How US coping with longest-ever government shutdown |
The partial shutdown of the US government has been going on for 24 days. Last Saturday, it broke the record becoming the longest in US history. The reason for the current shutdown was the uncontrolled spending of the temporary budget on the construction of a wall on the Southern border with Mexico. Find out how this event has influenced the life of US citizens in our photo gallery
During his election campaign, President Donald Trump promised his voters to build a wall on the border with Mexico. For that reason, he had requested $5.7 bln. Democrats, who won a majority in the House of Representatives, are ready to allocate no more than $1.3 billion to ensure the protection of the border which is obviously not enough.
Overall, this is the third shutdown during Trump's presidency. The previous two disputes between the President and the Congress were resolved fairly quickly.
As a result of this confrontation, some Federal Departments stopped working on December 22 due to the lack of a budget. Although departments and agencies have been affected the most, such institutions as the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and some of the White House's officials have also stopped their work.
About 800 thousand civil servants remained without salaries on the eve of the Christmas holidays. At the same time, 380 thousand of them are staying home without pay, and more than 400 thousand will receive compensation only after the approval of the budget.
People are unable to visit the National Christmas Tree near the White House as access to it was limited by the US National Park Service.
Trump held a meeting with the leadership of the Democratic party- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. However, later on Twitter, Donald Trump wrote that the meeting was just a waste of time.
Trump asked Nancy Pelosi whether the government would support the idea of building a wall on the southern border if he opened the government, Pelosi replied that it would not
Many cultural institutions were closed because of the shutdown. In the photo: visitors of the National Art Gallery in Washington before its closure due to the partial suspension of the US government.
Some cultural institutions owned by the Federal Government also remain closed. A sign near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco warns that passage on the site, which belongs to the Federal Government, is closed.
Many tourist attractions are still open. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo used state funds to keep the Statue of Liberty in operation.
Washington National Park is also closed to visitors.
For the first time in the last two years, President Donald Trump has made a televised address to the nation from his desk in the Oval Office. He called the situation on the Southern Border the Humanitarian and National Security crisis. "President Trump must stop holding the American people hostage, must stop manufacturing a crisis, and must re-open the government," Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi declared.
S&P has estimated that if the government shutdown lasts, it will exceed the price of building the proposed border wall. The current shutdown will cost the economy about $1.2 billion per week.
In the photo: the closed entrance to the garden at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
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Draghi leaves his chair when eurozone’s economy on verge of recession |
The European Central Bank opens a new chapter in its history. Mario Draghi has completed his 8-year term as President and has been succeeded by former IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde. Passing the reins of power is taking place in the troubled time. Mario Draghi is frequently accused of inefficient policy decisions which are partly to blame for economic weakness in the euro area. On the plus side, the regulator with Draghi at the helm survived a few crises and a period of stagnation. “Today, we are in a situation where low interest rates are not delivering the same degree of stimulus as in the past, because the rate of return on investment in the economy has fallen. Monetary policy can still achieve its objective, but it can do so faster and with fewer side effects if fiscal policies are aligned with it,» he said in his farewell speech in Frankfurt. In any case, Mario Draghi will be memorable as the policymaker who was ready for any unconventional fiscal measure to save the euro.
The new ECB leader does not mean the termination of the ongoing monetary policy and new forward guidance. Experts are certain that Christine Lagarde will not be able and will not find it appropriate to deviate from the stance adopted by Mario Draghi. The thing is that the ex-President was targeted by some colleagues in the Governing Council. So, the newly-appointed President will have to deal with disagreement within the ranks. Meanwhile, she is likely to focus on interaction with the leaders of the countries in the euro bloc. She aims to convince them of introducing stimulus measures like increasing public spending on vital infrastructure projects.
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9 key technology trends in 2019 |
According to experts, some breakthrough technological developments will appear this year. 2019 is expected to be rich in innovations. Scientists outline 9 major trends that will define future technological progress.
Autonomous devices
These innovative devices, which include cars, robots, and drones, use artificial intelligence (AI) to automate various functions. AI enables such devices to actively interact with the environment. In the future, experts predict a transition from independent autonomous devices to a group of interacting “smart” things that can work without human intervention. The main advantage of such technology is the unique capabilities of these gadgets as well as high coordination and quality of their actions.
Augmented reality in enterprises
Innovative technologies are widely used in many businesses and firms. It is anticipated that many enterprises will actively use virtual and augmented reality in their work. Augmented reality elements used in production include training and simulations, marketing, design visualization, and maintenance.
Blockchain technology
Launched in 2018, the use of blockchain technologies in most business processes will continue in 2019. According to analysts, by 2030 the total amount of financing solutions based on this technology will exceed the $3 trillion. In the coming years, advanced blockchain platforms will be involved in making purchases, storing funds, bookkeeping, and in real estate registries.
Augmented Analytics
In this technology, machine learning (ML) is applied in order to automate the business analysis process. Augmented analytics is becoming popular in the market as a key component of big data management. It is expected that automated analytics will be integrated into various business applications. The main aim of augmented analytics is to optimize the process of preparing data and extracting important information without using professional services.
5G network
In 2019, a number of 5G digital networks are about to be launched. The leadership in this area belongs to such companies as Qualcomm, Intel, Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung, and Huawei. 5G technologies will enhance the functions of mobile operators, and smartphone users will receive highly professional service. Experts are sure that last-generation networks will bring the ultra-high speed mobile Internet to life. This, in turn, will expand the capabilities of applications for augmented and virtual reality.
Quantum computing
Currently, quantum technologies are at the stage of development. Every year, such tech-giants as IBM, Intel and others present their innovations in the field of quantum computing. In 2019, IBM is planning to demonstrate how the latest advances in quantum computing can effect business and society as a whole.
Foldable phones
Mobile devices with flexible screens are gaining popularity this year. At the CES 2019 International Consumer Electronics Show, held in Las Vegas in early January, vendors showcased the first-generation smartphones with flexible screens. Foldable devices from leading smartphone producers have generated unprecedented interest. Samsung is considered to be the leader in this area. California-based Royale company is developing similar models, and the largest electronics manufacturer LG plans to release a smartphone with a flexible OLED display and a folding TV.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things is being actively developed and improved. It is expected that in 2019 the developers of IoT platforms will focus on special areas of their implementation, for example, for business management in large companies. However, experts emphasize that the number of cyberattacks on smart cities using IoT is has recently increased. Such attacks are made with the help of ransomware what forces authorities to invest in cybersecurity to minimize risks.
Digital assistants
A key role in the Internet of Things industry is assigned to digital voice assistants. With the help of "smart" gadgets, you can lock the front door, turn on and off household appliances and make purchases. All this can be done with the help of a voice command. Today, such devices have the functions of calling a taxi, ordering products online, maintaining a daily report, etc. In the future, developers plan to incorporate voice assistants in cars, televisions, and household appliances.
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Will government directives cure ailing Russia’s economy? |
Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev decided to adopt radical measures to revive the ailing domestic economy. Over the recent 20 years, Russia’s economy which ranks 6th largest global economy has been underperforming despite its enormous capacity. Interestingly, the economy used to surprise the world community with robust economic metrics, but the winning streak did not last for long. Russia’s authorities deny the fact of recession in 2019, though the economy is evidently facing a slowdown. The Bank of Russia has downgraded the 2019 outlook for economic growth to 0.8%-1.3% from an earlier forecast of 1.0%-1.5%. Nevertheless, the Kremlin irritates the Russian nationals with optimistic assessments of the economic conditions. Russia’s government agencies even detected evidence that the economy had gained momentum in Q3 2019. The head of the cabinet issued directives to prop up economic growth. The Premier assigned the Commission on economic development to implementing the package of measures which should spur GDP growth to at least 3% from 2021. Such measures aim to improve business climate, boost domestic demand, increase fiscal stimulus, encourage healthy performance of the private sector, and ensure strict supervision over the government investment programs. It sounds good on paper, but the Kremlin’s ambitions have been always focused on foreign policy at the expense of the national welfare.
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How to shop cheaper online |
If you are not satisfied with the price of a product or service, do not refuse from the purchase immediately. Knowing a few simple tricks, you can get your product much cheaper. In our review, check out 5 life hacks to reduce your spendings online.
High competition in e-commerce forces sellers to keep regular customers by any means and to attract new ones with promotions, bonuses, and special offers. Today we give you a couple of life hacks about how to get a product or service online at a better price.
1. Do not rush to buy
First, make sure you do not buy the product immediately - other online shops may sell it cheaper or offer more favourable delivery conditions.
Use the service for comparing prices, such is Yandex Market, for example, which allows you to find several offers in different stores. After that, go to the seller’s website to find out where the terms of delivery of goods are more favorable.
Some sellers do not have their own registered shops but place their offers on Avito website. In this case, you face some risks as these shops do not provide any warranty services and the possibility of a refund if you do not like the purchase.
If the product you are looking for does not have a specific name, for example, it is clothing or dishes, use the picture search. To do this, save the image, and then use the appropriate option in the search engine to find similar offers in other online stores.
2. Re-visit the site
Start filling out a registration form to make a purchase or just add your item to the basket, but instead of paying, close the page.
Perhaps you will receive the following message in your mail: "If the goods seemed too expensive, we will give you a special discount of ...".
Similar algorithms are prescribed in some online stores in order to keep a customer who changed his mind to make a purchase at the last moment.
3. Pretend to be a foreigner
The practice of dynamic pricing in e-commerce depending on the customer’s country is often used on sites for buying airline tickets and making hotel reservations. It is also found in online stores, for example, Amazon.com.
This means that the price will depend on the place of the Internet connection - your IP address.
Use VPN services to check how the price changes in different “places” of the connection. Sometimes the price difference can be rather significant because in different countries the balance of supply and demand for the same product or service may vary.
4. It is my first time here
Some online retailers carry out special promotions to attract new customers, so they give a significant discount for the first purchase in their store.
In addition, sellers give special bonuses for subscribing or reposting on social networks, as well as subscribing to mailing or newsletters.
There are often bonuses for installing a mobile application, and sometimes prices in mobile applications can be lower than on the website.
5. Use aggregator sites
There are many aggregator sites on the Internet that collect discounts, promotions, promotional codes, and special offers in one place.
Some popular resources: Bykers, SkidkaOnline, Cupongid, Promo code, etc. They often post information about discounts, which are not mentioned on official websites.
Some discounts may reach up to 30% or more.
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Venezuela denies rumors of PDVSA transfer to Russian Rosneft |
The struggle for dominance in the oil market does not stop for a minute. Sometimes it is full of contradictory news such as possible transfer of Venezuela’s PDVSA to Russia’s Rosneft. According to President of the National Assembly of Venezuela Diosdado Cabello, this data does not reflect the reality. He denied possible transfer allegations of PDVSA to Russia in exchange for cancellation of Venezuelan debt.
The politician noted that Venezuela is on good terms with Russian officials. However, nobody is talking about PDVSA deal. Previously, the information about possible handover appeared in El Nacional. Newspaper representatives said that Russian officials allegedly came to Venezuela to evaluate the state of PDVSA and considered possible job cut.
Rosneft refused to give comments on the matter. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia claimed that Venezuelan opposition was responsible for the rumors. Regarding Venezuela’s debt and PDVSA liabilities, their amount has reached $100–$150 billion. Half of it (around $60 billion) accounts for the government bonds, $20 billion are the country’s obligations to China, and $3.15 billion to Russia, as well as $3.1 billion are commitments to Rosneft. Moreover, Venezuela owes $5 billion to other international lenders, experts say.
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Business wars among relatives |
A lot of businessmen prefer not to work with their relatives. There are many examples when business disputes in the family have led to animosity among relatives. Brothers became enemies and children sued their parents. Read about five family feuds caused by business disagreements.
Adolf Dassler and Rudolf Dassler
The Dassler brothers founded a shoe company in the 20s of the last century. They cut ties in 1948 when they realised they couldn’t work side by side. Nevertheless, the reasons for the split are still unknown. Some people say that Adolf Dassler did not do anything to help his brother while the latter languished in a prisoner of war camp. After that, Rudolph could not forgive his brother. According to another version, Rudolf was stealing the company money. There is even a version that their wifes hated each other.
Thus, two companies appeared as a result of the feud: Adolf was the founder of Adidas and Rudolf was the owner of Puma.
These two shoe factories divided the town into two enemy camps. Puma employees were not allowed to go out with Adidas workers. Marriages between firms’ employees were not welcomed. In order to talk to someone, people had to look at their shoes.
The Dassler brothers did not communicate until their death and were buried at different ends of the local cemetery. A football match between Adidas and Puma employees in 2008 put an end to animosity.
Gordon Ramsay and Chris Hutcheson
World famous chef Gordon Ramsay was so busy in the kitchen that entrusted Chris Hutcheson, his partner and father-in law, with all financial matters of his business. Ramsay discharged him in 2010 due to fraud accusations.
Ramsay accused Hutcheson of illegally withdrawing lb1.4 million from the accounts which he spent on his secret second family: a mistress and two children. The last straw of the feud occurred when Chris Hutcheson forged Gordon’s signature to rent an apartment in London.
Hutcheson sued his son-in-law immediately, demanding compensation for illegal dismissal and non-payment of salary. As a result, all members of Ramsay-Hutcheson family were involved in the conflict. In court, Ramsay’s wife testified against her father, saying that Hutcheson did everything not to discuss financial matters and instantly sent Gordon away on business.
The lawsuit ended with a settlement. Ramsey paid lb2 million to his father-in-law to break business ties with him and purchase Hutcheson’s share in the company.
Kenneth Irving and rest of his family
The Irving family is the owner of the oil and gas empire Irving Oil in the third generation. The company accounts for 75% of all supplies from Canada to the United States.
At the beginning of the century, Kenneth Irving, Arthur’s oldest son, became the head of the company. It was a voluntary change of power. Kenneth had big plans to modernize and globalize the family business which, due to his father's opposition, wasn’t working properly.
Kenneth was an official head of Irving Oil. However, Artur continued to intervene in company management dealing with organizational issues mainly. As a result, Kenneth had to spend a lot of time on running a business and disputing with his father on business matters. Irving Oil employees often recalled how during the meeting they were asked to leave the room, where father and son remained face to face and were having heated discussions. Due to constant quarrels, Kenneth had to undergo treatment in a psychiatric clinic. His father saw it as a weakness and tried to exclude Kenneth from the family trust.
Kenneth Irving went to court, trying to stop his father. The litigation has been lasting for two years. As a result Kenneth agreed on settlement if his family arranged a dinner in his honor and recognized his contribution to the business development. It is very sad when a person has to file a lawsuit in order to hear praise from the loved ones.
Wallace McCain and Harrison McCain
Future kings of friench fries founded their family business in 1957. They had been working side by side for 35 years and transformed McCain Foods into one of the largest frozen food companies. There was a common door between their offices that never locked.
Peace in the family lasted until the day Wallace McCain appointed his son the head of company’s American department not taking into account his brother’s opinion. In response, Harrison spent the next year trying to remove his brother and nephew from the business. After all, Harrison also had a son and didn’t want to sit around. Though, despite the Dasslers, the McCaines story ended peacefully right before Harrison’s death.
William Koch and Frederick Koch Vs Charles Koch and David Koch
Koch Industries is an oil refining, chemical manufacturing and investment company with an annual turnover of more than $100 billion. The Koch family owns the company in the second generation. The conflict began in the 80s of the last century when William and Frederick agreed to sell their brothers 5.5 million shares of the family company for $1.1 billion. Shortly after signing the papers, William went to court, complaining that buyers cheated and underpaid a substantial amount of money.
The New York Times called the feud one of the most serious, vile and lengthy family proceedings in history. All these lawsuits enriched more than a dozen lawyers. Employees of private detective agencies happily built their lives, sending children to study at prestigious colleges with money they received from the Koch brothers. To dig up some dirt, detectives arranged surveillance, bribed cleaners, and delved into trash bins. William lost his case. The family managed to bury the hatchet only 20 years later when the brothers met together at dinner and settled their differences.
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Russian Nord Stream 2 faces competition |
Sometimes, the Russian government overestimates its success especially when it comes to the gas industry. For instance, the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been delayed several times. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nord Stream 2 is operating, not at the full capacity though. In this situation, the news about the TurkStream gas pipeline may be perceived as an already fulfilled event. On October 21, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva had an official meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. At the press conference after the talks, Lavrov stated that the Bulgarian partners began the construction work on the TurkStream second gas transmission line on Monday, and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2020. However, the same statement was made just a year ago. According to Gazprom’s plan, construction of the Bulgarian branch of the TurkStream should have been completed by the end of this year. It seems, though, that construction works have not even started, and the contractor is busy with legal proceedings surrounding the project. It is very likely that next year the Russian Foreign Ministry will again announce the large-scale pipeline construction. Meanwhile, the United States is actively promoting its liquified natural gas (LNG) supply to the Balkans. Besides, an extensive construction on the Bulgaria-Greece interconnector with the capacity of 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year is underway. In May and August this year, Bulgaria has already received 140 million cubic meters of LNG cargo from the United States via the Greek terminal Revithoussa.
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Russian Nord Stream 2 faces competition |
Sometimes, the Russian government overestimates its success especially when it comes to the gas industry. For instance, the launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has been delayed several times. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nord Stream 2 is operating, not at the full capacity though. In this situation, the news about the TurkStream gas pipeline may be perceived as an already fulfilled event. On October 21, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva had an official meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. At the press conference after the talks, Lavrov stated that the Bulgarian partners began the construction work on the TurkStream second gas transmission line on Monday, and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2020. However, the same statement was made just a year ago. According to Gazprom’s plan, construction of the Bulgarian branch of the TurkStream should have been completed by the end of this year. It seems, though, that construction works have not even started, and the contractor is busy with legal proceedings surrounding the project. It is very likely that next year the Russian Foreign Ministry will again announce the large-scale pipeline construction. Meanwhile, the United States is actively promoting its liquified natural gas (LNG) supply to the Balkans. Besides, an extensive construction on the Bulgaria-Greece interconnector with the capacity of 3 billion cubic meters of gas per year is underway. In May and August this year, Bulgaria has already received 140 million cubic meters of LNG cargo from the United States via the Greek terminal Revithoussa.
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Five popular utopias in literature |
In literature, utopia is a synonym of a unique imaginary world. Utopia is an elusive dream, an ideal society of the future. The term is translated from Greek as "good place" or "no-place". Many historic and literary figures worked in this genre. Presently, there are many utopian fiction books. Here are the five most popular utopias
Utopia by Thomas More, 1516
Thomas More, an English politician and humanist, described an extraordinary world in his book which focused on a fictional island Utopia where there was no private property, and benefits were distributed according to the needs of its inhabitants. Labour on this island is a common responsibility. Researchers know for sure that Thomas More wrote about his perfect world relying on Plato's work The Republic. Thereafter, Utopia became a household name.
The City of the Sun by Tommaso Campanella, 1602
In his book The City of the Sun, Tommaso Campanella continued to develop Thomas More’s ideas. A sailor is the narrator in the story who ends up in a mythical city where people live a religious order life. The city’s inhabitants are called the Solarians. They live by simple laws carved on the walls of the temple’s doors. Here, the punishment is applied to coward, negligent, and proud people. The state is in charge of upbringing children. The life purpose in the City of the Sun is intellectual and social improvement of a person.
New Atlantis by Francis Bacon, 1627
In his New Atlantis, Francis Bacon attempted to create an ideal state centered around efficient power mechanism as well as science and human thought development. The English philosopher paid special attention to science seeing it as the main engine of progress and the greater good. In the novel, the men of science are those who run the technocratic world. Some of Bacon’s visions are considered to be prophetic such as aviation, cinematography, undersea boats, genetic engineering, television, and cryogenics.
Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy, 1888
Edward Bellamy offered an amazing version of utopia to humanity. His book describes equality and prosperity. Bellamy’s utopia is no place for commodity and money relations, as well as crime. In this new socialist world, art is used for therapeutic purposes, and an improved education system nurtures altruism in people, where the flourishing of technology makes it all possible. However, the state tightly controls the privacy of its citizens. Looking Backwards became very popular among contemporary readers.
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Five popular utopias in literature |
In literature, utopia is a synonym of a unique imaginary world. Utopia is an elusive dream, an ideal society of the future. The term is translated from Greek as "good place" or "no-place". Many historic and literary figures worked in this genre. Presently, there are many utopian fiction books. Here are the five most popular utopias
Utopia by Thomas More, 1516
Thomas More, an English politician and humanist, described an extraordinary world in his book which focused on a fictional island Utopia where there was no private property, and benefits were distributed according to the needs of its inhabitants. Labour on this island is a common responsibility. Researchers know for sure that Thomas More wrote about his perfect world relying on Plato's work The Republic. Thereafter, Utopia became a household name.
The City of the Sun by Tommaso Campanella, 1602
In his book The City of the Sun, Tommaso Campanella continued to develop Thomas More’s ideas. A sailor is the narrator in the story who ends up in a mythical city where people live a religious order life. The city’s inhabitants are called the Solarians. They live by simple laws carved on the walls of the temple’s doors. Here, the punishment is applied to coward, negligent, and proud people. The state is in charge of upbringing children. The life purpose in the City of the Sun is intellectual and social improvement of a person.
New Atlantis by Francis Bacon, 1627
In his New Atlantis, Francis Bacon attempted to create an ideal state centered around efficient power mechanism as well as science and human thought development. The English philosopher paid special attention to science seeing it as the main engine of progress and the greater good. In the novel, the men of science are those who run the technocratic world. Some of Bacon’s visions are considered to be prophetic such as aviation, cinematography, undersea boats, genetic engineering, television, and cryogenics.
Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy, 1888
Edward Bellamy offered an amazing version of utopia to humanity. His book describes equality and prosperity. Bellamy’s utopia is no place for commodity and money relations, as well as crime. In this new socialist world, art is used for therapeutic purposes, and an improved education system nurtures altruism in people, where the flourishing of technology makes it all possible. However, the state tightly controls the privacy of its citizens. Looking Backwards became very popular among contemporary readers.
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Twitter’s shares fall by nearly 20% on earnings report |
Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. Thus, shares of Twitter fell by nearly 20% to $31.45 apiece at the start of a trading session. Remarkably, the company managed to offset part of the losses. Twitter market value lost $6-7 billion in 20 minutes. The decline in share prices was accompanied by a twofold increase in the volume of transactions with Twitter securities compared to the average value for previous days. However, this is a successful year for the company. The value of its shares has jumped by 35% since the beginning of the year. The reason for such a steep downfall was the Twitter financial statements publication for the third quarter of 2019. The network’s profit did not live up to Wall Street forecasts for the first time since 2016. Twitter’s quarterly earnings increased by 9% to $824 million from $758.1 million for the same period of 2018. Experts surveyed by Bloomberg expected the indicator to grow to $876 million. The number of active network users rose by 4.3% in the third quarter to 145 million people per month, and by 17% on a year-to-year basis. "The 9% revenue growth reflects the September growth in the US, as well as a number of obstacles, including problems with revenue and advertising seasonality in July and August. Revenue is lower than expected, but there are no significant changes in our current investments," the company said in a statement. However, there is no reason to fall into despair. “Despite the difficulties, this quarter confirms the effectiveness of our investment strategy,” said Twitter CFO Ned Segal.
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Twitter’s shares fall by nearly 20% on earnings report |
Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. Thus, shares of Twitter fell by nearly 20% to $31.45 apiece at the start of a trading session. Remarkably, the company managed to offset part of the losses. Twitter market value lost $6-7 billion in 20 minutes. The decline in share prices was accompanied by a twofold increase in the volume of transactions with Twitter securities compared to the average value for previous days. However, this is a successful year for the company. The value of its shares has jumped by 35% since the beginning of the year. The reason for such a steep downfall was the Twitter financial statements publication for the third quarter of 2019. The network’s profit did not live up to Wall Street forecasts for the first time since 2016. Twitter’s quarterly earnings increased by 9% to $824 million from $758.1 million for the same period of 2018. Experts surveyed by Bloomberg expected the indicator to grow to $876 million. The number of active network users rose by 4.3% in the third quarter to 145 million people per month, and by 17% on a year-to-year basis. "The 9% revenue growth reflects the September growth in the US, as well as a number of obstacles, including problems with revenue and advertising seasonality in July and August. Revenue is lower than expected, but there are no significant changes in our current investments," the company said in a statement. However, there is no reason to fall into despair. “Despite the difficulties, this quarter confirms the effectiveness of our investment strategy,” said Twitter CFO Ned Segal.
Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/43874
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Twitter’s shares fall by nearly 20% on earnings report |
Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. Thus, shares of Twitter fell by nearly 20% to $31.45 apiece at the start of a trading session. Remarkably, the company managed to offset part of the losses. Twitter market value lost $6-7 billion in 20 minutes. The decline in share prices was accompanied by a twofold increase in the volume of transactions with Twitter securities compared to the average value for previous days. However, this is a successful year for the company. The value of its shares has jumped by 35% since the beginning of the year. The reason for such a steep downfall was the Twitter financial statements publication for the third quarter of 2019. The network’s profit did not live up to Wall Street forecasts for the first time since 2016. Twitter’s quarterly earnings increased by 9% to $824 million from $758.1 million for the same period of 2018. Experts surveyed by Bloomberg expected the indicator to grow to $876 million. The number of active network users rose by 4.3% in the third quarter to 145 million people per month, and by 17% on a year-to-year basis. "The 9% revenue growth reflects the September growth in the US, as well as a number of obstacles, including problems with revenue and advertising seasonality in July and August. Revenue is lower than expected, but there are no significant changes in our current investments," the company said in a statement. However, there is no reason to fall into despair. “Despite the difficulties, this quarter confirms the effectiveness of our investment strategy,” said Twitter CFO Ned Segal.
Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/43874
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Largest Russian Diamonds |
Russia has got a great number of deposits where the mining of minerals and precious stones, including diamonds is carried out. For the last two years, a diamond weighing 181.68 carats extracted at Griboedov mine near Arkhangelsk has been the largest finding. See other marvelous diamonds found in Russian mines in our photo gallery
26th Congress Of CPSU
This diamond owes its unusual name to the Soviet heritage. It was mined during the Soviet Union in 1980. The 26th Congress of the CPSU weighing 342.57 carats has a lemon-yellow color. Nowadays it is stored in the Diamond Fund on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin and it is the largest diamond in this collection.
Alexander Pushkin
The Alexander Pushkin weighing 320.65 carats is the second largest gem diamond. It was mined in 1989. While studying it, experts discovered a crack on its surface. As it turned out, this diamond is a fragment of a larger stone.
Creator
The Creator is the third largest gem diamond mined in Yakutia, Russia. The weight of the diamond is 298.48 carats. It was discovered in the Anabar district of Yakutia. In September 2006, the diamond was transported to Moscow under the protection of the Special Communications and Information Service of the FSO. Later, the diamond was purchased by the Gokhran of Russia. Nowadays it is a part of the Diamond Fund.
Free Russia
Yakutia has got a lot of precious stones deposits. The Free Russia weighing 241.88 carats was found there in September 1991 at the Sytykanskaya kimberlite pipe. The diamond was gifted to Boris Yeltsin, the former President of Russia.
Star Of Vilyuysk
In September 2013, in the depths of the Yubileynaya mine, a diamond weighing 235.16 carats was minded. The estimated price of the gem diamond ranged from $ 1.5 million to $2 million. Its shape resembled an octahedron. The Star of Vilyuysk is a transparent diamond of yellowish color with minor graphite-sulfide inclusions.
Star Of Yakutia
This gem diamond weighing 232.1 carats is considered by experts as one of the most unique ones. The diamond was found in 1973. First, it was called 50 years of Aeroflot and under this name, it appeared in the famous London catalog of De Beers. Later, the diamond was renamed the Star of Yakutia. Today it is stored in the Diamond Fund of Russia.
Boris Eifman
In 2016, Russian diamond miner ALROSA extracted a large diamond weighing 214.65 carats. It was discovered at the Nyurbinskoye deposit. The gem diamond was named after famous ballet choreograph Boris Eifman in honor of his 70th anniversary.
Children Of Asia
The Children of Asia, one of the largest gem diamonds of Russia, was found at the Zarnitsa mine in Yakutia. It weighs 207.29 carats. The diamond was named in honor of the Children of Asia International Sports Games that started on July 6, 2016, the day of its discovery. This diamond is a transparent transitional crystal with a slightly grooved surface. Experts praise the Children of Asia for its high-quality.
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Метки: #photo_news |
Largest Russian Diamonds |
Russia has got a great number of deposits where the mining of minerals and precious stones, including diamonds is carried out. For the last two years, a diamond weighing 181.68 carats extracted at Griboedov mine near Arkhangelsk has been the largest finding. See other marvelous diamonds found in Russian mines in our photo gallery
26th Congress Of CPSU
This diamond owes its unusual name to the Soviet heritage. It was mined during the Soviet Union in 1980. The 26th Congress of the CPSU weighing 342.57 carats has a lemon-yellow color. Nowadays it is stored in the Diamond Fund on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin and it is the largest diamond in this collection.
Alexander Pushkin
The Alexander Pushkin weighing 320.65 carats is the second largest gem diamond. It was mined in 1989. While studying it, experts discovered a crack on its surface. As it turned out, this diamond is a fragment of a larger stone.
Creator
The Creator is the third largest gem diamond mined in Yakutia, Russia. The weight of the diamond is 298.48 carats. It was discovered in the Anabar district of Yakutia. In September 2006, the diamond was transported to Moscow under the protection of the Special Communications and Information Service of the FSO. Later, the diamond was purchased by the Gokhran of Russia. Nowadays it is a part of the Diamond Fund.
Free Russia
Yakutia has got a lot of precious stones deposits. The Free Russia weighing 241.88 carats was found there in September 1991 at the Sytykanskaya kimberlite pipe. The diamond was gifted to Boris Yeltsin, the former President of Russia.
Star Of Vilyuysk
In September 2013, in the depths of the Yubileynaya mine, a diamond weighing 235.16 carats was minded. The estimated price of the gem diamond ranged from $ 1.5 million to $2 million. Its shape resembled an octahedron. The Star of Vilyuysk is a transparent diamond of yellowish color with minor graphite-sulfide inclusions.
Star Of Yakutia
This gem diamond weighing 232.1 carats is considered by experts as one of the most unique ones. The diamond was found in 1973. First, it was called 50 years of Aeroflot and under this name, it appeared in the famous London catalog of De Beers. Later, the diamond was renamed the Star of Yakutia. Today it is stored in the Diamond Fund of Russia.
Boris Eifman
In 2016, Russian diamond miner ALROSA extracted a large diamond weighing 214.65 carats. It was discovered at the Nyurbinskoye deposit. The gem diamond was named after famous ballet choreograph Boris Eifman in honor of his 70th anniversary.
Children Of Asia
The Children of Asia, one of the largest gem diamonds of Russia, was found at the Zarnitsa mine in Yakutia. It weighs 207.29 carats. The diamond was named in honor of the Children of Asia International Sports Games that started on July 6, 2016, the day of its discovery. This diamond is a transparent transitional crystal with a slightly grooved surface. Experts praise the Children of Asia for its high-quality.
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Метки: #photo_news |
Largest Russian Diamonds |
Russia has got a great number of deposits where the mining of minerals and precious stones, including diamonds is carried out. For the last two years, a diamond weighing 181.68 carats extracted at Griboedov mine near Arkhangelsk has been the largest finding. See other marvelous diamonds found in Russian mines in our photo gallery
26th Congress Of CPSU
This diamond owes its unusual name to the Soviet heritage. It was mined during the Soviet Union in 1980. The 26th Congress of the CPSU weighing 342.57 carats has a lemon-yellow color. Nowadays it is stored in the Diamond Fund on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin and it is the largest diamond in this collection.
Alexander Pushkin
The Alexander Pushkin weighing 320.65 carats is the second largest gem diamond. It was mined in 1989. While studying it, experts discovered a crack on its surface. As it turned out, this diamond is a fragment of a larger stone.
Creator
The Creator is the third largest gem diamond mined in Yakutia, Russia. The weight of the diamond is 298.48 carats. It was discovered in the Anabar district of Yakutia. In September 2006, the diamond was transported to Moscow under the protection of the Special Communications and Information Service of the FSO. Later, the diamond was purchased by the Gokhran of Russia. Nowadays it is a part of the Diamond Fund.
Free Russia
Yakutia has got a lot of precious stones deposits. The Free Russia weighing 241.88 carats was found there in September 1991 at the Sytykanskaya kimberlite pipe. The diamond was gifted to Boris Yeltsin, the former President of Russia.
Star Of Vilyuysk
In September 2013, in the depths of the Yubileynaya mine, a diamond weighing 235.16 carats was minded. The estimated price of the gem diamond ranged from $ 1.5 million to $2 million. Its shape resembled an octahedron. The Star of Vilyuysk is a transparent diamond of yellowish color with minor graphite-sulfide inclusions.
Star Of Yakutia
This gem diamond weighing 232.1 carats is considered by experts as one of the most unique ones. The diamond was found in 1973. First, it was called 50 years of Aeroflot and under this name, it appeared in the famous London catalog of De Beers. Later, the diamond was renamed the Star of Yakutia. Today it is stored in the Diamond Fund of Russia.
Boris Eifman
In 2016, Russian diamond miner ALROSA extracted a large diamond weighing 214.65 carats. It was discovered at the Nyurbinskoye deposit. The gem diamond was named after famous ballet choreograph Boris Eifman in honor of his 70th anniversary.
Children Of Asia
The Children of Asia, one of the largest gem diamonds of Russia, was found at the Zarnitsa mine in Yakutia. It weighs 207.29 carats. The diamond was named in honor of the Children of Asia International Sports Games that started on July 6, 2016, the day of its discovery. This diamond is a transparent transitional crystal with a slightly grooved surface. Experts praise the Children of Asia for its high-quality.
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Метки: #photo_news |
China suffers economic slowdown |
One more alarming signal has appeared in the global economy. China issued weak data on GDP. In the third quarter, the Chinese GDP rose by 3% showing the slowest pace since 1992 , while in the previous quarter a much faster increase of 6.2% was registered. Such a situation was provoked by sanctions imposed by the US.
Nevertheless, China celebrated 70 years of Communist party rule with a military parade showcasing the country’s technologies, including hypersonic weapons and modern drones. Moreover, artillery guns fired a salute. China spared no expense in boasting its military achievements despite sluggish economic growth. "Trade tension with the US is the key factor weighing on business sentiment and investment activities, although domestic stimulus policies are providing some buffer from the down side," said Chaoping Zhu, global market strategist for JP Morgan Asset Management. In fact, the situation can become even worse as economists suppose that the Chinese economic indicators will nosedive in the near future. New lows are likely to be reached in the last quarter of the year. Some specialists are sure that at the next meeting the Politburo members will cut the official forecasts of the GDP growth. “Allocative inefficiencies and diminishing returns mean that unless something changes China is destined for perennially lower economic growth. This idea is reflected in our forecast, with the path into the future expected to be one that winds to and fro, with key events likely to intensify China’s prioritization of growth, regardless of the long-term cost,” Lipper Alpha Insight told their clients.
Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/43818
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Метки: #forex_caricature |
China suffers economic slowdown |
One more alarming signal has appeared in the global economy. China issued weak data on GDP. In the third quarter, the Chinese GDP rose by 3% showing the slowest pace since 1992 , while in the previous quarter a much faster increase of 6.2% was registered. Such a situation was provoked by sanctions imposed by the US.
Nevertheless, China celebrated 70 years of Communist party rule with a military parade showcasing the country’s technologies, including hypersonic weapons and modern drones. Moreover, artillery guns fired a salute. China spared no expense in boasting its military achievements despite sluggish economic growth. "Trade tension with the US is the key factor weighing on business sentiment and investment activities, although domestic stimulus policies are providing some buffer from the down side," said Chaoping Zhu, global market strategist for JP Morgan Asset Management. In fact, the situation can become even worse as economists suppose that the Chinese economic indicators will nosedive in the near future. New lows are likely to be reached in the last quarter of the year. Some specialists are sure that at the next meeting the Politburo members will cut the official forecasts of the GDP growth. “Allocative inefficiencies and diminishing returns mean that unless something changes China is destined for perennially lower economic growth. This idea is reflected in our forecast, with the path into the future expected to be one that winds to and fro, with key events likely to intensify China’s prioritization of growth, regardless of the long-term cost,” Lipper Alpha Insight told their clients.
Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/43818
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Метки: #forex_caricature |
6 Gadgets from CES To Change Our Life Soon |
This year experts and admirers of cutting-edge technologies from around the world were impressed with devices debuting at Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Usually, the most popular gadgets and concepts of the exhibition will be taken as a benchmark for the development of the global high-tech industry. See the most impressive of them in our photo gallery
In early January 2019, Las Vegas hosted the CES 2019 (Consumer Electronics Show). The world's best innovators came together to showcase their latest gadgets, wonders, and game-changers in the consumer electronics space. This year computers and a new generation of laptops were in the limelight. The world's leading companies presented several unique concepts of future technologies.
Foldable Phone FlexPai
Flexible electronics is becoming a popular global trend, experts emphasize. Chinese company Royole is a leader in flexible sensor and flexible display technologies. At CES-2019 it presented a foldable smartphone FlexPai. The phone features a bendable 7.8-inch AMOLED screen. Moreover, it can withstand more than 200 thousand bends. In China, its price is $1,300.
Signature OLED TV R
At the exhibition in Las Vegas LG presented its new groundbreaking device - Signature OLED TV R that stands out for its rollable screen. When the screen is needed, it rolls up from its base. TV resembles a piece of furniture. The screen slides in and out of view at the touch of a button. The display is coiled up inside its base. In the unfolded state, the gadget looks like a bedside table. At the top of the screen, time, weather, control smart home, and music are displayed.
Omron HeartGuide
Due to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, the most efficient preventive measures are needed, e.g. blood pressure monitoring. Therefore, one of the highlights of the CES exhibition was a Japanese watch with the Omron HeartGuid tonometer. The device carries out the oscillometric measurement using a cuff. This cuff inflates recording accurate systolic and diastolic pressure. Notably, this is a standard method for accurate measurement of blood pressure. The smartwatch costs $499.
Mercedes-Benz Vision Urbanetic
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the concept of a modular autonomous vehicle with Vision Urbanetic transformation capabilities. The car of the future has many modules that allow the car to be transformed into a 12-seater bus, a cafe, a cargo van or a taxi. In its cabin, there are displays with information about the route and a panel with mini-games. The car also has an augmented reality system.
PowerWatch 2
The innovative PowerWatch 2 features a color display, GPS module, and heartbeat sensor. Curiously enough, it turns body heat into electricity to stay charged. The device includes a solar panel which is located around the screen. Its distinctive feature is a color screen and a heart rate sensor. However, PowerWatch 2 has some drawbacks: the GPS-module will reduce the operational life of the device to 30 minutes.
Opt'e Precision Skincare System
Global manufacturer of health products Procter&Gamble presented an impressive device - makeup printer Opt'e Precision Skincare System. This printer will be able to mask problem areas of the face. The device scans the skin using a led sensor and a built-in camera. At first, it detects flaws that remain invisible to the human eye. Then, after scanning, the device applies the exact amount of makeup to the face, smoothing the color of the face and hiding its imperfections. The whole process will take a couple of minutes, and the makeup will be almost invisible.
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Метки: #photo_news |
