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Washington and Congress have their own, often impenetrable, languages. So it may be somewhat confusing to assess what it means that the office of the speaker of the House of Representatives is vacant. Why, as a result, has Nancy Pelosi, who hasn’t been speaker since January, been kicked out of her office in the Capitol building? What does it mean for Americans that one chamber of Congress is in a state of paralysis? What’s below, compiled from CNN’s comprehensive coverage of the situation on Capitol Hill, is an attempt to answer these and other questions about the chaos. For the latest, check CNN’s Live Updates. What the heck is going on in Washington? The House is without a speaker, the person who, according to the Constitution, is required to be its leader. That means the chamber is essentially paralyzed until it can settle on a new speaker. For now, a placeholder, Rep. Patrick McHenry, is what’s referred to as “speaker pro tempore,” which means the North Carolina Republican can essentially keep the lights on but has no power to move legislation through the House. Will this affect me? That depends on a few things, including how long the House is frozen, but also who takes over as the next speaker and what kind of negotiating they will do with Democrats who control the Senate and the White House. For as long as the House is trying to find a new speaker, it’s unable to do much of anything else. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/05/politics/house-speaker-chaos-what-matters/index.html
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Name: Green-banded broodsac (Leucochloridium paradoxum) Where it lives: Europe, North America and Japan What it eats: Waste in the digestive tracts of birds, before it is excreted Sponsored Links Most Computer Owners Don't Know This. Do It Today! Driver Updater Why it's awesome: This parasitic flatworm is best known for creating disco zombies: It takes over the bodies of amber snails (Succinea) by clambering into their eyestalks and forcing them to dance to attract birds' attention. A snail first comes into contact with L. paradoxum via bird droppings, which contain the eggs of the green-banded broodsac. Upon hatching, the larvae move to the tentacles of the snail and create a sac. As this matures, it grows and replaces the eyestalk of the snail, effectively blinding it and preventing it from drawing the tentacle back into its body. Related: Horrifying photo captures moment parasitic fungus bursts from huge spider's body It also becomes colorful and pulsates at a rate of 60 to 80 contractions per minute, creating a disco-like vibe https://www.livescience.com/animals/snails/green-banded-broodsac-the-brain-hijacking-parasite-that-creates-disco-zombie-snails
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Just over three months have passed since Leo Messi landed in the MLS to forever change the history of Inter Miami. Although the 'Herons' went from being candidates for everything, and even being the great rival to beat, they have finally said goodbye to the postseason in a very surprising way without even having a chance in the playoffs. However, despite the sporting setback, the non-sporting success that Messi's arrival has brought has generated exponential income not only for Inter Miami, but also for Adidas. In an interview for The New York Times Tor Southard, senior director of Adidas' soccer section, commented on how the brand experienced Messi's arrival in the United States at the beginning of summer. At the end of August, the pink Inter Miami shirt with the '10' on the back became the most desired and sold sports item in the world. As soon as the signing of the 'ten' was confirmed, Adidas received a whopping more than half a million orders from retail stores and suppliers to obtain the shirt for Beckham's team. However, the German firm found a problem that ended up delaying shipments, the color of the shirt. “It's not like it was white and we had inventory that we could reuse,” Southard commented for the New York newspaper. https://us.as.com/futbol/messi-hace-de-oro-al-inter-miami-y-a-adidas-n/
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Our slow travel expert takes the off-peak train, discovering along the way that the cross-border ‘express’ train is actually delightfully slowMartigny enjoys a beautiful setting where the waters of the River Dranse tumble down to join the Rhône in Switzerland’s Valais canton. The town is a natural way station for travellers following the classic Grand St Bernard route south into Italy. The chic set stop off in Martigny en route to Verbier.Switzerland has so many celebrated metre-gauge mountain railways, among them an outstanding trinity of lines that are boldly promoted to overseas tour operators and have ample capacity to handle large groups. Those three crowd-pullers are the wonderful Bernina railway from the Upper Engadine to Tirano in Italy, the steeply graded line from Brig to Andermatt and beyond (used by the Glacier Express) and the fine GoldenPass route running west from the Thunersee via the Simme Valley to Gstaad and Montreux.By contrast, the hourly Mont-Blanc Express railway from Martigny to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains in France is relatively unsung, yet in my opinion rates as rewarding as the Bernina, Glacier and GoldenPass routes. The Mont-Blanc Express tussles with topography, cutting through fierce rocky terrain above the Trient Gorge and then following the ominously named Eau Noire upstream across the border into France. The railway then dives into a long tunnel, before dropping down into the Chamonix Valley and following the River Arve down to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, where there are connections to the Geneva area. The train passes by great cliffs, twisting and turning with a feast of neck-craning panoramic views Although promoted as the Mont-Blanc Express, the 24-mile (38km) journey from Martigny to Saint-Gervais is no fast dash, taking well over two hours and averaging only 15 mph. There are over two dozen intermediate stations, though many are request stops. When I made this journey in May 2023, I took a full day for it, stopping off along the way. Bold engineering The notion of a narrow-gauge mountain railway from the Valais region over the hills to Chamonix in France gained traction in the 1880s as investors saw how Niklaus Riggenbach’s rack system, pioneered on the Rigi Railway in 1871, was allowing cog railways to access remote mountain communities. The line from Martigny through to Saint-Gervais via Chamonix wasn’t completed until 1908 and initially it was suspended during the winter months. Better avalanche protection later allowed year-round operation. When it came to electrifying this route, there were debates whether third rail or overhead wires were the best option; neither side won, and the line uses a mix of both methods.Platform 40 at Martigny station is easily missed, tucked away beyond the main platforms. The red and white Mont-Blanc Express slips out of Platform 40 on time and with no great fanfare. There’s a tantalising glimpse to the left of the fierce ravine cut by the River Trient as it cascades down from the heavily glaciated mountains away to the south. Then we start to climb steeply and I appreciate why engineers opted for a cog railway for this section of the line. The train passes by great cliffs, twisting and turning with a feast of neck-craning panoramic viewsI make a first stop at Salvan, a small village with a neat station styled in the manner of an Alpine chalet. The road which leads past the station is called Rue Marconi, a reminder it was here that Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi conducted early experiments in wireless telegraphy. Joining the next train an hour later, we quickly crest the thousand-metre contour with welcome hints of spring sunshine. Emerging from the tunnel into the sunlit valley of the River Arve, there are glorious views on the run down to Chamonix There’s an announcement: “Prochain arrêt: Le Trétien”. The Mont-Blanc Express duly rolls to a halt at Le Trétien. This is too good a chance to miss, so on a whim I alight. This is a gorgeous village high above the Trient Valley, and a jumping-off point for hikers wanting to explore the Trient Gorge. The area was bypassed in the heyday of tourism development in this region, when resorts like Zermatt, Crans-Montana and Chamonix shot to prominence. But by the 1880s, adventurous travellers were making their way to Salvan and Le Trétien, drawn by a magical mix of glaciers, rugged scenery and pastoral beauty. In a pleasant hour wandering steep alleys and lanes around Le Trétien, I meet only one other person and our paths cross twice, each time with a reciprocal smile and a nod. All too soon, I am back at Le Trétien’s lonely station platform, indicating with a wave of my hand that I’d like the approaching train to stop. For the third time today, I am bound for France and within 20 minutes we are slipping over the border.The Chamonix valley It is well known that the ambition of train operators flags at frontiers and an announcement indicates everyone must change on to a French train at Vallorcine. This is standard practice on the Mont-Blanc Express, which is actually two well-coordinated train services run respectively by Swiss and French operators. It’s an easy cross-platform change of train, and within a few minutes we are on our way again, now on a French train but also prominently branded as the Mont-Blanc Express.We are still climbing, through a long tunnel under the Col des Montets. When the road over the pass is closed by snow, the rail tunnel provides the only link between Vallorcine and the Chamonix Valley. So there’s a creative sharing of the narrow tunnel, allowing cars to drive through when no train is scheduled. It’s an arrangement that has not yet led to disaster.Emerging from the tunnel into the sunlit valley of the River Arve, there are glorious views on the run down to Chamonix, with the rubbly moraines on the Glacier d’Argentière high to the left. I make a third and final stop at Chamonix, enjoying a wander through this pleasant town where the entire economy is defined by mountain tourism. The town’s official name is Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, but the clouds do not cooperate so I am denied a good view of the highest peak in the Alps.By late afternoon, I am back on the train, now with frequent stops and more like a tram, as we slowly drop down to Saint-Gervais-les-Bain. Elevated concrete highways loop assertively over the railway as a reminder that we are returning to more po[CENSORED]ted terrain. I didn’t see Mont Blanc on this occasion, but I still found this international route a remarkable railway adventure. Tickets from Martigny to Chamonix (€34.40) or Saint- Gervais-les-Bains (€44.40) can be bought from Rail Europe. Or exploit the real flexibility of Interrail and build this one-day trip into a longer journey through the Alps. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jun/13/rail-route-of-the-month--mont-blanc-express-from-switzerland-into-france
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The world is on an "unstoppable" shift towards renewable energy but the phase down of fossil fuels is not happening quickly enough, a new report says. The International Energy Agency, the global energy watchdog, predicted renewables would provide half of the world's electricity by 2030. But it warned that emissions were still too high to prevent temperatures rising above a key threshold of 1.5C. And the report said investment in fossil fuels needed to be cut in half. What is net zero and how are the UK and other countries doing? Record surge in days over key 1.5C warming limit The Paris-based energy agency's report, released on Tuesday, was not all doom and gloom. It praised the significant progress countries had made in expanding renewable energy and supporting consumers with the shift to electric vehicles and heat pumps instead of gas boilers. The report said the growth in clean energy and technologies was "impressive". In 2020, one in 25 cars sold was electric. Just three years later this number has risen to one in five. "The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it's unstoppable. It's not a question of 'if', it's just a matter of 'how soon' - and the sooner the better for all of us," said International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol. The report recognised that oil and gas would continue to play a role in the world's economy and that maintaining investment was "essential". But it said at the moment, current levels of funding were double what they should be. "Governments, companies and investors need to get behind clean energy transitions rather than hindering them," Mr Birol said. In what appeared to be a criticism of the UK and other governments' decisions to open new oil fields, Mr Birol added: "claims that oil and gas represent safe or secure choices for the world's energy and climate future look weaker than ever." Earlier this year Rosebank oil field off the coast of Scotland was given the go-ahead amidst much controversy. Environmental campaigners argued the decision was not compliant with the UK's climate change plans. But Claire Coutinho, the government's minister for energy, said at the time: "[The government] will continue to back the UK's oil and gas industry to underpin our energy security".A spokesperson for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero said in response to the IEA report that the independent Climate Change Committee recognised oil and gas would continue to be part of the UK's energy mix on the path to net zero. The world's reliance on fossil fuels means that we are still on track to be facing a global average temperature rise of 2.4C by 2100. That compares with the pledge made in 2015 when political leaders agreed on limiting temperature rises to "well below" 2C and to make every effort to keep it under 1.5C, to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. Record surge in days over key 1.5C warming limit World leaders will meet in Dubai at the end of November for COP28 - the UN climate summit - where it is hoped further commitments to tackling climate change will be made, including potentially agreeing to phase out "unabated" fossil fuels. Abatement refers to technologies, which are not yet available at scale, that could capture the emissions released when fossil fuels are burned. The IEA report also reflected concerns about the Middle East. The agency said it was not yet clear what impact rising tensions would have on world energy markets. But the IEA warned that it meant further uncertainty compounding an already unsettled global economy - Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia - account for 67% of world oil reserves. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67198206
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[Animals] Call for extra £8m to eradicate stoats from Orkney
FRIDAY THE 13 posted a topic in Animals
project to eradicate stoats from Orkney could take another five years and cost a further £8m to complete, it has been claimed.The Orkney Native Wildlife Project began trapping the animals in 2019 and has so far removed more than 5,000.The animals are said to pose a major threat to breeding seabirds as well as the native Orkney vole.Project organisers said the task was always going to be difficult but it was setback by Covid pandemic restrictions.Stoats are common in parts of mainland Scotland but they only started appearing in Orkney in 2010.Organisers claim their plans are the biggest invasive predator eradication on an inhabited island, anywhere in the world, with about 7,000 traps laid around the mainland and the coastline of the neighbouring islands.The project has already cost about £8m but those behind it claim the same amount will be required to finish the job, with three years of eradication and two years of further monitoring. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66889194 -
Max Verstappen says it is not up to him to help team-mate Sergio Perez try to secure second place in the drivers' championship this year. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has said he wants Perez to clinch the position because the team have never had a one-two in the championship before. Perez is 20 points ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in third place. Verstappen said: "It shouldn't always be on me to get the points." Horner said after last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix that Perez "will have the full support of the team to achieve something we have never done before". Verstappen, speaking on media day for this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, added: "I am confident in Checo that he can stay ahead because on average we have the faster car." Hamilton has narrowed Perez's lead by 13 points in the past three races in Qatar, USA and Mexico despite the Mercedes driver crashing out in Qatar and being disqualified from the US Grand Prix. The question of whether Perez can hang on to second place in the championship has echoes of last season. Fernando Alonso annoyed with rumours of Red Bull move How to follow the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on the BBC In 2022, Perez was trying to chase down Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and in Brazil, with the Red Bull drivers running sixth and seventh, Verstappen refused a team order to let Perez by on the final lap to help him in his quest https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/67303406
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From the steepest A-road in the UK to a stunning circuit of the Lake District, our tipsters share their best hop-on, hop-off road trips 171 Swanage to Bournemouth, Dorset The No 50 Purbeck Breezer travels regularly between Swanage and Bournemouth past the beautiful beaches of Studland Bay. Behind Knoll Beach there’s a heathland nature reserve with a lagoon and a giant natural sand pit. In Poole we visited the Japanese garden at Compton Acres and the historic harbour. From a child’s perspective, the best thing about the No 50 is that it goes on a boat: the chain ferry that plies the harbour mouth between Studland and Sandbanks. The return trip at sunset on the open upper deck made us laugh out loud: it was like being on a rollercoaster. Jenny Lunnon https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/nov/03/readers-favourite-uk-bus-journeys
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Crowds of workers from Gaza have been returning to the Palestinian territory after Israel expelled thousands of them and vowed to refuse any new permits. Gaza is facing constant bombardment and acute shortages of key supplies. The UN voiced its concerns for the workers' safety in the "incredibly difficult and dangerous situation". Before the war, more than 18,000 Palestinian workers were allowed to cross from Gaza into Israel and the occupied West Bank. Israel suspects Hamas, which runs Gaza, may have got information about the places it attacked on 7 October from Gazans working on the kibbutzes. Israeli media reports quote intelligence sources who suggest that the layouts of individual homes in these communities - and the proximity of Israeli defences - were among details that might have been passed on. The unprecedented assault on southern Israel by Hamas almost four weeks ago killed more than 1,400 people. The Israeli military says that 242 others were abducted and are being held hostage in Gaza. In the wake of the attack, Israel launched an aerial campaign campaign and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave. The Gazan health ministry, run by Hamas, says more than 9,000 people have been killed. The crossings to Gaza were also closed as Israel stepped up its blockade, which has left Palestinian labourers stranded in Israel for weeks. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67306903
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[Request Moderator] Dean Ambrose [Accepted]
FRIDAY THE 13 replied to Dean Ambrose™'s topic in Accepted
You need at least two projects, but I will give you a PRO ! according to my agreement -
With government funding slated to run out September 30, the leaders of the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus told CNN on Sunday that “all options are on the table” to force a vote on their alternative stopgap plan to avert a shutdown. There is no consensus plan to keep the government funded, and persistent opposition by a bloc of conservatives to House GOP leadership’s agenda has made any effort to pass a stopgap bill in the House a major challenge. While the caucus leaders, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Josh Gottheimer, said they hope House Speaker Kevin McCarthy puts the measure on the floor, they said they have spoken with the parliamentarian about other avenues and raised the possibility of using a discharge petition – an arcane procedural step – to force a vote. The procedural tool can be used to force a floor vote, but only if a majority of House members sign on in support. Discharge petitions rarely succeed because of how high the threshold is to clear. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to get that bill on the floor. … A discharge petition is one of several options, and a group of us met with the parliamentarian this past week to discuss all the options we have to force a vote on our bill,” Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican, told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, added: “I think our plan is reasonable. And it deals with the extremes and … instead of burning the place down as, Speaker McCarthy said of the far right, it actually provides a reasonable, commonsense solution working with people like Brian Fitzpatrick who want to get things done.” The caucus last week endorsed a potential backup plan if House Republicans are unable to pass their stopgap bill alone. The bill would fund the government through January 11 and include Ukraine aid, disaster response and border security provisions. “This is a decision the speaker is gonna have to make. He can bring that reasonable bill to the floor that we’ve proposed, and I guarantee you’re gonna get Democrats (and) Republicans coming together to support it and we can keep the lights on,” Gottheimer said. McCarthy, who is under pressure and has faced threats of an ouster, said Saturday he still lacks support from a handful of GOP hardliners to put a stopgap measure on the floor, making a shutdown likely. Rep. Tim Burchett, one of the holdouts, told CNN on Sunday he is still a “no” on passing a stopgap funding bill. “No, ma’am,” the Tennessee Republican told Bash. “I think it’s completely blowing away our duties. We have a duty to pass a budget.” He also said he would strongly consider support for ousting McCarthy if the California Republican cuts a deal with Democrats to keep the government open. “That would be something I’d look strongly at, ma’am, if we do away with our duty that we said we’re going to do,” Burchett said. McCarthy has been hoping the momentum of a handful of appropriations bills, which will head to the House floor this week, would bring some of those holdouts into the fold. But Burchett’s comments Sunday are the latest indication that hope may be in vain. “We’re sticking to our guns and all of a sudden we’re the bad guys because we want to balance our budget,” Burchett said. Another holdout, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, said Sunday that McCarthy is in “breach” of promises he made regarding government spending when elected speaker. “We should have separate single-subject spending bills. Kevin McCarthy promised that in January, he is in breach of that promise, so I’m not here to hold the government hostage, I’m here to hold Kevin McCarthy to his word,” Gaetz said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” Gaetz added it would be fine if some departments shut down for a few days if it meant measures such as the Homeland Security appropriations bill passed first. “If, you know, the (departments) of Labor and Education have to shut down for a few days as we get their appropriations in line, that’s certainly not something that is optimal, but I think it’s better than continuing on the current path we are to America’s financial ruin,” Gaetz said. The holdouts’ comments come as the White House urges Republicans to find a solution, warning that a government shutdown could threaten crucial federal programs. “Funding the government is one of the most basic responsibilities of Congress, and it’s time for Republicans to start doing the job America elected them to do,” President Joe Biden said Sunday at an event held by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Speaking on Sunday to CNN’s Bash, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called on House Republicans to “come to their senses and keep the government running.” “This is something that can and should be prevented,” Buttigieg said on “State of the Union.” He echoed Biden administration talking points, saying Republicans should hold up their end of the agreement made this year during debt ceiling negotiations. The White House has warned of massive disruptions to air travel if the government shuts down, as tens of thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration personnel will have to work without pay. “They’re under enough stress as it is doing that job without having to come into work with the added stress of not receiving a paycheck,” Buttigieg said of air traffic controllers. He added, “The American people don’t want to shutdown. From what I can tell, the Senate is ready to go. The administration is ready to go. House Republicans need to come to their senses and keep the government running https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/24/politics/government-shutdown-discharge-petition/index.html
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An animal welfare charity has been looking into the challenges of rescuing a ewe dubbed Britain's loneliest sheep. The sheep may have been stuck at the bottom of cliffs on Scotland's Cromarty Firth for at least two years, according to a kayaker who first saw it in 2021. A petition calling for a rescue of the sheep has gathered more than 52,000 signatures, while a hovercraft company has said it might be able to help. But the Scottish SPCA said, so far, there is not a safe way of reaching it. A group of kayakers encountered the sheep two years ago and again recently this year on a shoreline below steep ground and cliffs south of Brora. They believe it is the same animal, but with its fleece badly overgrown. The SSPCA said it has been aware of the stranded ewe for some time. A spokeswoman said: "The sheep is not in any immediate danger and has ample grazing and water, however, we are aware they badly require shearing. "We appreciate that there is growing concern for the sheep and we want to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can." It is not known who owns the sheep because it does not have an identification tag fitted to an ear. 'Incredibly complex' The SSPCA said it had considered a potential rescue with support from a local farmer. But the spokeswoman said: "The area where the sheep is stranded is very inaccessible by both land and sea, making this rescue incredibly complex, especially due to the logistics of rescuing a large animal. "We have been liaising with other agencies as to the best way to access the area but so far we have not found a suitable solution that doesn't compromise the safety of the rescue teams and the welfare of the sheep." The SSPCA said due to the time the ewe had been stranded it was now deemed to be feral, and likely to be stressed by human contact. "As this is not a domestic animal, both the coastguard and mountain rescue teams are unable to assist in this matter," the spokeswoman said. "We have also spoken with a local skipper who has advised it would be extremely difficult to land a boat in the area. "We have been given some contact information for other businesses who may be able to help and we are currently exploring these options." An animal welfare charity has been looking into the challenges of rescuing a ewe dubbed Britain's loneliest sheep. The sheep may have been stuck at the bottom of cliffs on Scotland's Cromarty Firth for at least two years, according to a kayaker who first saw it in 2021. A petition calling for a rescue of the sheep has gathered more than 52,000 signatures, while a hovercraft company has said it might be able to help. But the Scottish SPCA said, so far, there is not a safe way of reaching it. A group of kayakers encountered the sheep two years ago and again recently this year on a shoreline below steep ground and cliffs south of Brora. They believe it is the same animal, but with its fleece badly overgrown. The SSPCA said it has been aware of the stranded ewe for some time. A spokeswoman said: "The sheep is not in any immediate danger and has ample grazing and water, however, we are aware they badly require shearing. "We appreciate that there is growing concern for the sheep and we want to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can." It is not known who owns the sheep because it does not have an identification tag fitted to an ear. 'Incredibly complex' The SSPCA said it had considered a potential rescue with support from a local farmer. But the spokeswoman said: "The area where the sheep is stranded is very inaccessible by both land and sea, making this rescue incredibly complex, especially due to the logistics of rescuing a large animal. "We have been liaising with other agencies as to the best way to access the area but so far we have not found a suitable solution that doesn't compromise the safety of the rescue teams and the welfare of the sheep." The SSPCA said due to the time the ewe had been stranded it was now deemed to be feral, and likely to be stressed by human contact. "As this is not a domestic animal, both the coastguard and mountain rescue teams are unable to assist in this matter," the spokeswoman said. "We have also spoken with a local skipper who has advised it would be extremely difficult to land a boat in the area. "We have been given some contact information for other businesses who may be able to help and we are currently exploring these options https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-67297327
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Venezuela's top figure, Yeferson Soteldo, will be ready for the duel against Ecuador on the next date of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Soteldo, who had been suffering from an injury during his time at Santos in Brazil, was in doubt during the week, however, the medical staff of the Venezuelan squad assured that the attacker could now work fully with the rest of the team. Venezuela had been waiting until the end for its '10', who has been standing out individually in the great start to the Qualifiers that his country has had. Ecuador visits Venezuela this Thursday, November 16 in the city of Maturín for one more date, seeking the three points. La Vinotinto is going through a great moment, accumulating seven points, currently placing itself in fourth place in the standings. https://www.ecuavisa.com/deportes/futbol-internacional/yeferson-soteldo-se-recupera-y-estara-en-el-venezuela-vs-ecuador-KD6324419
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The flip-flops on the catwalk were a symbol of how much Chanel has changed. Four years after Virginie Viard took over the house from the late Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel has less pomp and fanfare, and a more informal dress code. That shift reflects both Viard’s own tastes – where Lagerfeld was bedecked in pearls and ruffs, she takes her bow after a show in simple black trousers and a T-shirt – and the casualisation of how the real world gets dressed. Chanel’s collection for next summer, shown on the last day of Paris fashion week, was made up for the most part of the sort of clothes real women wear on holiday. There were blue jeans and striped T-shirts, towelling beach ponchos over swimsuits, soft jackets worn shrugged open with hands in pockets or loosely belted, like dressing-gowns. There were flip-flops for daytime, flat white Mary Jane sandals for evening, and as many rectangular totes as boxy quilted chain handbags. The Chanel spirit has become resolutely relatable – even if the pricetags, unfortunately, have not. The set was a take on the modernist Villa Noailles, which perches above the pretty Provencal town of Hyères like a cubist cruise ship. That 40-bedroom house, white concrete walls latticed with vast angular windows placed to frame the best views, was visited by both Coco Chanel and Lagerfeld. Like Coco Chanel, Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles were early adopters of sunbathing and sports as fashionable summer pursuits – house guests would arrive to find bathing suits and athletic gear in their rooms, giving no excuse not to join in activities – and the towelling beach poncho in this show could oust the ubiquitous Dryrobe as a wild swimming status symbol next summer. The abstract show set – just a simple grid of black “windows” giving an audience seated in the centre of the room snapshots of Provencal hillside scenes projected on the outer walls – also reflected the impact Viard has had on Chanel. If Lagerfeld had modelled a show on Villa Noailles, the set would have featured a full-sized swimming pool and squash court, but such extravagance is not Viard’s style. Chanel’s next fashion show, on 7 December, will be held in Manchester, the first catwalk show by a major luxury house to be held in the city. Chanel’s annual Metiers d’Art collection celebrates the craftsmanship and skills of fashion’s embroiderers, goldsmiths, milliners and corsage-makers. Recent locations for the show, which is held in a different city each year, have included the courthouse of Dakar, Senegal, the Temple of Dendur room in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and Linlithgow Castle, close to Edinburgh. The exact location for the Manchester show is not yet known. Chanel moved its global head office from New York to London in 2018, where the company is run from a revamped Bond Street HQ. The curators of Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto, on show at the V&A, found evidence of a strong relationship between Chanel and garment manufacturers in northern England during the interwar period. A red evening gown made to Coco’s design by the Manchester Velvet Company is included in the exhibition. Bruno Pavlovsky, the president of fashion at Chanel, described the Manchester location as “audacious and interesting”, adding that all Metiers d’Arts shows had “a big focus on the local customers https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/oct/03/chanel-flip-flops-ponchos-spring-summer-2024-paris-fashion-week
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The cost of a certificate to own a large family car in Singapore has jumped to a fresh record high of S$146,002 ($106,619; £87,684). The city-state introduced the 10-year certificate of entitlement (COE) system in 1990 as an anti-congestion measure. Prospective car owners in Singapore must have a COE in order to be able to purchase a vehicle. They are sold in auctions every two weeks, with the government controlling the number of certificates for sale. With taxes and import duties, the system has made Singapore the most expensive country in the world to buy a car. For example, a new standard Toyota Camry Hybrid costs around S$250,000 in Singapore, which includes the cost of a COE and taxes. That is about six times more expensive than in the US. There are different types of COEs for smaller cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. COE prices have hit record highs for several months in a row as a post-pandemic recovery has driven up demand and ahead of the government cutting rebates for the certificates next year. The lowest COE for a car costs S$104,000, which has almost tripled since 2020 when there was less demand for new cars during the pandemic. The so-called "Open" category, which has no restrictions on which cars it can be used for, also hit a record high of S$152,000. Alice Chang from Toyota Borneo Motors told the BBC that she had expected the surge in the cost of COEs due to strong demand for new cars. "Whenever we have luxury cars, buyers are queuing up outside our store," she said. Despite being relatively small, Singapore regularly ranks as having one of the largest numbers of millionaires in the world. However, for ordinary Singaporeans, with an average salary of about S$70,000, the COE scheme means it can be difficult to afford a car. The government is keen to encourage residents to use the public transport system, which has been ranked as one of the best in the world. Last year, more than S$60bn was committed to expand and renew the country's rail network over the next decade. The city-state, which has a po[CENSORED]tion of around 5.5 million, had just under 1 million private cars on the road as of the end of last year. The number of new COEs available depends on how many older cars are taken off the road https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67014420
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As they said, at the present time he does not need 200 posts, so why not give him a chance, as this is good for him and for society
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good luck