8. Nikes/Slugabed/DJ Earl/Sam Binga @ Surefire Showcase at BarcelonaThe technical delineations between juke, footwork, jungle, and dnb may be hazy to most music fans, even the diehards of those genres themselves, but whatever was going on down in Barcelona on Friday night represented the forefront of what’s happening in those worlds today. Here in town, we endearingly call Barcy “The Bass Cave,” due to its underground setting and the walls of speakers, and this year’s Surefire showcase made sure to put the sometimes-overwhelming soundsystem to good use. Nikes (of Austin’s 808k crew) had an arsenal of fresh tracks to get things going, blending originals and remixes together seamlessly, deliberately putting forth a set of future-facing bass music that was impossible to pin down. British bass maven Slugabed followed, also gleefully defying categorization, incorporating all sorts of asymmetrical, funky, generally absurd beats into his set. Chicagoan DJ Earl and Sam Binga from England, both leaders in the footwork genre, closed out the night, surely in style, but at that point I had already departed downtown for the Electric Church party at Sahara Lounge on the East Side. SXSW is just too crazy. There’s really no way to adequately describe the energy of Austin during those 10 days of March, you just have to experience it firsthand. There are parties all over the place, everywhere becomes a temporary venue, the city nearly doubles in size, street buskers and food trucks are everywhere, there are startup companies doing everything in their power to grab your attention, swarms of impassioned artists are feeling as if their careers will be made or broken while they’re in town (plot twist — life is actually a lot more subtle than that), and there are free drinks and free food available, barely below the surface, waiting to be discovered.Before I leave my house to bike into the bedlam every day, I typically write down 5-10 parties I’m interested in, and try and catch as many as possible. It’s important to remember that going with the flow is essential when things don’t go as expected, although there are also always ways to get what you really want at any given moment. It’s a roller coaster of a week and a half, an exhilarating free-for-all, a race to the prize, a call to rage, a smorgasbord of experiences, new sounds, and new friends, with musicians, filmmakers, and techies converging from around the world. Austin instantly becomes a hyper-expanded, distorted version of its typical, atypical self. It’s beyond chaotic, and definitely reliant on luck at times, but ultimately, you get back what you put out. And by the way, we call it “south by,” not “south by south west.”Here are my ten favorite parties from this year’s festivities, in no particular order.1. Milo/Zavala @ Fake Four Inc. at Karma LoungeKarma Lounge may be known locally as a club that leans towards the EDM side of things, but during SXSW, nothing is set in stone. They happened to grant themselves a great showcase on Thursday night of the fest, a night of talent from Fake Four Inc., featuring some midwesterners with a fascinating take on hip-hop. Milo is a rapper based out of Wisconsin, whose collaborations with unorthodox lyricists Busdriver and Open Mike Eagle have helped bring him into the national spotlight. He had a controller for his mic effects and rocked the stage solo, providing one of the most engaging, provocative, distinct approaches to alternative hip-hop. Chicago producer Zavala has been turning heads lately for his production work for the Seattle-based duo Dark Time Sunshine, but when he plays solo sets, he rearranges his moody boom bap suites into a smooth, funky blend of house and UK garage, vaguely similar to what Bonobo and Disclosure might present at their live shows. Both artists made a strong case for further exploration of their discographies.2. Botany/Flamingosis @ Magical Mondays at EmpireThe SXSW edition of Magical Mondays at Empire didn’t disappoint, featuring day sets from Botany and Flamingosis, and a wealth of talent on the nighttime bill as well. Botany, originally from Denton but now residing here in Austin, is one of my favorite producers in the instrumental hip-hop scene here, and he was especially on point for this indoor afternoon set. He’s got a propensity for incorporating organic textures into his beats that coalesce entrancingly with the thumping grooves, not unlike the way Teebs finesses bird chirps, bells, scratches, and all sorts of rustling into his cerebral tunes, ultimately giving the impression of an enchanted trek through a jungle at dusk. Flamingosis on the other hand, living in Brooklyn these days but still proudly repping New Jersey, eschews such density and depth for much lighter offerings, projecting the image of walking along a sunny beach with a boombox playlist that does no wrong. His beats have some serious bounce to them, that unmistakable funk, with elements of Latin music and late ’70’s-early ’80’s flavor throughout. Guaranteed good times when he’s on the decks. An extra, unexpected standout was The Halfways, a local psychedelic indie rock band with some tropical inclinations and artfully balanced progressive tendencies. Later on that night, the showcase also featured local favorites Magna Carda, R.A.S. (Riders Against the Storm), The Octopus Project, Henry + the Invisibles, and much more. 5. Dublab @ Exploded Records at JuicelandIf you’re looking for a thoughtfully curated, concise, sonically progressive record store in Austin, particularly one that features the latest releases from electronic fusionists like Ninja Tune, Stones Throw, Warp, Brainfeeder, and the like, Exploded Records at Juiceland is the go-to spot. It’s about ten minutes north of downtown, in the Hyde Park neighborhood. The shop is the latest manifestation of Exploded Drawing, a collective of experimental beatmakers who perform original music at warehouse gatherings on the east side, at a spot called the Museum of Human Achievement. Basically, Soundfounder, one of the two founders of the squad, is a Juiceland employee, the owner of Juiceland loves him some tasty beats and partying with great music, and the rest is now history. The other half of the record store is one of Austin’s many Juiceland locations, with a fantastic vegan ice cream shop in there as well. This year, Exploded Records, in collaboration with California radio station Dublab, featured a formidable supply of producers, all scheduled for mornings and afternoons in this variously refreshing setting. Over the course of six days, they brought in Robot Koch, Zavala, Mndsgn, Daedelus, Slugabed, Matthewdavid, Corduroi, and even one of Germany’s most heralded krautrock acts, Faust. A rare opportunity to see such gifted musicians in an unhurried, intimate setting.6. Eureka the Butcher/Al Lover/Botany/DJ Nobody @ Hotel Vegas Annex (aka the Lazy Lizard)This showcase on the east side was an extension of a regular Monday night event at the Volstead, “Murda Mondays,” a generally mellow event where local DJ’s bring crates of records along and everyone cools out to some underground hip-hop and obscure funk. The SXSW lineup fit nicely in line with those intentions, offering a free show with some highly capable groove technicians. Botany played earlier in the day at Empire, but this location was far less ideal for his hypnotizing soundscapes, thanks to the droning psych rock bleeding over from the Hotel Vegas stage next door, twenty feet and one overmatched wall away. The producers surely didn’t know in advance that they’d be playing over some screaming guitars and all-out drums. Once that all ceased though, the sequence of artists were finally able to steal the show.Al Lover is best known around these parts for his contributions to Levitation Fest (FKA Austin Psych Fest) pre-coverage every year, via his eclectic compilations. His set was more catered towards beats than usual here. DJ Nobody is a resident deckmaster from LA’s Low End Theory crew, so he knows a thing or two about those crunchy electronic jams. Eureka the Butcher, aka Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, was a keyboardist and percussionist for the Mars Volta and Zechs Marquise, and has been playing shows with DJ Nobody for more than a decade now. He usually enlists the help of analog synths and drum machines for his dark instrumental tunes, as well as his bellydancing, sword-wielding muse Sadah Luna, but the excess was trimmed down that night. Expecting all artists to bring 100% of their typical stage setup for SXSW shows is a futile and naive approach; to quote William DeVaughn, sometimes you’ve just gotta “be thankful for what you’ve got.”7. The Tontons/Main Squeeze/DJ Logic @ Swan Dive (plus Anderson .Paak @ Stubbs & Erykah Badu @ Mohawk)Wednesday night was full of options, but there’s no denying a diverse lineup full of funk. Swan Dive’s showcase that night was ‘official’ as far as SXSW was concerned, but $12 took care of the lack of credentials. The Tontons were in town from Houston, and serenaded charmingly as always, presenting their unique take on an oldies sound that features big hooks, wailing guitars, and the soaring vocals of frontwoman Asli Omar. The Main Squeeze were next, a band i’d been hearing about, and unfortunately repeatedly missing, for years. I was told they’re a “Suwannee Band,” aka an act that fits perfectly in place within the context of my beloved Bear Creek Festival (RIP, for now), so i had high hopes. Expectations were met and exceeded. The Chicago-based jazz fusion group, initially formed in Bloomington, Indiana, were a true force to be reckoned with, rocking a huge, confident, aggressive sound. They put forth hard-hitting funk that turned tight corners as an ensemble, and consistently showcased brief moments of individual virtuosity when the moment called for it. My friends and I reluctantly pried ourselves away from the incredible set early in order to catch Anderson .Paak at a different venue, and eventually wound up skipping DJ Logic’s 1am set back at Swan Dive in order to scale a building, perch up on an adjacent rooftop, and see (mostly hear) Erykah Badu play at The Mohawk. DJ Logic’s jazz-infused turntablism is great, undoubtedly, but sometimes adventure is in the air, and risks must be taken. 10. The Electric Church @ Sahara LoungeAs it stands, the Sahara Lounge is one of the most interesting places in Austin to catch a show. It’s situated far east of downtown, with a prestigious past life as TC’s Lounge, which until recently was one of the East Austin’s most iconic old juke joints. With an emphasis on Africa, they provide a haven for international and experimental music, with jazz artifacts everywhere, and a wooden dancefloor that seems to live and breathe with passionate crowds, rocking and swaying and flowing to the groove. It’s always a good time in there.Enter the Electric Church. Based nearby, this East Side collective functions as a shapeshifting, notorious invocation to surrealism, hosting debaucherous, discombobulating gatherings, when they’re not busy pressing cassettes, making music videos, or performing as The Sun Machine and Black Liquid Drop. This was the second year they’ve enlisted the Sahara Lounge to be their epicenter of chaos, after an enormously successful collaboration last year. (HERE is a very high point from the end of that party). Indisputably central to the Electric Church/Sahara Lounge SXSW experience is the magnificently costumed Golden Dawn Arkestra, who are not only one of the must-see bands in the unfathomably dense Austin music scene, in our country of 300-something million, or even on the entire planet. They’re one of the premier acts anywhere in the universe, as far as I’m concerned. They evoke Sun Ra’s mysticism and awe-inspiring rituals, and distill them through a euphoric filter of African funk and disco, inciting a frenzied atmosphere that fosters transcendent feelings of unity among mesmerized audiences.The acts earlier in the night were intriguingly wide-ranging and captivated the crowded setting, but there was a tangible buzz of anticipation that crescendoed all the way to Golden Dawn’s back patio entrance procession, heralded by frontman Topaz McGarrigle on a majestic white horse. Yes they marched the horse right into the damn bar. Yes, it was a very good idea. (And yes, it went back outside after a few seconds.) Combine all of these volatile elements, drink specials, and a little backyard barbecue, and that dance floor was bouncing generously Friday night.Between the cult of Golden Dawn Arkestra, and the cult of the Electric Church, the night ended with a whole bunch of new believers in the mix, dazed zealots speaking in tongues, sinners seeking salvation (or more sin), much drinking of the Kosmic Koolaid, psychedelic disciples, evangelicals of funk, and a whole bar full of music lovers truly convinced they had seen The Light. I’m not inclined to argue.Honorable Mentions– Rick Wilkerson and his band’s tight funk fusion representing the jazzier side of Nashville’s scene, at the Historic Victory Grill’s Ultimate Louisiana Party– Impromptu parade and recording session by Minneapolis brass band New Sound Underground– All the amazing world music I intended to catch this festival, including bands from Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Cuba, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, Indonesia, as well as Dutch and German producers and so many more…– CIA LSD psych rock party at Barracuda, Sunday day and night when SXSW was “technically” over (videos — Rotten Mangos & Hollow Trees)– Poliça at the Parish– Grupo Fantasma, free outdoor show at Auditorium Shores– Ethan Glass’s experimental bass at Barcelona– The Sun Machine at Hotel Vegas Annex (Lazy Lizard)– Green Oasis afterparty on Saturday night– Chop Shop/Create Culture’s crawfish boil party at Empire, Saturday during SXSW Interactive– The Waffle Bus, aka my downtown chicken & waffles HQ for the week. Only here for SXSW, from Houston. I will never forget you.This list was contributed by Jared Buchsbaum, who runs Truth Via Music. You can see his work here, and check out his full SXSW video playlist below:
3. CAPYAC Boat PartyThe first, and most important thing you must remember about this one, is that the entire thing took place ON A BOAT. It’s crucial to escape the concrete jungle of downtown every so often during SXSW, and hopping on one of the city’s many boat parties at some point is the best way to do so. That being said, Capyac are some of the best nautical hosts an Austinite could hope for, because they wield some of the fiercest, most infectious, freshest funk in town. They’re a live disco duo, who often enlist special guests in support of the cause, like crooner Collin “Oolaf” Finnigan, versatile latin percussionist Dario Aravena (aka Darth Vena), and Rudi Devino, who raps locally with Subculture Patriots, Sip Sip, and Retr0grade. Colin and Rudi were in the mix aboard, joined by the modeling troupe witchxxdoctor, silent alien seductresses who were in full splendor throughout the voyage, adorned in pink and silver, mostly dedicated to staying in character. They crept around alluringly with citrus and licorice on silver platters, one of which featured a jar full of extra-special jazz cigarettes, rolled in pink paper. A very nice touch indeed. Solstice Live sure knows how to throw a party. Did I mention the free whiskey? Did I mention THE BOAT??4. Keys n Krates/Break Science/Capyac/Lucky Chops @ Music Tech Mashup at EmpireIn general in Austin, when in doubt on a given night, it’s worth hopping over to Empire Control Room & Garage to see what’s going on. Shortly after being thoroughly funkified at sea on Thursday afternoon, it occurred to my crew and I that catching another Capyac show might actually be a great idea. It wouldn’t be the last time we concluded this during SXSW. Luckily, an extra large version of the group was listed within a stacked bill at Empire that same night for the Music Tech Mashup party (presented by Jukely and Heard Entertainment), along with Canadian traptronica trio Keys n Krates, rowdy brass band Lucky Chops, and electronic funk duo Break Science, who always manage to get everybody hyped. The packed crowd was at a fever pitch the whole time. I found myself especially drawn to Lucky Chops, who utilized technical proficiency, instrumental power, engaging song selections, and infectious energy to maintain the crowd’s attention. Their bari sax player also happens to be a rising star in the brass band scene, the fast-footed Leo P. of TOO MANY ZOOZ, a ‘brass-house’ ensemble who have taken NYC subway stations by storm, going viral for their irrepressible underground performances. They’re one of a select few bands in recent memory who have transcended the world of busking, and are now in demand for arena shows. Lucky Chops spent the rest of their festival doing pop-up shows around town, and if people were adequately coherent when catching them, I suspect those guys have a whole bunch of new fans from their time here. 9. Stones Throw @ EmpireSaturday night of SXSW is always a big deal. I skipped out on a show that night headlined by Snarky Puppy, along with solo sets from standout keyboardists/composers Cory Henry and Bill Laurance….so you know something major was going down. For the second year in a row, I dedicated my final “official” night of the festival to Stones Throw, Peanut Butter Wolf’s experimental hip-hop imprint from LA, one of the most creative labels out there. The bill was pretty insane this year, with six hours of creative greatness filling two stages. Too many inevitable conflicts of musical interest to even be mad.Mndsgn threw down early with his dusty, harmonically enticing mid-tempo take on esoteric jazz. Karriem Riggins (with the help of J Rocc on the decks) dexterously covered a bunch of J Dilla classics, with deep, personal familiarity, on his drum kit. Knxwledge flipped remixes with his characteristically bumpy, surreal style, chopping bizarre loops until his Nx Worries partner, Anderson .Paak, burst on stage and dazzled the crowd with his charismatic flow. He and Knx are hilarious counterparts for each other, constantly talking shit back and forth (mostly about the fact that Knx was dressed down, and Paak was dressed up), keeping the energy nice and loose. Ras G brought his heavy, hazy, club-shaking beats along for the masked Koreatown Oddity, a new partner in crime of his, to rap over. Seiho came all the way from Japan and stole faces with some futuristic uptempo house jams, ornamenting his rhythms with a spellbinding Korg keyboard that resembled a sort of slide piano. Samiyam transported us into a video game realm where everything was slowed way down and a final boss battle loomed ominously ahead. Deantoni Parks (formerly of the Mars Volta) blew minds by drumming with one hand and maniacally sequencing notes and melodies with the other. Daedelus, the wizard of the monome himself, and a true gentleman through and through, flung an endless supply of layers onto his frequently evolving hectic grooves as if he was hurling fireballs at the crowd. J Rocc of LA’s Beat Junkie crew gave us some old-school soul to chew on, along with plenty of Dilla originals, one track he suggested would be on Madvillain 3 (uhhh….release date?? Anyone??), and a thorough, seasoned mastery of the turntables.The head honcho himself, Peanut Butter Wolf, closed it out, using his set to pay tribute to the immense supply of talent he’s accumulated on his label. This included many who weren’t in the building, like Dåm Funk, DOOM, Dilla, and Madlib, and of course his ex-musical partner and best friend, Charizma, who tragically died young when the vision of Stones Throw was still barely a dream. The party concluded on a high note, with Opio of Hieroglyphics and Souls of Mischief joining PBW for a few tracks, including the classic ’93’ til Infinity.’ Stones Throw has been around for twenty years now, and there’s certainly reason to believe that their best years still lie ahead.
Guatemala Trains Partner Nations in Peacekeeping
By Manuel Ordoñez/Diálogo September 01, 2016 Since July 1st, 2004, a section of cloud forest located in the northern department of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, has served as a United Nations foreign military training center for peacekeeping missions. Known as the Regional Training Command for Peacekeeping Operations (CREOMPAZ, for its Spanish acronym), the training center is certified for Staff and Military Observer Courses by the United Nations. Because all the countries comprising the Central American Armed Forces Conference (CFAC, for its Spanish acronym) send their officers to these facilities for Peacekeeping Operations training, CREOMPAZ has the characteristics of a “regional training center,” according to Lieutenant Colonel Karen Pérez, spokesperson for the Guatemalan Ministry of Defense. Troops that have passed through CREOMPAZ classrooms have carried out missions in several countries, including Haiti, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Burundi, Congo, South Sudan, North Sudan, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Lebanon, and Nepal. CREOMPAZ facilities are located in a place previously called the Army Instruction and Training Center, which was used by the Guatemalan Army’s Artillery School, Professional Non-commissioned Officer School, Public Relations, and Peacekeeping Operations School. “They are prepared to be in Peacekeeping Operations environments or wherever their countries decide to send them, according to their acquired specialization and capacities,” Lt. Col. Pérez added. As a member of the General Directorate for Integral Risk-Reduction Management of the Guatemalan Ministry of Defense, retired Colonel Luis Fernando Román went through the training offered by CREOMPAZ. A unique experience Col. Román’s experience at the helm of the Humanitarian Rescue Unit led to his participation in a team that provided assistance following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. “The training at CREOMPAZ allowed me to be able to speak the same language as colleagues from other armies who also served during the emergency. We all knew what to do and how to do it, without putting ourselves or the civilian population at risk,” explained Col. Román. “At CREOMPAZ, we all go through a common training, which consists of standards and protocols for all the peace forces to follow – whether they are observers, military police, or others – to be able to coexist with the civilian population and the other troops. Afterwards, they take the specialization courses,” added Col. Román. The Guatemalan Army participates in peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, as well as in Haiti, where the troops serve as military police for the UN peacekeeping forces. In addition to in-person classes at the school, CREOMPAZ has a partnership with the U.S.-based Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI) to offer online courses on peacekeeping completely free of charge.
What are the benefits of Office 365 for credit unions?
Microsoft’s Office 365 provides unparalleled productivity for private users, students, and businesses alike. However, because it’s a relatively new product, some are reluctant to adopt it. Here are a few benefits of moving to Office 365.And before we go too far, let’s get a few things straight. We don’t condone moving to a platform just because it’s new, nor do we recommend rethinking business strategies every time a company releases a new product. In fact, we know that there’s very little “new” about Office 365 in general, aside from an update to its business model.With that said, it’s time to take a real look at how you can benefit from moving to Microsoft’s Office 365.Simplified LicensingOne of the things that Microsoft has dealt with over the years is in regard to licensing and version control. With different open volume enterprise licensing agreements comes different conditions, prices, and renewal commitments.With Office 365, Microsoft has done away with that. Instead of essentially selling different versions of the same product to different people, they’ve moved to a per-user subscription model.Before, a credit union with 50 employees will have about 75 to 90 computers, all of which require their own Microsoft Office license. That’s a lot of money. It adds up. Currently, with Office 365, the credit union needs to buy only enough licenses to pay for each user rather than each computer. This means that credit unions can save a hefty chunk of change by buying licenses only for those who will use Office 365 devices, rather than for each computer that needs to run it.If an employee has a desktop, a laptop, and a home PC for work, that’s only one license instead of three. That’s almost enough for an endorsement on its own from us.SupportHere’s what we’ll say about support, though. Because Office 365 is cloud-based, and because it encompasses so many different things, including productivity software, Skype, email, and so on, you know it’s going to have basically the same accessibility and functionality it always has.However, if for any reason you’re having trouble with your email, your teams, or your productivity, you can rest assured that Microsoft’s IT personnel will be there to assist you. They’re always going to make sure that their product is functioning perfectly, and they’ll always be ready to assist you if your version of their software isn’t performing up to snuff. As a bonus, this will free up your own IT personnel to work on more pressing matters.Change is InevitableSome things are just meant to be. Other things are more like the steamroller: we can see them coming from far off, but we can’t quite get out of the way.We think those that allow progress to roll them over and crush them are being silly.At some point, all Microsoft Office licenses will be Office 365 licenses. We see no reason to prolong the inevitable. It’s a good, stable platform. Your credit union might as well take advantage of that on your own terms, rather than when the steamroller finally arrives.Click here to learn more about the Microsoft Office 365 Solution at Ongoing Operations. Originally from Princeton, NJ, Amy received a Bachelor of Science in finance from Indiana University. At IU, she volunteered as a mentor to incoming female Kelley School of Business students … Web: www.ongoingoperations.com Details 2SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr,Amy McCaughey
A working meeting of key stakeholders of the tourist system was held in Rovinj before the main part of the tourist year 2018
The Ministry of Tourism held a working meeting in Rovinj with representatives of the tourist system of the Republic of Croatia in order to get direct information on the current situation and activities related to the continuation of the tourist 2018 in the run-up to the main part of the tourist year.The meeting was attended by numerous stakeholders of the tourism public and private sector of the Republic of Croatia, ie representatives of tourism associations, travel agencies, airports, hoteliers, private accommodation, caterers, public institutions, representatives of chambers, county tourist boards, emergency medicine associations, protection and rescue as well as representatives of the Ministries of Environmental Protection and Energy, Interior and Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure who work together all year round for the purpose of a quality and safe tourist year.”We are facing another challenging, but I am sure, successful tourist year in which we will confirm that Croatia has become one of the world’s tourism leaders. According to previous announcements from the field, ie based on talks with domestic and foreign representatives of airlines, tour operators, Croatia is again in the focus of interest of tourists from around the world and the demand is growing. The perception and motives for the arrival of guests have changed significantly in recent years, so Croatia has become recognizable not only as a destination of sun and sea, beautiful nature, but rich gastronomy, diverse and quality offers and tourist products. This success is due to all tourism workers and stakeholders in Croatian tourism who make a great contribution to creating the overall tourist story in our destinations. ” pointed out Minister Cappelli.A short report on the current situation in its scope of work and activities was presented by the Vice President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce for Tourism, Trade and Finance, Josip Zaher; President of the Association of Croatian Travel Agencies Tomislav Fain; President of the Croatian Hotel Employers’ Association Ronald Korotaj; Assistant Director of Police Krunoslav Borovec; State Secretary at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure Maja Mrakovčić Kostelac; President of the Croatian Camping Association Tihomir Nikolaš; President of the Guild of Caterers and Tourist Workers of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts Nenad Šepak; Director of Pula Airport Svemir Radmilo; Director of the Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine Maja Grba-Bujević; Vinko Prizmić, head of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service and many others. “When compared to other countries, Croatia has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe, and therefore our guests are less exposed to crime than elsewhere and feel safer. This year, 18 countries will be included in the “Safe Tourist Season” program, which is the most so far. This is an action that is extremely important to us because of the quality of police service in terms of speed, courtesy and obtaining information. We are glad that this year we will be joined for the first time by police officers from China who will be staying in Split, Dubrovnik and Plitvice. Also, this year, for the first time, a headquarters based in Zadar will be formed, which will function as a communication point with other services.” said Assistant Police Director Krunoslav Borovec.The importance of joint cooperation was emphasized by the director of the Croatian Institute of Emergency Medicine, Maja Grba-Bujević, emphasizing that in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, they had provided a helicopter and police service. “The availability of ambulance teams is extremely important in order to save the lives of locals and tourists especially during the summer months when there is a larger influx of guests. In order to increase the availability on the islands, we have also started the procurement of six ships for the medical service, which I believe will significantly contribute to increasing the efficiency of interventions.. ” “The tourist year started well, and it is certain that the good announcements are the result of numerous activities of the Croatian Tourist Board, from appearances at the world’s largest fairs, to the implementation of key marketing and PR campaigns. The focus is on positioning Croatia in distant markets through the opening of new representative offices in the markets of China, South Korea and the USA, and also a significant increase in airlines, which are one of the basic prerequisites for positioning our country as a quality year-round destination.” said after the meeting the director of the CNTB, Kristjan Staničić.After the meeting with the representatives of the tourism sector in Croatia, a meeting was held with the directors of foreign missions of the Croatian Tourist Board who presented the situation in the markets in which they operate and briefly outlined the projects and challenges they face in their work. Also, tomorrow in Ruvinj will be held the 33rd session of the Tourist Board of the Croatian National Tourist Board, which will discuss the adoption of proposals for decisions on marketing cooperation with Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor, as well as marketing and PR activities within the project “Sports Croatia”. Also, council members will adopt the proposal Decisions on announcing vacancies for managerial positions in representative offices in the markets of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden and China.
100 doctors in Indonesia have died from COVID-19: IDI
IDI chairman Daeng M. Fiqih told The Jakarta Post that the association had coordinated with the national COVID-19 task force and relevant departments to ensure the availability of protective equipment in hospitals and health facilities so as to prevent more deaths among health workers.“Hospitals should issue a special policy that temporarily prohibits health personnel with comorbidities and those who are at higher risk [of contracting the coronavirus] from working,” he said, adding that health professionals should also be required to regularly take polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to ensure a safe working environment.Furthermore, he also urged hospitals to create a work schedule in accordance with doctors’ physical health to prevent fatigue, which makes them more vulnerable to the virus.“Every stakeholder should work together to support hospitals in implementing those measures,” Daeng said.Read also: For some Indonesians, COVID-19 stigma worse than disease It is known that 100 doctors have died from COVID-19 as the number of cases and fatalities across the archipelago continue to mount, according to the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI).The IDI broke the news on Monday in a written statement, which also included a list of names of health professionals who had succumbed to the contagious respiratory disease.Among them are doctors from Airlangga University’s School of Medicine and Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, East Java – Miftah Fawzy Sarengat and Putri Wulan Sukmawati. In Medan, North Sumatra, two doctors — Daud Ginting, 66, and Edwin Parlindungan Marpaung, 44 — died from COVID-19 while receiving treatments in different hospitals on Sunday.Daud died at 2 a.m. on Sunday following a week of treatment at Martha Friska Multatuli Hospital, which he was referred and admitted to after previously being hospitalized for a week at Mitra Sejati Hospital, said Wijaya Juwarna, the chairman of IDI’s Medan chapter.The late doctor, who previously worked at Pirngadi Hospital, succumbed to the disease at the same hospital where his wife was being treated after testing positive for COVID-19, Wijaya said. “As of [Monday], Daud’s wife is still undergoing intensive treatment at Martha Friska Multatuli Hospital,” he told the Post on Monday.Edwin, an orthopedic doctor, died at Columbia Asia Hospital in Medan at 9:44 p.m. on Sunday, Wijaya added.The Health Ministry announced 2,858 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of infections nationwide to 172,053. According to data released by the ministry on Sunday, 82 more people have died of the disease, bringing the death toll to 7,343.Earlier this month, IDI spokesperson Halik Malik said the majority of doctors who died from COVID-19 were between 28 and 39 years old.Topics :
Hong Kong lawmakers clash as pro-Beijing camp elects chair
Pan-democratic legislator, Chu Hoi Dick center, scuffles with security guards during a Legislative Council’s House Committee meeting in Hong Kong, Monday, May 18, 2020. AP The legislature’s House Committee, which vets bills and decides when to present them for a final vote, had been without a chairperson for more than six months. The central government in Beijing criticized deputy chairperson and pro-democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok for deliberately delaying matters and causing a backlog of bills that affect public interest. (AP)
HONG KONG – Clashes broke out in Hong Kong’s legislature Monday for a second time this month as a pro-Beijing lawmaker was elected as chair of a key committee that scrutinizes bills, ending a prolonged struggle for control with the pro-democracy camp.
Burrowes, Persaud win first titles at National Junior and Cadet TT Championships
SAMIRAH Burrowes got past her twin sister Sufah in the final of the Intermediate Girls’ competition, while Yuteshwar Persaud won the Novices competition yesterday in the National Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. For the Burrowes sisters, it was a replay of last October’s National Schools’ Novices final, and again it was the same results.Samirah was flawless, winning 11-8, 11-5 and 11-8.In the event, which started on Friday, the eventually champion had defeated Maria DaSilva (11-6, 11-4, 11-3) and Shamy Lynch 11-2, 11-4, 11-3), to finish on top of Group One. In Group Two Sufah was also flawless. She got past Isasha Harry (10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5), Akeira Fowler (11-8, 11-8, 11-2) and Laetitia Garner (11-5, 11-5, 11-6).
Yuteshwar Persaud is the champion of the Novices division.For Persaud, victory was not as easy. He had a tough battle against second-place finisher Muhammed Baksh in the final of the Novices competition. The 14-year-old Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School student won the opener 11-5, before Baksh fought back to win 12-10, 11-7. Persaud then tied the series 2-2 with a tough 11-9 win before he took the title with an 11-8 victory.Earlier both youngsters had gained maximum points in the preliminary round. In Group One, Persaud defeated Osaye Emammuel 3-0 (12-10, 11-9, 11-6), while he got the better of M. Bostwick 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-8) before he came from behind against Narayan Goodridge 3-1 (10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7).Baksh had eased past Diminic Sandy (11-6, 11-6, 11-3), Shane Razak (11-6, 11-5, 11-6) and Jelani Jones (11-1, 11-0, 11-2).The championships, which started on Friday, will conclude today at the same venue after the final of the Boys’ and Girls’ 15-years-and-under and 18-years-and-under competitions.
Leicester Sacks Shakespeare, Cagliari Dumps Rastelli
Leicester City has sacked manager Craig Shakespeare just four months after he signed a three-year deal to take the job on a permanent basis.The Foxes are third from bottom in the English Premier League and have not won any of their past six league matches.Also yesterday, Cagliari’s Massimo Rastelli became the first Serie A coach to be sacked this season in Italy.Shakespeare, 53, succeeded title winner Claudio Ranieri in February, initially on a temporary basis.After steering the Foxes away from trouble to finish in 12th place, he was given the job permanently in June. Shakespeare won eight of his 16 games in charge last season, and led the club to the Champions League quarter-finals.His departure follows a 1-1 draw with West Brom on Monday.The last time Leicester went six league matches without a victory, Ranieri was sacked – nine months after leading them to the title.Of their 10 matches this season – eight in theleague and two in the EFL Cup – Leicester have won three and drawn three, losing four.But they have won only once in the league – a 2-0 victory at home to Brighton on 19 August.Their four defeats have come against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.Shakespeare – a former West Brom player – is the seventh manager in the past five years to leave his job in the aftermath of a match with the Baggies:Mick McCarthy was sacked as Wolves manager in 2012 after losing 5-1 at home to the Baggies.Andre Villas-Boas suffered the same fate at Chelsea after a 1-0 defeat at The Hawthorns in March 2012 and, eight months later, his successor Roberto di Matteo departed after a 2-1 defeat at the same ground in his final league match (his final game in charge was against Juventus in the Champions League).Roberto Mancini was sacked by Manchester City despite having just beaten West Brom 1-0 in May 2013.Paolo di Canio lost his job at Sunderland after losing 3-0 to the Baggies in September 2013.Chris Hughton was sacked by Norwich after losing 1-0 to WBA in April 2014.And Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match in charge of Manchester United before retiring was also against the Baggies – a 5-5 draw in May 2013.Carlo Ancelotti, recently sacked by Bayern Munich, former England manager Sam Allardyce, ex-Manchester United boss David Moyes and former Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew all figure prominently in the betting markets.Also among the potential candidates are former Oxford boss Michael Appleton, who had been working as Shakespeare’s assistant, Wales manager Chris Coleman and ex-Man City boss Roberto Mancini.Also in Italy, Rastelli was eased out of his Cagliari job and became the first Serie A coach to be sacked this season after the Sardinian club made a poor start to the campaign.The 48-year-old took over in the 2015-2016 season, guiding Cagliari into the Italian top flight after winning Serie B in 2016.Last season the club finished 11th but this term are trailing in 14th position with just two wins in eight games, against relegation rivals Crotone and SPAL.“We thank Rastelli for over two years of work with professionalism and passion,” Cagliari said in a statement.“He was a protagonist in winning Serie B and in reaching 11th place last season, and we wish him good luck for the rest of his career.”Coaching assistants Nicola Legrottaglie and Dario Rossi were also sacked in the clearout.Cagliari are on a run of four straight losses, the most recent a 3-2 defeat at home against Genoa.Former Pescara coach Massimo Oddo and Giuseppe Iachini, who last season managed Palermo and Udinese, are being touted as possible replacements.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram
USC tops Florida Atlantic for first shutout
First half goals from Jordan Marada and Jamie Fink complemented a dominant defensive effort at McAlister Field on Thursday afternoon, where the USC women’s soccer team defeated the Florida Atlantic Owls 2-0 to record its first shutout of the season.Brick wall · Junior goalkeeper Caroline Stanley (25 saves, 0.75 goals allowed average, .806, save percentage) only had to register one save in her first clean sheet of the season against Florida Atlantic on Thursday. – Nick Entin | Daily TrojanThe Women of Troy (5-2-1) were on the offensive from the opening kick, but struggled to convert opportunities into goals in the game’s first minutes. It appeared that USC would strike first at the 13-minute mark, when Marada found fellow senior Autumn Altamirano streaking down the side of the pitch. Instead, Florida Atlantic goalkeeper Courtney Zwetsch made an athletic save to keep USC off the board.Two minutes later, however, the Women of Troy would finally cash in. A beautiful, long-distance loft pass from Marada found sophomore Jamie Fink in the box, who deftly redirected the ball into the net.“[Sophomore forward] Katie [Johnson] and I were both making runs, and she drew the defense off of me a little,” Fink said. “Then Jordan Marada sent in a cross with the perfect curve.”The Fink and Marada show was not over. With 13 minutes remaining in the first half, an Alex Quincey throw-in was deflected into the middle of the field, where Marada found the ball and delivered it into the side of the net. It was the midfielder’s second goal of the year to go with her four assists.After halftime, it was a tale of strong defense and missed opportunities for the Women of Troy, who outshot the Owls 14 to 5 in the contest. With two minutes gone in the second half, freshman Kayla Mills found a seam down the middle of the field, but could not push a point blank shot past the FAU keeper. At the 55-minute mark, sophomore midfielder Megan Borman could not convert a penalty kick after Fink was fouled in the box. Later, with 13 minutes to play, Marada barely pushed a free kick wide of the Owls’ net.Even with these close calls, USC never seemed at risk of a loss because of their dominant backline. Goalkeeper Caroline Stanley, who directed traffic expertly all game long, was only forced into action once. The ball simply never seemed to get that far.Altimirano appeared to be flying all over the field, stealing possession with ease and setting up the USC offense on numerous occasions. Sophomores Natalie Donaldson and Erin Owen were also forces of nature on defense.Even though Thursday marked the first shutout of the 2013 campaign for the Women of Troy, the backline has been consistent all season, having allowed more than one goal just once this year.“Our backline is getting better and better every game,” USC head coach Ali Khosroshahin said. “The best part is, I can put eight or nine players out there [on defense] every game and expect the same results.”“We are so impressed with our defense,” Marada said. “This shutout was so key, and it puts us in great position for the rest of the season.”The Women of Troy’s offensive difficulties were not a complete mystery. The squad played without star senior midfielder Elizabeth Eddy, who sat out with an injury. Eddy leads the team with five goals and brings invaluable experience and leadership to the table.Khosroshahin knew playing without his star midfielder would be difficult, but was careful to not place too much importance on one player.“We weren’t as sharp as we normally are up the middle, that’s for sure,” the seventh-year coach said. “But I can’t say if that’s because of one player.”Marada applauded her teammate’s unselfishness on the bench.“Elizabeth still made her presence known,” Marada said. “She brought a lot of positive energy off the bench. She is still a leader off the field and gave out a lot of good advice.”USC soccer returns to McAlister Field Sunday, where the Women of Troy will host Cal State Fullerton at 3 p.m. The Titans bring a 3-2-2 record to the contest, and boast five players who have scored at least one goal apiece. Last season, the Women of Troy defeated CSUF in a tight 3-2 contest. Sunday’s game will mark the final nonconference game for USC, who will then move into Pac-12 play.Follow us on Twitter @dailytrojan
Wisconsin hockey leaves Ann Arbor with single point
With two key players missing from the lineup in the first road series since the end of November, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team faced an imposing task when it traveled to Michigan over the weekend to take on the 12th-ranked Wolverines.After sweeping the first series between the two squads, No. 9 Wisconsin (14-8-2 overall, 5-4-1-0 Big Ten) dropped Friday’s game 3-1 but salvaged a 2-2 tie Saturday night to earn one point in the Big Ten standings.Although the Badgers only came away with one of the six possible points in the weekend against the Wolverines (13-6-3, 5-2-1-1), Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves remained optimistic under the circumstances.“We’ll take the one point, put it in our hip pocket and go home,” Eaves said after Saturday’s tie.“In some ways it was a moral point for us, being a little shorthanded and finding a way to give ourselves a chance to get ourselves more than one point but getting one point—the guys rose to the occasion today.”In the series, Wisconsin was tasked with playing without two of its top-four goal scorers in Nic Kerdiles and Tyler Barnes. Kerdiles, who is fourth on the team with eight goals on the season, has now missed the last three series after sustaining a shoulder injury in the Jan. 4 game against Alaska Anchorage. Meanwhile, Barnes sat out this weekend, making the games only the second and third he has missed in his career after he injured his shoulder in the late moments of the Jan. 25 loss to Ohio State at the Kohl Center.Without two of the key offensive pieces, Wisconsin struggled to put the puck in the back of the net throughout the course of the two games, scoring only three goals.But despite a lack of offensive production, the Badgers fought toe-to-toe with the Wolverines in the 2-2 tie Saturday night that eventually ended in Wisconsin’s first shootout of Big Ten play.Following a scoreless first period of play, Wisconsin struck first on a highlight reel goal from senior winger Michael Mersch 1 minute, 2 seconds into the second stanza. After working the puck free along the right half boards, defenseman Joe Faust fed Mersch on the right goal line near the goal mouth. Mersch proceeded to play a no-look, behind-the-back pass to himself between the legs of Michigan defenseman Kevin Clare, which he then slid past Michigan goaltender Zach Nagelvoort (25 saves).“It was just one of those plays around the net,” Mersch said about his team-leading 15th goal of the season. “I’m always sitting around the net, so when you have something like that and you have a defender on your hip you want to make a move to the net. It was just split instinct move there and it worked out for me.”A little more than nine minutes later, the Wolverines came back to tie the score at one when Tyler Motte, who had two goals in the series, collected a rebound and fired it past Wisconsin netminder Joel Rumpel (39 saves).Wisconsin would respond at the 16:14 mark of the second after an interesting sequence of play. Only moments before, it appeared Michigan had taken a 2-1 lead on a goal off the rush from defenseman Andrew Sinelli. However, after the officials reviewed the goal, they determined Sinelli had made contact with Rumpel before the puck trickled over the goal-line and disallowed the goal.That set the stage for Wisconsin’s Mark Zengerle who chased down a loose puck in the neutral zone and raced past Derek DeBlois in the process. DeBlois was left no choice but to pull down Zengerle, forcing a penalty shot to be awarded to Zengerle. Zengerle capitalized on the chance, beating Nagelvoort five-hole for the 2-1 lead.Wisconsin went to the second intermission still leading and came out in the third trying to hold on for the win, but Michigan would not be denied in the final frame. The Wolverines outshot the Badgers 12-2 in the third period, with Luke Moffat tallying the equalizer with 12 minutes, 58 seconds to go in the game.Neither team would score the rest of the way, forcing a 5-minute overtime session in which Wisconsin put six shots on net, doubling Michigan’s three chances. But even though Wisconsin tripled its shots from the third period, none of them found twine, ending the game in a 2-2 draw.With the new format of Big Ten play this season, the game descended into a shootout, where Michigan notched the only goal coming from Moffatt to pick up an extra point in the Big Ten standings. That extra point puts Michigan one point ahead of Wisconsin and moved the Wolverines into second place.Even in the shootout loss, Wisconsin seemed to have a surge of momentum in the late-going Saturday, which was similar to how the series began Friday night. The first game of the series saw the Badgers equal the Wolverines with 13 shots on goal in the first period. However, Michigan scored on two of those chances to take a 2-0 lead into the first break, and those two goals were all it would need.Wisconsin seemingly controlled play in the first 10 minutes, but once again it was Motte who broke through for Michigan, pounding home a rebound at the 13:10 mark of the first period to sway the tide in favor of the Wolverines. Only one minute and 20 seconds later, Michigan would strike again. After Sean Little failed to put home a point-blank one-timer, Michigan’s Alex Guptill broke out of his own zone on a breakaway and beat Rumpel, who finished with 31 saves, for what was the eventual game-winning goal.The first goal, followed by the failed scoring opportunity for Little and subsequent Michigan goal turned the tide in the Wolverines favor and put Wisconsin in a hole it could not escape.“I thought all four lines were getting scoring chances. We were outplaying them, winning races and battles but we just couldn’t find the back of the net in the first 10 [minutes]. They popped a couple of quick ones and we just lost our energy from there,” Little said.Michigan would score again just over 12 minutes into the second period, causing Eaves to use his timeout to settle down his players. Wisconsin regrouped and responded with a goal from Joseph LaBate just a minute and one second later, but the Badgers could not find the net the rest of the way as the 3-1 final score held up over the final period and change.As Eaves commented following Saturday’s game, his team did not attain its goal by only grabbing one point on the weekend, but the performance considering the circumstances provided a learning opportunity heading into the remainder of Big Ten play and a home matchup against No. 1 Minnesota this Thursday and Friday.“I think we were disappointed. I thought [Friday] night we didn’t play to the level we were capable of and everyone keeps talking about having those two guys out. That doesn’t matter. We rose to the occasion tonight. Coming in here and doing that with what we had is something we could use in the future,” Eaves said.
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