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When is the 2019 NBA trade deadline? | The NBA's trade deadline is quickly approaching. Like last season, this season's trade deadline will come before All-Star Weekend. Teams will have until 7:00am AEDT on February 8 to make a deal. A number of trades were completed at last season's trade deadline. The Cleveland Cavaliers were the most active, as they turned Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, Jae Crowder, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Dwyane Wade into Rodney Hood, George Hill, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. Draft picks were also included in some of those deals. There are a number of teams reportedly looking to make deals in the lead-up to this season's trade deadline, including the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. Stay tuned. | https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/when-is-the-nba-trade-deadline-2019-time-date/18zyiis939l051vbroq5wyle3s |
What's brewing between Nora Fatehi and Rohan Mehra? | bollywood Nora Fatehi and Rohan Mehra were spotted together by the shutterbugs Nora Fatehi and Rohan Mehra. All Pictures: Yogen Shah. Dance sensation, Nora Fatehi has delivered many hit songs in the past where 'Dilbar' and 'Kamariya' definitely topped the list. Her hot avatar and sexy moves have won over her fans. Nora has also marked her debut as a singer in her own debut production album. Meanwhile, Rohan Mehra too had gained a lot of popularity with his debut release Bazaar (2018) starring Saif Ali Khan, Chitrangada Singh and Radhika Apte. He was lauded for his acting chops. Recently, Nora Fatehi was spotted in the suburbs with her friend Rohan Mehra. This is not the first time that the Batla House actress has been clicked with Bazaar fame Rohan Mehra. Our cameras often keep clicking the two having lunch or attending screenings together. Apart from being good friends, the two hotties indeed compliment each other with their looks. Also Read: Varun Dhawan: Nora Fatehi is one of the most hard working humans I've met Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates | https://www.mid-day.com/articles/whats-brewing-between-nora-fatehi-and-rohan-mehra/20289187 |
Can NVIDIA Recover in 2019? | Investors in NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) had a rough 2018. Last year, the stock fell a highly unpleasant 31% (including dividends). Still, over the past three years, the stock is up a whopping 450%. At roughly $150 per share at the time of this writing, NVIDIA now trades at a reasonable P/E ratio of 20, a discount to the market and the Nasdaq Composite index overall. NVIDIA's forward P/E is also 20, meaning the market doesn't believe the company will grow its earnings at all in the coming year. a young man recoils in disappointment while playing a desktop video game. More Image source: Getty Images. A bad crypto hangover NVIDIA's stock is suffering from many of the same headwinds plaguing all semiconductor companies, including a severe slowdown in the Chinese economy and cloud spending due to the U.S.-China trade war. NVIDIA is also suffering from a related headwind: a hangover from the bust in cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies peaked in December 2017, then plummeted over the past year. NVIDIA's graphics cards are used in cryptocurrency mining, as the task, like graphics processing and big data processing, is very compute-intensive and benefits from GPU parallel-processing. On its last conference call with analysts, NVIDIA guided for a year-over-year decline in revenue and earnings for its fourth quarter, which should be reported in the coming weeks. The company called out the fact that it wouldn't ship any older-generation Pascal gaming cards, in order to clear excess channel inventory. While NVIDIA had expected lower Pascal prices to lead to more buying after the crypto bust, that happened more slowly than the company anticipated. Pascal is the No. 1 graphics card in the world, and NVIDIA hinted at a roughly $600 million adjustment that must take place. That's nearly 20% of NVIDIA's $3.18 billion in revenue reported last quarter. A big opportunity ahead Despite this near-term hiccup, there's a lot that's exciting in NVIDIA's future. While Pascal is currently dominating the company's numbers, NVIDIA released its new Turing chips with industry-leading capabilities toward the end of 2018. These newer chips don't make up for the huge Pascal shortfall this quarter, but are expected to overtake Pascal in the years ahead. Founder and CEO Jensen Huang pointed to three innovations in particular. 1. RAPIDS: RAPIDS is an accelerated platform for machine learning and big data. Machine learning is now being done largely in the open-source Apache software community, but NVIDIA's new RAPIDS platform for GPUs can greatly accelerate the speed at which big data training takes place. Huang stated that the machine learning method "has never been accelerated before," and believes that RAPIDS should lead to a big leap in speeds for data-intensive training workloads. 2. Turing T4 Cloud GPU: In September, NVIDIA unveiled its new Turing T4 GPU chips geared toward the inference side of artificial intelligence. Once an AI engine is trained, it uses inference to understand and interpret new information based on what it's learned. NVIDIA claims the new T4 GPU is 12 times more power-efficient than Pascal, and up to 36 times faster than CPUs for inference workloads. In November, Nvidia said Turing had received the fastest adoption of any server GPU in history, claiming T4 was already in 57 server platforms, including Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google Cloud Platform. That's interesting, as Alphabet has been developing its own in-house AI chip, called TensorFlow, that some have called a potential NVIDIA competitor. The fact that Google Could was so keen to adopt Turing indicates NVIDIA has something unique in this chip. | https://news.yahoo.com/nvidia-recover-2019-030400297.html |
Why Is an Exit Path Necessary? | By By Thomas Lambrecht The depth of disagreement within The United Methodist Church over marriage and human sexuality, and over the authority and interpretation of Scripture, means that it will be nearly impossible for all opposing groups to continue living together in the same church. No matter which plan passes General Conference in February (or if no plan passes), there will be some congregations and clergy who are unable to conscientiously live within the boundaries established by General Conference. This awareness is what fueled the thinking of a majority of the Commission on a Way Forward (COWF), which from its very first meeting acknowledged that an exit path that allowed congregations to leave the denomination with their property should be a part of any plan the COWF submitted to General Conference. The concept of an exit path was included in all the sketches of the three plans submitted by the COWF to the Council of Bishops. A developed exit path was included with the Connectional Conference Plan and the Traditional Plan. However, the Council of Bishops acted to take out any exit path from the One Church Plan and the Connectional Conference Plan. The Traditional Plan contains an exit path for congregations and annual conferences, which is an integral part of the plan. The Judicial Council ruled (incorrectly in my estimation) that this exit path is instead a transfer of congregations, which would require a 2/3 vote of the local church and a 2/3 vote by the annual conference to approve the exit. The need for annual conference approval dramatically limits the usefulness of the Traditional Plan exit path, as an annual conference could decide not to approve the exit and thereby force the local church to lose its property or else file suit against the conference in court. It is not a good witness for the church to be involved in hundreds of lawsuits over church property, which could be the result of such an outcome. It would be unconscionable for local churches and annual conferences to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars dealing with lawsuits-money that ought to be going toward the mission and ministry of the church. The Episcopal Church spent over $45 million at the national level (not counting what local churches spent) in order to preserve church property for the denomination. A more streamlined exit path for congregations is needed that would apply equally to all the various plans that might be adopted. In agreement with a coalition of persons from West Ohio representing the broad theological spectrum, it would be best if General Conference adopted an exit path first before considering which plan to adopt. Such a step would help rebuild trust and lower anxiety in the church. Some bishops and some proponents of the One Church Plan claim there is already a way for local congregations to exit the denomination with their property. This is not exactly the case. Under 2548.2, the annual conference may transfer the deed of a local church to one of the other denominations represented in the Pan-Methodist Commission or to another evangelical denomination under an allocation, exchange of property, or comity agreement. This would require the consent of the bishop, cabinet, district board of church building and location, and annual conference, in addition to the request of the local church. Under 2549, the annual conference can close a church that no longer serves the purpose for which it was organized or incorporated (as a United Methodist congregation). The conference can then sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the property, including selling it to the exiting congregation. This would also require the consent of the bishop, cabinet, district board of church building and location, and annual conference, in addition to the request of the local church. Under either of these scenarios, any one of the approving persons or bodies can stop the congregation from keeping its property. The terms under which the congregation can keep its property are up to the bishop and annual conference officials. They can impose whatever payment requirements they want upon the local church, or they can refuse to allow the local church to keep its property at all. Within the last several years, a few large congregations have been able to successfully exit the denomination with their property. This was primarily because these churches carried a large debt load that the annual conference was unable to assume. Some other congregations that have tried to leave have been denied the ability to take their property, and some congregations have been locked out of their building in a preemptive move by the annual conference. The current provisions of the Discipline put the local church at the mercy of the bishop and annual conference. There is no certain or consistent process whereby a local church can exit the denomination with its property. This sets up an adversarial relationship between the local church and the annual conference, which is ripe for escalating into a lawsuit over the property. A consistent, straightforward exit path for local congregations that does not depend upon the approval of the annual conference needs to be part of the actions of the special General Conference in February. Five exit proposals have been submitted to General Conference for consideration. The Renewal and Reform Coalition can work with any one of three of them. Petition 90058 Disaffiliation Ottjes is the simplest and most straightforward of the three proposals. It has the advantage that it was passed by a legislative committee at General Conference 2016 before being referred to the COWF process. This petition needs to be amended to include the requirement that departing congregations pay the annual conference their fair share of unfunded pension liabilities, as well as add some technical language clarifying the process of implementation. This option would require at least 90 days of study and discernment by the local church, a 2/3 vote by the church conference, payment of pension liabilities, and the local church retaining all other assets and liabilities/debts. Petition 90059 Disaffiliation Boyette is the most acceptable of the three exit options. It already contains the pension liability and implementation language. A controversial provision would offset the local congregations share of unfunded pension liabilities with that congregations share of all undesignated reserves held by the annual conference and general church. This would lower the pension payment of the local church and require that a portion of the general churchs reserves be designated for pensions. This option would require at least 30 days of study and discernment by the local church, a 55 percent vote by the church conference or a 2/3 vote by the charge conference (leadership of the church), payment of pension liabilities, and the local church retaining all other assets and liabilities/debts. Petition 90066 Disaffiliation Taylor was developed by a group of people coming from a more moderate or progressive stance on the issues before us. It is a very thorough process for congregations to exit, but it has many more requirements, including some that could compromise a congregations ability to thrive in ministry after departure. It requires more extensive study involving the annual conference, payment of up to two years apportionments, repayment of any annual conference grants, payment of pension liabilities, and the local church retaining all other assets and liabilities/debts. This exit path would expire on December 31, 2023. While the Taylor option is very comprehensive, it contains too many requirements that could burden the local church and make it difficult to thrive in ministry after disaffiliation. The process has too many ways where it could be unacceptably lengthened. It gives the annual conference and persons outside the congregation too much voice in determining the churchs future. It has an open loophole that would allow the annual conference to insert poison pill terms or conditions that would make it impossible for the church to keep its property. The church would be better served by adopting either the Ottjes or Boyette exit path that is simpler and easier to implement, while vesting control of the churchs future in the local congregation. However, the Renewal and Reform Coalition has prepared amendments that would eliminate most of the objectionable requirements from the Taylor option, should it be the one chosen by the General Conference to work on. The Brooks Graceful Exit (Petition 90051) would have only a one-year window for churches to withdraw. It would require payment of 50 percent of the churchs annual budget plus one years apportionments. It has no provision for funding unfunded pension liabilities. It also lacks some of the technical language necessary for implementation. The Coalition does not support this proposal. The St. Marks UMC proposal (Petition 90056) provides only a two-year window for churches to withdraw. It would require approval of 2/3 of all local church members, not just those in attendance at a church conference. It would require repayment of all annual conference funds received by the local church in the previous two years, plus payment of two years apportionments. It also lacks some of the technical language necessary for implementation. The Coalition does not support this proposal. Exit as a Way Forward In Genesis 13, we read the story of Abram and Lot having problems due to quarreling between their various herdsmen. So Abram said to Lot, Lets not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. Lets part company. If you go to the left, Ill go to the right; if you go to the right, Ill go to the left. ' This is the kind of generous spirit the Renewal and Reform Coalition believes ought to govern our decisions regarding congregations that choose to exit from the denomination. They are our brothers and sisters. There ought not to be quarreling or lawsuits over property. We ought not try to coerce unwilling participation in a covenant that a congregation can no longer support. We can find enhanced unity in the church around a willing covenant of congregations interested in pursuing a common mission in a common way through shared beliefs and practices. Those who cannot conscientiously participate in that covenant should be released from it without penalty. So far, only the supporters of the Traditional Plan are on record endorsing a gracious exit path that would be available to any congregation, whether progressive or traditionalist, to leave the denomination with their property. We should follow the Golden Rule and treat others in the way we ourselves would like to be treated. Heres hoping the General Conference delegates will embrace a fair, consistent, and gracious path for congregations to exit with their property. The future peace of the denomination may depend upon it. Thomas Lambrecht is a United Methodist clergyperson and the vice president of Good News. He is a member of the Commission on a Way Forward. | https://goodnewsmag.org/2019/01/why-is-an-exit-path-necessary/ |
What is the state of Latinx artists in contemporary art? | For Naoimy Guerrero, artist, curator, and art critic, a museum can serve as a host to conversations about identity, culture, and contemporary art - and it is precisely that role which she envisions for the Prez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), in collaboration with the Art Center/South Florida, in the context of the upcoming Latinx Art Sessions program on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25. The PAMM and The Art Center, a residency program for artists on Miami Beach, will be the site of a two-day program built by Guerrero, the PAMM DAMLI Curatorial Fellow, as well as Mara Elena Ortz, Associate Curator, PAMM, and Natalia Zuluaga, director of [NAME] publications. Their objective is to involve Latinx artists in Miami, a city with 60 percent of the population who identify as Hispanic, as well as Latinx artists all across the country. Guerrero, who had already forged a path as an artist and critic by interviewing and writing about artists of color in her native New York City, in addition working in various museum positions, including the well-known El Museo del Barrio in Harlem, had met Ortz at a Ford Foundation conference on Latinx art in 2016. Together, they discovered a connection between the questions they were each seeking to answer about Latinx artists and the contemporary art scene, and the plans that soon became Latinx Art Sessions were set in motion. I think that museums if anything are community centers and they should host these conversations and gatherings so that people can connect and have solidarity and listen to each other, Guerrero said of their work with Latinx Art Sessions at the PAMM. I felt that, as someone who experienced that, I think that thats something that needs to be, thats all part of decolonizing a museum, is doing away with that elitist kind of aura that it has. Because it does, she noted. Part of this effort to merge the museum-centered conversations with the surrounding art communities is indicated by the programs inclusion of art studio visits on Jan. 25 to the Art Center/South Florida artist studios. The residency program, which started in 1984 and now houses about 14 artist studios in their current space on Miami Beach, is able to provide resources, including studio spaces, to working artists in Miami. Esther Park, VP of Programming at ArtCenter/South Florida, said that it was almost a no-brainer...to be involved in a conversation like the Latinx Art Sessions, thanks to the fact that many of their resident artists identify as Latinx. Several of their artists are featured in the panels as well, and conference participants will be able to go to the artists studios at the Art Center on Friday in order to meet them and see their works. For Park, having the conversation on Latinx identity in contemporary art is a natural fit for the Miami art world and scene as a whole. Miami is kind of the epicenter, experimental city, for the future of whats to come for Latinx art, she said, noting the many Spanish-speaking cultures - Dominican, Colombian, Venezuelan, Cuban, and more - that are present in the citys Latino population. The first Latinx Art Sessions is part of PAMM's Latin American and Latinx Art Fund, which allows the museum to develop exhibitions and programming dedicated specifically to Latinx culture. For Guerrero, the Latinx Art Sessions is at once a continuation of the work that she has already done on the lack of equity in the art world, and a conversation-starter for a more in-depth examination of contemporary Latinx art both inside and outside of museums and art institutions. Building a more equitable future However, Guerrero noted, museums as places open to all communities was not how she experienced art institutions when she was growing up in the Bronx, New York. Though surrounded by world-class art institutions, she did not go to many museums until she attended DePaul University in Chicago, where she studied art history and studio art. When she moved back to New York City and began working in assistant roles in the art world there, she became aware of the vast resources that had been so close to her in her childhood home - and, at the same time, the enduring barriers that meant that even working in the art world as a graduate of a collegiate art program, she still [felt] very much like an outsider. So Guerrero began to reflect on what changes she would like to be a part of, and witness. I said ok, this is what I want to see. I want to see criticism written by people who can relate to an artist of color, because of their lived experience. I want to see mainstream institutions taking that on, said Guerrero. I want to also build a network of Black American and Latinx folks that are involved in the art world, I want to get to know whats happening and I want to catalogue and share it as Im doing it. This led to a website, where Guerrero started publishing her art criticism, written in both English and Spanish, that came about as a result of her persistent efforts to go to any opening and event in New York that featured any artist of color or centered on lack of equity in the art world. She noted that she began to realize that her original assumption - that there just werent that many artists of color - was incorrect. There were many artists of colors, but there wasnt an easy way for them to connect with one another. For Guerrero, the use of the term Latinx for this conference at PAMM, a term which is still debated for Latinos in the U.S., is a framework from an art historical and curatorial practice perspective. It helps me create a framework through which I can be specific in my consideration of the way that an artist walks through the world, and so in individual arts for me its just specifying that Hey, this artist is of Latin American and Caribbean descent, and they are being informed by U.S. lived experience, she observed. To me that feels very important to denote, because it brings with it a lot of vulnerability and it brings with it a lot of that feeling of ni aqu ni de all - t no eres de aqu, ni de all, and youre kind of perpetually in between spaces, Guerrero added. And whats more important than the term itself, for Guerrero, is the use of it as a way for Latinx individuals and the art community to gather together and work through systemic problems in terms of creating sustainable opportunities for our artists, for our art professionals, how do we envision ourselves as worthy and capable and powerful to be contributors to this visual U.S. history, of art. How can we make sure, how can we respond in this moment to make sure that we are being authentic to ourselves in that were building a more equitable future for ourselves, Guerrero said of their focus. That conversation has just begun. To view the program and more about the conference, go to the Latinx Art Sessions website. | http://aldianews.com/articles/culture/what-state-latinx-artists-contemporary-art/54854 |
Will 'The New Mutants' Land at Hulu? | Fox and Boone are really struggling coming to terms on a comprehensible and finished product. Theyre looking to release it in early November. But Fox is still toying with a Hulu release in October for The New Mutants. Talk about a drama filled production. A move for comic book properties into the horror realm is what we were promised, and though not much was shown it certainly felt like they were achieving it. Then the flick was pushed back from it's original 2017 release...re-shoots they said. Then pushed again, and again. This sounds very much like studio interference to me, some suit wanted it to be more comic-book "Hey The Avengers make boatloads, let's stick with what works!". Problem is, that doesn't work for every subject, and this film was a chance to solidify the future for comic book films. Here's the thing, they aren't going anywhere, that's obvious at this point. So the only way for them to remain relevant and not end up in over-saturation is to change things up a bit. Bottom-line, comic book movie is not a genre, it's a subject.was going to show the studios this. You can option EVERY comic book property ever made but every comic is different on some level, if you make the same type of movie from each one you're going to have a lot that don't work.There's still hope though, they've invested a ton of money in this flick already so it's definitely going to see the light of day. The talk now is that Fox is looking to offload it to Hulu, which could be awesome for a number of reasons. First and foremost the streaming sites are the most likely to take risks, and there for most likely to release a cut that is more likethen a studio butchered edit that comes off like a CW show calledEverything here is with a grain of salt, the Fox/Disney merger has a ton of projects in movie purgatory right now with no idea where they'll end up. Scott Bechtel, co-host of Merc with a Podcast, is known to have some inside connections that have panned out. He had this to say on Twitter: | http://www.punchdrunkcritics.com/2019/01/will-new-mutants-land-at-hulu.html |
Did ED's Vadra Chase and BJP's Personal Attacks on Rahul Convince Priyanka to Take Political Plunge? | The Congress has upped the stakes for the 2019 Lok Sabha battle by playing its trump card against Narendra Modi, underlining its determination to not only oust the BJP but to make a credible bid for power.In an unmistakable signal to the ruling party and the opposition, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been tasked with reviving the party in Uttar Pradesh. Ever since her electrifying debut on the campaign trail two decades ago, Congress workers have been awaiting her entry into the field. She has all the charisma her brother and party president Rahul Gandhi seems to be lacking in and her very presence galvanizes the rank-and-file.Within the BJP, there is speculation that the Enforcement Directorate's investigation against her husband, businessman Robert Vadra , may have played a role in motivating Priyanka to step directly into the electoral campaign. In recent months, the probe has picked up speed, with several raids against Vadra's aides.Priyanka is not involved in Vadra's business in any way and had said as much when the question regarding her land purchases in Amipur village near Faridabad in 2006 was raised. (The land was subsequently resold to the original owner.) However, she did serve as director of Blue Breeze Trading, one of Vadra's many companies, which was incorporated in 2007. She resigned in 2008 and was replaced by Sreenivasan Krishnan, who was inducted as a Congress general secretary last year.The induction of Krishnan, who claimed to have quit the company in 2011, was seen as testimony to the clout that Priyanka wields in the party. It is widely known that she played a key role in planning election campaigns and selecting candidates, operating daily from her brother's home on Tughlaq Lane where she had her own office and staff. She sought independent feedback on the party's performance in various states and intervened from time-to-time on a variety of issues.After her marriage, Priyanka confined her activities to the family boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareilly. Her reluctance to enter politics directly was attributed to three factors. The first, according to senior Congress leaders, was Sonia Gandhi's obvious preference for having Rahul Gandhi in the leadership role. She is a typical Italian-Indian mother, was the standing joke. Second, Priyanka herself did not want to take the spotlight away from her brother, by creating scope for an alternative centre of power within the party.Third, she preferred to concentrate on her own family, which according to report and rumour was extremely challenging for an extended period of time. Her husband, Robert, indicated an interest in politics quite early on. In an interview to a prominent daily, he declared that he would join politics when his children were grown up and he had the time and if he felt he could make a difference: I don't know if I will join politics, but I can definitely win from anywhere. Robert undertook motorcycle yatras and gave speeches while accompanying his wife on her electoral campaigns.The fact that the recent opposition mahagathbandhan in UP left the Congress out in the cold could also have motivated Rahul to finally induct his sister into the campaign. She is widely seen as the best chance that the party has of putting up a credible show in UP on its own. The Congress vote is at rock bottom in UP; it was 7.5 per cent in Lok Sabha 2014 and fell to 6.2 per cent in Assembly 2017. However, the Congress has shown considerable elasticity in terms of votes and managed to win 21 seats in 2009.The Congress is well aware that in order to make a post-electoral bid for power, it will have to produce the numbers. Currently, its scope for improvement lies mainly in the states where it is in direct contest with the BJP , either on its own or as the senior partner in an alliance. Everywhere else, regional forces are dominant. Passing the 100-mark is an ambitious target, which involves more than doubling its 2014 tally. To make a pitch for leadership, it will need to open its account in UP.In a do-or-die battle, Priyanka is the party's best and perhaps only bet. She has the common touch and an Indira Gandhi-esque persona that allows a palpable connection with the crowds. Congress workers regard her as more than a match for the high-decibel campaigning of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath. *Rental / capacity fee of Rs.130/- as charged by cable / DTH operator may apply. **GST extra. | https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/did-eds-vadra-chase-and-bjps-personal-attacks-on-rahul-convince-priyanka-to-take-political-plunge-2011599.html |
Could renting a private parking space in Leicester be the answer to expensive season tickets? | Get Daily 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 Car parking in Leicester city centre is often criticised as expensive and poor quality. So its unsurprising that some drivers are looking for alternatives to the big car parking companies or council offerings. Some commuters and city-dwellers are eschewing the multi-storeys for renting individual spaces directly from their owners. There is even a website which lets you search for parking spaces to rent. YourParkingSpace.co.uk is an online platform where drivers can find and book parking. According to the company, a total of 2,732 people have used the website to book a space in Leicester so far. (Image: Mikey Sewell) YourParkingSpace say that the average daily price for parking in Leicester city centre is 4.80, while the average monthly price is 90.50. In comparison, monthly season tickets for NCP car parks range from 72 per month for a space in Lee Circle, up to 149 in Welford Road. Season tickets are currently sold out at some of the companys car parks, including the Rutland Centre and East Street. Harrison Woods, managing director of YourParkingSpace.co.uk , said: In these times of economic uncertainty, increasing numbers of people across the country, including those in Leicester, are opting to rent out their homes vacant parking space. Driveways are often what people think of first, but off-street underground parking spaces under apartment buildings and lock-up garages are also regularly rented out. For spaces within walking distance of Leicester city centre, residents can earn over 1,000 annually. Its a win-win situation, helping out a local commuter whilst earning additional income from a space that would otherwise be empty. Drivers can also find car parking spaces through more informal means such as word of mouth, public noticeboards and online forums like Gumtree. Fatima Mahommed, a social media executive at a marketing agency in the city, rents a space in a restaurant car park near her workplace. She found out about the space through a friend who parked there previously. Fatima said: I prefer it compared to NCP because its cheaper, feels safer and it is closer to my place of work. "So much more convenient," she added. (Image: Verity Gregory) However, renting car parking spaces privately could also come with some level of uncertainty. CAD trainer Verity Gregory lives in the city centre and rents a parking space nearby, as her flat does not come with its own. She says she paid 60 per month for a space under a block of flats that was 'plagued with problems', including other cars parking in her space, rubbish being dumped, and homeless people setting up camp. Rats were also attracted to the car park and caused around 200 of damage to the wiring of her car. The person renting out the space referred Verity to building management, who she says were not proactive in preventing or dealing with the problems. She is now paying nearly double for another space in a block of flats nearby. 0+ VOTES SO FAR Yes - I already do Yes - I would consider it No - it sounds too risky With thousands of people finding private car parking through just one website, it is clear that people in Leicester are looking for alternatives - whether out of convenience, price, or necessity. But it remains to be seen whether private renting poses a risk to professional parking companies - or if bigger, sometimes, means better. Let us know in the comments! | https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/could-renting-private-parking-space-2462406 |
Was it wrong for Man City to beat Burton 9-0? Or are critics missing the point of football? | When Manchester City defeated Burton Albion in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal early this month, the result sent Twitter into a tizzy. Advertisement As we head into the second leg, ESPN FC senior writer Mark Ogden and deputy editor James Martin go head-to-head to argue their cases. TEAMS SHOULD SCORE AS MANY GOALS AS POSSIBLE: JAMES MARTIN Sport is spectacle. It's entertainment. If the reaction on Twitter was anything to go by, you'd have thought Jesus (scorer of four goals) & Co. were waterboarding puppies. The point of football is to score, not to worry about whether you're embarrassing your opponent. As far back as the late 1800s, you had Preston North End beating Hyde United 26-0 and Dundee Harp dropping 35 goals on Aberdeen Rovers. There are recent examples, too: Villarreal crushed Navata 27-0 in a 2009 friendly, and on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup, Germany ran the board up 7-1 on Brazil - in Brazil - in 2014. Please. It was the most memorable moment of the tournament. Just this past weekend, PSG crushed Guingamp 9-0. Goals are entertaining. It's the first - and often only - thing you see on highlight reels for a reason. I'm not going to fault Kevin De Bruyne, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Riyad Mahrez - all of whom also netted against hopeless Burton Albion - for going for the proverbial jugular. Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus (centre) competes for the ball with Burton's Kyle McFadzean (second right) during the English League Cup semi-final football match. (File photo: AP/Rui Vieira) I know: Man City's opponents play in League One, the third tier of English football, and they were a genuinely abject side that could make a pub team look like world-beaters, but that's no reason for City to apply the brakes. Pep Guardiola would never. After all, nobody complained when his Barcelona side thrashed Real Madrid 6-2 in 2009. In the Carabao Cup, he put out a team that would feel at home in the Premier League. The right call. He'd be slammed for not taking the competition seriously. City could have kept the score closer. But manipulating the game to maintain, say, a "respectable" 3-0 is the epitome of a backhanded compliment. On the surface, you're trying to make your opponent look good, when in reality, you're doing the opposite. Talk about an arbitrary line in the sand. Besides, if you turn the game into an endless series of sideways and back passes to take the sting out of the attack until time runs out, the match transmogrifies into the classic Monty Python skit "The Philosophers' Football Match," in which nothing happens for 90 minutes between Archimedes, Socrates, Nietzsche and the crew. Instead, City cut through lowly Burton in gladiatorial style. The only thing missing was a Russell Crowe "Are you not entertained?" from Jesus. For the record, the answer is "yes." IT'S NOT OK TO WIN 9-0: MARK OGDEN When I tweeted during Manchester City's 9-0 Carabao Cup semifinal first-leg victory that Pep Guardiola's players were pushing the boundaries of professional etiquette by ruthlessly chasing goals against their third-tier opponents, the response was fairly predictable. That response largely centred on professional sport being a place where there is no hiding place and the suggestion that City were paying Burton the ultimate respect by keeping the foot firmly on the pedal and not easing off in the closing stages. Every opinion is valid, of course, but mine has not altered as we approach Wednesday's second leg at the Pirelli Stadium. Had City been facing a Premier League opponent in a league game, my view would have been different. With points at stake and against a team from the same division, City would have been right to score as many goals as possible. After all, goal difference matters in league play, and City know this better than anyone, having won the 2011-2012 title on goal difference ahead of Manchester United. The referee waits for the VAR replay before awarding the third goal in Manchester City's 9-0 thrashing of Burton Albion. (File photo: AFP/Oli Scarff) But this was not a league game. Burton are a League One team; they currently sit mid-table in the third tier of English football, and they are literally not in the same league as City's all-star outfit. When City opened up a 6-0 lead after 62 minutes, that should have been the signal for the home team to wind down. The game, and the tie, had been won. There was no way back for Burton, so the point of "professional etiquette" should have been about saving an opponent - a mismatched one at that - from an unnecessary humiliation. As fellow professionals, City's players should have protected their Burton counterparts from the humiliation that will now live with them for their rest of their lives, never mind their careers. This Burton team made history by reaching a major semifinal. They should be remembered as club heroes, but there is now a huge asterisk in the shape of the 9-0 hammering. Top-level sport has to be ruthless, but at some point, ruthlessness becomes humiliation, and that's what happened when City made it seven, eight and then nine. This article first appeared on ESPN.com. | https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/was-it-wrong-for-man-city-to-beat-burton-9-0-or-are-critics-11160932 |
How does MDMA kill? | MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), commonly referred to as ecstasy, was manufactured as a potential pharmaceutical early last century. It had some limited use in the 1970s as a therapeutic aid in trauma treatment and in relationship counselling, and more recent studies using MDMA for trauma have shown some promise. Structurally, MDMA is similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and to the hallucinogen mescaline, and so has both stimulant and mildly hallucinogenic effects. Most problems with recreational MDMA are acute. Dependence and other long-term problems are quite rare. Less than 1% of all drug treatment presentations are for ongoing problems with MDMA, such as dependence. Most fatalities from taking ecstasy are a result of a combination of factors, not just the drug itself. Most of these conditions dont result in death if they are treated early, but because of the stigma associated with using illicit drugs, sometimes people dont seek help early enough. Any unusual or unwanted symptoms experienced while taking ecstasy should be treated as soon as they appear. Read more: Six reasons Australia should pilot 'pill testing' party drugs Contaminants and polydrug use Most people are under the impression drugs are illegal because they are dangerous, but a drugs legal status isnt necessarily related to relative danger. In fact, drugs are much more dangerous because they are unregulated, manufactured by backyard chemists in clandestine laboratories. Unlike alcohol, which is a highly regulated drug, theres no way to tell how potent illicit drugs are or whats in them, unless you test them. In Australia, what is sold as ecstasy may contain a lot of MDMA or very little. Pills can contain other more dangerous drugs that mimic the effects of MDMA, and benign substances, such as lactose, as filler agents. A recent report on findings from Australias first official pill testing trial at the Groovin the Moo music festival last year, found nearly half the pills tested were of low purity. Some 84% of people who had their pills tested thought they had bought MDMA but only 51% actually contained any MDMA. Some of the more dangerous contaminants found in pills include PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine), which is more toxic at lower doses than ecstasy; N-Ethylpentylone, a cathinone which is a lot more potent than MDMA making it easier to take too much; and NBOMes (N-methoxybenzyl), which is more toxic at lower doses than other hallucinogenic drugs and can cause heart attack, renal failure, and stroke. Pills have also been detected in UK and NZ with up to three doses of MDMA in a single pill. Although its possible to take too much MDMA and experience severe toxic effects, as with other illicit drugs, most ecstasy-related deaths involve multiple drugs. Sometimes these drug mixes are unexpected and sometimes people take multiple drugs deliberately. Its safer for people using ecstasy to limit use of other drugs, including alcohol, to avoid risk of adverse effects. Read more: While law makers squabble over pill testing, people should test their drugs at home Heatstroke Heatstroke or hyperthermia (dangerously high body temperature) is one of the most common issues among people taking MDMA. MDMA increases body temperature and sweating, and using it is often accompanied by physical activity (such as dancing) in a hot environment (such as a crowded venue or in the summer heat), exacerbating fluid loss. If you dont have enough fluids your body cant cool itself properly. The effect of ecstasy can be exacerbated by consuming alcohol. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it makes you urinate more and increases dehydration. Dehydration increases risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke can cause brain, heart, kidney and muscle damage, and if left untreated can cause serious complications or death. If active, people taking MDMA should drink around 500ml (two cups) of water an hour and take regular breaks. Isotonic drinks (such as Powerade and Gatorade) are also OK. from www.shutterstock.com Water intoxication People using MDMA can get really thirsty. Some is probably the direct effect of MDMA, some because theyre hot, and some from dehydration. But if you have too much water the ratio of salts and water in the body becomes unbalanced basically the level of salt in your body gets too low and your cells start swelling with water. The technical name is hyponatraemia. MDMA is an anti-diuretic, so it makes you retain water, which can increase risk of water intoxication. People may feel nausea with vomiting, confusion, severe fatigue, muscle weakness and cramps. People taking ecstasy need to stay hydrated but only replace what is lost through sweating around 500ml per hour if active and around 250ml an hour when inactive. Serotonin syndrome The main action of MDMA in the brain is an increase in serotonin, which among other things is responsible for regulating pro-social behaviour, empathy and optimism. This is why people who have taken MDMA feel connection with and positivity towards others. But too much serotonin can result in serotonin syndrome. It typically occurs when other drugs that also raise serotonin levels (other stimulants, antidepressants) are taken together with MDMA. Signs include high body temperature, agitation, confusion, problems controlling muscles, headache and the shakes. People might also experience seizures or loss of consciousness. It can be fatal if the symptoms are left untreated, so if anyone taking MDMA shows any of these signs they should be treated immediately. Its safer not to mix different types of drugs, especially if you do not know whats in them. Read more: Here's why doctors are backing pill testing at music festivals across Australia Other causes More rarely, fatalities have been reported as a result of other health complications after taking ecstasy, especially if the person has pre-existing risk factors, such as high blood pressure or a heart condition. Complications related to heart failure, liver failure and brain haemorrhage have been reported in people already at high risk of these problems. The number of people who die from party drugs is relatively low compared to other drugs such as heroin, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals. But the media tend to report a higher proportion of these deaths compared to other drugs, increasing the perception of harm. Most of the deaths are not directly from the drug itself but other complications or contaminants. Its safest not to take drugs at all, but if you choose to, its safer to take a small amount first (like a quarter of a pill) and wait at least an hour to make sure there are no ill effects; drink about 500ml per hour of water if active; and dont mix drugs, including alcohol. In the absence of a legal, uncontaminated supply of MDMA, when pill testing becomes available in Australia it will at least help people make informed decisions about drug use and reduce the risk of fatalities and other harms. People often choose not to take their pills, or take smaller amounts, when they discover contaminants. | http://theconversation.com/how-does-mdma-kill-109506 |
What is the Democrat response to the Venezuelan counter-revolution? | USA RECOGNIZES GUAIDO AS PRESIDENT BATTLE OF CARACAS The news is a few hours old but I am still waiting for the reaction of any of the Democrats, and of course, Miss Ocasio-Cortez. The left are the bringers of misery and destruction. The most blatantly socialist regime in the world today. No one in their right mind could support such manifest horrors. But our Marxist-Progressive loons, and their brothers in the media and elsewhere, are so ideologically blind that the misery and harm of others is nothing compared with the misery they would feel having to give up their idiotic economic and political ideas. Unless you are personally relieved to see these efforts to rid Venezuela of its socialist experiment you are yourself as loony as the rest of your socialist confreres. I cannot think the Dems have much choice other than to welcome the change in public, but I suspect whatever they might say, they do not believe it for a moment, not in their secret heart of hearts. | http://catallaxyfiles.com/2019/01/24/what-is-the-democrat-response-to-the-venezuelan-counter-revolution/ |
Can Priyanka Gandhi repeat 1999 magic of Rae Bareli in 2019? | NEW DELHI: At 4am on Wednesday, Congress manager for UP Ghulam Nabi Azad was booked on a commercial flight to Lucknow where he was to hold a meeting of party leaders from eastern and central regions. And at 6am, Thursday, he was to rush back to the capital to brainstorm with leaders from the western region.Azads schedule was packed, but there was one thing he had probably no idea of that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia were set to replace him as managers for UP.So closely guarded did Congress president Rahul Gandhi keep the high-voltage move, that none seemed to have a clue. The secrecy, that matched every inch the will-she-wont-she suspense over Priyankas plunge, underlined the significance of the decision.For long, Congress ranks have touted Priyanka as the trump card who could flip political equations in a jiffy. Insiders and experts cite how she turned around the election in the family borough of Rae Bareli-Amethi in 1999 after it went saffron in 1998 aided by father Rajiv Gandhis estranged cousin Arun Nehru and defector Sanjay Sinh. Kya aap us aadmi ko vote doge jisne mere pita ki peeth me chhura bhonka tha, she asked rhetorically, an emotional appeal widely credited with re-establishing the party connect with voters swayed by A B Vajpayees charisma.Two decades later, her formal entry in politics comes under no less a crisis than the one Congress faced during the Vajpayee wave. While Congress managed to pull off a 3-0 whitewash over BJP in assembly polls last month, it remains a poor player in UP and has been shunned by fellow secular travellers SP and BSP from the anti-saffron alliance.While accepting that Rahuls aggressive leadership is finally working, Congress cadre feel Priyanka has a popular appeal. She has a likeability that endears workers. Others see in her the image of Indira Gandhi . That, strategists have long argued, would help connect Congress with traditional voters across states.During the Congress decade in power 2004-14, she kept her campaigning limited to the family borough in UP. But she was the sounding board on the kitchen table where Sonia and Rahul mulled important decisions. However, as the crisis gripped Congress post-2014, she moved to help brother Rahul steer the ship. The key stage came in 2017 UP assembly polls when she helped negotiate with SP, draft in pollster Prashant Kishor and even campaigned. But the dismal party performance put a brake on her activities, insiders said.According to leaders, Priyankas dilemma was gargantuan. Whenever voices rose from within that she join politics, they implied a no-confidence in her dear brother. She could have stepped in, but it would have led to comparisons with Rahul and made her the rallying point for the disgruntled. She did not want it.In that sense, she has timed her entry. With assembly election triumphs having removed any questions over Rahuls leadership ability, she appeared free from her political doubts and ready to take the plunge. | https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/can-priyanka-gandhi-repeat-1999-magic-of-rae-bareli-in-2019/articleshow/67664868.cms |
Why is Victoria still struggling with its myki ticketing system? | Ever since the "scratch ticket" debacle in 1990 claimed then transport minister Jim Kennan, theres been a need to carefully define what an effective public transport ticketing system is, against the various tech-enthusiasms and agendas of political and bureaucratic insiders. Mike Smith was fined for using an expired myki card. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui At a high level, the acid test of effective ticketing is simple, and twofold: it should make it easy for a passenger to pay the right fare, and difficult for them to avoid doing so. Its not just that the system should be designed to minimise deliberate fare evasion. As far as practicable no one, having put up their cash and tendered their fare as instructed, should be prevented from doing so purely by the machinery of the system. Even more, it would be a denial of natural justice for a passenger to cop a penalty simply because the machinery gets in the way of paying. | https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/why-is-victoria-still-struggling-with-its-myki-ticketing-system-20190124-p50tf1.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed |
How did car burglars target nine neighborhoods in one night? | Please enable Javascript to watch this video COVINGTON, LA -- The Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department is hoping the public can help deputies arrest two suspects in a Christmas crime spree. The case is the latest one to roll on the Wheel of Justice. Deputies say that the crimes happened on Christmas Eve and continued into Christmas day. 18 cars were burglarized in 9 neighborhoods in the Covington and Madisonville area. Two of the cars were also stolen. All of the cars were unlocked, according to the STPSO. Deputies arrested two suspects. Damien Kelly and Randy Andrews face a list of charges including burglary and possession of a stolen firearm. But deputies say two other suspects were also involved. They're trying to locate and arrest suspects Jamone Bagent and Andrea Carter. Deputies say all of the suspects are from the Hammond area. If you have information that can help, contact STPSO Det. Long at 985-276-1333 or Det. Evans at 985-276-1340. Click on the video button at the top of this page to see the latest Wheel of Justice report. To get a better idea of how so many cars and neighborhoods can be targeted in essentially one night, check out the map below. The subdivisions involved were Shady Oaks, Myrtle Grove, Beau Arbre, Tuscany West, Post Oak Landing, Del Sol, Normandy Oaks, Hidden Creek, and Maison du Lac. Some of the subdivisions are located directly beside or across the street from one another. | https://wgno.com/2019/01/23/how-did-car-burglars-target-nine-neighborhoods-in-one-night-see-the-map/ |
Can Zionists Advocate for Palestinian Rights? | Its 6 a.m. and Im at the Qalandiya checkpoint in northern Jerusalem, one of the crossings where Palestinians come from the Palestinian Authority into Israel. The place is massive. On one side, traffic files through. On the other, a steady stream of men click through a turnstile, rebuckling their pant belts, TSA-style. Im here to observe the work of Blue and White Human Rights, an initiative of the Institute for Zionist Strategies, a right-leaning think tank and policy shop based out of Jerusalem. Apart from a few women who come through the gate and head straight to waiting buses, I am the only woman here. I hadnt planned to broadcast my Americanness but in a baseball cap, knee-length jeans skirt and Chuck Taylors, I realize that is the likely effect. I meet up with Nicolas Nisim Touboul, a project coordinator at Blue and White, and his two volunteers who are at this checkpoint three mornings a week. They are here to observe the flow through the crossing and to hear any grievances the Palestinians may have while handing out flyers offering assistance to the people who pass by. About 3,000 people use this crossing every morning between 5 and 7 a.m., Touboul, born in 1991 in France, tells me. Men coming for work make up about 95 percent, the other 5 percent are women and others who come for education or medical reasons. Generally, the men crossing have work visas, and once through the security check (metal detectors) they are free to go beyond the crossing. When there are no issues, crossing can take 15 minutes but if there are, it can take an hour. We are here to try and make the process as smooth as possible. To do this, Touboul and his team talk to Palestinians, ask how long they waited, and if there are any problems they need help with. Blue and White has a pool of 20 volunteers and fellows that work at 3 IDF-managed crossings: Qalandiya, Rachel, and Zeitim, which they visit three times a week. While the volunteers have no authority over soldiers who staff the checkpoint, they report their findings to IDF commanders. Most complaints are about behavior of soldiers, Touboul says. Not issues of mistreatment, but things like they are on the phone and too slow. They are 18-year-olds, he says. We cant make any change on the Palestinian side and they dont make it easy for them to get to the crossings. They dont improve roads or provide parking. They employ people like Nassar, a 55-year-old Christian Arab, who is Blue and Whites eyes and ears in the Palestinian territories. Every morning, Nassar sends Touboul pictures and videos from the other side of the checkpoints and now, after I spoke with Nassar, he sends me them too. Nassar was working in Jerusalem when a group of Israeli-Arabs stole materials from the work site and beat him in the process. Not knowing how to press charges, he called Blue and White, having gotten their information from the flyers they hand out. They helped him go to the authorities, and hes been helping them ever since. The inquiries that come to Blue and White are varied. Many deal with work visas that have been taken away. Sometimes theyre taken for legitimate reasons and sometimes its not. We help them look into it, find out the reason and help them get it back if it turns out it was a mistake. When asked if other human rights organizations do the same, another volunteer, Yedidya from Efrat (a West Bank settlement) shakes his head. They arent often here. They come and go. They show up, and if nothing bad is happening that they can film they leave. Nave Dromi, 33, served in the IDF, was a Hillel emissary on behalf of the Jewish Agency at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a B.A. in Middle East and politics and a M.A. in American Jewry studies. She joined the Institute for Zionist Strategies as a volunteer and has run Blue and White for the past four years. We do not offer political solutions. We are solely working on assisting Palestinians without any geopolitical position. There are organizations that have operated near to 30 years and have accomplished no change on the ground in their entire existence. They spend their time trying to pressure Israel with human rights as a tool. I dont see how they support the human rights of any Palestinian that wants to live and work like everyone else. Her programs help Palestinians reach medical attention. If someones child is sick and they want her to be treated in Hadassah Hospital, we ask them for ID, a description of the health problem, what they have done so far, etc. Often, these are cases that the health services in their area cant handle and they may not know how to get an appointment in the hospital. We check the details with COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, a branch in Israels Ministry of Defense) and they assist us in getting it done. Sometimes someone needs care, but the only available escort has been involved in terror activities, so we approach the family and help them find another escort. Consider the case of the 52 Israeli and Palestinian Arabs who were tortured by the Yasser Arafat-controlled Palestinian Authority in the years between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. In an unprecedented move, the plaintiffs in the case filed a 2017 lawsuit in Israeli courts against the PA. In order to determine damages, the judge asked for medical evidence of their pain and suffering. Their lawyer, Barak Kedem, approached a number of human rights organizations for help. These are people who are suffering from a number of parallel disabilitiesphysical disability, psychiatric, urological, and others. Some are suffering from five or more disabilities and are therefore in need of experts to determine their overall disability profile. On Israeli radio and in statements posted on Facebook, Kedem said that his call went unanswered or was directly declined by major human rights organizations such as BTselem, MachsomWatch and Doctors Without Borders. We offered to help, even though we are a small program, said Dromi. Unbelievably, some of the doctors I approached myself said no, they wouldnt help to paint the PA in a bad light. Ali (not his real name), who is one of the men tortured by the PA, now lives in Israel. Blue and White Human Rights are one of the only groups who agreed to help us, Ali told me. He continued: I was six years in PA jail. With no trial, no representative. When Sharon went into the settlements, they took us out. But, we have no rights, no health insurance, no way to get help. I was very sick as a result of the torture. We took a lawyer and the court told us to go to a doctor to show our damages. Blue and White brought us to doctors to help us. We didnt pay a thing. In a blockbuster ruling this November, the Supreme Court endorsed two judgments totaling close to NIS 14 million against the Palestinian Authority for its treatment of the Palestinians. Hanna Barag, member of the secretariat of MachsomWatch, a left-wing organization that opposes the Israeli occupation in the area known as the West Bank, says that while it is a human rights organization, it is also a political organization. As a human rights organization, it wants to help Palestinians; at the same time, as a political organization, it does not want to cooperate with what she terms the bureaucracy of the occupation. Human rights [organizations] try to help people whove had their rights taken away, she says. From a political point of view, maybe we do the wrong thing by helping them get their work permits, because we are saying that they [Israel] have the right to give work permits. But, this is how they rule over them. They [Palestinians] should be able to work wherever they want. By turning to the Israeli authority, we legitimize their authority and even if we make it better, we still legitimize their authority, so have we really changed anything? Despite this, Barag says that MachsomWatch does help Palestinians to clear their names from blacklists, lists of those who cannot work in Israel because of connections to terror, or because their name is the same as others who have been involved with terror. In the Hebron area, hundreds of people who had work permits and had the same name as a terrorist and live in the same area he lives, have had their permits taken in one minute. Hundreds of people! This has nothing to do with anything but the occupation and collective punishment for terrorism. Yoaz Hendel, founder of the Institute for Zionist Strategies, which funds and oversees Blue and White, has a different view of the conflict and his own organizations mandate. Israel has become the biggest human rights tourist site in the world, says Hendel. People dont go to Panama, Guantanamo to fight for human rights. They drink beer at night safely in our cities at night, and go to checkpoints in the morning. A lieutenant colonel in the Israeli Navy Seals, Hendel grew up in the settlement of Elakana. My father would give rides to Arabs who lived nearby and he made sure to tell me that while we may be in a conflict, individual Arabs are not our enemies. Hendel says he started Blue and White to work for human rights from a Zionist perspective. Today, there are nearly 40 volunteers in their programs. Some of these are ex-combat soldiers who speak to 12th graders in the year before their enlistment. These soldiers speak of their experiences in the army with Palestinians and human rights groups. They talk about the importance of the IDF ethical code, of the need to be moral at all costs. We need to take back these values, Hendel says. This is why we take groups to the checkpoints. To see reality. Its not Auschwitzits a border where soldiers need to be patient with people crossing while making sure that they dont let in terrorists. Lipaz Ella was one of those who visited the crossings with Blue and White. While working at UCLA as a Jewish Agency Israel fellow, students initiated a program called Fact Finders to learn about the conflict from both sides on the ground. Checkpoints were one of the places they wanted to see. In UCLA during Apartheid Week, groups build checkpoints on campus. The students see these things on campus and want to see them for themselves in reality. In planning the trip, the group arranged to visit the Rachel checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We were surprised to see Israeli volunteers helping Palestinians arrange permits for medical treatment and work. The students were told [in UCLA] that Israel erected checkpoints to prevent Palestinians from the right of movement. Even Jewish students who are better informed than others were surprised to see reality, the lines moving, the technology used for efficiency (biometric permits), etc. We spoke to Israeli officers and heard from Palestinians as they came through. The students saw with their own eyes the reality of the situation. Sign up for our Daily Digest to get Tablet magazines new content in your inbox each morning. Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll is a writer and activist. She cofounded Chochmat Nashim, an NGO fighting extremism and raising the voices of women in the larger conversation. She lives in Israel with her family. | https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/279305/can-zionists-advocate-for-palestinian-rights |
Is Kate Middleton pregnant? Prince William and wife planning fourth baby? | Kate Middleton is a mother-of-three to Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three, and Prince Louis born in April last year. Pregnant Meghan Markle is expecting a cousin for the three Cambridge siblings in May. Many are asking whether Kate will have another baby. The Duchess recently called for better support for mothers with young children. Kate Middletons parenting insight revealed her own struggle with her three children. Coral recently released odds on a sudden announcement of a third fourth child. The odds are at 1/2 - a 50 percent chance - of Kate being pregnant. Coral's Harry Aitkenhead said: "Our odds show that there's every chance that Kate and Wills might add to their growing family, and a fourth baby is certainly a possibility. Kate Middleton news: Mother-of-three to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Kate would be following in the footsteps of her husbands grandmother if she were to opt for a fourth baby. The Queen has four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. It has been claimed that Meghan Markles pregnancy will make Kate want another. The anonymous lead writer for celebrity website "CeleBitchy" told podcast Royally Obsessed: I think its going to be huge when Meghan gives birth, I really do. I think after that, Kates going to want another baby. Kate Middleton news: Many are asking whether Kate will have another baby First pictures of Prince William and Kate Middleton as a family of five Tue, July 10, 2018 Prince William and Kate Middleton pictured as a family of five at Prince Louis Christening. Play slideshow PA 1 of 10 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for Prince Louis' christening | https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1076884/Kate-Middleton-news-pregnant-latest |
Why is Camilla Duchess of Cornwalls tiara worth millions more than Princess Dianas? | Princess Diana , who tragically died in 1997, and Camilla Parker Bowles , 71, both married the same man. The wives of Prince Charles , 70, has access to some the worlds most precious jewels, as the other half of the future King of Britain. The Queen opened her jewellery collection to the women. Princess Dianas Cambridge Lovers Knot tiara - 1 2 million Diana was seen waring this piece on numerous occasions. It was made by Garrards in 1914 for Queen Mary who designed it and left it in her Will to her Majesty, The Queen. The very heavy piece went back into The Queens collection after Diana died in 1997. Now, it has been passed to The Duchess of Cambridge who first wore it in 2016. Deborah Papas, gemmologist and jewellery expert from Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4s Posh Pawn told Express.co.uk: I am not surprised the tiara was prone to give headaches! It is large and made from platinum, which is a dense metal and would be at least 95 per cent pure, giving a heavy mount to start with. The pearls are large and together with the array of varying sizes of diamonds, would add to a hefty weight. Deborah went on: The tiara has 19 arches and has a single drop oriental pearl suspended from a lovers knot in each one graduating slightly in size around the piece. The piece is hard to value due to the complexity of the make and the large number of diamonds to consider as well as natural pearls which are rare to find in this size and shape. However, I would think it could be worth in the region of 1 2 million. | https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/style/1076731/princess-diana-camilla-parker-bowles-prince-charles-tiara-jewellery |
Why do we need to explore the deep ocean? | Humankind is poised to make its next giant leap: into the deep ocean. Nekton mission director and submersible pilot Oliver Steeds why it is so important for explorers to delve into the unknown and discover the secrets of the seas. The deep ocean - beneath 200m (656ft) - is the beating heart of our planet and its largest and most vital ecosystem, yet we don't fully understand how it functions or how healthy it is. We have better maps of the surface of Mars than we do of our own seabed. Less than 5% of the ocean is comprehensively monitored, and at least a staggering 95% remains unexplored. We do know that human activity has disrupted the deep ocean and is damaging its ability to support life. Image: The Bathyal Zone encompasses the area of the ocean between 200m (656ft) to 3,000m (1.86 miles) deep Image: Nekton mission director Oliver Steeds says humankind will make its next 'giant leap' The resulting changes directly impact us all on many levels, affecting our climate, our food security, our livelihoods, our homes, our natural resources, and even the very air we breathe. We still have an opportunity to change course before we cross multiple points of no return. Throughout human history, exploration has driven progress. The majority of our planet still remains unknown. Whenever we have travelled beyond the horizon, what we discover there has changed what we know and how we choose to live. Millions of species are yet to be discovered. New cures for diseases are to be found. The ocean's potential for sustainable development can be unlocked. The power of ocean data can be realised. The origins of life itself are within our grasp. When we journey into the unknown, we move forward. The deep ocean is the final frontier. It's the largest wilderness on our planet and a place we have only just begun to explore. The deeper we go, the more astonishing the life-forms we find Image: Millions of species are yet to be discovered The Bathyal Zone is home to the greatest biodiversity of ocean species. It encompasses the area of the ocean between 200m (656ft) to 3,000m (1.86 miles) deep. The greatest biomass is found in the shallows where plentiful food at shallow depths allows competitive species to assert dominance. As we enter the Bathyal Zone, reduced access to food lowers the potential for competitive exclusion, allowing for greater numbers of species to coexist. It is home to the greatest diversity of marine species found anywhere in the ocean, an estimated 300,000 to 10 million unique species. As we go deeper, beneath 3,000m (1.86 miles), food scarcity lowers population numbers and hinders diversity, with the exception of thermal vents, which teem with life. Image: Reduced access to food in the Bathyal Zone lowers the potential for competitive exclusion among species Down in the Bathyal Zone we find complex ecosystems from cold-water coral reefs to sponge beds and seamounts along with unique communities of life including deep-sea squid, whales, and sharks. The vast majority of the Bathyal Zone remains largely uncharted. This layer of the ocean provides critical indicators of change enabling scientists to measure and understand the effects of climate change, heat absorption, acidification, the ocean carbon cycle, the impacts of resource extraction, and the degree of plastic, agricultural and industrial pollution. As the leading marine conservation scientist, Professor Callum Roberts, a Nekton Trustee, said: "Our ocean is undergoing rapid ecological transformation by human activities. "The scientific consensus is that we must have an enforced protected area covering at least 30% protection of the ocean by 2030 to support a resilient ocean and a resilient planet. Image: More oceans data has been collected in the past two years than all of human history "Having over-fished the majority of the surface waters, we are now gaining the industrial capacity to empty the Bathyal Zone before we discover what is there. We face a race for the deep." From 1872 to 1876, the global Challenger expedition transformed our understanding of the ocean and resulted in the birth of marine science. With the systematic exploration of the Bathyal Zone, we have the opportunity to create another step change. :: The Age of Submersibles: New technology unlocks access to new knowledge We now have the ability to discover more of our planet in the next 10 years than the last 100,000 of human history. We have collected more data on our oceans in the past two years than throughout all of human history. From Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), from seabed mapping systems and a proliferation of sensors above, on the surface of, and beneath the ocean to the initial DNA sequence library of marine animals, technological developments are now unlocking extraordinary new research capabilities. Image: Our understanding of the sea is being boosted by the falling cost of technology As the cost of new technology falls, the volume, diversity, and frequency of ocean data is accelerating our understanding of the sea. But it is not enough. We need greater capacity to discover and manage the sustainable development potential of the ocean and drive new policies to protect its critical ecosystems. The immersive transparent pressure hulls of cutting-edge new manned submersibles or human operated vehicles (HOVs) provide a revolutionary new perspective for scientific observation and storytelling. With the aqualung pioneered by Jacques Cousteau, we've been able to explore some of the Sunlit Zone of the ocean's upper 100m (328ft). As the shuttle became an icon of space exploration, the submersibles and their Bathynauts will embody our next global odyssey. :: Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign encourages people to reduce their single-use plastics. You can find out more about the campaign and how to get involved at www.skyoceanrescue.com | https://news.sky.com/story/why-do-we-need-to-explore-the-deep-ocean-11615602 |
Could The Simpsons Be Ending? | The Simpsons are currently in season 30 and with Disney acquiring 20th Century Fox, the future of the animated tv favorite is in limbo. Variety reports that the show has been losing money over the years, but has always made the money back through licensing and merchandising deals. When Disney takes over all those deals change. Disney has many options that it can look into for the future of the residents of Springfield with some being their upcoming streaming service or opting out of third-party deals. The show is currently in negotiations for two more seasons with 20th Century Fox and Fox Broadcasting, so anything is possible. | https://www.wrmf.com/could-the-simpsons-be-ending/ |
Will victory elude Pakatan this week? | THIS Saturdays by-election in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary constituency with 32,009 voters is a four-cornered fight. However, the contest is shaping up to be a barometer of voter sentiment towards the ruling Pakatan Harapan and its rival Barisan Nasional. The polls is the fifth by-election since the landmark 14th general election on May 9 last year ended BNs 60-year rule in this country. All four previous by-elections for state seats in Sungai Kandis, Balakong and Seri Setia and the parliamentary constituency of Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan were won by Pakatan. Several reasons suggest Harapan may find victory in the highland poll this Saturday elusive First, Cameron Highlands is a parliamentary constituency that has been consistently won by BN since the seat was created in 2004. It is also located in Pahang, one of two BN-controlled states; the other state is Perlis. Pahang is also the home state of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Given the charges of corruption, money laundering and allegations of wrongdoing levelled against him, this Saturdays polls is an indicator of Najibs popularity or otherwise in his own backyard. Additionally, Jelai the larger of two state seats in Cameron Highlands is a BN fortress and the fiefdom of Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. Tanah Rata, the other state seat, is Pakatans bastion of support. Second is BNs canny choice of candidate Ramli Mohd Noor, a retired assistant commissioner of police, a local guy and an orang asli who could be the first from his community to be elected a member of Parliament. On Nov 30 last year, the Election Court ruled BNs MIC candidate in GE14, Datuk C. Sivarraajh, was guilty of vote buying. One month later, the Election Commission banned Sivarraajh as a candidate and a voter for five years. Both announcements were a gift to BN, enabling it to choose a candidate who is Muslim and an orang asli thus maximising its appeal to Cameron Highlands two major ethnic groups. Voters in Cameron Highlands comprise 33.5% Malays, 29.5% Chinese, 21.5% orang asli and 15% Indians and others 0.5%. Third is PASs strong support for BN in this by-election. If voters in Cameron Highlands this Saturday replicate their pattern of voting in GE14, PAS supporters could theoretically enhance BNs share of the vote to 57% against Pakatans almost 40% tally. In GE14, five candidates contested in this seat: BNs Sivarraajh won 10,307 votes, Pakatans M. Manogaran the partys current contender secured 9,710 votes, PAS garnered 3,587 votes while the two independents obtained 680 votes and 81 votes respectively. One analyst noted in the Sungai Kandis by-election, confusion among PAS supporters over which party to vote for denied BN the 7,573 votes the Islamic party amassed in GE14 an outcome that denied BN victory last August. To prevent a repetition in Cameron Highlands, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man have campaigned together with BN. Fourth, Pakatan has scored two own goals in Cameron Highlands that could hamper its efforts to gain greater support from a key vote bank alleged threats to orang asli Tok Batin (village heads) and a gratuitous insult to the orang asli. Two major imponderables are temporary occupation licences (TOLs) for growers of vegetables and flowers and Felda settlers. Since land falls within a states jurisdiction, a BN MP is theoretically better placed to resolve the TOL issue than his Pakatan counterpart. Pakatans biggest plus factor is Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Scheduled to visit Cameron Highlands on the eve of polling day, Mahathir is a campaigner par excellence who can deflect significantly the multiple racial and religious issues levelled against Pakatan. Unlike three previous by-elections for state seats necessitated by the death of the incumbents, the Election Court declared the Cameron Highlands polls in GE a nullity last November. Despite the long lead time for preparations, Pakatans initial campaign in the highlands was uninspiring. If BN retains Cameron Highlands, this indicates voting along ethnic lines persists. Going forward, Pakatan must address urgently one imperative bridging the widening racial-religious chasm among Peninsular Malaysian voters. Opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the writer and should not be attributed to any organisation she is connected with. She can be contacted at [email protected] | https://www.thesundaily.my/opinion/will-victory-elude-pakatan-this-week-FA424968 |
Has President Barow Been Misrepresented At Ngayen Sanjal? | 30 SHARES Share Tweet QUESTION OF THE DAY The fact that the Alakalo and the councillor whose names were included to speak on behalf of the community in Ngayen Sanjal were deprived of the opportunity to do so confirms that there are people in the Barrow entourage who are not promoting the national interest. Such people should be identified and re-educated to move away from partisan or sectionalist interest when it comes to state administration. It is very common now to hear President Barrow indicating that governance is a chain link and that the messenger or cleaner is as important as the director or president. Each is simply performing a function. In the same vein no one is more important than the Alkalo of a village or councillor of a ward. Hence to disregard them is a manifestation of gross disregard and disrespect for a community. We hope that this is an oversight rather than a deliberate action. Foroyaa will interview those who were responsible for speaking arrangements to find out what is responsible for this behaviour of this departure from protocol during the tour of the President. | https://foroyaa.gm/has-president-barow-been-misrepresented-at-ngayen-sanjal/ |
Is President Barrows Tone Changing As He Continues With His Tour? | 31 SHARES Share Tweet As Foroyaa monitors the Presidents tour it could be gathered that the people so far are concerned with fertiliser, seeds, water, good roads, education, health and market access for their products. Many people are beginning to tell the government that if it wants their support, it must deliver the services they need. The Presidents tour would have been fit for purpose if the government simply explained its policies and offer proposals to expand or revisit them in order to meet the needs of the people. When the President started his tour he gave the impression that he would not be the type of President who would assume all offices from Vice Presidency to Alkaloship in order to assume absolute power. This went down well with many people. However the further he is going with his tour his tone is beginning to change. A worrying sign is the President indicating that there were many violations under the former regime without demonstration but now demonstrations are common, adding that he has refused to use his powers. It should be born in mind that there were many demonstrations under the Jammeh regime such as the Saint Augustines incident, the Presidents Award Scheme demonstration, the UTG incident, the market women, etc. Jammeh was just sophisticated in knowing how to handle such incidents while giving the image of a strong man. The President should focus on the challenges of governance and how to address them and never to think that the use of power is a way to ensure tranquility in a society. Responsiveness to peoples needs, clarity of vision and tolerance constitute the cornerstone of maintaining stability in a society. | https://foroyaa.gm/is-president-barrows-tone-changing-as-he-continues-with-his-tour/ |
Are Partisan Games Being Played During Barrows Trip? | 18 SHARES Share Tweet QUESTION OF THE DAY Foroyaa has reliably learnt that the Governor North Bank Region sent a message to the Chiefs asking them to tell the people to form committees that were nonpartisan that would include people belonging to all political shades, and that the committees should choose spokespersons to address the meetings during the Presidents tour of the North Bank. Interestingly enough spokespersons were selected from different political shades. But at Sanjal a person selected by the committee and the Alkalo of the village were not allowed to speak at the meeting. In a rural setting, if the villagers select a person to speak and that person is disallowed a message is sent to the individual that the persons presence is not recognised. This is a way of sending a message that the people should not have regard for such leaders. Foroyaa will investigate who was responsible for disallowing a spokesperson of the community from delivering a message from the community. This paper will not allow the abuse of power of the past to take root in the new Gambia. The chosen representatives of communities must be respected and the arrogance of power must not be allowed to alienate or intimidate them. | https://foroyaa.gm/are-partisan-games-being-played-during-barrows-trip/ |
Could an Unlikely Aviation Strike End the Shutdown? | A press conference at LAX from the union that represents TSA employees. Photo: MediaNews Group/Torrance Daily B/Digital First Media via Getty Im As the White House chief of staff prepares for a shutdown that could last into March, the president orchestrates deals that only square with his own party, and Democrats let the GOP bask in Trumps abysmal polling numbers, it appears that the nations longest-ever shutdown probably isnt going anywhere. But, increasingly, it seems that a solution could be pushed on Trump from outside industry specifically from the airport, where everyone imaginable, from CEOs to ATCs, are furious with the shutdowns effects on flight safety, or for simply not getting paid. On Wednesday, the unions representing air traffic controllers, pilots, and flight attendants released a grim statement on the state of aviation during the shutdown. In our risk averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break, said the statement from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the Air Line Pilots Association, and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. The statement continues, claiming that the unions are not confident that system-wide analyses of safety reporting data are accurate due to the shutdown. As union leaders, we find it unconscionable that aviation professionals are being asked to work without pay and in an air safety environment that is deteriorating by the day. To avoid disruption to our aviation system, we urge Congress and the White House to take all necessary steps to end this shutdown immediately. The president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Sara Nelson went a step further, imploring a general strike among members of American labor unions. Almost a million workers are locked out or being forced to work without pay, Nelson said on Monday, at a ceremony honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Others are going to work when our work space is increasingly unsafe. Go back with the fierce urgency of now to talk with your locals and international unions about all workers joining together to end this shutdown with a general strike. It is important to note that Nelson did not call for a general strike among aviation workers, a theoretical stoppage that would have a startling impact on American industry, halting pretty much any business or leisure that has prioritized planes over rail in the last 50 years. But given Nelsons strong statement, the unions stance, the general malaise among aviation workers, and the reporting that Mick Mulvaney may be preparing to take the shutdown into March, such a strike is no longer outside the Overton window of airport talk. Indeed, such a walk-out has happened before: in 1981, almost 13,000 air traffic controllers picketed after talks between the union and the Federal Aviation Administration broke down. That strike, however, set a rough precedent for any inkling of one today: Reagan fired 11,500 controllers and banned them from federal employment for life, citing a law that prohibits strikes by federal workers. The remaining ATCs were back in the tower within days. But even Congressional Republicans are floating the idea of an illegal TSA strike as a potential shutdown-ender. According to Robert Costa, as early as last week, two senior Republican lawmakers said that the only way this breaks open is if TSA employees stay home and Americans get furious about their flights. Thats the only out, they say. And theyre close to the [White House. ] And in an interview with Slate, historian and 1981 ATC strike expert Josh McCartin cites an important difference between the walk-out almost 40 years ago and the hypothetical one today: the Reagan administration had years to prepare for the union talks two years before controllers contracts ran out it was obvious there would be a dispute while the chaotic Trump administration might flub a scenario like this, even with years to prepare. Meanwhile, as the shutdown passed its one-month anniversary, thousands of unpaid TSA workers are engaging in a pseudo-picket of their own: as of Monday, 7.5 percent of TSAs 57,000 employees called out, compared to 3.3 percent on the same day in 2018. | http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/could-an-unlikely-aviation-strike-end-the-shutdown.html?utm_source=flipboard.com&utm_medium=social_acct&utm_campaign=feed-part |
Was Chris Hemsworth angling for a Brooms Head escape? | Chris Hemsworth as snapped at Brooms Head in March last year. Rumours about him looking to buy property there abound. Chris Hemsworth as snapped at Brooms Head in March last year. Rumours about him looking to buy property there abound. The local rumour mill started when Hemsworth was spotted in the beachside hamlet back in March and like all good celebrity gossip it has been smouldering away ever since. While there's nothing concrete according to a Lower River agent "a classic rumour if it did turn out he pined for a classic Aussie weekender to escape his mega-mansion occasionlly, Brooms would definitely be the place to do it. Property at Brooms Head is hot at the moment as interest in upcoming auctions there will attest but if Hemsworth and his family were to be occasional residents, the impact could reach the levels they are experiencing at Byron Bay. Just having Hemsworth on your patch has its own effect on driving up the property market according to realestate.com chief economist Nerida Conisbee. "While there are a number of factors that contribute to driving up a property market, there's no denying the impact the Thor actor and his family has on the region, Ms Conisbee told news.com.au. Chris Hemsworth in Marvel's Thor: The Dark World. His star factor is impacting property prices on the North Coast. Supplied "It does seem that area (Byron Bay) is attracting not just national attention but also international attention as well because there's a lot of celebrity interest, particularly from the Hemsworths," she said. Byron Bay has played host a number of celebrities on holidays recently including Matt Damon and Natalie Portman so if the Hemsworths decide to including a piece of the Clarence in their property pie who knows how high prices might rise or who might turn up at local bowlo for a drink . The median property price in Byron Bay has reached $1.75 million, higher than most of Sydney, while demand has extended north and south of the town and inward through the hinterland. Nearby Brunswick Heads now has a median price of $1.45 million. Hemsworth purchased the original property on 4.2ha at Broken Head for $7 million in 2014. The 35-year-old actor and his wife Elsa Pataky, 42, are spending nearly $9 million to build the new structure that looks more like a Westfield shopping centre than beachside home according to the naysayers. It is expected to be worth $20m when complete. | https://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/news/was-chris-hemsworth-angling-for-a-brooms-head-esca/3630199/ |
What are the warning signs for glaucoma? | Thank you for Reading. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. A subscription is required to continue reading. Thank you for reading PressofAtlanticCity.com. If you are a current subscriber you are granted an all-access pass to the website and digital newspaper replica. Please click Sign Up or Login to activate your digital access. If not, please click Sign Up to subscribe and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information, or you can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 10 free articles. Thank you for reading PressofAtlanticCity.com. Please click Get Started. If you are a current subscriber you are granted an all-access pass to the website and digital newspaper replica. If not, we ask that you purchase a subscription and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information, or you can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 10 free articles. | https://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/columns/what-are-the-warning-signs-for-glaucoma/article_5e17d1aa-c981-5bcf-b0b0-f939541a60e8.html |
Which is the country's coldest place this winter season? | With temperatures are dropping to a record low across the country this winter season, the northern parts of Baluchistan are under the grip of extreme cold weather. According to a report published in Jang, the countrys coldest place is Ziarat with mercury dropping to as low as -12 degree Celsius in the city. As per Pakistan Meteorological Department, after the recent spell of rain and snowfall in the country, the weather in various parts of Baluchistan, including Quetta, is extremely cold and dry. The lowest temperature recorded in the provincial capital is -6 degree Celsius. On the other hand, the valley of Kalat is also blanketed heavily with snow. While the temperature in Kalat is -7, in Dalbandin, Nokandi and Zhob it is recorded -3 and -2 respectively. Meanwhile, the temperature across Baluchistan is expected to remain cold and dry for the next 24 hours, according to the forecast put forth by the Met Department. | https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/422949-which-is-the-countrys-coldest-place-this-winter-season |
Why do human-like robots keep getting attacked? | Tchhiking robot was beheaded in Philadelphia. A security robot was punched to the ground in Silicon Valley. Another security bot, in San Francisco, was covered in a tarpaulin and smeared with barbecue sauce. It is a global phenomenon. In a mall in Osaka, Japan, three boys beat a humanoid robot with all their strength. In Moscow, a man attacked a teaching robot named Alantim with a baseball bat, kicking it to the ground, while the robot pleaded for help. Pictured is JiLL, a robot with inbuilt facial recognition software, who greets visitors at real estate firm JLLs Sydney office. Quite possibly. The spectre of insurrection is embedded in the word robot itself. It was first used to refer to automatons by the Czech playwright Karel Capek, who repurposed a word that had referred to a system of indentured servitude or serfdom. The feudal fear of peasant revolt was transplanted to mechanical servants, and worries of a robot uprising have lingered ever since. Comedian Aristotle Georgeson has found that videos of people physically aggressing robots are among the most popular he posts on Instagram under the pseudonym Blake Webber. And much of the feedback he gets tends to reflect the fear of robot uprisings. Georgeson said that some commentators approve of the robot beatings, saying we should be doing this so they can never rise up. But theres this whole other group that says we shouldnt be doing this because when they the robots see these videos theyre going to be pissed. Abuse of humanoid robots can be disturbing and expensive, but there may be a solution Agnieszka Wykowska, a cognitive neuroscientist and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Social Robotics, said that while human antagonism toward robots has different forms and motivations, it often resembles the ways that humans hurt each other. Robot abuse, she said, might stem from the tribal psychology of insiders and outsiders. You have an agent, the robot, that is in a different category than humans, she said. So you probably very easily engage in this psychological mechanism of social ostracism because its an out-group member. Thats something to discuss: the dehumanisation of robots even though theyre not humans. Naming the machines Paradoxically, our tendency to dehumanise robots comes from the instinct to anthropomorphise them. William Santana Li, chief executive of Knightscope, the largest provider of security robots in the United States (two of which were battered in San Francisco), said that while he avoids treating his products as if they were sentient beings, his clients seem unable to help themselves. Our clients, a significant majority, end up naming the machines themselves, he said. Theres Holmes and Watson, theres Rosie, theres Steve, theres CB2, theres CX3PO. Wykowska said that cruelty that results from this anthropomorphising might reflect Frankenstein syndrome, because we are afraid of this thing that we dont really fully understand, because its a little bit similar to us, but not quite enough. Frdric Kaplan, digital humanities chair at cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne in Switzerland, suggested that westerners have been taught to see themselves as biologically informed machines and perhaps are unable to separate the idea of humanity from a vision of machines. The nervous system could only be understood after the discovery of electricity, he wrote. DNA is necessarily explained as an analog to computer code. And the human heart is often understood as a mechanical pump. At every turn, Kaplan wrote, we see ourselves in the mirror of the machines that we can build. This does not explain human destruction of less humanoid machines. Dozens of vigilantes have thrown rocks at driverless cars in Arizona, for example, and incident reports from San Francisco suggest that human drivers are intentionally crashing into driverless cars. These robot altercations may have more to do with fear of unemployment or with vengeance: A paper published last year by economists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston University suggested that each robot that is added to a discreet zone of economic activity reduces employment by about six workers. Blue-collar occupations were particularly hit hard. And a self-driving car killed a woman in Tempe, Arizona, in March, which at least one man, brandishing a rifle, cited as the reason for his dislike of the machines. Very brutal Abuse of humanoid robots can be disturbing and expensive, but there may be a solution, said Wykowska. She described a colleague in the field of social robotics telling a story recently about robots being introduced to a kindergarten class. He said that kids have this tendency of being very brutal to the robot, they would kick the robot, they would be cruel to it, they would be really not nice, she recalled. That went on until the point that the caregiver started giving names to the robots. So the robots suddenly were not just robots but Andy, Joe and Sally. At that moment the brutal behaviour stopped. So, its very interesting because again its sort of like giving a name to the robot immediately puts it a little closer to the in-group. Li shared a similar experience when asked about the poor treatment that had befallen some of Knightscopes security robots. The easiest thing for us to do is when we go to a new place, the first day, before we even unload the machine, is a town hall, a lunch-and-learn, he said. Come meet the robot, have some cake, some naming contest and have a rational conversation about what the machine does and doesnt do. And after you do that, all is good. If you dont do that, he said, you get an outrage. 2019 New York Times News Service | https://www.irishtimes.com/business/innovation/why-do-human-like-robots-keep-getting-attacked-1.3765593?localLinksEnabled=false |
Will former AFL star Shane Crawford really win I'm A Celebrity? | Shane Crawford gagged on a bull testicle during I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here's infamous tucker trials earlier this week. But the former AFL star, 44, is tipped to become 'King of the South African jungle', according to the latest odds from TAB, released on Thursday. The hunky Brownlow-medalist has quickly become adored by viewers and the betting agency is tipping him as the favourite to win, paying out $2.40. Surprising odds for who will be crowned 'King or Queen of the jungle' have been revealed and Shane is the favourite And while Love Island star Justin Lacko, 28, might have been heating up the screen, it is former X Factor host Luke Jacobz, 37, who is coming in as runner-up, paying out $5. Meanwhile, fellow former AFL star Dermott Brereton, 54, rounds off the top three at $8. The fourth and fifth spots belong to the girls, with former Gogglebox star Yvie Jones and controversial Senator Jacqui Lambie, 47, paying out $10 and $12 respectively. Former X-Factor host Jacobz, 37, (pictured) is currently runner-up to win the series according to the latest TAB odds, paying out $5 Who will win this year's I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here $2.40 Shane Crawford $5 Luke Jacobz $8 Dermott Brereton $10 Yvie Jones $12 Jacqui Lambie $13 Justin Lacko $15 Angie Kent $17 Justine Schofield $21 Richard Reid $23 Tahir Bilgic $29 Natasha Exelby $31 Sam Dastyar Justin Lacko and Angie Kent take sixth and seventh place, with the handsome Melbourne model paying out $13 to Angie's $15. Culinary master Justine Schofield is creeping up on Angie at $17, while flamboyant celebrity reporter Richard Reid is paying out $21. Meanwhile, comedian Tahir Bilgi, 48, and former ABC newsreader Natasha Exelby are at the back of the pack, paying out $23 and a whopping $29. Disgraced senator Sam Dastyari, 35, is paying out a massive $31. Despite season five of the show pulling in its lowest ever ratings for a season debut at 1,098,000 viewers, the reality show has appeared to pick up steam thanks to the celebrities' candid confessions and chat, which has resonated with audiences. Ajay Rochester and Yvie Jones have opened up about being two 'larger women' on TV. Trailing behind: Justin Lacko and Angie Kent take sixth and seventh place, with the handsome Melbourne model paying out $13 to blonde Angie's $15 Raw: The reality show has appeared to pick up steam thanks to the celebrities' candid confessions and chat, which has resonated with audiences. Former ABC broadcaster Natasha Exelby has revealed her battle with depression While Natasha Exelby has candidly revealed her battle with depression. Former Biggest Loser star Ajay, 49, was the first to be eliminated from the jungle on Tuesday this week. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6625997/Will-former-AFL-star-Shane-Crawford-really-win-Im-Celebrity.html |
Is James Harden the Best Offensive Player Ever? | Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images To get anywhere interesting in the discussion about James Harden's place in NBA history, you have to accept the idea that "best" isn't a fixed descriptor. It's a mantle that changes hands all the time as the game advances. If your reaction to the idea of Harden being the best offensive player ever is to immediately dismiss it without thought, this isn't for you. Chances are, you also missed him scoring a career-high 61 points against the New York Knicks in Houston's 114-110 victory Wednesday night, extending an offensive run the likes of which we've never seen. So if you're intrigued by the thought that Harden might be unprecedentedly good, and if you're flexible in your thinking, and if you're not hung up on Wilt Chamberlain's cartoon stats or Michael Jordan's mystique or the cult of Kobe Bryant hero worship, you can appreciate the validity of the question. You can also get along with Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who told ESPN's Tim MacMahon: "You could argue for him as the best offensive player of all time. To be able to say that with a straight face, and not have it be GM speak or coachspeak, is pretty amazing. There's a whole bunch of ways to measure it, but he's for sure in the conversation as the greatest offensive player ever." And Chris Paul, who, over a month ago, espoused the same feeling to reporters: "He's the best offensive player I've ever seen." Morey and Paul may be biased, but they don't really gain anything from offering these opinions carelesslyunless, for some reason, both believed the league's leading scorer needed a confidence boost. Both offered context for their assessments, and that's vital to any worthwhile discussion. Morey said you "could argue" and that Harden was "in the conversation." Paul qualified his comments with "I've ever seen," which narrows the parameters. That's how we have to approach this, too, because Harden falls woefully short of many great offensive players if we weigh his achievements against theirs. He doesn't have 38,388 career points, which would put him ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, for example, and there are 14 active players with more career points than Harden has. If longevity matters, there's no case for Harden here. What Morey and Paul were getting at, and what we can focus on to give Harden a fair shake, is a smaller window. Really, Morey and Paul are saying nobody's been better offensively than Harden is right now. That might seem like a lowering of the stakes, but it's still meaningful to say Harden is establishing a new peak for offensive play right before our eyes. Even Harden himself acknowledges the "all-time" talk is premature. "Obviously, I got a long way to go, but this is a pretty cool beginning," he told reporters after scoring at least 30 points in his 20th consecutive game on Monday. That streak works as well as any stat to get us into the meat of the Harden question. Chamberlain is the only player besides Harden to string together that many 30-point games. So at the very least, we can say Harden has played historically well on offense (if you're measuring that by points scored, which seems reasonable) over the last several weeks. Including his 61-pointer in New York, Harden scored 204 points in a four-game span, becoming the first player since Bryant (2006-07) to do so. Let's compare: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Bryant scored 225 points in his four-game run, averaging 46.6 minutes per game with a 67.6 true shooting percentage, a 41.4 percent usage rate and a 12.1 percent assist rate. Harden's four games included 204 points in 39.5 minutes per game. His true shooting percentage was 64.1 percent, his usage was 44.6 percent, and his assist rate was 28.4 percent. Offense isn't just individual scoring, though. It should also (at least) include points generated for others. Bryant registered 11 assists that led to 24 additional points during his blitz. Harden created an extra 40 points with his assists, running the tally of total points created to 244, just five fewer than Bryant's 249. There is no reel of Bryant passing like this: It's also worth noting that Harden produced his 245 points in 158 minutes of court time, while Bryant ran up his total in just over 186 minutes. The difference between those two streaks, and the one that should give Harden an edge in the comparison, is the lack of help Harden had on offense. None of the 204 points he scored were set up by a teammate; he scored every one of them unassisted. Bryant was assisted nine times in his 65-point explosion against the Blazers on March 16, 2007, the game that kicked off his surge. Harden simply did more on his own, in less time and with virtually equal efficiency. Certainly, Bryant deserves credit for amassing his totals in an era less friendly to offensive basketball. The average offensive rating in 2006-07 was 106.5. This year, it's 110.2. Bryant's production was more striking when compared to league norms but, man, the comparison is close. And if you expand the scope a bit, you can really tick off the Kobe-is-king crowd: Morey was right: There's a conversation to be had here, so let's continue it. Harden has two 50-point, 10-assist games this season. Chamberlain had two in his career, Abdul-Jabbar and Jordan had one apiece, and Bryant never made it happen. Harden is also one of two players (Wilt again) to score at least 55 points in back-to-back games. If you just go through the numbers and pick out specific accomplishments from Harden's remarkable run, you really can start to appreciate that he's reached a level of productivity that rivals or exceeds anything we've ever seen. And the longer it goes on, the easier it'll be to argue Harden is the best offensive player of all time in a broader sense. Example: He's averaging 36.3 points per game this season. No one who has ever posted a scoring average that high managed a true shooting percentage north of 56.2 percent (Jordan in 1986-87). Harden's true shooting percentage through 44 games is 62.2 percent. That's an enormous efficiency gap, one that distinctly sets Harden's 2018-19 apart from any modern-era scoring season. Chamberlain had six seasons of over 35 points per game, topped by the 50.4 he averaged in 1961-62, but he never scored as efficiently as Harden didpartially because there was no three-point line and partially because he was a crummy free-throw shooter. Plus, we just can't talk about Chamberlain's numbers without acknowledging he was playing in an ancient and practically unrecognizable NBA. The "can't compare eras" argument is a copout, but there's no denying the greatest achievements of Chamberlain's career owe to an era that included very little defense, extreme pace and the 6'8" chain-smoking "centers" who worked offseason jobs at lumber mills after guarding him from November to May. And anyway, among players to average at least 35 points per game in any era, none managed more than five assists. Harden is averaging 8.3 and already holds the record for producing 50 points (via his own buckets or assists) in 20 straight games. If we're talking career-long status, Harden is not the best offensive player ever. If the question pertains to a single season, there's a real debate to be had. But if this is about the level Harden has reached over these last several weeks, if we're taking a snapshot approach to isolate the greatest prolonged stretch of offensive basketball anyone's ever seen, well, yeah...I can get there. And it's not even that hard. There'll be backlash about thiscomplaints about his foul-seeking behavior, the loosened definition of traveling that unlocks his step-back triple, the distaste for the admittedly unappealing aesthetics of his game. The most vehement detractors will argue Harden is basically a product of extreme gamesmanship, subtle offensive fouls and general trickery. They'll say he's basically cheating. To be fair, sometimes that's exactly what he's doing. Not cheating per se, but the feeling that cheating must be taking place because the alternative is accepting the fact that someone has hacked the system. Harden has figured out a new and better way to complete the most central basketball task there is: scoring. Harden, today, is playing offense better than anyone ever has. And it's not even clear whether we've reached an inflection point. In theory, his usage could continue to rise. His step-back volume could increase. He could go a month without being assisted. That's the nature of pioneering play like this; nobody knows where the edge is. Nobody's sure how far Harden could push things. The best might get even better. Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Cleaning the Glass and Basketball Reference unless otherwise noted. Accurate through games played Wednesday, Jan. 23. | https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2817039-is-james-harden-the-best-offensive-player-ever |
Do economic conditions affect pregnancy outcomes? | Economic downturn during early pregnancy was linked with modest increases in preterm birth in a Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology analysis. For the analysis, researchers examined a dataset of all singleton births in Michigan from 1990-2012. Each one percentage point increase in state unemployment in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a modest 3% increase in the odds of preterm birth. "Rates of preterm birth in the U.S. are higher than other developed nations, and we don't really know why. Our research indicates a need for increased attention by clinicians and the public health community to the potential role of broader socioeconomic factors--in this case, the economy--to pregnancy health," said lead author Dr. Claire E. Margerison, of Michigan State University. ### | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/w-dec012319.php |
Are tattoos linked with individuals' health and risky behaviors? | In a survey-based study published in the International Journal of Dermatology, having tattoos was not significantly related to overall health status, but individuals with tattoos were more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health issue and to report sleep problems. People who had tattoos were also more likely to be smokers, to have spent time in jail, and to have a higher number of sex partners in the past year. The survey was conducted in July of 2016 and resulted in a sample of 2,008 adults residing in the United States. "Previous research has established an association between having a tattoo and engaging in risky behaviors. In an era of increasing popularity of tattoos, even among women and working professionals, we find these relationships persist but are not associated with lower health status," said lead author Prof. Karoline Mortensen, of the University of Miami. ### | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/w-atl012319.php |
Does classification system help with clinical decisions about hip surgery? | Determining which patients can benefit from hip preservation surgery (rather than hip replacement surgery) is challenging, but the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recently published a hip preservation surgery appropriateness classification system. A new Arthritis Care & Research analysis looked at what impact the system might have on clinical decisions. The analysis found that the classification system for hip preservation surgery is driven almost exclusively by age and radiographic tests for hip osteoarthritis. "Given the rudimentary nature of these variables for complex hip conditions, there appears to be substantial limitations associated with the classification system," said co-author Dr. Daniel Riddle, of Virginia Commonwealth University. ### | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/w-dcs012319.php |
Why is Juan Guaid holding a book with a picture of Simn Bolvar? | Nineteenth-century revolutionary who ousted Spanish from the Andes claimed by all sides of politics When Juan Guaid, the newly minted Venezuelan opposition leader took the oath and declared himself the countrys interim president, he did so holding an incongruous copy of the countrys constitution. It was emblazoned with the mustachioed face of Simn Bolvar, the Venezuelan military leader who liberated the Andes from the Spanish empire in the early 19th century. Bolvar is a national hero in Venezuela and, with monuments dedicated to him at home and in many cities across the north of South America, its little surprise that politicians have long sought to use his legacy to rally supporters. Nicols Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chvez, co-opted the image, framing their socialist project as a continuation of Bolvars freedom-fighting tenacity. Venezuela: Trump recognises opposition leader as president Read more When Chvez was elected in 1999, he changed the official name of the country to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and in 2012 commissioned a 90m mausoleum to house the liberators exhumed remains. Maduro, who succeeded Chvez after his death from cancer in 2013, kept up the trope. In one of his more fanatical moments in late 2017, Maduro claimed that Bolvars spirit had become incarnated in the Venezuelan people. Despite the revolutionarys appropriation by the chavistas (followers of Chvez), Bolvars legacy remains intact. After all, his image had once been tied to the Venezeulan nationalist military dictatorship of Marcos Prez Jimnez which ended in 1958. Guaids decision to use a copy of the constitution with Bolvar face rather than Venezuelas stately shield and crest indicates that the marriage of the liberators legacy and turbulent politics will continue. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/24/in-turbulent-times-venezuela-clings-to-the-memory-of-simon-bolivar |
Should advisers stay bullish amid Brexit concerns? | With a final plan for Britains exit yet to surface, advisers are showing positivity in the face of uncertainty Rarely has a deal been so harshly slapped down as the European Union exit plan presented to MPs two weeks ago by Theresa May. There are less than 70 days to go before the UK reaches the planned date for leaving the EU, and we have yet to see a concrete plan. But while the British government and EU negotiators have arrived back at a crossroads, advisers seem to agree they have less to fear than many business owners. Many remain focused on UK clients, and market uncertainty and financial insecurity mean advisers skills are more sought-after than ever. When Money Marketing surveyed readers before Christmas, 39 per cent said it was most likely the UK would remain in the EU. Thirty-two per cent thought we would leave without a deal, 12 per cent backed May to make a deal, while 4 per cent thought a new government was inevitable. Aegon research last year showed positive sentiment among advisers, who voted Brexit the second biggest opportunity to their profession over the next two years. The same research also showed some identified Brexit as a threat, but the more immediate concerns for advisers lay closer to home. The advice gap, the savings gap, the need for greater financial education and the lack of new entrants to the profession are not problems that any form of deal or no deal with Europe can cure. But as legislators and regulators have failed thus far to devise plans that would give any clarity on 2019, 2020 and beyond, experts say extra attention on investment decisions remains necessary until the haze lifts. The macro picture Investors traditionally hate uncertainty, so for clients with a keen interest in the investment side of advice, financial planners will need to be able to explain individual positions clearly. Managing currency exposure is a key concern, with sterling continuing to fluctuate wildly in the countdown to 29 March. Fund managers say this could impact heavily on investment income, with domestic stocks and funds potentially hit hardest. Liontrust fund manager David Roberts notes UK equities have dropped fast in the wake of the no-confidence vote last week. He says: Sterling also fell, although markets, perhaps unlike voters, are ruled by the head and not the heart. Perhaps we need to be remembering that a small share of a big pie is better than a large share of no pie. Patrick Murphy, managing director of Zen Wealth, which works extensively with clients on the continent, says advisers working with Europe-based clients need to pay attention to currency risk. If investments are denominated in sterling, then they are seeing a currency loss in all this in addition to any investment return, assuming the funds will be converted back to euros, he adds. As confidence goes down, Zero Support managing director Phil Young says investors will want to sit on their hands and keep money in safe places. He says: You only need to look at basic things like pricing to know there are major disadvantages to currency at the moment. Investors will want to stick to what they know and advisers will need to work around that. Premier Asset Management chief investment officer Neil Birrell says advisers should note it will be a while until UK equities gain any traction again. He says: Because a Brexit outcome at one extreme or the other is more likely, global markets may move ahead and the UK will follow to some extent. Sterling is likely to remain volatile though and investors will likely want to stay out of equities and bonds until theres more clarity too. While delaying or revoking Article 50 looks increasingly unlikely, Natixis Investment Managers chief market strategist David Lafferty says the government could push the pause button before the train flies off the tracks and stabilise some volatility. Hermes Investment Management chief executive Saker Nusseibeh says clients are simply counting on good news for their investments. He says: Most people just want to see an end to the uncertainty, but the sad truth is that the uncertainty is still prevailing without a clear Plan B. The type of firms affected by Brexit Firms that currently provide any regulated products or services to customers resident in the EEA. Those with insurance contracts either with EEA-based customers or which cover risks located in the EEA which require regulatory permission in that country in order to be serviced. Advisers with customers or counterparties which are based in the EEA, including UK expatriates now based in an EEA country. Any firms marketing financial products in the EEA including products marketed on a website aimed at consumers in the EEA. Firms with agents in the EEA or firms which interact with any intermediary service providers in the EEA. Advisers who need to transfer personal data between the UK and the EEA or vice versa for work. Firms with memberships of any market infrastructure (trading venues, clearing house, settlement facility) based in the EEA. Involvement in a corporate group based in the EEA or any contact providing funding from an entity in the EEA. Firms which outsource or delegate to an EEA firm or vice versa. Advisers with any legal contracts which refer to EU law. Source: The FCA Hefty headwinds Advisers spent a large part of 2018 coming to terms with Mifid II regulations, which are set to remain in place for now for trade purposes. With this in mind, advisers also need to consider clients changing attitudes to risk while under a tightening watch from the FCA. DeVere Group chief executive Nigel Green says: As the uncertainty rumbles on, portfolio diversification should remain the major strategy for most. The longer the Brexit process is extended, the less chance of no deal and greater chance there is of a second referendum that will reject Brexit, or a soft Brexit. Deloitte partner Stephanie McMahon says clients should also be made aware of external influences over their portfolios, including potential hikes to interest rates. She says: We could see higher inflation which would be countered by interest rates which would be very challenging to the economy. There is also the impact of lower interest rates on banks lending margins and the challenge of lower domestic growth. Aegon pensions director Steven Cameron says adviser sentiment may have weakened on all of these headwinds. I wouldnt be surprised if the number of advisers who told me they thought Brexit was a threat last October has increased. With the threat lying in the value of their clients portfolios, advisers should be encouraging clients into long-term solutions, he says. Advisers can take comfort from remembering Brexit presents short-term manageable threats to client money rather than a wider threat to advice, Cameron adds. Advisers dont separate that threat when they should; it really is an opportunity to advise and help with Brexit as it is at the moment. That opportunity to help is what made advisers look on Brexit as an opportunity from the start. Expert view Finding the right Brexit investment pathway The Brexit saga creates both difficulties and opportunities for investors. As we have seen over the past few weeks, the financial markets, specifically gilts and the pound, are very responsive to the actions of the government. Financial markets were quite pessimistic until MPs voted overwhelmingly to reject the withdrawal agreement proposed by Theresa May last week. Meanwhile, the clock is continuing to count down towards 29 March. As we see it there are only three possible options for the UK government to resolve things. Firstly, they could rescind Article 50 and effectively call off Brexit, they could seek an extension to negotiations or accept a no-deal hard Brexit. Although a number of opinion polls recently have suggested that UK voters now favour remaining in the EU, there seems to be no majority in the UK House of Commons to reverse Brexit. If Article 50 was rescinded wed foresee a very positive response from financial markets, both in the UK and across Europe. Bond markets would likely sell off, currency would rally, equities would probably go up. But this seems to us the least likely option. The second option extending negotiations seems to be the most likely outcome. As any extension has to be agreed unanimously by the other EU members there is some uncertainty there and markets dont like uncertainty. The chances of a no-deal Brexit are probably around 30 per cent. The impact of such an outcome would be significant, but I doubt a hard Brexit would necessarily be the end of the world. In many ways it could offer the quickest route to the certainty that markets crave. The initial response would likely be negative while bond markets would rally significantly and gilts would probably revisit their historic lows. Investors looking to hedge against a hard Brexit might want to consider being long UK government bonds or be underweight sterling. The currency exposure of individual investors is probably the best risk/opportunity around Brexit and therefore due thought should also be given here. David Zahn is head of European fixed income and senior vice president at Franklin Templeton Picking up on passporting Many advisers are already well into laying the groundwork for how Brexit may affect them by now. With a presumed transition period of more than two years however, there is still time to reassess strategy. The most immediate concern is making flexible arrangements for clients overseas. Passporting the exercise of the right for a firm registered in the European Economic Area to freely do business in Europe remains under threat for many advisers. The FCA says that while the agreement may change, advisers should prepare for passporting in its current form to be cancelled. This will affect firms and funds based in the UK that conduct business in the EEA and firms and funds based in the EEA that carry out certain types of business in the UK, the regulator adds. Firms should have plans in place now to address any risks. Firms should only make changes, however, where they are in customers best interests, avoiding making changes for customers who are not impacted and whose existing arrangements would be better left in place. It is not known how many UK advisers have clients on the continent, but 2017 estimates from the United Nations place close to 1.5 million Brits living in EU countries. Cameron says: Passporting is the biggest issue at the moment because with the significant chance that under a hard Brexit any sort of arrangement like passporting will be cut entirely, there is a lot for advisers with clients overseas to deal with. Young adds: If advisers have clients in Europe, thats a huge problem, especially in the potentially likely event of a no-deal. It may still be feasible to have clients overseas, but it could be expensive when it comes to personal indemnity insurance and additional tax costs. Murphy says advisers do not have time to shy away from tough conversations. He says: Dont hide from client communication when they need our support and advice more than ever in volatile times. They want to know that we are there and that we are looking out for them. John Westwood, group managing director at Gibraltar-based Blacktower Financial Management, says: Not only do clients require [advisers] calm to steer them through uncertain and uncharted waters, but firms themselves need to stay composed and attentive to ensure that they continue to meet regulatory standards when and if the transition period takes effect. Blacktower services British clients in 12 EU countries including Spain, France and the Netherlands where concerns over retirement income and pension access are mounting. Paul Stanfield, chief executive of adviser body the Federation of European Independent Financial Advisers, says clients will likely feel safer with their money invested in domestic funds in the UK, regardless of whether the returns reflect well on that choice. As ever, clarity is the missing ingredient advisers need most, along with confidence in their approach, says Murphy. Managing the investment needs of European clients is still fairly similar to UK clients and they arent changing too much yet, although everyone is aware that we may be in for a very volatile period in a few years. Money Marketings readers were split at the start of the year on whether 2019 would yield a recession. While 35 per cent thought markets would take a turn for the worse, 35 per cent were more positive and 30 per cent were undecided. Until there is more conclusive action, advisers immediate fears seem tolerable, Young says. In the years since the RDR, advisers know how to handle volatility and uncertainty, and they know how to manage their clients. | https://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/should-advisers-stay-bullish-amid-brexit-concerns/ |
Will Warriors Klay Thompson make the All-Star team? | WASHINGTON Warriors guard Klay Thompson has authored two of the NBAs best individual performances this season, but he still may not make the All-Star team. The problem is that the Western Conference boasts far more All-Star-caliber players than All-Star slots. If rosters were picked Wednesday, Thompson would probably be competing with the likes of Luka Doncic, Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, Steven Adams, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tobias Harris and DeAaron Fox, among others, for the final two slots. "I want to be there," Thompson said after practice Wednesday night. "If we keep winning and were in first place, I think I deserve to be there just because our performance the last five years at the top of the standings, thats not easy." Thompson, who opened the season in one of the most pronounced shooting slumps of his career, wouldnt have had much of a case for an All-Star selection just a few weeks ago. But thanks to a recent surge, he has a chance at his fifth All-Star appearance in a row. In nine January games, Thompson is averaging 26.8 points on 56.5 percent shooting (50.6 percent from three-point range). That has spiked his season average to 22.1 points on 46.4 percent shooting (38.2 percent from three). However, his resume doesnt stop there. Thompson is a core member of the Wests best team, a respected defender and, in a season in which Golden State has endured injuries to key players, he has yet to miss a game. It also doesnt hurt that Thompson has delivered a couple of record-setting outings. In addition to hitting an NBA record 14 three-pointers in an Oct. 29 rout of Chicago, he tied a league record Monday against the Lakers with 10 consecutive made three-pointers. "If I dont make it, its not the end of the world," Thompson said. "Ill go to the beach and enjoy myself." For the first time in four years, forward Draymond Green is poised to miss the All-Star Game. Though he has thrived in recent weeks, Green has already sat out 14 games, been involved in a much-publicized rift with teammate Kevin Durant and failed to play at an All-Defensive Team level. "I really dont know whats the criteria or how people judge that," Green said. "At the end of the day, thats not really something I worry about. If it happens, great." Jerebko gone: Forward Jonas Jerebko is expected to miss the final three games of the Warriors trip Thursday in Washington, Saturday in Boston and Monday in Indiana to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @Con_Chron | https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Will-Warriors-Klay-Thompson-make-the-All-Star-13557329.php |
Will Chattanooga Build Electric Fords? | The VW-Ford alliance will end up being more than just trucks By now youre likely aware that VW will be starting an $800 million expansion this spring to add electric vehicle capacity to Chattanooga. While $800 million is big money, it barely registers on VWs global, eight-year $50 billion electrification plan. Nevertheless, itll mean, among other things, about a 30 percent increase in jobs and will bring total investment into the factory to over $2.3 billion. Carmakers are laying off large percentages of their workforce, both domestically and globally, so this is a huge vote of confidence. You may also have heard that VW and Ford have announced a memorandum of understanding to develop SUVs and pickups jointly. The Atlas-based VW pickup might be too far along to be retasked onto the new global Ford Ranger platform, but Ford will be making commercial vans and mid-size pickups for the alliance, while VW will contribute a compact urban van, undoubtedly a replacement for the outdated, Turkish-built Ford Transit Connect. VWs press materials mention the (full size van) Transporter, (Golf platform small van) Caddy, and (body-on-frame pickup) Amarok by name. So far, thats standard fare: Toyotas new Supra is a rebadged BMW Z4; Fiats 124 Spider is a Mazda Miata; the Jeep Compass and Fiat 500 share a platform...its a long list and theres nothing unusual about it. The possibilities of the VW-Ford partnership go far beyond some badge engineering, however, especially where Ford is concerned. Last May, we talked about Ford getting out of the car business and rebranding itself as a mobility company. I was skeptical then and having listened to Ford CEO Jim Hackett flounder around trying to articulate his vision in the months since, my skepticism has matured into scorn. Its not that theres anything inherently wrong with Hacketts two-part plan. Part one is to reinvent Fords manufacturing and culture as a Silicon Valley-style Technology Company. You know, light and lean andlet me consult some of the buzzwords they used in Mayleveraging trusted strengths to refocus and disrupt global brands. Part two is a little more problematic. Hackett wants Ford vehicles to do...well, a lot of stuff, but it can be summed up easily: Everything your smartphone already does. They are supposed to be networked, use embedded sensors to report on your health status, plan tripsyou know, smartphone stuff. It is a frankly ridiculous proposal, and Ford knows it. It also relies heavily on the IT infrastructure of electric cars, which is why VW is the winner in the deal. Ford is so desperate to get access to VWs huge investment that their part of the agreement is largely speculative, because while VW gets access to Fords admittedly impressive truck manufacturing capabilities, Ford does notyetget a piece of VWs electric car business. They have to be hoping they can leverage some portion of the business down the line, however, because for a Technological Mobility Company, they have been painfully slow in rolling out electrics or hybrids of any kind. VW, by contrast, says that in seven years they will stop introducing internal combustion engines for passenger cars. Should Ford succeed in glomming on to VWs EVs, then an electric Ford Transit van built in Chattanooga will be Job One. As Ford sheds jobs and brands around the world at an alarming rate, that may end up being one of the pieces that saves it. David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars. Follow him on Twitter as @proscriptus. | http://www.chattanoogapulse.com/columns/air-bag/will-chattanooga-build-electric-fords/ |
Was wrdigt der Internationale Frauentag? | Berlin soll einen neuen Feiertag bekommen. Wenn der Vorschlag der rot-rot-grnen Landesregierung an diesem Donnerstag eine Mehrheit im Abgeordnetenhaus bekommt, wird der 8. Mrz der zehnte Feiertag in Berlin werden. Warum der 8. Es ist der Internationale Frauentag. Und was es mit dem auf sich hat, bringt Inforadio-Redakteurin Annette Birke-Stumper auf den Punkt. Der Internationale Frauentag wird weltweit am 8. Mrz begangen. Er ist als Initiative der deutschen Sozialistin Clara Zetkin im Jahr 1910 entstanden: im Kampf um Gleichberechtigung, das Wahlrecht fr Frauen und die Emanzipation von Arbeiterinnen. Die Idee kam aus den USA - dort wurde der Frauentag schon 1909 begangen. In Deutschland wurde der erste Frauentag dann am 19. Mrz 1911 gefeiert. Das beherrschende Thema der ersten Jahre danach war die Einfhrung des Frauenwahlrechts. In der Weimarer Republik musste sich der Feiertag neu formieren, unter den Nationalsozialisten wurde er verboten. Nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg ist im geteilten Deutschland sehr unterschiedlich damit umgegangen worden: Whrend 1946 in der sowjetischen Besatzungszone der Internationale Frauentag am 8. Mrz wieder eingefhrt und bis zum Mauerfall fortgefhrt wurde, ging die Bedeutung des Tages im Westen Deutschlands allmhlich verloren. Die Vereinten Nationen erlieen 1977 eine Resolution, in der sie die Mitgliedstaaten baten, einen Tag im Jahr als "Tag der Vereinten Nationen fr die Rechte der Frau und den Weltfrieden" auszuwhlen. | https://www.inforadio.de/programm/schema/sendungen/auf_den_punkt/201901/24/307077.html |
Are major retailers doing enough to grow emerging businesses? | Shoppers doing the early rounds at a Woolworths store in Rivonia Village mall, Joburg, at the beginning of the year were in for a shock. They were greeted by a dapper man protesting against the retailer; hed posted "Stop killing SMEs" on the back window of his Mercedes hatchback. Marnus Broodryk, a former judge on M-Net reality series Shark Tank, got up early that Tuesday because he wanted to show support for Shannon McLaughlin, the founder of Ubuntu Baba. In late December, shed accused the retailer of replicating her companys baby carrier, and selling it for a third of the price. McLaughlins dispute with Woolworths went viral on social media, eventually leading to a meeting with the retailer. Woolworths was forced to eat humble pie as it "acknowledged" the "striking similarities" between its carrier and that of Ubuntu Baba. The dispute ended with Woolworths donating its stock of the product to underresourced communities, with its branding removed. Broodryk, an entrepreneur and the founder of The Beancounter, a financial management firm aimed at supporting small businesses, says that while showing support for McLaughlin was important, it was not the only reason for his protest. He says hes tired of the lip service paid to supporting small businesses. "Everyone agrees that small and medium-sized enterprises are the solution to many problems in our country," he says. "They say we are the only hope to restore economic growth. Everyone wants us to succeed, but no-one has our backs." | https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2019-01-24-are-major-retailers-doing-enough-to-grow-emerging-businesses/ |
Are People Ignoring Trump or Just Bored by Him? | It started during the midterm campaign. Democrats stopped talking about Donald Trump all the time. Now presidential hopefuls are doing the same. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, once a relentless sparring partner on Twitter, all but ignores Trump's goading comments. Perhaps, but the change in approach seems to reflect something more, something beyond mere Trump fatigue. We may have entered the era of Trump boredom. Some of that may come from the sense that he's mattering less. The midterm elections were a repudiation. His poll numbers keep dropping. His latest escalation, closing the government, is eating into his base of ardent supporters. Many who sort of liked him are giving up. The precedent has to be set that a president can't close the government because he didn't get his way on some matter. Throwing the country into turmoil is not a normal negotiating tactic. Americans, meanwhile, are getting nervous about the economy, which has been Trump's pride and joy. Just wait till sluggish growth collides with trillion-dollar budget deficits. I've been unfollowing Twitter mates who habitually list Trump's old crimes and personal frailties as though they were news. They don't seem to understand that for many, raw anger has turned into acceptance of what he is. There's no fixing Trump. He's a problem that needs managing. Enter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She is a model of self-control. She speaks in the calm manner needed for dealing with people who act on impulse. Mother of five, she's a proven master at containing tantrums. Measured leadership in national politics is exactly what most Americans want. There's a yearning for normality in their national politics. On this subject, we urge some of the hotheads on the left to modulate their emotions. It is in their interests to play it cool, assuming that their interests center on getting Democrats elected and not building their own brands for a niche audience. Thus, it was pleasant to watch a Golden Globe Awards presentation that didn't bubble over with rage at the man in the Oval Office. The moral preening in the past was hard on the stomach, including for many who agree with the messages. Hollywood's elite should know that celebrity does not necessarily confer superior political insight. Take a cue from Democratic political advisers. In the final month of the 2018 campaigns, their candidates mentioned Trump in only 11 percent of their ads. They generally stuck to their plans for the future. That apparently worked for them. Meanwhile, the serious scandals grow. The older scandals tied to sexual behavior are minor next to the extraordinary, but now thinkable, possibility that a president has been working for a foreign adversary. Continually repeating the smaller misdeeds only distracts from the bigger stuff. What Democrats need is their own media environment in which they control the message. And that means leaving Trump little opportunity to grab attention at their expense. The worse things get for him the more bombastic his diversions will be. An impeachment proceeding would add another layer of chaos on a fatigued American public. New revelations might force that action, but this should not be the Democrats' focus at this point. The best day for sending Trump home would be Nov. 3, 2020, Election Day. (Law enforcement may have plans for him later.) Whatever the means for removal, it's obvious that time is running out on the Trump years. Don't drown out the sound of the ticking. COPYRIGHT 2019 CREATORS.COM | https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/01/24/are_people_ignoring_trump_or_just_bored_by_him_139260.html |
Could Bury Road park and ride reopen to help ease Ipswich traffic? | Bury Road park and ride closed in 2011. Picture: GREGG BROWN Serious talks are under way in Ipswich about re-opening the Bury Road park and ride centre which was closed by Suffolk County Council as a cost-cutting measure in 2011. Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. The site is owned by Ipswich council and part of it is currently in use as a car dealership but the borough has always seen the reintroduction of the park and ride centre as a long-term aspiration. Ipswich Buses owned by the borough recently extended its Number Eight service from Asda to the Anglia Retail Park which is next to the former park and ride site. However the route to the town centre through the Whitehouse estate and along Bramford Road would probably be too long to attract park and ride customers. Ipswich Council leader David Ellesmere said his officers were looking at the possibility of reopening park and ride but they would need to involve the county council in those talks. When it considered reopening a few years ago, there was a veiled threat from the county that if it reopened the other park and ride centres at Copdock Mill and Martlesham could be closed. Reopening Bury Road would be supported by business groups in the town centre including Ipswich Central and the Ipswich Vision Partnership. There is concern that the decision to abandon the largest element of the Upper Orwell Crossing could add seriously to traffic congestion in the town centre, and reopening Bury Road is one way to ease that pressure. Mr Ellesmere added: We are also looking at ways of reducing the amount of air pollution and taking more cars of the roads is important for that. But we do need to do more work on this we realise that current operating network is not suitable for a park and ride service and that we would have to talk to the county and to bus operators to find a solution. We have always hoped to find a way to reopen the Bury Road park and ride and we think we are moving towards that. Bury Road park and ride closed in January 2011 the county council said it would save them 150,000 in the first year and 230,000 in subsequent years. But since then it has changed the funding of the park and ride service and businesses believe the cost of reopening would be small in comparison with the benefits from reducing traffic. | https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/could-ipswich-park-and-ride-reopen-1-5863816 |
What will drive data protection in 2019? | Arcserve Southern Africa acknowledges that last year was one of substantial change in data protection as organisations grappled with new privacy regulations, exceedingly sophisticated ransomware attacks, and cloud-first disaster recovery strategies that ushered in unexpected costs and heightened risks of data loss. Arcserve has made three predictions for 2019 and their impact over the next 12 months: * Public cloud envy ends as sticker shock sets in Many organisations have adopted cloud-first strategies to benefit from the increased agility and economies of scale, however they face unexpected and significant fees associated with the movement and recovery of data in public clouds. Because of this, more organisations will scale back from using public clouds for disaster recovery (DR) and instead, leverage hybrid cloud strategies and cloud service providers (CSPs) who offer private cloud solutions with predictable cost models. * AI-powered solutions help IT teams work smarter A year in technology can be measured in seconds, with new capabilities transforming the way we interact with, and protect, critical business data. Over the coming year, organisations can expect data protection solutions to go beyond real-time insight and incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that can predict and avert unplanned downtime from physical disasters before they happen. These solutions will automate DR processes, intelligently restoring the most frequently accessed, cross-functional or critical data first and proactively replicate it to the cloud before a downtime event occurs. * Cost concerns drive uptick of self-managed DRaaS in channel community The as-a-service model is growing at lightning speed, and this trend will continue in the next 12 months. Specifically, self-managed disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) will increase in prominence as organisations seek to realize the clouds full value as a DR option with a lower investment than managed DRaaS. In response, channel partners will add more self-service options to support growing customer demand for contractually guaranteed recovery time and point objectives (RTOs/RPOs) while expanding their addressable market without the responsibility of managing customer environments. Its clear that companies are getting serious about data protection and will invest a significant amount of time and money into making sure they have the rights tools, resources and services to keep their invaluable corporate data safe, says Driaan Odendaal, Arcserve Southern Africa, lead: technical. However, if 2018 showed us anything, its that businesses still need quite a bit of education when it comes to managing their data in a cost-effective and efficient way. Its going to be interesting to see how leaders address and rectify the challenges they previously faced as they head into 2019. | https://it-online.co.za/2019/01/24/what-will-drive-data-protection-in-2019/ |
Will the Brexit arguments kill off the British political system as we know it? | Wetherspoons Chairman Tim Martin speaks about Brexit at The Cricketers in Ipswich - but most people in the pub seemed to have made up their mind before the session started. Archant Brexit is back firmly on the political agenda and not just in the House of Commons where the Prime Minister is making another futile attempt to push through her deal that was rejected by two thirds of MPs nine days ago. Share Email this article to a friend To send a link to this page you must be logged in. During the election campaign, no one could have mistaken Sandy Martin for a keen Brexiteer! Picture:SARAH LUCY BROWN During the election campaign, no one could have mistaken Sandy Martin for a keen Brexiteer! Picture:SARAH LUCY BROWN In Ipswich last week we had a visit from Brexiteer pin-up and Wetherspoons pub boss Tim Martin who addressed a bar-full of people about the evils of the EU and why wed all be living in the land of milk and honey (available on the Wetherspoons breakfast menu) if we left with no deal. If he came with the aim of changing anyones mind, then he would have been disappointed. It was clear that no one in the pub had come in with an open mind willing to be converted one way or another. Those with coffees and cokes in hand (it was 10.30am) were almost all in support of Tim Martin while a small number who appeared determined not to give him their trade were there to challenge his views. It made good theatre and gave me a couple of interesting stories but as a political event it was pretty insignificant. Last week there was also a smidgeon of controversy when the towns Tories started jumping up and down about an interview Labour MP Sandy Martin had done on Radio Suffolk. With a little bit of careful editing political blogger Guido Fawkes had made a robust (but fair) interview with Sandy Martin look like he was disrespecting his voters by trying to keep open the possibility of a second referendum on membership of the EU. The blog pointed out that 58% of voters in Ipswich (Mr Martin says it was 56% of voters in his constituency, not including the three wards in the north west) voted to leave the EU and that Labour promised to respect that vote in the 2017 election. That is true, but what Labour actually said was: We will end Theresa Mays reckless approach to Brexit, and seek to unite the country around a Brexit deal that works for every community in Britain. So while they said they were looking for a Brexit deal, they were explicitly ruling out a no deal approach. And having covered the 2017 election and knowing Sandy Martins long-expressed views on the subject, I really dont believe that anyone voted for him a year after the referendum believing him to be an ardent Brexiteer. Labours current policy on Brexit is a mess. It would really rather not talk about it. Individual MPs like Sandy Martin, David Lammy and Chukka Umunna have well-known views. How they reconcile them with Labour Brexiteers or those who are trying to run away from the subject (which often appears to include their party leader) I really dont know. The party seems to want to be all things to all voters. Similarly the Tories are starting to look totally dysfunctional as a political identity. We hear that the Conservative membership is now leaning towards a no deal Brexit but the partys 124,000 members only make up 0.26% of the electorate. In London and in some other large cities things are different Ive spoken to Tories from there who are close to the business community and are genuinely astonished by the attitude of party members in the country as a whole which they see as profoundly anti-business. Labour is conflicted because it knows many voters in its northern and midlands heartlands are keen on Brexit while its members would like to stay in the EU if possible. So what is clear from both parties is that the strains within them are massive there are urban/rural splits, geographical splits, and establishment/anti-establishment splits. There are increasing splits within the parties between their MPs and probably their members. I know of members of the business community in Suffolk who no longer take part in political activities because they feel party members are no longer willing to listen to their concerns and see little point in trying to influence policy that way. | https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/uk-political-system-collapsing-1-5862107 |
Can I buy a monitor for photo editing that shows colour like print? | Pa wants the screen image to be true to the print image, but his budget is only 300 I read your answer about the best computer monitor for under 200. Im looking for a monitor for serious photo editing. I want to get as true to what the print will be like (when printing via online printers). My budget is about 300. Pa Sad to say, prints can never look like screen images. Screens are bright and display colours using combinations of red, green and blue pixels (RGB). Prints dont light up so they cant have the same brightness or contrast range, and theyre printed using cyan, yellow, magenta and black inks (CMYK). Colours are also affected by the light under which you view things, which is why smart buyers take clothes and materials to shop doorways to see what the colours look like in daylight. A print viewed under warm room lighting should not look the same as it does on a monitor set to the standard daylight colour temperature of 6500K, even though your brain will automatically try to compensate for the difference. Nonetheless, photographers can learn from experience of how colours are going to be reproduced, as long as the process is consistent. I was obliged to do this in the days before personal computing, when I edited photography magazines. Todays DSLR cameras produce images that are much like the colour slides we used to view on lightboxes, so happily this skill has transferred. However, the more variables you can eliminate, the better your guesses should be. This is where colour gamuts, screen calibration, printer profiles and, yes, standard light sources can help. A thought experiment There should be a way to get the screen image closer to the print, but it would be quite a lot of work, expensive, and you probably wont like it. First, get a calibration device such as an X-Rite i1 Display Pro (178) or a Datacolors Spyder5 Elite (also 178). Next, calibrate your monitor to match the printer and paper youre using. In other words, adjust the screen display so that the white matches the white of your paper, and the black matches the maximum black that ink can produce on that particular paper. Its better to print a colour patch or test card, rather than a naturalistic image where the brain can interfere with the colour rendering. Fujifilm has a good composite test card. Ive never actually tried this, but I imagine the monitor display would be disappointing. Youd have reduced the brightness and contrast range, and most people like bright, contrasty screens. Im also not sure how well this would work when using an online printer rather than your own ink-jet. If they do their own colour profiling, their software might try to compensate for yours. You could certainly ask if their printer will respect your colour management profiles (there are preserve embedded profiles settings for RGB and CMYK in Adobe Photoshop), but affordable colour printing is based on a high level of automation. Colour-accurate monitors If your monitor produces accurate colour and the printer produces accurate colour, then the results ought to be predictable, even though the images are not identical. This is the device-independent solution that underlies the traditional answer, which is to buy a monitor with an accurate colour profile. The main ones are standard sRGB and Adobe RGB. Of course, for this to work, the whole reproduction chain must follow the same standard. The argument for using Adobe RGB is that its wider and includes most of the colours that a CMYK printer can print. That should be better. The argument for using 8-bit sRGB is that practically every device supports it well, and some devices dont support anything else. If youre producing images for internet distribution and on-screen viewing, I think you are better off sticking to sRGB. If youre producing images for some form of printing, theres an argument for using Adobe RGB, as long as you can be sure it will be printed that way. Youd have to check this with your online printing service. The websites I looked at all requested sRGB. Another advantage of using sRGB is that it sets a lower standard that cheap monitors can meet, though better Adobe RGB scores generally indicate a better quality monitor. In passing, the whole chain ought to include the camera, and you can set some (most?) serious cameras including my own Nikon D7500 to produce Jpeg images to either sRGB or Adobe RGB standards. This doesnt mean the colours will be accurate: most cameras give pictures a pleasantly warm boost. (You may be able to check the accuracy of your cameras colour rendering by searching for the product name at imaging-resource.com.) However, the setting makes no difference if you work from RAW files, which can capture more colours than any colour gamut can handle, including Kodaks ProPhoto RGB. Possible choices Rtings.com keeps a list of The Five Best Monitors for Photo Editing, based on its thorough tests. The Quad HD/2K Dell U2518D is the only one in your price range at 284.49, because it has been discounted from 599. Rtings notes that it doesnt cover the Adobe RGB color space very well, which is something to consider if you plan to use that. (Im quoting Amazon prices for convenience but you can shop around for better deals.) Monitors designed for photographers tend to be outrageously expensive, but BenQ offers the 24in SW240 PhotoVue for only 399. It claims 99% Adobe RGB coverage [and] hardware calibration support for accurate colours. The obvious drawback is the 1920 x 1200 resolution, and the ViewSonic VP2468 seems to offer the same features for only 214.41. BenQs PD2700Q Designer Monitor would get you a 27in screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels for 289.98, which is almost the same price as Dells 25in U2518D. But anyone looking for a cheap QHD screen could check out the 24in L24q-10 currently on Lenovos website for 179.99, or at PC World for 179. The QHD/2K resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels is now the sweet spot for most applications, including gaming. However, if you use Photoshop to edit 5568 x 3712-pixel or similar images, Id save up for Rtings top pick, the LG 27UK650-W. This is a 27in 4K (3840 x 2160) monitor for 459.99. Alternatively, the LG 27UK600 has the same panel without the built-in speakers or the adjustable stand for 404.99. Its well over budget, but you could spend several hours a day looking at it for the next five years, or more. The price difference is only 30 a year. DisplayMate Technologies is an industry leader in the business of evaluating, calibrating and optimising displays, and Raymond Soneira founder, president and CEO benchmarks some flagship products for colour accuracy. His tests show that the Apple iPhone X and XS Max, Googles Pixel 3 XL and Samsungs Galaxy S9 and Note 9 smartphones all provide close to textbook perfect calibration accuracy and performance that is visually indistinguishable from perfect. Theyre almost certainly better than any TV or monitor you own. Colour-accurate tablets include the Samsung Galaxy Tab S and the Apple iPad Pro 9.7 (2016). The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 also impressed: it was the best ever tablet display when tested, though since surpassed. Today, the simplest way to check a photos colour rendering is to view it on one of DisplayMates top-rated smartphones or tablets, preferably on an OLED or AMOLED screen. This is great news if you already own one, but not a cheap option if you dont. Email it to [email protected] This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. The links are powered by Skimlinks. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that Skimlinks cookies will be set. More information. | https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2019/jan/24/can-i-buy-a-monitor-for-photo-editing-that-shows-colour-like-print |
Should I ever open a new current account for the interest rate it offers? | I was looking through the current account best buy tables recently and saw many of the ones with top interest rates require you to jump through plenty of hoops in order to get it. George Nixon of This is Money, replies: Opening a new current account or switching your current one is still something that the vast majority of people don't do. Since the launch of the current account switching service in 2013, which is supposed to make the process more straightforward, 5.1million people have switched. That might seem a decent number at first glance, but according to the latest figures more than 5.8million switched their energy supplier in 2018 alone. And by not switching you could be missing out on deals including better interest rates, while plenty of high street banks are also providing straight cash incentives to seduce potential customers. But it is important to be aware that many of these offers come with restrictions which, if not met, could lead to your accumulating no interest at all. For example, Nationwide's FlexDirect gives you five per cent interest for the first 12 months, but you must pay in 1,000 a month and the maximum balance it'll pay that interest on is 2,500. After that the rate drops to one per cent. TSB's Classic Plus meanwhile will also give you a rate of five per cent, but you must pay in 500 a month and that interest will only be paid on balances of up to 1,500. Andrew Hagger, of financial information site Monyecomms, said: 'The main reason for restrictions like these is to stop customers treating these accounts like savings accounts. 'This often used to be the case with people opening multiple current accounts but treating them as a savings account. 'The banks have tried to stop this by imposing minimum monthly credits and in some cases insisting on a number of live direct debits being set up - particularly if you're switching banks to earn a cash incentive.' HSBC is paying new customers who open an Advance account 150, provided you pay in a minimum of 1,750 a month or 10,500 over six months, while Halifax provides even more hurdles for those after a cash bonus. Natwest will also pay you 150 to switch to its Reward account plus it pays 2 per cent back on your household bills. You will need to pay in at least 1,000 and check online or mobile banking before March 22 to qualify. On top of a potential 135 bonus, Halifax Reward current account holders can earn 2 a month provided they're in credit, pay in 750 a month and pay out two different direct debits. Andrew says: 'Current accounts cost the banks money to run with all the online and mobile banking functionality, security, branch networks and ATMs. 'But they offer the accounts free of charge as they make some money on the debit card transactions you make, and they also hope to cross sell profitable products to you such as mortgages, pensions and insurance.' When it comes to picking one, Andrew cautions against looking at a current account as the be all and end all when it comes to savings. Instead, he says, think of it 'as one of your number of accounts that earns you some interest on your credit balance.' One tip is to consider banks that offer you access to a regular savings account as part of the current account deal, which is offered by the likes of Nationwide, First Direct and M&S Bank. 'You can typically save a maximum of 250 to 300 per month at a rate of five per cent', says Andrew. 'Then at the end of the year you can take that lump sum and put it in a fixed-rate bond or other savings account and restart the regular saver for the next 12 months.' Another thing to bear in mind is overdrafts and the accompanying fees. Andrew says that 'if you're someone who dips into overdraft from time to time then these accounts may not be for you. 'As a rule of thumb, accounts offering credit interest or rewards are often among the most expensive for agreed overdrafts.' For example, Tesco Bank's current account, which offers 3 per cent interest on balances up to 3,000 provided you pay in 750 a month and pay out three direct debits, has an overdraft rate of 18.9 per cent. But ultimately the most important consideration when choosing a bank account, says Andrew, 'is to find one that suits the way you run your day to day finances.' | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/experts/article-6614991/Should-open-new-current-account-rate-offers.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490 |
Were Lions undone by spies? | Eddie Jones' confession about spying on opponents during his time in charge of Australia will strengthen the theory that the Lions lost the momentous 2001 series in Sydney because of a covert operation. The fall-out from Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsas policy of snooping on opponents prompted Englands head coach to reminisce about "sending a coach who is now in a very senior position dressed like a swagman to watch them (the opposition) train and he got chased out there. Alex Evans, the Aussie who coached Wales before returning home, was asked to leave them when the Lions spotted him at a private training session during the first week of the 2001 tour. | https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/columnists/were-lions-undone-by-spies-899718.html |
Is Twitter preparing an official Twitter Music app? | Twitter's birdsong could turn into real songs later this month After taking on video with Vine, Twitter is reportedly setting its sights on music for its next media venture with a new standalone app. According to a CNET report, Twitter has acquired the We Are Hunted music discovery service and is using its technology as the basis for its own music app allegedly called Twitter Music. Twitter Music is said to offer personalized music recommendations based on a user's Twitter account, along with music streaming through SoundCloud. Music recommendations will be based on who a user follows on Twitter, making it easy to find music by the artists they follow and artists their friends follow. Twitter tunes Though Twitter Music reportedly pulls recommendations based on Twitter followers, it sounds like a Twitter account will not be a requirement to use the app. It will allegedly also offer recommendations based on the most popular songs on We Are Hunted, along with emerging artists and recommendations from across Twitter from anyone using the #NowPlaying hashtag. CNET's report is pretty thorough, going so far as to describe the app's grid layout and app icon (a silver play button with the blue Twitter bird logo in a corner). The site for We Are Hunted also recently went offline, which could be in preparation for the Twitter Music launch, or simply temporary maintenance. The Twitter Music app sounds like it's in the final stages, with the report indicating it could even launch by the end of the month. There is no shortage of music streaming services out there, so Twitter Music will have to fight an uphill battle against established services like Spotify, Pandora, and Rdio. But with close ties to a user's Twitter followers, and more than two million followers for the official Twitter Music account already, Twitter might just have the install base to pull it off. | https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/software/applications/is-twitter-preparing-an-official-twitter-music-app-1137312 |
When is Rod Stewart coming to Dublin's 3Arena and how can I get tickets? | Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Rod Stewart is making his return to Dublin in 2019. The legendary British singer will be taking over the 3Arena in December in support of his 30th studio album. He will perform for his fans in the 3Arena on December 4, following a gig in Belfast's SSE Arena on December 2. He hasn't performed on Irish soil since 2016 and tickets are sure to sell out fast. They'll be available from www.ticketmaster.ie from 9am on Thursday 31 January. But pre-sale tickets will be available for fan club members from 9am on Monday 28 January. With more than 200 million records sold worldwide, Rods shows this year will include classics from across his glittering career. Concert-goers will also be treated to tracks from his new album Blood Red Roses - a deeply personal 13-track collection of originals and three covers released almost 50 years to the date from when he signed his very first solo recording contract. | https://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/rod-stewart-coming-dublins-3arena-15724293 |
What are the best Lidl wines to buy? | Lidl introduce plenty of new world wines to their range, launching in stores on 24 January 2019... Lidls latest Wine Tour focusses on the new world and includes, among others, a New Zealand Sauvignon, a Chilean Cabernet and an Aussie Shiraz. But there are a few Europeans in there too, with Decanters Tina Gellie rating a Falanghina del Sannio from Italy as her joint top pick from the latest range. The top 12 wines below are from the latest Wine Tour range, while the wines further down are from previous tastings. Subscribe to Decanter Premium for tons of exclusive content and over 1,000 wine reviews every month The best Lidl wines to buy: Lidl introduces six Wine Tour updates to their core range every year. The wines are only available for a short period of time, while stocks last. You might also like: | https://www.decanter.com/decanter-best/best-lidl-wines-331843/ |
Did Bigg Boss Season 6 Contestant Sapna Bhavnani Just Call Salman Khan A Chauvinistic Pig? | Bigg Boss is a reality show thats known for controversies, but often it is seen that the contestants end up creating many after their exit from the show. Post her viral #MeToo statement on Amitabh Bachchan, looks like the bittersweet memories for its Season 6 contestant Sapna Bhavnani seem to be still haunting as she ends up abusing Salman Khan, the makers and every single person associated with the show! In a recent interview with India Today, when asked if it how she managed to survive the show, she answered, I didnt need to survive the show. They needed to survive me. They didnt survive me. They still have that chauvinistic pig (referring to Salman Khan). In fact every person in the show, every contestant, they are such m** and b**. The whole show is like that. The celebrity hairstylist also went onto reveal that she doesnt follow Bigg Boss, never did and in fact Its been five yearswe should let that show go. Further revealing that her sole purpose for doing the show was women liberation, she went onto credit herself for the makers opting for celebrities like Bani J, Diandra thereafter. I went there because never in the history of TV a woman like me was shown. After me, look at the trend I created. After that they had Diandra, Bani. But before that there wasnt a woman like me who was represented on the show. People needed to see that there are women like me in India and when I got so popular then they thought maybe we should feature more women like that, she said. Bhavna has been previously on the radar of the audience for her viral Boomerang lip lock with Bani J. She had also called out for Amitabh Bachchan during the storming #MeToo saying, Your truth will come out very soon. Hope you are biting your hands cuz nails will not be enough. This has to be the biggest lie ever. Sir the film Pink has released and gone and your image of being an activist will soon too. Your truth will come out very soon. Hope you are biting your hands cuz nails will not be enough. @SrBachchan #Metoo #MeTooIndia #comeoutwomen https://t.co/gMQXoRtPW3 Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) October 11, 2018 Android & IOS users, download our mobile app for faster than ever Bollywood & Box Office updates! | https://www.koimoi.com/television/did-bigg-boss-season-6-contestant-sapna-bhavnani-just-call-salman-khan-a-chauvinistic-pig/ |
Is the Sony RX100 V the ultimate compact camera? | Sony can take credit for starting a whole new premium compact camera sector when they launched the original RX100 back in 2012. With a 1.0-inch sensor and high quality lens, it caught the imagination of both serious photographers and casual users looking for a high-quality, pocket sized compact. With a host of rivals now muscling in, Sony is not standing still, with the RX100 V, their latest offering. Resolution remains the same at 20.1MP, but Sony say that its a newly developed 1.0-inch stacked EXMOR RS CMOS design, coupled with an enhanced image processing system, should see an improvement in image quality, especially at higher sensitivities. The fast 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 Zeiss zoom lens appears to be unchanged, but that's not necessarily bad we loved the reach and image quality in the RX100 IV. The bigger changes have happened elsewhere, notably the autofocus system. Featuring what Sony call a Fast Hybrid AF system with both phase-detect and contrast-detect AF points, the RX100 V should be able to acquire focus in as little as 0.05 secs, making it the world's fastest-focusing camera (amongst fixed-lens, 1.0-inch sensor compacts). This is thanks in part to the 315 AF points on the sensor that is spread across roughly 65% of the frame, while the image processing speed has be hugely enhanced, which means that you'll be able to shoot with AF tracking at up to 24fps. That's a full resolution as well. To help follow the action if you're shooting at these fast frame rates, the viewfinder blackout between shots has also been minimised, but we'll have to see by how much once we get our hands on the RX100 and put it through its paces. 4K video While the RX100 Mark IV sported 4K video capture, the Mark V takes things a bit further, utilising full pixel readout without pixel binning. This should deliver finer detailed footage at 4K with minimal moire through use of the XAVC S codec. For dramatic slow-motion video capture, the RX100 Mark V allows users the choice 1,000fps, 500fps and 250fps frame rates making this one of the most robust cameras for slow motion video as well. Design The RX100 V follows the same design format as the previous generation, with the premium pocket-sized design featuring a 2.35m dot XGA OLED electronic viewfinder that neatly retracts into the body when not in use. The RX100 V is expected to ship towards the end of October and into the beginning of November, with a launch price of $1000. UK and Australian pricing are still to be confirmed. | https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/is-the-sony-rx100-v-the-ultimate-compact-camera-1330050 |
Why Nikki Bella is WWEs wild card to win womens Royal Rumble 2019? | Being a reality TV star might have also come handy for her. Well, thats not true as she had to earn every bit of the opportunities by going through extreme turmoil for several years. Now Nikki Bella is the biggest mainstream female superstar in the WWE locker room only after Ronda Rousey. We can give you multiple reasons for that. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch have always been the favorites to win the 2019 Royal Rumble match. The scenario is almost certain, where any one of them will win the battle royal and challenge Ronda Rousey for WWE Raw womens championship. This makes the scene extremely predictable and officials might just want to dodge the stale situation. They can bring back Nikki Bella at Royal Rumble in a surprising capacity and make her the winner of the match. Obviously, the longest reigning Divas Champion in WWE history does not require to win the Rumble match to go into Wrestlemania. But winning the match seems mandatory to avoid any such backlash which says that she has been gifted the opportunity. Furthermore, Royal Rumble will be hosted by Chase Field Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, which is home to the Bella Twins which ejects the speculated negative heat. We hope the hometown girl will get massive cheers from the audience. WWE creative team will also get an alternate option in the championship scenario heading into Wrestlemania 35. Previously Nikki Bella declared that she still has unfinished business with Ronda Rousey which might leave a chance of the Evolution rematch. If the repetitiveness eliminates this big match then Asuka will be a perfect choice to put against her at the 'show of shows. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch will take their feud forward to culminate the big match against Ronda Rousey. This leaves Asuka without an opponent on Smackdown and who better to reserve the contenders spot other than Nikki Bella. Asuka won last years Royal Rumble match by throwing Nikki out of the ring. So the storyline will be absolutely perfect where the Total Divas star comes back winning the same match on her home-turf and tries to steal the title from The Empress of Tomorrow. Nikki Bella has always been the absolute favorite of the Vince McMahon when it comes to delivering some big matches. He loves to use her star power who eventually delivers in these given opportunities. We hope he will bring back the trusted shoulder yet again to make the Road to Wrestlemania even more interesting. | https://www.mykhel.com/wwe/why-nikki-bella-is-wwe-s-wild-card-win-womens-royal-rumble-108797.html |
Will Roman Reigns appear at WWE Royal Rumble 2019? | The undpredictabilty also floats around the name of Roman Reigns although it is hard to believe after his health detoriated. But, many reliable sources suggest there might be a slight chance for him to enter the fray. Roman Reigns left the scene due to his battle with Leukemia and is currently undergoing treatment on a daily basis to overcome this life-threatening disease. There is no estimated time schedule for him to return to the WWE scene for now. But the current situation may allow him to make a one-off appearance which could very well happen at Royal Rumble 2019. Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave an update on Reigns' current physical condition. As per him, Roman Reigns is on vacation in Hawaii with family. But he is very much focused on his fitness by all means and is undergoing training sessions. This keeps him in a match-fit state which does not rule him out from a surprise Royal Rumble 2019 appearance. Heres what the veteran wrestling journalist has stated, "Its not like hes confined to a hospital bed or anything like that. The last I heard he was training in Hawaii so hes not at home or maybe he is now, but he wasnt last week. Roman Reigns can be the biggest draw for the WWE on any given night. So bringing him in a surprising capacity could benefit the WWE to a huge extent. This could set up a future storyline when he is ready for a full-time return to the WWE. Plus, the 40000 fans at the Chase Field in Phoenix Arizona would find an added reason to make the first 2019 pay-per-view as a successful night. We have seen the former Universal Champion spend time with retired pro boxer Joseph Parker. He was really in good shape which is good news for the WWE as well as millions of his fans all over the world. Braun Strowman and Chris Jericho have provided further updates on his health stating that Reigns has taken things one at a time when it comes to a return to the squared circle. Health is the first priority for him as it should be. So we cant really predict when his full-time comeback would happen. But it should happen soon, as per Jericho, (as spoken on Chris Vin Vliet show) Ive got a group text with him in it, and I text him on the side quite a bit. He always seems to be doing pretty well and in good spirits We love him, and I think its just a matter of time before he comes back. But more importantly that he stays healthy for his family, for sure. | https://www.mykhel.com/wwe/will-roman-reigns-appear-at-wwe-royal-rumble-2019-108796.html |
Did SLO County contractor pocket collected sales tax? | January 23, 2019 By Cal Coast Times Staff A former contractor with intimate connections to San Luis Obispos Countys scandal-ridden waste disposal agency habitually collected sales tax on items he sold to the agency, then appears to have failed to remit those taxes as required, according to state, county, and city records. [Cal Coast Times] At the same time, contractor Charles K. Tenborg was billing the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), a public entity, for trucks and other materials for his private business. Even though some of the purchases exceeded $60,000, they were made without board approval, according to IWMA records. IWMA Program manager Patti Toews said last week that Tenborg regularly charged the IWMA sales tax. In one illustrative July 2016 example, one of Tenborgs companies, the Cleaner Earth Company, charged the IWMA $21,541 for used hypodermic needle containers, and collected $1,566 earmarked as San Luis Obispo city sales tax. However, San Luis Obispo received no sales tax from the Cleaner Earth Company in 2016, according to Jon Ansolabehere, an assistant city attorney. Californias Department of Tax and Fee Administration approved a sellers permit for Cleaner Earth Company in July 2012. Sellers pay the sales tax to the state, which then sends the municipality their allocated share. Tenborg did not respond to a reporters efforts to contact him for comment. The IWMA is the result of a joint powers authority (JPA) between the county and its seven cities, representatives of which make up the agencys governing board. Rampant spending of public funds by the agencys former manager William Worrell, other employees, and contractors has resulted in an ongoing criminal investigation by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys office. Worrell then retired, suddenly and early. IWMAs board made little effort at oversight of the questionable expenditures over the last decade, according to former member Tim Brown. One issue currently under examination is the IWMAs purported authorization for purchase of trucks and equipment for Tenborgs companies. Since 2008, the IWMA has passed eight ordinances, the legality of which is now being questioned. Many of those ordinances resulted in a steady income stream for Tenborgs companies. In 2008, the IWMA passed an ordinance mandating a hypodermic needle waste disposal program. According to the ordinance, the cost associated with the handling and disposal of the home-generated needles was to be borne by both the user and the retailer providing the needles. The ordinance specifically prohibits government monies, including government grants, to be spent on the handling and disposal of needles. Nevertheless, the IWMA purchased used needle containers from Tenborg for the program, according to IWMA records. The 2008 ordinance also provided that retailers could utilize private or nonprofit businesses to dispose of the sharps. But instead, the IWMA set appointments for Tenborgs companies to pick up the needles, billed the retailers, and then provided Tenborgs companies the payments. In 2018, the IWMA board even while confronting the agencys misappropriated fund problem passed a stewardship ordinance requiring retailers to use only IWMA approved companies to transport their needles. The IWMA may not even have the legal authority to pass ordinances. The California Constitution grants only cities and counties the power to pass ordinances not joint powers authorities such as SLO Countys IWMA. Loading... | https://calcoastnews.com/2019/01/did-slo-county-contractor-pocket-collected-sales-tax/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CalCoastNews+%28Cal+Coast+News%29 |
When will the public get back in on LeBreton talks? | When the board of the National Capital Commission gets together Thursday morning for its final meeting under the tenure of CEO Mark Kristmanson, one major issue will be glaringly absent from the agenda: LeBreton Flats. That's not how it was supposed to happen. The board should have been making a milestone decision about what to do next in the fraught process to redevelop the public land just west of downtown, after the RendezVous LeBreton partnership appeared to have collapsed amid hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of lawsuits. But in a last-ditch attempt to save the deal, the RendezVous partners Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Trinity Development executive chairman John Ruddy dove into confidential mediation, and the NCC board extended their deadline by more than a month, to the end of February. RendezVous LeBreton partners Trinity chairman John Ruddy, left, and Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk are in last-ditch mediation, and have invited formal rivals DCDLS to the table. (The Canadian Press/CBC) As reported by CBC, the feuding partners have even invited second-place bidders Devcore Canderel DLS the group backed by Quebec-based Andr Desmarais and Guy Lalibert to join in the secret talks. So, instead of deciding what to do next with the 21 hectares of prime property and providing a public update Thursday, the board of directors will instead be briefed on the file during a confidential meeting Friday. Thousands came out to the Canadian War Museum three years ago to see and hear two pitches for redeveloping LeBreton Flats. That was the extent of the public consultation on LeBreton. (CBC News) It was almost exactly three years ago that thousands of people streamed through the National War Museum's doors to look at the two visions for LeBreton put forward by the only two bidders who submitted proposals to the NCC to redevelop the land. They both included NHL venues, although the arena played a much more central role in the RendezVous plan. While the idea of a downtown arena is appealing to many, there isn't unanimous support for a professional sports venue at LeBreton. Even back in 2016, the public feedback including among those who sided with the RendezVous vision indicated that residents were critical of the arena being the focal point of the development. In the ensuing years, while both attendance at Sens games and public support for Melnyk has, to put it mildly, waned, Ottawans' support for a downtown arena has remained ambivalent. A recent EKOS poll found the public is split down the middle on whether an arena is crucial to LeBreton's redevelopment. And yet, the businessmen struggling to hammer out a new plan remain focused on how to keep the Senators in the LeBreton game. CBC visited Little Italy to hear what people there want to see happen on nearby LeBreton Flats. 1:41 Public has other ideas No one knows, because no one asked us. The public was consulted largely after the bids were already fully formed plans. The EKOS poll shows that most residents want to see something happening at LeBreton, but they tell CBC they want community input from the start, not at the end. Their ideas range from more affordable housing and public amenities that both integrate and serve surrounding communities. They'd like to see fewer highrises than proposed, especially considering there are already thousands of units approved for construction around LeBreton, including Claridge's five-tower East Flats, the Zibi development and Trinity's own three-tower plan for 900 Albert St. Some would like to see a museum, others a park. One intrepid high schooler wants to build the tallest towers in Canada and connect them with a zip line. The Devcore Canderel DLS Group made a linear park called Canadensis the spine of its public use area in its proposal. RendezVous LeBreton's bid, on the other hand, has a major event centre and LeBreton Square as its public anchor. (submitted renderings by Devcore Canderel DLS Group and by RendezVous LeBreton) To be fair, there are plenty of inspiring concepts in both plans, from the RendezVous concept of showcasing the area's historic aqueduct to DCDLS's plan for a botanical garden along the SJAM parkway. And it's possible that the two former rivals are putting together a new concept that blends the best of both visions. But we need to guard against the snowballing tendency of grandiose projects, where so much effort and expectation is lavished on years of planning that, after a while, the whole thing gathers so much momentum that it begins to feel unstoppable. The whole LeBreton plan seemed designed from the outset to create that sort of excitement. Back in 2014, the NCC made one criteria for the redevelopment the inclusion of "an attraction of a regional, national or international significance" that also qualified Ottawa as a "world-class capital destination." That sounds cool, but always meant different things to different people. There will never be consensus on exactly what to do at LeBreton, but one thing everyone should insist on even if it isn't thrilling is the plain satisfaction of knowing that regular people had real input into what ultimately gets built there. | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lebreton-when-will-public-be-involved-1.4989427?cmp=rss |
Is Tony Romo already the greatest TV analyst in US sports? | After last weekends AFC Championship Game, in which Tom Brady led the New England Patriots to victory over MVP front-runner Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, the internet was abuzz with praise for a third quarterback, this one working from the booth. Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys QB who began his career as an NFL broadcaster in 2017, received wide acclaim for his in-game analysis alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz. Through four quarters and overtime, Romo gleefully diagnosed the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, offering sharp insight into the mindsets of his fellow quarterbacks. Most impressive of all, Romo predicted how plays would develop with uncanny accuracy, earning him the title of Romostradamus from Nantz and a #YoureAWizardTony hashtag from MLB All-Star Bryce Harper. On Monday, the NFL tweeted a compilation of Romos eerily accurate pre-play predictions: NFL (@NFL) . @TonyRomo was calling plays before they happened! pic.twitter.com/4jdm9I8Pl5 His employers CBS are just as impressed as the NFL. This week, there have been reports that the broadcaster is willing to give Romo a substantial raise, just in case he feels tempted by any of the legitimate contract offers he has reportedly received from NFL teams. And that interest may be because Sundays game was far from a one-off, Romo has generally been considered the best analyst in US sports for some time. And we wont have to wait long to hear him in action again: Romo and Nantz are on the call for next months Super Bowl between the Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. Its a combination of the same qualities that made him a good quarterback: enthusiasm, knowledge of the game, and the ability to communicate clearly and, importantly on a live broadcast, quickly. Part of Romos appeal is that he cares. Hes like your favorite teacher from school, bubbling with a genuine passion for his subject. None of the other color commentators match his energy. Compared to Tony Romo, Foxs Troy Aikman is downright lethargic. Jason Witten the former Dallas Cowboy who caught 37 career touchdowns from Romo was widely panned during his first year in ESPNs Monday Night Football booth, coming across as confused and unnatural. Since 2006, Cris Collinsworth has been a linchpin of NBCs well-produced Sunday Night Football broadcasts, but his style is more restrained. Romo, on the other hand, manages to share a slew of interesting details without speeding into the manic excess of Jon Gruden, the ex-Monday Night Football commentator and present head coach for the Oakland Raiders. Of course, all of these ex-NFL players and coaches know the game of football. Whats been lost in our collective gushing over Romo-as-analyst is that his commentary is middle-school algebra compared to the advanced calculus of whats actually happening on the field. Personnel packages, pass concepts, gap alignments, blitz and protection schemes: the modern game is incredibly complex, and, given the speed of the action and the demands of producing an accessible, entertaining broadcast, it would be impossible for any commentator to do more than scratch the surface. Romo tells us more than most. But lets not kid ourselves into believing that hes a seer. His pre-snap predictions are the result of years of experience combined with basic observations about formations, motions, shifts, game trends, and down-and-distance. Many coaches and plenty of savvy players at every level of football, from the NFL to college to high school could make similar predictions and frequently get them right. The simple answer is that its a bad look when you inevitably get a call wrong. The production crews at the major networks operate like well-oiled machines, always working to minimize risk and keep the show on track. Errant predictions, bad jokes and awkward exchanges are road bumps to be avoided. Romo has previously suggested that his producers at CBS never asked him to predict anything: calling out things he noticed just felt natural. With the goodwill he has already built up with viewers, Romo now has leeway to simply say what he sees. And, to his credit, hes usually on-point with his predictions. Romo is only a couple years removed from being an NFL quarterback, the most mentally-demanding position in sports, so his knowledge of the game is essentially current and his playing experience perfectly suited to quick thinking and fast talking. These advantages along with the novelty of predicting plays may wane over time, but, for now, its a joy to experience the biggest games in the company of such a natural and genuine communicator. I watched the AFC Championship with friends and family. After a few quarters of listening to Romos commentary, I noticed that we were joining him in dissecting every pre-snap movement, every players alignment: The tight end is motioning to the left, its a run! We were absorbed in the action. Romo may or may not be a mastermind or a future head-coach, as some players believe but he certainly knows football. And he inspires us viewers at home to feel like we know football too. During Super Bowl LIII, most of us will understand only a portion of the games many layers, but well see the field a little more clearly with Romo on the call. | https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/24/tony-romo-cbs-nfl-analyst-dallas-cowboys |
Will Trump's Coup Attempt in Venezuela Succeed? | On this episode of "By Any Means Necessary" host Eugene Puryear and Sean Blackmon are joined by Frank Lara, San Francisco teacher and ANSWER Coalition activist to talk about the end of the LA Teacher's Strike, the concessions made by the government to increase teacher pay and decrease class sizes, and the institutional racism within American schools. In the second segment of "By Any Means Necessary" is joined by Dr. Philip Stinson, Associate Professor, Criminal Justice Program at Bowling Green State University to talk about light sentence Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke received for the second-degree murder of Laquan McDonald, the open secret that police officers lie when writing arrest reports, and police agencies rolling back body camera usage due to high costs. In a special third segment "By Any Means Necessary" is joined by journalist Peter Bolton to talk about recent bribery allegations against former Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto in the case of El Chapo, the United States' hypocritical policy towards narco-states, what AMLO's Presidency will mean for drug cartels in Mexico, and the hyper brutality of right-wing paramilitary groups in Latin America. Later in the show, Eugene Puryear and Sean Blackmon are joined by Brandon Sutton, host of the "Discourse" podcast to talk about Donald Trump recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela, the history of US-sponsored coup d'etats in Latin America, the "Today" show interviewing Nicholas Sandmann of Covington Catholic High School, and the upcoming Sopranos' Prequel Film. We'd love to get your feedback at [email protected] | https://sputniknews.com/radio_by_any_means/201901241071763937-trump-coup-attempt-venezuela-usa/ |
Why Is the "Covington Boys" Story Such a Big Deal? | On this episode of Fault Lines, hosts Garland Nixon and Lee Stranahan engage with several passionate callers about the "Covington Boys" story and how different people are viewing the incident. Laura Loomer - Conservative Investigative Journalist | Illegal Immigration, Nancy Pelosi, and the Government Shutdown Some of the world's most politically and economically powerful individuals are currently meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Economist and professor Mark Frost returns to Fault Lines for a conversation about the current state of global economic markets and what will be on top of the agenda for those at Davos. President Trump has announced plans to withdraw American forces from Syria, but some of his closest advisers are strongly opposed to reducing American troops and influence in the region. Government and media relations specialist Jim Jatras joins Garland and Lee to discuss the latest violence in the war-torn country and if this could convince Trump to reconsider his policies regarding Syria. The government shutdown has been ongoing for over a month, and Democratic opposition to President Trump's proposed southern border wall remains a major point of contention. Conservative journalist Laura Loomer recently staged an event at Nancy Pelosi's home in Napa, California to show her disapproval with Pelosi's views on immigration and the shutdown. We'd love to get your feedback at [email protected] | https://sputniknews.com/radio_fault_lines/201901241071750491-covington-maga-usa/ |
Will Nayanthara dare to skip Chiranjeevi's Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy promotions? | Actress Nayanthara (Nayantara) is now shooting for megastar Chiranjeevi's Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy. Many in the film industry are wondering if she will dare to skip its promotions. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is set 10 years prior to India's first war of independence of 1857 and revolves around the story of a freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, who revolted against the British. Nayanthara is said to be essaying the role of the wife of Narasimha Reddy played by Chiranjeevi. It is a routine affair for Nayanthara to skip the promotions of her films. The filmmakers, who worked with her earlier, say that she is very clear about her moves. Before sign on the dotted line, she is said to make it clear that she would not attend the audio launch or other publicity-related activities of her films. Most of the filmmakers agreed to this and most of her films have done well at the box-office. Driven by this sentiment, some producers have apparently gone on accept her conditions and roped in her for their movies. It is not clear whether the makers of Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy have agreed for her terms. But the people in the T-Town are curious to know whether she will make this film an exception, as it is a big budget film and the stakes are really very high on the movie. It is rumoured that the producers of Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy have been trying to convince her to attend its promotional events. The lady superstar might oblige, but it could be only for this film. If she accepts their invitation, her presence at its publicity event will surely boost its prospects at the box office. Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy is a historical war drama, which is directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Ram Charan under the banner Konidela Production Company. The film features an ensemble cast of Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jagapati Babu, Huma Qureshi, Amitabh Bachchan and many others. | https://www.ibtimes.co.in/will-nayanthara-dare-skip-chiranjeevis-sye-raa-narasimha-reddy-promotions-790666 |
Should We Treat Robots Like People? | The robot future is here. From automated personal assistants, like Siri and Alexa, to security bots, self-driving cars, algorithms and holograms, robots and other artificially intelligent machines are already embedded in our daily lives. In Why Do We Hurt Robots?, Jonah Engel Bromwich writes about a wave of violence against intelligent machines: A hitchhiking robot was beheaded in Philadelphia. A security robot was punched to the ground in Silicon Valley. Another security bot, in San Francisco, was covered in a tarp and smeared with barbecue sauce. Its a global phenomenon. In a mall in Osaka, Japan, three boys beat a humanoid robot with all their strength. In Moscow, a man attacked a teaching robot named Alantim with a baseball bat, kicking it to the ground, while the robot pleaded for help. Quite possibly. The specter of insurrection is embedded in the word robot itself. It was first used to refer to automatons by the Czech playwright, Karel Capek, who repurposed a word that had referred to a system of indentured servitude or serfdom. The feudal fear of peasant revolt was transplanted to mechanical servants, and worries of a robot uprising have lingered ever since. But Agnieszka Wykowska, a cognitive neuroscientist, researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology and the editor in chief of the International Journal of Social Robotics, said that while human antagonism toward robots has different forms and motivations, it often resembles the ways that humans hurt each other. Robot abuse, she said, might stem from the tribal psychology of insiders and outsiders. You have an agent, the robot, that is in a different category than humans, she said. So you probably very easily engage in this psychological mechanism of social ostracism because its an out-group member. Thats something to discuss: the dehumanization of robots even though theyre not humans. Paradoxically, our tendency to dehumanize robots comes from the instinct to anthropomorphize them. William Santana Li, the chief executive of Knightscope, the largest provider of security robots in the United States (two of which were battered in San Francisco), said that while he avoids treating his products as if they were sentient beings, his clients seem unable to help themselves. Our clients, a significant majority, end up naming the machines themselves, he said. The article gives several explanations for why humans hurt robots. Explain why you feel the way you do. Some say that anthropomorphizing robots for example, giving them names and getting to know them encourages humans to be kinder to them. | https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/learning/should-we-treat-robots-like-people.html |
Why are so many companies fleeing the UK ahead of Brexit? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Sir James Dyson has announced the company headquarters will be leaving from Malmesbury to new premises in Singapore. Having become the "business face" of the Leave campaign, Sir James famously suggested the UK could be around 18.5billion better off outside the EU and he supports a hard Brexit, reports Perspecs. Yet Dyson will now no longer be registered as a UK company as Singapore becomes their main tax base. Singapore and the EU signed a free trade agreement and in 2018 sought closer commercial ties with one another, Dyson will be able to take full advantage of this agreement. The move to Singapore means financial officer Jorn Jensen and chief legal officer Martin Bowen will have to leave the UK and work in their new headquarters. Dyson has insisted that other people working at their Malmesbury site will not lose their jobs, they just won't be part of the head office any more. Dyson employs 4,800 people in the UK. The company also said the move had nothing to do with Brexit or taxes and was instead "to make us future-proof for where we see the best opportunities". Back in 2002 Dyson started moving production to Malaysia, in 2013 they opened a new plant in Singapore. They have said they wanted to move their headquarters closer to their manufacturing operations. They also want to be closer to the majority of their profit and growth in Asia. Despite this, the move is being seen as a major blow to Brexit from one of its greatest supporters. John Kampfner wrote in The Times that for such a vocal supporter of the UK leaving the EU, Dyson should stick around and "see it through". Kampfner wrote than any boss should be allowed to move their headquarters and money wherever they like but said Dyson should practice what he preaches and show he has faith in Brexit by staying put. (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror) Prime minister Theresa May insisted Dyson was committed to a "long term" future in the UK but other politicians have been less happy with the announcement. Tory MP Robert Buckland said he was "disappointed" at the decision to move while Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran accused Dyson of "staggering hypocrisy". Dyson is not the only business that has been edging away from the UK since Brexit. Sony's European headquarters were based in the UK but they will now be relocating to the Netherlands to avoid customs issues that would come with dealing with Europe from outside the EU. Once seen as the "springboard to Europe", after Brexit the UK will have a harder time dealing with the EU and become a less lucrative place for businesses to base their European headquarters. Other businesses such as P&O are re-registering with different countries and some companies are stockpiling goods in anticipation of a no deal Brexit. Jonathan Freedland of The Guardian writes that Dyson is not the first vocal supporter of Brexit to move parts of his business or money out of the UK and into a country that is either part of the EU or can still conduct free trade with it. Freedland cites examples such as Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg who is co-founder of Somerset Capital Management, which has started opening up funds in Dublin. He also wonders why the Nigels, Farage and Lawson, are respectively getting German passports for their children and applying for French residency. UK 'open for business' despite firms leaving: Trade minister Liam Fox Britain remains a world-leading destination for foreign investment despite Brexit clouds and the departure of a number of companies, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said on Wednesday (Jan 23). Interviewed by AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Fox also welcomed a proposal by Poland that could potentially unblock a problem surrounding the Irish border that is holding up a deal on Britain's exit from the European Union. Read the full article here. Vacuum giant Dyson quitting UK for Singapore despite billionaire owner BACKING Brexit The iconic vacuum cleaner firm is moving its head office to the far east even though Sir James Dyson has been a prominent Brexit backer. The bombshell announcement will mean Dyson is no longer a British registered company and Singapore will become its main tax base. Read the full article here. | https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/many-companies-fleeing-uk-ahead-2463673 |
What does 2019 hold for school choice? | Its safe to say the 2019 legislative session will see clashes between Democratic and Republican lawmakers, and a few of these will probably revolve around education and school choice. Although school choice isnt entirely a partisan issue, the parties tend to disagree on how best to hold accountable school choice initiatives, such as the Opportunity Scholarship program or Innovative School Districts. I feel we have gotten away from some of the accountability of those programs, Rep. Julie Von Haefen, D-Wake, said in a segment on Education Matters. Von Haefen said she supports reinstating a cap on the number of charter schools. The cap was removed in 201. Since then, the number of charter schools has grown to 185. If were not going to do that, then I feel we need to increase the accountability of those schools, Von Haefen said. Its National School Choice Week, and thousands of events are being held by schools, communities, and organizations across the country, including rallies in Raleigh, Wilmington, and Fayetteville. Democratic lawmakers have long argued programs such as Opportunity Scholarships, which provide vouchers to low-income families to send their children to private schools, arent properly held accountability to taxpayers. Terry Stoops, vice president of research and director of education studies at the John Locke Foundation, said Democratic lawmakers will probably challenge these programs. Under the guise of enhancing transparency and accountability, Democratic lawmakers will file bills to impose additional restrictions on charter schools and the states three private school choice programs, Stoops said. For charters, this may include mandating weighted lotteries and transportation and food service requirements. Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union told Carolina Journal a lot of people use accountability to criticize their opponents, but it tends to mean something different to different people. Hes interested in clearing up some of the confusion. We have a group of people who in my opinion improperly defined what accountability means, Horn said. We need to come to some agreement so we can stop the political hyperbole, so we can give parents the opportunity to make legitimate comparisons, and they can find what works best for their kids. Some groups are less interested in reforming or expanding those programs than they are in repealing them. The N.C. Association for Educators listed some of its 2019 legislative priorities on its website, a few of which target school choice initiatives. Included in the list is a goal to phase out and repeal the Opportunity Scholarship program, and to dedicate that money to low-performing schools. The NCAE also wants to see an end to the Innovative School District, a pilot program in which chronically low-performing schools are turned over to an outside operator for five years and given charter-like flexibility to help improve academic performance. Conversely, the N.C. Association for Public Charter Schools is pushing to expand school choice programs. Other legislative priorities include expanding Transportation Grant funding to allow more charter schools to offer transportation services and allowing county commissioners to fund charter school capital projects. The left has opposed further expanding the program to include more families and forward funding it for the next 10 years. That includes Gov. Roy Cooper, who has repeatedly challenged the program and has advocated defunding it. Governor Coopers budget will discontinue funding to expand private school choice programs for low-income and special needs children, Stoops said. I do not think that Republicans will play along. | https://www.carolinajournal.com/news-article/what-does-2019-hold-for-school-choice/ |
When is Mother's Day 2019 and why do we celebrate it? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email If there's one event in your 2019 diary you definitely don't want to forget, it's Mother's Day. Also known as Mothering Sunday, it's always worth circling the date as soon as possible because it changes from year to year. Most of us sort of know it happens in March but the actual date can change depending on which Sunday it falls on. And this year it falls late, very late. So, to make sure you dont risk the wrath of your dear old mum, were here to tell you when it is and why we celebrate it. You'll have to go out and buy the flowers yourself, though. The day itself doesn't have a fixed date as it's linked to Easter, which is determined by the lunar calendar and changes annually. Mother's Day always falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent and three weeks before Easter Sunday. In the UK, Mother's Day 2019 is being celebrated on Sunday, March 31. No, but it is on a Sunday - hence the name 'Mothering Sunday', obvs. Needless to say, cafes, restaurants and hotels will be fully booked a long time ahead, as lots of people treat their mum to a special lunch or afternoon tea. Those wanting to eat in a restaurant on Mother's Day will definitely need to reserve a table in advance. Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. The clearest modern precedent for Mothers Day, though, is the early Christian festival known as 'Mothering Sunday'. Once a major tradition in the UK and parts of Europe, it fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their 'mother church' for a special service. Children and young people who were 'in service' as household servants were given a rare day off so they could visit their families, and would pick wild flowers along the way to place in the church or give to their mothers. Over time, the tradition shifted into a more secular holiday but kids still shower their mums with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. While versions of Mothers Day are celebrated worldwide, traditions vary depending on the country. In Ethiopia, for example, families get together each autumn to sing songs and eat a big feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honoring motherhood. In the States, Mother's Day continues to be celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers, and it's become one of the biggest holidays for consumer spending. Families also celebrate by giving mums a day off from the cooking and household chores. How kind of them. | https://www.devonlive.com/when-mothers-day-mothering-sunday-1160490 |
Did Kylie Jenner Just Confirm Shes Married Travis Scott? | Speculation that Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott have tied the knot has reached fever pitch after she posted a ~very~ interesting caption on one of her recent Instagram uploads. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared a black-and-white shot of herself in lingerie alongside the message: extrao a mi esposo." It didnt take long for fans to open up Google Translate and deduce that this means "I miss my husband" in Spanish. Although the 21-year-old has a history of calling Travis hubby, she also has a pretty damning track record when it comes to keeping secrets. Those were the days. Some people also think a secret marriage might have something to do with that project she teased on Twitter: I have something really exciting i get to share soon with you guys! Ive been cooking this up for awhile i cant wait to share my new project alreadyyy. Still, a source recently told People that the parents of Stormi are "looking to get married soon," but are said to be taking "a more cautious pace after seeing her sisters past relationships fail." In an interview with Rolling Stone in December, the rapper said: "I need her with me to operate. Shes that one. Well get married soon. I just gotta sturdy upI gotta propose in a fire way. Tbh, well be furious if Kylie Jenner got married and didnt post a shot of her dress on Instagram. | http://www.mtv.co.uk/kylie-jenner/news/did-kylie-jenner-just-confirm-shes-married-travis-scott |
Will the Queen step in to save Brexit from being stopped? | as t LONDON With even Theresa May now privately admitting that Brexit is likely to be delayed, many Brexiteers are searching for ways to ensure that Britain really does leave the EU on March 29. One idea that has gained currency over the past week is that the Queen (who was reportedly pro-Brexit before the EU referendum) could use her powers to ensure Britain's exit from the EU. Suspend parliament Getty MPs are due to vote next Tuesday on a Brexit amendment brought by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, which would pave the way for legislation to be passed early next month that would force the prime minister to seek an extension of the two-year Brexit process. This would mean that Britain would potentially not leave the EU until the end of the year, with fears among Brexiteers that the delay would be used by pro-EU MPs to prevent Brexit happening altogether. As things stand Cooper's bill looks to have a clear chance of passing. Well one plan pushed by leading Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg on Wednesday, is for Theresa May to ask the Queen to "prorogue" parliament. Mogg told an event in Westminster yesterday that May should use all "vestigial constitutional means" to stop the bill being passed, including suspending parliament. "The executive is entitled to use other vestigial constitutional means to stop it, by which I basically mean prorogation," he said. "Prorogation normally lasts for three days but any law that is in the process before prorogation falls. I think that would be the government's answer." Well there are a couple of obvious problems with this plan. The first is that May has already signaled her opposition to it, telling Conservative MP Desmond Swayne last week that she would not be "tempted" to go down the route of suspending parliament. The second is that even if parliament was suspended, MPs would simply jump on the next piece of legislation that appeared before them when they returned and amend it to have the same effect as Cooper's bill. Refuse Royal Assent Getty Under Britain's unwritten and archaic constitution the monarch must give "Royal Assent" to all legislation passed by the Houses of Parliament, before it can become law. In principle this means that the Queen could decide to refuse assent for a piece of legislation and prevent it entering the statute books. As Brexiteer Conservative MP Mark Francois told Talk Radio this week: "under our constitution the monarch is the ultimate constitutional backstop." However, while in theory the Queen retains this power, in practice it has not been used by any monarch since the reign of Queen Anne, who used it to veto the Scottish Militia Act in 1707. Doing so again would be certain to provoke a constitutional crisis the like of which Britain has not seen for hundreds of years. In reality the power to veto legislation passed by MPs would probably only ever be used again in the most extreme of situations for example to stop a law legislating to kill the first born of every family, or to prevent the creation of a fascist dictatorship led by Jacob Rees-Mogg. So while it's possible the Queen could prevent Cooper's Brexit delay bill becoming law, it is incredibly unlikely that she would choose to do so simply to ensure that Brexit takes place on a certain date decided by MPs two years ago. | https://www.businessinsider.com/will-the-queen-step-in-to-prevent-brexit-being-delayed-or-stopped-2019-1 |
Who is Yes Bank's new CEO and MD Ravneet Gill? | Yes Bank announced on January 24 that Deutsche Bank (India's) Ravneet Gill will be taking over as CEO and MD from March 1, 2019. Gill will take over as Rana Kapoor is scheduled to step down on January 31. The Deutsche Bank (India) CEO has been with the bank since August, 2012. He has close to 28 years of banking experience across several fields, including private banking, foreign exchange, structured financing, risk management and transaction banking. Also read: Yes Bank names Deutsche's Ravneet Gill as MD & CEO effective March 1, 2019 Gill first joined Deutsche Bank's Private Wealth Management division in 1991. He was appointed as the Head of Capital Markets and Treasury Solutions, India in 2011. | https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/who-is-yes-banks-new-ceo-and-md-ravneet-gill-3430331.html |
Why is bread getting a bad rap? | Whole-grain bread is a good source of nutrients, while breads made from refined grains 'look pretty much like plain sugar'. There may be no dietary staple more in need of a public relations makeover than bread. Concerns over carbs, sodium and gluten sometime overshadow what can be a simple, tasty way to add important vitamins and minerals as well as fibre to daily meals. But some breads are better for you than others. Just simple carbohydrates Whole-grain breads are good sources of nutrients that help maintain a healthy immune system. They also provide dietary fibre that can help improve cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Refined grains, on the other hand, can lead to a surplus of sugar in the bloodstream, which in turn becomes stored in the body as fat. And refined-grain breads which have a finer texture and a longer shelf life than whole-grain breads, but lack most of the nutrients turn up often in everyday foods. White bread is an obvious example, but French bread, bagels and pizza crust commonly contain refined grains as well. White bread "looks pretty much like plain sugar, really, just simple carbohydrates," said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University in New York. "Not the complex carbohydrates that we find in whole grains." Fad diets may warn against bread's calories and carbohydrates, but both are necessary components of a daily diet. Complex carbohydrates provide energy for longer periods of time than simple carbohydrates, like those found in white bread. A variety of healthy ingredients "I always find it comical when I see low-carbohydrate bread, because you know, it's all carbohydrates," St-Onge said. "If there are concerns about bread, it's probably more about what you put between those two slices than the slices themselves." A slice of whole-grain wheat bread typically contains 70 calories, compared with 77 calories in a slice of white bread. Whole-grain bread has more dietary fibre than white bread (2g compared to 0.8g), and white bread has 1.64g of sugar while whole-grain bread has none. Whole-grain bread can come in a variety of forms, with a variety of other healthy ingredients. "You can be very creative with the types of bread that you consume," St-Onge said. "Having different breads that are whole grain can be a way to make your sandwiches more interesting. You can include flaxseed, rye, oats, walnuts, hazelnuts. Those are good for your heart." Whole grains are typically low in sodium, but salt may be added during processing of certain types of bread. Gluten-free an option "Bread must have sodium. It needs it," St-Onge said. "You have to stop the yeast at some point, and you need to have salt to do that for preservation purposes. But I would not consider that to be a reason not to consume bread." Bread also contains gluten, a protein that is found in wheat, barley and rye. People who have coeliac disease are unable to tolerate gluten, and others may have a sensitivity to gluten that causes symptoms such as nausea or abdominal pain. Gluten-free bread may be an option, St-Onge said, but only if it is truly necessary. "The gluten craze is something to be wary about," she said. "Baked gluten-free foods often do not have optimal nutrient value." Add leaves of lettuce The safest way to make sure your bread is healthy, St-Onge said, is to make it yourself. "It's easy; you can use a bread machine or a no-knead recipe where you don't even have to knead it," she said. "You can control the flour that you put in. There are no additives." Some people trying to limit the carbs and calories of bread may opt for tortillas or lettuce wraps, St-Onge said, but there are dietary implications to be considered. "A leaf of lettuce will have a couple of calories, where a slice of bread will have 100-something calories. No," she said. "Have your regular sandwich and add in leaves of lettuce. Make it crunchy. Make it fresh. And then your sandwich is heftier, it's bulkier, it's bigger. It's more satisfying." Image credit: iStock | https://www.health24.com/Diet-and-nutrition/News/why-is-bread-getting-a-bad-rap-20190124-2 |
What is in Gov. Charlie Baker's $42.7 billion state budget for fiscal 2020? | In this April 11, 2018, file photo, a high school student uses a vaping device near a school campus in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) New taxes For a governor who was elected on a platform of no new taxes, Bakers fiscal 2020 budget is replete with new tax dollars. Baker wants to raise $42 million from requiring online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy to collect states sales taxes; $6 million from taxing e-cigarettes and vaping products; and $14 million from a new tax on opioid manufacturers, with the money dedicated to addressing addiction. He wants to require companies to remit sales taxes earlier through online payments, raising $300 million in one-time money. He wants to increase a tax on real estate transfers to pay for the effects of climate change. The bill counts on revenue from legalizing and taxing sports betting. And it includes taxes on some new industries, which have already been passed by the Legislature $133 million from recreational marijuana and $28 million from short-term room rentals. Baker defended the large number of new taxes as leveling the playing field and creating new services he believes are important. | https://www.masslive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/01/60ebf63e984265/what-is-in-gov-charlie-bakers-427-billion-state-budget-for-fiscal-2020.html |
When did patriotism become racism? | It's become axiomatic in our country that anyone who disagrees with a minority group member, or a left-wing radical, will be branded a racist. You must be a racist! You're a racist! (The fact that he owes millions to the IRS doesn't matter. He's black, hence you can't criticize him without being charged with racism.) In fact, it's become an egregious act of racism for anyone to support President Trump, the wall on the southern border, or any other issue that promotes American values. Keep in mind: it doesn't matter how many patriotic blacks wear MAGA hats, or how many go public with their support of President Trump. As far as the left is concerned, those blacks are "Uncle Toms," or traitors to the left-wing strategy of undermining the values of our country. Those who engage in such ludicrous accusations undoubtedly feel that it's their trump card (no pun) to use whenever they're losing an argument. If you're responsible enough to say we need a border wall to protect American sovereignty, the leftist can attempt to put you on the defensive by saying you're a racist who doesn't want "brown" people in the country. Now, I happen to know oodles of brown people who unequivocally agree with the need for a wall. I suppose they'd be called traitors to "their people," too. The fact is that it has nothing to do with racial bias; it's all about winning the argument by intimidating your opponents out of their right to free speech. Leftists are so filled with self-imposed rage that it makes them sloppy and foolish. A recent example is when CNN legal analyst Areva Martin, a black woman, thought she was talking to a white man while she was speaking as a guest on David Webb's radio show. When Webb said he considered his qualifications more important than his skin color when he applies for jobs, Martin accused him of "exercising white privilege." The problem with that was, as Webb pointed out in his response: "Areva, I hate to break the news to you, but, you should've been better prepped, because I'm black." That exchange tells us all we need to know about the balkanization of the dialogue in our country today. Ms. Martin couldn't even conceive of the possibility that she was accusing a black man of white privilege. She had become so entrenched in left-wing dogma that, in her mind, anyone who makes it in America must be the recipient of special privileges. One wonders if she considers that her position with CNN was a result of "black privilege." A real problem with the abundance of spurious racist allegations is that legitimate claims may soon be viewed as simply more mendacious attempts to win disputes with non-whites. I think it's a truism that all decent people will come to the defense of those being victimized by bigots. It's been my experience that most educated, successful, self-respecting minorities didn't get where they are by using their skin pigmentation to extort their way up the ladder of success. Sadly, we don't hear nearly as much from them as we do from the race-baiters who continue to see it as the only way to be relevant. | https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/01/when_did_patriotism_become_racism.html |
Did woman die of drug overdose? | 2 SHARES Share Tweet CEBU CITY Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 19-year-old woman during the Sinulog revelry. Lawyer Wardley Getalla, director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA 7), clarified that the cause of death of Ashley Abad has yet to be established. We are still convincing the girls family to have the body autopsied so we can determine if the cause of death was drug overdose or party drug overdose. The cause of death can only be determined after an examination conducted by an expert, Getalla told reporters yesterday. Abad died after attending a concert last Jan. 19. If indeed what happened was a case of drug overdose, Getalla said the autopsy will determine the kind of party drug used. There are so many kinds of party drugs. Ecstacy is just one of them. There is also a concoction of party drugs because nowadays, the users are going for those with strong effects so they mix party drugs, said Getalla. Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, director of Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, said stories that the woman died of party drug overdose came out on social media only. Accordingly, the medical doctor who responded said it was not even an overdose of ecstasy. Overdose of a certain drug. Stories about ecstasy came from social media, Sinas said. Sinas said they will be tapping the PDEA 7 to help the police in the investigation. Sinas said police will also be inviting Abads companions during the concert, including her supposed boyfriend. We will check if the companions can be considered as persons of interest, said Sinas. Sinas added that Abads father has reported the incident to the Mabolo Police Station but has yet to give the police a clearance to conduct an autopsy. Related comments | http://tempo.com.ph/2019/01/24/did-woman-die-of-drug-overdose/ |
Is Khekhe behind Mams evictions? | Notorious Mamelodi taxi boss Vusi Mathibela is allegedly behind the latest evictions of occupants from low-cost housing units in the Tshwane township. Community members in Mamelodi West have claimed that Mathibela - a taxi owner businessman commonly known as "Khekhe" - was behind the latest evictions which sparked violence in the township. On Monday, hundreds of people who had illegally occupied 92 low cost units were kicked out by community members who claimed that they had brought criminal activity into the area. This was after Branden Maseko, 20, was gunned down in a tavern in a block of flats adjacent to the old and crumbling Mamelodi hostel. But a community member who asked not to be named said Maseko's death was used as an excuse to get rid of the flat tenants. The anonymous resident said the aim was to hijack the units and run them through a money-making criminal set-up. | https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-01-24-is-khekhe-behind-mams--evictions/ |
Are attitudes towards a Peoples Vote changing in Lincolnshire? | Lincolnshire groups calling for a second vote on the UKs membership of the European Union are stepping up their campaigns in response to the latest deal and a shift in attitude, they say. North East Lincolnshire European Movement says the feelings of residents on Brexit are changing. A Brexitometer in the centre of Grimsby, they say, saw the 50-60 people they spoke to mostly supported a Peoples Vote on the final deal. However, Lincolnshire County Council economy chief, Colin Davie, recently said another referendum would be dangerous and divisive for the UK. Coun Davie described the vote as being bad for politics and bad for society, adding: We have had the biggest ever test of the population in the referendum on June 23, 2016 and more people voted in that than in anything before. Saying that we are going to ignore that and have another referendum would be so bad for politics and so bad for society. Brian Milne, from the North East Lincolnshire European Movement, said: We were really surprised (about Grimsbys Brexitometer results), because we thought it would be a big leave area, but there was a clear message. Yes, we are stepping things up, because obviously we want a Peoples Vote here, which was a target area for the campaign to see what the residents actually wanted. It was a big leave area, but the feeling is now moving from leave to remain which clearly showed on the Brexitometer. In response to Coun Davies comments, Mr Milne added: We can see where hes coming from but, when we did the Brexitometer, the peoples response was that they didnt know what they were voting for in 2016. Yes, it was leave or stay, but they didnt know what the deal looked like - so thats why people now are voting for a second referendum, so they have got the facts and know what it looks like. The debate over another referendum has heated up in recent weeks, especially after Prime Minister Theresa Mays deal was rejected in Parliament by a record-breaking 230 votes last Tuesday. A tweaked deal, which could see a number of amendments, is set to go before the House of Commons again next Tuesday (January 29). Post your comments below... | https://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/news/are-attitudes-towards-a-people-s-vote-changing-in-lincolnshire-1-8782630 |
What happens when driverless car meets delivery robot at an intersection? | Just before Christmas last year, Telia and Ericsson opened a 5G pilot network on Tallinn University of Technology's campus. It's a permanent network, created for TalTech scientists and the local startup hub to test new applications that need next-generation technology. Its first trial was to stream live 4K video from the Christmas market in Tallinn, which according to Telia Estonia, was the first live 4K broadcast in the region. Although it will take some time until mobile end users in Estonia can start signing up for 5G, there are other areas where the technology is already being put to use. One exciting project that's now powered by Telia's 5G network is ISEAuto, the first self-driving vehicle built in Estonia. ISEAuto is a last-mile autonomous shuttle, which is shorter and narrower than a Mini Cooper, although it is a meter higher than a Mini. It is being tested on the TalTech self-driving car track. The vehicle has six spaces for passengers or luggage, with a 47kW main motor to give a cruising speed of 10kph to 20kph (6mph to 12mph). The technology it uses to drive autonomously includes Lidar, ultrasonic sensors, short-distance radar, cameras, inertial measurement unit (IMU), and GNSS-RTK positioning technology. Raivo Sell, a senior researcher at TalTech and one of the leading scientists behind the project, tells ZDNet that this month the team has already started the next stage of project, which involves building the second and more autonomous version of the car. "The new version will be a street-legal version with optimized systems. It means ISEAuto v2 can perform pilot drives in urban environments," he says. SEE: The new commute: How driverless cars, hyperloop, and drones will change our travel plans (TechRepublic cover story) | download the PDF version This next phase also involves the vehicle being tested and trialed in various countries. "For example, we're applying for pilots in Tallinn, Estonia, and Helsinki, Finland, as well as some later pilots in Latvia. We're also starting to cooperate with Florida Polytechnic University to apply new testing and validation methods to our vehicle to make it safer and more reliable," explains Sell. Although ISEAuto is soon going to have the opportunity to explore new tarmac paths in various places around the world, it doesn't mean it will be abandoning the smart-city environment of TalTech campus. In addition to 5G and ISEAuto vehicles, the test area is equipped with intelligent road signs and is also being used by Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robots, providing rare opportunities for scientists and entrepreneurs to test solutions to problems that could emerge in the near future in various traffic situations. "New test cases are planned for late January and February to test V2V and V2I communication. The first test case will demonstrate ISEAuto and delivery robot communication, to agree on their driving behavior at intersections. This requires low latency communication, which is enabled by 5G," Sell says. "The second case study involves real-time Lidar and camera-stream uploads to the cloud to perform real-time processing and cloud-based situation awareness analysis during the drive." The ISEAuto project started in February 2017, when Vino Kaldoja, CEO of Silberauto, one of the biggest enterprises in the automotive field in the Baltics, came to the university and proposed some innovative projects for TalTech's 100th anniversary in 2018. During the meeting with Raivo Sell, the idea of making a self-driving vehicle was agreed. The project started officially in June 2017 where both the company and the university invested 50 percent of the project cost. "The project was very ambitious: to develop a fully operative self-driving car in one year," says Sell. A team of students was put together to work on autonomous driving software, sensor technology, and electronics, while Silberauto engineers started to manufacture the vehicle body. SEE: IT pro's guide to the evolution and impact of 5G technology (free PDF) The project's main objectives were to develop relevant expertise, offer practical, state-of-art studies for students, and create a smart-city environment on the university campus. Those goals have been met, and now the one-off project might end up as something much bigger. "We're now setting up the long-term financial and strategic plan for ISEAuto's future developments," says Sell. "As so far it's been a project-based initiative, we need to establish a long-term strategy. In cooperation with the smart-city concept on TalTech campus and our partner, the ISEAuto project will be reorganized to meet long-term objectives and business opportunities." The international interest is certainly there. In addition to receiving invitations to several fairs and exhibitions in Baltic and Nordic countries, ISEAuto has already received quite a few cooperation proposals. "One of our partners in this project is ABB Estonia, and the project has also gained the interest from ABB headquarters in Switzerland," says Sell. "We're invited to be a partner in several EU H2020 projects and have also started collaborating with Japan and US universities and companies. We're just beginning a new partnership with Florida Polytechnic University and the International Transportation Innovation Center in the US." According to Sell, quite soon. "Tallinn will announce the tender for self-driving last-mile vehicle pilots where we will participate. If we succeed, our vehicle will be in traffic by the end of 2019." Image: ISEAuto Previous and related coverage Ericsson, Volvo form five-year connected cars deal Ericsson said the contract with Volvo is its largest to date for its Connected Vehicles Cloud. SK Telecom trials self-driving cars for car sharing Participants in the trial used their smartphones to call self-driving cars to pick them up and ride together. How self-driving tractors, AI, and precision agriculture will save us from the impending food crisis Go inside the race to feed the 9 billion people who will inhabit planet earth in 2050. See how John Deere and others are working to change the equation before it's too late. 5G mobile: Arriving not with a bang, but a whisper High-speed 5G services could change everything, including the devices we use, but just not yet. Self-driving stories: How 6 US cities are planning for autonomous vehicles TechRepublic Autonomous vehicle technology is an emerging issue for many cities, and more than 50% are already planning for self-driving cars, according to a new report. Boeing's autonomous flying taxi completes its first flight CNET The inaugural trip focused on takeoff and landing, but there's more on the horizon. | https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-happens-when-driverless-car-meets-delivery-robot-at-an-intersection/ |
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Did J. Cole Diss Kanye West in MIDDLE CHILD? | J. Cole delivered his first record for the new year and he certainly didnt disappoint. MIDDLE CHILD became available on all streaming platforms on Wednesday night and immediately generated a lot of buzz on social media. Cole notably shouted out LeBron James, Kodak Black, 21 Savage, and Drake, whom he referred to as a legend: Just put the Rollie right back on my wrist / This watch came from Drizzy, he gave me a gift / Back when the rap game was prayin like this / To act like two legends cannot coexist, he spit. But theres one person in particular that the KOD rapper didnt mention, but the context sounds like hes talking about Kanye Wests beef with Drizzy. But Id never beef with a nigga for nothin / If I smoke a rapper, its gon be legit / It wont be for clout, it wont be for fame / It wont be cause my shit aint sellin the same / It wont be to sell you my latest lil sneakers / It wont be cause some nigga slid in my lane. Fans began speculating that J. Cole is insinuating that all of Yes recent antics are publicity stunts and hes doing it to promote his music and sneakers. This isnt the first time Cole has seemingly took aim at Kanye. In his 2016 track, False Prophets, he rapped about a former hero of his surrounding himself with fake women and yes men. Hip Hop fans thought this was referring to Yeezys new life with the Kardashians. I believed him when he said his shit was purer/And he the type of n***a swear he real but all around hims fake/The women, the dick-riders, you know, the yes men/Nobody with the balls to say somethin to contest him/So he grows out of control. Listen to the song below: | http://thesource.com/2019/01/24/j-cole-kanye-west/ |
What happened to Mitchell Services Ltd share price? | At the time of writing, shares of Mitchell Services Ltd [ASX:MSV] are up 20% to 4.8 cents per share. Mitchell Services provided an investor update for the second quarter to the market: Source: Mitchell Services The December quarter was the second consecutive quarter where the company recorded revenues of over $30 million. The EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) and EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) margins were over 22% and 13%, respectively. Heres the share price action today: Source: Commsec Mitchell Services share price has been flat for most of the past year. And considering the positive financial result, the market reacted positively to the news. The share price could potentially go higher in the months ahead Mitchell Services repaid $8.5 million in loans to major shareholders on 11 December. Including shareholder loans which were due in July 2020 and were repaid 18 months early. The company used operational cashflow to repay the balance, following a period of recorded strong EBITDA and cashflow performance. Source: Mitchell Services The good news: Mitchell Services now has debt of $6.49 million 65% lower than at 30 June 2018 ($19.56 million). Put differently, the net debt (debt less cash) position stands at roughly $2.5 million. While thats not much, it should enhance margins over the coming months. If the business continues to grow with oil and gas prices, the share price could jump sharply in the months ahead. But that isnt a certainty. My free new investor report, A Detailed Look into Australias Top 10 Mining Stocks, does exactly what it says in the name. I look at 10 companies that could make you huge money this year, and beyond. To download that report free, go here. | https://www.marketsandmoney.com.au/what-happened-to-mitchell-services-ltd-share-price-asxu/2019/01/24/ |
Will Mendoza and Preckwinkle get further tangled in Burke mess? | Which of these post-Rahmulan candidates for mayor of Chicago Toni Preckwinkle, Susana Mendoza or Gery Chico will show up the most on federal tape in the investigation of Ald. I dont know, said one of the true reformers, Ald. Scott Waguespack, 32nd, head of the Chicago City Councils Progressive Caucus. Weve got an alderman wearing a wire. Burke has been charged, Waguespack said. Theres a lot more to this. Weve just seen the tip of the iceberg. Theres more to come. Yes, there is more to come. And asking questions about how it affects the candidacies of some of the post-Rahmulans will upset their allies and supporters. But I dont see any way around it. Its a terrible question, yes, an outrageous question. It shouldnt be asked. Ive got to ask it. And Chicago has got to think about it. Because the candidates are thinking about it, and their operatives are thinking about it, and their money guys. Its more than likely that a federal investigation of a guy like Burke 50 years an alderman who knows where all the bodies are buried might brush up against some of the candidates in the mayoral race. Because it looks like the feds have parked the big FBI bus in front of City Hall and theyre offering rides. The feds have already charged Burke, 14th, with one count of extortion, and theyre not done. Theres nothing illegal about talking with Burke. He talks to them all. He helped launch the careers of Chico, who worked for Burke on the councils Finance Committee, and Mendoza, who was married at Burkes home and counted him as her mentor until he got too hot. And Burke helped another candidate, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and raised money for her campaigns, and as laid out in a story the Chicago Tribune broke days ago, she took care of him with a $100,000-a-year job for his son. Preckwinkle is now finally, and quite sheepishly, admitting that she talked to Burke about that cushy political gig for his son at taxpayer expense. I had a meeting with Ed Burke, she said at a news conference Wednesday. He shared with me that his son was looking for a new opportunity. Thats so nice that Ed Burkes son gets an opportunity courtesy of Toni Preckwinkle. Is this where I say, Bye Felicia? Burke is everywhere in this mayoral campaign. But Ive already told you hes a walking intelligence operation, a spider in the middle of the web, connected to many through that phone of his. This week Chicago learned that Ald. Danny Solis, 25th, chairman of the councils Zoning Committee, wore a wire for the feds on Burke, according to the Sun-Times. What we dont know is what Danny Solis said to others, on his own phone, before he got himself pinched by the feds and wired up against Burke. No one will say, said a jokester over at the federal building. Must be because Solis wanted to root out corruption, right? Yes, thats got to be it. Danny Solis wanted to be Hercules and cleanse Chicago of its stench. More likely, he was caught doing something naughty, most likely involving money and clout at City Hall, and the feds offered him a deal: Wire up on Burke or take your chances. Solis wired up. Meanwhile, WBEZs Dan Mihalopoulos is reporting something that Mendoza doesnt want to see in the papers: That FBI mole Solis 25th Ward organization gave Mendoza the largest contribution hes ever made: a whopping $55,400 to Mendoza on March 15. The same day, the radio station reports, Mendoza received $45,200 from companies whose board members are investors in a firm founded by Solis sister Patti Doyle Solis and one of the aldermans longtime supporters Brian Hynes. So here it is so far. Solis helps the feds get Burke, and the Solis family makes Mendoza happy. Also, Burke takes care of Preckwinkle, and she takes care of Burkes son and Burke is happy. Or at least they all were happy, until the FBI had to start investigating. Interesting fellow, smart, has the voice of a mayor, but he cant win. It looks like he got in this race to block Mendoza and help Preckwinkle, and Ill speculate he probably asked Burke if running for mayor was a good idea. Gery will angrily deny it, but it really doesnt matter. I cant see him winning it. There are other mayoral candidates out there, too, those I call the pre-Rahmulans, like former schools CEO Paul Vallas and former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot. Theyre two of the candidates who had the real guts to get into the race before Rahm Emanuel chickened out. Right now, the race is still close. In a crowded field, where the candidates with money and media buzz still havent been able to separate themselves from the pack, voters are waiting. This is a good city, insists Waguespack. Good people want change in Chicago. They know there are problems. But they want change. If they want change, theyll have to do something about it. Otherwise, the song remains the same. Listen to "The Chicago Way" podcast with John Kass and Jeff Carlin at www.wgnradio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway. [email protected] Twitter @John_Kass | https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-met-ed-burke-toni-preckwinkle-kass-20190123-story.html |
What next for Kensey Food workers after Launceston factory announces closure? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email There would have been 650 people waking up today worried about their futures after hearing they are likely to lose their jobs at a huge food factory in Launceston. There was shock among the staff at Kensey Foods on Wednesday morning when bosses announced the factory was due to close in July. The business which shares on owner, Samworth Brothers, with Ginsters produces a wide range of chilled desserts, including custard tarts, cream cakes, fruit pies, crumbles, tarts and sponge puddings, for some of the UKs leading retailers including Tesco. The 11-acre site has been operating for 11 years on the Pennygwillam Industrial Estate in the North Cornwall town. This is what we know so far about the closure and what will happen to staff. Consultation period A formal consultation will now be carried out, which will enable staff members to ask questions and gather further information. One employee, who asked to remain anonymous, told Cornwall Live that staff have been invited to select group representatives to speak on their behalf. The firm said it will do "everything we can" to support employees through the consultation process. Yesterday a spokesman for Samworth Brothers said: It is with regret that we are beginning a formal consultation with our staff regarding the potential closure of Kensey Foods in Launceston." They added: Despite significant financial investment and the commitment and hard work of everyone, Kensey Foods has now been loss making for the last six years. When combined, the investments and annual losses have added up to tens of millions of pounds, and this is not sustainable for any business." In addition, the age and capability of the plant and assets have reached a stage at which significant additional capital investment is required, which is not commercially viable. It is proposed this closure would take place by the end of July. We understand this announcement will be difficult for our colleagues at Kensey. We will be doing everything we can to support them through this consultation process." Staff told to 'carry on as normal' In the meantime, staff have been told to try to 'carry on as normal' in order for the firm to meet its Tesco orders, according to staff. Asked what the mood was like following the announcement, one employee said: I think mostly shock, theyve all been told to carry on as normal as we can because we still have to provide service to Tesco. Potential jobs in Cornwall and further afield Workers have been told there is the potential for 100 jobs at The Cornwall Bakery at Callington, which makes Ginsters pasties as well as other goods. It's understand staff will have to apply for these jobs. The Cornwall Bakery is a Savoury Pastry Centre of Excellence with class-leading bakery capabilities. It brings together two long-standing and award-winning bakeries in Callington, Tamar Foods and Lynher Bakery, which are now operating as one centre of excellence under The Cornwall Bakery name. There would also be job opportunities at Samworth Brothers other businesses across the UK but that would mean relocating from Cornwall. The companys other businesses include West Cornwall Pasty Co, Melton Foods, Soreen, Saladworks and Bradgate Bakery. The firm said it has been making a loss for the last six years. One employee said equipment at the factory is unreliable and major investment would be needed to save the business. Its old equipment, he said. Everything is well past it and keeps breaking down. Production runs are inefficient so we cant make money. The MD said a 15m investment was needed to get it up to scratch, which the group have decided isnt a viable option. Redundancy advice The Kensey Foods staff will be eligible for certain rights, including: Redundancy pay A notice period A consultation with their employer The option to move into a different job Time off to find a new job Staff must be selected for redundancy in a fair way, for example because of level of experience or capability to do the job. You cannot be selected because of age, gender, or if youre disabled or pregnant. If you are, this could be classed as an unfair dismissal. An employer should use a fair and objective way of selecting you for redundancy. Commonly used methods are: Last in, first out (employees with the shortest length of service are selected first) Asking for volunteers (self-selection) Disciplinary records Staff appraisal markings, skills, qualifications and experience An employer can make you redundant without having to follow a selection process if your job no longer exists, for example if: Your employer is closing down a whole operation in a company and making all the employees working in it redundant Youre the only employee in your part of the organisation Your employer may offer you a different role if one is available. | https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/what-next-kensey-food-workers-2463838 |
Who was Lauren Goodger targeting with her NTAs 'fakes and snakes' dig? | Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email The fallout from the NationalTelevision Awards continues into its second day with a cryptic message from Lauren Goodger. The former The Only Way Is Essex personality posted a moody black and white image to her Instagram story with the caption "I'd rather sit alone than sit with fakes and snakes. If you can't be real and loyal, stay away from me and my table." Certainly not pals Danielle Armstrong or Amber Turner. Both of them were partying with the TOWIE princess deep into the night. There were myriad TOWIE alumni at the NTAs afterparty, Lauren could have been subtweeting any one of them. (Image: laurenrosegoodger/Instagram) Lauren has had well-publicised differences of opinion with the TOWIE producers, after she was axed from the series at the end of series six and again at the end of series 19. The beauty salon owner has also feuded with Sam Faiers as well as ex Mark Wright. She's had relationship dramas too, with Jake McLean and jailbird boyfriend Joey Morrisson. Lauren's fond of posting cryptic updates on her social media feeds. In October she hinted 'the game is about to change' without ever quite clarifying which game, or how it would change. Lauren's currently very optimistic about her future. She recently visited a psychic who without knowing anything about her beyond what she could have read in the press or seen online or on TV assured her that she would soon meet a 'tall dark and handsome man' who would sweep her off her feet and she'd be married with a baby within two years. Then again, Lauren assured her legion of fans that she would have a baby in 2018 too. (Image: Instagram/laurenrosegoodger) We may never know who the former TOWIE performer was targeting. | https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/who-lauren-goodger-targeting-ntas-13900809 |
How were the 98 cities selected for Modi's Smart Cities challenge (and why aren't there 100)? | Smart cities arent built overnight, particularly in India. Which is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned his grand urban policy effort into a competition. The India Smart Cities Challenge, being run by the government in conjunction with the New York-based Bloomberg Philanthropies, involves 100 competing cities, a three-year competition cycle and up to Rs 48,000 crore in central funding. On Thursday, the Ministry of Urban Development released the list of 98 nominated cities, with two names still to come. Over the next three years, these 100 cities will take part in a competition to receive funds from the Centre on the path to becoming smart cities. The announcement of these 100 cities, covering 24 capitals, 64 small and medium category cities and at least one city in every state and union territory, is only the beginning of what will certainly be an interesting experiment in urban policy. Theres no simple definition for smart cities. The term encompasses a vision of an urban space that is ecologically friendly, technologically integrated and meticulously planned, with a particular reliance on the use of information technology to improve efficiency. In most parts of the world, the idea begins with using digital technology to make a city more efficient and to improve wellbeing. The Modi governments idea is a little different. The governments reference note for Members of Parliament on the issue actually offers a fairly simple definition: Smart Cities are those that are able to attract investments. Everything else, such as good infrastructure and simple processes that make it easy to start and run businesses, follows from this. The Ministry of Urban Developments note on this includes 10 infrastructure elements that are preconditions for a city to become smart, including adequate water supply, electricity connections, affordable housing, robust IT connectivity and so on. It also includes an illustrative list of smart solutions that would help them earn the tag. The Union government sent a letter to each of the states and union territories including within it Stage 1 criteria on the basis of which they had to then send the nominees to the Centre. This included a specific scoring formula based on which the cities had to be evaluated. For example, cities could earn 10 points for each percentage increase in household sanitary latrines over the number recorded in the census in 2011, five points for making sure it penalised departments that were late in service delivery and 10 points for the percentage of reforms under previous urban policy schemes it had implemented. The formula was split into existing service levels, institutional systems, self-financing and past track record. Once this had been calculated, states were supposed to forward the highest-scoring candidates, of the ones they chose to shortlist, to the Centre. The final list of 98 cities is here. (Why does UP have 13 and Andhra Pradesh just 3?) Even before informing states about the initial challenge, the Centre had already used a formula to determine how many potential smart cities could compete from each of the states. The formula gave equal weightage (50:50) to the urban population of the state as well as the number of statutory towns within to come up with a number of potential smart cities. Uttar Pradesh ended up with most, at 13, followed by Tamil Nadus 12, while 23 states and UTs got just 1 each. (Werent there supposed to be 100?) Jammu and Kashmir has asked for more time in picking its one city, partly because of the difficulty in selecting just one city across the Jammu/Kashmir valley divide. Uttar Pradesh ended up putting forward 14 names for its 13 slots, mostly as a way of avoiding politics over the final choice. Both Meerut and Rae Bareli have the same score based on the formula, and the UP government has not formally declared its preference between the two. According to the Times of India, the Samajwadi Party, which runs UP, doesnt want to tick off the Congress by not picking Rae Bareli, which is the constituency of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, while the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is in charge at the Centre, would prefer to reward its loyal constituents in Meerut. Stage 2 of the challenge is an all-India competition, with those 100 cities working with a consultant and a hand-holding external agency to prepare a Smart City Proposal, containing the vision, plan for mobilisation of resources and intended outcomes in terms of infrastructure upgradation and smart applications. Although the government doesnt want to prescribe a specific model, it has laid out a series of elements that must form part of the proposals, such as 10% of the energy should be from renewable resources, 80% of buildings should be green, and of the total greenfield development, at least 15% should be in the affordable housing category. The proposals are expected to be ready by October, and then submitted to the government for evaluation. The government is expected to select about 20 in the first round, although it has only committed to name a small number; those with exceptional proposals in the first round by December as early winners, basically to be examples for the rest. The next 20 or so will continue in the competition before the final set of 20 cities from the first round are announced by March or April next year. Cities that dont make it to the first cut over the next eight months will be encouraged to work on their proposals and refine them for the second round of the competition cycle that will take place across 2016-17. A third round will also take place over 2017-18. The Centre and the state government will set up a Special Purpose Vehicle to finance the smart city redevelopment plan. In the first year the government will give up to Rs 200 crore, followed by Rs 100 crore every year for the next three years, based on certain conditions. Heres a handy flow chart to see how this will work. | https://scroll.in/article/751756/how-were-the-98-cities-selected-for-modis-smart-cities-challenge-and-why-arent-there-100 |
How much is the Australian Open 2019 prize money for the singles and doubles? | Rafael Nadal is into the Australian Open final (Picture: Getty Images) The 2019 Australian Open is nearing its conclusion and some seriously big cheques are going to be handed out in the coming days. The womens singles final is played on Saturday in Melbourne, with the mens singles on the day after and the various doubles finals contested from Friday to Sunday. Petra Kvitova downs Danielle Collins to book spot in first Australian Open final The prize fund at the Aussie Open went up yet again this year, to a whopping 35m, a big jump from last years 30.8m. It has come on a huge amount from the 7.7m prize fund for the tournament as recently as 2001. Naomi Osaka beat Karolina Pliskova to make the final in Melbourne (Picture: Getty Images) Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said of the increase in prize money: We make no secret of our commitment to looking after the players as well as we possibly can, and ensuring they have a great experience at the Australian Open. Advertisement Advertisement The players are the stars of the show. They bring in the crowds and fill the stadiums, they inspire the next generation to pick up a racquet, and the rest of us to always keep trying, and push the boundaries of what is possible. For all of these things and more, we invest significant resources into looking after the players, including state-of-the-art facilities, the worlds friendliest player services team and appropriate compensation. Australian Open 2019 singles prize money Winner: 2.3m Runner-up: 1.15m Semi-finals: 515k Quarter-finals: 257k Round four: 145k Round three: 87k Round two: 59k Round one: 42k Australian Open 2019 doubles prize money Winner: 408,000 Runner-up: 204,000 Semi-finals: 104,000 Quarter-finals: 54,000 Round four: 30,000 Round three: 18,000 Round two: 11,500 Australian Open 2019 mixed doubles prize money Winner: 100,000 Runner-up: 52,000 Semi-finals: 26,000 Quarter-finals: 12,500 Round four: 6,000 Round three: 3,000 MORE: Rafael Nadal on verge of history as he thumps Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach Australian Open final MORE: US champion Naomi Osaka proves shes no one-hit wonder by reaching Australian Open final | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/24/much-australian-open-2019-prize-money-singles-doubles-8381590/ |
What does it mean when the Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight? | The clocks hand was changed to two minutes to midnight in January 2018 (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) The Doomsday Clock could move even closer to midnight when the newest update is revealed later today. Dam overflows and kills at least 30 as thousands flee homes in Indonesia It was last changed in January 2018 when scientists decided that it should become 2 minutes to midnight, which is the closest it has ever been. How close the hand is to midnight represents how high the threat is that humanity could face a global catastrophe. The aim is to raise more awareness and show the difficulties that we need to address for the Earth to continue surviving. Todays announcement will be made at 3pm GMT and it will be streamed live on Twitter and Facebook, as well as the Bulletin website. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images) It was introduced over 70 years ago Advertisement Advertisement The idea was first introduced in the first magazine edition of the Bulletin which was published in June 1947. Inspiration behind the idea of the Doomsday Clock was the growing threat of nuclear weapons following the Second World War, particular with the growing tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. It wasnt until 2007 that other potential dangers were taken into consideration, including climate change, which has seen the clock move more frequently and get closer to midnight than ever before. Currently the clock is set at 2 minutes to midnight, but this is set to change this afternoon. This currently the closest that the clock hand has been to midnight and the decision was made after a year that was described as perilous and chaotic in a statement from the President and CEO Rachel Bronson. The Doomsday Clock was last moved in 2018 and it has changed several times since 2010 when it was 6 minutes to midnight. The good news is that we can move further away from doomsday as the clock has moved back on several occasions, but not since 2010 when it moved from 5 minutes back to 6 minutes. When the idea was first launched in 1947 it was initially set to 7 minutes to midnight, but it has gone as far back as 17 minutes, which was in 1991. Advertisement Advertisement It was the furthest that the Board of Directors had moved the minute hand at one time, and the decision was was not easily agreed upon. When the clock was first designed the plan was for it to only have a 15-minute range, meaning it couldnt go any further back than 15 minute to midnight. The movement of the clocks hand was initially decided by Eugene Rabinowitch, a scientist who worked as the editor fo Bulletin. He would use his knowledge and his conversations with other scientists and experts to determine where the hand should be placed. Following his death in 1973 it was decided that a Science and Security board of experts would take over the role, also taking in views from the Bulletins board of sponsors. They meet twice each year to discuss what is happening around the world and decide whether the clocks hand needs to be changed. Advertisement The first time that the clock was moved was in 1949, two years after it was first introduced, when the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb. The Science and Security Board that decides the time on the Doomsday Clock is made up of various senior scientists and expects. Their decisions are based on a number of factors that could potentially lead to the destruction of the world including nuclear weapons, pollution and global warming. As well as potential threats, the experts also look at any action that is being taken to improve the world and address any potential issues. The Bulletin has said that as long as nuclear weapons exist and can be used, the risk that we could destroy civilisation also exists. MORE: Pay rises are heading for the highest in a decade MORE: London renters deserve a cap on rent and Im determined to fight for it on their behalf | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/24/mean-doomsday-clock-moves-closer-midnight-8384225/ |
How cold does it have to get before we can go home from work? | You may have noticed its quite cold outside. Temperatures plunged as low as -8.5C overnight as the cold snap brought wintry and potentially-hazardous conditions to many parts of the country. Well, its pretty vague in law. Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable. While the catchily titled Workplace Regulations, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states employers should assess risks to health and safety and act where necessary. The guidelines suggest a minimum temperature of 16C for the workplace, and 13C if the work you do involves rigorous physical effort. Advertisement Advertisement So if you think your office thermometer drops bellow the 16C mark, the associated Approved Code of Practice says your employer should take relevant steps to help bring the temperature up. So if youre really cold, you may just have to BYOB (thats blanket not beer) or ask for an electric heater. @LarissaDomindez nah dont even start me with work, literally have layers of thermals on and im still freezing and t twitter.com/i/web/status/1 louise (@pinkpixeI) January 24, 2019 Give me a break Employees should also be given regular suitable breaks and rest periods in which people can get a hot drink or move around to keep their blood pumping. Its the employers responsibility to ensure the workplace has additional heating if temperatures do get too cold. Its also up to bosses to make sure employees arent exposed to cold air or draughts. Employment advisers suggest requesting the possibility of flexible working hours so you arent exposed to the elements at the coldest times of the day. If you are snowed in, it is at your employers discretion whether they allow you to work from home or not. Unfortunately, your boss has no obligation to pay you if you fail to turn up to work because the weather is bad or trains have stopped running. Government regulations dont mention a maximum temperature, due to the existence of extremely hot workplaces, such as foundries and glass works. Labour in such environments can continue if the necessary precautions are taken. Its so damn cold @ work each of us got a heater by us Klaudia (@SugarMamii_) January 22, 2019 I just want to know what part of the UK all these insta models are from where its warm enough to not wear a coat / jacket outside. Sincerely, the very cold and also confused x AMARA (@amxra__) January 23, 2019 Somewhat of a cold snap in Christchurch today! One coat is simply not enough. The Education School Premises Regulations 1999 state heating systems in schools must be capable of keeping classrooms at a minimum temperature of 18C. That temperature must be maintained while the room is in use. In areas like the sick rooms where there is a lower level of activity, the minimum temperature required is 15C. Schools can close only in truly exceptional circumstances, when there is no other option, so snow days are at the discretion of the head teacher. They should use common sense in assessing the risks and aim to keep schools open whenever it is safe to do so, the Department for Education guidelines say. In exceptional circumstances, a local authority can order a blanket closure of all community and voluntary-controlled schools. If you have a story for our news team, email us at [email protected]. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/24/cold-get-can-go-home-work-8384428/ |
How is Ghostbusters suddenly a PlayStation exclusive? | Terminal Reality's highly-awaited new Ghostbusters game will be exclusive to Sony's PS3, PS2 and PSP formats, SCEE has confirmed today. The game was previously to be published by Vivendi, then Atari and has now moved across to SCEE. Atari, now headed up by ex-SCEE man Phil Harrison, originally obtained the publishing rights for Ghostbusters last October. There is talk on gaming forums that the 'exclusive' will be a timed exclusive, with the game making its way to Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox later in the year, although this has still to be confirmed. Blu-ray anniversary movie The PlayStation 2 and 3 versions of the game will launch next month to tie in with 25th anniversary of the movie and a Blu-ray release of the movies. The PSP version will release later in the autumn. From SCEE's release just in: "To mark the 25th anniversary of the well-loved franchise, the game will launch in coordination with the Blu-ray release of the original hit movie and licensing programs from Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. Ghostbusters: The Video Game will launch in Europe and PAL regions on June 19th 2009 exclusively for PS3 and PlayStation 2." "We're committed to bringing the PlayStation family the biggest and best gaming experiences first," says Mark Hardy, European Product Marketing Director at SCEE, "and it doesn't get any bigger and better than this blockbuster title. "This summer, PlayStation owners will be the first to grab their proton packs and fight the spirit world. We'd like to wish them the best of luck in their ghostbusting endeavours and, of course, to remind them not to cross the streams! "With our colleagues at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe publishing Ghostbusters: The Video Game, we are thrilled by the dynamic new Ghostbusters game. We think it will have tremendous appeal to gamers and we can't think of a better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of this beloved franchise." said Mark Caplan, Vice President of Licensing-Interactive for Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc. Atari cashes in "With this superb game launching alongside the Blu-ray release, we will reach existing fans and the next generation, bringing them all into the irresistible Ghostbusters universe." "Atari is committed to maximising the launch of the Ghostbusters videogame across Europe," Said Jim Wilson, VP Worldwide Marketing, Atari. "In partnership with both Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, we have a unique opportunity to add new game products and expand marketing opportunities to reach Ghostbusters fans in Europe." For more on the Ghostbusters videogame check out eu.playstation.com. | https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/gaming/how-is-ghostbusters-suddenly-a-playstation-exclusive-596684 |
How Lovely Is Virat Kohli's Caption For Pic With Anushka Sharma From New Zealand? | Virat Kohli shared this picture with Anushka Sharma (Image courtesy: Instagram) Highlights "Moments with her," he wrote "Uff, can't handle this beauty," Anushka wrote for Virat Virat and Anushka married in December 2017 Cricketer Virat Kohli is spending quality time with wife Anushka Sharma in New Zealand, where the Indian cricket team is currently playing an ODI series. After the victory in the first match against New Zealand, Virat took a day off to celebrate with Anushka and the couple treated us to some pictures from their latest outing on their respective Instagram stories. "Moments with her," read the caption of Virat's picture with Anushka. While the 30-year-old actress shared a zoomed in video of Virat and wrote, "Uff, can't handle this beauty." Anushka's other posts are solo pictures herself and Virat. Take a look. Screenshot of Virat's Instagram stories Screenshot of Anushka's Instagram stories Screenshot of Anushka's Instagram stories "Basking in the sun," wrote Virat Kohli for a picture of himself shared on his Instagram and Twitter pages. Basking in the sun. pic.twitter.com/BEcZ2y2qrt Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 24, 2019 Anushka Sharma joined Virat Kohli when he was busy with a series in Australia. After the series, the couple enjoyed Australia Open in Melbourne and also met the tennis star Roger Federer. "What a day at the Australian Open. An amazing way to finish the Australian summer. Forever grateful," tweeted Virat. What a day at the Australian open. An amazing way to finish the Australian summer. Forever grateful#ausopenpic.twitter.com/fqOiekjH3F Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 19, 2019 Anushka's post featured her with just Virat. "Beautiful sunny day at tennis with this beautiful sunny boy." Beautiful sunny day at tennis with this beautiful sunny boy #AustralianOpen#ausopenpic.twitter.com/8yj9ztjprH Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) January 19, 2019 Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli married in December 2017 in Italy. Their wedding was an extremely private affair with only families and close friends in attendance. On the work front, Anushka Sharma was last seen in the December release Zero, in which she co-starred with Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. Her other films of 2018 were Pari and Sui Dhaaga. She hasn't announced her new projects yet. | https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/how-lovely-is-virat-kohlis-caption-for-pic-with-anushka-sharma-from-new-zealand-1982702 |
Should Nottingham Forest boss Martin O'Neill recall Joao Carvalho against Wigan Athletic? | Get Weekday Nottingham Forest 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 New boss Martin ONeills first game in charge did not pan out as hoped but Nottingham Forest will hope to make amends this weekend. The Reds are once again at home, this time against Wigan Athletic, and will be playing in front of another capacity crowd. Returning legend ONeill was given a rousing reception when he took to the City Ground dugout for the first time last Saturday. However, that was not matched by the performance on the pitch as his players were beaten 1-0 by Bristol City. We want to know what your first XI would be for the Championship clash. ONeill opted for a 4-4-2 system against the Robins, with Daryl Murphy and Lewis Grabban up top. (Image: PA) At the opposite end of the pitch, there was a positive debut from Yohan Benalouane at centre-back, barely 24 hours after signing from Leicester City. He partnered Jack Robinson in the heart of the back four, but the Reds will have Danny Fox available again this weekend, following his suspension. Foxs return will slightly ease ONeills defensive crisis, but Tendayi Darikwa is still banned after his straight red card at Reading, while Michael Dawson and Michael Hefele are injured and Tobias Figueiredo is also struggling. Heres your chance to be the boss and choose your starting line-up dont forget to share your choice on social media. | https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/should-nottingham-forest-boss-martin-2463669 |
How would Regina handle another cyclone like 1912? | The deadliest tornado in Canadian history started about 16 kilometres southwest of Regina and touched down in the Queen City on June 30, 1912. In the span of three minutes the tornado caused 28 deaths, 300 injuries and millions of dollars in damages in the city. Half of the city's businesses and 200 homes were destroyed. South-central Sask. most at risk A report released in late December says convective summer storms which can include tornadoes, high winds, heavy rain and hail are one of the biggest natural hazards Saskatchewan faces. The Saskatchewan Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment analyzed flooding, drought, forest fires, grass fires, summer convective storms, winter storms and earthquakes and their effects on the province. It also considered the impact of climate change and how it could play a role in the severity of these natural events. The Saskatchewan Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment report noted convective summer storms generally last a few hours or less, yet cause catastrophic impact on human safety and infrastructure particularly in urban centres. "Aside from loss of life, a severe tornado could result in major damages to industrial or transportation sectors," the report read. According to the report, southern Saskatchewan is one of the most vulnerable areas in the province when it comes to tornado risks, particularly the south-central region. Between 1880 and 2007, some 1143 tornadoes were reported in the province. Three of these cases were identified as "F4" tornadoes the rating given to the tornado that rocked the Queen City in 1912. Between 2008 and 2016, 110 tornadoes were reported in Saskatchewan. (CBC Graphics) Reflections from a century ago Here's the path the 1912 cyclone took highlighted over a modern day map of Regina. 0:26 Regina could expect similar if not worse levels of damage if another tornado like 1912's hit the city, according to the risk assessment report. The report estimated 150 people would die in a similar event, with more than 1,000 people injured, with another 13,000 people left homeless. "Irreparable damage of at least $82 million to high-value structures would occur, and a decrease (sic) quality of life for communities and the surrounding area," the report read. Public education saves lives: Tornado hunter Local tornado hunter Greg Johnson said public education is key. Johnson witnessed an F4 tornado in Vilonia, Arkansas, in 2014. It ripped through the town, leveling houses in its path and killing 16 people. Dan Wassman gets a hug from a friend Amy Lundsford at the homesite of his son, also named Dan Wassum, who was killed when a tornado destroyed his home late Sunday afternoon, April 29, 2014 in Vilonia, Arkansas. (Mark Wilson/Getty) Johnson spoke with a man afterward who estimated he had only 15 seconds to notify his family of the coming danger. "They survived, because the entire family had crawled into the bathtub," Johnson said. "When dad yelled the word 'tornado,' everyone in the household knew exactly what to do. That's preparation." Johnson acknowledged the province had taken steps in the right direction in introducing the SaskAlert tool, which sends text messages to wireless customers in the province when an event that poses risks to public safety are happening, but said the biggest step Saskatchewan could make would be more public education. "We don't talk about what to do in the event of a tornado. We don't have tornado drills at schools," Johnson said. He said the infrastructure to survive tornadoes is already in place almost everywhere. "If you're in your basement, you're going to do just fine. People survive tornadoes all the time." Greg Johnson is the host of Tornado Hunters. (Courtesy of Greg Johnson) City of Regina confident in existing measures City of Regina fire chief Layne Jackson said that across the province, different organizations participate in Emergency Preparedness Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness about public safety and what to do in the event an emergency strikes. He called for public education campaigns that tell people what room to be in if a tornado hits, where people should go if they're in their car or on the road when a tornado occurs and a bit of education for people who might be working in their fields when a tornado hits. Jackson said the city feels very confident about dealing with another situation like 1912. While he wouldn't speculate on how much of damage a tornado like that would cause, he said the city has a plan in place to deal with a variety of scenarios that could play out, the All Hazards and Emergency Response Plan. "It puts the framework in place for how we would deal with that type of major emergency or disaster type scenario," Jackson said. Jackson said the city has a fully-functional emergency operations centre that's ready to go as soon as a major incident happens. Layne Jackson said city staff are trained in executing the city of Regina's emergency response plans. (CBC News) Code orange Derek Miller oversees emergency management for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. He said there are plans in place and staff participate in training exercises to prepare them for catastrophic events like tornadoes. Miller said the health authority uses an incident command structure that's standardized across all facilities. The system is a military-style approach to planning and conducting operations. "That kind of forms our backbone to responding to an incident when it actually happens," he said. Depending on patient intake, people may be directed to hospitals outside of Regina for treatment. (CBC News) He said an incident commander would be identified and put in charge of planning and coordinating a response to any major event. Miller said that, if a tornado was happening, staff would typically take cover in the same way anyone would in their home. Patients may be moved to "optimal locations" within the hospitals to ensure their safety. What role hospitals would play in the aftermath would depend on how much damage they sustained. "We would certainly want to, to the extent possible, continue to operate out of the facilities as long as we were safe to do so," Miller said. "If something happened that the facility was no longer safe to occupy, then we would evacuate or partially evacuate." According to the SHA, code orange plans are in place at both the Regina General and Pasqua hospitals. He said emergency response plans include evacuation procedures that dictate who is responsible for what. He said each facility is also responsible for maintaining a "code orange," a plan to deal with events where injuries or casualties exceed the hospital's capacity. "This is an important area to prepare for because we do see catastrophic incidents or emergencies that exceed our capacity at our hospitals at different levels," Miller said. He said the code orange plans outline each department's responsibility in a catastrophic event. Miller said resources would be coordinated between the two hospitals in Regina and patients could be redirected to other hospitals in nearby cities. He said in a tornado similar in magnitude to 1912, communication is essential. Hospitals would be reaching out and trying to figure out how to work with the city. The front page of local newspaper The Morning Leader the day after the tornado struck. (Regina Plains Museum/Saskatchewan Archives) Miller said the provincial government emergency planners would also be involved. Federal resources would likely be made available to help local entities respond to the disaster. "We wouldn't be doing it solo. We would be reaching in and leveraging the different tools and resources that different agencies might be able to bring to the table to assist with the situation." Preparation is key for Regina Airport The provincial Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment said the transportation sector could sustain major damages in the event of a severe tornado. Regina Airport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz said the airport conducts its own risk assessment reports, which consider weather events like freezing rain or fog, floods and tornadoes. In the event the Regina Airport is in the direct path of a tornado, people would be directed to the basement "catacombs" according to Regina Airport Authority executive director James Bogusz. (Kirk Fraser/CBC) Bogusz said anytime the airport is notified of a major weather event discussions are held to figure out if any changes need to be made to daily operations or if the Emergency Response Plan needs to be activated. "That basically gives our staff and management some predetermined guidelines on how to react," he said. He said in the event the airport gets short advanced notice of a tornado, aircraft are directed to land elsewhere. The focus then becomes the people and staff in the terminal building. Bogusz said the airport works with airline partners and customers to get people home if possible. Anyone stranded in the building would be directed to the airport's emergency operations centre, which he described as a secure room filled with monitors where staff can try and help get the customers out of the building. The airport would also try to let the public know not to come to the airport. "If people did come, we obviously wouldn't reject them. In the case of a tornado, we'd be using our extensive basement for some protection." The tornado of 1912 left rubble all over the heart of Regina. (City of Regina archives) If the cellular network goes down, airport staff have radios for communication. There is equipment capable of clearing the runway from debris. In a high wind event, staff members inspect the runway and use large sweeping machines to clean runways so planes can land. In the event of a tornado that doesn't directly hit the airport, but does hit another area of Regina, Bogusz said the airport's focus would be helping the city in any way possible. "Airports are going to be critical," he said. "We've got STARS here for example." He said that until he made, the facility would be manned 24/7 with staff working around the clock to ensure the main runway is cleared. Many houses of the era were built out of wood and when the tornado struck. They were shattered into splinters. (University of Alberta) If power is knocked out for any length of time, backup generators kick in and keep the airport's runways, terminal building and key emergency systems running. Diesel and unleaded fuel are also kept on site to prevent relying on outside sources for a few days. He said as long as the airport staff have the ability to access those backup generators, most of the airport is useable. In the event of the backup generators being damaged, or inaccessible, there are still backup power sources. He said air traffic control can still operate on battery power for a few hours if required. Preparation is key, according to Bogusz. He said he's held two full-scale exercises in his 10 months at the airport to get a sense of what works and what needs refinement. Jackson said the City of Regina is still reviewing the Saskatchewan Flood and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment. He said the city's manager of emergency preparedness was involved in creating the report. "If there's changes that need to be made, we'll make those changes," Jackson said. Bogusz said officials at the Regina Airport hadn't yet seen the report, but it was "coming down the pipe." Miller said the Saskatchewan Health Authority was in the preliminary stages of reviewing the report and that it was shared internally. | https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/how-would-regina-handle-another-1912-cyclone-1.4983000?cmp=rss |
Who would begrudge Petra Kvitova completing fairy tale comeback in Australian Open final? | For the third year running the Australian Open women's final serves up a perfect backstory. In 2017 there was the eighth grand slam final between the Williams sisters some 16 years after their first as a pregnant Serena infamously won her 23rd major. Last year, it was the battle of world No 1s past and present without a slam to their names, as Caroline Wozniacki silenced her critics with victory over Simona Halep to climb back to the top of the rankings seven years after first holding top spot. Just like last year, Saturday's final between Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova will be a straight shoot-out for the No 1 ranking. But that's where the comparisons end. This year's showdown in Melbourne is a story of incredible comeback versus a star that shines brighter by the tournament. In any other year, Osaka backing up her maiden slam title with a second successive major final appearance - the first woman to do so since Jennifer Capriati in 2001 - would be enough to win over the neutrals. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2019/01/24/would-begrudge-petra-kvitova-completing-fairy-tale-comeback/ |
Who Wants to Be a College President? | The board of governors was, predictably, furious with Folts decision. "We are incredibly disappointed at this intentional action, Harry Smith, the board chair, said in a statement. It lacks transparency and it undermines and insults the Board's goal to operate with class and dignity." The board met the next day and accepted her resignation; but not effective at the end of the semester, instead they gave her two weeks. The accelerated ouster was the culmination of years-long tension at the university between the ideologically conservative board and university leaders. Margaret Spellings, the president of the UNC system who announced shed be resigning this year as well, had her own tensions with the board, including one over her decision to ask the state governor for help in deciding Silent Sams fate. She had been hired after Tom Ross, the former system president, was himself forced out by the board in 2016. The rapid cycle of hiring, resignation, and removals creates a problem for the university. I don't know who would want that job right now given the board and its ideology; and I worry about who they would find palatable enough to put in the position, Harris told me. One of the great university systems, and one of the great universities, is going to be damaged by this process. That tension between a college's board and its president isnt one exclusive to the UNC-system. A few years ago, following a string of athletic scandals, Harris wanted to know whether more college presidents had gotten fired in recent yearsor had their resignations accepted on an accelerated schedule. Two years ago, he and Molly Ellis, a graduate student, published what they found. Yes, the study said, over the past two decades, presidents had been getting fired more often. But the why was perhaps more interesting: Boards have always had the responsibility of hiring and firing a president, but there's a sense of activism among boards now, he said. Historically there has been a little more deference than boards are willing to give now. Read: The liberal arts may not survive the 21st century. Of course, it isn't just board oversight that could make the job of college president seem unappealing. Provosts, or even deans, who may have been groomed for the position might balk at the fundraising and politics associated with it. And these days, open college presidencies often come ready-made with crises. John Engler recently became the second president to leave Michigan State in a year. The University of Oklahomas president, Jim Gallogly, is trying to navigate instances of racism at the institution, notably, a Snapchat video of students wearing blackface and saying the N-word that went viral this month, which follows another racist viral video at the institution in 2015. There's also an ongoing crisis at Baylor, which is dealing with the fallout from its own sexual assault scandal. | https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/01/how-politics-are-reshaping-college-presidency/581077/?utm_source=feed |
Is Warsaw Brexit Braced? | The Polish government has put aside 1 billion zlotys ($278 million) in its 2019 fiscal plans in case of a no-deal Brexit. Our budget is ready for an orderly as well as a no-deal Brexit, Finance Minister Teresa Czerwinska told Bloomberg this week. There arent any serious risks for Polands $525 billion economy, she added. But worries for Poland do exist. EU Berlin - and others in the EU - wants to link access to EU funding with "preserving democratic values" and the European Commission has proposed cutting about one quarter of Polands funding in the 2021-2027 budget as a starting point for talks. Poland is the biggest net beneficiary of the EU budget, which when - if - the UK leaves may be diluted. The UK contributes about 6 percent of the EUs budget, so the direct impact could be limited. But the UKs departure will see average GDP per capita levels decline in the EU and that would deprive some countries of funds as their GDP per capita levels rise above the new EU average. Poland, alongside the Czech Republic and Bulgaria could be affected. New EU rules on minimum wages for road hauliers also pose a threat to Polands $57 billion trucking and logistics industry. Polish companies have a 40 percent share of the EU market. Growth The economy in 2019 is set to slow and needs more stimulus, Czerwinska admitted. This years budget shortfall is set at 28.5 billion zlotys, compared with 15 billion zlotys last year. Poland's economic growth will reach 4 percent in 2019, the World Bank says, having revised upwards its October 2018 forecast of 3.9 percent, but slow in 2021 to 3.3 percent. Budget Polands 2019 budget balances economic growth with social solidarity, the countrys prime minister said. Mateusz Morawiecki said the budget ensured funding for the governments key social assistance programs while meeting "all EU requirements. Under the bill Poland's budget deficit is expected to be no more than 28.5 billion zlotys this year, and the target for the general government deficit is 1.7% of GDP. End of competitive advantages Poland has exhausted the reserves in its labor market, with unemployment near historic lows and wages showing a natural uptick, Czerwinska said. At the same time, Morawiecki says he wants more workers to return from the UK to help Poland's economy grow. Morawiecki told the BBC that "more and more are coming back and I'm pleased about that because there is a low level of unemployment... Give us our people back. About a million Poles live in Britain. Remittances The expected drop in remittances is also a concern. According to the World Bank, the UK is the fourth largest remittance-sending country in the world. With total inflows of 1 billion euros a year from the UK (out of 2.6 billion from the EU), Poland is the largest recipient of remittances. But he said people who want to stay in the UK should be allowed to, "and be treated exactly as they are now. He said Prime Minister Theresa May had given him that commitment. Trade Polish-British trade is worth more than $20 billion a year. Polands agricultural sector might take a hit from disruption caused by Britains withdrawal, as agricultural & processed food exports to the UK account for 1.4 million euros and 12 percent of total exports to the country. Enter the politics Added to this, Poland is in the EUs bad books over alleged undemocratic practises and Warsaws recent proposal to limit to five years the Irish backstop arrangement in the agreement with Britain on its withdrawal from the EU is not the position of the EU, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said. This has been seen by many in the UK as a sign of cracks in the solidarity of the EU27's negotiating position. Morawiecki told the Financial Times: Brussels and the European Commission need to be very receptive to what is going on in different countries. In December 2017, the European Parliament voted to trigger Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Poland leading to a suspension of the country's voting rights in the European institutions. Morawiecki has called on the EU to drop disciplinary actions ahead European elections in May. He said his government guaranteed that Poles will fulfill their European aspirations and unveiled the partys new slogan: Poland -- the beating heart of Europe. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joharper/2019/01/24/is-warsaw-brexit-braced/ |
Can LICs new bank help stem market share erosion? | Sesa sen By Express News Service The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) finally owns a bank. The national insurer has completed the acquisition of a 51 per cent controlling stake in IDBI Bank and is ready to lock horns with private sector insurers whose businesses have steadily grown with strong backing from banking sector parents or partners. To be sure, the acquisition is expected to bring considerable synergies despite the lenders stressed balance sheet. LIC will be able to use the banks over 1,800 branches as touch points to sell insurance policies. LIC will now also have a strategic investment in the large bancassurance channel, which will in turn increase its productivity and bring down the firms distribution costs. However, there are other issues it has to worry about. LIC has been losing market share to private sector insurers steadily. Data shows that first-year premiums, a common measure of new business sales, its share has fallen to 42.8 per cent in 2017-18 from 44.3 per cent the previous year, while private insurers grew to 57.18 per cent from 55.69 per cent. These numbers indicate that a steady stream of customers preferred private sector insurers over LIC during this period. As for total premium income-based market share, LIC commanded 69 per cent of the market in 2017-18, down from 72 per cent the previous year. The firm has also seen a steep fall in the number of policies written. LICs share of policies (both group and individual) fell to 74 per cent as of the end of March, 2018, from as high as 84 per cent five years ago. During 2017-18, while private sector players achieved a cumulative growth of 8.47 per cent in the number of new policies issued compared to the previous year, LIC recorded an increase of just 5.99 per cent. However, while the numbers might paint a bleak picture, LIC has other strengths. For success in Indias insurance sgement, the most important currency is trust, and the public sector insurer enjoys an advantage here even 18 years after de-regulation which threw open the sector to private sector competition. Although private insurers are catching up in the individual segment, the LIC is still the single dominant insurer in the overall market. But the sector giant has to up its game over the next few years if it hopes to first retain, and eventually regain market share lost to the private sector by expanding its online portfolios and sales by modernising its offerings, widening its base, and providing affordable services to its customers. | http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2019/jan/24/can-lics-new-bank-help-stem-market-share-erosion-1929373.html |
What Time Does Tiger Woods Tee Off? | Tiger Woods makes his first appearance of 2019 at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open. It is a tournament that the 14-time Major winner has won seven times and a course where he has won eight times after his 2008 US Open victory. Woods is off at prime time in the UK along with World No.6 Xander Schauffele and Ryder Cup player Tony Finau for the first two rounds. The grouping goes off at 1.40pm Eastern Time which is 6.40pm in the UK. They are playing the South Course first in round one, which is the tougher of the two and the course that hosts the weekend action. Woods, Schauffele and Finau will then embark onto the North Course on Friday, again at prime time in the UK, at 12.30pm Eastern Time which is 5.30pm UK Time. Rory McIlroy plays at Torrey Pines for the first time in his career this week and he is in the group ahead of Woods on the South Course along with Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler. | https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/tour-news/what-time-does-tiger-woods-tee-off-172778 |
Which Steelers have the most Pro Bowls? | Jacob Klinger | [email protected] Maurkice Pouncey is one of two active Steelers in the (expanded) franchise top 10 for all-time Pro Bowl selections. He's one of six players presently down in Orlando for the 2019 edition of the NFL's all-star game, set for a 3 p.m. kickoff on Sunday. Other current Steelers are close to the top 10*, and we'll get to them later, but they aren't at the Pro Bowl. First, we're running through the Steelers in the club's all-time top 10 for Pro Bowl nods. You need seven to make the list: *So there are 13 players on it. We're not doing our ties like golf. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane) | https://www.pennlive.com/steelers/index.ssf/2019/01/steelers_pro_bowls.html |
Are we seeing greater inclusivity in the movie industry? | Video On its 20th anniversary, Talking Movies assesses what progress has been made to bring about greater inclusivity in films. The rise of #OscarsSoWhite and #Metoo campaigns has seen the issues of gender disparity and a lack of diversity gain more of a profile. Superhero movie Black Panther was seen as a leap forward in diversity, but away from the big blockbusters other film-makers are also telling a wider range of stories. The tools to make films, the tools to create cinema have finally after 80, 90 years reached the people who didnt grow up in the suburbs, or who didnt grow up with a silver spoon and now those people have been empowered to tell their stories, says director Barry Jenkins. The BBCs Tom Brook reports. Talking Movies can be seen on BBC World News. | https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-46964839/are-we-seeing-greater-inclusivity-in-the-movie-industry |
Did 'Black Panther' REALLY deserve best picture Oscar nomination? | This is the climate in which last years Marvel Universe smash hit and boundary-breaking Black Panther has been nominated for best picture. Now, in all awards selections, there is always tension between honouring the best and using the list to send a message about changes in representation and the acknowledgement of new trends. Black Panther's nomination represents the first time that a superhero film has earned a spot in the most coveted category of the Oscars and not just the technical categories, which are often the best such films can hope for. Some may see this historic nomination as a cheap nod to the need for recognition by what is still the worlds most coveted film award earning its spot as a diversity pick, rather than on merit. But the truth is it probably deserves to be there. | https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/2019-01-24-did-black-panther-really-deserve-best-picture-oscar-nomination/ |
Is Rihanna the most influential person in fashion? | Its just like Rihanna to use fashion to telegraph her news. Womens Wear Daily ran a front-page scoop last week detailing rumours that Rihanna is knee-deep in negotiations with LVMH to produce a designer-level fashion label under her name. Along with what the fashion industry paper-of-record cited as multiple sources, she was snapped in a tease: A pair of oversized, visor-style sunglasses with the name Fenty stamped prominently in gold on the side. Fans went straight to speculation and jubilation. There has yet to be public confirmation from LVMH, the Paris-based multinational conglomerate that controls a slew of top heritage fashion brands from Louis Vuitton and Dior to Givenchy, Fendi, and Celine. These exist alongside a stable of aspirational luxury brands in the categories of fine wines and liquors (including Mot Hennessy), beauty and perfume, as well as international duty-free outlets, and the beauty behemoth Sephora. This sheer Adam Selman gown and cap embellished with Swarovski crystals is among Rihanna's most fearless fashion looks. ( GETTY IMAGES ) Rihanna in Guo Pei, complete with the 16-foot train that launched a million memes, at the 2015 Met Gala. ( GETTY IMAGES ) Womens Wear Daily ran a front-page scoop last week detailing rumours that Rihanna is knee-deep in negotiations with LVMH to produce a designer-level fashion label under her name. ( GETTY IMAGES ) A deal like this could be game-changing for Rihanna and her current fashion initiatives. Many celebrities have clothing lines, but few have the leg-up Rihanna does. She already has her foot in the LVMH door: Fenty Beauty was launched with a massive bang in September 2017 by Kendo, which is LVMHs beauty brand incubator. The strategy was to be the first-ever global beauty launch dropping online and in thousands of stores in 17 countries simultaneously. The foundation line 40 shades strong shook the industrys scanty offerings for women of colour, proving that respecting diversity means dollars. Suddenly, everyone in beauty was playing catch-up to Rihanna. The line moved roughly $100 million in product in the first 40 days. The Savage x Fenty lingerie collections of the past few seasons have also been applauded for their wildly inclusive runway castings and commensurate wide-range of size availabilities. (The current online Valentines Day collection, dubbed SavageAF, is modelled by Rihanna herself.) Article Continued Below Last year, Time estimated Rihannas personal net worth at $245 million (U.S.). In addition to her music sales and megaconcert tours, her shares in the music streaming service Tidal, and her acting gigs (Oceans 8), she has attached her name to no less than six perfumes. There have been a number of previous fashion endeavours, most notably Fenty Puma x Rihanna, wherein her Creeper sneakers sold out in a hot second. Then there were those much-imitated fuzzy slide shoes; Rihanna is single-handedly credited with giving the German athletic brands bottom line a hefty boost, as well as increasing the brands appeal with women. After an early collab with British high street brand River Island in 2013, Rihanna has earned big bucks for endorsements from brands ranging from Chopard to Dior and Manolo Blahnik. But the multi-faceted star was also in the news last week for a more painful story, though one that shows she is willing to stand up for herself, no matter how uncomfortable the situation. In a sad turn of events, she had to sue her father, Ronald Fenty, as well as his business partners in Fenty Entertainment. The suit, filed in Los Angeles court, seeks an injunction to protect the name Fenty, for which Rihanna holds a trademark. She is also petitioning them to stop misrepresenting her participation in Fenty Entertainment activities. The most upsetting of these allegations includes her father making a fraudulent deal with a third party for a Latin American concert tour. Basically, she alleges he has been pretending to be her agent. Rihanna comes by her ferocity honestly, having been out on her own since she was discovered at the tender age of 15 in her native Barbados. She gained some early fashion retail experience growing up on the Caribbean island, selling clothes at a market stall with her dad. She was also an army cadet, before she cut a demo that was routed straight onto Jay-Zs desk. She signed with Def Jam and thus was transported out of a childhood that doesnt seem as sunny as its location. Her father has long struggled with substance use issues, though she reportedly distanced herself from him until she discovered he had sold info and family pics to tabloids around the time of her assault by Chris Brown in 2009. Suffice to say, Rihanna isnt going to let anyone stand in her way. And I think I speak for the internet when I say we want this LVMH fashion fairy tale to be true. It will succeed where other celeb brands fail because she has the fashion chops and an attitude that makes us fall to our knees. Even Vogue voted it the best Met look ever, which is like winning the Fashion Olympics, All-Star edition. Please note that Rihanna was 26 at the time. And also note that she had the best quip a few years later, when she said her only regret in life is wearing a thong that wasnt bedazzled under that dress. We all have regrets, but Rihannas is better than ours. She also owns street style. Theres never any demurring ballcap-lowered looks for the paparazzi. She never phones it in. Shes skin-tight one minute, baggy the next. You cant characterize her look or underestimate how daring shes willing to be. Flip through any year of her street-style shots and you cant put your finger on what ties it together except, maybe, that she is so cool everything works on her. We can learn from her beauty launch, though, that Rihanna wants substance with her style. Her inclusive line shows an innate understanding of who she is, and what she represents to consumers. She delivered something that, in retrospect, was so obvious yet few luxe offerings had seen the profits waiting in those gaping holes of nuanced skin-tone coverage. If she can do the same with fashion her sellout shoe collabs and lingerie efforts are strong bellwethers then LVMH would be foolish not to sign up the most fashionable and forward-thinking woman in the world. This is outside the core business of LVMH, which was built on reviving major European heritage brands. But its a great way to add something next, something with larger pop-culture relevance and cutting-edge youth cred when the luxury market is in flux. After all, Rihanna is a celebrity who is defiant, funny and deliciously relatable. She demands two different kinds of Cheetos (hot and regular) on her appearance rider contract. She is photographed crazy-often with a glass of red wine, possibly the greatest accessory of all time. Fact is, she knows she is going to have her photo taken every damn time she leaves the house, or hotel, or club or restaurant or airport. So she has fun with it, camps it up, and goes big before she goes home. The only logical thing for her to do now is a complete line of fashion, clothing and accessories, heavy on the daring and the legendary, so we can all own just a little bit of that insouciance. Leanne Delap is a Toronto-based freelance contributor for the Star and The Kit. Reach her via email: [email protected] | https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2019/01/24/is-rihanna-the-most-influential-person-in-fashion.html |
When is The Great British Sewing Bee 2019 on TV? | Sewing needles at the ready! BBC2s The Great British Sewing Bee is back after a long hiatus and its got a brand new host who seems (ahem) tailor made for the show Advertisement Heres everything you need to know about the return of The Great British Sewing Bee. The returning series first airs on Tuesday 12th February 2019 on BBC2 and continues weekly. Although the shows air time hasnt yet been confirmed, its likely to air at 8pm as in previous years. You better bee-lieve it here you go. The clues in the title think The Great British Bake Off, but instead of mastering the art of puff pastry, contestants must perfect their pintuck. In the show, ten talented amateur sewers compete to be named Britains best home sewer, completing a series of tasks set by the shows two judges, Patrick Grant and Esme Young. Taking over the reigns from Strictlys Claudia Winkleman, comedian Joe Lycett who hails from the quite posh bit of Birmingham is a panel show regular, appearing on shows like 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown and QI. You might also recognise him as the announcer on BBC1 game show Epic Win. Lycett also seems to have some serious punning game, releasing the following statement announcing his Sewing Bee role: My mum loves this show and shes bursting at the seams shes sew excited! Weave talked about it and she says Im tailor made and Ill have the contestants in stitches. Looks like hes also recently been attempting some new-found sewing skills (attempting being the operative word here) Ok this is literally first attempt at sewing. FYI its a pair of trousers. Esme Young is a senior lecturer on the prestigious fashion course at Londons Central St Martins College, and also is a costume designer for films from Trainspotting to Bridget Joness Diary (yes, shes responsible for Rene Zellwegers bunny outfit). Advertisement Patrick Grant is Creative Director of Savile Row tailors Norton & Sons and menswear line, E Tautz hes also won various awards for his craftsmanship. | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-24/the-great-british-sewing-bee-2019-air-date-time-channel-presenter/ |
When is Arsenal v Manchester Uniteds FA Cup match on TV? What channel is it on and what time is kick off? | The FA Cup presents a rare chance to see two Premier League rivals in action subscription free, as Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates in north London for this fourth-round tie on BBC1. Advertisement The two teams are equal on points in the Premier League table, with only goal difference edging the fifth-placed Gunners above United in sixth. And while United have been resurgent under new interim manager, and club legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the acrimonious departure of Jose Mourinho, Arsenal have a good record this season at home against the big sides, with Unai Emerys men having notched up recent wins against Chelsea and Tottenham as well as a creditable draw against league leaders Liverpool. The last meeting between Arsenal and United, at Old Trafford, resulted in a 2-2 draw, but the Gunners were beaten 3-1 at home in December. Meanwhile, both sides have FA Cup experience of the highest order, with Uniteds 12 trophy wins second only to the the Gunners record 13 titles. All in all, its a tough one to call, and while their rivalry may not have quite the intensity it did back in the day under Alex Ferguson and Arsne Wenger, the added frisson of knock-out football ensures this is a tasty prospect for fans and neutrals alike. The fourth-round tie between Arsenal and Manchester United kicks off at 7:55pm on Friday 25th January 2019. What channel is Arsenal v Manchester United You can watch the game live on BBC1, where coverage starts at 7:30pm, and across the BBC Sport website and app. The game will be played at Arsenals Emirates Stadium in north London. At the time of writing, the latest odds from betfair were: Arsenal win: 31/20 Manchester United win: 7/4 Draw: 5/2 Check the latest odds at Betfair.com. Advertisement Some of our articles contain contextual affiliate links. You can support us by clicking on these as we may earn commission if you make a purchase. There is no extra cost to you and we never allow this to bias our content | https://www.radiotimes.com/sport/2019-01-24/arsenal-v-manchester-united-fa-cup-what-day-date-time-channel-kick-off/ |
Will the real Virat Kohli please stand up? | Virat Kohli, like PM Narendra Modi, is a one man army. Virat Kohli virtually swept the ICC awards this year, cementing his place among crickets all-time greats. His achievements as a player and as captain are akin to those of Sachin Tendulkar and Vivian Richards. Despite his image as a world-beating batsman, he attracts a lot of negative publicity through his on-field antics, often to the extent of being termed as a brash individual who wears his emotion on his sleeve. Senior sports commentator Indranil Basu believes Kohlis is like a typical Delhi character. He just wants to go and conquer. Look at Shah Rukh Khan. If anything wrong, people from Delhi will get angry just like what happened with Shah Rukh Khan in Wankhede. Virat Kohli, like PM Narendra Modi, is a one man army. However, cricket is not a one man show. It wont help the team when only you are performing. In 2011, this team had so many stars, but the current team only has Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. When asked if any other extremely hot-headed player can score with Virats consistency, he said, Yes. absolutely possible. You have to be aggressive with your bat. Kohli is in tremendous control of everything, which is the main reason where he is today. Basu believes that even though Kohli is great, he stands nowhere in comparison to Viv Richards in post -Bradman era. The best batsman is Viv Richards, no other like him. Virats on-field aggression has made it to headlines on many occasions. In the Perth Test during the recently concluded series where India scripted history, Kohlis heated conversation with his Australian counterpart Time Paine went on air. The conversation between the two was clearly audible. A number of images showing Indian skippers aggressive celebration have also gone viral. Given his popularity, Virats off-field actions also catch peoples attention. Right from former cricketers to veteran filmstars like Naseeruddin Shah found him too aggressive. However, Kohli remained focussed on his task without bothering what was being said about him. While some senior cricketers have found his behaviour unwanting, VVS Laxman came out in Kohlis support saying he found nothing wrong with Kohlis attitude in Australia. Virats captaincy skills remind one of Sourav Ganguly, who was also criticised for his aggressive nature during his playing days. The former captain whose iconic image of pulling out his shirt after the famous Natwest series win in England is still fresh in minds of cricket fans. When Ganguly was captain, he also faced a lot of criticism for his aggressive nature. It was under his captaincy that India was able to halt Australias 16-match winning run. when the latter visited the country in 2001. He even went on to lead India in the World Cup final in 2003. One hopes like Ganguly and MS Dhoni, he not only leads India in the upcoming World Cup final but also win it like the latter did. Keeping in mind that Virats aggression ends up giving India good results, theres not much reason why he should mind! | https://www.financialexpress.com/sports/will-the-real-virat-kohli-please-stand-up/1453838/ |
Are Opinions To Be Considered As A Fact In A Court Of Law Or Tribunal? | 0 SHARES Share Tweet Courts, tribunals and commissions rely on law and facts to come to judgment in the case of courts and recommendations in the case of commissions of inquiry. Witnesses could be those who set eyes on happenings or are proper sources of evidence, whether written or otherwise. They could also be professionals with the requisite knowledge to guide the minds of the adjudicators. All adjudicating authorities must abide by the code of conduct established by the Constitution A public officer who exercises judicial functions shall- (a) maintain order and decorum in judicial proceedings before him or her; (b) be patient, dignified and courteous to all litigants, witnesses, legal practitioners and others in the exercise of such functions, and shall require similar conduct from his or her staff and others subject to his or her control; (c) abstain from comment about the outcome of any pending or anticipated legal proceedings in any court in The Gambia and require similar abstention from his or her staff and others subject to his or her control. Hence opinions are only relevant if they are to elucidate facts that are relevant to an issue before a court, tribunal or commission. | http://foroyaa.gm/are-opinions-to-be-considered-as-a-fact-in-a-court-of-law-or-tribunal/ |
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