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How to Talk About Reverse Mortgages with Grown Kids Who Still Live at Home

James J. Williams
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How to Talk About Reverse Mortgages with Grown Kids Who Still Live at Home

If you are deciding whether a reverse mortgage is the right move for you, it’s important to have an honest conversation with your adult children if they are still living at home. Ultimately, it is your decision to get a reverse mortgage, but informing them on the product can help eliminate any miscommunication and conflict down the road.

Explain the basics

First, informing your children on what a reverse mortgage is all about is vital. A common misconception among many people is that in a reverse mortgage transaction, the bank takes ownership of the borrower’s home. This is not true. The borrower maintains ownership throughout the course of the loan, which typically becomes due and payable when he or she moves or passes away.

Reader tip: if you’re new to reverse mortgages start here with some basics.

Next, talk to your kids about what people actually use reverse mortgages for. Explain that the payments from the loan could help to cover the costs of things that your retirement savings and finances may not be able to cover such as home renovations or medical care. You may be less of a financial burden on your kids due to the reverse mortgage. Many adult children are relieved to hear this. Also share that you won’t have to pay back the loan until you either pass away or move out of the house permanently.

Explain the basics of what your responsibilities will still be in terms of loan obligations. Even though you will not be responsible for making a monthly mortgage payment with a reverse mortgage, this does not mean all other payments go away. You are still responsible for keeping up on property taxes and insurance on the home and ensuring the property is kept in good condition.

Share their role

Adult children are often skeptical of their parents taking out a reverse mortgage because they fear that when they pass away, they will have to pay back the loan. This is another misconception.

Explain to your kids that a reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan. This means that no matter how large the loan balance gets; they will never have to pay back more than the appraised value of the home at the time of sale.

If the loan balance is higher than the appraised value of the home, then the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insurance fund absorbs that loss. This is one of the benefits of FHA insurance, which is a requirement of all Home Equity Conversion Mortgage reverse mortgages. So share with your kids that if you pass away, they can use the value of the home to pay back the loan, but they won’t go into debt over it.

In fact, if the loan balance is less than the value of the home, share with your kids that they will be able to keep the difference as inheritance, if you choose to name them as your heirs. This is a very possible outcome if you live in an area with high home appreciation because the value of your home could go up over the years.

It is also extremely important to explain non borrowing spouse rules of the loan to your adult children, if you are married. This can give your children peace of mind knowing the protections available for spouses of reverse mortgage borrowers.

Bringing this topic up may not be the easiest, so try to start off by talking about your broader financial planning agenda. You could even include your adult kids in the reverse mortgage counseling that’s required for all borrowers. This counseling can take place over the phone, which can make it easier for adult children to be included.

If you would like to learn more about how to talk to your adult kids who still live at home about a reverse mortgage and speak to your trusted adviser.

 

Men’s Toilets Get Baby Changing Stations

Nancy Clayson
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Men’s Toilets Get Baby Changing Stations

President Barack Obama has signed a new law making baby changing stations available in men’s bathrooms.

Male toilets in public buildings in the United States must now have baby changing facilities.

According to the new law, both male and female bathrooms should have a “physically safe, sanitary and appropriate” place to change a diaper.

Known as the Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation (BABIES) Act, it was first raised back in April by Congressman David N. Cicilline.

Image source Pixabay
Image source Pixabay

“Federal buildings are paid for by taxpayers,” he says.

“It’s important to ensure that they are as open, as accessible, and as family-friendly as possible.”

The BABIES Act only affects bathrooms in government-owned or government-financed buildings like courthouses and public libraries.

But it is a first step toward reducing the indignity that parents frequently face when trying to care for their babies in bathroom stalls. US federal law previously did not require changing tables anywhere.

The BABIES Act makes public places “more accommodating for working moms and dads” across the United States.

Kim Kardashian Sues Gossip Site Media TakeOut over Fake Robbery Claim

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian Sues Gossip Site Media TakeOut over Fake Robbery Claim

Kim Kardashian is suing celebrity gossip website Media TakeOut and its founder for claiming that she faked being the victim of a robbery in Paris last week.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for defamation and names both Media TakeOut and Fred Mwangaguhunga.

Kim Kardashian was tied up by gun-wielding robbers who broke into a Paris flat earlier this month, police say.

Image source Instagram
Image source Instagram

They made off with jewelery worth about $10 million.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in New York said that after being “the victim of a horrific and traumatic armed robbery in France, Kim Kardashian returned to the US only to again be victimized, but this time by an online gossip tabloid that published a series of articles in early October 2016 referring to her as a liar and thief”.

The articles, the lawsuit said, “claimed, without any factual support whatsoever, that Kardashian faked the robbery, lied about the violent assault, and then filed a fraudulent claim with her insurance company to bilk her carrier out of millions of dollars”.

Fred Mwangaguhunga refused to publish a retraction and an apology “for calling her a liar and a criminal”, the lawsuit added.

Media TakeOut has so far not commented.

Kim Kardashian, 35, who is married to rapper Kanye West, became a household name thanks to the reality TV series Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Barack Obama Criticizes Donald Trump While Campaigning for Hillary Clinton

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama Criticizes Donald Trump While Campaigning for Hillary Clinton

Barack Obama has blasted Republican nominee Donald Trump’s recent remarks about women, saying they would be intolerable even for someone applying for a job at a 7-Eleven convenience store.

At a rally supporting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, President Obama also urged senior Republicans to formally withdraw their endorsement of Donald Trump as presidential candidate.

Many top Republicans have withdrawn their support for Donald Trump afer a video in which he boasts of groping women emerged last week.

Donald Trump accused them of disloyalty.

The New York billionaire was particularly scathing about House Speaker Paul Ryan whom he described as a “weak and ineffective” leader.

Addressing a campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, on October 11, Barack Obama referred to Donald Trump’s crude remarks about women, saying: “Now you find a situation in which the guy says stuff that nobody would find tolerable if they were applying for a job at 7-Eleven.”

The president said: “You don’t have to be a husband or a father to say that’s not right. You just have to be a decent human being.”

Barack Obama questioned how senior Republican politicians could still want Donald Trump to be president.Barack Obama blames media for Donald Trump coverage

“The fact is that now you’ve got people saying: <<We strongly disagree, we really disapprove… but we’re still endorsing him>>. They still think he should be president, that doesn’t make sense to me,” he told the crowd.

Barack Obama was interrupted several times by anti-Clinton campaigners but seemed unfazed, saying: “This is democracy at work. This is great.”

The hecklers were escorted from the venue by security officials.

In another development, Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Chairman John Podesta has said that Russia was behind an apparent hacking of his emails and may have been colluding with the Trump campaign.

John Podesta said on October 11 that the FBI was investigating the hacking of the emails that were published by WikiLeaks.

The 2005 video released on October 7 revealed Donald Trump describing how he had sought to have s** with a married woman and making other aggressive comments about women.

Nearly half of the 331 incumbent Republican senators, House members and governors have condemned the lewd remarks and about 10% have called for Donald Trump to drop out of the race, according to Reuters.

On October 10, Paul Ryan said he would not defend Donald Trump over the remarks.

Paul Ryan told fellow House Republicans he would instead focus on congressional elections to ensure Republicans could maintain legislative control.

Donald Trump fired back in a string of tweets, saying the “shackles” had been removed, allowing him to “fight for America the way I want to”.

He said he neither wanted nor needed Paul Ryan’s support.

Donald Trump said “disloyal” Republicans “come at you from all sides. They don’t know how to win – I will teach them!”

He attacked Senator John McCain, who has denounced Donald Trump’s conduct and faces a close re-election battle in Arizona, as “foul-mouthed”.

Despite a widening divide within the Republican Party, some members insist they are sticking by Donald Trump.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he was “really disturbed” by Donald Trump’s comments about women but still planned to support him, saying the election was “about bigger issues than that”.

Texas Senator and former rival Ted Cruz also said he would still cast his ballot for Donald Trump, telling a Texas TV station that Hillary Clinton was an “absolute disaster”.

Donald Trump delivered a gaffe while addressing supporters in Florida on October 11, telling them to go out and vote on the wrong date.

ABC News footage showed Donald Trump saying: “Go and register. Make sure you get out and vote, November 28.”

The election date is November 8.

A recent PRRI/Atlantic poll suggested Hillary Clinton holds a 49-38 lead over Donald Trump.

Samsung Revises Down Q3 Profit Forecast Following Galaxy Note 7 Hit

Clyde K. Valle
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Samsung Revises Down Q3 Profit Forecast Following Galaxy Note 7 Hit

Samsung Electronics has revised down its Q3 profit forecast due to the scrapping of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.

The company now expects Q3 profits of 5.2 trillion won ($4.7 billion), which is a third lower than its original estimate of 7.8 trillion won.

The Galaxy Note 7 was recalled last month after battery fires, but after replacement phones experienced the same problem, Samsung scrapped the device.

Ahead of the profit warning, the South Korean company’s shares fell 0.8% on October 12.

That added to October 11 8% fall.

Photo Samsung
Photo Samsung

Samsung has seen more than $20 billion wiped off its market value in two days.

Its shares have fallen on concerns that the current crisis will go beyond the costs of the recall and affect the brand’s overall reputation.

According to analysts, the Note 7 crisis could cost Samsung in the long run, particularly coming just as rivals, such as Google and Apple, have announced new high-end smartphones.

The Galaxy Note 7 had been seen as the main rival to Apple’s new iPhone 7 model. Samsung’s woes have sent Apple’s shares to a 10-month high.

Last month, Samsung recalled around 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 phones after complaints of exploding batteries.

The company later insisted that all replaced devices were safe. However, that was followed by reports that those phones were catching fire too.

On October 11, Samsung said it would permanently cease production of the device and urged owners to turn it off.

Salah Abdeslam’s Lawyers Give Up His Defense

Roy Siemens
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Salah Abdeslam’s Lawyers Give Up His Defense

Salah Abdeslam’s lawyers say they will no longer defend the main suspect in last year’s Islamist attacks in Paris.

He will use his right to remain silent, one of the lawyers, Frank Berton, told BFM TV.

“We said from the beginning… that if our client remained silent we would quit his defense,” Frank Berton said, alongside fellow lawyer Sven Mary.

The attacks in Paris in November 2015 on bars, restaurants, a concert hall and the Stade de France killed 130 people.Salah Abdeslam arrested in Brussels

ISIS said it was behind the attacks.

Salah Abdeslam was arrested in Brussels in March 2016 and has kept silent since his transfer to France in April.

The attacker is being monitored 24 hours a day by video in his prison cell.

Frank Berton said in May the suspect was “particularly disturbed” by the surveillance.

Salah Abdeslam is thought to have played a key role in planning the Paris attacks and transporting the attackers, but investigators are yet to determine his specific role.

The lawyers informed Salah Abdeslam they would no longer represent him on October 6, BFM TV reports. It says that at present, he does not want to be represented by anyone else.

Legal representation is not required while the investigation continues but will be at his trial.

“The real victims of all of this are the victims of the Paris attacks, because they are entitled to this truth and they have the right to try to comprehend the incomprehensible,” Sven Mary said.

Ancient Greeks Arrived in China Long Before Marco Polo

James J. Williams
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Ancient Greeks Arrived in China Long Before Marco Polo

New finds suggest that China and the West were in contact more than 1,500 years before Marco Polo arrived in Asia.

Archaeologists say inspiration for the Terracotta Warriors, found at the Tomb of the First Emperor near today’s Xian, may have come from Ancient Greece.

Researchers also say ancient Greek artisans could have been training locals there in the Third Century BC.

Marco Polo’s 13th Century travel to China had been thought the first by a European.

Senior Archaeologist Li Xiuzhen, from the Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s Mausoleum Site Museum said: “We now have evidence that close contact existed between the First Emperor’s China and the West before the formal opening of the Silk Road. This is far earlier than we formerly thought.”

A separate study shows European-specific mitochondrial DNA has been found at sites in China’s westernmost Xinjiang Province, suggesting that Westerners may have settled, lived and died there before and during the time of the First Emperor.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

Farmers first discovered the 8,000 terracotta figures buried less than a mile from the tomb of China’s first emperor Qin Shi Huang in 1974.

But there was no tradition of building life-sized human statues in China before the tomb was created. Earlier statues were simple figurines about 7.9ins in height.

To explain how such an enormous change in skill and style could have happened, Dr. Li Xiuzhen believes that influences must have come from outside China.

“We now think the Terracotta Army, the Acrobats and the bronze sculptures found on site have been inspired by ancient Greek sculptures and art,” she said.

According to Prof. Lukas Nickel from the University of Vienna, statues of circus acrobats recently found at the First Emperor’s tomb support this theory.

Lukas Nickel believes the First Emperor was influenced by the arrival of Greek statues in Central Asia in the century following Alexander the Great, who died in 323BC.

“I imagine that a Greek sculptor may have been at the site to train the locals,” he said.

Other discoveries include new evidence that the First Emperor’s tomb complex is much bigger than first thought and 200 times bigger than Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

They also include the mutilated remains of women, believed to have been high-ranking concubines of the First Emperor, and the skull of a man with a crossbow bolt embedded in it.

The skull is believed to have belonged to the First Emperor’s eldest son, thought to have been killed along with others during a power struggle after the emperor’s death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1QeN7bxdic

Vladimir Putin Cancels France Visit amid Row over Syria

Roy Siemens
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Vladimir Putin Cancels France Visit amid Row over Syria

Vladimir Putin has decided to cancel a planned visit to France amid a row over Syria.

The Russian president had been due to meet his French counterpart Francois Hollande and open a new Orthodox church on October 19.

However, after the French government said talks would be confined to Syria the visit was halted, presidential sources said.

On October 10, Francois Hollande suggested Russia could face war crimes charges over its bombardment of Syria’s city of Aleppo.

The French presidency had told the Russians President Hollande would attend only one event with Vladimir Putin during the visit planned for October 19 – a working meeting on Syria, according to the sources.

But after this Russia “let it be known that it wanted to postpone the visit”, they added.Vladimir Putin Panama Papers

A spokesman for Vladimir Putin confirmed the trip had been canceled, adding that the visit would take place when it becomes “comfortable for President Hollande”.

Despite this Francois Hollande has said he will meet Vladimir Putin at “any time” if it would “further peace”.

The development comes a day after President Hollande told French TV that prosecutions over Syria could take place in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“These are people who today are the victims of war crimes. Those that commit these acts will have to face up to their responsibility, including in the ICC,” the French president said.

Neither Russia nor Syria is a member of the ICC.

Moscow has repeatedly denied attacking civilians, and says it targets terrorist groups in Syria.

The besieged east of Aleppo has come under intense aerial bombardment since a cessation of hostilities brokered by the US and Moscow collapsed last month.

The area was hit again on October 11 in some of the heaviest air strikes in days, a monitoring group and activists said.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 8 civilians were killed in strikes on the Bustan al-Qasr and Fardos districts.

Diplomatic efforts to revive the ceasefire have so far come to nothing.

The UN has warned that eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 275,000 people still live, could face “total destruction” in two months.

Last week Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution drafted by France calling for an end to the bombing in Aleppo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOav937xAyY

China: At Least 22 Killed in Wenzhou Multiple Building Collapse

Diane A. Wade
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China: At Least 22 Killed in Wenzhou Multiple Building Collapse

At least 22 people died after a group of residential buildings collapsed in eastern China, state media reports.

According to the Xinhua news agency, the incident on October 10 saw four buildings in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, reduced to rubble.

Image source AP
Image source AP

The buildings were reportedly built by villagers in the 1970s and were in a poor condition.

Most victims were migrant workers who had been renting cheap rooms.

Six people have been pulled out of the rubble alive.

One survivor was a young girl who was protected by the bodies of her dead parents, reported the Global Times.

Samsung Stops Selling and Exchanging Galaxy Note 7 Worldwide

Nancy Clayson
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Samsung Stops Selling and Exchanging Galaxy Note 7 Worldwide

Samsung has urged owners of the Galaxy Note 7 to turn off its high-end smartphone while it investigates new reports of the device catching fire.

The South Korean tech giant also said it would stop all sales of the phone.

The company recalled 2.5 million phones in September after complaints of exploding batteries, and later insisted that all replaced devices were safe.

However, there are now reports that even those phones were catching fire.

A man in Kentucky said he woke up to a bedroom full of smoke from a replaced Note 7, days after a domestic flight in the US was evacuated after a new device started emitting smoke in the cabin.

Photo Samsung
Photo Samsung

Samsung said: “Because consumers’ safety remains our top priority, Samsung will ask all carrier and retail partners globally to stop sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 while the investigation is taking place.

“Consumers with either an original Galaxy Note 7 or replacement Galaxy Note 7 device should power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available.”

On October 10, a Samsung spokeswoman insisted the phones were safe to use.

South Korean media reports suggest Samsung is likely to stop selling the phone permanently.

However, South Korea’s finance minister has warned that the country’s exports would be hurt if the Note 7 model is scrapped altogether.

“Right now we can’t tell what the impact will be in the long term. It’s up to the company and the government cannot interfere,” said Yoo Il-ho.

“But if they do scrap the model, it will have a negative impact on exports.”

The US consumer protection agency has also urged people not to use their Samsung replacement devices.

“No one should have to be concerned their phone will endanger them, their family or their property,” Elliot Kaye, chairman of the safety commission, said.

He called Samsung’s decision to stop distributing the device “the right move” in light of “ongoing safety concerns”.

On October 11, the South Korean transport ministry said people should not use or charge their Galaxy Note 7 devices on a plane.

The original Galaxy Note 7 had already been banned by numerous aviation authorities and airlines around the world.

Shailene Woodley Arrested During Dakota Access Pipeline Protest

Nancy Clayson
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Shailene Woodley Arrested During Dakota Access Pipeline Protest

The Divergent star Shailene Woodley has been arrested during a protest in North Dakota against a huge oil pipeline project that will cross four states.

Shailene Woodley was arrested at a construction site as she was broadcasting the protest, which involved about 200 people, on Facebook.

According to police, the actress was one of 27 people arrested on charges of criminal trespass and engaging in a riot.

The Dakota Access pipeline project has drawn huge protests.

Native Americans have halted the pipeline’s construction in North Dakota, saying it will desecrate sacred land and damage the environment.

In the Facebook Live footage, Shailene Woodley, 24, said she had been walking peacefully back to her vehicle when “they grabbed me by my jacket and said that I wasn’t allowed to continue… and they have giant guns and batons and zip ties and they are not letting me go”.

Image source Facebook
Image source Facebook

As Shailene Woodley was led away with her hands cuffed, she said she had been singled out from hundreds of other protesters “because I’m well known, because I have 40,000 people watching”.

The video spread quickly on social media and by early evening had been viewed more than 2.4 million times.

Shailene Woodley has previously joined members of North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to protest against the $3.7 billion pipeline.

The protest on October 10 took place at a construction site about two miles south of the town of St. Anthony.

The pipeline will run 1,168 miles through Iowa, Illinois, and North and South Dakota.

The company behind the project, Energy Transport Partners, has said it will boost local economies and is safer than transporting oil by rail or road.

However, environmental protesters believe the transporting of up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil a day will imperil local waterways.

Native American tribes believe the pipeline would also damage historic sites.

Paul Ryan Will Not Campaign with Donald Trump or Defend Him

Diane A. Wade
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Paul Ryan Will Not Campaign with Donald Trump or Defend Him

House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the most senior elected Republican official, has said he will not defend Donald Trump, after remarks he made about groping women led to outrage.

Paul Ryan vowed to focus on defending seats in Congress, but did not end his endorsement of the Republican Party’s nominee.

Donald Trump tweeted that Paul Ryan should not waste his time fighting him.

Earlier Hillary Clinton cast doubt on Donald Trump’s apology for the remarks, made 11 years ago.

On October 9, Donald Trump described his words as “locker-room talk”.

In a bitter TV debate, a month before the presidential election, Donald Trump denied he had groped anyone.

Hillary Clinton tweeted on October 10 that, if Donald Trump stood by this assertion, he was “clearly not sorry”.

Meanwhile Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence said he would stand by him despite an outcry over the remarks.

A 2005 video released on October 7 revealed Donald Trump describing how he had sought to have s** with a married woman and making inappropriate comments about women.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Asked about the video in the debate, Donald Trump turned his fire on Hillary Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, whom he described as “abusive to women”.

Hillary Clinton refused to address the comments.

At least 38 senior Republicans – including senators, members of Congress, and state governors – have withdrawn their support for Donald Trump since the video surfaced.

According to sources familiar with a conference call he held with congress members on October 10, Paul Ryan appeared to have accepted that Hillary Clinton would win the White House and wanted to make sure Republicans in Congress were strong enough to challenge her.

Paul Ryan said he would spend “his entire energy making sure that Hillary Clinton does not get a blank cheque with a Democrat-controlled Congress”, the source said.

“You all need to do what’s best for you in your district,” Paul Ryan was quoted as telling colleagues.

Donald Trump apologized for the remarks, and when pressed during the debate on whether he had engaged in s**ual misconduct, he denied doing so.

However, Hillary Clinton said his explanation that these were words not actions did not amount to an apology.

“If Trump stands by what he said about women as <<locker room talk>>, he’s clearly not sorry,” she tweeted.

Meanwhile Mike Pence praised Donald Trump’s honesty.

“I think last night he showed his heart to the American people. He said he apologized to his family, apologized to the American people, that he was embarrassed by it,” Mike Pence told CNN on October 10.

Earlier Mike Pence had described the remarks as indefensible.

The vice-presidential candidate said he was “honored to stand with” Donald Trump and denied he had considered withdrawing from the race.

When moderator Anderson Cooper asked about the video, Donald Trump denied ever assaulting women, dismissing the remarks as “just words”. Instead he focused on ex-President Bill Clinton’s indiscretions.

Hillary Clinton said the explosive video “represents exactly who he is”.

“With prior Republican nominees, I disagreed with them, but I never questioned their fitness to serve,” she said.

Donald Trump said if he won, he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton and she would be in prison over her private email arrangements.

“Everything he just said is absolutely false but I’m not surprised,” she responded.

“It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country.”

“Because you’d be in jail,” Donald Trump interrupted.

He also said Hillary Clinton “has tremendous hate in her heart” while criticizing her for referring to his supporters as “deplorables”.

Hillary Clinton said she apologized for the comment, adding: “My argument is not with his supporters, it’s with him, about the hateful and divisive campaign he has run.”

Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton also sparred on the conflict in Syria, Russian aggression, Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns and his plan for the “extreme vetting” of immigrants arriving from countries with links to terrorism.

The evening concluded when an audience member asked the candidates to say one positive thing about each other.

Hillary Clinton said his children were a great reflection of him while Donald Trump called his opponent “a fighter” who never gives up.

An hour before the debate began, Donald Trump appeared at a news conference with women who accused Bill Clinton of s**ual misconduct.

Donald Trump joined three women who allege Bill Clinton assaulted them and called the women “very courageous”.

Hillary Clinton also defended controversial remarks she made in a private speech that was made public in leaked emails on October 8.

The transcript revealed Hillary Clinton said a politician has a public and private position, but at the debate she said she had watched a film about Abraham Lincoln and was referring only to what he had done.

2016 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Awarded for Contract Theory

Clyde K. Valle
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2016 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Awarded for Contract Theory

Economists Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom have won the Nobel economics prize for work on contract theory.

Judges said Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom’s work laid “an intellectual foundation” for policies in areas such as bankruptcy legislation and political constitutions.

They will receive 8 million Swedish krona from the committee.

UK-born Oliver Hart, who was woken with the news at 4.40am, said his first reaction had been to hug his wife and wake his younger son.

Bengt Holmstrom of Finland said he felt “very lucky” and “grateful”.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said that Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom’s work was “valuable to the understanding of real-life contracts and institutions”.nobel-prize-in-economics-2016

It also said it could identify “potential pitfalls in contract design.”

Working separately, Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom created tools to help determine whether public sector workers should receive fixed salaries or performance-based pay, and whether providers of public services should be publicly or privately owned.

Bengt Holmstrom in particular is known for his research into how contracts and incentives affect corporate behavior.

The former Nokia board member declined to say whether he thought executive pay was too high these days, but commented: “My personal view is that [top executives’ contracts] are too complicated today.”

Bengt Holmstrom, 67, is a professor of economics and management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while Oliver Hart, born in 1948, is an economics professor at Harvard University in the US.

Oliver Hart and Bengt Holmstrom saw off competition from the World Bank’s new chief economist Paul Romer, who was widely tipped to win.

New York University’s Stern Business School, where Prof. Paul Romer teaches, sparked controversy on October 6 when it accidently published a press release naming him as the winner.

It quickly took down the release, saying it was only preparing for a possible win.

Others believed to be the running included Olivier Blanchard, a former chief economist at the IMF, and Edward Lazear, a fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

The economics prize is the only Nobel not created by Alfred Nobel, and was instead launched in 1968, long after the philanthropist’s death.

To date Americans have dominated the award, with 55 of the 76 laureates holding US citizenship, including those with dual nationalities.

In 2015, Scottish-born economist Angus Deaton won the prize for his use of data to investigate income inequality and inform economic policy.

It is the fifth Nobel to be announced in 2016, after prizes for physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry and peace were awarded last week.

The 2016 Nobel prize for literature will be awarded on October 13.

Do You Need Life-Saving Treatment? Get Ready

Dana R
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Do You Need Life-Saving Treatment? Get Ready

You may find yourself in a position where you need to get life-saving treatment of some kind. In this situation you need to make sure you focus on getting ready for this, and what to expect. Here are some things you’ll need to focus on when it comes to treatment time.

Choose Your Treatment

It’s important that you think carefully about the sort of treatment you want to pick. There is going to be some choice when it comes to treatment for your condition. And it will largely depend on what illness you have. Consider what all the options for therapy and treatment are before you make a decision. Your doctor or consultant will probably go through them with you, and you can figure out a plan of action together. You will want to choose the treatment with the best chance of success, but you also need to factor in quality of life.

Image Link

What to Expect Before Surgery

Before you have surgery, you’re going to get a briefing on the sorts of things that will be expected of you. It can be a scary and difficult time for you, and you may feel a little vulnerable. So you need to remember and understand what to do before you have surgery. Speak to a consultant or surgeon beforehand so you get a better idea of what to expect. Try to stay off the internet because you’re only going to focus on the negatives. Make sure you get plenty of rest so your body is in the best condition it can be for surgery. All this will help you to get yourself properly prepared for it, and focus on getting the best possible outcome.

Recovery

Once you’ve had your treatment, whether successful or not, you’ll need to focus on recovery. This is a crucial part of the process as your body may be very weak immediately after. You’re going to have undergone something very intense in a bid to save your life. And a big part of the treatment process is how well you recover from the surgery you’ve had. You will need to be in a reputable hospital in order to help with your recovery. And it will be important to have the right sort of people around you as well. Recovery is crucial when you have had any sort of treatment, and, if you rush it, then you may end up back at square one again.

What Next?

Now that you’ve had the treatment and focused on recovery you need to decide what’s next. Your life may well have been changed irrevocably as a result of this. And, you need to make certain that you have a plan for your life now. If you have been cured of whatever illness you had then consider this a fresh start. It’s a new chapter in your life, and one you should make the most of. You may also need to have an idea about what you’re going to do when it comes to further treatment. Have a plan in mind for the future, and how you will approach it after your treatment.

Many people will be in the position where they require life-saving treatment. There could be any number of conditions that require this. And you will need to prepare for what that process entails. It can be scary and worrying, but you should try to get as much information as possible before you get started.

Finding The People You’re Going To Need For Your Startup

Dana R
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Finding The People You’re Going To Need For Your Startup

So, you have a great idea for a business and you want to get it rolling. Having that kind of initiative is already a step in the right direction, but it’s not going to be enough to help you succeed. A great startup needs a great team behind it. Owners and partnerships are what can help you truly get the best start in the business.

bar, business, conference

Pic by unsplash.com

The money person

You might not have money as the primary goal of your business. The doesn’t change the fact that money is going to play the most important role in the day-to-day operations of the business. See if you can get a financial wizard on your side as an owner. Otherwise, consider how an accountant could be one of the first and most important hires for your business.

The facilitators

Another problem that a lot of new entrepreneurs have is finding the steps to make their business a reality. You might have the idea and even the investment money ready. But you could have some complaints about how to actually turn your idea into a reality. To businesses like World Patent Marketing, complaints like those can be quickly solved. Consider looking for engineers and designers. Look for partnerships that can turn your idea into a patentable business opportunity. It’s just as important for protecting your intellectual property as getting your own ball rolling.

The mentor

It’s not something that every entrepreneur is going to consider at first. However, by finding a mentor, you have the opportunity to avoid many of the pitfalls you might make early in your business life. Not only can they offer advice and expertise, a good mentor can offer contacts, too. They can help you link up with suppliers and distributors, or even make the process of getting funding all the easier.

The admin genius

Any business that’s running well is likely to produce a boat-load of administration work. It’s not always a great idea to give that admin work to the creative kind of people. Instead, you need to be able to identify and convince an administrative genius to come on board. Every business needs a person to whom disorder is their worst enemy and their organizational abilities are just the weapon needed. Put a lot more value in those who keep your company ticking over like that.

The rockstar

Administrators are all about keeping things cool, collected and neat. Rockstar marketers are quite the opposite. They rely on their gut, on finding opportunities and mining them for every potential gain they can get. They need to be your top salesperson and the one who helps you spot different angles for marketing. You need someone with their finger on the pulse of public perception. Someone who really knows people should be the one in charge of your branding.

As well as the dreamers, you need the people on the ground. The facilitators and administrators who are going to make sure you’re running the most efficient machine you can. So start looking for the people who can make a real impact on your chances.  

Samsung Halts Galaxy Note 7 Production

Nancy Clayson
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Samsung Halts Galaxy Note 7 Production

Samsung has reportedly stopped production of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone amid claims that replacement devices still have critical battery issues.

Reuters and Yonhap cited unnamed officials claiming Samsung had temporarily halted its Galaxy Note 7 production lines.

The move came as two the AT&T and T-Mobile networks stopped replacing or selling the Note 7.

On October 3, Samsung said it would also stagger shipments of the Note 7 to conduct in-depth inspections.

The South Korean tech giant issued a recall of the Galaxy Note 7 in September and assured customers last month that the fixed devices were safe.

However, there have now been several reports of replacement phones starting to emit smoke.

Photo Samsung
Photo Samsung

It comes after the AT&T and T-Mobile networks in the US said they would no longer replace the devices, while the latter said it would halt all sales of the phone.

“While Samsung investigates multiple reports of issues, T-Mobile is temporarily suspending all sales of the new Note 7 and exchanges for replacement Note 7 devices,” T-Mobile said on its website.

Meanwhile, AT&T said: “We’re no longer exchanging new Note 7s at this time, pending further investigation of these reported incidents.”

It advised customers to exchange them for other devices.

Samsung said in a statement last month that the issue of overheating was caused by a “rare” manufacturing error that resulted in the battery’s “anode-to-cathode [negative and positive electrodes]” coming into contact.

But last week, a domestic flight in the US was evacuated after a replacement Note 7 started emitting smoke in the cabin. And a man in Kentucky reportedly woke up to a bedroom full of smoke from a replaced Note 7.

In an update on October 9, Samsung said it understood the concerns of carriers and consumers about the newly released replacement Note 7 devices.

“We continue to move quickly to investigate the reported case to determine the cause and will share findings as soon as possible,” Samsung said.

“If we conclude a product safety issue exists, we will work with the CPSC (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) to take immediate steps to address the situation.”

Samsung’s shares fell 1.5% in Asian trade.

Overnight stopover in Frankfurt / Germany – How to make the most of it!

Dana R
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Overnight stopover in Frankfurt / Germany – How to make the most of it!

The city of Frankfurt by the river Main is the major hub for international air travel in Germany. Furthermore, it’s the banking and business capital of the country with a pretty impressive skyline. But “Mainhattan” – as the locals like to call their city – is also a great place to visit just for fun. Amazing hotels, fantastic dining, a bustling nightlife, historic places of interest and luxurious shopping make Frankfurt one of the coolest places to actually enjoy an overnight stopover in Germany.

Anything but another airport hotel!

Frequent travellers have seen them all – the classic airport hotels which are by no means bad, but mostly anything but special. The same goes for the ones surrounding the Frankfurt Airport. If you find yourself in the situation of spending only a short night here, a room in an airport hotel is just fine. However, if you are looking into a longer stopover in Frankfurt, here are some hotels where you will love every single second of your stay.

First in line is the 5* Superior Hotel “Jumeirah Frankfurt”. This amazing accommodation is situated in the heart of the city. A limo from the airport can take you to the hotel in around 25 minutes. Once your there, you’ll be welcomed with a drink and a refreshing oshibori. The 217 rooms and 49 suites are wonderfully designed and exceed even the highest expectations.

If you prefer a smaller and more individual place to spend the night, Frankfurt offers some of the finest design and boutique hotels in Germany. On top of the list is the legendary design hotel “Roomers” in Frankfurt. You will step into a futuristic atmosphere, where dark tones and leather meet classic design styles. The entire concept radiates harmony, luxury and cosiness, which is exactly how you will feel during your stay in this unique 5* design hotel.

Image result for Jumeirah Frankfurt

Fine dining in Frankfurt – a culinary hot spot!

If you take the renowned European restaurants guide Michelin as a reference, you’ll find three venues with two stars and nine restaurants with one star, which makes Frankfurt a true paradise for gourmets! But let’s move just a bit away from the mainstream and look at some culinary shooting stars in the city.

First in line is the “Stanley Diamond” close to the central train station. This fancy restaurant is THE place to dine for the young jet-set and trend setters in town. You will experience the local cuisine elevated to new heights and refined with a very creative touch.

Another insider tip is one of the best steak houses in “Mainhattan”: The restaurant “Surf ‘n Turf”.  The atmosphere in this place fits perfectly to the mouth-watering meat dishes you will be treated with. Dimmed lights, lots of oak wood and fitting decoration like old photos, deer antlers and so on make the Surf ‘n Turf a great place for a romantic dinner.

Dance the night away …

Frankfurt has always been known for its vibrant and colourful nightlife. Back in the early nineties the city was considered as one of the birthplaces of electronic music like Techno, Trance and House. Thus, clubbing in Frankfurt is absolutely fantastic! If you are not into hard beats and flashy lights, there is no need to worry. Numerous classy pubs, lounges and roof top bars await you throughout the city. On top, a vast and lively music scene guarantees a great choice of live performances from classic over jazz to some good old down to earth Rock ‘n Roll.

One place you should definitely check out is the famous Gibson Club! This very stylish and cool place is known to host some of the best live acts in Germany. It comes as no surprise, that this club counts among the “World’s finest Clubs”.

To sum things up, it is quite obvious that an overnight stopover in Frankfurt can be a lot of fun and anything but boring!

Second Presidential Debate: Donald Trump Launches Blistering Attack Against Clintons

Diane A. Wade
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Second Presidential Debate: Donald Trump Launches Blistering Attack Against Clintons

Republican candidate Donald Trump has defended his inappropriate remarks about groping women by launching a blistering attack against rival Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband during the second presidential debate.

Donald Trump denied ever assaulting women, but turned his fire on former President Bill Clinton.

“There’s never been anybody in the history of politics that has been so abusive to women,” he said.

Hillary Clinton refused to address Donald Trump’s comments about her husband.

Donald Trump’s attack on the Clintons came after moderator Anderson Cooper asked him about a 2005 video recording released on October 7 that revealed the New York billionaire bragging about groping women.

When pressed on whether he had engaged in s**ual misconduct with any women, Donald Trump denied doing so and instead focused on Bill Clinton’s previous indiscretions.

No criminal charges have been brought against Bill Clinton in any allegations of assault.

Hillary Clinton said the explosive video, which has sparked an exodus of Republicans denying support to their presidential nominee, showed who Donald Trump really was.

Image source YouTube
Image source YouTube

She said: “With prior Republican nominees, I disagreed with them, but I never questioned their fitness to serve.

“I think it’s clear to anyone who heard [the video] that it represents exactly who he is.”

When Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took to the stage in St Louis for their second of three debates, they did not shake hands, striking a bitter tone that would continue throughout.

Donald Trump said if he won, he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton and she would be in prison over her private email arrangements.

“Everything he just said is absolutely false but I’m not surprised,” she responded.

“It’s just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country.”

“Because you’d be in jail,” Donald Trump interrupted.

He also said his Democratic rival “has tremendous hate in her heart” while criticizing her for referring to his supporters as “deplorables”.

Hillary Clinton said she apologized for the comment, adding: “My argument is not with his supporters, it’s with him, about the hateful and divisive campaign he has run.”

The two also sparred on the conflict in Syria, Russian aggression, Donald Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns and his plan for the “extreme vetting” of immigrants arriving from countries with links to terrorism.

The evening concluded when an audience member asked the candidates to say one positive thing about each other.

Hillary Clinton said his children were a great reflection of him while Donald Trump called his opponent “a fighter” who never gives up.

An hour before the debate began, Donald Trump appeared at a press conference with women who accused Bill Clinton of s**ual misconduct.

The Republican joined three women who allege Bill Clinton assaulted them and called the women “very courageous”.

Donald Trump was under immense pressure after making inappropriate comments about women in the video.

At least 33 senior Republicans – including senators, members of Congress, and state governors – have withdrawn their support since the video surfaced on October 7.

Hillary Clinton also defended controversial remarks she made in a private speech that was made public in leaked emails on October 8.

The transcript had revealed Hillary Clinton said a politician has a public and private position, but at the debate she said she had watched a film about Abraham Lincoln and was referring only to what he had done.

Donald Trump appeared with Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee who settled a harassment suit against Bill Clinton for $850,000 in 1999 with no admission of guilt.

Juanita Broaddrick, who claimed Bill Clinton raped her in a hotel room in 1978, also appeared with Donald Trump.

Bill Clinton has denied the claim through his lawyer and no charges have ever been brought against him.

The third woman was Kathleen Willey, a former White House aide who said Bill Clinton groped her in his office in 1993, but had previously said it never happened.

Bill Clinton has also denied this claim.

Kathy Shelton, a fourth woman who spoke, encountered Hillary Clinton in a criminal case when she was 12 years old.

Early in Hillary Clinton’s legal career, she was appointed to defend Kathy Shelton’s rapist, despite objections, and had his sentence reduced to a lesser charge.

Years later, an audio tape emerged of Hillary Clinton discussing speaking with a reporter, in which she can be heard laughing about the case.

During one instance, Hillary Clinton laughed after explaining that her client had passed a lie detector test, which convinced her to never trust them again.

Second Debate: Donald Trump’s Camp Ready to Attack Hillary Clinton

Diane A. Wade
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Second Debate: Donald Trump’s Camp Ready to Attack Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump and his team have come out fighting after a slew of attacks over his inappropriate remarks about women.

The Republican candidate is due to meet his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the second presidential debate tonight.

Donald Trump’s adviser Rudy Giuliani said the Republican may well bring up Hillary Clinton’s alleged role in discrediting women who accused her husband Bill of abuse.

A 2005 recording of Donald Trump reveals him bragging about groping women.

Image source Wikimedia
Image source Wikimedia

At least 33 senior Republicans – including senators, members of Congress, and state governors – have withdrawn their support since the video surfaced on October 7.

Donald Trump tweeted a link to a video in which a woman accuses former president Bill Clinton of rape in 1978 while he was attorney general of Arkansas.

Hillary Clinton denied her claims of rape when they first emerged in 1999.

Some Republicans are calling for Donald Trump to quit the presidential race.

Utah Senator Mike Lee said the Republican Party had to find another candidate or it would not win the White House.

He told NBC’s Meet the Press: “We’ve got candidates who can do it. There’s still time to do it, but we have to actually do it.”

Donald Trump, who gave a video apology over the 2005 recording, has said there is “zero chance I’ll quit”.

Most Republican voters would appear to support his stance. In the first poll since the release of the tape, by Politico/Morning Consult, some 74% of Republican voters believe the party should continue to support Donald Trump.

A number of Donald Trumps supporters booed a party unity rally in Wisconsin on October 8, given by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Paul Ryan disinvited Donald Trump to attend the event after the tape revelations.

In his video apology, Donald Trump gave a hint that he would bring up more lurid allegations in Sunday’s debate saying: “Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary Clinton has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. We will discuss this more in the coming days.”

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani told media that Donald Trump would not hesitate to describe Hillary Clinton’s abuse in criminal terms.

“The reality is that… this is a situation in which neither side should throw stones because both sides have sinned,” he told NBC’s Meet the Press.

Hillary Clinton’s camp has not responded to the allegations, but her campaign chairman John Podesta called Donald Trump “disgusting” when asked for his response to the tape revelations.

“This is who this guy is,” he said.

It could be risky for Donald Trump to refer to Bill Clinton’s infidelities. According to the New York Times, polling suggests a majority of voters are not interested in revisiting stories about Bill Clinton’s behavior.

Nivolumab: Immunotherapy Drug Hailed as Game-Changer in Cancer Treatment

Kathryn R. Bown
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Nivolumab: Immunotherapy Drug Hailed as Game-Changer in Cancer Treatment

Nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug, has been described as a potential “game-changer” in promising results presented at the European Cancer Congress.

In a study of head and neck cancer, more patients taking the drug survived for longer compared with those who were treated with chemotherapy.

In another study, combining nivolumab with another drug shrank tumors in advanced kidney cancer patients.

Immunotherapy works by harnessing the immune system to destroy cancer cells.nivolumab-cancer-treatment

Advanced head and neck cancer has very poor survival rates.

In a trial of more than 350 patients, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 36% treated with nivolumab (Opdivo) were alive after one year compared with 17% who received chemotherapy.

Patients also experienced fewer side effects from immunotherapy.

The benefits were more pronounced in patients whose tumors had tested positive for HPV (human papillomavirus). These patients survived an average of 9.1 months with nivolumab and 4.4 months with chemotherapy.

Normally, this group of patients are expected to live less than six months.

Early data from a study of 94 patients with advanced kidney cancer showed that the double hit of nivolumab and ipilimumab resulted in a significant reduction in the size of tumors in 40% of patients.

Of these patients, one in 10 had no sign of cancer remaining.

This compares with 5% of patients showing tumor reduction after standard therapy.

Nivolumab and ipilimumab both work by interrupting the chemical signals that cancers use to convince the immune system they are healthy tissue.

New York Train Collision: Dozens Injured at New Hyde Park

Nancy Clayson
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New York Train Collision: Dozens Injured at New Hyde Park

Dozens of people have been injured after a Long Island Rail Road train has derailed near New York, officials say.

The incident occurred at New Hyde Park in Nassau County. The injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

Image source longisland.news
Image source longisland.news

The 12-carriage train carrying some 600 passengers derailed at about 21:00 local time on October 8.

Reports say the passenger train hit a work train about 20 miles east of New York’s Manhattan borough.

Twenty-nine people were taken to hospital with injuries such as broken bones and concussion, officials said, with scores more treated at the scene for more minor injuries.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: “Thankfully, early reports indicate that injuries are minimal.”

Passengers told local media they saw sparks at the windows after the train began shaking before striking something and coming to a halt.

The Long Island Rail Road – one of the busiest in the New York area – was closed after the crash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDdKEBE8nWs

Donald Trump Tape: John McCain and Condoleezza Rice Withdraw Support After Women Remarks

Diane A. Wade
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Donald Trump Tape: John McCain and Condoleezza Rice Withdraw Support After Women Remarks

Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have withdrawn support for Donald Trump after his inappropriate remarks about women became public.

At least a dozen Republicans have said they will not be voting for the New York billionaire, since the comments emerged on October 7.

Donald Trump says he will never drop out of the race to be president and will never let his supporters down.

He has been under pressure after a tape from 2005 of him bragging about groping and kissing women was broadcast.

John McCain said Donald Trump’s comments “make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy”, while Condoleeza Rice said: “Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw.”

Image source U.S. Marine Corps
Image source U.S. Marine Corps

Another senior Republican, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte said in a statement: “I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women.”

Kelly Ayotte – who faces a competitive race for re-election – said she would not vote for Hillary Clinton but instead would “write in” Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, on her ballot paper.

Several other Republicans also said they would vote for Mike Pence.

Donald Trump himself stressed that there was “zero chance I’ll quit”, adding that he was getting “unbelievable” support.

In a tweet, the Republican candidate said: “The media and establishment want me out of the race so badly.”

Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, issued a statement on October 8 saying: “The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me.”

Melania Trump said her husband had “the heart and mind of a leader”.

Mike Pence said he was “offended” by Donald Trump’s video, but grateful he had expressed remorse and apologized to the American people.

“We pray for his family,” he said in a statement.

House Speaker Paul Ryan had originally invited Donald Trump to attend a campaign event in Wisconsin this weekend but rescinded his invitation, saying he was “sickened” by what he had heard. Mike Pence was due to go in his running mate’s place, but declined to attend.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton called Donald Trump’s comments in the tape “horrific”.

In the recorded comments, which date back to 2005 when Donald Trump was appearing as a guest on a soap, he says “you can do anything” to women “when you’re a star”.

Donald Trump released a video statement apologizing for the comments.

His 2005 comments, posted by the Washington Post, overshadowed the release of transcripts of Hillary Clinton’s speeches to private events, by the WikiLeaks.

Donald Trump had married his third wife Melania a few months before the recording. She said on October 8: “I hope people will accept his apology, as I have, and focus on the important issues facing our nation and the world.”

The second TV debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will take place on Sunday evening, October 9, in St Louis.

Donald Trump recently said he would not bring up stories about Bill Clinton’s infidelities in the debate, after previously threatening to do so.

However, in his video apology, he attacked the former president directly: “Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked and shamed his victims.”

“We’ll discuss this in the coming days,” he said.

“See you at the debate on Sunday.”

First Date Rules: How to Impress Her

Lisa.Felice
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First Date Rules: How to Impress Her

Your first date with a woman is your chance to get to know her better and establish a connection between you. If you’ve been out of the dating scene for a while or have little experience in courting women, you’d better do your homework and prepare for a date reading the following tips. Most of the recommendations given in this article by Ukrainian Dating Site UABrides.com apply not only to the first dates but also to all dates in general.

Initiative

Women like reliable men who can make their own decisions. Don’t ask a woman where she would like to go. It is you who choose the venue for your date. It’s obvious: you ask her out, you choose the place.

Confidence

Women have a well-developed sixth sense and they are very observant. It will not be an exaggeration to say that sometimes they can see through men. This is their natural tool that helps them pick the best partner. One of the qualities that women value most in men is confidence. If a man is unconfident, a woman will feel it. She will either get disappointed or, if she really likes him, try to focus on his other virtues. You should know that women find confident men sexy and appealing, so it can be an incentive for you to develop your confidence. Fake it till you make it.

Positive emotions

Women are very emotional creatures and you task is to evoke as many positive feelings in your date as possible. This is one of the secrets of a successful first date. Think outside the box. Instead of going to a café, take your date to the art gallery. Learn more about the current exhibition to impress her with your knowledge. Combine different activities to trigger more emotions. For example, take a walk in the park, then take a ride on a Ferris wheel, and after that relax at a cozy restaurant. The more diverse your date, the more impressions your girl will get.

Awkward silence

Actually, there is not such a thing as an awkward silence – there are silence and awkwardness separately. And if silence necessarily leads to an awkward feeling, you need to deal with it. If you’re having a conversation and suddenly a moment of silence sets in, your date will look at you trying to figure out what’s going on and if she notices your nervousness and desperate attempts to continue your dialog, that’s bad. But if she sees that you’re silent because you’re enjoying the moment, be it a walk or a cup of coffee, she’ll realize everything is under your control. Even if she was worried about the situation, your confident look will make her feel comfortable.

Conversation

Don’t ask primitive questions (her favorite music, movies, etc). After several general questions, you’ll know what she does and what she’s interested in. Using that information, ask questions and keep the ball rolling. Your genuine interest in her personality will make you even more attractive in her eyes.

Kissing

Your first date should not necessarily end with a kiss. If a woman isn’t ready for it, you may appear as too pushing. Remember that if a girl wants to kiss you, you’ll notice it. Her body language, her eyes, and the distance between you will signal her readiness for a kiss.

Nobody’s Perfect: How to Protect Yourself from User Error

Ricky Robinson
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Nobody’s Perfect: How to Protect Yourself from User Error

As the old adage says, ‘no one is perfect.’ This often applies to people who lock their keys in the car or turn their laundry pink, but it’s a little more problematic when human slip-ups put your small business at risk.

In fact, 95 percent of all cybersecurity incidents involve human error. While that figure may frighten you, there are steps you can take to safeguard your organization against employee-linked data breaches.

Boost Your Cyber Smarts

Employee education is absolutely vital to protecting your small business. This can be done in a number of ways. While some companies choose to walk new hires through cybersecurity training during their first week, other companies may host quarterly or yearly cybersecurity training meetings to refresh everyone’s memories about best practices.

Impress upon your employees the importance of avoiding opening emails from unknown or suspicious sources. Cybercriminals are avid spammers, and their emails frequently contain links and attachments meant to infect your computer with dangerous malware. Phishing scams are included in URLs in an attempt to deceive employees into sharing their passwords and login information.

Some hackers, who are trickier than others, will use spoofing to pose as a friend or coworkers in emails or text messages. The lie is made even more convincing by redirecting the user to fraudulent phishing pages made to look identical to the real thing. The goal, of course, is to fool your team members into divulging valuable information.

While digital threats continue to evolve as do the methods to combat them. Continued cybersecurity training will ready your team to be aware of any risk.

Cut the Phishing Line

But even with the best cybersecurity protocols, accidents happen. Sometimes it’s a careless click, or maybe your employee fell prey to an extra crafty ploy. No matter the case, your business information has been compromised by a phishing attack. What do you do? To remove yourself from a phishing scam:

Begin with changing your passwords immediately: Don’t allow the hacker to gain further access to your other accounts.

Be sure to repot the incident right away: The faster you act, the better your chances of limiting the damage.

Next, check your ‘sent’ email folder: Make sure your contacts haven’t been spammed using your good name.

Finally, do a security sweep: This will uncover any malware programs that may have been downloaded without your knowledge.

Purging Malware & Trojans

Oh no! Your sweep revealed malware infections on your device. It may have even been living inside your computer, undetected for months. Symptoms include slow performance, advertising pop-ups when browsers are closed and bogus security warning from programs you didn’t install.

Removing malware can be incredibly time consuming. So let’s get started.

The first step is to update your antivirus software: The most recent update will better combat whatever is infecting your computer.

Restart your computer in safe mode: This will stop malware from spreading while you hunt down its roots. Start by deleting temporary files. Be sure to investigate any files or programs unfamiliar to you.

While this may be enough to detect and exterminate your computer bug, it is likely that you may need to download additional security software to relieve your system. A computer professional will be able to help you if necessary.

Explore Cybersecurity Insurance Quotes

As you can tell, cyberattacks consume your time and resources, costing your small business thousands in damages and downtime. Shield yourself by investigating cyber security insurance quotes. Providers even offer protection against extortion and reputational damage.

Cyber security quotes may vary, but are very affordable compared to risk posed by cybercriminals. Besides, investing pennies a day is infinitely preferable to dropping tens of thousands of dollars on data breach.

3 Awesome Tips to Help You Pay Off Your Payday Loan

Clyde K. Valle
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3 Awesome Tips to Help You Pay Off Your Payday Loan

Are you slowly sinking under the burden of your payday loans? Are you feeling encumbered and completely clueless as to how to reduce your debt? This article aims to discuss some methods or ways that can help you to find a lasting solution or at least cope with the situation better.

 

Why are personal loans better?

 

Personal loans like term loans or installment loans whether you are considering them for a long term or a moderately long term or short term are the best option if you are thinking about managing a big investment or you need to money to meet your recurring shortfalls. A payday loan can get you through a very short-term crisis but if you fail to pay the principal along with the interest, the debt will mount and you may have to pay an APR (annual percentage rate) in excess of 400%. It is one of the costliest financing options.

money

On the other hand, a short-term personal loan or a term loan has a fixed repayment schedule, a fixed rate of interest, is much more transparent, provides more legal protection to the borrower and is easier to pay off as they give more time and the interest rate is manageable.

 

For example, flex loans from Cashco Financial are consumer-friendly short to moderately long term loans which provide security to the customer. It takes care of long-term needs of the customer and helps him to improve his credit score. Every time, you pay off your monthly bill, a report is filed with a credit reporting agency in Canada and this helps to significantly improve it, if you don’t default on payments.

 

You can also use flex loans for consolidating and paying off other loans that you have accrued. You can borrow a flex loan online or visit one of the stores in 62 locations across four provinces in Canada to apply for one. A soft credit check is conducted and the loan is sanctioned in most cases. It is completely hassle-free and you will be protected by Cashco’s client-first policy throughout the journey. You will also receive counseling and any legal help that you may require.

 

The company aims to provide financial service to the unbanked section of Canada by providing pawn loans. In addition to long-term flex loans, the company also provides single payment payday loans, auto loans and also pre-settlement funding to the needy.

 

Personal loans also provide a higher borrowing limit than payday loans because they are designed to take care of such financial needs that require bigger investment. The interest rate is usually lower than credit card rates as well.

 

How to pay off payday loans on time?

 

  1. Supplement your day income with additional incomes: If you think that you may fall short of meeting your financial obligation to pay off your payday loan or if you have been steadily building up a debt, you can explore the possibility of considering some income generating sources that pay you decent money quickly. Internet allows you to make quick money. You could work as a freelance writer, take online surveys, do product and app reviews, choose and use a search engine which pays you for using it, if you have a knack for art, you could sell your items on Etsy, sell your used items on Craiglist or in flea markets, work as a dog-walker, do baby-sitting, bartending or anything that suites you.
  2. Work out a settlement plan: Most scrupulous lenders have a hardship program for such clients who find themselves in troubled waters through no fault of their own. For example, if you get laid off without any prior notice after you have taken a payday loan, the lender may be willing to let your off by just collecting the principal or a smaller amount of interest. Sometimes, they will give you more time. But, it’s best not to rollover your debt again and again if you are not in a position to pay because it just adds up.
  3. Repay using your RRSP fund or your life insurance policy: It is just better to pay off your payday loan, however insignificant, rather than letting it build up. If needed, borrow money against your life insurance or registered retirement savings plan funds to pay off the loan first. If you pay before the payday loan builds up, you won’t have to lose too much on the maturity amount of your savings plans.
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