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Foundation Medicine and H3 Biomedicine Announce Collaboration to Develop Precision Therapies for Cancer
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., February 23, 2015 Foundation Medicine, Inc. (NASDAQ:FMI) and H3 Biomedicine Inc. today announced a multi-year collaboration for the discovery and development of precision medicines in oncology. The collaboration marries Foundation Medicine's comprehensive genomic knowledgebase of more than 35,000 genomic profiles, FoundationCORE™, with H3 Biomedicine's drug discovery engine and computational biology platform. The approach aims to identify potential drug targets based on the unique genomic dependencies of individual cancers, rapidly accelerate clinical development, and lead to the commercialization of new, safe and effective precision medicines for individuals living with cancer.
"Large-scale genomic data sets are the key to identifying actionable targets and addressing the multitude of difficult-to-treat cancers," said Markus Warmuth, M.D., president and chief executive officer of H3 Biomedicine. "More than ever before, we in cancer drug development have the benefit of an ever-growing arsenal of genomic information including publicly available data sets that inform validation of targets, development of therapies and translation from bench to bedside. In this regard, we believe Foundation Medicine offers one of the most comprehensive cancer genomics knowledgebases available. This collaborative effort will further empower our state-of-the-art discovery engines to deliver novel first-in-class medicines and improve our clinical development strategies by accessing a wealth of clinically annotated, genomic information at least in part derived from later-stage and metastatic cancers."
"This collaboration with H3 Biomedicine shows how Foundation Medicine is creating value through FoundationCORE," said Michael J. Pellini, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Foundation Medicine. "Recent scientific advances identifying the unique molecular drivers of cancer are elucidating new approaches to targeted drug development. FoundationCORE, our unique and rapidly growing genomic knowledgebase, can provide valuable insights for our life sciences partners and help them accelerate and increase the probability of success for clinical development of new targeted therapies for patients with cancer."
Under the terms of the agreement, H3 Biomedicine will pay Foundation Medicine a technology access fee for identification of target concepts arising from FoundationCORE and success milestones for selection, validation, clinical progression, and commercialization of products developed from the program. In addition, Foundation Medicine is eligible to receive royalties on sales of any products resulting from the collaboration.
About Foundation Medicine
Foundation Medicine (NASDAQ: FMI) is a molecular information company dedicated to a transformation in cancer care in which treatment is informed by a deep understanding of the genomic changes that contribute to each patient's unique cancer. The company's clinical assays, FoundationOne for solid tumors and FoundationOne Heme for hematologic malignancies, sarcomas and pediatric cancers, provide a fully informative genomic profile to identify the molecular alterations in a patient's cancer and match them with relevant targeted therapies and clinical trials. Foundation Medicine's molecular information platform aims to improve day-to-day care for patients by serving the needs of clinicians, academic researchers and drug developers to help advance the science of molecular medicine in cancer. For more information, please visit FoundationMedicine.com or follow Foundation Medicine on Twitter (@FoundationATCG).
About H3 Biomedicine Inc.
H3 Biomedicine is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and early development of novel, targeted anti-cancer compounds for the unmet needs of genetically defined patient populations. H3 has leveraged its integrated expertise in genomics, tumor biology, bioinformatics and innovative synthetic organic chemistry to create an integrated drug development ecosystem to deliver patient-based, genomics-driven, small molecule drugs. In less than three years, H3 has developed four discovery platforms, which have produced two drug candidates for which the company expects to file investigational new drug (IND) applications in late 2015. Founded by a $200 million dollar investment from Eisai Inc., and given operational and strategic independence, H3 has delivered on Eisai's confidence with multiple platforms generating multiple lead programs. Having reached this inflection point, H3 is considering additional collaborators to fully realize the potential of its growing pipeline of lead programs and drug candidates. H3 Biomedicine is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Visit h3biomedicine.com for more information.
Foundation Medicine® and FoundationOne® are registered trademarks of Foundation Medicine, Inc.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements for Foundation Medicine
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the ability of the collaboration to identify potential drug targets and accelerate clinical development and commercialization of such drug targets and the ability of FoundationCORE to accelerate drug discovery efforts and improve clinical outcomes for drug targets generally. All such forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risks that FoundationCORE does not perform as expected; and the risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Foundation Medicine's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other risks detailed in Foundation Medicine's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Foundation Medicine undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
Paul Kidwell


BOULDER -- It isn't easy to find a place to smoke indoors in Colorado. Now city leaders in Boulder want to light up a new ban in outdoor areas as well.
Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum and other city council members are proposing an idea to block cigarette smoking on the Pearl Street Mall and possibly across the city.
However, most people FOX31 Denver spoke with in Boulder were against the idea of banning smoking outdoors.
"I think I would be against it and I am not a smoker," says Boulder resident Diane, who didn't want to use her last name.
"It's kind of harsh to tell people you can't be anywhere," says Madeline Komar, also a non-smoker.
Nikki Kennedy, a non-smoker and mother of two, says the ban would alienate smokers.
"I think it excludes people that are dealing with an addiction and I don't think that's what we want to do."
Some say the issue is a threat to their First Amendment rights.
"It's just kind of a thing where they are trying to take fundamental rights away from us and that's not okay with me," smoker Dylan Lesuer says.
Since the indoor smoking ban started back in 1995 in Boulder, one business we spoke with says the once feared ban made no difference in their bottom line.
So far an outdoor smoking ban on the Pearl Street Mall and throughout the city of Boulder is just an idea. Boulder city council did not include a public smoking ban in its 2012 work plan.
According to news reports, city staffers say they won't be working on the project until next year.


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University of Tennessee coronavirus case count: Get the latest numbers
Monica Kast
THIS STORY IS NOW OUTDATED.
Get the latest University of Tennessee COVID-19 case counts here.
Here are the reported COVID-19 figures from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville as of Aug. 23, 2020, compared to the previous day.
The university will update their case counts each weekday with numbers from the previous day. Chancellor Donde Plowman will give a live streamed update to the university and the community twice a week, each Tuesday and Friday.
Total number of active cases: 136 (up from 110)
128 students (103)
8 employees (7)
There have been 140 recoveries since June 8, 2020.
Number of people in self-isolation: 444 (up from 408)
263 students living off campus (240)
113 students living on campus (87)
68 employees (81)
Students began moving onto campus on Aug. 9, and the first day of classes was Aug. 19.
Knox County coronavirus numbers: Get daily case counts
More stories about how the pandemic is affecting the University of Tennessee:
No tailgating, Neyland Stadium capacity limited to 25%
Last week, Chancellor Donde Plowman said she was hopeful there would still be a football season, but things would look dramatically different. There will be no university-organized tailgating.
The University of Tennessee plans to restrict seating to about a quarter of Neyland Stadium's capacity for home football games this fall, athletics director Phillip Fulmer said during a news conference Tuesday in Nashville.
UT identifies first cluster of cases after an off-campus party
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville has traced a cluster of active COVID-19 cases to an off-campus party, the university announced Tuesday.
A cluster is defined as at least five connected cases or 20 people in self-isolation stemming from one event, said Dr. Spencer Gregg, director of the UT Student Health Center.
University of Tennessee system can manage the financial hit from COVID-19, trustees say University of Tennessee identifies COVID-19 cluster from ROTC meetings held over the weekend What you will and won't see at Neyland Stadium for Tennessee Vols football games, thanks to COVID-19 University of Tennessee pushes back start of spring semester and cancels spring break

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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DOCKER_COMPOSE_VERSION_NUM="1.8.0"

if ! [ $(which curl) ]; then
	echo "Curl is not install"
	sudo apt-get update
	sudo apt-get install curl
fi

sudo curl -L https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/$DOCKER_COMPOSE_VERSION_NUM/docker-compose-`uname -s`-`uname -m` > /tmp/docker-compose
sudo mv /tmp/docker-compose /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Saint Mary Parish in Evanston, Illinois
Friends of the Soup Kitchen
Saint Mary Quilting Ministry
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Annual Block Party
Our Capital Campaign, Stewarding God's Blessings
Our Faith Journey
For Your Children
Baptism for Infants and Children
Our Parish School
Religious Education Program: Preschool – High School
Our Parish Library & Media Center
Welcome to Saint Mary Music Ministry!
Contact Dianne Fox, Director of Liturgy & Music
dfox@stmaryevanston.org
Our parish is proud of its rich history of music. Music at Saint Mary is an integral part of our parish history, and we attempt to live out that mission with each Liturgical celebration. If you have some singing experience, have some music reading experience, and/or play an instrument, please consider joining us!
19OT_Sunday Worship AidWorship Aid for Sunday's Mass
Our Contemporary Choir sings at our 9:30 a.m. Mass (with a small group, similar in style singing at our 5:00 p.m. Mass) and we rehearse every Wednesday, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
We are accompanied by the piano and we each sing on individual microphones, and as such are limited in size.


According to the traditional beliefs of the real estate world, the best time to sell a house is in the late spring and early summer. That's when school has ended, making it easier for families to relocate; the weather is warm, keeping everyone's spirits high; and the daylight lasts longer, providing more time for house showings.
However, what if you, as a potential home seller, need to move quickly and it's the latter half of the year? Not to worry—there are a number of things you can do to make your house just as appealing in the colder seasons as it is in the warmth of summer.
Below are some tips and tricks to keep in mind.
While the late fall and winter are generally considered the off-season for real estate, there are a number of benefits to selling your home at that time of year. For one, while you may get throngs of visitors to your open house in summer, it is not likely that all of them, or even a large percentage, are serious buyers. Warm weather and the fun of looking at different houses tend to attract a lot of window shoppers. When it's cold, however, you know that only the serious potential buyers are out. This can even lead to a faster sale.
Similarly, since most people sell their homes when it's warm, summer sellers have to deal with a great deal of competition—often from similarly-priced houses in the same neighborhood. In winter, you don't have that problem, letting your listing rise to the top of the pile. This can attract more attention from those serious winter buyers, and since the real estate agents are not as busy in the off-season, they can put their full attention and energy into selling your house.
Finally, and most interestingly, aggregated studies show that homes actually sell for slightly more in the winter than they would in the peak season. This is largely due to the determination of real estate agents to price the property just right, coupled with the potential buyers' fear of losing a good property during the time of year when there are not as many homes to choose from. Because of this, you don't need to set your home at a lower initial price point. Always do your research into trends in your area before settling on a final initial cost. For instance, in the past month, homes in Nampa, Idaho, have sold for an average of $218,000.
Just because the buyers are more determined doesn't mean that you can slack off on the traditional mainstays of selling a house, like fixing it up and staging the interior. Regardless of the season, buyers are still attracted to aesthetics. Start by following the basics: If you live in a snowy area, keep your driveway and sidewalks clear of snow, wash your windows to keep them clear looking, and add a coat of paint to make the exterior pop in the duller winter light. If you're selling in fall, you can incorporate seasonal flair like wreaths, leaf art, and seasonal plants to make your house seem more welcoming.
Also, pay close attention to your trees and bushes. Even if they are not at the most attractive phase of their growing cycle, they should still seem maintained. Inside, brighten up each room with extra lamps and other light sources. You can make them feel more open by removing excessive furniture and clearing off knick-knacks from your tables.
Selling a home is complicated in any season, but just because it's the latter half of the year doesn't mean you have to have additional challenges. If you keep your exterior bright and welcoming, you will attract dedicated autumn and winter buyers, and will soon be well on the road to selling your home.
This site is a place to write about various items currently in the news regarding the real estate industry, the housing market and various other items of noteworthy discussion.
If you are a writer and would like to become a contributor, please contact the site administrator.


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Simplistic, striking silver collier by Bent Gabrielsen Pedersen for Hans Hansen, beautifully executed. The collier is made from tightly linked triangular sections.
Designer: Bent Gabrielsen Pedersen
Maker: Hans Hansen
Size: Width 42 cm
More about the product
Furniture-making and silverware were the greatest assets when Danish design was launched on the international scene after World War II. Danish jewelry became world-leading in the 1950s thanks to well-known architects and designers like Nanna Ditzel and George Jensen. During the 1960s, the international revitalization of artistic jewelry was particularly felt in Denmark. One of the best expressions of this movement is seen in the jewelry made by firm Hans Hansen.
Hans Hansen founded his studio in silversmith-town Kolding in 1906. Initially they made only flatware, but in the 1930s the firm begun to make sleek, modernist silver jewelry under the direction of Hans Hansen's son, Karl Gustav Hansen. Karl Gustav was a true talent in the trade, and by 20 he had already gained national recognition by receiving a silver medal, a Danish distinction of excellence, for his work in silver. Karl Gustav Hansen went on to sculpture studies and travels through Europe during a time of much political turbulence between the wars. Both influences can be seen in his jewelry, with its sculptural and daring qualities.
After his father died in 1940, Karl Gustav, at the time only 25, took over the firm. He started by creating a collection of jewelry called "Future", setting the tome for Hansen modernism during the decades to follow. Hansen employed several up-and-coming silversmiths, among others Bent Gabrielsen and Bent Knudsen, who both went on to become highly successful modernists in their own right in the 1960s.
After the war in 1945, Karl Gustav went traveling again, but this time to the United States. Hansen reconnected with his father's old contacts, and after a successful business trip, he flew home in the first trans-Atlantic passenger flight. During the 1960s, Hans Hansen expanded its business, and by the 1970s, Karl Gustav Hansen collaborated with sculptors such as Henry Moore and Lynn Chadwick. In the 1980s the times caught up with Hansen, and the type of labor-intensive quality art-jewelry produced by the firm was deemed un-economic. In 1992, Hans Hansen reluctantly merged with the larger consortium Georg Jensen.
Silver collier from Hermann Siersbøl
3.500,00 kr Add to cart
Silver collier by Bent & Anni Knudsen


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Russia's Global Reach: A Security and Statecraft Assessment
Chapter 9: Russia and the Middle East: Opportunities and Challenges
Reducing tension with Iran will restrain Russia's influence.
Gawdat Bahgat
Russian influence and presence in the broad Middle East (North Africa, the Levant, and Persian Gulf) have significantly fluctuated over the last several decades.1 In the 1960s and early 1970s the Soviet Union established strong ties with Egypt, Iraq, Syria and South Yemen. Since the late 1970s, Egypt, a leader of the Arab World, has changed sides and became a close U.S. ally. In the 2020s, Iraq is a very different country than it was in 1970s. The war with Iran (1980-88), occupation of Kuwait (1990-91), toppling of the Saddam Hussein regime (2003), and finally the fighting with the Islamic State, (ISIS) have eroded both economic development and political stability. More or less, the civil war in Syria since 2011 has left the country in a similar dire position like Iraq. South Yemen ceased to exist in May 1990 when it was officially united with its northern neighbor. The devastating war since 2015 means the future of the country is very uncertain.
On the other side, the Soviet Union was dissolved in late 1990 and the emerging Russia needed some time to reorganize and stabilize in order to establish itself both economically and politically. Predicting Russia's behavior has always been difficult, but it has become even more so over the past several years. The 2008 war with Georgia, the 2014 intervention in Ukraine, and the 2015 Syrian campaign caught policymakers and analysts off guard. The Kremlin has made an art out of surprising the world with audacious gambits on the global stage.2 It is clear that Russia has embarked on a more assertive and militaristic foreign policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. Behind this assertiveness is a desire to re-establish Russia as a global power.
Russia's approach to the Middle East may appear to be a winning strategy that is presently reaping dividends. However, the approach is not without significant challenges and risks. This chapter briefly highlights Moscow's main interest in the region and how it has pursued these interests since the early 2000s. The analysis focuses on the major economic and political drivers of both Russia and Middle East powers in forging strong ties and how they perceive each other. The essay examines how the two sides have utilized energy deals and arms sales to achieve their strategic objectives. Finally, the paper discusses how the growing Russian presence in the Middle East is likely to impact the United States' strategic interests in the region.
Russia and the Middle East – Background
Initially, the Soviet Union rhetoric against imperialism and the West appealed to a number of Arab governments who championed independence from colonial powers and embraced a state-led economy: Libya, Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Generally, the Soviet model failed to meet the aspirations of the Arab and Persian peoples and governments while the Soviet Union adopted a less confrontational approach toward the West and the United States in the decade prior to its disintegration. In the 1990s, under Boris Yeltsin, Russia needed a space to re-group and re-consider its foreign and domestic priorities. The nation lacked the resources and even the will to be an active player in the Middle East. President Vladimir Putin (in power since 1999) has played a key role in bringing a sense of political stability to his country. His efforts were boosted by high oil prices since 2014.
Drivers of Russian Policy in the Middle East
Moscow's assertive approach to the Middle East since the early 2000s has been largely driven by strategic and economic concerns. Similarly, regional powers have their own reasons to engage with Russia. First, in 2005 President Putin described the breakup of the Soviet Union as "the greatest geo-political catastrophe of the twentieth century."3 He has never hidden his ambition to "restore" Russia to the status of global power. The days when Moscow could entice allies through ideology are over. Instead of attraction and persuasion, Russia has pursued hard diplomacy, economic inducements, military force, and other coercive measures. Thus, Russia has been able to demonstrate to the U.S. and the EU that it plays a crucial role in ongoing international conflicts. The country has established itself as a key player in Syria, Libya, and negotiations with Iran as well as having extensive ties with Turkey and Israel. The so-called "Arab Spring" since 2011 has presented Russia with both significant security risks and geo-political opportunities. The Kremlin has viewed the uprisings in several Arab countries as a re-play of the so-called "color revolutions," i.e., the toppling of pro-Moscow governments in Eastern Europe. Russian leaders have sought to block this bitter experience and stop what they consider a "Western plot" against Russia's national interests. A close examination of the Russian role in regional conflicts suggests that Moscow might not be able to force particular outcomes, but it is likely to be able to raise the cost to the West of pursuing specific policy options that are not in line with its wishes.
Adapting an assertive foreign policy approach can serve to boost stability and legitimacy at home. In the last several years, Russia has been subject to European and American sanctions. Close cooperation with Middle Eastern countries can serve to offset the negative effects of these Western-imposed sanctions. Russia has a large Muslim minority and several Islamic countries in its near abroad, i.e., the Caucasus and Central Asia, are predominantly Muslim. Accordingly, Russian leaders have long perceived Islamic ideology and Islamists as significant threats. Within this context, warm relations with Muslim countries in the Middle East and elsewhere would enhance the Russian government's image among its Muslim population and would enable Moscow to contribute and shape the war against extremist groups in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.
Economic interests are also a major driver of Russian foreign policy. Although the volume of trade between the two sides is relatively low, particularly in comparison with other global powers such as the United States, the European Union, and China, economic ties between Moscow and several regional powers have expanded since the early 2000s. Russia's major exports to the Middle East include military equipment, machinery, oil and gas, petrochemical, metallurgical, and agricultural products. The Middle East is the main destination for exports of Russian grains. In order to further boost trade relations, Moscow has occasionally offered to use national currencies as a legal tender in bilateral trade instead of euros and U.S. dollars and has invited its Middle East trade partners to form a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Investment is another major area of on-going cooperation between the two sides. Middle East oil producers own some of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. They want to diversify their investment portfolio to include other major markets in addition to those of Western Europe and the United States. Moscow seeks to attract some of these investments.
Both Russia and several Middle Eastern countries are major oil and gas producers and exporters. A long time ago, the two sides decided that cooperation, rather than confrontation, would serve their mutual interests. Major Russian energy companies, such as Rosneft, Lukoil, Gazprom, Surgutneftegaz, and Tatneft, have made substantial investments in oil and gas sector in the Middle East. Russia is not a member in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) but for several years has coordinated its production policy with the Vienna-based organization. Generally, the two sides (Russia and OPEC) seek to maintain oil price stability and offset the growing volume of US oil production. Similarly, Russia, along with several Middle Eastern countries, is a founding member in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), which has similar goals to those of OPEC.
Arms deals have always been the cornerstone of Moscow-Middle Eastern relations since the time of the Soviet Union. Most regional powers prefer Western over Russian arms. However, at least two challenges have always complicated arms supplies from the United States and Europe: A) concern about human rights and B) maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge. As a result, some Middle Eastern countries perceive Western governments as unreliable source of weapons. Russia, on the other hand, does not impose such restraints on its arms deals. In the late 2010s, Russia has been able to secure a major arms deal with Turkey, a NATO member, by selling it the SAM-400 air defense system, despite strong opposition from the United States and the threat of sanctions, which were eventually imposed in December 2020.
The growing relations between Russia and Middle Eastern countries reflect perceived benefits by the two sides. Leaders with regional influence, based on cost-benefit analysis, are generally eager to do business with Moscow. At the end of the day, they do not want to be taken for granted by Washington; Russia is seen as an alternative to the United States. Similarly, presenting Russia as an option can be used to pressure the United States to adopt a desired course by Middle Eastern countries. Moscow promotes its approach to the Middle East as secular, transactional, and non-ideological.4 When Middle Eastern leaders doubt Washington's commitment and obligations, they find a partner in Russia. This was clear under the Obama Administration, and more recently, when Congress denounced the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2019.
Limitations on Russian Middle East Policy
Undoubtedly, Russia has many ways it can benefit from involvement in the Middle East. As the previous analysis shows, the two sides can provide each other with strategic and economic opportunities. However, this ambitious desire to deepen mutual engagement confronts serious challenges. First, there is a huge mismatch between Moscow's strategic objectives and its economic resources. Unlike Middle Eastern oil exporters, the Russian economy is not deeply dependent on oil and gas revenues, though these revenues do represent a large proportion of state budget. Low oil prices since 2014, and European and American sanctions, have limited Russia's capacity to exercise influence abroad. Arab Gulf states have identified Russia's current economic need as a weakness that they can exploit for their own political gain. Currently, Russia's financial and economic capabilities do not match those of the U.S. and EU and are not likely to do so in the foreseeable future.
Second, Russia's efforts to expand its influence in the Middle East pose another major challenge. In 2007 the state television channel Russia Today (RT) launched its Arabic service, which covers not only the Middle East but also Europe. These efforts were supported by the Russian federal agency Rossotrudnichestvo, whose official aim is to develop the country's cultural presence abroad. By 2014, it had created a network of missions in the capitals of Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.5 These efforts, however, have only made incremental gains in altering narratives in the region. Russia's soft power still has a long way to develop in order to be able to compete with that of the United States and Europe. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), France 24, and Voice of America hold more resources and enjoy more credibility than RT.
Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Bocharov Ruchei state residence on May 14, 2013 in Sochi, Russia. According to reports, Israel's concerns over Russian plans to sell Syrian President Bashar al-Assad an advanced air defense system will be raised.
Third, despite limited economic resources and soft power, Russia has managed to establish and maintain relations with almost all major regional powers including Egypt, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Israel, and Hamas. Indeed, President Putin is one of the few world leaders who has met with the Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran, Crown Prince Mohammad bin-Salman of Saudi Arabia, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. The Russian president also maintains close ties with both the Turkish President Erdogan and his Syrian neighbor Assad. These relations with states and non-state actors who are at odds with each other have their own limitations. Russia finds itself walking a tightrope to balance all these regional powers. For example, Moscow has had a hard time balancing its close ties with Israel, Iran, and Assad in the on-going fighting in Syria. Another challenge is that this impartiality limits the depth of Russia's bilateral relations. Finally, if the hostility further intensifies between these regional powers, Russia might be forced to choose sides.
Fourth, Russia does not only compete with the United States and Europe over influence in the Middle East, it competes with China as well. Unlike Moscow, Beijing has so far chosen to avoid any security role similar to the Russian presence in the Syrian civil war and more recently in the Libyan civil war. But, China enjoys key advantages over Russia. It controls substantial economic and financial resources and in recent years has become the main trade partner to several Middle Eastern states. Equally important, China is the main consumer of oil and gas exports from the Persian Gulf. On the other hand, Middle Eastern leaders have been using close ties with Beijing to show Washington, Brussels, and Moscow that they have other options.
Case Study 1: Syrian Civil War
The Assad regime's close relations with Moscow are the oldest in the Middle East. When he was Defense Minister, Hafez Al-Assad established warm ties with the Soviet Union, which he maintained and further strengthened after he became president and his son Bashar followed suit. Given this history, Moscow has three strategic goals in the Syrian civil war:
To preserve the Assad regime as a major ally and maintain Russia's air base in the western province of Latakia and its naval base in the port of Tartus (Russia's direct access to the Mediterranean Sea);
To defeat Islamic extremist groups, which are, in Moscow's eyes, an extension of the terrorist groups it fights in Chechnya, Dagestan, and other parts of the country;
To use Damascus as a springboard to expand its influence in the Middle East, project power, and challenge U.S. regional and global dominance.
In pursuing these objectives, Russia started a massive military intervention in Syria, the first outside of Europe since the end of the Cold War. Starting in October 2015, Russia has provided significant military and political support to President Assad. Russian air strikes against his opponents have turned the tide of the war in favor of the Syrian government and established Moscow as the main global military power in the country. By deploying the S-400 cutting-edge air-defense system, Moscow controls most of the air space in Western Syria.
Russia's relations with Iran and its perception of Tehran's role in the Syrian war are complicated. Relations between the two are driven more by shared geopolitical considerations than by economic interests. Arms sales and political support are major drivers of the alliance between the two nations, whereas economic ties are anemic; Tehran has a much larger volume of trade with Asian powers, particularly China, and with the EU. Moscow and Tehran are simultaneously allies and competitors. In the Syrian war the two nations need each other, but their strategic objectives are not identical. They both fight against Sunni rebel groups supported by regional and Western powers. Both Russian air power and Iranian influenced Shiia militia ground forces are essential to win this fight, but Tehran insists on a military victory and wants to establish a permanent presence along Israel's borders. Moscow, on the other hand, is more open to a political compromise; after securing its military bases, it wants to bring its troops home. A decisive victory by President Assad and his Iranian, Hezbollah, and other allies might not be the outcome Russia would like to see in Syria. Moscow seeks to balance its strategic relations with Tehran with those of other regional powers. Specifically, Russia has adopted an accommodative approach to Israel's security concerns.
Since the beginning of the Syrian war, Prime Minister Netanyahu has met with President Putin more often than he has met with American presidents. The two countries have a de-confliction mechanism in place, allowing Israeli jets to strike Iranian targets in Syria without simultaneously hitting Russian forces. Meanwhile, Russia has not used its advanced anti-aircraft batteries to stop the Israeli attacks. This suggests that Moscow has either given Jerusalem a green light or is turning a blind eye to air strikes against Iran/Hezbollah targets. Russian officials have been calling for restraint from all parties, but Moscow's reluctance to take a strong stand against Israeli air strikes indicates a desire to avoid confrontation with Jerusalem and a willingness to tolerate some degradation of Iran's capabilities in Syria.
The rising tension between Tehran and Jerusalem has put more pressure on Moscow to find a balance that will accommodate their opposing strategic objectives. Iran and its Shiite-militia allies want to maintain a military presence in Syria to deter potential Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic. Jerusalem rejects such a scenario and has launched military operations to prevent it. Given its heavy military involvement in the Syrian war and its close relations with both Iran and Israel, Moscow is well-positioned to negotiate a compromise. Russia does not want the fighting between these sworn enemies to escalate and further destabilize Syria (and the entire region), delaying the withdrawal of Russian troops. Against this background, President Putin stated that foreign armed forces will withdraw from Syria.
There is a problem, however: it is not clear whether the Assad regime is strong enough to survive without Russian and Iranian support. A premature withdrawal might force Assad to give up some of the gains he has recently won from opposition groups. Furthermore, it is not clear that Tehran will accept the Russian proposal. President Putin's call was followed by a modification from Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said that only Syrian forces should be stationed on the country's southern border, implying that Iranian and Hezbollah forces should be ruled out. This modified proposal amounts to the creation of a buffer zone along the Israeli-Syrian borders. Iranian-allied Shiite forces would not be allowed in this zone, so the launching of short-range missile attacks on Israel would diminish.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (3rd R) and President of Syria Bashar Al-Assad (2nd R) hold a meeting at Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia, Syria on December 11, 2017.
Case Study 2: Nuclear Power
One of the growing areas of expanding Russia influence in the Middle East is the construction of nuclear power plants. Russian leaders see the transfer of civilian nuclear technology as an important tool for projecting influence overseas. In 2014 Russia signed a package of agreements for the construction of up to eight new nuclear reactors in Iran. The first two are expected to be built in Bushehr, which Russian engineers had already built and handed over to national authorities in 2013. During Putin's February 2015 visit to Egypt, Rosatom signed a contract for the construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant. In March 2015, Russia and Jordan signed a $10 billion agreement allowing Rosatom to build and operate two nuclear reactors with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts. In September 2019, Russia signed a $20 billion agreement to build four nuclear power reactors in Akkuyu, Turkey, one of the largest nuclear deals in the world.
Russia is boosting its dominance in new nuclear sales. Currently, it leads the pool of global suppliers, accounting for two-thirds of the globally exported nuclear power plants under construction.6 Since the 1950s, global powers have been interested in exporting nuclear power for a number of strategic benefits, including securing a source of domestic power generation, the ability to establish nuclear safety and nonproliferation standards around the world, enforcing a vibrant nuclear innovation ecosystem, and some degree of geopolitical influence with other nations. These strategic benefits, along with the value of nuclear power as a source of low greenhouse gas-emitting energy in the fight against climate change, become important to understanding the dynamics of Great Power Competition and Moscow's growing role in the Middle East. Nuclear commerce entails not only a multi-year effort for reactor construction but also an ongoing relationship between a supplier country and a recipient one regarding fuel supplies and reactor maintenance. As such, nuclear commerce serves to create or maintain diplomatic, commercial, and institutional relationship. This is where the link between nuclear commerce and geopolitics exists on multiple levels.
Russia's nuclear energy sector is organized under a single player, Rosatom (established in 2007). It serves as the direct arm of the state for both civilian and military nuclear energy work. The corporation is entirely under the control of the Russia state, with its strategic objectives being set by President Putin.7 Russia's rise as the dominant reactor technology supplier can be explained by its ability to adapt its business model to a changing market. Rosatom is both vertically and horizontally integrated, providing reactor technology, plant construction, fuel, operational capability (including training), maintenance services, decommissioning, spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and regulatory support, as well as generous financing (debt and equity) to both established markets and newcomers. This integrated structure gives Russia the ability to engage a foreign client through a single point of contact in contractual engagements. The one-stop-shop approach has a particular appeal to newcomer countries (such as those in the Middle East) that lack adequate experience in developing such complex projects.8
Rosatom's nuclear project at Akkuyu in Turkey added a strategic value to Russia by further complicating relations between Ankara and Washington. Although Turkey has had a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States since 1955, political instability and economic crises combined with Ankara's insistence on commercially difficult terms have confounded the Turkish government's efforts to sign a nuclear deal with an American company. The agreement with Rosatom aims to build the country's first nuclear reactor on the build-own-operate (BOO) model by the early 2020s. Under such a model, Russia would not only build but also own and operate the plant, thereby bearing all the financial, construction, operating and country risks. This arrangement aims to remove many technical and regulatory barriers a nuclear newcomer may encounter in introducing nuclear energy and has likely reduced a significant level of financial barriers for Turkey. Meanwhile, these close ties between Ankara and Moscow have further complicated relations with Washington and other European powers.
Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images
The over 300 ton reactor pressure vessel. An inside look at the mega manufacturing facility of Atomenergomash a subsidiary of Rosatom the Russian atomic mega giant. Inside the facility that is the size of several football fields, a road runs through it and workers commute from one work station to the next using bicycle. This is the facility where Russia makes the heavy machinery needed for the 1200 MW atomic reactors it makes across the world. For each reactor some 6000 tons of equipment is shipped from this facility. The reactor vessel of the pressure vessel is over 300 tons in weight and it takes over two years to manufacture.
Implications for the United States and Recommendations
Two weeks after inauguration, President Biden visited the Department of State and gave his first foreign policy speech. The president said, "The days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions are over. We will not hesitate to raise the cost on Russia and defend our vital interests. We will be more effective in dealing with Russia when we work in coalition and coordination with other like-minded partners."9 This statement from President Biden indicates that his Administration plans to reach out to European allies to confront Moscow around the world.
Russia has always sought to export a different worldview to Middle Eastern countries than Western powers have projected. This model has always reflected ideological orientation and perceived national interests. Moscow has never shown interest in supporting transparency and democratic values and has always endorsed authoritarian leaders. Like the Chinese model, it focuses more on transaction and less on transparency and rule of law. As such, it appeals to many Middle Eastern governments. Within this context, several points should be highlighted:
Despite lucrative energy and arms deals, Russia's priorities are closer to home, i.e., Europe and Asia.
Russia's growing role in the Middle East is guided by pragmatism and opportunism and not driven by any ideological orientation. Authoritarianism and totalitarianism are the form of ideology Russia tolerates and promotes in the Middle East and elsewhere.
There is no doubt Moscow has expanded its influence in the Middle East since the early 2000s. However, one can argue, Russian rising role is unsustainable given the nation's limited hard and soft resources.
Middle Eastern leaders have always sought to play Russia off the United States. This is not likely to change. However, they perceive Washington as their primary security, economic, and strategic choice.
Russia has demonstrated capabilities less to dictate outcomes and more to complicate American policies. This is likely to continue in the foreseeable future.
Leaders and policymakers should understand that Russia both considers the Middle East a secondary priority and cannot sustain continued growth in influence. Therefore, what it offers the Middle East is short-term opportunity rather than long-term security, and the U.S. and its allies can bring something to the negotiating table that Russia cannot.
Russian-Middle Eastern ties will continue focusing on arms sales and energy. The two sides need each other. Most Middle Eastern countries prefer to buy American weapons, but when Washington imposes political restrictions on arms sales, Russia is seen as an option. For several years, major oil producing countries have coordinated their production policies with Russia in what is known as OPEC +. The two sides both seek to prevent oil prices from declining and to undercut U.S. fracking efforts. The Biden Administration's focus on climate change and its support to clean energy is likely to weaken the OPEC-Russia partnership. The global demand for oil will continue, but is projected to decline in the coming years.
Understanding this, the U.S. should seek to provide a steadfast presence that promotes rule of law – countering the short-term disruptive acts of Russia.
For Academic Citation
Gawdat Bahgat, "Russia and the Middle East: Opportunities and Challenges," in Russia's Global Reach: A Security and Statecraft Assessment, ed. Graeme P. Herd (Garmisch-Partenkirchen: George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, 2021), https://www.marshallcenter.org/en/publications/marshall-center-books/russias-global-reach/chapter-9-russia-and-middle-east-opportunities-and-challenges, 72-79.
1 John Raine, "Russia in the Middle East: Hard Power, Hard Fact," IISS, last modified October 25, 2018, https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2018/10/russia-middle-east-hard-power.
2 Fredrik Wesslau and Andrew Wilson, "Russia 2030: A Story of Great Power Dreams and Small Victorious Wars," Report, European Council on Foreign Relations, 2016, accessed December 17, 2020, doi:10.2307/resrep21534.
3 Andrew Osborn, "Putin: Collapse of the Soviet Union Was Catastrophe of the Century," Independent, October 6, 2011, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-collapse-of-the-soviet-union-was-catastrophe-of-the-cenutry-521064.html.
4 Becca Wasser, The Limits of Russian Strategy in the Middle East (Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2019). https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE340.html.
5 Nikolay Kozhanov, "Russian Policy across the Middle East: Motivations and Methods," Chatham House, February 21, 2018, https://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/russian-policy-across-middle-east-motivations-and-methods.
6 "Performance in 2018," Rosatom, accessed April 5, 2020, https://rosatom.ru/upload/iblock/0c1/0c106b40899f365fd8c2a6be935b092b.pdf.
7 Nevine Schepers, "Russia's nuclear energy exports: status, prospects and implications," EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium, February, 2019, https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/eunpdc_no_61_final.pdf.
8 Jane Nakano, "The changing geopolitics of nuclear energy," Report, CSIS, March 12, 2020, https://www.csis.org/analysis/changing-geopolitics-nuclear-energy-look-united-states-russia-and-china.
9 President Joseph Biden (2021) Remarks by President Biden on America's Place in the World, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-americas-place-in-the-world/, accessed February 4, 2021.
Dr. Gawdat Bahgat is a professor at the Near East-South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. He is the author of twelve books and more than 200 articles on the Middle East. His areas of expertise include energy security; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; international political economy; Iran; and U.S. foreign policy.
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, a German-American partnership, is committed to creating and enhancing worldwide networks to address global and regional security challenges. The Marshall Center offers fifteen resident programs designed to promote peaceful, whole of government approaches to address today's most pressing security challenges. Since its creation in 1992, the Marshall Center's alumni network has grown to include over 14,400 professionals from 156 countries. More information on the Marshall Center can be found online at www.marshallcenter.org.
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, the U.S. Department of Defense, the German Ministry of Defense, or the United States, German, or any other governments. This report is approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Chapter 9: Russia and the Middle East
Marshall Center


Quality Waterproofing provides foundation waterproofing, brick flashing, brick sealants, interior drain systems, and other waterproofing related services.
Stewart's Machining, Inc. is a woman owned small business incorporated in the state of Ohio. The business was begun in 1993 to provide precision machining in various industries.
Aegis Armor provides paper shredding, imaging, and file storage services as a part of its document management solutions.
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E Ivor Hughes Educational Foundation v Miss J E Morris & Others.
The law concerning the start of the employer's obligation to consult in collective redundancies has changed. Employers were previously thought to be required to consult at the earliest opportunity once the redundancy decision had been made. The changes however, identify that the notification period exists prior to the redundancy decision being made and can incorporate discussions on the likelihood of redundancy. This case note discusses the implications of the changes on employers and demonstrates that failure to follow the correct procedure can have significant cost implications for the employer, who will inevitably be looking to save costs.
The precise point in which the consultation should begin has been a matter of uncertainty for some time. Hopes for a resolution were raised in the United States of America v Nolan. These hopes were dashed when the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) applied the exclusion contained in Art 1(2)(b) of the Collective Redundancies Directive (98/59/EC) (the Directive) relating to public administrative bodies ruling that the United States Army fell within this exclusion. Nonetheless, the court identified that many countries within Europe had not fully implemented the provisions of the Directive. This case is now awaiting a final decision in its appeal to the Supreme Court however, in the intervening period the issue was once again raised in E Ivor Hughes Educational Foundation v Miss J E Morris.
The defendants operated a small number of private schools and nurseries. The decision to close one of the schools was first considered in January in respect of a general decline in pupil numbers in the preceding years. The school employed 24 teaching staff and thus fell within the requirement to consult contained in section 188 Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992 (TULRCA); requiring consultation if more than 20 employees are to be made redundant in a period of 90 days.
A meeting held in February concluded that if pupil numbers did not improve then the school would need to close as it would be trading at a loss. The Head Teacher was present at the meeting and she put forward suggestions as to measures that could mean the school could remain open. These suggestions however, were not acted upon by the governors of the school who decided to close the school. The actual decision to close was not made until April, when the finalised pupil numbers for the following academic year were known. The school declared the redundancy notice period from the date of the meeting in April as they were contractually required to give a term's notice. The school did not follow a consultancy process with the staff at any point and thus opportunities were missed in both keeping the school open but also re-deploying the staff.
The EAT determined that the school should have begun the consultancy process at the point where the likelihood of redundancy was inevitable and thus in this case it should have commenced from the date of the meeting in February. The failure to consult at all was viewed unfavourably by the EAT and it is likely that this is why the full 90 days consultation period was imposed from the date of the February meeting when calculating the award. The EAT identified there was potential for some of the staff to be re-deployed at other schools in the group.
The decision identifies that the point in which the consultation should begin is when it is first contemplated. This will generally occur before the decision to undertake redundancies is finalised.
Arguably there is greater potential that the consultancy process will inevitably lead to confidential and sensitive information being leaked externally that could damage the company's prospects further. Failure to consult, or an inadequate consultation however, will result in the tribunal awarding a higher level of award to the employees and this could amount to the maximum period of 90 days.
When a firm is seeking to dismiss 20 or more employees, for reason of redundancy within a period of 90 days, they are required to follow the collective redundancy procedure. This is set out in section 188 TULRCA as amended by the Collective Redundancies and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations 1995. Section 188 provides that the consultation should discuss options that would either avoid the redundancy or reduce the numbers affected, in addition to mitigating the consequences of the dismissals. These regulations were intended to implement the Collective Redundancies Directive (98/59/EC) and bring the UK's collective redundancy provisions in line with Europe. Nonetheless, uncertainty in respect of the precise point in which firms are obligated to enter consultation, with trade union or employee representatives, when considering collective redundancies remained. Whilst the Directive required the employer to consult on the 'actual proposal' to close an establishment; this had been interpreted previously as a requirement to consult on the particular redundancies. In this context, the requirement to consult would only be required when a firm decision to close had occurred.
Following the EATs decision in E Ivor Hughes, any company considering redundancies of 20 or more employees should consider consulting with employee representatives. They must ensure that the decisions behind the redundancies are part of the consultation and therefore must ensure that the process is transparent. Furthermore, there must be a clear start and end of the consultancy period and redundancy notices cannot be issued during this period. The approach of the EAT in E Ivor Hughes brings the UK law in line with that of Europe and thus it is likely that the decision will stand. The Supreme Court decision in Nolan is due in July 2015 of which it is anticipated will support the outcome of E Ivor Hughes. It will be particularly interesting however, to see whether court will extend the application to armed forces operating overseas.
Employers who fail to consult on the decision to make redundancies and look at alternatives including redeployment are likely to face increased costs of a special award and failure to consult at all will increase the award substantially.
2United States of America v Nolan, CJEU Case C‑583/10 accessed 6 July 2015.
3United States of America v Nolan, CJEU Case C‑583/10 accessed 6 July 2015.
5Taylor S and Emir, Employment Law: An Introduction (3rd edn, Oxford University Press 2012)149.
7Emir A, Selwyn's Law of Employment (17th edn, Oxford University Press 2012) 525.
10MSF v Refuge Assurance plc  ICR 1365.
11Collective Redundancies Directive (98/59/EC), Art 2(2).
12Neilson S, 'The extent of the obligation to consult about the reason for redundancies' (2007) 82 Employment Law Bulletin 7, 7.
13UK Coal Mining Ltd v National Union of Mineworkers (Northumberland Area)  I.C.R. 163 (EAT).
15Junk v Woolfgang Kuhnel  ECJ C-188/03.
"Hughes v Morris | Criminal Law Case Summary." Parallelewelten.net. 11 2013. All Answers Ltd. 04 2019 <http://parallelewelten.info/cases/hughes-v-morris.php?vref=1>.
"Hughes v Morris | Criminal Law Case Summary." Parallelewelten. Parallelewelten.net, November 2013. Web. 25 April 2019. <http://parallelewelten.info/cases/hughes-v-morris.php?vref=1>.
Parallelewelten. November 2013. Hughes v Morris | Criminal Law Case Summary. [online]. Available from: http://parallelewelten.info/cases/hughes-v-morris.php?vref=1 [Accessed 25 April 2019].
Parallelewelten. Hughes v Morris | Criminal Law Case Summary [Internet]. November 2013. [Accessed 25 April 2019]; Available from: http://parallelewelten.info/cases/hughes-v-morris.php?vref=1.


text:
Veliki Izvor (Servisch cyrillisch ) is een plaats in de Servische gemeente Zaječar. De plaats telt 2684 inwoners (2002).

Plaats in Servië

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
ABC News US
Official website: https://abcnews.go.com/
Address: ABC News, 47 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023
About: ABC News is the news division of Walt Disney Television serving American Broadcasting Company broadcast network.
Indigenous senator quits party over Australian referendum
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AP's top 2022 photos capture a planet bursting at the seams
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A Northern California high school staff member was shot after breaking up a fight on campus…
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China's Xi warns Biden over Taiwan, calls for cooperation
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The life of Ivana Trump is being celebrated at a funeral Mass at a Manhattan church…
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New California wildfire strands Fourth of July revelers
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At Times Square rampage trial, victims recount day's horrors
The screaming people, car tires screeching and an engine revving are sounds that still haunt them…
Georgia man who killed girl has execution temporarily stayed
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EXPLAINER: Theory of white replacement fuels racist attacks
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UN condemns killing of Palestinian-American journalist
The U_N_ Security Council is strongly condemning the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and…


Saturday, Oct. 6, Lion Fight 47 streamed live on FloCombat with undefeated cruiserweight champion Chip Moraza-Pollard defending his title against Remy Vectol of France.
In the co-main event, Richmond's Michael Lawrence made his pro debut against Julian Nguyen in a welterweight bout.
Other bouts on the main card included a cruiserweight matchup between Cole Fetzner and Samlullah Ahmady, and a heavyweight scrap between Lewis Rumsey and Doug Holland.
The main card kicked off with an amateur bout between Ahria Sorbi and Miguel Cadiz in the middleweight division.
In the main event, both men began the bout by exchanging heavy leg kicks and fighting from a distance. As the round went on, Moraza-Pollard began opening up with his combinations and was able to keep Vectol off balance. Vectol began attempting to work from the clinch in the middle rounds of the fight, but Moraza-Pollard proved to be the superior technician and was consistently finding a home for his strikes. Moraza-Pollard was able to keep up his high pace, before buckling Vectol with a devastating low kick in Round 4.
Vectol was unable to return to his feet following the low kick and the referee stepped in to call an end to the fight as Moraza-Pollard retained his title.


ISO 22000:2018 specifies requirements for a food safety management system where an organization in the food chain needs to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of human consumption. It is applicable to all organizations, regardless of size, which are involved in any aspect of the food chain and want to implement systems that consistently provide safe products.
ELITE provides food safety management system training and consultancy services. We offer specialized expertise and extensive practical experience to assist client in developing management systems from the initial concept to establishment and successful implementation of the management systems.


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Rise in price has led to the drop in sales.
According to a recent study by rural consultancy MART, the consumer durable goods are facing a rough phase while fast-moving consumer goods, media, telecom and financial services have all registered solid rural growth.
The study covered 24 villages and 24 small towns across four regions – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
Pradeep Kashyap, CEO, MART, said, "Television is no longer seen as a dowry item in the rural areas, because the penetration levels are already very high." He said rural areas have now upgraded to microwaves or water purifiers, and are buying second or third televisions. Also, with the upgradation to LED and LCD TV, companies are no longer promoting basic models even in the rural areas.
The consumer durables industry saw 4-5 price hikes last year and had no discounted offers on the table as the input costs went high. The report also puts the points to poor industry performance on low farm profitability leading to postponement of purchase decisions.
"All over India, almost 14% of the consumer durable purchase happens through a finance option, of which a meagre 2% is accounted for by rural areas," said Pankaj Mishra, Partner, Mart.
According to reports, Korean company LG had close to 400 offices in the remote areas and has closed many of them, as they did not foresee business in the rural areas.
Adding to this, Godrej and Boyce did agree that sales have dipped.


text:
O distrito de Jauja Peru é um dos trinta e quatro distritos que compõem a província de Jauja, localizado no departamento de Junin, um membro da região Junin, Peru.

A sua criação remonta ao tempo da independência do Peru e do seu território estende do centro da cidade de Jauja que foi a primeira capital do Peru, fundado por Francisco Pizarro.

Tem uma área de 10,10 quilômetros quadrados e uma população de cerca de 22.000 habitantes.

Transporte
O distrito de Jauja é servido pela seguinte rodovia:
 PE-3SA, que liga a cidade ao distrito de Tarma
 PE-3SB, que liga a cidade ao distrito de Sicaya
 JU-103, que liga o distrito de Palca à cidade
 PE-3S, que liga o distrito de La Oroya à Ponte Desaguadero (Fronteira Bolívia-Peru) - e a rodovia boliviana Ruta 1 - no distrito de Desaguadero (Região de Puno)

Veja também
 Província de Jauja
 Junín (região)
 Subdivisões do Peru
 Peru

Distritos da província de Jauja


Come with us through the looking glass this week to finally explore Shogun World! Plus, Dolores pulls some cold s#%t!!
Thank you to Brian Meloche for editing this episode! You can find Brian's podcasts at walkingdeadtalkthrough.com and startrekdiscoverypodcast.com.


It's one thing to run a friend through a dungeon that might be a little too rough for them because you're a Cool Pal. It's something else entirely to do it for a rando and ask for real money in return. In World of Warcraft, the latter is unacceptable, and Blizzard's started banning top players for it.
According to PCGamesN, it's become fairly commonplace for the cream of the game's crop to boost players with less time (but more money) on their hands through tough dungeons. The boost-ee gets loot and achievements, and the boost-er gets real cash. Everybody wins... sorta. Blizzard, however, says they're done turning a blind eye to these practices.
Top raiders aren't the only people who usher lower-tier players through WoW's increasingly brutal theme parks, but Blizzard took aim at them for a reason.
Heck of a warning shot, given how much work top WoW players put into their characters. That's thousands and thousands of hours down the drain. Everybody else, learn from their mistakes or face some seriously gnarly consequences.


text:
Comparison Search:
Title Director Year Country Company/Distributor Edition
Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory: Season One
R1 - America	- Paramount Home Entertainment
Review written by and copyright: Ethan C. Stevenson (14th September 2009).
Does anybody remember what MTV used to be famous for? No? Well, along time ago in the early 1990's (and late 80's) there were these things called music videos, and, believe it or not, a majority of the programming on MUSIC TELEVISION was blocked around these videos. Then, in 1992, a strange thing happened: "The Real World" (1992-Present) appeared on the youth oriented network and slowly, but surely, as the ratings told executives that young people wanted more "reality" TV (what the producers actually provide is faux-reality but, no matter), MTV became less about Music and Videos and more about dumb people's lives.
I think the true beginning of the end for the network was the premiere of "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica" (2003-2005) – a show that followed the lives of two not particularly talented people as they acted idiotically and spent their millions on ridiculous things. This absurdity continues in MTV's new show, "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory," a program that shows just how frivolous rich celebrities can be with their cash. I mean, I'm sure Dyrdek is talented; anyone who gets famous for playing a sport (rather than acting or signing), or 'does' (as apposed to 'play') a sport in the case of skateboarding, has to be talented, but this show is not about his skating. It's about "funny" things he does with odd stuff that he buys, such as a "water blob" (you know, the thing that all summer camp movies have at their lake – like in "Heavy Weights" (1995)) or some other new toy, or a new prank the he plays on one of his unsuspecting employees.
Dyrdek bought a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse for use as a "home base." His corporate offices and a gigantic indoor funhouse reside within the complex and the show focuses around this place, known as Rob's "fantasy factory." We get to see the zany things that happen inside it. The program chronicles the adventures of Rob, a professional skateboarder who is, apparently, a mogul in the making (he's got clothing, real estate, and action figures and is investing in a restaurant; or so we learn throughout the show) and the ridiculous things he and his friends do. Rob's right-hand man, his cousin Chris "Drama" Pfaff is his partner in crime. He's welcomed based purely for the fact that he exists, adding comic relief, mainly in the form of the voice of reason. His cautions of "this is so stupid" or "we really shouldn't do this" and "this isn't safe" fall on the unlistening ears of Rob and the production crew.
Rob himself is funny on occasion, but I can't help but thing that some of his quick quips are really part of some grander "script." I can't deny that some of the things that he and his "crew" do are entertaining, if limitedly so, and I was surprised to learn that the show isn't all fun and games. Yes, sometimes Dyrdek is doing real, thoughtful, "grown up" things. One of the later episodes focuses on Rob's idea of giving back to the community in the form of economical, environmentally and socially acceptable skate parks. He wants to try and integrate them into their surroundings as apposed to most other facilities that are highly industrial and closed off from the natural environment. With moments like this you can see that Rob's a good guy and that's he's actually a strong business negotiator (he gets Carls Jr. to foot most of the bill for the project by agreeing to shoot a few viral commercials for the company). It would seem that he could be passionate about things other than goofing off with his friends.
But, as a majority of the show is just idiotic stupid-ness (the great episode mentioned above is preceded by an episode in which Rob wants to try and get bitten by a shark) I find it worthless. Most of the show reeks of a "why bother" and feels ever so faux-real (like most of MTV's shows today, actually). Why should I care about this series? I don't know and I, really, don't care either. It's crap like this that keeps me from watching MTV these days. I don't know, maybe this really is the new hip & cool thing and people in the 16-24 age bracket really do love this kind of drivel, but, if they do, it just means I have even less of a connection with this age group (which, disappointingly, I'm a part of).
All 10 episodes of the shows first season are presented on 2 DVD's, including:
- "Blob, Super Blob"
- "Get With Your Power Animal"
- "Extreme Timmy!"
- "Hotel, Motel… Robbie's Inn"
- "Bangin' on Fools"
- "This is Not Mom-Certified"
- "Shark Sugar"
- "No Mandals"
- "I Call Him Butter Feet"
- "Dusty Monkey"
First things first; right off the bat "Fantasy Factory" gets marked down for its bland, documentary style that is neither inventive or all that [visually] interesting. DVD already does little with this type of filming (or taping, whichever you prefer) but compound that with the way MTV presents these episodes on disc and we have a less than ideal situation. For whatever reason, even though the series is clearly shot in 16x9, the distributor has windowboxed the 1.78:1 picture, leaving a sea of black around the postage stamp of an image when viewed on native widescreen displays. Why they didn't encode the episodes with an anamorphic flag is beyond me; what is this 1998? 16x9 enhanced DVD's aren't a luxury; they're a necessity in today's world of high-definition widescreen.
Disappointing aspect ratio's aside, this DVD set is still problematic. There are numerous instances of combing errors (interlacing artifacts). Moiré, stair-stepping jaggies – whatever you want to call it – is also present in the transfer. Noise is a bit bothersome sometimes, particularly during low-lit scenes. These defects are probably not visible on your old 480i native 4:3 tube TV but on the bigger, high resolution TV's that are far more common place today than they were 3 or 4 years ago, the deficiencies are noticeable to even the most untrained eye, on a moderately sized set. MTV needs to step up the game; they can't keep putting out DVD's that adhere to decade old standards and expectations. This is a show produced in 2009 – released to DVD in 2009; there's no reason it can't look decent (or be properly presented in true widescreen).
The main audio on the series is a by-the-book English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix. There isn't much to say in terms of quality. This is reality TV; it's 2 channels. Dialogue, good. Stereo separation is adequate. In other words it's passable but nothing special. But, on the upside there isn't anything outright wrong with the track either – the source is clean (as it should be; this is a 2009 series after all) and levels are decently balanced.
Although no subtitles or any other languages are included on the series, MTV/Paramount has decided to offer both "Censored" and "Uncensored" versions of the shows audio. The tracks are identical apart from the bleeps that accompany the censored option.
This 2-disc set features multiple audio commentaries, two bonus episodes including a "Best of and Behind-the-Scenes" special, deleted scenes, a featurette, bonus trailers and uncensored version of the shows audio. Considering the source material I don't know… I just expected a far less robust package. That's not to say this is one of the best supplement offers ever, just that considering this is essentially a reality TV show, I thought there'd be some outtakes or something and that's it.
**Optional Uncensored Audio** on All Episodes. The DVD release of "Fantasy Factory" includes an option to watch the show with completely uncensored audio. No blips, bleeps or other hindrances. This is a nice feature as it gives the viewer the option to watch the show either as it was broadcast or raw – I wish more series had this as people are usually spit when it comes to how they like to watch their shows (with bleeps; without). I hope Paramount starts to use this feature on other shows (like their DVD releases of "South Park" (1997-Present)) as its certainly welcome.
Surprisingly MTV offers an audio commentary on every single episode of the first season. Each track is episode centric and quality varies from show to show; participants are affable and decently well spoken on nearly all of them but, like most things, there is no constant. Mostly the tracks are just the fantasy factory crew laughing, reminiscing and joking (and they can be quite funny), but this set is almost completely devoid of real insight (not that I expected much considering the show). Each track has multiple participants but Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson do most of the talking and drive conversations to points they want to discuss. Commentaries include:
Audio commentary on "Blob, Super Blob" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "Get With Your Power Animal" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "Extreme Timmy!" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "Hotel, Motel… Robbie's Inn" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "Bangin' on Fools" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "This is Not Mom-Certified" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Pre-menu bonus trailers are for:
- "Nitro Circus: Season One"spot runs 2 minutes 8 seconds.
- "Jackass: The Lost Tapes" runs for 1 minute 5 seconds.
- "Rob and Big: The Complete 3rd Season" runs for 32 seconds.
**Optional Uncensored Audio** on All Episodes continues with the episodes on this disc. Plus more audio commentaries included are:
Audio commentary on "Shark Sugar" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "No Mandals" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "I Call Him Butter Feet" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
Audio commentary on "Dusty Monkey" by stars Rob Dyrdek, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff, Chanel "CC", Scott "Big Cat" Pfaff, Jeremy Larner and executive producers Jeff Tremaine and Shane Nickerson.
A bonus episode of "Fantasy Factory" dubbed "Factory Clips" is a clip show that aired on MTV as the 11th episode of the series. It's just a bunch of material with roundtable (really a couch) discussion in between various scenes. 20 minutes 10 seconds.
Another bonus episode of Fantasy Factory" is included dubbed "Best of and Behind-the-Scenes" special aired on MTV as the series' 12th episode. It's self-explanatory; it's a highlight reel show with behind-the-scene clips, favorite moments from the series and bloopers. Runs 20 minutes 11 seconds.
14 deleted scenes are included on the DVD. A play all option is also available. Scenes include:
- Rob and Drama talk about their family, particularly rabbit hunting with Grandpa. 1 minute 34 seconds.
- Rob new puppy, Beefy, gets delivered. Runs 2 minute 34 seconds.
- Rob talks butt-cracks and sagging. 58 seconds.
- Rob gets two wooden bulldog statues to "guard" the building. 1 minute 34 seconds.
- Rob and Drama go visit Nate Sherwood, a friend and pro-skater, who talks about his hernia. 1 minute 34 seconds.
- Rap producer/rapper Pharrell visits "The Factory." 2 minutes 57 seconds.
- Rob practices basketball fundamentals… on stilts. 54 seconds.
- Rob's older bulldog, Meaty, falls asleep in a desk chair. 34 seconds.
- Rob and Chanel pester Drama about his "faux-hawk." 1 minute 16 seconds.
- Rob plays basketball with Eddie, a guest brought to the factory by Johnny Knoxville. 1 minute 3 seconds.
- Rob and Drama trick out a motorized wheelchair…. Complete with flat-white spray paint job and lions-head "ornament." 2 minutes.
- Rob asks Drama if everything is Okay between Drama and Timmy. FYI, "Timmy" is a plastic mannequin. 1 minute 48 seconds.
- While searching for some protective gear to wear during their "American Gladiators" (1989-1997) tribute, Rob forces Drama to do ab crunches. 2 minutes 29 seconds.
- A montage of basketball shots. 1 minute 33 seconds.
A Jackassworld.com featurette "Factory Party", running 4 minutes 5 seconds, is part EPK piece, part behind-the-scenes documentary and part nonsense.
- "The State: The Complete Series" on DVD. Runs 1 minute 10 seconds.
- "Jackass: The Lost Tapes" 1 minute 5 seconds.
- "Rockband" spot runs 33 seconds.
The first season is split across 2-discs and housed in a standard amaray case.
The Show: D- Video: D Audio: C- Extras: C Overall: D
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Following his prison release back in April, Philly rapper Meek Mill gets back to the music as he unleashes a new E.P titled "Legends In The Summer Time".
The new E.P by Meek is made up of four songs in total with collabos from Miguel, Jerimih, PnB Rock & Swizz Beatz.
Listen to "Legends In The Summer Time" underneath.


In direct mail, color consistency is critical—both to producing the mail itself and for the impression it makes on the person who receives it. Mail for a customer campaign is printed using multiple technologies. Recipients expect it to have a consistent appearance; for production, flexibility is key—being able to seamlessly move jobs as needed without having to worry about whether or not colors will match between devices. Accurate color management is crucial to addressing both of these concerns.
Naturally, IWCO Direct's creative teams have to be familiar with a variety of print technologies. With the adoption of G7 calibration and the implementation of the GRACoL print specifications across all our different print technologies, we've been able to achieve a shared neutral appearance across different paper substrates and different print output devices. That tells us we can accurately reproduce the truest color possible, no matter the technology we're working with.
Events like the Printing Industries of America (PIA) Color Conference are also important to our color management practices. The Color Conference gives us a first look at the latest technologies and, just as valuable, the chance to connect with fellow color professionals. By staying current on the tech, trends, tips, and conversations guiding color management, we can stay on the cutting edge of new innovations that help us lead the direct marketing industry.
The technology that impressed us at this year's Color Conference included advancements in the Alwan ChromaChecker and CHROMIX's Maxwell, applications that can tie in with our current color process control software. These will help us assesses color-matching expectations across devices to make sure that the IWCO Direct creative vision can become an ink-and-paper reality for our clients.
Also of interest to the IWCO Direct team was how the advancement of XCMYK (X = extended color gamut with CMYK, by increased densities) would enable us to print some spot colors on a press as CMYK that were out of (reach) color gamut. Color Exchange Format (CxF), a print standard for taking a color reading (called "spectral data") and embedding it into a .pdf, was another hot topic on the conference floor. With CxF, anyone could share color information—whether it's a designer, ink vendor, or printer. Numerous companies are already incorporating this into their color branding guidelines, and we're eager to see how it can augment IWCO Direct's production capabilities.
Keynote speakers Barry Sanel of DIAGEO ("DIAGEO: Anatomy of a Strong Color Management Program") and Lisa Price of 3M ("Global Brand Consistency: How 3M Makes It Happen") both offered case studies on the roles consistent quality and color management have in ensuring brand strength and longevity.
All of these presentations drove home one central concept: the importance of color standards. Trust in your vendors and suppliers is paramount; acceptance of tight color tolerances is expected; and today's color management capabilities give printers the tools and abilities to succeed.
Looking back, this was one of the more active and informative Color Conferences of recent years. With a 40% increase in attendance from last year, 34 color experts from various fields, and 40 sessions to choose from, there were a lot of great opportunities to connect with industry leaders. We're looking forward to watching these technology and thought-changing ideas influence the industry and tracking their impact at the next conference.


text:
Turkey to focus on 'political solution' in four-way Syria summit
Syria Summit
Four-way summit on Syria ends in Istanbul
Syria summit: Assad's fate must be decided by Syrian people
Erdogan in Moscow for Syria talks with Putin
Breakthrough reached on negotiating Syria's new constitution
'Assad regime illegitimate' – Turkey
Turkish forces 'neutralise' three PKK/YPG terrorists in northern Syria
Türkiye increases its tourism income by 53.4% in 2022
Türkiye 'resolutely' continues fight against terror groups: ministry
Police bus bombing wounds 15 in southern Syria
Israeli-Palestinian rising violence tests US as Blinken visits region
Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron are participating in Istanbul quartet summit hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Destruction in Zardana, in the mostly opposition-held northern Syrian province of Idlib, following air strikes, June 8, 2018. (AFP)
The four-way Syria summit to be held in Istanbul on Saturday will focus on finding new ways to reach a political solution in war-ravaged Syria, Turkey's presidential aide said on Friday.
"Our main purpose at this summit will be focusing on what kind of new ways could be found based not on military, but a political solution in Syria," said Ibrahim Kalin, speaking at an international congress in the southeastern Diyarbakir province.
The summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will see the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron.
TRT World's Hasan Abdullah has more.
Focus on Idlib deal
At the summit, Erdogan will focus on preserving last month's Idlib deal and preventing violations by the Bashar al Assad regime, Kalin said.
Ankara and Moscow agreed in September to establish a demilitarised zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.
Under the deal, opposition groups in Idlib are to remain in areas where they are already present, while Russia and Turkey carry out joint patrols in the area to help prevent a resumption of fighting.
On October 10, the Turkish defence ministry announced the Syrian opposition and other anti-regime groups had completed the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the demilitarised zone.
We take a look back at the refugee crisis in Europe as Turkey hosts a summit on Syria this week to discuss how to end the Syrian conflict pic.twitter.com/u8qBrRnips
— TRT World (@trtworld) October 26, 2018
Political settlement
Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, who is also invited to the summit, will deliver a speech reviewing his efforts to date, according to Kalin.
"Our chief concrete expectation of this summit is that steps to be taken for a political solution are finalised and a roadmap is determined," he said.
Turkey expects the summit in Istanbul to help form a committee to rewrite Syria's constitution, he added.
Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity, killing over 400,000 people and displacing millions of others.
Turkey hosts some 3.5 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world.
Source: AA
Turkish Coast Guard rescues dozens of migrants after Greek pushbacks
Türkiye slams renewed mandate of UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus
Türkiye, Oman sign deal to purchase 1.4B cubic metres of gas per year
France's Macron 'not honest': Erdogan


Tempting though it is to choose a countertop based on looks alone, a material's durability, maintenance and, of course, cost are also important factors to consider when making a selection for a kitchen or bath remodel.
Engineered stone or Quartz countertops come in a wider variety of colors than natural stone countertops, are more durable and are a cinch to maintain. They are pretty much bullet proof and very low maintance. However, engineered stone won't save any money over granite: the two materials cost roughly the same.
Let Interior Design Concepts help you with your selection on counters, we have several samples right here in the showroom. We can make sure you find the perfect material, color and edge detail plus coordinating the installation process for you.
IDC can also, coordinate the removal of your existing counters around the installation date and schedule our team of installers accordingly. Ask us for details.
OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE: LIVE BEAUTIFULLY.
With state-of-the-art North American manufacturing facilities, we offer design flexibility to make any vision a reality. Having unequaled consistency of color, texture, and quality, along with six times the strength and durability of granite surfaces, HanStone Quartz can more than handle the challenges of everyday life and make each day just a little bit brighter.
Established in 2008 as a trading company in Vicenza, Italy; Teltos has developed over the years gaining insight into the desires of its customers and their needs. Together we have become an international producer of the highest quality quartz slabs. The cornerstone of our success lies in our constant evolution, always striving more for efficiency in our production techniques.


Gambling is an activity that people engage in for fun and for financial purposes. In fact, playing online casino games is one of the best ways you can use to spend your leisure or free time. On the other hand, if you want to earn an extra coin into your pocket, you can gamble or bet. The introduction of online casinos and gambling sites has made these services available to almost everybody all over the world.
The major problem is that the more the people are seeking gambling services the easier the fraudsters are able to defraud people. Therefore, it is important to take precautions to avoid falling a victim of such cases. Therefore, certain actions should be taken before selecting a gambling site. One of the actions that you need to take is to make some considerations on certain matters. These include.
1. The reputation of the casino.
The level gambling site level of trustworthy is measured by the reputation the casino has. The more reputable the casino is, the more trustworthy it is. This is because the customers feel comfortable when gambling. There are some aspects that can direct you to a reputable happyluke thailand casino. For instance, aspects like online reviews, ratings, and testimonials are some of the sources of information you should rely on.
When searching through the internet, it is important to read the reviews and opinions from other people who have been receiving services from the site. On the other hand, when looking for an online betting site like Happyluke Thailand, you can always ask for recommendations from close friends and associates. This is because a friend will always refer you to an online betting site that offers satisfactory services to him or her. On the other hand, reputation means the gambling site is genuine and legitimate. See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4_3qVuK2Zo.
2. Ensure the casino is licensed.
There are different authorities controlling betting and gambling activities. This is done to ensure these businesses do not exploit innocent citizens. Due to this fact, it is an important thing to ensure you choose a casino that is licensed and under supervision from betting controlling authorities. This shows the casino has met all the required standards.
3. Payment options and methods.
Another crucial area that needs consideration when looking for an Asian online casino you can trust is the payment method. Always ensure the casino payment method is cheap, verifiable and secure. Avoid dealing with casinos whose payment methods are not straightforward. In fact, you should freely deposit or withdrawal money into your account without complications.
Read more and visit the empire777 register site.


Die D-Lites Robots Etched Dies is a set of nine dies includes three robot bodies, three pairs of legs and three pairs of arms. Mix and match to create fun robots for your next projects! Spellbinders Die D-Lites cut, emboss and stencil with a single die template.


text:
from twisted.enterprise import adbapi
import MySQLdb
import MySQLdb.cursors

class MqlPipeline(object):
    def __init__(self):
        self.dbpool = adbapi.ConnectionPool("MySQLdb",
            db="xin_db",
            user="root",
            passwd="",
            cursorclass=MySQLdb.cursors.DictCursor,
            charset='utf8',
            use_unicode=True
            )

    def process_item(self, item, spider):
        query = self.dbpool.runInteraction(self._conditional_insert, item)
        return item

    def _conditional_insert(self, tx, item):
        sql = "insert into xin_xincar values(%s,%s,%s,%s,%s,%s)"
        tx.execute(sql, ('', item["name"], item["city"], item["price"], item["licensed_time"], item["mile"]))


text:
LOOK: P5 million check of Olympian silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz
Photo from Charles Maxey's Facebook
Hidilyn Diaz has given the Philippines its first Olympic award following 20 years. Diaz was granted a silver medal in the ladies' 53-kg weightlifting division of the 2016 Summer Games on August 7 (August 8 in Manila).
Hidilyn earned a reward adding up to $106,959 for consummation the Philippines' 20-year medal drought. The 25-year-old Diaz followed through on her third outing to the Olympics, lifting a sum of 200kg to procure an award.
Diaz's check for P5 million was at that point marked and prepared before the plane touched down in Manila.
The check, issued by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Sports Developmental Fund, and marked by PSC administrator William "Butch" Ramirez, was issued for "Payment of cash incentives for winning the silver medal in 2016 Rio Olympics, Brazil."
The Zamboanga City inhabitant arrived Thursday evening, August 11 on Emirates Flight 332 with kindred Olympian Nestor Colonia and mentor Alfonsito Aldanete and will continue later to Davao for an obligingness call with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte at the presidential guesthouse in Panacan, Davao City.
Must Read: Pacquiao to give cash reward to Hidilyn Diaz
Source: Rappler
LOOK: P5 million check of Olympian silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz Reviewed by Kristian S. on 11 August Rating: 5


If you're planning to attend the annual Holiday Sing-Along, Capitol Tree Lighting and Congress Avenue Stroll on December 6 starting at 6 p.m., Capital Metro will make it easier for you to get around to the many restaurants, shops, galleries and museums that will be open for the event.
We'll keep running the Congress Avenue 'Dillo route until 9 p.m. You can pay just 50 cents for unlimited 'Dillo rides for two hours. Or if you already have a 31-Day 'Dillo Pass, that'll work too.
If you drive your car to the festivities, you can park once and then hop on the 'Dillo. No need to worry about the schedule. The 'Dillo comes by every five minutes.