Kim Jong-un called on North Korean officials to deal with food supply issues and highlighted the danger of climate change.
In 2020, typhoons badly impacted vital crops, while weeks of drought followed by heavy monsoon rains have damaged them this year as well.
The North Korean leader said measures to overcome “abnormal climate” were needed, and asked also officials to tackle drought and floods.
Kim Jong-un’s comments came in a speech to the ruling party’s Politburo on September 2.
He had said that the “danger” of climate change had become “higher in recent years adding that “urgent action” needed to be taken.
Kim Jong-un also called for improvements to North Korea’s flood management infrastructure saying: “River improvement, afforestation for erosion control, dyke maintenance and tide embankment projects”, should be prioritized.
Apart from the damage caused by natural disasters, North Korea’s economy has been hit hard by international sanctions, as well as border closures and harsh lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Although North Korea has not reported any Covid-19 cases, it has sealed its borders and imposed lockdowns.
The border closures have affected vital imports from China.
“Tightening epidemic prevention is the task of paramount importance which must not be loosened even a moment under the present situation,” said Kim Jong-un, according to state media.
Selling a home, whether it is for the first or subsequent time, can be an uphill task. There is more pressure if you need to sell your house fast and for the best market price. Unfortunately, there is overwhelming advice coming from left, right, and center, and this can be confusing during the process.
Since it is not typically an easy process, you can opt to use an agent or sell the house directly to companies that buy houses on an as-is basis. They will make the process a lot faster.
So, why do people need to sell a house fast? We have prepared a list of reasons to help you know if it is a good direction to take or if you should stick to the old and slow process that can take months or more.
You Need to Sell Your House Fast to Reduce the Stress and Hassle
Selling a house fast, especially through an agent or to a home-buying company, reduces the stress and hassle of the long process of looking for potential buyers, taking them through house showings, negotiating, processing the paperwork, and even risking getting defrauded.
So, if you are trying to sell your house to relocate or buy a new one, you probably need to sell your house fast through ways that make this process possible.
You Need to Sell Your House Fast to Avoid Market Changes
The real estate market is volatile, and prices can change very fast. If you do not want to risk being on the losing end, you need to sell the house fast when the price is still high. Again, it is highly recommended to use agents who will sell your property within a very short time.
Let the agent advise you on what to do to home stage your property, set the right price, and market it on all possible listing platforms to find a buyer fast.
No Need for Repairs
You need to sell your house fast to home-buying companies if you do not want to repair it. Most, if not all, buy on an as-is basis, which eliminates strain on the homeowners. Repairs could take a toll on your budget, and sometimes, you may not have the finances. This is a big reason why most people sell their homes to these investors.
You Need to Sell Your House Fast to Save Time
When you want to relocate or finance another home purchase, you need to sell your house fast. There is no need to waste a lot of time trying to look for buyers through the traditional methods of listing, home showings, and so forth.
Fortunately, the home-buying companies we have talked about will facilitate this. However, you can still list your house for sale if it is the only way, but make sure you advertise the house sale thoroughly on all available platforms, prepare it well for sale, and use a professional agent when possible. It will also yield positive results if these steps are taken.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you need to sell your house fast; some are personal while others are necessitated by external forces. Weigh your options carefully to make the right decisions. It is highly recommended that you talk to real estate professionals for more advice.
Will Smith has revealed who will play him in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot.
Jabari Banks will take on the role of Will in the upcoming reboot of the hit TV sitcom.
The character catapulted Will Smith, now 52, to stardom in the early 1990s.
“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, to be on with you, and from the deepest parts of my heart I want to say congratulations to you,” he told Jabari Banks in a video call.
“You have the role of Will on Bel-Air.”
“I’m ready, I’m so ready,” replied Jabari Banks, who revealed his father had suggested he try out for the part after reading an article about it.
“This is a dream come true,” he added.
Jabari Banks said the show had a huge impact on his life, adding that he once got his friends to join him in dressing up as characters from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air while he was at high school.
The reboot, which will appear on NBC streaming service Peacock, was inspired by a 2019 viral fan video by Morgan Cooper, who re-imagined the comedy as a modern-day drama.
Morgan Cooper was snapped up to work on the new project, produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Westbrook Studios and Universal Television, where he will now be joined by Jabari Banks.
The original Will told the new one: “You’ve got a fantastic road ahead of you, and I’m looking forward to being an asset for you in this process as you build out your life and build out your career.”
According to Deadline, this will be Jabari Banks’ first TV role.
A resident of west Philadelphia, which is also where the titular character was famously “born and raised”, Jabari Banks graduated from the city’s University of the Arts in 2020.
Jabari Banks is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, rapper, and basketball player.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons from 1990 to 1996, starred Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself.
Everyone invests in stock to make a profit – the vast majority of traders do, in any case. However, for many people just getting started in stocks and shares, it is not always easy to tell which options are likely to do better than others. Of course, one of the best ways to prepare for buying stock is to look carefully at precedents and past performance. However, there are still going to be a few indicators that give you some idea about what to expect.
No one is clairvoyant when it comes to which stocks and shares are likely to make their portfolio boom. Many people make investments in green stocks and socially responsible shares a priority, for example, as society is moving in such a direction. AskTraders certainly has plenty for you to dive into in that respect. However, looking at what society ‘prefers’ is only a very small piece of the bigger puzzle. Let’s take a look at a few tell-tale signs that your prospective investments are likely to do well for you.
Growth stocks are fairly expensive
The best growth stocks available, of course, are those that spike high, and spike fast. This isn’t to say that they are unlikely to be volatile the other way around. However, it is likely to be obvious to many that a firm growth stock will be making big strides in very short spaces of time.
Alongside this trait, of course, is the price. It’s very rare that you will come across a ‘hidden gem’ – in the sense that you happen to find a solid growth stock that’s extremely cheap. The more lucrative and better-performing growth stock, by and large, will be more expensive to buy than your average.
This sounds like a fairly simple point to make, but it’s one of the most important indicators to keep in mind. All investors should be keeping close tabs on their cash flows in general. However, if you notice that a particular stock is spiking in price much higher than its peers, and at a fast pace, then it’s likely that it will be growing significantly in the short term. Long and short – more than a few shrewd investors already know what they are getting into!
Growth rates are pretty broad
One of the first things that all investors should look into when buying new stock is the growth rates and averages. While it’s pretty safe to place money into a stock that has a growth rate of 5%, lowest, year on year, stocks that grow at around 10% (or even as low as 8%) are likely to be going places, fast.
Of course, this is likely to be a secondary factor to the above. Once you have found the price of a potential growth stock, you will probably want to consider its current rate and/or pace of growth. 10% is pretty impressive – and it does indicate that this is an investment that’s going to continue skyrocketing at its current trajectory.
Check the dividends
Yes, dividends can be very useful, and many investors look for their availability – but a stock with little to no dividend payouts will likely keep on growing. Therefore, if you are interested in growth stocks, it is worth considering whether or not you are going to be willing to sacrifice your dividend potential on route.
High growth stocks will likely do away with dividends altogether for a very simple reason. Instead of eschewing cash regularly to shareholders, they can simply keep pumping money into their growth. This occurs with the understanding of shareholders that, in time, they can expect even bigger wins if they are willing to hold off on dividends.
This is where many traders will likely part ways. Some will prefer to hold onto their dividend-friendly approach to maximize the small wins, while others will risk it all and see a stock through on its growth under this proviso.
Share prices are historically higher – in correlation – than most
Another simple figure to consider when identifying growth stocks is, of course, share pricing. Share price correlations will generally tell you how a stock or company is performing over the long term. However, it’s also a key indicator for spotting stocks that are likely to grow exponentially for years to come.
Looking at the past performance of a share price, if you notice considerable spikes or a long route upwards, then you are very likely to be getting involved in a high growth stock. Keep in mind that the longer the upward run, the more likely this is to be the case.
Of course, it does not always follow. There are some growth stocks that can and will plateau, and others that will hit a downslide depending on a variety of different factors.
Is it worth hunting down growth stocks?
On paper, it might seem as though all investors will likely want to get behind growth stocks. However, as with all market purchases, there are risks involved. Even if a stock has all the hallmarks of the above, there’s no guarantee that it won’t avoid volatility and start plummeting in future. There is, regrettably, no such thing as a ‘sure’ scenario here.
Growth stocks can, on occasion, fall harder than average stocks depending on what is causing the drop. Major reputation damage or political concerns, for example, are likely to cause growth stocks to fall from grace fairly hard. That’s because it may be hard for shareholders to justify the expensive prices they normally retail at on the markets.
Smaller stocks and those with steadier growth credentials are likely to recover or plateau quicker, simply because they have less distance to fall. Ultimately, it is all about investing in a stock that is going to weather storms, not just keep growing and then crash and burn when things go slightly awry.
As with all stocks, growth options can be lucrative – but you need to be very careful about where you put your money. Can you really afford to follow a growth stock right to the peak – and then prepare for the fall?
Two bombs have struck the perimeter of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, as civilians continued to seek to escape on flights from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
At least 60 people have been killed and 140 others wounded.
The Pentagon confirmed US service personnel were among those killed – 11 US Marines and a Navy medic.
The bombings came hours after Western governments had warned their citizens to stay away from the airport, because of an imminent threat of an attack by IS-K, the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State group.
The first explosion happened at about 18:00 local time, close to the Baron Hotel, near the airport’s perimeter.
The hotel was being used by British officials to process Afghans hoping to travel to the UK.
It was followed by gunfire and then a second explosion close to the Abbey Gate, one of the airport’s main entrances.
Reports say the second explosion took place near a sewage canal where Afghans were waiting to be processed, close to the gate, and that some victims were blown into the water.
According to an US official, at least one attacker had been wearing an explosive vest.
American and British troops had recently been deployed to guard the area around the Abbey Gate.
According to one account, one attacker fired into a crowd of people, although reports also said Taliban guards had fired into the air.
US citizens who had gone to the area around the airport had been warned before the attack to “leave immediately”.
There might be nothing more stressful than anticipating an upcoming complex surgery and/or medical procedure that just might save your life. However, all too often, medial doctors are placed on a pedestal. They are considered infallible in their diagnoses and medical methodology. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Fact is, doctors and medical professionals are perfectly capable of making mistakes, sometimes big ones. Says the legal professionals at the Barnes Firm New York, when medical professionals including surgeons and doctors make gaffs, innocent patients can become the victim of severe injury and/or death. That’s why a patient who’s suffered from medical malpractice, along with his family, needs to contact a reputable personal injury attorney who specializes in medical malpractice to receive the financial compensation they deserve.
In fact, medical malpractice is more common that you might have assumed. According to a recent report, more than 225,000 people die from it on an annual basis. But only 2 percent of these victims ever actually file claims. This is a shame, since medical malpractice can change the course of your daily existence for the remainder of your life.
That said, are you aware or not if you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice? There are several, all too common varieties of medical malpractice and being mindful of them will assist you in deciding if you have a case that needs exploring with a personal injury attorney.
Being Misdiagnosed
Statistics prove that misdiagnosis is the primary variety of medical blunder. The most common misdiagnoses include but are not limited to pulmonary embolism, stroke, celiac disease, heart attack, cancer, thyroid conditions, and Lyme disease.
Many times, a misdiagnosis isn’t due to sheer negligence on the part of the physician, but instead to symptoms that have presented themselves in ways the medical professional wouldn’t have noticed unless he or she was seeking them out. But if a doctor fails to diagnose a condition that they are fully trained to detect, it would then be considered a negligence case.
Misdiagnosis can be harmful to patients since it can result in a delay in treatment and/or sudden death. If a patient is made to undergo a medical procedure he doesn’t need, it can strap him with financial burden.
Diagnosis Delays
Delayed diagnosis is on par with misdiagnosis. A delayed diagnosis can result in harmful outcomes for a patient since their condition will progress in ways it wouldn’t if treated on time.
If a doctor has been less than thorough in the treatment of a patient, it will qualify for a case of negligence. One example of this is neglecting to order a specific test that the patient should have undergone considering his condition.
The key to establishing a good case of medical malpractice due to delay in diagnosis, is proving that your condition would be better had the medical professional started treatment sooner. With a case of cancer such as pancreatic cancer, this is difficult to prove since its possible the condition would have progressed rapidly even with treatment.
Surgery Mistakes
It’s said that around 50 million surgical procedures are carried out every year in the U.S. alone. Thankfully, most of these are considered a success. But on occasion, a complication occurs, such as performing the wrong procedure, operating on the wrong part of the body, damage of nerves and organs, out of control bleeding, unsterilized surgical instruments, inadequate vital sign monitoring, and more.
Sometimes errors occur when a medical professional doesn’t read the patient’s chart correctly. It can also occur when they fail to review proper medical instructions, or when a patient is cleared “for the wrong surgery.”
At times, surgical errors result in minor inconveniences to the patient. Other times they can result in permanent tissue damage, disfigurement, permanent disability, or death.
Medication Mishaps
By going to a doctor for a medical problem you fully trust them to prescribe the right medication for you. But all too often medication mishaps occur and a patient is given a medication that’s 100 times or more of a dosage than it should be. Or a medical professional can prescribe the wrong meds altogether.
Some of the most common medication script errors are as follows:
–Prescribing the wrong drug
–Writing an illegible script
–Mishaps with medication prescriptions
–Improper monitoring a new medication
Medical malpractice can leave you and/or a loved one with lifelong problems that would have been avoided had the medical professional performed their duties the right way the first time around. If you feel you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, it’s imperative you consult with a reputable personal injury attorney. You might be due compensation that can greatly improve your financial wellbeing.
Most parents want to see their children succeed in life. To be able to help them move forward with their lives and, ultimately, become independent, there are some skills that you may want to teach them from an early age. These can help your child to gain some important life habits that will make the most of every available opportunity, and prevent them from missing out on aspects of life that could very well see them prosper.
Saving Money
A lot of people struggle with saving money, either due to succumbing to temptations that they see, or simply not understanding how to put a portion of their money aside each month. From infancy, you could open Junior ISAs from Wealthify for each of your children, and continue saving money for them each month. As your child grows, they could also put some of their allowance, gifted money or, once they get their first job, wages, into this account.
Letting them see their money grow, and explaining how any interest works, could assist them in understanding the importance of having money that they do not touch, except for emergencies or planned purchases. One of the benefits of a Junior ISA is that it cannot be touched, except for when the child in question reaches adulthood, which can help to nullify temptations as they grow. Theoretically, this money could be ideal for a first adult holiday with their friends, to buy their first car, or even go towards a deposit on a property.
Paying Attention to Education
While school can help your child to learn valuable social skills, there is more to it than simply a means to see their friends. Paying close attention to the knowledge and skills they are being taught can greatly assist them in passing exams and retaining information. If your child has expressed an interest in a certain career, this can allow your child to experiment with subjects of interest to see if it really is the field they want to be in, before paying out for college or university.
Consideration for Others
Whether your child wants to find a way to move up quickly at work in the future, or secure a healthy and stable relationship, being a considerate person may help them. While, at times, it can be difficult to be patient or respectful, especially if dealing with an unpleasant individual, kindness is something that could help them to feel better about interactions, and make meaningful connections with potential friends or romantic interests. Employers may also take note of those who are conscientious in the role, as opposed to those with no drive or respect for their position.
There are many traits and habits that you can teach your child, even from a very young age, that will benefit them in adulthood. As a general rule, the early you start these teachings, the more ingrained they may become until they are simply a normal part of your child’s daily life.
The news came weeks after it was announced that Charlie Watts would miss the band’s US tour dates to recover from an unspecified medical procedure. Charlie Watts was previously treated for throat cancer in 2004.
Charlie Watts had been a member of the Stones since January 1963, when he joined Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones in their fledgling group.
He helped them become, with The Beatles, one of the bands who took rock ‘n’ roll to the masses in the 60s with classics like (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Get Off My Cloud and Sympathy for the Devil.
The statement from the Rolling Stones’ publicist said: “He passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today [August 24] surrounded by his family.
“We kindly request that the privacy of his family, band members and close friends is respected at this difficult time.”
In 2016, Charlie Watts was ranked 12th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 greatest drummers of all time.
The drummer is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter Seraphina and granddaughter Charlotte.
Everyone knows that getting into a new routine is challenging. Trying to make healthy habits like eating fruits and vegetables daily and working out regularly is especially difficult. It is important to remember that going from eating junk food everyday to a completely healthy and vegan diet is very challenging and is often destined for future failure. Instead, it is more effective to start making changes gradually and change your routine incrementally. This allows your mind and body to adapt to the change over time, rather than shocking it by changing all at once. For more advice, here are a few key ways to add a new workout routine into your weekly or daily habits:
Choose Activities You Enjoy
Working out doesn’t have to be a chore. Taking your dog on a walk or going for a swim are both great ways to get healthy exercise. By choosing workouts that you enjoy, you increase the chances of you sticking with them for a long time. Working out with friends or family can also make your workouts more enjoyable. Alternatively, hiring a personal trainer can help you stay motivated and on track to meet your goals.
Reward Yourself
One of the best ways to build healthy habits is to reward yourself for each time you workout or get exercise. This can include anything from buying yourself a new album or video game to going to your favorite restaurant. However, it is important to avoid choices like ice cream or fast food because these can hinder your weight loss or fitness success. Treating yourself every other week is more acceptable.
Pick New Activities Each Week
When you first start working out regularly, it can be beneficial to do the same exercises each time so that you get into a rhythm of working out. However, as you pass the one to three week mark, you will likely find yourself getting bored or burnt out. Therefore, it is important to change up your workout routine with different exercises or activities to keep each session fun and unique.
Collaborate with Your Doctor
Making a plan with your doctor for weight loss or getting into shape can help you create the right workout routine for you. The experts at RCMC Medical Center offer medical weight loss programs, nutrition counseling, and an individualized weight loss plan to help support your healthy habits. Doctor-approved appetite suppressants and medical HCG injections can also aid in weight loss.
Conclusion
Overall, getting into a new workout routine doesn’t have to be miserable and painful. By encouraging exercises you enjoy, rewarding yourself for your efforts, and adding variety to your workout routine, you can help make exercising a long-term habit. Working with your doctor for weight loss planning can also help guide your routines and eating habits.
Have you ever wondered what to do with your data if you can’t afford to keep it in the office? Well, don’t worry as most companies are providing software that can recover and backup data in the office so that employees can work productively. However, many companies charge a fee for the service and finding the best service provider can be a tricky business especially if there are many of them in the market. Hence, here are some tips to check on cloud storage pricing so that you can find the best service provider at the lowest cost.
The cloud computing environment is growing rapidly. Millions of users are using this service across the world and its growth has resulted in low prices because cloud services providers have lower overhead costs. Hence, they offer such services at low costs because they don’t need to pay for computers, servers, other equipment, etc.
Reasonable Price:
Nowadays, several cloud storage providers provide good data storage services at reasonable prices. They are capable of storing large volumes of data and hence they don’t incur high costs. If you are considering buying a cloud storage service, go for those that have the biggest storage capacity. The size of the data required and its reliability should be given consideration when you are deciding the price for the service. The quality of service should also be a factor while deciding the price.
Customer Satisfaction:
It’s advisable to check on the customer satisfaction rate before you buy storage services. The storage company that you choose should have a good rating and thus you will be safe from any downtime of the system due to hardware problems. The cost of restoring data from a disaster is very important. In case of any problem, it is vital to know whether the backup systems of the company are reliable enough.
Data Backup and Storage:
The cloud storage services offered by many companies can meet all your data backup and storage requirements without any hassle. You just need to pay for it once and the entire process is over. This helps save money, time, and effort. You can work with more employees if you purchase cloud storage services from a reliable company. This also allows you to save on office space requirements.
Today, many businesses are opting for cloud storage because it meets all their storage and recovery requirements as well. In case of any disaster, they can easily restore data and run the business smoothly without any difficulty. You also don’t need to upgrade your servers or purchase new software in order to recover data from the cloud.
Easy System to Use:
You can also save on bandwidth requirements. Data transfer is faster when compared to local servers. Cloud data centers are fast and therefore, your application is able to respond at the speed of light. This further improves user experience and makes the overall usage of the system easier.
Many cloud computing companies also offer other data services apart from storage and restoration of data. They allow you to create online databases and file-sharing systems. If you find it convenient, you can use these services for emailing, scheduling, and monitoring tools. If you’re looking to start a cloud data center today, then you need to contact a reliable cloud provider so that you can get started right away.
Pfizer-BioNTech’s two-dose Covid-19 vaccine has become the first to receive full approval from the FDA.
The vaccine had initially been given emergency use authorization. Its two shots, three weeks apart, are now fully approved for those aged 16 and older.
The approval is expected to set off more vaccine mandates by employers and organizations across the US.
It comes amid lingering vaccine hesitancy among many Americans.
In a statement, the FDA said its review for approval included data from approximately 44,000 people. The vaccine, which will now be marketed as Comirnaty, was found to be 91% effective in preventing Covid disease.
Acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock said that the public “can be very confident” the vaccine meets high safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards.
Pfizer vaccine still has emergency use authorization for children aged 12 to 15.
The vaccine is being provided at no cost to Americans.
The FDA initially gave Pfizer temporary authorization – a clearance given if the agency determines the benefits of a product outweigh potential risks during a public health emergency.
This full approval is essentially permanent. The licensing process requires companies to provide the FDA with information on how and where the product is made, as well as other clinical testing data.
Critics had been calling on the FDA to speed up this approval process as the US struggled with dropping vaccination rates earlier this year. The spread of the contagious Delta variant has already given some hard-hit regions a bump in vaccination rates in recent weeks.
While the agency took steps to increase staff and resources, it had previously said it would take six months to get the required data.
The approval ultimately came less than four months after Pfizer-BioNTech filed for licensing in early May – the fastest vaccine approval in the FDA’s more than 100 year history.
Polling data released at the end of June by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that about 30% of unvaccinated American results said they would be more likely to get a vaccine if it received full FDA approval. The number rises to nearly 50% among Americans taking a “wait and see” approach to vaccines.
In a TV address on August 23, President Joe Biden spoke directly to the “millions” of Americans he said were waiting for full and final FDA approval.
“The moment you’ve been waiting for is here,” he said.
“It’s time for you to go get your vaccination. Get it today.”
Additionally, President Biden called on private sector companies and nonprofits to require employees to get vaccinated or “face strict requirements”.
Companies, healthcare systems, universities and other organizations are now expected to announce vaccine requirements as the country embarks on a return to normalcy. The US military has also said the vaccine will become mandatory for 1.3 million active-duty troops upon FDA approval.
To date, more than 92 million vaccinated Americans – more than half of the total – have received the Pfizer vaccine.
There are many different types of mortgages and many are better than others based on the age and needs of an individual homeowner. Specifically, a reverse mortgage is a mortgage loan for the elderly through which a financial institution (usually banks or insurance companies) makes a lump sum of money available to the client. They usually offer a cash sum that is a maximum of 20% of the appraisal of the institution’s appraiser.
According to many experts, reverse mortgages seem to have many important advantages. This is why an elderly person may opt for this type of mortgage to supplement their Social Security or other retirement income. It is important to understand the benefits and features that go along with reverse mortgages. This is why 31,274 reverse mortgages were issued in 2019 alone.
A reverse mortgage is a loan that offers in a cash sum that is capped at a maximum dependent on the value of the home. With a reverse mortgage, the client has a limit on the amount to be received and an agreed amount is available each month.
Francis Fernández, an expert on reverse mortgages, explains that, in this way, the property belongs to the owner and if he or she decides to sell it at some point, the capital drawn down and the interest generated by it are liquidated. With a reverse mortgage, if the owner dies, the heirs, upon receiving the property, must also pay off what has been drawn down like any other financing before they can receive the rest of the estate.
Reverse mortgage requirements
To qualify for this type of mortgage, it is normally necessary to be over 65 years of age, although it may vary depending on the entity in which it is negotiated and the particular conditions of the applicant.
The policies of reverse mortgages may differ across jurisdictions. The federal government has its own policies on reverse mortgages, because these loans are insured under the FDIC. However, states also create their own rules for reverse mortgages.
Understanding the benefits and characteristics of reverse mortgages
In order to qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must obviously be a property owner and preferably if should be your habitual residence. Eduardo Molet, real estate consultant, informed us that this type of mortgage is for great homes worth at least $250,000.
The credit ends when the person who takes out the reverse mortgage dies or when the client freely decides to give up the property. At this point, the interest on the loan will accumulate and added to the principal of the loan, which generates a debt that is amortized at death or before if the client freely decides.
Financial experts have remarked that an elderly person has no obligation to return the money if they don’t relinquish ownership before they die. It is the heirs who are in charge of settling the debt with the bank at the death of the elderly person and they have 12 months to pay back the money.
Then they can sell the house, pay off the debt and keep the surplus. They can take out a new mortgage and pay off the debt or pay off the debt with their own money and keep the house.
Here is a practical example of a reverse mortgage in practice. An 80-year-old person with a $500,000 home receives a monthly stipend from the bank of $1,000 per month for as long as they live, provided that they don’t receive any initial amount.
What are the benefits of reverse mortgages?
According to many financial experts, housing is undoubtedly the most valuable asset for most people and it is not very coherent that when we retire we have economic hardship due to a tight pension, having an asset as valuable as housing, and fully paid for. Making the experience owning the current home compatible and obtaining additional monthly liquidity is what this type of mortgage offers.
It is important to emphasize that the property could be leased if the client decides to relocate. In this case, they would have two incomes. If you wanted to move in with your kids without paying rent or move to a place where rent was cheaper than what you were receiving from the lease, then this could be a huge benefit.
Sometimes in life, there are moments when you cannot pay off your debts on your own, no matter what you do. Fortunately, modern Debt Stop services help people deal with overwhelming duties and offer convenient plans and strategies. If you are ready to seek help from such specialists, study what consequences it may have on your credit history.
Debt Relief Plans
There is no one-size-fits-all solution that suits every client. That is why companies develop plans to alleviate the financial burden on a case-by-case basis. Among these methods are the following:
Debt settlement. In the course of negotiations, lending institutions usually agree to forgive the borrower for the debt part.
Debt management provides a review of the payment plan and terms to help you better control your finances.
Debt consolidation. As part of this strategy, all existing debts are combined into one. In the long run, you will be able to save on interest.
Bankruptcy. If your debt situation is complicated, you can declare yourself bankrupt through court. As a result, this procedure can reduce or completely save you from part of the debts.
The professionals who deal with your issue should carefully check your documents and history to find a solution that does not harm you even more in the future.
Debt Relief Consequences
Do not think that by using a debt relief program, you will irreversibly ruin your credit history. Typically, when you can’t pay off your debts, your score isn’t perfect anymore. Choosing the right plan that will ease your financial burden will be the best decision. However, each of the listed strategies has its pros and cons.
Debt settlement
Usually, debt settlement is ranked one of the first in terms of the potential harm to your credit history. Typically, payments are suspended when negotiations are underway between the lender and the firm settling your debts. It means your credit score goes down when you miss one or more scheduled payments.
Debt management
This option is a much softer solution to the debt issue. In this case, you do not refuse payments but only revise the conditions. The debt management program will not negatively affect your score as long as you make the agreed payments on time.
Debt consolidation
The impact of this strategy directly depends on your actions. If you request another loan to pay off after combining all debts into a single payment, it will trigger an in-depth investigation by the new lender. Also, you should not skip regular payments and not take on new debts until you resolve the issue with those that already exist.
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy has a long-term impact on your credit score (over 7-10 years, depending on the case). It can lower your chances of getting new credit, holding certain jobs, renting an apartment, or increase car insurance in the future.
Choose Reliable Debt Relief Company
The inability to pay off debts is a difficult situation both from a financial and psychological point of view. Choose a reliable company that will carefully analyze your history and pick the optimal action plan to minimize possible consequences.
Anybody who has ever experienced bad customer service understands just how important good customer service is to the success of a company. It doesn’t matter how good the company’s product or service is if their customers don’t trust or feel respected by the company.
This is why CarGuard Administration places such a high value on providing quality customer service for each and every one of their clients. They take immense pride in offering some of the best customer service in the entire industry.
CarGuard Administration offers customer-friendly contracts, first-day rentals, the industry’s best-limited liability plans, two protection plans in one, and other perks. They are also proud Silver Partners in the PACE Association, a professional association that promotes better customer engagement.
Customer Friendly Contracts
CarGuard Administration is famous for writing protection plans that are easy for customers to read and understand. Most companies write contracts with dense legal terminology that needs to be deciphered by a team of attorneys.
Every plan that CarGuard Administration writes is informed by their years of experience in the Vehicle Service Contract industry, which allows them to create the best plans for the consumer on the market.
Their mission is to provide peace of mind with vehicle service contracts that their customers can trust.
CarGuard Administration offers plans for first day rentals
Normally, protection plans won’t let you get a rental car unless repairs take longer than 4-8 hours. But with CarGuard Administration, you can get a rental car on the very first day of repairs. This means that you can get a rental car with no interruptions in assistance, even if your repairs only take a couple of hours.
Other CarGuard Administration Perks
Other perks of a protection plan with CarGuard Administration include free towing, trip interruption service, and more. CarGuard Assistance offers roadside assistance if you run out of gas, need a jumpstart, lose your keys, or face another crisis on the road.
CarGuard Administration offers these services 24/7, every day of the year.
Industry’s best-limited liability
CarGuard Administration offers the best-limited liability coverage in the entire industry. They will cover up to the value of your vehicle at the time you need repair, or up to $12,500, depending on which value is more.
This means that if your vehicle is worth $40,000 when it needs repair, they will cover you for up to $40,000. But if your vehicle is only worth $2,000, then they will cover you for up to $12,500! This is a great deal and the best coverage that the industry has to offer.
CarGuard Administration offers two protection plans in one
One of the reasons why CarGuard Administration stands out is because their Platinum Plan and their Gold Plan are two protection plans rolled into one. Their competitors typically offer ‘platinum plans’ that protect you for up to one hundred thousand miles. After this, you have to take out more coverage.
All of the protection plans offered by CarGuard Administration add five years and an extra one hundred thousand miles to your coverage. This means that you can get the maximum coverage possible without having to pay extra for your protection plan.
What’s the PACE Convention?
The PACE (Professional Association for Customer Engagement) Association is a non-profit professional association that promotes companies improving their customer engagement with their contact center.
The annual PACE Convention is an opportunity for hundreds of customer service professionals to come together to share insights that give them a competitive edge and help them become industry leaders in their fields.
The convention consists of parties and receptions that allow industry peers and session leaders to reconnect and learn from each other with stories, ideas, inspirations, and ways to improve their businesses.
PACE Membership
There are three tiers of membership in the PACE Association: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Each tier provides members with free access to virtual and in-person events, forums, listing in directories, and free training through the PACE Partner Benchmark Portal.
In addition to these benefits, Silver Partners receive three free training sessions through the portal, and discounted registration fees at premier PACE events.
Gold Partners receive the above benefits as well as five free training sessions, free registration at either PACE ACX or the PACE Washington Summit, as well as 50% off of CECP (Certified Customer Experience Professional) training.
Platinum Partners of the PACE Association receive the above membership perks, as well as seven free training sessions through the portal, discounts on CECP, one free registration at PACE ACX, and two free registrations at the PACE Washington Summit.
These conventions give businesses the tools and opportunities that they need to provide excellent service and build awesome networking opportunities with their customers.
CarGuard Administration and the PACE Convention
Because of their commitment to providing the best possible customer service to their clients, CarGuard Administration are proud supporters of the PACE Convention, as well as regular attendees. They proudly sponsor the convention every year, and they are “Silver Partners”, along with a number of other nationally recognized companies.
Discover Places You Can Visit On a Chartered Plane
Many people think about the privacy of traveling on a chartered flight as being a key reason for splurging on such a mode of transportation.
While being the only ones on a plane can be very exciting, going to even more private spots is a new level of exhilaration.
Rather than going on a vacation to Paris on a private jet, when you could travel there in first class, why not reserve a jet for a more intimate vacation?
There are remote areas in the world where commercial flights do not reach. But these private islands and other locations are accessible by chartered plane.
Below are some places you can go on a private jet, along with tips to make the most of your upcoming vacation.
Necker Island
An island owned by billionaire Richard Branson, Necker Island is only accessible by private aircraft charter. You would have to visit an area such as Virgin Gorda or St. Thomas before getting onto a plane or helicopter and making the final bit of the journey.
Unfortunately, you may need an invitation to get into such an exclusive island. Given the size of the landmass, there is only room for a handful of guests at a single time. The good news is that bookings do open up throughout the year, but you have to snag one very quickly. Such an island will give you the experience of a lifetime. You are literally at a location where an entire island has been set up to cater to your needs. What is not to love about such a vacation between luxury accommodation, water sports, meals, drinks, and staff waiting on you?
Amangiri Resort
The Amangiri Resort in Utah is another place you may ever see unless you rent a private plane. The spot is near Canyon Point, which means you have to go to Las Vegas and then take a private jet to the destination.
If you are concerned about the cost of such a trip, you should look at strategies for budgeting for a vacation. First, estimate how much you would spend on the airfare, hotels in Vegas, and your accommodation at the private resort.
Those who do have the means may want to experience such a vacation at least one time in their lives. By traveling to this 600-acre paradise, you can experience the very best and most luxurious time possible.
Between a flotation therapy pavilion, art galleries, pools, wine cellar, and a yoga center, you can experience one of the most interesting private spots in the world. The very feeling of being somewhere that only a handful has experienced is intoxicating.
Moritz
Another exclusive destination, St. Moritz, is located in Switzerland. The slopes at this site are picture-perfect, while the weather is exquisite for most of the year.
You would fly into Geneva or another major city and then rent a plane that takes you to St. Moritz. If you have concerns about the cost of the trip, you can compare the differences between chartering or flying first class to some other European city for a vacation.
Going to a private spot such as St. Moritz may seem expensive, but so is flying first class to Paris or Milan. You have to decide whether you want a vacation that includes the hustle and bustle or if you prefer getting away to a quaint and charming spot in Switzerland instead.
Lake Tahoe
While you can always drive up to Lake Tahoe from nearby cities in California, you can always take a private jet there as well. Flying chartered within the United States is not excessively priced, which is why so many groups of friends and families can book themselves a flight to Tahoe.
Getting a direct flight to Tahoe is so much more convenient than having to fly commercial to Sacramento International Airport and then getting a car that takes you to Tahoe. The area itself is beautiful throughout the year, given California’s mild climate. The lake is one of the most picturesque places you will ever visit, while you can even add cities like San Francisco or Los Angeles to the next leg of your vacation.
Ensuring a Comfortable Vacation
Planning is the ideal way to ensure you have a comfortable vacation. People think taking spur-of-the-moment trips is fun, but having a clear idea of where you are going makes everything more enjoyable.
Say you plan out a vacation that includes chartering a plane. You would budget out everything to ensure that it is affordable. Then you can make the relevant bookings, take advantage of seasonal discounts, and plan the various activities that will keep you occupied during your trip.
There is no better feeling than sitting in a private jet and flying off to a remote location. You may feel that the entire world is standing still while allowing you to have this wonderful experience.
Embrace such a vacation and ensure you have the best possible time. Plan the trip carefully, make a budget to ease your mind, and choose your destinations wisely.
When all the planning is complete, you can book a chartered flight, hotel, or resort stay and then focus on having the best possible time on your trip.
As virtual events become more popular, there is a growing demand to make these webcasts accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers.
One way to do so is to use live captioning. Live captioning is the process of converting audio into captioned text. This is performed by a human captioner, either on-site or remotely (which is increasingly the scenario).
Even before the pandemic, live captioning was primarily done remotely. Put simply, the captioner receives an audio feed that they then type out using a special stenotype machine or voice writing. This typed-out text is then displayed inside a box (usually) on monitors and screens.
Caption-providing companies work with their own tools, methods, and content management systems, and keyboard shortcuts are developed for this purpose.
Each captioner is trained in using the company’s workflow and software, which helps them hit both accuracy and speed in capturing the audio in text form. Professional captioning is usually more than 95% accurate.
Live captions are supported on most media platforms and video players like YouTube, Facebook, etc. Joining these players are also virtual events platforms like PheedLoop, Balloon, and Kaltura, and virtual meeting platforms like Zoom and Cisco WebEx.
What are Live Captions?
To understand how they are beneficial to online events, we first need to understand what it actually is. Did you know that there are two types of captions? Open captions and Closed Captions. You will have noticed the CC option on your television or YouTube. These are Closed Captions that are turned on or off at the will of a user.
Open Captions are permanently superimposed or burned onto the video and are used for some pre-recorded content. Live captioning is mostly Closed Captions that are typed out in real-time by captioners.
Live captioning, because it is powered by human captioners, avoids the pitfall of imprecision that you encounter with AI speech recognition systems. Chances are you will have seen at least one such instance on YouTube, for example, and chuckled to yourself. This is the key difference between captioning by humans and captioning by automation (Automatic Speech Recognition or ASR).
Accuracy v/s possible imprecision. This puts live captioning head and shoulders above automated captioning, as actual humans do the listening. Live captions are always of high quality. AI tools usually fall short due to issues ranging from audio fidelity, speaker accents, and speakers talking over each other.
These systems are a helpful aid in the world of captioning in terms of saving time and effort, but ASR may fall short on the accuracy parameter. Score one for human captioners.
How do Live Captions work?
During the broadcast or live-streaming of your virtual event, captions appear just a few seconds after the words have been spoken onscreen. A captioner listens to the audio and generates the spoken text either using a stenotype machine or voice writing.
The captions are then processed and delivered to either a web page, mobile device, or a site where an event is being viewed. All of this happens in the ether, and voila! Technology has vastly advanced to improve the latency between video and text to as little as a few seconds.
Live captions are the secret sauce to ensuring the success of your virtual event. Virtual events with accessible videos are delivered in a way that ensures maximum participation from the audience.
For example, if you are not actively listening to the audio on your phone or computer or are interrupted during the course of the event, you can still get the full picture by just reading the captions. You can scroll back to read the captions for the portion of the event you inadvertently missed or read it in its entirety.
Why you need live captions
The simple act of transcribing the spoken words of your event will dramatically improve your audience’s comprehension. It’s not just that they command your audience’s attention; they can be turned on and off at your discretion.
Captions should be innocuous, so they don’t clutter your viewing experience. Therefore web design is a critical component of these captions. They add to the viewing experience, not take away from it. Here are some tangible benefits that live captions can have on your online events.
1. Accessibility
Audiences that are deaf and hard-of-hearing benefit hugely from live captions as they get full context into an event from reading the captions, both in real-time and post-event. Simply put, live captions will help lead to a better understanding of your content and boost audience engagement.
There is no comparison between in-person audiences and virtual audiences in terms of size. Logging in to virtual events from the comfort of home has made hosting events online a great way for businesses to stay engaged with employees and customers worldwide.
2. Inclusivity
Some caption providers also offer the ability to translate live captions into multiple languages, thus opening meeting participation to a global audience.
This has made non-native English speakers and non-English speakers also become comfortable with conferencing online, as they can consume the content in their preferred languages.
3. The human touch
The captioning workforce is made up of experienced professionals. These captioners are trained in, and attuned to, nuances in a spoken language like nuance, pronunciation, inflection, context, etc.
With a diverse workforce that can perceive and understand linguistic nuances in multiple languages, captioners have a unique advantage over automatic speech recognition.
4. Minimal latency
Technological advancement ensures captions are displayed in real-time with a negligible time lag, so it doesn’t disrupt either the event or audience comprehension.
In summary:
Caption providers offer simple widgets that are customized to each individual event. These widgets only need to be added on or plugged into your event page for live captions to show up on your event. The integration happens seamlessly, with captioners and event monitors working alongside from the captioning side to ensure that your event’s message is captured in text form authentically.
The Taliban fighters entered Afghanistan’s capital Kabul and seized the presidential palace.
The government has collapsed, with President Ashraf Ghani fleeing abroad.
Kabul descended into chaos, as local residents and foreign nationals tried to escape.
For many Afghans it was a terrifying day that marked the return of Taliban rule almost 20 years after they were ousted by a US-led coalition.
Kabul was the last major city in Afghanistan to hold out against the Taliban offensive, which began months ago but has accelerated in the space of days.
The Taliban group was able to seize control now that foreign troops have all but withdrawn.
President Joe Biden has defended the withdrawal of American troops, saying he could not justify an “endless American presence in the middle of another country’s civil conflict”.
The Taliban ordered their fighters to enter Kabul on August 15, after earlier holding them back at the outskirts of the city.
The Taliban said the militants were going in to prevent chaos and looting after security forces left parts of Kabul.
Footage broadcast by Al Jazeera showed fighters inside the presidential palace, brandishing guns.
A spokesman for the group later told Al Jazeera: “The war is over.”
The Taliban’s advance into Kabul came after President Ghani fled. Details of his whereabouts remain unknown.
In a Facebook post addressed to Afghan citizens, President Ghani said he made the difficult decision to leave to avoid bloodshed in the capital city of six million people.
“The Taliban won victory in the judgment of sword and gun and they have responsibility to protect the honor, prosperity and self-respect of our compatriots,” he said.
The president was criticized by other officials for leaving.
“God will hold him accountable and the nation will also judge,” said Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation.
There was panic in Kabul as the Taliban drew closer to victory. Residents headed for the airport, abandoning cars and making their way on foot in a desperate bid to get out of the country.
The US Embassy said there were reports of gunfire at Kabul’s airport, and warned its citizens to take shelter as “the security situation… is changing quickly”.
In the city center, large queues formed at ATMs throughout the day as people sought to withdraw cash.
There were reports of fighting and injuries in the city’s Qarabagh district.
Surgeries are often planned ahead by at least a month, and because of that, many of us try to be as prepared as possible. We stockpile food and snacks, ask loved ones to agree to check in on us twice daily to ensure that we’re okay, and work to make post-surgery easier, and it can change how we experience it.
Post-surgery comfort and photos aren’t only affected by food and comfort, though! The clothing you wear after surgery changes your level of mobility and can make it so that you feel some level of normalcy afterward.
Here are some must-haves in the post-surgery closet.
Button-Front Shirts
Whether you had your appendix removed or you’re getting a breast reduction, shirts that don’t require you to lift your arms over your head can be priceless. Talk locally and try to gather as many front buttoning shirts as you can get. The buttons mean you don’t have to reach up to pull on the shirt, and you can clothe yourself with a little ease.
Easy Shorts
The last thing you need after surgery is to have to lean down to pull on heavy and restrictive jeans. So put the denim aside and instead put money into getting comfy shorts for summer. If you have someone who can help you after surgery and who will do your laundry, there’s less to worry about, but try to purchase at least ten cheap pairs of shorts if you are alone. This will keep you more comfortable, more mobile, and less stressed about the steps of getting changed after surgery.
Undergarments
Easy shirts and shorts aren’t the other things you’ll be wearing after surgery! If your surgery is particularly invasive, it may be a good time to look at post-surgery undergarments as well. An excellent option for some is a post-op shoulder surgery bra, giving freedom of movement without worrying about hurting yourself more.
Shoes
The main thing you should be wearing after surgery is flip-flops. However, you can also get away with slides or crocs, anything that doesn’t require you to lean fully over and secure or unbuckle a pair of shoes. Although most people don’t go out or spend a lot of time away from the house, having the option available may help convince you into motion, which is a necessary part of healing.
Avoid At All Costs
There are some items of clothing you should avoid at all costs after surgery. These rewire too much motion and can detriment your safety and your body’s ability to heal. These range from button-down shirts to clothing with a lot of straps or pieces to it, to even high heels and boots with a lot of laces. Although it may seem attractive, and you want to keep up what feels good to you while you heal, try to avoid anything that could actively harm you or make your life harder.
Surgery is one of the most frustrating things to come out of in life. But, be good to yourself and plan thoroughly for how you’ll heal, and you’ll be back to health in no time.
When it comes to accessories, some are more than just a fashion statement. Many accessories complete an outfit, but some are helpful for everyday life while still being stylish. Many of these accessories are multi-purpose.
When transitioning from winter to summer, wearing a light scarf as a hair tie or belt will add to the summer look, and wearing prescription glasses will block out the sun’s UV rays. Anyone can use a backpack for storage and a smartwatch to track fitness. These are just some of the many multi-purpose accessories that make life much easier and more convenient.
1. Light Scarf
Wearing a scarf doesn’t end with winter, as they are the perfect multi-purpose fashion accessory that anyone can wear during the summer. Anyone can wear a light scarf as a hair tie, a belt, a head wrap, a necktie, and even a top. The easiest way to turn a scarf into a cute summer top is by folding it into a triangle and tying it around the back, creating a crop for all summer occasions.
2. Prescription Sunglasses
Prescription sunglasses are the best accessory for anyone who needs prescription glasses but wants to spend most of the summer outside. Prescription sunglasses are incredibly functional, as they allow the wearer to see while protecting their eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The best part is that anyone can buy prescription sunglasses online for added convenience. Before buying, it’s important to have a copy of the needed prescription, as some online retailers will request this. On the other hand, some retailers will offer free tools to read the person’s current prescription by analyzing their glasses.
3. Backpack
Backpacks are one of the most convenient inventions to date, especially since they come in all shapes and sizes. Wearing a backpack is one of the easiest ways to carry personal items and essentials in one place—especially for those that want to travel during summer. Backpacks are also convenient because they take the weight off your arms and don’t hurt your back, so there’s a lesser chance of injury. The convenience of a backpack ensures that the person won’t lose items, making it an enjoyable experience when traveling.
4. Smartwatch
Smartwatches are one of the most advanced pieces of technology. A smartwatch is multi-functional as it can track fitness goals, let the wearer make calls, and send texts, all while telling the time. Smartwatches also allow the wearer to sync them with their mobile device to listen to music, play games, and watch videos as conveniently as possible. Syncing the watch also lets the wearer receive notifications and social media updates.
5. Hats
Hats are another fashion accessory that offers multi-purpose use. Not only can the wearer pair them with any outfit and create a complete look with them, but they also keep the sun out of the wearer’s eyes and protect them from getting sunburnt.
Some other benefits of wearing a hat include:
Protecting eyes from sun brightness
Prevents skin cancer and sun damage
Protects the head, face, and ears during the colder weather
Helps to regulate body temperature
Protects hair and scalp from sun damage and color fading
6. Phone Cases
A phone case is such a convenient accessory to protect a mobile device. Phone cases come in a wide range of colors, sizes, and prints and are perfect for protecting a phone while making it look cute and accessorized. Some phone cases have pockets that can hold credit cards and licenses.
Some people even put polaroid photos in the back of clear phone cases for a more customized look. Many online retailers let people customize their very own phone case, where there’s the option to add different images, colors, and even text to make it more personable. Phone cases offer an aesthetic appeal while being durable, heat and dust resistant, tight-fitting, and anti-slip for the ultimate phone protection.
Accessories are More Than Just Fashion Statements
Accessories aren’t always about making a fashion statement. Some accessories are useful in many ways and come as multi-purpose items. People can get creative and make a scarf top or purchase prescription sunglasses for a summer holiday. There are endless options to show off your style while also remaining functional.
Family members of the 9/11 victims have called on President Joe Biden to stay away from memorial events unless he declassifies files about the attacks.
Nearly 1,800 people signed a letter calling on President Biden to release documents that they believe implicate officials from Saudi Arabia in the plot.
They say that if he refuses, the president should not attend ceremonies next month to commemorate the 20th anniversary.
Nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11 terror attacks.
According to the investigators, the attacks were committed by the Al Qaeda terror group and triggered the US invasion of Afghanistan. Fifteen of the 19 plane hijackers were Saudi nationals.
“We cannot in good faith, and with veneration to those lost, sick, and injured, welcome the president to our hallowed grounds until he fulfils his commitment,” says the letter from family members, first responders and survivors.
They call on President Biden to stay away from the three sites where the attacks took place – in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The families have long argued that Saudi officials had advance knowledge of the attack, and did nothing to stop it. They have sued the government of Saudi Arabia, which has denied being involved.
Last month, the lawsuit saw several top former Saudi officials questioned under oath. The depositions remain sealed, further upsetting families.
“Since the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission in 2004 much investigative evidence has been uncovered implicating Saudi government officials in supporting the attacks,” the families’ statement continues.
“Through multiple administrations, the Department of Justice and the FBI have actively sought to keep this information secret and prevent the American people from learning the full truth about the 9/11 attacks.”
The administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also declined to declassify the documents, citing national security concerns.
“Twenty years later, there is simply no reason – unmerited claims of ‘national security’ or otherwise – to keep this information secret,” the group writes.
“But if President Biden reneges on his commitment and sides with the Saudi government, we would be compelled to publicly stand in objection to any participation by his administration in any memorial ceremony of 9/11.”
Managing payroll can be a big step for any small business owner, but with a bit of planning and preparation, the whole process can be smoother than you expected. If you’re new to payroll, you might be feeling overwhelmed at the thought of making sure all your staff are getting paid on time. Luckily, these tips can help you to feel more confident.
Invest in Software
Payroll software for small businesses can really help you to get on top of your finances. You’ll be able to automatically send off payslips each month and log all of your employees’ details in one central system. You won’t have to make calculations every month or make sure that taxes are being deducted, as this will all be done for you. What’s more, your employees will be able to access all of their payslips and update any changes in their details. This takes an administrative load off your shoulders and helps you run your business more efficiently.
Decide on a Schedule
While most businesses choose to pay their employees on a monthly basis, you don’t have to. Small businesses can sometimes benefit from paying their employees on a weekly or bi-monthly basis, depending on how their cash flow looks. Don’t force yourself to stick to a monthly schedule if you know that will leave you without some much-needed funds for the coming weeks.
Don’t Forget the Extras
Payroll isn’t just about handling your employees’ regular wages. You’ll also have to make sure pension contributions, overtime, and holiday pay are all being managed properly. If you know a member of staff has worked extra hours, log this straight away to avoid underpaying them on payday.
Outsource
Having accounting and payroll software makes it easy to outsource this part of your business to a freelancer or agency. While you can opt to do it all yourself, it might be easier for an external professional to handle all your financial matters. If you have enough money to spare then this could be the key to making sure your payroll runs smoothly every month.
Keep Bank Accounts Separate
Having a different bank account for your payroll needs can help you to organize your finances better. You’ll be able to easily set aside the money you know needs to be paid to your employees, which will prevent you from overspending accidentally. It also makes things easier around tax time as you’ll be able to separate all your business expenses more quickly.
Have a Backup
When it comes to payroll, you can’t really afford to be making any mistakes. Not paying your employees on time because you don’t have the funds can leave you in a whole lot of trouble. As a small business, you may have some months with less revenue than others, but this shouldn’t stop you from sending out payments to your staff. If you’re worried there could be a month when you’re coming up a little short, set aside enough money to pay all your employees until business starts up again.
Lionel Messi is leaving FC Barcelona “because of financial and structural obstacles” the soccer club says.
The 34-year-old has been a free agent since July 1 when his contract expired.
Lionel Messi agreed a new deal on reduced wages with the club two weeks later, but it was dependent on Barca selling players to afford his salary.
“Both parties deeply regret that the wishes of the player and the club will ultimately not be fulfilled,” the club said.
FC Barcelona had said Lionel Messi was poised to extend his 21-year association with the club by signing the new deal on August 5, and blame La Liga for the failure to do so.
The Argentine forward had reached an agreement to stay with the Catalan side until 2026 – but La Liga said the club must reduce wages before he and any new players can be registered.
“Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles [Spanish La Liga regulations],” the club said.
“FC Barcelona wholeheartedly expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandizement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.”
Lionel Messi is Barcelona’s record scorer with 672 goals and has won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Copa del Reys, as well as claiming the Ballon d’Or on a record six occasions.
Keeping him at the Nou Camp had been president Joan Laporta’s top priority this summer.
The Barca future of a player who is widely regarded as being one of the world’s greatest of all time, however, has been severely complicated by the club’s financial problems.
The presidential election earlier this year was held against the backdrop of Barca being on on the verge of bankruptcy.
Lionel Messi arguably now becomes the most in-demand player in world football.
He has long been linked with a move to either Paris St-Germain or Manchester City, where he would be reunited with his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.
America’s Major League Soccer, which Lionel Messi has previously considered experiencing, is another option.
Aged 13, Lionel Messi joined Barca’s famed La Masia academy in 2000 from Argentine side Newell’s Old Boys and made his senior debut aged 16 in 2004.
He has gone on to make 778 appearances for the club, scoring 672 goals, including 120 Champions League goals (second behind Cristiano Ronaldo), and a record 474 La Liga goals.
Lionel Messi has collected the European Golden Shoe award for the continent’s top scorer on six occasions.
Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing impeachment after an independent inquiry said he had harassed multiple women.
The state senate leader and fellow Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins called Gov. Cuomo’s behavior “unacceptable” and said he should resign.
A majority of New York assembly favor impeachment proceedings, which could lead to his removal.
Andrew Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to stay in office.
Telling reporters it was not in his nature to assault a woman, he blamed cultural differences and political vindictiveness for the scandal.
Andrew Cuomo is part of a Democratic political dynasty – his late father was also governor – and he became a household name leading New York out of the pandemic.
In a statement, Andrea Stewart-Cousins said that Andrew Cuomo must quit “for the good of the state”.
President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have also called for his resignation.
The Associated Press has reported that at least 86 of 150 members of the Democratic-controlled state assembly are in favor of initiating impeachment proceedings.
On August 5, the chair of the state assembly judiciary committee, Charles Lavine, said the committee’s investigation is “nearing completion” and will soon consider articles of impeachment against Andrew Cuomo.
The assembly has called on the governor and his legal team to submit any evidence in his defense by Friday, August 13.
If a simple majority of members vote to impeach Andrew Cuomo, the case moves to an impeachment court comprised of the state senate – except for its majority leader – as well as seven judges of New York’s highest court. A two-thirds vote would be needed to convict.
If that happens, Andrew Cuomo would become only the second New York governor to be removed from office, following Governor William Sulzer in 1913.
Support for Gov. Cuomo appears to also be slipping among voters.
A Marist poll released on August 4 after the report found that 59% of New Yorkers believe he should resign, which is a significant rise from previous polls.
The attorney general’s inquiry found that Andrew Cuomo had harassed 11 women during his time in office.
Investigators spent five months speaking to nearly 200 people, including staff members and some of those who made complaints against him.
While the inquiry is civil – rather than criminal – several local district attorney offices across New York have asked to review its findings to determine whether criminal charges could potentially be filed.
Facing an afternoon energy slump is something that happens to most of us. It may be entirely normal for you, but in some cases, it can reflect a health issue. If your low energy levels affect your quality of life, you should talk to your doctor to rule out any underlying possible health conditions.
Even outside of medical conditions causing your fatigue, it can be dangerous to have low energy levels or feel fatigued at times when you shouldn’t.
We think of fatigue as something that’s not a big deal, but it’s essential that you stay on top of it.
With that in mind, the following are some ways that you can naturally get past an afternoon energy slump.
Don’t Consume a Lot of Carbs at Breakfast and Lunch
You should choose healthy breakfast and lunch foods to keep you fueled throughout the day. If you opt for items that are high in carbs and low in protein, it can cause a spike in your blood sugar.
That spike can then reduce your energy levels.
Along with choosing healthy meals, don’t have many sweet snacks during the day and stay hydrated.
Many people are surprised to realize how much what they eat plays a role in their energy levels.
Be Aware of What Your Peak Productivity Times Are
In some cases, if you can’t altogether avoid your energy crash, you might at least want to find ways to work around it. For example, if you tend to be most alert in the morning, do your tasks requiring the most concentration during those early hours.
That way, if you do start to feel your energy waning, you might be able to do things requiring less concentration and focus.
Another way to work around your energy slump is to do collaborative work in the afternoon. The reason for this is that when you’re working with other people, it can help you stay more engaged instead of trying to do work on your own when you’re already feeling tired.
Go Outside
Sunlight and fresh air are good pick-me-ups when your energy is on the decline. You don’t have to go far. Just step outside for a few minutes and walk around your house or office building. If you’re driving, you might want to stop your car on the side of the road and take stretch breaks every hour or so.
If you move for just five minutes, it can improve your mood and help you feel better. It doesn’t have to be much to help you see benefits.
Use Essential Oils
Stimulating your senses can help you when you feel tired. Essential oils are a simple way to get a sense boost. You can smell an invigorating oil like peppermint oil and see if it makes you feel any better. You can also put just one drop under your nose, as long as you keep it away from your eyes.
Have a Cup of Green Tea
You might not want to have too much caffeine in the afternoon because it can keep you up at night, but if you drink green tea, it gives you a bit of caffeine and some other health benefits as well. For example, green tea has something called phytochemicals. These are energy boosters that don’t contribute to insomnia.
Rest Your Eyes
Eyestrain can be a factor that leads you to feel tired in general. Try to keep your computer screen at least an arm’s length from your eyes. Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes and look at something at least 20 feet away to avoid too much eye strain.
Turn On Music
One very simple and effective way to feel more alert and promote better memory and attention is to turn on music. Choose uplifting and energetic music. If you want to concentrate at the same time, go for music without lyrics.
Finally, if all else fails, try to set aside time in your schedule for a quick power nap if at all possible. Not everyone can do this either because of work or because naps make them feel more tired, but if you’re someone who can truly nap for just 20 minutes and you feel better then rather than feeling guilty about it, go for it. It can help you stay productive the rest of the day.
Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit
According to an independent investigation, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, subjecting them to unwanted kissing and groping.
Announcing the results of the inquiry, New York Attorney General Letitia James said Andrew Cuomo had violated state and federal laws.
Governor Cuomo is yet to respond to the investigation but has previously denied wrongdoing.
The report is likely to play a major part in a separate impeachment inquiry.
The investigation was commissioned in 2020 after several women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the governor.
Investigators spent five months speaking to nearly 200 people, including staff members and some of those who made complaints against him. Tens of thousands of documents, texts and pictures were reviewed as part of the inquiry.
“The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law,” Letitia James said.
Andrew Cuomo, the attorney said, had engaged in “unwelcome and non-consensual touching and making numerous offensive comments”.
In one case, Governor Cuomo and his staff retaliated against a former employee who accused him of wrongdoing, according to Letitia James.
Other women described being groped, kissed or sitting on the governor’s lap.
Andrew Cuomo allegedly reached under the blouse of an assistant to touch her breast, while another aide said he asked her if she was open to sex with an older man.
The governor stood behind a state trooper in a lift, running his finger down her neck and saying “hey you”, according to investigators.
On top of the allegations of harassment, Andrew Cuomo is accused of presiding over a “hostile and toxic work environment”.
Joon Kim, who co-led the investigation, said: “It was a culture where you could not say no to the governor and if you upset him or his senior staff you’d be written off, cast aside or worse.”
“At the same time the witnesses described a culture that normalized and overlooked everyday flirtations, physical intimacy and inappropriate comments by the governor,” he added.
