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How to Use LinkedIn To Improve Your Marketing Efforts

Nancy Clayson
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How to Use LinkedIn To Improve Your Marketing Efforts
https://pixabay.com/en/linkedin-in-network-profession-911794/
https://pixabay.com/en/linkedin-in-network-profession-911794/

LinkedIn is a booming social media channel with the highest potential. From its pool of over 460 million professional members worldwide, you certainly have a good chance of meeting the right people and probably your future business partners.

LinkedIn offers you the opportunity to increase your influence and visibility online. While Facebook still holds the most number of users worldwide, it will be difficult for you to get the message across the right people due to the diversity and vastness of its audience’s niche.

SEO optimization companies and leaders encourage businesses to be visible and active on LinkedIn as the opportunities for growing traffic and readership are relatively high with it. Harnessing the power of LinkedIn for your business can be very experimental, and there’s a chance you might go wrong, but here are a few of the reasons you should try.

 

LinkedIn Lets You Publish Content For Free

During the first few years that LinkedIn started, they had contacted several people to become “LinkedInfluencers,” and only those who had been called and qualified to be one are allowed to have a presence in LinkedIn when it comes to publishing content.

Of course, as you can very well tell, these Influencers have grown their networks and connections, resulting in higher traffic in their sites and conversion rates on all of their marketing efforts. Until now, Influencers are added based on an invitation basis, and although it is not on an application basis, LinkedIn still allows its members and readers to publish long- form posts for free.

If your post gains enough readership from your connections and their connections, and if LinkedIn sees it fit for its global daily publication Pulse, you will have higher chances of getting more connections and readership in your posts. Search engine optimization firms have seen a tremendous amount of opportunities coming out from LinkedIn traffic referral, especially that the traffic is purely business owners and professionals.

LinkedIn do not require original content to be published, you can republish the content you have already posted on your blog, that’s why LinkedIn referrals can give a good amount of traffic going to your site.

Although there’s a good tendency for them not to come back to LinkedIn after getting rerouted to your site, LinkedIn still allows its influencers and its community as a whole to publish already published content.

Do take note that LinkedIn allows long form posts in several languages, so if you are on a local-specific marketing game, it would be a great way to narrow down your audience.

 

Having Targeted Readers

https://stocksnap.io/photo/L495ZQH5KK
https://stocksnap.io/photo/L495ZQH5KK

Aside from being able to publish posts for free, with LinkedIn you have the opportunity to choose which groups you would like your posts to be read by. It is recommended you join the right groups according to your profession, but if you are hoping to meet people from a different niche or industry, then you can choose to join diverse groups.

Since you are going to customize each tag you can then tag the right groups and the right readers you wish your content to reach. LinkedIn also has a particular algorithm set so that the right content reach the right professionals. And just like Google’s algorithm, LinkedIn will also evaluate your content’s relevance and quality before it gets into anyone else’s newsfeed.

So in the end, what matters most will be the quality and relevance of your content to the people whom you intend to read.

In addition to what’s said, you need to be specific when you write your long form posts. It should be addressed to one particular group of people for you to have higher chances of readership. This strategy works best in LinkedIn’s algorithm and most especially its users. This is because tagging your long-form posts to channels is not yet available on LinkedIn and it’s algorithm itself, as mentioned, will be the one to evaluate with channel your post belong to and who should be able to read it.

Although LinkedIn is still in its experimental stage when it comes to customizing user feeds right now, the opportunity that it offers is undoubtedly significant to improve your marketing strategies. Most of the web optimization companies who consider social media marketing have constantly been on the look-out for each LinkedIn algorithm update to leverage their strategies and to measure its results.

 

Profile Views Feature

Unlike Facebook where you can only detect likes, comments, and shares, LinkedIn allows you to know who viewed your profile. This gives the opportunity to know who to connect with and become aware of their particular interests. These profile views are also a window for you to know that you might have a common interest shared or that they may be companies or people- potential business partners.

Given this fact, it is important that you update your profile with pictures and content regularly. Uploading videos and other compelling content will also help you have a consistent amount of pageviews and potential connections. LinkedIn allows you to see every opportunity that knocks on your door.

 

Hand-in-hand With Google Analytics

google-analytics
https://stocksnap.io/photo/RCFX768X06

As you experiment and try different marketing channels and strategies, there is a need to accurately measure the results in which case you will need the help of the infamous Google Analytics which had been used by every search engine optimization company.

Google Analytics, is in fact, a free tool that helps advertisers and marketers tell which among their efforts paid off well and which flopped. Google Analytics best measures the productivity of your LinkedIn content marketing tactics, as it can tell where the traffic from your site came from, whether it is a referral from sites like LinkedIn, or a product of a search result.

In short, Google Analytics will tell you what’s working and will help you to improve them further. It will tell you pretty much how your website had been found by readers worldwide which is pretty amazing.

Google Analytics usually takes 4 to 24 hours of updating to give you an up-to-date report on your site’s performance. Aside from what’s already mentioned, the report will also include the end-user’s information, like the make and model of the device they used, the language they used to search and find you and how long they stayed on your site.

That’s just half of what Google Analytics can do. There a lot more features that are left unmentioned, but it will take another blog post to do just that.

https://unsplash.com/collections/381757/learning?photo=EbgR1SZJ3Dg
https://unsplash.com/collections/381757/learning?photo=EbgR1SZJ3Dg

 

Takeaway

LinkedIn offers a tremendous amount of opportunity for its users, with the right timing, readers, channels, and content, you will be able to fully harness the potential of LinkedIn marketing for your business’ growth. Together with Google Analytics, you can accurately measure the results of all your marketing efforts.

 

 

Michelle Obama Last Interview: “America’s Outlook Had Changed Since Donald Trump’s Election”

Diane A. Wade
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Michelle Obama Last Interview: “America’s Outlook Had Changed Since Donald Trump’s Election”

In her last TV interview before the family leaves the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama said America’s outlook had changed since Donald Trump won November’s election.

Speaking on Oprah Winfrey’s show, Michelle Obama said: “Now we’re feeling what not having hope feels like.”

President Barack Obama repeatedly used messages of hope in his presidential campaigns and during his time in office.

Michelle Obama played an unusually prominent role in the 2016 election cycle, throwing her support behind Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and trading barbs with Donald Trump.

The first lady called on women to rise up against Donald Trump over his groping comments and denounced his campaign’s “hateful language”.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In turn, Donald Trump accused Michelle Obama of spending too much time campaigning for Hillary Clinton.

Michelle Obama does not mention the president-elect by name in the preview clip of the Oprah Winfrey interview, to be aired by the CBS network on December 19.

However, she repeats previous assertions that the US needs “an adult” in the White House, saying the country’s president should provide stability and inspiration.

Michelle Obama says: “Having a grown-up in the White House who can say to you in times of crisis, <<Hey it’s going to be ok, let’s remember the good things we have, let’s look at the future, let’s look at all the things that we’re building>>…

“All of this is important for our kids to stay focused and to feel like their work isn’t in vain, that their lives aren’t in vain. What do we do if we don’t have hope?”

The first lady says she believes the American public will come to appreciate President Barack Obama’s impact with time.

Michelle Obama is an unusually popular figure in America’s political landscape, with a favorability rating, measured by Gallup at 64%, that is significantly higher than that of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.

Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama for president in 2007 but failed to do so publicly in 2012.

In November, Oprah Winfrey urged voters to choose Hillary Clinton in November’s poll, saying: “You don’t have to like her… Do you like democracy or do you want a demagogue?”

Donald Trump Picks David Friedman as Next US Ambassador to Israel

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Picks David Friedman as Next US Ambassador to Israel

Right-winger David Friedman is Donald Trump’s choice as the next US ambassador to Israel.

David Friedman is strongly critical of the long-held US goal of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The 57-year-old lawyer also supports Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank, which the Obama administration considers an “obstacle to peace”.

A liberal Jewish group opposed David Friedman’s nomination. Conservatives welcomed it.

David Friedman said he looked forward to working “from the US Embassy in Israel’s eternal capital, Jerusalem”, a statement that will anger Palestinians.

The UN does not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and the US embassy has been located in Tel Aviv for decades.

Image source timesofisrael.com
Image source timesofisrael.com

However, Donald Trump had promised during the presidential campaign to move it to Jerusalem, one of several overtures he made to Israel.

The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and considers the entire city its indivisible capital; Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

David Friedman advised the president-elect on US-Israel issues during the election campaign.

He has made clear his support for Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which he refers to using the biblical names of Judea and Samaria, and East Jerusalem.

About 570,000 Israelis live in more than 130 settlements built in these areas since 1967.

The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group based in Washington, said it was “vehemently” opposed to the nomination of David Friedman, explaining: “As someone who has been a leading American friend of the settlement movement, who lacks any diplomatic or policy credentials and who has attacked liberal Jews who support two states as <<worse than kapos>>, Friedman should be beyond the pale for senators considering who should represent the United States in Israel.”

Kapos were Jewish prisoners in Nazi camps in World War II who the SS put in charge of other inmates. They have been viewed by some as complicit in the brutal treatment of other prisoners.

Conservative pro-Israel group The Zionist Organization for America welcomed the nomination, saying David Friedman had “the potential to be the greatest US ambassador to Israel ever”.

In the same time, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not enjoyed warm relations with President Barack Obama, has welcomed Donald Trump’s election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APOVsTkNgM0

Nurofen Scandal: Reckitt Benckiser Hit with Increased Fine in Australia

Clyde K. Valle
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Nurofen Scandal: Reckitt Benckiser Hit with Increased Fine in Australia

Nurofen maker, Reckitt Benckiser, has been hit with an increased fine of A$6 million ($4.4 million) for misleading customers in Australia.

In 2015, Australia’s Federal Court ruled that products marketed as targeting specific pains, such as migraines, were actually identical.

The British company was fined A$1.7 million in April 2016, but Australia’s consumer watchdog argued the sum was too low.

On December 16, the court agreed to increase the penalty, saying: “The objective of any penalty in this case must be to ensure that Reckitt Benckiser and other <<would-be wrongdoers>> think twice and decide not to act against the strong public interest.”

Reckitt Benckiser was also ordered to pay the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) legal costs.Nurofen Australia scandal

The ACCC said the pharmaceutical giant had profited substantially from misleading customers on products including Nurofen Back Pain, Nurofen Period Pain, Nurofen Migraine Pain and Nurofen Tension Headache.

ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said: “This is the highest corporate penalty awarded for misleading conduct under the Australian Consumer Law.

“The ACCC welcomes this decision, having originally submitted that a penalty of $6 million or higher was appropriate given the longstanding and widespread nature of the conduct, and the substantial sales and profit that was made.”

In April, the court ruled that Reckitt Benckiser had contravened Australian consumer law by saying its Nurofen Specific Pain products were each formulated to treat a specific type of pain.

Each product contained the same active ingredient, ibuprofen lysine 342mg.

Reckitt Benckiser said: “Nurofen did not intend to mislead consumers, however we recognise that we could have done more to assist our consumers in navigating the Nurofen Specific Pain Range.”

Earlier this year, the company removed a TV advert for one of its products – Nurofen Express. The advert had implied that the capsules directly targeted muscles in the head.

Reckitt Benckiser has said it will not re-broadcast it, following complaints that the ad was misleading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP6eDyH6X_g

Bud Crawford Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail

Clyde K. Valle
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Bud Crawford Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail

World boxing champion Terence “Bud” Crawford has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for two misdemeanors in connection with an April disturbance at an Omaha body shop.

Bud Crawford, 29, has been also ordered to serve two years probation and do 120 hours of community service.

He was found guilty of disorderly conduct and damage to property for his actions at the body shop where his 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was painted.

Image source Omaha.com
Image source Omaha.com

Bud Crawford, who had paid half of the fee for the work, refused to pay the rest, saying he was dissatisfied with the service.

That triggered the confrontation, during which Bud Crawford managed to forcefully remove his car which was placed on a hydraulic lift.

Shop owner Michael Nelson said the boxer was able to push a 600lb engine left underneath the lift so that the vehicle could be lowered to the floor.

The boxer then tied a rope to the car and towed it away, Michael Nelson said.

Bud Crawford’s sentencing comes five days after he defeated John Molina to retain his WBC and WBO world super-lightweight titles.

During December 15 sentencing, Judge Marcena Hendrix told the boxing champ: “You’ve continued to act as if you are above the law, and you are not.”

Bud Crawford is expected to serve about 50 days under Nebraska’s sentencing guidelines.

The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do on a USA Adventure Holiday

Kathryn R. Bown
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The Best Places to Visit and Things to Do on a USA Adventure Holiday

There is no destination greater for adventure lovers than the United States. This beautiful country is like a natural playground with stunning mountain ranges, epic lakes, thick forests, vast desert, swampland and plenty more. It boasts some of the greatest natural wonders on the planet and is also home to amazing wildlife. Here are a few of the best and most overlooked places to visit and things to do whilst on a stateside adventure.

 

Route 66

One of the most legendary and fabled roads in the entire world, there is no greater way to see the heart and soul of America than with a road trip along “America’s Main Street”. Taking you from Chicago all the way to the West Coast, Route 66 allows you to see the beautiful and varied terrain and you can also stop off at various national highlights, including the Grand Canyon. This journey is famous for self-discovery, freedom and adventure – perfect.

 

Niagara Falls

The epic Niagara Falls are something that everybody should see in their lifetime and it is sure to take your breath away. An adventure holiday here could consist of getting up close on a catamaran, but you will also want to explore the surrounding area. This should include viewing the stunning Finger Lakes, walking the Freedom Trail in Boston and perhaps going over the border and exploring beautiful areas of Canada, like Quebec and Montreal.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

 

Deep South

America’s Deep South is often overlooked by adventure seekers, but this is a fascinating part of the country with a unique cultural landscape and turbulent history. It is also where you can trace the roots of American music to and this makes it a must for music lovers. Expect a colourful music scene, wonderful hospitality and delicious finger licking cuisine. To see the greatest places in the Deep South, you will want to book an adventure tour with a reputable company, such as Grand American Tours.

 

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Canyon National Park may be the obvious choice (and another must-visit), but Yellowstone National Park is an astonishing part of the world with outstanding natural beauty and it is the world’s oldest National Park. Here you will find epic canyons, thick forests, hot springs, winding rivers, gushing geysers and a whole host of amazing wildlife.

 

The USA is a fantastic destination for an adventure holiday due to its diverse, rugged and beautiful natural scenery. The above are just a few of the great things to do and places to visit for those seeking a once in a lifetime adventure.

Joshua Demarest: New York Boy Buried Alive In Snow

Nancy Clayson
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Joshua Demarest: New York Boy Buried Alive In Snow

A 13-year-old boy who was playing in a huge snow mound has died after it collapsed and buried him under tones of snow.

Joshua Demarest died but his friend Tyler Day was found alive after being submerged for hours in New York.

A snow plough might have triggered the collapse as it dumped cleared snow on top of the mound, and Tyler told police he heard bleeps before “it went black”.

Seven tones of snow were removed in the hours-long rescue in the upstate town of Greenwich.new-york-snow

Investigators were first called by Tyler Day’s sister after he had not returned home by 17:00 local time.

Police, assisted by search dogs, followed the boys’ tracks from their home and found their sled beside the mound of snow.

Greenwich Police Chief George Bell said at a news conference: “I bet they moved seven tones of snow easily out of that pile by hand, shovels and snow rakes.”

Joshua Demarest was found by rescuers, but he was unresponsive and rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead at 22:00 local time. An hour later, the second boy was found alive in a pocket of air.

Chief George Bell said: “You can actually see the little pocket in that huge bank that he survived in and it is nothing short of a miracle.”

It was “a true accident,” he added.

“That’s all I can tell you. A tragedy all the way around. There was no way that anybody could have seen the kids burrowed in back there.”

Department of Public Works Superintendent Leo Flynn says it would have been impossible for his workers to have seen the teens beneath the snow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJlo8BGbrOM

Sen Lindsey Graham Accuses Russia of Hacking His Campaign Email

Diane A. Wade
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Sen Lindsey Graham Accuses Russia of Hacking His Campaign Email

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed his campaign email account was hacked by Russians.

Sen. Lindsey Graham also told CNN that he believed “the Russians” hacked into the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and accused them of trying to “destabilize democracy all over the world”.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied hacking accusations.

Donald Trump rejected a CIA report that Russian hackers tried to sway the election in his favor.

Also this week, NBC News reported that US intelligence officials now believe with “a high level of confidence” that Russian President Vladimir Putin became personally involved in a covert Russian campaign to interfere in November’s presidential election.

The attack targeted emails of the Democratic Party and of Hillary Clinton’s aide, John Podesta. The contents, passed to WikiLeaks and posted online, were embarrassing to the Democrats and shook up the presidential campaign.

The NBC report, quoting two unnamed senior officials, says that new intelligence shows how the hacked material was leaked and used.

According to the NBC report, the operation began as a “vendetta” against Hillary Clinton before becoming “an effort to show corruption in American politics and split off key American allies”.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Lindsey Graham, a member of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said on CNN that “we were told by the FBI in August that we were hacked in June”.

He said: “I do believe the Russians hacked into the [DNC]. I do believe they hacked into [John] Podesta’s email account. They hacked into my campaign account.”

Lindsey Graham also said that he believed that “all the information released publicly hurt Clinton and didn’t hurt Trump.”

However, he stressed that the outcome of the election was not in doubt.

“I think Hillary Clinton lost because she wasn’t an agent of change and she tried to disqualify Trump and she wasn’t able to do it.”

He added that this was not “a Republican or Democratic issue” and must be tackled on a bipartisan basis.

Lindsey Graham accused Russia of attempting to destabilize democracy: “We should tell the Russians that on no uncertain terms, you interfere in our elections, we don’t care why, we’re going to hit you and hit you hard, we’re going to introduce sanctions.”

Joshua Samuel Aaron: Man Linked to JPMorgan Hack Arrested at JFK Airport

Clyde K. Valle
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Joshua Samuel Aaron: Man Linked to JPMorgan Hack Arrested at JFK Airport

Joshua Samuel Aaron, who was charged with the largest financial cyber-attack in America’s history, has been arrested at New York’s JFK airport.

The 32-year-old American will appear in court on December 15.

Joshua Samuel Aaron is one of three men accused of illegally accessing the personal information of 100 million people between 2012 and 2015.

Twelve major financial institutions were victims of the hacking, including JPMorgan.

Joshua Samuel Aaron had been a fugitive living in Moscow, but flew to the US voluntarily to face the charges, his lawyer said.

Image source FBI
Image source FBI

In a statement released on December 14, US Attorney Preet Bharara said: “Joshua Samuel Aaron allegedly worked to hack into the networks of dozens of American companies, ultimately leading to the largest theft of personal information from US financial institutions ever.”

The other two suspects are Israeli men: Gery Shalon and Ziv Orenstein. They were arrested in Israel in July 2015, and extradited to the US in June 2016.

All three men were charged in November 2015.

Joshua Samuel Aaron, Gery Shalon and Ziv Orenstein allegedly manipulated stock prices by selling shares of companies to individuals whose contact information they had stolen.

The three men were also charged with running an illegal payment processing business that they used to collect $18 million in fees.

Prosecutors claim the men hacked into competitors’ systems to spy on them and then hacked into a credit card company investigating their payment processing business in order to avoid detection.

The company hit hardest by the breach was JPMorgan. More than 83 million of the bank’s customers had data stolen in the breach.

Yahoo Hack Attack May Affected More than One Billion Accounts

Nancy Clayson
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Yahoo Hack Attack May Affected More than One Billion Accounts

More than one billion Yahoo accounts may have been affected in a hacking attack dating back to 2013, the internet giant reveals.

Yahoo said it appears separate from a breach disclosed in September, when it revealed some 500 million accounts were accessed in 2014.

The company said names, phone numbers, passwords and email addresses were stolen, but not bank and payment data.

Yahoo, which is being taken over by Verizon, said it is working closely with the police and authorities.Verizon buys Yahoo

When Yahoo disclosed in September the 2014 data breach, the internet giant said information had been “stolen by what we believe is a state-sponsored actor”. Yahoo did not say which country it held responsible.

The 2014 breach included swathes of personal information, including names and emails, as well as “unencrypted security questions and answers”.

Yahoo has come under pressure to disclose why it took so long for the breach to be made public.

The new breach raises fresh questions about Verizon’s $4.8 billion proposed acquisition of Yahoo, and whether the US mobile carrier will try to modify or abandon its bid.

If the hacks cause a user backlash against Yahoo, the company’s services would not be as valuable to Verizon.

In a statement, Verizon said that it would evaluate the situation as Yahoo investigates and would review the “new development before reaching any final conclusions”.

On December 14, Yahoo said that users should change their passwords and security questions.

Fed Raises Interest Rate from 0.5% to 0.75% on Stronger Economic Growth

Clyde K. Valle
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Fed Raises Interest Rate from 0.5% to 0.75% on Stronger Economic Growth

The Fed has decided to raise its benchmark interest rate by 0.25%, from 0.5% to 0.75%, citing a stronger economic growth and rising employment.

This is only the second interest rate increase in a decade.

The central bank said it expected the economy to need only “gradual” increases in the short term.

Fed chief Janet Yellen said the economic outlook was “highly uncertain” and the rise was only a “modest shift”.

However, the new administration could mean rates having to rise at a faster pace next year, Janet Yellen signaled at a news conference after the announcement.

President-elect Donald Trump has promised policies to boost growth through tax cuts, spending and deregulation.

Janet Yellen said it was wrong to speculate on Donald Trump’s economic strategy without more details.Federal Reserve stress test 2015

She added that some members of the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC), the body which sets rates, have factored in to their forecasts an increase in spending.

As a consequence, the FOMC said it now expects three rate rises in 2017 rather than the two that were predicted in September.

Janet Yellen told the news conference: “We are operating under a cloud of uncertainty… All the FOMC participants recognize that there is considerable uncertainty about how economic policy may change and what effect they may have on the economy.”

Also, the Fed chairwoman declined to be drawn on Donald Trump’s public comments about the central bank, and his use of tweets to announce policy and criticize companies.

“I’m a strong believer in the independence of the Fed,” Janet Yellen told journalists.

“I am not going to offer the incoming president advice.”

The interest rate move had been widely expected, and followed the last increase in 2015.

Rates have been near zero since the global financial crisis. But the US economy is recovering, underlined by recent data on consumer confidence, jobs, house prices and growth in manufacturing and services.

Janet Yellen said the rate rise “should certainly be understood as a reflection of the confidence we have in the progress that the economy has made and our judgment that that progress will continue”.

Although inflation is still below the Fed’s 2% target, it expects the rise in prices to pick up gradually over the medium term.

The Fed also published its economic forecasts for the next three years.

These suggest that the Federal Funds rate may rise to 1.4% in 2017; 2.1% in 2018; and 2.9% in 2019.

GDP growth will rise to 2.1% in 2017 and stay there, more or less, during those years.

The unemployment rate will fall to 4.5% over the 2017-2019 period, the Fed forecast.

Inflation will rise to 1.9% next year and hover at that level for the next two years.

The dollar rose 0.5% against the euro to €0.9455, and was 0.9% higher against the yen at 116.17 yen.

Following the Fed’s announcement, Wall Street’s main stock markets were largely unmoved, but drifted lower later. The Dows Jones index closed down 0.6%, and the S&P 500 was 0.8% lower.

Donald Trump Meets Tech Leaders at Trump Tower

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump Meets Tech Leaders at Trump Tower

Donald Trump has praised tech giants’ “incredible innovation” during a summit at Trump Tower.

Hosting with three of his children – Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka – the president-elect told the executives he would make trading across borders “a lot easier”.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, Apple’s Tim Cook and Tesla’s Elon Musk attended the meeting.

Paypal founder Peter Thiel, a member of Donald Trump’s team, was also at the December 14 meeting.

Peterr Thiel, who has been a vocal Trump ally and spoke about his nomination at the Republican National Convention this summer, is expected to act as the bridge between the new administration and tech leaders.Donald Trump hails Brexit referendum result

Throughout his campaign to be elected president, Donald Trump put technology companies and their executives in the firing line, with calls for boycotts and accusations of tax-dodging.

Donald Trump told his guests he was “here to help you folks to do well”.

The president-elect said: “We want you to keep going with the incredible innovation. There’s nobody like you in the world.

“You’ll call my people, you’ll call me, it doesn’t make any difference. We have no formal chain of command around here.”

Donald Trump also told the group that technology companies benefited from a “bounce” after his election, adding “everybody in this room has to like me at least a little bit”.

He struck a positive tone with industry leaders despite bashing companies like Apple and Amazon throughout his campaign for sending jobs offshore and their stance on encryption.

Earlier this year, more than 140 tech leaders from Silicon Valley signed an open letter arguing against Donald Trump’s candidacy, warning the Republican “would be a disaster for innovation”.

Notably absent from this meeting was Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

Francisco Serna Shooting: Bakersfield Police Shoot Dead Unarmed Man with Dementia Carrying Crucifix

Nancy Clayson
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0
Francisco Serna Shooting: Bakersfield Police Shoot Dead Unarmed Man with Dementia Carrying Crucifix

A73-year-old dementia sufferer was shot dead by police in Bakersfield, California, after reports he might have a gun, only to find he was carrying a crucifix.

According to Bakersfield officials, officers opened fire at Francisco Serna seconds after he was pointed out to them.

Police said the old man refused officer commands to take his hands out of his pockets, and neighbors had complained he was threatening people and might be armed.

A 2015 study rated Bakersfield Police Department as the deadliest in the US.

Francisco Serna’s family said the shooting in the city, 110 miles north of Los Angeles, was murder.

“It is difficult to accept that our dad’s life ended so brutally, abruptly and with such excessive violence,” his family said in a statement read aloud during a candlelight vigil at their home on December 13.francisco-serna-shooting-bakersfield

“We feel our dad was stolen from us at a time when our family should be celebrating the holidays, birthdays and making happy family memories.”

The retired father-of-five was shot to death in his neighbor’s driveway at around 00:45 local time on December 12.

Francisco Serna was walking towards a police officer who was responding to a report of an armed man acting threateningly, officials said.

Bakersfield police Chief Lyle Martin said Officer Reagan Selman fired seven shots at Francisco Serna when he was about 15-20ft away from him.

Officer Reagan Selman, and six other officers present, have been placed on routine administrative leave.

Chief Lyle Martin initially said the object found in Francisco Serna’s pocket was difficult to describe, without offering further details.

However, a subsequent statement from Bakersfield Police Department read: “During a search of Mr. Serna a dark colored simulated woodgrain crucifix was recovered.

“Mr. Serna was not armed at the time of the shooting. No firearm has been recovered.”

Police say that Francisco Serna accosted two different people in his southwest Bakersfield neighborhood, before the fatal encounter with police.

In the first incident, a neighbor said Francisco Serna was banging on windows and doors outside his house on December 11, while keeping one hand on an object inside his pocket.

When the man opened his door, Francisco Serna grabbed his hand to pull him outside while challenging him to fight, according to the neighbor, who did not initially report the incident to police.

The man believed that Francisco Serna was carrying a pistol, he later said.

In the second incident, Francisco Serna approached two female neighbors in their driveway shortly after midnight and demanded to see inside their vehicle.

Francisco Serna again kept his hand on an object inside his jacket pocket during the encounter.

The woman ran inside her house and called police to report that she had seen a dark brown or black-handled object which she believed was a gun.

As officers spoke to the women, Francisco Serna left his house and began walking towards them, which led to the fatal shooting, said police.

Officers opened fire about 20 to 30 seconds after the woman had pointed Francisco Serna out to them, Chief Lyle Martin said.

Francisco Serna’s son, Rogelio, told the LA Times: “My dad did not own a gun. He was a 73-year-old retired grandpa, just living life.

“He should have been surrounded by family at old age, not surrounded by bullets.”

A 2015 Mapping Police Violence study rated Bakersfield Police Department as the deadliest in the US, logging 13.6 killings for every million people, compared with an average of 3.6.

Rodrigo Duterte Admits Personally Killing Criminal Suspects as Davao Mayor

Diane A. Wade
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Rodrigo Duterte Admits Personally Killing Criminal Suspects as Davao Mayor

Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte has revealed he personally killed criminal suspects as mayor of Davao.

It is the first such admission Rodrigo Duterte has made since becoming president in June, but echoes comments he made in 2015.

Rodrigo Duterte ran Davao for two decades, earning a reputation for cutting crime, and criticism for allegedly supporting death squads.

He was speaking to business leaders at the presidential palace on December 12, before an overseas trip.

It is the latest in a series of controversial comments by Filipino president.Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte said during the meeting: “In Davao I used to do it personally. Just to show to the guys [police] that if I can do it why can’t you.

“And I’d go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also. I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill.”

In 2015, he admitted killing at least three men suspected of kidnapping and rape in Davao.

Rodrigo Duterte’s comments have been condemned by human rights group Amnesty International, which has called on him to put an immediate end to the killings.

Rafendi Djamin, Amnesty International director for South East Asia and the Pacific said: “The climate of impunity in the Philippines has intensified even further since President Duterte began his brutal crackdown on suspected drug users and dealers in July, with a wave of unlawful killings claiming more than 5,000 lives across the country.

“By boasting about the blood on his own hands, President Duterte will further embolden police and vigilantes to blatantly violate laws and carry out more extrajudicial executions without fear of being held to account.”

Just hours before Rodrigo Duterte’s latest remarks, he insisted “I am not a killer”, in a speech for The Outstanding Filipino Awards 2016. He has also previously both acknowledged and denied being involved with death squads.

In September a Senate inquiry heard testimony from a self-confessed former death squad member that Rodrigo Duterte had, while serving as Davao mayor, shot dead a justice department agent with an Uzi submachine gun.

Nearly 6,000 people are said to have been killed by police, vigilantes and mercenaries since Rodrigo Duterte launched his drug war after being elected in May.

Rodrigo Duterte has expressed few regrets about the policy, once saying: “Hitler massacred three million Jews… There’s three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

Some human rights lawyers believe Rodrigo Duterte’s open support for a shoot-to-kill policy by the police could make him vulnerable to prosecution for crimes against humanity at the international court.

China Warns That Donald Trump’s One China Comments Could Affect Taiwan Peace

Diane A. Wade
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0
China Warns That Donald Trump’s One China Comments Could Affect Taiwan Peace

China has warned the incoming Trump administration that any attempt to challenge the “One China” policy could affect peace in the Taiwan Strait.

A Beijing spokesman said that interference may also damage developing US-China relations.

Under the “One China” policy, the US has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

However, Donald Trump has expressed doubts about continuing to abide by the policy.

The president-elect had already angered China by taking a phone call from Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, and then tweeting about it.

On December 12, China said it was “seriously concerned” by Donald Trump’s comments, and urged sensitivity around the issue.

However, An Fengshan, a spokesman for China’s policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, went further on December 14, warning of more serious consequences.

He said: “Upholding the <<One China>> principle is the political basis of developing China-US relations, and is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

“If this basis is interfered with or damaged then the healthy, stable development of China-US relations is out of the question, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait will be seriously impacted.”

An Fengshan’s comments came as Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, vowed the United States will keep challenging Beijing’s “assertive, aggressive behavior in the South China Sea”.

Speaking to Australian think tank the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Admiral Harry Harris said: “We will not allow the shared domains to be closed down unilaterally, no matter how many bases are built on artificial features in the South China Sea.

“We will co-operate where we can but we will be ready to confront where we must.”

Beijing has been developing artificial islands capable of hosting military planes in the region.

The Chinese government also insists on sovereignty over virtually all the resource-endowed South China Sea, despite rival claims from its South East Asian neighbors.

Washington has repeatedly said it does not recognize the claims, and has sent warships into the area to assert the right to freedom of navigation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtrILN3zTXg

Moscow’s NKVD Restaurant Sparks Protests

Nancy Clayson
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Moscow’s NKVD Restaurant Sparks Protests

Moscow’s NKVD restaurant drew social media protests and the letters on the big sign with its name outside have been removed.

The name of the restaurant is a chilling echo of the Stalin-era communist terror. The NKVD was the forerunner of the Soviet KGB secret police. In the 1930s and 1940s the NKVD arrested millions of people and many were executed.

The restaurant also sports a big portrait of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Stalin’s image also featured on the restaurant’s menus.

Image source Twitter
Image source Twitter

NKVD restaurant is not far from the Kremlin and the old secret police headquarters, on Ostozhenka Street.

The controversy over the “NKVD” name featured in Russian Vesti TV news – one of the main broadcasts on the state-controlled Rossiya 24 channel.

However, some Russians voiced alarm at what appeared to be more whitewashing of history and an insult to Stalin’s many victims.

Public displays of Stalin portraits were taboo in the last decades of the Soviet Union – but they have reappeared during President Vladimir Putin era.

Vladimir Putin has emphasized the sacrifices made by the USSR in World War Two. But he has also acknowledged that Joseph Stalin’s security apparatus committed terrible crimes.

Leonid Gozman, of the Russian civil society organization, Perspektiva Foundation, said “it’s a rehabilitation of our country’s most tragic episodes.

“I can’t imagine a <<Gestapo>> restaurant in Munich or Berlin… A lot of our people consider the NKVD to have been a criminal organization. Many people’s relatives suffered or died [in that period].”

Five Myths About Filing Bankruptcy

Nancy Clayson
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Five Myths About Filing Bankruptcy

people man guy beard laptop window table lamp business office desk

No one imagines that they will ever have to file for bankruptcy in their lives. Everyone’s dream is to get a good job or start a successful business that will cater for his or her expenses and savings for life. However, things may turn around, and one finds themselves in a situation where they are unable to cover their expenses. This could be as a result of proper planning, loss of job, long-term illness, divorce among many others. In the midst of financial crisis, one of the decisions that one can make is to file for bankruptcy. Many people are not well informed on what filling bankruptcy means. Below are common myths that confuse most people.

You become debt free

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Many people believe that when you file bankruptcy, you are free from debt. However, this is not the case. When you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you get a new repayment plan that can last for around five years or less. For chapter 17, some of the debts are eliminated with the exception of student loans, alimony, child support, and tax. Not all the debts that are acquired within 90 days of filing for bankruptcy are eliminated especially if the court determines that you made purchases with no intention of paying back.

Bankruptcy ruins your credit completely

After bankruptcy, you can still get credit. Many people can apply for new credit cards and even mortgages after filling. One can start with a secured credit card and move on to a regular one later. However, note that most of the mortgages and car loans that you can get after filling usually come with high fees and interest rates.

You will lose all your belongings

still items things reading glasses yarn box letter journal bokeh

There is a common belief that one will lose everything they own when they file for bankruptcy. This is not the case as the law allows some exceptions. What is exempted will depend on the state you are in. Before you file talks to a bankruptcy lawyer in your state to determine what you can retain.

You can’t file if you have a job

Even those with jobs can file for bankruptcy. You can, however, be disqualified if your salary is too high.

It’s better to pay off debts than file

ecommerce shopping credit card payment money laptop computer hand

Filing bankruptcy is a severe financial decision, but not a bad one especially if your debts are more than 50% of your annual income. If you don’t think it’s possible to clear them off within the next few years, then it better to just file than pay.

 

Donald Trump Death Plot: Michael Sandford Sentenced to 12 Months in Jail

Nancy Clayson
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Donald Trump Death Plot: Michael Sandford Sentenced to 12 Months in Jail

Michael Sandford has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison over his attempt to grab a gun in a bid to kill Donald Trump.

The 20-year-old Briton pleaded guilty in September to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disrupting an official function.

Michael Sandford was accused of grabbing a policeman’s gun at a rally in Las Vegas in order to shoot at the candidate.

His mother says “he is remorseful over what he did”.

Micheal Sandford, from Dorking, the UK, had faced up to 10 years in prison over the alleged assassination plot.

Image source Facebook
Image source Facebook

The court heard that he could be eligible for release in four months’ time, at which point he will be deported to the UK.

Michael Sandford’s lawyers their client is autistic and suffers seizures and obsession-compulsion anxiety.

After he was arrested, he told officers he had planned to shoot Donald Trump.

Michael Sandford failed to pull the weapon from an officer’s holster, the court heard.

His mother said that she had lost contact with her son after he left home to travel around the US in 2015.

Michael Sandford had previously shown no interest in politics, and she was unable to explain why he would want to shoot Donald Trump.

According to court documents, Michael Sandford, who was homeless and living in the US illegally having overstayed his visa, told the Secret Service that he had driven from California to Nevada with the goal of shooting Donald Trump.

The papers detail how he had been plotting the attack for around a year and had gone to a gun range in Las Vegas the day before the attack to learn how to shoot, firing 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol.

Michael Sandford reportedly told an officer that he had expected to die in the attack but that he also had tickets for a later Trump rally in Arizona in case he needed a second chance.

Judge James C Mahan described the incident as “a crazy stunt”.

“You have a medical problem,” the judge told Michael Sandford, adding that it is “nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.”

“I don’t see you as evil or a sociopath,” the judge said, wishing Michael Sandford luck as he rose to leave the courtroom.

Smart Ways To Grow Your Own Personal Wealth Fund In Your 50s

Dana R
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Smart Ways To Grow Your Own Personal Wealth Fund In Your 50s

We all know that midlife can be a time of profound challenges as well as great opportunities. Most people in their 50s have to cope with the rising costs of tuition for their kids and they worry about losing their jobs, just in case they can’t afford retirement. But they also have the luxury of not having to pay other costs associated with children, as well as the fact that they are in their peak earning years.

It’s a good idea when you’re making the most money to put as much of it away as possible and build your own wealth fund. According to a study by Hearts and Wallets, the most successful savers, those who built their nest eggs to ten times their pay, did it by saving around 15 percent of their income for 10 years. Here’s how to go about it the smart way.

retire-puzzle

Flickr

Accept Help

You might not think it, but the free advice offered as part of your 401(k) plan might actually be beneficial. It turns out that those who accept advice on their 401(k)s actually end up getting a higher return than those that don’t. A study by Financial Engines and Aon Hewitt found that returns for people getting advice were between 1.9 and 2.9 percent higher.

Become A Landlord

hand-101003_640

Pixabay

If you’ve got some spare capital sloshing about, could you get a better return by investing in a rental property? The chances are that you could if you put your money into a house located in an up-and-coming area. Right now prices on properties in booming cities like San Francisco and Dallas are sky high, but there are opportunities elsewhere, especially in areas likely to benefit from working and middle-class rejuvenation. Keep track of trends like demographics, wages rates and employment to predict where rental incomes will grow the fastest.

Transfer Your Assets And Defer Tax

At some point in your 50s, you’ll probably want to convert your assets from one category to another. The problem with doing this, however, is that the taxman will want to take a cut, locking you into certain investment classes. There is a solution, however. A 1031 exchange property allows you to defer taxes you pay to the IRS if you want to convert the assets held in your house into some other form. Of course, you’ll eventually have to pay capital gains when you cash in your investments, but you’ll also avoid paying tax in the interim, potentially saving you a lot of money in the process.

Find Out How Much Your Investments Are Costing You

finance

Flickr

Something like 60 percent of investors never takes the time to calculate how much their advisers are paid, thinking that their advice is free. It’s not, of course, meaning that it pays to shop around, especially over the long term. Even an adviser charge of 1 percent digs into your interest payments substantially and could end up costing you thousands of dollars over the long term. Find out exactly how much money is being taken out of your investments to see whether you could get a better deal.

Gambia Elections 2016: Security Forces Take Over Electoral Commission HQ

Roy Siemens
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Gambia Elections 2016: Security Forces Take Over Electoral Commission HQ

The Gambia’s electoral commission headquarters have been taken over by security force as incumbent President Yahya Jammeh refuses to accept his loss in recent elections.

Yahya Jammeh initially conceded defeat to Adama Barrow in a recent poll and then changed his mind.

Visiting West African leaders have met Yahya Jammeh to try to persuade him to step down after 22 years in power.Yahya Jammeh returns to Gambia after coup plot

The leaders of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone are all in The Gambia for talks with Yahya Jammeh.

A senior official of regional bloc Ecowas, Marcel de Souza, would not rule out sending in troops.

Yahya Jammeh’s ruling APRC party filed a petition on December 13 with the Supreme Court, asking it to annul the election results.

The incumbent president had questioned the validity of the count after the electoral commission changed some results, even though it insists the outcome was not affected.

The commission said Adama Barrow obtained 222,708 votes (43.3%) compared with Yahya Jammeh’s 208,487 (39.6%). A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, won 89,768 votes (17.1%).

Gambia’s army chief Ousman Badjie has seemingly reversed a pledge of support for Adama Barrow, the AFP agency reported, arriving at talks wearing a badge featuring Yahya Jammeh’s face on his uniform.

Rex Tillerson Confirmed as Donald Trump’s Nomination for Secretary of State

Diane A. Wade
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Rex Tillerson Confirmed as Donald Trump’s Nomination for Secretary of State

Donald Trump has confirmed that Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his choice for secretary of state.

In a statement, the president-elect praised Rex Tillerson, 64, as among the “most accomplished business leaders and international dealmakers” in the world.

Rex Tillerson is said to have a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, alarming both Democrats and some Republicans.

The nomination needs Senate approval.

The secretary of state is in effect the most senior US diplomat, responsible for enacting the government’s foreign policy.

Under a Trump presidency, his in-tray could include everything from handling rows with China to revisiting the nuclear accord with Iran.

According to new reports, Donald Trump has also selected former Texas Governor Rick Perry as his Energy Secretary.

Rick Perry, 66, famously forgot the name of the energy department during a cringe-inducing gaffe at a 2011 Republican primary debate, when he said it was among the agencies he would eliminate if he was elected president.

He has also been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, calling him a “barking carnival act” and a “cancer on conservatism” before he dropped out of his second bid for the White House in 2015.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

Donald Trump said: “Rex Tillerson’s career is the embodiment of the American dream.

“His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for secretary of state.”

Rex Tillerson said he was “honored” by the nomination, adding that he shared Donald Trump’s “vision for restoring the credibility of the United States’ foreign relations and advancing our country’s national security”.

The announcement had been widely expected, with Rex Tillerson favored over high-profile Republicans, including the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, Mitt Romney.

Although he has no formal foreign policy experience, as Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson oversees a company with 75,000 employees and business activities in more than 50 countries.

He has warned of the “catastrophic” impact of unchecked climate change, although his company has been accused of deliberately misleading the public about the role of fossil fuels in global warming.

However, it is Rex Tillerson’s connections to Russia that have drawn most flak.

He has forged multi-billion-dollar deals with Russia’s state oil company, Rosneft, spoken out against international sanctions imposed on Moscow and in 2013 was awarded an Order of Friendship by the Kremlin.

As rumors of his nomination gathered pace in recent days, one of Donald Trump’s rivals for the Republican nomination, Marco Rubio, said being “‘a friend of Vladimir is not an attribute I am hoping for from” the next secretary of state.

Another Republican Senator John McCain expressed concern over Rex Tillerson’s links to Vladimir Putin but promised he would get a “fair hearing” in the Senate.

Reacting to the nomination, Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yury Ushakov, said all Russian officials and not just the president enjoyed “good, businesslike relations” with Rex Tillerson.

3 Ways to Counteract Bad Press in Healthcare

Kathryn R. Bown
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3 Ways to Counteract Bad Press in Healthcare

Over the years, healthcare has gone in and out of favor with the general population, most often because of two main factors. The first is obviously cost and the second is typically in response to the length of time it takes to get into a doctor if you should become ill. Patients are tired of being made to feel as though their time isn’t important and when they are sick, waiting a week or two to be seen is totally unacceptable.

If you are in any profession within the healthcare industry, there are some things you can do to counteract bad press. Some things you can do personally and other things must happen on an administrative level, but when combined, you should begin to see a difference in your community as to how your healthcare facilities are viewed.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

1. Make Better Use of Technology to Speed up Processes

Stop for a moment to consider how technology is impacting the way we live our everyday lives. From shopping to studying, the Internet is an invaluable asset and something you can use to counteract bad press in your area. Hire a PR agency that has a high success rate and let them write whatever is necessary to show that you are concerned about the state of healthcare in your city and highlight success stories such as a local favorite nurse who just completed her BSN to DNP online. Locals love it when one of their own succeeds and what could be a bigger success than getting that nurse practitioner doctorate degree?

2. Work towards Recruiting New Talent

Some cities go out of their way to encourage young people to go to nursing school or med school to become doctors. There is such a shortage that local businesses band together and offer scholarships to promising young students who are willing to commit the first number of years to the community. This is a two-way street. Local businesses get good press and so does the healthcare industry in your town!

3. Offer Assistance to Those Eager to Further Their Careers

Local hospitals and clinics should also go above and beyond what is already on the books in terms of staff development. There is a shortage of both doctors and nurses so offering a nurse with a masters degree the opportunity to move up from an MSN to DNP online is a wonderful opportunity. No, it would not be feasible to pay the entire cost but a stipend to help them pay tuition and for any materials they need would perhaps give them the incentive to move upwards and onwards – again with the contractual agreement to provide nurse practitioner services to the community for a pre-determined length of time.

Sometimes it only takes showing that the medical community really does care about the residents in their city, their town, their rural area. Too many times doctors are viewed as professionals who put themselves on a pedestal who somewhere along the line lost their vision of treating humanity of the ills and pains they suffer. Good press can quickly counteract bad press if it is done in a genuine manner. These ideas are a good start but always remember that a patient-centered focus is what will turn them around faster than any other marketing you could ever dream of. They are what matters, so tell them!

Ape In Heels Scandal: Pamela Ramsey Taylor to Resume Work

Nancy Clayson
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Ape In Heels Scandal: Pamela Ramsey Taylor to Resume Work

Pamela Ramsey Taylor, who was suspended after calling First Lady Michelle Obama an “ape in heels” in a Facebook post, is set to return to work in West Virginia, local media say.

She runs a local non-profit group in Clay county.

According to the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Pamela Ramsey Taylor will resume work on December 23.

The screen grab of the post was widely shared online.

Local mayor Beverly Whaling resigned over the controversy, after she posted “Just made my day, Pam” to the comment.

The Gazette-Mail quoted a letter from the acting director of the non-profit group as saying Pamela Ramsey Taylor would resume work at the Clay County Development Corp on December 23.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

In her Facebook post, Pamela Ramsey Taylor had said: “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified first lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels.”

A petition calling for Pamela Ramsey Taylor and Beverly Whaling, the mayor of the town of Clay, to be sacked collected more than 85,000 signatures.

Clay town has a population of just 491 and has no African American residents, according to the 2010 census.

More than 98% of Clay County’s 9,000 residents are white.

The Clay County Development group, of which Pamela Ramsey Taylor is the director, is partly funded through state and federal grants, and the group provides services to elderly and low-income residents.

The state commissioner, Robert Roswall, warned at the time that the agency risked losing funding over the issue.

The controversial Facebook post spread across US and international media outlets.

Beverley Whaling issued a written apology, saying that her comment was not intended to be racist.

Clay’s town council issued a brief statement apologizing to Michelle Obama and condemning the “horrific” post and said “racial intolerance isn’t what this community is about”.

Pamela Ramsey Taylor told local news outlet WSAZ, which first carried the story, that she acknowledged her Facebook post could be “interpreted as racist, but in no way was intended to be”, and that she was expressing a personal opinion on attractiveness, not the colour of a person’s skin.

She told the news station she was considering legal action for slander against unnamed individuals.

West Virginia voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election, giving him 68.7% of ballots cast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey1TPEVubAs

Ahok Blasphemy Trial: Jakarta’s Governor Denies Insulting Quran

Diane A. Wade
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0
Ahok Blasphemy Trial: Jakarta’s Governor Denies Insulting Quran

Jakarta’s governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama has denied he intended to insult the Quran at the start of his blasphemy trial, marked by rival rallies outside the court.

A Christian of Chinese descent, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, cried as he denied allegations he insulted Islam.

Ahok is the first non-Muslim governor of Indonesia’s capital in 50 years.

Image source YouTube
Image source YouTube

The case is being seen as a test of religious tolerance in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

The prosecution said Ahok insulted Islam by misusing a Quranic verse which suggests Muslims should not be ruled by non-Muslims, to boost public support ahead of February’s governorship election.

Ahok insisted his comments were aimed at politicians “incorrectly” using a Quranic verse against him, not at the verse itself.

If convicted, Ahok faces a maximum five-year jail sentence. After the short hearing, the trial was adjourned until December 20.

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

Golden Globes Nominations 2017: Full List

Sonia Pantiss
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Golden Globes Nominations 2017: Full List

The nominations for the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards have been announced.

The 2017 Golden Globes will be handed out in Los Angeles on January 8 at a ceremony hosted by Jimmy Fallon.

Here is the full list.

Film categories

Best motion picture – drama

  • Hacksaw Ridge
  • Hell or High Water
  • Lion
  • Manchester by the Sea
  • Moonlight

Best motion picture – comedy or musical

  • 20th Century Women
  • Deadpool
  • Florence Foster Jenkins
  • La La Land
  • Sing Street

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – drama

  • Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea
  • Joel Edgerton – Loving
  • Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
  • Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic
  • Denzel Washington – Fences

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – drama

  • Amy Adams – Arrival
  • Jessica Chastain – Miss Sloane
  • Isabelle Huppert – Elle
  • Ruth Negga – Loving
  • Natalie Portman – Jackie

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – comedy or musicalGolden Globes Awards 2017

  • Colin Farrell – The Lobster
  • Ryan Gosling – La La Land
  • Hugh Grant – Florence Foster Jenkins
  • Jonah Hill – War Dogs
  • Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – comedy or musical

  • Annette Bening – 20th Century Women
  • Lily Collins – Rules Don’t Apply
  • Hailee Steinfeld – The Edge of Seventeen
  • Emma Stone – La La Land
  • Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture

  • Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
  • Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water
  • Simon Helberg – Florence Foster Jenkins
  • Dev Patel – Lion
  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson – Nocturnal Animals

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture

  • Viola Davis – Fences
  • Naomie Harris – Moonlight
  • Nicole Kidman – Lion
  • Octavia Spencer – Hidden Figures
  • Michelle Williams – Manchester by the Sea

Best director – motion picture

  • Damien Chazelle – La La Land
  • Tom Ford – Nocturnal Animals
  • Mel Gibson – Hacksaw Ridge
  • Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
  • Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea

Best screenplay – motion picture

  • Damien Chazelle – La La Land
  • Tom Ford – Nocturnal Animals
  • Barry Jenkins – Moonlight
  • Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea
  • Taylor Sheridan – Hell or High Water

Best animated feature film

  • Kubo and the Two Strings
  • Moana
  • My Life as a Zucchini
  • Sing
  • Zootopia

Best foreign language film

  • Divines
  • Elle
  • Neruda
  • The Salesman
  • Toni Erdmann

Best original score – motion picture

  • Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, Benjamin Wallfisch – Hidden Figures
  • Dustin O’Halloran, Hauschka – Lion
  • Johann Johannsson – Arrival
  • Justin Hurwitz – La La Land
  • Nicholas Britell – Moonlight

Best original song – motion picture

  • Can’t Stop the Feeling – Trolls
  • City of Stars – La La Land
  • Faith – Sing
  • Gold – Gold
  • How Far I’ll Go – Moana

Television categories

Best television series – drama

  • The Crown
  • Game of Thrones
  • Stranger Things
  • This is Us
  • Westworld

Best television series – comedy or musical

  • Atlanta
  • Black-ish
  • Mozart in the Jungle
  • Transparent
  • Veep

Best mini-series or motion picture made for television

  • American Crime
  • The Dresser
  • The Night Manager
  • The Night Of
  • The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

Best performance by an actor in a television series – drama

  • Rami Malek – Mr. Robot
  • Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul
  • Matthew Rhys – The Americans
  • Liev Schreiber – Ray Donovan
  • Billy Bob Thornton – Goliath

Best performance by an actress in a television series – drama

  • Caitriona Balfe – Outlander
  • Claire Foy – The Crown
  • Keri Russell – The Americans
  • Winona Ryder – Stranger Things
  • Evan Rachel Wood – Westworld

Best performance by an actor in a television series – comedy or musical

  • Anthony Anderson – Black-ish
  • Gael Garcia Bernal – Mozart in the Jungle
  • Donald Glover – Atlanta
  • Nick Nolte – Graves
  • Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent

Best performance by an actress in a television series – comedy or musical

  • Rachel Bloom – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep
  • Sarah Jessica Parker – Divorce
  • Issa Rae – Insecure
  • Gina Rodriguez – Jane the Virgin
  • Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish

Best performance by an actor in a mini-series or motion picture made for television

  • Riz Ahmed – The Night Of
  • Bryan Cranston – All the Way
  • Tom Hiddleston – The Night Manager
  • John Turturro – The Night Of
  • Courtney B Vance – The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

Best performance by an actress in a mini-series or motion picture made for television

  • Felicity Huffman – American Crime
  • Riley Keough – The Girlfriend Experience
  • Sarah Paulson – The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
  • Charlotte Rampling – London Spy
  • Kerry Washington – Confirmation

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for television

  • Sterling K Brown – The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
  • Hugh Laurie – The Night Manager
  • John Lithgow – The Crown
  • Christian Slater – Mr. Robot
  • John Travolta – The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for television

  • Olivia Colman – The Night Manager
  • Lena Headey – Game of Thrones
  • Chrissy Metz – This is Us
  • Mandy Moore – This is Us
  • Thandie Newton – Westworld
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