QROPS - Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes were introduced in 2006 as part of a major overhaul of Britain\'s pension framework, aimed at simplifying pension transfers to another country. New legislation was passed by the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), in order to comply with an EU directive that pensions be free to move across Europe\'s borders. This ruling means that individuals, wishing to retire to countries such as France, Spain and Portugal can effectively take their UK pension funds with them: http://www.axis-finance.com/what-are-qrops.php
Who can apply for a QROPS?
A QROPS is specifically designed to allow anyone, not intending to retire in the UK, to transfer existing and frozen UK pension plans into a more appropriate retirement vehicle.
Individuals who are, or have been members of a UK registered pension fund and are currently living outside of the UK, or intending to leave the UK on a permanent basis, can consider transferring their retirement fund into a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France
Transfers to QROPS
The UK Government allows transfers to QROPS to be made free of UK tax. Their aim is to simplify the affairs of individuals leaving the UK on a permanent basis and to encourage them to continue saving in order to provide an income when they retire. There is no official limit to the amount of funds that may be transferred to a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-France-pension-transfers
QROPS - HMRC Rules
What makes a scheme a QROPS?
In order to transfer your UK pension into a QROPS, it is necessary for the overseas pension scheme to be accepted by HMRC. The criteria outlined by HMRC for an overseas scheme to qualify as a QROPS include:
- The pension scheme must be established outside of the UK
- It must be recognised for tax purposes in the country where it is located
- It must be regulated in the country in which it is established
Age that benefits can be taken from a QROPS
The QROPS regime mirrors that of a regulated pension scheme in the UK. Benefits, including lump sum payments, from the transferred funds may not be distributed earlier than the normal retirement age of 55, if an individual has been a non-UK resident for less than five complete tax years: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France-HMRC-Rules
QROPS Reporting requirements
HMRC should be notified if a payment is made within the first five tax years of a member becoming non-UK tax resident. Any benefits paid before five complete tax years of non-UK residency and not in accordance with UK Pension rules will be deemed an unauthorised payment.
The scheme manager does not have to notify HMRC if the payment is made 10 or more years after the day of the transfer that created the QROPS fund for the \'relevant member\', provided that the person is non UK resident for the duration of this period. This 10 year \'bracket\' for reporting payments took effect as of 6 April 2012.
QROPS List
When transferring your UK pension to a scheme overseas, it is important to check that the scheme meets the conditions to be a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme (QROPS). Not all transfers to overseas or offshore schemes are QROPS transfers; it is therefore essential to verify that the scheme receiving your UK benefits is on the QROPS list published by HMRC, otherwise a transfer will be treated as a transfer to a non-qualifying overseas scheme and substantial penalties may be applied by HMRC at the time of transfer: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-list-living-in-France
How do I know if it is a legitimate QROPS scheme?
QROPS approved plans that agree to have their details published are listed on the HMRC website. A UK Pension administrator will confirm a QROPS listing before agreeing to a transfer. If not listed, the administrator will contact HMRC
JNA (Jewellery News Asia), organiser of the prestigious JNA Awards, has announced the much-anticipated list of Honourees or shortlisted finalists across 15 categories for 2015. A total of 49 Honourees representing 31 companies from 10 countries/regions have been shortlisted.
The JNA Awards is supported by Headline Partners Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook, together with Honoured Partners Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited (GDLAND).
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7559651-jna-awards-2015/
With 830 women dying every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and over 16,000 children under age five dying daily, Bayer and the White Ribbon Alliance today released critical policy recommendations and launched community programs to support the reduction and prevention of maternal, newborn and child mortality in two developing countries.1,2
Established through a three-year $1.3 million commitment from Bayer, these programs will expand work conducted by White Ribbon Alliance in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to support the United Nations Secretary General’s Every Woman Every Child movement.
This announcement comes at the one-year anniversary of the Bayer/White Ribbon Alliance commitment in support of the Every Woman Every Child movement and will contribute to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/77126510-bayer-white-ribbon-alliance-self-care/
In the impressive conference center of the Milad Tower rising over Tehran’s roofs the 16th Energy Globe World Awards have been handed over in an international gala. Vice President Mrs. Masoumeh Ebtekar referred in her speech to the importance of such awards for outstanding environmental projects and their implementation. This event is the starting signal for intensified efforts concerning sustainability in Iran which is underlined by an expansion program for Renewables and energy efficiency. Also Maneka Gandhi emphasized that a sustainable change in our world can’t be achieved by talks or laws but only by taking action as showed by the Energy Globe submissions.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and presenter Prof. Munasinghe said: It is necessary that poor and rich countries take each other’s hand in order to exchange experiences and support each other.
3 nominees respectively from all 5 continents competed in the 5 categories Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Youth. The nominees have been chosen from around 2000 submissions from 177 countries.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7740251-masoumeh-ebtekar-awarded-best-projects/
To outsource or not, and even if I do will I get it right? That’s the question on the minds of people who need some extra help in their lives but are unable to get it. Virtual Assistance is no longer a novelty, but ask someone who runs a small business, startup or is just too busy and can do with some help, if they would. And the overwhelming answer would be ‘I am unsure’. Yet there are millions of small businesses and busy individuals across the globe that need assistance, but are reluctant to try it because they are apprehensive.
‘GetFriday’, a leading global Virtual Assistance firm based in India that has been in service since 2005 was instrumental in making outsourcing accessible and more importantly, successful for busy individuals and small businesses across 60 countries.
Despite the numerous successful outsourcing stories of small-medium enterprises and individuals over the years, many first-timers remain indecisive about outsourcing, owing to the fears associated with sending off important work virtually to assistants halfway across the world.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7821451-global-virtual-assistant-everyday-getfriday/
Whirlpool Corporation is celebrating the conclusion of its first-ever Global Habitat Build Project -- a project which engaged more than 200 Whirlpool Corporation employee volunteers in 14 Habitat for Humanity home build projects in eight countries. The project was coordinated to recognize the many contributions of the company’s former CEO, Jeff Fettig, who stepped down as CEO on October 31 of this year, and to celebrate the 17-year partnership between Habitat for Humanity International and Whirlpool Corporation.
“What better way to recognize the standard of giving back set by our Chairman and former CEO, Jeff Fettig, than to collectively build homes around the world in his honor,” said Jeff Noel, the corporate vice president of communications & public affairs for Whirlpool Corporation. “At the same time, we’re celebrating our long-standing relationship with Habitat for Humanity. Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, gave his time to hammer nails alongside our employees, honoring our collaborative work building homes and positively impacting society for nearly two decades.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8219351-whirlpool-celebrates-global-habitat-build-project/
Today, OREO – the world’s No. 1 cookie – launched the OREO Dunk Challenge, a global celebration of the brand’s iconic dunking ritual. The campaign kicks off in the U.S. and will roll out to more than 50 countries around the world as part of the OREO brand’s ongoing Wonderfilled movement. The OREO Dunk Challenge will feature a trio of high-profile dunkers, including International Recording Artist Christina Aguilera, Brazilian football star Neymar da Silva Santo, Jr. and Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal. Shaq and fans will do the first official dunks of the campaign today at the birthplace of the OREO cookie in New York City.
OREO cookies and milk have gone together for many years -- and not just because they are a delicious dunking duo. Dunking an OREO cookie in milk has always been a fun way to create a playful moment that reminds us how extraordinarily special it can be to feel and wonder like a kid.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8031651-oreo-dunk-challenge-shaq-christina-aguilera-neymar-da-silva-santo-jr/
http://ummagma.bandcamp.com & http://www.ummagma.comUmmagma
is a Canadian-Ukrainian duo delivering an eclectic, harmonious
potpourri of sublime resonance, beats and rhythm. McLarnon’s delicate
airy gossamer-like vocals are often compared to Liz Fraser (Cocteau
Twins) with glimmers of Stereolab, The Sundays, Curve, Nathalie
Merchant and Slowdive. Kretov's spellbinding guitar, vocals, synths,
beats, programming & effects create soundscapes with elements of
Pink Floyd Peter Gabriel to help you take flight.Ummagma
won the 2013 Alternative Eurovision from 21 countries, and picked up 2
awards at the Australian Independent Music Video Awards. This duo has
regularly featured in The Scottish New Music Chart and had a full-page
feature in Rolling Stone Russia.http://www.facebook.com/ummagmahttp://www.soundcloud.com/ummagmahttp://www.youtube.com/ummagmahttp://twitter.com/ummagma
At the Paris Salon de la Moto, open from 3 to 8 December, the new Vespa Primavera made its French début.
Unveiled a month ago at the world press at the Milan 2013 EICMA show, the Vespa Primavera is now being marketed all over Europe and – following a presentation in Hanoi – in Vietnam and Asian countries as well.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/63504-vespa-primavera-legend-is-back
On Friday, global branded play company Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) helped spread joy to thousands of underserved children in 35 countries through its first-ever Global Day of Joy. The initiative empowered Hasbro’s 5,000 employees worldwide to become holiday “elves” and to immerse themselves in community service projects designed to bring joy over the holidays to children in need.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64623-hasbro-global-day-of-joy-employee-community-service-projects-for-children
The 6th Beijing Biennale under the theme of “Memory and Dream”, co-sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and the China Artists Association is expected to be exhibited in the National Art Museum of China from Sep.24 to Oct.15, 2015. The exhibition attracted 685 pieces of artwork from 96 countries which registered half of the member countries of the United Nations, covering contemporary paintings, sculptures, installations, videos and mixed media (with 188 pieces of artwork from China and 497 pieces of artwork from foreign countries).
Artists from all over the world were encouraged to create paintings and sculptures related to the theme “Memory and Dream”. The International Art Gala with unprecedented size of participating countries provides a high standard visual feast for all art lovers from all over the world. Beijing Biennale serves as a platform to demonstrate historical and cultural memories of different countries and express humankind’s expectation and aspiration for the future by means of art. Following the opening ceremony, the Beijing Biennale has become the focus of audiences and media with the daily volume registered at 7000. It is expected that during the Golden Week of the National Holiday, the audiences per day will amount to more than 10,000.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7644351-beijing-biennale-memory-and-dream/
The 6th forum has become a record-breaking one by every measure by gathering 18,200 participants from 98 countries. During three thematic day-long sessions on business, government and society, presentations of more than 650 speakers took place.
Within the framework of the forum business program and in the press center 42 agreements were signed, including 24 partnership agreements with the Skolkovo Foundation. Notably some agreements deal with billion ruble infrastructural projects, such as, e.g. deploying the 5G network in Skolkovo, while other ones suggest direct investments of hundred million rubles, such as the agreement between VEB and IIDF amounting to 200 million dollars or the agreement between IBS company and “Skolkovo Venture – IT I” amounting to 100 million rubles.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8210651-open-innovations-2017-record-breaking/