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Blackhawks' season on the brink after blowing two-goal lead in 3-2 OT loss | College Basketball
These are Top 25 scores. Click or tap here for all men's basketball scores, stats, standings and other information.
These are Top 25 scores. Click or tap here for all women's basketball scores, stats, standings and other information. |
German, Polish leaders discuss EU unity on sanctions, ex-spy - NBC12 - WWBT - Richmond, VA News On Your Side | (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz). German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stop for a photo before talks on European Union future and security and on bilateral ties, at his office in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, March 19, 2...
(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski). Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki,right, greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel before talks on European Union future and security and on bilateral ties at his office in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, March 19, 2018. Mer...
(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski). Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki,right, greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel before talks on European Union future and security and on bilateral ties at his office in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, March 19, 2018. Mer...
(AP Photo/Alik Keplicz). German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki shake hands before talks on European Union future and security and on bilateral ties, at his office in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, March 19, 2018. ...
(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski). German Chancellor Angela Merkel during wallkom ceremony before talks with Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on European Union future and security and on bilateral ties at his office in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Marc...
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday she would be pleased if Poland's talks with the European Union yielded a solution to the standoff over the country's rule of law record.
During a brief visit to Warsaw, Merkel said she was following the negotiations to avert unprecedented EU sanctions over changes to Poland's judiciary pushed by its conservative government.
"I would be pleased to hear the European Commission say that the talks were fruitful," Merkel said following talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
Morawiecki said there was "light in the tunnel" but that an agreement to resolve the dispute over Poland's judicial system "requires understanding on both sides."
The EU triggered a censure procedure in December that could lead to potential sanctions over Poland's judicial overhaul. The European Commission said at the time it was putting Poland on notice that it was at risk of contravening EU law.
However, the leaders of Poland and Germany said Monday that Europe needs unity to be strong. They stressed agreement on issues such as economic cooperation and providing more support to countries that have received the most migrants since a new wave of mass immigration got underway in 2014-2015.
"In the face of the global situation, we understand that our voice will be strong if we have a strong alliance, if we act jointly," Merkel said.
Morawiecki and Merkel also discussed Europe's response to the poisoning in Britain this month of a Russian ex-spy and his adult daughter.
Merkel said she expects European Union leaders to reach "strong conclusions" about the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, during a summit this week in Brussels.
Significant information points to Russia's responsibility for the nerve agent attack and it's now up to Moscow to prove it wasn't involved, the German chancellor said.
Morawiecki said the entire EU needs to give a firm response so "the Russian aggressor will know that it cannot permit itself to attack a NATO member state, an EU member state."
Russia has rejected allegations that it was behind the poisonings.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
Youth held for robbing, killing man just to have beer | New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Delhi Police has arrested an alcoholic youth who stabbed a graphic designer to death and took away his mobile phone to sell it to buy beer for himself, police said on Wednesday.
The accused has been identified as Sandeep, 22, resident of a slum in south Delhi’s Okhla Phase-1. He was arrested on Tuesday after police zeroed in on his friend whom he had sold the deceased’s mobile phone for Rs 2,100.
The police said the deceased — Arvind Chauhan, 30, who stayed in west Delhi’s Sagarpur — was found murdered on May 26 at Domestic Container Depot in Okhla Phase-II with 14 stab wounds.
“The police recovered a bank deposit slip from the body bearing the name of Arvind Chauhan and an email ID written on it. Later, through his Facebook and bank accounts, the deceased was identified as Arvind Chauhan. He had been missing from the printing press he worked at since the day of incident,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said.
“Later, police zeroed in on one Surjeet, who was using Chauhan’s mobile phone. On questioning, Surjeet told police that he had purchased the mobile phone from Sandeep. As Sandeep was interrogated, he admitted that he killed Chauhan while robbing him,” Biswal added.
“Sandeep said he is an alcoholic. He used to work in Punjab as a painter and had came to Delhi. He was living with his brother in Okhla. On the fateful night, he had a craving for beer but had no money in his pocket. He went to a nearby meat shop, stole a butcher’s knife and tried to rob Chauhan at the container depot,” he said.
As Sandeep tried to rob his mobile phone, Chauhan threw him down. Panicked, Sandeep stabbed him 14 times and escaped with his mobile, the officer added.
–IANS
sp/nir |
CAC delists 44,000 companies | No fewer than 44,000 companies have been delisted from the database of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The commission has also registered over 1.5 million companies.
Registrar General of the CAC, Bello Mahmud, said this in a chat with the Economic Confidential in Abuja.
He said the development was sequel to several breaches of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and other extant regulations of the commission, notably, late and outright refusal to file returns.
“So far there is an improvement and a current ratio of 45 per cent. We are still checking on company records, especially in terms of compliance for those who have not been filing.
“If we discover you are not a going concern, the law establishing us gives us the power to delist from our database.
“If we discover and write you first, second and third letter without reply, we now deem it that you are not a going concern and we delist you from our database.
“So far, the first batch we delisted were about nine thousand (9000) And in the second batch about thirty-five (35,000) totalling 44,000 firms delisted from our database and is still ongoing”, he said. |
Judge: June 15 deadline in study of materials in Cohen raids - WAFB 9 News Baton Rouge, Louisiana News, Weather, Sports | By LARRY NEUMEISTER and TOM HAYS
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - A New York judge set a June 15 deadline Wednesday for lawyers for President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer to make attorney-client privilege claims over data seized in April raids, saying it was important not to delay the criminal investigation.
U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood said a special taint team of prosecutors will make determinations after that date.
Wood presided over a hearing at which a prosecutor revealed that the contents of a shredder and two Blackberry devices were all that remained to be turned over to a court-appointed special master screening evidence for attorney-client privilege. Also reviewing the materials are lawyers for Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, the president and the Trump Organization.
Cohen's lawyers asked to be allowed to review materials from the April 9 raids of Cohen's office and home until mid-July, but Wood said she had to balance their needs to protect their client with the need of prosecutors to pursue their criminal fraud case against Cohen.
Cohen attorney Todd Harrison said over a dozen lawyers had reviewed 1.3 million of over 3.7 million files received from the government, designating privilege as necessary.
Cohen did not speak during the court proceeding, which lasted more than an hour and featured a colorful argument between lawyers for Cohen and Trump on one side and California attorney Michael Avenatti on the other as they discussed Avenatti's public statements on behalf of his porn-star client, Stormy Daniels.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex once with Trump, in 2006. Trump denies it. Daniels was not in court Wednesday.
Stephen Ryan, an attorney for Cohen, argued that Avenatti had acted outrageously by publicly releasing banking information related to Cohen and by criticizing Cohen in dozens of television appearances.
Ryan said Avenatti "intended to cause harm to my client and he succeeded."
Avenatti said a journalist had contacted him recently, claiming to have a recorded conversation between Cohen and an attorney who represented Daniels when Cohen arranged to pay her $130,000 as part of the non-disclosure agreement. He accused Cohen's lawyers of leaking the audio. Ryan denied it, but said if his firm had released those audio tapes, "it would be the biggest story in America."
Ryan at one point seemed critical of what he called "a very strange thing going on" between prosecutors and Avenatti, who claimed he had a good working relationship with the government lawyers and that he knew the lawyers and the FBI had not leaked the audio.
Ryan also called Avenatti and prosecutors "strange bedfellows."
If Avenatti formally joined the court case, he would have to end his "publicity tour on TV and elsewhere" and stop asserting that Cohen is guilty of wrongdoing, actions that could "potentially deprive him of a fair trial," the judge told Avenatti.
After the hearing, Avenatti formally withdrew his request to appear in the case.
Special Master Barbara Jones said in a letter Tuesday that lawyers for Cohen, Trump and the Trump Organization have designated more than 250 items as subject to attorney-client privilege. She said the material includes data from a video recorder.
Jones said more than a million pieces of data from three of Cohen's phones are ready to be given to criminal prosecutors, and more than 12,000 pages of documents from eight boxes that survived attorney-client privilege scrutiny already have been given back to prosecutors. More than a dozen electronic devices were seized or copied in the raids, and Jones said she has not yet received data from three seized items.
The raids on Cohen were triggered in part by a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who separately is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Wood became involved after Cohen came to court, complaining that he feared attorney-client privilege would not be protected. Trump also expressed those concerns on Twitter.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
T-ara Say Goodbye for Now With 'What's My Name' | While some groups have opted for a farewell ballad ( 2NE1 , Sistar) or by quietly going their separate ways ( 4Minute , Rainbow), the T-ara girls bring a bouncy, summery single that stands up to their past dance tracks with "What's My Name." Despite the fun feel of the glitch-pop production, the girls serve a heavy dose of melancholy as they argue and plead with a lover who has completely changed who he used to be. While the lyrics are romantic, one could argue this could also be T-ara talking to their fans and hoping they still continue to support and recognize the girls even if this is the last time they'll be seeing them in their current group.
While the accompanying music video is a gorgeous and vibrant affair with Eunjung, Hyomin, Jiyeon and Qri, lamenting on an ex, the standout visuals are the constant allusions to T-ara's lost two members. Boram and Soyeon, two of the six members in the group's original (and what would be their final) lineup, departed the outfit just weeks before the release of "What's My Name" due to contract expirations with T-ara's current record label. Yet, the ladies are honored when viewers see a row of six pencils become four, six school desks are seen with two seats flipped over, and six bottles with messages are left next to a fountain. It's clear that despite the two members' early departure, there's a bond between the six girls as rumors continue to swirl that the sextet may reunite and continue under a different company or management.
"What's My Name" is the title track from T-ara's new EP marking what is said to be their last release after nearly eight years together. The group debuted in 2009 with the single "Lie" and later blew up with their choreography- and hook–focused dance jams. The group scored a slew of chart-toppers from 2009 through 2012, and added two singers, before an alleged bullying scandal with the new members that has still yet to be proven true rocked the group in the summer of 2012 and saw the group's Korean popularity decline as they slowly whittled down to the original six-member lineup. Despite their stumble in the K-pop world, the group found continued popularity overseas in Japan and especially in China where the group is considered one of the biggest foreign acts. T-ara's international fanbase was truly felt last year when their "Tiamo" won Fuse's inaugural K-Pop Top 40 Video Countdown where their fans, known affectionately as Queen's, named them the top K-pop video of 2016.
Listen to Fuse's K-pop podcast K-Stop discuss the news of T-ara losing two members ahead of their comeback below at the 46:30 mark and look out for our hosts to review their new release on next week's episode: |
Cline Zinfandel Big Break ' - Zinfandel | Thank you for submitting a review! Your input is very much appreciated. Share it with your friends so they can enjoy it too! |
Santa Maria Airport Receives $7.5 Million in Federal Funding for Runway Extension | Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, announced Thursday that the Santa Maria Airport has been awarded a nearly $7.5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program to complete the second phase of the runway extension.
The grant is expected to cover 95 percent of the project’s costs. The AIP is funded exclusively by fees paid by airline travelers, and not taxpayer dollars.
“Every year the Santa Maria Airport contributes millions of dollars to our local economy, and the building of the new runway will create local construction jobs right here on the Central Coast while encouraging long-term economic growth,” Capps said. “Extending the runway will allow the airport to accommodate larger planes, bringing travelers and business leaders from all over the world to the Central Coast. It will also enhance the safety of airline passengers and our local communities.”
“There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the future of the Santa Maria Valley depends on an infrastructure that will support creation of small business, expansion of our current economic base’ and an inducement to bring in new businesses and new jobs,” said Hugh Rafferty, president of the Santa Maria Airport Board of Directors. “The runway expansion project is a vital part of that infrastructure and is without a doubt the engine that will drive the local economy for years to come, starting with the infusion of almost $7.5 million into the local community in construction alone.”
A longer runway at the Santa Maria Airport will enhance safety for users by allowing for a longer stopping distance during inclement weather. Also, by providing additional takeoff distance, planes will be able to depart with extra fuel and/or cargo. Room for extra fuel or cargo will allow greater flexibility for air tankers contracted by the U.S. Forest Service for firefighting operations, or for private aircraft that need the extra fuel to make it to Hawaii, Asia or other distant destinations.
Additionally, the longer runway will provide opportunities for aviation businesses looking for a West Coast base of operations, expanded airline service and a more capable facility for larger transport aircraft in response to any regional emergencies.
— Ashley Schapitl is press secretary for Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara. |
MLB boycott threat feels like Groundhog Day | When one has been toiling in and around major league baseball for an entire adult life and you read the words “boycott” and “work stoppage” in the same tweet by a player rep from one of the top agencies in the game, the reaction becomes a sudden shortness of breath . . . especially when it’s also Groundhog Day.
The key is: Don’t repeat your mistakes, and MLB history tells us work stoppages are always a mistake. Current issues? The free-agent market has been ridiculously slow this winter and, related to that, a study of projected team payrolls for 30 teams in 2018 suggests the average player salary may be lower than it was in 2017, falling for the first time since 2009, while MLB thinks up imaginative ways to continue to create the greatest gross revenues in history.
That lack of willingness to improve rosters by paying for outside talent has raised concerns from the players’ side with the dreaded term “collusion” rearing its ugly head. Baseball is a copycat game, and when the Astros won the World Series after years of tanking and accumulating high draft picks, it’s easy for other ownerships to use the excuse “Why not us?” Of course, that means fewer fans coming to ballparks in those cities and lower salaries for players in that organization.
It’s been noticed. Over the past few days, established players have become restless and vocal. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen suggested players may need to strike, while A’s DH Brandon Moss pointed a finger at union chief Tony Clark, saying he has let the players down and gave away too much in the last negotiation. Then came Friday’s tweeted statement from agent Brodie Van Wagenen of CAA Sports.
“There is a rising tide among players for radical change,” Van Wagenen said. “A fight is brewing . . . a boycott of spring training may be a starting point if behaviour doesn’t change.”
The threatening statement came wholly on his own. It was supported by at least one fellow rep in another tweet, but also prompted an explanation from Clark and the MLBPA that even though the official reporting date for camps in Arizona and Florida is Feb. 24 and the first paycheques are not until April, a decision not to report by the players would constitute an official strike. No go.
The mere threat by someone on the players’ side brings back bad memories of the pre-1994 period of labour strife. Under the union stewardship of Marvin Miller and then Don Fehr, the players withheld their services with work stoppages eight times, including at spring training of 1972, 1973, 1976, 1980 and 1990. The two major strikes came in 1981 and 1994 — the season-ending, World Series-cancelling one.
It has been 24 years since baseball’s last work stoppage, and with everyone making ridiculous money it would be ridiculous for the sides to repeat mistakes and risk losing the game’s place on the busy entertainment/sporting landscape.
It hasn’t helped the peace process that — against the backdrop of stars Yu Darvish, Eric Hosmer, Jake Arrieta, Mike Moustakas and J.D. Martinez still seeking employment — MLB is heavy-handedly pushing for pace-of-play improvements, including a pitch clock and limit on mound visits, that commissioner Rob Manfred has the power to implement unilaterally if the players do not accept.
Trust me, Manfred and Clark will not be at the same Super Bowl party. |
CNN's Jim Acosta: Kim Kardashian 'Shouldn't Be' at White House | CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta complained Thursday that celebrity Kim Kardashian “shouldn’t be here” at the White House to discuss prison reform, saying it reflected “a lack of seriousness” in the administration.
Acosta made his remarks during a panel discussion with host Brooke Baldwin. He also criticized the White House for commenting on the double standard exemplified by ABC News chief Bob Iger’s apology to former Barack Obama aide Valerie Jarrett over Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet, rather than on the racism in the tweet itself.
.@acosta going off just now on @KimKardashian being at the White House: “She shouldn’t be here talking about prison reform.” pic.twitter.com/5i1ZsXl3jh — David Rutz (@DavidRutz) May 30, 2018
ACOSTA: The president had other things to do, and yet here he comes out today and starts tweeting about Roseanne Barr. It just gets to the lack of seriousness.
BALDWIN: (laughs)
ACOSTA: And forget about the fact that Kim Kardashian is here at the white house today. And what planet that is anything resembling normal, because it’s not. She shouldn’t be here talking about prison reform. It’s very nice that she is here, but that’s not a serious thing to have happened here at the White House. But really that pales in comparison, that level of seriousness pales in comparison to what the president does when he weighs in on the Roseanne Barr tweet, fails to condemn the racism at the heart of her remarks, and then having the White House press secretary coming out here …
Acosta has clashed repeatedly with the Trump White House, and President Trump has referred to him as “very fake news.”
He also mocked the Obama White House in 2015 for arranging interviews between the president and YouTube celebrities.
Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He was named to Forward’s 50 “most influential” Jews in 2017. He is the co-author of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, which is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak. |
Clean Up Continues in Wicomico County After Winter Storm - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 - | Salisbury, Md.- Major clean up is underway after this past weekend's winter storm. Downed wires caused power outages in parts of the peninsula, but now fallen tree limbs are a big concern in some neighborhoods.
The Wicomico County Roads Division has been working since Friday night to clean up debris. The influx of calls over the weekend has made it hard to reach everyone, however the entire workforce was out Monday cleaning up.
Crews were in the Nithsdale development Monday morning picking up branches that fell into the roadway. Some neighbors there say they're grateful to have the county doing the removal because they're not able to do it themselves.
"A lot of older couple lives here [in Nithsdale] and it's just too hard to do it all ourselves," Kajwar Jalani said.
While crews could make it to some neighborhoods, others will have to wait. People who live in the Westbury Acres section are experiencing hundreds of downed branches in the median of their neighborhood.
One resident, Robert Baer, said while he was getting ready to chop the limbs down and clean up, someone from the county came by.
"I was ready to start cleaning up the brush and a county truck came by and he said that he was going to have a truck out here either this afternoon or tomorrow and not to worry about it," Baer said.
Wicomico County Roads Division officials say they're planning on getting out to Westbury Drive by Tuesday. |
Hong Kong trams on track for a smoother (and quieter) ride | Hongkongers will gradually be spared the screeching and banging noises from their city’s trams over the next 10 to 15 years, as the illustrious vehicles get a multimillion-dollar facelift to give a quieter and smoother ride.
The trams’ undercarriages – the bogies which support the tram and contain its wheels, axles, motors and brakes – have been in place since the 1950s and need a makeover to keep with the times, according to Hong Kong Tramways’ new managing director, Cyril Aubin.
Aubin revealed that the company would commit to a major investment not seen in decades for the replacement of the bogie system on its 164 streetcars.
Affectionately known as “ding dings” for their bell sounds, the trams generate a less pleasing rumbling noise as they move along the tracks, especially when negotiating sharp bends.
The company said the new bogies, self-adjusting and computerised, would reduce noise by up to 40 per cent, ease friction on the lines and save energy. They will also have sensors to capture real-time data for operational analysis.
“The current bogie system of our trams is very well maintained but its design is very old. We need to catch up with the times and modern technology,” Aubin, who became managing director late last year, said.
“We are weighing two design options and are going to make a final decision in the middle of this year. Then we can proceed to carry out the replacement work over the next 10 to 15 years – about five to six tramcars a year. This will be the biggest investment our company has undertaken so far.”
Aubin said it was too early to estimate the cost for the overhaul, but said it would definitely be “much higher” than the HK$30 million spent moving the operator’s substation from Times Square in Causeway Bay to two nearby sites this quarter.
Watch: What is it like to operate Hong Kong’s trams?
The French-owned tramways company has not sought government subsidies for the improvements. The project cost is expected to account for 25 per cent of its annual spending for its duration.
“We will rely on our revenue to fund this project,” Aubin said. “It’s a question of sustaining the company. If we have a vision for the long term, we have to invest in the future to make tram rides more comfortable and attractive even if it means that there may not be any direct returns.”
Aubin said the pace of the replacement would be faster if the government approves 13 per cent fare rises that the company has asked for.
“We are still waiting for the government’s approval. I hope it will come in very soon,” he said.
The mooted fare hike would be the first increase in six years. Under the company’s proposals, adults would pay HK$2.60 per trip, up from the current HK$2.30. Children and the elderly would pay HK$1.30 and HK$1.20 respectively, both up 10 cents.
Aubin said that rider numbers had stabilised to about 185,000 per day after a continuous drop over five years. He added that he planned to propose lengthening some dedicated tram links to make services more efficient.
Eric Lee, chairman of Hong Kong Trams Enthusiast, a group for fans of the carriages, said he welcomed the bogie revamp. He said Wharf Holdings, which owned Hong Kong Tramways from the 1970s until 2010, did not put any money into improving the streetcars’ hardware.
“That’s why trams have given people an impression they are very old and antiquated. Actually the hardware of trams should have been upgraded a long time ago, to make them more modern and efficient to attract more passengers,” he said. |
Pioneering hockey player Larry Kwong dies at 94 | Larry Kwong, the first player of Asian heritage to appear in an NHL game, has died at age 94.
Kwong, who played a shift with the New York Rangers in a March 13, 1948 game against the Montreal Canadiens, died on Thursday in Calgary according to an obituary posted online.
Born in Vernon, B.C., on June 17, 1923, Kwong played as a youth with his hometown Hydrophones before moving up to the senior ranks, joining the Trail Smoke Eaters as an 18-year-old.
He eventually joined the New York Rovers, a Rangers farm team, and led them in scoring in the 1947–1948 season. |
Dumpster Towed Through Louisville Floodwater | The waterfront in Louisville, Kentucky, remained underwater on Monday, February 26, as the Ohio River was expected to crest in the afternoon.Despite that expectation, however, the river was forecast to remain at moderate flooding levels until Tuesday night, the National Weather Service said.Heavy rain, including nearly three inches at Louisville airport on Saturday, triggered the flooding, a news report said. A crest of 36.1 feet would be the ninth-highest crest for the Ohio River in Louisville.This video shows a dumpster being towed in the floodwater in Louisville’s waterfront area. Credit: ACOFFEYDESIGNS via Storyful |
Carson Wentz of Philadelphia Eagles posts online video of himself throwing | Carson Wentz has started his rehab to return to the Eagles after suffering an season-ending ACL injury last season. (0:15)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz appears to be making some significant strides in his rehab from a torn ACL and LCL.
The quarterback posted video of himself throwing inside the team's practice facility Monday.
Wentz has established the season opener as his target return date. It's still too far out to know whether he'll be able to achieve that goal, but it's clear that he's come a long way since injuring his left knee in December against the Los Angeles Rams. He went from using crutches to a cane to walking on his own. Now, the video shows, he is able to drop back, plant and throw -- albeit with a large brace around that left knee.
Recovery from an ACL tear usually takes between nine to 12 months. The Eagles intend to take the long view when it comes to Wentz's injury and don't want to rush him back. If he's not ready, they currently have Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles on the roster. They have set the trade price for Foles high, knowing the value of having a top-end insurance plan, particularly with their franchise quarterback still on the mend.
Wentz, though, is pushing his way back. His recovery will be the dominant story in Philadelphia over the spring and summer. |
A Woman’s Guide to Seminary | Shortly after making my calling public to my local church at age 15, I told my parents I wanted to go to seminary eventually. That’s what my father, a pastor, had done after college, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps. Once I started college, however, I wasn’t as zealous anymore. I didn’t think I could “do” seminary; I was timid and unsure if I were smart enough. Moreover, I was a Christian studies major at a liberal arts school who thought what I was learning there was sufficient training for ministry. But then my perspective changed.
As I was praying and thinking through whether or not I should go to seminary, my Bible reading led me to 2 Timothy 3:14–15:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
This command—“continue in what you have learned”—propelled me into seminary those years ago, but it has also served me well in the intervening years. Learning is a prerequisite for those who want to be teachers and communicators of God’s Word, but it is also a lifestyle and an attitude that all of God’s children should adopt.
For women who feel called to communicate God’s Word to the people of God, theological training is necessary to prepare you for the work. As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you will bear the responsibility of speaking on behalf of God by expounding his Word, and also the responsibility of shepherding and protecting his sheep (even if those sheep are exclusively women and children). James’s warning should reverberate in our ears and cause us to proceed cautiously: “Not many of you should become teachers … because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1).
Likewise, vocational ministry is the serious business of soul care. Like surgeons who feel the life-and-death weight of their work, we, too, should feel the eternal life-and-death weight of our callings just as much and possibly more.
My friend Hayden Walker served as a youth minister at a Baptist church in Birmingham for several years. “Ministry is hard work,” she wrote to me, “and it should be more than just event planning. My theological education reminds me that I have a responsibility to the gospel and to communicate truth, not just coordinate a calendar.”
As 2 Timothy suggests, a serious calling requires serious study of Scripture. With that in mind, I offer here a woman’s guide to pursuing a seminary education.
Choose your seminary wisely.
As you seek to choose a school, the first question to ask is: Do I want to attend a seminary within my own denomination or one that is inter-or multi-denominational? In other words: Whom do I want to shape me? The advantage of going to a seminary within your denomination is that you will be shaped by top thinkers in your own tradition. If you are Episcopalian, you will perhaps become even more firmly Episcopalian. If you are Baptist, you will perhaps leave seminary even more Baptist. If you want to be ordained, a denominational seminary will (usually) get you there faster, and some denominations who ordain women will not ordain you unless you go to one of their seminaries.
On the other hand, most interdenominational evangelical seminaries offer a unique ecumenical approach. They want their students to leave as they entered: as good members of their respective denominations but with a deepened appreciation of other traditions. So both options offer benefits—just different ones. But wherever you go, look for a seminary committed to orthodoxy.
Consider attitudes toward women.
Regardless of whether you are complementarian or egalitarian (or somewhere in the middle) in your views, you’ll want to consider a school’s beliefs and attitudes about the role of women in gospel ministry. Don’t expect to go to a seminary where every male student is supportive of women in ministry, even if you don’t feel called to be a senior pastor. Most likely, you’ll encounter opposition at some point. On the other hand, beware of schools where you find a lot of women who exhibit anger toward men. These schools raise other red flags.
Consider these questions when examining seminaries: Are there any women on the faculty? What do female students and alumnae report about their experience? What does the director of admissions say about the school’s calling to prepare women for ministry of all kinds?
Consider online versus on-campus education.
Attending seminary in person poses challenges for many women—those who are married, caring for children, or engaged in other personal or professional commitments that infringe on their time or mobility. The purpose of online degrees is to make seminary available to those who wouldn’t normally be able to pursue theological training, and in that sense, the internet has created opportunities for those who might otherwise have none. Almost every institution now offers online degrees. (In this CT piece, Marybeth Baggett offers suggestions for online programs worth considering.)
Although attending seminary remotely is better than not attending at all, nonetheless, if you have the ability to go the on-campus route, I strongly encourage you to do it. Something transformative happens in the classroom: You get to meet peers and professors face to face, engage directly with professors, and converse with students after class. The best type of theological education takes place in a community of faith. If you’re willing and able to move across the country (or the world) to serve Christ in ministry wherever he places you, then consider doing the same with seminary. Move to the seminary God is calling you to. It’s a way to practice obedience and trust so that when he calls you to ministry after seminary, it will be easier to take that next step.
Consider your degree and course options.
The most common degree for most types of pastoral ministry is the MDiv (Master of Divinity). Although it depends on the school, most evangelical institutions offer biblical languages, church history, systematic theology, preaching, and pastoral care courses as part of an MDiv program. If you plan to teach God’s Word through writing, speaking, preaching, or teaching, the MDiv provides a strong grasp of biblical languages. Two or three classes in Greek or Hebrew is not enough, however. You need to learn the languages well but also know how to use them for preaching and teaching. With that in mind, beware of institutions that have cheapened their MDiv degree by only requiring a few classes in biblical languages.
The MDiv degree will also require you to take preaching classes. If preaching is a spiritual gift you think you might have, you need the training and the practice. Even if you don’t plan to be in the pulpit, preaching classes will give you the tools to interpret, apply, and communicate Scripture. You can use these skills in different areas of ministry—even in the nursery—and in conjunction with other gifts.
Consider finding a female mentor.
As you pursue seminary, look for someone who can impart wisdom, speak truth, and pastor you. Your mentor doesn’t have to be female, of course. Nonetheless, given the natural difficulties of pursuing ministry as a woman—in the pulpit or elsewhere—I strongly recommend finding a female mentor.
As you seek one out, look for someone who has done (or is doing) gospel ministry, especially in an area close to your interest. If you feel called to youth ministry, for example, then pray and search for someone in that field. Second, look for someone who is respected by others and mature in the faith. Third, look for someone who is theologically educated or at least more likely to encourage you toward that end. (And keep in mind that mentoring does not take the place of studying Scripture with scholars.) Finally, look for someone who will speak truthfully into your life with Christlike love.
Consider the faculty-to-student ratio.
As you assess your seminary options, read up on the faculty. Who will be the people shaping you? What have they written? What courses do they teach, and what’s their area of specialization? Perhaps most importantly, will you have the opportunity to get to know them. Large seminaries may have some of the best scholars in the field (a huge positive), but you might run the risk of not being able to know your professors on a personal level.
For me, one of the benefits of attending a small seminary was sitting at the feet of biblical scholars in class and then getting to know them outside of class. When you’re one of 14 students, you’re able to ask more questions and be more involved.
That benefit often extends past seminary, too. For example, while working on my book last year, I asked one of my former New Testament professors a question about Romans 16. He graciously sent me a section of the commentary on Romans that he had written for Zondervan (which at the time had yet to be published). The greatest value of seminary has been this: lifelong relationships with scholars who are invested in my life and ministry and continue to pray for me. You can’t put a price tag on that.
Consider the cost.
As you examine the cost of seminary, consider not only the cost of education but also the cost of living in the area where the school is located. This is especially important for women who have families. Does the seminary offer on-campus housing? If you have kids, is the on-campus housing family friendly? If not, what’s the cost of off-campus housing?
Explore both loan and scholarship options. Most schools offer scholarships and other forms of financial support, as do many churches. Ask about scholarships given by your own church and also churches near the school that you’re considering. (Research national scholarships, as well.) Think, too, about work. Will you have to work while in seminary? How much will you have to earn to make ends meet? And are you eligible for federal work-study?
Take the long view.
In Scripture, the call to ministry is never fast or easy. Abraham is promised a land he never gets to inherit and a nation he never gets to see. Moses is never able to bring the people into the Promised Land. David has to wait roughly 15 years from his anointing as king to the day he takes the throne, and even then he never gets to see the building of the temple.
Similarly, seminary requires time and sacrifice. It may seem like a waste of time or money or an obstacle to fulfilling your call now, but seminary is neither easy nor fast. It’s designed to mirror ministry and teach you what it will be like: hard and slow.
The week before my third-semester finals in seminary, I called my father to complain about feeling overwhelmed by all the papers and tests (in addition to my part-time job). “Kristen,” he said to me, “God is using these experiences to teach you now what it means to depend on God and to not give up in the hard times so that when you experience the difficult times in ministry later, you will remember that the power of God carried you now and will carry you then.”
He was right. As I have faced challenges in my ministry journey, I am grateful that I had hard, slow theological training because it has prepared me for the hard, slow process of ministry.
Finally, pray through the process.
As you consider seminaries—and there are many wonderful options out there—I encourage you to pray fervently through the process. Seek the God who has called you into his service. Ask him to show you where you should be shaped for the ministry to which he has called you. Ask him to open doors and close doors. Ask him to raise red flags and green flags. Ask him, too, to speak through the mouths of mentors and other trusted people. Finally, ask him to guide and lead you, and then trust that he will.
Let Psalm 138 be your prayer: “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands” (Ps. 138:8, ESV).
Amen.
Kristen Padilla, MDiv, is the author of Now That I’m Called: A Guide for Women Discerning a Call to Ministry. She is a writer, Bible teacher, wife to a biblical scholar, mom of one, and on staff at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Connect with her at kristenrpadilla.com or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
This essay was adapted from Now That I’m Called: A Guide for Women Discerning a Call to Ministry. Copyright © 2018 by Kristen Padilla. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com. |
Taco Bell Naked Chicken Chalupas, lower taxes boost Yum's profit | FILE PHOTO: The sign at a Pizza Hut location, which is owned by Yum Brands Inc, is pictured ahead of their company results in Pasadena, California U.S., July 11, 2016. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Taco Bell fast food restaurant, which is owned by Yum Brands Inc, is pictured ahead of their company results in Pasadena, California, U.S., July 11, 2016. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N) posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by lower taxes, vigorous sales of Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupas and lower costs at KFC restaurants.
Shares of the company were up 2.7 percent at $68.13 in midday trading on Wednesday.
Sales rose 8 percent at Taco Bell restaurants open for more than a year, topping the 3.7 percent growth expected by analysts polled by research firm Consensus Metrix.
That sales figure at the company's "cult brand" was boosted by $1 Double Stacked Tacos, the return of the Triple Double Crunchwrap and the sale of more than 25 million Naked Chicken Chalupas, which are tacos in a fried chicken shell.
Taco Bell traffic rose 5 percent during the first quarter, bucking a stubborn restaurant industry slump that is nagging major brands including McDonald's Corp (MCD.N).
Yum Brands Chief Executive Officer Greg Creed promised to sell more Naked products, saying "we'd be crazy not to," with soon-to-be launched Naked Chicken Chips that will be served with nacho cheese dipping sauce.
KFC's same-store sales growth of 2 percent missed analysts' estimates, while its operating profit jumped 12 percent on lower costs resulting from restaurant sales to franchisees.
The fried chicken chain, which contributes almost half of Yum's operating profit, recently debuted actor Rob Lowe as its new Colonel Sanders mascot. It is also catching up with rivals by switching to chicken raised without medically important antibiotics.
Pizza Hut continued to struggle, reporting a 3 percent drop in same-store sales, its third straight quarterly decline, even as rival Domino's Pizza Inc (DPZ.N) last week reported domestic growth of 10.2 percent.
Yum and Pizza Hut franchisees this month struck a deal that includes $130 million in corporate marketing and technology investments.
Yum Brands' income from continuing operations rose 24 percent to $280 million, or 77 cents per share, for the latest quarter.
Excluding items, the company earned 65 cents per share, beating the average analyst estimate of 60 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Yum adopted new accounting standards that lowered taxes during the quarter, when its effective tax rate was 19.4 percent and its effective tax rate excluding special items was 12.5 percent.
The company's 2016 effective tax rate was 24.6 percent. It was 26.3 percent excluding special items, according to regulatory filings.
Total revenue fell 1.8 percent to $1.42 billion as it sold more restaurants to franchisees but managed to beat Wall Street's target of $1.35 billion.
(Reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru and Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Bernard Orr) |
The Latest: Trooper describes gun injuries left by 'coward' | MILFORD, Pa. — The Latest on the trial of a survivalist charged in a fatal ambush at a state police barracks (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
A Pennsylvania state police trooper who was shot in a 2014 ambush says the "coward" who opened fire has left him with debilitating injuries.
Trooper Alex Douglass testified Monday in the trial of Eric Frein (freen), who's charged with opening fire on the Blooming Grove barracks. Cpl. Bryon Dickson II was killed. Douglass was critically wounded.
Douglass says he was trying to drag the mortally wounded Dickson into the barracks when he felt as though he "got hit in the back with a baseball bat."
Douglass has undergone 18 surgeries. He choked up as he described the pain he still endures.
Frein faces charges including murder of a law enforcement officer and terrorism. He could face a death sentence if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.
___
12:10 p.m.
A man charged with ambushing two troopers at a Pennsylvania state police barracks researched how to escape a manhunt more than a year before the attack.
A computer forensics expert testified Monday at the trial of Eric Frein (freen), who's charged in the 2014 attack that killed Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and critically wounded Trooper Alex Douglass.
Frein's laptop was used to search online for "how to escape a manhunt" and "how are manhunts conducted" in May 2013.
Frein eluded capture for 48 days before U.S. marshals caught him at an abandoned airplane hangar more than 20 miles from the barracks. The jurors heard evidence that he performed dozens of internet searches of his own name while he was on the run.
Frein could face the death penalty if convicted.
___
11 a.m.
Jurors have seen a letter that a survivalist wrote to his parents after a 2014 attack on a state police barracks that killed a Pennsylvania trooper and injured a second.
The letter was found on a computer thumb drive at the abandoned airplane hangar where Eric Frein (freen) was captured 48 days after the sniper attack in Blooming Grove. It spoke of revolution and said "the time seems right for a spark to ignite a fire in the hearts of men."
Prosecutors presented the letter Monday during Frein's trial on charges he killed Cpl. Bryon Dickson II and critically wounded Trooper Alex Douglass. Frein could face the death penalty if convicted. He's pleaded not guilty. |
Memories of a Burrah Sahib | After the success of his 2012 book, The Last Burrah Sahibs, Scratchmann has created a play that is a part of the Edinburgh Fringe, one of the world’s biggest festivals of the arts. After the success of his 2012 book, The Last Burrah Sahibs, Scratchmann has created a play that is a part of the Edinburgh Fringe, one of the world’s biggest festivals of the arts.
The poster of the play, The Last Burrah Sahibs, has a quintessentially colonial image — a white man in shorts, shirt and cravat, a hat on his head and a cup in his hands. “The very first thing I do in the show is take the hat off and tell audiences that this is not how anyone dressed in India in my lifetime. My father, though, remembered his early days, in the ’30s, where a topi was compulsory headgear for all British workers,” says Max Scratchmann, a British writer and illustrator, whose personal account of growing up in post-Independent India contradicts several ideas propagated by popular culture. After the success of his 2012 book, The Last Burrah Sahibs, Scratchmann has created a play that is a part of the Edinburgh Fringe, one of the world’s biggest festivals of the arts. Excerpts from an interview with Scratchmann:
What were your memories of the Indian independence?
I’m too young to remember Independence as I was born in 1956. What interests me and was one of the reasons that I decided to create the show is that history, as written about the last 20 years of the British in India, portrays Independence as the watershed. Things such as TV dramas show everyone departing in 1947 after the Partition, when, in fact, nearly every expat other than government officials stayed where they were until the ’60s, when they were gently nudged homeward. My Calcutta kindergarten school, in the late ’50s and early ’60s, still didn’t take Indian pupils. The Scottish people I grew up with had all made India their home and rattled around like displaced persons when they finally returned to Scotland, hence the rush to embrace East Pakistan in the mid- to late- ’60s. Many went further afield in the ’70s, trying to find compatible lifestyles in places like Zambia. Everyone knows about Gandhi, and, of course, in the West, he is much popularised in films and TV and the like, but growing up in East Pakistan, the emphasis was more on the contribution of MA Jinnah who does not get enough recognition for his work for Independence outside of the subcontinent.
How did you adapt your book to a performance?
My book, The Last Burrah Sahibs, is an autobiographical account of my personal life in Bengal, originally in Calcutta and then Chittagong. When the project was adapted for the stage, it needed a different kind of narrative. As a one-man-show, I now tell the forgotten story of the jute industry from its origins in Dundee to its move to the Hooghly. Most audiences have no idea what jute is these days, or about the Scottish mill workers who populated all the huge factories along the riverside, and the transition they made from ordinary working-class Scots, many from extremely poor backgrounds, to suddenly becoming Burrah Sahibs in India.
What are the incidents from Bengal that have made it to the script?
I talk a lot about British ladies and their afternoon Mahjong parties; going to the cinema several times a week to see weird and wonderful pictures, often with the reels in the wrong order; my mother’s friends and their gossip and their paan addictions; bribing the driver to take me places I wasn’t supposed to go; sitting with my ayah while she smoked cigarettes with the durwans; getting my hair cut on the back lawn with the barber’s blunt clippers; going swimming at the local lake at Kaptai in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. I show a large amount of old home movie footage, so that people can see what our lifestyle in those years was really like.
How did your family and you adjust to Scotland after returning?
I touch on this in the performance as it was a huge culture shock for me and all expat children of my generation. I was brought back on home leave in 1963 during one of the worst winters on record. I was used to a large household with sun and colour and my ayah by my side. I had to cope with a very grey Scotland in the ’60s, in a small two-bedroomed house, with no central heating or double glazing, with appalling food, a strange dialect and awful attitudes. My parents, too, had adapted to the Indian lifestyle and didn’t take well to being back in the UK. As late as the early 2000s, most of the ex-India jute workers would gather as old men and reminisce about the good days in Calcutta.
For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App |
Hospital says Rep. Steve Scalise is in critical condition following surgery for gunshot | MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Community leaders have come up with a plan to fight sex trafficking during the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. The plan unveil… |
BRIEF-JetBlue Reports Q1 Earnings Per Share $0.27 | April 24 (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp:
* Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.27
* Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE VIEW $0.22 — THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S
* QTRLY TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES $1,754 MILLION, UP 9.6 PERCENT
* CAPACITY IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BETWEEN 5.0% AND 7.0% YEAR OVER YEAR IN THE SECOND QUARTER 2018
* Q1 2018 REVENUE PER AVAILABLE SEAT MILE GROWTH OF 6.1%, YEAR OVER YEAR, INCLUDING NET BENEFIT FROM HOLIDAY CALENDAR PLACEMENT
* FOR THE FULL YEAR 2018, JETBLUE EXPECTS CAPACITY TO INCREASE BETWEEN 6.5% AND 8.5%
* LOWER COMPLETION FACTOR RESULTED IN QTRLY CAPACITY GROWTH BELOW LOW-END OF GUIDANCE RANGE FROM JANUARY
* CASM EX-FUEL EXPECTED TO GROW BETWEEN 2.0% AND 4.0% FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2018
* QTRLY LOAD FACTOR 84.6 PERCENT VERSUS 83.9 PERCENT IN Q1 2017
* FOR THE FULL YEAR 2018, JETBLUE EXPECTS YEAR OVER YEAR CASM EX-FUEL TO BE BETWEEN NEGATIVE 1.0% AND POSITIVE 1.0%
* RASM GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO RANGE BETWEEN DOWN 3.0% AND FLAT FOR SECOND QUARTER 2018
* CONTINUES TO EXPECT ITS CASM EX-FUEL GROWTH TO INFLECT DURING SECOND HALF OF YEAR
* QTRLY PASSENGER REVENUE PER ASM OF 12.06 CENTS VERSUS 11.46 CENTS
* ANTICIPATES PAYING ABOUT $65 MILLION IN REGULARLY SCHEDULED DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS IN Q2 AND ABOUT $197 MILLION FOR FY 2018
* QTRLY TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES $1626 MILLION VERSUS $1458 MILLION
* QTRLY REVENUE PASSENGER MILES 11.87 BILLION VERSUS 11.40 BILLION
* Q1 REVENUE VIEW $1.75 BILLION — THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: |
Our First Interstellar Visitor Likely Came From Two-star System | Our first known interstellar visitor likely came from a two-star system.
That's the latest from astronomers who were amazed by the mysterious cigar-shaped object, detected as it passed through our inner solar system last fall.
The University of Toronto's Alan Jackson reported Monday that the asteroid — the first confirmed object in our solar system originating elsewhere — is probably from a binary star system. That's where two stars orbit a common center. According to Jackson and his team, the asteroid was likely ejected from its system as planets formed.
"It has been wandering interstellar space for a long time since," the scientists wrote in the Royal Astronomical Society's journal, Monthly Notices.
Discovered in October by a telescope in Hawaii millions of miles away, the asteroid is called Oumuamua, Hawaiian for messenger from afar arriving first, or scout. The red-tinged rock is estimated to be possibly 1,300 feet (400 meters) long and zooming away from the Earth and sun at more than 16 miles (26 kilometers) per second.
Last month, a science team led by Wesley Fraser of Queen's University Belfast reported that Oumuamua is actually tumbling through space, likely the result of a collision with another asteroid or other object that kicked it out of its home solar system. He expects it to continue tumbling for billions of more years.
Scientists originally thought it might be an icy comet, but now agree it is an asteroid.
"The same way we use comets to better understand planet formation in our own solar system, maybe this curious object can tell us more about how planets form in other systems," Jackson said in a statement.
Close binary star systems may be the source of the majority of interstellar objects out there, both icy comets and rocky asteroids, according to the researchers. |
Piquet says test was like ‘first day at school’ | Nelson Piquet Jr has said that driving for Panasonic Jaguar racing this week was like the ‘first day at school’.
The Brazilian switched to the British team from NIO, the team he won the championship with in season one.
And although there were challenges adapting to his new squad, the Brazilian was happy with how his three days of testing went in Valencia.
Piquet said, “It’s been a really great couple of days. The first day for me was like my first day at school – some new faces, a new team – but it’s been a really positive week.
“Our track times have been where we want them to be, and we have gained a lot of invaluable information ahead of the first race. The Jaguar team has a great energy and I’m looking forward to Hong Kong.”
Team-mate Mitch Evans also enjoyed a solid test, out-pacing Piquet on each day and showing signs that Jaguar might have moved into the midfield with their new I-TYPE 2 car.
Although not sure of where the team are in the pecking order, Evans said that Jaguar has made clear progress in terms of efficiency and weight.
“As always there have been a lot of learnings, but we won’t know until we get to Hong Kong how we will compare against the other teams,” said Evans.
“We are positive about the improvements we have made – the efficiency and weight of the car are much improved – that will help us be more competitive next season.” |
Singer, Aramide Celebrates 2nd Year Wedding Anniversary | Singer, Aramide, is very fortunate to have an understanding man for a hubby as she has been able to build a strong career in music after graduation.
The singer is currently fine all thanks to God and the good voice she is blessed with which has stood her out in her genre of music.
With the rate at which entertainers marriage is coming to an abrupt end, some are still smiling in theirs and building understanding as the day goes by knowing that they are both from different homes and backgrounds.
Aramide is currently happy that things have been going the way God wants it with her hubby as they currently celebrate their 2nd year wedding anniversary.
Penning down some words on their day, she wrote, “Your kindness is magic, your love is selfless and sincere, your heart is golden and you are my everything. I want to be able to say this year after year till we're Old and Grey. I love this forever thing it's like the coolest and I'm insanely in love with you. Happy 2nd year anniversary to us.” |
Beautician held at airport over cocaine pellets | A cosmetologist who was heading to New York with her 11-month-old child was on Monday nabbed at the Cheddi Jagan Inter-national Airport, Timehri after it was suspected that she swallowed a quantity of cocaine pellets.
The Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) is pursuing her reputed husband.
The woman has been identified as Natasha Blair, 37, a resident of Lot 92 Grove-Diamond, East Bank Demerara. She was escorted to a city hospital to discharge the pellets where she remains hospitalised, CANU confirmed….. |
NASA says Land is taking longer to recover from Drought | Written by Andrew Good
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, CA – As global temperatures continue to rise, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in many regions during this century.
A new study with NASA participation finds that land ecosystems took progressively longer to recover from droughts in the 20th century, and incomplete drought recovery may become the new normal in some areas, possibly leading to tree death and increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
In results published August 10th, 2017 in the journal Nature, a research team led by Christopher Schwalm of Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, Massachusetts, and including a scientist from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, measured recovery time following droughts in various regions of the world.
They used projections from climate models verified by observations from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite and ground measurements.
The researchers found that drought recovery was taking longer in all land areas. In two particularly vulnerable regions — the tropics and northern high latitudes — recovery took ever longer than in other regions.
Schwalm noted that in model projections that assumed no new restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions (the so-called business-as-usual scenario), “Time between drought events will likely become shorter than the time needed for land ecosystems to recover from them.”
“Using the vantage point of space, we can see all of Earth’s forests and other ecosystems getting hit repeatedly and increasingly by droughts,” said study co-author Josh Fisher of JPL. “Some of these ecosystems recover, but, with increasing frequency, others do not. Data from our ‘eyes’ in space allow us to verify our simulations of past and current climate, which, in turn, helps us reduce uncertainties in projections of future climate.”
The scientists argue that recovery time is a crucial metric for assessing the resilience of ecosystems, shaping the odds of crossing a tipping point after which trees begin to die. Shorter times between droughts, combined with longer drought recovery times, may lead to widespread tree death, decreasing the ability of land areas to absorb atmospheric carbon.
The research is funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA. Other participating institutions include Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; the University of Utah, Salt Lake City; Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, California; the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; the U.S. Forest Service, Ogden, Utah; Arable Labs Inc., Princeton, New Jersey; the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, Colorado; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the University of Maine, Orono; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington; the University of Illinois, Urbana; the University of Nevada, Reno; and Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.
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13 semis join forces to help save suicidal man on Detroit freeway | OAK PARK, Mich. – A line of truckers along with the Michigan State Police helped a man who was considering suicide on a highway overpass.
Police received a call about a man on a bridge over I-696 early Tuesday morning around 1 a.m., according to WJBK,
This photo does show the work troopers and local officers do to serve the public. But also in that photo is a man struggling with the decision to take his own life. Please remember help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. pic.twitter.com/RBAlCIXT1o — MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) April 24, 2018
Michigan State Police troopers blocked all lanes of traffic, then waved through several semi-truck drivers and asked them to park under the overpass on both the westbound and eastbound sides of the interstate.
In total, 13 semi trucks parked under the overpass to shorten the distance the man would fall if he jumped, WJBK reports.
Negotiators spoke with the man for several hours, and thankfully he did not jump off the bridge. He walked off the overpass, and Huntington Woods officers took him to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
You can also call a loved one, member of the clergy or 911. There are so many people that can help you make the choice to get help and live! It is our hope to never see another photo like this again. pic.twitter.com/cDfm1CK1BZ — MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) April 24, 2018
Important note: If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, please remember help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. It provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also call a loved one, member of the clergy or 911. |
Trump allows more employers to opt out of free birth control mandate | WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump is allowing more employers to opt out of providing no-cost birth control to women by claiming religious or moral objections, issuing new rules Friday that take another step in rolling back the Obama health care law.
The new policy is a long-expected revision to federal rules that require most companies to cover birth control as preventive care for women, at no additional cost. Preventive services are supposed to be free of charge to employees and their dependents under former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Trump’s religious and moral exemption is expected to galvanize both his opponents and religious conservatives that back him, but it’s likely to have a limited impact on America’s largely secular workplaces. Most women no longer pay for birth control, and advocates immediately announced plans to try to block the new rule in court.
Although tens of thousands of women could be affected by Trump’s new policy, the vast majority of companies have no qualms about offering birth control benefits through their health plans. Human resource managers recognize that employers get an economic benefit from helping women space out their pregnancies, since female workers are central to most enterprises.
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The administration estimated that some 200 employers who have already voiced objections to the Obama-era policy would qualify for the expanded opt-out, and that 120,000 women would be affected. However, it’s unclear how major religious-affiliated employers such as Catholic hospitals and universities will respond.
Since contraception became a covered preventive benefit, the share of women employees paying their own money for birth control pills has plunged to under 4 percent, from 21 percent, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Trump administration’s revision broadens a religious exemption that previously applied to houses of worship, religiously affiliated nonprofit groups, and closely-held private companies. Administration officials said the new policy defends religious freedom. Privately owned for-profit companies, as well as publicly-traded for-profit companies will be able to seek an exemption.
Officials also said the administration is tightening oversight of how plans sold under the health law cover abortion. With limited exceptions, abortions can only be paid for through a separate premium collected from enrollees. No public subsidies can be used, except in cases that involve rape, incest, or preserving the life of the mother.
Doctors’ groups that were key to derailing Republican plans to repeal the health law outright expressed dismay over the administration’s move on birth control.
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said the new policy could reverse the recent progress in lowering the nation’s rate of unintended pregnancies.
“Instead of fulfilling its mission ‘to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans,’ HHS leaders under the current administration are focused on turning back the clock on women’s health,” said the organization’s president, Dr. Haywood Brown.
Women’s groups said they would try to stop the administration from carrying out the changes.
“The rules give employers a license to discriminate against women,” said Fatima Goss Graves, president of the National Women’s Law Center. “We will take immediate legal steps to block these unfair and discriminatory rules.”
Administration officials said the new policy takes effect right away. |
Crash on Mansfield Road causing rush-hour delays in Derby | A two-car crash which blocked a major route into Derby earlier this morning continues to cause delays.
According to eye witnesses, the incident happened in Mansfield Road, near to the Waterside Inn in the city, just after 8am.
Google's traffic map shows queues stretching back almost two miles to the A61 roundabout. |
Florida City police officer involved in fatal shooting,... | FLORIDA CITY, Fla. - Miami-Dade police are responding to the scene of a fatal police-involved shooting in Florida City, authorities said.
The shooting was reported in the area of 1405 NW Second Ave.
Miami-Dade police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said the shooting involved an officer with the Florida City Police Department.
Authorities later confirmed that a man had been fatally shot by the officer.
No other details were immediately released.
Watch Local 10 News or refresh this page for updates.
Copyright 2018 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved. |
Florida robber dresses as Batman to commit crimes, police say Ormond... | ORMOND BEACH, Fla. - Ormond Beach police said they are searching for a knife-wielding man who robbed multiple convenience stores and at least one person while wearing a Batman mask.
Start the conversation, or Read more at WSOCTV. |
Kerala: Tense moments at Palarivattom station over 'missing' girl | KOCHI: Tense situations prevailed outside Palarivattom police station here on Tuesday after a family alleged inappropriate behaviour on the part of the station house officer when they approached him with a man missing complaint.
The complaint was lodged by Priyanka, daughter of Motilal, a resident of Vennala. Her 18-year-old sister, Chelsea Motilal, went missing on Sunday morning. However, the police traced her and she was presented before a magistrate the same night.
According to the police, the girl refused to go with her family and wished to go with a woman named Lisy, an Irinjalakuda native, whom she knew. However, on Monday, both parties came to the police station again. It has been alleged the SI verbally harassed the family as they tried to talk to the woman.
Police officers said the woman is above 18 and it was the magistrate who sent her with the woman with whom she wanted to go. Meanwhile, Youth Congress activists who approached the station on behalf of the family said the SI was threatening the family. |
Eagles' Nick Foles is happy, but could be happier | Nick Foles speaks to the media for the first time since the Super Bowl LII parade in February.
It's still a little jarring to consider that Nick Foles won Super Bowl MVP. After being traded away from the Eagles three years ago. And then nearly retiring from professional football. And then the emergence of Carson Wentz as an MVP-candidate quarterback.
Even the man himself is still trying to make sense of it.
"It's a crazy situation. I don't know how many times it's happened," Foles said to media members in South Philly Tuesday. "We all believe we can step in the huddle and do things to help the team, that's the aspiration and always has been. But you also have to look at the situation."
The bond between Wentz and Foles, according to the 29-year-old from Texas, is the reason why the two have been able to seamlessly shift from back up to starter and back.
Wentz, of course, tore his ACL last season forcing Foles to lead the team in the playoffs — which he did to the tune of 373 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and one receiving in a 41-33 win over the Patriots. Rehabbing, Wentz is expected to retake his starting role very close to Week 1, if not before. Making the Super Bowl MVP the back up months after hoisting his trophy.
“I want him to get healthy, get out there and get back to being Carson Wentz," Foles said with his usual selfless attitude.
The Eagles have made keeping Foles happy a priority, signing him to a re-structured contract that gives him a $2 million signing bonus and an option to return in 2019. But there's a chance he doesn't see a snap.
"Do I want to lead a team again? Absolutely," Foles said. "But am I trying to run away and do that right now? Well if it presents itself and that works out, then fine, I'll live in that moment. But at the same time, I'm so grateful to be a part of this organization."
Foles has been the subject of trade rumors for months and could still be moved for a high draft pick or two sometime in August — or during the regular season if Wentz shows he is healthy and the team has confidence in Nate Sufeld as a back up. But then again, with Wentz' sometimes reckless style and his cheap rookie contract, Foles has extra value in Philadelphia.
For now, Foles is content with where he is.
“I’m not banging on the table at all," he said. |
Florida plans in-game tribute to late local legend Tom Petty | GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — No. 21 Florida will pay tribute to local legend Tom Petty during its game against LSU on Saturday.
The Gators announced Thursday they will play Petty hit "I Won't Back Down" at the end of the third quarter at Florida Field.
Petty died Monday at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles a day after he suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu, California. He was 66.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Petty once worked as a groundskeeper at the University of Florida as he tried to make it in the music industry. Usually backed by the Heartbreakers, Petty broke through in the 1970s and went on to sell more than 80 million records.
Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin says: "Let's celebrate together what he meant to the world of music and what he meant to this community."
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More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 |
The Latest: Search called off for bears in Alaska mauling | ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The Latest on three juveniles being injured in bear mauling near Anchorage (all times local):
3:45 p.m.
Three juveniles were mauled Wednesday after coming across a grizzly bear and her two cubs while they were hiking in a heavily wooded area just north of Alaska's largest city.
Anchorage authorities said four young people were hiking in the woods around the Eagle River campground when three of them were injured after running into the bears. Police say three juveniles were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other youth wasn't injured.
Ken Marsh is the spokesman for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He says it's possible this group just surprised the bears, and the mother reacted "defensively, pretty much in brown bear fashion."
The search for the bears has been called off. Officials will put up signs warning people of bear activity in the area.
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1:57 p.m.
Three hikers have been injured following a run-in with a bear at a campground near Alaska's largest city.
Anchorage authorities say four young people were hiking in the woods around the Eagle River campground when three of them were injured by a grizzly bear with two cubs. They were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Anchorage police said in a news release say that while responding officers were searching for the hikers they were charged by the bear and shot at it. The bear's status was not immediately known. |
Nigerian Air Force Student Pilot Force Lands Diamond 40 Trainer Aircraft | A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) student pilot has force landed a Diamond 40 Trainer Aircraft on the outskirts of Kaduna while on a solo mission, as part of flying training at the 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna.
A statement issued by OLATOKUNBO ADESANYA, Air Vice Marshal, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, said that the incident, which took place yesterday Monday was as a result of an airborne emergency that could not enable the pilot fly the aircraft back to the Base.
He therefore force landed the aircraft but with minimal damage to it. However, the student pilot, who was the only one on board, suffered minor injuries and is already receiving treatment at the 461 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Kaduna.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has immediately directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the exact cause of the incident while efforts are ongoing to recover the aircraft. |
Man found dead in Doubloon Drive home on New Year's Day | POLICE in New Providence are reporting the discovery of a dead man in a house in Doubloon Drive, off Faith Avenue South, on New Year's Day.
According to reports from the scene around 1.30pm on Sunday, the man was found dead with injuries.
See Tuesday's Tribune for full story |
New company plans to upgrade 106 bedroom Mold hotel following take over | A West Midlands based company which has bought Beaufort Park Hotel for an ‘undisclosed’ sum deal plans to upgrade the 106-bedroom building which will remain as a hotel and conference centre.
The hotel and conference centre based just outside of Mold Town centre was previously owned by David Byers who has retired from the hospitality industry.
It has now been snapped up by JDP Hotels 2 Ltd, which is owned and run by entrepreneur, Pranay Paw and his family, the group already owns and manages the Best Western Hotel St. Pierre in West Yorkshire.
The hotel’s 80 staff will remain employed at the business.
Pranay Paw, Founder and Managing Director of JDP Hotels 2, said:
“Beaufort Park Hotel was an obvious investment choice for us as we increase the number of hotel properties in our portfolio.
Its location, being near Chester, Snowdonia and historic Welsh castles, is coupled with its reputation both locally and within the industry.
We would like to thank all those involved in the process and we’re excited to now be able to move forward with our plans for Beaufort Park.”
Paul Tyrer, Partner at SAS Daniels who advised JDP Hotels 2 on the acquisition, said:
“JDP has been hugely successful in establishing its hospitality business, so it was a natural progression to add to its growing portfolio with this acquisition.
There are many considerations to buying a business of this size, but we’ve been able to assist Pranay and his team to complete on the purchase with minimal disruption to all the involved parties.
We wish them the best of luck as the new owners of Beaufort Park Hotel.”
Image: http://discoverflintshire.co.uk/ |
ECB could consider early tapering if economy improves further | AMSTERDAM, March 30 The European Central Bank could start winding down its massive asset buying scheme earlier than planned but only if the economy continues to outperform expectations, Dutch central bank chief Klaas Knot said on Thursday.
The euro zone economy, on its best run in a decade, has already performed better than projected for the most part since September and the strong run could still continue, Knot, a policy conservative who has opposed many of the ECB's past easing measures, told a news conference.
"Only if the economy does even better than we now expect in our estimates could we consider bringing the tapering forward,” Knot said, referring to the ECB's plans to buy 60 billion euros worth of bonds each month until the end of the year.
"But since September last year, the economic surprise indexes have turned round and are on quite a high level," Knot said. "They are better than our expectations. And why shouldn't that continue in the rest of the year?"
The ECB plans to buy at least 2.3 trillion euros worth of bonds, all in the hope of cutting borrowing costs to revive growth and ultimately generate inflation.
Knot added that even if the asset buys continue until the end of the year, as now planned, they should then be wound down as soon as possible in 2018.
But he dismissed calls by some policymakers to review the bank's guidance for keeping rates at their present or lower levels until well after the asset buys end.
"I think this sequence makes sense, the forward guidance makes sense and I don't see a need to revisit that now,” Knot said.
"It's a (sequencing) that has also been applied in the U.S. and the UK when exiting, and the logic is one of a consistent communication message which is neutral along the yield curve and which prevents giving conflicting views as to the front end and the long end of the yield curve." (Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Writing by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Alison Williams) |
AAA offers free Tow to Go rides to keep drunken drivers off... | AAA Tow to Go provides free rides for impaired drivers during the holidays.
DETROIT - AAA is offering free emergency rides for impaired individuals to keep them off the roads this Super Bowl weekend.
Related: Michigan State Police increasing drunken, drugged driving patrols for Super Bowl Sunday
The program is designed to be a safety net for those who don't have a way home. A tow truck will take a vehicle and driver home or somewhere safe within 10 miles.
Members and nonmembers in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Indiana (Fort Wayne and South Bend only) and Wisconsin can use the service.
The trucks can typically fit two people; larger groups will need to find another way home. The program may not be available in rural areas or during severe weather conditions.
Tow to Go is available until 6 a.m. Feb. 1. To use the service, call 855-286-9246.
Copyright 2017 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. |
Sangamo Therapeutics Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock | Sangamo anticipates using the net proceeds from the offering to support its own and its partnered gene therapy, genome editing, cell therapy and gene regulation product candidates and research programs, its manufacturing facilities and other business development activities, as well as for general corporate purposes, including working capital.
BofA Merrill Lynch, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.
A registration statement relating to the shares was previously filed with and became effective by rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering is being made solely by means of a prospectus. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will be available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website located at http://www.sec.gov. A copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from: BofA Merrill Lynch, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; or from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (866) 803-9204; or from Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (631) 274-2806.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About Sangamo Therapeutics
Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. is focused on translating ground-breaking science into genomic therapies that transform patients' lives using the Company's industry leading platform technologies in genome editing, gene therapy, gene regulation and cell therapy.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Sangamo's current expectations. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, references to Sangamo's expectations regarding the completion, timing and size of the public offering, its expectations with respect to granting the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares and its anticipated use of net proceeds from the offering. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section captioned "Risk Factors" in the preliminary prospectus supplement related to the public offering to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as Sangamo's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2018 and other filings. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Sangamo undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sangamo-therapeutics-announces-proposed-public-offering-of-common-stock-300635752.html
SOURCE Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.
Related Links
http://www.sangamo.com |
Here’s why police swooped on Pelham Street today | A number of police cars swooped on a property in Worksop this afternoon.
Around eight police cars attended the scene, on Pelham Street, and a helicopter hovered overhead at around 4pm today (Friday, October 6).
Three police cars then made their way to Watson Road.
It is understood that officers from South Yorkshire Police were trying to locate a wanted man from their area, but were unsuccessful.
“No arrests were made and police are now leaving the scene,” confirmed a South Yorkshire Police spokesperson.
A bystander said: “I saw all these police cars hurtling down the bypass and followed them here. You know it’s something serious when there’s this many.”
A Pelham Street resident said: “I’ve never seen so many police cars in my life. We were all thought something really bad had happened.” |
Injury forces Pumas into midfield change for Wallabies | MENDOZA, Argentina — Argentina was forced into a late change for its Rugby Championship closer against Australia when midfield regular Jeronimo de la Fuente failed a fitness test on Friday, a day after hurting his left leg in training.
De La Fuente, who has started in every Pumas test this year, was replaced by backup Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, who will on Saturday make his first start in almost a year.
Three-time Rugby World Cup back Juan Martin Hernandez came into the reserves for a match in which the Pumas are out to redeem themselves.
They are at risk of failing to earn a competition point for the first time since joining the competition in 2012.
The Pumas enjoyed one win in 2014, '15 and '16, against either Australia or South Africa, but have regressed this year with five heavy losses, none of them earning even a losing bonus point for being within seven points of the victor.
The Pumas pack has imposed itself only briefly, and the scrum was ruined last week by the All Blacks. The backline hasn't sparkled or threatened. And poor discipline has hurt them, highlighted by five yellow cards and one red.
Flanker Pablo Matera insists the Pumas have the right game plan.
"We are failing to carry out the game plan," Matera says. "The system is not failing, it is us players who are failing."
He adds the team is more angry than disappointed with its results and how it is playing.
The nature of the competition means the Pumas don't have time to be frustrated, he adds, but they also don't have time to fix all of their mistakes. |
Megan Fox looks supremely fit rocking tight leggings and tank top on quick stroll around New Orleans | She's known for keeping her famous figure in top shape.
So it's no surprise that Megan Fox was collecting her steps while on a brisk walk through New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon.
The 32-year-old actress covered up her fantastic form wearing tight leggings and a black tank top as she sauntered through The Big Easy.
Scroll down for video
Out and about: Megan Fox was collecting her steps while on a brisk walk through New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon
The New Girl starlet covered her lithe legs with a pair of forest green leggings, which featured mesh paneling behind her knees.
Her toned and tanned arms peered out from her nurture vs. nature Sub_Urban Riot T-shirt which was sheered into a cute tank top.
Fox strapped on a pair of black running shoes for her brisk walk, and wore a millennial pink backpack across her shoulders.
Cute: The 32-year-old actress covered up her fantastic form wearing tight leggings and a black tank top as she sauntered through The Big Easy
Aside from carrying a massive Fiji water bottle, she kept her hands free during the afternoon adventure.
Her long, raven-hued hair was tied back into a loose ponytail with tendrils sweeping past her face.
Megan was later spotted outdoors with a male friend who sported long grey shorts paired with a black shirt.
Megan is currently starring opposite Josh Duhamel, Kunal Nayyar, and Janet Montgomery in the upcoming family film Think Like A Dog, which is about a young boy who forms a telepathic bond with his dog after a science experiment goes awry.
Walk it out: Megan was later spotted outdoors with a male friend who sported long grey shorts paired with a black shirt
Meanwhile, the actress has also become embroiled in some legal drama.
Megan filed a $5 million lawsuit against Brad Pitt's manager Cynthia Pett-Dante, claiming she was part of a sellers' consortium that misled her in 2016 into sinking $3.2 million into a Malibu residence that needed considerable repairs.
The mom-of-three - to sons Noah, five, Bodhi, four, and Journey, one, with husband Brian Austin Green - told the court that she believed she was relocating to 'paradise in bucolic Malibu where she could raise her young family,' not a fixer-upper with costly renovations yet-to-be made.
The actress filed for a divorce from Brian in August 2015, but he subsequently salvaged their relationship thanks to a series of romantic gestures, like whisking her away to Hawaii to the same place where they tied the knot in 2010. |
Enabling connectivity for all | What trends are you noticing in the telecoms sector at the moment? The sector is readying itself for 5G, with a current focus on spectrum availability. Regulators are preparing spectrum auctions and in some case clearing bands for 5G use. Operators are competing to secure their slice of the airways while examining the business case for 5G networks. Operators must be convinced that these networks are commercially viable before providers commit to long-term plans for network provision. Concurrently, Government is putting increased pressure on service providers to better serve the people, most notably the rural communities who still struggle to access good connections…
What trends are you noticing in the telecoms sector at the moment?
The sector is readying itself for 5G, with a current focus on spectrum availability. Regulators are preparing spectrum auctions and in some case clearing bands for 5G use. Operators are competing to secure their slice of the airways while examining the business case for 5G networks. Operators must be convinced that these networks are commercially viable before providers commit to long-term plans for network provision.
Concurrently, Government is putting increased pressure on service providers to better serve the people, most notably the rural communities who still struggle to access good connections. Unfortunately, these two trends are pulling in opposite directions, with one exacerbating the issues of the other. Both trends strengthen our own belief that spectrum sharing has a major part to play as we move towards 5G and could be the solution to both challenges.
What new technologies are you particularly interested in at the moment?
As Director of Emerging Technology, I am particularly interested in the overlap between new technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, and next generation networks. The opportunity within these areas is what attracted Nominet to be involved in the DRIVEN project, and we are one of a consortium of experts working together to prepare for a mass adoption of level 4 autonomous vehicles. Nominet’s contribution is to focus on the digital infrastructure to enable the fleet of driverless cars. We are exploring how to safely and securely share data from vehicle to vehicle, and vehicle to infrastructure. The impact autonomous vehicles will have on wider society is exciting, and we are keen to support the Government’s ambition to have driverless cars on UK roads by 2021.
Tell us a little about spectrum sharing – what is it and what benefits does it bring?
Global internet traffic is expected to triple over the next five years, and the majority of this traffic will come from wireless devices such as smartphones and the IoT. The wireless spectrum that enables this connectivity is already in short supply in highly populated areas. If the current model of exclusive nationwide licensing is maintained, demand for spectrum will outstrip supply over the next decade. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt new models for managing the radio waves. Sharing our spectrum allows for more efficient allocation of the radio waves as assignments are made in real-time based on local demands, like an Airbnb for the radio spectrum. One of the benefits of sharing is that it allows spectrum which is unused, for example in rural areas, to be used by the communities that live there instead of waiting for large corporations to fund deployments of networks.
Can spectrum sharing be used in conjunction with 5G?
I believe spectrum sharing will be a vital part of realising 5G on a wide scale. Both the Government and the telecoms sector agree that 5G coverage needs to be nationwide and delivered at a scale that is economical and inclusive – no one should be left behind. As the current model continues to underserve those living outside of cities, spectrum sharing is the obvious next step to ensure the connectivity gaps are filled in for the next generation network.
What predictions do you have for the industry over the course of the next 18 months or so?
Over the next 18 months I expect to see the first wide-scale adoption of spectrum sharing via TV whitespaces or through Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). This seems most likely to happen in one of the US states and in Africa. Demonstrating spectrum sharing can be used viably at scale will be transformational for the industry. I hope it will pave the way for more constructive conversations here in the UK about how we meet the growing demand for good connectivity.
What new markets are particularly interesting to you at the moment?
We are committed to exploring the rural market to find a means of providing good connectivity to those living in rural communities who continue to struggle to access the internet. We have already had success in this area, using our TV White Space (TVWS) database in partnership with local service providers to connect communities such as on Arran and around Loch Ness. This led us into 5G RuralFirst, a collaborative project that has recently received Government funding as part of their effort to create the best conditions for a 5G rollout. Nominet is bringing spectrum sharing expertise and previous experience in rural communities to 5G RuralFirst and will work on trials in Orkney, supporting remote rural trials of new 5G equipment based on low-cost software-defined radio platform and innovative spectrum sharing techniques.
Nominet will be taking part in the Connected Britain event in June. Nominet will share their expertise on spectrum sharing in Britain's pursuit of 5G connectivity - click here for a full agenda and to find out how you can be part of the show. |
SEE IT: Pit bull chomps down on subway rider’s foot | A pit bull bit a straphanger’s foot during a chaotic subway ride captured on video and posted on social media.
Riders on the 4 train desperately try to get the dog to let go of the woman’s foot.
“She attacked him first!” the dog’s owner yells as he tries to hold back the brown pooch on a leash.
“Just get the dog off of her!” another straphanger yells.
Actor exes who appeared in 'Trainwreck' movie battle over canine
After a few seconds, the dog is finally yanked off the woman. But straphangers continued to yell at the dog’s handler for letting the dog get out of control.
Video on Facebook showed a pit bull attacking a rider on the 4 line of the subway. (Facebook)
The MTA doesn’t know where and when the incident happened but has flagged the video for the NYPD.
“Our rules require non-service animals to be kept inside containers and not disturbing other passengers,” said MTA spokesman Shams Tarek. “What’s happening in this video is disturbing and a clear violation of our rules.”
Facebook commentators were appalled by the incident.
Pit bull busted for biting man to be reunited with owner
“I CANT STAND these entitled idiots who think it is OK to bring their loose dogs on the trains,” wrote Michelle Cadore. “They need to be fined. The risk of being bitten is one thing and then there are some folks who are actually allergic to dogs.”
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Sonali Bendre diagnosed with high-grade cancer | ×
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See pics: Priyanka Chopra relaxes in Goa before leaving for New York | Actor Priyanka Chopra took a much-deserved break this holiday season when she came to India to meet her family and friends. But now she is heading back to New York where big things (like presenting at the Golden Globes) wait for her.
Priyanka, however, managed to squeeze in a last-minute trip to Goa before she left. She posted pictures of her time in the sun and by the pool on Instagram. Check them out:
Mermaid life.. #kickbacknrelax #vacay2016 #makemostoflife A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Dec 29, 2016 at 1:28am PST
Living the good life... #brando #puppylove #vacay #kickbacknrelax #happyholidays A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Dec 28, 2016 at 8:12am PST
“First selfie on the last day of vacay. Have a wonderful year everyone. NYC bound,” she captioned the post.
While she was in Mumbai, she was hosted by designer Manish Malhotra for a party where she was joined by Sushant Singh Rajput, Neha Dhupia and many others.
Thank you @manishmalhotra05 for a wonderful evening... you are an amazing host and have a lovely home. See you in the new year. 💋❤️ A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Dec 27, 2016 at 11:14pm PST
Last night at Manish's . Super fun. A photo posted by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) on Dec 27, 2016 at 8:02pm PST
#AllAboutLastNight #AtHome #Dinner for the very #Amazing @priyankachopra #Friends #GoodTimes @sushantsinghrajput @sophiechoudry @nehadhupia A photo posted by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05) on Dec 27, 2016 at 10:35pm PST
In between, she also visited the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.
Magical visit at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati... something so powerful in belief....... #DiscoveringAssam A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Dec 24, 2016 at 12:04am PST
Priyanka will now join the rest of her cast and crew of her hit TV show Quantico in New York and prep for her upcoming appearance at the Golden Globe Awards.
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A Complete Guide to the Tactics and… | [PDF] Audiobook Atlas of the Civil War: A Complete Guide to the Tactics and Terrain of Battle (National Geographic) Full version Full page
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Title: Atlas of the Civil War( A Complete Guide to the Tactics and Terrain of Battle) Binding: Hardcover Author: StephenHyslop Publisher: NationalGeographicSociety |
Roseanne Barr blames Ambien: ‘I’m not a racist, just an idiot’ | Roseanne Barr is blaming Ambien for her racist tweets and telling her fans, “I’m not a racist, just an idiot who made a bad joke.”
She said on Tuesday that she was leaving Twitter, but she just can’t seem to log off.
After ABC canceled her hit show “Roseanne” over her foul Twitter behavior, she went on another tweetstorm early Wednesday, retweeting fans who portrayed her as the victim of a liberal media double standard.
She zig-zagged between apologizing for her remarks and retweeting memes that made her apology sound insincere. All told, she posted more than 100 times.
Among her retweets: Photos of former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett side by side with an ape.
It was Barr’s earlier tweet about Jarrett that caused outrage and ultimately led to the show’s cancellation. In a response to a comment about Jarrett, Barr had said: “Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby=vj.”
Barr still claims she was just joking when she compared Jarrett to “Planet of the Apes” and the Muslim Brotherhood in a tweet on Tuesday morning.
In a reply to one of her fans, she said “I honestly thought she was Jewish and Persian-ignorant of me for sure, but…i did.”
She also said she had been on Ambien, a medication used to treat insomnia, at the time.
She tweeted, “guys I did something unforgiveable so do not defend me. It was 2 in the morning and I was ambien tweeting — it was memorial day too — i went 2 far & do not want it defended — it was egregious Indefensible. I made a mistake I wish I hadn’t but…don’t defend it please.”
She cited Ambien again in a later tweet, saying, “Not giving excuses for what I did(tweeted) but I’ve done weird stuff while on ambien — cracked eggs on the wall at 2am etc.”
Oddly, she later deleted all of her references to the medication. Nevertheless, Ambien became the #1 trending topic on Twitter on Wednesday morning. Barr’s explanation was deemed laughable.
Sanofi, the maker of Ambien, released a statement Wednesday, saying “racism is not a known side effect of any Sanofi medication.”
People of all races, religions and nationalities work at Sanofi every day to improve the lives of people around the world. While all pharmaceutical treatments have side effects, racism is not a known side effect of any Sanofi medication. — Sanofi US (@SanofiUS) May 30, 2018
In one of her other deleted tweets, Barr said “I’m sorry 4 my tweet, AND I will also defend myself as well as talk to my followers. so, go away if u don’t like it. I will handle my sadness the way I want to. I’m tired of being attacked & belittled more than other comedians who have said worse.”
Some of her replies to fans clearly expressed how she feels. At one point she said she believes she was fired because of fears over a potential boycott of the show’s advertisers. She also lashed out at co-stars Michael Fishman and Sara Gilbert.
“You throw me under the bus. nice!” she said in a tweet directed at Fishman.
Her Twitter account had a manic feel throughout the morning. Through her selection of retweets, Barr implied that she was fired over her support for President Trump. One of the posts she shared said, inexplicably, “they brought the show back so they could inevitably cancel the show when she said something they didn’t like.”
But then she deleted her retweet of that post.
Another retweet, still up as of 7 a.m. ET, quoted Herman Cain on Fox saying “I believe they were looking for a reason to cancel #Roseanne and here’s why. Even though the show was a ratings success, forces within ABC didn’t like the fact that her conservative defense of certain things was so popular.”
i honestly thought she was Jewish and Persian-ignorant of me for sure, but…i did. — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
Barr also continued to tweet about George Soros, a liberal donor who has been painted as the villain in many right-wing conspiracy theories.
One message she re-tweeted on Wednesday falsely accused the Hungary-born Jewish billionaire of collaborating with the Nazis.
Barr also said her firing “worked out” because she “would leave when they started to try to censor me.”
i think i know what really happened. It has made me mad, but as I told u-i would leave when they started to try to censor me, so it all worked out — Roseanne Barr (@therealroseanne) May 30, 2018
Tom Werner, her longtime producing partner, told Deadline.com that he supported ABC’s decision.
He said he hoped “Roseanne seeks the help she so clearly needs.” |
Smoke alarm sets off fire scare in Austrian Alpine tunnel | BERLIN (AP) — A fire alarm inside a railway tunnel being built under the Austrian Alps prompted workers briefly to take shelter in an underground safety area Monday, a project manager said.
Eighteen people were working on a tunnel-boring machine inside the Brenner tunnel construction site when the alarm went off, said Konrad Bergmeister, the Austrian CEO of project management company BBT SE. It turned out to be a false alarm, he said.
He said a smoke sensor set off the alarm, prompting people to take shelter in a safety container, but workers quickly determined there was no fire or smoke. Electricians were working to determine the cause of the alarm.
Officials had earlier said the tunnel-boring machine had apparently caught fire or at least emitted smoke inside the tunnel.
The Brenner tunnel aims to link the Austrian city of Innsbruck and central Europe with northern Italy.
The Brenner Base Tunnel project, the main part of which is a 55-kilometer (34-mile) connection between Innsbruck and Fortezza in northern Italy, is supposed to be completed in the mid-2020s. It will consist of two single-track tunnels as well as a third tunnel that will eventually help with drainage.
Copyright © 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. |
‘Conan Exiles’ Official PS4, Xbox One, And PC Release Date And Collector’s Edition Announced | Funcom’s foray into the open-world survival genre finally has an official release date. Conan Exiles will finally come to the PlayStation 4 while the Xbox One and PC will get official releases on May 8, 2018. A retail push is coming too with both a Day One and Limited Collector’s Editions.
As previously covered, Conan Exiles on the Xbox One has received a price increase to $49.99. This is because retail pre-orders are now available and retailers do not want to compete with the Game Preview price. Additionally, Funcom cannot afford to sell the game at the original $34.99 price at retail due to all the associated costs that come with making and shipping a physical product.
The price for Conan Exiles will remain at $10 on Steam through the May 8 launch date. It will be increased to $39.99 then. Gamers who purchase the title while it is in Steam Early Access or the Xbox One Game Preview program will still own the official release version at no additional cost. It will also come with the Conan’s Royal Armor in-game item at launch.
The Day One Edition for both consoles and PC will only be available through retailers and will come with a physical map of the Exiled Lands. It will also include Conan’s Atlantean Sword as an in-game item.
Funcom
Meanwhile, the Conan Exiles Limited Collector’s Edition is the version to look for if you want a 6-inch Conan to sit on your desk. It will also come with a full-color comic from Dark Horse Comics about Conan’s adventures in the Exiled Lands, six digital comic books from Dark Horse Comics, a digital RPG book, an ebook containing Robert E. Howard’s first 13 Conan stories, and soundtracks from Conan Exiles, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, and Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer.
Work on Conan Exiles will still continue through the official release in May. Funcom has already added the Frozen North biome along with new creatures, weapons, and other items. The studio is currently revamping the combat system with combo attacks, new volcano area, new jungle biome, loads of new items, plus general polish. These new features are promised to be available by the official launch at no additional cost. It is unknown if other promised features like sorcery and mounts will make the official release. |
Jared Leto Speaks on Vegas Tragedy: Nothing Can Defeat the Human Spirit | By Robyn Collins
Singer and actor Jared Leto appeared on the Thursday, Oct. 5 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and shared his thoughts on Sunday night’s mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas.
Ellen asked him how the tragedy had informed his feelings about performing. “When something like this happens, does this put fear into you? ‘Cause no one would imagine anything like this could happen, and then it does, and now you’re touring — how do you feel?”
Related: Jared Leto Stars in New ‘Blade Runner 2049’ Short Film
The artist considered the question and responded, “You know, it’s horrific. It’s heartbreaking, but I do think that no matter how much evil there is in the world nothing can defeat the human spirit. We need to continue to live our lives, to follow our dreams and to keep moving forward.”
“It’s just heartbreaking and senseless, and you know, I hope that if there’s anything that comes from this, it’s that we all get a little closer,” he continued. “We all listen a little bit more and have a greater sense of understanding and empathy and kindness with each other.” |
Nintendo is Discontinues the NES Classic | Remember the NES Classic? Most likely not, because you could never seem to find one in a store anywhere. Well, Nintendo for some reason is now cancelling the ultra-popular device.
Nintendo Discontinues NES Classic Edition Via www.pcmag.com The last shipments of the console, a miniature version of the original NES that plays games…
Image credit: Ron Tiew Photography / Shutterstock.com |
Mayweather coming back to fight UFC star McGregor Aug. 26 | FILE - In this April 29, 2015, file photo, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. smiles during a pre-fight news conference in Las Vegas. Mayweather is being inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in Las Vegas on Friday, June 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Wednesday he will come out of retirement to face UFC star Conor McGregor in a boxing match on Aug. 26.
Mayweather, who retired in September 2015 after winning all 49 of his pro fights, will face a mixed martial arts fighter who has never been in a scheduled 12-round fight at the MGM Grand arena. The fight that will take place in a boxing ring and be governed by boxing rules.
''It's official,'' Mayweather said on his Instagram account next to a video poster of both fighters.
''THE FIGHT IS ON,'' McGregor tweeted several minutes earlier, posting a picture of himself next to one of Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.
Mayweather will fight at the relatively advanced age of 41 in a bout that McGregor has been pushing for months. It finally came together over the last few days, and Nevada boxing officials on Wednesday approved the date for a Mayweather Promotions bout.
Though Las Vegas oddsmakers have made Mayweather a heavy 10-1 favorite, the thought of the fight has excited many in the MMA world. It has also intrigued some in boxing, though most dismiss McGregor's chances under boxing rules against one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.
Even if the actual bout may not shape up as a great matchup, the run-up to the fight will. Both fighters are noted for their ability to sell their fights, and both have exchanged in trash talking and more to promote their bouts.
The fight will be televised on pay-per-view on Showtime and would likely gross tens of millions of dollars. It comes less than a month before Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez meet in a highly anticipated fight that could rival it for pay-per-view buys. |
OnePlus is giving away 10,000 Star Wars: The Last Jedi tickets to its fans in India | OnePlus fans in India will be able to watch the upcoming Star Wars movie for free.
OnePlus is celebrating its third anniversary in India, and to mark the occasion the company is giving away 10,000 complimentary tickets to its fans for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is hitting theaters on December 15. The company is also set to launch the OnePlus 5T Star Wars edition in the country on December 14.
OnePlus fans in nine cities across India will be able to avail the promotion: Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Kochi. The tickets will be rolled out in two phases on December 13 and December 15 on OnePlus' website and on Paytm.
Anyone that has purchased a OnePlus device over the course of the last three years is eligible for the offer. All you have to do is register your OnePlus device's IMEI number, select the city, and pick a time for when you want to see the movie. You'll receive a ticket code that can then be redeemed on Paytm for the ticket.
You'll be able to choose tickets for showtimes on December 16 and 17 at PVR and Cinemax theaters at these locations:
Mumbai - PVR Phoenix Mills - Lower Parel
Pune - PVR Pune - Market City
Hyderabad - PVR Kukatpally Forum Sujana Mall
Chandigarh - PVR Elante Mall
Chennai - PVR Ampa Sky Walk Mall
Kolkata - Cinemax Mani Square Mall
Delhi - PVR DLF Mall of India
Bangalore - PVR Forum Mall - Koramangala
Kochi - PVR Lulu International Shopping Mall
OnePlus is also rolling out pop-up stores at the aforementioned nine cities, giving its fans the ability to go hands-on with the Star Wars-themed variant of the OnePlus 5T. The first round of tickets will be available on Wednesday, December 13, starting 10 a.m.
Considering the massive demand that'll inevitably follow, we recommend you register your OnePlus device right now with your account if you haven't already done so.
Register your OnePlus device |
Melania Trump is finally getting her moment | Kate Andersen Brower is a CNN contributor and the author of the forthcoming book "First in Line: Presidents, Vice Presidents and the Pursuit of Power." She has written two other books about the White House, "First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies" and "The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House." Unless otherwise noted, facts in this piece reflect research from those works. The opinions expressed here are hers.
(CNN) Melania Trump has been at the center of planning the administration's first state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron and French first lady Brigitte Macron. These dinners are always more than they seem. They are not just about schmoozing -- they are often about serious matters of policy and in this case, that means the focus will be the fate of the Iran nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump described Tuesday as "ridiculous" and "insane" and which President Macron is still looking to salvage.
Kate Brower
But it is Melania Trump who has been seizing the "optics" as the dinner approaches. There was her pose for the now-viral photo of herself with the Clintons, Obamas and Bushes at Barbara Bush's funeral service over the weekend, in which she seemed entirely at ease.
Earlier, her smile and warm exchange with President Obama at the funeral set Twitter on fire, and two days later the first lady was sending "healing thoughts of strength" to former President George H.W. Bush, who was hospitalized Monday -- even as her husband was tweeting about building the wall on the US-Mexico border and railing against "obstructionists" in Congress.
There was the statement-making white hat at the state arrival ceremony Tuesday, the pastoral photo of her with the Macrons as her husband planted an oak tree, a gift from their visitors. And the pictures posted on social media of her careful preparation for her turn as hostess to heads of state.
JUST WATCHED Trump, Melania participate in welcome ceremony Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Trump, Melania participate in welcome ceremony 00:54
Melania Trump comes to this fateful moment in her husband's administration with a relatively low bar of expectations to clear. In her first year as first lady, many have observed her as remote, disengaged or powerless -- given her attempt to address bullying while married to someone whose milieu is made from online bluster and intimidation. Even so, in the eyes of many spectators, Melania Trump has come into her own as first lady as the Macrons' state visit has unfolded. All eyes are upon her.
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City woman marks 40 years at orthodontist | LONG HAUL: Practice manager Karyn Iseppi has worked in various positions at David Mullins Orthodonist over 40 years.
KARYN Iseppi enjoys her work at a Toowoomba orthodontist just as much as the day she started, and that was 40 years ago.
"It honestly does not seem that long," Ms Iseppi said of her job at David Mullins Orthodontist.
She clocked up 40 years in July after joining the business fresh out of high school, aside from a six-month stint at a refrigeration company.
"It was just advertised one day and I was straight out of school," Ms Iseppi said.
"I decided to apply and I waited an hour-and-a-half for the interview because there was so many patients, and then I got the job."
Ms Iseppi said being the only orthodontist in town 40 years ago, they had about 70 patients each afternoon come to the practice.
It was owned by Dr Reg Wenck in those days, who died in 1995, but his practice was joined by Dr Ashley Smith in 1989.
Ms Iseppi is the practice manager of the Margaret St orthodontist, despite having quite a different start to her employment.
"Well, one of the girls used to make me clean the toilet with a tooth brush when I first started, the senior nurse then," she said.
"And I obviously worked my way up from that."
David Mullins Orthodontist, which shares an office with Toowoomba Orthodontists, is more than a workplace to Ms Iseppi.
"I have done it all from toilet cleaning and scrubbing floors to the laboratory and chair side, a bit of everything," she said.
"I have loved it all, even the toilet cleaning, and I think I am a better person for it.
"It keeps you young working with the kids all the time."
Ms Iseppi said her favourite thing about the practice, and what had kept her there so long, were the great bosses, her colleagues and the patients. |
Two men charged with burglary, theft after taking items from an abandoned farm property | JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – Two men are charged with burglary and theft after taking items from an abandoned farm property Sunday.
According to police, Brian Slagle and Albert Burris were seen leaving the property with a large amount of metal items in a white truck they were traveling in. Police followed the vehicle and pulled it over when Slagle failed to use a turn signal.
Slagle was on active house arrest out of Jackson County and was wearing his ankle monitoring device at the time of the traffic stop. A BMV check conducted at the scene showed that Slagle is a habitual traffic violator (HTV) and is suspended from driving for life.
The owner of the farm property, Jon Clark, was notified after police learned he filed a theft report from the farm on April 4.
Clark described items such as an antique cast iron wood stove that was broken in several pieces, and white gas range. Police identified these items in the back of the truck.
According to documents, Clark also said that a large 48-inch fan, floor model band-saw and large ceiling type furnace was missing from the farm. There appeared to be fresh drag marks inside the barn area where those items were supposed to be.
In an interview conducted by police with Slagle and Burris, they both admitted to taking the items from the farm.
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Nando’s giving away FREE chicken to all A-level students | Restaurant chain, Nando’s, is giving away free chicken to A-level students across the UK this week.
“On August 17 anyone picking up their A-Level (or equivalent) results will be able to grab themselves a free quarter chicken or Firestarter* on that day,” a Nando’s spokesman confirmed.
Nando's
“Just bring your results papers, ID and spend a minimum of seven pounds in any restaurant across the UK (excluding Scotland) and you will be eligible.
“Don’t worry Nando’s don’t need to see your grades, unless you want to brag about them!”
The deal does not include Wing Roulette or All Together Now and the offer is open to students who are legal residents of the UK with the exception of Scotland.
The offer runs until 17th August 2017 and can only be redeemed once.
For mor information and the terms and conditions visit the Nandos website. |
Teenager reported to police for 'touching himself' in McDonald's at Fosse Park | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe See our privacy notice Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
An 18-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly touching himself inappropriately at a McDonald’s restaurant.
Police were called to the Fosse Park branch of the eatery in response to a call from a member of the public.
A mum who was eating at the restaurant with her children, called the police after spotting the incident.
The teenager was arrested at the restaurant but was later released while police continue with their investigation into the incident.
A police spokeswoman said: “We were called at about 9.15pm on Sunday, June 24, to a report of a man touching himself inappropriately in a public place in Fosse Park Avenue in Leicester.
“Officers attended and an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of public indecency and has been released pending further investigations.”
(Image: Google)
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Ashrawi to White House: Perpetual occupation would only generate greater violence | PNN/ Bethlehem/
Trump ‘supports peace’ even if not through two-state solution
A senior White House official on Tuesday has said that the U.S. President, Donald Trump, does support an Israeli-Palestinian peace, ‘even if it was not through the two-state solution.’
This statement came one day before Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Whether that comes in the form of a two–state solution if that’s what the parties want, or something else,” the official said, adding that Trump would not try to “dictate” a solution, Reuters said.
Trump considers Middle East peace a “high priority,” the White House official said. The president has given his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the job of negotiating a peace deal.
“We would want to work on it very quickly,” the official said, as reported by Reuters.
In response to the comments by a White House, PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement:
“If U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to create alternative realities, then he should spell out what the options are – a one-state solution would require equal rights and citizenship for all, unless he is advocating an apartheid state. However, a situation of perpetual occupation would only generate greater extremism and violence within the region and beyond.”
“The two-state solution is a longstanding policy of the US and has global consensus as a basic requirement for peace, Ashrawi added.
“If the Trump Administration rejects this policy it would be destroying the chances for peace and undermining American interests, standing and credibility abroad. Accommodating the most extreme and irresponsible elements in Israel and in the White House is no way to make responsible foreign policy.”
While Trump made such statements, Israel continues illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Recently the Israeli parliament (Knesset) has passed a bill that legalizes land grab of privately owned Palestinian land for the settlement expansion.
Since Trump took office, Israel announced plans to build over 6,000 settlement units.
In addition, Trump’s appointee to the American embassy, David Friedman, openly supports settlements. |
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(Updated) TR3 Ferrari Victorious In Second Race At Utah | UPDATE
After the race, the stewards handed 32-second time penalties to the #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche (which crossed the line fourth) and #90 Automatics Motorsports Porsche. As a result, the #9 K-PAX Racing McLaren of Alvaro Parente and Ben Barnicoat – following Parente’s late charge to fifth – were classified fourth, with the #3 Cadillac finishing fifth.
The #16 Porsche was demoted to 17th, and the #90 24th. The amended results are available below.
Daniel Mancinelli and Niccolò Schirò, driving the #31 TR3 Racing Ferrari F488 GT3, took the second Pirelli World Challenge SprintX win of 2017 for the team at Utah Motorsports Campus in a race that was interrupted with two full-course caution periods.
Second overall, and only .969 seconds back after pushing hard in the final laps, was the #43 RealTime Racing Acura NSX GT3 driven by Ryan Eversley and Tom Dyer, Eversley taking the car to the chequered flag.
Taking the final podium spot was the #8 Cadillac Racing Cadillac ATS-V.R piloted by Michael Cooper and Jordan Taylor.
First at the chequered flag in the GT Pro/Am category was the #16 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R driven by Jan Heylen and Michael Schein. However a driver change that was seven seconds shorter than the mandated 90 seconds meant that a post-race penalty dropped the #16 car to sixth in class. The winner in the Pro/Am class, as a result, was the #14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R piloted by Mathieu Jaminet and James Sofronas.
Second place in the Pro/Am class went to the #75 Always Evolving / AIM Autosport Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 driven by Ricardo Sanchez and Frank Montecalvo with third going to the #54 Black Swan Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 piloted by Tim Pappas and Jan Bleekemolen.
The GT Am/Am class was won by the #30 MOMO / NGT Motorsports Ferrari F458 GT3 with Henrique Cisneros and Jonathan Ziegelman sharing the driving duties. The #013 R. Ferri Motorsports Ferrari F458 GT3 driven by Drew Regitz and Kris Wilson was second in class.
Two safety car periods neutralised the 60-minute race. The first occurred when Will Stevens, making his Pirelli World Challenge debut in the #78 Absolute Racing Bentley Continental GT3 he shared with Andrew Kim, stopped on the circuit. The second occurred after an incident involving the #77 Calvert Dynamics Porsche 911 GT3 R, the #63 DXDT Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 and the #88 Absolute Racing Bentley.
After being disappointed with their second place finish in Round Seven on Saturday August 12, the TR3 Racing duo of Daniel Mancinelli and Niccolò Schirò were determined to hold on for the win in Sunday’s safety car-interrupted 60- minute race.
“It was really hard to manage because I had a lot of pick-up,” said Mancinelli, who won previously at Virginia International Raceway partnered with Andrea Montermini. “With the safety car pace, it was hard to clean the tyres. It was the same for everybody but I had to push hard on the tyres to get them clean.”
“I was attacked in the first corner (after the second re-start) by the Acura because he had a lot of speed. I drove the last two laps as quick as possible and we brought it home for a fantastic race victory (which earned us) good points. We won today and we won at VIR so it’s very good.”
Schirò was delighted at the win after his slip in Round Seven cost TR3 Racing the win.
“It was a good revenge,” said Schirò. “As we said at the start, the most important thing was to keep the first position at the first corner. Our pace was quite good. I only had to manage the pace in the car for Daniel for the second stint and he did an amazing job on the last two laps. It was quite a nervous situation so well done to everybody.”
The #43 entry’s second place rounded out a breakthrough weekend for RealTime Racing.
“It was a definite improvement (for us) from yesterday,” said Tom Dyer. “We made some adjustments overnight and they worked well as we hoped. We got a good start, had a nice little battle back and forth with my team-mate (Mark Wilkins) but it was great. Racing with Mark is always awesome. It’s clean and we race each other hard but it’s always clean. Maybe if we had a little less yellow (flags) we could have fought the yellow car (the #31) a little harder but that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.”
Michael Schein, driver of the #16 Wright Motorsports entry with Jan Heylen, was happy to cross the line first in Pro/Am but was aware that a post-race penalty was looming.
“It was an awesome first stint by Jan (Heylen),” said a subdued Schein, anticipating the discussions about the abbreviated pit-stop. “Thanks to Wright Motorsports and Porsche we had a great car. It was a shame that I only got to do about three laps. I would have liked to drive little bit more but I’ll take the win.”
Additional class winners were the #55 Dream Racing Motorsports Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo driven by Alessandro Bressan and Yuki Harata in GT Cup Pro/Am, Joe Toussaint and Cory Friedman in the #90 Autometrics Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in GT Cup Am/Am, Adam Merzon and Trent Hindman in the #17 Case-It Racing Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport in GTS Pro-Am and Matt Travis and Jason Hart in the #47 NOLAsport Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR in GTS Am/Am.
The Pirelli World Challenge next moves to the Circuit of the Americas on September 1 to 3 for rounds four, nine and ten of the SprintX classes, rounds 15 and 16 for the GTS grid and rounds nine and ten for the TC classes.
RESULT (Amended) >>>
Photo courtesy of PWC |
Stadiumlinks to Transform FedEx Field into a Public Golf Course | WASHINGTON — If you’ve ever wanted to take an angry divot out of FedEx Field (as if the field conditions could get any worse…), your opportunity has arrived.
The home field of the Washington Redskins will be transformed into a nine-hole golf course by Stadiumlinks from Friday, June 9 through Sunday, June 11, a spectacle the company has pulled off at other sports stadiums.
Tee time bookings — available to the public online — are being offered starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 8 p.m.. The stadium lights will be turned on for the latter hours. Registration is only available for two-person and four-person bookings at $75 per person.
“This event gives the public the rare experience of hitting some of the most memorable golf shots imaginable from nine different locations throughout the stadium,” said Jon Stephens, founder of Stadiumlinks. “Targets for each tee box are positioned on greens that are landscaped into the field below, creating nine one-of-a-kind golf holes that you’ll have to see to believe. By combining this with exclusive and intimate access to the stadium, we’re excited to offer a unique experience for each and every participant.”
For an additional $50, golfers can continue their stadium hangout in the VIP Lounge — where they’ll have “access to luxury accommodations” — after completing their round.
Follow @ChrisLingebach and @1067TheFan on Twitter |
Ether Capital Launches on NEO | TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 24, 2018--The NEO Exchange (“ NEO ”) is pleased to announce that Ether Capital Corporation (“ Ether Capital ”) has launched in the public markets on NEO, trading under the symbol ETHC. Ether Capital is a Toronto-based technology company whose objective is to become the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum ecosystem. The Company’s common shares began trading on NEO on April 19, 2018.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424006107/en/
Ether Capital, including CEO Michael Conn and Board Director John Ruffolo, joined Jos Schmitt, President and CEO, NEO Exchange, to open the market and celebrate the launch of Ether Capital on NEO. Ether Capital common shares began trading on NEO on April 19, 2018 under the symbol ETHC. (Photo: Business Wire)
“We are proud to launch on the public markets and begin executing our business plan to initially invest in Ethereum’s native utility token ‘Ether’ as a strategic asset and then subsequently identify strategic acquisitions in Ethereum based businesses,” said Som Seif, Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Ether Capital. “As the first publicly listed company focused solely on the Ethereum ecosystem, we are excited to provide investors with the opportunity to invest in one of the foundational building blocks of the blockchain space. To help drive this industry-shifting disruptive technology, it is important for us to have an innovative partner in the public markets and we are pleased to work with NEO as we bridge the gap with the financial industry. ”
“As a publicly traded company, we will have the liquidity and transparency we need to maintain the permanent source of capital that will fuel our growth, and subsequently the growth of Ethereum-based businesses,” added Michael H. Conn, Chief Executive Officer, Ether Capital. “As we prepare to implement our strategic vision as a regulated entity, we know that coupled with the unique insights of our leadership in financial services and blockchain technology, we will benefit from NEO’s expansive investor reach programs and liquidity provision services.”
Investors can trade shares of Ether Capital through their usual investment channels, including discount brokerage platforms and full-service dealers.
“We are exceptionally happy to launch Ether Capital as a publicly-listed company on NEO, and proud to partner with a company that has the same commitment to innovation and disruption as we do,” stated Jos Schmitt, President and CEO, NEO. “Ethereum is poised to become the backbone of ‘Web 3.0’ and Canada is the leader in this space. I truly believe our country will continue to be a blockchain hub for many years to come as we have the skills, the industry expertise, the desire to drive transformation and the governments and regulatory bodies keen to take an active role in supporting innovation. We look forward to enabling Ether Capital as they seize this immense opportunity to transform how companies do business.”
About Ether Capital Corporation Ether Capital is a Toronto-based technology company whose objective is to become the central business and investment hub for the Ethereum ecosystem. Ether Capital will invest in Ethereum’s native utility token “Ether” as a strategic asset, and selectively invest in or acquire Ethereum-based businesses. Founded by a highly experienced Board of Directors and management team, Ether Capital has the resources, experience and relationships to support businesses and invest in industry-shifting disruptive technologies. For more information, visit http://ethcap.co/.
About NEO Exchange Aequitas NEO Exchange Inc. is Canada’s next generation stock exchange, putting the needs of investors, businesses looking to raise capital and dealers first. Launched in March 2015, the NEO Exchange currently offers an innovative trading venue to trade all Canadian securities. It also has a value added listing platform for capital raising companies and investment products, offering unique liquidity, transparency and efficiency benefits. For more information, please visit: NEOstockexchange.com
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View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180424006107/en/
CONTACT: NEO Exchange
Media Contact:
Adam Bornstein, 905.505.2540
adam@NEOstockexchange.com
KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER CONSUMER EDUCATION OTHER EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CONSUMER ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS OTHER TECHNOLOGY PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT OTHER GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS OTHER COMMUNICATIONS CONSUMER
SOURCE: NEO Exchange
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PUB: 04/24/2018 11:21 AM/DISC: 04/24/2018 11:21 AM
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Trump originally planned to put Cohn at CIA, but changed his mind | Former White House economic adviser Gary Cohn reached a tentative agreement with President Donald Trump to become his CIA director — but lost out on the role after Trump abruptly changed his mind.
Cohn, who resigned in early March amid a fight over tariffs, told associates at the time that he would consider rejoining the administration if Trump called and offered him “the right big job,” but he did not elaborate on what that job would be. In fact, according to three people close to the president, Cohn had already talked with Trump about taking the helm of the CIA, a job that suddenly opened up last week when Trump nominated his spy chief, Mike Pompeo, to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state.
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Trump, these people said, informally offered Cohn the position, telling him he thought he’d be a good fit for the job, and Cohn had agreed to take it. Trump long ago decided that Pompeo would replace Tillerson as secretary of state, and the president in recent weeks had bounced the idea of sending Cohn to the CIA off his closest external advisers. It is unclear why Trump decided to change course at the last minute, but last week he named Pompeo’s deputy Gina Haspel to the CIA role instead.
Two senior administration officials acknowledged that Trump discussed alternative positions with Cohn. But they did not specify the position and they said that the president didn’t extend a formal offer.
Trump made clear his desire for Cohn to return in his public goodbye to the former Goldman Sachs executive, a Democrat who served Trump as director of the National Economic Council. In his final public goodbye, he said of Cohn. “He’s going to go out, make another couple hundred million, and then he’s going to maybe come back.”
“You’re going to come back right?” the president asked.
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The episode offers a window into the president’s decision-making a little over a year into his tenure. While he is growing more comfortable in the job, willing to follow his instincts and make unorthodox personnel choices, his decisions remain entirely unpredictable, leaving even his most senior advisers in a state of perpetual uncertainty.
Cohn has no background in intelligence, but told associates he was interested both in running the CIA or, potentially, in serving as secretary of state. He was at one point the leading candidate to be chair of the Federal Reserve, but his standing cooled after he criticized the president’s equivocal response to a white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year.
While Cohn has had multiple inquiries by private sector companies, he has not lined up his next job.
Cohn’s near-miss at the CIA came in the midst of turmoil across the administration. The president remains unhappy with David Shulkin, his Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He announced last week that Larry Kudlow, the CNBC commentator and former Reagan economic adviser, would replace Cohn at the National Economic Council.
Cohn and the president began discussing other possible senior jobs in the administration when the NEC chair told Trump two months ago about his plans to resign, according to the two senior White House officials. Those discussions never reached the point of a formal offer, these people said, and Cohn announced on March 6 that he would leave the White House.
After the White House announced Cohn’s resignation, the president and Cohn continued having substantial discussions about other positions, the officials said. The officials declined to say which jobs were discussed and would not confirm or deny that CIA director was one of the possibilities.
On March 13, Trump announced that he would nominate Pompeo, a former Kansas congressman, to replace Tillerson. He tapped Haspel, a former George W. Bush administration official, to replace Pompeo as head of the spy agency.
One senior official said that while discussions between Cohn and Trump have not yet worked out, the former Goldman president may still rejoin the administration at some point: “As the president made clear, he and Gary continue to have a strong relationship and Gary could eventually return to serve in another senior role in the administration,” the official said.
“This is Gary Cohn’s last meeting of the Cabinet, with the Cabinet, and he’s been terrific,” Trump said in his farewell to his NEC director. “He may be a globalist, but I still like him. He's seriously a globalist, there's no question. But you know what? In his own way he’s a nationalist because he loves this country.” |
New design and photography studio opens in O'Fallon, IL | New design studio opens in downtown O'Fallon
Marianeth Crockett is the owner of MCIDEATIVE in downtown O'Fallon. She offers services in design, branding and photography, as well as brunches and happy hours that allow people to find their creative selves. |
Gaining some love: Penguins get Valentine's hearts for nests | An African penguin bites into a heart shaped valentine at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. The valentines will be used as nesting material.
Start the conversation, or Read more at SFGate. |
What Grade Would You Give Trump and His Team on Recovery? | By Roger Caldwell
The sun is shining, and Texas and Florida hurricane recovery is no longer headline news. If you were not directly impacted by the storm or other acts of God, your life is starting to return back to normal.
Americans forget so easily, and if they are not personally impacted by an event, they feel there is no need to worry.
The news is now focused on Puerto Rico, and many experts are suggesting if residents can evacuate, they should leave the island. With almost ninety-five (95) percent of the people on the island without electricity, there is a humanitarian crisis, and many people are unable to get water and food. The other US territories that have been devastated by the hurricanes are not even being talked about, and the majority is people of color.
From the president’s opinion and perspective, he thinks the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is doing an excellent job. But many in his administration know FEMA is understaffed, and that is negatively affecting its relief efforts and disaster response. More than a third of its leadership lack full-time status and the Department of Homeland Security which operates FEMA are facing an even greater significant leadership shortage.
In the Department of Homeland Security, out of 57 leadership positions, 26 are temporarily filled or remain vacant, and the Department’s head, James Kelly, has been transferred to Chief of Staff for the president. There are 599 key positions that need Senate confirmation; 320 have not been filled, 117 confirmed, and 159 waiting to be confirmed.
While Trump vacationed at his golf clubs the last two weekends, and spent a large portion of his time tweeting about the NFL, people are dying, and begging for help. The problem in Puerto Rico is the distribution system is not
See What Grade Would You Continued pg 3
functional in many remote and rural towns, as a result of the destruction of the infrastructure. As the situation deteriorates, rhetoric is just hot air, with no substance.
Just because there is very little dialogue about Florida and Texas, there are still major long-term health problems as a result of the hurricanes, and none of our leaders have mentioned the hefty price tag it will take to rebuild communities and people’s lives.
“In the weeks following Hurricane Irma, parts of Florida have been awash in millions of gallons of sewage. Meanwhile, in Texas, oil refineries and chemical plants have dumped a year’s worth of cancer-causing pollutants into the air following Hurricane Harvey. In both states, doctors are on the lookout for an uptick in respiratory problems, skin infections, and mosquito-borne diseases brought on by the water and mold the storms left behind,” says Julia Belluz, reporter for Vox.
There are many lessons that have been learnt from Katrina and Sandy, and a total of 80 deaths have been reported in Texas after Harvey and at least 42 deaths in Florida as a result of Irma. Katrina took 1,400 lives and Sandy took 117 lives. Thanks to better preparation, emergency planning, and citizens listening to its political leaders, the community was ready for the storm.
It is too early to give the Federal government a grade for its execution of the hurricane recovery. Trump has given himself and FEMA an A+, but FEMA Administrator William Long said that recovery efforts would take years after the damage from the storm.
Mayor Cruz of San Juan said “Help has not been reaching residents quick enough. FEMA has collapsed and if we don’t get the food and water into people’s hands, we are going to see something close to genocide.”
Something is wrong in America when other countries are not stepping up with a plan to assist the US with resources and manpower. Where is the leadership, and why are other presidents not being called and asked to assist President Trump, who has no idea of what he is doing.
People are dying in Puerto Rico and other US territories, and there appears to be no plan. Heavy Equipment and probably 100,000 relief workers and troops are needed in all US territories to reach remote and rural towns. At this point the federal response has been a disaster and really slow, and something must change.
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Sir David Jason confirms fourth series of Doncaster sitcom Still Open All Hours | Acting legend Sir David Jason has confirmed a fourth series of Still Open All Hours will be filmed in Doncaster.
The TV favourite has said his popular spin-off sitcom will be back for yet another series in an interview this week.
The sitcom legend has been enjoying an on-screen revival in Still Open All Hours , a spin-off of the Ronnie Barker classic, playing shopkeeper Granville, and he confirmed a new series is in the pipeline. The fourth series will mean the new show will equal the number of series of the original show.
He admitted that he would love to revive Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses but that wouldn't be happening due to the death of the show's writer John Sullivan.
Sir David joked: "So you're stuck with Open All Hours!
He added: ‘I’m also filming my life story so hopefully you’ll be watching that and then I’ll be doing more Open All Hours.
‘They’re keeping me very busy, so I’m sorry Hollywood but you’ve missed your chance this year!’
The cornershop comedy returned to BBC1 at Christmas for a third series. The revival came after a Christmas special from 2013 which proved to be the biggest hit of that year's festive programming.
That episode drew in more than 12 million viewers and became one of the most watched shows of 2013.
The original series of Open All Hours ran between 1973 and 1985 and starred Ronnie Barker as penny pinching shopkeeper Arkwright as well as Jason as put-upon errand boy Granville.
The new series have seen Jason reprising Granville, who now runs the shop, with his son Leroy.
Outdoor scenes were filmed at the Beautique hair salon on the corner of Lister Avenue and Scarth Avenue in Balby last September - the setting for the original show.
Cameras are likely to return to Doncaster in September of this year. |
US Attorney Will Not Investigate Crumbling Foundations | For months Connecticut Citizens Against Crumbling Basements (CCACB) said it would ask the feds for help if it didn't get the assistance it wanted from the state.
Last month the group acted. The federal complaint it filed with the U.S. Attorney's Office, however, will not be investigated by that agency.
On Monday, CCACB learned the U.S. Attorney's Office will not take up the case. It said the group had insufficient materials to initiate a federal criminal proceeding. Instead, the U.S Attorney's Office suggested the group ask the FBI to start an investigation.
CCACB tells the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters it will ask the FBI to initiate an investigation in the very near future. It wants the federal government to look into its claim that the crumbling basements crisis grew for years in Connecticut without any state intervention, while insurers rewrote homeowner policies that do not cover basements that are slowly falling apart |
Police say 'penis and testicles' which washed up on beach are 'not human' | The woman whose dog found what she believed to be man's testicles washed up on a Westcountry beach has released a picture of her find after police said they were no longer investigating.
Julie Edwards found the unexplained object while walking her basset hound on Brean Sands.
She has released a picture of what she found for the first time after police say the object was not human remains and they were no longer investigating.
The find was reported to police on September 25, reports somersetlive .
Following a lengthy investigation, a spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Constabulary was able to confirm the item was not human.
She said: “Tests have now been concluded and we have determined that the item is not human.
“The matter is therefore not being treated as suspicious.”
Now that it has been confirmed non-human the police will no longer investigate to determine the true nature of the remains.
Julie hopes that by releasing a picture the item someone might be able to come forward and identify it.
Her dog Molly was the first to discover it.
Speaking to Somerset Live earlier in the week, Julie said: “My dog, who is a Basset Hound called Molly, found the body part.
"I could see she was about to roll something around. It is usually maggots or birds but I stopped her and saw it wasn't that at all.
“It definitely looked human to me. I think it was an intact penis and male testicles.”
Soon after the item was first found, police released this statement: “We were called to Warren Road in Brean at 6.40pm on Monday after an item, possibly remains, were found washed up on the beach.
"The matter has been referred to the coroner and we are carrying out enquiries on behalf of the coroner to determine the nature of the item.” |
94-year-old man builds swimming pool for neighborhood kids after wife’s death | MORRIS, Minn. — A 94-year-old Minnesota man whose wife died after battling cancer built a swimming pool in his backyard for children in his neighborhood.
Keith Davison’s wife of 66 years died last year, KARE 11 reports.
“You just can’t imagine what it’s like,” he said. “You cry a lot. That’s just the way it is because she’s not here.”
Davison then decided to do something different to fill his time.
In the spring, the retired judge had an in-ground pool built. In July, the pool, which is 32 feet long and 9 feet deep, opened — and kids from all over the neighborhood came to swim.
“I knew they’d come,” Davison said.
Davison, who has three adult children but no grandchildren, is usually seen sitting in a chair next to the pool, watching the kids swimming, laughing and having fun.
“I’m not sitting by myself looking at the walls,” Davison said. “What else would you think of doing where you could have a whole bunch of kids over every afternoon?” |
The Worlds Most Popular Rugby League Website | Towns88 wrote: Yes
Regards,
King Towns.
Cas fan in worrying about bottling it shocker.Sounds like more utter nonsense from the RFL. If they are zeroing the points after 23 rounds, what exactly is the point trying to finish higher once you are in the 8? The LLS is a nonsense, waste of time trophy that none of the big teams even try to win. Why make it worse by giving teams an incredible amount of dead rubbers? |
EU's Tusk says Greece, lenders close to concluding bailout review | European Council President Donald Tusk meets with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras waits to welcome European Council President Donald Tusk at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis
European Council President Donald Tusk (R) speaks with Greek Prime Minister AlexisTsipras as he leaves the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis
European Council President Donald Tusk (R) and Greek Prime Minister AlexisTsipras exit the Maximos Mansion after a meeting in Athens, Greece, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis
European Council President Donald Tusk (R) speaks with Greek Prime Minister AlexisTsipras as he leaves the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis
European Council President Donald Tusk (R) speaks with Greek Prime Minister AlexisTsipras as he leaves the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece, April 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michalis Karagiannis
ATHENS Greece and its international lenders are close to concluding a long-stalled bailout review, EU Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.
"We are close to concluding this demanding procedure," said Tusk after meeting Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens. "We have to be contained on optimism but I feel more optimistic."
Talks between Greece, the European Union and the Washington-based International Monetary Fund have dragged on for months due to differences over Greece's fiscal progress, labor and energy market reforms, rekindling worries of a new crisis in Europe.
A new rift between Athens and the IMF over fiscal issues and labor reforms has dealt a blow to an initial accord, dashing hopes for a bailout review deal before a meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Friday.
(Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou and George Georgiopoulos) |
Remembering the 'magical' Falcona Camp: former company-run camp closing after 80 years | Lana Sissons has spent most of her summers on the shores of Nelson Lake, in the northern reaches of what is today Greater Sudbury.
When she was five years old back in 1948, she first went to Falcona Camp, which was built in 1937 for the children of the men who worked in the Falconbridge nickel mines.
For Sissons, it meant spending the summer with all of her friends, who also lived in the company town of Falconbridge. Among them was her future husband Bob, who grew up across the street.
They both became camp counsellors by the 1960s, and in the 1980s they returned to be camp directors for 10 years.
Shortly after they left, the mining company, now known as Xstrata, transferred the camp to the YMCA which ran it for 20 years before deciding last week to shut it down.
Lana Sissons shared some of her Falcona memories with Markus Schwabe on Morning North. |
Kenya: Nairobi Water Rationing to Continue Despite Rainfall - City Hall | Nairobi — The Nairobi County Government says water rationing in the capital city is set to continue despite the rainfall being experienced in various parts of the country.
Environment County Executive Peter Kimori indicated that there are no rains in the Aberdares water catchment area which supplies the Ndakaini dam, the man source of water for most parts of the county.
Speaking to Capital FM News, Kimori stated that due to this, the water levels at the dam were still critical at 20 per cent of its full capacity.
"For the last one or two weeks, rain have been there in Nairobi, but not in the Aberdares. I was actually in Aberdares yesterday and the rains have not fallen. We are however hoping that by next week, something will happen in the Aberdares," he said.
"I can confirm that there is rationing and the situation is not good because the percentage of water in Ndakaini is about 20 per cent which is making the situation difficult for us," he said.
He urged the public to preserve water and avoid wastage.
"Please be patient, use your water sparingly. The rains have come and this will help us in watering our gardens instead of using our tap water, "he stated.
"We are also encouraging people to recycle water so that even if we go back to the normal situation, we want to change our habits."
"Please do not waste water, even in the bathroom, do not start singing and you leave the tap running. When you are brushing your teeth, turn off the tap," he stated. "My request to Nairobi residents is, please be patient. It is not a situation which is human and that is why the President has declared drought as a national disaster."
Ndakaini Dam has a capacity of 700 million cubic metres but this has been reduced to less than 175 million.
Residents need 750,000 cubic metres of water per day but the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC ) now supplies less than 400,000.
The county and the Ministry of Water has also started drilling 40 boreholes as a short-term measure.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa recently launched the Sh200 million borehole project at the Kaloleni Health Centre. |
Jewish Community Center hosts Indoor Triathlon Feb. 26 | The groundhog has predicted six more weeks of winter, but inside the Jewish Community Center (The J), conditions will be perfect for its Indoor Triathlon.
The triathlon will take place at 7 a.m. on Feb. 26 at the The J, 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park.
Indoor Triathlon participants must be at least 14 years old.
Registration must be completed by Thursday, Feb. 23.
The triathlon includes swimming, biking on Keiser Bikes and a run.
All participants will be notified of their start time prior to the event.
There are two divisions for the Triathlon:
Sprint: Competitors will swim 750 yards, bike the equivalent of 12.4 miles and run 3.1 miles.
Super sprint: Competitors will swim 400 yards, bike eight miles and run two miles.
Medals will be awarded; the overall male and female winners will receive gift certificates.
Fees for the Indoor Triathlon are $39 for J members and $54 for non-members. The J relay team entry fee is $78 and $102 for non-member relay teams.
To register for the triathlon, go to www.active.com or call 913-827-8010.
A portion of the proceeds from the triathlon supports the organization’s financial assistance programs. |
Kris Smith reveals he's not interested in Keira Maguire | Keira Maguire entered the South African jungle on Tuesday, admitting she wanted to steal Kris Smith's heart.
The confession came after it was revealed the former Bachelor contestant and the model were seen 'getting flirty' at an industry party in October last year, following his break-up with ex Maddy King.
But Kris, 38, shut down the possibility on Wednesday, telling I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! camper Dane Swan: 'I would be out quicker than you could blink'.
Scroll down for video
'I would be out quicker than you could blink': Kris Smith revealed he is far from interested in flirting with The Bachelor's Keira Maguire on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
Kris quickly dismissed talk of a possible romance with Keira after Dane jokingly suggested they could have a jungle fling.
'Don't start, I will ruin your life,' he said.
'I know what you're thinking, don't even think about it because I would be out...I would be out quicker than you could blink.'
Kris' remarks come after Keira told her I'm A Celebrity campers: 'I know Kris. We see each other all the time.'
'I know Kris. We see each other all the time': Keira has claimed she already knows Kris before entering the South African jungle. Pictured with Bachelor host Osher Günsberg
It was previously reported by The Daily Telegraph that there was 'an instant connection between the two'.
Insiders claimed Keira and Kris 'were seen getting flirty' at an industry event last year, where Keira 'looked smitten and kept touching the model'.
Keira had previously stated she plans to fight off My Kitchen Rules star Ash Pollard to win the affections of the British model.
He's taken! But Keira's hopes were dashed as Kris recently claimed he is in the process of reconnecting with an ex-girlfriend and isn't looking for love in the jungle
Speaking to TV Week, Keira said she was desperate to win Kris' heart.
'I'm coming in and I will stop it straight away,' she said, speaking of Ash's flirty behaviour with Kris.
Prior to joining the jungle, the blonde told NW she went to extra effort to ensure she maintained her good looks in the camp.
'Before leaving Sydney, I got eyelash extensions and had my eyebrows feathered,' the reality TV star confessed.
They have history? It has been claimed Keira and Kris were seen 'getting flirty' at a party in October last year, after he broke up with his model ex-girlfriend Maddy King
'I got eyelash extensions': Prior to joining the jungle, the blonde told NW she went to extra effort to ensure she maintained her good looks in the camp |
Woman found hiding in ceiling of Cleveland bar | Please enable Javascript to watch this video
CLEVELAND – Investigators say a woman tried to hide in the ceiling at an Ohio tavern and wait until it closed, but she was caught before she carried out her plan, according to WJW.
The Grayton Road Tavern is home of the popular Queen of Hearts game, but the notoriety of the game has also attracted the attention of potential criminals.
"People just I guess assume that we have $5.5 million stashed in our walls here; that is clearly not the case," said Jennifer Natale, general manager.
"So last night I got a phone call that we had a female come into the ladies room and somehow ended up climbing up into the ceiling. When I got here, a couple of ceiling tiles were on the ground; the vent was hanging," James Page, owner, told WJW.
Surveillance cameras were rolling as a woman went into the bathroom Monday night and climbed up into the ceiling, apparently looking for a place to hide until after closing time.
You see a tile from the ceiling fall as she crawls toward the kitchen. When employees realized someone was up in the ceiling, they called 911 and Cleveland police and firefighters responded and searched for the woman.
She was eventually found hiding in a small space above a cooler in the kitchen and taken into custody.
"Not sure why you would be up there; it's about 120 degrees up there and probably about two hours so couldn't believe it," Page said.
Police told the owner of the tavern that the woman has a history of hiding in bars and restaurants and then stealing anything she can after closing time.
The truth is there is very little cash at the tavern. "All the money, it's not on site. We take it off every night; it does not stay here, and the one safe that we do - with the little bit of cash that we do keep, it's a big safe; nobody is getting into it."
The owner said if the woman planned to tamper with the board and try and find where the Queen of Hearts was hidden, it was a plan doomed to fail. The board, which the tavern purchased from Nannicola bingo supplies, is sealed and certified so that players can be confident that it has not been tampered with in any way.
"The one thing I will say if anyone tried to do that to our board, we would immediately cease our game. We would go ahead and get a new board from Nannicola and then we would just restart the game from there," Natale said.
Investigators said the woman has a serious drug addiction and steals whatever she can to support her habit. The owner of the bar points out they have someone watching the building 24/7 and they have many police officers who are customers. |
PRECIOUS-Gold steady, investors focus on Trump agenda | * Spot silver may break resistance at $18.46/oz -technicals * Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust rise on Monday * GRAPHIC-2017 asset returns tmsnrt.rs/2jvdmXl (Updates prices, adds comment) By Arpan Varghese March 28 Gold prices held steady on Tuesday as investors looked to see if U.S. President Donald Trump would be able to enact promised tax cuts and infrastructure spending, with the dollar drifting slightly higher off of multi-month lows. Spot gold was mostly unchanged at $1,253.83 per ounce at 0557 GMT, after touching its highest in a month at $1,261.03 the day before. U.S. gold futures inched down 0.2 percent to $1,253.60. "The markets are now starting to settle down as concerns around the implications of the failed (U.S.) healthcare bill seem to have somewhat abated," said ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes. "We're likely to see gold prices relatively steady for now until there is a little bit more clarity on Trump's other policies, particularly over the tax bill." Trump suffered a major reversal when Republican leaders pulled legislation to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system. The blow unnerved financial markets, heightening worries about the chances of enacting tax reforms and big spending packages. The likely upper limit for gold would be at the $1,260 per ounce level over the next couple of weeks, Hynes said, adding that the precious metal would struggle to break through its 200-day average, now at $1,259.12. Gold has already rallied sharply from its March 15 low following a less-hawkish-than-expected policy statement from the U.S. Federal Reserve, which dampened expectations for near-term increases in U.S. interest rates. Gold is highly sensitive to rising U.S. interest rates, which increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion, while boosting the dollar in which it is priced. The markets also took stock of separate statements from Fed officials on Monday, with Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans saying the case for four rate hikes this year is not yet solid and would require a stronger lift in inflation. "We remain constructive about gold in the short term," INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir said, adding that further weakness in the dollar could push gold higher. The dollar limped off multi-month lows against major peers on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, New York-listed SPDR Gold Shares , reported an inflow of 2.7 tonnes on Monday. In other metals, spot silver fell 0.2 percent to $18.03 per ounce. In the previous session, the metal touched its highest since March 2 at $18.12. Spot silver may break resistance at $18.46 per ounce and rise towards the next level of resistance at $19.34 over the next three months, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao. Platinum climbed 0.5 percent, to $967.90 per ounce. On Monday, it marked its highest since March 6 at $982.60. Palladium slipped 0.3 percent to $790.50 an ounce. (Reporting by Arpan Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Joseph Radford and Christian Schmollinger) |
Callaway Rogue Pro Black irons | As more golfers are showing an affinity for all-black clubs, Callaway has just announced that it will be making Rogue Pro Black irons available starting June 8 through custom order.
Functionally, the new Rogue Pro Black irons are identical to the original Rogue Pro irons that were released in January, but the Black edition clubs come standard with limited edition black True Temper XP 105 shafts and black Lamkin Z5 grips.
The Rogue Pro irons are created by joining two pieces, a cup face and the body. The hitting area of the cup face is extremely thin and it is attached to the body behind the seam where the leading edge and the topline curl back, which, according to Callaway, helps to broaden the sweetspot and allow the face to flex more efficiently at impact. As a result, golfers should expect to center-hit distance across a wider area of the face, so mis-hits will fly nearly as far as well-struck shots.
To enhance the sound and feel, Callaway filled the empty chamber between the cup face and the chassis with urethane microspheres. The material absorbs vibrations without restricting the movement of the face.
Rogue Pro Black irons will be available 5-iron through pitching wedge for $825 and 4-iron through attack wedge for $1,099. |
$21M Verdict Upheld; Where's The $? | by Christopher Peak | Dec 11, 2017 7:48 am
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Posted to: Legal Writes
Hartford — Rabbi Daniel Greer won’t get a new civil trial to re-litigate how his alleged sexual abuse damaged a former student, but he will be deposed to find out whether he has hidden cash to avoid paying his victim.
Those developments resulted from a series of rulings in federal court here on Friday afternoon, as U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea dealt with requests by Greer’s attorneys to redo the trial or, at least, to lower the damages.
Reading two opinions from the bench, the judge shot down both motions, allowing the verdict to stand. Greer’s lawyers said they plan to appeal.
Shea also heard arguments about the aggressive methods a collections attorney said he needs to go after Greer’s assets. The judge held off on ruling on those matters for another week.
The rulings wrap up outstanding issues from a five-day trial in U.S. District Court this past May. Plaintiff Eli Mirlis said on the witness stand that Greer repeatedly raped him while he was a student at the Yeshiva of New Haven from 2002-2005; Greer took the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering the accusation. The jury ultimately sided with Mirlis, awarding him a $21.7 million verdict to compensate for his trauma.
Greer is now facing criminal charges of sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. After turning himself in at police headquarters this July, he’s out on a $100,000 bond. Greer’s criminal trial has yet to be scheduled.
Jury’s Decision Affirmed
David Grudberg and William Ward, Greer’s two defense attorneys in the civil case, claimed that the jury had been so overwhelmed by emotion that it ignored the trial evidence in calculating eight-figure damages. And, they said, a new witness had come forward who could prove Mirlis wasn’t trustworthy.
Despite the two separate procedural arguments for overturning the civil verdict, Judge Shea said he didn’t see any miscarriage of justice that would require him to revisit the case.
Shea started out by questioning the attorneys about why the verdict would be considered unreasonable. Grudberg argued that the total is way out of line with similar cases, calling it a “runaway verdict.”
“You’ve got a lot of hot buttons here in play,” he said. “It’s a subject matter that triggers, understandably, some very visceral emotional responses in people, a lot more than auto accident cases. It’s harder to dispassionately wade through the evidence and assess damages — unless one takes the view that it’s a sex abuse case and no dollar amount is too high.”
Shea pointed out that, by law, the jurors had a lot of leeway to assign the number they felt was just. The Connecticut Supreme Court had long discouraged judges from playing the “comparison game,” as he called it. As the justices wrote in 1976, “No one life is like any other, and the damages for the destruction of one furnish no fixed standard for others,” he read.
Grudberg pursued the argument: “Even if you threw all those comparisons out the window,” the “shortcomings” in Mirlis’s case demanded Shea’s reconsideration. He said that Mirlis’s inability to connect with his wife was no different from the “emotion distance found in many marriages.” And as he did throughout the trial this spring, Grudberg questioned how the jury could possibly believe that Mirlis suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder when he chose to continue seeing Greer, even honoring him with important roles at his wedding and his son’s naming. “What did he prove to enable this jury to decide that his life has been so profoundly affected that they put a $15 million price tag on that?” Grudberg asked, citing the compensatory dollar figure later added to punitive costs.
Shea said that the trauma had been apparent throughout the trial, in testimony from Mirlis himself, his wife and an expert psychologist. “Though [Mirlis is] a good person, though he’s a good provider, I think the jury could have listened to [his wife] and said, ‘Gee, this guy’s a bit of a robot,’” Shea said. “To be honest, that was my impression.”
He added that Mirlis’s continued run-ins with Greer also didn’t strike him as unusual for authority figure who’d exploited his victims’ trust. That’s exactly he pattern he’d heard when he deposed sexual abuse victims of Dr. George Reardon, an endocrinologist at St. Francis Hospital, in a different case. “For a long time, they would go back to Dr. Reardon for advice because he became like a father figure to them,” Shea said. As with them them, “one could have inferred that need for Greer’s guidance and the community in New Haven, despite what Greer had done, only exacerbated and deepened the guilt and shame.”
Grudberg also claimed that a new unnamed witness could shake up the case. Mirlis’s math teacher at the yeshiva, now a chemistry professor at a college in New York City, emailed Ward after the case to say he could prove that his former student had behavioral issues in class, including lies and outbursts, and conspired with the school’s dean, Aviad Hack, to raise his grades.
“If he’d been on the stand in May, it would have been a very different trial,” Grudberg said. He claimed that the testimony would prove Hack, another alleged abuse victim, conspired to take over the yeshiva, using Mirlis’s allegations as leverage.
But this witness would have been long gone by the time Hack finally confronted Greer with papers to sign over the yeshiva, Shea pointed out. “Even if Mirlis sat on Hack’s desk or at one point embraced him,” as the witness said he was prepared to testify, “that would not support that Mirlis engaged in a conspiracy to bring a lawsuit 10 years later to help Hack take the school,” Shea said.
Plus, he added, the evidence of a bond wasn’t new: Mirlis had already testified that he felt he shared a “secret language” with Hack as Greer’s victims — an “unusually close, maybe inappropriately close” relationship for a student and administrator, Shea noted.
Shea ultimately rejected both motions, claiming they didn’t bring up any substantially new information the jurors hadn’t heard already before ruling against Greer.
Follow the Money
Despite winning on those two motions, Mirlis’s legal team has had a harder time collecting on the judgement. Greer’s lawyers have sought to keep him out of another deposition and have walled off the associated not-for-profits that control dozens of valuable rental properties throughout the Edgewood neighborhood. They also claim it’s entirely legal for Greer’s wife to withdraw hundreds of thousands in cash from a joint bank account.
Matthew Beatman, a collections lawyer Mirlis hired who has served subpoenas on nine banks and initiated foreclosures on Greer’s home and three yeshiva properties, is now seeking signed writs of execution from Shea that will allow him to comb through Greer’s accounts.
He argued that Greer has been trying to thwart the judgment. In a questionnaire Greer filled out over two months this summer, he failed to include a property he owns in Wareham, Mass., on a list of assets, Beatman said. That’s even though he likely received a property tax bill right around the same time the sheet was due, he added.
And the Greers have tried to pay themselves out before the judgment is collected, Beatman said. Sarah Greer, the rabbi’s wife, wrote herself a check for over $220,000 that she got in cash “in the immediate wake of the verdict,” Shea noted. Right after, Greer signed off on a payment from the yeshiva into Sarah’s 401(k) retirement account.
Jeffrey Sklarz, a lawyer handling Greer’s finances, said those payments weren’t fraudulent conveyances, because they technically weren’t money transfers. “There is Connecticut case law on this point that says a withdrawal from a bank account is not a transfer, because a transfer requires two parties,” he said.
“Let’s put aside whether legally it qualified as a transfer,” Shea said. “It is nonetheless suspicious conduct, under all the circumstances, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I completely disagree, your Honor. Sarah Greer is allowed to take her money,” Sklarz said.
“But why isn’t it suspicious conduct?” Shea pressed. “Is the defendant, through a close relative, taking steps to deplete his ability to satisfy the judgment? It seems like some small evidence that, without any other explanation, suggests that he might be.”
“Respectfully, your Honor, doing something entirely legal in the confines of the law is not suspicious,” Sklarz said.
Sklarz asked in a filing for the judge to hold off on the writs of execution and instead let the rabbi enter into a monthly payment plan. He also asked that all documents be marked as confidential “to ensure no confidential information is ‘accidentally’ leaked to the public.”
Beatman said that Greer could do a monthly payment plan, but Shea should still sign off on the writs of execution to lock down whatever cash and property Greer has now.
Shea didn’t issue a ruling about these other issues on Friday, because, he warned, that he has a connection to the case, if a tenuous one. Before joining the bench in 2012, he worked at the same law firm as the attorney representing Start Community Bank, where Greer keeps most of his money. They’d worked together directly on only two cases.
Federal judges are supposed to recuse themselves if they had any relationship with a party less than two years ago; otherwise, it’s discretionary. Shea said he didn’t see a reason to recuse himself. But just in case any of the lawyers saw a conflict of interest, he gave them 10 days to request a recusal before he moved ahead on Greer’s finances.
Beginning in the 1980s, Rabbi Greer oversaw the revival of the neighborhood around his yeshiva at the corner of Norton and Elm streets, renovating neglected historic homes. He and his family exposed johns who patronized street prostitutes in the neighborhood, and he advocated for keeping nuisance businesses out of the Whalley Avenue commercial corridor. in 2007, launched an armed neighborhood “defense” patrol and then calling in the Guardian Angels for assistance to combat crime.
Over the years, Rabbi Greer played an active role in politics and government, including crusading against gay rights in Connecticut. In the 1970s, he led a successful campaign to force the United States to pressure the Soviet Union into allowing Jewish “refuseniks” to emigrate here and start new, freer lives.’ More recently, he filed suit against Yale University over a requirement that students live in coed dorms.
Previous coverage of this case:
• Suit: Rabbi Molested, Raped Students
• Greer’s Housing Corporations Added To Sex Abuse Lawsuit
• 2nd Ex-Student Accuses Rabbi Of Sex Assault
• 2nd Rabbi Accuser Details Alleged Abuse
• Rabbi Sexual Abuse Jury Picked
• On Stand, Greer Invokes 5th On Sex Abuse
• Rabbi Seeks To Bar Blogger from Court
• Trial Mines How Victims Process Trauma
• Wife, Secretary Come To Rabbi Greer’s Defense
• Jury Awards $20M In Rabbi Sex Case
• State Investigates Greer Yeshiva’s Licensing
• Rabbi Greer Seeks New Trial
Affidavit: Scar Gave Rabbi Greer Away
Rabbi Greer Pleads Not Guilty |
10 injured in Naseerabad bomb blast | Share:
NASEERABAD:- At least 10 people including four policemen were injured as a bomb went off in Balochistan city of Naseerabad. A police vehicle, which was on its routine patrolling across the city, was targeted by a roadside planted bomb on the outskirts of Naseerabad district, Dunya News reported late Monday. The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where at least two of them were said to be in critical condition. No individual or group has claimed the attack yet.–Xinhua |
The tech giants will never pay their fair share of taxes - unless we make them | Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, and the accountants of Silicon Valley have proved Arthur C Clarke’s third law to be as true of tax avoidance as it is of tech. The most recent outrage is Apple’s $252bn offshore cash pile, as exposed by the Paradise Papers investigation. More valuable than the foreign currency reserves of the US or the UK, it represents all the money that the world’s most valuable company has siphoned out of the global financial system for the benefit of its shareholders.
Tax avoidance is as essential to the tech giants as their products are to our lives. Until 2015, Amazon paid a pittance on its UK sales by sluicing them through Luxembourg. George Osborne’s “Google tax” didn’t cover Google. The creativity of the iPhone pales next to that of the company that exists nowhere, and last year Apple paid just $2bn of tax on $41bn of non-US profits, an effective rate of 4.8%. In total an estimated $500bn is withheld from public coffers by multinationals each year.
An estimated $500bn is withheld from public coffers each year by multinational companies
All of this is possible because the way we tax multinationals is obsolete. At the moment, every subsidiary of a corporation settles its own tax bill separately, and different subsidiaries can buy and sell to one another. A multinational can decide its British customers are served not by its UK subsidiary, but by whichever subsidiary has the most favourable tax residency. Check your last Apple invoice and you will see you’re a loyal customer of Ireland-based Apple Distribution International.
Subsidiaries are supposed to buy and sell to one another at “arm’s length prices” – a value determined by what they would have paid had they bought something similar from somebody else. But what is an appropriate value for the intellectual property behind Google’s search algorithm, or the Amazon logo, beyond what their accountants declare them to be? Although Starbucks is the most famous example of a multinational billing itself for its own intellectual property to reduce its taxable income, Google and Microsoft have used similar practices.
How do we force the tech giants to pay their fair share? The answer could lie in a system called unitary taxation. Multinationals would be taxed based on where they genuinely do business, rather than where they artificially shift their profits.
Let’s take Apple as an example. In 2015 it scraped together £13m for a UK tax bill, while enjoying global profits of £35bn. The company withholds what proportion of its revenue is UK-origin, but it is reported to be about 10%. Were that figure correct, a unitary system based solely on sales would conclude that £3.5bn of those global profits were UK-origin. At a corporation tax rate of 20%, Apple would owe the UK £700m for the tax year – more than 50 times what it actually paid.
A more nuanced model would consider where a company hires as well as where it sells. Apple has 6,500 employees in the UK (1,000 more than in Ireland, its European headquarters), which is about 5% of its worldwide total of 123,000 employees. An equal split between sales and employees would determine that 7.5% of Apple’s global profits were UK-origin, and thus it owed a tax bill of £525m.
How about getting multinationals to pay their tax, as well as Gary Barlow? | Stefan Stern Read more
Critics of reform argue that it would have to be multilateral, or companies might be hit by unfair double-taxation. It’s an unpersuasive point considering the non-taxation multinationals have enjoyed over the years, though an international consensus would be better. But any reform is better than none, and if the UK could carry out unilateral reform, it should. Another big advantage is that although no system is perfect, a unitary system would be much harder to avoid. It is easy for Apple to shift its profits to Jersey, but shifting its customers there is tricky.
The windfall resulting from a reformed corporation tax could finance better public services, balance our budget deficit, or perhaps even pay for a reduction in the corporation tax rate. But how the money is spent perhaps matters less than the principle that those with the broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden. The tech giants will never pay their fair share voluntarily. It’s past time it was no longer optional. |
Two chances for snow in the coming week; Wintry mix likely Monday night into Tuesday | Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Get ready for an active weather pattern with more wintry precipitation and cold this week. In fact, there will be two chances for more snow this week with this active pattern.
Now that our first winter storm of the 2017-'18 winter season is in the books with 2"-7" of snow statewide, get ready for another storm very late Monday night/early Tuesday morning and through the day on Tuesday. This storm is a bit more complicated than the last one because there will be milder air getting pulled into the storm's circulation due to the storm tracking to our north. Therefore, even though we may start out with snow, expect that milder air to punch in aloft that will cause the snow to transition to a wintry mix and rain. The complete changeover to all rain is probable across the shoreline and also possible inland, before we transition back to light snow or snow showers on the back side of the storm as colder air moves in.
After the storm, get ready for a direct shot of arctic air for the rest of next week with highs only in the 20s and 30s with overnight lows in the single digits and teens. Accompanying this very cold air will be another chance for some more snow by Friday.
Forecast:
Today: Morning clouds, break for midday and afternoon sun, chilly. High: mid-upper 30s.
Tuesday: Snow/icy mix and rain likely. High: 33-40.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy, breezy, and cold. High: mid-upper 20's.
Thursday: Sunshine mixing with afternoon sun. High: 25-30.
Friday: Chance for snow. High: 25-30.
Saturday: Partly sunny. High: 30's.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, milder. High: 40.
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Dan Amarante, Rachel Frank, Matt Scott, Sam Sampieri, Tim Lavigne
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Daughter of the Nicaragua revolution - archive, 20 March 1984 | “Choose between me and the Revolution,” said Magda Enriquez’s husband when he discovered his wife had been working secretly for the Sandinistas in Somoza’s Nicaragua. “Of course, the choice had already been made,” says Magda Enriquez matter of factly. Six years later she is a member of Nicaragua’s Council of State where she represents the Nicaraguan Women’s Association AMNLAE, is happily divorced, and deeply proud of the new life patterns evolving in the country and epitomised by her own six children.
At first glance Magda Enriquez might be mistaken for the typical product of the Latin American bourgeoisie sharpened by seven years at a conservative American university. With her purple fingernails, gold chains and dashing scarlet shirt she looks every inch the confident, successful executive. But in fact she is a trained soldier, peasant organiser, articulate exponent of the Sandinistas’s revolution and loving mother of her own five children, who has also swept up and adopted an extra child.
Magda Enriquez graduated from boarding school at 15, already determined “to break away from the role – to be a good woman equals be a good wife.” Her father was a successful businessman in an American Nicaraguan joint enterprise. He chose Philadelphia and a house full of relations as the framework to contain the clever daughter bent on university. Magda studied journalism and economics and married an American professor.
In 1970, back in Nicaragua with her husband and child, she founded the first school for mentally retarded children having done academic work on “education for children with special needs” in America. But discovering that most of the children she saw were mentally retarded “because of malnutrition” was a shock which plunged her into Managua’s slum areas. “I am a Roman Catholic, I believe in liberation theology. I literally could not face myself in the mirror every morning if I didn’t know that I was contributing to the fight against injustice.” (Liberation theory is the Christian teaching that the poor themselves can change their own social conditions. The name was coined in 1968 at a Latin American bishops’ conference at Medellin, Colombia.)
With the radical tradition growing among Latin American christians in the 1970s it was a short step for Magda Enriquez into joining the Sandinistas secretly in 1976. She became a founding member of the movement’s women’s association the following year.
But it was on May 15, 1978, that a dramatic break with the past became inevitable. “I will remember that day for ever. We were having a land sit-in with peasants and their families just occupying the fields to get the owner to come and talk. The police came, all the men were goaled and the owner sent tractors to run over the women or frighten them to run away... We made a human chain and the drivers could not bring themselves to advance. So the owner sent a plane to drop the poison which kills cottonbugs. We had 150 children in a state of collapse and we had to rush them to hospital. Rush, I should say was rather a relative word in the circumstances of having only two slow trucks.
Tomas Borge, Sandinistas' last surviving founder, dies aged 81 Read more
“Then of course under the Somoza regime only people with money could be treated in hospital so we had to push and agitate before a doctor would see the children once we got there. Ten children died before they could be treated. That day I asked for military training. I saw then that a weapon can be the instrument of life, not of death. Though, as I had been very active in the peace movement in America in the 60s it was a big change, a hard decision.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest An 87-year-old veteran of the first Sandino rebellion stands with an 18-year-old Sandinista guerrilla holding an assault rifle in Leon, Nicaragua, June 19, 1979. Photograph: Richard Cross/AP
Magda Enriquez does not give the impression of wasting much time sentimentalising hard decisions. Her oldest child, a 14-year-old boy, has joined the militia two years under age. “Of course I don’t like him carrying a gun – as a small child he was never even allowed a toy weapon on principle – but, in our situation, of course I am very proud of him.”
“A lot of children lie about their age to get into the militia. Before the revolution many children were active in the resistance to Somoza. They feel very strongly that the Revolution belongs to them and they are determined no one will take it away from them. Six months ago we had a twelve-year-old decorated with a gold medal after he had operated a machine gun after his father was killed by the American-supported contras attacking their village. Another 12-year-old is a national hero with the first children’s park in Managua named after him.
Magda’s work for the Sandinista Government and for the women’s organisation means long weeks away from her children. “But I have no anguish when I am away like now for two months because there is so much solidarity between us all that I know others are taking them to a movie or a circus on the weekends. The girls in my office coached one of my boys through his last maths exams because I was away on a delegation.
“My children know they come first with me and any meeting can be cancelled or postponed if they have real need for me. Otherwise they know any work for the Revolution is for them too. They are quite secure. And they have an additional security because ever since I went underground in 1978 the party assigned another woman, an old woman, to be with them and she still is. I have a great sense of security myself from the knowledge of the neighbourhood and party responsibility for all our children.”
But Magda has no illusions that the Revolution has changed people’s minds “from one day to the next.” Women’s problems have not disappeared overnight. “We, the women’s organisation, exist because of the problems, but the Revolution has given us the opportunity to solve them.”
She has been a member of several delegations which have laid the groundwork for the election procedures later this year by visiting the US, Canada and Western Europe. “Democracy is a completely new experience for Nicaraguans. I’ve never voted. We had only one electoral law – written in 1912 by an American marine.” The elections, like the last four years of long ideological debates within the Council of State, are also “the opportunities the Revolution has given us” for Magda Enriquez.
As the spokesperson for hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguan women she is a walking challenge to the American Government myths about her country which have persuaded President Reagan to try and crush the Sandinistas. And her robust example of successful liberation is an excellent rebuttal of those westerners who like to believe that women are inevitably trapped between irreconcilable demands of public and private spheres of life. |
Aston Martin Vantage AMR is road-going follow-up to AMR Pro | Two months ago, Aston Martin launched its new AMR line of vehicles with a pair of limited-edition cars. One was a slightly warmed-up Rapide sedan called the Rapide AMR, and the other was a track-only Vantage with a race-car-derived V8 called the Vantage AMR Pro. Now the company has released a third, or third and fourth depending on how you're counting, model that splits the difference. The new Vantage AMR, sans the Pro part, is available with either a V8 or a V12 , and can be had as either a coupe or convertible.What make the Vantage AMR special are limited production and aesthetic upgrades. Only 300 examples will be made, 200 of which will have the V8, while the other 100 have the V12. The V8 doesn't make any more power than the standard model, but the V12 produces an extra 30 horsepower over the standard model for a total of 595. Aston Martin also offers an optional titanium exhaust to improve the sound of these engines and reduce weight, but it doesn't change output.Observers of these Astons will be able to spot them by their special paint schemes with a center stripe down the middle. The cars can be had in white with an orange stripe, black with a blue stripe, blue with a red stripe, or silver with a gray stripe. There's also a "Halo Pack" that includes a green paint scheme similar to Aston Martin's GT racing cars, complete with a lime green stripe. There's also a no-cost option to add an Aston Martin badge painted in the colors of the Union Jack. Every color combination comes with a color-coordinated interior, too.Just because this is a very rare Aston Martin doesn't mean there aren't any options. On the contrary, there are quite a few, mostly concerning appearances. On the outside, carbon fiber side skirts, headlight housings, and grille are all available. An aerodynamics kit is also available that adds a big rear wing, front splitter, and front canards for additional downforce. Lightweight forged wheels are also available. Inside, the carbon fiber decoration continues with available seats, instrument surround, window sills, and grab handles.Depending on whether you're converting Euros or British pounds, an Aston Martin Vantage AMR will start between about $125,000 or $143,000. That doesn't really matter, though, since the Vantage AMR won't be offered in the US. It will only be available in the UK, Europe, China, and the Asia Pacific region. Middle Eastern buyers can also pick one up, but only the V12 variant. |
The Disconnect Between B2B Tech Buyers and Vendors | B2B technology vendors tend to focus on a number of marketing and sales tactics that buyers don't find especially useful or trustworthy, according to recent research from TrustRadius.
The report was based on data from a survey of 438 B2B technology buyers and 240 individuals who work for B2B technology vendors.
Buyers use five different sources of information, on average, to evaluate B2B technology vendors.
Buyers say the most influential information sources in evaluating vendors are their prior experiences with the product, free trials/accounts, product demos, and referrals from friends/colleagues/peers. Buyers also rank these four sources as the most trustworthy.
The most commonly used tactics by B2B technology vendors to engage potential buyers are company/product websites, product demos, marketing collateral, case studies, and blog posts.
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Membership is required to access the full version of this how-to marketing article ... don't worry though, it's FREE! |
Here's how Tuesday's Region 8-6A Tournament played out | 2:09 Gang activity tends to be violent Pause
1:19 George County's LaRaymond Spivery has big night
2:11 Long beach woman tried to save neighbor from fire
0:57 Long Beach fire sends two to the hospital
3:41 His hospital staff rushed to fulfill his final wish: to marry his fiancé
0:57 Gautiers Paul Gainer will play football at Southern Miss
2:40 Texas woman convicted of voter fraud says she voted Republican
1:10 Rob Stinson likes casino near Biloxi's Restaurant Row
2:33 USM holds panel to discuss impact of state flag |
Patrick Kane Joins Exclusive Club With Game 3 Goal | Patrick Kane and his teammates score after his goal for the Chicago Blackhawks vs. the Nashville Predators on Monday night. The goal was an historic one for Kane even as the Blackhawks went on to lose the game.
There wasn’t a lot to celebrate in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators in Game 3 of the teams’ first round series, but a goal by one of the Blackhawks’ biggest stars is certainly worthy of some recognition.
That star is winger Patrick Kane, who scored in the second period of a game that the Blackhawks ultimately lost in overtime. That loss is definitely going to put a damper on the accomplishment, but he joined an exclusive club despite the outcome of the game.
The goal was Kane’s 50th postseason goal as a member of the Blackhawks, and he is only the fourth player to achieve that milestone. Before we reveal who the other three players are, here is the goal in question:
With that tally, Kane joins a trio of Blackhawks legends who have hit the 50-goal plateau in postseason play. Bobby Hull still holds the team record for most playoff goals, scoring 62 in his career with the Blackhawks. That is one better than the 61 that Denis Savard scored during his two stints in Chicago, and just three better than the 59 that Stan Mikita scored in his lengthy 20-plus season career with the Blackhawks.
If Kane is going to add to that total this season, he's going to have to get moving, as the Blackhawks are now just one loss away from elimination. |
Wild's Matt Cullen: Playing time shrinking amid slump | Cullen had just one shot on goal in 8:48 of ice time in Sunday's win over San Jose.
Cullen was a healthy scratch in Friday's game as his playing time has shrunk amid a slump. After scoring a goal and three assists in his first 11 games, he has just two assists and no goals in 17 games since Nov. 4. |
Everything you need to know as Ukip's Paul Nuttall apologises for Hillsborough claim | Paul Nuttall has said he is “very sorry” over a false claim on his website that he had lost close personal friends in the Hillsborough disaster.
But the Ukip leader said he did not write the web post that is dated August 2011.
Here are the details on exactly what’s happened.
What did Nuttall originally claim?
@paulnuttallukip denies claim that he lost "close personal friends" at #Hillsborough despite statement on his own website pic.twitter.com/yCyHYbyyQS — David Gurtler (@GurtlerDavid) February 14, 2017
In the entry on his website, Nuttall called for the Government to release files it held on the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
He was then quoted as saying: “Without them being made public we will never get to the bottom of that appalling tragedy when 96 Liverpool fans including close personal friends of mine lost their lives.”
But his claims are false?
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall admits that claims on his website that he lost a "close personal friend" at Hillsborough are false pic.twitter.com/bnNKm29IsU — Radio City Talk (@RadioCityTalk) February 14, 2017
In an interview with Radio City Talk in Liverpool, Nuttall said a quote from him on his website was untrue.
“I haven’t lost a close personal friend, I’ve lost someone who I know,” he told presenter Dave Eason, adding: “I haven’t put that out, that is wrong.”
How have people responded to these revelations?
Margaret Aspinall, chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (Lynne Cameron/PA)
Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, was among the victims, said the Ukip leader’s credibility had “gone out of the window”.
“It’s insensitive. We are still awaiting the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service as to whether charges will be brought and we don’t need this kind of thing from Paul Nuttall,” he said.
“He should know better as a politician and leader of Ukip.”
Hillsborough Family Support Group chair Margaret Aspinall told LBC radio: “A lot of people who were there that day did lose close personal friends and I think it’s an insult to them as well as to all the families who did lose somebody on that day.”
And people on Twitter were shocked.
Staggering admission from Paul Nuttall: claim on his website that he lost a "close personal friend" at Hillsborough is not true. — David Singleton (@singersz) February 14, 2017
@RadioCityTalk appalling. If he had an ounce of respect for the ppl who lost a loved one, he'd resign and make an unreserved apology — Yousuf (@Yousuf_Miah) February 14, 2017
@Independent vile. I hope the good people of #Stoke reject @paulnuttallukip. To lie about that is disgusting. — HonestVoice (@The1HonestVoice) February 14, 2017
But Nuttall has now apologised?
(Joe Giddens/PA)
Nuttall said in a statement he was “appalled” when he found out what had happened. But he said he did not write the web posting.
“This was an article that I did not write and did not see prior to it being posted by a member of my staff,” he said.
“Of course I take responsibility for those things that are put out under my name, but I was genuinely taken aback when this claim was brought to my attention and am both appalled and very sorry that an impression was given that was not accurate.”
In his statement, Nuttall made clear he stood by his claim to have been at the match.
St George’s Hall in Liverpool illuminated following a special commemorative service to mark the outcome of the Hillsborough inquest (Peter Byrne/PA)
“From the upper tier of the Leppings Lane End of the Hillsborough Stadium, I watched the events of that day unfold with horror,” he said.
Lynda Roughley, a press officer for Nuttall, subsequently said she had offered to resign, saying she had been “entirely responsible” for the website post.
“I am frankly mortified at the distress this issue has caused Paul and may have caused to anyone involved with the Hillsborough tragedy,” she said in a statement. “I could not be more sorry.” |
Big relief coming soon? Finance Ministry proposes relaxing conditions for availing concessional LTCG tax | The Finance Ministry today proposed relaxing certain conditions for availing the concessional 10 per cent long term capital gains tax.
The Finance Ministry today proposed relaxing certain conditions for availing the concessional 10 per cent long term capital gains tax. Listing out scenarios wherein individuals need not pay Securities Transaction Tax (STT) at the time of purchase to avail the concessional tax rate, the Finance Ministry invited stakeholder comments on the draft notification by April 30. In the 2018-19 budget, the government had after a gap of 14 years reintroduced 10 per cent tax on long-term capital gains exceeding Rs 1 lakh from sale of shares. Till March 2018, however, the long term capital gains (LTCG) tax was nil for shares sold after a year of purchase.
LTCG on sale of unlisted shares is taxed at 20 per cent, while in case of short term capital gains it is 30 per cent. “To provide the applicability of the tax regime under Section 112A of the I-T Act to genuine cases where the STT could not have been paid, it has also been provided in sub-section (4) of Section 112A of the Act that the Central Government may specify, by notification, the nature of acquisitions in respect of which the requirement of payment of STT shall not apply in the case of acquisition of equity share in a company,” a Finance Ministry statement said.
In the draft notification, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has specified the nature of acquisitions in respect of which requirement of payment of STT would not apply for availing the concessional rate of LTCG. Finance Act 2018 provided for long term capital gain tax on transfer of specified securities only if STT has been paid on acquisition and transfer of such capital asset. It also authorised the Central government to notify genuine cases where such payment of STT could not be done.
“The Government had exempted certain modes of acquisition of equity shares from the condition of payment of STT at the time of acquisition in order to be eligible for 10 per cent LTCG regime. There can be various genuine cases where STT could not have been paid,” EY India, Partner and Business Tax Services Leader Garima Pande said.
PwC Leader, Corporate and International Tax, Abhishek Goenka said the draft notification has been issued in the context of those transactions where STT is not paid at the time of acquisition and/or sale of the securities. “It covers the same scenarios as were notified in 2017 in the context of shares acquired after 2004. To that extent, the draft is on expected lines and covers most genuine transactions.
However, the many concerns that arise as a result of the language of the section itself remain unaddressed,” Goenka said. Nangia & Co Managing Partner Rakesh Nangia said the government introduced a new Section 112A in the Income Tax Act, proposing to levy income tax at concessional rate of 10 per cent on long term capital gains arising from above-mentioned securities, if STT is paid both at the time of transfer in case of units of equity oriented mutual funds and both at the time of acquisition and sale in case of listed equity shares. |
Local Author's Book on Lifetime Network Tonight | A North Dakota woman who earlier admitted killing a pregnant neighbor to get her baby did it by cutting the baby from the mother’s womb as s… |
General Motors In Talks With Peugeot To Sell European Auto Business | General Motors Co and French automaker PSA Group are said to be in talks which will see the latter take over GM's auto business in Europe. The PSA Group clarified this in a statement saying "Since 2012, General Motors and PSA Group have been implementing an alliance covering, to date, three projects in Europe and generating substantial synergies for the two groups. Within this framework, General Motors and PSA Group regularly examine additional expansion and cooperation possibilities, as well. PSA Group and General Motors confirm they are exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving profitability and operational efficiency, including a potential acquisition of Opel Vauxhall by PSA."
While the confirmation of 'strategic initiatives' is a good sign, the statement further says that there can be no assurance that an agreement will be reached. The acquisition of GM's European operations would give a the PSA Group a significant lead in European markets. With brands like Peugeot, Citroen and DS already under its umbrella, the acquiring of GM's Opel and Vauxhall brands would give it a 16.3 per cent share of the European Passenger car market and this see itself vault to the second place ahead of Renault but behind Volkswagen AG.
Peugeot is all set to enter India and we've told you all about it. In fact, the company has already bought the Ambassador brand from Hindustan Motors for ₹ 80 crore and we wait to see what company's plans are with regards to this.
The French government, which owns 14 percent of PSA, could support a deal that would help PSA reach "critical mass," an economy ministry source told Reuters. The government will "give special attention to the impact in terms of jobs and the industrial impact of these initiatives," the source said. France is in the midst of a heated national election campaign.
It was not clear what price GM might want for the loss-making European business, or what structure a deal could take. GM and PSA have already shared production of commercial vans and developed common vehicle platforms, a relic of their last attempt to forge a broader alliance, which was unwound in 2013 with the sale of the U.S. carmaker's stake in PSA.
Since taking over as GM's CEO in January 2014, Barra has signed off on decisions to quit markets, including Russia and Indonesia, where GM lost money, pull the Chevrolet brand out of Europe, and slash sales to rental car fleets that long propped up U.S. market share with little or no profit.
GM's global market share slipped by 0.3 percentage points last year. Selling Opel and Vauxhall, which added almost 1 million cars to its sales, could mean abandoning the global volume race in which it is currently ranked third behind Volkswagen and Toyota Motor Corp, with just over 10 million vehicles delivered last year.
GM Europe has been a drag on the automaker's global profitability since 1999, the last year Opel and Vauxhall recorded a net profit. GM restructured its European operations over the past six years, shutting Opel factories in Belgium and Germany and withdrawing the Saab and Chevrolet brands from sale. Still, GM Europe failed to break even in 2016, as Barra had once promised it would, and the company said last week it did not expect profits in the operation until 2018.
GM had previously discussed a sale of its European auto business to Canadian parts maker Magna in the aftermath of the financial crisis, when GM was heading toward a U.S. government-led bankruptcy. But GM pulled the plug on the tentative deal in 2009.
Selling Opel would free up GM to invest more to develop vehicles for the North American and Chinese markets, where it makes nearly all of its automotive profits, as well as to expand new businesses. |
What’s Up: June 15-21: Columbus Pride takes over the city | Please follow and like us:
Thursday, June 15
Blue October, 8 p.m. at the Columbus Athenaeum, 32 N. 4th St. The alternative-rock group will perform with opener Northern National. Tickets are $27.50 plus fees on Ticketweb.
Stitched Up Heart, 7 p.m. at The Basement, 391 Neil Ave. The Californian hard-rock band will perform with opener Hell or Highwater. Tickets are $13 plus fees on Ticketmaster.
Pelotonia on the Patio, 6 p.m. at Express Live, 405 Neil Ave. Enjoy live music by Harbour and the Score, a photobooth and complimentary drinks as guests fundraise to end cancer in support of the annual Pelotonia race, a three-day cycling event that has raised over $130 million for cancer research. Tickets are $20 on Ticketbud.
Film Festival of Columbus, times vary at the Gateway Film Center, 1550 N. High St, and other venues across Columbus. The sixth annual, four-day event showcases seasoned and rising filmmakers from around the world. For schedule and ticket information, visit Gatewayfilmcenter.org.
Friday, June 16
Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival, 4 p.m. at Bicentennial and Genoa Park, 233 Civic Center Drive. In celebration of 36 years of community pride, the festival kicks off Pride weekend. Admission is free.
Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, all day in Gahanna’s Creekside District, 117 Mill St. The annual festival offers five stages and more than 90 hours of live blues and jazz music. The three-day event will also feature food, regional artisans, amusement rides and other activities. Admission starts at $7 for one-day Friday and Sunday passes, and $10 for Saturday, weekend passes are also available.
“Mali Blues,” 7 p.m. at the Wexner Center for the Arts. The two-night showing features the 2016 documentary, which follows the danger that surrounds music and musicians in Mali. Admission is $6 for students and $8 for the general public.
Saturday, June 17
Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade, step-off is at 10:30 a.m. at Goodale and High in the Short North Arts District. Join over 500,000 people as they attend the 36th annual Columbus Pride Parade, followed by the weekend-long festival at Bicentennial and Genoa Park. Admission is free.
Grandview Digfest, the seventh annual festival features more than a dozen local craft brewers, craft distilleries and liqueurs, along with a variety of foods. The event is dog-friendly. Admission is free.
Nationwide Picnic with the Pops, 8 p.m. at the Columbus Commons, 160 S. High St. The Columbus Symphony embodies music legend Prince as it performs top hits like “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry.” The event is outdoor and guests are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Tickets are $25 at the gate or online at Picnicwiththepops.com
OUAB Goes to Zoombezi Bay, 10:30 a.m. at Zoombezi Bay Waterpark, 10101 Riverside Dr. Experience the waterpark, water slides, lazy river and much more. Tickets also include admission to the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. Buses will leave the Ohio Union at 9:45 a.m. Registration is required with a BuckID.
Sunday, June 18
Brewga: Craft Yoga, 11 a.m. at Zauber Brewing Co., 909 W. 5th Ave. Come in for restorative and relaxing yoga by Mind Body Connect followed by coffee, beer and brunch. Admission is $5 at the door or signup online at MindBodyonline.com.
Vegan Ice Cream Social Party, 3 p.m. at It’s All Natural, 1360 Cherry Bottom Rd. The vegan and vegetarian market will be serving cold tasty sundaes and a variety of toppings. Tickets are $5 on Eventbrite.
Monday, June 19
Two Weeks Notice Comedy Showcase, 6:30 p.m. at Four Strings Brewing Co., 985 W. 6th Ave. The bi-monthly show features comedians Johnny Phillips and Georgia Barnes and a showcase of talent they curate. Admission is free.
OUAB Summer Flicks for Free, 5 p.m. at the Ohio Union Senate Chamber. OUAB’s summer film series features the 2016 Drama “Fences.” Admission is free with BuckID.
Tuesday, June 20
At the Drive In, 7 p.m. at Express Live, 405 Neil Ave. The punk-rock band will perform with supporting act Le Butcherettes. Tickets are $37 plus fees on Ticketmaster.
Banks, 7 p.m. at Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St. The Orange County singer and songwriter will perform. Tickets are $25 plus fees on Ticketmaster.
Wednesday, June 21
Sounds on the Town, 6 p.m. at Easton Town Center. Easton’s exclusive outdoor concert series features old-school cover band The L.A. Band. Admission is free. |
Trump mocks exec for quitting advisory council over racism | Already a subscriber?
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R.I.P. AIM, AOL is shutting down its instant messenger | AOL is shutting down its instant messenger, AIM, after 20 years. The service will be taken offline on December 15th, the company has announced.
Michael Albers, communications products VP at Oath (the Verizon subsidiary that absorbed AOL), said in a statement: “AIM tapped into new digital technologies and ignited a cultural shift, but the way in which we communicate with each other has profoundly changed.”
Launched in 1997, AIM was one of the earliest and most popular instant messengers and served as a precursor to the Facebook Messengers and Twitters of today. |