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Business News›Wealth›Tax›ET Wealth ratings: Comparison of 10 tax-saving investments under Section 80C
ET Wealth ratings: Comparison of 10 tax-saving investments under Section 80C
Comparison of 10 tax-saving instruments on 8 parameters: returns, safety, flexibility, liquidity, costs, transparency, ease of investment and taxability.
Babar Zaidi
Updated: Mar 13, 2018, 01.13 PM IST
Find out which tax saving instrument under Section 80C suits your financial situation.
A colleague has advised Rohan Vinayak to invest in ELSS funds to save tax. His bank manager says an insurance policy is a better idea. Vinayak's father wants him to go for the time-tested PPF. The Bengaluru-based software professional is confused, but he can't afford to lose time. "I have to show proof of my tax-saving investments by the end of this week or my company will deduct a very high tax," he says.
ET Wealth's annual ranking of tax-saving instruments can resolve Vinayak's dilemma. We have assessed 10 tax-saving instruments on eight key parameters—returns, safety, flexibility, liquidity, costs, transparency, ease of investment and taxability of income. Each parameter is given equal weightage and the composite scores of the various options determine their rank.
Our cover story tells Vinayak why he should junk his banker's advice. Insurance policies are definitely the worst way to save tax. They have consistently ranked lowest since the ET Wealth ranking was started four years ago. However, though insurance plans give very low returns of 4-5%, they also inculcate a saving discipline that is so essential for building long-term wealth. Policyholders diligently pay the premium for 20-25 years to keep their policies in force and reap a huge corpus on maturity. It's no surprise then that insurance policies have helped people build property, pay for their children's education and marriage and live comfortably in retirement.
In contrast, ELSS funds have given terrific returns in recent years, but very few investors stay put for the long term. Amfi data shows that almost 35% of investments in equity funds by small investors are redeemed within a year. Another 17% are redeemed within two years, and only 48% are held for more than two years. So, while ELSS funds can give very good returns, they will not make wealth for you if you plan to exit after the three-year lock-in.
1. ELSS Funds
Returns: 13.62% (Last three years)
Our rating: 5 star
Equities had a terrific 2017, and the rally has continued into the new year. The average ELSS fund rose 36% during 2017, and even the long-term performance is fairly decent. The category has given 18% compounded returns in the past five years. Investors have seen their wealth double in a little over four years. What's more, the returns are tax free because long-term capital gains from equity funds are exempt from tax.
Also Read: Why ELSS are still better than Ulips despite LTCG tax
While ELSS funds look attractive, the elephant in the room is the all-time high level of the market. The Nifty is trading at a PE of almost 27 and many analysts have advised investors to be cautious. Others say that expectations of returns from equities need to be toned down. Given the high levels of the markets right now, don't expect equity funds to repeat the performance of the past 1-2 years in 2018.
Some investors have stopped their SIPs in ELSS funds because markets are high. "I will restart SIPs when markets correct," says Mumbai-based Abhishek Tewari. We believe stopping SIPs for a few months will not make a significant difference to his overall returns. Tewari should continue his SIPs regardless of market levels.
In Pic: Abhishek Tewari 28 Years, Mumbai
An aggressive investor, he invests in ELSS funds to save tax. But he is also a careful investor and invests through SIPs of Rs 5,000 per month.
Smart tip: Avoid investing large sums in ELSS at one go. Take the SIP route for best results.
At the same time, investors like Vinayak should avoid putting a large amount in ELSS at one go. He needs to invest Rs 1.16 lakh in taxsaving options this week and putting the entire sum in ELSS funds at one go can be risky. Ideally, he should stagger his investments over the next 2-3 months. But he does not have the luxury of time and should, therefore, opt for some other tax-saving option this year instead of ELSS. Here are a few other things that ELSS investors should keep in mind.
Though they offer the same tax benefits, not all ELSS funds are the same. Some are more adventurous and invest a larger portion of their corpus in small- and midcap stocks. This can be risky in the short and medium term but also rewarding in the long term. Others are relatively more conservative and line their portfolios with stable large-cap stocks. We have classified ELSS funds into three broad sub-categories (see tables). Choose the one that best suits your risk appetite.
The Best ELSS Funds
Don't base your choice on a fund's shortterm performance. The stability of returns is more important than the quantum of gain. Look at the 3-year and 5-year performance of the scheme before you make a choice. Small investors often treat ELSS funds as short-term investments and exit after the three-year lock in period. Look at ELSS funds as regular equity funds that should be held for the long term.
If you are investing for the long term, don't go for the dividend option. Dividends are just another way of booking profits because the amount received gets deducted from the NAV. The dividend reinvestment option is even worse. Every time the fund gives out a dividend and reinvests the money into your account, the three-year lock in period starts all over again. In effect, you are locked in for perpetuity.
2. Public Provident Fund
Returns: 7.6% (For Jan-March 2018)
Small savings rates are linked to the government bond yields in the secondary market. PPF rates have progressively come down in the past two years, mirroring the decline in bond yields. The PPF rate was cut recently by 20 basis points and could fall further in the coming months. Despite the rate cut, advisers say the PPF remains a good bet because the interest is tax free. The tax-free status of the PPF gives it a distinct advantage over fixed deposits. The interest from fixed deposits is fully taxable, which brings down the returns to barely 5% in the highest bracket.
PPF rates have steadily come down in past few years
On the other hand, since consumer inflation is below 4%, the PPF offers a healthy real return of more than 3%. "This is quite impressive for an option that offers assured returns," says Amol Joshi, Founder, PlanRupee Investment Service. "Investors should continue to take advantage of this long-term tax-free product," he adds.
Besides the returns and taxability, the PPF scores high on safety, flexibility and ease of investment. An account can be opened in a Post Office branch or designated branches of PSU banks. Some private banks also offer the facility to invest in the PPF. Opt for a bank that allows online access to the PPF account. Deposits can be made throughout the year, but an investor must deposit at least Rs 500 in a year.
However, there is a better alternative available to salaried taxpayers covered by the Employees' Provident Fund. Although an individual's contribution to the EPF is linked to the salary, one can opt for the Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF). The VPF offers a higher rate (8.65% for 2016-17) compared to the PPF and contributions are eligible for the same tax benefits. But this option can be exercised only at the beginning of the financial year or in October.
Smart tip: Invest through a bank that allows online access and investment in the PPF account.
Also Read: Your tax-saving guide for FY 17-18
3. Senior Citizens' Saving Scheme
Small savings rates have been cut, but the Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme has been spared. At 8.3%, this is the best option for retirees looking for regular income in their golden years. The highest rate offered to senior citizens by banks is 7.7%. The tenure of the scheme is five years, which is extendable by another three years. However, there is a Rs 15 lakh overall investment limit per individual. Also, the scheme is open only to investors above 60. In some cases, where the investor has opted for voluntary retirement and has not taken up another job, the minimum age is relaxed to 58 years. There is also no age bar for defence personnel. There is also a clause allowing premature exits. If closed before two years, the investor has to pay 1.5% of the balance in the account. After two years, the penalty is lowered to 1% of the balance.
In Pic: Rajiv Mathur 62 Years, Delhi
The Senior Citizens' Saving Scheme is a good option for retirees looking for regular and assured income in their golden years.
Smart tip: Stagger investments across several financial years to create a ladder of deposits and optimise tax benefits.
4. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Returns 8.1% (For Jan-March 2018)
For taxpayers with a daughter below 10 years, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a good way to save. Although the interest rate has been reduced to 8.1%, it is still higher than what the PPF offers. Just like the PPF, the interest earned is tax free and there is an annual cap of Rs 1.5 lakh on the investment. Accounts can be opened in any post office or designated banks with a minimum investment of Rs 1,000. A parent can open an account for a maximum of two daughters, but the combined investment in the two accounts cannot exceed Rs 1.5 lakh in a year.
Some experts argue that the debt-based Sukanya scheme is not the best way to save for a long-term goal. This is true, because equity-based options can deliver higher returns. This is why experts advise that the SSY should be used in combination with other investments, such as equity funds, for saving for a child's future goals. The good part is that the girl child tag lends a sense of purpose to the investment. The maturity proceeds of other investments are often squandered. On the other hand, the Sukanya scheme helps a family save the daughter's education and marriage.
In Pic: Saurav Kumar 32 Years, Bengaluru
He puts Rs 25,000 every year in the Sukanya scheme for the education of his 2-year-old daughter. The scheme offers higher returns than PPF.
Smart tip: Open a Sukanya account in a nationalised bank to make it easier to transfer to the child.
5. National Pension Scheme
Returns: 9.5% (Past three years)
The NPS can help save tax under three different sections. Firstly, contributions of up to Rs 1.5 lakh can be claimed as a deduction under the overall Sec 80C. Secondly, there is an additional deduction of up to Rs 50,000 under Sec 80CCD(1b). Thirdly, if the employer puts up to 10% of the basic salary of the individual in the NPS, that amount will not be taxable.
The trinity of tax benefits has attracted a lot of investors to the pension scheme. However, many are still put off by the fact that NPS is not completely tax free. Only 40% of the corpus is tax free on maturity. Also, on maturity, the NPS forces the investor to put 40% of the corpus in an annuity to earn a monthly pension. This pension is treated as income and is fully taxable.
For young investors like Vinayak, the long lock-in period is also a deal breaker. NPS investments cannot be withdrawn before retirement, except in some exceptional circumstances and for specific needs. However, experts say the long lock-in period is a blessing in disguise. "When the purpose is to save for old age, it is necessary to discourage early withdrawals," says Kulin Patel, Head of Retirement, South Asia, Willis Towers Watson.
The twin rallies in equities and bonds have helped the NPS churn out good returns in the past few years. Aggressive investors who put the maximum 50% in equity funds have earned the highest returns. But this performance may not sustain in the coming months. NPS funds have lined their portfolios with long-term bonds which have not given good returns in recent months. And equity markets are looking overvalued. Even so, investors can expect better returns from NPS than pure debt products.
Rewarded by the markets
The stock market rally has boosted returns of aggressive investors who bet on equities
In Pic: Gauri and Mukul Pandit 30 and 31 Years, Delhi
Both invest Rs 50,000 in the NPS to save tax beyond Sec 80C. They have opted for the lifecycle fund option that reduces equity exposure as the individual grows older.
Smart tip: Don't be too conservative when investing for the long term. A balanced exposure to all categories works best.
Also Read: Your tax-saving guide for FY17-18
6. ULIPs
Returns: 9.9-11.9% (Past five years)
Despite attempts by distributors and insurance companies, the perception about Ulips has not changed much. Investors still consider them very costly and financial advisers continue to hold them in contempt. But it is time to bury the shady past of Ulips. New Ulips launched by insurance companies are low on costs, which translates into better returns for investors.
Morningstar data shows that aggressive Ulip plans earned over 20% in the past one year. That may not appear impressive compared to the 30-35% that equity mutual funds earned for investors. The 11.96% returns from Ulips in the past five years are not even a patch on what equity funds have earned since 2012. Besides, some of the charges of the Ulip are not deducted from the NAV so the actual returns for the investors may be even lower.
But Ulips have one distinct advantage over mutual funds. Switching from equity to debt or vice versa does not have any tax implications. Being insurance policies, the income and capital gains from these plans is tax free under Section 10(10D). This makes a Ulip a convenient rebalancing tool for investors who reset their portfolio's asset allocation every year.
They will also be useful for investors wanting to put money in debt funds but are deterred by the taxation of short-term gains. The minimum period for long-term capital gains from debt and debt-oriented funds has been increased from one year to three years. If held for less than three years, the gains are added to your income and taxed at the normal rate. But there is no tax on short-term gains from Ulips.
You can also park short-term money in the liquid fund of your Ulip using the top-up facility.
How Ulips fared
Smart tip: If investing large sum, opt for liquid or debt fund of the Ulip and gradually shift the money to equity funds.
What to see in a Ulip
CHARGES: The most important consideration. Some charges are built into the NAV while others are levied by deducting units. Look up all charges mentioned in the brochure.
FUND OPTIONS: Look at the various fund options available. There are three basic funds: equity, debt and liquid, but some insurers offer hybrid funds and other options.
SWITCHING: Know how much the Ulip will charge for switching from one option to another. Normally 3-4 switches a year are free, though some offer up to 12 free switches.
WITHDRAWALS AND TOP UPS: Find out rules relating to top up investments and withdrawals from policy.
COVER: Be sure whether your Ulip will pay only the sum assured or also the fund value in case of a mishappening. Some Ulips pay only the sum assured, though their premium is also lower.
7. NSCs
The interest rate of the NSCs has been reduced to 7.6%, but are still more than what bank fixed deposits offer. The NSCs also have a sovereign backing. NSCs fell out of favour when bank rates were higher at 9-9.5% a few years ago. But deposit rates have now fallen to 6.5-7%, though senior citizens get higher rates. This makes the NSCs more attractive than bank deposits.
What's more, the interest earned on the NSC is also eligible for deduction under Section 80C in the following years. Here's how this works. Suppose an investor buys Rs 50,000 worth of NSCs in January 2018. One year later, the investment would have earned an interest of about Rs 3,800. The investor can claim deduction for this Rs 3,800 for the year 2018-19. The next year, the investment would earn about Rs 4,100 in interest. This can be claimed as a deduction in 2019-20.
This is especially useful for investors in the 5% tax bracket who are not able to fully exhaust the Rs 1.5 lakh investment limit under Sec 80C. The tax deduction available on the interest effectively makes it tax free for such investors.
There have been some changes in the rules for non-resident Indians investing in small savings schemes lately. NRIs are no longer allowed to invest in these instruments. The PPF account of an individual will be deemed closed from the date he becomes an NRI and he would get only 4% interest from that date onwards. Similarly, NSCs will be deemed to be encashed by the holder on the day he becomes an NRI.
Smart tip: Create a ladder of NSCs so that after they mature the proceeds can be reinvested to earn benefi ts.
8. Pension Plans
Returns: 7-10% (For past one year)
The emergence of the NPS has pushed pension plans from insurance companies into oblivion. Unlike the new Ulips where charges have come down significantly, the pension plans from insurance companies continue to have high charges. Interestingly, these pension plans are more lenient than the NPS when it comes to deploying the maturity proceeds. NPS investors have to compulsorily put 40% of the corpus in an annuity. Some pension plans don't have such restrictions, while some others require only 25% to be put in annuities. But on the other hand, only 33% of the corpus is tax free on maturity, compared with 40% in case of the NPS.
According to a recent RBI report, the population of Indians above 65 years old is expected to grow by 75%. The report also points out that only a small fraction of this age group has saved in private pension plans and a large segment of the total population has not actively taken steps to ensure adequate financial coverage during retirement.
Insurance companies believe that the tax treatment of annuities and pension income is one of the main reasons why people don't invest in pension plans. "There might be several reasons for people not saving for retirement but the taxability of pension plans is certainly one of them," contends Tarun Chugh, CEO and Managing Director of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance.
Right now, if an investor does not buy an annuity on maturity, 66% of the corpus of the pension plan is taxed. Even the pension from the annuity is treated as income and taxed accordingly. "Both these tax rules should be relaxed as far as possible in the coming Budget which will give a boost to the entire pension space and encourage Indians to plan for a worry-free retirement," adds Chugh.
Smart tip: Rebalance pension plan portfolio periodically to restore original asset allocation, thus reducing risk.
9. Bank FDs
Returns: 7 to 7.7%
Their interest rates have fallen significantly and the income is fully taxable. Yet tax-saving bank fixed deposits are a good choice for the Rip Van Winkles who left their tax planning for the last minute and are now running around to beat the deadline. Vinayak has to show the proof of investment under Sec 80C by the end of this week or his company will deduct a very high tax from his January salary.
For such taxpayers, the Netbanking facility is a godsend. Even if the bank branch has closed for the day, his tax planning can be done in a matter of minutes. All he has to do is open a tax-saving fixed deposit and show the proof of investment to your company.
We are suggesting bank fixed deposits for the simple reason that he cannot go wrong in these instruments. Sure, the income is taxable and the post-tax returns will be barely 5.5%. But at least Vinayak won't end up buying a low-yield life insurance policy or an unsuitable pension plan.
These fixed deposits are also suitable for senior citizens who might already have hit the Rs 15 lakh ceiling in the Senior Citizens' Saving Scheme and don't want to lock in money for the long term in a PPF account. Though NSCs offer higher rates than most banks, they still require the investor to visit the post office. Bank deposits can be done online.
Keep in mind that the interest from such deposits has to be reported in the tax return next year. Many investors have the misconception that up to Rs 10,000 earned on bank deposits is tax free. The exemption under Sec 80TTA applies to savings bank interest only. Income from fixed deposits is fully taxable and should be mentioned in the income tax return of the individual.
The best tax-saving FDs
More than 50% of their corpus is in mid and small-cap stocks. Expect good growth.
Smart tip: Opt for the quarterly or yearly interest payout option if you don't want to lock up your money for five years.
Returns: 4.5-5%
It is no surprise that life insurance policies are at tenth place in our ranking of tax-saving options. Life insurance is the bulwark of a financial plan because it safeguards all the goals of the individual even if he is not around. But this purpose is best served by a pure protection term insurance plan rather than a costly traditional policy that gives back money at periodic intervals or provides a huge corpus on maturity.
Traditional policies yield barely 4-5% returns but investors are attracted to them because the agent quotes a very high maturity figure. Buyers don't realize that there is a time value of money. If an insurance policy will give Rs 40 lakh in 20 years, even 6% inflation would pare down its value to less than Rs 12 lakh.
Manoj Srinivas is not able to save for other goals because he pays a very high insurance premium for a policy that covers him for less than his annual income. He should surrender this policy or turn it into a paid up plan. This will free up Rs 1 lakh a year, which can be put to good use elsewhere. A term cover of Rs 1 crore will cost him around Rs 10,000-14,000.
In Pic: Manoj Srinivas 32 Years, Hyderabad
He pays Rs 1 lakh premium for a cover of Rs 5 lakh, though a term plan can cover him for Rs 1 crore at a cost of only Rs 12,000-14,000 a year. The high premium outgo prevents him from investing for other goals.
Smart tip: A pure protection term insurance plan can provide a large cover at a very low cost.
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Wayne Simmonds, acquired from the Kings in Richards deal, signs deal with Flyers
PHILADELPHIA - The Flyers on Thursday agreed to terms with right wing Wayne Simmonds on a multi-year contract extension.
Simmonds, 22, was acquired from Los Angeles on June 23, along with centre Brayden Schenn and a draft pick, in exchange for centre Mike Richards. In 80 games with the Kings last season, he had 14 goals and 30 points.
Simmonds, a Los Angeles second-round draft pick in 2007, appeared in 240 games for the Kings over three seasons. He has career totals of 39 goals, 93 points and 264 penalties in minutes.
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Why Can't the NHL Purge Itself of Crosschecking?
The debate over whacks to the back came to the forefront on opening night in Toronto, but the reality is that the casual crosscheck has been a defensive strategy for a long, long time.
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Since this is a fan site about Maaya Sakamoto, I should provide a proper biography about her. Maaya is a Japanese singer and voice actress (seiyuu) who started her career in her mid teens. At the age of about 15, she got her debut voice acting role in the anime TV series Vision of Escaflowne as the female character Hitomi Kanzaki. Maaya was a perfect match for the role considering Hitomi's age in the show was 15. In addition to providing Hitomi's voice, Maaya also performed the Escaflowne opening song, "Yakusoku wa Iranai" and several insert songs. She also reprised the role in the Escaflowne Movie: "A Girl in Gaia".
After her debut in Escaflowne, Maaya went on to work on other anime shows including El Hazard: The Alternative World, Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, and Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety. Her more recent anime works include Geneshaft and Rahxephon. While she has voice acted in a fair number of anime series, most of her roles tend to be small. The majority of her roles are supporting characters. As far as I know, her last major role in an anime was in El Hazard: The Alternative World.
Maaya has also provided her voice in many video / PC games. The list of games she has worked on is too long to mention here, but her most prominent works include Panzer Dragoon Saga, Napple Tale, and Kingdom Hearts (Japanse version). One of her more recent games is Dead or Alive: Xtreme Beach Volleyball.
Maaya is probably less well-known for her work in games. Most of her fans are more familar with her voice acting in anime and of course her singing. She started her singing career during work on Escaflowne and released her first full length album, "Grapefruit", in April of 1997. As of the beginning of 2004, she has released 4 albums, 2 compilations, and over a dozen singles. Besides her solo career, Maaya also formed a duo group with Chieko Higuchi called "Whoops". The two worked together for a short time and released a few singles and a handful of cd albums from late 1998 to late 1999. Maaya's participation in Whoops is easily overlooked. Even I find her Whoops songs mediocre compared to her other works.
Most of Maaya's singles are anime related and she has performed many theme and insert songs for shows. She often works with Japanese composer Yoko Kanno on anime related projects. In fact, Kanno composes the music in almost all of Maaya's solo albums and singles. The two enjoy collaborating together and definitely have a strong work relationship. It's not uncommon for people to be fans of both artists.
Besides voice acting in anime and games, Maaya has also completed dubbing work in live action tv shows and movies. Her role as Princess Amidala in Star Wars Epsiode 1 is probably her most well-known dub work. She has also expanded her career into live acting. In 2003, she performed in a Japanese production of the musical "Les Miserables" in the role of Eponine. Maaya also starred as the female lead in a short Japanese film titled "03 Cross" and had a cameo role in a TV drama.


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U.S. Legal News
U.S. legislation steps up pressure on Huawei and ZTE, China calls it 'hysteria'
By Diane Bartz, Christian Shepherd
WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced bills on Wednesday that would ban the sale of U.S. chips or other components to Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL], ZTE Corp or other Chinese telecommunications companies that violate U.S. sanctions or export control laws.
The proposed law drew sharp criticism from China where Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying called the U.S. legislation "hysteria", intensifying a bitter trade war between Beijing and Washington.
The bills were introduced shortly before the Wall Street Journal reported federal prosecutors were investigating allegations that Huawei stole trade secrets from T-Mobile U.S. Inc and other U.S. businesses.
The Journal said that an indictment could be coming soon on allegations that Huawei stole T-Mobile technology, called Tappy, which mimicked human fingers and was used to test smartphones.
Huawei said in a statement the company and T-Mobile settled their disputes in 2017 following a U.S. jury verdict that found "neither damage, unjust enrichment nor wilful and malicious conduct by Huawei in T-Mobile's trade secret claim".
Hua urged U.S. lawmakers to block the bills.
"I believe the action of these few representatives are an expression of extreme arrogance and an extreme lack of self-confidence," Hua said.
China calls proposed U.S. legislation against Huawei, ZTE 'hysteria'
"Actually the whole world can see very clearly that the real intent of the United States is to employ its state apparatus in every conceivable way to suppress and block out China's high-tech companies," she added.
The legislation is the latest in a long list of actions taken to fight what some in the Trump administration call China's cheating through intellectual property theft, illegal corporate subsidies and rules hampering U.S. corporations that want to sell their goods in China.
PRESSURE MOUNTING
In November, the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled an initiative to investigate China's trade practices with a goal of bringing trade secret theft cases.
At that time, Washington had announced an indictment against Chinese chipmaker Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co Ltd for stealing trade secrets from U.S. semiconductor company Micron Technology relating to research and development of memory storage devices.
Jinhua, which has denied any wrongdoing, was put on a list of entities that cannot buy goods from U.S. firms.
FILE PHOTO: The Huawei logo is pictured outside their research facility in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, December 6, 2018. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
On Capitol Hill, Senator Tom Cotton and Representative Mike Gallagher, both Republicans, along with Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, introduced the bills that would require the president to ban the export of U.S. components to any Chinese telecommunications company that violates U.S. sanctions or export control laws.
The bills specifically cite ZTE and Huawei, both of which are viewed with suspicion in the United States because of fears that their switches and other gear could be used to spy on Americans. Both have also been accused of failing to respect U.S. sanctions on Iran.
"Huawei is effectively an intelligence-gathering arm of the Chinese Communist Party whose founder and CEO was an engineer for the People's Liberation Army," Cotton wrote in a statement. "If Chinese telecom companies like Huawei violate our sanctions or export control laws, they should receive nothing less than the death penalty - which this denial order would provide."
The proposed law and investigation are two of several challenges that Huawei, the world's biggest telecommunications equipment maker, faces in the U.S. market.
In addition to allegations of sanctions-busting and intellectual property theft, Washington has been pressing allies to refrain from buying Huawei's switches and other gear because of fears they will be used by Beijing for espionage.
Huawei's founder, Ren Zhengfei, denied this week that his company was used by the Chinese government to spy.
Canada detained Ren's daughter, Meng Wanzhou, who is Huawei's chief financial officer, in December at the request of U.S. authorities investigating an alleged scheme to use the global banking system to evade U.S. sanctions against Iran.
For its part, ZTE agreed last year to pay a $1 billion fine to the United States that had been imposed because the company breached a U.S. embargo on trade with Iran.
As part of the agreement, the U.S. lifted a ban in place since April that had prevented ZTE from buying the U.S. components it relies on heavily to make smartphones and other devices.
Reporting by Diane Bartz and Karen Freifeld; Additional reporting by Anne Marie Roantree in HONG KONG and Christian Shepherd in BEIJING; Editing by Steve Orlofsky, James Dalgleish, Leslie Adler, Christopher Cushing and Darren Schuettler


Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed Lady Day by her loyal friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday was a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo.
Above all, she was admired for her deeply personal and intimate approach to singing. Critic John Bush wrote that she "changed the art of American pop vocals forever." She co-wrote only a few songs, but several of them have become jazz standards, notably "God Bless the Child", "Don't Explain", and "Lady Sings the Blues". She also became famous for singing jazz standards written by others, including "Easy Living" and "Strange Fruit."
This Poster is a ReProduction Poster of Billie Holiday at The TownHall in New York City back in 1948. This was a very important concert in the world of Jazz as this was to be Billie Holiday's 1st solo effort and her first concert without singing for any Big Band.
This poster is a High Quality Lithographic Print.


Another page following the exploits of Skip, an unfortunate lad who keeps taking part-time jobs that put him in the path of Korgar's rage.
This was a fun one, streamed over three sessions, including the coloring segment in Photoshop. Thanks to Thwaitesy for the use of his character Amanda in a guest-spot as the waitress.


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Children Abducted in Sylmar; Mother Sought
Contributing Editor / November 19, 2021
Authorities Friday were searching for two girls who were allegedly abducted by their mother in…
Family Members Believe Convicted SFV Couple Were Abducted
Contributing Editor / October 29, 2021
Relatives of a San Fernando Valley couple accused of removing their tracking bracelets and going…
Family members of a San Fernando Valley couple whom the FBI believes cut their tracking…
Ex-Con Who Abducted, Raped Riverside Woman Quarter Century Ago Sentenced
A 50-year-old ex-con who abducted and sexually assaulted a Riverside woman a quarter-century ago was…
Happy Ending For 11-Month-Old Girl Returned Safely To Family After Abduction: Homeless Suspect Nabbed
Contributing Editor / March 8, 2021
An 11-month-old girl who was taken from her family's home in South Los Angeles was…
LAPD Looking For 11-Month-Old Girl Abducted From South LA
Los Angeles police Monday were looking for an 11-month-old girl and a homeless man suspected…
Police Say Child Abducted by Father Returned, Parent Arrested
Contributing Editor / February 15, 2021
Police Monday said a 3-year-old girl with an unspecified medical condition, who was taken from…
Authorities Seek Girl, 3, Abducted By Father
Contributing Editor / February 9, 2021
Authorities asked for the public's help Tuesday morning in finding a 3-year-old girl with an…
Authorities asked for the public's help Monday finding a 3-year-old girl who was taken last…
Mother Who Abducted Son from Foster Care Sentenced
The biological mother of a 10-year-old Moreno Valley boy in foster care was sentenced Friday…
Toddler Abducted From Desert Hot Springs Found Safe; Suspect Arrested
A convicted felon accused of stealing a vehicle with a toddler inside in Desert Hot…


Dr. Niels Van Quaquebeke, professor at Kühne Logistics University, was invited to showcase a symposium at the 17th European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (eawop) conference from May 20-23 in Oslo, Norway. eawop is the leading conference in Europe on this field of psychological research.
His research on respect being a close match with the conference theme "Respectful and Effective Leadership", Van Quaquebeke followed the invitation and discussed with colleagues various topics surrounding the issue of respect in organizations. Part of the showcased symposium was work by Prof. Dr. Christian Tröster, who is also a professor at KLU, Catharina Decker, who is currently a PhD at KLU, and Suzanne van Gils, who used to be a postdoc at KLU.
In general the conference focused on Europe and the world as both are facing turbulent times that pose serious challenges to employees, teams, organizations, nations and leaders. Leaders with responsibility for both employees and results have to deal with globalized competition, cost reduction, mergers and downsizing as everyday challenges. How can they manage respectfully and at the same time, create and maintain an effective organization? The conference aimed to provide answers to this key question. The conference title, "Respectful and Effective Leadership – Managing people and organizations in turbulent times," best expresses today's challenges.
More information about Catharina Decker.


Hello from NC! All has been going well here with Ezra. We continue to go to clinic twice a week and he has been weaned off many of his medications. He is eating more, smiling, rolling, standing with support, laughing and cooing all the time. We are truly enjoying this stage and he is keeping… Continue reading Ezra Update: Test Results!


51 & 52 / Dec 22-Jan 5, 2018. Dec 21-Jan 4, 2019.
Own this top floor 3 bdrm with vaulted ceilings for Christmas and New Year's Weeks for life! Located in Beaver Creek village within short walking distance to skiing, shops, restaurants, skating, etc... Amenities include front desk, maid service, heated parking, ski lockers, pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam, fitness room and a short walk to ski lifts. Date: Dec 22-Jan 5, 2018. Dec 21-Jan 4, 2019.


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Sierra Leone's fragile democracy
An investigation into past corruption is shining a light on wider questions of political accountability.
By Freddie Hayward
Opposition challenger Julius Maada Bio (C) of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), holds a child as he leaves after casting his vote on March 31, 2018 in Freetown, during the second round of Sierra Leone's presidential election. Voting began on March 31 in Sierra Leone in the final round of a delayed run-off presidential election after a campaign marked by verbal sparring, sporadic violence and a last-minute legal battle. / AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO (Photo credit should read ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Nearby hills surround Sierra Leone's capital city of Freetown in a colosseum-like enclosure. At night, the steep incline twinkles with generator-fuelled lights that mark embassies, tin-roofed houses and government buildings. The poorer parts of the capital aren't contained to one area but stand against the walls of commercial and political centres.
In various ways, the city's geography reflects the nature of politics in Sierra Leone – where political discourse permeates lunchtime conversation inside the city's small restaurants, and the government and the public feel closely enmeshed. Perhaps because of the nation's recent history (a brutal civil war waged between 1991 and 2002), many I've spoken to here are emotionally invested in politics, and apathy seems uncommon. As Alusine Sesay, editor of the national daily paper the Concord Times, told me: people's survival depends on their knowledge of the government's activities.
Since the end of September, conversation has focused on the publication of three judge-led reports detailing alleged mismanagement of finances under the previous administration, which left office in 2018. The reports have named former president Ernest Bai Koroma, who denies any wrongdoing, and a number of his ministers, leading to a series of appeals. Koroma has recently been interviewed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government has placed a travel ban on those named in the reports. When President Julius Maada Bio published the reports on 24 September, he said he would expunge corruption from the political system, but critics such as Sesay question whether action will be taken against the government's own ministers.
According to a recent survey, 76 per cent of Sierra Leoneans say they prefer democracy to any other form of government. But can a country that democracy and human rights NGO Freedom House considers only "partly free" and where corruption is still pervasive be said to have fully fledged democracy?
Why do people keep calling Rishi Sunak a "safe pair of hands"?
Brexit has been a disaster – but Remainers need to get real
[see also: We need to talk about corruption in the UK]
The current governing party, the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), was dominant in the period around independence in 1961, until it was replaced by the All People's Congress (APC) following the 1967 election. The APC subsequently repressed any opposition and installed a one-party state until a multi-party system returned in the 1990s. Since the end of the civil war war, the country has had two largely peaceful transfers of power and achieved a consistent improvement in governance on the Mo Ibrahim Index.
The two main parties are predominantly defined by their relation to the country's ethnic groups, rather than an established ideology. The Mende people in the south traditionally support the SLPP, while the Temne people in the north typically vote for the APC. This poses questions for Sierra Leone's democracy. On one level, people are freely choosing to vote along ethnic lines. As David Harris, author of Sierra Leone: A Political History, told me: "Who's to say that democracy that is to an extent an ethnic census is fundamentally wrong?" On another level, if the electorate is motivated by ethnicity rather than competence or ideology, a fundamental channel of accountability can be lost. When asked whether ethnic voting deprives the government of a mandate for its policies, Harris said, "It does that as well, and therein lies the problem."
Abdul Fatoma, chief executive of Campaign for Human Rights and Development International, believes that corruption and patronage fuel ethno-regionalism. He argues that the politicisation of ethnic identities in Sierra Leone is not a historical trait but is brought about by the divisive effects of corruption. He points to marriages between ethnicities as evidence that the inequitable distribution of resources is fomenting division, rather than inherent ethnically based discord.
"People believe that when [their region's party] is in power it is their time to be in high places in the government structure… and even [to receive] business contracts," he told me. "Corruption is fundamental [to ethno-regionalism]."
Dependence on foreign aid is another cause of the relative ideological paucity of the two main parties. By 2005, aid was equivalent to 30 per cent of Sierra Leone's gross national income (GNI), with its former colonial ruler Britain making the highest individual contribution. But nothing is ever free. The conditions attached to aid often promote the donor's own ideology – for instance, the IMF has pressured the government to abolish fuel subsidies. (The government rarely acquiesces with donors on culture-related issues, however, such as female genital mutilation, because they are seen as electorally risky, according to Harris.)
[see also: We have to keep our promise to the world's poorest – and save the 0.7 per cent aid target]
Without entrenched ideological differences, it is not uncommon for ministers to cross the aisle once the opposition is voted into office. In addition to demonstrating the similarity between the parties and the limited choice for voters, this phenomenon has also complicated the reports into the alleged corruption of the previous administration, as certain officials and ministers have moved from that administration into the next.
Harris believes the reports will not resolve the corruption problem because those favoured by the SLPP leadership will be protected from prosecution: "It's fundamentally party politics. The chances that anyone senior in the SLPP will be put in front of the Anti-Corruption Commission are almost zero unless they are out of favour or expendable." What is ostensibly democratic accountability could actually be a tool of partisanship that injures democracy in the long term.
The nation's media is also less free than it seems. The country currently has more than 15 national newspapers and, in July, the parliament repealed a notorious libel law that had stunted criticism of the government. Yet intimidation and self-censorship still exist. It is common for journalists to stand when ministers enter press conferences and for the president to be prefixed with "His Excellency". Alusine Sesay says that the threat of the government pulling adverts from newspapers, which account for a large proportion of revenue, hangs over editors.
The nuances and particularities of Sierra Leonean democracy abound. They tell us that democracy will always be shaped by its host's history and individuality. In such ways, Sierra Leone serves as a warning against electoralism (the false assumption that elections equal democracy) and a reminder of the potential damage to the democratic process when any one of its facets is eroded.
Whether the current president will pursue corruption impartially remains unclear. With elections scheduled for 2023, Sierra Leone will continue to act as a reminder of the inherent fragility and complexity of democracy in action.
Freddie Hayward
@freddiejh8
Freddie Hayward is political correspondent at the New Statesman. He interviews leading political figures, writes Morning Call and appears on the New Statesman Podcast.
Strikes bill makes a strange union in parliament
Why Rishi Sunak's indecision over Nadhim Zahawi makes him look weak
Pascal Lamy on the climate crisis: "We have to go way back to find a global picture as depressing as today"
Russian actions, not diplomacy, will shape Africa's fortunes
Europe's gas dash risks leaving African countries high and dry


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Home biography Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly Biography
Facts of Kelly Kelly
1987 , January-15
Barbara Jean Blank
Ron Blank
Robin Blank
Sheldon Souray
University City High School
Black Reel Award
Sheldon Souray (2016)
Film, television, podcast
Affair with
Marybeth Cleveland
City Spud, Jackie Donahue
Selp-Helf
Facebook,Wiki,Twitter,Instagram
One Direction (Since 2010)
34DD (34E)
Quick Timeline of Kelly Kelly
1987 Born in Jacksonville, Florida, United States
2006 Was discovered by John Laurinaitis
2006 Signed a wrestling contract
2008 Was drafted to Raw brand
2006 Began dating Andrew Martin
2014 Engaged to Sheldon Souray
2008 Was listed in PWI Best 50 Female Singles Wrestlers
2012 Nominated in Kids' Choice Awards, USA
Detail Timeline of Kelly Kelly
Born in Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Sexy and stunning, Kelly Kelly was born as Barbara Jean Blank in Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America to Ron Blank and Robin Blank. She also spends most of her childhood days in Jacksonville, Florida. She is an American and is Jewish descent.
Was discovered by John Laurinaitis
While she was pursuing her career as a model, John Laurinaitis discovered her and pursued her to enter into the wrestling world. John Laurinaitis is the World Wrestling Entertainment. She joined Ohio Valley Wrestling and then signed a wrestling contract in 2006.
Signed a wrestling contract
Despite her initial hesitation to pursue her wrestling career, she signed a wrestling contract in May 2006. Initially, she worked as a ring announcer and referee and later on she began her career as a wrestler.
Was drafted to Raw brand
She began having on screen relationship with Mike Knox; however, this ended after she suffered a scripted injury. On 13th of June 2006, she appeared in ECW. In 2008, she was drafted to Raw brand and SmackDown brand in 2010.
Began dating Andrew Martin
Kelly began her romantic love affairs with fellow wrestler Andrew Martin at the end of 2006. Andrew Martin was a Canadian wrestler and was the champion in the WWF/E for six times. She called off her love affairs with him shortly before he died in March 2009.
Engaged to Sheldon Souray
Later on, Kelly was seen dating Sheldon Souray. Sheldon Souray is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. She dated him as her boyfriend for several years and they finally got engaged in August 2014. They also expressed their desire to get married soon and be each other's loving spouse.
Was listed in PWI Best 50 Female Singles Wrestlers
In 2008, she was honored by the Pro Wrestling Illustrated. They listed her in their lists of PWI Best 50 Female Singles Wrestlers. She was ranked 32nd in this listing. She has also been listed in this listing in 2011.
Nominated in Kids' Choice Awards, USA
She has been nominated in lots of prestigious awards and she has also been honored with several of them. In 2012, she got her first nomination in Kids' Choice Awards, USA for Favorite Butt Kicker.
Later on, Kelly was seen dating Sheldon Souray. Sheldon Souray is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. She dated him as her boyfriend for several years and they finally got engaged in August 2014. They also expressed their desire to get married soon and be each other's loving spouse. She has not been married and divorced yet.
Kelly grew up with a huge interest in wrestling. Stone Cold and Steve Austin are her favorite wrestlers and Trish Stratus was her inspiration in wrestling. However, as a child she was active in gymnastic and cheerleader. She began her professional career as a Venus Swimwear bikini model. John Laurinaitis discovered her while she was modeling and pursued her to enter into the wrestling world. She joined Ohio Valley Wrestling and then signed a wrestling contract in 2006. Initially, she worked as a ring announcer and referee and later on she began her career as a wrestler. On 6th of September, she made her wrestling debut in Divas battle royal. In 2007, she joined Florida Championship Wrestling. On 13th of June 2006, she appeared in ECW. She began having on screen relationship with Mike Knox; however, this ended after she suffered a scripted injury. In 2008, she was drafted to Raw brand and SmackDown brand in 2010. She is said to have the annual salary of $285,000 and her net worth is said to be around $4.5 Million
Related Posts on Kelly Kelly
Canadian actor Cameron Bright is single. Is he gay or dating anyone?


The Porsche Cayman GT4 is a track-oriented sports car based on the mid-engined Cayman 981c model generation.
The 3.8 litre flat-six engine was borrowed from the 991 Carrera S although in a slightly de-tuned configuration. The front suspension, several parts from the rear axle and brakes are derived from the 991 GT3. A modified front bumper and fixed rear wing have been applied to increase downforce.


A comprehensive guide to powered gate safety has been published by the Door & Hardware Federation with the backing of the Health & Safety Executive. It has now been adopted as best practice technical guidance by Gate Safe, the campaign specifically set up to raise awareness of the need to improve standards in automated gate safety. Gate Safe, which was established in September 2010, has been working with DHF on this initiative and was consulted in the development of the guidance.
The DHF Guide to Gate Safety Legislation and Standards is the first guidance publication to be issued by the group. It will be followed by the establishment of further safety standard in 2013.
Said Andy Holz, chairman of the DHF powered gate group: "The DHF has extensive experience of setting safety standards for automated doors in other industry sectors, such as powered garage doors. Much of that technical expertise is transferrable to the powered gate sector.


"Grocery shelves lie empty as food becomes increasingly scarce" in Venezuela, the UK Independent weeps . The country's shops remain open but "sparsely stocked," The Guardian laments . Even "basic commodities" such as toothbrushes aren't available for purchase, CNN bemoans. "Hungry" Venezuelans must choose between "torture or starvation," Bloomberg grimly concludes .
Read the story and watch the video of Blumenthal in the Caracas supermarket jammed with all the allegedly unobtainable foods and products.
The reason Washington wants to shut down the English language Russian news organizations is that, unlike the US, UK, and European media, the Russian news organizations report truthfully, thus undermining Washington's attempt to control all explantions.
The dumbshit Westerners who rely on the Western presstitutes are brainwashed to the point that they are useless for the cause of freedom and democracy. Indeed, they are dangerous to freedom and democracy.


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About Wind2050
Presentations from final workshop 31 May 2017
Wind2050 project meeting, 19 August 2015
Presentations from Wind2050 Seminar 26 August 2016
Presentations from Wind2050 Seminar, Nødebo 2.2.2016
Wind2050 Final workshop, 31 May 2017
Focus will be on challenges regarding planning and implementation of wind power. We will have discussions on instruments and possibilities for new types of cooperation building on Wind2050
See presentations here
Excursion to Wind turbines at Middelgrunden off Copenhagen harbour,
see Pictures here
Wind2050 Seminar, 26 August 2016, DTU, Lyngby
Research School, 22-25 August 2016, Copenhagen University
See agenda here. Registration before 1 August 2016 . For further information please contact Charlotte Bukdahl Jacobsen cja@ifro.ku.dk.
Wind2050 Seminar, 2. Feb. 2016, Skovskolen, Nødebo
Wind2050 Project Meeeting, Risø, 19 August 2015,
Invitation til at deltage i Miljøstrategisk Årsmøde 2015, Aalborg Universitet København, 23-24. november 2015
Invitation til WISEPower arbejdsmøde, den 10 september 2015 i Nykøbing Falster
KL og Energistyrelsen afholder i samarbejde afsluttende konference for energipartnerskabet den 9. oktober 2015.
Målgruppe: Alle med interesse for fremtidens energiplanlægning i Danmark
Sted: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Amager Boulevard 70
Link til tilmelding
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The next Wind2050 project meeting (full-day meeting) will take place on 19 August 2015 at Risø (close to Roskilde) and will be hosted by WP3.
You will find the agenda here
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-
Wind2050 Project meeting on 29 January 2015 on
"Approaches to concerns of being neighbour to Wind turbines"
Participants were stakeholdes from the Danish Energy sector, municipalities, companies and Danish and foreign universities.
Presentations from the meeting:
The relationshiip between accept of Wind turbines and distance
Same turbines different perception - how networks, norms and trust affect Wind turbines
The impact of noise and visual pollution from Wind turbines on local residents
The four schemes in the Act on Promotion of renewable energy
State of the art on noise research
On 24 October 2014 Wind2050 hosted a Mini-conference on Controversy over Energy Technologies entitled
What shapes Community Acceptance over Wind Power?
Discussion focused on controversy and change as the normal basic social attribute for the potential change in modern societies, and how innovation in project planning as well as public policy measures can support a sustainable transition towards a fossil independent energy system.
The panel of speakers presented the state-of-the-art of international knowledge on challenges with respect to social acceptance of energy technologies. The mini-conference concluded with a trans-disciplinary dialogue on how to develop engagement strategies that address different risk perceptions and community concerns when implementing renewable technologies locally.
Peter Hauge Madsen, Head of Department, DTU-Wind. The Necessary Collaboration
Prof. Geraint Ellis, Queens University Belfast: Complexity of concern: Social acceptance of wind energy and the inevitability of dissensus
Dr Maarten Wolsink, University of Amsterdam: Integration of renewables supply and demand; social acceptance of crucial smarts grid elements.
Prof Helle Tegner Anker, Copenhagen University: The role of the legal framework for local acceptance of wind energy projects; some preliminary observations.
Prof Gordon Walker, Lancaster University: Symmetries, expectations, dynamics and contexts: a framework for understanding public engagement with renewable energy projects
Dr Hans Christian Sørensen, SPOK Consult: The cooperative approach in Danish Wind energy ownership before and after the 2007 RE-law.
Dr Bonnie Ram, DTU Wind Energy, Guest Scholar: Social Acceptance in the Siting of Wind Energy Turbines: Questions for a Robust Knowledge Base
WIND TURBINE DAY
On 15 June Wind2050 partners visited the offshore wind Farm at Middelgrunden outside Copenhagen Harbour.
Updated by Jette Gents on 15 June 2017
Vacant positions at DTU
Apply no later than 19.07.2019 Postdoc in Cell-based Bioprocess and Computational Modeling
Apply no later than 20.07.2019 PhD position: Numerical modelling of μ-Cracks: Flow & Deformation
Apply no later than 20.07.2019 PhD position: Improving reservoir souring treatments for chalk formations
Apply no later than 21.07.2019 Researcher in Micro/Nanostructures for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering Applications
Apply no later than 24.07.2019 Postdoc in Wind Turbine and Wind Farm Control
All vacant positions
http://www.wind2050.dk/events


I've heard a lot about quartz countertops. Can you describe what this is?
I read recently in Consumer Reports about quartz countertops. What exactly is quartz, and how does it compare to other options for countertops like granite, or marble?
Quartz is an extremely hard naturally occurring mineral. Only diamonds, topaz and sapphire are harder than quartz. Quartz countertops are manufactured out of quartz pieces that are bound together with dyes and resin to create slabs. These slabs are nearly 100% quartz making them extremely strong and hard.
Due to the high quartz content, these slabs are extremely scratch and stain resistant and virtually maintenance free. Compared to granite and marble, quartz requires less maintenance, and stacks up about the same as far as pricing. There is a wide range of style, color and pattern with natural slabs but a wide range of pricing as well.


THE ONLY HEAVY-PULL BAND SOLD IN USA!
IN 1953 Trumark® was the first to use high-quality, dipped latex (non-extruded) tubing as "powerbands" on slingshot frames made from round metal rods. All Trumark slingshots are powered by surgical tubing. The tubing is attached to the leather pouch with light-weight, hollow, pin-connectors.
Any striations in the tubing run parallel ==== to the length of the band for maximum power. NOTE: Most overseas produced slingshot tubing is extruded so that the striations occur as "rings" that are perpendicular to the entire length of the tubbing. This production IIIIIIII method decreases the "snappyness" of the band considerably. See Striation Pictures for details on dipped as compared with extruded bands.
Trumark's RR-2 powerbands are made from the best quality, pure latex-rubber, and are jacketed with black rubber for ultimate protection against damaging Ulraviolet light rays. This manufacturing procedure makes them the most durable slingshot bands ever. (You may also condition your RR-2 bands even more against the elements with 303 Aerospace Protectant.) They will last you a lot more shooting sessions with a minimum loss of power.
With a small amount of drug-store rubbing alcohol the bands can be installed on Trumark slingshots, or most other brand slingshots with round prongs, without the use of tools, strings, or glue. The RR-2 bands pull considerably harder than RR-1 normal pull bands, and are recommended more for hunting than general target practice. The advantage of the heavier pull bands is that it will shoot the larger 3/8" ammo farther than normal-pull bands so there is more impact when the ammo strikes the target. Also, since the wall thickness is 1/64" thicker, the bands will last longer than the normal pull bands. - the disadvantage of heavy pull is that it tends to wear out your arm a little faster!
Both left and right bands are cut from one length of tubing so that they are "matched" (balanced) for accurate shooting. CAUTION: Powerbands that are folded and packaged curled up will take on a "set", and will not shoot very accurate when installed. Trumark Powerbands are always packaged STRAIGHT in air tight, hermetically-sealed blisters that guards against deterioration before installation. More on powerband life. How to install the bands are included on the package. 225 Yard + Range!


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ACCESSORIES AND OBJECTS
BENCHES AND POUFS
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Poltrona Frau furnish the new Pershing 9X yacht
Pershing 9X, the latest addition to the yachts collection of Ferretti group, is a revolutionary maxi coupé in terms of both design and performance. It features a state-of-the-art integrated control, manoeuvring & monitoring system, and a futuristic helm station jointly designed by Pershing and the Poltrona Frau Interiors in Motion division and created by Poltrona Frau.
The Pershing 9X, with its sporty thoroughbred lines, takes to an even higher level the new design style introduced in the latest yachts presented on the market and celebrate 10 years of working in partnership between Poltrona Frau and Pershing.
The main deck, filled with natural light and featuring a lounge, a dining area and the helm station, is stunning both aesthetically and functionally. The helm station is a masterpiece of design and an amazing combination of elegance, technology and sportiness. It consists of three independent seats, the dashboard and integrated helm station, and is upholstered in leather by Poltrona Frau "Interiors in Motion".
Poltrona Frau features not only in the helm station but also on the ceilings and bulwarks of the main deck and in the guest cabins' upholstered furniture. The latter were inspired by the Leplì line and made exclusively for the Pershing 9X. Other Poltrona Frau products include the GranTorino sofa and Fitzgerald dining chairs, and the Leplì pouf and Montera chair in the master suite.
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Americans spent $30.2 billion on out-of-pocket complementary health approaches in 2012, according to recent analysis of a nationwide survey. Approaches include mind and body, such as yoga, chiropractic, acupuncture or massage therapy, and natural product supplements such as fish oil, melatonin and probiotics.
Americans spent $30.2 billion on such treatments in 2012, $28.3 billion on adults and $1.9 billion on children.
More than 30 percent of adults and 11 percent of children age 4 to 17 used complementary health approaches.
Adults who practiced yoga increased from 5.1 percent in 2002 to 9.5 percent in 2012. Fish oil was the top natural product, with use increasing from 2.2 percent in 2002 to 7.8 percent in 2012.
Fish oil was also the top natural product used by children increasing slightly to 1.1 percent in 2012. Among mind and body practices, chiropractic at 3.3 percent and yoga at 3.1 percent were most popular.
About 9.2 percent of all out-of-pocket health care spending was on complementary health approaches.
Off-the-shelf vitamins and herbal supplements cannot be bought with food stamps in Florida.


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text:
letter from kiev
The West's 'Ukraine fatigue'
In Kiev, deep anxiety — and a hunger for reform.
| ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty
By David Patrikarakos
September 29, 2015	5:30 am
KIEV — The Mystetskyi Arsenal is an imposing building that dominates Lavrska street in the center of Ukraine's capital city. A former weapons arsenal built by Catherine the Great, it now houses a museum. But earlier this month it was the site of something more politicized even than Ukrainian art: the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference, organized by Ukrainian businessman Viktor Pinchuk, where political figures from across the world gathered to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. Top of the agenda were two issues of crucial importance to the EU as a whole: the continuing Russian aggression, and the reform of the Ukrainian state.
Since the February 2015 Minsk II agreement, which brought an uneasy — and oft-breached — ceasefire to eastern Ukraine, international attention has veered away from Russian-backed aggression in the region. Politicians and the media have infamously short attention spans, thinking largely in terms of votes and news cycles. Headlines now focus on Greece's financial crisis and Europe's migration crisis. Ukraine is almost forgotten.
Which is a mistake. When Moscow illegally annexed Crimea early last year and then sent its special forces into Ukraine's Donbas region to foment separatist feeling there, it desecrated a post-war European order that had been adhered to with an almost religious fervor for over 60 years. No country has invaded and annexed part of another in Europe since Adolf Hitler.
This is something Anders Fogh Rassmussen, head of NATO until last year, acknowledges. "The Russian occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea into the Russian federation represents the first example of grabbing land by force since the end of World War II," he tells me as we meet inside the Arsenal. "If that creates a precedent, then nations in other parts of the world can do the same. If we accept that a nation can just grab land by force then you will unravel the international order we have built since 1945."
And what is the best way to deal with the Russian aggression that still threatens Ukraine, and by proxy, Europe? His reply is swift: "One of the most efficient measures is for Western countries and organizations to demonstrate unity, cohesion and determination," he says. "Nations that try to modify their firm stance make it even more difficult to engage Russia in constructive dialogue. Based on my experience the language that is best understood in the Kremlin is the language of unity. The Kremlin loves to divide and rule, and engage with selective allies in an attempt to split our alliances. But if they realize they can't succeed, then they will conclude that the best way forward is to engage in constructive dialogue."
"One of the most efficient measures is for Western countries and organizations to demonstrate unity, cohesion and determination"
He continues: "From a security perspective, NATO must continue to strengthen [its] territorial defense as part of a clear deterrent so Russia wouldn't even think of attacking NATO allies. The West must also support Ukraine politically, economically and, under certain conditions, [on issues of] security. Politically, by standing firm, including upholding sanctions against Russia. Economically, [by] rapidly implementing the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, including the free trade agreement. When it comes to security I would say if the ceasefire doesn't hold and it is clear that Russia and Russian-blamed separatists are to blame then the time has come for the Western nations to consider the provision of defensive weapons to Ukraine."
"I know this could be used as a pretext by Russia to increase its military involvement, but if the ceasefire doesn't hold, then what else can be done other than help the Ukrainians to better defend themselves?"
How much of a threat does Russia pose to the NATO alliance? "Russia is potentially a threat, yes," he replies. "But I would also say that I think the Russians know that Article 5 [which holds that an attack against one ally is considered as an attack against all allies] is the core of NATO and all NATO allies are committed to defend an ally that might be attacked. So actually I don't think there is an imminent risk of an open Russian attack on any NATO ally, including the three Baltic States."
The issue, though, I press him, is surely not an open invasion or attack against a NATO member state, but rather an "invasion in all but name"; the return of the unidentified "little green men" that appeared in Crimea and then eastern Ukraine with no official declaration of aggression, let alone war. "We [NATO] are never open about how we would respond — that is part of our deterrent. A potential aggressor does not know what will trigger Article 5. Next point: The definition of an armed attack has changed over time. In Article 5 we use 'armed attack' as the classic case, but we are changing. [At a NATO summit] in Wales last year we declared that cyber-security is part of security — so now even a cyber attack could be construed as attack under Article 5."
George Soros recently wrote in the New York Review of Books that the EU, far from turning its attention elsewhere, should prioritize the Ukraine crisis, now more than ever. Beset by internal crises that divide it — into creditor and debtor nations, "arrival" and "destination" countries for migrants — Soros argues that Ukraine offers the continent a chance to come together. He's right. Ukraine is both a European outpost against Russian aggression and a country desperate to join the EU at a time where anti-EU parties and sympathies are gaining ground in most member states.
Oleksii Makeiev, a political director at Ukraine's ministry of foreign affairs agrees. "Sometime I think that Ukraine and Ukrainians are even more interested in the NATO and EU alliances than the members themselves," he says.
And Makeiev has no doubt as to the threat Russia poses to both the EU and NATO. What is at stake, he argues, is a fundamental battle about the way geopolitics is practiced. "The difference between the West and Russia in neighboring countries is that the West tries to expand areas of stability and economic development around it; Russia tries to influence and bind countries to Russia by spreading instability all around: creating frozen conflicts — Transnistria Abkhazia, Donbas — as a way to stop those countries developing on their own."
"If Russian attempts to gain new territory … aren't stopped they will create even more appetite within the Kremlin to further destabilize Europe."
He continues: "If Russian attempts to gain new territory in its neighborhood aren't stopped they will create even more appetite within the Kremlin to further destabilize Europe. Look at the Russian warplanes flying near the borders of EU member states. This happened because the Russians felt that Crimea and East Ukraine have not been addressed in a strict enough manner. Now, once again, this time in Syria, Russian behavior clearly shows that Moscow is not willing to play by the book."
Makeiev believes the international response to the Ukraine crisis has been inadequate. "A greater and clearer policy of sanctions and international isolation as well as stopping the conversation about a slow return to business as usual is necessary," he says. "The West cannot allow itself to get Ukraine fatigue."
Ukraine is also imperiled from within. Corruption is the Ukrainian disease — it has gnawed at the state since its independence 24 years ago. According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, in 2014 Ukraine was the 142nd most corrupt country in the world, below Kazakhstan, Malawi and Liberia. In a report last year by the Legatum Institute, "Looting Ukraine: How East and West Teamed up to Steal a Country," the journalist Oliver Bullough estimates that about 30 percent, or $15 billion, was stolen annually from Ukraine's $50 billion state procurement budget alone.
One year into his tenure, how has President Petro Poroshenko done? At the highest levels of government the message seems clear: Corruption is going to be fought. But it's not an easy task.
Inside the Arsenal, in hallways with curved ceilings supported by squat ridged pillars, I saw French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy strolling along nonchalantly, his white shirt characteristically unbuttoned. Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, surrounded by a phalanx of suits, made his way to a panel discussion where former Israeli President Shimon Peres waxed lyrical — as is his wont — about the old days. In the main thoroughfare, I met with Andriy Pyvovarsky, Ukraine's minister of infrastructure.
Describing himself as being responsible for "the earth, water and sky — plus the post" Pyvovarsky is responsible for around 5 percent of GDP. One of his most pressing tasks is to improve Ukraine's road system — 97 percent of roads, he tells me, require major repair. The problem is tackling those that don't want reform. Pyvovarsky has a solution to this. "I have to liquidate certain companies completely because they are so corrupt and inefficient I cannot reform them," he says. "The people working in them are so corrupt that I cannot change just 10 or 20 percent — I must change everyone."
"The general public is suffering in the short term and the populists are succeeding in making them believe [it's] because of the reforms."
Pyvovarsky is trying to take the weight off Ukraine's roads, an undertaking which shows the dysfunctional nature of modern Ukraine and the challenges facing reformers. "During Soviet times 60 million tons of cargo were carried on the river," he tells me. "This year it will be 6 million tons: Overweight vehicles are killing Ukrainian roads. So I am bringing in new legislation to rectify this. This will bring in insane strikes, the owners of the trucks and other heavy vehicles will go nuts, but we have no choice."
What Pyvovarsky fears most is populism — along with the return of what he calls "the old guys." "Due to national economic hardship and the hard reforms we are implementing, the general public is suffering in the short term and the populists are succeeding in making them believe that they are suffering because of the reforms. But they are suffering because the previous government stole billions of dollars and we are trying to fix it. We have local elections at the end of October and I hope that the old guys [from ex-President Viktor Yanukovych's party] won't make a comeback."
Aivaras Abromavičius, Ukraine's Lithuania-born minister of economy and trade, echoes these feelings. "My mission is to improve the investment climate in the country and to fight corruption and the first is not possible without the second," he tells me. "When you deal with one of most corrupt countries in the world this topic is difficult."
The biggest problem Abromavičius faces are what he describes as "vested interests" — the people who have run the Ukrainian state since independence. "People are used to the fact that the state budget is the ocean you can drink from; that you'd be silly not to do so because everyone before you did. Society has too high a tolerance for corruption. People think that if a minister steals less than his predecessor he is a good guy. But we want to be different and we are sending a message that we will not tolerate this."
His problems began almost as soon as he took office. "I chair a commission that sells oil. By law whoever bought it was eligible for a 15 percent discount — up to $200 million. I decided to put an end to this and the resistance from vested interests was considerable. They blocked the auction for two months and threw all sorts of wild accusations at me, saying military equipment would run of out of fuel, but we held firm and they eventually backed down."
He continues: "Improving the investment climate is key. Our regulatory environment was repressive because the inspectors and controlling agencies were not advisors to business but rather worked as policing agents, who collected bribes. To get anything done you had to pay money. So deregulation is my main reform. I identified 201 paying points: licenses, permits etc. that had to be removed. We have already removed 90 and by the year's end we will have completed the task."
What struck me most about Pyvovarsky and Abromavicius was their age. Both are in their thirties. I wondered if Poroshenko was deliberately choosing young ministers because they were unlikely to be tainted by the old regime. I put this question to Volodymyr Groysman, President of Ukraine's Parliament — and a mere 37 years old — when I met with him. "I am for sure not representing the old type of Ukrainian politicians," he replied. "I think that I have progressive views and values agreeable to the civilized world."
As president of Parliament, Groysman believes that the key to Ukraine's future is decentralization. But it has also been hugely contentious. Last month, Parliament passed the first stage of a bill allocating more powers to the regions, including the occupied east. There have long been calls for a greater devolution of central authority and with Donetsk and Luhansk controlled by forces seeking to break from Ukraine, Minsk II partly envisaged decentralization as a form of compromise. This has gone down badly with the far right. On August 31, an ultra-nationalist in a crowd of protestors threw a grenade at police outside Parliament as the debate raged indoors. Several people died.
"Corruption is the evil that destroys Ukraine from the inside"
"Corruption is a consequence of a system of management in which all the resources are concentrated at the center," Groysman said. "This is a hybrid of the Soviet system that has emerged during the 24 years since independence. So I stand not only for fighting the consequences of corruption but reforming the system to prevent it in the first place. Minimizing the influence of the state in those areas where you have the largest corruption is critical. Corruption is the evil that destroys Ukraine from the inside."
"Corruption is effective in those areas where decisions are taken behind closed doors," he added. "Decentralization will [make] decision-making more transparent."
Groysman concluded on the most positive note I heard in Ukraine. "Decentralization will provide for the birth of new political elites; people will come into local politics and then into national politics. If today 20 people hold power, in the future 40 million will be involved at different levels. The structure of the economy will start to change, small- and medium-sized enterprises will become bigger players. Those that control the situation today will gradually lose control."
David Patrikarakos is a frequent contributor to POLITICO and author of "Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State."
This article was updated to correct the date of the Minsk II agreement.
More from ... David Patrikarakos
Water wars in east Ukraine
In the crosshairs of the ongoing conflict, the region's last standing state company and its workers fight to retain a vital resource for all: clean water.
Doubts rise over Australia's offshore handling of refugees
A court ruling calls into question a system that European immigration hawks have held up as a model.
Why Europe's recovery plan won't work — unless it tackles corruption first
EU plan to avert economic disaster will only be effective if Brussels can stop money getting in the wrong hands.
Why Ukraine loves Joe Biden
Another 4 years of Trump would be a boon to Russia, Ukrainians fear.
June 25, 2021	4:53 am
By Lily Hyde
By Keely Sullivan
October 7, 2020	4:05 am
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Corruption	Crisis in Ukraine	Law enforcement	Transparency


text:
This Boxing Champ Is Carving Her Own Path to the 2020 Olympics
SourceCourtesy @janecantoo
Because Stacia Suttles is coming for you in Tokyo.
The Daily Dose JAN 24 2018
This was the year it was all supposed to come together. "The Natural," as Stacia Suttles is known on her home turf in the Bronx, was on the fast track to success built from blood and sweat. But boxing is a cruel game, one that rarely cares for a fighter's plans. It seemed Suttles still owed the game some tears.
Suttles has said she started boxing "just to have something to do with my time and get back into shape."
Source Courtesy @fildesgraphiste and @janecantoo
Sure enough, in the minutes after losing a semifinal bout at the USA Boxing Elite National Championships on Dec. 7, 2017, the 23-year-old defending national champion shed a few. Suttles may still be bitter about the lopsided 5-0 decision, but don't count on her staying down for long. Days after the loss, she was back at the Mendez Boxing Gym in Manhattan's Flatiron District, training for her comeback. 2018 won't be the year that Suttles moves to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but for a former college student who picked up the sport as a hobby less than four years ago, she may well end up a better boxer because of the setback. "This loss hurts, but it was supposed to happen," she says. "I'm starting from the bottom again, in a sense, but there are still so many things I want to do with this sport. Make the Olympics in 2020 … turn pro. I plan on continuing to inspire people."
Suttles only recently saw the impact she can have on others — simply by doing what she loves. Moments after that crushing defeat in December, she met a young mother who had flown in from Seattle to cheer her on. As Suttles tells it, the woman was moved to keep training and "get her first fight" after following Suttles's three-year rise through the amateur ranks. "She saw my journey from just being a girl who decided to pick up a sport, fell in love with it and now is an Olympic hopeful," says Suttles, who doubles as a video producer outside the ring, documenting her travels and training on her YouTube channel. "I think women see me and say, 'Damn, if she can do it, I can do it too.'"
If you want to be a professional … you really have to love the sport. … There are no promises.
Laila Ali, CBS Sports host and former champion boxer
"She takes everything as a lesson," says Reese Scott, owner of Harlem's recently opened Women's World of Boxing and a mentor to Suttles. "She understands that losses will fuel her. I saw that the first time I met her.'"
Suttles first stepped into a boxing gym in January 2014. She had dropped out of Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, after one semester to pursue freelance video production opportunities while working in Manhattan retail. Eventually, though, retail was all she was doing and, as a lifelong athlete (she started taekwondo at age 4), she hated being so inactive. Suttles gave boxing a try. "It was just something to do after work, and a way to lose my freshman 15," she says. "I'd always loved combat sports, so I decided to go on a new journey."
Suttles working out at Mendez Boxing Gym in New York City.
"When you have it, you have it," says Scott. "[Suttles] didn't know that she had a gift yet, but it was obvious. She moves and reacts in a way that you can only be born with."
After a year of training, Suttles earned a silver medal at the 2015 New York Daily News Golden Gloves. She followed that with a title at the New York Metro Championships, then won the 2016 New York Golden Gloves, qualifying her for the National Golden Gloves tournament, where she took silver. When Suttles qualified for the 2016 National Championships in Kansas City, Missouri, the parameters shifted. "Before nationals, I was just seeing how far I could take the sport," she says. "But I fell in love. From September to December before nationals, I became a workhorse."
pic.twitter.com/bfRc8giLtq
— Stacia "The Natural" (@StaciaSuttles) December 15, 2016
A workhorse who got fired from her Urban Outfitters job weeks before the tournament because of too many scheduling conflicts, giving her the added push she needed. "It was all or nothing," says Suttles. She won at nationals, in a 4-1 decision, securing her a spot on Team USA's Elite Women's High Performance Squad and the opportunity to compete internationally. In her debut at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria, Suttles earned Outstanding Boxer honors. Everything was going according to plan, until it wasn't.
Suttles had always maintained a weight of 141 pounds, but she dropped to 132 pounds — her target Olympic weight — for the 2017 Nationals in December. At 5 feet 9 inches tall, she uses her long reach to dissect opponents from a distance, but at nationals, she got away from that game plan, choosing instead to brawl her way through the bout. Now, Suttles is the odd woman out: She remains on Team USA but only expects an invite to Colorado Springs if an extra sparring partner is required. Soon, though, she'll have her shot at redemption. A 2018 nationals title, scheduled for December, would make her the favorite for Olympic qualification the following spring.
What you might not know about Stacia Suttles: She used to skateboard all day, every day, and she don't particularly like public speaking.
For now, Suttles continues to build out her website, excited to have time to "plant some other seeds" outside of boxing. But in the relentless world of combat, a one-track mind is encouraged — and Suttles has certainly not veered from her plan to turn pro after the 2020 Olympics. The recent success of marketable pros like Mikaela Mayer and Claressa Shields emboldens aspiring female brawlers, and yet, according to CBS Sports host and former champion boxer Laila Ali, women's professional boxing still struggles to draw serious interest from the public — and with it, big paydays. "If you want to be a professional, you should be able to make a living doing it," says Ali. "But you really have to love the sport. … There are no promises."
Suttles has never asked for promises. "I just want to keep learning and improving. I've just come to the conclusion that I was born to fight."


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