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Sergey Kondratenko: Fintech startups and innovative financial solutions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Fintech startups are companies that offer innovative solutions to optimize financial services and solutions. The term "fintech" reflects the intersection of finance and technology in the activities of such companies, Sergey Kondratenko explains.Fintech startups are looking to improve traditional financial systems by leveraging advances in areas such as mobile apps, data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and more. They are focused on providing financial services in a more efficient, convenient and cost-effective way.Sergey Kondratenko is a recognized specialist in a wide range of e-commerce services with experience for many years. Now, Sergey is the owner and leader of a group of companies engaged not only in different segments of e-commerce, but also successfully operating in different jurisdictions, represented on all continents of the world. The main goal is to drive new traffic, create and deliver an online experience that will endear users to the b...

NOAA releases 2023-2024 winter predictions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

(WGHP) – For the first time in years, an El Niño winter is upon us. That means this year's winter outlook, release by the Climate Prediction Center, looks a little different than it has in several years.The last three winters have been dominated by La Niña, which typically means a dry winter in the southern half of the country and colder, wetter conditions in the Pacific Northwest. But that's not the case this year, as a strong El Niño looks very likely to stick with us through early next year. How will El Niño affect winter? New long-range outlook released NOAA outlook for winter temperaturesThis year the CPC, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is forecasting above-normal temperatures across the northern United States through the winter months. The best chance for a warmer-than-normal winter to occur in the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest and the upper Great Lakes states. For the southern half of the country, the temperature outlook for Decemb...

Royal Court for 2024 Tournament of Roses to be announced

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The seven members that will make up the 2024 Tournament of Roses Royal Court will be announced at Tournament House in Pasadena Monday morning.The Royal Court will be chosen from 28 finalists who participated in a long interview process to reach this point.Each member chosen to the Royal Court takes part in the Tournament’s tradition of celebrating academic excellence and will receive a $7,500 scholarship.   Deer population control plan concerning Catalina residents “Royal Court members experience countless benefits; becoming part of an organization dedicated to hands-on volunteerism, discovering opportunities to connect with and give back to the local community, developing public speaking skills and growing self-confidence,” the Tournament posted on its website.The Royal Court will take part in the 135th Rose Parade and attend the Rose Bowl Game on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Beyonce's Renaissance World Tour heads to theaters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Please do not be alarmed, remain calm.For Beyhive members who have felt a bit melancholy since the end of the Renaissance World Tour, Beyonce has something significant in store.Late Sunday night Queen Bey revealed "Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce" presented by her own production company Parkwood Entertainment.Beyoncé performs onstage during the “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR” at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 30, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood)The global superstar announced the film moments after the curtain closed on her final tour show in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday night. She posted a teaser trailer for the film on Instagram."Be careful what you ask for, 'cause I just might comply," her caption read, a lyric from her song "All Up In Your Mind."The trailer begins with Beyonce dressed in a bright green ensemble backstage of the tour, throwing up the peace sign."When I am performing, I am nothing but free," her narration begins. "The goal for...

Monday Morning Lights: Midseason player of the year watch and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Welcome back to Monday Morning Lights, our weekly feature that sheds more light on the high school football weekend and peeks ahead to the new week. If you haven’t already, please subscribe. Your contributions keep us going.MIDSEASON REPORT: WHERE THINGS STANDWe’ve reached the midpoint of the high school football season.What we’ve learned to date is Serra is the undisputed No. 1, San Ramon Valley QB Luke Baker is even better now than he was when he captured Bay Area News Group player of the year honors in 2022 and Oakland High leads the group of surprise teams.But there is plenty more that has caught our eye since the season kicked off in August.Here are our midseason notables:Player of the Year candidatesLuke Baker, SRV: All the 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior has done is pass for 1,506 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading the Wolves to a 5-0 start and No. 3 BANG ranking. Was BANG player of the year last season.Herschel Turner Jr., Mt. Diablo: Has rushed for 1,584 yards in 82 carries ...

Woodpeckers are destroying a roof border on a San Jose home. What’s the solution?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

DEAR JOAN: I have woodpeckers destroying the fascia board bordering the roof of our home. I have tried plastic owls, reflective tape, reflective hanging devices, a solar ultrasonic deterrent device and even powerful hose nozzles. Nothing has worked.Our problem with woodpeckers is probably compounded by the fact that they appear to reside in an old oak tree on our property. Also, we are the only remaining house on the block with a shake roof. The house is a 96-year-old Tudor.Help!— Jackie Wall, San JoseDEAR JACKIE: When I first opened your letter and saw “Jackie” and “woodpeckers,” I thought the email was from my editor, another Jackie who is a shell-shocked veteran of the Woodpecker Wars. Now I’m wondering if woodpeckers have something against people named Jackie…Woodpeckers tend to be noisier during the lead up to breeding season. The males pound out a loud beat to let other woodpeckers know they have claimed the territory and to let interested females know an eligible ...

For $75 million, you can buy a Bay Area private island

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A tiny private island in Grizzly Bay at the edge of Suisun Marsh – once a playground for Bay Area billionaire water sports enthusiasts – is up for sale for a cool $75 million.Reachable only by air or water, Point Buckler Island hit the real estate market only days ago and already has attracted several interested buyers, although agents would not disclose any names. It boasts two helipads and a 400-foot deepwater dock, which the listing says is “ready to accommodate your favorite weekend recreational watercraft or mega yacht.”In its heyday as an exclusive kiteboarding club – from 2014 to about 2019 – Point Buckler reportedly saw the likes of Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and other Silicon Valley billionaires visit, according to the island’s owner. Water-sports lovers enjoyed the consistently windy weather and navigating tight sloughs of the uninhabited island just east of the Carquinez Strait and at the mouth of the San Joaquin/Sacramento rivers Delta. The astro...

TasteFood: Southwestern spices deliver bold flavors in vegetarian tacos

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Fall is squash season, so let these hardy delights be the star of the show. Squashes come in myriad varieties and can be generally divided between summer, fall or winter varieties. Fall and winter squash have hard skins that give way to colorful, vitamin- and antioxidant-rich flesh. Depending on the type of squash, the skin may or may not need to be peeled. Kabocha (or Japanese) squash is one variety that can be eaten unpeeled. It has sweet orange flesh and a dark green, speckled edible shell, which provides extra nutrients and a satisfying firmness that is ideal for these tostadas.A tostada resembles a taco. The difference is that a tostada is prepared with a crispy corn tortilla, which serves as its base, instead of a soft corn or wheat tortilla. The tortilla can be either fried or oven-baked until crisp, which provides a nice textural contrast to a soft taco.These vegetarian tostadas replace a traditional protein, such as fish or chicken, with kabocha squash and pile on the usual...

Bay Area poll: 86% of residents support CARE Court mental health overhaul. How will it work?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

California’s CARE Court system, a new initiative to make it easier for judges to compel mentally ill residents into treatment plans and facilities, starts Monday in seven pilot counties, including San Francisco, the only Bay Area county where the program is now underway.The initiative was spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newson, with a goal to help homeless people who are too sick or reluctant to seek care by bringing them indoors and providing treatment toward recovery.All counties across California must phase in the civil mental health courts by the end of next year. Officials estimate between 7,000 to 12,000 people could be eligible for the program statewide.A new poll by the Bay Area News Group and Joint Venture Silicon Valley found overwhelming public support for CARE Court, with 86% of respondents across the core five-county region in favor. It’s a clear reflection of mounting frustrations over officials’ inability to aid many of those on the street with severe ment...

Feds accuse San Jose’s eBay of illegally peddling poisons, emissions-control defeaters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice is accusing Bay Area e-commerce giant eBay of illegally selling tens of thousands of banned and restricted pesticides, and allowing such sales to continue even after it was ordered to stop.In a lawsuit filed last week, prosecutors also claim eBay broke additional federal laws by selling devices used to bypass vehicle emissions controls, and thousands of items containing the deadly solvent methylene chloride, which is linked to increased risk for several types of cancer.“Some of these products cause motor vehicles to emit … massive amounts of air pollution,” the lawsuit alleges. “Others pose an imminent, and in some cases potentially lethal, danger to human beings. eBay has the power, the authority, and the resources to stop the sale of these illegal, harmful products on its website. It has chosen not to.”San Jose’s eBay, which connects vendors with buyers and takes price-based sales fees, said Friday that the Justice...