Following the footsteps of Russian
leader Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump boasted to his fans at his “homecoming”
rally on November 27 in Sunrise, Florida about his “gorgeous
chest,” which he claims proves he didn’t have a heart attack on November
17.
The president also claimed his visit
to Texas on November 18 was more proof of his good health.
Speculation about the President Trump’s
real health status went viral on social media with his unscheduled and sudden
visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), which is only some nine
miles from the White House. The visit wasn’t on the president’s calendar.
President Trump said that his
unannounced trip to Walter Reed was for a “a very routine physical.”
However, rumors about the president’s
health problems, and that he might have had either a series of mini-strokes or
have suffered a heart attack continued to swirl.
He blasted the media for reporting on his visit to Walter Reed,
saying: “They [the media] said he
wasn’t wearing a tie; this is a sign of a massive heart attack.
“They said, he went into the hospital –
and it’s true, I didn’t wear a tie – why would I wear a tie if the first thing
they do is say take off your shirt, sir, and show us that gorgeous chest?”
President Trump then took another step to assuring people he was
fine. He tweeted a photoshopped picture of his unsmiling face superimposed on the
body of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.
President Donald Trump has signed The Human
Rights and Democracy Act into law as a support for pro-democracy protesters in
Hong Kong.
The bill mandates an annual review, to check if Hong Kong has enough
autonomy to justify its special status with the US.
President Trump said he signed the law “out of respect for President Xi
[Jinping], China, and the people of Hong Kong”.
He is currently seeking a deal with China, in order to end a trade war
between the two countries.
Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry threatened “counter measures”
if the US continued “going down the wrong path”.
The Chinese foreign ministry statement said: “The US has been disregarding facts and distorting truth.
“It openly backed violent
criminals who rampantly smashed facilities, set fire, assaulted innocent
civilians, trampled on the rule of law, and jeopardized social order.”
The foreign ministry summoned the US ambassador to demand that Washington
stops interfering in Chinese internal affairs.
Hong Kong’s government also reacted, saying the American bill would send the
wrong signal and would not help to ease the situation.
However, a key activist in the Hong Kong protest movement, Joshua Wong, said
the US law was a “remarkable achievement” for “all
Hongkongers”.
President Trump had previously been non-committal about
whether he would sign the bill, saying he was “with” Hong Kong but
also that President Xi was “an incredible guy”.
However, the bill had widespread congressional support, which meant that
even if he vetoed it, lawmakers could potentially have voted to overturn his
decision.
President Trump also signed a second bill, which bans the export of
crowd-control munitions to the police in Hong Kong – including tear gas, rubber
bullets and stun guns.
He said: “[The bills] are being
enacted in the hope that leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong
will be able to amicably settle their differences, leading to long-term peace
and prosperity for all.”
The bill was introduced in June in the early stages of the protests in Hong
Kong, and was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives last
month.
It says: “Hong Kong is part of
China but has a largely separate legal and economic system.
“The [annual review] shall assess
whether China has eroded Hong Kong’s civil liberties and rule of law as
protected by Hong Kong’s Basic Law.”
Among other things, Hong Kong’s special trading status means it is not
affected by US sanctions or tariffs placed on the mainland.
The bill also says the US should allow Hong Kong residents to obtain US
visas, even if they have been arrested for being part of non-violent protests.
Hong Kong’s protests started in June against a proposed law to allow
extradition to mainland China but it has since transformed into a larger
pro-democracy movement.
The protests have also seen increasingly violent clashes, with police being
attacked, and officers firing live bullets.
The last week elections saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councilors.
An immunotherapy drug can be
effective in some men with advanced prostate cancer, a major trial has shown.
The phase II clinical trial, led by the Institute of Cancer Research and the
Royal Marsden, involved 258 men with advanced prostate cancer who had run out
of all other options on treatment.
The men had stopped responding to
the main treatment options.
According to researchers, a small
proportion of men, described as “super responders”, remained well
even after the trial ended, despite a very poor prognosis before treatment.
Last week it was reported the same drug
had proved effective in treating advanced head and neck cancers.
Immunotherapy uses our own immune
systems to recognize and attack cancer cells.
The therapy is already being used as
a standard treatment for some cancers such as melanomas – and being tested on
many others too.
The study found that one in 20 men with advanced prostate cancer responded
to the drug pembrolizumab – and saw their tumors actually shrink or disappear
altogether.
The study, published in the Journal of
Clinical Oncology found that although a relatively small number, some of
the men gained years of extra life.
A further 19% saw some evidence of improvement.
Most patients in the study lived for an average of eight months on the drug.
The most dramatic responses were seen in patients whose tumors had mutations
in genes involved in repairing DNA.
Researchers are now investigating whether this group might benefit the most
from immunotherapy in a larger trial.
But first, a test to pick out who will respond best is needed, so that
doctors know which patients to give it to.
The number of people diagnosed with prostate cancer has been rising over the
last 10 years.
This is probably because the population is getting older and more people are
having PSA tests.
Around 30% of men with advanced or stage four prostate cancer survive their
cancer for five years or more after diagnosis.
Last week, a separate trial found the same drug kept some people’s advanced
head and neck cancers at bay for an average of two years – five times longer
than under chemotherapy.
Both studies are part of a growing body of research suggesting immunotherapy could offer hope to an increasing number of cancer patients.
Two powerful storms are moving across the United States,
from the West Coast to the Midwest threatening the holiday plans of millions o
Americans on the eve of Thanksgiving Day.
The US National Weather Service is advising millions of
people to delay their travel plans due to the weather and hundreds of flights
were grounded.
And the “bomb cyclone” that’s been pummeling the West Coast could bring a third storm to the east, the Washington Post reports.
President Donald Trump has been invited to the Congress’ first impeachment hearing on December 4.
Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler said President
Trump could either attend or “stop complaining about the process”.
If the president does attend, he would be able to question witnesses.
The hearing would mark the next stage in the impeachment inquiry, which
centers on a July phone call between PresidentTrump and Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky.
In that call, President Trump asked Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe
Biden, currently the front-runner to be the Democratic candidate in next year’s
presidential election, and his son Hunter Biden, who had previously worked for
Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
The probe is looking into whether President Trump used the threat of
withholding US military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating the Bidens.
Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a “witch
hunt”.
Last week, the House Intelligence
Committee wrapped up two weeks of public hearings, which followed several weeks
of closed-door witness interviews.
Democratic chairman of the
Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff said the committees leading the probe –
Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs – are now working on their report,
which will be issued on December 3.
On November 26, the latest
transcript of inquiry evidence was released, detailing testimony by senior
budget official Mark Sandy.
Mark Sandy told the House
investigators that two White House budget officials had resigned following the
withholding of military aid to Ukraine. He said that one, a lawyer, had
expressed concern that the action could be a violation of a 1974 budget law.
Jerrold Nadler said in a statement
that he had written to President Trump inviting him to the hearing next month.
He said: “At base, the president has a choice to make.
“He can take this opportunity to be represented in the
impeachment hearings, or he can stop complaining about the process.
“I hope that he chooses to participate in the inquiry,
directly or through counsel, as other presidents have done before him.”
In his letter to the president, Jerrold Nadler said the hearing would be an
opportunity to discuss the historical and constitutional basis for impeachment.
He has given President Trump until 18:00 EST on December 1 to confirm
whether or not he will be at the hearing, and if so, to let the committee know
who his counsel will be.
The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting articles of
impeachment – which are the charges of wrongdoing against the president – in
early December.
After a vote in the Democratic-controlled House, a trial would be held in
the Republican-run Senate.
If Donald Trump was convicted by a two-thirds majority – an outcome deemed highly unlikely – he would become the first US president to be removed from office through impeachment.
The holiday season is coming. Soon, guests will fill homes to make memories
that will last a lifetime. One of the biggest challenges of the holidays is
creating magic moments without driving yourself crazy with stress trying to
achieve those golden memories. With the right tools, you can enjoy a wonderful
holiday without being overwhelmed by stress.
Organization is Key
To keep your sanity during the holidays, you need to plan early. Guests can
be stressful and the holidays are no exception. The more details you can handle
before the guests arrive, the smoother things will go.
Plan the menu. If you are hosting the main holiday meal, it can take days to
shop for and prepare all the food. Start early. Make lists and double-check
them. Do all the shopping you can before the guests arrive so you can focus on
your guests and enjoying time with your loved ones.
Make a guest list. Details such as who is coming to dinner and any food
allergies are important. Use your guest list and compare it to the menu to
balance the number of guests with the food. If you invite a dozen people to
dinner and serve up one pie, your stress level soar will soar.
Will there be overnight guests? Where will they sleep? The more issues you
can iron out before the guests arrive, the better things will go. Unexpected
issues will always come up. If you address all the big details before the last
minute, you’ll have more time to address the last minute disasters as they
occur.
Schedule Downtime
Between cooking meals, entertaining guests, and attending to a million
details, holiday entertaining can be overwhelming. To be a good host and keep
your stress levels in check, you need to give yourself a few moments to catch
your breath. Sneak a few moments of downtime and allow yourself to put your feet
up to keep your sanity.
The longer you will have guests visiting, the more you need to schedule downtime. Get creative with efforts to get self-care if you need to. Send guests off shopping together or to visit another relative, and sneak a quick hot bath to soak aching muscles. If there are no options to sneak a few moments of downtime, a family movie with popcorn and holiday-themed candy cane cocoa, using flavoured syrup, can be a good way to enjoy family and reduce stress.
A big part of a warm and fuzzy holiday is being able to enjoy family time
without a mental breakdown. While stress is a part of any holiday, giving
yourself a few moments to tend to self-care is crucial. Spending time with your
loved ones should and can be a joy, but you need to take care of yourself while
tending to everyone else.
Stay On Budget
It is easy to get swept up in the season’s magic. A big part of managing
stress is keeping your budget intact. Sit down before you plan your holiday and
have a serious discussion about what you can afford. Perhaps a potluck meal
with everyone bringing a side dish would be best for your budget. Maybe you
need to avoid spending on gifts. Figure out what you can afford and stick to it.
It is possible to stay on a budget and have a holiday to remember. Stores often run sales on holiday meal staples just before the holiday season. Take advantage of coupons and cashback offers, if you can. A popular option for many holiday gatherings is for everyone to bring their special dish while the host provides the main course. Most people have a dish they love and will jump at the offer to bring it. Turkey giveaways are also popular. There are many ways to host a holiday meal without breaking the bank.
Gift-giving is another place that the holidays can bust a budget and cause stress. We all want to give a gift that will wow our loved ones. Overspending on gifts is the quickest way to make your stress level rise. The best gifts do not come from stores. If your budget does not allow for a ton of pricey material items, then get creative and go with gifts that don’t cost a thing. Keeping to your budget will help reduce your holiday stress.
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. If you go into
the season with the right plan, it will be wonderful and stress-free too.
Navy secretary Richard Spencer has been fired
over his handling of the case of Edward Gallagher demoted for misconduct.
The case of the Navy SEAL, who was convicted for posing with a corpse, had sparked tensions between President Donald Trump and military officials.
Edward Gallagher had been due to face a disciplinary review where he could
have been stripped of his Seals membership.
There have been differing accounts as to why Richard Spencer was asked to
resign.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he had lost confidence in Richard Spencer
because his private conversations with the White House contradicted his public
position.
However, President Trump said he was not happy with “cost
overruns” and how Chief Petty Officer Gallagher’s trial was run, and
suggested this was why Richard Spencer was fired.
Meanwhile, in a strongly worded letter,
Richard Spencer said it was apparent that he and President Trump did not have
the same view of “good order and discipline”.
He said: “The lives of our Sailors, Marines and civilian teammates quite
literally depend on the professional execution of our many missions.”
President Trump has drawn criticism
from parts of the military after pardoning army officers convicted of war
crimes.
Edward Gallagher was accused of
stabbing an unarmed 17-year-old Islamic State prisoner to death and randomly
shooting civilians while serving in Iraq in 2017.
He was acquitted of those charges
and convicted only of the lesser charge of posing with the ISIS prisoner’s corpse.
For that, he was demoted, but
President Trump later reinstated his rank.
Edward Gallagher was formally
notified by navy leaders last week that he would face a disciplinary review
which could result in his being stripped of his membership of the Seals.
On November 21, President Trump
tweeted his disapproval, saying the navy would “NOT be taking away
Warfighter and Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s Trident Pin”.
On November 24, the defense department
said Mark Esper had asked Richard Spencer to resign due to “his lack of
candor”.
Richard Spencer had made private proposals to the White House, which he did not share with Mark Esper, and had contradicted his public position, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffmann said in a statement.
At least 13 people have died in Albania after a
6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck the country on November 26, bringing down
buildings and leaving people trapped under rubble.
According to a defense ministry spokeswoman, one man was killed after jumping
from a window in panic.
The quake hit 21 miles north-west of the capital, Tirana, in the early hours
of Tuesday.
Hours later, a separate earthquake struck the city of Mostar in Bosnia.
There were no reports of casualties.
Albanian PM Edi Rama tweeted: “We
have victims. We are working to do everything possible in the affected
areas.”
According to Albanian state media, more than 600 people have been treated in
hospital, including more than 300 in Tirana and in the coastal city of Durres.
Emergency workers told Albanian media that one of the dead was an elderly
woman who had managed to save her grandson by cradling him with her body.
The defense ministry spokeswoman confirmed firefighters and army staff were
helping residents caught under the rubble in Durres, where four people were
killed.
Three of those who died were in the town of Thumane, 25 miles to the
north-west of Tirana and close to the epicenter. There are fears more people
are trapped under rubble.
The man who jumped from the balcony was killed further north, in Kurbin.
Another person died in Lezha.
Rescuers in the city were seen trying to free a young boy trapped in the
rubble.
Albania was ill-equipped to deal with the situation, he said, and had
appealed for outside help.
There have been a number of aftershocks, including one of 5.3-magnitude, the
European-Mediterranean Seismological Center said.
The Balkans is in an area prone to seismic activity.
The November 26 earthquake has been described by authorities as the
strongest to hit Albania in decades.
In 1979, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Albania leaving 136 dead and more than 1,000 injured.
Famous throughout the world such as the Westgate Las Vegas Resort
and Casino, Las Vegas is also a city visited for its tourism, and commercial
and natural resources that surround it. In fact, many people who have visited
the city as tourists have decided to stay in Las Vegas to live and even retire
as retirees for their good residential areas. Although it is true that Las
Vegas and other neighboring towns are in the Nevada desert, the city has
important aquifer supplies, both to the east, in the nearby Colorado River and
the large lakes it forms, as well as numerous springs. In fact, the name of
“Las Vegas” was given by the first Hispanic settlers to discover an area of
green and wooded areas.
The Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino
Located in Las Vegas, The Westgate Las Vegas Resort is within a 15-minute drive of McCarran International Airport and features a rooftop pool, hot tub and outdoor tennis courts. Offering free private parking on site, the resort offers unique 3.5-star accommodation and a bar. Built in the 1960s, the Westgate Las Vegas has recently been refurbished to ensure maximum comfort for guests. Services and services include body and facial treatments, 24-hour room service and a sauna.
The modern rooms in Westgate Las Vegas are all
air-conditioned and include an iPod docking station, a private bathroom and
on-demand movies. In the rooms there is an internet access in the rooms, a
telephone and a flat-screen TV. On-site dining options include Benihana, which
is the perfect place to enjoy a meal. A variety of breakfasts is available
every morning.
Popular Las Vegas attractions are within easy reach of the
resort, including Star Trek the Experience which is just minutes away. The Las
Vegas Convention Center, Stratosphere Las Vegas and the Greek Isles Hotel &
Casino Star Theater are around a 20-minute walk away.
Birth of Las Vegas
As for the birth of Las Vegas, although Mexican and Spanish
explorers passed through the area, it was the American John C. Freemont , once
the area passed from Mexico to the United States, who first unveiled the Las
Vegas valley nationwide so that later it began to be colonized from 1855 by
Mormons and the American army itself.
Today, the main street of Downtown Las Vegas is Freemont
Street, in honor of the military and which in its western part has numerous accommodations to have fun and stay in Las Vegas .
It must also be said that Las Vegas is not the name given to
a single city but to a metropolitan area of almost two million inhabitants and
composed of several cities and counties such as Henderson, North Las Vegas and
others that we will see later.
As for the geographic boundaries of the Las Vegas Valley,
they reach west to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area; to the east,
to the Colorado River, which creates Lake Mead, a large aquifer area that is
the main water source for the city, and to the south to the Sloane Canyon
conservation zone.
And the northern part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area are
miles and more miles of arid mountains and desert.
Pro-democracy campaigners hope they
will be able to increase their representation on the council, which
traditionally has some influence in choosing the city’s chief executive.
Pro-Beijing candidates are urging
voters to support them in order to express frustration at the upheaval caused
by continuous clashes between protesters and police.
Polls opened at 07:30 local time on
November 24.
According to government figures, by
16.30 more than 2.1 million people had voted (52.14% of all registered voters) compared
to 754,705 (24.18%) within the same timescale in the last such elections in
2015.
In total, 1.467 million people voted
in the last poll. Only 3.1 million people were registered to vote in that
election.
More than 1,000 candidates are running for 452 district council seats which,
for the first time, are all being contested. A further 27 seats are allocated
to representatives of rural districts.
Currently, pro-Beijing parties hold the majority of these seats.
Police were seen outside some polling stations and on the streets but
correspondents said they kept a low profile.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said after voting: “Facing the extremely challenging situation, I am pleased to
say… we have a relatively calm and peaceful environment for (the) election
today.”
Counting will start immediately after polls close at 22:30. Results are expected to start coming in before midnight.
Silhouette, neckline, style – how to not go crazy when looking for your
perfect wedding dress
Finding the perfect dress for any occasion is always accompanied by a certain amount of stress. Imagine then that the dress you are looking for is meant for what will most likely be one of the most important days of your life.
No stress? Yeah, right!
Thankfully there is help. Regardless of if you are looking for your perfect wedding dress in the US or Europe, there are sites online that will ease your stress by offering near customized alternatives.
The devil is in the
details and in this case, it’s the dress!
It’s all about the dress. Well, perhaps not only but
choosing the right wedding dress is going to be one of the most important
decisions you will make when it comes to your wedding. Rightfully so. Everyone
deserves to feel beautiful on their wedding day.
This is a day that is uniquely yours and you should be able to enjoy yourself.
The right dress will set the tone for the entire experience and you shouldn’t
compromise when it comes to choosing the one that is right for you. One way to
not go crazy and stress to much over details such as fabric and waist style, is
to go for the path of least resistance.
One decision made is
better than no decision made
Finding your path of least resistance means, just as the title suggest to make one decision at a time to not feel overwhelmed. One decision made is better than no decision made. At no time is this truer than when it comes to finding your perfect wedding dress. The level of detail is important as is the design. Online it is possible to find suppliers that will allow you to basically customize your dress to your hearts content.
You have the opportunity to add in as many details as you like and choose the perfect fit for you. Finding plus size wedding gowns onlinefor instance is no problem and you are able to create a flattering dress to your liking.
Even though there are a million and one details that will require your attention, choosing your wedding dress should be fun and exciting. By committing to making one decision at a time you are making sure that it stays just that, fun and exciting.
The perfect dress = the
perfect day
Of course it is not as simple as this. However, having
the perfect dress will make you feel good about yourself and it will without a
doubt enhance the experience. The freedom that comes with the opportunity to
near customise your own dress is exhilarating and you should make sure to take
full advantage.
By making one decision at a time (when this is possible of course) you greatly
increase the chance of success and if there is ever a day when you deserve
perfection it is on your wedding day. With the perfect dress, friends and
family as well as your sweetheart, all you have to do is walk down the aisle,
relax and enjoy.
Former White House aide Fiona Hill has
told the impeachment inquiry that President Donald Trump disregarded the advice
of senior advisers to push a false theory that Ukraine meddled in the 2016
election.
She said the president had instead
listened to the views of his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
Fiona Hill called the claims about
Ukraine a “fictional narrative”.
The inquiry is assessing if
President Trump withheld aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political
rival.
President Trump denies any
wrongdoing.
According to a discredited theory,
it was Ukrainians or individuals with Ukrainian connections who interfered in
the 2016 vote, rather than Russia.
In a phone call with the Ukrainian
president, President Trump urged him to look into the claims as well as open an
investigation into Joe Biden, one of the main Democratic presidential
candidates.
November 21 is fifth and last
scheduled day of public hearings by the House Intelligence Committee.
In her opening statement, Fiona Hill – the former top Russia experts to the
White House – accused other Republicans of sowing doubt about Russian
interference in the 2016 elections.
She said: “Based on questions and
statements I have heard, some of you on this committee appear to believe that
Russia and its security services did not conduct a campaign against our country
– and that perhaps, somehow, for some reason, Ukraine did.”
Fiona Hill urged lawmakers not to promote “politically driven
falsehoods” that cast doubt on Russia’s interference in US elections.
“This is a fictional narrative
that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services
themselves,” she said.
During Fiona Hill’s testimony, Democratic lawyer Daniel Goldman asked her: “So is it your understanding then that
President Trump disregarded the advice of his senior officials about this
theory and instead listened to Rudy Giuliani’s views?”
“That appears to be the case,
yes,” she replied.
In her later testimony, Fiona Hill warned that Rudy Giuliani had been making
“explosive” and “incendiary” claims about Ukraine.
She said: “He was clearly pushing
forward issues and ideas that would, you know, probably come back to haunt us.
“I think that’s where we are
today.”
Fiona Hill testified that she had a couple of “testy encounters”
with Gordon Sondland – the US ambassador to the EU who testified on November 20
– over Ukraine, because the ambassador did not keep her informed of “all
the meetings he was having”.
US ambassador to Ukraine David Holmes also testified at November 21 hearing.
In his opening statement, David Holmes said that his work at the embassy in
Kiev became overshadowed in 2019 by the actions of Rudy Giuliani.
He said: “I became aware that Mr.
Giuliani, a private lawyer, was taking a direct role in Ukrainian diplomacy.”
David Holmes added that he was “shocked” on July 18 when an official from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced that military aid to Ukraine was being withheld.
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has
been charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three
separate cases, the country’s attorney general announced.
Benjamin Netanyahu is alleged to
have accepted gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensed favors to try to get
more positive press coverage.
He described the charges as an
“attempted coup”, blaming them on a “tainted” process.
The prime minister has also insisted
he will not resign and is not legally obliged to do so.
In a TV speech, Benjamin Netanyahu
said authorities “weren’t after the truth, they were after me”, and
called on the country to “investigate the investigators”.
Earlier, Attorney General Avichai
Mandelblit said he made the decision “with a heavy heart”, but said
it showed nobody was above the law in Israel.
He said: “Law enforcement is not a choice. It is not a matter of right or
left. It’s not a matter of politics.”
The announcement comes amid a
political stand-off in Israel following two inconclusive general elections in
April and September.
On November 20, Benjamin Netanyahu’s
rival for the premiership, Benny Gantz, said he had been unable to form a
governing coalition with a majority in parliament. He had been given the
opportunity to try after Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier failed to do so.
On November 21, President Reuven Rivlin
asked lawmakers to agree on a candidate for prime minister within 21 days and
avoid an unprecedented third election in a year.
After the charges were announced,
Benny Gantz tweeted his support for the attorney general and law enforcement
agencies, and wrote it was “a very sad day” for Israel.
In February, Attorney General Avichai
Mandelblit said that he intended to indict Benjamin Netanyahu in connection
with three cases – known as Case 1,000, Case 2,000 and Case 4,000 – pending
final hearings that eventually took place in October.
It is unclear what this means for the prime minister’s future.
Benjamin Netanyahu is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise, and there
is currently no legal barrier to him staying in office as prime minister.
It could take many months before the cases are brought before a district court. And even if convicted, Benjamin Netanyahu would not be required to step down until the appeals process was exhausted – something that could take years.
Nowadays, most of us don’t remember the
pre-Internet era clearly. Since we are all living in a complex digital world,
making the Internet one of the basic human rights, the United Nations declared
that the Internet has given us the impeccable level of the freedom of
expression and moreover, provided us with the endless possibilities for the
development and prosperity of the whole mankind.
However, at the same time, the Internet became the floodgate for all kinds of
crimes and fraudsters, which basically turned cybercrime into the fastest
growing crime in the world. No matter, whether you’re shopping, chatting with
someone or just looking for any kind of information, you may never know who’s
on the other end. Kids tend to be more vulnerable to Internet threats if
compared to adults, thus we will provide you with the best Internet safety tips
every parent should know.
Learn More Yourself
Recent studies show that most of the modern-day parents are likely to be considered Internet-savvy, however, when it comes to the basic Internet safety rules, there’s a clear lack of knowledge in this area. You would only be able to protect your child only in the case you know something about the safety online yourself. You can find plenty of information on the topic online. For example, the US non-profit organization Tech Corps created the list of most-useful Internet safety resources that will help you educate yourself and your kid. There are also such useful websites like SafeKids.org.
Educate your Kid The best thing you can do for your kids about online defense is to educate them properly. A kid that knows a lot more is not as vulnerable as it may seem. There are a whole bunch of precautions that can be taken to help your kid stay safe online:
Never ever let your kid make friends online –
one of the most valid points is not to make any friends online. Getting
acquainted in real life is among those vital precautions you may take to keep
your child safe unless you know someone in person. This does not apply to
school friends, next-door kids or brothers, and sisters.
Set Up Privacy Setting on Social Media Accounts – teach your kids to set up their social media accounts restricted
from everyone’s access and moreover, to check from time to time whether it
works properly or not. Leaving your kid’s account open makes him or her a perfect target for online threats.
Avoid Posting Personal Information Elsewhere –
you, as a parent, should be extremely careful with what is posted on your kid’s
personal social media page. For instance, any content you post can be retweeted
or reposted without your permission and you basically lose control over that
information. Make sure to turn off Location Settings for both Twitter and
Facebook, another lead to get your kid tracked.
Deactivate Old Accounts your Kid might have –
the list is not only limited to the social media accounts only. God knows how
much of personal information could be leaking from the old game profiles, sites
like Netflix or Lego-forums. Make sure to remove everything that is not used
and you are aware of.
Teach them the Basic Knowledge of Critical Thinking – teach your kids to think critically and recognize possible threats
they might come across while being online along with not taking anything at a
face value.
Don’t Ban Technology
There’s nothing worse for your kid than being cut off from the Internet access, even though you think it is a wise move. You will not gain great results if any at all. Moreover, the kids will probably serf the Internet at their friend’s home or at school, behind your back. In case you fail to help them with answering their questions, they would have no other option but search for the answers online. The Internet can be truly considered one of the inventions that helped the whole humankind to develop as faster as never before. All you need to do is to allow your kids to use it wisely for educational and entertainment purposes.
Set Up Parental Controls Why banning the whole Internet access for your kid when you are able to restrict access to the most sensitive content available online: violence, erotic scenes or simply the content you don’t want your kid to be aware of. All of the most popular streaming services like Netflix, Youtube, Disney or HBO have parental control options available. The same relates to videogames, browsers, and smartphones. You are even able to lock the certain IP address to block the access for your kid. In case you’re not tech-savvy, get help from your local Internet providers, they will be more than happy to help you out with that.
Set Up House Rules and Stimulate Open Communication
Gain trust and become a true friend for your kid. Modern children are pretty well-educated for their age and might know much more than their parents. Especially when it comes to navigating on the Internet and breaking restrictions. Let your kid know to appreciate the rules you set up for the basic Internet safety precautions and explain why obeying them is vitally important. Open communication will help your kid to follow the rules that were installed.
What to Do in Case you Think your Kid is in Danger?
The first thing you should do about that is to identify the kind of threat your kid is affected by. There is a whole bunch of options possible online. In case your kid is being bullied online, it would be a nice chance for you to step in and find the parents of that bully to put out the flame before it gets worse. Online scam or dangerous contacts with a stranger is a lot different story. Once you identify the threat, try to do reverse person lookup on Nuwber and pass the information to the law enforcement authorities.
In conclusion, we would like to stress the fact that the Internet may be quite a dangerous place nowadays in case it’s not treated with care and attention. With the help of the mentioned above, you would reduce the risk of any threats for your kid to minimum.
When you’re having fun and people catch a glimpse of your teeth as you smile or laugh, it would be unfortunate if chips or cracks in those teeth distracted onlookers. After all, no-one wants to draw attention for the wrong reasons, but this is a situation where tooth bonding can help.
“Tooth bonding” is a term for treatments where composite resin is used to cover unsightly parts of the tooth. Here’s what to know about these treatments before you consider them.
As an entire tooth bonding treatment can be completed in a single appointment, it has obvious appeal compared to, say, porcelain veneers, the fitting of which could require more than two visits.
However, be careful to research the implications of bonding to help yourself to decide whether it would really be the best move for you. The treatment wouldn’t, for example, be able to correct an over- or under-bite that has lumbered you with a crooked smile.
How to look after your bonded teeth
Once the treatment is complete, you should remember to schedule regular check-ups at your dental practice, as the completed bonding could be prone to chipping or staining.
The chipping could occur if, for example, you bite on ice, hard food – including, yes, hard sweets – or your fingernails, while the resin could become discolored if you are a heavy smoker or coffee drinker. The saving grace here is that bonding can be easily repaired if it is damaged.
How tooth bonding differs from veneers
The ease of repairing damaged bonding marks it out from, say, veneers, which you would need to get replaced entirely were you to damage them. Given that veneers are significantly pricier than tooth bonding treatments to provide in the first place, replacements wouldn’t bode well for your finances.
Nonetheless, veneers do last longer than the results of bonding, so don’t rule them out too quickly.
The risks of tooth bonding treatments
The good news here is that, well, there aren’t any risks – and certainly not any serious ones. However, as the composite resin won’t match your natural teeth for strength even once hardened and finished, you do need to be careful with them, such as by heeding the information in this article.
It’s also recommended that you find a reputable provider of this treatment. London-based people will be in safe hands when receiving teeth bonding from Ten Dental, an esteemed local clinic group.
A new woman has come forward to accuse Jeffrey
Epstein of abusing her as a 15-year-old, and called for Prince Andrew to share
information on his former friend.
The woman, identified as “Jane Doe 15”, told reporters she suffered
a “vicious, prolonged… assault”.
Jane Doe 15, now 31, is the latest of more than a dozen women to sue
Epstein’s estate for alleged abuses.
It comes amid controversy over Prince Andrew’s ties to the disgraced
finacier.
In a recent interview, Prince Andrew was pressed on his friendship with Jeffrey
Epstein, and an accusation made by Virginia Giuffre that he had intercourse
with her at Epstein’s house when she was 17.
Prince Andrew denied having any relation with Ms Giuffre, but the interview
created a wave of criticism directed at the royal.
Jane Doe 15 gave a press conference in Los Angeles on November 18 with her
lawyer, Gloria Allred. She accused Jeffrey Epstein of abusing her at his New
Mexico ranch when she was 15, after she had met his secretary during a 2004
school trip to New York.
According to Jane Doe 15’s lawsuit, the secretary told her Jeffrey Epstein
was interested in helping girls from poorer backgrounds. She was flown on his
private jet to his ranch in New Mexico with several other young girls, she
said. Jane Doe 15 alleges he told her to give him a massage, then assaulted
her.
Jeffrey Epstein, 66, hanged himself in jail in August while awaiting trial.
He was accused of abusing dozens of young girls, some as young as 14. He
pleaded not guilty.
Jane Doe 15 did not accuse Prince Andrew of any wrongdoing but called on him
to come forward with more information.
She said: “Prince Andrew, and any
others who were close to Epstein, should come forward and give a statement
under oath on what information they have.”
Attorney Gloria Allred said she had called on Prince Andrew to “voluntarily meet with the FBI and prosecutors who are investigating this criminal case in New York, and also to provide his deposition under oath”.
Because your home is a special place where you and your family can relax while feeling secure. We know that buying your first home comes with plenty of overwhelming responsibilities. So, if you’re planning a big investment, homeowner insurance is exactly what you need to maintain and protect what you already have and gain a sense of security. For those who want to avoid the risk of a huge financial loss in the event of a tragic event or even natural disasters, homeowner insurance is what they need. Protecting your home should be a vital aspect of your investment plans. When it comes to your family’s future and safety this should be necessary, but as other huge investments in your life, this requires planning and patience.
Dwelling Coverage
The best thing about homeowners insurance
is that even though something happens to your home, you can avoid huge repair
costs. It might take the burden off your shoulders knowing that your home
insurance can cover the costs of repair or rebuilding after a natural disaster
or a burglary. Sometimes such events are unavoidable therefore looking for
signing with the right insurance company is the wisest decision you’ve
made.
It depends very much of the place you live, a reason why you should know what type of insurance you actually need. If you live in Florida, then you’ll be more likely to encounter hurricanes, sinkholes or flood damage. You should consider wind insurance in Florida if you want to assure your family’s safety and peace of mind when it comes to their future. Ensuring your home for such disasters is what you can do best if you want to avoid huge financial losses.
Other Structures
Another great aspect of home insurance is
that not only your house is covered, but other structures on your propriety
too. Because everything can be possible at some point signing homeowner
insurance is a smart move. It doesn’t matter if you have a backyard fence, a
tool shed, a swimming pool or a detached garage, signing other structures
coverage, will cover a fragment of the insurance you have on your dwelling,
which is usually 10% of your total coverage. It doesn’t matter where you live
as long as your goods and structures are insured. Having your garage covered
will make you feel much safer in the event of a natural disaster or
robbery.
It Covers Your Personal Belongings
Because we all valuable items in our home,
being afraid of unexpected future events it’s not a solution. Homeowner
insurance will protect your goods such as electronics, clothes, fine art pieces
and jewellery you certainly don’t want to lose. Before anything, the smartest
move would be to plan an inventory. Whenever you sign insurance you want to be
sure they pay you fairly for whatever you’ve lost. After an unfortunate event,
you should make a list of every valuable item and validate the value of that
loss. Your insurance company wants to make sure you’re honest about you loses
and their value therefore, the following steps might help you build an idea on
what you can do.
Collect all your available
receipts or cancelled checks that prove the value of your items.
Most important, create a list
with every damaged item and the degree of damage of each possession. You can
even photograph or videotape the damage.
If possible, collect every
surviving photo or video taken with your valuable goods before the damage.
Protects your Liability
Having liability protection on your home insurance is considered by many a smart investment. Anything can happen on your propriety, maybe the neighbor slips on your icy stairs or maybe your dog bites the mailman. These small unexpected events may cost you more than you think, a reason why you should consider signing home insurance. This will help you cover your essential medical expenses, lost wages and legal fees. This will even allow you to preserve your house equity. Whenever you plan to make renovation and upgrade something in your house, the value of your home will increase. If you wish to protect your investment you should consider this liability protection as being a smart move.
Additional Living Expenses
Additional living expenses are an important
part of your home insurance policy. It is perfectly developed to help you
overcome financial loses and stay safe while your house is under repairs after
a disaster. It covers restaurant and hotel bills and even the moving costs you
encounter after an unexpected event. This additional living expenses will offer
you great comfort in trying times.
Your Lender May Require It
Even though you don’t have a proprietary
yet, planning to invest in home insurance may offer you plenty of benefits.
Given the unexpected events, more lenders require proof of your insurance. This
should be a necessary move because it protects your home from damage caused by
natural disasters, robbery or fire. In case you don’t have insurance, your
lender can buy one on your name. But as you probably know, this will add the
costs on your monthly expenses. Homeowner insurance will not cause a hole in
your budget if you find the option that’s right for you. In most cases, its
value adapts with the quality so this will offer you huge satisfaction.
Because it doesn’t matter if you’ve just
bought a house or you’ve just rented, insuring your home it’s a necessary
investment. Just thinking about a catastrophic event like a tornado or a fire
can be a nightmare. Those who already experienced such unfortunate events know
very well what it takes to endure all those repair costs. Fortunately, these
things can be avoided if you plan to invest in home insurance. This should be a
wise decision if you wish to ensure your financial stability and your family’s
safety. Having homeowner insurance will offer you’re a sense of comfort
regarding your future and it will take a burden off your shoulders.
State department official David Holmes has said
at the impeachment inquiry that a US diplomat told Donald Trump Ukraine would
carry out investigations the president had asked for.
David Holmes said he had overheard this during a call in July between
President Trump and the US envoy to the EU, Gordon Sondland.
He said the call came a day after President Trump asked Ukraine to probe
ex-VP Joe Biden.
President Trump has dismissed the impeachment inquiry as “presidential
harassment”.
The inquiry is investigating whether Donald Trump withheld US military aid
to Ukraine in order to pressure the country’s new President Volodymyr Zelensky
to announce a corruption inquiry into Joe Biden, now his rival for the presidency.
On November 15, President Trump launched a Twitter attack on another witness
– former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.
He tweeted in the middle of her testimony: “Everywhere Marie Yovanovitch went turned bad.
“She started off in Somalia, how
did that go?”
Asked for her response, Marie Yovanovitch called it “very
intimidating”.
President Trump later hit back, arguing his tweets were not intimidating
“at all”. He told reporters he had watched part of the impeachment
hearing and considered it “a disgrace”.
David Holmes testified behind closed doors before us lawmakers in Washington
DC.
The diplomatic aid said he had overheard the phone call between President
Trump and Ambassador Sondland in which “investigations” are said to
have been discussed.
He said Gordon Sondland called President Trump from a restaurant in
Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on July 26, 2019.
According to a copy of his opening statement obtained by CBS News, David
Holmes said: “Sondland told Trump
that [Ukrainian President] Zelensky ‘loves your ass.'”
“I then heard President Trump
ask, ‘So, he’s gonna do the investigation?’
“Ambassador Sondland replied that
‘he’s gonna do it’, adding that President Zelensky will do ‘anything you ask him
to’.”
Observers have drawn attention to the security implications of making the
call from a restaurant, potentially exposing the conversation to eavesdropping
by Russian intelligence.
David Holmes’ deposition appears to corroborate the testimony given to the
impeachment inquiry by US ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor on November 13.
Bill Taylor said one of his aides heard the same chat.
The aide said President Trump had asked about “investigations” and
Gordon Sondland had replied that Ukraine was ready to move forward.
According to Bill Taylor, Gordon Sondland then told the aide that the
president cared more about the investigation of the Bidens than anything else
involving Ukraine.
The call – which Donald Trump has denied any knowledge of – allegedly
happened the day after the now-famous Trump-Zelensky phone call.
While giving her evidence, Marie
Yovanovitch was alerted to the president’s criticism by the hearing’s chairman
Adam Schiff.
Responding directly to Donald
Trump’s tweet, in which he appeared to blame her for upheaval in Somalia, Marie
Yovanovitch replied: “I don’t think
I have such powers, not in Mogadishu and Somalia and not in other places.
“I actually think that where I’ve served over the years
I and others have demonstrably made things better, you know, for the US as well
as for the countries that I’ve served in.”
Marie Yovanovitch’s response was
broadcast live during the televised hearing.
Adam Schiff, the Democratic Chairman
of the Intelligence Committee overseeing the impeachment inquiry, suggested the
president’s tweets could be classed as witness intimidation.
Marie Yovanovitch was removed as ambassador to Kyiv in May, two months before a controversial phone call between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, which is now key to the inquiry.
Israel’s military is investigating “harm
caused to civilians” from an air strike it launched in Gaza.
According to Palestinian medics, eight members of one family died in the
strike, among them five children.
However, Israel said the attack targeted the home of Rasmi Abu Malhous, who
it called a militant commander from the group Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Israel said no civilians were expected to be in harm’s way.
The Deir al-Balah attack, in central Gaza, was the deadliest episode in a
two-day exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian group.
The attack took place on November 14, shortly before a fragile ceasefire
came into effect.
On November 16, Israeli air raids struck Hamas targets for the first time in
the latest violence.
Israel’s military originally insisted that the head of the family, who it
said was killed, was a commander of a PIJ rocket-launching unit.
It now says the information about his identity is not certain and is being
reviewed.
Islamic Jihad did not comment on
whether Rasmi Abu Malhous was a member.
On November 16, Israel says its air
defenses intercepted two rockets fired from Gaza at the southern Israeli city
of Beersheva.
In response, the Israeli Defense
Forces (IDF) said they struck “Hamas terror targets” in Gaza. Hamas’
al-Aqsa TV reported a naval facility and a site in Beit Lahia being hit.
Up till now, Israel has avoided
targeting Hamas, which controls the Palestinian territory.
Fighting flared after Israel killed a PIJ commander in the early hours of
November 12.
Israel said the commander, Baha Abu al-Ata, was a “ticking bomb”
who was behind a planned imminent attack and responsible for recent rocket-fire
from Gaza.
More than 450 rockets and mortars were fired at Israel, and several waves of air strikes carried out on Gaza in two days of violence.
A mortgage note is a financial document detailing the payments for a loan used to buy a property. Those who hold one for a home, business, or other property can sell it and get a lump sum of cash. While that sounds enticing, before leaping in, you’ll want to know how to make money with mortgage notes and get the maximum amount you can.
The average mortgage loan as of January 2017 was $309,200, according to The Motley Fool’s Million Acres site. Still, no matter what the principal of your mortgage is, you won’t be getting that exact amount. The better news is that you can still receive a significant offer – and you can get the highest amount possible by following some industry tips.
Selling
Your Mortgage Note
First, you’ll want to know how to sell your
private mortgage note. While it might sound complicated and require quite a bit
of time and effort, the process is relatively simple. There are plenty of
companies out there willing to purchase your mortgage note, taking on the risk
as the notes are backed with collateral. You’ll need your trust deed or mortgage,
and to find the best company to work with. Typically, you’ll complete an online
form or make a phone call to get an offer. The offer is based on the current
market, the terms of the note, property appraisal, and the company’s rates.
Most companies will provide an attorney, so you don’t have to shell out
thousands of dollars for a real estate lawyer.
Getting
the Best Value For Your Note
Insider industry experts say there are several
ways to get the best possible value for your mortgage note.
Your buyer
has decent credit. The higher the credit score of your
borrower/property buyer, the more money you’ll be able to get for your mortgage
note. Most notes that are owner financed are completed because the buyer has
less than stellar credit, which is okay. Still, if it’s below 580, the note
might be challenging to sell. Again, the higher the score, the higher your
offer is likely to be for the note.
The note
includes land and a home or building. Contracts that
include both are generally more likely to be approved.
The down
payment. The cash that you received from the buyer at
the time of the sale, or down payment, determines if the note can be sold. The
note will sell for more money, the higher the down payment is. If the buyer
only put down 5%, for example, you’re unlikely to get much of an offer, and you
may not get one at all. Typically, it should be at least 10%, but you’ll get a
more significant offer if the down payment is between 20% and 30%.
Shorter
terms. Mortgage notes with shorter terms will get you
a larger offer.
Current
interest rates. If the current interest rates are low,
the value of your note will increase. If they’re higher, you may want to wait
until they start to dip. If the interest rate attached to the note exceeds the
maximum usury law amount where the property is located, the note will be
worthless to note investors.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan showed
Republican senators an anti-Kurdish video during his visit at the White House.
On November 13, President Erdogan played the video on an iPad during a White
House meeting with President Donald Trump and the lawmakers who vocally back
the Kurds.
President Trump mostly observed the interaction, sources told media.
He has been widely criticized in the US for his decision to withdraw troops
from Syria’s border region.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – which are supported by the
US – played a leading role in the fight against ISIS militants.
The senators involved in the White House meeting were Ted Cruz, Rick Scott, Lindsey
Graham, Jim Risch, and Joni Ernst.
All five have sharply criticized President Erdogan’s October move against
Kurdish forces in Syria following President Trump’s announcement to pull US
troops.
Turkey regards the Kurdish fighters as terrorists and is seeking to turn the
area into a “safe zone” for resettling the Syrian refugees currently
in Turkey.
President Erdogan reportedly believed he might change the senators’ views on
the Kurds by showing them the short film, but instead received pushback from
the entire group.
After viewing the film, Lindsey Graham asked Presidnet Erdogan if he wanted
him “to go get the Kurds to make one about what you’ve done”,
prompting a heated discussion, a source present during the meeting told the Axios news website, which first reported
the incident.
President Trump only occasionally
intervened in the conversation as the senators took turns debating President
Erdogan.
Donald Trump said during a news
conference on November 13 he was a “big fan” of President Erdogan. He
has previously said that the Kurds are “not angels”.
President Trump had invited the
lawmakers to speak to President Erdogan to try to persuade him to avoid buying
Russian military equipment, administration sources told media.
Turkey has been threatened with
sanctions if it continues to deploy Russian defense systems.
The senators have said they will not
allow Turkey to purchase US fighter jets if President Erdogan continues to
procure equipment from Russia.
Following the meeting, Senator Ted Cruz released a statement saying he has always viewed Turkey as “a deeply problematic ally, but an ally nonetheless”.
Netflix online streaming collects monthly data in order to find out which ISP is able to stream its services better. They make this monthly report public to facilitate their users.
Cable service providers Spectrum and Cox topped the list of October 2019. They are providing great speeds that allow Netflix to stream smoothly.
Check local cable deals to find out the best internet packages for Netflix streaming.
Well, I guess most of you aren’t aware of the fact that Netflix stalks internet service providers. Well, I recently came across Netflix’s report which indicates which ISPs are doing a great job in providing a smooth Netflix experience to their users. Netflix has created an ISP leaderboard that ranks them with respect to their speed in megabits per second.
The recent
analysis of Netflix has shown that in October 2019, cable service providers
Spectrum and Cox delivered great speeds and facilitated Netflix users greatly.
However, Verizon Fios topped the list of fiber optic internet service
providers.
Which ISP streams the
Netflix slowest?
Almost all the internet service providers are doing great in regards to Netflix streaming speed until they are not offering DSL internet service. Frontier, Verizon DSL, AT&T DSL failed to provide a smooth Netflix experience. We all know it for a fact that DSL provides low speeds than that of the cable and fiber internet connections. Spectrum internet is the best cable internet service provider however, Verizon Fios is among the best fiber internet service providers.
Which ISPs are doing great
in streaming Netflix smoothly?
As you can
see in the above graph, cable internet service providers Spectrum followed by
Cox, Comcast, Optimum are doing great in providing high speeds that deliver
smooth Netflix experience. They all are few decimals of one another, so
certainly their users don’t have to encounter with the dread of Netflix’s
spinning circle.
How does Netflix gather
the data over different ISPs?
Well,
Netflix monitors the average prime-time bitrates transmitted by different ISPs
in the peak viewing hours. Mostly it is between 7 pm to 11 pm. Certainly, this
index provided by Netflix isn’t the measure of the overall performance of the
internet service but is just specified to their performance with Netflix.
Things to know
in order to find out right ISP for Netflix:
Though you
have the list of high performing internet service providers on you. But there
are certain things you need to know before getting yourself an ISP for
Netflix-ing.
Firstly, know what speeds are suitable for streaming. To stream HD videos on Netflix, one does require 5 Mbps, however for ultra HD or 4k video quality one requires internet speed of 25 Mbps for fluent video streaming. 25 Mbps is not much of high speed and most of the internet service providers have reasonably priced packages that offer 25Mbps. Visit http://www.localcabledeals.com to find yourself a suitable internet package in your area.
However, streaming songs online on Spotify or Deezer need you to have 2-10 Mbps. Cox and CenturyLink are offering lower-tier plans. These plans are great for elderly and kids which only have to play music and watch a few videos on YouTube.
By now you
must have understood that high-speed and reliability is important in order to
stream Netflix smoothly. We all have Netflix subscriptions and certainly don’t
want to not be able to enjoy it just because of a slow internet connection. To
enjoy Netflix at its best one does require a fast and reliable internet that
doesn’t get stuck. Netflix’s leaderboard for ISPs keeps them in check and also
help the masses to know which ISP is doing great with Netflix.
Bill Taylor, the acting US
ambassador to Ukraine, told impeachment hearings that President Trump directly
asked about a Ukrainian investigation into his Democratic rival Joe Biden.
In previously unheard testimony,
Bill Taylor said a member of his staff was told President Trump was preoccupied
with pushing for a probe into Joe Biden.
The top diplomat was speaking at the
first public hearings in the impeachment inquiry.
President Trump told reporters he
did not recall making such comments.
The president is accused of
withholding US military aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the country’s new
president to publicly announce a corruption inquiry into Joe Biden, among the
favorites to take him on in the 2020 presidential race.
President Trump denies any
wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a “witch-hunt”.
During a detailed opening statement,
Bill Taylor said a member of his staff had overheard a telephone call in which
the president inquired about “the investigations” into Joe Biden.
The call was with US ambassador to
the EU Gordon Sondland, who reportedly told the president over the phone that
“the Ukrainians were ready to move forward”.
After the call, the staff member
“asked ambassador Sondland what President Trump thought about
Ukraine”, Bill Taylor said.
Bill Taylor said: “Ambassador Sondland responded that
President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden.”
When asked about Gordon Sondland earlier this month, the
president had said: “I hardly know the gentleman.”
Responding to queries from reporters
after the hearing, President Trump said: “I
know nothing about that, first time I’ve heard it.”
He said he recalled Gordon
Sondland’s testimony, in which the diplomat said he spoke to the president
“for a brief moment” and President Trump had “said no quid pro
quo under any circumstances”.
Gordon Sondland said he did not recall the phone call Bill Taylor described, “not even a little bit”, and “in any event it’s more second hand information”.
The impeachment inquiry has been
going on for more than a month – but all previous hearings were private, with
reports based on leaks and sources speaking to the media.
Today’s public hearings were the first time the public heard from witnesses directly and a chance for Democrats and Republicans to win over voters.
Medical malpractice is a serious topic, but it’s also something that gets used inappropriately by many people who are simply looking for a handout. Studies, including one from Purdue University published in 2017, have found that over a quarter-million people die every year from medical mistakes.
That’s a good reason for doctors and victims
alike to take this topic seriously, as there is the potential for some
significant long term damage for either party involved. Victims of these
situations can have life-threatening consequences while doctors can lose their
careers over just one incident.
When trying to determine whether or not a case of
true medical malpractice has occurred this is what is considered.
Promptness
of Medical Malpractice Reporting
In order for medical malpractice to be determined
and taken care of, it must be reported shortly after the incident or illness
happens. This is to protect the doctor and medical staff involved from getting
put at fault when it wasn’t caused by them.
Medical
Negligence
It’s important to note that just because a
patient’s condition gets worse, it doesn’t mean it’s a criterion for medical
malpractice. Everyone is different, and if it happens that a certain treatment
didn’t go as hoped, the doctor is not normally found at fault. The
responsibility of the doctor is to act professionally and treat you to the best
of his or her ability. In addition, there are some conditions that will only
get worse over time and do not have any kind of immediate cure or treatment
available.
A Doctor’s
Recklessness
Much like what was mentioned above, with
conditions that worsen over time, the same parameters exist for patients who
are not treatable. If a person is injured in an accident and contracts an
illness, the blame can’t be placed on the physician simply based on the outcome
of the patient. As long as the doctor took the best course of action according
to his or her knowledge on how to move forward with treatment, this is not
considered to be recklessness or medical malpractice. If you believe that a
medical professional intentionally gave you the wrong treatment to harm you,
it’s important to take notes and save any documents related to the visit to the
doctor as that is medical malpractice.
Treatability
of a Victim’s Illness
Of course, in some cases, patients have a
condition or illness that just isn’t treatable. Or, they can be treated with an
expectation that things will not turn out how they want them to. Sometimes,
people like to blame doctors who aren’t able to make them feel better, but
recovery from a serious injury or illness completely depends on who’s involved
and their body responds to the treatment. Medicine is not guaranteed to work
for everyone, which is why it is certainly not considered malpractice to fail a
plan for treatment. Malpractice laws are not in place to lend a hand to the
unfortunate, but to make sure that people are getting fair treatment and the
best approach for tackling a health issue.
Testimony
From an Expert
A critical part of determining malpractice is to get advice from someone who is very familiar and comfortable with the industry. Someone like a medical malpractice lawyer can be a big help in these situations as well as to help you come out on top in the courtroom. In almost all cases, testimony from an expert is required by state law during a trial. Medical malpractice is not something that is taken lightly, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands after talking to an attorney or expert in this department.
Medical
Officials Panel
When a patient makes a medical malpractice claim,
it is taken seriously right from the very start. After the initial paperwork is
done, a panel in the medical field has a meeting to determine if the person has
a potential case. It’s important to know that this panel cannot replace a real
trial in a courtroom, nor award damages, but this is one step that someone must
do in order to officially file a malpractice situation. After all the evidence
that is presented to the group is reviewed, it is then decided if this is a
case of medical malpractice or not. Obviously, the ones that are real cases
move forward to the legal system.
Venice mayor has said that the severe flooding affecting much of the Italian city is a direct result of climate change.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted that the highest water levels in the region in
more than 50 years will leave “a permanent mark”.
“Now the government must
listen,” he added.
“These are the effects of climate
change… the costs will be high.”
According to the tide monitoring centre, the waters in Venice
peaked at 6ft. Only once since official records began in 1923 has the tide been
higher, reaching 6.4ft in 1966.
The city’s St Mark’s Square – one of the lowest parts of the
city – was one of the worst hit areas.
St Mark’s Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years, according
to church records.
Mayor Brugnaro said the famous landmark had suffered “grave
damage”. The crypt was completely flooded and there are fears of
structural damage to the basilica’s columns.
Pierpaolo Campostrini, a member of St Mark’s council, said
four of those floods had now occurred within the past 20 years.
The city of Venice is made up of more than 100 islands inside a lagoon off
the north-east coast of Italy.
Two people died on the island of Pellestrina, a thin strip of land that
separates the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. A man was electrocuted as he tried
to start a pump in his home and a second person was found dead elsewhere.
Mayor Brugnaro said the damage was “huge” and that he would declare a state of disaster, warning that a project to help prevent the Venetian lagoon suffering devastating floods “must be finished soon”.
