‘Battle of Banaras’: Delhi High Court quashes CBFC decision
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday quashed a decision of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refusing to certify for public viewing a documentary chronicling the 2014 campaign for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Congress candidate Ajay Rai.Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva sent the matter back to Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) to take a fresh decision on the documentary titled ‘Battle of Banaras’ with reasons within four weeks.The producer of the documentary, Manu Kumaran, moved the High Court two years back against the decision of the FCAT and the CBFC. The Censor Board refused certification to the film on October 15, 2015 and the FCAT upheld the decision later. The petition alleged that the Censor Board and the FCAT orders contained no mention of what parts of the film were objectionable and violated the guidelines of film certification issued under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.It claimed that the documentary was denied certification for public exhibition or its exhibition in film festival.During the course of the hearing, the censor copy of the documentary was viewed by the High Court judge in the presence of the counsel for the parties as well as officers of the board.The 2014 documentary, directed by Kamal Swaroop, captured live footage recorded over 44 days of campaigning in Varanasi.
BRUSSELS—The European Commission has launched an online tool to rate universities worldwide. The new system, called U-Multirank, provides a more sophisticated alternative to cruder rankings by letting users select rating criteria out of 30 indicators in five areas: research, teaching, regional engagement, knowledge transfer, and international orientation. European universities, which tend to fare poorly in existing rankings, score better on some of these criteria.Funded by the European Union, U-Multirank is presented as a departure from oft-criticized global rankings. Critics say that these charts—such as the Shanghai ranking and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings—rely on inadequate indicators and meaningless aggregated scores.“We are not producing league tables. We don’t think it is worthwhile. … We don’t even think it can be done methodologically and statistically in the right way,” said Frans van Vught, one of U-Multirank’s project leaders, at a launch event here yesterday.Sign up for our daily newsletterGet more great content like this delivered right to you!Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran, Islamic Republic ofIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMoldova, Republic ofMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorwayOmanPakistanPalestinianPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalQatarReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRWANDASaint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofVietnamVirgin Islands, BritishWallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweI also wish to receive emails from AAAS/Science and Science advertisers, including information on products, services and special offers which may include but are not limited to news, careers information & upcoming events.Required fields are included by an asterisk(*)Bernard Rentier, rector of the University of Liège in Belgium and a fierce critic of existing rankings, says he is pleased with the first results of U-Multirank and that the system’s indicators are “relevant and enlightening” to compare his university’s performance with others. But Ellen Hazelkorn, a specialist of rankings and director of research and enterprise at the Dublin Institute of Technology, points out that U-Multirank uses some of the same data as other rankings do, including citation rates or patent figures. Some of those numbers, such as the student-staff ratio, are controversial and “not necessarily meaningful” to assess quality, Hazelkorn says.U-Multirank was produced by a group of institutions led by the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies in the Netherlands and the Centre for Higher Education in Germany, and backed by €2 million from the European Union for the years 2013 to 2015. The system’s architects incorporated the same data sources as those in traditional rankings, but also introduced fresh indicators, such as interdisciplinary publications and joint publications with industry, as well as self-reported data from student surveys and universities themselves. (Out of 879 universities listed in the database, about 500 have volunteered to provide their own data.)With this broad range of indicators, U-Multirank can compare “like with like” and display the strengths of institutions that are usually outshone in classical rankings, says project leader Frank Ziegele. “For instance, there might be a university that has no A [score] in internationalization” because it is serves primarily a local or national audience, Ziegele says. “This is perfectly fine. This university fulfills an important function for society.” U-Multirank can play up that diversity of roles and profiles, he says.U-Multirank does provide a few ready-made rankings, including one based on research criteria. “American institutions of course are absolutely on top in terms of citation rates and other classical [criteria],” Ziegele says. But less renowned institutions, often from Europe, emerge at the top of the list in other categories, such as international publications or joint publications with industry.“This is an attempt to put an end to the unfairness towards a great number of universities, like the 300 which never appeared in [another ranking], and which perform very well in some [areas],” said Androulla Vassiliou, the E.U. commissioner in charge of education, at yesterday’s event.Ziegele says he doesn’t expect U-Multirank to push out other systems and that the appetite for traditional rankings will remain. “What I really hope is that our ranking is used for decision-making,” he says. “I could see governments piggybacking on it,” Hazelkorn says.“[T]here’s still a danger that too many consumers – particularly in Asia – will prefer the precision (however spurious) and simplicity of [existing] league tables to the relativism of personalized rankings,” wrote Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates in Toronto, Canada, in a blog post yesterday. And if U-Multirank doesn’t become very popular, universities, especially in North America, may be reluctant to spend time collecting the detailed information that the rankers ask for, Usher wrote.U-Multirank hopes to convince the institutions that didn’t volunteer their data to do so for next year’s version. It also plans to include more universities and to add three disciplines (medicine, psychology, and computer science) to the current four (physics, business, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering). Rentier, for one, is optimistic about the ranking’s future. “The system is led by scientists, very open to discussion and clarification. There’s a real dialogue that we don’t have with other rankings at all.”
KTM RC 390The wait for the adrenaline-pumping KTM motorcycles RC 200 and RC 390 is finally over. On September 9, 2014, performance bike manufacturer KTM will finally launch the highly anticipated RC 200 and RC 390 in Pune. Both the bikes can be considered as major launches by the Austrian bike maker, in conjunction with its Indian partner Bajaj.KTM has realised that there is a tremendous market for fared sports bikes in India, and thereby the company decided to launch both the RC 200 and the RC 390 together. For the launch, KTM will go live with its official Indian YouTube Channel. So in order to witness the launch, make sure you tune in tomorrow at 11:45 am.About the KTM bikesKTM RC 200/390 are fully fared versions of their corresponding Duke versions. Though both bikes are mechanically similar, they are built for different purposes. In comparison to the Dukes, the RC’s chassis has been tweaked and its body has a more head strong positioning. Twin projector headlamps with day time running LEDs have been fitted on both the KTM RC 200 and RC 390. By fitting a plastic cover above the main visor, KTM has made both bikes as aerodynamic as possible.External features of RC 390 and 200 – Clip-on handlebars – Split seats – Orange frame- 10 spoke orange alloy wheelsColour differences and weightFor a keen eye, the RC 200 and RC 390 are well differentiated, but to many, they might seem very similar. The RC 200 has black fairing with white and orange decals, while the RC 390 is seen having white fairing with black and orange decals.The RC 390’s tuning is tweaked to make the bike accelerate better to counter extra weight. While the Duke 200 weighs 125 kg dry, RC 200 has a weight of 137.5 kg dry. Similarly the Duke 390 weighs 139 kg dry, as compared to 147 kg of the RC 390. advertisementMechanical differencesA taller gearing and more aerodynamic riding position in comparison to the Dukes gives the RC versions higher top speed. Not only these, but RC 390 has a shorter wheelbase (Duke: 1,36715 mm vs RC: 1,34015 mm), greater ground clearance ( 170 mm vs 178.5 mm), greater seat height (800 mm vs 820 mm) as well as smaller fuel tank capacity (11 L vs 10 L) than the Duke.Engines and transmissionKTM RC 200 is fitted with a single cylinder, 4-stroke, 199.5cc engine that produces a maximum power of 25 bhp and a peak torque of 19.2 Nm. The KTM RC 390 comes with a bigger, 4-stroke, single-cylinder 373.2cc engine with a power output of 42.5 bhp and maximum torque comes in at 35 Nm. This bike gets a 6-speed manual transmission.
Get the best of News18 delivered to your inbox – subscribe to News18 Daybreak. Follow News18.com on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram, TikTok and on YouTube, and stay in the know with what’s happening in the world around you – in real time. Milan: Cristiano Ronaldo conceded he is not ‘100 percent’ despite his goal spree for Portugal but always ready to play as injury-hit Juventus head to Atalanta on Saturday looking to extend their unbeaten run this season to stay top of Serie A.Juventus visit fifth-placed Atalanta before hosting Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week. Maurizio Sarri’s side are just one point ahead of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan after 12 matches, with Lazio and Cagliari eight points adrift of the leaders in joint third.Atalanta have gone three league games without a win and will be eager to get back into the Champions League berths, as they sit two points off fourth place, before next week’s trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.Atalanta’s fortunes have slipped following the thigh injury suffered to Colombian star Duvan Zapata, who scored six goals in six Serie A matches before being sidelined for their last five league games.As Atalanta sweat on Zapata’s return, Juventus will be without full-back Alex Sandro, who picked up a thigh problem playing for Brazil, with Blaise Matuidi recovering from a rib injury.Ronaldo had said he was not be at his best physical form, with Sarri saying the Portuguese star has a “little knee problem”.But the 34-year-old wants to make amends after storming off when he was substituted in Juventus’s last game against AC Milan.”In the last three weeks, I have played at a slightly reduced capacity,” Ronaldo conceded after his goal spree for Portugal.”I don’t like to be replaced, no one does,” added Ronaldo. “I tried to help Juve even when injured.”Full-back Danilo, who scored his first goal for Brazil during the international break, warned: “The games after the international break are never easy, let alone against Atalanta, a team who are doing well.”We can’t make mistakes or underestimate them.”Inter will be looking to make it a perfect seven league games on the road this season as they travel to Torino, before their European trip to Slavia Prague.Conte’s side face a tough task against the Andrea Belotti-powered Torino, who ended their six-match winless run against Brescia last time out, and are in 11th position.Serie A runners-up Napoli are in crisis, having slipped to seventh, and desperately need a result at 14th-placed AC Milan, who are themselves floundering.Cagliari and Lazio will look to continue their strong form at lowly Lecce and Sassuolo respectively.Roma have a chance to move into the Champions League places as the look to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Parma at home against tailenders Brescia.ONE TO WATCH:Carlo Ancelotti’s Serie A runners-up last season head for AC Milan amid reports he has two games left to save his job.Napoli have gone four games without a win in Serie A to sit seventh.The southerners have 19 points — 13 behind leaders Juventus — their worst tally after 12 games since the 2011-2012 season when they finished fifth.After being held 1-1 by Salzburg in the Champions League, they travel to Liverpool next week in a key game for the former Chelsea, AC Milan and Real Madrid boss.KEY STATS:100 – Torino captain Andrea Belotti’s Serie A goals29 – Juventus’s unbeaten run against Atalanta — 23W, 6D13 – Points between Juventus and last season’s runners-up Napoli6 – Inter have won six in six on the road so far this league season.5 – Years since AC Milan last beat NapoliFIXTURESSaturday (all times GMT)Atalanta v Juventus (1400GMT), AC Milan v Napoli (1700), Torino v Inter Milan (1945)SundayBologna v Parma (1130GMT), Verona v Fioretina, AS Roma v Brescia, Sassuolo v Lazio (1400), Sampdoria v Udinese (1700), Lecce v Cagliari (1945)MondaySPAL v Genoa (1945) AC Milanas romaAtalantacristiano ronaldo First Published: November 22, 2019, 11:28 AM IST
England manager Gareth Southgate has defended Wayne Rooney after the veteran forward was booed by English fans during their 2-0 win over Malta in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli scored for England during the first half at the Wembley Stadium here on Saturday evening as England laboured to a hard-earned win over a side many among the 82,000-strong home crowd had perhaps imagined would be easy meat.Rooney was employed in a midfield role by Southgate where the Manchester United star struggled to impress and was booed by several England fans. (Man United captain Rooney justifies benching)”If you look at the number of games and his (Rooney) goalscoring feats for England, I don’t quite understand that (booing). The criticism of him is, at times, unfair,” Southgate told the local media after the match.”He ploughs on and plays with pride and captains his country with pride. I always look back to the Terrys, the Lampards, the Ashley Coles… in their time with England they took an enormous amount of criticism, but, if you look at their caps, they kept turning out putting themselves on the line.””Others have not put themselves forward and withdrawn from squads when the going has got tough. Those guys put their neck on the block and played for their country again and again,” he added. (Wayne Rooney targets 2018 World Cup under Sam Allardyce)Southgate, who is acting as the interim manager for the England team, urged the fans to show more support for Rooney as the 30-year-old struggles to re-capture his old form and asserted that the lack of support will make the going tougher for him.advertisement”I presented him with a cap in the week for being the record cap holder with his country. It’s fascinating to get an insight into his world over the last 10 days. Every debate focuses on him. The onus on him is enormous,” Southgate said.”I don’t understand (the booing). But that seems to be the landscape. I have no idea how that is expected to help him,” he added.On Saturday, Southgate’s selection of Rooney in a midfield role was in direct contrast to Manchester United manager Jos Mourinho’s insistence that the England captain is more useful as a forward.But the England interim manager asserted that Rooney’s role in the midfield is more suited to the national team’s set-up. (Wayne Rooney defends England role after win over Slovakia)”Look, Jos will have his opinion on what’s right for his team. I had to pick a team to get a result today. Wayne’s experience and his leadership have been crucial throughout this week, not just today,” he said.”I wanted to get Dele Alli higher up the pitch as a link between midfield and the forwards. He got his goal and was disappointed not to get a second, for sure. That team and system suited us today. (Manchester United flourish without benched Wayne Rooney)”Between Wayne and Jordan Henderson their job was to control that area of the field. To link between the lines. When you look back at the Slovakia game, there were times when that link wasn’t there. We felt it was important today, and Dele as a No10 helped that, as well as Jesse Lingard coming in off the line,” Southgate added.”They were there to control the game, and make sure we didn’t get caught on the counter. We knew we’d have a lot of the ball. It was a game where we’d dictate the tempo.”
India’s record-breaking spree in international cricket continued as they registered their 14th series victory in 2017.Rohit Sharma’s side on Friday beat Sri Lanka by 88 runs to win their 14th series this year.Before this, India defeated England (ODIs and T20Is), Bangladesh (Test), Australia (Tests, ODIs), West Indies (ODIs), Sri Lanka (Tests, ODIs and T20Is), New Zealand (ODIs and T20Is) and then again Sri Lanka (Tests, ODIs and T20Is).Team India are also on a nine-series winning streak in Tests and eight (bilateral) in ODIs.And with the win against the Lankans on Friday, India now have won 36 games this year. Out of them seven of them are Tests, 21 are ODIs and eight are T20Is.In the list of most international matches won in a calendar year, India are now second and even if they won their final match of the year in Mumbai, they will still remain on the second spot.Australia lead the list with their record of 38 wins in the year 2003, under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting.India, who are currently the No. 1 side in Tests and second in ODIs, also moved up No. 2 in the T20 rankings.Not only these, India during their 260/5 in the Indore T20I, also reached another milestone in the shortest format of the game. They hit 21 maximums — the joint most by any team in an innings in T20Is. West Indies also managed to smash 21 sixes against India en route their 245/6 at Lauderhill in 2016.This score by India is also the joint highest team total in 20-over cricket with Sri Lanka’s 260/6 against Kenya in 2006.advertisementIndia’s 88-run victory against Lanka is also the second highest winning margin against them by any side in T20 cricket. The first is by 93 runs — also achieved by India during the Cuttack T20I.As of personal records, Rohit also managed to grab one more other than the joint fastest ton in T20Is. The Hitman has now smashed 64 sixes in 2017 — the most by any player for a calendar year. Rohit’s 10 sixes during his 43-ball knock was the most by any Indian batsman in a T20 innings.Rohit is the only Indian batsman to score more than one hundred in T20 Internationals. KL Rahul and Suresh Raina have one each. The Mumbaikar’s 35-ball hundred was also the fastest by an Indian batsman in any format of the game.This century of Rohit was his eighth of the current year across formats, which is the highest by him in his career so far. Only Sachin Tendulkar with nine hundreds in 1998 has hit more tons for India in a calendar year.Moving onto the bowling department, Yuzvendra Chahal, who has picked up eight wickets in this series so far, also became the third wrist spinner to pick up four wickets in an innings in T20Is. The other two are Shahid Afridi and Imran Tahir.He is also now the third highest wicket-taker in T20Is for India in a calendar year. The leggie now has 23. Ravichandran Ashwin took 23 in 2016 while Jasprit Bumrah bagged 28 in the same year as well.India will next play Sri Lanka in the last of the three T20Is on Decmeber 24 before flying off to South Africa on December 27 for the three Tests, six ODIs and three T20Is there.
Virat Kohli came back to his usual No.3 position in the batting order and it immediately made a difference as he led India to a 6-wicket win over Australia in the third and final T20 international on Sunday.India rode on Kohli’s unbeaten 61 and Shikhar Dhawan’s 41 at the top of the order to chase 165 with two balls to spare at the Sydney Cricket Ground.Kohli hit a boundary off the fourth ball in the last over to win the match for India and draw the three-match series 1-1. India are now unbeaten in their last 10 T20I series which started with the one-off T20I against Sri Lanka in 2017.India vs Australia Highlights, 3rd T20I: Kohli’s unbeaten 61 helps India level seriesIndia had lost the first match in Brisbane while the second was washed out in Melbourne.Secure hands! Virat Kohli’s shot was elite, but this security guard’s grab gets our Play of the Day!#AUSvIND @bet365_aus pic.twitter.com/eTMXtXwghicricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018Dinesh Karthik also made a useful 22 not out off 18 balls and along with the India captain, added 60 off 39 balls for the fifth-wicket to take India past the finish line in front of a jam-packed SCG, which saw Indian fans turn up in full numbers.The bowlers tried hard to stop the visitors but it was the brisk 67-run opening stand between Dhawan and Rohit (23) which really lay a solid platform for the run chase.Sydney T20I: Krunal Pandya records best T20I bowling figures by a spinner in AustraliaadvertisementMitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell and Andrew Tye picked up a wicket each for the Aussies but were unable to stop the Indian batters on a good batting wicket in Sydney.INDIA WIN!Level the three match series 1-1 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/m5DeOC6KO2BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2018Earlier, a collective batting effort guided Australia to post a respectable 164 for 6 after Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to bat first.Left-arm off-spinner Krunal Pandya returned with career best figures of 4/36, while chinaman Kuldeep Yadav was also impressive after conceding just 19 runs from his four overs and also picked a wicket.Opting to bat, Australia were off to a decent start as openers Aaron Finch and D Arcy Short played sensible cricket and the hosts raced away to 41 runs in just five overs.Just when the partnership between the openers seemed to be getting bigger, Krunal came in with the much needed breakthrough, picking Finch (28) before the wickets, with Australia at 68/1 in 8.3 overs.Shikhar Dhawan lit up the early stages of the run chase with some awesome strokeplay!#AUSvIND @toyota_aus pic.twitter.com/COK9uOLP33cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 25, 2018With the addition of another five runs on Australia’s scorecard, Kuldeep gave another jolt as the chinaman packed back a well-settled Short (33) in the 10th over. Krunal then dismissed incoming batsman Ben McDermott on a duck, leaving the hosts at 73/3.His fall saw Glenn Maxwell come in the middle, but while trying to launch a ball of Krunal into orbit, the batsman was caught at long-on by Rohit Sharma, leaving the hosts tottering at 90/4.Stumper Alex Carey (27) and Chris Lynn (13) then added 29 runs for the fifth wicket, helping their side cross the three digit mark. However, Krunal was in no mood to spare the aussies, who had clobbered him for 55 runs in Brisbane, and picked his fourth wicket by sending back Carey in the 16th over.With Australia at 131, Lynn departed after failing to complete his ground and Jasprit Bumrah made no mistake in hitting the bulls eye.Marcus Stoinis then played a 15-ball 25 run knock, while Nathan Coulter-Nile chipped in with 13 runs off seven deliveries in the final overs to help the hosts reach a good total.(With IANS inputs)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 21: Wide Receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after catching a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 21, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)The NFL season is nearly at its end. Four teams remain with the New England Patriots taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Conference Title Game and the New Orleans Saints hosting the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game.With the title games nearly here, Pick Six Previews looked at the rosters for each conference title team and came up with a list of the colleges with the most players in the AFC/NFC championships.Unsurprisingly, the top teams on the list are also some of the top teams in college football. Ohio State held down the top spot with nine players headlined by Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.Georgia was second with seven and Tennessee rounded out the top three with six.Schools with most players on NFL Rosters (active) in the AFC/NFC Championships:9 – Ohio State7 – UGA6 – Tennessee5 – Alabama5 – Cal5 – Florida5 – FSU5 – Iowa5 – LSU5 – SMU4 – Auburn4 – Miami4 – Oregon4 – Oregon State4 – Rutgers4 – Washington— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) January 15, 2019SMU and Rutgers are the surprise college football teams on the list with five and four respectively. Jared Goff (Cal) is the only quarterback whose alma mater made the list.
On Dec. 10, 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, the date has become known as International Human Rights Day. It is recognized around the world as a chance to celebrate the achievements, remember the struggle, and continue the journey towards greater respect for human rights. It is also a day to honour those who have been instrumental in advancing human rights. This year Partners Against Racism (PAR) will use the day to focus on the legacy of hope in Nova Scotia inspired by Anne Frank, the 13-year-old girl whose diary has been shared by generations of readers. Expressions of Hope: A Message to Anne Frank will use music, spoken word, and art, to celebrate how others have also helped counter discrimination. “The current visit of the Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945, display at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History seemed an ideal time to concentrate on people like Anne who experience discrimination, yet still manage to share their hope with others,” said Sandra Smith Muir, co-chair of PAR, a committee of public and private sector organizations that promotes racial harmony. To further honour International Human Rights Day, PAR and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission are looking for a Nova Scotian whose work continues to advance the cause of human rights. Individuals or organizations across the province are encouraged to nominate people for the Human Rights Award. Nominees must have made a significant contribution to protect human rights in our communities. Nominations must be received by PAR by Thursday, Nov. 30. They must include information on the nature of the service or program the person or organization is involved in, its target audience, how the organization or individual works to protect human rights, whether a fee is charged for membership or access to the service and whether the organization or group is non-profit, public sector or corporate. For nomination applications, see the Human Rights Commission website at http://gov.ns.ca/humanrights/par.htm . Nominations can be forwarded by e-mail to nichollj@gov.ns.ca or faxed to 902-424-0596, attention Linda Nicholl. Members of PAR will consider the nominations and forward recommendations to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission for final approval. The award will be presented at the International Human Rights Day celebration, Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer St., Halifax. People are also being encouraged to visit the Anne Frank in the World 1929-1945 exhibit. The travelling display, presented by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and a number of public and private sponsors, was developed by the Anne Frank Foundation in Amsterdam and sponsored in the United States and Canada by the New York based Anne Frank Center USA, Inc.
Government is supporting several projects that help older Nova Scotians live safely, enjoy good health and stay involved in their communities. Seniors Minister Leo Glavine opened the call for applications for the Age-Friendly Communities Grant program today, July 11, at the Waverley Legion. “An age-friendly community is more inclusive for everyone,” said Mr. Glavine. “This grant program is one of the most important items to come from our seniors’ action plan, Shift, and continues to support the kind of projects that allow all Nova Scotians to age better in their communities.” The Age-Friendly Communities Grant supports projects that promote healthy, active living and make communities better places for Nova Scotians as they age. Last year, government provided nearly $375,000 in funding for 47 new projects. This includes a $20,000 grant to the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia to update the popular It’s in Your Hands guide for older adults and their families. The guide includes legal information on a range of topics, from dating and new relationships, to avoiding scams and identity theft, to estate and pre-funeral planning. “The It’s in Your Hands guide is unique to Nova Scotia and is our most requested publication,” said Heather de Berdt Romilly, executive director. “Funding through the Age-Friendly Communities Grant will help us put this proactive planning tool into the hands of even more Nova Scotians and their families.” The grant is open to non-profit and community organizations, municipal governments, associations and universities. Successful applicants can include partnerships or collaborative projects. This year, government has increased the threshold for funding to up to $25,000 per project. Applications are accepted year-round. Applications received on or before Sept. 30 will be reviewed in October. Applications received between Oct. 1, 2018 and Feb. 1, 2019 will be reviewed in February. For more information and to apply, visit http://novascotia.ca/age-friendly-grant . To download a free copy of the It’s In Your Hands Guide, visit http://www.legalinfo.org .
TORONTO – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is issuing a nationwide recall warning for 1.14-litre bottles of Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin.At least five provincial liquor control agencies previously recalled the bottles of gin because they contain more alcohol than the amount stated on the label.The Liquor Control Board of Ontario was the first to remove the affected product from all of its stores.The Crown corporation says the recall was initiated after an investigation by its quality assurance team found the gin’s alcohol content was 77 per cent, instead of the 40 per cent declared on the label.In a statement, the CFIA says the recalled gin should be thrown out or returned to the store where it was purchased.The agency says it is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products.It says there have been no reported illnesses associated with the gin.In early March, an Ontario-made brand of vodka was pulled from shelves because one batch contained double the stated amount of alcohol.The batch of Georgian Bay vodka was not properly diluted prior to bottling, resulting in 654 bottles containing 81 per cent alcohol instead of the 40 per cent stated on the label.Note to readers: FIXES style for nationwide throughout
ONOWAY, Alta. — Four-year-old Porter Stanley has some new pals at preschool.Russ stands beside him as they manoeuvre toy cars down and around a plastic parking garage. The newest kid in class, Mimi, offers her hand, patiently waiting for Porter to give her a high- five.They soon sit on a large carpet for circle time and belt out songs about a bumblebee, the weather and monkeys.Porter isn’t able to sing or speak, but claps his hands together with the help of an aide. His mouth turns up into a quick smile as a portable suction machine buzzes in the background.Porter is one of about 30 people ever in the world to have a reported diagnosis of Beare-Stevenson syndrome, a condition that caused the bone plates in his skull to fuse together before he was born.Doctors told his parents he would probably only live a few months. But after 10 surgeries and two years of medical ups and downs, Porter is doing well. He’s a big brother, an Edmonton Oilers hockey fan and loves watching “Paw Patrol.”And now he’s going to preschool.“It’s just opened up an entire world for him that he loves and he was missing out on,” his mother, Corine Stanley, explains after dropping Porter off with his new astronaut backpack at preschool in Onoway, a small town northwest of Edmonton.She says that when Porter started in the fall, she wondered how best to introduce him to his class.Porter’s head and face are misshapen. He uses a walker to get around. There’s a tracheotomy hole in his throat that helps him breathe, but leaves him only able to communicate by touching pictures on a computer tablet.His classmates watched a video about how Porter’s suction machine is used to clear his airway. And they listened to their teacher read a book about being different.In the end, Stanley says, Porter starting school was as normal as it could be.“He rolled in the first day and the kids were like, ‘OK, no big deal … Are we going to play or what’s going on here?’“They treat him like any other little boy. Because he is.”Instructor Vivian McDonald says Porter has the most medical challenges of any student. But his classmates have figured out that they have much in common.“It really shows that everyone can fit into the world and that we can respect our differences.”Porter’s pediatrician, Dr. Rehana Chatur, says she’s amazed by his progress.“If you were to ask any of us initially when Porter was born if he would be walking and in preschool, I don’t think any of us would have predicted that,” she says.At the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, where Porter has been featured in an ad campaign, Chatur regularly sees posters of his face and hears people talking about his appearance. She calls him a great ambassador.Chatur explains that the soft spot on top of a baby’s head allows room for the brain to grow and usually closes up by 14 months of age. In Porter’s case, parts of his skull had to be taken apart and pieced back together and shunts were also used to relieve pressure as his brain developed.Because of the way his skull was fused, parts of the brain that control balance and breathing still fit tightly at the base of his skull, causing his developmental delays.Porter was Chatur’s first Beare-Stevenson patient. And remarkably, considering the small number of cases in the world, she now has a second patient with the diagnosis. Chatur says she can’t reveal details other than the patient is a little girl.Most children with Beare-Stevenson live only a few months or until about age two, says Chatur. The oldest recorded patient with the syndrome was 13.The plan is for Porter to start kindergarten next year, says his mother. And because his hometown is small, he’ll continue on with the same group of friends.Socialization is important for his development and self-esteem, adds Chatur.And, in the end, Porter may be the one who is the teacher.“It’s important for kids to learn things like tolerance and patience and how to be inclusive,” Chatur says.“I think he’s teaching a lot of people, both kids and adults.”Chris Purdy, The Canadian Press
At the opening of the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul today, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the President of Turkey, relief activists and international celebrities to urge the global community to shape a different future for the world.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opens the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, TurkeyCredit/Copyright: UNOCHA“We are all here because global humanitarian action is unprecedentedly strained,” Mr. Ban told thousands of participants attending the opening ceremony, which featured creative performances and inspiring words by renowned stars including Forest Whitaker, Ashley Judd and Daniel Craig.“I proposed this Summit four years ago out of concern for rising humanitarian needs and declining political will. Today, the urgency has only grown,” the Secretary-General stressed.As part of a moving spectacle that emulated dust storms and earthquakes, and projected images of authentic footage inspired by personal human stories, Malian singer Inna Modja kicked off the historic Summit with a soulful poem.The United Nations estimates that a record number of people – 130 million – currently need aid to survive. More people have been forced from their homes than at any time since the end of the Second World War.“This is a 21st century United Nations gathering,” the Mr. Ban said describing the Summit, adding that its Agenda for Humanity, the document he recently issued to guide discussions and action, is based on three years of consultations with 23,000 people in more than 150 countries.Over the next two days in the Turkish capital, WHS is bringing together stakeholders who have a vested interest in improving the global humanitarian system, including more than 65 Heads of State and Government as well as leaders from the public and private sectors.The UN chief underlined that the world is looking to them for commitments to five core responsibilities: • Prevent and end conflict • Respect rules of war • Leave no one behind • Working differently to end need • Invest in humanity“We are here to shape a different future,” Mr. Ban concluded. “Today we declare: We are one humanity, with a shared responsibility.”Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the Summit would lead to “auspicious outcomes” for hundreds of millions of people struggling to sustain their lives under great distress.“Pain knows no colour, race, language or religion,” Mr. Erdogan said, noting that it was with that in mind that Turkey carried out its aid and development projects in more than 140 countries around the world, hosting more than three million refugees from Syria and Iraq.“We will never close our doors or our borders to people,” he insisted. “We as leaders and responsible individuals of the international community can only succeed if we work under common principles and goals.”The President also stressed that Turkey would not stop pursuing “blood-shedding dictators” and will ensure that crimes against humanity do not go unpunished.Prior to these remarks, survivors of humanitarian catastrophes — both human-made and natural — spoke to the audience in emotional addresses, recounting their ordeals and how they overcame them with the desire to now support others.Victor Ochen, a former child solider from northern Uganda, spoke about growing up with violence everywhere around him. At the age of 13, he chose a different path, forming a peace club in his refugee camp to discourage children and young people from joining the armed forces. “Peace comes from within,” he said. “Be human and act human.”Victoria Arnaiz-Lanting described her experience surviving Typhoon Haiyan which hit the Philippines in 2013, saying that it was a miracle she survived. She lost many friends and colleagues in the storm, dead bodies filled the streets, and trees and electric posts fell to the ground like match sticks. The typhoon also made thousands of people internally displaced, who, driven by hunger and grief, looted the supermarkets.And yet, she expressed how unbelievable it was to see how quickly people started to rebuild their lives. The Philippines Red Cross and victims themselves began treating the wounded and liaising with the Government and other humanitarian actors.“This is humanity in action,” she said, noting that disasters affected more than 200 million people a year and that preparedness must become a way of life. She encouraged every nation, large and small, to invest in local actors.Speaking of the Syrian conflict, Adeeb Ateeq said war has inflicted much suffering on the people. Mines have blown apart men, women, and children, with many afraid to seek medical care for fear of encountering other unexploded ordnance.“I have decided to harness my experience of demining to end the loss of life,” he said, describing a volunteer team he has established to educated young people about the lethal nature of unexploded land mines.Recalling his own experience of losing a leg after encountering an unexploded device, Mr. Ateeq explained how he had been bound to a wheelchair until being fitted with an artificial limb; this led him to try to help others.“My goal is to save the lives of innocent civilians,” he said, calling on all to provide assistance in that quest and in safeguarding humanity.
MineARC Systems has launched a new ultra-portable refuge chamber range designed for tight underground confines such as single entry-headings and development areas – the HRM-ELVP (Hard Rock Mine – Extra Low Voltage Portable). Available in both four and six person configurations, the HRM-ELVP range uses a revolutionary Extra-Low-Voltage control system to power the chamber’s internal life support systems; requiring no permanent connection to mains ‘mine’ electrical power (charging required only once every three months). Both the HRM4-ELVP and 6-ELVP can therefore be positioned and repositioned with ease, which is ideal for development areas where continuous drilling and blasting carries on in front of loaders and other manned units. The operational flexibility of the HRM-ELVP range, along with its small robust design, allow it to be positioned where standard refuge chambers can’t – providing personnel working in confined areas with a safe place of refuge should an emergency situation arise.The HRM-ELVP range will supersede the popular HRM-PLP (Powerless Portable) range from MineARC Systems.
The Bolivian state-owned tin mining company, Empresa Minera Huanuni (EMH), is to start trial operations at the Huanuni mine’s Lucianita processing plant in late-October, according to local news sources, the International Tin Association reports.The 3,000 t/d Lucianita plant was built by Chinese contractor Vicstar Union Engineering under a $50 million contract awarded in 2011 with a plan to replace the mine’s existing and ageing Santa Elena plant. However, the new plant has not been used since its completion in late 2014 due to issues related to the supply of water and tailings capacity. These issues are expected to be overcome by a new $16 million tailings dam, which according to the company is now 99.5% complete.The ITA comments: “The Huanuni mine produced 8,415 t of tin-in-concentrate in 2017. Mineral theft, strikes and an explosion at the mine earlier this year have impacted production and we anticipate a lower total for 2018. The successful commissioning of the Lucianita plant could help improve performance in the years ahead as it would represent a doubling of plant processing capacity at the mine.“Tin output is likely to increase by a lesser amount as we believe that less than a quarter of the mine’s production is currently processed through the existing plant. We suspect that ramp-up of the new processing plant to full capacity could also take over a year, delaying any significant improvements in tin output.“The Colquiri tin-zinc mine in Bolivia is also actively seeking bids for construction of a new processing plant and intends to sign a contract with the successful party by end-October. This is its fourth such bidding round since 2016, with earlier attempts unsuccessful.”