Mumbai, Sep 6 (PTI) Bridge player Rajeev Khandelwal, who was part of the Indian mixed team that clinched a bronze medal in the Asian Games, believes that the success will help change perception about the sport. “I think, the first major thing is that it (the medals) is going to change the perception of people. Because people thought bridge is a card game and card is taboo in India and most people were not allowed to play bridge,” Khandelwal told reporters here. He along with his wife Himani Khandelwal and Hema Deora, who were also part of the mixed team that won bronze, were felicitated by the Bombay Gymkhana here. “We wanted to train people but we cant, because their parents would say ‘taash khelene laagega beta, yeh koi game hai kya’ (child will stat playing cards, is this a game). “Nobody understands that it is an intelligence game rather than gambling. Everybody associates Bridge with gambling, but because of medals that we have got, things will change and people will start recognising it as a sport, rather than a gambling thing,” added Khandelwal. India returned from the Asian Games with a gold and two bronze medals in bridge, after the sport was for the first time introduced in the continental showpiece. Echoing similar views, Deora said bridge was more like a mind sport. “After acquiring these medals (at the Games) and after Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) also having tweeted about it, it has become aware that it (bridge) is not a gambling sport, but a mind sport and it’s like chess.advertisement “So people are becoming more aware and realising importance of this game and I am sure it will be picked up much faster and better,” said Deora. The trio was presented with mementos for their feat. PTI NRB AH
Australia’s Usman Khawaja may miss start of India Test series with knee injury
Australia opener Usman Khawaja has suffered a knee injury and that makes him a doubtful starter in the four-match Test series against India at home in December.Khawaja injured his left knee in a training session during the second Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.The scans have revealed that Khawaja has not re-torn his anterior cruciate ligament but he has suffered a meniscal tear.The injury may require a surgery to his left knee.Pakistan vs Australia: Day 4 Blog | ScorecardAustralia will already miss the services of Steve Smith and David Warner and Khawaja’s absence will be a massive blow.Smith and Warner are serving one-year bans for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March this year.The first Test of the series between Australia and India will be played in Adelaide from December 6.Khawaja did not take to the field the entire day after twisting his left knee during a nets session before the start of play on Day 3 on Thursday.The left-handed batsman was spotted limping on Friday morning when he reached the Sheikh Zayed Stadium with the Australian team.Khawaja has not been ruled out of the match and is expected to bat in the second innings with Australia chasing an improbable 538 to win the Test and the series.The 31-year-old batsman played one of the most inspiring knocks in the history of cricket in the drawn first Test to rescue Australia.Khawaja had batted bravely for nearly nine hours to make 141 and en route his innings became only the fifth Australian to score a hundred in the fourth innings of a Test match in Asia.advertisement
Chelsea through to League Cup semis as Hazard goal helps beat Bournemouth 1-0
An 84th-minute Eden Hazard goal, which spun into the net after a heavy deflection, earned Chelsea a place in the League Cup semi-finals after a 1-0 win over Bournemouth in an entertaining tie on Wednesday.Chelsea had buzzed round the Bournemouth goal for much of the game but it was not until substitute Hazard came on with half an hour to go that they looked creative and decisive enough to break through.Chelsea had piled on the pressure from the start and there were good chances for Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley, who forced a diving save from Artur Boruc and Willian, who surged forward from the halfway line after 30 minutes only for Boruc to block his rising shot.Bournemouth looked dangerous on the break and Callum Wilson ran through on goal in the 17th minute but pulled his shot wide.A scampering run from Jordon Ibe opened up the Chelsea defence 20 minutes later and Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had to fly to his left to keep out Lys Mousset’s curling shot.Ruben Loftus-Cheek looked certain to break the deadlock early in the second half after rounding two players but his shot flew inches past Boruc’s post.Chelsea brought on first Pedro then Hazard and it was a combination of the Spaniard and Belgium’s Hazard that made the goal.”The difference was the changes that we made,” Chelsea’s assistant boss Gianfranco Zola told reporters.”Of course we have a lot of games and players like Eden (Hazard) we need to keep fit. Even in 20 minutes he can make a big difference.”advertisementAnother player who caught Zola’s eye was England midfielder Loftus-Cheek.”I was impressed with him. He has done well as a wide player, but he showed a lot of sacrifice as a midfielder,” Zola said.”He was getting tired but was disciplined… He is a good boy and works very hard.”It was the first home game since alleged racist taunts against Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling prompted an outcry and Chelsea banned four fans.Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck took a page in the programme to condemn racism and the atmosphere in the ground was lively but appeared good humoured with no added security in evidence.Chelsea will play Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals.(With Reuters inputs)
2 days agoAxel Tuanzebe back to boost Man Utd
Axel Tuanzebe back to boost Man Utdby Paul Vegas2 days agoSend to a friendShare the loveManchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is set to return at the weekend after a hip injury forced him out of the draw with Liverpool.The centre-back, 21, picked up the problem in the warm-up on Sunday and was replaced by Marcos Rojo.The Sun says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to rest the youngster for Thursday’s Europa League clash against Partizan Belgrade but he is expected for the trip to Norwich.Tuanzebe will be in contention for a place in the squad for the Carrow Road clash when Solskjaer looks to build on the draw against the Champions League holders.He had started the previous two Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle, after getting told he is part of the first-team plans at United when loan offers came in this summer. About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say
Sunskis revives classic Australian sunglasses for summer
Editors’ Recommendations Whether it’s a short beach trip or a long road trip, the Sunski Taravals are a stylish pair of shades, and have some surprising features that you might not find in more expensive pairs.Sunski was created in 2012 when two friends, Tom Stewart and Michael Charley, decided to move on from their previous company, a salsa bowl with a specially-designed lip for securing the salsa on your chip. They kickstarted Sunski with the idea of reviving an Australian style of sunglass that hadn’t been produced for 25 years.Those first pairs were incredibly colorful, with transparent plastic frames, and brightly polarized lenses. But they were lightweight, looked cool and unique, and worked perfectly for the surf trip that Stewart discovered them on. They quickly became an essential surf accessory for the creators, and the revamped pairs are even better.All Sunski sunglasses are built with five layers of lenses. Between two scratch resistant outer layers, you’ll find a polarizing film to keep the sun out of your eyes, a gradient tint for a splash of color, and a mirror coating. The frames are made from lightweight, durable polycarbonate, with an aluminum composite hinge – each pair weighs only about two ounces.The Taravals are one of the brand’s newest styles, named for the street that marks the biggest waves on Ocean Beach in San Francisco. They have a squarer frame and a bigger fight that wraps a bit further around your head. They’re available in four colors, from classic black, to tortoise shell, and even the Frosted Lava pair that feature white frames and red lenses. Each pair of Sunskis comes with a microfiber pouch to keep them in, as well as a custom built travel case. Even better, the Taravals are only $58, and the other pairs cost even less.You can pick up any of the five styles on the Sunski store page. 5 Classic Whiskey Cocktails You Should Know How to Make The Most Refreshing Sparkling Waters to Sip On Right Now 
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Why Tires Make All the Difference at the Race Track
What It’s Like to Drive a NASCAR Race Car (and Where You Can Get Behind the Wheel) NASCAR Driver Brad Keselowski on Crashing, Winning, and Creating a Legacy Of all the lessons you will learn at the racetrack, only one can be grasped after the very first corner: tires change everything. Whether you’re driving a 700-horsepower, rear-drive muscle car or an 80-hp, front-drive hatchback, you can’t hope to extract the best from your vehicle without a proper set of tires.I should be ashamed to have forgotten such an essential principle for my own race car — after all, I’ve experienced the differences a good street tire can make through numerous comparison tests. Alas, my first race was spent culling the final bit of grip from a set of old racing slicks. And when I say final bit of grip, I mean it. After the conclusion of my race, I peeled off the tires to find several flat spots on the front pair.Miles Branman/The ManualFlat spots are to be expected, and once they’ve formed, the car will find the flat spots again and again. Still, when you remove a tire to discover it’s worn to the steel cords, that’s too close a call.Having narrowly avoided disaster, I was ready to walk the right path. My next race would be at Willow Springs Raceway, a notoriously fast track that allows high-output vehicles to capitalize on their grunt. Low horsepower cars, meanwhile, only compensate for power with momentum. In the case of my 110-hp Mazda Miata, grip would be my only hope.To find the right shoes for my car, and to learn a thing or two about race rubber, I gave the folks at Tire Rack a call. Woody Rogers, a product information specialist, refined his vast knowledge on the subject of tires into some key takeaways.First, we discussed rubber compounds. In basic terms, the softer the tire compound, the quicker it comes up to temperature and the more grip it has. The vast majority of racing tires utilize soft compounds. The downside to soft compound tires is their durability (or lack thereof). Competing with slicks in wet weather may not have been ideal, but the tires’ performance in adverse conditions was truly remarkable.By the next morning, the high desert’s capricious weather was 65 degrees and sunny. I wasn’t complaining because a dry track would show the true limits of my new racing slicks.Qualifying was a revelation. With every new lap, I broke a bit later before corners and pressed a little harder through them. Traction was my best friend as I set quicker and quicker lap times. Despite grouping with cars that made four times the output, my Miata qualified eighth of 15.Miles Branman/The ManualMiles Branman/The ManualThe race picked up where qualifying left off. It took until the eighteenth lap for the tires to break traction. The result of my incessant prodding for their limits during a race-long battle with a Porsche 944, the surrender of traction came mid-corner on a long sweeper. A smooth, manageable drift carried me through the corner fractionally slower than in prior laps. I had given up the lead to the 944 for now, but it was worth it to find the grip threshold.In the end, my war with the Porsche came down to a half car-length victory. His power very nearly caught me on Willow’s long front straightaway, but my Miata’s handling prowess and superior traction triumphed.If you aspire to race, know that tires will be an expensive consumable, but a deciding factor in your success at any level of competition. Should you forget, your rivals will be sure to remind you at every turn of the track. Editors’ Recommendations A Breakdown of All the Major Types of Car Racing 
World-Class Runner Caryn Lubetsky Didn’t Run Her First Marathon Until She Was 40 Woody’s next tidbit pertained to thread pattern and tire grades. In fair weather, the best tires for the track are either R-Compound or slicks. An R-Comp tire features a shallow tread pattern and is DOT approved for street use. A slick lacks any tread pattern, is not approved for street use, and wears much faster than an R-Comp. A set of R-Comps will retain peak traction for about 16-18 hours of hard use, while a slick will begin yielding grip after just two hours. In addition to these options, Woody prescribed a set or dedicated “rain tires” — ones with deep tread grooves — as the ideal instrument for wet weather.The final tip in my race tire crash course was about heat cycling. News to some (myself included) is that two sets of tires, created by the exact same methods, can perform in dramatically different ways based on their post-production procedure. If you pull one set off the assemble line, put it on a car, and start racing, you’ll experience a rapid peak in performance, followed by inconsistency over the life of the tire. However, if you bring a tire up to temperature (accomplished via approximately three laps of a circuit or a few minutes on Tire Rack’s heat cycling machine), then store it for 24 hours or more (but not longer than three weeks), it will perform consistently from the first day.Following Woody’s briefing, I sought his advice for my next set of tires. Based on Southern California’s dry climate and my intended use at Willow Springs, we concluded a set of BFGoodrich R1-S would serve me well.Perfect conditions to evaluate the performance differences between new and old rubber.A week before the SCCA Majors competition, my fresh tires arrived heat-cycled and ready to roll. The weather forecast promised clear skies and cool temperatures for both Saturday and Sunday’s races — perfect conditions to evaluate the performance differences between new and old rubber.However, Saturday’s weather started favorably, then it all went awry. Dark clouds appeared on the horizon an hour before my race. By the time I was scheduled to grid, raindrops were spattering the car windows. Without a set of proper rain tires (I had erringly put off Woody’s recommendation for a later date), my crew chief and I had a decision to make: stick with the new slicks or swap in my R-comps.Temperature would be the determining factor. Without a glimmer of sunlight, the temperature had dropped to 40 degrees. The treaded R-comps would be more effective to eject water, but it would take too long for them to come up to temperature. Provided I found the track’s rain line, the slicks would be more effective. Starting mid-pack, I saw the green flag and darted up to fourth position after the first corner. First place — a high-output car in a different class — seemed to leap ahead. Three corners later, however, he was picking his car out of the dirt to rejoin the race. All around me, cars were squirming, and though the rain was coming down thick now, I felt confident.Smooth inputs of the wheel and careful feeding of the throttle kept me on track.The slicks clung to the available traction found high on banked corners. Smooth inputs of the wheel and careful feeding of the throttle kept me on track. Braking was the biggest challenge; twice the tires locked, pushing the car’s tail out, and twice I wrestled the car straight. An increase in braking distances eliminated lockup.Second place struggled to put the power down, and a particularly wide turn gave me room to pass on the inside. Five laps from the finish, the rain started the let up and visibility improved. I started pushing a bit harder in the corners and slowly gained on the first place car, an Acura TLX on treaded R-comps. By the final lap, I was just over a second behind. Not willing to do anything dumb to make a pass, I clung to second overall.Miles Branman/The ManualMiles Branman/The Manual 12 Classic Sci-Fi Novels Everyone Who Likes Reading Should Read
Indiecan20k Reveals Winners from Northern Southern Ontario and Northwest Territories
Advertisement Login/Register With: PRESS RELEASE:Indiecan20k Reveals Winners from Northern & Southern Ontario and Northwest TerritoriesToronto/Canada – December 20, 2016 – Avi Federgreen, founder of the first-time feature filmmaker initiative INDIECAN20K, is pleased to announce the three winning filmmaking teams representing Northern and Southern Ontario, and the Northwest Territories. The winning films selected are: FUGUE (Northern Ontario) by writer-director Tomas Street, with Christine Rochon producing; MY GIRL MOLLY (Southern Ontario) written by Dave Roberts, with director Brandon Ludwig, who is also producing with Sheldon Ludwig; and, DARK SKY (Northwest Territories) by writer-director Jennifer Walden with Jeremy Emerson producing.“With stories about a broken character searching for identity, a young transgendered protagonist, and the adventure of a lost boy and a mythical creature, the winning scripts selected represent a real boldness emerging from the next generation of filmmakers in Canada. I am proud to provide the opportunity to get these films off the page,” commented Federgreen.FUGUE by writer-director Tomas Street (Northern Ontario): Malcolm wakes up in an unfamiliar room, unsure of whom he is. When his friend pays him a visit Malcolm begins to suspect things are not entirely as they seem.Parry Sound-based Tomas Street has nearly two decades of experience as a script supervisor with over 30 credits. He is the creator and writer of the entire first season of the award-winning webseries Kid’s Town.MY GIRL MOLLY directed by Brandon Ludwig, written by Dave Roberts (Southern Ontario): A young transgendered girl starting over in a new school is met with relentless teasing and bullying but when she stumbles across a suitcase of pills she suddenly finds a new popularity. Except the people who lost the suitcase now want it back.Brandon Ludwig is an actor and director. His on-camera credits include Conviction, Lost & Found Music Studios, and Man Seeking Woman. He has co-directed several short films including I’ll Love You Hallways, and The Dictator’s Speech.DARK SKY by writer-director Jennifer Walden (NWT): When separated from his mother on a family camping trip, a young boy meets a mythical Rock Creature that helps him find his way back home.Yellowknife-based writer-director Jennifer Walden is a well-established visual artist who is becoming known as one of the North’s up-and-coming filmmakers. Her short films include, Painted Girl and Preserved.As the winners of Indiecan20K the film teams will receive in-kind production and post-production services, additional funds, and mentorship to get a first feature completed. All combined, each filmmaker will make a film with a budget of up to $250K.In addition to in-kind services, the filmmakers are responsible for raising $20K in cash towards the budget but several organizations have stepped forward to get the filmmakers started towards that goal. For the filmmakers of FUGUE, Music & Film In Motion (MFM) is putting in $5K, and for the filmmakers of MY GIRL MOLLY, the Harold Greenberg Fund (HGF) is contributing $5K towards that budget. For DARK SKY, Northwestel Community Television is providing $3K while the HGF is contributing $2K.The following sponsors are providing in-kind services:Ontario Service Provider and Post Production Facilities Sponsors:Grip and Lighting Equipment –William F. White International Inc.Camera Equipment – Clairmont CameraPost Production Facility –Deluxe TorontoSound Editing and Supervision – ParachuteInsurance – Front Row InsuranceScript Clearance – The Rights CompanyLegal – Brenda Blake LL.B.Music Supervision – Instinct EntertainmentDCP’s – Red Square MotionDVD & Blu ray Replicators – The Media ConciergeClosed Captioning – Caption EasyPublicity – Raw Sugar PRDigital & VOD Aggregation – Juice WorldwidePoster Creation – Small Dog DesignNorthwest Territories Service Provider and Post Production Facilities Sponsors:Grip and Lighting Equipment – Western Arctic Moving Pictures (WAMP)Camera Equipment – WAMPPost Production Facility – Avatar MediaInsurance – Front Row InsuranceScript Clearance – The Rights CompanyLegal – Brenda Blake LL.B.Music Supervision – Instinct EntertainmentDCP’s – Red Square MotionDVD & Blu ray Replicators – The Media ConciergeClosed Captioning – Caption EasyPublicity – Raw Sugar PRDigital & VOD Aggregation – Juice WorldwidePoster Creation – Small Dog DesignMajor Financial Support provided by:Northern Ontario – Music & Film in Motion (MFM)Southern Ontario – Harold Greenberg Fund (HGF)Northwest Territories – Northwestel Community Television and Harold Greenberg Fund (HGF)Major Supporter for the Northwest Territories:The NWT Film CommissionThe film teams for FUGUE and MY GIRL MOLLY will be co-mentored through the filmmaking process by writer-director Warren P. Sonoda (TRAILER PARK BOYS, SWEARNET: THE MOVIE) and Federgreen, while writer-director-producer, Kirsten Carthew (THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT) and Federgreen will mentor DARK SKY’s team.The filmmakers must develop, shoot, and complete their films by April 30, 2018 with the goal to hit the 2018 film festival circuit. Federgreen’s Indiecan Entertainment will release the films in Canada once they have travelled around the festival circuit.AVI FEDERGREEN brings over 20 years of experience in the Canadian film industry to the Indiecan20K project. His experience includes music videos to TV series to feature films. Federgreen’s current releases include KISS AND CRY, PRISONER X, and HOW TO PLAN AN ORGY IN A SMALL TOWN. Some of Federgreen’s other producing credits include STILL MINE, SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL, ONE WEEK, RELATIVE HAPPINESS, RANDOM ACTS OF ROMANCE, THE COCKSURE LADS MOVIE, MOON POINT, I’M YOURS, HUNGRY HILLS, HIGH LIFE, LESLIE MY NAME IS EVIL, and the documentaries MILK and AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE.INDIECAN ENTERTAINMENT focuses on independent, low-budget films. As a distributor, Avi Federgreen follows the same principle that earned him his reputation as a filmmaker; bringing audiences films they want to watch. Indiecan has distributed PRISONER X, END OF DAYS, INC., SEX AFTER KIDS, DOWN RIVER, THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE, MOON POINT, MILK, THAT GUY DICK MILLER, THE SHEEPDOGS HAVE AT IT, and more. Aside from the traditional distribution route, Indiecan leans heavily on digital delivery. Indiecan helps films find more opportunities with audiences through TV, Netflix, iTunes, websites, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Indiecan’s vision is to not only support Indie production but to encourage the viewing of quality independent films by audiences around the world. http://indiecanent.com/HAROLD GREENBERG FUND: The English-Language Program of the Harold Greenberg Fund, with contributions from The Movie Network and Viewers Choice Canada, provides reimbursable financial assistance for the development and production of feature films, as well as sponsoring industry workshops, training programs, festivals, special events, and awards. Since its inception in 1986, the Fund has supported nearly 4,000 projects and initiatives, for an investment of over $85 million to date in the Canadian film and television industry. It is proud to support the vision and works of Canadian storytellers. http://www.bellmedia.ca/harold-greenberg-fund/MUSIC AND FILM IN MOTION (MFM), a division of the not-for-profit organization Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION), is dedicated to fostering and promoting the music and film industries in Northern Ontario, as well as providing educational programming to cultivate the advancement of Northern Ontario’s emerging talent. MFM works within the boundaries of Northern Ontario, which includes a population of approximately 760,000 people. MFM strives to connect music and film artists and practitioners with opportunities and resources to advance their projects and their careers. MFM’s ongoing advocacy for Northern Ontario music and film production output is carried out with the primary objective of contributing to the further development of Northern Ontario’s thriving cultural industries. http://www.cionorth.ca/en/NORTHWESTEL COMMUNITY TELEVISION tells northern stories, helps develop northern screen media talent and fosters northern audiences through public-access non-commercial programming on its community television channels in Yellowknife, NT and Whitehorse, YT. www.nwtelcommunitytv.caTHE NWT FILM COMMISSION is a division of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment providing funding, support, and production assistance to local and guest productions in the NWT to build a more vibrant film community. www.nwtfilm.com Advertisement Advertisement Facebook LEAVE A REPLY Cancel replyLog in to leave a comment “Congratulations to Jen Walden and Jeremy Emerson – Winners of Indiecan20k Northwest Territories with their project DARK SKY; to Tomas Street and Christine Rochon – Winners of Indiecan20k Northern Ontario with their project FUGUE and to Brandon Ludwig, Sheldon Ludwig and Dave Roberts – Winners of Indiecan20k Southern Ontario with their project MY GIRL MOLLY. Looking forward to helping you make your FIRST FEATURE FILMS!!! We’re going to kick ass and take names!Many thanks to The Harold Greenberg Fund, Music and Film in Motion, Northwestel Community TV and NWT Film Commission for all of their support and also to all of the Amazing Sponsors for the kindness and belief in this initiative. I also need to give a HUGE thanks to Warren P. Sonoda and Kirsten Carthew for all of their help, support, knowledge, passion and talent! I am truly forever grateful!” ~ Avi Federgreen. Twitter
Morocco Congolese Student Given a Fine for Holding Girlfriends Hand
New York – A Congolese student was reprimanded and given a fine in a Rabat tramway as he was taking a ride while holding his girlfriend’s hand.On Wednesday June 22nd, Sumaili Ndeba Bienvenu, a 23-year-old Congolese student living in Rabat, was holding his hands with his Moroccan girlfriend on a tramway.A tramway controller saw the couple holding hands and issued them a fine for “lacking public decency.” “I was with my girlfriend on the tramway. She was stressed about her final exams so I held her hand to make her feel better. There was a tramway attendant at the other end of the train that approached us. He asked if my girlfriend was Moroccan, to which she answered yes. That’s when he started lecturing her and telling her that what she was doing was shameful,” Sumaili Ndeba Bienvenu told Huffpost Maroc.The tramway attendant spoke to Ndeba Bienvenu’s girlfriend in Arabic, which he did not understand. “I felt excluded from the conversation. I asked him to explain what the problem was. He responded that if we wanted to pursue acts of affection, we should find somewhere else to do so, all while threatening to call the police,” said Ndeba Bienvenu. “I don’t understand if it’s religious intolerance or a racist act,” he added.Less than 24 hours after the fact, the tramway’s official Facebook page issued a public apology, saying the report issued by the tramway attendant was an unjustifiable isolated incident, and was thus annulled.
MCC Board of Directors to decide on deal with Sri Lanka
A delegation from the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), led by Managing Director for Europe, Asia, Pacific, and Latin America Caroline Nguyen and Managing Director for Selection, Eligibility, and Policy Performance Daniel Barnes, visited Sri Lanka this week to gather information and assess the current situation, the MCC said in a statement.Over the last two years, MCC and the Government of Sri Lanka have worked to develop the proposed MCC Sri Lanka Compact – a large-scale five-year grant program designed to promote economic growth. The proposed MCC Sri Lanka Compact is designed to spur economic growth and would invest in projects in the transport and land sectors. MCC expects all of its country partners to remain committed to democratic governance, which includes respect for the rule of law, political rights and civil liberties for all.MCC is an innovative foreign assistance agency of the United States Government established in 2004 that has signed compacts with over 30 countries around the world. Before the proposed compact can move forward, MCC’s Board of Directors must review and approve the program, as it does with all compacts. “MCC has been monitoring developments in Sri Lanka over the last few months. This visit is an opportunity to engage with senior government officials, the private sector and civil society to understand their perspectives about the current situation and Sri Lanka’s commitment to the proposed MCC compact and to MCC’s eligibility criteria,” said Managing Director, Europe, Asia, Pacific, and Latin America Caroline Nguyen. “Our conversations will inform deliberations by the MCC Board of Directors.”
Well Juicery thanks Fire Dept
Well Juicery thanks Fire Dept It’s a freshly squeezed thank-you to the Calgary Fire Department. Zack Lister and Jeff Tumbach spent the day selling their cold press products from Well Juicery to support the Calgary Firefighter’s Burn Treatment Association.It comes after a fire nearly took hold of their building at 117 17th Avenue Saturday, March 7. “We did get very lucky, the firefighters were able to keep our building quite wet, flames didn’t spread, smoke damage was very minimal to the building, we kind of aired it out for a couple of days let it dry out. All things considered we got pretty lucky with the size of the fire.”The business partners say they’re grateful to emergency responders for what they do, and they wanted to show their appreciation. by News Staff Posted Mar 14, 2015 5:21 pm MDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email
Freshman duo shines as Ohio State tops Walsh in exhibition matchup
Senior guard Shannon Scott (3) follows freshman guard D’Angelo Russell (0) down the court on a fast break during an exhibition game against Walsh on Nov. 9 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 77-37.Credit: Patrick Kalista / Lantern photographerLess than a week before its season opener, the No. 20 Ohio State men’s basketball team dispatched Walsh University, 77-37, behind the play of a pair of freshmen.Freshman guard D’Angelo Russell led the Buckeyes with a game-high 17 points while freshman forward Jae’Sean Tate added 10 points in the Sunday evening exhibition at the Schottenstein Center.Tate said making his first appearance in front of the Columbus crowd was something he’s dreamed of as a Pickerington, Ohio, native.“I’m from here, this was a dream come true,” he said after the game. “This was a good first game to get all the butterflies out and we are just ready to go and get this season rolling.”Russell and Tate each tallied eight rebounds, while Russell had six assists.OSU coach Thad Matta said Russell has shown throughout preseason practice that he has the ability to make an impact in a variety of ways.“That’s kinda what he’s done to this point,” Matta said after the game. “I think that he’s got a different pace about him, he sees things like a lot of freshmen don’t see them. And that’s good.”Russell said he came to OSU with a chip on his shoulder, and added he’s prepared to do anything the Buckeyes’ coaching staff asks of him this season.“Whatever coach needs me to do, I am going to do it,” he said after the game. “If he needs me to score, I’m gonna score. If he needs me to get everybody going, I am going to do it. Rebound, defend, I am going to do it.”Matta added that Tate can play bigger than his 6-foot, 4-inch frame would suggest.“Jae’Sean Tate plays big for his size, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.Senior forward Sam Thompson chipped in with 13 points in just 20 minutes of action.Russell and Tate were among five new faces for OSU coach Thad Matta, as three true freshmen, one redshirt-freshman and a redshirt-senior transfer took the floor for the Buckeyes. Russell started the game while Tate, freshman forward Keita Bates-Diop, redshirt-freshman guard Kam Williams and Temple transfer forward Anthony Lee came off the bench.“It’s good for these guys to get through that,” Matta said of the young Buckeyes making their debuts. “I think from the standpoint of first time they’ve ever worn the jersey, I think they’ll be at a little bit more at ease as we move forward.”Because of an offensive rebound from senior center Amir Williams, OSU had two chances to score on its first possession of the game, but Thompson and senior guard Shannon Scott each missed three-pointers. From there, the Buckeyes shot seven of 13 from beyond the arc and added a buzzer-beating tip in by Tate to close out the first half with a 48-19 lead.Russell — a Louisville, Ky., native — finished the opening 20 minutes with 16 points on four-of-five shooting from three-point range.Through the first 10:11 of the second half, OSU opened up a 38-point advantage before closing out the game.But despite the 40-point win, Matta said the OSU offense could have run with a higher tempo at points in the second half.“I thought for the most part, that was the biggest thing,” he said. “We just stopped. We became very stagnant offensively there in the second half.”Behind Russell and Thompson, sophomore forward Marc Loving added 12 points and seven rebounds for OSU. Scott tied Russell for the game-high with six assists, while Thompson added three blocks. The 10 players to see the floor for the Buckeyes scored at least two points each.Tate said any player on the roster can make an impact offensively in any given game.“We just try to share the ball and get the win,” he said. “I think the team as a whole will carry the offense.”Junior guard Jesse Hardin Jr. had 10 points to lead Walsh.Sophomore center Trevor Thompson, senior forward Jake Lorbach and freshman center David Bell were the only players listed on the Buckeyes’ roster not to appear in the exhibition. Thompson has to sit out the season per NCAA transfer rules after coming to OSU from Virginia Tech. Lorbach is a senior walk on while Matta said Bell will likely redshirt this season. Neither Thompson nor Lorbach dressed for the game.OSU’s regular-season schedule is set to begin Friday against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell at the Schottenstein Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.“It’s the season now, practice this week, play a game,” Matta said. “It’s on us.”
Hemerdon completes commissioning and commences full production rampup
Specialty metals development company, Wolf Minerals Ltd, has announced the completion of commissioning of the processing plant at the Drakelands open pit mine, constructed at the company’s world class Hemerdon tungsten and tin project in Devon, southwest England. Construction of the processing plant started on-site in March 2014 and wet commissioning of the plant commenced in June 2015. The entire processing plant, and all the equipment within it, has now run successfully satisfying the requirements for handover to Wolf. As a result of this success, Wolf has taken full operational control of the plant from the project’s EPC contractor, GR Engineering Services.The inaugural shipment of tungsten concentrate has also been dispatched from Drakelands for delivery to a long term customer, marking the company’s first generation of revenue and operating cash flow. Wolf Managing Director, Russell Clark, commented: “The conclusion of commissioning activities represents another major milestone in the development of the project, and I congratulate the Wolf team, GR Engineering Services and their sub-contractors, who have worked together to safely achieve this landmark. With the inaugural shipment, Wolf has now realised its ambition of becoming a tungsten producer and we expect to supply high quality concentrate to our customers for many years into the future.”Following completion of commissioning, the company has commenced the ‘ramp-up’ of the processing plant towards full production. Design throughput of the plant is expected to be achieved in early 2016. The Drakelands mine and processing plant are now operating on a seven days a week basis under a six month trial which will run through to February 2016. If the trial is successful, Wolf will apply to make the arrangement permanent. A permanent change would increase available operating time by more than 27% in comparison to the original permission for a 5½ day working week and provide the opportunity to produce additional volumes of tungsten and tin concentrates with no further capital expenditure It also provides the opportunity to lower operating costs, pushing the operation further down the tungsten concentrate production cost curve as well as generate additional employment opportunities.
Here is the weeks news skewed
IS THE NEWS getting you down? Current affairs causing a frown? Satirical site The Mire has an alternative angle on the week’s hot topics…Monday, 1 OctoberTaoiseach puts world to rights, world doesn’t listenTaoiseach Enda Kenny has told EU leaders they must stand by their decision to ease Ireland’s banking debt.In a wide-ranging speech Mr Kenny also called on North and South Korea to unite and America to abandon the death penalty.“Furthermore,” he said. “God should improve the weather with immediate effect and Donegal should treat Sam Maguire with a bit of decorum.”Mr Kenny then paid €1 billion to AIB’s unsecured bondholders.TDs encouraged to stay at home to cut costsIreland could need a new economic bailout if TDs insist on turning up for work. According to TheJournal.ie TDs and Senators were paid €764,101.84 in parliamentary allowances for attending Leinster House for 2.4 days in August.“If they turned up five days a week we’d be broke,” an economist said. “We’d have to tap up the IMF again.”“Please don’t go to work,” he begged TDs. “Stay at home, watch daytime tellt, play amongst yourselves.”Tuesday, 2 OctoberTeachers to learn to curb their disruptive behaviourTeachers may need to receive special training in order to curb their disruptive behaviour at school, according to an advisory group to the Minister for Education.At least one teacher in every school should receive training in how to manage their behaviour.“They come in after having the summer off and they can hardly sit still,” a primary school pupil said.“The next thing you know it’s Halloween and they are hyper again. It’s impossible to get any work done.”Fat athletes could be eating too many Chinese takeawaysFat athletes have discovered the error of their ways after a study by Safefood revealed that Chinese takeaways are high in calories.The study found that an average meal consisting of vegetable spring rolls, sweet and sour chicken and egg fried rice contained 2184 calories.“No wonder I was finding training so difficult,” a morbidly obese marathon runner said.It is thought that the Sports Council may advise athletes in training to reduce their daily intake of Chinese takeaways as a result of the findings.Wednesday, 3 OctoberBarroso orders extra party bags as Cabinet goes to BrusselsThe President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso has had to send out for extra party bags after the Taoiseach decided to take the Tánaiste and nine Cabinet Ministers to Brussels with him today.“We’ll need more balloons, more nuggets, more chips and more party bags,” Mr Barroso said.Informed that several of the ministers could be petulant and might not eat nuggets, Mr Barroso said he would distract them.“We have shiny things and yo-yos,” he said. “It will be fine.”Thursday, 4 OctoberGovt suspects Reilly is a member of the oppositionSenior members of the Coalition Government have reached the conclusion that Health Minister Dr James Reilly is a member of the opposition.“We’ve asked the Taoiseach to set up a committee to look into it,” a source said. “Nothing else could reasonably explain his behaviour.”The surprising turn of events came after months of blunders by Dr Reilly led to suspicions that he was a member of Fianna Fáil intent on bringing down the government.“He could be a Shinner either,” the source said. “There was a time when they all had beards.”Friday, 5 OctoberBalbriggan and Swords favoured for new children’s hospitalBalbriggan and Swords have emerged as possible locations for the new national children’s hospital.The surprise inclusion of the two towns in Health Minister Dr James Reilly’s Dublin North constituency has not surprised anyone.“I’m only surprised we didn’t think of them before,” a Department of Health source said.“It will fit in nicely with the new primary care centres.”Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports suggest that plans to move the Department of Health to Rush and Lusk are at an advanced stage.Read previous weeks’ editions of The Mire’s Not the News>
Drive and Talk with the GoSmart Clip
Can’t stand to stay off the phone while driving? That’s too bad, but one phone clip is suggesting that it can prevent traffic accidents. The GoSmart Clip, a smartphone holder now available on Amazon, fastens to the steering wheel. The idea is that putting the phone in a central location will make calling safer. It’s also meant to be handy for smartphone GPS use.While it’s pictured here with an iPhone, it works with all smartphones. Position it by wrapping the elastic strap around the steering wheel. It comes in red or black, for $25.95 each. Two-packs go for $39.95. An even safer option is to pull over when you need to make a call or just wait until you get where you’re going.
Windows 8 details revealed Will be very different but still compatible
Steven Sinofsky, the president of Microsoft’s Windows and Windows Live Division, is speaking at the D9 conference tonight. If you know who Sinofsky is the you probably already knew that in this highly awaited talk he was expected to reveal details (and video) of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8. This wouldn’t at all be the first Windows 8 information we’ve gotten but it’s official stuff coming from the highest level, delivered to a room full of journalist, technocrats, and business-types all of whom are paying very close attention.The WSJ’s AllThingsD arm, who holds the conference, was nice enough to provide a liveblog of the Q&A session between Sinofsky and columnist Walt Mossberg. No livestream was made available but we’ll take some time and run and paraphrase the high points and lay down some implications of what was covered.Before we get started–For a closer look at Windows 8, AllThingsD was given an exclusive sneak peak earlier today. Also, don’t miss this Windows 8 Preview up at Microsoft, there are some interests details. Lots of information was made available today, scheduled along with D9.Here is a video preview:And now for some highlights from today’s news, some of which we actually knew already:Windows 8 will run on system-on-a-chip (SoC) architecture.There will be a new, different interface with a tile-based menu that replaces the standard Start menuLive Tiles will be used, just like in Windows PhoneIE10 will be both hardware-accelerated and optimized for touchWindows 8 will be fully compatible with all Windows 7-compatible hardware and softwareWin 8 won’t just be for laptops and desktops but also for alternative devices like slates and all-in-onesWe’ll learn more about Windows 8 at the BUILD conference in SeptemberAnd back to Sinofsky…TouchWindows 8 will be fully touch-capable (just like Windows 7 was) but it will be touch for 2011, in other words, touch in the post-iPad world. Windows 7 had a full set of touch features but it was developed for a different paradigm than the tablets of today. Touch will not exist in an abstraction layer, it’s built right into the core of the OS.Legacy and ARMSinofsky says Windows isn’t weighed down by its past, rather it’s able to continue to evolve. And despite the new version number and new features, Windows 8 won’t require more hardware power to run. Plus (as expected) it will run on ARM chips!While everything that runs on Windows 7 will run on Windows 8 when using Intel and AMD processors, don’t expect the same for ARM processors. It’s not entirely clear yet, but chances are that won’t be the case. Sinofsky has said that an emulation layer (which would enable normal programs to run on ARM-Windows), while seemingly logical, will not be made available because of technical challenges. More will be revealed about Windows 8/ARM at Computex this week.There is definitely more here, as evidenced by the line “4:13 pm: Sinofsky talks about legacy support.” but we’ll have to wait for some video to find out what was said. The liveblog, sadly, isn’t a perfect retelling of the event.The Windows 8 tile-based Start menuProgramsIn addition to normal Windows program, Win 8 will also be able to run mobile-style programs that are made out of HTML5 and Javascript. These will take up the fullscreen and run through Internet Explorer 10, which will have built-in compatibility.NamingWindows 8 is just a codename, but that’s what they are calling it now. Sinofsky mentioned using something cooler, like Firestorm (or Longhorn), but they decided to just stick with Windows 8.Release date / PricingPretty soon, but not this fall. The next milestone is at BUILD in mid-September. No details on pricing we made available today either.There was a lot more covered, like the use of tiles and the Window App Store, but we’ll have to wait for the full video to get a better feel for that. The most revealing piece of all today’s Windows 8 talk might just be the fact that Sinofsky and MS VP for User Experience Julie Larsen-Green came out and said that this is the biggest set of changes to Windows since Windows 95. This is the Windows-Mobile-to-Windows-Phone shift many people have been looking for from the desktop OS (just with all the legacy junk included for the sake of compatibility), and we’re excited about it.By the way, don’t miss the video embedded above, it covers a lot of the look-and-feel points that don’t come across in text.Read more at AllThingsD.
Gemma ODoherty to talk about Irish media and corruption at TEDx event
16,618 Views 45 Comments Gemma O’Doherty Image: Mark Stedman via RollingNews.ie Share211 Tweet Email Jun 29th 2018, 1:43 PM Friday 29 Jun 2018, 1:43 PM Gemma O’Doherty to talk about Irish media and corruption at TEDx event in Longford The theme for the TEDxLongford event this evening is “Change Makers”. Gemma O’Doherty
JOURNALIST GEMMA O’DOHERTY is to speak at the Midlands first TEDx conference in Longford this evening.O’Doherty is due to talk about “how the Irish media allowed corruption to thrive”.She has worked in journalism for a number of years. Throughout the years, she was a chief features writer with The Irish Independent and has contributed to The Sunday Times, Daily Mail and Village Magazine.O’Doherty is best known for her investigation into the 1985 death of Fr Niall Molloy, writing a number of articles alleging a possible cover-up by gardaí and some members of the political establishment at the time.In 2013, she was made compulsorily redundant by The Irish Independent.O’Doherty wrote an article about the then-garda commissioner Martin Callinan having penalty points wiped from his licence.She had a Pulse file to that effect in her possession, but to make sure that he was the same person, she went to visit his home. O’Doherty was dismissed from her job at Independent News and Media shortly afterwards, and later settled a suit for wrongful dismissal.She has also recently given evidence at the Disclosures Tribunal.TEDx events are independently run and designed to share ideas and spark conversation in local communities.The theme for TEDxLongford is “Change Makers”, with six guest speakers from Ireland and the US.US activist Chas Jewett is due to speak about that topic “Change Makers require radical authenticity, resilience and enormous amounts of love”.Founder of Feasta and Sustainable Projects Ireland Davie Philip will speak about “community resilience in times of rapid change”. Businessman and competition advocate Seamus Maye will address the audience about public and community banking.ICSA president Patrick Kent and local educator and environmentalist Anna Kavanagh are also due to speak at tonight’s event.TEDxLongford was created by local teacher and filmmaker Shane Crossan.“The time has come for us to start imagining a better way of living. The purpose of TEDxLongford is to bring together speakers from a wide range of backgrounds, who together will give us some ideas on how we can create a better world for ourselves and our children,” he said.The event takes place at 7.30pm this evening at the Backstage Theatre. Short URL http://jrnl.ie/4099229 By Hayley Halpin Image: Mark Stedman via RollingNews.ie Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article
Cyprus pins hopes on Australian solar technology
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Australian scientists have designed and installed solar energy technology in Cyprus to help the island nation shift away from fossil fuels and also to tackle its chronic water shortages.A team from the CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, took five weeks to construct a ‘solar thermal field’ containing 50 heliostats – large mirrors that reflect the power of the sun. The solar thermal field lies in Pentakomo, on the southern coast of Cyprus and places the country at the frontier of solar energy research in Europe.The CSIRO won an international tender to provide its technology to Cyprus for a trial that could lead to broad solar take-up in the country and elsewhere. It is understood that several other countries in Europe and the Middle East are interested in adopting CSIRO solar technology.Cyprus hopes to take on the technology so it can reform its oil-dependent economy and meet a European Union target of 13 per cent of energy coming from renewable sources by 2020. The Mediterranean country is also plagued by water shortages and may use solar energy to power desalination plants.The CSIRO technology uses mirrors to track the sun and reflect it towards a single receiving point on top of a tower. This heat then warms a fluid, in this case molten salt.The molten salt, heated to 250°C, is stored in a hot tank and the steam produced powers a turbine for electricity. Crucially, this storage method allows for energy to be produced long after the sun has disappeared.“The question about solar is always about storage at night-time,” said Wes Stein, solar research leader at CSIRO. “This liquid is cheaper and more efficient than batteries, such as those made by Elon Musk. We can generate steam for electricity on a cloudy day.“This is Cyprus’ first foray into real solar infrastructure and hopefully it’s replicated across the country. They are close to countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia who could translate this technology as well.”The Cyprus project provided $500,000 for the CSIRO but Stein said the returns could be in the “tens of millions” if other countries licensed the technology for larger scale developments.Stein added that Australia could theoretically provide all of its electricity via solar energy in this way, requiring a site measuring 50km by 50km, a third of it taken up by mirrors.CSIRO built the first version of the heliostats in 2006 and hopes to license its technology to manufacturers around the world. The science agency believes its heliostats are superior to those used elsewhere because their smaller mirrors provide a higher control over the reflected sunlight, while the infrastructure requires just two people to install it.An experimental heliostat facility in Newcastle, New South Wales, has 450 mirrors. But opportunities for deployment across Australia have been stymied over the past 12 months amid a quest by the federal government to slash Australia’s renewable energy target.Investment in large-scale renewable energy in Australia has slumped 90 per cent in the past year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.Just one large-scale renewables project, worth $6.6 million, has been financed this year, due to uncertainty caused by political negotiations over the RET’s future. More than 2,300 jobs in the renewable energy sector have been lost in the past two years, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show.“Hopefully there will be an opportunity to use heliostats in Australian projects,” said Stein.“Australia has the best solar radiation of any continent in the world and we are looking for opportunities to deploy this technology here as well as overseas.”According to the Australian Energy Market Operator, building a 100 per cent renewable energy system would cost the nation between $219 billion to $332 billion, depending upon the scenario.Proponents of a complete switch to renewable energy argue that this level of investment, over a 35-year period as coal is phased out, is reasonable and similar to current levels of spending upon fossil fuel development.Source: The Guardian
Obama plans to give legacy speech while in Greece
Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram Set to visit Athens next week, US President Barack Obama is planning to deliver a memorable speech and one that has been described to Kathimerini by American officials as a “legacy speech”.The visit to the Greek capital is due to take place on 15 November, and though details have yet to be finalised, Obama’s statement is expected to have a great impact and is being likened to the one made in Berlin in 1962 by John F Kennedy. It is expected that the President will bring his attention to Greece by making reference to the nation’s democratic legacy, and that he will praise its endurance during the challenges it has experienced in recent years. According to Kathimerini, Obama will also raise the matter of the need for debt relief in Athens, and will encourage the government to persist with its structural reforms. Though he is expected to be cautious when addressing Greece’s debt, so as not to seem as though it is a direct attack on German Chancellor Angela Merkel whom he will be paying a visit following his departure from Greece.There is also a possibility that the American leader will visit a refugee camp in Attica, however a visit to Lesvos is off the cards due to security concerns.Though it is not yet known who will be joining him on his visit from Washington, at this stage it appears the First Lady Michelle Obama will not be accompanying him.
USSEC Talks Aquaculture in Mexico at 2016 U S Soy QSSB Educational
Photo Credit: USSEC/Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean AssociationRecently, many U. S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) associates, grow leaders and state soybean staff members visited Villahermosa, Mexico for the 2016 U.S. Soy Qualified State Soybean Board (QSSB) Aquaculture Educational event to learn about existing and future expansion of the aquaculture industry in Latin America.The event lasted several days and many topics were discussed including current aquaculture constraints, opportunities and general happenings in key regions and countries around the world, current and potential research studies, as they pertain to U.S. Soy in aquaculture. Attendees also visited Regal Springs tilapia hatchery, cages and processing plant to view first hand a portion of the aquaculture process.“We’re here to help show the soybean farmers in the U.S. where their checkoff dollars are being invested, how they are being invested and ultimately where much of their soybean meal ends up,” Colby Sutter, USSEC Marketing Director Aquaculture – Customer Focus, said while leading a site tour. “It’s crucial to be able to see first-hand how relationships have been forged in international marketing programs where ultimately we are creating a preference and demand for U.S. Soy.”Watch Colby Sutter, Director of USSEC Aquaculture, discuss the 2016 U.S. Soy QSSB Aquaculture Educational Opportunity event in Mexico.Video Credit: Joe Murphy, Iowa Soybean AssociationFor more information, click here to visit USSEC’s website.
Soy Growers Urge Unions and Ports to Avoid Future Trade Disruptions
The American Soybean Association (ASA) and over 100 organizations representing manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers and other supply chain stakeholders sent a letter urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to begin early discussions on a new contract and avoid the disruptions that occurred during the 2014 contract negotiations. The last labor dispute led to major disruptions at West Coast ports, damaged trade and created ripple effects throughout the country. A full copy of the letter can be viewed here.