(NewsUSA)

"The Armageddon Secret"
by Robert Earl Burnham

"The Armageddon Secret"takes the German A-bomb project and a real-life, elite anti-Nazi conspiracy and tills them as rich soil for speculation with the harrowing tale of Alex Drake, an American foreign correspondent in Berlin on the cusp of World War II. It's a tale in which scientific facts and historical figures and events combine with plausible fiction to create a vivid and convincing espionage thriller.

Against the well-realized historical backdrop of Nazi military secrets, Hitler assassination attempts, gruesome beatings, brutal murders, time bombs and underground tunnels, Burnham creates a satisfying, action-packed concoction that will keep you hooked until the last page. Whether you are a WWII buff or not, the book has its own believable version of history to reveal. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3cghi7P.

"Head Shot"
by Otho Eskin

Perfect for fans of David Baldacci and Daniel Silva, here's the most elusive assassin in the world versus D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn. Zorn is assigned to protect the visiting prime minister of Montenegro, the beautiful Nina Voychek. Political enemies are planning her assassination, but now it's apparent that he, too, is a target. He pulls out all stops to hunt whoever is targeting him and prevent an international tragedy.

Decoded messages, Supermax prisoner interviews, mafia lawyers and an ancient Black Mountain curse swirl among the icons of D.C. as Marko and his young partne, Lucy face down what may be multiple assassins. Or are they facing one assassin, the deadliest and most elusive on the international stage? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rGWkEe.

"Shelter from The Storm"
by Dorothy K. Fletcher

Elementary school teacher Sarah Palmer had a secret, one that even she found hard to face. But only after her teacher friends witnessed one of her debilitating panic attacks did she ever consider confronting it. "Shelter from the Storm" is her journey toward salvation and renewal.

It is a sensitive story about how two young girls -- one black, one white -- try to overcome the status quo in a time when Jim Crow laws prevailed. It is also a story that considers how two people can live through the same event and experience very different outcomes; some become stronger while others are swept away like cottages in a hurricane. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3FE3lxR.

"Floating Underwater"
by Tracy Shawn

Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, "Floating Underwater" follows a woman's astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her own self-actualization and power. Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision predicting a third miscarriage comes true.

Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma embraces a far different future than she ever imagined. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3I6lohi.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Post-pandemic, it's more important than ever that businesses promote their services, offerings or events. But how to do that if you're on a budget?

There are several ways to get your company's message out: stating the company mission (the equivalent of a business resume) on its website, employing a public relations firm to garner exposure through earned media, or advertising -- that is, if you have the money to pay for it.

The problem is that small, niche companies need the same exposure (if not more) than the Fortune 500 companies, but are hamstrung by limited resources.

Fortunately, advertising doesn't have to be exclusively PR-centric, but can be a blend of traditional and effective strategies, according to PR News.

In this way, Washington D.C.-based NewsUSA does exceptionally well by specializing in writing matte releases -- feature articles that help to fill space in newspapers and online media -- for its clients.

NewsUSA guarantees product placement (around 1,000-1,400 placements per story) for its clients in various media outlets around the world, including television sites and hundreds of digital and print newspapers.

"NewsUSA's strength is that it has all these contracts and relationships with newspapers and online media sources that have been built over years and can be trusted for writing and editorial," said Rick Smith, CEO of NewsUSA. "In terms of mass marketing to the consumer, for some of the budgets that these companies have, there just aren't a lot of options. That's where NewsUSA comes in."

For NewsUSA client Security Equipment Corporation (Sabre), it granted access to media outlets that the company wouldn't have had otherwise.

"As a first-time user of NewsUSA, I was pleasantly surprised, not only with the number of placements we got, but the quality of our placements," said Marisa McKay, marketing manager for Sabre. "Our content was placed in high-profile publications that we wouldn't have been able to afford if we had to buy traditional advertising space."

As a result, the family-owned and -operated manufacturer of the top brand of pepper spray had three stories distributed to more than 3,600 news outlets, both online and in print, for a total reach of more than 90 million readers nationwide. The ad value equivalency of the campaign was more than $1.1 million.

Another client, Star Clippers, also saw a huge return on investment when it engaged NewsUSA to write five stories about its

ultimate cruising vacation alternative -- a tall ship mega-yacht experience aboard authentic re-creations of the classic sailing clipper ships that ruled the waves during the 1800s.

In return, Star Clippers garnered more than 6,000 placements that reached more than 319 million readers nationwide, for a total ad equivalency of $3.8 million.

For more information, visit www.newsusa.com.

(MS) - Hisense's future development should continue to focus on high-end products, but meanwhile expand its business-to-business (B2B) industry, says Zhou Houjian, the chairman of the Hisense Group.

Hisense's monthly revenue from the international markets has exceeded $800 million, which marks a great achievement. But, the company has yet to put more money in its research and development in the B2B industry. Zhou Houjian points out that going overseas in the B2B industry is a clear strategy of the Group to deal with uncertain business risks in the future.

The Group now owns 54 overseas companies and offices, 11 research and development institutions, 18 industrial parks and production bases. Over the past many years, Hisense has gone from a little-known brand to one of the most popular Chinese brands among international consumers and has become a truly international brand.

As a matter of fact, Hisense Group's plan to set foot in the overseas B2B industry has long been clear. Since the beginning of this year, in the annual Canon Fair and the China Africa Economic & Trade Expo, the Group has debuted new lines of B2B products such as color ultrasound devices, smart transportation solutions and commercial display solutions.

The overseas sales of Hisense commercial display products, increased by more than 240% in the first 10 months of 2021. Hisense commercial displays can now be seen in the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, BP oil gas station in UK, KFC restaurants in Poland and the ice hockey arenas in Norway.

In August of this year, Hisense Medical received a big order of medical displays from South Africa, a milestone in its overseas medical display business.

Zhou says that next year, going overseas will become an even more important strategic development direction for Hisense's B2B industry, which showcases the Group's resolve in industrial transformation and upgrading. The Group will give key support in terms of human and financial resources. The acceleration of overseas B2B business expansion will catalyze Hisense technologies global influence.

(NewsUSA) - New parents have so much to think about that financial planning may not be at the top of the list. However, once sleep deprivation wears off, new parents will be thankful if they have completed some financial planning in advance.

"Smart financial planning not only protects families against unexpected bumps in the road, but also teaches children good financial habits," says Brad Ledwith, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

Three key financial considerations for new parents or parents-to-be include:

Life Insurance Plans. When you become a parent, it's time to be proactive about life insurance. If you don't have a policy, get one to ensure that your family is provided for in the event of your death.

Remember that both parents need policies, even if only one parent is employed. "Term life insurance is generally a good option for new parents because of its affordability and provision for income loss in the event of one parent's death," Ledwith explains.

Education Savings Accounts. With the cost of tuition rising annually, it is never too early to think about college savings options. Consider setting up a 529 plan, which allows parents, grandparents and others to deposit money into an account that grows tax-free.

The proceeds must be used for education purposes. The details vary by state, so be sure to check the rules of your state. Go-to sites for more information on 529 plans are Savingforcollege.com, American Funds and College America.

Custodial Accounts. Custodial accounts are a great way to keep monetary gifts to children in a safe place with no restrictions on future use. Funds in a custodial account can be used toward cars, housing, vacations or any other expense.

Custodial accounts also serve as educational opportunities. As children learn how to save, delay gratification and work toward a goal, a custodial account gives them an opportunity to learn about fiscal responsibility. When your child is older, you can teach him or her how to buy stocks with some of the money in a custodial account.

"Eventually, the child will wind up with the means to finance something that will serve him or her for years to come, such as a car or their first apartment. It's a fantastic lesson about how money can work for you," says Ledwith.

Key financial decisions for your family happen at all life stages -- whether it's budgeting to help afford everyday expenses when you have children, seeking tax breaks to help you save for college or planning to financially protect your family if anything happens to you. Working with a CFP® professional can help you adapt your finances to meet the needs of your growing family. Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org for more financial tips and savings information.

(NewsUSA)

"The Armageddon Secret"
by Robert Earl Burnham

"The Armageddon Secret"takes the German A-bomb project and a real-life, elite anti-Nazi conspiracy and tills them as rich soil for speculation with the harrowing tale of Alex Drake, an American foreign correspondent in Berlin on the cusp of World War II. It's a tale in which scientific facts and historical figures and events combine with plausible fiction to create a vivid and convincing espionage thriller.

Against the well-realized historical backdrop of Nazi military secrets, Hitler assassination attempts, gruesome beatings, brutal murders, time bombs and underground tunnels, Burnham creates a satisfying, action-packed concoction that will keep you hooked until the last page. Whether you are a WWII buff or not, the book has its own believable version of history to reveal. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3cghi7P.

"Head Shot"
by Otho Eskin

Perfect for fans of David Baldacci and Daniel Silva, here's the most elusive assassin in the world versus D.C. homicide detective Marko Zorn. Zorn is assigned to protect the visiting prime minister of Montenegro, the beautiful Nina Voychek. Political enemies are planning her assassination, but now it's apparent that he, too, is a target. He pulls out all stops to hunt whoever is targeting him and prevent an international tragedy.

Decoded messages, Supermax prisoner interviews, mafia lawyers and an ancient Black Mountain curse swirl among the icons of D.C. as Marko and his young partne, Lucy face down what may be multiple assassins. Or are they facing one assassin, the deadliest and most elusive on the international stage? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3rGWkEe.

"Shelter from The Storm"
by Dorothy K. Fletcher

Elementary school teacher Sarah Palmer had a secret, one that even she found hard to face. But only after her teacher friends witnessed one of her debilitating panic attacks did she ever consider confronting it. "Shelter from the Storm" is her journey toward salvation and renewal.

It is a sensitive story about how two young girls -- one black, one white -- try to overcome the status quo in a time when Jim Crow laws prevailed. It is also a story that considers how two people can live through the same event and experience very different outcomes; some become stronger while others are swept away like cottages in a hurricane. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3FE3lxR.

"Floating Underwater"
by Tracy Shawn

Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, "Floating Underwater" follows a woman's astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her own self-actualization and power. Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision predicting a third miscarriage comes true.

Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma embraces a far different future than she ever imagined. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3I6lohi.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA)

Celebrated novelist Mike Bond has been called one of the 21st Century's most exciting authors. His recently released historical epic, "America," is the first of a seven-book series that relives our last 70 years and our nation's most profound upheavals since the Civil War.

Now, in the tumultuous last years of the 1960s and through the wild, joyous, heartbroken and visionary lives of four young people, the story continues in Book Two, "Freedom."

SHIFTING LANDSCAPES AND MORAL CODES

From the war-shattered jungles of Vietnam to America's burning cities, near-death in Tibet, peace marches, the battle of the Pentagon, wild drugs, rock concerts, free love, CIA coups in Indonesia and Greece, the Six Days' War and Bobby Kennedy's last campaign, "Freedom" puts you in the Sixties as if it were now.

Bond continues the conjoined sagas of the four young people introduced in America. They've all gone their separate ways, each reacting to the political chaos of the country and the new set of moral codes as best as he or she can. 

Mick leaves for the Himalayas while Troy heads to Vietnam with the Marines. Daisy starts her Ph.D. in brain research, and Tara battles heroin as her rock band reaches stardom. Troy is soon caught up in mind-numbing combat in Vietnam, while Mick returns to the States to lead the antiwar effort. Tara's band signs a Motown contract amid the Detroit riots. At Stanford, Daisy expands her study of the human brain under LSD and other mind-altering drugs. Troy falls in love with a Vietnamese teacher and is slowly losing faith in the War.

Each of these characters could carry a novel on his or her own, but Bond has done a masterful job of telling all their stories, first one and then another and another and back again, without losing momentum. He ties into the story the haunting songs of Jim Morrison, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary, the unforgettable anti-war lyrics and the temptations of sex and drugs. These are educated and deeply alive young people, searching for truth and a vision of the future.

TRULY BEAUTIFUL WRITING

One reviewer called freedom "the most beautiful prose I have ever read."

Bond has been called "master of the existential thriller" by BBC, "one of America's best thriller writers" by Culture Buzz, and "one of the 21st century's most exciting authors" by The Washington Times. He is a best-selling novelist, war and human rights journalist, and ecologist. He has covered guerrilla wars, death squads and military dictatorships in Latin America and Africa, Islamic terrorism in the Middle East, and ivory poaching and other environmental battles in East Africa and Asia.

Firmly rooted in fact and history, "Freedom" is highly readable, bitterly nostalgic, romantic, heartbreaking and edifying. It is a testament to the effects of politics and moral revolutions on America and how what happened then created what we are now. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3ns2tUS

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -It's a unique educational opportunity when students get to experience the enthusiasm, energy and decision-making behind real-time trading. That's why CME Group, the world's leading and most diverse derivatives exchange, hosts an annual electronic trading competition for students all around the world to partake in.

During this year's event, students learned hands-on techniques for trading agriculture, energy, metals, equity indices, interest rates and foreign exchange futures contracts using CQG's real-time simulated electronic trading platform. Throughout the challenge, students also received live market updates through Dow Jones newsfeeds and The Hightower Report.

"It's an exciting time to learn about how derivatives markets are used to manage risk and capture opportunities across the global economy," says Anita Liskey, CME Group Senior Managing Director of Global Brand Marketing and Communications. "Our annual competition provides a collaborative educational experience that is driven by global financial professionals and innovative technology. Each year, we are delighted to bring together students from all over the world to learn how to apply real-life trading strategies to everyday markets."

This year's four-week competition included 386 teams, comprised of more than 1,500 actively enrolled graduate and undergraduate students from 24 countries. Students on the top five winning teams are eligible to receive a cash prize and are invited to attend an exclusive one-day, virtual market education event this month.

The first-place winner was the University of Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano, which is the second consecutive Latin American team to top the global competition.

The 18th Annual CME Group University Trading Challenge Winners are:

First Place: University of Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano (Colombia);
Second Place: Loyola University Chicago (U.S.);
Third Place: Virginia Tech (U.S.);
Fourth Place: University of Illinois (U.S.);
Fifth Place: Southern Illinois University (U.S.).

"The CME Group University Trading Challenge is an excellent way to learn about derivatives markets and develop skills that can be put into practice in the future," said the first-place team from the University of Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano. "Trading through the CQG platform and having access to live market updates also helps students build an understanding of how these markets operate."

CME Group provides a wide range of risk management education, including its CME Institute education hub, which offers detailed courses, webinars and videos on trading futures on options markets, as well as a trading simulator.

CME Group also partners with other industry organizations to offer educational tools, such as Futures Fundamentals, a one-stop educational resource to help learners of all levels understand futures markets and the role they play in everyday life.