Sting Surprises Guests At Freedom Award Dinner
The International Rescue Committee hosted its annual Freedom Award Dinner last week, raising more than $4.5 million to support the organization’s lifesaving humanitarian aid work around the world.Sting joined IRC President and CEO David Miliband on stage to honor humanitarian aid workers across the worldCredit/Copyright: Getty Images via Slate PRThis year’s event, which took place at the historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, honored long-time IRC supporters Cliff and Laurel Asness and Ken and Vickie French with the Humanitarian Leadership Award.IRC President and CEO David Miliband helped kick-off the evening with Opera Sensation and IRC Voice Danielle de Niese. De Niese performed breathtaking renditions of “O Mio Babbino Caro” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”Refugees Najwan Alani and Boubacar Barry shared their stories about coming to the United States as refugees and how the IRC’s work has helped them build a home in America. CBS Evening News anchor, Scott Pelley, and Wendy Taeuber, IRC County Director in the South Sudan, also spoke about the IRC’s life-changing work around the world – highlighting that there are more refugees than ever before, making the IRC’s work even more vital and necessary.Additional supporters in attendance included Mikhail Baryshnikov and IRC Voices Piper Perabo and Nykhor Paul.To round out the evening, Miliband took the stage to announce that the IRC has been named the first, official charity partner of the Times Square Alliance for New Year’s Eve. He then welcomed surprise guest, Sting, who was set to perform but could not, as he was under the weather.“What David asked me to do tonight I cannot do, as you can hear from the sound of my speaking voice,” Sting commented as he took to the stage. Instead of his planned performance of “Message in a Bottle,” the music sensation expressed his great admiration for how the IRC is utilizing the power of community to carry out their mission.“What I heard tonight were people from all over the world telling stories,” he said. “Storytelling and listening to stories is the basis of community, and the basis of everything is community.”Sting then joined Miliband in announcing the names of the IRC Executive Directors, Country Directors and other humanitarian aid workers who were in the audience at the event to stand up and be recognized for their hard work and dedication.“Who better to applaud the rock stars that I admire every day for their courage inspiration than a real rock star?” Miliband said with a smile.The Co-Chairs for this year’s Freedom Award Dinner are Maurice R. Greenberg, Starr International Foundation/The Starr Foundation, Ruth & David Levine, Gillian M. Shepherd, Eduardo G. Mestre, Kathleen and Omar Saeed and Catherine and Tracy Wolstencroft. Vice Chairs include The Partners of AQR Capital, Paul E. Singer Foundation, Katherine Farley, Jerry I. Speyer, Marie and Joseph Field, Evan G. Greenberg, ACE Group, Judy and Josh Weston, Maureen White, and Steven Rattner.
The world is transitioning into a new era; a world no longer dependent on fossil fuels. Last week, Pathway to Paris and Care2 launched the 1000 Cities initiative, a bold mission to meet and go beyond the targets of the Paris Agreement.The initiative invites all cities of the world to transition off of fossil fuels and move to 100% renewable energy by 2040, in order to turn the Paris Agreement into reality. Click here to take action. Every signature will automatically send an email letter to the governing body of the the signer’s city, urging them to join this crucial cause.“Pathway to Paris is more than a name – it’s an ideal,” said Rebecca Foon. “Cities have a remarkable and necessary part to play in moving us towards achieving, and possibly even surpassing, the goals of the Paris Agreement.”Jesse Paris Smith added: “The climate movement is in urgent need of massive global collaboration – it requires the involvement of all cities of the world, all citizens. We all need to join together to make this movement the most ambitious collaboration of our century.”“Care2 is thrilled to join Pathway to Paris in launching this important global initiative,” said Randy Paynter Founder & CEO of Care2. “If we are able to get 1000 cities to join the cause we will be able to fulfill the vision of the Paris agreement and bypass our current administration and other climate deniers who stand in the way.”To accompany the petition, Pathway to Paris has shared a video including figures like Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston, Tony Hawk, Patti Smith, Michael Stipe, Flea, Dr. Vandana Shiva, and Olafur Eliasson, urging citizens of the world to sign on to the campaign and push to shift our cities to 100% renewable energy.Video: Pathway to Paris : 1000 Cities CampaignThe launch of 1000 Cities will be one of the focuses of Pathway to Paris’ upcoming concert for climate action, being held at Carnegie Hall on November 5 in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and 350.org. The evening is set to advance the important work turning the Paris Agreement into action by bringing together internationally-recognized musicians and speakers – such as Patti Smith, Joan Baez, Bill McKibben, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Achim Steiner, Olafur Eliasson, Tanya Tagaq, Flea, Talib Kweli, Cat Power, Michael Stipe, Tenzin Choegyal, and Pathway to Parisfounders Rebecca Foon and Jesse Paris Smith – for a night of incredible performances and speeches.Joan Baez says, “Mother Nature has grown weary of our selfish disregard for all she tries to offer and she is angry. I fear for the earth my grandchild will inherit, as I can’t imagine her life will be anything approaching the hopes we have for her and the shining dreams she may have for herself. We won’t know if it’s too late for radical action to keep this globe inhabitable unless we try it. I’m pleased to be a part of this evening’s wake-up call to all people who cherish the sound of a meadowlark and who are willing to fight for its right to sing.”Olafur Eliasson adds, “today we have to respond to our present situation, where natural resources are no longer abundant. We need to raise awareness and initiate an urgent discussion about our future. Art, I believe, has great potential for changing the way we discuss an issue as important as climate change. It makes something not only comprehensible for the mind but also physically tangible – turning thinking into doing.”Tickets for the November 5 concert are on sale now and can be purchased by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website.
Source: Ilan Kolet/Twitter Bacopalypse now. Bacon price sizzles higher @bySamRo @tomkeene @TheStalwart @darlin @boes_ @DanielMossDC pic.twitter.com/GnxHJiVl4m— Ilan Kolet (@datanrd) July 18, 2014 Bacon prices have been significantly increasing because of supply issues. In June, there was a breakout of a pig virus which led to the killing of millions of baby pigs.This porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has hit herds badly.However, in Ireland, we’re currently okay.Pat O’Flaherty, chair of the Irish Farmers Association’s pigs committee, told TheJournal.ie that PEDV hasn’t made its way to our shores yet, but that farmers must remain vigilant.“We believe Ireland is the healthiest country in terms of pigs, mainly because we’re an island nation,” he explained.There are huge concerns about PEDV, mainly because it’s unclear how it spreads and whether it could reach Ireland through something like imported food, but Irish farmers are very strict on biosecurity. CANADA IS CURRENTLY in the grip of what is known as the Bacopalypse.Prices have sky-rocketed over the past couple of months, with the most recent consumer price index (CPI) revealing a 5.8% month-on-month increase, and 26% year-over-year.That’s slightly down from the 9.3% increase recorded in May.This is seemingly down to a virus, as Elena Holodny at Business Insider reports: Consumer Price Index figures for Pork from Canada also show a sharp increase, but here in Ireland, the price has dropped every so slightly in the same period (our own CSO dropped bacon from the CPI some years ago, so a direct comparison to bacon isn’t possible).O’Flaherty noted that we have a relatively stable market in terms of the price of pork in shops, but that it can vary “week to week, or even day to day” for farmers.“This is sometimes the gripe of the producers. We’re wondering why we take the hit when prices in the shop can remain stable.”So there’s no need to stockpile rashers, there’s no need to run out and start hoarding pigs – Ireland’s pork is safe for now.This will put you off rashers: Her owners thought she was a micro-pig… but Esther’s now 240kg and has raised $400k >The Burning Question*: Can a breakfast roll be eaten after breakfast time?
[Parallel to the austerity crisis, Greece has had to deal with an important wave, influx of humanitarian refugees and migrants that come from countries that are either in a state of war and/or violate human rights. During these last 2 years most of the government’s efforts were targeted towards ensuring their settlement. It is presumed that in the next few years, the government’s efforts and policies will be more directed towards their social, cultural and political inclusion.] As language policy academic, what steps should the Greek governments take in order to support the integration of young immigrant children and their parents’ needs for the labor market? Facebook Twitter: @NeosKosmos Instagram It is important for families to speak their language at home – it is a bridge between generations, and a second language helps children in so many ways. Parents’ mother tongue should be seen as a gift to pass on to children – in addition to English everyone learns in Australia. We also know that different generations (e.g. grandparents and grandchildren) develop stronger bonds when communicating in Greek. What happens when the Greek-speaking yayá can’t speak to her grandchildren and they can’t speak back to her?But there are other benefits. Learning how to read and write in Greek for instance can help children with their reading and writing in English. Once you have learnt how to use an alphabet (even if it’s a different one), you know the mechanics of reading and writing. It’s easy then to learn the English alphabet, and transfer those skills. In addition, Greek also has a more consistent spelling system than English – this means that students can move to read more quickly than in English, as they don’t get stuck on spelling confusions, like the ‘gh’ sound in the English language which is pronounced differently in the words ‘cough’ and ‘through’. This is a hard question as there are many challenges. But any techniques we use to generate interest should be positive. It should not be seen as an obligation but as something engaging and valuable. Students have lots of options they can choose from at school. Students are often discouraged, especially at higher year levels, because they are often told they may be penalised in scoring for doing a language (including Greek) at VCE. Some universities have responded by offering a small bonus to entry marks for languages. An immersion experience in Greece is also helpful – in strengthening bonds with Greece and improving language skills, and showing young Greek Australians that Greek is not just something used in the family to communicate with relatives. If they are free to explore Greece and use Greek in everyday situations, they can easily see how valuable it is. Nationally we know there is a challenge. Federal politicians have talked about this for some time, noting how today only 12 per cent of Year 12 students undertake language study when in the 1960s it was 40 per cent. The figures you refer to are based on Victorian government reporting. As a result of this decline the Victorian Department of Education and Training in recent times has tried to reverse this trend and most schools now teach a language. One challenge that remains is how much time children spend actually learning a language in class every week. The current Victorian recommendation is 150 minutes of class time per week – but many schools – especially in the primary sector – offer much less e.g. one 50 minute lesson. The Italian community decided to open Italian language teaching to everyone – which means beginners level Italian for everyone – including children of Italian descent who might speak Italian already. In a 2015 study, we compared patterns of language education and maintenance in the Italian and Greek communities. We noted that while the Italian-speaking community in Victoria is traditionally bigger than the Greek one, the numbers of young speakers (0-14 years) of Greek is much greater. [In 1903, the Prime Minister Alfred Deakin defended the “White Australia Policy”. Between the 1960s – 1970s new migrants were expected to assimilate into Australian society and leave their languages and cultures behind. In the late 1970s there was some consideration about the role of “migrant” languages in schools and some support around the notion that migrants’ languages could be included in the curriculum, while Australia started the discourse around “languages other than English versus (LOTE) ‘community languages’”.] How is the discourse around language learning framed in Australia today? Languages face many challenges in terms of enrolments and students’ motivation to undertake language classes in Year 12. In the La Trobe conference, you mentioned some initiatives that can motivate students. What techniques can be used to persuade students to attend language classes?
In Australia, in the 1950s and 1960s, migrants were encouraged to lose their languages as soon as possible. Eventually, we learnt that there was no need to force children to give up their mother tongue (otherwise we wouldn’t have Greek-speaking children in Melbourne today!). People are capable of speaking more than one language and being very successful in life and contributing to the new society they live in. So our governments started encouraging the establishment of afterhours language schools) – which are still an important feature of the Greek community in Australia. These schools maintain family links but also support integration into the new country as they learn English during the day in a mainstream school. Bilingual Greek Australians are very lucky as a result. Greek Australians are well integrated and links with Greece are maintained at the same time – something Greece sees as very important. Obviously, governments should also provide adequate language teaching to arriving adults and children in English if coming to Australia. In Greece, governments should continue offering adequate language teaching in the Greek language for people arriving to Greece. People need the necessary language skills to integrate into work, school and society.[Today, we are witnessing a phenomenon of xenophobia, violation of human rights, unequal access. In Europe, the rise of extreme populist right movements is alarming. At the same time, we are observing that many European states are emphasising the need for language and cultural requirements to acquire citizenship. Australia’s most legislation on citizenship made it more difficult to obtain citizenship by toughening the language requirements. This, trend has led to discussions about the end of multiculturalism and the beginning of a new era of assimilation policies.] How do you feel about Australia’s decision to toughen the language requirements for obtaining a citizenship and the conversation around assimilation policies? Of course we want everyone to speak English in Australia – this makes it easier for people to find work, and to talk to each other etc. It doesn’t mean they have to give up their languages. If that were the case we wouldn’t have the large Greek-speaking community which has contributed so much to Australia in the past and continues to do so today. If governments want to test people’s knowledge of language, they should make sure they test what is appropriate for working in day to day life, e.g. language skills for getting a normal job, not writing academic books.Notes: Professor John Hajek is a Professor of Italian and a linguist in the School of Languages and Linguistics. He has held research fellowships in the UK and Australia and is currently the director of RUMACCC (Research Unit for Multilingualism and Cross-cultural Communication) and the first president of LCNAU (Languages and Cultures Network for Australian Universities). In 2016, Professor Hajek was the keynote speaker in the 13th Biennial Conference of Modern Greek Studies that was organised by the Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand. Μaria Filio Tridimas is a sociologist. Immigration policies, inclusion and migrant education are some of her main interests. She has studied Human Rights, European Studies and International Relations and Educational Policy at the University of Warwick (UK) and University of Athens (Greece). She is responsible for the design and coordination of the educational initiative “Melbourne – Athens: A Journey of Friendship” that was implemented by the Greek Community of Melbourne’s Language and Culture Schools in collaboration with the Hellenic American Educational Foundation (HAEF) (Psychico College). She has worked as a sociology teacher and as a project coordinator in initiatives funded by the European Union, on disability education and inclusion. [In one of your papers, you mention that in “Australia there are more than 120 languages been taught in some kind of educational program. You also mention that in Victoria, Australia, in 2011, over 60 languages were studied in formal educational contexts, although over 80 per cent of students undertaking language study learnt Italian, Japanese, Indonesian, French or Chinese”. However you have repeatedly referred to the “Anglobubble” and persistence of a monolingual culture]. Could you tell me more about Australia’s current mentality around language learning, considering the country’s “Anglobubble” and monolingual culture”. It is true, that language programs in secondary schools have fallen by 10.1 per cent, between 2002 and 2011, and enrolments have declined with this? We looked at the history of language education – especially of Greek and Italian – in Victoria. The Greek community has made greater efforts to educate Greek-heritage children specifically, especially through community language schools – in order to support language maintenance. The Greek government has supported this activity with considerable resourcing in the past, e.g. materials, and teachers. There is national agreement among federal and state governments in Australia that language learning is one of eight so called key learning areas that all children should have exposure to – alongside English, mathematics and other subjects. This was established in 2008 with the Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians. However, what that means in practice is different thing. The age at which children start learning a language and how many hours of language education they should have is not fixed nationally. States can make their own policies. Victoria probably has the strongest system – all children are expected to learn a language from the start of primary school to year 10 by 2025. In the last few years, the conversation around asylum seekers, migrants and their language needs have escalated, with recent Australian legislative initiatives around citizenship that have toughened language requirements. For newly arrived Greek migrants and their children, one of the biggest obstacles to feeling included into the Australian society is language proficiency. Linguist Professor John Hajek shared his advice on how migrants and their children can adapt to bilingual environments and spoke openly about Australian’s language policy and its key challenges. He also discussed the ways Greek governments can address the linguistic needs of the asylum seekers that have been reaching the country’s shores in the last few years, by analysing the Australian experience. [In the lecture organised by LaTrobe University you mentioned that the “success of intergenerational language transmission differs significantly across language groups”. You also mentioned that the Greek community has been more successful than the Italian one in maintaining local intergenerational language transmission]. Can you elaborate? How successful has the Greek community been in maintaining local intergenerational language transmission? In the last seven- eight years, Greece has been experiencing one of its most difficult moments due to a severe austerity crisis. As a result, a large number of Greeks have migrated to Australia in search of a better future. Many Greek parents choose to take their children to Greek schools in order to maintain the identity of their country of origin, but we know that some of these children often struggle with their English. What advice can you give to parents regarding children’s language adaptations to bilingual environments? 
Thon rouge : la France en faveur d’une interdiction, mais seulement dans 18 moisFrance – Après que l’Italie a annoncé être favorable à l’inscription du thon rouge en annexe I de la Convention de l’ONU sur le commerce des espèces menacées (Cites), la France a enfin fait connaître à son tour sa position. Le gouvernement se dit lui aussi en faveur de l’interdiction du commerce de l’espèce menacée, toutefois il souhaite qu’elle ne soit appliquée que dans un an et demi.”C’est une décision lourde (…) mais nécessaire” a déclaré le ministre de l’Écologie Jean-Louis Borloo lors d’une conférence de presse donnée avec le ministre de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche Bruno Le Maire.La France est donc favorable à l’interdiction du commerce du thon rouge mais un délai de 18 mois avant qu’elle ne soit effective a été arrêté afin que puissent être menées de nouvelles expertises scientifiques et qu’un plan de sortie des flottes de thoniers visant à réduire les capacités de pêche, soit élaboré.Menacé par la surpêche, le thon rouge pourrait, en mars prochain, être inscrit à l’annexe I de la Convention sur le commerce international des espèces de faune et de flore sauvages menacées d’extinction (Cites) lors d’une réunion à Doha. Cette inscription entraînerait une interdiction du commerce international de l’espèce.La décision de la France est bien sûr très mal accueillie par les pêcheurs qui menacent l’État d’une “grosse crise”. Exigeant “une réunion d’urgence avec le président de la République”, le président du Syndicat des thoniers méditerranéens Mourad Kahoul s’est dit “en état de choc” mais a assuré que “si on va à l’annexe I, les pêcheurs ne se laisseront pas mourir”.Le délai de 18 mois avant l’application de l’interdiction provoque quant à lui la colère des associations écologistes : Greenpeace déplore ainsi que le gouvernement ait “plié devant les pêcheurs”. Et de souligner que cette décision revient à “attendre qu’il n’y ait plus de thons rouges pour agir […] On nous dit en substance : sauvons l’espèce, mais pas tout de suite”.Le 3 février 2010 à 15:57 • Emmanuel Perrin
Microsoft casse les prix : des promotions sur Windows 7États-Unis – Durant cinq semaines, la firme de Mountain View propose à ses clients une promotion sur les packs Windows 7. Une première depuis sa création.Comme l’explique GNT, Bill Gates et sa compagnie proposent aux utilisateurs de Microsoft des promotions sur les différents packs Windows 7. Ainsi, comme on peut le constater sur le Microsoft Store, certains prix peuvent baisser de 60 €. Des rabais peu communs, qui ne sont pas très conformes à l’image de la firme. Aucune explication n’a été donnée quant à ces promotions. Mieux vaut donc en profiter plutôt que de chercher une raison quelconque à ce geste commercial, qui prendra fin le 14 mai prochain.La version professionnelle de Windows 7 est ainsi disponible aux alentours de 230 euros, contre 290 euros en temps ordinaire, et il faudra ajouter 10 euros de plus pour acquérir la version intégrale. Quant à l’édition familiale premium, son prix environne les 150 euros au lieu de 200 euros.Le 12 avril 2010 à 10:39 • Emmanuel Perrin
Easily Assign Tasks With Google AssistantGoogle Defends Letting Humans Listen to Virtual Assistant Queries Stay on target Walmart is bringing voice ordering to homes across the country.In an effort to advance its existing grocery pickup and delivery service, the retail giant teamed up with Google to launch new voice ordering capabilities.Beginning this month, Google Assistant users can ask the AI aide to “talk to Walmart” to add items directly to their virtual cart.“We’re helping customers simply say the word to have Walmart help them shop … literally,” Tom Ward, senior vice president of digital operations, said in a statement.The service is rolling out first to Google Assistant-enabled devices, including Google Home Hub, Android and iOS phones, and smart watches.Considering the voice assistant works with more than 10,000 smart home devices in nearly 80 countries and 30 languages, Google seems like a pretty good starting point.Walmart hopes to partner with more platforms in the future.“Best of all, customers can be extra confident that we can quickly and accurately identify the items they are asking for with the help of information from their prior purchases with us,” Ward explained. “The more you use it, the better we’ll get.”So, if you say “add milk to my cart,” Walmart’s algorithm will know to toss in the same formula you regularly buy.“We know when using voice technology, customers like to add items to their cart one at a time over a few days—not complete their shopping for the week all at once,” according to Ward. “So this capability aligns with the way customers shop.”Google recently updated its Assistant to include natural conversation, multiple voice settings, and more smart home compatibility.More on Geek.com:Google Assistant Now Books Reservations in 43 StatesMacaulay Culkin Is Home Alone Again With Google AssistantEven Walmart Wants to Make a Game Streaming Service Now
Related Items:#magneticmedianews, #turnquestonplpmoneytheftallegations Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsApp Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsAppBahamas, May 12, 2017 – Nassau – Tommy Turnquest, Former FNM leader and Former Minister of National Security, on Wednesday night, commented on FNM plans to pursue the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) following allegations of illegal behavior regarding money theft.He said, “The first thing that will happen is that there will be the access of the information. More importantly than just accessing the information, it has to be the dissemination to the public of that information so the public understands the gravity of the situation.”He added that “there’s no point in not keeping the people informed. The people want transparency in government, they want a responsible government so the FNM will provide that.”When asked if he believes that a simple investigation will occur, he responded, saying “it means identifying what the information is and going so far as to have a forensic investigation of the in formation.”“We live in a small country, so you have to be careful with how you do it. You can’t play favourites.”, he said.Bahamians are questioning where millions, even billions of earnings and allotments and donations have gone under the now ousted PLP Administration of Perry Christie. The question, ‘where da VAT money gone?’ has become a popular social media meme and national buzz phrase, but there are calls for serious answers to what happened to the near $2 billion in tax revenue earned from 2015 to now.#magneticmedianews#turnquestonplpmoneytheftallegations
As part of its debate on the 103 amendments to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, the House of Representatives concluded consideration of an amendment offered by Representative Bob Gibbs of Ohio that would set target prices for all crops at 55 percent of the five year rolling Olympic average. After the amendment was offered, House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas of Oklahoma requested that Rep. Gibbs withdraw his amendment with the promise that he will work with Rep. Gibbs in the conference committee to see enacted an “equitable and market-oriented farm bill”. Leaders from the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Sunflower Association and U.S. Canola Association released the following statement on the withdrawal of the Gibbs Amendment:“Our collective groups believe the Gibbs amendment would have received strong support on the House floor, and would have made the 2013 farm bill a better piece of legislation overall. As proponents of market-oriented farm policy, we are disappointed to see the amendment withdrawn and we thank Rep. Gibbs for his continued advocacy. We expect Chairman Lucas to respond to the farm policy concerns raised by the amendment during Conference on the farm bill, as he committed to do during his colloquy today with Rep. Gibbs. The final farm bill must be more equitable and market-oriented than the current Price Loss Coverage program in the House bill.”
Enlarge ImageBoeing’s Starliner prepares for acoustic testing. Boeing Space achievements rarely happen on time. The launch date for SpaceX’s Demo-1 mission of its Crew Dragon got pushed back repeatedly. Boeing’s Starliner is seeing a similar pattern. NASA announced on Wednesday that Boeing will target August for the first uncrewed Orbital Flight Test of the CST-100 Starliner. Boeing had previously looked at launching in March. That date was later pushed into April. A crewed mission is unlikely to happen until late 2019.Both SpaceX and Boeing are participating in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to bring astronaut launches back to US soil. Sci-Tech Now playing: Watch this: SpaceX: Watch Crew Dragon capsule dock at ISS for the… Elon Musk shows off the shiny SpaceX Starship Comments Boeing NASA Space SpaceX 16 Photos Tags
Share your voice NASA voiced a vote of confidence in the Starliner systems, saying the agency and Boeing have agreed to extend the duration of the eventual first crewed test flight to the ISS. “The extended duration test flight offers NASA the opportunity to complete additional microgravity research, maintenance, and other activities while the company’s Starliner is docked to station,” says NASA, though it hasn’t set the exact duration yet.The August Starliner launch date is still tentative. A number of factors influence NASA launch schedules, and the agency says the new timing is partly due to limited launch opportunities in April and May. The Starliner spacecraft is close to completion and is designed to be reusable up to 10 times. NASA replaces Boeing Starliner astronaut before first crewed launch Humans enter SpaceX Crew Dragon in space for the first time 2 SpaceX already successfully launched its Crew Dragon capsule to the ISS in March, minus any humans on board. That spacecraft is now being prepped for an in-flight abort test. NASA hasn’t yet set a solid date for a crewed SpaceX Demo-2 mission to the station. The space agency says it will take a fresh look at target launch dates over the next couple of weeks.The test flights are serious milestones for the Commercial Crew Program. NASA has been relying on rides on Roscosmos Soyuz spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the ISS. SpaceX and Boeing expect to bring that capability back to the US for the first time since the space shuttle program ended in 2011. 1:50 NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
Stories are posted on the APRN news page. You can subscribe to APRN’s newsfeeds via email, podcast and RSS. Follow us on Facebook at alaskapublic.org and on Twitter @AKPublicNewsListen nowTwo Utqiaġvik whaling crew members die in apparent whaling accidentRavenna Koenig, Alaska’s Energy Desk – FairbanksNorth Slope Borough Mayor Harry K. Brower Jr. said that the Borough is not releasing details about the incident until all the facts are gathered and all family members have been notified.Public safety persists as top issue for Y-K Delta tribesAnna Rose MacArthur. KYUK – BethelThis time last year, there were eight Village Public Safety Officers across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Now there are nine, and one more is undergoing a background check as part of the application process. The region contains 56 tribes, and many don’t have any law enforcement at all.Poll shows challenger closing in on Rep. YoungLiz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media – Washington D.C.A new poll suggests Alaska Congressman Don Young, the most senior member of Congress, may be in a tight race.Republican Governors Association plays dominant role in Alaska campaign funding Andrew Kitchenman, KTOO – JuneauThe Republican Governors Association has paid more than two and a half million to a group backing Dunleavy’s campaign for governor.ConocoPhillips heralds first oil at Alaska petroleum reserveAssociated PressConocoPhillips Alaska has reached a milestone at the first drill site on federal leases within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.Ask A Climatologist: How much would society have to adjust to curb climate change?Casey Grove, Alaska Public Media – AnchorageThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a special report that says, among other things, “limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.”How much can a city like Anchorage cut down on carbon?Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media – AnchorageOne place where there’s an effort to go greener is in Anchorage. The administration of mayor Ethan Berkowitz is moving forward on a new climate action plan, and simultaneously pursuing measures to reduce the city’s carbon emissions. The move comes at a time when cities and states are clashing with federal environmental policies, and developing their own climate initiatives.Kenai invocation policy ruled unconstitutionalAaron Bolton, KBBI – HomerAfter a roughly two-year court battle, a superior court judge ruled today that the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s invocation policy is unconstitutional.Anchorage School Board votes not to change school start timesWesley Early, Alaska Public Media – AnchorageOn Monday night, the Anchorage School Board voted against changing school start times for the district.NPFMC may impose regulations on Southeast and GOA rental boatsAaron Bolton, KBBI – HomerThe North Pacific Fishery Management Council, or NPFMC, took a step during its meeting Monday toward regulating unguided boats that anglers pay to use for halibut fishing.Beadnose 409 crowned as the 2018 Fat Bear Week championWesley Early, Alaska Public Media – AnchorageThere is a new champion, fattest bear in Katmai.
Amaravati: The AP government has issued orders to appoint Jakkampudi Raja as the new Kapu Corporation chairman. Raja will continue in the chairman post for the next two years. Raja is currently the YCP MLA from Rajanagaram in East Godavari district. Meanwhile, Jakkampudi Raja’s father Jakkampudi Rammohan is said to be one of the close associates of late CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy. Also Read – Three of a family commits suicide at Amalapuram in East Godavari Advertise With Us Many Kapu MLAs and other leaders also aspired for the chairman post. But, it was in the news from the beginning that the Kapu corporation chairman post would be given to Jakkampudi Raja. Earlier, it was also said that Raja would be taken into the Cabinet. But, it did not happen. In this context, CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to appoint Raja as the Kapu Corporation chairman. During the election campaign, YS Jagan has repeatedly said that he would allocate Rs 10,000 crore to the Kapu community for the next five years. In the recent AP Budget 2019-20, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for Kapu welfare.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland Senate confirmed the state’s lottery director Monday night, more than 21 months after Republican Gov. Larry Hogan appointed him.The Democrat-controlled Senate voted 27-17 to confirm Gordon Medenica.(Courtesy Image/Logo Twitter)Some senators expressed confidence in his experience during hearings on his appointment. He was the director of the New York Lottery form 2007 to 2012. And the Hogan administration cites a record $1.08 billion the lottery has raised for the state’s general fund, education and other causes under Medenica’s stewardship.Some senators, however, criticized the appointment. They raised questions about conflicts of interest, his commitment to minority business participation goals and a lack of transparency regarding answers to questions about his background.Critics focused on the lottery’s recommendation to award an eight-year $262 million contract for the lottery’s central monitoring and control system to a company that had the highest bid, instead of a minority-led firm whose bid was $50 million lower. They noted that Medenica had once worked for the winning bidder, Scientific Games International Inc. Medenica worked as a transitional CEO of Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group, which was partly owned by SGI. Critics also noted that a member of the evaluation committee that chose SGI had once worked for the company.Supporters of Medenica’s appointment have noted that it’s a narrow industry with a fairly small number of experts.“The seven-member evaluation committee received bids from the only three companies in the world that are qualified to fulfill the contract. This committee, which did not include Director Medenica, was required to select the bidder that represents the ‘best value’ to the state,” the lottery said last week in a statement. “This does not mean simply accepting the lowest bid; it means selecting the vendor that will perform at the highest level for the state. It was made clear in all communications to potential bidders that technical factors outweigh price, as is the case in the majority of lottery procurements across the country.”Sen. C. Anthony Muse, D-Prince George’s, noted that the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland has opposed his appointment. Muse said he could not get adequate answers about the contract, receiving only generalizations for answers to specific questions with nothing to back them up.“In this day when you see these broad unverified statements in an effort to not be transparent, you have to — at least I do — ask myself what are the facts, and I asked for the facts. I was stonewalled at every request, and that should give us all concern,” Muse said. “It should have been an easy process to get these answers.”Medenica, while being questioned by Sen. Joan Conway, D-Baltimore, at a Jan. 30 hearing, noted that the lottery raised the minority business participation requirement in the contract from 15 percent to 20 percent. He also said the lottery extended the deadline for bids by two months to give potential bidders sufficient time to raise the level of minority participation.But Del. Cheryl Glenn, who chairs the Black Caucus, wrote in a letter last month that the goal was only raised to 20 percent “after caucus members objected.” In her letter, Glenn also noted that minorities are responsible for 55 to 70 percent of all traditional lottery sales in the state.The issue of minority business enterprise participation also has been raised in Maryland’s developing medical marijuana industry. Glenn also has criticized Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Commission for its selection of 15 finalists to grow marijuana, because the chosen companies lacked minority ownership.
×Actors Reveal Their Favorite Disney PrincessesSeveral actors, like Daisy Ridley, Awkwafina, Jeff Goldblum and Gina Rodriguez, reveal their favorite Disney princesses. Rapunzel, Mulan, Ariel,Tiana, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine all got some love from the Disney stars.More VideosVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcutsplay/pauseincrease volumedecrease volumeseek forwardsseek backwardstoggle captionstoggle fullscreenmute/unmuteseek to %SPACE↑↓→←cfm0-9Next UpJennifer Lopez Shares How She Became a Mogul04:350.5x1x1.25×1.5x2xLive00:0002:1502:15 Comcast Ventures-backed virtual reality startup Spaces is getting ready to open its second California location in San Jose next month: The company has teamed up with Cinemark to open a new VR center at the Century 20 Oakridge and XD theatre in San Jose on February 8.The new Cinemark Spaces center will open with “Fight for the Future,” a multiplayer VR experience based on the “Terminator Salvation” movie. Groups of up to 4 players will enter a virtual world where they can join the resistance to fight Skynet together.This is being made possible by a combination of VR headsets and computer backpacks, which allow participants to freely roam on a stage with physical props. Tickets for the new San Jose location are on sale effective immediately, with prices ranging from $20 to $30 per participant.“Cinemark is constantly innovating and providing new experiences for our guests; we love taking entertainment and moviegoing to the next level,” said Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradiin a statement. “Cinemark is excited to partner with Spaces to provide our Bay Area guests with a fun, immersive, mixed-reality adventure.” Spaces was founded in 2016, and has raised more than $10 million from investors including Comcast Ventures, Songcheng Performance Co., Match VC, Boost VC, Canyon Creek Capital and others. The company launched its first VR center in Irvine, Calif. last August.This isn’t the first time that Cinemark has been dabbling in VR as a way to enhance its theater experience. The 6,014-screen exhibitor has also been operating a The Void VR center at its West Plano, Texas location.
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