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Is Your Business Looking Shabby? Here’s How to Change It

Dana R
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Is Your Business Looking Shabby? Here’s How to Change It

The way your business looks matters a great deal. If it looks less than perfect, it could even affect your overall sales. Here’s how to change things for the better.

Replace Old Doors

One of the first things that people will see when they arrive at your business premises is the door. They will open it when they walk in. So, if it’s looking old and shabby, then this sets a pretty poor tone for the rest of the place. This is something that you should think about changing. It’s all about setting things right from the get-go. If people are already thinking negative things about the business as they walk through the door, things are going to have to improve from there.

Image Source

Clean Up

Sometimes, something as simple as having a clean up of your property is enough to make a huge difference. Start with the outside of the premises. Are there overflowing bins in view as clients and customers arrive? If so, there shouldn’t be. Unattractive things like that should be removed to the back of the property out of side to the general public. It seems like an obvious thing to say, but many people don’t think about things like this. You should also make sure that any litter is picked up.

Add a Driveway

If you don’t have a proper driveway that leads up to the entrance of your business, you should create one. Having somewhere that clients and customers can drive up and park near your business is important. It sets the right tone because it makes the place seem more refined and professional. It doesn’t cost much money to do this kind of work either. Get in touch with an excavator hire company and get the tools you need to dig up the old land. You can then get it tarmacked and create the drive.

Create a New Logo and Sign

When was the last time that you thought about changing the sign that hangs over your front door? If you haven’t done anything about it for years, it is probably starting to look a little past its best by now. A fading and cracked or damaged sign does not impress people when they arrive at your premises. It’s the kind of thing that should be changed as soon as possible. And, while you’re at it, why not think about having the logo of the business redesigned too? Logos can appear out of date before long.

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Put Up a New Fence

The great thing about adding a fence to your property is that it makes the place looked nice, and it also adds some extra security. You want your business to be secure, and you want to improve the appearance of your business, so why not go for it? It’s a sensible move. It can add a bit of class to the premises as well. It shows that you care about what you’re doing and that you want to protect it. Rather than it just being a shabby site that your business happens to operate from.

4 Types Of Insurance You Must Have

Dana R
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4 Types Of Insurance You Must Have

Today, we’re going to talk about a crucial part of your personal finances; insurance. More specifically, we’re looking at four types of insurance you need to have:

car-insurance

(Picture via Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/snzzRc)

Car Insurance

This is perhaps the most well-known and talked about insurance. If you ask someone to name an insurance type, the majority will say car insurance. But, what is it and why do you need it? Basically, it insures your car against different kinds of damage. This means that if you get into an accident, your insurance provider will pay for any repairs that are needed. Obviously, this can save you a lot of money, and I mean a lot. If your car is severely damaged, you can get it fixed through your provider and save tonnes of money. Without insurance, you might have had to fork out lots of money on a new car. Plus, it’s illegal to drive a motor vehicle without it being insured. So, you have to make sure you’ve got it for your car. There are tonnes of providers out there that will give you quotes depending on a few factors. Age, gender, driving experience, and the car you drive can all have a bearing.

Home Insurance

Another type of insurance that you must have is all to do with your home. Yes, home insurance is essential for anyone that owns property. With it, you’ll get the option to protect two aspects of your house. You can get accidental damage cover and contents cover. The first of which will protect you if your home gets damaged for whatever reason. Maybe a storm damaged your roof, or someone broke your window. Either way, if your home insurance covers this, you’ll have the repairs paid for. Contents cover will protect you if your house ever gets burgled. If someone steals items from your house, you’ll be covered. Similarly, home insurances will protect your possessions if they get damaged in floods, etc. Some companies will give you replacement items free of charge. If you own a property, then you can’t forget about home insurance, trust me.

Life Insurance

Life insurance is something that no one likes to think about, but it’s very important. You see, we get life insurance to cover our family in case we die. As you can tell, this is a very sensitive topic, which is why people don’t like thinking about it. No one wants to talk about death, but sometimes you have to. With life insurance, your family will get money paid to them, if you pass away. This means they’re going to be financially stable when you’re gone. You may be the primary money maker in your house, so if you’re not there to earn money, they could be in trouble. Thankfully, life insurance ensures that your family finances are not ruined by your death. Types of life insurance can vary, some come with critical illness cover, others have certain requirements. Although you don’t like to think about it, death is inevitable. It makes sense to give your family some financial gain when you pass away.

Health insurance

(Image Source: http://goo.gl/15HNMR)

Health Insurance

One of the most important things in life is your health. If you aren’t healthy, you need to get treatment and see a doctor. Doctors can help you get better and back to feeling your best. When you have health insurance, seeing medical professions is a lot easier. In fact, some institutions only accept people that have insurance. What health insurance does is protect your health and wellbeing. It can cover the cost of doctors appointments, operations, physical therapy, etc. Without it, it’s very hard to find reliable, high level, medical care. Sure, there are some public options for people without insurance. However, the waiting times for appointments are insane, let alone the wait for surgeries. Without health insurance, you could be waiting for surgery for up to two years! But, if you have it, you can get the surgery covered by your insurer and make sure you’re seen to as soon as possible. It’s highly recommended for everyone, particularly those with a family.

Insurance is a very important part of your financial life. It can protect you from so many things and ensure you aren’t paying loads of money for different stuff. Imagine if you had none of the insurance above. Think about how much money you’d have to pay to cover things like car breakdowns, medical bills, and so on. Getting insurance can give you a more stable life, and set your family up for a comfortable future.

Yoko Ono Hospitalized with Flu-Like Symptoms

Sonia Pantiss
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Yoko Ono Hospitalized with Flu-Like Symptoms

Yoko Ono has been admitted to hospital with “flu-like symptoms”, her spokesperson says.

Elliot Mintz denied reports John Lennon’s widow had suffered a stroke.

He said Yoko Ono, 83, went to a New York hospital on the advice of her doctor and was expected to be discharged and return home later on Saturday.

Photo Facebook
Photo Facebook

Yoko Ono was married to John Lennon until he was murdered in 1980 outside New York’s Dakota Building, where she still lives.

An ambulance was called to the building at 21:00 on February 26, a Fire Department spokesman said.

Yoko Ono is spending the night in Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan.

She’s “OK, and she should be home tomorrow (Saturday)” said Elliot Mintz, after speaking to someone with her at the hospital.

Yoko Ono’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, also tweeted that his mother was doing well: “Hey guys it was only rumors from press: was NOT a stroke, just dehydration/tired. She is FINE. Thank you everyone for your concern.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD0V2cakUrQ

Chris Christie Endorses Donald Trump for President

Diane A. Wade
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Chris Christie Endorses Donald Trump for President

Chris Christie has made a surprise announcement saying that he is endorsing Donald Trump for president.

The New Jersey governor and former Republican candidate dropped out of the 2016 presidential race after a lacklustre showing in polls and state races.

During a press conference, Chris Christie said: “I’m happy to be on the Trump team and I look forward to working with him.”

Donald Trump gives Republicans the best chance to win the White House, Chris Christie adds.Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump

The New Jersey governor said junior senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both running for president, were “unprepared” for the job.

There is “no question” that Donald Trump will turn around Washington, Chris Christie continued, and keep Democratic candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from winning the White House.

Donald Trump is leading in many state polls and has already won three consecutive state contests in New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, despite never having worked in politics.

He shouldered some criticism from Marc Rubio and Ted Cruz at a Republican debate on February 25 but it is not yet clear whether this has hurt his popularity.

“He is rewriting the playbook of American politics because he’s providing strong leadership that is not dependent upon the status quo,” Chris Christie said of Donald Trump.

“I will lend my support between now and November in every way that I can for Donald, to help to make this campaign an even better campaign than it’s already been.”

Florida Senator Marco Rubio continued to assail Donald Trump the morning after the debate.

He told CBS: “A con artist is about to take over the Republican Party and the conservative movement, and we have to put a stop to it.”

Gianni Infantino Elected FIFA President

Clyde K. Valle
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Gianni Infantino Elected FIFA President

Gianni Infantino has been elected as the ninth president of world soccer’s governing body FIFA.

The UEFA secretary general polled 115 votes, 27 more than closest rival Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa.

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein (4 votes) and Jerome Champagne (0) were third and fourth respectively.

Sepp Blatter, who had led FIFA since 1998, stood down last year and was later suspended from football for six years for breaching ethics guidelines.

Gianni Infantino is a 45-year-old lawyer from Brig in the Valais region of Switzerland, less than six miles from Sepp Blatter’s home town of Visp.Gianni Infantino FIFA president

He entered the presidential race when it became clear that UEFA President Michael Platini could not stand.

“I will work tirelessly to bring football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football,” Gianni Infantino said.

“This is what we want to do.”

He added: “I feel a lot of emotion and have not realized yet what has happened today.

“It is still very fresh and it’s been a long and exciting journey and I probably need some time to chill out and see what has happened.”

The election was due to be fought between five candidates, but South African Tokyo Sexwale withdrew before voting began in Zurich.

The first round of voting failed to determine an outright winner, though Gianni Infantino led with 88, three more than pre-vote favorite Sheikh Salman.

A simple majority of more than 50% – 104 of 207 available votes – was sufficient for victory in round two.

An emotional Gianni Infantino told delegates that together they would “restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA”.

He added: “I want to work with all of you together in order to restore and rebuild a new era of FIFA where we can put again football at the centre of the stage.

“FIFA has gone through sad times, moments of crisis, but those times are over. We need to implement the reform and implement good governance and transparency. We also need to have respect.

“We’re going to win back this respect through hard work, commitment and we’re going to make sure we can finally focus on this wonderful game.”

To help the new president tackle the crisis that has enveloped FIFA, key reforms were passed to help make it a more transparent and accountable organization.

All salaries of FIFA officials will be disclosed, while a limit of four years has been placed on a president’s term.

A new council to replace the current executive committee has also been introduced, featuring a female representative from each confederation.

Tony Burton Dies Aged 78

Sonia Pantiss
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Tony Burton Dies Aged 78

Actor Tony Burton has died at the age of 78.

Tony Burton is best known for his appearances in six Rocky movies opposite Sylvester Stallone.

The cause of death is not known but Tony Burton’s sister, Loretta Kelly, said he had regularly been in hospital over the past year.

Loretta Kelly added he had not received a diagnosis in that time but his health was so poor he had not been able to see recent spin-off film Creed.

Tony Burton played Tony “Duke” Evers, who trained both Rocky and Apollo Creed.Tony Burton dead at 78

The character supported Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s opponent, in the first two boxing films before later becoming the trainer to Balboa himself.

Before becoming an actor, Tony Burton – who was from Flint, Michigan – briefly fought professionally and won Flint Golden Gloves light heavyweight titles in 1955 and again in 1957.

Tony Burton is seen briefly in Creed, but only as part of a flashback which used stock footage from an earlier movie.

In addition to appearing in the Rocky Films, Tony Burton also appeared in The Shining and Stir Crazy.

His last role was Sheriff Stoker in comedy-horror Hack! released in 2007.

According to IMDb, Tony Burton had signed up to appear in The Truth About the War in Heaven: Declaration of War, but the film has not yet gone into production.

Tony Burton also appeared in TV productions as The A-Team, NYPD Blue, Kojak and Twin Peaks.

Hesston Shooting: Three Killed and 14 Injured at Excel Industries

Nancy Clayson
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Hesston Shooting: Three Killed and 14 Injured at Excel Industries

Three people have been shot dead and other 14 injured after a gunman opened fire at a lawnmower factory in Hesston, Kansas, and nearby.

The gunman, an employee at the factory, was shot dead, and terrorism is not suspected, police say.

Ten of the wounded were critically injured in the shootings.

The attack comes less than a week after a man was charged with killing six people and wounding two others during a shooting rampage in Michigan.Hesston shooting Excel Industries

A number of mass shootings in the US have elevated gun control as a campaign issue in this year’s presidential election.

Local police say the gunman, named as 38-year-old Cedric Ford, began shooting at around 5pm local time in the town of Newton.

Cedric Ford shot a truck driver in the shoulder, and another man in the leg as he drove towards the Excel Industries site where he worked.

The gunman then opened fire in the car park, killing one person, before killing two more people inside the factory site.

Factory employee Martin Espinoza described how the gunman, a colleague who he said usually had a calm demeanor, attempted to shoot him.

The gunman pointed his weapon at Martin Espinoza and pulled the trigger, but the weapon was empty. Martin Espinoza then ran away as the gunman took out a second gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4E7qtNNHyU

Los Angeles Methane Leak Biggest in US History

James J. Williams
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Los Angeles Methane Leak Biggest in US History

According to a research published in Science, the natural gas leak near Los Angeles was the biggest in US history.

The Aliso Canyon blowout vented almost 100,000 tons of methane into the atmosphere before it was plugged.

The impact on the climate is said to be the equivalent of the annual emissions of half a million cars.

According to University of California researchers, the Los Angeles methane leak had a far bigger warming effect than the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

First detected on October 23, the leak came from one of the 115 wells connected to a massive underground natural gas storage facility, the fifth largest in the US.Los Angeles methane leak

Seven unsuccessful attempts were made to shut down the billowing plumes of methane and ethane by the owners, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).

Concerns over the impacts of the spewing gas eventually led to more than 11,000 nearby residents being evacuated as California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the area.

The blowout pushed enough of the gas into air every day to fill a balloon the size of a football stadium.

At its peak, the flow doubled the rate of methane emissions from the entire Los Angeles basin.

The leak was permanently sealed on February 18. By then almost 100,000 tonnes of methane had poured into the atmosphere.

The scientific analysis was based on 13 research flights that captured air samples in and around the methane plume as well as from the ground. The initial aircraft readings were so high that the researchers rechecked their monitoring equipment for errors.

The amount of methane entering the atmosphere from the leaking well makes it the largest of its kind recorded in the US. A bigger escape of gas occurred in Texas in 2004 but as most the methane burned off in a fire that followed an explosion, the impact on the climate was muted.

According to researchers, the blowout will have a significant impact on California’s ability to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets this year.

Methane is short-lived atmospheric chemical but is highly potent as a warming gas, with an effect 25 times higher than CO2 over a 100 year time period.

The analysis found above normal levels of several potentially harmful chemicals that came from the natural gas leak. These included benzene, toluene and xylenes which have been linked to health impacts from long term exposure.

The authors believe there are important lessons to be learned from the leak – particularly the need to monitor oil and gas facilities more carefully.

They say that there has been little co-ordinated oversight of the biggest oil and gas leaks in recent years. They point to Aliso Canyon, the BP spill and the Total Elgin rig blowout in the North Sea, as examples where luck more than intent ensured the impacts on the environment were monitored.

In the case of Aliso Canyon, the surveying aircraft was working on another project searching for pipeline problems, when the scientists were asked to overfly the leaking well.

Sharp Shares Fall 11% after Foxconn Takeover Delay

Clyde K. Valle
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Sharp Shares Fall 11% after Foxconn Takeover Delay

Sharp’s shares lost 11% in Tokyo amid reports that the delay in its takeover by Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn was due to previously undisclosed losses.

The Japanese tech giant announced the $4.3 billion deal on February 25.

However, Foxconn later said it would not sign the deal until it clarified “new information” Sharp had provided, without giving any specifics.

Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai, assembles most of the world’s iPhones.Sharp takeover delay

Several unconfirmed reports quoting unnamed sources have emerged saying that the “new information” provided at the last minute had to do with huge losses on Sharp’s balance sheet.

Reuters quoted sources as saying the liabilities amounted to “hundreds of billions of yen”, while the Nikkei Asian Review put the figure at 350 billion yen ($3.1 billion).

Nikkei said Sharp had sent Foxconn documents listing the details of these losses, including severance pay, breach-of-contract penalties, and repayments of government funds.

However, Bloomberg reported that the liabilities could also end up being much lower if not all of them are incurred.

Sharp is one of Japan’s oldest tech companies, but it has been saddled with heavy debts and has faced two big bailouts in recent years. In 2012 it came close to bankruptcy.

It was founded in 1912 and has pioneered developments in television engineering.

Japanese officials had been reluctant to let Sharp be taken over by a foreign company, particularly because of its breakthroughs in display panel technology.

Iran Elections 2016: Voters Choose New Parliament and Assembly of Experts

Diane A. Wade
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Iran Elections 2016: Voters Choose New Parliament and Assembly of Experts

Iran is voting in two key elections – the first since a deal with world powers over its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.

Iranian voters are choosing a new parliament and Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that appoints the Supreme Leader.

Reformists are hoping to increase their influence in both institutions, which have been dominated by conservatives.

The outcome could affect reformist President Hassan Rouhani’s chances of re-election in 2017.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a big turnout to “disappoint our enemies”.

“Whoever likes Iran and its dignity, greatness and glory should vote. Iran has enemies. They are eyeing us greedily… People should be observant and vote with open eyes and should vote wisely,” he said after casting his vote.Iran elections 2016

The parliamentary elections are to choose 290 lawmakers for four-year terms. About 12,000 potential candidates registered, but only half were cleared to stand by the Guardian Council, a key body loyal to the Supreme Leader. Only about 200 moderate candidates got through the vetting process.

Voters will also select 88 clerics to the Assembly of Experts, who serve eight-year terms.

Members of the new Assembly might end up choosing the successor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who is 76 and has suffered ill-health.

Polls opened at 08:00 and close at 18:00, with some 55 million people eligible to vote.

However, officials say polling stations could stay open longer if there are queues and more time is needed.

Results for the Assembly of Experts are expected over the weekend. The results of the parliamentary election could take longer and it is likely to go to a second round in April as candidates need 25% of the vote to win outright.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsNDhI4-mXM

Republican Debate: Donald Trump Attacked by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio

Diane A. Wade
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Republican Debate: Donald Trump Attacked by Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio

Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have unleashed a barrage of attacks on front-runner Donald Trump in the last Republican debate before Super Tuesday.

They sought to blunt Donald Trump’s momentum after he won three of the first four contests.

Immigration, healthcare and outreach to Latino voters dominated the debate.

Like previous occasions, the debate quickly disintegrated into long periods of shouting and personal insults.GOP debate February 25

Donald Trump has been extremely popular despite his controversial comments about deporting millions of undocumented workers and banning Muslims from travelling to the US.

On March 1, known as Super Tuesday, millions of voters in 11 states will cast ballots.

A quarter of the total numbers of delegates needed to secure the GOP nomination will be up for grabs.

Donald Trump is currently leading in 10 out of 11 states holding contests on Super Tuesday.

He has 82 Republican delegates, Ted Cruz has 17 and Marco Rubio has 16. To become the GOP’s nominee, a candidate has to have 1,237 total state delegates.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will compete for 1,004 delegates on Super Tuesday. So far, Hillary Clinton has 505 delegates and Bernie Sanders has 71.

Each party formally announces its presidential candidate at conventions in July, four months before the presidential election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl3m3APrbh0

North Korea Sanctions: US Presents Draft Resolution to UN

Diane A. Wade
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North Korea Sanctions: US Presents Draft Resolution to UN

The US has submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council in response to North Korea’s recent nuclear test and missile launch.

The resolution, aimed at imposing tougher sanctions on North Korea, is backed by China.

The measures would for the first time require UN member states to inspect all cargo to or from North Korea.

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said it would be the strongest set of sanctions imposed by the Security Council in more than 20 years.

A vote is expected at the weekend.North Korea sanctions draft resolution

North Korea’s launch of a long-range rocket in February and a nuclear test in January were widely condemned as a flagrant violation of UN resolutions.

China also condemned North Korea’s actions but it has previously been reluctant to endorse sanctions that could threaten its neighbor’s stability.

“For the first time in history, all cargo going in and out of the DPRK (North Korea) would be subjected to mandatory inspection,” Samantha Power said after presenting the draft resolution measure to the Security Council.

“These sanctions, if adopted, would send an unambiguous and unyielding message to the DPRK regime. The world will not accept your proliferation. There will be consequences for your actions.”

February 25 announcement followed weeks of negotiations between the US and China that culminated in talks in Washington this week between Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

North Korea insists its missile program is purely scientific in nature, but the US, South Korea and even its ally China say such rocket launches are aimed at developing inter-continental ballistic missiles.

Beijing Becomes Billionaire Capital of the World

Clyde K. Valle
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Beijing Becomes Billionaire Capital of the World

Beijing has become the new capital of billionaires after overtaking New York’s long-time position.

The Chinese capital has been named the city with the highest number of billionaires for the first time, a new report by China-based research firm Hurun says.

A total of 100 billionaires are now living in Beijing, compared with 95 in New York, the report says.

Shanghai, China’s center of commerce, comes in fifth place.

Hurun, which tracks wealth in China, has released an annual Global Rich List for the past five years measuring billionaires’ wealth in US dollars.

The private research firm, which also publishes luxury magazines, uses a mixture of information from publicly traded companies plus interviews to compile its data.

Photo Wikipedia
Photo Wikipedia

Other companies such as Forbes and Bloomberg use different methodology and arrive at different conclusions.

Hurun found that Beijing had welcomed 32 new billionaires since 2015, allowing it to vault past New York which it calculated only saw four new billionaires.

Moscow was in third place with 66 billionaires, according to Hurun.

Overall, China has overtaken the US as the country with the highest number of billionaires. However, the top 10 billionaires in Hurun’s list is still dominated by Americans.

China has 568 billionaires after gaining 90 new ones, compared with the US which has 535.

China’s billionaires boast a combined net worth of $1.4 trillion, which is similar to the GDP of Australia.

Hurun’s chairman Rupert Hoogewerf noted that the growth in China’s wealthy took place despite an economic slowdown and stock market instability.

He told the AP that it could be due to Chinese market regulators allowing a flood of new share issues after holding back Initial Public Offerings for several years.

Hurun found that the richest man in China is still Wang Jianlin, with an estimated worth of $26 billion.

However, Wang Janlin he has not cracked the top 10 billionaires in Hurun’s list, which is dominated by Americans.

The list is topped by Bill Gates with a net worth of $80 billion, followed by Warren Buffett with $68 billion.

In third place is Spanish fashion tycoon Amancio Ortega with a net worth of $64 billion.

Hurun’s report found that overall there are now 2,188 billionaires in the world, a new record.

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

What Are The Key Steps To Starting A Business?

Dana R
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What Are The Key Steps To Starting A Business?

Many people come to the business world, from all walks of life. The reason that business has such variation in people is because there are no specific qualifications. All that you need to succeed in business is a great idea and bags of enthusiasm. Determination is the only attribute necessary to make your dream come true. If you have an idea for a business, you are not alone. What this means, of course, is that you are likely to have a significant amount of competition. But that might not be the case for you. It all depends on your idea and what you do with it. The fact is, having that lightbulb moment is just the very first step. Actually, it is often the easiest part of the whole process. The hard work usually comes after that, once you have the ball rolling. It does, however, also get a lot more fun. If you are at the stage where you have a brilliant idea and nothing else, then you may well feel a little daunted by the whole prospect. That is a perfectly natural response to have to the situation, so don’t worry. Know that you are not alone. There is, indeed, a lot to consider and take on board. Let’s have a look through the absolute basics of getting your business up and running, from the ground up.

Student, Woman, Startup, Business, People, Students

Pic Credit

The Concept

So, you have a fabulous idea in mind – otherwise you wouldn’t even be considering starting a business. However, an idea might not necessarily be enough to get going. You need to start thinking about how to develop that idea into something a bit more rounded and complete. Every new business needs a unique concept to start from. This is more than just a bag of ideas. The first thing you need to do is sit down and brainstorm your idea thoroughly. Flesh it out until you have a fully-formed concept. One of the things you need to consider is the branding. This is a golden rule of business. Start with a strong brand, and generally the rest will follow with ease.

business, idea, new year

Pic Credit

The Plan

Once you have your concept fleshed out, you need to start planning your business. Think of the business plan more like a general outline of how the company will operate. That being said, the more detailed you make it, the better. This is a good time to start thinking about the financial side of things. A lot of business owners don’t want to think about money early on. While this is tempting, it is a foolish idea. It is best to include in your plan everything which you think might be relevant. In other words – everything! As well as deciding on the structure of your business, you should be thinking about what kind of timeframe you want for growth. A business plan without forward momentum is no use to anybody.

The Legal Side

This is a good time to get all the legal and administrative stuff sorted. It is advisable to do it at this stage so that you don’t get carried away by the excitement of the venture and forget. This can happen all too easily. One of the first things you need to do here is to set up your business as a limited company. Your Company Formations can help you with making your business into an officially recognised institution. Using their help will save you on a majority of the paperwork at this stage, so it’s well worth it. Ensure that you are registered for corporation tax, too. You don’t want any nasty surprises further on down the line!

Grafică de afaceri

Pic Credit

The Market

Now that you have a fully-fledged company in operation, it is time to start planning your mode of attack. You should, at this stage, spend as much time and money as you can on researching your target market. The key to successful marketing is to know your potential customers inside and out. Find out as much as you possibly can about them, and then approach them. When it comes to spreading the word about your business, the key is to go far and wide. You want a certain degree of focus, but also to interest as many people as possible. Don’t be afraid to splash out a little on a marketing campaign. Usually, the businesses which fail are those which do too little marketing, not too much. Once you have a marketing scheme fully under way, it is only a matter of watching as your business starts growing. The only thing you need to think about now is how quickly you can allow your business to grow. But that is most of the fun of running a business – that part’s up to you.

EU Refugee Crisis: Greece Recalls Its Ambassador to Austria over Balkan Meeting

Diane A. Wade
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EU Refugee Crisis: Greece Recalls Its Ambassador to Austria over Balkan Meeting

Greek ambassador to Austria has been recalled amid sharp divisions among EU states over the refugee crisis.

The move came after Austria hosted a meeting with Balkan states on the refugee issue, to which Greece was not invited.

Meanwhile, EU and Balkan interior ministers have met in Brussels to try to heal rifts over the refugee issue.

Speaking afterwards, the EU’s migration commissioner warned that the bloc’s migration system could be days away from complete breakdown.

Dimitris Avramopoulos said member states had until a March 7 summit with Turkey to curb the number of refugees.

“In the next 10 days, we need tangible and clear results on the ground,” he told reporters.

“Otherwise there is a risk that the whole system will completely break down.”Eu refugees Greece

Austria, Serbia and Macedonia have taken their own steps to limit entry to refugees, angering Greece, which fears the controls will cause a bottleneck. The measures also threaten Europe’s Schengen passport-free travel area that spans 26 countries.

In a statement, the Greek foreign ministry said that the ambassador was being recalled “in order to safeguard the friendly relations between the states and the people of Greece and Austria”.

It said that problems facing the EU “cannot be dealt with, with thoughts, mentalities and extra-institutional initiatives that have their roots in the 19th Century”.

Speaking in Brussels, Greek Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas said his country would “not accept becoming Europe’s Lebanon, a warehouse of souls”.

Lebanon is home to about a million of the four million Syrians who have fled to neighboring countries.

More than one million refugees arrived in the European Union in 2015, many of them fleeing the civil war in Syria. So far this year, 100,000 refugees have entered the EU illegally – nearly all of them arriving in Greece. More than 400 have died on the sea crossing from Turkey.

The surge in migration coupled with the failure to agree an EU-wide response has led to warnings about the bloc’s survival.

On February 24, representatives from 10 Balkan states attended talks in Austria and agreed to co-ordinate action to limit the flow of refugees.

The meeting drew an angry response from Greece, with the foreign ministry warning that “responsibility for dealing with the migration and refugee crisis cannot burden one country”.

EU interior ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday have been hearing plans drawn up by Austria and Balkan countries that seek to restrict the numbers entering their borders.

Measures include fingerprinting all entrants and turning back anyone without a passport or holding fake documents.

The countries have also pledged to accept only those they deem to be in need of protection – interpreted by some governments as meaning only Syrians and Iraqis.

Over the weekend, Macedonia barred entry to Afghans at its border with Greece. Angry protests erupted at the border crossings and Greece was forced to transport hundreds of Afghan back to Athens.

The EU has warned of a humanitarian crisis if the disagreements are not resolved.

European Council President Donald Tusk also warned that the failure to make progress towards resolving the crisis could increase the likelihood of the UK voting to leave the EU this year.

Greece has threatened to block all decisions at EU migration summits next month if member states do not agree to take in quotas of refugees.

Hungary announced on February 24 that it would hold a referendum on whether to accept mandatory EU quotas for relocating refugees.

PM Viktor Orban said the quotas “could redraw Europe’s cultural and religious identity”.

In 2015, Hungary’s right-wing government built a razor-wire fence on its borders with Serbia and Croatia to try to limit the flow of refugees.

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

Nissan Suspends Leaf App over Security Breach

Nancy Clayson
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Nissan Suspends Leaf App over Security Breach

Nissan has announced it is suspending the functions of the NissanConnect EV, an app that could have been used to hack its Leaf electric cars.

The action follows the revelation that a flaw with the software meant that an attacker could run down the battery of a target’s car and see data about its recent journeys.

Nissan had been informed of the problem a month ago but only acted after details of the issue were flagged online.

The auto maker denies there was a safety issue.Nissan Leaf app suspension

The security researcher who had alerted Nissan to the problem a month ago believes the company should have taken the step earlier.

The hack allowed an attacker to see details about journey times and distances, but not location details.

Since the hack would not work when cars were moving and did not affect their steering controls, he acknowledged that it would not threaten people’s lives.

Nissan has disabled the service and noted that the app was also used by some of its electric vans.

“The NissanConnect EV app – formerly called CarWings – is currently unavailable,” the company said in a statement.

“This follows information from an independent IT consultant and a subsequent internal Nissan investigation that found the dedicated server for the app had an issue that enabled the temperature control and other telematics functions to be accessible via a non-secure route.

“No other critical driving elements of the Nissan Leaf or eNV200 [van] are affected, and our 200,000-plus LEAF and eNV200 drivers across the world can continue to use their cars safely and with total confidence.

“We apologise for the disappointment caused to our Nissan Leaf and eNV200 customers who have enjoyed the benefits of our mobile apps. However, the quality and seamless operation of our products is paramount.

“We’re looking forward to launching updated versions of our apps very soon.”

Chinese Shares Drop 6.4% on February 25

Clyde K. Valle
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Chinese Shares Drop 6.4% on February 25

China’s stock market dropped more than 6% on February 25, its biggest fall for a month.

The Shanghai Composite index ended the day down 187.65 points, or 6.4%, at 2,741.25 as concerns persisted over China’s slowing economy.

The Chinese shares have fallen by about a half since June 2015, but have enjoyed a modest rally in recent weeks.

Analysts suggested today’s sharp fall was partly down to investors taking profits.

Investors are also said to be cautious ahead of a G20 meeting in Shanghai.

Photo Xinhua
Photo Xinhua

The sell-off in China also affected Hong Kong, with the Hang Seng index closing down 1.6% at 18,888.75.

In Japan, shares in Sharp tumbled following news that the struggling electronics giant had accepted a takeover offer from Taiwan’s Foxconn.

Trading was suspended ahead of the announcement, and when it restarted the shares closed down 15% at 149 yen.

Overall, the Nikkei index rose 1.4% to close at 16,140.34, while the broader Topix index rose 1.79% to 1,307.54.

In Australia, the benchmark ASX 200 index ended the day 0.1% higher at 4,881.18.

Shares in Australia’s biggest casino company, Crown Resorts, fell heavily after it reported a slump in half-year profits, dented by a sharp slowdown at its Chinese operations.

Crown Resorts’ Sydney-listed shares tumbled more than 9% on the profit report, but recovered some of that loss to trade about 4.5% lower in afternoon trade.

Sharp Accepts Foxconn’s $4.3 Billion Takeover Bid

Clyde K. Valle
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0
Sharp Accepts Foxconn’s $4.3 Billion Takeover Bid

Sharp has accepted a $4.3 billion takeover bid by Taiwanese multinational Foxconn.

The announcement came as Sharp’s board completed a two-day meeting to discuss competing takeover offers.

Foxconn assembles most of the world’s iPhones. Sharp is one of Japan’s oldest technology companies.

It is the first foreign takeover of a major Japanese electronics firm in a historically insular technology sector.

Japanese officials had been reluctant to let Sharp fall under foreign ownership because of the distinctive technology behind its display panels.Sharp and Foxconn takeover

Founded in 1912, innovations by Sharp include a mechanical pencil in 1915 and pioneering developments in TV engineering.

Although recent years have seen a downturn in Sharp’s fortunes with heavy debts, the company continued to be a leader in liquid display technology, a key asset for Foxconn.

Shares in Sharp, which employs more than 50,000 globally, will be issued to Hon Hai Precision Industry Company, also known as Foxconn Technology Group.

Sharp’s shares were halted from trading ahead the announcement. They later reopened and closed down by nearly 15%.

Earlier this month, as it was considering several takeover offers, Sharp posted a bigger-than-expected net loss of $918 million for the April-to-December 2015 period.

In 2012, Sharp came close to entering bankruptcy. It has struggled with heavy debts and has been through two major bailouts in the last four years.

Foxconn first offered to invest in Sharp in 2012, but talks collapsed.

IMF Report: Global Economy Is Highly Vulnerable to Adverse Shocks

Clyde K. Valle
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IMF Report: Global Economy Is Highly Vulnerable to Adverse Shocks

According to a recent IMF report, the global economy has weakened further and warned it was “highly vulnerable to adverse shocks”.

The International Monetary Fund said the weakening had come “amid increasing financial turbulence and falling asset prices”.

The report comes before the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Shanghai later this week.

It said China’s slowdown was adding to global economic growth concerns.

China’s economy, the second-biggest in the world, is growing at the slowest rate in 25 years.IMF report 2016

“Growth in advanced economies is modest already under the baseline, as low demand in some countries and a broad-based weakening of potential growth continue to hold back the recovery,” the IMF said.

“Adding to these headwinds are concerns about the global impact of China’s transition to more balanced growth, along with signs of distress in other large emerging markets, including from falling commodity prices.”

The IMF also noted any future prospects for global growth “could be derailed by market turbulence, the oil price crash and geopolitical conflicts”.

The agency has called on the G20 group to plan new mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable countries.

Earlier this year, the IMF downgraded its forecast for global economic growth. It now expects economic activity to increase 3.4% this year followed by 3.6% in 2017.

Sanjay Dutt Released from Pune Jail

Sonia Pantiss
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Sanjay Dutt Released from Pune Jail

Sanjay Dutt has been released from jail in the western Indian city of Pune.

The 56-year-old Bollywood star was sentenced for firearms offences linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts which killed 257 people and injured 713.

Sanjay Dutt was convicted of buying firearms from the bombers but said the weapons were necessary in order to defend his family during Hindu-Muslim rioting.

He was moved to the Pune jail in 2013 to finish his five-year jail term.

Sanjay Dutt was recently granted a remission of 144 days on the basis of good behavior and activities like running a radio program.

“His remission was worked out in compliance with jail rules and he was treated like any other convict,” the chief of Pune Yerwada Jail Superintendent UT Pawar told the Press Trust of India news agency.Sanjay Dutt released from jail

Sanjay Dutt kissed the ground as he walked out of the prison on February 25 and was driven to the airport on his way to Mumbai, where he lives.

“I am out here because of their [fans’] support. There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends,” he was quoted as telling reporters by the AFP news agency.

One of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, Sanjay Dutt is hugely popular for his role as a lovable gangster in the Munnabhai movies. He has also dabbled in politics.

The son of a Hindu father and a Muslim mother, Sanjay Dutt said he had bought the firearms to protect his family during the 1993 Mumbai Hindu-Muslim riots, which followed the destruction of the Babri mosque by Hindu zealots in the northern town of Ayodhya.

In 2006, a special anti-terror court convicted 100 people for the blasts. Twelve were given the death penalty and 20 others sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sanjay Dutt, the most high-profile among the convicts, was originally charged with five offences, including criminal conspiracy and possession of illegal weapons.

In March 2013, India’s Supreme Court upheld Sanjay Dutt’s conviction, but reduced his sentence from the earlier six years to five.

FIFA Upholds Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Supensions

Clyde K. Valle
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0
FIFA Upholds Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini Supensions

FIFA’s appeals committee has upheld all soccer-related activity bans on Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.

However, the suspensions have been reduced from eight to six years.

Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s outgoing president, and UEFA President Michel Platini were found guilty of breaches surrounding a $2 million “disloyal payment” to Platini.

They both deny any wrongdoing and have said they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sepp Blatter, 79, and Michel Platini, 60, said the payment honored a verbal or gentleman’s agreement made in 1998 for work carried out by the Frenchman when he was a technical advisor for Blatter.

Photo EPA
Photo EPA

Swiss Sepp Blatter said in a statement that he was “very disappointed by the appeal committee of FIFA”.

Michel Platini said it was “insulting and shameful” and a “political decision”.

The committee said “activities and services rendered to FIFA, UEFA and football” was a mitigating factor.

FIFA’s presidential election is due to take place on February 26 to find Sepp Blatter’s replacement.

Sepp Blatter had already announced he was quitting after reports emerged he was under investigation in the United States.

Michel Platini had been tipped as a future leader of soccer’s world governing body and is a three-time European Footballer of the Year.

In a statement released after the announcement, Michel Platini said the accusations were without foundation and completely made up “beyond reality”.

He said the communication of the decision was done with “an unbearable arrogance” and that Friday’s congress would be remembered in history with the “mark of illegitimacy”.

“I am the victim of a system which has only had one goal – to stop me standing for the president of FIFA,” Michel Platini added.

The decision not to overturn the suspensions follows a 12-year ban imposed on Jerome Valcke, who was sacked as secretary general of world football’s governing body last month.

Jerome Valcke, the man responsible for running FIFA’s day-to-day administration, was found guilty of misconduct over the sale of World Cup tickets, abuse of travel expenses, attempting to sell TV rights below their market value and destruction of evidence. He also denies wrongdoing.

Ways to Improve Your Vision

Dana R
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Ways to Improve Your Vision

Your eyesight is one of your most essential senses, so it’s vital to look after it. There are lots of natural and interventionist ways in which you can improve your vision though. It doesn’t matter whether you have bad short-sightedness, or you just want to see things a little more clearly. There are always things that can be done. Read on to find out more about these ideas and methods.

Wear the Right Glasses at the Right Time

If you go for an eye test, and you’re told that you need to wear glasses, you need to list to this advice. Many people don’t like to wear glasses because they don’t think they suit them or other silly reasons. If this is such a big problem for you, you could always use contact lenses that do the same job for you. But you need to make sure that you are wearing glasses or using lenses that are right for your eyes. Your eyesight changes over time, so you need to make sure you have your sight tested regularly. Any changes might mean you need changes to your prescription. And listen to any other advice you get too. If you’re told that you only need to wear glasses when reading or driving, don’t be tempted to wear them all the time. This can actually damage your eyes in the long-term.

Photo Source

Consume Vitamins and Antioxidants

Your eyes need nutrition if they’re going to stay healthy and functional. The right fatty foods and foods that are low in sugar are good for your eyes, and your body in general. And then you can also add some vitamins and antioxidants to your diet as well. Vitamin A, E and C are the most important when it comes to looking after your eyes. Add plenty of salmon and mackerel to this to provide you with all the omega-3 that you could possibly need. Antioxidants are important as well because they include lots of anti-inflammatory properties. Foods that have antioxidants in them include blueberries, grapes and kale, so eat plenty of those foods. Plus, anything that is green and healthy will help you out, so eat your vegetables.

Do Eye Exercises

Most people don’t even realise that eye exercises exist. But you can exercise pretty much every part of your body, and that includes your eyes. This is one of the fastest and easiest ways to improve your eyesight naturally. You can do them daily, and if you keep this up, you will strengthen your eyes pretty quickly and effectively. There are many different types of exercise that you can do. First of all, try covering your eyes with the palm of your hand. You simply close your eyes, rub your palms together, put them over your eyes and hold them there for ten minutes or so. You can also roll your eyes around. This is simple to do, but it will get them active. You just look up as far as you can and then down and in each direction.

Have Corrective Surgery

For people who don’t want to use glasses or contact lenses to correct their eyesight problem, there is one more option. Corrective surgery is a good option to consider. It does carry its risks, but it offer you the chance to correct your problem for good. This is what is so appealing to many people who opt for a surgical procedure. You should find out as much about it as possible if you’re interested. It’s not something that will be the right answer for everyone. Visit CIA Medical if you want to get more information on the procedure and what it would entail for you. Then you can weigh up the pros and cons and decide whether or not it is the right path for you to go down right now.

Don’t Smoke and Boost Air Quality

Smoking is bad for pretty much every part of your body. And this is certainly true for your eyes as well. When you smoke, you damage the blood vessels in your body, and there are plenty of these in your eyes. It can also inflame your eyes. So, quitting smoking should be one of your top priorities. The quality of the air in your home and where you work can have an impact as well. If there is not enough humidity in the air, this can cause your eyes to become dry and irritable. But don’t worry because you can easily buy a humidifier that can add some more moisture to the air. This is a big problem in some parts of the world. So, if it applies to you, you should use this solution.

Rest Your Eyes

It’s important to rest your eyes once in awhile. I’m not saying you should sleep during the day, but you can rest them in other ways. Think about it, you use your eyes every minute of the day when you’re awake. So, it’s only natural that they should need to be rested and relaxed from time to time. Sleep is important as well, and making sure that you get enough sleep each night is essential if you want to keep them healthy. But resting them throughout the day is useful as well. You should close your eyes and not use them for a period of three to five minutes. If you do this a few times during the day, you will be able to keep them alert and healthy for longer during the day.

Get the Light Right

The lighting in the room can have a big impact on your eyes. Soft lighting is the best kind for your eyes. This is because harsher and fluorescent lights are bad for your eyes because it provides the wrong light frequencies. Fluorescent light can even make you feel drowsy and tired throughout the day. And that’s exactly what you don’t want. You should also protect your eyes from the direct source of the light. So, if you’re sitting at a desk and there’s a lamp on it, make sure it is aimed towards the work you’re doing. This will make sure that the lamp shade protects your eyes. You don’t want a powerful bulb directly light at your eyes because it could cause them considerable long-term damage.

Photo Source

Limit Screen Usage

These days, the main source of eye strain for most people is their computer. Many of us spend all our time on them, but staring at them for a long time is not a great idea. Of course, many of us can’t simply stop using them though. They are everywhere, and we need them to do our jobs. But there are things you can do to keep your eyes healthy when you’re using a computer for a long period of time. For a start, you should make sure that you keep blinking regularly. This might sound like a strange tip, but it’s important because it keeps the eyes moist and clean. You should also take breaks from staring at the screen once an hour or so. A short break will give your eyes a rest and help you to focus when you return.

Some of the methods discussed above will be able to help you out and others won’t. It’s all about testing your vision and finding out which ones will work best for you. Some of the general tips can be useful to everyone though. For example, everyone can benefit from resting their eyes and changing their environment in ways that affect the eyes.

Top Gear: Jeremy Clarkson Apologizes to Oisin Tymon after $140,000 Settlement

Clyde K. Valle
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Top Gear: Jeremy Clarkson Apologizes to Oisin Tymon after $140,000 Settlement

Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has apologized to Oisin Tymon – the show producer he punched last year – after settling a £100,000 ($140,000) racial discrimination and injury claim.

Oisin Tymon launched the action against Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC after a “fracas” last March that left Tymon with a bloody lip.

“I would like to say sorry, once again, to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath,” Jeremy Clarkson said.

Jeremy Clarkson, 55, was dropped by the BBC following the assault.

The former presenter added: “I want to reiterate that none of this was in any way his fault.Jeremy Clarkson Oisin Tymon

“I would also like to make it clear that the abuse he has suffered since the incident is unwarranted and I am sorry too that he has had to go through that.

“I am pleased that this matter is now resolved. Oisin was always a creatively exciting part of Top Gear and I wish him every success with his future projects.”

Oisin Tymon’s lawyers said the case had been settled but did not give details of the settlement.

It is understood to be in excess of $140,000, an amount to which both Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC contributed.

The “fracas” took place at a North Yorkshire hotel after Jeremy Clarkson was told there was no hot food available at the end of a day’s shooting on location.

An internal BBC inquiry found Oisin Tymon was subjected to an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” by Jeremy Clarkson, who called the producer “lazy” and “Irish” and used a four-letter expletive in the exchange.

At the time of the attack, Oisin Tymon told police he did not wish to press charges. In the days following he was the subject of sustained abuse on social media for his involvement in the dispute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSf6IB1xq4A

Nepal Plane Crash Kills 23 People near Pokhara

Diane A. Wade
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Nepal Plane Crash Kills 23 People near Pokhara

Twenty three people on board of a small passenger plane have been killed after the aircraft crashed in mountainous western Nepal.

The Twin Otter aircraft, operated by Tara Air, was travelling from Pokhara to Jomsom and lost contact with the control tower shortly after taking off.

Most of those on board were Nepalis. It is not clear what caused the crash.

The plane was carrying three crew and 20 passengers, one of them Chinese and one Kuwaiti. Nepal’s aviation industry has a poor safety record.

According to Sanjiv Gautam, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the plane’s wreckage was found near the village of Dana in Myagdi district.Nepal Tara Air plane crash

The aircraft lost contact with the control tower at Pokhara 10 minutes after take-off.

The identities of those on board have yet to be released. Two of those on board were children.

Three helicopters were sent to search for the missing plane, Tara Air said on its website, adding that “the weather at both origin and destination airports was favorable” for the 20-minute flight.

Nepal’s army said, however, that fog had hampered the search for the aircraft.

Pokhara is a resort town some 125 miles west of the capital Kathmandu. Jomsom, a short distance further north, is the starting point for many people trekking in the Himalayas.

Nepal has a limited road network and many areas are accessible only on foot or by air.

Since 1949, the year the first aircraft landed in Nepal, there have been more than 70 different crashes involving planes and helicopters, in which more than 700 people have been killed.

Most accidents have been attributed to bad weather, inexperienced pilots and inadequate maintenance.

In 2013, the European Union banned all Nepalese airlines from flying to its territory for safety reasons.

Bolivia Referendum: Evo Morales Loses Fourth Term Bid

Diane A. Wade
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Bolivia Referendum: Evo Morales Loses Fourth Term Bid

Bolivian voters have rejected changing the constitution so President Evo Morales can run for a fourth term.

About 51.5% voted against the move with almost all the votes counted, the electoral authority said.

Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first president of indigenous origin, has said he will respect the referendum result.

The constitutional change would have allowed Evo Morales to run for re-election in 2019 and potentially remain in power until 2025.

Observers said the count has been slow but that there was no evidence of fraud.

Pollsters had suggested a victory for the “No” camp based on unofficial quick counts, prompting celebrations by “No” campaigners in various Bolivian cities.

Evo Morales is still a popular leader and the economy has grown steadily over the past decade.Evo Morales Bolivia referendum

However, many, especially in the main cities, think Evo Morales should not be allowed to serve 19 consecutive years as president, analysts say.

Opposition leader Samuel Doria Medina urged Evo Morales to “recognize the results” and focus on solving Bolivia’s problems in his remaining time in office instead of trying to run for another term.

An indigenous Aymara and former coca leaf producer, Evo Morales took office in January 2006, and his current term ends in 2020.

Observers say there is no clear successor to him and that the opposition lacks a single leader.

Despite a drop in the international price of oil and natural gas, the Bolivian economy has performed well in the past 10 years, growing on average 5% a year.

The government’s socialist policies have also been successful in reducing extreme poverty.

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