Split (1)

train · 2.59M rows

text stringlengths 9 93k
With this, Comelec spokesperson Jimenez is optimistic that they will surpass the record six years ago.
“In previous years, we have seen a low voter turnout. The atmosphere now is different. I think there are signs that should give us hope that foster a sense of optimism that we will see good numbers this time around,” she said.
John Pantsil's 52nd-minute own goal turned out to be the decisive moment in the game, although up to that point the major talking point revolved around assistant referee Mick McDonough. The official incorrectly flagged Fernando Torres offside as he raced on to Raul Meireles' sixth-minute through-ball to slot past goalkeeper David Stockdale.
"I think we are better than that," said Dalglish of his side's position in the table. "It is getting a bit more realistic but we are not getting carried away with being seventh - that is not where this football club wants to be. We want to be further up than that but to do that we have to win more games and that is what we will try to do, starting against Stoke."
Asked what his long-term objective was he replied: "To beat Stoke next Wednesday, the same we have done here since I can remember.
"We have never come in at the start of the season and said 'we're going to do this or that', we just went out to do the best we could. At the end of the season we added up the points to see where we were and I don't any reason to change that. It never did us any harm. It is the only way I know, that is the way I was brought up."
"I think Fulham will be feeling a little hard-done by because they will think they deserved something from the game," he added. "But there have been many games when we thought we deserved more from it than we got. The boys showed a great deal of determination and effort and it is great credit to them after a hard run of games."
"We are shaking our heads in there," he said. "I've been involved in many teams as a player and a manager coming here where we've been totally dominated and been lucky to get anything.
"This was the complete opposite. To take the game to Liverpool and not get anything was disappointing."
The results of the annual fundraising campaign for the United Way of Midland County were revealed this morning.
The campaign kicked off in September with a fundraising goal of $4.6 million.
Campaign Chair Rick Reynolds announced the campaign raised $4,754,578, or 3.4 percent more than the goal.
"I'm absolutely delighted with the results," Reynolds said.
"You always hope that you'll have a great campaign," he said. "To make that happen is to get the best group of people on the campaign cabinet."
"We're pleased with this year's results," United Way Executive Director Ann Fillmore said.
Having the donation amount surpass the campaign goal displays the community's willingness to take care of its people, Fillmore said.
She acknowledged the tireless efforts of the United Way staff and the many volunteers who helped with this year's campaign.
Ginni Mahi must have been in Std VIII or IX when she first became aware of the divisive nature of the caste system. A girl in her class had asked her which caste she belonged to and Mahi did not know what to say. The Mahis constitute nearly 40 per cent of the scheduled caste population of Jalandhar, her hometown. The 19-year-old grew up on stories about Dr BR Ambedkar, the founder of the Indian Constitution and the teachings of Guru Ravidas, who led the Bhakti movement in Punjab in the 15th century. Theirs is, as her father Rakesh Chandra Mahi calls it, an "Ambedkarite family". It's no surprise, therefore, that both Ambedkar and Guru Ravidas have become a mainstay in Mahi's songs, which, over the past year has catapulted her into a bestselling Punjabi rapper, even earning her the tag of a "Punjabi Dalit rapper".
The tag, however, doesn't agree with Mahi. Even though in her videos the singer wears a definite rapper swag, be it in a leather jacket or a patiala suit, she says her genre cannot be called that. "It is definitely a fusion between Western beats and Punjabi style, but I am not sure if you can call it rap," says the singer who performed in Mumbai for the first time yesterday at a congregation of women speakers. Mahi, who did her first live show when she was 12, knew from a very early age that she wanted to do "something to fight inequality in society". "Since I could sing, I had all these dreams, of doing live and reality shows. I was very little but I was already shooting for the stars," she smiles. While she has brought in a unique style to talk of the life and times of Dr Ambedkar, she was sure that it would work, even though no one had tried it before. "We have a team of lyricists who work hard to figure what should go, and more importantly, what should be dropped from a song. Addressing sensitive subjects like inequality and untouchability is always tricky territory. There has been an overwhelming amount of support, and some negative feedback too. But if there is no criticism, there can be no improvement," says the singer who performed in Mumbai for the first time yesterday at 'We The Women', a congregation of women speakers.
Even though this is her first visit to Mumbai, Mahi could barely make time to look around. "My second year finals are on, I have an exam on Monday," says the singer who is pursuing graduation in music, from HMV College in Jalandhar. "Studies are my priority, I want to do my masters, and then my dream is to do my PhD in music. A doctor heals people with his knowledge in medicine. I want to know music so well, that one day I am able to heal people with music," she says. In terms of her singing career, Bollywood, of course is the dream. "I want to be a playback singer here, much like my idols Lata Mangeshkar, Shreya Ghoshal and Sunidhi Chauhan."
While Mahi's music wants to break the shackles of inequality, that she herself has earned the tag of a Dalit rapper is an irony she just might have to live with. "My message is humanity, to erase caste politics. No one, especially artists, should be bound by class or caste. Such a tag, even though it has earned me fame, beats the purpose. But then, that is how the world works, in labels. We have entwined ourselves in all kinds of borders that separate us from each other."
If a counternarcotics official from another nation profits from trafficking cocaine into the United States, but has a clean criminal record otherwise, should a judge go lenient at sentencing?
That’s what Rene Sanabria is hoping. Sanabria headed a Bolivian drug intelligence unit, but was arrested earlier this year by the DEA in Panama when agents posed as Colombian drug lords. The DEA says he and others helped move thousands of dollars worth of cocaine into Miami. Sanabria pleaded guilty in Miami and is now seeking leniency. The penalty for the charges ranges from a minimum of 10 years to life, reports the Associated Press.
His attorney lawyer thinks his client should get less than the 10 year minimum, AP reported.
Sanabria denies using his government affiliating to aid in the trafficking.
Sentencing is set for Friday.
Posted: 9/20/11 at 9:51 AM under News Story.
LONDON – Manchester United will play Premier League top-four rivals Tottenham in a pre-season glamour friendly in Shanghai, the Old Trafford club said on Wednesday.
At least six major English clubs will visit China this summer, with Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham and Wolves taking part in the Premier League Asia Trophy on July 17 in Nanjing and July 20 in Shanghai.
United will face Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs on July 25 in Shanghai, by which time the future of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be resolved.
They will also play Inter Milan in Singapore on July 20 after two previously announced matches in Australia, against Perth Glory on July 13 and English rivals Leeds, also in Perth, on July 17.
United also announced they would play AC Milan on August 3 in Cardiff.
Conditions are likely to be testing in Shanghai in July, when temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), with high humidity and the likelihood of heavy rain.
But the Premier League and clubs see such trips as a prime opportunity to grow their fan bases in China, the world's second-biggest economy.
In 2016 the first Manchester derby due to be played overseas had to be cancelled at the last minute when the pitch at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium was deemed unplayable because of rain.
United in January said they were opening a number of "entertainment and experience centres" in China, where they claim to have more than 100 million followers.
Barcelona are also scheduled to visit China in the summer.
"These games, and the tour overall, will not only assist in our pre-season preparations, but also provide entertaining football and an opportunity to interact with our loyal fans in Australasia and Asia," said Manchester United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.
"This will be our third visit to Singapore and our 15th pre-season visit to China and we're excited to be returning to both countries to play against top-class opposition there."
The work and pensions secretary tells Emma Barnett on 5 Live that she "has kept the door slightly ajar".
Theresa May is in Wales - but No 10 says there will be no repeat of 2017's post-holiday surprise.
Both sides want to avoid taking part in European elections but significant hurdles to agreement remain.
Brexit: What's the plan for no deal?
The PM vows to work on reaching an agreement with Labour ahead of the EU's new 31 October deadline.
Staffordshire Conservative MP and Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash asked if the prime minister appreciated the "anger her abject surrender prompted across the country" over her Brexit policy, and whether she would resign.
Theresa May replied: "I think you know the answer to that."
It came after the prime minister told MPs it remains her "priority" to deliver Brexit, defending the decision to delay the UK's exit from the EU by more than six months.
The new deadline of 31 October, set following late-night talks in Brussels, means the UK is likely to have to hold European Parliament elections in May.
Conservative MP asks PM: Will she resign?
Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash attacks Prime Minister Theresa May's "abject surrender" over Brexit.
The UK PM tells MPs about the EU Council summit and sets out plans to resolve the deadlock over Brexit.
DUP MP Sammy Wilson hits out at the PM as his party leader meets EU officials in Brussels.
SAN ANTONIO - Google said it will now provide high-speed internet without TV services in the Alamo City through Google Fiber.
The company is making changes to how it houses its infrastructure, and the process has been anything but simple.
In 2016, Google built two huts to house its infrastructure, one of which is at Haskin Park. Neighbors fought to have it removed, calling it an eyesore.
For residents, it was about the amount of space the hut took up and the city not going through proper channels to allow it.
“The lack of transparency. The fact that they didn't talk to the neighbors. They skipped many of the rules that they require many of the citizens to conform with,” said John Whitsett, a resident who lives near the park.
Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni said getting to this point has been a work in progress.
"As they evolve in how they (Google) put the network in, they are going to a much smaller hut, or cabinet is what they call it now. So in the neighborhoods, you won’t have these big huts anymore. You'll have smaller cabinets like you see today. These little green utility boxes,” Zanoni said.
Google said it’s almost ready to offer its services. A price point, however, has not yet been revealed.
"There’s two primary areas near West End Park and the near West Side of downtown and then further west in City Council District 6. They are doing some micro-trenching, a pilot program on how they lay the fiber in the ground,” Zanoni said.
Zanoni said the city will have to be patient. Google Fiber is on the City Council agenda for Wednesday and will continue to be discussed.
“Doing an update with City Council on the lease agreement that Google has with the city as they continue their build-out,” Zanoni said.
U.S. Army Veteran Jim Wolf has struggled with alcoholism, poverty, and homelessness for decades. But in September 2013, with the help of Degage Ministries in Grand Rapids, Mich., he agreed to go through a physical transformation.
Rob Bliss, a local filmmaker, teamed up with Degage Ministries, a stylist, and a production team to create this timelapse video of Wolf’s several-hour makeover. “The homeless are people we ignore every day,” Bliss said. And so he wanted his video to show how, with just a little support, anyone “can look like they’re meant for the cover of GQ.” It’s hard not to gasp at the end result.
Since the makeover, Wolf has been able to secure housing and has even begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. And while one makeover does not even begin to solve or even address the issues faced by homeless veterans in this country, it’s pretty moving to see one man finally get some of the care and attention he deserves.
Zack Hicks to oversee the firm’s mobility efforts, including digital product development.
Toyota Motor North America, a division of Toyota Motor Co., promoted Chief Information Officer Zack Hicks to run a new division focused on digital transformation and mobility.
Mr. Hicks, now the firm’s chief digital officer, began his new role Monday. He now oversees corporate IT as well as the firm’s mobility efforts, including business innovation and digital product development. Mr. Hicks reports to Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz.
The promotion is another example of a CIO taking on a greater leadership role as technology becomes the foundation for new business models. With more than 20 years of technology experience that’s included negotiating contracts with technology vendors and understanding the way those vendors structure deals, Mr. Hicks said he looks forward to increasing his focus on using technology to create new business opportunities.
Mr. Hicks remains CEO and president of Toyota Connected Inc., the data science and contextual data services company launched in 2016. He will keep the CIO role until a replacement is named, which is expected in the coming months.
Toyota continues to expand its traditional auto manufacturing business toincorporate new digital services that improve the in-car experience. It also is expanding its footprint in ridesharing and autonomous cars.
Mr. Hicks said he hopes to create a data-driven, contextual experience that doesn’t require users to open a number of apps. “We want to blur the lines, and bring to you through a digital assistant a better experience inside the car,” he said. In January, the company said it would introduce Amazon.com Inc.’s Alexa voice assistant to select Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
For example, a driver could tell a digital assistant inside the vehicle that he or she is hungry. The car, knowing where the traveler is going, could then suggest preferred restaurants along the route. It could make a reservation based on the number of seat belts that are buckled in, and pre-pay for parking if needed. Technology could also allow a driver’s preferred radio stations or frequent destinations, among other information, to follow them as they move from vehicle to vehicle.
In corporate IT, Toyota continues to adopt more agile and DevOps practices, and is looking to embrace more robotic process automation, among other projects.
Fighting for environmental issues in a country like Malta can be a lonely and frustrating job. Inevitably, one comes up against powerful lobby groups with considerable vested interests… and experience strongly suggests that when push comes to shove, Maltese governments will nearly always cave in to such pressures, no matter the environmental cost.
The results can be appreciated just by a cursory glance at Malta’s ever dwindling open spaces. In 2006, the former [Nationalist] government took the decision to increase the development zone by 16.6%... sacrificing an area roughly the size of Siggiewi to a spate of construction that has been ongoing ever since.
And since winning the 2013 election, the present [Labour] administration seems to have gone into development overdrive: among other things, it has embarked on a ‘reform’ of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) which has effectively weakened existing restrictions on ODZ development… not to mention the more recent proposal of a scheme whereby illegal developments will be retroactively ‘sanctioned’ against payment of a fine to MEPA itself.
At all points, it seems that the structures we have built up over the years for the protection of the environment are now being thoroughly dismantled. We can hardly claim to be surprised, therefore, by the recent announcement that the government intends to develop a university campus on 100,000 square metres of arable ODZ land at Zonqor Point. For all the public outcry, this proposal would appear to be the fruition of an official strategy aimed at facilitating development at all costs, to the detriment of what little remains of Malta’s unspoilt countryside.
Yet for all this, the environmentalist lobby has also registered a number of significant victories in the past. Controversial proposals such as a golf course at Manikata in 2005 – which seemed unstoppable at the time, given that the suggestion had come from none other than Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi himself – had to be shelved following intense popular resistance. In that particular case, not only did the golf course fail to materialise, but the area eventually became a national park instead.
This in turn suggests that governments can and sometimes do listen to critical voices within the environmentalist lobby. Is there a chance, therefore, that history might repeat itself in the case of the Zonqor development? Can a government that seems totally deaf to environmental concerns be made to listen?
And – more pertinently – is the environmentalist lobby shouting loud enough to be heard?
Edward Mallia, a retired astrophysicist and former headmaster, is perhaps ideally positioned to answer such questions: having been at the forefront of all Malta’s major environmental battles, past and present.
Today is no exception. When I meet him at his Attard home for this interview, he had only just returned from a ‘consultation meeting’ with government representatives over the proposed Zonqor university.
Mallia does not disguise his scepticism regarding the ‘consultation’ that was meant to take place. Even the timing of this meeting suggests that it couldn’t possibly have had any impact on a decision that was clearly already taken. And just to underscore that what we are dealing with is effectively a ‘fait accompli’, it also transpired that the area earmarked for development was chosen by none other than the CEO of MEPA, Johann Buttigieg.
Doesn’t this also mean that MEPA is in breach of its own policies?
Buttigieg, it turns out, was also present for the meeting, and Mallia argues that his contribution seemed to confirm this perception beyond any reasonable doubt.
In this respect, the Zonqor Point controversy seems to reflect a pattern we have long come to associate with large-scale development projects. On the pretext of attracting foreign (or even local, for that matter) investment, successive governments always seem only too willing to break their own laws. The underlying motif appears to be that anything can be justified, so long as it helps to ‘motor the economy’.
And taking the same argument to its logical conclusion, it follows that people who oppose such projects in the name of the environment can (and will) be portrayed as ‘economic saboteurs’.
How does an environmentalist like Edward Mallia counter such arguments? Do the economic merits of the construction industry really outweigh environmental concerns? And if so, aren’t environmentalists fighting a losing battle?
Mallia argues that the perception of the construction industry as ‘vital’ to the economy is misplaced and misleading.
He places heavy emphasis on the word ‘less’... stressing that the value of property in Malta is actually on the decline. And Mallia adds that this is only one of the factors that undermines the traditional perception of construction as a necessary catalyst for economic growth.
Taken together, these considerations will in time further devalue the properties we build today. Then there is the logistical impact of large projects on urban areas which may not be able to support the necessary infrastructure.
Our addiction to construction, he seems to be suggesting, has forced Malta into a vicious circle. More projects entail further strain on the infrastructure, with pejorative effects on traffic, air pollution, noise pollution, and ultimately the quality of life as a whole.
At this point I cannot help detecting a note of defeatism in his outlook. Surely there are some respects in which the state of the environment has improved in recent years?
The flipside, he adds, is that the EU has not always been the environmentalist’s dream source of information.
Could it also be, however, that the environmentalist lobby itself is also gradually dispersing or weakening? Consider, for instance, the large-scale protests over environmental issues some 10 or 15 years ago: against the proposed golf courses in Manikata and (even earlier) Verdala. Or the massive outcry against the ODZ extension in 2006, for that matter. All this seems to have faded somewhat into the distance since the change in government in 2013. There just doesn’t seem to be the same level of commitment to environmental issues today. Couldn’t it be argued, then, that environmentalist lobbies have simply given up?
Mallia nods almost wearily, as if to suggest that he has heard this line of reasoning before.
Mallia however asserts that this view does not take into consideration the enormity of the political pressure that was brought to bear on the campaign.
He also doubts whether commitment to environmentalist issues can accurately be measured by mass demonstrations alone.

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.