Solange De Santis brings a lively, authoritative voice and great versatility to coverage of the arts. She has written about off-Broadway theatres and Shakespeare at Stratford, opera and rock, dance, literature, museums and film. She has interviewed Robertson Davies, John Huston, B.B. King and the last three artistic directors of the Stratford Festival, among others.
De Santis earned a master’s degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in English at Barnard College in New York City.
She began her career with NBC Radio in New York as a news writer, then moved to the Associated Press broadcast wire as a news writer. She originated a music column called “Backstage Pass” for the AP radio wire. Eager for newspaper experience, she moved to West Palm Beach, Florida for a position as business writer at the Palm Beach Post. On a freelance basis, she wrote about the technical side of film for Shooting Commercials magazine.
Subsequently, she was a correspondent in the Los Angeles bureau for Reuters, where her coverage included the Academy Awards and the film industry. After three years, she was promoted to News Editor in Toronto, supervising seven reporters and two photographers. Her arts features at this time included the National Ballet of Canada, the Shaw Festival, the Stratford Festival and the Who’s farewell tour.
She went undercover to chronicle life in a doomed General Motors plant, an experience recorded in Life On The Line: One Woman’s Tale Of Work, Sweat And Survival, published in 1999 by Doubleday in Canada and the United States. In 2000, it was named a finalist for Canada’s National Business Book Award.
Most recently, she was a staff reporter for five years in the Toronto bureau of The Wall Street Journal, becoming the only Canada-based reporter to contribute regularly to the arts section. Her features covered the International Festival of Authors, tenor Ben Heppner, the Bata Shoe Museum, the National Film Board, the musicals Ragtime and Jane Eyre, Stratford and the Tafelmusik baroque orchestra.
She is now a freelance writer, contributing to The Wall Street Journal, enRoute magazine, Scarlett, the Anglican Journal, American Theater Magazine, Stage Directions magazine, the Canadian Society of Cinematographers’ magazine (CSC News), the National Post Business Magazine and the Globe and Mail.
She is also involved with theatre on the community level, having worked as a stage manager for the Milton Players in Milton, Ontario and director, assistant stage manager, script researcher, sound designer and properties master for the Burl-Oak Theatre Group in Oakville, Ontario. She wrote a one-act youth play for Grace Anglican Church in Milton. She has also studied directing, sound design, stage management, lighting and acting in continuing education courses at Ryerson University and with various theatrical professionals.
© 2012 Solange De Santis


When RuptureSeal™ founder and inventor Glenn Cox was a police officer stationed on Canada’s Vancouver Island, he was called to a remote highway accident where a tanker truck had overturned and was leaking diesel fuel from a 2-inch punctured saddle tank. The response time for the Department of Environmental Emergency Response was estimated at two to three hours, and the local fire department lacked sufficient equipment to stop the leak.
As the Department of Transportation arrived, they set about constructing a dirt berm to stop the spread of fuel to a nearby river. While this work was underway, the Provincial Department of Environmental Emergency Response arrived. Their spill specialist immediately mixed a granular product with water and kneaded it into a large piece of putty. While being sprayed by diesel fuel, the specialist approached the damaged truck, shoved the putty into the rupture, placed a small piece of plywood behind it, and then propped a long-handled shovel behind it to hold it all in place. The leak was reduced to a trickle, but by then several hundred gallons of fuel had leaked into the environment, costing thousands of dollars in clean up.
As opposed to other spill control, spill containment and environmental health and safety products designed to minimize chemical or fuel leaks caused by punctures, RuptureSeal™ is reliable, durable, easily deployed in seconds and forms a secure mechanical seal that stops the leak for hours.
We definitely keep the product on all our trucks. A vehicle inbound to the airport was struck on the undercarriage, rupturing the fuel tank. As the vehicle slowed down and approached the airport, it became apparent it had sustained a serious leak. Our Firemen responded, got under the van and installed the RuptureSeal™, stopping the discharge immediately. We were amazed at how well it worked! /...more testimonials


What if eating just 1 gram of a simple spice with your breakfast, could turbo-charge your working-memory for up to six-hours? That’s exactly what researchers in Korea have discovered in a recent study involving the common spice Turmeric.
Turmeric is a yellowish spice native to southern India, and is a member of the ginger family.
In the Korean study, participants were given 1 gram of turmeric with their breakfasts, while a control-group was given breakfast containing no turmeric.
The working memory of the study participants was measured at regular intervals following breakfast, and the results clearly indicated an improved performance among the turmeric group.
Mark L. Wahlqvist who lead the study explained the results:
“We found that this modest addition to breakfast improved working memory over six hours. Working memory is widely thought to be one of the most important mental faculties, critical for cognitive abilities such as planning, problem solving and reasoning. …
Assessment of working memory is simple and convenient, but it is also very useful in the appraisal of cognition and in predicting future impairment and dementia. …
Our findings with turmeric are consistent with these observations, insofar as they appear to influence cognitive function.”
It is believed that the chemical compound curcumin, which is found in turmeric is responsible for the working-memory benefits. Interestingly however, the study found no correlation between cinnamon and increased working memory, despite the fact that cinnamon also contains large quantities of natural curcumin.


Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years, an all-star benefit concert on Thursday, June 26 featuring some of the brightest stars in the show’s history returning to the Austin City Limits stage.
The star-studded evening, hosted by Jeff Bridges and Sheryl Crow, will feature Alabama Shakes, Gary Clark Jr., Joe Ely, Robert Earl Keen, Kris Kristofferson, Lloyd Maines, Bonnie Raitt, T Bone Burnett, Jimmie Vaughan, Grupo Fantasma and Doyle Bramhall II along with musical performances from Bridges and Crow, celebrating Austin City Limits legacy as an American music institution over the last four decades.
Commemorating the trailblazing music series 40th Anniversary, the evening will benefit KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, which created Austin City Limits in 1974 and still produces the show today. The concert will take place at ACL’s home, ACL Live at The Moody Theater, and will be taped as part of a two-hour primetime special, Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years, airing Friday, October 3, 9 – 11pm ET, on PBS. ACL continues its remarkable run, kicking off its milestone 40th year with the series season premiere on October 4. The complete broadcast episode schedule for Season 40 will be announced at a later date.
Austin City Limits is the longest-running music series in American television history and remains the only TV series to ever be awarded the National Medal of Arts. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the pilot episode taped in 1974 with Willie Nelson. Since its inception, the groundbreaking music series has become an institution that’s helped secure Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. The historic KLRU Studio 6A, home to 36 years of ACL concerts, has been designated an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark. In 2011, ACL moved to the new venue ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin. ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement in 2012.
Learn more about Austin City Limits, programming and history at acltv.com


Financial Sector and Cloud Security Providers Complete Initiative To Enhance Cybersecurity
A joint trade initiative identifies roles and responsibilities between firms and cloud security providers, establishing a mutually beneficial framework for cybersecurity.
Washington, D.C.—The Cyber Risk Institute (CRI), the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), and the Bank Policy Institute-BITS announced today the release of a cloud extension for the CRI Profile version 1.2. The “Cloud Profile” represents the collaboration of over 50 financial institutions and major cloud service providers (CSPs) to extend the CRI Profile, which is a widely accepted cybersecurity compliance framework for the financial sector.
“Today’s release marks an historic achievement,” said CRI President Joshua Magri. “This is the first time that financial institutions, the major CSPs, and trade associations have come together to develop a set of baseline expectations related to cybersecurity and roles and responsibilities for cloud deployment. We are exceedingly proud of the work done here and what it may mean for future cloud usage in the financial services sector. We are pleased to be part of a collaborative solution to a longstanding challenge.”
As more financial institutions move to the cloud, financial regulators globally have become increasingly focused on ensuring firms use sound risk management practices during cloud implementation. The Cloud Profile provides guidance to financial institutions and CSPs on commonly understood responsibilities related to cloud deployment across software-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service, and infrastructure-as-a-service delivery models.
“Financial regulators need clear, consistent, and timely information on firms’ relationships with their third parties. The Cloud Profile helps clarify where a firm’s responsibilities end and a cloud service provider’s responsibilities begin,” said Chris Feeney, Executive Vice President of BPI and President of BPI-BITS. “A common understanding of cybersecurity controls for cloud implementation that has been developed, vetted, and accepted by firms and CSPs is a sound approach in ensuring our financial sector is more secure.”
This guidance is designed to enable financial institutions and CSPs to come to contractual understanding more easily and should also facilitate more streamlined and secure processes for deploying cloud services.
“We are very happy to work with a like-minded organization such as CRI, and we are excited about these initial results. The Cloud Profile extension brings together the CRI Profile with the security controls and security shared responsibility model of the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix v4.0. This represents a very powerful tool to support financial institutions in building a cloud security governance and compliance program that can meet their strict sectorial requirements,” said Daniele Catteddu, Chief Technology Officer, Cloud Security Alliance.
CRI, CSA, and BPI will continue working on ways to leverage this joint framework and look forward to greater collaboration.
* * *
About Cyber Risk Institute.
The Cyber Risk Institute (CRI) is a not-for-profit coalition of financial institutions and trade associations. We’re working to protect the global economy by enhancing cybersecurity and resiliency through standardization. https://cyberriskinstitute.org/ *The CRI Profile is the successor to the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council (FSSCC) Cybersecurity Profile, a NIST and IOSCO based approach to assessing cybersecurity in the financial services industry.
About Bank Policy Institute.
The Bank Policy Institute (BPI) is a nonpartisan public policy, research and advocacy group, representing the nation’s leading banks and their customers. Our members include universal banks, regional banks and the major foreign banks doing business in the United States. Collectively, they employ almost 2 million Americans, make nearly half of the nation’s small business loans, and are an engine for financial innovation and economic growth.
About Cloud Security Alliance.
The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining and raising awareness of best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. CSA harnesses the subject matter expertise of industry practitioners, associations, governments, and its corporate and individual members to offer cloud security-specific research, education, training, certification, events, and products. CSA’s activities, knowledge, and extensive network benefit the entire community impacted by cloud — from providers and customers to governments,entrepreneurs, and the assurance industry — and provide a forum through which different parties can work together to create and maintain a trusted cloud ecosystem. For further information, visit us at www.cloudsecurityalliance.org, and follow us on Twitter @cloudsa.


UK Drug Seizures - Less significant to organised crime than food wastage is to supermarkets
9th November 2017
Today the UK Home Office released data on illegal drug seizures, saying they have fallen by 6%.
Martin Powell, Head of Campaigns at Transform Drug Policy Foundation said:
“Like alcohol Prohibition, global drug prohibition has gifted a vast criminal opportunity to organised crime groups, who control the international drugs market.
Even the UK Government’s recent evaluation of its own strategy acknowledged that the illicit drug market is so resilient that enforcement has only localised and short-lived impacts, and traffickers can easily recoup the cost of any seizures.
“What are portrayed as massive seizures are a minor cost of business for organised crime, less significant than the 2% food wastage supermarkets like Morrisons factor into their supply chains.
UK police, customs and Navy seize just 1% of heroin destined for the UK, but a report from Downing St concluded that seizures of 60-80% would be needed to put dealers out of business.
The only way to take the market from criminals is to put governments in control by legally regulating drugs - as Canada is currently preparing to do for its cannabis market. ”
Martin Powell, Head of Campaigns, Transform Drug Policy Foundation 07875 679 301 email@example.com
Danny Kushlick, Head of External Affairs, Transform Drug Policy Foundation 07970 174 747 firstname.lastname@example.org
Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a UK and Mexico based think tank campaigning for the legal regulation of drugs www.tdpf.org.uk
Drug Seizures in the UK 2017, Home Office https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/657872/seizures-drugs-mar2017-hosb2217.pdf
Post-farmgate alone, supermarkets waste 2% of food, according to Steven Butts, head of corporate responsibility for Morrisons, evidence to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Jan 2017 http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environment-food-and-rural-affairscommittee/food-waste/oral/45673.pdf
Heroin seizures and heroin use in Scotland http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14659890902960706?journalCode=ijsu20
No. 10 Strategy Unit Drug Report p73 (NB The Home Office has now removed this from its website but it can be accessed here) http://evolvecms.webfreelancersuk.co.uk/sites/default/files/Strategy%20Unit%20drugs%20report.pdf
An evaluation of the Government’s Drug Strategy 2010, UK Home Office, 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/628100/Drug_Strategy_Evaluation.PDF Key quotes and analysis here: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/blog/uk-government-official-evaluation-our-drug-strategy-failure-home-office-carry-anyway


William Michael S. Steele, 47, of Altoona, died Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at his residence. He was born in Altoona, son of John W. and Linda K. (Brawley) Steele.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a daughter, Anessa Merrill of Carrolltown; a grandson, Oliver Cunningham; two brothers, Scott S. Steele and John W. (Ann) Steele, both of Altoona; and a sister, Raylene R. (Jeff) Vahey of Butler. Bill is also survived by five nieces: Breanna Vahey and Sarah, MacKenzie, Savanna and Emily Steele; two aunts, Jean White and Charlotte Stiver; and several cousins.
Bill was a 1991 graduate of Altoona Area High School. He enjoyed football, baseball and cooking.
Friends will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Jones Funeral Home, Altoona.
A funeral service will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Jones Funeral Home, Altoona, with Thomas Kurtz officiating.
Interment will take place at Grandview Cemetery, Altoona, at the convenience of the family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Michael S. Steele, please visit our floral store.


Watch the Bourton Basket on the new Channel 5 series Starting Up Starting Over.
The series follows people looking for a new business and lifestyle change. For six months the camera crew followed us leaving our businesses and home in Herfordshire to move to Bourton-on-the-Water, where we took over ownership of the Bourton Basket.
The show has already aired across Europe and in Australia, but the UK airdate is to be confirmed.
If you cannot wait, the series has been uploaded to Channel 5 On Demand to view now online or via your TV app.


A slightly belated happy new year to you and welcome to the first Autolawn post of 2020!
I’m sure you’re all dying to get a recap of what we got up to in 2019 and hear the latest news of what’s coming up in 2020 so, without further ado…
2019 was a great year for us at Autolawn and for the robotic lawnmower market itself, which continues to grow.
We were at the exciting Innovate Guildford Science and Arts Festival in March where we were lucky enough to introduce the new Husqvarna 435X AWD before it was on general release in the UK. In September we premiered the machine at the Emmett and Stone Country Sports Open Day, where we enjoyed showing off the benefits of this ground-breaking new mower. Capable of tackling inclines of up to 70% and the new design making the mower more agile than ever before, the 435X AWD also has Alexa and Google Assistant support.
2019 was also our first year as suppliers of the fantastic and hugely popular Cub Cadet brand of mowers, this has given us the ultimate brands package which allows us to provide the perfect mower for all types of gardens.
COMING UP IN 2020
2020 will see the release of the Husqvarna 305 which is a modern mower for smaller lawns. This higher spec machine is capable of mowing areas up to 600m2, and has a frost sensor, systematic passage handling and is the very first Automower you can hose down. Autolawn will be offering the new Automower 305 at the very special price of £999 between February and May, so make sure get in there first by booking your free consultation now!
Husqvarna aren’t the only ones bringing out a new model for compact gardens in 2020, with Honda set to releast the Miimo HRM40 and the Miimo HRM40 Live. The new Miimo models are perfect for gardens up to 400m2, with a smart timer which adapts to weather conditions, ultra-quiet operation and super quick set up. The Live version also has full smartphone and Alex connectivity. The new HRM40 and HRM40 Live are set to be released in February 2020.
In other exciting news, Robomow have recently introduced Robovision camera-based technology, which can detect humans and pets and adjust its mowing pattern accordingly. This represents the first camera based robotic lawnmowers, and will be available from the spring, so watch this space!
We can’t wait for the spring to arrive so we can get cracking making lawns look lovely! In the meantime, why not beat the rush and give us a call to arrange a free consultation?


The Eagle, Globe and Anchor has been a part of the Marine Corps uniform since 1868 and became the official emblem of the Marine Corps in 1955. This small piece of metal that only costs a few dollars is priceless to the new Marines who have endured the last 12 weeks of intense training to earn it. This ceremony has been a tradition on Parris Island since the first Crucible in 1996. Delta Company is scheduled to graduate Sept. 13, 2013. Parris Island has been the site of Marine Corps recruit training since Nov. 1, 1915. Today, approximately 20,000 recruits come to Parris Island annually for the chance to become United States Marines by enduring 13 weeks of rigorous, transformative training. Parris Island is home to entry-level enlisted training for 50 percent of males and 100 percent for females in the Marine Corps.
Drill instructors of Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, and Papa Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion, march off the main parade deck with their platoons’ guidons during the companies’ graduation ceremony Sept. 13, 2013, on Parris Island, S.C. The guidons represent teamwork, cohesion and unit identity for each platoon, and are retired during the ceremony. (Photo by Cpl. Octavia Davis)


Across 190 countries approximately 50 million people swipe left and right on the dating platform Tinder. However, not all are in pursuit of immaculate love. Surveys indicate that between 18 and 25 percent of users are already in a “committed” relationship. In the United States, that percentage jumps to 42. Now, a new study shows that these “non-single” Tinder users are quite different from single users — and not just because they are already dating someone.
The research shows the person you’re hooking up with on Tinder could be a psychopath. The Dutch study found that almost one-in-four people on the dating app are already in a committed relationship, and those people are more likely to be psychopaths than single users. The study’s lead author, Elisabeth Timmermans, says non-single people who were also on Tinder reported higher scores on neuroticism and psychopathy than non-single people who were not on Tinder. They also reported more casual hookups than single users. The study suggests people with those personality traits might be more susceptible to using dating apps for infidelity purposes.
In their paper published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, the experts in psychology and communication studies found that people who cheat on Tinder have different motives for using the app, as well as more psychopathic personality traits compared to other people in committed relationships who don’t use Tinder.
During the experiment conducted at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in The Netherlands, researchers surveyed 1,486 Tinder users and found that almost a quarter of them already have romantic partners, and more than half of those users had used the app to meet someone.
Timmermans, a PhD student at Erasmus University, told PsyPost that partnered users, “reported lower scores on agreeableness and conscientiousness and higher scores on neuroticism and psychopathy compared to people in a committed relationship who did not use a dating app.”
For now, Timmermans concludes that her findings “suggest that some people (i.e., with certain personality traits) might be more susceptible to using dating apps for infidelity purposes than others.”
Psychopaths may have very different motivations for their romantic relationships than other people. They are driven by power and their ego, so a healthy relationship with someone who scores highly on the Hare test for psychopathy is unlikely.
“Interestingly, partnered Tinder users with a higher score on psychopathy were also more likely to use Tinder for casual sex and reported a higher number of one night stands with other dating app users.”
Overall, higher scores on psychopathy and Machiavellianism were significantly linked with a sexual motive and with using Tinder for an ego boost.
“Our findings leave me wondering whether dating apps might be a threat to romantic relationships,” said Timmermans. “Of course our findings are too preliminary to make such conclusions, but they already suggest that some people (i.e., with certain personality traits) might be more susceptible to using dating apps for infidelity purposes than others.”


The 88th Annual Academy Awards 2016: The 88th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2015 and took place on February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories. The ceremony was televised in the United States by ABC, and produced by David Hill and Reginald Hudlin and directed by Glenn Weiss. Actor Chris Rock hosted the show for the second time, having previously hosted the 77th ceremony held in 2005.
In related events, the Academy held its 7th Annual Governors Awards ceremony at the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood and Highland Center on November 14, 2015. On February 13, 2016, in a ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by hosts Olivia Munn and Jason Segel.


A GMA News and Public Affairs Special
In a country situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, laden with volcanoes, earthquake faults and trenches, disaster preparedness is a timeless issue. And yet, with all these realities surrounding us, is the Philippines prepared for natural disasters?
Vicky Morales and a team of GMA's senior reporters travel from Luzon to Mindanao to find out which cities and provinces are exposed to natural hazards. In this Sunday's SNBO, "Ground Zero: Sa Gitna ng Nagbabagong Mundo," GMA News and Public Affairs endeavors to give the public a better understanding of one of nature's big events -- earthquakes.
From San Francisco , California , Kara David reports on the world-famous San Andreas Fault . Together with the United States Geological Survey or USGS, Kara David examines the science behind earthquakes and the steps Filipinos in the U.S. are undertaking to prepare for the next "big one."
Like the U.S. the Philippines has been described as "overdue" for a big earthquake. Experts are now studying major faults in Luzon . Chino Gaston takes a look at Baguio City , once devastated by the 1990 earthquake. More than a decade after the tragedy, it seems many lessons still need to be learned. Today, Baguio is overpopulated, with structures built on unstable ground where sink holes have been discovered.
In the Visayas, Cesar Apolinario reports from the landslide-prone province of Leyte to assess potential damage should an earthquake happen here. In the Bicol region, Mariz Umali takes a look at how Bicolanos, survivors of many natural disasters, are preparing for a tsunami scenario. Bicol is one of several provinces facing the massive Philippine Trench, known as the Philippine Deep. GMA's top divers, Doc Ferds Recio and Kiko Rustia take us to Davao and Mindoro for a survey of the underwater terrain to provide information on how trenches work.
And in major cities in Metro Manila, traversed by the deadly Valley Fault System, Vicky Morales reports on communities identified as danger zones in the event of a big earthquake. Buildings and other structures are also assessed for earthquake-preparedness.
In times of natural disasters, "ground zero" refers to the epicenter of a quake or an area with the greatest devastation. But with an increased understanding of natural threats and how our communities might be affected, it is hoped that the toll on lives and livelihood can be minimized.
"Ground Zero: Sa Gitna ng Nagbabagong Mundo" airs this Sunday, May 1, on GMA's SNBO.


QurAlis to Present at H.C. Wainwright BioConnect 2022 Virtual Conference
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., January 3, 2022—QurAlis Corporation, a biotech company developing breakthrough precision medicines for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets, today announced that its CEO and co-founder, Kasper Roet, PhD, will present an update about the company at the H.C. Wainwright BioConnect Virtual Conference held January 10-13, 2022.
The presentation will be available on demand beginning January 10, 2022 at 4:00 AM PT and can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3EoD3h6. The presentation can also be accessed by visiting the presentations section of the Company’s website at www.quralis.com. A replay of the presentation will be available and archived on the site for 90 days after the event.
About QurAlis Corporation
QurAlis is trailblazing the path to conquering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases with genetically validated targets with next-generation precision medicines. QurAlis’ proprietary platforms and unique biomarkers enable the design and development of drugs that act directly on disease-causing genetic alterations. Founded by an internationally recognized team of neurodegenerative biologists from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University, QurAlis is advancing a deep pipeline of antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs including addressing sub-forms of ALS that account for the majority of ALS patients. For more information, please visit www.quralis.com or follow us on Twitter @QurAlisCo.


26th Annual OTMDC Golf Challenge
May 5, 2021
Yields $75K for Olde Towne
Hosted by the Ford's Colony Men's Golf Association, the Tournament and the Resident's Campaign was a great success with the proceeds reaching $75,000 to benefit the patients of Olde Towne. Once again, the residents and players of the community came together in support of Olde Towne as the center is continuing to be a necessary resource for medical and dental services of the residents and workforce of greater Williamsburg.
The Tournament committee would like to thank the many sponsors for their support of this year's tournament and campaign as well as the volunteers that made the day a success.


Hello! Welcome to this blog.
Host Bev Cooper has dedicated these programs to those who are victims of Cook County Probate Court. Live broadcasts are aired in Highland Park on channel 19 Wednesday at 7:30 PM.
Tonights guest is Rena Moss who explains how she was under guardianship for two years and escaped. Ms. Moss suffers from Parkinson's disease, was over-medicated by her physician and forced into guardianship. She found a new physician who adjusted her medication, went back to work only to have her paycheck confiscated along with her mail and civil rights. Judge Jane Stuart set her free. Original air date is July 20, 2011.
Bev Cooper is producer and host of North Shore “Live” Cooper’s Corner, a weekly cable Comcast TV program that is broadcast live every Wednesday night from a studio in Highland Park and then shown throughout Lake County. This is Bev’s 30th year as producer of the show.


Leonard Williams can read between the lines of a trade.
The Jets determined he was not worth their continued investment, after he failed to live up to the expectations that come with being the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft.
The Giants – who traded two draft picks to the Jets to get Williams on the final year of his contract – risked looking very foolish if he doesn’t re-sign beyond this season. Williams, though, would consider re-signing if offered an extension before testing the open market in March.
“I’d definitely be open to it if it comes up,” Williams said. “Whether it’s with the Giants or whoever, I have to keep playing. It’s an audition still.”
Williams, 25, is making $14.2 million on his fifth-year rookie option. The Giants only owe him about $2 million of his remaining $6 million salary as part of the trade that sent a third-round pick in 2020 and a fifth-rounder in 2021 to the Jets. He is expected to command about $10 million per year on his next multi-year deal.
At 2-6 and headed nowhere in 2019, the Giants could’ve kept their picks and pursued Williams in free agency.
“I got drafted there and they didn’t want to keep me,” Williams said Wednesday of the Jets after his first practice with the Giants, “but this team definitely showed interest and wanted to go out of their way to get me over here. I think it speaks volumes. I have to prove to them why they should want me here.”
Because the Giants played their hand by trading for Williams with no insurance he will re-sign, Williams has the leverage in negotiations. If Williams is re-signed before free agency begins, the fifth-round pick in 2021 would bump up to a fourth-rounder.
“My versatility is actually something the coaches talked about that they were exciting about having me here. They have seen me play nose, three-technique, defensive end stand-up. I’m still getting comfortable with this new defense. As soon as that starts to happen, I’ll get in my groove.”
For more on the Giants, listen to the latest episode of the “Blue Rush” podcast:
Credit: Source link


Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment in 2021 surged 44% to an all-time record of $102.6 billion from $71.2 billion in 2020, SEMI, the industry association representing the global electronics product design and manufacturing supply chain, reported today. The data is now available in the Worldwide Semiconductor Equipment Market Statistics (WWSEMS) Report.
China claimed the largest market for semiconductor equipment for the second time with sales expanding 58% to $29.6 billion to mark the fourth consecutive year of growth. Korea, the second-largest equipment market, registered a sales increase of 55% to $25.0 billion, after showing strong growth in 2020. Taiwan logged 45% growth to $24.9 billion to claim the third position. Annual semiconductor equipment spending increased 23% in Europe and 17% in North America, which continues to recover from a contraction in 2020. Sales in Rest of the World jumped 79% in 2021.
“The 44% increase in manufacturing equipment spending in 2021 highlights the global semiconductor industry’s aggressive push to add capacity,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI president and CEO. “This drive to expand production capabilities extends beyond the current supply imbalance, as the industry continues to ramp up to address a wide range of emerging high-tech applications that will enable a smarter digital world with countless social benefits.”
Global sales of wafer processing equipment rose 44% in 2021, while other front-end segment sales grew 22%. Assembly and packaging showed exceptional growth across all regions, resulting in an 87% market increase in 2021, while total test equipment sales rose 30%.
Compiled from data submitted by members of SEMI and the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ), the Worldwide SEMS Report is a summary of the monthly billings figures for the global semiconductor equipment industry. Equipment categories cover wafer processing, assembly and packaging, test, and other front-end equipment including mask/reticle manufacturing, wafer manufacturing, and fab facilities.


CrownBio is proud to hold, in collaboration with the Institut Curie, its first French Oncology symposium, which will take place in Paris between 08:30 and 16:30 (CET), on Friday June 10th, 2016.
The symposium represents a unique opportunity to interact with some of the most influential names in Immuno-oncology and Translational Oncology research.
Dr Eliane Piaggio and Dr Nathalie Amzallag from the Institut Curie will jointly chair the scientific session which will feature talks from the following confirmed speakers:
- Dr Pedro Romero, Translational Tumor Immunology Group, Ludwig Center for Cancer Research.
- Addressing challenges in therapeutic cancer vaccine development.
- Dr Eric Murphy, Global Scientific Director, Crown Bioscience Inc.
- The Tumor Microenvironment: Host Responses to Immunotherapy that Impact Durability and Resistance.
- Dr Marie Dutreix, Institut Curie and DNA Therapeutics.
- Pro and con of xenograft model studies for preparing clinical protocols.
- Dr Bruno Gomes, Iteos Therapeutics.
- Preclinical characterization of a new cancer immunotherapy drug.
- Dr Eric Quemeneur, Transgene.
- Moving toward multifunctionality for oncolytic virotherapy.
- Dr Nathalie Chaput, Gustave Roussy.
- Immune biomarkers, digestive toxicities and CTLA-4 blockade in patients with metastatic melanoma.
- Dr Hervé Fridman, Professor Emeritus, University Paris-Descartes President, Canceropole Ile de France.
- Integration of molecular and immune classifications to guide cancer immunotherapies.
- Dr Rajendra Kumari, CSO, Crown Bioscience UK Ltd.
- Tumour heterogeneity and Immunotherapy Strategies.
- Dr Elisabetta Traggiai, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.
- Dissecting auto-antibody repertoire in human: what can we learn for cancer immunotherapy?
- Dr Eric Vivier, Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy.
- Innate Lymphoid cells.
- Dr Caroline Dieu-Nosjean, Centre de recherche des Cordeliers, Paris.
- Induction of Tertiary Lymphoid Structures, a new strategy of the immune system to fight against tumor.
- Dr Eliane Piaggio, Institut Curie.
- Conclusion and closing remarks.


Caring for our community
There are some true gems in our community, who give their time and energy to care for our community. Jan Ainsworth is one of those people.
Jan is a volunteer fire fighter, and the father of our lovely Ruth. He was recently awarded his New Zealand Fire Service 50 years Double Gold Star.
We see first hand just how important the volunteer fire service is in our community. They’re often the first on the scene at fires and accidents, running towards the danger rather than away from it. Our community needs people like Jan.
Jan has been a member of the Hawera, Opunake, New Plymouth and now Waitara fire brigades.
He is one of only 318 people in the country to give 50 years of service and earn a double gold star. Congratulations Jan, our community appreciates you.


350 brave participants stepped out bright and early on Saturday morning for Operation Broken Wing 2016 to raise $110,000 for REACH Community Services Society to benefit disadvantaged youths. Held on 15 October 2016, each athlete took part in a 15 minute Fight For Hope CrossFit workout where every rep earned donations for charity!
With athletes ranging from 7 to 72, and several Paralympian Powerlifters among them, the Singapore fitness community was well represented and there was lots to do in addition to the Fight For Hope CrossFit workout as sponsors laid on side challenges with battle ropes and squats keeping the donation tally ticking over.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Ms Grace Fu attended the event and participated in some of the workouts but special mention must go to Jet Ng, a teacher by day, who had a whopping 51 sponsors support his every rep for charity!
The head of Youth REACH Community services Joe Chan said: "The programmes really range from sports to arts to culture, and even casework and counseling. Why is it important? Well it's because these youths are in there for a reason. Eventually, they will be out in the community. So what we want to do is to help them transit out, reintegrate successfully back into the community and families."
- October 26, 2016
- Jonathan Kay


Columbia Community Church, we are pleased to bring you an update from your church plant in Guatemala. Thank you for your patience as reporting was delayed due to the pandemic. This update contains photos of construction progress and church activities. Your generous support of this new congregation is bringing hope to families living in extreme poverty.
The church is happy to report that despite the construction delays related to the national lockdown, they have made substantial progress. Six classrooms are being built to serve local children and the community.
Currently 60 adults and 40 children attend the church. Workers have resumed the construction after pausing for the lockdown. Church members have volunteered labor to expedite the construction.
Workers were surprised to discover that the soil was very rocky. They have to break up rock in order to build the foundation of the sanctuary.
Although Guatemala has high rates of COVID-19 infection, the church is thankful that the virus hasn’t reached their community, which has helped them to continue the construction. When a national lockdown was ordered, work stopped and has now safely resumed.
Workers plan to map out the kitchen and bathrooms and then begin construction of those two areas.
Testimony of Impact
The church met with families in the community to determine which children were eligible to register at the Compassion center. Church staff had the opportunity to see the great needs in the community. Staff members realized that often the church doesn’t invest the necessary time to help families in need of spiritual, emotional and material support.
Praises and Prayer Requests
Please pray for families to receive Christ, especially the families of children who will be attending the child development center. Pray for the church to be protected by God and be rewarded for all their hard work in the construction process. The church reports that God has provided all of their needs and families have shared food with the construction workers.


Growth Momentum in SouthEast Asia Markets
Updated: Jun 13, 2019
When it comes to economic growth in Asia, Southeast Asia (SEA) is one of the most potential markets. Its economic bloc could become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030 after the United States, China, and the European Union with four countries in the region – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand – are expected to have a GDP exceeding $1 trillion by 2030. With such a healthy growth outlook, our team collected data for selected markets in the region as an executive summary to understand the growth potential on each market.
INDONESIA - Rebuild the country
The Indonesian economy continues to show strong growth, with predictions that it could become the world’s fourth-largest by 2050.
Key economic growth driver for Indonesia includes
Indonesia put infrastructure constructions as its flagship agenda. According to ADB, Indonesia needs approximately $1.6 trillion in investment if it is to meet its investment needs by 2030. Currently, Indonesia is drafting ambitious plans for more than $400 billion in building projects.
Strong domestic demand is a main driver of growth. About 50 million new consumer will be classified as middle-income earners by 2019 due to rising wages and attractive demographics.
Indonesia continues to reform the country’s business environment. The country was upgraded to the investment grade by all the major agencies.
THAILAND - Deteriorating competitiveness
Thailand’s competitiveness deteriorating due to trade tension, political uncertainty and low labour productivity make it increasingly hard to sustain its growth going forward.
Key economic growth driver for Thailand includes
Eastern Economic Corridor has initiated to facilitate new investment via incentives since early 2018 to develop growth industries including: (1) Robotics (2) The intelligence electronics (3) Next-generation automobile (4) High wealth & medical tourism (5) Biofuel and biochemical (6) Food processing (7) Comprehensive healthcare (8) Advance agri and biotech (9) Aviation and logistics (10) Digital industry Infrastructure investment
Mega projects investment timeline (2016-2024; Bt2.3tn) including dual-track railways, mass-transit and motorway routes.
SINGAPORE - Asia's Tech Capital
Singapore aims to push its next stage of growth by riding the digital wave and upgrading the country’s transport infrastructure.
Key economic growth driver for Singapore includes
Singapore is aiming to loose regulations make its investment climate even more attractive and transparent for international firms looking to set up trading hubs
Singapore will allocate a $222 million to spur research in digital innovation as the government transforms the economy through technology with the aim to roll out artificial-intelligence and cloud-based solutions to every business sector by 2020
Singapore will continue to upgrade infrastructure into Smart buildings and smart infrastructure
Malaysia: Re-engineering growth
The Malaysia Government have to speed up the introduction of more growth-friendly policies to drive economic growth
Key economic growth driver for Malaysia includes
Malaysia holds strong FDI and trade prospects owing to its mega infrastructure plans such as the high-speed rail, East Coast Rail Link, and China’s One Belt One Road Initiative. However, The moderation in manufacturing sector’s production and possibly a drop within the construction sector due to the cancellation or postponement of mega projects will keep GDP growth subdued.
Multi-regional economic links such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership are further expected to boost foreign investments in the country
Philippine: Build, build, build
Philippine is in transitioning to a new economic infrastructure
Key economic growth driver for Philippine includes
Build, Build, Build program The Philippine government is set to embark on an ambitious $180 billion infrastructure spending bonanza, set to transform the Philippines’ economy which include 75 flagship projects, (six airports, nine railways, three bus rapid transits, 32 roads and bridges, and four seaports) that will help bring down the costs of production.
Promote FDI. The government is also looking to immediate approval of the 11th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List, or FINL to reduce foreign investment restrictions
Vietnam: The rising star
Vietnam's economic growth momentum remains robust due to its strong economic fundamentals and supporting policies to ensure long-term prospects for the economy.
Key economic growth driver for Vietnam includes
Global demand for smartphone - spare part and computer electronics are the key driver of Vietnam's stellar economic performance.
Vietnam has established relations with many economic strategic partners, the country has recently concluded a FTA with the EU in early 2018, which eliminates nearly all tariffs.
Foreign-operated factories make goods mainly for export from South Korea, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan will continue to drive economic growth. Vietnam is one of the top recipients of FDI in the region.
Cambodia: Robust economy
Cambodia, a top garment-making hub, has been one of the fastest-growing economy.
Key economic growth driver for Cambodia includes
China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative as a key development strategy for the country's trade and investment expansion.
Cambodia needs to diversify and upgrade its economy. Beyond traditional industries like garment manufacturing and footwear, the government has put in place policies and economic reforms to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) in the manufacturing sector, especially in its Special Economic Zones.
Robust construction and tourism activity. The government has achieved a tremendous result by acquiring more than 2 million inbound Chinese visitors and investment from China in real estate sectors especially in property development, hotels and casinos.
Lao P.D.R.: Battery of Asia
Lao PDR’s development has been significantly shaped by the power sector. Electricity has become one of the top export earnings.
Key economic growth driver for Lao P.D.R. includes
Chinese Investment: China is the largest foreign investor, the second largest trade partner, and the largest aid provider of Laos, and Laos is the third largest destination of China's investment in ASEAN countries. Key investment projects include China-Laos Railway, Nam Ou River Hydropower Station, Saysettha Development Zone and Mohan-Boten Economic Zone.
Battery of Asia: According to Laos’s national strategy to become a Battery of Asia, the government plans to build more than 90 hydropower plants by 2020 and export most of the generated electricity.
Myanmar: Structural reform
Myanmar’s economy is amid structural reform.
Key economic growth driver for Myanmar includes
Myanmar will target broad-based economic development, fueled primarily by the private sector with the state playing a facilitating and support role that makes efficient and sustainable use of the country’s resources.
Myanmar has continued to reform since April 2016, announcing a number of strategic planning initiatives such as the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan 2018–2030; National Education Strategic Plan 2016–2021; Myanmar National Health Plan 2017–2021; and the Myanmar National Social Protection Strategic Plan – NSPSP (2014).
You can also download the PDF document via the Slideshare below.


The 2014 Schedule is being prepared and will be posted in a week or two.
LPR will have the honor of hosting another QSAC/NCS event this season and once again will be the Season Opener.
With the success of the QSAC Summit of last year at the Final Showdown, we plan on doing this again.
This year the format will be a little different and try to cover more ground.
Stay tuned here, the QSAC website and the LPR website for all the latest news.


The online training, which was developed as part of the project and piloted by educational professionals in autumn 2020, has now been evaluated. The feedback from the professionals is very valuable and will be used to optimise and finalise the digital learning offer.
At the end of last year, the project consortium was busy implementing so-called co-design workshops together with its partner organisations. The aim is to jointly develop strategies for action in the area of tension between "digitalisation and people with mild intellectual disabilities".
On the occasion of the International Day for People with Disabilities, the project consortium of AMEDY hosted an International Conference on the topic of “Active Media Education for Youngsters with an Intellectual Disability”, which addresses the right to inclusion in online social life for people with intellectual disabilities.
At the second transnational partner meeting in Berlin, the main focus was on the development of the blended learning training for educational professionals. But first plans were also made for a big multiplier event in December.
The online survey on the needs of educational professionals and their target group, young people with intellectual disabilities, regarding the use and handling of digital media has produced exciting results.
In order to find out about the needs of pedagogical staff working with children and young people with mild intellectual disabilities - especially with regard to the use of digital media - the AMEDY project consortium has created an online questionnaire.


The latest news and information about the District and Preserves.
The Ravenswood Bay Trail will complete a 0.6 mile critical missing gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail on the San Francisco Peninsula, between the existing Bay Trail along University Avenue and the existing unpaved multi-purpose trail in the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve and the City of East Palo Alto’s Cooley Landing. Completing this trail gap will open up 80 miles of continuous Bay Trail connecting to Menlo Park to the north, Mt. View/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara to the south and across the Dumbarton Bridge to the East Bay. The San Francisco Bay Trail is a planned 500 mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay through all nine Bay Area counties and 47 cities.


Preventing childhood drowning is a full-time job — and a passion — for Elizabeth “Liz” Huber (SLA ’08).
“I never imagined I would wear a wet suit to work, but I love what I do,” said Huber, who is the founder and director of CAST Water Safety Foundation, based in Forest Park, Illinois. CAST stands for Creating Aquatic Safety Teams.
CAST is a nonprofit that combats childhood drowning by offering self-rescue swim lessons and water-safety education and sponsoring instructor training.
The swim lessons at CAST aren’t your typical swim class. CAST uses the self-rescue program of Infant Swimming Resource, a 55-year-old organization that centers on giving young children the skills to get themselves to safety if they end up in the water alone. The lessons are one-on-one, continue for about six weeks and are geared to children between the ages of six months to six years.
At CAST, trained instructors teach children to flip onto their backs to float, then flip to their fronts so they can swim toward safety. They roll to their backs again if they get tired and then continue the swim-float-swim sequence until they are able to swim to safety.
“This is survival first,” Huber said. “This is self-rescue.”
CAST’s social media is filled with videos of very young children in the water, flipping themselves to their backs, before flipping to their stomachs and swimming to an instructor or to the side of the pool. One video shows a child in the water wearing a winter coat, snow pants and a winter hat. The child smiles before he flips himself from his back to his front and swims to his instructor. Children wear clothes to some lessons because many water accidents happen when children fall or get into water wearing their regular clothes.
The importance of Huber’s work is clear. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 to 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can start for many children beginning at age one.
“To talk about this can save a life.”
— Elizabeth “Liz” Huber (SLA ’08), founder and director of CAST Water Safety Foundation, which teaches water safety to young children
At Tulane, Huber majored in communication and minored in business. After graduation, she earned her master’s in education from DePaul University and taught elementary education for eight years in Chicago public schools.
Her entry into the world of self-rescue happened when her two daughters were babies — 10 months and two years. She found the nearest Infant Swimming Resource instructor and drove 40 minutes from her house to the lessons.
Huber was skeptical that her children would learn swim survival at such young ages, but she was delighted with the results. “Within five weeks, my babies were swimming and floating and self-rescuing.”
So impressed was Huber with her children’s achievements that she took the rigorous course to become an Infant Swimming Resource instructor herself. Hoping to combine her business skills with her love of working with children and families, she worked as an independent contractor for a year, teaching children to swim, float and self-rescue.
“I had my own little independent one-man show,” Huber said. But then she realized that she could have more impact and save more lives if she worked in a team. In 2018, she founded CAST Water Safety Foundation.
Since Huber founded CAST, its self-rescue instructors have reached more than 500 children, given out more than 200 scholarships to attend lessons and brought eight new instructors to the Chicago area. In 2020, CAST opened its own swim facility. The biggest challenge now is the long wait list of children eager for lessons, Huber said. She and her team are working on how they can help train more instructors.
Huber said that the lessons are one of many facets of preventing childhood drowning. CAST does not use artificial floatation devices for young children in swimming pools, because they can give children a false sense of security, Huber said. CAST instructors also advise parents to teach children to have a healthy respect for the water if they don’t know how to swim safely. “Skills before thrills,” said Huber. “There’s no reason that they should think that this environment that can take their lives in 30 seconds should be fun and easy or silly.”
Huber recommended parents always be in the water with their child. “If they know how to swim, be in there swimming with them. If they don’t know how to swim yet, be in there holding them. So that when children look at an empty pool, they think, ‘oh that’s a place I go with my parents.’”
The work is not easy, but it is rewarding, Huber said. She has talked with parents or relatives who have lost a child to drowning, and while their stories are heartbreaking, they make Huber even more determined to publicize swim safety.
“If even one more person installs a pool fence or chooses not to let the kids swim for fun in a puddle jumper or if just one person watches their kids better or gets an alarm for their door at night, that makes a difference. To talk about this can save a life.”
Like it has so many others, Huber’s time in New Orleans has left an impression on her soul. On the wall in her office are three signs in the distinctive style of New Orleans street tiles: SWIM. FLOAT. SWIM.
Huber’s academic career was interrupted by Hurricane Katrina, and she attended DePaul during her semester away from Tulane. Seeing the resilience with which New Orleans bounced back has influenced her outlook on life and strengthened her determination to keep trying to prevent childhood drowning through CAST.
“You fight an impossible battle, and you keep going,” she said. “You keep fighting because it’s worth it.”


Call your girlfriend (at Ramsgate)
PlayStation Plus subscribers will have several PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita titles added to their Instant Game Collections this month, including Borderlands 2, Dyad and more, according to a post from PlayStation Blog.
As well as Borderlands 2 and Dyad, subscribers will be able to grab Grid 2 for free for the PS3. PlayStation Plus members are also invited to download Urban Trial Freestyle and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for the PS Vita. According to the blog, the titles will hit the Instant Game Collection at various times throughout the month.
Using the Microsoft Kinect, the Koike Laboratory at the University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo, has developed the AquaTop Display, an interactive water surface which can be used to play games.
The AquaTop Display projects images on a white water surface while the Kinect detects the user’s movements, allowing them to interact with the media from both above and below the water surface. A demonstration of the set-up in action can be viewed on the BBC website.


Bis Industries is an Australian logistics and materials handling company that provides a range of services to the mining, construction, and oil and gas industries. The company has recently been in the news due to its enterprise agreement, which has caused controversy and led to a dispute with the Transport Workers Union (TWU).
An enterprise agreement is a legally binding agreement between an employer and its employees that sets out terms and conditions of employment. It is negotiated and agreed upon through a process of collective bargaining between the employer and employee representatives. The agreement must comply with the Fair Work Act 2009 and must be approved by the Fair Work Commission.
The Bis Industries enterprise agreement has been under negotiation for several years and was finally approved by the Fair Work Commission in December 2020. However, the TWU has raised concerns about the agreement, claiming that it will lead to a reduction in wages and conditions for Bis Industries workers.
Some of the key changes in the enterprise agreement include the removal of overtime rates for working on weekends and public holidays, reduced redundancy payments, and changes to rostering arrangements. The TWU argues that these changes will lead to a significant reduction in the take-home pay of Bis Industries workers and will make it harder for them to balance work and family life.
Bis Industries has defended the enterprise agreement, stating that it is necessary to remain competitive in the current economic climate. The company has stated that the changes will allow it to operate more efficiently and will help to secure the long-term viability of the business.
The dispute between Bis Industries and the TWU highlights the importance of enterprise agreements in setting terms and conditions of employment. It also highlights the challenges faced by employers and employees in negotiating agreements that balance the needs of the business with the needs of workers.
As a professional, it is important to note that the Bis Industries enterprise agreement is likely to generate a lot of interest and search traffic. When writing about the agreement, it is important to use relevant keywords and phrases to ensure that the article appears in search results. It is also important to provide balanced and accurate information about the agreement and the dispute between Bis Industries and the TWU.


New for 2018 and a first for the industry, We Are Beer (that’s us!) are launching ‘Raise the Bar’ – which seeks to find new, up-coming brewers and shine a light on creativity and innovation. In a bid to champion new talent, our expert panel will independently blind taste all submissions. They will then select the top four brewers to attend all three We Are Beer festivals – London, Edinburgh and Bristol – providing them with a platform to showcase their beer to 17,000 people across the UK this year.
The Raise the Bar panel includes: Jenn Merrick, former Beavertown head brewer and founder of a new community based brewery, Earth Station, Ben Freeman, co-founder and brewer at Pressure Drop, Jonny Garrett from Craft Beer Channel, and alongside ourselves.
Potential brewers (under 2 years in commercial production) are asked to enter online at https://raisethebar.wearebeer.com/ before submitting some samples of their beer for panel review. Entry deadline for Raise the Bar is 13th March 2018.
Good luck and keep up the good work.


We're always looking for ways to make Geoba.se better. Have an idea? See something that needs fixing? Let us know!
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK , also known as North Korea) is a highly centralised communist state. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, and relies heavily on external assistance. Despite this, it maintains one of the largest militaries in the world and devotes significant resources to nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development programs, which pose a serious threat to regional security and a major challenge to global non-proliferation objectives.
Australia maintains diplomatic relations with the DPRK , but the relationship is severely constrained by Australia's concerns over the DPRK 's nuclear weapons and missile programs. The relationship was further strained by the DPRK 's sinking of the Republic of Korea (ROK , also known as South Korea) naval vessel, the Cheonan ,in March 2010, the DPRK 's shelling of the ROK 's Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010 and the DPRK 's disclosure of a uranium-enrichment program in November 2010. Australia continues to work closely with the UN, the ROK , the United States, Japan and other countries in support of DPRK denuclearisation and maintains strong sanctions against the DPRK .
Australia's bilateral aid program to the DPRK has been suspended since 2002 due to concerns about the DPRK 's nuclear weapons program. Australia's aid to the DPRK is therefore limited to humanitarian assistance provided to the DPRK through the UN and other international agencies. Australia continues to raise its concerns over social conditions and human rights violations in the DPRK .
On 19 December 2011, the DPRK announced that its supreme leader, Kim Jong-il, died on Saturday 17 December 2011 after a heart attack. Kim Jong-il's third son, Kim Jong-un, has been confirmed as his successor. The Australian Government is prepared to take forward our bilateral relationship with the new DPRK leadership, but for this to occur, Australia would need the DPRK to make substantial progress towards denuclearisation and cease all provocative actions that reduce the stability of the Korean Peninsula.
The Korean Peninsula was first unified as a sovereign state in 918 under the Goryeo Dynasty (the source of the English name "Korea"). In 1392, the Joseon Dynasty took power, and ruled until it was replaced by the Korean Empire in 1897. From 1910 to 1945, the Korean Peninsula was subject to colonial rule by Japan. Following Japan's defeat in World War II, Korea was temporarily divided into two occupied zones, with the United States administering the southern half and the Soviet Union administering the area north of the 38th parallel. Initial plans to unify the peninsula quickly dissolved due to domestic opposition and the politics of the Cold War. In 1948, new governments were established in the two occupied zones – the ROK and the DPRK .
From the outset, the nominally democratic ROK and the communist DPRK operated under vastly different political, economic and social systems. Unresolved tensions created by the division led to the Korean War of 1950-53, which was sparked when the DPRK launched an invasion of the ROK . Australia committed more than 18,000 troops to serve under United Nations (UN) command in support of the ROK , and 339 Australians died in the war. The 1953 armistice ended the conflict, though a more comprehensive peace agreement has not been negotiated and technically, the two sides remain at war.
The DPRK has a centralised government, strictly controlled by the communist Korean Workers' Party (KWP), to which all government officials belong. The government operates under the national guiding principles of juche "self-reliance", and songun "military first".
Important positions in the government, economy and the military are held by party members or officials, and KWP Secretaries generally exercise greater authority over policy and administrative issues than government Ministers. Although open to mass membership, access to the Party is denied to those without a 'reliable' class background. Official party membership is estimated at over three million.
The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) is the highest legislative body under the DPRK Constitution. In theory, the SPA appoints the President, approves the national budget, enacts laws and sets forth the country's basic policies, including foreign and defence policy. In reality, the SPA serves to ratify KWP decisions.
Three key entities control the DPRK government: the Cabinet oversees government ministries and is the dominant administrative and executive agency; the Politburo of the Central People's Committee is the top decision-making body of the KWP and is responsible for directing Party affairs on a day-to-day basis; and the National Defence Commission (NDC) is the DPRK 's highest office of state and is responsible for external and internal security and asserts significant influence over policy-making.
The DPRK 's first leader was Kim Il-sung, revered in the DPRK as the 'Great Leader'. Kim Il-sung fought with Chinese communists in the 1930s against the Japanese occupation, before moving to the Soviet Union in 1940, where he received training and backing. On Japan's defeat in 1945, Kim Il-sung was installed by the Soviets as head of the Provincial People's Committee, and in 1948, on the proclamation of the DPRK became its Premier. Kim Il-sung held all key party positions including KWP General-Secretary, Member of the Presidium of the Politburo and Chairman of the Central Military Commission until his death in 1994, when he was designated "Eternal President". Kim Il-sung's oldest son, Kim Jong-il, was appointed General-Secretary of the KWP in 1997.
From 1994, Kim Jong-il, was the DPRK 's de facto head of state, exercising executive power as Chairman of the NDC, as well as General Secretary of the KWP and Supreme Commander of the People's Armed Forces until his death, reportedly on 17 December 2011. Prior to his death, Kim Jong-il had been preparing the way for his third son, Kim Jong-un, to follow him as supreme leader of the DPRK . In September 2010, Kim Jong-un was appointed to the KWP's Central People's Committee and elected Vice Chairman of the KWP's Central Military Commission. He was also promoted to the military rank of General. Following Kim Jong-il's death, Kim Jong-un was quickly declared the Great Successor and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. Kim Jong-un is also likely to assume his father's positions as Chairman of the ruling Korean Worker's Party and the National Defence Commission in due course. At each of the formal funeral events, Kim Jong-un was surrounded by senior regime figures, most notably his uncle, Jang Song-taek, and Ri Yong-ho (Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army).
Key political figures
Key political figures
-- Kim Jong-un: Supreme Commander of the People's Armed Forces; Vice Chairman of the KWP's Central Military Commission; member of the KWP's Central People's Committee; third son of the DPRK 's former leader, the late Kim Jong-il
-- Jang Song- taek: Vice Chairman of the NDC; uncle to Kim Jong-un through his marriage to Kim Jong-il's sister, Kim Kyong-hui
-- Ri Yong-ho: Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
-- Kim Yong-nam: President of the SPA Presidium (performs formalities of head of state); not related to Kim Jong-il
-- Choe Yong Rim: Premier
-- Pak Ui-chun: Minister for Foreign Affairs
The DPRK has a centrally planned economy that, for the most part, operates outside international economic, banking and trade systems. Food rations, housing, healthcare and education are controlled by the state. Taxes were abolished in 1974 although mandatory contributions of food and other products remain a fact of life. The DPRK is one of the poorest countries in the world, and has fallen far behind the ROK in economic development and living standards (per capita GDP has been estimated at one-sixteenth that of the ROK ). The DPRK relies heavily on humanitarian aid and other forms of external assistance. Outdated infrastructure and poor energy supply remain serious obstacles to economic growth.
During the early part of the last decade, there was a slight relaxation of economic controls, increased toleration for a small private sector, and some modest reforms, including price, wage and agricultural reforms in 2002. However, in October 2005, the DPRK government reasserted central control over grain distribution and food rationing and in November 2008, announced restrictions on the operations of markets. In December 2009, the DPRK redenominated its currency at a rate of 100 to 1, with severe limits on the amount of old currency that could be converted. The measure resulted in increased inflation and the obliteration of savings. The government simultaneously announced even tighter state control of markets, regulations on consumption, and a ban on the possession or use of foreign currencies.
Contributing to the DPRK 's poor economic performance is the disproportionately large share of GDP assigned to the military. The DPRK has placed a high priority on maintaining a strong defence capability, with most aspects of the economy and society revolving around defence-related programs. For many years, Pyongyang has mounted an extensive effort to prepare the population for war and has consistently proclaimed its overriding objective of reunifying the Korean Peninsula, by force if necessary. The DPRK maintains an active-duty military force of up to 1.2 million personnel, and possibly 4.5 million reservists, one of the largest in the world.
Economic statistics for the DPRK are difficult to obtain due to the closed nature of its society. In 2010, the DPRK 's GDP was estimated at US$26 billion. The DPRK has expanded international trade over the last decade, but the total value remains low, estimated at US$4.2 billion in 2010.
China is the DPRK 's principle trading partner, accounting for around 60 per cent of the DPRK 's total trade in 2010 (mostly anthracite coal and other resources). The ROK accounted for around 31 per cent of the DPRK 's total trade in 2010, with the majority associated with the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC). The KIC is where the majority of inter-Korean commercial cooperation takes place and is a special economic zone established by the DPRK and the ROK close to the demilitarized zone that separates the DPRK and the ROK . The operation of the KIC has, however, been increasingly problematic and hostage to political manoeuvring by the DPRK .
The DPRK faces regular natural disasters and ongoing humanitarian emergencies, including food shortages. In 1995, record floods and fallout from the collapse of the intra-communist bloc trading system caused severe food shortages which some sources estimate resulted in the death of up to 2 million DPRK citizens from starvation and hunger-related illnesses. Widespread flooding hit the DPRK again in mid-August 2007, causing significant damage. While the situation was not as serious as during the peak of the crisis in 1996-97, chronic food shortages are likely to continue for the foreseeable future. In February 2011, a UN-led World Food Program assessment visited the DPRK in response to requests for food aid from the DPRK . The WFP report found that more than six million vulnerable people were in need of food assistance, due to a substantial reduction of agricultural production and commercial imports, as well as a decrease or curtailment of humanitarian assistance. The DPRK is heavily reliant on international humanitarian assistance, but this has been in decline since 2008, when its two main aid donors, the ROK and the United States, suspended humanitarian aid in response to concerns over the DPRK 's activities.
Resource shortages and inadequate sanitation facilities have led to serious public health concerns, including the re-emergence of diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. Existing health services are unable to tackle increasing health problems and the prevalence of acute malnutrition. In 2010, the DPRK also suffered a severe outbreak of foot and mouth disease in cattle and pigs, which continues to hinder agricultural production.
Australia continues to raise its grave concerns over serious human rights violations in the DPRK . The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK has noted that violations extend to the systematic and daily denial of basic freedoms, including freedoms of expression, religion and association, extensive torture, public executions, collective punishment (including imprisonment of the families of dissenters), and the extensive use of forced labour camps with abhorrent conditions.
The DPRK Government subjects its citizens to a pervasive program of indoctrination and close surveillance. Although some households have radios and television sets, reception is restricted to government broadcasts. All mass organisations are directed at supporting the regime.
Internal travel in the DPRK is strictly controlled, with a travel pass required for any movement outside one's hometown. Permission is required in order to enter or reside in Pyongyang, and foreign travel is limited to officials, sporting teams or trusted artists and performers. Emigration is not allowed and tourism by North Koreans, even to other communist countries, is non-existent outside the elite (and even within the elite, it is limited). Limited tourism by foreigners to the DPRK has, however, been permitted.
The DPRK has acknowledged that in the 1970s and 1980s, it abducted a number of Japanese citizens who were forced to teach Japanese language skills to DPRK military and government officials. While some of the victims have been returned to Japan, the two countries are yet to agree on the number of people affected. The Australian Government supports Japan's calls for the DPRK to provide a full accounting of the issue.
The DPRK 's nuclear weapons and missile programs pose a grave threat to regional security and a serious challenge to international non-proliferation efforts. Australia continues to work closely with the United Nations, the ROK , the United States, Japan, China and other countries in support of international efforts to bring about an end to the DPRK 's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
It has been reported that the DPRK first began to pursue nuclear technology as early as 1956. The DPRK has completed two nuclear reactors, both located at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre. The first, a research reactor, was supplied by the Soviet Union and completed in 1967. While the second, the DPRK 's main plutonium-producing reactor, was finished in 1985.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the DPRK recognised the need to improve relations with the United States. It sought a non-aggression pact, and through the 1980s and 1990s, took steps towards denuclearization: in 1985, the DPRK joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapons state; and in 1992, the DPRK and the ROK agreed the Joint Declaration for a Non-Nuclear Korean Peninsula. But in 1993, tensions escalated when the DPRK failed to implement an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for inspection of the DPRK 's nuclear facilities, and threatened to withdraw from the NPT. An international standoff followed, with the UN urging the DPRK to cooperate with the IAEA. In 1994, the DPRK and the United States signed an Agreed Framework aimed at ending the DPRK 's nuclear weapons programs. Between 1994 and 2002, the DPRK and the United States worked together to fulfil commitments under the Agreed Framework.
In 2000, the DPRK established or restored diplomatic relations with a number of countries, including Australia, and was also accepted into the ASEAN Regional Forum. Pyongyang hosted an historic inter-Korean leaders' summit in June 2000, which resulted in a landmark Joint Statement by the leaders of the DPRK and the ROK .
The DPRK 's international relations deteriorated following comments by the United States in October 2002 that DPRK officials had admitted the DPRK was conducting a covert highly-enriched-uranium program in pursuit of nuclear weapons. In December 2002, the DPRK removed IAEA surveillance equipment from its Yongbyon nuclear facilities, and announced its intentions to re-start its nuclear program to provide itself with a deterrent force in the face of the United States' 'hostile policy'. In January 2003, the DPRK announced its withdrawal from the NPT.
Trilateral talks between the DPRK , the United States and China were held in Beijing in April 2003, during which the DPRK admitted to having a nuclear weapon capability. To find a peaceful resolution to the DPRK nuclear issue, the Six-Party Talks were initiated in August 2003 between the DPRK , the ROK , China, the United States, Japan and Russia.
In February 2005, the DPRK announced that it had manufactured nuclear weapons and postponed indefinitely its participation in the Six-Party Talks. In March 2005, the DPRK declared itself a 'fully-fledged nuclear weapons state' and announced it would no longer be bound by a 1999 voluntary moratorium on ballistic missile testing.
In July 2005, the DPRK returned to the Six-Party Talks. The fourth round concluded in September 2005 with all parties endorsing a Joint Statement of Principles in which the DPRK committed to abandon its nuclear weapons program and return to the NTP and IAEA safeguards. In return, the other parties agreed to provide economic cooperation and energy assistance.
In July 2006, the DPRK conducted a number of ballistic missile tests, including tests of its long-range Taepodong 2 missile. In response, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 1695, which included restrictions on the sale of missile and WMD-related technologies to the DPRK .
On 9 October 2006, the DPRK conducted its first nuclear test. In response, on 14 October 2006, the UNSC unanimously adopted Resolution 1718. The Resolution imposed a ban on trade with the DPRK in military and WMD-related goods, a ban on the provision of associated training or assistance and a ban on the export of luxury goods to the DPRK . Australia fully implemented these sanctions and put in place additional autonomous measures (refer below).
The fifth round of the Six-Party talks resumed in February 2007, and concluded with all parties agreeing to a statement on Initial Actions for Implementation of the Joint Statement, in which the DPRK agreed to shut down and seal its Yongbyon nuclear facility and allow the return to the DPRK of IAEA monitoring and verification personnel. In July 2007, the IAEA announced that the DPRK had shut down and sealed its Yongbyon nuclear facilities.
On 26 June 2008, the DPRK submitted a declaration of its nuclear programs, and, in October 2008, United States and DPRK officials agreed to a series of measures to verify the DPRK 's declaration. In October 2008, the United States removed the DPRK from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. The verification measures agreed were intended to form the basis of a protocol to be agreed in the Six-Party Talks. However, talks in Beijing in December 2008 failed to agree on any such verification protocol. The Six-Party Talks have not been convened since.
On 5 April 2009, the DPRK launched a long-range rocket, claiming to have put a satellite into orbit. Following the launch, a number of world leaders, including then-Prime Minister Rudd, issued statements condemning the DPRK 's missile launch as a breach of UNSC Resolution 1718, and urging the UNSC to immediately consider further action. The UNSC responded by adopting a Presidential Statement which condemned the launch as a contravention of Resolution 1718. The DPRK condemned the Presidential Statement, announced it would not participate further in Six-Party Talks, and pledged to strengthen its 'nuclear deterrent' capability.
On 25 May 2009, the DPRK announced it had conducted a second nuclear test and followed with a number of short-range missile tests. The UNSC responded to the claimed nuclear test by adopting Resolution 1874 on 12 June 2009. The Resolution built on Resolution 1718 sanctions, and included an expanded arms embargo, financial measures and provisions for the inspection and interdiction of vessels suspected of carrying banned cargo. Australian regulations were amended in July 2009 to give effect to the mandatory provisions of Resolution 1874.
Speculation of a possible resumption of the Six-Party Talks increased following the visit in December 2009 to the DPRK by the US Special Representative for North Korea, Ambassador Stephen Bosworth. He reported that the two sides had identified some common understandings on the need for, and the role of, the Six-Party Talks and the importance of implementing the 2005 Joint Statement, but it remained to be seen when and how the DPRK would return to the Talks.
In March 2010, China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei pushed for the Six-Party talks to resume in the first half of 2010, but hopes were dashed following the sinking of the ROK naval vessel Cheonan by the DPRK .
On 26 March 2010, the ROK naval vessel the Cheonan sank, killing 46 of the 106 crew on board. A ROK -led investigation involving experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada and Australia found that a torpedo fired from a DPRK submarine had sunk the Cheonan. Then-Prime Minister Rudd joined leaders from around the world in condemning the attack as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.
On 12 November 2010, Dr Siegfried Hecker (from Stanford University in the United States) visited the Yongbyon Nuclear Complex and was reportedly shown a light-water nuclear reactor in the early stages on construction and a new industrial-scale uranium-enrichment facility with 2000 centrifuges. Australia condemned the DPRK 's actions and called for a strong response in the United Nations Security Council.
On 23 November 2010, the DPRK launched an artillery attack on the ROK 's Yeonpyeong Island, which killed four and wounded 55 citizens. Tensions peaked on the peninsula when the ROK conducted subsequent live-fire exercises in late December. The DPRK threatened to retaliate, but did not.
Inter-Korean tensions eased in 2011 and dialogue with the DPRK resumed, ROK and DPRK nuclear envoys met on 20 July in Bali and 21 September in Beijing. US- DPRK bilateral talks were held from 27 to 28 July in New York, 24 to 25 October in Geneva and from 23 to 24 February 2012 in Beijing.
Australia and the DPRK established diplomatic relations in 1974. The DPRK opened an Embassy in Canberra in December 1974, and Australia opened an Embassy in Pyongyang in April 1975. However, diplomatic relations were interrupted in November 1975, when the DPRK withdrew its Embassy from Canberra and expelled Australian Embassy staff from Pyongyang.
In the period after 1975, Australia maintained limited contact with the DPRK . All contact ceased during the nuclear crisis (1993-94) on the Korean peninsula, but resumed with a number of unofficial and privately sponsored bilateral visits in the late 1990s.
In May 2000, Australia resumed diplomatic relations through the Australian Embassy in Beijing. The DPRK re-opened an Embassy in Canberra in May 2002, but closed it for financial reasons in January 2008. The DPRK 's Embassy in Jakarta has been formally accredited to Australia since February 2012. Australia's Ambassador in Seoul has been accredited to the DPRK since August 2008.
Australia suspended progress in its bilateral relations with the DPRK in October 2002 over Australian concerns about the DPRK 's nuclear weapons program. The Australian Government has fully implemented UN sanctions against the DPRK and also put in place autonomous sanctions (refer below). The Australian Government hopes to take forward our bilateral relationship with the DPRK , but for this to occur, Australia would need the DPRK to make substantial progress towards denuclearisation and cease all provocative actions and rhetoric that decrease the stability of the Korean Peninsula.
Australia suspended bilateral development assistance to the DPRK in 2002, following revelations about its nuclear program. Australia's aid to the DPRK is therefore limited to humanitarian assistance provided through multilateral organisations. In response to the UN's April 2011 appeal, Australia made available $10 million ($8.5 million through the World Food Program and $1.5 million through UNICEF). Since 1994, Australian humanitarian assistance has totalled $78 million, which has gone towards food aid, water and sanitation, and disaster management areas. Australia has repeatedly urged the DPRK to ensure that multilateral humanitarian organisations are provided with appropriate conditions for aid monitoring and delivery so that Australia's humanitarian assistance can continue uninterrupted through these channels.
Australian companies can pursue business opportunities in the DPRK , or with DPRK companies, provided that they do not contravene existing export control regulations and sanctions against the DPRK (http://www.dfat.gov.au/un/unsc_sanctions/north-korea.html). Before initiating business dealings, Australian companies are advised to conduct thorough due diligence and seek appropriate independent legal advice to determine if transactions or respective DPRK entities will be subject to sanctions. Australian companies should also be aware of the poor payments record of many DPRK agencies in past commercial ventures.
Two-way trade between Australia and the DPRK is negligible.
Australia has fully implemented UN sanctions against the DPRK under UNSC Resolutions 1718 (adopted 14 October 2006) and 1874 (adopted 12 June 2009). In addition, Australia has imposed a number of autonomous measures against the DPRK , targeted at the DPRK 's missiles and weapons of mass destruction programs, and to put pressure on the DPRK regime to abandon those programs.
In September 2006, Australia implemented autonomous financial sanctions against 12 companies and one individual connected with financing the DPRK 's development of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction programs. In October 2006, Australia imposed additional autonomous sanctions in response to the DPRK 's nuclear test, including a ban on DPRK -flagged vessels from entering Australian ports and a general ban on the issuance of visas to DPRK nationals.
Further information on UNSC sanctions on the DPRK that apply under Australian law (http://www.dfat.gov.au/un/unsc_sanctions/north-korea.html) .
Further information on bilateral sanctions imposed by Australia against the DPRK (http://www.dfat.gov.au/un/unsc_sanctions/north-korea-bilat.html)
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Circa Las Vegas Will Have the Largest Pool Amphitheater in the World
On October 28th, Las Vegas history will be made when America’s largest pool amphitheater opens up in Downtown Las Vegas. When adults-only resort Circa Las Vegas opens, it will become the new shining beacon of downtown Las Vegas, exceeding all expectations of a modern Vegas mega-resort, but paying homage to the resorts of Vegas’ heyday with touches like the reintroduction of Vegas Vickie, the beloved and iconic neon kicking cowgirl.
There is, however, another reason this new resort is making headlines. Circa will officially break two of America’s records for “largest”. It will be the home to America’s largest sportsbook, a 3-story, 1,000 person capacity viewing area. As Circa says on their website, it’s a “sportsbook so big we built a casino around it.”
Perhaps more impressive, however, will be the grand opening of Stadium Swim, what will be the largest pool amphitheater in America.
With a 4,000 person capacity, six swimming pools, and 40 foot tall high definition mega-screen, Circa has taken to calling Stadium Swim “the best pool in history”, and many prospective visitors may just agree.
Open 365 days a year, Stadium Swim will surely be a popular destination for party-goers and sports fans alike. Complete with cabanas, lounges, and day beds, visitors can truly customize their experience and reserve time slots for the time of their expected games, or attend one of the many scheduled “viewing parties”, where the entire 143 foot screen will be devoted to a single game.
For more information about Stadium Swim, visit the Circa website https://www.circalasvegas.com/stadium-swim/


The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Goa Forest Guards, and Goa Police were shown in videos on social media, redirecting hundreds of tourists to prevent overcrowding at Goa’s scenic Dudhsagar Waterfalls. The railway authorities cautioned travelers against disembarking from trains and walking along tracks to visit the waterfalls during the monsoon season, as it was deemed unsafe. The RPF, along with other authorities, was deployed to manage the crowds and ensure compliance.
Dudhsagar Waterfall Entry is Banned by Goa Forest Department
The South Western Railway emphasized the importance of enjoying the beauty of Dudhsagar Falls from within the train coaches. They highlighted that walking on or along the tracks not only jeopardizes personal safety but also violates sections 147 and 159 of the Railway Act. Additionally, it poses risks to the safety of trains. Disembarking at Dudhsagar or any other station along the Braganza Ghat was strictly prohibited, and all passengers were urged to cooperate and adhere to the safety guidelines.
Due to road routes being closed by the Goa Forest Department to prevent flash floods and swollen streams, trekkers and tourists often choose to travel by trains that pass through the area, such as the Nizamuddin – Vasco da Gama Goa Express and Yesvantpur – Vasco da Gama Express.
On a particular day, visitors from both Karnataka and Collem stations in Goa attempted to access Dudhsagar Falls via the railway tracks but were stopped by the police. Reports suggest that entry was prohibited due to reported deaths at the falls, prompting calls for the government to implement measures that would allow everyone to enjoy the falls while ensuring visitor safety.
In response to overcrowding and misconduct complaints at popular waterfalls, especially on weekends, the Goa Forest Department banned entry to waterfalls within wildlife sanctuaries in the state. Such incidents are unfortunate as drownings are a recurring problem during the monsoon season when waterfalls attract picnickers and revelers.
The concerns raised on social media have prompted discussions about the need for the government and forest department to regulate access to sanctuaries, with a focus on managing visitor numbers and behavior.


PM Modi to Inaugurate Rudraksha Convention Centre in Varanasi on July 16
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate an international cooperation and convention centre, also known as 'Rudraksha', in Varanasi on July 16.
Spread in 2.87 hectares of land, the two-storey convention centre comprises main hall with a full flying tower, a seating capacity of 1,200, a gallery, meeting rooms, and parking for 120 cars.
As many as 108 Rudraksha have been installed at this convention centre and its roof is shaped like a Shiva Linga.
PM Modi Inaugurates JICA-funded Rudraksh Convention Centre in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention centre in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi today. The two-storey convention centre can accommodate 1,200 people and was constructed with the aid of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
During his address at the convention centre, Modi thanked the Japanese people, the Japanese country's government, and Suzuki Satoshi, its ambassador to India. He also thanked his Yoshihide Suga, his Japanese counterpart, for personally taking an interest in the project. He expressed happiness that a new chapter of friendship was being written today, and referred to the Delhi-Mumbai high-speed train and industrial corridor, being built with Japanese cooperation.


In its November 10th 2020 event, Apple unveiled the first machines using their own ARM-based M1 chip. While the exterior design was overall left unchanged – and that is a good thing, why change something that is good just for the sake of change? – the machines internal components are impressive. A week after the launch, the first benchmarks have basically confirmed Apple’s claims: not only the new chip is way faster than the previous Intel-based MacBooks, but Cinebench benchmarks show performance superior to the top Intel hardware in multi- and single core tasks.
This is excellent news for CAD-BIM applications such as HighDesign. Computer-aided design requires both heavy mathematical power (CPU) and fast graphics-processing units (GPU). The new Apple M1 chip provides both, making the Mac once again the ideal platform for architects, engineers and designers.
Now, the next excellent news is that all HighDesign will require to run natively on the new Apple hardware is just about a switch in the build target. Translated from programmer’s idiom, that means that a ARM-64 native version of HighDesign will be available very soon, most likely before the end of 2020.
Next year, we will also work on multi-core support for some critical tasks that require more processing power.
The other announcement made by Apple was about the new macOS Big Sur, which takes full advantage of the new hardware and introduces a new user interface. Here at ILEXSOFT we’ve been working on Big Sur betas since its announcement in June, and our impressions are very positive. The new system takes the Mac into the new decade with some genuine, and most importantly, useful improvements while at the same time retaining the familiar macOS spirit.
The next update, HighDesign R5.4, introduces UI refinements that make it completely at home in macOS Big Sur. Aside from that, during these intense months of the Covid-19 pandemic (we’re all safe and sound, by the way), we’ve worked on this release to improve three major areas: speed, documentation features and productivity.
The new HighDesign R5.4 will be faster than its predecessors by orders of magnitude: redraw, file open and save, select and delete have been optimised for speed and memory efficiency, with great results.
The other areas of improvement are project documentation, with new tools and features for texts, dimensions, viewports and layouts, and overall productivity: we’ve added more shortcuts and customisation options, streamlined some commands and menus. The list of new and improved features is indeed long.
We’ve also addressed bugs and behaviours that could slow down your work in some circumstances, and worked hard on stability and reliability.
Overall, we’re very excited at the news in this last quarter of the year and can’t wait to get this new version in your hands.
To learn more about HighDesign R5 and download a free trial, visit https://www.ilexsoft.com/highdesign/index.html


COVID-19 State of Emergency Alert -The Kentucky Public Service remains closed to the public without an appointment. Public participation in hearing will be via electronic means with limited in-person participation by parties.
please see the PSC order here:
Due to the current state of emergency in Kentucky, the Commission is hosting the hearing via video conference.
Public comments will be accepted at the start of the hearing.Request to make a public comment must be received at least 30 minutes before the start of the hearing.
To make a public comment at the start of the hearing:
Please email email@example.com to be added to the list of those requesting to speak before the hearing. Include the case number, your name, address, and phone number.
You will receive an email with instructions on how to participate.
Public Comments accepted during Virtual Public Meetings
Meeting Date Scheduled for December 6, 2021
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) will conduct two public meetings to provide information and receive public comments regarding the rate case of Atmos Energy Corporation (Case No. 2021-00214). The meetings are being conducted virtually. Each session will begin with a brief overview from PSC staff on the key elements in the case followed by public comments.
August 16th will bring the end of most deviations previously ordered by the Commission in Case No. 2020-00085, including the need for utilities to resume any testing and inspections that had been suspended.
Electronic filing will be mandatory and filing of an original paper copy will not be required.
For all other filings, the filers should continue to follow the filing instructions set out in the March 16, 2020 and March 24, 2020 Orders.