Istanbul: A crackdown on unregistered migrants in Istanbul has seen 6,000 arrests including Syrians in the past two weeks, the interior minister said Wednesday. There has been concern in recent days over reports that hundreds of Syrian refugees have been sent back to Syria, after being forced to sign consent forms in Turkish that they do not understand. Soylu denied the claims. “We have been carrying out an operation since July 12… We have caught 6,122 people in Istanbul, including 2,600 Afghans,” Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told TV station NTV. He said Syrians were part of the group, without giving numbers. Also Read – Saudi Crown Prince ‘snubbed’ Pak PM, recalled jet from US”When we catch Syrians who are not registered, we send them to refugee camps,” he said, citing a camp in the Turkish border province of Hatay. However, he said some Syrians were choosing to go back to their home country “voluntarily” to areas where fighting has abated. Turkey has more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees — the highest number in the world. Most have “temporary protection” permits but these restrict them to the province in which they were registered. The current crackdown is aimed at those who live in Istanbul without a permit to stay in the city. A coalition of Syrian NGOs said Monday that more than 600 Syrians — mostly with protection permits issued in other provinces — were arrested in Istanbul last week and deported back to Syria, rather than to their assigned provinces. The crackdown is orchestrated by the Istanbul governor’s office, which is controlled by the central government in Ankara.
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Detached from praises and pressure while acting
Mumbai: From some of the dialogues to funny memes, his character of Ganesh Gaitonde is one of the popular characters in his career, not only among Indian audiences but also globally thanks to the web TV series ‘Sacred Games’. National award-winning actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui says that when he faces the camera he keeps the praise aside. Talking about the impact of the first reason where he received only positive feedback, Nawazuddin said, “It is overwhelming of course. But when I perform, approach a scene, I detach myself from all the praises, and expectation of people. That is why I do not feel pressured and put my blinkers on to my performance. Praises and good words do not put me in ease to take my performance casually neither does it put any pressure on me.” Keeping himself busy shooting multiple projects and living with several characters in a film, this was the first time in his life that he revisited a character again, for the shooting of the new season. ‘Sacred Games 2’, directed by Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghawyan also featuring actors like Pankaj Tripathi, Kalki Koechlin, Ranvir Shorey, among others.
PM not budging on SNCLavalin controversy dogging his government
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is signalling that his view of the SNC-Lavalin controversy has not budged despite a swirl of developments in the last week.Trudeau says he remains disappointed and surprised by Jody Wilson-Raybould’s decision to resign from cabinet — even though she spoke to ministers behind closed doors on Tuesday.Wilson-Raybould resigned last week amid allegations she was improperly pressured by the Prime Minister’s Office to allow Quebec engineering firm SNC-Lavalin to negotiate a settlement rather than be prosecuted for bribery and fraud over its work in Libya.She remains a Liberal MP and met with both cabinet members and the Liberal caucus this week.Trudeau has acknowledged there were conversations between himself and his advisers with Wilson-Raybould about SNC-Lavalin but that he has always told her the decision on an alternative to prosecution was entirely hers to make.Wilson-Raybould said in the House of Commons on Wednesday that she wanted a chance to speak, but that confidentiality wasn’t hers to waive.The Canadian Press
Spanish Police Arrest Moroccan on French Warrant for Drug Trafficking
Rabat – Spanish police have arrested a 38-year-old Moroccan in Tarifa, southern Spain, who was the subject of a European warrant.French authorities, according to Europa Press, issued a European arrest warrant for the Moroccan who is suspected of committing “crimes of drug trafficking and participation in a criminal network.”The network, according to Spanish media, is suspected of trafficking cannabis between Morocco and European countries, such as France, Spain, and Belgium, by bus. La Vanguardia reported that the suspect was stopped by the police when he was planning to leave Spain for Morocco. The port of Tarifa operates daily ferries to Morocco.The police said in a statement that the suspect could receive a sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted, for crimes of trafficking drugs and for a connection with a criminal network.Morocco and Spain share strong cooperation in countering terrorism and fighting transnational criminal networks.Read also: Morocco Refuses to Receive Moroccan Criminal from BelgiumIn March, Moroccan police arrested a Spanish national in Tetouan, northern Morocco, who was the subject of an international arrest warrant from the Spanish judicial police and an Interpol red notice.After King Felipe VI of Spain’s visit to Morocco in February, Spain and Morocco signed an agreement to combat terrorism; track down terrorist financing; and fight drug trafficking, human trafficking, arbitrary arrest and detention, property crimes, money laundering, illicit trade of firearms, explosives, and nuclear materials.
Google to acquire data firm Looker for 26 billion
NEW YORK — Google is acquiring data analytics firm Looker for $2.6 billion cash in an effort to expand its Google Cloud business.The company says Looker will give its cloud-computing customers more ways to use their data. The companies were already working together and share about 350 customers including Buzzfeed, Hearst and Yahoo! The deal is expected to close later this year.Cloud computing involves companies using remote servers to house their data rather than storing things locally. Amazon, Microsoft, IBM and Alphabet Inc.’s Google are some of the biggest players in the increasingly competitive market.The Associated Press
Bandula slams attempt to silence opposition
However Sumathipala said that Aluthgamage, who was not in Parliament at the time, was on his way and so his time cannot be taken.Gunawardena then cut short his speech and said that he would make a statement outside Parliament on what he wants to say on issues related to the Education Ministry. (Colombo Gazette) Joint opposition member Bandula Gunawardena today accused Parliament of attempting to silence the voice of the opposition.Speaking during the 2016 budget debate Gunawardena said that the opposition should be given a fair chance to express their views on issues. The former Education Minister then said that he will take some time from the time allocated for United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage to speak in Parliament today. Gunawardena had requested for extra time to make a speech on the budget allocation for the Education Ministry but Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala turned down the request.
International internship leads to positive research mentorship in Health Sciences
An international internship at Brock will allow a visiting student from France to learn about many different kinds of cultures at the University.An international internship at Brock will allow a visiting student from France to learn about many different kinds of cultures at the University.Inside the lab, Marine Morfaux has worked with Brock health sciences researchers to learn about cell cultures and other cell biology research techniques. Outside the lab, she has gained insights into Canadian culture and the unique Brock experience.Morfaux will be entering her third year of studies in the food and health program at the Institut Polytechnique Lasalle Beauvais in France. However, she will spend the next four months in the Cairn’s research labs gaining research experience as part of the University’s mentorship program, which is also a requirement for her to complete her degree.“She is a fast learner and has shown a strong interest in research,” says Evangelia Litsa Tsiani, an associate professor in Brock’s Department of Health Sciences. “I hope her experience here at Brock will impact her future career choices towards science and research.”From left: Jessy Moore, Marine Morfaux and Madina Naim.“As well, I believe this is a positive experience for my graduate students Jessy Moore and Madina Naimi, who have helped her to adjust and are being provided the opportunity to act as lab supervisors thus increasing their teaching, time management and communication skills.”According to Tsiani, the experience demonstrates how different perspectives and levels of experience can contribute to the learning process.“So far this has been a very rewarding experience,” says Morfaux “I am living an unforgettable experience, which is allowing me to grow professionally and as an individual.”Morfaux also acknowledged the support she’s received from Tsiani, her two graduate students, as well as Brock’s International Center and the University’s mentorship program.“In Dr. Tsiani’s lab, I have been provided with the opportunity to be involved in research and learn valuable laboratory techniques,” Morfaux adds. “Most importantly I have found a great team who are willing to answer any question I have and share their knowledge on cell culture and general lab techniques. It is definitely an eye opening experience.”Research in Tsiani’s lab is focused on understanding the cell signaling pathways that are involved in diseases such as diabetes and cancer and on finding new chemicals/compounds to prevent and treat these diseases. They use human cancer cells and cellular models of insulin resistance/diabetes in their search for novel compounds, some of which are found in herbal extracts.“I believe this is a gain for all involved by participating in international activities and hosting students from abroad,” says Tsiani, who has hosted two other students from the same institution in the past.“The Brock international office provides an excellent support and deals with all the details regarding student visa, insurance, accommodation arrangements and even transportation to and from the airport,” she says. “This is a great support for faculty members and I wish to thank all the staff at the international office for their excellent service.”
Bartica Police trio charged for allegedly stealing miners money
Three officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were on Thursday morning jointly charged for simple larceny by the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.Delon SobersThe charge was read to Delon Sobers, 24, of Soesdyke Linden Highway and Tevon Hedley, 23, of Mckenzie Linden (Region-Ten), in absence of their alleged accomplice, Neil Yarris, who failed to make an appearance before the court.It is alleged that the trio stole $500,000 cash from gold miner, Brian Atkinson on October 11, 2017 at Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).Defense attorney, Mark Conway, told the court that on the day in question both of his clients were on duty while further contending that nothing was recovered in their possession.Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers posed no objection to bail and the Chief Magistrate granted same to the accused men, fixed at the sum of $70,000 while ordering that the matter be transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for trial. This case is expected to be called again on December 15, 2017.Conditions of the bail require the defendants to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters once per week pending the outcome of trial.Tevon HedleyAccording to media reports, the three ranks who are attached to the Bartica Police Station, had reportedly arrested the complainant (Atkinson) who is the general manager of his family’s mining operations. Atkinson had at the time of his arrest some $1.2 M in his possession, the proceeds of a gold sale that his father reportedly did not authorise.Further reports by the complainant indicate that the policemen while transporting him to the Bartica Police Station, allegedly attempted to cut a deal with Atkinson for his release.According to the complainant, after he refused the deal, the officers reportedly took the monies anyway.Upon arrival at the police station the complainant discovered that the cash was short by $500,000 after it was counted in his presence. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)RelatedBartica trio charged with theft of boat engineJune 11, 2018In “Court”‘Michael Jackson’ on $100,000 bail for larceny chargesMarch 2, 2016In “Crime”Three Dominican Republic nationals fined for overstaying in Guyana – to be deportedJuly 15, 2016In “Court”
Maaden to implement Ventyxs Intelligent Mining Solutions across existing and developing Saudi
Ventyx, an ABB company, has signed a $2.8 million deal with Ma’aden Gold and Base Metals Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ma’aden, the largest mining company in Saudi Arabia. Ventyx will supply its market-leading mining operations software solutions to enhance planning and performance in Ma’aden’s gold operations. A diversified mining company, Ma’aden will implement Ventyx Intelligent Mining Solutions across the four existing mines of its Ma’aden Gold and Base Metals subsidiary. The company also has plans to significantly expand its gold production in the coming years with a number of new projects due to come online. “Ventyx has a long and successful record of helping complex, large-scale mining operations such as ours to optimize their performance,” said Yahia AlShangiti, President of Ma’aden Gold and Base Metals Company. “We have been impressed with both the company’s deep domain expertise in mining, and the power and flexibility of the software. We anticipate that Ventyx will be a strong partner for us.”Specifically, Ma’aden is deploying two core mining applications from Ventyx’s mining software portfolio: Ventyx Production Accounting, which streamlines metal accounting and provides insight into plant performance, and Ventyx MineMarket, which allows mining companies to track ore movements from the mine to the plant, manage stockpiles, track and manage logistics, and manage the complex sales and service contracts related to delivering product to customers.“The Saudi mining sector is growing and widely expected to become a ‘third pillar’ of Saudi Arabian industry,” said Craig Jones, COO, Ventyx. “This is a strategically important agreement with Ma’aden, in which we’re partnering with the region’s largest mining company to help further their mining operations. We also see excellent growth possibilities for Ventyx in this important mining region, and will be looking for opportunities to continue expanding our footprint.”Ma’aden was established as a Saudi Arabian joint stock company in March 1997 to facilitate the development of Saudi Arabia’s non-petroleum mineral resources and to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from the petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Ma’aden is engaged in the development, advancement and improvement of all aspects of the mineral industry, mineral products and by-products, and related industries in Saudi Arabia. It currently has operations in gold, phosphate and industrial minerals, is constructing a fully integrated mine to rolled product aluminum joint venture with Alcoa, and has significant exploration activities underway in Saudi Arabia (see the Saudi article in International Mining’s August issue).
Google Doodle celebrates Disney Legend Mary Blair
When I was growing up Disney cartoons and feature-length films were something you looked forward to appearing on TV every major holiday, and Disneyland was a place that I always wanted my parents to take me to. But it was always seen as just Disney the brand, never the clever and talented people behind it.The Google Doodle today aims to change that by highlighting one of Walt Disney’s best artists. She was so good in fact, she was honored with the title of Disney Legend.Her name was Mary Blair, and today she would have been 100 years old. Not many of us reach three digits though, and Blair was no exception. She died in 1978, but left behind an impressive portfolio of work that helped shape a number of Disney’s most celebrated works.Mary Blair was a concept artist first and foremost. Her work at the Walt Disney Company included creating the concept art for Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Song of the South. However, if you’ve visited Disneyland, you will also have seen her work on display there.Blair was behind the giant mosaic in the Walt Disney World Resort known as Disney’s Contemporary Resort. She created the characters for the interior boat cruise called It’s a Small World in Fantasyland, and a fiesta scene located at Epoch’s World Showcase as part of El Rio del Tempo.Not content with just Disney character creation, Blair also applied her drawing talents to children’s books. The image you see above is the front cover of I Can Fly, a book that she illustrated for author Ruth Krauss.If you’re wondering about the Google Doodle design, it is meant to represent a self-portrait as Blair would have drawn it. The use of simple shapes and patterns was what made her work so recognizable.Thanks to Wikipedia for background information.
Le Taurus G4 un avion électrique primé par la NASA
Le Taurus G4, un avion électrique primé par la NASALa NASA a accordé à une compagnie américaine un prix de 1,35 millions de dollars pour le développement d’un avion électrique ultra-économique qui a remporté la première place lors du Green Flight Challenge organisé par l’agence spatiale. L’avion Taurus G4 du constructeur slovène Pipistrel a gagné un prix de 1,35 million de dollars décerné par la NASA, elle-même lors du Green Flight Challenge qu’elle organisait entre le 25 septembre et le 1er octobre. Sa prouesse ? Avoir parcouru plus de 320 kilomètres en moins de deux heures. Une performance qui lui a permis de se placer loin devant 13 autres aéronefs également en compétition, indique CNN. À lire aussiApollo 11 : À quoi la conquête spatiale ressemblera-t-elle dans 50 ans ?Mais si cette prouesse n’apparait pas impressionnante pour un avion, il faut tout de même préciser que le Taurus n’est pas engin comme les autres. L’objectif de la compétition était en effet de voler sur 320 kilomètres (200 miles) en maximum deux heures avec moins de quatre litres de pétrole ou l’équivalent en électricité pour chaque passager. Le Pipistrel a gagné en utilisant a peine plus de la moitié de ses quatre litres de gaz par passager, ce qui a fait de lui l’avion électrique le plus économique de la compétition. Le chef de l’équipe à l’origine de l’avion Jack Langelaan a expliqué : il y “a deux ans seulement, imaginer voler sur 320 kilomètres à la vitesse de 160 kilomètres par heure dans un avion électrique restait de la science-fiction. Maintenant, nous sommes impatients de mettre au point une flotte d’avions électriques”. Le 6 octobre 2011 à 18:48 • Maxime Lambert
Fox Williams to discuss pensions autoreenrolment at Employee Benefits Live
EXCLUSIVE: Helen Farr (pictured), partner at law firm Fox Williams, will discuss what employers need to consider around pensions auto-re-enrolment and the potential legal pitfalls at Employee Benefits Live 2017.The session, titled ‘Getting auto-re-enrolment right’, will form part of the workplace pensions conference stream on Tuesday 10 October.During the session, Farr will explain employers’ legal obligations around pensions auto-re-enrolment, and talk through some of the common mistakes and challenges that employers should be aware of when completing their pension duties.Farr will discuss issues such as which employees qualify for auto-enrolment and re-enrolment, difficulties around the relevant re-enrolment earnings trigger, for example, if employees perform different job roles for the same employer with each job earning under the £10,000 earning threshold, and also how the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) auto-enrolment review could impact on workplace pensions processes, for example, taking into account employees who perform different part-time job roles for different employers.In addition, Farr will highlight the issues around opting out of a workplace pension, explaining that employers cannot be seen to be forcing employees to opt out of their occupational pension arrangement. She will also speak about the compliance obligations, for example, the records that need to be kept up to date and the information that The Pensions Regulator (TPR) needs to remain informed about. In line with this, Farr will speak about the penalties of non-compliance, which is especially pertinent TPR tightens its enforcement action.Farr will also showcase the business benefits of auto-enrolment and re-enrolment, explaining how this can give employers the opportunity to re-assess their pensions provision, and talk about communications to employees.She said: “I [want] to focus on the pitfalls of auto-enrolment that [employers] need to be aware of when they’re re-enrolling, and then the business benefits. But also, to really focus on the fact that the evidence is that The Pensions Regulator seems to be tightening its regime.“It’s important to discuss [auto-re-enrolment] because, from a regulatory and compliance perspective, obviously there are quite reputational and financial penalties if [employers] get it wrong, so [they’ve] got to be seen to be compliant.“Just because [employers] might have gone through the process of auto-enrolling staff three years ago and [they’ve] complied, please don’t overlook this, because [TPR] is going to be checking that employers are complying and it’s important that people handle it in an appropriate way and a responsible way to avoid regulatory sanction and reputational issues for their business.”Employee Benefits Live 2017 will take place on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 October at Olympia National, London.For more information or to book your place.
Can India top Vietnam in mobile phone exports to US as China
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphone. Vietnam has been successful in luring the manufacturers fleeing China fearing more US sanctions over the trade war.TwitterIndia is confident of luring mobile phone makers leaving China for Vietnam fearing the US sanctions as President Donald Trump threatens to escalate a trade war with the Asian giant. A panel led by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant is firming up a strategy that could ease the process for the mobile phone manufacturers to set up production centres in India, media reports suggest. The panel’s task is to prepare a blueprint to snatch back the initiative from Vietnam, which surged ahead of India after trailing it for some time.The Kant panel whose recommendations are expected soon boost electronic items’ export in general and mobile phones in particular, a report in the financial Express website said. The government set up the committee in the context of the failure of India’s phased manufacturing programme (PMP) for mobiles under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s the Make in India initiative while production of mobile handsets grew but imports outpaced it.Indian authorities reckon that higher unit production cost is the reason that the manufacturers fleeing China to escape the US trade sanctions are shunning India for Vietnam. The Kant panel will suggest a programme to ensure that the production cost in India remains competitive.India had headstartIndia’s apparent headstart by producing 140 million handsets compared with 38 million in Vietnam, gradually disappeared with smartphone sales rocketing, the report says. While both the countries produced a similar number of phones in 2017, Vietnam went way ahead following the closure of the Nokia factory in Chennai. Indian exports plummeted from the peak $4 billion, the report says. Last year saw a mild recovery to $2.7 billion. Vietnamese exports, however, have surged from $2.3 billion in 2010 to $49 billion in 2018. A Vietnam street. Vietnam is fast catching up with China in electronics exports.HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty ImagesFact is Vietnam is pacing ahead of India on several other electronic products. Trade statistics show that while India’s exports of electronic goods other than mobile phones have been flat around $5 billion since the beginning of the decade, Vietnam’s exports rose about 10 times, from $3.6 billion in 2010 to $34.5 billion last year, reports show.Industry experts say India may have to match Vietnam in providing a better industrial environment to find success in luring some of the manufacturers eyeing Vietnam. The tax breaks that corporate houses enjoy in Vietnam are termed to have a lot of attraction for large manufacturers.New world economic order Though nowhere near China’s dominance over global exports at 60 per cent, Vietnam is said to be an emerging powerhouse with already 10 per cent of the export market. Big players like Samsung have moved to Vietnam to hedge their investment in case of a long standoff between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.The report quotes Counterpoint research associate director Tarun Pathak as saying, “Vietnam has a competitive edge over China in terms of labour and manufacturing costs, though China still dominates in terms of skill set, infrastructure and overall manufacturing efficiency.” India is not limiting its focus on electronics while anticipating a new world economic order. The Commerce Ministry under Piyush Goyal reckons that India can boost exports of some 350 products such as chemicals and granite to both US and China. A study by the Ministry officials says there are more than 150 products whose exports to China will gain traction because of the trade war. It has also identified that more than 200 Indian goods from rubber to graphite electrodes can substitute Chinese products. IBTimes VideoRelated VideosMore videos Play VideoPauseMute0:00/1:05Loaded: 0%0:01Progress: 0%Stream TypeLIVE-1:05?Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedSubtitlessubtitles settings, opens subtitles settings dialogsubtitles off, selectedAudio Trackdefault, selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window. COPY LINKAD Loading … Close
Trump: China Tariffs Are Not Being Paid For By Our People
PHOTOS Nicaraguas Momotombo Volcano still putting on a show
By all appearances, Nicaragua’s formerly sleeping giant Momotombo ain’t going back to bed just yet.The picturesque stratovolcano, located near the city of León, continued erupting Sunday morning when these pictures were taken. Momotombo, on the northern edge of Lake Managua, about 40 kilometers northwest of Nicaragua’s capital, erupted for the first time in 110 years on Dec. 1, 2015, sending geologists and local townspeople into a tizzy. In fact, there’s been so much volcanic and seismic activity in Nicaragua lately that experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Nicaragua and Costa Rica are carefully studying and observing the situation. (Google Maps)According to the AFP, citing Nicaragua government spokeswoman and first lady Rosario Murillo, geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey and other institutions announced last week that they are studying and assessing risks from Momotombo and other active volcanoes in the country, including Télica and Masaya. In an unexpected and simultaneous event, Momotombo, Télica and Masaya began eruptive processes at about the same time, and another location, Cerro Negro, experienced ongoing seismic activity last week. Nicaragua’s Momotombo Volcano continues to erupt after a century of inactivity, on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016. Álvaro Sánchez/The Tico TimesTo date, the 1,297-meter-tall Momotombo hasn’t placed any nearby residents in danger, but that’s not to say it couldn’t. In 1610, a Momotombo eruption forced residents of the then-Spanish city of León to relocate 50 km to the west.“The danger of this seismic activity is because it’s from Plinian eruptions, which are characterized by a high level of explosiveness,” Nicaragua’s Seismology Network said in a statement. Plinian eruptions are the largest of all types of volcanic eruptions.We’ll continue to keep an eye on the situation. Meanwhile, have Momotombo photos you want to share? Post them on our Facebook page in the comments section.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH1c9Fu82nQ Facebook Comments Related posts:PHOTOS: A close-up look at Nicaragua’s Momotombo Volcano Telica Volcano erupts in Nicaragua Costa Rica’s Turrialba Volcano sees new ash, gas explosions Guatemala’s Fuego Volcano kicks off new year with quite a show
Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps offers Electrifying Ride
Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps offers Electrifying RideSix Senses Kitzbuehel Alps offers Electrifying RideThere’s a whole new meaning to freeriding at Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps. Residential owners who purchase a chalet at the sustainable resort development, which is set to open in summer 2021, will be among the first to own and drive the latest all-electric Porsche Taycan. The all new zero-emissions supercar which will take Porsche into a new era is the perfect accessory for a chalet that not only aims to set new standards in Alpine aesthetics but also defines the very essence of sustainable living.Supporting the Six Senses commitment to look after the environment and communities where it operates, the Taycan (which translates as lively young horse) marks Porsche’s entry into the electric market. The Taycan’s revolutionary technology can charge 63 miles (100 kilometers) range in just 4 minutes.“Sustainability is not just about what we do, but who we do it with,” said Bernhard Bohnenberger, president of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. “Our relationship with Porsche and its zero-emission model underlines our position to build and operate in ways that minimizes our ecological impact.”The Taycan is expected to have a minimum range of 311 miles (500 kilometers) and its top model can sprint from 0 to 62 miles (0 to 100 kilometers) in under 3 seconds. It presents itself as both, a pure breed sports car and a comfortable ride, engineered for every terrain. The Taycan truly is a silent force of nature.Its four-wheel drive capability ensures that owners will be able to carve with confidence both on the piste and on the road.“It’s not only about the excitement the car exudes, and the added value for the chalet buyer – this strategic alliance has deeper roots. With what we do, we want to ensure that our planet remains a safe and stable environment, full of natural wonders, for generations to come. We must take responsibility. Six Senses aims to be plastic free by 2022, Porsche are now diesel free. This is a clear signal that both brands are thinking in the same direction. All we do is plant the seed,” said Michael Staininger, co-developer of Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps.“This is the perfect synergy. The evolution of alpine real estate, paired with the evolution of the Porsche sports car. We not only want to embrace the future, we want to shape it.” said Klaus Maerzendorfer, head of sales at Porsche Austria.Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps lies just 20 minutes from the eponymous town center, high above the village of Jochberg in the Austrian Tyrol. The resort faces the majestic peaks of the Hohe Tauern – the largest nature reserve in the Alps – and borders a protected moss land where wild orchids bloom in the summer months. It features 80 guest accommodations and a small village of 50 private residences available for sale, 15 of which are freestanding top of the line chalets.Future owners can select from four- to five-bedroom chalets and also one- to four-bedroom apartments. All privately-owned units can be placed into the resort’s rental pool. As with all Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas projects, architecture and design blend into their surroundings. Architecture by IAW fuses with the artistic craftsmanship of master designer Martin Brudnizki to create a modern interpretation of classic Alpine style. Natural light and materials such as stone and wood create a warm and stylishly comfortable atmosphere, while energy efficiency and home technology are both put to good use.Additional highlights include the resort’s private access to the ski slopes and the availability of all Six Senses services to private property owners including a Six Senses spa and pioneering wellness concept.The Kitzbuehel region is a year-round alpine destination, featuring world-class ski slopes, outdoor activities plus excellent entertainment, dining and shopping. Hosting the greatest and most spectacular downhill race in the world, the charming little town with centuries of history and traditions has become an incomparable sports and jet set hub. Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps is located 120 minutes by car from Munich, and 90 minutes from Salzburg and Innsbruck airports.For more information regarding chalet ownership at Six Senses Residences Kitzbuehel Alps, please contact Michael Staininger by phone +43 (676) 931 0039 or +1 (917) 963 4335 for the US or email sales@kitzbuehelalps.com Source = Six Senses Kitzbuehel Alps
Go back to the enewsletter Singapore Airlines has
Go back to the enewsletterSingapore Airlines has chosen Adelaide as the launch destination for its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft fitted with all new medium-haul cabin products.Launching on 18 December from Adelaide, subject to regulatory approval, flight SQ278/279 will be operated daily by the two-class, 303-seat A350-900, providing South Australian customers first access to an unparalleled level of comfort and technology and increasing capacity by nearly 7%.The new A350-900 medium-haul aircraft is equipped with the airline’s recently launched new medium-haul Business class and Economy class cabin products and features 40 seats in Business class and 263 seats in Economy. The Business cabin boasts a 1-2-1 seat arrangement, providing every customer with direct aisle access, while the Economy cabin will be arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration.The A350-900 medium-haul will be fitted with the latest Thales AVANT in-flight entertainment system. Designed with a new user interface that offers a more intuitive user experience and navigation options, customers will be able to enjoy Singapore Airlines’ myKrisWorld personalised in-flight entertainment (IFE) now with even greater control. The jet will also be equipped with Inmarsat GX Aviation’s high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi, offered through SITAONAIR.“We have proudly operated services to Adelaide since 1984 and the deployment of our first A350-900 medium-haul aircraft with our new medium-haul cabin products to the South Australian capital is an exciting new chapter in our 34-year history,” Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President, South West Pacific, Mr Philip Goh said.“The decision to deliver increased capacity to the city reinforces our commitment to South Australia and will provide more opportunities to grow inbound and outbound travel.“The introduction of the new aircraft will allow us to better serve the South Australian travel market and continue to provide our customers with a premium service offering.Goh also announced that Brisbane would be the second Australian city to receive the A350-900 with the medium-haul cabin products, subject to regulatory approval, increasing lift by about 5%.“To better meet the growing demands of the market in Brisbane, we will deploy the medium-haul A350-900 with more Economy class capacity to Queensland next year,” Goh said.“This aircraft change will happen once we receive the second of our A350 aircraft fitted with the medium-haul product.” New Business classThe new medium-haul Business Class seats have been manufactured by Stelia Aerospace and are arranged in a forward-facing 1-2-1 staggered configuration to provide every customer direct aisle access. With each seat able to recline directly into a 76” fully flat bed, Business Class customers can rest in more comfort even on the shortest flights. Each seat measures up to 26” in width with retractable armrests that can be raised and lowered.Whether travelling alone or with a partner, adjustable dividers at the centre seats provide for a customised level of privacy to suit individual preferences.Customers can also look forward to other features to enhance their travelling experience such as ample stowage space for personal items, a business panel with in-seat power supply and USB ports, integrated reading light unit with adjustable lighting intensity and a personal 17” high-definition touchscreen monitor. New Economy classThe new Economy seat has been designed and built by RECARO and also offers customers an enhanced in-flight experience. Arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration, each of the 263 Economy class seats has an ergonomically designed contour backrest that provides greater comfort and a six-way adjustable headrest with foldable wings to provide more neck support.Economy class customers can also enjoy an enhanced entertainment experience on their personal 11.6” high-definition touchscreen monitor, as they browse from the selection of more than 1,000 movies, TV shows, audio programmes and games on myKrisWorld.Other features that Economy class customers can look forward to include personal storage space for small personal items, a coat hook, USB port and in-seat power supply.Go back to the enewsletter
BoC deviated from good governance
By Poly PantelidesTHE ISLAND’S biggest lender, the Bank of Cyprus (BoC), deviated from good governance with its executives “enthusiastically” signing on for projects whose consequences they either misunderstood or concealed, said a long-standing member of the BoC brass yesterday.Evdokimos Xenophontos said even key decisions such purchasing Russian bank Uniastrum in 2008 were taken without an indepth study of available data. He was testifying at an inquiry into the near-collapse of the country’s economy and banking sector.“[Auditors] Ernst and Young prepared one of the best due diligence reports I ever saw, which highlighted many [problems]. I believe the executives only looked at the summary, which did not bring everything out,” Xenophontos said.As a matter of principle, the BoC should not have gone into retail banking in a huge country such as Russia, ending up paying over three times Uniastrum’s net asset value, and financing its capitalisation needs to the tune of an estimated €700 million, Xenophontos said.But in the meeting that sealed the deal in October 2008 everyone was “enthusiastic” and “excited” talking of a bargain deal and a new international era for the BoC, he said.Ernst and Young did not have representatives present to explain their due diligence report to those present, Xenophontos said.Instead, box files were laid out the day before the meeting so bank officials could study documents but they were not allowed to make copies, he added.Xenophontos – who was a board member at the time – advised either dropping the whole thing or else renegotiating the deal.But he let the matter drop and the minutes registered a unanimous approval for the purchase. “You understand, all decisions were presented as unanimous because they [the executives] did not want the Central Bank to raise questions,” he told the committee.Xenophontos first joined the BoC as chief accountant in 1967, going on to become general manager in 1974 and group chief general manager in 1993. He was kept on as an independent board member when he retired in 2004 and briefly served as vice-chairman from August 2012. He stepped down along with the rest of the board in March this year when the bank was placed under administration, as part of an international bailout deal for Cyprus.The run-up to that was what has mostly been presented as a unilateral decision by BoC executives to invest heavily in Greek government bonds. In December 10, 2009 former BoC group chief general manager Yiannis Kypri told financial news portal Stockwatch the bank had reduced its exposure to Greek sovereign and had reduced its holdings from €1.8 billion to €0.1 billion.On the same day, Eliades issued orders to start purchasing Greek bonds again. In about a year, the BoC held over €2.0 billion worth of Greek bonds and lost most of its investment during an agreement in 2011 to write-down sovereign Greek debt. The BoC presented most of those bonds as “held to maturity,” an accounting action made for assets expected to be redeemed when they expire, which allows the bank to present the bonds at face value and not at current values.“What they did was irregular in my opinion,” Xenophontos said, adding like other board members previously said, that he did not actually learn about the purchases until after the fact.He claimed that when he raised the issue later with board members and former Central Bank governor Athanasios Orphanides, it was suggested to him that Greece had pressurised the BoC to continue investing.When Andreas Eliades took over as CEO in 2005, bonuses and wages were raised to account for his own considerable pay, and along with his executive team, and a number of irregularities started seeping into the bank’s institution, Xenophontos said.This included Eliades’ decision to introduce bonuses for executives even though that was a corporate banking practice that was not relevant to the BoC, Xenophontos saidAlso for xample, the BoC would hand out loans without prioritising checks on potential debtors’ track records and their ability to meet payments, skipping straight to what collateral could be held against loans, he said.But Xenophontos’ niece, Maria Xenophontos, herself got some €347,000 worth of debt written-off, a move which he claimed he was not involved in, and which was negotiated by his brother in the context of his own obligations as her debt’s guarantor, he said.You May LikeLivestlyChip And Joanna’s $18M Mansion Is Perfect, But It’s The Backyard Everyone Is Talking AboutLivestlyUndoPopularEverythingColorado Mom Adopted Two Children, Months Later She Learned Who They Really ArePopularEverythingUndoGundry MD PrebioThrive Probiotic SupplementCardiologist: This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Eat GlutenGundry MD PrebioThrive Probiotic SupplementUndo Pensioner dies after crash on Paphos-Polis roadUndoRemand for pair in alleged property fraud (Updated)UndoConcern over falling tourism numbersUndoby Taboolaby Taboola
Rep Julie Alexander begins March is Reading Month tour
07Mar Rep. Julie Alexander begins March is Reading Month tour State Rep. Julie Alexander today kicked off her March is Reading Month tour. As part of March is Reading Month, the lawmaker will visit local schools throughout the district and read to students, encouraging them to take a lifelong interest in reading.Rep. Alexander wants to inspire and encourage students to pick up a book and let their imaginations do the rest. “A love for reading will benefit children their entire lives,” said Rep. Alexander. “I hope students see books as both a source of great entertainment, and information as their education advances.”For those schools interested in hosting Rep. Alexander for March is Reading Month, her legislative office can be reached by phone at (517) 373-1795, or by email at JulieAlexander@house.mi.gov. Tags: #SB 
Categories: Alexander News
Rep Cole votes in support of bill for additional funding to repair
Categories: Cole News 21Feb Rep. Cole votes in support of bill for additional funding to repair Michigan roads Legislation helps northern Michigan and entire stateState Rep. Triston Cole of Mancelona today voted in favor of a plan to invest an additional $175 million into road repairs across Michigan as soon as possible.“Fixing our Michigan roads is a top priority,” Rep. Cole said. “We have additional funding to repair Michigan roads this year and we can improve our roads without waiting for another budget cycle.”The money included in the bill approved today comes in addition to previous changes that provide more funding for road and bridge projects in Michigan.The new bill includes money for counties, cities and villages throughout Michigan.Estimated local allocations include Antrim County ($349,034), Otsego County ($388,355), Charlevoix County ($335,661), Montmorency County ($239,020) Oscoda County ($248,242), Bellaire ($9219), Elk Rapids ($16,480), Ellsworth ($6104), Mancelona ($11,561), Central Lake ($8655), Gaylord ($29,960), Vanderbilt ($7290), Charlevoix ($24,296), Boyne City ($36,444), East Jordan ($21,347), and Boyne Falls ($4091).The money is left over from a previous state government budget cycle and is already available, meaning no budget cuts or additional fees are required for the investment.House Bill 4321 advances to the Senate for further consideration.###
LA Clippers Owner Donald Sterlings Racial Rant
ShareTweetShareEmail0 Shares April 28, 2014; USA TODAYLast week, Republican Party leaders ran for the hills when they discovered—not that they had done any legitimate investigation—that Cliven Bundy, the poster child for their opposition to the Bureau of Land Management, was an unrepentant and vigorous adherent of some odious racist theories. This week, the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People faces its own version of this, explaining away why it had planned to give a lifetime achievement award to Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, at the chapter’s May 15th banquet.Apparently, prospective NAACP honoree Sterling was heard on a recording distributed by TMZ expressing a variety of racist comments in a conversation with a much younger woman identified as his girlfriend named “V. Stiviano.” The octogenarian Sterling’s comments to his black and Mexican girlfriend, apparently in her mid-20s included these statements, according to TMZ:“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” (3:30) “You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on that…and not to bring them to my games.” (5:15)“I’m just saying, in your lousy f******* Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people.” (7:45)“Don’t put him [Magic] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me. And don’t bring him to my games.” (9:13)Like the sudden discovery of Bundy’s arcane and reprehensible beliefs, many people and institutions associated with Sterling, including the National Basketball Association itself, are expressing shock and surprise about Sterling’s rants. The new commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, committed to investigate Sterling, determine if the recording was authentic, and whether the league would take action against the Clippers owner.Sterling’s past history on issues of race was not unknown prior to the NBA’s investigation of the Viviano tape. In 2010, Dave Zirin, the sports columnist for The Nation, wrote about Sterling and the Clippers, referencing some evocative quotes and behaviors attributed to “the Slumlord Billionaire”:The real estate owner/developer Sterling settled a racial discrimination suit with the Department of Justice in 2009 for $2.73 million due to charges of renting apartments according to a racial quota system. “Sterling, who has a Blagojevichian flair for the language, says he did not like to rent to ‘Hispanics’ because ‘Hispanics smoke, drink and just hang around the building,’” Zirin wrote. “He also stated that ‘black tenants smell and attract vermin.’”That wasn’t Sterling’s only brush with housing discrimination. “In 2005, Sterling settled a housing-discrimination lawsuit filed by the Housing Rights Center, which represented more than a dozen of his tenants,” Zirin wrote. “He paid nearly $5 million in legal fees for the plaintiffs—a staggering amount—along with a reportedly massive, albeit confidential, sum.”Those are cases that Sterling had to settle and pay out on. Others have been replete with charges and countercharges, notably a suit filed by NBA Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor alleging that Sterling had told him that he wanted a team “composed of ‘poor black boys from the South’ and a white head coach” –the Clippers coach at the time was Mike Dunleavy, a white man, but the coach is now Doc Rivers, an African-American.As a slumlord who has been draped in charges of racial discrimination for over a decade, Sterling does have a lifetime of achievement to account for, but that doesn’t seem to have fazed the local NAACP. When Sterling was up for this award back in 2009, around the time of Baylor’s discrimination lawsuit, Leon Jenkins, the president of the Los Angeles branch of the civil rights organization, was quoted to say that Sterling “has a unique history of giving to the children of L.A.,” including donating between 2,000 and 3,000 tickets to Clippers home games for youth groups. Jenkins added, “We can’t speak to the allegations, but what we do know is that for the most part [Sterling] has been very, very kind to the minority youth community.”The Clippers released a statement that questioned whether the recording was authentic or had been tampered with, which suggests something less than a complete denial of the TMZ report. The team’s statement included the following: “It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life. He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them.” Sterling’s history suggests that he has lived his life in ways that don’t quite comport with that statement, and the apology to “anyone who might have been hurt” is, as pathetic as it is, an acknowledgement that the man has made statements to the effect of what he was allegedly recorded to have said on the Stiviano tape.So why would the NAACP give an award to Sterling, given his track record as a slumlord? Was his charitable giving so stunning? It is hard to really say. His personal foundation, the Donald T. Sterling Charitable Foundation, shows several grants annually of $5,000 apiece to Los Angeles area high schools, perhaps reflecting Sterling’s gifts of tickets for Clipper games. The team’s charity, the Los Angeles Clippers Foundation, funds a variety of youth and sports activities. Unless Sterling wrote personal checks for the NAACP, the only grant to the Los Angeles chapter seems to have been $5,000 in 2010 from the family foundation according to its Form 990, though the NBA shows Jenkins receiving another grant from Sterling just last year.Sadly, if the Stiviano recording had been revealed on May 16th, Sterling would have ended up brandishing his new award. Together, Sterling and Bundy have together done a fundamental disservice to the effort to combat racism. Because of their back-to-back statements, critics will be on the lookout for examples of overt racism, articulated by people who seem barely part of the twenty-first century, leading them to overlook the still-pervasive everyday behaviors, practices, and policies that create and perpetuate racial inequities.—Rick CohenShareTweetShareEmail0 Shares