text:
\section{Introduction}
With the recent advances in the fabrication of passive materials and metamaterials \cite{smith, pendry2004}, it seems plausible that novel classes of active materials may be developed. While the basic electromagnetic concepts, such as microscopic and relativistic causality, certainly apply to active media, the analysis of electromagnetic wave propagation may differ. For example, at normal incidence to a boundary between two passive media, the transmitted field is proportional to $\exp(in\omega z/c)$, where $n$ is the refractive index, $\omega$ is the angular frequency, $z$ is the coordinate in the direction away from the boundary, and $c$ is the vacuum velocity of light. Since $z$ is arbitrary, relativistic causality dictates $n$ to be an analytic function in the upper half of the complex $\omega$-plane \cite{nussenzveig,brillouin}. On the other hand, at least in principle there exist realizable, active media for which $n$ cannot be identified as an analytic function in the upper half-plane. Indeed, consider a Lorentz model with relative permittivity $\epsilon=1-f$, where $f$ is given by
\begin{equation}
\label{lorentz}
f(\omega)=\frac{F\omega_{0}^2}{\omega_{0}^2-\omega^2-i\omega\Gamma}.
\end{equation}
Here, $\omega_{0}$, and $\Gamma$ are positive parameters. If $F>0$ this medium is active; furthermore, if $F>1$, $\epsilon$ has a simple zero in the upper half-plane. Thus, assuming the relative permeability $\mu=1$, when $F>1$ the refractive index $n=\sqrt{\epsilon}\sqrt{\mu}$ contains a branch point in the upper half-plane.

These media would seem to violate relativistic causality. This is certainly not the case; to resolve this apparent paradox, I will provide a rigorous derivation of the Fresnel equations in the general case, based on the electromagnetic solutions of a finite slab. The definition of the refractive index is generalized so that it is valid for active media. It will become clear that when the refractive index contains branch points in the upper half-plane, the Fresnel equations and the refractive index do not have unique physical meaning for real frequencies. The Kramers-Kronig relations for the refractive index must be modified accordingly.

As an extra bonus, the general framework in this paper can be used to analyze novel classes of active media. Recently, it has been suggested that certain active, nonmagnetic media with simultaneously passive and active material resonances can yield negative refraction \cite{chen2005}. I will consider the Fresnel equations for these types of materials, and demonstrate that at normal incidence, the ``backward'' wave is excited so that both phase velocity and Poynting's vector point towards the excitation source. While negative refraction is found at oblique incidence, it is shown that evanescent field amplification, similarly to that in the Veselago-Pendry lens \cite{veselago,pendry2000}, does not happen.

The remaining of the paper is structured as follows: In Section II the theory of the electromagnetic parameters is reviewed. Section III contains an electromagnetic analysis of a finite slab surrounded by vacuum. From the resulting fields, in Section IV the Fresnel equations are proved in the general case, and the associated refractive index is identified. The results are interpreted in the form of examples (Section V); inverted Lorentzian media, and more complex media featuring negative refraction.

\section{The electromagnetic parameters}
Any electromagnetic medium must be causal in the microscopic sense; the polarization and magnetization cannot precede the electric and magnetic fields, respectively. This means that the relative permittivity $\epsilon(\omega)$ and the relative permeability $\mu(\omega)$ obey the Kramers-Kronig relations. In terms of the susceptibilities $\chi=\epsilon-1$ or $\chi=\mu-1$, these relation can be written
\begin{subequations}
\label{KKchi}
\begin{align}
&\im \chi=\mathcal H\,\re \chi,\label{KKchi1}\\
&\re \chi=-\mathcal H\, \im \chi,\label{KKchi2}
\end{align}
\end{subequations}
where $\mathcal H$ denotes the Hilbert transform \cite{kronig,kramers,nussenzveig,landau_lifshitz_edcm}. These conditions are equivalent to the fact that $\chi$ is analytic in the upper half-plane ($\im\omega>0$), and uniformly square integrable in the closed upper half-plane (Titchmarsh' theorem) \cite{nussenzveig,titchmarsh}\footnote{If the medium is conducting at zero frequency, the electric $\chi$ is singular at $\omega=0$. Although $\chi$ is not square integrable in this case, similar relations as \eqref{KKchi} can be derived \cite{landau_lifshitz_edcm}.}. The susceptibilities are defined for negative frequencies by the symmetry relation
\begin{equation}
\chi(-\omega)=\chi^*(\omega), \label{sym}
\end{equation}
so that their inverse Fourier transforms are real.

For passive media, in addition to \eqref{KKchi} and \eqref{sym} we have:
\begin{equation}
\im \chi(\omega)>0 \text{ for } \omega>0. \label{loss}
\end{equation}
The losses, as given by the imaginary parts of the susceptibilities, can be vanishingly small; however they are always present unless we are considering vacuum \cite{landau_lifshitz_edcm}. Eqs. \eqref{KKchi}-\eqref{loss} imply that $\im\chi>0$ in the first quadrant ($\re\omega>0$ and $\im\omega\geq 0$), and that $1+\chi$ is zero-free in the upper half-plane \cite{landau_lifshitz_edcm}. Thus for passive media, the refractive index $n=\sqrt{\epsilon}\sqrt{\mu}$ can always be chosen as an analytic function in the upper half-plane. With the additional choice that $n\to +1$ as $\omega\to\infty$, $n$ is determined uniquely by
\begin{equation}
\label{nfromepsilonmu}
n=\sqrt{|\epsilon||\mu|}\exp[i(\arg\epsilon+\arg\mu)/2],
\end{equation}
where the complex arguments are restricted to the interval $(-\pi,\pi]$. From Eq. \eqref{nfromepsilonmu} it is immediately found that \eqref{sym} and \eqref{loss} hold for the substitution $\chi\to n$. Moreover, the Kramers-Kronig relations for the refractive index are established using Titchmarsh' theorem by noting that $n-1$ is analytic in the upper half-plane, and that $n-1$ has the required asymptotic behavior: The fact that $\chi$ satisfies \eqref{KKchi} means that $\chi$ satisfies the square integrability condition. From $n=\sqrt{\epsilon}\sqrt{\mu}$, it follows that $n-1$ has a similar asymptotic behavior. This gives
\begin{subequations}
\label{KKn}
\begin{align}
&\im n   = \mathcal H\,\{\re n-1\},\label{KKn1}\\
&\re n-1 =-\mathcal H\, \im n.\label{KKn2}
\end{align}
\end{subequations}

On the basis of causality, it is clear that the susceptibilities of active media also satisfy \eqref{KKchi} and \eqref{sym}. However, since \eqref{loss} does not hold for active media, it is no longer true that $\epsilon$ and $\mu$ are zero-free in the upper half-plane. Indeed, we have already seen that the permittivity associated with an inverted Lorentz model may have a simple zero in the upper half-plane. Thus, the refractive index cannot always be chosen as an analytic function in the upper half-plane.

To clarify this point, I will consider one-dimensional electromagnetic wave propagation in an active medium. The main goal is to identify the reflection and transmission at a single interface, and to prove that these waves obey relativistic causality. The Fresnel equations could be proved in the conventional way; however, it might not be clear {\it a priori} how to specify the wavevector of the transmitted wave in the active medium. In fact, contrary to the case with passive media, it is not necessarily correct to let the Poynting vector of the transmitted wave point away from the interface. Moreover, it is not always possible to choose the wavevector as an analytic function for $\im\omega>0$. Therefore, the active medium is assumed to have finite thickness initially. Then the transmitted wavevector at the far end of the slab can be specified trivially, and the electromagnetic solutions can be found. Subsequently, using the result of the finite slab, the fields of a half-infinite medium can be determined.

\section{Laplace transform analysis of an active slab}
\begin{figure
\includegraphics[height=4.5cm,width=4.5cm]{slab.eps}
\caption{A plane wave incident to a slab of thickness $d$.}
\label{fig:slab}
\end{figure}

Consider a plane wave in vacuum, normally incident to a linear, isotropic, and homogenous slab with parameters $\epsilon$ and $\mu$, see Fig. \ref{fig:slab}. While vacuum is chosen as the surrounding medium, it should be clear that any other passive media yield similar results. The slab is located in the interval $0\leq z\leq d$, where $d$ is the thickness of the slab. A causal excitation on the left-hand side of the slab ($z=0^-$) is assumed, i.e., the fields for $z\geq 0$ vanish for time $t\leq 0$. Since the medium is active, the physical, time-domain fields may diverge as $t\to\infty$, so Fourier transformed fields do not necessarily exist. (Strictly speaking, in practical materials, the fields do not diverge. When the fields become sufficiently strong, they deplete the gain. However, we restrict ourselves to the linear regime of the susceptibilities, and bear in mind that the model breaks down when the fields become large. The divergences are indicators of instabilities such as, for example, the ignition of lasing.) Thus, instead of Fourier transforms, we use Laplace transforms of the fields. Denoting the physical, time-domain electric field $\mathcal E(z,t)$, the Laplace transformed field for $z\geq 0$ is
\begin{equation}
\label{laplzgeq0}
E(z,\omega)=\int_0^\infty \mathcal E(z,t)\exp(i\omega t)\diff t,
\end{equation}
where $\im\omega\geq\gamma$, for a sufficiently large, real constant $\gamma$. Assuming that the source is located at $z=z_{\text{s}}<0$, \eqref{laplzgeq0} still applies for $z_{\text{s}}<z<0$ provided the lower limit in the integral is replaced by $z_{\text{s}}/c$. Since the fields everywhere are assumed to vanish for $t$ equal to the lower limit in the integral, the partial time derivatives in Maxwell's equations become simply $-i\omega$ in the transform domain. At the boundaries the Laplace transformed electric and magnetic fields must be continuous. Thus we can use a similar analysis method as in the Fourier case, considering the transformed fields at each $\omega$. Assuming the forward propagating electric field $\mathcal E^+(z,t)$ for $z<0$, and recalling that $\mathcal E(z,t)$ for $z>d$ is assumed to vanish for negative time, we can write
\begin{eqnarray}
&& E(z,\omega)/E^+(0,\omega) \\
&& =
\begin{cases}
\exp(i\omega z/c)+R\exp(-i\omega z/c) & \text{for $z_{\text{s}}<z<0$},\\
S^+\exp(ikz)+S^-\exp(-ikz) & \text{for $0\leq z\leq d$},\\
T\exp(i\omega z/c) & \text{for $z > d$},
\end{cases} \nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
where $E^+(0,\omega)$ is the Laplace transform of the excitation $\mathcal E^+(0,t)$. By matching the electric and magnetic fields at both interfaces, the total reflection coefficient $R$, field amplitudes in the slab ($S^+$ and $S^-$), and transmission coefficient $T$ are found to be
\begin{subequations}
\label{slabrt}
\begin{align}
&R=\frac{(\eta^2-1)\exp(-ikd)-(\eta^2-1)\exp(ikd)}{(\eta+1)^2\exp(-ikd)-(\eta-1)^2\exp(ikd)}, \label{slabr}\\
&S^+=\frac{2\eta(\eta+1)}{(\eta+1)^2-(\eta-1)^2\exp(2ikd)}, \label{slabsp}\\
&S^-=\frac{2\eta(\eta-1)}{(\eta-1)^2-(\eta+1)^2\exp(-2ikd)},\label{slabsm}\\
&T=\frac{4\eta}{(\eta+1)^2\exp(-ikd)-(\eta-1)^2\exp(ikd)}.\label{slabt}
\end{align}
\end{subequations}
Here, $k=n\omega/c$, $\eta=\mu/n$, and $n=\sqrt{\epsilon\mu}$. Note that $R$, $S\equiv S^+\exp(ikz)+S^-\exp(-ikz)$, and $T$ are unchanged if $n\to-n$, so the choice of the sign of $n$ does not matter. In other words, only even powers of $n$ are present in $R$, $S$, and $T$, which means that the fields contain no branch points in the upper half-plane.

For active media, $R$, $S$, and $T$ may contain poles in the upper half-plane.
Despite poles, the fields are relativistically causal. This fact is established using the analyticity of the respective functions in the half-plane $\im\omega>\gamma$ and their asymptotic behavior in that region. For example, $T$ tends to $\exp(i\omega d/c)$ as $\im\omega\to\infty$, which means that the signal-front delay through the slab is $d/c$ \footnote{\label{signalfrontdelay}Let $F(s)$ be the Laplace transform of the Laplace transformable function $f(t)$. A well-known result in the theory of Laplace transforms states that if $F(-i\omega)\exp(-i\omega\tau)\to 0$ as $\im\omega\to\infty$, then the inverse transform of $F$ is zero for $t<\tau$ (See for example \cite{papoulis}).}.

The time-domain solutions are found by inverse Laplace transforms of the associated fields. For example, if the excitation is $\mathcal E^+(0,t)=u(t)\exp(-i\omega_1 t)$, where $u(t)$ is the unit step function and $\im\omega_1<0$, the time-domain field in the slab is \footnote{Any physical excitation is real and can be represented by two complex terms, e.g., $u(t)\exp(-i\omega_1 t)+u(t)\exp(i\omega_1^* t)$. This excitation would require the substitution $1/(i\omega_1-i\omega)\to 1/(i\omega_1-i\omega)+1/(-i\omega_1^*-i\omega)$ in \eqref{invlapl}. For clarity it is often convenient to consider the positive frequency excitation separately.}
\begin{equation}
\label{invlapl}
\mathcal E(z,t)=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int_{i\gamma-\infty}^{i\gamma+\infty} \frac{S}{i\omega_1-i\omega}\exp(-i\omega t)\diff\omega.
\end{equation}
When $S$ has no poles in the closed upper half-plane, $\gamma$ can be set to zero. It follows then that the field $S$ can be interpreted in the usual way at real frequencies. When $S$ contains poles in the upper half-plane, the integration path in \eqref{invlapl} should be located above all of them. If we still insist on locating the integration path along the real axis, the resulting discrepancy would correspond to the sum of residues of the poles in the upper half-plane. Such residues are exponentially increasing and demonstrate clearly the fact that when $S$ contains poles in the upper half-plane, the slab is electromagnetically unstable.

\section{Fresnel equations}
To facilitate the analysis and interpretation of active media, it is useful to obtain the fields when the slab fills the entire half-plane $z\geq 0$. For passive media, one can take the limit $d\to\infty$ in \eqref{slabrt} to obtain
\begin{subequations}
\label{fresnel}
\begin{align}
&R=\frac{\eta-1}{\eta+1},\label{fresnelr}\\
&S=\frac{2\eta}{\eta+1}\exp(in\omega z/c). \label{fresnels}
\end{align}
\end{subequations}
In obtaining \eqref{fresnel} the sign of $n$ has been chosen such that $\im n$ is positive in the first quadrant ($\re\omega>0$ and $\im\omega\geq 0$). For passive media, this choice is equivalent to the choice in \eqref{nfromepsilonmu}, or in the conventional definition of $n$ based on analyticity. Eqs. \eqref{fresnel} are essentially the Fresnel equations; however the propagation factor $\exp(in\omega z/c)$ has been inluded in the transmitted field, to emphasize the position dependence of the field in the active medium.

For active media, one could guess that \eqref{fresnel} remains valid, but it is not clear {\it a priori} how to choose $n$. The imaginary parts of $\epsilon$ and $\mu$ may take both signs in the first quadrant, and it may not be possible to choose $n$ as an analytic function in the upper half-plane. Surprisingly, as shown by the following example, taking the limit $d\to\infty$ in \eqref{slabrt} leads in general to unphysical results. Consider a slab of an inverted Lorentzian medium $\epsilon=1-f$ and $\mu=1$, where $f$ is given by \eqref{lorentz}. Assuming $F$ is small (corresponding to low gain), $n\approx \pm(1-f/2)$. In the limit $d\to\infty$, we find $R=(\eta+1)/(\eta-1)$ and $S=2\eta\exp(-in\omega z/c)/(\eta-1)$, where $n=1-f/2$. This solution is clearly unphysical as $R,S\to\infty$ as $\omega\to\infty$; a convergence half-plane $\im\omega\geq\gamma$ does not exist.

To find the correct solution, we start with the time-domain solution \eqref{invlapl}, where $d$ is finite. Due to the finite bandwidth of physical media, $|\chi|\propto 1/\omega^2$ as $\omega\to\infty$ in the upper half-plane \cite{nussenzveig}. Thus, for a sufficiently large $|\omega|$, $\epsilon\approx\mu\approx 1$. Choosing the sign of $n$ such that $n\approx 1$ here leads to $|n-1|\propto 1/\omega^2$ for $\omega\to\infty$. This implies in turn that there exists a $\gamma>0$ such that $|[(\eta-1)/(\eta+1)]\exp(ikd)|<1$ for any $\omega$ with $\im\omega\geq\gamma$. We can now expand \eqref{slabsp} and \eqref{slabsm} into geometrical series in $[(\eta-1)/(\eta+1)]^2\exp(2ikd)$. Hence, $S\equiv S^+\exp(ikz)+S^-\exp(-ikz)$ becomes
\begin{eqnarray}
S&&=\frac{2\eta e^{ikz}}{\eta+1}\left[1+\left(\frac{\eta-1}{\eta+1}\right)^2 e^{2ikd}+\ldots \right] \\
&&-\frac{2\eta(\eta-1)e^{2ikd-ikz}}{(\eta+1)^2}\left[1+\left(\frac{\eta-1}{\eta+1}\right)^2 e^{2ikd}+\ldots \right] \nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
After substitution of $S$ into \eqref{invlapl}, and using the signal-front delay property of the Laplace transform [14], it is apparent that only the first term leads to a nonzero result for $t<2d-z$. This term coincide with \eqref{fresnels}. In a similar way, we find that for time $t<2d$, the reflected wave at $z=0^-$ is given by the term \eqref{fresnelr} substituted for $S$ in \eqref{invlapl}. Now we can clearly take the limit $d\to\infty$. This will not alter \eqref{fresnel}, but will ensure the validity of the associated time-domain solutions for all times. The solution has now been found; however, the evaluation of the fields \eqref{fresnel} far away in the upper half-plane is impractical. Fortunately, by Cauchy's integral theorem we can move the line $\gamma$ down towards the first branch point of $n$ or zero of $\eta+1$. If there are no such points in the closed upper half-plane, we can even evaluate \eqref{fresnel} on the real axis. Note that although the original functions $R$ and $S$ from \eqref{slabrt} are not analytic in the upper half-plane, the terms \eqref{fresnel} are analytic provided $\eta+1$ has no zeros and $n$ is analytic. Also note that in all cases, the expressions \eqref{fresnel} are analytic in some region $\im\omega>\gamma$, and $S$ tends to $\exp(i\omega z/c)$ as $\im\omega\to\infty$. In other words, $\mathcal E(z,t)=0$ for $t<z/c$ [14], and relativistic causality is guaranteed.

We conclude that the Fresnel equations \eqref{fresnel} retain their form, but not always their interpretation for active media. When $\epsilon\mu$ has no odd-order zeros in the upper half-plane, the sign of the refractive index is determined such that $n\to+1$ as $\omega\to\infty$, and such that $n$ is analytic in the upper half-plane. Furthermore, if $\eta\neq -1$ everywhere in the closed upper half-plane, the Fresnel equations \eqref{fresnel} can be evaluated and interpreted in the usual way along the real frequency axis. On the other hand, if $\epsilon\mu$ has odd-order zeros, or $\eta+1$ has zeros in the upper half-plane, \eqref{fresnel} contain points of non-analyticity. The reflected and transmitted fields \eqref{fresnel} should then be evaluated along the line $\im\omega=\gamma$, where $\gamma$ is larger than the maximum $\im\omega$ of the points of non-analyticity. The sign of the refractive index is determined so that $n\to +1$ as $\omega\to\infty$, and so that $n$ is analytic for $\im\omega\geq\gamma$. Note that when $\epsilon\mu$ has odd-order zeros in the upper half-plane, $n$ is not uniquely determined along the real frequency axis, and consequently, one must be careful with its interpretation there (See Appendix A).

For non-orthogonal incidence we can use a similar argument as that given above. When the incident wave vector is ${\bf k}=(k_x,k_y,k_z)$, the TE fields of a finite slab are given by the substitutions $\eta\to\mu k_z/k_z'$ and $k\to k_z'$ in \eqref{slabrt}. Here, $k_z'^2=\epsilon\mu\omega^2/c^2-k_x^2-k_y^2$. Again, we note that the choice of sign of $k_z'$ does not matter as only even powers of $k_z'$ are present. Following the argument leading to \eqref{fresnel} for active media, we arrive at the similar Fresnel expressions
\begin{subequations}
\label{fresneloblique}
\begin{align}
&R=\frac{\mu k_z-k_z'}{\mu k_z+k_z'},\label{fresnelroblique}\\
&S=\frac{2\mu k_z}{\mu k_z+k_z'}\exp(ik_z' z), \label{fresnelsoblique}
\end{align}
\end{subequations}
valid for $\im\omega\geq\gamma$. Here, the sign of $k_z'$ is determined such that $k_z'$ is analytic for $\im\omega>\gamma$, and such that $k_z'\to+\omega/c$ as $\omega\to\infty$. The parameter $\gamma$ is chosen larger than the maximum imaginary part of branch points of $k_z'$ or zeros of $\mu k_z+k_z'$. If there are no such points in the closed upper half-plane, $\gamma$ can be chosen to be zero, i.e., the Fresnel equations can be interpreted along the real frequency axis in the usual way.

Since the refractive index is analytic in the half-plane $\im\omega>\gamma$, and since $n-1$ has the required asymptotic behavior for $\im\omega\geq\gamma$, the Kramers-Kronig relations for active media can still be written as in \eqref{KKn}; however, the integrals are taken along the line $\im\omega=\gamma$. Note that the conventional Kramers-Kronig relations for $n$, as integrated and evaluated along the real frequency axis, are not valid.

\section{Examples}
\subsection{Inverted Lorentzian media}\label{example1}
In this example, we consider an inverted Lorentzian medium with $\epsilon=1-f$, where $f$ is given by \eqref{lorentz}, and $\mu=1$. Since $f\neq 0$ everywhere, $\eta+1$ has no zeros. Conventional optical gain media, such as the Erbium-doped silica fiber, have relatively low gain per length of fiber. We will therefore first consider the well-known case where $f$ satisfies $|f|\ll 1$. Then $\epsilon$ has no zeros, and following the recipe above, we find that the Fresnel equations \eqref{fresnel} can be interpreted straightforwardly for real frequencies, and $n\approx 1-f/2$.

Lifting the assumption of low gain, we observe that the zeros of $\epsilon$ are located at $\omega_{\pm}=-i\Gamma/2\pm i\sqrt{\Gamma^2/4+(F-1)\omega_0^2}$. When $F>1$, the zero $\omega_{+}$ is located in the upper half-plane. Consequently, in this case neither $n$ nor the Fresnel equations have unique physical meaning along the real frequency axis. The fields should instead be evaluated along the line $\im\omega=\gamma$, where $\gamma$ is chosen such that $\gamma>\im\omega_{+}$.

It is useful to recall that the fields, as given for $\im\omega>\im\omega_+$, can be interpreted by choosing an exponentially increasing excitation. For example, we may choose an excitation $\mathcal E^+(0,t)=u(t)\exp(-i\omega_1 t)$, where $\im\omega_+<\im\omega_1<\gamma$. For sufficiently large $t$, the time-domain field \eqref{invlapl} gets the main contribution from the residue of $S\exp(-i\omega t)/(i\omega_1-i\omega)$ at $\omega_1$. In other words, $S$ is roughly the complex amplitude of the exponentially increasing wave. The resulting field dependence $\exp(in\omega_1 z/c-i\omega_1 t)$ means that the wave has its ``phase velocity'' in the positive $z$-direction. (For this medium $\re n>0$ in the first quadrant of complex frequency.)

The exponentially increasing excitation is somewhat artifical, and it would be interesting to evaluate the time-domain solution when $\im\omega_1<0$, i.e., when the excitation pulse envelope is exponentially decreasing. In Appendix A, the time-domain field at a fixed $z$ is evaluated, and it is argued that the pulse diverges as $t\to\infty$. Note that the field in the medium diverges as a result of the medium alone, not as a result of, for instance, amplified, multiple reflections.

\subsection{Excitation of a ``backward'' wave}\label{example2}\label{backexcitation}
Consider the medium $\epsilon=(1+f)^2$ and $\mu=1$, where $f$ is still given by \eqref{lorentz}. The associated susceptibilities satisfy \eqref{KKchi} and \eqref{sym}, so at least in principle, this medium is realizable. The product $\epsilon\mu$ is zero-free in the upper half-plane, and we can determine the refractive index such that it is analytic in the upper half-plane (and such that $n\to+1$ as $\omega\to\infty$). This gives $n=1+f$ and $\eta=1/(1+f)$. Note that $\eta\neq-1$ for $\im\omega\geq 0$. It follows that the Fresnel equations \eqref{fresnel} can be interpreted straightforwardly along the real frequency axis.

When $F$ is sufficiently large, there exists a real frequency $\omega_1=\omega_0\sqrt{1+F/2}$ with $\re n(\omega_1)\approx -1$ while $\im n(\omega_1)\approx \frac{4\Gamma}{F\omega_0}\sqrt{1+F/2}$ is small. This seems to be a potential route to negative refractive index at optical frequencies \cite{chen2005}. Since $\re\epsilon(\omega_1)\approx 1$ and $\mu=1$, not only the phase velocity but also the Poynting vector point in the negative $z$-direction at this frequency. As $\im n(\omega_1)>0$ and $\im\epsilon(\omega_1)<0$, the field can be interpreted as a growing wave propagating in negative $z$-direction. Nevertheless, the excitation of this ``backward'' wave does neither rely on finiteness of the thickness of the active medium nor excitation from $z=+\infty$. Note that any causal excitation involves an infinite band of frequencies, and outside the limited negative-index band, the phase velocity and Poynting vector point in the forward direction.

For this medium, the transmitted time-domain field at $z=0^+$ can be calculated analytically. In this case we choose a real excitation of the form $\mathcal E^+(0,t)=u(t)\cos(\omega_1 t)$, where $\omega_1=\omega_0\sqrt{1+F/2}$. With the help of the corresponding Laplace transform and the Fresnel transmission coefficient $2/(n+1)$, we find after some simple algebra:
\begin{equation}
\label{invlaplex2}
\mathcal E(0,t)=\frac{i}{2\pi}\int_{i\gamma-\infty}^{i\gamma+\infty} \frac{(\omega^2+i\omega\Gamma-\omega_0^2)\omega\exp(-i\omega t)}{(\omega-\omega_2)(\omega-\omega_{-2})(\omega^2-\omega_1^2)}\diff\omega.
\end{equation}
Here $\gamma=0^+$, and $\omega_{\pm 2}=\pm\omega_1-i\Gamma/2$ to first order in $\Gamma/\omega_1$. The inverse transform \eqref{invlaplex2} can be found exactly by calculating the residues in the closed, lower half-plane. Assuming $\Gamma/\omega_1\ll 1$, this procedure yields
\begin{equation}
\label{invlaplex2f}
\mathcal E(0,t)=
\begin{cases}
\cos(\omega_1 t), & \text{for $0<\Gamma t/2\ll 1$}, \\
-\frac{2}{\im n(\omega_1)}\sin(\omega_1 t), & \text{for $\Gamma t/2\gg 1$}.
\end{cases}
\end{equation}
(The steady-state solution could certainly be found directly from \eqref{fresnels}.) We observe that the transmitted field is equal to the excitation for small $t$. Thus, initially the reflection from the boundary vanishes. On the other hand, when $t$ is large, the field has grown considerably. This fact is interpreted by noting that the ``backward wave'', with phase velocity and Poynting's vector in the negative $z$-direction, has been built up. This wave draws energy from the active medium, yielding a large field at the boundary. Note that also the ``reflected wave'' on the left-hand side of the boundary now is large. Nevertheless, the fields are produced in a stable manner. A plot of the backward wave and the associated, forward propagating forerunner is given in Fig. \ref{fig:backwave}.
\begin{figure}[t!]
\includegraphics[height=5.5cm,width=7.5cm]{backwave.eps}
\caption{The electric field $\mathcal E(z,t)$ of the example in Subsection \ref{backexcitation}. The frequency $\omega_0=1$ (normalized), and $t=30$. The parameters used are $\Gamma/\omega_0=0.1$ and $F=10$. The field was calculated by a straightforward numerical evaluation of \eqref{invlaplex2} using $\gamma=0.01\omega_0$. The field plot for small $z$ shows the ``backward wave'', with phase velocity and Poynting's vector in the $-z$-direction. The forerunner, located close to $z=30c$, moves at a speed $c$ in the $+z$-direction.}
\label{fig:backwave}
\end{figure}

At oblique incidence the backward wave is refracted negatively. Although this may seem obvious intuitively, the fact can be proved by calculating $k_z'$ and identifying its sign along the real frequency axis using the procedure outlined above. Despite negative refraction, the medium has rather different properties from the left-handed negative-index medium considered by Veselago and Pendry \cite{veselago,pendry2000}. Considering a finite slab of sufficiently small thickness such that $T$ has no poles in the upper half-plane, we find $T\approx\exp(+i\omega_1 d/c)$ at the frequency $\omega_1$. Also, evanescent-field amplification, as in the Veselago-Pendry lens, will not arise in this medium. For TE polarization this is seen by the substitutions $\eta\to\mu k_z/k_z'$ and $k\to k_z'$ in \eqref{slabt}. As before, $k_z'^2=\epsilon\mu\omega^2/c^2-k_x^2-k_y^2$. For an incident evanescent field with sufficiently large $k_y$, $k_z'$ is close to an imaginary number. Substitution into \eqref{slabt} gives exponential decay. Note that the choice of sign of $k_z'$ does not matter.

An interesting point arises by comparing the results in this example with those of the previous example. Assuming low gain in the previous example, $\epsilon\approx 1-i\alpha$ for some real frequency $\omega_1$. Here, $\alpha$ is a small positive number. In the present example, at the frequency $\omega_1$ we can also write $\epsilon\approx 1-i\alpha$ for a small positive $\alpha$. Indeed, it is possible to tune the parameters in the two examples such that the two $\epsilon$'s (and $\mu$'s) are identical at this frequency. Nevertheless, the Fresnel equations \eqref{fresnel} give completely different answers; in the previous example the ``forward'' wave, with phase velocity and energy growth in the $+z$-direction, is excited, whereas in the present example a ``backward'' wave is excited. The dilemma is resolved by noting that although the $\epsilon$'s are identical for a single frequency, they are not identical globally. As a result, the causal excitation at $z=0^-$, which necessarily contains an infinite band of frequencies, will have different consequences in the two situations.

\subsection{Instability at the boundary}\label{example3}
In the previous example, although $n\approx -1$ at the real frequency $\omega_1$, $n=-1$ is exactly fulfilled only in the lower half-plane (at the complex frequencies $\omega_{\pm 2}$). In principle, one can construct a causal, active medium for which $n=-1$ at a real frequency or even in the upper half-plane. Indeed, let $\epsilon=(1+g)^2$ and $\mu=1$, where
\begin{equation}
\label{gfunc}
g(\omega)=\frac{i G\omega}{\omega_{0}^2-\omega^2-i\omega\Gamma}.
\end{equation}
We assume $\Gamma/\omega_0\ll 1$ and $G\sim\Gamma$. The associated susceptibility $\chi=\epsilon-1$ is clearly analytic and uniformly square integrable in the closed upper half-plane; thus it satisfies the Kramers-Kronig relations \footnote{One may argue that the asymptotic form of $\epsilon-1$ for large $\omega$ is different from the usually assumed dependence $1/\omega^2$. Without significantly altering $g$ in the region $|\omega-\omega_0|\lesssim\Gamma$ this can be fixed for instance by letting $g\to (g+\tilde F)\tilde\omega_0^2/(\tilde\omega_{0}^2-\omega^2-i\omega\tilde\Gamma)$ where $|\tilde F|\ll 1$, $\tilde\omega_0\gg\omega_0$, and $0<\tilde\Gamma\ll\tilde\omega_0-\omega_0$.}. By determining the refractive index such that it is analytic in the upper half-plane, we obtain $n=1+g$. Thus we can find the frequencies $\omega_{a\pm}$ where $n=a$ is fulfilled:
\begin{equation}
\label{freqnm1}
2\omega_{a\pm}=\pm 2\omega_0-i\Gamma-iG/(a-1).
\end{equation}
Here we have assumed that $|a-1|\gtrsim 1$ and omitted second or higher order terms in $\Gamma/\omega_0$. Using \eqref{freqnm1} we find that if $G\geq 2\Gamma$, the solutions to the equation $n=-1$ are located in the closed, upper half-plane (equality implies locations on the real axis).

Substituting \eqref{fresnels} into \eqref{invlapl}, it is realized that the locations of the zeros of $n+1$ are crucial for the electromagnetic stability. Clearly if $1/(n+1)$ has poles in the upper half-plane, the associated residues when calculating \eqref{invlapl} grow exponentially with $t$. In other words, the system consisting of the two media (vacuum and the active medium) is electromagnetically unstable. For a given active medium, this instability may be eliminated if the vacuum on the left-hand side of the boundary is replaced by another passive medium: Let the new medium have $\mu=1$ and (approximately) constant refractive index $n_{\text{p}}$ for $|\omega-\omega_0|\lesssim\Gamma$. The instability would not be present provided $n\neq -n_{\text{p}}$ in the upper half-plane. According to \eqref{freqnm1}, if $2\Gamma\leq G\leq(n_{\text{p}}+1)\Gamma$, there is no instability, in contrast to what we found above for vacuum.

\section{Conclusions}
General forms of the Fresnel equations, valid for active media, have been proved. When the refractive index contains branch points in the upper half-plane, the index is not determined uniquely along the real frequency axis, but is dependent on the choice of branch cuts. Thus the Fresnel equations and the refractive index cannot be interpreted along the real frequency axis unless their behavior along the branch cut are taken into account as well. The expressions should rather be evaluated or interpreted in some upper half-plane $\im\omega\geq\gamma$, where the line $\im\omega=\gamma$ is located above the non-analytic points. The presence of branch cuts in the upper half-plane leads generally to instabilities in the sense that any vanishing small pulse excites an infinite field (or saturation) in the medium.

The sign of the refractive index should be defined using the asymptotic form of $n$ ($n\to+1$ as $\omega\to\infty$), and analyticity for $\im\omega>\gamma$. It would have been useful to have an explicit relation for the refractive index, similar to \eqref{nfromepsilonmu}. However, for active media such a relation is not valid as the complex arguments of $\epsilon$ and $\mu$ may take any values. Nevertheless, if $\gamma$ is above all non-analytic points of $n$, $n$ is analytic for $\im\omega=\gamma$. Thus the sign can be identified up to a global sign by unwrapping the phase $\arg\epsilon+\arg\mu$ before using \eqref{nfromepsilonmu}. The global sign is determined easily by requiring $n\to +1$ as $\omega\to\infty$.

For most media of interest, there are no branch points of $n$ for $\im\omega\geq 0$, and the sign of $n$ is to be determined along the real frequency axis. In principle, $n$ is not necessarily analytic for real frequencies (since $\epsilon$ and $\mu$ are not necessarily analytic there). With the extra assumption that $\epsilon\mu$ is continuous for real frequencies, $\epsilon\mu$ is continuous for $\im\omega\geq 0$. Then the sign of $n$ may still be found by unwrapping the phase $\arg\epsilon+\arg\mu$ in \eqref{nfromepsilonmu}, and requiring $n\to +1$ as $\omega\to\infty$.

Using the general framework, we have seen that in certain active media, only the ``backward'' propagating wave is excited. For this wave both phase velocity and Poynting's vector point towards the excitation source. These media are conveniently described using a negative refractive index. Nevertheless, evanescent-field amplification, similar to that in the Veselago-Pendry lens, does not exist.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
MLB Analysis: Kansas City Royals Finally Get a Win
Opposing Views Staff
The carbon dioxide levels in Kansas City reached dangerous levels last night after the Royals faithful let out its collective breath.
The Royals finally, finally, got their fourth win of the season the tune of 8-2.
The top four of the Kansas City lineup inflicted nearly all of the damage to the Tribe by going a combined 9-for-17 (.529) with 7 runs scored, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB and only 1 K. Here are the individual breakdowns:
1. Chris Getz: 2-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K
2. Alex Gordon: 3-5, 2 R, 1 HR (3), 3 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K
3. Billy Butler: 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR (4), 3 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K
4. Eric Hosmer: 2-3, 1 R, 1 HR (5), 2 RBI, 2 BB, 0 K
Moustakas went 0-for-2 but worked 2 BBs and Alcides Escobar, who went 1-for-4 with a double, scored on Billy Butler's 2nd HR of the night.
This was a great game all-around by the Royals, and it was a great way to bust out of their 12-game funk.
The Royals got out of the gate quickly against Ubaldo Jimenez thanks to the two-run HR in the 1st by Butler. Hosmer's two-run opposite-filed bomb in the 5th moved the score to 4-0.
Luke Hochevar (2-1, 4.98 ERA) had a solid night as well, going 6.1 IP, giving up 4 hits, 2 ER, 4 K, and 3 BB, and looked nothing like he did the last time he faced the Indians. The Indians scored one in the 6th and one in the 7th off of Hoch, but a heads up play by Jeff Francoeur and the Royals' defense in the 6th inning limited the damage to just one run.
Tommy Hottovy, who made his Royals debut after being called up from Omaha (taking the spot of Jeremy Jeffress) replaced Hoch in the 7th and earned his first hold of the season, giving up one hit and one run (charged to Hochevar). He also hit a batter (Casey Kotchman) and struck out Michael Brantley.
Aaron Crow replaced Hottovy to finish the 7th. He also threw the 8th, retiring the Indians in order – earning his third hold of 2012.
With the score at 4-2, the Royals offense went off in the top of the 8th by scoring 4 runs off of rookie Jairo Asencio. The first three runs came around to score on Gordon's three-run shot to center. The Royals then went back-to-back when Billy Butler went yard, moving the score to 8-2.
Jose Mijares pitched a perfect 9th inning to closeout the victory.
The Royals were all smiles when they took the field for mandatory victory high-fives after the final out. Afterall, why wouldn't they be?
The monkey is off their back, but now the real work has begun. One game doesn't mean much right now to the 4-14 Royals who currently sit six games back of the Indians, White Sox, and Tigers.
The first step back into relevancy: win this Cleveland series.
It'll be Luis Mendoza (0-2, 6.92 ERA) vs. Josh Tomlin (1-1, 4.86 ERA).
Speaking of Luis…
With Felipe Paulino scheduled to come off the DL any day now, Luis Mendoza's days in the starting rotation may be numbered. Mendoza has really struggled this season after being arguably the league's top pitcher during spring training. He will undoubtedly have to have a terrific performance today against Cleveland if he has any hopes of remaining a major league starter.
Cain's Recovery Hits a Snag
Lorenzo Cain, who was excpected to come off the DL tomorrow, will have to wait to make his long-awaited return to the Royals lineup. During a re-hab assignment game with Double A NW Arkansas, Cain strained his left hip-flexor while going after a routine fly ball.
"We don't think it's a long-term thing," Moore said, "but I think it's going to be more than a few days."
Duffy Will Miss His Next Start
With a sore left-elbow, the Royals are going to take the cautious route with Danny Duffy by skipping his spot in the rotation. The tightness Duffy is feeling is described as minor, so nobody needs to fret.
Lefty Everett Teaford is expected to get the start in Duffy's place.
Twelve Down, Two Goats, One Game
Royals Turn it Up to Eleven
Greg Holland Heads to the DL
Series Recap: Royals v. Tigers
Get more great Kansas City Royals analysis over at Royal Blues.
MLB Analysis: Kansas City Royals Continue to Struggle
MLB Series Review and Analysis: Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers
MLB Analysis: Kansas City Royals Need to Make a Change
MLB Analysis: Things Go from Bad to Worse for Kansas City Royals
MLB Analysis: Kansas City Royals Make a Ton of Moves
MLB Analysis: Future Kansas City Royals Stars
MLB Series Review: Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox
MLB Analysis: Potential Trade Targets for the Kansas City Royals

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The 2022 Indonesia Masters Super 100 (officially known as the KB Financial Group Indonesia Masters 2022 for sponsorship reasons) was a badminton tournament which took place at Platinum Sports Hall in Malang, Indonesia, from 18 to 23 October 2022 and had a total purse of $81,000.

Tournament
The 2022 Indonesia Masters Super 100 was the fifth and final Super 100 tournament of the 2022 BWF World Tour and also part of the Indonesia Masters Super 100 championships, which had been held since 2018. This tournament was organized by the Badminton Association of Indonesia and sanctioned by the BWF.

Venue
This international tournament was held at Platinum Sports Hall in Malang, East Java, Indonesia.

Point distribution
Below is the point distribution table for each phase of the tournament based on the BWF points system for the BWF Tour Super 100 event.

Prize pool
The total prize money was US$81,000 with the distribution of the prize money in accordance with BWF regulations.

Men's singles

Seeds

 Ng Tze Yong (quarter-finals)
 Koki Watanabe (third round)
 Parupalli Kashyap (withdrew)
 Weng Hongyang (quarter-finals)
 Son Wan-ho (semi-finals)
 Soong Joo Ven (withdrew)
 Cheam June Wei (final)
 Subhankar Dey (second round)

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 3

Section 4

Women's singles

Seeds

 Saena Kawakami (quarter-finals)
 Putri Kusuma Wardani (second round)
 Sim Yu-jin (second round)
 Ruselli Hartawan (quarter-finals)
 Kisona Selvaduray (quarter-finals)
 Soniia Cheah Su Ya (first round)
 Goh Jin Wei (first round)
 Wenyu Zhang (first round)

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 3

Section 4

Men's doubles

Seeds

 He Jiting / Zhou Haodong (final)
 Junaidi Arif / Muhammad Haikal (quarter-finals)
 Hiroki Okamura / Masayuki Onodera (semi-finals)
 Ren Xiangyu / Tan Qiang (semi-finals)
 Rahmat Hidayat / Pramudya Kusumawardana (champions)
 Takuto Inoue / Kenya Mitsuhashi (quarter-finals)
 Boon Xin Yuan / Wong Tien Ci (second round)
 Panjer Aji Siloka Dadiara / Bryan Sidney Elohim (first round)

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 3

Section 4

Women's doubles

Seeds

 Rui Hirokami / Yuna Kato (champions)
 Pichamon Phatcharaphisutsin / Nannapas Sukklad (second round)
 Kim Min-ji / Seong Seung-yeon (semi-finals)
 Sayaka Hobara / Hinata Suzuki (quarter-finals)
 Rena Miyaura / Ayako Sakuramoto (final)
 Lanny Tria Mayasari / Ribka Sugiarto (quarter-finals)
 Nita Violina Marwah / Tryola Nadia (quarter-finals)
 Fitriani / Jesica Moeljati (second round)

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 3

Section 4

Mixed doubles

Seeds

 Yujiro Nishikawa / Saori Ozaki (quarter-finals)
 Dejan Ferdinansyah / Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja (semi-finals)
 Na Sung-seung / Kim Min-ji (second round)
 Akbar Bintang Cahyono / Marsheilla Gischa Islami (quarter-finals)
 Hafiz Faizal / Melati Daeva Oktavianti (quarter-finals)
 Amri Syahnawi / Winny Oktavina Kandow (quarter-finals)
 Adnan Maulana / Nita Violina Marwah (second round)
 Tan Ming Kang /  Serena Kani (second round)

Finals

Top half

Section 1

Section 2

Bottom half

Section 3

Section 4

References

External link
Tournament link

Indonesia Masters Super 100
Indonesia Masters Super 100
Indonesia Masters Super 100
Indonesia Masters Super 100

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Kit Malthouse claims you can cycle up to 70 MILES from your home
January 12, 2021 Dianne Reeves Online news
Britons can go on 70 mile bike rides but only sit on benches 'for a short pause', should think carefully about meeting a friend for a coffee while walking and must never go to the supermarket without a mask, ministers said today.
Policing Minister Kit Malthouse also accused the public of 'searching for the loopholes in the law' by flouting the third national lockdown – comparing it to pubs serving scotch eggs to stay open last year – and insisted that it is the police's job to scrutinise where people are going and who they are meeting outdoors.
Amid widespread confusion about whether people are allowed to sit on park benches during their daily exercise, No10 sources also told MailOnline a 'short pause' during the course of exercise would be 'reasonable'. However, they stressed it would be unlawful to go out 'just to sit in public'.
But Mr Malthouse insisted Boris Johnson's decision to go cycling in the Olympic Park seven miles from Downing Street was 'within the rules' and legal, saying the PM's Sunday ride in east London was fine because 'local is open to interpretation'.
He said: 'I understand that this is a sort of scotch egg moment where people are searching for the loopholes and the problems in the law. Unfortunately we can't legislate for every single dynamic of human existence. If you can get there under your own steam and you are not interacting with somebody … then that seems perfectly reasonable to me'. He also agreed that a 50 to 70 mile bike ride would also be fine in some cases.
It came as Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said today that police will move 'swiftly' to fine people who blatantly ignore coronavirus lockdown rules and said officers in London had issued more than 300 fixed penalty notices in the space of 24 hours for 'flagrant' violations of the regulations.
And in a veiled criticism of the PM's Olympic Park bike ride Dame Cressida Dick said: 'For me, a reasonable interpretation of that is that if you can go for your exercise from your front door and come back to your front door', adding: 'The public are looking to all of us as role models'.
No 10 is yet to confirm if Mr Johnson cycled to the Olympic Park himself or was conveyed to east London by car as some Tory MPs complained that too much power is being handed to police.
Dame Cressida has also asked the Government to enshrine the definition of 'local' in law to make it easier to police as it emerged that officers in Devon and Cornwall are even using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to make sure only essential journeys are being made during lockdown – and hunt down people travelling to second homes.
Hampshire Police are also using drones to watch people visiting the waterfront at Southsea to ensure they are social distancing and not meeting in groups.
As Mr Johnson also warned of tougher Covid-19 curbs if existing restrictions were ignored:
Labour leads calls for PM to tear up red tape and allow jabs 24/7 amid demands for police, teachers and shift workers to get inoculated after No10 insisted there is no 'clamour' for appointments after 8pm;
Sainsbury's joins Morrisons as they reinstate bouncers outside supermarkets to challenge people not wearing masks or ignoring social distancing – but security seen failing to enforce it;
Chaos for thousands of British travellers as the government is STILL yet to reveal what Covid tests tourists need to take before flying to the UK;
Another 529 virus deaths were recorded yesterday, up from 407 a week earlier, with 46,169 new cases;
Mr Malthouse said Boris Johnson's decision to go cycling in the Olympic Park seven miles from Downing Street was 'within the rules'. PM pictured in 2016
Britain's policing minister said a ride of up to 70 miles is allowed if people get there 'by their own steam'. Cyclists ride through Greenwich Park last week
Ministers say someone can stop on a park bench – but only for a short while before moving on. Police pictured in St James' Park on Saturday
So what is defined as local and what is allowed?
Government rules state that 'you should not travel outside your local area' for exercise.
However, what does and does not constitute 'local' has been up for debate.
At yesterday's Downing Street press conference, Health Secretary Matt Hancock was asked if Britons were allowed to exercise seven miles from home.
He replied: 'It is OK to go if you went for a long walk and ended up seven miles from home, that is OK, but you should stay local.'
He added: 'You should not go from one side of the country to the other, potentially taking the virus with you, because remember one in three people who have the virus don't know they have it because they don't have symptoms.
'It is OK to go for a long walk or a cycle ride or to exercise, but stay local.'
Mr Malthouse also said all supermarkets 'reassume their responsibility' and refuse entry to anyone without a face mask and start limiting numbers inside again with flouters facing police fines. But West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Brian Booth said this morning: 'We just don't have the resources to stand at every supermarket'.
Kit Malthouse's argument that long bike rides are allowed has been undermined by Kerrin Wilson, Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police, who said of one local rider going 50 to 60 miles: 'What you have to understand is if he falls off his bike and is so far away from home , how is he going to get help if he gets a puncture. Other people are potentially being put at risk'.
Despite the confusion over what is and isn't allowed during the current lockdown, like stopping on a bench or for a takeaway coffee during a walk with a friend, Britain's most senior police officer said it is 'preposterous' that people could be unaware of the need to follow the third national lockdown and warned that rule-breakers will be fined.
Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick said people are still holding house parties, meeting in basements to gamble, and attending unlicensed raves despite rising numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths.
She warned that anyone caught breaking the rules or failing to comply would result in officers 'moving much more quickly to enforcement action' and urged the Government to enshrine the definition of 'local' in law like in Scotland and Wales.
Boris Johnson is under pressure to increase the social distancing gap to three metres to stop the spread of coronavirus – and toughen the existing lockdown, including potentially preventing people leaving the house every day.
Mr Malthouse said: 'Whether there are going to be greater restrictions or not very much depends on the numbers. We are tracking the infection rate.
Senior Tory MP: Police are being handed too much power during lockdown
Conservative MP and former cabinet minister David Davis has told Times Radio its not normal for police to have so much power
'The difficulty is, I really don't think that we should be handing quite so much judgmental power to the police force. It's not normal in this country for policemen to have – it is in others – but not normal in Britain for police to have the power to stop and fine on something which is a sort of judgmental issue."
He told Aasmah Mir and Stig Abell that the laws are too crude because they weren't discussed properly by parliament.
'This has been obvious since March 23, when the law under which this was done, was created by the state, by the government. If you actually give that amount of power to a police officer who's not an epidemiologist, he's not a doctor, you know, he's having to carry out by guess and by God's judgement, whether this is within or without the rules, and very vague rules at that, then it's a very bad way to go'.
He added: 'It's an inevitable outcome of a very crude piece of law that wasn't thought through properly in the first place'.
'We are all, frankly, on tenterhooks to see how the impact of the restrictions that came in on Boxing Day will impact on numbers, particularly in London and the south east.
'This virus is moving so quickly that government is having to make very, very agile decisions about the way we live our lives.
'But, as I say, if we are going to make sure that this is the last lockdown – please God it is – we all need to stick by the rules and take it really, really seriously.
'Unfortunately, we haven't seen that in some parts of the country from a minority of people who are, frankly, letting the rest of us down.'
Police officers are hoping the public will recognise what 'local' means for exercise, said policing minister Kit Malthouse.
When asked whether 'local' should be defined in England, he told Times Radio: 'What we are hoping for is that most people will recognise that local, while it's open to personal interpretation, does have some implications, ie can you get there under your own steam?
'We are trying to strike a balance between maintaining compliance with the rules and elements of public consent to what's happening.
'I think most people would think that was reasonable.
'Where there are unreasonable people who are breaking that rule, police are intervening.'
Mr Malthouse has said that all supermarkets should follow in Morrisons' footsteps to enforce the wearing of masks in stores to prevent the transmission of the virus.
When asked why he thought supermarkets have not done it so far, he told Times Radio: 'I think that, understandably, following the November lockdown there was an element of release and therefore the person at the door, the sanitation station, the traffic light system, the queues outside obviously receded a bit.
'What we hope now, and I know all of them will, that they'll see their responsibility and start to put those things back in place.'
Police use ANPR to track essential journeys in Cornwall and Devon and track people heading to their second homes
Police in Devon and Cornwall are using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology in a bid to enforce Covid-19 regulations.
The force's chief constable, Shaun Sawyer, said ANPR cameras across the region would be used to make sure that only essential journeys are being made.
Static cameras at the roadside in a number of locations across the area will be used, while every officer in the force also has access to an ANPR app on their devices.
This allows them to access live information about vehicles they pass.
Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said the use of the technology was necessary during England's third national lockdown.
"Covid is spreading rapidly across the whole of the UK, not least because this new strain of the virus is far more contagious," she said.
"We need to be doing everything we possibly can to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
'I was saddened to hear about the reports of hundreds of Covid breaches over the weekend, many of which are understood to be related to second homes.
"As such, I welcome the force's use of ANPR to monitor vehicle movements and make sure the only journeys being made here are essential ones. Using this technology helps us see where certain vehicles have come from and allows officers to further investigate their reasons for travel."
When asked whether police should intervene, he said some officers have issued fines in retail settings, adding: 'What we hope is the vast majority of people, or everybody, will be encouraged to do so by the shop owner.'
She warned that anyone caught breaking the rules or failing to comply would result in officers 'moving much more quickly to enforcement action'.
It comes amid increasing calls for tougher shutdown restrictions, with No10 even considering imposing Chinese-style curfews, outdoor mask mandates and three metre social distancing.
Writing in the Times today, Dame Cressida said: 'It is preposterous to me that anyone could be unaware of our duty to do all we can to stop the spread of the virus. We have been clear that those who breach Covid-19 legislation are increasingly likely to face fines.
'We will still be engaging, explaining and encouraging but those who break the rules or refuse to comply where they should without good reason will find officers moving much more quickly to enforcement action.'
The Met Police chief also called on the Government to ensure that police officers are prioritised for the Covid jab as the vaccine is rolled out.
Asked about Covid restrictions and Boris Johnson's bike ride seven miles from his home, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I am not going to comment on individual cases. I'm really not.'
Pressed that the Prime Minister is a role model, the police chief said: 'The public are looking to all of us as role models, for all of us in public life, if you like.
'What I can say is that it is not against the law. I think that's implicit.'
Leading members of the Sage scientific advisory panel want the social distancing measures raised from 'one metre plus' to 'two metres plus'.
In practice this would change the limit to three metres – nearly 10ft. The drastic proposal came as a furious Matt Hancock denounced individuals who flout social distancing rules.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference the Health Secretary said that he would 'not rule out further action if needed.'
He was backed by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, who sits on Sage and said it was time to 'double down' on Covid curbs – including outdoor contact.
Asked if a three-metre rule would be imposed in England, a Downing Street spokesman said last night: 'There are no current plans to change social distancing rules. However, everything is kept under review.'
It came as the country recorded a further 529 Covid deaths on Monday – marking a 30 per cent rise on the 407 reported on the same day last week.
It was the deadliest Monday since April 20 when 570 people lost their lives and it marked the worst week for deaths in Britain since the pandemic began. An average of 931 people have lost their lives on each of the past seven days, compared to the highest seven-day average of 920 in April's first wave.
But, in a positive sign that the UK's soaring case load may be leveling out, 46,169 people tested positive for the virus – down 20 per cent in a week.
Covid Marshals talk to a cyclist who was sat down on the esplanade at Bournemouth Beach on Sunday
Cyclists have backed the PM's trip to the Olympic Park saying he was setting a good example to the public
Boris Johnson is under pressure from members of the Sage scientific advisory panel to increase the social distancing gap to stop the spread of coronavirus
The PM was seen cycling around the Olympic Park – seven miles from No 10 – raising questions about whether it broke lockdown rules, or was in the spirit of them
The distance was set at two metres in March after experts said coronavirus was up to ten times more transmissible at one metre than at two. Now experts want the public to maintain the distance on public transport, in supermarket lines and while out and about
Britain yesterday recorded a further 529 Covid deaths – marking a 30 per cent rise on the 407 reported on the same day last week. It is also the deadliest Monday since April 20 when 570 people lost their lives
First day of supermarket crackdown fails as shoppers reveal security guards are NOT ordering them to wear masks – while police say THEY can't be responsible for enforcing rules in stores
A maskless shopper in Morrisons, south-east London. The woman, who only gave her first name of Gladys said: 'I had a mask with me but simply forgot'
The supermarket mask crackdown ran into problems from day one today as some shoppers continued refusing to follow the rules.
Sainsbury's and Morrisons became the first supermarkets to return to the tougher enforcement seen in March by reintroducing bouncers at the door to ensure all customers are wearing face coverings.
In recent months, shoppers have been seen repeatedly flouting the rules by going maskless after many stores ditched guards.
But as alarm bells were sounded by Number 10 and scientists warned that shops were contributing to the rise in cases, supermarkets today declared a new clamp down.
West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Brian Booth warned this morning that there are not enough officers to enforce mask rules in supermarkets and it was up to the stores themselves to do so.
'We don't have enough resources to deal with that,' he said. 'Look at how many shops and supermarkets and shops there are in every neighbourhood.
'If there is an ongoing crime, an assault or danger to someone that must be the priority but we just don't have the resources to stand at every supermarket.'
Meanwhile, Met Chief Cressida Dick said it was 'preposterous' for people to claim they were not aware of the rules.
It comes as Boris Johnson prepares to further strengthen lockdown rules including by limiting outdoor contact.
Sainsbury's today sent an email to all customers saying guards would 'challenge' maskless customers or people shopping in groups.
Morrisons has already reintroduced security at the door and vowed to ban anyone refusing to wear a face covering without a medical exemption.
Shoppers arriving at Morrisons in Peckham, south London were greeted by a security guard instructing them to put on their masks or they would not be allowed in.
One woman who came without her mask was warned that if she did not put it on, she would not be allowed to continue with her shop.
The woman, who only gave her first name of Gladys said: 'I had a mask with me but simply forgot. I've come into the supermarket lots of times before and not put it on, but I think it's a good thing that they are enforcing this.'
But after putting on her mask, Gladys then lowered it below her mouth as she continued with her shop. She said: 'I find them too uncomfortable. I don't see what the fuss is, I've got a mask on, it's just not covering my nose and mouth at the moment.'
As Gladys shopped in the store, she was not challenged about how she was wearing her mask.
The Daily Mail has been told that several members of Sage say the lockdown needs to be even tougher than the first one in March last year.
The idea of a Chinese-style ban on residents leaving their homes was raised at one meeting.
Ministers are furious that some people have been using their right to daily exercise simply as an excuse to meet friends for a coffee in the park.
One source said: 'If it means limiting people to a single one-hour walk on their own once a week that is what we must do. We cannot let a few selfish idiots put the whole country in danger.'
It is feared that the failure to observe the restrictions is fuelling the number of deaths and risks hospitals becoming overwhelmed.
Increasing the social distancing rule to three metres is seen as one way of stopping the spread of the new variant of the virus, which can be passed on more easily.
Opponents of the move say it would have little impact, cause more confusion and be a logistical nightmare.
Two-metre signs have been painted on pavements across the nation, with similar notices found in tens of thousands of shops, factories, offices and public places.
Changing them all would add to the soaring cost of fighting the pandemic.
Supporters claim the benefit in saving lives and protecting the NHS means the move is worth it. They argue it is a response to the new variant which is thought to be up to be 70 per cent more transmissible.
If it goes ahead it would be the Government's third policy on social distancing.
The distance was set at two metres in March after experts said coronavirus was up to ten times more transmissible at one metre than at two.
But it was reduced to 'one metre plus' in July after the first lockdown – mainly to make it easier for restaurants and cafes to reopen.
A 'two metre plus' rule would in practice mean staying three metres apart – nearly 10ft – unless steps were taken to limit the danger of transmission, such as screens.
Social distancing gaps vary around the world.
In China, Hong Kong and Singapore, which were successful in controlling the pandemic, the gap was one metre.
However, they imposed other, far stricter, rules including curfews. Spain and Canada followed the two-metre rule.
The three other home nations have different versions of the two-metre rule.
In Scotland people are advised to keep two metres apart and in Wales they are told to stay two metres apart unless it is not practical, with young children exempt.
The gap in Northern Ireland came down to one metre but is two again.
Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia said: 'Risk declines the further you are away from someone.
'So three metres will reduce risk somewhat compared to two metres – but it is difficult to say how much and whether that would make a big difference. I suspect the main issue is people not sticking to the two-metre rule.'
Mr Hancock warned against trying to 'push the boundaries' on exercise, adding: 'If too many people break this rule we are going to have a look at it. Don't say you are exercising if really you are just socialising.'
He said the two-metre rule had to be obeyed, not seen 'as a limit to be challenged'.
Shortly after Mr Hancock's Downing Street press briefing on Monday, the PM released a short video filmed during his visit to the Ashton Gate vaccination centre in Bristol.
In it, he urged Britons to 'follow the guidance, stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives' as Covid continues to spread rapidly in several parts of the country.
Britons shouldn't 'lose focus on the pandemic' as coronavirus is 'still causing huge, huge problems for our NHS', Mr Johnson added.
Mr Hancock also used the briefing to defend the PM after he was spotted cycling in the Olympic Park seven miles from Downing Street in apparent breach of government advice.
The Health Secretary said it is allowed to cycle that distance from where you live to take exercise, despite also insisting that people must 'stay local'.
But he also warned that rules on two people from different households being able to exercise outdoors together could be torn up if people keep abusing them.
'If too many people keep breaking this rule we are going to have to look at it but I don't want to do that,' Mr Hancock told a No10 briefing yesterday evening.
What are the government's rules on taking exercise?
You should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise.
This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
You can exercise in a public outdoor place:
with the people you live with
with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
or, when on your own, with one person from another household
This includes but is not limited to running, cycling, walking, and swimming.
Personal training can continue one-on-one unless everyone is within the same household or support bubble.
Public outdoor places include:
parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
the grounds of a heritage site
The PM was seen wearing a hat and a face mask on his bike at the venue seven miles away from Downing Street yesterday afternoon.
A source told the Evening Standard that Mr Johnson was exercising, accompanied by his security detail.
Extraordinarily the premier is said to have 'noted how busy' the park was and remarked on it at a meeting later.
Official Government guidance says exercise should be limited to once a day and 'you should not travel outside your local area'.
Two women were fined £200 each by Derbyshire Police for driving five miles from their home for a walk, while in Whitby officers have slammed people for going sledging.
A witness said: 'He was leisurely cycling with another guy with a beanie hat and chatting while around four security guys, possibly more, cycled behind them.
'When I realised the person looked like Boris I cycled past them to hear his voice and be sure it's him. It was definitely Boris.
'Considering the current situation with Covid I was shocked to see him cycling around looking so care free,' added the woman, who asked not to be named.
Also considering he's advising everyone to stay at home and not leave their area, shouldn't he stay in Westminster and not travel to other boroughs?'
The PM's spokesman was unable to give any information yesterday on why Mr Johnson had gone to Stratford and why it was within the rules.
It is also not clear whether Mr Johnson was driven to the park with his bike, or cycled the whole way there and back.
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said: 'Government guidance on travelling to exercise is as clear as mud.
'People are travelling hundreds of miles to the Lake District while others are afraid to drive 5 minutes to the local park.
'I've written to the Prime Minister, asking him to set out clear guidance once and for all.'
A shopper in Morrisons in Leeds not wearing a mask (left) and and another at an Asda in Swindon (right). It is not clear if the customers pictured have valid exemptions for going maskless
Shoppers at a Tesco Extra in south-east London this morning. Rules state that masks must be worn over the nose and mouth
In a video shared to the PM's official Twitter account yesterday evening – which features footage of Mr Johnson's visit to Bristol on Monday- the PM heaped praise on the Government's vaccine programme.
But he warned Britons that it should not lead to complacency, as the new Covid variant is still spreading rapidly.
Mr Johnson said: 'Hi folks. I am here at this amazing Bristol mass-vaccination centre in a football stadium and it's one of the 50 that we are going to be rolling out by the end of the month to help all the 1,000-plus GP surgeries, the 233 hospital sites, plus the 200 pharmacies.
'And that's, of course, just a start that we're using to dispense the vaccine.
'As I speak to you this morning I think we've done about 2.4 million jabs, 2 million people in the country already who have been vaccinated, and we will be massively ramping that up in the course of the next few weeks as we get up to, we hope, 15 million by the middle of February.
'And that's a very ambitious programme, we're confident we can do it.
'But, as we get the jabs into people, it's incredibly important that we don't lose focus on the pandemic that is still, alas, surging in so many parts of the country, still filling our hospitals with Covid patients, still causing huge, huge problems for our NHS.
'So everybody has got to follow the guidance. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.'
Along with his video, the PM tweeted: 'As we get jabs into arms, we must not lose sight of the state of the pandemic – which is putting huge pressure on our NHS.
'So, please follow the rules and stay home to protect the NHS, and save lives.'
Chaos for thousands of British travellers as the government is STILL yet to reveal what tests tourists need to take before flying to the UK
Britons abroad face a race to get home before rules requiring international travellers to test negative for coronavirus prior to arriving in England come into force – and the UK Government has not yet released full guidance on which tests they will accept.
From 4am this Friday, those arriving by boat, train or plane – including UK nationals – will have to take a test up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure.
But there is still confusion over which tests will be accepted, with the latest UK Government guidance issued yesterday referring to how lateral flow tests might be allowed 'in some cases' – and saying further advice will be issued to passengers.
Lateral flow tests are cheaper and give results in 30 minutes, while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests take up to three days to identify positive cases.
Britons will need to present proof of a negative test result to their carrier on boarding while the UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrivals.
Passengers at London Heathrow Airport last week. Rules requiring international travellers to test negative for coronavirus before arriving in England come into force this Friday
Conservative MP Henry Smith, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on aviation, said he welcomed the test requirement for every passenger coming into the UK, pointing out that he had suggested it in the Commons as long ago as last January.
But the MP, whose constituency includes Gatwick Airport, told MailOnline: 'It has been a long time in the gestation and it is not completely clear as to how it all works.
'It does seem to be taking an extremely long time to pin down something that a lot of other countries have been doing for many months now. This shouldn't take as long as it has.
'All of this is complex, but it is relatively straightforward in terms of asking people to take certain types of test. I don't see what the delay is in terms of being clear about that is.'
The latest guidance released by the Department for Transport yesterday stated: 'We will establish the standards that tests must meet in regulations.
'This will include that the test must be of a diagnostic-standard test such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and could in some cases include LAMP and lateral flow tests within set limits.
'We will provide clear guidance and advice to passengers regarding testing standards and capacity.'
New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum £500 fine, while the operator who transported them will also be fined.
Passengers will still have to quarantine for 10 days regardless of their test results, transport minister Robert Courts said in a statement.
British nationals attempting to return home who test positive must not travel and must follow the local guidance in their host country, and contact the nearest consulate if they need support.
'If a passenger arrives in England without a pre-departure negative test result they will be fined,' Mr Courts said.
'We will amend the International Travel Regulations so that fines, starting at £500, can be levied on non-compliant passengers.'
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text:
All News, Diplomatic, News In English
Updated on Monday, August 29, 2022
DHAKA, Aug 29, 2022 (BSS) –
President M Abdul Hamid today received credentials from the ambassadors of Iran and Brazil to Bangladesh in two subsequent ceremonies after they were ceremonially welcomed at Bangabhaban here.
The resident ambassadors are: Mansour Chavoshi of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Paulo Fernando Dias Feres of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Receiving their credentials, the President appreciated Bangladesh's ties with the two countries and urged them to play an important role as envoys particularly to enhance trade and economic relations for the mutual benefits of the two countries, President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS.
The bilateral relations with the countries will be expanded further during their respective assignments here, the President hoped.
Immediately after submitting his Letter of credentials, the Iranian envoy held a brief meeting with the President where he expressed hope that the bilateral ties with the countries will be further expanded during their respective duties here.
Mentioning the excellent relations between Iran and Bangladesh in various fields, the President said, Bangladesh and Iran have many similarities in culture and history.
The President thanked Iran for its strong support to the United Nations and OIC over the Rohingya issue.
Later, in a meeting with the ambassador of Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, the President said the commercial relations between the two countries are gradually increasing.
Abdul Hamid emphasized the importance of visit-exchange between the businessmen and investors of the two countries to strengthen the relationship further in days to come.
He said Bangladesh produces many world-class products, including medicines, which Brazil can import.
The head of the state also urged investors of Brazil to invest in Bangladesh.
The President expressed hope that the relations between the two countries will reach new height during his tenure.
President Hamid assured the ambassadors of full cooperation in carrying out their duties in Bangladesh to strengthen Bangladesh's relations with the countries.
Secretaries concerned and high officials to the President were present.
Earlier, on their arrival at Bangabhaban, a contingent of the horse-mounted President Guard Regiment (PGR) offered the envoys guards of honour as part of the ceremony.
The national anthems of the respective countries were also played by the army band and the ambassadors made a round of inspection of the guards of honour.
Bangladesh a secular country, immediate action is taken whenever minorities are attacked: PM
India rolls out red carpet to welcome Bangladesh premier


Wow, what a learning curve I've been on! The sheer breadth of issues and interactions that present themselves is one of the features of the job that I am enjoying. The last Council meeting alone was a testament to the diversity of issues and momentous opportunities to create change: supporting marriage equality, progressing park and ride for this Summer, a Byron bypass, rejecting KFC, considering the Bangalow Weir, supporting the community in keeping alive the vision for Bilinudgel sportsfields, and groundbreakingly innovative LEP actions in the Byron Arts and Industry Estate.
Though some say 'that's not important, you should be working on this other thing instead", it presumes that only one issue is being tackled at a time. I can assure you all, my feminine side of multitasking is certainly getting a work out!
Seeing some of those reality cooking shows makes me think my role is similar to a chef. There are so many issues bubbling away at once- some stew slowly, some are quickly tossed on high heat and then finished, some need a lot of stirring and some can be attended to when the timer says it is ready. Just like the importance of 'plating up', how the finished product is presented is also vital. I love the heat of the Council kitchen and love being in it; maybe I should direct staff to make me a chef style mayoral hat!
On Thursday, Council supported publicly declaring its support for marriage equality. Part of notes that accompanied the resolution was as follows: Locally, it is vital that when a section of our community is discriminated against, we speak out on their behalf. On behalf of the adult members of our community who simply want to have their loving union recognised, respected and validated, this Notice of Motion speaks loud and proud. On behalf of our younger community members who may be isolated, the victim of homophobia or sitting in their room suffocated by feelings of fear, mental pain, confusion and ostracism, this Notice of Motion speaks loud and proud. On behalf of the overwhelming portion of our community who refuse to accept discrimination, marginalisation, segregation and inequality in any form, this Notice of motion speaks loud and proud. To continue to read the notes and the successful resolution, click here . You can also view media, and updates.
Recently, after the most recent Holiday Let proceeding brought success without a precedent producing judgment, Council resolved to pause further legal proceedings against an oft complained against holiday let property in order to talk with HLO and other accommodation agents- though unfortunately, community representatives were not invited. Though I would have preferred to continue with the legal proceedings, I support the need to create dialogue and try and transform intransigency into acceptance that we have a problem and it needs overt and deliberate management, not wishful, voluntary self management. Over the next few weeks we will sit down and talk, I fervently hope both accommodation providers and Councillors make the most of the opportunity to agree on what we want the holiday let industry to look like, accept the current realities, develop and propose options and solutions and finally, agree on a timeline to make it happen.
Saturday morning Family Fun Day was an overwhelming success with approximately 2,000 people of all ages visiting the library to enjoy our local performers, story tellers and all the services the new library has to offer the community and its visitors. In the first nine days of opening the Byron Bay library staff were kept busy with 8,126 visitors: 7,920 loans: 4,053 returns: 221 new members added: and 223 existing members have reactivated their membership.
The doors of the new Library are open for everyone and I urge all residents to drop into the new library and take a look. It truly is a remarkable building. From the foyer which features the donated artwork by award winning Australian environmental artist John Dahlsen to the rooms filled with books, children's play area and study rooms. This is a place for everyone. The Byron Bay Library was built at a construction cost of $3.75 million (exc gst) and also features a community room available for meetings and to display and celebrate the talent of artists and craftspeople within the Shire. Construction on the new Library commenced in September 2011 and was completed in January 2013. To read more, click here.
It was great visiting some of the Shire's schools recently. The Shearwater Steiner School had the official opening of their new building- a fantastic performing arts and gathering hall. The walls are straw bale and the acoustics are awesome. Also, it was great to visit Upper Main Arm Primary School, to officiate at their SRC induction ceremony. The Minister of Communication kept the show on a strict focus and the Minister's of Social Justice look set to bring everyone together for the year ahead. At times, the Minister of Sport looked like he wanted to get outside for a kick, only kidding, though all the kids were great to be around and I was stoked to a part of a great morning within such beautiful grounds. For images of Shearwater's new building, click here…….
At last count, the Shire had 10 landslips. These are severely disrupting the lives of many. The landslip in Upper Cooper's Creek is particularly challenging and the residents above the slip have had their resilience and patience truly tested. Easy answers and solutions are thin on the ground. The next stage of obtaining more geotech information started last with borehole drilling by a smaller light weight rig. This drilling is expected to take 1.5 to 2 weeks and is very dependant upon weather for safety reasons. After the completion of the drilling the geotech will assess the new information to complete their investigation into the causes of the landslip, what temporary access can be provided and under what requirement and then finally start looking at options for permanent restoration. All of this is expected to take some time to do efficiently and properly. Council has set up an email bulletin to keep community members in touch with developments and some great initiatives to invigorate the community are about to roll out. A Wellbeing Task Group will facilitate providing bulky tools and equipment, training up bus drivers and getting a café and general store up and going. So far all the focus has been on the road and its status. However, we need to consider the community and the ways to empower them and get some normality back into their lives. For more images of the Landslip from both the air and ground, click here.
First, we need to acknowledge the sober realities. Thus far, only Metgasco has indicated a retreat from the CSG operations in the area. The company holding licenses in this Shire has not followed suite. Also, the decision by Metgasco should be seen within an election context. With both old parties all of a sudden scrambling for kudos and electoral support for being anti-CSG, and with a State government shifting uncomfortably and tightening legislation, Metgasco has seen shareholder panic set in. By withdrawing from the process now, they can settle shareholders nerves, wait until the Federal election is done and dusted, and try again in 2014. Of course, the gods may be kind and they could also go under! Though we need to stay vigilant and resolute, we should also enjoy the great moments when they come- when victories come knocking, they should be welcomed, toasted, celebrated, then bottled to provide sustenance when times seem a touch more bleak. Well done everyone involved thus far!
Art Park is a brilliant addition to the creative fabric of the Shire. Part gallery, part book, art and clothes shop and part artist in residence, Art Park is wholly sweet! Paul McNeil and Craig Rochfort love art and opened the park gates to all their clever friends. Soon after, talented filmmakers, artists and writers started pouring in, attracted by the flowers, trees and grass. These people went on to shape the Art Park, and eventually they all ended up living there. Inspired by the surroundings, art was made, films were played and words were sayed. Enjoy. Click on the image to learn more….
Positive Change for Marine Life was founded on the principles of creating long-term profitable change in regards to marine conservation issues worldwide.
Through implementing eco-tourism ventures, creating education centres, re-training and undertaking research across their campaigns they hope to shift industry practice as well as consumer preferences to effectively minimise and reverse the impact that we are collectively having on the oceans. Click on the image to learn more….
Each edition of the bulletin will test even the localist local. I will give a big thumbs up to the first person who can tell me where this image was snapped?


It's Halloween time and we're far enough into the NHL season to start looking at some of the brutal player performances going on. There's been quite a few studs putting up some terrifying numbers than what we're used to seeing. Some guys have been putting up Vesa Toskala numbers while others simply can't find the net on a semi-regular basis. All of these guys would have been drafted in fantasy pools, but are showing up to the rink with no life in them.
With that said, we bring you The Skating Dead.
Through 10 games the Flyers captain has 0 goals, 5 assists, and is a -5. While more of a playmaker, Giroux is a 25+ goal scorer and you'd expect him to have at least 1 by now. With Giroux not scoring, it's no surprise the Flyers are one of the worst teams in the league with a 3-7 record. Even more surprising is Giroux boldly predicting they'll still make the playoffs.
Sharp has been very quiet for the talented Hawks this season scoring just 1 goal through 11 games. Despite leading the team in shots on goal with 45, Sharp hasn't been able to find his way on the scoresheet. The Hawks are still 6-2-3 so there should be no panic from the team as it's only a matter of time before Sharp wakes up and returns to his 30-goal form. It's amazing that this guy is still handsome while looking like a zombie.
As a powerplay quarterback you would expect more than 0 points and a minus -10 in 9 games. Last season Goligoski was on pace for just under 50 points which makes it hard to believe he's still sitting at zero on the season. We're still shaking our heads at how the Stars traded away a 40-goal scorer in James Neal and Matt Niskanen (8 points in 11 games this season) for this guy.
-9 might be a nice day in Thunder Bay, but not so great if you are a defenceman who had hopes of going to Sochi these upcoming Olympics. Staal recovered fully from a serious eye injury suffered last season, but is currently rocking one of the worst +/-'s in the league this season. An alleged shutdown defenceman, Staal has only been a + player in 1 game this season. That 9-2 loss to the Sharks definitely didn't help things either.
The King has been shitting the bed this season with a .890 save percentage and a dreadful 3.45 GAA through 7 games played. Of the 20 goals allowed this season, 16 have come at even strength. You can't blame it all on Lundqvist however as the Rangers have only put up 8 goals in the 6 games he's started, but we still expected a much better start, especially since this is a contract year for him.
Things have certainly gone downhill for this former All-Star. A steady decline in goal-scoring production the past few seasons have him at 1 goal and 3 points through 11 games for the Minnesota Wild. It should also be noted that his 1 goal on the season was an empty netter. Once a big shooter guaranteed for 250+ shots, the 32-year-old is slowing down and is averaging just 1.9 shots/game. It should be fun to see what happens with Heater as this is the last year of his 6 year/$45M contract.
Smith might have more goals than Claude Giroux this season, but his 3.17 GAA through 11 games is near the bottom of the league. A Team Canada hopeful, Smith has allowed the most goals in the NHL with 32. Luckily for Smith, the Coyotes are one of the highest scoring teams in the league and he's rocking a 6-2-2 record because of them. If Smith starts making saves, the 'Yotes could be one of the most dangerous teams in hockey if their offence keeps up.
Heater has been dead inside for years.


text:
Antique Desks & Writing Tables
Antique Large French Empire Revival Ormolu Mounted Desk C1880 19th C
16 product images - click on image to zoom
Ref: A1210
This is a fantastic large antique French Empire Revival mahogany partners desk, Circa 1880 in date. This desk has been...
This is a fantastic large antique French Empire Revival mahogany partners desk, Circa 1880 in date.
This desk has been beautifully crafted from mahogany with superb boxwood line inlaid decoration. The rectangular top is fitted with a striking gold tooled green leather inset writing surface over an arrangement of five drawers to each side, all fitted with decrative brass drop handles.
The desk is raised on square tapering legs that terminate in striking ormolu paw feet.
It is beautifully decorated with superb cast gilded ormolu mounts and escutcheons and is complete with the original working locks and keys.
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
Height 75 x Width 170 x Depth 126
Height 2 feet, 5 inches x Width 5 feet, 7 inches x Depth 4 feet, 2 inches
Our reference: A1210
Empire style,
is an early-19th-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until around 1830.
The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France.
The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a goverment system.
Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires.
The furniture was made from heavy woods such as mahogany and ebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials "I" and a large "N."
Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship.
Ref: 01210B
Bespoke 6ft Burr Walnut Partners Pedestal Desk.
Antique Biedermeier Swedish Birch Ormolu Mounted Sofa Table C1820 19th Century
Antique French Ormolu Mounted Walnut & Marquetry Bureau Plat 19th C
Antique Edwardian Burr Walnut Pedestal Desk Circa 1900


Insular Celtic languages are a group of Celtic languages that originated in Britain and Ireland, spoken in Continental Europe; the Continental Celtic languages are extinct. . encompassing parts of NW Africa, as well as large parts of Western Europe, before the arrival of the speakers of Indo-European, including Celtic". The Celtic nations are territories in western Europe where Celtic languages or cultural traits In each of the six nations a Celtic language is spoken: Brittonic or Brythonic languages are spoken in .. States, Australia, South Africa and other parts of the former British Empire have formed various Celtic societies over the years. The Celtic languages are a group of related languages descended from Proto- Celtic, Modern Celtic languages are mostly spoken on the north-western edge of Europe, notably in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, and the Isle of.
The Irish language originated in Ireland and was historically the dominant language of the Irish people. They took it with them to a number of other countries . The modern Goidelic languages include Irish (Gaeilge) and Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig), the former spoken in Ireland and the latter in Scotland. North Africans may have beaten Celts to Ireland The Sunday Times Other Celtic languages that were spoken in continental Europe and have.
The most widely spoken Celtic language is Welsh with , speakers, but the vast majority . On official languages of sub-Saharan Africa». It bore numerals in Roman but the words were in Gaulish, the extinct version of Celtic spoken by the inhabitants of France before the Roman. Other Celtic languages that were spoken in continental Europe and have since died out did not have these grammatical quirks. Afro-Asiatic. The social structure of Western Europe was such that Latin carried with it much prestige, and Celtic languages were primarily spoken by.
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text:
Light Beverage Products
ARGENTARIA
ARGENTARIA Trademark Information
Trademark by CORPORACION BANCARIA DE ESPANA, S.A.
beer mineral aerated waters nonalcoholized beer wine punch colas pop soft drinks syrups making fruit drinks malt drinks andor soft drinks fruit
This is a brand page for the ARGENTARIA trademark by CORPORACION BANCARIA DE ESPANA, S.A. in *********, **********, ***** ****.
Write a review about a product or service associated with this ARGENTARIA trademark. Or, contact the owner CORPORACION BANCARIA DE ESPANA, S.A. of the ARGENTARIA trademark by filing a request to communicate with the Legal Correspondent for licensing, use, and/or questions related to the ARGENTARIA trademark.
On Tuesday, December 17, 1991, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for ARGENTARIA. The USPTO has given the ARGENTARIA trademark serial number of 74231305. The current federal status of this trademark filing is ABANDONED - AFTER INTER-PARTES DECISION. The correspondent listed for ARGENTARIA is Clark W. Lackert of ********,********, ***** **** . The ARGENTARIA trademark is filed in the category of Light Beverage Products . The description provided to the USPTO for ARGENTARIA is beer; mineral and aerated waters, non-alcoholized beer, wine and punch; colas, pop and soft drinks; syrups for making fruit drinks, malt drinks and/or soft drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices.
Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other nonalcoholic drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages.
First Use Anywhere:: Not provided
First Use In Commerce: Not provided
Word mark: ARGENTARIA
Registration Number: NOT AVAILABLE
Registration Date: NOT AVAILABLE
Goods and Services: beer; mineral and aerated waters, non-alcoholized beer, wine and punch; colas, pop and soft drinks; syrups for making fruit drinks, malt drinks and/or soft drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices
Published For Opposition Date: 12/8/1992
CORPORACION BANCARIA DE ESPANA, S.A.
Clark W. Lackert
Trademarkia-Network law firms can help you incorporate a business around your ARGENTARIA trademark in less than 5 minutes. Trademarkia makes the process easy and convenient, so start now!
Clark W. Lackert is a correspondent of ARGENTARIA trademark.
Please Rate and Review for ARGENTARIA
ARGENTARIA is providing beer; mineral and aerated waters, non-alcoholized beer, wine and punch; colas, pop and soft drinks; syrups for making fruit drinks, malt drinks and/or soft drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices.