refusal to concede has stalled the normal handover process to the new government, ahead of the January 20 inauguration.

The General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency tasked with beginning the process, has yet to recognize Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris as winners.

The Biden team has not been given access to classified security briefings, federal agencies and funding needed to ensure a smooth transition of power.

4 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Commercial Trucks

Clyde K. Valle
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4 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Commercial Trucks
Image source: Image by Peter H from Pixabay

When you own a business that needs to be able to safely transport heavy machinery and materials you owe it to yourself to have some commercial trucks in your arsenal. Having your own trucks means you can guarantee your clients and customers that everything will run as smoothly as possible. Here are a few reasons why renting your commercial trucks is so important to your business.

It Gives You Freedom To Do Business

The more freedom you have to conduct your business the way you need to, the more likely it will be successful. If your budget is limited, purchasing commercial trucks may not be possible. But renting them allows you to keep up with demand without needing to have a large amount of capital. Being able to save money is important, especially in the early days of your company.

Its Less Of A Financial Risk

When you purchase a commercial truck you are taking less of a financial risk than you would be if you purchased one. Owning your truck means any necessary repairs have to be paid for out of the company budget. You also have to pay for regular maintenance and replacement parts when necessary. Lastly, if your truck breaks down on the road, having it towed would be costly. Without a backup truck, you would be hard-pressed to make deliveries on time. But if your company doesn’t own the truck, the rental company always has to pay for the towing and provide you with another truck right away.

You May Not Always Need One

Depending on the nature of your company, you may not need to have a commercial truck at all times. If you don’t then owning one is a waste of money that could be earmarked for other uses. Buying a commercial truck that would be parked more often than not wouldn’t be a good financial decision for any company. Paying insurance and deprecation fees for a truck that doesn’t get much use is not practical.

It Pays To Shop Around

If at any point your company grows so much that you need to own a commercial truck, you may not know what to pick. Rather than purchasing one that doesn’t meet your company’s needs, it may be better to try renting a few different models, one at a time. This allows you to determine what you do and don’t need in your truck. You can then make a more informed decision about which one to purchase.

Commercial Truck Insurance

When you are ready to expand your company you’ll need to look at used dry vans for sale. As explained by the experts at Hale Trailer “Our used dry vans keep your cargo clean and dry, an ideal choice for shipping items that are sensitive to moisture.”

While this is one way to protect your company’s bottom line, it isn’t the only way. You’ll also want to obtain insurance for your commercial truck when you purchase it. There are some compelling reasons why you need to have it insured for your piece of mind.

Commercial truck insurance covers more than just the costs resulting from an accident. It also protects your company if a fire or theft occurs involving the truck. When your truck has to travel to areas that could be dangerous you can’t afford to overlook the importance of insurance.

No company wants to weather a financial loss that could have been avoided. Insurance provides you with liability coverage so that any expenses incurred don’t come out of the company’s budget. The newer your company is, the more important it is to have this kind of coverage.

Business continuity is extremely important in today’s competitive world and is another reason why commercial truck insurance is necessary. In the event your truck is involved in an accident while making a delivery, you’ll have a backup plan in place so that the delivery can be completed promptly.

Protecting your company and the image it projects is a crucial aspect of your success. When you have insurance for your truck you will be able to remedy negative situations before they have a chance to drag down your company’s reputation. As long as you can guarantee on time deliveries you are more trustworthy in the eyes of the public.

So before you purchase a commercial truck and insurance for it, you’ll want to try renting in the meantime. This gives you the flexibility to find what you need before committing to the truck you will use.

CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims

Diane A. Wade
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CISA Rejects Donald Trump’s Vote Fraud Claims
Trump

US election officials have rejected President Donald Trump’s fraud claims, saying the 2020 White House vote was the “most secure in American history”.

“There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised,” a committee announced.

They spoke out after President Trump claimed without proof that 2.7 million votes for him had been “deleted”.

Donald Trump has yet to concede to the president-elect, Democrat Joe Biden.

The result of the November 3 election was projected by all the major US TV networks last weekend.

Joe Biden is now projected to have won Arizona, extending his lead by 11 electoral college votes to a total of 290, with Donald Trump on 217. It is the first time the state has voted Democrat since 1996.

President Trump has launched a flurry of legal challenges in key states and leveled unsubstantiated allegations of widespread electoral fraud.

Meanwhile, China has finally extended its congratulations to Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris after days of silence.

“We respect the choice of the American people,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said.

Russia has said it wants to wait for an “official result”.

The election committee’s announcement marks the most direct rebuttal from federal and state officials of President Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud.

The joint statement released on November 12 by Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council which is made up of senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the US Election Assistance Commission as well as state-level officials who oversee elections and representatives of the voting machine industry.

The group said: “The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. Right now, across the country, election officials are reviewing and double checking the entire election process prior to finalizing the result.”

“While we know there are many unfounded claims and opportunities for misinformation about the process of our elections, we can assure you we have the utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections, and you should too,” it added, without naming President Trump directly.

“When you have questions, turn to elections officials as trusted voices as they administer elections.”

The statement was posted to the website of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

The head of CISA, Christopher Krebs, has reportedly incurred the White House’s displeasure over a CISA website called Rumor Control, which debunks election misinformation.

On November 12, Christopher Krebs shared a post by an election law expert that said: “Please don’t re-tweet wild and baseless claims about voting machines, even if they’re made by the president.”

CISA assistant director Bryan Ware stepped down on the same day. The White House had asked for his resignation earlier this week, Reuters reports. Christopher Krebs expects to be fired, the news agency says.

Trump Still Planning Legal Challenges in Key States

Joe Biden Wins Presidency as Donald Trump Does Not Plan to Concede

Hours before the statement was released, President Trump tweeted that voting software used in 28 states had deleted millions of votes for him, but presented no evidence for the stunning claim, which appeared to originate from the obscure TV network One America News and was flagged by Twitter.

The claim was linked to the miscounting of votes in one Republican-leaning Michigan county. Unofficial results initially favored Joe Biden but were later corrected in President Trump’s favor. State election officials acknowledged what had happened, saying human error was to blame, rather than a software malfunction.

Meanwhile, a small but growing number of Republicans are backing calls for the president-elect to be given daily intelligence briefings.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally, was among those saying Joe Biden should start receiving the secret presidential memo, as is usual with incoming presidents.

Republican Senators Chuck Grassley, John Cornyn and John Thune agreed, although House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Joe Biden was “not president right now” and should wait.

Between 10 and 20 Republicans in Congress have now either congratulated Joe Biden or accepted there must be moves towards a transition. However, most have yet to acknowledge the president-elect’s win.

Joe Biden is 5.3 million votes ahead of Donald Trump – about 3.4%, and is well beyond the hurdle of 270 electoral college votes required to win the presidency.

President Trump has kept a low key public profile since the election. Reports suggest he has told friends he wants to start a digital media company to take on the conservative network Fox News, whose full support he now feels to be lacking.

According to CBS News, Donald Trump is also openly discussing a possible 2024 campaign to retake the presidency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhuIIz5A2yQ

Two Important Tips for a Meat-Free Lifestyle

Kathryn R. Bown
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Two Important Tips for a Meat-Free Lifestyle
Image source: Pikrepo.com

With the widespread availability of meat substitutes in restaurants and grocery stores, many people are reducing or completely eliminating their meat intake. A vegetarian is somebody who doesn’t eat meat, but might still consume other animal products, such as cheese or milk. Vegans don’t consume any animal products, and many vegans also eliminate the use of products like leather from their lifestyle. The reasons for not eating meat vary, but some of the common reasons are social (such as concerns about factory farming or climate change), cultural, religious or dietary. Many people just don’t like the idea of eating meat. Whatever the reasons are, here are some tips for anyone contemplating a meatless lifestyle. 

1. Utilize Supplements 

Since some vitamins are found more commonly is animal foods, many vegetarians will supplement their vitamins. You can buy B12 injections and other supplements to reduce the stress of making sure you’re getting enough nutrients. This can help keep your energy up; many vegetarians and vegans have experienced anemia because they weren’t aware of the nutrients they were lacking. If you are not eating meat, you should seriously consider supplements — talk to a healthcare professional to figure out what will work best for you.

2. Plan Meals Ahead of Time 

If you’re planning on cutting out meat or other animal products completely, you’ll need to plan ahead when you travel or go out to eat. Meat is so engrained into the everyday diet that at some restaurants, your only vegetarian options might be french fries or what some people call a salad, but is really just a pile of lettuce with some carrot slices. You may want to bring snacks with you to keep you satiated and healthy. Plan ahead and figure out which restaurants will have quality meat-free options so you don’t end up disappointed and hungry. The pre-dinner rolls make a terrible meal. 

The same goes for group events — if you’re planning a meal with family or friends and they don’t want a meatless meal, just bring your own main course. It’s easy to prepare something, throw it in a container, and simply bring it to the event. If you’re cutting anything from your diet, don’t expect others to do the same when they’re around you. After all, how would you feel if a friend expected you to eat meat when you were around them? 

Many people find going without meat to be very rewarding, both mentally and physically. If it’s done correctly, it can be a very healthy way to live. Just make sure you’re getting the proper supplements and that you know ahead of time what your food options might be when you’re out and about. 

Covid-19: New York Imposes New Restrictions Aimed at Curbing Coronavirus

Nancy Clayson
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Covid-19: New York Imposes New Restrictions Aimed at Curbing Coronavirus

New restrictions aimed at curbing coronavirus have been introduced in New York City after Mayor Bill de Blasio warned it was the city’s “last chance” to stop a second wave.

Bars, restaurants and gyms must close by 22:00 and people can only meet in groups of 10 or less.

On November 11, the US is seeing a surge in coronavirus with a record 65,368 Americans being in hospital.

The Covid Tracking Project also reported a record 144,270 new cases.

An average of over 900 people a day are now dying with the disease.

More than a million new cases in November pushed the total confirmed cases to over 10 million nationally, with 233,080 deaths so far.

The US has been seeing more than 100,000 new cases per day over the last eight days in what experts say may be a worse outbreak than those seen in the spring and summer.

According to experts, hospitals across the country could soon be overwhelmed.

On November 11, Dr. Michael Osterhol, a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s Covid-19 advisory panel, said a four to six week lockdown could bring the pandemic under control.

Dr. Osterholm said that the government could borrow enough money to cover lost income for businesses during a shutdown.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also said: “We’re seeing a national and global Covid surge, and New York is a ship on the Covid tide.”

New measures come into effect on November 13 affecting hospitality after Governor Cuomo said contact tracing identified late-night gatherings as key virus spreaders in the state.

If the rate of spread of infection continued to rise, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the New York City’s public school system would close and children would begin online classes.

The mayor tweeted: “This is our last chance to stop a second wave. We can do it, but we have to act now.”

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According to NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the city was badly hit by the virus earlier this year when nearly 18,000 people died with Covid-19 in March, April and May.

Other states have broken new case records this week with Texas becoming the first state to hit one million total cases on November 10. If Texas were a separate country, it would rank 11th in the world for most cases.

Other states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Florida, have also seen numbers rise. CBS News reports 15 states saw the numbers of patients in hospital due to the virus double in the last month.

Some hospitals, such as in Idaho and Missouri, have had to turn patients away because they ran out of room.

Prince Khalifa of Bahrain, World’s Longest Serving Prime Minister, Dies Aged 84

Diane A. Wade
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Prince Khalifa of Bahrain, World’s Longest Serving Prime Minister, Dies Aged 84
Image source: Associated Press

Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain, the world’s longest serving prime minister, has died at the age of 84.

He took office after Bahrain gained independence in 1971 and was an uncle to King Hamad and had a powerful role within the royal family.

Prince Khalifa had been receiving treatment at a hospital in the US, state media said.

He was regarded by some as a hardliner, and his removal was demanded by pro-democracy protesters during a failed Arab Spring uprising in 2011.

Prince Khalifa said the Arab Spring had brought only “death, chaos and destruction”, and denied claims that he had blocked political reform efforts in Bahrain.

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Analysts say the choice of the prime minister’s successor will signal whether Bahrain, which recently agreed to normalize relations with Israel, is looking to chart a new course.

Bahrain has continued to clamp down on dissent since security forces crushed the uprising nine years ago. The protests were led by the Shia majority community, which has complained of discrimination.

The government has banned all independent media from operating in the country, dissolved all opposition groups, and sought to silence online criticism.

Prominent human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition leaders have been imprisoned along with scores of protesters.

Hundreds of people have also been stripped of their Bahraini nationality, and five men have been executed after being convicted of terrorism offenses in trials that human rights groups said were marred by serious due process violations and allegations of torture.

Skyscraper of the Year: Prestigious Emporis Skyscraper Award Goes to Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg

Nancy Clayson
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Skyscraper of the Year: Prestigious Emporis Skyscraper Award Goes to Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg

Press release

Hamburg, November 10, 2020 – The Emporis Skyscraper Award, one of the world’s most renowned prizes for high-rise architecture, goes to a project in Russia for the very first time in its 20-year history. The 1,515 feet high Lakhta Center in St. Petersburg, designed by GORPROJECT and RMJM, is not only the tallest building in Russia, but is the tallest building in Europe and the fourteenth tallest building in the world. 


The winner was chosen by an international jury of experts from over 700 skyscrapers completed in 2019 with a minimum height of 100 meters. Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the prestigious Skyscraper Award by Emporis (www.emporis.com), a global provider of building data,  has become an indispensable part of the international architecture scene since its introduction in 2000.

Photo credit: Gorproject

When choosing the Lakhta Center as its favorite, the jury was impressed by the skyscraper’s unusual form. The exterior structure of the building consists of five wings that rotate almost 90 degrees. The twist creates a dynamic impression, giving the building the shape of a blazing flame, which resembles the logo of Gazprom, the natural gas producer that has taken up its new headquarters inside the building. The skyscraper was also able to score points with the jury due to its use of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies. As the northernmost supertall skyscraper in the world, the building is exposed to extreme temperatures. A double skin façade prevents unnecessary heat loss and makes it extraordinarily energy efficient. In addition, thanks to the innovative use of infrared radiators, excess heat is not lost but fed back into the system.

Photo credit: Hufton +Crow

Voted into second place, was the Leeza SOHO in Beijing. The unique office building with its round shape and twisted inner core was one of the last projects by star architect Zaha Hadid before her death in 2016. Especially striking to the jury was the atrium of the tower, which runs through the entire building from top to bottom and elegantly divides it into two halves. With a height of 636 feet it is also the highest atrium in the world. The continuous glazing of the atrium ensures that the building is flooded with light and allows an exceptional view into the building as well as to the busy streets of Beijing.

Photo credit: Dave Burk_ Courtesy SOM

In third place is 35 Hudson Yards in New York. The skyscraper is located in Manhattan and is part of a major Hudson Yard construction project bound to reshape the west side of Manhattan. 35 Hudson Yards is the tallest residential building of the Hudson Yards project and includes 143 apartments and a luxury hotel that extends over 11 floors. The 72-story building stood out to the jury particularly due to the use and mix of special building materials. The façade is made of Bavarian limestone and glass, adding to its unique appearance with several setbacks over its full height of 1,010 feet.

This year’s results show again that Europe is quite capable of keeping up with the competition from Asia and North America. After already claiming 2nd and 3rd place in the previous year, this year a European skyscraper was finally able to win the sought-after award again, the first time since 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBcVIpnCIA0

Stem Cell Therapy in Cancer Treatment

Kathryn R. Bown
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Stem Cell Therapy in Cancer Treatment
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The use of stem cell therapy in cancer treatment implies the revenue of the red bone marrow. Red bone marrow is suffering from the chemotherapeutic treatment, as well as from radiation therapy. Since the intrinsic structures of the red bone marrow suffer, they need to be “updated”. For this, healthy stem cells are transplanted into the bone marrow.

What is a stem cell transplant done for?

With the help of stem cell therapy, it is possible to completely restore the normal process of hematopoiesis, destroyed by chemotherapy, radiation, or leukemia. Introduced intravenously, hematopoietic stem cells are moving through the bloodstream, settle in the patient’s bone marrow, and give origin to new blood cells.

Many tens of thousands of patients receive such stem cell transplants in Germany each year. If you or your relatives need treatment abroad, with the assistance of Booking Health it will be as comfortable as possible. Booking Health provides a full range of medical services, from quick preventive examinations and diagnostics in the best hospitals to comprehensive treatment and recovery after it. Moreover, the complex organization includes not only the medical services themselves but also the arrangement of a trip to Germany at the most affordable prices.

How do stem cells help with oncology?

The patient’s own material is used in autologous transplantation during the treatment of neuroblastomas, testicular cancer, lymphomas, and brain tumors. In this case, hematopoietic stem cells are harvested from the patient in advance, frozen, and then introduced back. This allows you to treat cancer with high-dose chemotherapy that damages the bone marrow. After it, autologous transplantation restores blood formation without causing immune complications, such as the graft versus host reaction.

Donor material is transplanted to the patient during allogeneic transplantation, which is also applied in patients with leukemia, aplastic anemia, and severe hereditary diseases (Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Blackfan-Diamond anemia, etc.). Hematopoietic cells for transplant are harvested from a close relative (usually a brother or sister) or a person selected using the donor registry. The meaning of the transplant is to replace the patient’s own blood formation with the donor one and thus cure the disease of the hematopoietic system.

Can stem cells become any specific cells?

The boom in stem cell research has created great confusion in the minds of many researchers who first addressed this topic. The plasticity of many populations of normal stem cells is significantly overrated. There are allegations that stem cells of nerve tissue can turn into myocytes or hepatocytes; mesenchymal stem cells – into osteoblasts, cardiomyocytes; hepatic stem cells can turn into neurons and myocytes, etc. In order to acquire such a possibility of transdifferentiation, committed stem cells must dedifferentiate to an embryonic state in order to regain totipotency, that is, the ability to differentiate into any type of cell. A variety of examples of morphogenesis have shown that there is no complete dedifferentiation in nature and, probably, such a scenario of events is generally impossible.

Can stem cells be used to diagnose cancer?

The ability of stem cells to find a tumor can have practical importance. Thanks to the radioactive labels, it is possible to detect foci of malignant growth that can not be detected by other imaging methods. The life of the patient and the effectiveness of treatment in oncology depend on how timely the malignant growth is diagnosed. Stem cells can be modified and used as vectors to save people affected by malignant neoplasms.

Chemotherapy and stem cells

A clinically manifested tumor usually has billions of malignant cells that need to be destroyed. However, the population of tumor cells is heterogeneous, and the sensitivity of different tumor cells to cancer therapy is different. Therefore, it is extremely important to be able to overcome resistance to antitumor pharmaceuticals in the vast majority of tumor cells. It turned out that this can be achieved by introducing a dose of cytostatics that is ten times higher than the permissible standard dose. Such a sharp increase in the amount of the drug always leads to significant, often irreversible, damage to the hematopoietic cells of the bone marrow and disabling the function of hematopoiesis for many months.

If blood circulation is not restored, a person will die. The main method to overcome the hematological toxicity of chemotherapy is the transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells. In this case, hematopoietic stem cells are harvested either from the donor or from the patient himself. They are administered after the complete elimination of cytostatics from the body. Stem cell therapy in cancer treatment allows to relatively quickly and effectively restore the blood system’s function and save the patient.

Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

Kathryn R. Bown
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Coronavirus: Pfizer Vaccine Offers 90% Protection

A preliminary analysis shows that the first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19.

The developers – Pfizer and BioNTech – described it as a “great day for science and humanity”.

The vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised.

The companies plan to apply for emergency approval to use the vaccine by the end of the month.

No vaccine has gone from the drawing board to being proven highly effective in such a short period of time.

There are still huge challenges ahead, but the announcement has been warmly welcomed by scientists with some suggesting life could be back to normal by spring.

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A vaccine – alongside better treatments – is seen as the best way of getting out of the restrictions that have been imposed on all our lives.

The data shows that two doses, three weeks apart, are needed. The trials – in US, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa and Turkey – show 90% protection is achieved seven days after the second dose.

However, the data presented is not the final analysis as it is based on only the first 94 volunteers to develop Covid-19 so the precise effectiveness of the vaccine may change when the full results are analyzed.

Pfizer chairman Dr. Albert Bourla said: “We are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a much-needed breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis.”

Prof. Ugur Sahin, one of the founders of BioNTech, described the results as a “milestone”.

A limited number of people may get the vaccine this year.

The two companies say they will have enough safety data by the third week of November to take their vaccine to regulators.

Until it has been approved it will not be possible for countries to begin their vaccination campaigns.

Pfizer and BioNTech say they will be able to supply 50 million doses by the end of this year and around 1.3 billion by the end of 2021. Each person needs two doses.

Not everyone will get the vaccine straight away and countries are each deciding who should be prioritized.

Hospital staff and care home workers will be near the top of every list because of the vulnerable people they work with, as will the elderly who are most at risk of severe disease.

People under 50 and with no medical problems are likely to be last in the queue.

There are still many unanswered questions as this is only interim data.

We do not know if the vaccine stops you spreading the virus or just from developing symptoms. Or if it works equally well in high-risk elderly people.

The biggest question – how long does immunity last – will take months or potentially years to answer.

There are also massive manufacturing and logistical challenges in immunizing huge numbers of people, as the vaccine has to be kept in ultra-cold storage at below minus 80C.

The vaccine appears safe from the large trials so far but nothing, including paracetamol, is 100% safe.

There are around a dozen vaccines in the final stages of testing – known as a phase 3 trial – but this is the first to show any results.

It uses a completely experimental approach – that involves injecting part of the virus’s genetic code – in order to train the immune system.

Previous trials have shown the vaccine trains the body to make both antibodies – and another part of the immune system called T-cells to fight the coronavirus.

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