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Qandeel Baloch Dead: Pakistani Social Media Celebrity Murdered in Honor Killing

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Qandeel Baloch, best known as Pakistani social media celebrity, has been killed by her brother in an apparent “honor killing” in the province of Punjab, police say.

The 26-year-old recently caused controversy by posting controversial pictures of herself on social media, including one alongside a Muslim cleric.

Police say Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death.

Cases of women being killed for “dishonoring” their family are commonplace in Pakistan.

Qandeel Baloch became a household name for posting bold, photographs, video and comments.Qandeel Baloch killed

Her parents told The Express Tribune that she was strangled to death on July 15 following an argument with her brother, Wasim.

They said her body was not discovered until the next day. Her parents have been taken into custody, the Tribune reported.

Qandeel Baloch had gone to Punjab from Karachi because of the threat to her security, police say.

Family sources quoted by the Tribune said: “[Her] brothers had asked her to quit modeling.”

Sources quoted by the newspaper said that Wasim Baloch was upset about Qandeel’s uploading controversial pictures online and had threatened her about it.

Police said Wasim Baloch had not been arrested and was on the run.

Qandeel Baloch’s murder was condemned by filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, whose documentary A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness won an Oscar earlier this year.

“I really feel that no woman is safe in this country, until we start making examples of people, until we start sending men who kill women to jail, unless we literally say there will be no more killing and those who dare will spend the rest of their lives behind bars,” Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy told the AFP.

Qandeel Baloch rose to fame in Pakistan in 2014 when a video of her pouting at the camera and asking “How em looking?” went viral.

In a recent interview Qandeel Baloch was bitterly critical of Pakistan’s patriarchal society and described herself as a leading exponent of girl power.

While many younger people saw Qandeel Baloch as a cultural icon and hailed her liberal views, she was also subjected to frequent misogynist abuse online.

Qandeel Baloch’s request for better security was ignored by the government, Dawn reported, despite pleas made three weeks ago to the interior minister and other senior officials.

Hundreds of women are murdered every year in Pakistan in so-called honor killing cases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deaWVf99x2g

How to Hire a Professional Essay Writer in UK

Writing services are being widely provided by a number of websites available online. Due to the ease of access, various people are now opting for these services. Essay writing is one of these services provided by these websites. Essay writing is something which is required by a person in every phase of life, whether school, college or university. Some enjoy writing essays, while some may not. Writing an essay is not an easy job, as various times you will have to meet the instructor’s requirement, it may require extensive research, which may further take up much of your time.

Hiring a Professional Essay Writer

Due to these problems, a lot of people tend to hire professional essay writers in UK. People are usually busy in their schedule, and cannot take out enough time to write an essay. In these cases, you can opt for the various professional essay-writers available online. People can hire these professional essay writers from freelancing websites, where a number of freelancers are available, or they can visit a writing company’s website instead.

Important Aspects to Consider

No matter from where you find the professional essay writer, there are certain things you have to keep in mind. Some of these are mentioned below:

  • High Quality Services

A professional essay writer should be able to provide you with high quality services. This may include proper research, a good grasp of English, creative writing etc. You must only request an essay writer once you have made sure that he or she is professional in writing. An experienced writer is always preferred by people. While a beginner may also be able to provide you with above mentioned things, but he or she may not be able to cope up with the work pressure, which is a risk most people cannot afford.

How to write an excellent professional essay
How to write an excellent professional essay
  • Unique & Plagiarism-Free Content

The content written should be unique to you, and must not be used anywhere else, without your permission. Moreover, the written content must not be copied from anywhere, and should be totally plagiarism free. There are various plagiarism checkers available online, by using which a person can check whether the content is copied from anywhere or not. The content must pass the plagiarism checker, only then you can be assured that the content is 100% original.

  • Must Adhere to the Deadline

A professional writer will always listen to your requests, and more specifically to your deadline. Many times a person may require their essay before a specified time, as they may have to submit it after that. Deadlines are very important in such cases, and cannot be ignored. A professional essay writer will always try to provide you with the essay before the specified deadline.

  • Must Follow Instructions

Several times, a person may need specific things in their essays. These requirements and conditions must be mentioned in the essay by the writer. A writer who is not able to listen to your demands will never be able to write a good quality essay for you, especially when the instructions are very specific, only a professional writer will be able to follow them all.

  • Check their Review

You must always check out the writer’s review. The more positive reviews one has, the more you can trust him. Moreover, by checking out reviews from people who have worked with the writer, you will be able to know about their writing style, style of work, and various other things. If various people have had a good experience working with the writer, you can expect to have the same experience.

  • Check Samples

Samples are yet another important thing to check. By checking out the samples of the writer, you may know their writing style, vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar and other technical aspects. By checking the samples, you will be able to determine whether the writer is qualified to write your essay or not.

Availing Professional Services

People in UK always want to request the best services; and to avail these, you must be willing to spend some time in looking for professionals. These professionals can be easily searched on the internet.

Only by checking all of the above things will you can decide whether you should request the writer or not. Requesting a professional essay writer is not easy, but you must spend some time in checking whether a writer is professional or not. The writer should be able to meet your requirements, without failure. If you are going to pay for a service, you should receive content that is of high quality.

Therefore, whatever type of homework help you need, be it your college assignment, university research paper or others, the above-mentioned criteria if met can assure you get connected with the best professional essay writer in the UK.

Salvează

Salvează

Nice Truck Attack: Police Detain Five People Linked to Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel

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French police have detained five people believed to be linked to Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, the man who killed 84 people in Nice, the Paris prosecutor’s office says.

According to Le Monde, three arrests were made on July 16 and two on July 15, including Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel’s estranged wife.

Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck into crowds marking Bastille Day on the Promenade des Anglais on July 14 before he was shot dead by police.

ISIS claimed one of its followers carried out the attack.

Amaq, the news agency linked to ISIS,said: “He did the attack in response to calls to target the citizens of the coalition that is fighting the Islamic State.”

France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel seemed to have been “radicalized very quickly”.

He said the “new type of attack… showed the extreme difficulty of the fight against terrorism”.

Prosecutors said Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, drove the truck 1.2 miles along the promenade targeting people.

Of the 84 who died, 10 were children. Some 202 people were injured; 52 are critical, of whom 25 are on life support.

Stephanie Simpson, from the Lenval children’s hospital in Nice, said 5 children remained in critical condition, one was in a “very bad” condition, three were on artificial respiration, one had been stabilized and one 8-year-old child remained unidentified.

President Francois Hollande said 50 people were “between life and death”, while several people are missing.

Meanwhile, President Francois Hollande met with his defense and security chiefs and cabinet ministers on July 16.

He called for national unity in France and said: “We are in a time when, and we have seen it, there is a temptation to divide the country.

“Faced with these temptations, faced with this risk, we must recall the unity and cohesion of this country.”

Francois Hollande, who says the attack was a terrorist act, has already moved to extend a state of emergency by three months.

A state of emergency has been in place across France since the Paris attacks carried out by ISIS on November 13.

Francois Hollande had proposed lifting the state of emergency on July 26, but reversed his decision after the Nice attack.

Some 30,000 people were on the Promenade des Anglais at the time of the attack, officials said.

Residents of Nice and foreign tourists were killed, among them 4 French citizens, 3 Algerians, a teacher and two schoolchildren from Germany, 3 Tunisians, two Swiss, two Americans, a Ukrainian, an Armenian and a Russian.

Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was known to the police as a petty criminal, but was “totally unknown to intelligence services… and was never flagged for signs of radicalization,” prosecutor Francois Molins said.

However, French PM Manuel Valls said he was “in way or another” linked to radical Islam and Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said the attack bore the hallmarks of jihadist terrorism.

Turkey Coup Attempt: Military Group Announces Takeover on National TV

A group of Turkish army has announced it has taken control of the country, with bridges closed in Istanbul and aircraft flying low over Ankara.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim earlier denounced an “illegal action” by a military “group”, stressing it was not a coup. He said that the government remained in charge.

Traffic has been stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul.

There are reports of gunshots in the capital Ankara.

Soldiers were inside buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster in Ankara.

Gunfire was also heard outside Istanbul police headquarter and tanks are said to be stationed outside Istanbul airport. All flights are canceled, reports say.

CNN Turk reported that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was “safe” but did not elaborate.Turkey coup attempt July 2016

A statement from the military group read out on NTV television said: “The power in the country has been seized in its entirety.”

Who represents the group remains uncertain.

A Turkish presidential source told Reuters that the statement was not authorized by the military command.

PM Binali Yildirim told NTV by telephone: “We are working on the possibility of an attempt. We will not allow this attempt. “

“Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price,” he added, saying it would not be correct to describe the move as a “coup”.

The prime minister said: “There was an illegal act by a group within the military that was acting out of the chain of military command. Our people should know that we will not allow any activity that would harm democracy.”

There are reports Turkey’s top general has been taken hostage at the military headquarter.

Visiting Moscow, Secretary of State John Kerry said he hoped for peace and “continuity” in Turkey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfTUhxX_-l8

Donald Trump Picks Mike Pence as Running Mate

Indiana Governor Mike Pence has been selected to be Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate.

Donald Trump’s campaign planned to announce his selection on July 15, but canceled the event because of the attack in Nice, France.

On July 15, Donald Trump confirmed the selection on Twitter.

Donald Trump hopes Mike Pence – a former congressman popular among social conservatives – can help him shore up support among wavering Republicans.

Other candidates in the running were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

Before his current job, Mike Pence, 57, spent 12 years in Washington in the House of Representatives.

Mike Pence’s legislative experience and position of governor of a Midwestern state could give Donald Trump advantages in the general election.

The Indiana governor is strongly anti-abortion and signed a religious freedom bill, which some saw as anti-gay, into law.

The likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton quickly responded to the selection on the same day, emphasizing Mike Pence’s stances on gay rights and abortion.

The campaign hopes that Mike Pence will help boost Donald Trump’s image with social conservatives who have been unsettled by Trump’s brash persona.

Donald Trump has said he wants a running mate who could help him work with Congress.

However, Donald Trump and Mike Pence differ on some key issues including the billionaire’s call to ban Muslim from entering the US.

In 2015, Mike Pence tweeted that Donald Trump’s plan was “offensive and unconstitutional”.

He has also expressed support for free trade agreements and was in favor of the war in Iraq, which Donald Trump says he was not.

Mike Pence also criticized Donald Trump for his attacks on Hispanic judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was born in Indiana.

Donald Trump had said Gonzalo Curiel could not possibly rule fairly in a case against him became of his Hispanic heritage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgVg_y435v0

Nice Truck Attack: At Least 84 Killed And More Than 50 Injured

More than 80 people, including children, have been killed after a truck slammed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in the southern French city of Nice.

The driver ploughed on for 1.2 miles on the Promenade des Anglais at about 23:00 local time on July 14, before being shot dead by police.

Witnesses say the speeding truck swerved and zigzagged in an apparent attempt to hit more people.

Police reportedly found guns and grenades inside the lorry.

France’s President Francois Hollande said the attack was of “an undeniable terrorist nature”.

PM Manuel Valls has declared three days of national mourning for the victims from July 16.

A state of emergency, in place since November’s Paris attacks carried out by ISIS, in which 130 people died, has been extended by three months.

The attack in Nice began shortly after the end of a firework display on the seafront for Bastille Day, which is the country’s national holiday.

Photo AFP
Photo AFP

A white truck, the front of which was riddled with bullet holes, continued to be examined by police in Nice on July 15.

A journalist with the Nice Matin newspaper reported from the scene that there was “a lot of blood”.

According to officials, 84 people died in the attack and about 50 people have been injured, 18 of them critically.

Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi has told local media that about 10 children were among those killed.

No group has so far said it was behind the attack; prosecutors said the inquiry would be handled by anti-terror investigators.

According to AFP news agency, the identity papers of a 31-year-old French-Tunisian were found in the truck, citing an unnamed police source.

Local media reports named the man as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, but his identity has not yet been confirmed.

President Francois Hollande addressed the nation on July 15 saying France had been “badly hit” but was strong, adding “we need to do everything we can to fight against” such attacks.

“All of France is under the threat of Islamic terrorism,” he said.

Francois Hollande added that “operational reserves” would be deployed to support the army and security forces across the country, with particular focus on the borders.

Manuel Valls said later that the goal of terrorists was to “instill fear and panic”.

“But France is a great country and a great democracy that will not allow itself to be destabilized,” he said.

President Barack Obama condemned “in the strongest terms” what he said appeared to be “a horrific terrorist attack in Nice”.

Nice’s jazz festival has been cancelled and the southern city of Marseille has announced it is canceling a fireworks show planned to take place on Friday evening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt1sOfQcPzI

Getting Divorced Abroad

Divorce is a financial and emotional nightmare. However, when international laws are applied, things tend to get even more complicated for foreign nationals and expatriates.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreement Reviews

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements play a key role in divorce proceedings. Devised with divorce in mind, these reviews are especially important abroad.

It’s the agreement itself that’s very likely to dictate the exact court that is to be in charge of divorce proceedings and that can hugely simplify the process. However, the level of significance of the agreement varies depending on the country. While in some countries, the prenuptial and postnuptial agreements carry great weight in determining which court will be responsible for divorce proceedings, others are more reliant on other factors.

Getting Divorced Abroad

The Question of Jurisdiction

A prime example of the upsides of being a part of the European Union, the set of rules that apply to divorce proceedings jurisdiction has made things simple for the EU member states, when it comes to divorce proceedings.

Complications arise, however, if the couple that is filing for divorce is living outside the boundaries of the EU and/or are foreign country nationals. In these cases, it’s possible that more than one court is eligible to oversee the case. This depends on the regular place of residence and/or other relation to a country. The actual problem here arises due to the fact that some countries have different laws and regulations.

On another hand, there is a possibility for a party to try and push for the divorce location which will get them a better settlement. Location and the number of children are important factors in determining both the proceedings’ location and the settlement itself.

This is further dependent on the location where the majority of couple’s mutual assets are located and the asset liquidity plays a vital role here.

The Matter of Children

The proceedings abroad tend to get complicated even further, once the matter of children is introduced into the equation.

Divorce is an extremely emotional experiences and, when it comes to their children, parents tend to get overprotective and, without thinking clearly, step out of boundaries of law. The most common issue here is where a parent takes their child or children to the parent’s own home country. This impulsive act can easily turn into a serious criminal offence, bringing along serious allegations such as child abduction, regardless of whether or not a child was willing to be taken by a parent in question.

Getting Divorced Abroad

While Canada is a good example of the ‘equal rights marriage policy’ which the country’s law fully abides by, most countries’ laws state that children are obligated to live with their mother, up to a certain age, which is why the proceedings tend to go smoother, as long as both of the parties agree on important issues (financial or child custody and support-related).

An uncontested divorce in Oregon, for example, is far easier to achieve if both parents agree on the modification of the Child Support Review Process (CSRP). This will likely make the entire proceedings go smoother, as well as quicker.

The reasons to come to an agreement outside of the court, when it comes to divorce, are sometimes heavily related to the harshness of laws in certain states. When you file divorce in California, for example, the wage withholding court order is put into force. It makes the employee of the parent, who doesn’t have the physical custody of the child, responsible for taking the child support out of the employee’s paycheck. This tends to cause further complications, especially in cases where courts of different countries or states are involved.

A well thought-out plan should account for any arrangements for the ‘non-resident’ parent to remain in contact with their children.

Divorce tends to be even more difficult when foreign nationals and expatriates are involved, than it is in regular cases. Naturally, seeking proper legal advice is always a good way to go, especially when a variety of specific and international laws are applied. Mutual agreement is the best way to handle a divorce abroad.

5 Unusual Ways Your Agribusiness Can Save Money

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It’s no secret that agribusiness has come under financial pressure in recent years. That’s why it’s so important that professionals in the sector look for different ways to cut their costs. Here are some ideas.

Look For Second-hand Farming Equipment

Brand new farming equipment is becoming ever more technological and expensive. And while that’s great for productivity, it;’s not so good for your capital budget. Sensible businesses won’t consider the new equipment that gets shown off at agricultural shows every year. They’ll also ask themselves whether using second-hand is a viable alternative. Second-hand equipment is often refurbished, but it doesn’t come with all the associated costs of buying equipment brand new.

Switch To Red Diesel

A combine harvester in use

en.wikipedia.org

Not many farmers know this, but there are in fact two types of diesel they can use for their farm equipment. We’re all familiar with white diesel, the type we ordinarily use. But there’s another kind of diesel, called red diesel, which is the same as white except for the color and the price. The original reason why red diesel was dyed was to mark it out as different from white diesel so that people couldn’t use it in their farm equipment. But back in 2013, the law changed. And now farmers are free to use a red diesel supplier to source diesel for their machinery. Since it’s cheaper than white diesel, it makes sense to make the switch.

Set Up Secondary Operations

Agribusiness doesn’t just have to be in the business of planting crops and growing meat. It can also be in the business of hospitality. In fact, hospitality is the one major area of growth the agricultural sector has seen over the last decade. And thanks to people’s interest in the countryside, that growth looks set to continue. There are plenty of options available to businesses in the sector. You could open up a hotel or a bed and breakfast. Or you could host a campsite, especially if you live in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Finally, you could set up a side business, selling produce from your farm directly. Homemade, bespoke ice cream is a product proving to be very popular at present.

Hire Out Machinery You Don’t Use

If you hold an extensive inventory of machinery you don’t use at certain times of the year, look for opportunities to hire it out. Hiring out machinery can often be a great money spinner for agribusinesses. Advertise the fact that you have machinery to rent on social media or through an online platform.

Invest In Energy Efficiency

As well as using cheaper energy, there’s also a case to be made for using the energy that you already have better. Most of the energy that farmers use is gobbled up by their farm machinery. And so that would suggest that the way that this machinery is operated has a bearing on fuel costs. Agribusiness can reduce fuel costs by making sure that the throttle is kept in the right position. And they can make sure that the vehicle itself is in an appropriate gear for the task at hand.

Brexit: UK PM Theresa May Starts Shaping New Cabinet

UK’s PM Theresa May has started forming her new government – as she begins her first full day in Downing Street.

Former London mayor and leading Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson said he was “humbled” having been named new foreign secretary, in one of Theresa May’s first cabinet appointments.

Philip Hammond became chancellor, Amber Rudd is home secretary, and Eurosceptic David Davis is new Brexit secretary.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Theresa May later told European leaders she was committed to the UK leaving the EU.

Asked about his first priorities as chancellor, Philip Hammond said there would be “no emergency Budget”.

Philip Hammond said he would work closely with the Bank of England and other economic experts and make “carefully considered decisions over the summer”, followed by an Autumn Statement “in the normal way”.

Before the EU referendum, Philip Hammond’s predecessor George Osborne said he would have to cut public spending and increase taxes in an emergency Budget if the UK voted for Brexit.

In a series of congratulatory phone calls taken by Theresa May on July 13, the UK’s second female prime minister spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, France’s President Francois Hollande and Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

A Downing Street spokesman said Theresa May had “emphasized her commitment to delivering the will of the British people to leave the European Union”.

“The prime minister explained that we would need some time to prepare for these negotiations and spoke of her hope that these could be conducted in a constructive and positive spirit,” the spokesman added.

Theresa May will continue to fill out her new cabinet on July 14, with the new secretaries of state for health, education, and work and pensions among those expected to be appointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW3MqRXYO1E

Pokemon Go Release Boosts Nintendo Shares

Nintendo shares have seen a stellar rise since the release of Pokemon Go, gaining more than 50%.

Shares shot up 16% on July 13, making an overall increase of 56% since trading closed on July 8 – the day the game became available.

Pokemon Go players search locations in the real world to find virtual Pokemon creatures on their smartphone screens.

The game has become a global phenomenon since its release.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Pokemon Go topped the app store download chart on both iPhone’s App Store and Google Play just days after its initial release in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Nintendo shares had already started the week with a 25% jump on July 11 alone.

The Pokemon creatures first emerged in the 1990s on Nintendo’s Game Boy device.

For Pokemon Go, Nintendo has partnered with Niantic and the Pokemon Company, which owns the rights to the characters.

Nintendo, which is also behind the iconic Super Mario game, has traditionally relied on sales of its gaming consoles.

However, sales of those have been slowing in recent years as more gamers move online and onto portable devices.

Analysts have long criticized Nintendo for lagging its rivals like Sony and being late to the game in catering to the growing smartphone market.

Is International Competition Becoming A Major Problem For Manufacturers?

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dirty, industry, stack

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By 2025, India is expected to have a twenty-five percent hold on the manufacturing industry. It’s not the only country that might grab a bigger piece of the pie either. Arguably China is the heavyweight when it comes to manufacturing, but there are still a lot of businesses established in America as well. As the EU deal is finalized, Britain will want to boost its economy, improving exports and making trade deals. Therefore, we might see a growth in the manufacturing industry there as well. There are several other developing countries with economies that are growing rapidly and will be a bigger presence. All of these factors lead to one question for manufacturers. Do you need to be worried about international competition? It’s an interesting question and one that requires careful analysis.

Cheaper Production

One of the biggest issues for manufacturing businesses in westernized countries is that they are not playing on a fair field. Arguably, in certain countries, production costs are always going to be cheaper. This makes the businesses there more competitive. They are then able to win contracts from other companies. For instance, a lot of tech companies buy products from factories in developing countries.

One of the reasons for this is undoubtedly the labor laws. Human rights are poorer in developing countries. They continue to be in areas of Asia and Europe. Workers are paid minimum wage meaning that companies can hire a cheap workforce. In some areas, there are also limited laws against child labor. Again, this means a cheap workforce. Over the last several years, numerous popular brands have been hit with controversy. This occurred after it was revealed products were made using child labor.

That said, it is understandable why companies set up internationally. They want to cheapen production costs as much as possible. Doing this increases the overall revenue of their model. It’s not just about labor laws either. Certain countries have offered tax incentives for businesses to set up there for cheaper taxation. Puerto Rico is perhaps one of the latest examples of this, though it was not entirely successful.

Ease Of Access

Timber, Sheet Products, Industry, Wood, Stack

Pixabay Source

Another reason for the growth of international manufacturing businesses is the ease of transportation. In the past, it made sense to buy products from manufacturers in the same country. Now, products can be shipped, transported and sold across oceans easily. Logistics businesses are making this process easier than ever, and businesses are taking advantage of it. This is one of the reasons why ninety-percent of products are manufactured in China. It may be quite a distance from countries where the products are sold. But shipping and air transportation is so simple it’s no longer a problem or a concern.

It’s clear that there are many advantages for companies buying products from international manufacturers. What does this mean for local manufacturers? It means that they have to step up their game. They need to cheapen production and become more competitive. They need to find USPs that make them a better choice for buyers. There are a few options manufacturers must consider here.

Quality Not Quantity

It’s an old message for sure, but one that companies would do well to heed. Rather than focusing on how many clients they are losing, they should focus on the ones that they have. They need to make sure that they are producing products that are higher quality than the competition. When you’re producing on the level that businesses in China are, things will slip through the cracks. We’ve already seen this occur with products needing to be recalled due to the materials used.

Local manufacturers who sell great products are going to win over more clients and customers. It is a distinct advantage that smaller firms have over larger manufacturing corporations.

Cheaper Methods Of Production

Pressure, Industry, Industrial, Meter, Measure

Image Via Pixabay

Local manufacturers do need to make sure they are doing everything they can to cheapen the production process. This might mean investing in new technology or looking at more efficient processes. For instance, this product from ReliantFinishingSystems.com is used for powder coating. The process is cheap, effective and efficient, delivering a high-quality final result.

As well as this, producers should be looking at incorporating new forms of energy saving into the production model. Every year, new tech and equipment is introduced into the market. It is designed to save business owners a lot of money in the long term.

Outsource

If you can’t beat them, join them, or rather use their services. You should stop worrying about what international businesses are doing to the local industry. Instead, manufacturers should use the growth of international factories to their advantage. Outsource certain processes to a place where production costs are cheaper. Doing this, you’ll keep your product cheap and you will be able to get a larger quantity of items produced. The only issue is quality control. If you’re not making the product yourself, you have very little input into the quality. That’s why you need to choose the businesses that you partner with carefully. Don’t make the mistake of using a cheaper business that could damage the reputation of your brand.

Lapadu, Duisburg, Landscape Park, Long Shutter

Image Source

Produce A Unique Item

You can look into producing something for the market that other companies can not make. This could be a unique product that requires a certain production method. If you own the copyright to a method of production, no other business will be able to make the same product. Many manufacturers have found success by making something unique to their company. Even if other companies do copy your idea, it’s always difficult to beat the original.

The International competition will not mean the death of local manufacturing companies. Local manufacturers just need to work to improve their business model. They need to make sure they are offering their consumers more at a cost friendly price. If they do this, they will be able to stay afloat in a sea filled with additional competition. Quality products will always win out over mass production, even in a dicey economic climate.

industry

Flickr Picture

 

8 Regional Foods You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Would you like some loco moco with your cheese curds? Unless you’re from the areas where these regional foods rule, you may not want to answer that question. The melting pot of America’s culture gives the U.S. some of the weirdest and unusual regional foods in the world. Here are 8 of the most popular regional foods you’ve never heard of or always wondered about.

#1. Deep-Fried Cheese Curds

Cheese curds are a staple in Canada, but the Upper Midwest adds it own twist with deep frying. The batter covered deep-fried cheese curd is one of the most popular Minnesota State Fair attractions every year. Minnesotans aren’t the only people who love deep-fried cheese curds. People in Wisconsin and Michigan love them, too.

#2. Paw Paw

If the only time you heard about paw paws was in the old children’s song, you’re missing out. People in the mid-Atlantic region know all about the paw paw. The wonderfully sweet fruit that tastes like a cross between a mango and a banana is often called the “custard apple.” Paw paws are indigenous to 26 states and grow wild from the Gulf Coast on up to the Great Lakes region. People eat the fruit by itself or turn them into delicious creations, including paw paw nut bread and ice cream.

You’ll find more regional bites in this Mid-Atlantic roundup.

#3. Chitlins

Chitlins, or chitterlings, is a Deep South  delicacy wildly popular during the holidays. It’s popularity remains purely local, however, possibly because it’s made of hog intestines. To make chitlins, the cook cleans and boils pig intestines. (The boiling creates an overwhelmingly offensive aroma, which is why they’re usually boiled outside.) After boiling, the intestines are chopped up, breaded and fried. A tangy sauce is added and the dish is served with cornbread and fried chicken. You probably can’t wait to try it!

#4. Loco Moco

Sounds a little crazy, but loco moco is a popular food in Hawaii. The Lincoln Grill in Hilo invented loco moco in 1949. Consisting of white rice with a topping of beef patty and fried egg, covered in brown gravy, loco moco is the comfort food of choice for Hawaiians and a must-taste for visitors.

#5. Goetta

If you’re from Cincinnati, you know all about goetta. Called “Cincinnati caviar,” goetta is a breakfast sausage originated by German immigrants. To extend ground pork or beef, thrifty home chefs added oats and shaped the mixture into a loaf. The loaf was sliced as needed and fried in pork fat until brown and crispy. Now, goetta is on the breakfast menu of many Cincinnati restaurants.

#6. Lutefisk

Many hard-working Norwegian immigrants settled in the Upper Midwest. The immigrants brought various traditions with them and one of them was lutefisk  The painstaking lutefisk-making process involves soaking dried whitefish in water and a lye-based mixture for up to eight days. The fish swells, losing approximately half of its protein, and turns into a jelly-like texture. And, that’s lutefisk. Norwegian-Americans serve lutefisk during the holidays. Not for the weak of stomach, the eating of lutefisk symbolizes hardship and courage.

#7. Fried Diamondback Rattlesnake

You’ve heard of diamondback rattlesnakes, of course. But in Sweetwater, Texas, the locals roundup the reptiles from the nearby desert and bring them to the Nolan County Coliseum. The snakes are then skinned, covered in batter and deep-fried. The highly divisive annual event remains popular with the Sweetwater locals.

#8. Shoofly Pie

Pennsylvania is Amish country and shoofly pie is a favorite. Bakeries, diners and restaurants all over Pennsylvania serve this rich, sticky, coffeecake-like dessert. It’s thought the name came from the fact that flies were attracted to the sugary confections as they cooled on window sills. Who wouldn’t be attracted to such sweet goodness?

Things to Beware Before Buying a House

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If you have watched any reality television shows about house hunting, or have paid attention to real estate stories that are online, there are always people who buy a house and then end up with a nightmare. Just because a home looks like it is one of the best and most picturesque listings you have ever seen, you still need to be cautious of what it really is. Any given home could be hiding a significant number of problems just out of sight, so you need to be certain to keep the following points in mind before you purchase a new house, even if it does look like it is the house of your dreams.

Have an Appraisal Done

As Yahoo News states, the cost of a home appraisal is not that expensive, but you need to have it done. On the basis of a market valuation you might be willing to pay a certain amount of money for a home, but you also need to be aware of just how much money it actually is worth. And, while you might also be worried that you will lose the house if you make it conditional on an appraisal, then you have to remember oftentimes the banks will want some sort of appraisal done anyways to ensure that they won’t actually be giving you more money than the building is worth.

The reason an appraisal is also such a good thing is because an appraisal will take into consideration everything from the comparable values or the market to also understand what your finances will be. As the appraiser looks at the house they may also even take into consideration some of the current values of the home itself, and might be mindful enough to tell you when certain aspects of the home might need to be replaced, updated, or repaired in order to get full value. The unit appraisal is a great benefit because it means you know the true value, and as you deal with the bank it also means you know exactly what numbers you are working with when it comes time to make an offer, obtain financing, or close on the house.

Photo Flickr TeeWilson
Photo Flickr TeeWilson

Know the Details of the Surrounding Area

The most important thing you have to do when it comes time to find a townhouse for sale with DDProperty is that you specify the areas you are comfortable with and know what type of environment you will actually be in. While every area is going to have their own benefits and their own problems, you just can’t afford to live in a spot where you know the hassle is too much. What if the crime is too high, the traffic and noise are too dense and loud, or even the schools aren’t that great? When you are looking for the next place to call your home and you have to understand exactly what you are getting yourself into, the one of the best things to do is find out about the area.

If you are unaware of the general area, you could always continue to seek out advice by asking your realtor. After all, they should be comfortable enough with a given location to tell you what you need to know. On the other hand, you might want to be sure you are getting the up to date information straight from the source and in that case you could always just speak with the neighbors of a potential home and see what they have to say. Take all information with a grain of salt just in case they are overly happy or unsatisfied with the area, but where there is smoke there is fire and you should also be able to spot trends if multiple people have the same opinions about an area. The last thing you want to do is to move into an area where you have things surprise you, after all.

Know Your Upfront Costs

While costs can absolutely change depending upon the location, the realtors, the type of loan and even the type of property, if you are looking to buy a home then you need to know the cost of the closing itself is expensive but everything leading up to it will absolutely nickel and dime you as well. The fees and taxes that are already mandated for the services you are expecting can be enough of a hit on your wallet or your purse, but when you start to think about the specifics of what else is going to start costing you then you have to know what you will be on the hook to pay.

According to Fox News, the other things you should be expecting to pay when you are looking to buy are the add-ons that most people know they pay but don’t realize how quickly they add up. Homeowners insurance is one, and PMI can be another. You don’t even know you need to pay them until you recall how expensive they actually become. Throw in the costs of maintenance for cleaning supplies and something like a lawnmower and your expected costs are through the roof.

Deciding on a house that you fall in love with will be exciting enough for anyone to want to rush through. Once you have found the unit of your dreams then why do you want to wait for anything else like specifics, fine print, or even paperwork? However, if you aren’t comfortable with the idea of making sure you know exactly what you are getting into, then perhaps home ownership isn’t for you yet.

Super Sexy Lingerie – Lingerie for that Special Night

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There comes, once in a while, an urge to relive certain beautiful, romantic moments. It may be with a current partner and you want to recreate old memories, or with someone new and you are feeling apprehensive. It may be with someone you have just fallen in love with, and you want that first time to be truly special. Whatever the reason for this special night, the most important thing is that you want it to be a night full of romance. Everyone hungers for romance and hardly anyone has enough. But if you can create a truly special night full of love and romantic fire, that spark may just be enough to turn your love and sex life around for good.

The thought of a night to remember, usually brings to mind a woman in super sexy lingerie, the ambiance of a dimly lit room, a bottle of sparkling wine and some exotic fruits on display. But things don’t always work out that beautifully for the majority of women, because most ladies are just too shy to step into the role of the seductive female.

It is a psychological block that prevents her from truly abandoning her ‘real self’ and taking up a more romantic or seductive personality. Unfortunately, this inability of many women to step into a ‘new role’ dampens the male ardor, and the relationship suffers as a result. On the other hand, if a woman could slip into super sexy lingerie, and simply ‘act the part’, then her lover’s desire for her will be uncontrollable, and his ardor, inexhaustible.

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The Role of a Super Sexy Lingerie

Some lingerie are just too plain, conservative or simply have no edge to them. This is mostly the result of their design, or mis-design, of not accentuating a woman’s best qualities. Super sexy lingerie highlights parts of a woman’s femininity, while maintaining either a partial or a total veiling of the other parts of her body.

There is a deep seated desire in every man to finish up what he started, and to also see those remaining, veiled parts of her body. This desire is what ignites the flame of male passion. Super sexy lingerie therefore is suggestive and revealing, inviting a man inside and giving him enough space to explore her body. At the same time, the lingerie is also restrictive, forbidding easy visual or physical access to certain ‘taboo’ zones. This is what gets a man’s blood pumping, because it ignites that ancient hunter and conqueror instinct in him.

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A Night that Changed History

It is 48 B.C., over 2,000 years ago, the Roman empire is the most powerful empire on earth, and Julius Caesar, the most powerful man in the world. Ptolemy XIV of Egypt has just managed to get rid of his sister and wife, Queen Cleopatra VII. He exiled her and made provisions to prevent her from ever returning to Egypt. Egypt is currently independent, but loyal to Rome, so Julius Caesar came to Alexandria this year to secure this loyalty. While in a meeting in the palace, Caesar receives a gift from a merchant, a rolled-up carpet, which the merchant carried on his shoulders. Expecting this present to be a rug, Caesar orders him to approach. So the merchant enters the court and rolls out the carpet, revealing a half-clothed Cleopatra who was hidden inside. She gently steps up like a goddess and as she started to speak, Julius Caesar fell under her spell and they became lovers that very night.

Love Lessons From Egypt’s Last Pharaoh

There are a few lessons any woman can learn from Cleopatra, the last active Pharaoh of Egypt and history’s most notorious seducer of great and powerful men:

– Subtlety
When the carpet was unrolled before Caesar, she was recorded as being ‘half-clothed’, probably a reference to a super sexy lingerie. Over 2,000 years ago, this 21 year old Queen perfectly understood the lingerie principle of enticement and restriction. A woman should offer a lot romantically, but not everything, and this is the lesson. You have to make him come and get the rest.

– Confidence
As a queen who was unguarded, she took great risks to come to Julius Caesar that way. But that confidence, and her confident attitude towards him, her confident seductive dressing and her famous low-toned, but confident voice, all helped to make Julius Caesar fall madly in love with her that fateful night. A confident woman is a woman who has totally accepted herself as she is, including her vulnerabilities, but remains courageous enough to move on with life.

– Hot & Cold
As with the enticement and restrictiveness of her clothing, Queen Cleopatra also had a hot & cold attitude, otherwise known as coquetry. Although most women use coquetry on men, from time to time, to get what they want, they never really get quite hot. It is more like cold & colder by the majority of ladies. Cleopatra not only dressed provocatively, she also actively courted and excited Caesar, regularly taking the active role in their encounters, before falling back into her feminine self and letting him devour her with all his tempestuous passions.

Conclusion

To assure success on that special night, the super sexy lingerie to wear is something that you can be totally comfortable expressing yourself in. It should be both enticing and revealing, while being restrictive at the ‘hot zones’. Babydolls do come to mind, but you are free to make your own choice. Just make sure that it is subtly sensual and not too overt. Then turn up your self-assurance and give him some heat.

Two US Diplomats Expelled from Moscow Amid Row

Two US diplomats have been expelled from Moscow, after the White House said it had ordered two Russian embassy staff to leave Washington.

On July 8, the US State Department said their move came after a Russian policeman attacked a US diplomat near the US embassy in Moscow.

That US diplomat has now been expelled from Moscow, along with one other embassy worker.

The Kremlin accused the men of being CIA agents.

Photo Reuters
Photo Reuters

Russian deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said both US embassy staff were expelled for “activities incompatible with their diplomatic status”.

State department spokesman John Kirby said the two Russian officials, who have not been named, were told to leave on June 17.

John Kirby said that earlier that month, a Russian policeman attacked a US diplomat near the US embassy in Moscow.

“The action was unprovoked and it endangered the safety of our employee,” he said.

“The Russian claim that the policeman was protecting the embassy from an unidentified individual is simply untrue.”

Russia said earlier this week that the US official was a CIA agent who had refused to provide his identification papers and hit the policeman in the face.

In June, US officials said harassment against US diplomats by Russian security and intelligence services was on the rise.

According to the Washington Post, that included breaking into the homes of embassy staff, rearranging furniture and even killing a family pet.

Russia has denied the allegation that security staff mistreated the US diplomat. It said the diplomat worked for the CIA and had refused to show ID papers.

Russian media have also released a footage showing what they say was the scuffle between the US diplomat and the Russian policeman.

In response to seeing its two diplomats ordered to leave Washington, the Kremlin announced its move on July 9.

“After their unfriendly step two employees of the United States embassy had to leave Moscow,” Sergei Ryabkov said.

“They were declared persona non grata for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status.”

No official response has been made by Russia to the allegations of harassment of US diplomats. A statement to the Washington Post said there had been US provocation against Russian diplomats.

Wimbledon 2016: Serena Williams Wins Her 22nd Grand Slam Title

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Serena Williams beat Angelique Kerber to win a seventh Wimbledon and 22nd Grand Slam title.

The world No 1 coped with a gusty wind on Centre Court to win 7-5 6-3 and equal Steffi Graf’s Open era record of major titles.

Angelique Kerber, 28, had beaten Serena Williams in the Australian Open final in January but could not produce another shock.

Photo AP
Photo AP

Serena Williams ends a losing run at Slams stretching back to Wimbledon in 2015.

Fourteen years since she first won Wimbledon, Serena Williams claimed the title for a seventh time after dropping just one set all tournament.

Serena Williams moves alongside German great Steffi Graf in the all-time list of Grand Slam singles champions, and just two behind overall leader Margaret Court, the Australian who won 13 of her 24 major titles before tennis turned professional in 1968.

Angelique Kerber was the outsider but buoyed by her win over Serena Williams in Melbourne, and the swirling wind added another element of uncertainty to the final.

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

Riri Williams: New Iron Man Is A 15-Year-Old Black Girl

Riri Williams, a 15-year-old black girl, will be donning the famous armor of Iron Man in an upcoming episode of the series, Marvel has revealed.

Civil War II sees Tony Stark hang up his boots to be replaced by Riri Williams, the comic book maker says.

Riri is a Chicago-born science genius studying at MIT and made her debut earlier this year.

Photo Marvel
Photo Marvel

The news has prompted a huge reaction online, with many welcoming it as a step forward for diversity.

Iron Man writer Brian Michael Bendis told Time he came up with Riri Williams’ character after being struck by the “chaos and violence” of Chicago while working in the city.

“And this story of this brilliant, young woman whose life was marred by tragedy that could have easily ended her life, just random street violence, and went off to college was very inspiring to me.

“I thought that was the most modern version of a superhero or superheroine story I had ever heard.”

The Iron Man character first appeared in 1963. The series focuses on billionaire weapons inventor Tony Stark.

Philando Castile: Another Black Man Killed by Police in Minnesota

Philando Castile, a black man from Minnesota, has been shot dead by police as protests continued over the police killing of another black man in Louisiana.

His girlfriend live-streamed the aftermath of the latest incident, showing Philando Castile covered in blood as an officer pointed his gun at him.

Philando Castile, 32, was shot as he reached for his driving license, she said.

His death follows the death of Alton Sterling from Louisiana, who was shot dead by police during an incident in Baton Rouge on July 5.

Hundreds of people have protested for two nights over Alton Sterling’s killing.

The deaths follow a long line of high-profile incidents involving African-Americans at the hands of the police, igniting a national debate about the lethal use of force.Philando Castile killed in Minnesota

Philando Castile had been stopped in Falcon Heights, a suburb of St Paul, because the car had a broken rear light, the woman, identified in local media reports as Lavish Reynolds, said.

Before he was shot, Philando Castile told the officer that he was licensed to carry a concealed gun and had one in his possession, she said.

“You shot four bullets into him, sir. He was just getting his license and registration, sir,” Lavish Reynolds says in the video.

A child, Lavish Reynolds’s daughter, was also in the car at the time.

Police said an investigation was under way and the officer involved had been put on leave.

Philando Castile worked as a cafeteria supervisor at a Montessori school. His cousin Antonio Johnson told the Star Tribune newspaper he was “immediately criminally profiled” because he was black.

About 200 people have been protesting outside State Governor Mark Dayton’s mansion in St Paul.

In Baton Rouge, hundreds of people gathered for a second night of protests at the shop where Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old father of five, was killed on July 5.

Some demonstrators chanted “Black lives matter” and called for justice.

Video emerged on July 6 appearing to show Alton Sterling being held down and then shot several times, although some shots are heard when the camera moves away from the confrontation.

Seconds later, one of the officers is seen removing an object from Philando Castile’s trousers as he lies on the ground with blood on his chest.

The officers involved, Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II, have been put on administrative leave and the DoJ has launched a civil rights investigation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNCbgJ55jQY

Why two of the most expensive cities in the world still attract investors around the globe

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Often hailed the “Capital of the 21st Century”, London is shaping up to be one of the hottest cities in the world. However, the allure of New York never goes out of style, with The Big Apple still being one of the most popular cities to call home.

While it may seem difficult to compare such vibrant cities on either side of the Atlantic, it turns out they both have quite a lot in common, and this is especially true when examining the most affluent markets. Taking a look at areas such as Mayfair, one of London’s oldest neighborhoods, alongside the stylish Upper East Side, it can be seen that both have plenty to offer those who enjoy the finer things in life…

NYC-Skyline

Population

There are 5,100 permanent residents in Mayfair, while the Upper East Side is home to 206,908 residents. Geographically of course, the Upper East Side spans far more space, covering 4.56 km².

Cost of buying

In Mayfair, property priced at £1 million or less is rapidly disappearing, and similarly on the Upper East Side, real estate here is expensive and highly sought-after. The Global Property Guide lists London has being the second most expensive city when it comes to renting and buying property; in January 2014, it was reported that the average price per sq. ft. in Mayfair was £2,320, a figure substantially higher than that of the Upper East Side, which was just £796.

Cost of renting

For those who can’t afford to get on the property ladder, opting to rent in either market will still prove expensive. TransferWise reveals the average monthly rent for a 120 sq. m. flat in London to be $6,856, while for the same size apartment in New York, it is marginally cheaper at $6,553.

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Transportation links

There are five airports within reach in London, compared with three in New York. However, when it comes to local public transport, NYC’s subway system comes out ahead of the tube. With 1.65 billion users compared with 1.2 billion on the tube, the subway has 249 miles of track and runs 24 hours a day. It goes farther, runs for longer and more people use it, and yet the subway is still less expensive than the tube. Users can pay $2.75 for a single subway fare, compared with $7.30 for a single ride on the London Underground.

Culture and Entertainment

Both London and New York are cultural meccas, home to film festivals, theatre districts (The West End and Broadway respectively), museums, art galleries, events and a great deal more each year. As far as culture and entertainment goes, both NYC and London are fairly evenly stacked.

Dining out and local cuisine

London’s food scene has certainly stepped up to be a contender in recent years, but this is still one area in which New York truly excels. There are a staggering 126 Michelin star restaurants in NYC, not to mention a huge variety of cheap street eats, authentic multicultural cuisine, and fast food options for those on the go. Of the world’s top 100 restaurants, nine are found in NYC, compared to just five in London.

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Cost of living

London has topped a list of the most expensive cities in the world to live and work; it was revealed that the cost of living and work accommodation per person in London was £80,777 ($112,800), while in NYC, the same costs totaled £79,680 ($111,300).

Crime rates

According to Numbeo, the cities are relatively similar when comparing crime rates. New York experiences a “moderate” level of crime (51.29), with London having the same level and a slightly higher ranking at 56.09.

Quality of life

The Mercer Quality of Life survey compares 221 cities, looking at metrics such as relationships with other countries, crime and corruption rates, health and public services, and political stability. Based on this, the report ranked London at no. 38, while New York wasn’t far behind at no. 47.

 

What Is It That Makes Your Company Appeal To Customers?

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Having a product or a service that is in demand is the bare essentials of what you need to make a successful business. However, it’s not all you need. Many business owners can be surprised to find that their business isn’t doing as well as hoped even with all that market research in their favor. In a lot of these cases, all that’s needed is finding what really appeals to the customers. In this article, we’re going to focus on those aspects and how you can use them.

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Know your audience

The first major step into creating an approach that’s customer focused is understanding who your customers are. Knowing your audience in detail. Without doing adequate research on who you’re trying to reach, the idea of a customer is a vague thing that you can’t prepare for. A lot of this can be done using the data from the customers you already have. From looking beyond just what they purchase. Look at the demographics they fit, their channel-preference, their household composition. Find out more about the everyday lives of the people that you want to appeal to. When you better understand their lifestyles, you will better understand what you can offer to make the lifestyle just a bit better.

Know your niche

Similarly, you need to know exactly what it is you offer. Not just your products and services and the gap in the market they inhabit. You need to define your niche down to the most unique elements of your company. Particularly in relation to your competition. The points below offer a more in-depth look at what unique advantages you could have to offer. Keep them in mind and compare them to what’s unique about your company compared to the competition. Make a unique selling point of them to give yourself a competitive edge. People often need to be convinced why your business is the correct choice over your competitors. You need to have the right answer to offer them. Otherwise, they’re more likely to go with the option they already know.

Quality branding

Regardless of what aspects you find work in favor of your company, you need customers to know them. You need to form them into part of the company narrative, the story that people receive to understand what you offer them. A quality, consistent brand identity is how you communicate that story. It shapes what you say about your services and how you say them. It unifies itself with a visual design scheme that echoes through your site, your logo and everything else your company produces. It’s how people will recognize your company and what it is you have to offer them. If you want people to see value in your business, the brand is how you communicate that.

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Customer service

However, your branding isn’t something that stands on its own. Your business has to have the values that appeal to customers to support that brand. To inform it and inform your customers. One of the values that every company should (but doesn’t) adopt is a comprehensive approach to customer service. A devotion to making sure the user experience of your company, whether in person, on the phone or online, is as positive for them as possible. A lot of businesses focus so much on trying to get customers, that they neglect the ones they already keep. A business with a focus on customer services ensures that they are always on call to answer when needed. As well as to make sure that the customer’s experience was satisfactory after the purchase.

Keeping your customers

As we hinted, the service that you provide after the customer has paid and received what they paid for should be part of your business. If you’re racing to always appeal to new customers, you’re missing the ones you already appeal to. Redefine your services to include how you keep the customers on your side. Some companies will do this by forwarding them exclusive deals. Others will do it by offering an easy to use loyalty system to those who plan on returning. As well as offering great services, you can also do this by using the power of numbers. In particular, the numbers of people who use and return to your services.

Community

Indeed, numbers can be very convincing if they’re used the right way. But you need to be offering the right numbers up. For example, using positive social proof instead of negative. Don’t focus on the people who haven’t converted to your side yet. Give them the numbers of those who have. But maintain that number as more than just a statistic. People like to be a part of something, so build that something up as a community centered around your business. The businesses with the best community get social with it, nowadays. The internet has made that easier than ever. Don’t just use channels of communication to send messages their way. Get involved in the conversation and get talking. Ask questions to get them talking, too.

Businessmen, Honest, Honesty, Sincere, Sincerity

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Honesty

If you want people to get ‘on side’ with your business, you need to really be on their side. This includes making it a policy to be one-hundred percent honest with the public. Nowadays, the message of marketers is often disregarded as just that. People know when they’re being sold to. If your strategies are honest and you refrain from misleading messaging, you will get a better result. Even better, you can use the honesty of those who are already your customers. Word-of-mouth and testimonials can go alot further as far as credibility in the customer’s eyes are concerned. If you have satisfied customers, capitalize on them. A lot of them will be glad to share their experiences with you.

Sustainability

It’s not just product satisfaction and a community that people care about, however. If you want your product to be something that people really support, then having a cause behind it is just one of the ways you can do that. One of the fastest rising examples of a good cause is by making your business and your products more environmentally sustainable. For example, look at this story of Hampton Creek in the LA Times. A company that started to make egg free mayonnaise that was less carbon reliant than the average. After initial difficulties, soon their competitors began to follow in their footsteps. This narrative has gone the same way for industries making the switch to more sustainable methods all over. People vote with their wallets and are consistently voting for companies with real ethics.

Social responsibility

This goes for more than just those whose values are environmentally based, as well. The Fairtrade movement has proven that people care just as much for the fairness towards societies at large. Enough to often pay more than they would for products that don’t have the Fairtrade logo on their products. Social responsibility not only offers your customers another reason to support you, either. It also makes for a company culture that can make your workplace and your employees some of the best to work in. Even if it’s only in the small scale by getting involved with local communities and charities. People are a lot more likely to trust and buy from companies that show some responsibility.

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The aesthetic

Now for another point that’s more about appealing directly to the customer. We’re going to talk about the aesthetic of your business. Not just the branding or the design on the products that you’re offering. But the premises, as well. In retail and the food service industries, curb appeal and design is a huge part of making a satisfactory customer experience. But this goes for those businesses set in offices, as well. You want people to see that your company is professional and well organized. A strong aesthetic can be a part of communicating that. Regardless of what kind of business you have, interior design can help build prestige in the eyes of customers and staff alike.

Quality

What needs to support every single point above, however, is the quality of what it is you offer. If you’re not doing the best to improve your product and your business at every step, the customer will know. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. So never stop reiterating on what you’re doing, even if it is a success. Always pursue improvement and innovation in your business. Show when you’ve done quality work by demonstrating it and taking it to trade shows or other venues. Sell your product by selling the quality that goes into it. Without having the proof that your product is worth buying, none of the other appealing steps above will do you much good.

The customer-driven approach to business is the only one that works in the long-run. Without understanding them and what they want from you, you are effectively blinding yourself. We hope the points above help you better the approach that works for your business.

5 Things to Consider Before Opening a Business in the US

Most international business owners would love the opportunity to expand their business into new markets, such as the United States. After all, the US brings new people with new needs who would make a great market for your business. However, just because you want to start a business in the US doesn’t mean that it’s easy. It’s actually a lengthy and detailed process, and you want to be sure that you consider everything before making your final decision.

1. Market

Before you consider starting your business in the United States, you want to be sure there is a target market for your products or services. Do some research in that area to determine if it’s the right place. The United States is very large, and what may work for people in New York may not work for those in Arizona, so you want to be sure you are choosing the right location for your business.

Do this with a small test run. For instance, if you’re selling a product, you can see if a third-party in the area would be willing to sell it for you and see how it does. If you have a service, consider testing it out in a small area. The more research you can do to see if this is something that people would like in that area, the better chance you have for success. After all, if you spend the money to move to this new place and your business doesn’t take off, it wasn’t a very good investment.

2. Laws

Immigration laws vary from location to location, and chances are you may want to take some of your existing employees to the new business location. In order to do this, you want to be fully aware of any immigration laws that need to be followed. According to Hirson Immigration, “For those who are interested in obtaining lawful permanent residence in the US by investing into a US business, acquiring the services of an experienced EB-5 attorney is of the utmost value and importance.” By doing this, you’ll be able to receive the information you need to legally keep your employees safe during the transition.

3. Logistics

There are plenty of benefits to opening a business in the United States, but you need to carefully consider the logistics. If you will still need to travel regularly to the new location, then you’ll want to consider the cost of the logistics. You also want to make sure that the location you choose is close to clients or consumers who want your products or services. After all, if you opt for a location that isn’t logistically accessible or effective, it could actually harm your business more than help. As mentioned above, be sure to do your research, because your product may be better off in one state versus another.

4. Cost

Obviously, money is very important, so you want to be sure you’re making the right decision when it comes to overall business cost. Make sure you understand exactly what it will cost you to open a business in the United States. Don’t just consider the cost of the building, employees, etc., but also the cost of permits, visas, and other items that are required for you to legally open shop. Once you have a firm number, you can use this to determine if opening this business is actually worth it.

5. Benefits

Sometimes the perks outweigh the risks. There are plenty of advantages to opening a business in the US, but it should still be something you truly think about before diving in. Be sure to ask yourself some important questions. Do you receive tax breaks? Is there a better market? Do you have more growth opportunity? There are many things to consider, but besides just focusing on the legality and cost, you should also allow the benefits to play an important role in your overall decision.

Making the decision to open a business in the US an important step for any global company, so you want to be sure that you do it correctly and successfully. Use these tips to make sure you consider everything necessary before making a drastic change for your company.

 

Legal Mistakes Fewer Of Us Should Be Making

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Getting involved with the law in any kind of context is an occasion for considerable concern. Money, our reputations and records and even our freedom can be at risk. That said, there still isn’t a lot of common understanding in how to best avoid serious trouble when you’re in those situations. You can never truly predict what will happen, but here are a few tips you should always keep in mind. We’re going to look at some common legal risks and precautions you should take.

Police Officer, Men'S, Baton, Clamp

Photo by 21150

Our taxes

It doesn’t often result in jail time. However, the penalties we can receive for doing our taxes wrong, even accidentally, are considerable. At most risk when it comes to their taxes tend to be those in charge of small businesses. There are many who, for instance, file for the wrong kind of organizational structure. This entity type has an impact of its own on audit risk. Other risks include the amount of gross income and deductions included in a return. You can’t always protect yourself from an audit, so you need to make sure that everything you report is accurate and legal. There are tax lawyers who can help small businesses do just that with an expert opinion to help.

Know your rights

We all have rights that protect us when we come into trouble with the law. This includes the right to legal representation, which you should always exercise if you’re under arrest. However, you also have rights when it comes to your arrest. Those rights include the right to self-defense in cases of false arrest. As resisting arrest can prove a danger to your own health, however, it’s not recommended you take that course of action. Rather, learn what the parameters of a false arrest are. Your best chance to take justice for that false arrest is being able to prove it in a court of law. Otherwise, you are only putting yourself in a position where the police’s advantage over you can have fatal results.

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Photo by Maik Meid

Your right to silence

A notion that has always been in the public consciousness is starting to gain some traction as a way of dealing with police questioning and stops. We’re talking about the right to remain silent. However, a significant misunderstanding of how to apply that right is causing a lot of people more trouble than good. For instance, there are some out there who advise that you simply say nothing to the police. Naturally, this is only likely to arouse suspicion more than anything. The right to silence is to protect people from the danger of incriminating themselves under pressure. This is a right that protects you when in custody, not outside of it. If you are arrested, that’s when you invoke your right and request your attorney.

Dealing with police

Instead of following the misguided advice to physically resist or stay silent, the right way to deal with police is carefully. Remember the advantage that they have over you in most encounters and stay calm. When talking to them, be polite and be respectful. Keep your hands visible and keep eye contact. It can help you to be recording, and make it known that you’re recording, any communication. Ask why you have been stopped and whether anything they ask you to do is a request or an order. Make sure you ask and understand whether you are being detained or are free to go. If you’re not being detained, then ask to leave often.

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Having the right advice on your side

If you are under arrest, then you need to start preparing for a legal defense. Any evidence you might have collected from the steps above can help you start to prepare that defense. But the most important aspect of those preparations are going to be who you have representing you. If you are able, it is recommended that you go for a private attorney over a public defender in every case. The best criminal defense lawyers have nowhere near the workload as public defenders. They are also able to give their cases the right attention and time that they demand. Finding the best defense lawyers you can means doing your research and looking at their past records.

Not understanding the game plan

When it comes to the court, your logical following of the events isn’t going to always be the same as how the case is presented. Your lawyer will likely come up with a strategy, so take heed to understand what kind of plans they may come up with. Common legal defense strategies include using the evidence you have collected beforehand. Particularly to prove a wrongful arrest, for example. Other ways they may be able to help is by demonstrating bias on the part of witnesses involved in the case. The truth is a vital component of a legal strategy, but not always the only thing that matters. Following your lawyers lead in using that truth to create the case is your best option.

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Photo by Angelo DeSantis

Giving the wrong image in court

In a truly just system, the image and behavior of the defendant should have no impact on the judge or the jury, whichever is involved in your judgement. However, this is the real world. People will make shallow judgements based on the image that you give off. That’s why you need to put an effort into it. Not just in terms of being well dressed and well groomed. But how you talk, react and even sit. You need to, again, be aware of the authority that you’re under in these situations. You need to be respectful and direct. Don’t be flippant, don’t be rude. With specifics, your lawyer will again give you a lot of advice, so take heed of it.

The balance of power always lies in the hands of the state, but it is entirely possible for you to wrestle it back. Just make sure you keep the above tips in mind but follow the advice of a skilled attorney above all else.

6 Items Every Millennial Man Needs in His Wardrobe

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There are a few things that every man needs to have in his wardrobe. You might have heard of the phrase that fashion fades but the style is eternal. Well, here are some of the timeless and stylish items that every man needs to have. Whatever the day job is or how they spend their spare time. These things will all get used and will look great for a long time to come.

Crisp White Shirt

There is nothing more classic and timeless than a crisp white oxford shirt. It can be work with a suit for smarter occasions, or dressed down with chinos and jeans. It is good to have one that isn’t always worn to the office but perhaps kept for more special occasions like weddings, for example. The brighter white the shirt, the better!
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Smart Suit

Even if you don’t wear a suit to work, you need to have one in your wardrobe. All sorts of occasions can crop up where one is required. It can be hard to find a good, well fitting one last minute. So always having one in the home is a must. If you can, try and get a custom made suit. Then it will look even better on you as it is made just for you. If you’re interested in getting one but haven’t got an idea of where to start, have a look online. Lanieri is a website that you could look at, as well as somewhere like GQ.

Dark Jeans

Having a great pair of jeans is a must. You might have a more worn pair for over summer, or a lighter pair for spring. But a dark denim pair of jeans is a must. They look good and can be dressed up as well as down. There isn’t a lot that a dark pair of denim jeans won’t go with.

Gray Sweater

Sweaters are a must for when it isn’t quite weather for a coat, but still not warm enough for just a t-shirt. Choosing a color like gray means that it will go with most things too. Just even think of the things on this list; dark denim and a white oxford shirt. For a date or an evening out, those three are a classic combination!

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A Great Watch

No man’s wardrobe is complete without a stylish timepiece. They compliment any outfit and add instant sophistication. Some great styles to look at are the likes of Daniel Wellington or Bell & Ross if you are feeling flash.

Ankle Boots

Whatever your style is, ankle boots are a great staple in your wardrobe. They look great with jeans and work for a lot of seasons, except perhaps summer. They could be a little more biker style, Dr. Marten style mens leather dress boots or more of a chukka style boot. They can be worn with skinny jeans tucked in or just underneath regular fit jeans. Ankle boots are timeless, and they are durable too. So invest in a quality pair and they will last you a long time.

Juno: NASA Mission Enters Jupiter’s Orbit

NASA’s Juno probe has successfully arrived in Jupiter’s orbit.

The satellite, which left Earth five years ago, had to fire a rocket engine to slow its approach to Jupiter and get caught by its gravity.

A sequence of tones transmitted from the spacecraft confirmed the braking maneuver had gone as planned.

Receipt of the radio messages prompted wild cheering at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

“All stations on Juno co-ord, we have the tone for burn cut-off on Delta B,” Juno Mission Control had announced.

“Roger Juno, welcome to Jupiter.”

NASA scientists plan to use Juno to sense Jupiter’s deep interior. They think the structure and the chemistry of the planet’s insides hold clues to how this giant world formed some four-and-a-half-billion years ago.

Engineers had warned in advance that the engine firing was fraught with danger.

No previous spacecraft has dared pass so close to Jupiter; its intense radiation belts can destroy unprotected electronics.

Photo NASA
Photo NASA

One calculation even suggested the orbit insertion would have subjected Juno to a dose equivalent to a million dental X-rays.

Jumo is built like a tank with titanium shielding, and the 35-minute rocket burn appeared to go off without a hitch.

While the radiation dangers have not gone away, the probe should now be able to prepare its instruments to start sensing what lies beneath Jupiter’s opaque clouds.

July 5 orbit insertion has put Juno in a large ellipse around the planet that takes just over 53 days to complete.

A second burn of the rocket engine in mid-October will tighten this orbit to just 14 days. It is then that the science can really start.

This will involve repeat passes just a few thousand of miles above the cloudtops.

At each close approach, Juno will use its eight remote sensing instruments – plus its camera – to peer down through the gas planet’s many layers, to measure their composition, temperature, motion and other properties.

A priority will be to determine the abundance of oxygen at Jupiter. This will be bound up in its water.

The probe will also try to settle old arguments over whether the planet hosts a solid core or whether its gases go all the way down to the centre in an ever more compressed state.

It will look for the deep swirling sea of liquid metallic hydrogen that theory suggests is the driver behind Jupiter’s immense magnetic field and its spectacular auroras.

NASA plans to run Juno through to February 2018, assuming any radiation damage has not made it inoperable by then. The performance of the camera is expected to degrade rapidly within a few months.

In line with the practice on many previous planetary missions, Juno will be commanded to end its days by ditching into the atmosphere of Jupiter.

This ensures there is no possibility of Juno crashing into and contaminating the gas giant’s large moons, at least one of which, Europa, is considered to have the potential to host microbial life.