Home Blog Page 246

Dilma Rousseff Removed from Brazil’s Presidential Office After Impeachment Vote

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Dilma Rousseff Removed from Brazil’s Presidential Office After Impeachment Vote

Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff has been removed from office for manipulating the budget after Senators’ impeachment vote.

The Senate’s vote puts an end to the 13 years in power of her left-wing Workers’ Party.

Dilma Rousseff had denied the charges.

Sixty-one senators voted in favor of Dilma Rousseff’s dismissal and 20 against, meeting the two-thirds majority needed to remove her from the presidency.

Michel Temer has been sworn in as president and will serve out Dilma Rousseff’s term until January 1, 2019.

The center-right PMDB party politician had been serving as acting president during the impeachment proceedings.Dilma Rousseff impeachment 2015

However, Dilma Rousseff did win one battle on August 31 – a Senate vote on banning her from public office for eight years failed to pass, meaning she could in theory return to politics.

Pledging to appeal against her impeachment, Dilma Rousseff told her supporters: “Right now, I will not say goodbye to you. I am certain I can say: <<See you soon>>.”

She added: “They have convicted an innocent person and carried out a parliamentary coup.”

Venezuela’s leftist government reacted to the vote by removing its ambassador and freezing relations with Brazil.

Dilma Rousseff was suspended in May after the Senate voted to go ahead with the impeachment process.

She was accused of moving funds between government budgets, which is illegal under Brazilian law.

Dilma Rousseff’s critics said she was trying to plug deficit holes in popular social programs to boost her chances of being re-elected for a second term in October 2014.

She fought the allegations, arguing that her right-wing political rivals had been trying to remove her from office ever since she was re-elected.

Dilma Rousseff said that she was being ousted because she had allowed a wide-ranging corruption investigation to go ahead, which resulted in many high-profile politicians being charged.

Senators who voted in favor of her removal said it was Dilma Rousseff and the Workers’ Party who were corrupt and needed to go.

Brazilians have been divided on the issue, with many expressing their support and loyalty to Dilma Rousseff while others have taken part in large demonstrations demanding that she stand down.

Michel Temer has promised to boost Brazil’s economy, which is going through its longest and deepest recession in the past quarter of a century.

Infographic: Daily Deals & Flash Sales: Here’s The Scoop

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Infographic: Daily Deals & Flash Sales: Here’s The Scoop

Daily Deals & Flash Sales: Here

Infographic by Dailysale Used with permission.

Sonia Rykiel Dies in Paris Aged 86

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Sonia Rykiel Dies in Paris Aged 86

Queen of Knitwear Sonia Rykiel died on August 25 at the age of 86.

The French fashion designer had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for some time before her death.

Her daughter, Nathalie Rykiel, said: “My mother died at 05:00 this morning at her home in Paris from the effects of Parkinson’s.”

Nathalie Rykiel is also the managing and artistic director of the Sonia Rykiel fashion label.

French President Francois Hollande praised Sonia Rykiel as “a pioneer”.

Francois Hollande said of Sonia Rykiel, whose relaxed striped knitwear was seen as a shift away from more formal suits: “She invented not just a style but an attitude, a way of living and being, and offered a freedom of movement.”

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Jean-Marc Loubier, chairman and chief executive of First Heritage Brands, the parent company of the Sonia Rykiel label, said: “It is a sad day but Sonia Rykiel leaves behind her an extraordinary legacy.”

He added that she had “helped women and society evolve.”

Sonia Rykiel was born Sonia Flis in Paris in May 1930, to a Romanian father and Russian mother.

She started her career as a window dresser in 1948, with her first foray into design being when she knitted herself maternity dresses after marrying Sam Rykiel, the owner of a Paris boutique.

Sonia Rykiel made her breakthrough in 1962 with the so-called poor boy sweater, which had long sleeves and a fitted shape.

Elle magazine then featured teenage pop star Francoise Hardy wearing a red and pink striped Rykiel sweater on its cover in December 1963.

Brigitte Bardot was later photographed in a Rykiel creation, with Audrey Hepburn among her other famous fans.

Sonia Rykiel opened her first ready-to-wear store on Paris’s Left Bank in 1968 and her fashion empire went on to include menswear, children’s clothing, accessories and perfumes.

According to her website, Sonia Rykiel “urged women to be eccentric, seductive, mysterious, and to create their own style”.

During her career Sonia Rykiel developed new techniques like inside-out stitching and no-hem finishings, with other star pieces including embroidered knitted tops and rhinestone-studded berets.

Sonia Rykiel wrote several novels and also featured in 1994 movie Pret-a-Porter, Robert Altman’s satirical take on the fashion industry.

In 2012, she revealed she had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s 15 years earlier.

The designer had initially kept the condition private but wrote about her diagnosis in a book when her symptoms became too difficult to disguise, fashion site WWD said.

Sonia Rykiel is survived by her daughter Nathalie and son Jean-Philippe.

First US Commercial Flight Landing in Cuba After 55 Years

Diane A. Wade
-
0
First US Commercial Flight Landing in Cuba After 55 Years

JetBlue Flight 387 has become the first US commercial flight to land in Cuba after more than half a century.

The plane had 150 passengers, including US transport secretary Anthony Foxx.

The aircraft took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 09:45 EDT and landed in Santa Clara in central Cuba about an hour later.

The flight marks the latest development between US and Cuba since they restored diplomatic ties in December 2014.

The last time an American airline flew scheduled service to Cuba was in 1961 on a propeller plane, according to Marty St George, the executive vice president of JetBlue.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

To commemorate the occasion, the plane received a water cannon salute, which traditionally marks a special occasion for a ship or aircraft.

Since the US thawed relations with Cuba, embassies have been re-opened in Washington and Havana, President Barack Obama visited the island and a US cruise ship sailed to the country in May.

The Obama administration has approved 10 US-based airlines for regular passenger jet service to Cuba, offering as many as 110 daily flights.

The approved airlines include: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country and United Airlines.

Tourism to Cuba is still banned in the US, but the Obama administration eased rules last year to make it easier for Americans to access the long-isolated nation under 12 categories of “authorized travel”.

Record Cocaine Seizure at Coca-Cola Plant in France

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Record Cocaine Seizure at Coca-Cola Plant in France

French police have seized 370kg of cocaine with a street value of up to 50 million euros.

The drug, hidden in bags among a delivery of orange juice concentrate, was discovered at a Coca-Cola plant in France. It arrived in a container from South America.

An investigation is under way in Signes, a village in southern France.Coca Cola Venezuela sugar shortage

The seizure makes it one of the largest finds on French soil.

Toulon prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said the delivery “has a street value of 50 million euros” and referred to it as “a very bad surprise”.

Employees at the Coca-Cola plant have been ruled out of any involvement as investigators attempt to trace the origin of the drug.

“The first elements of the investigation have shown that employees are in no way involved,” Jean-Denis Malgras, the regional president of Coca-Cola, told local news website Var-Matin.

In April 2015, French customs officers aided in the arrest of two men caught trying to sail a yacht loaded with 250kg of cocaine to the UK.

Google Plans to Expand Carpool Service In San Francisco

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Google Plans to Expand Carpool Service In San Francisco

Google has announced it is planning to expand a ride-sharing service in San Francisco using its Waze app, setting up a potential showdown with market leaders Uber and Lyft.

Waze app gives traffic conditions and driving directions in real time.

Since May Google has been running a pilot carpooling service, which uses Waze to connect drivers and passengers near its California headquarters.

By the end of the year anyone in the Bay Area will be able to request a ride, using the Waze app.Google ride sharing

If successful, Google may look to expand the service to other cities.

The move may undercut its rivals, as Waze charges cheaper rates.

Under the pilot program, Waze charged riders a maximum of 54 cents a mile with no booking fee.

Waze app aims to connect drivers and potential passengers heading in the same direction and the charges to passengers cover the cost of fuel and maintenance.

It is a different model from Uber and Lyft, where drivers use their own cars to offer rides for profit.

Over the last few years Google and Uber have started to compete in the fast-growing transport business.

Both companies are developing driverless cars, with Uber set to launch road tests in Pittsburgh soon.

Uber has also begun developing its own mapping software.

Uber and Lyft are estimated to be worth billions of dollars but have yet to turn a profit.

Donald Trump Visits Mexico to Meet President Enrique Pena Nieto

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Visits Mexico to Meet President Enrique Pena Nieto

Donald Trump is to visit Mexico on August 31, hours before he details measures against illegal immigration in a speech.

The Republican presidential nominee tweeted that he was looking forward to meeting Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto, who has invited both him and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said dialogue would help “protect Mexicans wherever they are”.

Donald Trump has condemned Mexican migrants during his campaign and vowed to build a wall between the two countries.Donald Trump San Diego rally

The Republican will visit Mexico in between a fundraising event in California and his immigration speech in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday night.

Donald Trump has seen his poll ratings slip since the party conventions last month.

Both nationally and in key states, Donald Trump trails Hillary Clinton, who enjoys particularly strong support among minorities.

Enrique Pena Nieto said he had invited both candidates for talks and would meet Donald Trump in private on August 31.

“I believe in dialogue to protect Mexican interests in the world and, principally, to protect Mexicans wherever they are,” the Mexican president said.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign has not yet said if she will travel to Mexico.

Enrique Pena Nieto has previously accused Donald Trump of hurting US-Mexico relations and compared the Republican’s rhetoric to that of German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Donald Trump has threatened to stop cash sent home by Mexicans based in the US until the country pays for the wall.

He blames Mexico for the disappearance of jobs from the US, with companies choosing to locate south of the border to take advantage of cheaper labor costs.

In June, Donald Trump expressed anger after a leading golf tournament was moved from one of his courses to Mexico, accusing the PGA Tour of putting “profit ahead of thousands of American jobs”.

Chris Brown Arrested for Assaulting Baylee Curran With Deadly Weapon

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Chris Brown Arrested for Assaulting Baylee Curran With Deadly Weapon

Chris Brown has been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after beauty queen Baylee Curran told police he had threatened her with a gun.

Baylee Curran told the LA Times Chris Brown had pointed the gun at her face after she had been admiring his friend’s jewellery.

Chris Brown came out of his home after a stand-off with police on August 30.

The singer’s lawyer tweeted that his client was later freed, adding that the accusations were “demonstrably false”.

Associated Press reported that Chris Brown was released on $250,000 bail.

He has several convictions for violence, including a 2009 assault on his then girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

Photo Instagram
Photo Instagram

Police went to Chris Brown’s home following the emergency call early on August 30 from Baylee Curran, who by that time had left the property.

She told the LA Times that she and a friend had gone to Chris Brown’s house with a business associate on August 29.

Baylee Curran said she had been admiring the diamond necklace of a man who had been showing off his jewellery when the man got angry and told her to back away.

That is when she says Chris Brown pulled out a gun, pointed it at her face and told her to get out.

“If somebody put a gun to your head, what would you do? Call the police,” Baylee Curran said on her Instagram account, AFP news agency reported.

Once at Chris Brown’s sprawling mansion, police officers were allegedly denied entry and had to wait for a judge to approve a search warrant before going inside to search for a weapon.

It wasn’t until Chris Brown’s lawyer arrived that the singer eventually emerged.

Police said about half a dozen people had been escorted out of the residence and would be interviewed.

During the stand-off, Chris Brown posted videos online accusing the police of harassment.

“When you get the warrant for whatever you need to do, you’re going to walk right up in here and you’re going to see nothing, you idiots,” the singer said in one Instagram video, posted to 30 million followers.

In another video, Chris Brown also voiced support for the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality, saying: “You’re all the worst gang in the world, the police.”

Kim Yong-jin: North Korea Executes Vice Premier, South Korea Says

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Kim Yong-jin: North Korea Executes Vice Premier, South Korea Says

North Korea executed Vice Premier Kim Yong-jin last month, South Korea government officials have said.

According to Seoul’s unification ministry, Kim Yong-jin was one of Pyongyang’s vice premiers and in charge of education.

Officials did not explain how they got the information. Seoul’s record on reporting such developments is patchy.

In May, North Korean military chief Ri Yong-gil said to have been executed was found to be alive and attending official events.

Ri Yong-gil was widely reported to have been executed in February but when he made an appearance at North Korea’s party congress it highlighted just how difficult it is to get accurate information from the secretive country.

Seoul’s unification ministry, the government department which manages relations with North Korea is, along with the spy agency, South Korea’s primary source of information about Pyongyang.

Photo KCNA
Photo KCNA

The unification ministry also said a prominent minister responsible for intelligence and inter-Korean relations, Kim Yong-chol, had been sent for re-education along with another official, named as Choi Hwi, for a month in mid-July.

North Korea itself very rarely provides confirmation of such reports. The last execution Pyongyang released official information about is thought to be the purge of kim Jong-un’s uncle, Chang Song-thaek in 2013.

The strongest confirmation is usually that an executed official simply disappears from media reports.

If this report turns out to be untrue, Kim Yong-jin may well appear in public or be listed as in attendance at a major public event in Pyongyang.

Another clue to his fate might emerge if North Korea announces a replacement vice premier. Again, this does not necessarily mean he has been executed.

Ri Yong-gil was replaced as military chief but turned up months later, albeit with an apparent demotion.

Kim Yong-jin and Ri Yong-gil have held high office and were mentioned in official statements and dispatches from Pyongyang.

While less is known about Kim Yong-jin, Kim Yong-chol has often been seen alongside Kim Jong-un in photographs and is thought to be close to him. At the party congress in May he was named as head of national intelligence.

North Korean officials are frequently sent for re-education, a process that can sometimes be seen as “corporate training” with some emerging from re-education with higher office while others are demoted.

The statement from Seoul’s unification ministry comes a day after an unconfirmed report in a South Korean newspaper said two different high-ranking officials in the departments of education and agriculture had been executed.

If Kim Yong-jin’s execution is confirmed, it would be just the latest in a series of purges and executions of top officials that Kim Jong-un has enacted since he came to power in 2011.

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani: Key ISIS Leader Killed In Aleppo

Roy Siemens
-
0
Abu Muhammad al-Adnani: Key ISIS Leader Killed In Aleppo

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, one of the longest-serving and most prominent leaders of ISIS has been killed in Aleppo, Syria, ISIS-affiliated Amaq News Agency announces.

He was “martyred while surveying the operations to repel the military campaigns against Aleppo”, it said.

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani was known for his calls for lone-wolf attacks in the West.

One of ISIS’ founder members, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani is also said to have masterminded attacks in Europe and elsewhere.Abu Muhammad al-Adnani killed in Aleppo

The statement did not say how Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who had a US bounty of $5 million on his head, was killed.

A US defense official said US-led coalition forces had carried out an air strike on August 30 in Syria targeting a “senior leader” from ISIS in al-Bab in Aleppo province.

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani’s death comes at a time when ISIS is suffering military reverses in both Syria and Iraq.

He was last heard in an audio message in May urging Muslims to carry out attacks in the West.

Abu Muhammad al-Adnani was born Taha Sobhi Falaha in the northern Syrian town of Banash in 1977.

According to US officials, Abu Muhammad al-was one of the first foreign fighters to oppose the presence of US-led forces in Iraq after the 2003 invasion.

Italy Holds State Funeral for 37 Earthquake Victims

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Italy Holds State Funeral for 37 Earthquake Victims

Italy held a state funeral for 37 victims of the last week’s 6.2-magnitude earthquake.

The ceremony has been held in the town of Amatrice, which bore the brunt of the disaster.

Coffins of the victims, including those of two children, were laid out in a marquee on the edge of the town.

The venue was chosen at the last minute after relatives rejected a plan for the funeral to be held in a hangar in Rieti, about 40 miles away.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella were among the mourners.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Of the 292 people known to have died in the earthquake, 242 were from Amatrice or nearby Accumoli.

Today’s funeral Mass in Amatrice began with the names of the victims being read out. Many families were overcome with grief during the ceremony.

In an address, Bishop of Rieti Domenico Pompili urging leaders present not to allow “political quarrels” to delay reconstruction.

“If we abandon these villages, we will kill them for a second time,” he said.

Most victims were Italian, but several foreigners were among those killed.

Romania’s PM Dacian Ciolos attended the funeral to honor the 11 Romanians who died in the earthquake, most of them in Amatrice.

Teams of workers are still searching the rubble in the town for up to 10 people still missing, presumed dead.

It was the second state funeral held for earthquake victims. Another was held on August 27 for 50 people killed in the neighboring Le Marche region.

Italy is to build wooden chalet-style huts within three months for the 2,500 people displaced by the earthquake, Italian media reported.

Authorities want to get survivors into safe, warm accommodation before winter arrives in the mountainous central region.

PM Matteo Renzi discussed reconstruction plans on August 28 with Renzo Piano, one of Italy’s most renowned architects.

There has been criticism in the Italian press over building standards in high-risk areas. Some of the buildings that collapsed had recently been renovated.

Donald Trump Condemns Colin Kaepernick’s Anthem Protest

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump Condemns Colin Kaepernick’s Anthem Protest

Donald Trump said San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick should “find a country that works better for him” after the NFL player’s national anthem protest.

Colin Kaepernick, 28, said he will continue to sit out the national anthem until he sees improvements in US race relations.

The Republican presidential nominee weighed in on Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during The Star-Spangled Banner in a pre-game ceremony.

Donald Trump called the quarterback’s controversial stand a “terrible thing.”

“I think it’s a terrible thing, and you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him,” he told KIRO radio in Seattle.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

“Let him try. It won’t happen.”

Colin Kaepernick stirred controversy on August 26 when he sat during the national anthem before the 49ers played the Green Bay Packers in an exhibition game.

He refused to stand in protest at the oppression of people of color in the US.

Racial tensions are mounting in the US, where a string of recent police killings and subsequent revenge killings have sparked protests across the nation.

Colin Kaepernick’s actions have ignited a debate about respect, patriotism and the right of free speech.

The White House said it disagreed with Colin Kaepernick’s protest but that he had a right to express his views.

An NFL spokesman said players were “encouraged but not required” to stand during the anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8du8HKI9lg

Apple Irish Tax Case: Ireland Should Recover Up to €13 Billion

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Apple Irish Tax Case: Ireland Should Recover Up to €13 Billion

According to an European Commission ruling, Ireland should recover up to €13 billion ($14.5 billion) from Apple in back taxes.

After a three-year investigation, the Commission has concluded that Apple’s Irish tax benefits are illegal.

It said Ireland enabled Apple to pay substantially less than other businesses, in effect paying a corporate tax rate of no more than 1%.

Ireland and Apple both said they disagreed with the record penalty and would appeal against it.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said: “Member states cannot give tax benefits to selected companies – this is illegal under EU state aid rules.

“The Commission’s investigation concluded that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years.” apple-iphone-smartphone

The standard rate of Irish corporate tax is 12.5%. The European Commission’s investigation concluded that Apple had effectively paid 1% tax on its European profits in 2003 and about 0.005% in 2014.

Margrethe Vestager said that the tax agreement reached between Ireland and Apple meant that the company’s taxable profits “did not correspond to economic reality”.

Apple said the decision would be harmful for jobs.

The company said in a statement: “The European Commission has launched an effort to rewrite Apple’s history in Europe, ignore Ireland’s tax laws and upend the international tax system in the process.”

“The Commission’s case is not about how much Apple pays in taxes, it’s about which government collects the money. It will have a profound and harmful effect on investment and job creation in Europe.

“Apple follows the law and pays all of the taxes we owe wherever we operate. We will appeal and we are confident the decision will be overturned.”

The Irish government held a similar view with finance minister Michael Noonan saying in a statement: “I disagree profoundly with the Commission.

“The decision leaves me with no choice but to seek cabinet approval to appeal. This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system; to provide tax certainty to business; and to challenge the encroachment of EU state aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation.”

The US Treasury, which said last week that the European Commission was in danger of becoming a “supranational tax authority”, said the latest ruling could “undermine foreign investment, the business climate in Europe, and the important spirit of economic partnership between the US and the EU”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqW9scwHtlE

Infographic: What Does It Take To Have a Career In Nursing

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Infographic: What Does It Take To Have a Career In Nursing

A Career in Nursing

Source

The Art Of Upselling: Turn Your Employees Into Sales Stars

Dana R
-
0
The Art Of Upselling: Turn Your Employees Into Sales Stars

Paying, Cash, Transaction, Payment, Green, Wallet

Image Credit – Taken From Pixabay

If you’ve ever been involved in the sales business, you’ll have come across upselling at one point or another. Now, it’s time for you to bring this tried and tested sales technique into your company. However, it isn’t necessarily as easy as you might think. If you want your employees to upsell customers to bigger and better products, they’ll need to possess the right skills.

The Definition Of Successful Upselling

It has long been thought that upselling is simply all about getting the most money out of the customer. Sure, that’s the intention from a financial point of view, but it isn’t the only point of upselling. Common mistakes with this technique usually come back to the same thing: being overly pushy. The idea is to analyze customer needs and strategically upsell to benefit both you and the customer. If you’re becoming overly pushy, you stand to lose the sale altogether. The moment that desperation kicks in, you’re in trouble.

Implementing The Right Training

You can’t simply ask employees to start upselling without training them first. This is where investing in services like Saleshub for sales enablement services can be beneficial. You want to benefit from the expertise and knowledge of sales coaching programs. Taking the time to effectively train your staff will mean that they’ll be able to make more money for your company. Unfortunately, companies all too often skip this part of the deal. Instead, they’ll engage in hiring and firing on an unprecedented scale because of a lack of success. This ultimately costs them more money in the long run.

Personality Traits

It’s important to keep in mind that not every employee in the world is suited to the art of upselling. I’m not saying you should fire your employees – far from it. However, some people will take longer to adapt to it than others. Some will never be able to get their head around it, but they’ll be much more effective in general customer service. Different strategies will also work for different team members. For some, it’s a case of getting to the bottom of every little customer detail. For others, it might just be a case of providing constant reminders about your latest products. It’s important to understand every member of your team and allocate roles as necessary to get the most out of upselling.

Incentives

Unless you’ve got a close-knit team who really care about the company, incentives are necessary. You can’t expect your employees to work twice as hard to upsell if they aren’t getting anything out of it. Most companies that engage in upselling offer commission rewards for those who do well. An alternative option which has also proved popular is the reward of gifts for the top performers of the month. It doesn’t matter how you do it; just make sure you’re offering some kind of incentive.

Let’s recap some of the most important details we’ve mentioned today. Firstly, upselling serves to assist both you and the customer with their needs. Training your staff is important, as is getting the most out of each individual. And, incentives provide the finishing touch to ensure maximum productivity.

Good luck!

Mass Cow Theft Investigated In New Zealand

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Mass Cow Theft Investigated In New Zealand

A mass cow theft is being investigated in New Zealand after reports that 500 cattle have been stolen from a farm in Canterbury.

It is not known exactly when the cows began disappearing, as their absence was only noticed recently.

According to police, it was “unlikely the theft of hundreds of animals could be completed at once, and is more likely that multiple thefts could be carried out over a period of time”.

The cows are reportedly worth at least NZ$750,000 ($0.5 million) in total.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

A friend said the farmer was “absolutely gobsmacked, and deeply embarrassed”.

“If you had three-quarters of a million dollars go missing, you wouldn’t want to talk about it either,” Willy Leferink told the AP.

Locals told AP they had never heard of cattle rustling on such a scale before.

The farm’s original 1,300 cows are thought to have last been counted in July.

Sr. Sgt. Scott Banfield of Ashburton Police urged farmers to check on their stock numbers once a week.

“Farmers should also be keeping an eye out for unexpected signs of herding near their boundary lines too.”

There are around 10 million cows in New Zealand, more than twice the human population.

Apple Could Be Forced to Pay Record Bill In Irish Tax Case

Clyde K. Valle
-
0
Apple Could Be Forced to Pay Record Bill In Irish Tax Case

Apple could be forced to pay billions of dollars in back taxes in the Republic of Ireland by EU competition officials.

The final ruling, expected on August 30, follows a three-year probe into Apple’s Irish tax affairs, which the EU has previously identified as illegal.

According to the Financial Time, the bill will be for billions of euros, making it Europe’s biggest tax penalty.

Apple and the Irish government are likely to appeal against the ruling.

Under EU law, national tax authorities are not allowed to give tax benefits to selected companies – which the EU would consider to be illegal state aid.Apple patent infringement case University of Wisconsin

Rulings made by the Irish government in 1991 and 2007 allowed Apple to minimize its tax bill in Ireland, EU authorities said.

Apple’s company structure enabled it to legally channel international sales through Ireland to take advantage of that tax deal.

On August 30, EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager is expected to give an estimate of how much Apple will have to pay back.

However, it will be up to Irish authorities to calculate the exact amount.

The investigation into Apple and similar probes into other US companies have been criticized by US authorities.

Last week the US Treasury Department said the European Commission was in danger of becoming a “supra-national tax authority” overriding the tax codes of its member states.

Brussels was using a different set of criteria to judge cases involving US companies, the US Treasury warned, adding that potential penalties were “deeply troubling”.

Tax laws are currently based on the movements of physical goods, leaving large loopholes that modern companies can exploit, he said.

Apple is not the only the company that has been targeted for securing favorable tax deals in the EU.

In 2015, the commission told the Netherlands to recover as much as €30 million from Starbucks and Luxembourg was ordered to claw back a similar amount from Fiat.

Kim Dotcom Allowed to Livestream Extradition Appeal

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Kim Dotcom Allowed to Livestream Extradition Appeal

Kim Dotcom will be allowed to stream his appeal against extradition live online, a judge in New Zealand ruled.

The Megaupload founder is wanted in the United States on charges of copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering.

The US had opposed Kim Dotcom’s proposal to broadcast the hearing on YouTube.

He said on Twitter that the decision was “breaking new ground” and streaming would start on August 31.

Kim Dotcom’s lawyer said the move was “democracy at its finest”.

“It provides everybody in the world with a seat in the gallery of the New Zealand courtroom,” Ira Rothken told the AP, saying there would be a 20 minute delay on the live feed.Kim Dotcom extradition hearing

The German-born entrepreneur ran file-sharing site Megaupload.com, which once had million of users storing files and downloading movies and songs.

The FBI took control of the website and other domain names belonging to the business in January 2012. Federal prosecutors said it had cost movie studios, music labels and other copyright-holders more than $500 million in lost revenue.

In December 2015, a New Zealand court ruled that Kim Dotcom could be extradited to face charges of copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering.

Kim Dotcom’s lawyers launched an appeal, arguing that he should not be held responsible for the actions of the site’s users, and did not get a fair hearing.

The request for livestreaming came on the first day of the appeal hearing in Auckland, which is expected to last up to eight weeks.

Another defense lawyer, Ron Mansfield, said there were “unprecedented issues of public and international interest” raised by the case and added that coverage should not be limited to traditional media.

Lawyers for the United States had said streaming could influence a potential future jury.

The High Court judge, Justice Murray Gilbert, criticized the fact the request had not been made in advance but said he wanted to hear the views of local media outlets before making a decision.

Why You May Need Cloud Computing Support Services

Dana R
-
0
Why You May Need Cloud Computing Support Services

Cloud computing is quickly becoming really important for businesses from all around the world. This is because it offers the programs and the tools that are necessary to have access to true competition reliability. By that we mean that it is so easy to remain competitive. According to Charles Phillips of Infor, companies from all around the world can now compete with the giants thanks to the development of cloud technology.

At the moment there are so many cloud services and tools that are widely used by users from all around the world. This includes Unleashed Online Inventory, Google Apps and Microsoft 365. Businesses need to choose what will work best for them and the services that they have at the moment.

The truth is that migrating to cloud computing technology is something that most companies need to take into account, especially for those that are small to medium sized. The big problem is that there are normally lacks of knowledge about the topic. It is really important that you always focus on making a correct choice. This is where technological support steps in. Always consider this because of some simple reasons to understand.

Image result for Cloud Computing

Migrating To New Ways Of Doing Things

Whenever you move the business towards something that is completely new, cloud computing cannot be considered without the help of an experienced professional. It is very important that you receive support services since the transition is going to be difficult. You want it to be painless and as fast as possible. Loss of time often leads towards many problems so you can avoid that.

Integrating Many Changes Into Work

Assistance is also necessary when you get cloud based solutions and you are going to integrate various different changes into how work is done. For instance, the companies that are now offering similar apps to Microsoft Office 365 and Google Apps will give you package solutions so that only partial switches can happen. It is not always a necessity to move everything so support is always needed in order to be able to make the partial transition a success.

Questions That Often Appear

This basically means that people in the business do not really know much about cloud computing in general. Although the information that is needed is already available on the internet, staff members will not have the necessary time to learn. The consulting services help out a lot in the event that the employees often have questions about cloud computing and the new applications that are going to be utilized.

Cloud computing technology does involve a learning curve. It is not as simple as you may think. In many cases we are faced with basically learning a new program. That can be daunting. You will need to be careful and you need to always focus on something that will help you to do everything properly.

The bottom line is that you need to be 100% sure that you receive all the help that you need in the event that you want to transition towards cloud computing. Never make a choice in the event that you do not know much about cloud computing technology.

Ways in Which You Can Invest Your Money

Dana R
-
0
Ways in Which You Can Invest Your Money

If you are sitting on quite a bit of money, perhaps from your savings account, a tax rebate or even a windfall of some type then you have probably been thinking about investing to help you grow your wealth. If you have, then that is a smart decision, the next decision you need to make is a little more difficult, where to invest it. There are countless options available to you, many of which do come with a little risk but if you inform yourself well then you can minimize any risk that you take. When investing you should always start off small, get a feel for the market of your choice and only when you feel comfortable should you shoot for the moon. If you have been considering investments then here are some great ways in which you can invest your money.

Image result for Ways in Which You Can Invest Your Money

Commercial Real Estate

People always say that one of the safest bets for your cash is to put it into bricks and mortar, they are right that this is a good place to put your money as long as you do so sensibly. One such area of real estate that you could look at is commercial properties, these have high returns and can offer you strong and regular yields as a result of long term leasing. I started investing in commercial properties last year with an excellent brokerage firm called Welfont, I checked out several companies first and after reading the Welfont reviews, quickly realized that they were the company for me. From my experience investing in both residential and commercial real estate, I much prefer commercial real estate, mainly for the larger profits.

Oil Market

As with any market that you plan to invest in, it is important that you know what you are doing and none more so than in the oil market. Investing in oil is different from most stocks and shares trading, it is much more layered and it is impacted by far more global factors. With that being said, it is also a great opportunity for you to make some good returns. One of the best ways that I have found is to invest in futures, futures are contracts that predict the price of oil on a certain date, you can buy these contracts if you believe that the price will be higher. When the contract expires, if the price of oil is higher than the contract states then you have guaranteed the option to buy oil at the lower price. It can be a great way to grow your investment and well worth doing your research into this market.

Small Business Ventures

Investing your money in small business ventures can pay great dividends in the future, there are thousands of new businesses every month that are looking for investors and this could be a great option for you to consider. If you have a field of expertise then my advice would be to only invest in businesses within this field, this way you can make a good assessment on how successful you think the business will be and will be able to have more faith in where you are putting your money. My advice would be to spread your money across more than one business, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

Most Impressive Construction in Dubai

Dana R
-
0
Most Impressive Construction in Dubai

Dubai has undergone an enormous transformation in the last 20 years turning itself into a tourist hotspot with some of the World’s most iconic structures, buildings and designs. Large scale construction takes years of planning, hard work and technical ability, those involved in it such as Lisa Dudzik know exactly how high the standards must be and that there is no room for error.

 Dubai is home to some of engineerings greatest large scale construction feats and we want to take a look a few of its most impressive projects.

Image result for The Palm

The Palm

The 5km x 5km island that was built off the coast of Dubai is called The Palm and it is designed in the shape of a palm tree with a total of 16 offshoots and an 11km breakwater crescent at the top. The island was built using sand that was dredged from the Gulf Sea and sprayed into the formations needed for the palm shape. The intricacy of this design was incredibly high, each cubic meter of sand and rock had to be placed perfectly to maintain the shape of the palm whilst taking into consideration current changes in the water. The finished result is a unique and iconic project that can even be seen with the naked eye from space.

Image result for The Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa

Officially the World’s tallest man made structure, the Burj Khalifa stands 2,722ft tall with 157 usable floors and a total of 57 elevators that can travel at speeds of up to 70km per hour. When the government began the ‘Downtown Dubai’ project, an effort to give Dubai more status and a reputation as a luxury city, the Burj Khalifa was designed as the jewel in the crown of the project. The building took just over 5 years to complete and a total of 22 million man hours. The building is used as office space and has 900 homes inside it, at the top is a huge viewing platform that offers vistas of the whole city.

Image result for Burj al Arab

Burj al Arab

The Burj al Arab is a hotel like no other, it is a 7 star hotel, the World’s first when it opened, that has an underwater restaurant and an incredible Skyview bar. The hotel’s structure has become iconic, with its sail like design that rises out of the Persian Gulf. At night, this incredible hotel is lit up with a kaleidoscope of colors and designs in an incredible light show. The Burj al Arab sits on the end of the aforementioned ‘Palm’ island and is the third highest hotel in the World. During the designing stage of the hotel the Dubai government said that they wanted an iconic structure like the Opera House in Sydney or Big Ben in London or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Since the opening of the hotel the structure has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the World and in order to get a room at the hotel you currently would have to book 2 months in advance such is its popularity.

Gene Wilder Dies from Alzheimer’s Disease Complications Aged 83

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Gene Wilder Dies from Alzheimer’s Disease Complications Aged 83

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory star Gene Wilder has died at the age of 83, his family has confirmed.

Gene Wilder also starred in classic movies such as The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.

The actor frequently collaborated with writer and director Mel Brooks as well as stand-up comedian Richard Pryor.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Gene Wilder died on August 28 in Stamford, Connecticut, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease, his family said.

“It is almost unbearable for us to contemplate our life without him,” his nephew Jordan Walker-Pearlman said.

Gene Wilder first made waves on Broadway before transitioning to the silver screen for a brief role as a kidnapped undertaker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967).

Mel Brooks then cast him as Leo Bloom, an anxious accountant in the 1968 comedy The Producers.

In 1971, Gene Wilder took on the role of one of his most beloved characters, Willy Wonka, in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

What to look for in a good financial advisor

Dana R
-
0
What to look for in a good financial advisor

In recent years, there has been a great deal of confusion among retail investors about where to park their money. There has been a great deal of instability since the end of the Great Recession, and with capital from quantitative easing distorting the market, it is hard to know what a good investment play is anymore.

Employing the services of a quality financial advisor is more important than ever, as their in-depth knowledge of the industry can help you invest your hard-earned cash where it will gain healthy long-term returns. Here’s what you should be looking for when shopping for their services.

Image result for financial industry

Plenty of experience in the financial industry

This point may seem a little unfair to those just getting started in the financial industry, but if you are looking for expert guidance, there is no replacement for experience. Those that have been in the industry for decades rather than years have had a chance to experience the ups and downs of the market.

As a result, they don’t get rattled with every time the Dow Jones Industrial undergoes a correction. If you trust the advice of experienced professionals such as David Barcomb, your money will be in good hands.

A willingness to listen

Every client has unique needs. If a financial advisor is rattling off all the funds that you should be investing in without asking you anything beyond the superficial questions every finance professional asks, you may want to back slowly out of their office and not come back.

People like that are more interested in racking up commissions rather than helping you reach your financial goals. A good financial advisor will sit and listen as you explain your hopes and dreams for the future.

In doing this, they will be able to craft a strategy that will help you make them a reality as soon as humanly possible.

They take a long term approach to investing

Hey, we get it… We would love it too if we could turn $1,000 into a million bucks in a year. However, this isn’t possible unless you get lucky, plain and simple. A quality financial advisor is well attuned to the realities of investing. They understand that the market goes up over time, but it does so through a series of ups and downs that may see it gain 6% one year, and then drop 2% the next.

They know that wisely invested capital can grow over the course of decades from a relatively small amount to a sum that can help you enjoy a comfortable retirement, as well as fund other dreams that require years of disciplined saving.

A commitment to continual learning

The theory that underpins the fundamentals of solid investing aren’t like physics (at least not yet). Each year, knowledge is uncovered that helps diligent professionals improve their ability to create wealth for their clients.

Additionally, new sectors of the economy emerge constantly, while others decline and collapse. By staying on top of the latest trends in business, a good financial advisor will be able to recommend the re-allocation of some of your investment capital into areas that will protect you from loss, as well as supercharging your earning as the years go by.

Creative Jobs for Creative People

Dana R
-
0
Creative Jobs for Creative People

If you are the creative type, the sort of person who likes to look beneath the surface of things to see how they work or the sort who likes to make things, then you should choose a career where those characteristics can flourish. That can often be easier said than done, there is stiff competition when it comes to creative roles and you must work hard to achieve success. In order to get that success it’s important that you try to elect a career as early possible so that you can study the relevant subjects throughout your education and give you the best chance to get a job. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the careers that you could choose from in order to display your creative strengths.

Engineer

Engineers really make the World go round, they are the creators of our transport, our medicines, our computers and our cities, being an engineer is a very well respected and well paid job. There is a world of options available to you as an engineer with several different types of industries to choose from. There are opportunities for real success in the engineering industry if you can work up the ladder and maybe one day even own a company like Anura Leslie Perera. People like Anura who worked across a variety of industries in his engineering career before starting his own aerospace firm are an inspiration for anyone looking at engineering as a career path.

Image result for Engineer

Designer

Web design, fashion design, production/set design, interior design, these are just some of the areas of design that you could go into if you have a an eye for style. Designers are relied upon for almost all businesses across the World in some capacity or another and it can often be a well paid job with good prospects. The industry can be hard to break into, it’s important that you always try to create something original and work hard to network and discuss your ideas with people in the industry. Look for internships or gratis work to learn more about the design field and improve your chances of getting a job.

Photographer

For most photography lovers the idea of being paid to spend your days taking photographs may seem like the ideal job. Whilst being a photographer can be a very stable and well paid job, it is worth noting that the chances of great success are very hard to come by and it will take a lot of work and a little luck. Many photographers work freelance, the ideal situation is to find work with a particular business or company ,many of them however prefer to hire photographers by the job. Despite this, the internet has opened up far more opportunities for photographers giving them a wider platform to display their work. If you decide to work as a freelance photographer then, like with any freelance role, you must be prepared to receive erratic pay and face the possibility of going periods of time without pay.

Welcome to Philadelphia

Dana R
-
0
Welcome to Philadelphia

If you are interested in what Philadelphia has to offer, look no further than checking out what veteran real estate developer Adrian Rubin has to say. A longtime resident of Philadelphia, PA, Adrian Rubin has spent years deepening his knowledge on all things Philly, and not just in real estate. Indeed, one only needs to converse with the friendly, outgoing man for a couple of minutes to be convinced that Philadelphia is truly a city that many people would not hesitate to call their home.

Image result for Philadelphia

If You Like Food, Philly is for You

Adrian Rubin has a list of what kinds of food a guest should not miss when visiting his beloved city. One is the world famous Philly Cheese Steak at Tony Luke’s. A local favorite, Tony Luke’s serves authentic Philly sandwiches like the Roast Pork, Chicken Cutlet Italian, Roast Pork Italian, Chicken Cheese Steak and Uncle Mike (its vegetarian option which includes broccoli, spinach, and fried onions doused in marinara sauce). A quick scan at the long lines would confirm that Tony Luke’s knows their sandwiches. After a main course of hearty sandwiches, guests should move on to another not-to-miss treat, crepes. Philadelphia is the home of many different kinds of crepes with all kinds of fillings and toppings: fresh cream, strawberries, chocolate syrup, you name it.

Philly’s Best Spots Keep You Entertained

Being an expert real estate developer, Adrian Rubin would not hesitate to tell the whole world that his beloved Philadelphia is also home to various museums and art galleries that never fail to inspire even a longtime resident. High on the list is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the third largest museum in the United States. Handsome and stately, this museum is located at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and contains important treasures like paintings by El Greco, Japanese and Korean art, heiress Eleanore Elkins Rice’s drawing room from the Gilded Age complete with French furniture and eighteenth century textiles, plus a collection of Presidential china containing a Chinese ginger jar which belonged to George Washington as well as a cup and saucer used in Air Force One during the Reagan administration. For those who are interested in looking at bold contemporary art can check out the Pentimenti Gallery, which features abstract pieces as well as public art projects. Ceramic, jewelry and fiber arts can be enjoyed at the Snyderman-Works Gallery, which also exhibits studio furniture and glass sculptures. Families with young children who are interested in science can also visit the Bakken Museum, which features “Ben Franklin’s Electricity Party” which allows visitors to create a mini hail storm to explain static electricity. There are also the Philadelphia Zoo and Adventure Aquarium, attractions that are suitable for all ages.

Philadelphia is the Next Big Thing

Unlike its more well-known east coast neighboring cities, Philadelphia is a city that still has plenty of room of grow. This translates into cheaper real estate prices, and Adrian Rubin is the real estate professional to help you find your piece of heaven in Philly. Adrian Rubin is also passionate about keeping his beloved Philadelphia sustainable and affordable to middle and lower income families, and he is on his way to establish his own non-government organization to make it happen.

1...245246247...1,249Page 246 of 1,249