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Michael Buble’s Son Diagnosed With Cancer

Michael Buble’s three-year-old son Noah has been diagnosed with cancer, the singer has revealed in a Facebook post.

The Canadian star said he and his wife, Luisana Lopilato, are “devastated” by the news

Michael Buble did not give any details about the type of cancer.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

He said he and Luisana Lopilato, a model and actress, were giving up work commitments to concentrate on “helping Noah get well”.

Michael Buble has appeared on TV and radio in recent days to promote his new album.

The singer’s statement said: “We are devastated about the recent cancer diagnosis of our oldest son Noah who is currently undergoing treatment in the US.

“We have always been very vocal about the importance of family and the love we have for our children. Luisana and I have put our careers on hold in order to devote all our time and attention to helping Noah get well.

“At this difficult time, we ask only for your prayers and respect for our privacy.

“We have a long journey in front of us and hope that with the support of family, friends and fans around the world, we will win this battle, God willing.”

Michael Buble and Luisana Lopilato have another son, nine-month-old Elias.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcpzeXK2aqM

Three Time Management Rules for Online Part Time Students

Studying on the internet has made it possible for lots of people with other life commitments to get the college education they want to pursue their dreams, such as online business programs that can help people who want to be entrepreneurs or executives, vocational programs for people with a certain field they’d love to work in, and IT courses for those who want a career in tech. People choose online study for a lot of reasons – it can be much cheaper than attending a college, and can also allow them to keep working or stay at home with their family. However, while it does make a good balance between study and other aspects of life more easily achievable, you do need to be able to manage your time well to be able to get the most from your online course while fitting it around your family life.

Here are three rules to try imposing on yourself to help with your time management when you are doing an online business degree or other course with an online university:

‘Book’ Your Study Time

If you make a study schedule (which everybody should), treat those times in your calendar when you are set to study as being times when you are booked up, as if you were at an appointment or working, even if you’ll just be at home. Talk about time that way to friends and family, who may just assume that because you are at home, you are available to chat or do stuff with them.Why doing SEO is a good business for students

Your Course Is Never a Low Priority

Even if you are doing your course at your own pace and don’t have to finish in a fixed time, you want to get the benefits of doing it in terms of your career or business idea as soon as you can, right? If so, then you should make it a rule that your course is a priority that you don’t drop just because something else came up. View your scheduled study sessions as just as much ‘hard’ appointments as other things you wouldn’t drop except for in an emergency, like work or attending your child’s big game or dance recital. If you treat it as that important, you should be able to ‘show up’ for each study session you book with yourself and not be tempted by possible alternatives to studying.

You’ll Never Plan All Nighters

A third good rule to adopt is that you will never treat ‘staying up all night’ as an option. While it, of course, is, the idea that you could do, it means you might be tempted to push back other study sessions, or not book in enough of them, thinking you can just work all night closer to that exam or date when your paper is due. Most students have done this, and know how horrible it is, so make it a rule that you will not treat it as an option to stay up all night in the future to avoid doing work immediately.

By following these rules you should have an easier time managing your schedule as an online student.

Sting to Perform at Bataclan’s Reopening on November 12

Sting will perform at the Bataclan venue’s reopening on November 12, the day before the first anniversary of the attack that killed 90 concertgoers in Paris.

The singer said he wanted to “remember and honor those who lost their lives” and “to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents”.

The Bataclan music venue has been shut since Islamist gunmen stormed a gig by rock band Eagles of Death Metal last November.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Three heavily armed gunmen wearing suicide vests were part of co-ordinated attacks around Paris on November 13 that killed 130 people.

Sting said all revenue from his show would be donated to Life For Paris and 13 Novembre: Fraternite Verite.

He played at the Bataclan while on tour with The Police in April 1979.

In a statement on his website, Sting said: “In re-opening the Bataclan, we have two important tasks to reconcile.

“First, to remember and honour those who lost their lives in the attack a year ago, and second to celebrate the life and the music that this historic theatre represents.

“In doing so we hope to respect the memory as well as the life affirming spirit of those who fell. We shall not forget them.”

Tickets for Sting’s show go on sale on November 8.

The Bataclan has already announced its concert line-up for the period following the anniversary. Former Libertines singer Peter Doherty will perform there on November 16 and 17, followed by two concerts by Senegalese star Youssou N’Dour.

Marianne Faithfull, Laurent Garnier and Yael Naim are among the other artists who will perform at the Bataclan this month

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Renew Attacks On Each Other’s Fitness for Office

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have reiterated attacks on each other’s fitness for office as polls suggest the race for the White House is tightening.

The Democratic candidate – who has seen her national opinion poll lead shrink in recent days – targeted her Republican rival’s temperament and attitude to women.

Donald Trump said Hillary Clinton would be followed into the White House by criminal investigations.

The New York billionaire has gained ground on Hillary Clinton in some swing states, polls suggest.

On November 3, Melania Trump made a rare campaign appearance in the Philadelphia suburbs.

In her first speech since the GOP convention in July, Melania Trump spoke about being an immigrant and a mother and said her husband would “make America fair”.Hillary Clinton on Donald Trump anti Muslim rhetoric

Donald Trump’s wife also vowed to lead a campaign against cyber-bullying if she becomes first lady, and to combat a culture that has “gotten too mean and too rough”.

Melania Trump made no reference to her husband’s record of name-calling on social media.

Donald Trump has gained ground on Hillary Clinton in a number of swing states, including Florida and North Carolina, according to polls. Some national tracker polls are now suggesting the two candidates are neck-and-neck.

According to the Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation project, Hillary Clinton’s odds of winning the necessary 270 Electoral College votes on November 1 at about 90%, down from 95% last week.

The momentum appears to be with Donald Trump, who has joked about having to stay on message, as the final weekend of campaigning approaches.

The Republican candidate has capitalized on a new FBI investigation into a Hillary Clinton aide’s emails.

At a rally in Jacksonville, Florida, Donald Trump’s fourth appearance in the state, he said: “Here we go again with the Clintons – you remember the impeachment and the problems.

“That’s not what we need in our country, folks. We need someone who is ready to go to work.”

Later, at a night-time rally in North Carolina, Donald Trump delivered a speech on defense in which he said he could not imagine Hillary Clinton as commander-in-chief.

Hillary Clinton continued to focus on Donald Trump’s character, telling a rally in North Carolina: “He has spent this entire campaign offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters.

“This has never happened to a nominee of a major party.”

The democratic candidate added: “If Donald Trump were to win this election we would have a commander-in-chief who is completely out of his depth and whose ideas are incredibly dangerous.”

President Barack Obama has been working almost as hard as Hillary Clinton, as he attempts to rally support among young voters and African Americans.

Analysis of early voting returns suggests black voters may not be turning out in the kinds of numbers they did for Barack Obama in 2012.

Alluding to Donald Trump’s past as a reality TV show host, Barack Obama told students at Florida International University in Miami: “This isn’t a joke. This isn’t Survivor. This isn’t The Bachelorette. This counts.”

Hillary Clinton also got a boost from her one-time rival for the Democratic nomination, Bernie Sanders. He appeared alongside her at a rally in North Carolina on November 3, praising her commitment to increasing the minimum wage and tackling inequality.

Pharrell Williams was also at the event, hailing Hillary Clinton’s record on women’s rights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_fo3xvPPbs

Park Geun-hye Denies Falling Victim to Religious Cult

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South Korean President Park Geun-hye has denied following a religious cult as Choi Soon-sil scandal threatens to engulf her leadership.

In a TV address, Park Geun-hye apologized for allowing Choi Soon-sil, a long-standing friend of her, inappropriate access to government policy-making.

The president agreed to be questioned over the scandal but did not offer to resign.

Choi Soon-sil is suspected of using her friendship with the president to solicit donations to a non-profit fund she controlled.

She is now in detention facing charges of fraud and abuse of power.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

The main opposition party said Park Geun-hye’s apology lacked sincerity and it called on her to step back from state affairs.

Scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators demanding Park Geun-hye’s resignation in central Seoul on November 4.

Choi Soon-sil is the daughter of Choi Tae-min, a shadowy quasi-religious leader who was closely linked to Park Geun-hye’s father, then-president Park Chung-hee.

On November 4, Park Geun-hye went on TV to deny allowing cultish rituals to be held in the presidential palace.

“There have been claims that I fell for a religious cult or had [shamanist rituals] performed in the Blue House, but I would like to clarify that those are absolutely not true,” she said.

The president said she took sole responsibility for access to government documents and was willing to be investigated.

She had “put too much faith in a personal relationship and didn’t look carefully at what was happening”.

Anyone found to have done wrong would be punished, Park Geun-hye said, and “if necessary, I’m determined to let prosecutors investigate me and accept an investigation by an independent counsel too”.

The scandal has left the president with an approval rating of just 5%.

Park Geun-hye has already replaced her prime minster, reshuffled her cabinet and dismissed several aides, but there are growing calls for her resignation or impeachment.

Choo Mi-ae, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, said Park Geun-hye did not believe the apology was genuine and called on her to accept a new prime minister recommended by parliament.

Park Geun-hye became South Korea’s first female president when she was elected in a close-run contest in December 2012.

Tips for a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign

crowdfunding

There are times when you come up with a brilliant idea that will surely be revolutionary. Everything’s all set. The only problem is money. How do you raise the necessary funds so your idea can take off and become a reality? What if banks and lending agencies do not approve your loan? Where will you go so you can get the funds that you need? In this post, we will explore crowdfunding and how this can help you in making your vision come to life.

CrowdFunding

Social media is an important factor when it comes to crowdfunding. You may be wondering how this is possible at all. Aren’t social media network only for posting photos and getting in touch with friends? Not anymore. It has become more powerful than that. It has changed the way we do business, how we market, and how we raise capital.

Social media is not limited to Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. There are many social media platforms that are crowdfunding websites. But what are these crowdfunding websites? These websites are what connects hopeful entrepreneurs to generous investors. Not only that, you get to connect with contributors, patrons, and producers, too.

Crowdfunding has the same idea as that of crowdsourcing. With these two, a person gets to have an open call towards a crowd or a large group of people. With crowdsourcing, tasks can be outsourced to this crowd. With crowdfunding, funds can come from these group of people through an open call. Through this online community, projects, causes, and businesses can be funded.

dollar

How It Works

The rules are different from one site to the next. In general, people, charities, or businesses get to pitch their ideas and set a goal for their fundraising, as well as deadline. After that, the potential patrons review the ideas and pitches so they can decide and choose which among the pitches they would want to support.

In crowdfunding sites, people do not invest in the business or project, what they do is that they fund it. If the business becomes prosperous, they get to be rewarded. However, it remains as a business that the entrepreneur owns. Patrons do not get to own any part of the project or business. This is because of the US regulations that are for now being reviewed by the SEC. But this may have some changes in the future.

For each of these crowdfunding sites, there are different rules, most especially the sites that are located outside of the US. That is why it is important that you take the time to read the terms and conditions.

How to Start Your Campaign

Your crowdfunding campaign begins with a pitch. With your pitch, you get to describe what your project is about. For example, if your project’s aim is to help veterans with their VA mortgage rates for their homes, you have to be very specific and very detailed about how you are going to help them and who among the veterans you will help. Also, with your pitch, you can describe in detail the rewards that the patrons may receive if the fundraising turns out to be successful. You can then create a timeline and a funding goal.

Choosing Your CrowdFunding Site

It makes a difference which site you choose to launch your campaign. For each crowdfunding site, they have a specific audience. There are those for creative people, there are some for the entrepreneurial crowd, and there are those that are socially bent. Non-profit organizations can also take advantage of crowdfunding sites. You have to know and understand the focus of your project so that you will also know on which site you are going to launch your crowdfunding campaign.

target

Knowing Your Target Audience

Once you are already clear about your project and you have chosen your site, focus now on the audience. Most of the projects that have been successful focused on a narrow and specific audience. You can focus on the audience based on religious nature, geographic area, or common background. You can also consider common interests such as books, movies, and music. When you know how to target your audience, your chances of being successful in your crowdfunding campaign will be much higher.

Planning Ahead

The internet is a fast-paced world. Your campaign can get left behind if you do not actively attend to it throughout the whole duration of the campaign. Have emails ready for the beginning, the middle, as well as the end of the project to make sure that it remains active. If the project immediately takes off, you may be overwhelmed with so many emails that you have to respond to. So to do this, prepare a FAQ-type of email so you have something to send those who are inquiring about your project.

Staying Passionate

You have to believe in your project and how it can help the people you want to reach. If you want to send school supplies to third-world schools, show the crowd why they need your help and how much their help can affect the lives of the school children. You have to be passionate about your cause and be the number one believer that you can make it happen. Passion is contagious. If people can see how devoted you are with your project and how sincere you are, they can be more convinced that it is worth their while to contribute funds to your projects.

Takeaway

These tips are just among the things that you can do to ensure a successful crowdfunding campaign. You have to be very passionate about what you do and convince the crowd that indeed, your project is worth funding. You have to be able to share your vision with the crowd so they can see that your project is worthwhile.

Melania Trump Gives Her First Campaign Speech since GOP Convention

Melania Trump gave her first campaign speech since the Republican Convention.

The aspiring First Lady talked about her appreciation of America, her early days in Slovenia and her husband, Donald Trump.

If Donald Trump wins the presidency, Melania will be the first foreign-born first lady in 187 years.

She spoke in Berwyn, a Philadelphia suburb.

She was introduced by Karen Pence, wife of Donald Trump’s running mate, who said: “She is so strong, she is also very accomplished, working her way up through the fashion industry… her love for America is boundless, just like her husband.”

Image source Facebook
Image source Facebook

Wearing a powder-pink blouse and white skirt, Melania Trump glides on stage flashing a V-sign to the strains of Fifth Dimension’s Aquarius.

In her still-sharp Slovenian accent, Donald Trump’s wife started by remarking it’s been more than 500 days since her husband announced his candidacy: “This is not an ordinary campaign. It is a movement. A movement in which people feel included inspired and involved.

“He will make a fantastic president of these United States.” 

Melania Trump remembered her life in Slovenia, saying: “I grew up in a small town in Slovenia near a beautiful river and forest. A small country that back then was under communist rule.

“Of course we always knew about the incredible place called America. America meant if you could dream it, you could become it.”

Melania Trump said about becoming an US citizen: “After a 10-year process which included many visas and a green card, in 2006 I studied for the test and became a US citizen. It is the greatest privilege in the world. I’m an immigrant and let me tell you no one values the freedom and opportunity more than me, both as an independent woman and someone that emigrated to America.”

She has been accused of working as a model in the US illegally in the past, but she has denied this.

Melania talked about how much her husband loves his country: “He loves this country and he knows how to get things done. He certainly knows how to shake things up, doesn’t he? He knows how to make real change.

“Donald knew he could not sit by anymore and watch what is happening in this country.

“What kind of country do we want? Do we want a country that is safe with secure borders? Yes? Do we want a country where everyone gets a fair shot?” 

“Do we want a country that honors our constitution?” she continued.

As a future First Lady, she said: “It will be my honor and privilege to serve this country. I will be an advocate for women and for children.

“I’m a full-time mother to our [10-year-old] son Barron, an incredible boy.”

Melania Trump talked about her experience discussing politics with her young son, and how she wants him to know how lucky he is to be born an American.

“I want my little boy to know that he is blessed to have been born in a country that values individual freedom.”   

“Our culture has gotten too mean and too rough, especially for children and teenagers,” says Melania Trump about childhood bullying and online trolling.

“We have to find a better way to talk to each other to disagree with each other, to respect each other.” 

She said that anti-bullying efforts will be one of her issues if she is to become first lady.

It’s “absolutely unacceptable”, Melania Trump added, when children are mocked, bullied and attacked online anonymously.

To some, Melania Trump’s remarks seemed at odds with her husband’s long history of using Twitter to insult people.

Melania Trump finished her remarks by promising her husband will “make America great again”.

“We must win on November 8th. And we must come together as Americans. We must treat each other with respect and kindness even when we disagree. I will be there to support my husband’s efforts to support all Americans when he is president,” she said.

“Donald Trump will make America fair. He will make America safe. He will make America prosperous. He will make America proud.” 

Melania Trump walked off stage to the sound of Living in America by James Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ZGPqab6-M

Ivanka Trump Campaigns for Her Father In New Hampshire

Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of Republican candidate Donald Trump, has appeared for the first time in New Hampshire to support her father.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

The businesswoman said few issues are unique to women: “Women’s issues are jobs, women’s issues are security, women’s issues are the major issues affecting this country.”

Ivanka Trump has become a popular model for women seeking to alter their appearance, a Houston surgeon tells ABC’s Nightline program.

She said the passion and enthusiasm of Donald Trump’ fans is the “fuel” that keeps the Republican nominee going.

Ivanka Trump’s visit to New Hampshire comes as her father makes an aggressive last-minute play for New Hampshire’s four Electoral College votes.

Egypt Floats Its Currency to Meet IMF Demands for $12BN Loan

Egypt has decided to float its currency in a move that has reduced the Egyptian pound’s value by almost 50% against the US dollar.

One dollar is buying 13.5-14 Egyptian pounds, up from the nine Egyptian pounds the central bank was trying to keep it at.

Egypt’s central bank said the move was one of a list of reforms designed to strengthen confidence in the economy.

The country’s main stock index jumped by more than 8% on November 3.

The central bank has also increased interest rates by 3 percentage points to 14.75%.

The move is a key requirement of the IMF, from which Egypt is asking for a $12 billion loan over three years.

The IMF’s mission chief for Egypt, Chris Jarvis, said the move would make more foreign exchange available and would “help foster growth, job creation and stronger external position for the country”.

Although the liberalization should help Egypt to strengthen its economy, it will make life harder for Egyptians and the cost of all imported goods will rise sharply.

Image source Flickr
Image source Flickr

Another reform it is facing is reducing or removing altogether state subsidies on fuel to meet IMF conditions. It has already cut subsidies on household electricity and increased the price of sugar by 40% for some Egyptians.

Egypt imports about a third of its sugar needs but a shortage of hard currency has meant traders have struggled to buy from outside the country.

The military has been told to distribute a one-off package of basic food items, including sugar, at half price, to cushion the effect among the poorest.

Egypt has struggled to attract foreign investment since the political turmoil in 2011 during the so-called Arab Spring that saw former president Hosni Mubarak overthrown.

The change of regime dented tourism numbers, one of Egypt’s most important foreign currency earners, and prompted a general fall in international investor confidence.

The decline in hard currency income was exacerbated by the central bank’s efforts to prop up Egypt’s own currency. It was trying to hold it at the official rate of 8.88 Egyptian pounds, although on the black market dealers could buy far more Egyptian pounds.

The central bank said in a statement it had moved to a “liberalized exchange rate… to create an environment for a reliable and sustainable supply of foreign currency”.

A central bank auction of dollars was being held on November 3, allowing supply and demand to determine the value of the pound for the first time in decades.

Banks will be allowed to open their branches until 9pm and over the weekend to allow more transactions.

Egypt’s economy is the second largest in the Arab world, after Saudi Arabia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRC9psyOn2M

Barack Obama Says Donald Trump Is a Threat to Civil Rights

Barack Obama has urged Democrats of all ethnic backgrounds to get out and vote for Hillary Clinton, warning that the fate of the US – and the world – is at stake.

The president said Donald Trump was a threat to hard-earned civil rights.

Barack Obama was speaking at a rally in North Carolina.

Donald Trump said Barack Obama should stop campaigning for Hillary Clinton and focus on running the country.

“The bottom line is, no-one wants four more years of Obama,” the Republican candidate told supporters in Pensacola, Florida.

Donald Trump said Hillary Clinton had become “unhinged” in recent days.Barack Obama blames media for Donald Trump coverage

Americans will vote for the candidate they want to see in the White House on November 8, with recent polls showing the race tightening between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Barack Obama told supporters in the key battleground state of North Carolina: “The fate of the republic rests on your shoulders.

“The fate of the world is teetering and you, North Carolina, are going to have to make sure that we push it in the right direction.

“I am not on the ballot, but I tell you what – fairness is on the ballot; decency is on the ballot; justice is on the ballot; progress is on the ballot; our democracy is on the ballot.”

The FBI is now investigating new emails that may be linked to its probe into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

FBI chief James Comey has faced a fierce backlash for announcing the move just 11 days before the presidential election.

Earlier, Barack Obama implicitly criticized James Comey over the new inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s email use.

It emerged in March 2015 that Hillary Clinton had been breaking federal rules by operating a private email server while she was secretary of state from 2009-2013.

Hillary Clinton’s lawyers combed through the server and provided the state department with 30,000 work-related emails, but her campaign deleted another 33,000 messages, saying they were personal in nature.

James Comey concluded in July that Hillary Clinton had been “extremely careless” in handling classified information, but there were no grounds for any charges.

Chicago Cubs End 108-Years Curse After Winning World Series 2016

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The Chicago Cubs ended a 108-years curse after winning this year’s World Series.

The Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings to scoop the top prize in world baseball.

Joe Maddon’s team, who had been 3-1 down in the best-of-seven series, blew a three-run lead in the final game but came back after a rain delay to clinch the title.

The last time the Cubs were crowned champions was in 1908, 108 years ago, when they beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1.

In 1945, a curse was placed on the Cubs by local bar owner Billy Sianis.chicago-cubs-world-series-2016

He is said to have cursed the Cubs, so that they would never win a World Series game again, or even reach the World Series again (different versions of the story exist).

“There’s no more curse now, the goat is history,” said Cubs fan Rodrigo Gonzales moments after victory had been achieved.

President Barack Obama, who supports city rivals the Chicago White Sox, tweeted about the win: “It happened: @Cubs win World Series.

“That’s change even this South Sider can believe in. Want to come to the White House before I leave?”

The win gave the Cubs their third World Series crown.

It also sparked wild celebrations in the streets of Chicago, with fans congregating outside the team’s Wrigley Field home.

Many of them took turns writing their names and words of congratulations in various colors of chalk on Wrigley’s brick walls.

Cleveland’s loss leaves their fans waiting for their first World Series title since 1948.

Cubs leftfielder Ben Zobrist was named most valuable player of the World Series.

It was the second consecutive year Ben Zobrist has won the World Series after helping the Kansas City Royals to victory last season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqDrEvZPzI8

Ahn Jong-beom: South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s Former Aide Arrested

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Ahn Jong-beom, a former aide to South Korean President Park Geun-hye, has been placed under emergency detention, prosecutors say.

He is the second aide to be detained in a scandal which is threatening Park Geun-hye’s position.

Ahn Jong-beom and Park Geun-hye’s long-time friend and mentor Choi Soon-sil are suspected of using their presidential connections to persuade corporations to donate funds to foundations they were involved with.

Choi Soon-sil was detained on October 31 and is still being held.Park Geun-hye New Year address

Ahn Jong-beom had told reporters on November 2 he would take responsibility for his actions, the Yonhap news agency reports, without giving further details.

He has been placed under emergency detention to prevent the possibility of him tampering with evidence, prosecutors said. They have 48 hours to formally request an arrest warrant in court.

On November 2, prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for Choi Soon-sil. Seoul Central District Court is due to review the request on November 3, a court spokesman said.

Several banks have also been raided in connection with the controversy, which has prompted widespread anger.

Park Geun-hye responded to the crisis on November 2 by reshuffling her government, appointing a new finance minister and prime minister – a largely symbolic role in South Korea.

Surveys suggest Park Geun-hye’s approval rating is about 10%, with about half of respondents saying she should resign or face impeachment.

Val Kilmer Denies Throat Cancer Rumors

Val Kilmer has denied he has cancer after Michael Douglas claimed his former co-star is ill.

“I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed,” Val Kilmer wrote in a Facebook post.

Las week, Michael Douglas claimed that Val Kilmer was “dealing with” throat cancer – the same ailment that Douglas was diagnosed with in 2010.

Val Kilmer, however, said he was “rehabbing steadily” from “a swollen tongue” and had “no cancer whatsoever”.

“The last time I spoke to [Michael Douglas] was almost two years ago, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat,” he wrote.

Image source Facebook
Image source Facebook

“I ended up using a team at UCLA [University of California, Los Angeles] and have no cancer whatsoever,” the 56-year-old continued.

Following Michael Douglas’s comments, it was reported that Val Kilmer had been reluctant to seek medical treatment due to his Christian Science faith.

Many Christian Scientists believe that diseases can be healing with prayer, although the church does not forbid adherents seeking medical aid.

In his post, Val Kilmer said “concerns about [his] health” had been raised “by publications that have no respect for the truth”.

The actor added: “Some fans have mistakenly thought my silence about my personal issues meant that somehow I wasn’t being responsible to my health, because of my reliance on prayer and Love.

“Nothing could be further from the truth… Being healthy and having the respect of my peers and love from my family, friends, peers and fans is a DAILY source of inspiration, for which I am so grateful.”

Val Kilmer described Michael Douglas as “a loving and devoted friend”, adding: “I’m sure he meant no harm.”

He said he would be making personal appearances later this month at screenings of Cinema Twain, a film of his one-man play about author Mark Twain.

Val Kilmer’s post follows a number of Facebook messages last year in which he assured fans he had “no tumor or infection of any kind”.

Technology And Safety: Careers Where These Go Hand In Hand

excavators

Pixabay

For most employers, their employees’ health and safety is one of the most important things they need to review on a regular basis. We’ve come a long way since the factories of the Victorian times which were highly dangerous and resulted in numerous deaths. And all of that is down to developments in technology. In fact, if it hadn’t had been for new tech, the following careers would still be quite dangerous…

Construction

Workers on building sites have a lot to thank technology for. There are many modern pieces of equipment and tools that help to keep everyone on the site incredibly safe. Such as a crane mat, breathing apparatus, and safety clothing. Drones are becoming increasingly popular in the building industry as well. Most companies now fly drones over the site before any workers get to work. The drone takes pictures which are then used to analyze the site’s safety. If everything looks fine, then the workers can enter the site.

Car Manufacturing

Cars are manufactured in huge factories on production lines. A different employee is stationed at various points along the production line and completes one particular job. Then the car moves on to the next employee. There have been many stories in the media that robots will start to take these jobs from humans. However, we now know that it simply isn’t true. In fact, robots are only doing the jobs that are highly dangerous for humans. Another way in which modern tech is making car manufacturing a lot safer is that the safety equipment has massively improved. So now workers can do their job without worrying about potential injury.

Hospital Workers

There have been major technological advances in healthcare as well. And some of these have greatly improved the working conditions for doctors and nurses in hospitals. Recent developments in techniques and equipment now make diagnosis a lot easier. And it has also made staying in hospital a much more comfortable experience for patients as well. New tech can also keep hospital workers safer by reducing the chance of bugs and illnesses spreading to them from patients.

medic

Pixabay

IT Workers

IT work may not be an industry that you instantly think is dangerous. After all, you aren’t at risk from a dangerous injury when you are sitting at your computer! But technology is protecting IT workers in other ways. Namely, by keeping them safe and secure while online. Modern antimalware software and firewalls can prevent viruses and hackers from breaching computer networks. And this keeps all the IT workers’ sensitive data and information safe. It also ensures that a company’s sensitive data and online payments secure as well. Even if your IT firm has cyber security, you should make sure that you regularly check for updates. As hackers are continually developing your skills, you need to make sure that you are always one step ahead of them.

As you can see, there are numerous ways in which new tech is keeping workers safe in various workplaces. And things are only going to get safer!

Hillary Clinton Labels Donald Trump A Bully for Treatment of Alicia Machado

Hillary Clinton has labeled rival Donald Trump a “bully” for criticizing women for their looks.

Speaking at a Florida rally, the Democratic nominee said Donald Trump had a 30-year history of “demeaning, degrading, insulting and assaulting” women.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has branded Hillary Clinton “corrupt” and said she would “destroy American healthcare forever”.

Donald Trump told early Clinton voters with “buyer’s remorse” they could change their vote in four states.

The clashes came as the fractious contest entered its final week, with opinion polls appearing to show the race getting tighter.

The prospect of a Trump presidency sent Asian financial markets tumbling – appearing to confirm some analysts’ view that the markets believe a Clinton victory would bring more stability for the US economy.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Appearing on stage with former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, who has previously claimed Donald Trump once called her “Miss Piggy” after she put on weight – Hillary Clinton said she had “learned way back in elementary school that it’s not OK to insult people”.

For her part, Alicia Machado called Donald Trump “cruel” and said she had spent years “sick, fighting back eating disorders” as a result of the Republican nominee’s comments.

Echoing Hillary Clinton’s comments at a rally in Ohio, President Barack Obama said the Republican candidate had spent a “lifetime calling women pigs and dogs and slobs”.

The focus on Donald Trump’s treatment of women coincided with a new TV advert put out by the Democrats which showed archive footage of him making remarks such as: “Putting a wife to work is a very dangerous thing.”

Donald Trump has faced a string of harassment allegations in the last month, after a 2005 video tape that saw him making inappropriate remarks about women emerged.

He has denied any wrongdoing and threatened to sue those involved after the election.

Donald Trump focused his attacks on the Affordable Care Act, dubbed ObamaCare, which he believes is becoming increasingly unpopular with low income families he needs to vote for him, amid reports of higher premiums and less choice.

Appearing on stage with his running mate Mike Pence and Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin, Donald Trump called ObamaCare “a catastrophe” and said he would immediately convene a special session of Congress to repeal and replace it if he becomes president.

Donald Trump also urged early voters who had “made a mistake” by voting for Hilalry Clinton to change their ballots before November 3 deadline.

Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Pennsylvania allow early vote switches but the practice is extremely rare, according to the Early Voting Information Center at Reed College.

Both sides also continued to spar over the recent revelation that FBI investigators are again probing Hillary Clinton’s email practices on November 1.

The revelation has put Democrats on the defensive and hurt Hillary Clinton’s plans to promote a positive message over the campaign’s final week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zshG0rtc_zc

Choi Soon-sil Scandal: South Korean Prosecutors Request Arrest Warrant

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Prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for Choi Soon-sil, a friend of South Korean President Park Geun-hye amid a scandal that threatens to bring down her administration.

Choi Soon-sil was detained on October 31, accused of influence peddling and interfering in state affairs.

Eight banks have also been raided in connection with the scandal, South Korean media reported.

The scandal has prompted widespread anger.

Image source Getty Images
Image source Getty Images

Critics say Choi Soon-sil used her closeness to the president to solicit corporate money for foundations she ran, as well as embezzling state funds and directing presidential decisions, despite a lack of office, expertise or security clearance.

Seoul Central District Court will review the request for an arrest warrant for Choi Soon-sil on November 3, a court spokesman said.

President Park Geun-hye has responded by reshuffling her government.

Kim Byong-joon, a senior presidential secretary under a previous administration, was named as prime minister to replace Hwang Kyo-ahn. The role of prime minister is largely symbolic in South Korea, where power is concentrated in the presidency.

Yim Jong-yong, currently Financial Services Commission chairman, was named as the new finance minister and deputy prime minister, replacing Yoo Il-ho.

A new minister of public safety and security has also been appointed.

However, the opposition says the reshuffle is an attempt to deflect attention from Choi Soon-sil.

Surveys show Park Geun-hye’s approval rating is about 10% and about half of respondents say she should resign or face impeachment.

Venezuela Opposition Drops Symbolic Trial of President Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela’s parliament has delayed the symbolic trial of President Nicolas Maduro, which was due to take place on November 1.

Henry Ramos Allup, the speaker for the opposition-dominated National Assembly, said the decision was aimed at easing the country’s political crisis.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

An opposition march on the presidential palace planned for November 3 has also been postponed.

Nicolas Maduro is accused of violating the constitution but claims lawmakers are attempting a “coup”.

The decision to delay the trial follows Vatican-sponsored talks between the two sides, and the release from prison of three anti-government activists.

Last month a referendum process seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro was suspended after the government said that the vote was meaningless.

The president has dismissed the trial as invalid and has vowed to jail participants of any attempt to overthrow his government.

The rise in tensions between the government and the opposition comes despite an agreement last week to hold crisis talks.

Nicolas Maduro is blamed by the opposition for Venezuela’s dire economic situation. The oil-rich country is facing widespread food shortages and high inflation.

The opposition has been trying to hold a recall referendum that would allow Nicolas Maduro to be removed from office.

FBI Releases Documents on Bill Clinton’s Pardon of Marc Rich

The FBI has released 129 pages of documents related to a 2001 investigation into then-President Bill Clinton’s controversial pardon of Democratic donor and financier Marc Rich.

According to NBC News, the release reportedly comes in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) submitted to the FBI. The investigation was closed in 2005.

Photo Flickr
Photo Flickr

The documents were released online on October 31, but received little attention until the FBI noted it in a tweet on November 1.

The surprise move comes after FBI Director James Comey was accused of attempting to influence the election with his announcement that the bureau found more emails that could be connected to its investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private server.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign questioned the timing of the release.

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

Alicia Machado Introduces Hillary Clinton at Dade City Rally

Hillary Clinton has been introduced by former Miss Universe Alicia Machado at a rally in Dade City, Florida.

Alicia Machado, who won the Miss Universe pageant in 1996, said she has lived for 20 years with the agony of what Donald Trump did to her after she won the Miss Universe title: shame her, over and over, for gaining weight.Hillary Clinton email scandal 2016

Their joint appearance comes just a few days after Clinton appeared with women’s rights activists, including Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards, at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Speaking in a mix of English and Spanish, Alicia Machado addressed Latino voters, saying “this is our election, Latinos!”

“Let’s work our heart out so we can finally say madam president, senora presidenta.”

Donald Trump Leads Hillary Clinton For First Time Since May In ABC Poll

In the latest ABC News/Washington Post tracking poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, Hillary Clinton is now one point behind Donald Trump, for the first time since May.

In the latest results, 46% of likely voters support Donald Trump, and 45% are for Hillary Clinton.Hillary Clinton on Donald Trump anti Muslim rhetoric

With the data taken to a decimal place for illustrative purposes, a mere 0.7 of a percentage point divides them.

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has 3% and Green Party’s Jill Stein, 2%

“Trump and Clinton continue to run nearly even in overall vote preferences, with Trump at 46% and Clinton 45% in a four-way contest in the poll conducted Thursday through Sunday,” the Washington Post reports, citing the latest Washington Post-ABC News Tracking Poll.

“The margin is a mirror 48-47 Clinton-Trump split when third-party candidates are asked which major-party candidate they lean toward, a comparison which has grown in importance as support declines steadily for Libertarian Gary Johnson and the Green Party’s Jill Stein,” the newspaper says.

Variety Announces Support for Hillary Clinton

Variety is backing Hillary Clinton in its first ever presidential endorsement in 111 years.Hillary Clinton South Carolina victory

In its endorsement statement, Variety said: “We believe that Clinton is not only the best candidate for the job, but the only candidate. 

“The time has come to elect our first female president. Women, young and old, are ready to have someone in the highest office who will protect their rights, champion their causes, and serve as a role model for this and future generations.”

Variety acknowledged Hillary Clinton’s experience, temperament and her public service record “fighting for the rights of women, children, families, the disabled, farmers, veterans, and the LGBTQ community” in making its endorsement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW7gnevS4dU

Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Criticizes James Comey’s Double Standards

Hillary Clinton’s camp has blasted FBI Director James Comey for “blatant double standards” over the new inquiry into the Democratic candidate’s email use.

The comments came after media reports that James Comey had urged against publicly accusing Russia of interfering in the US election, including alleged email hacking.

James Comey’s concern about releasing the information was due to the proximity to the election, reports say.

The statement that James Comey reportedly declined to sign off on was released by the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on October 7.

Image source Wikipedia
Image source Wikipedia

It said: “The US intelligence community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations… these thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process.”

James Comey agreed with the statement but was against making it public before the election, according to media.

There have been allegations that Russian hackers have targeted the Democrats in an effort to skew the election in favor of Donald Trump.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook said: “It is impossible to view this as anything less than a blatant double standard.”

He also called on James Comey to “immediately explain this incongruence and apply the same standard to Donald Trump’s associates as he has applied to Hillary Clinton’s.”

James Comey has faced a fierce backlash for announcing on October 28, just 11 days before the presidential election, that the FBI is investigating new emails that may be linked to its probe into Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

In March 2015, it emerged that Hillary Clinton had been breaking federal rules by operating a private email server while she was secretary of state from 2009-2013.

Hillary Clinton’s lawyers combed through the server and provided the State Department with 30,000 work-related emails, but her campaign deleted another 33,000 messages, saying they were personal in nature.

James Comey concluded in July that Hillary Clinton had been “extremely careless” in handling classified information, but there were no grounds for any charges.

South Korea: Choi Soon-sil Detained Without Warrant

Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of a political scandal threatening South Korean President Park Geun-hye, has been detained.

The woman, a long-time friend of President Park Geun-hye, is accused of influence peddling and interfering in state affairs.

Prosecutors have 48 hours since Choi Soon-sil’s detention on October 31 to decide if they will formally arrest her.

Yesterday, eight banks were raided in connection with the scandal, South Korean media reported.

The Yonhap news agency said the authorities were looking to confiscate documents related to Choi Soon-sil’s financial transactions.

Image source Getty Images
Image source Getty Images

She has been accused of embezzling money and of pressuring companies to donate to foundations she benefitted from, on the basis of her closeness to the president.

Choi Soon-sil also stands accused of involvement in high-level presidential decision making, despite lacking the security clearance required to handle classified documents.

She was placed under emergency detention on October 31 with prosecutors saying they feared she may destroy evidence.

“She has fled overseas in the past, and she doesn’t have a permanent address in Korea, making her a flight risk,” a prosecution official told Yonhap.

“She is also in an extremely unstable psychological state.”

Choi Soon-sil had told reporters on October 31 that she “committed a sin that deserves death”.

On November 1, a 45-year-old man who said he wanted to “help Choi Soon-sil die” drove a construction vehicle into the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ office.

Choi Soon-sil was not inside the building, but a security guard was injured in the attack and the building was damaged.

Last week, President Park Geun-hye publicly apologized, admitting “certain documents” had been shared with Choi Soon-sil and she had been allowed to edit political speeches.

“Choi advised me on expressions in my speeches and public relations during the last presidential campaign and she continued to help me for a certain period of time after I took office,” Park Geun-hye said.

“I deeply apologize to the people,” she said, before bowing to the camera.

That did little to suppress public anger and about 8,000 people protested on October 29, some calling for Park Geun-hye’s resignation.

Simple Ways to Eliminate Stress While Working in the Finance Industry

The financial markets are certainly a place of great stress, regardless of what job you do. From hedge fund managers to accountants, everyone has different levels of stress and different stress triggers. However, there are some general rules that can be applied to handling stress no matter what your job in the finance industry.

In this post, we’ll focus on traders. This is because this is an incredibly stressful profession thanks to the fact that traders operate in a 24 hour market where losing streaks and rough patches are common. However, many of the hints and tips we discuss can be applied elsewhere, no matter what your job. So let’s take a look.

Learn to Deal with Emotional Swings

eliminate-stress-while-working-in-the-finance-industry

When you’re trading, you’ll always face ups and downs. As such, it can be difficult to keep a level head and a steady mood. To do this, the best course of action is to make sure that you have a self-care routine. This includes basic things such as regular exercise, ensuring you’re getting enough sleep and eating well.

When you’re under stress, it’s easy to forget your nightly run, to grab a takeaway or a ready meal on the way home or to go to bed later. But this will make your mood swings even worse as your body won’t have the vitamins or the energy levels it needs. So make sure you look after yourself.

Mentally Prepare Yourself for Losses

You may be aware that there’s a good chance you’ll lose money while trading, but are you really mentally prepared for these losses to happen to you?

Not all trades can be winners, so it’s important that you’re not too hard on yourself when you lose. After all, everyone has some losses, even Warren Buffet.

When you’re trading, you have to accept that things will go wrong at some stage. This will provide you with greater mental stability. When things go wrong, you need to remember the things that have gone right, too. By mentally preparing yourself for losses, you’ll be able to keep an even head when things go wrong, which will lead to better decision making that’s not clouded by judgement.

Never Make Impulse Decisions

If you’re already feeling stressed, then impulsive decision making is only likely to heighten this problem. Impulsive decisions are often made shortly after losses, with traders looking to ‘regain losses’ immediately. As these trades are conducted on a whim, they’re never studied properly, so many lead to further losses. So never make them.

Also try to avoid trading when you’re feeling down about work or family life. Trading is a very serious business, and it shouldn’t be used as a form of escapism from other issues. Instead of trading during these times, when it’s likely that your mind isn’t fully on the job, look to take a short walk or some exercise instead, and only return to trading when you have a clear mind.

Bring in A Daily Routine to Combat Stress

The best techniques are often simple fixes. Short, sharp routines can help you eliminate stress without consuming too much of your time. Breathing exercises are one way that you can do this, and it only takes two to five minutes depending on your routine. The idea is that it should reduce tension in your body, lessening the stress you feel.

If breathing exercises don’t work for you, then consider keeping a training journal. You can write all of your trades in here, documenting what works (or doesn’t) and why. This will provide you with greater rationale for your trades, lowering your anxiety levels when your trades mirror previous successes. As much as anything else, the journal should help stop you from making the same mistakes time and time again, giving you less to worry about.

Look at Other Forms of Trading and Financial Jobs to Manage Stress Levels

If you’re struggling with forex trading or managing your stocks and shares, then it is also advisable to look at other forms of trading, such as spread betting or binary options.

Many traders who struggle with stress struggle with sleep as they have active positions overnight. However, with options like spread betting, you don’t have to worry about this. If you’re interested in learning more, then ETX Capital have a great number of resources to educate yourself on the topic of spread betting, and Investopedia can teach you more about binary options trading. Make sure you’re clued up on all the options available.

 

To conclude, you’re always going to have stress in the finance industry. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t take steps to manage and limit the stress you’re feeling and the impact it has on your mind and body. The above advice is applicable to a number of different jobs within the industry, so try tweaking it to help you and remember, above all else, to talk to an expert if you need help.

What Are The Pros of Settlement Loans?

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Pre-settlement funding is a type of funding which is available to those who have filed a settlement claim through a lawyer. Personal injury loans are probably the most common form of pre-settlement funding and can be especially important if you have lost your complete or partial working and earning capacity and your life has been marred by medical attention, attending to questions and calls made by the claims adjuster or frequent court visits.

Settlement loans could be of many types and car accident settlement loans is one of the most popular. Inheritance claim settlement funding, illegal termination of contract loan, etc are some of the others and each serve the single most important purpose of providing liquidity to the plaintiff or the victim at a time when not only his earnings have been affected but also a number of additional costs have been thrust upon him.

 

Mature business man discussing project with his colleagues and pointing at computer screen

How did Settlement Lenders revolutionize the lending business in Canada?

 

It was not until 1980s that lawsuit funding become available in Canada and Settlement Lenders was the first company to conceptualize and issue settlement funding to hundreds of needy Canadians, who were fighting for their right to justice. Settlement Lenders has disbursed over $100,000,000 in loans and provides flexibility in choosing the type of funding you need.

You could either take a lump sum amount and your case will be monitored and assessed every six months and further funding needs be also be met. You could choose to take recurring monthly payments to take care of your utility bills and court expenses and your case will be reviewed semi-annually. The final type is a line of credit which is akin to a bank account and you can withdraw and use funds up to a predetermined limit. However, you will be charged interest only for the funds you use.

Advantages of settlement funding

 

  1. Lawsuit loans help you to avoid forced settlement: Pre-settlement cash advance allows you to be patient and gives your lawyer more time to examine more witnesses and build up a solid case to make your case watertight. Empirical evidence shows that the more time a plaintiff gives to the case, the better are the chances of a fair settlement.
  2. Lawsuit loans can be used unconditionally: You can use pre-settlement loans to service some or all of your monthly or yearly expenses. You may channel it to meet foreclosures, settling other loans, paying for utility bills, tuition fees and mortgages. At no point will you be answerable to the lender.
  3. No credit checks or income verifications :Settlement lenders will not verify your ability to earn or your credit history.
  4. Pay only if you win: You won’t be needed to pay any money until the claim is settled, and if the claim is denied in a court of competent jurisdiction, the amount borrowed is forgiven.

Settlement funding is one of the best financial vehicles available to a plaintiff and it can give you a lot of support, confidence and peace of mind.