New Zealand’s Tim McIntosh hits a shot on the first day of the second cricket test match against India, in Hyderabad on Friday, November 12, 2010.Left-handed opener Tim McIntosh struck a solid century Friday to take New Zealand to 258-4 on the opening day of the second test against India.McIntosh scored 102 as New Zealand made the most of winning the toss and taking first strike on a good batting pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.Jesse Ryder (22) and Gareth Hopkins (0) were the not out batsmen at close.McIntosh was involved in a useful century stand for the second wicket that was dominated by Martin Guptill (85).McIntosh was out in the penultimate over of the day. He faced 254 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and a six.The first test of the series ended in a draw at Ahmedabad, while the final match of the series will be held at Nagpur next week.- With inputs from Associated Press read more

Hafeez has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during the CLT20 clash on SaturdayPakistan domestic cricket teams Lahore Lions’ captain and bowler Mohammad Hafeez and South African first class team Dolphins’ bowler Mohammad Subrayen have been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during Saturday night Champions League Twenty20 game.According to details, Hafeez and Subrayen were both reported by on-field umpires during the match and by the third umpire after it.As per the CLT20 illegal bowling action policy, both the bowlers will have to request an official assessment of their bowling from BCCI suspect bowling action committee, The Express Tribune reported.Both Hafeez and Subrayen would be kept on warning list. However, they would keep on playing in the future matches unless they receive another report.According to the BCCI policy, if a report is received while the player is on the warning list the player shall be suspended from bowling in any matches organized by the BCCI until he is cleared.A player suspended from bowling shall play in future matches. However, he would not be entitled to bowl, the report added. read more

The selfie-less…Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have made the selfie a part of his political repertoire but Congress national president Sonia Gandhi clearly hates the reverse swing of the phone camera. At an iftar party last April, she physically prevented a Congressman from taking a selfie with her. On a,The selfie-less…Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have made the selfie a part of his political repertoire but Congress national president Sonia Gandhi clearly hates the reverse swing of the phone camera. At an iftar party last April, she physically prevented a Congressman from taking a selfie with her. On a February 12 visit to Anand Bhavan, the Nehrus’ ancestral home in Allahabad, the Congressmen were mortified when she declared, “No Modi-style selfies,” admonishing local leaders, including MLA Anugrah Narayan Singh and others, who requested her for a picture. She opted for an old-fashioned group photograph instead….and the selfie-motivatedAssam chief minister Tarun Gogoi harbours none of his party president Sonia Gandhi’s selfie inhibitions. At the Saraswati Puja celebrations in Guwahati on February 13, the CM took selfies with several female college students. A wistful Gogoi who turns 80 in April told mediapersons he wished he had been born in present times. We can see why.Travel advisory from HaryanaWhile Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar briefly toyed with the idea of permitting foreigners their beef steak, ahead of his grand investor summit in Gurgaon this March, Anil Vij, the state’s Twitterhappy health and sports minister, clearly has stronger views about things bovine on dining tables. People who can’t do without beef, Vij told reporters on February 10, “should simply not think of coming to Haryana.” Some months ago, the short-fused mantri had pitched for the cow to replace the tiger as national animal.Odisha tangoThe Modi government is leaving no stone unturned to placate Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Reason? The Centre wants the help of BJD MPs to pass various bills in the Rajya Sabha. The government is to announce a flurry of schemes for the state on February 21. The CM will release commemorative five and 100 rupee coins with the icons of his father, the late Biju Patnaik, on the latter’s birth anniversary on March 5. Significant othersThe BJP denies it, but three party general secretaries in charge of West Bengal, two present and one former, are married from the state.Kailash Vijayvargiya- Party general secretary, presently in charge of West Bengal Wife Asha VijayvargiyaSiddharth Nath Singh- Co-in charge of West Bengal BJP Wife Neeta SinghVarun Gandhi- Ex-general secretary and in charge of West Bengal. Wife Yamini Roy Chowdhury No visitors to BJP’s libraryBJP president Amit Shah inaugurated an exclusive library for the party’s 39 office-bearers on its 11, Ashoka Road premises on February 6. The library, which can be accessed with electronic key cards, is stocked with thousands of books on politics and culture. It is still to get a visitor nearly a week later. Rubbing the wrong shoulderCreating quite a buzz in Punjab after his fiery speech at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar on January 14, Arvind Kejriwal was in the news again this week. This after photoshopped pictures on posters that appeared in several places showed the Delhi chief minister in a turban rubbing shoulders with Khalistani chieftain Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. While Aam Aadmi Party functionaries cried foul and alleged a ‘conspiracy’, many see the posters as a clever ploy to gain the attention of devout Sikhs already outraged over sacrilegious incidents involving their Holy Scripture.advertisementFree for allIllustration by Saurabh SinghSouth China Sea dilemmaThe US is keen on carrying out a first-ever joint navy patrol with India in the South China Sea, part of a new approach by Washington to push back China’s moves in the disputed waters. This has posed a dilemma for New Delhi. While officials say India is reluctant to end its ‘nonaligned’ policy of not carrying out joint patrols unless under the UN umbrella, at the same time they acknowledge their alarm at China’s recent reclamation work on islands and reefs, including the construction of facilities such as runways which in the future could hamper freedom of navigation in crucial waterways. Wild chaseCongress ticket-seekers for the upcoming Kerala assembly polls recently made a beeline for Paulo Coelho books after hearing a Rahul Gandhi speech in Thiruvananthapuram on February 9. The Gandhi scion quoted a proverb about the enemy within which someone attributed to the Brazilian writer. The aspirants wanted to be prepared for the Gandhi scion’s interview of all ticket-seekers in Delhi. It later turned out he had quoted an old African proverb, prompting a sigh of relief. Loyalty bonusIt’s jackpot time for Telangana politiciansAndhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu: Monthly salaries and special allowances ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 40,000 (only for those in the party for over 15 years). Reason: Defection of two-thirds of the 15 TDP legislature party members to the ruling TRS.Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhara Rao: From Rs 95,000 to Rs 3 lakh a month (for all 119 MLAs and 41 MLCs). Reason: To pay constituency visits and staff costs.advertisement read more

PSL 2019: Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators register victoriesKarachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 7 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai while Quetta Gladiators registered a 6-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi.advertisement India Today Web Desk DubaiFebruary 16, 2019UPDATED: February 16, 2019 09:51 IST Umar Akmal blasted 75 not out (Photo tweeted by @thePSLt20)HIGHLIGHTSKarachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 7 runsQuetta Gladiators registered a 6-wicket victory over Peshawar ZalmiMohammad Amir starred for Karachi while Quetta Gladiators’ Umar Akmal was named man-of-the-matchKarachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators started their 2019 Pakistan Super League campaigns on high by winning their respective matches on Friday. While Karachi Kings beat Multan Sultans by 7 runs, Quetta Gladiators registered a 6-wicket victory over Peshawar Zalmi. Both the matches were played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.In the first match of the day, Karachi Kings defended 183 by restricting Multan Sultans to 176 for 9 thanks to Mohammad Amir’s four-wicket haul.Opting to bat first, Karachi Kings rode on half-centuries by their openers Liam Livingstone (82) and Babar Azam (77) to post a 183 for 6. The duo was involved in a 157-run stand for the first wicket. However, none of the other batsmen were able to reach the double digits.For Multan Sultans, Chris Green was the pick of bowlers finishing with 3 for 32.In the second match of the day between Quetta Gladiators overcame a poor start to beat Peshawar Zalmi by 6 wickets.Asked to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi posted 155 for 4. Opener Kamran Akmal hit 49 off 36 balls while Misbah-ul-Haq scored a fiery 49 not out off 32 balls to help Peshawar put up a fighting total on the board.In reply, Quetta Gladiators’ chase was rocked early when they lost Ahmed Shehzad off the first ball of the innings.However, Shane Watson and Rilee Rossouw did try to revive Quetta with a few boundaries but their partnership was broken in the fourth over by Umaid Asif.Umar Akmal came out all guns blazing and smashed an unbeaten 75 off only 50 deliveries to take Quetta Gladiators home with two balls to spare. He was ably supported by skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, who scored 37.advertisementWahab Riaz picked up two wickets for Peshawar while Umaid Asif and Hasan Ali chipped in with one wicket each.For sports news, updates, live scores and cricket fixtures, log on to indiatoday.in/sports. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for Sports news, scores and updates.Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from Post your comment Do You Like This Story? Awesome! Now share the story Too bad. Tell us what you didn’t like in the comments Posted byJepher Nickels Tags :Follow Umar AkmalFollow Pakistan Super LeagueFollow Karachi KingsFollow Multan SultansFollow Quetta GladiatorsFollow Peshawar Zalmi read more

zoomImage Courtesy: DSME Hartree Maritime Partners LLC revealed plans to set up a new pool of scrubber-fitted very large crude carriers (VLCCs) with Oslo-listed Hunter Group ASA.The joint fleet would be made up of eleven eco VLCC vessels.“By combining Hartree’s global trading and chartering experience and Hunter’s technical knowledge this pool will serve to minimize operational costs whilst maximizing earnings. We will be working with other scrubber fitted VLCC operators to expand this pool,” says Guy Merison, managing director of Hartree Maritime Partners.The intentions were revealed as Hartree announced the appointment of Hunter Group as their senior technical advisor for the company’s newbuild program comprising four very large crude vessels.The ships are set to be constructed at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), between November 2018 and April 2020. Under the contract, Hunter is expected to ensure that the Hartree vessels are identical to Hunter’s VLCCs to the maximum extent possible.“ We believe this agreement will provide both companies with significant cost savings and synergies. Our experienced technical team is now responsible for the building supervision of 11 sister vessels all to be constructed at DSME between October 2018 and August 2020,” says Erik Frydendal, CEO of Hunter Group.Hunter has seven 300,000 dwt VLCC newbuilds under construction at the yard, scheduled for delivery in 2019 and 2020, and options to build three more.In September, the company extended the option agreement for three crude carriers until October, 2018. If ordered, the additional three 300,000 dwt ships would be delivered in the first half of 2021. Hunter Group is to pay USD 92 million per unit. read more

In honour of l’Année de l’Acadie, the Acadian flag was raised atProvince House on Friday, April 2, and will be displayedthroughout this year’s Acadian festivities. “The colourful Acadian flag represents the vibrant heritage ofour Acadian people,” said Acadian Affairs Minister Chrisd’Entremont. “Throughout the year a series of celebrations willtake place across Atlantic Canada in recognition of the 400thanniversary of the founding of l’Acadie.” The first Acadian flag was designed in 1883 by Father Marcel-François Richard and is conserved at the Musée Acadien del’Université de Moncton, in Moncton, N.B. The tri-colour flag ofFrance (blue, white and red) was chosen as the base flag as ithas a special significance in French history. A yellow/gold starwas placed in the upper part of the blue field, to give it theAcadian distinction. Part of the year-long anniversary celebrations will include leCongrès mondial acadien from July 31 to Aug. 15. During this timeAcadians from throughout the world will be returning to theirroots in Nova Scotia. “It is especially fitting that we have the Acadian flag displayedduring this important gathering of people of Acadian heritage inour province,” said Premier John Hamm. In Nova Scotia, the major Acadian communities are within themunicipalities of Argyle, Clare and Pomquet, Richmond County, theSouth Shore and Cheticamp, Inverness Co. There are also numerousAcadians in Sydney, Halifax and the Annapolis Valley. read more

I am pleased to inform Nova Scotians that government is making real and significant progress in getting back to balance by keeping a tight rein on expenses and growing the economy. As you know, government inherited a very significant fiscal challenge. After taking office, we learned that Nova Scotia was on an unsustainable path. Spending and revenue patterns were pushing Nova Scotia toward a $1.4 billion deficit within three years. Since that time we’ve taken on the hard work to get back to balance. That included the most extensive financial consultation in the province’s history – the Back to Balance tour – and I delivered a budget last April that was firmly grounded in that consultation. It also outlined a four-year plan to get the province’s finances back to balance. We are still early in the drive to get back to balance, but the financial figures that were just released show progress is real. We’ve reduced expenses and increased revenues and — I am proud to say — we are the first government in a decade to control unbudgeted spending. When we first took office we made it clear that government needed to live within its means. For example, we reduced political staff and cut MLA expenses. I am glad to say that Nova Scotians are now starting to see the results of our focus on controlling expenses and growing the economy. We closed the financial books on 2009-10, our first year in office, on July 29th. The Public Accounts – the province’s financial statements — show expenses were reduced by $128 million from the last public forecast. This is the first time since 2005-06 that expenses went down from the forecast, rather than up. That is good news for Nova Scotians. We are on our way to getting back to balance. It is also important to note that funds used to cover unbudgeted expenses and spending – called additional appropriations – are down significantly when compared to the previous 10 years. The average for additional appropriations during that period is $277 million per year. In 2008-09, for example, the previous government spent $408 million in additional appropriations. Government sliced appropriations down to just $24 million last year. It took hard work and sharp pencils from government and the civil service, but it was necessary. We required that each department manage their budgets wisely. It was typified by our message to departments that there would be no more March madness. We made sure that savings achieved through the year were used to reduce the deficit. A penny saved should be a penny saved — not a penny spent elsewhere. That is a fundamental difference in our approach to finances.Had other governments been as disciplined during the past 10 years, the debt could be up to $2.5 billion lower. While expenses declined, revenue increased $155 million compared to the last forecast, including an increase of $76 million in personal and corporate income tax revenue. It seems clear that government stimulus efforts played a significant role in softening the effect of the global recession on Nova Scotia. Our economy grew modestly – but it grew, even during a recession. The financial picture of the province is good news for Nova Scotians. It shows that we are starting to see the results of our focus on controlling expenses and growing the economy. Tough spending choices are being made. And more tough choices are to come this year and in the years ahead. Nova Scotia continues to face a significant structural deficit. Revenues will not be able to keep up with expenditures. Offshore royalties are declining. We still have a difficult financial situation to address. We need to continue with our balanced approach of restraint, efficiency and good management, while increasing revenues and growing the economy in order to get this province back to balance. We have developed a four-year plan that will guide us through some difficult spending choices as we reduce government spending by $772 million. This plan will ensure we have the money we need to protect important services such as health care and education. I am confident that we will be successful. The financial statement shows that we are headed in the right direction. -30- read more

Kolkata: A controversy has erupted in West Bengal after popular Bangladeshi actor Ferdous Ahmed campaigned for the state’s ruling TMC, prompting the BJP to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission claiming it violated the model code of conduct. State BJP leaders Jay Prakash Majumdar and Sisir Bajoria met the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab and urged him to take appropriation action over the alleged violation of the model code. Also Read – Bengal family worships Muslim girl as Goddess Durga in Kumari Puja A video showing Ferdous and Bengali actors Ankush and Payal participating in a roadshow to seek votes for Trinamool Congress candidate for Raiganj Lok Sabha seat Kanhaiyalal Agarwal on Sunday has gone viral on social media. The BJP leaders met Aftab on Monday to register their complaint. “We believe that it is a compeletely illegal move executed intentionally. This is a proof of the TMC’s bankrupt politics,” the Majumdar, the state BJP vice president, said. Also Read – Bengal civic volunteer dies in road mishap on national highway He wanted to know how a Bangladeshi national visiting the country on a tourist visa could campaign for a candidate, and alleged that the actor was brought it to polarise minority voters in the constituency. “All should vote for the Trinamool Congress. All should vote for didi (TMC chief Mamata Banerjee),” Ferdous was claimed to have told voters while sharing the dais with Agarwal. When reached by PTI for comments, Agarwal said he had no knowledge of the actor canvassing for him. “I have no knowledge about this (Ferdous campaigning for him). I have only two star campaigners Mamata Banerjee and Suvendu Adhikary. I have participated in Mamata’s two rallies and today I took part in a roadshow in Islampur where Suvendu Adhikary was present,” Agarwal said. Senior TMC leader and former state minister Madan Mitra was dismissive about the violation of the model code because of a Bangladeshi national campaigning in an election in India. “I don’t know whether the actor participated in the rally or was invited by the candidate. But I don’t think there is any violation of the model code. The code says a foreigner cannot be a candidate but I think there is no harm if anybody participates in campaigning. I don’t see any violation of the MCC,” Mitra said. When approached for comments, a senior official at the CEO’s office tersely said the matter is being looked into. read more

2 November 2007Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is heading to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she will be participating in a regional meeting between the United Nations, the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is heading to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she will be participating in a regional meeting between the United Nations, the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). “It will be her first participation at a meeting of this type to emphasize the importance the UN attaches to regional cooperation and to the role played by regional commissions in promoting development,” UN Spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.There will be a focus on post-conflict reconstruction in countries such as Burundi and Sierra Leone, which are already on the agenda of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, set up a year ago to help countries emerging from conflict avoid sliding back into war.During the meeting, Ms. Migiro will have the opportunity to consult with the AU, NEPAD and the UN Economic Commission for Africa on the new Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Africa Steering Group.Launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September, the Steering Group is designed to boost Africa’s efforts to achieve the MDGs – the set of ambitious targets the world has set itself for slashing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and other social ills by 2015. Ms. Migiro chairs the Working Group for the initiative.Earlier this year, the Deputy Secretary-General noted that despite faster growth and strengthened institutions, Africa remains off-track to meeting the MDGs, urging greater international support for the continent. read more

29 September 2008Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the important role played by universities around the world in shaping the next generation of global leaders, and the impact of education on efforts to achieve peace and sustainable development. “Collectively, you represent the world’s higher education leadership, influencing the lives of millions of young people around the globe,” Mr. Ban said in a message for the 15th Triennial Conference of the International Association of University Presidents, which began today in Viña del Mar, Chile. “Colleges and universities prepare the agents of change — the business, political, social and artistic leaders who define and build economies, societies and cultures,” he stated. “Your work addresses, in many ways, the future of our world; and your challenge is, indeed, to educate the next generation of world leaders.” But it is not just future leaders that are shaped by the world’s universities, the Secretary-General noted. The present generation of world leaders also stand to benefit from “the energy, research, scholarship and imagination” which institutions of higher education command. This is why Mr. Ban has entrusted the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) with developing an initiative known as the “Academic Impact,” aimed at building stronger ties with institutions of higher learning. read more

Lumbini is a world-renowned Buddhist pilgrimage destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.The project, funded by the Japanese Government and coordinated by the UNESCO office in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, aims to identify the presence, or absence, of archaeological deposits, invisible below the surface, so that appropriate placing of pilgrim facilities can be made without damaging valuable archaeological resources.“UNESCO welcomes the implementation of this innovative and interdisciplinary project which mobilises national and international experts towards the strengthening and conservation of the World Heritage Property of Lumbini for the benefit of humanity,” said Axel Plathe, Head of UNESCO’s Kathmandu Office.The team of archaeologists, including experts from Nepal’s Department of Archaeology and the Lumbini Development Trust, is directed by Robin Coningham, UNESCO Archaeological Expert and Professor of Archaeology, University of Durham.“This project offers a unique opportunity to investigate some of the earliest developmental phases of one of the world’s great religious traditions, and will introduce new scientific evidence into the debate surrounding the date of the Buddha’s birth,” said Mr. Coningham.Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini. The Indian emperor Ashoka, a pilgrim to the site, erected a commemorative pillar there. The three-year initiative is part of a larger project entitled “Strengthening the Conservation and Management of Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha,” launched last year to address a number of issues and challenges facing the World Heritage site, including the deteriorating condition of the Marker Stone and the Ashokan pillar, as well as inadequately mapped associated archaeological remains both within the site and in the adjacent areas. 11 January 2011An international team of archaeologists has begun a three-year survey, coordinated by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), of the archaeological ruins of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. read more

The 2015 Seasonal Food Security Assessment in Afghanistan (SFSA), published by the country’s Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC), found that at the peak of the lean season the number of Afghans facing severe food insecurity increased from 4.7 per cent of the population 12 months ago to 5.9 per cent today. This means more than 1.5 million people are now considered severely food insecure, an increase of more than 317,000. Another 7.3 million people – more than one in every four Afghans – are classed as moderately food insecure. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) indicated that the greatest concern in the assessment is the finding that the proportion of severely food insecure people who have already exhausted their capacity to cope with these emergencies has increased, meaning many more are now forced to sell land, take children out of school to work, or depend on relatives for support. The SFSA report shows that the number of people engaged in these ‘last ditch’ actions has doubled over the past year to more than 20 per cent of food insecure people across the country. This will leave even more Afghan people significantly vulnerable to extreme poverty. “When people resort to these measures, they have no resilience against future shocks,” said Claude Jibidar, Country Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan. “These figures are extremely alarming, especially in a country where more than one third of all people are already food insecure.” Meanwhile, the FAO Representative in Afghanistan, Tomio Shichiri, said that although the country will produce slightly more wheat this year, a large number of poor and hungry people will not be able to purchase food from the market.”It is a question of access to food rather than its production,” he explained. “Special attention needs to be given to female-headed households and displaced people to improve their access to, and improvements of, agriculture-based livelihoods.” Indeed, the report shows that female-headed households are almost 50 per cent more likely to be severely food insecure than other households in Afghanistan, having a much poorer diet than their peers and a much lower income. Women who head their households are also twice as likely to use emergency coping strategies, such as begging.In addition, people displaced from their homes by conflicts or disasters, particularly those living in tents, also suffer from poor diets. Khost and Paktika provinces, which host over 35,000 displaced households and more than 200,000 people, reportedly need immediate support to prevent food insecurity from worsening. UN agencies, the FSAC and the Afghan Government say that a lack of funding could exacerbate this problem even further. “It is the last resort when farmers start selling productive assets such as livestock, machinery or land,” said Abdul Majid, FSAC Coordinator. “This is not only a loss for farmers but for the entire community, as skills and means for agricultural production will be lost, saturating the urban labour market.” Meanwhile, the Afghan Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Assadullah Zamir, said it is striking to know that one third of the population is food insecure and that their situation continues to worsen.“We request the donor community to continue assisting the most vulnerable Afghans before it becomes too late,” he stated. read more

SPANISH KING JUAN Carlos’s daughter Cristina entered court smiling under the gaze of the world’s media this morning to answer fraud accusations, a historic first for the troubled royal family.After stepping out of a dark car, the blonde-haired princess walked the final few steps into a court in Palma de Majorca, nodding to television crews, photographers and reporters crowded near the door.Dressed in a white shirt and black jacket, the 48-year-old princess appeared relaxed as she headed into the closed-door hearing with a judge who suspects her of tax fraud and money-laundering.Scores of pro-republican protesters rallied just outside a police-patrolled exclusion zone, brandishing banners with slogans such as “Royal blood = unreal justice” or “Heads of state by the ballot, not the cradle”.The rare royal spectacle unfolded on a warm winter’s day under sunny skies, on an island where for decades Cristina’s family holidayed.The car carrying Princess Cristina arrives at the courthouse (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Now the island is the centre of an embarrassing scandal that has turned much of the public against the royals and raised doubts over the very future of the monarchy.Inside the courtroom, red velvet chairs were lined up where Cristina must sit before investigating judge Jose Castro, overlooked by a photograph portrait of her own father, Juan Carlos, 76.Unlike most suspects, the court gave Cristina the right to drive down a paved ramp to the court entrance, citing security concerns raised by the police.The decision spared the princess a longer, potentially humiliating walk to justice in front of the media’s lenses.Long thought untouchable as a royal, Cristina finds herself in the centre of scandal, accused of being complicit in allegedly fraudulent business dealings of her husband, who is also under investigation.Photographers and cameramen outside the courthouse (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Neither Cristina nor her husband, former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin, have been formally charged with any crime and both deny wrongdoing.Mounting public angerCastro has spent more than two years investigating allegations that Urdangarin and a former business partner embezzled €6 million in public funds via a charitable foundation.Cristina was a member of the foundation’s board and with her husband jointly owned another company, Aizoon, which investigators suspect served as a front for laundering embezzled money.State prosecutors say there is no case to answer against Cristina but the judge has admitted suits brought by pressure groups.It is the first time a direct member of the royal family has ever gone to court as a suspect. The hearing follows more than two years of mounting anger against the elite in a Spain battered by recession.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Juan Carlos won widespread respect for helping steer Spain to democracy after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.But the royals’ popularity has plunged since the case against Urdangarin opened three years ago.The king’s woes were worsened by a luxury elephant-hunting trip he made to Africa in 2012 as his subjects suffered in a recession.These scandals and the sight of the king looking frail on crutches in his rare public appearances have raised debate about the future of his reign.A recent poll showed 62 per cent of Spaniards in favour of his abdication. Support for the monarchy in general fell to just under half.For years the family were photographed by the press spending their summer holidays on Majorca, where they stayed at the Marivent Palace, a red-roofed edifice overlooking the Mediterranean.But they have kept a low profile since the scandal broke.- © AFP, 2014Read: Irish pro-choice activists to protest against Spanish abortion plans > Read: London’s palace is falling down, falling down > read more

Schmidt’s Ireland strive for attacking ‘flow’ as Sexton and Murray hit 50 Joe Schmidt’s side are confident that they’re close to truly clicking. Share17 Tweet Email https://the42.ie/4509618 18 Comments Short URL Feb 24th 2019, 7:01 AM Bundee Aki works on his lineout throwing. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO “To have the versatility to have a number of guys to play as first receiver is really important.“In the lead-up to that first try in Edinburgh, it’s Keith Earls who steps in as first receiver. Johnny’s the second receiver and Johnny’s pass is peach-perfect to Jacob on the edge because he puts it across a player and that gives Jacob enough time and space to get the kick away.“It wouldn’t just be Bundee, I think Garry Ringrose is very good as first receiver, I think Robbie Henshaw can do the job as a first receiver, it’s something we’re trying to get Rob Kearney to get more involved in.“It’s tough to throw Chris Farrell in and say, ‘Chris, get in there and run the show’, but I think it’s something he is definitely capable of.”Ireland’s forward pack – which now includes Dave Kilcoyne, Sean Cronin, Ultan Dillane and Jordi Murphy – will look to provide clean attacking possession, as ever.‘Cohesion’ has been one of the key buzzwords this week in Ireland camp and while O’Mahony wasn’t giving any secrets away, he indicated that they are looking for more from their phase-play attack.“I think our phase stuff is where we’ve worked quite hard over the last couple of weeks, just guys understanding each other more than anything – where we’re going and where we need to be.“It certainly isn’t big stuff, it’s just little things that we’ve worked on that we feel will add to our attack and will add to our game, going forward.” Sean Cronin starts at hooker for Ireland. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHODespite the slow start to this Six Nations, Ireland feel like their best is close. Today in Rome feels like a good time to take another step towards it.“If you look at the squad we have, a huge bulk of the lads were there last year, you know what I mean… it’s not that long ago,” said O’Mahony.“We understand the amount of work we’ve put in and we understand that we’re very close to clicking.”  Italy:15. Jayden Hayward14. Edoardo Padovani13. Michele Campagnaro12. Luca Morisi11. Angelo Esposito10. Tommaso Allan9. Tito Tebaldi1. Andrea Lovotti 2. Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain)3. Simone Ferrari4. Federico Ruzza 5. Dean Budd6. Jimmy Tuivaiti7. Maxime Mbandà8. Braam SteynReplacements:16. Luca Bigi17. Cherif Traoré18. Tiziano Pasquali19. David Sisi20. Alessandro Zanni21. Guglielmo Palazzani22. Ian McKinley23. Tommaso Castello Ireland:15. Rob Kearney14. Keith Earls13. Chris Farrell12. Bundee Aki11. Jacob Stockdale10. Johnny Sexton9. Conor Murray1. Dave Kilcoyne2. Sean Cronin3. Tadhg Furlong4. Ultan Dillane5. Quinn Roux6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)7. Sean O’Brien8. Jordi MurphyReplacements:16. Niall Scannell17. Jack McGrath18. John Ryan19. Iain Henderson20. Josh van der Flier21. John Cooney22. Jack Carty23. Andrew ConwayReferee: Glen Jackson [New Zealand].Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here: By Murray Kinsella Subscribe Cian O’Halloran from Waterford at the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHOSchmidt has made four changes to his starting team but all come in the forward pack and his hope is that an unchanged backline built around the highly-experienced Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray can cut loose at Stadio Olimpico [KO 3pm Irish time, Virgin Media].Sexton has played only 103 minutes of rugby this year due to injury issues, while Murray has been slowing building back towards his best after an extended spell out with a shoulder/neck issue. Italy could be the whipping boys as Ireland’s halfbacks hit their finest form on what is their 50th start together in green.“You get bucketloads of experience, 50 times playing together for our country is incredible… I didn’t know it was that many times,” said Peter O’Mahony, who captains Ireland today with Rory Best rested this weekend.“We know how important nines and 10s are in rugby. To have two guys that know each other that well, for lots of reasons, it’s such a benefit.“They’re two competitive people, which adds even more to the class and predominately the direction they give us, from a forward’s point of view, you’re rarely looking around to see where you need to go or what you need to do. From their body language or just the way they carry themselves, you know where you need to be.”Italy, who are missing captain Sergio Parisse, will be as stubborn as usual but a confidence-building attacking performance from Ireland feels overdue.“We’ll certainly be looking to improve from the last couple of games we’ve been out and be a bit more cohesive, certainly with the combinations that we’ve picked,” said O’Mahony. Johnny Sexton at Ireland’s captain’s run yesterday. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO“We want to flow, we certainly want to play rugby and have a little bit more cohesion and be a bit more patient at times.“We’ve worked hard on our attack over the last couple of weeks and we hope it’s going to come to fruition.”Combinations like that of Bundee Aki and Chris Farrell in midfield, or the back three of Jacob Stockdale, Rob Kearney and Keith Earls, should be helpful in Ireland firing against the Italians – who have lost their last 19 Six Nations fixtures in a row.Ireland have felt close to hitting full stride in attack in the opening two rounds, creating chances that they haven’t quite been able to take – as when Rob Kearney ran into space on the left in the second half against Scotland but then saw his offload inside to Farrell go to ground.“At the time I was waiting for Blair Kinghorn to come to me so I could put away Jacob, but his [Kinghorn’s] shape on reading off was really good,” said Kearney.“Would Jacob have got to the corner? There probably would have been a good chance of it. I did think that if I got a good offload to Chris, he would have been under the sticks, so I don’t think it was wrong option to come back inside, I just need to execute the pass much better.” One aspect of Ireland’s attack in this championship that has spoken of progress has been different players popping up at first receiver, something Schmidt has been pushing.It’s not just been Sexton or Joey Carbery, the two out-halves, with other players like Aki taking on responsibility.“I think it’s really important that we’re not relying on just one receiver all the time, especially if teams think they know you’re really reliant on one receiver, they just track him across the pitch and they kind of know where you’re going,” said Schmidt.  Sunday 24 Feb 2019, 7:00 AM 28,443 Views Murray Kinsella reports from RomeIRELAND’S PLAYERS JOINED the influx of tourists in checking out the Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Spagna and some of the other hotspots in the Italian capital yesterday, but Joe Schmidt’s men are really here for business.After a stuttering start to their Six Nations, Ireland are ready to click into their most confident gear and find the attacking “flow” that has eluded them so far.  Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article read more

Share64 Tweet Email Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Friday 12 Apr 2019, 3:55 PM By Rónán Duffy https://jrnl.ie/4589135 Apr 12th 2019, 3:55 PM It’s a country/rap song that’s breaking chart records in the US. So why the Old Town Road controversy? “I’m gonna take my horse, To the old town road.” Source: Wicked Sounds/YouTubeIT’S CURRENTLY THE number one song in the US but it has also become somewhat of a battle ground between music genres in 2019 and who gets to define them. Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road sits atop the Billboard 100 charts, reaching the summit earlier this week and also charting in Ireland where it’s #1 on Spotify’s Irish chart. The song is a semi-ironic take on country music themes and sounds, except the main performer is Lil Nas X, a 29-year-old singer from Atlanta who initially found fame on the internet.Old Town Road features the sound of a plucked banjo sampled from Nine Inch Nails and is almost entirely about country themes (“I’m gonna take my horse, To the old town road, I’m gonna ride ’till I can’t no more).It also features deep trap drums throughout, a bass sound typical of rap in southern US states. The song went viral when it started being used as the music to countless videos on the video sharing app Tik Tok. It was as part a meme where users dress up like cowboys and cowgirls.  Source: Lifeples/YouTubeLil Nas X first released it in December 2018 with record label Columbia describing it as a “country-inspired rap track”.The original video for the song was made up entirely of clips from Wild West-themed video game Red Dead Redemption 2, edited by Lil Nas X himself.The song began climbing the charts and last month debuted at #19 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart. That was until Billboard decided to remove the song for essentially not being country enough.“Upon further review, it was determined that Old Town Road by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard’s country charts,” Billboard said when the song was removed from the chart.  15 Comments Billy Ray Cyrus has even come in to support the track’s country credentials and a remixed version of the song featuring both Lil Nas X and Cyrus has been released. Regardless of the origins of the song, the New York Times has called it “a sociocultural rallying point” and “one of the most emblematic songs of the year”.For Lil Nas X, who dropped out of college to pursue a music career, he says the song’s success is simply down to hard work and marketing.  Source: nope/Twitter Source: Billy Ray Cyrus/Twitter It was so obvious to me after hearing the song just one time. I was thinking, what’s not country about it? What’s the rudimentary element of a country and western song? Then I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook,  and a banjo.  What the hell more do ya need?— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 5, 2019 26,478 Views Source: Lil Nas X/YouTubeThis decision prompted criticism with many arguing that music can be across different genres. It was pointed out, for example, that pop songs regularly feature on country charts. Others said the decision was even more problematic and that Lil Nas X’s race was a factor in deciding whether the song was “country” or not. “Billboard’s decision to take the song off of the country chart had absolutely nothing to do with the race of the artist,” the statement said.Predictably, the controversy has done even more to boost the song and it’s currently on track to reach 80 million streams this week. Beating the previous streaming record set by Drake’s God’s Plan.  Short URL i know y’all think i’m just some goofy meme nigga who got lucky but the truth is i’m some goofy meme nigga who promoted the hell out of his song AND got lucky.— nope (@LilNasX) April 12, 2019 When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While Old Town Road incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.  read more

Le QI est insuffisant pour mesurer l’intelligence globaleDes chercheurs britanniques ont montré expérimentalement que mesurer le quotient intellectuel (QI) ne suffit pas à évaluer la véritable intelligence globale d’un individu : il faut au moins 3 tests différents.  Si certains n’hésitent pas à se vanter de posséder un Quotient intellectuel (QI) élevé, cette mesure est-elle véritablement synonyme d’intelligence ? Il semblerait bien que non, comme le confirme une nouvelle étude menée par des chercheurs britannique et publiée dans la revue Neuron. Pour arriver à cette conclusion, les scientifiques ont épluché les résultats d’un test d’intelligence en ligne lancé par le Daily Telegraph et le New Scientist voici deux ans, et passé par plus de 110.000 internautes. Complété par des questions personnelles relatives au mode de vie et au cursus scolaire, le test d’une trentaine de minutes et décliné en 12 épreuves, était censé mettre en lumière les capacités de mémoire, de raisonnement, d’attention et de planification des sujets. En plus de ces données, les chercheurs ont également scanné les cerveaux de 16 volontaires pendant qu’ils passaient le même test. Ils ont ainsi constaté la mobilisation de 3 différents circuits cérébraux, chacun dévolu à un type d’intelligence. En tenant compte de la gamme complète des capacités cognitives testées, les auteurs ont noté que les taux de réussite variables des gens ne pouvaient s’expliquer, là aussi, que par la combinaison d’au moins 3 types d’intelligence, et non par la mesure d’une seule, comme le QI. À lire aussiMaladie de Charcot : symptômes, causes, traitement, où en est on ?”Vous ne pouvez pas ramener les capacités cognitives à moins de trois composantes – la mémoire à court terme, le raisonnement et une composante verbale. Nous connaissons tous des gens qui ont des raisonnements pauvres mais des souvenirs brillants ou des compétences linguistiques fantastiques (…)”, commente le Dr Highfield, un des auteurs de l’étude.Des capacités plus faibles chez les fumeurs et les anxieux Grâce à cette découverte, ces recherches ont également permis de constater que les jeux de “brain training” (entrainement du cerveau) pratiqués régulièrement par certaines personnes ne semblaient rien changer à leur performance globale, que les adeptes des jeux informatiques avaient des scores significativement plus élevés en raisonnement et en mémoire à court terme, et que les fumeurs et les personnes anxieuses avaient les plus faibles scores dans ce dernier domaine. “Quand il est question de l’objet le plus complexe connu – le cerveau humain -, l’idée selon laquelle il n’y a qu’une seule mesure de son intelligence ne peut qu’être erronée”, conclut le Dr Highfield. Le 20 décembre 2012 à 19:45 • Maxime Lambert read more

More than 200 miles of pipelines move oil, gas, and related products between offshore platforms and onshore facilities. In a release from CIRCAC and the ADEC, the expert panel will review past failures, with an eye to creating future solutions—providing recommendations that may include operational best practices, investigation, regulatory changes, information gathering, and infrastructure changes. Facebook0TwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) and the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council (CIRCAC) are seeking experts to provide recommendations on pipeline integrity and safety in Cook Inlet. To be considered, experts should have knowledge in crude oil production operations, pipeline inspection, leak prevention and detection, pipeline design, loss-of-integrity root cause investigations, common cause analysis, analysis of leak data, and general engineering practices. The panel will meet in Anchorage three times in 2019. It is a voluntary position, but expenses and an honorarium will be provided. More information for prospective applicants. Graham Wood with ADEC: “A panel of experts related to the pipeline and oil industry to discuss the identified risks and how to mitigate them.”  Applications are due January 5, 2019. read more

MaharshiTwitterSuperstar Mahesh Babu’s Maharshi has made decent collection at the worldwide box office in the second week, taking its 15-day gross total closer to Rs 200 crore mark in the global market.Maharshi clashed with the new release ABCD – American Born Confused Desi, which snatched some screens from it in its second week. The Mahesh Babu starrer witnessed huge drop on its second Friday, but it showed some improvements in its collection over the weekend following the negative word of mouth for the new movie. It made better collection than the Allu Sirish starrer.The Vamshi Paidipally-directed film showed drop again on its second Monday, but managed to remain strong on the following weekdays. Maharshi is estimated to have collected approximately Rs 31.67 crore gross at the worldwide box office in its second week and its 15-day total business has reached Rs 182.12 crore gross.Maharshi needs to rake in around Rs 18 crore to surpass Rs 200 crore gross mark in the global market and it will be the second film of Mahesh Babu to achieve this feat. But the movie is clashing with two other new releases like Sita and Evadu Takkuva Kadu from May 24. It should be seen whether the film will surpass the mark or not in its third week.Dil Raju, Potluri V Prasad and Ashwini Dutt have reportedly invested Rs 100 crore on its production and promotion. Maharshi fetched them around Rs 100 crore from the sale of its theatrical rights, while its satellite, music and digital rights got them Rs 50 crore. The movie made a decent table profits for them before its release.Maharshi is estimated to have earned Rs 98.04 crore for its global distributors in two weeks. The movie has recovered 100 percent of the investments and good profit shares to its distributors in some areas. However, it is yet to return the investments to the distributors in a few regions. It is expected to fetch it in the coming days. read more

People walk on a crosswalkReutersEven though IT job prospects may be a tad bleak in India right now, Indian IT companies are taking on board quite a few employees in the US. Indian firms are said to have created over 113,000 jobs in the US and also invested $18 billion in the country.The details appeared in the Confederation of Indian Industry’s report “Indian Roots, American Soil,” which also said that these jobs were created by about 100 Indian firms in mainland US and Puerto Rico. These 100 firms totally employ 113,423 people across 50 states of the US, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the report said, according to the Press Trust of India.Meanwhile, in the US, the top five states in which these firms generate employment are:New Jersey — 8,572 jobsTexas — 7,271 jobsCalifornia — 6,749 jobsNew York — 5,135 jobsGeorgia — 4,554 jobsSpeaking about these figures, Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna said that Indian firms play an important part in the US’ economy and make valuable contributions to it. “The presence and reach of Indian companies continue to grow each year as they invest billions of dollars and create jobs across the United States,” he added.Meanwhile, CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee also explained how these numbers prove that India and the US work closely in terms of business and help each other’s economy.After CII released the report, Congressman Pete Sessions said that India and the US’ relations have continued to grow under President Donald Trump’s administration and that the nation hopes to see better ties in the future. “I am glad to see, as CII’s event today proves, bonds between our nations both commercial and strategic – continue to grow stronger,” Sessions said.Two of the Indian firms that have made quite a mark in the US are the Tata Group and Infosys. The Bengaluru-based IT giant had, in May, said that Infosys intended to hire 10,000 employees in the US and also set up four technology hubs in the country.”Infosys is committed to hiring 10,000 American technology workers over the next two years to help invent and deliver the digital futures for our clients in the United States,” then CEO Vishal Sikka had said in a statement. Employees of Infosys Technologies Limited walk in the campus of the company’s headquarters in Bangalore on April 13, 2017. Indian software giant Infosys has pledged to return USD2 billion to shareholders this year as it reported subdued growth in profits for the fourth quarter.MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP/Getty ImagesHowever, with Sikka’s exit as the CEO and MD, questions have been raised on whether Infosys would go ahead with the US plans. The former CEO is known to have worked closely with the firm’s clients in the US and also had a team of high-level executives in the country, mostly based in California.Analysts believe that the impact may not be that huge, but the process is likely to see a slowdown. “Local hiring in the US is inevitable. It is not something Infosys is doing differently; all other IT forms are doing it. Sikka accelerated the process. But the process may get delayed,” Pareekh Jain, IT analyst, HfS Research India told Business Standard.The Bangalore-based firm had also announced in July that it would open a new technology and innovation hub in North Carolina and hire 2,000 employees at the facility by the year 2021. The North Carolina hub will be the second one of the four hubs, the first being Indiana. read more

Even though Messi has probably the most decorated and prolific club career ever, including 5 world player of the year trophies and 4 UEFA European Club Championships, football greatness is measured in World Cups and international titles. Because Messi has nothing to show in three World Cup appearances, including losing 1 – 0 in the 2014 World Cup Final to Germany, his legacy looks A-Rodesque.When Messi was interviewed after last night’s crushing defeat, he made the shocking revelation that he is retiring from playing for Argentina’s national team. Did Leo Messi just announce his retirement from the Argentine National Soccer team? https://t.co/IvOoBNwmG9— Joshua Hoyos (@JoshuaHoyos) June 27, 2016 Advertisement For some reason when it’s all on the line for Argentina, Leo Messi changes from Michael Jordan into Charles Barkley. Messi’s string of disappointing international results continued to grow in Copa America America Final against Chile at MetLife stadium in New York on Sunday.Chile stunned Argentina 4 –  2 in penalties, adding to the one glaring flaw in Messi’s otherwise legendary resume.Argentina’s prodigal talent rocketed his penalty attempt over the crossbar in the shootout, all but sealing the win for Chile.You gotta feel for Messi. ? https://t.co/Fq0Ui0Q4ca— Mike Sanz (@mikesanz19) June 27, 2016 Doubters won’t put much stock in a knee jerk retirement statement after a devastating loss. It’s hard to imagine the 29 year old Messi won’t rethink his position. Smart money has to be on him suiting up for Argentina in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He’ll still be at the top of his game and should have had time to lick his wounds from last night and attempt to check the last box in his otherwise historic career. read more