For those looking to head overseas in style, try Manchester Airport’s award-winning Escape Lounge. There is an Escape Lounge located in each of the three terminals. However, it was the Terminal One Escape Lounge that emerged as a clear winner in the 2013 Priority Pass Lounge of the Year Best Staff award.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62433-manchester-airport-escape-lounge-award
More than 500,000 Americans lost their lives in World War I and World War II defending democracy on soil and water far from the United States. The sacrifice of these men and women will be honored this Memorial Day weekend by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) with ceremonies at America’s military cemeteries overseas, where more than 200,000 of these individuals are buried and memorialized.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7062152-abmc-honors-americans-buried-overseas-wwi-wwii-memorial-day-2014
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
The Fourth of July is an excellent time to take a moment to acknowledge all of the men and women who are bravely serving in the United States military at home and overseas. Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres and Mercury Insurance are doing more than just saluting our troops’ service, as the two organizations partnered to host a “packing party” yesterday to assemble care packages for Marines and Sailors from local bases – Camp Pendleton and MCAS Miramar – currently deployed in Afghanistan. More than 50 Mercury employees and agents, local little leaguers and Padres pitcher Ian Kennedy and community representatives stuffed 1,000 backpacks in right field at Petco Park following the July 2 Padres-Reds game.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7264451-mercury-insurance-san-diego-padres-assemble-care-packages-for-afghanistan-troop/
If you are planning to visit a beach on holiday then follow some simple tips to protect your belongings.
Sam's Beach Security Tips
• Take as few valuables as you can
• Keep belongings out of sight
• Watch your things while you unload
• Carry your key in a secure pocket
• Consider a waterproof wallet
• Take turns to keep guard
If you are travelling interstate or overseas, visit NRMA Insurance Australia (http://www.nrma.com.au) for safety tips on domestic or international travel: http://www.nrma.com.au/travel-insurance
The Makers of the SPAM® brand are taking their gratitude on the road with the return of the popular SPAMERICAN™ Tour, thanking all of the chefs, fanatic fans and military for 79 years of support. Back for another coast-to-coast culinary journey, this year the brand is partnering with Operation Gratitude to bring their letter writing campaign into 16 communities, and supporting its goal of sending the 2 Millionth Care Package in 2018- by pledging a $1 donation for every letter written in-market and online at SPAM.com. Each letter will be included in a care package, assembled by volunteers, and sent to troops deployed overseas, as well as to new recruits, veterans and first-responders here at home.
Food Network Host and US Air Force veteran Sunny Anderson is once again joining the tour, supporting the Operation Gratitude cause and showcasing her new recipe: Operation SPAM® Gravy with Biscuits. Following the launch in New York at the Tribeca Film Festival, the SPAMERICAN™ truck will stop at military bases and popular community events in San Francisco, Dallas, Nashville, Chicago and more.
“We’re honored to partner with Operation Gratitude for the return of the SPAMERICAN™ Tour,” said Jennifer L. Nolander, SPAM® Brand Manager. “The SPAM® brand has a long tradition of supporting our nation’s military at home and abroad beginning with World War II, and we are honored to bring aboard a veteran like Sunny Anderson to help Operation Gratitude achieve its mission by providing an easy way for communities to give back to those who proudly serve us every day.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7810051-spam-spamerican-food-truck-tour/
The loss of American life during World War I and World War II affected people in every corner of the United States, and forever changed the future of these families that suffered losses. In honor of Veterans Day, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) is launching a new, online video series: “Never Forgotten.” With more than 220,000 American men and women buried or memorialized at ABMC’s overseas cemeteries around the world, the ABMC works every day of the year to honor the sacrifices of these individuals.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61800-abmc-never-forgotten-online-video-series-honors-world-war-i-and-ii-fallen
This Veterans Day Americans around the world will honor their fellow citizens who have served their country. The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) offers ten ways you can show your appreciation this November 11th.
ABMC, an agency of the U.S. federal government, manages America’s overseas, military cemeteries from World War I and World War II. Some of the best ways to honor our fallen is by learning about the men and women who gave their lives in these conflicts. More than 200,000 Americans are buried or memorialized overseas. They were brothers, fathers, sons, daughters, mothers, wives, and friends who left the United States to defend freedom abroad. In a matter of minutes, you can honor these men and women on Veterans Day.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7529551-abmc-honor-veterans-day/
“A broad river is in waves, the rice flowers are sweet smelling over the banks…” On August 1, Chinese Army Day, an eye-catching ‘Flash Mob’ took place at Ginza Square, Tokyo, three Chinese young men, with deep affection, performing a ‘Red Song’ My Motherland, one of the classic songs written in praise of the Communist Party of China.
As they said, to fulfill their shared promise made five years ago, these three youngsters travelled a long distance from Nanchang, ‘the City of Heroes’ of China, gathering in Japan to express their patriotism and affection for their home country in the form of singing red song chorus. Accompanying their singing was an official promo of Nanchang displayed on the huge screen at the back of them. As images of Nanchang’s unique landmarks like the Monument of Nanchang Uprising, Tengwang Pavilion and the Twin Tower flittered one by one, their melody brought passersby, especially overseas Chinese back to that heroic city which, 90 years ago, once gave birth to the first authentic people’ army led by the Communist Party of China.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8155151-nanchang-tourism-chinese-army-day/
The Ministry of Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman wishes to develop a range of quality tourism products that not only promote cultural integrity and environmental protection but that also lead to a diverse and sustainable tourism industry both at home in the Sultanate and overseas.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7394251-Beauty-has-an-address-Oman/
