naturalnews--2019-11-10--MEDICAL TYRANNY: Nurses now forced to perform abortions against their wishes, thanks to another corr

MEDICAL TYRANNY: Nurses now forced to perform abortions against their wishes, thanks to another corrupt federal judge

(Natural News) United States District Judge Paul Engelmayer from the Southern District of New York has shot down a rule put into effect by the Trump administration that would have exempted health care workers from having to perform or assist in abortions against their will.  Citing it as “unconstitutional,” Judge Engelmayer decided that rule, which was to be implemented by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), cannot be enforced because it “attaches retroactive and ambiguous conditions” to the “receipt of federal funds” as given to state and local municipalities.  Some 23 states and local communities sued the Trump administration for trying to exempt some workers from “having to provide, participate in, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for, services such as abortion, sterilization, or assisted suicide” because they feel that it’s “impermissibly coercive” towards state and local governments, which would have to enforce it in order to receive federal funds.  While admitting that the “Conscience Provisions” of federal law “recognize and protect undeniably important rights,” Judge Engelmayer said his decision was made mostly on technical grounds. The Trump rule, he decided, was “shot through with glaring legal defects.”  Even so, HHS will now be “at liberty to consider and promulgate rules governing these [Conscience Provisions],” which have already been enshrined at the federal level to protect health care workers against having to perform or participate in procedures that violate their beliefs and consciences.  Though the Trump administration has yet to respond to the ruling, it is expected to appeal the decision in accordance with Trump’s personal promise to uphold religious liberty in America and make it one of his top priorities.  As you may have seen, Trump recently appointed Roger Severino as Director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights. Trump has also appointed Vice President Mike Pence to a top position within this same division, while also lifting a conscience-violating mandate that was enacted by former President Barack Obama.  If you don’t agree with leftists, they’ll attack you until you’re destroyed  Trump has further created a new office within the White House that is to be tasked with protecting religious freedom throughout America, as well as with monitoring any potential threats that might arise – and man, are they arisin’!  Just the other day, as one example, The Daily Beast put out a piece (which we won’t link to) declaring its position that “religious freedom” is just code for “poisonous, anti-LGBTQ bigotry.” This fake news outlet contends that any opposition of opinion to the LGBTQ agenda represents “hate.”  The Daily Beast, like many other fake news media outlets, is upset that along with this attempted conscience ruling for health care works, the Trump administration is also trying to implement conscience clauses for taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption groups who prefer not to hand children over to LGBTQs.  There are also accusations being flung around that accuse the Trump administration of engaging in “cruel and unlawful” behavior simply by trying to protect Christian practitioners, as one example, against having to murder unborn human life.  We heard the same types of nonsense during the “gay cake” saga in Colorado, where LGBTQs tried to force a Christian cake baker to make pastries for homosexual weddings. It was a case that ultimately led to a major victory for religious freedom, but not without a vicious fight.  “This has to be the first time any strings attached to federal money were ruled unconstitutional,” pointed out one LifeSiteNews commenter about the ruling against Trump’s HHS. “Since states are not required to take the money, they can avoid the strings by not taking it. I doubt this ruling will survive.”  For more related news on the extremism and bigotry of the medical establishment, read MedicalExtremism.com.


theirishtimes--2019-06-29--Medical staffing crisis threatens patients and services HSE report claims

Medical staffing ‘crisis’ threatens patients and services, HSE report claims

The safety of patients in Irish hospitals is being compromised as a result of a “crisis” in medical staffing arising from a reliance on “transient” foreign doctors, according to a new report.  Hospitals are likely to struggle to maintain existing services if the current situation continues and may have to “consolidate” or “discontinue” services, the draft Health Service Executive report warns.  Many hospitals would not be able to operate without foreign doctors, yet they are denied training and opportunities to develop their career. Believing that they being unfairly treated, many quit.  The cost of employing temporary and locum agency doctors will escalate to “unsustainable” levels, it says. Unless hospitals are urgently put on a stable workforce platform, key risks will continue to exist, including:  - doctors of “unknown professional standard” continuing to work in hospitals;  - “inadequate” clinical oversight and assessment of many junior doctors, resulting in complaints to the Medical Council; and  - no career planning for junior doctors not in training schemes.  The report reveals Ireland’s massive and growing reliance on “non-training-scheme doctors” (NTSDs), which includes any doctor not enrolled in a specialist training scheme (to become a consultant). The number of NTSDs tripled between 2014 and 2018, from about 900 to 2,724.  This service-grade category of doctor comprises 50 per cent of all junior doctors, but up to 70 per cent in smaller hospitals. Three out of every four of these doctors have qualified overseas. More trained in Pakistan than in Ireland, for example.  However, 78 per cent of NTSDs leave Ireland within three years, creating a “turnover effect” whereby a significant proportion of Ireland’s hospital doctors are temporary and perpetually less experienced in their role and in the Irish system.  Warning of a “potential cessation” of services, the report says it is likely hospitals, especially regional ones, will find it difficult to find staff as they are currently configured.  It says the “crisis” requires urgent action through the “consolidation” of services and the reconfiguration of the medical workforce, and by increasing trainee places for doctors and increasing consultant numbers.  Services in some hospitals could be “repurposed” as part of a consolidation designed to reduce dependency on non-training scheme doctors.  The report was drawn up by a working group led by clinical lead Prof Des Carney of the Mater hospital and Prof Frank Murray, director of the HSE National Doctors Training and Planning service.  Doctors do not have to be on a training scheme to work in Irish hospitals, but those that are not tend to move around a lot, working short-term contracts of six to 12 months or through a locum agency.  There is “less rigour” to the process of hiring such non-scheme doctors than in filling a consultant post or creating a training post, the report points out.  Most NTSDs experience “significant barriers” to entering training schemes because they trained in countries whose internships are not recognised by Ireland, leading to their “career stagnation” and frustration.  There are 71 non-training scheme doctors out of 83 junior doctors at South Tipperary General Hospital, and 94 out of 109 at Cavan General Hospital – 86 per cent in both cases.  Because of the lack of career progression, many foreign doctors quit Ireland as early as possible because they feel unfairly treated. They are then replaced by other overseas-qualified “and most likely less experienced” doctors who are new to the system. This results in “much turnaround and instability”, with “potentially negative patient safety effects”.  Most of these doctors are qualified and capable and without them, many hospital departments “would not continue to function”. However, a potential lack of employer due diligence has also led to some “troubling incidents”.  Although NTSDs are required to enrol on a professional competency scheme, only half of them do.  The weekly cost of employing an agency doctor is estimated in the report at €3,315, compared to €1,973 for a registrar.


bbc--2019-02-15--Sergio Ramos Real Madrid defender had no choice over controversial yellow card

Sergio Ramos: Real Madrid defender 'had no choice' over controversial yellow card

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos says he is "surprised" about the reaction to his yellow card against Ajax and the suggestion he earned it on purpose.  Ramos fouled Kasper Dolberg in the 89th minute with Real leading 2-1, meaning he is suspended for their Champions League last-16 second-leg meeting.  Uefa is investigating comments he made suggesting he was booked deliberately.  Asked if he knew the foul was likely to lead to a yellow card and a ban, Ramos said: "Yes, but I had no choice."  A suspension at this stage greatly reduces the risk of missing a match later in the competition, with all bookings wiped following the quarter-final stage.  However, a player who purposely obtains a booking can be banned for two games.  Uefa began its investigation after Ramos told reporters he would "be lying if I said I didn't force [the booking]" during Wednesday's game.  But on Friday he clarified: "I'm very surprised about all this. I was referring to forcing the foul, a foul that was inevitable. Not to forcing the booking.  "It was a very dangerous counter-attack in the 88th minute, with an open match and the tie as well.  "That's why I said that I would lie if I said I did not know that I was carrying a penalty, just as I knew that I had no other choice than to make a mistake. And that's what I meant when I said that in football you have to make complicated decisions."  Ramos added that, had he wanted to pick up a yellow card on purpose, he could have done so in a group game against Roma because "we were already classified as first" and the last game against CSKA "was inconsequential".  Los Blancos secured a first-leg advantage against Ajax through Marco Asensio's goal two minutes before the controversial booking.  "In a game there are many tensions, many sensations and many pulsations," Ramos tweeted. "You have to make decisions in seconds. The best of today is the result. The worst, not being able to be with my team-mates for a game."  Ramos' team-mate Dani Carvajal received a two-game ban from Uefa when he was judged to have been booked on purpose in the final minute of a 6-0 win over Apoel Nicosia in last season's tournament.  Ramos and former Real midfielder Xabi Alonso were both booked late on in a 3-0 quarter-final first-leg victory over Galatasaray in 2013.  Both players were also criticised in 2010, when they were booked and sent off in the final five minutes of a group game with Ajax, meaning they missed the next fixture, with Real already assured of progress to the knockout stage.


eveningstandard--2019-04-07--Arsenal defender Sokratis to serve two-match ban after yellow card against Everton

Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos will miss the club's next pair of Premier League matches against Crystal Palace and Watford.  Having already collected nine yellow cards in domestic action so far this term, the Greek centre-back was walking a disciplinary tightrope heading into Sunday's meeting with Everton at Goodison Park.  Sokratis lasted just 25 minutes on Merseyside before picking up his 10th caution of the 2018-19 campaign - his first in English football - after hauling down striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin to thwart an attack from the hosts.  10 yellow cards in a given top-flight season automatically incurs a two-match suspension, with the 30-year-old now set to sit out the trip to Watford's Vicarage Road on April 15 - a fixture sandwiched between a two-legged Europa League quarter-final tie against Napoli, which Sokratis will still be available for.  He will also be absent for the visit of London rivals Crystal Palace to the Emirates Stadium on April 21.  Former Borussia Dortmund stopper Sokratis previously missed Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Southampton at St Mary's in December after accumulating five yellows in the opening four months of the season.


thesun--2019-01-24--Sarri booked by ref Atkinson for protesting yellow card for Chelsea star Jorginho

MAURIZIO SARRI was shown a yellow card by Martin Atkinson for his furious protest on Thursday night.  The [Chelsea](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196660/chelsea/) manager was far from happy with Jorginho being shown a yellow card and couldn't hide his frustrations.  ![ Maurizio Sarri was booked for protesting too hard]()  Sky Sports  Maurizio Sarri was booked for protesting too hard  ![ Referee Martin Atkinson brandished his yellow card to the Chelsea manager]()  News Group Newspapers Ltd  Referee Martin Atkinson brandished his yellow card to the Chelsea manager  Unfortunately for the Blues boss, ref Atkinson was just yards away and handed him the same punishment as the Italian midfielder.  Managers can be booked in the Carabao Cup and lower leagues as it is an EFL rule.  Sarri has cut a frustrated figure of late, hitting out at his team for recent performances and a lack of desire.  But his mood might have been helped after his team [beat Tottenham on penalties to book a spot in the Carabao Cup final](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8274525/chelsea-2-tottenham-1 -carabao-cup-semi-final-penalty-shootout/) against Man City.  N'Golo Kante and Eden Hazard put the Blues on course for Wembley with their first-half strikes.  But [Fernando Llorente's header early in the second half brought Spurs leve](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8245383/chelsea-tottenham-live- stream-score-tv-channel-carabao-cup/)l again and forced a penalty shoot-out.  David Luiz hit the winning penalty to seal Chelsea's spot in the final where they'll take on Manchester City on February 24.  ![ Jorginho was booked for his foul on Danny Rose, which led to the protests]()  Reuters  Jorginho was booked for his foul on Danny Rose, which led to the protests  ![ Maurizio Sarri was his usual animated self in his dugout]()  Reuters  Maurizio Sarri was his usual animated self in his dugout


thesun--2019-02-26--Sergio Ramos charged by Uefa with receiving a yellow card on purpose against Ajax

Sergio Ramos charged by Uefa with ‘receiving a yellow card on purpose’ against Ajax

REAL MADRID skipper Sergio Ramos is set to be hit by an extra match Champions League ban for deliberately getting himself booked.  Spain ace [Ramos made a needless foul on Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/8423144/sergio-ramos-deliberate-foul- booked-champions-league-real-madrid-ajax/) in the last few minutes of his side’s 2-1 last 16 first leg win in Amsterdam.  ![ Sergio Ramos has been charged by Uefa for deliberately receiving a yellow card on purpose]()  Getty - Contributor  Sergio Ramos has been charged by Uefa for deliberately receiving a yellow card on purpose  It meant a ban for the second leg in the Bernabeu but would have cleared Ramos to play in the quarter-final first leg.  In the mixed zone after the match, Ramos boasted: “The truth is that, seeing the result, it’s something I had in mind.  “It’s not that I am underestimating the opponent but sometimes in football you have to make decisions and that’s what I decided.”  Within minutes, [Ramos](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/sergio-ramos/) seemed to realise he had admitted to a breach of Uefa regulations which state that players deliberately picking up cards to serve bans in “dead” matches will serve a two-match suspension.  ![ Ramos, 32, fouled Kasper Dolberg in the 89th minute in Amsterdam on February 13]()  Getty - Contributor  Ramos, 32, fouled Kasper Dolberg in the 89th minute in Amsterdam on February 13  ![ Spanish centre-back Ramos has chipped in with 11 goals in 37 games this season]()  Reuters  Spanish centre-back Ramos has chipped in with 11 goals in 37 games this season  On social media, Ramos claimed: “I did not force the card.”  But the back-tracking came too late [with Uefa launching an investigation less than 24 hours after the game.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8430568 /real-madrid-sergio-ramos-uefa-ban-ajax/)  And Uefa have confirmed Ramos had been charged with “receiving a yellow card on purpose” with the case heard by the control and disciplinary body in Nyon on Thursday.  Ramos has featured 37 times for Los Blancos this season - chipping in with a staggering 11 goals in all competitions.  Sergio Ramos trolled for ‘sliding back to Madrid’ after Semedo’s insane skill for Barcelona during El Clasico


thesun--2019-08-04--Man City manager Pep Guardiola becomes first Premier League boss to be shown yellow card this season

Man City manager Pep Guardiola becomes first Premier League boss to be shown yellow card this season after furious outburst

PEP GUARDIOLA became the first Premier League manager to be booked this season during the first-half of Sunday's Community Shield.  The Manchester City coach proved his passion to win [the season opener](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9636155/liverpool-vs-man-city- live-free-live-stream-tv-channel-kick-off-time-team-news-community-shield/) but went too far with an outburst in the face of fourth official Stuart Atwell.  Sadly for the perennial record-breaker, he missed out on being English football's first booked boss of the season with Wigan Athletic's Paul Cook taking that honour the day before.  Indeed, the rule has been in place in the Football League for a season, and has been deemed a significant enough success to roll out in the top-flight.  During which time, Maurizio Sarri managed to [earn himself a yellow during Chelsea's League Cup game against Tottenham](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8274592/maurizio-sarri- martin-atkinson-chelsea-jorginho-yellow-card/).  After four yellow cards, a manager will be banned from the touchline for one match.  Guardiola was particularly irked about a challenge by Joe Gomez on David Silva.  The pair went in hard on a waist-high ball and the City midfielder came off second best, clutching his ankle while play was waved on.  Evidently, Guardiola felt Gomez went in with his studs and motioned as such while lambasting Atwell.  ![]()  1  However referee Martin Atkinson felt his remonstrations went too far and dished out the yellow card.  Sunday's game at Wembley certainly gave City a physically challenging start to the season, [Leroy Sane coming off injured after just 11 minutes following a tangle with Trent Alexander- Arnold](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9651747/leroy-sane-injured- man-city-liverpool-transfer-bayern/).  Before the rule change, the official would have only been able to issue a verbal warning before sending him to the stands if necessary.


bbc--2019-12-23--Tottenham appeal against Son Heung-min's red card in defeat by Chelsea

Tottenham have appealed against the red card shown to Son Heung-min in the loss to Chelsea on Sunday, manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed.  The South Korean was sent off in the second half of the 2-0 defeat after VAR ruled he had kicked out at Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger.  Spurs are waiting to find out if Son will be available for the Boxing Day game with Brighton.  "I hope Son is not punished five times," Mourinho said.  "One time was the foul that Rudiger did on him. The second is to be sent off. The third would be not to play against Brighton. The fourth not to play against Norwich and the fifth not to play against Southampton.  "So I hope to be punished twice is enough, he doesn't deserve for the third the fourth or the fifth."  It is the second time Son has been sent off this season after he was dismissed in the 1-1 draw with Everton on 3 November.  Son was dismissed in that game for a tackle that led to Everton midfielder Andre Gomes suffering a serious ankle injury but it was overturned by the Football Association.  However, Mourinho thinks it should be Rudiger's reaction to Son's challenge that is coming under scrutiny, and not Son's action.  "I hope the Premier League is still the Premier League and will always be the Premier League and I think the focus should be on Antonio Rudiger and not on Son," Mourinho said.  "I'm not speaking about the racism incident, this is another thing. I am speaking about that incident, the red card.  "In the Premier League I love there is no space also for what Rudiger did. Stand up and play man. This is the Premier League."


newyorkpost--2019-01-20--Greg Hardy disqualified for brutal illegal knee in UFC debut

Greg Hardy disqualified for brutal, illegal knee in UFC debut

In the co-main event Saturday night at Barclays Center, former NFL defensive lineman Greg Hardy was disqualified for throwing an illegal knee in the second round of his heavyweight fight with Allen Crowder.  Hardy, who had reached the second round for the first time in his short MMA career, was grappling on the canvas with Crowder when he began to get on his feet. Crowder still had a knee down when Hardy launched his right knee into Crowder’s temple in an illegal maneuver. Crowder couldn’t continue and Hardy was disqualified in his UFC debut.  Hardy (3-1) began his MMA career after his football career ended prematurely due his arrest and prosecution on domestic abuse charges.  The heavyweight matchup was part of a main card that featured six fights after a lengthy prelim lead-up that began four hours earlier. Light heavyweight Glover Teixeira started things by submitting Karl Roberson in the first round. Then Paige VanZant submitted Rachael Ostovich in the second round of their women’s flyweight bout.  Ostovich was fighting two months after being the victim of a serious domestic abuse attack that led to her husband’s arrest. Veteran Joseph Benavidez of Las Cruces, N.M., earned a unanimous decision in a flyweight rematch over Dustin Ortiz, while Gregor Gillespie of Long Island improved to 13-0 with an impressive stoppage of Yancy Medeiros on punches in the second round of their lightweight match.  The preliminary bouts shown on ESPN were highlighted by Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone’s second-round stoppage of the mouthy Alexander Hernandez. Other winners include Joanne Calderwood, Alonzo Menifield and Cory Sandhagen.  Meanwhile in Las Vegas, Staten Island boxer Marcus Browne captured the WBA light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Badou Jack. Browne, a 2012 Olympian, out-boxed and bloodied Jack throughout the bout to earn his first world title.


mercurynews--2019-03-12--Why students are banned from Los Gatos vs Palo Alto sports contests

Why students are banned from Los Gatos vs. Palo Alto sports contests

When Palo Alto and Los Gatos high schools meet in sports this spring, there will be a noticeable absence in the stands:  Students.  Unruly behavior at football and basketball games between the Santa Clara County rivals prompted administrators to take the unusual measure of banning students from athletic contests between the schools.  The ban will continue through the remainder of the school year, Los Gatos principal Kristina Grasty and Palo Alto principal Adam Paulson wrote in a joint statement. The only exception is if a family member is participating in the athletic contest, the statement noted.  “For the last few years or so there have been tensions with both the Los Gatos fan base and Palo Alto fan base,” Palo Alto athletic director Therren Wilburn said Monday. “So collaboratively we’ve tried to have measures in place prior to games, administrators from both sides sending out positive reinforcement to the student bodies and the fan bases.  “But it just hasn’t been working.”  The tipping point might have occurred during a boys basketball game at Los Gatos in early February. While a Palo Alto player was at the free-throw line, an object was tossed from the stands, prompting Los Gatos athletic director Ken Perrotti to warn students over the public-address system that Los Gatos would have to forfeit if the students didn’t clean up their act.  After the game, there was an issue between the students in the parking lot, Perrotti said Monday.  “There has been a bunch of ongoing issues between student bodies,” Perrotti added. “It has really been building over the last couple of years. Student safety was coming into question. We were trying to be as proactive as possible. It is not every single kid. It is the action of a few. Both student bodies are responsible for what has transpired.”  In their joint statement, the principals laid out plans to get the conduct under control.  In addition to no students at athletic contests this spring, the schools will hold a “Positive Sportsmanship Summit” on April 29 at a neutral site — Fremont High in Sunnyvale — that will include roughly 20 student-athlete leaders, the athletic directors, Santa Clara Valley Athletic League commissioner Brad Metheany and Central Coast Section commissioner Duane Morgan.  The goal is to “work toward an alliance between our schools to promote and ensure positive sportsmanship and respectful behavior at all future contests between our schools,” according to the statement.  “In conversations I’ve had with individual students, they all have a different perspective about why they enjoy the Los Gatos rivalry, so I think getting 10 different opinions about the rivalry, it will actually get a genuine answer from the students and you’ll get some honest feedback,” Wilburn said. “And I think that it may be candid, blunt and raw, but I think that’s what both sides need to hear in order to repair this relationship we have with Los Gatos.”  Morgan said it is unfortunate that the situation has escalated to this level.  “The message is the same one we give all the time,” Morgan added. “You’re not just representing yourself. You’re not just representing your team. You’re representing your family. You’re representing your community. You’re representing your school. You need to embrace that. Anything you do and say is a reflection of all those entities.  “It’s pretty basic, you need to adhere to what good sportsmanship is. This section embraces that and the leadership embraces that. We’re not going to come off that stance.”  Morgan said he has the authority to discipline the schools but doesn’t plan to do so.  “It’s not going to be, if you don’t do this, we’re going to penalize you,” he said. “I’m not that kind of person. But they’re going to get the message loud and clear that this is the expectation in this section, that you will condone to sportsmanship. This is educationally based athletics.”  According to the principals’ statement, there will be repercussions for “egregious and/or unsafe social media postings from our students that incite or aggravate tensions between our schools prior to athletic contests. Students who commit such acts may forfeit the right to attend any and all future contests.” Coaches, athletic directors and administrators from the schools will stay in touch as they prepare for athletic contests starting in the 2019-20 school year, the statement added.  Zoe Baghaie, a Palo Alto junior, told the student [publication, the Paly Voice](https://palyvoice.com/147598/news/district-bans-students-from-paly- gatos-games/), that the conduct is an issue.  “It’s a lot of fun going to the games and supporting Paly athletics, but the sportsmanship has gotten really out of hand, and really takes away from the actual game,” Baghaie said.  The decision comes a month after a boys basketball game between rivals Monterey and Alisal was canceled in the interest of studend-athlete and fan safety.  “They called me about it and I said, ‘Yeah, this is a wise decision,'” Morgan said.  * * *  **HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED**  For just 12 cents a day for a year, you can have access to all the digital content at mercurynews.com and eastbaytimes.com. You just need to sign up at one of these two links: [Mercury News](https://checkout.mercurynews.com/basic1?g2i_source=Internet&g2i_medium=newsletter&g2i_campaign=preps1&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=preps1) or [East Bay Times](https://checkout.eastbaytimes.com/basic1?g2i_source=Internet&g2i_medium=newsletter&g2i_campaign=preps1&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=preps1).

Darren Sabedra, Phil Jensen, Vytas Mazeika


newsweek--2019-01-16--Basketball Referee Banned After Allegedly Commenting on 10-Year-Old Girls Hair

Basketball Referee Banned After Allegedly Commenting on 10-Year-Old Girl's Hair

A basketball referee has been banned from officiating games in a Virginia town following comments she made about a girl’s hairstyle during a game.  Erica Gurrier told WAVY-TV 10 that she coaches her daughter’s basketball game in Chesapeake, Virginia. Gurrier told the news station that a referee approached her and thought he had a question about the length of a timeout. Instead, he comments on one of the player’s hair, which happened to be her daughter.    "He asked to speak to me and then he mentioned that one of the players, when she goes to the next level, she is going to have to do something about her hair," she told the news station.  Gurrier’s 10-year-old daughter was wearing braids with a blue weave woven in, which the referee said was against the rules, WAVY-TV 10 reported. Gurrier said there isn’t a rule about hair weaves.  Doug Pensinger/Getty Images     "The Chesapeake official came and they had my daughter come over and he pointed to, I guess the point where her natural hair meets the hair that was braided in and said he didn't know what that was, and I said that's her natural hair," she told WAVY-TV 10. "Just to getting to the bottom of what are you talking about? There is no such rule, so why are you bringing this up in front of this girl that her only love is just to play basketball?" she said.    The referee was contracted through the Hampton Roads Basketball Officials Association, WAVY-TV 10 reported. The association’s commissioner, Rick Ennis, told the news station that the incident is under investigation and the referee will no longer work games in Chesapeake, Virginia. Newsweek has reached out to the association for comment on the incident but did not hear back in time for publication.  Executive Director of the Virginia High School League told WAVY-TV that hair a referee can stop a player from playing in the game if their hair is a safety concern, but he did not approve of how the situation was handled.    "If there were concerns about that young lady's hair, that's a conversation you have with a coach and with a player, and in this case as young as this player was, you have the conversation with the parent before the game starts, but not during the game. Somewhere private. That's not something you do on the floor, during the game, before the game or after the game."    In December, a school district announced that a referee who forced a black high school wrestler to cut off his dreadlocks before competing in a wrestling match no longer worked with the district. Referee Alan Maloney forced Andrew Johnson, a high school student competing for Buena Regional High School in New Jersey, to cut off his dreadlocks. The video of the incident went viral on social media.


sputnik--2019-08-04--Basketball Player Handed Two-Year Ban for Faking Drug Test That Revealed Hes Pregnant - Reports

Basketball Player Handed Two-Year Ban for Faking Drug Test That Revealed He's Pregnant - Reports

DJ Cooper was handed a two-year suspension from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) after a failed drug test revealed something that he might not have been expecting, Eurohoops.net reported.  It wasn't performance enhancing drugs, rather a condition that's quite uncommon for a male player: the results reportedly showed that Cooper was pregnant.  The former Ohio star, who played for AS Monaco in France, left the team last year and sought to join the Bosnian national team as a naturalised player, therefore he had to take a regular drug test.  The urine sample that Cooper provided reportedly revealed the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, which is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. The report suggests that the urine belonged to his girlfriend, who apparently was not aware she was expecting at the time.  As a result, FIBA decided to suspend the player for two years for fraud, but he'll be eligible to return to the basketball court on 20 June 2020.


eveningstandard--2019-10-02--The Progress 1000 Londonaposs most influential people 2019 Technology Engineering

The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2019 – Technology: Engineering

Bridger’s latest projects include overseeing teams constructing a high-voltage tunnel 70ft below the streets of London that provides high-security power to the American embassy at Nine Elms. Bridger also loves sharing her civil engineering expertise with the next generation of tunnellers in schools around the capital.  Chief executive, React Robotics   Last year, the start-up’s robo-canine called DogBot (inspired by the Star Wars AT-AT, All Terrain Armored Transport walkers), took its first self-taught steps after five years’ work. Now the team is working on making the robot’s movements more natural and agile so it can help with “mundane and maddening” human jobs.  Founder of Unmanned Life   The Shoreditch start-up has developed “life-saving” software that enables AI-powered swarms of up to 250 quadcopter drones to work together and fly in autonomous formations that adapt to their surroundings. Operating over a 5G network, the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) can beam back accurate data from burning buildings by using multiple specialist cameras, such as one with heat sensors, another equipped with sonar to check for structural damage and others to check for survivors. Truly amazing.  Co-founder, Oxbotica   The self-driving car start-up this year announced a deal with Addison Lee to launch a driverless taxi service in London by 2021, with the companies planning to plot 250,000 miles of British roads to help robo-cabs avoid obstacles.  Co-founders, Starship Technologies   Starship were the first tech startup to trial delivery “ground drones” on the streets of London. The tub-like robots have a large compartment to hold takeaways or two shopping bags. Its aim is to “do to local deliveries what Skype did to telecommunications”.  PhD student, Queen Mary University of London, School of Engineering and Materials Science   This scientist invented a child-sized robotic hand for youngsters who have lost a limb. The pneumatic “soft prosthetic” hand, made from silicon, can grip objects more effectively than hard plastic models.  Inventor, Gravity Industries   As a real-life Iron Man and former Canary Wharf oil trader, Browning was last spotted in London hovering over the Thames with jets strapped to his arms to promote future plans for a rocket racing event. An ex-Royal Marine reservist, he follows a gruelling fitness regime to boost the strength in his arms and shoulders.  CEO and founder, Pavegen   Powering future cities one step at a time, this technology uses spring-loaded, rubberised smart paving slabs to generate energy every time someone takes a step on one. Pavegen’s latest project in the City saw 150,000 steps creating enough power to run an electric car for half a mile. Clever.  Managing director, Plexal   Roughan was elevated from chief operating officer to run this innovation hub, which uses the old press and broadcasting centres in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The tech hub is designed as an “ecosystem and community where large and small companies collide”, allowing them to benefit from each other’s creativity.  Co-founder and chief product officer, Humanising Autonomy   This summer they sealed a £4 million funding round amid huge interest in their “intent prediction” technology, which includes developing software that teaches driverless cars to avoid hitting pedestrians by calculating what humans will do as they cross a road.  Chief data officer, TfL   Sager Weinstein began working for TfL in 2002 and her responsibilities have included the introduction of the Oyster card. Her areas of interest include how transport networks influence the functioning of cities and she is also TfL’s in-house expert on data development.  Co-founder, Stanley Robotics   Forget the scramble for an airport parking space — Gatwick airport announced it will trial a fleet of valet-parking robots to ease the stress of getting away and squeeze one third more vehicles into the same size car park. Trials began in August with battery-powered robots which slide a forklift-style ramp under the chassis and uses military-grade GPS to ferry it to a secure bay... all without needing the keys. And because there is no need for the driver’s door to open, they can be parked more tightly together.  Founder and CEO of Car Throttle   The enterprising UCL graduate has grown Car Throttle into the web’s largest community of motoring enthusiasts, with 250 million monthly visitors. He founded the site in 2009 after realising there was nothing similar for millennial petrol-heads.  Chief creative director and co-founder, Cute Circuit   Cute Circuit is a pioneer in fashion and wearable tech, fusing smart fabrics with “magical interactive capabilities”. Their programmable, LED-encrusted clothes have been worn by the likes of Katy Perry and the company has recently collaborated with Chanel and Converse.  Research director/Professor of Affective and Behavioural Computing, Samsung/Imperial   An expert on machine analysis of human non-verbal behaviour, Professor Pantic’s work includes leading research development at Imperial of a two-door tall robot called Zeno that mimics facial expressions to help children with autism learn how to convey emotion.  The Progress 1000, in partnership with the global bank Citi, is the Evening Standard’s celebration of the people changing London’s future for the better. #Progress1000


npr--2019-05-02--Hacking Darwin Explores Genetic Engineering And What It Means To Be Human

'Hacking Darwin' Explores Genetic Engineering — And What It Means To Be Human  We all know that the world is changing. Fast. But do we know where it is going? Not exactly.  That being the case, how can we control where it is going? And who is the "we" in control? In Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity, the technology futurist, geopolitical expert, past White House fellow, and, like this author, dedicated endurance athlete Jamie Metzl paints a picture that is at once wondrous and terrifying.  His focus, as the book title indicates, is the impact of genetic engineering in the very definition of what it means to be human. The prospects border on what would, a few years back, be considered a mix of impossible and, to many, immoral. Metzl writes with great clarity and a sense of urgency that we should all take to heart.  His case, based on an extrapolation of current research, is firmly grounded on what is indeed possible within the next decade or so. This is no wild sci-fi extrapolation but is already beginning to happen, given advances in genomics and gene-editing techniques. Like Metzl, I believe the conversation of where this is taking us — and how such advances should be regulated — is essential.  The central question of this fast-paced account of where modern genetics is taking us is simple: How far should we go in changing our genetic identity? Assuming, in tandem with current research, that we will be able to manipulate the human genome at a level of detail that will allow for the cure of many horrible diseases: Should we also rethink our own design? If so, where do we draw the line between the acceptable and the morally repulsive?  For billions of years, life on Earth evolved through the process of Darwinian evolution via natural selection: Small errors during reproduction propagate from parents to offspring, occasionally offering some a survival advantage to find food or fight enemies. Had reproduction been perfect, the only living creatures on Earth would be single-celled organisms, our 3.5 billion-year-old ancestors. We are, quite literally, the product of reproductive mistakes and planetary cataclysms. We — and all other living creatures — are the mutants who made it in a planet that threw many curved balls our way. Still, despite life's remarkable resiliency, up to this point the evolution of life on Earth has been a passive process. Genes mutated in random ways, without anyone at the helm.  This is now changing. As Metzl correctly writes, we needed dramatic flair: "From this point onward, our mutation will not be random. It will be self-designed. From this point onward, our selection will not be natural. It will be self-directed."  We are on the verge of taking control over evolution and reinventing our species. And, as a by-product, reinventing any other species as well. Now what?  The waters of genetic meddling are murky, and Metzl expertly reviews where we've been in the past as a guideline for where this is all headed. Eugenics is a tragic example. To control breeding with the goal of improving the human population sounds a lot like what we do with prize bulls and race horses. However, with humans it gets much worse, as different cultural and political ideological agendas will have very different views of what "improvement" means. Horrible crimes against humanity were committed in the name of different considerations of "improvement." In the first half of the 20th century, tens of thousands of patients in mental institutions and criminals in the U.S. were sterilized without their acquiescence. In 1925, Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf, "The stronger must dominate and not mate with the weaker." Within four years after taking power in 1933, the Nazis sterilized an estimated 400,000 Germans. And, as we all know, the worse was still to come.  It may seem unnecessarily alarmist to compare eugenics with genetic enhancement. However, the focus being the improvement of the human race, the difference is mainly between the coercive nature of the old eugenics against the presumed choice involved in genetic modification. The complication is that, in a cut-throat world, parents would want to give their kids the best competitive advantage they can. If this advantage is available through direct gene editing, wouldn't you want to give it to your child? Who would not want their kids to have a healthier life, higher IQ, longevity, and freedom from different genetic diseases?  Science's most noble purpose is to improve the human condition. To a large extent, this means to alleviate suffering. If we have arrived at a point in our evolutionary history where we are able to design an improved future for our offspring, why not do it?  There are, of course, clear reasons to pursue gene editing. If we can cure a genetic disease, be it a single-gene or a more complex many-gene one, we have the moral duty to do so. But gene technology will not be restricted to illnesses. Enticements from market forces and the good will of parents and family will want to make the most of it for their children. But what of those who cannot afford the treatment? We live in a world of profound economic disparity, where very few detain the most resources. The obvious extrapolation we can make from where we are now to a future with genetic modification is that the same very few that detain the most resources will be the first ones to use the new technology. The short-term consequences would be devastating, a split in humanity between those who are genetically enhanced and those who can't be: superhumans coexisting with humans. The unfairness of this vision shakes the moral core of society.  It is not enough to trust that we will collectively reach high moral ground and share equitably the fruits of the new technology among all. A quick look at the world today is enough to realize that this is simply utopic. How much could we trust governments across the globe to reach a fair set of regulatory guidelines? We can already see huge differences in the current state of legislation related to GMO foods and the use of stem-cell therapies, for example. And what political leader would opt not to enhance their population, given the obvious competitive benefits in the market place and, very importantly, militarily? Metzl brings this complex questioning alive, and urges us to "apply our best values to influence how the genetic revolution will play out." I hope his call to arms is not hopelessly naïve.  Given our past and present history of global conflict, such profound change at a global scale can only happen if we see ourselves first and foremost as a single species, striving to improve ourselves as a whole. Perhaps, the convincing argument, which Metzl didn't propose, will come from understanding that we win by numbers and not by tribal isolation. This may be the language that both governments and market forces will have to embrace to avoid massive social unrest. Our survival may depend on it.  Marcelo Gleiser is a professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College and author of The Island of Knowledge: The Limits of Science and the Search for Meaning. He is the winner of the 2019 Templeton Prize.


theirishtimes--2019-08-29--Research Lives Engineering the wobble out of spacecraft

Research Lives: Engineering the wobble out of spacecraft

David, you are on a mission to stop rockets wobbling. Why do rockets wobble?   When a rocket takes off from Earth you want it to travel as smoothly as possible, both for any people inside it and to protect any sensitive scientific instrumentation aboard.  But on take-off, the engines of the rocket really give the rocket a good shake and since they are increasingly built with lighter materials, these materials can flex and bend. Add to that the liquid fuel sloshing around and there is the potential for a lot of moving and shaking.  What are you doing about it?   I work on control systems for the next generation of rockets for the European Space Agency. These systems use sensors to track how the rocket is moving and use that information to adjust the orientation of the engines.  We do the maths to figure out how to compensate for the disturbances caused by moving quickly through the atmosphere and by the fuel sloshing around. The result should be that the rocket travels with less vibration.  You are also working on Ireland’s first satellite, what does that involve?   I am the engineering manager of EIRSAT-1, a project to build a small satellite. It’s about the volume of a two-litre milk carton, but it packs a lot on to it, including a detector to pick up gamma-ray bursts that tell us about when large objects in space collide or explode.  It is very much a student-led project, and my role is to keep the engineering side of things running smoothly and to advise on the control systems to orientate the satellite in space.  When did you decide to be an engineer?   Pretty close to filling out my CAO form. Before that I had thought about architecture and philosophy and psychology. I liked physics and maths in school so for college I reckoned engineering might be a good bet, and it was – I liked it at university.  I had not been the kind of kid who took things apart, but when I started studying engineering I began to move from the “black box” of not knowing what is inside gadgets to opening things to understand or fix or change them. I find that rewarding.  So rewarding that you co-founded Dublin Maker?   Maybe! That started about eight years ago. I had been running workshops where people could learn to solder and make robots and things like that. Prof Tomás Ward called me up, with the idea of starting a maker festival so we did that.  Now we have a team of volunteers who run Dublin Maker every summer and we get about 10,000 people visiting and learning more about how to make things and repurpose items. It’s all very sociable, and we like to connect people who can work together.  You have also done lots of talks and even comedy about engineering in Bright Club. Why do you do that?   I think it’s important as a researcher to tell people about what you do. Not only does it help others to understand more about research, you can also get a new perspective on your work and how it might apply.  It’s a great exercise to try to explain your work without using the day-to-day language or formats that you use among your colleagues. It helps you think more about what you do and why you do it.  Finally, how do you take a break?   I play soccer for Booterstown United. Also it might not sound like a break, but I really enjoy making things. It’s still engineering, but there are fewer deadlines.


21stcenturywire--2019-08-20--Indian Spacecraft Carrying Lunar Rover Enters Moons Orbit

Indian Spacecraft Carrying Lunar Rover Enters Moon’s Orbit

India is now set to join a very exclusive international club, hoping to become the fourth country to successfully land in the Moon, behind the US, Russia (USSR), and China.  Addressing the world’s media, K Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the new mission had achieved a milestone. “Chandrayaan-2 mission crossed a major milestone today, the precise lunar orbit insertion maneuver was carried out at 9 am for about 30 minutes and Chandrayaan 2 was precisely inserted in the defined orbit.”  ISRO officials are confident that on September 7, at 1:55 am, their Vikram lander will touch down on the Moon’s surface.  Sivan also noted that the next major event will take place on September 2nd, after the lander is separated from the orbiter. Then, on September 3rd, we will run a series of tests to ensure that the systems of the lander are running smoothly in preparation for the landing manuever.  India has successfully placed its rover-carrying spacecraft Chandrayaan-2 into lunar orbit, clearing one of the final hurdles for the Vikram lander’s historic touchdown on the unexplored southern pole of the Moon.  Because of the great risks associated with the feat, the highly sophisticated maneuvering required some great engineering skills and precise calculations from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists.  The team had to slow down the spacecraft just to the right velocity to complete the intricate work of this segment of the mission. Approaching lunar orbit too fast would cause the spacecraft to bounce into deep space while placing it in position at slow speeds would result in a crash landing because the ship would be unable to battle the moon’s gravitational forces, SRO explained.


sottnet--2019-01-17--Russias Academy of Sciences begins work on countering hazards from outer space

Russia's Academy of Sciences begins work on countering 'hazards' from outer space

According to the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), researchers have so far detected aroundThe presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences agreed upon developing a national program to research the issues and methods of countering hazards from space, such as asteroids, comets and space debris, Scientific Director of the Academy's Astronomy Institute, Boris Shustov, told Sputnik on Thursday."At present, foreign countries, primarily the United States, have advanced in their development of systems for detection of space hazards. At the recent meeting of the RAS presidium, the academics voted to support the draft statement to begin the work on preparing the modern variant of the national program and a wider range of issues, including the whole range of space threats," Shustov said.The researcher recalled that in 2010, the academics already suggested that a federal program on countering threats from asteroids, comets and space debris be initiated but it was rejected by Roscosmos.At the RAS presidium session on space hazards on Tuesday, the head of the strategy planning and special programs directorate of Roscosmos, Yuri Makarov, suggested that a national plan on countering such risks should be developed.According to Shustov, Russia's contribution to detecting dangerous asteroids and comets is 0.1 percent while the United States is the most active country in this area.In 2017, European Space Agency (ESA) reported that a potential space intruder, measuring 15-30 meters (49-98 feet) flew past the Earth at a distance of 44,000 kilometers (27,340 miles).According to the agency, an asteroid of this size entering the atmosphere would have a similar effect to the Chelyabinsk event when a 10-ton meteor exploded in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, causing serious damages in the region in 2013.On 30 June 1908, Eastern Siberia was hit by an explosion, generally attributed to the air burst of a comet or a meteorite. According to different scientific estimations, about 850 square miles (2,200 square kilometers) of local forest was flattened.


sputnik--2019-12-12--In the Name of Science: Elon Musk’s SpaceX Sending Batch of Cannabis and Coffee to Space

SpaceX, Elon Musk's spacecraft manufacturing company, has reportedly teamed up with a Colorado research lab to send hemp, a variety of marijuana, and coffee plants to the International Space Station in March to test what happens to the plants in a zero-gravity environment, reported Vice.com.  Front Range Biosciences, an agricultural biotech company that breeds genetically consistent hemp and coffee varieties, partnered with the University of Colorado and a tech startup called Space Cells for the project.  The SpaceX CRS-20 cargo flight, set for March 2020, will deliver over 480 plant cell cultures to the space station.  There they will be contained in a special incubator with a regulated temperature for around 30 days, as astronauts and a crew on the ground will monitor what happens to them. A month later, the cells will be transported back to Earth, with Front Range Biosciences examining the samples to see how microgravity and space radiation exposure may have altered the plants' genes.  Dr. Jonathan Vaught, Co-Founder and CEO of Front Range Biosciences, said:  Vaught lauded the chance to further explore the science behind the theory that plants in space experience mutations, saying:  A statement from Reggie Gaudino, VP of research and development at Front Range, said:  Louis Stodieck, director of BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado, Boulder, added:  While the project aims to eventually produce interstellar pot or coffee, the company believes the results could be used successfully here on Earth to design resilient crops that can survive in climate change stricken areas.  Last year, Front Range partnered with Frinj Coffee to produce coffee plants that can grow in Southern California – a challenging task outside of equatorial countries like Colombia.  Hemp is useful for food, textiles and sucking up heavy metals in the ground. It also contains high amounts of CBD, a cannabis-derived molecule that seems to have numerous medicinal properties. Hemp is a versatile plant that could have many applications in space.  On Earth, plants are known to adapt to extreme environments, and space experiments begun in 1960 have demonstrated that plants are able to grow and reproduce in microgravity.  Since then, a number of experiments have been successfully performed in a spacecraft, expanding scientific knowledge about the long term effects of the space environment on plant growth.  Hopefully, on this occasion, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk won’t get into trouble with NASA, as was the case last year.  In 2018 Musk came under fire from the NASA Administrator after he was seen smoking marijuana during a podcast. The show is filmed in California, where marijuana is legal.  During a meeting at NASA's headquarters in Washington, DC, Jim Bridenstein said:  Bridenstein said he had spoken with the Tesla founder several times as the space agency continues probes into workplace culture at SpaceX and Boeing, the two companies that have multimillion-dollar contracts with the space agency to fly its astronauts.


fortune--2019-02-05--Googles Life-Science Sibling Verily Is Reportedly Developing Smart Shoes to Track Your Weight Heal

Google’s Life-Science Sibling Verily Is Reportedly Developing Smart Shoes to Track Your Weight, Health

Google’s parent Alphabet has a number of lower-profile “moonshots” that are tinkering with new innovations. One of them—Verily, which is working on life-sciences applications—is reportedly working on a pair of “smart shoes” that can track your weight and health.  According to CNBC, Verily is “looking for partners to co-develop shoes with sensors embedded to monitor the wearer’s movement and weight, as well as to measure falls.” The site quoted sources who had seen a prototype of the data-tracking shoes, which were produced to attract partners who could help on the project.  While CNBC said it couldn’t determine whether the project was still active, health-tracking sensors and apps have been an active area for tech giants. Apple’s Health app has used Apple Watches and iPhones to monitor nutrition, sleep habits, and exercise activity. Apple recently launched an app with Aetna designed to reward people for healthy behaviors. It’s also working to include patient medical records into its Health app.  Verily has been working on a number of life-sciences projects, including a miniaturized glucose monitor, a smart contact lens to correct vision and surgical robots. The unit is also using machine learning to detect heart-disease risk through scans of patients’ eyes, control the populations of disease-bearing mosquitos, and studying 10,000 patients to see how they went from healthy to ill.  Alphabet did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.  Separately, Alphabet’s stock fell 3.4% in after-hours trading Monday after reporting earnings for the fourth quarter of 2018. Alphabet beat Wall Street’s estimates for revenue and earnings, but investors focused their concern on a decline in advertising prices and shrinking profit margins at the company.


aljazeera--2019-10-12--Chilean astrophysicists on alien life, Mars and space exploration

How will the world's 2 largest telescopes, under construction in Chile, change the way we look at the universe?  In the coming years, Chile is expected to host 70 percent of global astronomical infrastructure.  In the Atacama Desert, the world's two largest telescopes - the ELT and the Giant Magellan - are under construction. When complete, they will provide direct views of planets in other solar systems. This will be an astronomical first.  Celestial objects have been observed and studied since the beginning of time. The planets and stars have helped human beings understand the cosmos, the way it functions, and its impact on our lives. Since Galileo Galilei became the first astronomer to use a telescope for his observations in the 17th century, humanity has devised newer and better ways to study the universe.      But what will these new facilities help us to discover? How will they change the way we look at our universe? And will they help answer the one question many are curious about: Is there extraterrestrial life?  "Life is there, potentially, in the whole universe. And when it arrives in a place where you know it's comfortable and can be developed, it does," says Chilean astrophysicist Dr Maria Teresa Ruiz.  "Although we have no evidence, I would find it very, extremely strange that we would be the only ones in the universe. There are so many, so many stars, so many planets around them. I'm sure there could be life in many of them."  Ruiz is known for discovering the brown dwarf star system named Kelu-1, a sub star located in constellation Hydra, approximately 61 light-years away from earth. She is a pioneer, the first woman to have received a doctorate from Princeton University, and the first woman to receive Chile's national prize for exact sciences.  She says the advanced telescopes will help study the atmospheres of distant planets, to search for traces of oxygen or other indicators of life.  "When you see the universe through these big eyes, you are going to see something nobody else has seen before ... Often the case is what you see, the unknown, is the most interesting thing; something you cannot predict. It's like opening a window to the unknown," she says.  Dr Jose Maza Sancho also believes in the possibility of extraterrestrial life, even if not necessarily always intelligent life.  "There are eight million forms of life on earth. Most of them are bacteria, but bacteria is a form of life," he says. "My suspicion is that at the very least there are 100 billion places in the universe with life."  However, he adds: "But from one galaxy to the next, [for example] a big galaxy like the Andromeda galaxy, the distance is more than two million light-years. If you say 'hello, are you there?' in two million years your message will reach Andromeda. And if they say 'yes, we're here, what do you want?' another two million years for the message to return."  Sancho is a bold exponent of a number of extraordinary theories, including humanity landing on Mars and developing into a multi-planetary society as soon as possible.  "The next challenge, the next intellectual challenge, is to go to Mars," he says, "because it is possible".  "When we went to the moon, all technology got an improvement, enormously. Our life - you or mine, and everybody's life - changed forever because of the dream to go to the moon. The only way to survive in Mars is to have another technology. And if we develop the technology for a few of us to live on Mars, that technology is going to change our life on earth forever."  "It's a big challenge, but if we are able to develop the atmosphere in Mars, we will be able to clean our atmosphere. If we develop big machines like that to survive in Mars, those machines applied massively on earth, we could be taking out of the atmosphere as much carbon dioxide as we are putting in."  This week two of Chile's top astronomers, Dr Maria Teresa Ruiz and Dr Jose Maza Sancho, talk to Al Jazeera.


sputnik--2019-01-02--Russian Physicists Come Closer to Plasma Engine for Superfast Space Travel

Physicists from the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk are preparing another round of experiments aimed at successfully harnessing the power of thermonuclear plasma for use in a rocket engine, institute deputy director Alexander Ivanov has told journalists.  The experiments, which will begin later this month, will follow up on earlier successful tests which confirmed the feasibility of confining plasma in an experimental setup using parameters suitable for a rocket engine, Ivanov said.  sPHENIX Project: How Scientists Study “Soup” That Gave Rise to Universe In late 2018, the institute began operation of a unique installation, known as the SMOLA, the Russian acronym for "Spiral-based Magnetic Open Trap", with the setup serving as the first step forward toward the creation of a fusion reactor. The "plasma trap" allowed scientists to work on confining plasma in a linear magnetic system, which, it is hoped, can eventually help lead to the creation of prototype plasma engine suitable for space travel.  "The first experiments showed that the effect exists. The space engine works, and the means to reducing plasma losses as well. Presently, standard equipment is installed. We are preparing to start experiments on it in January 2019 which should fully demonstrate its capabilities," Ivanov said.  According to the physicist, the current setup serves as a technology demonstrator, with scientists achieving a temperature of 100,000 degrees to form the plasma, and reaching a sufficient density to provide them with data suitable for further work on the creation of a plasma-based rocket engine.  In October, Energomash, a Russian power engineering company involved in the production of rocket engines, announced plans to build a high-powered electrode-less plasma rocket engine. Russia's Kurchatov Institute and the Chemical Automatics Design Bureau first reported that they were working on a plasma-based engine for space travel in 2016.  Interstellar for Real: Meet the Nuclear-Powered Spaceships of the Future Other countries, including the United States, are engaged in similar developments. In 2015, NASA awarded private plasma rocket technology firm Ad Astra a contract on the creation of the "Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket" (VASIMR), with the proposed engines operating by heating pressurised gas to extremely high temperatures using radio waves and keeping the resulting plasma under control using magnetic fields.  Plasma-based rocket engines are one of several proposed options for human exploration of other planets in our solar system, and beyond it.


sputnik--2019-12-16--Physicists Explain the Evolution of Sub-Spaces

According to experts, today, the most common base for theoretical research in physics is the idea that, apart from the well-known three spatial and temporal dimensions, there are some extra ones. It is assumed that the size of the extra dimensions is so small that they can’t be detected with modern equipment.  Scientists at NRNU MEPhI, together with their colleagues from Kazan Federal University, have studied why the Universe has grown to gigantic size, while the sub-spaces remained microscopic. The study was based on the Big Bang theory, which resulted in the creation of our world as well as the Universe growing.  According to Rubin, the scientists will study the role of extra dimensions in the observed physical phenomena and in the early Universe, as well as study whether the size and shape of extra dimensions are the same in different areas of space.  Successive restoration of this shape is a difficult task, which will take more than a dozen years to resolve.  The scientists emphasised that, like all basic research, the study is an attempt to obtain new knowledge that will be used in the future to preserve civilization in the Universe, which is gradually cooling after the Big Bang.  The study results were published in European Physical Journal C.


globalresearch--2019-10-15--The National Basketball Association (NBA): A Multi-Billion Dollar Colossus

Founded in 1946 as a fledgling enterprise, today’s NBA is big business.  Winning is all about big bucks for management and players, along with growing valuation of NBA franchises, on average worth nearly $2 billion.  The most highly valued are NY Knicks and LA Lakers worth $4 billion and $3.7 billion respectively, nine franchises worth over $2 billion.”  All franchises combined are threefold more valuable than five years ago — their last season’s revenue around $8 billion, yet half of what NFL teams earn.  Television is the NBA’s most significant revenue generator, $24 billion alone from ESPN and TNT, more from local contracts, followed by merchandising, ticket sales, sponsorships, concessions, and other revenue sources.  The NBA was the first professional league to earn a significant amount of its revenues from merchandising, marquee players cashing in big on their own prominence.  In the past decade, average franchise valuations tripled. Post-WW II, major league baseball was most popular. Today its popularity is third after pro football and basketball.  NBA popularity is global. Decades earlier, nearly all players were American. Today around one-fourth are nationals of 37 other countries.  According to Forbes, NBA revenues generated outside the US are growing at double-digit rates annually.  The league doesn’t disclose amounts by countries. It did indicate $150 million came from China in 2012, likely much more last season.  The Wall Street Journal reported that the “Houston Rockets were China’s team” — before general manager Daryl Morey’s unacceptable tweet (now deleted), expressing support for months of violent Hong Kong protests saying: “Fight for freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”  Perhaps Morey doesn’t know that US dirty hands all over what’s going on in the city, violence and disruption targeting Beijing, aiming to weaken and destabilize the country — how the US operates against all nations it doesn’t control.  Morey’s offense was compounded by NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s defense of his free expression right. An NBA statement said the following:  “We recognize that the views expressed by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable.” “(T)he values of the league support individuals…sharing their views on matters important to them.” “We have great respect for the history and culture of China and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together.”  Morey’s damage control remarks haven’t softened outrage in China so far, tweeting:  “I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.” “I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.”  China accounts for around 10% of league revenues, its market potential estimated to reach 20% by 2030, why the NBA and team owners are greatly concerned about the fallout from Morey’s offensive tweet.  A second Adam Silver statement fueled more backlash, saying:  “The NBA will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say. We simply could not operate that way.” “I do know there are consequences from freedom of speech. We will have to live with those consequences. For those who question our motivation, this is about far more than growing our business.”  China is justifiably furious over remarks by Morey and Silver. A statement by its Houston consulate expressed “strong dissatisfaction,” adding:  Beijing cancelled broadcasts of NBA pre-season games. Sponsors began cutting ties with the Rockets, what could affect other teams, perhaps the entire league.  Li-Ling Sportswear suspended ties to the NBA. The Chinese Basketball Association canceled planned exhibition games with NBA G League affiliates of both the Rockets and Dallas Mavericks.  Regular season Houston Rockets games won’t be televised in China — last season reaching an audience exceeding 600 million viewers for all NBA games.  As of Friday, 11 NBA Chinese partners suspended ties to the league.  CTrip, China’s largest online travel website “dropped all NBA-related tickets and travel products” from its platform, a statement said.  Mengniu Dairy, Dicos fast foods, Changhong Electric, Master Kong beverages, eHi Car (rental) Services, appliance maker Meiling, financial services firm Xiaoying Technology, Luckin Coffee, and other Chinese firms suspended ties to the NBA.  Chinese social media users called for boycotting league events. Media access for visiting NBA teams playing exhibition games was cancelled.  On October 7, Bloomberg News headlined: NBA China Woes Threaten Billions of Dollars, Decades’ Work,” saying:  Efforts since the 1980s to build league ties to China are “in jeopardy,” saying NBA games “drew 800 million total viewers in China last year.”  League games are big business, China the NBA’s second most important market after the US.  Trump’s war on China by other means over major unresolved structural issues, including scores of its enterprises blacklisted, complicates things further.  Morey’s tweet landed the Houston rockets “in China’s doghouse,” said the WSJ. The fallout impacted the entire league.  Yahoo Sports said several teams are planning “for a scenario in which the cap for the 2020-21 season could drop between 10 and 15 percent due to the current situation between the NBA and China.”  An open letter by hardline congressional members called on NBA officials to suspend ties to China until “government-controlled broadcasters and government-controlled commercial sponsors end their boycott of the NBA activities and the selective treatment of the Houston Rockets.”  For now, it’s unclear how or when what’s going on will be resolved.  Note to readers: please click the share buttons below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.  Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)  His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”


sputnik--2019-04-15--FIFA Bans Ex-Head of Brazilian Football Federation for Life Over Bribery

"The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Jose Maria Marin, the former president of the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) and former member of several FIFA committees, guilty of bribery in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics," FIFA's press release, published on the official website of the body, said.  FIFA's probe into Marin's illegal activities was related to the awarding of media and marketing contracts to companies during football competitions, including those organized by the CBF itself, between 2010 and 2015.  "The adjudicatory chamber banned him [Marin] for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 1 million [almost $1 million] has been imposed on Mr Marin."  The ban comes into force on Monday and the former CBF chief has already been notified about the chamber's decision, the press release added.  In 2017, 85-year-old Marin was found guilty of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering charges by a US court and was later sentenced to four years in prison.


aljazeera--2019-04-06--Its time to hold the Israeli Football Association to account

It's time to hold the Israeli Football Association to account

Ten years ago, I was a professional football player and a member of the Palestinian national football team at the peak of my career. But on July 22, 2009, Israeli soldiers arrested me while crossing from Gaza to the West Bank to play a match. Israel not only robbed me of my career and my passion, but also my freedom.  The Israeli authorities accused me of being a "terrorist" - a claim which remained completely unsubstantiated and unproven right up to the day I was released - three years later. During the final stages of my wrongful imprisonment, I spent three months on hunger strike.  Throughout my ordeal, I received many messages of support from athletes across the world who called for my immediate release. When you are stripped of your rights, unlawfully imprisoned and banned from seeing your family and friends, global solidarity like the kind that I received during those dark days is incredibly important. But the need for solidarity with Palestinian football players and the Palestinian people as a whole, did not end when I walked out of Israeli prison. In fact, that solidarity is needed now more than ever.  I was not the first and will not be the last Palestinian football player who has been the subject of Israeli repression. Just over a year ago on March 30, 2018, the career of promising young Palestinian football player Muhammad Khalil Obeid was destroyed in a flash when he was shot in both knees by Israeli snipers while he was peacefully protesting as part of the Great March of Return. And in January this year, a number of Palestinian football players were injured when Israeli forces fired tear gas into the stadium they were playing in - for absolutely no reason.  When you live under military occupation, the oppressive regime infects every aspect of your life - from sport to education, from your culture to your home. Endless restrictions on freedom of movement, access to resources and fundamental civil liberties make engaging in sport a constant struggle for Palestinians - these violations of rights are totally incompatible with the principle of sport being accessible to all.  Today marks the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. It is a great opportunity to reflect on how sport can be used as a vehicle for positive change in the world around us and how Israel instead of doing so, is using sport to perpetuate its crimes against the Palestinian people.  The Israeli Football Association (IFA) includes football clubs based in illegal Israeli settlements, training and playing matches on stolen Palestinian land. Israeli settlements are illegal land grabs that form an integral part of Israel's occupation infrastructure pushing indigenous Palestinian families off of their land, robbing Palestinians of natural resources and denying them their right of movement. Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are considered war crimes under international law.  In this sense, the IFA is clearly in breach of FIFA rules which prohibit a member association holding competitions on the territory of another without permission. A comprehensive report by Human Rights Watch said that by allowing the IFA to hold matches on stolen Palestinian land, FIFA is enabling business activity that supports the illegal settlements more broadly and, in doing so, is in violation of its own human rights commitments.  Over the past few years there have been growing calls for FIFA to take action and suspend IFA's membership until Israel complies with international law, but this demand has consistently been ignored.  Meanwhile, IFA has refused to take measures to end its complicity in war crimes, despite being repeatedly condemned by UN advisers, dozens of elected officials, public figures and civil society and human rights groups. It is, therefore, imperative that all individuals and organisations who believe in freedom, justice and equality hold the IFA to account for its actions, and refuse to work with its representatives until it ends its complicity in crimes against the Palestinian people.  In particular, IFA's main sponsor, German sportswear manufacturer Puma, needs to take action. Just last summer, Adidas announced it was ending its sponsorship of IFA following a sustained campaign by activists and athletes across the world. Over 200 Palestinian sports clubs have already called on Puma to end its support for Israel's military occupation by terminating its sponsorship deal with the IFA and we must continue to lobby the Germany company until it decides to fully abide by its stated commitment to human rights.  As someone who has experienced first-hand the devastating impact Israel's regime has on access to sport, I urge all organisations who work with Puma to call for an end to its sponsorship of the IFA and, if it does not answer these calls, to cease all partnerships with Puma until it does. I also urge all those who believe in freedom, justice and equality for all to join the growing global campaign to get Puma to stand on the right side of the history by ending its complicity in human rights violations against the Palestinians.  Though Israel robbed me of my career and my freedom, they will not rob me or any other Palestinian, of our determination to attain the rights and freedoms that we are owed.  The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial stance.


bbc--2019-03-29--Football Association Mark Bullingham named new chief executive

Football Association: Mark Bullingham named new chief executive

Mark Bullingham, the Football Association's chief commercial and football development officer, has been named its new chief executive.  He will replace Martin Glenn who is stepping down at the end of the season.  Bullingham joined the organisation in August 2016 and has been credited with a 25% rise in annual revenue.  FA chairman Greg Clarke said Bullingham was "undoubtedly the best person" to lead the organisation into an "exciting new era".  No date has yet been set for Bullingham to take up the position, but he said was "delighted" by his appointment on Friday.  "I'm hugely passionate about the role The FA plays in improving the English game and our positive contribution to society," he added.  "Getting kids across the country active and learning life skills such as teamwork and communication is incredibly rewarding.  "I'm confident in the talent and determination of the workforce here and the direction we are heading together."  Bullingham, who is a qualified coach and has managed an under-9 girls' and an under-11 boys' team for the last four years, is said to have been key to brokering new sponsorship and broadcast deals for the FA and Wembley.  But, he admits his "to-do list is long" in the new role.  "From transforming the quality of amateur pitches, to doubling the women's and girls' game across the country, to hosting major international tournaments, to building digital tools to help volunteers across all areas of the grassroots game.  "We know that as a team, we can deliver huge progress."


npr--2019-10-09--FIFA Disciplines Hong Kong Football Association After Chinese National Anthem Protest

FIFA fined the Hong Kong Football Association Wednesday after fans protested the Chinese national anthem at a World Cup qualifying game against Iran. The Hong Kong and China national teams are separate, but FIFA plays the Chinese anthem because Hong Kong is considered an administrative region of China.  Disciplinary records said that Hong Kong supporters breached article 16 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code by disturbing a national anthem and using objects to "transmit a message that is not appropriate for a sports events."  The Hong Kong Football Association has been ordered to pay 15,000 Swiss francs ($15,000 U.S.) and was given a warning. Hong Kong football officials can appeal the decision.  A video taken during the September game shows supporters facing backward and booing as China's national anthem plays.  During halftime, Hong Kong fans surrounded the stadium, locked arms and sang "Glory to Hong Kong," a song widely adopted as the protest anthem.  Though Hong Kong lost to Iran 2-0, protesters were happy to use the game to increase awareness to their cause.  "The emotion here is good, though we lost," Hong Kong supporter Leo Fan told the AP. "We will fight till the end."  The Hong Kong Football Association have yet to comment on their sanction.  During the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Hong Kong was disciplined three times. All three incidents involved the booing of the Chinese national anthem. Hong Kong was fined twice, totalling about $15,000.  FIFA isn't the only sporting federation to involve itself in the Hong Kong liberation movement. Earlier this week, the Houston Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters. The Chinese Basketball Association then announced it will suspend cooperation with the Rockets.  The league's commissioner clarified Tuesday that the NBA supports free speech, after the Rockets' owner and an NBA spokesman denounced Morey's statement.  Paolo Zialcita is an intern on NPR's News Desk.


theindependent--2019-10-09--Hong Kong Football Association fined by Fifa for booing China national anthem before World Cup quali

Hong Kong Football Association fined by Fifa for booing China national anthem before World Cup qualifier

Fifa have fined Hong Kong’s Football Association (HKFA) £12,332 (15,000 Swiss francs) after their fans disrespected the Chinese national anthem before last month’s World Cup qualifier against Iran.  Hong Kong fans booed and turned their backs while the anthem was played on September 10.  The game took place during the ongoing pro-democracy protests against China’s rule of Hong Kong, which was under British rule until 1997.  Hong Kong lost the match 2-0 and next plays at home on November 14 against Bahrain.  Also, FIFA fined Indonesia £36,996 (45,000 Swiss francs) for fan disorder in a home qualifier against neighbouring Malaysia.  The game was suspended for several minutes late in the second half because of clashes between fans. Malaysia won 3-2 with a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time.  Fifa warned Malaysia for its fans’ lack of discipline and throwing objects.


thetelegraph--2019-09-27--Association of Football Agents considers suing Fifa over proposed limits on agents fees and loan de

Association of Football Agents considers suing Fifa over proposed limits on agents' fees and loan deals

The Association of Football Agents is considering suing Fifa in response to tough new curbs on the "Wild West" transfer industry.  A limit on agents fees to 10 percent per transfer and a new cap on international loan deals are close to being launched under recommendations from the world governing body's Football Stakeholders Committee.  However, in a letter seen by the Daily Telegraph, the agent Mel Stein issued a rallying cry to other Premier League intermediaries, telling his colleagues to expect an "expensive fight" with Fifa.  The association also sent a letter to Fifa complaining at a lack of consultation over the reforms.  "It is blatantly untruthful to say that there has been consultation with us," the letter says. "Your organisation acknowledged at our meeting that the consultation process had not even begun as far as we were concerned. We cannot accept any regulations that provide for capping of our fees or restrict our freedom to act for any party in a transaction.  "Those regulations would be unlawful and anti-competitive as you are well aware.  Before we issue proceedings (which we will have no alternative but to do if you continue down this path) we would invite you to enter into a full consultation process."


sputnik--2019-01-01--Russian Olympic Committee Has Served Its Sanction IOC President

Russian Olympic Committee ‘Has Served Its Sanction’ – IOC President

"In PyeongChang, we sanctioned the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia during the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014. The IOC sanctioned those entities involved, proportional to their levels of responsibility … With its suspension from the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, the Russian Olympic Committee has served its sanction," Bach said, as quoted in a statement.  The Russian anti-doping system is being reformed amid the scandal over the alleged state-run doping program in the country, which resulted in a number of sanctions against Russian officials and athletes. Russian officials have refuted the allegations of the state-run doping program, while admitting that Russian sports had some issues with doping abuse.  WADA Has Got No Access to Data of Moscow Anti-Doping Lab by Deadline  Earlier in the day, WADA stated that Russia had not provided the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with data of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory by December 31, which was set as a deadline.  "The 31 December 2018 deadline – by which time the Russian authorities had to provide access to the data – has elapsed without the data having been retrieved. The deadline was one of two conditions stipulated in WADA’s 20 September Executive Committee (ExCo) decision regarding the Russian Anti-Doping Agency’s (RUSADA’s) compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code)," the statement said.  "On 14-15 January 2019, the CRC will meet and review all available elements. The CRC will provide a recommendation to the WADA Executive Committee based on the applicable rules, namely the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), which entered into force on 1 April 2018, and the Code; and as soon as practicable thereafter, the CRC’s recommendation will be considered by the ExCo," the statement added.  This comes after, on December 21, a WADA mission, led by independent expert Jose Antonio Pascual, finished its visit to Moscow. The mission was tasked with retrieving raw data from the information management system of the Moscow laboratory, but has not managed to complete the task in time.  On September 20, the great majority of the WADA Executive Committee voted to reinstate RUSADA as an organization that complies with the World Anti-Doping Code, with the head of WADA specifying that the country had met 29 out of 31 criteria included in the roadmap for reinstatement. The deadline for the two remaining criteria was therefore rescheduled for December 31.


tass--2019-04-11--Russian Olympic chief IOC to participate in 40th anniversary of Moscow Olympics

Russian Olympic chief: IOC to participate in 40th anniversary of Moscow Olympics

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) plans to participate in the festivities in Russia next year dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), told TASS on Thursday.  "The International Olympic Committee will definitely participate in this event as it has been always taking part in celebrations of the most successful Olympic Games, which certainly include the Olympics in Moscow," Pozdnyakov said in an interview with TASS.  "We have numerous ideas of how to celebrate this event, adding up that the dates of the Olympic Games in Moscow coincide with the All-Russia Olympic Day," Pozdnyakov said. "We are setting up at the moment a work group to deal with this task."  On March 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced his support to the idea of by Honorary President of the Russian Olympic Committee Vitaly Smirnov to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow.  At a session of the Council on the Physical Culture and Sport Development, Smirnov mentioned the success of the Moscow Olympics and suggested to demonstrate to the world’s sports community modern Russia’s achievements in the development of sports.  The Russian president said at that time that "It is a good idea." He instructed the Russian Sports Ministry and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin to back up the idea of Vitaly Smirnov.  The 1980 Summer Olympics was held in the Russian capital of Moscow between July 19 and August 3.  The summer Olympics in 1980, hosted by then-Soviet Union, were marred by a boycott on behalf of a number of foreign countries, including the United States, in protest of Soviet military presence in Afghanistan.  Addressing the first ever World Olympians Forum (WOF), hosted by Moscow in 2015, IOC President Thomas Bach said the boycott could have been avoided if the IOC and the world leaders "could have listened to the Olympians at that time and the boycott could have never happened.".  In other media


theseattletimes--2019-06-25--IOC president cautions against profit-driven sports events

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — IOC President Thomas Bach wants local governments to resist promoting independently run sports events that he believes go against the Olympic ideal.  The organizers of profit-driven sporting ventures are “cherry picking” events without sharing the International Olympic Committee’s duty to use profits to help athletes around the world, Bach told Olympic leaders on Tuesday at their annual meeting.  Citing a global zeitgeist that encouraged “narrow self-interest,” Bach criticized “a purely market-based approach to sport that ignores the values we stand for.”  “This is why are calling on public authorities to take this distinction into consideration whenever they take decisions that affect sport,” the IOC president said.  In swimming, three elite athletes filed an anti-trust case against governing body FINA and others risked bans by supporting a privately owned league which had a launch event planned in Turin, Italy.  FINA then withdrew the ban threat, increased prize money and launched its own new top-tier competition series.  Basketball governing body FIBA has also been in a long-running dispute with the club-controlled EuroLeague competition.  “Sport without values is just entertainment,” Bach said. “Yes, Olympic sport must be entertaining, but it must not be just entertainment.”  He did acknowledge that some businesses “deserve a profit” for presenting sports in innovative ways that engaged young people.  “What is not fair at all, is that more and more public authorities are ignoring the differences between these purely commercial companies and us, as values-based organizations,” Bach said.  Bach has consistently defended the authority of Olympic bodies and a business model that uses games revenues to fund them rather than pay prize money directly to athletes.  The IOC has resisted relaxing rules that limits Olympic athletes from promoting personal sponsors during a games period, despite German athletes winning a federal agency ruling.  Bach has argued that exclusive rights for top-tier Olympic sponsors, who paid more than $1 billion in the 2013-16 cycle, maximized revenue for the IOC to re-invest in sports.  He cited “legitimate athlete representatives” — those elected from within Olympic bodies — as the only recognized path for negotiation, and pledged more benefits for competitors.  “We did not always do our best to make the solidarity model transparent and understandable enough to the athletes and the wider public,” he said.  The IOC has allocated more than $500 million that its Solidarity Commission will distribute from 2017-20 to athletes and Olympic teams.  Later in the meeting, the IOC reported a $165 million profit in 2018 on income of $2.2 billion in the Pyeongchang Winter Games year. The revenue included of $1.436 billion from broadcasting rights and $550 million from marketing income.  IOC finance commission chairman Ser Miang Ng reported spending that including $1.153 billion to games organizers, national Olympics committees and sports governing bodies.  There was $178 million in IOC operating costs and $133 million spent on “promoting the Olympic Movement.” Overall project spending was $187 million on the Olympic House headquarters in Lausanne.