Ahmedabad: The United Nations proclaimed the year 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology ( IYQST-2025 ). The Gujarat Council on Science and Technology (GUJCOST) is recognised as an academic institution partner for this initiative. GUJCOST officials said that it will carry out outreach initiatives, and for this purpose, a one-day brainstorming session is organised on Friday at Gujarat Science City. Sixty scientists, educators, and science communicators will participate in the event. "While quantum technology has been around for the past few years, the idea is to make it accessible to a larger audience," said an official. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and WembyConventionally known as K-Beauty, Korean skincare has transformed beauty routines around the world, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The demand for said products is strong in the Philippines thanks to two big factors: the global hallyu wave, and a focus on natural ingredients and scientific breakthroughs to achieve healthy, hydrated, and glowing skin. Fueled by a personal love for K-Beauty brands and the desire to make them more accessible to Filipinos, Rianne Tan started My Beauty Story — an online store offering premium Korean skincare at affordable prices. Her entrepreneurial journey began back in 2016 when she started reselling K-Beauty items online. After three years of selling on her university’s community Facebook group, she opened My Beauty Story on an e-commerce platform which has since become a K-Beauty go-to on the app with one of the largest product selections available for purchase. Building a K-Beauty Powerhouse While Rianne delights in the success she now enjoys, getting My Beauty Story off the ground didn’t come easy. Limited capital and logistical hurdles were problems she had to face during the early days of her business. Rianne also had to balance managing the store with her corporate job — resulting in sleepless nights spent juggling both responsibilities. To overcome those obstacles, Rianne set out to maximize efficiency with her time. After transitioning from social media selling to signing up on Lazada, Rianne streamlined her operations with automated shipping processes, allowing her to focus on growing her business and making it easier to expand My Beauty Story on the platform. Rianne also took the opportunity to explore various platform tools and join different programs curated for growing sellers like her. Since then, Rianne continued to join campaigns, steadily boosting her store’s presence on the platform where she hit the Top 1 spot in the Beauty category during an 11.11 sale. This achievement gave Rianne the confidence she needed to become a full-time entrepreneur. Connecting with Customers, Continuing the Story Not one to rest on her laurels, Rianne hired new team members and introduced new processes to keep the business running smoothly. She keeps watch of beauty trends and sources products directly from trusted brands and distributors — allowing her to shave costs without compromising quality. To complement curating and offering a diverse range of products, the store remains focused on fast, reliable shipping and excellent customer service. For Rianne, being a Preferred Seller on Lazada enhances My Beauty Story’s credibility as a trusted destination for authentic skincare products where customers can confidently shop knowing they are getting genuine items. Through Rianne’s passion for scaling her business and commitment to maintaining a high level of quality and service, she now has a loyal customer base who spreads the word about My Beauty Story, helping her reach even more potential buyers. Recognizing that skincare stories vary from person to person, Rianne and her team also create guides, recommendations, and other content tailored to different skin types and concerns. These resources empower customers to make more informed decisions and create a personalized shopping experience that goes beyond sales — positioning My Beauty Story not only as a retailer, but also as a trusted skincare partner. Looking ahead, Rianne says her team’s goal is to expand and offer a wider selection of K-Beauty products while keeping them within reach of Filipino consumers. One day, she hopes to open a physical store to continue growing relationships with K-Beauty lovers across the country. Asked whether she had any tips for anyone hoping to start their own online businesses, Rianne says, “My advice for them is to focus on a specific niche and understand their target audience. Prioritize excellent customer service and stay adaptable to market changes and feedback. Building trust is crucial — loyal customers will choose to return to you even if your prices aren’t the lowest.” Level up your skincare routine with LazBeauty! Grab exclusive P99 deals every Monday and enjoy P100 off daily with your LazBeauty Member vouchers. To know more about becoming a Lazada seller, visit https://sellercenter.lazada.com.ph/apps/register/index . Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com . Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com .US to send 1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine in push to get aid out before leaving office

What is radiative cooling and how does it work The magical ingredient What is the sunscreen made of? The formula unveiled The TOI Lifestyle Desk is a dynamic team of dedicated journalists who, with unwavering passion and commitment, sift through the pulse of the nation to curate a vibrant tapestry of lifestyle news for The Times of India readers. At the TOI Lifestyle Desk, we go beyond the obvious, delving into the extraordinary. Consider us your lifestyle companion, providing a daily dose of inspiration and information. Whether you're seeking the latest fashion trends, travel escapades, culinary delights, or wellness tips, the TOI Lifestyle Desk is your one-stop destination for an enriching lifestyle experience. Read More Malavika Mohanan redefines elegance in a timeless red chiffon saree 9 morning habits to get rid of stomach discomfort 9 popular Korean desserts to try before 2024 ends Inside Alia Bhatt's love-filled Christmas celebration with Ranbir Kapoor, Raha and family 10 perfect baby names for kids born on a Thursday 10 countries with most cancer rates, see where India stands 10 things true friends don't do New Year dishes traditionally prepared in various Indian states In pics: Anil Ambani's grand and luxurious home 'Abode'By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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