Archives 2018

Calls for corporate tax reform in Australia goes unheeded

Friday, May 12, 2006

Peter Costello’s budget announcement has led to rejoicing for small businesses, but the lack of joy for those pushing for radical corporate taxation reform has led to many businesses asking “what about us?”

Personal taxation and small business have been the big winners after this year’s federal budget. Although dampened by the twin economic threats of rising interest rates and petrol prices, there should be a reasonable amount of real income savings for both low and high income earners, with those receiving Medicare, or a superannuation benefit, privy to an even lower level of taxation (0% for those on super benefits).

Small business also has benefited from the Howard government’s 11th annual budget, with them receiving a higher level of reducing depreciation, leading to a higher level of deductions in the years following the uptake of new technology or other capital. They are also privy to a AU$435 million dollar tax cut to compensate for their changing accounting requirements under the government’s new AIFRS reporting standards, as well as increasing the uptake of both the small business tax relief scheme and CGT (Capital Gains tax) Concessions.

The budget was not a complete loss for big business however, as superannuation laws have been tweaked to streamline contribution and payment rules previously impeding those with multitudes of staff.

But this is not enough, says Big 4 accounting firm Ernst & Young. In their newly published paper “Taxation of Investment in Australia: the need for ongoing reform”. In it they lead the charge for a greater streamlining and organization of the corporate tax system in Australia, submitting that it will lead to reductions in “disincentives to work save and invest in Australia [as well as improving] the international competitiveness of Australian businesses.” This follows from a recent report brought out by Mr. Costello himself about the need for tax reform in Australia.

A budget night Mr. Costello was notably coy about any future reform of corporate tax in Australia. He alluded to the report by his ministers but kept from outlining the government’s plan precisely.

Colombia releases detailed report about the FARC

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Colombia – The Colombian Caracol Radio reported on January 31, 2005 that the government of Colombia released a detailed document which describes how the FARC operates in Colombia and around the world.[1] The report was prepared by the Unidad Administrativa Especial de Información y Análisis Financiero del Ministerio de Hacienda(Special Administrative Unit of the Information and Financial Analysis of the Ministry of the Finance) and describes how the FARC operates and manage their finances. The study was delivered to the Colombian government at the end of the last year.

Contents

  • 1 The FARC expenses
    • 1.1 Guerrilla
    • 1.2 Kidnapping
    • 1.3 Logistic Intendance
    • 1.4 Health
    • 1.5 Transportation
    • 1.6 Communications
    • 1.7 Chemical
    • 1.8 Education
    • 1.9 Propaganda
    • 1.10 Solidarity founds
    • 1.11 International front
  • 2 The FARC incomes
    • 2.1 Drugs
    • 2.2 Clandestine airports
    • 2.3 Commercialization
    • 2.4 Other activities
  • 3 See also
  • 4 References

An account of the Esperanza Fire from an animal rescuer

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.
This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

Saturday, December 2, 2006

As families fled their homes in the early morning hours on Thursday October 26, there was no warning. The Esperanza Fire southeast of Los Angeles and West of Palm Springs, California, had ballooned under the influence of Santa Ana winds to more than 19,000 acres as of the morning of October 27. No time to get the animals, no time for crates or even a leash. Sadly, owners left behind not only their horses, lamas, donkeys, chickens, rabbits, but also their dogs and cats.

Many of the families who did manage to evacuate their pets found themselves in the parking lot at the Fellowship in the Pass Church Red Cross Shelter where a MuttShack Animal Rescue team caught up with them.

Pam Anderson, Director of the emergency Red Cross shelter said that many people with animals had come and left.

The air was thick with smoke, and ash was raining down on the parking lot where dog owners, not able to take their dogs into the shelter were camping out in pup tents andin their cars.

Those who could afford it checked themselves into pet friendly hotels in nearby towns.

Some were prepared. Jane Garner, a small dog breeder was able to get all her animals out, and had set up her puppy runs alongside her RV in the parking lot. Others were not doing too well, having left home without as much as a leash.

The same scenario played out at the Red Cross shelter at Hemet High School. Animals were being boarded in vans, trailers and cars and small travel crates.

When MuttShack Animal Rescue arrived, a small fracas had sent several dogs off in different directions, running out of the school parking lot down busy streets necessitating an instant rescue response.

The Incident Command for the Esperanza Animals, Ramona Humane Society in San Jacinto welcomed MuttShack‘s offer to help at the shelters.

Ramona Humane Society had recently published a notice in their Newsletter about the newly passed “PETS Act”and warned owners not wait until a major disaster such as an earthquake or fireto prepare. “Be proactive to ensure that your pet will be taken care of.”

MuttShack and PetSmart Charities set up ad hoc facilities for the animals at both shelters.

The Red Cross shelter, run by Madison Burtchaell of the Orange County Red Cross was very accommodating about allowing a small emergency pet shelter adjacent to the School.

Barbara A. Fought of PetSmart Charities, an organization that works with animal welfare organizations and provide assistance in disasters, provided crates and emergency supplies.

MuttShack and Red Cross volunteers, Martin St. John, Tom Hamilton, and Steve Meissner helped assemble the crates to secure a safe environment for evacuated pets.

It was a great relief for evacuees who had camped out in the parking lot to finally leave their vehicles and relax at the shelter, setting up their cots to grab some sorely needed rest.

Firefighters and residents reported loss of wildlife and animals. The Esperanza fire burned 34 homes, consumed 40,000 acres and cost five Firefighters their lives before it was contained four days later on October 30. Firefighting operations cost nearly $10 million.

MuttShack Animal Rescue is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization active in disasters and dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and care of lost or discarded dogs, cats and other animals.

Wikinews’ overview of the year 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Also try the 2008 World News Quiz of the year.

What would you tell your grandchildren about 2008 if they asked you about it in, let’s say, 20 years’ time? If the answer to a quiz question was 2008, what would the question be? The year that markets collapsed, or perhaps the year that Obama became US president? Or the year Heath Ledger died?

Let’s take a look at some of the important stories of 2008. Links to the original Wikinews articles are in all the titles.

Microsoft and Yahoo! link their instant messaging services

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Nine months after announcing the interoperability between their instant messaging (IM) services, Internet rivals Microsoft and Yahoo! began limited public beta (pre-release) testing of the program. This enables users of the two services to communicate with each other using their existing IM client, Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger) and Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

Users wishing to use the new feature can go to a special page on the service’s website, where they have to review and accept an agreement. After signing out and signing in again, the interoperability is enabled without downloading any new software.

The service is designed to allow users to see each others’ online presence, view personal status messages, share select emoticons, view offline messages and add new contacts from either service. However, more advanced features, like voice calls and shared folders are not interoperable between the two services.

The program is available internationally in more than 15 markets.

Term Life Insurance Quotes How To Compare Them

By David J. Livingston

If you are looking to get a term life policy, your first step is to get term life insurance quotes, as many of them as possible. Getting the quotes is just the first step. That means your actual shopping i.e. clever shopping involves comparing the various different quotes you get from the different providers on different websites. These days it is easy to get instant term life insurance quotes and compare them in one place with the online services provided by many health care or other websites.

While getting the quotes and looking at them in one place is easy, comparing and choosing is definitely not that easy task. This is because a lower premium or more inclusions or heavy coverage does not indicate the best policy.

Term life policy is a coverage option that insures an individual for a set time period or term. If the policyholder dies while the policy is still in term, the death benefits are paid to the beneficiaries. Otherwise the policy just ceases to exist at the end of the term. Most companies let the policyholder to renew the term without medical examination but after adjusting the term for age. So getting the right company and the right policy at the outset is very important so that you can have stress free life coverage for life.

To compare quotes you need to get many quotes. Few things that you need to consider while getting quotes are

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hoDfzRvBas[/youtube]

1. Your annual income

2. Outstanding debt

3. Lifestyle expenses

4. Savings and investments

These details help determine the amount of coverage you would need to purchase. Roughly you would need about five to eight times your living needs. Based on this coverage amount required, your age, term of cover and your health the premium will be fixed. So the first thing you would have to compare is the coverage offered in the different quotes.

Some companies may offer low insurance rates but at the same time they will also offer low coverage. So you need to decide on what you are looking to compromise on. Low rate and low coverage is not really a great deal. Next compare the associated term of the policy across the quotes. A short-term policy should have lower insurance rate when compared to the long-term policy. So this would surely affect your premium and if you miss this you might choose a policy for lower premiums just to find out later that you have chosen a short-term policy when you actually needed a longer policy.

Next compare the different conditions and underwriting policies of the different providers. Some might require medical exams; some might have specific policy with regards to the death benefit; some may have a specific way of dealing with accidental death, etc. Make sure you explore what the various inclusions and exclusions of each policy. Then you can compare the costs i.e. the premium that you will be paying the company on the monthly basis or yearly basis. Check to see under what rate class each of the companies has rated you. In one you would be in the preferred class in another you might be in the standard class etc. The rate class determines your premium.

While comparing the quotes you should also check for the reputation of each of the providers. Even if a company offers a higher insurance rate, if it has a better reputation compared to another that offers lower rates, you are better off picking the more reputed one. This is because with reputed companies you have more surety of payouts. Also make sure that the company has no complaints and if there were any look to see how they mitigated those complaints. You can take the assistance of the local Better Business Bureau and the State Department of Insurance in checking the reputation of the companies. At any cost you need a reliable provider. In fact you are entrusting them with the money that your family will need after your time.

About the Author: Article by David Livingston of EQuote.com, a website with the best

low cost life insurance

and

cheap life insurance rates

information in the country.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=743330&ca=Finances

Reasons Why You Should Use Himalayan Pink Salt}

Reasons Why You Should Use Himalayan Pink Salt

by

Stevan

Reasons Why You Should Use Himalayan Pink Salt

Bordering India, China and Pakistan are the Himalayas, the highest peaks in the world. They are spread over a distance of twenty four hundred kilometers becoming virtually a natural wall for the warmer countries of Asia and protecting them from harsh Siberian frost winds.

This was not always the case, where the Himalayas stand today was a huge sea with live of its own. As time passed the change in climate, the sea evaporated leaving behind loads of mineral wealth.

Since the time of the Sanyasis ancient indians and chinese have been using this rare commodity in medicines. Listed below are the benefits of the himalayan pink salt.

Why Use Himalayan Salt:

Natural salt is made from slow chemical reaction between two or more minerals, Himalayan pink salt is world famous for its amazing property of being used as bath salt. A little amount of pink salt ensures that your body will get the essential minerals it needs for staying healthy.

2. Relieve Away Soreness

A hot shower infused with Himalayan pink salt is likewise extraordinary for unwinding cramped muscles. magnesium and other minerals found in HPS sopped in through the skin to recuperate tensed, pulled muscle and other delicate tissues. Minerals in HPS likewise work to invigorate bones, skin, and connective tissues that might add to body soreness in different ways.

3. Detoxification

At the point when HPS is added to a shower of warm (ideally about the same as body temperature) water, it not just gives greatly required supplements to your body. Himalayan pink salt additionally functions as an effective detoxifier. At the point when broken down in water, HPS turns into an ionic arrangement that draws the poisons out of skin and fat tissues. This procedure joined with the mending mineral implantation offered by a decent Himalayan pink salt drench will abandon you feeling revived and empowered.

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. Sinus Watering system

On the off chance that you’ve ever utilized a Saline Drop, then you know how well salt water can function to clear up your sinuses. Have a go at utilizing HPS saline as a part of your saline drop for a much more advantageous rinse. Himalayan pink salt eliminates microscopic organisms and bonds to numerous contaminants that might be stuck in your nasal depressions because of breathing dirtied air. Then again, in the event that you don’t care for running water through your nasal cavities, you can likewise utilize this Himalayan precious stone salt inhaler to purify your respiratory framework.

7. Control Blood Circulation

In view of its high sodium content, saying that Himalayan pink salt can bring down your circulatory strain makes many people distrustful. All things considered, we’ve been told our entire lives that an excess of salt makes your BP sky-rocket, yet do little bit of probing into the subject and you will find that there are many misgivings in this theory. So, when all common HPS is utilized along with table salt , your body really has a simpler time handling the minerals.

One thing to keep is mind is that natural salt has higher blood absorption properties than you usual salt. Himalayan pink has been used for ages by Ayurvedics and Chinese medicine experts in multiple cures.

Read More: 10 Compelling Reasons To Have A Himalayan Salt Bath Today

2. Soothe Away Soreness

A warm bath infused with Himalayan pink salt is also great for relaxing cramped muscles. The magnesium and some other trace minerals found in HPS absorb through the skin to help heal damaged muscle and other soft tissues. Minerals in HPS also work to fortify bones, skin, and connective tissues that may contribute to body soreness in other ways.

3. Detoxification

When HPS is added to a bath of warm (preferably about the same as body temperature) water, it not only provides much needed nutrients to your body. Himalayan pink salt also works as a powerful detoxifier. When dissolved in water, HPS becomes an ionic solution that helps to draw the toxins out of skin and adipose tissues. This process combined with the healing mineral infusion offered by a good Himalayan pink salt soak will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.

5. Sinus Irrigation

If youve ever used a Neti pot then you know how well salt water can work to clear up your sinuses. Try using HPS saline in your pot for an even healthier cleanse. Himalayan pink salt kills bacteria and bonds to many contaminants that may be stuck in your nasal cavities due to breathing polluted air. Alternately, if you dont like the idea of running water through your nasal cavities, you can also use this Himalayan crystal salt inhaler to cleanse your respiratory system.

6. Regulate Hydration

When consumed as a sole (pronounced solay) a brine solution of water that has been fully saturated with natural, unrefined salt HPS provides the body with electrolytes which regulate hydration, among other things.

Read the label on a sports drink bottle and you will see some of the major electrolytes listed in the ingredients sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and chloride (Cl’) in one or more of their forms. This is because the body absorbs electrolytes faster than water by itself. When these two occur side-by-side, your body takes up the water and electrolytes together, resulting in faster hydration. Sadly, most commercial sports drinks are also full of sugar and chemical preservatives that we dont want in our bodies.

The good news is that HPS is about 85% sodium chloride with the other 15% featuring notable amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as bicarbonate. These six minerals are all electrolytes that are necessary for proper functioning of the human body, or more specifically for bodily fluid regulation.

Essentially, creating sole made with Himalayan pink salt is like mixing your own perfect sports drink. For a great step-by-step guide, check out this website.

7. Lower Blood Pressure

Because of its high sodium content, saying that Himalayan pink salt has the ability to lower your blood pressure makes a lot of people skeptical. After all, weve been told our whole lives that too much salt makes your BP skyrocket, but do a little digging and you will find that there are holes in the research on this topic. That said, when all natural HPS is used in lieu of (but not more than) processed NaCl table salt, your body actually has an easier time processing the minerals. Your system wont need as much water to clear out the excess sodium, therefore you wont retain as much water, and your body wont have to work as hard. Remember that natural is always better than processed and the same holds true for salt. So swap out that old salt shaker for a Himalayan pink salt grinder.

8. Balance pH / Reduce Acid Reflux

Unbalanced pH is a problem for many people that can lead to all kinds of health problems from immune deficiency and loss of bone density to kidney stones and weight gain.

You can test your bodys pH using test strips. Urine should have a pH around 6.5 with it being lower in the morning and slightly higher in the afternoon. Saliva pH should maintain between 6.5 and 7.5 throughout the day. The majority of people with a pH imbalance lean toward acidity (lower pH number) and can fix this problem fairly easily by drinking sole made with Himalayan pink salt.

As a side note due to its alkalinity, sole made with HPS can also be used as an antacid. Just mix about one teaspoon in a glass of room temperature water and drink to neutralize excess stomach acid.

9. Improve Digestion

Nutrients in HPS can actually increase the ability of our gastrointestinal tract to absorb other nutrients. For this reason, trading your shaker of table salt for Himalayan pink will help you to better digest your food. Better digestion means youll feel less hungry which especially for those wanting to shed a couple of extra pounds each week is very good news, indeed!

10. Strengthens the Body

Many of the minerals found in HPS are also vital for the human body to maintain strong bones and connective tissues, as well as proper muscle regeneration and blood circulation. If you are prone to chilled extremities, arthritis, broken bones, or even mental fatigue regular use of Himalayan pink salt to season your food may be just what you need to jump start your body back to good health.

He is a marketing expert with ample expertise in organic and natural products.

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com}

Landfill named after comedian John Cleese

Monday, May 21, 2007

In an unofficial move by contractor, Roy Harding, a rubbish tip has been named after comedian John Cleese, dubbed “Mt. Cleese” in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The naming came after Mr Cleese visited Palmerston North last year and described it as a great place to go to commit suicide, claiming it was the “suicide capital of New Zealand”. He also stated that they were glad to leave after their performance at the Regent on Broadway was over. Mr Harding says it is just to get back at Mr Cleese.

Official signage is now being ordered after city councillors said they thought it was good idea. “People just smile and leave it there,” Chris Pepper, waste and water manager, said.

John Clarke (aka Fred Dagg), entertainer, suggested that the Awapuni Landfill be named after Mr Cleese after the comments arose in a podcast on his website. However, Mr Clarke’s suggestion was slightly different, choosing the name, “John Cleese Memorial Tip…All manner of crap happily recycled.”

The slightly bare tip, now being used as a waste minimisation centre, is being prepared for a large delivery of compost.

John Cleese is most famous for his parts in Monty Python and Fawlty Towers television shows as well as various movies including A Fish Called Wanda.