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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Visits Turkey for First Time Since Khashoggi Murder

Roy Siemens
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Visits Turkey for First Time Since Khashoggi Murder

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has visited Turkey for the first time since the 2018 murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan embraced the prince before they held talks aimed at repairing a deep rift.

Turkey’s president once indirectly accused Prince Mohammed of ordering Saudi agents to kill Jamal Khashoggi. He denied any involvement.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Turkey is currently seeking trade, investment and assistance to help it deal with a worsening economic crisis.

It has also worked to improve relations with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Israel after years of tensions.

Following their talks, a joint statement said the two men discussed improving relations and investment in sectors from energy to defence, among others.

The Saudi crown prince wants to end his international isolation and restore his powerful regional role.

He also visited Jordan and Egypt this week as part of a Middle East tour and next month will meet President Joe Biden, who promised in 2019 to make Saudi Arabia “the pariah that they are” over Khashoggi’s murder.

Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post columnist and prominent critic of Prince Mohammed, was last seen entering the Istanbul consulate on October 2, 2018, where he had gone to get papers needed to marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz.

A UN investigator concluded Khashoggi had been “brutally slain” by a 15-strong team of Saudi agents sent from Riyadh, and that his body had been dismembered.

She made that judgement after listening to purported audio recordings of conversations inside the consulate made by Turkish intelligence.

Khashoggi Report: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Approved Khashoggi Operation

While President Erdogan did not directly accuse Prince Mohammed, he claimed he knew the order to kill Jamal Khashoggi had come “from the highest levels of the Saudi government”.

US intelligence agencies concluded that the crown prince had approved an operation to capture or kill Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi prosecutors blamed “rogue” agents and said the prince had had no knowledge of the operation.

A year after the killing, a Saudi court found five unnamed people guilty of directly participating in the killing and handed them death sentences that were later commuted to 20-year prison terms, while three others were jailed for seven to 10 years for covering up the crime.

Hatice Cengiz condemned the decision to welcome Prince Mohammed to Turkey and vowed to continue her fight for justice.

“The political legitimacy he earns through the visits he makes to a different country every day doesn’t change the fact that he is a murderer,” she tweeted.

5 Ways COVID-19 Changed The Software Development Industry

Nancy Clayson
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5 Ways COVID-19 Changed The Software Development Industry

There are several ways COVID-19 changed the software development industry. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, tech was already undergoing rapid, major changes. Indeed, many development firms were reshaping the ecommerce, fintech, and business landscapes through new app features. After the COVID outbreak, their impact completely changed as companies shifted to remote work. As a software development manager, you need to know how the pandemic shaped the tech industry. This way, you can keep up with major development trends and changes in the post-pandemic world. Read on to learn about the most important ways COVID-19 changed the software development industry.

Software development by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free

Accelerated Digital Transformation

First, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation for developers. Indeed, many firms looked to migrate their resources to the cloud. Thus, developers had to modernize legacy applications and refactor their monolithic code into microservices. This way, they could adapt to new user needs faster. In addition, many developers had to step up the transformation for their clients as well. If they didn’t have digital platforms for customers and suppliers, many software developers had to enable these as quickly as possible. As developers continue working post-COVID, they continue to build these digital channels so clients can keep up with new business patterns. Definitely, COVID-19 accelerated the digital transformation in the software development industry.

Adoption Of Advanced Tools

Next, the pandemic pushed many software development teams to adopt advanced tools in their SDLC. For example, many companies installed a Kubernetes Docker Registry by JFrog. With this containerization software, developers could provision their k8s cluster with Helm charts and images to orchestrate their applications. In addition, it provides secure, private provisioning to host local Docker images. With this feature, companies can leverage fine-grained access control as they share packages and images across their organization. Indeed, virtual Docker registries can aggregate local and remote resource to give you a single URL to manage your images. In an age where digital security is priority, this is key to mitigate risk and lower cost. In short, COVID-19 pushed development teams to adopt advanced tools to streamline security and resource management.

Increased Productivity From Remote Work

The pandemic increased software developer productivity from remote work. According to recent data, COVID pushed more than half of workers to shift their focus to the DevOps methodology for increased collaboration and efficiency. Additionally, the pandemic increased progress towards cloud migration by over 50%. By moving data to a cloud computing environment, output went up over 40%. Plus, CRM activity went up by over 150%. Indeed, remote work prevented teams from wasting time from distractions, chatting, and group meetings. Simultaneously, video conferencing and chat platforms allowed employees to stay connected. With this increased productivity, many developers will likely stay remote or adopt a hybrid model in a post-COVID world.

Higher Demand For Services

Moreover, COVID-19 also launched a higher demand for services in the software development industry. Indeed, data shows that software development roles increased by nearly 8% in the early months of the pandemic. Many businesses sought new tools to streamline business operations and maintain product delivery. For example, many companies invested in remote banking, grocery delivery, and medical scheduling applications. Additionally, over 65% of organizations reported spending more on video conferencing software. Indeed, these new resources were key to maintain their customer base and provide services through lockdowns. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 pushed a higher demand for software development services.

More AI And Automation

Furthermore, COVID-19 pushed for more AI and automation in the software development industry. For example, many companies are implementing AI in web chat bots to increase online customer interaction. Simultaneously, AI in the software industry enabled strategic decision making through analytics. Plus, many development teams implemented automated test tools for their quality assurance analysts. Notably, these tools work to minimize human error and promote fast testing in the development process. Certainly, COVID-19 enabled more AI and automation in the software development industry.

There are several important ways COVID-19 changed the software development industry. First, COVID-19 accelerated the digital transformation with cloud migration. Leveraging these cloud-based technologies, businesses can maximize speed, security, and storage efficiency. Next, many companies adopted advanced tools like container registries. With these solutions in place, businesses can capitalize on the power of containerization. In addition, software development increased productivity from remote work. Moreover, COVID also pushed a higher demand for software services. Furthermore, the pandemic also fostered more AI and automation in team pipelines. Consider these points to learn about the most significant ways COVID-19 changed the software development industry.

Why Has the Japanese Yen Weakened in Recent Months?

Clyde K. Valle
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Why Has the Japanese Yen Weakened in Recent Months?

Those who have been around the foreign exchange trading block for a while will no doubt be aware that the Japanese yen has long since had a reputation for being a rock-solid currency. In recent years, it has developed a reputation for being one of the world’s “safe havens,” a currency that investors turned to whenever the going got tough.

However, there has been a range of upsets in recent months as the currency has reached new lows. This blog post will explore why this has happened and examine what the broader context looks like for the currency.

Image source: 123rf.com 

What’s happened?

As any forex trader should know, staying on top of the latest forex news using a reputable site like LeapRate is an excellent idea – not least because it can give you the background to interesting developments like this one, the largely unexpected weakening of the formerly “safe haven” Japanese yen.

The yen has suffered from huge dips recently. Charts show that the yen reached its worst position in 24 years this month. This comes against a complicated backdrop of other problems for the Japanese economy, including the Nikkei stock exchange – which was down by 3% at one stage during the day. The index usually performs better when the yen is struggling due to Japan’s large number of exports. The Japanese government is now being called upon to tighten its monetary policy.

The reasons why

The reasons for this are complex, although one is that competition from other currencies has been high. The US dollar has been surging recently, and some investors have been moving away from the yen to get a slice of greenback action. Interest rates have been hiked up in the US due to various problems, including the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic – with policymakers looking to encourage investors and spenders to behave in certain ways. The knock-on effect for the dollar has been to rise in value.

Another reason for the yen’s problems is that the aforementioned monetary policy in Japan has been loosened to a great degree in recent times. Unlike many other central banks, the Bank of Japan decided in April this year to keep low-interest rates in place. Short-term interest rates in the country still sit at -0.1%, which is almost unheard of elsewhere in the world. That arguably has positive effects in other ways, but it’s not great news for the currency. It even appears that the Bank of Japan may stick to this plan no matter what happens to inflation – news which could fill yen investors with horror.

In sum, the Japanese yen has clearly suffered in recent times. The currency has plummeted to its worst performance in 20 years and has lost out mainly to the US dollar – despite its previous status as a “safe haven.” As this article has shown, there has been a whole host of reasons for this – and investors need to make sure they know the reasons why.

Reason Why Custom Hoodies are Trending Right Now

Lisa.Felice
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Reason Why Custom Hoodies are Trending Right Now

Hoodies are more popular than ever, and this is in no small part thanks to customization. According to Printful, many people want something unique, especially when it comes to clothing.

Customizing your clothes used to be expensive and difficult. But today, thanks to technology, the ability to make your own clothes is accessible to everyone. Anyone can create their own custom hoodies from the comfort of their homes.

All they need is a bit of creativity to get the measurements right. However, there are other reasons why customized hoodies are trendy today.

Photo by Sebastiaan Stam

The Advantages of Customized Hoodies

Both individuals and businesses use customized hoodies for marketing purposes and to showcase their personalities. With a personalized hoodie, you can promote a brand name or gift them to friends, customers, or employees to express your friendship, promote customer loyalty, or make employees happy.

Anyone would love a new and original hoodie in their wardrobe, especially one that’s been customized. Many people opt to put meaningful texts, images, or artworks on their hoodies.

They want to express themselves or give their clothes a little more personality. The advantage of customized hoodies is that you can opt for embroidery printing, DTG/ DTF Film Printing, or digital/screen printing.

With embroidery printing, you can give a classic look to any hoodie. It will stand the test of time, especially since hoodies and embroidery are durable, thanks to their thick fabrics. With digital/screen printing, you can play with the design in many different ways.

Some people choose to express their opinion about something, support a cause, or just put something funny on their clothing. Whatever the case, custom hoodies have the advantage that anyone can wear them.

Advantages From a Business Perspective

Since customized hoodies can be worn by practically all age groups, you can even start your own business selling them. With embroidered customized hoodies, you can target a more refined audience, while you can sell a digital/screen printed customized hoodie to children, adolescents, or young adults.

No matter what you choose, hoodies are warm and comfy, and everyone wears them. There is also a great advantage of wearing them if you exercise regularly. Hoodies can make you sweat, essentially helping you do some detox.

From a business perspective, you can customize your hoodie with the help of various printing websites. You can create your own designs, ask a friend to help you out, hire a designer, or buy already popular designs.

What’s more, you can opt for print-on-demand services. This way, you can collaborate with a printing website to sell your hoodies without the need to have them in-store. You should, however, create your own online store to maximize your profits.

With print-on-demand services, any customer that places an order will be taken care of by your provider. This means that you don’t have to invest too much time taking care of the orders, and you won’t need an inventory. When an order is made, the printing begins, and your provider will take care of the shipping.

Final Words

Customized hoodies are among the most cherished pieces of clothing because anyone can wear them, enrich them with their own designs, promote their style, brand, or views, and even make a business out of them.

Russia-Ukraine War: FBI Seizes Russian Superyacht Docked in Fiji

Roy Siemens
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Russia-Ukraine War: FBI Seizes Russian Superyacht Docked in Fiji
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

A Russian-owned superyacht was ordered to leave Fiji for the US after a court upheld a FBI warrant.

The vessel allegedly sailed to Fiji to escape seizure.

US police had for months been tracking the 350ft Amadea – linked to sanctioned oligarch Suleiman Kerimov.

Agents had boarded the boat upon its arrival in Fiji in April, but the boat’s owner had launched a legal battle to stop the seizure.

They had argued the warrant contravened the Pacific island’s local law.

However on June 7, Fiji’s Supreme Court dismissed that argument and ordered the boat’s removal, pointing out the giant yacht’s docking in the port of Lautoka had cost the local government “dearly”.

US authorities in their submission had argued that the $300 million boat was estimated to cost about $25-30 million to keep running per year.

For the public benefit, it was better for the boat to be removed, Chief Justice Kamal Kumar said.

The judge found the vessel had sailed into Fiji waters “without any permit and most probably to evade prosecution by the United States”.

The defence team for the boat’s registered owners, Millemarin Investments, had argued the boat was not the property of Suleiman Kerimov’s and instead belonged to another Russian businessman, who is not facing sanctions.

However, US authorities allege that Suleiman Kerimov still has a beneficial connection to the boat.

The FBI alleged the boat had also tried to escape detection “almost immediately” after the war began by turning off its automated tracking system.

McDonald’s Finds Local Buyer for Russia Business

US authorities first sanctioned Suleiman Kerimov in 2018 over a slew of money-laundering charges. The Russian has been sanctioned by other nations since, including by the EU block after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

On June 7, Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions said the court ruling demonstrated his nation’s commitment to external assistance requests and international law.

The court accepted the validity of the US warrant and agreed that issues concerning money laundering and ownership need to be decided in the court of original jurisdiction,” said Christopher Pryde.

Western authorities have stepped up a crackdown on the assets of dozens of Russian oligarchs in the wake of the Ukraine invasion in February.

How Do I Get Insurance if My License Is Suspended?

Nancy Clayson
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How Do I Get Insurance if My License Is Suspended?

There are several reasons behind someone having their license revoked or suspended. It includes driving without insurance, receiving driving offenses related to alcohol or drug, repeated traffic offenses, or failing on child support. Whatever the reason might be, getting vehicle insurance is easier with the help of a cheap car insurance company.

Although you cannot drive legally without a driver’s valid license, you still require low-cost auto insurance in most cases, irrespective of whether your license is revoked or suspended. But, getting the right insurance policy becomes hard. You may have limited options and may not avail of cheaper car insurance rates if you have a suspended or revoked license.

DUI-attorneys
Photo Source: duidirectory.wordpress.com

Can you avail of car insurance with a suspended license?

Surely, you can get vehicle insurance irrespective of whether your license is suspended. Owning a car across several states requires you to be insured and tagged even though your license is revoked or suspended. It is a challenging affair with a suspended license as you cannot get rated as a driver on your policy if you cannot drive legally.

You can be banned as a driver till your license is reinstated or when a restriction is sanctioned. There are some ways to get car insurance with your license revoked or suspended:

  • Rating a household member having a clean driving record as a driver to your policy, although it might not be an option with almost every insurance company.
  • Getting approval for the restricted or hardship driver’s license allows you in driving at special situations like school or work.
  • Buy the SR-22 insurance.
  • If the car ownership is in someone else’s name, you insure it under their vocation.

Is your suspended license visible to the car insurance companies?

Surely, the car insurance companies can check whether your license is revoked or suspended. There are motor vehicles separated in your state notifying your insurance company electronically in the same manner when they are convicted of a moving violation or a ticket.

Suppose the insurance company gets the notification for the suspended license. In that case, the company might issue a nonrenewal or a cancellation of the insurance policy, although you are not near the renewal period. The company would also provide an exclusion allowing the insurance policy to be active; however, it needs the policyholder to sign a form that excludes you from the coverage. If you get into an accident, your car will not cover it.

Lowering car insurance coverage with license suspended.

You may have to carry complete coverage of insurance that meets lender requirements as your license is suspended if your car is leased or financed. You may purchase less coverage due to the cost of the car insurance if your vehicle is outright. Make sure to consider the risk associated with your vehicle and are you making the right choice by removing the collision or comprehensive insurance.

We recommend that you buy the only-comprehensive coverage if you plan to store your car untagged. But, if your car is tagged, you would need to meet the minimum liability insurance needs for the state, avoiding penalties and fines irrespective of the driver’s license status.

What can be done to get car insurance with a suspended license?

You will risk having your license suspended and getting caught driving without insurance, and you will have to buy car insurance before having your driving privileges restored if it happens. Not all companies will insure with the one having a license suspended. If you are classified under the high-risk driver, then it can result in you paying higher premiums.

If the driver’s license is suspended and you would have to purchase insurance, then here is what you should do:

●      Applying for a hardship or restricted license

Several insurance companies do not insure someone with a suspended license; however, they would if you have a restricted or a hardship license. Some laws vary in each state. Make sure to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state to determine whether you are eligible to apply for the restricted or hardship driver’s license.

●      Shop for cheap insurance

The drivers classed as high-risk will have to pay a bit high premiums, and not every company will be insuring them. You can get the best rate on your car insurance with a suspended license by comparing the quotes.

●      Avail an SR-22 or FR-44

Your insurer may have to file for a certificate of financial responsibility in respect to your state to prove you carry the much-needed minimum amount of liability insurance.

Final thoughts

It can result in a massive setback when your driving privileges are revoked or suspended. Getting affordable car insurance from a cheap car insurance company with a suspended license will involve work. Can you expect to find your insurance rates hitting the skies? You can get help, although most insurance companies will not offer you a policy with your suspended license. Additionally, shopping for car insurance online may be a bit hard, so you should directly speak to your insurance agents. You can even ask them in regards to the recommendations for this situation.

How to Take Your Fitness Routine to the Next Level

Kathryn R. Bown
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How to Take Your Fitness Routine to the Next Level

If you’re feeling stuck with your fitness routine at the moment, know that this is perfectly normal. There’s usually a time in everyone’s fitness journey when they hit a wall, but this is not the time to give up. When people can’t get over a plateau, it’s usually not because they’ve reached their limit. More often than not, people stop making progress because they weren’t working out optimally in the first place. Let’s take a look at a few simple things that you could do to take your fitness routine to the next level.

Image by Wenisa Ng from Pixabay

Start Researching New Supplements

If you’re already using things like whey protein powder and creatine, this is a good start, but you should know that there are literally thousands of other supplements out there. We’re not saying that you should become a lab experiment and try all of them, but it would be wise to at least try some you hear about often.

You should consider turkesterone, for instance. Turkesterone, or turk, has been around for many years and is unlike any other supplement on the planet. It is an ecdysteroid, which is a form of steroid that can be found in nature that supports the development of various organisms. Turk has some of the benefits of actual steroids but without the side effects. So, if you want to increase your strength and speed up recovery, this is definitely a supplement you should look more closely into.

Get a Personal Trainer

If you feel like a personal trainer is just too expensive for you, you should at least hire one so they can build a plan with you. You also have remote personal trainers that will be much cheaper. Having someone push you and teach you proper technique will make a world of difference in your results. You’ll be able to tell if you’re doing something wrong and be able to benefit from the expertise of someone who’s studied the human body.

Get Yourself a Food Scale

If you’re serious about going to the next step, then you have to start paying more attention to what you put in your body and how much of it you consume. The only way to have control over this is to invest in a food scale. You can’t eyeball your portions and expect to get consistent results. By weighing everything and keeping a food journal, you’ll know exactly how many calories go in and what the source of those calories is.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Body Scale

Another scale that you need to use often is your body scale. Top bodybuilders weigh themselves almost every day and it helps them stay on track, but you don’t have to go to these extremes. Once a week is more than enough. You have to be able to look at the number on that scale and hold yourself accountable. If you can’t do this, then you’ll eventually fail, simple as that.

Train with Someone Who’s More Advanced than You

If you have a friend who you know has been training for years, you need to ask them if you could go on training sessions with them. They will not only be able to teach you tricks but will be able to encourage you as well. It will make your training sessions much more enjoyable and having someone pushing you can help you get those precious 2 to 3 extra reps you need.

These are all tips that you can use to boost your workouts starting today. Be persevering, learn what works and what doesn’t, and try finding some outside assistance if you can.

5 Ways To Support A Loved One With A Disability

Kathryn R. Bown
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5 Ways To Support A Loved One With A Disability

Supporting a disabled loved one can come with many challenges. You may be in a situation where you thought you were helping, but only to discover that your well-intentioned gestures worsened or worsened a particular situation. You must be gentle with yourself and acknowledge that you and your loved one are learning how to be in sync with each other regarding the situation.

Therefore, if you wish to know how you can support a loved one with a disability, you’re in the right place as here are five ways to achieve this.

Image source: Adobe Stock

1. Seek Professional Support Services

One of the ways that you can support a loved one with a disability is by seeking professional support in the form of disability services provider. Disability service providers are equipped with expert knowledge regarding the kind of intervention your loved one requires, the amount of help needed, and how to help them become more self-sufficient.

Although you may find ample information online regarding a particular disability, it may be best if you trust experts to provide the best possible intervention for your loved one. Some of the information online may be rooted in opinion, experiences, and not necessarily professional angles.

2. Research About The Disability

Researching about the disability equips you with the knowledge to help you support a loved one. You can read materials that give insight into how your loved one experiences daily life from a mental, emotional and physical aspect, as these may differ for you. Understanding these dynamics helps you become empathetic to their disability.

You may say or state certain aspects to them in the hope of helping, but because you don’t quite understand their position, you may unknowingly offend. For example, when people increase their tones when speaking with a blind person, they can hear perfectly, so they may wonder why you speak loudly and get offended.

Reading materials can explain such dynamics, which you may otherwise be unaware of, and help you adjust accordingly.

3. Find Support For Yourself

If you are a primary caregiver for a loved one, you may need support. It’s not easy caring for a loved one with a disability, regardless of how much you care for them. The responsibilities may get overwhelming, considering you have to care for others, such as children and parents, and you need to care for yourself. To be able to support a loved one with a disability fully, you need to be mentally, physically, and emotionally sound.

You can seek counseling services where a licensed therapist can help you with the realities of caring for a disabled loved one. That way, you can enjoy your wellness while caring for others.

Image source: Adobe Stock

4. Be Inclusive

Being inclusive means being aware of your surroundings, conversations, and suggestions when your loved one is around, considering their disability. For example, in a social setting, you may be unaware and suggest taking the stairs to a restaurant on the second floor, overseeing that there are no elevators or escalators for your loved one who may be a wheelchair user. Being inclusive in that instance means scanning the environment and assessing whether your loved one can physically join in the plans.

Inclusivity also includes the conversations you have when your loved one is around. Reminiscing about memories they may never be able to experience because of their disability may be saddening. With time, patience, and communication, you understand what makes your loved one feel uncomfortable.

5. Speak Positively With Your Loved One

Experiencing a disability may come with other dynamics such as depression and anxiety. Take, for instance, a situation where your loved one was non-disabled, then was involved in an accident and disabled. The sudden shift in life can only come with mental and emotional turmoil as they rediscover their new way of living. Speaking positively in terms of offering words of affirmation and encouragement is a major way to support a loved one with a disability.

Their daily thoughts directly affect how they begin to take life within their stride. You may only dampen their spirits if you speak about doom and skepticism about their condition and whether it may improve. On the other hand, pointing out their courage, strength, and determination to continue enjoying life will help them stand tall in their situation.

Conclusion

Some of the ways you can support a loved one with a disability include seeking professional services and researching the disability for in-depth understanding. You can be mindful of your conversations and activities around them while being positive in your talk. You may also need professional support yourself to be able to care for them fully.

Would You Make a Good Real Estate Agent?

Nancy Clayson
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Would You Make a Good Real Estate Agent?

People are always going to need real estate agents, and finding a good one who will understand exactly what they need and apply it to proactively making it a reality is one of the most important deciding factors in choosing the right agent.

But what exactly makes a good and successful real estate agent? It’s a combination of skills and personality that not everyone has. But if you possess these rare but extremely valuable qualities, you may want to know a little more about what a career in this industry entails.

One of the reasons that businesses like Compass Realty can provide a seamless and simple experience in the real estate sector for their clients is due to the quality of their agents. What are those qualities? And does it sound like an ideal career path that suits your skillsets?

Image source: PxHere

Do you like constantly working with new people?

As soon as you’re done helping someone achieve their dreams, the next person will come along. Your day is filled with meeting buyers, sellers, and viewers while getting everyone on the same page. To do that well, you’ll need to relish interacting with new people every single day.

Can you multitask well?

Interacting with all of these people while keeping up with the latest market activities requires the ability to multitask. Not just for one day, but every single day. You’ll juggle admin tasks, bookings, and updating your clients constantly on the next steps of the purchase or sale.

Do you like a job that offers variety?

Real estate isn’t for people who like to do exactly the same thing every day. One minute you’ll be at your desk, and the next you’ll be preparing properties for viewings and fielding inquiries from interested parties.

Are you an ambitious person?

When it comes to jobs for ambitious people, the career of a real estate agent offers many opportunities in terms of personal satisfaction and job success. If you believe that hard work and dedication should be rewarded, your ambitions are likely to be recognized in the property industry.

Are you a good listener?

The life of a real estate agent involves a great deal of talking, negotiating, and explaining the benefits and unique selling points of a property to others. But there’s an invaluable skill that’s even more important than talking – the ability to listen.

If you’re able to fully understand exactly what each new client wants, they’ll find the process of listing, selling, or buying a home much easier. A client who is heard is a grateful client who is more likely to recommend an agent to others.

Do you like helping other people?

If the idea of meeting families and individuals who need help finding their new home or starting a new chapter in life by selling a current one sounds good, you’ll be in your element with real estate.

From that very first meeting with a new client to the final deal being signed, real estate agents work diligently to help others and take a great deal of pride in playing a small part in giving others their ideal happy ending.

5 Amazing Apps To Help You Save Money Post-Pandemic

Clyde K. Valle
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5 Amazing Apps To Help You Save Money Post-Pandemic

When was the last time you looked at your bank balance? We’ve all been struggling during the pandemic, but it’s finally coming to an end. If you want to safeguard your future, you’ll need to start growing an emergency fund.

Most people will find it very hard to save money, especially if they don’t earn much. You should use helpful apps if you fall into that category. Let’s look at some of the best ones you should download as soon as possible.

Image source: PublicDomainPictures.net

1. Qoins

“If you look after the pennies, the pounds look after themselves.” It’s a popular phrase that tells you to start saving loose change, which isn’t easy with physical money. You spend everything that’s sitting in your pocket.

Ooins is different because it’s an app that links to your bank account. When you buy something, it rounds it up to the nearest dollar, so $3.75 becomes $4. The extra 0.25 cents goes into account along with all your other change.

2. Mint

Mint is probably the biggest personal finance app on the market. If you take out bad credit loans from Magical Credit, you should add them to the app. You need to link your debit and credit cards to your account too.

Once you’ve added everything to the app, it will trace every penny you spend. It will give you advice to help eliminate your nasty spending habits. You’ll even get reminders when you need to pay important bills.

3. Digit

I’m sure your spending habits would improve if a financial expert followed you around every day. You’ll experience the same thing once you download the Digit app. It will learn about you by analyzing your bank transactions.

If you have a personal loan, it will work out how to pay it off effectively. It can move money into separate accounts based on the goals you set. You’ll reach your goals much faster when Digit gives you a helping hand.

4. Qapital

Qapital lets you save a little cash every time you trigger a particular rule. For example, it will put a certain percentage of your income into another account. It can move money out of your account every day or week.

You will have complete flexibility to choose how and when it saves money, and it will always be accessible if you’re desperate. If you forget about the app, you’ll get a nice surprise when you finally check your savings.

5. Halfdollar

Some people work more than one job to put food on the table. It’s easy to get a job driving for Uber at night if you need more money. It’s possible to earn a little cash by uploading YouTube videos or posting Instagram photos.

Halfdollar is great at keeping track of income coming in from multiple places, plus it will know when anything leaves your bank accounts. You will save money if the total income is greater than your expenses.

One App Can Work Wonders

You won’t need to download all these finance apps to achieve great results. The right app could help you save money easily, which will change your life forever.

The Ultimate Tips for Converting a Basement

Nancy Clayson
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The Ultimate Tips for Converting a Basement

Are you thinking of converting your basement? If so, this can be a tricky and expensive project to undertake, if you aren’t careful. Fortunately for you, there are plenty of tips and guidelines to follow to ensure that this renovation is a success. Here is what you should know and do:

Image by 亚坤 郭 from Pixabay

Create a Budget

The first thing that you need to determine is how much you are going to spend on this renovation. Doing calculations at the beginning of the project can also help you to determine what kind of changes and how many of them you can make.

One of the easiest ways to determine how much you should spend is to look at your home’s ceiling value. This is the maximum amount of money that you can sell your house for. Based on this, determine which budget will ensure that you recoup the greatest amount of your costs for this remodel.

Choose the Right Contractor for the Job

Your basement isn’t like any other room in your home. This is because it is more likely to suffer from water damage, flooding, moisture issues, etc. Not to mention, this part of your home can be particularly colder as well. Due to this, you can’t simply begin decorating the space – you first have to tackle structural issues.

It is because of this that you should always hire professionals such as Markham Penguin Basements to handle this type of job. With their years of experience, they will be able to guarantee that the room is up to code before they focus on the aesthetic elements of the space.

Avoid Making Too Many Layout Changes 

You may have a lot of ideas for what you want to do with this space. It is best to avoid putting up walls or making too many structural changes. This is especially true if you are planning on living in this house for many more years to come. As the years go by, you may find yourself needing to use this room for various purposes.

An increasing number of homeowners are turning this space into in-law suites to accommodate aging parents, for instance. Thus, don’t make any major changes to the space. Try to keep it as an all purpose space so that it can be used for a number of things.

Mimic the Theme from the Main House

One of the mistakes that people make is to treat the basement like an entirely different space. Now, if you aren’t using it as a living space, then this will work for you. However, if you are planning on entertaining here, it is important for it to be an extension of the main house.

This means using the same color palette as above. You should also follow the same design theme. This creates a sense of cohesiveness and makes the space feel cozier too.

These are the main guidelines that you should follow if you are looking to convert this part of your home. Stick to these and you should have a beautiful space in a timely manner, while adhering to your budget!

5 Questions You’ll Want To Ask Once You’ve Been Arrested

Nancy Clayson
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5 Questions You’ll Want To Ask Once You’ve Been Arrested

A large percentage of psychopaths are languishing behind bars at the moment. I bet they didn’t panic when the cuffs were slapped on. Unfortunately, normal people who make horrible mistakes don’t react as well.

If you’re arrested after committing a minor offense, you’ll probably think the world is going to end, and you’ll want a few questions answered ASAP. Let’s discuss the main things you’ll have floating around in your head.

Photo by form PxHere

1. Did The Police Arrest You?

Mr.Polak, GTA personal injury lawyer with years of experience, says you need to make sure you’re under arrest? If the police pull you to the side after a crash, it doesn’t always mean you’ll spend the night in jail.

Don’t get scared before you know you’re in trouble. It’s an easy mistake to make if the police detain you for questioning. If you find yourself in handcuffs, you’ll likely be taking a little trip to the station.

2. When Will You Appear At Court?

Even if you spend time in a jail cell, you’ll only need to wait a few days until being arraigned. It will depend on several factors, including where you’re from, but it won’t take long until you see a judge.

If you’ve never been arrested, it’s horrible sitting in a cell with no idea what to expect. You might start to think you’ll be in there forever. Ask to see a lawyer at the earliest opportunity once you’re under arrest.

3. Can You See The Police Report?

You’ll probably want to see a copy of the police report when you get out. If you know what the arresting officer said in their report, it will make you feel better, even if it doesn’t necessarily paint you in a good light.

It’s tough to handle when left in the dark. Sadly, it won’t always be shared with you, but your lawyer will be able to ask for a copy. Once it’s delivered, you’ll be able to look it over with them.

4. Will They Let You Out On Bond?

Whether or not you get bond will depend on the seriousness of your case. The police might arrest you for an outstanding warrant after a car accident. You’ll probably be able to call an auto accident lawyer after a few days in jail.

If you’re the suspect in a murder investigation, it’s likely the police will try to hold onto you for as long as possible. It’s impossible to say what will happen if you’re charged with a serious crime, so talk to your lawyer.

5. Can You Avoid A Horrible Trial?

Going on trial is one of the worst feelings in the world. I hope the prosecutor drops your case because they don’t think it’s worth taking to court. The only other way you’ll avoid a trial is by negotiating a deal.

A good lawyer will be able to negotiate a sweet deal compared to what you’ll receive at trial, but you might need to spend time in prison. It’s sometimes worth taking a chance with a jury if you’re confident of a non-guilty verdict.

Don’t Worry Until You Talk To A Lawyer

It’s pointless worrying about your arrest until you’ve talked to a lawyer. The people who end up in real trouble usually know everything is about to change forever.

Factors That Could Destroy Your Family Vacation

Kathryn R. Bown
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Factors That Could Destroy Your Family Vacation

No one wants their perfect family vacation to turn into a disaster, but unfortunately, it can happen. Family vacations are supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy each other’s company, but if things go wrong, they can quickly become a nightmare. There are many factors that can contribute to a ruined family vacation, and while some of them are beyond your control, there are a few that you can avoid by seeking help like that of family dentistry.

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

i. Sudden Sickness or Injury

One of the most common reasons for a ruined vacation is when someone in the family gets sick or injured. This can be anything from a cold to a more serious illness, and it can completely ruin your plans. Dental emergencies are also a common occurrence, so it’s always a good idea to visit a dentist near you before you go on vacation. Family dentistry can help you with any dental needs you may have, and they can also give you tips on how to avoid any dental problems while you’re away. If someone in your family does get sick or injured while you’re on vacation, it’s important to have a plan. Make sure you know where the nearest family dentistry or hospital is, and be sure to pack any medications that may be necessary. It’s also a good idea to have travel insurance, just in case.

ii. Bad Weather

Bad weather is another common reason for ruined vacations. If you’re planning a beach vacation, for example, and it rains the whole time, that’s not going to be very enjoyable. Similarly, if you’re planning a ski trip and there’s no snow, that can be a major disappointment. When booking your vacation, research the typical weather patterns for the time of year you’ll be visiting. This will give you a better idea of what to expect, and help you plan accordingly.

iii. Losing valuables

Losing your passport, wallet, or other important documents can put a serious damper on your vacation. To avoid this, be sure to keep all of your important belongings in a safe place, and make copies of everything before you go. That way, if you do lose something, you’ll have a backup. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local laws and customs before you travel. This way, you can avoid any potential problems, and make sure you’re not breaking any laws.

iv. Being Robbed or Scammed

Sadly, crime is a reality of travel, and you could be the victim of a robbery or scam while on vacation. To avoid this, research the areas you’ll be visiting ahead of time, and be aware of the potential risks. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and keep your valuables in a safe place. Be cautious of people who approach you offering goods or services, and never give out personal information to someone you don’t know. If you do find yourself in a situation where you’re being scammed or robbed, the most important thing is to remain calm. Don’t resist, and hand over any valuables that are demanded. Once you’re safe, you can contact the police and file a report.

v. Travel Delays

Another potential vacation ruiner is travel delays. This can be anything from a canceled flight to getting lost in an unfamiliar city. To avoid this, try to leave plenty of time for travel, and be sure to check the weather and traffic conditions before you leave. It’s also a good idea to have a backup plan in case your flight is canceled or you get lost. If you’re driving, make sure you have a map, and if you’re flying, make sure you have the contact information for your hotel.

vi. Family Drama

Of course, one of the most common reasons for a ruined vacation is a family drama. This can be anything from arguments to simply not getting along. If you’re traveling with extended family, it’s important to set some ground rules before you go. Decide what activities everyone will do together, and make sure everyone is on the same page. It can also be helpful to schedule some alone time so that everyone can have a break from each other. If arguments do arise, try to stay calm and resolve them as quickly as possible.

No one wants their vacation to be ruined by any of the things we’ve mentioned, but it’s important to be aware of these potential risks. By being prepared and taking some precautions, you can help minimize the chances of your vacation going bad. If something does happen, don’t panic. Stay calm and have a backup plan. With a little preparation, visiting a family dentistry before the trip, you can make sure your vacation is a success.

5 Important Tools to Streamline Your Business Operations

Clyde K. Valle
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5 Important Tools to Streamline Your Business Operations

As an entrepreneur, you know how exciting it can be to start your own successful business venture. After years of working for a company and putting endless hours into work that had no meaning, you felt the calling to be your own boss. You began to imagine a world where you could chart your own course in life, where you could tap into your creativity and birth a brilliant idea that would bring you success in the marketplace.

Then, step by step, you put effort into your new idea and watched it take shape and form. As part of birthing your new venture, you quickly discovered that streamlining your operations is one of the keys to ongoing success. You also discovered that leveraging the following important tools is the best way of ensuring sustainable growth.

QuickBooks Accounting Software

When you are creating a new company it’s easy to get swept away in the numerous responsibilities and demands for your attention. And there are common small business accounting mistakes you can easily make if you are not careful. Unlike the corporate world where every company has a large support staff, as a new owner, every key decision will cross your desk. It’s tempting to skip important building blocks so you can get to exciting things like sales, but you want to make sure you are setting things up for long-term prosperity.

As part of this, it’s important to take the time to set up and install accounting software that will let you manage your operations. QuickBooks provides a comprehensive solution for financial management, inventory, billing, budgeting and expense tracking. It gives you all the tools you need to manage the fiscal health of your company.

Human Resources Software

It’s not unusual for large firms to have HR departments with lots of employees. As an entrepreneur, though, you have to take a more spartan approach. Fortunately, there are many different Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings that provide all the functionality required to manage your HR needs.

The packages are easy to set up, and don’t require an IT department to keep them up and running. These tools will help you streamline operations by putting maintenance of your data into the hands of each employee. With a Human Resources SaaS solution, you’ll be able to manage employee records, handle hiring and onboarding, and accurately track time reporting and paid time off.

Fleet Management Tools

If you operate multiple vehicles and trucks as part of your business, you understand that fleet management is an expensive juggling act. To truly stay on top of things, you need tools that give you a window of visibility into what is really going on. With new vehicle prices rising and gas prices close to an all-time high, operational costs can soar if you don’t get this area under control.

Fleet management tools let you track all of your vehicles using real-time GPS data so you will always know where your mobile assets are. In addition, you can help assure on time delivery of your products when you take advantage of the dispatching and routing functionality that is part of the system. You’ll also be able to use the tools to streamline operations and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Email Marketing Automation Tool

It takes work to fill your sales pipeline with prospects, and to convert potential buyers into customers. Email marketing automation tools can help you manage this process. When someone visits your website, calls in for more information or responds to one of your special offers, you’ll want to begin to nurture them along the sales journey. With email marketing automation, you can set up drip campaigns that give your prospects the information they need to make a purchase decision. Best of all, these campaigns are fully automated so they keep the process going without taking up time and effort from your sales staff.

Project and Task Management Tools

To truly keep on top of everything that is happening in the organization, you’ll want to set up powerful, yet easy to use, project and task management software. These offerings allow you to quickly track an ongoing project, assign tasks to individuals and teams, and monitor where things stand. With the right tools, you’ll be able to leverage the power of more agile teams and stay on top of all the open tasks. These SaaS offerings will help you streamline your business operations and run your projects efficiently.

Tips on How to Help Your Employees Stop Stressing Out at Work

Nancy Clayson
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Tips on How to Help Your Employees Stop Stressing Out at Work
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

You want your employees to feel comfortable at work. However, they will only be productive if they feel well. Therefore, it’s your responsibility to ensure they don’t stress out. But, of course, you can’t prevent them from feeling terrible. Sometimes, the nature of the job can be exhausting, and employees stress out. Here are some tips to help them get through the challenges of their job.

Have a private conversation

If you notice that your employees don’t feel okay, it’s time to have a private conversation. They reflect it through their behaviour or work quality. If you know that something stresses them out, this conversation will help. Perhaps, they need someone to talk to. Relieving them of the stress through small talk can go a long way.

Settle conflicts

Once you start sensing conflicts among your employees, you have to step in. You might also receive reports about employees not getting along. You don’t want to wait until things worsen before doing anything. These issues can escalate and prevent everyone from doing a great job. You can ask for a meeting among the parties involved. You may also implement new rules to ensure that personal matters don’t adversely impact work.

Don’t overburden some employees

You might feel like some employees do a great job and want them to do more. While it can be flattering, it can also be stressful. Don’t burden a few employees in favour of the others. You may also work with third parties for some events. For instance, you can work with a funfair hire company for an upcoming corporate event. You don’t have to choose among your employees to take the leadership role, especially if they already have a lot on their plate.

Never micromanage

You could be the reason for the employees’ stress. You keep showing up to correct the smallest details. You also tell everyone what to do and do not give enough breathing space. While you think you’re helping them excel, it’s the other way around. Your constant presence prevents creativity and independence. You can show leadership skills without micromanaging.

Show appreciation

It pains employees to work hard and feel like no one sees their hard work. Therefore, you must show appreciation whenever possible. It could be through a small note placed on their desks. You can also send a congratulatory message through emails. A promotion or salary bump would be great for employees who did an excellent job. There are different ways to express appreciation, and your goal is to make everyone feel seen. Sometimes, your acknowledgment is good enough to reduce work-related stress.

Again, it’s natural to feel stressed out at work. You have to help your employees who go through a lot. They also have other problems back home. A few changes at work can relieve them of their burden. Besides, you want everyone to perform well. With constant stress, your employees will be unable to carry out their responsibilities.

6 Reasons Why Tagline Advertising is So Effective

Dana R
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6 Reasons Why Tagline Advertising is So Effective

Advertising is a powerful tool for businesses. It helps them reach potential customers and increase sales, promote their brand and gain attention for all the right reasons. Tagline marketing can be a particularly effective advertising technique – but just what do we mean by this, and why does it work so well? Let’s take a closer look.

What Is Tagline Advertising?

Tagline advertising refers to the use of short phrases or slogans that are often used as part of an ad’s copy or headline. They’re typically used in ads that have a strong visual element such as TV commercials, radio spots, print advertisements, and billboards. The most famous tagines are those that you instantly connect with a brand or product – we all know where “The happiest place on Earth” is, or which brand is advertising when they say “Just Do It”. The goal for businesses is to create an instantly recognizable phrase or slogan, which allows them to communicate effectively with customers.

Why Does Tagline Advertising Work So Well?

The reason why tagline advertising works so well is because people respond to things that they recognize. A tagline is something that everyone understands immediately, and therefore has a much higher chance of connecting with your target audience. This makes it a very effective way of communicating with consumers, especially if you want to get across a specific message quickly.

Some of the main reasons that tagline advertising works so well include:

  1. You can make a connection with your audience almost instantly.

With a short, sharp tagline, you are creating an instant connection with your audience, making it easier for them to remember the message you’re trying to convey.

  • You can stand out from other competitors.

By using a memorable tagline, you’ll be able to attract more attention than your competition. If you’re looking to sell products online in a crowded or saturated market, then having a catchy tagline could be crucial to getting noticed.

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  • You can easily incorporate your tagline into any communication medium

If you’re planning on running your own campaign, then you can easily add your tagline to any promotional material that you send out. For example, if you’re promoting a new website design, then you can simply add your tagline to the top of your homepage, or use it as a hashtag on social media.

  • You don’t need to spend too much money on advertising

One of the biggest advantages of taglines is that they cost less than many other forms of advertising. With a simple tagline, you won’t need to invest a huge amount of money to get your message across.

  • You can create a unique experience for your customer.

A great tagline can also help you create a unique experience for the consumer. By adding a tagline to your site, you can encourage users to take action, and give them a sense of urgency.

Why Wait?

Adding a tagline to your advertising campaign can be a great way to get your message out there, connect with customers, and boost your profits. With all these benefits in mind, now is the time to get creative!

Best Cities to Move to in California

Nancy Clayson
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Best Cities to Move to in California

With its hot, sunny weather and endless job opportunities, California is often regarded as one of the best places to live in the US. However, as the third-largest state in the country, California is home to so many amazing cities and towns, so it’s difficult to decide where to move to. If you’re hoping to move to California but haven’t yet decided on the exact location, here are some of the best cities to move to in California.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Bakersfield

Bakersfield isn’t one of the main cities that come to mind when you think of California, but it still deserves a place on this list. Conveniently located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Bakersfield has so much to offer, including great parks, restaurants, and plenty of jobs. In fact, Bakersfield is known for both agriculture and energy production, so there are many opportunities within these industries. In addition, Bakersfield is generally more affordable than the rest of California, so this is a great place to move to if Los Angeles and San Francisco are too expensive. Check out these Bakersfield CA homes to discover what you could purchase in this city.

Los Angeles

If you’re hoping to make it in the entertainment industry, then Los Angeles is the best place to move to. This city may be expensive, but there are so many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities you can find there. In addition to Hollywood, Los Angeles has a booming service industry and technology industry. There’s also a lot of cultural diversity and many different restaurants and bars to visit.

San Diego

Located on the border between the US and Mexico, San Diego has a very hot and sunny climate. San Diego is also a coastal city, making it perfect for beachgoers and surfers. Therefore, if you love to be active and enjoy experiencing the great outdoors, San Diego should be the perfect city for you.

Santa Rosa

If you prefer slightly smaller cities, then Santa Rosa could be a great choice. This city is located further north than San Diego and Los Angeles, which means it has a slightly cooler climate – perfect for those who find too much heat uncomfortable. Santa Rosa is located in Sonoma County, which is within California’s Wine Country. This is one of the best wine-growing regions in the world, so if you love wine and fine dining, why not move to Santa Rosa?

San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the best cities to move to if you work in the technology and financial sectors. This diverse, modern city is a great place to advance your career and also surround yourself with art and culture. Furthermore, there are so many iconic sights to see, such as San Francisco’s famous cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge.

California is one of the most exciting places to be in the United States. If you’re hoping to move to the Golden State but don’t know exactly where you want to live, check out the cities listed in this article. You’ll definitely find the perfect place to call home.

Are There Extra Eye-Related Precautions You Need to Take in the Summer?

Kathryn R. Bown
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Are There Extra Eye-Related Precautions You Need to Take in the Summer?
Image by Laura Smith from Pixabay

Most people don’t realize that the eyes are among the organs most susceptible to damage. It’s one of the most exposed organs, yet people tend not to protect it. This seeming tendency to not care for the eyes can lead to several short- and long-term problems that will affect the quality of life that you enjoy. Therefore, it is vital that you take care of your eyesight regardless of the season.

Summertime is one of the best times of the year and one of the periods when people have to take extra eye care precautions. We have to be able to provide enough protection for our eyes so we can enjoy whatever activities we have planned. 

Here are some of the extra eye-related precautions we can consider during the summertime. 

Shield your eyes from the sun

With the summertime being one of the periods when the sun is most intense, people have to learn to protect their eyes by shielding them from it. Those with normal vision can easily do this by wearing their preferred sunglasses. Those who wear spectacles can resort to wearing clip-on that eyecare stores sell. People need to wear these sunglasses even if it’s cloudy.

Another way to protect your eyes is to wear a wide-brimmed hat to fend off those harmful ultraviolet rays. Not only will you be protecting your eyes, but you will also protect your skin and eyes from sunburn. You can also protect your eyes from macular degeneration, ocular melanoma, and cataracts. 

Stay hydrated and keep your eyes as lubricated as possible

You need to stay as hydrated as possible because there’s an increased risk of dehydration, especially if you’re exposed to the sun longer. Your eyes might dry and feel irritated faster or become watery for your own good. If you suffer from dry eyes syndrome (DES), it’s probably best to consult your doctor about OptiLight treatment designed to manage the condition. It is a non-invasive treatment applied to the areas below the eyes and is the only FDA-approved intense pulsed light (IPL) procedure.

Be sure to wear protective eyewear for various activities

Since it’s summer, you’ll probably want to spend more time outdoors. It will be best to wear different protective eye gear whenever you pursue summer activities. If you go swimming, don’t forget to wear goggles so you wouldn’t get your eyes irritated by the saltwater. Wear safety sports goggles whenever you hike or do other outdoor activities to protect your eyes from debris, dust, and the sun.

Wash your hands

Regularly washing your hands is one of the best ways to protect your eyes. People often wipe their eyes with their hands, increasing the risk of contracting eye-related illnesses such as conjunctivitis or trachoma. Avoid touching your eyes when your hands aren’t clean. 

Eat a balanced diet

Try to eat as much leafy green vegetables and omega-3-rich food. These are rich in antioxidants and also help in hydration. 

Takeaways 

There are several ways to protect your eyes during the summer. We have to be aware of these strategies to care for our eyesight properly. 

What Are False Positives in Finance (And How Does This Affect the Customer Journey)?

Dana R
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What Are False Positives in Finance (And How Does This Affect the Customer Journey)?

The world of finance is difficult to get into and manoeuvre around to your advantage. No matter what business you operate, there are going to be times when you make more money than you expected. However, what about the times when you get a false positive? Your first instinct may be that there is some fraudulent activity going on that you feel unsure about. So, what is a false positive and how will it affect the overall journey for your customers? That’s what we are going to find out below.

What is a false positive in finance?

When a false positive appears, it’s since the business suspects an order is not quite what it seems. In fact, it’s very likely that an act of fraud has occurred. Therefore, it makes sense that the order has been declined. The business does not want to become the victim of fraud. Ultimately, it can be a risk to decline any type of order. After all, it’s extremely hard to know whether it is legitimate. If it is legitimate, then you will simply be declining an order which can reduce sales. Ultimately, this could mean that you are not only losing revenue, but customers in the future.

How does a false positive affect a customer’s journey?

It’s normal that your customer will go through a 5-step journey before they interact with your business. This will include creating an account or logging into an account. They will also show that they have the intention to buy from you by placing an order into their cart. However, if their card transaction fails, it’s likely that they will not be interested in making an order in the future. Therefore, you have potentially lost a customer, as well as any revenue that they planned on spending. Not only does this mean that there are wasted acquisition costs, but it will ultimately damage your brand as a whole.

Image source Max Pixel

What can you do to reduce false positives?

Unfortunately, false positives are a part of business that you will need to try and take care of as well as you can. To understand which sales are genuine and which are false, you will have to keep an eye on your customers to understand their spending habits. Most businesses rely on customers to contact them about false positives, but you may also see genuine buyers try to purchase your products for a second time.

You can help reduce false positives by:

  • Becoming more aware that not all false positives are examples of fraud
  • Using AI, Machine learning and automated payment software, like Xelix
  • Establishing the identity of your customers to prevent fraud

Do you know what to do about false positives?

If you have opened a business, it’s crucial that you understand as much as you can about false positives. They can impact your sales and cause you to struggle with retaining your loyal customers. Thus, with the information in this guide, you will be able to future proof your business and mitigate this risk. The more you understand about your false positives, the more you can increase the amount of business you receive.  

Oscar-Winning Composer Vangelis Dies Aged 79

Sonia Pantiss
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Oscar-Winning Composer Vangelis Dies Aged 79

Greek composer Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, known professionally as Vangelis, has died at the age of 79.

Vangelis won an Oscar for the stirring score to 1981’s Chariots of Fire, which was followed by Blade Runner a year later.

Vangelis’s Chariots of Fire theme famously accompanied shots of athletes running along the beach in St Andrews, Scotland, at the start of the film, which was set before the 1924 Olympics.

It went to number one in the US, and later topped the UK’s classical singles chart in 2012 after being performed by Mr. Bean at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games.

Image source: Facebook

Vangelis’ other film credits included The Bounty, Francesco, Bitter Moon, 1492: Conquest of Paradise and Alexander.

The composer once said: “My interest was not to create a symphony orchestra, which I can very easily, but to go further than that and do things that the symphony orchestra can’t do.

“And I think that I succeeded to create something like this.”

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “Vangelis Papathanassiou is no longer with us. The world of music has lost the international (artist) Vangelis.”

Vangelis first tasted fame as the keyboardist in the band Aphrodite’s Child with singer Demis Roussos in the late 1960s.

He went on to be an acclaimed and groundbreaking electronic solo artist beyond his work in film, making his most recent albums with record company, Decca Label Group.

Its presidents Tom Lewis and Laura Monks said: “The world has lost a genius. Vangelis created music of extraordinary originality and power, and provided the soundtrack to so many of our lives.

“We will miss him enormously. His music will live on forever.”

McDonald’s Finds Local Buyer for Russia Business

Clyde K. Valle
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McDonald’s Finds Local Buyer for Russia Business

McDonald’s Russia has found a buyer for its local business, after the war in Ukraine pushed it to quit the country.

Alexander Govor, who currently operates 25 McDonald’s restaurants in Siberia, will take on the company’s restaurants and staff, operating them under a new brand, the fast food giant said.

The firm did not disclose the sale price, but has warned investors it would take a more than $1 billion hit from the exit.

McDonald’s had operated in Russia for more than 30 years.

The opening of its first restaurant in Moscow in 1990 came to symbolise a thaw in Cold War tensions.

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia opened up its economy to companies from the West. More than three decades later, however, it is one of a growing number of corporations pulling out as the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions make it difficult to operate.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

McDonald’s, which had nearly 850 restaurants in the country, most of them directly owned, said it expected the deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, to close in coming weeks.

Alexander Govor has been a licensee of McDonald’s since 2015. He is also co-founder of Neftekhimservice, a refining company, and a board member of another firm that owns the Park Inn hotel and private clinics in Siberia.

Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said the deal was the result of a “long and difficult” negotiation process and the government would provide Alexander Govor with all the necessary assistance to set up operations.

The terms provide for McDonald’s 62,000 staff in Russia to be retained for at least two years, with their existing pay and Alexander Govor will pay the salaries of corporate staff in Russia until the deal is completed.

McDonald’s will retain its trademark in Russia, it said, while the restaurants will be stripped of their menu, logo and other branding.

Russia: McDonald’s Restaurants Ordered to Close for 90 Days

Russia Closes Four McDonald’s Restaurants in Moscow

Announcing plans for the sale earlier this week, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski called the decision “extremely difficult”.

“However, we have a commitment to our global community and must remain steadfast in our values. And our commitment to our values means that we can no longer keep the arches shining there,” he said.

McDonald’s suspended operations at the restaurants it owned in Russia in March, citing the “humanitarian crisis” and “unpredictable operating environment” caused by the Ukraine war.

The move drew outrage among Russian politicians and prompted threats the business would be seized.

A patent application for an “Uncle Vanya” restaurant chain was filed with Russian authorities shortly after. The name, the same as the famous work by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, was one of several brand knock-offs of Western companies to surface.

In 2021, Russia and Ukraine accounted for about 9% of McDonald’s revenue.

The move by McDonald’s came after French carmaker Renault sold its majority stake in carmaker Aftovaz to a state research institute for a symbolic sum, while its Renault Russia business was taken over by the city of Moscow. Manufacturing at the Renault plant is expected to resume under a Soviet-era brand.

Shireen Abu Akleh: Israeli Police Attack Mourners at Al Jazeera Journalist’s Funeral

Roy Siemens
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Shireen Abu Akleh: Israeli Police Attack Mourners at Al Jazeera Journalist’s Funeral

Israeli police have attacked mourners at the funeral of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, whose killing in the occupied West Bank has caused a surge of anger.

The journalist’s coffin almost fell as police, some using batons, waded into a crowd of Palestinians gathered around it.

Police said they acted after being pelted with stones.

Image source: Twitter

Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead in disputed circumstances on May 11, with Israel and Palestinians trading blame. The killing has been widely condemned.

Footage showed a standoff between police and Palestinians gathered around the coffin in the hospital compound, before officers push the crowd back, with some beating and kicking mourners. Police said officers “were forced to use riot dispersal means”.

A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply disturbed” by the confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians and the behavior of some police.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki also said the images of police hitting mourners were disturbing.

“We regret the intrusion into what should have been a peaceful procession,” she said.

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The Palestinian Authority and Al Jazeera claim Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead by Israeli forces, while Israel said it was not yet possible to determine what happened and that she could have been killed by Palestinian gunfire.

An Israeli military interim report on May 12 said the fatal shot could have come from “massive fire from Palestinian gunmen”, or possibly from “a few bullets” fired by a soldier “at a terrorist who was firing at his vehicle”.

Shireen Abu Akleh, a 51-year-old Palestinian American, was a veteran correspondent for Al Jazeera’s Arabic news channel and had reported on the Israel-Palestinian conflict for two decades.

The journalist was given the rarity of a funeral at the compound of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 12, where her coffin was brought draped in the Palestinian flag. President Abbas paid tribute to her, describing her as a “martyr of the free word” who “sacrificed her life” to defend the Palestinian cause.

He said Israel was “fully responsible for her killing” and that he would refer the case to the International Criminal Court, which investigates potential war crimes.

Israeli PM Naftali Bennett has accused President Abbas of “throwing blame at Israel without any basis”.

Shireen Abu Akleh was in the Jenin refugee camp early on May 11 to report on the Israeli raid. The Israeli military said the operation was to apprehend “terrorist suspects”.

It said: “Tens of Palestinian gunmen fired at and hurled explosive devices toward the soldiers. The soldiers responded with fire toward the gunmen and hits were identified.”

Another Palestinian journalist, Al Jazeera producer Ali Samoudi, was shot and wounded during the violence.

Elon Musk Puts $44BN Deal to Buy Twitter on Hold

Clyde K. Valle
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Elon Musk Puts $44BN Deal to Buy Twitter on Hold

Elon Musk has announced that his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter is on hold after he queried the number of fake or spam accounts on the social media platform.

The world’s richest man tweeted: ”Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users.”

Even before his comments, Twitter’s stock had been selling for less than the $54.20 per share Elon Musk has offered, a sign that the markets were not convinced he would complete the buyout.

He has been vocal about “defeating the spam bots”, identifying it as a key goal following his planned takeover of the company.

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Twitter has long faced accusations of not doing enough to address automated, fake accounts posting content.

In a filing more than two weeks ago, Twitter estimated that fake accounts accounted for fewer than 5% of its daily active users during the first three months of this year. It cautioned that the figures were based on estimates and could be higher.

Those claims were not different from what the firm had shared in previous disclosures.

Weeks of market turmoil in the US have wiped billions off the value of many companies – including once favored tech firms.

Tesla, the electric car company where Elon Musk serves as chief executive, has also seen its shares plunge – a hit to Elon Musk, whose status as the world’s richest person is bound up in his stake in the company and who had planned to rely on his shares to help finance the Twitter purchase.

Last month, he raised $8.5 billion by selling shares. He also planned to use the shares to secure $6.5 billion in loans.

After Elon Musk tweeted that the deal was temporarily on hold, Tesla’s share price gained more than 5%.

Vadim Shishimarin: Ukraine Begins First War Crimes Trial of Russian Soldier

Roy Siemens
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Vadim Shishimarin: Ukraine Begins First War Crimes Trial of Russian Soldier
Image source: Reuters

The first war crimes trial since the beginning of Russia’s invasion has been started in Ukraine.

A 21-year-old soldier appearing in the dock is accused of killing an unarmed civilian.

Vadim Shishimarin appeared at a preliminary hearing in Kyiv. He faces life in prison if convicted.

Ukraine says it has identified thousands of potential war crimes committed by Russia.

Russia has denied targeting civilians and made no comment on the trial.

Prosecutors say Vadim Shishimarin was driving in a stolen vehicle with other soldiers in the north-eastern Sumy region when they encountered a 62-year-old cyclist using a phone.

According to the prosecutors, the soldier was ordered to shoot the civilian to stop them from telling Ukrainian defenders about their location.

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It is not clear how the Russian was captured or what the nature of the evidence against him is.

Vadim Shishimarin spoke to confirm basic details such as his name. He is yet to enter a plea, and the trial will reconvene next week.

Hundreds of bodies have been found in regions previously occupied by Russia.

Some of Ukraine’s allies, such as the UK and US, have joined the country in accusing Russia of carrying out genocide.

After the hearing, state prosecutor Andriy Synyuk told Reuters: “This is the first case today. But soon there will be a lot of these cases.”

What Material Makes the Best Nightstand?

Nancy Clayson
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What Material Makes the Best Nightstand?

When it comes to picking the best nightstand for your bedroom, you have a lot of options. There are plenty of different shapes, styles, and materials to choose from. Some of them have practical purposes. Others are just for looks.

But when it comes to the most favored material for nightstands, wood gets the nod. It’s a material that’s attractive, warm, and easy to care for. And perhaps best of all, it offers character and appeal that you can’t get from metal or plastic.

As we explore the benefits of wood, be sure to check out the extensive selection of the best nightstand collections here: https://www.1stopbedrooms.com/bedroom/nightstands

Easy to Care For

One of the biggest advantages of a wood nightstand is how easy they are to care for. Many customers prefer wood because it’s easy to clean, doesn’t leave behind streaks, and polishes up nicely.

It’s important to note that metal nightstands certainly have their place if that’s the overall aesthetic of your bedroom. But wood in general is an excellent material for nightstands. And it offers many more benefits, as you’ll see below.

Versatile

Another big advantage of buying a wood nightstand is that they’re versatile. Wood goes well with just about any décor, allowing you to easily match the material with a wide variety of colors, fabrics, walls, carpeting, and bedding.

So if you’re having a hard time deciding on any one nightstand model, you’ll find that any wood-based option is likely to complement your bedroom.

Unique

Wood allows for a multitude of styles, colors, shapes, and sizes. As such, you can be sure to have a nightstand that stands out from all others. What’s more, wood can easily reflect any time period or aesthetic, adding charm, warmth, character, and functionality.

Want a unique nightstand that captures the allure of the Victorian era? There are plenty of wood models to choose from that do just that. Or maybe you prefer something more modern or chic. That’s not a problem for wood.

Furthermore, wooden nightstands allow for far more artistic expression from the manufacturer. Because of that, you can get as close as possible to achieving your vision for your bedroom.

Longevity

Wood is a durable material that will not easily break or crack. It is, therefore, a great choice for your bedroom, as it offers the best combination of both durability and simplicity in one single product.

You want your nightstand to stand the test of time and meet your needs for years to come. Wood is the perfect material to offer such benefits and more.

You Can Customize Your Nightstand

Finally, the customization of wood nightstands is a huge draw. You can add pretty much any design and color to your nightstand. This gives you a lot of freedom when picking out one for your bedroom.

You can even pick a design that reflects your personality far more accurately than metals or plastics. You might want a nightstand with a specific style or design, a checkered pattern, or something else entirely. Only wood offers these customizable traits.

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