The Prince of Wales this week warned that the destruction of rainforests is “the greatest risk that we have ever faced”.And speaking at a meeting of renowned tropical forest scientists and politicians at St James’s Palace he warned that global leaders “must act now” because “the risk of not doing so is far too great”.Speaking after a two-day meeting on how to protect the world’s rainforests, the Prince likened Earth’s condition to that of a doctor treating a sick child when the cause of illness was not known for certain.He said: “The doctor cannot wait until results of tests come back from the lab – the doctor must act on what evidence is already there.“There is an urgency that depends upon the risk involved, and given that this is the greatest risk we have ever faced, surely, as the doctor, we can’t wait to act.“If we see our forests and the planet as our patient, the risk of delay is so enormous that we cannot wait until we are absolutely sure the patient is dying. That is a monumental risk no doctor would ever take.”His Royal Highness added that his work on this issue was often “disheartening”.The Prince went on: “I am afraid that we do not have much time.“I have to say that one of the many disheartening aspects of these sorts of gatherings is the number of times I, and I am sure you, have repeated all this and the number of years during which I have done so to the point that I sometimes wonder whether I am in fact dreaming this incessant nightmare of hearing the echo of my own voice.”He called on leaders to have “the courage to face down a storm of opposition from all sides, claiming the end of the world as we know it”.The Prince of Wales has been interested in the conservation of tropical rainforests and the environment for a number of years.In October 2007 he set up The Prince’s Rainforests Project, and has previously said it would be an “act of suicide on a grand scale” to ignore environmental issues.The Prince also quipped about climate change sceptics in his speech.He said: “When it comes to the incorporated society of syndicated sceptics and the International Association of Corporate lobbyists any scientist is likely to find him or herself up the proverbial double blind gum-tree!”The meeting was also addressed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson, and Ed Davey, the Climate Change Secretary.Mr Davey said the Government is pursuing an “ambitious and innovative strategy” and praised the scientists gathered at the meeting for their “noble and necessary work”.He added: “I can’t compromise here because the science is overwhelming – because climate change threatens every man, woman and child.”The group of scientists and The Prince also issued a St. James’s Palace memorandum on tropical forest science, calling for “strategic investment” and global action to halt the destruction of the world’s rainforests.Source:PrinceOfWales.gov.uk
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is reevaluating its controversial plan to sharply expand offshore drilling as it responds to a court ruling that blocked drilling off Alaska.President Donald Trump has pushed to open nearly all U.S. coastlines to offshore oil and gas drilling. But a federal judge last month ruled against Trump’s executive order to open the Arctic and parts of the Atlantic. Coastal states also have opposed the expanded drilling.Interior Secretary David Bernhardt told The Wall Street Journal on Thursday that the legal challenges may be “discombobulating” to the administration’s overall drilling plans. Bernhardt says the administration may have to wait for the challenges to fully play out in court.Interior spokeswoman Molly Block says the agency “is evaluating all of its options.”Matthew Daly And Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press
TORONTO — The Toronto stock market closed in the red Tuesday as financials retreated amid an earnings miss from Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) and U.S. Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen continued to lay the groundwork for a hike in interest rates.The S&P/TSX composite index lost 35.29 points to 15,164.97, with the energy and gold sectors also contributing to the decline.Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO) posted lower earnings amid an “unsettled environment” that saw the bank deal with “significant movements in oil prices, long-term interest rates and the Canadian dollar.” Adjusted net income was $1.04 billion or $1.53 a share, a dime short of estimates and its shares closed down $1.55 at $75.83. Most other bank stocks were also lower with traders anticipating similar issues when the remainder of the country’s six major lending institutions report this week and next.“Across the rest of the Canadian banks, we will see a lacklustre or challenging or slower growth environment from personal and commercial banking,” said Colum McKinley, Canadian equities manager at CIBC Asset Management.The Canadian dollar was up 0.51 of a U.S. cent at 80.03 cents.U.S. indexes were higher as Yellen told the Senate finance committee that the U.S. central bank would continue to be patient in deciding when to hike interest rates. And she added that before rates go up, the central bank would drop this assurance.There has been much speculation the bank could move on raising rates as early as June.“Over time, if the U.S. economy continues to accelerate, we will inevitably get to the point where rates will move higher,” McKinley said, “but the Fed is still managing that process of setting expectations around when that could happen and what it would look like.”The Dow Jones industrials gained 92.35 points to 18,209.19, the S&P 500 index edged up 5.83 points to 2,115.49 and the Nasdaq rose 7.15 points to 4,968.12.TSX gains were paced by a 3.4 per cent jump in the base metals sector as March copper was up six cents at US$2.65 a pound.The TSX energy sector surrendered early gains to move down 0.63 per cent as oil lost 17 cents to US$49.28 a barrel.The gold sector was off 1.25 per cent as April bullion faded $3.50 to US$1,197.30 an ounce.Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) arrived at a tentative agreement Monday with Unifor, which represents about 4,800 mechanical, intermodal and clerical workers, less than an hour after the railway’s 11 p.m. ET deadline to lock out the union’s members. CN declined 13 cents to $86.59.Fertilizer company Agrium Inc. (TSX:AGU) turned in quarterly net earnings of US$51 million or 33 cents a share, down from US$99 million or 66 cents in the same 2013 period. Sales revenue fell by US$162 million to US$2.7 billion from just under US$2.9 billion. Its shares ran ahead $4.06 to $142.08.There was also positive news for the eurozone. Greece’s creditors in the 19-country currency union approved a list of reforms Athens proposed to get a four-month extension to its bailout, which should keep the country afloat over the coming months.The Canadian Press
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka comprises a network of organizations of the Sri Lankan Muslim civil society and Diaspora. (Colombo Gazette) The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka vehemently condemned the terror attack on Bodh Gaya’s Mahabodhi temple, which is considered the Mecca of Buddhism and is of deep religious significance to the Buddhists of the world.“Sri Lankan Muslims are deeply saddened and dismayed at the dastardly attack on the sacred Mahabodhi temple and adjoining areas and see this as a blatant act of terrorism perpetuated by senseless individuals. We are indeed relieved that no major damage has been reported to the sacred shrine. Our prayers are with the injured for a speedy recovery,” the Muslim Council said. It said that terrorism in any form should not be tolerated, and attacks on places of worship are a heinous crime and should be unacceptable to any reasonable human being. The Buddhists consider the sacred Mahabodhi temple as the cradle of Buddhism and the Muslims of Sri Lanka urge the Governments of the region as well as world leaders to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly crime are brought to immediate justice.
The Government has further specified its commitments under the Resolution and said that it would fulfill its commitment towards ‘operationalizing the Office on Missing Persons’, the ‘establishment of a truth seeking commission, an office for reparations, and a judicial mechanism with a special counsel’ Sri Lanka has pledged before the UPR in November that it will formulate a comprehensive reparations policy, and fulfill commitments contained in United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1. While Sri Lanka’s voluntary pledges at the UPR are welcome, the state must meet its human rights obligations and effectively implement measures on truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of nonrecurrence, as it had promised to do more than two years ago. Amnesty International reiterates its call made in May 2017 on the Government to announce a clear and coordinated roadmap on its commitments on truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence.Amnesty International called for independent and impartial international investigations into these allegations in its 2016 report ‘Making the Rights Choices’, in the context of previous failures by the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate, acknowledge and prosecute alleged war crimes and other crimes committed in the island nation. In this instance, Amnesty International further calls on Sri Lanka to establish a “Special Counsel” to carry out prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations of all crimes including enforced disappearances and to hold the suspected perpetrators accountable through fair trials without recourse to the death penalty. Despite Sri Lanka co-sponsoring the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution No. 30/1 in September 2015, progress in fulfilling commitments therein has slowed to a glacial pace, Amnesty International said today.Delays have affected key issues include guaranteeing truth and accountability on the issues of enforced disappearances – sparking months-long protests by families of the disappeared in the north and east of the country. Sri Lanka commits to take measures to address truth and justice in the case of Enforced Disappearances Amnesty International welcomes Sri Lanka’s commitment to the families of victims that they will get information on the names and whereabouts of detained persons. However information guarantees must extend to immediately providing answers to the families of the disappeared with regards to any persons who may have been killed in detention, as well as justice and accountability for such crimes. Chronic delays in fulfilling previous promises to guarantee truth and information of those subject to enforced disappearances, have been highlighted before by Amnesty in its 2017 report ‘Only Justice can Heal ourWounds’.While Sri Lanka has supported the recommendation to enact legislation making enforced disappearances a crime under domestic law in accordance with its treaty obligations, Amnesty International says the Government of Sri Lanka must provide clear timelines for such legislative amendments.Sri Lanka ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All persons from Enforced Disappearance on 25 May 2016 and a draft bill to amend the Penal Code and criminalize Enforced Disappearances was tabled in Parliament in February 2017. However, since then the parliamentary approval for the legislative amendments has seen persistent delays and postponements. Amnesty International calls on the Government to take all necessary steps to give full effect to its obligations under the Convention and immediately pass necessary legislative amendments. (Colombo Gazette)
Sima Samar told reporters in Khartoum that while the peace process remains on track “fundamental freedoms of expression and association continue to be curtailed by National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) and Military Intelligence.”The Special Rapporteur, who serves in an individual personal capacity, said human rights defenders, students, political opposition parties, internally displaced people (IDPs) and tribal leaders continue to be targeted for their activities in violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the new Interim National Constitution, which contains a bill of rights.She cited “credible reports that the security apparatus continue to arbitrarily arrest and detain” and said that detainees “are subjected to torture and ill-treatment and denied pre-trial and fair trial guarantees.”Ms. Samar raised these concerns with officials of the NISS who pledged reform of the service in accordance with the CPA. They also said steps have been taken to ensure the NSIS is more representative and that draft legislation is being prepared to replace the National Security Act.
UN Photo/Manuel EliasUN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefs the Security Council.Better training, equipment and logistics neededHe also urged those countries with advanced military capability, to provide more troops and police to UN peace operations as well as vital equipment and logistics, including helicopters, counter-IED capacities, rapid reaction forces, and medical support.He called for troop and police contributing countries to undergo better training, prior to being deployed.Mr. Lacroix also spoke of improvement in gender parity in peacekeeping operations – both at Headquarters and in the field – where representation of women has slightly improved.“Women officers now represent 18 per cent of all officers in the Office of Military Affairs, and we are committed to raising this proportion further. In the field, women police officers represent 21 per cent of our Individual Police Officers, and 7 per cent of our Formed Police Units,” he said.Concluding his briefing, he also highlighted the importance of strong partnership with civil society groups, particularly in the on-going effort to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, as well as ensuring accountability and victim support. In that context, he also urged troop contributing countries to complete investigations into allegations of wrongdoing within six-months, the timeframe for UN investors to complete their work.“Only by working together will the UN, Member States and civil society end this behaviour which irreparably harms victims and tarnishes the reputation of thousands of UN personnel who serve with honour,” he said. “Improving peacekeeping is, by its very essence, a collective endeavour,” Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the Security Council on Wednesday.“Ensuring that our missions are fit for purpose and perform well, requires action by all of us and all of us working together,” he added, noting the role of the UN Secretariat, Member States, countries which contribute personnel, host nations and regional organizations.In his briefing, Mr. Lacroix outlined steps taken by the Organization and the results these have yielded. One of the key areas includes assessing peacekeepers’ performance.“We are putting in place the policies and evaluation systems that will enable all of us, collectively, to better tailor our efforts to strengthen peacekeeping and better support all peacekeepers, whether uniformed or civilian,” he informed the 15-member Council.The engagement and the mobilization of all stakeholders, and, especially Member States, is vital for achieving success, underscored the UN peacekeeping chief.In particular, he called on all Member States “to assess the evolution of the performance of UN peacekeeping operations”, including through visiting them on the ground and sharing their findings with the Organization. UN Photo/Loey FelipeSarah Blakemore, CEO of NGO Keeping Children Safe, speaks at the Security Council meeting on UN peacekeeping operations.Necessity for ‘robust’ safeguarding mechanismsSpeaking alongside Mr. Lacroix, Sarah Blakemore, the CEO of the non-governmental organization Keeping Children Safe, called for strong protection systems to stop abuse from happening and, should it occur, to ensure that victims are protected and supported, and bring perpetrators to justice.“Too often victims have no way of reporting the abuse, no medical or psychosocial care and no access to justice,” she said.“We call on world leaders to champion the safety of children at the highest levels by requiring that all organizations involved in peacekeeping implement robust international child safeguarding standards, including having advocates for victims’ rights.”‘Action for Peacekeeping’ initiativeIn March, Secretary-General António Guterres launched the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P), to strengthen global political commitment to peacekeeping operations. He also called on Member States to join him in developing a set of mutually-agreed principles and commitments to create peacekeeping operations fit for the future, with the goal of reaching a formal agreement by the end of the year.Specific efforts include the Declaration of Shared Commitments, which has been endorsed by 55 nations (as of 11 September) as well as thematic consultations on peacebuilding; performance; protection of civilians; partnerships; and political dimensions, such as peace operation mandate and resources, role of the Security Council.
Herders take their animals to drink water in Niger., by FAO/Giulio NapolitanoAs a result, many states have signed up to landmark agreements, such as the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Global Compact for Migration, which, says, Ms. Ionesco, marks a clear way forward for governments to address the issue of climate and migration.“The Compact contains many references to environmental migration including a whole section on measures to address environmental and climate challenges: it is the first time that a comprehensive vision has been laid out, showing how states can handle – now and in the future – the impacts of climate change, disasters and environmental degradation on international migration.”“Our analysis of the Compact highlights the priorities of states, when it comes to addressing environmental migration. Their primary concern is to “minimize the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their country of origin”, in particular the “natural disasters, the adverse effects of climate change, and environmental degradation”.“In other words, the main priority is to find solutions that allow people to stay in their homes and give them the means to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This approach aims to avoid instances of desperate migration and its associated tragedies.”“However, where climate change impacts are too intense, another priority put forward in the Compact is to “enhance availability and flexibility of pathways for regular migration”. States are thus looking at solutions for people to be able to migrate safely and through regular channels, and at solutions for those already on the move.“A last resort measure is to conduct planned relocations of population – this means organizing the relocation of entire villages and communities away from areas bearing the brunt of climate change impacts.”“Humanitarian assistance and protection for those on the move already, are also tools states can use. Finally, states highlight that relevant data and knowledge are key to guide the decision-making process. Without knowing more and analyzing better, policies run the risk of missing their targets and fade into irrelevance.”A range of solutions to a complex problemResponding to the challenges of environmental migration in a way that benefits both countries and communities, including migrants and refugees, is a complex process, says Ms. Ionesco, involving many different actors. “The Atlas of Environmental Migration, which gives examples dating as far back as 45,000 years ago, shows that environmental changes and natural disasters have played a role in how the population is distributed on our planet throughout history.”“However, it is highly likely that undesirable environmental changes directly created by, or amplified by, climate change, will extensively change the patterns of human settlement. Future degradation of land used for agriculture and farming, the disruption of fragile ecosystems and the depletion of precious natural resources like fresh water will directly impact people’s lives and homes.”The climate crisis is already having an effect: according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 17.2 million people had to leave their homes last year, because of disasters that negatively affected their lives. Slow changes in the environment, such as ocean acidification, desertification and coastal erosion, are also directly impacting people’s livelihoods and their capacity to survive in their places of origin. As Ms. Ionesco explains, there is a strong possibility that more people will migrate in search of better opportunities, as living conditions get worse in their places of origin: “There are predictions for the twenty-first century indicating that even more people will have to move as a result of these adverse climate impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the main UN authority on climate science, has repeatedly said that the changes brought on by the climate crisis will influence migration patterns. The World Bank has put forward projections for internal climate migration amounting to 143 million people by 2050 in three regions of the world, if no climate action is taken.”“However, our level of awareness and understanding of how environmental factors affect migration, and how they also interact with other migration drivers such as demographic, political and economic conditions, has also changed. With enhanced knowledge, there is more incentive to act urgently, be prepared and respond.”The Global Compact for Migration: a roadmap for governmentsIn the past decade, there has been a growing political awareness of the issues around environmental migration, and increasing acceptance that this is a global challenge. Dina Ionesco is the head of the Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division at the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has been at the forefront of efforts to study the links between migration, the environment and climate.As she explained to UN News, we are now living in an era where catastrophic climate-related events are linked to human activity, and this is likely to have a major impact on the way that we decide to migrate, and settle: Rohingya refugees make their way down a footpath during a heavy monsoon downpour in Kutupalong refugee settlement, Cox’s Bazar district. 2018., by © UNHCR/David AziaSolutions can range from tweaking migration practices, such as visa regimes, to developing human rights-based protection measures. Most importantly, they involve a coordinated approach from national governments, bringing together experts from different walks of life:“There is no one single solution to respond to the challenge of environmental migration, but there are many solutions that tackle different aspects of this complex equation. Nothing meaningful can ever be achieved without the strong involvement of civil society actors and the communities themselves who very often know what is best for them and their ways of life.””I also think that we need to stop discourses that focus only on migrants as victims of tragedy. The bigger picture is certainly bleak at times, but we need to remember that migrants demonstrate everyday their resilience and capacity to survive and thrive in difficult situations.”
The first time I saw my boss, Nate Silver, give a talk was at the 2014 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston. As usual, he was going on about numbers and statistics, but what stuck with me longest wasn’t quantitative. Pointing to the practice of relegation in European soccer leagues, he said European sports tend to be more capitalist by nature, while their American counterparts tend to be more socialist.“It’s kind of ironic,” Silver said. “American sports are socialist.”That may be true, but Stephen Curry is a pure basketball capitalist.Nate’s framework was right: With provisions like “salary caps,” “revenue sharing” and drafts that generally allot the best new talent to the worst teams, American leagues intentionally promote parity while suppressing the natural tendency for some clubs to dominate others. But Curry and his teammates are unapologetically destroying Adam Silver’s Bolshevist basketball state. The Golden State Warriors are 15-0. If they win Tuesday against the lowly Los Angeles Lakers, they will break the record for the hottest start in NBA history; no NBA team has won its first 16 games.How are they doing this?Well, the Warriors have by far the most efficient offense in the NBA, logging a massive 112 points per 100 possessions. They shoot well above league averages from every spot on the floor, especially in the areas beyond the arc. That’s pretty good, right? But while their offense deserves a lot of attention, don’t sleep on their defense, which ranks fifth in the NBA by giving up just 97 points per 100. Everyone already knows that Curry is a savant beyond the arc; the most noteworthy improvement in his repertoire is his ability to get buckets in the paint. As a young player, Curry struggled in that area. Just three seasons ago, he was one of the league’s least-effective close-range scorers. Out of 168 players with at least 200 shots inside of 8 feet that season, Curry ranked a dismal 151st in field goal percentage. But those days are gone, and the new Curry is suddenly one of the league’s best volume scorers in the paint. So far this year, 27 players have made at least 50 field goals within 8 feet of the rim, but only two of those guys — Hassan Whiteside and DeAndre Jordan (both giants) — are converting those close-range shots as frequently as Curry, who has made a ridiculous 68 percent of his 83 tries inside of 8 feet this season.Curry is an emblem for his team at large. He’s a young, perimeter-oriented genius who is reforming how we think about dominance in the NBA and making the rest of the league look feckless while doing so. He’s already a champion, but, just like his team, he is still getting better. Curry and the Warriors are just getting started, and what a golden start it’s already been.CORRECTION (Nov. 24, 12:55 p.m.): A chart in an earlier version of this article incorrectly labeled the Warriors’ defensive proficiency for some shots. A color on the chart suggested the Warriors were at about the average league level in limiting opponents’ scoring from the left elbow and right baseline 3-pointer, but the data showed opponents are shooting above average from those zones.Read more: NBA Player Career Projections It’s as if at some point in the past few years, the Warriors solved contemporary basketball, at least perimeter basketball. They know that 3-pointers are the best way to rack up points on offense, so they developed talent and tactics to master that. But they have also employed defensive principles to prevent their opponents from doing so on the other end.As of today, they are the only team averaging at least 12 threes per game on offense; they are also the only team giving up fewer than six threes per game on defense. Remember when a team won games by controlling the paint? These Warriors win by controlling the edges of the scoring area. By scoring 37.5 points per game beyond the arc while allowing opponents just 17.7 from out there, Golden State isn’t just tweaking how we value court real estate, its best players are forcing us to rethink how we value personnel as well.It used to be that the most valuable guys in the NBA were interior giants who dominated the paint. Now the most valuable player in the NBA is a point guard with the sweetest stroke in the league.Curry leads the league in scoring, and if he wins a scoring title this season, he will be the most perimeter-oriented player to ever do so. As I wrote last season, he’s transforming the way we see point guards and 3-point shooters in the NBA. That may seem like hyperbole, but it’s not; between Curry’s volume, his efficiency and his quickness, it’s easy to argue that he is the best 3-point shooter the NBA has ever seen.So far this season, Curry has made 74 threes — the most in the NBA. Damian Lillard ranks second, with 45. To say that Curry is an outlier would be an insult to the word outlier. So far this season, 84 percent of NBA threes have come off assists. But for Curry, that number is just 62 percent, and his ability to get his own deadly looks beyond the arc is arguably his signature weapon as a scorer. For context, only one of Klay Thompson’s 33 threes has been unassisted this season.
Ohio State freshman defensive end Tyreke Smith (11) moves in to tackle a Rutgers player during the second half of the game on Sept. 8. Ohio State won 52-3. Credit: Amal Saeed | Assistant Photo EditorJunior defensive end Chase Young described the Ohio State defensive line as a train. He said when players leave, like Dre’Mont Jones or Nick Bosa, there is always a great pass rusher in the class to continue the production. Some of the younger guys handle that expectation in different ways. Incoming freshman defensive end Noah Potter embraced it, asking for No. 97, the same jersey number worn by the two Bosa brothers. Freshman Zach Harrison was a little more low-key about it, taking whatever jersey number he was given, No. 33. With No. 11 on his back, Tyreke Smith was in the position this past season. He said he felt part of the Ohio State defensive line from the moment he stepped onto campus, but that this year, his sophomore season, feels different. This year, he feels like a key piece of the defensive line. That’s why Young is talking up Smith as the next big thing. “Every great defensive end had that sophomore year, Tyreke Smith can have that year,” Young said. “I would say watch out for Tyreke Smith.” This is the expectation that Smith has for himself, saying he has to “fill the gap” left by Bosa and Jones next season. But that has been an expectation Smith has had from Day One, an expectation heightened by the presence of defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Smith said he wants to achieve greatness with Ohio State, to be the best defensive lineman he could be. Johnson has the same confidence for the sophomore, and that is what Smith likes about his position coach. “I think, every day, I’m getting better out here training with him,” Smith said. “When I am doing good, that’s not enough for him. I like that about him. He is pushing me to a limit. He thinks I can be elite.”For Smith, he knows this is the year to do it. After recording seven tackles for loss and five sacks in his freshman season, Bosa broke through in 2017, leading the team with 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Young did the same thing in his sophomore season, accumulating 14.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks this past season. Smith, in limited playing time, has yet to record a tackle for loss or a sack, coming into 2019 with nine tackles to his name. But Young sees the same type of player he was training for his sophomore season that Smith is now. “Last year, this spring, I was a dog: hungry. That’s just how Tyreke is,” Young said. “I told him that’s what I expect. I expect for, after me, after Nick, then after me, it’s you.” It’s the next-man-up mentality Johnson has made into the mantra of Ohio State, and it’s something Smith has really latched onto. He said Johnson has the ability to turn an average player into a great one. This is the place Johnson thinks Smith is in: a young player who is beginning to come along. “Tyreke has always been quick. He’s always been in great shape, and now it’s just learning to play football,” Johnson said. “Last year was big learning experience, I can tell you that. Now, we see the player he’s possible of being. Tyreke has a great future ahead of him.” Young said Smith has been showing this in practice, and that his personal expectations are sky high, saying he expects a Smith sack on every play, and if not, he’s going to “be in his grill about it.” Smith does not seem to need the extra motivation. “I feel like this year, this year is the year I have to show out and show the country what I’m made of,” Smith said. Because the train needs to continue to move. Young is already looking past his time at Ohio State, and who will become the next leader. Young sees that in Smith. “He don’t have no choice but to rise up,” Young said. “If he keeps going as hard as he can and gives great effort, he has no choice but to rise.”
Minerals Council CEO, Roger Baxter today presented at the Africa Down Under conference in Perth, Australia. He noted: “South Africa’s mining potential is huge. Even in the absence of a Greenfields exploration boom in South Africa, mining investment could almost double in the next four years if the country was to return to the top 25% of the most attractive mining investment destinations worldwide. This would result in another 200,000 jobs being created in the economy with 50,000 direct jobs created in mining alone; output, exports and procurement would increase substantially; as would direct and indirect taxes, and royalties paid to the fiscus; and the mining industry would be in a better position to increase its contribution towards infrastructure development and social projects in mining-affected communities. Given the industry’s commitment to real transformation, this would also materially advance the entire country’s transformation agenda.”Baxter pointed out that in recent years South Africa had not realised its significant mining potential.“In 2017, South Africa was rated 48th out of 91 mining jurisdictions in the Fraser Institute’s mining investment attractiveness rankings, despite being ranked 20th out of 91 for the country’s mineral potential assuming best policy and regulatory practice. South Africa’s mineral policies were ranked 81 out of 91 jurisdictions, and clearly there is a mismatch between the mineral potential and the policy scorecard. The consequences are evident with real net capital formation in mining declining by over 50% between 2013 and 2017. South Africa accounted for a poor 1% of total global exploration expenditure in 2017 compared to 14% for Canada and Australia respectively and 13% for the rest of Africa.”The top issues that have been undermining the competitiveness of South Africa’s mining and exploration sectors are policy and regulatory uncertainty, costs rising at rates well above inflation, infrastructural constraints, restraints on exploration, a lack of trust between stakeholders and corruption.Baxter outlined the key requirements that would enable the South African mining industry to realise its full potential which include:• A shared Vision of the furture of the mining industry• Ethical leadership and good governance• Policy and regulatory certainty and competitiveness• Available, efficient, cost competitive and reliable infrastructure• Improving productivity and competitiveness• Creating a “greenfields exploration boom”.“Encouragingly we have seen a number of positive developments in the right direction. Since February, the President Ramaphosa administration has implemented measures to tackle corruption and promote investment. The appointment of the respected Mr Mantashe as the Minister of Mineral Resources, along with other cabinet changes in key economic portfolios and the implementation of new measures to improve governance and stabilise SOEs have been positive.“Since his appointment, Minister Mantashe has worked hard to overcome the trust deficit between stakeholders, has engaged all parties in a frank and open manner, has withdrawn the problematic MPRDA Amendment Bill, proposed talks on individual commodities to address their specific challenges and allowed for detailed discussions to take place on a new Mining Charter which has had some positive outcomes such as recognising previous empowerment transactions. While some issues remain in respect of the new Mining Charter, we are hopeful of an outcome that promotes both transformation and investor confidence which will ultimately ensure the growth and viability of our sector. However, there is still much more work to be done in finalising a workable charter, in developing a competitiveness and growth strategy for the mining sector, to assist some commodities through the specific economic challenges they face and in building the sector for the future. What is important is that stakeholders are working together and the processes are certainly pointing in the right direction,” he concluded.
Athens is the world’s 78th most expensive city for non-locals, among 214 cities, according to human resources consultants Mercer.Although the Greek capital is cheaper today than in the past due to the decline in rental rates, it remains more expensive than Berlin, which ranks 106th and is seen as the most attractive among the European metropolises.A telling example of prices in Athens is that of served coffee, which in Athens averages out at 4.70 euros, while in Berlin it costs 4.18 euros. This has been affected by the increase in the value-added tax rate in Greece.The world’s most expensive city is Tokyo, according to the Mercer list.The study is addressed mostly to multinational companies who calculate the daily costs for their employees stationed abroad.Source: Kathimerini Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram
Développement durable : les coiffeurs se mettent eux aussi au vertLe Conseil national des entreprises de coiffure a annoncé la création d’un label vert propre à la profession. Baptisé “développement durable, mon coiffeur s’engage”, il a pour ambition d’encourager les professionnels du secteur à réduire leur consommation énergétique.Les 50.000 salons de coiffure que compte la France pourront prochainement tenter d’obtenir un label vert qui marque un premier pas du secteur dans la voie du développement durable. L’attribution de ce label sera basée sur un nombre important de critères, et notamment la protection de l’environnement, la bonne qualité de l’air ambiant, la santé et le confort des employés et des clients, la gestion des déchets, les économies d’énergie ou encore la réduction de l’empreinte carbone. A ce jour, 600 salons en auraient déjà fait la demande.Selon la fédération nationale de la coiffure, cette initiative pourrait permettre en plus d’un important impact environnemental, de sensibles économies sur les factures d’eau et d’électricité des salons de coiffure. Une diminution qui pourrait atteindre jusqu’à 30%. Aujourd’hui, la consommation énergétique totale des salons français représente 600.000 mégawattheure par an. Pour Pierre Martin, le président de la fédération, cette consommation pourrait, grâce à la mise en place du label, être réduite de 16.000 mégawattheure, “soit l’équivalent de l’éclairage annuel d’une ville d’un million et demi d’habitants”. Quant à la consommation d’eau, c’est une économie de “700.500 mètres cubes d’eau par an sur une consommation totale de quelque 8 millions de mètres cubes” qui pourrait être réalisée, souligne-t-il.Le 14 novembre 2010 à 19:14 • Emmanuel Perrin
Les glaces de l’Arctique sont à leur plus bas niveau depuis 1972Samedi, des scientifiques allemands ont annoncé que l’étendue des glaces de l’Arctique se trouve désormais à son niveau le plus bas depuis 1972, selon des mesures effectuées le 8 septembre dernier.Alors que de nombreux scientifiques ne cessent d’alerter sur l’augmentation de la fonte des glaces, c’est une nouvelle préoccupante qu’ont annoncée samedi des chercheurs de l’Institut de physique environnementale de l’Université de Brême en Allemagne. Selon les dernières analyses qu’ils ont effectuées, l’étendue des glaces de l’Arctique aurait atteint un niveau critique, le plus bas jamais observé depuis le début des observations par satellite en 1972. Le 8 septembre dernier, les glaces du pôle Nord n’enrobaient plus que 4,24 millions de kilomètres carrés.À lire aussiQui est Greta Thunberg, proposée pour un prix Nobel à seulement 16 ans ?Il s’agit d’un “minimum historique”, environ 0,5% plus bas que le record mesuré en septembre 2007, a souligné Georg Heygster, responsable du département de télédétection de l’Institut. Selon le centre américain spécialisé dans l’observation de la neige et de la glace (NSIDC), le précédent record s’établissait à 4,1 millions de kilomètres carrés, mais celui-ci utilise des données et des modes de calcul légèrement différents, d’où l’écart entre les deux chiffres. Néanmoins, “les résultats sont cohérents dans les deux cas”, a assuré à l’AFP Georg Heygster, qui s’attend à ce que le NSIDC parvienne à la même conclusion que lui dans les prochains jours.D’après les scientifiques, la fonte des glaces durant l’été est un excellent indicateur du réchauffement climatique mais c’est aussi une véritable clé du phénomène, prouvant l’importance de l’impact des activités humaines sur le climat. “Le recul de la glace de mer ne peut plus être expliqué par la variabilité naturelle d’une année sur l’autre. Les modèles climatiques montrent plutôt que ce recul est lié au réchauffement climatique, particulièrement prononcé en Arctique du fait de l’albédo”, la fraction de l’énergie solaire réfléchie vers l’espace, a ajouté Georg Heygster. Une hausse deux fois plus forte des températuresEn effet, une étendue de mer de couleur foncée, absorbe plus de lumière solaire et donc de chaleur qu’une surface recouverte de neige ou de glace réfléchissante. Ainsi, dans la région arctique, les températures ont augmenté deux fois plus vite que les températures moyennes de ces cinquante dernières années. De même, l’épaisseur des glaces a considérablement diminué au cours des récentes décennies. Toutefois selon les chercheurs allemands, l’ampleur de ce dernier phénomène reste plus difficile à mesurer.Le 12 septembre 2011 à 11:02 • Maxime Lambert
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists injury-prone Adam Lallana still has a role to play for the Anfield side despite his fitness issues.The England international has suffered injury woes at Anfield as he only made 3 starts in all competitions last season and same number this season.Amid speculation of a possible exit, Manager Jurgen Klopp has now come out to dismiss such adding that the player still has a role to play for his side.“It’s brilliant to have him around as he can cool games down, he can be creative between the lines, he still has speed and all these things,” he said, via the Liverpool Echo as obtained by FourFourTwo.
Virgil van Dijk praises Roberto Firmino after Liverpool’s win Andrew Smyth – September 14, 2019 Virgil van Dijk hailed team-mate Roberto Firmino after coming off the bench to inspire Liverpool to a 3-1 comeback win against Newcastle United.“It’s not cool to lose him in a session, we didn’t have many training injuries this season. He stretched to get the ball and it happened. Nothing else to say about it.“Could he be in a better place mentally? Yes, if he was playing and had scored 20 goals in the last 10 games.“But everything is fine. Adam knows that we need him.”
A Vancouver gang member pleaded guilty Monday to gunning down a teenager Aug. 13 in the Hough neighborhood.Jeremy S. Piña, 21, of the Norteño gang is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 9 for shooting 18-year-old Nicholas Moline at least six times. Moline survived his injuries.In exchange for Piña’s guilty plea, prosecutors reduced his charge from first-degree attempted murder to first-degree assault, substantially reducing his potential sentence. Prosecutors and Piña’s court-appointed attorney, Jeff Barrar, plan to jointly recommend a sentence of nine years, Clark County Superior Court Judge Robert Lewis said.According to court documents, the shooting followed an ongoing dispute between Piña and Moline, which involved Piña making a threat. Court documents don’t reveal the nature of the dispute.The shooting occurred just after midnight in the roadway in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue. After paramedics responded, Moline told them that Piña — who had allegedly fled on a bicycle — was the shooter.A nearby home sustained damage from a gunshot, according to court documents.Piña was apprehended later that morning at his home at 2008 Markle Ave., just down the street from the shooting scene.Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Courts; http://facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.
New Galaxy S10 phones bring it Galaxy Fold is the most exciting phone we’ve seen in years Every camera lens and curve on the new Galaxy S10 phones What’s the difference in all the S10 models? Galaxy Buds with wireless charging arrive March 8 for $130 60 Photos 99+ Jul 9 • Killer cameras and battery life might meet their match in the Note 10 Close up with the Galaxy Fold screen, notch and hinge May 13 • Galaxy S10E vs. iPhone XR: Every spec compared Now playing: Watch this: Mobile World Congress 2019 Samsung Event More from Samsung Samsung flaunts Galaxy Fold at Unpacked Tags Comments Indeed, hard-core Samsung and gadget enthusiasts will gladly line up to be the first to own this device. They’ll be beta testers in this brand-new foldable adventure.Samsung knows this, which is why its safer Galaxy S10 line, alongside a Plus, 5G and budget variants, served as the meat of the Unpacked event. For most consumers, these devices will be more than sufficient for their needs. But if you’re thinking about the Galaxy Fold, here are a few reasons why you should reconsider.PriceYou think the $1,099 starting price of the iPhone XS Max is expensive? The Galaxy Fold will launch on April 26 at a staggering $1,980. 4:04 • Google Pixel The Galaxy Fold may be impressive, but there might not be a more perfect illustration of the hazards of being an early adopter. Credit goes to Samsung for getting a foldable phone to market before rivals, but it’s clear from our short first look at the device that a lot more polish and development needs to happen before this is ready for the average consumer. After all, the gadget was actually show on stage for a few minutes and wasn’t available for demos despite Unpacked being the phone’s launch event. “The Galaxy Fold is not intended to be a mass-market product, at least not yet,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techsponential. “It’s a halo product for Samsung, aimed at early adopters.” Preview • Pixel and Pixel XL unveiled: Google’s post-Nexus phones come out swinging (hands-on) How To • How to transfer your data from an iPhone to Android phone News • Google Pixel 3A: Where is AT&T? See All See it Next to the Fold, the $899 Galaxy S10 and the bigger $999 Galaxy S10 Plus are practically bargains. Though they’re decidedly more rigid. At a time when prices for smartphones are higher than ever, the Galaxy Fold breaks new ground in terms of its potential to eat into your wallet. Justin Denison, marketing executive for Samsung, put it best: “It’s a one of a kind luxury device.”Read: Mate X: Huawei’s $2,600 foldable phone steps up to Galaxy Fold with three screens, four rear cameras, 5G User interfaceSamsung has said it had to rethink the software and user interface to take advantage of the two displays. It’s admirable the company took care in considering the new design, but Samsung has a mixed record when it comes to software. The Galaxy Fold works well with Google Maps. CNET The early days of Touch Wiz were abysmal, and though the Samsung experience has come a long way, it still lacks the cleaner interfaces found on rival devices like Google’s Pixel phones or OnePlus devices.What Samsung showed off Wednesday looked promising. The device will be able to run three apps at once, and the seamless flow between the smaller display and the larger one works well in the demos. But we won’t know for sure till we get our hands on the gadget. Given how niche this device will be, app support should be abysmal at first. Google said it would support foldable devices with its next Android update, but that won’t come until the second half of the year. For now Samsung touted Google Maps and video from Netflix as examples of apps that’ll take advantage of the larger screen. BatteryWe won’t know just how long the Galaxy Fold’s battery lasts until we run proper tests, but the demands of not one, but two displays — including a massive folding one — don’t bode well for the Galaxy Fold. Samsung seems to know this, and it touted the inclusion of two separate batteries running the device. SizeThe downside of a foldable phone is, well, it folds. Two halves mean a device that’s going to be thicker than even the bulkiest of smartphones. That comes at a time when phone makers are shaving millimeters off their devices and talking about sleek design. The Galaxy Fold appears to be less bulky than the prototype Samsung showed off in November, but it’s still easily twice as thick as your standard phone. So just wait till you try to stuff it in the side pocket of your skinny jeans. 
The Galaxy Fold comes in four colors. Juan Garzon/CNET DurabilityThis one is the real x-factor. Samsung touted the proprietary articulated spine, as well as the coating on the glass that protects the foldable part from wear-and-tear damage. But even if Samsung has tested these phones, it’s unclear just how durable they are. Also, good luck dealing with the device if you’ve scratched or cracked the screen. You’re not going to be able to bring this to any screen repair shop to get it fixed. 
The Galaxy Fold has a massive 7.3-inch display. CNET To the foldable pioneersIf you’re the type of person who needs to have the latest and greatest no matter what — well, why are you even reading this story? Concerns like price and battery life probably aren’t too critical, since this isn’t likely your only phone. “It will sell out and become a status symbol,” said Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insight. So, to those early adopters willing to brave the new world of foldable phones, eventually leading to more-polished products for the rest of us, I salute you.But for now, I’ll stick to my boring rectangular slab of glass and metal. First published Feb. 21, 5 a.m. PT. Mentioned Above Google Pixel (32GB, Quite Black) Review • Our Google Pixel review: Pure Android at its absolute best Mobile World Congress 2019 CNET may get a commission from retail offers. Samsung announces its new foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold. James Martin/CNET Foldable smartphones like Samsung’s Galaxy Fold point to a bright future for the mobile world. But that doesn’t mean you should hop on the bandwagon now. Samsung on Wednesday finally offered a longer, closer look at the Galaxy Fold, a smartphone that unfolds like a book to reveal a second, larger display. It’s the stuff of sci-fi magic, and it opens the door to a whole new world of different designs and devices. Most notably, it leaves Apple’s iPhone franchise, which hasn’t had a major facelift in more than a year, in the dust. Jun 1 • The Nubia Alpha looks like either a house arrest bracelet or Batman’s phone Share your voice Phones reading • Galaxy Fold outdoes the iPhone XS. Here’s why you still won’t buy one Jun 29 • Galaxy S10 5G, OnePlus 7 Pro LG V50 ThinQ 5G: Why you shouldn’t rush to buy a 5G phone $219 Google Samsung
Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @aprn.Download AudioWith School Choice Resolution, Legislature Revisits Voucher Question Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – JuneauWith a crowd of charter school students in the gallery, the Alaska State House used a school choice resolution as a proxy for a debate on vouchers.Walker Files Bill Creating Marijuana Control Board Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – JuneauJust one day before marijuana possession becomes legal in Alaska, Gov. Bill Walker has filed legislation to create a marijuana control board.Marijuana Legalization Questions Linger Dan Bross, KUAC – FairbanksA lot of questions remain about how marijuana legalization will work.Bethel District Attorney Fired By State Ben Matheson, KYUK – BethelBethel’s District Attorney has been fired by the state of Alaska. While working in the office Sunday, June Stein received a letter from a Deputy Attorney General of her quote “impending release.”As Budgets Shrink, State Eyes Cuts to Film Incentives Lauren Rosenthal, KUCB – UnalaskaFor the last seven years, Alaska’s offered financial incentives to draw filmmakers and reality TV crews to the state. But as lawmakers scramble to fill a widening gap in the budget, Alaska’s film tax credit program is on the chopping block.Judge Hears Arguments On Stay In Education Lawsuit Leila Kheiry, KRBD – KetchikanKetchikan Superior Court Judge William Carey heard arguments Friday over whether he should approve a stay of his January decision that the State of Alaska’s requirement that local communities provide a specific amount for public education violates the Alaska Constitution.Holly Brooks Wins American Birkebeiner Ski Race Lori Townsend, APRN – AnchorageHolly Brooks won the 51 kilometer American Birkebeiner ski race in Hayward Wisconsin this Saturday. Brooks is leading the International Ski Federation- or FIS– Marathon Cup- competing in long distance races in Europe, the U.S and later this spring- Russia. She gave up her spot on the U.S. Ski team to pursue an overall win on the Marathon Cup this season.DEC, Coast Guard Respond To Statter Harbor Oil Spill Casey Kelly, KTOO – JuneauState environmental officials and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating an oil spill at Statter Harbor in Juneau’s Auke Bay.ANSEP Builds Bridges For Middle Schoolers To Science Education Anne Hillman, KSKA – AnchorageMiddle School students from around the state are participating in the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program at UAA this year. Forty-eight students from the Lower Yukon and Northwest Arctic Borough completed the two-week residential program on Friday but their learning doesn’t stop there.Haines Artists Collaborate On Sixth Percent For Art Mosaic Emily Files, KHNS – HainesAlaska law requires one percent of construction costs for public buildings go toward paying for art installations. An artist couple in Haines has found success with the program by creating mosaic murals for schools. They’re now working on their sixth project – a mosaic for the Valley Pathways School in Palmer.
There are many cities across the UK with a street named The Shambles, such as Manchester, Worcester, Chesterfield, Whitby, and Chippenham. But no other quite resembles the uniqueness of the Shambles in York, a narrow street of authentic medieval shops and houses that used to accommodate a large amount of the city’s butchers.This magical piece of history is also renowned as J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley.Probably the most famous street in York, Shambles has been a shopping street since Tudor times and is possibly Europe’s most visited street.The word “Shamble” derives from the Old English words “sceamel” which means booth or bench.In the past, this famous street in York used to be called the Great Flesh Shambles, from the Anglo-Saxon word Fleshammels, which were shelves for butchers’ meat, writes Alan Franks in his article “What a Shambles: a walk around York’s ancient walls and alleys,” for The Guardian.The Shambles in heart of the city of York, England has changed very litle since it was first built hundreds of years ago and is visited by thousands of tourists every week of the year. Taken just after dark to show the street and window lights of the shops.York’s 900-year-old Shambles is known as “Europe’s best preserved” medieval street, as well as winning Google’s “Most Picturesque Street in Britain” in 2018.According to History of York website, many of the buildings on the street today were built between 1350 and 1475, while the long existence of the street was confirmed by its first mention in the Doomsday Book of 1086, a manuscript ordered by William the Conqueror.Early morning on the famous narrow medieval street in the historic centre of York, filled with shops, pubs and cafes.The buildings on Shambles have recognizable 15th century overhanging upper storys that lean towards each other, seemingly almost close enough to touch.York, UK – A woman walking along Shambles, one of the best known historical streets in Europe.The street would have been the place to buy meat in York; records show there were as many as 26 butchers shops, but none remain today.Much of the livestock was slaughtered on site, and the butchers would all wash out their premises twice a week, sending a river of blood and offal down the gently sloping street towards Fossgate.Shambles alley at sunset, York, England.So to make sure people could keep their feet clear of the waste, the pavements were raised on both sides, forming the cobbled channel that runs down the middle.Since the streets served for disposal of waste from the butcher’s shops, people threw their domestic garbage from the windows above the street into them as well. This only added to the unsanitary conditions.Shambles is probably the most famous street in York.Nowadays, tourists who visit the street can see original butcher’s hooks hung on the front of the shops or below the windows, even though the last butcher’s shut in 1872.Shambles — now a popular tourist destinationAnd while there is no butchers shop to buy meat, there are numerous shops to grab a bite such as an Italian bakery or the traditional Shambles Tavern.There are also cafes, pastries, handmade chocolates, jewelry shops, and various souvenir shops — Harry Potter fans will even find a place to buy themselves a new wand.The Shambles by night. Photo by Sebastian Mrozek CC BY-SA 3.0If you are ever visiting York, don’t miss the opportunity to take a walk along Shambles and examine its architecture. The street is very narrow by modern standards and one gets the impression of taking a step back in time.There is even a myth that at some sections of the street if you stretch your hands, you will be able to touch the house on the other side.Among the many charming buildings, number 35 is distinguished by its significance: the home of Saint Margaret Clitherow, known as the Pearl of York.Read another story from us: A Walk Through History – The Ancient Pilgrimage Route from Canterbury to RomeAccording to the BBC’s The Pearl of York, written by Carole Green, Margaret was married to a prosperous Shambles butcher and in 1574, during the Protestant Reformation, she converted to Catholicism.She took to hiding Catholic priests and clergy vestments in her home but was betrayed to the authorities and arrested. Centuries later, Margert Clitherow was canonized, and in the 1970s her home was turned into a shrine.
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