Heat, cold and touch are crucial for experiencing the world around us and for our own survival.
How our bodies actually do it had been one of the great mysteries of biology.
Thomas Perlman, from the Nobel Prize Committee, said: “It was a very important and profound discovery.”
Prof. David Julius’s breakthrough, at the University of California, San Francisco, came from investigating the burning pain we feel from eating a hot chilli pepper.
He experimented with the source of a chilli’s heat – the chemical capsaicin.
He discovered the specific type of receptor (a part of our cells that detects the world around them) that responded to capsaicin.
Further tests showed the receptor was responding to heat and kicked in at “painful” temperatures. This is what happens, for example, if you burn your hand on a cup of coffee.
The discovery led to a flurry of other temperature-sensors being discovered. Prof. David Julius and Prof. Ardem Patapoutian found one that could detect cold.
Meanwhile, Prof. Patapoutian, working at the Scripps Research institute, was also poking cells in a dish.
Those experiments led to the discovery of a different type of receptor that was activated in response to mechanical force or touch.
When you walk along a beach and feel the sand under your feet – it is these receptors that are sending signals to the brain.
Prof. Patapoutian actually missed multiple attempts by the Nobel Prize committee to let him know he was a winner. His phone was set to do-not-disturb so the flurry of phone calls from Sweden (at 02:00 California time) went unanswered.
“They somehow got to my 94 year old father who lives in Los Angeles and he was able to call me and wake me up and tell me the news, which was ended up being a fantastic way to find out,” he said.
These touch and temperature sensors have since been shown to have a wide role in the body and in some diseases.
The first heat sensor (called TRPV1) is also involved in chronic pain and how our body regulates its core temperature. The touch receptor (PIEZ02) has multiple roles, from urinating to blood pressure.
The Prize Committee said their work had “allowed us to understand how heat, cold and mechanical force can initiate the nerve impulses that allow us to perceive and adapt to the world around us.”
It added: “This knowledge is being used to develop treatments for a wide range of disease conditions, including chronic pain.”
David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian will share the 10 million Swedish kronor prize.
Grabbing an opportunity to earn free money is not something new. People save in banks to earn interest and always go for sign-up bonuses. Similarly, the cryptocurrency sector has several options for people to earn. According to Dave Abner, who is the global development head at the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, the first 6 months of 2021 have seen a breakthrough in crypto innovations.
Currently, joint efforts are in place in Washington DC and all over the world to develop laws and regulations to increase safety for crypto investors, according to an article by NextAdvisor magazine.
Undoubtedly, cryptocurrency has become the trendiest way to make money these days. Advertisements about how to make money with crypto are all over the news and even tech and finance websites. Whichever page you open or whoever you talk to, whether friends or family, this is the topic. The attention on crypto is great, and because of this demand, obtaining digital currencies is expensive.
With this widespread interest comes many ways crypto investors can use to get free crypto. Unbelievable, right? Well, if you don’t believe it, try one of these six options to earn free crypto.
Crypto Credit Card Rewards
For the past few years, the crypto and fintech worlds have begun to merge. Every other month, we see an innovative startup that offers a debit or credit card that gives cashback rewards in the form of crypto. These crypto rewards are free. Isn’t that what we all want to hear?
With a more traditional bank credit card, you would get, for example, 2% back on purchases using a credit card. Crypto rewards work the same way; all you need is to use a crypto credit card to charge for your purchases, and they will give you cashback rewards in the form of a percentage. For instance, crypto. com gives 10% back on Airbnb. Furthermore, you may get other benefits including no annual fee and zero ATM withdrawal fees, according to the same website.
Sign-up Bonuses
Many crypto exchanges give sign-up bonuses for using their services. This is purely to entice potential clients and beat the tough competition. If this sounds appealing to you, it is advisable to pay attention to all the terms and conditions because sometimes you might be asked to give personal information to get the bonuses, which can be risky. Experts encourage caution because even fraudsters and insecure websites will attempt to lure you with very attractive sign-up bonuses.
According to Hustler Money Blog, almost every crypto platform has a sign-up bonus for new clients. Lolli has a $10 sign-up bonus on any coin, while crypto. com gives a $50 welcome offer. BlockFi offers $10 for joining, and Celsius has a $20 welcome offer in Bitcoin, to mention a few. New investors who are eager to join reputable platforms get the best sign-up bonuses.
Crypto Staking
Staking is the process through which different kinds of cryptocurrencies are put to work. The investors in staking are rewarded in return. Crypto investors stake applicable coins like ETH, Cosmos, and Tezos on the new ETH2 upgrade.
According to the article ‘’What Is Staking?’’ on coinbase.com, the crypto earns rewards for investors once the blockchain puts it to work through a process called proof of stake, which is a “consensus mechanism.” Simply put, this is a method for verification without the involvement of a payment processor or a bank as a broker.
The proof of work is only available with some cryptos such as Ethereum. However, there are many additional coins that qualify, so investors need to check if their coin qualifies for a staking program.
Saving Crypto to Earn Interest
Yield farming is becoming a lucrative option to earn cryptocurrency passively. From a crypto professional’s point of view, the crypto savings platforms are competing to give a high annual percentage yield (APY) to attract more investors. For instance, YouHodler gives up to 12% APY on Bitcoin, altcoins, and stablecoins, while BlockFi, Gemini, and Binance also have competitive rates as well.
Investors are required to open an account with a crypto savings platform of their choice, deposit the crypto they would like to save, and start earning immediately. As seen on different websites, the payouts are done differently. Some pay anytime, while others pay weekly or monthly. According to experts, these are some of the considerations to make on top of the APY rate.
Airdrop Projects
Airdrops offer a very attractive way to earn crypto. You will regularly hear about them on different cryptocurrency websites. So, how does it work? According to many airdrop websites, the method involves giving away the website’s native crypto to help in forming a community of users to boost awareness and adoption.
There are many ways to earn big money with airdrops according to the Airdrop Alert website. These methods include joining as many airdrop projects as possible, participating in holder airdrops, and doing airdrop referrals among others. Experts strongly believe that airdrop projects will grow in the coming years due to their effectiveness in promoting upcoming cryptos and increasing the availability of willing participants.
Receive Crypto Donations
Sometimes, it is good to be creative especially when you are dealing with cryptocurrency. Creating something like an innovative donation page or maybe a facility on your blog or website will entice people to donate a few USDs worth of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or USDC among other cryptos.
If you have a good reason such as creating helpful text and video content on crypto, big platforms can help you set up a donation checkout page. Coinbase, for instance, lets you create a donation checkout page that you can share with friends, relatives, clients, and crypto enthusiasts to receive donations.
Conclusion
Many crypto enthusiasts have earned good money through these crypto-earning opportunities, and undoubtedly, you can too. Everyone would like to get free cryptocurrency. It does not take much to get crypto using these methods; this is why they are being referred to as free. Use options like airdrops, credit card rewards, staking, and more, and watch as your cryptocurrency grows.
This year the world’s most renowned architecture award for skyscrapers, the Emporis Skyscraper Award, goes to One Barangaroo in Sydney. For the first time in the more than 20 year-long history of the awards, the prestigious trophy goes to Australia. One Barangaroo is a 890-foot-tall skyscraper, designed by British architect WilkinsonEyre and is the tallest building in Sydney, offering spectacular views of Sydney Harbor and the city’s iconic Opera House.
Photo credit: Sergius Kirsch (CoStar Group)
Like every year, the winner of the Emporis Skyscraper Award was selected by an international jury of architectural experts from over 300 skyscrapers that were completed in 2020 with a minimum height of 100 meters. For more than 20 years, the renowned award has been awarded by Emporis (www.emporis.com), the international provider of building data, and is an indispensable part of the international architecture scene.
According to the jury, the extravagant design of One Barangaroo’s exterior façade was the deciding factor for the building coming in at first place. It is inspired by natural shapes and resembles three petals rising slightly twisted into the sky. The magnificent tower stands on a four-story high podium, the outer walls of which are decorated with a mantle of marble. In addition to a casino, apartments and restaurants, the building also houses a luxury six-star hotel owned by the Crown Resort Group, Australia’s largest entertainment conglomerate and developer of One Barangaroo.
Second place was awarded to TELUS Sky in Calgary which has become the city’s third tallest building. The tower is named after its tenant “Telus Communications” a Canadian telecommunications company. TELUS Sky stands out because of its extraordinary structure and façade: it has a rectangular base and with rising height the floor plates gradually reduce in size, creating small terraces and balconies. The façade is illuminated at night by a public art LED lighting installation which has been designed by Canadian artist Douglas Coupland. The installation is also accompanied by a smartphone app with live information about the ongoing light performance.
Photo credit: Sergius Kirsch (CoStar Group)
In third place is One Vanderbilt in New York City. The skyscraper, designed by Kohn Pedersen and Fox, is located near Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and combines state-of-the-art office space with direct connections to one of the city’s largest transport hubs. The striking features of the tower are the four visually clearly separated modules which combined give the building an asymmetrical, distinctive shape, making it one of New York’s latest eye-catchers in the Manhattan skyline.
Photo credit: Sergius Kirsch (CoStar Group)
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, 2020 was a turbulent and challenging year that also had a strong impact on the construction industry; the total number of skyscrapers completed in 2020 fell by 20% in comparison to the previous year. Nevertheless, the top 10 buildings selected for the Emporis Skyscraper Awards clearly show that many impressive skyscrapers were completed despite the difficult conditions faced by owners, developers, construction companies and architects. In the coming year strong growth is expected to return which underlines the resilience of the construction industry and makes the jury very optimistic for the candidates of next year’s award.
Whether someone is suffering from fertility problems like low ovarian reserves, PCOS, or unexplained fertility, there isn’t always a clear-cut answer regarding suitable treatment options.
Though IVF and IUI cycles might work for many, these aren’t always successful avenues for every person hoping to conceive. Often, a person is left searching for different solutions to combat their infertility issues – for example, donor eggs are commonly considered as an alternative.
However, many people wonder how complicated using an egg donor will be. They ask themselves questions like, “Is affordable donor egg treatment a possibility?” or “How thoroughly are potential donors screened?”
Thankfully, there are positive answers to quandaries like these.
When someone uses frozen donor eggs to conceive, they’ll receive many benefits which might not be possible with other fertility solutions.
Are You a Suitable Candidate for Frozen Donor Eggs?
Before leaping at the opportunity to use a frozen egg donor to start your family, it’s worth considering if you’d make an ideal candidate for the process.
Luckily, there aren’t many who wouldn’t benefit from this treatment!
Not only is egg donation an optimal solution for those who haven’t been successful during traditional IVF or IUI cycles, but it can also be a helpful alternative for people battling conditions and symptoms like:
One reason prospective parents may lean towards using a fresh egg donor instead of frozen is wanting a personal connection with their donor. They believe they’ll have more trust if they can meet their donor in person.
On the contrary, there’s nothing to fear when using quality donor eggs from a respected frozen egg bank.
Before a potential donor can begin their egg collection process, they’ll undergo a comprehensive screening examination. This includes various tests like background checks, psychological evaluations, drug screenings, and general health tests.
During this evaluation stage, clinics also collect information regarding the donor’s educational, family, and professional background.
Many of the results obtained during this process are made available to hopeful parents. In this way, they have an abundance of facts to help them make their decision and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their potential donor underwent detailed screenings before their eggs were collected.
The Benefits of a Frozen Donor Egg Cycle
Some individuals might ask – “Why would I choose a frozen egg donor if a fresh donation is possible?”
There are several reasons why selecting frozen donor eggs instead of fresh is an advantageous fertility treatment decision. Some of these include:
Low Costs
Unfortunately, overcoming infertility often comes with high costs which aren’t usually covered by insurance.
In the argument between fresh vs. frozen donor eggs, many people appreciate how much less they’ll spend on a frozen egg donation cycle than a fresh cycle. In fact, they often save thousands of dollars in comparison.
Further, reputable donor egg companies like Donor Egg Bank USA also provide various financial payment plans to suit the unique needs of all families, including LGBTQIA+.
High Success Rates
In decades past, fresh donor eggs were the optimal choice regarding egg donation success rates. Today, the success rates of fresh and frozen donor eggs nearly equal each other.
While labs previously froze collected eggs using slow-freeze technology which often led to ice crystal formation and cellular damage, vitrified eggs are exposed to advanced cryoprotectants before freezing to protect them during storage and thawing.
Flexible Start Times
During a fresh donor egg cycle, the donor and recipient’s reproductive cycles must be synchronized to ensure correct timing for collection and transfer. Unfortunately, this can be a challenge which sometimes leads to cycle cancellations.
Alternatively, since frozen donor eggs have already been collected, prospective parents have more flexibility when choosing a cycle start date.
Creating New Opportunities to Build a Family with Egg Donation
When you dream of having a baby, but your faced with one negative pregnancy test after another, don’t lose hope. Even if the situation seems impossible, other options – like frozen egg donation – are always available.
No matter how hard things might seem, remember your answer could be right around the corner.
Molnupiravir, an experimental drug for severe Covid developed by Merck, cuts the risk of hospitalization or death by about half, interim clinical trial results suggest.
The tablet was given twice a day to patients recently diagnosed with the disease.
Merck said its results were so positive that outside monitors had asked to stop the trial early.
The drug-maker said it would apply for emergency use authorization for the drug in the US in the next two weeks.
Dr Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said the results were “very good news”, but urged caution until theFood and Drug Administration (FDA) had reviewed the data.
If authorized by regulators, molnupiravir would be the first oral antiviral medication for Covid-19.
Molnupiravir, which was originally developed to treat influenza, is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus, preventing it from spreading in the body.
An analysis of 775 patients in the study found:
7.3% of those given molnupiravir were hospitalized
that compares with 14.1% of patients who were given a placebo or dummy pill
there were no deaths in the molnupiravir group, but eight patients who were given a placebo in the trial later died of Covid
The data was published in a press release and has not yet been peer-reviewed.
Unlike most Covid vaccines, which target the spike protein on the outside of the virus, the treatment works by targeting an enzyme the virus uses to make copies of itself.
Merck said that should make it equally effective against new variants of the virus as it evolves in the future.
Trial results suggest molnupiravir needs to be taken early after symptoms develop to have an effect. An earlier study in patients who had already been hospitalized with severe Covid was halted after disappointing results.
Merck is the first company to report trial results of a pill to treat Covid, but other companies are working on similar treatments. Its US rival Pfizer has recently started late-stage trials of two different antiviral tablets, while Swiss company Roche is working on a similar medication.
The company has said it expects to produce 10 million courses of molnupiravir by the end of 2021. The US government has already agreed to buy $1.2 billion worth of the drug if it receives approval from the regulatory body, the FDA.
Merck said it is in ongoing discussion with other countries and has also agreed licensing deals with a number of generic manufacturers to supply the treatment to low and middle-income countries.
North Korea has claimed that it successfully tested a new hypersonic missile called Hwasong-8 on September 28.
According to state media, the new missile was one of the “five most important” new weapons systems laid out in its five-year military development plan.
The North Koreans called the missile a “strategic weapon”, which usually means it has nuclear capabilities.
The launch is another indication of Pyongyang’s growing weapons technology amid strict sanctions.
“The development of this weapons system…[has increased] the nation’s capabilities for self-defense in every way,” North Korean state news outlet KCNA said.
The latest launch also saw North Korea introducing missile fuel ampoule for the first time.
This is a technology that allows missiles to be pre-fuelled and then sent to the field in canisters. This means it could potentially stay launch-ready for years.
The launch also marked North Korea’s third missile test this month. It has already revealed a new type of cruise missile, as a well as a new train-launched ballistic missile system.
The event came as its North Korean envoy Kim Song defended his country’s right to develop weapons at the annual UN General Assembly in New York.
Kim Song said North Korea was “building up our national defense in order to defend ourselves and reliably safeguard the security and peace of the country”.
Hypersonic missiles are much faster and more agile than normal ones, making them much harder for missile defense systems to intercept.
North Korea joins a small pool of countries, including the US, Russia, China and India, in attempting to develop the weapons. In July, Russia announced that it had successfully launched a hypersonic missile which reached a speed of 8659.88km/h (5381mph) from a frigate in the White Sea.
KCNA said the test launch confirmed the “navigational control and stability of the missile”.
In this quick Q&A session the Head of Sales for Enness Global, Toby Johncox, talks to Jordan Williams of Artorius about some of the advice he gives High Net Worth individuals (HNW) in terms of understanding and managing their wealth.
How does someone begin to organise their financial affairs?
The key thing is actually to ascertain and understand what it is you’ve got within your estate. So first of all, understanding what assets you have, where they’re held, and who’s actually in charge of those assets. When we’re working with families who come to us and ask exactly that same question, the first thing that we do is understand what their asset position looks like today, and what their objectives are for the future. And we then build a consolidated report whereby all the information relating to their estate can be captured. And by having that understanding of what you’ve got today, one can then analyse and assess concentration of risk, look at whether the mandates that you’ve got within your investment portfolios are appropriate to your circumstances, whether they’re actually going to achieve your stated objectives. So, first and foremost, it’s about understanding what you’ve got and what you want to achieve.
There is no one size fits all solution for this. Every family is different, every family is going to have a different objective as to what they want to achieve with their wealth. And so certainly, when families come to us, it’s our role to probe, in a nice way, to understand what it is they’re trying to achieve with their wealth, and understanding whether the measures they’ve got in place, are appropriate. Absolutely key to that is working with their existing advisors. And what we find is that with our involvement we work in collaboration and bring the team of advisors together. Because, so often, someone might have their tax advisor, their accountant, lawyer, and trusted mortgage brokers, but very rarely do they talk to each other. And so they have separate conversations with each of these advisors. But the key about how to start and organise their affairs, it’s about bringing all their advisors together to help devise a plan for the future.
What should I be investing in and where should I invest?
There is no one size fits all and everyone is different. What might be right and suitable for one client is not going to be right and suitable for another. So it’s about understanding what it is the client is trying to achieve, what they’re worth, what their investment horizon and what their risk profile is, what their return objectives are. Once we’ve ascertained that, then we can actually go about devising what the right investment strategy is.
What is the best way to monitor your wealth?
There are certainly the benefits that families have derived from having consolidated reporting across their affairs. Typically wealthy families will get portfolio evaluations and statements from their banks and other traditional wealth managers. But they’re in isolation, they’re just in relation to that particular relationship. But by having a consolidated report, that brings in all their different investment portfolios, and not just investment assets, but their property holdings and their holdings in yachts, and jets, and art and fine wine, and their depositions and other liabilities. Bringing all of that together into a consolidated report is a great way of actually understanding what the client’s overall wealth is on a month-to-month or quarter-to-quarter basis:
understanding their movements
understanding how different investments are performing
how investments are performing according to specific benchmarks that have been created
understanding the fees that the clients are paying
Having that oversight over your wealth leads to better decision making. And makes other key family members more informed about their wealth position.
There’s the monitoring side, which is having everything in one place in an easy-to-read format. But equally, taking the time to monitor. Ultra high net worth global citizens don’t have the time to go through bank statements, look through portfolios even if their different advisors are sharing those monthly with them. So it’s critical to have someone that can look after everything in one place.
It’s about optimising the positions that you have. And by identifying what savings can be made, identifying an investment strategy that might work better for you. So are you in the right investment strategy for what you’re trying to achieve. And by moving into something that’s more appropriate, hopefully, will enhance returns. So, again, you can’t do that if you’re not looking at things as a whole. If you’re doing it piecemeal it’s not going to be as effective.
What is the situation regarding London property?
It’s a really interesting time to buy real estate, but it’s still about buying the right property, the right real estate. The London residential market still has huge appeal to many. London still is, obviously, a global city, which has many attractions, and we’re still seeing people moving to the UK to send their kids to school here, wanting to start up businesses here. And I think the London property market has shown over many, many years to be resilient.
There have been undoubted challenges to the market, and numerous tax changes that have taken place; uncertainty over Brexit, uncertainty over changing government risk, but it has shown to be resilient. But it all goes back to buying quality. And if you’re buying the right property in the right location, and you can understand what the correct price is, there are still opportunities out there. I think things are changing in terms of what people want, undoubtedly people are going to want more outside space or access to local parks and other amenities. But I definitely think there are opportunities out there. And there are places in London which are still incredibly popular whereas some of the areas which had significant new build, they’re shown to be less popular now.
There are still very good value mortgage rates available to international clients, the dollar versus the pound still remains a good exchange so that makes it a really interesting time for people to buy real estate. But it’s buying quality that’s going to see good appreciation in the longer term.
Germany’s center-left Social Democrats (SPD) have won the federal election over outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party.
SPD leader Olaf Scholz said he had a clear mandate to form a government, while his conservative rival Armin Laschet remains determined to fight on.
The two parties have governed together for years.
However, Olaf Scholz says it is time for a new coalition with the Greens and liberals.
Preliminary results gave SPD a narrow election win over the conservatives who suffered their worst-ever performance.
The Greens and pro-business FDP attracted the most support from the under-30s, in an election dominated by climate change and by differing proposals on how to tackle it. The Greens made history with almost 15% of the vote, even though it was well short of their ambitions.
It was the tightest race in years, bringing an end to the post-war domination of the two big parties – Olaf Scholz’s SPD and his rival’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Exit polls predicted a dead heat, but this election was unpredictable from the start, and the result was never going to be the end of the story. For one thing, the outgoing chancellor is going nowhere until the coalition is formed – and that may have to wait until Christmas.
The main parties want a new government in place by the time Germany takes over the leadership of the G7 group of nations in January.
The next chancellor’s task is to lead Europe’s foremost economy over the next four years, with climate change at the top of voters’ agenda.
Olaf Scholz’s SPD supporters greeted him in raptures, but it was only later when his party edged into the lead that he told a TV audience the voters had given him the job of forming a “good, pragmatic government for Germany”.
His conservative rival has dug in, arguing it was about forging a coalition, not about getting “an arithmetic majority”. Winner doesn’t take all, in other words.
CDU General Secretary Paul Ziemiak did not gloss over the defeat but said that was not the point: “In the end the question is going to be can you create a genuine project for the future?”
“Two maybe-chancellors and two kingmakers” – was one of the headlines summing up Sunday night’s rather scrappy result, but that is what it looked like.
Because it’s not just the Social Democrat and conservative leaders fighting for power. The two kingmakers are open to offers and planning to talk to each other to explore common ground.
Together the liberals and the Greens make up over quarter of the vote and would carry both of the big parties over the line.
They may be more popular with younger voters than any other parties, but it would take some skill to bring them under the same roof.
On September 27, a Greens spokesman said it was no big secret that they were not close to the liberals.
Greens leader Annalena Baerbock wants to loosen Germany’s debt brake that stops a big jump in public debt. FDP leader Christian Lindner has little time for her party’s “ideas of tax hikes, or softening the debt brake”.
So of all the possible coalitions, the Greens and the liberals feature in the two that are most likely to form.
One is the so-called traffic-light coalition, made up of the parties’ colors – red (SPD), yellow (FDP) and the Greens – or there’s the Jamaica alternative, black (CDU), yellow (FDP) and the Greens.
It is the first time that Germany is facing a three-way coalition, but this country has entered a new political era and the talking is yet to begin.
Beyond the four mainstream parties, it was a bad night for the radical left and a patchy night for the far right.
Left-wing Die Linke fell below the 5% threshold required to get into parliament but survived because it secured three direct mandates.
Although the far-right AfD’s share of the vote appears to have slipped nationally, it’s set be the largest party in the eastern states of Saxony and Thuringia.
With social events back on the calendar, it’s a good time to review host and hostess gift etiquette. It’s best practice to provide a thank you gift when someone hosts you for dinner or an event to show your appreciation for their effort and consideration.
Here are some simple thank you gifts to show gratitude to your gracious host.
A Bouquet of Flowers
A bouquet of flowers is a traditional, affordable thank you gift that adequately conveys your gratitude for being invited to an event. Better yet, it’s the perfect last-minute gift if you’re grabbing something on the way. If you show up without a gift, you can always use a flower delivery service to deliver the bouquet with a gracious note the day after the event.
Shades of yellow, pink, coral, and peach are the best shades for thank you flowers as they symbolize friendship and gratitude. However, if you know your host well or perceive their floral preferences, something more customized will be greatly appreciated.
Cooking Oils
Culinary offerings are a trusted go-to for host gifts, especially for dinner parties and holidays. Gourmet cooking oils are a fabulous culinary gift that’s unique and flavorful. There are endless cooking oil blends online as well as many DIY elevated cooking oil options you can try at home.
If you’re looking for something to pair with your gift of cooking oils, consider a gourmet vinegar option and a loaf of fresh-baked French bread.
Delicious Cookies
Cookies and candies are another delicious option for a host or hostess gift. Be sure to let your host know whether they’re meant to be shared or enjoyed in private.
While Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies are always a favorite, you can elevate this gift by purchasing cookies from a gourmet bakery. Macarons are the latest trend in delectable host gifts and look beautiful when wrapped and presented.
Seasonal Candles
Candles are another simple yet elegant host gift that’s easy to procure as a last-minute option. If you attend many events, you can even stock up on some nice candles for those spontaneous dinner parties and gatherings.
If you have time to plan, choose a seasonal or personalized candle for a more meaningful approach. Homesick candles are a unique take on the candle-making business, with scents representing different parts of the world. For example, the Iowa candle smells like vanilla, bourbon, cream, and praline, while New York City smells like citrus, jasmine, bergamot, and concrete.
Handmade Soap and Lotion
As one tends to wash their hands frequently while making and preparing a meal, offering those hands some TLC makes for a great host or hostess gift. Offer your host some luxurious homemade soaps and hand lotion from a local maker. Opt for something with rejuvenating ingredients, like shea butter for moisture.
If you’re purchasing lotion, opt for something all-natural and free of artificial fragrances. Cheap commercial hand lotions tend to have additives that irritate sensitive skin.
Homemade Preserves
Finally, take a traditional, charming approach by giving the gift of homemade preserves: jams, jellies, pickles, honey, etc. Keep in mind that these don’t have to be made in your home; you can purchase them from a local farmers market.
Preserves are a nice edible offering that pairs well with a variety of dishes. Jellies and jams could be used for baked goods, toast, charcuterie boards, and marinades. Pickles also work well on a deli platter, charcuterie board, or with a traditional roast dinner.
Host gifts are meant to be subtle and discreet as a simple thank you for the invitation. These host and hostess gifts are simple but practical and elegant, and will convey your gratitude without detracting attention from the event.
In the modern world, many people resort to investing to ensure a comfortable future for themselves without worries about income. In difficult financial situations, an alternative solution may also be loans, such as those from Payday Depot.
Nevertheless, investments are salvation in case of unforeseen circumstances, as they give passive income. However, there is a huge number of ways to invest today. How can a novice find a suitable one? What can a specialist do to bring their income from investments to a new level? Read on to find out!
Top-5 Ways of Investment
The success of an investment portfolio depends on the degree of its diversification. That is why it is so important to balance your portfolio and correctly allocate assets to minimize risks. Here are some relatively safe investment options for you to consider.
High Yield Savings Accounts
This investment type gives an income approximately 20 times greater than a regular savings account. It is considered the safest since banks with such offers are protected by the FDIC. The risk of such investments is almost zero – you can lose only if the inflation percentage is higher than the percentage of the account rate.
Government Bond Funds
It is the most legal and the least risky investment option since it is under the total influence of internal state movements. GBFs provide the investors with more income than high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit, yet are subject to the risks of inflation and rate fluctuations.
Short-Term Corporate Bond Funds
In many cases, when it comes to private enterprises, we can talk about big money circulating there. A lot of companies issue securities, the income for which sometimes exceeds the benefits from those of state-owned companies. However, there is also a greater risk associated with the former. All the factors that threaten a company may affect the investors’ capital. Therefore, this option requires more experience, but if successful, it shall bring more income.
Dividend Funds
As practice shows, with dividend stocks, you can make both long-term and short-term profits. The income from dividends is associated with a somewhat greater risk since such investments require an understanding of the organizations’ activities and mission. Therefore, this investment method is suitable for more experienced investors.
Nasdaq-100 Index Funds
Investments in index funds provide access to the most technologically advanced companies globally. Therefore, with investments in this field, your portfolio is automatically diversified. Nasdaq-100 represents the top organizations that have proven themselves to be the most successful on the market. This is a great option for experienced investors who can analyze the market masterfully.
Start Diversifying Your Portfolio for High Returns
In this article, we have highlighted the main areas of secure investments suitable for both novice and experienced investors. The main success criteria of an investment portfolio is a high degree of diversification, so go ahead and start improving yours now!
Painting a small boat is relatively easy. But of course, it goes without saying that it depends on your knowledge and skill. You can always hire a skilled person trained in painting boats if you want a professional finish.
Painting the boat deck is part of boat maintenance, which will help your boat look fresh and new. A new coat of paint also helps in protecting the boat from the elements. However, if you are ready to tackle painting your boat yourself, it is essential to know what type of paint for your boat deck you should use.
Boats are made from different materials. This time, we’ll discuss how to paint the deck of a fiberglass boat.
Steps in painting a deck
If you have all the materials and your safety gear ready, here are the steps.
Clean, rinse and dry the boat
You have to ensure that the deck is clean and dry. Move your boat to a place with shade, but you can still use the sunshine and breeze to your advantage. Wash the deck and use the cleaning material you usually use. Rinse the deck with fresh water, ensuring that no debris has fallen on the deck. Dry it as much as you can and leave it for a time to air dry.
Another thing to note here is that if the deck still has a layer of gel coat, you should remove it first. Then, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on safely removing gel coat finish off the boat deck.
2. Remove the boat fixtures you will not paint.
Remove the fixtures on deck that you will not paint so you can do the job easier. For non-removable fixtures, wrap them in painter’s tape for their protection. Likewise, mask the areas that you will not paint. Take your time in this step to ensure that you protect the areas that will not receive paint. Moreover, ensure that the tape properly adheres.
3. Paint the deck
With the appropriate paint you chose, apply the primer. Allow it to dry before applying the paint in the recommended layers. Ensure that you apply the paint evenly in multiple thin coats. Allow the paint to dry between each coat, and finish it off with the recommended topcoat.
4. Remove the tape
When the paint is almost dry, remove the tape and inspect the deck. Make sure that the areas around the movable and non-removable features are cleanly painted. Do some touch-up jobs when necessary. Next, allow the paint to air dry completely. It may take a few days before the paint properly dries, depending on the weather condition. Reattach the items that you removed when the paint is dry. While waiting for the deck paint to dry, see that no debris will fall on the deck and adhere to the paint.
Read and follow the paint manufacturer’s instructions carefully so that you can achieve the professional finish you want to achieve. Moreover, find out which type of paint is the most suitable for your fiberglass boat deck.
Guess what? You are the only perfect driver. Admit it; you have thought this before. Seriously though, no matter how vigilant you are, accidents happen.
Car accidents are scary no matter who’s at fault. There is an adrenaline rush, chaos, and sometimes you know what happened and sometimes you don’t. Your first instinct may be to jump out of your vehicle to find out what happened. Don’t do this.
Before getting to what to do in case of an accident, let’s talk about exactly what insurance is.
Basically, a car insurance policy protects you from paying for any damage or injuries if there is a car accident. Depending on the type of car insurance you have, it may cover damage to your car as well. Car crashes aren’t the only type of accidents that insurance covers. They also cover other things, such as hitting a stationary object like a tree, pole, or even your garage. Not to mention any animals that you aren’t able to avoid, like a deer.
Now, let’s get into what you really want to know. These steps work no matter who is at fault or even if you were involved in a hit and run. If you follow the steps, below you’ll discover filling out your paperwork is much easier when you know what to do if you’re in a car accident.
1. Check Yourself And Passengers For Injuries
Immediately check yourself and anyone that’s in the car for injuries. If anyone experiences neck or back pain, make sure they don’t move until help arrives. The adrenaline experienced in a car accident dulls your pain, and you may not realize the extent of the injury.
2. Check Your Surroundings & Get Out Of The Way Of Traffic
If there weren’t any injuries, check your surroundings and then move to safety. Check for the smell of gas and determine if you need to do anything to ensure everyone is safe. If you are in the way of traffic you need to move your car as long as there are no injuries.
While moving your vehicle, make sure you do it slowly and do your best to be calm. This is harder than you may think. Anyone who has been in an accident knows you can easily pull forward instead of reversing. These types of mistakes are common when you are in a high-stress situation. So really pay attention to what you’re doing to prevent further damage to your vehicle or the other party’s car.
3. Call The Police & Make A Report
No matter how minor the accident is, you need to call the police. If you are planning to file a claim with your insurance, a police report is mandatory. There are areas where police will not come out to a minor accident, especially in large cities.
When or if the police come out, you want to get their name, badge number, and contact information. You’ll also need to get a copy of the police report. Many places are moving their records online, and you’ll have to get your info off the internet. This will save time because if you don’t get it, your insurance company will have to.
4. Gather Information & Take Pictures
Especially if the police don’t show up, you’ll want to gather the other party’s information. You’ll need information such as their name, address, phone number, insurance information, and if there are any witnesses, you’ll need theirs too. As a side note, avoid discussing who’s at fault; stick to the facts.
If you have your cell phone with you, you need to take pictures of the vehicles and any injuries you or your passengers may have. There are times you may not be able to take the photos at the time of the accident. If not, then take them as soon as you can.
5. Seek Treatment & Notify Your Insurance Company
You must tell first responders about any pain you are experiencing after the accident and seek medical treatment immediately. You may not feel pain or think your injuries are minor but then experience pain a few days later. Having proper documentation will help prove the injury occurred due to the accident. If you experience new or worsening pain, you’ll want to immediately schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Sometimes people believe it is easier to negotiate a cash settlement with the other driver to avoid getting the insurance companies involved. This is a bad idea; You are liable for any damages above the cash settlement if you don’t contact your insurance company. Many states have a time limit on how long you can wait to file a claim, so it’s essential to do it immediately.
Most people think of car insurance as that useless bill you have to pay monthly… until you actually need it. You never know when or if an accident will happen, so make sure you have car insurance that best suits your needs and at a fair price. If you live in a no-fault state and don’t have car insurance, you can end up in a whole mess of trouble, especially with the law.
The steps listed above may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people get lost in the heat of the moment. The truth is, many people act without thinking, and they instantly want to confront the other driver. Confrontation is something you want to avoid. Take the time to assess and breathe before doing anything foolish.
It’s no secret that Canada has a lot of ways to get Canadian Permanent Residency (PR), over 100 immigration and visa options, in fact.
But what are some of the quickest ways to get Canadian PR status?
Did you know that you could become a permanent resident in a year or less? And believe it or not, there’s actually more than one way to get there!
Top 3 Pathways to Permanent Residency in Canada
Express Entry
The Express Entry system is probably one of the most popular ways to immigrate to Canada. It manages three immigration programs, and each one could get you Canadian PR status in as little as six months to a year. These three programs are:
Federal Skilled Worker Program – for highly-skilled workers like doctors, lawyers, architects, and dentists.
Federal Trade Worker Program – for skilled and experienced trade workers like long-haul truck drivers, industrial butchers, and electricians.
Canada Experience Class – for highly-skilled workers with at least one year of Canadian work experience
First, you will need to create an Express Entry profile containing information about your age, work experience, education, language skills, and ability to settle in Canada. Your profile will then enter a draw pool, and, if successful, you will be invited to apply for permanent residency.
For more information about Canada’s Express Entry system and how to apply, visit this page.
2. British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
The British Columbia PNP (or BC PNP) offers one of the fastest visa application processing times of all the immigration programs in Canada. As a matter of fact, it’s faster than the Express Entry system, with processing times of just two to three months!
The BC PNP has programs that specifically help tech and healthcare workers, as well as entrepreneurs and graduates, immigrate to Canada. And to top it off, you can also apply through an Express Entry-linked stream as long as you have a valid Express Entry profile.
3. Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is yet another way to get Canada PR status in less than a year. The SINP also has an Express Entry-linked program, but the programs under its Work Experience category may get you PR status quicker. This is provided you meet the requirements and have at least six month’s work experience in Saskatchewan.
Qualifying programs include:
Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit Program
Semi-skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit Program
Healthcare Professionals Program
Hospitality Sector Project
Long-Haul Truck Driver Project
Graduates may also be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency under the SINP. To do so, they must have at least six month’s work experience in the province and meet the other requirements of the program.
Canada Permanent Residency Application
Most people don’t know that applying for Canadian permanent residency is actually a two-part process.
Part 1: Apply for an ITA
Most immigration programs that offer Canada PR status will either require that you:
Request an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency or
Submit a Notice of Interest to a specific province or territory
This can be done through any of the Express Entry programs as well as any of the 11 PNP categories.
Part 2: Apply for PR Status
Once you have applied for an ITA and are successful, you will be invited to start the Canada permanent residency application. You will have 60 days to submit your application. Permanent residency processing times would usually be around six months but could take longer due to the effects of COVID-19.
Taking the First Step
The first step to a successful application is to know which programs or visas you qualify for. This can either be done using the government eligibility tool, which is free, or by getting help from a paid registered representative. Both ways could get you to Canada, but there is a big difference between the two.
So, what’s the difference?
Using a paid service means that you can rest easy knowing that you’ll get guidance and support throughout the entire application process on over 100 options to help you make the best choice for yourself and your loved ones.
Using a free tool or getting a free assessment is great, but the results are often very general and not tailored to your specific needs or situation. Yes, you may save a few extra dollars, but is it really worth it to risk your chances to start a new life in Canada?
For more information on how to get Canada PR status in under a year, or to learn more about the application process, visit CanadianVisa.org.
The Crown and Ted Lasso were the big winners at this year’s Emmy Awards.
The prizes won by the Netflix’s royal drama included best drama series and four acting wins – for Gillian Anderson, Olivia Colman, Josh O’Connor and Tobias Menzies.
The Crown‘s victory in the best drama series category is not the first time a streaming service has won the top prize at the Emmys, but it does mark the first victory for Netflix.
Gillian Anderson won for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, Tobias Menzies for the Duke of Edinburgh, and Josh O’Connor for Prince Charles.
Many of this year’s nominated actors from The Crown left the show after its most recent series, including Emerald Fennell, who played the Duchess of Cornwall, and Olivia Colman, who will be replaced as the Queen in the forthcoming fifth season by Imelda Staunton.
The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards took place in Los Angeles on September 19 and saw most nominees attending in person.
Michaela Coel won outstanding writing for a limited series for her consent drama I May Destroy You.
The British writer and actress was one of the few non-white stars to score a win at the awards, which was criticised online for its lack of diversity.
While many black actors were nominated, when it came to the ceremony itself, white performers took home all 12 acting awards across the comedy, drama and limited series categories.
In contrast, three black stars were among the four winning guest actors at last weekend’s Creative Arts Emmys, a prelude to the main event – namely Saturday Night Live hosts Dave Chappelle and Maya Rudolph, and Lovecraft Country‘s Courtney B Vance.
The host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul Charles, however, did manage to become the most-awarded black artist in Emmy history, bagging his 11th award for the outstanding competition program.
If MJ Rodriguez from drag ball drama Pose had beaten Olivia Colman to the lead actress award, she would have become the first transgender performer to win in a lead acting category.
Kate Winslet and Ewan McGregor were named best limited series actress and actor for Mare of Easttown and Halston respectively.
Jason Sudeikis was named best lead comedy actor for his performance in Ted Lasso, while his British co-stars Hannah Waddingham and Brett Goldstein won best supporting actress and actor.
Jean Smart was named best lead actress in a comedy series for her performance in Hacks.
As well as taking the top drama prize of the night, The Crown‘s Peter Morgan and Jessica Hobbs also won for writing and directing respectively.
British comic John Oliver, host of late night show Last Week Tonight, continued his Emmy streak when his show picked up its sixth straight win in the outstanding variety talk series category.
The final award of the night, outstanding limited or anthology series, went to Netflix’s chess drama The Queen’s Gambit.
In a highly competitive category, The Queen’s Gambit won ahead of I May Destroy You, Mare Of Easttown, The Underground Railroad and WandaVision.
Netflix’s combined total of 44 wins this year meant it towered above its nearest competitor – HBO and its HBO Max streaming service with 19.
That makes this year the first time Netflix had won more Emmys than HBO, which has dominated the ceremony for years. Disney+ was third on 14, while Apple TV won 10.
This year’s In Memoriam section included tributes to stars including Larry King, Michael Apted, Alex Trebek, Helen McCrory, Jessica Walter, Cicely Tyson and Michael K Williams.
The ceremony, hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, was held after a year of increased TV viewing prompted by lockdown restrictions around the world.
The United States has the highest number of guns and gun owners per capita than any other country, nearly 393 million guns in all. With all of the guns in the U.S., it’s important to practice gun safety and safe storage at home, in the car, or on your person. Here are some tips for gun safety.
Where Can I Practice?
One of the most frequent places where gun emergencies happen is in backyards. In most areas of the United States, you cannot practice shooting in your backyard. In fact, negligent security shooting lawyers note that in many areas, you cannot shoot within 250 yards of another building, such as a home. Be sure that you practice good gun safety by practicing at an indoor or outdoor shooting range. If you own a lot of land, you can practice shooting there. Look at your local and state laws before you load up to practice.
Safety Around Guns at Home
The first rule of gun safety at home is to treat every gun as if it is loaded with bullets. That way, you will always be on guard and handle guns carefully.
If you have small children, never allow them to play with a gun. You might want to begin teaching them about gun safety and how to properly handle guns. Also, with small children, you may want to get gun locks or a gun safe to protect your guns when you are not at home. This is especially important with small children because they are constantly exploring. While some gun locks make it difficult to get to your gun when you need it, the latest gun locks use fingerprints and open quickly.
While you’re teaching your children or other family members about gun safety, be sure that you teach them about pointing a gun. Most gun experts tell you to never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. If you are cleaning your gun, be sure that you aren’t pointing at anything except the floor.
Safety In Your Car
Many states allow you to keep a gun in the car. If you have a gun in the car, one of the first rules you need to keep in mind is where to store it. While many people place guns under the driver’s seat or even in the storage area between seats, the safest place to store your gun in the car is in a locking glove compartment. Like your home, you may want to apply a gun lock to the gun if you decide to keep it in your car.
If you happen to be pulled over for speeding or another traffic offense, you’ll want to tell the police officer where your gun is. Depending on the officer, they may want you to take the gun out, or leave it where it is stored. Another option for gun storage in vehicles is a locking gun case. Locking gun cases are available for nearly every type of gun, so be sure and look at your local gun store. These gun cases ensure that children or pets aren’t able to access your gun while you’re driving or sitting in a drive-thru.
One other tip for gun safety in the car. If the only time you have a gun in the car is when you are traveling from place to place after hunting or practice, unload your gun before you get into the car. If you make it a habit to unload your gun before you step into your car, you’ll be less likely to forget and enter your car with a loaded gun.
Personal Gun Safety
What if you carry a gun with you at all times? Here are some tips for personal gun safety. First, you need to get a holster, a special purse, or a briefcase that contains an area for guns. These special containers will keep your gun safe while allowing you to access it easily. Also, once you remove the gun from a container, keep your finger off the trigger and muzzle pointed towards the ground to avoid any type of accidental shooting. Be aware when handling the gun what is in front of you and what is behind you, to avoid accidents.
No matter whether you keep guns at home, in your car, or you carry them on your person, learning gun safety will prevent a lot of accidents. No responsible gun owner wants to shoot someone unless it is absolutely necessary. By keeping these tips in mind, you or someone you love are far less likely to be the victim of a gun accident.
Local governments are tasked with finding, evaluating, and solving problems within their communities. Largely, these problems require outside grants from state or federal government, and sometimes private organizations, to address the problems in a timely and effective manner.
Local governments are also sometimes grantors as well, offering funds to organizations within the community to address problems that impact everyone. Managing both kinds of grants is a uniquely complex process that requires a great deal of attention and organization.
Here is how local governments manage their grants and a few ways that they could potentially improve their process.
1. Trust
Whether awarding or being awarded a grant to address issues within their municipality, governments are obligated to prioritize compliance when it comes to the allocation of grant funds.
That means that those put in charge of the funds must embody a great deal of trust, transparency, and accountability when it comes to managing and reporting the use of funds. They need to be able to track the flow of grant money, while also being experts in the terms and conditions of the grant to avoid violations.
2. Observation
Observing the date and implementation of the grant is largely related to the above, but the important difference in this discussion is the idea of investing in management tools, like a grants management system that can streamline the process of monitoring grant revenue and providing immediate, accessible information.
Grant management software is not only efficient and saves time, but allows for an ideal level of transparency, in that different team members have access to the same information and can coordinate in a synchronous way.
3. Budgeting
If the local government was the grantor of the grant in question, chances whoever received the grant included a structured budget plan within their application materials. If the local government was the grantee, then they provided a budgetary plan to the grantor as well.
This budget becomes a contract between the two parties, and adherence to its structure and stipulations is crucial to the management process.
4. Reporting
A team of people will be assigned and responsible for the ins and outs of managing the grant, and this requires regular meetings to discuss the implementation and management of the funds.
Once again, transparency and specificity are crucial elements of addressing the status of the grant.
5. Consistency
Local governments receive grants for harrowing circumstances, often related to disaster and emergency management after destructive weather or things like chemical leaks and poor water quality that negatively impact residents on a large scale. Because these events happen more often than we would like them to, grants are not as uncommon as one might think, given that it takes a large sum of money to address disaster relief on the local level.
Consistency comes into play because disorganization and mismanagement of grant funds put regions at risk for losing additional funding, or being subject to additional oversight at the state or federal level that results in a headache for local officials who know their towns and constituents better. Being consistent with the management of grants is crucial to the assurance of aid in the future for local cities and towns.
The Citi Custom Card, by an affiliated company, is a great rewards card for customers with excellent to good credit. Its unique feature is it enables you to earn 5% cash back on your top eligible shopping category each billing year and 1% cash back on all other shopping purchases made in that category. This means you can earn cash back on every single purchase you make in the categories Citi recommends, which usually includes airline tickets, hotel stays, groceries, gas, and entertainment expenses. And since Citi offers their own credit card application, you do not have to pay any additional fees to apply. Once approved, you will receive your cash rewards immediately. Here are Citi custom card benefits that help you in many matters.
Several Cash-Back Categories:
First, there are several special cash back categories that you can choose from such as: business gifts, travel, leisure, department store, automotive, dining, airline tickets, car rentals/spare rentals and home purchases among others. You can use your credit card to pay for these categories straight off your card without paying any processing or interest fees. With this, you will be able to start earning rewards immediately! Once you make your first purchase, you will also be given a special pre-paid rebate check with your chosen category.
Citi’s Cash Card Program Is Very Flexible:
This means you can determine which purchases you want to make using your credit card. If you are buying a major item that requires a membership such as airline tickets, a hotel stay, a car rental or leisure trip, Citi allows you to choose a membership fee payment plan that fits your needs. In most cases, you can use your Citi credit card and get instant cash back up to $200! That means if you shop at least two online merchants you will be able to receive instant cash back.
Billing Cycle:
Citi’s rewards card is also offered with a 10-day billing cycle. That means you can make five purchases each of the five available billing cycles using your credit card. This can easily save you hundreds of dollars in the same amount of time it would take you to accumulate that amount of cash on your actual credit card. Citi’s rewards card is also good for opening new accounts!
Great Incentives:
Citi’s rewards program has a great incentives. And it has some other benefits as well. Citi offers an attractive cash back rate that will help you save money each month. Citi will match your eligible purchases up to a certain amount depending on the type of card you have. When you apply for your Citi cash card and make your first purchase, Citi will instantly credit your account with that amount and up to double that amount in bonus points.
Citi cash back card will help you save money with ease. But before you apply, make sure you know what you want. Do you need a card to get cash back rebates? Are you looking for a card with airline miles program? Or would you like a card that gives you cash back? Once you know what you want, you will be able to search for the right one.
A newly declassified document that looks into connections between Saudi citizens in the US and two of the 9/11 attackers has been released by the FBI.
Relatives of victims have long urged the release of the files, arguing Saudi officials had advance knowledge but did not try to stop the attacks.
However, the document provides no evidence that the Saudi government was linked to the 9/11 plot.
Fifteen of the 19 plane hijackers were Saudi nationals.
Ahead of the declassification, the Saudi embassy in Washington welcomed the release and once again denied any link between the kingdom and the hijackers, describing such claims as “false and malicious”.
The 16-page FBI document was declassified on the 20th anniversary of the deadliest terror attacks on US soil – almost 3,000 people were killed after four planes were hijacked – and is the first of several expected to be released.
Some families of the victims had put pressure on President Joe Biden to declassify the documents, saying he should not attend this year’s commemoration ceremonies in New York if he was not prepared to release them.
The FBI document is still heavily redacted. It is based on interviews with a source whose identity is classified (listed as PII) and outlines contacts between a number of Saudi nationals and two of the hijackers, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Midhar.
The hijackers posed as students to enter the US in 2000. The FBI memo says they then received significant logistical support from Omar al-Bayoumi, who witnesses said was a frequent visitor to the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles despite his official status at the time as a student.
Omar al-Bayoumi, the source tells the FBI, had “very high status” at the consulate.
“Bayoumi’s assistance to Hamzi and Midha included translation, travel, lodging and financing,” the memo said.
The FBI document also says there were links between the two hijackers and Fahad al-Thumairy, a conservative imam at the King Fahad Mosque in Los Angeles. He was described by sources as “having extremist beliefs”.
Both Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al- Thumairy left the US weeks before the 9/11 attacks, according to the AP.
The agency also quoted Jim Kreindler, a lawyer for the relatives of 9/11 victims, as saying that the released document did “validate the arguments we have made in the litigation regarding the Saudi government’s responsibility for the 9/11 attacks”.
Last month, a lawsuit launched by relatives saw several top former Saudi officials questioned under oath.
The administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump all declined to declassify the documents, citing national security concerns.
Last week, President Biden last ordered a review of investigative documents, telling officials to release what they could over the next six months.
There has long been speculation of official Saudi links to the plot, given the number of Saudi nationals involved and al-Qaeda leaders Osama Bin Laden’s Saudi background.
However, the 9/11 commission report found no evidence to implicate the Saudi government or senior officials.
The US and Saudi Arabia have long been allies, although the relationship has at times been difficult.
Donald Trump strengthened ties but Joe Biden called Saudi Arabia “a pariah” for its part in the gruesome murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.
Relatives of people who died on 9/11 have read out victims’ names, as America marks 20 years since the deadliest terror attacks on its soil.
Many struggled to hold back tears at the ceremony held at Ground Zero, the site of the Twin Towers destroyed in the attacks by al-Qaeda militants.
A minute’s silence was held at the exact time each hijacked plane crashed.
George W. Bush, who was the president at the time, gave a speech in Pennsylvania, where one of the planes crashed into a field after passengers overpowered the hijackers.
The official memorial started with a minute’s silence at 08:46 – the exact moment the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center in 2001.
All morning, roses continued to be placed beside the names of the 2,977 victims etched into the Ground Zero memorial.
There were five more moments of silence over the next few hours – marking the time when the second plane crashed into the South Tower, when a third jet struck the Pentagon just outside Washington DC, when the fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania, and finally when each tower collapsed.
The tributes will continue into the night, when two beams of light will shine 4 miles into the sky where the towers stood.
With thousands of names to read out, the list took hours to get through.
At the memorial in New York, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were joined by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.
President Biden traveled to all three attack sites on September 11 – New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In a video released on the eve of the anniversary, he paid tribute to the victims.
“No matter how much time has passed, these commemorations bring everything painfully back as if you just got the news a few seconds ago,” the president said.
VP Kamala Harris spoke in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after George W. Bush.
“We must challenge ourselves to look back, to remember, for the sake of our children… and for that reason, we must also look forward,” she said.
In the morning, former President Donald Trump released a video statement, praising first responders – and adding it was a “sad time for the way our war on those that did such harm to our country ended last week” – referring to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
However, Donald Trump planned to take part in something quite different later in the day – providing commentary for a boxing match in Florida with his eldest son, Donald Jr.
Other ceremonies included a vigil at the New York Fire Department’s memorial wall – a 56-foot bronze wall that honors the 343 firefighters who died on the day of the attacks.
In total, 441 first responders were killed, the largest loss of emergency personnel in US history.
At the Pentagon outside Washington, a dawn service was held.
Two pipers played Amazing Grace as a small group of military leaders looked on in solemnity, the building bathed in blue light.
A chapel of remembrance now marks the spot where American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the US defense building.
The summer, sadly, is drawing to a close for most of us and that means it’s time to re-think your wardrobe for the fall and beyond. Trying to stay one step ahead of the fashion curve can always be something of a chore and that’s why we are here to give you some helpful tips.
The importance of a good accessory or two should never be overlooked. Your overall outfit may be on point but the addition of a good bit of extra detailing can be just what is needed to make you stand out from the crowd.
Conversely, sometimes a dour or basic outfit can be saved and accentuated, in a good way, by the selection of one or two great accessories that can turn your wardrobe into an inspiration and will make heads turn in your direction.
Here’s a list of ten great accessories for this coming fall.
Hobo Bags
These come hot on the heels of the massive tote bags that everyone was joyfully wearing over the summer. Again size is key, go with a large comfortable shape and don’t be afraid to push it with bright colors. This is a great trend for those who can’t leave the house without taking all their belongings with them.
Initial Necklaces
Personalized jewelry is quite literally a gift that keeps giving. Over the summer these were all the rage and we strongly suggest that you get yourself a nice initial necklace, you can find great ones here, and look to be playful with these and try to get those that work well with a number of outfits. These delightful necklaces can be classy or fun, sometimes both, and therefore are versatile enough to be worn during the work day or on a night out.
Padded Sandals
As fall, hopefully, will not see an instant drop in temperature, you should still be able to leave your feet bare and padded sandals are very much ‘in’ at the moment. The comfier and more quilted you can get, the better. Jet black is a good color to go with and these are good for day time walks when it’s still fresh and breezy outside.
Kerchiefs
These follow on nicely from the peak summer trend of the silk scarves that were all the rage this year. Again, much like with the silk scarves, these are very adaptable and can be worn in a million ways. Either as bandanas, or high on the head as kerchiefs or even as scarves when it gets a little chilly. These are part of the ‘grandma’ trend that won’t seem to leave us.
Big Sunglasses
Big is beautiful and with sunglasses this is doubly true. Look to get oversized shades and ones that are really blingy, dark in color with additional detailing to really make them pop. These are really good for those fall days where the sun is still bright, albeit with the temperature a few degrees lower than we’d like.
Arm Warmers
Of the trendy accessories we are listing here, this one is perhaps the most daring. If you are courageous enough, or confident in your fashion choice, these can be both chic and functional. Pair them with your tank tops and try to go for muted colors, as there’s no need to be too brash with the items. Most main street stores are selling these by the bucketload, so go try some out.
Scrunchies
These are a trend that has pushed right through the summer to the fall and we are very pleased about that too. Again, as in the summer, the trendy accessories of 2021 are very with a nod to comfort and informality. Whereas the summer was all about bright garish colored scrunchies, you might want to tone down the color and style choices with your fall scrunchy selection.
Boat Hats
Much like the arm warmers, these are a fairly courageous choice and one that isn’t for everyone. Tightly woven straw Boat hats are very eye-catching and you should consider getting one and wearing them on occasions where you want to be noticed out there.
Big Statement Bows
Very much a nod to the 80s, these are deliberately showy and a fun way to accessorise. The bigger the bow the better. Try for black bows and ones that are paired nicely with the rest of your look. Think about wearing these with a statement belt for that truly retro vibe. Clearly if you have big hair then this will be an even more suitable option to consider.
Super Sized Earrings
If the summer was about function over form then think of the fall being a little bit of a move in the opposite direction. Here the key is to go for super sized earrings, the style of which should be in keeping with your overall outfit, and these should be truly ‘out there’ and perfectly coupled with an evening look. Again this requires you being self-assured enough to pull off the fashion trend.
Have Fun With It!
2021 is something of an improvement on 2020, for most of us anyway, and fashion gives us the chance to outwardly project how we feel and the statement we are trying to make to the world. The accessories are the details that can really make that statement sing, so have fun with it!
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has been hit by stones thrown by protesters during a campaign stop.
The prime minister was returning to his campaign bus after visiting a brewery when he was pelted by stones. He was not injured.
Justin Trudeau called a snap election in mid-August, in the hope of gaining a majority government for his left-of-centre Liberal party.
However, the prime minister’s campaign has been disrupted by demonstrations against Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions.
Just over a week ago, Justin Trudeau was forced to cancel an election rally after a crowd of angry protesters ambushed the event.
Speaking to journalists on his campaign plane after the incident in London, Ontario, PM Trudeau said he may have been hit on the shoulder.
According to a reporter with Canada’s CTV National News, two people traveling on a media bus were also hit by stones, although they were not injured.
On September 7, Justin Trudeau called the actions of the protestors “absolutely unacceptable”.
“Nobody should be doing their jobs under the threats of violence or acts that put them in danger,” he said during a Montreal campaign stop.
“But it’s not just political rallies where this is happening.”
Provincial politicians, public health officials, restaurant owners and healthcare workers have faced harassment in incidents across the country in recent weeks.
Erin O’Toole, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party, described the incident as “disgusting”.
“Political violence is never justified and our media must be free from intimidation, harassment, and violence,” he tweeted.
Justin Trudeau’s plans for vaccine mandates have become a key issue ahead of the September 20 election.
In Canada, all federal party leaders have championed Covid vaccines, though there are some policy differences.
Last month, the government announced that all civil servants – including workers in federally regulated sectors, like rail – must be vaccinated by the end of October or risk losing their jobs.
Commercial air, cruise and interprovincial train passengers must also be vaccinated to travel.
The Conservatives prefer incentives, like allowing for paid time-off for the jab, and requiring regular Covid-19 testing for unvaccinated workers and Canadians travelling across the country.
Canada has one of the highest Covid-19 vaccination rates in the world.
The number of jobs added by the US economy in August was very disappointing, with only 235,000 positions vs. expectations of 720,000.
The figure was well down on the 1.05 million jobs created in July, adding to fears that the recovery from the pandemic may be running out of steam.
Despite the disappointing hiring levels, the unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in August from 5.4% in July.
Economists say rising infections caused by the Delta variant have hit spending on travel, tourism and hospitality.
They also note that the Labor Department’s data was collected in the second week of August, so does not reflect the impact of hurricanes Ida and Henri in the second half of the month.
President Joe Biden said he was disappointed but defended his record on the economy, saying it was growing consistently.
“Total job creation in the first seven months of my administration is nearly double, double any prior first-year president,” he said.
“While I know some wanted to see a larger number today, and so did I, what we’ve seen this year is a continued growth, month after month in job creation.”
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were notable job gains in August in professional and business services, transportation and warehousing, private education and manufacturing.
However, employment declined in retail and was flat in leisure and hospitality, after increasing by an average of 350,000 per month over the previous six months.
While the number of people unemployed edged down to 8.4 million, it remains well above the pre-pandemic level of 5.7 million seen in February 2020.
Average earnings also jumped in August, suggesting that employers are trying to lure workers back amid labor shortages in some industries.
The US economy contracted sharply in 2020 during lockdown but has rebounded strongly in 2021.
House prices are rising and corporate results remain strong. However, like most economies, the US is facing supply chain issues that have dragged on manufacturing growth.
Inflation has also jumped as the economy reopens, although the Federal Reserve believes the rise will be transitory.
Kim Jong-un called on North Korean officials to deal with food supply issues and highlighted the danger of climate change.
In 2020, typhoons badly impacted vital crops, while weeks of drought followed by heavy monsoon rains have damaged them this year as well.
The North Korean leader said measures to overcome “abnormal climate” were needed, and asked also officials to tackle drought and floods.
Kim Jong-un’s comments came in a speech to the ruling party’s Politburo on September 2.
He had said that the “danger” of climate change had become “higher in recent years adding that “urgent action” needed to be taken.
Kim Jong-un also called for improvements to North Korea’s flood management infrastructure saying: “River improvement, afforestation for erosion control, dyke maintenance and tide embankment projects”, should be prioritized.
Apart from the damage caused by natural disasters, North Korea’s economy has been hit hard by international sanctions, as well as border closures and harsh lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Although North Korea has not reported any Covid-19 cases, it has sealed its borders and imposed lockdowns.
The border closures have affected vital imports from China.
“Tightening epidemic prevention is the task of paramount importance which must not be loosened even a moment under the present situation,” said Kim Jong-un, according to state media.
Selling a home, whether it is for the first or subsequent time, can be an uphill task. There is more pressure if you need to sell your house fast and for the best market price. Unfortunately, there is overwhelming advice coming from left, right, and center, and this can be confusing during the process.
Since it is not typically an easy process, you can opt to use an agent or sell the house directly to companies that buy houses on an as-is basis. They will make the process a lot faster.
So, why do people need to sell a house fast? We have prepared a list of reasons to help you know if it is a good direction to take or if you should stick to the old and slow process that can take months or more.
You Need to Sell Your House Fast to Reduce the Stress and Hassle
Selling a house fast, especially through an agent or to a home-buying company, reduces the stress and hassle of the long process of looking for potential buyers, taking them through house showings, negotiating, processing the paperwork, and even risking getting defrauded.
So, if you are trying to sell your house to relocate or buy a new one, you probably need to sell your house fast through ways that make this process possible.
You Need to Sell Your House Fast to Avoid Market Changes
The real estate market is volatile, and prices can change very fast. If you do not want to risk being on the losing end, you need to sell the house fast when the price is still high. Again, it is highly recommended to use agents who will sell your property within a very short time.
Let the agent advise you on what to do to home stage your property, set the right price, and market it on all possible listing platforms to find a buyer fast.
No Need for Repairs
You need to sell your house fast to home-buying companies if you do not want to repair it. Most, if not all, buy on an as-is basis, which eliminates strain on the homeowners. Repairs could take a toll on your budget, and sometimes, you may not have the finances. This is a big reason why most people sell their homes to these investors.
You Need to Sell Your House Fast to Save Time
When you want to relocate or finance another home purchase, you need to sell your house fast. There is no need to waste a lot of time trying to look for buyers through the traditional methods of listing, home showings, and so forth.
Fortunately, the home-buying companies we have talked about will facilitate this. However, you can still list your house for sale if it is the only way, but make sure you advertise the house sale thoroughly on all available platforms, prepare it well for sale, and use a professional agent when possible. It will also yield positive results if these steps are taken.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you need to sell your house fast; some are personal while others are necessitated by external forces. Weigh your options carefully to make the right decisions. It is highly recommended that you talk to real estate professionals for more advice.
Will Smith has revealed who will play him in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot.
Jabari Banks will take on the role of Will in the upcoming reboot of the hit TV sitcom.
The character catapulted Will Smith, now 52, to stardom in the early 1990s.
“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, to be on with you, and from the deepest parts of my heart I want to say congratulations to you,” he told Jabari Banks in a video call.
“You have the role of Will on Bel-Air.”
“I’m ready, I’m so ready,” replied Jabari Banks, who revealed his father had suggested he try out for the part after reading an article about it.
“This is a dream come true,” he added.
Jabari Banks said the show had a huge impact on his life, adding that he once got his friends to join him in dressing up as characters from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air while he was at high school.
The reboot, which will appear on NBC streaming service Peacock, was inspired by a 2019 viral fan video by Morgan Cooper, who re-imagined the comedy as a modern-day drama.
Morgan Cooper was snapped up to work on the new project, produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Westbrook Studios and Universal Television, where he will now be joined by Jabari Banks.
The original Will told the new one: “You’ve got a fantastic road ahead of you, and I’m looking forward to being an asset for you in this process as you build out your life and build out your career.”
According to Deadline, this will be Jabari Banks’ first TV role.
A resident of west Philadelphia, which is also where the titular character was famously “born and raised”, Jabari Banks graduated from the city’s University of the Arts in 2020.
Jabari Banks is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, rapper, and basketball player.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons from 1990 to 1996, starred Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself.
