First time jobless claims fall to 388,000
Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The number of jobless Americans filing first time claims for unemployment compensation benefits fell by 6,000 to 388,000 for the week ending March 26, the Labor Department said Thursday.
While the weekly number fell, the four-week moving average rose slightly by 3,250 claimants to 394,250, from the previous week’s revised average of 391,000. The jobless rate bounces around slightly from week-to-week, but it has generally been trending downward since the beginning of the year.
The percentage of unemployed Americans covered by unemployment compensation insurance remained stable at 3 percent for the week ending March 19, unchanged from the previous week.
The number of people filing ongoing claims for jobless benefits dropped by a modest 51,000 claims to 3,714,000 during the week ending March 19, the most recent week that data is available.
A total of 8,770,443 Americans claimed benefits in all jobless programs for the week ending March 12, the latest week for which such data is available.
In addition, extended benefits were available in 35 states and the District of Columbia for the week ending March 12. That number has remained stable since last year.
Those states were Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
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Small Loans – Involve Less Documentation
The people that are on salaried basis by and large get into the situation where they look for the monetary support. If the requirement is small and needs to be resolved urgently; then, small loans are the right options to go for. These loans offer small amount for making repaying easier. The best part of this credit facility is that borrowers do not need to offer anything for the approval. One can easily avail the facility without giving anything.
Tenants and non homeowners can get this financial option without any problem. With the help of this credit option, the individual can avail the money up to 1500 pounds for the time period of 1 to 30 days. It is quite simple to repay the loan because one can easily pay back the loan at their next payday. These loans carry higher interest rates; so, the applicant needs to be careful and pay back the loan on time.
The world we live in is full of qualms and most of them are monetary uncertainties. They can be taken care through the simple usage of small cash loans no credit check. At times, people waste money on unnecessary requirements knowing that they can turn to small loans for unnecessary help. They provide the individual with fiscal aid to meet unanticipated financial circumstances. These loans are meant to grant monetary backing to people, who are in a fraught need of cash. They are approved within a very short time period and the cash amount is exactly transferred to the borrower’s active bank account within 24 hours of approval.
The amount of cash authorized depends upon the borrower’s credit history, bank details, monthly salary and ability to repay. Lenders have no choice, but to charge a little higher rate of interest as they have to create certain percentage of profit within such a short period. Banks and financial institutions offer small cash loans no credit check also. These loans can also be accessed through internet over the online lending companies.
Former bonded laborers left high and dry in Nepal
Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) – More than 82,000 former bonded laborers, called Haliya locally, are living in miserable conditions in mid- and far-western Nepal as successive governments have repeatedly failed to end labor exploitation and oppression the workers face, fueling anxieties about their future.
In a landmark decision, the former government led by the Maoist party in September 2008 outlawed the Haliya (slavery) tradition and liberated Haliyas, who are mostly Dalits, one of the lowest social classes in the country. The Maoists also decided to pay back the loans the laborers had borrowed from landlords and moneylenders. Under this century-old system, poor and economically vulnerable families are forced to plow farmlands owned by landlords and the rich until they repay the debt.
“Their (Haliyas) condition is worsening day by day after governments couldn’t rehabilitate them properly. They are yet to be rehabilitated in the society and are forced to live in a pitiable situation with basic human needs even being a far cry,” says Hari Shripali, a Maoist lawmaker who was involved in collecting data on Haliyas and a member of a sub-committee formed to study problems of Haliya under the Women, Children and Social Welfare Committee of the Parliament. Currently, he is visiting to western Nepal to assess the situation of freed Haliyas as he prepares a final report.
“They are facing social blockade and stigma without access to education and health facility and are deprived of income-generating opportunities,” he says, revealing the report in Dhangadi, a western city where a majority of freed Haliyas live.
Freed Haliyas face a tough struggle every day to secure a livelihood in the face of adverse social and economic circumstances. Some still continue to till land for peanuts. “The money that my landlord gives to me for tilling his land does not feed my family throughout the year,” says Gangaram Lohar, a freed Haliya living in the Bajura district. The likes of Lohar are many in the midwestern parts of Nepal. Despite their year-round efforts to feed themselves and their families by either tilling other people’s land or being daily-wagers, former Haliyas today are happy that they are no longer slaves following their emancipation. “Our lives have become easier,” says Lohar.
The government doesn’t have any official data on the exact number of freed Haliyas. However, Dalit organizations and activists do have estimates. Shripali, the legislator, says 20,048 households of freed Haliyas are living in the far-and mid-western regions with a total population over 82,000 in 12 districts. More than 97 percent of them are Dalits, according to Bhakta Bishowkarma, chairman of the Nepal National Dalit Social Welfare Organization, a local NGO fighting for the cause of minority people, including freed Haliyas. Dalit activists say the freed Haliyas have not received anything from the state. “Though they were freed, the government snubbed our call to provide them compensation on the basis of the data provided by us and non-governmental organizations,” says Bishowkarma.
While the government has decided to collect their own data, no report has been made public, even though two years have passed since the government’s decision. “The previous governments failed to come up with any data. Now since a new government is in place we are hopeful to see a report,” says Bishowkarma.
The day the Haliya system was outlawed, Haliyas forwarded an 11-point charter of demands to the government, demanding rights to education, health and employment, income-generation programs, peace and security, land for farming and other livelihood options. They also demanded cash for immediate relief. “But none of these demands were fulfilled,” says lawmaker Shripali.
False Promise
According to Shripali, the former government had formed a seven-member committee to resolve the Haliya issue and he was one of the members. “Besides fulfilling the 11-point demands, we had urged the government to immediately allocate Rs. 100,000 to each freed Haliya as compensation in a rehabilitation package. It is unfortunate that none of these demands have been met as of now,” he says. The former government and freed Haliya had clinched a five-point understanding in September 2008.
Despite the agreement, government officials slightly disagree with the modality prepared for the rehabilitation of freed Haliyas. “It took two years to collect the data and whether or not all of them are genuine is yet to be verified. We have received a data claiming that 20,048 families are genuine Haliyas. First, we will verify the decoded data and categorize them as genuine, highly deprived and less affected. And then we will classify them and provide identity cards,” says Laxman Kumar Hamal, member secretary of the Freed Kamaiya Rehabilitation Execution Committee under the Ministry of Land Reform.
The Nepal government has prepared a law regarding rehabilitation of freed Haliays, which is yet to be introduced in the Parliament. Every year the Land Reform Ministry receives a budget to redress the woes of freed Haliyas but a large chunk of the money returns to the Ministry of Finance at the end of each fiscal year.
Officials claim that due to the tough geographical terrain of western Nepal, unstable political conditions and bureaucratic hurdles, the population of freed Haliyas can’t be ascertained. “We do not have enough land to distribute to them if all the claimants turn out to be genuine Haliyas,” says Hamal.
Nepal has a bad history of dealing with bonded laborers. A similar announcement was made 10 years ago when the government declared some 30,000 Kamaiyas to be free. However, they are yet be properly rehabilitated.
Concerned over the problems faced by freed Haliyas, national and international agencies have warned the government to address the issue. In September, three international organizations—The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal), International Labor Organization (ILO) and National Dalit Commission (NDC)—issued a statement urging the government to implement the five-point agreement signed with the Haliya community.
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Loans For Students – Get Funds to Settle Future
In fact, Student loans are wonderful assistance that provides funds to students to continue their education with ease. If you are looking for some financial support for your schooling, these loans are right choice for you. In present times, education has become the necessary part of life and the cost of high education is increasing day by day. Seeing these conditions, the loan market has come with a new loan option that is known as loans for students.
Well, it is time to celebrate, as you can also enable your child to make better future with perfect educational status. Since education plays a very significant role in a child’s life as well as a country’s progress, it is the duty of government and private lenders to arrange funds for students. This kind of fast monetary assistance can be used to pay off credit card bills, educational expenses, school fees, hostel charges and other expenses with ease.
The borrowers can avail a sufficient amount through loans for students to make any use of it. The most significant feature of these loans is that they are approved even for bad creditors who find it difficult to avail loans to provide education for their children. Therefore, if you are having arrears, bankruptcy, defaults and other debts, you can freely apply for these loans that are perfect options for you. These loans are also beneficial in many ways, for example- with the loaned amount; the talented students can settle their future in their own way.
The good thing about student loans is that they are available in several other forms including supplement scholarship, grants and personal loans as well. Interestingly, these loans are offered at low interest rate and thus, the poor students and their parents don’t need to worry about repaying of these loans.
Home Improvement Loans
The home improvement loans allow you to make changes that you always wanted to make in your home. This loan may help in raising market value of your home by making appropriate changes. You can use this loan for improving your garden, new kitchen, rewiring and plumbing or any home remodeling. These can be classified as unsecured and secured home improvement loans. You can get this loan from banks and financial institutions. It helps in making your home a better place to live for your whole family. You can also apply for this financial service online. A secured home improvement loan requires borrower’s collateral such as house or car. On the other hand unsecured home improvement loan requires no collateral to be kept as a security with the lender. You would like to modernize a section of home like kitchen, wall painting. These works surely demand lot of money which is not easy to manage from own sources. On taking this loan and making improvement works you can enhance the value of your home. In many ways it strengthens you financially.
There is a larger repayment duration attached with this loan. This is specially designed for people like you who need finance at lower interest rates. Every class of people, irrespective of their financial background, can easily avail this financial help. In order to take home improvement loans, the borrower has to choose either secured or unsecured option. If you have the need for renovations then you can sure fulfill your dreams .By taking such a loan you can finance your home repairs and buy the things that you were not able to purchase at the time of construction. This is the reason that there are many online sites that offer these loans without any security. It is the best part and this aspect is successful in attracting people towards it. If you wish to give your home a new look, then without wasting time you should apply for this loan. It is offered at lower interest rate. This means you can meet expenses on home. It reduces the burden and you can pay off the loan amount easily.
Labor protests turn violent in London
London, United Kingdom (AHN) – The largest protest in London since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 turned violent Saturday when anarchists attacked what they considered symbols of capitalism, including shops and a luxury hotel.
Hundreds of thousands of mostly peaceful demonstrators converged on Hyde Park to protest major budget cuts that could result in about 300,000 public sector jobs lost by 2015. The protests were organized by the Trade Union Congress.
But while the demonstrators marched, hundreds of anarchists with their faces covered went on the offensive, smashing store windows, clashing with police and taking over the tony department store Fortnum and Mason near Piccadilly Circus.
The Daily Mirror reported that up to 300 people were in Trafalgar Square late into Saturday night. Some were throwing objects at the 2012 Olympic countdown clock.
Others defaced statues with spray paint. Police were attacked with objects including paint containers and light bulbs filled with ammonia. More than 80 people were injured during the riots, including about 31 police officers.
Other significant targets of the anarchists were the Ritz Carlton Hotel, which was attacked with paint and smoke bombs, and a Porsche showroom, according to several media reports.
The Trade Union Congress condemned the violence and said it hoped it did not detract from the legitimate protests of the day.
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Loans For Low Income – Proper Finances For Your Expenses
If you are lacking behind due to your low income, then do not be depressed as a solution comes up only for you. Loans for low income are for those people who have limited earnings. They are intended for you to deal with your unforeseen expenses. They are proper finances for your expenses. If you want to fulfill your immediate necessities, then you can depend on these finances for help. Your immediate necessities sudden breakage of your car, medical bills, etc.
The main feature of loans for low income is that they are given only to people who have been rejected due to their limited earnings. They do not have credit check formality. After the approval of this finance, the amount directly gets deposited into your account. The disadvantage included in this credit facility is that you have to pay a high rate of interest.
You get a small amount extending from £100 to £1500 under this finance. And the repayment tenure ranges from 1 to 30 days. You are required to fulfill some of the basic eligibility conditions. The conditions are that you should be a resident of UK, you should have a fixed source of income, you should be above the age of 18 and you should have a stable bank account.
You can apply for these advances through the online method also. You just have to go to the website available on internet. Once you fill in the form with the details, the company executives will check the details. They will sanction this credit after they are fulfilled with the information. With the approval of these necessary details provided by you, the amount is deposited into your checking bank account.
British budget watchdog see dips in living standards for two years
Londfon, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Britain’s Office for Budget Responsibility warned Thursday that Britons’ standard of living is expected to fall in the next two years as inflation eclipses expected salary hikes.
Among the scenarios foreseen by the OBR is the consumer price index hitting 6 percent, which would cause many households to further tighten their belts amid austerity measures put in place by the coalition government. However, the OBR predicted wages will rise by a mere 2 percent average this year.
A prediction of a new age of austerity was made by Oxford Economics as early as two years ago as a result of the recession that downgraded living standards in Britain to below the 2005 level.
According to Oxford Economics, gross domestic product per capita in 2009 dipped to $34,050 (GBP 22,700) from $34,500 (GBP 23,000) in 2005, which already took into account the 1.3 percent inflation rate then.
Another British think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the government needs to identify another $6 billion (GBP 4 billion) in savings due to the rising inflation rate.
British Chancellor George Osborne had admitted it would be a difficult year for Britons, although he was optimistic unemployment would go down as more jobs are created and some growth would be registered each year. To help Britons cope with the rising cost of living, Osborne announced on Wednesday a one-pence reduction in fuel duty.
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British budget watchdog see dips in living standards for two years
Londfon, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Britain’s Office for Budget Responsibility warned Thursday that Britons’ standard of living is expected to fall in the next two years as inflation eclipses expected salary hikes.
Among the scenarios foreseen by the OBR is the consumer price index hitting 6 percent, which would cause many households to further tighten their belts amid austerity measures put in place by the coalition government. However, the OBR predicted wages will rise by a mere 2 percent average this year.
A prediction of a new age of austerity was made by Oxford Economics as early as two years ago as a result of the recession that downgraded living standards in Britain to below the 2005 level.
According to Oxford Economics, gross domestic product per capita in 2009 dipped to $34,050 (GBP 22,700) from $34,500 (GBP 23,000) in 2005, which already took into account the 1.3 percent inflation rate then.
Another British think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the government needs to identify another $6 billion (GBP 4 billion) in savings due to the rising inflation rate.
British Chancellor George Osborne had admitted it would be a difficult year for Britons, although he was optimistic unemployment would go down as more jobs are created and some growth would be registered each year. To help Britons cope with the rising cost of living, Osborne announced on Wednesday a one-pence reduction in fuel duty.
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Many states face problems with unemployment compensation funds
Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The nation’s jobless economic recovery has kept workers who lost their jobs on unemployment compensation longer, draining state coffers and leading many states to consider curbing benefits.
When state unemployment funds ran dry, many states had to borrow money from the federal unemployment compensation fund. About 32 states owe the federal fund a combined $45.7 billion, with California alone owing nearly $10 billion of that amount. The interest states pay on that debt runs about $1.4 billion per year.
States face having to increase their tax on employers in order to continue to issue checks to jobless workers as well as to repay the federal government or merely pay interest on what they already owe.
Jobless workers in hard-hit Florida, where the unemployment rate remains stubbornly high at 11.9 percent, 3 percent over the national average, might soon have additional challenges.
The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill that would decrease the amount of unemployment taxes employers pay, as well as cut benefits to unemployed workers.
The bill would keep the maximum benefit amount at $275 but cut the maximum number of weeks a worker could collect from 26 to 20 weeks. In addition, if employment falls below 5 percent workers could only collect benefits for a maximum of 12 weeks with additional weeks added for every 0.5 percent increase in the unemployment rate.
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