TagsTransfersAbout the authorPaul VegasShare the loveHave your say Bournemouth due tidy Mings windfall from Aston Villaby Paul Vegas10 days agoSend to a friendShare the loveBournemouth are due a tidy cash windfall from Aston Villa.The Telegraph says are set to receive £250,000 from Villa as a result of Tyrone Mings making his England debut last night.Mings made a permanent switch to the Villans in the summer, in a deal the Daily Echo says could reach £26.5million.That includes an initial payment as well as performance-related add-ons.The first of those instalments is now due after Mings played in England’s 6-0 win over Bulgaria in Sofia. read more

jim harbaugh jameis winston crab legs storyLast April, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston set the blogosphere on fire after it was revealed that he stole crab legs and crawfish from a Tallahassee Publix. Eventually, Winston was suspended from the baseball team, though he faced no suspension from the football team for his transgression. Still, it was a big deal.Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who back then was the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, clearly hadn’t heard about Winston’s mistake. In a recent interview recorded for ESPN’s Draft Academy, Harbaugh and Michigan QB coach Jedd Fisch peppered both Winston and Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty with some questions they’ll face from real NFL teams. When Fisch brought up Winston’s “stone crab” issue, Harbaugh, who definitely had no clue what he was talking about, gave Winston a bewildered look. It’s incredible.Here’s a Vine of his reaction, per Barstool. Winston made a number of mistakes in his short time on campus – a few of which weren’t even mentioned in the clip. It’d be interesting to hear whether Harbaugh would be willing to take a chance on him – if he were still in the NFL. read more

___Trump comments upend US approach to Huawei, trade talksWASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and China have taken pains this week to emphasize that their trade talks are entirely separate from the U.S. case against a top Chinese technology executive. In the space of a few words, President Donald Trump obliterated the distinction, saying he would intervene in the case against Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of telecom giant Huawei, if it would help produce a trade agreement with China.___US officials: China poses serious national security threatWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. national security officials say China’s cyber threats and the theft of intellectual property from American companies pose large economic and national security challenges for the United States. Assistant Attorney General John Demers says the U.S. “cannot tolerate a nation that steals the fruit of our brainpower.” Demers was among several officials testifying Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.___AP: Ivanka, Kushner could profit from tax break they pushedWASHINGTON (AP) — Government watchdogs say Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner created an ethical minefield when they became close advisers to President Donald Trump without divesting from their real estate investments. An Associated Press investigation finds the president’s daughter and son-in law could benefit from a program they pushed that offers massive tax breaks to developers. An ethics counsel for the couple says Ivanka Trump “adheres to the ethics advice she has received from counsel.”___Tencent Music shares rise on first trading dayNEW YORK (AP) — Shares in Chinese streaming music giant Tencent Music Entertainment rise nearly 8 per cent in their first day of trading. The company’s IPO of 82 million shares priced at $13 each and is expected to raise between $1.07 billion and $1.23 billion.___Britain’s May wins confidence vote, remains PMLONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May has won a confidence vote by Conservative Party lawmakers that could have brought her leadership to an abrupt end. In secret ballot on Wednesday, 200 lawmakers backed May and 117 voted against her.___States ask court to stop Trump from reviving US coal salesBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Four states that say burning coal will hurt their residents as it makes climate change worse are trying to stop the Trump administration from selling vast reserves of the fuel that are beneath public lands. Attorneys for California, New Mexico, New York and Washington state argue the sales put the climate at risk and shortchange taxpayers. Administration officials say ending a moratorium on coal sales imposed under Obama was critical for the nation’s economy.___AP Interview: Jones says farmers scared by Trump’s tariffsWASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Doug Jones says President Donald Trump’s talk of tariffs is sparking questions and anxiety back home in Alabama. Jones said in an Associated Press interview on Wednesday Democrats should work to improve trade and health care policies, but not focus now on impeachment. It’s the anniversary of his surprise election win in the red-state. Ahead of 2020, he says his old friend Joe Biden is best qualified to help Democrats win back heartland voters, but others will likely emerge.___Virgin Galactic aims to reach space soon with tourism rocketMOJAVE, Calif. (AP) — Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is gearing up to finally send its rocket ship to the edge of space. If successful, it would be a major step toward the long-delayed dream of commercial space tourism. That test flight could come as early as Thursday with the spaceship soaring high above California’s Mojave Desert.___Wall Street ends higher with help from tech and health careNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks gave up much of an early rally but still ended higher, led by gains in technology and health care companies. That helped reverse some of the market’s big losses from the week before. Traders were encouraged after the Wall Street Journal reported that China’s government could make changes to its “Made in China 2025” economic development plan. That could be one step toward easing dispute between the world’s two largest economies.___The S&P 500 index rose 14.29 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 2,651.07. The Dow gained 157.03 points, or 0.6 per cent, to 24,527.27. The Nasdaq composite jumped 66.48 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 7,098.31. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks added 15.19 points, or 1.1 per cent, to 1,455.32.Benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 1 per cent to $52.15 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 0.1 per cent to $60.15 per barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline dipped 1.3 per cent to $1.42 a gallon and heating oil was unchanged at $1.85 a gallon. Natural gas dropped 6.1 per cent to $4.14 per 1,000 cubic feet.The Associated Press read more

Beijing/ Washington: China’s exports fell more than expected in April while imports rose, official data showed Wednesday ahead of high-stakes talks aimed at resolving a trade war with the United States. The world’s two leading economies face a possible make-or-break moment when top negotiators meet in Washington this week following months of fraught talks. US President Donald Trump has upped the ante with plans to more than double tariffs on USD 200 billion in Chinese goods on Friday, the last day of a two-day visit by President Xi Jinping’s point man Vice Premier Liu He. Also Read – Commercial vehicle sales to remain subdued in current fiscal: IcraThe trade war has battered shipments between the economic giants. In April China’s exports across the Pacific fell 13.2 percent from a year earlier, while imports from the US fell 25.7 percent, according to the data from China’s customs administration. The politically sensitive trade surplus with the US remained large, widening to USD 21 billion last month from USD 20.5 billion in March. Last year it hit a record USD 323.3 billion. Global markets have taken a beating this week as investors grow increasingly concerned that the China-US trade deal, which last week appeared all but ready to sign, could fall through. US negotiators accused Beijing of reneging on commitments made during months of talks focusing on clamping down on theft of US technology and reducing China’s massive subsidies. Also Read – Ashok Leyland stock tanks over 5 pc as co plans to suspend production for up to 15 days”If Trump’s threat becomes reality, it will be a game changer for the global economy,” said Steve Cochrane, chief APAC economist at Moody’s Analytics, adding the worst-case scenario would result in a US recession and a rapid reduction of growth in China. Tepid global demand for China’s goods have heightened the risk for Beijing, which posted 6.4 percent economic growth in the first quarter, having decelerated every quarter last year. China’s exports to the world sank 2.7 percent on-year last month while imports rose 4.0 percent, producing a trade surplus of 13.8 billion. Meanwhile, Chinese direct investment in the United States dropped 83 per cent last year, pushed down by growing mistrust between the world’s two biggest economies. In a report out Wednesday, the Rhodium Group research firm said that China sank USD 5 billion last year into direct investments in America, down from USD 29 billion in 2017 and a record USD 46 billion in 2016. Direct investments include things like putting up factories, not financial investments like buying stocks. The numbers fell partly because Beijing sought to rein in deeply indebted investors and partly because the U.S. regulators have stepped up scrutiny of Chinese investments. Rhodium estimates that China dropped deals worth USD 2.5 billion last year because they wouldn’t pass muster with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign investments with national security implications. Chinese investment in the U.S. information and communications technology industry plunged to $200 million last year from $2.5 billion in 2017. US direct investment in China, meanwhile, dipped to $13 billion from $14 billion in 2017. US investment in the Chinese IT industry dropped to $2.1 billion last year from $4.1 billion in 2017 and $4.3 billion in 2016. read more

The Ohio State University Marching Band performs during a game against Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. OSU won 45-24. Credit: Alexa Mavrogianis | Photo EditorIn what coach Urban Meyer called a “coming-of-age” game, Ohio State’s youth showcased its talent in the national spotlight as the Buckeyes dominated the Oklahoma Sooners in front of a school-record crowd of 87,979 fans.The game started rough for the Buckeyes as Oklahoma drove easily down the field.  However, the defense stopped the Sooners for three straight plays in the red zone with Oklahoma ultimately deciding to settle for a 27-yard field goal.  After the short kick smacked against the goal post and the Sooners missed out on an easy 3 points, the Buckeyes took control and never looked back.After back-to-back three-and-outs for the two teams, Barrett and the offense started with good field position on the Oklahoma 45.  On a fourth-and-one, junior H-back Curtis Samuel broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run.  Oklahoma tried to respond, but sophomore linebacker Jerome Baker intercepted Baker Mayfield and ran 68 yards for the Buckeyes second touchdown of the night.  Oklahoma redshirt sophomore Joe Mixon returned the kickoff for a touchdown to make it 14-7, but that was as close as the Sooners got for the rest of the game.The Buckeye defense looked superb in Norman, Oklahoma, intercepting Mayfield twice increasing the team season total to a stunning nine interceptions, with four being returned for touchdowns, through three games.Redshirt sophomore Noah Brown, after missing last season with a broken leg, stepped into the spotlight as J.T. Barrett’s go-to receiver, hauling in four touchdown receptions against the Sooners.  Redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber had another solid performance for the Buckeyes as he added 123 yards on 18 carries to lead the rushing attack.After the impressive win, OSU takes a week off before opening Big Ten play against Rutgers for Homecoming on Oct. 1.By The Numbers:4: Noah Brown tied an OSU record with four touchdown receptions against the Sooners, including a highlight reel catch on the back of defender Michiah Quick.3-0: In the third meeting all time between the college football powerhouses, the away team came out with the win for a third consecutive time.  Oklahoma travels to OSU next year.19: OSU has now won 19 straight true road games (including five straight against ranked opponents), which is the second longest streak in the FBS over the last 25 years.  This will be put to the test when the Buckeyes visit Wisconsin and Michigan State later this season.35: The Buckeyes put up 35 points in the first half against Oklahoma, which was the most points given up in the first half by the home team throughout history.55: With four touchdown passes in the game, Barrett now has 55 career touchdown passes, passing Braxton Miller and Troy Smith for the third most in school history.3: Barrett is now three touchdown passes away from becoming the all-time leader in career touchdown passes.  The current record is 57 by Bobby Hoying. read more

Ohio State redshirt junior defeseman Matt Joyaux blocks a Michigan State forward from the puck along the boards in a game on March 3. Credit: Kevin Stankiewicz | Lantern photographerEarlier this week, Ohio State men’s hockey coach Steve Rohlik said his team will have to have a good start and play a full 60 minutes in Friday’s Game One in order to have a successful weekend.The No. 13 Buckeyes (17-10-6, 8-8-1-1), however, only completed half of the job in the series opener, as OSU allowed four first-period goals before clawing back to fall to the visiting Michigan State Spartans (7-21-3, 3-12-2-0), 5-4.Senior forwards Nick Schilkey and David Gust, junior forward Kevin Miller and sophomore forward Mason Jobst all netted a goal each in the loss. Jobst and Gust also notched a multi-point game on the night with assists, as well as a helper from sophomore forward Dakota Joshua and senior defender Josh Healey.“You’ve got to look in the mirror, and obviously it starts with me,” Rohlik said. “To come out at home in a game that you’ve got to have and give up four (goals) like that, it’s inexcusable. It’s just not OK.”Following a sluggish, but physical, opening five minutes of the first period, the Spartans opened the game’s scoring off an OSU turnover in the neutral zone. Michigan State sophomore forward Cody Milan centered a pass to freshman forward Logan Lambdin, who beat OSU goaltender Christian Frey outside the crease to put the visitors up 1-0.Four minutes later, Michigan State doubled its lead as senior forward Thomas Ebbing deflected freshman defender Mitch Eliot’s shot from the point into the back of the net to put the Spartans up two with 9:15 remaining in the period.Continuing to pepper Frey with a barrage of shots, Michigan State cashed in for a third time in the period when redshirt senior Rhett Holland’s shot veered off the stick of Milan and over the OSU goaltender for a 3-0 lead for Milan’s second point of the night. Minutes later, the Spartans added a fourth in the period when freshman forward Sam Saliba scored on the power play.“It was kind of a shock at first — which isn’t good — on the bench,” Jobst said. “Then we came in the locker room and kind of shook things up, and tried to rally the boys. But any time you give a team a four-goal lead, you just can’t do that.”Out of the locker room, the Scarlet and Gray replaced Frey in net with senior Matt Tomkins, and searched for a solution to an offensive outage and four-goal deficit. Michigan State suffered its second penalty of the night just seconds into the period, and the nation’s leading powerplay offense delivered as Schilkey buried his Big Ten-leading 25th goal of the season from the slot to cut the Spartan lead to 4-1. Healey and Jobst each recorded an assist on the play.Michigan State’s Lambdin responded and slotted his second goal of the night to put the visitors up 5-1 with 12:35 remaining in the second, but OSU again cut the lead to three as great team passing just outside the crease from Gust and Joshua set up Miller for a tap-in and his ninth goal of the season.The Spartans racked up their third powerplay of the night with less than eight minutes remaining in the period — however, it was the short-handed Buckeyes who benefitted from the penalty.Off a turnover in the Michigan State zone, Jobst found himself one-on-one with Spartan freshman goaltender John Lethemon, and the sophomore prevailed with his 15th goal and 44th point of the year to cut the lead to two heading into the final intermission.With time winding down in the third period, OSU earned its third powerplay of the game. Jobst pushed a pass to Joshua near the slot, who centered the puck to a waiting Gust, and the senior wristed his 14th goal and 34th point of the season to cut the Michigan State lead to one with 4:17 remaining.The Scarlet and Gray produced opportunities to equalize down the stretch, but could not capitalize in the closing moments to drop Game One of the series, 5-4.“At the end of the day — no matter what happens, whoever you’re out there with — to me, it was about the effort and just getting out competed,” Rohlik said. “We scored some goals there, we generated a little bit of offense, but we’ve got to play desperate hockey from the start instead of getting down four goals and then getting desperate.”With Game Two and the Buckeyes’ senior night slated for Saturday evening, Rohlik said his side will have to make major adjustments to come back strong in the series finale.“We’ve shot both feet off here the last two games, so right now we’ve got to go out there and play loose, but play desperate hockey,” Rohlik said. “Go out there and play like we can, go out there and play like a team that belongs to be out there, that wants to win, that expects to win — and you’ve got to have that attitude again.” read more

Ohio State redshirt senior guard Linnae Harper drives the ball during the first half of the Buckeyes’ game against Quinnipiac on Nov. 15. Credit: Colin Hass-Hill | Sports EditorNo. 9 Ohio State (3-1) rode a season-high 32-point performance from guard Kelsey Mitchell and guard Linnae Harper’s career-high 23 points to a 95-63 win against Quinnipiac (0-3) Friday night at the Schottenstein Center.Harper also pulled down 10 rebounds, which gave the 5-foot-8 guard her third double-double of the season. “She’s one of the most unique players in college basketball with the fact that she’s such a great rebounder and defender for her size,” head coach Kevin McGuff said. “We can get away with playing small because of that. It gives us an opportunity to do some different types of things.”Mitchell converted 6-of-9 3s, including three in a row down the stretch. She drilled a her final 3-pointer with 4:09 remaining in the contest to give her 32 points — which eclipsed her former season-high of 30 points — and cap off a 13-0 run. A preseason first-team All-American, Mitchell said she felt like she got into a rhythm near the end of the game.“It’s just a flow, still try to play within the game system, trying to play within the gameplay defensively and offensively,” Mitchell said. “But what ever you see, try to go for it.”Despite the 32-point win against a team that made it to the Sweet 16 last season, McGuff was not pleased by Ohio State’s performance.“I thought we played hard throughout the game, but we had some stretches where we just mentally had lapses and when we did that, they made us pay,” McGuff said. “So that was kind of the message afterward, if we’re going to be the team that we’re capable of being, it’s got to be a much more consistent mental effort for closer to 40 minutes.”Ohio State redshirt senior forward Stephanie Mavunga corrals a rebound during the first half of the Buckeyes’ game against Quinnipiac on Nov. 15. Credit: Colin Hass-Hill | Sports EditorQuinnipiac ended the third quarter on a 7-0 run, trimming its deficit to 65-53. But Ohio State quickly quenched any Bobcat comeback hopes with Mavunga hitting two free throws and Calhoun scoring an and-1 layup to put the Buckeyes up 70-53. Mitchell chalked rebounding up to the reason for Ohio State pulling away from the Bobcats with a 30-10 fourth quarter.“It takes us a long way,” Mitchell said. “Y’all know how we are, if we get a rebound, we get it in transition, it’s always positive for us.”Ohio State held just a one-rebound advantage at halftime, but ended the game with a 55-40 rebound lead. Of the Buckeyes’ 17 transition points, 15 came in the second half when they were able to corral rebounds and turn them into points.Redshirt senior forward Stephanie Mavunga also picked up her third double-double of the season. She dropped 12 points and snagged up 11 rebounds. Most of her buckets came from the charity stripe as she made eight free throws. The Bobcats played 11 players and were helped by 23 bench points, while Ohio State’s bench combined for just 11 points. Quinnipiac frequently subbed five-person lineup in and out out of the game.Ohio State redshirt junior guard Sierra Calhoun drives the ball during the Buckeyes’ game against Quinnipiac on Nov. 15. Credit: Colin Hass-Hill | Sports Editor“You’ve got to know personnel,” Mitchell said. “A person like [forward Jen Fay] that can put it on the floor and shoot it, but you don’t know whether she’s a [power forward] or a [center]. But then she’ll go right back out and come right back in and you don’t know who to guard. It was different.”Playing its second game in three days, Ohio State came out of the gate slow. The Bobcats pulled ahead to a 12-8 lead, but Harper hit a 3-pointer and Mitchell hit a jumper to give the Buckeyes a lead they would not relinquish.The Buckeyes entered halftime leading 46-32 as the Bobcat offense faltered down the stretch of the first half as the visitors hit just two of its final 12 shots of the half. Quinnipiac junior guard/forward Aryn McClure was tied with forward Jen Fay for the team-lead with 15 points.Redshirt junior guard Sierra Calhoun finished fourth on Ohio State with 11 points, but went just 3-for-13 from the field.Ohio State will look for its third-straight victory when it takes on Washington at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Schottenstein Center. read more

First Sea Otter Pup of 2019This female sea otter pup was found stranded on April 9th floating alone on Kachemak Bay. Upon arrival to the Center she was estimated to be only 1 or 2 days old. Our team is now working to get her healthy and strong. Check out this video to watch her first time receiving formula.Special thank you to SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Fund for your generous support of ASLC’s Wildlife Response Program.Posted by Alaska SeaLife Center on Friday, April 19, 2019Upon arrival to the ASLC she was estimated to be only 1 or 2 days old. Their team is now working to get her healthy and strong. Facebook0TwitterEmailPrintFriendly分享A female sea otter pup was found stranded on April 9 floating alone on Kachemak Bay, and a concerned fishermen contacted the Alaska Sealife Center. The otter pup is under 24-hour care, and being fed with a bottle. Officials wrote: “When the pup arrived at ASLC, the staff were surprised to see a fleshy umbilical cord, indicating she could be around a day old/ It is not unusual for the ASLC to treat very young sea otter pups, but one that could be a day old or less is rare.” Then, volunteers based in Homer transported the pup to Seward after receiving permission from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This is the ASLC’s first rescued animal of 2019. read more

.A bus caught fire on the Maghbazar-Mouchak flyover in Maghbazar of Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.The fire service control room said a fire broke out on the Gazipur-bound Manzil Paribahan bus travelling from Dhaka towards the end of the the flyover at the Wireless Gate area around 1:00pm.Fire service units rushed to the site and put out the fire within minutes.No injury was reported.

Protesters crowd along a main road during a demonstration against a proposed extradition bill in Hong Kong, China on 12 June. Photo: ReutersChaotic scenes erupted in Hong Kong on Wednesday as tens of thousands of demonstrators stormed key roads next to government offices to protest against a proposed extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial.Thousands of protesters rallied in and around Lung Wo Road, an important east-west artery near the offices of embattled Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, as hundreds of riot police warned them to stop advancing.Some protesters erected barricades to block traffic in the heart of the Asian financial centre, with many defying police calls to retreat, in scenes reminiscent of pro-democracy protests that rocked the city in late 2014.The government advised staff to avoid driving to government buildings because roads were blocked.Lam has defiantly vowed to press ahead with the controversial legislation despite deep concerns across the Asian financial hub that triggered on Sunday its biggest political demonstration since its handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997.Demonstrators from across a wide spectrum of Hong Kong society began joining the overnight protesters earlier on Wednesday as businesses across the city prepared to go on strike.The bill, which has generated unusually broad opposition at home and abroad, is due for a second round of debate on Wednesday in Hong Kong’s 70-seat Legislative Council, although it was not immediately clear if that would go ahead as planned.The legislature is controlled by a pro-Beijing majority.Lam has sought to soothe public concerns and said her administration was creating additional amendments to the bill, including safeguarding human rights.In a rare move, prominent business leaders warned that pushing through the extradition law could undermine investor confidence in Hong Kong and erode its competitive advantages.Sunday’s protest, which organisers said saw more than a million people take to the streets, in addition to a snowballing backlash against the extradition bill could raise questions about Lam’s ability to govern effectively.That protest rally plunged Hong Kong into political crisis, just as months of pro-democracy “Occupy” demonstrations did in 2014, heaping pressure on Lam’s administration and her official backers in Beijing.A spokesman for bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) said a cocktail reception on Wednesday evening to celebrate 19 years of being listed, at which Lam is guest of honour, would go ahead.Strikes, Go-SlowThe protesters, mostly young people, wore makeshift protective gear such as masks and goggles as they dragged steel barriers on to roads, wreaking commuter havoc in the morning rush hour.The demonstrators rallied just a stone’s throw from the heart of the financial centre where glittering skyscrapers house the offices of some of the world’s biggest companies, including HSBC.HSBC and Standard Chartered, in addition to the Big Four accounting firms, had all agreed to flexible work arrangements for staff on Wednesday, Hong Kong media reported.Strikes and transport go-slows were also announced for Wednesday as businesses, students, bus drivers, social workers, teachers and other groups all vowed to protest in a last-ditch effort to block the bill.The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong called on the government not to pass the bill “hurriedly” and urged all Christians to pray for the former British colony. Lam, who warned against “radical action” at the latest protest, is a Catholic.Britain handed Hong Kong back to China 22 years ago under a “one-country, two-systems” formula, with guarantees that its autonomy and freedoms, including an independent justice system, would be protected.However, many accuse China of extensive meddling since then, including obstruction of democratic reforms, interference with local elections and of being behind the disappearance of five Hong Kong-based booksellers, starting in 2015, who specialised in works critical of Chinese leaders.Beijing rejects those accusations and official Chinese media said this week “foreign forces” were trying to damage China by creating chaos over the extradition bill.Human rights groups have repeatedly cited the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions, forced confessions and problems accessing lawyers in China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party, as reasons why the Hong Kong bill should not proceed.China denies accusations that it tramples on human rights. read more

00:00 /29:40 To embed this piece of audio in your site, please use this code: Share In the extended version of Craig Cohen’s conversation on Houston Matters with Woodlands-area Republican Congressman Kevin Brady, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee says he hopes to get tax reforms — such as the border adjustment tax — passed this year, despite the battle over the GOP healthcare bill. He also says he thinks more people would support the Republican healthcare plan if they only understood it better.Also, the congressman discusses civility and bi-partisanship on Capital Hill in the weeks following the shooting at a GOP baseball practice in June. Plus Brady updates us on the status of his colleague (and roommate when he’s in Washington), Rep. Steve Scalise, who was shot during the attack. X Listen read more

By The Associated PressThe statue of the unnamed Confederate soldier has stood since 1909 in front of the courthouse in Louisiana’s East Feliciana Parish, hands resting on his rifle looking down on the flow of lawyers, jurors and defendants going into the white columned building.Ronnie Anderson, an African-American man charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, and speeding, was one such defendant and the statue gave him cause for concern.Ronnie Anderson, an African-American man charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, poses for a photo with his lawyer Niles Haymer, left, in front of a confederate statue on the lawn of the East Feliciana Parish Courthouse, where he is facing the charge, in Clinton, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)“It’s just intimidating to walk into a courthouse that’s supposed to be a place of equality, fair justice and to see this monument that made me feel like … I don’t stand a chance,” Anderson said.Anderson wants his case to be moved to another parish without such a memorial; his motion to change venue argues he can’t get a fair trial in the same place where a “symbol of oppression and racial intolerance” stands.Confederate flags and monuments — long a part of the Southern landscape — have come under renewed scrutiny following the 2015 shooting by Dylann Roof of nine black churchgoers in South Carolina and the 2017 deadly White nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.Supporters say the statues are a part of history honoring their ancestors; detractors say they, in effect, honor slavery and in many cases were erected during the Jim Crow era to intimidate Black people and bolster White supremacy.Confederate monuments dot the lawns of many Southern courthouses. In addition to the one in East Feliciana, a database compiled by the Southern Poverty Law Center lists 11 more in front of Louisiana courthouses.Ben Cohen, a lawyer with the New Orleans-based Promise of Justice Initiative that advocates for reforming Louisiana’s criminal justice system, says so far it’s rare for defendants to use the legal argument Anderson is making.Cohen represented a defendant appealing a conviction in a Caddo Parish murder case in which a prospective juror objected to the Confederate flag in front of the courthouse.The state Supreme Court ultimately upheld the conviction but Cohen said he anticipates this argument being used more often.“I think people are looking at these monuments in a new light,” he said.Officials in Caddo Parish voted last October to remove theirs. They concluded that citizens would be better served if it was not in front of the courthouse “where justice is to be administered fairly and impartially.” A lawsuit stalled the move, but was recently dismissed by a federal judge.The East Feliciana Parish District Attorney, Sam D’Aquilla says its “ridiculous” to think a statue would affect the fairness of Anderson’s trial and questions why an out-of-town defendant and lawyer are stirring up trouble in the primarily rural parish, located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Baton Rouge. Anderson is from Plaquemines Parish to the southeast and was driving through when he was pulled over. His lawyer, Niles Haymer is based in Baton Rouge.D’Aquilla said he doesn’t have an opinion on the statue but regardless of whether it’s there the people inside strive for colorblind justice. He also points out the racial diversity of the elected officials across the parish.“All the elected officials that I know of, your judges, your clerk of court, your sheriff, we all strive for racial equality. And we work hard for that,” he said.This is not the first time the East Feliciana Parish statue has come under scrutiny.In 2016, retired physician Paul Jackson Jr. asked the parish to move the statue to a local Confederate cemetery. He says having the statue on the courthouse grounds signals that the Confederacy was for justice: “But it wasn’t. They’re for slavery obviously.”His suggestion was debated during a parish meeting and ultimately rejected. Jackson said he lost two friends over the issue. He said he supports Anderson’s change-of-venue motion.Lataya Johnson, who lives and works in the parish, sympathized with Anderson’s argument and dismissed the idea that most people don’t pay attention to the statue.“You walk by and you think about it. Because if you’re African-American do you look at it and say, ‘My fate is already destined because of this statue … Judgment has already been made because of this statue,’” she said.But parish president Louis Kent said Anderson is “very mistaken” in believing he will not get a fair trial in East Feliciana.“I have been in this parish all my life. We don’t have a race problem. We never have and we’re not going to create one,” he said.Anderson’s lawyer, Niles Haymer, says he’s already heard from other lawyers interested in filing similar motions, and he may be filing the same motion for another client. For him, this case could become a catalyst for change. A hearing on the motion is expected August 7.“I feel like if we flood the criminal justice system with these motions, they’re going to have to deal with this monument issue,” he said. read more

‘Orange Is the New Black’ Creator Jenji Kohan and Star Uzo Aduba Bid Farewell Related Netflix shared some details of how it is measuring viewership. “We look at the most-watched individual season of a show, film or special (regardless of when it launched),” the company said, adding that “watched” means members finished 70% of one episode.Netflix is clearly experimenting with what works as it starts to open up. “It’s a test as we want to make sure this information is useful for you,” it tweeted. “So we may tweak it in the weeks ahead. eg. we’re not including kids right now. And if people don’t find it useful we’ll stop.”Netflix’s Top 10 lists in the U.K.:OverallOur PlanetThe Perfect DateThe HighwaymenThe SilenceBlack SummerAfter LifeThe Spy Who Dumped MeRiverdaleChilling Adventures of SabrinaYou vs. WildSeriesBlack SummerAfter LifeRiverdaleChilling Adventures of SabrinaStar Trek: DiscoveryLunaticsBodyguardSanta Clarita DietBondingBrooklyn Nine-NineDocumentariesOur PlanetThe Disappearance of Madeleine McCannHomecoming: A film by BeyoncéThe Legend of Cocaine IslandStreet FoodThe Investigator: A British Crime StoryFormula 1: Drive to SurviveRoman EmpireOne Strange RockTop 10 Secrets and MysteriesFilmsThe Perfect DateThe HighwaymenThe SilenceThe Spy Who Dumped MeSomeone GreatPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No TalesBaywatchGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2Sniper: Ultimate KillSicario: Day of the SoldadoEnglish-language showsQuicksandThe RuthlessOsmosisEk Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa LagaDelhi CrimeMirageBitter DaisiesA Fortunate ManBurn OutThe ProtectorReality showsYou vs. WildRuPaul’s Drag RaceRuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked!Queer EyeSelling SunsetImpractical JokersSugar RushTidying Up with Marie KondoLove IslandAmerican IdolNon-English language showsQuicksandThe RuthlessOsmosisEk Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa LagaDelhi CrimeMirageBitter DaisiesA Fortunate ManBurn OutThe Protector Netflix took a step toward greater transparency Thursday, at least in the U.K., by publishing its first top-10 lists of most-watched content on its platform after having promised investors that it would start divulging more viewing information. The streaming giant said it would post the lists weekly in the U.K., which it is using as a test market.No. 1 on the list of most-watched shows in April is the David Attenborough-narrated natural history series “Our Planet,” followed by “The Perfect Date” and “The Highwaymen” in second and third place, respectively. Other lists put break down viewing by category: most-watched films, series, documentaries, reality shows, and non-English-language series.The streamer said that some customers would start seeing the lists on their service starting next week. How that information will be presented is unclear, but one possibility is a new row of thumbnails labeled as a top 10 list. What’s Coming to Netflix in September 2019 Popular on Variety ×Actors Reveal Their Favorite Disney PrincessesSeveral actors, like Daisy Ridley, Awkwafina, Jeff Goldblum and Gina Rodriguez, reveal their favorite Disney princesses. Rapunzel, Mulan, Ariel,Tiana, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine all got some love from the Disney stars.More VideosVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcutsplay/pauseincrease volumedecrease volumeseek forwardsseek backwardstoggle captionstoggle fullscreenmute/unmuteseek to %SPACE↑↓→←cfm0-9Next UpJennifer Lopez Shares How She Became a Mogul04:350.5x1x1.25×1.5x2xLive00:0002:1502:15 read more

More information: www.ewi.tudelft.nl/en/current/ewicon/www.mecanoo.nl/Default.aspx?ta … ailId=847&pcode=A498 Citation: Researchers team up with architects to create bladeless wind electricity generator (2013, April 3) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2013-04-team-architects-bladeless-electricity.html (Phys.org) —Faculty members at Delft University in the Netherlands have teamed up with architectural firm Mecanoo to develop a new way to generate electricity using wind energy. The result is the Electrostatic WInd-energy CONvertor, (EWICON)—a windmill with no moving mechanical parts. Its creators say that it makes no noise, won’t break down or cast a shadow and it won’t cause bird deaths—all problems associated with traditional wind turbines. Toward super-size wind turbines: Bigger wind turbines do make greener electricity Traditional wind turbines take advantage of moving air to convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy to create electricity. This new windmill uses a different process altogether. It looks rather like a giant tennis racket with an insulated base instead of a hand grip. It takes advantage of wind moving over the inner grid—positively charged water particles are carried (via spraying) away from the small inner tube mesh, leaving negatively charged particles behind. That causes a decrease in the voltage of the system and allows for electricity to be captured. The design is simple enough that the frame can be any shape desired and allows for windmills of virtually any size, though the researchers acknowledge that a certain size must be used to cause the creation of more electricity than is used to pump the water. Explore further © 2013 Phys.org Deriving electricity from wind has met with some resistance in some parts of the world—to be of real use, turbines must be very large, and whole farms of them constructed. Many consider such farms to be an eyesore and say the noise they create causes health problems. The EWICON in contrast, is silent and some suggest it actually looks like a piece of art. Traditional wind turbines also require a lot of maintenance and are frequently damaged by high winds or lightning. Because the EWICON has no moving parts, it should be less prone to damage from wind, though it would seem to be just as likely to suffer damage from lightning.The researchers have not yet divulged just yet how efficient the EWICON is, nor whether the new kind of windmill would have to be deployed in vast farms to make them cost effective. Currently the only one built so far is a small prototype that sits in front of the EWI faculty building in the Mekelpark powering a big neon sign. This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. read more

Sister Nivedita University organised an event on the occasion of 122nd birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indo-Japanese Friendship Day on January 23. At the event, where different Japan delegates were invited, Masayuki Taga, Consul General of Japan and his wife, also marked their presence. Dr Fumitsugu Otsuki, Director of Dept of International Relations – Kake Educational Institution and Dr Shozo Azuma, Vice President of Dept of Risk and Crisis Management System- Chiba Institute of Science were also present to discuss the future collaborative prospects between Techno India Group and Kake Educational Institution. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfDr Ashok Ranjan Thakur, Vice-Chancellor of Sister Nivedita University, Pradyut Kumar Biswas, OSD to Chancellor, Professor Suman Chatterjee, Registrar- Sister Nivedita University, Dr R T Goswami, Director- Techno International New Town, Dr Arindam Roy, Director Academics- Techno India Group, Dr Summauli Pyne, Director – International Relations and Outreach, Techno India Group were a part of the team, to make the event successful. The event concluded with a cultural performance by the students in the honour of the guests to mark the celebration of the 122nd birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. read more