Readers Write: Enabling the death and exploitation of illegal border crossers is not compassionate – Opinions – The Island Now

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This is in response to Dr. Hal Sobels August 12, 2019 letter, Accused of helping the undocumented.

The title of his letter should be changed to, Accused of enabling the death and exploitation of illegal border crossers.

Supporters of the Marxist agenda are not compassionate or tolerant in any fashion. One has only to follow the actions of their enforcers Antifa to prove the point.

The similarities of the violent tactics of Antifa and Hitlers Brown Shirts are striking and should be alarming to everyone. Marxists have no regard for the laws or Constitution of this country and only wish to achieve their ultimate goal of turning this great nation into a Marxist totalitarian state.As for quoting partisan sources, The Center for Constitutional Rights, according to Wikipedia, is a progressive non-profit legal advocacy organization based in New York City, New York, in the United States. It was founded in 1966 by Arthur Kinoy, William Kunstler and others particularly to support activists in the implementation of civil rights legislation and achieve social justice.

According to the Aug. 23, 2018 article in the National Review, Essentially a Fraud by Kyle Smith, The SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) can no longer be fairly termed a nonpartisan watchdog group. It has become a hate group itself. Actual political violence is of no interest to it unless it can be deployed in service of the SPLCs thinly veiled campaign to damage the right.In response to the statement, Dictatorships hold that using horrific means to achieve noble ends is acceptable, one can only imagine the carnage resulting from a compassionate and tolerant Marxist totalitarian state violating 2nd Amendment rights and forcibly trying to confiscate 300 million guns from American citizens.Democratic Socialists quoting Jesus to make their point is very puzzling.

According to author David Horowitz, a man who probably knows more about Marxist Democratic Socialists than they know about themselves, Unfortunately, the people who hate America on the left, and this embraces so much of the Democratic Party these days, have conducted a 50-year, 60-year attack on Christianity in this country. Theyve driven prayer and religion out of the schools.In conclusion, people who love, honor and respect all people without knowing anything about them are nave to say the least.

Except for immediate family, love, honor and respect must be mutually demonstrated and earned. Those adults who enter this country illegally must be detained and treated with courtesy.

The children that accompany them must be protected and treated with kindness. All processing and medical conditions should be addressed at border facilities as soon as possible after which the detainees who have violated laws passed by Congress must be returned to their country of origin.Walter J. JaworskiNew Hyde Park

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Readers Write: Enabling the death and exploitation of illegal border crossers is not compassionate - Opinions - The Island Now

Netherlands Submits Remote Gambling Act for European Commission Approval – European Gaming Industry News

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Complitech, the gaming industrys only product and technical compliance database, has received a significant upgrade with new functionality and additional market coverage.

As part of the new Complitech, users now have access to change management and information security requirements across all markets where these are available.

Complitech has also added compliance requirements for gaming platforms.

And on top of the new functionality, Complitechs market coverage has been expanded to include four new jurisdictions: New Jersey, Belarus, Latvia and Panama.

Antonio Zanghi, Managing Director of Maxima Compliance said: The feedback weve received since launching Complitech earlier this year has been fantastic, and weve been working hard to add new features, functionality and markets to the product.

This major update is designed to further smooth the technical compliance process, and make things easier than ever for suppliers to enter new markets. The four new jurisdictions we have added come at the direct request of our users, and we are already working on our next update, which can be expected later this year.

Complitech was launched by Maxima Compliance in March as the industrys first technical compliance database. It provides up-to-the-minute information via a comprehensive database and set of analytical tools, with the ability to conduct automated gap analysis across product compliance, information security and change management.

For more information about Complitech, or to schedule a free demonstration, please visit: https://www.complitech.com/

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Netherlands Submits Remote Gambling Act for European Commission Approval - European Gaming Industry News

Group of Wisconsin health care workers in Texas to assist in coronavirus ‘hot zone’ – WISN Milwaukee

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As coronavirus cases are surging across the country, a group of health care workers from the Milwaukee area are helping out in a state that's been especially hard hit.Texas has at least 282,000 confirmed cases across the state, but one hospital in Austin is getting some help from Ascension health care workers.WISN 12 News was there when the four nurses and two respiratory therapists left from Mitchell International Airport last week.They're in Austin treating coronavirus patients.Lisa Knigge is one of the respiratory therapists who made the trip.She told WISN 12 News they're seeing a lot of patients who are critically ill and need ventilators to help them breathe.What do you hope to take from this experience and bring back to Wisconsin when you return? WISN 12 News Sheldon Dutes asked. I think anytime you care for people that are critically ill, it takes a lot out of you, but I think that really is empowering in a way because it is so humbling; it does remind you that life is short and anyone could get sick at any time. I think when I go home Im going to be very grateful to go home and see my family and my friends, Knigge said. Knigge and the other Ascension health care workers are scheduled to return home this weekend.Another group of nurses from the Milwaukee area will leave for Florida, another hot spot, on Sunday.

As coronavirus cases are surging across the country, a group of health care workers from the Milwaukee area are helping out in a state that's been especially hard hit.

Texas has at least 282,000 confirmed cases across the state, but one hospital in Austin is getting some help from Ascension health care workers.

WISN 12 News was there when the four nurses and two respiratory therapists left from Mitchell International Airport last week.

They're in Austin treating coronavirus patients.

Lisa Knigge is one of the respiratory therapists who made the trip.

She told WISN 12 News they're seeing a lot of patients who are critically ill and need ventilators to help them breathe.

What do you hope to take from this experience and bring back to Wisconsin when you return? WISN 12 News Sheldon Dutes asked.

I think anytime you care for people that are critically ill, it takes a lot out of you, but I think that really is empowering in a way because it is so humbling; it does remind you that life is short and anyone could get sick at any time. I think when I go home Im going to be very grateful to go home and see my family and my friends, Knigge said.

Knigge and the other Ascension health care workers are scheduled to return home this weekend.

Another group of nurses from the Milwaukee area will leave for Florida, another hot spot, on Sunday.

Originally posted here:

Group of Wisconsin health care workers in Texas to assist in coronavirus 'hot zone' - WISN Milwaukee

How to FIRE Connects FIRE To Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps And Other Frugal Living Techniques – Press Release – Digital Journal

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In their most recent articles, the co-founders of How to FIRE discuss their views on other financial freedom curriculums and tips and how they can lead consumers to FIRE more effectively.

Consumers are always looking for options to help them find financial freedom. One movement that has gained popularity in recent years is the FIRE Movement (Financial Independence Retire Early), but there are many others that also provide a variety of benefits.

The How to FIRE blog is one of the premiere blogs out there in regards to sharing methods and resources that can help consumers to live out the FIRE lifestyle and enjoy their lives as they wish. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, theyve been working to provide consumers with helpful resources that can assist them with frugal living in this challenging economic landscape.

In one of their most recent blogs, co-founder Samantha Hawrylack shared her thoughts and insight regarding how the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps can be a gateway option for those who are looking at financial independence in their future. Ramsey is a well-known financial advisor who has helped millions of consumers to get out of debt since he started his ministry and radio show, both of which bear his name.

Hawrylack shares her experience transitioning from Baby Steps to FIRE, saying that The Dave Ramsey Baby Steps provide a basic financial foundation that helps people get control of their finances in a variety of aspects. They were actually the first things we worked on as a couple in our finances. But, we quickly realized that there were many ways that they could be optimized and improved upon. This lead us to even more research and we stumbled upon FIRE.

The article concludes with practical options that can help Baby Steps followers to start the journey toward the FIRE lifestyle, and how the two philosophies go hand-in-hand.

How to FIRE is a personal finance blog started by John and Samantha Hawrylack. Both have personal finance backgrounds and, collectively, paid off over $60,000 in debt in order to find their financial freedom. Now, the couple shares their insights and tips so that others who are looking to FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) can follow in their footsteps.

More info about the Hawrylacks and the How to FIRE blog can be found at their website, https://www.howtofire.com/.

Media ContactCompany Name: How To FIRE LLCContact Person: Samantha HawrylackEmail: Send EmailPhone: 484-909-3413City: CoatesvilleCountry: United StatesWebsite: http://www.howtofire.com

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How to FIRE Connects FIRE To Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps And Other Frugal Living Techniques - Press Release - Digital Journal

Where’s the FIRE? – Morningstar

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Theres a debate raging around Morningstar at the moment and it centres on the FIRE movement. The philosophy of Financial Independence, Retire Early has gained traction in recent years among people who want to work hard, save hard and then get on with enjoying the rest of their lives.

For me, it all starts with one crucial question: how much money do I need to retire?

I first started saving into a pension when I was 22. It was when I got my first job in financial journalism and the company I worked for was offering a generous package and doubled whatever you contributed. My editor at the time taught me the vital lesson that not taking up the offer would effectively be saying no to free money - a phrase Ive parroted to others thousands of times since.

Still, the sums involved seemed unfathomable to me. My projected retirement age is 68 (and lets face it, thatll be going up, especially after Rishi Sunaks latest spending spree) and the meagre monthly contribution I was making from my salary didnt seem like it was ever going to add up to much.

The realisation that I was going to need that pot to grow to at least six figures if I was ever going to stand a chance of retiring was almost enough to make me give up. Financial Independence, Retire Early? Id settle for Not Having to Work Until Im Well Into My 90s, but that doesnt shorten down into a catchy acronym like FIRE does.

So, I admire anyone with the ability, confidence and optimism to plan for an early retirement. If you know that is whats going to make you happy and the youre confident the sums add up, then there is absolutely no reason not to strive for FIRE. But theres nothing wrong with taking a slow and steady approach either, as long as you get there in the end.

I cant say I envy the job of a fund manager right now. At a time when companies are tearing up any form of forward guidance, fears of a second wave are rife, and there are question marks over whether millions of workers will ever return to an office again, how are you supposed to make investment decisions?

Ive only checked my own investment account once since the Covid-19 sell-off in March, a few weeks after the event. I remember seeing some red, still feeling happy about the performance of my gold ETFand logging out. At some point, Ill have to do some tinkering after a choppy few months its a fair assumption that things are probably not in the state in which I had originally intended but, for now, Id prefer to stick to the long-term plan rather than start guessing what to buy and sell.

So, when we asked fund managers how they expect the rest of 2020 to play out, they were understandably cautious. There might be a full stock market recovery, there might not. We might have a second term of President Trump in office, we might not. A coronavirus vaccine might be found, it might not. Suddenly making predictions about the stock market is about as reliable as making predictions about the British weather.

Investors often suffer FOMO (fear of missing out) and end up buying once the stock market has rebounded as it has done in recent weeks, not considering whether it may go on to fall again. While the rally could continue if a vaccine is found or economic growth picks up, there are plenty of things that could derail it too.

Ultimately, when even the professionals don't know the answers, it's worth treading carefully and preparing for all eventualities.

Cryptocurrency is an asset class I feel uneasy about at the best of times. This week a number of high-profile individuals found themselves at the wrong end of it when their Twitter accounts were hacked.

Their accounts sent tweets to millions of followers asking for Bitcoin donations that would be spent helping local communities, with the celebrity accounts claiming they would match whatever the generous public donated. Its frightening and more than a bit depressing how there is always a fraudster ready to take advantage in a dire situation. Whats more frightening is how many charitable individuals may have fallen for this scam.

While cryptocurrency has started to move into the mainstream, the fact that Bitcoin is all too often a go-to tool for cyber criminals should be enough to warn more anxious investors off.

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Where's the FIRE? - Morningstar

Charlotte Independence gear up for return to the USL pitch – Charlotte Post

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The Charlotte Independence are preparing for their first match in 139 days.

COVID-19 shut down sports across the world in March, including USL Championship, but the league resumed play on July 11 with the Independence scheduled to return on July 22 at Miami FC. However, due to Floridas rising infection rate, that game has been pushed to Aug. 23. Instead, Charlotte returns on July 25 at Memphis. They will play 15 regular season matches, which end on Sept. 30 against North Carolina FC in Cary.

Im excited to be back out on the field with the group, Charlotte coach Mike Jeffries said. I know the guys are happy to be playing and competing and doing what they love in a real manner. Looking forward to having the training have meaning as we get ready for the games.

Jeffries focused on technical work during the last month-plus as contact training was limited to small groups. As training progresses, they have been able to focus on the tactical side. Probably most importantly is trying to get the guys back into the habits of playing at pace, being able to make decisions at pace, Jeffries said. Fitness-wise, no matter what we did in small groups, its a different fitness. Weve been able to pin down how we want to play defensively.

In March, the Independence had just embarked on their season with a road win. They signed all-time leading USL Championship goal scorer Dane Kelly, and the season looked promising compared to the disaster of the Jim McGuinness experiment the previous season. While some clubs quietly awaited the restart, the Independence had to deal with backlash from majority owner Dan DiMiccos anti-Black Lives Matter tweets. Fans demanded season ticket refunds from the club, to no avail, as the club is asking for fans to provide proof that they have been financially impacted by the pandemic.

Silence is a trend the front office has become intimately acquainted with since releasing a tepid anti-racism statement on June 1. In the meantime, their youth component created an Independence Anti-Racism Task Force, has met with first team, and committed to community work such as food drives.

Players like defender Hugh Roberts and goalkeeper Brandon Miller continue to advocate for social and racial change. Miller has partnered with California-based group the Young Investors Society to increase financial literacy in low income high schools. Both are working to raise funds and awareness for Heal Charlotte, a community empowerment and youth advocacy non-profit organization.

Roberts partnered with The Queens English Soccer show to create a fundraiser for Roots in the Community Services, Creative Player Foundation and Block Love Charlottelocal organizations empowering communities of color. While the club is promoting Roberts work compared to June when they remained nearly silent, the dichotomy between team and front office remains.

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Charlotte Independence gear up for return to the USL pitch - Charlotte Post

The Fed’s independence helped it save the US economy in 2008 the CDC needs the same authority today – The Conversation US

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The image of scientists standing beside governors, mayors or the president has become common during the pandemic. Even the most cynical politician knows this public health emergency cannot be properly addressed without relying on the scientific knowledge possessed by these experts.

Yet, ultimately, U.S. government health experts have limited power. They work at the discretion of the White House, leaving their guidance subject to the whims of politicians and them less able to take urgent action to contain the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines only to later revise them after the White House intervened. The administration has also undermined its top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, over his blunt warnings that the pandemic is getting worse a view that contradicts White House talking points. And most recently, the White House stripped the CDC of control of coronavirus data, alarming health experts who fear it will be politicized or withheld.

In the realm of monetary policy, however, there is an agency with experts trusted to make decisions on their own in the best interests of the U.S. economy: the Federal Reserve. As I describe in my recent book, Stewards of the Market, the Feds independence allowed it to take politically risky actions that helped rescue the economy during the financial crisis of 2008.

Thats why I believe we should give the CDC the same type of authority as the Fed so that it can effectively guide the public through health emergencies without fear of running afoul of politicians.

There is a paradox inherent in the relationship between political leaders and technical experts in government.

Experts have the training and skill to apply scientific knowledge in complex biological and economic systems, yet democratically elected political leaders may overrule or ignore their advice for ill or good.

This happened in May when the CDC, the federal agency charged with controlling the spread of disease, removed advice regarding the dangers of singing in church choirs from its website. It did not do so because of new evidence. Rather, it was because of political pressure from the White House to water down the guidance for religious groups. Similarly, the White House undermined the CDCs guidance on school reopenings and has pressured it to revise them. So far, it seems the CDC has rebuffed the request.

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The ability of elected leaders to ignore scientists or the scientists acquiescence to policies they believe are detrimental to public welfare is facilitated by many politicians penchant for confident assertion of knowledge and the scientists trained reluctance to do so.

Compare Faucis repeated comment that there is much we dont know about the virus with President Donald Trumps confident assertion that we have it totally under control.

Given these constraints on technical expertise, the performance of the Fed in the financial crisis of 2008 offers an informative example that may be usefully applied to the CDC today.

The Federal Reserve is not an executive agency under the president, though it is chartered and overseen by Congress. It was created in 1913 to provide economic stability, and its powers have expanded to guard against both depression and crippling inflation.

At its founding, the structure of the Fed was a political compromise designed make it independent within the government in order to de-politicize its economic policy decisions. Today its decisions are made by a seven-member board of governors and a 12-member Federal Open Market Committee. The members, almost all Ph.D. economists, have had careers in academia, business and government. They come together to analyze economic data, develop a common understanding of what they believe is happening and create policy that matches their shared analysis. This group policymaking is optimal when circumstances are highly uncertain, such as in 2008 when the global financial system was melting down.

The Fed was the lead actor in preventing the systems collapse and spent several trillion dollars buying risky financial assets and lending to foreign central banks decisions that were pivotal in calming financial markets but would have been much harder or may not have happened at all without its independent authority.

The Feds independence is sufficiently ingrained in our political culture that its chair can have a running disagreement with the president yet keep his job and authority.

A health crisis needs trusted experts to guide decision-making no less than an economic one does. This suggests the CDC or some re-imagined version of it should be made into an independent agency.

Like the Fed, the CDC is run by technical experts who are often among the best minds in their fields. Like the Fed, the CDC is responsible for both analysis and crisis response. Like the Fed, the domain of the CDC is prone to politicization that may interfere with rational response. And like the Fed, the CDC is responsible for decisions that affect fundamental aspects of the quality of life in the United States.

Were the CDC independent right now, we would likely see a centralized crisis management effort that relies on the best science, as opposed to the current patchwork approach that has failed to contain the outbreak nationally. We would also likely see stronger and consistent recommendations on masks, social distancing and the safest way to reopen the economy and schools.

Independence will not eliminate the paradox of technical expertise in government. The Fed itself has at times succumbed to political pressure. And Trump would likely try to undermine an independent CDCs legitimacy if its policies conflicted with his political agenda as he has tried to do with the central bank.

But independence provides a strong shield that would make it much more likely that when political calculations are at odds with science, science wins.

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The Fed's independence helped it save the US economy in 2008 the CDC needs the same authority today - The Conversation US

How to avoid fear, ignorance and greed to build long-term wealth – The National

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How to become a Boglehead

Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.

Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.

Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.

Choose the right level of risk. Don't gambleby investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.

Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.

Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you payto advisers and active fund managers.

Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.

Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.

Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.

Many people are put off from investing for retirement because they find the whole thing too complex.

While some fall into the hands of sharp-eyed financial salesmen, who lock their money away in high-charging bonds or savings plan that eat their wealth, others try to be too clever, and come unstuck trying to make fast money from high-risk stocks or hyped-up assets such as Bitcoin.

Our group operates under the principle that successful investing can be accomplished by anyone with a small amount of effort.

Elie Irani, SimplyFI

Investing can seem particularly complicated, at times of extreme volatility like today, when share prices could go anywhere.

Yet according to SimplyFI, a non-profit community of personal finance and investing enthusiasts who help each other to achieve financial independence, investing doesn't have to be complex at all.

You can master the basics in just a couple of hours, and start building your long-term wealth in a safe and secure way. They have even produced a guide, telling you how to do it. Even better, that guide, published this month, is free.

Called the Index Investing & Financial Independence for Expats, Getting Started Guide, it can be downloaded online from SimplyFI.org or on the groups Facebook page. The guides main author is Elie Irani, 45, from Lebanon, who has lived in Dubai since 2006 and says too many resident investors get led astray. Mr Irani, who works for a cybersecurity company and became a board member of SimplyFI in April, says the biggest threats to building wealth are your own fear, greed and ignorance.

Fear persuades many people to shun the stock market or panic and sell up in a crash, for fear of making short-term losses, says Mr Irani. Greed leads them into get-rich-quick schemes, where they lose most or all of their money.Ignorance makes easy prey for financial salesmen who earn massive commission by selling inappropriate products that combine sky-high charges with lousy performance. Many lose hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result and retirements are ruined.

Our group operates under the principle that successful investing can be accomplished by anyone with a small amount of effort, says Mr Irani.

The guide is designed to be read in a couple of hours or less. It helps beginners make sense of terminology and core concepts, to help them invest towards their own financial independence.

Founded by former UAE resident Sebastien Aguilar, who now lives in Poland, and Dubai resident Jen Lincoln, SimplyFI's aim is to raise financial awareness in the UAE and promote the advantages of simple, passive investing.

The group holds regular talks and presentations, both at events and online, and has more than 10,000 followers on Facebook.

It believes the best way to generate wealth is to put your money in low-cost exchange traded funds (ETFs), and leave it there for the long term. These passive investment funds dispense with expensive fund managers, and simply track their chosen indices up and down, wherever they go.

This means no expensive fund management fees, so you get to keep more of the capital growth and dividend income yourself.

Fund managers are lamentably bad at beating the stock market. The Spiva scorecard of long-term fund performance shows that in the longer run, more than eight out of 10 underperform.

By their nature, index funds never do.

SimplyFI members regularly describe themselves as Bogleheads, part of a movement of investors who follow the basic principles set out by Jack Bogle, who championed low-cost, simple investing philosophies.

In 1974, Mr Bogle founded Vanguard, now best known as a provider of low-cost ETFs, which managed almost $5 trillion (Dh18.36tn) in assets when he died last year, aged 89.

He noticed, earlier and more clearly than most, how the financial industry rips off its customers, saying: The mutual fund industry has been built, in a sense, on witchcraft".

However, he believed there was a way out: When there are multiple solutions to a problem, choose the simplest one.

As one of the worlds biggest ETF providers, Vanguard has a financial incentive to promote the Bogleheads philosophy. It is hard to complain given that its funds are so cheap.

FTSE All-World UCITS ETF gives you a spread of around 3000 global stocks for a total charge of just 0.22 per cent a year. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF charges 0.03 per cent. That is cheap, even by ETF standards.

By comparison, actively managed funds charge between 0.75 per cent and 1.5 per cent a year. That money comes straight out of your returns. Some funds still have initial set-up charges of up to 5 per cent, too.

The SimplyFI guide provides an actionable step-by-step playbook for index investing and managing your portfolio, building a spread of funds, protecting your wealth with insurance, and managing withdrawals in retirement.

Personal finance and investment writer Andrew Hallam, author of Millionaire Teacher and Millionaire Expat, says SimplyFI is sharing rules of wealth that people should have learnt at school. Investing is a long-term endeavour. It rewards people who add money whenever they have it, and punishes those who seek perfect entry and exit points, he says.

Mr Hallam says the best investors are like the fictional character Rip Van Winkle because they set an investment course, go to sleep and wake up 20 years later".

Some residents still want independent financial advice, especially if they face complex tax planning issues. A growing number of Dubai-based advisers offer this, such as AES International, while minimising fund charges by only recommending ETFs.

Alternatively, robo-adviser Sarwa offers a choice of model portfolios that use ETFs to invest in globally diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and other asset classes, tailored to your risk tolerance.

Co-founder and chief executive Mark Chahwan says his sites investment principles chime with the Bogleheads philosophy.

He says once you have built six months of emergency cash, you should start investing as soon as you can. That way you get the full benefit of compounding dividends and growth.

Next, diversify, he says: We recommend a combination of fast-growing small companies in the US, Europe, Japan and emerging markets, combined with government and corporate bonds to provide steady income, low volatility and low correlation with stocks.

You also need to rebalance your portfolio over time, to avoid having too much money in your most successful assets, he says.

Lower your costs, Mr Chahwan adds: The DIY community saves on advisory fees. They only pay for the ETF fees and a brokerage platform to trade on.

Finally, control your emotions. "Good investors are patient and detach their emotions from market movements," Mr Chahwan says.

Sounds simple? Well it is. As Mr Bogle said: Owning the stock market over the long term is a winner's game, but attempting to beat the market is a loser's game.

Updated: July 14, 2020 08:31 AM

Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.

Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.

Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.

Choose the right level of risk. Don't gambleby investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.

Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.

Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you payto advisers and active fund managers.

Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.

Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.

Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.

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How to avoid fear, ignorance and greed to build long-term wealth - The National

Finding peace within – India Today

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Michelle Ogundehin is an authority on interiors, trends and style. She is an influencer who believes that the sense of home can be important to emotional health and physical wellbeing a concept that she has expanded upon in her book, Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness. This, of course, is essential during a time when homes double up as sanctuaries as well as work-spaces

Q & A

In Happy Inside, you talk about a movement where people live below their means so they can save and retire early. But with the idea of home we all tend to go overboard on our budgets. How do we balance the two?

The FIRE movement (the acronym stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early) is about prioritising what's important to you. Practitioners aim to work and save hard in their 20s and 30s so they can retire at 40 and live simply, and free of debt. And in a world where it seems that the home is being progressively reduced to somewhere we get ready to leave in the morning and collapse back into at night, because of the frenetic pace of life, it's a reflection of more people asking themselves if the constant striving for more is really what living is all about?

We are bombarded with a surfeit of choice at every turn: new must-haves, hot trends and bigger, faster, upgraded everything, so easy to become distracted into believing that you need all, or any of this. Instead, all it does is to take you away from an honest examination of what you and your family actually need for the way you authentically live your life.We must learn to lean into what we have, not what we lack; really taking the time to understand what makes us happy; and then mindfully choosing everything that surrounds so that it contributes positively to our lives.

The concept of throwing out what is not required is proposed by Marie Kondo. You also advocate discarding things; if things have to be repaired, they shouldn't be piled up but done immediately. Then do you agree with her ideas of discarding non-essentials?

Marie Kondos point of view focuses only on the creation of a tidy home, which isnt necessarily a happy one. My more holistic clutter-clearing philosophy stems from a desire to limit the distractions that surround you while increasing what supports you, so that you can focus fully on living a purposeful life. It's not about a home devoid of all possessions. I feel very strongly that your things are the talismans of your life, they tell your story, and they should be cherished as such.think you should keep everything that triggers memories and records significant moments, and some of these may be sad, but this is your story. When we fully accept our stories, we are free to be our authentic selves. Besides, being wrapped in a comfort blanket of memory is not the same as wallowing: the former respects where you've come from, the latter is getting stuck there.

The sort of things that need to be let go of are obvious broken things, anything you're indifferent to, practical but never used things, unnecessary multiples but then the key is how to carefully curate, and contain, what's left.

How can one develop homes as nurturing holistic spaces especially during a lockdown?

I believe that the purpose of our journey through life is to learn to become happy inside. In other words, to achieve a sense of balance and contentment, instead of reacting to stress, we are able to weather inevitable curve balls with a more thoughtful outlook. We can only ever gain mastery over ourselves as individuals, but the impact of that can be far--reaching. And it's my sincere opinion that taking charge of the space in which you live is a very good place to start. What surrounds you can make or break you. The recently enforced global lockdowns demonstrated the power of our homes to affect our well-being did you feel safe and supported, or trapped and suffocated? But the good news is, you can reverse engineer this, mastering yourself by mastering the space in which you live. In this way, your home can become your most powerful ally; your secret superpower in an increasingly uncertain world.

Theres also a trend to declare Pantone colours. What do you think must dominate in our homes: trend or preference?

Trends driven by most large companies are there to sell products. The only trends worth watching are those driven by culture, as these reflect what is actually happening in the real world. An example might be the increasing mainstream acceptance of the benefits of meditation, yoga and other such pursuits designed to align mind and body. Eventually these larger, more interesting swings of the trend pendulum find expression in other creative disciplines such as fashion and design, but as the inimitable Coco Chanel once said, "fashion is what's out there, but style is what you choose."

I love this quote because it underlines the importance of making your own decisions about what to wear and surround yourself with based on self-knowledge. But this isn't necessarily easy. Whats easy is to follow what everyone else is doing, but this is no path to peace. Thats why my book starts with a Chapter called Awakening. Its a guide to really starting to understand what lights your personal fire.

Vintage is a dominant trend in clothes, accessories and more. How much will it dominate homes?

It depends on your personal taste! Generally speaking I believe we are collectively moving towards recycle, re-use and repair as a way of being that makes sense. We must be sustainable. And there are so many great pieces of vintage furniture that are beautifully made, and designed to last, its scandalous not to make good use of them.

Many can easily be updated for a new generation too with fresh upholstery, renewed wood stains or a new coat of paint. Theres something quite wonderful about giving old pieces a lease of new life and incorporating that history into your home.

HAPPY INSIDE: HOW TO HARNESS THE POWER OF HOME FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

MICHELLE OGUNDEHIN, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE; Rs 2,186

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The funds that govern Egypt – Middle East Monitor

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The budget of any state is generally defined as an approved detailed estimate of public revenue alongside public expenditure for a given fiscal year. This usually covers what is needed to achieve specific goals within the framework of the planned economic and social development of the state based on its general policy.

One of the basic principles of a budget is unity, with all public revenue and expenditure recorded in one document. While this is the norm, there are exceptions, with budgets attached to some government departments or public bodies that are given administrative and financial independence. However, such exceptions aside, during Abdel Fattah Al-Sisis presidency in Egypt, we find that there are several funds operating in parallel with the state budget, which has opened the way for corruption and a lack of accountability and transparency from a government with absolute control over everything.

Egypt continues to suffer from essentially private funds which take money from Egyptian citizens and distribute it without supervision or accountability. When Sisi came along he leaned towards this way of extracting money from the public by creating parallel budgets that are not related to the state budget, even though their resources are essentially state money.

READ: After losing jobs, many Sudanese struggle to make ends meet in Egypt

At the forefront of this process is the Viva Egypt Fund, which was initiated by Sisi on 24 June, 2014. He donated half of his salary to the fund as a PR stunt. Presidential order 139 of 2014 was issued decreeing its formation, then a new regulation, known as Law 84 of 2015, was issued regarding its establishment which revealed Sisis authoritarianism as he acted as if it was his personal fund. Article 2 of Law 84 of 2015 replaced order 139 and stipulated, The president of the republic will decree the method of supervising, managing and administering financial and administrative affairs of the fund, in accordance with the nature and activity of the fund to enable it to carry out its mission without restriction by the governmental regulations referenced in any other law.

Article 8 of Presidential order 139 of 2014 had stipulated that the resources of the Viva Egypt Fund are public funds subject to the provisions of the Penal Code, to be reviewed and audited by the Central Auditing Agency (CAA), with a quarterly report to be presented to the president. However, it was amended and replaced by Article 9 of Law 84 of 2015, which stipulated that annual and quarterly reports are prepared based on the standards of the CAA and reviewed by an accounting office selected by the funds board of trustees. The report is then submitted to the board of trustees who in turn present it to the president. The CAA prepares a performance indicators report annually, in the light of the financial statements approved by the auditor, and it is presented to the board of trustees, thus reducing the supervisory role of the Agency.

While the Viva Egypt Fund announced that it would work in health care, social support, urban development, economic empowerment, education and training support, and would be there in the event of disasters and crises and these are noble areas of operation the responsibility for them should fall on the state and be a part of its general budget. There is no need for a separate fund and flashy behaviour which opens the doors to underhand payments to businessmen and scaring investors away with the lack of transparency and integrity. The only key to the Viva Egypt Fund is in Sisis hands. Moreover, national economies are not usually based on the government begging for donations.

READ: Egypt pledges housing for every citizen in need

The biggest disaster is that Sisi is directing these often involuntary donations that he imposed on those guilty of construction violations to the Viva Egypt Fund. They are supposed to contribute towards the efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and a draft law now stipulates a 1 per cent compulsory deduction from the net income of employees in the state and private sectors, except those on the very lowest of salaries. The Minister of Finance himself said that nothing from these employee deductions will go into the state treasury. Estimated at billions, the money is going to the Viva Egypt Fund instead, about which I have serious reservations.

The Viva Egypt Fund is not alone; Law No. 177 of 2018 created the Egypt Fund for the countrys sovereign wealth, with capital of 12.5 billion Egyptian pounds. The law gives Sisi the absolute right to transfer ownership of any of the untapped assets owned by the state, the fund or any of the other funds that he establishes, and gives him absolute powers to sell Egypts assets without any accountability. This is done by protecting the contracts made by the funds against legal appeals or from being contested by third parties.

Finance Minister Mohamed Maait recently announced a $125 million fund to ensure consumer financing and stimulate domestic consumption. According to him, the new fund will provide a guarantee for the authorities and companies that carry out consumer finance operations. This will motivate industrial, service, real estate and consumer finance companies to meet consumer needs for credit facilities and instalment plans. The fund will include several more specialised branches that will be paid for out of the public treasury. He did not specify the sectors in which these branches will be active. The minister added that the new fund would also provide low-cost financing for government initiatives, such as the project to convert cars to work on natural gas.

READ: Egypt man locks his sister in a room for 22 years

This fund achieves Sisis vision of not only shackling the state with debt to the tune of almost $376 billion, but also shackling the Egyptian people with personal debt and opening the way for promoting the products of businesses owned and operated by the armed forces, which basically control the economy in Egypt. He is also creating a market for Israeli gas by limiting the licensing of cars to those that can run on natural gas.

The running of the Egyptian government by these sort of funds will continue as long as absolute rule is the norm, and supervision, accountability, transparency and integrity are regarded as crimes. Egypt does not lack resources as much as it suffers from them being looted by the people who are supposed to be their guardians.

This article first appeared in Arabic inArabi21on 15 July 2020

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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The funds that govern Egypt - Middle East Monitor

Premium Cosmetics Market 2020 Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Demand, Growth Opportunities, Revenue, Business Analysis and Forecast by 2025 – 3rd…

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Global Premium Cosmetics Market was million US$ and is expected to million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of between 2020 and 2025.The report provides a thorough outlook of the market probable future growth trajectory over the forecast period based on a solid review of the markets historical statistics and growth drivers.

Global premium cosmetics market is majorly driven by the factors such as increasing demand for natural cosmetics and several beauty products. Likewise, influence of premium cosmetics through social media as well as growing brand recognition are some factors that are expected to further fuel the demand for thepremium cosmetics marketover the forecast period. In addition, growing beauty consciousness among men and increasing financial independence among women are other crucial factors driving the growth of the global premium cosmetics market. Rising awareness about premium ingredients and their impact on the skin is also changing the consumer preference towards premium cosmetics. Moreover, growing preference for premium cosmetics for several skin issues such as pigmentation, acne, age spots is anticipated to boost the growth of the market.

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Key factors driving the premium cosmetic market growth include growing beauty consciousness amongst the population in developing economies. Another major factor contributing towards the growth of the market are rising inclination of men towards complete body care along with social trends associated to beauty as well as cosmetics. On the other hand, one of the major factor that is expected to restraint the premium cosmetics market growth over the forecast period include stringent government regulation about the usage of chemical ingredients in premium cosmetics.

Additionally, the rising demand for active ingredients as well as verified efficacy products is driving the sales of the premium cosmetics products. The customer preference for branded and exported cosmetics is primarily driven by the product safety, brand name, and price. Moreover, availability of huge range of products with increasing disposable income is projected to boost the growth of the global premium cosmetics market over the forecast period. Likewise, digitalization is also the significant driver that have direct impact on the development of the global premium cosmetics market. Increasing penetration of internet and social media considered as the crucial channel for brand expansion.

The global premium cosmetics market is segmented into product and geographical expansion. In terms of product, the global market is categorized into haircare, skincare, fragrance, makeup, and others. On considering the geographical regions, the global premium cosmetics market is segregated into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and the Middle East and Africa. Leading service providers operating in the global premium cosmetics market are prudential plc, Kaiser Foundation Group of Health Plans, New York Life Insurance Company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and Nippon Life Insurance Company.

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Likewise product type segment of the global premium cosmetics market is sub-segmented into skin care, make-up, hair care, hygiene products, fragrances, multifunctional and others. The product type segment is dominated by skin care division of the market and is expected to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. For instance, one of the prominent players in the market LOreal S.A generated around 37% of their revenue from skin care segment in 2017.

Key segments of globalpremium cosmetics market include:

Distribution channel segment

Product type segment

Geographical segment

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Northwest School alum Oliver Page-Kuhr was set to row at Stanford. Now, the program will be cut. Where does he go from here? – Seattle Times

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Oliver Page-Kuhr hoped to be part of the beginning, not theend.

Thats why the Northwest School alum chose Stanford tocontinue his rowing career. He also spoke with coaches from Washington, Yale,California and Dartmouth during the college recruiting process.

On paper, the Cardinals resume couldnt compare. Andreally, that was the point.

Growing up in Seattle, UW is the rowing program that Ivehad the most experience with and been the closest to, and they obviously have atremendous history and a program where I have a huge amount of respect for whattheyve done, said Page-Kuhr, who graduated from Northwest last spring andcompeted at the Pocock Rowing Center.

But what made me choose Stanford is that Stanford doesnthave the history or championships that UW does, but I wanted the chance to goto Stanford and build something and be a part of the legacy of helping to builda program into something like UW or California. I wanted to be a part ofstarting that.

Last Wednesday, Page-Kuhr was working a shift at West Marine a boating and fishing supplies store in Ballard when a Zoom call with histeam and Stanfords athletics leadership began at 10 a.m. He says he didntreally think it was anything super serious. He asked his future teammates totext him updates while he worked.

Forty-five minutes later, after the meeting had happened, Iwas taking a break to get a drink of water and I looked at my phone andeveryones like, The programs canceled, he said. It definitely blindsidedme a little bit, because it was just so sudden and we hadnt really gotten any inklingthat this was going to happen.

After the Zoom call ended, Stanford publicly announced that 11 varsity athletic programs mens and womens fencing, field hockey, lightweight rowing, mens rowing, co-ed and womens sailing, squash, synchronized swimming, mens volleyball and wrestling would be discontinued following the conclusion of the 2020-21 academic year. The decision was made to address the athletic departments growing financial deficit, which was projected to be $12 million in FY21 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and $25 million or more after the virus hit. The cumulative shortfall in the next three years without last weeks comprehensive cuts would have been $70 million.

President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, provost Persis Drell and athletic director Bernard Muir wrote in an open letter that we understand that the timing of this announcement, in early summer and against a backdrop of uncertainty and change across our country, is certainly far from ideal, as is the method by which we had to deliver the news to our student-athletes and coaches today, via Zoom.

However, we felt it was imperative to confront thefinancial challenge before it worsened, to undertake a deliberate andcollaborative decision-making process with our Board of Trustees and campusleadership, and to exhaust all alternatives before making profound changes inour programs, especially during this difficult time. That process has recentlycome to conclusion, and we wanted to share the news as quickly as possible inorder to provide our student-athletes and staff with as much flexibility andchoice as possible.

But how much flexibility does Page-Kuhr really have? The incoming freshman is scheduled to arrive in Palo Alto, California, in September. He said that currently, I havent really considered for a second leaving Stanford. But rowing in college still remains very important to me, and pursuing that at the highest level I can is something thats important to me.

He knows hell be able to do that at Stanford for at least a year. And beyond that, hes prepared to fight for Stanfords rowing future. The programs goal, he said in a text message on Tuesday, is financial independence from the athletic department and reinstatement as a varsity sport.

We were definitely shocked and more than a little bit angry when we heard the news, but I was sort of numb to it for a while because I was like, This cant really be happening, Page-Kuhr said in a phone interview last week. It just felt so sudden and such a major change on what my outlook on the next four years was. But then I sort of settled down and we talked about what were going to do.

Im not sure the teams really ready to talk about what our response is going to be, because were still figuring that out. But we definitely gathered ourselves, and I think were trying to shift from being sad about it to thinking, OK, what can we do?

Thats a question student-athletes across the country arebeing forced to confront. Due to the financial strain of COVID-19, 56 DivisionI sports have been cut this offseason, according to Sports Illustrated. Thegrowing list includes Cincinnati mens soccer, Old Dominion wrestling, Furmanbaseball and many more.

Unfortunately, Page-Kuhrs plight is not unique.

But he has hope that the beginning of his college career wontalso be the end.

Its been pretty hard, he said. Theres been momentswhere I think, OK, well get through this, and then theres moments where itfeels like the worlds crashing in even more than it has been the last fewmonths.

But overall, I think its moving more towards, OK, this isa fight thats not over yet. In some ways, its only just beginning. Weredefinitely moving away from just the despair of it.

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Northwest School alum Oliver Page-Kuhr was set to row at Stanford. Now, the program will be cut. Where does he go from here? - Seattle Times

Cancer and loneliness: How inclusion could save lives – The Conversation CA

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COVID-19 has ignited a worldwide conversation about inequality. The question is whether we just want to talk about inequity or make the changes to produce more fair outcomes.

Focusing our efforts on one critical change would reduce disparities in some of the most pressing health issues of our time. That change is pluralism, the active process of inclusion: recognizing, valuing and respecting differences.

We can recognize ethnic variability in cancer treatments by diversifying clinical trial recruitment and improve deadly loneliness by including patients in treatment design.

Patients do better when differences are embraced rather than avoided.Health and research organizations must not be tourists, but participate actively in the full richness of their communities.

As a physician and director in our medical schools Office of Indigenous, Local and Global Health, I see in my patients the health consequences of exclusionary policies and practices. Pluralism could improve their lives and reduce illness from two very different conditions: cancer and loneliness.

Pharmacoethnicity describes ethnic diversity in drug response or toxicity. Two people of different ethnicities might respond differently to the same cancer treatment dose, based on their environment and genetics.

People of European ancestry account for 81 per cent of registered genomes according to a paper in Nature. Drug makers use genomes to look for unique disease variations. So many of the groups with worse cancer outcomes, including Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), may have unique disease variations but are excluded from the process of drug development. And once drugs are in testing, clinical trials for cancer medications continue to be characterized by an overrepresentation of white and male participants, at 80 per cent and 59.8 per cent, respectively.

In the United States, of the thousands of patients in cancer clinical trials that led to 17 new drug approvals in 2018, only four per cent were Black or African American and four per cent were Hispanic, despite national populations of 13 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Indigenous Peoples are also underrepresented in clinical trials.

This under-representation is not for lack of interest; it is due to shortcomings in the recruitment process. In fact, Black and Hispanic patients are as willing to participate in biomedical research as white patients.

We cannot pretend that patients of all backgrounds respond the same to drug therapies when their environment and genetics are different. There are known examples among East Asians who experience high levels of toxicity when being treated for head and neck cancers. These patients can be treated effectively at a lower dose. In a lung cancer study that had a mix of Asian and white patients, a high side-effect rate in Asians led to a mid-trial dose reduction in Asian patients. But despite the dose reduction, Asians experienced a more impressive tumour response than whites. Ethnicity in clinical trials matters.

We can increase diversity of enrolment in clinical trials through policies and practices of inclusion. Enrolment of Black patients rose by 62 per cent over two years after the introduction of a new program that emphasized presence in community and cultural competence. This approach embedded cancer prevention and research activities in the community. Simply being present and culturally aware dramatically improved recruitment, moving beyond mere statements about inclusion towards actionable value of diversity.

Similarly, in the U.S., Indigenous populations state a need for culturally competent partnerships with Indigenous communities. In order to improve health outcomes, scientists and scientific organizations need to be present in BIPOC communities and learn to understand and communicate across cultures; BIPOC communities are willing.

We also ignore lonely and isolated people and they are dying from this exclusion. Sounds dramatic, but this is borne out by evidence. Loneliness is associated with a 26 per cent increased risk of premature death, and a greater risk of heart disease and stroke. And loneliness is incredibly widespread: it affects one-third of people in the industrialized world. Again, racialized groups disproportionately bear the burden of loneliness. Racialized and Indigenous Canadians are also more likely to fall into the most severe category of loneliness: desolate. Elder minorities in Great Britain experience loneliness levels up to five times higher than the general population.

Loneliness can be diagnosed quickly using an easy three-question survey, but there is no prescription, medical device or surgical treatment. Successful treatment programs are customized to the patient and engage the intended participants in the design. These interventions are successful because they acquire nuanced understanding of the characteristics, cultures and perspectives of patients and communities.

Inclusion is not a checkbox. Pluralism requires us to change organizational structures to participate in communities.

Cancer treatment and research programmes must ensure BIPOC communities are consulted and included in trials to ensure equitable access to appropriate care. However, as with loneliness, inclusive treatment design does not only benefit BIPOC communities but any lonely patient, each with their own rich personal history.

Academic and health leaders must hold themselves and their organizations accountable by enshrining policies that recognize, value and respect difference. As private citizens, we must hold our elected officials, educators, clinicians and scientific institutions to account.

It is time to move beyond checkbox-inclusion and towards building and sustaining nuanced relationships with communities.

COVID-19 has changed our ways of living. We have been forced to adapt to a new virus. Lets keep changing, and replace exclusive old traditions with a new era of inclusive medicine.

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Cancer and loneliness: How inclusion could save lives - The Conversation CA

The Paycheck Protection Program And Bankruptcy | Vinson & Elkins LLP – JD Supra

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The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily disrupted our lives, communities, and businesses. Even with new approaches, not all businesses can overcome the substantial challenges brought by the pandemic. Lending programs like the Paycheck Protection Program have brought temporary relief, but many small businesses remain exposed to financial difficulties and face a real risk of bankruptcy.

Small businesses considering bankruptcy protection should be aware of recent changes to the Bankruptcy Code enacted as the pandemic hit the United States and enhanced under the CARES Act. In February 2020, Congress enacted the Small Business Reorganization Act as Subchapter 5 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. It modifies the traditional bankruptcy process set out in Chapter 11 and reduces the cost and expense for small businesses to reorganize. Originally, the debt limit for a small business to qualify under Subchapter 5 was $2.7 million.

The CARES Act, enacted March 27, 2020, increased the debt limit for eligible businesses under the Small Business Reorganization Act from $2.7 million to $7.5 million, to allow more small businesses to take advantage of Subchapter 5. The increase in the debt limit is effective for one year after enactment of the CARES Act until March 27, 2021. Certain companies that previously filed under regular Chapter 11 have successfully been able to convert to cases under Subchapter 5.

Subchapter 5 (with the increased debt limit under the CARES Act) may provide many small businesses with a more attractive option for bankruptcy protection. Among other advantages, the provisions provide for a more streamlined confirmation process (generally without a disclosure statement), no requirement for creditors committees, and the ability to confirm a plan without needing to obtain approval by a class of impaired creditors or complying with the absolute priority rule, so long as the plan provides for the application of all projected disposable income over three to five years to payments under the plan. Thus, the Subchapter 5 process may offer a less costly form of bankruptcy relief, with the ability to retain equity, so long as the debtor dedicates all of their disposable income for three to five years to the payment of creditors. Subchapter 5 also provides for the involvement of a trustee in all cases, including to facilitate the development of a consensual plan of reorganization, but the trustees role is generally more limited than in typical trustee cases.

Many small businesses nearly 5 million nationwide received loans under the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), also part of the CARES Act. If they are considering bankruptcy, PPP borrowers may have questions about the interaction of the PPP program and bankruptcy proceedings.

The issues facing small businesses today are unprecedented and complex. Traditional challenges interact with new programs, creating novel issues. It is important to consult counsel for assistance when navigating these challenges. Vinson & Elkins is monitoring the developments facing businesses during the pandemic and offers clients our cross-disciplinary approach to best resolve issues they face today.

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The Paycheck Protection Program And Bankruptcy | Vinson & Elkins LLP - JD Supra

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Faces Lawsuit for Its Role in Causing the 2019 Kincade Wildfire – Greentech Media News

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Less than two weeks after emerging from an18-month bankruptcycaused by its multibillion-dollar wildfire liabilities, Pacific Gas & Electric faces yet another lawsuit for a 2019 fire that California investigators say was caused by its power lines.

On Thursday, the state'sDepartment of Forestry and Fire Protectionconfirmedthat the Oct. 2019 Kincade fire was caused by a failure of a PG&E transmission line in Sonoma County. The fire burned77,758 acres, destroyed 374 structures and forced the evacuation of about 190,000 people, though no one was killed in the blaze.

PG&E had already conceded that a failed jumper cable on a transmission line was the likely cause of the fireand has set aside $600million in anticipation of coveringresulting damages a figure at the lower end of the range of potential losses, the utility statedin its first-quarter earnings report.

On Wednesday, attorneys representing individuals and businesses harmed by the Kincade firefiled a lawsuitaccusing PG&E of failing to maintain the power lines that broke down, despite knowing that its grid network presented significant safety issues. The complaint (PDF) filed in Sonoma County Superior Court cites the utilitys record ofdiverting grid maintenancebudgets to boost corporate profits, as well as its long record of being found at fault for causing some of the states deadliest fires over the past decade.

PG&E decided against shutting off power to the 230-kilovolt transmission line before it failed, although it did de-energize much of itslower-voltage transmission and distribution network in the area in an attempt to prevent the lines from causing fires. That outageleft millions of people without powerand led to widespread complaints from residents and local governments, although it didnt feature the same communications breakdowns and poor preparations that marked the utility'sfirst major public-safety power shutoff(PSPS) event earlier that month.

PG&E has said it will need tocontinue these fire-preventionblackouts for years to come while it continues to inspect and repair its grid in an effort to avoid causing more fires amidhot, dry and windy conditions. Its also planning to spend about $175 million to prepare450 megawatts of dieselgenerators to be available to back up neighborhoods and facilities likely to face outages this summer and fall.

But PG&Es decision not to de-energize the power line that caused the Kincade fire somewhat mirrors itsdecision in Nov. 2018to maintain power flow on the high-voltage transmission line that ended up causing the Camp fire in Northern California's Butte County, which destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 84 people. PG&E filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2019 in the face of an estimated $18 billion in damages it faced from causing that fire;last month the utility pled guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for its role in those killed in the incident.

PG&E has since shut down the transmission line that caused the Camp fire and significantly expanded the scope of its PSPS events, as well as changing how it measures the risk of leaving its grid energized inhigh wind conditions. It has also faced orders from the federal judge overseeing its criminal probation for its role in the 2010 San Bruno natural-gas pipeline explosion todrastically improve its grid inspectionand maintenance regimen.

But this weeks findings that PG&E caused the Kincade fire could force it to consider de-energizing a broader range of high-voltage lines as part of this years PSPSprotocol. That, in turn, could threaten even broader blackouts across Northern California,Michael Wara, the head of Stanford UniversitysClimate and Energy Policy Program and a member of Gov. Gavin Newsoms Wildfires Blue Ribbon Commission, told Greentech Media earlier this year.

The utility won bankruptcy court approval of its plan earlier this month, allowing it to accessa$21 billionstate fund to shield it and Californias other investor-owned utilities from massive fire liabilities.But it's also under strict state supervision to improve its safety culture and meet its wildfire-prevention goals. Failing to do socould exposePG&E to sanction oreven state receivershipunder the terms of its agreement with theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission.

PG&E is in the midst of raising $9 billion in equity and $11 billion in debt as part of its$59 billion restructuring plan, which includes spending about$7.8 billion over the next three years on itswildfire-mitigation efforts. PG&Eshares took a hitafter its $5 billion common stock and equity offering late last month, but analysts say the key to its success or failure for its ongoing restructuring will hinge on whether it can prevent its grid from causing more wildfires this summer and fall.

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Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Faces Lawsuit for Its Role in Causing the 2019 Kincade Wildfire - Greentech Media News

Personal bankruptcies plunge during pandemic, but ‘a flood’ could be on the horizon – Yahoo Finance

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Even as the coronavirus pandemic battered the economy, forcing tens of millions of workers to file for unemployment and shuttering businesses large and small, a surprising trend emerged: The number of people filing for personal bankruptcy plunged.

In April, consumer bankruptcies dropped 47% from the same month last year, while May filings were down 43% year over year, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute. For the first half of the year, bankruptcies were 24% lower than the first six months of last year.

Experts pointed to numerous factors for the slowdown.

Courts and attorneys offices remained closed during state shutdowns. Evictions and foreclosures often precursors to bankruptcy because people want to save their homes were put on hold. Generous government support and forgiving creditors also kept many from falling into financial distress. Last, those on the brink of bankruptcy before the pandemic had more pressing issues to deal with.

Peoples mental inboxes are full, Professor Robert Lawless at the University of Illinois College of Law, who specializes in bankruptcy, consumer finance and business law, told Yahoo Money. There are a lot of things to sort out in their lives going to see a bankruptcy lawyer has been pushed further down on the to-do list for understandable reasons. I think that was a big part in the early days and weeks of the pandemic.

But the reprieve may be short-lived as the economy sputters, stopping and going as new COVID-19 outbreaks pop up, and as many of the temporary layoffs morph into permanent ones.

As government lifelines to help stabilize the economy begin to expire, bankruptcy provides a shield for households and companies facing intensifying financial distress, ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss said in a statement earlier this week, announcing the half-year bankruptcy statistics. We anticipate filings to begin increasing as a result.

How quickly people file for bankruptcy and how many will do so remain unclear, but bankruptcy attorney George Wade in Alexandria, Virginia, isnt very optimistic.

A man walks through a neighborhood on July 07, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Everyone who files for unemployment is a potential bankruptcy, he said, noting that many of those who lost jobs wont be getting them back. Were in a state of suspended animation because the government is picking things up.

What happens, he asked, when many of the outside forces keeping people afloat are removed, starting with the expiration of the extra $600 in unemployment benefits at the end of the month and then the eventual resumption of evictions and foreclosures?

In the fall, there will be a flood of bankruptcies, he said. I think it will be a bloodbath.

Lawless is more skeptical. His past research on bankruptcies shows that people take a long time to choose bankruptcy, typically struggling through financial difficulties between two to five years before filing. Oftentimes, they are finally persuaded after a creditor sues them.

Its not like if people get laid off from a job today that they file for bankruptcy tomorrow, he said. It has a very long tail.

Lawless also noted that bankruptcy doesnt find unemployed people jobs; it solves debt problems. If they dont have debt, they dont file for bankruptcy, he said.

Eric Lipps, 52, waits in line to enter the NYCHires Job Fair in New York December 9, 2009. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Story continues

Debt rather than job loss has a tighter macroeconomic correlation with bankruptcy, going back to the explosion of filings in the late 1990s during the dot.com boom and then the increase during the Great Recession. Both of those periods were punctuated by high consumer debt.

Before the pandemic, consumer credit also had been rising, approaching but not yet reaching levels seen before 2008. But that doesnt mean Lawless doesnt expect an increase in filings as the pandemic and its rolling economic effects continue. He just expects many Americans to turn to other debt to sustain them until they finally reach a breaking point.

I think there will be more bankruptcies, but the shape of that curve may be more of a gradual run-up as debt problems accumulate, he said. We may look out two years from now and see there were a lot more people filing.

Janna is an editor for Yahoo Money andCashay. Follow her on Twitter@JannaHerron.

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Personal bankruptcies plunge during pandemic, but 'a flood' could be on the horizon - Yahoo Finance

Wayfair conspiracy theories, Sur La Table and Muji file for bankruptcy and more – Business of Home

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As the summer trickles on, even auction houses have relocated away from cities, and one man is appealing to the new demand for suburban housing with his network of for-rent McMansions. These are strange times, but despite it all, the design industry pushes forward. Read on for headlines, launches and other events, recommended reading and more.

BUSINESS NEWS

According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, 3 percent of adults in the U.S. have moved permanently or temporarily due to the pandemic, and 6 percent had someone move into their household. As reported by NPR, the number of relocators jumps to 9 percent among people ages 18 to 29. When Pew Center survey participants were asked if they knew someone who had moved, about one in five Americans (20 percent) said yes.

Sur La Table, the Seattle-based cooking and home retailer, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reports Forbes. The company, founded in 1972 and owned by Investcorp since 2011, will close more than one-third of its brick-and-mortar stores and is in negotiations with Fortress Investment to sell the remaining locations and its e-commerce operations.

Muji, the Japanese retailer known for its irresistibly neat office, desk supplies and home goods, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on July 9, reports CNN. In surprising tandem with this news comes the brands launch of a furniture subscription service. According to Bloomberg, the retailer is offering monthly or annual furniture rentals, catering to the work-from-home culture, with an oak desk and chair set priced as low as $7 a month.

Poltrona Frau Groups Lifestyle Design division, together with majority stakeholder Haworth Inc., has acquired the high-end Italian furniture manufacturer Luxury Living Group. The acquisition will be made through Haworth Italy Holding, the Italian subsidiary of U.S.-based Haworth Inc., and Luxury Living joins a list of brands that include Cappellini, Cassina, Janus et Cie and Poltrona Frau.

Wayfair, which has seen a huge positive rebound in business since the coronavirus pandemic began, was the subject of (now-debunked) criminal conspiracy theories that went viral last week. The allegations of human trafficking through large, expensive pieces of furniture sparked a Twitter firestorm, with #Wayfairtrafficking and #Wayfairgate (in reference to the 2016 Pizzagate conspiracy) trending. An investigation by Newsweek quickly discredited the nefarious accusations, supported by a statement from the company: There is, of course, no truth to these claims. The products in question are industrial-grade cabinets that are accurately priced.

LAUNCHES, COLLABORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

The American Society of Interior Designers has launched two new task forces in an effort to raise the role of design in response to the pandemic: The ASID Adaptive Living Task Force will study changes in senior care, adaptive and multigenerational family living; and the ASID IMPACT Review Task Force will identify, study, examine and vet scholarly and professional research concerning COVID-19 as it relates to design and construction.

The research team at ASID has also launched the Interior Design Resiliency Report, a new study that will examine the experiences of interior design professionals during the pandemic and the changes that can be expected in the design of the built environment. The report will begin with a series of surveys that look at where designers currently standthe first one will close July 24.

Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney announced last week that the blogs Instagram account would permanently become dedicated to the voices, projects and experiences of designers of color. While Bonney will stay on, she says, Im divesting myself from the center of this platform (Ill still be here, I am still invested in this work, and youll still hear from me) because I want to *invest* in designers of color.

The inaugural Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas has announced the 27 designers, architects and contemporary artists that will transform the featured home in Old Preston Hollows Historic Woodland Estates neighborhood. Beginning September 25, visitors will be welcome to tour the work of Chad Dorsey, Mark D. Sikes, Michelle Nussbaumer and Thomas James. For the full list of designers, click here.

Katie Leede wearing a caftan in Koto, one of her fabric designs that she donated to the cause.Courtesy of Christina Juarez

Christina Juarez, founder of her eponymous New Yorkbased communications firm specializing in design, made a splash with her Caftan Challenge fundraiser in the early days of COVID-19, raising over $20,000 for Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club by asking her Instagram network to post photos wearing caftans. Now, in a renewed fundraising effort, Juarez has reached out to several textile designers for donations, all of which are being transformed into one-of-a-kind caftans to be sold at various pop-up shops and trunk shows. The first round of caftans will be sold August 2 at Katie Leede and Co. in Sag Harbor, New York. All of the proceeds will go to the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.

Together with San Franciscobased architecture and design firm Gensler, Minnesota countertop manufacturer Cambria has launched 14 new quartz designs. The designs, which involved two years of research and development, are built around the brands proprietary Natural Colour System, built upon a global definition of hue and quality that will enable designers and manufacturers to communicate cross-industry color choices.

Only July 9, New York consumer brand conglomerate WHP Global announced a long-term licensing agreement with home textile importer Sunham Home Fashions to develop and distribute a home goods line for the Anne Klein fashion brand. Slated to launch in spring 2021, the Anne Klein Home Collection will consist of soft goods to be carried in select retail stores and online.

CALENDAR UPDATES

NY Now has canceled its fall event, formerly scheduled from October 18 to 20 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York. Recent developments have made it impossible to bring buyers and brands together safely and successfully, the organizers said in a statement. The winter 2021 show is still on the books, in addition to a host of digital offerings.

Orgatec, the leading trade fair for office furniture concepts, has canceled its 2020 editionthe fair will return as part of IMM Cologne from January 18 to 24, 2021, and the following iteration will take place October 25 to 29, 2022.

RECOMMENDED READING/LISTENING

Universal Furniture marketing director Neil MacKenzie interviews Business of Home editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen on the most recent episode of the brands bimonthly podcast, Explore Home. She shares where her passion for design originated, how she finds magic in business connections and the role that BOH plays in the industry. To listen to the whole episode, click here.

I am happy to be included and grow a wider audience, but I admit it feels bittersweet in the current climate of social injustice, says Washington, D.C., designer Kiyonda Powell to The Wall Street Journal. Featuring the voices of over a dozen interior designers and their clients, WSJ takes a dive into why, for Black designers, the sudden influx of visibility comes with mixed feelings.

At a time when those with means are fleeing densely packed cities, it can be difficult to grasp the eventual impact of this exodus. In a Style by Emily Henderson article, Pasadena, Californiabased writer Sara Ligorria-Tramp takes a candid look at the effects of gentrification and how unwitting offenders can mitigate the negative consequences. Some top takeaways: Participate actively in the community, shop local and get to know your neighbors.

Having trouble thinking straight these days? Theres a scientific explanation, according to neuroscientists: The combination of impaired analytical thinking and heightened external sensitivity creates what can be called Covid-19 braina fragile, frazzled state that keeps our thoughts simultaneously on edge and unfocused. A recent article from Inc. outlines a few ways to cope.

As some cities begin to bring employees back into offices (often on part-time, rotating schedules), tensions are high as co-workers navigate changing social norms and hygiene practices. While managers are taking steps to implement social distancing, not everyone agrees on the new workplace protocol, reports WSJ.

The Pequod fixture from Hallworth, now available through R HughesCourtesy of R Hughes

SHOWROOM REPRESENTATION

The Atlanta-based showroom R Hughes has brought on several new brands: London-based contemporary furniture designer Tom Faulkner, Connecticut-based modern craftsman furniture maker BassamFellows, British lighting designer and manufacturer Hallworth, and Toronto furniture company Stacklab.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Until July 31, luxury home appliance brand Dacor will accept submissions for its National Design Contest in support of the interior design trade. Designers and students are invited to submit their projects for consideration by the Dacor Design Council. For more information, click here.

Homepage image: The Cassiopeia fixture from Hallworth, now available through R Hughes | Courtesy of R Hughes

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Wayfair conspiracy theories, Sur La Table and Muji file for bankruptcy and more - Business of Home

The International Space Station creates bigger, colder states of matter than are possible on Earth – Massive Science

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Eight years ago, I was packing my home and entire life in Mexico to move to the US to pursue a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California-Irvine. Those were easier times, although it did not seem like it at the time. I spent a few months worth of income to pay for paperwork to apply for an F-1 student visa, and to pay for other documents to enroll as a graduate student. This was after I dedicated months to emailing professors everywhere in the US, hoping that one of them would reply to my email and would invite me to apply to join their lab. It was also after spending time and money paying for standardized tests, official document translations, and application fees. It was a one-and-a-half-year process but in July 2012, I was finally moving to the USA to pursue my PhD. It was a dream come true.

It was also a dream come true for the University of California because I had a full scholarship from my home country that paid for the entirety of my international tuition and fees, which were around $35,000 per year. My scholarship allowed me to pursue my PhD in the USA, and to UC Irvine it provided basically free labor as well as prestige.

I paid taxes and did all of the typical graduate student responsibilities. I also dedicated a lot of my time to doing outreach to bring science to underserved communities around Orange County and Southern California. By the time I graduated in 2017, I was a stellar student, with three publications with UC Irvine's name on them. I co-organized summer science camps for middle school girls that brought money and a good reputation to my university and program. I mentored students of all ages. I was a good citizen of my program, of my university, and of Orange County.

Like me, most international students leave their families and everything that they are comfortable with to pursue the dream of graduate school. They bring with them the hope of being welcomed and treated fairly by their American peers. I have experienced this, but I am one of the lucky ones.

It is no secret that international students and postdocs will withstand abuse and other injustices just so they can keep their visa, which is always tied to their university. Many universities receive international students without having a system to deal with the unique challenges that international students face, such as having no credit history, which complicates finding a place to live and leaves international students vulnerable to landlord abuse. Many international students are people of color, and universities, especially predominantly white institutions, do not have resources to ensure safety of these students within the university and in the community at large.

These challenges are further complicated due to a lack of community and support. Making friends in the US, especially if you are coming from Global South countries and/or non-Westernized countries, is extremely challenging. Many times, I have seen how western Europeans, Australians, and Canadians are rapidly accepted in the local community, while many Latinx, Asians, and Middle-Easterners are not.

There are over one million international students in the US. The ICE Student Ban may no longer be a threat, but universities still need to change how they handle international students. We are people too, but many universities have historically valued us only by the amount of money we bring. We improve higher education not only by the money that we bring, but by our unique perspectives, our research productivity, and our willingness to give back to American society.

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The International Space Station creates bigger, colder states of matter than are possible on Earth - Massive Science

The moon is 85 million years younger than previously thought – Space.com

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It turns out the moon is a little younger than scientists previously thought about 85 million years younger, to be precise.

In a new study, researchers at the German Aerospace Center found out that, not only did the moon once have a massive, fiery magma ocean, but our rocky satellite also formed later than scientists previously expected.

Billions of years ago, a Mars-size protoplanet smashed into the young Earth and, amid the debris and cosmic rubble, a new rocky body formed our moon. In this new work, the researchers reconstructed the timeline of the moon's formation. While scientists have previously thought that this moon-forming collision happened 4.51 billion years ago, the new work pegged the moon's birth at only 4.425 billion years ago.

Related: How the Moon formed: 5 wild lunar theories

To determine this 85-million-year error in the moon's age, the team used mathematical models to calculate the composition of the moon over time. Based on the idea that the moon was host to a massive magma ocean, the researchers calculated how the minerals that formed as the magma cooled solidified changed over time. By following the timeline of the magma ocean, the scientists were able to trace their way back to the moon's formation.

"By comparing the measured composition of the moon's rocks with the predicted composition of the magma ocean from our model, we were able to trace the evolution of the ocean back to its starting point, the time at which the moon was formed," study co-author Sabrina Schwinger, a researcher at the German Aerospace Center, said in a statement.

These findings, which show that the moon formed 4.425 billion years ago (give or take 25 million years), agree with previous research that aligned the moon's formation with the formation of Earth's metallic core, according to the statement.

"This is the first time that the age of the moon can be directly linked to an event that occurred at the very end of the Earth's formation, namely the formation of the core," Thorsten Kleine, a professor at the Institute of Planetology at the University of Mnster in Germany, said in the same statement.

These findings were described in a new study published on July 10 in the journal Science Advances.

Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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The moon is 85 million years younger than previously thought - Space.com

HI-SEAS

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HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) is a Habitat on an isolated Mars-like site on the Mauna Loa side of the saddle area on the Big Island of Hawaii at approximately 8200 feet above sea level. HI-SEAS is unique, in addition to its setting in a distinctive analog environment, as:

The HI-SEAS Habitat is semi-portable, low-impact, and designed to have all the desirable analog features specified in Keeton et al (2011). It has a habitable volume of ~13,000 cubic feet, a usable floor space of ~1200 square feet, and small sleeping quarters for a crew of six, as well as a kitchen, laboratory, bathroom, simulated airlock and dirty work area.

The HI-SEAS site has Mars-like geology which allows crews to perform high-fidelity geological field work and add to the realism of the mission simulation. The Martian regolith examined by the CheMin instrument (Blake et al. 2012) is very similar to the weathered basaltic materials found in this part of Hawaii. The site is a former cinder rock quarry on the side of a spatter cone. It is surrounded by relatively recent lava flows with very little plant or animal life present. None of the sparse flora or fauna is rare which mitigates the likelihood of adverse environmental impact due to mission activities. The flows include a wide variety of volcanic features to explore, such as lava tubes, skylights, channels, and tumuli. The HI-SEAS site is visually isolated, yet accessible by a dirt road, and a hospital and other emergency services are within a one hour driving distance (much less by helicopter). It has a cool, dry climate that varies very little over the year, enabling long-duration missions.

HI-SEAS offers not only physical isolation and geological similarity. We have developed a robust system of high-latency communication between Crew and Mission Support that imposes a Mars-like 20-minute delay on message reception each way. Communication is solely asynchronous (i.e. no real-time conversations), using email and posts to the mission project site hosted by Basecamp. HI-SEAS offers an environment where communication latency and other mission parameters can be varied according to study requirements.

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HI-SEAS