Paternity leave act

Kim Jong-jin The author is assistant director-general and regional representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It wasn’t so long ago that internet connectivity faded the moment one left a populated area like a city or big town. “No service” was the take-away message back then. But thanks to 3G, 4G and now 5G mobile technology — and coupled with the widespread installation of cellular towers in rural areas across the country — the frustrating message shows up much less frequently. Most importantly, the rapid spread of internet connectivity and mobile telephony has resulted in countless opportunities to help address chronic problems such as poverty, malnutrition and inequality after the service reached into the most remote rural communities. From farmers to fishers to herders, digital technologies are increasingly relied upon to help transform and enhance livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people each day. From farmers with their … [Read more...] about Leaving no one behind in digitization

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The looming prospect of compliance with the reporting requirements in section 6050I has been a problem for the digital asset industry since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) last November. The requirements pose procedural obstacles and privacy concerns for taxpayers, but the government has an interest in ensuring compliance with the tax laws. The revised version of section 6050I requires taxpayers engaged in a trade or business to file an information return when they receive $10,000 or more in digital assets in one transaction or two or more related transactions in the course of that trade or business. The information required is the name, address, and tax identification number of the person from whom the assets were received; the amount of the assets; and the date and nature of the transaction. The provision was originally designed for cash transactions. The brief push for … [Read more...] about Tax Information Reporting On Digital Assets Steps Into The Spotlight

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Spectacular plumage color like that seen in many parrot species is usually associated sexual selection, which raises the question: are parrots genuinely monogamous? Or are other factors influencing their dazzling colors? People love parrots, at least partly because of their often spectacular plumage colors. “The colors that parrots display are impressively beautiful and rare when compared with other birds”, said Luisana Carballo, who is the lead author of a recent study of parrot plumage color and a doctoral candidate at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology . In fact, parrots are one of the most colorful groups of birds, but the reasons for this are unclear. Is it because most parrot species nest in tree hollows, where they are safer from predators than if they nested in open cup nests or on the ground? Or perhaps it’s because parrots are the only birds that can synthesize their own red, orange and yellow … [Read more...] about Parrot Plumage Color May Be Linked To Body Size And Climate

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin If La Liga returned tomorrow, few teams would be nearly ready. It’s the summer transfer window. Players are holidaying, and most teams around Europe are intent on trimming their squads ahead of the preseason, let alone the thinking about the ultimate kick-off in mid-August. Behind the scenes, club departments are scanning the market, liaising with agents and managing outgoings. Some sides have acted quickly, and others still have plenty to do. In Spain, you can see both sides of the spectrum. If top-flight soccer began sooner than expected, national and European champion Real Madrid would be almost raring to go. Asides from the preseason rigors and getting players back up to speed, it has already assembled a squad to hit the ground running. In an alternate reality, financially compromised Barcelona—La Liga runner-up last time around—would be nowhere near prepared if the matches resumed shortly. With negotiations … [Read more...] about As Cash-Hungry Barcelona Attempts To Keep Up, Real Madrid Looks Dominant

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Songwriters are the heartbeat of Nashville and as the city continues to expand, so do the creatives and the way in which they make music. Prior to the 1990s, it was common for songwriters to write songs by themselves. Willie Nelson penned Patsy Cline’s timeless ballad “Crazy,” Bob McDill wrote Don Williams’ reflective “Good Ole Boys Like Me” while Tom T. Hall crafted Jeannie C. Riley’s memorable “Harper Valley P.T.A.” solo. The way a song is created today is drastically different than the early ’90s when thousands of songwriters flocked to Nashville where they could make a decent living by simply getting an album cut. Blair Daly moved to Nashville in the ’90s and saw early success with John Michael Montgomery (“How Was I to Know,” “Angel In My Eyes”) and more recently Kip Moore (“Beer Money, “Running For You”). Songwriting was more stripped down back then and there was much more co-writing amongst songwriters without artists … [Read more...] about Evolution Of The Nashville Songwriter: From Solo Writes To Songwriting Apps

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Will the overturn of Roe v. Wade have implications for gender equality in the workplace? While the Supreme Court decision is bound to penalize women’s health rights , it can also negatively affect the work culture. A slow-moving effort—men are still paid more and are more likely to hold managerial roles, yet women are better educated—closing the gender gap remains an elusive goal. Notwithstanding recent gains, generalization after generalization continue to define women’s abilities, duties and aspirations, each a verdict on what a woman can and should do. It is this web of deeply held beliefs that the 50-year-old-precedent reversal will buttress, giving bias sharper contours and inequality another “go.” Turning The Clock Back On Bias In concluding that the Constitution does not grant women control over their bodies, Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion refuels the narrative of the ineffective female decision-maker. … [Read more...] about A Threat To Workplace Equality, The Reversal Of Roe V. Wade Calls Organizations To Action

If there's even the slightest silver lining to the pandemic , it's clearly that it has given millions of Americans permission to make radical changes in their attitudes toward their work ; in their behaviors toward their family, friends, and others; and in their philosophies going forward as to what exactly they're hoping that life will bring them. Ideally these will be changes for the better. Changes that will endure once the world returns to whatever the new normal may be. But nothing will improve if these folks just sit around and wait for things to happen to them as opposed to seizing the moment and making those things happen for them and their businesses. As Ayn Rand said: "The world you desired can be won." While no one is entitled to a perfect life, it seems that many of us now possess once-in-a-lifetime, remarkable, and previously unavailable (or at least unimagined) levels of power and agency to alter our lives -- hopefully in positive directions -- and to … [Read more...] about Five Keys to Personal Growth in the Great Pandemic Do-Over

One of the hardest things to learn in sales is to leave well enough alone. The trick, once you actually make a sale, is to shut up and leave. Don’t keep talking; don’t overstay your welcome; don’t get greedy; and don’t try to gild the lily. Get the goods and get out. But there are two basic tools in sales that are even harder to master, especially for young entrepreneurs. If you're apologetic or reluctant or only half-convinced yourself that the customer needs to act now and sign the dotted line, or if you’re sitting back in the weeds waiting for people to call you, then you might just as well save your breath and shut your doors. Success really starts when you just start doing the heavy lifting of getting the job done. I see plenty of instances where the people who should be focused on closing deals are instead making excuses for their clients and justifying their inactivity. The economy sucks--so what?  Someone is still selling things--just not your folks. The … [Read more...] about The Single Sales Practice You Must Master

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It’s an age old question — ok, maybe not that old – but should mall owners be in the business of buying retailers? Four years ago, I wrote about the biggest U.S. mall owners stepping in to save failing retailer Aéropostale from bankruptcy. The deal, a reported $243 million, between Simon Property Group SPG , General Growth Properties, which is now owned by Brookfield, and Authentic Brands Group (ABG) slated to keep all 229 Aéropostale stores open at the two landlord’s properties. With the two largest mall operators’ influence they were able to convince other Aéropostale landlords to provide rent concessions for an additional 171 stores – bringing a total of 400 stores to remain open. Many major retailers, J. Crew, JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, Lucky Brand to name a few, are the lifeblood of America’s shopping malls and have been pushed to the edge during the pandemic, leaving them no choice but to file for … [Read more...] about Simon Property Group Provides Spark To Brooks Brothers – But Is It A Trend?

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Sure, she comes from a popular legacy of vampire slaying (on television, that is), but well-known actress and entrepreneur Sarah Michelle Gellar has come a long way over these past 19 years since putting down her wooden stake on the beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Gellar, 45, co-founded cooking and lifestyle company Foodstirs in 2015, she put out her own Stirring Up Fun with Food cookbook in 2017, but her focus has remained on her life’s greatest creation - her family. Celebrating her 20th wedding anniversary this coming September with her husband and Scooby-Doo & I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star Freddie Prinze Jr. , this husband and wife team have been busy raising their two children, Charlotte and Rocky, as they have collectively taken up the hobby of gardening since the early pandemic. “My husband and I, we love food, and we go to the farmer’s market every weekend and we … [Read more...] about Sarah Michelle Gellar Opens Up About Business, Family Life, And Being Ready To Return To Hollywood: ‘It’s Time’