#global payment processing

[ritiknegi12-blog]

Global Payment Gateway

Expanding your business globally requires a payment solution for international transactions. This infographic covers the basics of a global payment gateway, its functions, key features, and how WebPays stands out. Read the whole infographic to know more.

[webpayspg]

Global Payment Processing

Handling payments across borders can be complex, especially for high-risk businesses. WebPays offers global payment processing and high-risk merchant solutions to support secure and efficient international transactions. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business manage payments with ease.

[littlebellesmama]

Cash Against Documents: A Practical Tool for Global Trade

In international trade, doing business across borders brings both opportunity and risk. One of the biggest concerns for exporters is getting paid, especially when dealing with buyers in new markets. At the same time, buyers don’t want to pay before goods are shipped. A practical solution that balances both sides is Cash Against Documents (CAD). CAD is a payment method where the seller ships the…

[antonyshelton]

Build the Future of Gaming with Crypto Casino Development Solutions

[offshore-unipay]

Discover global high-risk payment solutions designed for businesses in challenging sectors. Secure, reliable processing for all your payment needs. Get started today! Keywords-

[moolamore]

Unlock Global Potential with Brilliant Multi-Currency Solutions from Moolamore

Moolamore's brilliant multi-currency solutions can help your company reach its full global potential. In today's interconnected world, conducting international transactions smoothly and efficiently is critical to success. Moolamore simplifies international payments by allowing you to transact seamlessly in multiple currencies while reducing the complexities and costs associated with currency conversion.

Good for you! There is a solution on the horizon: Moolamore, a cutting-edge cash flow tool that your SME company will undoubtedly require to function brilliantly, adapt, innovate, and grow successfully.

[agent4justice]

Scammers sophistication technique have reached a new apex, making Banking Fraud just like a walk in the park to this crime syndicates with richer background helter-skelters depositors and has been keeping most retirees that reinvested most of their retirement plan sleepless after words of the threat that swept the streets does not seem to have not weakened at all.

Masses are appealing for a more stringent countermeasure to be in place as soon as possible, such are adding more authentication request. Although retina scanner can slow down the process with the amount or rather the size of the data, but it also gives us an opportunity of having time to lockout perpetrators. The size of the data makes it at least 70% better than an iris scan and many more folds multiplied compared to a fingerprint.

Several years ago, I foresaw that the mCommerce (mobile commerce) would be ruled out as the mainstay of electronic processing for the sole reason that it is the most affordable business appliance that can serve the majority, representing the poor to medium class and the trending plot of global economic structure just like a triangle.

Having mCommerce | Mobile Technology as our economic transport offers the possibility of catering and adding the biggest chunk of our global population to pitch in the global trade for us to achieve having reserves and surplus will be more conceivable.

To make it a little impenetrable and globally under tighter scrutiny, I proposed that we adopt the universal identification system. We will integrate every other form of identity attached to it using our mobile number as the key index that will permanently our lifetime phone number. In the event of loss, the telco will make a SIM based on a secret code given to the subscriber upon the receipt of your subscription and issuance, which will be honored and will be service by other Telcos if subscriber opt to change carrier. The number coding of telcos should also compliment tracking effort, narrowed down within the radius and range of a few kilometers apart where the last signal was received or transmitted. The succeeding successful connection recorded by cell sites would enable us to speculate the linear direction as it trends.

We will enable the mobile technology to be a conduit of payment gateways or as a payment gateway itself. Our objective is to open the global trade and cover a larger scope and as far-reaching it could service most specially the marginalized poor a chance to lift their social status getting connected and finally be able to join our bandwagon to the brighter future. The fact can't be denied that they have been left without an adequate means to tap the convenience and business opportunity through eCommerce. Through the mobile payment gateway, even in the absence of a banking system in their region, they can now fulfill the checkout process by loading or charging it from your telco which is even less intricate than having a debit card or as to many known financial credibility.

#mobilepaymentgateway

#mobiletechnology

#mCommerce

#onlinefraud

#RetinaScan

Scammers sophistication technique have reached a new apex, making Banking Fraud just like a walk in the park to this crime syndicates with richer background helter-skelters depositors and has been keeping most retirees that reinvested most of their retirement plan sleepless after words of the threat that swept the streets does not seem to have not weakened at all.

Masses are appealing for a more stringent countermeasure to be in place as soon as possible, such are adding more authentication request. Although retina scanner can slow down the process with the amount or rather the size of the data, but it also gives us an opportunity of having time to lockout perpetrators. The size of the data makes it at least 70% better than an iris scan and many more folds multiplied compared to a fingerprint.

Several years ago, I foresaw that the mCommerce (mobile commerce) would be ruled out as the mainstay of electronic processing for the sole reason that it is the most affordable business appliance that can serve the majority, representing the poor to medium class and the trending plot of global economic structure just like a triangle.

Having mCommerce | Mobile Technology as our economic transport offers the possibility of catering and adding the biggest chunk of our global population to pitch in the global trade for us to achieve having reserves and surplus will be more conceivable.

To make it a little impenetrable and globally under tighter scrutiny, I proposed that we adopt the universal identification system. We will integrate every other form of identity attached to it using our mobile number as the key index that will permanently our lifetime phone number. In the event of loss, the telco will make a SIM based on a secret code given to the subscriber upon the receipt of your subscription and issuance, which will be honored and will be service by other Telcos if subscriber opt to change carrier. The number coding of telcos should also compliment tracking effort, narrowed down within the radius and range of a few kilometers apart where the last signal was received or transmitted. The succeeding successful connection recorded by cell sites would enable us to speculate the linear direction as it trends.

We will enable the mobile technology to be a conduit of payment gateways or as a payment gateway itself. Our objective is to open the global trade and cover a larger scope and as far-reaching it could service most specially the marginalized poor a chance to lift their social status getting connected and finally be able to join our bandwagon to the brighter future. The fact can't be denied that they have been left without an adequate means to tap the convenience and business opportunity through eCommerce. Through the mobile payment gateway, even in the absence of a banking system in their region, they can now fulfill the checkout process by loading or charging it from your telco which is even less intricate than having a debit card or as to many known financial credibility.

#mobilepaymentgateway

#mobiletechnology

#mCommerce

#onlinefraud

#RetinaScan

#FraudAlert

#FraudAlert

[payment-process-services]

Say Goodbye to Payment Woes: Choose WebPays' Reliable eCommerce Payment Gateway

In the ever-evolving landscape of eCommerce, where digital transactions dictate success, the importance of a reliable and secure payment gateway cannot be overstated. As the global eCommerce market continues its upward trajectory, businesses find themselves at a crossroads, grappling with the pivotal decision of selecting a trustworthy payment solution. In this pivotal moment, WebPays emerges as a beacon of reliability, offering a lifeline to businesses navigating the complex realm of online payments.

Navigating the Seas of eCommerce Growth

Recent statistics from reputable sources like Statista illuminate the staggering growth of the eCommerce sector, reaching an unprecedented $5.7 trillion in global sales in 2022. This exponential surge in online transactions underscores the critical need for seamless and secure e-commerce payment gateway. Consumers demand frictionless transactions, and businesses must rise to the occasion, integrating robust payment solutions to meet these expectations.

WebPays: The Epitome of Reliability

In this crowded landscape, WebPays distinguishes itself through a powerful combination of cutting-edge technology and an unwavering commitment to security. As indicated by a recent survey conducted by eMarketer, 56% of consumers prioritize security in online transactions, reinforcing the paramount importance of a secure payment infrastructure. WebPays, a high risk payment processing provider cognizant of this concern, employs state-of-the-art encryption protocols, erecting an impervious fortress around customer data.

99.9% Uptime: A Testament to Reliability

One of the foremost concerns for businesses venturing into the eCommerce sphere is payment reliability. The repercussions of a payment glitch can be severe, leading to dissatisfied customers and potential revenue loss. WebPays confronts this challenge head-on, proudly boasting a remarkable 99.9% uptime. This impressive statistic underscores WebPays' commitment to providing a consistent and reliable payment gateway for businesses of all sizes.

Seamless Integration: A Gateway for All Businesses

WebPays caters to the diverse needs of businesses, whether they are burgeoning startups or established enterprises. The platform's user-friendly interface ensures a hassle-free integration process, aligning with the findings of a study by Gartner, which reveals that businesses prioritizing user experience witness a substantial 20% increase in customer satisfaction. In an era where user experience reigns supreme, WebPays positions itself as a reliable ally for businesses seeking to enhance their payment processes.

Global Reach, Local Expertise: A Winning Combination

WebPays' global reach is complemented by its acute understanding of local nuances, acknowledging the findings of the PYMNTS.com survey that indicates 77% of consumers prefer localized payment options. Recognizing the diverse preferences of consumers across different regions, WebPay’s e-commerce global payment gateway offers a myriad of payment methods, ensuring businesses can tailor their payment processes to align with local trends and demands. This localized approach sets WebPays apart, positioning it as a versatile and adaptable solution for businesses operating on a global scale.

Fortifying Against Fraud: A Proactive Approach

In an era besieged by digital threats, WebPays adopts a proactive stance against fraud. The platform employs sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms that analyze transaction patterns in real-time, swiftly identifying and preventing fraudulent activities. According to a report by Juniper Research, AI-based fraud prevention systems have the potential to reduce fraud-related costs by up to 40%. This proactive approach positions WebPays as a reliable guardian, safeguarding businesses and their customers from the ever-looming specter of online fraud.

Cost-Effective Solutions for Sustainable Growth

Understanding the financial challenges faced by businesses, especially in their formative years, WebPays offers competitive pricing models. This enables businesses to manage costs efficiently, a critical factor for sustained growth according to a survey by Deloitte, where 85% of businesses cite cost management as vital for their long-term success. By providing cost-effective solutions, WebPays empowers businesses to channel their resources strategically, fostering sustainable growth in the fiercely competitive eCommerce landscape.

Responsive Customer Support: A Pillar of Assurance

In the dynamic landscape of eCommerce, issues can surface at any moment. WebPays distinguishes itself by offering responsive customer support, ensuring that businesses have a lifeline whenever problems arise. According to a Zendesk survey, 90% of customers consider excellent customer service vital in their decision-making process. WebPays recognizes the importance of this pillar of assurance, standing ready to assist businesses in navigating the intricacies of online transactions.

Future-Proofing Your Business with WebPays

As the eCommerce landscape continues to evolve, businesses must adopt solutions that not only meet their current needs but also future-proof their operations. WebPays stands as a beacon in this regard, with continuous updates and innovations designed to keep pace with the dynamic nature of online commerce. The platform's forward-thinking approach positions it as a strategic partner for businesses aiming not just for immediate success but for sustained growth in the ever-changing eCommerce terrain.

The Road Ahead: Making an Informed Choice

In conclusion, the choice of an ecommerce payment gateway can make or break an eCommerce venture. WebPays, with its reliable infrastructure, commitment to security, global reach, and cost-effective solutions, stands out as a frontrunner in the competitive landscape. Embrace a future free from payment woes—choose WebPays and unlock the full potential of your eCommerce business. As businesses navigate the complex seas of online transactions, WebPays emerges as a steadfast anchor, providing the stability and reliability needed to thrive in the ever-evolving eCommerce ecosystem.

[kc22invesmentsblog]

Unveiling the Power of Payment Processing: Visa and Mastercard

Written by Delvin In today’s digital age, payment processing plays a pivotal role in enabling seamless transactions between merchants and banks. As two prominent payment processors, Visa and Mastercard have revolutionized the way we conduct financial transactions. In this blog post, we will explore the functions and significance of payment processing, with a focus on the contributions of Visa…

[ritiknegi12-blog]

Global Payment Processing

Managing international transactions can be challenging, especially for high-risk industries. WebPays provides global payment processing solutions, ensuring secure and efficient cross-border transactions. Contact us today to get started.

[webpayspg]

Global Payment Compliance Risks

Handling international payments goes beyond moving money. It involves legal, banking, and data rules. inquid helps manage global payment compliance risks with solutions and merchant accounts for complex markets. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your business across regions.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Of course we can tax billionaires

On OCTOBER 23 at 7PM, I'll be in DECATUR, presenting my novel THE BEZZLE at EAGLE EYE BOOKS.

Billionaires are pretty confident that they can't be taxed – not just that they shouldn't be taxed, but rather, that it is technically impossible to tax the ultra-rich. They're not shy about explaining why, either – and neither is their army of lickspittles.

If it's impossible to tax billionaires, then anyone who demands that we tax billionaires is being childish. If taxing billionaires is impossible, then being mad that we're not taxing billionaires is like being mad at gravity.

Boy is this old trick getting old. It was already pretty thin when Margaret Thatcher rolled it out, insisting that "there is no alternative" to her program of letting the rich get richer and the poor go hungry. Dressing up a demand ("stop trying to think of alternatives") as a scientific truth ("there is no alternative") sets up a world where your opponents are Doing Ideology, while you're doing science.

Billionaires basically don't pay tax – that's a big part of how they got to be billionaires:

https://www.propublica.org/series/the-secret-irs-files

By cheating on their taxes, they get to keep – and invest – more money than less-rich people (who get to keep more money than regular people and poor people, obvs). They get so much money that they can "invest" it in corrupting the political process, for example, by flushing vast sums of dark money into elections to unseat politicians who care about finance crime and replace them with crytpo-friendly lawmakers who'll turn a blind eye to billionaires' scams:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/14/silicon-valley-the-new-lobbying-monster

Once someone gets rich enough, they acquire impunity. They become too big to fail. They become too big to jail. They become too big to care. They buy presidents. They become president.

A decade ago, Thomas Piketty published his landmark Capital in the 21st Century, tracing three centuries of global capital flows and showing how extreme inequality creates political instability, leading to bloody revolutions and world wars that level the playing field by destroying most of the world's capital in an orgy of violence, with massive collateral damage:

https://memex.craphound.com/2014/06/24/thomas-pikettys-capital-in-the-21st-century/

Piketty argued that unless we taxed the rich, we would attain the same political instability that provoked the World Wars, but in a nuclear-tipped world that was poised on the brink of ecological collapse. He even laid out a program for this taxation, one that took accord of all the things rich people would try to hide their assets.

Today, the destruction that Piketty prophesied is on our doorstep, and all over the world, political will is gathering to do something about our billionaire problem. The debate rages from France to dozen-plus US states that are planning wealth taxes on the ultra-rich.

Wherever that debate takes hold, billionaires and their proxies pop up to tell us that we're Doing Ideology, that there is no alternative, and that it is literally impossible to tax the ultra-rich.

In a new blog post, Piketty deftly demolishes this argument, showing how thin the arguments for the impossibility of a billionaire tax really is:

https://www.lemonde.fr/blog/piketty/2024/10/15/how-to-tax-billionaires/

First, there's the argument that the ultra-rich are actually quite poor. Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg don't have a lot of money, they have a lot of stock, which they can't sell. Why can't they sell their stock? You'll hear a lot of complicated arguments about illiquidity and the effect on the share-price of a large sell-off, but they all boil down to this: if we make billionaires sell a bunch of their stock, they will be poorer.

No duh.

Piketty has an answer to the liquidity crisis of our poormouthing billionaires:

If finding a buyer is challenging, the government could accept these shares as payment for taxes. If necessary, it could then sell these shares through various methods, such as offering employees to purchase them, which would increase their stake in the company.

Though Piketty doesn't say so, billionaires are not actually poor. They have fucktons of cash, which they acquire through something called "buy, borrow, die," which allows them to create intergenerational dynastic wealth for their failsons:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/buy-borrow-die-rich-avoid-140004536.html

Billionaires know they're not poor. They even admit it, when they say, "Okay, but the other reason it's impossible to tax us is that we're richer and therefore more powerful than the governments that want to try it."

Piketty points out the shell-game at the core of this argument: the free movement of money that allows for tax-dodging was created by governments. They made these laws, so they can change them. Governments that can't exercise their sovereign power to tax the wealthy end up taxing the poor, eroding their legitimacy and hence their power. Taxing the rich – a wildly popular move – will make governments more powerful, not less.

Big countries like the US (and federations like the EU) have a lot of power. The US ended Swiss banking secrecy and manages to tax Americans living abroad. There's no reason that France couldn't pass a wealth-tax that applies to people based on their historical residency: a 51 year old French billionaire who decamps to Switzerland to duck a wealth tax after 50 years in France could be held liable for 50/51 of the wealth tax.

The final argument Piketty takes up is the old saw that taxing the rich is illegal, or, if it were made legal, would be unconstitutional. As Piketty says, rich people have taken this position every single time they faced meaningful tax enforcement, and they have repeatedly lost this fight. France has repeatedly levied wealth taxes, as long ago as 1789 and as recently as 1945.

Taxing the ultra-rich isn't like the secret of embalming Pharaohs – it's not a lost art from a fallen civilization. The US top rate of tax in 1944 was 97%. The postwar top rate from 1945-63 was 94%, and it was 70% from 1965-80. These was the period of the largest expansion of the US economy in the nation's history. These are the "good old days" Republicans say they want to return to.

The super-rich keep getting richer. In France, the 500 richest families were worth a combined €200b in 2010. Today, it's €1.2 trillion. No wonder a global wealth tax is at the top of the agenda for next month's G20 Summit in Rio.

Here in the US – where money can easily move across state lines and where multiple states are racing each other to the bottom to be the best onshore-offshore tax- and financial secrecy-haven – state-level millionaire taxes are kicking ass.

Massachusetts's 2024 millionaire tax has raised more than $1.8b, exceeding all expectations (it was originally benchmarked at $1b), by taxing annual income in excess of $1m at an additional 4%:

https://www.boston.com/news/business/2024/05/21/heres-how-much-the-new-massachusetts-millionaires-tax-has-raised-this-year/

This is exactly the kind of tax that billionaires say is impossible. It's so easy to turn ordinary income in sheltered income – realizing it as a capital gain, say – so raising taxes on income will do nothing. Who are you gonna believe, billionaires or the 1.8 billion dead presidents lying around the Massachusetts Department of Revenue?

But say you are worried that taxing ordinary income is a nonstarter because of preferential capital gains treatment. No worry, Washington State has you covered. Its 7% surcharge on capital gains in excess of $250,000 also exceeded all expectations, bringing in $600m more than expected in its first year – a year when the stock market fell by 25%:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/03/when-the-tide-goes-out/#passive-income

Okay, but what if all those billionaires flee your state? Good riddance, and don't let the door hit you on the way out. All we need is an exit tax, like the one in California, which levies a one-time 0.4% tax on net worth over $30m for any individual who leaves the state.

Billionaires are why we can't have nice things – a sensible climate policy, workers' rights, a functional Supreme Court and legislatures that answer to the people, rather than deep-pocketed donors.

The source of billionaires' power isn't mysterious: it's their money. Take away the money, take away the power. With more than a dozen states considering wealth taxes, we're finally in a race to the top, to see which state can attack the corrosive power of extreme wealth most aggressively.

Tor Books as just published two new, free LITTLE BROTHER stories: VIGILANT, about creepy surveillance in distance education; and SPILL, about oil pipelines and indigenous landback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/15/piketty-pilled/#tax-justice

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #14

April 12-19 2024

The Department of Commerce announced a deal with Samsung to help bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing and research and development to Texas. The deal will bring 45 billion dollars of investment to Texas to help build a research center in Taylor Texas and expand Samsung's Austin, Texas, semiconductor facility. The Biden Administration estimates this will create 21,000 new jobs. Since 1990 America has fallen from making nearly 40% of the world's semiconductor to just over 10% in 2020.

The Department of Energy announced it granted New York State $158 million to help support people making their homes more energy efficient. This is the first payment out of a $8.8 billion dollar program with 11 other states having already applied. The program will rebate Americans for improvements on their homes to lower energy usage. Americans could get as much as $8,000 off for installing a heat pump, as well as for improvements in insulation, wiring, and electrical panel. The program is expected to help save Americans $1 billion in electoral costs, and help create 50,000 new jobs.

The Department of Education began the formal process to make President Biden's new Student Loan Debt relief plan a reality. The Department published the first set of draft rules for the program. The rules will face 30 days of public comment before a second draft can be released. The Administration hopes the process can be finished by the Fall to bring debt relief to 30 million Americans, and totally eliminate the debt of 4 million former students. The Administration has already wiped out the debt of 4.3 million borrowers so far.

The Department of Agriculture announced a $1 billion dollar collaboration with USAID to buy American grown foods combat global hunger. Most of the money will go to traditional shelf stable goods distributed by USAID, like wheat, rice, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, vegetable oil, cornmeal, navy beans, pinto beans and kidney beans, while $50 million will go to a pilot program to see if USAID can expand what it normally gives to new products. The food aid will help feed people in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen.

The Department of the Interior announced it's expanding four national wildlife refuges to protect 1.13 million wildlife habitat. The refuges are in New Mexico, North Carolina, and two in Texas. The Department also signed an order protecting parts of the Placitas area. The land is considered sacred by the Pueblos peoples of the area who have long lobbied for his protection. Security Deb Haaland the first Native American to serve as Interior Secretary and a Pueblo herself signed the order in her native New Mexico.

The Department of Labor announced new work place safety regulations about the safe amount of silica dust mine workers can be exposed to. The dust is known to cause scaring in the lungs often called black lung. It's estimated that the new regulations will save over 1,000 lives a year. The United Mine Workers have long fought for these changes and applauded the Biden Administration's actions.

The Biden Administration announced its progress in closing the racial wealth gap in America. Under President Biden the level of Black Unemployment is the lowest its ever been since it started being tracked in the 1970s, and the gap between white and black unemployment is the smallest its ever been as well. Black wealth is up 60% over where it was in 2019. The share of black owned businesses doubled between 2019 and 2022. New black businesses are being created at the fastest rate in 30 years. The Administration in 2021 Interagency Task Force to combat unfair house appraisals. Black homeowners regularly have their homes undervalued compared to whites who own comparable property. Since the Taskforce started the likelihood of such a gap has dropped by 40% and even disappeared in some states. 2023 represented a record breaking $76.2 billion in federal contracts going to small business owned by members of minority communities. This was 12% of federal contracts and the President aims to make it 15% for 2025.

The EPA announced (just now as I write this) that it plans to add PFAS, known as forever chemicals, to the Superfund law. This would require manufacturers to pay to clean up two PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. This move to force manufacturers to cover the costs of PFAS clean up comes after last week's new rule on drinking water which will remove PFAS from the nation's drinking water.

Bonus:

President Biden met a Senior named Bob in Pennsylvania who is personally benefiting from The President's capping the price of insulin for Seniors at $35, and Biden let Bob know about a cap on prosecution drug payments for seniors that will cut Bob's drug bills by more than half.

[littlebellesmama]

Letters of Credit: A Lifeline for Global Trade

In the global economy, international trade is both an opportunity and a challenge. Opportunities come in the form of expanding markets, diversifying customer bases, and boosting profits. The challenges, however, lie in distance, regulations, currency differences, and most importantly, trust. One of the most effective tools used to bridge that trust gap is the letter of credit.A letter of credit,…

[room-surprise]

Just my two cents on recent developments.

The core problems with payment processors like credit cards, banks, st*ipe and p*ypal not allowing people to use them to buy or sell things which they have labeled as NSFW are:

Their definitions of NSFW includes things which are legal in many countries.

Payment processors, which are private businesses that facilitate the exchange of money, are restricting people from buying or selling legal things.

Almost all transactions go through some kind of payment processor, unless it is an in-person exchange of physical currency. You can't mail cash. Checks have to be processed by a bank. So anything you want to buy where you can't directly hand money to someone is controlled by payment processors.

This is especially true for online commerce, which is a huge part of the global economy, and something many people rely on to make a living, especially people in marginalized groups.

There are basically three payment processors in the entire world, and almost every transaction goes through them at some point, and they all have the same base policies.

The payment processors are currently targeting what they label as "NSFW" content, and that's bad, but the truth is that they could arbitrarily target anything they want at any time because they're private businesses.

They could essentially control or destroy any country, industry, or group of people they choose to target by making it functionally impossible for them to perform financial transactions online.

This of course harms individual artists, writers, film and game makers more than anyone else. Big enough companies generally just pay fees to circumvent these policies.

There are currently no functional alternatives as far as I know. Get on a plane and fly to America to physically hand $60 to Toby Fox so he can hand you a USB stick with Undertale II on it because there's a scene where two girls kiss.*

* This would only technically be allowed by the bank's TOS because the bank doesn't know why someone gave Toby Fox that $60 because it was cash and he can lie or decline to tell them. Once the bank does know, that potentially opens a whole other can of worms.

Sorry for the rant, and sorry if there's any inaccuracies, but the whole shape of the problem is just huge and fucked up in ways I feel I rarely see anybody talking about.

[political-us]

The Dow is on track for its worst April since 1932—the bleakest year of the Great Depression. Nearly a century later, markets are once again facing economic turbulence on a historic scale.

Trump's approval rating drops to 42%, the lowest it's been since he became president, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

A cutting-edge microscope at Harvard Medical School could pave the way for major breakthroughs in cancer detection and aging research—but its progress is now at risk. The scientist who created the software to analyze its images, 30-year-old Russian-born Kseniia Petrova, has been held in immigration detention for two months. Arrested in February at a Boston airport, Petrova is now detained in Louisiana, facing possible deportation to Russia, where she says she fears imprisonment for protesting the war in Ukraine. Her case highlights the tension between immigration policy and the U.S.'s reliance on global scientific talent.

The Department of Homeland Security denied Mahmoud Khalil permission to be present for the birth of his first child, which took place Monday at a hospital in New York. Instead, Khalil had to experience the moment over the phone from Jena, Louisiana—more than 1,000 miles away from his wife, Dr. Noor Abdalla, who delivered their baby boy. The case has sparked criticism over DHS's handling of family and humanitarian considerations.

The White House is considering policies to encourage more Americans to marry and have children, including a potential $5,000 “baby bonus,” according to The New York Times. The proposals align with a broader conservative push to address falling birth rates and promote traditional family values. Other ideas on the table include reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or have children, and funding educational programs that teach women about fertility and ovulation.

A group of Venezuelan migrants facing removal under a broad wartime authority challenged the Trump administration’s deportation process at the Supreme Court, arguing the notices they received don’t meet legal standards. The ACLU, representing the migrants, said the English-only notices—often given less than 24 hours before deportation—violate a recent Supreme Court ruling requiring enough time for individuals to seek habeas review.

The Education Department announced it will start collecting student loan payments from over 5 million borrowers who are in default. This means it will begin taking money from federal wages, Social Security checks, and tax refunds. This move comes as pandemic-era protections for student loan borrowers continue to wind down.

Tensions are rising within the Arizona Democratic Party as the state party chair is at odds with the governor and U.S. senators. In response, officials are considering shifting 2026 campaign funds to local county Democrats.

​The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced substantial tariffs on solar panel imports from four Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia—following a year-long investigation into alleged trade violations by Chinese-owned manufacturers operating in these nations. The tariffs, which vary by country and company, are as follows:​

Cambodia: Facing the steepest duties, with tariffs reaching up to 3,521%, due to non-cooperation with the investigation.

Vietnam: Companies may face duties up to 395.9%.​

Thailand: Tariffs could be as high as 375.2%.​

Malaysia: Duties are set at 34.4%.​

Senator Adam Schiff is urging the National Archives to investigate the Trump administration's use of Signal and similar messaging apps. He emphasized the need for NARA to reach out to every federal agency involved to make sure all relevant records are preserved. This comes amid growing concerns over transparency and potential violations of federal recordkeeping laws.