Which city in Russia hosted the XXII Olympic Winter Games?

Sochi Open presented by VTB Swiss Sochi success story Beach Volleyball - Sochi, Russia, May 6, 2016 - With all the pre-tournament talk about a possible Argentina versus Russia confrontation as women’s pairs from the two countries compete for the last spot via the FIVB World Tour for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the “real” match was between Beach Volleyball tandems from China and Switzerland that are also on the “bubble” ... Read full news FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour returning to Sochi, Russia for FIVB Open Returning to Russia for the 12th consecutive year, the 2015/2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour will have two events in the country, starting with the double-gender FIVB Sochi Open presented by VTB, to be held in Sochi on May 3-8. The event in Sochi will be the 18th FIVB men’s event and the 16th time a FIVB women’s tournament will be held in Russia. A total of 32 previous FIVB World Tour events have been staged in Russia. Besides Sochi, the other Russian cities that have hosted a FIVB World Tour event are Anapa, Moscow and St. Petersburg. This year’s FIVB Moscow Grand Slam will be held May 24-29. The first men’s FIVB World Tour event was played February 17-22, 1987 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil while the first women’s FIVB World Tour event in Brazil was played in 1993 in Rio de Janeiro. The women’s FIVB World Tour held its first tournament in Spain in 1992. The 2015/2016 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour calendar began with three Open events at the end of 2015. The remainder of the 2015/2016 calendar will include multiple FIVB Open and multiple FIVB Grand Slam events along with more Swatch FIVB Major Series events, and the second Swatch FIVB World Tour Finals.  The highlight of the calendar will be the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil featuring 24 teams in each gender. Through 2015, Russia has hosted a total of 32 FIVB World Tour events (17 men, 15 women) with Brazil leading the medal count in both genders. In the men’s totals after 17 events, Brazil has 15 medals, followed by Germany and the USA with seven each, Russia with five, Latvia and Switzerland with three each and China , Netherlands and Spain with two each. With one men’s medal in Russia are Argentina, Italy, Norway, Poland and Portugal. After 15 FIVB World Tour women’s events held in Russia through the 2015 season, Brazil leads the medal parade with 15 total medals followed by the USA with nine, China with six, Germany and Russia with four each. Italy, Netherlands and Switzerland have two each and Spain has one medal. The men’s championship team of the 2015 FIVB Sochi Open was Latvia’s Aleksandrs Samoilovs/Janis Smedins while winning the 2015 women’s gold medal in Sochi was Italy’s Marta Menegatti/Viktoria Orsi Toth. Sochi is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, located on the Black Sea coast near the border between Georgia and Russia. The Greater Sochi area, which includes territories and localities subordinated to Sochi proper, has a total area of 3,526 square kilometers (1,361 sq mi) and sprawls for 145 kilometers (90 mi) along the shores of the Black Sea near the Caucasus Mountains. According to the 2010 Census, the city had a permanent population of 343,334 making it Russia's largest resort city. Being part of the Caucasian Riviera, it is one of the very few places in Russia with a temperate climate, with warm to hot summers and mild winters. With the alpine and Nordic events held at the nearby ski resort of Roza Khutor, Sochi hosted the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014, as well as the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2014 until at least 2020. It will also be one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The event continues the road to Rio that lasts until June 13, 2016 with FIVB World Tour events counting towards the Olympic Ranking in order to determine the 15 of 24 spots for each gender that will take part in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The 2016 FIVB World Ranking system will again include FIVB Beach Volleyball Grand Slam and Open events along with additional pre-approved events at the inter-continental, continental and national levels. Impleme


Name the Rolling Stones' saxophonist and session player who died in 2014?

Bobby Keys Dead: Rolling Stones Saxophonist Dies at 70 - Rolling Stone Bobby Keys: The Lost Rolling Stone Interview The legendary saxophonist shares his favorite memories from a career spent playing with John Lennon, Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones "If you believe in the magic of rock & roll, which I devoutly do, it isn't in the individual," Keys told Rolling Stone in 2012. "I’ve played in bands with A-team players around, but unless they can play together, it doesn’t do any good." "The Rolling Stones are devastated by the loss of their very dear friend and legendary saxophone player, Bobby Keys," the band said in a statement. "Bobby made a unique musical contribution to the band since the 1960s. He will be greatly missed." “I have lost the largest pal in the world and I can't express the sense of sadness I feel, although Bobby would tell me to cheer up," Stones guitarist Keith Richards said in a statement. "My condolences to all that knew him and his love of music.” Keys was born in Slaton, Texas, where he discovered the powerful sound of bandleader King Curtis. "He approached his [sax] solos differently than your jazz cats – most of 'em were pretty snooty jazzberries who thought rock & roll was just a waste of time. But King Curtis, he played sax the way a guitar plays, like James Burton would play a lead on a song. It was how he played and how he attacked the notes and his phrasing that was different than the normal." In Lubbock, Keys befriended Buddy Holly, playing with him briefly as a teenager. "I kind of weaseled my way into the perimeter of the garage," recalled Keys. "He was the first guy I heard play electric guitar and it impressed the hell out of me." By the early Sixties, a teenage Keys was backing pop star Bobby Vee, hitting the road on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tour. "Rolling down the highway with Little Anthony and Little Eva and Major Lance and Billy Stewart and Freddy Canon. It was really cool. I was still a teenager. We played armories and gymnasiums and things like that. It was great training." He first crossed paths with the Rolling Stones   in 1964 at the San Antonio Teen Fair. He was skeptical of the English rockers, but said, "I went out and listened to them and there was some actual rock & roll going on there, in my humble opinion." "You got to realize that the vision, the image, according to 1964 US Rock and roll standards, was mohair suit and tie, and nicey-nicey ol' boy next door," Keys said in Richards' autobiography Life. "And all of a sudden hear comes this truckload of English jackflies singing a Buddy Holly song! Damn! I couldn't really hear all that well, amplifiers and PAs being what they were, but man I felt it…it reminded me so much of the energy I heard from Buddy and I heard from Elvis. There was something in there that was the real deal." Keys reconnected with Mick Jagger at a Delaney and Bonnie session in the late Sixties. He backed them on some of the band's most iconic albums, including Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. His most famous studio moment — 1971's "Brown Sugar" — was originally supposed to be a guitar solo, but in a spontaneous moment, Jagger and producer Jimmy Miller suggested they add saxophone. "It was the first take – I just really shut my eyes and play," said Keys. "I listen subliminally. I play more rhythmically than I do a lot of notes. I pull a lot of the stuff that I play off the rhythm tracks – and Keith Richards has been one of the main contributors to my inspirational playing." Born on the same day as Richards, the two became fast friends. Keys became Richards' late night partner and accomplice in offstage antics, once throwing a television out of a hotel balcony in 1972. But his wild ways became even too wild for the Stones. On their 1973 European tour, he missed a commitment and Richards found him in his bathtub full of Dom Perignon. "He’s got a cigar, bathtub full of champagne and this French chick with him," Richards recalled in Life. "And he said, 'Fuck off'." Related


The mysteriously lost Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014 was bound from Kuala Lumpur to where?

Map: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 View satellite images » How far could it have gone? Flight 370 was fueled for a trip to Beijing. Based on fuel estimates, the aircraft could have flown an additional 2,500 miles after the point of last contact. Malaysian authorities said March 13 they believe several "pings" of data from the airliner's service data system, known as ACARS, transmitted to satellites in the four to five hours after the last transponder signal, a senior U.S. official told CNN. This information, combined with known radar data and knowledge of fuel range leads officials to believe the plane may have made it to the Indian Ocean. Lost contact, apparent course change Around 1:30 a.m. on March 8, air traffic controllers in Subang, outside Kuala Lumpur, lost contact with the Boeing 777-200ER over the sea between Malaysia and Vietnam. The plane's transponder, which identifies the aircraft and relays details like altitude and speed to controllers, stopped transmitting. A senior Malaysian air force official on Tuesday, March 11 said the flight was hundreds of miles off course and traveling in the opposite direction from its original destination. It was last tracked over over Pulau Perak, a tiny island in the Strait of Malacca at about 2:40 a.m., over an hour after air traffic controllers in Subang lost contact with the aircraft. At a news briefing the next day, however, Gen. Rodzali Daud, head of the Malaysian Air Force, and other officials said it isn't yet clear whether the object that showed up on military radar flying over the sea northwest of the Malaysian coast early Saturday was the missing plane. Thailand's military was receiving normal flight path and communication data from the Flight 370 until 1:22 a.m., when it disappeared from its radar, the Thai government announced on Tuesday, March 18. Six minutes later, the Thai military detected an unknown signal, a Royal Thai Air Force spokesman told CNN. This unknown aircraft, possibly Flight 370, was heading the opposite direction. This bolsters the belief that missing Flight 370 took a sharp westward turn after communication was lost. The initial search areas Several planes, ships and search crews from 14 countries initially began scouring the South China Sea near where the plane was last detected. After debris in the area and an oil slick turn out to be unrelated to the plane, the search area is expanded to include the waters west of Malaysia. China's State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense release satellite photos of possible wreckage, but later announce that the release was a mistake, and the debris in the photos was unrelated to Flight 370. The expanded search area The map to the left, based on a handout from the Malaysia Prime Minister's office, highlights an expanded focused search area. While official contact was lost with Flight 370 about 45 minutes after takeoff, officials believe a combination of military radar data and a satellite-based system called ACARS provide hints regarding the path of the plane. Though no actual data was transmitted via satellite, it still appears to have made contact through hourly 'handshakes,' the last instance being at 8:11 a.m. local time somewhere along the red lines. Further analysis of the satellite data has since shifted focus to the southern red arc. Sources: Malaysia Civil Aviation Authority, Malaysia Prime Minister's office, CNN, flightradar24.com, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Google Maps


Charity executives Justin Forsyth and Jonathan Powell attracted 'crony' jibes when their organization gave a controversial 'global legacy award' to whom, their previous boss?

CP January 2015 online by CityPages Kuwait - issuu issuu 61 JANUARY 2015 issuu.com/citypageskuwait Scan this QR code with your smart phone /tablet and enjoy reading CityPages. To read it on your computer, simply visit the web link above. Designing fur for chic, trendy and modern women pinterest.com/citypagesmag Scan this QR code with your smart phone /tablet and enjoy reading and sharing slective pages from this issue of CityPages. To read it on your computer, simply visit the web link above. LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻟﺘﺤﺪﻳﺪ ﺍﻟﻠﺤﻴﺔ ﻓﻘﻂ ﺑـــ 20 ﺩ.ﻙ *ﻻ ﻳﺸﻤﻞ اﻟﺮﻗﺒﺔ ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﺸﻌﺮ contents ISSUE 61, VOLUME 5, JANUARY 2015 100 36 122 BEAUTY 28. Intersection 30. Black And White 32. Parenting Tips For 2015 34. Introduction To Hospitality 110. Movies And Their Impact On Society 96. Winter Skin Survival 98. Perfume Extracting ENTERTAINMENT 106. Music With MJB 107. Top Music Charts 108. January Movie Releases FASHION 68. Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience 70. Fashion Photo Shoot -Mosaic 90. Fashion Photo Shoot-Winter Desert Rose 130. Fashion News FEATURE 18. Welcome To Another Effing New Year 20. Festive Day 22. New Year’s Reading Resolutions 24. Rant And Rabbit III 26. ٢٠١٥ ً أهال 64 84 FOOD 64. Ditch The Shrink And Gym It Instead To A Better You This 2015! 66. New Year-New Resolutions 84. Nat’s Kitchen Tales. . . With Love contents ISSUE 61, VOLUME 5, JANUARY 2015 90 42. Presbyopia 44. Belly Fat IS Bad! 46. Spotlight On Recent Developments In 114 48. Early Labor 50. The Salhiya Medical Pavilion 36 154 INTERVIEW 36. Alessandra Vicedomini 56. Shaima Namovar 100. Maali Al-Oudah 112. Latifa Al-Gallaf 122. One-On-One With Kinda AlFaris KIDS 154. Kids Pages 114. Short Stories By Nadia AlHassan 116. The Beauty In Quietude 118. Writing Tips By Nada Faris 60. Ways To Keep Your New Year Resolutions 62. Ten New Year Resolutions To Keep For 2015 124 TECHNOLOGY 124. Cool New Gadgets 126. Tech Updates & News 128. Three Resolutions To Keep This Year REGULARS 59. The Color Recipe 86. City Guide 88. Travel With MuzMuz 120. January Book Releases 121. Book Club 136. Diary Of A Citizen Of The World 137. Adopt A Street Princess 139. Events 146. Press 152. Say Cheez With CityPages 156. Homework For Grown Ups 158. Horoscopes Dear Readers… Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor Eng. Homoud AlMuhareb Publishing Director Abeer Al-Abduljalil Managing Editor Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager Claudia Farias Content Supervisor Tanya Burns Creative Director Graphic Designers Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi Contributing Team Nadia Al-Hassan Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Nada Soliman Abdalla AlMuzaini Nada Faris Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Nour Al-Zaabi Ali - DJ RAVEN Oussama T. Hussein ARTRONAUTS Paul Tunbridge ASAMA Perfumes Reshmi Revi BirthKuwait Deema DeCaux Sanaa Abdul Hamid Dr. Nazia Nausheen Sandra Bakhamian Faisal Al-Dhofari Sherihan A. Hassabo Erika Habig Talah Alabdulaaly John McArthur Tassnim Hassoun Khaled Al-Zawawi Zahra Ashkanani Layla Harmony Zahra Taqi Maha Al-Rashed Happy 2015! Time flies when you're having fun, they say. Well, we must be having a blast, because we've realized, with a bit of a start, that this is our fifth anniversary issue. 2015 is guaranteed to be an incredible year: We’ve got month after month of blockbuster CityPages lined up for you, each featuring a different theme. The five-year milestone has resulted in my thinking back to our original plans and how they have evolved over the years. The first issue of CityPages made its debut in the January of 2010. Our first cover personality was Manayer Salmeen, who had won the Miss Arab Sport title then. We profiled Faakhir - Pakistan's hottest pop icon as part of a larger story. We also had a very special feature on The Day Spa for Men. Since then, we have been carefully selecting our cover personalities and during this five-year journey, we are lucky to have featured some of the best talented and highly respected people from different industries. We have begun 2015 with a solid start by featuring the first Ku


Betty Joan Perske, who died in 2014, was better known as which famous film star, from the 1940s-2000s?

Lauren Bacall - Biography - IMDb Lauren Bacall Biography Showing all 115 items Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (2) | Trade Mark  (3) | Trivia  (73) | Personal Quotes  (28) | Salary  (3) Overview (5) 5' 8½" (1.74 m) Mini Bio (1) Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City. She is the daughter of Natalie Weinstein-Bacal, a Romanian Jewish immigrant, and William Perske, who was born in New Jersey, to Polish Jewish parents. Her family was middle-class, with her father working as a salesman and her mother as a secretary. They divorced when she was five. When she was a school girl, Lauren originally wanted to be a dancer, but later, she became enthralled with acting, so she switched gears to head into that field. She had studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York after high school, which enabled her to get her feet wet in some off-Broadway productions. Once out of school, Lauren entered modeling and, because of her beauty, appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, one of the most popular magazines in the US. The wife of famed director Howard Hawks spotted the picture in the publication and arranged with her husband to have Lauren take a screen test. As a result, which was entirely positive, she was given the part of Marie Browning in To Have and Have Not (1944), a thriller opposite the great Humphrey Bogart , when she was just 19 years old. This not only set the tone for a fabulous career but also one of Hollywood's greatest love stories (she married Bogart in 1945). It was also the first of several Bogie-Bacall films. After 1945's Confidential Agent (1945), Lauren received second billing in The Big Sleep (1946) with Bogart. The mystery, in the role of Vivian Sternwood Rutledge, was a resounding success. Although she was making one film a year, each production would be eagerly awaited by the public. In 1947, again with her husband, Lauren starred in the thriller Dark Passage (1947). The film kept movie patrons on the edge of their seats. The following year, she starred with Bogart, Edward G. Robinson , and Lionel Barrymore in Key Largo (1948). The crime drama was even more of a nail biter than her previous film. In 1950, Lauren starred in Bright Leaf (1950), a drama set in 1894. It was a film of note because she appeared without her husband - her co-star was Gary Cooper . In 1953, Lauren appeared in her first comedy as Schatze Page in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). The film, with co-stars Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable , was a smash hit all across the theaters of America. After filming Designing Woman (1957), which was released in 1957, Humphrey Bogart died on January 14 from throat cancer. Devastated at being a widow, Lauren returned to the silver screen with The Gift of Love (1958) in 1958 opposite Robert Stack . The production turned out to be a big disappointment. Undaunted, Lauren moved back to New York City and appeared in several Broadway plays to huge critical acclaim. She was enjoying acting before live audiences and the audiences in turn enjoyed her fine performances. Lauren was away from the big screen for five years, but she returned in 1964 to appear in Shock Treatment (1964) and Sex and the Single Girl (1964). The latter film was a comedy starring Henry Fonda and Tony Curtis . In 1966, Lauren starred in Harper (1966) with Paul Newman and Julie Harris , which was one of former's signature films. Alternating her time between films and the stage, Lauren returned in 1974's Murder on the Orient Express (1974). The film, based on Agatha Christie 's best-selling book was a huge hit. It also garnered Ingrid Bergman her third Oscar. Actually, the huge star-studded cast helped to ensure its success. Two years later, in 1976, Lauren co-starred with John Wayne in The Shootist (1976). The film was Wayne's last - he died from cancer in 1979. In 1981, Lauren played an actress being stalked by a crazed admirer in The Fan (1981). The thriller was absolutely fascinating with Lauren in the lead role. After that production, Lauren was away from films again,


In 2014 Belgium became the first country in the world to legalize what controversial treatment of terminally ill people?

Belgium | Country report | Freedom in the World | 2014 Freedom in the World 1 Overview:  King Albert II abdicated on July 21, 2013, at the age of 79, and his son, Crown Prince Philippe, 53, became king. The monarchy is largely ceremonial, although the king retained constitutional authority to mediate between parties during the process of forming a government—a role played by Albert during a 541-day political stalemate that followed 2010 parliamentary elections. In July, Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo oversaw the completion of a state reform package that would grant more autonomy to regional and local governments in areas including welfare, labor, and health care policy. The reform was to take effect in July 2014. Ethnic and linguistic conflicts had prompted a series of constitutional amendments in 1970, 1971, and 1993 that devolved considerable power from the central government to the three regions in the Belgian federation: French-speaking Wallonia in the south; Flemish-speaking Flanders in the north; and Brussels, the capital, where French and Flemish share the same official status. Cultural and economic differences between the regions have contributed to political rifts between Flemish and Francophone parties across the ideological spectrum, with the wealthier Flemish north seeking increased self-rule and reduced taxpayer support for the less prosperous Wallonia. Voting takes place along strict linguistic lines; with the exception of the bilingual district encompassing Brussels, parties are only permitted to run in their respective linguistic regions. After 2010 parliamentary elections, coalition negotiations stalled over issues linked to the balance of power between Flanders and Wallonia. A deal was finally reached in November 2011, after Flemish and Francophone parties reached a compromise on the separation of the contentious Brussels-area electoral district. Di Rupo, of the Francophone Socialist Party, became the first French-speaking prime minister in more than 30 years. The next federal and regional elections were set to take place in 2014. Political Rights and Civil Liberties:    Political Rights: 40 / 40 [ Key ] A. Electoral Process: 12 / 12 Belgium’s Parliament consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The 150 members of the House are elected directly by proportional representation. There are 71 seats in the Senate, with 40 filled by direct popular vote and 31 by indirect vote. Members serve four-year terms in both houses. The prime minister, who is the leader of the majority party or coalition, is appointed by the monarch and approved by Parliament. The party system is highly fragmented, with separate Flemish and Walloon parties representing all traditional parties of the left and right.   B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 16 / 16 The separatist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) had won 27 seats in the House of Representatives in the 2010 parliamentary elections, the most of any party, but was excluded from Di Rupo’s government. Di Rupo’s Francophone Socialist Party had 26 seats. The Francophone Movement for Reform held 18 seats. The Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) party had 17 seats. The xenophobic Vlaams Blok party was banned in 2004 for violating the country’s antiracism laws. It changed its name to Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) and removed some of the more overtly racist elements from its platform. However, the party maintains its opposition to immigration and its commitment to an independent Flanders. It held 12 seats.   C. Functioning of Government: 12 / 12 Corruption is relatively rare in Belgium, which was ranked 15 out of 177 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International’s 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index. In March 2013, Finance Minister Steven Vanackere resigned over a scandal involving a January deal by a state-owned bank to buy back shares at favorable terms from two Christian labor organizations linked to Vanackere’s CD&V; Vanackere admitted no wrongdoing.   Civil Liberties: 57 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 15 / 16 Freedoms of s


According to 2014 market capitalization, Google, Microsoft, Apple and (which oil corporation?) were globally the most valuable companies?

Google Tops Exxon Mobil to Become World's 2nd Most Valuable Company Google Tops Exxon Mobil to Become World's 2nd Most Valuable Company 7.4k Share What's This? Google CEO Larry Page speaks at a news conference at the Google offices in New York, Monday, May 21, 2012. Image: Seth Wenig/Associated Press 2014-02-07 16:09:47 UTC Google has surpassed Exxon Mobile to become the second most valuable company in the world. Google's market cap topped $391 billion in early trading Friday, while Exxon Mobil's market cap dipped towards the $390 billion mark, according to data provided to Mashable by FactSet Research. See also: 10 Startups to Watch in 2014 The search giant's stock ticked up following the news last week that it plans to split its stock in April, more than three years after the move was first proposed. Exxon Mobil's stock, on the other hand, ticked downward after reporting a decline in profit in the December quarter. Some other stock tracking services continue show Exxon with a slightly higher market cap than Google, a discrepancy that FactSet analyst Michael Amenta chalks up to calculating Exxon's market cap with an outdated share count. Exxon recently reported having 4.335 million shares outstanding as of the end of 2013. (Bloomberg, Google Finance and others continue to cite the higher 4.369 million share count from the third quarter.) Google first passed Microsoft's market value in October 2012 to become the fourth most valuable company in the world, though the two companies did trade places after that. One year later, Google's stock hit $1,000 a share for the first time, driven by a strong third-quarter earnings report and investor optimism for Google's ability to grow ad revenue and continue innovating with other products. Google is now about $75 billion behind Apple , one of its chief competitors and currently the most valuable company in the world.


Narendra Modi became prime minister of which country in May 2014?

Narendra Modi: The 15th Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi: The 15th Prime Minister of India Election News | NDTV.com | Updated: May 26, 2014 18:29 IST EMAIL COMMENTS Narendra Modi speaks before taking the oath as the Prime Minister of India. New Delhi:  Narendra Modi was today sworn in as India's prime minister, exactly 10 days after his party won the biggest mandate in the last 30 years. Mr Modi, 63, was administered the oath of secrecy and office by President Pranab Mukherjee, an impressive function held in the forecourts of Rashtrapati Bhawan this evening. He was elected the head of the BJP parliamentary party on May 20. As he entered Parliament House to attend the party meet on Tuesday, Mr Modi had knelt and touched his forehead to the ground in a freeze-frame moment that will undoubtedly become an iconic photo is years to come. "It is proof of the strength of our constitution that a man from a poor family is standing here today," said Mr Modi, who sold tea on a railway platform as a child. "This government (will be) one which thinks of the poor, which listens to the poor, a government which lives for the people," he promised. That boy who sold tea was, in many ways, the mascot of Mr Modi's powerful pitch for the post of PM.   The BJP announced in September last year that the Gujarat Chief Minister would be its candidate for prime minister. It did so despite stiff opposition from party heavyweight LK Advani. It was Mr Advani who proposed Mr Modi's name for Prime Minister. The party's 282 MPs endorsed this as did the BJP's allies in the National Democratic Alliance or NDA. On Wednesday he resigned as Gujarat Chief Minister, an assignment he has held since 2001, winning election after assembly election. After he registered a third successive and very convincing win in December 2012 it became clear that Narendra Modi's aspiration to step out of Gujarat could not be ignored. In the days that followed he lunched with ambassadors of the European Union, which ended its decade-long boycott of the Gujarat Chief Minster saying, "We are now in a new phase." A year later came a visit to Gujarat by US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, ending her country's boycott of diplomatic engagement with Mr Modi after the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat. Critics have accused Mr Modi of not doing enough to stem communal violence in his state that year. Some even accused him of complicity, but that has never been proved in inquiries and an Ahmedabad court recently accepted a clean chit given to him by a special investigation team appointed by the Supreme Court. With his political stock high, many rivals softened their stand on Mr Modi, often citing the court's verdict. Those who had walked away from the BJP and the national alliance it leads in the years after the Gujarat riots, walked back in the days leading up to the general election. In Bihar, Ram Vilas Paswan is again a BJP ally. In Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu rejoined the NDA. Their investment proved canny. The Modi-led NDA, now a juggernaut on 29 parties, steamrolled all opposition, reducing main rival Congress, which ruled for the last decade, to a mere 44 seats in the Lok Sabha. The NDA has won 336 seats - the BJP on its own has won 282, enough for a clear majority. Many have credited Mr Modi's well-crafted, high-energy campaign over nine months for the BJP's stunning victory. He also made some key decisions that paid rich dividend - like handing the charge of Uttar Prdaesh, a crucial state that sends 80 MPs to Parliament, to his close aide Amit Shah. Mr Shah delivered. The BJP and its allies have won 73 seats in the state.   Officials in Mr Modi's government and local business leaders in Gujarat paint the picture of a man with a phenomenal memory, great attention to detail, unflagging energy and a flair for publicity. People who have met him say nothing escapes him. But they also describe him as a man with a vindictive streak, capable of holding grudges for years and intolerant of dissent. Narendra Modi was born to lower middle-class parents in northern Gujarat on September


Round 3 Jeopardy Template What is the Ford Mustang? This still-popular muscle car was launched late in 1964, what is it? 100 What is the Syndy Opera House? In 1973, which famous building with a roof resembling sails opened after 16 years of construction? 100 What are young urban professionals? The word “yuppie” was popularized in the 80s; what does it represent? 100 Which figure skater was accused of breaking a competitor’s kneecaps before the 1994 Olympics? 100 What is Denver, Co? What city did Barack Obama formally accept the Democratic nomination for the US presidential election in 2008? 200 What is Mister Ed? Picked up by CBS in 1961, what famous TV show had a vocal equine as its star? 200 Who was Jimi Hendrix? What American singer-songwriter, who is considered by many to be the greatest electric guitarist in music history, died in 1970? 200 What Soviet leader replaced Chernenko in 1985? 200 What food chain uses this slogan: “Think outside the bun”? 200 What is Katrina? In 2005, what hurricane devastated the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coastal regions, and flooded approximately 80% of the city of New Orleans? 300 Name the Organization created to fight for important women’s issues? 300 What was the name of NASA's first space shuttle that was unveiled in 1976? 300 Who is Sally Ride? The Space Shuttle Challenger took the first woman into space in 1983, what was her name? 300 What is the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame? What famous museum opened in 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio? 300 Who is Charles Manson? Wedding plans were announced in 2014 for a 26 year-old Illinois woman and which 80 year-old incarcerated mass murderer? 400 What famous property, purchased in 1965, was once a swamp land in Osceola County, California? 400 What is Three Mile Island? In 1979, a nuclear accident happened at what Pennsylvania power plant? 400 In 1984, which restaurant chain featured this line in their commercial, “Where’s the beef?” 400 Who was the youngest singer to win a Grammy in 1997? 400 What is ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease)? In 2014, the Ice Water Bucket challenge was established for what charity? 500 Who is Sirhan Sirhan? The 1960s were a decade of high-profile assassinations (President John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.) Name the assassin who is still alive. 500 What is In Vitro Fertilization? In 1978, the first test tube baby was born following what procedure? 500 Who was Jim Thorpe? Which Olympic athlete had his gold medals reinstated in the decathlon and the pentathlon, 30 years after his death? 500 What is Yellow Pages? In the 90s, which company used this phrase for their slogan "Let your fingers do the walking"? 500 Who is Psy?


Which famous Portuguese single-named footballer and top scorer of the 1966 World Cup died in 2014?

Portugal football legend Eusebio dies - CNN.com Portugal football legend Eusebio dies By Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Isa Soares, CNN updated 5:54 PM EST, Sun January 5, 2014 STORY HIGHLIGHTS Eusebio, 71, died from a heart attack, former club says The striker was considered one of the sport's greatest players Eusebio was top scorer at 1966 World Cup Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo among those to pay tribute (CNN) -- Portugal football legend Eusebio, who was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, died at the age of 71, his former club Benfica said Sunday. He died from a heart attack, the Lisbon side said on its website. The striker, affectionately known as the "Black Panther," was admired throughout the Portuguese-speaking world and was thought to be among the sport's greatest players. "Always eternal #Eusebio, rest in peace," Real Madrid forward and current Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo tweeted alongside a picture of both men together. Portugal's former world player of the year, Luis Figo, tweeted that Eusebio was the "king" while Brazil's Pele, considered by many to be the best footballer of all time, tweeted that Eusebio was like a "brother" to him. "May God receive him with open arms," said Pele. Eusebio, whose full name was Eusebio da Silva Ferreira, played for three North American Soccer League teams in the twilight of his career but is best known for his exploits in 15 years at Benfica. Born in 1942 in Mozambique, which was then a Portuguese territory, he scored 41 goals in 64 appearances for his adopted country. Named European Footballer of the Year in 1965, Eusebio won widespread acclaim the following year at the World Cup in England. He scored nine goals in the competition, helping his team reach the semifinals. World Cup scorer He scored two goals as Portugal eliminated defending champions Brazil in the group stage, then netted four times in an incredible quarterfinal comeback against North Korea as his side rallied from 3-0 down to win 5-3 in one of the tournament's most famous matches. Eusebio scored again in the semifinals against England, but the hosts won 2-1 before beating Germany in the final. "His talent brought joy for entire generations, even those who didn't live through the most glorious moments of his career," Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva told Portuguese television. World football body FIFA said Eusebio was considered "one of the best footballers of all time and best ever from Portugal." "Football has lost a legend," FIFA president Sepp Blatter tweeted as the tributes continued. "But Eusebio's place among the greats will never be taken away." Added UEFA president Michel Platini: "On the field, Eusebio was a true legend, both in the colors of Portugal and Benfica," he told UEFA's website. "But also off it, he was a true ambassador for Portuguese football on the international stage. He was more than a footballer. A good and charming man, Eusebio will be sadly missed." During his career with Benfica, the Lisbon side won the European Cup in 1962. He scored 733 times in 745 professional matches, according to FIFA. He won 10 league titles and five Portuguese cups with the Eagles and was Portugal's top league scorer between 1964 and 1973. "We're saddened to hear Benfica legend Eusebio has passed away," tweeted Manchester United. "He was a fantastic player and a friend of the club."


Which regional territory experienced the Umbrella Revolution in autumn 2014, being a protracted protest against electoral constraints?

Catalan international view 18 by Catalan International View - issuu issuu Issue 18 • Autumn 2014 • € 5 A European Review of the World Credit, bubbles and economic models by Jaume Ventura The EU: better reformed than sorry by Laura Pous Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s Putin by Nico Valle US Foreign policy towards Africa: time for change? by Laia Tarragona Catalonia, Southern Europe’s economic engine by Felip Puig Desmond Tutu by Francesc de Dalmases Cover Artist: Agustí Puig Interview: sections: Europe · Business, Law & Economics · Africa · Asia · Opinion A Short Story from History · Barcelona Echoes · The Artist · Universal Catalans · A Poem Editor vterradellas@catmon.cat Director Francesc de Dalmases director@international-view.cat Art Director designer@international-view.cat Editorial Board Martí Anglada Enric Canela Salvador Cardús August Gil-Matamala Montserrat Guibernau Guillem López-Casasnovas Manuel Manonelles Fèlix Martí Eva Piquer Ricard Planas Clara Ponsatí Arnau Queralt Vicent Sanchis Mònica Terribas Montserrat Vendrell Carles Vilarrubí Vicenç Villatoro Chief Editor Judit Aixalà Jordi Fexas Nigel Balfour Júlia López Coordinator Ariadna Canela coordinator@international-view.cat Webmaster Gemma Lapedriza Cover Art Agustí Puig The reproduction of the artwork on the front cover is thanks to an agreement between the Artist and Fundació CATmón Executive Production Positive & Negative 4......... Hong Kong, the Umbrella Revolution ...........Sarajevo in Kurdistan To Our Readers 5......... Scotland: a victory for the democratic option by Víctor Terradellas 8......... Merkel is not the problem! by Adam Casals 12........ The EU: better reformed than sorry .............. by Laura Pous Business, Law & Economics 18........ Credit, bubbles and economic models .............. by Jaume Ventura The Americas - Africa 24........ US foreign policy towards Africa: time for change? .............. by Laia Tarragona A Snapshot 30........ A ‘V’ in Barcelona: 2.2 million people claiming for democracy Interview 32........ Desmond Tutu .............. by Francesc de Dalmases Opinion 36........ Catalonia, Southern Europe’s economic engine .............. by Felip Puig 40........ Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s Putin .............. by Nico Valle Headquarters, Administration and Subscriptions Fonollar, 14 08003 Barcelona Catalonia (Europe) Tel.: + 34 93 533 42 38 Fax: + 34 93 319 22 24 www. international-view.cat Legal deposit B-26639-2008 ISSN 2013-0716 © Edicions de la Fundació CATmón. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, protocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Edicions de la Fundació CATmón. 48........ Where is the Kantian peace? .............. by Helena Vicente 52........ International strategic action from the local world .............. by Joan Carles Garcia Barcelona Echoes 56........ Barcelona by sea and air .............. by Elisabeth McWilliams 60....... Universal Catalans .............Pau Casals A Poem 67........ Unity Printed in Catalonia by Cevagraf s.c.c.l. A Short Story from History With the support of 68..........The Dalmases Embassy and the Case of the Catalans (IV) 70........ Agustí Puig Positive & Negative  by Francesc de Dalmases Hong Kong, the Umbrella Revolution Throughout September and October Hong Kong witnessed a series of mass demonstrations in what grew into the largest prodemocracy movement in China since the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. It therefore appears as if the political situation will shift slightly toward the possibility of a democratic future for this country of some 7.2 million inhabitants. Before the demonstrations became front-page news around the world, there was no hope of meaningful negotiations between the defenders of democracy and a government that has stubbornly clung to Beijing’s policies. The demonstrations have allowed preliminary agreements to be established, and the student-led movement has joined forc


Which male artist won most awards at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards?

Billboard Music Awards 2014: Full Winners List | Billboard Billboard Music Awards 2014: Full Winners List COMMENTS Getty Images Robin Thicke accepts the Top R&B Song award for 'Blurred Lines' onstage during the 2014 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Justin Timberlake was the big winner at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards , with 7 trophies on the night including Top Artist and Top Male Artist. Other winners included Imagine Dragons with five, and Pharrell, Robin Thicke and T.I. each scoring four apiece. Check out a full list of winners below.


In May 2014 the World Health Organization declared an international emergency due to major outbreaks of what nearly-eradicated disease?

WHO | Making history: from a public health emergency to a polio-free world Making history: from a public health emergency to a polio-free world R Bruce Aylward a a. Polio Eradication Initiative, World Health Organization, avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Correspondence to R Bruce Aylward (email: aylwardb@who.int ). Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2014;92:466. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.14.142273 On 5 May 2014, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the second-ever public health emergency of international concern. Polio is the emergency – a disease again posing a public health risk to countries around the world and requiring a coordinated international response. 1 For some, this declaration seemed a paradox. Polio is nearly eradicated. The virus that once paralysed over 1000 children a day in more than 125 countries paralysed just over one child a day in eight countries in 2013. Two of the three countries that have never stopped polio – Afghanistan and Nigeria – overcame tremendous difficulties to achieve a greater than 50% reduction in cases in 2013 and have kept their case counts in the single digits so far in 2014. 2 On 27 March 2014, India and the entire WHO South East Asia Region were certified polio-free , bringing to 80% the proportion of the world’s population that now lives in regions entirely free of indigenous wild polioviruses. It is also increasingly likely that two of the three strains of wild poliovirus have been wiped out. Type 2 virus was last detected in India in 1999 and the type 3 virus has not been detected anywhere in the world since a child in Nigeria was paralysed by the virus in November 2012. Overall, the world remains largely on track to achieve all four of the ambitious objectives set out in the Polio eradication and endgame strategic plan 3 – the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s strategy to end all polio, everywhere, by 2018. However, this progress could still be undone. Although closer than ever to eradication in 2012, polio made a disturbing comeback in 2013. Both the number of children paralysed by the virus and the number of polio-infected countries nearly doubled. 2 Much of the increase in cases was the result of the international spread of the virus into areas that had long been polio-free. In the first four months of 2014, during what is traditionally the low season for polio transmission, wild poliovirus had already spread internationally in three major epidemiologic zones, thousands of kilometres apart. In Central Asia, the virus spread from Pakistan to Afghanistan; in the Middle East, from the Syrian Arab Republic to Iraq; 5 and in Central Africa, from Cameroon to Equatorial Guinea. The Emergency Committee convened by WHO under the International Health Regulations concluded that, if left unchecked, this situation could result “in failure to eradicate globally one of the world’s most serious vaccine preventable diseases”. 1 Further international spread with the onset of the high transmission season in June could potentially be disastrous, as the countries that had been exporting poliovirus have strong economic, political, geographic and/or cultural ties to a high number of fragile states and conflict-torn countries. Not only were such areas at highest risk of new importations, but their low routine immunization rates increased the likelihood of explosive polio outbreaks and even the re-establishment of transmission. This situation is compounded by the inability of some of these countries to mount an effective response against disease outbreaks. Decisive and immediate action was needed to ensure that the global movement working to end polio once and for all did not suffer a setback from which it could be difficult, if not impossible, to recover. Failure would mean reverting to a strategy of only polio “control”, under which the world would soon have to accept more than 200 000 children again being paralysed every year. 4 Ensuring that all residents and long-term visitors travelling from polio-infected countries (and espe


Which name is shared by the two popes made saints by the Vatican in April 2014?

Chicago celebrates two popes proclaimed as saints - tribunedigital-chicagotribune Chicago celebrates two popes proclaimed as saints April 27, 2014|By Stephanie Baer and Meredith Rodriguez | Tribune reporters Worshippers at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Chicago honored their Polish pope, Pope John Paul II in a morning mass and then a procession that started west on Division Street to St. Hyacinth Basilica Sunday April 27, 2014. B583686188Z.1 (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune) ct ....OUTSIDE TRIBUNE CO.- NO MAGS, NO SALES, NO INTERNET, NO TV, CHICAGO OUT, NO DIGITAL MANIPULATION... (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) A Sunday evening Mass at Holy Name Cathedral capped roughly 24 hours of celebration across the Chicago Archdiocese over the historic elevation of two popes to sainthood. Unable to travel to Rome for the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, Cardinal Francis George said after the service that the pontiffs set an example that can be followed by anyone. “It doesn't mean that they didn't make mistakes from time to time,” said George, who recently received his third and final dose of chemotherapy after getting a cancer diagnosis last month. “They were quite human, but it meant that consistently they lived with God. And he made them holy. He made them his friends, so that vocation is open to all of us.” The Sunday evening worship service was part of a larger celebration across the archdiocese that started Saturday night and continued into the early hours of Sunday, when about 500 parishioners at St. Hyacinth Basilica gathered at 3 a.m. to watch a live broadcast of the ceremonies in St. Peter's Square. Banners with portraits of the two new saints were displayed on opposite sides of the altar in the Logan Square church. When Pope Francis announced the two saints for the first time, everyone gathered in the church clapped. “It was exactly like in St. Peter's,” said the Rev. Stan Jankowski, senior pastor at St. Hyacinth, who led a 6 a.m. Polish language Mass following the ceremonies. “The people reacted the same in the church.” A few hours later, hundreds moved from Holy Trinity Church at 1118 N. Noble St. to St. Hyacinth Basilica at 3636 W. Wolfram St. for a second service in Polish, St. John Paul II's native language. Parishioners there said they marched to honor the new saints, with many carrying the flag of Vatican City and that of Poland. Jim Nieds, 71, of Chicago, who had attended the early morning Mass at St. Hyacinth, said St. John XXIII helped to make Mass more accessible by calling the Second Vatican Council, which allowed Mass to be celebrated in local languages instead of Latin. “John XXIII did a tremendous amount to change the church and help it become more relevant,” Nieds said. At St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston, the Rev. Greg Sakowicz, pastor at St. Mary Catholic Church in Evanston, called Pope John XXIII “a visionary … who led a very simple life.” “There was a holiness about him and a marvelous sense of humor,” said Sakowicz. What was considered a historic moment in the Catholic Church was a personal one for many Polish parishioners in the Chicago area, who expressed a sense of pride about the sainthood of John Paul II. “I'm really happy about it because he's Polish and I'm Polish and I'm proud,” said Katarina Maminska, 38, of Franklin Park. “He deserves to be a saint for all he did in his life and when he was pope.” Jankowski, a native of Poland, was just 12 years old when John Paul II became pope. “John Paul was an inspiration for my life and also for my priesthood,” he said. “It's a blessed time.” Hundreds of Chicagoans got closer to Sunday's historic event by actually attending the canonization. Caroline Mazurk, a Loyola student studying in Rome this semester, arrived in St. Peter's Square at 4:30 a.m. with her mother, who had flown in from Chicago to join her. “Quite honestly, up until the prayers started on the piazza, I was very tired and very cold and don't think I was feeling as grateful as I should've been being there,” Mazurk, 20, said. “(But) seeing how many people there were, that's w


Which city, previously made famous in 2014, hosted the first Russian F1 Grand Prix for over 100 years?

Brake and Course information 2014 | Motorsports Challenge | Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. Australian Grand Prix 2014 Melbourn The Albert Park Circuit, which hosts the season-opening race each year, is located in a beautiful park surrounding a man-made lake just south of Melbourne. With a layout that uses public road, the circuit features well positioned high-speed, medium-speed, and low-speed corners intertwined with chicanes, overtaking areas that follow braking zones, and other track sections. However, because the circuit is not a permanent course and can only be used once a year, Friday, the qualifying day is a particularly difficult part of the race. The tires are easily damaged by the low road surface grip, so teams must tailor their cars specifically to the final part of the race while anticipating the amount of rubber remaining on the tires as sessions are accumulated. In addition, the escape zones are narrow, and the probability that a safety car will be sent out when a crash occurs is high, which has had a significant impact on race expansion. A typical stop-and-go circuit, the Albert Park Circuit forces drivers to endure a repetition of strong braking followed by acceleration from low speeds, so brakes are subjected to hard use, and the cooling intervals between braking are short. Moreover, at the start of a race, the cars carry a lot of fuel, and the ability to control brake cooling and friction is a very important element that directly influences the race results. Akebono’s brake system, which boasts of an advanced level of cooling performance, exhibits superior performance on this Melbourne circuit as well and gives the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes racing team a competitive edge. Malaysia Grand Prix 2014 Sepang International Circuit The Sepang International Circuit is located near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, approximately 60km south of Malaysia's capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The region features a tropical rainforest climate with an annual average temperature of 26°C, and the high temperatures and humidity during races are not only hard on the engines and brakes, but also deplete the physical strength of the drivers and pit crews. The course, which features a well-balanced layout of low-speed, medium-speed, and high-speed corners, is designed to test the comprehensive strengths of the vehicle bodies and to question the capabilities of each team and their strategies to fine tune the chassis with priority on a certain speed range. The results of this race, which is typically held at the beginning of the season each year, attract particular attention because they are a good indicator of the capabilities of each team for the given year. The two long straights end in major braking points, and if a car is unable to exhibit proper braking performance at these points, they can be overtaken by other cars. In addition, the high temperatures also demand superior brake cooling performance. Akebono's brake system, which provides a superior balance between control and cooling performance while also providing reliability to withstand the high load that is placed on the brakes, exhibit an advanced competitive edge even on the Sepang circuit and support the high speeds of the McLaren Mercedes team. Bahrain Grand Prix 2014 Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit was constructed in the desert roughly 30km south of the Bahrain capital city of Manama. The course layout features opening and closing sections that are a combination of long straights and low-speed corners and ties those sections together with a section containing numerous high-speed corners. This unique course layout demands a race car body setup that provides both stability when braking from high speeds and precise turning performance along a section that features numerous corners. In addition, the fine sand on the track surface is swept away as the cars race around the track, resulting in improved grip levels as the race progresses. This adds a certain aspect of difficulty to this circuit that requires teams to respond with an


Buddhist politician and businessman Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan briefly, until a military coup in 2014, acted as prime minister of which nation, once known as Siam?

Thailand and the Amnesty Bill. - Google Groups Thailand and the Amnesty Bill. Showing 1-632 of 632 messages 11/5/13 9:01 PM l nottoo...@yahoo.com 11/6/13 8:01 PM  Govt given ultimatum on amnesty Protest grows, Pheu Thai withdraws six other bills Published: 7 Nov 2013 Thailand’s Big Brother Drama  By William Pesek  Nov 8, 2013 5:19 AM GMT+0700   “Welcome to the Republic of Thaksin.” You won’t see these words displayed in the customs hall when arriving in Thailand, but the Land of Smiles has indeed morphed into the land of Thaksin Shinawatra. That should be giving Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy plenty to frown about. Seven years after the former prime minister was ousted in a coup, Thaksin’s long shadow continues to dominate Thai politics. Since then, the country has seen six prime ministers, the most recent one being Thaksin’s baby sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Like many loving siblings, Yingluck looks out for her kin. Recently she tried to ram a get-out-of-jail-free card for Thaksin and other politicians through the parliament -- as big a political blunder as Asia has seen in years. Markets plunged and more than 32,000 people joined demonstrations in the capital and 17 other provinces. This week, Yingluck backed down and agreed to scrap the bill for now. But anyone who thinks that’s the end of Thailand’s Thaksin nightmare is wrong. The proud and acerbic billionaire, Asia’s answer to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, isn’t about to shelve his obsession with returning home, reclaiming the portion of his telecommunications fortune frozen by the state and succeeding his sister. Many fear Yingluck is little more than a placeholder for big bro. Thaksin’s Ambitions With his ambitions thwarted for now, the focus has turned to how much money this setback will cost Thaksin. Thais should be worrying instead about how much this political circus is hurting their $366 billion economy. Every day that politicians and policy makers in Bangkok spend obsessing over Thaksin’s return is one that’s not being used to modernize the economy, increase competiveness and avoid the “middle-income trap” that befalls many developing nations and may soon ensnare Thailand. The politics of personality aren’t confined to Thailand. Asia is awash with larger-than-life populists bigger on charisma and spin than concrete reforms: leaders like Shinzo Abe in Japan, Xi Jinping in China and, in some ways, Benigno Aquino in the Philippines. The same problem afflicts several figures who have yet take the helm, including India’s Rahul Gandhi. All have neglected tough policy work in hopes that a strong personality will be enough to carry them through and bolster their approval ratings. But Thaksin raised the strategy to an art form, essentially making an entire nation about him. His tenure from February 2001 to September 2006 saw nothing less than the wholesale bastardization of Thai democracy. He neutered its institutions and enriched his family members and cronies in ways that would have made a Russian oligarch blush. Like former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, Thaksin was a powerful tycoon who leveraged his business success to become leader. Thaksin, like Berlusconi, was later accused of bending the government to his will and in alignment with his business interests. He got away with it by literally bribing the rural communities that formed his power base. His “Thaksinomics” program of flooding the hinterlands with cheap loans was never more than Tammany Hall-like doling out of cash for support. The money did nothing to improve the economy’s fundamentals or capacity for innovation. It’s a strategy Yingluck copied early and often after becoming prime minister in 2011. Take her disastrous rice-subsidy plan, which by the latest estimate has cost $19 billion since October 2011 and over time has recorded losses equivalent to 59 percent of that figure. Distorted Markets Thailand is now sitting on two years of export production, which has distorted rice markets in the Mekong River region and cost Thailand the title of world’s biggest rice exporter. What’s depressing


A 2014 cardiology study (Taborsky/ESC) found that wine reduces cardiovascular disease only in people who?

Wine only protects against CVD in people who exercise | EurekAlert! Science News Wine only protects against CVD in people who exercise European Society of Cardiology IMAGE: This is the ESC Congress 2014 poster. view more Credit: ESC Barcelona, Spain - Sunday 31 August 2014: Wine only protects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people who exercise, according to results from the In Vino Veritas (IVV) study presented at ESC Congress today by Professor Milos Taborsky from the Czech Republic. Professor Taborsky said: "This is the first randomised trial comparing the effects of red and white wine on markers of atherosclerosis (1) in people at mild to moderate risk of CVD. We found that moderate wine drinking was only protective in people who exercised. Red and white wine produced the same results." Evidence suggesting that mild to moderate consumption of wine protects against cardiovascular disease has been accumulating since the early 1990s. In particular, retrospective studies have found that wine increases levels of HDL, the "good" cholesterol. But until now there has been no long-term, prospective, randomised study comparing the effects of red and white wine on HDL cholesterol and other markers of atherosclerosis. The IVV study (2) is the first long-term, prospective randomised trial comparing the effect of red and white wine on markers of atherosclerosis. The study included 146 people with mild to moderate risk of cardiovascular disease according to the HeartScore (3). Participants were randomised to one year of moderate consumption of red wine (Pinot Noir) or white wine (Chardonnay-Pinot) from the same year and wine region of the Czech Republic. Moderate consumption was the World Health Organization definition of 0.2 L for women and 0.3 L for men, a maximum of five times a week. The primary endpoint was the level of HDL cholesterol at one year. Secondary endpoints were levels of other markers of atherosclerosis including LDL cholesterol. Participants consumed their usual diet. Participants kept a logbook on their consumption of wine and other alcoholic beverages, medication use, and amount and type of exercise. They were required to return the corks from the wine bottles to confirm that they had drank the wine rather than sold it. The researchers found that there was no difference between HDL cholesterol levels at the beginning of the study compared to one year in either the red or white wine groups. LDL cholesterol was lower in both groups at one year while total cholesterol was lower only in the red wine group. Professor Taborsky said: "A rise in HDL cholesterol is the main indication of a protective effect against CVD, therefore we can conclude that neither red or white wine had any impact on study participants as a whole." He added: "The only positive and continuous result was in the subgroup of patients who took more exercise, which means regular exercise at least twice a week, plus the wine consumption. In this group HDL cholesterol increased and LDL and total cholesterol decreased in the red and white wine groups. There may be some synergy between the low dose of ethyl alcohol in wine and exercise which is protective against CVD." He continued: "In a future study we will compare the effects of red and white wine on markers of atherosclerosis in patients at high risk for CVD who take statins and do regular exercise. We hope to find that moderate wine consumption is safe in these patients." Professor Taborsky concluded: "Our current study shows that the combination of moderate wine drinking plus regular exercise improves markers of atherosclerosis, suggesting that this combination is protective against cardiovascular disease." ### References (1) Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries become clogged with fatty substances including cholesterol. Atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. (2) Taborsky M, Ostadal P, Petrek M. A pilot randomized trial comparing long-term effects of red and white wines on biomarkers of atherosclerosis (in vino veritas: IVV trial). Bratisl Lek Lis


The heavily hyped end-November shopping day of mass brawling for bargains in UK stores in 2014 is called?

Black Friday frenzy turns violent as shoppers fight over bargains | Daily Mail Online Stampede of the sales 'animals': Black Friday frenzy turns violent as shoppers fight over bargains  Greater Manchester Police chief said mayhem was 'totally predictable' but that stores did not have enough staff  Manchester police made three arrests after being called to 7 Tesco stores - one had to be closed after 36 minutes  One man arrested on suspicion of assault allegedly told staff member in Salford he would 'smash their face in' A woman was injured by a falling TV at Tesco store in Stretford, while a female worker left work with a black eye  Desperate customers were seen brawling over a Blaupunkt HD TV in Tesco which had been slashed by just £60 Scotland Yard confirmed officers were called to three Tesco stores in Willesden, Surrey Quays and Edmonton


Which country replaced President Viktor Yanukovych with Oleksandr Turchynov in Feb 2014 after lethal riots in Kiev?

Oleksandr Turchynov & Viktor Yanukovych - First thoughts about Oleksandr Turchynov & Viktor Yanukovych Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov (born 31 March 1964) is a Ukrainian politician, screenwriter, and economist. Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych (Ukrainian: ; born 9 July 1950) is a Ukrainian statesman and politician who has been the President of Ukraine since February 2010. 4.0/5 Oleksandr Turchynov Viktor Yanukovych Northern Trust Open Connaught Place Badminton World Federation Wharton India Economic Forum Union Cabinet Riviera Country Club Barack Obama Vitali Klitschko Democratic Alliance Arseniy Yatsenyuk Yulia Tymoshenko Interim President 14 Jun 2014     10:32 GA Questions : [1] Who was named as the Interim President of Ukraine after Viktor Yanukovych was impeached as the President by the Parliament? Ans - Oleksandr Turchynov [2] Who was ranked ninth in the Badminton World Federation womenâs singles ranking? Ans â P V Sindhu [3] What is the projection of IMF for the economic growth of India for 2014-15? Ans â 5.4% [4] Union Cabinet gave its nod for classifying which language as a classical language to give impetus to scholarships in the language? Ans â Odia [5] Where was the 18th Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) held? Ans - Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, USA [6] Who released the report titled From Poverty to Empowerment: India's imperativefor jobs, growth and effective basic services? Ans - McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) [7] Which is the worldâs eighth most expensive office location? Ans - Connaught Place in Delhi [8] Which state won the National Tourism Award2012-13? Ans â Sikkim [9] Who won the Northern Trust Open in at Riviera Country Club ? An ... 22 May 2014     19:00 leaves at least 11 believed to be on checkpoint in amid Share 8 Email Shaun Walker in Volnovakha The Guardian, Thursday 22 May 2014 19.28 BST Bodies covered with blankets lie in a field near the village of Blahodatne, eastern Ukraine Bodies lie in a field, with a Ukrainian military vehicle in the background, after pro-Russia rebels attacked a military checkpoint. Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP The conflict between pro-Ukraine and separatist forces in the east of Ukraine led to one of its bloodiest days yet on Thursday, days before presidential elections due to take place on Sunday. At least 11 pro-Ukraine forces were killed in a surprise dawn attack on a Ukrainian army checkpoint, apparently by a group of armed separatists. Ukraine's Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov put the death toll at 13, while a military source said two of the seriously wounded had also died. Journalists on the scene confirmed they had seen 11 bodies. About 30 soldiers were injured, including four who remained in critical conditi ... 30 Apr 2014     16:57 2013: A quarter of all Russian men die before they are 55, mainly because of alcohol 2013: Oil and gas account for 75% of all Russian exports and 45% of what Russians buy is imported Jan 2014: Latvia joins the eurozone Feb 2014: Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and opposition leaders Vitali Klitschko (UDAR/ Democratic Alliance for Reform), Arseniy Yatsenyuk (Batkivshchyna/ Fatherland Party) and Oleh Tyahnibok (Svoboda/Freedom Party) agree to hold early presidential elections after 88 protesters are killed and soon afterwards Yulia Tymoshenko is freed from jail and parliament votes to remove Yanukovych from power and replace him with Oleksandr Turchynov, a close Tymoshenko ally Feb 2014: Russia's defense minister Sergei Shoigu announces that Russia plans to increase its military presence abroad, including in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua Mar 2014: Russia annexes Ukraine's Crimea 30 Apr 2014     11:21 Here we go(y). 1)Who was recently named as the Interim President of Ukraine? (A) Oleksandr Turchynov (B) Viktor Yanukovych (C) Petro Symonenko (D) Nataliya Vitrenko 07 Mar 2014     16:39 Ukraine crisis could ignite Russia-NATO clash: Steinberg Fri Mar 7, 2014 - The ongoing dispute between the West and Russia over the crisis in Ukraine is likely to result in a military confrontation between the NATO and Moscow,


Sony and Emirates Airlines withdrew their sponsorship in 2014 from which global organization after ongoing corruption scandals?

May 14 2014 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED - issuu issuu Building collapse: COREN advocates death penalty for quacks Doctors demand special number plates Lawmakers worried over low-grade cement WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA Sada T he Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, yesterday proposed death penalty for owners and quacks involved in the construction of any collapsed building in the country. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>> P.4 Wednesday, May 14, 2014 N150 Parents identify 77 girls in Boko Haram video FG ready for negotiation, seeks extension of emergency rule US begins air surveilance PAUL ARHEWE, GEORGE OJI, WOLE OLADIMEJI, INUSA NDAHI AND UBONG UKPONG B orno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday confirmed that the young girls shown in a video released by the Boko Haram sect were some of the abCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>> IDENTIFIED GIRLS Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress protesting the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in Lagos, yesterday. ADVERT HOTLINES For advert bookings and information, please contact: LAGOS 01-8446073, 08113947415 08113947419 08113947420 08113947422 ABUJA 08113947421 PORT HARCOURT 08113947418 OGBESE 08113947424 TUC threatens strike over attack on PENGASSAN members NUPENG withdraws from Calabar, Warri depots P.2 Ex-Israeli PM, Olmert, jailed 6 years for bribery P.49 1. Agnes Gafane 2. Saraya Stober 3. Hauwa Bitrus 4. Hajara Isa 5. Naomi Philimun 6. Hauwa Abdu 7. Margret Yama 8. Shitta Abdu 9. Jummai Muta 10. Ladi Paul 11. Roda Peter 12. Filo Dauda 13. Godiya Bitrus 14. Saratu Tauji 15. Ross Daniel 16. Hauwa Ali 17. Hajara Isa 18. Luba Afga 19. Naomi Luka 20. Saraya Emos Ali 21. Bilkisu Abdullahi 22. Mairama Ali 23. Maryam Ali Maiyanga 24. Dabora Abbas 25. Kabu Mala 26. Halima Ali 27. Yana Bukar 28. Solomi Pugu 29. Lydia Emmar 30. Luba Sanda 31. Saraya Samuel 32. Comfort Habila 33. Rejoice Shanki 34. Gloria Yaga 35. Mary Nkeki 36. Moda Baba 37. Hauwa Isuwa 38. Patient Jacob 39. Ladi Jajel 40. Abigel Bukar CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>> News TUC threatens strike over attack on PENGASSAN members OLUFEMI ADEOSUN AND DENNIS NAKU T he Trade Union Congress, TUC, yesterday threatened to embark on strike over an attack on members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, last Saturday in Eleme, Rivers State. The union has also called on the police to carry out a full scale investigation into an attack on the PENGASSAN members. It, therefore, threatened to embark on strike if the security agencies, government and the management of Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited failed to fish out, arrest and prosecute those involved in the attack. PENGASSAN members and leaders were allegedly attacked on May 10 on the premises of Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited during a meeting of the association. TUC also alleged that its Rivers State Chairman, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, who represented the PENGASSAN National President during a meeting scheduled to hold on Indorama premises, was assaulted along with some other members by yet-to-beidentified persons, with inju- ries sustained. In a statement by TUC Rivers State Vice-Chairman, Mr. Clement Onyesom, and four others, the union warned that it would embark on a three-day warning strike staring on May 21 and an indefinite strike on June 17 if its demands were not met. The statement reads: “A three-day warning strike will commence on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 and an indefinite strike will commence on Monday June 17, 2014 if our demands are not met. “As you are aware, our TUC State Chairman, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, who represented the National President of PENGASSAN, was assaulted, beaten and his personal effects taken away by the assailants. “TUC Rivers State takes exception to these acts of terror and is determined to ensure that the perpetrators, no matter how highly placed, are brought to book very quickly,” the union added. It, however, called on the National Secretariat of PENGASSAN to direct its branches, chapters, units and members in the state to comply with the strike notice. Reacting to the strike


What was the first day of the week in 2014?

Sunday or Monday? Which is the First Day of the Week: Sunday or Monday? Sunday was traditionally regarded as the first day  of the week by both Christians and Jews. Following Jewish tradition, the Bible is quite explicit that God rested on the seventh day of Creation, which formed the basis for the Sabbath, the day of rest. Even when Constantine made Sunday the Christian day of rest, thus giving  it the traditional functions of the Jewish Sabbath, there was  no question that Sunday remained the first day of the week. The week introduced  by Constantine treated Sunday as Kyriaki 'of the Lord', followed by  numbered days from Monday to Thursday ('second' to 'fifth') and specific names  for Friday and Saturday. Saturday was Savvato, the Sabbath. (As to whether   Constantine was swayed by his previous worship of the Sun God, or whether  he simply ratified a practice that already existed among practising Christians  is a point of heated debate among certain modern Christians. It does  seem true, however, that Constantine was motivated by a spirit of compromise  rather than doctrinal purity. A lot of information about this can be found  on the Web). Notwithstanding Constantine, the custom of treating Monday as the first day  of the week appeared quite early. This is explained by Michael Falk as follows: We may note that in early Christian coinages Saturday is denoted as day seven, following the Bible. In later coinages, however, it is denoted as day six. This change appears to have been brought about by a natural tendency to consider the celebrated special day of the weekly cycle as ending the cycle rather than beginning it. So, after about the tenth century for most Christians Sunday replaced Saturday as day seven. An analogous change occurred in the Islamic world where Friday began as day six but later became counted as day seven. Thus, when saints   Cyril and Methodius brought Christianity to the Slavs, they took with them the Greek  tradition of numbering the days but numbered them from Monday instead   of Sunday. As a result, Slavic languages  now treat Monday as the first day, Tuesday as the second, etc. Saturday  and Sunday are the only days that are named rather than numbered. Saturday  is the Sabbath and Sunday in Russian is the word for "Resurrection". (The foregoing information on Greek and Slavic naming due to John Wilson, personal   communication). In   Hungarian, which is a non-Slavic language in a Roman Catholic country, Tuesday   appears to come from the word for 'two' ( but see note below ). Lithuanian and Latvian, neither   of which is Slavic, also name the days with numerals, with Monday coming  first. In more modern times, industrial society has done much to  destroy the traditional concept of Sunday as the first day. According to Webster's  Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary (1983), the term 'weekend', first recorded  in 1878, refers to 'the period between the close of one working or business  or school week and the beginning of the next'. This concept firmly places Sunday  at the end of the week. Possibly because of this, the International Standards Organisation  has decided that Monday should be regarded as the first day of the week. Calendars  in many European countries, in particular, now follow the ISO decision by starting  the week on Monday. Airline timetables also number the days from Monday as  1, Tuesday as 2, Wednesday as 3, etc. Information on the web is rather fragmentary, but references can be found  at On the Name of the Weekly Day of Rest by Michael Falk, Is  Sunday or Monday the first day of the week? , the Catholic Encyclopedia  ( Sunday ,  the Sabbath ,  and Liturgical   Week ), the Days    of the Week page, Larry     Freeman's Calendar Origin Page , Claus Tøndering's Calendar      FAQ , International       Units: The Week , and Wikipedia . Re Hungarian: The following note was received from Gyorgy Kereszti: In the Hungarian language, the name of Tuesday does not really come from the number two.  Tuesday = kedd and two


Which Baltic state replaced its Lats currency with Euros on 1st Jan 2014?

Latvia 2014 The Year or Peril | Latvian History Latvia 2014 The Year or Peril Another year is heading for an end. The last post of this year will be review of events that took place in Latvia during 2014.  In past I called the 2011 as the year or troubles, the 2012 the year of quarrels, the 2013 the year of struggles. What I choose for this year will be the Year of Peril. It was the peril of the aggression coming from our eastern borders, it was the peril of the new economic backslide and peril of perpetual troubles and struggles that started on 2009. Yet to start reviewing this year we must go back to November 21 2013. First it was the start of the protests in Kyiv, Ukraine that later affected our country and the Maxima supermarket roof collapse that took away 54 people’s lives  and lead to the collapse of the long-standing Valdis Dombrovskis government. Both these events that took place on the same time affected the Latvian inter and foreign policy. Around these two events the story of the perilous 2014 year will  be told. Latvia and the Ukrainian Conflict Last September I had chance to listen to the famous journalist and author Anne Apelbaum. The author of Gulag A History  and The Iron Curtain was no rushing to finish the book about the Golodomor the Great Ukrainian famine on 1932-1933. The book was delayed for many years because the publisher considered Ukraine as unimportant topic as nothing ever happens there that would boost the sales. So it seems that suddenly 2014 became actually the year of Ukraine. But, what started in Ukraine was no coincidence nor it was unexpected. The signs of brewing revolution and conflict were visible on summer 2013 when nation was discussing the coming EU Association agreement that the pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych had promised to sign. At same time some publications were suggesting of possible conflict between Russia and Ukraine in case of moving towards west. One publication was called “Russia could blow up the situation in Crimea”. The initial protests in Ukraine echoed in Latvian media and social circles. First support actions took place on December near the Ukrainian embassy. They were attended by 20-30 people, mostly the members of the Latvian Ukrainian Congress and the members of the National Alliance that expressed the support to the Ukrainian revolution. Yet the National Alliance  is pro-EU only for geopolitical reasons and their members like to play hockey with the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Yet, every further Ukrainian support action gathered more people from all kinds of political parties and social circles. For the starting slogans of the Euromaidan were for joining EU, saying no to corruption and adapting the western values of democracy were appealing to Latvia. We had our barricades on 1991 were we stood against communism and destroyed the communist symbols. While Kyiv was celebrating the demolition of the Lenin monument in Kyiv we are wondering what happened to most Lenin monuments that were taken down on 1991. Yet it was not just about monuments and agreement signing it was a fight for independence and sovereignty. What the 2004 Orange revolution failed to achieve the Euromaidan struggled with blood – full freedom from the yoke of Moscow. Something that every Russian neighbor strives for and for Ukrainians it is matter of historical honor the original Kievan Rus against the Grand Duchy of Moscow – the remnant of the Golden Horde. The Latvian official policy towards the Ukrainian revolution was supportive and it welcomed the new government that formed in the outcome of February 24 events. Yet what followed next – the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea and further invasion in Eastern Ukraine started the year of Peril. Many call this ongoing situation as the “New Cold War”, originally this therm was coined by British journalist Edward Lucas on 2008. When Russia provoked Georgia in to war and occupied two of its regions. Later both Russian leaders Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev   later admitted that they planned this war to prevent Georgi


Lord Richard Attenborough, who died in 2014, played which serial killer in his early acting career, in 10 Rillington Place?

Richard Attenborough obituary | Film | The Guardian Richard Attenborough obituary Outstanding figure in British cultural life, he was an actor, director and ebullient patron of several charities Richard Attenborough as Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock, 1947. Photograph: ABPC/Sportsphoto/Allstar Richard Attenborough obituary Outstanding figure in British cultural life, he was an actor, director and ebullient patron of several charities Sunday 24 August 2014 19.26 EDT First published on Sunday 24 August 2014 19.26 EDT Share on Messenger Close Richard Attenborough , who has died aged 90, had three distinct personas for those who followed his career in the entertainment world: the baby-faced, pint-sized actor, at turns, cocky and cowardly, later rotund in mostly creepy character roles; the film director of epics such as Gandhi, and Chaplin; and Lord "Dickie", ubiquitous, ebullient and lachrymose, presiding over a host of charitable organisations. However, each image merges into one complete picture of a cheerful humanitarian and imperishable idealist who, for over half a century, played an integral part in British cultural life. In the history of cinema, the image of the actor will probably be the most enduring, though physically Attenborough lacked the requirements of a romantic leading man (ironically, his younger brother, David, the wildlife expert, had the film-star looks). In fact, Attenborough was in front of the camera for over a quarter of a century before his directorial debut, at the age of 46, with Oh! What a Lovely War in 1969. His first screen role was as a callow stoker who deserts his post in Noël Coward's In Which We Serve (1942), told in flashback by survivors while they cling to a life raft after their ship has been sunk off Crete in May 1941. Small as the part was, the 19-year-old Attenborough made an impression as a cockney coward for Coward. A cockney he wasn't, though he played mainly working-class characters throughout his career. Attenborough's father, Frederick, was a Cambridge don, who later became principal of University College Leicester. Richard, born in Cambridge, was exposed to culture early. His parents and grandparents were all musical, and one of his first memories was hearing The Messiah conducted by Malcolm Sargent in the De Montfort Hall in Leicester. Above all, Richard and his two younger brothers, David and John, were brought up with a sense of social responsibility. Their mother, Mary, was chair of a committee to care for evacuee Basque children during the Spanish civil war, and she marched in protest against the bombing of Guernica. On the outbreak of the second world war, the Attenboroughs took two Jewish girls into their home, where they stayed for eight years. "That particular decision, not merely paying lip service but taking positive, responsible action to help other human beings, made a profound impression on me. It has, I suppose, affected my life and my attitudes ever since," Attenborough wrote. This is clear from most of his choices of subjects as a producer and director. He inherited his energy and non-stop activity from his mother, who died in a car accident, apparently suffering a heart attack as she was returning alone from a committee meeting. Attenborough was educated in Leicester, at Wyggeston grammar school, and showed his acting skills early on, gaining a scholarship to Rada in 1940. His first part in the West End was Ralph Berger, the younger son of a Bronx Jewish family in Clifford Odets's Awake and Sing. The Times said he played it "with sound understanding", while the Daily Sketch thought he "showed an intensity of feeling and restraint for a youngster who has a big future". A few months before joining the RAF in June 1943, Attenborough achieved his greatest stage success in Brighton Rock, adapted from the Graham Greene novel by Frank Harvey. Attenborough as Pinkie Brown, the vicious young Catholic gangster, according to the New Statesman, "deserves to have won fame in a single night, for his study in abnormal psychology is thoughtful, delicate and powerful." This f


Who triumphed playing 2014 Glastonbury Festival's 'legends' Sunday teatime slot?

Lionel Richie Recruited for Sunday Slot at Glastonbury 2015 - Rolling Stone Lionel Richie Reveals 'All Night Long' Gibberish "If I could pull off a Commodores reunion, I will be the miracle worker of life," says Richie "I'm really excited to play Glastonbury next year as it's one of the most iconic festivals in the world," Richie said in a statement. "It has a phenomenal history and the alumni of artists who have previously played is incredible so I'm honored to be joining that club. It will be a really special moment for me and I can't wait to share it with everyone. I can now say 'Yes, I'm playing Glastonbury.'" "[Richie's] one of the great soul legends. He’s got all the songs, some incredible songs, and I think he will get people on their feet. There will be a lot of love out there for Lionel," organizer Emily Eavis told the Guardian. This past summer, Richie was named "Best of the Fest"  on Rolling Stone's 45 Best Things We Saw at Bonnaroo 2014  list. The already-sold-out Glastonbury Festival will take place from June 24th to June 28th. At this year's Glastonbury, Dolly Parton occupied the Sunday teatime slot, and her performance reportedly drew one of the biggest audiences in Glastonbury's history, NME writes . "In many ways it's its own headline slot. And I'd say Dolly probably opened the door for Lionel," Eavis said. "We got the phone call from his agent saying he was up for coming down, pretty much as we were packing the tents away from this year's festival." Foo Fighters, AC/DC and Muse are among the frontrunners to headline the 2015 Glastonbury, with betting sites putting 8/11 odds on the Sonic Highways crew headlining one night of the Somerset festival. Among the more intriguing – but significantly less likely – artists receiving Glastonbury odds, according to NME: Led Zeppelin at 16/1, Pink Floyd at 20/1 (even though their new LP The Endless River marks "the end"  of the band) and a 25/1 chance that David Bowie ends his decade-long live performance hiatus with a gig at Glastonbury.


According to 2014 Twitter statistics, how many million tweets are sent every day?

Total number of registered Twitter users 695,750,000 Total number of active Twitter users 342,000,000 Number of new Twitter users signing up everyday 135,000 Number of unique Twitter site visitors every month 195 million Average number of tweets per day 58 million Number of Twitter search engine queries every day 2.1 billion Percent of Twitter users who use their phone to tweet 43 % Percent of tweets that come from third party applicants 60% Number of people that are employed by Twitter 2,500 Number of active Twitter users every month 115 million Percent of Twitters who don’t tweet but watch other people tweet 40% Number of days it takes for 1 billion tweets 5 days Number of tweets that happen every second 9,100


Geographically, Guantanamo Bay is located in?

History and Geography of Guantanamo Bay By  Erin Mahaney, Geography Intern Located four hundred miles from the mainland United States, Guantanamo Bay in the Guantanamo Province of Cuba is the oldest overseas American naval base. It is also the only naval base in a communist country, and the only one that has no political affiliation with the United States. With 45 miles of naval infrastructure, Guantanamo Bay is often called the " Pearl Harbor of the Atlantic." Due to its remote location and jurisdiction, Guantanamo Bay has been deemed by one United States government official as the “legal equivalent of outer space”. History of Guantanamo Bay In 1898, the Spanish American War united Cuba and the United States. Aided by the U.S., Cuba fought for independence from Spain. That same year, the U.S. captured Guantanamo Bay, and the Spanish surrendered. In December of 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed and Cuba was granted independence. At the wake of the 20th century, the U.S. formally leased this 45 square mile parcel from newly independent Cuba to use as a fueling station. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World The lease was renewed in 1934 under Fulgencio Batista and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration. The agreement required consent of both parties should either want to withdraw; that is, reconsider U.S. occupation of the base. Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba were severed in January of 1961. In hopes the U.S. will forfeit the base, Cuba no longer accepts the $5,000 annual American rent. In 2002, Cuba officially requested that Guantanamo Bay be returned. Interpretation of the 1934 mutual consent agreement differs, causing frequent squabbles between the two countries. In 1964, Fidel Castro cut off the base’s water supply in response to the U.S. government fining Cubans for fishing near Florida. As a result, Guantanamo Bay is self sufficient, and produces its own water and electricity. The naval base itself is divided into two functioning areas on either side of the bay. The east side of the bay is the main base, and the airfield occupies the west side. Today, both sides of the base’s 17-mile fence line are patrolled by U.S. Marines and Cuban militiamen. During the 1990s, social upheaval in Haiti brought over 30,000 Haitian refugees to Guantanamo Bay. In 1994, the base provided humanitarian services to thousands of migrants during Operation Sea Signal. That year, civilian employees and their families were evacuated from the base to accommodate for the influx of migrants. The migrant population climbed upwards of 40,000. By 1996, the Haitian and Cuban refugees had filtered out, and family members of the military were allowed to return. Ever since, Guantanamo Bay sees a small, steady migrant population of about 40 people each year. Geography and Land Use of Guantanamo Bay Lying on the southeast corner of Cuba, the climate of Guantanamo Bay is typical of a Caribbean country. Hot and humid year round, Provincial Guantanamo experiences a rainy season from May to October, and a dry season from November to April. The name “Guantanamo” means “land among rivers”. The entire southeast region of Cuba is known for its extensive rural mountainous zones and river basins. The lands surrounding the Guantanamo Bay naval base began generating American capital during the late 20th century. Just northwest of Guantanamo Bay, the economy of Guantanamo City thrives on the fruits of the sugar industry and extensive military employment opportunities. The bay itself is a 12-mile long north-south indentation, and is six miles across. Islands, peninsulas and coves can be found on the east side of the bay. The Guantanamo Valley lies west of the bay along the Sierra Maestra. The lowlands on the west side are adorned in mangroves. Its flat nature makes it ideal for Guantanamo’s airfield. Similar to many American towns, Guantanamo Bay is furnished with subdivisions, baseball fields and chain restaurants. Roughly 10,000 people reside there, 4,000 of which are in the U.S. military. The remaining


Which sugar confectionery adopted the slogan 'Taste the Rainbow' in 1994?

Popular Candy from the 1980's - Candycrate.com - Skittles Home | Candy by Occasion | New Years Eve Candy | Candy by Decade | Popular 1980's Candy | Skittles Skittles Skittles are brightly colored crunchy candy shells over chewy fruity centers. Skittles were first introduced in the United States as an imported item in 1979, it wasn't until 1982 that domestic production began. Surprisingly, the classic slogan 'taste the rainbow,' didn't come into play until 1994. There are various assortments and varieties of colors, flavors, and themes. Currently, Candy Crate offers the Sour Skittles and Original Skittles, but may expand in the future.


The Golden Spurtle is an annual world championship, held at Scotland's Cairngorms National Park, for?

Spurtles at dawn for porridge-makers | Strathspey and Badenoch Herald | Features Tweet Spurtles at dawn for porridge-makers Lynn Benge, who was crowned World Champion Porridge-maker last year, and hopes to defend her title this year. SPURTLES are at the ready with an invitation to porridge-makers far and wide to battle it out for the title of World Porridge Making Champion 2006. The 13th annual World Porridge Making Championship is set to be held in Carrbridge on Sunday, October 8. The organisers of this popular event are now calling for entries from anyone who thinks they are worthy of taking the world title. Entries are invited from restaurant and hotel chefs, as well as guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments across Scotland and further afield, as well as individuals who consider themselves to make a championship bowl of porridge. The title of World Porridge Making Champion is awarded to the contender deemed to have made the best traditional porridge using oatmeal, water and salt. As well as the coveted title and the 'Golden Spurtle trophy, the winner of the competition, sponsored by Scotlands leading oatmeal producer, Hamlyns of Scotland, will receive a £350 hotel voucher and a cash prize of £250. Contestants are also invited to enter the 'Speciality Porridge competition, for porridge with other ingredients added. The speciality section is sponsored by Columba Cream and has a cash prize of £150, while the winner also receives a special quaich named in memory of four-times World Porridge Making Champion, Duncan Hilditch. The championship, which is to be among the events included in the celebration of the Highland Year of Culture 2007, is followed with interest by connoisseurs of the traditional national dish across the globe. This years panel of judges includes George McIvor, chairman of the Master Chefs of Great Britain; Master Chefs Scottish chairman Colin Bussey, who is executive head chef at the prestigious Glen-eagles Hotel, and celebrity guest, Scottish cookery writer and demonstrator, Fi Bird. Among those who have already signed up to take part in the championship are last years winner, Carrbridge guest house owner Lynn Benge, and speciality winner Lara Smith, from the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat. Mrs Benge said she would be doing her best to defend her title. It has been a fantastic year, with no end of TV, radio and press coverage, as well as guests, including a couple from South Africa, who have come to stay at our guesthouse just because they had heard about the championship, she said. The annual event is organised by Carrbridge Community Council, whose chairman, Scott Bruce, said everyone was looking forward to this years contest, which starts with a Toast to the Porridge and piper-led procession along the village main street. Mr Bruce commented: This prestigious annual event has built up an international following and generates a huge amount of interest across the world. Last year we had a strong line-up of contenders of all nationalities, and we expect this years contest to be just as exciting. Mr Alan Meikle, general manager and director of main sponsors Hamlyns of Scotland, said: Hamlyns are delighted to continue to support the World Porridge Making Championship, which continues to go from strength to strength. There is a huge increasing interest in the benefits of porridge, with people becoming more aware of the importance of oats in the diet, and the championship provides a great opportunity to highlight the healthy eating message, with porridge cooked in the traditional way. As well as the main championship event, there is the Carrbridge Challenge with a 5km, 3km and minis fun run sponsored by Nairns Oatcakes. Also forming part of the programme are the Cairngorm Farmers Market; product tastings; craft stalls; live music and street entertainment. Further details about the championship and an entry form can be found on the website at www.goldenspurtle.com .