What is a Tech Startup?

A tech startup is a young entrepreneurial venture that develops and delivers technology-based products or services. These businesses aim to transform and reshape markets by introducing innovative solutions or by utilising existing or emerging technologies in creative ways. They are often characterized by rapid growth and innovation, scalability, reliance on external funding, and the desire to create a disruptive impact.

Often, the startups will focus on a particular sector, such as fintech (banking, payment), ecommerce (online shopping), or agritech (agriculture, food). Alternatively, they can focus on a specific problem, such as COVID-19 or loneliness. Then, they will develop a technology that solves that problem. Many of these companies are successful and make a huge impact on the world, such as Skyscanner or Airbnb.

The biggest challenge for most startups is securing adequate funding to support their development and ensure that they are able to launch and deliver their products or services. This can be a difficult task as startups typically compete with larger, more established companies for investors and talent.

In addition, establishing a successful tech startup requires a lot of work and dedication. It is not easy to survive in the market and please picky customers, but it can be rewarding if you are able to achieve your business goals. It can also be a great way to test your entrepreneurial skills and build an empire of your own. Some of the greatest entrepreneurs and innovators of our time have built their tech startups from scratch, such as Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, who created Apple.

Barriers to Peace Talks

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been the subject of much academic and popular literature. However, the peace process has not yet achieved its goal of putting the conflict to an official end or establishing a permanent two-state solution for both peoples. Several barriers to peace have been identified.

One barrier that impedes negotiation is the differing cultures of the different negotiating teams. In my experience, Palestinian negotiators tended to anchor their demands high in order to allow themselves a large range of flexibility when dealing with specific issues. On the other hand, Israeli negotiators anchored their demands low, often very close to or even at their reservation point. This made it difficult to reach an agreement on issues that were under mutual consent.

Another barrier is the frequent change in negotiating team members, which can affect the level of coordination and consistency of positions in negotiations. In my case, the Palestinian head negotiator in the AHC was the same person for four years while the Israeli chairman rotated three times during that time. This resulted in a lack of institutional memory and a unidirectional recitation of the same old rhetoric.

Lastly, there is the general distrust that both sides have of each other. On the Palestinian side, there is a deep-seated belief that Israel cannot be trusted to keep its commitments or to respect the results of the negotiation process. On the Israeli side, there is a growing suspicion that Hamas and Hezbollah will continue to provide support for terrorist attacks against Israel, thereby making any peace deal illusory.

New Jersey State of Emergency

A state of emergency (or emergency declaration or etat d’exception) allows governments to push through policies they would normally be prevented from doing for the safety and protection of their citizens. It may be prompted by natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflict, medical pandemics or other biosecurity threats, terrorism, or severe environmental damage caused by storms or other natural events. Some countries have specific statutes that determine what can be considered a state of emergency, but others simply use general laws to define emergencies as broadly as possible.

State emergencies can significantly enhance the power of government, and allow it to bypass traditional checks and balances. In the United States, for example, a federal state of emergency gives the president the power to impose regulations on a wide range of activities, including shutting down or controlling domestic transportation, suspending the Clean Air Act and even seizing Americans’ private property without any judicial oversight.

In contrast, the national constitution of Hungary only permits a state of emergency for an armed rebellion or a natural or industrial disaster that threatens the country’s security or public order. The duration of such a state of emergency is limited to 30 days, but can be extended if approved by Parliament. Civil rights can be suspended during a state of emergency, but basic human rights such as the right to life cannot.

After the Governor’s state of emergency proclamation, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management will activate all applicable State and Federal emergency response protocols and resources. If NJOEM must restrict citizen movement or activity, they will notify the public via emergency alert systems, news media, DOT highway signs and law enforcement teletypes.

How to Add a Daily Update System Scene to Your Actions

A daily report of events or progress made on a project.

When your Action offers content a user would want to see every day, you can prompt users to subscribe to daily updates. This is done by configuring your Action with the daily update system scene, which appears on Assistant notifications for your Action on Android and iOS devices. To configure your Action with this scene, open the Actions console and click Develop in the top menu. Select the scene you want to add daily updates to, and then click + to create a new intent handler. In the handler, check the daily update box to add a subscription prompt. Make sure to offer this option early in your dialog, and only when it makes sense for the context.

The Fundamentals of the Crypto Market

Cryptocurrencies have emerged as a revolutionary asset class, offering the promise of new systems for making payments and other functions. Investors are drawn to their speculative potential and dramatic price swings, but these markets also present unique risks and challenges.

Unlike traditional stocks, cryptocurrencies are not linked to a specific technological product in development or rollout, and market dynamics may make it difficult to discern which projects have real-world value. Additionally, direct investments in cryptocurrency are not covered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, so investors must be willing to assume substantial losses.

To invest in cryptocurrencies, you must first create an account on a cryptocurrency exchange platform and deposit money to open a position. You can then trade the tokens of the coins you’re interested in. Some exchanges offer margin trading, where you put up a percentage of the total value of your position – known as leverage – to gain exposure to the underlying market. This enlarges your profits but also your losses.

A number of factors can affect the price of a given coin, including market sentiment and news. Positive news, such as regulatory approval or new technological advances, can drive prices up. Negative news, such as security breaches or regulatory crackdowns, can lead to price declines. Moreover, large traders, sometimes referred to as whales, can influence prices by buying or selling substantial amounts of a given coin. Grasping these fundamentals can help you make smarter investment decisions.

Developing Story

developing story

Developing story is the process of taking an idea and expanding it into a full-fledged narrative with characters, conflict, and setting. It’s a crucial skill for writers, directors, producers, and even executives to have. It’s the ability to brainstorm set pieces, hone an outline or screenplay, and distill notes into cogent pitches.

Creating complex characters is one of the best ways to keep readers engaged in your work. Readers want to connect with characters that have goals and flaws. Those are the people they can identify with and relate to, which is why a strong character arc is essential to a story’s success.

To develop a character, start by identifying the potential “hot spots” in that person’s world. This could be something as simple as a conversation that you hear or an image that sticks out in your mind. Find the points in which your character’s choices could lead to either an external threat or their own self-doubts and fears.

Next, contrast your protagonist with a secondary character that opposes their morals, beliefs, or motivations. This helps enliven your protagonist’s growth and creates the escalation of the conflict in your story. It’s also a good way to show your audience how deep and believable your character is. A strong protagonist is a must, but it’s also important to build supporting characters as well. However, avoid over-characterizing minor characters. It can be easy to make them too broad, which takes away from the depth of your plot and may cause confusion for readers.

NSDA 2026-2027 Policy Debate

government policy

Policy refers to the initiatives and decisions made by government institutions aimed at resolving societal issues, allocating resources, and regulating behaviors with the goal of increasing human flourishing. Both formal and informal policies exist, ranging from laws and regulations to the unwritten practices, traditions, and beliefs that influence behavior. Regardless of their specific form, each policy is influenced by the politics and ideologies of those in power and by the broader context influencing decision-making.

The long-term impacts of government policy can significantly shape the trajectory of social movements and public opinion. For example, positive policy changes that reflect societal demands can build trust in government institutions and encourage civic engagement. By contrast, poor or ineffective policies can contribute to disillusionment with political systems, resulting in greater efforts by citizens and communities to advocate for change.

In the United States, policy debate is most often about federal issues such as monetary and fiscal policy, foreign policy, immigration, national security, and education. These topics offer a unique opportunity for advanced students to practice nuanced and strategic critical and policy arguments with a wide range of stakeholders.

NSDA members are invited to help choose the 2026-2027 Policy Debate resolutions by voting for their favorite topic areas. Voting will close Thursday, October 9 at 4:00pm CT. Please remember that only member students and one chapter advisor per active school are eligible to vote. NSDA members can log in to their accounts and rank the five topic areas 1 (best) through 5. The two areas receiving the lowest votes will be placed on the second ballot for selection.

What Is International Relations?

international relations

International relations examines how the interests of different countries, groups and people interact with each other in a world of interconnectedness. It combines elements of political science, history and economics to explore topics like foreign policy, global governance, and regional conflict.

A broad set of issues that can trigger a localized or global war, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, terrorist activities in the Middle East and the South China Sea disputes. These are the kinds of international challenges that would likely require United States involvement.

Countries that are rich, with incomes per person above the world average and have started the process of industrialisation before 1960 (a few started it before 1860). Also known as developed or wealthy countries. Contrast with developing and poor countries.

A political theory based on the idea that ideas, norms and identity play an important role in shaping world affairs. It also asserts that the ways people perceive and construct reality influences their behavior and interactions with each other.

The practice of communicating and negotiating among representatives of different countries. It can involve a range of tools, including sanctions, force and adjusting trade regulations. Diplomacy is often seen as a first resort when other tools have failed. It is not a substitute for other tools, but rather a part of them. For example, sanctions are used after diplomacy fails to achieve its goal. Also see game theory. The four Geneva conventions and three protocols that lay down the basic legal standards for treatment of prisoners and civilians in times of armed conflict.

How Does the Presidential Race Work?

presidential race

Every four years voters choose a President and Vice President to serve the nation. The person who wins the most popular votes, or a “landslide,” is considered to have a mandate to launch enduring political and economic changes. Landslides are usually marked by large electoral majorities in multiple states.

Candidates who want to be President belong to political parties that share similar ideas about how the government should work. Candidates campaign through state primary elections and caucuses to win the support of party members. The winners of these contests become “delegates” who will attend the party’s nominating convention to select the final presidential candidate to appear on voters’ ballots in November.

Each state has a set number of electoral votes based on its population. A total of 538 electoral votes are selected and the person who gets more than half (270) of these votes is elected President. The winner is sworn into office on January 20.

As the race for the White House continues to tighten, Harris holds a narrow lead in the national polls, though the margin is close enough that it could shift in either direction. Regardless, both campaigns continue to push aggressively to turn out the vote in battleground states.

As a result, the Democratic and Republican parties have created debates designed to help the voters make informed choices. Typically, each candidate is given 2 minutes to answer questions and 1 minute to offer closing remarks. Moderators use colored lights resembling traffic signals to let the candidates know when their time is nearly up.

The Importance of Corporate Earnings

corporate earnings

Whether you’re a long-term investor or a short-term trader, you have to pay attention to corporate earnings. But many people don’t fully understand what these numbers mean and how they affect stock prices. In this article, we’ll cover what corporate earnings are, why they’re important, and how to analyze a company’s earnings report.

Corporate earnings, also called net income or bottom-line, represent how much money a business makes during a given period after all expenses are paid. They’re a key indicator of the health of the economy. Rising profits usually lead to economic growth, while declining profits can signal a slowdown or even a recession.

While there are a number of different ways to measure profitability, the most widely used metric is earnings per share (EPS). This calculation divides a company’s net profit by its total shares outstanding. It’s a useful metric for comparisons between companies, because it accounts for the number of shares each shareholder owns.

Earnings reports are released four times a year and are closely watched by investors and the general public. They’re one of the main factors that drive stock prices up and down. For example, if a company’s EPS is rising and its stock price is climbing, this indicates that investors are optimistic about the future of the company. However, if earnings are falling and the stock price is declining, this suggests that investors expect weaker future results. In either case, the stock price will likely fall until expectations are met or exceeded.