Vladimir Putin says 100,000 Russian troops massing on the Ukraine border is nothing to worry about because it is a work event.
“Our army is working very hard, even if social distancing with Ukraine might be a little awkward,” the Russian president insists.
“We are not, and we never will break any rules, and rumours of an entertaining, booze-fuelled invasion are wide of the mark.
“For complete reassurance, we have asked Sue Gray to report on the terrifying build-up of our armed forces.
“That investigation is still ongoing, so I really can’t comment anymore.
“But I expect to be able to report back, from the steps of Government House in Kiev very soon.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Mr Putin’s explanation was entirely satisfactory.
Downing Street spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “Mr Johnson is reassured the Russians are attending a work event, and he may wander out to the Ukraine border to thank them for their hard work.”
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The Tampa Bay Lightning may be Stanley Cup champions for the second season in a row, but it just might be the Montreal Canadiens who are the hottest commodity in the National Hockey League. Crypto.com certainly seems to think that to be the case.
The Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency trading platform recently announced a one-year partnership deal with the Canadiens. While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the storied hockey franchise did confirm that this is the first sponsorship package the club has ever engaged in with a cryptocurrency agency of any kind.
After a fourth-place finish in the North Division in the 2021 NHL standings, the Canadiens defied the Stanley Cup odds at the top online NHL betting sites by making a playoff run all the way to the Stanley Cup final. The defending champion Lightning ended Montreal’s dream season. Tampa Bay ousted Montreal in five games in the best-of-seven final series.
“Montreal Canadiens” by NHL is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Storied franchise
Founded in 1909, the Canadiens won their first of a record 24 Stanley Cup titles in 1915-16, more than a year prior to the birth of the NHL. The Canadiens are the only founding member of the NHL that has been an ever-present in the league and has never undergone a name change from Day 1.
“In everything we do, we seek to establish partnerships with organizations who are leaders in their field,” Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek told Forbes.com.
Founded in 2016, Crypto.com is the world’s fastest growing cryptocurrency app. Between October 2020 and February of 2021, the company’s customer base increased from five million users to in excess of 10 million. Billing itself as “the world’s fastest growing crypto app, a key component to all of Crypto.com’s deals with sports franchises and organizations is to create growth opportunities for their mobile app.
“Our publicly stated goal is to reach 100 million users by the end of next year, and we’re confident we’ll reach it,” Marszalek said.
Deal with IIHF
The pact with the Canadiens is just one of two deals that Crypto.com has engineered recently with major players in the ice hockey industry. The company entered into a two-year sponsorship deal with the International Ice Hockey Federation to become the official cryptocurrency and NFT sponsor of the IIHF World Championship. The deal began with the 2021 world tourney in Riga, Latvia.
“The partnership was signed between Crypto.com and Infront Sports & Media, the official marketing partner for the IIHF World Championship,” International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel told Forbes. “The IIHF has enjoyed a strong and fruitful partnership with Infront that has seen the federation expand its reach into digital media and really bring the World Championship into the 21st century.
“We were not surprised when Infront came to us with this proposal. They are really forward-thinking and trying to find the next ‘big thing’ in sports marketing and technology. I believe they have also found a very strong partner with Crypto.com and we look forward to initiating this venture together.”
The partnership is including Crypto.com branding at the next two World Championship events. There’s also been the release of a series of non-fungible tokens (NFT) collectibles featuring some of the greatest moments in IIHF history, available exclusively at Crypto.com/NFT.
“F1 Aston Martin” by Twitter is licensed under CC BY 3.0
Crypto.com also involved in Formula One
Crypto.com has also entered a sponsorship deal with the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula 1 team. Aston Martin returned to F1 this season after a 60-year absence. Over the course of the multi-year deal, the brands will collaborate to bring exclusive experiences and opportunities to traders and fans of the sport.
“We’re proud to be partnering with Aston Martin as they return to Grand Prix racing, especially as the first cryptocurrency platform to be sponsoring an F1 team,” Marszalek said.
Sebastien Vettel and Lance Stroll are the drivers for the Aston Martin F1 team.
“I am very impressed by the vision of the Crypto.com management and the tremendous speed at which their platform is growing,” said Lawrence Stroll, Chairman of the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One team. I am sure this partnership will bring a fresh perspective to both our businesses and introduce both brands to new audiences. We are proud of our heritage, but as this deal shows we are also a very modern team.”
Mr Blobby’s mummified remains and, right, in happier times
By Hugh Dunnett, Crime Correspondent
Tributes were pouring in for TV star Mr Blobby today after his mummified remains were found in a cupboard.
The larger-than-life character, known for his house party lifestyle, has not been seen for years and was presumed to have retired.
But a house clearance at a secluded country home near Ipswich, Suffolk found the remains of the pink star with yellow spots.
He appeared to be standing in the cupboard, leaning back and clutching a photograph of his pal, Noel Edmonds.
Startled workmen called police, fearing there may have been foul play at work.
But a post mortem concluded that, apart from a crime against comedy, Mr Blobby had died of natural causes.
It is now believed Mr Blobby had retired to the grand house at Westerfield. Locals say he had been banned from local pubs because he kept bumping into people.
One customer, Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “I wish I could say he kept himself to himself.
“That’s what people always quote in the local newspaper, isn’t it?
“But he was a bit of a nuisance, bumping into everyone, spilling drinks, falling over and shouting, ‘Blobby, Blobby, Blobby’.
“He lived in the big house at the top of the hill.
“We hadn’t seen him for years, but this discovery explains why.
“He’s definitely got a crinkley bottom now.”
Mr Blobby will be given a proper burial at a private funeral.
A police spokesman said: “We are not entirely sure why Mr Blobby died in the cupboard. Perhaps he was trying to fix the door.”
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Choosing to quit smoking is never an easy process. However, the positive results from doing so are almost immediate. As time progresses, the effects of no longer smoking get increasingly better. The issue many have with quitting smoking is the struggle of not having a cigarette. The sudden loss of nicotine can cause some who have chosen to stop falling back into old routines.
To avoid picking up another cigarette, many will look for alternatives to smoking. Some of the most common include nicotine patches and gum. Vaping is a viable option to help to quit smoking. It has become one of the most popular tools people use to stop smoking. Part of the reason is due to being able to reduce their nicotine intake. Another reason is due to it being the most effective.
A rising number of people who switched to a vape to help them quit smoking have not picked up a cigarette since changing to an e-cigarette. With more people choosing to switch to a vape, more options are becoming available to entice people further to change.
Despite this, there might be a few areas unclear for those who have just switched to using a vape, such as long-term effects and being able to vape indoors. Here are a few things to know about vaping indoors in the UK.
Smoking in indoor spaces
Smoking cigarettes in indoor spaces, such as pubs, restaurants and workplaces, has been banned since the 1st July 2007. The ban also covers other public spaces, indoor workplaces and public transport. Entrances, corridors and other shared spaces are also smoke-free areas as well. The only exception is designated smoking areas.
However, there is currently no legislation regarding the use of e-cigarettes inside. There are discussions about changing this legislation to make it the same as smoking cigarettes. Yet no further action has taken place. Whether consumers can use a vape indoors depends on the establishment and the rules they have in place. They still have the power to choose to prohibit vaping from their establishment.
The best option is to check with the property owner or manager for those unsure about vaping indoors. The answer will likely be no, but it is better to ask than risk receiving a fine or a potential ban.
Many will also question if vaping can trigger smoke detectors in a building. Vaping does not produce smoke like cigarettes; it produces vapour. As such, it is understandable to assume that vaping will not set off a smoke alarm as there is no smoke produced to detect.
Vaping does not often trigger buildings smoke alarms, but there is a possibility that it can. Three smoke detectors are the most commonly used. Depending on the smoke detector being used will indicate the likelihood of it being triggered by someone using a vape. These are the three smoke detector models available.
Photoelectric-Based Detectors – These are the most common smoke detectors and are likely to be set off by a vape being used. It detects smoke within its vicinity using optical light beams. When there is enough smoke coating the detector, it will break the light beams, and the alarm will be set off.
Heat Alarms – Heat alarms are the least commonly used smoke detectors. It is also the alarm that will cause minor problems for those that vape. A heat alarm is frequently used in kitchens. The alarm is triggered depending on the level of heat that it detects, not the amount of smoke. Those using a vape pen will have no issues as the heat produced from a vape pen will not be enough to trigger the alarm.
Ionisation-Based Detectors – An ionisation-based detector works around small amounts of radioactive materials. These materials are found in between two electrically-charged plates, which ionises the air in the device. This then generates a current that smoke particles in the air will break. When the current is broken, the alarm is triggered. As this detector works with particles, it is sensitive to any changes within its environment. When using a vape, it produces vapour, not smoke. The vapour has different kinds of particles to that of smoke. In theory, using a vape around an ionisation-based detector will not trigger it. However, they have been known to be set off by those using a vape. Using a vape around an ionisation-based detector will be trickier than using it near a heat detector.
How vaping affects your home
When the weather turns cooler or looks unappealing, many will be tempted to vape within their home. The issue with choosing to vape within their home is not knowing how it can affect your surroundings. Many are aware of the effects smoking cigarettes can have on their home but not vaping. Here are a few ways vaping can affect your home’s surroundings.
Potential wall stains
Smoking cigarettes inside your home can cause the walls to stain and any furnishing to turn an unappealing brown shade. When using a vape to satisfy your nicotine craving inside your home, the impact can be less dramatic than smoking a cigarette. The vapour from a vape can leave residue on the wall, attracting dirt.
The difference is that the stains can take a considerable time to build up. These stains can easily be removed by using a wet cloth to clean the stains left. Consider using a vape near an open window to minimise staining impact. Alternatively, try vaping in a room that has plenty of ventilation to prevent staining from occurring.
Odour lingering in the air
Some might notice an odour left behind from using a vape. However, the smell is considerably less noticeable than that of smoking cigarettes. The scent left behind can also be more pleasant than the scent of cigarettes. The smell is usually of the flavour from the e-liquids used.
Like smoking a cigarette inside, using a vape inside will also leave a lingering smell. It can seep into the furnishing in your home. By having good ventilation throughout your home, you can help reduce the lingering smell of vaping odour.
Affect resale value
If you have plans to sell your house in the future, vaping outside might be the preferred option. Some vaping products produce odours that can be challenging to remove. Although these smells might not be as strong as cigarettes, potential buyers might still notice the odours from vaping whilst touring the house. It could impact the value of your home. These smells could be off-putting and could potentially turn people away from placing an offer on the house. It can make it challenging to get a sale made for your home, further delaying the selling process.
In conclusion
Vaping indoors can have an impact on indoor air quality. Whether you choose to vape in your home or you allow others to do so, it can pose a risk to your air ducts over time. The risks to the air ducts are what impacts the air quality is like within your home. Many will treat using a vape indoors as smoking a cigarette inside. Using a vape indoors at home is your choice, but you might be restricted in public spaces.
Norfolk has entered the modern era with the opening of the county’s first electric vehicle charging station.
The site on the A47 at Dereham has eight super-fast charging bays for the modern fleet of electric vans and cars now using Norfolk’s road network, which now consists of three roads.
Local business tycoon Bubba Spuckler, who lives nearby with his sister and their six children, took a punt on the new-fangled technology this month, despite there being no actual electricity in Norfolk.
“It was a bit of a risk,” Bubba explained. “Having electric charging points without any electricity might not be useful yet but at least we will be in a good business position when the power comes to the county.”
AA spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “What has Alcoholics Anonymous got to do with this?”
Automobile Association spokesperson Steve Walshe said: “We applaud Mr Spuckler for spreading the electric charging points into Norfolk.
“One day soon, we hope to see the county get some electric vehicles, and some electricity to power them.”
But local expert Billy-Bob Spuckler said: “These electric vehicles will never catch on.
“The leads are not long enough, so you can only go 20 yards.”
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“Successful investing takes time, discipline and patience.” These are the words of Warren Buffet, an American business magnate, a successful investor, and philanthropist and is currently the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The same principle applies when you invest in cryptocurrency.
Current trends show that more and more people have been getting into investment. Investors are also becoming younger and younger. They are looking for ways to spend their money with the expectation of achieving a profit or material results. To do this, they put it into financial plans, property, shares, cryptocurrency, or by using it to develop a commercial venture.
Investing is particularly becoming popular among younger generations. The concern, though, is that this group of people can be considered as follower investors. This means that they are passive, and they lack interest in or have little understanding of money or investing. They do not have their own ideas, so they just follow the lead of their associates resulting in loss or no gain of investment or funds.
On the brighter side, a lot of people have also succeeded and are succeeding in their investment journey. You can find some aspiring crypto millionaires on the Bitcoin Era platform.
Questions have been asked as to why and how to start the investment process. If you are a newbie, you may resort to meeting a financial advisor to ensure that your money and effort won’t be wasted. This article will help you to know how to buy investments, especially in Bitcoin, the world’s first and most popular cryptocurrency.
How you can own bitcoin
The first step that investors take into the world of cryptocurrency is purchasing bitcoin. People are used to traditional financial products, so this stage can be nerve-wracking and foreign.
From the value of $3,237 in December 2018, it has risen to $65,000 in November 2021. Like other cryptocurrencies, bitcoin is risky and liable to change rapidly and unpredictably to worse when compared to many proven investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
Bitcoin can be bought through exchanges and stockbrokers or from other owners. Anyhow, always bear in mind the risk of investing in digital assets.
The following is a step-by-step guide to purchasing bitcoin
1. Choose a platform exchange where to buy bitcoin
Do your own research before making the final decision. After the decision is made, you have the option to do cryptocurrency exchanges or traditional brokers. Bitcoin can be purchased from several cryptocurrency exchanges. There are heaps of cryptocurrencies to choose from in the market. Fees and consumer protections are to be considered too. Make sure you comprehend everything before picking a source.
Currently, the number of traditional brokers is few. Robinhood was the first mainstream investment broker to offer bitcoin. It is available in most US states, and it doesn’t charge fees for bitcoin trades.
Here are the legit brokerages and cryptocurrency exchanges that offer bitcoin:
1. Binance.US
2. Coinbase
3. eToro
4. Gemini
5. Robinhood
6. SoFi Active Investing
7. Trade Station
8. Webull
9. Kraken
Coinbase gives you access to buy and sell about 100 cryptocurrencies. It is followed by Kraken with more than 90 cryptocurrencies, Binance.Us with 60 and Gemini with 50. Sofi Active Investing, Robinhood, Tradestation and Webull offer crypto for bitcoin, bitcoin cash and Ethereum, respectively.
Bitcoin ATMs are also an excellent way to buy or invest in bitcoin. It works just like a normal ATM that enables you to buy and sell bitcoin. In the USA, Coin ATM Radar has 27,000 bitcoin ATMs. Buying coins directly from other bitcoin owners is also possible, but you need to be very wary when doing so.
Proshare launched the first bitcoin Exchange-traded funds or ETF in October 2021. This allows you to invest in futures contracts for bitcoin. Grayscale funds can be bought through many discount brokers as they are publicly traded. These are the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust (ETCG). There is an extra fee to buy bitcoin through a traditional exchange, but despite this, some investors are willing to do that as they don’t need to worry so much about their wallets and storage.
2. Decide on your bitcoin storage
There are two options for you to choose from as to where you want to store your bitcoin; we call them digital wallets. The first one is called a hot wallet, where bitcoin is stored by a trusted exchange or provider in the cloud and accessed through an app or computer browser on the internet.
It is offered for free to use by any trading exchange you choose to join. It is recommended to choose a wallet from a provider other than an exchange because many of them suffered from security contraventions in the past, and such services don’t provide insurance and security to be used to store money like a bank. Coinbase, Electrum, Blockchain and Mycelium are examples of hot wallets providers.
A cold wallet, on the other hand, is a small, encrypted portable device that allows you to download and carry your bitcoin. These are purchased for about $100, indeed expensive, but are more secure than hot wallets. Trezor and Ledger Nano are good examples of this kind of wallet.
3. Be ready to make the right purchase
It is necessary that you link your bitcoin wallet to your chosen bitcoin exchange first. Then, decide as to how much bitcoin you want to buy. A single bitcoin costs an arm and a leg; however, BTC or XBT can be bought and sold for fractional shares. That means your initial investment in this Bitcoin platform could be as low as $25.
4. Keep track of your bitcoin holdings
Since owning a bitcoin can create a complex tax situation, you can sell your bitcoin to others if and when the value moves higher, which is called day trading, or you can also buy and hold your stocks for as long as you want if you see a future for bitcoin as a digital currency.
How to become a successful bitcoin investor?
All investors want to succeed. But most of the time, success is so elusive that only very few people come out victorious in lucrative endeavours. This is especially true in crypto investment, given that the market is highly volatile and unpredictable. It takes discipline and clever strategies to secure investment returns.
The good news is, you can achieve success by studying the market, especially price movements, by using fundamental and technical indicators. You can also learn from experts in the industry to know some hacks to give you an advantage.
Final thoughts
Taking the first step in whatever you’ve planned to do, especially growing your money through investment, is always difficult and risky. But with the proper attitude, the right skills and enough guidance, you can avoid failures and are able to make better and wiser decisions that will eventually and hopefully lead to success.
Burger King was celebrating the opening of another new restaurant in London today.
The eaterie, in a posh part of the City of Westminster, specialises in signature Whoppers.
Spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “When grilled, the Whoppers are at their best.”
She admitted that large swathes of the population found the Whoppers hard to digest, but tried to deflect criticism.
“Are you looking at my buns?” she asked, before flouncing inside.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he was not at a Downing Street party because he was tucking into dinner at Pizza Express in Woking at the time.
In a new statement, Mr Johnson says that after strolling into his garden and finding 100 people drinking wine and eating cheese, he was still sure it was a work event.
So, feeling the need to relax, he immediately turned around after 25 minutes and asked his driver to take him to Surrey where he could enjoy tucking into a deep-pan cheese and tomato pizza.
Downing Street spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “The Woking Pizza Express had been recommended to him by Prince Andrew because it is low-profile.
“Certainly, nobody saw Andrew there.
“The Prime Minister was eating alone and did not break any social distancing rules in Woking.
“That is the end of the matter.”
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