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UN Security Council Agrees on Fresh Sanctions Against North Korea

Roy Siemens
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UN Security Council Agrees on Fresh Sanctions Against North Korea

The UN Security Council has agreed on fresh sanctions against North Korea over its missile program.

A resolution banning North Korean exports and limiting investments in the country was passed unanimously.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said it was “the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation”.

North Korea tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, claiming it now had the ability to hit the US.

However, experts doubt the capability of the missiles to hit their targets.

The tests were condemned by South Korea, Japan and the US, and prompted the drafting of the new UN sanctions.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is attending a regional forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila, in the Philippines, with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho also present.

Image source Wikipedia

Rex Tillerson: “US Government Is Not Seeking Regime Change in North Korea”

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According to US officials, North Korea’s nuclear program is expected to be a major issue but there are no plans for a bilateral meeting.

Speaking as he sat down for talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Rex Tillerson said the sanctions were a “good outcome”.

President Donald Trump tweeted to say the sanctions would cost North Korea more than $1 billion.

The export of coal, ore and other raw materials to China is one of North Korea’s few sources of cash. Estimates say that North Korea exports about $3 billion worth of goods each year – and the sanctions could eliminate $1 billion of that trade.

Earlier this year, China suspended imports of coal to increase pressure on North Korea.

However, repeated sanctions have so far failed to deter Pyongyang from continuing with its missile development.

Ambassador Nikki Haley said the Security Council had increased the penalty for North Korea’s ballistic missile activity “to a whole new level”.

“Today the Security Council has come together to put the North Korean dictator on notice,” she told the council after the vote on August 5.

“North Korea’s irresponsible and careless acts have just proved to be costly for the regime.”

Meanwhile, North Korea’s ruling-party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said nuclear action or sanctions taken by Washington would lead to an “unimaginable sea of fire” engulfing the US.

The article, printed before the new UN sanctions were approved, added that if the US did not move away from its “hostile policy towards Pyongyang, the only choice for the US is self-destruction”.

China, North Korea’s only international ally and a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, voted in favor of the resolution this time. China has often protected North Korea from harmful resolutions in the past.

In Manila, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the sanctions were “necessary” but were “not the ultimate purpose”.

“Our purpose is to bring all parties involved in the nuclear issues back to negotiation table, finding the resolutions through talks to realize the denuclearization of Korean peninsula,” he told journalists.

North Korea’s repeated missile and nuclear weapon tests have been condemned by neighbors in the region.

However, South Korea says it may hold direct talks with the North during the ASEAN summit.

South Korea’s foreign minister said she was willing to talk to her counterpart from Pyongyang, if the chance “naturally occurs”.

Altogether, 27 nations are sending representatives to the ASEAN forum.

ASEAN’s 10 member states issued a joint statement saying they had “grave concerns” over North Korea’s actions, which “seriously threaten peace”.

Venezuela: Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz Dismissed by New Constituent Assembly

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz Dismissed by New Constituent Assembly

Venezuela’s chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz says she was dismissed by the new constituent assembly because the government wanted to stop her investigations into alleged corruption and human rights abuses.

Luisa Ortega, a supporter turned critic of President Nicolás Maduro, has rejected her dismissal.

She will face trial for “serious misconduct”, the Supreme Court says.

Meanwhile, one of the opposition leaders, Leopoldo Lopez, has been returned from jail to house arrest.

Leopoldo López was taken from his home on August 1 and spent four days in a military jail.

South American regional bloc Mercosur has suspended Venezuela “indefinitely”, having previously placed it under a temporary ban. It says the country will not be re-admitted until the constituent assembly is scrapped and all political prisoners are released.

Another opponent of the government, Antonio Ledezma, is also back under house arrest after three days in jail last week.

Antinio Ledezma and Leopoldo Lopez had encouraged protests against the constituent assembly, which is dominated by government supporters.

In its first session on August 5, the assembly unanimously voted to remove Luisa Ortega from her post.

She was prevented from entering her office in Caracas by dozens of National Guard officers in riot gear, and left on a motorbike amid chaotic scenes.

In a statement released by the public prosecutor’s office, Luisa Ortega said President Maduro’s government was leading a “coup against the constitution”.

“I do not recognize the decision,” she said of her dismissal.

“[This is] just a tiny example of what’s coming for everyone that dares to oppose this totalitarian form of ruling.”

Image source Wikimedia

Venezuela: President Trump Warns Nicolas Maduro over Jailed Opponents

Venezuela: Opposition Leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma Re-Arrested

Venezuela Crisis: Opposition-Controlled National Assembly Apoints Judges to Supreme Court

Venezuela’s Supreme Court, loyal to Nicolas Maduro, did not give details of the accusations against Luisa Ortega.

Luisa Ortega, who broke ranks with the government in March, had opposed the assembly’s inauguration on August 4, citing allegations of voting fraud.

Tarek William Saab, a supporter of President Nicolas Maduro, has been sworn in as her replacement.

Luisa Ortega’s removal was widely expected but the fact that it was decided on the first working day of the assembly suggested that the new body could take aggressive measures against President Maduro’s critics, correspondents say.

Mexico, Peru and Colombia have condemned Luisa Ortega’s dismissal.

President Maduro says the constituent assembly is needed to bring peace after months of protests sparked by severe economic hardship.

However, the opposition says it is a way for the president to cling to power.

The constituent assembly has the ability to rewrite the constitution, and could override the opposition-controlled parliament, the National Assembly.

Julio Borges, speaker of the National Assembly, said Luisa Ortega’s removal was illegal and showed that the country’s institutions had been “taken hostage by only one hand, only one political party” through “an undemocratic mechanism that is utterly dictatorial.”

Despite being oil-rich, Venezuela is experiencing severe shortages of food and medicines, as well as inflation in excess of 700%. Violent demonstrations since April have left more than 100 people dead.

Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Found Guilty of Securities Fraud

Diane A. Wade
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Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli Found Guilty of Securities Fraud

Former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli has been found guilty of three counts of securities fraud.

A New York City jury cleared Martin Shkreli on five other counts after five days of deliberations.

Martin Shkreli, 34, was on trial in relation to a drug company he previously headed, Retrophin, and a hedge fund he managed.

He was branded “the most hated man in America” in 2015 when his company hiked the price of a medication used by AIDS patients.

Despite facing prison after being convicted of two counts of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, Martin Shkreli professed himself pleased with the outcome.

Standing outside the court in Brooklyn, he said: “This was a witch hunt of epic proportions.

“And maybe they found one or two broomsticks but at the end of the day we’ve been acquitted of the most important charges in this case and I’m delighted to report that.”

Martin Shkreli, who attracted the nickname “Pharma Bro” and accusations of price gouging, is on trial in the US this week.

However, his case has little to do with the actions that won him notoriety.

Prosecutors allege Martin Shkreli committed fraud. They say he lied to investors and misused money to cover losses at different companies.

However, the much-hated drug price rise Martin Shkreli enacted as chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals was legal – and looks likely to remain that way, despite a push in the US for sweeping healthcare changes.

Daraprim Case: Martin Shkreli Invokes Fifth Amendment during Congressional Hearing

Daraprim Price: Martin Shkreli Asks for Immunity Before Congressional Hearing

Martin Shkreli became a symbol of pharmaceutical greed in 2015 when his company raised the price of Daraprim, a treatment for parasite infection that had been around for more than 60 years, from $13.50 a tablet to $750.

The move drew widespread criticism, including from President Donald Trump, who called Martin Shkreli “a spoiled brat” and said the industry was “getting away with murder”.

President Trump later told Congress that a goal guiding healthcare reform should be changes to bring down the “artificially high” cost of drugs.

Alarmed at the mounting pressure, several major drug companies earlier this year pledged to limit price increases to less than 10%.

However, healthcare shares rallied last week, as Senate and White House proposals for healthcare and prescription drugs came into focus without signs of a crackdown.

Those watching the political debates unfolding in Washington say they do not expect changes to address prescription drug costs this year.

“I don’t expect any dramatic action in the near term,” said John Rother, chief executive of the National Coalition on Health Care, which started a campaign against rising prescription drug prices two and a half years ago.

Turing’s pricing moves were extreme – but they were not isolated.

While overall generic drug prices declined between 2010 and 2015, according to a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of prices paid through the US’s Medicare government program – the cost of over 300 established generic drugs saw prices rises of 100% or more.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), net spending on prescription drugs increased nearly 20% in the US between 2013 and 2015.

Elsewhere, in Britain, Australia, France and Germany, the government regulates prices.

However, in the US, where pharmaceutical companies are a powerful political force, companies set the cost, which subsequently gets renegotiated with insurers, suppliers and hospitals.

US Economy Adds 209,000 Jobs in July 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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US Economy Adds 209,000 Jobs in July 2017

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US economy added 209,000 jobs in July, which was more than had been expected.

The strong jobs growth was helped by a wave of hiring in the hospitality industry.

The unemployment rate edged lower to 4.3%, matching May’s figure which was the lowest since 2001.

Employment in food services and drinking places rose 53,000 – that sector has now added 313,000 jobs since July 2016.

Employment in health care and professional and business services also saw strong growth.

The dollar gained ground after the jobs report came out. It added a third of a cent to trade at $1.1843 against the euro.

President Donald Trump welcomed the report writing on Twitter: “Excellent jobs numbers just released – and I have only just begun.”

He also hailed Toyota and Mazda’s announcement that they were planning to build a $1.6 billion car plant in the US.

The investment aims to produce 300,000 vehicles per year, and expects to employ about 4,000 Americans.

Photo Getty Images

Toyota and Mazda to Invest $1.6 Billion in US Car Plant

Fed Rate Could Be Raised on Jobs Growth Report

Donald Trump Threatens 35% Tax on US Companies that Move Jobs Overseas

The US has averaged growth of 184,000 jobs per month this year, roughly on pace with last year and well above the level needed to match increases in the working age population.

Many economists believe the gains have put the labor market at or near so-called full employment, and predicted that wages would rise as employers compete for workers.

But wage growth, while steady in July, has not accelerated.

The average hourly wage in the US was $26.36 in July, up 2.5% year-on-year. That was same pace as in June and slower than some prior months.

One reason for the lackluster wage growth may be that many of the job gains this year have been in lower-paid industries such as leisure and hospitality, where the average hourly wage was less than $15.50 in July.

That sector is responsible for almost a quarter of the more than 1m job gains since January.

There could also be more slack in the labor market than anticipated.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 5.3 million people working part-time in July who would have preferred full-time work, little changed since June.

The number of discouraged workers – who are not looking for work because they do not believe there are jobs available – has also changed little since July 2016.

US Issues First Written Notification on Paris Climate Change Agreement Pullout

Diane A. Wade
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US Issues First Written Notification on Paris Climate Change Agreement Pullout

The US has issued the first written notification that it intends to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

However, in the notice to the UN, the US State Department said Washington would remain in the talks process.

President Donald Trump drew international condemnation in June when he first announced the US intention to withdraw.

Donald Trump said the deal “punished” the US and would cost millions of American jobs.

August 4 announcement is seen as largely symbolic as no nation seeking to leave the pact can officially announce an intention to withdraw until November 4, 2019.

The process of leaving then takes another year, meaning it would not be complete until just weeks after the US presidential election in 2020.

Any new US president could then decide to rejoin the agreement.

Image source Wikipedia

The US statement read: “Today, the United States submitted a communication to the United Nations in its capacity as depositary for the Paris Agreement regarding the US intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement as soon as it is eligible to do so.

“The United States will continue to participate in international climate change negotiations and meetings… to protect US interests and ensure all future policy options remain open to the administration.”

G20 Final Agreement Acknowledges Donald Trump’s Withdrawal from Paris Climate Change Deal

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Two months ago, President Trump indicated he was open to another climate deal “on terms that are fair to the United States”.

However, key signatories to the accord quickly ruled that out. The Paris Agreement took decades to finalize.

The US stance on climate change also caused divisions at the G20 summit in Germany in July.

A joint summit statement said it “took note of the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Paris Agreement”.

However, leaders of the other G20 members agreed the accord was “irreversible”.

Climate change, or global warming, refers to the damaging effect of gases, or emissions, released from industry, transportation, agriculture and other areas into the atmosphere.

The Paris Agreement aims to limit the global rise in temperature attributed to emissions. Only Syria and Nicaragua did not sign up.

NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies says the world’s average temperature has risen by about 0.8C since 1880, two-thirds of that since 1975.

US think tank Climate Interactive predicts that if all nations fully achieve their Paris pledges, the average global surface temperature rise by 2100 will be 3.3C, or 3.6C without the US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFp6nk-PmaU

Non-iPhone Apple Watch in the Works

Nancy Clayson
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Non-iPhone Apple Watch in the Works

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is working on an Apple Watch that does not need to be paired to an iPhone.

The new Watch will connect directly to LTE mobile networks.

Apple has begun talks with providers in the US and Europe about offering the device later this year, the report says.

Apple launched the Watch in 2015 but is yet to share any sales figures.

In a recent call to investors, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company’s watch was the best-selling smartwatch in the world.

However, in the wider wearables market, Apple lags behind Chinese firm Xiaomi and San Francisco-based Fitbit, according to Strategy Analytics.

Image source Flickr

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While originally positioned as a luxury device, Apple has more recently focused on the fitness credentials of the Watch.

Untethering it from the iPhone would open up a range of new functionality – such as allowing users to download songs on the move, even if they do not have their smartphone with them.

However, there will be concern about the battery life of the device. Most of the computational heavy-lifting on the current Apple Watch is done via the paired iPhone.

According to Bloomberg’s report, the new Apple Watch’s modem will be manufactured by Intel.

The Apple Watch would come on to the market several years after Apple rivals Samsung and LG launched their own cellular-enabled smart watches. However such devices have tended to be too large to gain any kind of mainstream popularity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTN8f9aIijs

Aldi Withdraws Eggs from Germany Stores over Insecticide Contamination Fear

Nancy Clayson
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Aldi Withdraws Eggs from Germany Stores over Insecticide Contamination Fear

Aldi has withdrawn all eggs from sale from its stores in Germany as they may have been contaminated by insecticide.

Tests showed that the chemical fipronil, which can harm people’s kidneys, liver and thyroid glands, was found in eggs from the Netherlands.

Fipronil is used to treat lice and ticks in chickens.

One German official said up to 10 million of the contaminated eggs may have been sold in Germany.

Agriculture minister for Lower Saxony Christian Meyer told German TV that there was a risk to children if they ate two of the eggs a day.

Image source Wikimedia

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About 180 poultry farms in the Netherlands have been temporarily shut in recent days while investigations are held.

Meanwhile, European supermarkets have moved to halt the distribution of eggs from the affected batches.

However, Aldi – which has close to 4,000 stores in Germany – is the first retailer to stop selling all eggs as a precaution.

“This is merely a precaution, there is no reason to assume there are any health risks,” the supermarket giant said in a statement.

Reuters reports that investigators believe the chemical may have originated in contaminated detergent used to clean barns.

Poultry World reported that fipronil may have been deliberately added to an existing insecticide to improve its effectiveness.

The Netherlands is Europe’s largest exporter of eggs and egg products, and one of the biggest in the world. It exports an estimated 65% of the 10 billion eggs it produces every year.

Toyota and Mazda to Invest $1.6 Billion in US Car Plant

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Toyota and Mazda to Invest $1.6 Billion in US Car Plant

Toyota and Mazda have teamed up to invest $1.6 billion in a new car plant in the US.

The two Japanese car giants have also agreed to join forces to develop electric car technology. Toyota is to take a 5% stake in Mazda, while Mazda will also invest in Toyota.

The new US plant aims to produce 300,000 vehicles a year and expects to employ about 4,000 people.

President Donald Trump tweeted the announcement was “a great investment in American manufacturing”.

Image source Wikimedia

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Earlier this year, Donald Trump had said Toyota would face hefty tariffs on cars built in Mexico for the US market if they were made south of the border.

The new plant will produce Toyota Corollas and a new Mazda SUV crossover.

The companies hope to be able to start production in 2021.

President Trump tweeted: “Toyota & Mazda to build a new $1.6B plant here in the U.S.A. and create 4K new American jobs. A great investment in American manufacturing!”

Dubai’s Torch Tower Catches Fire for Second Time in Two Years

Nancy Clayson
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Dubai’s Torch Tower Catches Fire for Second Time in Two Years

Hundreds of residents of Dubai’s Torch Tower have been evacuated after a huge fire broke out at the skyscraper for the second time in two years.

Footage posted on social media showed flames spreading up the residential skyscraper, and burning debris falling down.

The UAE authorities later said that civil defense workers “successfully evacuated” the building and the blaze was brought under control.

It is not clear what caused the fire in one of the world’s tallest buildings.

Image source Gulf News

The government of Dubai‘s media office tweeted: “No injuries have been reported so far in the Torch Tower fire incident.”

It added that “cooling operations were under way”.

The Torch Tower was damaged by an earlier blaze in February 2015.

The 79-storey skyscraper opened in 2011 and was the world’s tallest residential building at its opening, but has since been surpassed by six others. According to the Skyscraper Center, the Torch Tower is thought to be the 32nd tallest building in the world. It has 676 apartments and a two-bedroom flat starts at more than $500,000. Residents have access to an eight-storey garage and a swimming pool overlooking Dubai’s waterfront.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahoF30_Nlo

Stephen Miller and Jim Acosta Exchange on Statue of Liberty and Immigration

Diane A. Wade
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Stephen Miller and Jim Acosta Exchange on Statue of Liberty and Immigration

The Statue of Liberty was caught in an exchange between White House adviser Stephen Miller and a CNN reporter after President Donald Trump backed an immigration policy favoring the better-educated.

“The Statue of Liberty says, <Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free>,” CNN’s Jim Acosta told Stephen Miller.

“It doesn’t say anything about speaking English,” Jim Acosta added.

Stephen Miller said the poem on the iconic American statue was “added later”.

The immigration overhaul, backed by President Trump on August 2, would curb the number of permanent, legal migrants allowed in the US each year and prioritize those who can speak English or are highly skilled.

President Trump’s senior policy adviser at the White House, Stephen Miller, said at a press briefing that the policy was “compassionate”.

The question-and-answer session turned into a fiery row as Stephen Miller and Jim Acosta clashed on the issue.

Image source CNN Money

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They verbally sparred over the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom and what it represents in relation to US immigration policy.

In response to Jim Acosta’s point about the famous poem, Stephen Miller countered by saying that it was “not actually part of the original Statue of Liberty”.

“The poem that you’re referring to was added later,” he told Jim Acosta.

However, Jim Acosta, visibly unsatisfied with this response, used the daily briefing to accuse the Trump administration of “trying to engineer the racial and ethnic flow and people into this country”.

Stephen Miller said the accusation was “outrageous”, describing the policy as “pro-American immigration reform” that enjoyed “immense” support among the public.

“Jim, that is one of the most outrageous, insulting, ignorant and foolish things you have ever said,” Stephen Miller said.

“The notion that you think this is a racist bill is so wrong and so insulting.”

Stephen Miller said the bill, which also proposes to limit family-based migration to spouses and children, was a step towards realizing the administration’s plan to introduce an Australian-style, points-based immigration system.

The bill still has a long way to go before becoming law and would be likely to face resistance in Congress from members of both parties.

It is not the first time that CNN’s Jim Acosta has raised hackles at the White House. In January he was warned by then incoming press secretary Sean Spicer that he would be banned from future press conferences if he continued to “argue” with President Trump.

Tesla Revenues Double in Q2 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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Tesla Revenues Double in Q2 2017

Tesla quarterly revenues have more than doubled helped by higher deliveries of its upmarket vehicles but its losses also grew.

The electric car-maker reported revenue of almost $2.8 billion in Q2 2017, up from $1.3 billion during the same period last year.

Losses increased to $336 million, compared with $293 million in 2016.

However, investors were encouraged by Tesla’s prospects and shares rose by more than 8% in after-hours trading.

Tesla, which also has a solar energy division, said about $2.3 billion in revenue during the quarter came from the company’s automotive unit – roughly the same as in the previous quarter, but 93% higher than the same period in 2016.

Image source Twitter

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However, Tesla’s costs, including for research and development and sales, also rose contributing to the 15% rise in its losses for the quarter.

Tesla is preparing to ramp up car production, as it rolls out its most affordable car yet for the mass market.

The company told shareholders it expects revenue to grow “significantly” in the second half of the year, while expenses hold steady.

Tesla delivered more than 47,000 of its earlier high-end Model S and Model X cars in the first half of 2017, growth of more than 50% from the prior year.

Since Tesla rolled out its latest car, Model 3, last week, it is averaging more than 1,800 reservations for the car a day, it added.

Tesla hopes to make 5,000 of the Model 3 cars per week by the end of 2017. It hopes to eventually make more than 500,000 a year at its Fremont factory – or almost 10,000 per week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG-pZ7cbeb8

Apple Sales Exceed Expectations in Q2 2017

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Apple Sales Exceed Expectations in Q2 2017

Apple’s newer lines of business – Apple Pay, the App Store and Apple Music – helped the tech giant to drive growth in its third quarter.

Quarterly profit rose 12% to $8.7 billion. Revenues grew by 7% year-on-year to $45.4 billion.

The news sent its stock surging more than 5% in after-hours trade.

Apple, which also forecast strong sales, is expected to release new and updated iPhones next month.

CEO Tim Cook was tight-lipped when it came to details on the new launch and said reports about the new phones may have caused some people to “pause” their purchases of the existing phones.

However, “while that affects us in the short-term, it probably bodes well”, he added.

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Even with some people waiting for the new models, Apple said the number of iPhones sold in the quarter increased a solid 2% year-on-year, driven by strong demand in markets such as Latin America and the Middle East.

The growth lifted revenue from iPhones, which account for the bulk of the company’s sales, by 3% to $24.8 billion.

Apple also said the number of iPads sold climbed 28% year-on-year, while revenues from the product increased 2%. The rise follows the introduction of new models, as well as increased efforts to incorporate the tablets into operations at schools and in businesses.

Revenue from other devices, such as the Apple Watch, Apple TV and Beats products, jumped 23% year-on-year.

Apple’s China revenues slipped 9.5% from a year earlier to slightly more than $8 billion.

Its flagship iPhone is losing market share to a slew of local competitors, while the company also faces challenges in dealing with China’s strict internet censorship regime.

Tim Cook stressed the success of its services unit, which includes Apple Pay, the App Store and Apple Music. The division had sales of nearly $7.3 billion during the three months to the end of June, a rise of 22% on the same period last year.

Apple Pay now accounts for almost 90% of mobile payment transactions around the world, said CFO Luca Maestri. Paying accounts on the App Store are also on the rise, he said.

Tim Cook also addressed Apple’s decision to remove some products from its App Store in China, saying the company had to abide by the law.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQr-K6D36BE

I’m Just Getting Started: Some Things to Consider Before Buying Office Equipment

Nancy Clayson
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I’m Just Getting Started: Some Things to Consider Before Buying Office Equipment

In business, there are two types of people: those who end up failing and those who are successful. Individuals who climb the ladder and make it to the top know that a lot of things need to be done to obtain success. These men and women know that hard work, dedication, trust, and a little risk are the essential tools for being successful in their chosen fields.

From humble beginnings, a business has to go through a “Baptism by Fire” of sorts to become truly known and fruitful. When the time comes, a lot of changes are inevitable. For those who know how hard it is, the transition from a few furniture to a fully furnished office is a no laughing matter.

Whenever money is involved, a situation or a potential “turn for the worse” is always an expectation. Purchasing office equipment is one of those situations. If a business owner carelessly purchases any equipment or tool without planning, then they might as well close down.

Careless purchases can lead to right back to rock bottom for a startup company that’s still transitioning into a full-blown enterprise. Smart and Intelligent business owners know how to plan and watch out for the possible repercussions of buying office equipment in the long run.

Here are some factors to consider when purchasing office equipment for a start-up business.

Usage

architectural design, architecture, ceiling

To make the most out of your purchase, make sure that you know the estimated usage of an item. How is it frequently used? Who will use it? Knowing all of these conditions enables an owner to achieve a higher rate of productivity.

Skills

coaching, coders, coding

Part of having the best efficiency in operations is knowing the skill level of your employees who will use the equipment. Will a machine require training? If so, then part of the purchase is the training that comes with using the tools.

 

Repairability

blur, computer, connection

It’s inevitable that at some point, office equipment will break down. When the time comes, it’s good to know that the parts needed are easily available and not insanely expensive. Part of being efficient is also being able to decide in the effectiveness of a piece that’s either brand new or refurbished.

Support

Ideally, you’d want a machine with warranties and support. Warranty is of particular importance for brand new items in case they malfunction right at the start of usage. When this happens, the warranty will guarantee a buyer of a free replacement of the tool.

In dealing with refurbished items, it’s difficult to ensure product quality because they’re second hand and their warranty is most probably null and void. To make sure that the refurbished product is working properly, be very scrutinizing of the most minute details. Sometimes, a small dent in some parts maybe enough for a machine to stop working. Make sure to test out equipment before buying for any defects.

Price

calculate, calculator, close-up

The most important factor of all to keep notice of is, of course, the price of equipment. Not to patronize any particular brand, but branded items are more suited for purchasing. This fact is due to the warranties, servicing, replacement, parts, and other advantages that a brand has over particular products.

Although it may seem expensive, there are a lot of brands out there especially when it comes to printers, fax machines, copiers, and other tools that are part of the office. Most companies who deal with advanced business solutions make use of these devices.

 

Other factors to consider:

Some machines may have Service contracts with them upon purchase. Make sure to take full advantage of this to repair or replace your equipment. When dealing with service contracts, individual agreements such as the duration of the contract, availability of renewal of contracts, cancellation fees of contracts, and other pertinent details should also become a priority.

Takeaway

Undeniably, there is no easy route to success. A company who’s starting up will soon rise to the top if they’re careful and lucky. Part of that transition is purchasing office equipment for a growing number of tasks. As soon as a business grows, so does its operations

For those operations to be fruitful and efficient, the proper tools and equipment is a must. When purchasing machines, it’s best to take note of factors such as Price, Repairability, The Skills of those who’ll use the device, usage, and support.

Salvează

Salvează

We Hate The 7 Digital Sins Of Businesses That Don’t Think Of Their Users

Dana R
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We Hate The 7 Digital Sins Of Businesses That Don’t Think Of Their Users

The world of digital is divided between businesses that offer a modern and engaging experience to their users and businesses that have stopped considering the well-being of their users. It’s the latter category that interests us today, namely all the businesses that anger digital customers with old-fashioned and ridiculous practices. In an age when you can order a pizza with a click and get a taxi with another, it’s high time for digital users to make their voice heard and get businesses to change their ways. Here’s a list of the top 7 digital sins that are making users’ life impossible and that some – strangely unaware – businesses continue to perpetuate.  

backpack

Smartphone user

#1. The ones that think people don’t use smartphones

Smartphones are not exactly new anymore. iPhone celebrated this year the 10th anniversary of the little rectangle without which we couldn’t survive. There is no word to illustrate the social importance of smartphones but to give you an idea, try to name at least five adults who don’t own a phone. In short, it’s no wonder that most business strategies focus on maximizing the impact of smartphones on their revenues. Search engines have even agreed to regard responsive designs and mobile accessibility as a ranking factor. Some companies continue to rely on their mobile-unfriendly website that requires users to zoom in to read and that are impossible to navigate. The reasoning behind it remains a mystery. But the result is always the same: Users switch to a mobile-friendly competitor instead.

#2. The ones that haven’t changed their website since the 90s

The 1990s were cool: They saw the rise of the Internet. Websites may not have been elegant, but they were functional enough, even though they needed several seconds – if not minutes – to load. Today, a website that requires more than a second to load is guaranteed to lose some impatient visitors. But nothing is as bad as websites that have not updated their design to the latest trends. Flash sequences in the titles, impossible color schemes, a layout that seems inspired by a page from a word processor program, you know the kind. You need to work with a professional web design company to give your digital presence a modern and aesthetic look nowadays. Users are web-savvy, they expect businesses to display elegant, engaging and responsive websites. Anything less is just judged to be unprofessional.

#3. The ones that think pop-ups are cool

If you are not familiar with Jakob Nielsen and Dom Norman, they are the user experience experts who founded the Nielsen Norman Group years before UX was a marketable term. In the late 90s, Jakob Nielsen was already sharing his views about user experience. Unfortunately, it’s taken several years for the rest of the digital industry to catch up and apply his suggestions. More recently, the group has published an article referring to the most hated online advertising techniques. Needless to say that their words sound almost painfully true for several users. They mention pop-ups or model ads – which is the name given to an ad that appears on top of the content and needs to be closed before you can interact with the site itself – as the number one enemy of digital users. “Don’t forget to download our free whitepaper”, “Register here for a discount”, “Latest offers”, and much more, these pop-ups have a negative impact on the user. They distract from the content, and they are intrusive.

#4. The ones that force users to sign up

The marketing team has to hit the numbers; we get that. But why they think that forcing people to sign up to access the rest of the content will help to increase leads is a question that nobody can answer. Do you like to be forced to give your email address to read an article online? Nobody does. But, unfortunately for the companies that employ such method, most users are digital-savvy. They give fake email addresses. Mr. Test at [email protected] is a regular on the lead lists. Thankfully, Mr. Test doesn’t mind the intrusive newsletters and other emailing, which is a good thing because the rest of us can continue to enjoy the web in peace.

#5. The ones that play music or videos automatically

Most users nowadays open several tabs at the same time as they surf the web, to quote an old saying. And the one thing that they hate with a great passion is when without warning one of their many tabs starts playing a loud video or a piece of music. Autoplay is not only irritating, but it is also commonly accepted by the digital community as a bad idea. For a start, autoplay items interrupt the browsing experience of the user. Believe it or not, dear website, we didn’t give you the permission to play sounds at us. In an office environment, that can generate constant interruptions. In any location, users tend to shut down the tab and never come back as a revengeful act.

#6. The ones that use only stock photos

Ah, stock photos. Aren’t they lovely, all the same since the 90s? Websites that rely heavily on stock photos should consider the impact it has on their brand. Users cannot take a business seriously, especially if they have come across the same stock photos in another context. It looks cheap, unprofessional and slightly laughable too – particularly if you’re using the photos to illustrate the most individual element of your web content, the about-us page. Users can only wonder if services are also stock items.

#7. The ones that don’t proofread

Spelign mistaks ar no funn. Visitors have an unforgiven eye for spelling mistakes, missing links – 404 doesn’t go down very well with users – and other content issues. They expect the company to care about its web content as part of maintaining a professional image. Presenting a website that shows incorrect words, that is unable to offer proper navigation and that doesn’t flow logically is an indication that the company doesn’t pay attention. As a result, users tend to assume that services or products will suffer from the same poor quality.

From a poor reading experience to an overzealous marketing strategy, some websites seem to play with the users’ nerves. Unfortunately for these websites, it never ends well when you annoy your users. They leave and buy elsewhere, in the best of cases. In the worst, they take it upon themselves to destroy your business reputation.   

Rex Tillerson: “US Government Is Not Seeking Regime Change in North Korea”

Roy Siemens
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Rex Tillerson: “US Government Is Not Seeking Regime Change in North Korea”

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the US government is not seeking a regime change in North Korea.

“We’re not your enemy,” he said, adding that the US wanted a dialogue at some point.

However, a Republican senator said President Donald Trump had told him there would be a war with North Korea if its missile program continued.

North Korea claimed its latest missile could hit the US west coast.

The second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 28, celebrated by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was the latest to be conducted in defiance of a UN ban.

Referring to the border between the Koreas, Rex Tillerson said: “We do not seek a regime change, we do not seek the collapse of the regime, we do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, we do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel.

“We’re not your enemy, we’re not your threat but you’re presenting an unacceptable threat to us and we have to respond.”

Image source Flickr

US Bans Traveling to North Korea

Donald Trump Warns North Korea of “Pretty Severe” Response Following ICBM Test

Donald Trump Criticizes China Following North Korea’s Test of Long-Range Missile

President Trump has repeatedly criticized China, which shares a land border with North Korea and is its closest economic ally, for not doing enough to stop Pyongyang’s weapons program.

However, Rex Tillerson took a more diplomatic approach, saying that “only the North Koreans are to blame for this situation”.

“But, we do believe China has a special and unique relationship, because of this significant economic activity, to influence the North Korean regime in ways that no one else can,” he added.

In a separate development, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that President Trump told him that there would be a military conflict between the two countries if Pyongyang continued with its aim to develop a missile program with the US in its range.

“There will be a war with North Korea over their missile program if they continue to try to hit America with an ICBM,” Lindsey Graham said.

“He [President Trump] has told me that, I believe him, and if I were China I would believe him too, and do something about it,” he said in an interview with NBC’s Today show.

Lindsey Graham added: “If there’s going to be a war… it will be over there. If thousands die, they’re going to die over there. They’re not going to die here. And he [President Trump] has told me that to my face.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvwagZYnQa4

Venezuela: President Trump Warns Nicolas Maduro over Jailed Opponents

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: President Trump Warns Nicolas Maduro over Jailed Opponents

President Donald Trump has warned that the US holds Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro “personally responsible” for the safety of the seized opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma.

In a statement, President Trump also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.

Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma, who had been under house arrest, were taken to a military prison on August 1.

This came after July 30 controversial vote for a constitutional assembly.

At least 10 people were killed, as the opposition boycotted the election.

President Nicolas Maduro said the poll was a “vote for the revolution”, arguing that the move would create peace and foster dialogue by bringing together different sectors of Venezuela’s polarized society.

Venezuela: Opposition Leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma Re-Arrested

Venezuela: Brazilian Senators Attacked After Trying to Meet Jailed Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez

Venezuela: Leopoldo Lopez Jailed for 13 Years and Nine Months

The opposition said on August 1 that it had decided to hold a demonstration against the new assembly on August 3.

Opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara tweeted the rally would be held on “the day the dictatorship plans to install the fraudulent assembly”.

It had originally been thought that the government would open the constituent assembly on Wednesday, thereby evicting the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

In his statement, President Trump said the US condemned the actions of the “Maduro dictatorship”.

Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma were “political prisoners being held illegally by the regime”, he added.

“The United States holds Maduro – who publicly announced just hours earlier that he would move against his political opposition – personally responsible for the health and safety of Mr. López, Mr. Ledezma and any others seized.”

Earlier, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson described the re-arrest of Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma as “very alarming”.

“The situation from a humanitarian standpoint is already becoming dire,” he said.

“We are evaluating all of our policy options as to what can we do to create a change of conditions, where either Maduro decides he doesn’t have a future and wants to leave of his own accord, or we can return the government processes back to their constitution.”

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced on July 31 that the US had imposed sanctions on President Maduro.

Leopoldo López was taken from his home at 12:27 local time on August 1, his wife, Lilian Tintori, wrote on Twitter.

A video posted showed Leopoldo López being taken away by members of the Venezuelan intelligence service, Sebin.

The daughter of Antonio Ledezma, Vanessa Ledezma, also posted a video of her father, wearing pajamas, being taken away by the Sebin.

Both Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma were key figures in the wave of protests which swept through Venezuela in 2014 in which 43 people from both sides of the political divide were killed.

They have played a less prominent role in the most recent protests because they have been under house arrest but their video messages still get reported and shared widely on opposition websites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPsusU754Fk

Venezuela: Opposition Leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma Re-Arrested

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela: Opposition Leaders Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma Re-Arrested

Venezuelan opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma have been re-arrested in a move condemned internationally.

Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma were under house arrest after accusations of inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014.

They have been taken to Ramo Verde military jail, family members say.

The Supreme Court, which critics say is dominated by government loyalists, said it had received intelligence reports alleging the two were trying to flee.

The court also said that it had revoked Antonio Ledezma’s and Leopoldo López’s house arrest because they had made political statements.

The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said he was “deeply concerned” that the pair had been taken back into custody.

Venezuela: Leopoldo Lopez Jailed for 13 Years and Nine Months

Venezuela: Leopoldo Lopez Released from Jail After Three Years

Venezuela: Brazilian Senators Attacked After Trying to Meet Jailed Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez

The move comes just two days after a controversial vote for a constitutional assembly saw violence on the streets, with at least 10 people killed.

President Nicolás Maduro convened the assembly to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution amid spiraling anti-government protests on May 1.

He argued that the move would create peace and foster dialogue by bringing together different sectors of Venezuela’s polarized society.

However, the opposition accused the president of trying to rewrite the constitution in order to maximize his power and sideline the opposition-controlled legislature.

They boycotted the vote and called on Venezuelans to take to the streets in protest. The election was condemned by Latin American leaders, the EU and the US.

The day of the election was the deadliest so far since the current wave of protest began.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced on July 31 that the US had imposed sanctions on President Nicolas Maduro and called him a “dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people”.

Leopoldo López was taken from his home at 12:27 local time on August 1, his wife, Lilian Tintori, wrote on Twitter.

A video posted showed Leopoldo López being taken away by members of the Venezuelan intelligence service, Sebin.

Lilian Tintori wrote that she would hold President Nicolás Maduro responsible if something were to happen to her husband.

The daughter of Antonio Ledezma, Vanessa Ledezma, also posted a video of her father, wearing pyjamas, being taken away by the Sebin.

A woman can be heard shouting: “They’re taking Ledezma, they’re taking Ledezma, dictatorship!”

The EU criticized the detentions as a step in the wrong direction and Chile’s foreign minister said they “sent an abysmal signal”.

The US also condemned the arrests. Republican Senator Marco Rubio noted that VP Mike Pence has spoken to Leopoldo López on July 28, and characterized the arrests as a response to the sanctions placed on President Maduro.

Both Antonio Ledezma and Leopoldo López were key figures in the wave of protests which swept through Venezuela in 2014 in which 43 people from both sides of the political divide were killed.

Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma have played a less prominent role in the most recent protests because they have been under house arrest but their video messages still get reported and shared widely on opposition websites.

Los Angeles Agrees to Host Olympic Games 2028

Clyde K. Valle
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Los Angeles Agrees to Host Olympic Games 2028

Los Angeles has agreed to host the 2028 Olympic Games, leaving Paris to stage the 2024 edition.

In June, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to name hosts for successive Games – with just Paris and Los Angeles bidding – but it was unclear which would host in which year.

Both cities had wanted to host the 2024 event.

The IOC welcomed Los Angeles’ move, pledging to contribute $1.8 billion to the organizing committee.

It appears that for LA to have accepted the 2028 Games there would have had to have been significant financial benefits that outweighed the benefit of hosting in 2024.

The funds will include money to pay for the extended planning period and to support youth sports programs leading up to the Games.

Olympic Games 2024: Hamburg Residents Vote against Hosting Summer Olympics

Tokyo 2020: Olympic Games Logo Scrapped over Plagiarism Allegations

Olympics 2020: Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo on the shortlist for hosting the games

Los Angeles bid committee chairman Casey Wasserman earlier said “both cities now stand together ready to serve the Olympic and Paralympic movements”.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said “we’re bringing the games back” in 2028, adding that “this deal was too good to pass up”.

Los Angeles has staged the Olympics twice – in 1932 and 1984.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said: “Paris and Los Angeles are two amazing global cities that are united in their support of the Olympic cause and we stand together now to help the Games thrive in 2024 and 2028.

“As today’s announcement shows, dialogue between the IOC and the two cities is progressing well. We are confident that a <win-win-win> agreement can be finalized ahead of the IOC session in Lima.”

The IOC wanted Los Angeles and Paris to reach an agreement before the session in September and had they not, a vote to select the 2024 host would have been held.

IOC president Thomas Bach welcomed LA’s decision, describing the bid as “strong and enthusiastic”.

He added: “We are very confident that we can reach a tripartite agreement under the leadership of the IOC with LA and Paris in August, creating a win-win-win situation for all three partners.

“This agreement will be put forward to the IOC session in Lima in September for ratification.”

In June, Casey Wasserman appeared to concede to Paris when he said: “We have never been only about 2024.”

Paris has said it has to go first as the site it has earmarked for the Olympic Village will not be available for redevelopment after 2024.

Los Angeles had argued that it could host a low-cost Olympics given that it already has all the necessary infrastructure in place, while Paris would need to build several expensive structures.

Paris and LA were the only ones left in the race for 2024 after Budapest, Hamburg and Rome withdrew.

Common Mistakes You Should Avoid While Pruning

Nancy Clayson
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Common Mistakes You Should Avoid While Pruning

Any type of tree, either it is fully grown or just a sapling, should be treated as an anchor to any landscape. They have huge impact on your landscape and your garden. They serve a very important role in maintaining beauty and balance of your yard. In return, you also need to take good care of them. You need to carry out some works to give them great shape and healthy growth.

Taking good care of your trees include perfect pruning to be carried out on them.  A tree, when it is pruned is beautiful to look at, but if you don’t prune it regularly and perfectly, people can easily notice their wrong shape, bushy structures, and unhealthy stem condition.

Pruning is treated as a science. It’s an art too. Pruning generally refers to the cutting of branches in a decent manner. This science involves indicating the flaws of a plant. Later it eliminates and minimizes the defects of a plant in a skillful way. Sometimes we, the gardeners make some common mistakes, generally very common in us in pruning a tree.

These limitations can also be avoided easily by following some rules and instructions. Here, we have mentioned five common mistakes that people often make. We will also share with you some solutions to avoid such mistakes and to support you in for giving your trees and plants a very healthy shape and growth.

 

Snipping

Close-up of Plant

It’s a general thought that larger cuts will hurt the trees and smaller ones are more gentle for them. But the reality is just the opposite. If you are cutting the tips of the branches, you are going to make the biggest mistake. Pruning actually accelerates the growth of the trees. If you cut at the back of a branch, around five or six new branches will rapidly grow from that place. That will help the tree to get into a perfect shape in a much shorter time.

 

Using Dirty Shears

Brown Woven Hat over Brown Wooden Round Table Top

It is much advisable to clean up your pruning shears or blades with a small amount of alcohol before you use them.  Sometimes the blades look clean but you will never know whether there are any bacteria on it or not. These microorganisms cannot be seen with the naked eyes.

So you cannot ensure that there are no bacteria on your blades without washing them properly. If you do not clean the blades properly, there is a chance that your plant can be affected by microorganisms resulting into lots of diseases, even the death of your lovely plant.

 

Excessive Pruning

It is better to follow the pruning guidance properly before you start pruning your trees. It is advisable not to cut more than 20% of foliage of a mature tree. If you go beyond this, you might be putting too much stress on the tree and can restrict the flow of nutrients. You can prune more if you feel it’s needed but once you cut completely, you can never get it back.

Before pruning, avoid the areas that give structural support, otherwise, your tree can collapse at any moment. This will not only harm the tree but can also bring disaster for your family members too as branches may fall on them.

Pruning Conifers During Summer

Sometimes in growing season, it seems that conifers get out of control. They are likely to reach up to the roof. You may want to remove that part of the limb, but you can finish with cutting an important stub. Sometimes in doing this, you can literally cause the killing of the trees.

A conifer generally derives from the buds on the ends of each branch that is formed last during the growing season. If you remove the buds, that may cause a permanent damage to the stub. It will look ugly and will be brown always.  You can prune the conifers in the summer around the corner. A new growth occurs at the end of a branch, where the buds are located. If you remove these buds, it will affect the growth of the tree.

Not Pruning at All

The most common mistake that a gardener does is not pruning at all. Many people are afraid of drastic cuts. Sometimes they may think that they will cut more than what is needed and kill the tree. Again some people think that pruning will give the tree an ugly look. But if you leave your trees unpruned, it’s assured that you are losing the attractiveness of your tree or shrubs.

 

The beauty of a tree or a shrub is achieved from new growth only and it is the pruning which is the fast way to have new growth. There are other benefits too. Pruning enhances growth and development. It makes the tree a healthy one if pruning is done correctly.

Takeaway

This post will definitely help you to have a better pruning of your trees and at the same time will remove your stress regarding pruning. You need to just remember avoiding making the five mistakes which were mentioned above.

Pruning correctly will help to increase the strength of the limbs of your trees. It will also enhance the proper growth of trunk and limbs. If you prune your trees perfectly, it will give your tree an attractive look that people will surely notice.  

Sometimes pruning might seem difficult to do but it will be easier if you follow the proper instructions. This is the principle of pruning. If you think that growing naturally will give your trees a good look and better strength then you are going to make a mistake. Again pruning improperly will cause the destruction of your trees in ways like the shape and strength.

Hopefully, this post will help you in avoiding the common mistakes and at the same time, will help to make your garden or orchard a beautiful one by giving perfect shapes and sufficient strength to the trees.

If you find yourself uncomfortable to prune or if you feel that you are not very confident yet, you can hire a professional pruner or a lawn service. It’s the easiest way to take care of the matter since they know how to do it right and you don’t have to worry about making any mistakes when it comes to pruning.

Salvează

How to Change Your Life with Online Dating

Dana R
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1
How to Change Your Life with Online Dating

We say that we are tired of awkward dates and yet we find ourselves once again sitting in a restaurant with the latest guy who is just not right for us. At some point, we have to realize that we’re not going to find our soulmate in our small towns or boring suburbs and we’ll need to turn to new opportunities, even when they seem frightening. When I realized that my personal life consisted of a series of lousy dates and boyfriends going nowhere in life, I decided to try online dating. Since I didn’t want to meet men who go online to cheat on their wives, or weirdos who just want to kill the time, I decided to go with the global platform VictoriaHearts.com. It’s a dating site with a paid subscription that focuses on a meaningful relationship. Read my VictoriaHearts review to learn about my story and may it inspire you to break the cycle of love failures and expand your horizons in landing your true love, once and for all.

Take the Time to Examine Your Dating Platform

I am one of those types who always reads the instructions. So I started my exploration of VictoriaHearts.com by reading all the materials that were available to me as a guest. First, I read the feedbacks of existing members.  They were rather positive and seemed to be real.

Then I visited the Refund policy tab. I was glad to read that Victoria Hearts promised to return all “credits” (the site’s currency) to my account if I had been scammed. To be honest, one of the main reasons I hadn’t registered on dating sites for years is because the prospect of being fooled intimidated me. Also, this policy allows me to get all my unspent money back if I decide to delete my account. Sounds like a fair deal, doesn’t it?

Then there’s its Privacy policy, which states that VictoriaHearts “take reasonable security measures to help safeguard personal information from unauthorized access and disclosure”. And that’s very important taking into account the threat of  photographs, videos or personal information being stolen.

On the Billing policy page, I found information about the advantages of having Premium status on VictoriaHearts.com. Members who haven’t upgraded their accounts can’t even send messages. They are only able to view the profiles of other members. So you can be sure that each man who texts you has already invested in a Premium account and is really interested in building a relationship.

Keep Calm and Join Victoria Hearts

I am an ambitious woman with a successful career so I know the importance of paying for high-quality service. I also know the importance of making a serious effort in all my endeavors, which is why I entered the all the necessary information in the Sign Up form when creating my account on VictoriaHearts.

Then I confirmed my e-mail address by clicking on the Sign In tab, which made my profile visible to other members. Within minutes, I started receiving messages, which was a pleasant surprise. I felt sought after and, like any other woman, I enjoyed this feeling.

When you sign in for the first time, Victoria Hearts asks you to fill in several questionnaires to set your romantic goals, share some personal information and describe your ideal partner.

The site’s algorithms use this information to help you find men who can be the right match for you.

The first questionnaire is about the kind of man you are looking for on VictoriaHearts.com. How old should he be? What height? Does he smoke? Does he have children? Does he want to have more children? These are examples of some of the questions that you will be asked, and what’s great is that you can either answer or skip them.

The second questionnaire is about you. I recommend that you don’t hold back and share some personal information, particularly since there’s a guarantee on your information being secure. That’s especially the case if you want men of your type to write you first.

As my experience would later tell me, your profile is the key to success. A good one can draw wide attention and boost your chances of finding Mr. Right. So be ready to share info like your country of residence, level of education, occupation, number of children, as well as describe your body type.

And if you still have something left to say, you can mention more details about who you are and what man you aspire to attract in the “Describe Yourself” form, which other members will see.

The final phase of your profile creation is uploading your photo. You can attach an old one or post a new one using your web camera. But be aware that Victoria Hearts women are serious when it comes to the competitiveness of online dating, with many of them posting pics done by professional photographers.

First Impression of VictoriaHearts.com

Attention skeptics! Just taking a quick glimpse of the profiles of the guys at VictoriaHearts should alleviate any worries about the quality of men the website attracts.

Its design makes flipping through profiles, saving them and taking the first step towards contact a stress-free, and even fun experience. I don’t like to text others from my mobile devices, but for those who do, the mobile version of VictoriaHearts is as good as the site itself.

I know precisely what kind of man I am looking for. That’s why the simple search option, which allows me to perform a search simply based on age, isn’t my favorite. I prefer using the extended search, which allows me to identify more characteristics of the man of my dreams, including his country and city of residence, marital status and number of children, smoking and drinking habits, level of education and religion.

What’s unique about VictoriaHearts.com – something I haven’t seen on any other dating platform – is its playful Faces search option. It presents you with photos of only the faces of its members. You can select and save those you like, or simply click to skip to see the next profile photo. Once you’ve come to the realization (as I had) that there are enough quality men to make Victoria Hearts a prime dating destination, upgrade your account by clicking the orange button on the right side to get to the fun part, which is the chance to chat and exchange messages with them. You’d be surprised at how many late nights you’ll end up spending laughing and sharing intimate moments in your life, without even noticing where the time went! I find it easy to get quality conversations out of the Victoria Hearts community, which is part of its strategy of paying for quality.

VictoriaHearts.com uses a secure 128-bit encryption to protect members from hackers. So you don’t have to worry about the safety of your financial information, as well as photos and videos. With your Premium status, you can use instant messaging, view private photos and videos of other members and send them virtual gifts. Also, you will get access to all your stats.

In case of any question, you can contact the support team of the Victoria Hearts dating site by clicking on the Contact Us button on the right side of your screen. I tried this out, by the way, and they were courteous and helpful, no matter how mundane my questions seemed.

My Achievements

I’ve been a member of VictoriaHearts for two months now. During this time, I’ve met more potential soulmates than I ever had in my whole life of dating. Yes, most of them live in other countries, but it doesn’t bother me as I’m ready for a big change. Last week, I received a big bunch of roses from one special man, and we are planning for a face-to-face date.  So ladies, if you feel that you’ve run out of hope and the good men are all taken or gay (ha, ha), I sincerely hope that my Victoria Hearts review will give you new encouragement not to give up and take your search for love towards a new horizon in online dating. You won’t regret it.

Sponsored by VictoriaHearts.com.

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Anthony Scaramucci Removed as White House Communications Director After 10 Days

Diane A. Wade
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Anthony Scaramucci Removed as White House Communications Director After 10 Days

Anthony Scaramucci has been removed as White House Communications Director after less than 10 days in the post.

The former Wall Street financier had drawn criticism after calling a New Yorker reporter to give a profanity-laced tirade against his own colleagues.

President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus, and spokesman, Sean Spicer, both left their posts after Anthony Scaramucci’s appointment.

Chief of staff Gen. John Kelly, sworn in on July 31, fired Anthony Scaramucci.

President Trump was also unhappy with Anthony Scaramucci’s performance, the White House confirmed.

Image source Wikipedia

Sean Spicer Replaced by Anthony Scaramucci as Trump’s Press Secretary

Donald Trump Gives Key Roles to Reince Priebus and Stephen Bannon

Donald Trump’s Administration in Fresh War of Words with Media

His spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said the president thought Anthony Scaramucci’s comments to the reporter “were inappropriate for a person in that position”.

Anthony Scaramucci has not been moved to another White House role, she added.

President Trump had tweeted in the morning about job and wage figures, and insisted there is “No WH chaos”, referring to reports about fighting among White House staff.

Anthony Scaramucci, The Mooch, as he is widely known, had boasted of reporting directly to the president, rather than to his chief of staff.

Gen. John Kelly, who had formerly served as secretary of homeland security, was sworn in on July 31at the White House.

The resignation of Reince Priebus came on July 28 after Anthony Scaramucci posted and then deleted a tweet which many interpreted as an accusation and a threat against Priebus.

Anthony Scaramucci also called a reporter to attack Reince Priebus as a “paranoid schizophrenic” and accuse him of leaking information to the media.

During the on-the-record phone call, he also made vulgar statements about chief strategist Steve Bannon.

Anthony Scaramucci also pledged to fire every member of the communications team, as part of his crusade against “leakers”.

Stop Hurting Your Pocket: Learn These Fuel Saving Tips

Nancy Clayson
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0
Stop Hurting Your Pocket: Learn These Fuel Saving Tips

With the rising prices of gas in the market, car users and manufacturers are adapting to situations where they try to improve your ride’s fuel economy per mileage traveled.

Whether you’re driving a  tiny fuel efficient car or a luxurious SUV, one thing remains constant, that is, you still consume gallons of fuel. Increase your fuel efficiency and travel extra mileage by simply following these tips that have been proven effective over the years.

Slow Down and Avoid Unnecessary Accelerations

adult, auto, automobile

Maintaining an average or reduced speed is the best way to save gas. Lately, car manufacturers have been designing units that run on this principle. Fuel economy will decrease when a car speeds up since its engine burns more fuel. Unnecessary acceleration will stress out the engine and forces it to burn gas to cope with the change of speed.

Apply The Recommended Tire Pressure

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It is always advised to check the pressure and condition of the car tires. Use the user’s  manual to have the idea of the proper tire pressure settings and adjustments for your vehicle. As you travel, the tires are losing an amount of air pressure and in due time will make it under-inflated.

Under-inflated tires will increase the car’s drag which will also increase the engine’s pressure to keep it moving and eventually leads to consuming more gas than it normally does when you have the right tire condition.

Consider Tuning Up

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When you can no longer remember when was your car has been last checked by an expert mechanic, you probably been wasting a sizable sum of money on fuel for your day to day ride. Proper vehicle maintenance is the main thing. Your car engine’s performance will tell you a lot about how efficient your car is.

Regular tunes up allow your car to have increased efficiency per mileage. Having the car engine and air filters clean will allow free flowing engine performance. Also when by changing car fluids, engine oils, and brake fluids, you can make sure that you’re getting the most out of the fuel your engine is taking up.

Clean It Up

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Have everything in your car tidy and neat. While it ‘s great to have sent out on the car wash, it is better also to have the interior clean and orderly. Unloading unnecessary things, especially those on the trunk, will lighten your car’s load. It may not affect the efficiency of your fuel rating, but it will guarantee a safer and healthier drive for you and your passengers.

Make Sure Everything is in Place

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When you’re experiencing unnecessary noises like squeaks and vibrations on certain parts of your car, try to check your user’s manual and see if everything is in place. Vibrations are signals that something loosens up or not in place and will tend to lower your car’s performance and the worst it might bring you to situations like accidents.

Instances like having malfunctioning doors and window levers or even just a loose bolt will increase your risk of getting into accidents. When you arrive with these problems, it is a good thing to have a service and experienced mechanics near you.

Decide on Going Green

Sometimes it wiser nowadays to purchase new car models than riding your good old ride. You can save a considerable amount of money from maintenance while the new car models had been designed to be more fuel-efficient than ever. The emergence of tiny cars is hitting the road hard because of affordability, low maintenance cost, and excellent fuel efficiency.

Takeaway

It is always better to have a track on how much you spend on your car’s fuel than just being surprised by the fact that it was taking up a significant part of your budget. Keeping these tips in mind will not only save you amounts of cash but will also allow you to contribute to the efforts of maximizing the use of diminishing fuel energy.

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5 Ways To Completely Sabotage Client Trust In Business

Dana R
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5 Ways To Completely Sabotage Client Trust In Business

In the competitive world of modern business, gaining trust from the customers is everything. Without it, you’ll never gain the sales revenue needed for sustained success. As such, letting those standards slide could bring irreparable damage.

Being aware of the most common mistakes should help you avoid them. In turn, this allows you to focus on the factors that will drive your business forward. Here’s all you need to know.

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#1. Be Too Secretive

When potential customers find your business and its services, they will conduct some research before buying. Unfortunately, if the necessary information is difficult to find, it can get the alarm bells ringing.

Your website should show info including telephone numbers, email accounts, and office addresses. If the business is a home-based operation, you may want to hire a virtual office address. After all, some clients may look negatively on the fact that your company operates from a residential address.

It’s not all about addresses, though. Having clear returns policies should be considered equally essential. When customers know exactly where they stand, they’ll have far less reason to doubt the trustworthiness of the venture.

#2. Let Fraudsters Win

One of the harshest realities of modern business is that it only takes one negative episode for customers to lose their trust in the company. Consequently, it’s imperative that your operation is suitably protected on a 24/7 basis. Otherwise, those errors could haunt your company for years.

Investing in the right CCTV and alarm systems should help prevent burglaries and trespassing. In today’s climate, though, digital data breaches are an even bigger threat. Using secure identity verification protects the company’s assets. More importantly, it gives clients the confidence needed to enjoy long-term relations with your brand.

Those potential dangers also extend to intellectual property. If someone else tries to make money off of your name, it can hit your profits badly. Moreover, customers may start to question the authenticity and quality of your products due to seeing fakes on the market. Once that trust is lost, regaining it is very tough indeed.

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#3. Go Back On Promises

Customers have very good memories, and they will not respect a company that lies. Therefore, you must ensure that anything you say in business is accurate. Because if you leave a consumer feeling conned, they will take their custom elsewhere. Furthermore, they’ll probably encourage friends and family to do the same.

Marketing is a crucial aspect of any business venture, and should be used to grab the attention and drum up interest. However, you’re going to promise rewards or discounts, you must provide them. Even if you’ve only suggested that you’ll be releasing a new blog post, it’s important that you do it. Because if people think you cannot be trusted to stick to your word on trivial matters, they’ll struggle to believe you with the important things.

This is especially true in today’s climate due to the instant nature of social media. Everything stated in the public domain should be carefully considered. Fail to do this, and you could be asking for major problems.

#4. Provide Poor Customer Care

Sustained success relies heavily on your ability to keep customers coming back for more. Without that loyalty, it becomes a lot harder to achieve your goals. Given that communication is at the heart of all modern business, you must perfect this area. Once again, one bad experience could cost you a customer forever.

Face-to-face interactions are the preference but may not always be possible. Using social media enables you to address many customers at once while having an FAQ on your site can help too. Most importantly, though, you should invest in a good telephone customer care game. In the absence of human interaction, this is the next best thing.

Most clients will forgive mistakes as long as you show a genuine desire to rectify those problems. Conversely, those companies that let themselves down here often find that retention levels fall.

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#5. Work Without Consistency

Customers need to resonate with the company, but that’s very difficult when it sounds out mixed messages. Therefore, one of the worst things you can do is allow your staff to do what they want. Of course, it’s good for them to use their initiative. Still, following company procedures with consistency is key.

This is what ensures clients receive a fair, honest, and clear customer service at all times. First off, you must keep employees satisfied. Secondly, you should use staff training in an effective manner. When you do this, your employees will be sure to work in the right manner. In turn, that should enable you to maintain their trust for the long haul.

Trust alone won’t guarantee success, and you’ll still need to provide great products and services. Nonetheless, trust is one of the key fundamentals that will establish a stronger platform going forward. Underestimate it at your peril.

Want to Innovate More? Then Stress Less!

Dana R
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Want to Innovate More? Then Stress Less!

Are you feeling stressed? There are continuous warnings of money being in short supply, bills having to be paid, contracts that have to be maintained, and so on. Unfortunately, if you want to innovate, you will need more than good idea management software. You will also need a harmonious environment in which people don’t feel stressed. People who experience high levels of stress are not like to be very creative, simply because they have too many other things on their mind.

The Science Behind Stress and Creativity

A study has been completed at the University of London, where scientists looked that the impact of improving well-being and lowering stress had on their ability to come up with innovative ideas. Participants in the trial were asked to take part in a three-part course in which they learned about overall well-being and stress. It was found that this reasonably simple course encouraged people to put better solutions in place to manage their own stress levels. Interestingly, doing so also made them more creative, ensuring they could come up with innovative ideas in the workplace.

This isn’t the first time that this type of research has been conducted and that these results have been shown. Instead, numerous pieces of research and studies have shown that calm and relaxed people are much more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas. People who were stressed out, by contrast, seemed to stop thinking creatively. This makes sense, as these people are likely to simply have too much on their mind to think outside of the box as well.

How to Stress Less

There are numerous ways in which people can figure out how to stress less and become creative one again. Lots of this information is available online. Additionally, there are now numerous companies that have developed programs in which employees can learn how to reduce their stress levels, many of which are based on the three-part course used by the University of London in their research.

One way to help people stress less, interestingly, is to make sure that they learn something new and interesting every day, something that is not necessarily related to their actual work. Doing so gives them the opportunity to just turn their mind away from their stress, even if it is just for a short period of time. It is easy enough to send a company-wide message out at the end of each day with a titbit of interesting information.

Here’s one to get you started: did you know people often work for companies of which the initials match those of their name? The chance of your first initial matching that of the company you work for is actually one in nine, more than 10%, in other words. That is significant! Psychologically speaking, it is believed that this is because people find it easier to identify with something that starts with the same initials, and when people can identify with something, they are more likely to trust it as well.

Music Production – A Fantastic Sub-Specialization in the Business

Dana R
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Music Production – A Fantastic Sub-Specialization in the Business

The field of music production is one of the most successful in the world. If you believe that you have a revolutionary idea and love working with new technologies, and if you are truly passionate about music, then you should consider obtaining a music business degree education and really make your dreams come true. You don’t need to be a professional to be talented. In fact, talent is perhaps more important than anything else.

However, as the fact that programs like X Factor, Sing, The Voice, and American Idol have been running for many seasons and each season produces new participants proves, there are plenty of people with talent out there. This is why you also have to become professional, and that is precisely what a degree can do for you.

When studying music business, you will learn a number of key things of important. You will study important theories and gain business that is applicable across the industry. At the same time, it is a creative degree as it focuses on music, meaning that you can really let your creativity shine. Below are some of the benefits of enrolling in such a degree.

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Professional Benefits of Completing a Music Business Degree

  1. You will be a more successful songwriter. As part of your degree, you will learn about a variety of different musical “rules”, which could be translated as the grammar of music, if music is a language. You will know what works and what doesn’t work, and what sounds good with each style.
  2. You will learn how to quickly record your own music or that of others, particularly if you take elective courses in audio engineering, for instance. Even if you don’t learn the technical side of music recording, you will learn about the hows and whys, and that is important in and of itself.
  3. You will learn how to manage artists, which is perhaps the biggest dream role for those with a music business degree. This is where you will learn how to deal with the divas, those with the real hearts, the greatest rising stars, and those who have fallen from grace. You will be responsible for essentially managing their lives, ensuring they get gigs, that they show up, that they behave themselves in public, that they sound good, that they live a healthy lifestyle, and so on.

The Issue of Competition

There are two realities in the world of music and that is that luck goes a long way and that who you know is perhaps more important than what you know. You have to be ready, therefore, to try and try and try again, and still be rejected every step of the way. At the same time, however, there will come a time when it is between you and one other person, and what will stand out at that time is that you have a music business degree. Add to that the fact that you will get lots of transferable skills, and it quickly becomes clear why this is such a fantastic degree.

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