#it should spread to become a global pandemic even | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

zvaigzdelasas · 2 years

Text

When Kémi Séba, a leading anti-colonial figure in Francophone Africa, last attempted to travel from his native Benin to Mali in January 2020 he was prevented from boarding the plane by Malian authorities.

At the time, Mali was under the control of president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta—a close ally to France who would not have welcomed Séba’s ability to lead large protests against the country’s former colonial ruler.

Two years later and Séba tells Quartz that he was personally invited to Mali by local authorities led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, the head of a military junta that seized power in August 2020, to give a rousing speech against neo-colonialism in the capital city of Bamako.

“The Malian authorities regard me as an ally because they know that I have reignited Pan-Africanism in Francophone African countries,” said Séba who was kicked out of Senegal in 2017 after the government called him a “threat to public order.” [...]

While the international community and the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) have denounced the military takeover in Mali, he praises the armed forces for responding to growing discontent with the former government

“The alliance between civil society and the military forces is a patriotic path forward and it will be the beginning of a new era in Africa,” he said.

“Democracy in the western sense has failed. Mali for me is proof that something can be different.” [...]

A recent poll by the [french-speaking] Friedrich Ebert foundation found that 68% of Malians are very satisfied with the coup, 27% are satisfied and only 5% do not support the military [...]

The question now is whether anti-colonial populist governments with broad support from their citizens will become a trend that spreads to other parts of Africa.

Séba believes that it is currently mostly isolated to Francophone Africa where it is slowly gaining momentum.

Even the more internationalist regional leaders like Macky Sall, Senegal’s president, have recently suggested that he wants to overhaul financial relations with the West.

The president gave a blistering speech earlier this month at a United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uncea) meeting in Dakar where he criticized the IMF for not allocating a fair portion of special drawing rights (SDRs) to the continent during the pandemic.

Africa has received only $33 billion of the $650 billion in emergency and unconditional funding issued by the IMF during covid-19, with much larger sums being allocated to developed economies like the US, Japan, China, and Germany.

“Explaining underdevelopment in Africa is very simple. The rules set up by international institutions have put us in a straitjacket. The rules are unfair, outdated, and need to be disputed,” he told delegates.

“It is time for Africa to speak out. The voices should not just be those of leaders but of finance ministers and others affected by a system that works against the continent.”

The growing dissatisfaction with Bretton Woods institutions adds to the feeling that the West has deliberately short-changed Africa in terms of access to vaccines.

Western drugmakers continue to block African manufacturing plants from producing life saving vaccines due to patent issues and vaccine donations to the continent have fallen well short of the mark.

This may have [sic] led to an increase in anti-Western sentiment in other regions outside Francophone west Africa.

Jeffrey Smith, founding director of Vanguard Africa, a non-profit [...], said that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has increased anti-Western sentiment in Africa.

Russian flags have been flown in rallies everywhere from Ethiopia to South Africa as many Africans believe that the West’s condemnation of the invasion is hypocritical in the context of Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan. [...]

Nicolas Cheeseman, professor of democracy at the University of Birmingham, said that populist policies are on the rise in other parts of Africa but not to the same extent as the Sahel.

“Figures such as William Ruto in Kenya and Julius Malema in South Africa are using populism as a way to try and gain power, but at the minute it seems to be more of a tool of the opposition than the government,” he said.

Still, the populist trend in west Africa could be the start of a wider movement in Africa and activists like Séba certainly hope that recent developments reverberate across the continent.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that the divisive figure has established connections with Malema in South Africa to expand the movement to Southern Africa.

Last week, hundreds of protestors from Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party gathered outside the French embassy in Pretoria, holding signs that had expletives against France. .

For a country which is not linked to French colonization, this could be a warning sign that events in the Sahel may eventually morph into something much more significant in Africa.

6 Jun 22

276 notes · View notes

destinyc1020 · 1 year

Note

Have we become so closed off of a society that one cannot voice an opinion about anything? I was old enough to remember we had a whole political party in the US of antivaxxers, they are still honorable members of congress, they went on news stations to spread their propagandas, and they were people we were supposed to trust. She was not the only one with those views or do we only remember the black ones now?

This feels like a Kanye West 2.0, although I do not condone the vile things he said, I am not fan and never was, but why the need to have the black ones stripped out of everything as if they have to be made an example out of and all others are still allowed to go on about their business. (I think Kanye deserved it but why are others allowed to go one). The same with Will Smith, he apologized, some are acting he should be cancelled for a slap, but they allow pedophiles at their tables.

She was not the only one with those views or do we only remember the black ones now?

Chiiiillllle....Don't even get me started on the COUNTLESS amounts of people who were claiming that the pandemic/covid was all a "hoax" and form of "government control". 🙄

And what about anti-maskers?? Those who were deliberately refusing to wear a mask and felt like it was their patriotic "duty" to go out in public (during the HEIGHT of the pandemic...during a time when MOST governments around the world were desperately URGING people to wear a mask in order to "slow the spread" and not infect others) w/out a mask 😒🙄 simply because the leader of the country at the time made the covid pandemic a political statement instead of a world-wide global HEALTH EMERGENCY.... 🙄

So yea.... Don't get me started either anon lol 😅 RE: Kanye.... I think it's about TIME he got canceled (jmho), and I think he needs some serious mental help. (Sorry....not sorry👀) I'll just leave it at that lol.

The same with Will Smith, he apologized, some are acting he should be cancelled for a slap, but they allow pedophiles at their tables.

RE: Will Smith... I agree Anon. What Will did that night was not right at all. It was embarrassing, uncalled for, and probably traumatic for Chris Rock (I've heard that he was asked to host next year's Oscar show again and declined 😔). But the fact that his "slap" was being talked about SO MUCH for MONTHS and totally overshadowed the news of the other Oscar winners that night is just sad to me. What Will did was wrong, but what I saw that night was not a horrible man, but more so a man who has had it up to here with the jokes about his wife, the embarrassing details about his wife's "entanglements" with August Alsina being aired out like dirty laundry for the whole world to see, and the "Oscars So White" jokes for years. To me I saw a man desperate. Everyone who knows Will knows that he has usually been one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. I could see if he had a reputation for being a jerk, but usually he has been pretty squeaky clean for decades....to the point where he used to not even curse in his rap music lol.

So yea, the way the media (and the GP) just came down HARD on him for slapping Chris (when Chris himself didn't even press charges or drag him through the mud in the media, when he really could have) was just not needed imo.

14 notes · View notes

thehalalgirlofficial · 1 year

Text

60 days till ramadan (more or less)

at any given point of the year, muslims look forward to the arrival of ramadan and with just sixty days to go, the blessed month is truly fast approaching. however, these last 3 years have been unlike any other that any of us is old enough to remember. we’ve gone in and out of multiple quarantine and stay-at-home orders, some of us have lost our jobs, and others have unfortunately lost loved ones. in some way or another, we are all grappling with the struggles this global pandemic has wreaked upon our lives. in march 2020, muslims from around the world helplessly watched the heartbreaking scene as the masajid locked their doors, the kabah was barricaded, and janazahs were buried without ghusl. these past few years have been quite different than any other, in the most tragic of ways.

but our community is strong and resilient. as people lost their jobs and struggled to put food on the table for their families, the generosity of our brothers and sisters poured forward in an undeniable way. so many put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of their muslim brother and for the good of the community, from doctors and nurses in overrun hospitals to the volunteers that washed bodies and prayed janazah when we were plagued by the uncertainty of how exactly this deadly virus spreads. this spirit of sacrifice for the betterment of others is truly the light of the muslim community that shines through the darkest of times.

and even though we spent that ramadan at home, praying taraweeh alone, distancing our hearts as we refrained from hugging or shaking hands, ramadan did not lose its spiritual significance. yes, we missed being able to pray in jama’ah, to attend lectures and meet our brothers and sisters, but that ramadan proved something even more important. despite the fact that the masjid was closed and we prayed alone, we still worshipped Allah ﷻ. we still tried our best to please Him ﷻ. we still worked our hardest to make the most of our ramadan and multiply our rewards. this is proof that Allah ﷻ is not in the masjid, not even the kabah, but truly وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ .

and that’s what we should take with us into this ramadan season. as the masajid are, alhamdulillah, finally open in full capacity again and the haramain are welcoming more visitors than ever before, we must summon the same fear of the unknown and hope for a brighter tomorrow that we held through these dark years. for indeed, we should fear that which will become of us after death but remain hopeful of Allah fulfilling our duas to become closer to him that ever before. Allah is wherever you look for Him ﷻ, so begin your journey back to the Creator today.

#ramadancountdown #ramadaniscoming #ramadantips #ramadan #ramadannights #ramadankarim #ramadangoals #ramadan kareem #ramadankareem #ramadaan #ramadhanmubarak #ramadhankareem #ramadhan #ramzanmubarak #ram

6 notes · View notes

mariacallous · 1 year

Text

Most reasonable people would agree that after years of what appeared to be remarkable success in containing the virus, China’s COVID-19 situation has turned to outright disaster.

Following the government’s sudden and unplanned dropping of strict quarantine and testing rules, hospitals in even the biggest and richest of the country’s cities, starting with Beijing, have been overrun. Patients struggling to breathe or showing other signs of distress are seeking urgent care.

Drugstore shelves throughout the country have been emptied of all medicines related to fever and cold symptoms. The few vetted, prescription antiviral COVID-19 treatments available in much of the rest of the world, such as Paxlovid, are almost impossible to find; when available, they cost an arm and a leg. Ambulance services are completely overstretched by the deluge of emergency calls. And crematoriums operating around the clock cannot keep up with the number of cadavers being delivered in body bags.

I imagine few will be prepared for the conclusion that follows. The COVID-19 crisis in China is not primarily a public health crisis. In fact, it could be argued that even on its present course, in public health terms, China will not come out of the current emergency phase as a global outlier in terms of the numbers of people killed by the pandemic and may even be counted as having done reasonably well. The real scene of the COVID-19 disaster in China is to its once confident and seemingly unshakable political system.

Three years ago, China’s early response to COVID-19, characterized by extraordinary lockdowns affecting big cities and even entire subregions, struck many people around the world (especially in affluent countries that place a priority on personal freedoms) as crude and even brutal. This first phase of what became known as country’s zero-COVID policy was followed, or more accurately supplemented, by the implementation of mass testing regimes that became more and more obsessive and even invasive in nature.

As I have written before, this was clearly not a way out of the pandemic. It was obvious all along to anyone with even a basic understanding of epidemiology or public health that once this regime was lifted, COVID-19 would spread in China just as it had in most other parts of the world. What the long experiment with lockdowns and endless mandated testing and tracking apps arguably accomplished was a postponement of the day of reckoning—until less deadly strains of the virus, as many believe Omicron and its sub-variants to be, had become prevalent.

I lived through the worst of the pandemic in an utterly devastated New York City, when the city’s infection rate was five times higher than the rest of the country (nearly 44,000 people have died in the city due to COVID-19 as of Dec. 27). In those days, depressingly, the incessant sound of ambulances, sometimes several at a time, drowned out everything else.

Had China taken something like the U.S. response at the outset of the pandemic, with few quarantine measures or other social controls, one imagines an even worse catastrophe, given that the country has ten cities roughly as large as New York (or much larger), and over 100 cities with more than a million residents. With no specific treatments for COVID-19 yet available, zero native immunity, and an early strain prone to murder, there is no telling how many people would have died.

In the United States, impressively effective vaccines were rolled out in December 2020, representing an extraordinary triumph of sheer science that helped make up for the grave and persistent weaknesses of the U.S. public health system. I eagerly made an appointment and was grateful to receive my first shot of the new mRNA vaccines in early January 2021, and I kept getting boosters whenever I could (currently, up to five total shots).

As a matter of pride, or rather a deep-seated but foolish sense of nationalism that is incessantly drummed into the public by the country’s leaders, China failed to introduce foreign-made mRNA vaccines, instead pursuing a native vaccine breakthrough. This same mistake was made later, when antivirals effective against COVID-19, such as Paxlovid, were not widely imported, produced, or distributed in China because they were of Western origin; China’s rulers often rigidly insist on having native solutions even to problems that have been long solved by others.

Much has been written about how China squandered the time bought by its quarantine and surveillance efforts by neither pushing for a much higher vaccination rate in the country, especially among the vulnerable elderly, nor stockpiling antivirals or even ordinary fever medicines. But there were very real practical obstacles that stood in the way of near universal vaccinations.

China spent much of the past three years using the pandemic for crude propaganda purposes. Simply put, the rest of the world was getting sick, and China was not. The West, in particular, was afflicted with untold ravages from long COVID-19. The Chinese public was inundated with messaging, both direct and indirect, that concluded that the West’s troubles proved China’s overall system superior, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) the best possible guardian of people’s welfare. And in a land where actual COVID-19 cases were few and far between throughout most of this period, getting the public to line up for shots and then more shots, was a very hard sell. (Just think about how hard it has been to get elderly U.S. citizens, who live in a country where COVID-19 has never gone away, to get the latest boosters.)

Add to this indifference the fact that many Chinese people—nationalist state propaganda be damned—have had little faith in the country’s home-grown vaccines. Outside of China, too, much has been made about the country’s inferior vaccines—perhaps a bit too much. There is little doubt that Western vaccines, particularly those using mRNA technology, are more effective than China’s shots, which use older designs. But there are reasons to believe this difference in efficacy, much emphasized in Western coverage and perhaps even acknowledged by Chinese citizens who lack trust in their own system, is substantially overestimated, at least in practical terms. Although the Chinese vaccines are lower performing, staying up to date with repeated doses nonetheless appears to provide substantial protection against the worst effects of a COVID-19 infection—that is, hospitalization and death.

This brings us to the true nature of the ongoing catastrophe in China. The current situation is a self-dealt hand suffered by the CCP that both underpins and stands above the state, and the issue is trust. In the annals of self-ridicule, it would be hard to beat Beijing’s COVID-19 Dec. 21 death toll. In the face of overwhelming anecdotal evidence to the contrary, the government insisted that almost no one had died due to the forest fire-like spread of the disease.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Up until the very moment of the policy turnaround, the Chinese public had been inundated with messages about why zero-COVID was necessary, why they needed to submit to ceaseless PCR tests and even invasions of their homes. The propaganda masters are failing, even now, to come up with a good explanation of the government’s reversal, much less a statement acknowledging that grave mistakes were made at the very top.

There was a time not so terribly long ago when suffocating censorship and national isolation made it possible for the propaganda system to brush aside inconvenient facts and incriminating narratives. In the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square killings, the CCP masked the facts of what happened through sheer fabulation. The cover story offered by former Communist party chairman Deng Xiaoping for the massacre of hundreds of people at that monumental square in the heart of Beijing was that “a few released prisoners who were not properly reformed, a few political hooligans, the residual dregs of the Gang of Four[,] and other social detritus” were responsible for the violent disturbance that swept China’s capital, and that it had all been instigated by “hostile foreign forces.” Someone deemed that the lily needed further gilding, though, so the propagandists stressed that the soldiers who had carried out the killings were the true victims and filled televisions for days with images of soldiers recovering in hospitals and wreckage of charred army vehicles.

But that era has passed. The present crisis signals the advent of an entirely new epoch, one that has been long in coming. No, this is not a prediction of the pending demise of a system of government that many had believed until only recently to be formidable. (I must add here a macabre thought: From the Chinese state’s point of view, the COVID-19-induced deaths of hundreds of thousands of people over the age of 65 might even have their benefits. That’s because the country is embarking on a globally unprecedented wave of aging that will drastically reduce the size of the workforce and make paying for so called entitlements, or long term health care for people with chronic diseases and retirement benefits, vastly more onerous. A large number of relatively quick deaths, eliminating the need for decades of dialysis or dementia care, for example, might be counted as a fiscal and actuarial blessing.)

Serious foundational cracks are now on display, reminders that even a state that relishes control is susceptible to losing it. In my more than 20 years combined of living in, traveling to, and working extensively on China, I have never seen the credibility of the state and of its propaganda messaging dip so low. What is different from the era of Tiananmen and of other previous crises is that Chinese society has become increasingly dominated by a big and growing middle class. It is much more educated than before. And despite Beijing’s unstinting efforts at information control, people now receive much more news from sources of all kinds, whether domestic or foreign, through formal or informal networks. Big questions loom about whether the country’s political system in its present configuration can endure without major reforms. Will the CCP be able to retain control only at the expense of an exodus of vast numbers of talented Chinese, and a slowing of middle-class economic growth?

The frontlines to watch are threefold. To what degree can the state abide the truth? Can it ever acknowledge its mistakes? And how much criticism can it allow from its own citizens, the overwhelming majority of whom are patriotic? What seems certain is that the state’s customary guise of all-knowing, never erring, and not accepting independent thinking has never fared worse.

2 notes · View notes

oliviajames1122 · 2 years

Text

Is the pandemic entering its endgame?

Who hasn't let out an exasperated "Is the pandemic finished yet?" or a "When can I just get on with my life?" over the past two years? I know I have.

The answer to those questions could be... very soon.

There is growing confidence that Omicron could be hurtling the UK into the pandemic endgame.

But what comes next? There will be no snap of the fingers to make the virus disappear. Instead, the new buzzword we'll have to get used to be "endemic" - which means that Covid is, without doubt, here to stay.

So, is a new Covid-era truly imminent and what will that actually meant for our lives?

"We're almost there, it is now the beginning of the end, at least in the UK," Prof Julian Hiscox, chairman in infection and global health at the University of Liverpool, tells me. "I think life in 2022 will be almost back to before the pandemic."

What's changing is our immunity. The new coronavirus first emerged two years ago in Wuhan, China, and we were vulnerable. It was a completely new virus that our immune systems had not experienced before and we had no drugs or vaccines to help many business listings.

The result was like taking a flamethrower into a fireworks factory. Covid spread explosively around the world - but that fire cannot burn at such high intensity forever.

There were two options - either we would extinguish Covid, as we did with Ebola in West Africa, or it would die down but be with us for the long term. It would join the swarm of endemic diseases - such as common colds, HIV, measles, malaria, and tuberculosis - that are always there.

For many, this was the inevitable fate of a virus that spreads through the air before you even know you're sick. "Endemicity was written into this virus," says Dr Elisabetta Groppelli, a virologist at St George's, University of London.

"I am very optimistic," she says. "We'll soon be in a situation where the virus is circulating, we will take care of people at risk, but for anybody else, we accept they will catch it - and your average person will be fine."

Epidemiologists, who study the spread of diseases, would consider a disease endemic when levels are consistent and predictable - unlike the "boom and bust" waves so far in the pandemic.

But Prof Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, says other people are using it to mean Covid is still around, but that we no longer need to restrict our lives business listings.

She thinks we'll get there "rapidly", adding: "It seems like it's taken a long time, but only a year ago we started vaccinating and we're already an awful lot freer because of that."

The only major curveball would be a new variant that can out Omicron and cause significantly more severe disease.

How bad?

It is important to remember that endemic does not automatically mean mild. "We have some huge killer diseases that we consider endemic," says Prof Ghani. Smallpox was endemic for thousands of years and killed a third of people who were infected. Malaria is endemic and causes around 600,000 deaths a year.

But we are already seeing the signs that Covid is becoming less deadly as our bodies become more familiar with fighting it.

In the UK there has been a vaccination campaign, a booster campaign and waves of Covid involving four different variants of the virus.

"When Omicron has finished and moved through, immunity in the UK will be high, at least for a while," says Prof Eleanor Riley, an immunologist at the University of Edinburgh.

The high level of infections has come at a price, with more than 150,000 deaths in the UK. But it has left a protective legacy in our immune systems. That immunity will wane so we should expect to catch Covid in the future, but it should still reduce the chances of becoming seriously ill.

Prof Hiscox - who sits on the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group - says that means most people won't be badly affected.

"Should a new variant or old variant come along, for most of us, like any other common cold coronavirus, we'll get the sniffles and a bit of a headache, and then we're OK."

What will it mean for our lives?

There will be people - mostly the old and vulnerable - who will die from endemic Covid. So there is still a decision to be made about how we live alongside it free business listings.

"If you're willing to tolerate zero deaths from Covid, then we're facing a whole raft of restrictions and it's not game over," Prof Hiscox explains.

But, he says, "In a bad flu season, 200-300 die a day over winter and nobody wears a mask or socially distances, that's perhaps a right line to draw in the sand."

Lockdowns and restrictions on mass gatherings will not come back and mass testing for Covid will end this year, he expects.

The near certainty is there will be booster vaccines for the vulnerable come the autumn in order to top up their protection through winter.

"We need to accept the fact that our flu season is also going to be a coronavirus season, and that is going to be a challenge for us," says Dr Groppelli.

However, it is still uncertain how bad winters will be as the people who die from flu and Covid tend to be the same. As one scientist put it, "You can't die twice."

Prof Riley thinks we won't be compelled to wear face masks after Omicron, but they will become "a much more common sight" as they are in parts of Asia as people choose to wear them in crowded places.

She adds: "The likely scenario is life won't look much different to the autumn of 2019, when we all turned up for our flu vaccines."

What about the rest of the world?

While the UK is ahead of most of the world due to a combination of vaccines and a large number of infections, the planet is not remotely close to seeing the end of the pandemic.

Poorer countries are still waiting for vaccines to give to their most vulnerable people. Meanwhile, countries that kept Covid at arms' length have had very few deaths, but also have less immunity in their populations.

The World Health Organization has been clear the world is a long way off describing Covid as endemic.

"For the world, it is still a pandemic and an acute emergency," Dr Groppelli concludes.

Related Topics

·Medical research

·Coronavirus lockdown measures

·Vaccination

·James Gallagher

·Omicron variant

·Coronavirus pandemic

#Many business listings #business listings #free business listings #promote your business

1 note · View note

globaltravelclinics · 21 days

Text

Getting Around the Legal Requirements for Travel Vaccinations

While traveling to remote locations on an adventure can be thrilling, your health and safety should always come first. Travel immunizations are essential for protecting against infectious diseases that are common around the globe. To guarantee a hassle-free trip, it is imperative to understand the regulatory requirements for these immunizations. Now let's explore the legal ramifications of travel vaccinations:

Destination-Specific Regulations:

Each country has its own set of regulations regarding mandatory vaccinations for incoming travelers. Some nations may require proof of certain vaccinations as a condition of entry, particularly for diseases like yellow fever or polio. It's imperative to research the vaccination requirements of your destination well in advance to avoid any complications upon arrival.

International Health Regulations (IHR):

The International Health Regulations, established by the World Health Organization (WHO), serve as a global framework for preventing and responding to public health risks that could cross international borders. These regulations may stipulate mandatory vaccinations for travelers visiting certain countries or regions where specific diseases are endemic or pose a significant risk.

Airline and Immigration Requirements:

In addition to destination-specific regulations, airlines, and immigration authorities may have their own requirements regarding travel vaccinations. Some airlines may request proof of certain vaccinations before allowing passengers to board, especially for flights to regions where infectious diseases are prevalent. Similarly, immigration officials may ask for vaccination records as part of their entry procedures.

Health and Safety Protocols:

Health and safety protocols, including vaccination requirements, have become increasingly important in light of global health concerns such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries have implemented stricter measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including mandatory vaccination or proof of immunity for certain travelers. Adhering to these protocols is crucial for both personal safety and compliance with legal requirements.

Legal Consequences of Non-Compliance:

Failure to comply with vaccination requirements imposed by destination countries or international regulations can have legal consequences. Travelers may be denied entry, face quarantine measures, or even be subject to fines or other penalties for non-compliance. It's essential to take these requirements seriously and ensure that you meet all legal obligations before embarking on your journey.

Conclusion:

Travel vaccinations are not only vital for protecting your health but also for complying with legal requirements set forth by destination countries, international health regulations, and transportation authorities. By familiarizing yourself with these legal aspects and ensuring that you meet all necessary vaccination requirements, you can enjoy a safe and worry-free travel experience, knowing that you've taken proactive steps to safeguard your well-being.

#travel vaccinations #covid vaccinations #vaccination #vaccine

0 notes

mediopinions · 7 months

Text

Countering Medical Misinformation In The Digital Age: 7 Points To Consider

We are living in the age of information. The world that we live in has turned into a global village. Everywhere we turn, there is so much information to be understood, assimilated and organized. More than half of the global population today have access to the internet and easy availability of information has become the norm. When there’s easy information, there’s a greater chance for rumors and false news to spread amongst the people. A recent study by a group of researchers from MIT has revealed that there’s substantially more chance for fake news spreading rapidly online, as compared to real news. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a huge amount of information present online with WHO and UN defining this phenomenon as an “INFODEMIC”. Anybody with a smartphone and a broadband connection can offer free medical advice in today’s world and its legitimacy is often never questioned. Random sharing of health tips, healthcare advice from unverified sources and information sometimes deliberately sent to mislead, like deep-fakes, pose a serious risk. Let’s all be frank. What do we do when we have symptoms of illnesses like headache or cough? Our first instinct is to whip out our phones and do a quick google search. We are then bombarded with a wide range of causes starting from a simple migraine to even scares about brain tumors. This often leads to unnecessary confusion and panic amidst the general public. This has further been amplified by the advent of short videos sharing platforms on social media like Instagram and YouTube, where people with non-medical backgrounds frequently post pseudoscience and conspiracy theories with the intent of becoming viral. To give an example, a conspiracy theory film called “Plandemic” was released in the month of May 2020 during the pandemic. It seemed to be an expert documentary detailing reports about the coronavirus outbreak. But it soon became one of the most widely watched videos about the pandemic which acutely spread misinformation on topics like treatment methods, mask usage and caution against administration of vaccines. In this age of technology and telehealth, care should be taken to distinguish genuine information from fake ones. So, what are the steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of such misinformation?

1. Paying attention to all the news that we get. Pseudoscientific facts are often quite similar to the real facts and a quick google search about the topic often gives us the much-needed clarity. The news that the general public get consists of a homogenous mix of real and fake news. It is in the hands of the public for the proper dissemination of real and legitimate news and to make informed choices about the kind of content to be shared.

2. Awareness should be created among the people living in the society. Initiatives should be taken by various stakeholders in the society for eliminating the sources of misinformation by taking appropriate steps in the right direction. Often collaborations by news agencies and social media influencers with healthcare experts in their respective domains provide authentic information to the public

3. When there’s a spread of misinformation or rumors online, the steps taken to counter it are always focused on satisfying that short term goal of resolving the issue. Efforts should be taken to plan and construct resilient infrastructure to focus on long term policies so that problems can be minimized in the future.

4. Various government and other related organizations should be urged to provide a framework to combat sources that intentionally spread misinformation, to recognize best practices to avoid such issues and to invest in health literacy programs.

5. Overall, sharing of evidence-based information should be encouraged and the knowledge shared must be regulated by the social media platforms with the help of technology or artificial intelligence-based systems.

6. Credible and trusted sources, mainly healthcare experts, must be certified, given preference and must be recommended for healthcare advice.

7. Often, fake information is shared more because of the way it is designed. To neutralize this, creative elements must be incorporated so that legitimate news had an extensive reach. During the Covid-19 pandemic, spread of fake information online had led to loss of confidence in public healthcare facilities, increase in panic among the public and widespread hesitation to get vaccinated. It had also affected every sector of the society in some way or the other. Thus, it has made us understand that collective effort from each part of the society is required to curb the growing menace of misinformation online. Medical surveys greatly help in presenting valid, original, and trustworthy information to both the general public as well as the medical fraternity. For more detail visit here : https://www.mediopinions.com/

#medical misinformation in digital age

1 note · View note

businesscoachrahulmalodia · 8 months

Text

Strategies for Building Brand Resilience in a Crisis

In today’s dynamic business landscape, unexpected crises can strike at any moment. These crises, whether they’re related to a global pandemic, a financial downturn, or other unforeseen challenges, can profoundly impact a brand’s reputation and longevity. To navigate these turbulent waters successfully, businesses need to build brand resilience. In this article, we’ll explore key strategies for doing just that, with insights influenced by the expertise of Rahul Malodia, recognized as the best business coach in Jaipur.

Why Brand Resilience Matters:

Brand resilience isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a critical factor that can determine a business’s survival in times of crisis. Here’s why it matters:

Maintaining Trust: A resilient brand can maintain the trust and confidence of its customers, even during challenging times. This trust is often the difference between customer loyalty and attrition.

Adaptability: Resilient brands are agile and adaptable. They can pivot quickly to address changing market conditions and customer needs.

Competitive Edge: Resilience can provide a competitive edge. While others struggle to cope with a crisis, a resilient brand can emerge stronger and more prepared for the future.

Strategies for Building Brand Resilience:

Effective Communication: Rahul Malodia stresses the importance of clear and consistent communication during a crisis. Transparency builds trust. Businesses should keep their stakeholders informed about the situation, their response, and any changes to products or services.

Scenario Planning: Rahul advises businesses to engage in scenario planning. This involves identifying potential crises and developing response strategies in advance. Having a plan in place can reduce panic and improve decision-making during a crisis.

Employee Engagement: Employees are a critical part of any brand’s resilience. Rahul recommends fostering a positive workplace culture that encourages innovation and problem-solving. Engaged employees are more likely to go above and beyond during a crisis.

Customer-Centric Approach: Brands should always prioritize their customers, but this becomes even more crucial during a crisis. Rahul suggests actively seeking customer feedback, addressing concerns, and adjusting strategies to meet customer needs.

Diversification: Overreliance on one market, product, or service can make a brand vulnerable. Rahul advises diversifying where possible to spread risk and reduce exposure to external shocks.

Supply Chain Resilience: Building a resilient supply chain is paramount. Rahul recommends identifying potential weaknesses in the supply chain and developing contingency plans. This ensures the business can continue to meet demand, even if disruptions occur.

Learn from Experience: After a crisis, Rahul stresses the importance of conducting thorough post-mortems. This allows businesses to learn from the experience, identify areas for improvement, and better prepare for future challenges.

The Future of Brand Resilience:

As the business landscape evolves, brand resilience will remain a key focus. Businesses will likely invest in technology and data analytics to enhance their ability to predict and respond to crises. Additionally, sustainability and ethical business practices will become integral to brand resilience, as socially conscious consumers seek brands that align with their values.

Building brand resilience isn’t a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing process. Brands that invest in resilience not only weather crises more effectively but also emerge from them stronger and better prepared for the future. With insights from experts like Rahul Malodia, the best business coach in India, and beyond can navigate turbulent times and continue to thrive.

#businessgrowth #finance #entrepreneurship #best business coach in jaipur #business #business coach #business consultant

0 notes

beardedmrbean · 9 months

Text

Suomen Kuvalehti has news of new developments in Wille Rydman's (Finns) legal saga. The Minister for Economic Affairs was accused of inappropriate behaviour by several women interviewed last year by Helsingin Sanomat.

One of them then spoke to police alleging Rydman may have been guilty of sex crimes, but after a police investigation no charges were brought.

Rydman then published a book which included the identity of an accuser, which in turn prompted a police investigation over whether he had breached confidentiality.

That investigation resulted in no charges being brought, in part because police said in their report that the woman had already discussed her experiences publicly.

The prosecutor has now told Suomen Kuvalehti that she is re-evaluating that decision, as the woman had not in fact ever discussed the sex crimes publicly even though she had discussed other aspects of Rydman's behaviour around women.

Reporting about Rydman's behaviour around women led to his departure from the National Coalition Party in 2022, and he subsequently joined the Finns Party.

He replaced Villhelm Junnila as the Minister for Economic Affairs ten days after the latter's appointment when Junnila's Nazi references and links emerged, and coalition partner the Swedish People's Party voted against him in a confidence vote.

Since then Helsingin Sanomat has published private messages Rydman sent to his then-girlfriend that included racist language.

End of mink farming?

The avian flu outbreak in Finland has seen bird deaths around the country, and some debate about how to deal with it. The H5N1 strain has spread to the country's mink farms, which have been a cause of international concern.

That's because the fur farming industry packs mink tightly into cages, giving them little room to move and creating the ideal conditions for influenza to spread from animal to animal.

If it does that, it could more easily mutate into a form that can transmit to and between humans, creating the conditions for a new, deadly global pandemic.

Helsingin Sanomat reports the views of one German virologist who has been following the situation.

Isabella Eckerle said on Twitter (which recently changed its name to the letter X) that Finland should act to reduce the risk.

"This is playing with fire and really provoking adaptation of the virus to mammals," posted Eckerle. "We are not ready for another pandemic, and the situation does not seem to be under control at all."

Industry representatives told HS that they were working to control the outbreak and protect fur farms, but declined to state whether they thought the outbreak was currently under control.

Storm roundup

Finland is getting a change in the weather on Tuesday, but debate still rages in Iltalehti about whether it is or will become a storm. The original warnings were rather stark, but they were downgraded and then partially reinstated as forecasts developed.

As things stood on Tuesday morning, the worst of the weather was due to hit central Finland, with some lightning and thunder likely.

For the capital, it looked like the storm would manifest mainly as an afternoon of rain.

#nunyas news #updates from up north

1 note · View note

palautopheadlines · 10 months

Text

"From Palau to Online: Tracing the Spread of Viral Posts on BLM Controversies"

Date: Jul, 14. 2020

We are living in a time where social injustice is prevalent, and while it has been an issue for many years, we all need to talk about it. Unfortunately, people will always be mean, and it's challenging to change a person's mind and heart, whether it's at your workplace or school.

Recently, I witnessed an issue circulate online with an employee at a company who did something terrible to a customer. Although I was upset and wanted to say something to the owner, I realized that pointing fingers isn't always the answer. Instead, we need to focus on educating and addressing the root of the problem.

One of the most disheartening things I've witnessed is hearing the same old quotes of "go back to your country" directed towards people who weren't raised right. Racism is taught, and whoever grew up during that time needs to be educated.

When the "Black Lives Matter" movement started trending in Palau, many of our older generations were angry and took to social media to voice their concerns. They accused us of being brainwashed and Americanized, and not focusing enough on the real problems of Palau. However, they missed one crucial thing - we're speaking out for the first time ever, and it takes courage.

It's time to break the cycle of social injustice, educate ourselves, and others. Only then can we create lasting change and a better future for everyone. We need to listen, learn, and stand together.

There will always be controversies, and as someone who is half Palauan, I have seen how Palauans sometimes treat foreigners. However, I refuse to condemn my fellow Palauans as being evil or mean. The truth is that they simply may not have been raised with the kind of awareness and understanding needed to interact with people from different cultures.

Despite this lack of understanding, many Palauans have access to information about poverty and other issues around the world through television and other media. However, it's important to recognize that they may not fully grasp the complexities of these issues.

Foreigners who come to Palau for work and opportunities should be respected, not put down or made to feel inferior. Palauans have a strong sense of pride in their heritage, but this shouldn't be used to belittle others.

Furthermore, it's important to recognize that today's younger generation is well-versed in using social media as a tool for advocacy and bringing awareness to important issues. Palauans should embrace this new way of communicating and use it to discuss and address concerns related to our treatment of foreigners.

There is so much that we still need to learn about Palau's place in the global community. As a Palauan, I feel a sense of pride for my country's values and our connection to our ancestors' roots. However, it is important that we also understand our role as a nation and how we treat others as decent human beings.

It is undeniable that Palau is at the top of the list of the world's most discovered dive places. This is undoubtedly a source of pride for us and a reason for the rest of the world to take notice. Even a well-known actor from the Titanic movie has come to our diving spots.

However, we cannot ignore the dark side of our reputation. Palau is also known for human trafficking, domestic violence, and other social issues. It is not enough to simply be proud of our diving attractions while asking other countries for help with these problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to expose the shockingly real issues that exist within our community. We need to acknowledge these issues and take action to address them. It is our responsibility to ensure that Palau is known for more than just its tourist attractions, but also for its commitment to treating all people with dignity and respect.

Social Media as a Tool – An Outlet for Change

Social media has become a powerful tool for individuals and businesses alike, providing a platform to share information, connect with others and seek out like-minded individuals. But beyond being a tool to share cat memes and fashion updates, social media has the potential to make a real impact on our community.

Rather than simply using social media as an outlet for our thoughts and opinions, we should view it as an opportunity to make a change. We must be the change we want to see in our world, and social media provides us with a platform to do so.

As members of our community, we have a responsibility to voice our concerns and raise awareness around issues that are important to us all. We can leverage social media to amplify our message and connect with others who share our concerns.

What’s particularly interesting about social media is how quickly information spreads when something goes viral. From the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to Black Lives Matter, we have seen how social media can be a powerful tool for spreading awareness and creating change. Even young people are using social media to spread important messages and drive social change.

There is no time to hide behind silence or apathy. We must speak up and use social media to make our voices heard. Our concerns are valid, and it is important that we communicate them to our community. Let us use the power of social media to create a better world for us all.

Growing up in a toxic environment can leave a significant impact on one's mental health. This is something that I personally experienced growing up in Palau. For someone who has never dealt with this kind of situation, it may be hard to relate to. There were many things that I saw and encountered that no one would want to hear about. As a result, I struggled with anxiety and depression.

The culture in Palau teaches us to behave in a certain way, to speak a certain language, and to treat our elders with respect. While these values are important, they can also be taken to an extreme where they become toxic. We were often judged for not fitting the mold of what a "true Palauan" should be.

As someone who is half-Filipino and half-Palauan, I was not fully accepted by either group. Being looked down upon and constantly criticized left me feeling isolated and alone. Hearing racist remarks like "go back to the Philippines" only added insult to injury.

Growing up, I felt like a misfit in my own society. I had no one to turn to for support or to stand up for me. It was a lonely and painful experience. I don't want others to go through the same thing, which is why I'm sharing my story.

The good news is that more and more people are becoming aware of this issue and working towards change. We still have a long way to go before things can get better, but I am hopeful for the future. No one should have to endure the pain of growing up in a toxic environment.

It’s intriguing how the recent movement in Palau has sparked debates on racism and prejudice. These discussions can be heard everywhere, from family gatherings to school. It's crucial to stay informed and educated on these issues.

Unfortunately, some forums discussing the movement have turned toxic, with inadequate information being shared. However, we must continue to care and speak out about the movement, not letting negative comments or opinions discourage us.

It's never easy to speak out, especially when it may not align with our family's beliefs. However, we must remember that we're the new generation, and we can initiate change. Our voice matters, and we need to raise awareness to ensure that these destructive attitudes stop.

Although we might face criticism from others, we can choose to be happy and love ourselves despite their negative opinions. At the end of the day, we all matter as humans, and it's essential to stand up for each other to create a better future.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

0 notes

kevinszabojrplumbing · 1 year

Text

7 Popular Apartment Amenities to Keep an Eye Out for When Apartment Hunting

Apartments are increasingly becoming the preferred type of accommodation as more and more people relocate to cities. However, not all apartments are created equal. When choosing a place that’s right for you, amenities are a major deciding factor.

Let’s explore some of the most popular apartment amenities that you should keep an eye out for when apartment hunting.

Get fit with on-site fitness centers

Fitness centers are a great amenity for health and fitness enthusiasts or people who simply want to stay in shape. They’re convenient, cost-effective, and save you time and money on gym memberships.

High-quality apartment complexes usually come equipped with fitness centers that include weights, cardio machines, and various other kinds of workout equipment.

Some even offer fitness classes like that you can sign up to, such as yoga or Pilates. Fitness centers also provide a sense of community, enabling residents to mingle while doing their exercise. This feature is especially useful in winter months when working out outdoors is less than ideal.

Take a plunge in the pool

Who doesn't love a good dip in the pool? A swimming pool is a great feature for those hot summer days when you want to cool off. It's also perfect for entertaining guests or hosting pool parties.

Some apartment complexes even have indoor pools, which means you can make use of it all year round. As a bonus, swimming is a low-impact exercise that offers numerous health benefits, making it an excellent option for those with joint pain or mobility issues, for example.

Grill and chill with outdoor cooking areas

For those who enjoy grilling and hosting parties, outdoor grilling areas are amazing. It's also an excellent way to socialize and meet new people in the community. You can grill up some delicious burgers or steaks while enjoying the outdoors.

In addition to that, outdoor grilling areas often come equipped with picnic tables or seating areas, making them perfect for hosting larger gatherings or events.

Pawsitively pet-friendly amenities

Let’s be real, pets are like family, and many apartment hunters want to ensure that their furry family members are welcome. Some pet-friendly amenities include:

● dog parks;

● pet washing stations;

● pet waste stations.

All of these features help pet owners take better care of their animals and foster a sense of community among animal enthusiasts. Pet-friendly amenities also help lower stress for both pets and their owners, since pets can socialize and exercise with other animals in a safe environment.

Stay connected with high-speed internet

In today's world, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity. In the wake of the global pandemic, a huge number of people now work remotely. So when you start looking for luxury apartments for rent, it's important to check if the apartment complex offers high-speed internet.

High-end apartment buildings even have fiber-optic internet, which is much faster and more reliable than traditional connection types. Having high-speed internet also allows you to stay connected with family and friends, stream your favorite movies or TV shows, and work from home without interruption.

Say goodbye to laundry hassles with in-unit laundry

Gone are the days of lugging your laundry to the laundromat or sharing a laundry room with other residents. In-unit laundry is a highly sought-after amenity these days. It's convenient and allows you to do laundry whenever you want, without leaving your apartment.

It’s also important to mention that in-unit laundry can help minimize the spread of germs and bacteria, as now you don't have to share washing machines and dryers with others. This goes a long way in promoting a healthier living environment.

Enjoy peace of mind with 24-hour maintenance

One thing that can quickly turn an enjoyable living experience into a nightmare is when things break or malfunction. Having a 24-hour maintenance team is an essential amenity to keep an eye out for when apartment hunting.

Whenever some issue or accident arises (such as a plumbing problem or a broken appliance), you want to know that someone is available to fix it right away. 24-hour maintenance ensures that you won't have to wait until regular business hours to get your stuff fixed, which can cause stress and inconvenience.

This amenity provides peace of mind and ensures that you can enjoy living in your apartment to the fullest.

Wrapping up

Choosing the right apartment is a very important decision that can affect your quality of life in a significant way. Amenities play a significant role in making that decision. When you start looking for your new rental, it's important to identify which amenities are important to you and your lifestyle.

We hope that these tips will be useful to you as you search for the ideal rental where you can live comfortably and safely.

By Mike Johnston

0 notes

interships-ulead · 1 year

Text

Reasons Why Online Internships Could Become The Norm

What was first considered a temporary alternative for learning amidst a global pandemic is slowly becoming a widely accepted concept among many educational institutions worldwide.

The work-from-home internship offers students the flexibility of face-to-face engagements with remote learning. Many firms have adopted this concept and are now seeing its positive effects. Studies reported that students tend to be more engaged and develop critical skills in hybrid environments, proving this could be a sustainable learning model.

Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why unpaid or paid online learning is here to stay.

6 Reasons Why You Should Enjoy & Embrace Online Internship Experience Too

1. You Are An Early Adopter At The Fringe Of Lasting Change

The ability to evolve with the changes around you can yield various benefits for students during their studies, especially their careers. Most workplaces need interns to be fast learners, multi-taskers and learn many other things.

Moreover, online internships push students to become industry experts.

2. You Get To Manage Your Schedule With More Flexibility

One of the biggest advantages of work from a home internship is having more time on our hands. But with time comes an even greater benefit: a sense of ownership and responsibility. Students already studying in college can learn from remote internships at their own pace. Moreover, adding theoretical knowledge to the practical environment helps students to learn more. On top of that, knowing how to manage their own time is also an essential skill, which can benefit them as they enter the corporate world.

3. You Can Develop Your Tech-Savviness That Will Benefit You In The Future

In this digital age, being tech-savvy is now seen as an important skill that would be useful as you continue your studies and progress in your career. Most of today's companies and startups have quickly adopted workflows that operate in the digital space, which demand a certain level of digital literacy.

Given a head start from an unpaid or paid internship, you certainly will have no problem blending into the corporate world with the digital skills you have acquired during your internship

4. Safer Learning Environment During This Challenging Period

The entire purpose for why campus ambassador was implemented in the first place, which slowly transitioned to blended learning, was to keep students, university faculty, and staff safe from COVID-19. Avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated places has proved to help prevent the spread of the virus.

For students currently living with elderly relatives, immunocompromised family members, or have their own health conditions, these remote internships let them continue learning in a safe environment without hampering their college studies.

5. Develop Skills For Future

The report revealed that work-from-home internship has enhanced soft skills such as student collaboration and communication.

During online meetings, assigned teams can discuss through breakout groups or start a collaborative document — all of which weren't readily available in traditional learning environments.

Having an open and accessible dialogue between students and mentors can help them to come out of the shell and develop important skills.

6. Networking During Online internship

Work from home internship with a stipend lets us enjoy the best of both worlds. Here is the platform where students can interact with people around the globe and build professional connections. For instance, LinkedIn allows building networks related to your domain. Moreover, working with mentors and experienced professionals helps you explore other domains.

Begin Your Online internship Journey With Ulead!

If you're finally ready to embrace online internships with open arms and start your journey towards becoming the best version of yourself now with Ulead. Leadership is the most sought-after skill by all companies, and Ulead is the place to be if you see yourself as a corporate leader in the future. Apply now!!.

#work from home online internship program #online internship work from home #internship with stipend work from home #online internship program work from home #Campus Ambassador #Campus Ambassador Program #campus ambassador online internship #online internship program with stipend #online internship #best online internship with stipend #Online internship with stipend #online internship for students #Free online internship with stipend

1 note · View note

aman5005 · 1 year

Text

Reasons Why Online Internships Could Become The Norm

What was first considered a temporary alternative for learning amidst a global pandemic is slowly becoming a widely accepted concept among many educational institutions worldwide.

Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why unpaid or paid online learning is here to stay.

6 Reasons Why You Should Enjoy & Embrace Online Internship Experience Too

1. You Are An Early Adopter At The Fringe Of Lasting Change

Moreover, online internships push students to become industry experts.

2. You Get To Manage Your Schedule With More Flexibility

3. You Can Develop Your Tech-Savviness That Will Benefit You In The Future

Given a head start from an unpaid or paid internship, you certainly will have no problem blending into the corporate world with the digital skills you have acquired during your internship

4. Safer Learning Environment During This Challenging Period

5. Develop Skills For Future

The report revealed that work-from-home internship has enhanced soft skills such as student collaboration and communication.

During online meetings, assigned teams can discuss through breakout groups or start a collaborative document — all of which weren't readily available in traditional learning environments.

Having an open and accessible dialogue between students and mentors can help them to come out of the shell and develop important skills.

6. Networking During Online internship

Begin Your Online internship Journey With Ulead!

1 note · View note

shiftasia · 1 year

Text

The Buzz - Offshore Development Center

There is some buzz surrounding outsourcing software development to Asian hubs, and people refer to it in many ways – Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Offshore Outsourcing, Offshore Software Development, Offshore Lab, Offshore Development Center (ODC), and more variations.

These variations reflect the reality that businesses are increasingly taking advantage of outside resources in many forms depending on their business needs or how their in-house teams are structured. In fact, according to a report by a market watch, despite the pandemic crisis, the global IT outsourcing market was estimated at $342.9 billion and projected to reach $410.2 billion by 2027. Changes in how workers engage with work during covid pushed companies to reconsider how best they can insource and outsource talent. For more and more SMEs, hiring people remotely or outsourcing is becoming a viable option to secure the right resources for success.

What is an Offshore Development Center?

While simply the word “outsourcing” has no geographical implications, Offshore Development Center (ODC) denotes hiring a software development company that supplies you with a team of dedicated developers or related services in a foreign country – usually locations with lower wage levels. But the word Offshore Development Center and Offshore Delivery Center can be used interchangeably.

And through the ODC model, technological service providers, especially in Asia and Eastern Europe, have enabled businesses worldwide to render business agility in a competitive world by fulfilling software development work, business operations, security audits, etc. Depending on the service providers/staffing agencies can be accounted for the entire project or just specific features or phases in the product life cycle.

The main benefits of this ODC outsourcing practice are access to a flexible resource pool and cost reduction, but why should you choose an offshore development center (ODC) as a solution to strengthen your business? And how do you ensure that your ODC is set for success?

ODC or Offshore Outsourcing Benefits

Thanks to ODC providers, instead of hiring and training people at a high cost, experienced engineers and developers would be assigned to complete security audits, software testing, and application development work – whichever line of work you need to be executed.

Specialized solutions such as software development using blockchain, software quality assurance and testing for the airline industry, and software testing automation for data analytics requires the right talents with the right skills. And for SHIFT ASIA, our niche is software products that demand high-quality development and product development teams that need extra hands for time-consuming test designing, execution, and even automation.

An example is a SaaS company based out of the US well adapted to a global delivery model with supporting resources spread out between the US, Japan, Vietnam, and India to take advantage of wage differences, localization capability, favorable governmental policy, and a bigger talent pool. To maintain the motivation of their engineers, they hired an in-house QA lead that worked with product teams and outsourced repetitive testing and security testing that would have been otherwise very expensive in US or Japan.

Often for products available in numerous languages/locations, owner companies decide to use multiple vendors to assess which company has the most updated technical stack and skilled resources with local language capability. Even in this case, as long as requirements are set right and there is someone to verify the output, it is almost easy to realize high-quality production while working with multiple vendors.

Well-managed ODCs offer cost savings, efficient resource allocation, increased internal team motivation, access to the latest technology, and many other benefits.

Please read on software testing service

#shift asia #software testing and quality assurance #software quality assurance

0 notes

patrickross-things · 1 year

Text

RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN OFFSHORING ACCOUNTING TO FREELANCERS

The offshoring model has gained prominence over the past few years, especially since the pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war-induced economic downturn. If you have decided to offshore your accounting firm’s work, you must have come across or even considered the possibility of working with freelancers. Hiring freelancers for accounting offshoring is not a new concept. In the IT industry, it’s been a recurrent practice to hire freelancers from developing economies to do the same job at a fraction of the cost of a local employee.

We get it. It does seem like a perfect one-stop solution for all your accounting firm’s needs. It’s comparatively cheaper than hiring an exclusive accounting offshore service provider, and there is no training and onboarding hassle to go through. But, you know what they say about being wary of things that are too good to be true?

Don’t worry. We got you. In this article, you will learn the primary reasons why you should reconsider your stance on freelancers and opt for a much more secure and profitable offshoring partnership with a legitimate offshore service provider.

Here are the top 8 reasons why offshoring your work to freelancers might not be the best idea.

1. Lack of a legal agreement

First and foremost, drawing up and executing many legal agreements with an unknown entity you met on the internet is pretty difficult. Ideally, with offshoring, you should have a service agreement, a rock-solid NDA, and privacy compliance to lay the foundation of the job. With laws pertaining to freelance work differing from country to country, you might likely end up with nothing more than a paper deemed or ad hoc contract. The potential for data confidentiality is, thus, extremely uncertain. In the case of any breach or violation, the possibility of legal recourse is quite unlikely.

2. Data violation is a big issue

Typically, you’ll find most freelancers working out of developing countries, with a few exceptions, of course. According to the global payment platform Payoneer’s Global Gig Economy Index, Ukraine, Spain, Brazil, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, and Bangladesh come under the fastest-growing freelancer markets.

There have been numerous prior instances of IRS tax frauds, IRS refund frauds, and various credit card/bank transfer frauds happening online and originating in these countries. This poses a massive risk to the data confidentiality between you and your clients and, moreover, has the potential to ruin your reputation and brand in the market. Problems will definitely seem small in comparison to the extensive amount of legal issues you are guaranteed to be facing by the time this gets over.

3. Absence of accountability

Freelancers rarely work with a single client at a time, especially for the long term. They usually juggle multiple clients and multiple responsibilities at the same time. This makes missing deadlines and fluctuating quality of work a much more likely possibility. Moreover, since the freelance movement is spread across industries, it is difficult to ascertain whether the individual is adept at successfully handling the particular work you hired them for.

Maintaining a level of accountability becomes arduous with freelancers and can subsequently affect your firm’s output efficiency and productivity. In such instances, it will be an added task for you to ensure the quality of the submitted work.

4. Communication issues

As mentioned above, most freelancers belong to developing countries. Offshoring as a whole is wholly dependent upon optimum internet connectivity, which is often limited to only certain elite areas in such countries.

Massive power outages lasting hours on end are a norm even in metropolitan cities, much less in semi-urban and rural areas. Freelancers often rely on flimsy mobile hotspots to carry out their responsibilities. Faulty communication will thus be a habitual issue you must prepare for when hiring freelancers.

5. Risk in reliability

With a good offshore service provider, recruitment is carried out only after the individual passes a stringent background check that includes resume verification and portfolio confirmation. With freelancers, background checks are hard and time-consuming to carry out. With their identity and professional capabilities being difficult to determine, there lies a constant risk while working with them.

Often, there have been instances where the freelancer, for whatever reason, fell off the radar in the midst of a busy tax season. Ghosting is a prevalent risk while dealing with freelancers and can cause a huge loss to the firm that trusted them. This, in addition to the loss of valuable time and money, can lead to a major violation of your firm’s confidential data and practices.

6. Unavailability of senior-level talent

The freelancing industry has largely been a gateway for freshers and self-supporting professionals to gain financial independence and professional growth. If you are looking for a senior-level talent, you will be hard-pressed to find one. Most of the work we do in the accounting world requires a high level of competence and experience. Freelancing websites, unfortunately, fall short in providing such individuals, and you are often forced to settle for less.

7. Unsustainable in the long-term

Freelancing may seem cost-effective at first. Still, with the handling of multiple projects and assignments, uncertain timings, and a host of infrastructure issues, it is unsustainable in the long term. The issues emerging from this will prove to be unhealthy for your firm’s overall success.

Outsourced projects that last for a considerable period of time require you to maintain frequent interaction and collaboration with the freelancer. By its very nature, freelancing is not designed to facilitate a close working relationship between both parties. One-time projects are, therefore, in our opinion, more conducive to the successful implementation of freelancing.

8. Limitations with regards to payments

This is one of the most common, although lesser talked about, disadvantages of hiring freelancers. The payment rules for freelancers vary by country. Furthermore, it will be your responsibility to keep track of various payment methods and platforms used to pay your freelancers.

In his book Zero to One, Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal, once said, “ Everyone at your company should be different in the same way – a tribe of like-minded people fiercely devoted to the company’s mission.” Likewise, for the continued growth and success of your firm, it is imperative that you work with individuals who, at their core, have similar objectives as you. Freelancers are mainly motivated by the lack of structure, financial independence, and diversity in clientele, so much so that today, they have a total addressable market of $1.5 trillion.

In summary, it is greatly recommended that you look into reliable and competent offshore service providers for your firm’s offshoring needs. You have the flexibility of confidently choosing the best professional that fits perfectly with your organization’s ethos. You will also have the opportunity to train them as per your needs and have a secure process in place for when you need to raise any complaints regarding the quality of work. Lastly, you will be able to properly ascertain whether the company you have chosen is committed to protecting your privacy and data confidentiality which, in our opinion, far outweighs any pros you might have seen in freelancing.

Entigrity™ is a trusted offshore staffing partner to 600+ accountants, CPAs, and tax firms across the US and Canada. Our flexible and transparent hiring model gives helps firms of all sizes to hire staff for accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, or any other task for 75% less cost. As a firm 'run by accountants, for the accountants,' Entigrity captures the hiring needs of accounting firms most precisely, providing staff that works directly under your control and management; still, you are left with the least to worry about compliance, payroll taxes, overheads or any other benefits.

0 notes