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Communicable Diseases Intelligence, Volume 27, Issue number 4 - December 2003 /
Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2002: A report of the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network
This report published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 27, No 4, December 2003 contains the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network laboratory annual report on tuberculosis for 2002.
A print friendly PDF version is available from this Communicable Diseases Intelligence issue's table of contents.
Richard Lumb,1,2 Ivan Bastian,1,2 William Chew,2 Chris Gilpin,2 Frank Haverkort,2 Aina Sievers2
Introduction | Methods | Results | Discussion | Acknowledgements | References
The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network collected and analysed laboratory data on new cases of disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the year 2002. A total of 712 cases were identified by bacteriology, representing an annual reporting rate of 3.6 cases of laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis per 100,000 population. The most commonly encountered culture-positive specimens were sputum (n=325), lymph node (n=142) and bronchoscopy (n=100). Smears containing acid fast bacilli were present in sputum (53.2%), bronchoscopy (37.9%) and lymph node (21.2%). Eight children (male n=3, female n=5) under 10 years of age had bacteriologically-confirmed tuberculosis. A total of 55 isolates (7.7%) of M. tuberculosis were resistant to at least one of the standard anti-tuberculosis agents. Resistance to at least isoniazid and/or rifampicin was noted for 53 isolates (7.4%), with multidrug-resistance (MDRTB) observed in 12 (1.9%) isolates. Of the 12 MDRTB isolates, eight were from the respiratory tract and five were from smear positive specimens. Of the patients with drug resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, 51/55 (92.7%) were classified as having initial resistance, none had acquired resistance during treatment in Australia. The country of birth was known for 54 of 55 such patients; four were Australian-born, and 50 (90.9%) had migrated from a total of 17 countries. Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) was performed on 139 (19.5%) of the 712 culture-positive specimens. Of smear positive respiratory specimens, 74/80 (92.5%) were NAAT positive. For smear negative respiratory specimens, 12/17 (70.6%) reported a NAAT positive result. Importantly, false-negative NAAT results were obtained from 1/16 and 5/64 of smear positive bronchoscopy and sputum specimens respectively. Commun Dis Intell 2003;27:459-465.
Australia continues to record one of the lowest notification rates (5-6 cases per 100,000 population) of tuberculosis (TB) in the world.1 As part of the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region, Australia's near neighbors have some of the highest burdens of TB in the region. These countries include China, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia and Vietnam.2 Australia also shares a close geographic relationship with the WHO South East Asia Region, in particular, Indonesia which has the third highest burden of TB in the world.1 These countries also have to deal with drug resistance and co-infection with HIV in a setting of chronically under-funded and under-resourced national TB programs.
There are two sources of TB-related data for Australia. Since 1991, the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) has provided statistics on cases of tuberculosis reported to public health authorities in Australia's states and territories.3 The second source, the Australian Tuberculosis Reporting Scheme has been conducted by the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network (AMRLN) since 1986.4 Statistics compiled by the AMRLN relate to cases of bacteriologically- confirmed tuberculosis whereas NNDSS data will have a proportion of cases that are identified on the basis of clinical and epidemiological information, or on non-bacteriological laboratory investigations. This report describes the bacteriologically-confirmed TB diagnoses for the year 2002.
The data are based on clinical specimens that were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). Although the bacille Calmette-Guérin strain of M. bovis is a member of the MTBC, no information on this organism is included in the present report. Almost all isolates of MTBC were referred to one of the five laboratories comprising the AMRLN, for specific identification and drug susceptibility testing. Comparable methodologies are used in the reference laboratories. Relapse cases, as defined by the National Strategic Plan for TB Control in Australia Beyond 2000, prepared by the National TB Advisory Committee, were included in the laboratory data as laboratories are generally unable to differentiate relapse cases from new cases.5 Temporary visitors to Australia were included as were illegal immigrants within correctional services facilities and asylum seekers located in detention centres or on temporary visas within Australia.
For each new bacteriologically-confirmed case, the following information was collected (where available):
demography: patient identifier, age, sex, HIV status and state of residence;
specimen: type, site of collection, date of collection and microscopy result;
isolate: species of mycobacterium and results of drug susceptibility testing;
nucleic acid amplification testing: results of testing; and
if the isolate was drug resistant: patient country of origin, and history of previous TB treatment to determine whether resistance was initial or acquired.
For each case, the nature of the first clinical specimen that yielded an isolate of MTBC was used to record the nominal site of disease. Culture-positive specimens collected at bronchoscopy or by gastric lavage were considered to indicate pulmonary disease. Cases with multi-site isolations, provided a sputum or bronchoscopy specimen was culture-positive, were listed as having pulmonary disease, the most important category for public health purposes. Cases for which there were multiple-site isolations were not categorised as having miliary or disseminated disease as differentiation is based on clinical findings that are generally not available to the reporting laboratories. Initial drug resistance was defined as the presence of drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis in cases of tuberculosis in which there was no known history of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Patients who had begun anti-TB treatment and had developed resistance to one or more of the drugs used during treatment were recorded as having acquired drug resistance.7
There were 712 bacteriologically confirmed cases of tuberculosis in 2002 (Figure 1), representing an annual rate of 3.6 cases per 100,000 population. State-specific reporting rates varied from 1.7 (South Australia and Tasmania) to 13.0 cases per 100,000 population (Northern Territory) (Table 1). There were 10 patients from Papua New Guinea who were diagnosed in Australia (included in the Queensland data), and most jurisdictions had at least one person visiting from overseas being diagnosed with TB.
Figure 1. Comparison between tuberculosis notifications and laboratory data, Australia, 1990 to 2002
Table 1. Bacteriologically confirmed cases of tuberculosis in Australia, 1992 and 1998 to 2002, cases and rate per 100,000 population, by state or territory*
New South Wales†
* Data from previous reports from the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network.
† Data from the Australian Capital Territory are included with those from New South Wales.
Causative organism
Almost all isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis (710), the remaining two isolates being M. africanum. For 2002, there were no bacteriologically confirmed cases of TB caused by M. bovis.
Distribution by gender, age and site of disease
Complete information for gender and age were submitted for 697 (97.9%) of the 712 cases. Eight children (male n=3 female n=5) under 10 years of age had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis (sputum n=4, gastric aspirate n=2, lymph node n=1, tissue n=1). The relationship of tuberculosis to age and gender is shown in (Figure 2). The overall male:female ratio was 1.05:1. The age and gender rates varied depending upon the site of infection. The predominant culture-positive specimen type was sputum (n=325, 45.6%); a further 100 (14.0%) were bronchoscopy, 15 were biopsy/tissue, and two were aspirate specimens. Thirty-four pleural specimens (31 fluid, 3 biopsy/tissue) accounted for only 4.8 per cent of all culture-positive specimens.
Figure 2. Laboratory diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex disease, Australia 2002, by age and sex
The most commonly encountered extrapulmonary culture-positive specimen was lymph tissue (n=142, 19.9%) followed by those from the genitourinary tract (n=32, 4.5%) and bone/joint (n=23, 3.2%). The female:male ratio of 1.95:1 demonstrated the skewed isolation of extrapulmonary MTBC from females, particularly in the 15-49 year age group (Figure 3). There were 10 isolates from other sites including tissue (spleen, liver, caecum, pericardium, breast, tongue; n=1 for each), pericardial fluid (n=1), and abscess (n=3).
Figure 3. Isolation of MTBC from lymph node, Australia, 2002, by age and sex
Association with HIV
The AMRLN database recorded the HIV status for only 51 (7.2%) patients. A single patient was identified as HIV seropositive; and had a multidrug-resistant strain of M. tuberculosis isolated from smear negative sputum.
Results of microscopy were available for 669/712 (94.0%) of specimens; microscopy was not performed on eight specimens and results for a further 35 were unknown. For specimens reporting a microscopy result, smears were positive for 165/310 (53.2%) of sputum and 36/97 (37.9%) of bronchoscopy specimens respectively (Table 2). A total of 34 pleural specimens were culture positive for M. tuberculosis with only 3 (9.1%) smear-positive for acid fast bacilli (AFB). Of the 142 specimens of lymph node, microscopy results were available for 133; and 28 (21.2%) were smear-positive for AFB.
Table 2. Site of specimens smear- and culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex disease, Australia, 2002
Smear positive (%)†
Lymph node
Pleural
Genito-urinary
Bone/joint
Peritoneal
ND‡
* Specimens not tabulated: 15 pulmonary tissue samples, 2 aspirates from upper respiratory tract, from 15 specimens from miscellaneous sites, and 15 of unknown site.
† Based on specimens that reported a microscopy result and excludes (i) microscopy not performed or (ii) result unknown.
‡ Percentage of specimens smear positive not calculated due to small numbers.
Drug susceptibility testing
Results of in vitro drug susceptibility testing were available for all 712 isolates for isoniazid (H), rifampicin ( R), ethambutol (E), and pyrazinamide (Z). A total of 55 isolates (7.7%) of M. tuberculosis were resistant to at least one of the above anti-tuberculosis agents. Results of testing for streptomycin (S) were available for 194/712 (27.2%) of isolates with four demonstrating mono-resistance, and a further five isolates resistant to both S+H. Resistance to at least H and/or R was noted for 53 isolates (7.4%), with resistance to both H and R (i.e. defined as multidrug-resistance) observed in 12 (1.9%) isolates. All of the MDR isolates were M. tuberculosis (Table 3). Of the 12 MDRTB isolates, eight were from the respiratory tract (sputum n=7, lung tissue n=1); the remaining four isolates were from lymph node. Five of the MDRTB-positive sputum specimens were smear positive as was the lung tissue. All four lymph tissues were smear negative.
Table 3. Drug resistance patterns in multidrug-resistant strains, Australia, 1996 to 2002
Resistance pattern (standard drugs)*
H+R only
H+R+E
H+R+Z
H+R+E+Z
12 (1.7)
* The streptomycin result was not considered for this table.
H = Isoniazid, R = rifampicin, E = ethambutol, Z = pyrazinamide
There was no mono-resistance to either rifampicin or ethambutol, but pyrazinamide mono-resistance was demonstrated in two strains. There were 53 strains that demonstrated resistance to H at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L in the radiometric BACTEC system. Of these, 43 (81.1%) demonstrated resistance at the higher level of 0.4 mg/L. Eighteen of 55 (32.7%) specimens culture-positive for drug resistant M. tuberculosis were also smear-positive for AFB.
There were 55 M. tuberculosis isolates resistant to at least one of the standard drubs (H, R, E or Z). Of these, 51/55 (92.7%) were classified as having initial resistance, none had acquired resistance during treatment in Australia, and no data were available on the presence or absence of previous treatment for four patients. The country of birth was known for 54/55 patients; four were Australian-born, and 50 (90.9%) had migrated from a total of 17 countries. Of the 50 migrants with drug resistant disease, 31 (62.0%) had migrated from one of four countries: Vietnam (n=9), Philippines (n=9), India (n=9), and China (n=4). The four patients with mono-resistance to streptomycin all migrated from Vietnam.
Use of nucleic acid amplification tests
Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) was performed on 139/712 (19.5%) specimens, all of which subsequently grew M. tuberculosis on culture. Sputum (n=76), bronchoscopy (n=24), lymph node (n=16) and tissue samples (n=12) were the most frequently tested. Of the 139 specimens, 118 were NAAT positive and 21 were negative. For smear positive respiratory specimens, 74/80 (92.5%) were NAAT positive. For smear negative respiratory specimens, 12/17 (70.6%) reported a NAAT positive result (Table 4). Importantly, 1/16 and 5/64 of smear positive bronchoscopy and sputum specimens respectively that were culture positive for M. tuberculosis were NAAT negative. For extrapulmonary specimens such as lymph node, other tissues and urine, smear positives were more likely than smear negatives to yield a positive NAAT, although a small proportion of smear and culture positive specimens produced a negative NAAT result.
Table 4. Results for nucleic acid amplification tests performed on respiratory specimens, Australia, 2002
NAAT result*
Culture positive respiratory specimens
Smear positive
Smear negative
Total (97)†
* Various NAAT methods were used, depending upon laboratory.
† Three respiratory samples did not record a smear result.
A further five specimens were NAAT positive but culture negative for MTBC. These specimens were not included in the 2002 laboratory data. Specimen types included lymph node (n=2), and one each of sputum, pleural fluid and a bone biopsy. One non-viable culture received into an AMRLN laboratory was NAAT positive.
The isolation of 710 M. tuberculosis and two M. africanum from clinical specimens for 2002 yielded a rate of 3.6 cases per 100,000 population, an outcome consistent with the laboratory data reported for the previous 17 years.4,8-13 The NNDSS reported 1,028 tuberculosis notifications in 2002,14 marginally up on the 997 cases reported in 2001.15 The NNDSS has consistently reported higher notifications than the AMRLN laboratory data (range 24-40%) and for 2002, there was a 44 per cent difference between the two datasets. In 2002, the NNDSS dataset recorded 602 cases from the respiratory tract, 97 pleural, 165 lymphatic, and 52 bone/joint.14 If the two databases are compared, 70.5 per cent, 35 per cent, 86 per cent and 44 per cent of respiratory, pleural, lymphatic and bone/joint cases respectively were bacteriologically confirmed. In contrast to the 2001 laboratory report where there was almost 90 per cent bacteriological confirmation of respiratory tuberculosis, only 70.5 per cent of respiratory tuberculosis was bacteriologically confirmed in 2002. The consistent finding of a much lower proportion of extrapulmonary disease being confirmed by culture suggests an ongoing reliance being placed upon clinical, histological or radiological diagnoses of these forms of tuberculosis.
In Australia, lymph node tuberculosis is the most common extrapulmonary site and accounts for around 20 per cent of all bacteriologically confirmed disease. The majority of cases occur in overseas-born women in the 15-49 year age range; and these findings have been noted elsewhere.16,17,18 Specimens submitted for culture included pus from draining sinuses, fine needle aspirates, or lymph tissue. In 2000, 2001 and 2002, smears from lymphatic tissue were positive for AFB on 28.7 per cent, 19.2 per cent and 21.2 per cent of cases respectively.8,9 Other studies have demonstrated AFB in 25-50 per cent of lymph node biopsy smears.19 Cultures are positive for MTBC on only 60-70 per cent, in part due to the small population of AFB within the lymph tissue. Interestingly, affected lymph nodes may increase in size, or new nodes may appear whilst on appropriate anti-TB treatment. Such a paradoxical response is not indicative of inadequate treatment or relapse, and the nodes are sterile on culture.16 The AMRLN laboratories continue to receive requests for molecular evaluation of formalin-fixed material, notably lymph tissue. These techniques are demanding, time consuming, expensive, and frequently yield a negative result due to the presence of inhibitors within the sample.
A total of 55 isolates (7.7%) of M. tuberculosis were resistant to at least one of the standard anti-tuberculosis agents. For 2002, there were 12 (1.9%) isolates of MDRTB. There was no mono-resistance to either rifampicin or ethambutol, but pyrazinamide mono-resistance was demonstrated in two strains. In Australia, the level of drug resistance and MDRTB continues to remain stable. The level of acquired drug resistance in Australia remains low, most drug resistance occurred in patients born overseas and reflects the performance of the TB program of their country of origin.
Data were collected on results of nucleic acid amplification tests. As expected, there was a high level of agreement between NAAT and culture results but a lower level of agreement with smear negative specimens. The level of NAAT lies somewhere between that for culture and smear microscopy. In studies where quantitative culture was performed, the majority of false-negative NAA test results were due to low concentrations of MTBC.20,21,22 The most important consideration is that culture remains the 'gold standard' for laboratory investigation of mycobacterial disease and a sufficient amount of an appropriate specimen must be used for culture.23 NAAT should be used to complement 'traditional' laboratory investigations and be limited to situations where the result is likely to influence clinical and/or public health decisions.24 In 1996, a workshop among clinical, laboratory and public health practitioners considered the clinical suspicion of TB and sputum microscopy in conjunction with the outcomes of NAAT. NAAT was felt to be most useful in situations where there was a smear-negative patient at high risk of TB or a smear-positive patient considered a low risk patient. NAAT results can influence decisions on whether to begin anti-TB treatment, to consider further diagnostic investigations, or to institute public health actions.25
Bacteriological confirmation of tuberculosis is important as an isolate is required for identification to species level, drug susceptibility testing and genotyping. The recent agreement among the AMRLN laboratories to a common approach to genotyping based on mycobacterial interspersed repeat units means that the potential to compare all M. tuberculosis isolates at a national level is now available.26 It is proposed to include genotyping data in future AMRLN reports.
The Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network comprises the Mycobacterium Reference Laboratories at the following facilities:
Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia
Queensland Health Pathology Services, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, North Melbourne, Victoria
Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research, The Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia
Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales
Additional information and support from Ms Amanda Christensen, Dr Vicki Krause, Dr Anastasios Konstantinos, Dr Graham Tallis, Dr Justin Waring, and Dr Ral Antic is gratefully acknowledged.
1. World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis control WHO Report 2001. WHO/CDS/TB 2001.275. Geneva: World Health Organisation 2001.
2. World Health Organization. Tuberculosis control in the WHO Western Pacific region 2002. WHO/WPRO/2002.
3. Camie J, Christensen A, Eyeson-Annan M, Gill J, Konstantinos A, Krause V, et al. Tuberculosis in Australia, 1998. Commun Dis Intell 2001;25:1-8.
4. Dawson S, Anargyros P, Blacklock Z, Chew W, Dagnia H, Gow B, et al. Tuberculosis in Australia: an analysis of cases identified in reference laboratories in 1986-88. Pathology 1991;23:130-134.
5. Communicable Diseases Network Australia. National Strategic Plan for TB Control in Australia Beyond 2000. Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, July 2002.
6. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Demographic Statistics, June Quarter 2002. Guidelines for surveillance of drug resistance in tuberculosis.
7. World Health Organization/IUATLD Global Project on Anti-tuberculosis Drug Resistance Surveillance. 2001 WHO/CDS/TB/2001. Geneva, World Health Organization.
8. Lumb R, Bastian I, Dawson D, Gilpin C, Haverkort F, James G, et al. Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 2001. Commun Dis Intell 2003;27:173-180.
10. Dawson D. Tuberculosis in Australia: bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 1998 and 1999: report of the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network. Commun Dis Intell 2001;25:261-265.
11. Dawson DJ, Cheah DF, Chew WK, Haverkort FC, Lumb R, Sievers AS. Tuberculosis in Australia, 1989-1992. Bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance. Med J Aust 1995;162:287-290.
12. Dawson D. Tuberculosis in Australia; bacteriologically confirmed cases and drug resistance, 1997: report of the Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network. Commun Dis Intell 1999;23:349-353.
14. Samaan G, Roche P, Spencer J. Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2002. Commun Dis Intell 2003;27:448-457.
15. Miller M, Lin M, Spencer J, Antic R, Bastian I, Christensen A, et al. Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2001. Commun Dis Intell 2002;26:525-536.
16. Humphries MJ, Lam WK, Teoh R. Non-respiratory tuberculosis. In: Davies PDO, ed. Clinical Tuberculosis. Chapman and Hall Inc. London, Great Britain. 1994 p. 93-125.
17. Ormerod LP, Bentley C. The management of lymph node tuberculosis notified in England and Wales in 1993. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London 1997;31:666-668.
18. Fain O, Lortholary O, Djoub M, Amoura J, Babinet P, Beaudreuil J, et al. Lymph node tuberculosis in the suburbs of Paris: 59 cases in adults not infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 1999;3:162-165.
19. Huhti E, Brander E, Paloheimo S, Sutinen S. Tuberculosis of the cervical lymph nodes: a clinical, pathological and bacteriological study. Tubercle 1975;56:27-36.
20. Bodmer T, Gurtner A, Schopfer K, Matter L. Screening of respiratory tract specimens for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using the Gen-Probe Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test. J Clin Microbiol 1994;32:1483-1487.
21. Ausina V, Gamboa F, Gazapo E, Manterola JM, Lonca J, Matas L, et al. Evaluation of the semi-automated Abbott LCx Mycobacterium tuberculosis assay for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens. J Clin Microbiol 1997;35:1996-2002.
22. Moore DF, Curry JI. Detection and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly from sputum sediments by amplicor PCR. J Clin Microbiol 1995;33:2686-2691.
23. Barnes PF. Rapid diagnostic tests for tuberculosis: progress but no gold standard [Editorial]. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;155:1497-1498.
24. Catanzaro A, Perry S, Clarridge JE, Dunbar S, Goodnight-White S, LoBue PA, et al. The role of clinical suspicion in evaluating a new diagnostic test for active tuberculosis: results of a multicentre prospective trial. JAMA 2000;283:639-645.
25. Rapid diagnostic tests for tuberculosis: what is the appropriate use? American Thoracic Society Workshop. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;155:1804-1814.
26. Mazars E, Lesjean S, Banuls AL, Gilbert M, Vincent V, Gicquel B, et al. High-resolution mini-satellite-based typing as a portable approach to global analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis molecular epidemiology. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2001;98:1901-1906.
1. Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia
2. Australian Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory Network
Corresponding author: Mr Richard Lumb, Principal Medical Scientist, Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, PO Box 14, Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000. Telephone: +61 8 8222 3579. Facsimile: +61 8 8222 3543. Email: richard.lumb@imvs.sa.gov.au
This article was published in Communicable Diseases Intelligence Volume 27 No 4, December 2003.
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Q: How to get Storage size of the Application How do I get the storage size of all installed applications, programmatically, which are also displayed over application's ApplicationInfo page?

A: You could call
Process process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(commandLine);
BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(process.getInputStream()));

with commandLine something like ls -l /data/app/*.apk or ls -l /data/app-private
and parse the resulting data to get the information you need.

A: There is no public API to get this information. But there is a workaround using reflection and IPackageStatsObserver. Here is a description of how to get code size. You can get cache size and data size in the same way.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Marcus Marr - Brown Sauce 12"
DFA is pleased to announce the long-awaited followup to Marcus Marr's acclaimed 2013 single "The Music".
A music obsessive all his life, Londoner Marcus Marr's first encounters with dance music were acid house records which augmented his vinyl collection of rock and soul, and attending all night parties under Brixton's St Matthews church. Traveling to the south of England to watch DJ Harvey play a lengthy set, he saw the kind of power a DJ can wield over a willing crowd.
"The Music", was featured prominently in the 2012 film "Pusher", starring Richard Coyle and Agyness Dean. The single's B-Side "Pleasure Moon" was used to open the 2014 Versace show in Milan. Additionally, it was placed at #3 in Spin Magazine's "The 40 Best Dance Tracks of 2013", bested only by Daft Punk and Todd Terje.
Marcus has the following to say about these two new tracks:
Brown Sauce: "Depending on the vibe of the night, if you come and see me DJ it's likely you're going to hear some futuristic music, as well as some disco, house and so on. I want people to be warned about that so I made "Brown Sauce". I've been playing it all over the place for a good while now and it never lets me down."
Peacemakers : "This one has features me on my bass guitar. I'ts a Fender Jazz and its usually there somewhere on most of my tunes. I bought it off a clueless Brummie punk years ago. He wanted only £90 for it - i was sure there was a catch but no, it was the genuine article."
These two tracks are a taste of what we can expect in the future from Marcus Marr, who will be releasing his debut album on DFA in 2015.
Brown Sauce
Marcus Marr - Familiar Five 12"
With his Familiar Five EP, London-based producer Marcus Marr has taken his darkest and most thrillingly outré turn yet. Recorded through the long dark nights in the splendid isolation of his Brixton studio, lead single "Familiar Five" is a tale of bizarre transformation that points up the fragile boundaries between dreams and reality.
"Familiar Five" feels like an outsider anthem. "It's about being a freak and accepting it – being happy to be a freak," notes Marr. He narrates the song with his finest deadpan lip-curl, managing to make the lyrics sound suggestive, malevolent and wildly empowering all at once. "It was sounding quite sinister as I was making it, and I thought a voice would sound good on it," recalls Marr. "I was reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Kafka's Metamorphosis as well," he remembers. Other diverse influences setting the track's fabulously unnerving tone include Marr's readings about "familiar spirits" – the occult animals believed to assist medieval witches in their nefarious deeds.
The other songs featured on the Familiar Five EP include "Love Release," which taps into the energy and live power of his DJ sets; "High Times," a track that's influenced by his love of early 80's dance music ("I was definitely thinking of Nile Rodgers in 1979, 1980, there... I have a bit of a thing for that period at the beginning of the '80s before drum machines took control of dance music."); and previous single "Rocketship."
Marr is no stranger to collaboration, working with Australian musician Chet Faker on 2015's Work EP. Work yielded two hit singles, "Birthday Card" (Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 first play, #1 Hype Machine) and "The Trouble with Us" (#1 Hype Machine). The Familiar Five EP, however, shows him in his individual element, an artist and performer who understands just how to make superb music for both man and machine.
A regular at Berlin's famed nightclub Berghain/Panorama Bar since 2014, Marcus Marr recently toured in North America with The Juan Maclean. He has previously toured with the likes of Hot Chip, Floating Points, Jacques Greene and Optimo, and has performed at the highly-regarded MoMa PS1 Warm Up series, Day For Night Festival, and Art Basel Miami. Marcus has also contributed mixes to Beats in Space and Boiler Room.
1) Familiar Five
2) Love Release
3) High Times
4) Rocketship
Marcus Marr - Familiar Five: Remixed 12"
This remix 12" ships June 2018
A1) Love Release (Ara Koufax Remix)
A2) High Times (Gerd Janson Discotheque Remix)
B1) Familiar Five (Justin Van Der Volgen Remix)
B2) Rocketship (Prosumer's Re-Transmission)
Marcus Marr's 'Familiar Five: Remixed' EP, due digitally on May 18 via DFA Records, features remixes from Justin Van Der Volgen, Prosumer, Gerd Janson and Ara Koufax. In addition to a digital release, the EP will be available via limited edition 12" vinyl.
"It was fun to ask some of my favourite producers to remix these tracks," notes Marr. "I love Gerd's remixes and play them loads. Prosumer is a great producer and I've been a fan of his for ages. Justin Van Der Volgen I also love - his originals and his remixes are always interesting. And Ara Koufax I've been a fan of since their tune 'Brenda.'"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Internet casinos are also known as virtual casinos. These sites are versions of traditional brick and mortar casinos, where a player can play casino games through the internet. These sites are the fastest-growing type of online gambling. They offer a variety of games, including blackjack and roulette, and are gaining in popularity. In addition, these sites offer many different games that are not available at conventional casinos. There are a number of reasons why you should try your luck at an online casino.
The casino industry is highly competitive, and there are several security measures in place to protect players. While casinos do employ people to patrol the gaming floor, some are even equipped with catwalks that allow surveillance personnel to observe the action directly. These buildings are equipped with one-way glass, which means the casino can easily detect a suspect. In addition to the above measures, casinos also provide a range of other security features. Aside from being monitored by security staff, you can expect to see a large number of armed guards.
Although casinos are extremely competitive, the security measures are very sophisticated. Most casinos feature high-tech security systems. The surveillance personnel can look down on the casino floor from a high platform. Other casinos use one-way glass to prevent trespassing. Lastly, there are a number of ways to monitor the gaming environment. If you feel uncomfortable with the security system at your casino, there are several ways to ensure your safety. The casino also has video cameras that record all activity in the casino, which will help them detect intruders.
Most casinos do not have clocks. They are too dangerous for fires and would be too distracting. Instead, they use gaudy floor coverings and wall coverings to create a cheery atmosphere. Some casinos also offer free drinks and food to attract customers, which can make things more comfortable for everyone. It is important to pay attention to the casino's rules, as they often do not display them. You should be sure of them before entering the casino.
When visiting a casino, it's important to know the rules and regulations. This way, you'll have the best chance of winning. If you're new to gambling, you might want to avoid taking any chances. Most casinos are safe to gamble, and the money you spend can add up fast. You can also avoid losing money by learning how to play the games. The more time you spend playing, the more money you can win. A game in a casino will give you a better idea of your odds of winning.
When visiting a casino, be sure to remember to have a strategy in place. The rules of casino gambling are not only strictly enforced, but they are a good way to avoid a loss. For example, you should be aware of the odds of winning. You should also keep in mind the fact that you can be cheated if you do not know what to do. A good way to do this is to bet on the odds of a particular game.
Sbobet is one of the most popular betting platforms online. They have a long history and are known for holding a number of records. In fact, sbobet is considered a giant among the panellists as well. In addition to being a leading gambling platform, they also offer casino games, prediction games, and other casino games. You can enjoy all of these games for free at SBOBET!
SBOBET offers convenient banking methods and a variety of payment options. You can make your deposit and withdrawal using e-banking, or M-banking. They also offer a variety of payment options, which is good news for new and old customers alike. Most importantly, you can choose from a wide range of payment methods. You can deposit as little as $5 and can deposit as much as $100!
Sbobet provides excellent customer service, with 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support. They have excellent customer service and make gambling fun and easy. They are a highly recognized online gaming corporation, having been named Asian Operator of the Year two consecutive years. They also offer 24/7 client support and a secure space to store your private information. They are one of the most popular betting platforms online, and are a great choice for anyone who loves sports betting!
Sbobet is an established company with a reputation for offering a great customer experience. They have a reputation for being a reliable and easy to use platform for the majority of players. The site also has a large collection of trending links that are accessible 24/7. You can access these links via their Express Digest. You can also enjoy games like bingo and baccarat. In fact, there's a Sbobet for every taste and preference.
Sbobet's customer support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service agents are very knowledgeable and professional, and will help you make the right choices for you. Whether you want to gamble online or place a wager on sports, Sbobet will be a great option for you. They have sports betting in nearly every major country in the world, so you'll never be far from the action.
SBOBET is an extremely secure and trusted website. It employs a secure operating system that is designed to ensure the safety of the data of its users. Sbobet also aims to provide a friendly, efficient customer support team. You can easily reach their customer support representatives via live chat, email, and phone. With a high level of security, you can be confident in the integrity of your transactions and your finances.
SBOBET's convenience is another huge plus. Its easy-to-use interface allows you to bet on any sport with an internet connection. Sbobet also has a range of games available, including online casino games and sports betting. There are hundreds of sports to choose from, and you can find the game you're looking for on the website. Moreover, Sbobet offers a higher payout percentage than most other betting sites.
Baccarat is a card game commonly played in casinos. The game is played between a player and a banker, who has two hands. There are three possible outcomes: a tie, a win, and a loss. The winner of the game is determined by the player's hand. In addition, there is an optional bonus round. There are no house rules for a baccarat game. You can play online, too.
The game has many advantages. The house edge is low, which makes it a popular game for online players. The house edge is very small, making it very profitable for players. However, if you're a beginner to the game, you should start with the basics of playing baccarat. There are some tips that will help you get a better hand in the game. One of the best strategies is to practice on a simulator.
Baccarat is a fast and fun card game. The rules of baccarat are simple enough for people to play even if they're not professional gamblers. The game's winning hand is determined by adding up all the individual cards. Aces, tens, and face cards count as zero. Therefore, a hand's value ranges from 0 to nine. If both hands have the same value, the higher hand wins. If the first two cards of a player's hand total six or more, the player must stand. If they total five or less, they must draw a card.
Baccarat originated in Europe but has since gained popularity in Asia. It's now available to American gamblers as a popular choice for high rollers. The game is a great way to experience a casino without having to spend too much money on gambling. In addition, baccarat is one of the few games where a high-stakes player can hurt the casino. With its proven record around the world, baccarat is a great choice for high-rollers and deep pocketed players alike.
The game's rules are simple, yet it can be intimidating to the average player. Baccarat is the most popular casino game in the world, and is the most popular card game among high rollers. While most players prefer playing blackjack in a casino, baccarat is a great choice for high-stakes players. In fact, baccarat is the most popular table game in the world. Besides its high roller appeal, baccarat is also the easiest to understand.
Despite its high house edge, baccarat is a good choice for novice players. Unlike other casino games, baccarat requires no special skill to win. In fact, a player may only need to know a little bit about the game's rules to make the right bets. But this game is perfect for beginners. Just make sure you know the rules before playing. You should also know that a baccarat player can hurt the casino even with high-stakes.
The name domino was derived from the costume of a player who danced during the Venetian Carnival. No language has a word that refers to the number two, which is surprising considering the game's history. Some of the most popular forms of domino are the Domino Whist, Matador, and Texas 42. Other popular forms include Fives and Threes, Double Fives, and Mexican Train. The following is a guide to some of the different types of domino.
The word domino was first used in the Middle Ages to describe a hooded masquerade costume or monastic robe. It eventually became an incredibly popular game, becoming a familiar name for the modern game. Although the name was derived from a Latin word, the name is not entirely clear. There are many possible origins, but it most likely derives from dominus, which means "hood." Earlier versions of the word would refer to a hooded mask or a masquerade costume. Today, the word "domino" refers to the tile used to play the game.
Domino originated from the English language, and its origins are unclear. However, it has spread from England to southern Germany and Austria, and eventually to the United States, where it was brought by French prisoners of war. In 1860, it appeared in literature and spread to cafes in America. In 1889, the game was played in cafés. Unlike its Chinese counterpart, the European version is much simpler and has fewer bells and whistles.
In addition to the game's simplicity and flexibility, Domino has the advantage of being much easier to learn than Chinese versions. This is partly due to its lack of an in-browser IDE, which means that Domino works locally on powerful machines. And since it synchronizes files with the server, Domino can be played on a powerful machine without being hampered by the lack of a high-end computer. In addition to its ability to teach you about complex programming concepts, domino is an excellent choice for any developer.
The word domino is thought to derive from the Latin word dominus, meaning "domus". In turn, it became a French and English word, which eventually became "domino". By the end of the 18th century, it was already widespread in Europe. By 1860, it was a popular game and spread to cafes and other public locations. Compared to the Chinese version, the European version of domino is very similar.
The word domino is most likely derived from the Latin word "domino" meaning "to dominate" and is related to the idea of domino-sets, but it is also a form of game. It allows players to build lightweight web forms, and it enables users to trace back the data and code of the game. This is a great feature for developers of software. In addition, domino-sets are easy to develop, allowing them to create powerful and flexible applications.
The basic strategy for playing poker is to make the best possible hand. A winning hand consists of five cards with the same ranking. It's called a "four of a kind" and the fifth card can be any card. The higher the ranking of the cards, the better the hand. The highest-ranking hands are known as a "full house," which consists of three or four cards of the same rank and two of the same suit. The ultimate goal of the game is to get a flush, which is when you have five cards of the same suit.
There are several different types of poker. In addition to poker variations, there are also several earlier versions of the game. The word "poke" is believed to have come from a slang term used by card hustlers. In some cases, card hustlers would play the game to trick unsuspecting opponents, or use it as a way to get money. In this case, the "r" is added to confuse players who knew the slang, but this is not certain.
Almost every type of poker has different rules and strategies. While the rules for playing poker are the same everywhere, the strategy used for playing each type of poker is different. In poker, the first betting round is called the flop. This is when a player is aiming to win the pot. When a player has a winning hand, the next betting round is called a flop. In any type of game, the flop determines the winner.
In order to win in poker, the game must have a foundation. It is like building a house. The foundation is laid and the frame is completed. Then the players must make decisions based on probability. For this, you will need to know what type of foundation you're playing. Then, you will need to understand the rules of the game. This will help you play better. While the basic rules of poker remain the same, a winning strategy requires a certain level of skill and a good strategy.
As a beginner, you must understand the rules of poker and be aware of the various variations of the game. Before making your first move, it is important to make sure you are aware of the rules of poker. There are several variations of the game. The most common one is a variation of Texas hold'em. There are many other variations of this variant. This variant is a variation of the game that is widely played in casinos. In poker, the players place bets on the table before each hand.
Before the first hand is dealt, the players may have to make a small contribution to the pot. This is known as the ante. When a player makes a bet, he or she is said to have "poked". After this, it is important to consider the rules for poker variations. Some variations of the game have evolved over the years, and some of them are still popular today. If you're a beginner, you can take advantage of other rules to help you win.
What You Need to Know About a Casino
A typical casino has several categories, such as slot machines, table games, and dice games. In addition, the casino may have an arcade where you can play board games or video games. The categories are categorized based on whether they are offered for free or for a charge. In many cases, you can earn comps based on the length of your stay or the stakes you place. There are other benefits to accumulating comps, as well.
Most casinos do not have clocks because they would pose a serious fire hazard. Instead, they use colorful wall coverings and floor coverings to evoke a cheery and stimulating atmosphere. They also use red, a color that some people associate with losing track of time. However, there is some scientific evidence to support this theory. If a casino is not properly supervised, patrons are less likely to feel safe. If a casino is closed for maintenance, you can rest assured that it is being inspected and monitored.
Casinos must know the house edge and variance of the games in order to make a profit. Knowing these factors allows them to calculate how much they need to hold in cash reserves to cover the costs of their games. Gaming mathematicians and computer programmers are hired to do the research. Unlike other businesses, casinos don't have this expertise in-house and outsource this work to experts. But this doesn't mean that the casino can't offer free drinks and cigarettes to its patrons.
A casino has two main components: an enclosed gambling room and an open gambling area. The casino is a public building, so if a patron is lucky, they could walk out with millions of dollars. It is the latter of these two factors that determine whether a casino is financially viable. So, you shouldn't judge a casino by its appearance. It will be a reflection of its culture, so it's important to know where to find the right kind of gambling establishment.
A casino's house edge is a mathematical formula that gives it a statistical advantage over the competition. A casino has a mathematically significant advantage over a competing business. Almost half of all casinos in the United States have at least one slot machine. It is possible to win big money if you play the right way. It's important to make sure you know how much money you can afford to spend before you decide to visit a casino.
A casino is a public building. Its employees are expected to be professional, and the games and rules are clearly explained. While the casino's floor and walls aren't always visually appealing, they're an important part of a casino. When you walk in the casino, you'll be greeted by a smiling face. You'll have a chance to see a lion's share of the action.
SBOBET – A Trusted Source For Online Gambling
SBOBET offers a number of online casino games with live dealers. The site accepts major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. It also allows customers to make withdrawals with a few clicks. In addition to providing sports betting options, Sbobet offers casino games like Togel and Sic Bo. This site is completely free to join and use. It is a trusted source for online gambling.
Sbobet also provides a number of banking options for its customers. The financial system is easy to navigate, and customer support representatives are always available to help players make deposits. The company also offers deposit bonuses and birthday gifts for its customers, as well as other promotions. These promotions may vary depending on the country. Regardless of the language, SBOBET is a safe and secure way to bet on sports. Here are a few reasons why you should use SBOBET.
SBOBET offers easy payment options. In addition to ATM transfers and credit cards, users can also transfer money via M-banking. Using real money to make transactions is the safest and most lucrative way to make transactions. It gives the online agent a considerable edge when it comes to winning. Fortunately, there are many ways to fund your account at Sbobet. It is a good idea to set aside a specific amount of money to spend on gaming each week.
Sbobet's customer support is excellent. They are available twenty-four hours a day, by phone, email, and live chat. Their customers love this aspect of SBObet's customer care. In addition to having a large selection of games, SBOBET offers major sports betting. In addition to offering numerous games, SBOBET also supports multiple languages, which makes it a convenient place to play online.
Sbobet is extremely secure. Sbobet uses encryption technology to protect user information. This ensures that data and finances are kept private. The site also allows users to bet on live casino games. Besides its vast collection of games, Sbobet also offers a wide range of popular games and sports. This is a great online gaming platform for beginners and seasoned professionals. It is a great choice for those looking for a reliable service.
SBOBET is well regulated and trustworthy. Its licenses come from the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Isle of Man Government. Whether you are looking for a variety of games or you are looking for a high-quality betting site, Sbobet offers a quality service. Despite its popularity, it still remains the most trusted online gambling site in Asia. Aside from its wide variety of games, Sbobet also offers various races and football events.
Apart from offering a wide range of games and odds, SBOBET also offers a wide range of payment options. Instant deposit and same-day express pay-outs are two of the most convenient and secure features. In addition to that, Sbobet offers 24/7 client support and a safe space for your private information. So if you're looking for a trustworthy online gambling site, SBOBET is worth a look.
The Game of Domino
The game of domino has a very simple set-up and a very simple rule. When playing the game, players should place their dominos in such a way that they have two matching ends that touch at the middle. If they manage to lay a domino, they must continue playing and building the chain until they reach a number of tiles that form a snake-line. When this happens, the player is required to play a domino.
The name "domino" is thought to be derived from a Venetian Carnival costume. The word polyomino does not refer to the number two, despite its etymology. Today, domino games are played in many countries, including the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Among the most popular forms are Matador, Domino Whist, and Texas 42. There are other popular variations, including Double Fives and Mexican Train, which are most common in Britain.
The name "domino" came from the Venetian carnival costume, which often consists of a white mask and black robe. Neither the word "polyomino" nor the number two are associated with this popular game. The most popular forms include Texas 42, Domino Whist, and Matador. There are also many other popular variations, such as the Mexican Train and Double Fives. In Britain, the game is called Fives and Threes.
The game of domino began to spread to Europe in the early eighteenth century. It later spread to southern Germany, France, and England, where it was introduced by French prisoners of war. By the mid-1700s, the game was being played in American cafes and literature. By the 1890s, the game had made its way to the United States, and domino is still played in cafes and other social settings. There are many variants of the game.
A domino game is a board game with different variations and rules. The term domino is most likely derived from the Latin word "domino" and has several origins. It is thought to be derived from the French word "domino" which means "black and white" in Latin. The most popular forms of domino are Domino Whist, Matador, and Texas 42. Other popular forms are Double Fives, Mexican Train, and Fives and Threes.
Domino is a board game that can be played with two or more people. Its most popular forms are known as "Domino Whist" and "Matador". However, there are other forms of domino that are more complex and more advanced. In some versions, the game is played against a single player. A domino is usually played in a room, which requires a lot of concentration. It is also played with dice.
Another variation of domino is the game of men. Each player is supposed to be able to pick up any number of dominoes. The player with the highest double has the lead. If he does not, the next player will follow with the next one. The players will then take turns choosing a domino from their stock. Some variations will require each player to pick seven dominoes. In other variations, the first person to complete all the games in a row wins.
The Benefits of Learning the Rules of Poker
A family of card games, poker is a great way to have fun and learn new skills. This game is played by wagering on the best possible hand, which is determined by the rules of the game. There are several different poker rankings, and it's important to understand the rules before playing. There are many benefits to playing poker and learning the rules is the first step to winning. Here are some of them. Let's start by understanding the rules of poker.
Like most card games, the game of poker involves gambling, so it has a rich history. The earliest forms of poker were played by pickpockets, and it's believed that card hustlers used the word "poke" to trick unsuspecting opponents. As the name implies, the "r" may have been added to the word to confuse players who knew the slang. While the game of cards is simple and fun, it does involve a significant element of cheating.
Although the game of poker has a rich history, there is no evidence that it is a particularly lucky game. The majority of poker players are unlucky, so they're not really affected by it. However, the number of hands a player plays does increase the probability of winning. This means that the long-term expected value of a poker game will resemble a normal bell curve. There are several factors that can affect a player's luck when playing poker.
The earliest version of poker is played with an ante bet and blind bets. The game's name is derived from the slang used by card hustlers in the eighteenth century. The game evolved into a German-language variant, pochen, which involves bluffing. In the 17th century, French settlers brought poker to North America. The game's modern day version is called Omaha.
The term "poke" is a slang term used by card hustlers. It refers to a hand in which a player has four cards of the same rank and one of a different suit. The earliest versions of the game have no specific rules governing the game's rules. But, they are still important to know, since they affect how the game is played. There are several kinds of poker. Its rules are similar to those of other games.
The first stage of poker is the game's foundation. The game's rules are based on probabilities, which are determined by the probability of each player's actions. This is the most crucial part of poker strategy. After all, the goal is to beat your opponents' hands by gaining the most money by bluffing. It's important to understand the rules of the game, and how the stakes are calculated. If you want to win at poker, you must first lay the foundation, which is the frame.
The next step is the betting interval. Each player makes a bet and then waits for the other players to make a decision. The final betting interval occurs after the players have been dealt with their hands and their cards. At the end of each round, all the bets are gathered in a central pot, which is the winning hand. There are usually two or more betting intervals in a game of poker. Once all bets have been made, the game ends with the "showdown."


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Q: GLSL get pixel-specific distance from camera? I am trying to get the distance of each pixel drawn to the canvas in the vertex shader. The vertex shader code is as follows:
attribute vec4 modelVertexPosition;

// cameraMatrix is strictly used as a ref to the camera's position in this case
// and does not contribute to the screen projection position calculation
uniform mat4 cameraMatrix;
uniform mat4 projectionMatrix;
uniform mat4 modelMatrix;

varying float cameraDistance;

void main(void) {
  // calc world position of vertex
  vec4 vertexPosition = modelMatrix * modelVertexPosition;
  // calc frustum position of vertex
  vec4 projVertexPosition = projectionMatrix * vertexPosition;
  gl_Position = projVertexPosition;
  // set cameraDistance varying for fragment shader
  cameraDistance = distance(cameraMatrix[3].xyz, (modelMatrix * scaledModelVertexPosition).xyz);
}

This works fine for all points strictly on the vertices of the triangles being drawn, but it's clear glsl is interpolating the distances of points inside the triangles linearly relative to their vertices. It's usually not a big issue, but it's especially noticeable when the camera is closer to the middle of the triangle than the vertices.
To demonstrate this issue, I set the fragment shader to set the brightness of the shape as a function of the distance of that point from the camera, the darker the closer. I set a situation that exposes the flaws in the method of implementation show below:

So this begs the question, is there a way to get the position of each pixels distance from the camera?

A: The distance of a fragment from the camera is related to its depth in the depth buffer.  You can calculate depth in the fragment shader as follows:
float depth = gl_Position.z / gl_Position.w;

The depth of visible fragments varies from 0 to 1, with 0 being on the near clip plane and 1 being on the far clip plane.   You can calculate the distance from the camera with this formula:
depth = (1/camera_distance - 1/near)/(1/far - 1/near)

Note that depth and camera distance are not linearly related.  Instead, depth is linearly related to 1/camera_distance.   OpenGL etc define "depth" using the reciprocal of camera distance so hardware can do linear interpolation of "depth" across triangles in screen space to quickly determine which triangle is visible at each pixel in perspective views.

A: Disclaimer: I'm still very new to the OpenGL framework, and actually I'm only experimenting with the watered down version which is WebGL, so take my solution with a grain of salt. Also if someone has a better method, I'm all ears.
Anyways, I found that only the fragment shader is capable of doing individual pixel calculations. On the contrary, the vertex shader makes assumptions of all the pixels between the vertices by calculating all the outputs of the shader for each vertex, then using interpolation to estimate the outputs for all the pixels between the vertices.
With this in mind, simply moving the code that calculates the distance from the camera to the fragment shader, this allows calculations to be done on a per pixel basis, which is the effect I was going for in this case. However I hypothesis this method is much less efficient, so this approach should only be used when absolutely necessary (in my estimation).
Again if anyone has more insight on this topic, please chime in. Criticism is more than welcomed.


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That epithet Tolsimir carries this time around is not just to make him seem more imposing and give us insight into who he is: it's a hint that he's not just a powerful card for the smaller formats. You already get quite a good deal if you play him in a "straight" green-white deck – six power, three life, and one fight trigger is a lot for his mana cost. But he interacts with a tribe that goes all the way back to Alpha and forward into an unknown future (basically any plane that has a vaguely European-style aesthetic is likely to have wolves!), in colors that have no trouble generating creatures and sometimes need a little extra help with removal, and in a manner that goes well with abilities like lifelink. Some of the Ixalan block's green dinosaurs might have more relevant abilities against the current Standard field's blue decks, but he has potential for future Standard and especially for long-term casual use.
War of the Spark is bringing out all the old names, isn't it? Ravnica: City of Guilds brought us Tolsimir Wolfblood, an elf that brought a Wolf friend. Now he's back, bringing another Wolf friend (still named Voja, though naturally bigger).
Interestingly, Tolsimir tries to be a bit of a Wolf tribal commander, thanks to the effect of having your Wolves go for the throat when they come into play. Just at rate, Tolsimir 2.0 brings you 6/6 in stats for 5 mana, plus 3 life and the ability to spot remove a creature…not bad. Neither body is very large, but splitting it up makes it resilient to some removal. And, hilariously, this Tolsimir plays well with its forebear. I don't think he'll be a Constructed all-star, but he brings a lot of value immediately and has the ability to accrue value in longer games.


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USTR Still Missing the Point
By Clarissa Ramon
Yesterday, I attended the Senate Finance Committee Hearing
on the President's 2012 Trade Agenda. United States Trade
Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk was the sole witness and testified on behalf
of the Administration. The hearing was an opportunity for UTSR to soothe public
concerns and address the recent scrutiny it's received for the secretive
negotiation process surrounding
TPP negotiations. Instead the USTR failed to seriously address the lack of
public input within negotiations.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) questioned the Administration's
commitment to transparency by highlighting constituent concerns over being shut
out of a process that affects the Internet in the Administration's efforts to
combat intellectual property theft. Kirk assured members that TPP contained no
provisions that would prevent the free flow of information, even though a leaked text suggests it would do just that.
It seemed that Wyden and Kirk were having two different conversations, as Kirk
denied the connection between ACTA and TPP on the one hand, and the now stalled
SOPA/PIPA legislation on the other. Wyden illustrated how they were similar
because the public felt shut out from both processes. Dismissing the public as
misinformed for wanting to be a part of the process illustrates how
disconnected from public opinion the USTR is.
Kirk defended the negotiation process as one of the most
open, highlighting over 350 consultations with Congress, and many more with
stake holders, stating that any provisions within the TPP would follow
guidelines set forth by the DMCA. The problem here is the definition of "stake
holder". The USTR seems to think that only corporate interests can be
"stakeholders" as shown by the current membership of the advisory committee
responsible for advising the USTR. These members include only corporate
representatives who received a security clearance to participate. There is no
public interest representation within the committee. The public has also been
denied access to relevant documents that are classified as confidential.
Public interest representation is important because the
Internet has no single representative; it is a public resource and a powerful tool for innovation. The public
deserves to be heard when international agreements or US law would affect the
Internet. SOPA and PIPA did not allow such input. And the TPP continues to make
that same mistake.
I understand that the United States may not be able to lay
all its cards on the table during a complex negotiation process; but I do
expect to receive meaningful information about the USTR's activities. I
think Kirk should add inclusion to his list of guiding principles. At
yesterday's hearing, he missed an opportunity to do so and soothe over any
concern over its negotiation process.


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The Trucks was an electronic rock band originally formed in Bellingham, Washington. It was founded in 2003, to fill a lack of female bands for a festival, by Kristin Allen-Zito, Faith Reichel, and Marissa Moore, and later added Lindy McIntyre (formerly of Everybody's Debbie) on drums. The Trucks went on to become a popular band in the Northwest music scene, opening for such acts as Federation X, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Deadboy and the Elephantmen, Harvey Danger, and The Presidents of the United States of America.

2006 saw the release of a self-titled album by Bellingham's Clickpop Records. The Trucks played 2006's Sasquatch! Music Festival as well as New York's CMJ Festival. In 2007, The Trucks toured nationally (USA), with notable appearances at South by Southwest in Austin, and Bumbershoot in Seattle.

The Trucks' song, Shattered (from their debut album) is featured in the second episode of season five of the Showtime series The L Word (Look Out, Here They Come!). The song Zombie is featured in an advertisement for A&E's The Beast starring Patrick Swayze, and is also heard in the last trailer for Resident Evil: Afterlife. The Trucks' music is also featured on the Showtime/DreamWorks television series United States of Tara.

The Trucks announced that they would no longer be a band in October 2008, and the band played their last show on November 8, 2008, in Bellingham.

In March 2018, the band reunited to perform at the What's Up Magazine 20-year birthday celebration. They performed on Saturday, March 3 at The Wild Buffalo, a bar/venue in downtown Bellingham, with Black Eyes and Neckties, Jill Brazil, The Growers, Keaton Collective, and The Patio Kings

Discography
The Trucks, 2006,
Never Forever, 2008

References

External links
 The Trucks Homepage (no longer works).
 Clickpop Records Homepage.
 The Trucks as Artist of the Day at Spin.com.
 Review of The Trucks in the Seattle Weekly.
 Interview with Marissa Moore in Chief Magazine.

American dance music groups
Electronic music groups from Washington (state)
All-female bands

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


In 2017, Residents of Tolworth were invited to have their say on plans for the future of their area. Kingston Council along with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL) jointly commissioned the urban planning consultancy We Made That to develop a transformation programme for Tolworth, known as the Tolworth Area Plan (TAP).
The TAP sets out a future vision for Tolworth to help inspire new development and initiatives capable of delivering physical, social and economic improvements.
Work on the TAP has been progressing since 2016 and the information gathered through all previous engagement was taken into account when drafting the Tolworth Area Plan.
We are now running a final stage of consultation to give residents, stakeholders and the wider community the opportunity to comment on the updated draft, which incorporates previous issues raised through previous engagement. You can have your final say on plans before they go to committee on 8 November 2018 by filling in our short survey below.
The final stage of consultation on the Tolworth Area Plan is open from 20 August to 16 September 2018.
We are keen to get your thoughts on the future of Tolworth now, so they can be taken into account when drafting the Tolworth Area Plan.


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Home Articles Change of Command and Rule of Law
Rule of Law in Pakistan is like a tomb standing in a grave yard. Attack on a cardiovascular Hospital in Lahore on 11th December by those who claim to stand for implementation of law is a best example of this situation. The lawyers in Lahore came on road like a mob and ruined the hospital that resulted in death of more than 4 patients. The Punjab administration, its police and other forces remained silent during this attack and than finally came with tear gas attack. Now different theories are cropping up like it was planned by PML N, like different lawyers groups tried to use this incident to win Bar election, like some goonda elements were in the mob, like PTI government did not want to use this incident to turn it in to a model town like police shooting in 2014. But in spite of all these theories some facts are for sure like PTI government and its new administration allowed this incident to happen whether it may take lives of heart patients instead of stopping the mob with force. Now after few investigations and meetings of committees everybody would get free including more than 250 lawyers arrested in the incident. Finally like other incidents in Pakistan this incident was preplanned to divert people's attention from their actual issues. Hence for responsibility it is very simple to find the answer.
Now coming to decide about actual command it is a fact that in this world, working like a village, different areas of commands have emerged that can broadly be defined as of Military, Politicians, Judiciary, Civil Bureaucracy and Media and a tussle always goes on in between them that which area of command is in command of all commands. Pakistan is a classical example of this tussle for its 74 years where Pakistan' military has ruled the country for more than half of its 72-year history.
Now with these areas of command we are witnessing some movements of change in power at the end of 2019. So 2020 would remain interesting to see.
At a time when Pakistan is going through serious economic crisis, the tussle between these areas of command can create further political instability and even derail the government. After targeting politicians in the name of anti-corruption or accountability the attention is now towards judges media who are not in the good books of power corridors.
Earlier PTI government had moved a reference or a case against Justice Qazi Faez Isa of the Supreme Court and Sind High Court judge KK Agha to the Supreme Judicial Council, claiming that they have not declared their overseas properties in their tax returns. Interestingly, a reference can be filed by a private person but in this case it was filed by Pakistani President Arif Alvi, to show that the Khan government is carrying out its anti-corruption drive across the board.
In Qazi Isa reference one cannot forget first Quetta blast in August 2016, in which many prominent lawyers were killed. Justice Isa, who headed a commission to investigate the blast, gave his report on this, than we see a second case in form of Isa's verdict on "Faizabad dharna," a sit-in protest led by fundamentalist outfit called Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in 2019. The comments and verdict of Qazi Isa have not been liked by the power circles.
Now after Qazi Isa case another matter has emerged in case of Chief Justice Khosa who has granted a six-month extension to the term of the country's army head General Qamar Javed Bajwa, after initially blocking a three-year extension of his tenure. On this verdict PTI circles had started a campaign to malign CJ Asif Khosa who is due to retire on 20th December 2019.
The main problem of PTI government is not these problems but virtually the economy that is in shamble. The public is reeling under a day-to-day survival struggle because of a sharp hike in prices of essential commodities; the IMF bailout program will further aggravate these miseries. Economist Hafeez Pasha predicts that actual inflation of Pakistan has gone up to 15% and can touch 20% in near future. He says that In 2019, 70 lacs to one Crore population has further gone under poverty line making total people under poverty line around 8 to 9 Crore. Thus people under poverty line around 30% of population before 2019 would now inch up to 40% of population. This is alarming that instead of decline of deficits Government has not been able to correct the economy in favor of its people. Hence In such a time, Pakistan hardly needs any other crisis.
On the other hand the list of "advisers," has created a serious rift in the PTI. As of now, out of 48 ministers and advisers, only five belong to Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The accountability or anti-corruption drive has also brought Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari and now Moulana Fazlur Rehman (who always acts on some hidden agenda) together and they are not allowing parliament to function.
Another group that is under attack is media. Some years back Jang group was on target but now Dawn group is under attack. This is happening when with hike of social media, print and electronic media are in decline, thousands of journalists have been made jobless and the rest are suffering due to cut in their salaries. This is a tough time for media.
So when actual Command of all commands is going to take its actual place. The actual command in simple words is the Parliament but for that fair and free elections are required. Secondly Local Bodies system needs to come in place with their true role with backing of their financial requirements. Through these local Bodies Pakistan can get leadership from the middle class or less than middle class people.
But till such formalities do not materialize than what is required. In fact free information and social media has now made everything accessible to the knowledge of every one and this creates pressure on all commands whether they like it or not. This is the inevitable future for all whether it may be a country like Pakistan or USA or UK or China.
Next articleEconomic and Political Weekly 15-12-2019
Rise of Green i.e sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) Sukuk
Changes in the Regional politics around Pakistan
What State Bank of Pakistan is required to do with emergence...


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'Anti-woke' school boards backed by DeSantis begin ousting leftist superintendents in Florida
'We had a wave in school districts that spit in parents' faces,' Republican state Rep. Randy Fine said. 'And now the people who did that are gone.'
Gov. Ron DeSantisVideo screenshot
Thu Dec 1, 2022 - 4:35 pm EST
(LifeSiteNews) – Educators in Florida have already started to be ousted from their leadership positions thanks to newly "anti-woke" school boards elected with the help of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In August, 25 of 30 school board candidates endorsed by DeSantis and the anti-Critical Race Theory group 1776 Project PAC, based on their opposition to ideological indoctrination in the classroom, won elections, flipping the school boards of Miami Dade, Martin, Clay, Sarasota, and Duval counties from Democrat to Republican control. Last month, six out of six additional candidates won runoff elections.
As a result, Politico reported, more-conservative school boards have already forced out left-wing superintendents in Brevard and Sarasota counties. A third superintendent was ousted in Broward County, which was not part of the electoral sweep but has five new board members appointed by the governor.
"We had a wave in school districts that spit in parents' faces," Republican state Rep. Randy Fine said. "And now the people who did that are gone."
In Sarasota, Superintendent Brennan Asplen came under fire for his implementation of a mandatory masking policy for three weeks, as well as student reading performance and a "perceived lack of transparency," according to Politico. Brevard Superintendent Mark Mullins was ousted in a rare case of agreement between conservatives and teacher's unions over issues with student discipline and vacancies in teaching positions.
"Elsewhere in Florida, new board members endorsed by DeSantis are also scoring leadership roles," Politico added. 'In Lee County, for example, new board members Armor Persons and Sam Fisher, both endorsed by DeSantis, were elected as chair and vice chair of the school board, as reported by the Fort Myers News-Press."
De-politicizing education has been a major priority for DeSantis. Last year, he announced a state curriculum overhaul that would "expressly exclude unsanctioned narratives like critical race theory and other unsubstantiated theories," because "our schools are supposed to give people a foundation of knowledge, not supposed to be indoctrination centers, where you're trying to push specific ideologies." As a result, Florida has rejected scores of textbooks that fell short of state standards, prompting publishers to revise them.
Earlier this year, DeSantis signed a curriculum transparency law requiring public schools to make classroom materials available for parental review, as well as a parental rights law that bans schools from teaching children in kindergarten through third grade about transgenderism and other sexuality-related issues, limits discussions of sexuality for older children to "age appropriate" content, and requires parents to be informed of any changes that could affect their child's physical, emotional, or mental well-being.
The governor's friends and foes alike recognized his intervention in school board races as an unprecedented move, as state leaders tend not to involve themselves in local races. Many on the political Right hope that his example will be emulated by Republicans in other states, potentially leading to more comprehensive cultural transformation.
The governor's record on the issue also feeds into his broader record as a proactive conservative governor, fueling growing interest in a potential 2024 presidential run.
Politics - U.S.
Brennan Asplen
Mark Mullins
Mask Mandates


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Home Tags Posts tagged with "Alek Skarlato"
Alek Skarlato
French Train Attack: Americans Hailed as Heroes for Overpowering Gunman
Americans Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos have received medals for their bravery and hailed as heroes for overpowering a heavily-armed gunman on a train in northern France.
The incident happened on the high-speed Thalys service near Arras, and the attacker was arrested at Arras station.
President Barack Obama praised the passengers, who included two off-duty US military personnel.
The man arrested was a 26-year-old Moroccan. Anti-terrorist officers have taken over the case.
The gunman's weapons were said to include a Kalashnikov, a knife, an automatic pistol and cartridges.
French authorities said three people were injured, two of them seriously – one with a gunshot wound, the other a knife wound.
France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the attack took place at 17:45 local time on August 21.
French media said the arrested man was known to the intelligence services but he has so far refused to talk to police in Arras.
Photo AFP
Two of the American men who overpowered the gunman, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos, are members of the Air Force and the National Guard respectively.
Their friend, Anthony Sadler, was travelling with them and described the scene: "As he was cocking it to shoot it, Alek just yells, <<Spencer, go!>> And Spencer runs down the aisle.
"Spencer makes first contact, he tackles the guy, Alek wrestles the gun away from him, and the gunman pulls out a box cutter and slices Spencer a few times. And the three of us beat him until he was unconscious."
Chris Norman, a British man living in France, was also hurt while trying to subdue the attacker.
"I came in at the end of it all and helped get him under control," he said at a news conference in Arras.
"The guy pulled out a cutter and started cutting Spencer – he cut behind his neck and nearly cut his thumb off."
Spencer Stone remains in hospital.
The passengers included French actor Jean-Hugues Anglade, the star of Betty Blue and Nikita, who was lightly wounded breaking glass to sound the alarm.
The American men and Chris Norman were awarded medals for bravery by authorities in Arras.
Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the passengers were "particularly courageous and showed great bravery in very difficult circumstances", adding: "Without their composure we could have been confronted with a terrible incident."
"The president expressed his profound gratitude for the courage and quick thinking of several passengers, including US service members, who selflessly subdued the attacker," the White House said in a statement.
"It is clear that their heroic actions may have prevented a far worse tragedy."
Belgian PM Charles Michel called the incident a "terrorist attack".
Images shared on social media appeared to show a man being restrained on the station platform in Arras.
One photograph showed an injured man in a blue top and jeans lying on the floor of the train.
French rail firm SNCF said there had been 554 people on board the train.
Thalys said several trains had been delayed in the wake of the attack.
France has been on edge since the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris in January, which left 17 people dead.
Italy Earthquake 2016: Death Toll Rises to 247
Italy's earthquake death toll has risen to at least 247 as thousands of rescuers continue efforts to find survivors. According …Read More »
Barack Obama Ends Visa-Free Residency Policy for Cuban Immigrants
In his final days in office, President Barack Obama has decided to end a longstanding policy that grants residency to …Read More »
Liu Xiaobo's Death: China's Most Prominent Dissident Dies from Liver Cancer Aged 61
China's most prominent human rights and democracy advocate and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo has died aged 61. Liu Xiaobo had …Read More »
Randy Travis leaves hospital after suffering stroke
Randy Travis has left a Texas hospital, three weeks after he suffered a stroke. His publicist, Kirt Webster, said the …Read More »
Russia Threatens Retaliation over Asset Seizure in Belgium and France
Russia has protested over the seizure of the Russian state assets in Belgium, a move triggered by a court ruling …Read More »


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Tagged Noma
World's 50 Best Restaurants awards in Singapore: everything you need to know
To be held on 25 June, the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards celebrates the best in the culinary world. What does it mean for Singapore?
Where to eat in 2019: Restaurants to visit around the world
The most exciting places to visit for the foodie jetsetter.
Take a peek at the new Noma 2.0
In true Scandinavian style, the new Noma in Copenhagen is minimalist in esthetic, with natural materials – namely light, blond hardwood – setting the scene for the next chapter in chef René Redzepi's gastronomic endeavor.
Reservations for Rene Redzepi's Noma 2.0 to open on Nov 16, 2017
A homage to seafood kicks off the restaurant's highly anticipated opening
Noma restaurant re-opening pushed back to 2018
Danish chef Rene Redzepi has revealed that the re-opening of his Copenhagen restaurant Noma has been pushed back to 2018.
Noma's head forager to host dinner at Tin Hill Social
Two Australian chefs are putting together a five-course menu using wild produce gathered around Singapore.
[VIDEO] What it's Like to Forage with Noma's Rene Redzepi in Australia
Watch Redzepi chomp down on veggies freshly ripped out of the earth, as he leads a foraging party through New South Wales.
Can Juice-pairing in High-End Restaurants be the next food trend in 2016?
At top-tier establishments such as Restaurant Andre, wining and dining might soon not be the only way to eat and drink well.
Four Seasons Private Jet Journey for the Adventurous Gourmet
The private jet itineraries for 2017 include a trip for the discerning palate curated by chef Rene Redzepi and the team at two-Michelin-star Noma.
Peak exclusive: What Rene Redzepi fed us at Noma pop-up, Sydney
We find out how the world's most influential chef interprets Australian produce.


The study looked at the ways social media can create an exclusionary effect on users based on the ways they are basically forced to watch their friends (unintentionally) exclude them in certain online interactions.
"These findings are compelling, said Michael Stefanone, an associate professor in the University of Buffalo's Communications department and an expert in computer-mediated communication and social networks, in a press release.
"We're using these technologies daily and they're pushing information to users about their networks, which is what the sites are designed to do, but in the end there's negative effects on people's well-being," Stefanone said.
To test the effects of social exclusion on social media, the researchers -- led by Jessica Covert -- had 194 participants engage in scenarios in which they either were directly involved in social exclusion or they weren't in an effort to mimic similar situations on social media.
Using two experimental groups, both groups were presented with written scenarios. In one group, participants read scenarios in which two close friends exchanged information that was intentionally exclusionary. The other group read a social media feed that presented no exclusion between friends.
Following the experiment, the group that was exposed to the scenarios that were intended to exclude them experienced negative emotions following the test. Additionally, they tended to then devote more time to understanding their social networks.
"These findings are not only significant because we are talking about individuals' emotions here, but it also raises questions about how exposure to these interactions affect one's day-to-day functioning," Covert said.


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Newcastle squad 'relaxed and jovial' over international break.
Date: 11th September 2019 at 9:30am
The mood in the Newcastle United squad has been "relaxed and jovial" during the international break, according to The Athletic journalist Chris Waugh.
Writing via The Athletic's website, he claims "sources insist" that Steve Bruce had a short break at the start of last week after a stressful start to life as Newcastle manager and on returning to training after a few days away, the Magpies boss was "relieved" to see how refreshed his squad was.
It is understood that Newcastle realised that a lot of their squad could have done with a bit of a break after a mixed start to their Premier League season and many spent time to relax with their families while Joelinton visited London and Paul Dummett took in the Old Firm derby.
It seems as though the Newcastle squad really needed that break. While a few players like Miguel Almiron, Martin Dubravka, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth were away on international duty with their respective nations, the bulk of the Magpies squad has been able to stay put and get prepared for the next few weeks of Premier League football, which kicks off against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday. It is going to be a very tough game for Bruce and his men and not many people will expect them to return to the North-East with anything to show for their trip to Merseyside. That's understandable. What Bruce will really want is his side to have their focus on matches that follow that when they take on Brighton and then Leicester. While both could be tough games, many fans will be hoping for at least four points. Leicester have started well but they are a team that the Magpies can threaten, as proven in their recent Carabao Cup meeting.


The Eu information service on and analyses of European education systems and policies.
"The Book of Abstracts presents the research work of some of the best participants of Diplo's 2010/2011 educational and research programme."
1952 to today: EU Bookshop is your free digital library of official EU publications.


Make the base by crushing the biscuits to fine crumbs – the best way is to put them in a plastic bag and roll a rolling pin over it. Put crumbs in a bowl, add the butter and mix well. Press into the base of the tin – a "glove" made of clingfilm works a treat and stops your hands getting greasy. Place in the fridge while you make the cheesecake mix.
Heat the oven to 180 C, 160 C fan, 350 F, gas 4. Whisk the cheese with an electric whisk until fluffy. Now add the sugar, vanilla, maple syrup and walnuts. Whisk well. Very slowly add the eggs, one at a time, without over-beating. Pour into the tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 50 minutes, along with a roasting tin of hot water in the bottom of the oven. It should still have a wobble. Leave it out of the oven for 10 minutes. It will sink, but don't panic.
Mix together the ingredients for the topping and pour over the top of the cake. This is a good ruse to hide any cracks! Bake for a further 10 to 15 minutes until just set, then put it straight into the fridge. This stops over-cracking (as does the hot water in the oven). Let it chill for around 2 hours, or preferably overnight, until completely cold. Gently ease out of the tin – run a knife carefully around the edge – and put on a serving plate.


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Pakistani Opposition Party Protests Against Election Results
Members of Pakistan's Awami National Party (ANP) protested on July 30 against the results of last week's parliamentary election, claiming the vote was rigged. Thousands rallied in Charsadda, Swat, and other cities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Imran Khan: Cricket Legend On The Cusp Of Power In Pakistan
If opposition leader Imran Khan does become prime minister of Pakistan, he will have completed the dramatic transition from international cricket star to the leader of a nuclear-armed country.
Imran Khan Supporters Celebrate In Lahore
Supporters of former Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan celebrated on the streets of Lahore after his party was reported to be ahead in the general election late on July 25.
Chaos And Carnage After Deadly Blast At Quetta Polling Station
There were scenes in Quetta, southwest Pakistan, after a bombing outside a polling station. The blast killed dozens of people shortly after voting in parliamentary elections began on July 25.
Pakistanis To Vote Amid Violence, Corruption Charges
Voters in Pakistan will go to the polls on July 25 to elect members of parliament and a new prime minister, after the ouster last year of Nawaz Sharif on corruption allegations.
Afghan Vice President Escapes Suicide Attack After Returning From Exile
Ambulances and security vehicles rushed to the scene of a deadly suicide bombing at Kabul airport on July 22 shortly after Afghan Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum left the area following his arrival home from more than a year in self-imposed exile in Turkey. (Reuters)
Candidate Of Pakistani Political Party Killed In Suicide Attack
A Pakistani candidate Ikramullah Gandapur from the party of prime ministerial hopeful and former cricket star Imran Khan was killed on June 22 in a suicide attack in Dera Ismail Khan that wounded four others, a police official said, just days ahead of June 25 general elections. (Radio Mashaal)
Thousands Say Goodbye To Kazakhstan's Slain Olympic Skating Medalist
Blast Targets Pakistan Election Candidate
A deadly bomb blast hit a politician's convoy as it headed to an election rally in the northwestern city of Bannu on July 13. The politician, Akram Khan Durrani, said afterwards that the authorities had warned him about potential security threats.
Britain Says Will Double Troops In Afghanistan
British Prime Minister Theresa May said London would double its forces in Afghanistan in response to a request from NATO, as she arrived at the alliance's summit in Brussels on July 11.
Afghan Peace Activists Call On Russia To Stop Backing Taliban
A group of activists in Afghanistan have staged a sit-in outside the Russian embassy in Kabul. It's part of their campaign to get world powers to find peaceful ways to end decades of bloody conflict in the country.
Iranians Dance In Solidarity With Social Media Star
Iranians have posted a series of videos showing themselves dancing in solidarity with a social media star who was reportedly arrested for breaking social norms in Iran.