How much time — and money — would you save if you had a budgeting framework that guaranteed profits?Cover image via SFIO CRACHO.The idea of charging what you’re worth is more controversial than you might think. Proponents say you should charge what you’re worth — or don’t take on the project at all. Others espouse the benefits of working for free.Most of us fall somewhere in the middle.But here’s a fact: a properly crafted budget is the difference between a project that just barely breaks even and one that pays the bills, makes your contractors happy, and lets you reinvest cash into your production company. If you could, how would you grow your business? What equipment and resources would you purchase? Who would you hire?These are the questions that separate profitable businesses from those that fail.The Importance of Budgeting ProperlyImage via lOvE lOvE.In fact, most creative businesses do fail. If you’re only breaking even — or worse, eating costs — on your productions, your freelance operation won’t last long.A rock-solid budget is the key to charging what you’re really worth. But more than that, knowing how to properly budget gives you the confidence that you’re not leaving money on the table — money that you could (and deservedly should) be reinvesting back into your business.The first step in learning how to budget properly is honing your estimating skills. Like all worthwhile skills, mastery comes with practice and review.To account for this you should create a budget three different times for each project. Here’s the breakdown:Budget 1: The First PassYour first round of budgeting for a project comes immediately after your first contact with a potential client, but before your first concept meeting or initial brainstorm.This estimate is for internal use, so you usually don’t share it with the client — only the ballpark figure. The first pass budget helps you think realistically about the scope of the project. Share this with your production team and colleagues for feedback.Budget 2: The Nitty-GrittyThis is the budget that accounts for every cost that you anticipate for the project. It includes line items for all hard costs and contractor rates, and it factors in a profit margin for each (more on profit margins in the next section).This is the budget that you’ll share with a client. The quote shouldn’t be a surprise to your client, as you should’ve already given them a ballpark figure based on the first pass.Budget 3: The Follow-upBy this point, you’ve wrapped the project and have recorded actual costs against your initial estimates. You and your team should scour this to see which items came in over or under budget. Use this as a debrief, and discuss how you can improve your budgeting tactics on your next project.This is the most important budget that you’ll prepare, and it’s the quickest way to hone your estimating skills.Factor in a Margin for FreelancersImage via GaudiLab.Charging what you’re worth is more than just throwing out your hourly rate. Rock-solid budgets should include all the hard costs associated with the project. Your budget should account for things like gear rentals, music licensing fees, travel costs, contractor rates, and rates for you and your team. However, a proper budget takes things a step further by including profit margins.A profit margin is an extra amount (usually calculated as a percentage) that you factor on top of a cost or rate to ensure a profit. Without profit margins, businesses cannot expand, and they see very little (if any) growth.One of the best ways to factor in a profit margin is by factoring it into your contractors’ fees.When you build your production team, you’re gathering professionals to help you run sound, write scripts, compose music, and ultimately pass their creative expertise onto the finished product — and into your client’s hands. On top of that, you’re giving your colleagues and contractors much-appreciated business.You need to consider the work it takes to assemble that team of creatives. You do this by factoring in a 30 percent-60 percent profit margin on top of your contractors’ fees. Otherwise, you’re giving your contractors free work. That’s fine of course, but you deserve compensation for the elbow grease it takes to align creative professionals with the creative vision of the project.Without these built-in margins in your budgets, you’re leaving money on the table — and losing out on hard-earned work.How to Ensure Profitability and Grow Your BusinessNow that you’re aware of the benefits of profit margins and budgeting properly, it’s time to build them into your budgets.Whether you use Google Sheets, Excel, or Numbers, it’s a good idea to start using spreadsheets to create your budgets — at the very least, for your internal budgets. Using a spreadsheet will expedite the calculations for things like contractors and other line items.Here’s the trick: it’s a simple formula that you can add to your spreadsheets (demonstrated above). For each line item (Column A), you should have four (4) additional columns:Column B: Your contractor’s day rate (add another column for number of days beyond one).Column C: Your target margin (if you’re working with the client on price, this is a great place to adjust the numbers).Column D: The calculated profit from your contractor’s fee.Column E: The amount for which you’ll invoice your client.Here’s a scenario: you’re contracting a DP for a single-day shoot. You’ve negotiated their day rate at $1,000. Add this amount to Column B.This director of photography is very good and will bring exceptional quality to the final product. Therefore, you assess a 60 percent margin on top of their day rate to account for the quality of their work — as well as the time and effort required to align them with the project’s goals. Add this amount to Column C.In Column D, add the following formula to the cell: =MULTIPLY (B2, C2). This will calculate the profit.In Column E, add this formula to the cell: =SUM (B2, D2). This adds the calculated profit to the DP’s rate. This is the amount for which you will invoice the client.There are tools available that can do this work for you, like The Budget Maximizer Tool, designed by Ryan Koral and Matt Davis at Studio Sherpas.The tool is essentially a turbo-charged spreadsheet (available in Excel and Numbers) with line items for pre-production, production, and post-production. Each cell has simple formulas baked into the spreadsheet that account for profit margins, allowing you to quickly and efficiently create profit-focused budgets. It also comes with a one-hour training video that walks you through how to use the tool — as well as some techniques on how to present budgets to your clients.By adhering to these practices, you’ll save yourself from eating costs and running over budget, which is bad for your business and even worse for your reputation.Looking for more articles on working with clients? Check these out.7 Things All Video Professionals Should Share with ClientsFreelance Tips: 7 Best Practices for Invoicing Clients5 Ways to Improve Your Workflow with Client FeedbackHow to Handle Negative Feedback From ClientsAdvice on Finding Corporate Video Clients read more

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LOOK: Venues for 2019 SEA Games SEA Games in Calabarzon safe, secure – Solcom chief Read Next China’s Guo Ailun. INQUIRER.net File PhotoFilipinos are certainly all too familiar with China’s dynamic point guard Guo Ailun, who most recently signed with the Jordan Brand.The 23-year-old standout, who plays for the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and a fixture for the country during international competitions, will even receive his own signature Jordan shoe, according to ESPN’s Nick DePaula.ADVERTISEMENT PH gold medal bet Obiena injures ACL, out of SEA Games “The fans here in China are all proud of me,” Guo, who will earn roughly $3 million annually for his endorsement, told the sports journalist. “My teammates always tease me though, and ask for free Jordans.”China, of course, has become a hotbed for basketball in recent years and having one of its local rising stars don the brand could establish a major influence over the insatiable market.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutAfter making an impact in the country’s local scene, Guo made himself known to fans across the globe, starring alongside NBA veteran Yi Jianlian en route to leading China to the gold medal in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.Standing 6’4, Guo could easily transition to both guard spots and plays with a bold flair not often seen among Chinese players. Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC WATCH: Streetboys show off slick dance moves in Vhong Navarro’s wedding Flags of SEA Games countries raised at Athletes Village Catriona Gray spends Thanksgiving by preparing meals for people with illnesses Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf PLAY LIST 01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games Asked if he’ll soon follow the footsteps of another Chinese star, Zhou Qi, who recently signed with the NBA’s Houston Rockets, the new Jordan Brand athlete offered a humble response.“CBA is a really competitive league, and I think I can keep improving there. Once I feel ready and at that level, I want to go to the NBA,” he said. Khris Ibarrola /ra Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Man sworn in as lawyer by judge who sentenced him to prison as a teen 20 years ago UPLB exempted from SEA Games class suspension MOST READ LATEST STORIES View comments read more

Read Next LOOK: Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte unwind in Amanpulo for 3rd anniversary Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH “We’re friends. There’s no trash talk. There’s no pushing or shoving,” Nguyen told the media on Tuesday during their first face off at City Garden Grand Hotel.While the respect will remain, that doesn’t mean they are going to take each other lightly in the cross-divisional showdown with the lightweight title on the line.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout“I want to teach him that it’s my kingdom in the lightweight division,” said the soft-spoken Baguio native. “I want my division to be respected so I will do my best to defend the lightweight belt.”The Vietnamese-Australian challenger didn’t think twice about moving up weight for the fight against Folayang, saying “opportunities like these they don’t come too often.” RELATED VIDEOFolayang, Nguyen set friendship aside for ONE lightweight title bout1.6K viewsSportsVentuno Web Player 4.51 BSP sees higher prices in November, but expects stronger peso, low rice costs to put up fight Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Alvarez ready to take risk vs Folayang, looks to end clash by ‘knockout or submission’ PLAY LIST 02:18Alvarez ready to take risk vs Folayang, looks to end clash by ‘knockout or submission’00:50Trending Articles02:03MMA legends gather in Tokyo for historic ONE: New Era fight week01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games Nguyen, who earned the ONE featherweight belt in August, said that when he first got the offered the fight, the first thing he did was reach out to Folayang.“We both came to an agreement that we will set our friendship aside and it will be strictly business. We want to put on an entertaining fight.”Also calling his upcoming foe a friend, Folayang said he admired how Nguyen blemished Marat Gafurov’s record via a stunning knockout to win the title in Macao.But he’s going to make sure that doesn’t happen here.“I respect him as martial artist. You saw how he got his belt against a highly-respect champion. But we need to do our part not only as a martial artist but also as champions.”ADVERTISEMENT MOST READ LATEST STORIES The Makati skyline provides the perfect backdrop for Eduard Folayang and Martin Nguyen’s first face off. Photo by Celest Flores-ColinaThere’s not going to be a lot of action outside the ring but Filipino bet Eduard Folayang and Martin Nguyen expect fireworks when they step inside it.The two fighters are setting their friendship aside as they prepare for the main event of the ONE: Legends of the World on November 10 at Mall of Asia Arena.ADVERTISEMENT Nonong Araneta re-elected as PFF president Fire hits houses in Mandaluyong City Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Frontrow holds fun run to raise funds for young cancer patients  In his first PBA finals, Slaughter faces former coach Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC View comments read more

An inspired West Indies clinched the ICC World Twenty20 crown with a comfortable 36-run victory over Sri Lanka, riding on Marlon Samuels’ brilliant counter-attacking knock to win a major global title after over three decades.Batting first in front a 35,000 partisan crowd, Samuels held his nerve as he smashed a heroic 78 off 56 balls to steer West Indies to 137 for six before the Caribbeans shot out the hosts for 101 in 18.4 overs.It is the West Indies’ first world title after a gap of 33 years having won the ODI World Cup back in 1979. They did triumph in the Champions Trophy in 2004, but that is not considered a World Cup.For Sri Lanka and Mahela Jayawardene, it was another case of ‘so-near-yet-so-far’ having now lost four World Cup finals (two 50 overs and two T20s) across two categories.the windies team celebrate their win After Lasith Malinga was caught in the deep, Darren Sammy and his bunch of dedicated soldiers broke into an impromptu Gangnam dance as there was a deathly silence at the R Premadasa Stadium.Samuels played one of the most memorable innings under pressure as he thumped five of his half a dozen of sixes off T20 specialist Lasith Malinga’s bowling, making batting look easy on a pitch where almost every other batsmen struggled.A wicket was like icing on the cake as he deservedly won the Man-of-the-Match award. The win was more creditable as Chris Gayle, who has been in marauding form prior to the title clash, failed.Samuels alone spoiled Malinga’s figures as he went for 54 off four overs after Ajantha Mendis took 4/12.advertisementWhile only 32 runs came off the first 10 overs, the Caribbeans, courtesy Samuels and skipper Darren Sammy (26 no, 15 balls, 3×4) managed 106 in the back 10.The total might not have been a challenging one but the manner in which Samuels batted, having scored more than half the runs, the innings will be remembered for a long time to come especially as other West Indian batsmen looked like lambs ready to be slaughtered.Defending a small but competitive total, Ravi Rampaul bowled a beauty to dismiss Tillekaratne Dilshan. The ball pitched in line and then moved a shade to knock back the off-stump. Samuels could have removed Jayawardene who swept uppishly but Bravo, covering a lot of ground from the deep, couldn’t latch onto the difficult chance.Jayawardene and Sangakkara steadied the ship, adding 42 runs for the second wicket, although they were not able to give the bowlers a charge.Finally, Sangakkara ran out of patience as he rocked on to the backfoot to pull leg-break bowler Samuel Badree as Kieron Pollard, stationed at deep mid-wicket, held on to an easy catch. He managed 22.Angelo Mathews tried a needless lap-shot of a straight delivery from Sammy, which hit the middle stump, as Sri Lanka were reduced to 51 for three.The situation demanded a special innings from the Sri Lankan captain but he tried an ambitious reverse sweep off Sunil Narine, which gently lobbed to Sammy who took an easy catch at backward point, as the match decisively tilted in favour of the West Indies. Jayawardene managed 33.Jiwan Mendis, Thisara Perera were run-out due to enormous pressure and after Lahiru Thirimanne holed out in the deep, the writing was clear on the wall.Earlier, the pressure of playing a World Cup final was telling on Johnson Charles as he offered a simple catch to Nuwan Kulasekara at mid-off in Mathews’ opening over which was a wicket maiden.The first run for West Indies came when Kulasekara bowled a wide after three dot balls in the second over. The first run off the bat came off the 17th legal delivery and the first boundary in the next over when Samuels punched one through covers.Gayle, who has been predicting results in the last few days was strangled by the Lankan bowlers and finally Mendis got him with a straighter one that looked like hitting the leg-stump. read more

NO SEX, PLEASEA serious question is doing the rounds: Are players allowed to have sex during the World Cup? Though research on the topic has proved inconclusive, coaches of several national teams are determined to maximise athletic performance, and that means no sex in Brazil for many of the stars.,NO SEX, PLEASEA serious question is doing the rounds: Are players allowed to have sex during the World Cup? Though research on the topic has proved inconclusive, coaches of several national teams are determined to maximise athletic performance, and that means no sex in Brazil for many of the stars. Here are some mandates.USAKeep it casual”I think we are very casual in the way we approach things.”Coach Jurgen KlinsmannBOSNIANo sex (can masturbate)”This is not a holiday trip. We are thereto play football at the World Cup.”Coach Safet SusicMEXICONo sex”Forty days of abstinence aren’t going to hurt anybody”Coach Miguel HerreraFRANCEOK”It depends on when and how much.”Coach Didier DeschampsBRAZILNormal sex only (no acrobatics)”We will put limits on sex and survey the players.”Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari Famed physicist Stephen Hawking has decoded England’s WC odds, thanks to string theory, for gambling website Paddy Power.England plays better when wearing redIts most successful formation is 4-3-3It doesn’t play well if the weather is warmWAGs don’t affect the outcome of matchesIt needs a European referee to officiateBald and fair-haired players score more penaltiesBend it like JohnWith football World Cup fever gripping the world, actor John Abraham is in the news: He will not only be cheering for his favourite team, Spain, but will also be busy promoting the game in India. Abraham will be seen in a television campaign capturing the essence of Brazil, the venue of the FIFA World Cup 2014, through its beaches, narrow streets, colourful houses and music. The self-confessed football enthusiast is also making a film on the sport, 1911. This was the year when imperialism and nationalism clashed over football. Indian club Mohun Bagan won an epic victory in the IFA Shield final defeating the East Yorkshire Regiment, becoming the first Asian team to win the competition. The film will be directed by Shoojit Sircar.advertisementBRING ON THE WAGSWhile the most talented football stars go head to head, their glamorous wives and girlfriends will scorch Brazil this summer. Here are the top WAGs in Brazil.Staunch SupportIn Kolkata, the 175-year-old Nalin Chandra Das & Sons has brought out a range of World Cup sandesh. Marked with different team colours, they have exotic names: Argentine Magic, Brazilian Samba, French Header.Putul Borah lives in Diphu, Assam. Since 1994, he has been saving a bottle of scotch for the day Germany, his favourite football team, wins the FIFA World Cup again. The grocery store-owner buried the bottle in his garden. Nobody knows where the bottle is, not even his wife. But he checks on it regularly to make sure it’s safe.ANXIETY METERAnother ear-splitting WC musical instrument? Brazil’s Caxirola is a plastic percussion instrument that promises to be a perfect match to WC 2010’s vuvuzela.Will the badly-behaved English footie fans clash with the deadly Argentinian gangs in Brazil? UK police has warned the 10,000 English fans now in Brazil.Will Brazil win on home turf? The country is hosting the World Cup again after 64 years. In 1950, when it last hosted the trophy, it did not.Will the time difference make it difficult to catch matches in India? The five time slots in India are 9.30 p.m., 12.30 a.m., 1.30 a.m., 3.30 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.Will Germany win? Animated sitcom The Simpsons has shifted its football loyalty from Barcelona to Germany. One episode shows dad Homer refereeing the finals with Germany winning.An outlandish car? Opel’s Astra Copacabana car has upholstery made of real grass from the Maracana stadium and sand from the Copacabana beaches replaces the car’s floormats.BANNED PLEASURESWhat else is barred? Some bans that players face.Stay away from WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends) EnglandDon’t eat processed beef MexicoNo alcohol, pleaseAll countriesNo soft drinks ChileNo smoking All countriesNo social networking France, ItalyNo all-nightrevelry All countriesNo displaying of personal messages on clothes All countries read more

Without a goal in the previous five games, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku was quick to grab the ball when his team were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute of their Champions League game against Benfica.Manchester United were 1-0 up and had already missed one penalty, a soft effort from Anthony Martial saved by Benfica’s 18-year-old keeper Mile Svilar.But with Lukaku ready to end his barren spell and secure the win, United manager Jose Mourinho signalled he wanted someone else to take the spot-kick.Spanish subsitute Ander Herrera showed his willingness to take the kick but still Mourinho was not happy until his clear choice, Dutch defender Daley Blind was given the ball and drove confidently down the middle.It was an unusual scene but Mourinho said it was simply the boss doing his job.”I am paid to take decisions – good or bad. In the first half the decision was bad because the player I chose to take the penalty missed,” he said.”In the second half I made another decision and I don’t see the drama. The penalty taker for this match was Martial, he took it in the first half and missed and he was not even on the pitch for the second one.Reuters Photo “Then I have to make a decision. Romelu wants to take, he had the personality to take the responsibility, Herrera the same but my decision, based on what we did in training in the past couple of days, was Blind. The players respected my decision and that is it – end of story.”advertisementWhile United were far from their best, Mourinho said he was pleased to have picked up a fourth win in four games in Group A.”We have not qualified yet? Four victories and it is still not enough? We must get that point from the two remaining matches,” he said.”I am more than happy. We changed a lot of players, we broke the natural dynamic and routines of the team and we played a kid (Scott McTominay) from the academy.”We scored two goals, did not concede, gained three more points, more money for the club because every victory means money and did not have any significant injuries.” read more

ATHENS — Romania clinched a spot in next year’s European Championship with a 3-0 away win over Faeroe Islands on Oct. 11, while Greece beat Hungary 4-3 to avoid a winless qualifying campaign.Two first-half goals by Constantin Bulescu secured second place in Group F for Romania, behind already qualified Northern Ireland.Northern Ireland drew 1-1 with Finland in Helsinki after allowing a late equalizer by Paulus Arajuuri. Craig Cathcart had put the visitors ahead in the 31st.At Torshavn, Faeroe Islands, Bulescu opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a powerful shot just inside the area after a cross from the left by Razvan Rat.Budescu’s second came from what seemed to be intended as a cross in first-half stoppage time that looped over goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen and into the net.In the 83rd, Alexandru Maxim and Bogdan Stanku exchanged quick passes and Maxim beat Nielsen to cap the scoring.Greece finally ended its miserable run when substitute Panagiotis Kone headed in the winner in the 86th minute.Coach Costas Tsanas made six changes to the starting lineup from the squad that lost 3-1 to Northern Ireland three days ago, and it seemed to quickly pay off when Costas Stafylidis opened the scoring in the fifth minute. It was Greece’s first home goal in the qualifiers.However, Hungary soon took over and equalized in the 26th with a header by Gergo Lovrencsics, before Krisztian Nemeth put Hungary ahead from point-blank range in the 55th.Two minutes later, Panayiotis Tachtsidis met Petros Mantalos’ forward pass and blasted a shot from just inside the area into the net.In the 76th, Hungary took the lead again. Zsolt Kalmar, who had entered the game five minutes earlier, avoided two Greek defenders and as two more closed in passed to an unmarked Nemeth for an easy goal.However, three minutes later, Tachtsidis made a defense-splitting pass to Costas Mitroglou who made it 3-3 before Kone scored the winner from Jose Holebas’ cross.“Definitely a bittersweet victory,” Tsanas said.Hungary finished third in the group and will have another chance to reach the finals through a playoff game.“We had always planned for a third-place finish. … Greece was unlucky not to have scored in previous games,” Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly said.TweetPinShare0 Shares read more

Tottenham captain Lloris: We must show we can handle Kane’s absenceby Paul Vegas9 months agoSend to a friendShare the loveTottenham captain Hugo Lloris has challenged teammates to prove they can cope without Harry Kane.Spurs face a crunch period without their top scorer and talisman as Kane is facing a spell out with an ankle injury.Lloris said: “We have now got two days to switch off and then we have all week to prepare for the next few games because not only is there Fulham, but Chelsea and the FA Cup, too.“We all know how important Harry is in our team, but he is not all of our team. Football is about the team and every player is ready to help the team.“During the season, you have ups and downs, and you have to always adapt to those and we will see about ‘H’.“But everybody is ready and the most important thing is the mind – being ready to fight, being ready to help, being ready to compete.“It is better when you have all your best players on the field, but that can happen here or it can happen at other clubs.“Every season is different. Every player is different. With or without him, we will see how we do. The most important thing is to prepare for the games as well as we can. We need to try to find a freshness and the right energy.“Throughout the whole team, you have important players but the main thing is the collective. It is the only way to get trophies. It is not about one or two players, but we all know the importance of ‘H’.” About the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say read more

The U.S. national team heads into the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup with Christian Pulisic as the team’s unquestioned leading star, and most important player. That role comes as no surprise given the level the young midfielder has already reached, but what is significant heading into this Gold Cup is the changing of the guard that Pulisic’s leading role represents.The 2000 Gold Cup isn’t a very memorable one for the U.S. national team. Bruce Arena’s squad stumbled in the quarterfinals, losing a penalty shootout to guest nation Colombia with a team featuring several USMNT legends, including Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Eric Wynalda, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Brad Friedel.What is significant about that 2000 U.S. team some 19 years later is that it was that 2000 Gold Cup that marked the last time a full-strength United States went into a major tournament without either Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey on the squad. There were notable exceptions in the 2007 Copa America and 2009 Gold Cup, but in each instance, the United States fielded reserve teams, first in 2007 in order to focus on that year’s Gold Cup, then in 2009 to send a full-strength squad to the Confederations Cup, which saw the USMNT reach the final, losing to Brazil in dramatic fashion. Article continues below Editors’ Picks ‘There is no creativity’ – Can Solskjaer get Man Utd scoring freely again? ‘Everyone legged it on to the pitch!’ – How Foden went from Man City superfan to future superstar Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? To put into perspective how long ago that 2000 Gold Cup was, consider that the quarterfinal loss to Colombia came a day before Josh Sargent was born, and three days before Tim Weah was born. Christian Pulisic was one year old at the time.Donovan and Dempsey were staples of every major U.S. tournament team from 2002 to 2017, leading the USMNT to five Gold Cup titles during that span and setting records along the way as the most prolific tandem in USMNT history. Now both are retired, and Pulisic steps into the marquee role as not only the biggest American star, but arguably the biggest star in the tournament.The United States has some big-name veterans, such as Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, but Pulisic is the player expected to be the one to carry the attack and be the leading man in much the same way Donovan and Dempsey were for so many years.Pulisic’s first starring role would have come at the 2018 World Cup if the Americans had qualified. He was the team’s best USMNT player in qualifying, and even though Dempsey was still a factor, and would likely have stuck it out to be part of another World Cup team, a 2018 U.S. World Cup team would have counted Pulisic as the driving force.Some 20 months after that disastrous night in Trinidad and Tobago, Pulisic finally gets to show off his considerable talent with an international trophy on the line, and with him in a starring role. He had a bit part on the U.S. team’s 2016 Copa America squad, but was more spectator than difference maker.This summer, USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter is counting on Pulisic to be his playmaker, deploying him in an attacking midfield role he believes will make the U.S. attack more effective, while also helping strengthen Pulisic’s overall game.”People see what he’s good at and say he should be doing this, and I’m looking at it saying ‘Okay, what else can we develop in him’,” Berhalter told Goal. “That’s the way I’m looking at it. I like to see him inside, getting the ball between lines, turning, going at them. He didn’t get to do that much in Germany. I think this is going to develop his overall game.”Though he has spent most of his club career as a winger, Pulisic’s formative years in the U.S. youth national team setup were spent as a playmaker, so the role in Berhalter’s system isn’t foreign to him. He will have the freedom to float between the central channel and the wings, probing for weak links.Pulisic will have some added incentive in this Gold Cup, with the USMNT facing the same Trinidad and Tobago team that defeated the Americans, costing them their place at the 2018 World Cup. Pulisic shed tears that night, missing out on his chance to play on the sport’s biggest stage, and when they meet in Cleveland on Saturday, Pulisic will have some extra motivation to put on a show.“Obviously I want some revenge. I want to beat them,” Pulisic said. “The team’s going to go out and give it everything and we want to win that game.”The 2019 Gold Cup isn’t about settling scores though. For the United States, it’s about taking a big first step under Berhalter, and beginning the process of building a squad that will help the program return to the World Cup in 2022. Pulisic is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the U.S. program, and this summer’s Gold Cup will be his opportunity to show he’s more than ready to take the reins.With long-time USMNT standouts Donovan and Dempsey long gone, Pulisic has the marquee to himself, and he’ll be looking to win his first of what USMNT fans are hoping will be many trophies with the U.S. national team.”Of course we want to buiild, we want to learn and continue to grow within this team, but when it comes down to it, it’s a tournament and everyone weants to win,” Pulisic said. “I would love to win it.” read more

zoom Greek shipowner New Shipping Ltd is looking to expand its very large crude carrier (VLCC) fleet as the company signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the construction of two 320,000 dwt tankers, VesselsValue data shows.The shipowner is reportedly paying a price of USD 70 million for each ship.Besides the two VLCC, the company has options to order two more vessels of the same kind, all of which would be built by China’s shipbuilder Jinhai Heavy Industry.The 48,256 mt vessels are expected to join New Shipping’s fleet in 2019, according to VesselsValue.Each of the VLCCs has a market value of USD 62.9 million.The newbuildings would complement New Shipping’s fleet of 33 vessels, 19 of which are tankers.The company currently operates nine VLCCs, four Suezmaxes and six Aframaxes, while the remainder of its fleet is consisted of bulk carriers.World Maritime News Staff read more

Srinagar: A gunfight started on Wednesday between the security forces and hiding militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore area, police said.The gun battle started after security forces comprising special operations group of state po lice (SOG) and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) surrounded the Gund Brath area on the town outskirts following information about militant presence. “As the security forces closed in, the hiding militants fired triggering the encounter,” an officer said.Authorities have suspended mobile Internet service in Sopore and also ordered closure of the Sopore Degree College as a precautionary measure. read more

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged the Congress and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) to join hands with the AAP in Haryana to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha elections in the state. In a tweet in Hindi on Wednesday, Kejriwal said: “Desh ke log Amit Shah aur Modi ji ki jodi ko harana chahatey hain. Agar Haryana mein JJP, AAP aur Congress saath ladtey hain toh Haryana ki dasson seaton par BJP haregi. Rahul Gandhi is par vichar karein.” (People want to defeat Amit Shah and Modi. If the Congress, JJP and AAP contest in Haryana jointly, the BJP will lose on all 10 seats in Haryana. Rahul Gandhi should think about it). Also Read – Bangla Sahib Gurudwara bans use of all types of plastic itemsThe AAP, which does not have a strong base in Haryana, is trying to make inroads in the state. The JJP, which was formed in December after a split in the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), performed well in the Jind assembly seat by-election last month. The AAP had supported the JJP candidate then. After Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted about coming to power in Haryana by defeating the BJP, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday replied to him, saying “Dil behlane ke liye, Ghalib, yeh khayal acha hai”. “Kejriwal is free to think whatever he wants but the ground reality is different from his imagination. Also Read – After eight years, businessman arrested for kidnap & murderOur countrymen knew the ground reality and they will vote for the BJP again,” he told the media here. Kejriwal had tweeted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) should have come together to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana. Khattar had come to Rohtak to meet with party workers and prepare for the upcoming general elections. The BJP won seven Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 parliamentary elections. The INLD won two seats and the Congress bagged on seat. Haryana has a BJP government since October 2014 led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Haryana will go to polls in the sixth phase on May 12. We have two months time for preparation before the polls. We expect an impressive show in Haryana and better our position from last time, Khattar said. read more

France strongly backs the present Sri Lankan Government’s approach in the areas of reconciliation, good governance and human rights, said French Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Jean Marin Schuh.In an interview with The Hindu, Schuh said: “We are clearly in favour of the programme of this government regarding reconciliation, good governance and human rights. This is why we have decided to upgrade our ties with Sri Lanka.” He added that French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault had conveyed this to his Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera during the latter’s visit to Paris early this month. Dismissing the argument that Western countries were not helping the present government in the area of infrastructure development, he pointed out that two major French companies, Veolia and Suez, had signed two contracts last week of €150 million each for water supply projects. He added that the AFD, the French Agency for Development, will soon sign a €50 million agreement for an urban development project in Anuradhapura, an ancient city. (Colombo Gazette) Schuh also spoke about steps taken by the current government to bring about reconciliation and said “they are there not just in paper but also on the ground”. He referred to the latest move to establish the Office on Missing Persons. read more

MONACA, Pa. — The Latest on President Donald Trump and the economy (all times local):2:25 p.m.President Donald Trump is telling workers at Shell’s soon-to-be completed Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex that the largest investment in the state’s history would have never happened without me and us.”That’s despite the fact that Shell announced its plans to build the complex in 2012, when President Barack Obama was in office.Trump is speaking in Monaca to highlighting his support for manufacturing as he tries to hold support in the Rust Belt towns that helped him win in 2016,The plant is part of a growing effort to capitalize on western Pennsylvania’s natural gas deposits by turning gas into plasticsBut Trump told reporters earlier that he’s not worried about producing more plastics in the U.S.He says, “Plastics are fine” and the problem is what’s “floating across the ocean from other places, including China.”__12:29 a.m.President Donald Trump is showcasing the growing effort to capitalize on western Pennsylvania’s natural gas deposits by turning gas into plastics.Trump is also trying to hold onto the manufacturing towns that helped him win the White House in 2016.Trump will travel to Monaca, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday to tour Shell’s soon-to-be completed Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex. The facility is being built in an area hungry for investment and will convert ethane to approximately 1.6 million tons of polyethylene a year.The trip is Trump’s latest effort to highlight the burning of dirty fossil fuels in defiance of increasingly urgent warnings on climate change and an embrace of plastics at a time when the world is increasingly alarmed over its ubiquity and impact.The Associated Press read more

James T. Morris is Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Humanitarian Envoy for southern Africa and also the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP). Food insecurity has been heightened this year in Zambia after three years of unfavourable conditions.In addition, the country has an adult HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of nearly 17 per cent, with nearly a million orphaned children – roughly 10 per cent of the population. Further compounding the crisis, Government capacity to deal with these problems has weakened.Before embarking on the tour, Mr. Morris stressed that efforts to deal with this “triple threat” – of food insecurity, HIV/AIDS and weakened Government capacity – must not fail.Mr. Morris leaves Zambia tomorrow to attend a review conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, on HIV/AIDS that is also expected to draw the chiefs of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Ann Veneman, and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Peter Piot.He will then spend 26 and 27 May in Malawi, and 29 and 30 May in Botswana. After returning to Johannesburg for a donors’ meeting on 31 May, he will end his tour in Zimbabwe, arriving there 1 June. read more

Mr. Annan, who on Monday received a report from his Special Envoy for the Comprehensive Review of Kosovo, Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway, told reporters in Bern he would inform the Security Council today of his decision.Stressing the need to begin the discussions, the Secretary-General said he would appoint a special envoy to direct the talks.During his official visit to the Swiss capital, he also discussed UN reform and the outcome of last month’s World Summit with President Samuel Schmid and Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey.In July, Mr. Annan’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen, said there had been a slowdown in meeting the standards required for starting final status talks in the province where ethnic Albanians outnumber other communities, mainly Serbs, by about 9 to 1. These cover eight targets in such areas as building democratic institutions, enforcing minority rights, creating a functioning economy and establishing an impartial legal system.Among reasons he cited was the need for stronger commitment by Kosovo Albanian leaders to move forward on the return of Serbs who fled their homes, as well as on freedom of movement and decentralization, and the need for Serbia’s leaders to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in the province’s political process.In Pristina, Mr. Jessen-Petersen welcomed Mr. Annan’s decision. “The road ahead is clear,” he said, stressing that the provisional Albanian-majority local government known as PISG must work hard to ensure that Kosovo makes further and faster progress in implementing Standards.“The Kosovo that moves towards the decision on status should be a truly multi-ethnic society. We in UNMIK remain ready to support fully the PISG and all the people of Kosovo in every way we can,” he added, referring to UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). read more

Ohio State co-offensive coordinator and former Indiana coach Kevin Wilson calls in plays from the sideline against Northwestern on Oct. 22, 2016. Credit: Courtesy of IU AthleticsFor the past two seasons, the offense of the Ohio State football team has not received nearly as much production as it had in the past from the passing game.Since winning the National Championship in January 2015, the Buckeyes rank eighth in the Big Ten in total passing yards with only 5,236. Enter Kevin Wilson, former Indiana head coach, who has become the next co-offensive coordinator for OSU. Wilson shares the coordinator duties with quarterbacks coach Ryan Day.During Wilson’s tenure at Indiana, the Hoosiers have consistently featured a dominant aerial attack. No team has accumulated more than Indiana’s 18,883 passing yards in the six years that Wilson has been its coach.Though Wilson will be coming into a school that has featured more of a running offense than passing, he said he’s not going to come into OSU and make tremendous changes in the way the team goes about putting points on the board.“I have core values in offensive football, the parallel — almost exactly word-for-word verbatim to what coach (Urban) Meyer believes,” Wilson said. “So the first adjustment is not an adjustment because we’re on the same page as far as how you want to run the offense. Maybe the language is different, maybe things you emphasize as I continue to learn and grow that, in time, maybe we enhance.”One aspect Wilson will be sure to work on improving is the play of the offensive line. In 2016, the o-line surrendered 28 sacks, the second-most in the Urban Meyer era of OSU football.In his playing days for the University of North Carolina, Wilson played both guard and center, two positions familiar to redshirt senior center Billy Price.Price is making the transition from guard to center this season and though Wilson will be the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, Price said Wilson has helped him adjust to the position change and has already started to make his mark felt on the other members of the offensive line. “When the tight ends are in special teams or doing passing stuff, (Wilson’s) working with us directly. Today he was on my case a little bit just to make sure because he’s an offensive coordinator so he is responsible for us as a head,” Price said. “He’s doing a real good job with us. He’s helping (redshirt junior right tackle) Isaiah (Prince), helping (senior left tackle) Jamarco (Jones), myself. You’ve got to take a great player to be an elite player and it’s having that support system and the role models around you and he’s doing a fantastic job. I’m really glad he’s here.”But while the offensive line certainly didn’t do its best to protect the quarterback last season, Wilson also believes the receivers have a responsibility to help out Barrett by getting open faster.Conventional wisdom suggests the receivers are racing against the cornerbacks to try and get open, but Barrett said that Wilson has provided the wideouts with a different mentality to their game.“When coach Wilson came in, he said, ‘As a receiver, you’re not beating a corner, but you’re beating a defensive end that the left tackle has to block. You got to beat the defensive end, you got to get open in order for me to get you the ball. If you take forever to get open, we can’t get you the ball ‘cause we didn’t beat the defensive end,’” redshirt senior quarterback J.T. Barrett said.One thing Wilson brings to the team is plenty of experience. He has served in the capacity of either head coach or offensive coordinator for a college football team dating back to his time at Miami (Ohio) in 1992. Wilson was the offensive coordinator at Miami for seven seasons before moving on to coach at Northwestern for three years. Once his time there was over, he moved on to Oklahoma where he worked under coach Bob Stoops for nine seasons.Of all the coaches Wilson has coached for, he said former coach Randy Walker has been his biggest influence. Wilson coached for Walker at Miami (Ohio) and Northwestern.“The main (influence was) Randy Walker who coached me at Miami of Ohio, how to coach, coach our coaches, gave me a chance to run an offense,” Wilson said. “Kind of gave me a chance to fall on my face and make mistakes and learn and grow.”He also added that while Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops impacted his coaching style, Meyer has apparently already inspired Wilson in the two months Wilson has been on staff.“I’ve been very fortunate. (I) believe it’s a tough game it’s played physical, but also I believe it’s a game that’s exciting and full of energy and every day you get to coach one of the greatest things in the world — someone’s kid and go out and play football,” Wilson said. “And I’m so happy to be here.”Barrett said he believes that while Wilson will come in with his own vision of how to run an offense, his ideas will be incorporated into their offensive plans rather than completely reshape them.“He’s done a lot of great things in his past where it’s been Oklahoma or Indiana,” he said. “We’re not really changing a lot, but he’s bringing in some good ideas that we’re incorporating in. Our offense, it’s not broken, but there’s definitely some things that we can update and adjust and that’s what he’s doing.” read more

Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily  Front Page newsletter and new  audio briefings. Sir Tom at work on The VoiceCredit:Guy Levy Sir Tom Jones has said he was he was better treated while working on a building site than for the BBC, after being sacked with one day’s notice.Sir Tom, who left TV talent show The Voice while it was on the BBC but has now returned for a revamped ITV version, said he furious about the decision, which caused outrage among fans in 2015. Sir Tom Jones and his late wife Linda, photographed in 1965 He hinted he had been quietly pleased as the ratings dropped after his departure.Speaking of his wife Linda, he added: “God bless her, she passed away before I was asked to come back. She would like the fact that I’m doing the show now.” “The first thing I thought was, ‘Why have they left it so late in the day?’ When we got the call, we said, ‘When did you make this decision?’ ‘Yesterday. And we’re going to give it to the press tomorrow.’ Oh, that’s nice!“Well of course that’s a kick in the b——s. When I used to work in factories or on a building site, you’d get a week’s notice at least!”They don’t call you up the day before and say, ‘Sorry, don’t come in tomorrow.’ You don’t make a decision like that overnight.” Speaking ahead of the ITV relaunch, the singer said he was particularly upset for his late wife Linda, who had loved the show and did not live long enough to see him return.“I was p—-d off,” he told the Radio Times. “I never got to the bottom of who made the decision. It was between the production company Wall to Wall and the BBC, and I still don’t know why. read more