Martin Keown rates Arsenal’s chances of signing Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona
Martin Keown has rated Arsenal’s chances of signing Philippe Coutinho (Picture: Getty)Martin Keown does not expect Arsenal to sign Philippe Coutinho but admits the Barcelona forward would be a ‘very exciting’ addition at the Emirates.The Gunners have reportedly expressed interest in bringing Coutinho to north London before the summer transfer window closes on Thursday.Coutinho has endured a mixed spell at Barcelona since leaving Liverpool in January 2018, winning a host of trophies at the Nou Camp but failing to perform to the best of his ability.Arsenal have been linked with a shock loan move for Coutinho but former defender Keown cannot see the deal going through.ADVERTISEMENTMore: FootballRio Ferdinand urges Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to drop Manchester United starChelsea defender Fikayo Tomori reveals why he made U-turn over transfer deadline day moveMikel Arteta rates Thomas Partey’s chances of making his Arsenal debut vs Man CityHe told Mirror Sport: ‘It’s a shame to think that it is far-fetched when they could have been real possibilities.AdvertisementAdvertisement‘I would love to see him at Arsenal without a doubt, he is a great talent who has lost his way a bit but I think it is too much to hope for that he ends up at Arsenal.‘He’s a top quality player, the way he breaks from deep-lying midfield positions, his shooting ability – it’s a mystery why it hasn’t gone well for him at Barcelona.‘It would be a very exciting signing.’ Advertisement Comment Martin Keown rates Arsenal’s chances of signing Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona Metro Sport ReporterMonday 5 Aug 2019 5:44 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link643Shares The Gunners have been linked with a shock move for Philippe Coutinho (Picture: Getty)Arsenal broke their transfer record on Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe last week after agreeing a £72million deal with Ligue 1 side Lille.Pepe became Unai Emery’s third signing of the summer following the deals for William Saliba and Daniel Ceballos.On Arsenal’s transfer window, Keown added: ‘He [Emery] must think he can do it tactically with the players he has.‘Otherwise it’s very obvious that he should have been buying central defenders, or defensively minded individuals both in midfield and at the back.‘So he has made decisions in regards to the personalities he wants and he’s gone after and pursed this talent, so that’s a gamble because we know there is a weakness and only time will tell if he’s got that right.’More: FootballBruno Fernandes responds to Man Utd bust-up rumours with Ole Gunnar SolskjaerNew Manchester United signing Facundo Pellistri responds to Edinson Cavani praiseArsenal flop Denis Suarez delivers verdict on Thomas Partey and Lucas Torreira moves Advertisement
Six of Britain’s largest insurance companies have committed £25bn (€30bn) to domestic infrastructure projects, an allocation made possible due to clarity over the implementation of Solvency II regulations, according to the UK government.Publishing a revised National Infrastructure Plan (NIP), the UK Treasury outlined a £375bn pipeline of potential projects, with chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander saying the insurance sector’s commitments marked a “massive vote of confidence” in the domestic economy.The Association of British Insurers’ director general Otto Thoresen noted that the sector had a key role to play as a provider of long-term capital.“Providing capital for infrastructure projects will help drive a competitive, healthy and resilient UK economy,” he added. The government said Aviva, Friends Life, Legal & General, Prudential, Scottish Widows and Standard Life had agreed to invest “at least” £25bn over the next five years.“Suitable projects will include, but not be limited to, those included in the National Infrastructure Plan 2013 and can include major infrastructure projects led by private sector sponsors,” the Treasury said in a policy document released alongside the NIP.The document, ‘The UK Insurance Growth Action Plan’, also said that, in the wake of concluded negotiations at the European level over Solvency II – a likely reference to the recent agreement over the Omnibus II Directive – the industry now had sufficient clarity to make long-term commitments.“In line with the government’s broader transposition policy,” the document continued, “and given that Solvency II is maximum harmonising, implementation will be fully consistent with the Directive and not go beyond it – implementation will be through a direct copy-out approach where possible, avoiding gold plating.”To coincide with the publication of the NIP, the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) confirmed it was in final negotiations with an asset manager to assume responsibility for the equity portfolio of its Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP).The manager, Dalmore Capital, currently advises and manages £430m in UK assets, the NAPF noted.Its statement added: “Following significant interest, and a rigorous selection process, asset managers were shortlisted for a number of investment mandates. “Discussions are still ongoing regarding the appointment of investment managers for the remaining mandates.”The PIP launched its manager selection process in May, having attracted tentative commitments of £1bn from 10 UK pension funds.,WebsitesWe are not responsible for the content of external sitesLink to the UK National Infrastructure PlanLink to ‘The UK Insurance Growth Action Plan’ policy document
IPE contributing editor Joseph Mariathasan explores whether hedge funds can justify their feesHedge funds have always been a controversial area for pension fund investment. Quite apart from the opaque nature of many strategies and the esoteric nature of where the returns are supposedly coming from, the traditional fee structure of 2% management plus 20% performance hits you in the face.It should be a worrying time for the hedge fund industry. Last year saw the largest US pension scheme, CalPERS, pulling out of all hedge funds, and this year has already seen PFZW, the second-largest pension scheme in the Netherlands, following suit. In both cases, high fees were a major factor, and they were amongst the first pension funds in their markets to invest in hedge funds.But the obvious question to ask is why did they only just recently realise the fee rates were unacceptable? The answer must be that is because hedge fund performance in recent years has lagged the equity markets by a long way – in 2013, the S&P 500 returned 30% whilst the HFRI, a well-known hedge fund benchmark index, had just a 9% return. Can hedge funds justify the fees? The answer appears to be many certainly don’t whilst a few may. Many sources of hedge fund returns are systematic, such as momentum and volatility, and these are easily accessible via approaches that can be described as ‘alternative beta’. With an increasing acceptance of these return drivers behind many hedge fund strategies, there is also an increasing reluctance to pay high fees for accessing them. Indeed, companies such as Metzler Asset Management are offering access to such strategies at conventional fee rates. It is not surprising that there appears to be a strong downward trend in fees.Perhaps the question a pension fund needs to ask is how much should they be prepared to pay for specific hedge fund strategies in their portfolios. There are two ways a pension fund can look at this, though. One is to ask how much effort and cost is incurred by a fund manager in offering a specific strategy, which should be reflected in the base management fee. On this basis, quantitative market neutral and systematic global macro strategies should deserve higher fees because of their higher cost base arising from the high level of technology and data required.The other approach is to take the view that what matters to a pension fund is gaining access to asset classes that are less correlated to the traditional ones. Aberdeen Asset Management’s hedge-fund-of-funds team makes this case and argues that, when the hedge fund industry was small and less competitive, managers generally generated absolute returns. The dramatic increase in size of the industry has meant many strategies now have a high beta with respect to traditional asset classes, and Aberdeen would not be prepared to pay high levels of fees for them. For a pension fund, fee levels are ultimately a function of how useful a hedge fund strategy is in terms of its ability to offer diversification from its traditional asset classes and the relative bargaining power of investors versus the managers. The actual resources required are just a bargaining chip managers can use, but for a pension fund, that is someone else’s problem! What should be addressed, though, is against what benchmark comparisons performance should be judged against to justify the fees. Hedge fund strategies usually do not claim to be able to outperform equities at the height of a bull market, but often the claim is made that the strategy can match equity performance with lower volatility. A short-term performance comparison would therefore be an invalid approach.Aberdeen has undertaken some analysis on costs versus performance and correlations with traditional asset classes, and it argues that it really can be beneficial to pay for access to some higher-cost products. It finds that discretionary global macro, fixed income relative value and multi-strategy offer relatively attractive risk/return profiles, while the profiles of long/short equity quantitative, systematic global macro and event-driven equity are less so.It has also found evidence that more costly funds in certain strategies are, on average, producing better risk-adjusted results than their cheaper peers. This applies to global macro, fixed income relative value, quantitative and multi-strategy. What it concludes is that, for these strategies, it really can be beneficial to pay for access to higher-cost products in contrast to other strategies such as the equity-orientated event-driven and long/short equity, where its analysis suggests there is less value added by the more expensive managers. Whilst the more sophisticated pension funds may take heed of this analysis, I suspect for many wishing to invest in hedge funds, it may be cheaper just to invest in an alternative beta index product.Joseph Mariathasan is a contributing editor at IPE
The Telegraph 6 April 2017Family First Comment: A disturbing case in the UK. We’ll keep an eye on the issue in NZ.“”The issue is no longer about term-time holidays,” he said. “It is about the state taking the rights of parents away from making decisions about their children.”Parents who take their children out of school for term time holidays can be prosecuted, the Supreme Court has ruled as a “stubborn” father lost his landmark case on Thursday whilst appealing to parents not to follow his example.Delivering their verdict, the judges ruled that Jon Platt, a businessman from the Isle of Wight who took his six-year-old daughter on a seven-day family trip in Florida in April 2015, should have paid a £120 fine for his daughter’s unauthorised absence.The judges said he had shown a “blatant disregard of school rules” and that his approach had been a “slap in the face” to “obedient” parents who abide by the law.Their ruling means that parents who take their children out of school on holiday – even if their child has regular attendance – can be prosecuted if they do not receive permission from the head teacher.Speaking in Parliament Square after the ruling, Mr Platt apologised to his wife for his stubbornness, adding that he was “not at all surprised” by the verdict.READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/04/06/term-time-holidays-supreme-court-rule-parents-can-legally-take/
BACOLOD City – A 50-year-old woman was stabbed to death in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental. Police identified the suspects as Jason Abella and a certain “Tolendoy.”According to police investigators, Tamayo refused to sell a bottle of whiskey to Abella and Tolendoy.This prompted the suspects to attack the victim using a bladed weapon around 7 p.m. on June 7.Tamayo was rushed to the Talisay City Health Center where the attending physician declared her “dead on arrival.”Officers of the Talisay City police station conducted a manhunt operation against the suspects, who fled after the incident./PN Resident Evelyn Tamayo died of stab wounds on the body, a police report showed.
BY CYRUS GARDE AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
ANTIOCH, Calif. (Aug. 9) – “Fast Freddie” Ryland lived up to his name Saturday night by riving to the win in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature at Antioch Speedway.Ryland chased down and passed Nick Spainhoward in the final two laps to drive to victory.Rob Gallaher worked around Megan Ponciano for third while Jeremy Hoff completed the top five.
THIS SERVICE IS NO LONGER GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY MARCH 28TH. DUE TO CURRENT SITUATIONS WITH THE COVID-19 VIRUS WE WILL BE RESCHEDULING AT A LATER DATE.Elmerene (Rene) Ann Mattson age 70, of Rising Sun, Indiana passed away March 3, 2020 in Rising Sun, IN.She was born July 10, 1949 in Downey California, daughter of the late Elmer Mattson and Irene (Gustafson) Mattson. She worked in customer service for Garden’s alive, with over 14 years of service, before her retirement.She previously attended the Rising Sun Church of Christ. She loved Joel Olsteen and watched many Christian TV and Evangelist programs. She was a strong Christian and kept God foremost in her life.Rene was originally from California and she loved to camp and travel in her RV. She loved the mountains and the beaches, and one of her favorite spots was Morro Bay, California. Rene loved to watch old westerns and visit ghost towns in the west. Her goal for retirement was to travel the state parks and old west areas in the US in her RV, but God had other plans for her. Her last years were spent at her sister’s farm, in Indiana, enjoying the peaceful countryside, porch time, and “girl time” with her sister and her niece whom she called her little “BFF”. She was an animal lover, and especially loved cats and horses.Elmerene is survived by her son Jeffrey Cobb of Pasadena, California, her siblings, Sister Connie & husband Jim Dickman of Rising Sun, Indiana. Her brother Gaylen & wife Gail of Lake Elsinore California. Niece’s Zoey Dickman & Erin Mattson and nephews Josh Mattson & Chris (Michelle) Mattson, and several great nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents.Friends and family will be received Saturday, March 28 from 11am – 12 pm at Rullman Hunger Funeral Home in Aurora, Indiana. Memorial service will be held immediately following visitation at 12 pm at the funeral home.Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, at which her parents were officers in the Salvation Army Corp.If unable to attend services please call the funeral home office at 812 926-1450, and we will notify the family of your donation with a card.Due to the current situation dealing with COVID-19, we are following the directives from Governor Holcomb and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning large events and mass gatherings. The family deeply appreciates the support and love shown from friends, but the health and well being of everyone in our community is of top priority.Alternative ways to express your condolences can be done by going online and leaving the family a message, sending a card, flowers, or making a donation in memory of their loved one.Visit: www.rullmans.com
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in has canceled its induction ceremony in August because of health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.Hall of Fame president John Hendrickson says the museum believes it’s “in the best interests of everyone involved and for the integrity of the event to postpone the ceremony for a year.”The Hall of Fame ceremony was scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This year’s class includes trainer Mark Casse, jockey Darrel McHargue, horses Wise Dan and Tom Bowling, and Pillars of the Turf Alice Headley Chandler, Keene Daingerfield, Jr., and George D. Widener, Jr. They will be inducted with the class of 2021.The 44th Annual Museum Ball scheduled for Aug. 14 also was canceled. It’s traditionally one of the highlights of the Saratoga summer social season.___ German soccer club Dynamo Dresden has reported another case of coronavirus. The already quarantined second-division club has now had four players test positive.Dresden says on its website that the latest positive result was found in a fifth wave of tests conducted on Wednesday. It adds that another “category one” close contact of its coaching staff has also tested positive for COVID-19.The player, staff member and staff member’s contact person must now go into quarantine at home for 14 days.Dresden’s entire team was ordered by local health authorities into 14 days of quarantine on May 9 after two players tested positive.The club says that all players who tested positive before were cleared in the fourth and fifth wave of tests and that they and the rest of the team will be able to resume training on Saturday. The move affects 68 student-athletes and nine coaches and reduces ECU’s sponsored sports from 20 to 16, including nine for women. The NCAA requires Division I FBS schools to carry minimums of 16 sports, eight for women.“The coaches and student-athletes for these respective sports have all impacted our department and the Pirate Family in a positive manner,” athletic director Jon Gilbert said in a release. “This decision was not made lightly. The history and success of the swimming and diving programs and the tennis programs will continue to be celebrated at East Carolina.”ECU interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson stated that the athletic budget was not sustainable pre-COVID-19. The deficit began to grow significantly with the pandemic where the impact was immediate and would affect future revenue and expenses.ECU will honor scholarships for athletes who remain at the school. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports,Tampa Bay Lightning advance to face Dallas Stars in Stanley Cup finals, beating New York Islanders 2-1 in OT in Game 6 The Latest: East Carolina drops tennis, swimming and diving FINA says the championships scheduled for December in Abu Dhabi will now be staged Dec. 13-18, 2021, in the United Arab Emirates because of the “the uncertainty related with the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.”FINA president Julio C. Maglione says swimming organizers have worked closely with the United Arab Emirates’ authorities and “we believe this is the most suitable solution for all those taking part in this competition.”A general congress to elect the FINA Bureau for the years 2021-25 will be staged in Doha, Qatar, on June 5, 2021. The new members of the bureau will start their terms immediately after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.The short course world championships are held in a 25-meter pool. The FINA world championships and the Olympics are staged in 50-meter pools.___ Dresden was scheduled to play at Hannover last Sunday but couldn’t participate because of the quarantine order. That game was rescheduled for June 3.Dresden is scheduled to resume play on May 31 against Stuttgart.___Manchester United says it believes it will miss out on $24 million because the Premier League will have to make refunds to broadcasters even if the pandemic-disrupted season is completed.The league is in talks with its rights holders about rebates because of delays and changes to the broadcasting schedule. The season was suspended in March. May 21, 2020 Empty stadiums will also change the TV product.The rebates will vary based on the final position in the standings and the number of games aired live. United is in fifth place with nine games remaining.The Premier League hasn’t provided details of the broadcasting rebate.___The governing body of swimming has postponed the short course world championships for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Associated Press Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___East Carolina is eliminating its men’s and women’s tennis and swimming and diving programs to help reduce a $4.9 million budget deficit.
A lot will be on the line for the unranked Trojans this Saturday, when they host No. 3-ranked Utah in a game with tremendous Pac-12 South implications.Daily Trojan sports editor Darian Nourian sat down with Utah’s Daily Utah Chronicle football beat reporter, Kim Brenneisen, to give Trojan fans a better picture of what to expect from this Utes squad on Saturday.Daily Trojan: What has been the main reason for Utah’s success this season?Daily Utah Chronicle: It’s really been a complete team effort from the Utes, but it’s really the leadership of the seniors that is pulling the team. There are plenty of guys on the team competing in their final season as a Ute, so they have something to prove before year’s end. The defense, though they have not been registering as many sacks as last season, is more than making up for it in interceptions. They are not dropping balls like they have in the past and the overall intensity has increased. The offense has more of a balanced attack this year, and Utah is no longer dependent on the run game. Special teams is also doing pretty well, and Tom Hackett continues to punt balls within the other team’s 20-yard line.DT : Is this Utah team overrated or is it a true national championship contender?DUC : They are definitely not overrated, and even with Utah’s No. 3 ranking, analysts have them losing this game, which only motivates this team. The Utes feel like they have been the underdog for such a long time, and still feel like that, but in a more positive light than before. Being around the players, they’re confident, but not cocky. They are relaxed, but not lazy. The Utes are clicking on all cylinders, like I said before, and it certainly helps that the majority of teams in the Pac-12 are not having their best seasons.DT : What does Utah need to work on leading up to the USC game?DUC : Special teams without a doubt. Even though I said this is a big reason why they are playing well, it could have very well been the reason they almost lost to ASU this past weekend. They allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown and, later in the game, allowed another big gain off of a punt return. Then, most ugly of all, they had a botched trick play in which Britain Covey was flagged for an illegal forward pass in the end zone that resulted in not just a safety, but also a field goal. Whittingham called the special teams play horrible and Covey called it stupid. They certainly won’t be doing this again and will make sure to get their act together before heading on the road.DT : Who on USC will give the Utes trouble?DUC : The Utes are actually concerned with the entire wide receiving unit for USC, but more specifically, JuJu Smith-Schuster. Whittingham mentioned his name earlier this week and knows his secondary will need be aware of where he is on the field at all times. The Utes have yet to face someone of his caliber so it will be a real test to see if they can cover him. Smith-Schuster is a savvy wide receiver, and playmaker in general, so Utah will need to be sure to not give him any space.DT : Who will the Trojans need to keep their eyes on?DUC : Devontae Booker is always ready to go, and after not having an ideal three quarters last weekend, he’ll definitely want to make it up for it. Although he did not get much going throughout most of the game, he still finished with two rushing touchdowns — one of which essentially secured the Utes’ victory — and finished with 118 yards on the ground. Booker wants that Heisman and, more importantly, his teammates want it for him. They’ll do whatever it takes to get the run back on track and even if it doesn’t, he can be effective otherwise. He did a nice job picking up blocks for Wilson when he needed it and he’s also a threat catching the ball so he will keep the Trojans on their toes throughout the whole game.DT : If Utah wins, what will be the main reason why?DUC : Utah will win the game if two out of its three units are in sync but, most importantly, the offense. This team has been doing a good job of scoring lately, and USC surely can, too. Wilson will need to play with as much confidence as he has been doing so all season long. Also, he finally needs to hit a deep shot. Last game he attempted to throw a couple long ones and both times overthrew his receiver. Other than that, the receivers have been doing a good job of getting open and will need to continue to do the same against the Trojans. Then, Booker essentially just needs to do Booker-like things, creating more space and fighting for extra yards whenever he can.DT : What does a win in this game mean for the Utah program and would it solifify the Utes as a new Pac-12 powerhouse?DUC : A win validates this team even more. USC is one of the most storied college football programs, and plenty of people still have their doubts. For instance, the Utes are ranked No. 7 in the Coaches Poll — for some reason Michigan State is ranked above them even though Utah had more decisive wins against Oregon and Michigan. People overlook Utah a lot, and then, when the Utes do make any sort of noise, people are quick to assume they are not really what they seem and that they are overrated. A win against a program like USC, on the road, depicts them in a better light, but at the same time, some won’t value it because of USC’s record; so essentially, a win just keeps them in the conversation. A loss would completely deter the Utes’ chances of making the playoffs and would only verify some people’s thoughts that they aren’t good enough. A win does make the Utes a powerhouse in the Pac-12, but only for the time being. Utah will need to continue winning, and winning decisively, to be considered a true favorite.DT : Who do you think will win and why?DUC : I think Utah pulls out a close win in a high scoring affair, 42-39. The Utes still have a lot to prove to the entire country and will be more focused than ever to win in the Coliseum. Any loss at this point is a bad loss, and the Utes will win because they need to. They need to prove to everyone that their season is not a fluke and, in the end, they will because every single player knows what is at stake against the Trojans.
Jamaica has shipped 12,000 pounds of “Julie” & “East Indian” mangoes to the United States, and Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are among the first to receive shipments. The mangoes will be sold in Bravo and Presidente supermarkets.The mangoes were shipped from Jamaica on June 13. The Mango Irradiation Program is facilitating the export, which will continue one or two times per week until the close of mango season at the end of July.An official export ceremony was held at Sangster International Airport’s Export Complex in Montego Bay, St. James. At the ceremony, J.C. Hutchinson, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Agriculture, said that there is a high demand for Jamaican mangoes among people In the Diaspora. Hutchinson also noted that the first shipment of mangoes to the US indicates that markets for the produce exist and that Jamaica should take all opportunities to fulfill the demand in those markets.Jamaica has exported mangoes to Canada and the United Kingdom for some time. In 2013, 654,954 kilograms of mangoes were shipped to Canada, and in 2014, the country received shipments totaling 691,206 kilograms.The US Department of Agriculture cleared the way for the importation of Jamaican mangoes in 2013, but the arrangement was subject to compliance with standards imposed by the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.The Jamaican government have to ensure the mangoes undergo a process of irradiation – treating mangoes with ionizing radiation, which sterilizes fruit flies so they cannot reproduce.According to Dalton Hastings, Export Complex Manager in the Plant Quarantine Department of the Ministry, reassured consumers that this process does not impact the taste of the mangoes, but does increase their shelf life by killing pathogens.Jordan Dawson of Dawson’s Trading Company who supports the export of mangoes to the US believes the arrangement has major benefits for Jamaica’s agricultural sector.
MIAMI, Florida – The AJAH Foundation will host its fifth Annual Ajala Art Show on July 21, 2019, at the Toe Jam Backlot in Miami’s Wynwood Art District.Through art show events, AJAH Foundation, a non-profit organization, raises awareness and funds for local charities which promote Health and Education.A diverse selection of painters, photographers, performance artists, mixed media creators, live art exhibitors, jewelers, poets, and authors have displayed their work at past shows, and this year’s show is expected to draw the same crowd of talented creatives.Artist, Nancy De Castro describes the event as, “Best Art show I have ever attended. Very well organized. The people who participated were the most friendly, talented people.”In partnership with corporate sponsors TD Bank, Vital Dental Center, and Costco, this year’s charitable focus is on Shadowlawn Elementary School, a public school (PreK-5) comprised of 232 students with a 3-star rating. Located in Little Haiti, Miami, the Foundation’s goal is to provide Shadowlawn’s students with essential supplies and to expand the school’s library.Carol Ray, Founder of Gateway Community Outreach, a past beneficiary of the Ajala Art Show states, “It is encouraging to partner with your Foundation. I truly believe that through your compassion and vision, AJAH Foundation will help us to promote awareness about how vulnerable many Broward families are and the unexpected situations that can lead to hunger and homelessness.”Dr. Keith Williams of Vital Dental Center, past and current sponsor of The Ajala Art Show states, “I am impressed with the wide range of art medium and the efforts of the Foundation, and encourage all locals to come out for the next show”.Over the years, AJAH’s events benefited these other worthy causes: Meals on Wheels of South Florida, Gateway Community Outreach, Shak’s Hope Sickle Cell Foundation, and Sickle Cell Wellness Group.Event Organizer and President of AJAH Foundation, Lorna Williams says that she is committed to shining a light on worthy charitable causes and improving the lives of citizens in Florida for years to come.
(Source: klix.ba) Last night on the stadium Olimpico in Rome, Roma hosted Sevilla in a friendly match. Roma played great and won with the score 6: 4. Captain of B&H national team, Edin Džeko, made his debut for Roma and scored two goals and enrolled one assist.Džeko showed that is willing to play in the very first minute of the match, with a shot on the goal of Sevilla, but his shot was blocked by the Spanish goalkeeper Rico.However, Džeko needed only 3 more minutes for his first goal in Roma. Maicon passed the ball to the new attacker of Roma on the right side, who managed to escape from the defense of Sevilla and this time was precise and Rico powerless. Diamond made excellent start in his new team.After only 8 minutes Roma lead with the score 2: 0, and this time scored Torosidis.In the 11th minute of the match, Sevilla had a great opportunity with Immobile in action, however, Roma’s goalkeeper Szczesny performed great defense. In the following action Immobile shot over the goal.Roma goalkeeper was again dangerously threatened by Suarez who shot from the outside of the penalty area, but once again, Szczesny was up to the task.Džeko tried his shot in the 27th minute after a center shot of Nainggolan, however, he haven’t scored this time.However, Džeko scored his second goal for Roma in 42nd minute of the match, and in the action assisted B&H player Miralem Pjanić and Egyptian Mohamed Salah. Roma took the lead against Sevilla with the score 3: 0.That was not all for the first half, because Roma came to its 4th goal. This time Džeko assisted to Nainggolan, who scored 4th goal for Roma in this match.With this result, a great half for Roma at Olimpico Stadium was completed.At the beginning of the second half, De Sanctis came on the goal of Roma instead Szczesny. In the 48th minute Nianggolan and Džeko were in the action in front of the goal of Sevilla again, but this time there was no goal.Sevilla could decrease the backlog after 55 minutes, but Immobile hit the goalpost. In the next attack of Roma, Salah scored and increased the lead over Sevilla on 5: 0.Roma coach Rudi Garcia made three changes after 60 minutes, and Džeko, Salah and Falque came out and Totti, Iturbe and Gervinho entered the game.Just 2 minutes after entering the game, Totti scored a goal. He hit the net and increased the lead of Rome to 6: 0.Honorary goal for Sevilla scored Suarez in the 70th minute after a great solo action and set the score to 6: 1.Garcia’s made new changes in 74th minute, and Maicon, Manolas, Castan and Pjanić were replaced with Florenz, De Rossi, Ljajić and Capradosso.Sevilla coach made changes as well, and his team started playing much better. This resulted in the second goal for Sevilla, and this time Reyes scored for 6: 2 in 77th minute and Gameiro enrolled assistance.Coke scored the 3rd goal for Sevilla in 83rd minute.The 4th goal for Sevilla, and his second in this match, scored Suarez after 86 minutes.He set the final result, and Roma won with 6: 4.
Close Forgot password? Please put in your email: Send me my password! Close message Login This blog post All blog posts Subscribe to this blog post’s comments through… RSS Feed Subscribe via email Subscribe Subscribe to this blog’s comments through… RSS Feed Subscribe via email Subscribe Follow the discussion Comment (1) Logging you in… Close Login to IntenseDebate Or create an account Username or Email: Password: Forgot login? Cancel Login Close WordPress.com Username or Email: Password: Lost your password? Cancel Login Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout Logged in as Admin Options Disable comments for this page Save Settings Sort by: Date Rating Last Activity Loading comments… You are about to flag this comment as being inappropriate. Please explain why you are flagging this comment in the text box below and submit your report. The blog admin will be notified. Thank you for your input. 0 Vote up Vote down · 327 weeks ago They are doing such good for the community as well as the earth! Way to go! Report Reply 0 replies · active 327 weeks ago Post a new comment Enter text right here! Comment as a Guest, or login: Login to IntenseDebate Login to WordPress.com Login to Twitter Go back Tweet this comment Connected as (Logout) Email (optional) Not displayed publicly. Name Email Website (optional) Displayed next to your comments. Not displayed publicly. If you have a website, link to it here. Posting anonymously. Tweet this comment Submit Comment Subscribe to None Replies All new comments Comments by IntenseDebate Enter text right here! Reply as a Guest, or login: Login to IntenseDebate Login to WordPress.com Login to Twitter Go back Tweet this comment Connected as (Logout) Email (optional) Not displayed publicly. Name Email Website (optional) Displayed next to your comments. Not displayed publicly. If you have a website, link to it here. Posting anonymously. Tweet this comment Cancel Submit Comment Subscribe to None Replies All new comments Submitted to Sumner Newscow — Pete and Julian Zavala will be holding another e-waste collection day at the City of Wellington Recycling Center on Saturday, May 10, 2014 between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. This will be held during the normal operations of the Recycling Center. Items available for drop off include computers, laptops, keyboards and mice, printers and fax machines, digital cameras, cell phones, cords and cables, hard drives, microwaves, motherboards, memory, scanners, power supplies, and LCD, LED and plasma TV’s and monitors. Box-style TV’s and CRT monitors will not be accepted. A feasible recycling outlet has not been located for these items at this time. For more information about the operating hours please contact Jeremy Jones, Public Works Director, at 620-326-7831. For questions concerning specific items to be collected or information destruction please contact Pete at 316-305-6896 (evenings) or Julian at 316-305-6895 (evenings).Follow us on Twitter.
MORE: Updated 2020 NASCAR Cup Series scheduleAs for pit stall selection for the NASCAR Cup Series races being run without qualifying, it is ordered based on finishing positions from the series’ previous points race, followed by new entries in order of points. That means Brad Keselowski, the winner of last week’s race at New Hampshire, will have the first stall at Michigan.Below is the starting lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR race at Michigan and how it was set.Who won the pole for the NASCAR race at Michigan?The driver who won the first of two races at Michigan last year, Joey Logano, will start on the pole for the first race at Michigan this year. He’ll be joined on the front row by Denny Hamlin.Logano, though, likely will get more help at the start of the race since three Fords are next in the starting order, with Kevin Harvick lining up third, Aric Almirola starting fourth and Brad Keselowski rolling off fifth.Below is the protocol for how the Cup Series field was set at Michigan:Positions 1-12: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner pointsPositions 13-24: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner pointsPositions 25-36: Random draw from charter teams in those positions in owner pointsPositions 37-40: Open teams in order of owners points NASCAR starting lineup at MichiganSaturday’s Michigan race is the last that will use the old protocol for setting lineups without qualifying sessions this season, as NASCAR is moving to a new formula beginning with the Daytona road course race Aug. 16. The exceptions will be the second legs of doubleheaders like Sunday’s race at Michigan, for which the field will be set by the results of the first leg with the top 20 finishers inverted.The new procedure will replace the random-draw element with a performance-based formula with three metrics — finishing position from the previous race (weighted 50 percent), ranking in team owner points standings (35 percent) and fastest lap from the previous race (15 percent).As for the starting lineup for Saturday’s NASCAR race at Michigan, the draw for positions took place Thursday. Below are the results:Pos.DriverCar No.Team1Joey Logano22Team Penske2Denny Hamlin11Joe Gibbs Racing3Kevin Harvick4Stewart-Haas Racing4Aric Almirola10Stewart-Haas Racing5Brad Keselowski2Team Penske6Alex Bowman88Hendrick Motorsports7Kyle Busch18Joe Gibbs Racing8Chase Elliott9Hendrick Motorsports9Clint Bowyer14Stewart-Haas Racing10Kurt Busch1Chip Ganassi Racing11Ryan Blaney12Team Penske12Martin Truex Jr.19Joe Gibbs Racing13Ryan Newman6Roush Fenway Racing14Tyler Reddick8Richard Childress Racing15Matt DiBenedetto21Wood Brothers Racing16Cole Custer41Stewart-Haas Racing17Jimmie Johnson48Hendrick Motorsports18Austin Dillon3Richard Childress Racing19William Byron24Hendrick Motorsports20Matt Kenseth42Chip Ganassi Racing21Michael McDowell34Front Row Motorsports22Chris Buescher17Roush Fenway Racing23Erik Jones20Joe Gibbs Racing24Bubba Wallace43Richard Petty Motorsports25Quin Houff00StarCom Racing26JJ Yeley27Rick Ware Racing27Brennan Poole15Premium Motorsports28James Davison51Petty Ware Raicng29Christopher Bell95Leavine Family Racing30Reed Sorenson74Spire Motorsports31John Hunter Nemechek38Front Row Motorsports32Ricky Stenhouse Jr.47JTG Daugherty Racing33Garrett Smithley53Rick Ware Racing34Ty Dillon13Germain Racing35Ryan Preece37JTG Daugherty Racing36Corey LaJoie32Go Fas Racing37Daniel Suarez96Gaunt Brothers Racing38Timmy Hill66Motorsports Business Management39Joey Gase7Tommy Baldwin Racing The starting lineup and pole for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, the first of a doubleheader this weekend, were set by the procedure that has determined the starting order for almost all Cup Series races in 2020 that have run without prior qualifying sessions amid the coronavirus pandemic.The starting grid for Saturday’s race at Michigan, scheduled to start at 4 p.m. ET and broadcast live on NBCSN, features four Fords in the top five positions as a result of the procedure that utilizes a combination of points standings and a random draw to set the lineup.
Advertisement Bollywood and cricket go hand in hand together since a very long time. On Friday, actress Kareena Kapoor Khan who also happens to be the daughter-in-law of former India captain Late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, unveiled the T20 World Cup trophies in Melbourne. The star was spotted with both the men’s and women’s cups as she started the countdown of the tournament which is scheduled to be held in Australia next year.Advertisement Image Courtesy: gulfnews.com“I am honoured to be a part of this prestigious evening. I would like to encourage all these women out there who are playing for their respective countries to pursue their dreams. Its truly empowering to see them stand tall on an international platform,” Kareena said.Soon afterwards Kareena shared pictures of herself along with the trophies on her Instagram account.Advertisement Check out the photos here: Advertisement View this post on Instagram in Melbourne unveiling the trophies for ICC T20 World Cup ❤️❤️❤️A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Oct 31, 2019 at 8:14pm PDT View this post on Instagram ❤❤❤ #repost @t20worldcup Bollywood ⭐️ @therealkareenakapoor got up close with the @ICC Women’s #T20WorldCup trophy at the @MCG. She’s counting down to the first ball on February 21 next year! #Cricket #T20 #LoveCricketA post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Oct 31, 2019 at 10:55pm PDT View this post on Instagram #abouttoday💕 in Melbourne for ICC T20 World Cup ❤️❤️❤️ Hair & Makeup by @makeupbypompy Styled by @tanghavri Team @poonamdamania @nainas89A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Oct 31, 2019 at 8:40pm PDT View this post on Instagram in Melbourne unveiling the trophies for ICC T20 World Cup ❤️❤️❤️A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Oct 31, 2019 at 8:16pm PDT View this post on Instagram in Melbourne unveiling the trophies for ICC T20 World Cup ❤️❤️❤️ Hair & Makeup by @makeupbypompy Styled by @tanghavri Team @poonamdamania @nainas89A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@therealkareenakapoor) on Oct 31, 2019 at 8:16pm PDT“They are an inspiration to one and all. My late father-in-law was one of the greatest cricketers who played for the Indian cricket team and it is an honour for me to be unveiling the trophy” she further added.The women’s World T20 is scheduled to start from February 21 and the final will be held on March 8. The men’s tournament however, will take place later on the year; from October 18 to November 15 2020. Advertisement
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders – Preseason Ranking: 10 – 2017 Record: 22-32 (14-16 SLC)Entering 2018 with 11th-year head coach Scott Malone, the Islanders aim to return to winning ways with a group of 23 upperclassmen on this season’s roster. They are led by senior outfielder Dalton Stark, a second team preseason all-conference pick. Stark enters the 2018 season as the Islanders’ highest profile hitter after leading the team in batting average (.325), doubles (15) and total bases (99) in 2017, earning honorable mention all-conference recognition. Corpus Christi is the only Southland team beginning its season with a true road game, heading north for a three-game series at UT Arlington to begin this year’s campaign. Central Arkansas Bears – Preseason Ranking: 4 – 2017 Record: 34-26 (16-13 SLC)The Bears, who had three preseason all-conference picks in pitcher Tyler Gray, outfielder Keaton Presley and first baseman Hunter Strong, are coming off a 34-26 season a year ago. Central Arkansas tied their best league mark with 17 conference victories and advanced to the conference tournament championship game for the third time in five seasons, falling to the Bearkats in the title game. UCA’s nonconference lineup includes three-game series against Northern Illinois, Missouri State and Creighton before opening Southland play on March 9 at McNeese. First Game: vs. Illinois, Feb. 16, 6 p.m. (Cardinal Classic hosted by Lamar) First Game: vs. Kent State, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m. First Game: vs. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Feb. 16, 6 p.m. First Game: vs. Northern Illinois, Feb. 16, 3 p.m. Defending Southland tournament champion Sam Houston State is the heavy favorite for the 2018 regular season crown, earning 18 first-place votes and the top spot in the league preseason poll. The Bearkats advanced to the NCAA Super Regional last year, becoming the first conference program to ever do so. Lamar Cardinals – Preseason Ranking: 6 – 2017 Record: 33-25 (16-14 SLC)Second-year head coach Will Davis aims to build on a strong 2017 season where the Cardinals went 33-25 (16-14 SLC) in his inaugural campaign in Beaumont. LU returns five lineup starters and three starting pitchers but brings in a promising group of 20 newcomers, including 11 freshmen and nine junior college transfers. The Cardinals open the season hosting the Cardinal Classic where they will face Illinois, Missouri State and Texas Southern before heading to Austin for a lone matchup with Texas on Feb. 21. They begin conference play with a three-game series versus preseason favorite Sam Houston State at home starting March 9. First Game: vs. Central Michigan, Feb. 16, 3 p.m. (Al Ogletree Classic hosted by UTRGV) First Game: vs. Stony Brook, Feb. 16, 7:05 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana Lions – Preseason Ranking: 2 – 2017 Record: 37-22 (20-10 SLC)Southeastern is coming off a second-place regular season finish. The team earned an at-large bid to the 2017 NCAA Tournament, becoming the only non-Power Five program to earn back-to-back at-large selections. The Lions are tied for the conference lead for preseason all-conference selections with three, including the return of Taylor Schwaner (Player of the Year and first team third baseman), Drew Avans (second team utility player and all-defensive team outfielder) and Corey Gaconi (third team pitcher). Schwaner was also named to the 2018 Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America Third Team and the NCBWA Preseason All-America Second Team. Northwestern State Demons – Preseason Ranking: 11 – 2017 Record: 20-34 (10-20 SLC)Following an 11th-place finish last season, the Demons return 13 letterwinners in addition to 18 newcomers. Northwestern State’s most prolific hitter in David Fry headlines the returnees. The senior first baseman played in all 53 games last season, hitting .340 in overall games with a .591 slugging percentage and a team-high 10 home runs. NSU opens the 2018 season at home with a three-game series against Binghamton before heading to ULM for a lone matchup and hosting another three-game series against Penn next week. The schedule also includes a two-game swing at Texas A&M on March 6 and 7 and a series at Nebraska from March 16-18. Sam Houston State Bearkats – Preseason Ranking: 1 – 2017 Record: 44-23 (19-11 SLC)Fresh off a conference-first NCAA Super Regional appearance, the Bearkats are the preseason favorites for the 2018 regular season title. Sam Houston has eight regular season crowns to its name along with 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. The team returns 23 letterwinners, including five positional starters and three starting pitchers. Sophomore pitcher Nick Mikolajchak was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List The team’s nonconference slate is highlighted by a trio of SEC clashes at the Shriners Hospital for Children College Classic in Houston from March 2-4 when the Bearkats will square off with Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Mississippi State. First Game: at UT Arlington, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m. Nicholls Colonels – Preseason Ranking: 9 – 2017 Record: 29-27 (15-15 SLC)After narrowly missing out on a conference tournament berth in 2017, Nicholls will look to bounce back with a wealth of returning talent. The Colonels return five starters, 15 letterwinners and add 10 total newcomers to the roster for 2018 under eighth-year head coach Seth Thibodeaux. Nicholls opens the season with a four-game series this weekend at home against Stony Brook, followed by a lone game away at Prairie View A&M before heading south for the Whataburger Classic in Corpus Christi. The Colonels will face league opponent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi along with Mississippi State and UC Santa Barbara. 2018 Southland Conference Baseball Week One Notes (PDF)FRISCO, Texas – The 55th season of Southland Conference baseball gets underway this weekend with 42 games slated from Friday to Monday. First pitch is set for Friday at 2 p.m. CT when Houston Baptist welcomes Western Michigan in the first of a three-game series. First Game: vs. North Dakota State, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m.. Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks – Preseason Ranking: 8 – 2017 Record: 29-28 (17-13 SLC)The Lumberjacks have a healthy amount of talent returning from their 2017 season, including 14 letterwinners, four starting position players and two starting pitchers to go along with 21 newcomers. SFA tied for fifth in last year’s regular season standings, earning the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament. The ‘Jacks earned one first team preseason all-conference pick in senior designated hitter Josh Evans while junior Tyler Sparks was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List. The team opens 2018 in Edinburg, Texas, at UTRGV’s Al Ogletree Classic where they will face both Central Michigan and UTRGV twice. McNeese Cowboys – Preseason Ranking: 3 – 2017 Record: 37-20 (22-8 SLC)The defending regular season champions enter the 2018 campaign picked to finish third in the conference standings. McNeese won its first nine league games last season while winning the first 13 home conference games, compiling a 15-3 home league record at Joe Miller Ballpark. McNeese returns five position starters and three starting pitchers from last season, including first team all-conference selections Joe Provenzano and Shane Selman. Selman was the league’s Hitter of the Year in 2017, hitting .362 against conference opponents in 127 at-bats, tallying 10 home runs. Houston Baptist Huskies – Preseason Ranking: 5 – 2017 Record: 29-25 (18-12 SLC)The Huskies enter 2018 ranked at No. 5 in the preseason poll after a fourth-place finish a year ago. HBU returns two league standouts in Tyler Depreta-Johnson and JT Newton. Depreta-Johnson made the all-conference second team and was the shortstop on the league’s all-defensive team last season. The Rancho Santa Margarita, California, native hit .309 with six doubles, a triple, two home runs, 23 RBIs, 34 runs and five stolen bases in 2017. Newton, who has already been tabbed a Collegiate Baseball Preseason Third Team All-American and NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List candidate, was the conference’s Relief Pitcher of the Year and earned second-team all-conference honors last season. He made 23 appearances and went 7-0 with a 2.15 ERA, six saves, 43 strikeouts and 17 walks in 54.1 innings. New Orleans Privateers – Preseason Ranking: 7 – 2017 Record: 30-28-1 (16-14 SLC)The Privateers head into 2018 after a 16-14 season that saw them tie for seventh place in the regular season. UNO went 1-1 against Southeastern Louisiana in the conference tournament before falling to eventual champion Sam Houston State in the semifinals. New Orleans earned three first team picks to the Southland Preseason All-Conference Teams: Bryan Warzek, John Cable and Orynn Veillon. The team opens its season in New Orleans, taking part in the Andre Dawson Classic where they will face Illinois-Chicago, Alabama State and Southern. Their nonconference slate also includes matchups with LSU, Virginia Tech, Iowa and Texas. First Game: vs. Western Michigan, Feb. 16, 2 p.m. First Game: vs. Wichita State, Feb. 16, 6 p.m. First Game: vs. Quinnipiac, Feb. 16, 4 p.m. The 2018 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament will be held from May 23-26 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. Abilene Christian Wildcats – Preseason Ranking: 12 – 2017 Record: 13-43 (3-27 SLC)In ACU’s first season as a postseason-eligible NCAA Division I team, the Wildcats hit the ground running with a series of high profile nonconference matchups. The season opens in Abilene with a three-game series against Quinnipiac before hosting UTSA and heading to Oklahoma next week. Peppered among the conference slate are two matchups with UT Arlington, two with TCU and one at Texas A&M. The Wildcats earned one preseason all-conference selection in senior Luis Trevino. The catcher/first basemen/designated hitter led the team in 2017 with 22 multi-hit games, which included six three-hit efforts and three four-hit performances vs. UT Arlington, Houston Baptist and national powerhouse Oregon State. UIW Cardinals – Preseason Ranking: 13 – 2017 Record: 20-36 (8-22 SLC)UIW aims to turn over a new leaf in 2018 under first-year head coach Patrick Hallmark. The Houston native spent last season at Missouri as the pitching coach after 11 years with Rice, his alma mater. Junior shortstop Ryan Gonzales earned preseason all-conference second team distinction for the Cardinals. He made 26 starts in 2017, batting .271 on the year. The Corpus Christi native registered 26 hits, drove in 14 runs and scored 12 more. At shortstop, he committed only six errors while helping to generate 19 double plays. He finished the season with a .954 fielding percentage. The Cardinals open 2018 with a four-game swing at home against North Dakota State before competing in Notre Dame’s annual Irish Alamo Classic in San Antonio, where they will face the Fighting Irish, Purdue and Saint Louis. First Game: vs. Binghamton, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m. First Game: vs. Illinois Chicago, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m. (MLB Andre Dawson Classic, New Orleans)