This weekend, the American League's Tampa Bay Rays will host the National League's San Diego Padres. This series is exactly why baseball is now on a road to finally adopting the designated hitter in both leagues.
Until this year, interleague games were a novelty. It was something to perk fan interest in the middle of the season. Because it was a novelty, it was OK if the two leagues used different rules based on the home team's league.
But when the Houston Astros moved to the AL this season, creating an odd number of teams (15) in each league, there must now be at least one interleague series going on at all times.
Interleague games are now just part of the norm and are no longer a stand-alone oddity that that fans can point to and say, "hey, look at that."
And yet teams playing on the road in interleague play are still forced to play by a set of rules for which their team was not constructed. At some point, the leagues will have to move to a uniform set of rules. And the only thing stopping it now is money.
While fans like to wax poetic about how much better the NL game is, the main reason NL owners don't want the DH is because those players would make a lot more money than the minimum salaried players they would replace.
But for the same reason, there is no way the players' union will allow the AL to drop the DH and replace them with low-pay bench players.
Eventually, one side has to cave. And considering only half the owners are in this battle, my money is on the players.


Thursday, December 19, 2013
Sadly it appears that shrimp inflation is upon us. A recent report has identified a spike in the price of shrimp in the high teens and land-based protein inflation running into the mid-single digits. Indeed, even a basket of groceries notched a 2.4% increase in the second quarter. For an economy in many respects still emerging from the 2008/2009 financial crisis, this isn't good news.
We're now seeing solid evidence of food inflation. Add that to increases in health care costs, housing, and most notably eduction, and we have the beginnings of an inflationary environment. Some argue true inflation is currently running in the mid-single digits; if your personal consumer price index (CPI) includes food, housing, medical care, and education it probably is, if you prefer to use the established CPI like the Federal Government of tons of soybeans and computer processing power, you probably haven't seen a cost of living increase in decades.
Although the prospect of shrimp inflation may seem laughable to many readers, those who wish to Invest Like A Farmer should pay heed to inflationary signals, even in such small data points as shrimp; these can have jumbo implications for the financial farmer. Inflation eats away at your real returns; even a 27% increase in the S&P 500 eventually succumbs to inflationary pressure. This has the possibility of impacting both the wallet and palate of the average investor. Inflation is truly an enemy of the Republic and is most notably the sign of a fiscal and monetary policy run amok.
I read this shrimp inflation report as a solid signal that wholesale food costs are going to be rising markedly, which means REAL purchasing power is decreasing. The ability for retailers to pass along price increases depends largely on the type of customer; large chain-based restaurants are going to have trouble passing along meaningful price increases, whereas higher-end restaurants will have considerably less pushback. Along those lines, the same school of thought should also hold true for grocery retailers; the high-end retailers should have the ability to pass along prices increases whereas the lower-end shops are going to see their revenue and profit lines narrow. Keep in mind however, this isn't the whole story; inflation is insidious in that it has butterfly effects among asset classes.
Luckily, it appears that energy costs (especially in North America) are falling. Recent news out of Mexico indicating a push towards privatization of many of the resource-rich country's fields may further increase the supply and push prices down further. Notably, we're also seeing significant production increases in the United States which suggest even more pricing pressure to the downside. This impacts food pricing positively, meaning theoretically in North America it should be cheaper and cheaper over the coming years to product land-based protein and potentially harvest more ocean-based protein at a lower price point.
Nonetheless, I would argue that shrimp prices are a useful leading indicator similar to the lipstick index; it is something we at first smile and laugh about, yet often proves to be a harbinger of things to come.


It is easy to make the argument for DIY investing: as headlined in the Your Money section of the Daily Telegraph (15.11.14), ‘Investors: go DIY and save thousands.’ With wealth managers and financial advisers charging anything up to nearly 3% per annum in their stated charges (there are often other costs and trading costs on top of this), charges can swallow up most of the likely income return or yield from an investment portfolio.
But the experts always do better, don’t they?
There may be a few very talented investors who can consistently beat the market but even these are not guaranteed to do so over an extended period of time. On average active professional investors do worse than the market; so why pay for this?
Our contention at IpsoFacto is threefold:
- The investment future is uncertain and getting the right choice of investments for the current investment environment and your own circumstances (asset allocation) very difficult (although probably the most important decision). But this is as true for the professional as for the private investor: a rigorous mathematical driven approach based on relative value (as we have devised) and sensible diversification can achieve good results at a fraction of the cost of so called professional advice, which is often based on what is largely guesswork.
- The amount of risk you are prepared to take in your investing is a very personal thing and more than likely can change over time. Getting regular information and advice and keeping control of one’s own investment decisions is vital to this process of managing risk, in our view.
- Private investors can use our advice to access some of the most talented investment managers through investment trusts or closed end funds, often at much reduced costs versus unit trusts or OEICs, which are the traditional recipients of private investor money.
In any case, it’s complicated, isn’t it?
No one should pretend investing is easy but the practical aspects for the private investor have been simplified greatly over recent years. There are now many online brokers who provide dealing and settlement services at pretty reasonable costs (often single digit pounds per trade); simply google something like ‘online brokers’ and choose the right platform for you.
The great thing about going DIY and using an online broker is that if you want to buy or sell investments, you don’t have to ring up or write in and wait to be told what you get: you just do it, with the price dealt (for investment trusts and equities at least) in front of you on the computer screen.
Obviously DIY is not for everyone; but for those who are interested here is a short checklist of how to approach it.
- Decide how much you can invest for the long term (at least five years) taking into account income, outgoings, debt, other assets and contingencies. If you need cash in the short term, it is usually better to keep it in a bank account.
- Decide on your investment objective in terms of income or capital gain and risk tolerance (which may be a function of age and level of assets).
- In considering risk we strongly advise looking at the totality of your assets and how they are invested; if, for example, you already have a pension fund invested largely in shares, then you may want to reduce the amount of risk you are prepared to take on in new investments.
- Find an online broker whose charges and service suit your circumstances.
- If you are investing cash from scratch (ie. not from an existing portfolio), consider investing in chunks over a period of time, to minimise the risk of investing when markets are too high.
- Hopefully, sign up to IpsoFacto membership and choose from our recommended portfolios, according to your circumstances and risk appetite. We will then guide you with regular updates and any changes to our recommendations, giving you the best chance of investment success.


A sizeable part of portfolio returns can be produced by dividend stocks due to their contribution to compounding returns in the long run. Historically, Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE:CVA) has paid dividends to shareholders, and these days it yields 5.8%. Let's dig deeper into whether Covanta Holding should have a place in your portfolio.
5 checks you should do on a dividend stock
When researching a dividend stock, I always follow the following screening criteria:
- Is its annual yield among the top 25% of dividend-paying companies?
- Has its dividend been stable over the past (i.e. no missed payments or significant payout cuts)?
- Has dividend per share risen in the past couple of years?
- Can it afford to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings?
- Will it be able to continue to payout at the current rate in the future?
How does Covanta Holding fare?
Covanta Holding has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 86%, meaning the dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Furthermore, analysts are forecasting the payout ratio to exceed earnings going forward, leading to a future of uncertainty around the stability of CVA's dividend income.
If you want to dive deeper into the sustainability of a certain payout ratio, you may wish to consider the cash flow of the business. A business with strong cash flow can sustain a higher divided payout ratio than a company with weak cash flow.
If there is one thing that you want to be reliable in your life, it's dividend stocks and their constant income stream. The reality is that it is too early to consider Covanta Holding as a dividend investment. It has only been consistently paying dividends for 8 years, however, standard practice for reliable payers is to look for a 10-year minimum track record.
Relative to peers, Covanta Holding generates a yield of 5.8%, which is high for Commercial Services stocks.
If Covanta Holding is in your portfolio for cash-generating reasons, there may be better alternatives out there. However, if you are not strictly just a dividend investor, the stock could still offer some interesting investment opportunities. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, I recommend taking sufficient time to understand its core business and determine whether the company and its investment properties suit your overall goals. There are three pertinent factors you should look at:
- Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for CVA’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for CVA’s outlook.
- Valuation: What is CVA worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, it's not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether CVA is currently mispriced by the market.
- Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here.
We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at firstname.lastname@example.org. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.


Macau Business | February 2021
It will be a challenging year for the local tourism industry. The sector should focus more on regional products to tap in the post-COVID-19 market, industry insiders and observers say.
The New Year has so far seemed not to bode well, at least for Macau’s local tourism. With the sporadic rise of COVID-19 cases across some Mainland Chinese provinces, as well as the uncertainties of the pandemic situation across the world, tourism operators expect a challenging year ahead, requiring prompt support from the authorities.
Despite a decline of 85 percent on the tourist arrivals to the city to nearly 5.9 million in 2020 as a result of the travel constraints imposed by the coronavirus outbreak, the tourism tally has bottomed out since last April and mounted a month-to-month rising streak for eight consecutive months, as demonstrated by the latest government data. In last December alone, the city received over 659,400 travellers, or 21,270 travellers a day, rising 3.6 percent from the previous month, but down by 78.6 percent from a year earlier.
This slow recovery was spiked by the nationwide resumption of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) for Mainlanders to visit Macau in September, as well as a basket of incentives rolled out by the authorities and the industry to entice this major tourist source market.
Nonetheless, after the turn of the year, the momentum has lost steam. “As the tourism tally has been pretty decent in the Christmas and New Year holidays, we originally expected the performance would be even better in Chinese New Year,” says Wong Fai, director of the Travel Industry Council of Macau, referring to the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday that begins on 12th February this year.
“Now the Mainland and Macau authorities have encouraged residents to avoid travelling during the CNY holiday. This has definitely dealt a blow to local tourism,” the remarks. “We have seen the cancellations of some hotel bookings between end-January and February after the calls from the authorities.”
In the wake of the rising number COVID-19 cases since the winter season, the central government and provincial authorities across the border have scrambled to fend off a new wave of infections, including lockdowns for some cities and urging residents to stay in their homes.
Mr. Wong highlights the difficulties with predicting the tourism volume for the CNY holiday over the uncertainties of the pandemic, adding that visitation could probably be similar to the level recorded in the Chinese National Day Golden Week in October, or at best, match the Christmas holiday tally. Macau received about 156,000 travellers, or 19,500 visitors a day, in the 1st-8th October 2020 holiday, and the daily figure further improved to over 24,000 in the Christmas period.
“It is expected that the pandemic situation abroad will remain severe for some time, so local tourism has to solely rely on the Mainland market in the meantime,” he details. “The outlook for tourism this year really has to depend on the development of COVID-19 — the implementation of the vaccine scheme in the Mainland and the territory and whether travel restrictions will gradually be lifted after the CNY period.”
The Macau government has forecasted the city would receive about 14 million travellers — or 38,356 visitors per day — this year; mainly arrivals from the Mainland and nearby Hong Kong. But at the moment, only tourists coming from the Mainland can visit Macau without a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
No package tours yet
“The tourism volume has so far been only recovered to about 20-30 percent of the pre-pandemic level since the resumption of the IVS,” says another veteran tourism figure, Andy Wu Keng Kuong. “We originally hoped there could be package tour groups again after the CNY period, but it’s really not clear at the moment, as the authorities have stepped up the measures [against] the COVID-19 in recent times.”
Though the IVS has been restored since last year, while Mainlanders could also come via transit, business or family visas, the package tours — accounting for about 20-30 percent of Mainland travellers to the city — have been suspended since January 2020. Attempts to urge Beijing to restart of package tours by the local authorities have been futile so far.
The chairperson of the Macau Travel Industry Council, Mr. Wu, now believes the first half of 2021 will be still “challenging” for local tourism, especially tourism operators that have to rely on outbound and inbound package tours. “The authorities should pay attention to the latest development and promptly roll out support for the industry when needed,” says Mr. Wu. “It’s just difficult to rely on the domestic demand… and only the resumption of package tours could inject new momentum into the sector.”
In spite of at least MOP400 million spent with Air Macau and Chinese e-commerce and telecommunications giants Tencent and Alibaba Group to give out discount offerings on Macau tourism products for Mainlanders last year, the government has also advanced “Macau Ready Go! Local Tours” campaign, subsidising residents to join local tours organised by over 150 travel agencies here. As the initiative between last June and September attracted the participation of more than 140,000 participants and yielded economic benefits of over MOP56 million, the administration has pondered the possibility of undertaking a similar initiative again this year.
Some industry participants look beyond the city for opportunities amid the bleak climate in the gambling hub. Since late 2019, as part of the efforts to advance closer integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, the Hengqin authorities have rolled out a scheme for Macau and Hong Kong residents with a valid tourist guide license to offer tourist guide service on the island after meeting several requirements and passing tests.
According to the Macau Tourist Guide Association, over 400 out of nearly 2,000 Macau tourist guides are now qualified to work in Hengqin. “This shows that local guides are eager for this scheme,” says Angelina Wu Wai Fong, president of the group.
Nonetheless, only a couple of guides have so far successfully offered service in Hengqin. “One of the main reasons is the drastic decline in the number of package tours, particularly no tours from Macau and Hong Kong to Hengqin, due to the pandemic” Ms. Wu says. “The competition with the Mainland guides is also fierce, as the service charge of Mainland counterparts is lower and Mainland travel agencies are used to working with the Mainland guides.”
The group head suggests there could be more communications between the authorities in the two sides over the scheme, and Macau tourist guides should be prioritized for the tours from the city.
Regional multi-destination products
This tourist guide scheme might just explain the lack of progress of regional tourism cooperation. Despite years of push for multi-destination itineraries in the region, there is room for better exchanges and communications. “There has definitely not been any fruitful results for the multi-destination itineraries [in the Greater Bay Area],” legislator Si Ka Lon recently said. “The authorities should further facilitate diversified and quality tourism products, particularly [between Macau] and Hengqin and Zhuhai in the aftermath of the pandemic.”
This push for the multi-destination itinerary has been injected with new momentum in recent times with the promulgation of the Culture and Tourism Development Plan for the Greater Bay Area by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The plan outlines directions for the overall tourism development of the region until 2035, which should become an exchange hub for eastern and western cultures and a world-class tourism destination.
The 20-page document emphasises that the three sides should deepen their coordination in policies and planning in the fields of tourism and culture for “an open cooperation mechanism,” proposing that the tourism products offered in the region could be linked with themes of gastronomy, heritage sites and sport events. Marine tourism products to be offered by Macau are also highlighted in this blueprint, which, however, lacks any details for execution.
Samuel Tong Kai Chung, president of the Macau Institute of Management, hails the timing of the promulgation of this plan. “There have been studies suggesting the change of behaviours of visitors after the COVID-19 pandemic; for instance, visitors might opt for short-to-medium haul travel,” he says. “So this plan somehow addresses the potential regional tourism demand.”
Better border infrastructure and marketing tools and strategies are required to promote these regional tourism products. “Once the travel constraints have gradually been lifted, I believe both Macau and Mainland residents will be eager to tour the Greater Bay Area,” he adds.


- Exchange: OTC US
- Sector: Energy
- Industry: Oil, Gas & Coal
- Sub-Industry: Exploration & Production
All Energy Corp+ Add to Watchlist
AFSE:US0.0630 USD 0.00000.00%
As of 20:10:01 ET on 04/29/2015.
Company Profile for All Energy Corp (AFSE)
All Energy Corp. is an oil and gas exploration company. The Company is focused on the exploration, development, acquisition and production of crude oil and natural gas within the United States.
All Energy Corp
Key Executives for All Energy Corp (AFSE)
|Dean E SukowateyPres/CEO/Interim CFO/Founder|


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Some people think that a real estate lawyer in Barcelona is only needed when signing a real estate contract or if there are problems with the mortgage. But the truth is that there are small details that we miss and it is always better to have the advice of a professional.
The refurbishment of a house, if it includes structural changes, must be communicated to the landlord in rental contracts. In any case, we must not stop thinking that the real estate market is recovering and that large companies are reawakening their interest in investing in this sector. If you think about the above, the answer is clear as to whether it is worth renting and refurbishing an apartment, albeit clear, always bearing in mind a number of variables that may be crucial for investment to provide positive results in the end.Read More


Apart from Guleria, Pradeep Pandey senior vice-president (customer service), HMSI has put in his papers. In February this year Shekhar MC, formerly general manager (finished vehicles logistics), too exited the company and joined Ola Electric Mobility.
New Delhi: Shares of auto component maker Sona BLW Precision Forgings listed with a premium of nearly 4 per cent on Thursday against its issue price of INR 291. The stock debuted at INR 302.40, registering a gain of 3.91 per cent from the issue price on BSE. As the trade progressed, it went to a high of INR 333.35, up 14.55 per cent.
On NSE, it listed at INR 301, a gain of 3.43 per cent.
The initial public offer of Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) was subscribed 2.28 times last week.
The company is into designing, manufacturing, and supplying highly engineered critical automotive systems and components such as differential assemblies, differential gears, conventional and micro-hybrid starter motors, BSG systems, EV traction motors, and motor control units.
It supplies components to automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) across the US, Europe, India, and China, for both electrified and non-electrified powertrain segments and is not dependent on a single product, vehicle segment, customer, or geography.


Modules for Beginners
Basics of Stock Market
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Should you start investing?
00:54 Mins Read
Let’s start with the most fundamental million-dollar question. Should you start investing?
While investing is undoubtedly an essential financial practice, you need to be ready to invest smartly. So, when should you start investing? And how do you know if you are ready to begin investing? Ideally, you should start investing when you begin earning on your own, so you get a headstart early in life. But before you invest your money, you also need to be financially aware of what you’re investing in.
The prerequisites for investing include a solid financial plan, financial capability to invest, and a reasonable understanding of how investments work. This way, you can understand why you are investing in the assets you choose, and create a financial plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Reasons to start investing
Looking for the right reasons to start investing? Here’s why you need to begin your investment journey sooner rather than later.
Time is on your side
When you start investing early in life, your investments have a longer time to grow. This gives you the luxury of investing smaller amounts, instead of a lump sum capital. If you only invest much later in life, you may have to shell out a larger capital to catch up with lost time.
You make investing a habit
If you begin investing at a young age, investing becomes a habit. You can take advantage of Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and other schemes that require regular and consistent investments.
The power of compounding helps
The magic of compounding plays a major role in wealth creation. And compounding works best when you invest for the long term. So, if you’re looking for another reason to start investing, compounding is the answer. It helps you earn interest on interest, and gains on your gains.
You can take more risks
Investing when you’re younger also makes it possible for you to take more risks. And generally, high-risk investments also come with the potential for higher rewards. Your portfolio can enjoy greater exposure in high-risk-high-reward investments the earlier you invest.
Should you start investing? Investing is an important step to be financially secure. When you are young, life seems full of potential You have dreams - car, home, vacations and what not. Investing helps you fulfil those dreams. As investing helps your money grow. When done right, a small amount invested today can give you a big treasure in your future. But how to do investing right? This takes learning and understanding of financial markets Which can be a LOT to process. But don't worry, we are here to help you. Read about investing and money management on Smart Money by Angel Broking And fulfil your dreams.


On November 8, 2023, under the guidance of the Chongqing Jiangbei District Commerce Committee and the Chongqing Jiangbei District Chamber of Commerce, Chongqing Enterprises Association with Foreign Investment, Chongqing Enterprises Association for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, and Chongqing Cross-Border E-Commerce Association (preparatory) The China-Poland Enterprise International Business Development Forum hosted by the Warsaw University of Economics in Poland, the Polish-China Overseas Chinese Business Federation (Poland) Chongqing Representative Office, and the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Cross-border E-commerce Industrial Park was grandly held. Chongqing Huifan Technology Co., Ltd., (HFSecurity)as an outstanding representative enterprise of Chongqing’s foreign trade, was invited to participate in this forum.
At this forum, representatives from HFSecurity introduced the company's development history, product features and future development plans to the participants.
What is particularly eye-catching is that HFSecurity conducted a live demonstration of the biometric security product demo, which attracted the attention of many participants. Many business representatives from Poland expressed strong interest in Huifan Technology's biometric security products. , all expressed their hope to further discuss cooperation matters.
After the forum, these Polish business representatives immediately went to HFSecurity Company for an in-depth visit and negotiation, and conducted more specific discussions on future cooperation opportunities.
As a well-known biometric security company in China, HFSecurity's layout and development in the international market have also attracted the attention of all parties. Its products have leading technology and reliable quality, which have unique competitive advantages in the international market and are deeply trusted and praised by customers at home and abroad. It has three major brands: HFSecurity, BIOSAFE and HEYSTAR. Its main products include fingerprint, face, iris and other PDA handheld devices, as well as smart locks and smart home products. It has covered more than 100 countries. In addition to mainland China, it has a branch in Pakistan, as well as offices and service centers in the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United States, Thailand and Singapore.
The successful holding of the China-Poland Enterprise International Business Development Forum not only established a broad cooperation platform for enterprises from China and Poland, but also provided an important opportunity for Chongqing Huifan Technology Co., Ltd(HFSecurity). to expand its business in the international market. HFSecurity will continue to carry forward the entrepreneurial spirit of innovation and development, continuously improve product quality and service levels, actively expand the international market, and provide customers with better biometric security solutions. It is believed that with the joint efforts of China and Poland, more cooperation opportunities will emerge, injecting new vitality into bilateral economic cooperation, and contributing to the development of global biometric security technology.


Corporate turnaround, News, Restructuring & Insolvency
Watch: Preparing for the economic rebound
Whilst a very challenging time, COVID-19 presents struggling businesses with a TRULY EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
The economic rebound WILL come. Take full advantage of it by excising the financial problems that held you back previously and will do so again if you don’t act quickly.
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In our new survey, we’re asking small and medium sized businesses across the South West how the pandemic has impacted their use of technology?
In addition to revealing the technologies most favoured by SMEs, the data gathered in the ‘Time to Deliver’ survey will uncover insights around businesses’ approach to technology, how many have a strategy, and how effective it is in delivering against objectives.
The study has been launched by Timewade partnership with award-winning chartered accountants Bishop Fleming as part of the ‘Technology for Success’ programme, which provides free guidance to South West businesses on how to implement an effective technology strategy, and use technology to improve productivity and growth. This is the third technology survey carried out by Technology for Success since 2019.
Julian Wills, Founder of Technology for Success and Managing Director of Timewade, said: “The pandemic has had a massive impact on the way businesses are working and therefore on the types of technology they are using and investing in.
“Timewade and Bishop Fleming want to find out the challenges that businesses are facing when it comes to using technology in the current climate. We’re also looking to understand how they can be supported to use technology better as they get to grips with new ways of working, such as hybrid working, which has increased dramatically in response to the pandemic.
“The ‘Time to Deliver’ survey will uncover whether businesses are delivering on their tech strategy, and whether they have one at all! It will also offer key recommendations to help South West businesses plan for the next 12 months.”
Pippa Clarke, Head of Technology, Innovation and Growth at Bishop Fleming said: “We are pleased to be supporting this years’ Technology for Success survey which aims to understand how businesses are implementing their technology strategies.
“It is no secret that the pandemic has propelled technology to the forefront of most business leaders’ minds as we are now in a world where businesses cannot operate without sufficient technology embedded into their processes.
“The survey will shine a light on investing in tech, the challenges faced, and plans for the next five years. The results will be used to support businesses on their growth and investment plans in the future.”
Businesses who take the survey will be sent a report detailing the findings and recommendations, to help them develop new approaches to their use of technology to support their teams, customer acquisition, and growth.
Participants will also be entered into a draw to win a £100 John Lewis voucher.
The survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T4S2021Survey
The survey will run through November and December. Initial results will be revealed and discussed at the Technology for Success roundtable, where experts from Timewade, Astley Media, and Bishop Fleming will be on the panel, discussing the steps businesses need to take to deliver on their technology strategy.


By Rashidat Akashat
The trend in having a low budget wedding in Kenya has just been preceded by another couple who reportedly spent only Ksh 50.
Kenyan Couple Buys Only Scones For Wedding
According to Lee Elly’s Facebook post, the couple who got wedded on Saturday, reportedly spent 50 cent for buying just scones.
Although, this less humility has not been celebrated like the Kenyan couple who wedded in T-shirts around a budget of $1, it only shows that the Mutura’s have set a legacy.
Recall that the Mutura’s shocked the world with their $1 wedding and were blessed for their humility, as they did not just appear on international media, but were gifted with a trip outside their country.


Kuala Lumpur, July 12, 2023 – Tijarah Holding Ltd., a prominent Blockchain developer, and Islamic Digital Asset Service Provider (IDASP), is delighted to announce the successful acquisition of a Canadian Money Services Business (MSB) license, duly registered with FINTRAC and regulated by the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (MSB registration number: M23739966), through its subsidiary, GC Global Finance Ltd—an Islamic Fintech provider. This accomplishment represents a pivotal milestone in the group's unwavering dedication to delivering secure, efficient, and customer-centric Islamic fintech services.
A copy of GC Global Finance Ltd. license on the FINTRAC website.
As a licensed MSB, GC Global Finance provides a wide range of financial solutions to clients worldwide, including international money transfers, currency exchange, payment processing, and virtual currency dealings. This highlights the company's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of individuals and businesses in the realm of Islamic Fintech. "We are thrilled to add the MSB to our portfolio as an IDASP in the dynamic Islamic Fintech market, enhancing our ability to offer comprehensive financial solutions worldwide,” said John Pellegrini, CEO of Tijarah Holding Ltd.
Canada boasts one of the most vibrant and stable economies globally, making it a prime destination for digital Fintech services. The country's stringent and normative regulations within the financial industry have been a significant draw for enterprises worldwide. Notably, securing the MSB license reflects GC Global Finance Ltd.'s recognition by the Canadian government and adherence to international compliance standards, cementing its position as a reliable provider capable of delivering a secure and stable service within the Canadian market and globally. The license also allows GC Global Finance to forge new partnerships, expand its global reach, and explore innovative financial technologies to enhance its offerings further.


Find out what a financial assessment is and why people with dementia might need one.
- Paying for care and support in England
- Meeting your needs
- You are here: Financial assessment
- Types of care and support that cannot be charged for
- Paying for care and support in your own home
- Care home fees
- Care home fees for self-funders
- Paying for care - complaints and FAQs
- Paying for care in England – useful resources
Paying for care and support in England
What is a financial assessment?
Your local authority will carry out a financial assessment to help decide who will pay for your care and support. The financial assessment varies slightly depending on the type of care and support you need. For example, if you are living at home, the assessment will be carried out slightly differently to if you are living in a care home.
The person doing the financial assessment is likely to ask you (or your carer or relative) to complete some forms about your finances and declare that this information is true. Someone from the local authority may also visit to help you to fill in the forms.
The Care Act states that if a person is going to receive care and support at a low cost, it may not always be necessary to do a full detailed financial assessment. See ‘Light-touch financial assessments’ below for more information.
It can feel like an invasion of privacy when the local authority or its representative is looking over something as personal as your finances. However, it is important to make sure that you are charged the right amount for your care. Remember, if you refuse to answer the financial questions, you could automatically be charged for your care.
The financial assessment form
When completing financial assessment forms, ‘income’ refers to any money you receive regularly, for example, benefits or a pension.
‘Capital’ refers to any other assets you have. This includes savings, investments and in some cases (for residential care) may include the value of your home.
You will always be allowed to keep a certain amount of income known as a Personal expenses allowance (PEA).
Capital and income will either be:
- fully included in the assessment
- partially taken into account
- or ignored completely (fully disregarded).
For example, the value of your home might be fully disregarded in certain circumstances.
If you have a partner, the forms may ask about their finances too. However, once it is decided what belongs to you and what belongs to your partner, the assessment should only take into account the finances of the person who needs care, and no one else’s.
If you have joint bank accounts or other assets held jointly, the assessment can only take into account the share belonging to you. It will be assumed that your share is 50 per cent of these joint assets, unless you can show otherwise.
The local authority must provide clear, written information about how much you will pay for your care. This should show clearly what has been taken into account, and regular statements from the local authority should follow.
Light-touch financial assessments
In some circumstances, a local authority may choose to treat you as if you have had a full financial assessment, even if you haven’t. This often happens when the local authority is confident the costs of the care or service will be met, based on the evidence they have. This is called a ‘light-touch financial assessment’.
The main circumstances in which a local authority might consider carrying out a light-touch financial assessment are:
- If you have significant financial resources, and do not wish to undergo a full financial assessment, but want the local authority to arrange your care. You will then be self-funding, but the local authority must be satisfied that you can afford, and will continue to be able to afford, any charges due. The local authority will usually make a charge for this service.
- Where the local authority charges a small or token amount for a particular service that you are clearly able to afford, and carrying out a financial assessment would be disproportionate (for example if it requires more resource to do the financial assessment than to provide the service).
- If you receive means-tested benefits which demonstrate that you would not be able to contribute towards your care and support costs.
If the local authority decides to do this it must tell you that a light-touch assessment has taken place, and make it clear that you still have the right to request a full financial assessment if you want to. You might feel this is necessary if there is a dispute about the charges.


Executives from three of Canada’s largest grocery chains were in communication before launching and ending temporary wage increases for grocery store workers during COVID-19, but maintain their decisions were not co-ordinated.
Metro Inc. was aware of Loblaw Companies Ltd.’s decision to stop its so-called pandemic pay program before it made a similar decision, chief executive Eric La Fleche told the House of Commons standing committee on industry, science and technology Friday.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
La Fleche said that a Metro competitor’s move was one of several influencing factors in its decision-making process.
He joined the Loblaw president and Empire Co. Ltd. chief executive at a two-hour session about why they stopped paying a temporary wage bump to employees as of June 13.
“Let me be absolutely clear, we did not co-ordinate our decisions,” said Michael Medline, Empire CEO, in his opening statement before the committee. Medline, whose company owns the Sobeys and Safeway brands, was the first of the trio to give his opening remarks.


Membership for All Sizes
Employer Memberships are beneficial to OLCC-licensed businesses that are interested in diversifying and empowering their workforce. Individual memberships are always free, please visit here for more info.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Paid Membership For?
Paid Membership is for OLCC-licensed cannabis businesses that are interested in promoting the empowerment of their workforce. If you are a worker in the industry, please register for membership here.
What are the Benefits of Paid Membership?
✔ Access to Oregon Handler’s Fund workforce development registry
✔ Linked listing in CWC online member directory
✔ Access to our Association Health Plans for you and your employees (Starting Fall 2021)
✔ Access to membership meetings
✔ Attend events hosted by community partners in the hopes of creating the safest and most compliant space for cannabis users, business owners, and professionals.
✔ Industry lobbying in the capital to ensure safe, sensible regulations and successful program implementation
✔ Invites to exclusive symposiums designed to provide resources, insight, and education into the cannabis industry.
✔ Ability to write off membership dues as deductible trade or business expenses (non-280E business only)
✔ Receive news and updates regarding CWC and our respected group of affiliates.
A Little About Us
Cannabis Workers Coalition is a 501(c)4 social justice nonprofit that provides a pathway for restorative economic and criminal justice to communities negatively impacted by the war on drugs. CWC represents the equitable interests of BIPOC women and men in Oregon. We advocate for legislation, public policy, business education & technical assistance, that provides equitable and sustainable opportunities for BIPOC women and men in cannabis.


Defending Individuals and Businesses Accused of Antitrust Violations
Federal and State law enforcement agencies actively investigate and prosecute businesses and individuals accused of collusion activities such as price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation schemes.
Most federal criminal prosecutions allege violations of either the Sherman Antitrust Act and/or the Clayton Antitrust Act. The Sherman Act generally prohibits any agreement among businesses that unreasonably restrains competition, while its successor the Clayton Act broadens the scope of antitrust legislation to include individualized schemes such as price discrimination and allows greater regulation of monopolies.
In state court investigations and prosecutions are centered on the Cartwright Act which mirrors the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts.
Call Sacramento Antitrust Criminal Defense Lawyer Kresta Daly – (916) 440-8600.
A firm understanding of both the statutes and the case law surrounding antitrust laws are vital to the successful defense against a charge of antitrust violation. Sacramento antitrust attorney Kresta Daly has years of trial experience defending clients charged with antitrust violations. If you have been charged with an antitrust-related crime contact Kresta Daly.
To schedule a consultation please contact Federal Criminal Defense lawyer Kresta Daly at (916) 440-8600 or by email at email@example.com.


The stock of Caesars Entertainment Corp (NASDAQ:CZR) is a huge mover today! About 155,973 shares traded hands. Caesars Entertainment Corp (NASDAQ:CZR) has declined 5.87% since April 18, 2016 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 10.30% the S&P500.
The move comes after 8 months positive chart setup for the $1000.00M company. It was reported on Nov, 18 by Barchart.com. We have $9.33 PT which if reached, will make NASDAQ:CZR worth $320.00M more.
According to Zacks Investment Research, “Caesars Entertainment Corporation is a gaming company engaged in providing casino entertainment services. The Company operates casino resorts on multiple continents and its casino entertainment facilities include land-based casinos, riverboat or dockside casinos, managed casinos, combination greyhound racetrack and casino, combination thoroughbred racetrack and casino, and harness racetrack and casino, hotel and convention space, restaurants, and non-gaming entertainment facilities. Its resorts operate primarily under the Harrah’s(TM), Caesars(TM) and Horseshoe(TM) brand names. Caesars Entertainment Corporation is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
Insitutional Activity: The institutional sentiment increased to 1.15 in 2016 Q2. Its up 0.03, from 1.12 in 2016Q1. The ratio is positive, as 13 funds sold all Caesars Entertainment Corp shares owned while 28 reduced positions. 12 funds bought stakes while 34 increased positions. They now own 75.69 million shares or 13.09% less from 87.09 million shares in 2016Q1.
Blackrock Gru last reported 0% of its portfolio in the stock. Weiss Multi has 150,000 shares for 0.09% of their US portfolio. Aperio Limited last reported 0% of its portfolio in the stock. Metropolitan Life Insurance New York accumulated 0% or 39,108 shares. Pacad Investment Limited has 0.01% invested in the company for 4,800 shares. Paradigm Asset Mgmt Ltd Liability holds 0% or 32,100 shares in its portfolio. Vanguard Group last reported 3.58M shares in the company. Spark Inv Mngmt Ltd Llc has 0.07% invested in the company for 92,600 shares. Tiaa Cref Invest Mgmt Ltd Liability Co holds 0% or 192,262 shares in its portfolio. Morgan Stanley accumulated 0.01% or 1.97 million shares. Blackrock Inc holds 7,936 shares or 0% of its portfolio. Kcg reported 23,026 shares or 0% of all its holdings. Dimensional Fund Advsr Lp holds 110,322 shares or 0% of its portfolio. The Massachusetts-based State Street has invested 0% in Caesars Entertainment Corp (NASDAQ:CZR). First Quadrant Lp Ca has invested 0% of its portfolio in Caesars Entertainment Corp (NASDAQ:CZR).
Insider Transactions: Since August 5, 2016, the stock had 0 insider buys, and 3 sales for $850,574 net activity. The insider DONOVAN TIMOTHY R sold 43,168 shares worth $327,364. LOVEMAN GARY W sold $186,362 worth of stock or 24,000 shares.
More notable recent Caesars Entertainment Corp (NASDAQ:CZR) news were published by: Wsj.com which released: “Caesars Entertainment Corp. Swings to First-Quarter Loss” on May 05, 2016, also Fool.com with their article: “Caesars Entertainment Corp’s Future Now a Battle Between Billionaires” published on September 22, 2016, Fool.com published: “Caesars Entertainment Corp’s Odds of Survival Just Plummeted” on August 29, 2016. More interesting news about Caesars Entertainment Corp (NASDAQ:CZR) were released by: Prnewswire.com and their article: “Caesars Entertainment Corporation to Report 2016 Third-Quarter Results on …” published on October 26, 2016 as well as Fool.com‘s news article titled: “Why Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s Shares Dropped 18% Today” with publication date: September 27, 2016.
CZR Company Profile
Caesars Entertainment Corporation (Caesars), incorporated on November 2, 1989, is a holding company. The Firm offers casino-entertainment and hospitality services. It operates through three divisions: Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties (CERP), Caesars Growth Partners Casino Properties and Developments (CGP Casinos) and Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. (CIE). The Company’s facilities include gaming offerings, food and beverage outlets, hotel and convention space, and non-gaming entertainment options. In addition to its brick and mortar assets, it operates an online gaming business that provides social and mobile games offerings that utilize virtual currency, as well as real money games in certain jurisdictions. It owns CERP and an interest in Caesars Growth Partners, LLC (CGP).
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It's true, there are many sponsors in the market, so how do you choose which one to go with? It all comes down to whether interests and investment strategy are aligned, as well as level of familiarity and trust. Some sponsors choose to include their asset management fee second to the preferred return fee to demonstrate to their investors that recouping their investors capital first is the priority before the sponsor receives the asset management payout. Some sponsors will put both sweat equity and their own money on the line, deepening the level of trust and alignment of interests. For us, communication is crucial. We keep our passive investors in the loop via frequent updates. It’s also important to us to return emails and calls to our investors in a timely manner. As you can see, there are many factors at play when deciding on whether a sponsor is a good fit with your personality and interests – and the right sponsor varies from investor to investor.


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Unhappy with sluggish download speeds or sky-high bills in your home? New deals from BT, Virgin Media, TalkTalk, Hyperoptic, Sky and dozens of other companies could be the answer. According to recent research published by Which?, hundreds of customers who are out-of-contract could unlock faster broadband speeds and save money every month by switching providers or renewing with a new offer available from their existing provider.
Which? research has shown that the average Sky broadband customer pays £37.32 a month, but could save £131.76 a year if they switched to an introductory deal. BT customers pay £36.30 a month on average and could save £119.52 – while TalkTalk customers pay £28.98 a month but could save £31.86 a year. Virgin Media customers could save the most by switching (£143.64 per year), as they have the highest average monthly bill out of the big four providers at £41.68, Which? added.
If you’re more concerned about faster speeds – ideal if you’re working from home permanently and can’t handle the frustration of constant buffering – there are a number of great deals for full-fibre connections too. BT, Sky, Virgin Media, and a host of new start-ups, including the likes of Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, Zzoomm, Giganet, and more, are rolling out gigabit-capable broadband connections across the UK right now. While these next-generation connections typically cost a little more, they’re perfect for busy households with multiple people streaming shows in 4K, making video calls, downloading video games, backing up photos at the same time each night.
With a gigabit broadband connection, you’ll be able to download 25 songs in one second and a feature-length film in HD in around 36 seconds.
Express.co.uk has scoured the biggest broadband providers to find the best prices – and the ultimate speeds. We’re rounded up the best selection of cost and download speeds below. If you’re currently out-of-contract, you should be able to find a brilliant new deal below…
Hyperoptic is one of the new kids on the block. Unfortunately, that means it’s not available as widely as BT, Sky or Virgin Media, but if you’re lucky enough to have its gigabit-cable cables in your street – there are some amazing deals to be had. With no upfront cost or installation fees, this 50Mbps bundle is usually £25 a month, but Hyperoptic has slashed that price as part of a flash sale. So, you’ll need to be fast to secure the cheapest deal on this list!
BT Broadband (150Mbps)
BT is running a new “homebuyer” deal that slashes the price of some of its fastest fibre broadband packages in half for the first three months …and don’t worry, there’s no need to prove that you’ve recently moved house to qualify! After the first three months, your monthly bills will rise to £34.99 a month. With download speeds of 150Mbps, this bundle means you’ll rarely see any loading or buffering
Vodafone’s new “Switch and Save” deal offers new customers the chance to sign-up to its home broadband plans for less than £20 a month. If your broadband is out of contract, Vodafone estimates that you can save as much as £300 by switching to one of its newly discounted plans. At 35Mbps, this isn’t the fastest connection (it’s about half the speed of the UK average home broadband) but it’s a great way to save money if you’re not streaming video all of the time!
NOW TV (60Mbps)
NOW is currently offering its fast Super Fibre broadband package for just £22 a month, which includes unlimited downloads at speeds of over 60Mbps. It also bundles free calls to landline numbers, and there are exclusive discounts available if you add a NOW TV pass to unlock access to Sky’s exclusive channels, movies, and live sporting fixtures too. At 12-months, this is one of the shorter contract lengths – perfect for those who want to keep switching to always get the best deal
TalkTalk is offering its fibre broadband at a discounted price, with customers now able to access to the web from just £23 per month. You will need to pay a one-off £4.95 charge for the postage of the new Wi-Fi router, but that’s it. TalkTalk says to expect 38Mbps download speeds, which isn’t the fastest …but it’s a very affordable package that could seriously reduce your monthly outgoings
John Lewis Broadband (36Mbps) + FREE £45 Voucher
For a limited time, John Lewis is handing out a £45 voucher to spend in its stores or Waitrose when you sign-up to its fibre broadband plan. Coupled with the free evening and weekend calls to a landline, the unlimited usage, and the short 12-month minimum contract length – this is a superb deal
Plusnet (66Mbps) + £50 Reward Card
Plusnet has dropped its £10 activation fee and thrown-in a £50 Reward Card that can be spent anywhere that accepts Mastercard so, in a nutshell, anywhere! In terms of the broadband bundle, you’ll get acceptable 66Mbps speeds and unlimited usage. The 18-month minimum contract isn’t the shortest on this list, but it won’t tie you in as long as some providers, like BT
While GigaClear might not have the brand recognition of some of the other brands in this list, it more than makes up for that with some phenomenal deals. Right now, you can get 200Mbps download speeds – almost three times faster than the UK average speed – for less than £30 a month. You’ll also get unlimited downloads and FREE installation
Shell Energy (63Mbps)
While you might not associate Shell Energy with broadband, the company offers decent download speeds at competitive prices. And since it runs on BT’s Openreach network, you’re likely to already have the right infrastructure in your street. Right now, Shell has slashed the cost of its Fibre Plus package from £35.99 a month down to £25.99 for the duration of your contract. Bargain!
Virgin Media (108Mbps)
Virgin Media will slash the price of its full-fibre broadband bundles when you decide to add a phone line (don’t worry – you don’t have to use the phone). This means you can get 108Mbps speeds for just £27 per month, which is much more affordable than its broadband-only bundle for the same speeds
Origin Broadband (67Mbps)
Origin promises no-nonsense broadband, with customers guaranteed no chance of mid-contract price rises, unlimited downloads and no speed throttling – even at peak times. The contract lasts 18-months, which is a little shorter than you’ll get from BT and Sky too – perfect for those who want to shop around as soon as possible!
Sky Broadband (59Mbps)
With a guaranteed download speed of 50Mbps, this package has more than enough bandwidth to stream Netflix and Disney+ in Ultra HD without issue. Downloads are all unlimited too, so no worries about any hidden charges. No one-off charges to get set up either!
Community Fibre (1,000Mbps)
If you’re looking for the ultimate broadband speed at home, this bundle from Community Fibre is sure to blow your hair back. Unfortunately, Community Fibre doesn’t quite have the reach of BT and Virgin Media, but if you live in an area served by its network, it offers next-generation speeds for significantly less than its more established rivals
Source: Read Full Article


BearClaw Gaming players leave the organisation
Following defaulting on payments, the Valorant team BearClaw Gaming has decided to leave the organisation. A sudden announcement that raises questions about the future of the Valorant players in Korea.
The BearClaw Esports was the Valorant team of the BearClaw Gaming organisation. The latter is owned by Plynius, a holding company specialised in entertainment and esports.
According to Steven Kim, BearClaw Gaming Manager, Plynius has not made any payment since January 2021. The firm is reportedly committed to financially supporting the players and BearClaw staff. Yet, whether in terms of salary or equipment, nobody has received anything.
Faced with this situation, the entire BearClaw Gaming membership has decided to break the contracts with Plynius. The very future of the organisation is uncertain. It has managed to become independent from Plynius, but is actively looking for new partners. Starlight Gaming, an Korean Overwatch team, has also decided to end its relations with Plynius, in view of the situation of BearClaw Gaming.
On their side, the players of the Valorant team and their coaches have decided to leave BearClaw Gaming. By regaining their freedom, they hope to find a new organisation capable of supporting them. From now on, they will play under the name of Team MUYAHO.
Although the BearClaw Gaming organisation has been in place since February 2020, the Valorant BearClaw Esports team was formed earlier this year, recruiting former players from Cloud9 Korea and T1 Korea. Already left behind by their former teams, they once again find themselves without an organisation to represent, nor a stable financial situation.
This is a real problem, especially for such talented players. The BearClaw Gaming team has climbed into the top 4 of the top teams in the Valorant Challengers 1 Korea. It's therefore automatically qualified for Challengers 2. However, as all its players are leaving the organisation, BearClaw should lose its place. Indeed, the rules of the Champions Tour imply that a team must always keep at least three of the players present at the time of registration. It's therefore possible that Team MUYAHO will have to start from scratch.
Where the situation seems even more problematic is that the Valorant stage is already relatively precarious in Korea. The country has very few teams, and even fewer organisations ready to invest in this new FPS. There were only 31 teams that participated in the first Challengers. In December, Riot Games Korea announced a plan to help the local teams of Valorant. Eight of them can receive up to 50 millions Won (around 37,400€) if they meet certain conditions.


The aggressive attack on the Public Sector by the Modi Government is intended to finish off all the existing PSUs, which have greatly contributed to the growth of the country, and hand over them to the greedy corporates. Whether profitable or not, all the PSUs one by one are going to be disnvested, sold and or closed.
United/Joint Struggles by the entire workers, executives and management with the support of the people are essential for saving the public sector. Leave aside other differences and unite to fight the anti-PSU policy of the government and save the PSUs.
सर् आप निजीकरण के विरोधी क्यों है , सरकार और सरकारी अधिकारी , कर्मचारी जनता के कामों के लिए कितने जवाबदेही समझते है ये पिछले 18 सालों से में खुद लगातार देखते आ रहा हूँ ???? धन्यवाद !!!!!!!
There are two main views or policies for the government. One is governance for the common people. Providing jobs, food, education, housing etc., the minimum requirement for he people. The other is the policies for allowing the rich, powerful and corporates to increase their profit at the cost of the ordinary people. We are in favour of the former and against the latter policy. Privatisation is part of the latter policy and hence out strong opposition to it.


Hasbro Inc., one of the largest toy maker in the U.S. is set to unveil 3-D Goggles for Apple gadgets. The company predicts that more and more users would demand for 3D viewing over the iPod and the iPhone, as the 3D era is on the go. The company showcased the product to the investors, which is seen as a handheld device and attaches to the Apple device comfortably, known as My3D. Hasbro promises that the gadget would enable three-dimensional content on the device as users experience the fun in gaming, virtual travel and entertainment content. The gadget is designed in such a manner which makes it perfect for kids as well as adults.
According to company officials, the binocular design gadget will be priced at $30 and would be made available to users, somewhere around Spring season, at stores where Apple gadgets are being sold. Apple users who buy the smartly designed gadget can visit the Apple App Store which allows them to browse and download My3d content. Hasbro even noted that the while different Apps would vary on prices, a wide variety of apps would be made available for free.
The company is surely to grab a big share if things work out well but the only thing is, the company as well as others would need to bring a flow over the content. It also revealed that the company has teamed up with Dreamworks Animation to develop material for the gadget.
via [Yahoo Finance]


Great Eastern Energy is a leading supplier of natural gas, electricity and renewable energy in the Northeast. Founded in 1996, they remain one of the longest standing alternative energy companies in the region. Their full service energy solutions help businesses and property owners thrive by managing their energy costs and increasing their bottom-line.
Simply Switch is a trading name of MoneyExpert Limited. MoneyExpert does not give advice on or recommend any particular insurance product or service or whether it is suitable for your personal circumstances. The information provided is to help you to make your own choice about how to proceed. MoneyExpert is an appointed representative of MoneyExpert Insurance Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by The Financial Services Authority FRN 557120.
Electric bills for customers in the Houston area can more than double in summer months, mainly because air conditioning. Not coincidentally, electric rates also rise in the summer months because of this increase in demand. The most dramatic rate increases occur in month-to-month plans, but electric rates do increase across the board for all fixed-rate contract lengths.
Just Energy is a leading independent energy supplier with over 1.6 million electricity and natural gas customer accounts across the US and Canada. Just Energy’s business involves the sale of natural gas and electricity to residential and commercial customers under long-term fixed-price or price-protected contracts (price protected for electricity). By securing the price for natural gas or electricity under such contracts for a period of up to five years, Just Energy’s customers reduce or eliminate their exposure to changes in the price of these essential commodities.
When changing your address, first contact your supplier to go discuss special offers when you move. If service is not available at your new address, you can come back to PowerKioskDirect.com to shop for the best offers for your new address. You'll then start a completely new contract. For plans with cancellation fees listed, these apply only in "early termination" situations where the service is actively cancelled before the end of a contract term.
How did we get this number?This total is calculated by taking the wattage and daily usage of your common appliances and converting this into a monthly kilowatt per hour (kWh) usage rate. To figure out the estimated cost based on this rate, multiply your kWh per month by the cost of your energy (an average rate is $.12 per kWh). You can learn more about calculating your energy consumption by following the steps on this page.
Gone are the days when you had to contact electric companies to discover their rates, and negotiate a better deal on your own. Today, Vault Electricity does the work for you, handling the entire process of finding the best Texas electricity rates and plans from providers that have a pedigree of business stability, customer service, eco-friendliness, and financial transparency. This allows you to shop for electricity in just a few minutes, right from your computer.
Reviews.com has an advertising relationship with some of the offers included on this page. However, the rankings and listings of our reviews, tools and all other content are based on objective analysis. For more information, please check out our full Advertiser Disclosure. Reviews.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product’s website. All products are presented without warranty.
Anyone on a standard rate tariff is at risk of seeing rising energy bills – so one of the best ways to protect from energy price increases is to switch to a fixed rate tariff. This means that for the duration of the deal, the cost of your energy and gas will be fixed. You may be able to switch to a cheaper fixed price tariff at any point, or you may have to pay a fee if you switch before the end of the deal – so check your paperwork.
TDU Delivery Charge: TDU stands for transmission and delivery utility — in other words, the utility company in your area that is actually piping the energy from the power generation companies into your home. (Remember, REPs in Texas are just the middleman.) The TDU delivery charge is set by the utility and is consistent from plan to plan and provider to provider within its service areas. For example, AEP , the TDU for Corpus Christi, charges the same delivery fee for all TXU, Direct Energy, and Reliant plans. You don't typically get a choice in utility company, and therefore, these fees are pretty much unavoidable, non-negotiable, and won't factor into choosing an electricity plan or provider.
Energy deregulation has been in place for several years however there are still a lot of people who are confused or who have not fully understand the implications, structure, details and workings of energy deregulation. Many simply know that energy deregulation means people now have the power to choose their electric companies – a diversion from the previous system where a single utility company provides services for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
In addition to having a healthy dose of Texas pride, we also pride ourselves on providing friendly customer service. Amigo Energy customer service comes in a variety of convenient ways—from our mobile app and desktop portal, to our US-based call center with over 500 customer service agents. No matter which type of Amigo Energy customer support you choose, you’re sure to get the service you need in the timeframe you want it.


Road Warrior: Alitalia bid deadline
An airline on the market, and Dublin and Cork airports in the running for awards
An Alitalia aircraft taking off. Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, is a 49 per cent stakeholder in the airline but is not expected to invest further. Photograph: Getty Images
Alitalia on sale
The deadline for “expressions of interest” is next Monday, June 5th, when the receivers of Italian carrier Alitalia want initial bids to be submitted. The receivers will consider options that include the purchase of the carrier as a going concern, a plan for the economic and financial restructuring or a transfer of assets and contracts. Etihad, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, is a 49 per cent stakeholder in the airline, but is not expected to invest further. Maybe Ryanair may consider it again. Employees voted against plans to cut jobs and salaries. The Italian government has provided a bridging loan for €600 million while a buyer is found.
Dublin and Cork airports in best airports awardsDublin Airport has been nominated in the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe best airports awards for the second year in a row. The other contenders are Madrid Barajas and London Heathrow in the category of large airports handling more than 25 million passengers a year. Dublin Airport has also been nominated in the accessible airports category, which it won last year. Cork Airport has been nominated in the same awards in the category for best airport fewer than five million passengers. The winners will be announced on June 13th at the ACI Europe general assembly in Paris.
SuperRooms from TravelodgeTravelodge, the budget hotel provider in the UK, launched its new SuperRooms concept for business travellers. The new rooms are a class of premium economy that dial up the comfort levels. The new rooms will have a more residential feel with tones of blue and beige, and blackout curtains. Other comforts include Lavazza coffee machines, Hansgrohe Raindance showers, larger desk area, iron and ironing board, powerful hairdryers and a comfy armchair. SuperRooms are available in London at the moment and will cost and extra £10-20 on classic rooms.
New AA lounge at JFK
American Airlines (AA) opened its Flagship first dining and Flagship lounge at New York’s JFK airport last week. Access to the lounge is being extended to business class passengers, who will be offered top-of-the-line dining in the airport. Menus will be locally inspired, and feature grass-fed beef from Joyce Farms, cheese from Sprout Creek Farms and speciality cocktails designed by New York mixologist Pamela Wiznitzer.


The transition to renewables cuts across the entire urban energy landscape, from buildings to transport, to industry and power. Renewables can bring tremendous benefits to cities, including cleaner air, modern services and improved living spaces. At the same time, cities are crucial to the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy, accounting for 65% of global energy use and 70% of man-made carbon emissions.
Renewable Energy in Cities explores potential for urban communities to scale-up renewables by 2030, based on estimated energy use 3,649 cities around the world. It finds that every city has massive potential to cost-effectively boost renewable energy use at the local level. The report outlines three priority areas where cities can take action: renewable energy in buildings (for heating, cooling, cooking, and appliances); sustainable options for transport (electric mobility and biofuels); and creating integrated urban energy systems.
By highlighting the best practices from cities around the world, this report examines the policies and technologies by which cities can bring about a renewable energy future. It provides concrete examples of how municipal leaders and administrators can accelerate the switch to renewable energy at the local level by acting as planners, regulators, financiers and operators of urban infrastructure.


Crypto Trading 101: The Right Way to Do Crypto Margin Trading
Are you looking to trade with leverage? Learn how to maximize your profits with cryptocurrency margin trading on C-Trade. Our beginner's guide to cryptocurrency margin trading will teach you the process from start to finish.
If you're already familiar with traditional stock market trading and want to take advantage of some of the benefits of crypto, it might be time to start margin trading instead. Crypto margin trading is a form of cryptocurrency investing that can be highly leveraged—meaning you can borrow money from a crypto exchange to make more significant investments. It also comes with more risk.
This guide will help you understand what margin trading is, how it works, and some tips for using it safely to start making money!
What is Crypto Margin Trading and Leverage?
Margin trading is a way to trade with more money than you have using leverage. It's not just for speculators, though—it can also help account holders access greater positions at lower prices. The trick is that while the cryptocurrency may appear cheaper because you aren't paying per-transaction fees, it's at risk of losing value if the price goes down.
So when doing margin trading (or any investment or speculation), always ensure that your trades are well thought out and based on sound logic rather than impulse decisions fueled by emotions such as greed or fear.
How Does Cryptocurrency Margin Trading Work?
Margin trading can be a very effective way to trade cryptocurrencies, but it's not for the faint of heart. Margin trading is essentially a way to use leverage. You can borrow money from leverage providers such as C-Trade (the most popular crypto margin trading platform) to increase your buying power.
To understand how margin trading works, let's look at an example: You have $20,000 in your bank account and want to invest in Bitcoin (BTC). You could buy some portion of BTC with only $2000, but if you wanted more than that amount, this would require more because all BTC is currently worth around $28,000 each.
So instead of buying just one coin with your cash, what if there was another option? Instead of paying the total out-of-pocket, what if there was another option where you could pay half the original investment amount upfront while borrowing half from someone else. Together, the investment and the borrowing allow you to invest in an asset and own 100%.
This investment is entirely different from regular investors' when they buy crypto assets directly through an exchange platform like C-Trade, Coinbase, or Kraken.
Two Main Types of Crypto Margin Trading
When trading cryptocurrencies, you'll hear the terms "futures" and "options." These are two different types of contracts for margin trading, one for hedging and one for speculation. When to use each depends on your reasons for doing crypto margin trading.
Futures are used to hedge against price fluctuations in an underlying asset. For example, if you think that the price of a particular cryptocurrency will go up but aren't sure how high it will go, buying futures is the best way forward. If the value increases (or decreases), so does your profit or loss because you've locked in a price.
Another common practice is shorting futures- betting against an asset by selling them at a high price, hoping they'll go down. It is usually accompanied by repurchasing them at a lower price later instead of holding onto them.
Things You Need To Know About Crypto Margin and Leverage Trading
- Margin traders can buy crypto futures contracts as well as spot price coins. Leverage trading is riskier than traditional trading.
- When investing in cryptocurrency through futures trading, margin enables investors to scale their positions as needed without having capital tied up.
- Crypto exchanges offer both fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto margin trading. Margin trading allows you to use leverage in both directions, with a simple long/short position or by selling options against it (called shorting).
- You can also use leverage to increase your profit-making potential or reduce risk when opening up new positions—but only after having already established one with cash from your account balance.
It's essential to be aware of these details of margin trading to choose the one that best fits your needs.
Crypto Margin Trading Strategies
If you're looking for the best crypto margin trading strategy, you've come to the right place. Here are our favourite strategies:
Build Slow and Cautiously
The "slow and steady" approach - is an excellent strategy if you're looking to make steady profits over time. It involves buying low and selling high, so your profits steadily grow over time.
The "aggressive break-out" strategy involves predicting when an asset will move above its resistance level so that when it does happen, you can buy in at a lower price than usual and sell high before demand catches up with supply again (and prices go down). This strategy is risky because it could go either way! If your prediction is wrong, then there's no telling what will happen next...
Buy Low and Sell High
The "buy high/sell low" approach is self-explanatory; it involves buying into assets that have recently risen in value while also selling off assets that have recently fallen in value (usually due to negative news).
The Advantages of Cryptocurrency Margin Trading
If you want to increase your profits and earn more money, margin trading is the right choice for you. Here are some of the most significant advantages that come with using this method:
- You can make more frequent trades through margin than using cash-based crypto trading. Placing orders and getting them filled quickly is more manageable, so you can trade more at any given time (e.g., during bull runs).
- Margin trading allows users to trade different types of cryptocurrency assets simultaneously, even if they're not related or related only in passing. For example, BTC/ETH pairings on the C-Trade exchange are available through margin accounts but not for cash-based traders. It gives more flexibility when choosing which coins or tokens should form part of a portfolio overall.
- It also gives users access to far greater leverage (at times up to 150x) than would otherwise be possible with cash-only accounts.
Margin trading in crypto is different from what you might be used to with other assets. While futures and options are forms of leverage, they're not the same as margin trading.
Crypto margin trading allows for up to 150x leverage, which means that if you have $3,000 in your account and buy $30,000 worth of Bitcoin (BTC), you can now control 1 BTC plus all its profits or losses—without having to put down any cash at all!
The best part? You can begin with as little as USD 100 on some exchanges. To learn more about how this works, read our guide on the best crypto derivatives exchange of 2022.
To Sum It Up
Margin trading is the most common way for traders to take risks with their assets. While users can use it for many things, there are a few things to keep in mind when using margin trading:
- Don't put all your eggs in one basket (or trade). It means not putting all your money into a single cryptocurrency or other assets and making sure that you diversify your holdings. You're better off spreading out across multiple different cryptocurrencies and assets to ensure against any risk of losing everything if something goes wrong with one particular investment.
- Don't use margin trading as leverage for speculation about future market prices; use it for actual investing purposes only! In other words, invest wisely using capital resources without borrowing funds.
When you understand the risks, crypto margin trading can significantly boost your earnings. Margin trading is a high-risk investment strategy, but it can be a great way to make more money. If you understand the risks and have the right experience, crypto margin trading can be an excellent way to earn more money.
For more such informational blogs, check out our website.
The Best Proof-of-Work Crypto to Mine in 2022 Other than BTC and ETH
The Best Proof-of-Stake Crypto to Stake in 2022


About the initiative
If we want technology to work for everyone, it needs to be built by everyone. Black founders in Africa disproportionately lack access to the networks and capital needed to grow their businesses. In 2020, with less than 0.5% of global venture capital (VC) funding going to Black-led startups, Google announced the Black Founders Fund and has since deployed $20M in funding to founders across the US, Europe, Africa, and Brazil. The latest $4M Black Founders Fund in Africa provides 60 founders with up to $100K in capital, up to an additional $200K in Google Cloud Credits, and access to the best of Google—people, products, and practices.


Shoppers offered an alternative to Black Friday
AS SHOPPERS up and down the country are being offered an alternative to the Black Friday sales, as research shows that more than half feel pressurized by the Christmas shopping pressure.
A new survey found that 54 per cent of respondents say they have negative emotions in the run-up to Christmas. They say they feel stressed, anxious, ill, argumentative and violent.
In an effort to counter these negative feelings, Traidcraft has launched its ‘Just Friday’ initiative, encouraging shoppers to make ethical purchases.
The survey, for the charity, found that 43 per cent of respondents would also like to see the end of Black Friday altogether, despite predictions that sales today could break the £1 billion barrier.
Asda, which was instrumental in bringing the American tradition to the UK, is not participating this year, and it is estimated that four out of 10 shoppers will make their purchases online rather than in stores.
Larry Bush, Traidcraft’s marketing director, said: “With some of the biggest UK retailers scaling back their involvement in this year’s Black Friday sales, it’s obvious that consumers are growing tired of this materialistic ‘consumption culture’, which is why we’re running our Just Friday campaign again this year.”
He said that if even just one per cent of the projected sales were made with ethical, fair trade organisations, it would make a huge difference to tens of thousands of people in the developing world.
“We are offering an alternative with ‘Just Friday’, and asking people to take a few moments and think about their buying choices.”
Safia Minney MBE, Founder & CEO of People Tree said: “We can create change, a different way of doing business and buy Fair Trade, ethically and sustainably this Just Friday.”


Labor Law as Social Inclusion: A Proposal for Re-conceptualization of Employment
The International Department at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights welcomes you to a seminar with Associate Professor Yifeng Chen from Peking University Law School on his research titled “Labor Law as Social Inclusion: A Proposal for Re-conceptualization of Employment Relationship in Chinese Law”.
Associate Professor Yifeng Chen. Photo: Peking University Law School
- 12:00 - 12:05 Welcome by Yi Wang, Head of Human Rights Education, International Department at the Norwegian Center for Human Rights
- 12:05 - 12:35 Presentation by Yifeng Chen, Associate Professor at Peking University Law School
- 12:35 – 13:00 Comments by Wei Chen, Special Adviser, Economic and Social Affairs Dep. International Department, the Norwegian Confederation on Trade Unions (LO)
- 13:00 – 13:30 Q&A
A summary of the research:
The research offers a critical examination of the definition of employment relationship and the notion of a “worker” under Chinese law. The right to work is clearly provided for in the International Covenant of Economic, Cultural and Social Rights. Yet under domestic labour laws, the legal recognition of workers, who are thus under the protection of labour law and entitled to various social protection systems, covers only those who are under formal employment relationship. As a result of the narrowly constructed concept of employment relationship under Chinese law, a considerably large amount of people, who are working in informal economy, flexibly employed or self-employed, find it difficult to integrate into the existing labour law regime. The research suggests that the legal definition of employment relationship should be critically reconstructed and conceptualized from the perspective of social inclusion. An overly formalistic approach is too parochial and exclusive.
The research project proposes a reconstruction of employment relationship by highlighting the role of labour law as an essential institution for social inclusion and redistribution. The labour law was originally designed to contractualize the employment in 1980s. This was reoriented in early 2000s towards more stringent labour protection. It is a time to reconceive the role of labour law as an institution for social inclusion. A more receptive and inclusive approach towards employment recognition is essential for the transformation of Chinese labour law.


Office supply giant Staples pioneered the concept of big-box office supply stores in the 1980s. Now shoppers are looking for a different way to buy stationery.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Staples said it is exploring a possible sale to a private equity buyer. A deal to merge with Office Depot last year was blocked on antitrust grounds.
For Staples, the challenge is one that is gnawing at virtually every big retail brand: how to build an ecommerce business fast enough to offset eroding sales at physical stores.
Sales of office and school supplies have been relatively flat for several years, according to data from The NPD Group. In 2016, overall sales inched up 1% to $12.1 billion. Essentially all of that growth came from online sales, which rose 12% last year.
Staples itself has seen decent ecommerce growth. Its ecommerce sales increased 13.0% in 2016, slightly outpacing overall industry gains. And ecommerce makes up a creditable 13% of Staples’ total revenues.
But the company’s brick-and-mortar operations have dragged, with same-store sales declining over the past five years. And the declines have accelerated—reaching 5% in 2016.


In 2004, I had the opportunity to test theories in several corporations throughout the United States and Asia prior to solidifying the vision.
On May 7th, 2005, I assembled a team of colleagues from various corporations and the United States Armed Forces to come together to address this problem. We invented a way to increase productivity and strengthen the decision making capabilities within companies. Dr. Barry Lawrence at Texas A&M University said that our vision was "revolutionary". Forrester Research stated that this is the "world's first Business Process Management Suite for the supply chain." We recently launched a marketing campaign in which Tanya Candia, President of Candia Communications states that the response is "phenomenal". The supply chain has been a problem for all companies until now. We've devised a way to make driving the supply chain as easy of driving a car. My name is James Vinson and I am the President and Founder of V-Chain Solutions, Inc. and my team is dedicated to solving your supply chain challenges. I encourage you to learn more by attending the Triple Green Supply Chain Conference in San Francisco on December 11th, 2008.
V-Chain Solutions Presents
The Triple Green Supply Chain Event
San Francisco, California - December 11, 2008
A strategic B2B networking event for anyone looking to
improve supply chain visibility -- and environmental sustainability!


Deora receives first shipment of Sakhalin oil
The shipment of crude oil from Russia was received at New Mangalore Port Trust complex in Mangalore.india Updated: Dec 02, 2006 13:59 IST
The first shipment of crude oil from the Sakhalin oil field in Russia was received on Saturday by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora at the New Mangalore Port Trust complex in Mangalore.
The consignment of 92,055 metric tonnes (672,000 barrels) of Sokol crude was ferried on board the Russian ship MK Viktortitov - the oil tanker of Primorsk Shipping Company on a charter of OVL (ONGC Videsh Ltd). The tanker set sail from Dekastri port in Russia on November 14.
OVL has 20 per cent stake in Sakhalin-1, acquired from two subsidiaries of Russian government oil firm Rosnett - SMNG-S and Rosneft-S.
First Published: Dec 02, 2006 13:59 IST


By Mashable India
World of Statistics recently shared a list of the richest actors in the world right now. Top Gun and Mission Impossible star has a whopping net worth $620 million. The actor is one of the most well-known faces around the globe and has built a vast empire for himself.
Shah Rukh Khan is the only Indian actor on the list, the actor has his own production house, an IPL cricket team and has several multi-crore projects coming up. He has a reported net worth of Rs $770 million.
Jerry Seinfeld created an entire empire for himself with the help of his cult classic sitcom Seinfeld and owns 15% of the show's equity. He is the richest actor on the planet with a net worth of $1 billion.


AST-Holzmann Baugesellschaft has been acquired by Wolff & Müller GmbH & Co KG
Wolff & Müller GmbH & Co KG has acquired AST-Holzmann Baugesellschaft m.b.H. from Philipp Holzmann AG for US$20 million.
AST-Holzmann Baugesellschaf is a construction company based in Austria.
Wolff & Müller GmbH & Co KG is a construction company offering construction services, building materials, raw materials and services. The company is based in Germany.
Oaklins' team in Germany advised the seller in this transaction.
Talk to the deal team
Dr. Hans Bethge
Arbo Windows becomes the leading wooden windows producer in the Baltics by acquiring Arlanga Wood
Arbo Windows, a leading Latvian producer of wooden windows and doors, has acquired Arlanga Wood, a leading Lithuanian producer of wooden windows and doors, creating the largest wooden windows producer in the Baltic states. The combined group has over 200 employees and generates over US$20 million of annual revenues.Learn more
Unica has agreed to acquire the Dutch fire & gas business unit from Dräger
Unica, one of the largest providers of technical services in the Netherlands, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of Dräger's Dutch fire & gas business unit. With this acquisition, Unica strengthens its fire safety portfolio. The acquisition of the specialist in fire and gas detection and fire extinguishing materials results in a deepening and expansion of Unica’s fire safety cluster, a leading player in integrated fire safety solutions with 450 specialists.Learn more
Grothe Bau has been acquired by TERRAS Tiefbau Group
The private shareholder of the civil engineering company Grothe Bau Group has sold a majority stake to the TERRAS Tiefbau Group. With this transaction, the combined group reinforces its market position and future growth potential in the civil engineering sector.Learn more


Western Diversification Program - Call for Proposals
The intake period for the WDP Call for Proposals (CFP) is now closed.
The Western Diversification Program (WDP) is the main program through which Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) makes strategic investments in initiatives with not-for-profit organizations that enhance and strengthen the economy of Western Canada.
The WDP Call for Proposals (WDP-CFP) process allows for a comparative analysis of projects against clear criteria; strengthens the department’s responsiveness to economic trends and industry needs; and ensures alignment to Government of Canada plans and priorities.
Information about the WDP-CFP process and eligibility for funding is available in the:
- Applicant Guide and Instructions (HTML | PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions (HTML)
The Applicant Guide and FAQs are subject to change with each intake period.
The following non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for WDP funding:
- Industry associations, economic development organizations, cultural organizations, and societies;
- Post-secondary institutions;
- Hospitals and regional health care centers;
- Indigenous-led not-for-profits and organizations which may include but not limited to First Nations as represented by their Chief and Council, Tribal Councils, Indigenous Representative Organizations, Métis and Inuit organizations and Settlements as well as First Nation/Métis Settlement wholly-owned businesses where all profits accrue solely to the First Nation/Settlement to benefit community members;
- Municipal Governments and organizations created by them;
- Federal Crown Corporations (Treasury Board Secretariat will be consulted prior to any funding decisions for Federal Crown Corporations); and,
- Provincial Government Departments, agencies and Crown Corporations (although eligible within the WDP Terms and Conditions, WD would require an Order in Council to contract with these organizations. As such, any projects would be considered on an exceptional basis).
For-profit organizations can access funding for innovation projects through WD’s Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative.
Contributions will be made to projects that support the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy, and activities where economic and/or employment benefits accrue primarily within Western Canada.
Applications received under the WDP-CFP process must directly support one (or more) of the following WD Strategic Priorities:
- Clean technology; and/or
- Indigenous economic growth (IEG).
In parallel to the WDP-CFP, WD is also seeking applications for the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) to enhance the vitality of francophone communities in Western Canada.
Strong projects will demonstrate:
- A clear alignment to one or more of WD’s priorities (listed above);
- Strong market/industry demand (e.g., the project addresses a significant gap in the market, there is a demonstrated industry demand for the project or there is demonstrated labour/skills shortages);
- Clear, measurable economic results for Western Canada;
- Effective governance measures and management team in place to carry out the project;
- A strong rationale for the project;
- Financial statements that demonstrate the organization is financially self-sustaining;
- Leveraged funding from provincial governments, the private sector, and other non-government sources (typically 50 percent or more); and,
- Non-WD funding is confirmed. Funding will only be considered confirmed with proof of confirmed funding.
Preference will be given to projects that focus on or include one or more of the following elements:
- Include industry participation and/or support (can be in the form of written support or confirmed funding from industry sources);
- Support clean technology initiatives identified by industry sectors as a priority; and,
- IEG applications submitted by Indigenous organizations or those with Indigenous partners.