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London Mayor Approves Plans to Fly Trump Baby Balloon for President’s Visit

Nancy Clayson
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0
London Mayor Approves Plans to Fly Trump Baby Balloon for President’s Visit

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has approved plans to fly a giant inflatable figure depicting President Donald Trump as a baby over the city during his visit in the UK.

President Trump is due to meet PM Theresa May at 10 Downing Street on July 13.

Campaigners raised almost £18,000 ($24,000) for the helium-filled 20ft high figure, which they said reflects President Trump’s character as an “angry baby with a fragile ego and tiny hands”.

The White House did not comment on the issue.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted that the plan was “the biggest insult to a sitting US President ever”.

Under the plans the inflatable will be allowed to fly for two hours on the morning of Friday, July 13.

Image source WABC

President Donald Trump Re-Tweets Britain First’s Controversial Videos

Leo Murray, who is behind the crowd-funded idea, said: “[President Trump] really seems to hate it when people make fun of him.

“So when he visits the UK on Friday, we want to make sure he knows that all of Britain is looking down on him and laughing at him.

“That’s why a group of us have chipped in and raised enough money to have a six-metre high blimp made by a professional inflatables company, to be flown in the skies over Parliament Square during Trump’s visit.”

He said organizers initially “didn’t get off to the best start with the mayor’s office over this, who originally told us that they didn’t recognize Trump Baby as legitimate protest”.

However, Leo Murray said City Hall had “rediscovered its sense of humor – Trump Baby will fly”.

A statement on behalf of the London mayor said Sadiq Khan “supports the right to peaceful protest and understands that this can take many different forms”.

Sadiq Khan’s city operations team met organizers and gave them permission to “use Parliament Square Garden as a grounding point for the blimp”.

More than 10,000 people signed a petition calling for the inflatable to be given permission to fly, activists said.

Sadiq Khan and Donald Trump have repeatedly clashed on Twitter, including in the aftermath of the London Bridge attack.

Before the inflatable can take off, campaigners will also need permission from the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) as the project constitutes a “non-standard flight in controlled airspace”, a spokesperson said.

Because Parliament Square sits within restricted airspace, additional approvals are also needed from the Metropolitan Police.

Max Wakefield, who is one of the people working on the project, said the group is “confident it will obtain all necessary permits”.

He said the initial crowd-funding target was just £1,000 ($1,300), but this was reached within 24 hours.

The extra cash will now be used to send the balloon on a “world tour” and “haunt” President Trump wherever he goes, Max Wakefield added.

How Seniors Can Cut Cost without Jeopardizing the Basics

Clyde K. Valle
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0
How Seniors Can Cut Cost without Jeopardizing the Basics
Image source Pexels

Whether you made six figures or had a modest income during your working years, you will be concerned about your expenses during the retirement years. The fear of not having enough income to survive the last years of their lives is real for many retirees, but, with proper planning, there are some precautions you can take to make these the most relaxing years. The time to worry about having enough money to protect your family and loved ones is while you still have a regular income. Here are some things you can do to enjoy retirement.

Stay on Budget

Having a set budget and sticking to it will go a long way toward helping seniors stay on top of their expenses during retirement. Depending on your financial situation, you will want to cut as many unnecessary costs as possible. Starting with the home, you can reduce what you spend on utilities by installing a programmable air-conditioning control and using it to maintain a comfortable temperature while you’re away. You can also keep your appliances and furnace in top performance shape to avoid any surprises during the peak heating or cooling season. Deciding whether to have one or two cars, if you are married can also help you reduce the cost of payments, gas, and insurance. Adjusting grocery shopping habits, stopping bad habits such as drinking or smoking, and using discounts available to senior citizens can add up as well.

Choose How to Spend Your Money Wisely

Even though it’s important to save and watch expenses, you are also at a time when you want to enjoy the little things, such as visiting children and grandchildren or taking a last-minute vacation. Saving in some areas can free up money you will need for these small pleasures. Instead of eating out, learn how to cook at home and save money on expensive meals and tips. When going on a trip, keep all receipts to see how much you are spending and try to travel during the off-peak season. Small things add up.

Reduce Life Insurance Benefits

In the late years of your life you really don’t need as much life insurance as when you were younger.  When you are younger and have a family with young kids it’s important to have enough insurance coverage to help get your family through to adulthood. But in your later years when your kids are grown they more than likely have careers of their own. Some seniors have opted for cancelling their life insurance policies and going with a more affordable option like final expense life insurance. This type of insurance covers the basic of burial and will save you a considerable amount of money.

Eliminate Debt

Eliminating debt will reduce your monthly expenses and save you a lot of money in interest charges. If you have debt at any age, the best thing you can do is take care of it as soon as possible. Remember that you will not have additional income when you are retired and unless you are overflowing with cash, you will need to save as much as possible. If you have a mortgage, adding even a small amount to that monthly charge will reduce the number of years in which you will pay it off.

Anyone can cut back on unnecessary expenses if they put their mind to it. It may not be easy, but if you start early in life, you will be able to enjoy your retirement comfortably when that time comes and still enjoy the things that matter most to you. When you examine your monthly payments closely, you will find many areas where you can save money without sacrificing your quality of life. Consider taking money from savings to settle the debt or a mortgage if you have one. Making a budget and analyzing how you spend your money can give you great insights into what you will need for retirement and how you can cut costs without jeopardizing the basics.

Trump’s Trade War: As Options Traders Bank on Volatility, Asia Braces for a Storm

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Trump’s Trade War: As Options Traders Bank on Volatility, Asia Braces for a Storm
“Donald Trump” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore

President Donald Trump’s proverbial trade war with China could have far-reaching effects as the new tariffs take hold. With the US now applying additional charges to $34 billion worth of Chinese imports, the Trump administration’s counterparts have responded in kind with their own tariffs. For many, the July 6, 2018 changes are the start of a potentially destructive tit-for-tat battle that could impact Asia as a whole. As they often do, the financial markets have reacted with price fluctuations for a myriad of commodities and stocks. From soy beans and coal to shares in major companies in both countries, the effects of the trade war are already hitting investors.

A Time for Options Traders to Invest

“Graph With Stacks Of Coins” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by kenteegardin

For options traders, a volatile market is a blessing in disguise. But what is options trading on commodities and stocks? It’s buying or selling assets based on a future price. When otherwise stable markets become volatile, traders looking to make a quick buck are often quick to invest. With the US and China typically standing strong as stable economies, the margins on import and export assets is usually fairly low. However, with Trump’s tariffs destabilizing the status quo and spooking businesses, prices now have the potential to vary wildly. Anyone with an interest in options trading now has the ability to capitalize on these unexpected fluctuations and cash in before harmony is restored.

However, when and, indeed, if harmony will be restored is unclear. While that may be good news for traders, it could spell disaster for business owners, consumers and, in turn, economies that rely on the US and China.

“Across Asia, there is a deep regional value chain […] So, trade tensions between the U.S. and China will have a spillover effect through this value chain,” Asian Development Bank’s Cyn-Young Park told CNBC in May.

Tariffs Threaten to Strangle the Asian Supply Line

“Forbidden City, Beijing” (CC BY 2.0) by romanboed

At the heart of the problem is the Asian production line. Although China heads goods exports to the West, it’s a head served by a network of intermediaries. In other words, countries across Asia are manufacturing semi-finished goods which are then sent to China. Once China’s businesses complete the chain, they sell them to the US et al and money trickles down. With Trump’s tariffs squeezing profits at the top, everyone further down the chain suffers. For Park, a meeting with local experts has identified a number of concerns. Assessing the data, the banker believes a 1% drop in China’s economic growth rate will reduce Asia’s financial status by 0.3%.

Of the countries currently eyeing up the trade war, the Philippines could be the most effected. As per the statistics from Malaysian bank RHB, 16.9% of exports from the Philippines go to China. If the new levies forces China to reduce trade with the US and slow production, it would impact almost one fifth of the Philippines’ GDP. For short-term options traders, the escalating tensions between the US and China could allow them to make hay while the sun isn’t shining. However, for Asia as a whole, the consequences could be dire.

What are the advantages of variable frequency drives?

James J. Williams
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0
What are the advantages of variable frequency drives?

Technologies of oil and gas extraction are developing every day. Due to the need of new methods and innovations the world of power electronics is designing more and more equipment that will make the process of extraction more comfortable and productive.

Over past 20 years, Triol Corporation produces equipment which has all the advantages for your business to deliver the best results in a small period of time. And one of them is Variable Frequency Drive.

Variable Frequency Drive is designed to control pumps, fans and general industrial machinery. The drive provides a soft start, motor speed regulation, prolong work at rated speed, reversing and braking of induction and PMM motors, as well as maintaining throughout the range of the nominal operating frequency characteristics for the selected type of motor.

VFDs are successfully operating in a wide range of areas: fuel and energy sector, housing and utilities, infrastructure, mining industry, construction industry, cement production and metallurgy.

Triol Variable Frequency Drive provides operation and protection of drive mechanisms, as well as automatic control, remote and local startup and shutdown.

Triol VSDs has one but big advantage above all the rest manufacturers and it’s the following:

  • Triol VFDs are universal for all the existing types of motors (induction, PMM, PCP, Linear).
  • There’s a possibility to install the Triol downhole measuring system if needed. If the customer wants to install his own ESP gauge it’s also can be performed by our company. We are paying attention to your requests and wishes.

Triol Corporation – triolcorp.com has an individual approach for each client, that’s why we are the leading power electronics manufacturer!

4th of July: Aspen Swapping Fireworks Display for Drone Light Show

Nancy Clayson
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0
4th of July: Aspen Swapping Fireworks Display for Drone Light Show

The city of Aspen is swapping its annual 4th of July fireworks display for a drone show – because of a wildfire risk in the drought-hit area.

According to officials, fifty drones will light up the night sky in patriotic colors to mark Independence Day.

The 15-minute show will start at 21:15 local time.

This comes after Colorado’s fire authorities introduced strict fire restrictions across huge swathes of the western state.

The Drone Light Show is being organized in Aspen’s Wagner Park by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association (ACRA).

Image source Wikimedia

4 Exciting Uses For Drones

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks: Start time and best viewing locations

ACRA has invited the public to “watch the drones light up the sky choreographed to patriotic music”.

Spokeswoman Melissa Wisenbaker was quoted as saying: “We had to come up with a highlight for our celebrations so we’re doing a drone show. It should be fun, a bit new age.

“If we are having these increased fire dangers and risks every year, then we would like to have alternatives so people can end the night on a good note.”

ACRA may have been influenced by a spectacular drone show during the Winter Olympics 2018 ceremony in Pyeongchang.

A swarm of unmanned aerial machines then formed the five Olympic rings in mid-air.

However, the organizers later said the spectacular sight of 1,218 drones in the sky was pre-recorded because of “possible freezing weather and strong winds”.

4 Things to Think About When Considering Starting Your Own Business

Dana R
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0
4 Things to Think About When Considering Starting Your Own Business

Starting your own business can bring you wonderful opportunities, one of the most rewarding is that you are no longer subject to following other people’s orders, and are free to run your business as you see fit. While the benefits of being your own boss are definitely worthwhile, they also come hand in hand with a lot of new stresses and responsibilities which you don’t face when working for someone else. For example, there are a lot of different factors which need to be considered when setting up a company, from finding your place in the market to getting the financial and emotional support you need to get off of the ground. If you are thinking of pursuing your own start up, then here are four things you might need to think about.

Finding a niche

Most new businesses are either one of two things: a development of a pre-existing product or service which has been made more appealing to the market, or a completely new and original concept. In either case, it is important that your business fills some sort of gap in the market, and is supplying something which consumers will want to buy. In other words, you need to choose a business idea which fills a niche in the market.

The only way to truly know what consumers want is to do extensive research into current and prospective buying trends, and to evaluate what new business would be a good asset to the current climate. A great way to find out what your potential customers are looking for would be to conduct focus groups or interviews and ask members of your target market what they feel is missing from the already available products and services available, and what they would like to see from a new business.

Once you have a business idea in mind, before you commit to your product, you should make sure to research your potential competitors extensively. By looking at your rival businesses, you can make sure that you don’t set up a business in an area where there is too much competition, and also that you can create a product or service which has more customer appeal than what is already currently available.

Finding the startup capital

If you are thinking of starting your own business, then it is possible that you already have some money to put towards the start-up capital you will need. Whether you do or don’t have much money of your own to put towards the initial start-up costs for your business, it is still worthwhile to come up with methods of procuring additional funding, as this venture may be a lot more expensive than you think. After all, there is a lot that goes into building up a company, from finding a base of operations to hiring employees, and collecting all of the necessary stock.

Therefore, it is important to sit down and try to estimate just how much money it is going to take to set up every little detail of the business. If you find that you don’t already have enough money to meet every aspect of your startup, then you need to start thinking of other ways to get the necessary funding.

There are a few different ways you could do this. Firstly, you could look for business investors who would be interested in putting money into your business in hopes of a later return. To get investor backing, you would first need to construct an informed and compelling business plan to present to them, along with being able to pitch a persuading argument as to why your business is worth investing in. You could also try peer-to-peer investing, and acquire smaller amounts of money through your peers in this way. Alternatively, if you have bad credit or are unsure of having investors who may want to influence your business, you could consider getting a loan, such as from Bonsai Finance. Plus, you could always consider using online websites which allow people to raise money from complete strangers, who donate to your startup if they think the idea is good, such as Go Fund Me.

Branding and marketing

Branding your business is what gives your company it’s identity, which is important as this is what your client sees and makes a judgment on before they have even used any of your products or services. The right branding will help to draw your clients in, so it needs to be clear and concise, and accurately portray all the necessary information which you want your customers to know about your service.

Branding is comprised of a number of different attributes, such as company name, logo, color choices, slogans and a recognizable face or mascot of the company. Over time, as your company grows, it is these different factors which will become known across a wider base. In essence, people should be able to look at your company logo and know who you are and what you do.

When you market your business, many of these different branding techniques should be present, such as having your logo on the screen on a television advert or using the mascot or face of your company in all of your advertisement regimes. Try to choose advertising distribution techniques which are most likely to be seen by your clients. For example, a target market of 18-30 is more likely to see an online advertisement than an ad in a newspaper.

Getting support

Running a business can be extremely difficult, which is why it is important to have a reliable team of people who can support you. This could either be in the form of business partners, a hired management team or just simply get the support of your friends and family to help you in the early stages of your business. There can be a temptation to have a personal involvement in all aspects of the business, but it is important to remember to delegate tasks, as this will help your business to run more smoothly.

Starting your own business can bring you wonderful opportunities, one of the most rewarding is that you are no longer subject to following other people’s orders, and are free to run your business as you see fit. While the benefits of being your own boss are definitely worthwhile, they also come hand in hand with a lot of new stresses and responsibilities which you don’t face when working for someone else. For example, there are a lot of different factors which need to be considered when setting up a company, from finding your place in the market to getting the financial and emotional support you need to get off of the ground. If you are thinking of pursuing your own start up, then here are four things you might need to think about.

Finding a niche

Most new businesses are either one of two things: a development of a pre-existing product or service which has been made more appealing to the market, or a completely new and original concept. In either case, it is important that your business fills some sort of gap in the market, and is supplying something which consumers will want to buy. In other words, you need to choose a business idea which fills a niche in the market.

The only way to truly know what consumers want is to do extensive research into current and prospective buying trends, and to evaluate what new business would be a good asset to the current climate. A great way to find out what your potential customers are looking for would be to conduct focus groups or interviews and ask members of your target market what they feel is missing from the already available products and services available, and what they would like to see from a new business.

Once you have a business idea in mind, before you commit to your product, you should make sure to research your potential competitors extensively. By looking at your rival businesses, you can make sure that you don’t set up a business in an area where there is too much competition, and also that you can create a product or service which has more customer appeal than what is already currently available.

Finding the startup capital

If you are thinking of starting your own business, then it is possible that you already have some money to put towards the start-up capital you will need. Whether you do or don’t have much money of your own to put towards the initial start-up costs for your business, it is still worthwhile to come up with methods of procuring additional funding, as this venture may be a lot more expensive than you think. After all, there is a lot that goes into building up a company, from finding a base of operations to hiring employees, and collecting all of the necessary stock.

Therefore, it is important to sit down and try to estimate just how much money it is going to take to set up every little detail of the business. If you find that you don’t already have enough money to meet every aspect of your startup, then you need to start thinking of other ways to get the necessary funding.

There are a few different ways you could do this. Firstly, you could look for business investors who would be interested in putting money into your business in hopes of a later return. To get investor backing, you would first need to construct an informed and compelling business plan to present to them, along with being able to pitch a persuading argument as to why your business is worth investing in. You could also try peer-to-peer investing, and acquire smaller amounts of money through your peers in this way. Alternatively, if you have bad credit or are unsure of having investors who may want to influence your business, you could consider getting a loan, such as from Bonsai Finance. Plus, you could always consider using online websites which allow people to raise money from complete strangers, who donate to your startup if they think the idea is good, such as Go Fund Me.

Branding and marketing

Branding your business is what gives your company it’s identity, which is important as this is what your client sees and makes a judgment on before they have even used any of your products or services. The right branding will help to draw your clients in, so it needs to be clear and concise, and accurately portray all the necessary information which you want your customers to know about your service.

Branding is comprised of a number of different attributes, such as company name, logo, color choices, slogans and a recognizable face or mascot of the company. Over time, as your company grows, it is these different factors which will become known across a wider base. In essence, people should be able to look at your company logo and know who you are and what you do.

When you market your business, many of these different branding techniques should be present, such as having your logo on the screen on a television advert or using the mascot or face of your company in all of your advertisement regimes. Try to choose advertising distribution techniques which are most likely to be seen by your clients. For example, a target market of 18-30 is more likely to see an online advertisement than an ad in a newspaper.

Getting support

Running a business can be extremely difficult, which is why it is important to have a reliable team of people who can support you. This could either be in the form of business partners, a hired management team or just simply get the support of your friends and family to help you in the early stages of your business. There can be a temptation to have a personal involvement in all aspects of the business, but it is important to remember to delegate tasks, as this will help your business to run more smoothly.

3 Unmissable Tips for Saving Money on Your Next iPhone

Nancy Clayson
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0
3 Unmissable Tips for Saving Money on Your Next iPhone
Image source Pexels

Apple iPhones are known for their quality and how useful their features are. FaceTime and iMessage changed the game when it comes to communicating with friends and family, the Siri virtual assistant is an irreplaceable tool for busy people, and the beautiful screens offer crystal clear views when you’re streaming Netflix shows or YouTube videos.

The problem is that this quality comes at a cost. According to a report by Business Insider Intelligence, the average selling price for a brand new iPhone is $800. While that average price is driven by the iPhone X, which retailed for a massive $999 when it was released in November 2017, it underscores the fact that overall, iPhones can be pretty expensive.

However, they don’t need to cost so much money. Price-savvy phone users can shave a considerable amount of money off of their next iPhone, helping you to stay in budget when buying a new handset. Take a look at our unmissable iPhone-buying tips below.

Buy Refurbished iPhones

A refurbished phone is a previously used phone that has been tested extensively, cleaned, and repaired before being sold again. All of the personal data on the phone will have been deleted and it may receive new hardware parts (e.g. a new battery or screen) if necessary. Because phones are unable to be sold as brand new if they have been used at all (even if they have only been used for a single day), retailers opt to test and repair the phones, selling them at a lower the price so that the returned handset doesn’t just languish on the shelves of its store room.

Because iPhones are such a popular device, there are generally some very good offers across the entire range of handsets. There are discounts at the lower-end with a refurbished iPhone SE available for just $169 which is a saving of $230 (58% off of the RRP) all the way up to more recently released handsets, with the refurbished iPhone 7 Plus being available for $470 which is a saving of $190 (28% off of the RRP). You can even find offers for refurbished iPhone X units, bagging yourself a discount of more than $100 despite the device releasing less than a year ago.

What’s important to note however, is that it’s important to check out the reviews of refurbished iPhone retailers before you buy and to make comparisons. This is because different retailers will offer varying prices (products through Apple may be hundreds of dollars more expensive than a reputable third-party such as Amazon, for example) as well as different warranty offers and they may even have different product ranges on offer. So you’ll want to shop around or use a price comparison site such as Refurb.me to ensure that you’re getting the best deal.

Image source Pexels

Buy an Unlocked iPhone

When buying a new phone, it can be tempting to just purchase the phone from your network carrier (e.g Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint) either outright or purchasing it on a contract deal that sees you pay for it over the course of 24 months. Many smartphone shoppers do this due to the convenience – you love the current data plan offered by your carrier so it makes sense to buy a phone through them that is locked to that network.

But if you’re looking to save money, buying a locked phone through a carrier isn’t recommended. The problem with locked phones is that they can only be used with a SIM card from that carrier, meaning that if you were to ever switch from that network, you’d find yourself in trouble. What happens if you find a better deal on your data plan and want to switch networks (while using the same iPhone) in future? You will then have to pay an additional fee to have that phone unlocked.

Furthermore, if you want to sell that phone on to someone, you’ll be limited to buyers who are on the same carrier the phone is locked to. Or, you’ll have to pay to get it unlocked, eating into the potential profit you’d have made by selling the phone to your buddy, your next door neighbor or anyone else who may want to buy it. So, it makes sense to just buy an unlocked phone in the first place, saving you all of this trouble.

Buy an Older iPhone

When buying an iPhone, it can be tempting to spend money on the latest, greatest and most powerful handset on the market. You may have been enticed by the slick, award-winning ads that pull on your heartstrings, or the YouTube videos that feature a group of people having fun with Animojis. While these features are great and are why Apple’s new handsets seem to set sales records when they’re released, in order to save money, it’s important to consider which features you actually need.

If you already have an iPhone then the best place is to start by checking your app usage (take a look at OSX Daily’s guide on how to do that).

if you find yourself mostly checking emails and watching YouTube videos, or playing games such as Candy Crush Saga which don’t require a lot of power to run well, it makes more sense to opt for something such as a refurbished iPhone 6S Plus or even a refurbished iPhone 6. These devices are capable and offer enough power to support your phone usage, without pushing the boat out.


If you play a lot of power-intensive games such as Fortnite Battle Royale and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds then it makes sense to go for an iPhone X or something of that ilk. Even then, you can still save a bit of money by being patient and waiting for the latest phone to become available as refurbished (as detailed earlier in this post). It generally takes around three or four months for newly released phones to be refurbished, so a bit of patience can save you a substantial amount of money.

Top Reasons to Open a Bitcoin IRA

Dana R
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0
Top Reasons to Open a Bitcoin IRA

More and more people want to open a bitcoin IRA. Some believe that this is much too risky of an enterprise because of the volatility of cryptocurrencies. However, financial experts agreed that a diverse portfolio is the best portfolio, which in turn means that at least considering Bitcoin is a good idea. The reality is that it is possible that bitcoin, as well as the other biggest cryptocurrency, which is Ethereum, will absolutely soar in value. In fact, some have predicted an over 3000% increase in next 10 years. Besides the fact that you could end up incredibly rich comma there are a number of other reasons why you may want to consider adding cryptocurrencies to your investment portfolio.

 

Why You Should Open a Bitcoin IRA

 

  1. Cryptocurrencies have only existed for a decade. This means that, compared to other historically major investment and asset classes, they are still incredibly young. It also means that they still have a lot of room to grow. At the same time, they are not so young that they are completely new. Over the past 10 years, cryptocurrencies have shown themselves to be a pretty strong and interesting investment class.
  2. The world is becoming increasingly digital and it seems that this digitalization is never going to stop. Cryptocurrency is a significant digital and technological advancement and it seems logical to assume that they will soon earn a permanent place in the world of technology, which means in the entire world.
  3. Cryptocurrencies are really anonymous and this makes them attractive and appealing to a lot of people. Most would like to prefer the financial identity to remain private at all times period through cryptocurrencies, transactions can be conducted very discreetly and this also means there is less chance of identity theft and fraudulent transactions.
  4. You will not be influenced by the currency interference of the US Federal Reserve. There is no regulating body when it comes to crypto currencies like bitcoin or ethereum because there is no central bank that issued them. Like gold, silver, palladium, platinum, and other precious metals, this is specifically what attracts people to them.
  5. You do not have to pay for transactions or holding. There are some slight exceptions to this. You must hold your Bitcoin in a digital wallet. Some of those wallets are completely free, but the most advanced and most secure are paid for. It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to choose a bit for wallet. Similarly, transactions are completely free unless you want them to be conducted within a matter of seconds, in which case you will have to pay a fee to the Bitcoin Miner that completes the transaction. In other words, bitcoin can be completely free.

More and more people want to open a bitcoin IRA. Some believe that this is much too risky of an enterprise because of the volatility of cryptocurrencies. However, financial experts agreed that a diverse portfolio is the best portfolio, which in turn means that at least considering Bitcoin is a good idea. The reality is that it is possible that bitcoin, as well as the other biggest cryptocurrency, which is Ethereum, will absolutely soar in value. In fact, some have predicted an over 3000% increase in next 10 years. Besides the fact that you could end up incredibly rich comma there are a number of other reasons why you may want to consider adding cryptocurrencies to your investment portfolio.

 

Why You Should Open a Bitcoin IRA

 

Cryptocurrencies have only existed for a decade. This means that, compared to other historically major investment and asset classes, they are still incredibly young. It also means that they still have a lot of room to grow. At the same time, they are not so young that they are completely new. Over the past 10 years, cryptocurrencies have shown themselves to be a pretty strong and interesting investment class.

The world is becoming increasingly digital and it seems that this digitalization is never going to stop. Cryptocurrency is a significant digital and technological advancement and it seems logical to assume that they will soon earn a permanent place in the world of technology, which means in the entire world.

Cryptocurrencies are really anonymous and this makes them attractive and appealing to a lot of people. Most would like to prefer the financial identity to remain private at all times period through cryptocurrencies, transactions can be conducted very discreetly and this also means there is less chance of identity theft and fraudulent transactions.

You will not be influenced by the currency interference of the US Federal Reserve. There is no regulating body when it comes to crypto currencies like bitcoin or ethereum because there is no central bank that issued them. Like gold, silver, palladium, platinum, and other precious metals, this is specifically what attracts people to them.

You do not have to pay for transactions or holding. There are some slight exceptions to this. You must hold your Bitcoin in a digital wallet. Some of those wallets are completely free, but the most advanced and most secure are paid for. It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to choose a bit for wallet. Similarly, transactions are completely free unless you want them to be conducted within a matter of seconds, in which case you will have to pay a fee to the Bitcoin Miner that completes the transaction. In other words, bitcoin can be completely free.

 

These are just five reasons as to why you may want to consider investing in Bitcoin for your retirement period at the end of the day, having a diverse portfolio is the best way to make sure that you will have a nest egg to fall back on and this means you should consider alternative investment classes as well. The technological revolution is upon us and you may as well write that wave.

These are just five reasons as to why you may want to consider investing in Bitcoin for your retirement period at the end of the day, having a diverse portfolio is the best way to make sure that you will have a nest egg to fall back on and this means you should consider alternative investment classes as well. The technological revolution is upon us and you may as well write that wave.

3 safety tips before your first mountaineering extravaganza (tip: you’ll need a GPS tracker)

Dana R
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0
3 safety tips before your first mountaineering extravaganza (tip: you’ll need a GPS tracker)

Something that has become increasingly common over the last few years is extreme sports. A few decades ago people may have “wanted to do something different” by signing up for a marathon. Now, the likes of mountaineering tend to be at the top of the list.

As the title may have already given away, today’s guide is all about how you can safely prepare for your first mountaineering trip. Suffice to say, it’s not simply a case of turning up and hoping that everything goes to plan. There’s a degree of planning involved and through the course of this guide we will take a look at the three safety avenues you should tackle to keep you in one piece.

How will you communicate with others?

As you may have noticed from the title of this article, we paid specific attention to the use of a GPS tracker. The main benefit of these devices is that they tend to always track your location and can relay it back to those who might be waiting at home for you, should the unthinkable occur and you succumb to an emergency situation. While mobile phones might lose signal, GPS trackers rely on satellites which can make them a little more reliable.

Of course, you should also take a mobile phone as well. That two-way communication can be absolutely invaluable and while you will lose signal at times, there will also be areas around the mountain where your phone does function completely fine.

The importance of planning safely

Everyone knows the potential dangers associated with mountaineering, but a lot of people new to the sport won’t take safety seriously until they actually reach the mountain. This is their first mistake.

In short, you should be planning from the outset on how to tackle your new hobby. You should be researching exactly which mountains are suitable for beginners, and selecting them accordingly. As well as this, find out if there are other climbers who frequent to these mountains as suffice to say, the more people there, the safer things can become if you do run into difficulties.

Additionally, make sure you keep an eye on the weather. We don’t need to highlight how difficult mountaineering can become if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Take your first aid seriously

The final point we are going to make relates to first aid. Even though you may have only just started with your hobby, you should be making sure that you are adequately trained in case the worst happens. Courses are now much more affordable, and rarely take longer than a day, so they are accessible than ever before.

As well as this, we can’t reiterate enough the importance of a first aid kit. Even if this just contains the bare essentials, this can be a godsend if you do run into trouble and there is no outside assistance that you know of.

Mexico Elections 2018: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Wins Presidency

Diane A. Wade
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Mexico Elections 2018: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Wins Presidency

Andrés Manuel López Obrador has announced that “profound change” is coming for Mexico after claiming victory in the country’s presidential election.

The left-wing candidate, known by his initials Amlo, is projected to win about 53%. His rivals have conceded in a crushing defeat for the main parties.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s key pledge has been to tackle the “evil” of corruption.

The ex-Mexico City mayor has also been highly critical of President Donald Trump and ties with the US will now be closely watched.

Relations with the US have been hugely strained, with President Trump strongly criticizing Mexico over trade and migration. President Trump has sent a tweet of congratulations.

The 64-year-old promised to respect civil liberties and said he was “not looking to construct a dictatorship, either open or hidden”.

Some opponents have expressed fears that his leftist and populist policies could damage the already sluggish economy and turn Mexico into “another Venezuela”. Mexico is suffering a deep economic crisis and rampant inflation.

Image source Wikimedia

Mexico elections 2012: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will mount legal challenge to the result

Hailing a “historic night”, López Obrador called on all Mexicans to reconcile and repeated his campaign pledge to review energy contracts for signs of corruption.

He said: “Corruption is… the result of a decadent political regime. We are absolutely convinced that this evil is the main cause of social and economic inequality, and also that corruption is to blame for the violence in our country.”

López Obrador has insisted that no-one involved in corruption will be spared, not even those he calls “brothers-in-arms”.

On combating Mexico’s record levels of violence, much of it related to drug cartels, he said he would have daily meetings with his security cabinet, which under him, he said, would be under a “unified command”.

The July 1 election followed one of Mexico’s deadliest campaigns in decades with more than 130 political candidates and party workers killed.

During the campaign Andreas Manuel López Obrador had often used confrontational language when referring to President Trump, but struck a more conciliatory note in his victory speech, saying he would seek “friendly relations”.

López Obrador also tried to reassure the business sector, saying there would be no nationalization and that he would respect private business. He also said his government would be fiscally disciplined and taxes would not be raised.

On social policies, López Obrador said he would double pensions for the elderly upon taking office on December 1 as a first step to reducing Mexico’s disparate income levels.

According to the latest figures from the Mexican electoral institute, Andreas Manuel López Obrador has won more than double the votes of his nearest challenger. It is the widest victory since the 1980s.

His rival, Ricardo Anaya, candidate for the conservative National Action Party (PAN), looked set to be runner-up to López Obrador.

Ruling party candidate José Antonio Meade, who lies in third place according to initial results, told supporters that he wished the winner “the greatest success”.

President Trump Urges Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Production

Clyde K. Valle
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President Trump Urges Saudi Arabia to Increase Oil Production

President Donald Trump has urged Saudi Arabia to increase its oil production to combat the rising cost of fuel.

He tweeted that he had asked King Salman of Saudi Arabia to raise oil output by up to two million barrels a day.

President Trump said the move was needed due to “turmoil and dysfunction in Iran and Venezuela”.

Oil prices rose last week, partly due to US plans to re-impose sanctions on Iran, a major oil producer.

The OPEC group agreed to increase output, as did Russia, but this failed to reassure markets.

The Saudi Press Agency confirmed that President Trump and King Salman had spoken by phone, giving few details. According to the news agency, they had discussed the need to “preserve the stability of the oil market”.

However, the statement did not confirm that Saudi Arabia had agreed to the two million barrels a day figure.

Image source Public Domain Pictures

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Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest exporter of oil and produced about 10 million barrels a day in May. The country is reported to have between 1.5 million and two million barrels a day of spare capacity – but experts told The Wall Street Journal it might not be keen to meet the president’s request.

A Saudi official told the WSJ: “Saudi Arabia does not really like going beyond 11 million barrels a day and has no intention of expanding its current production capacity. It is expensive.”

Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized OPEC even though US ally Saudi Arabia is a core member.

On April 20, President Trump tweeted that oil prices were “artificially very high”, saying this was “no good” and “will not be accepted!”

Iran, another OPEC member, has accused Donald Trump of trying to politicize the group and has blamed Riyadh for doing his bidding.

On June 30, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the US was trying to drive a wedge between Iranians and their government using “economic pressure”.

He cautioned on his website: “Six US presidents before him tried this and had to give up.”

The value of Iranian currency, the rial, has tumbled since the US backed out of the Iran nuclear deal in May.

Earlier this week, thousands of traders at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar marched in protest against rising prices and the plummeting value of the rial. It was the biggest protest Tehran has seen since 2012.

Immigration Policies: Tens of Thousands Protest Against Families Split Across US

Diane A. Wade
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Immigration Policies: Tens of Thousands Protest Against Families Split Across US

Tens of thousands of protesters have demonstrated across the US over the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies.

More than 630 events were planned, with demonstrators calling for migrant families split at the US border to be reunited.

Some 2,000 children remain separated from their parents, despite President Donald Trump bowing to public outrage and curtailing the policy.

Concerns remain that records were not kept linking parents and children.

Major demonstrations took place in Washington DC, New York, and many other cities, using the hashtag #familiesbelongtogether. Protesters held placards calling for no more family separations and for the controversial immigration agency ICE to be abolished.

In New York, protesters chanted: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.”

In Chicago, protesters marched to the local offices of federal immigration authorities.

Image source familiesbelongtogether.org

Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Travel Ban for Muslim Countries

Supreme Court Approves Donald Trump’s Full Travel Ban

US Travel Ban: White House Sets New Criteria for Visa Applicants from Six Muslim Countries

The original Trump administration “zero tolerance” policy required authorities to arrest and detain anyone crossing the Mexico-US border illegally. That meant separating children from their parents and holding them separately.

However, President Trump promised to “keep families together” in migrant detention centers.

But critics say the order did not address the issue of families already separated, leaving uncertainty over the fate of 2,342 children taken away from their parents between May 5 and June 9 alone. Earlier this week, a judge in California ordered the families to be reunited within 30 days.

It also still requires authorities to detain immigrant families, rather than release them with a court date to return.

Protests’ organizers said they wanted to send a message to President Trump, prompted by concerns that he would renege on his executive order.

As well as the reunification of parents and children, organizers called for an end to immigrant detention – even when families are kept together – and also planned to voice opposition to President Trump’s travel ban targeting five majority-Muslim nations, which was upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this week.

Protests were also likely to focus on the shake-up of the Supreme Court after Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement last week, giving President Trump the opportunity to solidify a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

On June 30, President Trump defended the agency that played a central role in carrying out the separations – the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The president told its employees: “You are doing a fantastic job of keeping us safe by eradicating the worst criminal elements. So brave!”

Protests’ organizers issued instructions for people to dress in white, to represent peace and unity. The main march is taking place in Washington DC, but one of the people behind the movement, Anna Galland, said separate events were planned in 50 states.

Lead organizers of the march include the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

A number of celebrities expressed their support, including Julianne Moore, America Ferrara and Natalie Portman, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the hit musical Hamilton.

Annapolis Attack: Five People Killed in Shooting at Capital Gazette Office

Nancy Clayson
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Annapolis Attack: Five People Killed in Shooting at Capital Gazette Office

Five people have been killed and many more wounded after a gunman opened fire at the Capital Gazette newspaper building in Maryland.

Staff at the newspaper in Annapolis said he shot through a glass door into the newsroom.

Reporter Phil Davis tweeted: “There is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you’re under your desk and then hear the gunman reload.”

Police announced that a suspect was now in custody and was being questioned.

“We’ve had a terrible shooting incident here this afternoon,” county executive Steve Schuh said in a news conference.

“There are several people who have died from this incident.”

Image source Youtube/CBSN

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Police could not identify the exact weapon at the time. They said the suspect was being interrogated by law enforcement.

Several federal agencies, including the FBI, were involved in responding to the shooting in the city of Annapolis, just east of Washington DC.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said on Twitter he was “absolutely devastated” and was in contact with authorities.

President Donald Trump was briefed on the shooting.

He tweeted: “Prior to departing Wisconsin, I was briefed on the shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Thank you to all of the First Responders who are currently on the scene.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it was responding.

The Capital Gazette is a daily newspaper and digital news site that is a part of Capital Gazette Communications.

Capital Gazette Communications publishes several local papers and is owned by the Baltimore Sun Media Group.

President Trump Starts Supreme Court Search to Replace Retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy

Diane A. Wade
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President Trump Starts Supreme Court Search to Replace Retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy

President Donald Trump has announced the search for a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will “begin immediately”.

He said at a rally in North Dakota: “We have to pick one that’s going to be there for 40 years, 45 years.”

The retirement of Justice Kennedy, a conservative who sided with liberals on many votes, gives President Trump the chance to shift the top court’s balance more to the right for decades to come.

The 81-year-old judge will retire on July 31.

Justice Anthony Kennedy made the announcement on June 27, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family after 30 years on the top court. President Trump later praised Justice Kennedy – who held the pivotal vote on many key cases – as “a great justice of the Supreme Court”.

Image source Wikimedia

Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Travel Ban for Muslim Countries

“Hopefully we are going to pick somebody who will be as outstanding,” the president told reporters at the White House. The judge’s retirement gives President Trump his second Supreme Court pick since he became president, and he has said he will choose from a list of 25 conservative candidates.

The Supreme Court plays a key role in American life and is often the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions.

This week the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban which covers people from several Muslim-majority countries, in a 5-4 conservative majority ruling. Earlier this month the court ruled in favor of a baker in Colorado who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Speaking at the rally in Fargo, North Dakota on June 27, President Trump told supporters that Anthony Kennedy had chosen to retire under his presidency “because he felt confident in me to make the right choice and carry on his great legacy”.

Donald Trump has promised to draw names from the same list from which he picked Neil Gorsuch in February 2017.

Rather than serving fixed terms, the justices serve for life unless they decide to retire. This makes their appointments particularly significant.

Anthony Kennedy, who is the second-oldest justice on the nine-member US Supreme Court, earned a reputation as a swing vote conservative who supported liberal arguments on key decisions, including the 5-4 rulings that decided same-gender marriage and upheld abortion rights.

How to Make Sure Your Restaurant Receives an “A” Rating

Dana R
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How to Make Sure Your Restaurant Receives an “A” Rating

Running your own restaurant is quite the adventure. From early morning deliveries to serving customers late into the night, you’re always on the go. One big part of smooth operating is ensuring you pass inspections and receive an “A” rating. Doing so requires preparation and even a little practice. Sometimes, it even requires commercial pest control services. Read on for tips on making the grade with your restaurant.

Preparation and Practice

One way to ensure your restaurant passes inspection is to practice. You should have a copy of the local food code regulations that you must follow. Use it to look through your own establishment as if you were the health inspector. You may want to do a surprise inspection on your employees to help them prepare as well. You can also prepare by setting up a maintenance schedule, employing food handlers who are ServSafe-certified and periodically having re-training days for employees. Remember to keep accurate and organized records as well.

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Pest Control

While proper food storage is a key component to preventing pests in your restaurant, even the cleanest establishments might come across insects or rodents from time to time. Companies that provide commercial pest control services can inspect your restaurant and provide treatment for cockroaches, termites, ants, rats, mice and a variety of other pests. You may notice signs of little visitors, such as droppings or food items that look chewed on, but even if you don’t see signs, you should have a professional inspect your property at regular intervals.

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Proper Food Storage

Proper food storage and preparation is essential for passing an inspection. Store all food according to safe temperature specifications and at least six inches away from the ground. Never store uncooked food above ingredients that are ready to eat and ensure everything is properly wrapped. Remember to check your refrigerators and freezers regularly to ensure they do not rise above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to preparation, never cross-contaminate. Use separate cookware, utensils and surfaces for every raw or allergen-inducting food, and always wash them in hot water with approved soap before re-using them. It may help to use an HACCP program that color-coordinates prep tools so that you don’t accidentally cross-contaminate. Remember, food handlers should have clean nails, hands and forearms and should have their hair tied back and in a net. Anyone who is ill should not handle food.

If you find yourself in need of commercial pest control services for your restaurant, including wildlife removal, always hire a professional. Doing it yourself may save money now but missing something could mean lost income while you close shop to fix the problem after a poor inspection.

Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Travel Ban for Muslim Countries

Diane A. Wade
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Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s Travel Ban for Muslim Countries

The Supreme Court is upholding President Donald Trump’s travel ban which covers people from several Muslim-majority countries.

Lower courts had deemed the ban unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court reversed the decision in a 5-4 conservative majority ruling.

At a White House meeting to discuss President Trump’s proposed border wall he lauded the decision as “a tremendous success”.

The Supreme Court’s reversal is viewed as a victory for the Trump administration.

The ban prohibits most people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen from entering the United States.

President Trump hailed the Supreme Court’s decision saying that it was a “great victory” for the nation and constitution.

At a meeting with lawmakers, the president said: “We have to be tough and we have to be safe and we have to be secure.”

“The ruling shows that all the attacks from the media and the Democrat politicians were wrong, and they turned out to be very wrong,” he added.

President Trump said: “If you look at the European Union, they’re meeting right now to toughen up their immigration policies because they’ve been over-run, they’ve been over-run.

“And frankly, a lot of those countries are not the same places anymore.”

Image source Wikimedia

Supreme Court Approves Donald Trump’s Full Travel Ban

US Travel Ban: White House Sets New Criteria for Visa Applicants from Six Muslim Countries

The travel ban, which the Supreme Court allowed to take effect in December 2017, has been widely criticized by refugee and human rights groups.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion, which said the travel ban was “squarely within the scope of Presidential authority”.

He also rejected arguments that the ban discriminated against Muslims.

He wrote: “The Proclamation is expressly premised on legitimate purposes: preventing entry of nationals who cannot be adequately vetted and inducing other nations to improve their practices.

“The text says nothing about religion.”

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined Justice Sonia Sotomayor in the dissenting opinion, which argues the court failed to uphold the religious liberty guaranteed by the first amendment of the US constitution.

Justice Sonya Sotomayor wrote: “It leaves undisturbed a policy first advertised openly and unequivocally as a ‘total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States’ because the policy now masquerades behind a facade of national-security concerns.”

The dissent also states that “a reasonable observer would conclude that [the ban] was motivated by anti-Muslim animus”.

The ban prevents most immigrants, refugees and visa holders from five Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen – as well as North Korea and Venezuela from entering the US.

However, the restrictions on North Korea and Venezuela were not part of the legal challenge.

President Trump Criticizes Harley-Davidson for Planning to Shift Production to Avoid EU Tariffs

Clyde K. Valle
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0
President Trump Criticizes Harley-Davidson for Planning to Shift Production to Avoid EU Tariffs

President Donald Trump has criticized Harley-Davidson motorcycle over its plans to shift production away from the United States in order to avoid EU tariffs.

In a tweet, he said he was surprised that Harley-Davidson had become “the first to wave the white flag”.

The motorcycle maker earlier said making bikes for the European market would be transferred to other countries.

The European Union tariffs are a response to new US duties on steel and aluminum imports.

President Trump tweeted: “Surprised that Harley-Davidson, of all companies, would be the first to wave the White Flag. I fought hard for them and ultimately they will not pay tariffs selling into the E.U., which has hurt us badly on trade, down $151 Billion. Taxes just a Harley excuse – be patient! #MAGA”

Image source Wikipedia

Steel Tariffs: EU, Canada and Mexico Plan Retaliatory Moves

China Imposes New Tariffs of Up to 25% on 128 US Imports

On June 25, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at a briefing that the EU was “attempting to punish US workers with unfair and discriminatory trade policies”.

He added: “President Trump will continue to push for free, fair and reciprocal trade, in hopes that the EU will join us.”

The Wisconsin-based company said the increased costs from the EU tariffs were a “substantial” burden and a threat to its international sales, which it has been trying to expand.

Harley-Davidson has assembly plants in Australia, Brazil, India and Thailand as well as in the US.

The company said it would raise investment in its international plants, though it did not say which ones, adding that it expected the increase in production to take nine to 18 months.

Harley-Davidson said the tariffs would add, on average, $2,200 to each bike exported to Europe from the US as the import tax increases from 6% to 31%.

How to Start a Career in Forex?

Dana R
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0
How to Start a Career in Forex?

Trading with real money and not having sufficient knowledge of this is rather tough. Success in trading involves more than figuring out patterns as well as employing the correct indicators.

You need to know that trading tends to be a performance skill which needs to be sharpened. Read on to find out what to do if you want to begin a career in forex.

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Learn the Basics

You can start off by learning the basics when it comes to forex trading. Know what pips, risk management as well as leverage actually are. Also, learn how broker execution along with spreads factors into one’s trades.

You can follow the money and study this industry carefully. Consider the major players involved. Look at what points move currency prices. You can, for instance, look at US Dollar currency news, analysis and forecast as well as other news involved with money and forex trading.

You can also take a look at the different tools available to help with forexes, such as Forex calculators like currency convertor, pivot point, margin and fibonaccii. Get to know how these works.

Recognize Patterns

Try and learn how to recognize important patterns. Look at forex price action so that you can form the useful ability to be able to recognize patterns.

It depends upon your wanted time frame, but you may be analyzing months and even years of charts before actually being able to easily recognize some basic patterns like breakouts, trends, as well as ranges.

You need to keep in mind that trading tends not to be an easy way to get rich quickly. It is vital that you invest time and also effort to be able to succeed in this field.

Develop A Trading System

You can try and trade different currency pairs, along with technical indicators, time frames, as well as risk management strategies to figure out which ones suit your trading personality plus resources.

If you want you can also try out other’s strategies, nevertheless keep in mind that just because this particular strategy worked for some trader, this does not guarantee that it will work in the same way for you.

If you can figure out the factors which provide you with more wins in comparison to losses, then you can actually piece together your very own trading system.

Consider Trading on Demo

This part is not necessary, but demo trading let’s one test their trading system for profitability allowing them to hone their skills and that without any pressure of making profits.

You can identify any weakness that your system has and also look at the main trading issues that you have to work on. When you have tried out the trading demo and saw that you could not make money in this, then it may be a good idea if you do not proceed to live to trade.

You need to be able to think as if you are a trader. Track your progress by establishing goals, targets, along with performance metrics. If you want to be a career in forex trading, you need to be ready for this and know the difficulties that come up when you are in this field.

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

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

Two votes are being held in Turkey on June 24 – one to choose the country’s next president, and another to pick members of parliament.

Turkish voters will decide whether to grant President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a second five-year term, in the most fiercely fought elections in country in years.

Polls opened at 08:00AM local time in presidential and parliamentary votes.

If Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins, he will adopt major new powers that critics say will weaken democratic rule.

However, President Erdogan faces a major challenge from center-left candidate Muharrem Ince of the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Turkey remains under a state of emergency imposed in the aftermath of a failed coup in July 2016.

These elections were originally scheduled for November 2019, but were brought forward by President Erdogan.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main rival Muharrem Ince both held huge rallies on June 23, their final day of campaigning – and each branded the other unfit to run Turkey.

Image source Wikimedia

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

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

Muharrem Ince, whose fiery campaigning has revitalized Turkey’s demoralized opposition, promised to push back what he characterized as a slide into authoritarian rule under Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He told at least a million people gathered in Istanbul: “If Erdogan wins, your phones will continue to be listened to… Fear will continue to reign. If Ince wins, the courts will be independent.”

Muharrem Ince also said that if elected, he would lift Turkey’s state of emergency within 48 hours. Emergency rule allows the government to bypass parliament.

At his own rally, Recep Tayyip Erdogan – who was prime minister for 11 years before becoming president in 2014 – used a violent metaphor to summarize his hoped-for result, asking supporters: “Are we going to give them an Ottoman slap [a technique for knocking someone out] tomorrow?”

The incumbent president accused his rival – a former teacher and lawmaker of 16 years – of lacking the skills to lead.

“It’s one thing to be a physics teacher, it’s another thing to run a country,” President Erdogan said.

“Being president needs experience.”

President Erdogan told supporters he planned to push through more major infrastructure projects to boost the economy.

Around 60 million Turks are eligible to take part in today’s vote.

Six candidates are vying for the presidency, and if one of them wins more than 50% of the vote they will be elected outright.

If nobody hits that threshold, the top two will face off in a second-round vote on July 8.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be hoping to win decisively, as a run-off vote could end in defeat or narrow his margin of victory.

In the parliamentary election, President Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP) will face a tough battle to keep its majority in the 600-seat assembly.

US Navy Plans to Build Immigration Detention Centers on Military Bases

Roy Siemens
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US Navy Plans to Build Immigration Detention Centers on Military Bases

According to new reports, the US Navy is planning to build sprawling immigrant detention centers on military bases, amid a Trump crackdown at the US-Mexico border.

A draft memo obtained by Time magazine outlines plans to build “austere” tent camps to house 25,000 migrants.

According to the memo, the camps would be built on abandoned airfields in California, Alabama, and Arizona.

A camp near San Francisco is being designed for as many as 47,000 people.

Meanwhile, a Pentagon spokesman said the military had not been asked by the Department for Homeland Security (DHS) to draw up the specific plans, but was engaging in “prudent planning… should the DHS ask for assistance in housing adult illegal immigrants”.

Image source Wikimedia

White House Details New Immigrations Measures

President Donald Trump Responds to Racism Accusations

On June 21, the US military said it had been asked by the government to get ready to house up to 20,000 immigrant children.

The US Navy memo estimates the force would spend $233 million to run a facility for 25,000 people for six-months.

The memo gives a sense of the knock-on effect of a “zero tolerance” immigration policy being pursued by the Trump administration, in an effort to deter migrants from Central and South America from attempting to cross into the US.

A decision by the administration to criminally prosecute every migrant crossing the US-Mexico border led to some 2,300 children being separated from their parents in May and June, and sparked a global wave of outrage.

President Donald Trump eventually backed down in the face of overwhelming public pressure and signed an order to halt the family separations, but he insisted he remained committed to his “zero tolerance” policy.

Migrant children taken from their parents are being held in facilities run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Images from one facility in a converted Walmart sparked outrage earlier this week, when they showed children held in wire mesh cages, sleeping on mats with foil blankets.

On June 21, a DHS official said that about 500 children had been reunited with their families since separations began in May, but rights groups remain concern that there is not adequate information to return many young children to their parents.

On June 22, President Trump brought the parents of victims of murders by undocumented immigrants to the White House, where he signed photographs of their late children and invited them to tell their stories.

Top Benefits of Investing in Mutual Funds

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Top Benefits of Investing in Mutual Funds
Image source Pixabay

What could be the disadvantages and advantages of capitalizing in mutual funds? This is one question, which is often asked and looked upon since there are a lot of advantages of mutual funds as are the risks of mutual funds investment. Let us look at both of them here in details.

Mutual Fund Benefits

Mutual fund is popular among the investors. Here let us discuss about the benefits of best mutual funds in India or rather the advantages of mutual funds

  • Diversification

Diversification is necessary. Not just in investments, but in any field of life. In mutual funds, diversification helps eliminate major risks of mutual funds investment since it involves the mixing of different kinds of investments including stocks, bonds, and other investment opportunities.

  • Economies of Sale

The transaction cost of investors is reduced in mutual funds. It is similar to how you get bulk products. the more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

Mutual fund benefits thus prove to have an edge over other investment options.

  • Divisibility

Many investors do not have the kind of money to invest in high profiles, securities or portfolios. One of the advantages of mutual funds is also to divide the cost of the entire portfolio among people to give them the benefit of investment straight away. This also provides an additional advantage – liquidity.

  • Liquidity

One of the other benefits of mutual funds in India is the ability to be at ease in terms of getting in and out. Generally, an investor is able to sell the mutual funds at a shorter time period based on the current market trends.

This is one of the major mutual fund benefits. Among all the advantages of mutual funds, this one tops the lists. However, to avoid any risks of mutual funds, an investor must always check if there is any back-end load fee involved with such a transaction.

  • Flexibility

Mutual funds are flexible. You can either invest in one fund or invest in a variety of funds. Stocks, bonds, short-term savings, 401 (k) plans, automatic deposit, systematic withdrawal, long-term savings, dividends, and limitless investment strategies.

One of the main mutual fund benefits is that it gives you a wide variety of range or options to chose to invest from. Hence, it is good for both beginners as well as advanced investors who have a lot of knowledge in investing in various portfolios. For beginners, they may decide to invest in any one investment option to know how mutual funds work before advancing further.

  • Professional Management

When you invest in mutual funds, you invest in your portfolio management too. That is, in mutual funds, you get your personal and professional money manager who invests, buys and sells on your behalf. The money manager takes care of your portfolio as his/her own.

This gives you some space from your schedule. While the money manager researches the market and invests on your behalf you can stay rest assured that your money is in good hands.

However, it is a good idea to know more about your portfolio manager before handing over the entire money or investment details to him or her. This is one of the major risks of mutual funds investment.

Disadvantages of Mutual Funds

  • Costs

Mutual funds always carry costs. These costs decrease your overall rate of return.This is one of the major disadvantages of mutual funds.

  • Impersonal Connection

When you invest in mutual funds, you almost lose control of your money. The portfolio manager invests on your behalf while making his or her own decisions. There are quarterly calls which may help you know your investment profile but it is limited to just that. This is yet another disadvantages of mutual funds that you lose interpersonal communication. It acts as a risk of mutual funds in many cases, where due to lack of communication, investment expectations turn upside down.

  • No Intra-Day Trading

The NAV (Net Asset Value) price is settled each day, at the end of the trading day. Before the end of stock market close, if you do not lock in your trade, you will receive NAV as the close of business the following day.

Due to this, you cannot capitalize on sudden movements in the market.

Here we discussed about what are the advantages and disadvantages of investing in mutual funds? While mutual fund benefits are really promising in the investment scenario as compared to other investment options, if the risks of mutual funds are not handled properly and on time, the befits of mutual funds in India may turn into disadvantages of mutual funds.

This should be taken care of with utmost importance.

How to Choose a Shipping Company

Dana R
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How to Choose a Shipping Company

When you run a product-based business, figuring out logistics can be a nightmare. The task is often best outsourced to the shipping company who will be handling your goods and getting them from point A to point B.

Cat-transportation

Whenever possible, working with the same shipping company for the majority of your shipping needs is optimum. So how do you decide which one is best? Here’s how to choose the right shipping company for your business to ensure your products get to their destination in a timely, safe manner.

Pricing

One of the main things to consider when selecting a shipping company is pricing. You may think that all shipping companies will be on par with pricing, as they are virtually traveling the same distance to make your delivery– that could not be further from the truth. The size of the company, the fleet options available, supply and demand, and capacity all make a difference.

For example, if you are only filling half a container with products, you may pay more per pound than you would on a full container. Some shipping companies will organize their shipments to benefit both your budget and their bottom line. Compare pricing options before moving forward.

Third Party Options

As a subset to pricing, you may have better luck going through a third party logistics provider than you would negotiating yourself. Companies like Irish Parcels (visit them at IrishParcels.ie) spend their time building a rapport and networking with couriers. As they drive a lot of business to the shippers, they are offered deals and discounts that aren’t readily available to the average consumer, which then gets passed on to you.

Tracking

Being able to know where your items are when they’re in transit is a huge relief for those on a time crunch or sending valuable goods. In logistics, if there is a delay in transport it has a domino effect on other areas of the supply chain. Being able to identify a delay issue and contact someone about it immediately can help mitigate the risk of customer dissatisfaction and costly rerouting scenarios.

Most courier services now offer online tracking. This service is especially important for businesses who ship directly to customers around the holiday season, as that’s the busiest time of year for shipping and revenue.

Service

As with any business, the quality of service often outranks the pricing implications. As a business, you want to know that your products are in good hands so that your customers come back and purchase more goods. The same mentality should apply to the shipping business, who wants you to continue to use their service.

When you work with a shipping company, you should feel comfortable picking up the phone and addressing any questions or concerns you may have. Your customer service experience should leave you feeling taken care of, as you know you have knowledgeable, caring people looking out for your assets.

Coverage

When choosing a shipping company, look at the area they cover. Will they get your product to the final destination or will you have to coordinate a pick up from a depot? Will they pick up your product from your warehouse or will you have to coordinate transportation there?

Depending on the mode of transportation you’re using, and the location of the final drop-off, it’s not uncommon to have multiple modes of transportation in the shipping process. However, having a clear idea of what’s expected can help you decide what company to use. Keep in mind that the more your product is handled, the more likely it is that damage will occur.

Taking your time to build a rapport with a shipping company will ensure you get the best pricing and service for handling your goods. Research, ask questions, and get recommendations from other businesses to make the right choice.

4 Summer Food Trends to Try This Season

Kathryn R. Bown
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4 Summer Food Trends to Try This Season
Source: Pexels

Summer is finally here! At least we think it is, it’s pretty difficult to tell with the weather changing every couple of minutes. Fortunately, one constant we can count on is summer 2018’s range of food trends. This year, the foods of the season seem to have been influenced by creativity, as well as our curiosity about the food staples of different cultures around the world. Whether you’re looking for healthy, cultural cuisine or completely bonkers, indulgent eats, here are just some to choose from this summer.

1. Delectable, Decorated Doughnuts

With every passing year, doughnuts seem to get more and more attention. There was a time when they were simply fried, sugary treats you’d get at a fairground stall or in a paper bag from the supermarket bargain bin, but these days they’re much more popular. Some doughnut aficionados like to decorate their creations with beautiful icing and delicate designs, others have binned the typical strawberry jam or custard fillings to replace them with champagne, matcha and other trendy ingredients. Even traditional doughnuts have seen a reawakening, appearing in decadent milkshakes often known as ‘freakshakes’, often paired with whipped cream, sprinkles and even chocolate bars.

2. Rolled Up Ice Cream

While we’re on the topic of summer sweets, we absolutely have to mention rolled up ice cream. This trend that started in Thailand last year and is completely different to the usual scoops we’ve all come to know and love – both in looks and in flavour. Rolled up ice cream doesn’t just deal in the regular vanilla, strawberry and chocolate flavour staples, it goes for every flavour imaginable – from honey to avocado. There’s even a shop in Orange County, California named Sweet Cup where all they do is come up with fresh new ways to serve rolled up ice cream. Some popular recipes include Matcha Bliss and Rainbow Toad.

3. Middle Eastern Falafel

Over the last few years, Middle Eastern cuisine has become easier to get than ever, often appearing at street food festivals and on menus at restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. Hummus, pitta bread and tahini are just some of the foods you can probably find at your local supermarket, but none are receiving as much attention as falafel. Not only is falafel now available at every store worth its salt, it’s also becoming a favourite dish at Lebanese restaurants up and down the UK. London alone has several falafel-based dishes to offer, with each dish spinning its own take on the Middle Eastern staple.

4. Craft Soft Drinks

Finally, let’s finish up with a drink. While you may be aware of craft beers and craft ciders, did you know that craft soft drinks are now a thing? It’s about time, too: we’ve been stuck with the same orange cordials for a long time and there’s only so long you can only pretend that adding in mango is “exotic”. These new craft soft drinks are often made using natural sweeteners and contain bespoke infusions, many of which seem to have been influenced by winter 2018’s gin trend. Juniper, lavender and hibiscus are a common recipe but don’t be surprised to see even more creative soft drink concoctions showing up at your local café, restaurant or deli.

We’re looking forward to trying all these yummy foods and indulging in the other emerging food fads on the horizon. Have you tried any of these upcoming summer food trends for 2018? Let us know in the comments below!

5 Reasons Owning Your Own Business is Worth the Trouble

Dana R
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5 Reasons Owning Your Own Business is Worth the Trouble

If you are considering starting your own business, you may have heard numerous reasons why it is too much trouble. However, there are many more reasons why owning your business is worth the trouble and we have listed the top five. If we have convinced you that being a business owner is worth it, Gov Doc Filing has all the information needed on how to get a Federal Tax ID.

  1. Tax Benefits

As a small business owner, you are given the opportunity to benefit from some nice tax perks. Most business owners can write off expenses such as food, travel, a portion of a car payment, phone bills, and more. There are also government incentives for certain start-ups.

When it comes to taxes, it’s also very important to know whether to register an LLC or an S-corp.

 

Business

  1. Financial Independence

This is probably the most common reason why people own their own business. As a small business owner, you define what financial independence means to you.

  1. Your Brand

Most people find enjoyment in being known for something. Depending on what product or service your business provides, people may begin to refer to you by its name. Such as the software guy, or retail woman. Regardless of what it is that you are recognized for, it is exciting building a brand that earns recognition.

  1. Create Jobs

There is a great feeling in knowing that you are responsible for creating jobs for your employees. Your employees were given the opportunity to earn a living to fulfill their own dreams and provide for their family.

  1. Job Security

You are your own boss. You no longer have to worry about being downsized, fired, or laid off.

To apply and learn the many benefits of filling out a federal tax id application, please visit Gov Doc Filing. They provide a fast and secure way to apply for your LLC state registration.

Ariana Grande Engaged to Pete Davidson. Rumors Confirmed

Lisa.Felice
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Ariana Grande Engaged to Pete Davidson. Rumors Confirmed

Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson have confirmed their engagement.

The comedian, best known for his role on SNL, said: “I feel like I won a contest.”

Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande started dating last month and there was speculation earlier this month they were planning to get married.

Speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Pete Davidson confirmed they were engaged, adding: “It’s lit.”

Image source Wikipedia

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Pete Davidson said one fan even came up to him and said: “You gave me hope.”

This is the first time either of the pair have spoken publicly about their engagement – although Ariana Grande appeared to confirm the news earlier this month when replying to fans on social media.

On The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon jokingly told Pete Davidson that he “didn’t have to get engaged to Ariana Grande to come on our show”.

The couple have both recently come out of other relationships.

Ariana Grande was dating rapper Mac Miller, while Pete Davidson was in a relationship with Cazzie David, whose dad is comedian Larry David.

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