Month: January 2017

Soccer bid

The Geelong-based bid – under the working guise of Victoria Patriots – is being fronted by former Socceroos player Steve Horvat and will also represent Warrnambool, Colac, Hamilton and the rest of western Victoria. Horvat, who made 32 appearances for Australia, said the consortium of investors had used the Western Sydney Wanderers model as inspiration and was looking to build links with regional Victorian cities.

History beckons for Serena, Venus in the way

Serena Williams of USA returns the ball to Johanna Konta of Great Britain during their Australian Open women’s singles match at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne, Australia on January 25, 2017. Recep ?akar – Anadolu Agency Melbourne: History beckons for Serena Williams at the Australian Open on Saturday as she targets a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title — with her sister, Venus, standing in the way.

China marks Lunar New Year with prayers, incense, fireworks

North Korean refugees and their family members bow to respect their ancestors in North Korea as they celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Millions of South Koreans visit their hometowns during the four-day holiday that began Friday.

Trump, May affirm special relationship between US, UK

President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May appeared chummy as they faced a curious world together for the first time Friday, pledging allegiance to the special relationship between their countries while trying to mask stark differences on some major issues. US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May speak during a press conference at the White House January 27, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Frankfurt beat Schalke 1-0 in German Bundesliga

Alexander Meier’s goal helped Eintracht Frankfurt to edge struggling Schalke 1-0 at the opener of the 18th round in Bundesliga on Friday. Eintracht Frankfurt reaped their ninth win of the season as veteran striker Alexander Meier provided the only goal of the clash to keep Schalke in the bottom half of the standings.

Study indicates air-polluting chemicals can travel far

A new study indicates that tiny floating particles can grow semi-solid around pollutants, allowing them to last longer and travel much farther than what previous global climate models predicted. Pollutants from fossil fuel burning, forest fires and biofuel consumption include air-polluting chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.

Russia appears to now be helping out the Taliban

In this Nov. 4, 2016 photo, Afghan villagers gather around several victims’ bodies who were killed during clashes between Taliban and Afghan security forces in the Taliban-controlled, Buz-e Kandahari village in Kunduz province, Afghanistan. less In this Nov. 4, 2016 photo, Afghan villagers gather around several victims’ bodies who were killed during clashes between Taliban and Afghan security forces in the Taliban-controlled, Buz-e Kandahari village in … more Back in the 1980s, the US supported Afghan “freedom fighters” against the Soviet Union.

Sale 41-3 Cardiff Blues: Sharks enjoy big win

Sale 41-3 Cardiff Blues: Sharks march to the top of Anglo-Welsh Cup Pool 2 as Laurence Pearce scores two tries Laurence Pearce touched down twice as Sale Sharks moved to the top of Pool 2 in the Anglo-Welsh Cup following a dominant 41-3 triumph over an inexperienced Cardiff Blues side. Denny Solomona and Jonathan Mills tries gave the Sharks a 14-0 lead before the Welsh region got on the board via Jarrod Evans’ penalty.

BSP’s major minority problem: Few known Muslim campaigners

Party chief Mayawati has been trying hard to forge a Dalit-Muslim combination in support of the BSP. Despite fielding 99 Muslim candidates -a record high for the party – and basing its gameplan to a large extent on the Dalit-Muslim plank, the BSP does not have many popular Muslim faces to take on the heavyweights campaigning, and contesting, for its rivals, especially in the Samajwadi Party -Congress alliance.

Arvind Kejriwal storms Captain Amarinder Singh bastion of Patiala with huge road show

On a day when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi announced Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh as the chief ministerial candidate of the party in Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief stormed Amarinder’s bastion of Patiala by putting up an impressive road show despite the rain. Starting from the bus station, the road show with Kejriwal atop an open vehicle, accompanied by party MP Bhagwant Mann and Patiala candidate Dr Balbir Singh, painted the town in party’s colour as countless flags, buntings and AAP’s signature caps and bunches of brooms were seen on the road.

There was a time when Barelvis used to assert themselves peacefully

Governor Taseer’s son, Shaan Taseer, has been speaking out on social media against the persecution of non-Muslims in the name of blasphemy. In the first week of 2017, Lahore was paralysed by roadblocks set up by the government to deny entry to mobs opposed to the observance of the day Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was killed in 2011 by his police guard.

Class Ring Lost by WWII Vet 73 Years Ago Returned to Family

The family of a deceased World War II veteran from New Jersey has been reunited with his 1938 class ring, lost 73 years ago while he was serving in the South Pacific . Nearly 50 people gathered Thursday at Audubon High School for the ceremonial return of Edward J. Dodds’ ring after it was discovered in Papua New Guinea in 2013.

Israelis Seek to Comfort Holocaust’s Loneliest Survivors

Surrounded by more than 100 fellow Holocaust survivors and young volunteers, a blind Ernest Weiner sat in his wheelchair with a puffy crown on his head as the crowd sang happy birthday and showered him with hugs and greetings. The widowed and childless 92-year-old Weiner lives on his own and the cheerful gathering offered him one of life’s most valuable commodities – company.

Now it’s 10+6: Govt names more BJP members to PSU boards

A fresh list of independent director-appointees to central public sector enterprises, released Friday by the Department of Personnel and Training , comprises at least six more members of the BJP. This comes a day after The Indian Express reported that the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had on January 24 approved at least 10 BJP members to be on the boards of state-owned companies.

Lone teacher to sign Kashmir petition quits Ashoka University

Dr Rajendran Narayanan, the only teacher at Ashoka University who signed a petition which condemned the violence over militant Burhan Wani’s death and called for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, has resigned from the Sonepat institution’s mathematics department citing “ethical reasons”. Narayanan quit on December 15, a day before the semester ended.

Before resignation under sexual harassment cloud, Meghalaya Governor held interviews, promoted PA

DIRECT CALLS by the Governor for personal interviews; a woman candidate who was appointed as a private assistant and later reappointed as a Public Relations Officer at the Meghalaya Raj Bhavan. Apart from allegations of sexual impropriety levelled by his own staff, documents reviewed by The Indian Express and interviews with some of the women candidates, who had applied for two PRO posts at the Raj Bhavan, have revealed unusual deviations from norm by V Shanmuganathan, who quit as Meghalaya Governor late Thursday following a nudge from the Centre.

Whangarei paddler to race on World SUP tour

Marcus Hansen hopes training on pulsating down wind runs along Tutukaka coast and kilometres on the quieter waters of Whangarei Harbour will be the fitness foundation needed for a string of top performances on the international stand up paddle boarding circuit this year. The 24-year-old Whangarei man’s paddling career was given a huge boost late last year with international board makers NSP sponsoring the relative newcomer to the sport to compete overseas.

Croatia’s Jews Boycott Holocaust Remembrance in Protest

Croatia’s Jewish community on Friday boycotted the official Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, saying the conservative government is not doing enough to curb pro-Nazi sentiments in the European Union’s newest member. Ognjen Kraus, the coordinator of the Jewish communities in Croatia , said the decision was made after authorities failed to remove a plaque bearing a World War II Croatian pro-Nazi salute from the town of Jasenovac.

Trump, UK prime minister emphasize ‘special relationship’ at White House

In his first official meeting with a foreign leader, President Trump prepared Friday to welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May to the White House for talks that center on trade, the British withdrawal from the European Union, and the future of the NATO military alliance. Trump, UK prime minister emphasize ‘special relationship’ at White House In his first official meeting with a foreign leader, President Trump prepared Friday to welcome British Prime Minister Theresa May to the White House for talks that center on trade, the British withdrawal from the European Union, and the future of the NATO military alliance.

Prince Harry: Engaged to Meghan Markle! Sort Of

An anonymous source, who the tabloid swears is a real person who actually knows stuff, shouts on the above cover that Markle is on track to be England’s first “American Princess.” “He was worried she would think he was being rash, but she said yes right away.

Alex Hales blow gives England’s Sam Billings chance to shine on West Indies tour

Sam Billings has been handed a golden chance to ink his name into England’s Champions Trophy team after Alex Hales’ broken hand ruled the opener out of next month’s trip to the West Indies. The Twenty20 series in India may have only just begun, England winning the first of three matches handsomely in Kanpur on Thursday, but thoughts are already turning to the Caribbean and preparations for the global tournament on home soil in June.

Canada trade minister: can resolve Bombardier funding without WTO

Jan 27 Canada’s newly appointed trade minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Friday he has told Brazil he is open to resolving a feud over funding for jet maker Bombardier without turning to the World Trade Organization. In December, Brazil said it will start proceedings against Canada at the WTO over what it calls unfair support worth $2.5 billion for Bombardier from the province of Quebec.

Jays’ Osuna honoured by Mexican government

Toronto Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna was honoured in his native Mexico this week in recognition of his strong 2016 season. Osuna was named the 2016 recipient of National Sports Award, handed out annually by Mexico’s National Commission for Sport.

Purdon predicting punters should stand by Lazarus and Have Faith In Me

Lazarus may still be a touch short of his peak, but expect him to bounce back in Saturday night’s Victoria Cup. The runaway New Zealand Trotting Cup winner was upset by Inter Dominion winning stablemate Smolda in last week’s Group I Ballarat Pacing Cup but Mark Purdon has an air of confidence in his voice ahead of this week’s A$400,000 assignment.

Jo Stevens is the first member of Jeremy Corbyn’s top team to resign over the issue

Jeremy Corbyn was attempting to prevent a widespread revolt over Brexit after a member of the shadow cabinet quit over his decision to force Labour MPs to support the Article 50 Bill. The Labour leader acknowledged MPs in strongly Remain-supporting areas were “understandably torn” over the three-line whip requiring them to back the legislation for Theresa May to start the Brexit process.

Manitobaa s top court opens floodgate to First Nations class action lawsuit

The Manitoba Court of Appeal says First Nations members who were forced off their land by flooding in 2011 can proceed with a class-action lawsuit against the provincial government. Wednesday’s unanimous ruling from the three-member panel says the lawsuit makes the most sense, given the central question of whether the province’s actions to fight the high water caused the massive Interlake flooding that affected thousands of people.

Barcelona bans new tourist accommodations in the city center

Tourist gather in front of Sagrada Familia church, designed by architect Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. Barcelona will curb the number of rooms for visitors in the city center in a controversial move aimed to appease residents concerned about sky-high property prices and opposed by hotel and business owners.