Walter Shaub, the director of the US Office of Government Ethics, has sharply criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to hand his global business empire to his sons before his inauguration on January 20.
Donald Trump’s plan does not match the “standards” of US presidents over the last 40 years, Walter Shaub said.
A Trump lawyer said earlier the new trust would face “severe restrictions” on new deals.
However, Walter Shaub said the plan would not remove conflicts of interest.
Image source YouTube
Referring to a process whereby Donald Trump would sell off his corporate assets and put the profits into a blind trust run by an independent trustee, Walter Shaub said: “Every president in modern times has taken the strong medicine of divestiture.”
At a news conference on January 11, lawyer Sherri Dillon said that management of the Trump Organization would be transferred to a trust controlled by Donald Trump’s sons Don and Eric and CFO Allen Weisselberg.
The Trump Organization is an umbrella company for Donald Trump’s hundreds of investments in real estate, brands and other businesses.
Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong has been quizzed at the prosecutor’s office in Seoul as a suspect in South Korea’s biggest political corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.
Samsung is accused of giving donations to several non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a close friend to President Park Geun-hye.
The donations were allegedly made in exchange for political support of a controversial merger.
The Choi Soon-sil scandal has led to President Park Geun-hye being impeached by South Korea’s parliament last month.
Image source Wikimedia
Lee Jae-yong told reporters upon arriving on January 12: “I deeply apologize to the people for failing to show a positive image because of this incident.”
Earlier this week two other Samsung executives were questioned by the special prosecutors, but were treated as witnesses rather than suspects.
The claims against Samsung circle around a merger between the electronics giant’s construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate company, Cheil Industries.
Prosecutors allege that Samsung gave €2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by Choi Soon-sil and her daughter, in return for Park Geun-hye’s support for the deal.
Lee Jae-yong, known professionally as Jay Y. Lee, has already given evidence to politicians over the scandal, but this is the first time he has been questioned as a suspect by investigators.
At the parliamentary hearing in December, Samsung admitted giving a total of 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations, but denied seeking favors.
Jay Y. Lee also confirmed Samsung gave a horse and money to help the equestrian career of Choi Soon-sil’s daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, something he said he now regretted.
Choi Soon-sil is on trial for charges including corruption and coercion.
President Park Geun-hye’s position began to unravel in October 2016, when details of her friendship with Choi Soon-sil began to emerge.
They included revelations that Park Geun-hye had allowed Choi Soon-sil – who holds no government role – to edit political speeches.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of protestors have gathered every weekend in Seoul to demand Park Geun-hye’s resignation.
Park Geun-hye denies wrongdoing but has apologized for the way she managed her relationship with Choi Soon-sil, who also denies committing criminal offences.
Many folks are blissfully unaware that home loan applications depend on more than just a good credit score. Lenders tend to tout the importance of credit scores and overall financial well-being when it comes to loan applications. However, we now know that many other factors come into play when determining a person’s eligibility for a home loan. These include your housing history, credit decisions and your social media presence among others. True to form, credit scores are often regarded as the #1 reason somebody gets denied or approved for a home loan, but in and of itself it’s not enough. Of course, the importance of a good credit score cannot be underestimated.
Lenders Consider the Following Factors As Part of Their Decision to Grant You a Home Loan
Debt to income ratios otherwise known as payment to income ratios are an important determinant of a person’s eligibility for a home loan. This simply calculates how much debt you have relative to your income. If that ratio is under 40%, you’re generally considered to be in a favorable category when it comes to home loans. However, your payment history is equally important. Clients with a poor payment history and poor credit are automatically flagged. Your recent missed payments are going to be the most important aspects of the decision-making process. Payments that you missed from several years ago are unlikely to feature as prominently with lenders.
Your employment history is another important consideration. This is particularly true with subprime lenders. These companies make a big deal of stable employment. They will often reject applications where the borrower does not have stable employment. Much the same is true of a person’s housing history. If an individual is peripatetic, or is unable to hold down a residence, this is indicative of money-management problems or instability. This also makes it more difficult for the borrower to track down the home loan applicant if he or she defaults on the mortgage repayment. If a borrower does not have a regular source of income, a 401(k) or similar retirement plan may come into the mix. Borrowers will almost always evaluate your tax history, previous bank statements and even your pay stubs as proof of your eligibility for a loan. Nowadays, banks and other financial institutions are carefully analyzing social media profiles as evidence of a person’s eligibility for credit. If your public social media profile displays irresponsible financial behavior, you will likely be denied for a home loan.
Yes – Credit Scores Are Important Too
In case you’re wondering what’s a good credit score, it all depends. Each borrower is different, and there are 3 major credit bureaus in the US. These include Transunion, Experian and Equifax. Experian credit scores range between 360 and 840, Equifax scores range between 280 and 850, and Transunion credit scores range between 300 and 850. Your FICO score will affect your eligibility for all types of loans. FICO is otherwise known as the Fair Isaac Corporation. With the FICO rating scale, excellent credit is regarded as a score between 720 and 850. A good credit score ranges between 690 and 719, fair or average credit ranges between 630 and 689, and poor credit ranges from 300 to 629. Maintaining a healthy credit score is easy. Simply make your payments on time, ensure that the money you owe does not exceed 30% of your income, keep a clean credit history, and don’t apply for too many new lines of credit over a short period.
German automaker Volkswagen has pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in the United States and will pay fines totaling $4.3 billion to settle charges over the emissions-rigging scandal.
VW will pay $2.8 billion in criminal fines and $1.5 billion in civil penalties.
US Attorney-General Loretta Lynch said the company denied and then lied in a bid to cover up its actions.
The fines amounted to one of the biggest clean air penalties ever achieved, Loretta Lynch added.
Six VW executives and managers have also been charged over their role in the emissions cheating.
Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Müller said the company “deeply regrets” its actions.
Hans Dieter Pötsch, chairman of VW’s supervisory board, said: “We are no longer the same company we were 16 months ago.”
The DoJ said VW had a long-running scheme to sell about 590,000 diesel vehicles in the US fitted with a defeat device to cheat on emissions tests.
VW will be on probation for three years and be overseen by an independent monitor during that period.
The company has agreed to co-operate with the DofJ’s investigation and prosecution of six executives involved in the crimes.
VW is pleading guilty to “participating in a conspiracy to defraud” the US and its American customers, as well as breaking the Clean Air Act by using cheating software in its cars.
The company is also charged with obstruction of justice for destroying documents related to the scheme, and with importing the cars into the US “by means of false statements about the vehicles’ compliance with emissions limits”.
There are still investor and consumer lawsuits pending in Europe.
The $4.3 billion fines means that the total costs associated with the emissions cheating scandal are set to exceed the $19.2 billion VW has set aside to deal with the issue.
VW has already agreed to a $15 billion civil settlement with environmental authorities and car owners in the US.
In his first press conference as president-elect, Donald Trump says allegations Russia has compromising material on him are “fake news, phoney stuff”, put together by “sick people”.
Donald Trump was replying to unsubstantiated allegations that his election team colluded with Russia and there were salacious videos of his private life.
Intelligence agencies considered the claims relevant enough to brief both President-elect Donald Trump and President Barack Obama last week.
Donald Trump also said for the first time that Russia was behind hacking attacks.
He went on to confirm he was handing total control of his businesses to his two sons.
His first briefing was scheduled in order for Donald Trump to give details about his business affairs, but was dominated by the allegations of compromising material.
Donald Trump said the information “should never have entered paper… it should never have been released”.
Image source Flickr
“It’s all fake news, it’s phoney stuff, it didn’t happen,” he said, adding that “sick people” had “put that crap together… it’s an absolute disgrace”.
Donald Trump thanked the news organizations that chose not to run with the claims, which have been circulating for months.
He said he could not talk about what he heard in last week’s intelligence agency briefing, but said there had been “many witnesses” there and that it would be a “tremendous blot” on the reputation of intelligence agencies if they had been responsible for leaking the details.
“That’s something that Nazi Germany would have done,” he said.
In response White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was “deeply misguided for anybody, at any level, to question the integrity and motives of the patriots” in the nation’s intelligence agencies.
A 35-page dossier of allegations has been published in full on Buzzfeed and reported by CNN.
Donald Trump called Buzzfeed a “failing pile of garbage” and accused CNN of “going out of their way to build it up”.
The allegations claim Russia has damaging information about Donald Trump’s business interests, and salacious video evidence of his private life, including claims of using prostitutes at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Moscow.
Denying any such claims, Donald Trump said that as a high-profile person he was extremely cautious about all that he did when travelling abroad.
Russia has also strongly denied the allegations.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said they were “pulp fiction” and a “clear attempt to damage relations”.
Donald Trump said he “respected” Vladimir Putin for putting out a statement.
He was also asked about the hacking scandal that dominated the US election campaign, with the intelligences concluding Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic Party emails.
Donald Trump said for the first time “I think it was Russia”, but added that “we get hacked by other people”.
The president-elect said: “We talk about the hacking and hacking’s bad and it shouldn’t be done.”
But he added: “Look at the things that were hacked, look at what was learned from that hacking… Hillary Clinton got the questions to the debate and didn’t report it.”
Donald Trump added: “If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability.”
He did not answer directly when asked whether his team had communicated with Russia during the election campaign, but he did say that any hacking by Vladimir Putin must stop.
“He shouldn’t be doing it. He won’t be doing it.”
Before today’s briefing, the Trump team acted to dismiss news of the compromising material.
Michael Cohen, a lawyer to Donald Trump named in the 35-page dossier, denied a specific claim that he went to Prague in August or September 2016 to meet Kremlin representatives to talk about the hacking.
He tweeted: “I’ve never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews.”
Reince Priebus, Donald Trump’s chief of staff, called the dossier report “phoney baloney garbage”.
US media suggest the alleged salacious videos were prepared as “kompromat” – material collected about a politician or public figure in order to create a threat of negative publicity, if needed.
The allegations began circulating in political and media circles in recent months. The existence of the documents was first reported by Mother Jones in October 2016.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Donald Trump’s pick as secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said it is a “fair assumption” that Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind US election hacks.
The former CEO of Exxon Mobil told the hearing committee the intelligence report on Russian tampering “clearly is troubling”.
Rex Tillerson’s comments came after Senator Marco Rubio pressed him to admit Vladimir Putin’s role in the cyber-breach.
His reported good ties with Vladimir Putin have alarmed some in the United States.
Rex Tillerson, 64, faced tough questions from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 11.
In a heated exchange, Marco Rubio grilled him on whether intelligence reports about Russia’s involvement in hacks on the US election were accurate and if Vladimir Putin had directed the attacks.
Rex Tillerson said he had no inside information on the detailed intelligence about Russia’s hacking, but he had read the declassified US report released last week on the issue.
The Florida senator suggested that Vladimir Putin was responsible for war crimes because of Moscow’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and bombing of Aleppo.
However, the Texan multimillionaire told Marco Rubio he would not describe Vladimir Putin as a war criminal.
Image source Flickr
Rex Tillerson said: “I would not use that term.”
“Those are very, very serious charges to make and I’d want to have much more information before reaching that conclusion,” he added.
Marco Rubio – who was one of Donald Trump’s rivals for the Republican nomination – said he had “serious concerns” about Rex Tillerson as America’s top diplomat.
While Rex Tillerson was grilled by senators in Washington DC, up in New York Donald Trump was rejecting claims that Russian intelligence agencies have compromising information about the president-elect.
In his first news conference in nearly six months on January 11, at Trump Tower, Donald Trump dismissed the allegations against him as “fake news” and “phony stuff” crafted by “sick people”.
Russia has called the allegations “pulp fiction” and a “clear attempt to damage relations”.
In his Senate statement, Rex Tillerson warned that Americans should be “clear-eyed about our relationship with Russia”.
“Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests. It has invaded Ukraine, including the taking of Crimea, and supported Syrian forces that brutally violate the laws of war,” he said.
“Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia,” he added.
It is Rex Tillerson’s connections to Russia that have drawn the most flak in recent months.
Rex Tillerson has forged multi-billion-dollar deals with Russia’s state oil company, Rosneft, spoken out against international sanctions imposed on Moscow and in 2013 was awarded an Order of Friendship by the Kremlin.
It pretty much goes without saying that you want your business to succeed, right? Of course. That’s a completely ridiculous question. Every single budding entrepreneur wants their business to succeed. Otherwise, what’s the point? To help ensure that your business is successful, you’ve probably read a great deal about the things that your business needs and how to improve it. And that’s great, that’s one of the best things that you can do. The internet is filled with fantastic advice on how to make sure that you are running the best possible business. But sometimes the kind of advice you read about running a business gets so bogged down in the minutiae that it ends up missing some incredibly important points. A lot of the time this is simply because people assume that these points are so obvious they don’t even need mentioning. But businesses do miss them. A lot of startups fail because they are so focussed on the little details that they forget about the broad strokes. So here are three ways to improve your business that are so blindingly obvious, there’s a good chance you might have missed them entirely.
Always shop around
Your business is going to require equipment; that’s true not matter what it is. And that equipment is going to be an investment. If you’re a small business, you really can’t afford to spend huge amounts of money on equipment. So what do you do? You shop around. Find the best possible deals, haggle with manufacturers and distributors. If you’re running a medical practice then why not look for discounted medical supplies. A lot of the time these things will still be high quality, you’ve just got to be smart with where you look.
Hire the right people
There’s a tendency with small businesses to offer jobs to people that the business owner is close to personally. Now this can be a fantastic thing to do. It gives people a chance they might not otherwise have had and it gives you the opportunity to mold someone into the kind of employee that you want. But you should always make sure that whoever you’re hiring is right for your company. Find out their strengths and weaknesses, what they’re passionate about and what their goals are. For a small company, hiring the wrong employees can be a seriously risky prospect with far-reaching consequences.
Learn to leave work alone
The issue with a startup is that it’s often very hard to separate your personal life from your professional life. This might not seem like a big deal at first, but it can become a serious problem. Without a decent work-life balance, your work ends up eating up most of your free time, and you come to resent your company for the way that it’s taking over. It can have an impact on your personal relationships as well as the quality of the work that you’re doing. One of the most important things that almost every business owner forgets is that, sometimes, it’s important just to put your business down and walk away.
French police investigating a Paris jewellery robbery that targeted Kim Kardashian have released three people without charge.
They include the reality star’s driver in Paris, Michael Madar. The three were among 17 people arrested in co-ordinated raids across France on January 9.
Michael Madar’s brother is still being questioned by police, reports say.
Kim Kardashian, 36, was held at gunpoint and tied up by the robbers while staying at a hotel in Paris in October 2016.
Photo Twitter
The reality star was targeted at the exclusive flat near Place de la Madeleine while her bodyguard looked after her sister at a nightclub.
The gang stole €9 million ($9.5 million) of jewellery, including a diamond ring valued at around €4 million.
The two witnesses to the robbery – Kim Kardashian herself as well the night-watchman – apparently both told police that their aggressors were men “of a certain age”. CCTV footage on the street outside also provided crucial evidence.
Throughout the inquiry, police have been investigating whether the gang was tipped off that Kim Kardashian’s bodyguard was not at the hotel residence at the time of the robbery.
Among those arrested on January 9 were several figures in their 60s and one in his 70s. The raids took place mainly in the Paris region and at Rouen in the north. An Algerian, identified as 72-year-old Pierre B., was detained at Grasse on the French Riviera.
Although there has been no trace yet of Kim Kardashian’s missing jewellery, police did recover an estimated €300,000 during January 9 raids.
The Kremlin has strongly denied claims Russia’s intelligence agencies have compromising material about Donald Trump.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the allegations were “pulp fiction” and a “clear attempt to damage relations”.
The unsubstantiated claims say Donald Trump’s presidential campaign secretly communicated with Moscow. They also say Russia has information about Donald Trump involving prostitutes.
The president-elect has condemned the reports.
He responded on Twitter: “FAKE NEWS – A TOTAL POLITICAL WITCH HUNT!”
Later on January 11, Donald Trump went on to write: “Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA – NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!”
Image NBC News
Donald Trump is due to hold a news conference on January 11, nine days before he takes office.
It was meant to be about his attempts to separate himself from his business commitments, to address concerns about conflicts of interest.
However, it now comes at an awkward time for Donald Trump.
Last week, US intelligence agencies released an unclassified report saying Russia ran a hacking campaign to influence the US presidential elections.
Separate reports circulating in media now say Russia has damaging information about Donald Trump’s business interests and salacious video evidence of his private life.
Among the claims included in a 35-page dossier are that Donald Trump’s aides were involved with the alleged Russian hack of the Democratic Party of his rival Hillary Clinton.
Michael Cohen, a lawyer to Donald Trump named in the memos, has denied a specific claim that he went to Prague in August or September 2016 to meet Kremlin representatives to talk about the hacking.
“I’ve never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews,” he tweeted.
Media suggest the videos were prepared as “kompromat” – compromising material collected about a politician or public figure in order to create a threat of negative publicity, if needed.
Lee Jae-yong, known professionally as Jay Y. Lee, is the grandson of Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul, son of current chairman Lee Kun-hee.
Aged 48, Lee Jae-yong has spent his entire career in the company and is vice chairman of Samsung Electronics.
Image source Wikimedia
Lee Jae-yong is currently vice-president of Samsung Electronics. But since his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014, he is considered de facto boss of the entire Samsung Group conglomerate.
In 2015, Lee Jae-yong was nominated to join the board of Samsung Electronics – an appointment confirmed on October 27.
He is widely expected to take overall control of Samsung once his 74-year-old father steps down.
Critics say Lee Jae-yong’s position on the board is due to his birth, not his business experience.
Samsung Electronics’ vice-president and heir-apparent Lee Jae-yong is to be quizzed as a suspect in a corruption scandal surrounding the impeached South Korean president, Park Geun-hye.
The tech giant is accused of giving donations to non-profit foundations operated by Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of President Park Geun-hye.
Samsung’s donations were allegedly made in exchange for political support of a controversial merger.
Lee Jae-yong will face special prosecutors on January 12, officials said.
Samsung declined to comment.
Since his father, Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack in 2014, Lee Jae-yong, 48, is considered de facto chief of the entire Samsung Group conglomerate.
Image source Wikimedia
On December 9, the South Korean parliament voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye over the scandal – a decision the country’s constitutional court has six months to uphold or overturn. Until then Park Geun-hye remains formally president but stripped of her powers, which are handed to the prime minister, a presidential appointee.
The claims circle around a merger between Samsung’s construction arm, Samsung C&T, and an affiliate company, Cheil Industries.
Prosecutors allege that Samsung gave €2.8 million euros ($3.1 million) to a company co-owned by Choi Soon-sil and her daughter, in return for Park Geun-hye’s support for the deal.
Lee Jae-yong has already given evidence to politicians over the scandal, but this is the first time he will be interviewed as a suspect by investigators.
At the parliamentary hearing last month, Samsung admitted giving a total of 20.4 billion won ($17.46 million) to the two foundations, but denied seeking favors.
Lee Jae-yong also confirmed Samsung gave a horse and money to help the equestrian career of Choi Soon-sil’s daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, something he said he now regretted.
Earlier this week two other Samsung executives were questioned by the special prosecutors, but were treated as witnesses rather than suspects.
Park Geun-hye’s position began to unravel in October last year when details of her friendship with Choi Soon-sil began to emerge. They included revelations that the president had allowed her old friend – who holds no government role – to edit political speeches.
Since then, hundreds of thousands of protestors have gathered every weekend to demand President Park Geun-hye to resign.
Park Geun-hye denies wrongdoing but has apologized for the way she managed her relationship with Choi Soon-sil, who also denies committing criminal offences.
Choi Soon-sil has been charged with coercion and attempted fraud.
In his farewell speech in Chicago, President Barack Obama has called on Americans to defend their democracy.
He told thousands of supporters: “By almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than it was eight years ago.”
However, Barack Obama warned “democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted”.
The incumbent president implored Americans of all backgrounds to consider things from each other’s point of view, saying “we have to pay attention and listen”.
Barack Obama, who is America’s first black president, was first elected in 2008 on a message of hope and change.
His successor, Donald Trump, has vowed to undo some of Barack Obama’s signature policies.
Photo White House
Donald Trump will be sworn into office on Friday, January 20.
Raucous chants of “four more years” from the crowd were brushed aside by the president.
“I can’t do that,” Barack Obama said with a smile. US presidents are limited to two terms by the constitution.
“No, no, no, no no,” he said, when the crowd booed the prospect of Donald Trump replacing him.
Striking an upbeat tone, Barack Obama said that the peaceful transfer of power between presidents was a “hallmark” of American democracy.
However, Barack Obama outlined three threats to American democracy – economic inequality, racial divisions and the retreat of different segments of society into “bubbles”, where opinions are not based on “some common baseline of facts”.
“If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life,” he said to laughter and applause.
In his closing remarks, Barack Obama said he had one final request for Americans as president: “I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.”
Returning to Chicago, where he first declared victory in 2008, Barack Obama delivered a mostly positive message to Americans after a divisive election campaign which saw Donald Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Barack Obama said that young Americans – including those who worked on his campaigns, and who believe “in a fair, just, inclusive America” – left him feeling “even more optimistic about this country than I was when we started”.
In choosing Chicago, Barack Obama had earlier said he wanted to return to “where it all started” for him and First Lady Michelle Obama, instead of delivering the speech from the White House.
Barack Obama said that it was in Chicago as a young man, “still trying to figure out who I was, still searching for purpose in my life”, that he “witnessed the power of faith and dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss”.
“This is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved and they get engaged and they come together to demand it,” he said.
“After eight years as your president I still believe that.”
Some 18,000 people attended the farewell address at McCormick Place, the largest convention centre in North America and the venue for Barack Obama’s speech after he defeated Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.
The tickets were given out free, but were selling online for more than $1,000 each hours ahead of the speech.
As he leaves the Oval Office, President Barack Obama is viewed favorably by 57% of Americans, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, a similar level to Bill Clinton when he left office.
German automaker Volkswagen has agreed a draft $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice and US Customs over the emissions-rigging scandal.
VW also said it would plead guilty to breaking certain US laws.
The company said it was in advanced discussions with the DoJ and US Customs about the deal.
The final agreement has yet to be approved by VW’s management and supervisory board, which could happen later on January 11.
The company said it had negotiated a “concrete draft” of a settlement with US authorities that included criminal and civil fines totaling $4.3 billion, as well as appointing an independent monitor for the next three years.
The fine means that the total costs associated with the emissions cheating scandal are set to exceed the $19.2 billion VW has set aside to deal with the issue.
Volkswagen has already agreed to a $15 billion civil settlement with environmental authorities and car owners in the US.
The scandal erupted in September 2015 when the EPA found that many VW cars sold in America had a “defeat device” – or software – in diesel engines that could detect when they were being tested and adjust the performance accordingly to improve results.
VW subsequently admitted cheating emissions tests in the US and many countries throughout the world.
On January 9 it emerged that VW executives knew about emissions cheating two months before the scandal broke, but chose not to tell US regulators, according to court papers.
The executives involved include Oliver Schmidt, who was in charge of VW’s US environmental regulatory compliance office from 2012 until March 2015.
On January 9, Oliver Schmidt was charged with conspiracy to defraud and has been remanded ahead of a court appearance on January 12.
If you’re an entrepreneur or the manager of a business, it’s always important to spend time on a regular basis learning about the latest advances in technology which continue to change the way organizations sell to, interact with, and follow-up with customers.
As we have seen time and again, new tech doesn’t just destroy or create whole industries, but also leads to new and improved products and services, better processes for customers and businesses alike, and more information and power in consumers’ hands than ever before.
One piece of tech that has really changed the face of the retail sector and many others is the smartphone. In today’s market, shoppers regularly use their internet-enabled cells to research information, shop and pay for goods, interact with businesses, and receive personally-customized information. In turn, organizations now have better ways of marketing and selling to shoppers at a variety of touchpoints, as well as much more data about what people are looking for and how and when they like to shop.
If you want to rev up your business this year, mobile payments and marketing methods can really help you to do so. Read on for three key ways that you can make use of smartphones and related apps for your venture today.
Accept Mobile Payments
The first, most obvious, thing to do for your business when it comes to mobile is to start accepting payments via mobile devices. There are multiple benefits to doing this. For starters, doing so allows you to increase sales because you can process transactions anywhere, and at any time.
Rather than being confined to completing transactions through your typical point-of-sale machine, you can use your smartphone or tablet to accept payments at places such as conferences, markets, in-home consultations, tradeshows, pop-up shops, food trucks, and various events. Mobile payments these days are incredibly affordable for businesses to implement, and don’t require much time or effort at all to set up.
Furthermore, if you integrate mobile payments into your firm’s operations, you will find that you not only have a broader range of customers to sell to, but that you can also increase your conversion rate. This is because so many consumers these days prefer to pay by card or using mobile wallets and platforms (such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Square, and PayAnywhere) rather than cash. By catering to this demand, you can quickly increase your revenue.
Mobile payment options also come in really handy in traditional store environments such as retail outlets and hospitality firms (like cafes and restaurants) during peak periods. By adding smartphone payments to your operations, you don’t have to keep customers waiting in long lines to pay. You can therefore process more transactions every hour, turnover more payments, and keep customers happier because they get to finish up their transactions sooner rather than later.
Better Market to Customers by Using Mobile Information
Your firm’s marketing can also be bettered by using mobile information to your advantage. Now, because of the development of mobile technology, you can market to both current and potential clients more easily by making use of the information and applications that are available to you.
Loyalty programs are a prime example of this. While these are used by many businesses as a marketing and sales tactic, they often aren’t as effective as they could be due to the fact that most shoppers struggle to keep track of their key-ring tags, punch cards, shopper dockets, and other loyalty devices, and as such don’t end up remembering to, or being able to, accumulate points, discounts and other rewards.
With mobile payment systems and marketing apps though, it is much easier and more convenient for consumers to enjoy the added value that should come with a loyalty program, and for firms to get more repeat business as a result.
Today, loyalty information can be stored and tracked directly through mobile applications when people purchase using smartphone applications, which means that shoppers don’t have to worry about having loyalty info with them. This then means that customers will be more likely to return to a store again and again, because they can enjoy a seamless loyalty experience with “no mess, no fuss.”
Provide More Comprehensive Customer Service and Fulfilment
Lastly, companies can also provide better customer service and fulfilment when they take advantage of mobile apps. For example, using “product locator” mobile technology, customers can find what they’re looking for much more quickly when they’re in stores, or find out about stock levels and other helpful information. As well, mobile apps can give customers suggestions about other items they might like or provide detailed information on products they’re browsing.
Fulfilment can be enhanced too through mobile apps, because the tech makes it simpler for businesses to track inventory levels and to take note of shopping trends. Firms can see at a glance which products are selling best during a particular period, and can increase or relocate stock to better suit the needs of shoppers as a result.
Just before New Year’s Eve – easily the booziest holiday of the year – New York State uncovered a litany of insurance laws that effectively outlaw the practice of ride sharing. This comes at a devastating loss to a vast group of people, from app owners, who are losing a significant area of service, to regional drivers, who lose another opportunity to earn cash, to riders, who no longer have a fast, convenient means of transport.
Around the country, city and state legislatures are beginning to question whether ridesharing is safe. However, users of ridesharing apps consistently clamor that the service is the transit of the future. Fortunately for business owners, drivers, and ride share users, it seems that ride sharing is indeed a smart and safe means of transportation, and it should continue to be as policies and technologies develop.
Ride Sharing Engenders Road Safety
The more cars there are on the roads, the more chances there are for disastrous collisions. The simple concept of probability is why automobile accidents are so much more common than plane crashes: While there are at most about 5,000 planes, the global number of cars and trucks has already surpassed 1 billion. On average, there are over 3,000 deaths and 50 million injuries on the road every day, so every automobile is a potential health hazard.
Ride sharing helps cut down on the number of cars on the road, decreasing congestion, and limiting the possibilities for harmful collisions. In fact, ride sharing is particularly popular amongst the intoxicated, which means communities that allow ride sharing business to operate are likely to have fewer drivers under the influence. Inarguably, providing intoxicated people an alternative to driving home drunk and high is a significant boon for the ride sharing service.
Some regions are concerned less with overall road safety and more with individual security of passengers. For example, Austin was among the first cities to pass legislation mandating extensive criminal background checks for ride share drivers in the hopes of reducing the likelihood of kidnapping, theft, or assault on passengers. Yet, emerging studies on the issue have found that risks to passengers are no greater than they are in traditional taxis; if anything, their cashless payment system and digital documentation lower the risk of violent crime.
Ride Sharing Is More Sustainable
Additionally, fewer cars and more ride sharing is a remarkable win for the environment. As concern over climate change climbs, more citizens are becoming interested in any way they can cut down on their environmental impact. Carpooling has long been touted as one of the best ways to reduce carbon emissions, but rarely have carpooling initiatives found much success. Ride sharing is effectively paid carpooling since users are riding in a shared vehicle instead of driving their own. Ride sharing requires less fuel and emits fewer pollutants than the most likely alternative – everyone driving a private vehicle – which is unequivocally good for the environment.
Some ride sharing companies have even more progressive plans for sustainable services. For example, RideCell has developed software to help ride sharing businesses build their apps, but thanks to a partnership with BMW, the company might become a pioneer of autonomous fleets in the coming years. Autonomous vehicles are dramatically more efficient than human drivers for a dozen reasons, including their superior engines and their attention to fuel use. Though the widespread use of driverless cars often raises more questions about safety, it is likely that autonomous fleets will have less environmental impact than traditional automobiles.
Ride Sharing Is a Smart Market
Ride sharing has always been by and for the people. Long before startups like Uber and Lyft developed apps to facilitate (and profit from) the service, citizens and cities built their own low-tech ride sharing organizations to combat traffic and other harmful effects of commuting.
Though businesses have built ride sharing into a larger market, it is still largely controlled by average people. Not only do users choose whether they will ride share or not, but they also decide when they need a ride and which app to use.
Meanwhile, drivers have control over their vehicles and their routes, and they can even decide whether they will accept a certain passenger. It is this degree of individual power that has allowed ride sharing to nearly overtake other forms of transit. Cities can hardly expect citizens to accept the prohibition of ride sharing when it promises such outstanding opportunities for growth.
While most people around the world have been using social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn and the like for fun, communication, and relationship-building over the years, it’s important not to forget just how useful the networks can also be for your career, whether you’re actively searching for a new position right now or not.
In fact, the various online platforms where people go to share data, exchange ideas, make comments, and meet new connections can be the ideal place for you to increase your network of contacts and raise your professional profile. In turn, this can help you to land an exciting new role when you need to (or even when you least expect it), or to expand your customer base for your own venture.
To make your profiles more effective though, you will first need to make sure that your information is as complete as possible and always up to date, with full descriptions and quality, professional photographs used at all times. You must maintain a professional manner on each site (no pictures of you looking drunk or taking part in illegal or otherwise frowned-upon activities!) and you need to be careful about only ever posting accurate, truthful information.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your career today, read on for three handy ways in which you can take advantage of social media.
Networking
One of the first things you should start doing if you want to boost your career is network online. Social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are fantastic for this, and will help you to “meet,” and develop connections with, other professionals in your industry.
To do this well, it is important to firstly ensure you have put up a comprehensive profile on LinkedIn, as this is one of the most popular and beneficial social networking spots for people who want to find a new job or make good contacts.
On the site, you need to post your resume in an online format. It must not only be accurate and up-to-date, but also well written and properly formatted. As such, it pays to organize a resume evaluation service to check out your information so that you can be sure that you’re not making any mistakes.
Your LinkedIn profile should include things such as:
Your relevant skills and achievements
Recommendations from people you have worked with or consulted to in the past
A business-appropriate photograph of yourself (no social pics here!)
Some relevant examples of your work where possible
Keywords that relate to your industry and job area
Once you have all the necessary info posted online, it’s time to start working on building more connections. There are multiple ways to do this. It is a good idea to post regular updates about your career successes, new skills you’ve gained, training you’ve completed, events you’ve attended, or any other relevant news that will help to generate interest in your profile.
As well, make sure you join some of the LinkedIn groups which are relevant to your position or sector. Once this is done, take part in online discussions whenever you feel you can add a unique view on the topic or some useful information. This will help you to chat and engage with potential and current contacts and to develop relationships further.
Build Your Brand
Next, keep in mind that, no matter the industry you’re in, it is always a good idea to work hard on building your brand. Branding is not just for businesses, as many people think, but rather is also important for individuals too.
Most social media sites, but particularly Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, are fantastic avenues to help people promote themselves by consistently demonstrating their brand. The updates you post online and the profiles you set up for yourself can go a long way to create an image that will help to stand you in good stead throughout your career.
Recruiters, employers, and clients typically check out social media sites when conducting research, and can use the information they see to determine if you will be a good fit for a company or position.
On your online profiles, make sure that you are always consistent when it comes to branding elements such as the images, logos, font, and language you use. This will help you to develop your own particular “voice” that can set you apart from your competition. The image and summary details that you put on one social media platform should be used across them all, so that your style becomes easily and quickly identified and gives people an accurate idea of who you are and what you represent.
You can also further your brand by using social media sites to become an industry expert. Your posts are the perfect platform for promoting your skills, knowledge, and experience, as well as a variety of content that you write or collate, such as blog posts and articles, quotes, infographics, e-books, pictures, and the like. By regularly posting information that helps others in your industry and demonstrates your expertise, you will see your standing as an industry expert rise.
Starting the New Year with resolutions has in recent times become more of a ritual rather than an intention or call to action like it used to be. This is because, for most people, resolutions do not survive the first month of the year. It is a fact that the beginning of anything would determine how the end will turn out to be. On this note, if you start the year right, you would have a lot less to worry about as the months goes by. Hence, we’ve put together five (5) ways you can start your New Year right.
Image source Pexels
1. Get Rid of anything holding you back: The first thing you need to do is, to begin on a clean slate. You should get rid of anything that is holding you back. I mean negative and unproductive things – things that only wasted your time in the previous year – bad relationships, habits, addictions, and the likes. Some daily routines are also very unproductive so you should work on that too. The New Year is a great time to start afresh so this step is very critical to moving forward.
2. Maintain healthy habits: Once you’ve gotten rid of all the bad omens in your life, the next thing you should do is to begin and maintain healthy habits. For example, you should endeavor to get your full 8 hours sleep at night. You should also be mindful of what you eat. Do not go about eating for the whole town because you would put on some very undesirable weight which is bad for your health and self-esteem too. So for the New Year, you should maintain a healthy diet. Another important aspect of staying healthy is exercise. Get a bike, do a sport, join a dance class, go to the gym or purchase home gym equipment, just ensure that you exercise regularly in this New Year.
3. Start healthy
Staying healthy is one key to a happy life, you cannot go about your plans and goals on a sick bed. Staying healthy does not necessarily mean you changing your entire diet plan. Take up fitness goals, Cut down on your intake of fats, make sure you have enough time to sleep, and be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before eating or touching your face just to keep the germs away and I’d also advice you get a medical check-up to know your health status and how to maintain it .
4. Wear a new look
Aside from wearing a new smile, a new posture, complementing these with a cool dress sense is a slam. Find cool stuffs without the prices making you frown. Be smart by checking stores, Mamma.com/us for instance, that offers coupons and promo codes to help you get more. By using discount ways, shopping for cool wears should not be a burden.
5. Choose a theme or focus word for the year: Finally, you should choose a theme for your New Year and work with it. Let’s say for instance you pick ‘Integrity’ or ‘Strength’ as your focus word for the year, it will help you grow in such areas. You would also learn to apply them in every situation you find yourself and at the end of the year; you would have grown in such areas. It is really great exercise and it has worked for me over the years.
Many people think of starting the year right but that is all it is, a thought. To get results you would have to be deliberate and take practical steps that would make your new year better than the former. It’s your commitment that matters. Start the year right today and have a splendid year ahead.
As one of the most important holidays you’re likely to take as a couple, getting your honeymoon right is very important. All couples are different and one couple’s idea of the perfect honeymoon can be very different to someone else’s but with this in mind, we’ve picked 3 completely different destinations for a luxury honeymoon you’ll never forget.
Here are 3 destinations you should seriously consider if you’re planning a luxury honeymoon vacation:
Bora Bora
As part of the French Polynesia islands, Bora Bora is one of the most talked about islands in the world. Incredibly beautiful, the island is favoured by honeymooners year after year thanks to its powder white beaches and crystal clear waters. With the chance to stay in an overwater bungalow, there’s opportunities for snorkelling, diving, cruising, fishing and paddle boarding all available to take advantage of. For the ultimate in luxury, experience a spa treatment on the beach or dine at some of the island’s finest restaurants.
Image source Wikimedia
Paris
The city of love for a reason, Paris is the ideal city break honeymoon destination for lovers who enjoy life on the go. From a romantic river cruise along the Seine, to dining in a world famous restaurant as the Eifel tower twinkles in the distance, Paris is as romantic as a city gets and ideal for a luxury honeymoon. From the impressive architecture of the city to the lavish designer boutiques, cute cobbled streets and amazing bars and beautiful landmarks, it’s the best city destination for a luxury honeymoon.
Cape Town
A destination which combines luxury, outdoor activities and once in a life time wildlife spotting opportunities, Cape Town is an incredible location to consider for your luxury honeymoon. Visit South Africa with Exsus Travel, specialists in organising luxury tailor made honeymoons. From exploring table mountain to the cosmopolitan wine bars in the city, Cape Town’s diversity is what makes it such a desirable luxury honeymoon destination. The harbour is stunning with a real inner city feel but once you head out into the winelands you’ll be able to experience the beautiful natural beauty of South Africa, providing two different types of luxury holiday in one.
With these 3 destinations all offering the perfect backdrop to enjoy a luxury honeymoon, no matter what type of couple you are you’ll be able to find the right holiday for you to enjoy celebrating your nuptials together.
In a tough Senate confirmation hearing, Jeff Sessions – Donald Trump’s pick to be the new attorney general – has denied sympathizing with the Ku Klux Klan.
The 69-year-old Alabama senator also pledged to recuse himself from any investigation into former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
A Democratic senator expressed “deep concern” about Jeff Sessions’ nomination.
However, Democrats do not have the power in the chamber to block his confirmation.
The attorney general, America’s top prosecutor, leads the DoJ and acts as the main adviser to the president on legal issues.
Beginning two days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Jeff Sessions testified that allegations he had once supported the KKK were “damnably false”.
Image source Flickr
“I abhor the Klan and what it represents and its hateful ideology,” he added.
Jeff Sessions also acknowledged “the horrendous impact that relentless and systemic discrimination and the denial of voting rights has had on our African-American brothers and sisters”.
Protesters repeatedly disrupted January 10 hearing, including a couple dressed in KKK white robes who chanted: “No Trump, No KKK, No Racist USA.”
“Stop this racist pig from getting into power,” shouted an African-American demonstrator as she was led out of the hearing by police.
Senator Dianne Feinstein voiced her concern over “fear in this country, particularly among the African-American community”.
She noted Jeff Sessions had voted against an amendment affirming that the United States would not bar people entering the US on the basis of their religion.
However, Jeff Sessions said he did not support the “idea that Muslims as a religious group should be denied admission to the United States. We have great Muslim citizens”.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley described Jeff Sessions as a “man of honor and integrity”.
The nominee also promised to remove himself from any investigation into Hillary Clinton, as well as her family’s charitable foundation.
Jeff Sessions said his past criticism of her private emails and the Clinton Foundation “could place my objectivity in question”.
“We can never have a political dispute turn into a criminal dispute,” he told the committee.
When asked whether he ever chanted the anti-Clinton slogan “lock her up”, Jeff Sessions said: “No I did not… I don’t think.”
Donald Trump had pledged on the campaign trail to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton, but he has since retracted that threat.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have decided to use a private judge to keep their divorce proceedings confidential.
They released a joint statement saying they would keep all divorce documents and proceedings under seal in order to “preserve the privacy rights of their children and family”.
The statement says: “The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification.”
In recent years, private judges have become more popular in the United States.
They are most often used by wealthier clients in family law cases, civil cases and breach of contract disputes.
Private judges have the same authority as public judges but the main advantages are that personal information remains private, as meetings and hearings are held outside of the public court system, the process is often quicker and you can select your own judge and schedule court dates to suit your schedules.
Angelina Jolie cited “irreconcilable differences” when she filed to end the marriage in September.
In November, court papers revealed Brad Pitt was seeking joint custody of his six children in his split from Angelina Jolie. The actress had previously asked for full custody of all the children.
In the same month, an investigation into whether Brad Pitt was abusive towards his son in September ended with no finding of wrongdoing. Social workers in LA had been examining claims Brad Pitt hit his 15-year-old son Maddox on a private jet.
Angelina Jolie filed for divorce the day after the incident. They had been married for two years, but together for more than a decade.
A number of Hollywood stars will join a women’s march on Washington on January 21, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration as president.
America Ferrera, who backed Democrat Hillary Clinton, is helping to organize the protest.
Other actresses taking part include Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand and Zendaya.
In a statement, America Ferrara said: “Since the election, so many fear that their voices will go unheard.
“As artists, women, and most importantly dedicated Americans, it is critical that we stand together in solidarity for the protection, dignity and rights of our communities.”
Scarlett Johansson, who has criticized the Donald Trump’s incoming administration for “attacking” reproductive rights, said she was taking part to make her voice heard and “stand up for what I believe in”.
The protest organizers say they expect more than 100,000 people to turn out for the march on January 21, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Chelsea Handler will lead a sister march in Park City, Utah, one of more than 150 solidarity marches planned around the US and the world next Saturday.
Other stars who have said they will take part in the Washington march include Uzo Aduba, Lea DeLaria and Diane Guerrero.
According to organizers say a number of other celebrities will either participate in the march or express solidarity with the marchers in other ways.
They include Katy Perry, Julianne Moore, Cher and Debra Messing.
Not many Hollywood stars have said they will be attending Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
2010 America’s Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho will perform the national anthem at the inauguration ceremony.
A number of Democrats have called for Donald Trump’s naming of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a top adviser to be reviewed over concerns of nepotism and conflict of interest.
The group wants the Justice Department and Office of Government Ethics to scrutinize “legal issues” related to the appointment of Jared Kushner.
His lawyer says the post does not breach anti-nepotism laws.
Jared Kushner, 36, is married to Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
The millionaire will step down as boss of his family’s real estate business and publisher of the New York Observer newspaper in order to comply with ethics laws, his lawyer Jamie Gorelick said.
Jared Kushner will also divest “substantial assets”, she said.
Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th US president on January 20.
Several of his cabinet picks have business interests that will be scrutinized at confirmation hearings taking place this week.
Donald Trump’s selection for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, is the first to face Senate confirmation hearings on January 10. He was turned down for a federal judgeship in 1986 because of alleged racist remarks.
Unlike cabinet positions, advisers are considered part of White House staff and do not require approval from Congress.
Jared Kushner is a vastly wealthy property developer and publisher who played an influential role in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and has been included in key meetings with foreign leaders during the transition period.
Image source Wikimedia
An Orthodox Jew whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, Jared Kushner was raised in Livingston, New Jersey, and went on to study sociology at Harvard.
His father, also a property mogul, was jailed for tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and witness tampering in 2005 by Chris Christie – then the US attorney for New Jersey.
Jared Kushner is said to have played a key role in the ousting of Chris Christie, by then New Jersey governor, from Donald Trump’s presidential campaign team last year.
In his new role, Jared Kushner will initially focus on trade policy and the Middle East, according to officials from the transition team.
On January 8, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon met UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
The nepotism rule, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967, prevents public officials from promoting a relative “to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control”.
It is thought to have been prompted by JFK’s appointment of brother Robert to the post of attorney general in 1960.
The law would stop a president from giving a cabinet job to a relative – but it is unclear whether it applies to positions in the White House team.
Those that say it does not point to President Bill Clinton’s appointment of First Lady Hillary Clinton as chair of his health care reforms package in 1993.
In their letter, the Democratic lawmakers, all members of the House Judiciary Committee, argue that a “strong case” can be made that the 1967 federal anti-nepotism statute applies to staff working in the White House, a position rejected by Donald Trump’s team.
They also raise questions about how, even with significant divestment, Jared Kushner could completely avoid conflicts of interest in his White House role.
Concerns have been raised about his relationships with foreign investors.
The New York Times reported on January 7 that Jared Kushner met the head of an insurance group with links to the Chinese government over development plans for his skyscraper, 666 Fifth Avenue, just days after Donald Trump won the presidential election. His spokeswoman, quoted by the paper, said the timing of the meeting was a coincidence and he had already decided to sell his stake in the building.
As his appointment as special adviser was announced, Jared Kushner’s lawyer, Jamie Gorelick, said he was committed to complying with federal ethics laws and had consulted with the Office of Government Ethics about what steps to take.
She added that he would not be paid for the advisory role.
Jared Kushner’s wife, Ivanka Trump, will step down from executive roles at the Trump Organization as well as her own fashion brands.
However, she will not be taking an official role in her father’s government – for now at least – and instead will focus on raising her children.
Reports said last week that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner and their children would be moving into a $5.5 million home in Washington DC’s wealthy Kalorama neighborhood – at least for some time.
The Obama family is due to be moving to the same area after leaving the White House.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced in November that his wife, Melania, would be staying in New York – at least initially – after his inauguration to allow their youngest son, Barron, to finish the school year.
Five prominent Russians have been blacklisted by the Obama administration, just 11 days before the president leaves office.
Chief federal investigator Alexander Bastrykin and two men wanted in the UK for the murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko are among them.
The US sanctions come amid worsening ties, including claims Russia ran a cyber campaign to influence the November 8 election.
President-elect Donald Trump is seeking to restore closer relations with Russia.
According to officials, the sanctions are not related to the hacking but come under a 2012 law designed to punish human rights violators.
Under the act named after Russian tax fraud whistleblower Sergey Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow prison in 2009, people on the list have their US assets blocked and are banned from travelling to the United States.
It originally targeted officials implicated in Sergey Magnitsky’s death, but has since been broadened to cover other human rights cases.
Image source Moscow Times
The five persons to be blacklisted are: Alexander Bastrykin, a close aide to President Vladimir Putin and head of the federal investigative agency, who has led campaigns against domestic dissidents and foreign NGOs working in Russia. US officials say he was complicit in the Magnitsky case; Gennady Plaksin, former head of the Universal Savings Bank, and Stanislav Gordiyevsky, former investigative agency official. Both are said to be involved in covering up Magnitsky’s death; Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, the main suspects in the poisoning of former KGB agent and London exile Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.
Alexander Litvinenko died after drinking tea laced with a rare radioactive substance at a hotel in London.
Both Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun deny any involvement in the killing, and efforts to extradite the men to the UK have failed.
Last month, Washington expelled 35 Russian diplomats following allegations by US intelligence services that Russia had ordered the hacking of Democratic Party emails to damage Donald Trump’s Democrat rival for the presidency, Hillary Clinton.
Russia denies the allegations and on January 9 described them as a witch-hunt, but has so far not responded to the expulsions.
After the 35 were thrown out, Russia declined to respond in kind, with President Vladimir Putin saying his country would not stoop to “irresponsible diplomacy”.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, is said to have accepted the findings of the report but has declined to single out Russia as the source of the hacking.
A black waitress from a Virginia restaurant received a racist note instead of a tip at the weekend.
Kelly Carter said a couple had written on the receipt: “Great service don’t tip black people.”
People are rallying to support the waitress and have been dropping by the restaurant to give her cash. A YouCaring campaign has raised over $300 for her.
Kelly Carter’s regular customers have been dropping by to give her hugs.
Image source Twitter
Tipping is customary in the US, where restaurant servers often earn less than the minimum wage, with tips supposed to make up the difference in pay.
The white couple who left the note appeared to be in their mid-20s, and left after spending $30.52 on food.
Kelly Carter told local media that one of the diners had even complimented the breakfast she served them on January 7.
She says that she would gladly serve the pair again, adding “one hateful remark cannot stop me” and that she would recognize them if they returned to Anita’s New Mexico Style Cafe.
Kelly Carter says she really does hope to see the couple again: “Just me serving them will let them know they did not get the best of me. And I truly mean that.”
There are several huge auto shows that take place throughout the country. Most of these auto shows take place in large cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles. And while the exact line-up of cars and events vary slightly based on the location, they all follow the same model and have the same basic set up. If you plan on attending any of these auto shows throughout the nation, here are a few of the top things to see or participate in.
The Displayed Cars
Obviously when you attend an auto show, you have come to see the cars. As such, you want to be sure you do not miss the displayed cars. However, the auto shows have taken great car this year to sort the cars into grouping and have designated areas for different types of cars, helping you to hone in on the ones that most interest you quickly. Some of the different groupings include new models of cars, classic cars, luxury cars, exotic cars, all exemplified in defensive driving courses and concept cars. If you are on a limited time schedule, bee line it for the car type that most interests you. If you have plenty of time, be sure to check out the various groupings on display.
The Test Drive Area
Another not to be missed feature to check out at 2017 auto shows is the test drive area. Looking at cars can be fun, but let’s face it; you want to get behind the wheel of the car and give it a spin. Many car shows are giving you the opportunity to do just this in their test drive area. The exact models of cars available to drive will vary from show to show, and you can expect some waiting before you get behind the wheel. However, this gives you an opportunity to test cars that you may not ever have the opportunity to drive again, making it well worth it.
The Interactive Opportunities
If you are tagging along to the auto show with someone else, looking at cars may not be your thing. But don’t worry, there are some unique offerings as well as learning the basic mechanics of a car that you will want to check out. The interactive opportunities section of a car show gives you the opportunity to play video games or virtual reality games to drive a car in a variety of settings. This area provides a lot of fun for both car enthusiasts and those who tag along with them to shows.
The Black Tie or Gala Events
The last thing you may want to check out if you are planning on visiting a 2017 auto show is the black tie or gala events. Most large auto shows have one of these events at least one night during the duration of the show’s schedule. These are upscale events that allow you to get dressed up and check out the auto show while being feed champagne and hors d’oeuvre. These events are typically not very crowded, allowing you to see cars up close and personal and from a unique perspective.
If you are a car enthusiast, you may be planning on attending one or more of the large 2017 auto shows. Regardless of whether this is your first time attending, or you are experienced, you want to make sure that you check out some of the top offerings at these shows. These include the displayed cars area, the test drive section, the interactive opportunity and any black tie or gala events that the show is offering.
