Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made
a surprise visit to the G7 summit in France on August 25.
He attended side-line talks in the seaside town of Biarritz where world
leaders, including President Donald Trump, have gathered.
Reports suggest the US delegation was surprised by Mohammad Javad Zarif’s
visit, which comes at a time of high tension with Iran.
The Iranian official said on Twitter that he held “constructive”
talks with his French counterpart and President Emmanuel Macron, adding he gave
a joint briefing to German and British officials.
Mohammad Javad Zarif also met President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on August
23 on the eve of the summit.
Relations between Iran and the US have deteriorated since Washington
withdrew from a 2015 deal to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in 2018.
Five other nations – including France – remain committed to the deal, but
Iran has started to ratchet up its nuclear activity in response to the US
reinstating and tightening economic sanctions against them.
President Macron has taken an active role in trying to
diffuse tensions and save the accord – but Iran’s relations with the West have
strained further in recent months over a series of confrontations and oil
tanker seizures in and around the Gulf.
Mohammad Javad Zarif was himself singled out for US sanctions last month,
with US officials accusing him of implementing “the reckless agenda”
of Iran’s leader.
Reports about the circumstances of his visit on Sunday are conflicting.
French officials told reporters the foreign minister was invited in agreement
with the US delegation, but White House officials have suggested they were
taken by surprise.
They were also conflicting comments by President Macron and President Trump
during the weekend as to whether G7 leaders had agreed a joint approach to
easing tensions with Tehran.
On August 25, President Trump appeared to dismiss French mediation efforts.
He said: “We’ll do our own
outreach, but, you know, I can’t stop people from talking. If they want to
talk, they can talk.”
Leaders from the G7 – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the
US – have been attending the group’s 45th summit all weekend.
A range of topics, including the nuclear deal and Brexit, have been on the talks agenda.
NASA is investigating a claim that
an astronaut accessed the bank account of her estranged spouse from the
International Space Station (ISS), in what may be the first allegation of a
crime committed in space.
The New York Times
reports that Anne McClain acknowledges accessing the account from the ISS but
denies any wrongdoing.
Her estranged spouse, Summer Worden,
reportedly filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Anne McClain has since returned to
Earth.
She told the New York Times through a lawyer that she was merely making sure
that the family’s finances were in order and there was enough money to pay
bills and care for Summer Worden’s son – who they had been raising together
prior to the split.
Her lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said: “She strenuously denies that she did
anything improper,” adding that Ms McClain was “totally
co-operating”.
Anne McClain and Summer Worden, who
is an Air Force intelligence officer, married in 2014 and Worden filed for
divorce in 2018.
Investigators from NASA’s Office of
Inspector General have contacted both over the allegation, the New York Times reported.
Anne McClain graduated from the
prestigious West Point military academy and flew more than 800 combat hours
over Iraq as an Army pilot. She went on to qualify as a test pilot and was
chosen to fly for NASA in 2013.
The astronaut spent six months
aboard the ISS and had been due to feature in the first all-female spacewalk,
but her role was canceled at the last minute over what NASA said was a problem
with availability of correct suit sizes.
There are five national or
international space agencies involved in the ISS – from the US, Canada, Japan,
Russia and several European countries – and a legal framework sets out that
national law applies to any people and possessions in space.
So, if a Canadian national were to
commit a crime in space, they would be subject to Canadian law, and a Russian
citizen to Russian law.
Space law also sets out provisions
for extradition back on Earth, should a nation decide it wishes to prosecute a
citizen of another nation for misconduct in space.
As space tourism becomes a reality,
so might the need to prosecute space crime, but for now the legal framework
remains untested.
NASA officials told the New York Times that they were not aware of any crimes committed on the space station.
Prince Andrew has opened up for the first time
to defend his former friendship with US financier Jeffrey Epstein, saying
“at no stage” did he “see or suspect” any criminal behavior.
Jeffrey Epstein, 66, took his own life in a jail cell this month while
awaiting trial on trafficking charges.
In a statement, Prince Andrew said he wanted to “clarify the
facts” around his “former association or friendship” with
Epstein.
The Duke of York, 59, said it was a “mistake” to meet Epstein
after he left prison in 2010.
He said: “During the time I knew
him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year.
“I have stayed in a number of his
residences. At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see,
witness or suspect any behavior of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest
and conviction.”
Prince Andrew – who said he first met Jeffrey Epstein in 1999 – added that
he had “tremendous sympathy” for all those affected by Epstein’s
behavior.
The duke said: “His suicide has
left many unanswered questions and I acknowledge and sympathize with everyone
who has been affected and wants some form of closure.”
Allegations against Jeffrey Epstein
began to surface in 2005 when the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in
Florida he had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home.
The financier was accused of paying
underage girls to perform s** acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions
between 2002 and 2005.
A controversial secret plea deal saw
Jeffrey Eptstein plead guilty to a lesser charge of soliciting a minor for
prostitution. The tycoon received an 18-month prison sentence and was released
on probation in 2010.
Prince Andrew was photographed with Jeffrey
Epstein in New York’s Central Park in late 2010 – after the financier was
released from jail.
Footage has also emerged reportedly
showing Prince Andrew at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan in 2010.
In the statement, released on August 24, the prince added: “I have said previously that it was a
mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010 and I can only
reiterate my regret that I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of
him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know.
“This is a difficult time for everyone
involved and I am at a loss to be able to understand or explain Mr. Epstein’s
lifestyle.
“I deplore the exploitation of
any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such
behavior.”
In July 2019, Jeffrey Epstein was charged in New York with further
allegations of trafficking and conspiracy and was due to face trial next year.
Jeffrey pleaded not guilty to all the charges but if convicted, was facing up to 45 years in prison.
There’s something about the long, hot days of summer that have
us hankering for a sense of lightness and peace in our homes. When it’s 95
degrees outside and the sun hasn’t set by 8 p.m., we don’t want to see heavy
plaid comforters on our beds or dark colors on our walls, nor do we want to sit
on formal-feeling furniture.
While you understandably don’t have the money in your budget to
remodel each room of your home from top to bottom for each new season, there
are plenty of affordable ways to bring summertime décor trends into your
home.
For example, check out these three easy ideas:
1. Become a Minimalist — At Least for Now
During the summer months, store away as many unneeded and unused items as possible. According to Better Homes and Gardens, think of your casa as a summer vacation home and thereby go about storing away the wintry throws, dozens of knickknacks and other items that are cluttering up the room.
Then, pull the curtains open to bring in plenty of natural light
and, if it’s not too hot outside, open some windows or doors to let in some
cool morning air. You can bring all the warm and heavy items back out once fall
comes, but for now, pare down each room to the essentials.
2. Add Splashes of Bright and Cheerful Colors
While you might associate fall and winter with deep tones like
burgundy, rich reds, evergreen and browns, summer is all about light and cheery
colors. To celebrate this trend, you could paint an accent wall a vivid blue,
yellow or lime green; after all, a gallon of paint is pretty easy on the
wallet. Similarly, if you’re in need of a new sofa, skip the neutral tan or
grey model for one that has a cheerier color.
For instance, the Dahlia sofa from Jerome’s Furniture is covered with a turquoise fabric, along with a couple of accent pillows that complement the color of the sofa. The turquoise color is perfect for the summer months and can be “warmed up” a bit in the fall and winter with the addition of cream-colored fleece blankets and maybe a few extra pillows with autumn leaf or snowflake motifs.
3. Channel Your Inner Museum Curator
If you’ve had the same pieces of art hanging on your walls for years, summer is the ideal time to brighten up your space with some new choices. Indeed, you could switch out framed prints every season for a super-fast and easy way to change the look and feel of your home. Simply store the unused prints in the back of a closet.
Now, if you still love your posters, sculptures and framed
artwork, you certainly don’t have to trash them; just consider temporarily
replacing a few of the old pieces with cheerful floral prints or an abstract
painting with lots of bright colors. Then, when the weather turns cool again,
put the summer pieces away and bring out the more formal paintings.
Make Your Home Sing “Summer”
Before you know it, the days will get shorter and the mercury in
the thermometer will begin to drop. Until then, celebrate summer in and around
your home by embracing the minimalist lifestyle, adding in lots of color and
bringing in some new artwork. Your home — and your mood — will feel lighter and brighter.
Did you know that only32 percent of Americans have a household budget in place? Failing to focus on your finances can lead to several problems in the future. If you have a limited amount of money in your savings account, dealing with financial emergencies will be very difficult.
Instead of letting a financial disaster overwhelm you, finding a way to get money in a hurry is a must. People who need money today have a lot of options on the market. Finding the right financial tools to get out of a bad situation will take some time and effort.
The following are some of the things you can do to secure cash in a hurry if you are in a financial bind.
Sell a Structured Settlement for One Lump Sum
Disputes involving personal injuries, defective products, and medical malpractice usually get settled out of court. In most cases, people who are seeking compensation in cases like this will receive a structured settlement. This type of settlement pays the victim monthly instead of giving them a lump sum.
If you have a structured settlement, selling it for a lump sum can help you get a quick influx of cash. Finding companies that buystructured settlements will require some research. By calling a few different companies, you can quickly figure out which one can provide the best deal.
Need Money Today? Sell Unwanted Items
If you need cash now, the first thing you should do is take a look around your home. Most people have a lot of unused or unwanted items laying around. Selling these items can help you get money in a hurry without having to do a lot of work.
People will buy everything from clothes to old electronics. The key to having success with this venture is choosing the right platform to sell your goods on. Forums like Facebook Marketplace allow you to post items for sale without having to pay a fee.
Before you put your items up for sale, make sure you offer a competitive price. With a bit of online research, you should have no problem finding information about what the items in question have sold for in the past.
Using Personal Loans is a Good Idea
Do you have a job and a handful of previous paycheck stubs? If so, you should be able to get a personal loan. Generally, the lenders that offer these loans have very lax approval standards.
Instead of rushing through the personal loan selection process, take the time to weigh all your options. Doing this can help you avoid paying high-interest rates.
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way!
Giving up too soon on your search for quick cash will only make your problems worse. If you need money today, by working hard you can find a way to get the money you need.
Are you looking for more personal finance advice? If so, check out the rest of our blog.
While Canada has traditionally ranked quite well in sustainable development areas like quality of urban life and education compared with other wealthy nations, some areas, like greenhouse gas emissions, have presented more of a challenge.
But from gold mining that actually helps to restore the environment, to private companies providing electric vehicle charging stations for their employees, and government funding to provide cleaner energy to remote communities, some truly inspirational work is taking place. We take a look at just a few recent Canadian sustainable initiatives that are looking to move the needle further in the right direction!
Many remote indigenous communities in Canada rely on diesel fuel as their main source of electricity. Now, thanks to an $11 million grant from the government, Hydro-Quebec will be working with 13 communities in northern Quebec to change that. The funds will go towards a smart-grid project, the implementation of more sources of renewable energy, and new battery storage systems. By 2030, the project hopes to reduce the communities’ use of diesel by 800,000 liters per year, and lower carbon emissions by 7,500 tons.
Apple and Tiffany & Co partner with RESOLVE to source sustainable Salmon Gold from Canada’s Yukon
While gold mining and environmental conservation have never quite gone hand in hand, a fascinating initiative by non-profit RESOLVE is giving companies the chance to obtain this precious metal while helping to restore the environment.
By combining sustainable re-mining with the restoration of
salmon spawning runs in Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon, the idea is to
allow nature to reintroduce itself and for indigenous fish species like salmon
and grayling to return.
Jewelry giant Tiffany & Co, and Apple (which uses small
amounts of gold in some of their electrical components) have already jumped
onboard, and RESOLVE expects to source over 1,000 ounces of Salmon Gold this
year. Apple will also be making use of blockchain technology to track the gold
through their supply chain, all the way back to the source mine and refiner.
More durable roads through cellular confinement systems (geocells)
Many regions in Canada have vast areas of soft peat soil,
which makes the construction of roads -especially durable and long-lasting
roads- difficult. In addition, traditional construction techniques call for
large volumes of high-quality aggregate to be hauled in
for use as infill when local soil is unsuitable. This increases both the cost
and carbon footprint of the project.
Now, geocell road design in Canada is allowing the process of building new roads to become more sustainable both during and after construction. Through the use of these honeycomb-like geocell layers, lower quantities and qualities of infill (such as locally available sand, soil, or even recycled asphalt paving) can be used in the soil stabilization process – lowering cost, fuel use, pollution and the carbon footprint of the project while extending the road’s lifespan and reducing the need for future maintenance and repairs.
Bell Canada adds over 40 electric vehicle charging stations for employees
Sustainable initiatives aren’t just a way for large companies to play their part in the fight against climate change, they’re a good way to attract and retain top talent too. In an effort to support electric vehicle adoption and improve employee satisfaction, Bell Canada has installed 24 EV charging stations at their Nun’s Island, Montreal headquarters, as well as several others across their network of branches. And it’s worked – since installing the charging stations, the number of Bell employees driving electric vehicles has more than quadrupled.
In 1994, employees and volunteers at the Vancouver Aquarium
embarked on a beach cleanup in Stanley Park. The word has spread in a big way –
and since then, some 800,000 volunteers have collected a whopping 1.3 million
kilograms of trash in 21,300 cleanups from coastal and freshwater shorelines
across the country.
Now running in partnership with WWF Canada, tens of thousands of Canadians now participate, demonstrating the public’s eagerness to get on board with sustainability initiatives, get their hands dirty, and play their part in promoting awareness of the global plastic crisis. The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is now recognized as one of the largest direct action conservation programs in Canada.
Farm Fresh Food Hub (FFFH) aims to create a more sustainable food system in Manitoba
The South Osborne Farmers’ Market, led by Farm Fresh Food Hub, returned for its fourth run earlier this year, providing a space for the community to engage with ecologically sustainable food producers and each other. Since 2016, the SOFM has grown from 8 vendors to over 40, offers several eco-friendly initiatives, and also hosts a bi-weekly speaker series, “Chew on this!” which explores important issues around food production, from better utilization of indigenous foods to food justice.
President Donald Trump has called Danish PM Mette
Frederiksen “nasty” after she rebuffed his idea of buying Greenland.
He lashed out hours after PM Mette Frederiksen said she was “sorry”
that President Trump had abruptly called off a state visit to Denmark.
The Danish prime minister has dismissed the suggestion of such a land deal
as “absurd”.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II invited President Trump to visit the country on
September 2, and the manner of his cancelation has stunned the Scandinavian
nation.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on August 21, President Trump
took umbrage at Mette Frederiksen’s remarks.
He said: “I thought that the
prime minister’s statement that it was absurd, that it was an absurd idea was
nasty.
“I thought it was an
inappropriate statement. All she had to do is say no, we wouldn’t be
interested.”
The president added: “She’s not
talking to me. She’s talking to the United States of America. You don’t talk to
the United States that way, at least under me.”
President Trump pointed out that President Harry Truman once considered
making an offer for Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory.
He continued to make digs at Denmark online.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mette Frederiksen reiterated that Greenland could not
be bought.
She told reporters the idea of selling the resource-rich Arctic island had
“clearly been rejected” by its leader, Kim Kielsen, “a position
I share of course”.
Mette Frederiksen also said President Trump’s visit would have been an
“opportunity to celebrate Denmark’s close relationship to the US”.
“This does not change the character of our good
relations and we will continue our dialogue on how we can deal with challenges
we are facing,” she said, adding that the
invitation to President Trump “remains open”.
Mette Frederiksen has said
President Trump’s no-show was a matter of regret because “our preparations
were well under way”.
While praising Denmark as a
“very special country”, President Trump said in a tweet on August 20
that his planned visit would no longer go ahead because Mette Frederiksen had
“no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland”.
President Trump had earlier
confirmed reports that he was interested in buying Greenland. When asked on August
18 if he would consider trading a US territory for the island, he replied: “Well, a lot of things could be
done.”
“Essentially it’s a large real estate deal,” he said.
On August 19, President Trump tweeted
a jokey image showing a tall golden skyscraper among the homes of a small
village on the island.
The cancelation was described as a “farce” by the leader of the
populist Danish People’s Party, Kristian Thulesen Dahl.
He tweeted: “What is this man
thinking of though? And with grounds that are worthy of an April Fools’ joke.”
Danish Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov accused President Trump of lacking
respect for his country.
Former foreign minister Kristian
Jensen said President Trump’s move had resulted in “total chaos”.
A spokeswoman for the leftist
Red-Green Alliance, Pernille Skipper, said: “Trump
lives on another planet.”
Pia Kjaersgaard, the populist former
speaker of the Danish parliament, said it showed “rude behavior to the
Danish people and the Queen, who invited him.”
President Trump has reportedly taken
an interest in Greenland, in part, because of its resources, such as coal,
zinc, copper and iron ore.
However, while Greenland may be rich
in minerals, it relies on Denmark for two-thirds of its budget revenue. It has
high rates of suicide, alcoholism and unemployment.
The US has long seen Greenland, which sits along a direct route from Europe
to North America, as being strategically important. It established the Thule
air force and radar base there at the start of the Cold War, which now covers
space surveillance and forms the northernmost part of the US ballistic missile
early warning system.
Meanwhile, new Arctic sea routes are opening up as climate change is blamed
for the accelerating thaw of ice in the region.
China has recently been taking an interest in the area, too.
President Donald Trump has accused Jewish
Americans who vote for the Democratic Party of “either a total lack of
knowledge or great disloyalty”.
The remark drew sharp criticism that President Trump had used an anti-Semitic
trope accusing Jews of dual loyalty.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America said the president was trying to
“weaponize and politicize anti-Semitism” for political gain.
The remark followed attacks by President Trump on two Muslim Democratic
congresswomen.
He has repeatedly accused Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida
Tlaib of anti-Semitism.
Under pressure from President Trump, Israel last week blocked Ilhan Omar and
Rashida Tlaib from entering the country. The two women, who are vocal critics
of the Israeli government, had been due to visit the occupied West Bank and
East Jerusalem.
Israel later agreed to let Rashida Tlaib make a “humanitarian”
visit to her grandmother in the occupied West Bank, but she declined, saying
she could not comply with the “oppressive conditions” being imposed.
Speaking to reporters on August 20,
President Trump said: “I think any
Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of
knowledge or great disloyalty.”
On August 21, the president denied
his comments were racist and told reporters: “If you vote for a Democrat, you’re being disloyal to Jewish
people and you’re being very disloyal to Israel.”
Earlier in the day, President Trump
quoted a conservative commentator’s praise on Twitter who said “the Jewish
people in Israel love him like he’s the King of Israel”.
“They love him like he is the second coming of
God,” President Trump’s tweet continued.
The remark was denounced by a number
of Jewish American groups, which said it played on an anti-Semitic canard that
accuses Jews of being more devoted to Israel or their faith than to their own
countries.
The same notion of dual loyalty has
landed Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota congresswoman, in hot water.
Ilhan Omar has apologized after claiming
that Israel had “hypnotized” the world. She was also rebuked by the
Democratic-controlled House of Representatives comments targeting lobbying
firms that support Israel.
Ahead of the vote, which condemned
“hateful expressions of intolerance”, Ilhan Omar pushed back by
questioning what she termed “the political influence in this country that
says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country”.
The comment sparked fresh complaints
of anti-Semitism.
Recent polls show that roughly 75% of Jewish Americans identify as Democrats.
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro revealed
he had been in talks with the Trump administration for months, even as the US
ramped up its sanctions.
The US is one of more than 50 nations which do not recognize Nicolás Maduro
as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.
On August 20, President Maduro said that talks with the Trump administration
had been going on for months.
However, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said the only thing being
discussed was Nicolás Maduro’s departure.
Speaking on TV, President Maduro said: “Just
as I have sought dialogue in Venezuela, I have sought a way in which President
Trump really listens to Venezuela.”
President Donald Trump confirmed on August 20 that his administration was
“talking to various representatives of Venezuela”.
He said: “I don’t want to say
who, but we are talking at a very high level.”
President Maduro had suggested that he authorized the back-channel
discussions.
However, John Bolton cast those contacts in a very different light, tweeting:
“As the President has repeatedly stated,
to end the pilfering of the Venezuelan people’s resources and continued
repression, Maduro must go. The only items discussed by those who are reaching
out behind Maduro’s back are his departure and free and fair elections.”
John Bolton said President Trump’s
aim was to “to end the pilfering of the Venezuelan people’s resources and
continued repression” and that to that end, President Maduro “must
go”.
The US imposed sweeping sanctions
earlier this month aimed at increasing pressure on President Maduro to step
down.
Venezuela has been caught up in a
struggle for power between President Maduro and the leader of the country’s
National Assembly, Juan Guaidó.
Juan Guaidó declared himself interim
president in January, claiming that the elections which brought Nicolás Maduro to power for a second term were fraudulent.
While Juan Guaidó has gained the
backing of over 50 countries he has so far failed to remove Nicolás Maduro from power.
Talks between the two sides hosted
by Barbados and mediated by Norway recently stalled after President Maduro
denounced the opposition for backing the sweeping sanctions imposed by the US.
According to the UN, Venezuela is
suffering one of the worst economic crises in history with a quarter of its 30
million population in need of aid.
More than four million Venezuelans
have left the country over the past years.
Nicolás Maduro’s government has come under
fire by the international community for a number of reasons.
When opposition parties gained a
majority in Venezuela’s National Assembly, the president created a rival body
stacked with his supporters which assumed many of its powers. His 2018
re-election was controversial, and labeled as rigged by his critics, after many
rivals were barred from running or fled the country.
Protests and demonstrations erupted
into violence and were met with a crackdown by authorities which saw civilians
killed.
The US has been a frequent target of
Nicolás Maduro’s anger.
President Maduro has accused the US,
and John Bolton in particular, of trying to kill him, without supplying any
evidence. He claims that his opposition is backed by foreign powers, rather
than a domestic resistance to his authority.
Government officials were the first
target of US sanctions against Nicolás
Maduro’s government – but earlier this year, it brought new restrictions
forward on the state oil company, which is a major player in the national
economy.
That was followed in August by sweeping sanctions that froze all property of the government in the US, and blocks American companies doing business with Venezuela.
The
Matrix will return for its fourth installment, with Keanu Reeves reprising
his lead role as hacker Neo.
Matrix co-creator Lana Wachowski will write, direct and produce the film, a
third sequel to the original 1999 hit.
Lana Wachowski celebrated The Matrix‘s return, saying many of the ideas it explores are “even more relevant now”.
The first three films in the sci-fi franchise earned more than $1.6 billion at
the global box office.
Warner Bros Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich announced the fourth film
on August 20, saying the studio “could not be more excited” about its
return.
He said: “Lana is a true
visionary – a singular and original creative filmmaker – and we are thrilled
that she is writing, directing and producing this new chapter.”
The original film was released in 1999 and told the story of Neo and his discovery
that humanity was trapped in a simulated reality. It proved a major hit and
spawned two sequels – The Matrix Reloaded
and The Matrix Revolutions.
The third installment, The Matrix
Revolutions, was the first film ever to be released simultaneously around
the world at the same hour.
Rumors of a fourth chapter have been circulating since two years ago, with
reports at the time stating that Warner Bros was “in the early stages of
developing a re-launch”.
In a statement on August 20, Lana Wachowski said she was “very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends”.
Mesothelioma is a type of
cancer that is caused by inhaled asbestos fibers and forms in the lining of the
lungs, abdomen or heart.
The disease is most often diagnosed after a
person goes to a doctor because of symptoms. If there is a reason to suspect
you might have mesothelioma, your doctor will use one or more tests to find
out. Symptoms might suggest that the problem could be mesothelioma, but tests
will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Medical history and physical exam
If you have any signs or symptoms that suggest you might have mesothelioma, your doctor will want to take a complete medical history to learn about your symptoms and possible risk factors, especially asbestos exposure. You will also be asked about your general health.
A physical exam can provide
information about possible signs of mesothelioma and other health problems.
Pleural mesothelioma can cause fluid to build up around the lungs in the chest
(called a pleural effusion). In cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, fluid
can build up in the abdomen (called ascites). In pericardial
mesothelioma, fluid builds up in the sac around the heart (called a pericardial
effusion). Rarely, mesothelioma can develop in the groin and look like a
hernia. All of these might be found during a physical exam, such as when the
doctor listens to these areas with a stethoscope.
Imaging tests use x-rays,
radioactive particles, or magnetic fields to create pictures of the inside of
your body. Imaging tests may be done for a number of reasons, including to help
find a suspicious area that might be cancerous, to learn how far cancer may
have spread, and to help determine if treatment has been effective.
Chest X-Ray
This is often the first test
done if someone has symptoms such as a constant cough or shortness of breath.
It may show an abnormal thickening of the pleura, calcium deposits on the
pleura, fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall, or changes in
the lungs themselves as a result of asbestos exposure. These findings could
suggest a mesothelioma.
Computed tomography (CT) scan
The CT scan is an x-ray test
that produces detailed cross-sectional images of your body. Instead of taking
one picture, like a regular x-ray, a CT scanner takes many pictures as it
rotates around you while you are lying on a narrow table. A computer then
combines these into images of slices of the body. Unlike a regular x-ray, a CT
scan creates detailed images of the soft tissues in the body.
CT scans are often used to help
look for mesothelioma and to determine the exact location of the cancer. They
can also help stage the cancer (determine the extent of its spread). For
example, they can show whether the cancer has spread to other organs. This can
help to determine if surgery might be a treatment option. Finally, CT scans can
be used to learn whether treatment such as chemotherapy has been helpful in
shrinking or slowing the growth of the cancer.
Echocardiogram
This test uses sound waves to
look at the heart. It may be done if your doctor suspects that you have fluid
around your heart (a pericardial effusion). It can also tell how well the heart
is working. For the most common version of this test, you lie on a table while
a technician moves an instrument called a transducer over the skin on
your chest. A gel is often put on the skin first.
Positron emission tomography
(PET) scan
For a PET scan, a radioactive
substance (usually a type of sugar related to glucose, known as FDG) is
injected into the blood. The amount of radioactivity used is very low. Because
cancer cells in the body grow quickly, they absorb more of the sugar than most
other cells. After waiting about an hour, you lie on a table in the PET scanner
for about 30 minutes while a special camera creates a picture of areas of radioactivity
in the body.
The picture from a PET scan is
not finely detailed like a CT or MRI scan, but it can provide helpful
information about whether abnormal areas seen on these tests are likely to be
cancerous or not. For example, it can give the doctor a better idea of whether
a thickening of the pleura or peritoneum seen on a CT scan is more likely
cancer or merely scar tissue. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, your
doctor may use this test to see if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or
other parts of the body. A PET scan can also be useful if your doctor thinks
the cancer may have spread but doesn’t know where.
Magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) scan
Like CT scans, MRI scans make
detailed images of soft tissues in the body. But MRI scans use radio waves and
strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed
and then released in a pattern formed by the type of body tissue and by certain
diseases. A computer translates the pattern into very detailed images of parts
of the body. A contrast material called gadolinium is often injected
into a vein before the scan to better show details. This contrast is different
than the one used for CT scans, so being allergic to one doesn’t mean you are
allergic to the other.
MRI scans can sometimes help
show the exact location and extent of a tumor since they provide very detailed
images of soft tissues. For mesotheliomas, they may be useful in looking at the
diaphragm (the thin band of muscle below the lungs that helps us breathe), a
possible site of cancer spread.
Blood levels of certain
substances are often higher in people with mesothelioma:
Osteopontin
Soluble
mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs), detected with the MesoMark® test
Blood tests for these
substances are not used to diagnose mesothelioma, but high levels may make the
diagnosis more likely.
If you have been diagnosed with
mesothelioma, other blood tests will be done to check your blood cell counts
and levels of certain chemicals in the blood. These tests can give the doctor
an idea of how extensive the disease may be, and how well organs such as the
liver and kidneys are working.
Tests of fluid and tissue samples
Symptoms and test results may
strongly suggest that a person has mesothelioma, but the actual diagnosis is
made by removing cells from an abnormal area and looking at them under a
microscope. This is known as a biopsy. It may be done in different ways,
depending on the situation.
Removing fluid for testing
If mesothelioma might be
causing a buildup of fluid in the body, a sample of this fluid can be removed
by inserting a thin, hollow needle through the skin and into the fluid to
remove it. Numbing medicine is used on the skin before the needle is inserted.
This may be done in a doctor’s office or in the hospital. Sometimes ultrasound
(or an echocardiogram) is used to guide the needle (these use sound waves to
take pictures of parts of the body).
This procedure has different
names depending on where the fluid is:
Thoracentesis removes fluid from the chest.
Paracentesis removes fluid from the abdomen.
Pericardiocentesis removes fluid from the sac around the heart.
The fluid is then tested to
check its chemical makeup and is looked at under a microscope to see if it
contains cancer cells. If cancer cells are found, special tests might be able
to tell whether the cancer is a mesothelioma, a lung cancer, or another type of
cancer.
Even if no cancer cells are
found in the fluid, cancer may still be present. In many cases, doctors need to
get an actual sample of the mesothelium (the pleura, peritoneum, or
pericardium) to determine if a person has mesothelioma.
Needle biopsies
Suspected tumors in the chest
are sometimes sampled by needle biopsy. A long, hollow needle is passed through
the skin in the chest between the ribs and into the pleura. Imaging tests such
as CT scans are used to guide the needle into the tumor so that small samples
can be removed to be looked at under the microscope. This is often done using
just numbing medicine.
Needle biopsy can also be used
to get samples of the lymph nodes in the space between the lungs to see if the
cancer has spread there.
Endoscopic biopsies
An endoscope is a thin,
tube-like instrument used to look inside the body. It has a light and a lens
(or tiny video camera) on the end for viewing and often has a tool to remove
tissue samples.
Cancers in the lung often
spread to lymph nodes, but mesotheliomas do this less often. Testing the lymph
nodes can help show whether a cancer is still localized or if it has started to
spread, which might affect treatment options. It can also sometimes help
distinguish lung cancer from mesothelioma.
Open surgical biopsy
Sometimes, endoscopic biopsies
aren’t enough to make a diagnosis and more invasive procedures are needed. By
making an incision in the chest (thoracotomy) or an incision in the abdomen
(laparotomy) the surgeon can remove a larger sample of tumor or, sometimes,
remove the entire tumor.
Testing the samples in the lab
No matter how they were
obtained, all biopsy and fluid samples are sent to the pathology lab. There, a
doctor will look at them under a microscope and test them to find out if they
contain cancer cells (and if so, what type of cancer it is).
It is often hard to diagnose mesothelioma by looking at cells from fluid around the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It can even be hard to diagnose mesothelioma with tissue from small needle biopsies. Under the microscope, mesothelioma can often look like other types of cancer. For example, pleural mesothelioma may resemble some types of lung cancer, and peritoneal mesothelioma in women may look like some cancers of the ovaries.
For this reason, special lab
tests are often done to help tell mesothelioma from some other cancers.
Immunohistochemistry: This
test looks for different proteins on the surface of the cells or inside them.
It can be used to tell if the cancer is a mesothelioma or a lung cancer, which
can sometimes appear to start in the inner lining of the chest.
If mesothelioma is diagnosed,
the doctor will also determine what type of mesothelioma it is, based on the
patterns of cells seen in the microscope. Most mesotheliomas are classified as
either epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or mixed/biphasic.
Pulmonary function tests
If mesothelioma has been diagnosed, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) may be done to see how well your lungs are working. This is especially important if surgery may be an option to treat the cancer. Surgery often requires removing part or all of a lung, so it’s important to know how well the lungs are working to start with. These tests can give the surgeon an idea of whether surgery may be an option, and if so, how much lung can safely be removed.
In this day and age, we’re all trying to keep our spending habits in check in order to save money. Unfortunately, many of us are unsure where to spend money on a more expensive brand and where we should opt for a more budget option.
Well, worry not, as
here’s our guide to where you should save and where you should spend when it
comes to fashion:
SAVE – Wrist Jewelry
We all love
accessories. No matter if you’re adding some sophisticated jewelry to a work
suit or something bold and fun for a date. However, with so many different
outfits and current trends, you can easily spend a small fortune on jewelry
trying to keep up.
Instead, save yourself
money by opting for costume jewelry from cheaper brands. Since this jewelry
will be far cheaper than designer, you’ll have room to buy more, so your outfit
will always have the best accessories.
SPEND – Sunglasses
While you may want to
save money on your wrist jewelry, there is one accessory that you should never
scrimp on – your sunglasses! As, when it comes to your sunglasses, you need a
pair that will adequately protect your eyes from the harmful UV lights that the
sun gives off. Which is why you should pay a bit more for your sunglasses and
opt for a reputable brand.
Not only will respected brands like Ray-Ban give you the best in protection for your eyes, this brand will also let you customize your lenses and even add a personal touch like engraving. Even better, by buying designer, you’ll have a quality pair of sunglasses that will last you years, which means you won’t waste money replacing them frequently.
SAVE – Basic Tees
Every wardrobe needs
some basic tees. Not only does a t-shirt look great with a nice pair of jeans
for a casual look, your tee can be dressed up with accessories and a skirt for
a night out. The problem is, as our t-shirts get so much wear, they also get
washed a lot. So, whether you bought a cheap or more expensive t-shirt, there
isn’t that much difference in the level of quality, which means they both
become washed-out, bobbly and in need of replacement quickly.
Which means, rather than wasting your money on an expensive t-shirt, you should save money and just buy a cheaper tee. As long as it’s comfy and it’s a color you like, that’s all that really matters.
SPEND – Blazer
Unlike a t-shirt,
which tends to get hidden under other clothing and accessories, your blazer is
there to make or break an outfit. Which is why you should always invest in a
quality brand, such as a real tweed blazer, with an impeccable fit. As, if you
scrimp on your blazer, it’s both unlikely to fit you well and the poor quality
will be very obvious.
SAVE – Running Shoes
While in the past it
might have been a good idea to invest in running shoes from a designer brand, in
the last few years gym clothing has become a massive market, meaning that more
budget-friendly shops are now making running shoes that are both affordable and
high-quality. While you shouldn’t buy the cheapest pair, you can see, before
you waste hundreds of dollars on one pair of trainers, instead try something a
little cheaper – they’ll do the same job for so much less!
SPEND – Work Shoes
It doesn’t matter if
you work in an office or you’re a personal trainer in the gym, when it comes to
your work shoes, it’s essential that you spend a little more. As, when you buy
more expensive footwear, you’re far more likely to have a pair of shoes that
will keep you comfortable all day – even if you’re on your feet a lot. Plus,
pricier shoes will look more professional, particularly in an office
environment.
SAVE – Pyjamas
While designer brands
might try to tell you that their nightwear is softer, silkier and will help you
sleep better – in reality, our pyjamas shouldn’t be something that you spend
too much on. For one, hardly anyone is ever going to see them as you only wear
them to bed, so there really isn’t any need to show off a brand name. Nor are
these expensive brands actually any comfier, with very little difference to how
they feel when worn.
SPEND – Bathrobe
The problem with cheaper bathrobes is that they aren’t typically as soft as more expensive brands. Which becomes a problem when you want a bathrobe to keep you warm and cozy during those chilly winter months. So, rather than scrimp, treat yourself to a quality bathrobe that you can snuggle up in on a rainy day.
Java is a popular language for developers, and the majority of the development community is still running Java 8 in a production setting. A Java software development company will use a framework to avoid “reinventing” the wheel.
The
key frameworks that Java software development companies are using include:
1. Blade
Blade offers a minimal footprint and is a simple framework to start using. The small footprint allows the framework to remain speedy, and the goal of the framework is to have developers understand the framework in a single day.
The
source code is less than 500 kb.
Blade
is designed for JAVA 8, and it includes key features, such as:
· MVC framework
· Template engines
· CSRF and XSS security
· Basic authentication
· Plug-in extensions
· JSON output built-in
Blade
offers rapid development and can be used for full-stack development. The
advantages of the framework include built-in security, multiple file support,
components and also support for webjar resources.
There
are some limitations, including a lack of mobile-app design and a dependency
engine that is rather complex.
Overall,
Blade is a versatile framework that will help developers transition to the
framework rapidly.
2. GWT
Google’s
Web Toolkit is designed to help developers create complex applications. The
framework takes away the mundane learning of browser quirks and JavaScript to
allow for high-performance applications to be developed.
The
framework includes Java API libraries.
Developers
can write their applications in Java and deploy them in JavaScript rapidly.
The
source code is compiled into JavaScript that is optimized and runs across all
browsers: PC and mobile, too. When using
GWT, it’s quick and easy to learn, and it’s a fast way to decrease server-side
loan.
Google
is the framework’s developer, so it has a strong community backing and is often
updated.
Compilation
is slow, but GWT has impressive IDE support. You can even use the IDE support
to help with debugging AJAX applications. There’s a plugin offered by GWT that
helps bridge the gap between Java and JavaScript debugging.
The
framework is good for progressive web app development, but you’re often
required to produce more code even for simple tasks. There’s also a unique
method of defining the structure, so there is a bit of a learning curve with
GWT.
3. Spring MVC
Spring
MVC is a very popular framework, and it’s a framework that has enhance
modularity and improves the readability of your coding. The framework is a
J2EE/Java framework that offers a broad range of functions and features.
This
full-scale framework is known for its robust security features, authentication,
REST APIS, add-ons and flexible dependency injection.
Modules
are loosely coupled, so you have greater overall freedom when coding. When
learning this framework, there are two key things to keep in mind:
· The learning curve is steep
· MVC takes time to learn
One of
the main concerns for someone new to frameworks is that MVC can be very
difficult to understand at first. Since most frameworks follow the MVC concept,
it is a way of organizing projects efficiently that most frameworks will require the user to learn.
4. Grails
The Grails framework is a dynamic framework that works with key Java technologies, including:
· Hibernate
· Java EE containers
· Quartz
· SiteMesh
When
it comes to Grails, developers choose this framework because of its Enterprise
Java Bean support. You don’t need to configure XML, so developers can start in
a rapid development environment that enables scalable applications.
Grails
is a great option for e-commerce sites and content management systems thanks to
its flexible profiles, advanced plugin system, Spring Boot controller layer and
object mapping library.
The community
is also very responsive, which makes development faster and more efficient.
When
it comes to Grails, a key deciding factor for programmers is if they want to
learn the Groovy language. You will
need to learn the integration process which is rather complex, and it’s not the
best choice when creating multi-threaded applications.
5. Apache Struts
Struts
2.5.20 GA was released in January 2019 offering an array of new features to
developers already using the framework. The framework is robust and ships with
support for JSON, AJAX and REST plugins.
The
robust plugin architecture is a bonus, and the MVC framework allows for fast
creation of modern, elegant web applications.
Struts
has the power to create enterprise-level applications, and the Hibernate plugin
takes control of all of your object mapping needs. Spring can also help with
dependency injection. It’s a well-organized development environment that
focuses on rapid development principles.
Scaling
is held back slightly due to single ActionServlets, but the ability to quickly
use plugins is a nice added bonus.
The
framework has a lot of rules, and due to the complex design, the framework is
less flexible than some other options on our list.
While
these five frameworks are a great choice for a development company, there are
others available, too. Hibernate, Vaadin, Wicket and Vert.X are a few
additional frameworks worth a try.
E-juice can be expensive, especially if you vape often. If you’re
looking for safe, quality, affordable e-juice in any flavor you feel like, you
should think about making your own. You can create your own delicious, custom
recipes based on your favorite foods and desserts. Here are some of the most
common DIY e-juice questions.
1. What Ingredients Are Needed to Make DIY
E-Juice?
E-juice usually includes a base liquid, flavor concentrates, and
nicotine. The base liquid contains different combinations of vegetable glycerin
(VG) and propylene glycol (PG). You can buy many premixed base liquids, or you
can buy PG and VG separately and make your own. The most common VG and PG
ratios are 70-to-30, 30-to-70, and 50-to-50.
PG is best for diluting flavor concentrates, and it’s an
ingredient in many foods and cosmetics. It’s completely flavorless on its own,
but some people can develop allergies or experience throat irritation.
Vegetable glycerin is also part of many foods, and it’s sweeter and thicker
than propylene glycol. You can use it to produce thick clouds of vapor, and
it’s less likely to irritate your throat. Nicotine and flavorings are both
optional.
You can experiment with different ingredients and ratios to improve your e-juice. A DIY vape juice kit has all the ingredients and equipment you need to start creating your own e-juice. That way, you can make one convenient purchase. Flavor kits with a variety of extracts and lab kits with equipment are available as well.
Making your own vape juice doesn’t require any specialized
knowledge. Like baking a cake, anyone can create a quality product with some
practice and experimentation. You can choose premium flavors and other
ingredients for the best possible vaping experience. There are thousands of
flavor concentrates out there, and you can choose from several concentrations
of nicotine.
You’ll need some small bottles for storing your base liquids, test
recipes, and prepared e-juices. Graduated cylinders and beakers are useful for
making larger amounts. Having plenty of containers also helps you avoid cross-contamination.
Make sure to label your containers clearly to prevent mix-ups. You’ll also need
some small syringes for adding ingredients by volume and an electronic scale
for adding them by weight. Remember that nicotine has its own flavor. Since your
skin can absorb it, you should use gloves when you handle it. Also, keep it
away from children.
3. What Are the Best DIY E-Juice Flavors?
According to Heavy, one of the best e-juice flavors is Lava Flow by Naked 100. It’s a blend of strawberry, pineapple, and coconut, and it tastes a lot like a piña colada. You can add additional flavors or the concentration of nicotine you prefer. Other options include coffee, granola, strawberry, watermelon, peppermint, menthol, cookie, and more.
Making your own e-juice might seem complicated, but it’s easy and
fun. It’s an excellent way for you to enjoy the flavors of your favorite foods
without overeating, and it can help you quit smoking.
The
job market is changing constantly with many vocations that were once considered
respectable and career-worthy now all but redundant. Similarly, roles that
didn’t even exist twenty years ago are now mainstream. It is very hard to know
what will work and what won’t in twenty years’ time and for those
school-leavers who are preparing to study and enter the world of the employed
that is very daunting. Nobody wants to study for four or five years only to
discover that the field they were intending to specialise in has been taken
over by robots or AI or is simply completely superfluous. With that in mind,
here are a few roles that look set to dominate for many years to come.
Learn code
Code is another way of talking about computer language, and there are many of these. A great place to start is by learning to code. If you have some coding skills in your draw that will immediately open up opportunities for you. Not necessarily as a coder, because even that is rapidly losing its cachet and speciality. For many coding is now about accessing libraries of previously written code and compiling it together in a new way to create something different. There are also plenty of app developers Australia or computers coders in New Zealand. The market is full of skilled developers, so there are no guarantees that you will find work as a developer. But being able to code and understand a coding language or languages is good as the field of technology is varied and wide. Think of it as being able to speak Chinese… If you are fluent in Mandarin you are not guaranteed a job, but it opens up the world of opportunities in Chinese related business. The same applies to code.
Independence
One of the biggest changes that have been brought on by the advances in technology in recent times is the shrinking of the world and the democratisation of media. Now anyone can have a voice and you can work for people anywhere in the world. The old idea of getting into a car and heading to the office for eight hours before trudging home again is well past its sell-by date. Now it is about freelancing and creating your own brand. Think YouTube channels and Social Media influencers. Start getting used to the idea of working for yourself; of being a digital nomad and start looking for angles that will help you stand out and succeed.
Conservation
The
young generation is far more aware of issues like global warming and the
environment that previous generations ever were. Youngsters like Greta Thunberg
are leading the way with their activism and millions of young people are behind
the idea of taking control of their futures. So, look at studying ecologically
focussed courses. Think organic and ethical and conservation. These are the
types of endeavours that are going to be supported and needed for decades to
come – because the state of the earth is going to get worse still before it
starts to get better.
The short answer is yes, toll free numbers are quite relevant still. Toll free numbers can be an incredible asset to both small and large businesses, providing a free communication method for customers to reach their favorite businesses. Toll free numbers are easier than ever to obtain, and are quite versatile in how they can help boost your business’s sales and professional image. Does toll free matter? Keep reading to learn more about these great tools and how to obtain one for your business.
Toll Free Numbers
Toll free
numbers are those 800 numbers you see on billboards, business cards, and other
advertisements. The prefix for a toll free number is usually one of the
following 800 combinations: 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, or 888. What does
toll free actually mean?
Toll free
means that whoever is placing the call to the 800 number will not be charged
for the phone call, even if it’s a long-distance call. Customers can call help
desks, support lines, or stores free of charge, with many toll free services
supporting extensions and text services as optional features.
Having an
extension directory can help customers locate the person or department best
suited to assist them with their question or concern. If you’ve ever called a
major department store such as Wal Mart or Target, you’ve probably heard the
automated voice say something like “Press
1 for produce, 2 for electronics, etc.” This system helps organize and
direct phone calls effectively, making wait times shorter and service quicker.
The Cost of a
Toll Free Number
Depending on the plan you choose, your toll free number will either be billed on a per-minute basis or via a monthly service plan, much like your phone bill. Depending on the extra features you want, such as extensions or text features, the plan may cost more or less.
A minute-to-minute
plan can be a great option for small businesses who don’t receive such a high
call volume on a daily basis. You’ll only pay for the minutes you use, and so
you can ensure you won’t be overcharged by a plan that offers a general charge
to use the service. If your minute to minute plan exceeds the cost of a monthly
plan, you might want to make the switch.
How are Toll Free
Numbers Used?
Toll free
numbers are still relevant because of the ease and convenience they create for
customers. With a toll free number, you can increase customer satisfaction by
making it easier to reach you, and with quick response times from each
department or team member.
No matter
what time of day it is or what the customer’s location is, the call won’t cost
them anything. Why should customers have to pay to reach your business with
questions about your products or services?
A business
that is difficult to reach or operates outside of the customer’s locality can
be frustrating for the customer, potentially causing them to disengage with
your brand and costing you future sales opportunities. A toll free number makes
your brand easier and less costly to reach, even if you’re operating in a
different state or country.
Another
advantage of toll free numbers is that they are easy to remember. If you decide
to purchase a vanity number, you can include a phrase or acronym in your phone
number to make it even easier for
your customers to remember. Something along the lines of “1800-FLOWERS” is
simple to remember and associates that phone number with your business or
industry.
With toll
free numbers, you’ll increase the credibility and professional image of your
brand as well. A toll free number makes your business sound larger and more
legitimate, even if you’re a startup. Customers will see the 800 number as a
sign of your legitimacy and may be more likely to trust your brand even if
they’ve never interacted with it before.
Portability
If you
decide to move to another state or country or even switch providers, your toll
free number will follow you. It doesn’t matter what your geographical location
is, the toll free number makes any call placed to it free to the caller. This
level of portability makes moving simple, without having to acquire a new phone
number and potentially confuse your customers.
Marketing Made
Simple
Having an
800 number for ads can make the marketing process simple since the number will
be easier to read and memorize. Vanity numbers make for excellent marketing
tools, and you can even use your 800 number to track your marketing efforts.
You can ask your
customers which ad they saw your number in, to get a better idea of where your
marketing efforts are having the greatest effect. If your toll free number is
attracting attention in one area but not in another, you know where you need to
focus your marketing efforts from now on. Narrowing down your marketing efforts
will make them much more effective long-term.
Conclusions
Toll free
numbers will probably always be relevant since they’re a simple way for
businesses to give back to the customer by providing a free way to get in
touch. Nothing beats free, and customers will definitely appreciate a no-charge
call, especially if they have a complaint. Increase your customer satisfaction
with a toll free number today, or upgrade to a vanity number for easier
memorization and brand recognition.
Whether you’re going into your freshman year of
college and trying to decide on a major, or are mid-career and looking to make
more money or qualify for a promotion, if you enjoy business, management, accounting,
marketing or finance there are several degree options available that can put
you in a position to embark on a business career that is both personally
satisfying and rewarding financially.
While many people might think that all business degrees are basically the same, the truth is that there are several different types of business degrees that each have their own specialization. Whether you’re looking to gain skills before starting a small business, or are interested in a career change within the financial industry, read below to find out about the basic types of business degrees and which business degree’s career path might be right for you.
Once you know which type of business career you are
interested in, make an appointment to talk to an advisor at your college or
university, either online or in person, to find out what their specific program
entails, how long the program will take, what its cost is, and whether you
might have transferrable credits from a past degree program.
Business Administration Degrees
A business administration degree is perhaps the most popular and most diversified of all business degrees. These degrees are available at the associates, bachelors and masters degree levels from just about any college or university. Many schools offer concentrations in specific areas of business administration, including health care administration, human resources, accounting, finance and information systems. Through classes that concentrate in certain areas, these degree programs can help students build the skills and business background knowledge they need to qualify for a variety of careers.
Accounting Degrees
To begin a career as a certified public accountant,
as an accountant for a large firm or even to be able to successfully keep track
of your own accounting systems as a small business owner, a bachelors degree in
accounting is what you will need at a minimum. Once they are established in
their careers, many people who work as accountants choose to earn a masters in
accounting degree. A masters degree in accounting will allow you to advance
further in your career as an accountant and earn a higher salary.
Finance Degrees
A bachelors degree in finance will allow you to begin a career in banking, tax preparation, financial analysis, or even in a more specialized role. Interesting careers, like those of a commercial truck trader or college loan officer, are also possible with a finance degree. A masters of business administration (MBA) with a concentration in finance will help give you an edge over other job candidates, will make it possible for you to earn more money, and will help you qualify for high level management positions within the financial industry.
Like a business administration degree, a degree in
finance will help you qualify for a wide variety of jobs in both the for-profit
and nonprofit sectors. People with finance degrees are also in demand at
colleges and universities, in the health care sector, in government, and in the
field of professional sports.
Marketing Degrees
If you are a creative person who is interested in a
career in the business world, a degree in marketing might be right for you. A
bachelors degree in marketing will allow you to begin a career developing,
promoting and selling products and services, either for a corporation or a
nonprofit, or for yourself as a business owner.
With a marketing degree, a career in just about any type of industry will be open to you, as marketing is a vital aspect of any successful business or nonprofit. A marketing degree can also help you get into the fields of sales, merchandising and product placement, advertising or public relations, all of which are good career options for creative people.
Some marketing degree programs at the masters level
concentrate on the psychological aspects of marketing, such as understanding the
reasons for specific consumer behavior patterns, how and why people make buying
decisions, and how people from different ethnic and cultural groups might make
purchasing decisions differently from one another.
Specialized degrees are now available in the fields of social media marketing and international marketing. The rise of the global economy has made having international marketing skills essential. And in recent years, social media platforms have become one of the most important marketing and advertising tools available.
Choosing a transcription service doesn’t need to be difficult. In
fact, it is now easier than ever before and when you do your research you will soon
find that there are endless options available.
Check the Turnaround Time
When comparing legal transcription services, you have to make sure that you check the turnaround time. The best companies will always make sure that you get results that are fast and accurate. They will also help you to get your data back that same day in some instances too, and this is great if you have a deadline that you need to meet.
Do they Outsource?
Another consideration when choosing a legal transcription service is to find out if they outsource. The best transcriptions come from native English speakers, so it helps to choose a company who guarantee this. When you do, you will be able to hold them to a high standard and you also have the guarantee of knowing that your end result is going to be factually right and error-free.
Confidentiality
When working in the legal industry, confidentiality is key. You need to make sure that you find a company who is able to guarantee this because the last thing that you need is to have your data leaked and your case put in jeopardy. When you work with a transcription service who ensures confidentiality, you know that their identities will have been verified and you can also feel assured knowing that they have been through all of the right background checks too.
Check to see if they’re Established
A transcription service provider that has been around for 10 years
or more will be far more trustworthy when compared to someone who has been
around for a much shorter period of time. Their resilience and their overall
years of experience ultimately prove that they are willing to put in the work.
Contacting your Provider
When comparing providers, try and take note of how quickly each
one replies. If one is able to offer both phone and email support then this is
great, but if another only offers live chat for example then this may not be as
efficient.
Ensure Secure Delivery
You really want your transcript to be delivered properly. For this
reason, you have to make sure that you choose a company who is able to do it
via email or even through a file system. This will give you the chance to
download it properly and it will also help you to share any changes that may be
required.
Flexibility
And lastly, when comparing legal transcription companies, you need
to make sure that the company themselves can be flexible for your deadlines. If
they aren’t then you may find it harder to get the result you need from your
documents and you may even find that you end up with delays. This is the last
thing that you need when you have a legal case on the go, so take your time and
make sure that you pay attention to the finer details.
You have your whole outfit together, and then the burning question hits: What shoes should I wear with this outfit? Check out this guide for 5 tips and tricks.
“What shoes should I wear?” is a common question for a night out on the town, lunch with friends or even when going out for a run.
How do you make sure that you wear the shoes that are going to make you look the cutest possible? Continue reading this article for tips on wearing the right shoes.
Answering Your Question of “What Shoes Should I Wear?”
Whether you’re wearing shoes from SSENSE or if you’re wearing some casual shoes, you need to make sure you’re wearing the right shoes! These tips will save your look!
1. Match Shoes to Your Jacket
If you want to follow after royalty or the first lady, you can match shoes to your jacket. You might not be able to afford matching shoes for all of your outfits but if you want to use this tip for a few of your favorite outfits so you can really pack a punch at a special event.
2. Spice Up a Dull Outfit
If you’re wearing an outfit that is on the dull side of things, you can spice it up with a bright shoe.
Let’s say that you’re wearing a dull white pantsuit. You could give it the extra pop of color by pairing it with a bright red shoe.
There are lots of different colors you can choose from depending on what color fits your personality best.
3. Don’t Wear One Solid Color from Top to Bottom
If you wear a blue top and pants, you don’t want to wear the same color of shoes. You will look very drab so change out one of the pieces to give your outfit a little more of an interesting look.
4. Wear Different Shades of Your Main Color
Let’s say that you do want to wear the same color from top to bottom. You could get away with it if you wear different shades of the color. You can’t always make this work so make sure that you try on the outfit and get some feedback on how it looks before you try to wear it out on the town.
5. Consider the Season
Even if you love that one pair of shoes all year, it might not be the best look for you. You don’t want to wear winter shoes during the Summer even if you think they look good.
It’s a fashion no-no.
If you’re in spring or fall then you have a little more flexibility but don’t try to push it too far.
Get More Tips & Simplify Your Life
Now that you know the answer to “What shoes should I wear?” why not simplify your life even more? We’ve dedicated our site to help you through life so don’t forget to navigate to your favorite part of our site and drop a bookmark to come back later for more reads.
Italy’s interior minister and leader
of League Party, Matteo Salvini, has called for a snap election, saying
differences with coalition partners cannot be mended.
He said that a failed attempt by the
Five Star Movement to derail plans for a high-speed rail link showed the
coalition could no longer govern.
Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio said
his party did not fear another election.
Matteo Salvini’s right-wing party is
well ahead in opinion polls, due mainly to his stance against illegal
immigration.
He is also very active on social
media and has developed a “man of the people” image, pushing for tax
cuts despite Italy’s €2.3tn debt mountain, which is second only to Greece’s in
the EU.
In last year’s election, Five Star
won twice as many votes as the League, but polls suggest the proportions have
been reversed.
In EU elections held in May the
League came top with 34% of the votes in Italy, whereas Five Star got about
17%.
Giuseppe Conte, the non-party law
professor who serves as the coalition’s prime minister, has said Matteo
Salvini, must “justify” to parliament his call for an election.
Both Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di
Maio are deputy prime ministers.
The authority to dissolve parliament
rests with President Sergio Mattarella, but he may be reluctant to do so, as
next month lawmakers – who are currently on holiday – have to consider the 2020
budget.
Political clashes over the project
for a railway between the Italian city of Turin and French city of Lyon led PM
Giuseppe Conte to put tenders on hold in March.
The multi-billion-euro TAV (Treno
Alta Velocità) link involves digging a 36-mile tunnel through the Alps.
The project is bitterly opposed by
Five Star on environmental and cost grounds.
The League argues that the TAV project would create jobs and stimulate
economic growth, and that moving freight from road to rail is environmentally
friendly.
Supporters of the TAV project say it would halve the travel time between the
two cities to just two hours. The tunnel would also make it possible to travel
from Paris to Milan in around four hours, down from nearly seven.
The TAV project was launched 20 years ago and part of it has already been
dug. It is scheduled for completion in 2025.
Costs were initially projected to hit €8.6 billion ($9.7 billion), but
Italy’s Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli – a Five Star member – put the
price tag at over €20 billion.
The EU pledged to fund up to 40% of the cost.
Matteo Salvini’s demand for an election does not necessarily mean a poll
will be called in the near future. Italy has not had an autumn election in all
the post-war period, Reuters news agency reports.
President Sergio Mattarella could theoretically appoint a government of
technocrats and postpone a new election until next year.
Italy has had a technocratic government before, but Matteo Salvini, riding a wave of popularity, can be expected to oppose such a move.
A red alert has been declared in China as powerful
typhoon Lekima heads towards the eastern coast.
Typhoon Lekima is currently battering Taiwan with winds of more than 120mph
and is due to make landfall in China’s Zhejiang province on August 10.
Emergency teams have been deployed to the region to guide relief work,
China’s emergency ministry said.
Thousands of people further up the coast in Shanghai have been warned to
prepare to evacuate.
Lekima, which is the ninth typhoon so far this year, strengthened into a
super typhoon late on August 7, but Taiwanese authorities have since downgraded
it to a regular typhoon.
Flood warnings have been issued for eastern sections of China’s Yangtze
River and the Yellow River until August 7. The provinces of Jiangsu and
Shandong are also on alert.
Cruise liners have been told to delay their arrival in Shanghai and some train
services have been suspended over the weekend.
China has also canceled some trains heading to and from the Yangtze delta
region.
Lekima is one of two typhoons in the western Pacific at the moment. Further
east, Typhoon Krosa is spreading heavy rain across the Northern Mariana Islands
and Guam. According to forecaster, it is moving north-west and could strike
Japan sometime next week.
On August 9, Lekima was passing the north of Taiwan, causing flight cancelations
and the closures of schools and offices.
According to local media, power was cut to more than 40,000 homes and the
island’s high speed rail service was suspended north of the city of Taichung
The huge storm came a day after eastern Taiwan was rattled by a 6.0
magnitude earthquake. Experts said the risks of landslides triggered by the
tremor were made more likely by the typhoon dumping up to 35 inches of rain on
Taiwan’s northern mountains.
On August 9, Lekima also brought heavy rain and high winds to south-west
Japan, cutting power to about 14,000 homes, broadcaster NHK reported.
China’s weather bureau said typhoon Lekima was expected to have weakened further by the time it made landfall. The country has a four-stage color-coded warning system, with red representing the most severe weather.
Seventeen former and current Goldman Sachs
bankers have been charged in Malaysia over the corruption investigation at its
state development fund 1MDB.
Attorney General Tommy Thomas said custodial sentences and criminal fines
would be sought against those charged.
Goldman Sachs helped raise $6.5 billion through bond offerings for 1MDB.
The bank said it would “vigorously” defend the charges.
Tommy Thomas said in a statement: “Custodial
sentences and criminal fines will be sought against the accused.”
According to the statement, this was because of the “severity of the
scheme to defraud and fraudulent misappropriation of billions in bond proceeds,
the lengthy period over which the offences were planned and executed, the
number of Goldman Sachs subsidiaries, officers and employers involved and the
relative value of the fees and commissions paid to Goldman Sachs for their
multiple roles played in arranging, structuring, underwriting and selling the
three bonds”.
If convicted, those charged could face prison sentences of up to 10 years
and fines of at least one million ringgit ($238,000).
In December 2018, Malaysia filed criminal charges against Goldman Sachs and
two former employees in connection with the corruption and money-laundering
investigation at the fund, which is being investigated in at least six
countries.
Among the other individuals named by Malaysia’s attorney general are Michael
Sherwood, a former co-head of Goldman’s European operations, and Michael Evans,
a former partner who is now president of Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba.
The charges related to what is being seen as one of the world’s biggest
financial scandals.
US and Malaysian prosecutors have previously said that the money raised by
the state fund went to line the pockets of a few powerful individuals and to
buy luxury properties, a private jet, Van Gogh and Monet artworks – and to
finance a Hollywood blockbuster, The Wolf
of Wall Street, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, who has not been accused of any
wrongdoing.
These charges have been brought under the under a section of the Malaysian
Capital Markets and Services Act that holds certain senior executives
responsible for any offences that may have been committed.
Tim Leissner was Goldman’s South East Asia chairman, and left the bank in
2016.
Roger Ng was a managing director at Goldman until his departure in May 2014.
At the time, charges were also filed against local financier Low Taek Jho,
also known as Jho Low who maintains his innocence, and former 1MDB employee
Jasmine Loo Ai Swan.
Tim Leissner has pleaded guilty in the US to conspiring to launder money and
violating anti-bribery laws.
The 1MDB state fund was set up by former PM Najib Razak in 2009. He has been accusing of pocketing $681 million from the sovereign wealth fund and pleaded not guilty in April.
The US is officially accusing China
of currency manipulation after the US Treasury announced a sharp fall in the
value of the Chinese yuan against the dollar.
The Chinese yuan drop caught markets
off-guard as Beijing usually supports the currency.
Last week, China pledged to
retaliate after President Donald Trump vowed to impose 10% tariffs on $300 billion
of Chinese imports.
On August 5, the yuan passed the
seven-per-dollar level for the first time since 2008, prompting President Trump
to accuse China on Twitter of manipulating its currency.
He
tweeted: “Based on the historic currency manipulation by China, it is now even
more obvious to everyone that Americans are not paying for the Tariffs – they
are being paid for compliments of China, and the U.S. is taking in tens of
Billions of Dollars! China has always….
“China dropped the
price of their currency to an almost a historic low. It’s called “currency
manipulation.” Are you listening Federal Reserve? This is a major violation
which will greatly weaken China over time!”
The US Treasury department defines
currency manipulation as when countries deliberately influence the exchange
rate between their currency and the US dollar to gain “unfair competitive
advantage in international trade”.
A weaker yuan makes Chinese exports more competitive, or cheaper to buy with
foreign currencies.
On August 5, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said the slump in the yuan
was driven by “unilateralism and trade protectionism measures and the
imposition of tariff increases on China”.
The US government said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will now engage
with the IMF “to eliminate the unfair competitive advantage created by
China’s latest actions”.
The move is largely symbolic because the US is already engaged in trade
discussions with China and has implemented tariffs on the country’s imports.
However, it fulfills a presidential campaign promise by President Trump who
pledged to name China a currency manipulator on his first day in office.
The decision rattled investors, with Wall Street’s main stock market indexes recording their worst trading day for 2019. Asia markets extended losses on August 6, with the Shanghai Composite down 1.3% in afternoon trading.
Hundreds of thousands of businesses open their doors on an annual basis. Given how attractive the economy has been as of late, many would-be entrepreneurs have been trying to get in on that trend by starting up ventures of their own.
One of the largest barriers that many of those people run into is coming up with a great business idea.
Circumventing that barrier is the aim of this blog post.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to the kind of business that you should open, below, our team shares some good commercial ideas that we feel are worth your serious consideration is given their 2020 growth potential.
Escape the room or escape game, is a physical game where players are locked in a room and a required to examine clues and solve a puzzles. The word “Xcape” is the password for this cryptex riddle
1. Financial Services
With unemployment rates at record lows, there are a lot more people out there with money in their pockets. Many of those people have no idea how to manage their newfound wealth.
If you’re a financial wiz that can help people make sense out of their cents, you can make waves in today’s business landscape.
Many financial services might legally require certain licensure to practice. Other professions in finance may have certifications that prospective clients will expect you to carry.
Look into which facets of financial services you’re most interested in, which pay the best and find out what you should acquire to run a successful practice.
2. Virtual Assistant
Some of the world’s biggest companies were founded by big thinkers. Those big-picture people are excellent at charting out what the future could look like.
What those big-picture people are not so good at is managing the small details that go into creating all of the change that they’re after.
That’s where you come in.
If you’re an organized person, sell your services as a virtual assistant that can help juggle visionary’s administrative tasks.
While being a virtual assistant isn’t a good commercial idea suggestion in the sense that it’s going to make you rich, once you build up a network of people that need assistant services, you could start employing people and build out your own agency.
3. Social Media Consultant
It used to be that businesses could go on social media, throw up some posts and get traction. Today, things are very different.
Impaction on social media has made it difficult for even the world’s biggest brands to hit their platform goals. If you’re a social expert that knows how to cut through the digital clutter, you can help out.
Social media consultants are brought on by businesses ranging from motion picture companies to escape room organizations. Consultants are hired as contractors or even as in-house full-time employees.
If you’re adamant about being a business owner, opt for the contractor arrangement and scale your company from there.
4. Home Cleaning
Homeownership is up in the United States and now hovers around a whopping 65%.
While the vast majority of those homeowners love owning the place where they live, do you know what they don’t love? Cleaning it.
If you can start up your own residential cleaning business, given the amount of expendable income that people have in today’s economy, you can make a killing.
Once you find success on the residential front, you can even branch out to commercial cleaning services to further diversify and stabilize your business.
5. eCommerce Retailer
The average consumer makes 1 out of every 10 of their purchases online. That 10% figure is slowly but surely working its way upwards and many speculate that soon, people will make the majority of their purchases online.
To cash in on that trend which is sure to continue picking up steam in 2020, source goods to sell on popular eCommerce platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
You can acquire products from yard sales, discount stores or even manufacture items on your own.
6. Tutoring
That state of public schools in America is dire. Depending on where you live, your local school district might, on average, be producing students that fall well below basic reading and math levels.
Many parents that are trapped in these districts and can’t afford private schools opt to hire private tutors for their kids.
If you’re confident in primary school basics and are good at explaining things, this is a commercial idea go-to that’s both flexible and lucrative.
7. Ridesharing
There is perhaps no business that’s easier to get off the ground these days than ridesharing. Simply pick your agency (Uber, Lyft, etc.), pass a few basic checks and start earning money.
The global ridesharing industry is predicted to grow by 11% in the next year. You can be a benefactor of that growth by getting started driving now.
8. Technical Support
Technology is slowly but surely taking over the lives of everyday people.
Many of those people are senior citizens and if we know anything about seniors, it’s that they tend to struggle with today’s latest and greatest gadgets.
A lot of people that spent years mulling over which commercial ideas would net them the best returns have found gold mines in starting door-to-door technical support agencies that are targeted at the adult community. It’s not too late for you to grab your piece of that fortune.
Our Final Thoughts on Good Commercial Ideas That Are Primed for Growth
2020 is going to be a big year for some industries and a painful one for others. In our opinion, throwing your resources behind any one of the good commercial ideas that we’ve just outlined will put you in a great position to succeed in the new year.
If you find yourself in need of more business advice as you get your company off of the ground, dive deeper into our blog’s content pool.
More than 600 Russian protesters
have been detained over an unauthorized rally in Moscow, amid reports of police
violence.
Demonstrators had gathered in Moscow
after authorities disqualified a number of opposition candidates from standing
in local elections.
Leading activist Lyubov Sobol was
arrested before she could reach the protest, attended by 1,500 people.
Lyubov Sobol (Image source Wikipedia)
Video from the demonstration shows
officers using their batons against demonstrators while making arrests.
Russian officials initially said
there had been just 30 arrests and 350 attendees.
Monitoring group OVD-Info, which
runs a hotline for reporting detentions, had been keeping a running toll, which
rapidly jumped from a few dozen arrests to several hundred.
Officers in riot gear had earlier
moved into Moscow and warned people not to protest. Russian news agency TASS
reported that one police officer had been injured while making an arrest.
However, protesters also reported
mistreatment at the hands of police.
Footage broadcast on Russian TV and
shared on social media showed police pin people to the ground, kicking or using
batons on them.
Alexander Svidersky, a member of a district electoral commission, said he
was arrested while out with his dog, which he managed to pass off to an
acquaintance before being bundled into a police van. OVD-Info reported he said
he was later taken out and hit around the kidneys before being dragged to
another van.
Detainees at one police station also told OVD-Info they were threatened with
having their fingers “cut off” if they did not allow their
fingerprints to be taken.
Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer and video blogger, is one of the candidates excluded
from the local elections. She has been on hunger strike for 21 days, and called
on others to join the unsanctioned protest on August 3.
She was in a taxi about to set off for the rally when police officers
dragged her into a black van.
Hours after Lyubov Sobol’s arrest, she tweeted from a police station, saying
she had spent three hours being driven “all over Moscow” by a dozen
masked officers.
Authorities said she was being held for violating regulations for street
demonstrations.
Last month, Lyubov Sobol was dragged out of the electoral commission office
on a sofa.
Speaking to independent broadcaster Dozhd
before her detention, Lyubov Sobol said the authorities “are doing
everything they can to try to intimidate the opposition”.
She said: “That is why it is
important to come out today to show that Muscovites are not afraid of
provocation and they are ready to continue to stand up for their rights.”
Shortly afterwards, Russian officials announced an investigation into FBK
for alleged money laundering of a billion roubles ($15.3 millio) – though it
did not name any individuals.
The nation’s investigative committee said that funds had been knowingly
obtained through criminal means.
Authorities detained more than 1,000 demonstrators last weekend during a
demonstration, one of the biggest crackdowns in years.
Election authorities have barred opposition candidates from taking part in
Moscow city authority elections planned for September 8.
According to officials, many of the signatures required for their candidacy
applications were invalid. But protesters say they were excluded for political
reasons.
Another protest held in solidarity in St Petersburg had some 1,000 attendees – but it had not been banned by local officials, and there are no reports of arrests.
