Deep Blue Group - While unemployment remained at record levels in percentage terms, the actual number of jobless people in the eurozone fell slightly in July, according to data published over the weekend, offering fresh evidence that Europe's struggling economy was taking tentative steps towards a recovery.

The tiny improvement in employment - which came alongside declining inflation and a survey showing improved confidence among European consumers and business managers - was welcomed as additional evidence that the worst of the region's downturn was probably over. But officials and economists cautioned that the economic health of Europe remained fragile and the pace of recovery highly uneven within the region.

''The recent improvements are minimal,'' said Laszlo Andor, the European Union's commissioner for employment. ''This is no time for celebration or complacency.''

The jobless rate in the 17 countries that share the euro was 12.1 per cent in July, adjusting for seasonal effects, according to a report from Eurostat, the European Union statistics agency. That figure has remained unchanged for several months. A year earlier, it was 11.5 per cent. Eurostat estimated that 19.2 million people in the euro area were jobless in July, 15,000 fewer than in June.

For all 28 countries in the EU, the number of unemployed fell by 33,000, to 26.7 million, for a rate of 11 per cent. The European bloc expanded to 28 members on July 1, when Croatia joined.

Joblessness in the eurozone has been marching higher almost without interruption for more than five years, declining only briefly at the beginning of 2011. The July data showed the first back-to-back monthly decline in the number of jobless since April 2011.

But while some countries, such as Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, have managed to weather the crisis with relatively little human cost, their southern European neighbours - crippled by the eurozone's debt crisis - still confront devastating levels of joblessness, particularly among the young.

''Against the background of what we've seen over last 18 months, yes, this is good news,'' Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING Bank in Brussels, said of the employment figures. ''But tell that to the people who are still unemployed in places like Spain.''

DEEP BLUE GROUP: Tokyo — I’ve seen the future and it works

The Japanese capital has almost Argentina’s population but is different in so many ways

Deep Blue Group - If it’s Governor Naoki Imose told the Herald in an interview published earlier this month: “Tokyo is just too big for the soul of a politician or a bureaucrat,” how much more is this true for a tabloid page!

Where do we start? Well, perhaps 634 metres atop the Tokyo Skytree where the entire sweep of Greater Tokyo (with up to 35 million people spread over five prefectures) and a panorama of the Kanto Plain beyond stretch out below your eyes. Just 15 months old, the Skytree is among the most splendid of endless specimens of ultra-modern architecture.

Yet not everything in Tokyo is brand-new or steel and concrete — the Imperial Palace with its gardens are a different world, as are lushly green parks and elaborately crafted Japanese garden landscapes elsewhere. Indeed the more downtown you go in Tokyo; the greener it seems to become.

If you want another contrast between the old and the new, you might want to go to Tokyo Station (the beautifully restored Marunouchi Building from the early 20th century housing the heart of the rail network) and then take, or at least see, the latest models of the long-nosed Shinkansen “bullet trains.”

Tokyo is larger than life but sometimes it is the little things you notice — things you could never see from the Skytree. Which would especially apply to the incredibly clean restrooms (spotless not only in the sensor-operated wash-basins dedicated to water conservation but even in the flush toilets with their unique built-in bidets)?

If even water-closets are clean, so much more water as a whole — that such a densely populated and economically active metropolis should have water safe to drink from the tap is a not so minor miracle of Japanese technology.

The little things perhaps explain the secret of how the world’s biggest metropolis manages to be such a human and livable place. An impression which abides even on the world-famous subways with the famous pushers (whom the Herald never saw, although admittedly never travelling during rush hours — and always in comfort).

Before we start running out of space, let us try to encapsulate all the various charms of Tokyo into a single list — true to an underlying passion for the compact in Japanese culture as typified by such iconic elements as haiku poems and bonsai plants.

Alongside the ultra-modern architecture (with the Skytree as almost the newest example) and the surprisingly frequent green areas to which we have already alluded, we would add the creature comforts (the hotels but also simpler accommodation and, of course, the food), the technology (including robots and modern design), the more traditional craftsmanship (the glasswork and lacquer boxes especially refined), the culture (including museums and festivals throughout the year), the transport and the waterfront and (last but not least for most people) the shopping. A special feature on Japanese food will be published tomorrow but we will try to explore the other items a little further within space limits.

The Skytree (with its delicate almost filigree steelwork which nevertheless resists earthquakes) does not exhaust the wonders of modern architecture in the Japanese capital — the Tokyo Gate Bridge, another masterpiece in steel constructed only last year, is also spectacular with its 2,618-metre span (especially stunning at night). That, in turn, is not the only bridge in town — thus 33 bridges of different styles and ages span the Sumidagawa River alone.

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The Japanese capital has almost Argentina’s population but is different in so many ways

TabUP - Deep Blue Group - If it’s Governor Naoki Imose told the Herald in an interview published earlier this month: “Tokyo is just too big for the soul of a politician or a bureaucrat,” how much more is this true for a tabloid page!

Where do we start? Well, perhaps 634 metres atop the Tokyo Skytree where the entire sweep of Greater Tokyo (with up to 35 million people spread over five prefectures) and a panorama of the Kanto Plain beyond stretch out below your eyes. Just 15 months old, the Skytree is among the most splendid of endless specimens of ultra-modern architecture.

Yet not everything in Tokyo is brand-new or steel and concrete — the Imperial Palace with its gardens are a different world, as are lushly green parks and elaborately crafted Japanese garden landscapes elsewhere. Indeed the more downtown you go in Tokyo; the greener it seems to become.

If you want another contrast between the old and the new, you might want to go to Tokyo Station (the beautifully restored Marunouchi Building from the early 20th century housing the heart of the rail network) and then take, or at least see, the latest models of the long-nosed Shinkansen “bullet trains.”

Tokyo is larger than life but sometimes it is the little things you notice — things you could never see from the Skytree. Which would especially apply to the incredibly clean restrooms (spotless not only in the sensor-operated wash-basins dedicated to water conservation but even in the flush toilets with their unique built-in bidets)?

If even water-closets are clean, so much more water as a whole — that such a densely populated and economically active metropolis should have water safe to drink from the tap is a not so minor miracle of Japanese technology.

The little things perhaps explain the secret of how the world’s biggest metropolis manages to be such a human and livable place. An impression which abides even on the world-famous subways with the famous pushers (whom the Herald never saw, although admittedly never travelling during rush hours — and always in comfort).

Before we start running out of space, let us try to encapsulate all the various charms of Tokyo into a single list — true to an underlying passion for the compact in Japanese culture as typified by such iconic elements as haiku poems and bonsai plants.

Alongside the ultra-modern architecture (with the Skytree as almost the newest example) and the surprisingly frequent green areas to which we have already alluded, we would add the creature comforts (the hotels but also simpler accommodation and, of course, the food), the technology (including robots and modern design), the more traditional craftsmanship (the glasswork and lacquer boxes especially refined), the culture (including museums and festivals throughout the year), the transport and the waterfront and (last but not least for most people) the shopping. A special feature on Japanese food will be published tomorrow but we will try to explore the other items a little further within space limits.

Read more

ThreeTax Scams to Beware of This September

The IRS wants you to know about three common year-round scams: identity theft, phishing and return preparer fraud.

Are you thinking about taxes while you’re enjoying the warm summer months? Not likely! But the IRS wants you to know that scammers ARE thinking about taxes and ways to dupe you out of your money. 

Tax scams can happen anytime of the year, not just during tax season. Three common year-round scams are identity theft, phishing and return preparer fraud. These schemes are on the top of the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” list of scams this year. They’re illegal and can lead to significant penalties and interest, even criminal prosecution.

Here’s more information about these scams that every taxpayer should know.

1. Identity Theft. Tax fraud by identity theft tops this year’s Dirty Dozen list. Identity thieves use personal information, such as your name, Social Security number or other identifying information without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may also use another person’s identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund. 

The IRS has a special identity protection page on IRS.gov dedicated to identity theft issues. It has helpful links to information, such as how victims can contact the IRS Identity Theft Protection Specialized Unit, and how you can protect yourself against identity theft.

2. Phishing. Scam artists use phishing to trick unsuspecting victims into revealing personal or financial information. Phishing scammers may pose as the IRS and send bogus emails, set up phony websites or make phone calls. These contacts usually offer a fictitious refund or threaten an audit or investigation to lure victims into revealing personal information. Phishers then use the information they obtain to steal the victim’s identity, access their bank accounts and credit cards or apply for loans. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. Please forward suspicious scams to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. You can also visit IRS.gov and select the link “Reporting Phishing” at the bottom of the page.

3. Return Preparer Fraud. Most tax professionals file honest and accurate returns for their clients. However, some dishonest tax return preparers skim a portion of the client’s refund or charge inflated fees for tax preparation. Some try to attract new clients by promising refunds that are too good to be true. 

Choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare your return. All paid tax preparers must sign the return they prepare and enter their IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The IRS created a webpage to assist taxpayers when choosing a tax preparer. It includes red flags to look for and information on how and when to make a complaint. Visit www.irs.gov/chooseataxpro.

For the full list of 2013 Dirty Dozen tax scams, or to find out how to report suspected tax fraud, visit IRS.gov.

Independence, Mo.

Independence Power and Light unveiled its plan Saturday to move from coal to a more diversified power supply due to EPA regulations and the age of its two coal plants.

“Do you have safe and reliable service at reasonable rates?” energy attorney Karl Zobrist asked the audience.

This question framed the discussion on energy options. Nearly a hundred people came to learn about the fates of the two coal power plants owned by the city of Independence: Blue Valley and Missouri City.

They heard from representatives from IPL, Indy Energy and the Sierra Club and then had the opportunity to voice their concerns.

IPL director Leon Daggett said it wants to go a more diverse route for energy sources in order for rates to remain stable. The plan is to retire the Missouri City plant in January 2016 and the Blue Valley power plant off of Truman Road in Independence will switch from coal to natural gas. No additional expense will be required to convert Blue Valley to use natural gas, he said, because the plant was originally designed for it.

Recent EPA regulations mandate that all U.S. coal power plants operate at a cleaner and more efficient level beginning this year. Jason White of Indy Energy said meeting this requirement will cost $105.5 million to upgrade both plants.

“Burning coal will be expensive,” White told the audience. “Potential costs to upgrade the plants to meet EPA regulations will be $27.1 million for Missouri City and $78.4 million for Blue Valley, bringing a total of $105.5 million.”

White said the costs were determined by a 2011 master plan update in which IPL outlined energy issues and options. The study revealed three developments: the cancellation or delay of over 100 coal-fired projects, declining natural gas prices and pending environmental requirements.

According to a December 2013 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit advocacy group, as many as 329 coal-fired generators in the country are no longer economically competitive to operate.

“They are simply older, dirtier and underutilized compared to natural gas or wind power,” White said.

The UCS report also said the IPL plants are “ripe for retirement” with Missouri City being 59 years old and Blue Valley 51. The average life expectancy of a coal plant is 45 years, White said.

The IPL master plan also recommends to replace the two coal plants as well, citing output. It says the plants have an increasingly smaller role in meeting overall energy needs. Peaking at 38.2 percent in 2008, the plants only generate 10 or 11 percent of the city’s power today.

“Missouri City is a small plant that is used four months during the summer,” said Daggett. “The city’s power is 60 to 65 percent from two life-of-unit contracts through Iatan and NC-2 at 5.5 cents per kilowatt hour; 13 percent is from natural gas at the Dogwood Facility in Pleasant Hill and the rest are from spot purchases and renewable sources.”

SEVEN gadgets that can cut your bills by hundreds of pounds

This small battery-operated device lets you see your power use around the home instantly and shows what appliances are costing you the most. The screen displays how much energy is being used at any one time.

Rather than directly saving you money it provides sobering information on current energy use – and encourages you to curb it.

Nigel Berman, 49, from Hove, East Sussex, says he has cut his energy bills by £200 a year after installing an Owl monitor. It has also encouraged him to invest in other energy-saving gadgets including radiator boosters and shower timers.

The former publisher, who runs a website selling eco products (nigelsecostore.com), says: ‘If you leave lights on or boil the kettle it is instantly spotted with energy use spikes on the monitor – and it can also be used to track down unexpected expenses you can put a stop to.

‘For example, my toaster was eating electricity on standby even when not being used. It is great to take control of my energy bills knowing where the money goes –even it can’t stop the tariff hikes.’