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Turkey Local Elections 2019: Erdogan’s AKP Loses Ankara and Other Cities

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey Local Elections 2019: Erdogan’s AKP Loses Ankara and Other Cities

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s governing party, the AKP, has lost control of the capital, Ankara, in local elections, in a blow to his 16-year rule.

According to figures published by Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency, the main opposition party, the CHP, is also slightly ahead in the contest for mayor of Istanbul.

The AKP party is challenging the result in both cities.

Municipal elections were held across Turkey on March 31 and an AKP-led alliance won more than 51% of the vote.

The elections, considered a verdict on President Erdogan’s rule, have been taking place during an economic downturn.

Following the vote’s preliminary results, Turkish lira has been losing value recently and the economy went into recession in the last three months of 2018.

The AKP – Justice and Development Party – alleges “invalid votes and irregularities in most of the 12,158 polling stations in Ankara”.

AKP’s general secretary Fatih Sahin said on Twitter: “We will use our legal rights to the fullest, and we will not allow the will of our citizens to be altered in Ankara.”

The party says it will also challenge the result in Istanbul – the largest city – and the eastern province of Igdir.

Turkey Elections 2018: Voters to Decide Whether to Grant Recep Tayyip Erdogan A Second Term

Turkey Coup Trial: 104 Army Plotters Sentenced to Life in Prison

Turkey Suspected Coup Plotters to Wear Brown Uniforms, Says President Erdogan

Commenting on the results in a speech on March 31, President Erdogan looked ahead to national elections in 2023: “We have a long period ahead where we will carry out economic reforms without compromising on the rules of the free-market economy.

“If there are any shortcomings, it is our duty to correct them.”

More than 57 million voters were registered to vote for mayors and councilors. Turnout was high at just under 85%.

According to officials, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate Mansur Yavas won in Ankara. With almost all votes counted, he was on nearly 51% and the AKP’s Mehmet Ozhaseki had won the support of just over 47%.

Both CHP and the AKP claim victory in Istanbul, which has been in the hands of parties linked to President Erdogan since 1994, when he was elected the city’s mayor.

The election commission said the CHP’s Ekrem Imamoglu was leading there by less than 0.5%, but that the results of more than 80 ballot boxes were being challenged. Results carried by Anadolu news agency put the margin even narrower, at less than 0.25%.

The AKP had been saying its candidate, former PM Binali Yildirim, was ahead by 4,000 votes. He later conceded his opponent had a narrow lead, only for the AKP to again claim victory.

The third largest city, Izmir, went to the CHP.

This was the first municipal vote since Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed sweeping executive powers through last year’s presidential election.

The AKP, with its roots in political Islam, has won every election since coming to power in 2002.

President Erdogan, whose two-month campaign included 100 rallies, said the poll was about the “survival” of the country and his party.

With most media either pro-government or controlled by President Erdogan’s supporters, critics believe opposition parties campaigned at a disadvantage. Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rallies dominated TV coverage.

The opposition pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said the elections were unfair and refused to put forward candidates in several cities.

Some of the HDP’s leaders have been jailed on terrorism charges, accusations they reject.

How to Attract Million of Users; Put On Traffic on Your Website

Dana R
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How to Attract Million of Users; Put On Traffic on Your Website

Whenever you start a business, the first and foremost thing that comes in your mind is to earn the profit and make money — no matter what type of business you have. Whether you are a manufacturer or service provider, you want your business to run smoothly. You want to have profits all the times.

There is no need to mention that nowadays businesses run on websites and the internet more than having physical outlets. So you need to promote your business via websites.

Now a question arises that how can we bring millions of users to our websites to market our products. Higher the number of visitors to your websites, greater will be the reward. In this regard, LD Sydney SEO could be of great help.

Here are some techniques that will help out in increasing the traffic on your website:

  • Get Social
  • Blogging
  • Optimized SEO
  • Advertisement
  • Email Marketing
  • Using Long Tail Keywords

Let’s discuss these techniques one by one:

  • Get Social:

It is an era of being extrovert. If you want to achieve your goals than you have to connect with people. Linking with People who come from different backgrounds and have a different school of thoughts will bring several business opportunities for you. Nowadays becoming socially active has become easier. You can promote your product or service via some social medium. Twitter, in this regard, is the best way for short links. You can also use Instagram if images of your product can best describe themselves.

  • Blogging:

Blogging helps a lot in promoting your content. It has the ability to attract more viewers and audience. Let’s have an example. If you are doing some food relevant work, then you can post recipes from different regions. You can also add videos or images of your recipes.

If you invite other people to blog on your niche, it will also be more beneficial. By doing so, you will have more readers to your content. But you should be more cautious while inviting others for blogging as spams can harm your content.

  • Optimized SEO:

You need to maintain your content in a way that is more valuable for any search engine. You must keep this in mind that the quality and quantity of your work will improve your SEO. In order to optimize SEO, you can hire some expert. That manager will not only make your content valuable but will also enhance traffic to your web site. You can also do this on your own, but it requires plenty of skills.

  • Advertisement:

As the world has become a global village. It is just a blessing of fast means of communication. Use the latest methods and technology to advertise your work. It will respond promptly. In order to attract users to your website, you can place an advertisement for your business at different relevant websites. Some websites charge for this service, and some do this for free.

  • Email Marketing:

Email marketing has yet another important and valuable tool in attracting millions of people to your content.

  • Using Long Tail Keywords:

Long tail keywords are considered more precise and niche. Long tail keywords comprise of two or three words that are very specific to whatever you are offering. These words help internet users to get to your product or service more quickly. Using these words ensure valuable clients also.

Let’s have a look below:

Ukraine Elections 2019: Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy Is Front-Runner Ahead of First Round

Diane A. Wade
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Ukraine Elections 2019: Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy Is Front-Runner Ahead of First Round

Ukraine is voting in the first round of presidential elections with current leader Petro Poroshenko seeking re-election but the surprise front-runner is a comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelenskiy, along with former PM Yulia Tymoshenko, have expressed largely pro-European views during campaigning.

None of the pro-Russian candidates are seen as serious contenders.

If no candidate gets more than 50% on March 31, the top two will fight it out in a second round on April 21.

A total of 39 candidates are on the ballot paper, but only the three front-runners are considered to have any chance of victory.

President Poroshenko has significant powers over security, defense and foreign policy and the ex-Soviet republic’s system is described as semi-presidential.

The current leader, one of Ukraine’s wealthiest oligarchs, was elected in a snap vote after former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was toppled in the February 2014 Maidan Revolution, which was followed by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and a Russian-backed insurgency in the east.

The next president will inherit a deadlocked conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed separatists in the east, while Ukraine strives to fulfill EU requirements for closer economic ties.

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Ukraine Bans All Russian Planes from Using Its Airspace

The EU says that about 12% of Ukraine’s 44 million people are disenfranchised, largely those who live in Russia and in Crimea, which Russia annexed in March 2014.

Separatist-controlled areas are boycotting the election.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, 41, is aiming to turn his satirical TV show – in which he portrays an ordinary citizen who becomes president after fighting corruption – into reality.

He has done no rallies and few interviews, and appears to have no strong political views apart from a wish to be new and different.

The comedian’s extensive use of social media appeals to younger voters.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s readiness to speak both Russian and Ukrainian, at a time when language rights are a hugely sensitive topic, has gained him support in Ukraine’s largely Russian-speaking east.

Opinion polls suggest Volodymyr Zelenskiy will have a clear lead over Petro Poroshenko and Yulia Tymoshenko in the first round, and would retain it in a run-off against either of them.

Petro Poroshenko, 53, aims to appeal to conservative Ukrainians through his slogan “Army, Language, Faith”.

The current president says his backing for the military has helped keep the separatists in eastern Ukraine in check. He also negotiated an Association Agreement with the EU, including visa-free travel for Ukrainians. During his tenure the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has become independent of Russian control.

However, Poroshenko’s campaign has been dogged by corruption allegations, including a scandal over defense procurement, which erupted last month.

The third main contender is Yulia Tymoshenko, 58, who has served as prime minister and ran for president in 2010 and 2014. She played a leading role in the 2004 Orange Revolution, Ukraine’s first big push to ally itself with the EU.

The front-runner among the pro-Russian candidates, Yuriy Boyko, says he would “normalize” relations with Russia.

North Korea Describes Madrid Embassy Break-In as Terrorist Attack

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Describes Madrid Embassy Break-In as Terrorist Attack

North Korea has labeled a break-in at its Madrid embassy last month as a “grave terrorist attack”.

In its first official comment, the North Korean government called for an investigation and said it was closely watching rumors that the FBI had played a role.

On March 27, the Cheollima Civil Defense (CDC), a group committed to ousting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said it carried out the raid.

The group took computers and data and said it gave its evidence to the FBI.

At least two international arrest warrants have been issued for the main suspects.

Spanish authorities say one suspect, named as Adrian Hong Chang, gained access by asking to see the commercial attaché, whom he claimed to have met previously to discuss business matters. His accomplices burst in once he was inside.

The CDC is accused of interrogating the attaché and trying to persuade him to defect. When he refused, they left him tied up in the basement.

Two other members of the break-in group were named as US citizen Sam Ryu, and a South Korean, Woo Ran Lee.

Embassy staff were held hostage for several hours. One woman managed to flee, escaping through a window and screaming for help. Concerned neighbors quickly called the police.

When officers arrived, they were greeted by Adrian Hong Chang, posing as a North Korean diplomat in a jacket with a Kim Jong-un lapel badge.

He told the police that all was well, and nothing had happened.

Most of the group later fled the embassy in three North Korean diplomatic vehicles. Adrian Hong Chang and some others left later via the back entrance using another vehicle.

They split up into four groups and headed to Portugal. Adrian Hong Chang – a Mexican citizen who lives in the US – allegedly contacted the FBI to give his version of events five days later.

Trump-Kim Summit: Donald Trump Praises Historic Talks With North Korean Leader

North Korea: Former Spy Chief Kim Yong-chol Travels to US for Talks

CDC, also known as Free Joseon, is committed to overthrowing North Korea’s ruling Kim dynasty.

A video posted on the group’s website and YouTube page purports to show one of the intruders smashing portraits of North Korea’s leaders inside the Madrid embassy.

The Cheollima Civil Defense first came to prominence after taking credit for getting Kim Jong-un’s nephew, Kim Han-sol, safely out of Macau after the assassination of his father.

Kim Jong-nam, the North Korean leader’s estranged half-brother, was murdered at an airport in Malaysia in 2017.

Kim Han-sol has expressed his desire to go back to North Korea, and has referred to his uncle as a “dictator”.

Sources close to the investigation reportedly told Spanish newspaper El País that the operation was planned perfectly, as if by a “military cell”.

According to El País and El Confidencial, the attackers seemed to know what they were looking for. Spanish authorities suspect US intelligence agencies and their allies could have been involved in the attack.

El País even reports that two of the group have links to the CIA.

The US has denied any involvement in the raid.

Reports say the attackers could have been looking for information on North Korea’s former ambassador to Madrid, Kim Hyok-chol, who was expelled from Spain in September 2017 over North Korea’s nuclear testing program.

Slovakia Elections 2019: Zuzana Caputova Becomes The Country’s First Female President

Diane A. Wade
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Slovakia Elections 2019: Zuzana Caputova Becomes The Country’s First Female President

Zuzana Caputova has become Slovakia first female president after winning the second round of the vote.

The 45-year-old divorcee and mother of two, who has almost no political experience, defeated high-profile diplomat Maros Sefcovic, who was nominated by the governing party.

Zuzana Caputova framed the election as a struggle between good and evil.

The election follows the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak last year.

The journalist was looking into links between politicians and organized crime when he was shot alongside his fiancée in February 2018.

Slovakia accepts ethnic Uighur Chinese prisoners from Guantanamo

Zuzana Caputova cited Jan Kuciak’s death as one of the reasons she decided to run for president, which is a largely ceremonial role.

With almost all votes counted, Zuzana Caputova has won about 58% to Maros Sefcovic’s 42%.

Zuzana Caputova gained prominence as a lawyer, when she led a case against an illegal landfill lasting 14 years.

She is a member of the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, which has no seats in parliament.

Image source Wikimedia

In a country where same-sex marriage and adoption is not yet legal, Zuzana Caputova’s liberal views promote LGBTQ+ rights.

Maros Sefcovic is vice president of the European Commission.

He was nominated by the ruling Smer-SD party, which is led by Robert Fico, who was forced to resign as prime minister following the Kuciak murder.

In the first voting round, Zuzana Caputova won 40% of the vote, with Maros Sefcovic gaining less than 19%.

Consumer psychology: why missed calls mean missed business

Dana R
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Consumer psychology: why missed calls mean missed business

In utilizing unorthodox working methods like hot-desking and on-the-go productivity, you have probably injected an appreciable degree of flexibility into your business operations. However, has all of this inflicted an adverse knock-on effect on your ability to take customer calls promptly?

Sadly, statistics suggest so. In the UK alone, SMEs yearly lose £90 million in potential sales revenue due to missed calls, ITProPortal reports. If you often leave the phone ringing, you could be leaving precious money on the table, too – here are good reasons why…

New business

Let’s crunch the numbers when it comes to missed calls

An analysis of 1,600 SME-based IT leaders and IT service users has revealed that, on average, just one missed call costs the business in question £1,200. If that business still doesn’t answer follow-up calls over a complete 24-hour period, the average loss can total £9,000.

Worse, according to the research, smaller, more resource-strapped businesses tend to be hit hardest by missed calls. Between April 2013 and March 2014, 63,400 companies with a worker tally of between 20 and 49 lost, overall, £36,518,400 as a consequence.  

The effect that this negligence can have on customer loyalty is startling. One report from Business Insider reported 28% of people shedding “brand loyalty” in the wake of poor customer service. 78%, meanwhile, would be reluctant to shop again with a brand if their complaint was badly handled.

What’s to blame for missed calls?

It’s clear that, the longer a business fails to answer incoming calls, the more customers and custom it can lose. However, prime culprits for missed calls, it seems, include two ways of working that have apparently, on the whole, made businesses more productive: flexible working and hot-desking.

With research revealing that 77% of companies allow flexible working while 45% permit hot-desking, calls appear to face numerous barriers to reaching their intended recipients. Therefore, the onus very much needs to be on efficient call routing.

Four-fifths of workers are said to spend time away from the office, while over half rely on three different devices for communication during work. However, rest assured that your customers will not care how their calls are routed, only that those calls get through to the right people.

Potential remedies for the problem of missed calls

In turning to a telecoms provider, you could be pleasantly surprised by the range of call routing plans on offer. For example, it’s possible to have your phones rung in a particular order to ensure that, if the initial line is unavailable, the call can be moved onto another line, and so on.  

You could alternatively have all of your firm’s phones ringing simultaneously in reaction to the same call. Outside the usual work hours, calls could even be forwarded with a bespoke routing plan; for example, a call typically meant for your office-based system can be redirected to your mobile.

All of these call routing plans are available from Planet Numbers, which has published an informative guide on why missed calls can often mean missed business.

Image recommendations:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-with-headphones-facing-computer-monitor-845451/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-blue-suit-holding-smartphone-374008/

Jussie Smollett Case: Chicago Mayor Demands Answers After Hoax Charges Dropped

Diane A. Wade
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Jussie Smollett Case: Chicago Mayor Demands Answers After Hoax Charges Dropped

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the sudden move to drop charges against actor Jussie Smollett over a hoax attack has made a fool of the city.

The state’s attorney’s office maintains Jussie Smollett has not been exonerated, while the actor’s lawyers say his record has been wiped clean.

Rahm Emanuel told ABC News: “They better get their stories straight because this is actually making a fool of all of us.”

Police maintain Jussie Smollett staged a racist and homophobic attack.

The actor has insisted throughout that he is innocent of all these allegations.

Speaking on Good Morning America on March 27, Mayor Emanuel pilloried Jussie Smollett, saying he “abused the city of Chicago”.

“You have the state’s attorney’s office saying he’s not exonerated, he actually did commit this hoax. He’s saying he’s innocent and his words aren’t true.”

Rahm Emanuel says he wants the court records unsealed so that all the evidence gathered by Chicago Police could be seen.

The mayor said he also wants prosecutors to explain why they made such a sudden reversal.

He said police had evidence that Jussie Smollett had made up claims that he was attacked on January 29 in downtown Chicago by two masked men who he claimed shouted racist and homophobic slurs, poured bleach on him and put a rope round his neck.

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Chicago’s Bean Sculpture Copied in China

Image source Wikimedia

Illinois prosecutor Joe Magats made the decision to drop charges against Jussie Smollett on March 26 in a move that blindsided police – but he maintains that the TV actor is guilty.

He told CBS News: “Our priority is violent crimes and the drivers of violence.

“Jussie Smollett is neither one of those.”

He added that community service and a fine is a common outcome for such a case. When asked if those penalties were sufficient for Mr Smollett, he said: “I feel that it is.”

Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state’s attorney, told NBC News: “The charges were dropped in return for Mr. Smollett’s agreement to do community service and forfeit his $10,000 bond to the City of Chicago.

“Without the completion of these terms, the charges would not have been dropped.”

Police, however, have disagreed, with Supt Eddie Johnson saying if Jussie Smollett “wanted to clear his name, the way to do that was in a court of law so that everyone could see the evidence”.

A Chicago police union on Tuesday renewed calls for a federal inquiry looking into what role the state’s prosecutor Kimberly Foxx, who recused herself, played in the case.

In a statement to NBC, the Fraternal Order of Police said they are “outraged…but not surprised”.

The union said Kimberly Foxx had “transformed the prosecutor’s office to a political arm of the anti-police movement”.

The Fraternal Order of Police said their demand was based on reports of texts between Kimberly Foxx and a former Obama aide about the case.

State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx recused herself from the Smollett case last month, citing a conflict of interest “based upon familiarity with potential witnesses in the case”.

According to local media, attorney Tina Tchen, former chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, connected Kimberly Foxx with Jussie Smollett’s family in the days following the alleged attack.

Earlier this month, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Tina Tchen had texted Kimberly Foxx on February 1 that Jussie Smollett’s family had “concerns about the investigation”.

Kimberly Foxx later told the Chicago Sun-Times that those worries were regarding leaked information about the case from “police sources”, and that the family felt the FBI would keep a “tighter lid on the information”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRHIU4Nvte8

Measles Outbreak Emergency Declared in Rockland County, New York

Kathryn R. Bown
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Measles Outbreak Emergency Declared in Rockland County, New York

Rockland County, New York, has declared a state of emergency following a severe outbreak of measles.

The county, on the Hudson River north of NYC, has barred unvaccinated children from public spaces after 153 cases were confirmed.

Violating the order will be punishable by a fine of $500 and up to six months in prison.

The announcement follows other outbreaks of the disease in California, Texas, Washington, and Illinois.

Vaccination rates have dropped steadily all over the country with many parents objecting for philosophical or religious reasons, or because they believe discredited information that vaccines cause autism in children.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said: “We will not sit idly by while children in our community are at risk.

“This is a public health crisis and it is time to sound the alarm.”

According to the New York Times, the outbreak in Rockland County is largely concentrate in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. It is believed it could have spread from other predominantly ultra-Orthodox areas around New York which have already seen outbreaks of measles.

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Ed Day said health inspectors had encountered “resistance” from some local residents, which he branded “unacceptable and irresponsible”.

“They’ve been told <<We’re not discussing this, do not come back>> when visiting the homes of infected individuals as part of their investigations,” he said.

According to the CDC, there are 314 cases of measles currently reported in the US, with nearly half of those coming from Rockland County. The authorities had been making steady progress in encouraging religious communities to immunize children but communication had broken down in the last month.

5 Ways to Confront Business Rumors

Dana R
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5 Ways to Confront Business Rumors

Over the years, you have probably heard a lot of crazy rumors about well-known brands. For example, that a popular fast food chain uses cow eyeballs to “beef up” its burgers or a taco joint puts sand filler in its meat.

If you are being totally honest with yourself, you might have talked about some of these rumors with friends and family members—after all, a juicy and wacky rumor about a company can be an interesting topic of conversation.

Of course, if you are a business owner, rumors are probably not as entertaining to hear or discuss—even if they are wild and untrue, like the cow eyeballs in the burgers, you still worry that people will believe them and will stop patronizing your business.

To help confront and deal with business rumors, please consider the following five approaches:

Outright Denial

One way to deal with untrue rumors about your company is the flat out denial approach. If there is scuttlebutt circulating on social media that your business is moving to Canada, firing all of its staff and/or adding cow eyeballs to your product line (what is it with people loving rumors about cow eyeballs?) you can immediately issue a strong denial on your social media pages. Unfortunately, though, denying the rumor may actually strengthen the association between your company and the untrue statement, because it can alert people who had not heard the rumor that this untruth is out there.

Deny and Educate, All At Once

A more effective way to confront business rumors is to deny the untruth by educating readers about your company and the way you really run things. Amway is a good example of a company that’s done this well. The direct sales company has been accused of being a pyramid scheme, but Amway is not a scam. Instead of ignoring the rumors, the company has been proactive about responding on its website and social media pages in a positive, productive and honest way.

Anticipate Rumors and Be Proactive

This tip is especially useful when there will be a major announcement coming up about your company. If you are planning to relocate, jump the rumor gun and issue a press release and/or statements on social media stating the facts. If you are going to expand your product line, make an announcement to your staff and on your company website. By being aware that rumors will start flying soon and being proactive with the truth, you should be able to avoid your staff and customers making untrue claims about your business plans.

Ask What People are Hearing

Another way to confront business rumors is to periodically ask people what they are hearing about your company. You can ask your employees if they have heard anything, as well as trusted vendors and possibly some of your regular customers. You can do this with the help of sophisticated software or free online survey tools. This approach should not only clue you in to rumors that you might not realize are circulating, but it will also help alleviate everyone’s fears and assure them that you care about their feelings.

Encourage the Doubting Thomas

Another way to confront a business rumor is by asking your customers and/or employees if they are 100 percent confident the rumor is true. In this scenario, you’d name the rumor and then ask the group for reasons why they think the rumor could be true. Doing so helps them voice their concerns and uncover the rumor’s fallacies. Unlike flat out denying the rumor, this approach lets the people who are spreading the rumor consider the information in a new way.

No Matter Which Approach You Use, Never Ignore It

While you might be tempted to ignore crazy rumors about your company, this head in the sand approach may come back to bite you. Rumors can spread like wildfire if they are not addressed, so as unpleasant and time-consuming as it might be to deal with rumors, it is important to use at least one of these tips to nip the untruth in the proverbial bud.

Should you have more than one credit card?

Clyde K. Valle
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Should you have more than one credit card?

With nearly 60 million credit cards floating around the UK, it’s fair to say plenty of us are using multiple credit cards at once.

But how many is too many?

If you’re wondering about opening another account, consider the pros and cons before you make a move.

Lower your credit utilisation

Multiple credit cards, if used correctly, are great for your credit score. This is because of a feature called credit utilisation and how credit providers perceive it.

Credit utilisation is, in short, the percentage of credit you are using against your credit limit. For example, if you had a monthly credit limit of £1,000 and were using £800 a month, your utilisation would be 80%. £500 would be 50%, £200 would be 20%, and so on.

Where your provider is concerned, high utilisation is bad news and will affect your credit score negatively. Providers like to see utilisation of no more than 30% so, if you are close to your credit limit on one card (indeed anything above 30%), it benefits you and your credit score to spread the debt across several cards.

Spread the spend

Speaking of spreading your debt, the same process is beneficial to those struggling with a lot of debt on one card or looking to spread out a purchase cost (and avoid high utilisation).

Where high interest debt is concerned, you can use multiple cards to transfer a balance from a high interest account to a new, 0% interest card or two in order to release the pressure on an account building interest. It’s a temporary solution but saves you money in the long run.

Back yourself up

If credit cards are your main source of payment, it’s worth having multiple cards so one can be used as a backup or for emergency use.

This is useful if your card provider freezes your main card, for example if it suspects fraudulent use, or an unexpected payment comes up that needs dealing with immediately.

Reap the rewards

Credit cards offer various incentives to spend, and different credit cards offer different perks. An example would be a percentage cashback amount on certain purchases across the month.

Using different cards on the right purchases means you’re getting the most back from your spending.

Don’t lose track

The big risk with multiple cards is that they can, if mismanaged, rack up debt and harm your credit score.

The more cards you have, the easier it is to lose track of both spending and repayments. Purchase frivolously and you may spend more money than you have. Meanwhile, missing repayments can mean interest and a hit on your credit score.

The combination of the two is a vicious and very damaging cycle you don’t want to find yourself in.

Unwanted extras

Whilst you’ll no doubt be looking for the best interest deals and lowest charges, introductory offers do come to an end and many cards come with an attached monthly fee.

If you’re running a handful of cards, such fees and interest can add up, leaving you with unwanted costs at the end of the month.

Fraud risk

Just as it’s easy to lose track of your spending and repayments, it’s also harder to notice possible theft or fraud across multiple accounts if you’re not paying too much attention.

An unlikely occurrence, but another thing you need to be on top of.

So, how many cards?

The answer is no one really knows!

It depends on your current situation with outstanding debt and your future plans. More than anything your ability to responsibly manage your finances will be the determining factor in selecting the right number of credit cards for you.

Necessities for a Career in the Arts

Dana R
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Necessities for a Career in the Arts

Choosing to pursue a career in the arts isn’t for the fainthearted. The prospect of finding a job that can support artistic passion while simultaneously putting food on the table is limited by a society that increasingly devalues creative expression in favor of rational reasoning; an educational system with dwindling funds for fine and performing arts instruction; technologies that have changed not only how art is made, but how it is experienced; and an audience that appears less interested and less willing than ever to pay for arts exposure.

Certainly, the arts are changing in the U.S. But they aren’t dead yet. Critical investigation shows that while art creation and art consumption are drastically different than they were even just ten years ago, there is still enough potential — via new genres, new audiences, new patrons and new opportunities for interactive collaboration — that artists of all kinds can actually make a living doing what they love. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for a career in today’s art world:

Grit

Of course, you’re going to need talent to be an artist. But perhaps more important than your skill level is your ability to persevere in the face of adversity. As mentioned, making money as an artist isn’t easy. You could have the genius of Pablo Picasso, but if you aren’t mentally able to endure the pressures you’ll face and don’t have the determination you need to hone your craft, then you’re not likely to get very far. To be a great artist, you’re going to need the drive to practice and experiment and reassess over and over and over again.

Experience and Instruction

It’s probably a wise idea to pursue some type of arts instruction, whether that’s attending a liberal arts college or opting for a specialized art school. A case can be made for either. A bachelor’s degree not only offers a more reliable means by which to earn money during any downtimes, but it can expose prospective artists to inspiration that comes from studying the world at large. An immersive arts program, on the other hand, can help students refine their skills by offering moral and instructional support that they might not have previously received at home or in school; it can also provide a network of established professionals to collaborate with after graduation. Whatever your preference, you must choose a path that allows you to continuously create, seeking opportunities (volunteer positions, internships, class assignments, etc.) that help you build a portfolio that accurately demonstrates your talent, growth and potential.

Business Know-How

It might not seem apparent, but art is a business. Most of the time, the object is to create a product that other people want to buy. And because many artists want to work for themselves, it’s important that you have a clear understanding of basic accounting and marketing principles so that you can manage your finances and turn a profit. You should also have some knowledge of qualitative and quantitative market research design so that you can better appreciate and anticipate market demand.

A Mentor

Finally, support is critical for success. You should surround yourself with at least one person who can share lessons from his or her life experiences; give constructive feedback; provide motivation and encouragement during difficult times; and expose and introduce you to individuals who are capable of inspiring, instructing, promoting and possibly even sponsoring you when needed! Having someone by your side only makes it easier for you to succeed!

Wood vs Alumawood Patio Covers: The Pros and Cons

Dana R
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0
Wood vs Alumawood Patio Covers: The Pros and Cons

Alumawood Provides the best option for your patio when compared to wood. When comparing these two covers, you’ll come across various advantages and disadvantages. Alumawood offers the aesthetics wood contains while also bringing the resistance to external elements of regular aluminum.

Consider Alumawood patio covers Phoenix for professional installers and installation. Before you make the choice though, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Alumawood patio covers.

The Pros

1. Extended Warranty

Alumawood employs the best of aluminum with paint styles that replicate the feel and look of your regular wood patio cover. To increase its resistance to external elements, the manufacturer embosses and paints the cover.

As a result, you won’t have to worry about maintenance issues, as is the case with the natural wood, which requires sanding and repainting. In fact, this patio cover is so durable, that some manufacturers offer a limited lifetime warranty.

2. Waterproof Characteristics

Since the cover is an aluminum product, its maintenance is super easy. If the material gets dirty, all you need is a water hose and water.

You will not have to worry about rain destroying your beloved structure as the covers are interconnected on a slope. Therefore, all water will be guided to the ground or toward the gutter system if the structure is connected to your home.

3. Rust Resistant

Rust is one of the major enemies that most metals have to counter, but not aluminum. While not all materials used in the Alumawood patio cover are made of aluminum, as a few steel bolts and screws that hold the covers together are necessary, these materials are painted or galvanized to protect against rust as well.

The paint will depend on your preferences, but an authorized retailer will take you through the various colors that are available. Remember, with wood patio covers, the paint will fade away, but with Alumawood, the paint remains intact over time.

The Cons

1. Alumawood is More Expensive

For all the benefits associated with Alumawood, your pocket is bound to take the greatest hit. For example, the price of a square foot of Alumawood installation goes for $12 to $20.

This means the traditional wood patio cover will be less expensive to install, although that will depend on the type of wood you’ll choose and does not include maintenance and upkeep costs.

2. You Must have a Building Permit

There are cities that require a building permit for patio covers. Others require a permit if the cover exceeds a certain size. For example, in San Diego California, you’ll need a permit for the cover if it exceeds 300 square feet. So, for some, a cover in general may require a permit regardless of material.

3. Forget the Porch Swing

If you’re one of those that loves a swing on your patio, then you may have to kill those ambitions if you choose Alumawood as your preferred patio cover. However, if you intend on proceeding with the swing, then forget about the dealer’s or manufacturer’s warranty as this may cause an immediate void.

4. Alumawood is Noisy

Have you ever been in a house without a ceiling during the rain? Isn’t it noisy when the rain impacts the roof, especially if the roof is metallic? Well, that’s exactly what you can look forward to if you choose Alumawood. Raindrops on a metallic roof tend to resonate with sound.

These pros and cons offer you a comparative list which you can use the next time you go shopping for patio cover materials. The bottom line is to consider your needs and match them to the materials. If they don’t match, then it is not the material for you.

Landlords Save Money by Working Smarter, Not Harder

Nancy Clayson
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Landlords Save Money by Working Smarter, Not Harder

Landlords trying to eke out a place in the rental investment market face an uphill battle. Staying on top of housing regulations, market data, property improvements, and vacancy rates can easily consume all 24 hours of your day if you let it.

Since the workload will only grow along with your success, you need to protect your bottom line by working smarter, rather than harder. Here are several tips to help you maintain a work/life balance while growing your business.

Market yourself

For every job duty you can imagine, larger companies have at least one employee dedicated to solely that job function. From marketing to social media management, raising awareness about your brand can legitimately be a full-time job.

Schedule set times every week to complete social media posts and limit the time you spend doing this. Use printing services to create handouts, flyers, car magnets, branded polo shirts, and more so that your rental business can be seen by the widest possible audience.

Plenty of companies offer drip campaign services such as newsletters, move-in or referral specials, or public notices. Think of the most common forms of communication with your current and potential tenants and find ways to automate routine messages. Be proactive in routinely sending out information that minimizes calls to your office for common activities like renewals, move-outs, and maintenance requests.

Outsource administrative functions

You need someone at your business who’s available to meet with current and potential tenants. But you don’t necessarily need a warm body in an office seat to take care of a wide range of administrative functions like accounting, payroll management, and contract management.

Are you still handwriting checks or struggling with the manual tray on your printer? Consider using a check mailing service for your payables; these types of services have the added benefit of consolidating important information at tax time for your accountant.

Whenever possible, take advantage of software offers which are specific to landlords. This can save you time and money rather than trying to shuffle papers into the wee hours of the morning. Tracking leads, obtaining rental forms, and completing your tenant screening using these cloud-based systems can increase your organizational efficiency while reducing time spent filing, searching for lost notes, or dealing with a coffee stain on a lease agreement.

Virtual assistants can also handle a wide range of business functions for you, including setting appointments, dispatching contractors, and even managing rental agreements and renewal paperwork. You can use a phone answering service so that your callers have access to a live operator if you’re out. Some companies use voice recognition and AI technology to handle basic requests for you via the automated system.

Though you might still be able to complete your own repairs and turnovers, there will come a day when your business grows beyond your capability or you need a licensed contractor to complete various jobs. You’ll need to consider whether you should hire a dedicated repair person or simply use independent contractors.

In any case, consider how much your time is worth per hour when determining if it’s time to hand over the reins of property maintenance to a qualified contractor.

Reduce your workload

One of the most basic ways to reduce your workload is to anticipate common questions and answer them ahead of time, either with an informative brochure/flyer or a website that has a comprehensive FAQ page.

Designing your workflow to address common issues or events proactively will keep your business running more smoothly, reducing unnecessary calls and emails as well as misunderstandings. Create templates and checklists whenever possible for common tasks so that your work is consistent and important details are less likely to be forgotten.

Growing your business doesn’t have to mean hiring a large team of employees right away. By being efficient, proactive, and wise about what you do yourself and what you delegate, you can be successful and still have free time to unwind afterward.

Robert Mueller Report: “Trump Campaign Did Not Conspire with Russia”

Diane A. Wade
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Robert Mueller Report: “Trump Campaign Did Not Conspire with Russia”

According to a summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report submitted to Congress on March 24, President Donald Trump’s campaign did not conspire with Russia during the 2016 election.

The summary did not draw a conclusion as to whether Donald Trump illegally obstructed justice, but did not exonerate the president.

The report was summarized for Congress by the attorney general, William Barr.

Donald Trump tweeted in response: “No Collusion, No Obstruction.”

The president, who has repeatedly described the inquiry as a witch hunt, said on March 24 that “it was a shame that the country had to go through this”, describing the inquiry as an “illegal takedown that failed”.

The report is the culmination of two years of investigation by Robert Mueller.

He wrote in his report: “While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

President Donald Trump Denies He Is Planning to Fire Robert Mueller

Robert Mueller Accused of Unlawfully Obtaining Emails

Robert Mueller Investigation: Michael Flynn Admits Making False Statements to FBI

Robert Mueller Investigation: Donald Trump’s Campaign Adviser George Papadopoulos Lied About Russia Links

The summary letter by William Barr outlines the inquiry’s findings relating to Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election.

He concluded: “The special counsel did not find that any US person or Trump campaign official conspired or knowingly co-ordinated with Russia.”

The second part of the letter addresses the issue of obstruction of justice. William Barr’s summary says the special counsel report “ultimately determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment”.

The letter read: “The Special Counsel therefore did not draw a conclusion – one way or the other – as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction.”

William Barr says that the evidence was not sufficient “to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence”.

The attorney general ends his letter to Congress by saying he will release more from the full report, but that some of the material is subject to restrictions.

William Barr wrote: “Given these restrictions, the schedule for processing the report depends in part on how quickly the Department can identify the [grand jury] material that by law cannot be made public.

“I have requested the assistance of the Special Counsel in identifying all information contained in the report as quickly as possible.”

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders described the findings of the report as “a total and complete exoneration of the president”.

President Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said the report was “better than I expected”.

Congressman Jerry Nadler, the Democratic Chair of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, emphasized that the attorney general did not rule out that President Trump may have obstructed justice.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee, said that while there was a lack of evidence to support “a prosecutable criminal conspiracy”, questions remained over whether President Trump had been compromised.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney welcomed the “good news”, tweeting that it was now “time for the country to move forward”.

3 Ways to Bounce Back Following a Data Breach

Dana R
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3 Ways to Bounce Back Following a Data Breach

The modern business landscape is filled with competition. Taking your company from startup to success story will require a lot of hard work. Using modern tech tools can help you provide your customers with a higher degree of service.

The main thing you need to worry about when growing your network is keeping information secure. Over 60 percent of the companies go out of business six months after having their data hacked. Instead of being just another statistic, your main goal following a data hack should be finding a way to bounce back.

Here are some of the things you will need to do to strengthen your network following a data hack.

1. Stopping the Breach Should be Priority Number One

As soon as you start to notice signs of a data breach, the main thing you need to worry about is reducing the amount of damage it causes. Neglecting to act right away during a data breach can lead to this problem getting much worse. The first thing you need to do to stop this breach is to isolate the systems being accessed by hackers.

If the hackers have taken over various user accounts, deleting them from your system is essential. Once you have contained the areas affected by the breach, you can reach out to cybersecurity professionals for further instructions. If you have an offsite backup of all of your files, the professionals you are working with may recommend wiping the network clean and then using the backups to restore the information.

2. Taking Stock of the Damage Done

After the smoke has cleared from the initial data breach, you will need to take a step back to assess the damage. The only way you can prevent these same types of attacks from happening in the future is learning from your mistakes. This is why you need to take an objective look at the affected systems and the methods used to infiltrate them.

Finding out whether malware or social engineering tactics were used to gain access to these systems can be very helpful. If the hackers used malware, then investing in state-of-the-art virus detection and scanning software should be a priority. IT professionals should be able to offer you guidance regarding which software is the best fit for your needs.

Not only will you need to invest in new virus detection software, but you need to find Free Network Monitoring Software as well. With this software, you can get real-time alerts when potential network threats are detected.


3. Notify Consumers and Employees That Were Affected By the Breach

As you start to uncover the files and data affected by a data breach, you will need to keep both employees and consumers in the loop. If a customer’s sensitive information was compromised during the attack, you need to alert them immediately. With this knowledge, your customer can keep a close eye on any suspicious activity.

The last thing you want to do is keep information about the data hack hidden from those affected. Not only will this lead to your clients losing trust in your company, but it can also lead to their identity being stolen. While it may not be easy to tell customers you have let their information fall into the wrong hands, it is essential when trying to recover from a data breach.

Avoid Letting This Problem Happen Again

Treating a data breach as a learning experience can help you greatly in the future. If you are unsure about how to properly secure the information on your network, reaching out to IT professionals is a good idea. With their help, you will be able to keep hackers at bay.

Dutch Tram Shooting: At Least Three Killed in Utrecht Attack

Roy Siemens
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0
Dutch Tram Shooting: At Least Three Killed in Utrecht Attack

At least three people have been shot dead in a tram attack in the central Dutch city of Utrecht on March 18.

Authorities say the incident appears to be a terrorist attack.

Five others were injured in the incident.

Utrecht police have arrested Gokmen Tanis, a 37-year-old Turkish man, in connection with the shooting.

“We have just been informed that the suspect has been arrested,” police chief Rob van Bree told reporters.

It is not yet clear where Gokmen Tanis was detained.

Schools were closed and security was increased while counter-terrorism police worked to locate the suspect.

A picture of the suspect was posted on social media by police, who warned people against approaching him.

A number of raids were reportedly carried out and counter-terrorism officers were pictured surrounding a building near the 24 Oktoberplein junction, where the tram attack took place.

New Zealand Mosque Attack: 49 Killed and 48 Wounded in Country’s Deadliest Attack

PM Mark Rutte earlier said the country had been “jolted by an attack”, which he described as “deeply disturbing”.

The tram attack happened at about 10:45 local time . One witness told local media that “a man started shooting wildly”.

Another witness told Dutch public broadcaster NOS that he had helped an injured woman after the tram came to a stop.

Meanwhile, the threat level has been reduced following the arrest. It was earlier raised to its highest point in the province of Utrecht. Paramilitary police were seen in airports and mosques.

Utrecht University closed all of its buildings and trains were not allowed to run into the city’s central station. Some public transport services have now reopened.

Utrecht, the Netherlands’ fourth largest city, has a population of about 340,000.

Crime levels are low and gun killings are rare, which is the case for much of the country.

White House 2020: Joe Biden Appears to Announce His Candidacy

Diane A. Wade
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0
White House 2020: Joe Biden Appears to Announce His Candidacy

Former Vice-President Joe Biden appeared to announce his candidacy for the 2020 presidential election, before immediately correcting himself.

Joe Biden made the slip while addressing 1,000 Democrats at a dinner in his home state of Delaware.

The democrat said his record was the most progressive “of anyone running for the United-” before correcting himself and saying, “anybody who would run”.

The audience stood up and chanted “run Joe run”, while the 76-year-old crossed himself and said: “I didn’t mean it!”

Addressing party brokers and leaders in the city of Dover, Joe Biden said that it was time to restore the country’s “backbone”, but that they needed political consensus to move beyond what he called today’s “mean”, “petty” and “vicious” political landscape.

“I’m told I get criticized by the new left,” Joe Biden said, referring to a group of popular new left-wing Democrats that includes congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“I have the most progressive record of anybody running for the United- “

The former vice-president then corrected himself, saying: “Anybody who wouldrun.”

As the diners rose to their feet and chanted “run Joe run”, Joe Biden laughed and insisted: “I didn’t mean it!”

“Of anybody who would run,” he continued.

“Because folks, we have to bring this country back together again.”

Joe Biden Criticizes Donald Trump’s Attacks on Intelligence Community

Joe Biden Tops Presidential Choice for a Quarter of Democrats in New Poll

Joe Biden, who was vice-president from 2009 to 2017, added that the 2020 election will be the most important vote in a century.

Speculation that Joe Biden would announce his candidacy has reached feverish levels.

If he were to run, Joe Biden would be entering an increasingly crowded race – with 15 other Democrats having already declared their bids.

Among them are senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, who ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke joined the race last week.

New Zealand Mosque Attack: 49 Killed and 48 Wounded in Country’s Deadliest Attack

Roy Siemens
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0
New Zealand Mosque Attack: 49 Killed and 48 Wounded in Country’s Deadliest Attack

49 people have been killed and other 48 wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the country’s deadliest attack.

New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern described it as a terrorist attack and one of the country’s “darkest days”.

A gunman identifying himself as an Australian live-streamed the rampage at Al Noor mosque to Facebook. He had espoused racist, anti-immigrant views.

According to police, a man in his late 20s has been arrested and charged with murder.

Two other men and one woman were also detained.

No names have been made public. Firearms and explosive devices were recovered, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.

The gunman live-streaming the attack from a head-mounted camera said he was a 28-year-old Australian called Brenton Tarrant. The footage showed him firing at men, women and children from close range inside the Al Noor mosque.

Facebook had removed the suspect’s Facebook and Instagram accounts and was working to remove any copies of the footage. The live-stream of the attack lasted for 17 minutes.

The suspect who was charged appeared to have published a document online outlining his intentions as well as details about the plan for the attack. He is due in court on March 16.

Australian PM Scott Morrison described the man as an “extremist, right-wing” terrorist. New Zealand Police Commissioner Bush confirmed that the man had not been known in advance to either New Zealand or Australian security services.

Kabul Suicide Attack: At Least 43 Killed at Religious Gathering

The first report of an attack came from the Al Noor mosque in central Christchurch at 13:40 on March 15.

A gunman drove to the front door, entered and fired indiscriminately for about five minutes.

One unnamed survivor told TV New Zealand that he had seen the gunman shoot a man in the chest. The attacker reportedly targeted the men’s prayer room in the mosque, then moved to the women’s room.

The gunman is then said to have driven about 3 miles to another mosque in the suburb of Linwood where the second shooting occurred.

One witness described how one of the worshippers had managed to disarm the man, who ran to a waiting car outside.

It is not clear where the arrests were made. Police also defused “a number of IEDs [improvised explosive devices] attached to vehicles”, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.

He said a number of firearms had been recovered from both mosques, and explosive devices were found in a car belonging to one of the suspects.

Authorities advised all mosques in Christchurch to shut down until further notice.

According to the latest census figures, Muslims make up about 1.1% of New Zealand’s population of 4.25 million.

Numbers rose sharply as New Zealand took in refugees from various war-torn countries since the 1990s.

Social media accounts in the name of Brenton Tarrant were used to post a lengthy, racist document in which the author identified the mosques that were later attacked.

The man says he began planning an attack after visiting Europe in 2017 and being angered by events there.

The document is called “The Great Replacement” – a phrase that originated in France and has become a rallying cry for European anti-immigration extremists.

Although New Zealand police said they had charged a man in his late 20s with murder, they did not identify the man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkoLG9p7RH0

Staying Within the Lines: 7 Rules for Making Your Opt-In Pages GDPR Compliant

Dana R
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0
Staying Within the Lines: 7 Rules for Making Your Opt-In Pages GDPR Compliant

As most people know, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect on May 25, 2018. This was put into effect to give EU citizens much more control over their personal data and how websites are able to use this information. With these new regulations in place, website owners are scrambling to make sure their sites are fully compliant with GDPR.

What Does It Mean to Be GDPR Compliant?

Being GDPR compliant means not only ensuring that any personal data is gathered legally and ethically, but also that those who protect the gathered personal information must ensure it is not misused or exploited. According to the GDPR website, this is the biggest and most important data protection regulation that has been put into law in twenty years.

7 Important Rules for Making Your Opt-In Pages GDPR Compliant

If you have not yet started working on your opt-in pages, do not waste any further time. Getting compliant as soon as possible is crucial for your protection as a website owner. Because your opt-in pages are the ones that will be gathering personal data, this is where you must begin your work.

1. Transparency is key when it comes to becoming GDPR compliant. You MUST tell your visitors what you plan on using their email address for before they sign up. Making this information perfectly clear is your responsibility.

2. Make sure you allow your visitors to know what data has been collected from them. They have the right to know this information under GDPR so making this change as soon as possible is best.

3. It is also imperative you offer your visitors a way to change their information or opt out if they wish. If you do not give visitors this option, your opt-in pages and website are not going to be GDPR compliant.

4. If a visitor asks to have their data removed, make sure you completely remove it. Once it has been requested to be removed, the data is no longer legally available to you.

5. It is wise to update your terms and conditions and your privacy policy so they are GDPR compliant. Make sure to include information on what data will be collected and how it will be used to the individual has the opportunity to decide if they agree to the terms or not.

6. Website owners need to make sure they are working with GDPR software so they can be sure they are fully protecting the collected data of their visitors. With the right software, you will not have to worry about your visitor’s data being misused in any way.

7. It is also a sound idea to get in touch with everyone who is already opted in to your list to update them about their rights under GDPR. By keeping everyone informed, you can save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.

Should You Hire Professional Help?

Because of the new GDPR laws, these can affect US website owners. Some website owners have hired professional marketing companies to help them in the process of making sure their opt-in pages are fully compliant.

Hiring a professional can make the process much easier and they can also help with your marketing campaigns. While using white label marketing, they can help your website rise in rank so you experience greater levels of traffic than ever before. The positive results will not happen overnight, but they will happen with work, patience, and dedication.

Conclusion

If your website is not yet GDPR compliant, now is the time to take action. Get your site ready for visitors and ensure you are compliant so you do not run into any problems with the EU laws.

Home Safety Hazards You Need To Be Aware Of

Nancy Clayson
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Home Safety Hazards You Need To Be Aware Of

Every single homeowner wants to create a truly safe home environment, one where the entire family can thrive without worrying about safety. Unfortunately, there are so many safety hazards that are overlooked or that people simply do not know about. Fortunately, in most cases it is really easy to create a safer home environment. According to Fix It Right, plumbers in Carrum Downs, the most important thing for most homeowners is being aware of safety hazards. When you are aware, you can do what is needed to avoid problems. This is why you absolutely need to be aware of the following safety hazards.

Falls

One of the most common hazards in a household is the injury caused by a fall. Statistics show that 1 out of 5 older adults actually ends up with a head injury or a broken bone after a fall. Commonly mentioned causes for falls include slippery stairs, scattered toys and wet floors.

In order to minimize the risk of a fall:

  • Stabilize your staircases
  • Secure your bathrooms
  • Clear the outdoor steps
  • Remove toys after children play with them
  • Add supports whenever needed

Fires

Every single homeowner knows how dangerous a fire can be but even so, statistics show that there are over 400,000 fires happening in US homes every single year. The severity ranges from complete devastation to mild smoke damage.

Remember the fact that even an unattended iron or a candle can lead to accidental home fire. The best thing that you can do to minimize fire risk is to install fire alarms and monitor every single flame source when used. Also, be sure to unplug your appliances whenever they are not used. Having a fire extinguisher in your home can also help.

CO (Carbon Monoxide) Poisoning

Even low CO exposure can easily cause dizziness and headaches. When there are high CO levels present, symptoms like impaired vision and vomiting can appear. Unfortunately, even death can happen. The big problem is that it is impossible to identify carbon monoxide presence by sight, sound or smell. This is why it is a really good idea to install a carbon monoxide detector. Also, be sure you never skip home maintenance tasks on HVAC systems or any other appliance that uses coal, oil or gas.

Cuts

This is a safety hazard everyone knows but there are still way too many accidents happening than they should be. There are numerous household items that have sharp edges. You Can get a cut from anything from a garden hose to a can.

In order to remove the possibility of having to deal with cuts:

  • Always close the trash
  • Properly store all kitchen supplies
  • Put away all yard tools after use
  • Point forks and knives down
  • Lock your bathroom cabinets when needed

Drowning

Last but not least, in the past 10 years the bathtub drowning deaths actually increased by around 70%. Some really simple accidents can lead to death. This is why it is really important to always attend children when they are bathing and you need to put away all the buckets when they are not used.

Ways Of Promoting Your Business

Clyde K. Valle
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Ways Of Promoting Your Business

All businesses like to have a period of sustained growth. Competition from similar organisations doesn’t necessarily need to be viewed negatively, it should be seen as a time to show your own strengths and growths within your particular area of expertise. If you feel that your business could do with a little boost, we will investigate some areas that could help you to achieve this goal.

Business Stationery

Let’s face it, we can all over look stationery from time to time. However, when you visit a client and they give you a piece of their stationery which has their brand identity upon it, you go away with that company in your mind. So, one of the steps that you could take is to personalise your stationery with your logo or company name. Maybe even consider contacting a Singapore rubber stamp maker so that your company logo or name can be easily stamped and printed on documents and letter heads, as well as on stationery items. This means that any documentation that your clients take away, even if the documents belong to them, will leave a long-lasting mark within their business premises.

Website and SEO

The second area that you need to consider is your online presence. One of the easiest ways to improve your online presence is by contacting a company such as Mandreel, an online digital agency who will help be able to guide you through the ways that you can improve your online presence. You will hear terms such as ‘SEO’ ‘link build’ and ‘content creation.’ These are some basic terms and aspects that the digital media industry focusses on. Having a well-orchestrated website is also beneficial as it provides your customers and clients an instant port of call as well as a reference point to your business. It is also important to maintain your website by regularly adding blogs to it so that your website remains current. A final point related to the media element is looking at your social media footprint. There are a number of mediums to use and you don’t necessarily need to use all of them, but hubs such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are a standard way to start your social media presence. It is fast becoming the modern way of doing business as it improves and increases your global access with the simple touch of a button.

Marketing

As we have mentioned above, the online section of your business will play a major role in increasing the performance of your business. However, at this stage it is also worth mentioning that creating business cards for when out visiting clients or customers is still a good way of publicising your brand. The same can be said for leafleting. If you consider the fact that if the average household receives a leaflet through the post, it may draw in new business from new customers who may never have considered what you offer.

It’s clear to see there are a number of simple ways to promote your business. We have only covered a few of these areas, but they are probably some of the most important factors to consider.

How to Speed Up Accident Claims in Newark, New Jersey

Dana R
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0
How to Speed Up Accident Claims in Newark, New Jersey

New Jersey experiences accident claims like any other state. However, the number of serious accidents has stabilized over the years, with only 101 fatalities in the last year.

If we dig deeper into the stats, we can see that workplace safety is becoming a real problem. Back in 2015 there were around 10,000 severe work-related injuries, with 76% requiring hospitalization.

We’re going to look at what you can do to speed up accident claims in Newark.

Get the Right Professional on Your Side

Whether you’re suffering from the most common personal injuries or a more complex case, the biggest mistake you can make is attempting to file your case yourself.

Yes, it will save you money, but it won’t save you time. And not hiring a professional could even cause you to get nothing at all.

Is that a risk you really want to take?

The best way to speed up an accident claim in Newark is to hire a professional lawyer with years’ worth of experience in their field.

Make Sure You Have the Right Documentation

To win an accident claim fast, you need to have enough evidence that will force a company to settle outside of court. If a case goes to court, the process can take months to resolve.

Thankfully, workers’ compensation cases rarely go to trial. States like Missouri report that only 5% of cases ever go to trial. Your lawyer will do everything they can to settle out of court.

The way to do this is to have medical records, accident reports, security footage, and clear images that can be shown of both the accident scene and your injuries.

How Much Have You Lost?

Usually, the discussion isn’t over liability but the size of the compensation package. You can speed your case along by showing clear evidence of your expenses.

For example, you can provide medical bills, prior pay slips to demonstrate loss of earnings, and any additional costs incurred by you.

It won’t resolve the issue, but it will supercharge the negotiation process.

Don’t Go Public!

The defendant and their legal team are not your friend. They will do anything and use any loophole to get out of paying you.

The situation in Newark, NJ, is no different to anywhere else in the country. One of the ways to both slow down your case and put it at risk is to start talking on social media.

Exaggerating your injuries, downplaying the severity of your injury, or even accidentally mentioning confidential details can cause big problems.

It’s best not to talk publicly at all on social media.

Last Word – Speeding Your Case Along is About Not Slowing It Down

There’s only so much you can do to speed your case along. The claims process is extremely slow, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

But if you live in Newark you should aim to provide as much evidence as you can and carry out the instructions of your lawyer.

The goal is to avoid causing complications within your case.

Are you pursuing an accident claim?

Russia Protests: Thousands Demonstrate Against Internet Bill

Diane A. Wade
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Russia Protests: Thousands Demonstrate Against Internet Bill

Thousands of people have taken the streets in Moscow and similar demonstrations in two other Russian cities were called as the government plans to introduce tighter restrictions on the internet.

Last month, Russian parliament backed the controversial bill.

The government says the bill, which allows it to isolate Russia’s internet service from the rest of the world, will improve cyber-security.

However, campaigners say it is an attempt to increase censorship and stifle dissent.

Activists say more than 15,000 people gathered in Moscow on March 10, which is double the estimate given by the police.

Some protesters chanted slogans such as “hands off the internet” and “no to isolation” while others gave speeches on a large stage.

Opposition figures said that a number of protesters were detained in Moscow, but the police have not confirmed this.

The government says the so-called digital sovereignty bill will reduce Russia’s reliance on internet servers in the US.

The bill seeks to stop Russia’s internet traffic being routed through foreign servers.

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A second vote is expected later this month.

If it is passed, the bill will eventually need to be signed by President Vladimir Putin.

Russia has introduced a swathe of tougher internet laws in recent years. On March 7, parliament passed two bills outlawing “disrespect” of authorities and the spreading of what the government deems to be “fake news”.

Last year, campaigners took to the streets to protest the media watchdog’s attempt to shut down the encrypted messaging service, Telegram.

Russia’s main security agency, the FSB, said at the time that Telegram was the messenger of choice for “international terrorist organizations in Russia”.

Ethiopian Airlines Plane Crashes Near Addis Ababa Killing All on Board

Diane A. Wade
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Ethiopian Airlines Plane Crashes Near Addis Ababa Killing All on Board

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max-8 has crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all on board.

According to the airline, 149 passengers and eight crew members were on flight ET302 from the Ethiopian capital to Nairobi in Kenya.

Ethiopian Airlines said 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, 8 Americans and 7 British nationals were among the passengers.

The crash happened at 08:44 local time, six minutes after the plane took off.

Another jet of the same model was involved in a crash less than five months ago, when a Lion Air flight crashed into the sea near Indonesia with nearly 190 people on board.

The cause of the disaster is not yet clear. However, the pilot had reported difficulties and had asked to return to Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines said.

“At this stage, we cannot rule out anything,” Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told reporters at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

“We cannot also attribute the cause to anything because we will have to comply with the international regulation to wait for the investigation.”

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Recovery operations were under way near the crash site around the town of Bishoftu, which is 37 miles south-east of Addis Ababa.

The plane was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines on November 15, 2018. It underwent a “rigorous first check maintenance” on February 4, the airline tweeted.

Tewolde Gebremariam said at news conference that passengers from more than 30 countries were on board the flight.

He said they included 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, 9 Ethiopians, 8 Italians, 8 Chinese, 8 Americans, 7 Britons, 7 French citizens, 6 Egyptians, 5 Germans, 4 Indians and four people from Slovakia.

Three Austrians, 3 Swedes, 3 Russians, 2 Moroccans, 2 Spaniards, 2 Poles and two Israelis were also on the flight.

There was also one passenger each from Ireland, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Belgium, Indonesia, Somalia, Norway, Serbia, Togo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen.

One person held a UN passport, Ethiopian Airlines said. The airline believed some passengers could have been heading to a session of the UN Environment Assembly which begins in Nairobi on March 11.

A UN source also told AFP that “at least a dozen of the victims were affiliated with the UN”, and that this may include freelance translators.

World Food Program executive director David Beasley said seven members of agency staff had died in the crash.

North Korea Preparing to Launch Missile or Satellite from Sanumdong Site

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Preparing to Launch Missile or Satellite from Sanumdong Site

According to recent reports, North Korea may be preparing to launch a missile or a satellite.

Satellite images suggest an increased activity around a site known as Sanumdong, where North Korea assembled most of its ballistic missiles and rockets.

It comes after reports earlier this week that North Korea’s main rocket launch site at Sohae had been rebuilt.

Last year, North Korea started to dismantle Sohae began but stopped as US talks stalled.

On March 8, President Donald Trump said he would be disappointed if North Korea was to resume weapons testing.

He said: “I would be surprised in a negative way if he did anything that was not per our understanding. But we’ll see what happens.

“I would be very disappointed if I saw testing.”

According to analysts, it is more likely at this stage that North Korea is preparing to launch a satellite rather than test a missile.

However, the US said earlier this week that this would still be inconsistent with the commitments Kim Jong-un has made to President Trump.

Large vehicles have been seen moving around Sanumdong, activity which has in the past indicated that Pyongyang was at least preparing to move some kind of missile or rocket to a launch area.

The satellite images were published by the public radio network NPR.

A much anticipated meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Hanoi last week ended without a deal over differences in how much North Korea was willing to limit its nuclear program before it was granted some sanction relief.

The Sohae launch facility at the Tongchang-ri site has been used for satellite launches and engine testing but never for ballistic missile launches.

This week’s satellite images, coming from several US think tanks and testimony from the South Korean intelligence service, appear to show rapid progress has been made in rebuilding structures on the rocket launch pad.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton has said North Korea could yet face more sanctions if there is no progress on denuclearization.

A historic first meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018 in Singapore produced a vaguely worded agreement on “denuclearization” but little progress.

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