Japan's national tax agency has reportedly launched a national competition in hopes to make alcoholic drinks more attractive to the younger generation, boosting the economy in turn. The "Sake Viva" campaign asks 20-39 year-olds to share their business ideas to increase demand for alcoholic drinks including Japanese sake, shochu, whiskey, beer or wine. This contest was devised after a realization that Generation Z (people born between 1997 and the early 2010s) is drinking less alcohol which has hit taxes for adult beverages. Recent trends have indicated that Generation Z drinks less than millennials, a trend that has resulted in lower alcohol sales and therefore less income for the government through taxes. Contestants are asked to come up with promotions, branding and even cutting-edge plans involving artificial intelligence. The group running the competition for the tax authority says new habits have formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has contributed to the … [Read more...] about Japan launches campaign for young people to drink more to boost economy
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Who is Sanna Marin? 34-year-old Finnish lawmaker to become world’s youngest prime minister
A 34-year-old Finnish lawmaker is set to become the world's youngest prime minister. Transportation minister Sanna Marin will take charge of a coalition government after being selected by her Social Democratic Party to replace outgoing Antti Rinne, the BBC reported . Rinne quit as prime minister after one party in the coalition government said it had lost confidence in him due to the way he had handled a postal strike. Marin will likely be sworn in this week, becoming the youngest prime minister in Finlands's history, and the youngest currently in office around the world, beating New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern, 39, and Ukraine's Oleksiy Honcharuk, 35. She is the third female in the country's history to be selected for the top job. "We have a lot of work ahead to rebuild trust," Marin told reporters after narrowly winning her party's vote ahead of runner-up Antti Lindtman. Marin will head a center-left coalition of five parties—all of whom are led by women under the age of 35, … [Read more...] about Who is Sanna Marin? 34-year-old Finnish lawmaker to become world’s youngest prime minister
Why Putin’s bridge has become Ukraine’s top target
Ukraine has said a bridge connecting Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea will be dismantled, "voluntarily or not." The Crimean Bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge, is a pair of two bridges, one road and the other rail, connecting the Kerch Peninsula in Crimea to mainland Russia. Stretching 11.8 miles they are the longest bridges in Europe, and the longest bridges Russia has ever constructed. Russia invaded and annexed Crimea , which Western powers still recognize as sovereign Ukrainian territory, in 2014. Bridge construction began two years later, with the road bridge opening in 2018 and the rail bridge in 2019. On Wednesday, Mikhail Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky y, vowed the bridges will be destroyed. He tweeted: "Regarding 'Kerchen bridge'. It is recorded in international law: Crimea is Ukraine. And that's why this bridge is a banal object of illegal construction, permission for the construction of which Ukraine did not give. "It … [Read more...] about Why Putin’s bridge has become Ukraine’s top target
NFL Player Nate Boyer’s Directorial Debut ‘MVP’ to Premiere In September With GNC Fundraising Campaign (EXCLUSIVE)
Click here to read the full article. “MVP,” the directorial debut of U.S. Army Green Beret veteran and former NFL player Nate Boyer , will premiere in theaters on Sept. 14. The film’s debut via FilmRise is accompanied by a fundraising campaign from the GNC Live Well Foundation for Boyer’s nonprofit organization, Merging Vets & Players, after which the film is named. Executive produced by Sylvester Stallone, “MVP” is based on the true story of the formation of Merging Vets & Players, which Boyer co-founded with Jay Glazer with the aim of empowering and connecting combat veterans and former professional athletes, providing them with a new team to assist with transition to civilian life and promote personal development. More from Variety NFL Moves to ITV From BBC NFL Joins Streaming Wars With Subscription Hub NFL+ NFL Commissioner Sees Sunday Ticket Rights Going to Streamer The film takes place on the streets of Hollywood and centers on the … [Read more...] about NFL Player Nate Boyer’s Directorial Debut ‘MVP’ to Premiere In September With GNC Fundraising Campaign (EXCLUSIVE)
Finnish PM Sanna Marin under fire after party video surfaces
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for August 18 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin appeared in a video leaked this week that shows her dancing with friends at a private apartment. Marin, 36, has been harshly criticized by opposition members of parliament for the leaked videos in which the prime minister parties with rappers, social media influencers and other Finnish celebrities. She defended her actions in comments to reporters, according to the BBC: "I have a family life, I have a work life and I have free time to spend with my friends. Pretty much the same as many people my age." "I am going to be exactly the same person as I have been until now and I hope that it will be accepted," Marin added. FINLAND'S 36-YEAR-OLD PRIME MINISTER APOLOGIZES FOR CLUBBING AFTER COVID-19 CLOSE CONTACT … [Read more...] about Finnish PM Sanna Marin under fire after party video surfaces
UK hosepipe bans mapped: Where are they, what are the rules and how long will they last?
The UK has seen soaring temperatures this summer and after more hot weather earlier this month droughts were declared in eight areas in England . Much of the UK has seen the driest July since 1935 and many reservoirs have been badly affected. The hot weather is now coming to an end as the Met Office have issued yellow weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain across the UK this week. But despite the end to the dry weather, this isn't expected to be enough to replenish the country's low water supplies. Hosepipe bans have already come into effect in some areas of the country, and more will be imposed in the coming days and weeks. Here's everything you need to know about where the hosepipe bans will be, what the rules are, and how long they'll be in place for. Which parts of the UK have hosepipe bans? Several million people in the UK are currently being restricted in their water use Four areas of the UK are currently under hosepipe bans, but in the … [Read more...] about UK hosepipe bans mapped: Where are they, what are the rules and how long will they last?
ISIS Smuggling Fighters Into Europe Posing As Refugees
The Islamic State (IS) are smuggling fighters into the EU posing as refugees according to a Libyan government adviser. Abdul Basit Haroun told the BBC that the terrorist state was able to bypass European Police and knew which of “their people” they needed to gain access to the EU. Thousands of North Africans have fled the fighting in their home countries to come to Europe. Most have entered the continent using people traffickers. They have received the de-facto assistance of European naval forced by picking up people from sinking smuggler boats and bringing those on board to Europe. Mr Haroun claimed they included IS fighters, and the system was being used in a calculated way to bring forces across the Mediterranean sea. He said IS was using the boats: “for their people who they want to send to Europe, as the European police don’t know who is from IS and who is a normal refugee or not”. It has long been a stated aim of IS to land troops in Europe via refugee boats, but so … [Read more...] about ISIS Smuggling Fighters Into Europe Posing As Refugees