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A Girl Called Hope
Telephone 09 443 7136
Address Confidential Residential Home
Postal Address PO Box 302 197, North Harbour, Auckland 0751
Website http://www.agirlcalledhope.org.nz
Regions Served North Shore, Rodney, Waitakere, Other Auckland areas
Residential programme for young women (16-28yrs) from throughout NZ. For those motivated for change by addressing the drivers and effects of life-controlling issues and behaviour such as anxiety, depression, disordered eating, self-harm, suicidal ideation and unplanned pregnancy. Holistic approach based on Christian values. Not a crisis or emergency service. Suitable for applicants keen to strengthen their internal locus of control.
Ara Taiohi
Website http://www.arataiohi.org.nz
Ara Taiohi is the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa. It brings together people and organisations that work with young people (those aged 12 to 25).
Barnardos New Zealand
Address 247 Edmonton Road, Te Atatu South
Website http://www.barnardos.org.nz
Barnardos provides a variety of services: Child and Family Services Footsteps to feeling safe programme Home based Care After School Care KidsStart, Early Childhood Parenting through Separation Parenting Programmes Children's Supervised Contact and LEAP, a programme working with vulnerable children
CARE Waitakere Trust
Address 64 Waipani Road, Te Atatu Peninsula
Website http://www.carewaitakere.org.nz
Regions Served Waitakere
CARE Waitakere Trust has a team of passionate professional Counsellors, Budget Advisors and a Family Support Worker working to provide services that effectively address disadvantage and promote community well-being. Free budgeting, advocacy and family support services are available, as well as affordable counselling and therapy groups for children, adolescents and adults.
ChangeWorks (c/o Family Action)
Website http://www.familyaction.org.nz
Regions Served North Shore, Rodney, Waitakere
Family Action now offers the ChangeWorks programmes and also a range of services for those who have experienced abuse, trauma, family and sexual violence. Including counselling, outreach, women's refuge and youth programmes.
Child Connection
Telephone 021 288 3344
Address 411 Glenfield Road, Glenfield, Auckland 0629
Website http://www.childconnection.org.nz
Regions Served North Shore
Child Connection is not-for-profit organisation that stands for the universal right of every child to feel closeness and belonging. Touch/Massage programmes have been created by CEO Eva Scherer and are delivered to parents, and various educational organisations for children, such as kindergartens and schools. These programmes prevent child abuse, depression, suicide, and family violence. Based on years of research, they also contribute to building healthy families and communities.
Child Matters
Address 480 Anglesea Street, Hamilton
Postal Address PO Box 679, Hamilton 3240
Website http://www.childmatters.org.nz
Child Matters works throughout New Zealand, educating, supporting and inspiring adults to protect children. Child Matters' work includes: Delivering nationally recognised child protection education to the children's workforce, Advising organisations on child Advocating for the rights of children.
Child, Women & Family Services
Telephone 09 486 8900 (North Shore), 09 422 2700 (Warkworth), 09 427 0300 (Rodney)
09 839 0000 (Waitakere)
Address 124 Shakespeare Road, Takapuna, North Shore, 0622 (North Shore)
55-75 Lincoln Road, Henderson (Waitakere)
Website http://www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/
Women's Health Services:These include maternity services, obstetrics and gynecology services, antenatal clinics and childbirth education.Child Health Services:These include pediatrics, the Home Care for Kids (HC4K) service and child disability services.Community Child Health Services:This service provides such resources as Public Health Nurses, Ear Nurse Specialists, Vision Hearing Technicians and Social Workers.Auckland Regional Dental Service (ARDS):Free dental care for children aged 0-18.
Children's Autism Foundation (CAF)
Address Lion Foundation House, 3 William Laurie Place, Albany, Auckland 0632
Postal Address PO Box 301 220, Albany 0752 Auckland
Website http://www.autism.org.nz
Children's Autism provide affordable and accessible programmes and services for families/whanau and carers of children/youth with autism (up to 21 years). Workshops and training are provided for communities and professionals to increase awareness, understanding and knowledge about the autism spectrum.
Coast Youth Community Trust
Telephone 09 972 575 9211
Address 6 Wade River Road, Arkles Bay, Whangaparoa
Postal Address PO Box 98 Whangaparaoa 0932
Website http://www.cyctrust.org.nz
Regions Served Rodney
Coast Youth Community Trust is an independent charitable entity established to work with 11-18 year olds and their families on the Hibiscus Coast. The objective is to provide leadership, direction and management of resources to nurture, support, mentor and coach young people, their caregivers and their families.
Community Alcohol and Drug Services Altered High Youth Service (CADS)
Address L2, 409 New North Rd, Kingsland, Auckland
Website http://www.alteredhigh.com
We are a team of health professionals that helps young people with concerns about their own, or someone else's alcohol or drug use. We provide interventions to reduce the harm from alcohol or drug use and help young people stop using alcohol and/or drugs. We work with you at your pace and focus on what you want to achieve – a positive treatment experience is what gets results. We are a confidential service and are happy to take an individual or family approach. We see young people aged 13 – 19 years from all over the wider Auckland region. We can do this because we are mobile. We can see you in a place that suits you, for example at school, in community rooms or at home.
Community Child Health
Address 3 Shea Terrace, Takapuna, Auckland, 0622
Postal Address PO Box 93503, Takapuna, 0740
Community Child Health comprises of several organisations working together to deliver services that focus on family as the constant in a child's life and that families want what is best for their child. The services' approach is family centred supporting families in their hopes and aspirations for the child by building on each child and family's uniqueness.
Discovery Foundation
Website http://www.discoveryforteens.org.nz
The Discovery Foundation exists to give young people the skills, tools and strategies that enable them to get the best out of life and to deal effectively with life's challenges. The Discovery programmes are designed to promote self-esteem and to encourage young people to reach their full potential.
Essentially Men
Address 13 Maidstone Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, 1021
Postal Address PO Box 68 311, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141
Website http://www.essentiallymen.net
Registered Charitable Trust dedicated to supporting men of all ages, fostering an ethos of men supporting each other in the context of their whanau and community through transformational courses, events and Men's Groups. Courses include the renowned Essentially Men/Men Being Real weekend, and the Pathways To Manhood programme for Fathers & Sons (13-15 years).
Family Information Service - Starship
Address Level 3, Starship Children's Health, Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023 (opposite Outpatients)
Postal Address Private Bag 92024, Victoria Street West, Auckland, 1142
Website http://www.starship.org.nz
The Family Information Service is a free service providing families/whanau in New Zealand with information about children's medical conditions and disabilities, including support group details.
Fostering Kids
Telephone 0800 693 323 or 027 538 9691
Postal Address PO Box 30188, Lower Hutt, 5040
Website http://www.fosteringkids.org.nz
Fostering Kids NZ. Here to support caregiver families who open their homes and hearts to children and young people in need of care and protection. We do this by providing training, encouragement, advocacy, information, publications & support services to caregiver families, so that the placement has the best possible chance of success.
Graeme Dingle Foundation
Address 6 Triton Drive, Albany, North Shore 0632
Postal Address PO Box 305 474, Triton Plaza, North Shore 0757
Website http://www.dinglefoundation.org.nz
The Dingle Foundation is a leading organisation managing proven youth development programmes, aimed to inspire school aged children to reach their full potential. Programmes include: Kiwi Can Stars Career Navigator Mentoring Youth New Development (MYND) Project K
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ (GRG)
Address Unit C, Chelsea Business Park, 162 Mokoia Road, Birkenhead, Auckland 0626
Postal Address PO Box 34892, Birkenhead
Website http://www.grg.org.nz
GRG Trust provides support and information to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren full time.
Kaipatiki Youth Development Trust (KYDT)
Address Marlborough Park Hall, 13r Chartwell Avenue, Marlborough Park Hall, Auckland, 0629
Postal Address PO Box 34344, Birkenhead, Auckland, 0626
Website http://www.kydt.org.nz
Kaipatiki Youth Development Trust offers: Mentoring Youth programmes in after school (referrals only) Social work Support Counselling supervision
Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower Trust
Telephone 0800 543 769 or 03 543 2669
Address 206 George Harvey Rd, RD1, Upper Moutere, Nelson 7173
Website http://www.kidpower.org.nz
A charitable organisation which aims to teach people of all ages and abilities the skills to keep themselves physically and emotionally safe with people they know and don't know.
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Religious Support & Churches


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Monthly Market Snapshot: August 2022
Brett Hinds, Senior Client Services Writer
Ryan Greenleaf, CFA, Product Reporting Lead
Monthly Market Snapshot: August 2022 chevron_right
The views expressed are those of the authors at the time of writing. Other teams may hold different views and make different investment decisions. The value of your investment may become worth more or less than at the time of original investment. While any third-party data used is considered reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed. For professional, institutional, or accredited investors only.
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Global equities (-2.9%) lost ground in August, ending the month with a 14.2% loss year to date. Risk-off sentiment was driven by high inflation, rising interest rates, and growing signs of a global economic slowdown. US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the central bank would continue raising interest rates until it was confident that inflation was under control, acknowledging the unfavorable impacts the policy will have on consumers and businesses. Powell's comments were met negatively by some investors who had hoped the bank would slow its pace of rate hikes to shelter the economy from recession. In sharp contrast, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) cut interest rates in an attempt to revive the country's sputtering economy. China's strict COVID containment policies and property market disarray weakened consumer, producer, and investment activity. Inflation remained elevated globally, notably within the UK, where prices jumped 10.1% year over year in July, the largest increase in 40 years. European natural gas prices continued to skyrocket, prompting energy ministers to call an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the continent's energy crisis. Tokyo's core CPI, a leading indicator of Japan's price trends, rose 2.6% in August from a year earlier, the sharpest increase since 1992. Droughts in some of the world's biggest economies strained agriculture, electricity generation, manufacturing, and tourism, compounding pressure on prices and supply chains. Oil declined for the third straight month amid slowing economic growth.
US equities (-4.1%) ended lower after a strong rally earlier in the month reversed course amid concerns about aggressive interest-rate hikes, the looming ramp-up in the Fed's balance-sheet reduction, and anxiety about future corporate earnings. Growth stocks lagged their value counterparts, although both groups declined. Markets took some comfort from surprisingly soft inflation data; the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew 8.5% year over year in July, down from 9.1% in June, while the Producer Price Index (PPI) fell 0.5% — the first decline since the onset of the pandemic. Even as the outlook for US economic growth appeared increasingly murky, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled that the Fed is likely to continue raising interest rates and keep them elevated for longer until there is clear and convincing evidence that price pressures are abating.
President Joe Biden signed into law legislation to lower prescription drug prices, boost renewable energy, and impose new taxes on corporations, giving Democrats hope that the law will help their party retain congressional majorities in the November elections. Data from FactSet showed the blended second-quarter earnings growth rate for companies in the S&P 500 Index was 6.3% — the lowest since the fourth quarter of 2020 — but better than the forecast of 3.9%. For the third quarter, analysts lowered their earnings-per-share estimate by 5.4% relative to their estimates in the second quarter.
Economic data released in August indicated that the US economy was largely resilient against a backdrop of high inflation and slowing growth. Broad-based strength in the labor market tempered recession worries but bolstered the Fed's resolve to aggressively tighten monetary policy to curtail inflation. In July, job growth was more than double consensus estimates as nonfarm payrolls soared by 528,000 — the largest gain in five months — while the number of jobs added in June was revised upward to 398,000. The unemployment rate dropped to a five-decade low of 3.5%, initial jobless claims trended lower, and average hourly earnings grew at the fastest pace since March, accelerating 0.5% (5.2% annually). Decades-high inflation constrained consumer outlays on goods and services, although falling gas prices and strong wage growth supported spending and cushioned the impact of high prices. US retail sales were flat in July following a 0.8% increase in June, while inflation-adjusted consumer spending advanced only 0.2% after a 0.1% gain in June. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index advanced 7.9 points, to 103.2 in August, reflecting more favorable views of current conditions, a better outlook for household finances and business conditions, and a stronger appetite for purchasing big-ticket items and vacations. Rising mortgage rates and waning demand caused further deterioration in the housing market in July, as construction tumbled and pending, new-, and existing-home sales continued to trend downward.
The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Index held at 52.8 in August, matching the slowest pace of growth in the sector for over two years. Manufacturers remained broadly optimistic about demand despite unease about the slowing economy, while input costs dropped sharply, and supply-chain performance improved slightly. Firmer business activity and orders unexpectedly lifted the ISM Services Index to 56.7 in July, from 55.3 in June, easing concerns about a broader US economic slowdown. However, preliminary data for August indicated that business activity in the services sector was markedly softer as demand weakened amid higher inflation and tighter financial conditions. Small-business sentiment improved slightly in July after hitting a nine-year low in June, although businesses continued to suffer from historically high inflation, supply disruptions, and labor shortages.
Nine of the 11 sectors in the S&P 500 Index (-4.1%) posted negative results. Information technology (-6.1%) was the worst-performing sector, led lower by semiconductors & semiconductor equipment (-10.8%) and software (-7.1%). Health care (-5.8%) was another notable underperformer, weighed down by the life sciences tools & services (-9.3%) and pharmaceuticals (-8.2%) groups. Real estate (-5.6%) lagged as REITs fell on continued housing market pressures. Despite the decline in crude oil and gasoline prices, energy (+2.8%) gained, driven by exploration & production companies.
European equities (-3.9%) dropped as fears of recession intensified amid soaring inflation, rapidly tightening financial conditions, and fears about the region's energy security. Europe's energy crisis deepened after natural gas prices hit a series of record highs following Russia's announcement of a three-day shutdown of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline at the end of August and uncertainty about Russian gas flows during the critical winter months. Furthermore, Europe's electricity production was curtailed by abnormally hot temperatures and drought, which pushed power prices to an all-time high, strained the region's agriculture sector, and impeded the shipment of goods via the region's waterways. The European Commission announced that it is preparing emergency measures to curb the price of electricity as well as drawing up structural reforms to the power market. Higher energy prices drove annual headline inflation in the eurozone to 9.1% in July, increasing pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to raise interest rates more aggressively in September.
Europe's manufacturing sector continued to contract in August as companies were forced to cut production due to falling sales and rising inventories. The manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declined to 49.6, and forward-looking indicators suggested that the downturn could intensify in the coming months. On a brighter note, inflation pressures eased as input costs and output prices decelerated. Preliminary composite PMI data for August showed that business activity across the eurozone declined for the second straight month, signaling that a recession in the second half of 2022 is increasingly likely. The services sector remained in expansionary territory, although the pace of growth continued to trend lower as the higher cost of living sapped demand. Eurozone economic sentiment waned in August; signs of stabilizing consumer confidence were not enough to offset weaker services confidence and a steeper drop in industry confidence, which fell for the sixth consecutive month amid lower orders and rising inventories.
In the UK (-1.3%), Liz Truss was the frontrunner to become the country's new prime minister. Despite forecasts of recession later this year and a more dire outlook for economic growth, the Bank of England (BOE) hiked interest rates by 50 basis points (bps) — the largest increase in more than 25 years. Spiraling food and energy costs drove annual inflation to a 40-year high of 10.1% in July, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis and amplifying criticism of the BOE. In Germany (-5.1%), economists slashed forecasts for economic growth as the country faced a plethora of shocks, including soaring inflation, persistent supply-chain disruptions, weaker global demand, and surging energy costs that have severely impacted the manufacturing sector. Germany's energy regulator warned that the country must cut its gas use by 20% to avoid winter rationing. The ZEW Institute's gauge of investor expectations showed that investor pessimism about the economy reached the highest level since the eurozone debt crisis. In Italy (-3.3%), markets were unnerved by the country's vulnerability to rising gas prices and the ECB's decision to unwind its stimulus programs. Political uncertainty increased after a right-wing bloc emerged as the frontrunner to win a broad majority in both houses of parliament in September's snap elections.
Pacific Basin
Pacific Basin equities (+0.5%) advanced, led by Japan (+1.1%). Japan's economy was resilient despite headwinds from a resurgence in COVID, weakness in the yen, and slower global economic growth. The yen fell to a 24-year low against the dollar, pushing up the prices of imported fuel and raw materials and threatening corporate profits and consumption at a time when Japan's economy is still recovering from a pandemic-induced slump. Tokyo's core CPI accelerated 2.6% year over year in August, slightly above estimates of 2.5%, and ahead of the Bank of Japan's (BOJ's) 2% target for the fifth straight month. Prices gains broadened beyond food and energy, highlighting the rising cost of living that could dampen household spending. Nevertheless, retail sales climbed for the fifth straight month, rising 2.4% year over year in July and signaling that consumer spending remains resilient even as the number of COVID cases skyrocketed. The unemployment rate held steady at 2.6% in July. Industrial production increased 1.0% in July following a 9.2% increase in June; the result was much better than consensus expectations of a 0.5% decline, offering hope that Japan's recovery could be stronger than anticipated in the third quarter. The au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing PMI remained in expansionary territory but slipped to an 11-month low of 51.5 in August amid slowing global economic growth.
Australia (+0.7%) ended higher. The central bank continued to tighten monetary policy at the fastest pace on record, raising interest rates by 50 bps and lifting the cash rate to 1.85%. The bank signaled more rate hikes ahead but hinted that it may slow the pace of increases. The economy unexpectedly shed 40,900 jobs in July, below expectations of a 25,000 gain, giving the central bank greater flexibility in its tightening cycle. The unemployment rate fell to a 48-year low of 3.4%, with a decline in the participation rate reflecting floods along the nation's east coast, a renewed COVID outbreak, and school holidays. Consumer spending was resilient despite the cost-of-living strains; retail sales advanced 1.3% in July, well above estimates of 0.3%. However, rising interest rates and high inflation drove consumer sentiment down to 81.2 in August, marking the ninth consecutive monthly drop.
Singapore (-1.0%) declined for the fourth time in five months. Headline inflation rose at the fastest pace in more than 13 years, surging 7.0% year over year amid a rapid increase in food costs and a broadening of price pressures. This bolstered prospects that the central bank would tighten monetary policy in September. Second-quarter GDP grew 4.4% year over year, slower than the government's forecast of 4.8%. The government subsequently lowered its 2022 GDP growth projections, citing global economic headwinds from high inflation and the war in Ukraine. Industrial production growth was much weaker than expected, declining for the second straight month as biomedical and electronics manufacturing output fell.
Emerging markets (EM) equities (+1.2%) ended higher. Latin America was the top performer, followed by Asia and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
Latin American equities (+2.2%) advanced, with Brazil (+6.2%) leading the region higher. President Jair Bolsonaro introduced election-friendly policies aimed at subsidizing low-income households and supporting legislation to cap state-level taxes on essential services. The Brazilian central bank increased interest rates by 50 bps, to 13.75%, up sharply from a low of 2.0% in 2020. However, the bank's future guidance was more dovish than expected, signaling that its aggressive policy-tightening cycle may be nearing a peak. Chile (1.8%) advanced despite slowing domestic demand amid tighter financial conditions and uncertainty about whether voters will approve a draft of a new constitution. Mexico (-6.1%) fell sharply as consumer prices rose at a faster-than-expected pace in August, reinforcing expectations that the central bank will need to raise rates again in September.
Asian equities (+1.3%) finished higher. In India (+4.4%), below-average rainfall hindered rice production and ignited negotiations to curb exports of broken rice to support domestic consumption, which could have far-reaching implications for food security and inflation in many countries that rely on the staple. India's trade deficit ballooned to a record US$31.02 billion in July because of high commodity prices and a weakening rupee. China (+0.6%) edged higher despite anxiety about the health of the economy, renewed COVID restrictions in some cities, and a worsening outlook for the property market. The manufacturing sector contracted in August, and several key activity indicators showed that economic growth had slowed, prompting more downgrades to GDP forecasts. Government authorities increased policy support, while the PBOC unexpectedly lowered two key interest rates, although there were concerns that these measures would be insufficient to counter the property market slump and the drag from COVID lockdowns. South Korea (-0.5%) and Taiwan (+0.4%) generated modest moves. Numerous US lawmakers, including US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan in August in support of the government and democracy, enraging China's government and driving tensions between the US and China to their highest in years. In Thailand (+4.7%), monthly foreign tourist visits in July exceeded one million for the first time since the pandemic.
EMEA (0.1%) equities finished flat. Turkey (+24.6%) soared as foreign investors purchased stocks at the fastest pace since last November and Turkish investors acquired equities to protect against the highest inflation in a quarter of a century. Even as inflation surged to nearly 80% in July, the central bank unexpectedly cut its policy rate by 100 bps to 13% and introduced new policy that more closely ties rates on consumer loans to the policy rate in an attempt to counter signs that the US$800 billion economy might be slowing. In Hungary (+0.4%), the central bank lifted rates by 100 bps to 11.75%, and the government introduced a five-point plan to support the agriculture sector against extraordinary drought damage. A deteriorating outlook for energy supplies hurt Poland (-12.0%) and the Czech Republic (-9.1%), while the hawkish stance of their central banks moderated as economic growth slowed. South Africa (-1.8%) ended modestly lower.
Fixed income markets were weighed down by slowing economic growth, an intensifying energy crisis, and steadfast hawkish policies from major central banks to combat unyielding inflation, which elicited a sharp increase in sovereign yields. Spread sectors posted mixed excess-return results.
US economic releases showed resiliency in the economy, and a drop in energy prices provided some near-term relief from inflationary pressures. The labor market remained strong amid a surprisingly robust gain in nonfarm payrolls, particularly in the retail, health, and professional services sectors. The ISM Manufacturing Index rose, underpinned by improving supply chains, while regional manufacturing indices posted mixed results. Durable goods orders were unchanged, owing to a drop in demand for defense aircraft. The housing market faltered amid tight inventory and high home prices, and the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index contracted to below the key 50 breakeven point. Eurozone inflation rose year over year, driven by a surge in food and tobacco prices, while the eurozone Composite PMI dipped to an 18-month low as inflationary pressures weighed on demand. Germany's ifo Business Climate Index dipped amid energy supply concerns. The UK's inflation reached a 40-year high as living costs and energy prices continued to skyrocket and housing costs increased above consensus estimates. China's Caixin manufacturing PMI contracted for the first time in three months due to COVID outbreaks, power shortages, and weakening demand. Japan's industrial production advanced year over year as global supply-chain issues eased. Canada's annual inflation rate edged lower due to falling gasoline prices.
The Fed reinforced its hawkish stance. The Reserve Bank of Australia, Norway's Norges Bank, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand hiked interest rates by 50 bps. The BOE lifted rates by 50 bps and downwardly revised its GDP growth forecasts. The PBOC cut its lending facility and loan prime rates.
Most global sovereign yields rose sharply, particularly in Europe, on higher-than-expected inflation and hawkish narratives from major central banks. US Treasuries outperformed bunds and gilts as inflation data moderated in the US relative to Europe and the UK. Fed Chair Powell's statements triggered substantial yield increases as markets began pricing in a faster pace of rate hikes and a higher-for-longer rates trajectory. Gilts underperformed within G10 due to the BOE's rate hike and greater economic uncertainty. European yields increased sharply amid a record-high inflation print. ECB officials introduced the possibility of supersized rate hikes following a substantial rise in energy prices. Italian government bond yields increased due to political uncertainty ahead of snap elections in September. EM yields ended mixed, while Chinese government bond yields fell as the PBOC cut lending rates to support the deteriorating economy. The Bloomberg TIPS index delivered a total return of -2.66%, and the 10-year breakeven inflation rate decreased by 7 bps, to 2.48% during the month.
Global credit slightly outperformed duration-equivalent government bonds as spreads tightened modestly. Within the securitized sectors, agency mortgage-backed securities underperformed, commercial mortgage-backed securities performed in line with, and asset-backed securities outperformed duration-equivalent government bonds, respectively. Within EM, local markets debt (-0.14%) outperformed external debt (-0.95%), in US-dollar terms. Spread narrowing contributed positively to results within external debt, while movement in US Treasury yields had a negative impact. Depreciation of EM currencies drove negative performance in local markets, while movement in EM rates helped results.
The US dollar rallied sharply versus most major currencies as hawkish Fed comments and concerns about global economic growth pushed the dollar to a new 20-year high. The Swedish krona declined most among the G10 currencies as weaker economic data increased the market's expectations for more aggressive rate hikes by the country's central bank. The euro fell to parity against the US dollar despite hawkish ECB rhetoric. The British pound realized its worst month since 2016 as the BOE's rate hike was overshadowed by a weaker economic outlook for the UK. The Japanese yen fell to a new year-to-date low against the US dollar as the BOJ remained resolutely dovish on monetary policy. In EM, most currencies declined except for select trade and commodity-linked currencies (Russian ruble, Mexican peso, and Chilean peso). The Chinese yuan declined, driven primarily by economic and policy divergence with the US.
Commodities (-2.7%) ended lower, with only one of the four sectors generating positive returns. Agriculture and livestock (+3.0%) was the only positively performing group, led by cotton (+17.3%). Cotton prices surged after a confluence of extreme weather events damaged crops in nearly all the top-producing countries and weakened the outlook for global supplies. Coffee (+10.6%) rallied on signs of a deteriorating supply outlook from key growers and falling stockpiles. Corn (+9.3%) rose as extreme heat damaged US crops, while corn fields across the European Union continued to suffer from potentially the worst drought in 500 years. Cocoa (+2.4%) advanced amid worries about the availability of fertilizers in West African growing areas, in addition to falling stockpiles in the US. Sugar (+2.2%) advanced as persistently dry weather in the sugar-producing areas of Brazil hurt the yield outlook. Wheat (+1.8%) edged higher, with droughts hurting the world's harvest and the ongoing war in Ukraine hindering supplies. Live cattle (+0.5%) ended higher, while feeder cattle (0.0%) ended flat. Soybeans (-2.9%) declined as expectations for a record US harvest outweighed concerns about late-season weather woes. Lean hogs (-5.6%) ended lower, under pressure from a seasonal slowdown in demand and anxiety about potentially excessive supply at a time of high inflation and economic slowdown.
Industrial metals (-2.8%) declined on broad-based weakness in the group. Zinc (+5.7%) was an outlier, surging on expectations that the global supply deficit would widen following the announced closure of the Budel smelter in the Netherlands — one of Europe's largest smelters. Copper (-0.9%) slipped for the fifth consecutive month amid mounting fears of global recession. Lead (-3.9%), aluminum (-5.3%), and nickel (-9.4%) moved lower on fears that Europe's energy crisis, tighter monetary policy by the Federal Reserve, and China's zero-COVID strategy would impair demand for industrial metals.
Precious metals (-3.7%) were weaker for the fifth straight month as Fed officials reiterated their commitment to tighter monetary policy. Gold (-2.9%) declined, while silver (-11.9%) plunged on anxiety about the global macroeconomic environment, given silver's broad industrial usage.
Energy (-4.5%) finished the month in negative territory. Gasoline (-14.3%) plummeted on signs of weakening US demand. Crude oil (-7.3%) and gas oil (-0.1%) declined amid escalating concerns of a global economic slowdown. In contrast, heating oil (+4.5%) was higher on news of lower-than-average supplies in the northeastern region of the US, which increased the chances that an extreme weather event could disrupt supplies. US natural gas (+11.3%) rallied as the market faced tight inventories heading into the winter heating season, while above-average temperatures, particularly across the West and East Coasts, increased the demand for cooling.
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Brett Hinds
Senior Client Services Writer
Ryan Greenleaf
, CFA
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Qualcomm Soft Launches Outsourced Chipset to Quickly Catch Up on Cat-1 bis Market
By Megan Young | 1Q 2023 | IN-6806
Qualcomm has launched the QCX216 LTE Cat-1 bis Internet of Things (IoT) modem with integrated terrestrial location services and a Wi-Fi receiver for indoor locations. However, Qualcomm cannot take full credit for this chipset's creation. Who is responsible for the QCX216, and why is this beneficial for both Qualcomm and its strategic technology partners?
On-Trend on the Cat-1 bis Curve
Qualcomm has announced its new, low-power "IoT-Optimized LTE Modem," the QCX216. It is optimized for Cat-1 bis and has low-power operation to prolong battery life. According to Qualcomm, the low-power and sleep modes draw as little as two microamps, ensuring longevity with an expected battery life of two to five years. Qualcomm credits this achievement to utilizing terrestrial location services over GPS/GNSS.
Despite only recently announcing the launch, the QCX216 has been appearing in module vendor products since the beginning of 2022. Qualcomm's approach to "soft launching" its Cat-1 bis–capable chipset has put the company ahead of its competitors. If a competing vendor were to develop a similar product today, it would be, at minimum, a year before this product would pass from sampling to shipping and ultimately another year before the chipset would appear in devices that reach the market.
LTE Cat-1 bis ("bis" translating roughly as "again") is an LTE standard launched in 3GPP's Release 14 in 2018 and is a revision to the original LTE Cat-1 specifications that first appeared in Release 8. The main difference is Cat-1 bis devices can be made with a single antenna rather than the mandated two antennas seen in previous releases for LTE Cat-1, meaning that there is a reduction in manufacturing costs, size, and weight for the devices.
Outsourcing for Optimum Product Delivery
Chipsets must undergo rigorous testing, first in small batches and then in bulk, before the chipsets become commercially available to be employed into vendor modules or products for further testing before the official product launch. This process can take upward of two years—a timely and costly investment, particularly since the technology only has a limited window of opportunity for the product to take off before the network technology is moved to sunset.
According to industrywide conventional wisdom, despite launching this product under its name, Qualcomm is not the original designer of the QCX216 chip. Eigencomm, a semiconductor manufacturer based in China, is rumored to have licensed its Intellectual Property (IP) for its EC618 Cat-1 bis chip to Qualcomm. It is believed that this has happened before in 2020 with another Qualcomm product, the NB-IoT-only QXC212 chipset, that was based on the Eigencomm EC616.
Licensing a design from a lesser-known manufacturer that has not yet shipped in meaningful volumes means that Qualcomm can get the product to market faster than if it had created its own from scratch. It can also do this more successfully than Eigencomm by leveraging the power, awareness, and critically, trust of Qualcomm's brand.
Is Cat-1 bis taking off?
Cat-1 bis has been lying dormant, and Cat-1 bis devices have not yet found a definite foothold outside of China where there is no LTE-M. Hardware manufacturing costs and power consumption of LTE Cat-1 bis devices are slightly higher than NB-IoT and LTE-M. But the benefits to Cat-1 bis technology are that it can be used globally, with lower latency, higher bandwidth, and increased longevity over 2G and 3G technologies.
With 2G and 3G being phased out, new technologies are being implemented to support the increasingly massive and/or mission critical networks of IoT devices. LTE-M and NB-IoT have been more widely deployed in North America and China, respectively, and NR-Light (also known as Reduced Capability or RedCap) is still a new technology that hasn't seen much action in the IoT market yet.
Since Cat-1 bis was introduced in 3GPP's Release 14 in 2018, ABI Research has identified a growing set of Cat-1 bis modules that are available to view in IoT Cellular Modules Model Tracker (MD-ICM-103). This data shows a significant increase in the number of Cat-1 bis compatible modules released in the past year, begging the question: Is LTE Cat-1 bis finally taking off? Thus far, the UNISOC 8910DM has been the most popular publicly announced chipset used in LTE Cat-1 bis modules.
The soft launch approach has allowed Qualcomm to come to market immediately. The window on creating new LTE chipsets for the IoT is closing as new technologies are being introduced, and any LTE devices based on them would have a limited time to permeate the market before they become obsolete. Some of Qualcomm's competitors are decidedly not producing LTE Cat-1 bis devices—for example, Sony Semiconductor has recently announced a new LPWA chipset that will most likely take at least two years before it is seen in deployed connected devices. Sony Semiconductor has stated it does not believe in LTE Cat-1 bis and that it is more focused on the future—in this case, LTE-M.
Selecting Eigencomm's design for its LTE Cat-1 bis chipset benefits both companies as Eigencomm has profited from licensing its IP and as Qualcomm is able to tactically revisit the Cat-1 market. Qualcomm's last Cat-1 product was the MDM9207 in 2015 that, although in popular use for the IoT today, is showing its age, especially in terms of power efficiency. More recently, Qualcomm's internal IoT chipset development efforts have been focused on 5G NR (i.e., RedCap).
Natively, Eigencomm could never have sold the EC618 into the North American market as Chinese chips are simply no longer considered secure or acceptable there. It would likely also struggle in Europe where UNISOC has gained acceptance from module vendors and where the French semiconductor company Sequans also launched the Calliope 2 Cat-1 bis chip in late 2021. But licensing by Qualcomm confers all necessary due diligence to engender confidence, just as if it were a Western design. Qualcomm cannot risk its market-leading international IoT reputation by selling insufficiently tested or bad quality products.
Qualcomm Inc


Normal operates under a council/manager form of government. The Town's legislative authority is vested in a seven-member Board of Trustees (Council) consisting of the president (Mayor) and six Trustees (Council Members). Under this system, the Mayor and Council are responsible for enacting local laws, ordinances and resolutions as well as determining overall Town policies. The Mayor and Council are elected at large in nonpartisan elections and serve four year terms. The mayor and council are considered part-time Town employees.


Abstract Densities have been measured for the CsCl-saccharide (D-glucose, D-fructose)-water systems at 298.15 K. These data were used to calculate the apparent molar volume of CsCl ( V-Phi,V-E) and the saccharides (V-Phi,V-S), and the infinite dilution apparent molar volume V-Phi,E(0) and V-Phi,S(0) in the studied solutions. In addition, the standard transfer volume Delta(t)V(phi,E)(0) of CsCl from water to aqueous saccharides solutions, and Delta(t)V(phi,S)(0) of saccharides from water to CsCl solutions have been evaluated and discussed using the structural interaction model. The volumetric interaction parameters for CsCl with saccharide in water were obtained and analyzed by the group additivity principle and the stereochemistry of the saccharide molecules.
GB/T 7714 Jiang, YC,Gao, SY,Xia, SP,et al. Volumetric properties and volumetric interaction parameters of the CsCl-saccharides (D-glucose, D-fructose)-water solutions at 298.15 K[J]. JOURNAL OF THE CHINESE CHEMICAL SOCIETY,2003,50(5):947-952.
APA Jiang, YC,Gao, SY,Xia, SP,Wang, JJ,Zhuo, KL,&Hu, MC.(2003).Volumetric properties and volumetric interaction parameters of the CsCl-saccharides (D-glucose, D-fructose)-water solutions at 298.15 K.JOURNAL OF THE CHINESE CHEMICAL SOCIETY,50(5),947-952.
MLA Jiang, YC,et al."Volumetric properties and volumetric interaction parameters of the CsCl-saccharides (D-glucose, D-fructose)-water solutions at 298.15 K".JOURNAL OF THE CHINESE CHEMICAL SOCIETY 50.5(2003):947-952.


believed that the present result is the first exact solution in the theory of turbulence.
Lifshitz, together with fluctuations due to real-gas effects.
detectable with any flow device used currently.
reduces to the KÂrman-Howarth equation.
on the statistical theory of turbulence by Tsugª=?.
(x2,x3)-plane. x1: primary flow direction.
fluctuations given at the plane;x1=0.
inverse-linear decay law̍ of the turbulent intensity.
normal to the mean flow direction(Fig.2).
theory of turbulence, so it has a permanent value.
 S. Chapman, ̌On the kinetic theory of a gas Τ,̍Phil.
Trans. Roy. Soc. London, vol. A217, pp.115-197, 1917.
verdünten Gasen," Dissertation, Uppsala, Sweden 1917.
Comm. Pure appl. Math. vol. 2, pp.331-407, 1949.
Soviet Physics Doklady, vol. 10, pp.1003-1005, 1966.
New York, Academic Press, pp.37-53, 1974.
turbulence," ZAMM, vol.59, pp.648-651, 1979.
Handbuch Der Physik, 12. Auflage, pp.205-294, 1958.
isotropic turbulence in the initial period of turbulence," Proc.
Roy. Soc. vol. London A193, pp.539-558, 1948.


If My Baby was going to be the only track Missy BK ever did, the young but talented RnB singer would sit back, relax and say she made it. Since January this year, the single was officially made public; it has held its audience spellbound with a rewarding stream of positive remarks that have not stopped flowing in. My Baby is, to simply put it, smashing! Any reasonable music lover would bet on that. Missy herself would do, certainly!
Convincingly, it is this close attachment to the track that has motivated the Montreal, Canada-based artist to brandish it further. After several weeks rebranding, Missy BK is out from the studio with a remix of My Baby. �It�s been sleepless nights trying to put this remix together and hoping to make it really palatable,� the singer told TIPTOPSTARS.
In giving the pudding a new taste, Missy BK invited the legendary Annie Anzouer, from the makossa dissents. A mention of this Cameroonian music icon already describes how such a remix would sound � a brilliant m�lange of two golden voices that provides an irresistible coloration consumers of My Baby Remix would fall for.
The video has thus been made public today, bringing to a halt long days of waiting that kept raising listener appetite in Africa and in the diaspora. As usual, the Canada-based music heroine is expected to hit the media platform as she is well noted for, to provide more information on the video, its making, the Annie Anzouer touch/feeling and lots more.
It should be recalled that award-winning (2013 Horizon Nord Sud, HNSS Excellence Awards best artist) Missy BK is an up-and-coming Cameroonian contemporary musician who hit the rails in 2012 and has easily won great admiration. Amongst her fascinating tracks are Mama, I Love You and Set Me Free. Only this year, she has had a series of live performances.
Meantime, Missy BK will be one of the guests-at-large in the Wednesday, July 2 edition of Afrikka Radio�s (www.afrikkaradio.com) African Cocktail with Ernest Kanjo.


text:
Hot in the Shade Tour är musikgruppen Kiss fjortonde turné och den sista med Eric Carr vid trummorna. Turnén startade den 4 maj 1990 och höll på till 9 november samma år och blev en stor succé.

Spellista
I Stole your Love
Deuce
Heaven's On Fire
Rise To It
Fits Like A Glove
Crazy Crazy Nights
Strutter
Calling Dr. Love
Hide You Heart
Black Diamond
Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
Cold Gin
Forever
God Of Thunder
Under The Gun
I Love It Loud
Tears Are Falling
Love Gun
Detroit Rock City
I Want You
Rock and Roll All Nite

Medlemmar
Gene Simmons - sång, elbas
Paul Stanley - sång, gitarr
Eric Carr - trummor, sång
Bruce Kulick - gitarr

Konsertturnéer 1990

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
What's in the well comes up in the bucket
Gerald Harris culture, Editorial, history, politics, religious freedom, war
thinkstockphoto.com
There have been a lot of attacks and assaults aimed at Mike Griffin, Georgia Baptist's representative at the State Capitol, for a letter we published from him in The Christian Index on March 4. In the letter Griffin was chastising the church for being lethargic in the fight for religious freedom and compared the silence of the church today to the church in Hitler's Day that was intimidated and frightened by a government hostile to the Christian faith. His remarks were a toned-down reference to a poem written by German pastor Martin Niemoller in 1946.
I have heard Griffin refer to Niemoller on several occasions in churches and I have often quoted him myself. Niemoller was incarcerated by Nazi Germany during WWII and after the War traveled internationally, delivering many speeches and sermons in which he confessed his own blindness and inaction in earlier years when the Nazi regime rounded up communists, socialists, trade unionists, and finally, the Jews.
Although Niemoller's famous quote has been somewhat corrupted through the years, it is basically as follows: "First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a communist; then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist; then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist; then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew; then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me."
If Georgia Baptist legislators are upset over Griffin's letter, they should be informed that Neimoller's above quotation was extracted from an address he gave to the United States Congress in 1968 and which appears in the Congressional Record, October 14, 1968, page 31,636.
Many preachers today have used quotes from Niemoller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, faithful pastors in WWII Germany, to motivate and challenge languishing church members to wake up to the likelihood of impending oppression and the loss of religious liberty. Only the naïve or ill-informed would not admit there has been some loss of religious freedom in America already and that it appears more is on the horizon if God's people, including those in the legislature, do not stand up.
If anyone is unaware of the real threat to religious freedom in America today read Todd Starnes' book God Less America, Erwin Lutzer's books The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent and Hitler's Cross, o Andy Andrews' book How do you Kill 11 Million People?, Eric Metaxes' book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr and Spy, Mark Creech's column in the November 6, 2006 issue of The Christian Post, or just Google "assault on religious liberty" and you will see that our First Amendment rights are under attack in America.
Even now, our own Truett-McConnell College, Southern Baptists' Guidestone Financial Resources, and the Catholics' Little Sisters of the Poor are awaiting a hearing before the Supreme Court to see if their religious liberties are going to be denied. It is amazing to me that our federal government can give $15 billion to ISIS-rich Iran, coddle Islamic terrorists, and yet force Christian institutions to participate in mandatory abortion and birth control coverage.
There are some probing questions haunting me about the assault on Mike Griffin. First of all, Griffin's letter was posted on The Christian Index website on March 4. It took six days before anything negatively was expressed about it from Georgia legislators. Did someone find it offensive and cultivate support for their angst by circulating the post and trump up support for their position? Why had no one else misunderstood the commentary for almost a week?
The Senate has already passed a strong religious liberty bill and it is interesting that there was no frustration or anguish expressed from the well of the senate about Griffin's commentary. Are members of the House of Representatives personally in turmoil or plagued by guilt because they have not yet passed HB 757 as amended by the Senate? Does it have to do with the leadership in the Senate as opposed to the leadership in the House? In other words, why has the Senate not reacted in the same way as the House?
My grandmother used to tell me, "What's in the well comes up in the bucket." I am afraid the well of the House of Representatives in Georgia was polluted by legislators who spoke before they stopped to think, investigate, and then go to their brother to resolve the matter before making their pronouncements public. It's in the book – Matthew 18: 15-20. Unfortunately, that principle doesn't work in the House any better than it works in most churches.
Mike Griffin would be the first to admit his imperfections, but he is a dedicated Christian, a man of deep convictions, a faithful minister of the Gospel, and passionate maintaining the Judeo-Christian foundations upon which this nation was founded. He is on the firing line for our faith and values and deserves our faithful and fervent prayers.
Gerald Harris
J. Gerald Harris is the former editor of The Christian Index. He currently writes at LoveLiftedMeHigher.org.
Columns, Editorial
A final editorial and big 'Thank You'
Current Stories, National, SBC
Mohler discusses SBC future, cooperation in BP interview
Columns, National, Under the Dome
We don't need to 'change America'; we need to protect our fundamental freedoms


text:
Share this Story: Soft-spoken consensus builder Kishida to become Japan's next PM after party vote
Soft-spoken consensus builder Kishida to become Japan's next PM after party vote
Antoni Slodkowski and Ju-Min Park and Kiyoshi Takenaka
TOKYO — Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida won a ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race on Wednesday, a victory that virtually ensures he will succeed Yoshihide Suga as prime minister within days.
In an acceptance speech, Kishida vowed to lead a transformed party in a general election due within weeks and continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic which has battered Japan's economy.
Soft-spoken consensus builder Kishida to become Japan's next PM after party vote Back to video
However, Kishida enjoys only moderate public support and has a bland image and his victory could spell problems for the LDP in the election due by Nov. 28.
"The LDP leadership election is over. Let us all face the lower house and the upper house elections as one," Kishida said.
"Our national crisis continues. We need to keeping working hard on the coronavirus response with strong determination, and we need to compile a tens of trillions of yen of stimulus package by the end of the year," he said.
Kishida defeated former defense and foreign minister Taro Kono, seen as an outspoken maverick, in a second round run-off vote. Two female contenders, Sanae Takaichi, 60, and Seiko Noda, 61, dropped out after the first round.
The winner of the party poll to succeed unpopular Prime Minister Suga, who is not seeking re-election after just one year in office, is almost certain to become premier because of its majority in parliament's lower house.
"A whole month of monopoly over TV and newspaper coverage in the run-up to the election cannot be bad for the LDP but the underwhelming result will dampen the celebratory mood quickly, possibly," said Koichi Nakano, political science professor, Sophia University.
"The opposition must be relieved that they don't have to fight against the darling of television (Kono)."
ESTABLISHMENT WIN
Kishida's victory is unlikely to trigger a huge shift in policies as Japan seeks to cope with an assertive China and revive an economy hit by the pandemic, with the soft-spoken MP highlighting the need to focus on reducing income disparity.
He shares a broad consensus on the need to boost Japan's defenses and strengthen security ties with the United States and other partners including the QUAD grouping of Japan, the United States, Australia and India, while preserving vital economic ties with China and holding regular summit meetings.
Specifically, Kishida wants to beef up Japan's coast guard and backs passing of a resolution condemning China's treatment of members of the Uyghur minority. He wants to appoint a prime ministerial aide to monitor their human rights situation.
"I don't expect any big changes in foreign policy," said Jeffrey Hornung, senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation.
"Kishida will continue to prioritize the alliance and find ways to strengthen it: a free and open Indo-Pacific will continue to be a mainstay of Japan's diplomatic toolkit in its outreach to the region; and he will continue to take a hard position against China."
Kishida has said fiscal consolidation would be a major pillar of his policy and in the past has voiced doubts over the Bank of Japan's ultra-loose policy, saying in 2018 that stimulus cannot last forever.
But with the economy suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kishida recently reversed course to say the BOJ must maintain its massive stimulus. He proposed a spending package of more than 30 trillion yen, adding that Japan likely would not raise a sales tax rate from 10% "for about a decade."
He has stressed the need to distribute more wealth to households, in contrast to the focus of Abe's "Abenomics" policies on boosting corporate profits in the hope benefits trickle down to wage-earners.
"A win for the establishment. Kishida stands for stability, for not rocking the boat and most importantly, doing what elite technocrats tell him to do," Jesper Koll, expert director at Monex Group. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski, Leika Kihara, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Linda Sieg, Chang-Ran Kim, Ju-min Park, Daniel Leussink, Ritsuko Ando, Tetsushi Kajimoto and Elaine Lies; Editing by Michael Perry and Kim Coghill)


Good news! We now accept dogs (2 maximum, or 1 giant breed). There is a charge of £30 per dog for the duration of your stay. Please contact us for more information.
Most of the year we are able to offer self-catering short breaks from 3 nights (occasionally we may agree to 2 nights if it is requested) Due to an increasing demand for shorter stays, we now offer a minimum of 3 nights stay throughout the year, even in peak season. Generally, our change-over day is Friday in peak season, although at other times we are able to offer flexibility in that (best to email us to ask), depending on other bookings. The Burrow will be ready for you strictly after 4pm on the day of your arrival, departure is strictly by 10am on the day of departure. I am afraid that these times have to be kept to, to allow time for The Burrow to be prepared for the next guests.
To make an initial reservation, or enquiry, please fill do to our make a booking enquiry page, or email us directly at stay@burrowwoodfarm.co.uk.
Please note, all bookings are subject to our confirmation. The booking table below is to check availability only. Prices can be found in the Tariff table further below. We are currently only accept payment by online bank transfer (BACS), cheque, or payment via Paypal. Please note you do not need a PayPal account to pay via PayPal, simply a debit or credit card. If you opt to pay by Paypal a 3.5% charge will be added to your invoice to reflect our costs. There is no payment surcharge if you pay by BACS or cheque. The price you see is the price you pay. To see what is included, please check "About the Burrow" > "Frequently asked questions". It covers more than you might expect.
When we have confirmed the dates you have requested in writing, we will then request a 30% deposit of the total holiday price (or full payment, if your holiday starts in 6 weeks, or less, from the date you make your booking).
The Burrow can accommodate 6 guests maximum, including infants and children, in 3 bedrooms.
The Burrow sleeps 6 maximum (including infants and children), in 3 bedrooms.
PLEASE NOTE 2019 PRICES ARE CURRENTLY BEING UPLOADED – PLEASE EMAIL FOR QUOTE IN THE MEANTIME.
All bookings and reservations are subject to our confirmation in writing.


Elsma Merillo (nee Harris) was aged just 16 when first named in an Australian team, but netball's age rules at the time prevented her from travelling to New Zealand in 1965.
Merillo eventually made her Test debut two years later during the 1967 Netball World Cup, played in her home town of Perth.
Prior to focusing on netball, she had also represented her state in swimming and tennis.
She could play at either goal shooter or goal attack, Merillo was part of Australia's triumphant 1971 world championship-winning team in Jamaica before retiring to focus on her career.
In 1969 Merillo was named vice-captain for Australia's series against New Zealand and captained the side in two Tests.
A physical education teacher and lecturer in human movement, Merillo was the inaugural administrator of Western Australia's State League and also enjoyed an extensive coaching career – including serving a stint as apprentice coach with the Australian team to Joyce Brown.
She coached an Australian `B' team on a tour of New Zealand in 1994.


Heyday is as diligent as possible in compiling and updating the information on its website. However, Heyday does not guarantee the correctness and completeness of the information provided on its website. Equally, Heyday does not guarantee that this information is up to date. For questions concerning our products, their specifications and their utilization please contact us. All information, representations, links or other messages may be changed by Heyday at any time without prior notice or explanation to the user.


text:
Q: python matplotlib "merge" x axis labels for multi index I would like to "merge" the first level of multi index, i.e. have a centered "USA" and "EU" instead of the tupples.
Minimal Exmaple
df = pd.DataFrame(data={"region":["USA","USA","EU","EU"], "sctr":["HH","NFC","HH","NFC"], "values":[1,2,3,4]})
df = df.set_index(["region","sctr"])

fig, ax = plt.subplots(1,figsize=(8,6))
df.plot(kind="bar")
plt.xticks(rotation = 0)
plt.show()

Output

Desired output
Using excel, one gets the desired output (almost) by default:

The ideal solution is simple, short and does not require any manual adjustments if more regions / sectrs are added.

A: There are other ways to make the x-axis ticks into two lines: the first line is taken from the multi-index and made into a list; the second line is placed from the multi-index list by the text function. Hiding the existing labels is handled by the plot parameter.
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import pandas as pd

df = pd.DataFrame(data={"region":["USA","USA","EU","EU"], "sctr":["HH","NFC","HH","NFC"], "values":[1,2,3,4]})
df = df.set_index(["region","sctr"])

fig, ax = plt.subplots(1,figsize=(8,6))
df.plot(kind='bar', xlabel='', ax=ax)
ax.set_xticklabels(df.index.get_level_values(level=1).tolist(), rotation=0)

 for container in ax.containers:
    for i,child in enumerate(container.get_children()):
        if i == 0:
            ax.text(child.xy[0]+child.get_width(), -0.08, df.index.get_level_values(level=0)[0], ha='center', transform=ax.transAxes)
        elif i == 2:
            ax.text(child.xy[0]-(child.get_width()*2), -0.08, df.index.get_level_values(level=0)[2], ha='center', transform=ax.transAxes)

plt.show()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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4ranews / Cricket / CPL / Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: August 29, CPL 2021 Prediction
Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: August 29, CPL 2021 Prediction
Rohit Sankar
August 27, 2021, 14:55
Guyana Amazon Warriors St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
It is day number three in the 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Guyana Amazon Warriors face St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in back-to-back games. They squared off in the fifth match and face each other in match number eight as well. Both Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots got off to a winning start.
Guyana Amazon Warriors who have reached the final of the CPL as many as five times but have never won the CPL title even once beat defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders to kickstart their 2021 campaign. Shimron Hetmyer led the charge with the bat for Guyana Amazon Warriors his half-century helped Guyana Amazon Warriors put up 142 batting first. The total didn't look enough against a strong batting line-up but the Guyana bowlers stepped up superbly. The bowling combined to put in a superb all-round effort as they restricted the four-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders to just 133/9 and won by nine runs.
On the other hand, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots kicked off their 2021 season with a convincing win over Barbados Royals (formerly, Barbados Tridents). The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots top-order couldn't get going but the likes of Sherfane Rutherford, Dwayne Bravo and Fabien Allen stepped up to take them to 175 in their 20 overs. The bowlers combined well to restrict Barbados Royals to just 154/7 which propelled St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to a convincing 21-run win. St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have been quite inconsistent in the past but under Dwayne Bravo, they will be looking to turn the tide this time around and will be looking to build on this good start.
However, Guyana Amazon Warriors will be the favourites considering their overwhelming head-to-head record against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots. Thus, the five-time CPL finalists have the winning odds of 1.81 for this game while St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have their odds placed at 2.02 to win this game.
The head to head record between Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots is very one-sided in favour of Guyana Amazon Warriors. These two sides have squared off 12 times in six editions of the CPL and Guyana Amazon Warriors have won 10 of those games. It was only in the 2017 season that St Kitts & Nevis Patriots could manage two wins over Guyana Amazon Warriors and in all other seasons, Guyana Amazon Warriors have been dominant.
Season Total Number of games Guyana Amazon Warriors St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
TOTAL 12 10 2


CHINA - China has agreed to accept imports of British dairy products made with milk from third countries in a deal that is estimated to generate 240 million pounds ($310 million) for the UK economy over 5 years.
And China's developing taste for potatoes will soon be fueled by British produce, after an agreement was signed that allows the UK to export seed potatoes to China for the first time.
Both deals were finalized during a meeting in Beijing between UK International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Ni Yuefeng, head of the General Administration of Customs in China.
"I'm delighted to see the completion of this deal, bringing significant benefits to dairy producers across the UK at a time when British food and drink exports are at a record high," said Fox.
Last year China imported 97-million-pounds worth of British dairy products that were manufactured with milk sourced from within the UK. The UK government expects that trade figure to increase by almost 50 percent now that exporters can send goods with milk sourced from other nations.
"The appetite in China for UK produce is clearly already strong. However there remains untapped potential across all food and drink categories," said UK Trade Commissioner for China Richard Burn. "Imports into China of products such as yoghurt, flavored milk and cheese have seen rapid growth as Chinese consumers increasingly associate these items with nutrition and wellbeing."
Changing consumer tastes in China has led to a boom in dairy consumption. China imported 14.2 million metric tons of dairy products in 2017, up 11 per cent on the previous year, and dairy imports are expected to exceed 19 million tons by 2026, according to China's Ministry of Agriculture.


text:
Q: VIM: Cleaning up onclick events I am doing some refractoring and one of the objectives is to move some inline js functions in HTML.
text

The idea is to remove the onClick event along with the contents inside the quotes
text

suggestions to move faster?
I would imagine after doing it one time I can just repeat the motion with . after finding the next instance.

A: A simple regex should do it:
%s /onClick=".\{-}"//g

A: Another possible method
%norm / onClick<C-v><ESC>ndt>

Breakdown
%norm       # following are normal mode commands
/ onClick   # Search for _onClick
<C-v><ESC>  # Exit search mode
n           # goto next match
dt>         # delete till >

Note that this can be sufficient for a one time job. If you need a foolproof solution, this or regex or whatnot is not the right tool for the job.


Feliway For Cats is available as a plug-in diffuser or spray bottle that releases a natural comforting facial pheromone produced by cats. For simple at-home use, simply plug in Feliway for Cats into an electrical socket for around-the-clock control. The spray can be used on your cat's bedding or scratch post.
When you plug Feliway For Cats into an electrical socket, it emits a scent that mimics pheromones that your cat uses to mark areas that they deem to be safe.
Don't use this product with any other type of plug-in device, or place it underneath or behind furniture. When plugged in, do not touch with metal objects or wet hands.
Feliway is a behavior modification plug-in used to safely and naturally end urine marking and scratching. Comforts cats in stressful environments.
Feliway is available as a complete kit with plug-in and 48 ml bottle as well as a refill without the plug-in device.
Plug Feliway into an electrical socket in the room most used by the cat. One bottle lasts approximately four weeks and covers an area of approximately 500 to 650 sq. ft.
Feliway is odorless and non-toxic, does not affect humans. Use as directed. Not a drug or tranquilizer.
Do not use this product with any other type of plug-in device. Do not place underneath or behind furniture. When plugged in do not touch with metal objects or wet hands. Follow all directions for use.
Store this product at room temperature. Keep out of the reach of children.
Feliway for Cats and Kittens is a behavior modification product used to safely and naturally end urine marking, scratching, and other stress-related behaviors.
Feliway For Cats and Kittens contains Analogue of Feline Facial Pheromone (2%), and is available as either a Plug-In Diffuser (Complete Kit with separate refills available) or a Spray Bottle.
One bottle of the Plug-In Diffuser lasts approximately four weeks and covers an area of approximately 500-650 square feet.
When using Feliway Spray, shake well and spray the area you do not want the cat/kitten to mark or scratch. Do not spray directly onto your cat.
Plug Feliway into an electrical socket in the room most used by the cat. One bottle lasts approximately four weeks and covers an area of approximately 500 to 650 square feet.
Shake well before use. For urine marking and vertical scratching, spray the area you do not want the cat to mark/scratch once a day. Treat areas such as furniture, doors, walls, and other specific areas the cat tends to mark/scratch. Do not spray directly on cat.


text:
Q: How to correctly provide a static xml resource and bind a combobox? Good day everyone!
I have a problem binding a static xml resource to a combobox in a C# WPF application. It basically works, but always fills (a correct amount of) items with the first entry in my xml file.
Please have a look at my code:
XML file (resources/config/xml/ServiceProviders.xml):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?>
<ServiceProviders xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
    <ServiceProvider name="Service Provider 1">
    </ServiceProvider>
    <ServiceProvider name="Service Provider 2">
    </ServiceProvider>
    <ServiceProvider name="Service Provider 3">
    </ServiceProvider>
    <ServiceProvider name="Service Provider 4">
    </ServiceProvider>
    <ServiceProvider name="Service Provider 5">
    </ServiceProvider>
</ServiceProviders>

The XAML code including the binding (just a Grid in the main window):
<Grid Name="ServiceProviderGrid"
            Grid.Row="0"
            Grid.Column="0"
            HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
            VerticalAlignment="Stretch">
    <Grid.DataContext>
        <XmlDataProvider x:Name="ServiceProviderData"
                         Source="resources/config/xml/ServiceProviders.xml"
                         XPath="/ServiceProviders/ServiceProvider">
        </XmlDataProvider>
    </Grid.DataContext>
    <Grid.Resources>
        <DataTemplate x:Key="ServiceProviderDataTemplate">
                <TextBlock Text="{Binding XPath=/ServiceProviders/ServiceProvider/@name}"></TextBlock>
        </DataTemplate>
    </Grid.Resources>
    <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
    </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
    <Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <RowDefinition></RowDefinition>
        <RowDefinition></RowDefinition>
    </Grid.RowDefinitions>
    <Label Name="ServiceProviderLabel"
           Grid.Row="0"
           Margin="10,10,10,5"
           VerticalAlignment="Bottom">
           Service Provider
    </Label>
    <ComboBox ItemsSource="{Binding}"
              ItemTemplate="{StaticResource ServiceProviderDataTemplate}"
              Name="ServiceProviderComboBox"
              IsSynchronizedWithCurrentItem="True"
              Visibility="Visible"
              Grid.Row="1"
              Margin="10,5,10,10"
              VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
              SelectedIndex="1"
              Cursor="Hand">
    </ComboBox>
</Grid>

The problem I am facing is best illustrated in the following image:

Does anyone know how to fill the ComboBox with all the different entries provided in the static xml resource?
The purpose is a data resource that may be edited by users in future. They are to be able to create, edit and remove service providers. But at first, all of the providers have to be visible.

A: Since you have already selected the Service Provider in your DataContext so you should only specify the property that you wish to display in the ItemTemplate
<DataTemplate x:Key="ServiceProviderDataTemplate">
       <TextBlock Text="{Binding XPath=@name}"></TextBlock>
</DataTemplate>


text:
Community service part of life for SAE, Chi-O
Kayla Medearis
Damian De Silva, economics senior, volunteers at the Sikes Lake cleanup on Sept. 12. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.
Community service can impact lives, not only for those who receive service, but also for those who chose to give back. All through winter, volunteers come to soup kitchens and homeless shelters, putting together meals for the less fortunate in their communities in hot, cramped kitchens. These volunteers only hope that their work is making a difference.
Service is not necessary as part of graduation requirements, but it is a part of life for some organizations on campus. For members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Chi Omega, community service comes with the territory.
SAE hosts at least one philanthropy event per semester and has held two events so far this fall, the most recent being participating in the Susan G. Komen North Texas race for the cure. All members are required to attend at least one event per semester.
"We care for this community," said Romeo Botelua, president of SAE. "Since we are a working fraternity and everyone has different schedules because of school and work, we try to host as many events and be involved as much as we can, to make sure everyone gets the requirement."
A few Wichita Falls organizations who have benefitted from SAE in the pasts have been the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Children's Miracle Network at United Regional Hospital and Patsy's House.
"We help out when they need us to," said Botelua, a mechanical engineering junior. "The last thing we did for Patsy's House was work on the landscape last spring."
And with the holiday season approaching, the fraternity is organizing a canned food drive for the Wichita Falls Food Bank.
The ladies of Chi-O also stay busy in the community by hosting events. Members of the sorority are required to have at least six hours of community service per semester. The Make-a-Wish foundation is the national charity for ladies of Chi-O. They hold at least two events every school year, and proceeds go straight to MAW. After it became the sorority's national charity back in 2001, the chapter has raised more than $125,000.
"I am very proud of my girls," said Joellen Tritton, the Chi Omega advisee. "We have a very good reputation with this community. The girls are always a part of something."
Chi-O has participated in the Wichita Falls Cattle Baron's Ball as well as the American Heart Association "Red Dress" brunch. Members have assisted downtown at the annual Ben Franklin spaghetti dinner and also ran a rest stop during the Hotter'N Hell races.
"It takes dedication to do what these girls commit to," said Tritton. "I've seen them get there to have a stand ready by 7 a.m. and keep it running until the afternoon when it's scorching outside."
And if a Chi Omega member is ever short on hours, the Wichita Falls Humane Society is their number one spot to go and help with puppies to receive service hours.
In addition to the Wichita Falls Food Bank and the Humane Society, students can donate their time at The Boys and Girls Club.
There are eight branches of the Boys and Girls Club in Wichita Falls. All of them receive volunteers and some even employ students. Director of Operations Carlos Martinez said there are four students employed at the club on 6th St.
"What a lot of people aren't aware of is that we have internships and many scholarships available for college students," said Martinez. "We want to get the word out and when people come in and volunteer, it helps put a face to a name."
Portico, a college ministry life group affiliated with First Baptist Church, also has community service events throughout the year that students can join in on. An upcoming event is a coat drive to brace less-fortunate residents of the area for the winter weather soon to come.
But students don't have to be affiliated to go out and perform community service; they just go out and do it of their own free will.
"I go downtown to the food bank and help assemble PowerPaks to be distributed," said Savannah Luna, nursing freshman.
When a volunteer goes in and helps begin PowerPak prep, they help break down items that are in bulk and separate them into kid-friendly foods to be sent home with kids in need in the area.
Not only does Luna help out at the food bank here in Wichita Falls, when she goes home to Burleson she helps at her local soup kitchen as well.
"When I was in high school, my mom made sure I did 100 hours of community service because she told me that colleges wanted their students to be well rounded," said Reba Moreno, exercise physiology junior. "I didn't know it would be worth anything until I got a scholarship for it."
Moreno tries to put in one or two hours a week just to keep herself in the habit. She said she believes that when she finishes college the established connection she has with different organizations will act as reliable references. She also continues to volunteer different places because, "…you never know who you could meet and have a conversation with and that will lead to your career."
Brittany Coleman, nursing junior, said she experienced what happens when volunteer work lead to something more.
"In the eighth grade a group of friends and I started volunteering to referee games at our local YMCA, and after the basketball season ended I was offered a job… five years later I was the aquatics department supervisor," Coleman said.
chi-o
Mustangs at the Mansion, a night filled with video games and cereal
734 students awarded at fall graduation 2021
MSU Theater Department Performs "Men on Boats," a gender-bent take on American exploration
Fantasy of Lights continues 48 year long tradition
Ace Sushi impresses in first semester, but students lament lack of meal exchange option
Business Office explains online payment options for Spring 2022
The Power and Price of Textbooks
Photography l students visit Sun Catcher Studio, listen to owner speak
MSU celebrates Día de los Muertos
MSU celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month
All The Wichitan Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest


INYS Language School: Meet Fitry!
Last month during one of the Dutch language classes at the INYS Language School, we interviewed one of the participants, Fitry Nabiilah. We were curious about her daily life, her reasons for learning Dutch and her experiences with the Dutch language course.
Tell us about yourself, where are you from and what do you do in daily life?
How did you learn about the INYS Language School and why did you sign up for it?
What have you learned during the course?
Regarding introducing yourself in Dutch, would you like to try a bit?
Have you been able to put into practice some of the things you have learned?
How do you like the way in which the classes are being taught?
What do you find positive about the INYS Language School?
Do you also have any points of improvement for us?
Meanwhile the exam has already taken place and together with other course participants, Fitry passed the exam. Congrats everyone! If you want to know more about the INYS Language School, check the course details here. The next Dutch language course starts again in September.


text:
Bulgaria's Turn
Sofia Gives Moscow Some Attitude
By Dariusz Kalan
A protester, wearing a sweater in the colors of the Bulgarian national flag, sits on the tracks as anti-Corruption demonstrators block the main railway station in Sofia, March 10, 2013.
Stoyan Nenov / Reuters
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has been saying for some time now what many leaders in Central Europe and the Balkans do not even dare to think. On May 7, in his speech at the Gdańsk ceremonies marking the end of the Second World War, he called Vladimir Putin a nineteenth-century imperialist who is creating his own spheres of influence in Europe. Only several months earlier, Plevneliev told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, "We all want to see a country, which has produced Tchaikovsky, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky, as a partner. However, facts show that we are dealing with a different Russia nowadays—a nationalist, aggressive state ruled by a president who sees Europe as an opponent, not a partner." He has consequently continued with his critique, also accusing Moscow of trying to divide the European Union and destabilize the Balkans.
Plevneliev's anti-Russian stance is a startling change in tone in a country that has long been considered Russia's Trojan horse in the European Union. In fact, although many of the European Union's former Eastern Bloc countries—including Poland and the Baltic states—view Russia as a historical occupier and a serious security challenge, Bulgaria has for many years considered Moscow—with whom it shares a common history and similarities in language—to be a good friend. At the height of Soviet power, Bulgaria was one of the Soviet Union's most pliable allies—to such a degree that the First Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party, Todor Zhivkov, proposed several times that Bulgaria become the 16th Soviet republic.
Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in Sofia, March 20, 2013.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, only one government in Bulgaria—the center-right administration that ruled in the late 1990s—took a risk to slightly loosen its ties with Moscow. The vast majority of other governments since then have drawn closer to Russia. And the Bulgarian people have applauded: According to a 2012 survey by the Communitas Foundation, 78 percent of Bulgarians view Russia positively, which was the highest among the EU and NATO countries. A 2014 poll revealed that 22 percent expressed a desire to join the Russia-led Eurasian Union.
There is a strong economic incentive for Sofia to cater to Moscow. It purchases nearly 100 percent of its gas from Russia's Gazprom. Bulgaria's only nuclear plant in Kozloduy, 75 miles north of Sofia, runs on Russian fuel, and its only oil refinery is fully controlled by Russian Lukoil, which is also the biggest industrial enterprise in Bulgaria, and thus a significant contributor to Bulgaria's employment and GDP. Finally, Bulgaria is a top vacation spot for the Russian middle class, which contributes roughly 10 percent of the country's tourism revenues.
It seems like political suicide for Plevneliev to come out so staunchly against Russia and its aggression in Crimea.
And so it would seem like political suicide for Plevneliev to come out so staunchly against Russia and its aggression in Crimea. Yet from the beginning, he has called it "one of the most serious threats to peace and security in Europe since the Second World War."
Despite Plevneliev's harsh rhetoric, however, Sofia's actions toward Ukraine have been mild, even neutral. At the height of the Kiev's Maidan protests, Bulgarian politicians followed a "do-nothing" policy, passively observing the events and only occasionally mentioning their concern for the Bulgarian minority living in the southwestern Odessa region. The clue as to why that is lies in the poor historical, cultural, and social connections between Bulgaria and Ukraine. Although the two countries share access to the Black Sea, they have always remained rather distant.
Sofia's weak position in the European Union is another factor. Eight years after EU accession, Bulgaria lags behind other newcomers, such as Hungary, Slovakia, or Romania, and is regarded as a troublemaker, ranked at the bottom of the European Union in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions and Press Freedom indices. It is not surprising then that Sofia would take the mainstream and moderate EU stance on Ukraine in order not to isolate itself even further.
U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Plevneliev, June 3, 2014. Obama visited Europe to elaborate on U.S. strategy in Ukraine.
Kacper Pempel / Reuters
In other words, Sofia's firm tone with Russia has little to do with concern for stability in Ukraine. Bulgaria's more assertive strategy toward Moscow is, rather, explained by a combination of Moscow playing offense with Bulgaria and encouraging gestures from the West. Over the last couple of years, Sofia has been crippled by its economic and energy dependence on Russia. Last year, Moscow announced that it was abandoning the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline to Bulgaria through the Black Sea, blaming it on Sofia's acquiescence to EU opposition to the deal. Immediately after that announcement, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov met with Angela Merkel and the EU Commissioner for Energy Union to ask for their support on energy deals. In January, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, paid a visit to Sofia to advise the government in its search for alternative gas sources. And two months later, the Bulgarian National Assembly ratified the agreement for basic maintenance of a NATO Deployable Communications Module, a unit intended to supply NATO with information for operations. It was the third such unit in Bulgaria, signaling the country's growing relationship with NATO.
Plevneliev is not alone in Bulgaria in distancing himself from Moscow; many in the current cabinet stand behind him. Minister of Defense Nikolay Nenchev threatened to increase the defense budget in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine and then refused to extend a contract for Russian MIG-29 jets. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Mitov, is a rising political star and is belligerently vocal against Moscow, having angered Russia to such a degree that Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, publically called his policy revisionist and accused him of seeking to divide Macedonia.
Boyko Borisov, leader of Bulgaria's center-right GERB party, November 5, 2014.
But, still, the cabinet is headed by Borisov—a leader of the centrist and populist conservative party GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria)—who is an extremely unpredictable player. During his first term in office from 2009 to 2013, he sought a balanced policy between the West and Russia, so as not to antagonize either side. This time, he appears to be playing a similar game. On the one hand, he has himself urged the West to act more resolutely against Russian aggression in Ukraine. On the other, he has softened Nenchev and Mitov's behaviors, as they affected his cabinet's stability: GERB's junior coalition partner is a small leftist Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) party, which is widely considered pro-Russian.
It is likely, however, that as the crisis in Ukraine deepens, Borisov may be willing to take a more hawkish turn. After all, he has his own bitter memories of dealing with Russia. In March 2013, the Borisov-led cabinet was forced to resign after mass demonstrations against high electricity and hot water prices in the southwestern city of Blagoevgrad, which spread to more than 30 cities across the country. These protests were largely anti-government, and a response to alleged corruption, authoritarianism, and economic stagnation. But the GERB elite and its supporters blamed its woes on Russia. Then Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov said, "It was Gazprom who overthrew our government by raising energy prices contrary to the signed agreements." Whether true or not, the theory—Russia tampered with energy prices to bring down the Borisov government, which did not work in Moscow's favor—is now legend.
What Sofia appears to finally understand is that dependence on Russia is not a viable development model and Russia's aggression in Ukraine is a direct security threat. This seems to be a belief shared not only by the governing conservative elite, but also by the Bulgarians. A recent poll by Alpha Research revealed that over 70 percent of them support Brussels over Moscow. If Bulgaria is indeed Russia's Trojan horse in the European Union, it is not a very good one.
DARIUSZ KALAN is Head of the Central Europe Programme at the Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw and a freelance journalist. He has written for The National Interest and Prospect Magazine, among others.
More By Dariusz Kalan
Bulgaria Politics & Society