Saturday, December 27, 2025
Newsletter
Home Blog Page 140

Venezuela’s Main Opposition Parties Banned from 2018 Presidential Election

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Venezuela’s Main Opposition Parties Banned from 2018 Presidential Election

Venezuela’s main opposition parties are banned from taking part in 2018 presidential election, President Nicolas Maduro has announced.

The president said only parties which took part in December 10 mayoral polls would be able to contest the presidency.

Opposition leaders from the Justice First, Popular Will and Democratic Action parties boycotted the vote because they said the electoral system was biased.

Nicolas Maduro insists the Venezuelan system is entirely trustworthy.

In a speech on local polls day, he said the opposition parties had “disappeared from the political map”.

“A party that has not participated today and has called for the boycott of the elections can’t participate anymore,” he said.

Two months ago, the three main opposition parties announced they would be boycotting December 10 vote, saying it only served what they called President Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorship.

Image source Wikimedia

Venezuela: Henrique Capriles Leaves Opposition Coalition

Venezuela Elections 2017: Nicolas Maduro’s Party Wins 17 of 23 State Governorships amid Fraud Claims

Nicolas Maduro says his party won more than 300 of the 335 mayoral races being contested. The election board put turn out at 47%.

Venezuela has been mired in a worsening economic crisis characterized by shortages of basic goods and soaring inflation.

Presiedent Maduro said he was following the criteria set by the National Constituent Assembly in banning opposition parties from contesting next year’s election.

However, the assembly, which came into force in August and has the ability to rewrite the constitution, is made up exclusively of government loyalists. Opposition parties see it as a way for the president to cling to power.

The presidential vote had been scheduled for December 2018, but analysts say it could now be brought forward.

Venezuela has a population of more than 30 million people. It has some of the world’s largest oil deposits as well as huge quantities of coal and iron ore.

Despite its rich natural resources many Venezuelans live in poverty. This led President Nicolas Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, to style himself as a champion of the poor during his 14 years in office.

Now the country is starkly divided between supporters of President Nicolas Maduro and those who want an end to the Socialist Party’s 18 years in government.

Nicolas Maduro supporters say his party has lifted many people out of poverty, but critics say it has eroded Venezuela’s democratic institutions and mismanaged its economy.

Protect Your Staff And Your Business

Dana R
-
0
Protect Your Staff And Your Business

Your business is going to be like your most precious possession. You’ll look after it at all costs. But the question you need to ask yourself is this, are you actually looking after it at all costs. As the years go on we’re noticing more and more businesses fail. Take the huge crash of Monarch Airlines not so long ago. It just goes to show that however much money a business has, or however well they think they’re doing, there’s always going to be something round the corner that could come along and ruin everything. When you’ve built your business from the ground up, this possibility just isn’t on the cards. You need to make sure you’re putting systems in place that’ll ensure your business, as well as your staff are protected at all costs. When you’re just starting out however, it can be pretty hard to know what to do. You’re so hyperfocused on becoming as successful as possible, that you completely forget what you need to do to protect yourself. But don’t worry, this article is here to give your a few hints and tips on how to protect your business as a whole.

meeting

Image Source

Your Staff

Your staff are your best asset when it comes to your business. They do all the hard work that you just wouldn’t be able to do on your own. Yet it is common for them to feel less protected than they ever have in their life. Through childhood and school etc. they’ve always had someone to fall back on and to help them through difficult situations. The real world doesn’t offer this, and nor do a lot of businesses. But if a business goes bust, these people are going to be left jobless. When you have a family, you know how worrying this prospect is. So there’s a few things you can do that are going to protect their livelihood all the while. The first is maternity leave for the women. A lot of companies offer the worst pay, this causes so much unnecessary stress for the mom. If you’re making a really decent profit, the least you can do is pay a full pay for 6 months of the maternity leave. It’ll make those first 6 months stress free and magical. After that, rather than reducing it by half, reduce it by just a quarter to make sure they aren’t feeling the pinch until the come back to work.

You also need to be thinking about what you can do in the office or warehouse to make a difference to people’s working day. There’s a lot of safety issues in factories and offices that people don’t tend to talk about. But in the long run it can have a really damaging effect on the people that work for you, as well as your business. There’s a statistic that over 100 people injure themselves at work a day. From just the minor cuts and bruises, to the major hospitalisation. As the saying goes, where there’s a claim there’s a blame. If you aren’t putting the right safety procedures in place, you’re looking at receiving such a massive fine for not protecting your staff as your should be. So, if you run a company that involves a lot of manual handling, make sure all the proper training is given, and all the right safety gear is provided at the start of the day. Factory work often requires a lot of loading and unloading, in this case you can use loading dock safety equipment to prevent any injuries. It is one of the most common sites for people to injure themselves. Even if your company doesn’t operate from a factory, offices have just as many hazards. The main being a trip one. They’re the worst for having many different wires hanging down or lying around. One simple trip and a bang of the head and you’re just asking to have a lawsuit on your hand. Not only does it cause trip hazards, it also causes nasty fire ones. Not only will this harm your employees, it’ll also harm your business finances massively with the cost of replacing everything. A simple check of the office to make sure everything is tucked away could save you thousands.

Your Business

Your business as a whole has many ways in which it needs protecting. The first thing you definitely need to do is have some money to fall back on. If any of the above happens, and you’re just getting by with money, it’ll likely see your business crash and burn. Money is everything to your business, from the very start you should be looking for ways to make sure you always have something spare. Having some sort of business insurance is also going to help you along the way, even if it’s just contents insurance if you have your own self managed office or warehouse. Breakins can cause absolute havoc if you don’t have contents insurance. It may cost a little more a month than your average house contents insurance, but it’ll definitely pay off in the long run.

Something a lot of people don’t think to do, especially in the beginning, is trademarking their idea. The business world is unfortunately full of thieves, the last thing you want is your idea being stolen from someone who has the money to make it bigger, quicker. Then you’ll have no hope of getting anywhere with your idea. Trademarking isn’t hard to do, and it’ll definitely pay off in the long run. Plus it does give your business that little extra edge of professionalism that it needs. Just like with your actual brand, people can also steal ideas from your processes, this is why it’s important to always try to keep evolving your business. The new and quicker the processes, the more chances you’re going to have of staying ahead of your competition.

Protecting your staff and business isn’t hard, you just need to make sure you’re doing it from the very beginning if you want to be successful.

Thomas Fire: California Governor Jerry Brown Brands Wildfires as New Normal

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Thomas Fire: California Governor Jerry Brown Brands Wildfires as New Normal

California Governor Jerry Brown has said that devastating wildfires fuelled by climate change are “the new normal”.

He said vast fires, such as the ones that have ravaged southern California in recent days, “could happen every year or every few years”.

“We’re facing a new reality in this state,” the governor said.

Jerry Brown made the comments after surveying the damage in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles.

Thousands of firefighters have been battling the fires since December 4.

Jerry Brown, a Democrat who has attacked the Trump administration’s stance on climate change, said: “We’re facing a new reality in this state, where fires threaten people’s lives, their properties, their neighborhoods, and of course billions and billions of dollars.

“With climate change, some scientists are saying southern California is literally burning up.”

The largest wildfire – known as the Thomas Fire – burned close to 150,000 acres, an area of land roughly the size of Chicago, Reuters reported.

On December 9, firefighters began to make progress in containing the blaze.

Image source Wikimedia

California Wildfires: At Least 17 Dead and More Than 150 Missing

California Wildfires Kill at Least 13 in Wine Country

Six large wildfires, and some smaller blazes, erupted on December 4 in southern California. Fanned by high winds, they swept through tens of thousands of acres in a matter of hours.

The fires have been driven by extreme weather, including low humidity and parched ground.

California authorities issued a purple alert – the highest level warning – amid what it called “extremely critical fire weather”.

The largest of the blazes, the Thomas fire in Ventura County, spread as far as the Pacific coast and swept across 180 square miles.

About 5,700 firefighters were brought in to battle the brushfires, with some drafted in from neighboring states to help.

President Donald Trump issued a state of emergency to “help alleviate the hardship and suffering that the emergency may inflict.”

Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed and vast areas of land have been badly scorched.

Three firefighters were injured and one death was reported after a 70-year-old woman was found dead in her car on an evacuation route.

Nearly 200,000 residents were evacuated from their homes, with many forced to flee in the middle of the night as the flames rapidly spread.

There are fears the blaze will seriously hit California’s multi-million dollar agricultural industry.

About 90% of US avocados are grown in California, and much of the state’s crop has been wiped out.

The strong winds subsided on December 9 and firefighters finally made some progress in containing the fires.

However, forecasters expect the winds to pick up again on December 10 meaning they are under pressure to extinguish them quickly.

Elsewhere, several evacuation orders have been lifted and residents are beginning to return home to assess the damage.

Chris Rea Collapses On Stage

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Chris Rea Collapses On Stage

Chris Rea is reportedly in a stable condition after collapsing during a performance the New Theatre Oxford.

Fans posted on Twitter that they saw the singer “fall backwards” on stage halfway through a song.

South Central Ambulance Service said it was called at 21:30 GMT to an incident at the venue and that one patient had been taken to hospital.

Image source Wikimedia

Meat Loaf Collapses During Edmonton Show

Justin Bieber collapses backstage at London O2 concert

Chris Rea, 66, who is known for his hits Road to Hell and Driving Home for Christmas, is on tour to promote his new album.

Staff at the theater tweeted that they “appreciate everyone’s patience” and will update people with news when they have it.

Chris Rea suffered a stroke in 2016, but recovered to launch an album in September and embark on his tour around Europe from October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzYqSqD2jYc

Israel Targets Hamas Sites in Gaza in Retaliation for Rocket Strikes

Roy Siemens
-
0
Israel Targets Hamas Sites in Gaza in Retaliation for Rocket Strikes

Israel has targeted Hamas sites in Gaza in retaliation for rocket strikes.

According to Israel’s military, it hit weapons sites on December 9. Two people were killed, a Gaza hospital said, bringing the deaths in Israeli strikes and gunfire over the past day to four.

On December 8, three rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza.

Israeli-Palestinian tensions have risen since President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The December 6 decision reversed decades of US neutrality on the matter.

Israel has always regarded the city of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem – occupied by Israel in the 1967 war – as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Image source Flickr

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement Sparks Outrage in Arab World

President Donald Trump to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

Israel Settlements: Jerusalem Housing and Planning Committee Postpones Vote on Jewish Homes

Israel’s air force followed a number of raids on Hamas sites on December 8 with more air strikes on December 9, targeting weapons manufacturing sites, a weapons warehouse and a military compound, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Gaza’s Shifa hospital said that two bodies of Palestinians were found under the rubble of a Hamas military site bombed by Israeli planes overnight, bringing the death toll in the past 24 hours to four, with 160 injuries. The two other fatalities came when Israeli troops fired on crowds in Gaza during clashes on December 8.

Of the three rockets fired at Israel, its military said it had intercepted one with its Iron Dome defense system, one was found on wasteland and another landed in Sderot on December 8. No casualties were reported.

On December 8, Fathi Hammad, a senior Hamas leader, said anyone seeking to move their embassy to Jerusalem was “an enemy of the Palestinians”.

Speaking before the UN on December 8, US Ambassador Nikki Haley said the United States “recognizes the obvious; that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel”.

Nikki Haley said the US continued to be “committed to achieving a lasting peace agreement”, and accused the UN of bias, saying it “has outrageously been one of the world’s foremost centers of hostility towards Israel”.

Israel had deployed extra battalions to the West Bank in anticipation of violence after Palestinian leaders called for protests after Friday prayers.

At least 217 Palestinians were wounded in confrontations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian medics said.

On December 8, there were protests held elsewhere against President Trump’s announcement.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters held demonstrations in Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Tunisia and Iran.

Further afield, protesters rallied in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indian-administered Kashmir and Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.

#MeToo: Congressman Trent Franks Resigns over Surrogacy Talks with Aides

Diane A. Wade
-
0
#MeToo: Congressman Trent Franks Resigns over Surrogacy Talks with Aides

Arizona Representative Trent Franks has resigned amid an ethics investigation into claims he repeatedly asked female staff to be surrogate mothers.

The announcement came after a congressional panel said it was opening an inquiry into harassment allegations against Republican Trent Franks.

Trent Franks, 60, acknowledged discussing surrogacy with two female aides when he and his wife were facing infertility.

He is the third member of Congress to resign in three days.

One of Trent Franks’ former aides accuses him of offering her $5 million to act as a surrogate mother, repeatedly pressing her to carry his child, the Associated Press reports.

The woman told the AP that another female staff member had also been approached by the congressman about surrogacy.

One of the aides reportedly said Trent Franks retaliated against her after she turned down his alleged surrogacy requests by ignoring her and withholding assignments.

A spokesman for the eight-term congressman – who has a net worth of $33 million – would not comment on whether he had offered aides money to act as surrogates.

Image source Flickr

#MeToo: Senator Al Franken to Resign over Harassment Allegations

George HW Bush Accused of Inappropriately Touching a Woman When She Was 16

Trent Franks said on December 7 his resignation would take effect next month.

However, on December 8 he said he had decided to quit immediately after his wife was admitted to a Washington hospital “due to an ongoing ailment”.

The Republican acknowledged “my discussion of surrogacy with two previous female subordinates, making each feel uncomfortable.

“I deeply regret that my discussion of this option and process in the workplace caused distress.”

Trent Franks said he and his wife, Josephine, had used a surrogate to carry their two twins.

He stood down as the House of Representatives ethics committee opened an inquiry against him into a matter that constitutes harassment.

Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said he had advised the congressman to stand down.

The ethics committee also announced on December 8 it was investigating Texas Republican Blake Farenthold amid claims of harassment against him by a former member of staff.

It was revealed last week that Blake Farenthold used $84,000 of taxpayer money to settle a harassment lawsuit with his former communications director.

Resignations of two Democratic lawmakers have shaken Washington this week.

Democratic congressman John Conyers announced on December 5 that he will step down after multiple aides accused him of harassment.

Hours before Trent Franks’ announcement, Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken said he too was resigning over claims of groping after several Democrats called on him to step down.

Georgia’s Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili Detained in Kiev

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Georgia’s Ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili Detained in Kiev

Georgian ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili has been detained in Ukraine’s capital Kiev, days after his supporters freed him from a police van.

Mikheil Saakashvili’s detention, first reported on his Facebook page, was confirmed by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General.

He is suspected of receiving financing from a criminal group linked to ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

On December 5, Mikheil Saakashvili was dragged from his home in Kiev and arrested.

The former president was later freed from police custody by a crowd of his supporters. After he was freed, he urged the crowd to impeach Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, a former ally.

Image source Wikimedia

Georgia presidential election ends Mikheil Saakashvili’s rule

Batumi: the Las Vegas of the Black Sea

Mikheil Saakashvili has been leading anti-corruption rallies against Petro Poroshenko.

The Ukrainian authorities responded by giving him a deadline of 24 hours to hand himself in.

Mikheil Saakashvili’s detention was part of an operation “to disrupt a plan of revenge of pro-Kremlin forces in Ukraine”, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko said on December 5.

Prosecutors, who say Mikheil Saakashvili is being funded by businessmen close to Russia, released audio and video recordings which they say proved he had received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the criminal group.

Mikheil Saakashvili said the recordings were fake.

If found guilty, the former president could face up to five years in jail.

Mikheil Saakashvili also faces the threat of extradition to Georgia, where he is wanted on corruption charges. He claims the accusations are politically motivated.

He previously served as governor of the southern Odessa region after being appointed by Petro Poroshenko in 2015.

Before moving to Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili served for almost 10 years as president of Georgia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJxIrm6TlFA

Kevin Spacey Accused of Assault by Norwegian King’s Son-in-Law Ari Behn

Lisa.Felice
-
0
Kevin Spacey Accused of Assault by Norwegian King’s Son-in-Law Ari Behn

Ari Behn, the former son-in-law of King Harald V of Norway, has accused Kevin Spacey of groping him after a Nobel Peace Prize concert.

The Norwegian author, who was married to King Harald’s daughter Martha Louise until 2016, told radio station P4 that it happened after Kevin Spacey had hosted the event in 2007.

“I am a generous person, but this was a bit more than I had in mind,” he said.

Kevin Spacey has been accused of abuse and harassment by a string of men and has been written out of House of Cards.

A spokesman for the Hollywood star said last month that he was “taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment” in the wake of the allegations.

Image source Wikimedia

Kevin Spacey Scandal: Old Vic Has 20 Claims of Inappropriate Behavior Against Actor

Kevin Spacey Erased from Completed Movie All the Money in the World

Kevin Spacey Fired from House of Cards

Recalling the alleged incident, Ari Behn said: “We had a great talk, he sat right beside me.

“After five minutes he said, <<hey, let’s go out and have a cigarette>>. Then he puts his hand under the table and grabs me by the b**ls.”

Ari Behn said he put Kevin Spacey off by telling him: “Er, maybe later.”

He added: “My hair was dark at the time, I was 10 years younger and right up his alley.”

Last month, the Old Vic theatre in London said it had received 20 personal testimonies of alleged inappropriate behavior by Kevin Spacey while he was artistic director there.

The actor and producer has faced other allegations too, with the claims leaving his career in ruins.

He has been removed from the sixth season of House of Cards, which will instead focus on his on-screen wife, played by Robin Wright.

Kevin Spacey has also been replaced by Christopher Plummer in the new Ridley Scott movie All the Money in the World.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0GS97Dqivc

#MeToo: Bryan Singer Denies Assaulting 17-Year-Old Cesar Sanchez-Guzman

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
#MeToo: Bryan Singer Denies Assaulting 17-Year-Old Cesar Sanchez-Guzman

Bryan Singer has denied assault after being sued for allegedly raping a 17-year-old boy.

According to court documents revealed by Deadline, Cesar Sanchez-Guzman has alleged he was assaulted by the director on a yacht in 2003.

In a statement, a representative for Bryan Singer said the director “categorically denies these allegations”.

It comes in the same week that Bryan Singer was fired as director of the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

According to the court filings, the alleged assault happened when Bryan Singer gave Cesar Sanchez-Guzman a tour of the boat.

Image source Flickr

Bryan Singer set to direct X-Men: Apocalypse

Cesar Sanchez-Guzman is seeking compensation for damages including “emotional distress, mental anguish, physical and mental pain and suffering, a decrease in his ability to enjoy life” as well as past and future medical expenses and legal costs.

Bryan Singer’s representative said: “Cesar Sanchez-Guzman apparently claims that he did not remember this alleged incident from 2003 until now.”

He added: “Bryan categorically denies these allegations and will vehemently defend this lawsuit to the very end.”

The representative said that, “once Bryan prevails”, he will pursue claims for malicious prosecution.

Bohemian Rhapsody production was suspended last week so Bryan Singer could deal with what his representative described as “a personal health matter concerning Bryan and his family”.

Days later, it emerged that Bryan Singer had been fired by Twentieth Century Fox for “unreliable behavior”, and has been replaced by Dexter Fletcher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBpC7lCO-8M

#MeToo: Senator Al Franken to Resign over Harassment Allegations

Diane A. Wade
-
0
#MeToo: Senator Al Franken to Resign over Harassment Allegations

Senator Al Franken has said he is planning to quit “in the coming weeks” after string of harassment allegations.

He said from the Senate floor: “I am proud that during my time in the Senate that I have used my power to be a champion of women.”

The Minnesota Democratic senator’s speech came a day after nearly 30 Democrats called on him to resign.

Al Franken would be the most prominent lawmaker to resign amid a wave of misconduct claims against high-profile figures.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Ethics Committee launched harassment investigations into two Republican congressmen.

Trent Franks of Arizona announced he was resigning as the inquiry was announced.

The congressman acknowledged having made two female congressional aides “uncomfortable” by asking them about surrogacy when he and his wife faced infertility.

The committee also said it would investigate Blake Farenthold, who used $84,000 of taxpayers’ money to settle a harassment lawsuit with his former spokeswoman.

Image source Flickr

Senator Al Franken Accused of Assault

George HW Bush Accused of Inappropriately Touching a Woman When She Was 16

Kevin Spacey Scandal: Old Vic Has 20 Claims of Inappropriate Behavior Against Actor

Over in the Senate, Al Franken told his colleagues on December 7: “Today I am announcing that in the coming weeks I will be resigning as a member of the United States Senate.

“I may be resigning my seat but I am not giving up my voice.”

The former Saturday Night Live comic and two-term senator has apologized to several women who have accused him of groping and harassment, but he faced mounting pressure to step aside after a new allegation surfaced on December 6.

Al Franken said some of the claims against him “are simply are not true”, but added that women “deserve to be heard and their experiences taken seriously”.

The senator also referenced the harassment allegations that have been leveled against President Donald Trump and Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.

“I, of all people, am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party.”

Al Franken is not the only politician to have found himself engulfed by harassment in recent weeks.

On December 5, Michigan Democrat John Conyers announced he would resign amid claims of harassment made by his congressional aides.

Seven women have come forward to accuse Roy Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge, of inappropriate behavior decades ago.

Several Democratic female senators – including some who called for Al Franken’s resignation a day earlier – hugged the lawmaker after his speech.

Senator Bernie Sanders echoed Al Franken’s criticisms of President Donald Trump on Twitter.

He tweeted: “We have a president who acknowledged on tape that he assaulted women. I would hope that he pays attention to what’s going on and think about resigning.”

Fellow Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar thanked Al Franken on Facebook, calling him a “friend to me and many in our state”.

The decision to fill the vacancy left by Al Franken will fall to Democratic Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton, who said in a statement he has not determined who will replace him.

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

The Ways in Which Video Games Can Improve Your Life

Dana R
-
0
The Ways in Which Video Games Can Improve Your Life

The realm of the real and the realm of the video game may be completely different in practice, but their connection is not all that different. No, they are more similar than you may have first thought. And, playing video games can even have a direct impact on, and even improve, your life. Don’t believe this? Well, read on to find out how.

Image source

Video games boost personal responsibility

When you play a video game you take it upon yourself to beat whatever it is that is put in front of you and then fight your way through to the completion of this game. And, this kind of challenge, especially when the game is hard or played on a hard mode, does wonders for boosting a sense of personal responsibility. What it does is give you the chance to burden the task of focusing to get the job done as well as the chance to burden the task of trying to improve situations around you and make them as easy to manage as can be.

Video games help to exercise the problem-solving parts of the brain

Video games, especially those that fall under the category of being strategy games, have the potential to make your brain bigger. They do this by exercising the parts of your brain that are used to solve problems, such as the part that holds your memories, the part that deals with planning, the part that deals with muscle control and the part that deals with spatial navigation. So, if boosting your brain in such ways sounds enticing to you, then get yourself a strategy game; in fact, get yourself one on your smartphone and get exercising that brain of yours throughout your day wherever and whenever you are! This could mean opting for an old reliable like sudoko, or this could mean opting to play Final Fantasy XV on iOS or Android. And yes, before you ask, the massive Final Fantasy gaming series has come to the world of mobile gaming very much as a strategy game!

Video games help to de-stress and relieve issues of anxiety

Some people play video games in such a way that it either becomes their job to play them to an extent, or in fact it actually does become their job to play them. But, most people just play video games in their spare time in order to provide themselves with some much needed downtime. If you fall into the latter category, then you can be sure that your video game playing is providing you with all the stress beating and anxiety relieving chemicals your body needs to recharge and just generally get through life. Well, this is the case if you refrain from playing particularly rage inducing games, or games that just seem to anger you whenever you play them!

Video games help to boost multi-tasking skills

Some people find multi-tasking harder than others, that’s just a given. But, if you fall into the category of being a poor multi-tasker, then fear not as there are actually things that you can do that will help you to get better at the art of dealing with being tasked with multiple things to do at one time. One of these things is to play video games. Yes, when you play certain video games, such as first-person shooters like Call of Duty, you will be having to deal with many things at one time. When playing COD, for instance, you will be having to deal with things like visual distractions, auditory distractions and you trying to shoot something whilst having something shooting at you at the same time. And, when you are having to deal with aspects such as these simultaneously and at one time, and you are having to do this regularly, you automatically boost your ability to do so. Thus, you instantly boost your ability to multi-task!

Video games teach how to let go and start over

Having to let go and start over with things in life may seem like a bit of a deep topic to cover, but it is actually something we humans are faced with doing regularly, if not daily. And, as you’ve probably guessed by now, playing video games can help you get better at doing it! Yes, when you lose on a video game, as frustrating as it is, you just let go of the failed attempt and start over, right? Well, doing this regularly enough when playing video games is going to make it easier to do in your real life, too.

Video games really can improve your life. If the points above weren’t enough to persuade you on the fact that this is the case, then make sure to check out this article detailing how video games can have a positive impact on child development. That might just be enough to persuade you!

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement Sparks Protests in Occupied West Bank

Roy Siemens
-
0
Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement Sparks Protests in Occupied West Bank

At least sixteen Palestinians have been injured in clashes in the occupied West Bank, during protests against President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

According to local reports, the injuries are mostly from tear gas and rubber bullets, but at least one was hurt by live fire.

Israel has deployed hundreds of extra troops in the West Bank.

Donald Trump’s announcement – met with worldwide dismay – reversed decades of US policy on the sensitive issue.

Palestinians in the both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have gone on strike and taken to the streets in protest.

Many of the United States’ closest allies have said they disagree with the move, and both the UN Security Council and the Arab League will meet in the coming days to decide their response.

There are fears the announcement could lead to a renewed outbreak of violence. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has already called for a new intifada, or uprising.

On December 6, President Trump said that he had “determined it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel”.

He said: “I’ve judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.”

The president said he was directing the state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Image source Flickr

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement Sparks Outrage in Arab World

President Donald Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

Despite warnings of regional unrest over any such move, the decision fulfills a campaign promise and appeals to Donald Trump’s right-wing base.

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was “nothing more or less than a recognition of reality”, he added.

“It is also the right thing to do.”

President Trump said the US would support a two-state solution – shorthand for a final settlement that would see the creation of an independent Palestinian state within pre-1967 ceasefire lines in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living peacefully alongside Israel – “if agreed to by both sides”.

He also refrained from using Israel’s description of Jerusalem as its “eternal and undivided capital”. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of any future Palestinian state.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful to President Trump, who had “bound himself forever with the history of the capital”.

The prime minister also said Israel was “in touch with other countries to follow suit. I have no doubt other embassies will move to Jerusalem – the time has come”. He did not name any of these countries, although the Philippines and the Czech Republic have been mentioned in Israeli media.

The mood has been very different on the Palestinian side.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has called for a “day of rage” on December 8 and said it should “be the first day of the intifada against the occupier”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_brYh06qUkc

Arm Your Business Against Cyber Attacks

Dana R
-
0
Arm Your Business Against Cyber Attacks

Cyber attacks happen. However, it’s up to you to ensure that your business has as much in its cyber security armory as possible. Worms, ransomware and spyware have made headlines in the past year having infiltrated large companies. The fact that the largest multimillion corporations are getting hit by hackers shows how no business is immune from the cyber threat. With the ever-growing reliance on online portals, software and interfaces, the threat from a cyber attack is even more frightening to businesses as they risk losing documentation, having sensitive data stolen and personal details cloned. Take a look at how you can protect your company from even the most ardent of hackers.

hacker

Image Credit

Basics

To be as secure as you can, it’s vital that you live by the adage of ‘only those that need to know actually know.’ It sounds like a prophetic sort of statement, but only those at an executive level and above should have access to the most sensitive data. By only giving staff members access to the areas of business data they require, you are lessening the risk of sloppy security breaches. There’s no need for the marketing assistant to have a password to the financial projections and profitability calculations of your company.

Ensure that each member of your team has a strong password. The days of using the name of your first pet or your mother’s maiden name are long gone. A random selection of letters, numbers and characters of at least twelve digits is most secure. Ensure that these are also changed periodically to maintain a higher level of security.

Staff Training

Refresher courses for online security are vital every year for all staff including yourself. A cohesive approach to online security is needed across your business if you are to succeed. Even a reminder not to open the dodgy looking attachment within an email can save you from losing reams of important data online. Select a couple of cyber security champions who can take part in external courses and feedback to your team. Make signing up to an ‘appropriate usage’ policy a priority, so employees never access sensitive data on open or unsecured networks when away from the office.

Image Credit

Get The Right Software

There is a mind-boggling array of security software on the market. At the very least you need a package like M365 which has inbuilt security controls and allows you to wipe any devices that become lost protecting any data you might have that could fall into the wrong hands. Encrypt all of the data that you store and ensure that you backup regularly. Should the worst happen and you find that a piece of ransomware has infiltrated your network, you need a contingency plan and, you have to be able to restore your data quickly.

Thankfully cyber attacks are still relatively rare. If you have the knowledge and relevant software needed, you will be able to make your business as secure and protected as possible.

Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement Sparks Outrage in Arab World

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Donald Trump’s Jerusalem Announcement Sparks Outrage in Arab World

President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has been condemned by world’s leaders.

Saudi Arabia called it “unjustified and irresponsible”, while France and the UK said they did not support the decision.

However, Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as “a historic day”.

Donald Trump’s move reversed decades of US policy. The fate of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced President Trump’s move as “deplorable”.

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are expected to hold a day of strikes and protests on December 7.

The UN Security Council is to discuss the issue on December 8 after eight of the 15 member nations called for an emergency session. The Arab League is to meet on December 9.

President Trump said on December 6 he had “judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians”.

He said he was directing the state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Despite warnings of regional unrest over any such move, the decision fulfils a campaign promise and appeals to Donald Trump’s right-wing base.

Image source Wikimedia

President Donald Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

Israel Settlements: Jerusalem Housing and Planning Committee Postpones Vote on Jewish Homes

Jordan Warns US over Jerusalem’s Recognition as Israel’s Capital

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was “nothing more or less than a recognition of reality”, the president added.

“It is also the right thing to do.”

Donald Trump said the US still supported a two-state solution to the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if approved by both sides, which would essentially see the creation of an independent Palestinian state living alongside Israel.

Following the announcement, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful, tweeting: “Jerusalem has been the focus of our hopes, our dreams, our prayers for three millennia.”

On December 6, Benjamin Netanyahu went further, saying President Trump “bound himself forever with the history of the capital”, and predicting that many other countries would follow Washington’s example.

The Republican Jewish Coalition thanked President Trump in a New York Times add.

The mood was very different on the Palestinian side, with a day of strikes and protests planned.

The leader of Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip, called for a new intifada, or uprising, saying it was the only way to “confront” Israel and the US.

President Mahmoud Abbas called President Trump’s announcement “deplorable” and said Jerusalem was the “eternal capital of the state of Palestine”.

Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas’s party, said it would push for a UN resolution requesting that Washington “rescind its decision” and disqualifying the US as a co-sponsor of the peace process.

The Arab and the wider Muslim world – including a number of US allies – condemned Donald Trump’s announcement.

Demonstrations have already taken place outside the US consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Saudi royal court said: “The US move represents a significant decline in efforts to push a peace process and is a violation of the historically neutral American position on Jerusalem.”

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called on Muslims everywhere to “make it clear that we strongly oppose” the US move.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it was “a moment of great anxiety”. He said “there is no alternative to the two-state solution”.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron both said their countries did not support the move while EU chief diplomat Federica Mogherini voiced “serious concern”.

Donald Trump’s announcement puts the US at odds with the rest of the international community’s view on Jerusalem’s status.

The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognized internationally, and all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Jerusalem contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths – Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, was annexed by Israel after the Six Day War of 1967, but before now it has not been internationally recognized as part of Israel.

Most People Ignore These Good Health Habits, Do You?

Dana R
-
0
Most People Ignore These Good Health Habits, Do You?

Nothing in this life is more important than our health, but millions take it for granted until a problem surfaces. However, given that prevention is the best form of protection, it’s about time you started to pay more attention.

Staying healthy isn’t just about hitting the gym and avoiding excessive drinking. There are many contributing factors to consider if you truly wish to keep your body in the best condition for life. Unfortunately, the majority of the population is guilty of overlooking at least some of those key elements. But you can be different.

Focus on correcting these common mistakes below, and the positive results will start to show in no time.

Source:

Drinking More Water

Everyone can appreciate the need for establishing a balanced diet as the heart of their healthy living strategies. Reducing the consumption of processed foods in favor of freshly cooked meals is vital. Meanwhile, portion control is another crucial aspect to consider. Many people get this right yet fail to pay attention to the simplest and most important ingredient in the recipe for success.

Water contains 0 calories and is naturally fantastic for anyone looking to lose a few pounds. This is especially true when you drink a glass before mealtimes. More significantly, though, it’s imperative to helping the body perform better while flushing out toxins. It additionally goes a long way to keeping skin, hair, and nails maintaining their esthetic appeal.

Two litres should be the daily minimum. But increasing it to reflect your physical exercise activities can be highly advantageous. Besides, if you’re drinking water, you’re not drinking sodas and other harmful items. Seriously, Google how your favorite cola can be used to clean household objects, and you’ll be disgusted at the fact you’ve been putting it in your body.

Improving Sleep Patterns

For all the ideas that you may try to implement in your waking hours, it’s what you do during the night that will have the biggest overall impact on the body. Even one bad night’s sleep can leave you feeling groggy and drained during the next day. When this becomes a regular occurrence, however, it becomes very difficult to stay healthy on a physical or mental level.   

Everyone needs a comfortable bed, and this piece of furniture must take priority over TVs and other luxury household goods. Thanks to Mattress-Guides.net, the process no longer needs to break the bank. As such, there’s no excuse for joining the millions of people that suffer bad necks and backs due to inadequate solutions. Better still, a comfortable mattress boosts your chances of enjoying an uninterrupted rest too. This is especially true when coupled with thicker curtains and bedroom designs built to promote sleep.

In many cases, though, the biggest mistake comes via bedroom activities. Spending hours on the iPad or cell phone eats into your sleep time. Moreover, it reduces the quality of sleep due to the fact your body and mind aren’t given an opportunity to ease into unconsciousness. Place a self-imposed ban on tech (TV and music are probably fine) in bed, and improvements to your health, appearance, and energy levels will show in no time.

Source:

Accepting Issues

Nobody in this world is perfect, and we all face our individual challenges. Unfortunately, the hectic speed of modern life can often encourage people to ignore or dismiss their afflictions. In truth, though, early identification gives you the best chance at correcting or at least managing those problems. Conversely, living a life reliant on painkillers rather than seeking a diagnosis can allow those troubles to escalate.

At the extreme end of the scale, spotting cancers at stage one compared to stage four amplifies your chances of survival tenfold. However, it’s not only the life-threatening conditions that should be considered. Managing arthritis with saunas and suitable stretches can slow the regression. In turn, this allows you to live a less painful and uncomfortable existence. Even if you don’t appreciate the rewards now, you certainly will in a few years time.

Regardless of your genetic or financial background, it would be very naïve to think that you’re invincible. Apart from anything else, the sense of not knowing can play havoc on your state of mind. Professional helping hands are out there, do not be afraid to grab them.

Protecting The Ears

The senses of sight and hearing are easily two of the greatest gifts known to mankind. While they are likely to fade in old age, it’s also possible for those problems to surface far sooner. With this in mind, most people protect their eyes with regular tests and simple ideas like wearing sunglasses in summer. The TLC given to the ears tends to be far less, which is utter madness. In fact, overlooking the need to maintain healthy hearing is the most common mistake committed by the modern generations.

Annual trips to an audiologist provide a great starting point. However, protection in a host of daily situations is what will truly keep you on the right track. With the help of YourBestDigs.com, finding the right devices for various situations is easy. Whether you’re a musician, a swimmer or work with heavy machinery doesn’t matter. Giving your ears the attention needed for long-term health can only have a positive impact.

Another issue to consider revolves around cleaning. Inserting a cotton swab or any other item into the ear canal will cause problems. If you encounter a blockage of wax, having it cleared by a professional is the best option. Alternatively, for those still wishing to do it at home, warm water and saline solutions should suffice.

Source:

Promoting Good Posture

The human body isn’t designed for sitting at an office desk for 40+ hours per week, but that’s the situation millions find themselves in. As such, postural problems are an increasingly common issue and are no longer linked primarily to senior citizens. While many people ignore the problem until it’s too late, now is the time for you to fight back against back problems.

If you are a regular gym visitor, incorporating back routines into your activities will help. Meanwhile, yoga and other postural exercises can have a stunning impact too. Aside from the direct benefits gained from training this area, a strong back provides great support for all other major muscle groups. If nothing else, mixing things up has got to be more fun than pounding the treadmill day after day. What more incentive could any fitness enthusiast need?   

You can additionally relieve pain while enhancing posture with back braces that fit under your work clothes. The supportive items are now readily available and can correct problems as well as preventing further damage. Frankly, even if you’re yet to suffer any discomfort, this could be a worthy investment. After all, back problems can cause trouble in many life aspects.

Building Better Surroundings

Home isn’t only where the heart is. It’s also where your entire body is for large portions of your life. The harsh reality is that your property could be putting your health at risk. As such, the need to address this issue cannot be overlooked for a second longer. Because, sadly, some of the potential repercussions are lethal.

At the most dangerous end of the scale, failure to have carbon monoxide detectors could see you inhale dangerous materials until it’s too late. Thankfully, SafeWise.com have reviewed the best products to help you combat this potentially deadly issue. On a not too dissimilar note, a clean home can prevent flu and other annoying minor illnesses from spreading through the family. When added to the emotional rewards, this job becomes a no-brainer.

Depending on your individual circumstances, it may be necessary to adapt the home over the years too. This is more likely to occur when you already suffer from manoeuvrability issues or other health problems. Still, ensuring that bathrooms, stairs and other areas are safe and suitable is key. If you can’t feel safe inside your property, where can you?

Source:

Maintaining Happiness

Nobody doubts the need to take care of your physical health, but it’s equally vital to keep your emotional health in a good place too. Depression and related conditions are all serious issues that deserve your full attention. When symptoms start to show, the most important step is to speak up. A problem shared is a problem halved. Besides, this is the best way to ensure you’ll get the treatment required, whether that be medication or therapy.   

Suffering in silence like millions of people sadly do needn’t be an option. However, mental conditions aren’t limited to those emotional elements. Alzheimer’s and brain-related problems can be scary for the victim as well as their loved ones. While there are no guaranteed prevention techniques, these tips can help in the fight against those problems for many years to come.

Let’s face it; physical health counts for very little if it isn’t coupled with mental health. Still, given that it’s very hard for others to tell what is happening in your mind, it’s your job to take responsibility. You’ll thank yourself in the long run.

When You’re In Trouble – Who You Gonna Call?

Dana R
-
0
When You’re In Trouble – Who You Gonna Call?

Image

‘In trouble’ can mean so many things but sounds more like a naughty child being told off. Yet in life, there are many situations that will mean that you find yourself in trouble, and a lot of the time it’s through no fault of your own. And in those situations, it’s important to know who to call to make things better. Some are straight forward, but others have answers that you might not think of at first.

In many cases, the first point of call would be the police, ambulance or fire service. And you should never worry about calling them. If you think someone is following you, call the police, don’t wait until they are dragging you away to wish that you had. If you are in the wrong, it might seem unnatural, but making a statement with the police can only help you in the long run before things progress.

Offense To You

Anytime someone commits a crime against you, be that physical harm, car accident or a breach of contract. The first person you call should be your attorney. If you don’t have a lawyer in speed dial, then look at a firm which deals with a few different types of law, and has a high win-count. Your next call should be to any insurance you have that covers the damage – health insurance, car insurance, house insurance. If it is a work related incident then also call your HR manager for advice on how to proceed.

Criminal Offense

If you have committed or been accused of committing a criminal offence of any kind, then you need a criminal defense attorney. Make sure that they have a good reputation, and look into whether your insurance will cover part of the fees. If you can’t afford a lawyer, then there are many no-win no-fee lawyers, and failing that a court will appoint one for you.

Divorce

It goes without saying that divorce is horrible for everyone, and it can be incredibly messy. You need a divorce lawyer even if your break is civil and amiable, to unravel the legal binding of your wedding. If things are more complicated, with property, assets and children involved, then you’re going to be more than grateful for having a good lawyer. If children are involved, then a family lawyer might be the better option.

Finances

Any financial issues you have can always be helped by a financial attorney. An expert will be able to look at whatever issue you are having and be able to fix it. If it’s something like debt, then a debt management charity will be able to give you educated and helpful advice. The government offers free advice for small financial troubles, mostly household and new businesses, anything bigger than that you will want to consult an attorney.

President Donald Trump to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

Roy Siemens
-
0
President Donald Trump to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital

President Donald Trump will recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, senior White House officials have said.

The president is due to announce the controversial decision in a speech later.

Donald Trump is also expected to approve moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but not for several years.

Israel welcomes the changes but the Palestinians and Arab leaders have warned they will jeopardize any Middle East peace process.

Pope Francis called for the “status quo” to be respected. Dialogue would only come through “recognizing the rights of all people” in the region, he said.

Saudi Arabia, an ally of the US, called the new policy “a flagrant provocation to Muslims”.

Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital city, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

In recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the US becomes the first country to do so since the foundation of Israel in 1948.

The issue goes to the heart of Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, who are backed by the Arab and wider Islamic world.

Jerusalem is home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.

Israel annexed the sector from Jordan after the 1967 Middle East war and regards the entire city as its indivisible capital.

According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of talks.

Image source Wikimedia

Jordan Warns US over Jerusalem’s Recognition as Israel’s Capital

Israel Settlements: Jerusalem Housing and Planning Committee Postpones Vote on Jewish Homes

Israel-Jordan Deal on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif Holy Site

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognized internationally and all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

In recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the US could reinforce Israel’s position that settlements in the east are valid Israeli communities.

Trump administration officials said recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was seen as “a recognition of reality” by the US government.

However, specific boundaries of Jerusalem would remain subject to a final status agreement, the official said. The status of holy sites would not be affected.

President Trump would also direct the state department to begin the process of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem – but this could take several years as it still has to be designed and built and security concerns would need to be addressed.

Donald Trump originally promised the move to pro-Israel voters during his campaign for the presidency.

The White House officials added that the president would still sign a regular waiver blocking the embassy’s move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem until the new building was completed.

Successive presidents have signed waivers to get round the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, which mandates moving the embassy. They have done this so that the US can be seen as neutral in Middle East peace negotiations.

Donald Trump has vowed to pursue a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, led by his son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner.

An administration official said the new US policy on Jerusalem was not designed to favor Israel in that process.

Ahead of his formal announcement, President Trump phoned several regional leaders to inform them of the embassy move.

Reacting to news of President Trump’s impending announcement, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman told him the relocation of the embassy or recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “would constitute a flagrant provocation of Muslims, all over the world”.

Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniya called for protests on December 8 and Jordan’s King Abdullah said the decision would “undermine efforts to resume the peace process”.

Egypt’s President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged President Trump “not to complicate the situation in the region” while Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country could sever ties with Israel.

China also warned of an escalation in tensions in the Middle East.

France, the EU and the Arab League have also expressed concern.

US government employees and their families have been barred from personal travel in Jerusalem’s Old City and the West Bank for security reasons ahead of expected protests.

Israel’s intelligence minister Israel Katz told Army Radio that Israel was “preparing for every option”, including an outbreak of violence.

5 Tips On Working Smarter, Not Harder Next Year

Dana R
-
0
5 Tips On Working Smarter, Not Harder Next Year

If you have been in business for a little while now, you are likely to have been told that you need to work smarter and not harder. It is a phrase that gets bandied about in the corporate world, but what does it really mean? It can conjure up an idea of sitting on the beach with your laptop in one hand and a cocktail in the other. And in some cases, that might be what working smarter is. But for most of us, the phrase is all about a desire to have it all, but with no clues or ideas on how to do just that.

image

So what does working smart even mean? For starters, working smart is going to be different from person to person. As it will vary depending on job roles and requirements, as well as personality types. Some people will enjoy being busy and getting through a to-do list; working smarter will just mean getting through it more efficiently, for example. Another person’s definition of working smart will be being less busy and reducing things like the labor cost for running their business, for instance. So it does depend on personal goals, values, and your own personal definition of success. Because at the end of the day, if you can get to your goal quicker than you though, whether that be tangible, personal, or financial, then that is what is going to be working smart after all.

Working smart needs to have a massive level of self-awareness, as it will help you in your decisions to work smart. When you’re self-aware, you will be able to do things like prioritizing better, as well as knowing what your needs are. You can build on what you’re good at and ask for help when you’re in need or don’t have the skills to get it done. Working smart has an intention behind it; you are doing things in a deliberate way. Another way of describing working smart could be that you are able to recognise what you’re good at and what you need help with, so that you can achieve what you want to quickly but efficiently.

So after reading through those descriptions, you are probably thinking about what changes you may need to make to make sure that you are working as efficiently or as ‘smart’ as possible. So here are some practical solutions to working smarter to get your goals achieved in the workplace. You don’t need to spend all hours of the day doing your work or running your business, at least not when you’re working smart. Do any of these resonate with you?

investment

image

Time Management

Managing your time is a really important part of working smart. But when you look through all that you need to get done, how many of you actually put a time limit on the task in hand? That can be a really effective way of getting things done, as you can focus more easily. You’re likely to avoid any distractions when you know you have two hours to get a specific plan written out. If you give yourself all day to do it, then you won’t be very productive and will get distracted easily.

Grouping up tasks that are similar and also prioritizing is a great way to get more work done and get it done in a more efficient manner. That isn’t to say that you will get everything done in that time. But it shows your strengths and makes you more aware about how fast or slow you can get things done. From there, you can assign out tasks to other people if needed, as well as being able to reallocate time for different things. Knowing how you work and what you need to get things done will help to make you much more productive in the long term.

Set Goals, Purpose, and Scope

Using and knowing your goals, purpose, and scope in business is going to help you work much smarter than ever before. How often have you been doing tasks and sat there thinking if they are really necessary or at least necessary for you to be doing? So when it comes to delegating, it helps you, and the person you have assigned the task to, to get things done and have a focus.

You could ask yourself, and explain to your colleagues, what the job will look like when it has been completed. That in itself will give you a clear goal of what you are aiming for, because you won’t know how to get anything done if you’re not even sure what it will look like when it is done. The purpose is also key, to motivation if nothing else. You will be so much more motivated to get a job done when you understand why you are even being asked to do it (that will work for your colleagues or team too). The final part of achieving tasks well, is to give the scope of the project. An understanding of time frame, budget, or involvement can be important in making sure that you get things done. Whoever is assigned the task can have a much better go at it when they know the full details of it. So they, or you, can work smarter and be more productive and efficient.

Theme Your Time

According to many productivity coaches, being able to theme your time can mean you are more productive in the long term. It is also reported to help you free your mind so that you can focus on the specific theme or task in hand. If you theme certain days as days for certain things, or weeks are themed for certain things, then it can help you be more productive. The reason being is that it will help to avoid decision fatigue. It will become more autonomous if you know that it is a Wednesday, so that means you’ll be speaking to suppliers, or it is the last week in the month, so you’ll be checking on sales. When time is themed like this, then it can allow a better work and life balance, as people know what to expect, as well as allowing more freedom and flexibility with a balance that will help them.

multitaskingimage

Create New Strategies

Creating some new strategies for yourself and how you work can be really key to helping you to work smarter. Think about your working day and where the distractions lie. For example, emails can be a big productivity killer. You might quickly check them, but then an hour later you have read through them all and have started replying, even though you had a more pressing task. This means multitasking which can be considered working harder but not working smarter. It can be overwhelming and mean hopping around from one thing to another, which isn’t how you work smart. So creating a new email strategy, for instance, could be just what you need to work smarter. This can work for many things in your work life, though. So think about what is the biggest distraction for you, and then you can create an appropriate strategy to help your productivity.

Write Notes

Interruptions can be a big distraction and one of the things that can stop you from working smarter. Being able to focus on the task in hand is important. So if someone stops to ask you to do something or to remind you about something, write a note. Then you don’t have to remember what has been said, and can quickly get back to the task in hand. Then when you’re ready to move on from the task, you can go to your notes and work through the next things that need to be dealt with.

Multitasking can be one of the least productive things that you can do, as you don’t get the tasks done well; they just get completed ‘enough.’ So writing notes can be a great way to stay focused and really help you to use your time more wisely. You might find other things that work for you, like voice memos, or sending yourself emails. But whatever you choose and find that works for you, then go with it; you want to be working as efficient as you can after all.

One thing to bear in mind is that working smarter comes back to being efficient and getting your goals ticked off. Some things will work for some people that won’t work for other people. But you need to be aware of what works for you and what you need from the people around you, so that you can get things done as easily as possible. At the end of the day, the more self-aware you are about how you work and the style that works best for you, the better. Then you’ll be able to have the work and life balance that you’re after, while still achieving your goals. What changes will you start to make today?

Johnny Hallyday Dies Aged 74

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Johnny Hallyday Dies Aged 74

Johnny Hallyday has died at the age of 74 after a long battle with lung cancer.

France’s biggest rock star sold about 100 million records and starred in a number of movies in a career that began in 1960.

Johnny Hallyday was made a Chevalier of the Legion D’Honneur by President Jacques Chirac in 1997.

The French simply called him “Our Johnny”. However, outside the Francophone zone, Johnny Hallyday was virtually unknown.

In a statement released to the AFP, the singer’s wife Laeticia said: “Johnny Hallyday has left us.

“I write these words without believing them. But yet, it’s true. My man is no longer with us.

“He left us tonight as he lived his whole life, with courage and dignity.”

Johnny Hallyday, whose real name was Jean-Philippe Smet, decided he wanted to be a singer after seeing Elvis Presley on screen in 1957. He was nicknamed the French Presley by his numerous fans.

Image source Wikimedia

Johnny Hallyday rushed to hospital for abnormally fast heartbeat

France’s celebrity tax exiles

Reacting to the news, France’s President Emmanuel Macron referenced the title of a recent tribute album by saying: “There is a little bit of Johnny in all of us.”

“Across generations, he carved himself into the lives of French people,” the president said.

“He charmed them through the generosity you saw in his concerts: so epic, so intimate, in huge venues, in small spots.”

Among those to pay tribute to Johnny Hallyday was American guitarist Lenny Kravitz.

Heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, Johnny Hallyday broke from France’s classic “chanson” tradition in the 1950s, and began singing rock and roll in French.

Despite his success at home, Johnny Hallyday failed to crack the lucrative American or any English-speaking market.

The USA Today once described the singer as “the greatest rock star you never heard of”.

Johnny Hallyday was known for his hard work and almost non-stop touring.

However, he was also famous for his wild rock star antics, both on and off stage.

Heavy partying, drugs, drinking and smoking, as well as five marriages all kept Johnny Hallyday’s bad-boy image alive.

King Michael of Romania Dies in Switzerland Aged 96

James J. Williams
-
0
King Michael of Romania Dies in Switzerland Aged 96
Image source Getty Images

Romania’s ex-King Michael I has died in Aubonne, Switzerland, aged 96.

Last year, the former monarch was diagnosed with cancer.

King Michael of Romania ruled the country twice, from 1927 to 1930 and then from 1940 to 1947, before the communist government ended the monarchy.

The monarch was one of the last surviving World War Two leaders, but lived much of his life in exile.

King Michael, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, is best remembered for his role in making Romania change sides, from the Nazis to the Allies, in August 1944.

His death was announced by his family at his home on the shore of Lake Geneva on December 5.

The former king had been ill for some time and was unable to attend the funeral of his wife Queen Anne, in Romania in 2016.

He was just five when he ascended to the throne for the first time in 1927. His father Carol had renounced his rights to the throne and left Romania several years earlier amid a scandal over a love affair.

His father returned in 1930, and replaced King Michael as monarch.

However, King Carol II was ousted in 1940 by a military government led by general Ion Antonescu and his son once again took the throne.

Queen Anne of Romania Dies Aged 92

In 1944, at the age of 22, King Michael became involved in a coup against Ion Antonescu and sided Romania with the Allies.

After World War Two, King Michael was forced to abdicate by the country’s communists, who ruled until the revolution of 1989.

The communist leaders threatened to carry out mass executions if he refused to go.

Michael went into exile until the 1990s when he returned to Romania after the fall of the country’s communist leader, Nicolae Ceausescu.

The Romanian royal family settled near Geneva in Switzerland, and Michael had to find work.

In 1948, he married Anne of Bourbon-Parma, whom he had met at the wedding of the future Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in London in 1947.

King Michael got back his Romanian citizenship in 1997.

Spain’s Supreme Court Withdraws European Arrest Warrant for Carles Puigdemont

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Spain’s Supreme Court Withdraws European Arrest Warrant for Carles Puigdemont

Spain’s Supreme Court has withdrawn European arrest warrants for ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and four other ex-ministers.

The former Catalan leaders fled to Belgium a month ago after declaring unilateral independence in a referendum ruled illegal by Spain.

Despite the move, the Supreme Court judge said they still faced possible charges for sedition and rebellion.

Rebellion is considered one of the most serious crimes in Spain, carrying a jail term of up to 30 years.

Judge Pablo Llareno announced the warrant’s withdrawal on December 5, citing the willingness the Catalan leaders had shown to return ahead of fresh regional elections being held on December 21.

The judge said the European-wide warrant would complicate the Spanish legal probe, and its removal allows Spain to gain full control over the investigation.

The ministers turned themselves into Belgian authorities after the warrant was issued last month, but were freed after being questioned.

Image source Wikimedia

Spain Issues European Arrest Warrants for Carles Puigdemont

Catalonia Independence: Madrid Calls on Carles Puigdemont to Participate in Elections

Catalonia Crisis: Spain’s High Court Summons Carles Puigdemont

A Belgian judge was previously expected to rule whether to extradite the ministers on December 14. The five were fighting the move, saying they may not receive a fair trial on their return.

Carles Puigdemont has previously said he would return if this was guaranteed.

On December 4, six Catalan ex-ministers being held in a prison near Madrid were released from prison on bail. However, two others, including former Catalan Vice President Orial Junqueras, were remanded in custody.

Campaigning has now officially started ahead of the new vote organized by Spanish authorities in an attempt to try and resolve the Catalonia crisis.

Carles Puigdemont labeled the election as a choice between “nation or submission” while speaking on a video link from Belgium to a rally in Barcelona on December 4.

He said voters must chose “between Catalan institutions or dark characters in Madrid”.

A seat reserved for the former leader at the event was marked with a yellow ribbon, an emblem that has become a symbol of support for the jailed politicians.

All but one of the thirteen Catalan leaders sacked by the Spanish government after the independence referendum are standing for election again in the fresh vote.

A new opinion poll, conducted by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) in late November, suggests that pro-independence parties will fall narrowly short of an absolute majority in the December election.

Carles Puidgemont and Orial Junqueras’ pro-separatist parties are campaigning separately in the new vote, after a divide emerged over the future of the region following the nulled referendum.

The parties ran together in the 2015 election when separatist parties won an overall majority in the Catalan parliament when they won 72 seats.

 

Supreme Court Approves Donald Trump’s Full Travel Ban

Diane A. Wade
-
0
Supreme Court Approves Donald Trump’s Full Travel Ban

President Donald Trump’s travel ban on six mainly Muslim countries can go into full effect, the Supreme Court has ruled on December 4.

The decision is a boost for President Trump’s policy against travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

The Supreme Court’s ruling covers the third version of the directive that the president has issued since taking office.

Seven of the nine justices lifted injunctions on December 4 imposed by lower courts against the policy.

Only liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor would have allowed the president’s order to remain blocked.

Federal appeals courts in San Francisco, California, and Richmond, Virginia, will hear arguments this week on whether the latest iteration of the policy is lawful.

Image source Flickr

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

Trump Revised Travel Ban Blocked Indefinitely by Hawaii Judge

Immigration Amicus Brief: 30 More Tech Companies Sign Against Trump Travel Ban

The Supreme Court noted it expects those courts to reach decisions “with appropriate dispatch”.

The case will eventually end up back in the Supreme Court.

The December 4 decision suggests America’s top judicial body may ultimately rule in favor of the administration, say legal analysts.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said the White House was “not surprised” by the Supreme Court’s decision.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the ruling “a substantial victory for the safety and security of the American people”.

However, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said President Trump’s re-tweeting of British far-right videos last week showed his discrimination against Islam.

Donald Trump insisted his ban was necessary for national security and pointed to terrorist attacks in Paris, London, Brussels and Berlin as evidence.

However, in striking it down, federal judges have cited President Trump’s campaign description of his policy as a “Muslim ban” and his call for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”.

Lower courts across the US have said President Trump’s policy violated the first amendment of the US constitution covering freedom of religion.

Federal Budget: The Ten-Year Raid Prohibition on Future Fund

Nancy Clayson
-
0
Federal Budget: The Ten-Year Raid Prohibition on Future Fund

The Future Fund of about $130 billion will be in a state of isolation for a maximum of ten years to prevent an impulsive search on its finances and a rocketing bill for years to come to protect the cost of benefit pension payouts of many public servants.

Scott Morrison revealed that he would delay drawing down on the fund at least up to 2026 so that the government can cover up the entire cost of the unfunded liabilities.

The action will demand the government to utilize an additional borrowings over the medium term to slightly pay for what will rise to an $8 billion annual cost to the taxpaying citizen.

The Enlightenment

During an exclusive interview with The Weekend Australian, the Treasurer stated that the Future Fund does not have, at this time, the sufficient resources to cover the absolute cost of the public sector pension payouts and that starting to reduce it from the legislated date of July 1, 2020, would exhaust the fund.

He stated it made no sense to reduce the Future Fund’s assets, which normally secures earnings for at least 7 percent annually when the government could borrow for hardly 2.8 percent.

Days out from delivering his second budget, Morrison stated, “I’m doing this to respect ­future taxpayers. A decade or 15 years down the road, the unfunded super liability issue would still be there. We want the Future Fund to be capable enough of performing the work for which it was set up.”

The conclusion received the support of former treasurer Peter Costello, which is now the chairman of the Future Fund. The chairman claims putting off the mat­urity date would enable the fund, which is the seventh biggest sovereign fund in the world, to increase to a predicted $300 billion by the year 2030.

Costello told The Weekend Australian, “Scott wisely decides to delay the drawdown to continuously increase the fund and supply for these liabilities right up until the year 2050. It is very wise. It provides the Future Fund the chance to create a long-lasting supply for all generations.”

Morrison stated that the settlement carried a lesson for Labor that the Future Fund was not there to provide funds for repetitive spending. The treasurer also said that if we are serious about not leaving an unjust burden on the future generation, then let the Future Fund do its work and do not touch it.

He also said that “A labor treasurer at a notion could raid the fund, and that would cost a lot for the future generations.” The resolution will add to both the budget shortage and to the government’s debt beyond the forward estimates.

However, Costello backed the decision to utilize medium-term borrowings to cover the interim accountabilities until the fund grows, reducing concerns that the government’s decision to trim its debt could stimulate it to tap into the resource at the earliest date.

The Anticipation Of The Decade

Costello stated, “If we were to delay draw down to 2026, we can anticipate that we could raise it to $300 billion by the year 2030. It will secure the cost of the entire unfunded ­liabilities and save tens of billions of dollars of the budget annually. It will also take all the responsibilities off from the taxpayer permanently.”

Morrison mentioned that the ­additional debt needed to cover the pension payouts would incur at a time when the budget was returning to surplus, and the comprehensive level of net debt was dropping. The December mid-year report papers illustrate that the net debt peaks at 19 percent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 2018-19.

He stated that the price for the budget cash balance would reach $200 million by 2020 and 2021. It will arise because budget rules do not permit the ­government to book the unrealized profits on the Future Fund’s share and infrastructure portfolio.

Morrison and Costello have agreed to appeal to lower the Future Fund’s mark return of between 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent on top of the consumer price index as legislated, with these rates to be reduced by 0.5 percent.

Though the Future Fund has surpassed its target return over its first ten years of operation, the Ashe Morgan campaign gathered support by the extended fall in international interest rates.

With interest rates increasing, Costello has asserted that they can meet the measurable return by taking excessive risks with the investment portfolio. “It is still going to be a very challenging ruling but more ­realistic.” Costello verbalized.

He started the Future Fund in 2006 to allocate budget surpluses from the mining boom to help secure the cost of defined benefit public sector superannuation programs.

The last of these programs shut to fresh members in July, but the payouts do not maximize until the years 2049 and 2050, when they attain $20 billion per year, while the liability will not be entirely paid to opt until about the year 2100.

Morrison stated the Howard government had expected that, by the year 2020, the Future Fund would acquire enough capital to meet all pension needs. It fails to anticipate the $60 billion introductions to the fund and the sale of its current stake in Telstra would be the ultimate contributions from any government.

Modelling by the Parliamentary Budget Office illustrates that if the government commenced drawing down the fund from the year 2020, it would be drained by 2052 while the outstanding pension lia­bility would remain at $250 billion.

The PBO (Projected Benefit Obligation) predicted that delaying tapping the Future Fund for just another four years would allow it to gather enough assets to meet the needed payout for the rest of the century.

Morrison stated that the government had decided to leave the Future Fund alone only during the four-year forward approximate period, but it was his “disposition” to permit it to sustain building its asset base for an unspecified period.

During which the government needed to keep the versatility to utilize the Future Fund resources in case the rate of change will skyrocket. Morrison also stated that the budget’s projections for medium term will only display the government borrowing, instead of using the Future Fund to pay superannuation.

“Until they hear more from us, their presumption should be that the Turnbull government is not touching the Future Fund,” he verbalized. The resolution to decrease the fund’s target return indicates a concern that the investment perspective will become a lot more difficult as global interest rates start soaring.

The extended fall in global interest rates since the Future Fund started operating has created enormous profits for investors in bonds, while the Future Fund had a tiny investment in shares at the time of the international financial crisis and had made significant gains from the equity market ­recovery.

Costello argued that allowing the minimum mark return at 4.5 percent more than the expansion rate would force the fund to take unreasonably risky investment choices. The 0.5 percent cutback still leaves the fund at risk to a rise in global rates. However, Morrison stated he was confident that Costello would reach the goal.

The Resolution

Morrison said, “The fund has an excellent history of surpassing their target, and so we have real confidence in Peter and the fund to hit its goal, and I have no doubt that Peter will tell me when he has surpassed it.”

Takeaway

Future Fund would perhaps need a couple of years without the government raiding and interrupting their process for them to completely cover all the superannuation for years to come which is very beneficial for the future generations.

Shashi Kapoor Dies Aged 79

Sonia Pantiss
-
0
Shashi Kapoor Dies Aged 79

Bollywood legend Shashi Kapoor has died at the age of 79.

Shashi Kapoor, who acted in huge hits like Deewar and Kabhie Kabhie, had been ill for some time and was in hospital.

The actor and producer was a member of the Kapoor dynasty, which has dominated the Hindi film industry for decades.

Shashi Kapoor won several national film awards and was awarded the Padma Bhushan civilian honor by the Indian government in 2011. He also acted in a number of American and international movies.

He died at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in the western city of Mumbai.

His nephew, actor Randhir Kapoor, told Press Trust of India: “Yes he has passed away. He had kidney problem since several years. He was on dialysis for several years.”

The funeral will be held on December 5, he said.

Image source Wikimedia

Zohra Sehgal dies in Delhi aged 102

Shashi Kapoor was married to late English actress Jennifer Kendal, with whom he set up Mumbai’s iconic Prithvi Theater in 1978. His sister-in-law is British actress Felicity Kendal.

He his career as a child actor and appeared in more than 150 movies, including a dozen in English. He became known internationally for his roles in Merchant Ivory productions like Shakespeare-wallah and Heat and Dust.

In 2015, Shashi Kapoor was given the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinema.

He was known for his charming smile and was often described by his fans as the “handsomest star ever”. He had a huge fan following among women.

Shashi Kapoor was cast alongside superstar Amitabh Bachchan in some of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters of the 1970s and 1980s, and the two actors played brothers, best friends or rivals.

His comment in Deewar – “Mere paas maa hai” (But I have mother’s support) – during a tense confrontation with screen-sibling Amitabh Bachchan tops the list of best Bollywood lines for millions of fans around the globe.

Over the years, it has found its way on to merchandise like shoulder bags, coffee mugs and cushion covers.

As news of Shashi Kapoor’s death spread, fans took to social media to express their grief and pay tributes, led by Indian PM Narendra Modi: “Shashi Kapoor’s versatility could be seen in his movies as well as in theatre, which he promoted with great passion. His brilliant acting will be remembered for generations to come. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers.”

Cathay Pacific Crew Reports Suspected Sighting of North Korea Missile Test

Roy Siemens
-
0
Cathay Pacific Crew Reports Suspected Sighting of North Korea Missile Test

The crew of a Cathay Pacific flight from San Franscisco to Hong Kong flying over Japan reported a suspected sighting of last week’s North Korean missile test.

On November 29, North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile it said could reach anywhere in the US.

The test-launch raised tension further with South Korea and the US, who on December 4 began their largest ever joint air exercise, which North Korea has branded an “all-out provocation”.

Described by North Korea as its “most powerful” missile, the November 29 launch ended up in Japanese waters but flew higher than any other the North had previously tested.

According to the South China Morning Post, Cathay Pacific’s general manager of operations Mark Hoey told staff in a message that “today the crew of CX893 reported, <<Be advised, we witnessed the DPRK missile blow up and fall apart near our current location>>”.

The launch was reportedly also witnessed by two South Korean aircraft en route to Seoul from the US.

Image source Wikimedia

North Korea Fires New Ballistic Missile

Hawaii Activates Nuclear Attack Warning Siren for First Time since Cold War

Unlike other countries, North Korea usually does not announce its missile tests which means they come without warning or known flight path, posing a potential risk to planes.

North Korea does have access to international civil aviation data so it can study the airspace before any launch.

While the risk of an incident remains very low, it is something that airlines are taking into consideration. In early August, Air France expanded their no-fly zone around North Korea after it transpired one of its planes flew close to a North Korean missile path.

The December 4 air exercise between the US and South Korea, called Vigilant Ace, will last for five days.

It will involve some 230 aircraft, including two dozen stealth jets, and tens of thousands of military personnel.

North Korea has condemned the drills, saying over the weekend that the US was “begging for nuclear war” and that it would “seriously consider” counter-measures to the exercises.

1...139140141...1,227Page 140 of 1,227