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What does the Wanderers have in store for SA and Pakistan after last year's pitch fiasco? | With pitches again taking centre stage in the South African summer Gauteng Cricket Board chief executive Greg Fredericks gave assurances that the Wanderers surface would be without demons for Friday's third Test against Pakistan. SA's premier cricket ground came under intense scrutiny because of its pitch during the third Test against India early last year. The pitch had offered lavish seam movement through all four days and more importantly inflicted serious physical damage on the batsmen because of inconsistent and excessively steep bounce. The Test between the Proteas and India ended in four days but on the third evening play was curtailed 19 minutes early because of the dangers posed by the strip. The pitch was given a poor rating and earned three demerit points from the International Cricket Council. | https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/cricket/2019-01-09-what-does-the-wanderers-have-in-store-for-sa-and-pakistan-after-last-years-pitch-fiasco/ |
What Team Did Colton Underwood Play for in the NFL? | Colton Underwoods season of The Bachelor premieres on Monday, January 7. Most fans of the Bachelor franchise are very familiar with Underwood and know that he used to play football on an NFL level. However, many people dont know which teams he played for or how his football career played out. Heres what you need to know: He Was Named After the Indianapolis Colts Underwood had football running through his blood the moment he was born; his parents named him Colton after the Indianapolis Colts. It only made sense that Underwood would pursue a career in football, given his parents passion for the sport. He Played Football in College & Was Drafted in 2014 His football career started when he was in college. He played while studying at Illinois State University and then went on to play in the NFL. Back in 2014, he got his first big break, inking a deal as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. He was waived three months later, however, never having played in an NFL game with the team. In September 2014, Underwood was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. While it may have been a promising deal, he was let go after six days. He Retired From the Game in 2016 Over the next year or so, Underwood bounced around quite a bit. He went back to the Chargers, joining the teams practice squad. The following year, he was placed on injured reserve. In December 2015, he joined the Raiders practice squad and was released the following August. Underwood never played in a regular season NFL game throughout his short-lived career. He has played in pre-season games. Underwood never inked a deal with an NFL team beyond playing for a given practice squad. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/colton-underwood-nfl-team-when/ |
Why Did Kaitlyn Bristowe & Shawn Booth Break up? | Bachelorette star Kaitlyn Bristowe and her season pick Shawn Booth broke up back in November after several split rumors that they had previously denied. The two met on the popular ABC dating show back in 2015 and got engaged on the season finale. While fans had been waiting for the two to announce a wedding date, they ultimately decided that things just werent working out. As for why the Bristowe and Booth went their separate ways, sources have said that they just grew apart. Hes focused on the gym and building his business and she wants to be out and about. Their priorities are more different than theyve ever been. They used to do everything togetherboth in personal and business. Now, a lot of their time is being spent apart, a source told E! News. Kaitlyn Has Spoken Candidly About the Split Although Bristowe and Booth asked for privacy following their split, the two have been pretty open and honest about their mutual decision. To be honest, I thought we would choose the road where we would end up together. I just never took our commitment or being engaged, lightly at all. I had the mindset of doing whatever it took to make it work, Bristowe told People Magazine. With all the hard moments in life come life lessons and thats what I need to take from all of this. Sometimes you need to take a moment and take a step back to think about what you are fighting for and if it makes sense for your long-term happiness, she added. Shawn Thanked Fans for Their Support Just about a week after announcing their decision to call off their engagement, Booth took to social media to thank fans for their love and support over the years. I just want to thank everyone who has been so supportive of my relationship with Kaitlyn over the years. Youve made me feel incredibly special, supported, and very loved. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It truly means a lot. And thank you to everyone who has sent their love & support during this painful time. I love you guys, he captioned a photo. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/kaitlyn-shawn-split-break-up-reason-why/ |
Who Is Annie Reardon on The Bachelor? | Annie Reardon will be one of 30 bachelorettes competing for Colton Underwoods heart when The Bachelor returns tonight at 8PM ET on NBC. Reardon, 23, is a financial advisor hailing from New York, and she has been critical of her fellow cast members ahead of the season premiere. Reardon graduated from the University of Alabama in 2017 with a B.S. in Commerce, Business Administration, Finance, and Economics. She currently works as an advisor for Bloomingdales. Reardon was one of three women to meet Underwood on The Ellen DeGeneres Show before his season premiere. Reardon First Met Underwood When They Both Appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show During the TV appearance, she bonded with Underwood over her love of puppies, and said that her mom owns a horse farm in Wisconsin. According to the Inquisitr, many felt that Reardons chemistry with Underwood suggested that she would go far in the competition. Nevertheless, it was spoiled that Reardon was eliminated from the series early on via her Snapchat. Shes been home a week now & even had these choice words about Colton & the women. Oh social media can really come back to bite you. Reardon Spoiled That She Was Eliminated from the Series After Week 1 via Snapchat In the Snapchat photo, Reardon bashed Underwood and some of the other women in the cast for being weird. She wrote: When you dumped the bachelor because hes weird as sh*t and are headed back to normal happy life without psycho people >>>. @RealitySteve speculated as to the nature of Reardons role in the series on a blog post. Sounds like Annie is going to be an early season villain which, if Im being honest, was stuff I was hearing about her heading into the show, he wrote. So I guess this shouldnt be a surprise. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/annie-reardon/ |
Who Is Nicole Lopez-Alvar on The Bachelor? | The Bachelor season 23 premieres tonight, as 30 female contestants compete for the heart of former NFL player Colton Underwood. The contestants come from diverse backgrounds and interests, including pageant stars, a phlebotomist, and a sloth. One of the ladies featured on the popular reality television dating competition is 25-year-old Nicole Lopez-Alvar. Nicole is from Miami, Florida and works as a social media coordinator. In a promotional video for the show, she revealed that her fun skill that she has is I love singing and I love imitating artists like Beyonc or Ariana Grande. Ahead of the season 23 premiere, Nicole shared a photo of the moment she and Colton Underwood met after she stepped out of her limo at the Bachelor Mansion. She chose to wear an emerald green spaghetti strap dress that hugs her toned figure. In the photo, she is smiling at Underwood as he holds her hands. In the caption, she wrote, Turns out free food isnt the only thing that makes me smile this hard (Im just as shook) #OneWeek #TheBachelor. Heres what you need to know about Bachelor contestant Nicole Lopez-Alvar: She Graduated From the University of Miami According to Nicoles LinkedIn page, she graduated from the University of Miami in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism. With her degree, she has worked as a writer and producer; she presently works for SWARM Event Agency. According to SWARMs webpage, the company is a full-service event agency that was ranked No. 98 fastest growing business in America by Inc. Magazine. With her extracurricular time, Lopez-Alvar was a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, a content producer for the Off the Wire late night comedy show, and part of an a cappella singing ensemble. Her Family Is From Havana, Cuba According to ABC, Lopez-Alvars family is originally from Havana, Cuba, and shes extremely proud of her roots, but she grew up in Miami and stayed in the city for college and into her post-collegiate professional life. Currently, she lives with her mom, brother, and grandma. She appears to be especially close to her grandmother and told ABC that she cant wait for Colton to try some of her grandmas cooking. Shes Not a Football Fan Although Underwood was formerly in the NFL, Nicole is clear on Instagram that she is not that into sports. Me: no not really Crush: oh cuz I am Me: Nevertheless, she appears to be a supporter of her alma maters football team, the Miami Hurricanes, so hopefully she and Colton will be able to talk about the sport should it come up in conversation. Thats not to say Nicole is unathletic: posts on Instagram show that she is a skier, and recently went on a ski trip to Aspen, Colorado. Tune in to ABC to watch The Bachelor on Mondays at 8pm ET, premiering January 6. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/nicole-lopez-alvar-the-bachelor-colton-underwood/ |
Who Is Onyeka Ehie on The Bachelor? | The Bachelor season 23 premieres tonight, as 30 female contestants compete for the heart of former NFL player Colton Underwood. The contestants come from diverse backgrounds and interests, including pageant stars, a phlebotomist, and a sloth. One of the ladies hoping to win over Underwood is 24-year-old Onyeka Ehie. Ehie is from Manhattan, Kansas, and works as an IT risk consultant in Dallas, Texas. For her fun fact, she told The Bachelor that she has over a hundred cousins. Her grandpa, who is from Nigeria, had three wives and 22 children. In her opinion, the worst pick-up line she ever received was Ive seen you before in my dreams. One look at Ehies Instagram account, @onyekaehie, shows she has great fashion sense and a fun-loving personality, so expect her to stand out on the show with great cocktail party outfits and a bright smile. Ahead of the premiere, Ehie shared a photo of her first introduction to Underwood, after she stepped out of the limo at the Bachelor Mansion. In the photo, she stuns in a sparkly silver spaghetti strap dress and smiles at Underwood, who is holding her hands. In the caption, she joked Wow. Still cant believe he eliminated the other 29 girls after this magical moment. Heres what you need to know about Bachelor contestant Onyeka Ehie: She Has a Masters in Accounting from Kansas State University On her Linked In page, Ehie writes I graduated with my masters in accounting in May 2017 and joined a career in IT due to the innovative aspect and opportunity. She also received her undergraduate education, with an accounting major, at Kansas State. She shows her K-State pride on Instagram, as well as her love for her sorority sisters; she was a member of Ki Beta Phi. She Has Three Siblings If Onyeka makes it all the way to hometown dates, Underwood will have three siblings to meet. According to Instagram, she has two sisters, Chinazo (who goes by Naz) and Amara, and a brother, Kezie. They all appear to have a close relationship, and all went to Kansas State. Naz and Onyeka seem especially close Naz is regularly featured on Onyekas Instagram posts, at music festivals and other outings; Onyeka refers to her in one caption as her bff. Ehies Parents Got Engaged After 2 Weeks of Dating On The Bachelor, the dating competition will last approximately three weeks before Underwood will be expected to propose to one of the final women. This might seem like not enough time, but Ehies parents, who have been married for 35 years, were dating for even less time before they got engaged. According to ABC, Shes a Regular at Music Festivals Based on Ehies Instagram posts, she is a fan of music and has attended many of the major music festivals, including Coachella, Buku Music Festival, and Austin City Limits. #chellawithdrawals. Tune in to ABC to watch The Bachelor on Mondays at 8pm ET, premiering January 6. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/onyeka-ehie-the-bachelor-colton-underwood/ |
What Is Colton Underwoods Zodiac Sign? | Colton Underwood, The Bachelors 23rd bachelor on the show, is many things a former NFL football player, a virgin, and an Aquarius, which isnt surprising to those who follow astrology, given his behavior on both the Bachelor in Paradise and The Bachelorette. Aquarius is a very complex sign in the zodiac, and are known for having issues of communication, although they know their minds and hearts better than most other signs. Aquarians fall hard and fast when they fall in love, but they are also unpredictable and sometimes bail easily, if they change their mind about how they feel. Heres what Underwoods sign tells us about him as a romantic partner: It Is Hard To Know Where You Stand With an Aquarius There may be some shocked ladies during rose ceremonies throughout the upcoming season of The Bachelor. Aquarians are known for having issues communicating, so it isnt always easy to tell where you stand with an Aquarius, especially romantically. Some of the ladies on the show may believe they are really hitting it off with Underwood, just to get the boot during a rose ceremony on the following episode. Because of the lack of communication skills, Aquarians arent always great at expressing interest in somebody either, so a lady who thinks he is completely uninterested may be in for a surprise when they receive a rose. They Are Very Loving, Trustworthy Partners When an Aquarius falls for somebody, they fall hard and they fall fast. And once you get an Aquarius to fall in love with you, you can be mostly certain that your heart is safe. Aquarians are generally very honest, trustworthy people and set in their beliefs (i.e. Underwood abstaining from sex until he finds the one). If their belief is that they love you, and want to be with you, you can rest easy knowing that they will stick to that belief as long as you are together. Theyre also excellent listeners, friendly and charismatic, so whoever Underwood ends up choosing this season will wind up with one caring, sensitive, trustworthy partner. Aquarians Hate Drama & People Who Come on Too Strong An easy way to push away an Aquarius is drama, which some of the ladies on this season may find out the hard way. Aquarians tend to despise drama and pushiness, and have no patience for people who come on too strongly. Especially considering Underwood is a virgin, he may be even less impressed by any ladies who pressure him to have sex or push him to go against his hard-set beliefs that he wants to wait until he falls in love to give up his v-card. Aquarians are also deeply sensitive, so the quickest way to get their walls up is by criticizing them. They tend to take that to heart, and once that wall is up, it is pretty hard to tear back down. Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 7 p.m. CT, on the ABC network to continue following Underwoods story. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/colton-underwood-zodiac-sign-birthday/ |
Does Colton Lose His Virginity This Season? | Colton Underwood, The Bachelors 23rd bachelor on the show, is a virgin, which shouldnt come as a surprise if you are a hardcore Bachelor fan, as the show is really invested in his sexually-pure, virgin storyline this season. Underwood has long been vocal about his choice to remain abstinent, and although he says his virginity isnt a big deal, it seems to be the one thing he talks about the most. In the season promo, Underwood says, I am a virgin, but thats just a small part of who I am. But then the word virgin is also mentioned dozens of times, which seems to indicate that the subject of his virginity may be a pretty big part of the season. Although Underwood has stated in the past hed like to limit the conversation of his virginity in his Bachelor storyline, that also hasnt stopped the show from creating ads based on the concept, including a knock of The 40-Year-Old Virgin promotional poster, and bringing up the subject as often as possible in the season trailer. Fans of the show are curious if this season of The Bachelor will involve Underwood losing his virginity. By the looks of the women in the promo, they all want a piece of Underwoods purity, with some of the girls talking about rubbing oil all over his body and the possibility for Underwood to lose his virginity in Singapore. They dont seem to care that he is here to fall in love and considers sexual intimacy a big part of any relationship, indicating that he is still uncomfortable giving up his v-card to just anyone, and would prefer to be in a committed relationship first. Underwood revealed that he is a virgin while he was a contestant on Becca Kufrins season of The Bachelorette in July. I spent a lot of time working on football Colton and I sorta forgot who personal Colton was, he said. And because of that, I still am a virgin. Although Becca inevitably sent him home, he went on former Bachelor contest Ashley Iaconettis podcast, Ben and Ashley: Almost Famous to discuss his virginity. Ashley, who also went on the show as a virgin, defended Underwoods decision to abstain from intercourse in an article for Cosmo. On the podcast, Underwood defended his v-card against people who make him feel like its something to be ashamed of. Why does that have to be portrayed as a bad thing? Although he has repeatedly told several media outlets and publications that his virginity doesnt define him, and that he doesnt want his narrative to completely revolve around his choice to abstain, it seems to be the only thing anybody can focus on since the promo was released last year. In a recent interview with TMZ, Underwood still isnt admitting anything and instead encourages fans to tune in to tonights episode to find out more. He was lightheartedly elusive to almost every question the interviewer asked whether he finds love, if he is still with the woman from the show, and if he was sick of everyone focusing on his virginity. Its part of who I am, a small part of who I am, so if people want to run with that they can, but theres a lot more to me, he says with a smile. It also one of those things that youll have to tune in for. Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT and 7 p.m. CT, on the ABC network to continue following Underwoods story. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/colton-lose-virginity-on-bachelor/ |
Can Pahangs Sultan Ahmad Shah abdicate to pave way for Tengku Abdullah to take over as Agong? | It is rumoured that Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang will make way for his son, Tengku Abdullah, to be Ruler of Pahang and consequently in the line-up to be Yang DiPertuan Agong (YDPA). Bernama pic KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 9 1. An interesting scenario has been thrown into the royal succession equation. It is rumoured that Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang will make way for his son, Tengku Abdullah, to be Ruler of Pahang and consequently in the line-up to be Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA). 2. To answer this, some context is important. For purposes of selection of the YDPA, there are two lists in the Third Schedule to our Constitution: The first election list and the reconstituted election list. The first election list was the very first sequence of State Rulers slated to be the YDPA. This list operated from 1957 to 1994, whereby the first to the ninth YDPA whom originated from the nine Malay States reigned. It was arranged in an order in which Their Royal Highnesses then recognise seniority among themselves. Yamtuan Abdul Rahman from Negri Sembilan became our first YDPA, followed by others. After 1994, the reconstituted election list kicked in. The reconstituted election list is arranged in accordance to the states in which the first to the ninth YDPA belonged. It still operates until today. 3. Section 4(2)(b) of the Third Schedule states: Whenever there is a change in the Ruler of a State then on the list, that State shall be transferred to the end of the list (and if on the same day there is a change in the Rulers of more than one such State, those States shall be so transferred in the order in which they are then on the list). Simply put, Section 4(2)(b) states that whenever there is a change in the Ruler of a State, that particular State will be pushed to the bottom of the election list (the Change of Ruler Exception). However, Section 4(2)(b) only applies to the first election list. As explained, the first election list is no longer applicable today and we have moved on to the reconstituted election list. 4. Incidentally, the reconstituted election list does not have a similar Change of Ruler Exception as provided in Section 4(2)(b). It is silent on what will happen when there is a change in the Ruler of the State. 5. In law, it is a cardinal rule of interpretation that a proviso to a particular provision only embraces the filed which is covered by that particular provision, and to no other. Further, there is a latin maxim called espressio unius est exclusio alterius simply put, a specific exception in a provision is deemed to be the only exception intended by statute. 6. In other words, since the Change of Ruler Exception only applies to the first election list, then by legal implication the Change of Ruler Exception does not apply to the reconstituted election list. 7. It would appear that seniority of the individual State Rulers was paramount during the first election list. But when it came to the reconstituted election list, the emphasis was no longer on individual seniority but adherence to the order of the States (regardless of how junior the Ruler of such States are). 8. Therefore, if Sultan Ahmad Shah abdicates and paves the way for Tengku Abdullah to become Ruler of Pahang before the Conference of Rulers are scheduled to meet on January 24, then it appears that everything would be in order for the young prince to helm as the 16th YDPA. * Lim Wei Jiet is an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya. | https://www.malaymail.com/s/1710688/can-pahangs-sultan-ahmad-shah-abdicate-to-pave-way-for-tengku-abdullah-to-t |
What's the purpose of a moose's long nose? | Other members of the deer family have relatively short noses A scientist from Ohio once pondered why moose have such long noses. It can tell them about evolution, says Lawrence Witmer, a biologist and professor of anatomy at Ohio University. As part of a study of unusual noses on dinosaurs and modern animals, Witmer and his colleagues examined the enigmatic nose of the moose. Because moose disappeared from Ohio long ago, Witmer looked farther north for help, and he found it in Newfoundland, Canada's easternmost province. There, workers for the Department of Natural Resources shipped him four frozen heads of road-killed moose. With moose heads intact in his Athens, Ohio, lab, Witmer dissected the noses for a closer look, finding enough compelling information to write a paper published in the Journal of Zoology. Before Witmer's study, scientists had speculated on why the moose might have evolved such a long nose while other members of the deer family have relatively short noses. One argument was that a long nose could help a moose shed heat from its huge body after running long distances to avoid predators. Witmer and his co-workers found this adaptation unlikely because few blood vessels exist near the outside surface of a moose's nose. Another reason a moose might have a big nose is to better sniff out predators or potential mates. Witmer found that idea had merit, and his attention soon turned to a moose's nostrils. Just like a person's ears, a moose's large nostrils point in opposite directions. The wide spacing of moose nostrils might permit a moose to better locate smells, as our ears help us locate the direction of a sound and its distance. Witmer couldn't rule out that moose use their unique nostrils for directional smelling, but all the complicated tissues that make up a moose's nostrils suggested moose use them for something more - a set of valves that close automatically underwater. "Animals like horses, dogs and cats can't close their nostrils," Witmer said. "Closing your nostrils is a common aquatic adaptation, but you don't see it in other members of the deer family." When a moose dips its head under water, the difference between the water pressure and the air pressure causes the nostrils to close, Witmer said. This adaptation, perhaps the main reason a moose's nose is so long, allows a moose to feed underwater without flooding its nose, an unpleasant sensation even for two-legged, short-nosed mammals like us. (Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell [email protected] is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute. A version of this column appeared in 2004.) | https://www.valdezstar.net/story/2019/01/09/nature/whats-the-purpose-of-a-mooses-long-nose/2161.html |
Why were five Jewish teens in Israel arrested for terrorism? | (JTA) At least five Jewish teens from a West Bank yeshiva high school are being held in an Israeli jail, accused by the Israel Security Agency of severe terrorist offences. Three of the teens were arrested on Dec. 30 and prevented from meeting with attorneys for a week. Two more boys were arrested at the yeshiva on Saturday and were scheduled to meet with their attorneys on Tuesday for the first time. The Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, is accusing the teens of Jewish terrorist activity. Specifically, they are accused of involvement in a rock-throwing attack in mid-October, near the community where their school is located, that led to the death of a Palestinian mother of nine. Aisha Mohammed Rabi, 47, was killed at the Tapuah Junction in the northern West Bank. A rock thrown at the car driven by her husband struck Rabi in the head. Her husband told the international media that the rocks were thrown from near a Jewish settlement and that he heard people speaking Hebrew, though he did not see them. Yakoub Rabi, 52, spoke to Hahadashot news following the first official announcement of the arrests on Sunday. It wont bring her back, he said. The Honenu organization, which provides free legal defense for Jewish settlers, has called the interrogation of the teens brutal. From morning to night [my client] was shackled to a chair, sleeping on a mattress on the floor in a small cell, attorney Adi Keidar of Honenu said after meeting one of the teens for the first time on Saturday night. The boy I met was tired, broken and exhausted. Keidar and his colleague Nati Rom said in a statement that the teens also were questioned on Shabbat. Our clients underwent trying days and suffered the extremely inappropriate conduct of the GSS interrogators, they said. The trauma of the interrogations, through no fault of their own, will remain with them for their entire lives. The order preventing us from meeting with the minors stemmed from unacceptable considerations, and its sole purpose was to extract false confessions from the interrogated detainees, a process which did not succeed. The Israel Security Agency responded in a statement saying that the detained teens are receiving the full rights to which they are entitled by law. Claims to the effect that they are being denied their rights in violation of the law are without any foundation and are designed to divert discussion from the severe accusations for which the suspects are being held and questioned. On Tuesday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin defended the security agency. The ISA is under fire at the moment. There can be no democracy without criticism, Rivlin said at the swearing-in ceremony of 29 new Israeli judges. They attend the Pri Haaretz yeshiva in the northern West Bank settlement of Rehelim. The school is three years old and was founded to engage Orthodox Jewish teens who are attached to the land and less attached to full-time Torah study. Its founder has been described as a once-dominant figure among the so-called hilltop youth, who are considered the most hardcore right-wing activists and frequently clashed with security. The Rehelim settlement itself is considered more moderate than the founders of Pri Haaretz, The Times of Israel wrote in a feature article on the school. Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday night outside the prime ministers residence in Jerusalem to protest the detention of the teens under the banner Settlers also have basic rights. It was the second protest since the teens have been detained. Politicians also have gotten involved. Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the new political party The New Right met Monday with the families of the detained teens. She has come under fire from the political left for attending the meeting, which comes on the heels of a phone call from the mother of one of the teens in which Shaked offered comfort. Reports on Monday also noted that the day after the rock-throwing attack, which was Saturday, a group of activists from the nearby settlement of Yitzhar drove to the yeshiva in Rehelim to talk to the students about how to handle a security agency interrogation. Driving on the Jewish Sabbath is forbidden unless it is considered a matter of life and death. The activists reportedly received permission from local rabbis to drive on Shabbat. Heres what Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization, wrote in a 10-year review of the investigations and indictments of Israeli citizens suspected of harming Palestinians: Our data has consistently demonstrated that the rate of solved cases of ideologically motivated crimes committed against Palestinians and their property has remained extremely low, and the number of indictments against Israeli suspects is so low that it can be considered negligible. The review found that some 85 per cent of investigations into such cases including violence, arson, damage to property, mutilation of trees and takeover of land ended with no further action taken, and that the odds of a police complaint filed by a Palestinian resulting in the conviction of an Israeli civilian were 1.9 per cent. | http://www.ottawajewishbulletin.com/2019/01/why-were-five-jewish-teens-in-israel-arrested-for-terrorism/ |
Who is Aussie Test bolter Will Pucovski? | AUSTRALIAN TEST SQUAD NEWCOMER WILL PUCOVSKI: - Born and raised in Melbourne's south to parents of Czechoslovakian descent - A keen Collingwood AFL supporter and avid soccer fan who has written articles about his favourite team, Manchester United - Grew up idolising former Australian captain Ricky Ponting - Debuted for Victoria's second XI a week after his 17th birthday - Scored 650 runs at 162.50 in the national under-19 championships - Donated his under-19s player of the tournament prize - $1000 worth of cricket gear - to the primary school he attended - Made his Sheffield Shield debut for Victoria aged 18 in 2017 but was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the head and concussed - Knocked out again by a Sean Abbott bouncer the following summer, his seventh concussion in the space of five years - Became ninth batsman and the first since Ponting to score a Shield double-century before the age of 21 when he plundered 243 against Western Australia earlier this season - Spent the following two months away from Shield cricket to deal with a mental health-related issue - Has played eight first-class games, scoring 588 runs at an average of 49. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-6572325/Who-Aussie-Test-bolter-Will-Pucovski.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 |
Was wurde eigentlich aus der Sozialdemokratie? | Die Sozialdemokraten in ganz Europa brauchen ein paar "groe Ideen" Zur Abwechslung einmal etwas ber die SP. Sie bekommt derzeit mediale Schlge, weil sie nur streitet und der Regierung nicht wirklich Paroli bietet. Dabei hat die Regierung, wie Johannes Huber im immer interessanten Blog "die Substanz" schreibt, auch ein Problem: Die FP treibt an, die VP lsst sich treiben. Aber die Wahrheit ist, dass die SP derzeit wenig Dynamik zeigt. Parteichefin Pamela Rendi-Wagner ist damit beschftigt, durch die Bundeslnder zu reisen und sich mit den Funktionren bekanntzumachen. Auerdem htte sie die dringende Aufgabe, kompetente Sprecher fr die groen Themen zu finden, die ihr einen Teil der Arbeit abnehmen: Wohnkosten, Wirtschaftspolitik generell, Pflege und vielleicht auch Auenpolitik. Und dann wre noch die Parteizentrale in Schuss zu bringen. Dass die FP in Sachen soziale Medien einen solchen Vorsprung bekam, htte niemals passieren drfen. Zuletzt hat die SP intern ber das Thema Vermgens- und Erbschaftssteuer gestritten. Die steht im Parteiprogramm, aber Rendi-Wagner meinte in Interviews, dafr sei jetzt nicht der richtige Zeitpunkt, es msse um Steuersenkungen (auf Arbeit) und nicht um Steuererhhungen gehen. Worauf sich einige Bundeslndergranden meldeten und Steuern auf Vermgen einforderten. Dabei untersttzt von einigen Medien, in denen es hie, sterreich gehre zu den Lndern mit der niedrigsten Vermgensbesteuerung. Da sollte man aber vorher klren, ob man Steuern auf Vermgenszuwachs oder Vermgenssubstanz meint. Vermgenszuwachs ist in sterreich selbstverstndlich besteuert (beim Verkauf von Aktien oder Immobilien). Nicht nach der Progression, aber immerhin. Beim Erben im Familienkreis fllt eine Grunderwerbssteuer von 3,5 Prozent an. Kann bei einer Eigentumswohnung schon ein paar tausend Euro ausmachen, also nicht nichts. Vermgenssubstanzsteuern gibt es in Europa nur in wenigen Staaten. Defensive SP-Strategie Davon abgesehen, gibt es zwei Mglichkeiten, Vermgenssteuern politisch zu sehen. Erstens: Die Reichen sollen zahlen, was vielleicht ein gewisses Gerechtigkeitsgefhl anspricht. Oder man muss aufpassen, dass die Huslbauer nicht glauben, sie wrden unter eine Vermgens- und/oder Erbschaftssteuer fallen. Das, so meint der erfahrene frhere SP-Berater Josef Kalina, sei aber der Fall: Selbst wenn man die Grenze bei einer Million Euro ansetzt, frchten viele Leute, dass sie doch einmal darunterfallen. So gesehen tut Rendi-Wagner gut daran, die Aufsteiger unter den potenziellen und tatschlichen SP-Whlern nicht panisch zu machen. Aber das ist letztlich nur ein Aspekt in einer eher defensiven SP-Strategie. Was die Sozialdemokraten brauchen (und in ganz Europa nicht haben), sind ein paar "groe Ideen". Grnde, warum man sie whlen soll. Erzhlungen, in Politdeutsch: "Narrative", wo es hin gehen soll. Wenn es so ist, dass sich um die "Abgehngten", um den unteren Mittelstand, der kein ordentliches Auskommen mehr findet, politische Bewegungen sammeln wie die "gelben Westen" in Frankreich, dann sollte man vielleicht dort nher hinsehen. Die Antwort knnte in sterreich sein, dass es mehr die Furcht vor einer schlechteren Zukunft ist als eine echte Verschlechterung, aber das msste man zunchst einmal herausfinden. So derangiert wie die Sozialdemokratie derzeit ist, muss man vielleicht wirklich einmal mit der Grundlagenarbeit anfangen. (Hans Rauscher, 8.1.2019) | https://derstandard.at/2000095701894/Was-wurde-eigentlich-aus-der-Sozialdemokratie?ref=rss |
Is the ANC an elite party? | Many ANC voters are feeling increasingly alienated from the party and the excesses of its leadership. Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency (ANA) We are one people; these divisions, these jealousies, are the cause of all our woes today. These words were uttered by Pixley ka Isaka Seme in 1911, immediately after the formation of the Union of South Africa the previous year, while calling all Africans to forget their ethnic differences of the past and unite under one organisation to fight the oppression of black people. The following year, 1912, the ANC was formed, with the primary aim of bringing all Africans under one organisation as one people to defend their rights and freedoms. The manifesto of the party at the time indicated that the party would direct its energy to help the most marginalised, dehumanised and exploited section of the population - the black man. For many black South Africans who were the subjects of a cold-hearted system called apartheid, it made sense for them to find shelter in the ANC. It was the only party that intended to fight the status quo of discrimination and a culture of black subservience perpetrated by the minority white regime. Under the banner of the ANC, black South Africans indeed became one people. There were no longer divisions across tribal lines and gone was the jealousy that had previously hindered their unity. The formation of the ANC made a black man a force to be reckoned with in the countrys political arena. There was now a common goal among them to defeat the enemy of white domination and racism. The ANC became a party that represented a black mans struggle regardless of class, level of education and geographical location. It became the home for all black South Africans who were tired of being treated like sub-humans in their forefathers land by a foreign minority. Now, let us fast forward to the present day. To be honest, I dont think so. The party is now experiencing all kinds of woes because we are no longer one people and there are new divisions and jealousies. The ANC is no longer synonymous with a black mans struggle, therefore it is failing to appeal to the people who are still struggling today - years after it was formed and democracy was attained. Without undermining the intellectual capacity of the masses who vote for the ANC to stay in power, most of them do not care much about the finer detail of every policy the ANC proposes. The masses vote for the ANC because they find resonance in the party, as it prides itself on being a home for every South African, especially the black man who was oppressed for centuries. It is the party that promises freedom to those in chains. Such a party is therefore expected to walk and talk the language of those who are oppressed and in chains, not the language of the elite. It is unfortunate that the once glorious movement today finds itself speaking a language completely foreign to that spoken by the poor majority of this country. We are no longer one people because we have allowed class division between the leadership and the masses. The masses are slowly becoming jealous of the lifestyle of the leadership. Holidays in Dubai, expensive weddings in exclusive vineyards and luxury cars are being flashed in the face of the poor on a daily basis. Seme was certainly not talking about the division and jealousy I just mentioned, but these are part of the causes of our woes today. The leadership no longer walk the talk. You cannot stand tall and claim to fight white monopoly capital, yet be seen wining and dining at places created by the very same white monopoly capital you claim to despise. Every Cubana nightclub around the country is frequented by comrades who hold influential positions in the party. There is nothing wrong with going to a watering hole to have a cold one or two, but Cubana is known to be tenderpreneurs hunting ground for slay queens looking for easy money. The young and old fellows of our beloved party love this place so much that they even visit it wearing the partys regalia. They spend money on expensive Champagne and take pictures with beautiful girls, all of which ends up online. The bigger picture that our leaders fail to grasp is that, in any struggle, those who are placed at the forefront should reflect the aspirations of those they lead, as well as what they stand for. As a black man, I am sure we do not aspire to live lavish, taking trips worth more than half a million rand, when many fellow black men go to bed hungry. I can safely say that this kind of in-your-face display of living large by some members of the leadership is a contributing factor in the alienation of voters, especially wise young voters. The class and status problem is slowly gaining traction within the organisation. Those elected to lead no longer see themselves as part of the people. They now stay in gated communities, drive expensive cars and enjoy luxury holiday destinations. The only time they are with the people is when something mandatory has to be done or to gain support when elections roll around. They claim to be the voice of the young, but they are far from the reality of a young person in todays South Africa. Of course, there is nothing wrong with living in a gated community and frequently take expensive trips if you have worked hard to afford it. But there is definitely something wrong if one gains access to such a lifestyle through a ticket sponsored by the poor. The worst part is when that fancy lifestyle is flashed with arrogance and without shame. On January 12, the party will be hosting its January 8 statement at Moses Mabhida stadium. When this event ends, the Champagne life will start. Twitter and Instagram will be abuzz with pictures of exclusive after parties in areas meant for white privilege. I understand that comrades will feel the need to celebrate after intense, mandatory door-to-door mobilising. While comrades will be popping champagne in an upper-class community in Ballito with slay queens, scores of marginalised ANC voters who made it possible to fill up the stadium will be going back to their impoverished communities; back to face the harsh reality of unemployment and grinding poverty. Such behaviour has gained popularity among those elected to represent the poor masses of this country. * Mkhize is a journalism graduate, works in the KZN Office of the Premier and writes in his personal capacity. ** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media. The Star | https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/is-the-anc-an-elite-party-18751568 |
When do the mornings start getting lighter? | Commuters will know the pain of leaving your house in the dark and getting back in the pitch black, too. Sometimes in winter, it feels like we only see light on our lunch break or during the weekend, which cant be good for our health or wellbeing. Thankfully, the daylight hours are already getting longer, due to the fact the winter solstice has already passed. That said, when the mornings themselves will be brighter is a little more complex. Its all to do with something called the Equation of Time. The winter solstice falls on 21 December each year (or sometimes in the wee hours of 22 December). This is the day with the shortest amount of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, although those in the Southern Hemisphere are the opposite way around. In theory, this should mean that mornings are lighter from there onwards. However, due to the Equation of Time this isnt always the case. This equation relates to the earths orbit and axis. Advertisement Advertisement Because of the way the earth moves, solar noon doesnt always occur at noon on our clocks every day. Essentially, even though our days are measured in 24 hours, actual days can be slightly over. Due to this, there is a slight discrepancy between the solstice and when it actually starts getting lighter in the mornings, as the daylight hours get longer, but specifically at the end of the day. Daylight hours will get longer everyday until the summer solstice (longest day of the year) which will be on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. The mornings then start getting brighter at the start of January, rather than on the solstice itself. This year, that date was 2 January. From there, sunrise is a tiny bit earlier each day, with todays occurring at 8.03am. Well hit pre-8am sunrises on 15 January, and by 23 February itll start getting light before 7am. This is set to happen on Sunday 31 March at 1am as the move forward in time takes place on the last Sunday of March every year. MORE: Samsung users alarmed to find they cant delete Facebook app from their phones MORE: What its like to see through someone elses eyes | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/mornings-start-getting-lighter-8324813/ |
What Does 2019 Mean for Graphic Design? | Design Trends 2019 What to Expect Were rapidly approaching the new year and a fresh start means new design trends are just around the corner. Before we all go off yule tiding, weve rounded up some of the most exciting trends announcing their debut in the next year. Heres what the design fortune cookie told us 1. Open-minded Compositions All the talks about decentralized systems have made their gradient way into the world of designs. 2019 seems poised to be a year when definitive lines and clear-cut elements are toned down in favor of design elements which only suggest ideas and objects. What were once elements or patterns of detail will emerge as central objects, which hint at larger pictures and concepts. Viewers will have a more intense experience, as they exercise their own perception of a given layout, instead of digesting obvious visual stories. This is set to open a new world of user experiences, with distant borders and plenty of space to create seemingly endless designs. 2. 3D Designs It might seem strange to name 3D designs a new trend, but it will only continue to increase in popularity. Bold, statement-like 3D designs will be prominent in 2019, in an unexpected combination with the open-minded compositions. It might seem like an unlikely match, but 3D elements are making their way back into mainstream design in the form of realistic elements set in the abstract, subtle background of infinite patterns. To provide big depth, rugged highlights for representations of concepts, ideas or moods. 3. Neverland Colors The Pantone color of 2018 was Ultraviolet, a smooth, yet powerful shade of purple. This years is Living Coral. We foresee a transition of this rich color into 2019s complementary palette of colors. If you remember the bold and very fashionable space posters in early 2000s, you probably know what were hueing at. With discrete design elements taking center stage, it seems only fitting that imagined tones of the universe will shine in 2019. Picture nuances of purple, blue, pink and green, morphing into bold layouts, with just a dash of metallic yellow and white highlights and youll see what we mean. As multi-color typography was a big hit this year, we see no reason why this galactic cloud of colors should not transition into fonts in the new year. 4. Inclusive Designs This one might not ring an immediate bell, but it makes just as much sense in this day and age as the trends listed above. Creating images and user experiences that invite and connect with an extended audience spanning gender, race, ethnicity, age and even various disability will begin to make waves. Weve been designing for mobile devices and variable screen sizes for quite some time now. It seems to us like 2019 is a great moment to plan designs for human diversity and individuality. 5. Micro-Interactions & Conversations Design has matured in recent years, evolving from an attractive wrap to an entire philosophy which blends research, esthetics, flows and means of contact with users. This is exactly why we feel the need to mention micro-interactions and chatbots as design trends for the next year. From thoughtful and delightful interactions that keep users involved, to clutter-free and inviting messaging interfaces, design can make a huge difference in what were once only transactional areas of a website or app. Maybe youre planning to embrace 3D designs and galactic colors, or maybe youre planning to start your own design trend in the new year either way 2019 is sure to be full of creativity and bold designs! Article written by Adina Cretu and Dreamstime. | https://www.howdesign.com/design-business/design-trends-2019-dreamstime/ |
Which Tory MPs rebelled and backed the Finance Bill amendment? | Theresa May suffered another Brexit blow in the Commons yesterday evening, as 20 Conservative MPs voted for an amendment that will prevent the Government altering certain taxes in the event of no deal. The rebels included 17 former ministers, who backed Yvette Cooper's amendment while warning the Prime Minister that the defeat by seven votes was merely an "opening salvo" in the battle to prevent a no-deal Brexit. They included former Cabinet ministers Sir Michael Fallon, Sir Oliver Letwin, Ken Clarke, Justine Greening, Dominic Grieve and Nicky Morgan. Of the 20 Conservative MPs who voted against the Government in support of the bill, some 12 represent constituencies that are estimated to have... | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/01/09/tory-mps-rebelled-backed-finance-bill-amendment/ |
Do these rocks hide the clue to solving the mystery of the lost Ark of the Covenant? | For millennia, adventurers have searched for the Ark of the Covenant but now the truth may finally be at hand. Scripture says the Ark was built by the Israelites according to God's instructions and dealt disaster to their enemies as they conquered the Holy Land. It would later be captured by the Philistines, but after afflicting them with a series of misfortunes, it was returned to the Israelites at Kirjathjearim, where it remained for some years. Archaeologists are now almost certain that the modern town of Kiryat Ye'arim is the same place. Archaeologists are now digging around what they believe to be an ancient temple in the modern town of Kiryat Ye'arim in the district of Jerusalem which they believe was known to the Israelites as Kirjathjearim Biblical tradition says that the Ark was eventually brought from Kirjathjearim to Jerusalem, but disappeared when the city was destroyed by Babylonians in the sixth century BC A map showing the location of the ancient town to the west of Jerusalem, Professor Israel Finkelstein believes the Kingdom of Judah was too weak to have constructed the platform itself and thinks the likeliest builder was the occupying Northern Kingdom of Israel Professor Israel Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University, who is leading a dig at the site, said there were several factors identifying it as the place of biblical legend. He said: 'It fits the detailed description in Joshua of the border between the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. 'There is no other site to fit this description. In Byzantine times, the historian Eusebius said that Kirjathjearim was nine or ten miles west of Jerusalem, which this site is. 'Also the name of the hill in Arabic Deir el-Azar preserves the name of the Byzantine monastery: the Monastery of Elazar. 'According to the Book of Samuel, Elazar was the priest in charge of the Ark.' Along with his colleagues, Thomas Romer and Christophe Nicoll of the College de France, Professor Finkelstein has been digging at Kiryat Ye'arim since August 2017 as part of the Shmunis Family Excavation. And though he has found no evidence of the Ark itself, he believes he can shed some light on its true nature. Professor Finkelstein of Tel Aviv University is leading the dig at the site along with other experts The colossal structure is not the final resting place of the lost Ark but thought to be a temple which lends vital clues as to why the narrative was constructed The site of the temple platform in the steppes above what is now the modern Israeli town of Kiryat Ye'arim Kirjathjearim straddled the border of two ancient kingdoms Israel to the north and Judah to the south with excavations suggesting the site was used by the former to control the latter. Against this backdrop, Professor Finkelstein believes the Ark story was invented to give Kirjathjearim religious legitimacy as an administrative centre. It also emphasises a fabled past when the two kingdoms were united under a single ruler, further legitimising ancient Israel's rule over its southern neighbour. 'We are not searching for the Ark,' he said. 'We are trying to understand the Ark Narrative: who composed it, when and why. 'The biblical narrative probably comes from the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and was seemingly composed in the first half of the 8th century BC. 'It probably served the ideological goals of the kingdom at the time, perhaps also its territorial aspirations, namely control over Judah.' Lending weight to this theory is a huge platform discovered at the site. Moses and Joshua bowing before the Ark of the Covenant, which was believed to be kept at the ancient site of Kirjathjearim The ancient and sacred site of Kirjathjearim is believed by historians to be the located in the same place as the modern Israeli town of Kiryat Ye'arim The archaeologists believe their discovery of a colossal temple platform lends weight to their theories about the biblical narrative and why the Ark of the Covenant was said to have been located there Professor Finkelstein said: 'Kirjathjearim was a typical hill country town, on a peak, with relatively steep slopes. 'But on the summit there was an elevated platform, which was probably the location of a temple.' He believes Judah was too weak to have constructed the platform itself and thinks the likeliest builder was the occupying Northern Kingdom. If he's right, it would prove the kingdom's influence over the site. Biblical tradition says that the Ark was eventually brought from Kirjathjearim to Jerusalem, but disappeared when the city was destroyed by Babylonians in the sixth century BC. Its whereabouts have been the subject of speculation since, with some saying it may have been melted down for gold, hidden on Mount Nebo, Jordan, or even taken to Africa. The site is rumoured to have been the inspiration behind the 1981 blockbuster, Raiders of the Lost Ark. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6572429/Do-rocks-hide-clue-solving-mystery-lost-Ark-Covenant.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 |
Who originally sung Susan Boyle's AGT song Wild Horses? | (Picture: NBC/Universal) Susan Boyle wowed Americas Got Talent: The Champions audiences earlier this week when she made her TV comeback on the US show. The 57-year-old singer sailed through to the finals of the show after scoring Mel Bs Golden Buzzer with her performance of the song Wild Horses. She also won rave review from the judges for her rendition of the song, which she also covered on her first album with her version reaching number nine in the UK chart in 2009. Well Wild Horses was actually originally recorded by the Rolling Stones back in 1971, appearing on their album Sticky Fingers. The song was first recorded by the band back in 1969 but legal issues with the bands former label meant it wasnt released until over a year later. Advertisement Advertisement While it didnt chart here it reached number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and has its place in history, having been ranked number 334 in Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time list back in 2004. And Susan Boyle isnt the only person whos covered it check out Miley Cyrus version for example: While indie band The Sundays version became popular after being featured in Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Its also been covered in live shows by the likes of Guns nRoses, Deborah Harry, Kelly Clarkson, Elvis Costello and Garbage among many many others. Plus its been a popular song on talent shows elsewhere The X Factor for example: Susan Boyle will next perform during the Americas Got Talent: The Champions live finals which air in the US on February 11. Americas Got Talent: The Champions is available to stream now on Netflix UK. If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/originally-sung-susan-boyles-americas-got-talent-song-wild-horses-released-8324891/ |
Could Bohemian Rhapsody cause a shock at The Oscars? | Bohemian Rhapsody shocked many by winning Best Film Drama at last nights Golden Globes (Image: Rob Latour/REX) The 2019 Golden Globes are in the books, and while certain favourites such as Olivia Colman and Lady Gaga walked away with gold as expected, one film upset the odds. Bohemian Rhapsody, the biopic of Queen singer Freddie Mercury, was the surprise winner of Best Film Drama, fending off nominees such as The Favourite and If Beale Street Could Talk. Released in late October, the authorised biopic of Freddie Mercury and Queens rise to the top was praised for star Rami Maleks performance as Mercury, as well as the incredible attention to detail during the musical performances, however was criticised for being a glossy, Hollywood version of events that served as a tribute to artistry rather than an examination of a life. It was also overshadowed by controversy, due to the firing of director Bryan Singer very late on in the films production. As such, the films victory over other, more traditional awards fare raised many eyebrows particularly given that the film was nominated in the Drama category rather than Musical or Comedy. Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, it is in keeping with the films vast popularity with audiences, defying lacklustre reviews with epic box office office returns just under $750million (586million), putting it in the top ten highest earning films of 2018 above the likes of Deadpool 2 and Solo: A Star Wars Story. There has been an outpouring of affection for Maleks committed performance, which even the harshest critics admitted captured the soul of the man he was portraying. For many, including Golden Globe voters, seeing Mercury recreated so convincingly on the big screen was a wonder that glossed over the films narrative flaws. Unfortunately for the films supporters, history isnt on its side. The winner of the Golden Globe for Best Film Drama has only gone on to win Best Picture at the Oscars three times this decade (Argo, 12 Years A Slave and Moonlight were the double winners), and only seven times since 2000. The Oscars are also looking to avoid controversy this year, and Bryan Singer accepting an award for a film he was fired from would strike an odd image. Still, its not completely unheard of. The Academy Awards are littered with films that came out of left field to take the top prizes. Twenty years ago this March, Shakespeare In Love shocked the movie world by sweeping the Oscars at the expense of Steven Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan; while crowd favourite Brokeback Mountain lost to Crash in 2005 amid rumours that some voters refused to even watch the LGBT classic (watch presenter Jack Nicholsons shocked woah in the clip below). Advertisement Advertisement Rumours and upsets are, of course, all part of awards season. Even if Bohemian Rhapsody does not carry on its momentum it shakes up an Oscar race and means movie fans will be gripped right up until the envelopes are opened. | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/could-bohemian-rhapsody-cause-a-shock-at-the-oscars-8319048/ |
Will Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi impress for Bayern Munich? | As they prepare to make a 35million swoop for Callum Hudson-Odoi, Bayern Munich will be hoping that the young English winger does not turn out to be the next Renato Sanches. On Tuesday, Bayern lodged a fourth bid for Hudson-Odoi, matching Chelsea's asking price and paving the way for the 18-year-old to head to Munich, at the latest in the summer. If the deal goes ahead, Hudson-Odoi would become one of the most expensive players in Bayern's history, joining for just a few million Euros cheaper than the club's 38m record signing Corentino Tolisso in 2017. Callum Hudson-Odoi in action for Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final, first leg meeting with Tottenham on Tuesday night - the youngster is coveted by Bayern Munich Bayern have matched Chelsea's 35m asking price for the 18-year-old English forward The fee would also exceed the 31m Bayern spent on Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches a year earlier. Like Hudson-Odoi today, Sanches was just 18 when he moved to Munich, and despite a recent revival under Niko Kovac, he has thus far failed to live up to his price tag. Bayern, though, have not proven to be once bitten, twice shy. Despite the inherent risk involved when signing such a young player for such a large fee, they have been relentless in their pursuit of Hudson-Odoi. Anyone who watched the youngster's FA Cup performance against Nottingham Forest, as the Bayern hierarchy reportedly did from the club's training camp in Doha, will be in no doubt about the player's appeal. Hudson-Odoi grabbed two assists, twice picking out Alvaro Morata with a pinpoint cross from the right wing. And he impressed again on Tuesday night as he played 79 minutes in Chelsea's loss to Tottenham in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Hudson-Odoi fires in a shot during Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at Wembley on Tuesday night Hudson-Odoi has played in eight matches this season under Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri HUDSON ODOI'S RECORD AT CHELSEA 2017-2018 Four appearances, no goals (Two Premier League, two FA Cup) 2018-2019 Eight appearances, one goal (One Premier League, one FA Cup, one League Cup, four Europa League, one Community Shield) With Franck Ribery set to leave Bayern at the end of the season - and fellow veteran Arjen Robben likely to follow - Bayern are on the lookout for long-term replacements on the wings. While Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are the natural heirs to Ribery and Robben, the club will not be happy to rely on them alone. Coman, in particular, is a risk factor after several injuries in recent years. The Frenchman even suggested in a recent interview that another operation could end his career prematurely. That will have struck fear into the hearts of the Bayern bosses, and sent them scrambling for potential alternatives. In keeping with their general transfer strategy, they are targeting the teenagers. Canadian starlet Alphonso Davies is one example, and Hudson-Odoi may well prove to be another. 'When you look at the astronomical sums that are being paid for ready-made players, it makes sense to scout players early and pay relatively small sums to sign them,' said Bayern coach Kovac when asked about Hudson-Odoi last week. Renato Sanches has struggled to make an impression during his time at Bayern Munich Bayern are looking for a replacement for Dutch veteran Arjen Robben, who is in his last season Bayern manager Niko Kovac is under pressure to keep the club at the top of the Bundesliga Knowing they cannot match the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in terms of spending power, Bayern hope to dominate the market when it comes to signing young players instead. In recent years, they have had mixed success. While Coman has been a hit, Sanches was initially a flop. Bayern also overlooked Jadon Sancho, who has proven to be one the most explosive signings the Bundesliga has seen in years. Still smarting from having missed out on Sancho, the club are now determined to beat Borussia Dortmund to the next young superstar, and have decided to look in the same place. 'Hudson-Odoi is from the same year group as Sancho, and that year group has had a lot of success with the England youth teams, so it is normal that we are looking into him,' said Kovac. There is, nonetheless, a whiff of desperation about the club's unrelenting pursuit of Hudson-Odoi. Bayern passed up the chance to sign Jadon Sancho, who has impressed for Borussia Dortmund Bayern are also preparing for life without veteran French star Franck Ribery, who is set to leave Serge Gnabry would provide competition for Hudson-Odoi if he makes the move to Bayern Besieged new sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, widely seen as an ineffective yes-man, is in desperate need of a transfer coup, and he has appeared to have put a lot of his chips on the Chelsea youngster. Should it come off, the Hudson-Odoi deal may yet prove to be a success for all involved. Yet the Englishman should be warned. He would not be the first teenager to be disappointed by a move to Bayern, and with Gnabry and Coman around, there is no guarantee of first-team football in Munich. Perhaps it is a false dichotomy, but it is hard to avoid the notion that Callum Hudson-Odoi could go one of two ways in Germany: he could either become the next Jadon Sancho, or he could turn out to be the next Renato Sanches. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6572445/Will-Chelsea-starlet-Callum-Hudson-Odoi-impress-Bayern-Munich.html |
Will Steam kick off a Mac game explosion? | Valve's superb Steam service finally launched for the Apple Mac this week, with the sublime Portal being the first title available for Mac gamers to try out for free. Most importantly, Valve also plans to introduce its Steamworks suite of publishing and development tools to games developers, free of charge. The developer is also now set to release its forthcoming games simultaneously on PC and Mac, (with Portal 2 being the next major release on the schedule). Plus, it promises that the service will 'just work' with no need for the excessive tinkering, updating and graphics-card one-upmanship that so often plagues the PC gaming experience. "The first collection of Mac titles will demonstrate 'Steam Play,' which allows customers to purchase a game once and play it on all Steam supported platforms," Valve's announcement read, whetting the appetites of Mac gamers worldwide. Gamers and developers alike have been pondering the implications of Valve's announcement and what it might mean for the future of gaming on Apple laptops and desktops. Graham Smith, Deputy Editor on PC Gamer certainly thinks that Mac gaming is going to be given a significant (and much-needed) shot in the arm by Valve's recent announcement, telling TechRadar: "I'm sure this announcement will boost the gaming scene on the Mac, purely because it means that Mac gamers can buy loads of fantastic games." "Having Steam available on their desktops just means that they are going to be made far more aware of what is available," adds Smith, reminding us that if you go into a high street games store the Mac games section is either non-existent or (at best) pretty hard to find! Being able to download great games from Steam fixes this problem in one go. TechRadar spoke with a few leading games developers, industry analysts and Mac gaming experts to find out more. Nick Parker, games industry analyst from Parker Consulting feels that recent developments in Apple gaming, including Valve's launch of Steam for Mac, will mean that, "the entire games industry eco-system will be looking to support all Apple platforms and that any games delivery system made available to Mac users will be tapping a rich vein of interested, potentially more hardcore gamers with deeper pockets." As for the developers point-of-view, Marc DeForest, CEO of S2 Games - developer of Heroes of Newerth is also confident that gaming on Mac is becoming a more significant force to be reckoned with. "While PC has always been the dominant platform, Apple/Mac is quickly gaining ground as a viable platform for hardcore gamers," DeForest told TechRadar. "We've developed all three of our games for MAC, PC and LINUX and we've seen a huge increase in MAC client downloads, especially with our latest game, Heroes of Newerth. I think the trend will continue and we'll see more and more hardcore 'PC' games available for MAC in the very near future." | https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/computing/apple/will-steam-kick-off-a-mac-game-explosion-689435 |
Who Are The Biggest Winners In The East-Med Gas Game? | Authored by Global Risk Insights via OilPrice.com, The EastMed gas pipeline between Cyprus, Greece and Israel will revolutionise the economies and geo-politics of the region. The project comes from an emerging alliance between the three countries who must move forward cautiously in the face of neighbouring States opposition. Eastern Mediterranean: the Bigger Picture On December 20th, the Prime Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Israel converged on the southern Israeli city of Beersheba. All three parties publicly committed to signing a high-level agreement in the near future. Such an agreement would solidify one of the longest and deepest underwater gas pipeline in the world. It is expected to deliver approximately 10 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas to the European Union (EU) through Greece and Italy. The EU is keen to support the project and diversify its natural gas imports away from the heavily sanctioned Russian Federation and declining North Sea gas production. The EastMed project would fulfil roughly 10-15% the EUs projected natural gas needs. The United States is also supporting the project as it sees the growing trilateral alliance as a bulwark of democracy and stability in a largely authoritarian and war-torn region. A New Regional Alliance This development is also the culmination of an alliance that has been years in the making. The last decade has seen growing cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Israel as all three countries have been supporting one another in various strategic areas. This includes deepening military ties in the face of an increasingly unstable and conflict prone Eastern Mediterranean. These developments are specifically aimed at Turkey, a neighboring state that has become increasingly aggressive and authoritarian. Turkey is threatening to derail the project within the context of ongoing Cypriot Conflict. The project will be the culmination of a strategic alliance between three smaller countries who are faced with increasingly more aggressive competitors and crisiss in the region. Turkey, Russia and Iran are all increasingly active in the region looking to forward their own interests. As the United States continues to play less of a role on the ground Cyprus, Greece and Israel will be able to create positive reinforcement through bilateral relations or the newly created secretariat economically, politically and militarily. The domestic economies of the individual states within the trilateral alliance stand to benefit immensely from the project. Cyprus is estimated to have roughly 4.5 BCM of natural gas in the Aphrodite Field which is currently being developed within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a huge sum. Israel is estimated to have significantly larger amounts within its EEZ in the form of the Leviathan and Tamar fields. Both of these small countries will benefit immensely from being able to export to the massive EU market through Greece. The latters own economy will likely see a boost from the investment needed to support the infrastructure of the pipeline. There is also the possibility of linking the pipeline to the operational Egyptian Zohr Field. The EU will benefit from being able to diversify its energy sources. It would allow the EU to guarantee some energy security to its Member States as North Sea production falls. An over reliance on Russian natural gas also places the EU in a difficult position, because it continues sanctioning Russia over its activities in Ukraine and the meddling in the democratic processes of EU Member States. The EU will likely try to lower market prices on natural gas which have been steadily rising the last few years. In the long run, the EastMed Pipeline may provide nearly double the expected output of 10 BCM for export if ongoing offshore exploration provides positive outcomes. Turkey and Russia are both set to lose out given current developments. Greece and Turkey have a historically difficult relationship which has recently flared up within the context of the 2016 Coup and Refugee Crisis. Cyprus and Turkey continue to butt headsover the northern half of the island following the 1974 War. Israel and Turkey were once close allies. The rise of Erdogan and the AK Party over a decade ago made Turkey a major patron of Hamas. The Mavi Marmara Incident has contributed to the deterioration in ties between the two sides. Turkey would have been the natural route for the Pipeline, but the ongoing disputes show why this will never happen. Russia is the main supplier of natural gas to the EU and a historical ally of Greece. If the EU is able to continue to diversify its energy needs away from the Russian gas giants of which the EastMed is a small but important first step Russia will lose leverage over the EU within the context of both gas prices and geopolitical issues between the two sides. The historically close relationship between Russia and Greece is also in jeopardy. The pipeline project is heavily supported by the United States; when we couple this with Russia and Turkeys warming ties, Russia appears to be losing a historically important relationship in an increasingly strategic region. Possible Obstacles Two major obstacles to the project are present in the form of the Lebanese based Hezbollah and Turkey. Hezbollah is Israels arch-foe, the two sides fought an all-out war in 2006, a conflict neither side wishes to repeat. This is something Hezbollah is attempting to use for its own advantage threatening to strike at Israels sea-based gas fields. Israel is preparing for this outcome, but Hezbollahs missile arsenal is vast and powerful; any escalation in conflict, especially given the ongoing Operation Northern Shield may lead to disruptions in the project. President Erdogan has made it very clear that he is vehemently against any development of the Cypriot gas fields within the EEZ without some form of resolution to the conflict. This has materialized with Turkish naval action in the past and with the beginning of own explorations in the EEZ. Turkey has used military force in the past and ongoing developments in the region -specifically the US withdrawal from Syria following a phone call with Erdogan has emboldened Turkey. Aggressive action by Turkey to safeguard its own interests cannot be discounted. | https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-08/who-are-biggest-winners-east-med-gas-game?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29 |
Does the Presidents Goal to Build a Border Wall Merit a Government Shutdown? | On the eve of the partial government shutdown, Dec. 21, The Times wrote: Standing in the way of a resolution to the government shutdown is a wall. A still mostly hypothetical wall along large sections of the southern border intended to keep immigrants from entering the United States illegally. A wall that President Trump promised his supporters he would deliver once he was in the Oval Office. A wall that if not built, some conservatives say, could cost Mr. Trump his presidency. Eighteen days later, the second-longest shutdown in United States history was affecting about 800,000 federal workers, many of whom will miss their first paycheck this week. It is also beginning to inflict pain on Americans whose lives are affected, in one way or another, by the federal government. President Trump insists on $5.7 billion to fund the border wall. He argues that there is a humanitarian and security crisis on the southern border that must be addressed before a government shutdown can end. Democrats insist there is no crisis that merits a government shutdown, and that the government must be reopened before negotiations on any border security money begin. | https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/learning/does-the-presidents-goal-to-build-a-border-wall-merit-a-government-shutdown.html |
Whats behind Chiefs coach Andy Reids struggles in the playoffs? | The President and his allies have launched a full-court press to convince Americans that there is a crisis on the Southern border. Here's the fuller picture. President Donald Trump and his allies have launched a full-court press to convince Americans, and skeptical lawmakers, that there is a crisis on the Southern border, and the only way to fix it is to approve billions of dollars for Trump's signature border wall. CNN's Jim Sciutto looks at the arguments President Trump uses for a border wall and finds that they contain misleading claims, half-truths and everything in between. Pelosi, Schumer to jointly give response to Trump speech House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will give the Democrats' response Tuesday night following President Donald Trump's speech making the case for money for a border wall to be included in any plan to reopen the government. Fact-checking Trump's claim that there's a crisis at the border CNN's Tom Foreman fact checks President Donald Trump's case that there is a crisis at the US-Mexico border and the claim that the only way to fix it is to approve funding for Trump's signature border wall. Opinion: This is presidential malpractice President Trump is taking to the airwaves Tuesday to deliver a prime-time speech he has billed as, "On the Humanitarian and National Security Crisis on our Southern Border." In one of the most classic gambits of 20th century presidential history, the President will try to use the power of the bully pulpit to increase public [] Democrats block Middle East bill in the Senate over shutdown Senate Democrats blocked action on a bill unrelated to the ongoing government shutdown Tuesday, in protest of President Donald Trump's demands to fund a controversial border wall with Mexico in exchange for reopening the agencies. Exclusive: TSA official warns of shutdown impact on security at California airport Excessive absences by TSA officers currently working without pay have "adversely impacted security operations" at a southern California airport, a high-ranking Transportation Security Administration official wrote Monday in an internal email obtained by CNN. | http://theechotimes.com/whats-behind-chiefs-coach-andy-reids-struggles-in-the-playoffs/ |
Who is new member of the US National Security Council? | Earlier in the Obama era, he was the main designer and negotiator of the Congress on Iran's sanctions and resigned after concluding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA. Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), was a Republican negotiator for the United States Senate for several rounds of congressional sanctions against Iran. He also identified himself as one of the leading FDD ideologues in the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Among his prominent proposals, is to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) which has already come into effect. Goldberg holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. He is an officer in the US Navy Reserve with prior service in Afghanistan. From 2004 to 2014, he worked on Capitol Hill, serving as deputy chief of staff and senior foreign policy adviser to former US Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois. From 2015 to 2017, he served as deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs and later chief of staff for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. As a staff associate for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, Richard worked on a wide range of issues related to US foreign assistance, including foreign military financing, international security assistance, international peacekeeping, development, global health and economic support funds. He was a founding staff director of the House US-China Working Group and was among the first Americans ever to visit Chinas human space launch center. A leader in efforts to expand US missile defense cooperation with Israel, Richard played a key role in US funding for the Arrow-3 program, Iron Dome and the deployment of an advanced missile defense radar to the Negev Desert. In the Senate, Goldberg emerged as a leading architect of the toughest sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran. He called on US President Donald Trump to bring Iran's economy to its knees. He was the lead Republican negotiator for three rounds of sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran, the SWIFT financial messaging service, and entire sectors of the Iranian economy. Goldberg also drafted and negotiated legislation promoting human rights and democracy in Iran, including sanctions targeting entities that provide the Iranian government with the tools of repression. His Iran sanctions work was featured in the book The Iran Wars. As the governors chief of staff, Richard managed government in Americas fifth-largest state with oversight of all day-to-day operations, including homeland security, public safety, and public health. He also spearheaded the first-ever state legislation to divest public pension funds from companies engaged in boycotts of Israel, which sparked a nationwide initiative in state capitols around America. Designing common plans with Israel against Iran He threatens to the boycott of central European banks and the board of directors of SWIFT on charges of facilitating trade with Iran, with an emphasis on crazy theory. He undermines international obligations on Iran's nuclear deal and eliminates those who resist the US sanctions on Iran. With the formation of the puzzle of the Tramp consultants, the unveiling of his main goal of his administration in confronting Iran has fallen since the heavy defeat of Washington in creating an international consensus against Iran. One of the main goals of Goldberg's membership since yesterday is to express a vague concern about Iran's nuclear program and create conditions for a possible war with the country. In summer, Goldberg met with the Israel Interior Council's Jacob Nagel in which both sides agreed that the Trump administration should use sanctions power to target foreign governments as well as international agencies and their officials who have agreed to the JCPOA in order to reduce Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons. For example, Goldberg and Nagel said that foreign governments involved in rebuilding and reconstructing Irans nuclear reactor should also be targeted by the US sanctions. In fact, the move will allow Washington to respond to the alleged mitigation of the risks of its proliferation by targeting foreign governments for its scientific cooperation with Iran. That way, the White House can claim that foreign governments engaged in building Irans nuclear activity, such as the reconstruction of the Arak nuclear reactor, are engaged in activities that can effectively contribute to the risk or spread of weapons of mass destruction. International Atomic Energy Agency is the next target of sanctions Financial and technological support, even in form of attempts to reduce Iran's capability of nuclear reactor, should be sanctioned and all assets of the parties involved in these activities will be subjected to US secondary sanctions. Goldberg's next suggestion is that Washington should reduce the IAEA's budget if the Agency continues to provide technical assistance to Iran and host seminars and conferences in the country. However, according to the JCPOA, the IAEA is responsible to contribute to all types of cooperation and technical assistance projects in Iran. For example, the JCPOA requires a joint commission to support Iran for the IAEA's technical cooperation projects. The Arak reactor modernization project includes significant international support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear power will be. However, Trumps National Security Advisers have other agenda on mind which is not to limit Irans nuclear technology, nor to reduce the risks of developing nuclear weapons, but to pave the way for a war with Iran. Consequently, they have made an all-out-effort to undermine the nuclear accord and intensify international monitoring on Iran to achieve the objective. It seems the US is willing to impose sanctions even on its allies, and international organizations and agencies to attain malicious plan against Iran. MNA/TT | https://en.mehrnews.com/news/141345/Who-is-new-member-of-the-US-National-Security-Council |
Is Fan Bingbing testing waters for a comeback in March? | On Chinese social media platform Weibo, photographs of the actress - whose star dimmed after a tax evasion scandal last year - testing the waters have emerged, with the 37-year-old sporting a brand of eyewear. A photograph also popped up on the Instagram account of her Thai fans' club, with the caption mentioning a new 2019 line of eyewear. It is not clear which company she is endorsing but it has been reported previously that she herself owned an eyewear company. The Weibo story, which speculated over whether the advertisement could mark her first step towards making a comeback in March, drew mixed reactions, with not all netizens giving Fan their support. Fan, who topped Forbes' 2017 list of top earners in China with 300 million yuan (S$60 million), was fined 883 million yuan by the authorities last year over tax evasion. Television presenter Cui Yongyuan, had revealed in May that the actress had received two contracts for her work in the movie Air Strike, with the one with a lower amount to be used for tax reporting. Related Story After Fan Bingbing, China cracks down hard on poorer tax dodgers Related Story Fan Bingbing billed $177m for tax evasion Related Story Chinese actress Fan Bingbing seen in public following tax evasion scandal Related Story China punishes taxmen who investigated superstar Fan Bingbing In the uproar that followed, online talk had it that she had been arrested when she disappeared from public view for about four months. After the fine was imposed, she broke her silence, posting on Weibo on Oct 3 that she had "lost self-discipline in the face of monetary benefit". "I sincerely apologise to society, to the friends who love and care for me, to the people, and to the country's tax bureau." "Without the party and the country's great policies, without the people's loving care, there would be no Fan Bingbing," she wrote. While she was photographed walking to a car outside Beijing airport on Oct 15, she has disappeared from the radar since. Some netizens said she had been lucky to avoid a jail sentence but that the authorities could have imposed other unreported punishments, apart from the fine. Hong Kong's Apple Daily reported that Fan was banned by the authorities from acting for three years - though this was never confirmed. Rumours also swirled that she planned to marry actor Li Chen - who had backed her throughout her ordeal - and bow out of show business. | https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/is-fan-bingbing-testing-waters-for-a-comeback-in-march |
Could boilers become a thing of the past in parts of Lancashire? | Lancashire could see the creation of heat networks in an attempt to cut carbon emissions and reduce wasted energy. The specialist distribution systems are one of the key priorities identified in a county-wide energy strategy, commissioned by the areas Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Each individual network - which could extend across wide areas - is fuelled by a centrally-located source of power. The resultant heat is then transferred to the buildings which require it, via pipes carrying hot water. There is no need for boilers in each property - although individual buildings would retain the ability to control temperatures. The aim would ultimately be for low carbon sources to power the networks - but, whatever their source, they are thought to have the capacity to reduce carbon emissions by making use of otherwise wasted heat from industry. A report to be presented to an LEP committee this week states that Lancashire has so far not had as much focus on the potential of heat networks as other parts of the country - hence the failure to identify any viable schemes. In 2017, a potential network in North West Preston was rejected on financial grounds. However, a scheme focused on central Preston and the University of Central Lancashire is under consideration- and could bid for a share of a 320m government fund to develop heat networks. The report also highlights the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in Lancashires current energy landscape. Its authors - energy consultancy Encraft - conclude that the county has the potential to develop test sites for flexible smart grids to help overcome some of the existing limitations on power choice in the area, such as the lack of access to the gas grid in the Forest of Bowland. Lancashire is also found to be well placed to enhance its existing off-shore wind power generation, with a centre of industry expertise having been developed at Blackpool and The Fylde College. Meanwhile, on-shore wind is thought to have even greater untapped potential. In Rossendale, a district which already has one of the largest wind farms in the country, the area is still operating at just a fifth of its maximum power generation from that source. Further attempts to increase energy efficiency are also recommended, but it is feared that the age and design of many properties will make them hard to treat. An obligation on energy companies to help fund schemes often leaves a shortfall in costs which cannot be afforded by householders in fuel poverty, the report says. More than 77,000 - or 12.2 percent - of Lancashire households are classed as being in fuel poverty - greater than the North West and England averages. Other potential energy problems for Lancashire include a drain on the local grid as take-up of electric vehicles increases and no preference amongst consumers for low carbon energy options if they come at the same or a higher cost as traditional power sources. LEPs throughout England were each given 40,000 to produce an energy strategy, after the government declared that moving to a low carbon economy is a shared responsibility across the country. | https://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/environment/could-boilers-become-a-thing-of-the-past-in-parts-of-lancashire-1-9527505 |
Who is Jenna Coleman? | Shes a long way from Emmerdale now, as Jenna Colemans career continues to climb higher and higher. Advertisement The Blackpool-born actor, born on 27 April 1986, has received critical acclaim for her performances in a slew of well-loved dramas achieving international recognition when she landed the part of Clara Oswald in Doctor Who alongside both Matt Smith and then Peter Capaldi. Since stepping away from the TARDIS in 2015, Coleman has landed herself a number of leading roles including her revealing portrayal of a young Queen Victoria in ITVs flagship period drama of the same name, and grieving mother Joanna in BBCs Bodyguard replacement, The Cry. After leaving Arnold School (where she was head girl), Jenna started auditioning for drama schools where she found herself landing the part of bolshie Jasmine Thomas on Emmerdale in 2005, aged just 19. Beating Roxanne Pallett (of eventual Celebrity Big Brother infamy) to the role, Coleman said to the Sunday Mirror at the time, It was a big decision but I put drama school on the back burner to join the show. I might go back at some point but for now I just thank my lucky stars Ive started off in this industry with such a fantastic break. Playing chaste vicar Ashleys niece, soap siren Jasmine was launched in the centre of several storylines when she found herself in a father-daughter love triangle seducing both Debbie and Cain Dingle, and having to abort Cains baby when she learned she was pregnant. Jasmines exit storyline was equally dramatic, being taken to prison for manslaughter after she killed policeman Shane Doyle in self-defence. Following her performance as Jasmine over four years, Coleman was nominated for five gongs, including a National Television Award. Speaking about her time on the show, she explained, Ive made such good friends and Im loving every minute. Shortly after departing the Dales, Jenna was cast as the vicious Linsday James in school-based drama Waterloo Road a role Coleman found surreal, having been 23 at the time of casting. The fifth series of Waterloo Road saw posh private school John Fosters merged with scrappier Waterloo Road, with Lindsay rebelling at her state school by starting several feuds with the girls in her year. However, it quickly comes to light that Lindsay is hiding something, having murdered her father on the first day of school which her mother went on trial for. Admitting everything in court, Coleman saw her character carted off to prison once more. There was a three year gap before we saw Coleman back on the small screen, with Jenna popping over to America to play the small role of Connie in Captain America and voicing Princess Melia Antiqua in Wii game Xenoblade Chronicles. Talking about her time between roles, Coleman told The Guardian, Im northern, and working class, so people put you in a box. Its crazy. Id be pointing out different parts, saying, I think I can do that. It took a long time to get any meetings. I had to take a job at a pub in Hampstead. But Colemans luck changed when she was cast in Julian Fellowess Titanic in 2012, which was at the time dubbed The New Downton Abbey. Playing the gobby Annie Desmond, a stewardess that falls in love on the ship, Coleman described her character as a cheeky little Cockney. Fellowes has given me a gift, she told The Observer. A departure from her previous roles, Coleman then starred as privileged Susan Brown, daughter of an industrial magnate in the BBC adaptation of John Braines 1957 novel, Room at the Top. Coleman was attracted to a role in the two-part series as it was so hugely different to her own upbringing. I dont really enjoy playing myself at all, she told The Guardian. I love anything that feels more removed from myself. I feel self-conscious. If people ask me to do a speech or something, its like my worst nightmare. Colemans break-out role was in hugely popular sci-fi series Doctor Who, when she was anointed as the sparky Clara Oswald instantly becoming a household name in the process. While Clara was initially placed as a love interest to Matt Smiths Eleventh Doctor, things changed when he regenerated into Capaldis older and sterner Twelfth Doctor with their intitally fraught relationship eventually smoothing over. The way Doctor Who straddles so many genres kept Coleman at the show until 2015. It moves from comedy to action film to farce; its domestic and epic, she said. Peter and Matt do takes in so many ways, throw so many balls in the air its an invaluable experience. Fans always ask which Doctor I prefer, but its a question I cant answer, she added. Stephen Poliakoff-penned BBC Two drama Dancing on the Edge followed a black jazz bands experiences in 1930s London which saw 12 Years a Slave star Chiwetel Ejiofor feature as Louis Lester. Coleman starred as Rosie Williams, an assistant to cunning music journalist Stanley Mitchell, played by Matthew Goode. The three-part BBC drama series aired over Christmas in 2013, seeing Coleman play the hysterical Lydia Wickham in P.D. James sequel to Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice. Following her successful stints in popular period-dramas, Coleman took the helm of Daisy Goodwins Victoria, which offered new insight into the famous queen by looking through her diaries as a young woman. Upon taking the role in 2016, Coleman admitted that she didnt know a great deal about the monarch. I knew she was spirited and passionate and temperamental, and that was really it, she admitted on BBC Womans Hour. Shes really very passionate and emotionally led. Its interesting to try and get a handle on. I kind of really admire that in her. Victorias on-screen romance with Prince Albert transpired into a genuine love affair away from the cameras, with Coleman now dating Tom Hughes, who plays Prince Albert. Receiving critical acclaim in her portrayal of the young queen, Coleman will be back on our screens as Victoria in the third series which documents the third birth of her seventh child, which is just ridiculous, Coleman notes. Between filming series of Victoria, Coleman starred as Katrina Treena Clark in the Emilia Clarke-led film Me Before You. The film, which is based on Jojo Moyes best-selling novel, focuses on happy-go-luckygirl Louisa, (played by Clarke) who is tasked as a companion for the now paralysed Will Traynor (Sam Claflin). Coleman supported Clarke in playing Louisas sister. The heart-stopping BBC One four-parter, which fills the Sunday night drama gap left hollow by Bodyguard, sees Coleman play Joanna Lindsay who sees her baby son Noah go missing when visiting Australia with her husband Alistair. Being placed under vast public scrutiny, her marriage to spin doctor Alistair quickly collapses and Joannas psychological wellbeing rapidly suffers. Fuelled with twists and red herrings that have left gripped viewers guessing what will happen next, Coleman initially confessed to feeling miscast in the difficult role. Im not a mother! she told The Observer. Ive really struggled with that. To prepare for the psychologically demanding storyline, she found herself contacting friends with children for help. There are so many pressures on women, she explained. I think everyone needs to be a little bit more forgiving of mothers who dont feel guilty for wanting a bit of independence. Victoria returns to ITV soon; season three starts on PBS Masterpiece in the US, Sunday 13 January, 9/8c Advertisement This article was originally published on 19 October 2018 | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-09/jenna-coleman/ |
Why is Sudans Genocidal Regime a CIA Favorite? | One of the most respected American diplomats to work in Africa, Princeton Lyman, was set to meet in September 2012 with members of a Sudanese plot to overthrow President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of genocide in Darfur. For hours Lyman waited in an opulent hotel overlooking the Nile River in Cairo for Salah Gosh, Sudans former director of national security and at one time a CIA collaborator, who was a participant in the plan. As the State Departments special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Lyman had tentatively exchanged messages with the plots members for months. Lyman described the group to me as military men who felt they had been professionally betrayed by Bashirs leadership. The Sudanese men reached out to Lyman in early 2012 as discontent was growing inside the military. Accused of genocide, funding terrorism, and waging war against South Sudan, Khartoum was seen as a problem-child of a global order. No longer, said the army officials, who wanted to see if the Americans would recognize a military takeover in Sudan, even though under U.S. law such recognition was illegal. I was very conscious of the fact that you could not have the United States policy for the overthrow of even an indicted [leader], Lyman told me. But he believed that the United States should engage with anyone seeking reform in Sudan, especially if the change could come with a minimum of chaos and carnage. Weeks earlier, Lyman gave a speech including language for the plotters that laid out what a new relationship would look like. It was a diplomatic high-wire act that did not explicitly support the coup, but embraced change if it came. The government would show itself to be accountable, committed to democracy, to respect for human rights, Lyman said Aug. 1, 2012, according to his prepared remarks. I can imagine a Sudan Armed Forces no longer as one in violation of international norms but one taking its place as a highly regarded professional military. Lyman ended with a flourish. If it comes to pass, the United States will respond. As diplomatic signals go, few are more blunt. Back in Cairo a few weeks later on the September day at the hotel, Lyman waited to meet Gosh. And waited. Lyman told me that Gosh was pulled into the plot at the late stages to give it a political face and he did not hatch the plan himself. But Gosh never appeared for the meeting. Lyman returned home dejected, and did not communicate again with the group. Bashir uncovered the plot. Gosh was detained. But the American involvement has never been revealed until now. The United States offered no military, financial or any other form of support to the planonly a promise that the American government would engage with the new leaders if the plot took place. Yet the fact Lyman met with participants in a plot already set in motion is a sign of the intimate American relationship that exists with top Sudanese military and political figures. Lyman told The Daily Beast these details days before he passed away in August last year. He shared the story, he said, because he thought it showed the importance of meeting with anyone who pursued reform in Sudan and demonstrated the risks diplomats should take, and do take, in the name of peace. His account was confirmed and expanded on by Colin Thomas-Jensen, Lymans special adviser at the time, and others who are familiar with the events. Today, new protests in Sudan are approaching a new boiling point, and Lymans story is history. But it suggests the still very relevant and largely untold story of the relationship between Sudan and the United Statesties largely based on the clout of the powerful intelligence services in both the Trump and Obama administrations. This article is based in part on interviews and documents from 13 current and former American officials serving in the State Department, Pentagon, CIA, and other areas of the U.S. government. The CIA declined to comment. The White House referred questions to the State Department. The State Department is under furlough, but in a January 8 joint press release with other countries said that it was appalled by reports of deaths and serious injury to those exercising their legitimate right to protest, adding that its future engagement will depend on the governments actions and decisions. The current mass protests, which began in December, have spread across Sudan and threaten to topple the three-decade rule of Bashir. Demonstrators have adopted the chorus of "the people demand the fall of the regime," a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring protests. Security forces have killed at least 37 protesters, according to a December 24 release by Amnesty International. Citing the Sudanese interior minister, the Associated Press reported that 816 people have been arrested. These protests are as serious as can be, said Alex De Waal, professor at Tufts University and author of seven books on Sudan. Any next steps involve one of two things. Either it is for Bashir to step down gracefully and be assured his safety by a regional body, or it would be through a takeover from a coalition of military and army officials. Gosh, who is now head of Sudans intelligence service, is seen under the circumstances as a potential king-maker. His relationship with the CIA and other intelligence services is well known. He was chauffeured to Washington on a private jet in 2005 to discuss intelligence cooperation and the situation in Darfur which then-Secretary of State Colin Powell had acknowledged as a genocide in September 2004. Even after some details of the half-baked plot of 2012 were uncovered, Gosh managed to climb back into Bashirs inner circle in 2018 with support from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The extent to which the U.S. is conveying any messages that are shaping thinking in Khartoum is likely entirely dependent on what the CIA is saying to Salah Gosh, said a former U.S. official familiar with the situation. Although Sudan has been listed as a state sponsor of terror since 1993 and the U.S. has accused al-Bashir more than once of genocide for his governments actions in Darfur, cooperation between the two countries has been close on particular issues that Washington sees as a priority, particularly the fight against terrorist jihadis. After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S., Sudanwhich had sheltered Osama bin Laden in the 1990scooperated closely in the hunt for al Qaeda operatives. Afraid they might be next on the list of countries targeted as an axis of evil, Sudanese forces conducted counter-terrorism missions to stop the flow of militants from West Africa to Iraq, where some tried to join the jihad against U.S. forces on the ground there. Although his secretary of state had accused Bashir of genocide in Darfur, where his regime which anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 people, former President George W. Bush was secretly in contact with the Sudanese leader, according to a Bush White House official. That included a phone call in January 2005, when the intelligence community learned that Bashir was wavering over whether he should sign a deal to give South Sudan independence. Bush eventually convinced Bashir to sign the agreement. The relationship gained an added dimension after the 2011 civil war in Libya created a constellation of militant groups. With its strategic location nestled on the southern border of Libya, Sudans counter-terrorism ties with America blossomed. Talks were held repeatedly to reform the political relationship with Sudan. Although the United States promised to remove Sudan from the state sponsors of terror list and lift sanctions in exchange for actions that included good behavior, the Americans never followed through. The Sudanese felt suckered by the Americans, according to Lyman and current and former U.S. officials involved in the talks. An inflection point in the American-Sudanese intelligence relationship came in 2015 when Sudan dramatically reduced its counterterrorism collaboration with the Americans. Then-CIA director John Brennan was one of the biggest advocates for reform of the American-Sudanese relationship. Sudan cut their C.T. cooperation, and then Brennan calls whoever and says What the fuck, why arent these guys cooperating with me? I think they have a sense of how to create a little tension inside the U.S. government, a former Obama administration official said. There was a scream from across the river [at the CIA]: We need this relationship, isnt there anything we can do? For the CIA and the Pentagon, clandestine access to Libya and information regarding al-Shabaab leaders who were educated in Khartoum was considered highly valuable. Under then-National Security Adviser Susan Rice, the White House began a process to restore relations with Sudan. As one of the last acts of the Obama administration in January 2017, the United States began a five-track process to restore relations that depend on humanitarian access, stopping violence and counter-terrorism collaboration. That process has expanded under the Trump administration, and in late-October the United States entered a second re-engagement with Sudan. That normalized relations with Sudan is a foreign policy goal with rare bipartisan support of both the Obama and Trump administrations is in no small part due to the former CIA officials serving in both the Obama and Trump White Houses who value the counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing benefits of closer diplomatic engagement, according to current and former officials involved in internal deliberations of both administrations. State Department officials said that normalized relations with Sudan depend on the fulfillment of conditions laid out in its agreement, which include human rights and humanitarian access. However, those inside the U.S. government opposed to the plan doubt the Sudanese are offering substantial intelligence cooperation. These American officials argue it sends a bad signal that a genocidal regime can be welcomed back into the international community. And they say normalized relations unfairly reward Khartoum as it still supports some terrorist actors or and continues to wage war against its own people. A decision to fully restore relations may be on the horizon, nonetheless. The Trump administration agreed with Sudanese officials to end the second phase of the re-engagement plan in August 2019, although that timeline could shift based on Khartoums compliance, according to a current official and another former official familiar with the matter. But Congress, which has the ability to block the action, has not yet been informed of the timeline, according to a Senate aide. A fully restored relationship with Sudan would be a sign of how influential the CIA has become with the Arab state. Contrary to conventional wisdom, having the intelligence community play the preponderant role in shaping and executing policy toward Sudan has actually been the exception rather than the rule in the post-9/11 period, and only became the case in the last two years of the Obama administration and now under President Trump, said the former American official who discussed the CIAs potential communications with Gosh. For the Sudanese government, restored relations would be cause for celebration. As midterm election results rolled in on the night of Nov. 6, Sudanese foreign minister Dirdeiry Mohamed Ahmed held court in the Fairmont Hotel in the Georgetown District of Washington D.C. He had just met with the State Department to discuss restoring relations. But Dirdeiry, as American officials call him, barely touched the glass of water in front of him as he jabbered at two reporters. The United States is definitely a very important state in the world, and we would like to have good relations with it, Dirdeiry said. The level of cooperation that Sudan is having with the United States in particular and also there in the region at large in countering terrorism is exemplary. | https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-is-sudans-genocidal-regime-a-cia-favorite?source=articles&via=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thedailybeast%2Farticles+%28The+Daily+Beast+-+Latest+Articles%29 |
What changes should Claude Puel make for Leicester City's clash with Southampton? | The video will start in 8 Cancel Get Weekday Leicester City FC updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Leicester City return to Premier League action this weekend when they face Southampton at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes face the Saints on Saturday (3pm), and go into the game on the back of their 2-1 defeat to League Two side Newport County in the third round of the FA Cup. Their last league game was on New Years Day, and a Jamie Vardy strike was enough to secure a 1-0 victory for Leicester against Everton at Goodison Park. For the cup tie against Newport, Claude Puel made seven changes including the decision to go with Kelechi Iheanacho and Shinji Okazaki up front. Use our custom-designed widget to pick the Leicester team you think can get the three points at the King Power this weekend. To have your say, you can find us on Twitter or Facebook or leave us a comment below. | https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-changes-should-claude-puel-2408509 |
Is There Still Hope for Rojava? | by As the U.S. foreign policy establishment grapples with President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria, officials in Washington are overlooking what could be the biggest impact of his decision: the effect on the revolution in Rojava, the most promising democratic experiment in the Middle East. Since Trump announced on December 19 that U.S. forces in Syria are returning home, most of the foreign policy establishment has lapsed into a kind of collective panic about the geopolitical implications for U.S. power and influence in the Middle East. Although some U.S. officials support Trumps decision, arguing that a direct U.S. military presence in Syria is no longer necessary, most foreign policy experts portray Trumps move as a victory for U.S. enemies and a sacrifice of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the U.S.-backed forces who are fighting the Islamic State in Syria. A precipitous U.S. troop withdrawal will undermine critical U.S. interests in Syria, argues former U.S. official Mona Yacoubian, who is now a senior advisor at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Throughout the debate, U.S. officials have done little to consider the ramifications of Trumps decision for the revolution in Rojava. Without U.S. forces positioned in Rojava, the Kurdish-led region in northeastern Syria, the Syrian Kurds who are leading a social revolution there face an imminent attack from Turkey, which has repeatedly threatened to eradicate them and their revolution. If we leave now, the Kurds are going to get slaughtered, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned. The revolution in Rojava is one of the few positive developments to emerge from the civil war in Syria. For the past several years, the Syrian Kurds have been creating self-governing communities that involve the democratic participation of their residents, including women and ethnic minorities. Committed to the principles of feminism, environmentalism, and democratic confederalism, the Syrian Kurds have united these communities in an autonomous democratic federation across northern Syria. Sadly, U.S. officials have never fully supported the revolution in Rojava. After the Syrian Kurds announced the creation of their new autonomous region in March 2016, U.S. officials spoke outagainst it. This past November, U.S. Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey told Congress that the area is primarily important as leverage in negotiations with the Syrian government. The U.S. relationship with the Syrian Kurds, Jeffrey said, is tactical and temporary. Even against the backdrop of this limited U.S. support, Trumps recent decision is a serious betrayal. Over the past several years, U.S. officials have repeatedly praised the Syrian Kurds as their most effective partners in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, pledging not to abandon them. Last September, Trump praised the Kurds as great, great people, insisting that we have to help them. Tens of thousands of Kurds died fighting ISIS, Trump said. They died for us and with us. With his latest announcement, Trump has thrown all of these notions into disarray, leaving administration officials backtracking from their previous commitments. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who had previously called the Syrian Kurds great partners and pledged to include them in future negotiations to end the war in Syria, now evades questions about whether the United States has an obligation to help them. National Security Advisor John Bolton recently said that the U.S. withdrawal is conditional on a Turkish pledge not to attack the Kurds, but he confirmed that we are going to withdraw from northeastern Syria. Given the upcoming U.S. withdrawal, the Syrian Kurds are facing an existential threat from Turkey. For years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been threatening to eradicate the Syrian Kurds, portraying them as terrorists no different from the Islamic State. Erdogan once said that we will do everything and anything we need to do to eliminate the Kurds, according to former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Early last year, the Turkish government acted on its threats, invading and conquering Afrin, one of the three cantons of Rojava. Some 200,000 residents fled the area and an estimated 500 civilians were killed. More than 800 Kurdish fighters died trying to defend the area. Another Turkish incursion into northern Syria would be disastrous for the Syrian Kurds and the revolution in Rojava. Some U.S. officials have indicated that they can help the Syrian Kurds by keeping them supplied with weapons. The Emergency Committee for Rojava, a recently organized support network, is calling on Congress to provide economic, political, and military assistance. If it really is the mission of the United States to help democratic movements around the world, then U.S. officials will come to the assistance of the Syrian Kurds. The next moves by the Trump administration may very well determine whether the revolution in Rojava and the people leading it can survive. This article originally appeared on Foreign Policy in Focus. | https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/01/09/is-there-still-hope-for-rojava/ |
Why are We Still Logging Our Forests? | by Anyone who accepts true science realizes that todays big forest fires are driven far more by climate warming than by a lack of active forest management as claimed in previous editorial opinions. Active forest management, more honestly called logging, has always been the timber industrys cure-all for every perceived problem in our forests.Until science confirmed the amazing diversity and value of our old forests, they were deemed to be decadent, badly in need of logging and replacement with more efficient tree farms. When there were budworm or bark beetle breakouts, industry said our forests were being decimated and needed logging to restore them. Science disagreed, noting that insects and disease were important components of healthy forest ecosystems. When our forests burn, industry claims quick logging and replanting is necessary to salvage their value. Science again exposed their myths, showing the value of leaving burned forests as critical habitat and how forests reseed and recover naturally from fires like the Biscuit. I kept a cabin within the huge weather-caused and weather-extinguished Biscuit Fire in Oregon. It was years of cutting and burning non-merchantable understories that saved my cabin, not logging. In the aftermath, I witnessed how little difference commercially thinned stands made to fire spread or intensity. I photographed sites where flames consumed thinned stands only to lie down when they hit the cooler, moister, unthinned forest. To me, as a timber cruiser and broker whos tracked timber data and sale prices for decades, its obvious why industry preaches logging for all that ails our forests. They make grossly unfair profits from logging public timber sales far more than the environmental attorneys who litigate them. Scorched old sugar pines and Douglas firs from Biscuit salvage sales sold at literally a dime to the dollar of real value. These sales were sold at a net loss to us as the forest owners, as are many federal timber sales. Of course not! They arent politically forced to sell mature timber at far below market value just to subsidize a few mills. Partly because theres little mature timber left in private forests, but mostly because regional private timber supplies are siphoned off by log exports. Private log exports from Oregon, though down from recent peaks, still exceed current federal timber harvests. In 2013, log exports were nearly triple Oregons federal harvest levels! Domestic mills could successfully compete with log premiums paid by Asian mills if export logs were taxed with a tariff. Unfortunately, however, if federal forests were taxed as little as private forests, the returns would be dismal. Private forest owners pay no tax on the value of their standing timber, even though its real property. They pay taxes on a pittance of the real market value of their land. Since 1999, private forest owners of over 5,000 acres have paid no harvest privilege tax, a statewide loss of $60 million annually. Tax subsidies to private forest owners average more than double the revenue counties receive from federal forest timber sales. If fair property and harvest taxes were collected from Oregons private forests, our forests wouldnt have to be logged to cover the revenue losses. When the many politically empowered subsidies are stripped away, federal forests are worth more left standing. The Global Warming Commission Report illustrates just the value of Oregons federal forests in removing carbon from the atmosphere. The report says 79 percent of the net carbon is acquired by federal forests compared with only 4 percent by industrial tree farms. If federal forest carbon capture were fairly valued, it would be budgeted and prioritized above money-losing timber sales. Even so-called thinning, promoted by some environmentalists, is reported to reduce the ability of federal forests to acquire carbon. Consequently, continued federal logging contributes to warmer conditions which, in turn, drive larger, hotter fires. Roy Keene works in Oregons forests as a forest consultant and private forest broker. | https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/01/09/why-are-we-still-logging-our-forests/ |
How do I succeed with international expansion? | Executive vice-president, global commercial services international at American Express Taking your company on to the global stage can be hugely rewarding, but there may be challenges to overcome The rise of globalisation has yielded many valuable opportunities for businesses to expand internationally. Around the world, organisations have overcome differences in geography, language, regulation and culture to forge and maintain successful trading relationships. However, with expanded opportunity comes increased complexity. Specifically, in the context of a changing global trade landscape, it can be difficult to know what international prospects are available, which markets are worth investing time and resources in, and how to overcome the challenges businesses typically face when doing business with new markets. Business confidence Last year, American Express conducted research that offered up a snapshot of attitudes to trade among UK businesses, and the opportunities for new trade relationships. Specifically, we sought to find out how confident and ambitious businesses are when it comes to their strategies for international trade, the challenges they face and whether they have the very best opportunities for growth front of mind. We found that, even against the backdrop of Brexit, the UKs appetite for international trade remains strong, and economic turbulence doesnt seem to be deterring decision makers when it comes to trade ambitions. Taking the time to visit prospective markets for expansion, in order to develop on-the-ground contacts or to kick-start collaboration with overseas partners, is vital The vast majority (80pc) of UK businesses trading internationally said that they were confident in their global trade strategies with bigger businesses (those with 250+ employees) slightly more likely (11pc) to be confident than SMEs. We also assessed the most popular trading partners for UK businesses. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the USA topped the list. Major markets such as China and Canada also ranked highly, alongside European counterparts, like France and Germany. But we also discovered that there are still lucrative opportunities elsewhere. Economic analysis found that future growth potential exists in relatively niche, often overlooked markets, including Luxembourg and Finland, which many companies could be well placed to explore. Markets for expansion In the face of Brexit, many businesses may be tempted to take the well-trodden path when considering new markets for trade and expansion. But with so many international trading opportunities on the horizon, it could pay to look towards some lesser-considered alternatives, which could have greater potential for yielding future growth. It is important to recognise that no one expansion plan will be the perfect fit for every business. This is why taking the time to review existing international partnerships and planning for new ones can be crucial for success. To understand which markets are ripe for expansion, businesses should assess as many relevant factors as possible including existing trade relationships, the current business environment and ongoing economic performance. Taking the time to visit prospective markets for expansion, in order to develop on-the-ground contacts or to kick-start collaboration with overseas partners, is also vital. Good payments solutions are crucial in helping to overcome these challenges and to navigate supply chain and payments complexity Despite todays digitally connected global marketplace, business travel remains important to the success of international trade, with just over three quarters (76pc) of UK business travellers suggesting that face-to-face meetings are essential for achieving their company objectives. Researching the experiences of others in a similar sector can also be a useful way of getting to grips with the available options and potential hurdles. One of the perceived hurdles that our business customers tell us they face time and time again is managing the complexity of international trade: 75pc of UK businesses believe that international trade has become more complex with many citing exchange rate volatility and economic changes as the biggest challenges to both current and future international trade activity. Many UK business leaders (71pc, according to American Express research) feel that making and receiving payments abroad is overly problematic. Good payments solutions are crucial in helping to overcome these challenges and to navigate supply chain and payments complexity, in turn supporting businesses to achieve the expansion they are aiming for. In particular, digitising the tools and products used to manage payments can help speed up international payments and take away some of the strain, allowing the finance team to work more efficiently and even enable negotiation of discounts. Negotiating volatility And, while managing currency fluctuations can seem like a daunting task, tools such as FX Forward Contracts can mitigate against volatility by guaranteeing a fixed rate. We found that fewer than half (42pc) of businesses currently use FX Forward Contracts and that only 28pc of them use FX Options, despite the majority of those that do deeming them effective (87pc). Selecting a new target for international expansion isnt a decision that should be taken lightly. By casting the net widely and researching all the options rather than the same few, businesses stand a better chance of finding and achieving success in the ideal market for them. To find out more, go to americanexpress.com/uk/whyamex American Express Services Europe Limited. Registered Office: Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9AX. Registered in England and Wales with Number 06301718. American Express Services Europe Limited is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulation 2009 (reference number 484347) for the provision of payment services. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/new-work-culture/international-expansion/ |
How can business attract and retain talent? | EMEIA director of diversity and inclusion at EY and co-author of Inclusive Leadership. She has worked at Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust International and Lehman Brothers before joining EY Theres a new generation of workers in the office, fuelled by demands for flexibility collaboration and immersion I dont think British businesses should be worried about skills training and talent development, both of which are found to be the biggest concern for UK plc, according to bespoke Telegraph research. However, they should be focused on the changing face of the workplace and the changing needs of some of their workforce. We are now officially in the fourth industrial revolution, and depending on your size and sector, your business should be thinking about the impact of and opportunities in digital disruption. In terms of skills training, you need to be thinking of a flexible approach. Ideally a lot of blended learning, with individuals being able to access some training online. This sort of training does not even need to be directly relevant to their role, but if they feel its key to their development then they can pursue it at their own pace. What talent looks for When it comes to talent development, taking a step back, you need to be thinking first about how you attract that talent. We are already moving towards a gig economy, with the US estimating that by 2020, 40pc of its workforce will be contingent workers. You will need to think about your employee value proposition: does your brand appeal, what do you stand for, why should someone come to work for you. They will no longer be attracted by the promise of a 15-year career path to the top leadership rank. The bottom line is that we are facing seismic changes in our workplace You also need to think about the best ways to attract talent. Generations Y and Z tell us they want autonomy, teaming, work/life balance and, most importantly, a sense of purpose. In recent EY research we read that 74pc of Generation Z agreed that business has a responsibility to create a better world. You need to think carefully about the skills and experience they are looking for. The World Economic Forum suggests that there will be more onus put on softer skills the ability to collaborate virtually, cross-cultural competency and social intelligence. The new flexibility You need to think about the benefits prospective employees offer and their terms and conditions of employment if many of your staff are temporary, they wont be looking for longer-term benefits such as maternity leave, holiday pay and pension contributions, but will still want competitive compensation. A key topic for consideration is how much you allow people to flex where and when they work. Today, both men and women leave companies for a better work and life balance. Generation Z tell us they want flexibility, but that doesnt mean working from home they want to team up and collaborate in person, but they want to feel that they are empowered to choose their hours. We have found that if people feel empowered at their work they are significantly more engaged than those who are not. All in all, this can sound and feel challenging, but I see this as an incredible opportunity to encourage our leaders to lead more inclusively. Inclusive leaders are aware of their own styles and preferences, and are agile enough to flex when working with people who have different styles. Inclusive leaders are able to operate in the moment they are not distracted by thinking of the next meeting, running through their notes, checking their phone. They are empathetic, have good listening skills and make sure that everyone in the meeting has a voice. Inclusive leaders make informed decisions, too. They are careful about the impact of group thinking and encourage challenge, and are aware of the impact of unconscious bias. The bottom line is that we are facing seismic changes in the workplace. With these changes there is an opportunity for organisations to refresh how they think about their talent strategy. People have more choices than ever before who they work for, how long, where and when and if you want to thrive you need to think and act differently. This is a tall order for some leaders still entrenched in the commandand-control approach, but this is a business necessity for anyone looking to survive and be successful in the fourth industrial revolution. To find out more, go to americanexpress.com/uk/whyamex American Express Services Europe Limited. Registered Office: Belgrave House, 76 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9AX. Registered in England and Wales with Number 06301718. American Express Services Europe Limited is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulation 2009 (reference number 484347) for the provision of payment services. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/new-work-culture/how-to-attract-and-retain-talent/ |
Is spaartaks diefstal? | Het is een van de meest gehate belastingen, de vermogensrendementsheffing (zie kader). Al enkele jaren lopen er juridische procedures tegen de belasting op vermogen. Die zou inbreuk maken op het Europees eigendomsrecht en daarmee het Europees Verdrag voor de Rechten van de Mens (EVRM). De Bond voor Belastingbetalers (BvB) meent van wel en startte enkele jaren terug namens alle belastingbetalers de eerste rechtszaken. ,,Dat rendement van 4 procent wordt al jaren niet meer gehaald'', zegt Jurgen de Vries, voorzitter van de BvB. Hij wijst op de woorden van oud-minister van Financin Zalm. ,,Elke sukkel haalt meer dan 4 procent'', stelde de VVD'er in 2001 bij de invoering van box 3, waarin de vermogensbelasting is opgenomen. ,,Wie dat niet lukt kan bij mij staatsobligaties krijgen, met een procent of 6 rendement.'' | https://www.gelderlander.nl/economie/is-spaartaks-diefstal~a1b3ce3e/ |
Can Congress Block a National Emergency? | President Donald Trump has said he would consider declaring a national emergency in order to get around Congress and construct a wall at the southern border. The president of the United States has the legal authority to declare such an emergency. Congress has the power to block such a move. The National Emergencies Act of 1976 established that Congress has the authority to terminate a national emergency. But it requires approval from both the House and the Senate. Rep. Adam Smith on whether Pres. Trump has the authority to declare a national emergency and have the military build the wall: "The short answer is yes," but Trump would be "wide open to a court challenge, saying where is the emergency." https://t.co/Tm1bnHsp7t pic.twitter.com/DRlHAIPgqG ABC News (@ABC) January 6, 2019 The judicial branch can also review whether there is just cause for a national emergency. ' Heres what you need to know. The National Emergencies Act Does Not Specify What Constitutes a National Emergency But Specified That Congress Can End It With a Concurrent Resolution Post Reports: To build border wall, Trump considers national emergency powers https://t.co/5GGYBzcRdV The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 8, 2019 President Trump is correct in stating that he has the authority to declare a national emergency. Congress has the power to end it, albeit via a lengthy and difficult process. The National Emergencies Act of 1976 includes the following language: Provides that any national emergency declared by the President in accordance with this title shall terminate if (1) Congress terminates the emergency by concurrent resolution; or (2) the President issues a proclamation terminating the emergency. The House and the Senate must come together to override a presidents decision to issue a national emergency. The tool to do so, called a concurrent resolution, is defined by the Senate as such: A legislative measure, designated S. Con. Res. and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. If Congress passed a concurrent resolution, it goes to the presidents desk for his signature. The president has the power to veto it, which Congress could then override. The law does not specify what constitutes a national emergency. But the president is required to explain to Congress how he intends to use that power. Here is that language: When the President declares a national emergency, no powers made available by statute for use in the event of an emergency shall become operative unless and until the President specifies the specific provisions of law under which he proposes that he, or other officers will act. Congressional Research Service: A National Emergency Does Not Suspend the Constitution GOP Sen. @JohnCornyn tells CNN's @mkraju that Trump declaring a national emergency would "complicate" talks on a border wall adding that the case could be in court for "months and years" https://t.co/sWgKD6viAP pic.twitter.com/AE7h3BXfh6 CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) January 7, 2019 The Congressional Research Service fully explained the power of the president to invoke a national emergency in a 2007 report. (You can read that report in full here). In the summary, researchers explained that a national emergency does not mean that the Constitution can be violated. The President of the United States has available certain powers that may be exercised in the event that the nation is threatened by crisis, exigency, or emergency circumstances (other than natural disasters, war, or near-war situations). Such powers may be stated explicitly or implied by the Constitution, assumed by the Chief Executive to be permissible constitutionally, or inferred from or specified by statute. Through legislation, Congress has made a great many delegations of authority in this regard over the past 200 years. There are, however, limits and restraints upon the President in his exercise of emergency powers. With the exception of the habeas corpus clause, the Constitution makes no allowance for the suspension of any of its provisions during a national emergency. Disputes over the constitutionality or legality of the exercise of emergency powers are judicially reviewable. Indeed, both the judiciary and Congress, as co-equal branches, can restrain the executive regarding emergency powers. So can public opinion. Furthermore, since 1976, the President has been subject to certain procedural formalities in utilizing some statutorily delegated emergency authority. The Congressional Research Service mentioned in the report that the president can seize property under a national emergency. One of the issues of building a wall is that private citizens own property where the barrier would be constructed. The 5th Amendment allows the government to essentially force property owners to sell as long as there is just compensation. This process could prompt lengthy court battles and appeals, but it is legal. Some of these authorities, deriving from the Constitution or statutory law, are continuously available to the President with little or no qualification. Others statutory delegations from Congress exist on a stand-by basis and remain dormant until the President formally declares a national emergency. These delegations or grants of power authorize the President to meet the problems of governing effectively in times of crisis. Under the powers delegated by such statutes, the President may seize property, organize and control the means of production, seize commodities, assign military forces abroad, institute martial law, seize and control all transportation and communication, regulate the operation of private enterprise, restrict travel, and, in a variety of ways, control the lives of United States citizens. Furthermore, Congress may modify, rescind, or render dormant such delegated emergency authority. President Trump Could Declare an Immigration Emergency President Trump could cite the Immigration and Nationality Act in ordering a national emergency. One of the provisions of the act was to establish an Immigration Emergency. This type of emergency can be enacted if there is a sudden massive influx of immigrants that overwhelms the governments ability to handle them all. Here is the legal language: Immigration emergency means an actual or imminent influx of aliens which either is of such magnitude or exhibits such other characteristics that effective administration of the immigration laws of the United States is beyond the existing capabilities of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the affected area or areas. Characteristics of an influx of aliens, other than magnitude, which may be considered in determining whether an immigration emergency exists include: the likelihood of continued growth in the magnitude of the influx; an apparent connection between the influx and increases in criminal activity; the actual or imminent imposition of unusual and overwhelming demands on law enforcement agencies; and other similar characteristics. As pointed out by USA Today, this declaration alone would not give President Trump the necessary funds needed to construct a wall. The Immigration Emergency Fund has an annual budget of only $20 million. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of undocumented immigrants entering the United States has dropped significantly over the past decade. | https://heavy.com/news/2019/01/can-congress-block-national-emergency/ |
When is Brexit and when do MPs vote on Theresa Mays deal? | (Picture: AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Brexit is fast-approaching, although the plans for what itll actually look like still seem to be largely up in the air. MPs got back from the Christmas recess on Monday, and the ball now seems to be rolling on whether a deal or no-deal situation is more likely. There was talk this week that Article 50 may have been extended, giving us more time to hash out a deal before Brexit, although this was shot down by Mays spokespeople. Rebel Tory MPs also joined forces with Labour yestersay to back an amendment intended to limit ministers tax raising powers in the event of a no-deal Brexit, suggesting that the process will be anything but smooth. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Brexit itself is set to happen on 29 March 2019. Advertisement Advertisement However, its the 15 January (next Tuesday) that MPs will vote on what Brexit actually looks like. Last night, the meaningful debate began, and the vote comes a week after that. Its not entirely clear what will happen after that, particularly is Mays deal vote doesnt pass. There could technically be a no-deal situation, but MPs would likely want to avoid something so volatile. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said history will take a dim view of the PMs Cabinet if it presses ahead with a no-deal Brexit if MPs vote against her agreement next week. Meanwhile, Business Secretary Greg Clark told the House of Commons that a no-deal Brexit should not be contemplated. Without some movement from Brussels, Mrs May is expected to lose the vote, which was postponed in December when it became clear that the Government would be defeated. At the moment, however, its still a waiting game to see which way the votes go. MORE: The responsibility to end period poverty lies with government not teachers MORE: Police dog lost her leg after being hit by suspects car | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/brexit-mps-vote-theresa-mays-deal-8325093/ |
How much would Donald Trumps border wall cost and how long would it be? | Trump has been accused of holding the American people hostage (Picture: Evan Vucci/AP) Donald Trump has used his first primetime address to try to garner support for his border wall. Donald Trump downgrades EU's status in the US without any warning In the midst of the second longest government shutdown in United States history, the American people saw Trump take to the airwaves in an effort to fulfil one of his core campaign promises: to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico. Heres everything you need to know about his speech, and the wall he so desperately wants built. Oval Office Addresses are typically only made on the most solemn of occasions like a national emergency, or when a president leaves office. In his Oval Office speech, Donald Trump asked for what amounts to 4.5 billion to build the border wall. In US dollars, thats $5.7 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Trump claimed that Mexico would effectively be paying for the wall through a great new trade deal. However Welles Orr, who worked as Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs under George H.W. Bush, has explained that this isnt how trade deals work. Welles Orr said: Trade agreements are designed to reduce regulatory hurdles. Most of our tariffs are zero, or very, very low. Even if there were new tariffs, they go into the US Treasury fund, not to particular projects. On top of all that, this trade agreement hasnt been ratified yet, and likely wont be until at least spring. The US/Mexican border is approximately 1,900 miles long. This distance reaches across four states: California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Theres already a fence around the border that stretches hundreds of miles. Trump has reportedly said that his wall will span a distance of 1,000 miles. Natural obstacles would serve to guard the other 900 miles. In essence, Trumps speech was an effort to get money for a border wall between the United States and Mexico. His promise to build a border wall was a key part of his election campaign. In his speech on 8 January, he made various claims as to the harm that illegal immigration is causing the country with violence and drugs, and how the Democrats are essentially to blame for the continued government shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement There are plenty of non-alternative facts that contradict him. For instance, Time highlights that studies have shown that actually immigrants commit crimes less frequently than those who are American-born. While the majority of heroin does come from the southern border as Trump said, the Drug Enforcement Agency in the US has actually found that most of it arrives in cars entering the states legally. According to the Huffington Post, they made a set of bipartisan proposals in Congress which would have allocated approximately $1.3 billion towards border security, including fencing. These proposals were rejected by Trump. Advertisement To say theres been a negative response to this address would be putting it mildly, with plenty of people pointing out how continued gun violence in America has yet to be given the same level of attention from Trump. Advertisement Nancy Pelosi, the newly appointed (for the second time) Speaker of The House of Representatives, has responded by saying The fact is: President Trump must stop holding the American people hostage, must stop manufacturing a crisis, and must reopen the government. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video MORE: Donald Trump downgrades EUs status in the US without any warning MORE: Trump says people build walls, not because they hate but because they love the people inside | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/how-much-would-donald-trumps-border-wall-cost-and-how-long-would-it-be-8324828/ |
What's it like to swap the city for the countryside in Sweden? | "It was the best move I ever made," says Michael Jones of his move from Gothenburg to the countryside around Trollhttan two years ago. His relocation was financially motivated, as he planned to buy a house and this was much cheaper in rural areas of Sweden. Michael Jones. Photo: Private But he has also noticed many more advantages of his new neighbourhood, some of which he had not expected. "I find the people here are a lot more friendly and open than in the city. There's a lot more community involvement, so for example attending dinners is much easier," Jones explains. "I still leave my car unlocked and my house doors open." Another major plus is having nature and wildlife close by, which offers peace, opportunities for family days out, and the chance to go hunting, one of his hobbies. However, the more peaceful location comes with the trade-off that his commute to work is now longer, and Jones suggests that many people moving to the Swedish countryside will need to be comfortable with getting a car and waking up early. "Public transport is an issue; in the city you can more easily drink a few beers and catch a tram or bus home. I work in Gothenburg but I get up at 4.40am to drive to the station to catch a train," he says. But to him, these extra efforts are worth it to live in a close-knit and affordable community with nature a stone's throw away. A view from Jones's house on his workshop. Photo: Private Irina Banciu moved from the city to the countryside for the same reasons as Jones: to buy a house and save money, while the proximity to nature was another draw. "We always wanted to try country living as we like the outdoors and liked the prospect of living in a house," explains Banciu, who moved from Copenhagen to rural Skne in 2016. But she and her partner found it much harder to fit into the local community than Jones, and she acknowledges that the language barrier was probably a big factor in that. English proficiency levels are typically lower in smaller towns and villages in Sweden, while there are fewer events or activities for English-speakers, which can make it hard to settle in before knowing Swedish. "Coming from UK where there is still an element of community and village life at least through the local pub, we were surprised at how isolated everything and everyone is," she tells The Local. "We often felt like people were looking into our house or giving us strange looks." Poor public transport connections made having a social life "impossible", she adds. Her advice for anyone planning a move to the countryside is to think very hard about the reasons for the decision, and to assess how that will match up with the reality. "It may be that you love the great outdoors but how much of your daily life are you prepared to spend on commuting and running errands?" She also recommends researching practical things such as public transport, other local amenities, and events in the area. Irina Banciu (left) with her partner. Photo: Private After two years of trying to make country living work, the couple decided to move back to Copenhagen. "We felt the jump to the countryside was too big," Banciu says. "Although it is lovely to have the space and forests on your doorstep, we decided we were not at the stage in our life where we could make the most of this." "But we will always miss the big garden in the summer, not having to live by other people's rules, and the beautiful nature." A view over Skne. Share your thoughts in the comments below. | https://www.thelocal.se/20190109/two-stories-from-people-who-moved-to-the-swedish-countryside |
Is village practice about to close? | Patients of a medical practice in Cumbernauld Village are starting the new year with the concern their surgery may be about to close. The Handa Practice, an offshoot of the Condorrat Medical Practice, has this week launched a consultation exercise about closing the service down. The consultation, which started on Monday is set to run until the end of the month and is looking to gather views and feedback via a patient questionnaire. Once these have been collated a final decision will be taken on the future of the village practice. The News spoke with practice manager Allison Flaherty who advised that they would be making no comment until such time as their decision was known at the completion of the consultation, but did say there were a number of reasons behind the exercise. The proposed date for closure would be March 31 at which point patients would transfer to the main practice in Condorrat. Central Scotland and Scottish Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell announced last week that Lanarkshire has lost 11 GP practices since 2008. Recent warnings from the Royal College of General Practitioners say that Scotland could be short of more than 800 family doctors by 2021. Cllr Gillian Fannan said: The Handa Practice is a much needed service, especially for elderly patients who find it difficult to travel. Its closure would be a huge loss. People in Cumbernauld have suffered from under investment in their health services, and this is just the latest in a long line of closures. I would urge everyone to take part in the patient consultation, which ends on the January 31. You can pick up a questionnaire in both the Village or Condorrat practices. | https://www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk/news/health/is-village-practice-about-to-close-1-4853743 |
Is the 'Beast from the East' making a comeback? | Britain might be facing a cold snap by the end of January, if early European weather predictions are correct. But any cold front will come after unseasonably warm weather, with some parts of the country experiencing double figure temperatures this weekend. Forecasters have said the same weather pattern which sparked last year's 'Beast from the East', bringing freezing temperatures and heavy snow, could return. Image: Waves crash around Cromer Pier in Norfolk A sudden stratospheric warming appeared around Christmas, when there was a sharp increase in temperature over a couple of days. When this happens in the Arctic, it can lead to a rush of cold air blowing eastwards across Europe a few weeks later. This brings much cooler temperatures across the continent. Temperature maps from the European Commission indicate Britain will have temperatures of about 2-3C during the second half of January, slightly cooler than average for this time of year. Image: The winter weather brought some sun earlier this week In a long-range forecast the Met Office said: "During the last week of January and into early February there is an increased likelihood of colder weather conditions becoming established generally across all of the UK. "This would bring an enhanced risk of frost, fog and also snow. These notably colder conditions are by no means certain though, and even if they do occur, they are will probably still be interspersed with some milder, wetter and windy interludes." Although the Met Office is not ruling out a Beast from the East, forecasters believe the weather will be stable. Image: Iceland horses play in their paddock in Wehrheim near Frankfurt Grahame Madge, from the Met Office, said: "Last year there was a classic set-up with the Beast from the East, there was an event in the Arctic - sudden stratospheric warming - where the stratosphere warms rapidly. "That triggers, generally, a change in the direction of winds across Europe at surface level. The upshot is that normally when this happens in the Arctic you get easterly winds and that's what happened last year. "But although that warming has happened in the Arctic already just prior to Christmas, we are not seeing any change in an easterly pattern." Image: A snow plough clears the A9 highway in Garching, southern Germany Other parts of Europe have already experienced dramatic weather, with heavy snow falling across Austria and Germany. Mr Madge added: "There have been some parts of Europe that have experienced quite significant cold, heavier-than-average snow in countries like Austria and in northern and central Europe. "It is possible we could still see this turn to a more easterly flow but if anything it looks as though we are in stable weather conditions. "We are looking at the next week or so, but we could see a change after that. But there is nothing in the next week or so that could indicate any change like the Beast from the East." Image: Rudolf Roeckenschuss uses a snow blower to clear his courtyard in Miesbach, southern Germany At least 13 people have been killed across Europe in weather-related accidents in the last week, many of them avalanches. In the Alpine region, hundreds of people remain trapped in their homes for another day after heavy snowfall. Flights have been cancelled around Europe and some authorities are warning of more risks of avalanches. Rescue workers have put a mission to find the bodies of four skiers in Norway on hold again because of poor visibility and snowfall. Image: A snow plough clears Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria where 5ft of snow has fallen In Romania, police found the frozen body of a 67-year-old man in a car park in Slatina after his wife reported that he had not returned from work. Temperatures there dropped to -24C (-11F). On Monday night, 11 German hikers were rescued by mountaineers from a cabin in Salzburg, where they had been snowed in with no electricity and little food since Friday. | https://news.sky.com/story/is-the-beast-from-the-east-making-a-comeback-11602614 |
What can we really take from Grimsby Towns statement on future and new stadium? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Grimsby Town have taken centre stage this week both on and off the pitch. At the weekend, the Mariners put on a brave display in their FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace, only for ten-men to be defeated by a cruel, late winner for the Premier League side. Less than 48 hours later, it was off-field matters that were being discussed as director John Fenty issued a response to recent takeover rumours. In a 14-minute video statement, the majority shareholder confirmed that talks were held, and ended, with an interested party. He also resurfaced the debate on the clubs proposed new stadium. In the words of Mr Fenty, there is no foundation to the rumours that circulated across the festive period. Take from that what you will. However, there was serious interest in the club two or three months ago. A formal offer was made, that much we know, with the majority shareholder then saying that talks were ended due to lack of proof over funds and a business plan. In that sense, we were probably as close as we have been to a takeover for quite some time, but it ultimately never came to fruition and in that sense its back to the drawing board. It appears that rumours, for now, are exactly that. As indicated by the above, there has been some interest in a complete takeover of the club, just as there was back in 2016 when an American company, and a local individual, entered talks with the clubs current directors. However, recent interest has also fallen by the wayside, following a lack of evidence that the interested party could take the club forward. Mr Fenty continues to state that the Blundell Park doors remain wide open but such is the importance on making sure the parties interested in a takeover are the right fit, this will remain a lengthy process. Naturally, reaction to the lack of progress on this front has been mixed. However, the clubs future will be heavily shaped by their next owners, as and when that moment comes. Fans reaction Yesterdays statement resurfaced several hot-topics that have been on the cusp of our thoughts for a long, long time namely a takeover and the proposed new stadium. Here is what a small selection of Town fans had to say on social media... Richard Ladd said: Just watched the Fenty video. States how proud his was of Town and the fans at Palace amongst other things. Also the road infrastructure doesn't make sense for a stadium to be located there yet there is no explanation about how this will be resolved. Mark Parker added: If Malcolm Glazer came out right now with the same statement about MUFC, it wouldnt have drawn the same reaction. That being said, it is another unnecessary statement for the sake of being heard. (Image: Jon Corken/GrimsbyLive) On the pitch With the future of Grimsby Town FC being heavily discussed this week, it remains crucial to point out there is strong evidence of forward planning on the pitch. Ahead of the 2018/19 season, boss Michael Jolley handed out several two-year deals to his summer signings with James McKeown and Harry Clifton among those to sign fresh, three-year contracts. Clifton and co have featured heavily in the first-team this season, with Town boasting one of the youngest matchday squads in the division. Its a clear sign of intent from Jolley and his backroom team. With several young, and even local, players in the ranks, it has helped re-energise the affinity between the club and its dedicated fan-base. Enthusiasm in Town is at fever-pitch right now. On that subject, Mr Fenty said: There just seems to be a massive unity at the moment; players, fans and manager alike. It stands the football club in great stead. Its something that we have struggled to manufacture for want of a better description over the years. In my opinion, that is essential for the club in order to progress. With that atmosphere and feeling around the club, I just look forward to the future. Options for new stadium Debating the perfect location for Towns proposed new stadium feels like an age-old discussion. In recent times, there has been widespread public support for the stadium to form part of a Freeman Street regeneration project. With no silver bullet to provide the catalyst for relocation, the debate will continue as it has done for the best part of three decades! Each and every person will, of course, have their own preferred site. However, according to our poll which is still open around 66 per cent are in favour of Freeman Street. You can continue to have your say below. 500+ VOTES SO FAR Freeman Street area Peaks Parkway Somewhere else Follow or contact Grimsby Live Contact us: Email the reporter who wrote this story. Follow Grimsby Town Live on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest Town news in your feed and join in the discussions in the comments! Click here to like our page and keep up to date with the latest from the Mariners! Follow us on Twitter - For breaking news and the latest stories, click here to follow Grimsby Town Live on Twitter. Follow us on Instagram - On the Grimsby Live Instagram page we like to feature great pictures from our area - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! Click here to follow Grimsby Live on Instagram. | https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-can-really-take-grimsby-2409372 |
How Much Energy Does The Hyundai Kona Electric Use To Precondition? | We recently shared a YouTube video courtesy of The EV Puzzle. It dealt with how long it takes the Hyundai Kona Electric to defrost in reasonably cold temps. It turned out that you can defrost the Kona quite quickly, but temps were not ridiculously cold (still -2 Celsius, 28 Fahrenheit is a median, if you will). If you follow the segment, youre likely aware that the Kona has an impressive range. So, for those that live in areas with a cold climate, preconditioning is a necessity. This YouTuber and new Kona owner notes that theres not a preconditioning app interface via smartphone for the Kona. That being said, its timer system doesnt work out very well or save energy, and the pre-set preconditioning time is too long. He claims he wont rely on the system until Hyundai makes changes. Instead, you can rely on preconditioning the car manually, which saves about one-third of the lost energy. Let us know about preconditioning in the comment section below. Video Description via The EV Puzzle on YouTube: Kona Electric Defrosting, preconditioning on a timer Energy usage test Happy New Year. Following on from my last video about defrosting the Kona (embedded below) I think its only right to compare and discuss the alternative way of defrosting an EV and thats with preconditioning. Many EVs have the feature to effectively program the car to turn on the heating system to warm the car up before you depart. The net effect is, it will defrost the windows of the car and be comfortable for you when youre ready to depart. Some EVs have an App interface on mobile phones that will allow you to remotely set the parameters for this and activate it. The Kona does not. It has a timer capability that can be used to set a departure time and a temperature. The car will heat or cool to the set temperature ready for your departure. It must be plugged in however for preconditioning to work. It activates 30 minutes before your departure time so allows a considerable time for the required cooling or heating. From a 5C ambient temperature starting point my Kona took 0.91kWh of energy within the 30 minute preconditioning period. A huge cost of 0.13 ($0.17 US or 0.15Euro) Heating the car manually, waiting in the car, appeared to use approximately one third of that energy. Personally, Im of the opinion a remote app interface is needed but it needs to allow for a shorter preconditioning period and allow heated seats, steering wheel and mirrors to be defrosted also. Im unlikely to use preconditioning in the Kona very often after these tests. | https://insideevs.com/energy-use-hyundai-kona-electric-precondition/ |
What is the meaningful vote? When is the meaningful vote on Mays deal? | Prime Minister Theresa May has a second chance to try and convince MPs of passing her Brexit plan in five fresh days of debate in the House of Commons. She was forced to pull the meaningful vote before Christmas in the face of a humiliating defeat from both sides of the political spectrum. Little appears to have changed since then with opposing voices sticking firm to their rejection of the current deal. Former Brexit minister Suella Braverman told BBCs Newsnight she would not back Mrs May in the forthcoming vote unless something changed democratically. She also said many of her colleagues were in agreement with her view. The meaningful vote is a clause in the European (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ensuring Parliament must agree on Mrs Mays bill before it is passed. Brexit: Theresa May hopes to push her Brexit deal through the House of Commons on January 15 After the votes postponement in December, it has been tabled for January 15. The much-debated amendment spent a lot of time being ping-ponged between the House of Lords and House of Commons last summer. Under original plans, MPs would have been able to stop block Brexit bills passage in a majority vote against it. But the House of Lords and the Commons could not agree on the terms. Brexit: Staunch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg on his way to Westminster this morning A revision tabled by MP Dominic Grieve would have enabled MPs to amend and vote on a motion in Parliament if no deal had been reached by January 21. But this was rejected by Brexiteers and was voted down by 319 votes to 303 in June. As the vote stands now, MPs can still debate the finer points - as they will do over the next five days - but the government need not necessarily act on it. Mrs May does not want to allow politicians the chance to vote on amendments to the Brexit bill, already agreed by Brussels, as it could create legal ambiguity. MPs can put forward motions on straightforward issues - and one of these could be a vote of no confidence against the government. Brexit: Police presence has been ramped up outside the Houses of Parliament after attacks on MPs | https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1069385/brexit-what-is-meaningful-vote-when-is-theresa-may-deal-explained |
Does Manafort disclosure build collusion case? | Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. (You can also get "5 Things You Need to Know Today" delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) 1. Presidential address President Trump made the case for a border wall last night during his first Oval Office address. He warned of a "crisis" on the border with Mexico but didn't declare a "national emergency," a controversial move that might have led to him bypassing Congress and trying to build the wall with Defense Department funds. The President backed up his crisis claims with lots of misleading statements and fuzzy facts that were almost immediately debunked by reporters and Democrats. You can watch Trump's full speech here. None of what the President said seemed to change any minds or get the nation any closer to ending the 19-day-old partial government shutdown, now the second-longest in US history. And the pain's about to get real for the 800,000 federal workers who won't get a paycheck Friday. There don't seem to be any serious negotiations going on between the White House and Democratic leaders. And now, even some Republicans appear to be losing patience for an extended shutdown battle, with GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining a few other Republican senators in calling for the government to be reopened while the battle over the border wall continues. 2. Russia investigation Special counsel Robert Mueller believes Paul Manafort shared polling data with a Russian closely linked to that country's military intelligence while he was running Donald Trump's presidential campaign. This bombshell revelation came to light because Manafort's lawyers screwed up redacting parts of a court filing that was publicly released yesterday. This is a big deal in Mueller's long-running investigation because it's the clearest public evidence yet of coordination between Trump's campaign and Russians. 3. Australian suspicious packages Suspicious packages were delivered to a dozen consulates and seven embassies in Melbourne and Canberra. The British, American, Croatian, New Zealand and Swiss consulates in Melbourne all got suspicious items in the mail. A Croatian official told CNN that a package containing three little packets arrived at the consulate through the mail. Australian police and fire officials aren't providing many more details, but they don't believe the packages "pose an actual threat." 4. R. Kelly R&B singer R. Kelly could be under investigation in Georgia. A lawyer for Joycelyn Savage, one of the women featured in the Lifetime documentary "Surviving R. Kelly," said an Atlanta-area district attorney is looking into sex abuse allegations against the singer, though the DA's spokesman had no comment. The six-part docuseries -- which aired last week to much buzz on social media -- looked at longstanding claims of abuse and pedophilia against Kelly and featured accounts from his accusers. A lawyer for the singer said the allegations in the documentary are false. 5. Cancer Cancer deaths in the US have been falling steadily for a quarter century, a new study says. The US cancer rate dropped by 27% from 1991 to 2016, according to a study from the American Cancer Society. That means there were about 2.6 million fewer cancer death than there would have been had death rates stayed the same. That's heartening for sure, but there was still some bad news mixed in. The disparities between rich and poor patients and black and white patients remain, although the racial gap appears to be closing somewhat. THIS JUST IN ... Headed out Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will leave the Justice Department in the coming weeks once a new attorney general is confirmed, a source familiar with his thinking told CNN. Rosenstein has been overseeing the Russia investigation. BREAKFAST BROWSE Helping hands Federal workers hit by the shutdown have some backup. Restaurants are offering free meals, and Jimmy Kimmel is giving them jobs on his show. Size matters Bigger is never big enough, at least when it comes to TVs. Samsung is showing off a 219-inch (!!) television this week at the CES show in Las Vegas. Musical mash-up Childish Gambino. Phish. Brandi Carlile. Looks like there's a little something for everybody at Bonnaroo, which just announced this year's lineup. Final frontier Well, that was fast. NASA's new planet-hunting telescope has only been on the job for three months, and it's already found three new exoplanets. Walk right in ... Why create a car that simply rolls down the road when you can make one that "walks?" Hyundai did. TODAY'S NUMBER $130,000 That's the salary (split between two people) to keep a California lighthouse up and running AND FINALLY Bust a move This guy is straight getting down while directing the planes at Toronto's airport. (Click to view.) | https://www.kq2.com/content/national/504095932.html?ref=932 |
Isn't Farhan the SEXIEST 45 year old? | January 09, 2019 15:34 IST Happy birthday, Farhan! Photograph: Kind courtesy Shibani Dandekar/Instagram Farhan Akhtar, who will be seen in The Fakir of Venice, is all of 45 today, January 9. While the film-maker-actor-singer is slowly inching towards the 50 club, his girlfriend Shibani Kashyap reminds us that FA is indeed aging gracefully. The good looking singer-actress took to Instagram a while back and wished her beau by sharing an adorable picture of the two. Along with the photo she wrote, 'Because he has the coolest tattoo in the world and because it's his bday! Happy birthday my sweet grumps love you loads @faroutakhtar'. Photograph: Kind courtesy Preity Zinta/Instagram Preity Zinta also wished Farhan on Instagram, but with a hilarious throwback picture. She captioned the photo, 'Happy birthday @faroutakhtar. Wish you loads of love, laughter & happiness today & always. Xoxo'. Apart from The Fakir of Venice, Farhan will be seen in Shonali Bose's The Sky Is Pink alongside Priyanka Chopra and Zahira Wasim. | https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/isnt-farhan-the-sexiest-45-year-old/20190109.htm |
How are self-driving car companies dealing with road rage from humans? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. By Alyssa Newcomb LAS VEGAS As car companies prepare for a future where autonomous vehicles rule the road, recent incidents have shown theyll also have to navigate an extra hurdle: road rage from human drivers. Nine months after Lyft and Aptiv released 30 self-driving vehicles onto the streets of Las Vegas, along with a human driver and a safety operator in each car, executives from both companies were at CES, the annual tech show, giving ride-alongs and sharing what theyve learned since the launch of the public program last year. Taggart Matthiesen, head of Lyfts autonomous vehicle division, told NBC News hes not aware of any incidents of peopl vandalizing or taking out their road rage on his company's self-driving cars. This has been a pretty exciting service for passengers in Vegas, and we havent really seen any animosity around that, said Matthiesen. One reason, he said, could be the fact that the BMW cars, which use Aptiv technology, dont fit the typical image of a self-driving car. It doesnt have the big spinner on the top, or what looks like sensors hanging off the sides of the vehicle, he said. The technology has been really tightly incorporated in the vehicle itself, so I think that is one aspect. Las Vegas police did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to whether they have received any reports of harassment around the self-driving Lyft vehicles. The APTIV vehicle with autonomous technology drives on the strip Friday, December 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by John F. Martin for APTIV) John F. Martin for APTIV But the threat from other drivers, who may harbor animosity toward self-driving cars for a variety of reasons, has become all too real. Waymo, the self-driving car spinoff from Google, has operated in Chandler, Arizona, for the past two years, where it has encountered at least 21 instances of harassment documented by local police in the town of 240,000 people. Those instances include a man waving a pistol at a Waymo vehicle as it passed his driveway, tires slashed while idling in traffic, rocks thrown, and a Jeep that ran a Waymo car off the road six times, according to a review published last month. Humans often enjoy confusing computers, especially if they are easy to confuse, said Karl Brauer, executive publisher at Cox Automotive. Add in the lumbering, cautious nature of autonomous cars and their interactions with human-controlled cars are easy to predict. Expect humans to speed around them, cut them off and otherwise show autonomous vehicles little respect. The instances of police involvement are rare, considering Waymo vehicles log more than 25,000 miles a day on public roads in the United States. A spokesperson added that the company actively engages with the community and has found Arizonans to be welcoming and excited by the potential of this technology to make our roads safer. Like Waymo, the self-driving Lyft drivers go through extensive safety training. First and foremost, their job is to keep everyone safe, so any incidents of them maybe feeling a bit threatened would be reported back and we would figure it out on a case-by-case basis on how to handle a particular situation, said Gretchen Effgen, vice president of global partnerships at Aptiv. We maintain really strong communications. Theres an end-of-shift reporting. Thankfully, touch wood, these types of things are not things we have encountered here, she said. But as more companies speed toward a self-driving future, theyll have some more work to do in engaging the public, until it feels like second nature for human drivers to share the road with autonomous vehicles, analysts said. Self-driving cars probably wont respond with road rage, said Brauer. Their passengers might be seething at how long it takes to merge or make a left turn. | https://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/how-are-self-driving-car-companies-dealing-road-rage-humans-n956121 |
Is Google trying to buy WhatsApp? | Google's hunger for new acquisitions appears to remain unsatisfied as rumours surface that the company is looking to buy WhatsApp. WhatsApp, the popular cross-platform messaging app that has rapidly eclipsed text messaging as we know it, has been predicted as a big buy for some time. Now it looks like Google is the one circling a deal, if inside sources speaking to Digital Trends are to be believed. However, word is that the mobile messaging service is playing hard to get, demanding more than Google is currently offering - which is said to be around $1bn (653m/AUS$963m). Chatterbox With Facebook finding its home on the HTC First, 2013 could prove to be a big year for the new age of messaging services, with bog standard text messaging beginning to feel like a thing of the past. And WhatsApp feels like a no-brainer for Google, which will most likely bring the service as an integrated part of Android in the future if a deal takes place. Rumours have been swirling that Google is looking to release an all-under-one-roof messaging service named Google Babble, so we'd expect to see WhatsApp play into that But if Google is to announce Babble at May's Google I/O developer conference, it might want to get this WhatsApp deal done and dusted post haste. We've contacted Google to ask if it can verify the rumours of this acquisition, and will update if we hear back. | https://www.techradar.com/au/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/is-google-trying-to-buy-whatsapp-1143138 |
Is the keto diet actually dangerous? | The ketogenic diet is high-fat, low-carb and promises to help you lose weight. The restrictive diet is booming in popularity, with a growing number of people in the UK giving it a try. And with January resolutions at the forefront of everyones minds, its no surprise that more people are looking for options to overhaul their diets and meet their weight-loss goals. We took a look at the facts. The point of the ketogenic diet is to force the body into a state of ketosis. This is when low carbohydrate levels cause blood sugar levels to drop and the body begins breaking down fat to use as energy. Hence the weight-loss. Ketosis is actually a mild form of ketoacidosis, which is an extremely dangerous complication of type 1 diabetes. Advertisement Advertisement Not necessarily. Experts have generally consented that the keto diet, while it wouldnt be recommended for everybody, is generally safe. Expert nutritionist and founder of Nosh Detox, Geeta Sidhu-Robb, explains it like this: Renowned for its ability to source calories from protein and fats, as opposed to carbohydrates and sugars, in a bid to elevate weight loss and boost energy, the state of ketosis has been credited for aiding a range of health problems. However it is not without its criticism, such as the safe longevity of the method. But what must be said is that the ketogenic diet is most definitely safe and is a viable dieting technique. Before starting a keto diet its important to do your research of your own body! Its very important to examine your relationship with fats as a traditional ketogenic diet will have lots of them. Have a meal plan in place and opt for the best quality products, even if this means a spike in the prices bearing in mind the keto diet should not be a long term plan. And that is the crux of the issue. Experts seem to agree that the keto diet is safe and viable when its only used in the short-term. According to some, leaving your body in a state of ketosis indefinitely can cause extreme fatigue, muscle loss and even make it harder for you to lose weight. Some experts have even warned that a long-term keto diet can damage the heart muscle. Advertisement Advertisement Geeta says that theres also another concern with consuming high volumes of meat on this diet. While the upside of this plan is that people end up eating healthier fats, less sugar and see their insulin levels mellow, it can often mean that people become reliant on saturated animal fats in meat, Geeta tells Metro.co.uk. This is why vegan variations of the keto diet are much healthier options as you still reap the weight and health rewards of a keto diet but avoid the harmful fats in meat, which are hard to avoid when you consider the fact that carbohydrates are almost completely disregarded. Vegan ketosis will see plant-based healthy nutrients maintained. The ketogenic diet will see its best rewards when implemented between one and two weeks at a time. It certainly shouldnt be a long duration diet method. The benefits of a keto diet Overall the keto diet plan is positive. When you eat high in carbs, your body will produce glucose and insulin. Glucose is the easiest molecule for your body to convert and use as energy which means the fats you eat, your body stores. But when you go into ketosis, your body burns stored fat for energy instead of glucose and the benefits include: Rebalancing the body Reducing blood pressure Resetting your insulin levels Improving cognitive processes and mental stability The ultimate benefit is that you totally change your eating habits to include more fat and eat healthier as you adapt to this diet. Ms Geeta Sidhu-Robb, nutritionist Looking at all the evidence and the expert advice, it seems as though the keto diet is a good option to kick start your weight-loss goals. Advertisement If your aim for the new year is to think more consciously about food and get to a healthier weight, then it might be worth doing the keto diet for a few weeks, and seeing how you get on. But, as with all dieting and restrictive eating, its vital to listen to your body and do it in the healthiest way possible. Well-rounded eating and regular exercise is still the best way to be healthy and maintain your weight. If youre considering trying something new then speak to your GP or a nutritionist for tailored advice to fit your needs. Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/keto-diet-actually-dangerous-8324955/ |
When will Apple launch its own TV streaming service? | Apple plans to take on the Netflixes of this world with its own streaming service. According to numerous reports from the past few years, the company has been secretly tinkering away on a television service. It wants this upcoming service to showcase its original TV shows, much like Netflix does with its Netflix Originals. The streaming service, which is expected to be available in more than 100 countries, should launch sometime in the first half of 2019. Here is the latest news on its progress. Apple has been struggling for for many years - time and time again - to revamp the TV-watching experience, trying to ink deals with cable companies and movie studios. The first reports claimed Apple wanted to provide a cable bundle, or a set of standalone channel packages, for around $30 to $40 per month. It was reportedly difficult to negotiate with, and ultimately, its lofty goals were stalled. More recently, Apple has shifted its focus to the tvOS App Store, so that the film and TV industry could directly offer their own services to customers via apps, though Apple retained control of the watching experience and overall user interface. It's also begun to follow in Netflix's footsteps, as well as Amazon and Hulu's, by pursuing original content, with over a dozen shows in the works. The company is reportedly developing high-caliber shows like Westworld, investing over $1 billion throughout 2017 and 2018. Its first original television show, Planet of the Apps, which debuted in June 2017, features a Shark Tank-style format, pairing app developers with potential investors. Its second show, Carpool Karaoke: The Series, is based on the popular segment from The Late Late Show With James Corden. Oddly, both of Apple's first shows premiered via Apple Music and are used to promote the music service. Though, in May 2018, Apple made one of the shows available for free through the TV app. To head up its deep push into original content, Apple hired former Sony Pictures TV executives Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, who helped produce shows like Better Call Saul. Former Amazon Studios executive Morgan Wandell also joined Apple's team. They all report directly to Apple iTunes chief Eddy Cue, who said in February 2018 that Apple is "completely all in" on original content and that "money isn't an issue". Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBCs Mad Money host Jim Cramer that Apple will announce new services in 2019. Cook didnt say what type of services, and Cramer went on to ask Cook about healthcare and mobile payments. Still, this is notable because it follows a series of announcements from TV manufacturers revealing they are suddenly supporting Apple's AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. Such support means you will be able to cast content directly from your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to TVs. Plus, new TVs from Samsung will even support iTunes soon, letting you access your movies and TV shows there, too. If you link all these moves together, it'd be easy to assume Apple is laying the groundwork to launch a TV service that'll be accessible from its own devices and other hardware. A delivery mechanism for Apple's original content remains unclear. The shows might be accessible through a subscription service in Apple's TV app, which is available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The app lets you browse content from over 100 video services. It's still not clear how Apple's original content will be positioned alongside this content from third-party video services. But, if you look at the Amazon Prime Video app, it lets you access Amazon's own content with a Prime subscription. It also lets you subscribe to premium channels from third parties like HBO Now and Cinemax. We still don't know. Apple is targeting a broad audience. It's reportedly avoiding content with nudity, raw language, and violence. It even had a dispute with Amazing Stories showrunner Bryan Fuller over its wishes to produce family-friendly content. It also shelved Vital Signs, a semi-autobiographical show about hip hop artist Dr. Dre, as Apple CEO Tim Cook was said to be "troubled" by scenes showing guns, sex, and drug use. Apple has more than a dozen original television shows in the works. Here's a look at the full lineup so far: Amazing Stories Apple partnered with Amblin Television and NBC Universal TV to create new episodes of sci-fi series Amazing Stories, which originally ran on NBC from 1985 to 1987. Once Upon a Time' co-creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis are the executive producers and showrunners. Untitled morning talk show drama This will be a morning talk show drama starring Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell. The show is billed as an "inside look at the lives of the people who help America wake up in the morning." Apple has inked a deal for two seasons of the show, which is untitled still. Space drama Apple picked up an untitled space drama developed by Ronald D. Moore, best known for the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica. The show will "explore what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" and stars several actors including Joel Kinnaman Are You Sleeping drama Apple ordered 10 episodes of a drama called Are You Sleeping, based on a novel by Kathleen Barber. It explores how the reopening of a murder case affects the victim's daughter. It will star Octavia Spencer, known for Hidden Figures, and Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad. Home docuseries Home is a docuseries that explores extraordinary homes in the world. It sounds like MTV's Cribs meets Architectural Digest. Apple has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of the Home docuseries, which is produced by Matt Tynauer and Corey Reese of Altimeter Films. See drama See is an epic world-building drama that's set in the future. It's written by Steven Knight, known for Peaky Blinders and Francis Lawrence, known for The Hunger Games franchise, and will star Jason Momoa in the lead role of Baba Voss, a warrior, leader, and guardian. You Think It, I'll Say It Comedy comedy Apple ordered 10 episodes of a half-hour comedy show based on the You Think It, I'll Say It short story compliation by Curtis Sittenfeld, which "upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided." Untitled drama series from Damien Chazelle Apple picked up a drama series from La La Land creator Damien Chazelle. He will write and direct every episode of the series. Little America anthology Little America will look at "the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring, and unexpected lives of immigrants in America". It's written by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, known for The Big Sick, and Lee Eisenberg, who is known for his work on The Office. Swagger drama Swagger is a drama series based on the life of NBA star and Golden State Warriors player Kevin Durant. Imagine Television, led by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, will produce it, alongside Kevin Durant's Thirty Five Media. Both Durant and Grazer will serve as executive producers. M. Night Shyamalan thriller Apple ordered a psychological thriller written by Tony Basgallop and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, who is best known for movies like Signs and Split. The first episode of the series will be directed by Shyamalan. Apple has ordered 10 episodes, and each one will be a half hour long. Central Park animated musical Central Park an animated TV series developed by Loren Bouchard, well-known for popular cartoon Bob's Burgers. It's actually a musical comedy about a family of caretakers who live in Central Park and end up saving both the park and the world. It stars Josh Gad, among others. Isaac Asimov's Foundation Apple is working on a TV series adaptation of the popular sci-fi series Foundation written by sci-fi author Isaac Asimov. It's about psychohistory expert Hari Seldon, who can predict the future and attempts to preserve humanity's knowledge ahead of the Empire's impending fall. Emily Dickinson Apple picked up a show about the life of famous American poet Emily Dickinson, set to be played by Hailee Steinfeld. It'll be a comedic look into Dickinson's world. Jane Krakowski, known for roles in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock, will also star as Emily's mother. Little Voices dramedy Little Voices is a half-hour dramedy from executive producers JJ Abrams and Sara Bareilles. It's described as a love letter to "the diverse musicality of New York," as it will explore the lives of several characters in their 20s as they try to find their "authentic voice." Shantaram Apple is working on a TV adaptation of Gregory David Roberts' 2003 novel Shantaram, which focuses on a character named Lin, a convict that escapes an Australian prison. American Hustle screenwriter Eric Warren Singer will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Hilde Lysiak drama Apple ordered 10 episodes of a drama series about Hilde Lysiak, a child journalist who publishes a newspaper in her hometown in Pennsylvania. She unearths a cold case that everyone else in the town had attempted to bury. Child actress Brooklyn Price will star in the show. Calls horror Apple ordered an English-language adaptation of French series Calls. It's a short-form series that tells stories based on snippets of audio taken from real-life situations. Many episodes fall into the horror and mystery subgenres, and will likely use minimal visuals. Pachinko Apple secured the rights to create a TV show based on Min Jin Lee's novel Pachinko, which follows the lives of four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family in Japan staring in 1911. It will be written and produced by Soo Hugh, who is best known for The Killing. Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day video game comedy Apple has ordered a half-hour scripted comedy show created by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, who are best known for popular comedy show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show is set in a video game development studio, and McElhenney will be one of the show's stars. Losing Earth Climate Change Project Apple purchased the rights to develop a New York Times Magazine story (Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change). It covers the 10-year period from 1979 to 1989, hen "humanity settled the science of climate change and came surprisingly close to finding a solution." Defending Jacob drama Apple picked up drama series Defending Jacob, which will star Chris Evans, known for his roles in Captain America and The Avengers. It's a thriller based on William Landay's bestselling novel and covers the murder of a 14-year-old boy and his friend and suspect Jacob. In addition to multiple TV shows, Apple has started acquiring the rights to select films. The Elephant Queen Apple acquired rights to The Elephant Queen, a documentary about an elephant matriarch who leads her herd to find a new watering hole. Wolfwalkers Wolfwalkers is an animated film from Cartoon Saloon. It is set in Ireland, where Robyn, an Irish girl, is trying to kill demonic, evil wolves until she meets a wild native girl, named Mebh, whose friendship helps her to discover and understand the world of the Wolfwalkers. In addition to TV show and movies, Apple has inked a couple partnerships. Oprah Apple announced a multi-year production partnership with Oprah Winfrey in May 2018. It's teaming up with Oprah to create original programs that "embrace her incomparable ability to connect with audiences around the world". Sesame Workshop Apple is partnering with Sesame Workshop to create different television shows for kids, including live-action, puppet, and animated shows. According to a report from The Information, Apple's rumored television service will finally launch in the US in the first half of 2019, with a global expansion to follow later in the year. It will showcase Apple's original TV shows and will be available in more than 100 countries According to The Information and CNBC, Apple's original content will be made available for free to Apple device owners. The subscription service might also be bundled with an Apple Music subscription and a digital magazine and news subscription. | https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/apple/133233-apple-tv-subscription-streaming-service-what-s-the-story-so-far |
Will China overtake the U.S. on the curve? | The strategic policy Made in China 2025 aims to make China the worlds AI innovation center by 2030. In addition to AI, China hopes to overtake the United States to lead the world in biotechnology, robotics and 5G (fifth-generation wireless technologies). In an October speech, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence attacked the Chinese policy, claiming that the Communist Party has set its sights on controlling 90 percent of the worlds most advanced industries, including robotics, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. To win the commanding heights of the 21st-century economy, Beijing has directed its bureaucrats and businesses to obtain American intellectual property the foundation of our economic leadership by any means necessary. Moreover, Pence claimed that China is pursuing a military-civil fusion by sponsoring the acquisition of American firms to gain ownership of their creations. Worst of all, Chinese security agencies have masterminded the wholesale theft of American technology including cutting-edge military blueprints. In other words, China is rapidly increasing its military strength by integrating civilian and military technologies. At present, the most pressing issue China wants to address through this AI revolution within its military is the integration of artificial intelligence and drone systems (both aircraft and submarines) to restrict the mobilization of U.S. aircraft carriers. Meanwhile, an investigation by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute found that over the past decade, the Peoples Liberation Army has sent approximately 2,500 PLA-affiliated scientists and engineers primarily AI specialists to study at Western universities, while obscuring their true identities. The Pentagon established a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in Silicon Valley to invest in AI and other disruptive technology startups, only to discover that China had already invested in the most promising companies. In this game of leapfrog with the U.S., Chinas tactic is, to quote a high-ranking PLA official, one of overtaking on the curve. The only way to overtake the leading car in a race is to accelerate and outdrive it on a fast curve. Institutions such as Tsinghua University and businesses like Baidu Inc. are the drivers of Chinas military-civilian fusion. After all, there is no public or private within the Chinese political system. Companies like Alibaba and Tencent have no choice but to accept the creation of Communist Party cells within their organization. Moreover, the essence of Chinas strategy for competition is to protect Chinese companies by excluding foreign competitors. In order to strengthen social surveillance and political control, the party and government avail themselves of the big data accumulated by companies like Alibaba and Baidu, and provide these companies with government-maintained data on private citizens in return. In the same October address, Pence said the U.S. should respond to Chinas whole of government approach with one of its own: In other words, the U.S. should prepare for competition with China, not engagement. The entire world is now in the age of all-out competition with China not only military, but also economic, diplomatic, political and in the field of intelligence. Meanwhile, China is pursuing a gray zone strategy with regard to the U.S.: avoiding war while steadily forcing changes to the status quo that will culminate in a new, Chinese-led international order. Chinas gray zone strategy demands a response from the U.S. and its allies. It is thus imperative to adopt a whole of government and a whole of society approach, particularly to the issue of cybersecurity. Indeed, cybersecurity depends on the resources and capacity of the private sector. National governments cannot keep up with the speed of the private sectors developments and innovations in disruptive technologies. We must break down the vertical segmentation of public and private sectors and ready a robust, flexible public-private partnership. We must also think carefully about how we compete with China. We must take full advantage of the ways in which disruptive technologies can be used for social progress, while keeping its potentially negative applications in check. We need to establish a code of ethics, rules and system of governance that will ensure this type of use, and limit the ability of disruptive technologies to upend our societies and politics. Rooting this approach firmly in democratic societies and developing it into a set of international standards and norms will, in the long run, prove to be the most effective strategy for competing with China. Democratic societies must win the war domestically before taking on the outside world. Next, we must not allow the world to segregate China. The fact that China can access the U.S. market while the U.S. cannot access Chinas has prompted some in the U.S. to push for a stricter distinction between the free internet and Chinas controlled internet. However, we should not be so quick to abandon the goal of establishing common global standards and rules to govern the digital sphere. Finally, we should neither overreact to Chinas threat nor compete with China to the extent that we end up imitating it. We would lose everything by doing so. As the Cold War intensified, George F. Kennan, the architect of the U.S. strategy of containment toward the Soviet Union, warned: The greatest danger that can befall us in coping with this problem of Soviet communism, is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping. Now is a good time to reflect on the implications of his warning. Yoichi Funabashi is chairman of the Asia Pacific Initiative and a former editor-in-chief of the Asahi Shimbun. This is a translation of his column in the monthly Bungei Shunju. | https://www.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=opinion&p=1685183&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+japantimes+%28The+Japan+Times%3A+All+Stories%29 |
Is Beijing's patience wearing thin on Taiwan? | In the first week of 2019, as China grabbed headlines for landing a spacecraft on the far side of the moon, a New Years Day editorial in the nations official military newspaper told its readers that war preparations should be a top priority for the year. The following day, President Xi Jinping offered a forceful reminder of what Beijing considers its most likely focus of conflict to be: Taiwan. Chinas rulers have long regarded the island as a rogue province, with regaining control a point of honor for the ruling Communist Party and military alike. In a major speech on Jan. 3, Xi warned the problem could not be held over for another generation. While he talked primarily of peaceful unification, he said Beijing reserves the right to use force if necessary. The speech brought a sharp rebuke from Taiwan, where residents remain strongly opposed to rejoining China, even under a Hong Kong-style one country, two systems deal. Nothing in Xis speech suggested China sees conflict as imminent. However, Xis comments about support for peaceful reunification included a warning that we do not promise to renounce the use of force and reserve the option to use all necessary measures to prevent Taiwans independence. Ultimately, if Beijing truly wishes to reassert control over the island, military force may be its only option. That would be a risky step for a government that has not fought a war against a foreign state since a brief and unsuccessful conflict with Vietnam in 1979. It would also put Beijing on a collision course with Washington, which does not support Taiwans independence but has what the U.S. State Department describes as a robust unofficial relationship with Taipei. To invade the island successfully, most military analysts argue that Beijing would either have to deter the U.S. from intervening or defeat nearby American forces and prevent others from entering the region. China may not yet be strong enough to do this, but its military enlargement means that may not always be the case. Certainly, Chinese military thinking increasingly revolves around just this kind of potential war, in which Beijing would want to grab territory while keeping U.S. forces back. Much of Chinas military buildup has been based around ships, aircraft and arms systems that appear suited for the type of conflict needed to take Taiwan. As well as landing ships to carry assault troops, that includes a focus on missiles designed to destroy U.S. aircraft carriers or prompting Washington to keep out of range of the conflict. How well those weapons would work is another question, but they would be central to any conflict over Taiwan or disputed islands elsewhere in the South China Sea. To an extent, much of this is grandstanding geopolitical ballet. Beijing has been unable to stop Taiwan from acting as a de facto country over the last half century, but remains desperate to prevent the island from making an outright declaration of independence. To an extent, this posturing like Beijings increasing military assertiveness with warships and jets around Taiwan is about reminding those in power in Taipei that any vote on independence might bring war. But theres more to it than that. As China asserts itself as a global power, Beijing wants to show the world that it is strong enough to take Taiwan at any point it wants. Domestic Taiwanese politics also remain a factor. In the run-up to Taiwans November elections, Taiwanese officials accused China of a Russia-style messaging campaign to undermine support for President Tsai Ing-wens pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. Those elections saw a serious setback for the DPP and a strong performance by the pro-Chinese Kuomintang opposition, but Xis comments last week suggest Beijing still sees military posturing as the best way of pressuring the island. Taking Taiwan militarily would not be a simple operation. Chinese forces would face sophisticated Taiwanese missile, mine, submarine and air attack if they tried to cross the 180 km Taiwan Strait. The islands highly populated cities and densely forested mountains would prove a guerrilla fighters paradise. A botched Taiwan invasion, potentially with tens of thousands of casualties, could prove an international humiliation as well as kickstarting a domestic political crisis for Xi. Taiwan, for its part, clearly wishes to persuade China that it is not an easy target. Taipei intends to spend $11 billion on defense this year, a 6 percent increase from 2018. Much of that will be spent on cutting-edge U.S. and Taiwan-made equipment on Jan. 2, Taipei unveiled its latest domestically-built anti-ship missile, capable of inflicting serious casualties on any Chinese invasion force. For Washington and Beijing alike, most of the military posturing for now is likely to remain limited to the Taiwan Strait. Last year, the U.S. Navy sent several ships through the strait in what a U.S. Pacific Fleet statement described as a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. In 1996, President Bill Clinton sent two U.S. aircraft carriers a much more potent force through the same route during a crisis with China; some argue Washington should again take similar action. That would outrage Beijing no U.S. carrier has sailed through in more than a decade, although Chinas aircraft carrier has sailed the same waters in its own show of force. China may be reaching for the moon, but Xis speech was a reminder that its greatest territorial ambitions may lie much closer to home. Even if Beijing isnt on the verge of attacking the island, his rhetoric raises the risk that there may eventually be outright war. In a world where the risk of conflict between major nations seems to ratchet higher every year, Chinas desire to dominate Taiwan may yet be what lights the spark. Based in London, Peter Apps is Reuters global affairs columnist. Since 2016, he has been a member of the British Army Reserve and the Labour Party. | https://www.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=opinion&p=1685177&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+japantimes+%28The+Japan+Times%3A+All+Stories%29 |
What were Hitler's plans for UK? | If the Nazis had won the war, one of the dictator's first priorities was the arrest of those who made his Black Book. Compiled by Walter zu Christian, the 'Special Wanted List' included obvious figures such as Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. But others listed for probable liquidation included Noel Coward, Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster. His death squads - Einsatzgruppen - would round up anybody deemed to be a subversive, including Jews and intellectuals. He also wanted to make Oxford the new capital, reducing London's status to a Nazi base. His plans for London didn't end there - he wanted to rob it of Nelson's Column and transplant it in Berlin. Other strongholds were planned for Birmingham, Newcastle, Dublin, Liverpool and Glasgow. Hitler's vision for the UK also included transforming Blackpool, Lancashire, into a resort in which his troops could unwind. The plans explain why a town that built hundreds of Wellington Bombers remained largely untouched in the Blitz. The leader wanted to snatch Blenheim Palace as his own home. His nemesis Winston Churchill had lived there as a boy. He also wanted to depose George VI in favour of Edward VIII, who had visited him before the war's outbreak. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/fb-6572975/What-Hitlers-plans-UK.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 |
How can I cut my calf rearing costs by 60%? | A dairy farm is reporting calf rearing cost savings of more than 60% since introducing a once-a-day milk feeding routine. Owen and Eileen OSullivan initially switched from feeding calves cows milk twice a day to Shine milk replacer once a day to reduce labour time. But the benefits have been multiple; they have discovered cost savings and healthier calves that have no performance setback at weaning. The OSullivans milk 96 cows and they retain all calves up to the age of 12 months. They had been feeding calves cows milk twice a day after having poor success with mixing a high protein milk powder but it was a time-consuming job. Their sheds arent built specifically for calves and, with so many milk replacers on the market, they were at a loss to know which to trial. Their confidence was bolstered when they attended an information evening hosted by Bonanza Calf Nutrition in conjunction with Kellihers Feed and Agri Supplies Ltd at Tralee. It couldnt be simpler With advice from Dr. Christine Cummins of Bonanza, the OSullivans embarked on a plan to maximise the use of their sheds and to feed Shine Once-a-day replacer mixed into cows milk. Newborn calves are fed 3L of colostrum as soon as possible after birth and housed in individual pens where they are introduced to transition milk. They are then grouped in pens of five as more cows calve and, at an average of 10 days old, they are moved into the shed in groups of 10. Advertisement At this stage they are given access to concentrates and straw to eat as well as ad-lib fresh water. At this point, they are introduced to Shine Once-a-day, the morning after their final evening feed, with 600g mixed into 10L of milk for every three calves. It couldnt be simpler, said Owen. It is so convenient, I can get up in the morning and focus on attending the newborns and milking my cows. When this is done I can feed my calves their Shine Once-a-day without a bit of stress on them. Not only has this eased the workload, he said, but the amount of time saved is phenomenal. The evening routine had previously taken until 9:00pm but the OSullivans now finish the work at 7:30pm. An added bonus is that calves are healthier and more content. There is no noise and no sickness, said Owen. Calves eat approximately 1.25kg of meal at weaning, which is a very gradual process starting at about 42 days and completed by 60 days. Volume of Shine Once-a-day is decreased without adjusting concentration. After weaning, calves are turned out to graze grass as soon as the weather permits; they are given access to concentrates at grass, which helps with the transition. Less money, less time and better calf performance All calves perform very well with no setbacks, said Owen. They are extremely even when reared on this system, he said. We have no small or poor group. The new system has resulted in less whole milk being fed. With the milk price he was receiving compared to the cost of Shine Once-a-day, Owen and Eileen are reducing their overall calf rearing cost by more than 60%, said Dr. Cummins. For them this system is proof that its not always true that saving time and money is cutting corners to make losses elsewhere. In this case it costs less money, takes less time, and calf performance is better so it is a win-win situation. More information For more information, go to: www.bonanzacalf.ie; or phone: 042-9336001. | https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/how-can-i-cut-my-calf-rearing-costs-by-60/ |
What if Santa stopped at the animal shelter? | Last Updated: January 8, 2019 at 4:12 am We all know Santa Claus doesnt stop at places like A Second Chance Animal Shelter. Unfortunately, dogs and cats dont talk. So the shelter staff and board put their collective heads together to give this some thought. Heres some of the things they came up with. First, there are always long-term projects and needs at the shelter. Right now, the biggest one is to finish the installation of a permanent covering over the outdoor kennels. Thats needed to protect the dogs living there from the worst of winters weather. But it will be expensive and is estimated at $6000. The shelters still raising funding for this one. However, for Christmas, there are the basic but critical needs: leashes, bowls, bedding, toys and playthingsand of course food and special treats. The question becomes how to go about getting enough of these items in time to distribute them to every dog and cat for a Christmas celebration. It starts with the ASCAS Angel Trees, an annual event for the past several years. Located at the shelter on Alex Harvin, or the ASCAS Thrift Store, The Shoppe on Brooks and The Monkey Grinder, all in Manning, each and every dog and cat had a decoration with their picture hung on a tree, including what would be on their Santas gift list if they could make one. Folks stopping at these locations picked a decoration, or several, shopped for the gifts listed and dropped them off. Then, for something really special, volunteers roasted two turkeys, carefully removing every bone, to make a memorable holiday meal for the shelters residents. In a very special ceremony on December 26, the gifts and turkey were distributed. Every dog and cat got a special belly-rub from staff and volunteers, while enjoying their presents. And finally, each human there made one silent wish, that all our furry friends find a home, forever. Donations are still, and always, accepted, either via PAYPAL on the shelters Facebook page at Facebook.Com/ASCAS.Manning, or by mail to PO Box 607, Manning SC 29102. Or for a really special after-Christmas gift to yourself, stop by the shelter, have your heart stolen by a special dog or cat and make a holiday dream come true. If you or your company would like to make a huge and long-lasting gift to the shelter, consider sponsoring the installation of a permanent covering over one or more of the outdoor kennels. Your gift would be commemorated with a unique plaque placed on the kennel(s). A Second Chance Animal Shelters staff, board of directors and volunteers wish everyone a joyous, memorable holiday season and a great 2019. We especially want to thank all our supporters throughout the year. Its their generosity, both financially and through hands-on support, that helps keep our goals alive. ASCAS is a 501(c)3 non-profit, no-kill organization that can only exist with through the generosity and support of its friends and neighbors. If you would like to ensure its efforts continue, please contact the shelter at 803-473-7075 (5079 Alex Harvin Highway, P.O. Box 607, Manning, 29102). You can also support them by visiting the A Second Chance Thrift Store at 537 S. Mill St, Manning (across from the IGA). Purchases and donations all go towards the animals. The shelters 1000s of residents, past, present and future will purr or wag their tails in appreciation | http://manninglive.com/2019/01/09/what-if-santa-stopped-at-the-animal-shelter/ |
What's Prince William doing on Duchess Kate's 37th birthday? | CLOSE The British royal family's Christmas cards have two new additions this year. USA TODAY Prince William arrives at The Royal London Hospital on board the London Air Ambulance on Jan. 9, 2019 in London, England. (Photo: WPA Pool/Getty Images) Duchess Kate of Cambridge turns 37 Wednesday making her the same age as Duchess Meghan for the next eight months but Prince William was on the job early visiting a London air ambulance service. Kate is turning 37 six months before her husband does: the Duke of Cambridge's birthday is in July. Not that Kate looks her age, mind you. Not even after giving birth to three royal babies, the last one in April 2018. For that matter, neither does her sister-in-law, the former Meghan Markle, who turns 38 in August, a few months after she gives birth to her first royal baby. As per usual, Kensington Palace remained mum on what plans, if any, Will and Kate had for celebrating her birthday. With the exception of Will's father, Prince Charles, who turned 70 in November amidst much hoopla, royal birthdays are generally considered private. The official Twitter account for the palace did give Kate a shout-out, posting: "Thank you everyone for all your lovely messages on The Duchess of Cambridges birthday". Will and Kate have occasionally issued new pictures of their three kids, Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 3, and baby Prince Louis, to mark some birthdays, but they don't do it for each other. Whatever their plans, Will spent part of his morning doing what ranking royals (he's second in line to the throne) do: Paying tribute to fellow Brits' charity efforts - in this case, the first responders of London's Air Ambulance who daily deliver life-saving treatment across the massive capital city of 10 million. It's a cause close to Will's heart as he worked for several years as an air ambulance pilot in Norfolk after he and Kate married in 2011. London's Air Ambulance, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London every day, helping to save countless lives. According to the palace, the service in effect delivers cutting-edge medical care and a hospital emergency department to the scene of an incident within minutes. Will arrived at The Royal London Hospital via London Air Ambulance Wednesday. Prior to his arrival, it was revealed he had become patron of the London Air Ambulance Charity 30th Anniversary Campaign. "Through his support, we aim to raise awareness of the life-saving work carried out by us and by air ambulances across the UK," CEO of the charity, Jonathan Jenkins said in a statement from the royal family. "Through funds raised in our 30th year, we plan to improve our facilities to ensure we can respond even faster, enhance our training and ensure our crews have the facilities they need for their mental health and wellbeing. Will is to meet with pilots, clinicians and paramedics about their experiences working as first responders and the challenges they face operating in London. He's to join staff, patients and their families at a tea party marking the service's anniversary. He's also planning to learn more about the work that service is undertaking in the area of mental health support for their staff. Recently, Will spoke out about the difficulties he experienced in coping with the kinds of injuries and disasters that ambulance pilots encounter on their jobs: Sometimes the people they rescue don't make it. More: The Royal Family reveals their favorite moments of 2018: 'Thank you to everyone' More: Duchess Meghan tells well-wisher royal baby is 'nearly' here | https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2019/01/09/whats-prince-william-doing-duchess-kates-37th-birthday/2515038002/ |
Has Law lost its last public transport? | More than a generation ago, Law lost its railway station and fears are now high that it has now also been stripped of its main bus service. Local residents have been left mystified by the recent disappearance of the 240X Lanark-Glasgow service which served the growing village whose 3,200 inhabitants now face having hardly any access to public transport. Worried residents have approached their MSP Aileen Campbell in a bid to resolve the mystery and she says that she is in contact with the operator Stuarts Coaches to find out what is going on. She told the Gazette: These reports regarding the 240X service are deeply concerning. I have been contacted by many worried constituents about these changes which would be devastating for the village. The 240X bus is the primary mode of public transport from the village and is vital for many residents, young and old, in the area particularly in light of the recent move of the village medical practice to Wishaw. It is also a vital service to enable people to get to work and study and it is disappointing that a settlement the size of Law will be without a regular bus service to Wishaw and Glasgow. There is a real social need for this service in Law not just because this service is a nice thing to have - but about getting to the villages medical practice and enabling young people to access their studies. I am seeking urgent action from SPT (Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) to work towards a sustainable solution and will be ensuring SPT and others know about the deep sense of worry, concern and anger from my constituents. Another bus concern the MSP has taken up is the complaints of the users of the 191 Lanark to Biggar service, also run by Stuarts. The bus is apparently leaving the Lanark Stance just as the train from Glasgow it is meant to connect with draws into the adjoining railway station rather than waiting for passengers travelling on to Biggar or the villages of Hyndford, Thankerton and Symington in between. This leaves them stranded at Lanark Stance for an hour before the next bus arrives. A spokesman for the MSP said: SPT has advised that, by law, local bus services must adhere to the timetable registered with the Traffic Commissioner as closely as possible. If a service were to be delayed from the station, for whatever reason, this may have a significant impact on the its overall reliability and that may give rise to action against the operator by the Commissioner. So, if a train is late in arriving into Lanark station, it is not possible for the bus to wait under the current timetable, he said. He added that SPT had explained that it had no input or control over ScotRails timetabling or its record of punctuality. However, SPT has said that it will keep a note of these concerns in its records should the opportunity arise in the future to permit increased interchange times within the timetable. The Gazette was still awaiting a requested response from Stuarts Coaches at time of going to press this week. | https://www.carlukegazette.co.uk/news/has-law-lost-its-last-public-transport-1-4853794 |
Why will China's BeiDou satellite navigation system surpass GPS soon? | China launched its BeiDou satellite navigation system with global coverage on December 27, 2018 11 more satellites will be launched for the BDS-3 by 2020, expanding service to the entire world BDS surpasses GPS by offering unprecedented feature of text messaging Rocket carrying the 42th and 43th BeiDou satellites blasts into space at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province on November 19, 2018. Photo: VCG Significant role China's BeiDou satellite navigation system (BDS) launched its global service on December 27, 2018. "From now on, no matter where you go, BDS will always be with you," Director General of the China Satellite Navigation Office Ran Chengqi announced.At a press conference of the State Council Information Office, Ran said that the construction of the BDS-3 primary system had been completed. "This signifies that BDS has officially entered the global era as it expands from a regional system to a global navigation system. "Since the beginning of BDS development in the 1990s, it has followed a "three-step strategy" - the installation of the demonstration system (BDS-1), the regional system (BDS-2), and the global system (BDS-3).The role of a satellite navigation system is to allow precise positioning of an object on the surface of the Earth.BDS is China's self-developed and independently operated global satellite navigation system which is compatible with and shares resources with other satellite navigation systems around the world.The Global Positioning System (GPS) of the US is able to greatly improve attacking accuracy of weaponry and combat efficiency.During the Gulf War, with the help of GPS, cruise missiles of the US army made precise strikes, and the US army crossed the desert in the Middle East without knowledge about the local topographical condition. Scientists work at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on February 12, 2018 during the launch of 28th and 29th BeiDou satellites. Photo: VCG China speed Wide usage Before the launch of BDS, only the US and Russia possessed mature and self-developed satellite navigation systems, and GPS is open to the world free of charge. Why would China have to develop its own navigation system?The reason is, once the US shuts down its GPS, the Chinese military cannot even use a compass, let along fight a war.Therefore, China's self-developed satellite navigation system plays a significant role in national defense, as well as in economic development. BDS has become a strategic emerging industry in China, forming a whole industrial chain since BDS has been applied in many devices people use on daily basis such as smartphones, car-mounted navigation terminals and wearable devices.BDS is China's self-developed and independently operated global satellite navigation system which is compatible and shares resources with other satellite navigation systems around the world, according to Ran.China's first satellite for BDS-3 was launched in November 2017, and the launch of BDS-3 satellites follows a "two-step strategy." The first step is launching 19 satellites by 2019. The second is establishing a global navigation system comprised of 30 satellites.The first step was attained in just one year in December 2018. "China made a new world speed record in satellite navigation system construction, and made a new frequency record in launching satellites of the same type," said Ran.Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system, said that the BDS construction project has made a new "China speed. "A total of 30 satellites are designed for three orbits for the BDS-3, and 19 have been launched, making the system ready to provide service globally. Ran said that satellites launched in the next step will be on standby as backup.The year 2018 was a milestone in the development course of BDS, as well as a fully scheduled year with heavy construction tasks, such as the establishment of the China-Arab States BDS/Global Navigation Satellite System Center, the first overseas center for China's indigenous BDS, and selling more than 70 million units of basic products such as chips and modules for the BeiDou navigation system.Yang said that from 2019 to 2020, China will launch six medium earth orbit satellites, three inclined geosynchronous orbit satellites and two geostationary orbit satellites for the BDS-3, expanding its service to the entire world by 2020. A more integrated, smart, comprehensive system will be built by 2035.Opening for civil use in 2011, BDS has been deemed the most promising navigation system since GPS.One of the highlights of BDS is its nation-wide ground-based network jointly developed by both private and military enterprises, which gives BDS the potential to surpass GPS in features. The joint efforts of leading military and private enterprises will provide users unprecedented and highly accurate navigation service.Qianxun SI is a Shanghai-based company jointly launched by China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO), China's defense industry giant, and Alibaba Group, China's e-commerce giant in August 2015.As the world's leading high-precision positioning service provider, Qianxun SI provides centimeter-level dynamic positioning and millimeter-level static positioning service based on the fundamental positioning data of BDS, over 2,200 ground-base stations and its self-developed positioning algorithm.The positioning accuracy of Qianxun SI is 2 to 5 centimeters, and the key parameter of "time to first fix" is reduced to 5 seconds.Li Geyang, an official of Qianxun SI, said that the reduced FFT is attributed to a signal provided by 2,200 ground-based stations and the satellites. The company also built 120 ground-based stations to provide highly accurate positioning service in areas including deserts, oceans and the upper atmosphere. These stations are expected to go online in 2021.Yang said that not only will the service range of BDS-3 be enhanced to worldwide, but its accuracy will be twice as high as BDS-2.BDS has cooperated with many private enterprises in some cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu with its extraordinary performance in precise positioning and text messaging.BeiDou positioning devices installed in hundreds of thousands of shared bicycles in Beijing makes it easier to find them even under a building or tree. It also helps to compel users to park bicycles in designated areas.With centimeter-level positioning, BDS can tell which lane a car is driving on, laying a foundation for driverless technology. Benefiting from BDS, delivery drones can land on a customers' balcony, and robot mowers can work within a two-meter-wide grassy area. Thanks to the promotion of private companies, BDS can be applied in many areas.Text messaging is a feature of BDS that GPS cannot do. For example, fishermen can send text messages via BeiDou satellites on the sea when there is no cellular signal. So far as many as 40,000 fishing boats have installed BDS.Some outdoor sports equipment manufacturers provide a box with a built-in BDS device to send positions and report on a disaster situation during an emergency incident such as an earthquake or flood.With the efforts of private companies, a total of 4.8 million vehicles have installed BeiDou positioning devices, including 30,000 taxis, 20,000 buses and 1,500 trucks in Beijing. In some cities in China, BDS is used to monitor hazardous chemical transportation vehicles.The Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a wild animal monitoring device based on BDS technology. A band fastened on a Tibetan antelope tells scientists its exact location. A farm in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region tracks livestock in the pasture with a similar method.According to the Global Navigation Satellite System and Location Based Service Association of China, China's satellite navigation industry will have a business scale of more than 500 billion yuan ($72 billion) when the BDS-3 is complete in 2020.Another estimation is that the market share of BDS will top GPS in China, swelling from 2016's 30 percent to 60 percent.Vice president of the association Zhang Quande said that the use of BDS has seen a soaring increase. So far BDS has been applied in various sectors such as railways, surveying, mapping, time service, and marine and aviation transportation. In the future, BDS will support a massive industrial chain in civil use.Global Times | http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1135161.shtml |
What sentence is 'fit and appropriate' for the semi driver in the Humboldt Broncos crash? | Jaskirat Singh Sidhu pleaded guilty to 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm. There was no plea bargain, no agreed-upon sentence, no suggestion as to what sentence each party will seek. His sentencing, which will ultimately determine his fate, has been adjourned to Jan. 28. System ill-equipped Canadian courts are ill-equipped to respond to some tragedies. This is clearly one such case. In criminal law, many cases deal with people who set out with a true criminal intention to cause harm to another. Other cases feature an accused who did not intend to cause harm, with charges based on an assessment of negligence or failure to take adequate care. Sidhu's 29 charges fall into this category. Beginning on Jan. 28, Provincial Court Judge Inez Cardinal will face the unenviable task of determining the "fit and appropriate" sentencing for Mr. Sidhu. No matter the sentence, two things are certain: nothing can be proportionate to the unimaginable loss experienced by the victims and no punishment can be nearly as great as the guilt Mr. Sidhu will bear for the rest of his life. Whatever happens on Jan. 28, Sidhu's life and the lives of the 29 victims, their families, and the greater community however have already been irreversibly changed. - Brian Pfefferle It is common for sentencing in serious matters like this to be adjourned for the parties to formulate their positions and for victim impact statements to be obtained. According to the Saskatchewan Justice website, victim impact statements provide "an opportunity for victims of crime to tell the court how a crime has affected them emotionally, physically and financially." They are not opportunities to criticize the offender, make assertions as to the facts of the offence, or make recommendations as to the severity of punishment. When sentencing submissions are ultimately made, expect the Court to seriously consider the number of lost and injured victims, but don't expect Cardinal to attempt to actually redress the victims for their unimaginable losses. For anyone to suggest she could provide such compensation would be downplaying the impact the event has had on so many people, especially the 29 immediate victims. Expect her to consider: His guilty plea, which given the likely volume of disclosure would be considered early and significant. His reported co-operation with the RCMP roadside. His reported continued contact with law enforcement as the accident was being investigated. His immigration status and the consequence of this event on this status, if any. His prior driving history. The type of vehicle he was operating. His status and experience as a "professional driver." If there was evidence of excessive speed or aggressive driving. If there was evidence of intoxication by alcohol or drugs. If there was evidence of intentional violations of Transport Canada Regulations. The Humboldt Broncos team and community has received support from around the world - something they say has helped them survive this tragedy. (Karen Pauls/CBC News) Other cases to be considered Cardinal will undoubtedly consider previous cases, even if no case will truly be like this one. One potential example is the 2017 Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench case of Normand Lavoie, who was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the deaths of three high school students in a May 2015 highway construction zone crash. Lavoie drove through a construction zone without slowing down and struck a stopped vehicle, killing the three teenage occupants and seriously injuring a flag person. In considering the case, Justice Mona Dovell found the accused was a professional driver and was capable of exercising greater skill while driving. Furthermore, the accident occurring in a construction zone was considered an aggravating factor. "We keep getting situations in which individuals are convicted of dangerous driving within those construction zones. This must stop," Dovell wrote in her decision. "Not only truck drivers driving huge heavy 'death machines' but all drivers of all vehicles driving in construction zones must follow the law and reduce their speed and drive attentively." Lavoie also received a five-year driving prohibition. Public sentiments won't be significant factor Public opinion about the correct penalty is not a factor that a sentencing Judge can typically consider. Even if it was, this case sparked a variety of responses from the public, including some signs of the compassionate society in which we live. In the immediate aftermath of the accident it was reported that more 130,000 Canadians took to the internet to share their support for the then-anonymous driver of the semi, later identified as Sidhu. Victims and family members have also contributed their own sentiments toward Sindu, demonstrating awe-inspiring personal resilience and compassion for the accused. Tricia Wack, mother of deceased Bronco Stephen Wack, wrote an op-ed letter published by Postmedia on Sept. 8, 2018: "To Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, I say the following. I forgive you. The answers often govern my actions. I can say with conviction that my son Stephen would forgive you. Stephen was a spiritual young man with a strong faith in God; he practiced forgiveness with an open heart and was compassionate by nature" Survivor Ryan Straschnitzki, who was permanently disabled, was quoted as saying, "His intention wasn't to go out and hurt us that day, but that mistake is obviously going to change his life and changed all our lives." Whatever happens on Jan. 28, Sidhu's life and the lives of the 29 victims, their families, and the greater community however have already been irreversibly changed. Sidhu's sentence will not have any real impact on that fact. Our system just isn't equipped to do that. This column is part of CBC's Opinion section. For more information about this section, please read this editor's blog and our FAQ. | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/analysis-humboldt-crash-semi-driver-what-sentence-1.4970343?cmp=rss |
What Can We Learn From 2017 Patriots-Chargers Game Ahead Of Playoff Matchup? | With the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers set to square off Sunday in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, now seems like a good time to reexamine the teams last meeting, which came in Week 8 of the 2017 season. Lets dive in: For starters, there have been some significant personnel changes on both sides. Malcolm Butler, Johnson Bademosi, Jordan Richards, David Harris and Alan Branch all started on defense for the Patriots in that game, with Stephon Gilmore, Donta Hightower and Malcom Brown sitting out due to injury and the likes of J.C. Jackson, Jason McCourty, Danny Shelton, John Simon and Adrian Clayborn not arriving in New England until the following offseason. On offense, the Patriots had Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola and Dion Lewis instead of Julian Edelman, Cordarrelle Patterson and Sony Michel, and Nate Solder had yet to be replaced by current left tackle Trent Brown. The Chargers have experienced less turnover. Nearly their entire offense remains intact, with even tight end Hunter Henry, who missed the entire regular season with a torn ACL, set to return to action Sunday. LAs defense has undergone a few alterations, though, with linebacker Jatavis Brown and defensive tackle Corey Liuget both landing on injured reserve. Linebacker Denzel Perryman, who didnt play against the Pats last season, also is on IR. This lack of backer depth has prompted the Chargers, who already used a great deal of dime personnel, to go even lighter at the second level. After Brown was lost for the season in Week 17, L.A. deployed seven defensive backs on nearly every play in its wild-card round win over the Baltimore Ravens, with inside linebackers Hayes Pullard and Kyle Emmanuel playing just one defensive snap apiece. Well find out Sunday whether this quarter package was a one-off game plan to stop mobile Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson or a tactic the Chargers will utilize again moving forward. They certainly have a deep, talented and versatile secondary, with slot corner Desmond King and rookie safety sensation Derwin James both earning spots on the All-Pro first team this season. King and James, the latter of whom will be facing the Patriots for the first time, could match up against Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, respectively. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had tremendous success throwing to his running backs in this game, going a nearly flawless 14-for-15 for 163 yards (10.4 per attempt) when targeting James White, Rex Burkhead or Lewis. White (five catches, 85 yards) and Burkhead (seven catches, 68 yards) were New Englands leading receivers, often finding themselves open in the flat for easy catch-and-run opportunities. Pretty high. Coordinator Gus Bradleys defense allowed 973 receiving yards to running backs during the regular season, which, as Kevin Duffy of the Boston Herald noted, was the second-worst mark by any team in the last decade. Pass-catching Patriots backs also tore up Bradley-coached or -inspired defenses in Super Bowls XLIX and LI, with Shane Vereen catching 11 passes on 12 targets for 64 yards against the Seattle Seahawks and White racking up 14 catches on 16 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons. New England ranks first in passes thrown to running backs this season and second in receiving yards by backs. L.A. also ranks highly on both of those lists (fifth and first, respectively), with Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler combining for 894 receiving yards. Neither Gordon nor Ekeler made a significant impact in the passing game against the Patriots last season, however (two combined catches for 20 yards), and both have dealt with injuries in recent weeks and might not be operating at 100 percent Sunday. One of the most difficult aspects of facing the Chargers is finding a way to block both Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, their two superstar defensive ends. Fail to stop one of them, and you could be in for a long day. Just ask the Ravens, who allowed three sacks to the duo in their wild-card loss. Bill Belichick explained earlier this week how the Chargers sometimes like to bump Ingram or, to a lesser extent, Bosa inside in obvious passing situations, and the Patriots saw some of that last October. On eight of New Englands 19 third downs, Ingram transitioned from edge rusher to roving linebacker, lining up either over the guard or outside of Bosa. Ingram and Bosa rushing from the same side is a scary proposition, but the Patriots actually thrived against these types of fronts. On those eight third downs, Brady completed six passes for 76 yards including four to White moving the chains five times. Overall, Ingram and Bosa registered an impressive 17 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, but managed just one sack (by Bosa) and one QB hit (by Ingram). Thats a win for New England. Solder allowed a team-high seven pressures in the game, with right tackles Marcus Cannon and LaAdrian Waddle combining to allow another seven. Brady helped his O-line by consistently getting the ball out quickly. One matchup to watch for this Sunday is All-Pro Patriots cornerback Gilmore vs. Pro Bowl Chargers receiver Keenan Allen. Allen, whos tallied more than 2,500 receiving yards over the last two season, had one of his least productive games of 2017 against the Patriots, finishing with four catches on five targets for 61 yards. In fact, no Chargers receiver was particularly impressive. Tyrell Williams had one catch on six targets for 11 yards, Mike Williams caught one pass on two targets for 7 yards, and Travis Benjamin led the way with five catches on nine targets for 64 yards and a touchdown (plus an embarrassing safety on a punt return). Quarterback Philip Rivers completed 17 of 30 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown with one interception. The Patriots undoubtedly are better at the cornerback position this season, with Gilmore who, remember, didnt play in this game establishing himself as one of the leagues premier cover men and undrafted rookie Jackson looking like a star in the making. Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images | https://nesn.com/2019/01/what-can-we-learn-from-2017-patriots-chargers-game-ahead-of-playoff-matchup/ |
What is the Dominic Grieve amendment and could it prevent a no deal Brexit? | Theresa Mays Brexit woes have gone from bad to worse, as MPs continue to use parliamentary procedure to tie her hands and block all routes leading to a no deal exit. Just hours after MPs voted to limit the Treasurys ability to change taxes to cope with no deal, Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, has tabled an amendment which seeks to dictate the pace at which Brexit legislation must now be moved. His amendment, which is backed by a cross-party group of MPs, is designed to prevent Theresa May running down the clock should her deal be rejected by the Commons next week. It would require the Government to return to the Commons within three days of the withdrawal agreement being rejected.... | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/01/09/dominic-grieve-amendment-could-prevent-no-deal-brexit/ |
Can virtual reality cure my fear of public speaking? | From imagining the audience in their underwear to focusing on a spot at the back of the room, nervous public speakers have come up with no shortage of tricks to cope with performance anxiety. But one company has a new solution to one of humanitys most common phobias: practising in front of a computer-generated crowd in virtual reality. Ovation VR, a computer program for people preparing for a big speech or presentation, places users wearing a virtual reality headset into a simulated room, where they can go through a trial run. The software assesses its users hand movements, and using a headset that can track their eye movements, checks that they are looking at their audience instead of being... | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/01/09/can-virtual-reality-cure-fear-public-speaking/ |
What will be Washington-Lee Highs new name? | The Arlington County school board is expected Thursday to rename Washington-Lee High. (Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post) More than a year ago, in the deadly aftermath of the white-supremacist rally in Charlottesville, the chairwoman of the Arlington County school board at the time issued a call to action. Its time to talk about the names of our schools and what they mean and why they matter, Barbara Kanninen said at an August 2017 meeting. It is time to talk about the values these names reflect and the messages we are sending our children. [In the wake of Charlottesville, a call to change the name of Arlingtons Washington-Lee High] That began a months-long examination of the names given to schools in the Northern Virginia system, culminating in a June school board decision to rename Washington-Lee High School. The name, which evokes George Washington and Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general, was discordant with the diverse countys values, the board reasoned. But the process has spawned impassioned responses, including a lawsuit and backlash from alumni association members. A retired Army general weighed in with a personal account of why he felt it was no longer appropriate to publicly venerate Lee. And on Thursday evening, the school board is expected to choose a name for the school. Supporters of the name change say enshrining Lees name on the school serves as a painful reminder of slavery and the laws that segregated and excluded African Americans from public life. Eleventh-grader Chloe Slater said Lees legacy as a Confederate leader runs counter to the message students want the North Arlington school to send. A schools name should give insight and represent the students, she said. Having a Confederate leader, someone who fought for slavery, I dont think that at all should be on the name of a school. Slater belonged to a committee of students, parents and alumni that spent months gathering community input and considering names. The group introduced its recommendation to the school board in late December Washington-Loving High School, an homage to Mildred and Richard Loving, the couple who successfully challenged Virginias ban on interracial marriage before the Supreme Court. Washington-Loving better represents the schools spirit of honesty, integrity and inclusiveness, said John Holt, a 12th-grader. Washington-Lee is an incredible high school, the 18-year-old said. It strives to be a place that, no matter who are you are, where youre from . . . you can get an incredible education. [With Confederate name stripped, classes start at renamed school in Fairfax County] The school boards expected action Thursday would make Washington-Lee the latest Virginia school honoring a Confederate leader to be renamed. This year, J.E.B. Stuart High School in Fairfax County became Justice High. An elementary school in Richmond named after the rebel cavalry commander was dubbed Obama Elementary, after the former president. Opponents of renaming Washington-Lee High argue the effort contradicts the wishes of many community members, ignores Lees postwar legacy and was rushed by overzealous school board members. Ed Keens, a 1974 Washington-Lee graduate, said it is unfair to judge people based on the culture in which they live. You just have to accept the good with the bad, Keens said. To go as far as changing history, changing building names, changing street names because some of the people that fought in the war, I dont think its the right thing. Fresh guidelines regarding school names were unanimously approved by the school board in June. The criteria established that if a school is named after a person, the persons principal legacy must reflect Arlington Public Schools values. Minutes later, the board voted to rename Washington-Lee because it failed to meet that standard. Three unidentified students and their parents argued in a lawsuit that the school board exceeded its power by deciding to rename the school, failed to follow its policies and jeopardized students college and employment prospects because Washington-Lee carries name recognition. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in December, but the students plan to appeal, said Dean Fleming, vice president of the Washington-Lee Alumni Association, which is underwriting the cost of the lawsuit. Not all Washington-Lee graduates share the alumni associations position. Peter Strack, a 1996 graduate, said many of his high school peers had family roots from distant places such as South America and were first- or second-generation Americans. The schools name seemed incongruent with its diversity, said Strack, who also belonged to the committee responsible for recommending a new school name. When you see the 80 or so different country flags on display at one of the entrances next to Robert E. Lee, its a strange juxtaposition, he said. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/what-will-be-washington-lee-highs-new-name/2019/01/08/dfa7433a-0565-11e9-b5df-5d3874f1ac36_story.html |
Was steckt hinter dem "Starke-Familien-Gesetz" der Regierung? | Berlin. Die Bundesregierung will Familien finanziell entlasten. Dafr will sie das "Starke-Familien-Gesetz" auf den Weg bringen. Millionen rmere Kinder in Deutschland sollen von hheren Sozialleistungen und mehr Geld etwa fr Schulessen profitieren. Das sieht das sogenannte "Starke-Familien-Gesetz" vor, das das Bundeskabinett am Mittwoch in Berlin auf den Weg brachte. Familienministerin Franziska Giffey (SPD) nannte als Ziel, "Kinderarmut in Deutschland etwas entgegenzusetzen". Insgesamt seien von den Verbesserungen bis zu vier Millionen Kinder betroffen. Der Kinderzuschlag soll erhht und einfacher gewhrt werden. Der bisherige Betrag soll laut Giffey von maximal 170 auf 185 Euro steigen. Perspektivisch sei eine Kindergrundsicherung geplant. Dieser Zuschlag fr Geringverdiener, die den Unterhalt ihrer Kinder nicht ausreichend sichern knnen, solle knftig fr sechs Monate bewilligt werden und nicht mehr nur monatsweise. Antragsformulare wrden online zugnglich, versprach Giffey. Arbeitsminister Hubertus Heil (SPD), der das Gesetz zusammen mit Giffey vorstellte, erluterte geplante Verbesserungen beim Bildungs- und Teilhabepaket, die ebenfalls durch das neue Regelwerk kommen sollen. Statt bisher 100 Euro bekmen Eltern mit geringem Einkommen knftig beispielsweise 150 Euro pro Jahr fr Ranzen, Mppchen, Stifte, Geodreieck und dergleichen. Ab 2021 werde diese Leistung zudem dynamisiert. Eigenanteile der Eltern fr Schulmittagessen und Schlertickets sollen wegfallen. Kritik von Sozialverbnden Der Gesetzentwurf wird nun im Bundestag weiter beraten. Auch der Bundesrat muss zustimmen. Sozialverbnde kritisierten das Gesetz teils als unzureichend. Katja Suding, Vizechefin der FDP-Bundestagsfraktion, warf der Regierung vor, die Chance unbrokratischer Untersttzung fr Familien zu verpassen. "Die Leistungen fr Familien mssen in einem Kinderchancengeld gebndelt werden, das leicht online beantragt werden kann", sagte sie der Deutschen Presse-Agentur. | https://www.noz.de/deutschland-welt/politik/artikel/1626767/was-steckt-hinter-dem-starke-familien-gesetz-der-regierung |
How About Some Candor in Middle East Policy? | First, its increasingly clear that America has begun to move on from its turn-of-the-century fixation. This year marks the 40th anniversary of seismic events including the Iranian revolution and historic peace between Israel and Egypt. Such events, followed by the 1991 Gulf War and 9/11 attacks, drew America more deeply into the Middle East with an ever-increasing military footprint. The strategic rationale and public appetite for deep U.S. engagement were strong. But this has frayed during the past decade and a half of U.S. involvement in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and lack of progress on regional effortsfrom the Mideast peace to governance. Meanwhile, the United States has become consumed with its own animosities and political sectarianism. Fewer Americans see the value of staying engaged in the region. Thats a reality that will affect any administrations Middle East policy, regardless of ideology. Trump purports to be asking the very question on voters minds when it comes to Middle East involvement: Whats in it for us? But hes proposing answers in the wrong places, trying to conjure a value proposition by hyping semi-fictional arms deals, a dead-end pressure-for-its-own-sake Iran strategy, and a nonexistent Mideast peace plan. Even if he manages to claim significant tactical victories, none is likely to change the underlying equation that currently makes Middle East policy look like a losing game to many Americans: urgent problems at home, decades of disastrous and disappointing entanglements in the region, and a complicated set of realities about fossil fuels. In theory, that sense of detachment could offer space for Middle East policy to be guided by a greater degree of respect for human dignitythe second note Pompeo should strike this week. Part of the growing distaste in America for all things Middle East comes from recognizing the ugliness of the situation for many ordinary people in the regionthe murders and starvation of children in Syria and Yemen, widespread torture, and the scenes from an Israeli occupation with no end in sight and almost zero pushback from this administration. The horrific details of how Saudi officials lured journalist Jamal Khashoggi into their diplomatic compound and murdered him has symbolized a wider problem. While theres no instant U.S.-sourced cure for sectarian conflict, Israel-Palestine, and persistent human rights abuses, even a slightly more principled stance against human suffering constitutes low-hanging political fruit at this point: The last two years of increasing recklessness from Saudi Arabia and others suggests that the mere prospect that prior U.S. administrations might care has previously inspired a degree of limited restraint. Pompeo and Trump have called out abuses inside Iran, for example, but shamefully pulled punches with our closest partners, particularly the Saudis. This blank check and the brutal impunity it has underwritten have become a political issue, alienating Washington and many Americans, as seen in the bipartisan support for legislation in Congress criticizing Saudi Arabias actions. This has already done long-term damage to the bipartisan foundations of decades-old partnerships. Watching Arab authoritarians reciprocate by flattering Trump may give Americans a newfound appreciation for how Arab societies have felt watching outsiders cultivate the ruling family and military with little regard for the rest. Post-Trump, this dynamic is likely to reinforce longer-term trends pushing America further out of the Middle East. The third point Pompeo would ideally includerelated to the secondis that Iran and terrorism arent the regions only long-term problems. While these issues top many bilateral agendas, nearly all of the countries of the region also continue to face crushing demographic, economic, and governance challenges. The problems pinpointed in successive United Nations Development Programmes Arab Human Development Reportspoor governance, high unemployment, low quality educationhave grown worse, and few countries have taken tangible steps to shore up the social contract. A focus on zero-sum regional competitioncountering Iran and Islamistsat the expense of conflict resolution and hard choices at home, has only deepened the regional stability deficits that matter mostnot to Americans, who right now are focused elsewhere, but to the regions own people. | https://newrepublic.com/article/152865/candor-middle-east-policy |
Did The Xbox One Really Have Zero Positively Reviewed Games In 2018? | According to Metacritic, the Xbox One had zero positively reviewed games in 2018. The PlayStation 4 had 13 games rated 75 or higher on the aggregation site. The Nintendo Switch boasted an even 10. PC took the proverbial cake with 33 (take that console peasants!) The Xbox One fared much worse. "Microsoft failed to offer a compelling case to pick up an Xbox One rather than another console in 2018," writes Metacritic in a post detailing the "great games" and "good exclusives" of 2018. "The best 'console exclusive' titles released for XB1 last year could also be played on your PC, and there wasn't a single game exclusive to Xbox One alone that received positive reviews from critics." I'm not so sure. Microsoft has abandoned traditional Xbox One exclusives almost entirely. The "Play Anywhere" program has meant that for the past couple years, all of Microsoft's big Xbox One exclusives have also launched on PC. This is an incredibly consumer-friendly move, benefiting both Xbox gamers and PC gamers. While there's no doubt at all that Microsoft has been behind the competition when it comes to exclusives, it's also true that releasing Xbox One exclusives on PC (and charging once for both copies) is a practice that many PC gamers wish Sony would also adopt. You'll have to imagine because that's firmly in the realm of wishful thinking. Meanwhile, Microsoft did release an Xbox One exclusive (which also came out on PC) that was one of the best-reviewed games of the year. Claiming that the Xbox One had zero positive exclusives may be factually correct, but it still feels disingenuous. Forza Horizon 4 was the third-best reviewed game of the year with a 93/100 Metacritic score. Red Dead Redemption 2 tied for 1st place on PS4 and Xbox One with 97/100 and God of War and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tied for second place with 94/100. Forza Horizon 4 is an Xbox One exclusive. Just because Microsoft made the right call with Play Anywhere and released the game on PC and Xbox One doesn't mean we should disqualify it. This just makes the Xbox One look worse, casting shade at the console for no good reason and punishing Microsoft for one of its more consumer friendly decisions. In reality, the best-reviewed games of the year were split nicely between PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. If it weren't for Microsoft releasing Forza Horizon 4 on PC, none of the top five games would have been on PC (God of War is PS4 only, Smash is Switch only, and RDR2 only released on PS4 and Xbox One.) So kudos to Microsoft for some solid consumer-friendly practices in 2018 and for releasing at least one very good Xbox One hit. There's still a high mountain to climb before the Xbox One can catch up to the PS4 in terms of quality exclusives (sorry, but Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 just pale in comparison to God of War and Spider-Man) but this is a good start. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2019/01/09/did-the-xbox-one-really-have-zero-positively-reviewed-games-in-2018/ |
Can The Record Breaking Number Of FDA New Drug Approvals Continue? | The late 1990s had been thought of as a golden-age for the drug industry. In the five year period of 1996 2000, the FDA approved 183 new drugs (>36/year) many of them becoming foundational treatments in a number of areas including cardiovascular diseases (Lipitor, Diovan), HIV-AIDS (Crixivan, Norvir), respiratory diseases (Accolate, Allegra), cancer (Gemzar, Taxotere), GI disorders (Prilosec, Prevacid) and even erectile dysfunction (Viagra). But, this period could be considered an aberration. In the early 1990s, the U.S. was in the midst of a drug lag in that new medicines were being approved abroad more quickly than here. New Drugs Applications (NDAs) were languishing at the FDA because of a shortage of staff needed to review applications in a timely manner. To deal with this situation, Congress passed the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), a mechanism whereby charges were levied on drug companies for each NDA filed. Revenues from these user fees were then used to hire 600 new drug reviewers and support staff at the FDA. This increase in personnel enabled the FDA to work through the backlog of NDAs leading to the bounty of 96 00 approvals. However, this level of new drug productivity wasnt sustained. Over the next decade (2001 2010), the FDA approved only 229 new drugs. Observers of the pharmaceutical industry took notice, many predicting doom for the industry. Critics believed that the industry faced a productivity crisis. In 2011, a white paper from Wharton opined that: The year 2011 marks the end of an era for the pharmaceutical industry which has long relied on blockbuster drugs to keep it financially healthy. But with best-sellers like Pfizers cholesterol-lowering Lipitor the worlds most prescribed medicine losing patent protection this year, drug makers are feverishly seeking new prescriptions for profit. No fewer than nine of the industrys 10 biggest blockbusters will go off-patent and face low-cost generic competition within five years..(and) there is little in the pipeline to replace these top sellers. Needless to say, the industry wasnt oblivious to the emerging productivity decline. Companies were in the midst of significant environmental changes. 1) Payers were beginning to have a major influence on the types of drugs that could be commercially successful. No longer would the market reward a new drug if it only had modest improvements on existing (and soon to be generic) established medicines. Trying to successfully commercialize the fourth or fifth agent of a known class was no longer feasible. 2) Pharmaceutical companies, which were built on producing small molecule pills as therapies, now needed to retool their R&D organizations to capitalize on the emerging opportunity in biologic drugs, particularly antibodies and therapeutic vaccines. 3) The industry also realized that the existing treatments for reducing blood pressure, lowering LDL cholesterol, reducing gastric acid secretion, etc. were very good and not easy to supercede. Rather than try to engineer incremental improvements in these therapeutic areas, R&D priorities were shifted from traditional fields, like cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, infectious disease, and metabolic disease, to therapeutic areas where emerging science was opening up new opportunities like cancer, rare diseases and immunology. 4) The frenzied activity in industry consolidation (Pfizer- Warner-Lambert, Pfizer Pharmacia, Pfizer- Wyeth, Merck Schering, etc.) proved especially disruptive to R&D organizations, resulting in program delays, loss of talent and the elimination of many projects in order to achieve cost cutting targets. These events all resulted in a dramatic loss in industry productivity. The industry, however, recovered. From 2011 2018, the FDA approved 309 new drugs an average of more than 38 per year - the highest sustained productivity in the modern era. Last year the FDA approved 59 new drug therapies, an all-time high. This is due to a number of factors. First of all, R&D programs in areas like rare diseases and cancer come with the benefit of relatively small and shorter clinical trials. That is because much smaller clinical trials (hundreds of patients) are required to demonstrate safety and efficacy for a rare disease drug as opposed to a new drug to treat heart failure where clinical trials often need thousands of patients to not only show efficacy but also to show superiority over existing paradigms. As a result, companies are able to prosecute R&D programs in rare diseases far more quickly than large patient populations diseases. In fact, 34 of the FDAs 59 approvals were for rare disease drugs. Second, the FDA has become less adversarial with industry particularly under the leadership of Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who has helped to streamline the approval process. As long as a company is willing to work closely with the FDA and heed its guidance, NDA approval time can be enhanced. Finally, the fueling of small biotech companies with venture capital funds is allowing for the generation of early stage new drug opportunities which can then be acquired by bigger companies with the wherewithal to run the necessary, costly full development program for FDA approval. Its unlikely that 59 will become the annual standard for the FDA. However, it is hard to envision a return to the depressed decade of 2001 2010. There are some things to watch for in trying to predict future industry output. For one thing, should a drug that has been approved via the FDAs Accelerated Drug Approval program be found to have serious side effects after it is on the market, it could force a more conservative stance at the FDA. Similarly, if FDA Commissioner Gottlieb were to leave his position, it is possible that his successor would not be as open in bringing new medicines to patients. Price controls on new drugs could also have a negative impact. Venture capital money is flowing into biotech because of the potential of high returns based in part on pricing opportunities for things like new cancer drugs. Any move to curb the price of new medicines will cast a cloud on such investments. Finally, it appears that we are in a new round of major M&A (Takeda- Shire, Bristol-Myers Squibb Celgene) which will cause at least minimal disruption. Despite these possibilities, the boom in new drugs is likely to continue benefiting the industry and more importantly, the patients anxiously waiting for these new treatments. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnlamattina/2019/01/09/can-the-record-breaking-number-of-fda-new-drug-approvals-continue/ |
Is Brexit Really Going To Happen? | Back when the Brexit vote was happening I wrote here that Brexit would never happen. I was pretty much a lone voice in saying this. Most assumed the voice of the people would not be ignored. To me it was simple, the referendum was an advisory referendum aimed at advising parliament. It wasnt, unlike the recent Scottish independence referendum, compulsory. As such the parliamentary representatives could have just said, Thanks for the advice, we dont agree, forget it. As such with only about 25% of the members of parliament (MPs) in Westminster for a Brexit, in my mind Brexit would be killed at birth. There would be no article 50 invoked to start the Brexit process. Much to my surprise it was. The bottom line was that no representative or party felt safe to reject the Brexiters directly. Slapping 50% of the electorate in the face was seen by most as a suicidal political move, so even if Brexit was against their political principles, few were going to fight against Brexit head on. So here we are today, most of the British Parliament desperate to kill Brexit but with no scapegoat to blame the treachery on, snookered for a way to stop it. Now time is running out. At this point it looks like Parliament will end up with a fait accompli of having a choice of the current faintly nightmarish agreed deal or the utterly catastrophic no deal Brexit. These are the obvious two outcomes ahead. The third way might be a new referendum, which is being pushed hard by some Remainers. This worked in various European countries when a referendum vote disagreed with the governments desired outcome. A second referendum could be slipped in. Yet it still risks a subsequent Brexit voters revolt at the next election wreaking havoc. That could be disastrous for whichever party caught the blame and especially dangerous for the Labour opposition party if it were seen to force this outcome. It also risks a second positive leave vote potentially forcing a hard economically crippling no-deal Brexit outcome. As such no one has grown some, to force the second referendum option, so the U.K. is barrelling towards Brexit on a tails you lose, heads I win pre-pack deal dictated by the EU. This could be the point where I moan about what an awful mess a Brexit is going to be, but what I care about is how to make money from this situation. The big bet, and it is a risky one, has to be on a no-Brexit outcome. I cant imagine this happening but my gut tells me something is going to suddenly rear up and kill Brexit. Every part of the governmental system wants remain and it seems impossible that it wont get its way. I cant see how, but it seems impossible that power wont find a way. A no-Brexit would undoubtedly spike the market up a long way, so if you think the stock market wont continue to crash before the March Brexit date, then it makes sense to have a pile of FTSE 100 tracker ETF, waiting for the last minute midnight knock on the door for Brexit. Personally, my bet is on another leg of the global stock market crash that will bring the FTSE down to between 6,000 and 5,500, followed by a great opportunity to buy into value. I have about 25% of my usual U.K. exposure parked in a few conviction stocks. As such I just have a little exposure to the possibility of a no-Brexit outcome. Now for the disaster minded you can always imagine a full-on U.S. market crash coupled with a no-deal hard Brexit and look to 4,000. Its hard to imagine this future but it was also hard to imagine that nearly 20 years ago the U.K. market was at todays levels, while the U.S. market managed to nearly treble since then. This pathetic performance is not down to Europe, as the German DAX has performed in line with the U.S. markets. It is down to something else. The French market has performed just like the U.K. market, they trade over the years like twins. This tells us that something similar is amiss in the economic governance of U.K. and in France and it is crippling both countries. Consequently it is easy to imagine France has its Gilet Jaunes and the U.K. has Brexitters, and they have something in common which is that the issues of their revolt are just pretexts pushed forwards by general anger at the state of affairs. As last January was the beginning of a new era in the stock markets, so Brexit, the Gilet Jaunes and the new Italian government mark a new era in Western politics. Say goodbye to the old politics of newspaper and TV and hello to the politics of the internet. This is the same phenomena that swept the Levant and it has now come ashore in the West. Where this wave goes, and it will be far, the economy and the markets will follow and it will be a wild, wild, ride. ---- Clem Chambers is the CEO of private investors Web site ADVFN.com and author of Be Rich, The Game in Wall Street and Trading Cryptocurrencies: A Beginners Guide. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2019/01/09/is-brexit-really-going-to-happen/ |
What does Bafta stand for as 2019 nominations are revealed? | (Picture: Rune Hellestad/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) The Bafta nominations for 2019 are in, just four weeks before the ceremony kicks off in London. The awards are known as the Baftas but this is an abbreviation of The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). It is an independent arts charity and as well as the annual awards ceremonies, it has a programme of events to assist with learning and charitable events. Bafta was formed in 1947 as the British Film Academy. Joanna Lumley and Sir Ridley Scott pose at the 2018 Baftas (Picture: David Fisher/BAFTA/REX/Shutterstock) It was introduced by a group of directors and other key players in the film industry in Britain. Advertisement Advertisement The first film awards ceremony took place two years later in May 1949, honouring the films Odd Man Out, The World Is Rich and The Best Years Of Our Lives, which were released in 1947 and 1948. The BFA became the Society of Film and Television Arts in 1958 when it merged with the Guild of Television Producers and Directors, which was formed in 1953. The Societys first-ever meeting was held in Buckingham Palace with the Duke of Edinburgh present. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh presents the Best British Actress award to French born actress Leslie Caron at the 16th British Academy Film Awards in London on 8th May 1963 (Picture: Les Lee/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Queen Elizabeth II receives an honorary Bafta from actor and director Kenneth Branagh in recognition of a lifetimes support of British film and television in 2013 (Picture: Steve Parsons/AFP/Getty Images) Nearly two decades later, in 1976, members of the Royal Family Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal and The Earl Mountbatten of Burma opened the Societys headquarters at 195 Piccadilly, London, and it later became formally known as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the title it retains today. The Bafta awards had traditionally always happened during April or May of each year but this changed to February in 2002 so it could precede the Oscars, which is now the final big awards ceremony of the film season. It was held at the Odeon in Leicester Square from 2000 to 2008, when it moved to the Royal Opera House in Londons Covent Garden. Since 2017, its new home has been the Royal Albert Hall in Londons Kensington. Advertisement Advertisement For a film to qualify for a Bafta nomination, it must be released in a UK cinema at least seven days before the corresponding Bafta awards. The bronze mask trophy on a marble base was designed by American sculptor Mitzi Cunliffe. Nominations for this years ceremony which is the 72nd in the organisations history were revealed today. Olivia Colmans royal saga The Favourite leads the race with 12 nominations, while A Star Is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody, Roma and First Man all have seven. First Man If Beale Street Could Talk A Star Is Born BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language: Capernaum Cold War Dogman Roma Shoplifters BAFTA Award for Best Documentary: Free Solo McQueen RBG They Shall Not Grow Old Three Identical Strangers BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography: Bohemian Rhapsody Cold War The Favourite First Man Roma BAFTA Award for Best Sound: Bohemian Rhapsody First Man Mission: Impossible Fall Out A Quiet Place A Star Is Born BAFTA Award for Best Film Music: BlackKklansmen If Beale St Could Talk Isle Of Dogs Mary Poppins Returns A Star Is Born BAFTA Award for Best Production Design: Crimes Of Grindelwald The Favourite First Man Mary Poppins Returns Roma To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design: Ballad Of Buster Scruggs Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Mary Poppins Returns Roma BAFTA Award for Best Editing: Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite First Man Roma Vice BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer: Apostasy Daniel Kokotajio Beast Michael Pearce A Cambodian Spring Chris Kelly Pili Leanne Welham Ray and Liz Richard Billingham BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects: Avengers: Infinity War Black Panther Crimes Of Grindelwald First Man Ready Player One BAFTA Award for Best Makeup and Hair: Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Mary Queen Of Scots Stan and Ollie Vice MORE: Olivia Colman and Glenn Close head to head in Bafta betting as A Star is Born also tipped for success | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/09/what-does-bafta-stand-for-8325580/ |
What has Nigel Clough learned from dad Brian ahead of Burton's trip to Manchester City? | For a son going into his father's family business, there can be few harder acts to follow in football than Brian Clough. Darren Ferguson might beg to differ, but the romance of the Clough name was always going to place Nigel's accomplishments as a manager into sharp relief. And yet, here we are again, marvelling at the success Clough Jnr is enjoying. October marked 20 years since Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson gave Nigel his first opportunity in the dugout and though there have not been the trophies his dad lifted he has consistently achieved in his own way. Former Nottingham Forest and Derby manager Brian Clough sits alongside a young Nigel To guide Burton, whose average attendance hovers around 3,000 and whose record transfer fee stands at 500,000, into the Carabao Cup semi-finals requires an incredibly high standard of management. An even better milestone was keeping Burton in the Championship in 2016-17, fighting back week after week against clubs with vastly greater budgets and fan-bases. Clearly, the Clough magic has been passed from father to son and where some players or managers shy away from talking about their heritage for fear it overshadows their own careers, Nigel is more than happy to reflect. He does so with warmth and an understanding that his upbringing is of great interest to the public, and that it has shaped who he is. Aside from Burton, he maintained steady stewardship of Derby amid turbulent times, and led Sheffield United to semi-finals in both FA Cup and League Cup while a League One side. Nigel celebrates after defeating Middlesbrough to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals He masterminded a 0-0 draw against Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2006 when Burton were a Conference team but this meeting with Manchester City presents an even bigger chasm because spending at the top has become that much more inflated. Two legs facing Pep Guardiola's special side is a daunting prospect and victory once 180 minutes or more are done would represent one of the biggest shocks in the game's history. Nigel lifted this trophy twice as a player under his dad at Nottingham Forest and was a boy in the dressing room in 1978 when the club won it for the first time to spark a period of astonishing success. Here, Sportsmail looks at what kind of manager the younger Clough is and where his father's influence can be felt. Brian lifts the First Division trophy with assistant Peter Taylor after winning the title in 1978 STYLE OF PLAY Clough Snr's teams were renowned for attractive football. His Forest side attacked at speed and could pass their way through opponents too. So wedded to the beauty of the game was Clough that he famously, and fatally, told Leeds's title winners to throw their medals in the bin because they were not won fairly. 'It wasn't about winning, it was about the performance as well. It was standards,' Nigel says of his father in a Telegraph interview. 'We played Oldham in the final [in 1990] and won 1-0 but we didn't play very well. We were in the next morning, running. We used to do lengths of the pitch sides as we used to call them and it was: "Go and do six sides." Seriously, that's what's happened the morning after the game. No balls to be seen.' Nigel sits alongside dad Brian in the dugout during a Nottingham Forest game against QPR Nigel has needed to be more pragmatic in his brand of football Burton could not hope to out-skill technically better players but he still commands a style based on thoughtfulness and creativity. There is athleticism in his side and patterns of play are readily visible. He coaches understanding between his players and resilience too. Even when competing regularly against teams with far bigger resources, Burton were only rarely beaten by big margins. For the United game 13 years ago Ferguson even penned a legal letter to back his counterpart in a subsequent court case. A drainage company was suing for payment despite leaving 40 tonnes of sand on the Pirelli Stadium pitch. A lawyer argued they were due a slice of Burton's 800,000 windfall for the replay because the poor surface had hindered United. Ferguson wrote that it was the way Nigel had prepared his players and nothing to do with the pitch. He said he was so fearful of an upset he brought on Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo with 30 minutes to go. Burton won the case. Brian poses alongside ex-Liverpool star Nigel during a charity event in London in March, 2000 TRANSFER POLICY In an interview with Sportsmail, Ben Robinson, Burton's 73-year-old chairman, explained the club's philosophy. Because balance sheets are tight, qualities searched for are not confined to the pitch. 'Nigel's philosophy with signing players, like his dad, is that the character is important,' Robinson explains. 'We say, "If you come to Burton you'll get a manager who looks after his players, you'll get a club that cares for people as individuals. And you'll get a great training facility at St George's Park".' For example in 2017 Stephen Warnock, Jake Buxton, and John Brayford all arrived for free with Clough identifying their solid personalities, as well as football abilities, as beneficial to his squad. Even though Burton were subsequently relegated they staged a late season revival, winning three games in a row when the pressure was on, and that illustrated the mental strength within the group. Brian shakes hands with Leeds chief Manny Cussins as Nigel and his brother Simon look on Burton's club record signing is 500,000 for Liam Boyce. To put that money into context, Clough Snr became the first to spend 1million way back in 1979, when taking Trevor Francis to Forest. Still, he made Francis wait for his debut even sending him to make a round of brews because no individual was bigger than the collective. That is a strategy Clough Jnr maintains. Regarding his own transfers, only Forest in January 2017 have made an approach but Clough said no because the hierarchy at the time failed to appeal. 'People marvel at what Nigel has achieved. Maybe one day one of the big clubs will come in and good luck to them,' says Robinson. APPROACH TO PLAYERS Last April Colin Barrett relayed a story to Sportsmail about Clough offering him an alcoholic drink before his debut. Barrett, a full back signed from City, declined and some 40 years on he mused that it was his new manager's way of testing him out. It is unlikely Clough JNr has tried the same tactic in his time but there are undeniable traces of that mischievous manner. Like his dad, Nigel likes to get to know his players on a human level, to find out what might be going on in their personal lives that could affect the way they play on a Saturday. He speaks honestly, frankly on occasions, but that engenders loyalty. There is also a story from his first days as a manager that speaks to his thinking on this. At the time Burton were in the Southern League, the seventh tier of the football ladder, and having earned a good living as a player he owned a Mercedes, having received it as part of his signing-on package at City two years earlier. But the then 32-year-old feared it was too flashy given his new environment, so downgraded to a saloon car. DEALINGS WITH THE MEDIA Clough was the first superstar manager. He was grabbing back page headlines for fun before these modern coaching marvels had laced up their first pair of boots. Being namechecked by Muhammad Ali was all part of it. He realised the power of the media for his own profile but also for sending messages to players. Speak to journalists from that era and they will tell you he would invite them into his office for lengthy chats and, notebooks filled, their editors would be happy for days. Interactions with managers now are much more regulated but Nigel has carried on that tradition of speaking as you see and giving time graciously. He might not produce the occasional poetry of his father, or make statements that scream off the page, but he does provide clear and bold opinions, such as admitting the prospect of facing City is 'frightening'. You could never accuse him of saying something for effect. He is measured in his words, but open to all questions, and has the same twinkle in his eye his father possessed when dropping a jewell of a line into the discussion. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6573081/What-Nigel-Clough-learned-dad-Brian-ahead-Burtons-trip-Manchester-City.html |
Was ist los mit unserem Land? | Fachkrftemangel hat Hochkonjunktur Im Alter werden wir glcklicher, das zeigt eine Studie der Orb Media. Und: Die Zufriedenheit steigt besonders mit dem Eintritt in den Ruhestand an. So gesehen wurden mit Beginn des Jahres 2019 ungefhr zehn Prozent unserer rztInnen zwangsbeglckt. Praktizierende MedizinerInnen, die das 70. Lebensjahr berschritten haben, verloren mit 1. Jnner ihre Vertrge, um NachwuchsrztInnen eine Chance auf eine Kassenstelle zu bieten. Soweit so gut bedacht hatte man aber nicht, dass es in der Peripherie immer schwieriger wird Jungrzte anzuwerben. Etliche ausgeschriebene Stellen blieben bisher ohne Bewerber. Ausnahmeregelungen sollen nun pltzliche Engpsse vermeiden. Kassenvertrge knnen in diesen Fllen um bis zu fnf Jahren verlngert werden. Die Auslufer der Babyboomer Ein Dilemma, das im Vorjahr dem Modewort Fachkrftemangel eine Hochkonjunktur einbrachte und tatschlich fr zahlreiche Berufsgruppen bereits Realitt ist. Die Landflucht und der Abgang der Babyboomer-Generation in Richtung Pension wrden dem sterreichischen Arbeitsmarkt zum Verhngnis werden, warnt der WKO-Chef Harald Mahrer. Betriebe suchten also hnderingend nach Lehrlingen und fanden diese oft in jungen AsylwerberInnen. Eine Win-Win-Win Situation knnte man meinen. Fr die Betriebe, die von nun an Arbeitskrfte haben, fr Asylwerber, die nicht nur in die Arbeitswelt, sondern auch in ihr Umfeld integriert werden und nicht zuletzt fr den Staat, der nicht mehr fr die Grundversorgung aufkommen muss und zustzlich von Sozialversicherungsabgaben profitiert. Eine Studie des Sozialressort Obersterreich hat ermittelt, dass so allein in Obersterreich 2,16 Millionen Euro eingespart werden konnten. Siegeszug der Hirnlosigkeit Doch damit ist jetzt Schluss. Asylwerber bekommen keine Lehrstellen mehr, die sonst keiner haben mchte und auch jene, die bereits in Ausbildung sind, droht die Abschiebung. Wo sonst das Einsparungsdiktat als Durchschlagsargument fr die Abschaffung von sozialer Sicherheit gilt, setzt sich in diesem Fall doch die Identittspolitik durch. Letztlich ist es also nicht das Altern unserer Gesellschaft, sondern die Herz- und Hirnlosigkeit unserer Regierung dem Arbeitsmarkt zum Verhngnis werden. | https://www.stadtbekannt.at/was-ist-los-mit-unserem-land/ |
Do we say 'I'm sorry' so much that it's lost its meaning? | Although sometimes you have good reason to apologize, overusing the words "I'm sorry" might be doing more harm than good. According to one life coach, apologizing for more than necessary makes your words lose impact. Plus, research points out that overly-polite people aren't to be trusted. But some still feel that the words "I'm sorry" carry weight, no matter how often they are uttered. PERSPECTIVES It's no secret that a genuine apology makes a huge difference when someone has wronged another. Perhaps rather than apologize less, everyone should hear the words on a deeper level. Apologies mean different things to different people, but everyone can agree that "I'm sorry" is one of the most important phrases available in order to maintain relationships. As Symmetry Counseling puts it: ...not all apologies are created equal, and it is important to understand what the hurt partner is looking for when you make an apology or seek forgiveness. Otherwise, you may find yourself caught in a cycle where you that feel your sincere efforts to apologize are rejected and your partner feels neglected and disrespected. There's no need to cut down the amount of "I'm sorry's" you dole out every day if the people around you respond well to the effort. Say "I'm Sorry": The Importance of Apologizing in Relationships There are so many things people apologize for when they shouldn't. Oftentimes "I'm sorry" acts as a filler for other phrases like "excuse me" or even "thank you." As Little Things's Kate Taylor points out, frequent apologizing makes the words lose impact. And depending on the setting, it can also make the apologizer seem weak and cause unnecessary guilt. For women, in particular, over-apologizing can be especially dangerous. According to TEDX speaker and professional women's coach Melody Wilding, saying "I'm sorry" too often can break professional trust and set employees back in achieving their goals. Entrepreneur's Nicolette Amarillas adds: Most people can admit that they've used the phrase 'I'm sorry' as an easy way out. Sometimes rushing to admit fault makes it easier to ignore mistakes, because you feel like you've made amends by quickly acknowledging you were wrong. Some people saying 'I'm sorry'-whether they mean it or not-wash their hands of the issue, and move on. Everyone has. But, apologizing does not course correct, or offer a solution. Many times, we'd be better served by removing the 'I'm sorry' and replacing it with something more valuable. Imagine the difference it would make to replace "I'm sorry I'm late" with "thank you for waiting." "I'm sorry" can and should be exchanged for more meaningful words. 8 Good Reasons Why We Should All Stop Saying 'Sorry' So Much Apologizing is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of strength. It's incredibly difficult to muster up an apology to anyone no matter what your relationship is with them. Plus, knowing when to apologize is a crucial interpersonal skill. The words "I'm sorry" should not be used to beg pardon or to soften a question, but they remain essential to building relationships. According to Psychology Today's Richard B. Joelson, although some might see apologizing as a weakness when they do it themselves, many still find value in an apology when they are on the receiving end: It seems that some people experience an apology as a sign of weakness. Interestingly, when asked if they view it that way when the apology comes from another, they do not see it as weakness at all, but rather the 'right' or 'responsible' thing to do. Remarkably, some will say it is a sign of strength or maturity when the apology is offered by the other person, but still feel that it is an unacceptable admission of defeat--or weakness--when the apology is theirs to give to someone else. Saying "I'm Sorry" It's too late to take back the meaning of the "I'm sorry" apology. No matter what setting you're in-business, at home or with friends-you'd be better off rephrasing your apologies in order to let the other person know that you are truly sorry, and not just using a filler phrase. Plus, research shows that overly-polite people (you know the ones-they apologize non-stop) shouldn't be trusted. Lifehack'sBrad Johnson reports: The Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics in Beijing (AMACL) just released their findings that those who are 'excessively polite' are considerably more likely to betray peers or comrades than those who are not effusively polite. Elite Daily's Dan Scotti adds: In life, a lot of the times, hearing the truth sucks. Whether it be pertaining to the girlfriend or boyfriend that you've been suspecting is cheating or waiting for the results of some test you didn't really prepare for. Hence, if you want the truth-try to avoid people who are considered 'nice.' Many people perceive apologizing as a way to be polite. In doing so, you are reflecting a dishonest version of yourself-are you actually sorry for interrupting?-and make yourself inauthentic and less trustworthy as a result. Science Says You Need To Be Aware Of Overly Polite People, Here's Why The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2019/01/do_we_say_im_sorry_so_much_tha.html |
What would Bear Bryant say about Alabamas loss to Clemson? | This is an opinion cartoon. The cartoon posted here isnt the one I drew in advance and had ready to post after Monday nights game. THAT cartoon has been shelved. For now. Welcome to the woodshed, Alabama. It's been a while I had an inkling that Alabama was in trouble when Saban seemed bewildered at the end of the first half and ran out the clock instead of taking a shot at scoring. He had all 3 timeouts and enough time for Tua to sling 3 or 4 plays. And then there was the un-Saban-like fake field goal at the end of the third quarter. Thats just sad. Nick Saban needs to evaluate staff after bad play-calling dooms Tide in blow-out loss Truth is, Dabo Swinney and his team came to win. And they had loads of fun doing it. Congratulations to the Clemson Tigers. They had a great game, a season for the ages - 15-0 - and one helluva great recruiting night. The Crimson Tide had a magical year, too. Thanks for all the fun, drama and excitement. Good luck to all you young athletes who are graduating and/or moving on to the NFL. Maybe Ill get an opportunity to use that other cartoon next year. One things for sure: Alabama and Nick Saban will be loaded for Bear. Check out more sports cartoons by JD Crowe | https://www.al.com/news/2019/01/what-would-bear-bryant-say-about-alabamas-loss-to-clemson.html |
What's next for Innovative Arts Academy Charter School? | The Catasauqua Area School District administration advised the school board Tuesday against renewing the charter for the Innovative Arts Academy Charter School. Catasauqua Area School District must provide specifics about why the charter will not be renewed: Under the 2009 Pennsylvania charter school law, there are a number reasons why a sponsoring school district can chose to revoke or not renew a schools charter. Superintendent Robert Spengler declined Tuesday to go into detail about why the districts administrative review team could not recommend the charter for the school be renewed. A public hearing date will be set: The school board must conduct a hearing to show their reasons for denying the charter. The board of trustees and charter school administrators will present evidence supporting their decision to withdraw the charter and the charter school administrators and board of trustees will have a chance to make the case for renewing the charter. A decision must be made in public: The school board must take their vote about the charter at a public meeting where the public has a chance to provide comments. The charter school can appeal the decision: If the school board votes against renewing the charter, the school can take their case to the states charter school appeal board. That board will review the information presented at the public hearing and can request supplemental information from either the Catasauqua Area School Board or the Innovative Arts Academy Charter School. The board will issue a written decision that details why they agree or disagree with the school boards decision. The appeal boards decision will overrule the one made at the locally. But the state court can overrule the appeal board: The charter school appeal boards decision is not final. The local district can appeal that ruling to the state appellate court. School stays in session until final rulings are made: The Innovative Arts Academy Charter School would most likely remain open until a final ruling is made. Only in cases where student safety is compromised does the charter school need to close its doors while these decisions are pending. The school is dissolved if the charter is not renewed: The school is liable for any obligations owed by the school and assets are to be distributed appropriately. The law makes it clear that the state is not to be on the hook for any remaining charter school obligations. Students can apply to area public schools: The usual deadlines for public school enrollment wouldnt apply to charter school students seeking a new educational home after the dissolution of the charter school. [email protected] Twitter @Sarah_M_Wojcik 610-778-2283 | https://www.mcall.com/news/local/catasauqua/mc-nws-catasauqua-innovative-arts-whats-next-20190108-story.html |
Is sugar an 'essential childhood experience'? | You cant do that, friends even my partner said in shock. Youre depriving her of an essential childhood experience. Loading One friend recounted the story of an acquaintance who had been denied sugar as a child and, when she left home, rebelled by gorging on it endlessly. Psychologist Meredith Fuller also recalls a dentist she knew, who had seen first-hand the impact of sugar consumption (tooth decay is as much as 66 per cent higher among children who eat a lot of sugar). At home, he banned it completely. But his children started to steal sweet treats from the other children at school. Later in life, they experienced guilt and shame about enjoying anything sweet. Fuller says we need to acknowledge sugar is addictive and excess of anything is a concern. But, we also want to encourage children to have a good, balanced approach to eating for health and pleasure. And food is as much about pleasure as it is as health. This fact crystallised for me watching my daughter breastfeed; from birth, we don't just eat when were hungry, babies suckle for comfort and pleasure too. In fact, Oxford University neuroscientist Morton Kringelbach argues that the evolutionary imperatives of survival that underpin eating are impossible without pleasure, meaning it might just be evolutions boldest trick. From a health perspective, Kara Landau, an accredited practicing dietitian and founder of Uplift Food, says having cake at a birthday party is not going to be the make or break of any childs health. The problem is that Australian children are eating too much sugar about one third of their daily energy intake comes from sugar and about one in four are now overweight or obese. I think parents' aim should be to look for naturally occurring sugars which are a part of otherwise healthy foods as opposed to being over concerned about creating a completely sugar free environment for their children, says Landau. The goal isnt to create anxiety or restricted eating patterns for life, but rather promote the consumption healthier foods... Setting healthier eating patterns on a regular basis will help children understand the place different foods have in an overall diet, and will allow for 'sometimes foods' to be able to be enjoyed, yet still understood." Its a lot more complicated than just teaching kids to avoid completely Dr Marny Lishman Some more extreme parenting techniques like completely banning sugar are driven by our desire to protect our children from harm, explains psychologist Dr Marny Lishman. But, we are not just raising kids, we are raising future adults, and they are going to encounter harmful substances at some point, whether in the early years or when they do become adults, she says. So they do need to have learnt other skills, apart from being just deprived of things. Otherwise it could spark a bit more curiosity and temptation in the future than there needs to be. Its a lot more complicated than just teaching kids to avoid completely. The author's daughter wasn't overwhelmed by 'the pavlova'. Instead of banning foods or labelling them as good or bad, which can lead to shame or hiding of food, Dr Lishman says it is more effective to create an enjoyable experience around healthy foods. Ideally we should be focusing on healthy foods and positivity around eating these as part of our daily food intake, she says. Little bits of sugar now and then, plus a promotion of balance is more beneficial. We can also teach a well-adjusted attitude to food by encouraging children to learn their own hunger cues and to trust how foods make them feel, adds Fuller. | https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/is-sugar-an-essential-childhood-experience-20190107-p50q02.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_lifestyle |
Is there a future in dedicated mens fashion weeks? | New data from Launchmetrics states that brands must evaluate the costs of organising two shows per season for menswear and womenswear, putting a spotlight on whether there is a future for dedicated mens fashion weeks. In The State of Menswear 2019: A Data Analysis of Mens Fashion Weeks report, Launchmetrics explains that the rise of genderless fashion and coed shows means that two shows per season doesnt offer the same return on investment expected in terms of media impact, and thats putting into question the viability of menswear showcases in London and New York, which generate significantly less Media Impact Value (MIV) than mens fashion weeks in Paris and Italy. The data in the report uses Launchmetrics propriety Media Impact Value algorithm to measure the impact of media placements across traditional media, print and online, as well as social media on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, analysing more than 150 menswear brands, as well as the top 30 womenswear labels, at fashion weeks in London, New York, Paris and Italy, combining both Florence and Milan during the spring/summer 2019 season. It found that New York and London showed that they were significantly off the pace when it came to creating buzz across print, digital and social media, generating 2.1 million euros and 5.8 million euros, respectively, in earned media impact value. While Milans Milano Moda Uomo and Florences Pitti Uomo collectively generated an MIV of 57.8 million euros and Paris Mens Fashion Week generated 49.4 million euros, due to their schedules being filled with heritage luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Versace, Prada and Valentino, which were the top five brands that created the most buzz during mens fashion week. Virgil Ablohs debut at Louis Vuitton topped the ranking, generating 18.2 million euros, followed by another debut, Kim Jones for Dior, which generated 9.7 million euros. In fact all of the top ten brands in the ranking showed in Paris or Milan, leaving London and New York completely in the cold. When it comes to the biggest drivers of media buzz, Launchmetrics found that influencers generated the largest slice of the action globally, with influencers taking 36.5 percent of the share of voice, generating 42 million euros, closely followed by brands owned media at 34 percent at 39 million euros, with media coming in third with 27.2 percent share, generating 31 million euros. In London, while influencers such as David Beckham and Chinese actor, Hu Bing did generate more than 2 million euros in MIV it was actually the media that created the most buzz, taking 54.4 percent of the share of voice with 3.1 million euros MIV. This was a similar story for New York where the media led the conversation, representing 51.2 percent of the pie, nearly tied with influencers which garnered 48.8 percent of the overall impact. In Italy, influencers generated the most value, leading the conversation with 48.6 percent of the share of voice, followed by owned media at 27.6 percent and media at 20.8 percent. The data reveals that Paris Fashion Week Mens stands out from all other fashion weeks when it comes to share of voice. Whereas the media and influencers led in the other capitals, owned media generated the most value in the French capital. Even though the media and influencers fell to second, with 30.5 percent, and third place, with 21.8 percent, in the French capital they still garnered far more impact than in New York or London, generating 15 million euros and 10.8 million euros respectively. Launchmetrics shows Paris and Italy mens fashion weeks more influential When comparing the share of voice during mens and womenswear fashion weeks, Launchmetrics adds that influencers dominate these industry events. It notes that while their impact during womens fashion week is quite notable, 24.1 percent more than the second most influential voice, of media, influencers are still leading the conversation during mens but only by 2.5 percent. Brands have a much stronger dominance at mens, 34 percent compared to 10.5 percent at womens, while media represents a very similar piece of the pie. Michael Jas, Launchmetrics chief executive said in the report: "From one of the first notable mens fashion shows in Florence almost 50 years ago to London and New Yorks launch of its own dedicated fashion week, the menswear industry has seen transformation like no other. While the creativity, sophistication and vibrancy in design continues to thrive, the industry is being challenged by both societal changes as well as shifts in todays retail landscape. Those changing landscapes includes the growing trend for brands to organise 'co-ed shows' during the various women's fashion weeks, which Launchmetrics states is being fuelled by demands from consumers, as well as brands looking to create a single creative direction, and this has meant that brands including Ralph Lauren, Coach, Gucci, and Calvin Klein are now absence from the mens calendar. Jas, added: From a commercial perspective, we are also experiencing the reality of an industry that is moving at an accelerated pace. The need to speed up the production cycles of the collections creates certain limitations when it comes to incorporating an exclusive collection for men on a different timetable. Brands must evaluate if the costs involved in organising two shows per season offer the return on investment expected in terms of media impact. For brands that have already made the move to co-ed, Launchmetrics analysed the MIV generated by co-ed shows at mens and womens fashion weeks and found that Ralph Lauren came out on top with 38 million euros, closely followed by Coach with 37 million euros and Gucci with 21.6 million. The only shows presented during menswear fashion weeks that managed to make it into the co-ed top ten were Louis Vuitton, in fifth place, and Dior, ranking ninth, helped by the fact they both shows involved debuts of new creative directors for menswear. This Launchmetrics shows that co-ed shows are more prevalent and buzziest when staged during womens fashion week. Images: SS19 Louis Vuitton, Catwalkpictures; and courtesy of Ralph Lauren SS19 | https://fashionunited.in/news/fashion/is-there-a-future-in-dedicated-men-s-fashion-weeks/2019010920077 |
Who Would Pay a 70% Tax Rate on Income Over $10 Million? | Recently elected U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York went on 60 Minutes on Sunday, and called for a 70% marginal tax rate on income over $10 million, with the added revenues to be earmarked toward a variety of social programs. Republican politicians' and right wing pundits' responses to the idea were swift and (unsurprisingly) outraged. Some asserted that the self-identified democratic socialist's plan would disincentivize success, while others simply lambasted it as anti-business, or worse. In reality, no matter how you feel about the concept of tax hikes in general, it's worth taking a moment to map out what this specific increase would mean, how it would work, and whom it would impact. Let's skip to the best news first: Her proposal, if enacted, would not cost the vast majority of Americans -- nor even the vast majority of the so-called 1% -- a penny. A chart shows tax rates More The United States uses marginal tax rates. Image source: Getty Images. What we mean when say "marginal tax rate" In the United States, we currently have seven tax brackets. As you earn more, your increased income lifts you into brackets for which you pay increasingly higher percentages in taxes -- but only for the money earned in those brackets. Every filer, for example, pays a 10% rate on the first $9,700 they earn, regardless of how much they earn in total. And the current top rate of 37% only applies to the portion of an individual's adjusted gross income (minus any deductions) that is above $510,000. High earners, in short, do not pay the top rate on everything they earn. The Motley Fool's Matthew Frankel laid it out as follows. A hypothetical person with taxable income of $100,000 in 2018 would pay: 10% of their first $9,700 earned ($970) 12% of the amount greater than $9,700 up to $39,475 ($3,573) 22% of the amount greater than $39,475, up to $84,200 ($9,839.50) 24% of the amount in excess of $84,200 ($3,972) Again, everyone pays the same tax rate on dollars earned in each bracket -- before tax breaks and other exemptions, of course. That means that Ocasio-Cortez's proposed marginal tax rate of 70% would not merely only impact people who make more than $10 million, it would only apply to whatever portion of their income was in excess of $10 million. Approximately 16,000 Americans earned over $10 million in 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, according to The Washington Post. That's about 0.05% of all households, or 1 in 2,000, Post reporter Jeff Stein noted. One can't pinpoint with precision how much added tax revenue the Ocasio-Cortez proposal would bring in, but Stein did a rough calculation based on available data that the pool of income being taxed would be about $244 billion. At the current 37% top rate, America's wealthiest pay $90 billion in taxes on that money. At 70%, that figure would rise to $170 billion. The actual revenues might be lower, though, depending on what options were available to those individuals for shielding that money from taxes. This proposal would produce around $80 billion in added revenue annually, or $800 billion over the course of a decade. That would equal about half of the roughly $1.5 trillion in Americans owe in college loan debt, which Ocasio-Cortez supports forgiving. And even in the context of a roughly $4.4 trillion annual federal budget, $80 billion remains a significant number. It would, for example, cover a healthy share of the estimated $1.09 trillion spent by federal, local, and state governments on welfare and Medicaid in 2018. | https://news.yahoo.com/pay-70-tax-rate-income-125200535.html |
How can the NHL sell hockey in the South? | Earlier this week, we presented a look at hockey in Alabama through the filter of three teams: The Southern Professional Hockey League's Huntsville Havoc, founded in 2004, and the Birmingham Bulls, who returned for a third time in 2017; and the NHL's Nashville Predators, who draw a good portion of their fans from the state. The Predators have positioned themselves as the team of the South and have provided a template for other Southern teams to follow by unabashedly embracing their community's roots while selling the experience of Nashville even more than the hockey itself. They drew under 15,000 per game in 2009; entering 2019, they're drawing over 17,200 on average. As part of our examination of hockey in Alabama, we asked a few dozen Predators fans who live in that state about how their favorite NHL team has reached out to that market, and what they believe are the ways in which the NHL could finally figure out how to attract fans in the South to watch its product and purchase its merchandise. A handful of suggestions: Matthew McWhorter, Daphne, Alabama "I would think the best start to growing in the South would be to simply increase visibility. I've never seen anything associated with the NHL in Alabama. I don't see apparel in stores, coverage on TV [unless I specifically seek it out], or any kind of advertisement. The only hockey fans I know, other than myself, are the two Canadians where I work." Alex Graben, Muscle Shoals, Alabama "The biggest disconnect is that it is not widely available to many folks in the South. Sure, you may get a prime-time game on NBC, but your casual viewer in the South will more than likely skip over it to view something else, especially if football is on. I think the last two seasons saw a rise in Southern viewership because the Preds had such outstanding seasons, and everyone loves a winner. "I honestly think if the NHL were able to start some youth programs in some of these areas it would garner attention quickly. We love contact sports, we love to be rowdy, and we love a good athletic event. Many around here just don't understand that hockey isn't 'soccer on ice.' "People in the South love it when other people embrace their culture. Nashville did an outstanding job of that in their playoff runs by rolling out the red carpet for country music acts and having a 'tailgate atmosphere' on Broadway [in Nashville]. I think the NHL or Preds organization can use that to sell their product to many potential fans in the South. I know many, many nights I'd rather be on Broadway than in Tuscaloosa. That atmosphere is second to none." Kaylor Hodges, Jasper, Alabama "In my hometown of Jasper, there's nothing to do with hockey. Finding another person who is an avid fan like I am is rare. While the return of the Birmingham Bulls has rekindled the fire for hockey, it's still a thing people do once and just aren't sold on yet. "As for outreach, [there hasn't been much]. I feel like Alabama is a place that if you love hockey, it's because you heard of the Thrashers and the Bulls, and when both teams disappeared, so did the love for the sport. There isn't much outreach because I feel like we're really not a group that is viewed as 'needed,' at least that's the way I see it. "I believe the NHL should try and cultivate a fandom here in the South. I think the best way is to bring a high-quality product for a preseason game of some kind just so a top-tier team is in a place nearby and fairly affordable. I still have never seen Nashville in person because the prices of tickets are high, and that's a weekend trip. If the NHL were to do what NBA did and have one match in Birmingham with two known teams for preseason, I feel like it would bring a lot of interest to not just NHL but SPHL. "Right now the Bulls sell pretty well in the winter/spring, but the fall attendance is very poor, and that's a reflection of awareness and product that the organization puts on the ice. While the Bulls are undefeated, the atmosphere they create and the show they put on when hockey isn't being played is very lackluster." Christopher Weingartner, Birmingham, Alabama The NHL on ESPN+ Catch more than 180 NHL games streaming live this season on ESPN+. Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. "I always contend that if you go to a game in person, you've got a very good chance of getting hooked and wanting to learn more and dig deeper. The Preds have done a great job of combining entertainment on the ice with elsewhere in the arena. Even if you're a novice hockey fan, they put on a game-day experience that is enjoyable to all. "It's hard to cast a huge shadow via kids camps and all the proactive community outreach that the Preds do in Middle Tennessee, but an event or two outside the Nashville MSA would be well-received and attended, I believe." Thomas Boydstun, Birmingham, Alabama "So far I think the increase in the Preds' TV exposure has been a real help. However, thanks to Nick Saban, Alabama football is always going to be king of the castle in the state of Alabama. With the growing popularity of both the Birmingham Bulls and the Huntsville Havoc, I think there is an opportunity for both the Preds and the NHL as a whole to do some more advertising. I know licensing deals make things hard, and the SPHL doesn't have any affiliation that I know of, but I don't think it would be that hard to send some representatives down for a couple of games to do some giveaways or something like that. Also, maybe pick a few games on the schedule where a discount on tickets is given to people from states like Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia [RIP Thrashers]. "Also, I think the growth of youth hockey is so important. I primarily grew up in Tennessee and Mississippi and never had the opportunity to even try hockey. The only sports that were available to play were baseball, basketball, football and a little bit of soccer. I would have loved a chance to get started playing at a younger age. Hockey is such a great community and sport that once a kid is hooked they are probably going to be a fan for life. I know the Preds have increased the support of youth leagues within the Nashville area, but if they could put on some camps down in Huntsville and Birmingham I think it would go a really long way." Getting kids hooked on hockey at a young age generally yields lifelong fans. Greg Wyshynski Nick Corcoran, Gulf Shores, Alabama "There is really no 'Hockey Culture' in town. As for kinship, it's mostly my family. I do have a lot of co-workers from Illinois who are big St. Louis Blues fans, so they're the only other ones really to talk hockey with. Only youth leagues or beer leagues are in Pensacola, which is about an hour away. We are a big tourist town, but hockey season and beach season don't line up, so we don't have much of a need for a hockey bar. "I would say some sort of exhibition games would be a start. College football is obviously king in the South, so finding a way to tie that in would be the best way to reach the most people. Something similar to the guest appearances from the Titans during the playoffs would be a good move. Honestly though, it's gonna be a long road. Saying you are a hockey fan gets you some weird looks in Alabama, I think hockey fans will have to migrate here and bring the fandom with them. So it may already be more prevalent in the bigger cities." Jessica Edwards, Huntsville, Alabama "Though the Preds don't do much promotion down here, it's not unusual to see Preds stickers on cars, or the occasional gold hat in a restaurant if there's a TV and a sympathetic bartender. Havoc stickers are everywhere. People who look at me funny for not following football at all relax when I tell them I enjoy hockey. Huntsville is a hockey town. Maybe we're not the hockey capital of the South anymore, but we're still a hockey town. In The Crease Postgame analysis and highlight show airing each night throughout the season from Barry Melrose and Linda Cohn. Watch on ESPN+ "Growing the game is a tough one. Alabama doesn't take quickly to 'folk from off' telling us we should do things, even good, interesting things. It's my guess that other Southern states are similarly insular. So if the NHL wanted to promote hockey down here, their best bet might be in quietly, steadily sponsoring local initiatives already in place -- gear for youth leagues, or a contribution to maintaining existing ice plexes. Grassroots stuff, watering what already grows, offering a seed and letting the locals decide whether they plant it. I have no idea what the mechanisms are for deciding what gets broadcast where, but my household is a perfect example of the power of channel surfing among over-the-air and limited-cable audiences. Folk without satellite TV or a big cable package might watch more hockey if there was more hockey on the major networks to watch." Daniel Mead, Huntsville, Alabama "Hockey culture in Huntsville existed well before the Predators were even a thought in Nashville. In fact, former Governor George Wallace declared Huntsville 'The hockey capital of the South.' This is mostly due to UAH's NCAA hockey team and a couple of professional teams that have come through Huntsville, the Havoc being the longest-lasting and most recent. The Havoc consistently play in front of a mostly full arena. As of right now, the only pro sport in Huntsville and northern Alabama is the Havoc, although a minor league baseball team is on the way. As far as I can tell, there are only four permanent ice surfaces available to the public in the entire state of Alabama. I would assume Mississippi doesn't have many more if they even have that many. I don't know how you really grow a sport and fan base in an area where the average kid will likely never even put on a pair of skates. "The other proven way to make a hockey fan is to have them go to their first game. I don't know of anyone who has ever gone to a hockey game and not become a fan. Bring more one-off games to non-NHL cities and stadiums. "The NHL loves outdoor games that they can sell specialty jerseys and lots of tickets to. Bring Stadium Series games to the Deep South. These SEC stadiums are huge and are empty three-quarters of the year. An NHL game in Bryant-Denny stadium where Nick Saban does a puck drop would help the NHL get the entire state of Alabama. Or have the Flames and Jets play in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The loser moves back to Atlanta." Daniel Thompson, Huntsville, Alabama "I personally think the NHL as a whole has done a fairly good job at broadening the sport into 'nontraditional markets.' And at least here locally, I think that Nashville has done a stellar job and growing the sport too with their programs and not limiting it to just Nashville metro. These programs create players who in turn will probably be fans of the best league in the sport. "The Preds' Cup run created a hockey frenzy, even here in Huntsville. And despite how much people like to complain about the 'bandwagon' fans [which doesn't just apply to Nashville], everyone has to start somewhere. People who had never tuned in to a game were now watching. Many are still watching. Like me, it just took that one game. It also had a direct effect on the numbers in the local youth and beer leagues. Season prior to the Cup run, the mini-mites had about 40 kids. The following season their numbers were closer to 70. Last adult season, SOL had the same four, six, and eight teams, and HAHL only had one division of four teams. Between the two leagues, we are icing 10 more teams than last year. All the people that started in the adult development after the Cup run have made it into the beer leagues." Hank Walters, Enterprise, Alabama "Hockey will only grow down here with more kids on the ice. And we need more ice. Closest one I know of is a baby-sized rink in Montgomery that's an hour-and-a-half away. Or even roller hockey would be cool. Education of the sport would help too, but folks won't want to learn about it unless they can try it. The NHL would have to at least invest in converting football fans to casual viewers, which is the best they'll get without a surge of youth leagues. I've struggled with the same problem playing rugby. That's cool as hell, everyone hitting each other and stuff. I just have no idea what's going on.'" Andrea Walls, Muscle Shoals, Alabama "In Muscle Shoals specifically there really is not a hockey culture to speak of. We love them too!' "We play hockey in Decatur and Huntsville, and hockey definitely has more of a presence in those towns. Most people we encounter in Muscle Shoals are surprised when I tell them our boys play hockey. A frequent comment is, 'I didn't even know you could do that here,' or, 'Where do you go to do hockey?' ESPN On Ice This week's episode makes some ESPN On Ice history. To incorporate the voice of the listener, Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan opened up the phone lines to field some great hockey questions from our loyal fan-base. Plus, find out if we get stumped by this week's "Sach Got Your Number." And Linda Cohn advises what the New York Rangers should do in the way of future front office moves. Listen "We are very happy with the youth league here in North Alabama [we play with the North Alabama Hockey Association]. It is a very well-organized league and has good participation for a Southern hockey market. They frequently offer skills clinics, summer hockey camps and power skating classes to help the kids develop their skills. My husband plays in the beer league [also through NAHA]. Being part of the league does give us the chance to interact with other hockey fans in the area. A lot of them are big fans of the Huntsville Havoc and frequently attend their games. There aren't too many people around here who follow the Preds as closely as we do, and so we do tend to rely on sites like reddit to fill the gaps for us. "I would love to see them get the word out more about the Learn to Play or Try Hockey for Free programs. We really only found out about them because we were hockey fans and occasionally went to the rink to skate. They are more advertised in Decatur and Huntsville, it would be great to see that advertisement reach further out into the other communities. We have had one friend give it a try and is now doing Learn to Play, so I feel like if others knew about it and gave it a try they might like it as well. Soccer culture in the U.S. has grown so much over the past couple decades, and I think a lot of that is due to more kids playing it, leading to more parents [and kids as they grow] following the sport. The same could hold true for hockey in the south. Also, encouraging groups from Alabama [like sports teams or clubs] to come to a game via discounted tickets would also get people in the door that likely have never even seen a hockey game. "The atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena is just electric and really pulls people in. I know after seeing one game I was a fan for life. I am sure there are others out there who would feel the same way if they were able to experience it." Ron Bryant, Somerville, Alabama "As far as kinship is concerned, if you are wearing a Preds shirt/hat/sweater in public and you hear a 'GO PREDS!' you will find each other and have an instant friend. But I am only two hours away from the Predators and there are zero promotions to try to recruit new fans. Alabama is seen as the football state and almost gets a pass from the NHL. There needs to be a culture push as far as promotions, appearances, and outreach from teams and the NHL as a whole -- the Panthers, Lightning, Stars and Predators. "About 12.9 percent of all NHL teams are in what is considered the Southern U.S., but we continue to only be bombarded with college football and baseball. I am wrapped up in the Dunkin' Donuts promotions for the Atlanta Braves, which is 3.5 hours away, but not for the Predators, which is under two hours away. Also, ticket prices. I am happy that people are willing to pay large amounts of money to go to see their teams, but if you want to grow a fan base, tickets need to be affordable to the people who have their heart and passion invested in the teams." Steven Darby, Huntsville, Alabama "Even though Gary Bettman is widely hated throughout the league, I think he's done a great job in turns of Southern expansion. Nashville and Tampa are two of the top markets in the whole league right now. It definitely helps that they're two of the top teams in the standings, but I've heard the atmospheres are also tops in the league. "I'd really like to see college hockey expand in the South. I think the success Arizona State is having right now shows that it can definitely work. I think the players love the warm weather down here, and if the schools had the resources they could recruit some of the bigger-named players. Nashville itself has really done a great job of creating a college-like atmosphere at their games and mixing it with hockey. I'm a student at Auburn right now, and I think if some big SEC schools could fund a higher level than club hockey, it would be great for the sport. I also think that college hockey is gaining a lot of interest in NHL prospects compared to other junior leagues. I think if they could get some big SEC schools on the D-I level, that could give college hockey a greater boost." It certainly wouldn't hurt. Put a team back in Atlanta. I know that seems like such an absurd idea that it's not even worth the energy to laugh off, but the Atlanta Spirit group was only ever apathetic towards hockey at best, and malicious at worst. The Thrashers leaving was due to poor ownership. The low attendance in the final years was merely a symptom. "I played in my hometown city. It's full of transplants like my parents who will go see their hometown teams and their kids grew up loving their hometown team. There were two or three active amateur leagues that were constantly growing in my time playing there, and all lamented the loss of the team. Yes, our attendance was poor at the end, but in the Thrashers' best seasons in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, tickets were difficult to come by, and Philips Arena [now State Farm Arena] was full. Atlanta is larger than Nashville, Raleigh and Tampa, and there is already a seed of fans needing a team. Bring one back. You can start by having the Predators and Canes play some preseason games in Atlanta. "Second, I know that UGA, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State University all have hockey teams that are fairly prominent and successful in their own right, as well as Alabama having the Frozen Tide. What the league needs to do is go to the sports fans and show them hockey. If the Southerners can tie hockey to their favorite school, it will gain traction fast. "I'm a scientist, not a marketing or PR mind, so speculation as to what specific outreach events the league should run with the universities around the state is best left up to others. Maybe if they're interested in a long-term investment, make some kind of initiative to get rinks built on SEC/ACC campuses that have competitive/visible programs [by the region's standards, we'll never compete with the collegiate hockey powerhouses]. "The Predators aren't a hockey team in Nashville; the Predators are Nashville's hockey team. That's how the NHL needs to approach the South, and the regional universities are one of the ways that I can see to do that. Also, I regularly converted friends at undergrad who had grown up in college-football-as-the-gospel households, that became intense hockey fans once exposed to the sport. Hockey will never replace college football as the 'sacred sport' of the South, but there is no reason it can't be up there with it." Sean Smyth, Huntsville, Alabama "That's a tough question. Personally, I'd love for Huntsville to get an NHL franchise named the Aliens, it would go with the city's space and NASA industries, and create the best rivalry of all time in Aliens vs Predators. I'd bet that'll never happen for a multitude of reasons, but a man can dream." | http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/25715383/how-nhl-sell-hockey-south |
Is Hennessy Gas Utility Index Fund (GASFX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Any investors who are searching for Index funds should take a look at Hennessy Gas Utility Index Fund (GASFX). GASFX has no Zacks Mutual Fund Rank, but we have been able to look into other metrics like performance, volatility, and cost. History of Fund/Manager GASFX is a part of the Hennessy family of funds, a company based out of Novato, CA. Hennessy Gas Utility Index Fund made its debut in May of 1989, and since then, GASFX has accumulated about $839.41 million in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund is currently managed by Ryan C. Kelley who has been in charge of the fund since March of 2013. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 6.82%, and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 8.11%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Over the past three years, GASFX's standard deviation comes in at 9.91%, compared to the category average of 7.51%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 10.58% compared to the category average of 8.68%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors It's always important to be aware of the downsides to any future investment, so one should not discount the risks that come with this segment. In the most recent bear market, GASFX lost 38.58% and outperformed its peer group by 7.56%. This might suggest that the fund is a better choice than its peers during a bear market. Even still, the fund has a 5-year beta of 0.45, so investors should note that it is hypothetically less volatile than the market at large. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. The fund has produced a positive alpha over the past 5 years of 1.82, which shows that managers in this portfolio are skilled in picking securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, GASFX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.03% compared to the category average of 0.74%. From a cost perspective, GASFX is actually more expensive than its peers. Investors should also note that the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500 and that each subsequent investment has no minimum amount. Bottom Line Your research on the Index segment doesn't have to stop here. You can check out all the great mutual fund tools we have to offer by going to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds to see the additional features we offer as well for additional information. If you want to check out our stock reports as well, make sure to go to Zacks.com to see all of the great tools we have to offer, including our time-tested Zacks Rank. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (GASFX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | https://news.yahoo.com/hennessy-gas-utility-index-fund-120012353.html |
Is Vanguard Windsor-II Investor (VWNFX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | If you have been looking for Large Cap Value funds, a place to start could be Vanguard Windsor-II Investor (VWNFX). VWNFX holds a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective VWNFX is one of many Large Cap Value mutual funds to choose from. These funds invest in equities with a market capitalization of $10 billion or more, but whose share prices do not reflect their intrinsic value. This strategy can often produce low P/E ratios and high dividend yields; growth levels; however, growth levels are oftentimes cut back. These funds'high growth opportunities are slowed even more since large-cap stocks are usually in more stable industries with low to moderate growth prospects. Thus, investors interested in a stable income stream fund Large Cap Value funds very appealing. History of Fund/Manager Vanguard Group is based in Malvern, PA, and is the manager of VWNFX. Vanguard Windsor-II Investor made its debut in June of 1985, and since then, VWNFX has accumulated about $12.06 billion in assets, per the most up-to-date date available. The fund's current manager is a team of investment professionals. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund in particular has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 6.78%, and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.3%, which places it in the bottom third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Over the past three years, VWNFX's standard deviation comes in at 10.8%, compared to the category average of 9.19%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 10.82% compared to the category average of 9.47%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, VWNFX lost 52.87% and underperformed its peer group by 2.17%. This could mean that the fund is a worse choice than comparable funds during a bear market. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. VWNFX has a 5-year beta of 1.01, which means it is likely to be as volatile as the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. With a negative alpha of -3.93, managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Holdings Examining the equity holdings of a mutual fund is also a valuable exercise. This can show us how the manager is applying their stated methodology, as well as if there are any inherent biases in their approach. For this particular fund, the focus is primarily on equities that are traded in the United States. This fund is currently holding about 89.08% stock in stocks, which have an average market capitalization of $172.74 billion. The fund has the heaviest exposure to the following market sectors: Finance Technology With turnover at about 52%, this fund is making fewer trades than comparable funds. Expenses As competition heats up in the mutual fund market, costs become increasingly important. Compared to its otherwise identical counterpart, a low-cost product will be an outperformer, all other things being equal. Thus, taking a closer look at cost-related metrics is vital for investors. In terms of fees, VWNFX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.34% compared to the category average of 1.03%. Looking at the fund from a cost perspective, VWNFX is actually cheaper than its peers. Investors need to be aware that with this product, the minimum initial investment is $3,000; each subsequent investment needs to be at least $1. Bottom Line Overall, Vanguard Windsor-II Investor ( VWNFX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Vanguard Windsor-II Investor ( VWNFX ) looks like a great potential choice for investors right now. | https://news.yahoo.com/vanguard-windsor-ii-investor-vwnfx-120012841.html |
Is Fidelity Advisor Gold A (FGDAX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | If you have been looking for Sector - Precious Metal fund category, a potential starting could be Fidelity Advisor Gold A (FGDAX). FGDAX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We note that FGDAX is a Sector - Precious Metal option, and this area is loaded with different options. Sector - Precious Metal funds typically invest in companies that are involved in the mining and production of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Because stocks in this environment often trade as leveraged bets of the underlying commodity--they are tied to the prices of the metal--these equities tend to be volatile. History of Fund/Manager Fidelity is based in Boston, MA, and is the manager of FGDAX. Since Fidelity Advisor Gold A made its debut in December of 2006, FGDAX has garnered more than $42.23 million in assets. The fund is currently managed by Joe Wickwire who has been in charge of the fund since August of 2007. Performance Obviously, what investors are looking for in these funds is strong performance relative to their peers. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of -2.2%, and is in the top third among its category peers. But if you are looking for a shorter time frame, it is also worth looking at its 3-year annualized total return of 7.94%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. The standard deviation of FGDAX over the past three years is 33.77% compared to the category average of 14.08%. The fund's standard deviation over the past 5 years is 34.39% compared to the category average of 14.12%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors It's always important to be aware of the downsides to any future investment, so one should not discount the risks that come with this segment. FGDAX lost 29.7% in the most recent bear market and outperformed its peer group by 6.14%. This makes the fund a possibly better choice than its peers during a sliding market environment. Investors should not forget about beta, an important way to measure a mutual fund's risk compared to the market as a whole. FGDAX has a 5-year beta of -0.08, which means it is likely to be less volatile than the market average. Alpha is an additional metric to take into consideration, since it represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which in this case, is the S&P 500. The fund has produced a positive alpha over the past 5 years of 3.73, which shows that managers in this portfolio are skilled in picking securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, FGDAX is a load fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.19% compared to the category average of 1.36%. So, FGDAX is actually cheaper than its peers from a cost perspective. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $2,500, investors should also note that there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Fidelity Advisor Gold A ( FGDAX ) has a neutral Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, worse downside risk, and lower fees, Fidelity Advisor Gold A ( FGDAX ) looks like a somewhat average choice for investors right now. For additional information on this product, or to compare it to other mutual funds in the Sector - Precious Metal, make sure to go to www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds for additional information. If you are more of a stock investor, make sure to also check out our Zacks Rank, and our full suite of tools we have available for novice and professional investors alike. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (FGDAX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | https://news.yahoo.com/fidelity-advisor-gold-fgdax-strong-120012778.html |
Is SWCAX a Strong Bond Fund Right Now? | If you have been looking for Muni - Bonds funds, a place to start could be Schwab California Tax-Free Bond Fund (SWCAX). SWCAX bears a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective We classify SWCAX in the Muni - Bonds category, an area rife with potential choices. Muni - Bonds funds focus their investments on debt securities issued by state and local governments. These are typically used to pay for the construction of infrastructure, the operation of public schools, and other municipal functions. These securities can come in the form of revenue bonds, which are backed by taxes, as well as " general obligation " bonds that are not backed by a defined source. Investors are usually interested that come with most municipal bonds, which can be especially important for those in higher tax brackets. History of Fund/Manager SWCAX is a part of the Schwab Funds family of funds, a company based out of San Francisco, CA. Schwab California Tax-Free Bond Fund debuted in February of 1992. Since then, SWCAX has accumulated assets of about $395 million, according to the most recently available information. Kenneth M. Salinger is the fund's current manager and has held that role since March of 2008. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 2.77%, and it sits in the middle third among its category peers. Investors who prefer analyzing shorter time frames should look at its 3-year annualized total return of 1.44%, which places it in the middle third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. Compared to the category average of 3.04%, the standard deviation of SWCAX over the past three years is 3.2%. Looking at the past 5 years, the fund's standard deviation is 2.92% compared to the category average of 2.97%. This makes the fund less volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Bond Duration Modified duration is a measure of a given bond's interest rate sensitivity, and is a metric that's a good way to judge how fixed income securities will respond in a shifting rate environment. For those that believe interest rates will rise, this is an important factor to consider. SWCAX has a modified duration of 5.19, which suggests that the fund will decline 5.19% for every hundred-basis-point increase in interest rates. Income We must remember to consider the fund's average coupon, as income is traditionally a big reason for purchasing a fixed income security. A fund's average coupon is simply its average payout in a given year. For example, this fund's average coupon of 4.63% means that a $10,000 investment should result in a yearly payout of $463. If you are looking for a strong level of current income, a higher coupon is a good choice, though it could pose a reinvestment risk; these risks can occur if rates are lower in the future when compared to the initial purchase date of the bond. Investors also need to consider risk relative to broad benchmarks, as income is only one part of the bond picture. This fund has a beta of 0.99, meaning that it is less volatile than a broad market index of fixed income securities. Taking this into account, SWCAX has a negative alpha of -0.54, which measures performance on a risk-adjusted basis. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, SWCAX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.49% compared to the category average of 0.86%. From a cost perspective, SWCAX is actually cheaper than its peers. While the minimum initial investment for the product is $100, investors should also note that there is no minimum for each subsequent investment. Bottom Line Overall, Schwab California Tax-Free Bond Fund ( SWCAX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively similar performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, Schwab California Tax-Free Bond Fund ( SWCAX ) looks like a great potential choice for investors right now. | https://news.yahoo.com/swcax-strong-bond-fund-now-120012595.html |
Is Thrivent Aggressive Allocation S (TAAIX) a Strong Mutual Fund Pick Right Now? | Thrivent Aggressive Allocation S (TAAIX) is a potential starting point. TAAIX has a Zacks Mutual Fund Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is based on nine forecasting factors like size, cost, and past performance. Objective TAAIX is one of many Zacks' Allocation Balanced mutual funds to pick from. Allocation Balanced funds seek to invest in a balance of asset types, like stocks, bonds, and cash, though including precious metals or commodities is not unusual; these funds are mostly categorized by their respective asset allocation. Investors utilize Allocation Balanced funds as a way to get a good start with diversified mutual funds, as well as for core holdings in a portfolio of funds. History of Fund/Manager Thrivent is based in Appleton, WI, and is the manager of TAAIX. The Thrivent Aggressive Allocation S made its debut in June of 2005 and TAAIX has managed to accumulate roughly $299.80 million in assets, as of the most recently available information. The fund is currently managed by a team of investment professionals. Performance Investors naturally seek funds with strong performance. This fund has delivered a 5-year annualized total return of 7.07%, and it sits in the top third among its category peers. If you're interested in shorter time frames, do not dismiss looking at the fund's 3-year annualized total return of 9.36%, which places it in the top third during this time-frame. When looking at a fund's performance, it is also important to note the standard deviation of the returns. The lower the standard deviation, the less volatility the fund experiences. TAAIX's standard deviation over the past three years is 9.4% compared to the category average of 7.56%. Over the past 5 years, the standard deviation of the fund is 9.81% compared to the category average of 7.77%. This makes the fund more volatile than its peers over the past half-decade. Risk Factors Investors cannot discount the risks to this segment though, as it is always important to remember the downside for any potential investment. In the most recent bear market, TAAIX lost 49.34% and underperformed its peer group by 13.1%. This might suggest that the fund is a worse choice than its peers during a bear market. Nevertheless, with a 5-year beta of 0.93, the fund is likely to be less volatile than the market average. Because alpha represents a portfolio's performance on a risk-adjusted basis relative to a benchmark, which is the S&P 500 in this case, one should pay attention to this metric as well. Over the past 5 years, the fund has a negative alpha of -2.94. This means that managers in this portfolio find it difficult to pick securities that generate better-than-benchmark returns. Expenses Costs are increasingly important for mutual fund investing, and particularly as competition heats up in this market. And all things being equal, a lower cost product will outperform its otherwise identical counterpart, so taking a closer look at these metrics is key for investors. In terms of fees, TAAIX is a no load fund. It has an expense ratio of 0.66% compared to the category average of 0.90%. Looking at the fund from a cost perspective, TAAIX is actually cheaper than its peers. This fund requires a minimum initial investment of $2,000, and each subsequent investment should be at least $50. Bottom Line Overall, Thrivent Aggressive Allocation S ( TAAIX ) has a high Zacks Mutual Fund rank, and in conjunction with its comparatively strong performance, average downside risk, and lower fees, this fund looks like a good potential choice for investors right now. For additional information on the Allocation Balanced area of the mutual fund world, make sure to check out www.zacks.com/funds/mutual-funds. There, you can see more about the ranking process, and dive even deeper into TAAIX too for additional information. We have a full suite of tools on stocks that you can use to find the best choices for your portfolio too, no matter what kind of investor you are. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Get Your Free (TAAIX): Fund Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. | https://news.yahoo.com/thrivent-aggressive-allocation-taaix-strong-120012405.html |
Who Is Penn State Football's GOAT? | In 121 years of Penn State football, two national championship teams, 42 consensus All-Americans, 350 NFL draft picks, and countless fan favorites have called Happy Valley home. Plenty have left their marks in the record books and made lasting impressions on the program, but few are worthy of being in the conversation of who is the greatest of all time. Our staff took picks on who we believe is Penn States GOAT. Anthony Colucci: Trace McSorley Trace McSorley may not have a Heisman or national championship to his credit, but No. 9 will always be remembered as a winner. He leaves Happy Valley with a 31-9 record, owns nearly every passing record in program history, and carried the team to its current renaissance. Fans will never forget the magical run he led in 2016, winning nine straight games (and one Big Ten title) on a war path to the Rose Bowl. Although his career was far from perfect and anything but storybook, McSorleys home run celebrations, gutsy throws, and ~moxie~ will live on forever. Greatness shouldnt be measured in talent alone, but also in impact. And McSorley was (writing about him in the past tense still doesnt feel right) transcendent. Elissa Hill: John Cappelletti John Cappellettis career statline speaks for itself. He ran for 29 touchdowns and more than 2,600 yards in two seasons, becoming the programs first true star and to this day, only Heisman winner. If his accomplishments on the field arent enough for you, consider the fact that he dedicated his Heisman victory speech to his 11-year-old brother who had leukemia. If I can dedicate this trophy to him tonight and give him a couple days of happiness, this is worth everything, he said, describing how his battle was on Saturdays in the fall, while Joeys never ended. Cappelletti had the legs and the heart of a [Nittany] Lion, and in my mind you cant ask for much more. Brian Bachman: Saquon Barkley When people think Penn State football, the first thing they think is Saquon Barkley, and that iconic stature is what makes me believe he is the GOAT. In his three years, Barkley went from a relatively unknown four-star recruit to the best player in college football. He inspired many off the field, setting a standard and painting a picture of Penn State as one of college footballs top programs. Perhaps the most compelling factor in Barkleys case for the greatest ever is timing. He arrived in Happy Valley during a time period when the once-elite program was in need of a superstar, and No. 26 quickly became that and much more. With each hurdle and juke, Barkley played a large role in returning Penn State to its rightful place, another feat that seemed unattainable upon his arrival. He leads all Penn State running backs in touchdowns and is second in rushing yards. Although the only championship he can claim is the 2016 Big Ten title, it will be hard to argue he didnt play a factor in any future success at Penn State. Matt Ogden: Larry Johnson Few football players have had a better season than Larry Johnson did in 2002. Johnson ran for 2,087 yards, breaking the programs single-season rushing record by more than 500 yards. LJ2K eclipsed 2,000 yards with fewer carries than any running back in history at the time. Johnson also secured the top four spots of Penn States single-game rushing record in 2002, breaking his own record in three separate games. After the 2002 season, he was voted a unanimous All-American and a third-place Heisman snub finisher. Wwatching Larry Legend carve up Big Ten defenses is the earliest Penn State memory I have, and one of the reasons Ive been a lifelong fan and now student. Larry Johnson is four-year-old Matts favorite player and 20-year-old Matts choice for Penn State GOAT. Mikey Mandarino: LaVar Arrington Penn State is Linebacker U, so it only makes sense for the programs GOAT to be its best linebacker. LaVar Arrington was an athlete in every sense of the word, and the iconic LaVar Leap is a perfect example of that. Arrington was 63 and 257 pounds during his playing days, fast enough to be a track star in high school. In 1999, Arrington won the Butkus and Bednarik awards as the top linebacker and defensive player in college football after recording 20 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, and two blocked kicks. He declared for the NFL Draft early after that season and was selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Redskins. Nobody else has ever struck fear into their opponents like LaVar Arrington, which is why hes the greatest Nittany Lion to ever step foot on the turf of Beaver Stadium. Your ad blocker is on. Please choose an option below. Sign Up Sign up for our e-mail newsletter: OR Support quality journalism: About the Author Staff Posts from the all-student staff of Onward State. Believe it or not, its that time again. Onward State is hiring for the spring semester and wed [] | https://onwardstate.com/2019/01/09/who-is-penn-state-footballs-goat/ |
Which countries are tops for innovation? | The 16 countries that have emerged as innovation champions in are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US. This is according to the 2019 International Innovation Scorecard developed by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), and presented during the CTAs state of the industry address at CES 2019, taking place this week in Las Vegas. During the CTA keynote, the Netherlands State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Mona Keijzer, the UKs Secretary of State for International Trade Dr Liam Fox and Estonias Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps joined Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the CTA, onstage to accept the innovation champion awards on behalf of their countries. These countries are world-class leaders in growing innovation, says Shapiro. When it comes to technology and policy, they value disruptive innovators. To be leaders in innovation, nations must drop protectionist rules and end barriers that limit them from creating the next great startups that will change the world for the better. New innovation champions include first-time honorees Germany and Israel. Germany climbed into the highest tier thanks to improved new business growth and widespread access to telecommunications and online services. In Israel, over half (51,5%) of its workforce is employed in high-skilled jobs, almost half (46,8%) of its college students earn degrees in STEM fields second only to Singapore and 4,3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) goes toward research and development (R&D), more than any other country on the scorecard. Overall, innovation champions typically outperform other countries in measures of Freedom, Broadband, Entrepreneurial Activity, Resiliency a new category to quantify the degree to which a countrys government and society are sustainable and Self-Driving Vehicles. Meanwhile, three former innovation champions dropped in the 2019 rankings. Austrias top individual tax rate of 55%, the Czech Republics 15% year-over-year decline in R&D investment and Portugals decision to pressure short-term rental websites to share their data with the government moved them down to Innovation Leaders this year. Other 2019 trends include: * Small countries tend to lead in R&D investment. Israel and South Korea spent the most of their GDP on R&D, with more than four percent, followed by Switzerland (3,4%), Sweden (3,3%) and Austria (3,1%). * On each continent, the countries with average download speeds above 18Mbps also ranked highly overall. * Eight of the 10 most resilient countries graded on criteria including the visibility of supply chains and strength of digital and physical infrastructure are European. * None of the 38 returning countries saw its Self-Driving Vehicles grade drop. In fact, many have further encouraged self-driving vehicle development by deploying self-driving public transit vehicles or preparing to build international test tracks. Year-over-year, we have seen more countries adopt laws allowing SDV testing. * The US and China dominate in unicorns domestic startups valued at $1-billion or more created in the past decade, per 10-million people in population. The US leads with 133, China has 120 and the third-ranked UK has 12. | https://it-online.co.za/2019/01/09/which-countries-are-tops-for-innovation/ |
Do early risers have a better chance of getting pregnant? | Early to bed and early to rise is the motto that we have all grown up with. And turns out, women who wake up early in the morning might have a better chance of getting pregnant. Advertising A study recently conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick inferred that early risers are more likely to conceive as compared to night owls. More than 100 women were studied as part of the research, of which three-quarters of larks became pregnant. The study recorded the early risers bedtime at around 10:30 pm, who then wake up at 6:30 am. As per the study, while early risers reached the mid-point of sleep at between 2.30 and 3.30 am, night owls achieved it at around 6 am. How waking up early increases chances of pregnancy Studies over the years have shown how a womans sleep pattern can affect her chances of getting pregnant. For instance, a recent study in Taiwan examined how sleep disorders can affect fertility. Lead study author Dr I-Duo Wang told Reuters, Women of child-bearing age should sleep earlier and avoid night shift work. According to Professor Geraldine Hartshorne, from the University of Warwick, women, who wake up early in the morning, are less likely to smoke, to be overweight and to suffer from diabetes and cardiovascular disease, all of which could make it harder to fall pregnant. Night owls, on the other hand, are less fit since they are forced to keep hours outside the natural body clock. Talking about how it affects pregnancy, Phyllis Zee, director of the Sleep Disorders Center and associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, had said, A growing body of evidence suggests that late night and overnight work schedules are associated with menstrual irregularities, reproductive disturbances, and risk of adverse pregnancy. Advertising More research is, however, awaited on how waking early can improve a womans chances of pregnancy. | https://indianexpress.com/article/parenting/health-fitness/early-risers-sleep-pregnancy-5530687/ |
Was ist eigentlich Pragmatismus? | Bitte fllen Sie alle Pflichtfelder mit * aus. Bitte stimmen Sie unseren Nutzungsbedingungen zu. Bitte stimmen Sie unserer Datenschutzerklrung zu. Bitte geben Sie Ihr Einverstndnis. Bitte akzeptieren Sie die Datenschutzbestimmungen. Bitte whlen Sie Ihren Benutzernamen. Bitte tragen Sie Ihre E-Mail-Adresse ein. Diese Email-Adresse ist bereits bei uns registriert. Bitte versuchen Sie es mit einer anderen Adresse. Mailadresse bereits bekannt, bitte mit bestehendem Account einloggen und Kinderprofil anlegen Diese E-Mail-Adresse scheint nicht korrekt zu sein sie muss ein @ beinhalten und eine existierende Domain (z.B. zdf.de) haben. Die eingegebenen Passwrter stimmen nicht berein. Bitte versuchen Sie es erneut. Das Passwort muss mindestens 8 Zeichen lang sein. Das Passwort muss mindestens einen Grobuchstaben enthalten. Das Passwort muss mindestens einen Kleinbuchstaben enthalten. Das Passwort muss mindestens ein Sonderzeichen enthalten. Das Passwort muss mindestens 8 Zeichen lang sein und mindestens eine Zahl enthalten. Die Registrierung hat leider nicht funktioniert. Bitte berprfen Sie Ihre Angaben. Benutzername E-Mail Passwort Passwort wiederholen Das Passwort muss mindestens 8 Zeichen lang sein, einen Grobuchstaben, eine Ziffer und ein Sonderzeichen enthalten. Ich akzeptiere die Nutzungsbedingungen des ZDF * Ich akzeptiere die Datenschutzerklrung des ZDF * Ich bin einverstanden, dass mein Kind 'Mein ZDFtivi' nutzt. * Ich akzeptiere die Datenschutzbestimmungen zur Nutzung von 'Mein ZDFtivi' * Pflichtfelder * Registrieren | https://www.zdf.de/kultur/filme-dokus-kabarett/was-ist-eigentlich-pragmatismus-100.html |
Why does it feel good to see someone else fail? | What We're Following ~ Stories of interest from around the Web Search for: Archives Select Month January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 | http://sonomasun.com/2019/01/08/why-does-it-feel-good-to-see-someone-else-fail/ |
Whats up at the old Broadway auto lot? | Posted on January 8, 2019 by Sonoma Valley Sun Its been vacant for years, but the site of the old Broadway Truck an Auto lot has been busy indeed, with multiple and evolving development plans, planning meetings, ultimate city approval and now a lawsuit to halt the project. The group Friends of the Broadway Corridor filed suit Monday, charging that the Sonoma City Council failed to call for an environmental impact report before approving the Sonoma Gateway project on a split vote. Meanwhile, there is construction-related activity on the corner of Broadway and MacArthur Streets but it is unrelated to the now-stalled Gateway development. Instead, the site is being used as a staging area for a big job across the street the rehab and remodel of the MacArthur Place hotel. The Gateway site is being used by MacArthur Place as a temporary landscaping and construction storage area for work being done at the hotel, the city confirms, including tree stumps removed from the hotel property. The Building Permit authorized removal of trees and the Planning Department signed off for the replacement of trees per Design Review requirements. | http://sonomasun.com/2019/01/08/whats-up-at-the-old-broadway-auto-lot/ |
Has the Army recruitment campaign missed its target? | Another January, another bout of ruffled feathers over a campaign for the Army. This time, the Army is going after "snowflakes" and the like cue comments from retired colonel Derek McGammon, who tells the Daily Express that the Army should get back to hiring real men motivated by excitement and patriotism, and from yung ppl aghast at grandads pitiful attempt to be down with the kids. Only the Army knows exactly what it wants from its recruits, but it seems reasonable that it should see some of the characterisations used to dismiss young people as potential assets. Its good to challenge stereotypes but what the campaign arguably misses is that these slurs do not originate from young people themselves, but with the dreaded Boomers. That means it could lack relevance and risks offending its target audience, when the intention is to do the exact opposite. For comparison, imagine a company needing to recruit Romanian or Bulgarian speakers. It probably wouldnt get very far if it ran a campaign that read: "BENEFIT SCROUNGERS: We need YOU and the initiative that brought you across Europe in search of a higher standard of living." That said, the first task of any recruitment campaign is getting noticed and the second is being remembered. So dont rule out a few PS4 maestros seeing the campaign and deciding to give army life a go. Lucas Peon Executive creative director, Wunderman Thompson London Where once the Army promised to bring out the best in you, this campaign rallies the next generation of recruits to bring out the best in a changing Army. The films, overlooked by the critics, do a brilliant job of expressing the interpreted value of millennial talents. Youngsters, tired of being told theyre lazy and self-obsessed, are being told there is a place in this world for the skills they didnt realise they possessed. There is no denying the strong insight behind the campaign and its ability to capture attention, even if some of the language has drifted into trickier PR territory. Katy Woodrow-Hill Strategy director, Livity We share our space with young people at Livity (many of whom are the target market for this work) and have had an open conversation with them about what the Army is trying to do. The intention to celebrate young peoples experience is seen as a positive thing, but the nuances of language and execution dont hit the mark as much as theyd like. Deeper collaboration with young people in the creative process would better showcase the true voice of a generation and reflect their authentic, nuanced experience to make it more relevant. Nick Wright Managing director, Jump (part of Havas Media Group) I like the ballsiness of the campaign, but its always tricky using cultural references you dont really understand it can be a bit "dad at a disco". I think the work has missed the mark slightly in that its creators have failed to grasp the needs and behaviours of "millennials" and everything unravels from there. Im puzzled by the traditional Kitchener-inspired print work and the old-school TV executions, which seem to speak to an older audience, and the use of such simplistic stereotypes. The major issue I have, though, is that the campaign is talking about "millennials" versus talking to them in a relevant and meaningful way. If theres one thing this "always connected" audience gives us, it's the ability to listen to them through media and give them what they want in return. David Yates Managing partner strategy, Elvis Its tempting to critique the creative approach of this latest recruitment drive. Almost as tempting as it is for any brand to create a sexy new ad campaign, rather than fix the fundamental purchase experience. Cutting the number of physical recruitment centres from 131 to 68, and replacing them with a website which went three times over budget, has led to a staggering drop-out rate of 47% between application and the start of basic training. It doesnt matter how many snowflakes you put into a leaky bucket if half of them never make it to put out the fire. Matt Bannett Chief creative officer, Zak The majority of people "outraged" by this campaign are the same voices that whinged about dropping the "Be the best" line and opening up the Armys doors last year to people who arent stereotypical white, low-opportunity, male cannon fodder. Creatively, I think the film is bang-on from an idea perspective, if a little dull in its direction when compared with other brands competing for a share of a 17-year-olds attention. But the posters are unnecessary; all they have done is add a layer of complexity to the simple idea. The bigger problem the campaign faces is accusations of Cambridge Analytica-style audience manipulation. They have been accused of cynically deploying tactically mischievous comms around GCSE results time, attempting to hoover up those young people that didnt get their grades. If their target audience gets wind of dirty tactics, they wont stand for it. Theyll deploy ad-blockers quicker than you can say "snowflake" and lay a social media siege on the media agency. | https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/army-recruitment-campaign-missed-its-target/1522481 |
Is topmodel Gigi Hadid weer vrijgezel? | Het gerucht doet de ronde dat het Amerikaanse topmodel Gigi Hadid (23) opnieuw single is. Vorig jaar gaf ze haar relatie met voormalig One Direction-lid Zayn Malik (25) nog een nieuwe kans, maar nu lijkt het erop dat de twee toch weer hun eigen weg gaan. Ze werden eind 2015 een koppel, poseerden onder meer dolverliefd op de cover Vogue, maar in maart van vorig jaar kwam er voor de eerste keer een einde aan hun relatie. Blijkbaar konden ze elkaar niet missen, want eind april werd gespeculeerd dat de twee opnieuw samen waren. In juni bevestigde Hadid de amoureuze renie met een liefdevolle foto op haar Instagram. Een foto uit oktober, toen alles duidelijk nog koek en ei was tussen Gigi en Zayn. Maar de liefde van de tweede kans is volgens verschillende bronnen aan entertainmentsite E! News niet blijven duren. Gigi en Zayn zouden sinds november weer uit elkaar zijn. Dat is momenteel de beste beslissing voor hun verstandhouding, klinkt het. Volgens de ingewijden focussen de twee zich nu volledig op hun carrires. Ze zijn op verschillende punten in hun leven aanbeland en hadden ademruimte nodig. Ze hebben nog contact en misschien komt het in orde, maar hun relatie kent veel up en downs. | https://www.hbvl.be/cnt/dmf20190109_04089641/is-topmodel-gigi-hadid-weer-vrijgezel |
Why do Nottingham Forest fans sing 'Mull of Kintyre'? | The song has been one of the Forest anthems ever since the glory days when the Reds were champions of Europe. Made famous by Paul McCartney & Wings, the song was released in late 1977 before being adopted by the Forest faithful during the season they won the First Division in 1978. Reds supporters changed the lyrics as the mist often rolled in from the Trent, and included a range of words about their travels up and down the country. Having been released that season, it became the Forest chorus with the words changed and has stuck ever since. Forest first decided to pump the song out just before kick-off at the City Ground in a bid to whip up the atmosphere, with the fans singing along prior to the clash against Yeovil in 2008 when the Reds secured promotion back to the Championship. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now The song has been played before kick-off ever since. These are the words to the Forest version of the song: City Ground Oh mist rolling in from the Trent My desire is always to be here Oh City Ground Far have I travelled and much have I seen Goodison, Anfield are places I've been Main Road, Old Trafford still echo to the sound Of the boys in the red from the City Ground City Ground Oh mist rolling in from the Trent My desire is always to be here Oh City Ground Passing the leather like Clougie's great men Please take us back to the days I knew then Games when we sang in the Nottingham choir When we thrashed the sheep from Derbyshire (Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post) City Ground Oh mist rolling in from the Trent My desire is always to be here Oh City Ground Smiles in the sunshine, Football like champagne Still take me back to where my memories remain Flickering embers growing higher and higher And a new squad of players for us to inspire City Ground Oh mist rolling in from the Trent My desire is always to be here Oh City Ground City Ground Oh mist rolling in from the Trent My desire is always to be here Oh City Ground Forest aren't the only club that sing the famous old song. League One outfit Charlton Athletic took it and adapted it, too. The Addicks have mist rolling in from the Thames in the lyrics, and clashes between the two clubs have often featured something of a sing-off. Previously, Paul McCartney hinted on XFM that he would sing the Reds anthem at the City Ground if Forest earned promotion back to the Premier League. Good luck Nottingham." Maybe, just maybe, that could happen this season | https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/nottingham-forest-fans-sing-mull-2410393 |
Why Would Any Man Not Want to Be Bald? | Its so attractive, it boggles my mind. If I were a guy, Id be excited. Id kneel beside my bed at night and pray for it. Bald guys are hot. Bald guys are no-nonsense, bald guys have other things to think about. Bald guys arent using a bunch of hair supplies, bald guys have more time to spend doing attractive and useful things, like building houses and making jokes. Bald guys are magnificent. Bald guys seem to have seen something more of life. Bald guys know things, if you know what I mean. Guys with beautiful hair are wonderful, but they remind me of myself. Not because I have beautiful hair, but because I also want beautiful hair, and there cannot be two of us. You guys can have the amazing forearms, I can have the nice hair. To end on a dark note, the baldness myth reminds me of this upsetting Medium story about how an anonymous mans mind and body were permanently ruined by an anti-balding drug. Baldness is fantastic, we all know it, what the heck! | https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/bald-guys-are-hot-fact.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part |
Will Taking Leftover Antibiotics Kill Me? | Photo: admin/Getty Images/EyeEm Welcome to Am I Dying, a column that hopes to save you from your late-night WebMD spiraling. You can email us your hypochondriac questions at [email protected]. I have some leftover (but not even close to expired) antibiotics, and Im pretty sure I have a sinus infection. My nose/face hurts, and wont stop running, and its been two weeks since I first showed signs of a cold. Okay, I hear you. A few years ago I got sinus infections all the time, and grew intimately familiar with the telltale symptoms the massively uncomfortable nose/face pain you describe being the worst and hardest to relieve among them. It felt like I was racking up $50 copays at the urgent care every month, and had I had a bottle of extra antibiotics lying around, I might have found myself similarly tempted to attack the problem myself. But in going to all those doctors appointments usually with different physicians, because I have yet to procure a regular physician in New York despite having lived here for five years I did learn something about sinus infections, which I will share with you now: most sinus infections go away without antibiotics, typically within seven to ten day for viral infections, and within two weeks for bacterial ones. You probably dont need them. (In your case, you may well have had a cold that turned into a sinus infection, in which case you probably havent had an actual sinus infection for two weeks.) But dont take my word for it: heres Dr. Richard Lebowitz, a rhinologist and professor at NYU Langone Health. With sinusitis, uncomplicated sinus infections, more than 90 percent of those will get better without an antibiotic, he says. (Katie is right, in so many words.) You dont have to treat everything with an antibiotic. While you personally are not increasing your risk of contracting an antibiotic-resistant superbug by self-administering a few extra antibiotics (this is more of a population problem, Lebowitz says), there is a reason doctors try not to over-prescribe them: antibiotics dont kill all bacteria that cause a given infection, and those that survive can more easily become antibiotic-resistant, and therefore cause subsequent infections. Its also quite possible that the infection youre experiencing now isnt a new problem, but an echo of a previous infection, in which case it wont serve you well to take the same medication that failed to kill the bacteria the first time. When we treat with antibiotics, we dont kill every bacteria, says Lebowitz. We give our bodys immune system the help that it needs to eradicate this infection. But sometimes, you get sort of a bounce-back, because the infection wasnt completely treated. And maybe thats because [it was] resistant to the antibiotics, and you may not choose the same one next time. Only a doctor familiar with your history (or who can access your records) can assess which antibiotic (if any) is most likely to help you. Generally, most doctors prescribe the amount they want you to take, and no more, so I hope its not the case that you stopped your last course when you started to feel better. They specifically tell you not to do that! I always am.) Or, as Lebowitz put it, There are so many things wrong with this scenario. So dont take the antibiotics, unless you go to a doctor, and they tell you to, but theyll give you new ones. The good news here is that you probably dont have to go to the doctor, because your sinus infection (if indeed thats what it is) will probably get better in time. Here are a few other ways you can make the wait less painful, per Lebowitz: nasal irrigation, like the neti pot (I know, but it helps so much), nasal steroid sprays, decongestants, and mucus thinning medicines like Robitussin or Mucinex. You can also put a warm compress on your face, as one previous doctor told me to do, but Lebowitz told me that probably doesnt do anything, though it may feel nice. Which is not nothing! | https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/how-do-i-get-rid-of-a-sinus-infection.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part |
Can the FDA Prevent Teens from Vaping? | In four months the Food and Drug Administration went from investigating whether e-cigarettes motivated teens to smoke to declaring teen vaping an epidemic where all options are on the table to prevent addicting a generation of youth on nicotine. What followed has been described as a historic crackdown of the e-cigarette industry. This crackdown included fining over 1,300 retailers for allegedly selling vaping goods to minors, demanding five vaping companies provide the FDA with robust plans on how theyll convincingly address the widespread use of their products by minors, and seizing records from e-cigarette industry leader Juuls headquarters. The FDA has also proposed a list of heavy-handed regulations, including banning flavored e-juices, banning convenience stores from selling e-cigarettes, and requiring age-verification for online e-cigarette sales. Although these regulations are still in the proposal phase, many producers are preparing for dramatic changes to the e-cigarette market. Ive argued in a previous blog post that these regulations will likely cause considerable harm to those they are intended to help. Others agree. I am, once again, skeptical. Those calling for more oversight and regulation of the e-cigarette market seem to have overlooked that the market was regulated well before recent FDA efforts. In 2014, forty states had banned e-cigarette sales to minors. The FDA first passed regulation banning e-cigarette sales to minors in 2016. But the rate of underage e-cigarette use has increased since 2016, meaning previous regulations did not affect teen vaping and might have made the issue worse. Further, teen vaping rates were comparatively lower when states determined vaping laws. The FDAs efforts to mitigate obesity (also considered an epidemic) have also fared poorly. Beginning in 2004, the FDA launched an anti-obesity campaign that included requiring more detailed nutritional labeling and allowing low-calorie foods more freedom to advertise health claims. Since 2004, obesity rates have increased considerably, and a growing number of consumers feel tricked or confused by nutritional labels. When we consider the FDAs persistent history of gaining more influence while failing to achieve its objectives as well as its recent failures, we should be concerned when it gains evolving regulatory powers into e-cigarettes and other products. Epidemics are causes for concern, but before we declare regulation to be the cure, we should question who administers the treatment. * * * Raymond March is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University, and Director of FDAReview.org. | http://blog.independent.org/2019/01/07/can-the-fda-prevent-teens-from-vaping/ |
Will Uganda's electric car accelerate beyond prototype stage? | In 2014, Uganda announced that it would be making electric cars by 2018. The announcement was inspired by three succesful electric vehicle concepts by the countrys Makerere University. But 2018 ended and work to build a production plant in eastern Uganda is just beginning, having been bogged down by poor planning, a lack of funds and cautious investors. $350m is needed for the entire project. Skeptics say the country cannot pull off a venture as complex, capital and labour-intensive as car manufacturing. Ugandas government insists that the project is viable and is confident of success. This week on the business segment, we ask if Ugandas electric car will make it past a prototype. | http://www.africanews.com/2019/01/09/will-uganda-s-electric-car-accelerate-beyond-prototype-stage/ |
Can A Comedy Be A Catalyst For Change? | A private screening of Bombairiya was conducted in New Delhi yesterday for the members of the legal profession who are involved in framing The Witness Protection Act Although the movie is a light-hearted tale, born of chaotic circumstances, Bombairiya goes beyond the realms of the conventional comedy flick. Inspired by real-life incidents, the film subtly throws light on the dire situation of witnesses of crime, especially when it involves a powerful accused. Acknowledging the issue, a private screening was held yesterday to entertain members of the legal profession and the Honorable Supreme Court by Additional Solicitor General of India Ms Pinky Anand. The private screening took place at New Delhi where the selected audience comprised of members of the legal profession who have been involved in framing the Witness Protection Act which is yet to be enshrined in law and adopted by every State. In attendance were the director Pia Sukanya and members of the lead cast. Ms Pinky Anand said, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. And its very gratifying that the issues on which we are working very hard are equally important to filmmakers like Pia Sukanya.. Says Pia, Although my film is a comedy-mystery designed to entertain, I hope it also underlines the need not only for the Witness Protection Act to be enshrined in law but for Witness Protection Programs to become a reality in each State where the lives of witnesses are continually at risk. Bombairiya stars Radhika Apte in the lead alongside Siddhanth Kapoor, Akshay Oberoi, Adil Hussain, Shilpa Shukla, Ravi Kishan and Ajinkya Deo. The movie is presented by Kreo Films FZ and Beautiful Bay Entertainment and is slated to release on 11th January. Android & IOS users, download our mobile app for faster than ever Bollywood & Box Office updates! | https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/can-a-comedy-be-a-catalyst-for-change/ |
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Is The Popular Narrative Harming Development Of AI? | Discussions of artificial intelligence in the public domain are often framed in the language of science fiction, with dystopian pictures from the Terminator franchise or 2001: A Space Odyssey used to chronicle how technology will enslave us. Whilst this may be entertaining, it does little to actually inform the public about what AI can, and cannot do. The failure of this narrative was discussed in a recent paper published by the Royal Society, which explored not only the prevailing narrative around AI, but also previous narratives around controversial technologies and concepts, such as GM food, nuclear power and climate change. "Both fictional and many non-fictional narratives focus on issues that form either a very small subset of contemporary AI research, or that are decades if not centuries away from becoming a technological reality," the authors say. "This disconnect between the narratives and the reality of the technology can have several major negative consequences." This inaccurate narrative operates at both extremes, with utopian fantasies fueling a bubble of hype that the technology cannot possibly meet. This bubble is not purely the fault of commentators, but also many in the industry who wish to puff up the capabilities of their technology. This can be damaging as when the reality fails to match the hype, it can damage public confidence in the technology. Similarly, false fears can also be hugely damaging, as much of the debate around the impact of AI on the workplace has been thus far. This form of narrative has some similarities with the hype-driven form, as both place far too much credibility in outlandish claims of what AI can do. What's more, they also distract us from discussions that do need to be had, but which are often harder to sell. "With major social and economic questions at stake, such as the future of work and distribution of wealth, it is important for public debate to be well-founded," they continue. "Debate needs evidence and insight into the disruptive potential and opportunities created by new forms of business or social networks, as well as attention to the direct impact on particular tasks or jobs." Obviously understanding why distorted narratives emerge plays a key role, but the report also makes a number of recommendations for practitioners to adopt to improve matters: Take lessons from the discussion of previous emerging technologies, so that discourse can reflect the differing levels of confidence or uncertainty in different types of technologies and over different periods. Reshape AI narratives to encapsulate a wider range of analogies that almost always revolve around the extremes of utopian and dystopian fantasies. If these stories can contain richer social and cultural diversity then even better. These narratives could also emerge in new ways. The authors highlight a number of spaces that have emerged in recent years to support informed dialogue around AI, with the Royal Society themselves hosting a regular public lecture series, called You and AI. This could also involve greater efforts to train and educate the public on AI and the technologies behind it. It's not an exhaustive list, but the paper is interesting in that it not only draws on practitioners from the AI field, but also those from other fields that have suffered the slings and arrows of controversy and earned the battle scars to prove it. As such, it provides some valuable lessons on not only how important the narrative around any new technology is, but how it can be guided such that the public are both informed and involved. "Attempting to control public narratives is neither achievable nor desirable, but present limitations may be at least partly addressed by communicating uncertainty through learning from narratives about other disruptive technologies; widening the body of available narratives, drawing in a wider range of authors and protagonists; and creating spaces for public dialogues," the authors conclude. Time will tell whether society sufficiently heeds their advice and we get a slightly more realistic narrative forming about the pluses and minuses of artificial intelligence. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2019/01/09/is-the-popular-narrative-harming-development-of-ai/ |
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