David Kiarie

The company now operates globally, and already has a significant presence in Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa.

In an interview with Pulse Kenya, Mila Semeshkina, CEO of Lectera, said that "Kenya is a logical choice to further expand our presence on the African continent. This year we have served almost 40,000 customers around the continent, and the number is constantly growing."

With its Fast Education teaching method, <a href="https://lectera.com/en">Lectera.com</a> is entering the Kenyan market with a revolutionary way of teaching. It only takes 15 minutes a day to master a new skill: it can be done at lunch time or on your way to work. The speed of acquiring knowledge is especially relevant for modern employees who are attempting to progress in their careers. For them, it is difficult to find time to attend offline courses or to earn a second degree while maintaining a daily working routine.

The education platform offers over 200 courses in the most popular job market segments, such as business, sales, soft skills, and women's leadership. The courses are developed by an international team of experts. All content is tested multiple times to select only the most effective methods and tools that have been proven to work.

Lectera courses generally consist of seven to ten lessons lasting seven to fifteen minutes each. Lectera courses can last anywhere from 40 minutes to three hours. Courses are offered in English, Hindi, German, Spanish, and Russian. By switching the course language, one can obtain a foreign language professional vocabulary. Tests and cases help students apply what they have learned immediately.

"We're growing really well in markets where competition on the job market is fierce. This means that candidates are always searching for ways to improve their knowledge, workers want to upskill, and sophisticated employers fuel the thirst for knowledge. We are shaking up the online market but also improving the lives of many with our ability to offer really fast knowledge acquisition in the most sought-after areas", Mila Semeshkina resumed during the interview.&nbsp;

<a href="https://lectera.com/en">Lectera.com</a> is an international education platform that was created in 2020 for those looking to build a successful career and be in demand on the job market.

Lectera.com eyes Kenyan online education market

USIU-Africa emerged as one of the big winners of the night at the eleventh edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards, winning three awards out of the eight nominations that it had.

The event, held on Saturday, December 11, saw House of Secrets, one of USIU-Africa’s student produced movies walk away with wins in the categories of Best Sound Designer (Kelvin Osoo), Best Director (Michelle Donde and Steph Sevani), and Best Feature by a Student.

The University submitted four films out of the five that were produced in August in the final year project course, PRD4010 – Producing from Greenlight to Completion. Out of the four film submissions, two films,&nbsp;Knock&nbsp;– directed by Kelvin Osoo&nbsp;and&nbsp;House of Secrets&nbsp;- directed by Michelle Donde and&nbsp;Steph Sevani&nbsp;made it to the top five in six categories. The students worked in teams to produce industry-standard films, which were partly assessed internally and partly assessed by industry filmmakers who came on campus at the end of August 2021 to watch and give constructive feedback to the students’ work.

Speaking during the presentation of the trophies, the Vice Chancellor Professor Freida Brown expressed her pride and lauded the achievements of each student and the hard work that they put in.&nbsp;

“This win would not have been possible without your time, effort and talent and on behalf of the entire university community, we are proud of this accolade. You are a resource to the university by showcasing some of the talents present at the University,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dr. Rachel Diang’a, Chair of the Department of Cinematic and Creative Arts, noted that the wins at the Kalasha Awards portended a strong comeback for the Film Production and Directing students, who had not produced major films last year as a result of the pandemic.&nbsp;

“The nominations for this year’s Awards represented a great improvement on the part of our students, from 6 nominations in 2019 to 8 nominations this year. We are excited to note that the three awards won now bring the number of awards won by our students since 2018 to 50. We hope to field even more contenders for next year’s awards,” she said. This win represents a big milestone for us in the Department and more so for the Bachelor of Film Production and Directing program.&nbsp;

“Since its inception in 2018, the program has grown immensely and this can be seen through the various awards that we have won over the years and this will strengthen the program further,” she added.

Michelle Donde, the director of the award-winning film, House of Secrets, noted that while she produced the film as a school project, she had never expected that it would go on to win a Kalasha Award.&nbsp;

“It has been an extraordinary experience to win these awards, and it is an encouraging sign that the tides are turning in terms of representation in films. I am excited to be an award-winning female director, and I look forward to a time when more and more female directors will share with us their stories through film,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kalasha Film and TV awards were established in 2009 to award excellence in television and film in Kenya and is organized by the Kenya Film Commission.

L-R: Steph Sevani, Director, House of Secrets, Prof. Freida Brown, Vice Chancellor, Michelle Donde, Director, House of Secrets, Alfred Obi, Casting Director / Assistant Director, House of Secrets pose with their award. House of Secrets won in the categ...

The future of content is African.

USIU-Africa wins three awards at the 2021 Kalasha International Film and TV Awards

Launched earlier this year, the competition was open to non-broadcast/podcast professionals from Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. There was a fantastic response, with almost 1000 entries.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The BBC World Service will now help Namulanta, who has never made a podcast before, to bring her idea to life as a 15-part podcast, to be launched later this year The winning idea, “To My Daughter” (working title), came from Namulanta’s decision to start writing letters to her young daughter. The podcast will hear experiences, anecdotes and advice from mothers across Africa, and around the world, that they want to share with their daughters.&nbsp;

Speaking about her winning entry, Namulanta said: “Facing aging and seeing myself reflected in my daughter, I worried about what would happen if I was not around to help her navigate through life, or if I was there but she felt that she could not talk to me. I started toying with the idea of writing her a ‘handbook to life’ that would gather anecdotes from the people around us.”

“I asked friends and family to write letters to the women in their lives, and considered the best way to get these letters out to the world. The BBC competition came about and I saw it as an opportunity to put my thoughts together and structure my idea.”

The competition was looking for a creative and original podcast idea.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The BBC’s Director General, Tim Davie said: “The BBC was looking for podcast ideas that would resonate with woman around the world. We were overwhelmed by the breadth and quality of the entrants.&nbsp;Within that excellent field, one idea stood out. Namulanta Kombo’s podcast will curate letters from women across the world to their daughters. It’s a wonderful idea with huge potential. I can’t wait to hear the first episode.”

Namulanta was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and has spent the last nine years working in the development sector on projects affecting Kenyans and supporting government agencies on monitoring, evaluation and policy work. She also works directly with children, running a play centre to promote learning through messy and imaginative play as well as planning national art competitions and family fun days.

The judges noted the high standard of entries, which were whittled down to a shortlist of ten, including entrants from all three of the eligible countries.&nbsp;

This final round judges panel comprised:

<ul><li>Kenyan Paula Rogo founder of Kali Media and co-founder of the Africa Podfest&nbsp;</li><li>South African Jedi Ramalapa of the pioneering Sound Africa</li><li>Nigerian FayFay (Odudu Efe), who has built a community of over 1,500 podcasters in Nigeria with Naija Pod Hub</li><li>Jon Manel, Podcast Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service (Chair)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Mary Hockaday, Controller, BBC World Service English</li><li>Jonny Kanagasooriam, Senior Planning Manager, BBC Sounds</li><li>Sharon Machira, BBC TV &amp; radio presenter and podcaster in Kenya</li></ul>

Paula Rogo said of the winning entry: “It was a simple idea with universal appeal.&nbsp;It is something all African women, but also women worldwide, will connect with. I appreciated the creative grit I saw in some entries. There were some ideas, if given the right amount of money and backing, that could be spectacular once they came to life.”

Namulanta’s podcast is scheduled to launch in December 2021.&nbsp;

The competition will return in early 2022 – details of eligible countries to follow.&nbsp;

For further information or interviews please email:

<a href="mailto:marina.forsythe@bbc.co.uk">marina.forsythe@bbc.co.uk</a> or <a href="mailto:mattie.allen@bbc.co.uk">mattie.allen@bbc.co.uk</a>

The BBC World Service’s first International Podcast Competition has been won by 38-year-old development sector worker, Namulanta Kombo from Kenya.

Announcing the winner of the first BBC World Service International Podcast Competition

The coronavirus pandemic that hit in March 2020 caused many young Africans to take to online trading as a means of earning a side or full-time income. Online trading has also been getting regular media attention as young traders have started seeing success in this nascent field.&nbsp;

Online trading refers to trading in various types of financial securities such as CFDs, equities, futures, options, and so on. Earlier, such trading was restricted to sophisticated institutional investors but is now available to the masses due to the advent of the internet and low cost online brokerages that allow investors to invest in global assets with almost zero commission model.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Online Broker comparison portal, <a href="https://www.forexbrokers.co.za/">Forex Brokers SA</a> published a report that online trading volume in Africa grew by almost 120% in 2020 with South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya having the most demand and retail traders. Number of retail traders in Africa grew from 1.3 Million in 2019 to almost 2.1 Million in 2021 attributed to demand for speculation and growth investing in global financial instruments &amp; assets like Stocks, Commodities, Cryptos, Indices, forex, derivatives among new investors looking to profit from volatility, price fall in the markets amid the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Local African stock exchanges like JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange), NSE (Nairobi Securities Exchange), NGX (Nigerian Exchange Group) have also reported their highest ever trading volumes in 2020 and 2021 as this demand is still rising and most exchanges &amp; stocks are still experiencing bull run. NGX reported 62.42% growth in market cap from N12.97 trillion in 2019 to N21.06 trillion in 2020, while NSE reported 43% growth in past 3 months.

Many leading tech stocks like Tesla, Shopify have increased in market cap due to rising retail demand from smaller investors. Low cost Online Trading Apps like EasyEquities, Faida, FXPesa, Scope Markets, Pepperstone, Cowrywise, Invest Bamboo, Chaka have made it easier for African retail investors to invest/speculate in assets/instruments like stock, mutual funds, ETFs, Indices, Forex etc.

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of online trading for Kenyan residents.

<ul><li>Access to Financial Markets - As mentioned earlier, retail traders did not have access to such financial markets. Trading in these markets was considered to be too risky for individuals, and hence, the markets were restricted to only institutional investors &amp; banks.&nbsp;</li></ul>

However, now the financial markets have been made open to the public. Global online trading brokers have broken into mainstream popularity by offering their services to beginner and novice individual traders.&nbsp;

Having access to these financial markets means that anyone can now invest in global securities through such brokerages. For example, a person from Kenya can now buy stock CFDs of American companies like Apple and Microsoft.&nbsp;

This opens a whole new world of opportunity for those who are interested in making money by trading in the financial markets.&nbsp;

<ul><li>Lower Commission Costs - As the popularity of retail trading grows, many online brokers are also reducing their fees. This reduction is largely due to economies of scale. Since online brokers are now catering to huge numbers of traders and are handling high volumes on a daily basis, they can afford to lower the costs per trade.&nbsp;</li></ul>

For example, popular online brokers like FXPesa and Luno have significantly reduced their commissions after reviewing their fee structures. This comes as a boon for the new online trader who can now trade at lower costs.&nbsp;

Furthermore, online brokerages offer their trading services at steep discounts when compared to traditional brick-and-mortar brokerages, making online trading even more attractive.&nbsp;

<ul><li>Monitoring Trades - It used to be hard for traders to keep a log of their performance and track all their trades. This used to be done by hand or on spreadsheets. However, the availability of sophisticated trading software and tools has made this process much easier. Now, online traders can easily record all their trades since it is done automatically by the trading software.&nbsp;</li></ul>

These tools also allow you to monitor the performance of your active trades. You can immediately find out the value and profit/loss on your open trades. This means that if a trade is not doing well, you can immediately cut your losses.&nbsp;

<ul><li>Availability of Trading Tools -&nbsp;It has become significantly easier to become an online trader these days thanks to sophisticated trading tools and software.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Some of the most popular trading platforms include MetaTrader 4 and cTrader. &nbsp;

These trading platforms allow traders to remain highly informed about their trades and market conditions. Some of the most widely used features of such platforms are news, technical indicators, and charts.&nbsp;

Through these features, a trader can find out what he needs to know at a much faster rate than was possible earlier. A trader can use the power of sophisticated computing to make informed trades.&nbsp;

These tools also offer much-needed features such as stop-loss orders which allow traders to mitigate their risk and exit from loss-making trades.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3>Cons of Online Trading&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>

<ul><li>Unregulated Brokers - The internet has made it possible for many unregulated brokers to start offering their trading and investing services. These online brokers are not regulated by reputable financial authorities like the FCA or the ASIC. Instead, these brokers opt for offshore regulation which may not be strict or effective in holding the online broker accountable.&nbsp;</li></ul>

For Kenyan traders, it is important to check if an online forex broker is regulated by the CMA or if a <a href="https://www.nse.co.ke/trade-on-nse/online-trading.html">stockbroker is regulated by the NSE</a>. The CMA and the NSE are the financial regulators of Kenya and have the power to hold registered brokers accountable. In case of any issues, traders can take legal recourse against erring brokers, but this is only possible if an online broker is licensed by the CMA or the NSE to offer its trading services in Kenya.&nbsp;

<ul><li>Gambling Tendencies - It is quite easy for a new individual trader to start speculating on the financial markets in the hopes of getting rich quickly. Online traders advertise their services as a means for traders to make a lot of money without spending too much effort.&nbsp;</li></ul>

This is a fallacy, since trading on the financial markets is a highly sophisticated activity that requires years of study and practice.&nbsp;

Trading can lead to large losses or the loss of the trader’s total capital unless a trader is very careful. A trader needs to study and implement proper risk management techniques in order to ensure that bad trades do not become worse.&nbsp;

The tendency to gamble on the financial markets is not new. Many traders believe that trading is a matter of luck and it is just a matter of time before they get rich. However, nothing can be further from the truth.&nbsp;

<ul><li>Risk of Phishing &amp; Cybersecurity: The internet can be a dangerous place. There are many scammers out there who are looking to steal your identity and personal information. Phishing is a type of scam in which a scammer pretends to be someone else in order to obtain sensitive information from a victim.&nbsp;</li></ul>

Phishing scammers commonly pose as online brokers in order to get sensitive information from inexperienced traders. These scammers set up websites which look very real and entice visitors to give up their information.&nbsp;

Hence, traders need to be very careful when submitting sensitive information online. They must verify the genuineness of websites before providing any information.&nbsp;

<ul><li>Overtrading: Overtrading refers to the tendency of traders to recuperate their losses by investing more money. This tendency creates a trap for a trader by making a bad situation even worse. A trader may believe that he can turn a loss-making trade into profit, however, this rarely happens.&nbsp;</li></ul>

The best thing to do when faced with a bad trade is to cut your losses and exit the trade rather than making the problem worse. The tendency to invest more and more in the hopes of recuperating losses is also known as “gambler’s fallacy” and online traders need to be aware of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Online trading is only going to increase in popularity as awareness about it grows across Kenya and the rest of the world. Thanks to the low barrier to entry, online trading is a space of high opportunity for Kenyan brokers &amp; traders.&nbsp;

With the access to global financial instruments, Kenyan traders can get exposure to market conditions in other parts of the world. But traders must watch out for the risks at the same time.&nbsp;

Online Trading is growing popular, but what are its Pros &amp; Cons?

The Pros & Cons of Online Trading

&nbsp;The merger of operations promises a new level of trade experience for auto buyers and sellers across the three countries. Joining the Jiji family will allow Cars45 users to benefit from Jiji’s market-leading products in online classifieds. In turn, Cars45 brings a unique O2O car buying and selling service, where cars can safely be sold instantly to dealers or via a consumer marketplace to other consumers.&nbsp;

Together, users in the auto sector can expect a new level of convenience in buying and selling cars, combining online and offline capabilities.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Anton Volyansky, CEO and co-founder of Jiji, said: “We are looking forward to creating a new advanced experience for Cars45 users. Undoubtedly, our collaboration on future products and services will bring additional value to the consumers. For Jiji, it’s the first bold step into the transactional business model and an important foundation for building the future of the company.”&nbsp;

Vladimir Mnogoletniy, co-founder and board member of Jiji, commented: “The merger is the next logical step in Jiji development as the leading e-commerce platform on the continent. Our strategy implies moving further into transactional marketplace models and Cars45 merger is an important step in its realisation. We’re excited by the perspectives of the joint business and by the variety of additional options that both Jiji and Cars45 customers will have.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;Maksym Golubev, country manager of Jiji Kenya commented, “We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with Cars 45. We believe this will offer a new car buying and selling experience, where we will be able to inspect cars on behalf of buyers, making us the safest online platform to buy cars in Africa. With this kind of unparalleled experience, our market reach will exponentially grow since we will be exploring a business outside our usual classifieds model and our car sellers will benefit from it by selling their cars faster now than ever before."

Soumobroto Ganguly, CEO of Cars45, commented: “We are proud to have built a trusted buying and selling experience in autos. It makes sense to combine online and offline expertise. Merging with Jiji is aimed at creating a new kind of automotive retail experience for users in Africa. We are confident of jointly building an African Champion in the O2O Automotive Sector. Together we look forward to making transactions transparent and convenient for our customers, dealers and franchisees across all our current and future markets.&nbsp;

&nbsp;According to&nbsp;Jiji CFO David Ojo, Cars45’s key value is its network of inspection centres where cars&nbsp;are inspected by&nbsp;more than 200 parameters. Unlike a classifieds marketplace where checks are&nbsp;inadequately&nbsp;carried out, transactional models employed by platforms like Cars45 ensure quality checks and detailed reports on a car’s condition with various databases.

Following the closing of the transaction, the operations of Cars45 and Jiji will merge to create a single organisation which will offer unique services for car sellers, buyers and dealers in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.&nbsp;

&nbsp;About Jiji:&nbsp;

Jiji is a leading online marketplace in Africa. With operations across five countries, the platform attracts over 11 million unique users monthly that engage with over 3 million ads with a total value of over $10 billion. Jiji is currently among the most downloaded and highest-rated apps in African e-commerce.&nbsp;

&nbsp;About Cars45:&nbsp;

Cars45 is the leading transactional car marketplace in Africa. The technology platform allows sellers and buyers of African used cars to understand condition and value and exchange cars quickly and safely. By creating online infrastructure and digital processes in the automotive retail space Cars45 has led the shift towards an organised auto sector in Africa. The company started in July 2016 and has helped tens of thousands of customers trade in and buy cars in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.&nbsp;

Jiji, supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lemma.group/">Lemma.Group</a>,&nbsp;and Cars45 today announced that both companies had reached an agreement, under which they will merge their operations in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria.

Jiji to welcome Cars45 users in Africa

Officiating the ceremony, KBL Commercial Director, Joel Kamau said “We have invested KES 4million in refurbishing the clubhouse bar as well as modifying the sports bar. For this outlet, we are looking to make the Golf club the home of Johnnie Walker, with an exclusive bar for the iconic scotch whisky. Through this partnership, we hope to raise the profile of Johnnie Walker within the golf fraternity by demonstrating that it has the breadth to deliver both premium and reserve quality experiences.”

The club partnership with Johnnie Walker is in line with the brand 200 years celebrations. The newly opened club, dubbed ‘The Centenary’ will be the home of Johnnie Walker Super Deluxe and Luxury Home.&nbsp;

&nbsp;He pointed out that the partnership with Kenya Railways Golf Club was taking the sports club to a new level of sophistication and class. He encouraged the club management to keep the drinks affordable so that everyone could buy for themselves for consumption, their homes as well as gifts for their friends and loved ones.&nbsp;

Mr. Stanley Karanja, the Chairman of Kenya Railways Golf Club, said that Johnnie Walker sports bar is the best golf club in East and Central Africa with amazing aesthetics. The aesthetics of the bar were refurbished in under a month in anticipation of the launch with the help of Mr. Dilrej of Timberworld Limited who did a fine job with the Mahogany wood which has given the club a premium exclusive look which represents the brand. Mr. Bhapesh of Sight and Sound Limited also played a major role in enhancing the sound and screens of the sports bar.

L-R, L-R, Peter Kiguru (KCU Chairman), Sammy Karanja (Chairman Railways Golf Club), Joel Kamau (Commercial Director KBL), Nicholas Mutinda (Head of Reserve & Key Accounts KBL) 03

Kenya Railways Golf Club which was established in 1921, had not undergone any major remodification until this year, when they turned 100 years.&nbsp;The investment for this massive project is Kes. 4million.

KBL invest Ksh. 4million to re-modernize 100 years old Kenya Railways Golf Club

A beginner photographer may wonder what tips can really come in handy. In this article, we’ll cover the essential ones you definitely need for setting up an effective and efficient photo editing workflow.&nbsp;

<h2>#1 Always Saving an Original Copy</h2>

The process of photo editing is always full of creativity. Sometimes, the idea can come up from nowhere, so with that piece of inspiration, photographers are ready to make the entire process from scratch. Or else, they come up with another concept of photo editing, which requires another cropping style, color editing, or simply add effects to the original.&nbsp;

Sometimes it is impossible to go back to the very first change: some of the photo editors don’t have that feature in their interface! Saving an original copy of all your photos can ensure you’ll always have an option of making some other style and provide your clients with a choice. Furthermore, a photographer can ensure none of the photos made can be lost, which is certainly a great benefit.&nbsp;

<h2>#2 Straightening and Cropping Correctly</h2>

Cropping tools can easily turn a boring composition into a better one. It allows you to follow the right composition, remove some irrelevant elements and not waste time correcting the other elements that will be removed from the image later.&nbsp;

Even a perfect photo with enough light and in a great location can be easily spoiled by the sensor dust. The problem of the dirt on the lenses will always accompany photographers and often become a pain point during the editing process. Various particles on the lenses become especially visible when you shoot with a smaller aperture of f/16 or lower.&nbsp;

To get rid of that issue, you can apply the spot healing brush (for Photoshop) or the spot removal tool (available for Lightroom). Besides, it’s a nice idea to use these options for the portray photos to remove the blemishes on the skin if needed. These procedures are also better to complete before you start adding effects and playing with the color palette.&nbsp;

Being enchanted with the various multimedia software, photographers usually make that rookie mistake of adding too many presets and changes. After realizing the main idea of the editing tools, it becomes more than clear: they were created to achieve the balance.&nbsp;

Just bear in mind the golden rule of KISS - Keep It Short and Simple. It’s possible to achieve the right composition by playing around the curve tool and the white balance.&nbsp;

Catch the most appropriate feeling by making your next picture. Peter Adams, a great photographer, once said: “Great photography is about the depth of feeling, not the depth of field.”

<h2>#5 Finding the Golden Balance of Editing</h2>

It often happens that on the very first steps on their career path, photographers can’t set up a comfortable style they’re going to proceed with. As a result, two things can happen: either they don’t really change the situation with a photo by editing it, or they are captured by over-processing each of them.&nbsp;

That’s not only a waste of your time and resources but also seems too unnatural for others. Furthermore, sometimes it leads to starting the process from scratch to find common ground with your client.&nbsp;

To achieve the so-called “golden balance”, it’s a nice option of training your feel of colors and styles you like. For example, you can analyze the work of others and use those photos as the reference for the practice.

<h2>#6 Not Rushing the Editing Process</h2>

The first times of editing photos might be a little bit overwhelming, requiring lots of patience and practice to achieve the desired result. For sure, the editing process is not a matter of minutes, even if you’re a pro.

However, photographers with advanced skills know a good recipe for the perfect editing - make it enjoyable. For instance, you can find the right mood and inspiration from good music or a nice atmosphere around you.&nbsp;

<h2>#7 Utilizing the Multimedia Software</h2>

Photo editing software is the best assistant of any photographer. That is why some usable shortcuts and presets in Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom can significantly reduce the editing time: add effects with the same settings by slightly adapting them to each photo.&nbsp;

Specific editing techniques can help photographers to give fresh momentum to the photos of any style: floral or food photography, travel and nature, lifestyle and interior photography, portraits, and others. With the assistance of photography techniques and tools, it becomes way easier to create your personal style and adapt it to the latest trends in this industry.&nbsp;

However, the multimedia software doesn’t solely cover the photo editing tools. To develop a unique and professional style, you should also make use of sources like Instagram or Pinterest to get a piece of inspiration and discover the latest trends in photography.&nbsp;

The photo editing process is the right way to find the golden balance of any photo. The changes made with it shouldn’t distract the colors and composition. Instead, they need to emphasize its unique atmosphere and minimize the imperfections in it.&nbsp;

Following these simple yet professional tips can greatly help you to set up the most comfortable editing process for creating the nicest pieces of art.&nbsp;

As a photographer, you probably know how important it is to catch the right momentum for making the best photo. Sometimes it can even turn out to be a huge challenge due to the lack of specific skills for working with photo editing tools or models, the light and time-effective workflow.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Most Effective Photo Editing Skills You'll Ever Need

With that thought in mind, we decided to weigh in on this debate and name some of the areas that are deemed as the smartest investments in 2021. We’ll also be taking a look at what makes them so profitable. Without any further ado, let’s check out the top-ranked investments for this year.&nbsp;

Real estate has always been a top-ranked investment. The beauty in it is that their value never falls down. On the contrary, the price of real estate is among the most stable in the world. There are several ways through which you can profit with real estate. Renting for long-term, home-renovation flips, contract flipping, lease options, etc.&nbsp;

All of these ways have proven to be extremely effective. In the recent period, home-renovation flips have become commonly used. With this type of investment, you buy one property, renovate it, and then sell it for a higher price, thus earn money.&nbsp;

If there is one thing that managed to shake the global financial industry this year, it is Bitcoin. This cryptocurrency has had nothing short of an amazing run in the recent period. At the moment, its value fluctuates between $50,000 and $60,000 and the chances of making a profit off Bitcoin are enormous.&nbsp;

Not only that, but with the rise of this cryptocurrency, trading sites, which are the marketplaces for selling and buying Bitcoin have managed to provide traders with one additional and very advanced service. They utilize AI systems that are able to collect the data about Bitcoin from the market and analyze it.&nbsp;

The purpose of the analysis is to make accurate predictions on Bitcoin’s future fluctuations. The <a href="https://bitqh.app/">Bitqh app</a> is one of the trading sites that have the most advanced AI systems of this character, which is why thousands of people use their services. Not only that, but the daily profitability rate here is enormous.&nbsp;

These advanced services are the reason why investing and profiting with Bitcoin has become easier than ever. And if you are still wondering whether that is a smart move, take the following into consideration. Experts are predicting that Bitcoin has the potential to rise as high as $100,000 by the end of 2021.&nbsp;

Stocks are always a smart investment as they can provide you with a steady income over a longer period without requiring you to do anything. Of course, that changes if you are a majority holder at a company, but most of the time, even though the profits from that type of investment are high, the cost is also not cheap.&nbsp;

Not only that, but at some point, you can even sell your shares for a better price than the one you have bought them for. And if you are wondering which stocks should you take into consideration, feel free to <a href="https://money.usnews.com/investing/stock-market-news/slideshows/best-stocks-to-buy-this-year">take a look at this list</a>. It contains info on some of the potentially most profitable stock investments for this year.&nbsp;

Electric Vehicles

Finally, we have what is considered the future of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles have had a massive surge in popularity in the past couple of years. For example, for the first time in its history, Denmark reported that the number of electric vehicle sales exceeded the one of petrol vehicles.&nbsp;

The technology that is used to power these cars is already at our disposal, but since it is still new, these vehicles are still a bit expensive. But, their massive future potential makes them the perfect candidate. Investing in electric vehicle companies would be a long-term investment as you would have to wait several years to cash out, but the profits can be extremely substantial.

Regardless of what your current focus is and which industry you are looking to invest in, you must make sure that you do the proper research and calculate the risks vs the rewards. The more thought you put into the process, the higher the chances of profit are.

In the recent period, most entrepreneurs are looking for the next big thing and are constantly watching the market for the latest developments.&nbsp;

The Smartest Investments in 2021

Maintaining a balanced diet and <a href="https://www.pulselive.co.ke/lifestyle/beauty-health/bitter-kola-the-7-health-benefits-of-this-plant-are-incredible/8rymcn4">eating healthy foods like bitter kola</a> are certainly beneficial to our health, but so too is exercise and the range of benefits that working up a sweat can bring to the body. We all need some form of activity in our lives, making the need for helpful gadgets and other forms of tech in this space a welcome introduction. Some of the products on offer today produce better results, while others enable people to upgrade a home gym.&nbsp;

With a detailed selection of fitness gadgets being snapped up on a regular basis all around the world at the moment, we thought we’d highlight some of the best of them.

Tangram skipping rope

Even the humble skipping rope hasn’t escaped a technological facelift. In the case of the Tangram skipping rope, it’s a hugely impressive improvement too. This smart rope comes with 23 LEDs and magnetic sensors, which help keep track of your workouts and provide various feedback on aspects of your skipping session. You can find out how many calories you’ve burned, for example.&nbsp;

UpRight Go Posture Trainer

Having a bad posture can not only lead to a number of health issues later on in life, but it can also hinder a workout if you’re experiencing any aches and pains. If you’re prone to slouching on the sofa while you tuck into a game of <a href="https://www.mansioncasino.com/za/slots/">slots from Mansion for South Africans players</a>, or you’re regularly suffering from back pain while at your desk at work, consider purchasing the UpRight Go Posture Trainer. This miniature device fits tidily onto your back and provides real-time posture feedback via an app to your smartphone. If you can’t stop slouching, then give the UpRight Go Posture Trainer is a go.

Suffering from aches and pains after a workout <a href="https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/sore-muscles-dont-stop-exercising#1">is a common issue</a>, making the need for inventions like the PowerDot 2.0 a very real one. Offering targeted muscle recovery via a slick and easy to grasp app, the PowerDot 2.0 is a portable performance tool that provides electrical stimulation to help people recover from injury or alleviate any annoying or painful twinges.&nbsp;

Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells

Owning a set of dumbbells can take up a lot of room. Step forward, the all-in-one offering in the shape of the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells. You can go from light to heavy weights with the turn of a dial thanks to its one set design. They come with an impressive app, too, allowing you to gain a more detailed insight into your dumbbell workouts.&nbsp;

As far as vibrating rollers go, the Pulseroll Plus is probably the best device on the market. We all experience soreness after exercising or need to loosen up before a workout, which is what the Pulseroll Plus helps combat. A specialist in stimulating myofascial release, this vibrating foam roller has you covered.&nbsp;

The running community can’t get enough of it, and it’s entirely understandable as to why, as NURVV Run’s smart insoles continue to help people run faster and with a better technique all around the world. The insole fits easily into most running shoes, and it records your route thanks to its built-in GPS. You can gain feedback around your cadence, step length, foot strike, pronation and a whole host of other beneficial data, too.

Modern technology is booming, with practically every facet of society on the receiving end of some form of technological makeover in recent times. <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/343524">The fitness industry is no different</a>, with a variety of useful gadgets and tech being used by fitness enthusiasts all over the world.

Improve your workout with these impressive fitness gadgets in 2021

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This incredibly talented PSG forward is from Cameroonian and Algerian stock, meaning that while he plays for Les Bleus, a part of him will always belong to Africa.

In 2018 he became only the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final. Few will be betting against him doing the same at Euro 2020.

After PSG made a slow start to their Ligue 1 campaign, Mbappé is now hitting top form at just the right time and already has <a href="https://www.oddschecker.com/football/euro-2020/free-bets">fans snapping up online sports betting deals</a> to back him to pocket the Euro 2020 golden boot award. A recent hattrick against Barcelona in the Champions League made him even more popular with those same fans.

Will Mbappé’s goals drive the French team to another famous tournament victory?

Kean’s career appeared to have hit the brakes in 2020 when he was deemed surplus to requirements by Premier League team Everton and allowed to go out on loan to PSG.

Most observers thought he would spend the bulk of his time warming the bench in Paris, but instead the Italian international <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9269783/PSGs-Moise-Kean-restored-reputation-one-Europes-hottest-young-strikers.html">has been an indispensable part of the PSG squad</a>.

Although Kean plays for Italy, he has strong Ivory Coast connections and had the option of playing for the African nation before eventually joining the Azzurri.

He will be a constant thorn in the sides of defenders at Euro 2020 and could be a good outside bet for the Golden Boot.

When Barcelona and Spanish national team coaches realised just what a talented player this winger from Guinea-Bissau was, they made sure to fast track his application for Spanish citizenship.

He is now seen as a potential long-term replacement for the likes of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, and for men such as Fernando Torres and David Villa in the Spanish national setup.

That is a lot to ask of a man who only recently turned 18, but he could well send his hype train into overdrive this summer if his goals propel Spain to the Euro 2020 title.

Will Portugal be able to retain the title they won against the odds in 2016?

At 16, Ansu Fati has come a long way to make the Barcelona squad

With this exciting changing of the guard about to take place, we thought we would cast an eye over those young players who promise to be the future of the sport, and who also have a proud African heritage beating in their hearts.

Players of African Heritage Who Are Set to Thrill at Euro 2020

Before that, he did menial jobs and it was in one where he worked as a site man, that he first saw an advertisement on the 2jiajiri programme, from a newspaper that his then-boss had come with. In December of the same year, he visited his parents in the village and his mother reminded him of the love he had for cars, as she encouraged him to apply for the skills program.

Mr. Mbuthia who currently owns an Auto-Garage based in Membley, Ruiru decided to go to school, and he walked into the KCB Nyeri branch where he did his application and selected Nyeri National Polytechnic as his school of choice because it was closer to home.

Shortly after joining, he started drafting an idea of setting up his garage, in consultation with 2jiajiri whom he had requested to also help him set it up. He adds that one meeting with the then KCB Foundation Executive Director who had visited their institution opened up another opportunity to grow his skills after pitching his business idea to her.&nbsp;

“She said it’s a very good business idea and the only way I can help you is to give skills,” said Mbuthia.

She selected a few other students from his class, they went for interviews, and soon after, they joined the Toyota Kenya academy, and three years down the line, he does not regret joining 2jiajiri.

Kelvin says his desire for independence is another driving force that gets him out of bed to do what he does best.

Kevin Mbuthia acknowledges that 2jiajiri has made a very big impact in his life by equipping him with knowledge, skills, exposure, and a network that has made him independent, and it’s a program he highly recommends to young people, because it is making a real difference in the society, by giving people a way to a livelihood.

Established in 2016, 2jiajiri is part of KCB Group’s support towards uplifting society through skills development and job creation among youth. The programme empowers and equips unemployed and out-of-school youth in the informal sector to start and grow micro enterprises.

2jiajiri has the wider economic benefit of having each of these budding entrepreneurs employ five people, each with the bigger goal of creating over one million jobs in five years.

Mr. Mbuthia who currently owns an Auto-Garage based in Membley, Ruiru decided to go to school, and he walked into the KCB Nyeri branch where he did his application and selected Nyeri National Polytechnic as his school of choice

For Kelvin Mbuthia, it is his love for cars from an early age that saw him join KCB Foundation’s 2jiajiri programme so that he could relive a dream he had as a kid.

Kelvin Mbuthia’s love for cars led him into the Automotive Engineering business

Ms. Kainyu who currently owns “The Rainbow Plate” a catering services company based in Kasarani started thinking about self-employment, a journey she says has been very beautiful and full of lessons.

“My self-employment journey has been very beautiful, it has taught me things like patience because sometimes there’s plenty of work, and sometimes there’s no work at all, and I have learned that I’m not supposed to be extravagant when there is work because there are also low seasons. I’m not supposed to lose hope, and look at low seasons as a challenge and find a way to make it better. It has taught me how to network and teamwork,” she said.

Soon after completing high school education, Ms. Betty Kainyu went out looking for employment, and guess what, she got a job as an Mpesa attendant. She would later get employed by her former high school as a peer teacher, and months later, she was selling mitumba in Ngara, Nairobi.

David Kiarie

Articles written by the author

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