Author: tdpel

Bitcoin’s price plummeted after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on television to complete Ukraine’s demilitarization.

Bitcoin has dropped by more than 6.5 percent as of the time of writing, trading between $35,000 and $35,150. This crash in prices is coming on the back of the early morning invasion of Russia into Ukraine.

According to data from CoinMarketCap, the total cryptocurrency market cap has lost roughly 5% in the last 24 hours, bringing it to $1.6 trillion.

Much of those losses came in the immediate run-up and aftermath of the invasion. In under half an hour, Bitcoin plummeted from its perch of $37,000 to below $35,500.

Economist Jason Furman, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, this week said, “Russia is incredibly unimportant in the global economy except for oil and gas. It’s basically a big gas station.”

Bitcoin has been on a downward trajectory following the tension between both countries, which heightened early last week but worsened after this early morning invasion.

The financial markets all over the world have been badly affected by this renewed political tension.

U.S. stock markets continued further into correction territory today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 1.38%.

Asian markets, which were open during Putin’s announcement, are also reacting; the Nikkei is down 1% and China’s Hang Seng Index is trading over 2% lower.

Hiring the ideal logistic provider can have a substantial impact on your business. Whether you need regular or temporary transportation services to deliver items safely, timely, and in the right location, having the right transportation provider at your disposal is of significant help.

Most companies recognize that lowering transportation expenses is vital to maintaining their business’s overall performance, which is why they outsource transport services to move goods across the states. However, before you hire a transportation company, you should ensure it’s genuine and dependable by considering the following factors.

1. Experience

The first thing to consider is the company’s experience. The general rule of thumb is to opt for the most experienced company such as reliable drayage resources as this increases the chances of your goods arriving at their destination safely and on time.

However, you should figure out whether the transportation company you intend to engage is well-versed in the areas of your interest. It’s sensible to hire a company that’s knowledgeable in managing all the legal, technical, and other related problems that may arise during transportation.

2. The Offered Services

Goods transportation is the primary service offered by logistic providers. On the other hand, the services offered vary from one company to another. While some companies handle limited shipping points and consignees, others handle specific customers and routes.

Thus, it would be wise to identify the appropriate logistic provider based on your requirements, business type, and scale of your distribution channel. In addition, you need to be accustomed to other services offered by a logistic company to make it easier to meet futuristic demands.

3. The Service Provider’s Sustainability

The transportation company’s long-term sustainability is vital to your company’s success. Thus, working with an agent who flaunts a good track record of prolonged sustainability and performance is essential.

A dependable business partner can easily handle all immediate requirements and future emergencies. The choice of a logistic company matters a lot because the partner’s growth is directly proportional to your growth. If possible, only hire a financially stable company.

Look for a sustainable and long-term logistics company that invests in enhancing its human capital, infrastructure, and equipment to offer you the best logistics solutions possible.

4. Customer Service

Is the transportation company famous for its open lines of communication, dependable customer support, innovative solutions, and fast responses to urgent issues? Well, these elements are vital in identifying whether the logistics provider prioritizes its clients.

While most logistics providers claim to provide excellent customer service, it’s advisable to perform an individual search to find out the reality.

For instance, you can ask the existing and previous clients about their experience. If the company’s customer service is continually strong, they will gladly provide you with a list of their previous customers to learn more about their experiences with them.

5. Network of Locations

Your business’s global distribution or expansion is often determined by the transportation provider’s network of locations. A trusted and reputable logistics partner will offer you a detailed solution that efficiently meets your business needs.

For instance, if you want to transport your cargo to the neighboring state or country, you need to identify the logistics company with a network in that state or country. Here is where hiring the right logistics company lets you get the best solution to meet your company expansions.

6. Safety

Identifying how the logistic provider you intend to hire handles safety is inevitable. A professional logistic company always offers their staff safety training, places safety warnings in the right places, and frequently examines their facilities.

Also, they offer their clients a document comprising safety standards that needs to be followed as per the industry’s safety rules and regulations. What’s more, these companies ensure that products reach their destination with maximum safety and care.

Closing Thoughts

The best logistic providers flaunt most qualities and features described above to ensure that all slight details are handled to deliver the goods timely and safely.

The company needs to effectively manage all issues during transportation, regardless of the consignment size. If a company responds to your inquiries timely during the initial communications, it shows that it’s professional in what it does.

Nato’s Jens Stoltenberg is now speaking in Brussels and says the alliance has activated its defence plans, enabling it to deploy the Nato response force “to where they are needed.”

He says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a “brutal act of war.”

“This is a deliberate, cold-blooded and long-planned invasion,” Stoltenberg said.

“Russia is using force to try to rewrite history and deny Ukraine its free and independent path.”

Nato has already built up its forces in Europe’s east and put more on standby, in light of Russia’s military build-up ahead of today’s invasion.

He says Nato leaders will meet virtually on Friday.

The European Commission has announced that multiple sanctions has been placed on Russia, including freezing Russia’s financial assets accross the European Union.

The agreed package includes:

• sanctions against the 351 members of the Russian State Duma (parliament’s lower house), who voted on 15 February in favour of the appeal to President Putin to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk ”republics”
• sanctions against an additional 27 individuals and entities who have contributed to the undermining or threatening of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• restrictions on economic relations with the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts
• restrictions on the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU’s capital and financial markets and services

An adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that about 50 people have been killed so far in Russia’s attack on the country, according to reports.

Among those killed in the attacks were three civilians in the town of Vuhledar in the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, a statement by the Ukraine Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

Ukrainian emergency services said a boy was also killed in the town of Kharkiv, near the border with Russia, after shelling struck an apartment building.

There were reports another person was killed and five were injured during an attack on a military unit in Berdyansk, near the coastal city of Mariupol, where Russian troops reportedly landed earlier on Thursday.

One young woman who was waiting in line for fuel said her apartment window was blown out by the blast.

“My boyfriend had called me right before that and said, ‘You need to get up, the war has started,’ ” 18-year-old Kristina Nimenko said.

“Now we’ve come to get gas just to be ready for everything.

“We just want peace,” she added.

After the early-morning sounds of explosions on the city’s outskirts, Kharkiv residents in Ukraine’s east, until now sceptical of Western claims that a Russian attack would come to their homes, turned to the tasks they had been putting off.

Reports say at least 40 Ukrainians have died Thursday morning from Russian shells.

Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities are currently under attack by missile strikes as Vladimir Putin orders ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine; Scott Morrison says ‘Russia has chosen war’.

See graphic images below

 

 

An adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy informed a conference that Ukraine is being hit LIVE by a second wave of missile attacks.

The first wave, which began immediately after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military strike on Thursday morning, struck military command centers and other buildings in multiple Ukrainian cities, according to Kyiv authorities.

Witnesses on social media say they heard a large explosion in Kyiv not long ago.

An advisor to Mr Zelenskiy posted to Facebook that he believes another military base was hit.

This is a developing story. Stay put for updates.

​The Australian Border Force (ABF) is seeing a significant increase in attempted illicit tobacco imports at the Australian border.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2021 the ABF detected 878.8 tonnes of undeclared loose leaf tobacco and 712.7 million undeclared cigarette sticks, a 45 per cent increase on the previous year.

The combined weight of the detections in 2021 is over 1,377.7 tonnes, which is equivalent to approximately seven and a half Boeing 747’s.

The majority of the illicit tobacco consignments are arriving from the Middle East and Asian regions. Once the detections are made at our air cargo or container examination facilities, the illicit tobacco products are either kept for further investigation or incinerated.

Commander Trade and Travel Operations East Susan Drennan said criminal groups who attempt to facilitate this illegal trade should stop wasting their time and money.

“Our detection numbers show we are very alert to the different methods and patterns of concealment used in illicit tobacco importations at our borders,” Commander Drennan said.

“Our message to those who think they can import such large amounts of illicit tobacco and get away with it – is to think again.”

Where illicit tobacco importations are linked to serious and organised crime syndicates, it will be referred to the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF), which combines the operational, investigative, and intelligence capabilities of the ABF, Australian Taxation Office, Department of Home Affairs, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, AUSTRAC and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

Commander Special Investigations Greg Linsdell said tobacco is a common choice for transnational criminal groups attempting to make profits at the expense of our communities. .

“Organised crime groups capitalise on unwitting smokers looking for cheap cigarettes to enrich themselves and to fund other types of criminal activities that harm our community,” Commander Linsdell said.

“The ABF is working tirelessly to stop this activity both at our border and within Australia through a comprehensive and powerful ITTF investigative actions”

“We urge the Australian Community not to buy illicit tobacco at your local shopfronts, not only is it a crime, but it facilitates other illegal activity and takes away potential income from genuine retailers who abide by the law and support their local community. If you are paying significantly less than normal retail for your tobacco, or if it is not in plain paper packaging then you know your money is going into the pockets of serious organised crime figures”

The penalties for smuggling tobacco are severe and can include up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to five times the amount of duty evaded.

Anyone with information about the importation and export of illicit tobacco or cigarettes should contact Border Watch. By reporting suspicious activities, you help protect Australia’s border and the community. Information can be provided anonymously.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia and quitting is the best thing you can do for your health. Contact Quitline at https://www.quit.org.au/ for help to quit smoking. You can call the hotline on
13 QUIT (13 7848), to talk to a counsellor or request a call back.