Were Leaving Fight Island With a Bang!- Dana White Super Excited For Next Week – Essentially Sports

Dana White has an insane final event set up for us on the 25th of July.

Yas Island in Abu Dhabi has played home to the UFC throughout the month of July. With 2 events already successfully in the bag, the promotion company gears up for their third and final event on the island. This one promises to be as exciting as ever.

The first event conducted on this private fight island was UFC 251. This event was star-studded and got the momentum going for the upcoming weeks. With 3 title fights, there was no way that this event could disappoint. It proved to be every bit of exciting as Dana White had promised.

In the span of another week, July 18th was event number 2. Power-packed as always, they successfully pulled off 2 events on the island with only 1 to go. Dana White plans to end with a bang, making sure everyone remembers this span of back to back UFC events that were carried out despite a roaring global pandemic.

Event 3 is lined up to be one thriller of a night. With more than 15 fights overall, the main card is carefully curated to deliver that final punch the promotion company is looking forward to delivering.

Speaking with ESPN MMA after a successful event Dana White showed how excited he was for their upcoming event. He was eager to roll out of there in style, leaving everyone with something to remember for a lifetime.

Dana White said, Were leaving Fight Island with a bang. Its a great card stacked with legends and great fights. And the main event is awesome. The main event I very important and it means something. So Im excited for that card!

The main event Dana White spoke of id the middleweight clash between Darren Till and Robert Whittaker. This fight has a lot riding on it as the winner will most probably go on to challenge for the divisions gold.

Are you equally excited for event number 3?

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Were Leaving Fight Island With a Bang!- Dana White Super Excited For Next Week - Essentially Sports

Vintage Staten Island Ferry photos: Packed boats and passengers without masks – SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Remember back when riding the Staten Island Ferry didnt involve covering your face, constant hand-washing and struggling to maintain a safe social distance from your fellow riders?

Though its only been a handful of months since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic completely upended every aspect of life for Staten Islanders, it feels like years since weve been able to experience one of the citys most simple pleasures -- a cool, relaxing ride on the Staten Island Ferry.

While the ferry has continued to operate amid the ongoing pandemic, the new experience has been surreal for many longtime riders.

Passengers who once stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the ferry terminals and loading areas now struggle to maintain six feet between them and their closest peers.

Rows of seats that were once filled to capacity are now scarcely populated, with markings in place to limit available seating and maintain safe social distances.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Restrooms aboard the boats remain closed, Statue of Liberty-seeking tourists are nowhere to be found and the familiar tradition of drinking ferry beers on the way into the city for a night out has fallen by the wayside.

With that in mind, the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com has decided to share some of our vintage photos of the Staten Island Ferry from a simpler time. Though some of these photos are decades old, the experiences captured in many feel far more normal than anything Staten Island Ferry riders have experienced since mid-March.

Rush hour commuters at St. George Ferry Terminal in 1991.Staten Island Advance

Staten Island Ferry passes the Statue of Liberty in 1992.Staten Island Advance

Wedding onboard the Staten Island Ferry in 1976.Staten Island Advance

Commuters on a ferry in 1990.Staten Island Advance

Police Officer Lenny Narducci, part of the city's new ferry patrol, makes his rounds on the American Legion's trip from Manhattan to Staten Island in 1984.Staten Island Advance

Food counter at Ferry Terminal in 1970.Staten Island Advance

Commuters battle the wind-driven snow to get an early ferry home from Manhattan in 1982.Staten Island Advance

Commuters enter the ferry terminal after leaving their St. George-bound SIRT train in 1983.Staten Island Advance

Commuters boarding a ferry in 1979.Staten Island Advance

Commuters stand shoulder-to-shoulder aboard a packed boat in 1982.Staten Island Advance

Commuters wait as boat pulls into dock in 1972.Staten Island Advance

The Charles Moulton dance troupe performs on the Staten Island Ferry in 1985.Staten Island Advance

St. George-bound passengers on the Staten Island ferry watch Holly Fairbank & Dancers in 1986.Staten Island Advance

Ferry boat Merrell loading up at St. George terminal in 1965.Staten Island Advance

Staten Island Chamber Music Players Brass Quartet plays on Staten Island Ferry in 1987.Staten Island Advance

Commuters at the snack bar on the maiden voyage of the Andrew Barberi in 1981.Staten Island Advance

Commuters en route to the Staten Island Rapid Transit trains in 1968.Staten Island Advance

Children from across the Island were treated to a special cruise on the ferryboat Merrell in 1982.Staten Island Advance

Transportation Department Deputy Commissioner J. David Love, left, hands out commemorative cards indicating that these special commuters are passengers on the maiden voyage of the Andrew Barberi in 1981.Staten Island Advance

Commuters aboard the newest and largest ferry, the Andrew J. Barberi, catch up with the news on their way home from work in 1982.Staten Island Advance

The Governor Herbert H. Lehman Ferryboat loaded with commuters in 1991.Staten Island Advance

Upwardly mobile Staten Islanders trudge the stairs between the idled escalators at the Whitehall ferry terminal in 1988.Staten Island Advance

The USS Ricketts, a guided missile destroyer, dominates the view from the Staten Island ferry American Legion in 1980.Staten Island Advance

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Vintage Staten Island Ferry photos: Packed boats and passengers without masks - SILive.com

DOH: 11 active cases of COVID-19 on Hawaii Island – West Hawaii Today

State health officials announced 23 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, including two new cases on the Big Island.

With the new cases, the state has now recorded a total of 1,334 positive cases of the novel coronavirus since Feb. 28, according to the COVID-19 Joint Information Center.

The state also reported one new death, an elderly Oahu resdient over age 60 who had an underlying condition and had been isolating with family at home.

To date, Oahu has recorded 1,025 positive tests, followed by Maui County with 135 cases, Hawaii County with 107 and Kauai County with 43.

Of the Hawaii residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, 994 of those cases have since recovered and been released from isolation. That includes 98 of the 109 cases on Hawaii Island.

Statewide, 139 patients have required hospitalization, including four on Hawaii Island. Thats 10% of cases across the state and 4% of cases on Hawaii Island.

Of the 23 deaths reported to date among Hawaii residents, 16 were on Oahu, six were on Maui and one was a Kauai resident receiving treatment in Arizona at the time he died.

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DOH: 11 active cases of COVID-19 on Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Today

Governors Island Reopens Tomorrow With a New Meat Hook and Threes Brewing Collaboration – Eater NY

The Ferry and food businesses of Governors Island reopen starting tomorrow

One of NYCs most cherished summertime activities catching a ferry to nearby Governors Island will return starting tomorrow, officials say. Close to 20 food businesses will reopen their doors as part of the islands reopening, including Fauzias Heavenly Delights, a popular jerk chicken cart in the Bronx, and a new collaboration from Threes Brewing and the Meat Hook team.

The full reopening plans include 17 food businesses, many of which are returning to the island for a belated start to the summer season. Taco Vista will be back for waterfront carnitas, while Makina Cafe will be serving its popular Ethiopian cuisine. Newcomers to the island this year include Fauzias, a food cart in the Bronx that has earned a cult-following for its jerk chicken and Jamaican fare. Threes Brewing, which typically runs a waterfront craft beer stand on the island, will also be teaming up with popular Brooklyn butcher shop the Meat Hook on sausages and more.

Governors Island island reopens Wednesday, July 15. The island will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, with a limited number of ferry tickets being sold for departure from Manhattan and Atlantic Basin in Red Hook. Several monuments and indoor activities at Governos Island will remain closed, and officials say that the only passive recreation is being condoned for now, such as walking, biking, and eating. Masks required for admission.

Arthur Avenue in the Bronx officially kicks off in-street dining this week. The section of Bronxs Little Italy will be closed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sundays.

The Times Square Edition Hotel may be poised for a comeback barring a second wave of coronavirus in NYC, though theres still no word on chef John Frasers restaurants inside.

Chef Emma Bengtsson is now selling cardamom and cinnamon buns at her two-Michelin-starred restaurant Aquavit. The Swedish pastries are now available for takeout and delivery for $5 each.

A new farmers market debuted at Williamsburgs Domino Park this weekend. The Domino Park Greenmarket will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through November 22.

Dos Toros is headed across the Hudson River later this month with its first New Jersey location in Florham Park, a spokesperson for the restaurant chain says.

Restaurant workers detail the grueling new realities of wearing masks in NYC summer heat and losing days of work at a time due to summer weather.

Fotografiska New York, along with its popular ground-floor cafe, will reopen as part of NYCs phase four reopening to the public on July 29.

The newest menu item at Mighty Quinns Barbecue is brisket... hand soap.

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Governors Island Reopens Tomorrow With a New Meat Hook and Threes Brewing Collaboration - Eater NY

One womans journey from Rikers Island to organizing director for a senate campaign – masslive.com

Before her 28th birthday, Jacqueline Velez served two stints at the infamous Rikers Island. A single mother of three, 45-year-old Velez now works as a prison reform advocate, a writer whose work was recently published in O, The Oprah Magazine, and until recently, served as regional organizing director for U.S. Sen. Ed Markeys re-election campaign.

Velez gives off a warmth that makes a person feel at ease in her company. She speaks of her life, describing details from over 20 years ago as if they happened an hour ago.

This month, she left the Markey campaign to focus on other projects. She told MassLive that she still believes wholeheartedly in his politics but wanted to take some time out to evaluate her future opportunities.

When the protests that have erupted in towns and cities across the U.S. in reaction to police brutality Velez, a passionate civil-rights advocate, couldnt attend.

I dont have a spleen. When I was 20, I accidentally ran into a knife three times, Velez said, half-joking about her injuries. A natural storyteller, Velez leaves that statement in the wind as a prelude and will return to explain what she meant later.

Velez grew up on Starr Street in Brooklyn and refers to herself as a Nuyorican - a term for Puerto Rican people from New York. In the early 90s shortly after breaking up with her first boyfriend, 17-year-old Velez started skipping school and falling into the wrong crowd.

I started drinking liquor, beer, smoking cigarettes and smoking weed. At one point, I was hanging out with this group of guys and a group of girls and we kind of were a gang, said Velez. I didnt look at it that way back then but thats what we were.

During this time, she would sometimes sell drugs. She admits, however, she wasnt a very good at it but could always tell if a police officer was nearby because they stuck out in her neighborhood.

The only white people you saw were teachers, firefighters, cops and the people that came to [buy] heroin or crack. You did not see white people, said Velez. It was odd to see a white person walking about.

Although Velez said that she never sought out violence, she and her friends were involved in fighting other groups of youths from other city blocks who would come looking to cause trouble.

We end up starting to get into a fight with this group of girls. Now, after the fight we find out that this group of girls are the baddest girls in the whole hood, said Velez. So, we had to expect retaliation, but the thing was that we didnt start that fight.

Over the next couple of months, Velez and her friends are constantly in a state of readiness. Waiting to get jumped by this excessively aggressive group that had issues with Velezs gang.

I was getting pounded out on a regular basis, said Velez. One day my friend [Natasha] calls me and says, they just jumped me! She was crying saying that a bunch of girls jumped her at her school and we were like, Oh, were going over there to your house and then we going to go where theyre at. You know, to go fight over there.

Velez picked her friend up from her home with another friend. The three young women headed to the neighborhood of the aggressors.

[Natasha] ended up fighting; once, twice, three times. We like, all right, enough is enough. You got your s--- off, lets go, said Velez. [Natasha] was like, Im not done! [as three more] girls were approaching. So, then all three of us had to fight three of them.

The pursuit of these girls seemed crazy to Velez because she was in the block of the baddest girls in the whole hood. The longer they stayed, the more likely they would be overpowered by the numbers that could mobilize against them from the buildings.

I had a mustard yellow hoodie, recalled Velez. My whole body was covered in blood because the girl that hit me busted my nose.

But, I didnt lose the fight, Velez added with a small sense of pride as she remembered the girls name she fought. Her name was Tyson, like Mike Tyson, the boxer.

Jacqueline Velez has recently bought her home in Springfield where she lives with her two children and stepson. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Finally, Velez, with friends in tow, left the neighborhood and headed back to their block. As they left, her friend, who Velez looked up to at the time because of her fearless nature, started to call out to the beaten and bleeding girls on the curb.

[Natasha] was like, Oh come to Starr Street with that s---! We go and they follow, said Velez. When they come to follow, we end up having a fight.

Velez, now in her neighborhood, is tired from the various scraps and wants it to end it but the girl now grabbing at her hair and pounding on her is much bigger and isnt going to give up. At one point during the foray, someone passed Velez a razor blade to use if she needed it.

She could have flung me if she wanted to. But I gave her a fight, I was so tired of fighting and they were about to jump me again, said Velez remembering the moment that she would live to regret.

So, I cut her. I cut her in the face.

The girl was taken to the hospital and received 197 stitches on both cheeks and neck. Velez told MassLive that she cut a J into the left cheek of the girl.

That act of extreme violence would haunt her in later years. Velez eluded to believing in karma, the sum of a persons actions in this state of existence. Three weeks later Velez found herself in Rikers Island Jail. Still young and without the ability fully understanding her actions, the Karma that would change her life is still to take place.

Now, more than 150 miles from her old life and able to take a step back to see the woman she was and who she is now, that 17-year-old could be another person. Actions she took as a child seem so foreign to most. Most, however, didnt live on those streets in Brooklyn.

At no time does Velez try to excuse her actions. She owns the responsibility of those actions and each day works hard to push herself further and further away from the person she used to be.

Mom, Im going to jail.' She was so naive about it. Im like, Mom, Im going to jail. I cut this girl. Im going to jail.

Velez talks of trying to explain the consequences to her mother at the time. Her mother, in shock, couldnt grasp what was happening. Velez was taken to Rikers Island Jail as a 17-year-old juvenile after being identified by the girl with the stitches.

Being in her cell without other women calmed her slightly. During her time Velez kept to herself and avoided talking. Her time in jail was cut short after what Velez described as her legal aid lawyer was able to get the case dismissed.

At 17, and now with jail time at the infamous Rikers Island, Velez gained notoriety in her neighborhood and Brooklyn. She was now someone not to be trifled with, even more than before.

Jacqueline Velez shows the qualifications she had from school in New York City. Velez told MassLive that she was always a good student and did well. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

It made Velez see herself as the baddest girl in the hood and she wanted to nurture that image with her peers. Image was everything at that time.

A year passed and Velez was seen in her neighborhood as the personification of the Brooklyn toughness and wore her time at the jail like a badge of honor. She had the respect and camaraderie of people in her community.

Jacqueline Velez regrets the mistakes of her past but has grown from them. She is now the working on U.S. Sen. Ed Markey's re-election campaign. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Within the next year, she became pregnant with her boyfriend at the time.

As soon as he knew I was pregnant, he bought me a ring and a pair of big earrings, which was a thing, Velez said, laughing at the fashion of the time.

Things got worse for the young couple, however, and eventually they ended up homeless. Velezs mother begrudgingly took them in. She was always happy to have her daughter but she didnt like her boyfriend.

I figure out that I can go to a shelter and get an apartment before my babys born if I go now, said Velez. So, I told him, Listen, Im going to open a welfare case and through that, I can tell them Im homeless and go to a shelter. He tells me, Im not going with you because Im not going to another jail.

After serving prison time, her boyfriend had made a promise to himself he would never go back and saw shelters as another form of confinement.

Im not going to stay here and have a baby when the rats are bigger than my infant, said Velez. The rats were huge in New York.

On Dec. 9th, 1994, she was accepted into a shelter on 22nd Street and 8th Avenue. Eventually, her boyfriend was talked into joining her. The apartment had cockroaches, people in the corridors high on crack and heroin. Tuberculosis and HIV were common in the mid-90s. Velez was sure many in the building suffered from these afflictions. Her boyfriend was still dealing drugs at this time and Velez constantly worried and hoped that their child might change his ways.

I felt that [their daughter] was going to save his life. Like, that was my hope. That was my first instinct. This babys gonna save his life, she is going to get him off the street, Velez said.

Jacqueline Velez holds up one of her earliest pieces of writing. She was told by her teacher to write a diary. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Her boyfriend started to work two jobs seeking to support their growing family without risking jail time.

At full term, 20-year-old Velezs water broke and she was rushed to St. Vincents Hospital on 14th and 7th Avenue at 4 a.m. on Saturday, May 13. The labor was long and painful but finally Velezs first child was born on Mothers Day, May 14, 1995.

After almost 10 months of not being able to drink or party, Velez was eager to see her friends and hangout.

On June 16, just over a month after giving birth, Velez went for a night out with her friends. Velez said it was a celebration for her daughters birth and people were happy to supply her free drinks all night.

At one point in the evening, she saw the boyfriend of one of the girls who had jumped her in a park years before. She approached him, told him to leave and an argument ensued.

After arguing awhile, his tone changed, calm all of a sudden, he extended his hand as a show understanding and mutual respect.

Velez reciprocated.

He pulls me to him and stabs me three times, Velez recounts.

Jacqueline Velez was stabbed three times in 1995, a few days after giving birth to her daughter. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

On the third thrust, the knife pierced through her spleen and got stuck in her side.

He tried to stab me here straight [in the belly], but couldnt because I just gave birth and my stomach was jelly. So, when he wasnt able to do that, he stabbed me on the side, said Velez showing the scar. When I look down, I see the whole knife was inside of me.

Shocked at the suddenness of the attack she began to walk away across the street to her friends, all the while clutching the knife. In the struggle, Velez had grabbed the gold chain hanging around his neck and when they broke apart, she still had it wrapped around her arm.

He was coming at me and Im like what the f--- does he want? said Velez, not realizing that she had his chain on her arm. She thinks he wants his knife back. So, I take out the knife and I throw it at him.

She continued to make her way across the dark street toward her friends with him in pursuit. The pain, Velez said, had gotten much worse and blood was now flowing down her side after she wrenched the knife out.

When I get to [my friends] Im almost falling into their arms and I went to speak, but nothing came out, Velez said.

Velez was taken straight to the hospital in the back seat of a strangers car that her friends stopped in the street. During the drive, she feared she may never make it home to her newborn again.

When her boyfriend heard what had happened, he took to the streets to try and track the individual that had stabbed the mother of his child.

Jacqueline Velez is a regional organizing director for Senator Ed Markeys re-election campaign. She will receive her associate degree in June from Bard Microcollege Holyoke, and writes weekly with Voices From Inside, a group of formerly incarcerated women. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

In weeks following, he was shot six times -- once in the neck and five times in the torso on the streets of Brooklyn. Tears fill Velezs eyes when she talks about her daughters father.

While recovering from the rupture of her spleen followed by the death of her daughters father, she started to think of the violent cutting of her initial on the left cheek of the girl in her neighborhood as a 17-year-old.

That girl got a hundred ninety-seven stitches. I [was] just feeling a lot of bad, said Velez who now feels a deep remorse and regret at the act of violence and permanent scar her actions left. The scars from the stabbing can be covered, the scars Velez gave cant and that still plays on her mind.

The years go by and Velez worked low-paying jobs to make ends met.

In 2003, Velez lost her job. This was the turning point.

I lost my job and I get on employment and my daughter sees me crying and says, Why are you crying? and I said, Mommy lost her job and I cant pay for your ballet classes, said Velez. We cant go have fun for a little while until Mommy gets another job.

Velez told MassLive how heartbroken she felt telling her daughter this news and said how amazed she was by her 8-year-old daughters wisdom when she turned and said, Why you dont go back to school?

So, I said, you know what? said Velez. Im going back to school and Ill figure [money issues] out later.

Money was always going to be an issue and Velez searched for months to find work but to no avail.

At 28, Velez was sent back to Rikers Island for holding packages of drugs in her apartment. Although she had made a promise to herself and her daughter, money, or the lack of it, had pulled her back into the world of crime. She was caught holding a stash of drugs in her apartment for a local dealer.

While in the back of a police cruiser in handcuffs, Velez could only think of how she had let her daughter down.

I was devastated I was dying inside, said Velez. Right there in that moment when I knew I was going to jail.

During her second time at Rikers Island Jail, she was put into solitary confinement for 20 days for fighting.

Wanting to move away from the negative influences Velez felt were in New York City she traveled to Springfield. In 2004, she arrived in Massachusetts.

She has had a passion for writing since she was 12 years old when a teacher would give her books to read to inspire and develop her. According to Velez, the teacher was breaking school policy in doing this. It was secret between her and a person in her life she respected, which made her feel special and like she had something to offer.

Jacqueline Velez wasa regional organizing director for Senator Ed Markeys re-election campaign. She received her associate degree in June from Bard Microcollege Holyoke and writes weekly with Voices From Inside, a group of formerly incarcerated women. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Velez enrolled in the Bard Microcollege in Holyoke where she came across the poet Rainer Maria Rilke. He wrote about solitude and that struck a chord with Velez.

I fell in love with it, Velez said and she always keeps a copy on her bedside table.

It was clear that like most humans of heart, [Velez] has a lot of depth and a lot of human comprehension and was very interested in questions about being a human and what does this mean? said Anne Teschner, executive director of the Care Center where the Bard Microcollege is housed. She brought to the story a very deep gate of curiosity. We cant claim credit for that.

Velez said that she has been inspired to look at the world through a different lens and also look at her own life for inspiration.

The teacher asked, or she said something that made me think about the 20 days I spent in solitary confinement, said Velez. Shes like, Oh my God, you should write about that.

Her writing on her experience was published in Oprah Magazine on May 5, I Survived 20 Days in Solitary ConfinementHeres How I Got Through.

Jacqueline Velez shows the first published piece of writing of hers. Velez told MassLive that writing has been a passion of hers since a young age. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Bard Microcollege is the first college in the nation set up to serve young mothers and low-income women. Housed in the Care Center in Holyoke, small groups of women living in Chicopee, Holyoke and Springfield with a high school diploma or GED can work to earn an associate degree from Bard College.

Built to support their students, school grants cover not only the cost of tuition and books for the students but also offer transportation, child care and meals for students and their children.

I feel like crying thinking about it, said Velez. I almost dont want to leave the program because there is no other place like it, but they have given me the tools I need to get to the next level.

Got a news tip or want to contact MassLive about this story? Email newstips@masslive.com or message us on Facebook orTwitter. You can also call our news tips line at 413-776-1364.

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Proposed airbridge allowing travel between New Zealand and Cook Islands loses steam – 1News

A proposed airbridge allowing people to travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands is looking increasingly unlikely.

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The two country's Prime Ministers have been in talks - but the idea seems to have lost some steam. Source: Q+A

Tourism makes up 75 per cent of the Cook Islands' GDP, with the majority of the tourists coming from New Zealand.

Travel agent Rick Felderhof said Kiwis are clambering to "get up to the Pacific Islands," adding, "If the Cook Islands is willing to get an air bridge up, the demand is definitely there."

An air bridge would see tourists fly from Auckland to Rarotonga, before returning along with Cook Islanders looking to travel to New Zealand. Two weeks' quarantine would not be required upon their arrival in Auckland.

Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Henry Puna have discussed the possibility of an airbridge. However, the idea has lost steam, with Ms Ardern saying a timeframe had not been set for the move.

"The priority is to keep New Zealand safe and keep the Cook Islands safe," Ms Ardern said.

It comes as a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is expected to exclude the state of Victoria, where Covid-19 cases have continued to climb.

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Proposed airbridge allowing travel between New Zealand and Cook Islands loses steam - 1News

GODZILLA VS. KONG Action Figures Reveal A New Weapon For Skull Island’s Resident Kaiju – Comic Book Movie

Godzilla vs. Kong was supposed to be released this year, but COVID-19 has changed all of Warner Bros.' plans and pushed the highly anticipated crossover to 2021. Had things been a little more normal, we probably would have been anticipating an action-packed new trailer at Comic-Con next Saturday, but the studio won't be taking part in [emailprotected]

Despite that, merchandise for the Kong: Skull Island/Godzilla: King of the Monsters follow-up continues finding its way online, and thanks to the folks over at Godzilla-Movies.com, we have a first look at action figures for both iconic monsters.

Kong looks pretty much the same he did the last time we saw him, but the giant-sized Kong is wielding a brand-new weapon you have to believe he will end up using in his battles against Godzilla (after all, he doesn't have that beast's powers, and instead relies on brute strength).

With these toys comes a brief new plot synopsis that reads, "Legends collide as Godzilla and Kong, the two most powerful forces of nature, clash in a spectacular battle for the ages! The monster war rages on the surface and deep within our world as the spectacular secret realm of the titans known as the Hollow Earth is revealed!"

Check out the Godzilla vs. Kong figures below:

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GODZILLA VS. KONG Action Figures Reveal A New Weapon For Skull Island's Resident Kaiju - Comic Book Movie

Mask task: Grand Island mom helps sons adjust to wearing face coverings – Grand Island Independent

Six-year-old Ian Flaherty played outside with his brother, Nigel, 4, Thursday afternoon just like any kid does in summer when schools out.

The brothers tossed a ball to each other and rode their bikes around the block as their mom, Elisia, watched. Due to the nation in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ian and Nigel took the extra precaution of wearing a face mask as they played.

Ian, why do we wear a face mask? Elisia asked her son.

Because of the coronavirus, he responds.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Elisia said she talked with Ian and Nigel about the coronavirus, how it is a virus that makes people sick and the need for them to wear a face mask.

She added her husband, Andrew, is the director of rehab at Emerald Nursing and Rehab Lakeview and wears personal protective equipment with two masks an N95 and a surgical mask goggles and a shield, and her sons were able to see photos and video of him.

At the beginning of the pandemic, seeing him in all of that in a picture helped them realize how important it is, Elisia said.

So if he could wear all of that stuff, we talked about how us wearing a simple cloth mask was easy; we could do that.

With GIPS requiring students to wear face masks in the classroom, Elisia said her sons will be ready. Ian will be in first grade at Wasmer this upcoming school year, while Nigel will be in all-day preschool at Howard.

We practiced wearing a face mask at home. At first, I just bribed them with a piece of candy or would have them wear it when they watched cartoons, Elisia said. I just set a timer for them to know how long we are going to do it. Then, if we go anywhere, they wear a mask, too. We are trying to prepare them for being in their classrooms a lot more and not in the hallways and help them be ready for that.

Teresa Anderson, health director for the Central District Health Department, said parents should wear a face mask and model it for their children so they wear one, too.

There are ways to just model it for your children saying, Look, I am wearing a mask, it is good and keeps you safe, she said. Some kids know that when they are wearing masks, they are protecting themselves and others from germs. Most kids, when they are three years old, know what germs are. So we can start working with three-year-olds saying, This is going to keep you safe, keep mommy and daddy safe and others safe, too.

Anderson encouraged parents to follow the Flahertys example by practicing wearing masks with their kids and offering positive reinforcement.

I dont think kids will want to wear masks very long, but as time goes on, we can start conditioning them to be more comfortable with the masks by maybe starting out with a couple minutes, she said. Then, the next time, going a few more minutes and going a little bit longer the time after that, so that it will become somewhat second nature by the time they are ready to start school.

Elisia said wearing a face mask can be a struggle for her sons, especially Nigel, who wears glasses. She said the masks ear straps can cause him problems with his glasses and also fogs up his glasses, making it harder for him to wear a mask.

Sometimes, with Nigel, it will slip off his nose and he will not want it on his nose; that is the bigger struggle, Elisia said. My feeling is that imperfect efforts are better than no efforts. Maybe we are not going to wear the mask perfectly, maybe they are going to be touching them and maybe they are going to fall off. Yes, that is all going to happen. But we have to try to do as much as we can.

Anderson agreed with Elisias actions and said having kids wear a face mask for a period of time is still better than not having them wear one at all.

When we are talking about exposure to COVID, we are talking about reducing exposure, Anderson said. So any time a child has their face covered with a mask, it is going to reduce the risk. We are not going for perfect here, we are going for how we can reduce exposure.

For parents trying to get their young children to wear masks in public and at school in the fall, Elisia said the first step is to set an example for them.

If you, as an adult, have a lot of anger or reservations about having to wear a mask, ask yourself why that is and deal with that, she said. Then, just pump it up to your kids that it can be fun and different. Just make it seem like this is what everybody is doing.

Anderson said it is absolutely essential that adults feel that wearing a mask is a good thing. She echoed Elisias thought that kids attitudes about face mask will reflect their parents, whether it is positive or negative.

Parents just need to normalize it and just ease into it, Anderson said. It can be somewhat stress free, or it can be very stressful. It just depends on how the adult approaches it. Making a mask in a fun character like a superhero or school colors really makes them more attractive to children and more apt to wear it.

Flaherty said since Ian and Nigel wear face masks, she hopes they can be an example for their peers when they start in-person classes in August.

For the boys, when I told them everybody their teachers and classmates are going to be wearing masks, it is easier for them when they see others doing it. The positive peer pressure helps, she said.

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Mask task: Grand Island mom helps sons adjust to wearing face coverings - Grand Island Independent

Family on fishing trip spots great white shark off Plum Island – The Boston Globe

Michael Lemire was fishing with family off Plum Island Saturday afternoon when he spotted a dark silhouette moving toward their boat. But instead of a finding a large fish near his line, he soon realized it wasnt something he wanted to catch.

I was just trying to figure out what it was at first, Lemire said. Being that close to shore, I didnt expect to see a shark that close. But its the ocean and you know there are sharks around.

A young great white shark that was about 6 to 8 feet long was circling the boat Lemire and his father, brother, and nephew were fishing on. The shark left after it took a pass around the vessel and the familys submerged fishing lines, but came back about 15 minutes later.

Lemire got up on the boats bow and took a video of the shark, which he later sent to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

Shark spotting right off of plum island.. confirmed by the Atlantic White Shark Conservatory a 8 foot Great White Shark Michael Lemire

A picture is worth a thousand words. You can say you saw something but no one will believe it unless they see it, too, Lemire said.

The shark never touched their baited lines and left soon after. Lemire said he didnt try to follow it.

We knew we werent going to catch any striped bass with a shark in the water, he said.

This was the second shark sighting off Plum Island within three days, said John Chisholm, a shark researcher who works closely with the Division of Marine Fisheries. Another great white shark that was about 8 feet long was seen in the same spot on Thursday.

It makes sense that they saw the sharks there because there is a lot of bait and striped bass up there right now, and we typically see these smaller sharks feeding on schools of fish, Chisholm said.

Only a few credible shark sightings are documented off the North Shore each year, compared to the dozens of sharks that are often spotted off Cape Cod in the summer alone.

This partly has to do with more seals living in the Cape, where adult great white sharks between 12 and 20 feet long are frequently seen between May and late November each year.

Chisholm said more sharks are attracted to the Cape because of a larger concentration of seals there. But he has received reports of seals with shark bites washing up on Plum Island over the years.

This is a good reminder that all of Massachusetts coast is home to great white sharks, Chisholm said. From Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod and up to the North Shore, thats all great white habitat.

Lemire lives in Ipswich and fishes in the area often. This was the first time hes seen a shark while on the ocean.

Its something you might only see once in a lifetime, especially being in a boat with your family, Lemire said. We didnt catch anything that day, but its one of those experiences well always have.

If you see a shark, Chisholm said to keep your distance, take pictures if you can, and report the sighting on the Conservancys Sharktivity app. You can also email the sighting to Chisholm directly at masssharks@gmail.com.

Caroline Enos can be reached at caroline.enos@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @CarolineEnos.

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Family on fishing trip spots great white shark off Plum Island - The Boston Globe

Stigma cited as a key barrier in female gamblers accessing treatment services – Casino Beats

Research commissioned by GambleAware and completed by YouGov has been published, aiming to develop and deeper understanding around the experiences of women and gambling.

The study found that more than a third (35 per cent) of female gamblers, who experience high levels of harm and have a PGSI score of 8+, are from a BAME background, compared to 12 per cent of the overall female population.

This same pattern is also seen amongst male gamblers, with 29 per cent of men with a PGSI score of 8+ coming from a BAME background, compared to 12 per cent of men overall.

Stigma was cited as an overwhelming reason for not accessing treatment services, with researchers reporting that a higher proportion of women than men cited this rationale.

Among those who did not want treatment, advice or support to help them cut down their gambling, two in five (39 per cent) female problem gamblers said feeling embarrassed or not wanting people to find out about their gambling was a key barrier,, compared to just over one in five (22 per cent) male problem gamblers.

However, knowing that support and treatment would be confidential is particularly important for female problem gamblers, with one in five (20 per cent) saying this would be a key motivating factor.

Anna Hemmings, CEO of GamCare, explained: This report has highlighted not only the challenges that need to be overcome, but also the opportunities available to service providers to help increase take-up of treatment and support to help reduce and prevent gambling harms among women.

Across our treatment network, in line with the National Gambling Treatment Service, we are working with women to better understand the barriers they may face when it comes to seeking advice or help for their gambling, or experience as an affected other, so that we can continue to ensure they have access the services they need, regardless of their gender or background.

Furthermore, it was also found that eight per cent of women fit into the affected others category, those who experience harm as a result of someone elses gambling, and that 16 per cent of these are from a BAME background

Researchers also found that women are more negatively impacted by the gambling of a close family member than men, with 35 per cent of female affected others, compared to just 9 per cent of males, are negatively affected by the gambling of a spouse or partner.

However men were found to be more likely to be affected by the gambling of a friend or flatmate than women, with 33 per cent citing this, compared to just 9 per cent of females. Among those affected by the gambling of a parent, 88 per cent of women, in comparison to 75 per cent of men, said this had a moderate or severe negative impact.

Marc Etches, CEO of GambleAware, said of the findings: This research indicates that women, particularly in the capacity as an affected other, experience gambling harms in different ways to men and this report is an important first step in understanding those differences.

This research was commissioned to help treatment providers, such as those operating via the National Gambling Treatment Service, address any barriers people may face when it comes to accessing help and support for their gambling and it is essential that services are flexible and meet the needs of individuals.

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Stigma cited as a key barrier in female gamblers accessing treatment services - Casino Beats

Best Gambling Strategies Ever – Win More Gambling for Real Money – BestUSCasinos.org

Not all games on the casino floor are created equal. You will find games like slot machines or keno that are completely random and have no skill element.

A more sophisticated gambler may prefer games where skill comes into play. But even professional poker players cant tell you with any accuracy what cards will hit the board.

Gambling strategies are short-term solutions; the randomness of the potential results will eventually render any strategy nil. So, how does one pinpoint the most successful gambling strategy of all time? By thinking outside the box.

Gambling is a form of entertainment, right? Given that fact, the strategies that provide the most entertainment for your gambling dollar are therefore the most successful.

Youre going to be at the tables anyway. So, why not try a few strategies you havent tried yet? You can implement some different ways to play the games while maintaining your position relative to the casinos built-in mathematical advantage.

I want you to have the most fun and win as much as possible while gambling. Notice that I placed having fun above taking a profit.

In that same spirit, Im going to give you a few gambling strategies that are sure to leave your fellow gamblers puzzled. If you enjoy any of the following strategies enough to put them into play, youll be able to easily mix it up when things become stagnant.

While you may not flip the house edge completely in your favor, you will definitely increase your fun factor.

Playing in tournaments is a basic strategy. Many gambling experts suggest playing in tournaments. The math on this one is easy to follow.

You pay a flat fee in the beginning to join the tournament. For that entry fee, you have a potential to earn a substantial sum of cash. Slot tournaments can be especially generous for top three finishers.

Tournament play allows you to budget beforehand more easily by having a set entry fee. Doing so ensures that you cant overextend your bankroll. Obviously, you might wish to gamble more regularly than tournament schedules allow. If thats the case, playing exclusively in tournaments isnt practical.

If youre longing for the feel of true competition or just keep your bankroll in check, playing tournaments can fill the slot for your gambling needs.

Lets get one thing straight: Casinos get uncomfortable when youre the only player on a blackjack table. Skilled advantage players can get in three or four times as many hands per hour playing heads-up against the dealer.

If youre just a regular player, the casino makes more money when youre heads-up with the dealer. The house edge applies to all the money you put into action. So, the more hands you play, the more money they make.

But if youre a card counter, your projected hourly winnings go up based on the number of hands you play per hour. Ive seen pit bosses take measures from backing off a player to closing tables when someone starts winning too much.

Dont take it personally when this happens. I know it feels personal, but its just business.

Real money roulette gets picked on by the gambling experts regularly. Being a game that, by design, encourages huge sucker bets doesnt help its case. In fact, its usually sage advice to steer clear of the spinning wheel.

Players see the table layout and think solely about the individual numbers. A few more experienced players may stick to betting the lines on the roulette table.

But regardless of which bets you make, the game still has a relatively high edge of 5.26%. This doesnt mean youre unable to improve your probability of winning on a single spin, though.

For the best chance of winning, place the outside bets. Think black or red. Even or odd. You can also play the 1/3 groups, but these still pay 2 to 1.

You have an opportunity to improve your chance of showing a small win here though. By betting on two groups, you cut the odds to even. But you increase your coverage with this bet versus a traditional safe bet.

So, would you rather win even money for betting on 18 numbers or win even money for betting on 24 numbers? You may never bet red or even again if you do the math.

Slots have been on an evolving trajectory since they hit the scene. Game manufacturers continue to add paylines. In fact, some slot machines have an almost comical number of paylines.

Ive seen a handful of machines with multiple screens to accommodate even more paylines.

The first versions of these multi-line games allowed players to choose only a small number of lines to bet. While you may see this as some altruistic measure by the casinos, your return is often diminished by not betting max lines.

Imagine trying to win money on a 25-line machine by only betting one line per spin. Get the picture? It may seem like youre extending your bankroll by playing fewer lines.

The secret about these machines is that they, by design, pay the highest percentage when all lines are in play.

It should encourage you that the newer multi-line games provide a theoretical better return than slots of yesteryear. There are a few games out there that even offer a return of over 96%.

Thats even better than the odds on roulette. Slots arent my favorite, and they may not be your first choice either. Still, most gamblers will play them sometimes.

They can be a nice way to enjoy some downtime away from the tables.

Real money craps is not known for its simplicity. Many new gamblers avoid it like the plague. I understand why. Craps tables have a lot going on, and everyone standing around appears to be an expert.

When a novice gambler garners the courage to approach the table, hes inundated with a plethora of complicated bets. You wont have to search far into any introduction of craps before you hear about the pass or dont pass bets.

These two are the best bets in the game. You should also take or lay odds with these bets. This is elementary stuff, and you shouldnt have to think about them much. The simplicity may be why everyone recommends these bets.

Most gamblers bet pass. They want to root for the guy or gal shooting the dice. In fact, Im a pass line bettor, too. Its hard to pass up the opportunity to team up and run against the casino.

Misery loves company, too. You may look at the two and wonder, why pass instead of dont pass?

The dont pass bet has a lower house edge, but the difference is so small1.36% vs. 1.41%that most people just go with the bet where they get to root for the shooter.

Thousands of gambling strategies are floating around. These range from the silly to the flat-out crazy.

Whats fun is to shake things up without drastically increasing your risk.

If youre bored with the same old strategies, try to increase your entertainment value for every dollar you spend. Keep things light and exciting at the casino.

The most successful gambling strategy of all time? Have fun.

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Best Gambling Strategies Ever - Win More Gambling for Real Money - BestUSCasinos.org

Global Gambling Markets 2020-2027: Impact of COVID-19 on the Industry, Profiles of 46 Market Players – PRNewswire

DUBLIN, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Gambling - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Gambling Market to Reach US$647.9 Billion by the Year 2027

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Gambling estimated at US$443.2 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$647.9 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% over the analysis period 2020-2027.

Lottery, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 9.9% CAGR to reach US$209.9 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Casino segment is readjusted to a revised 2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 56.1% share of the global Gambling market.

The U.S. Accounts for Over 26.8% of Global Market Size in 2020, While China is Forecast to Grow at a 12.8% CAGR for the Period of 2020-2027

The Gambling market in the U.S. is estimated at US$119 Billion in the year 2020. The country currently accounts for a 26.84% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$158.8 Billion in the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 10.7% through 2027. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 2.4% and 5.1% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$158.8 Billion by the year 2027.

Betting Segment Corners a 19.4% Share in 2020

In the global Betting segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 7.7% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$64.8 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$108.6 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$94.2 Billion by the year 2027, while Latin America will expand at a 9.7% CAGR through the analysis period.

The publisher brings years of research experience to this 7th edition of the report. The 280-page report presents concise insights into how the pandemic has impacted production and the buy side for 2020 and 2021. A short-term phased recovery by key geography is also addressed.

Competitors identified in this market include, among others:

Total Companies Profiled: 46

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/apukqs

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [emailprotected]

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An example of systemic racism (letter) | Letters To The Editor – LancasterOnline

This is regarding the June 6 Black Lives Matter protest in Elizabethtown (addressed in the June 14 Sunday LNP | LancasterOnline editorial, Disturbing the peace).

The Elizabethtown businesses claim they brought in militia members for security. The police chief said he only learned about this plan the night before. He asked for a discrete signal, so he would know who the security personnel were a signal no one would know about except those who needed to know.

So business owners and militia members wore strips of green tape. One business owner discussing the tape with an LNP | LancasterOnline reporter wouldnt say who put the security plan in place.

The police chief also said he thought the militia members would be inside the businesses. They werent they were on rooftops but he did nothing about this, even though he didnt know who let the militia members up on the roofs. Was it property owners? The chief also wouldnt identify the businesses involved.

One militia member refused to give his full name. Another militia member said his group was not paid to be there; he didnt know another armed man who was on the same roof, but thought he was a local business owner. Two men on the roof had semi-automatic rifles.

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I dont think hired policing of citizens in a public square and on public sidewalks and roads is an appropriate exercise of the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

But were just supposed to take all the white folks word for everything, concluding all was legal. See how white supremacy and systemic racism work?

Patty McKenna

Elizabethtown

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Requests for firearm permits in Iowa have nearly tripled this year – KCCI Des Moines

Gun permit applications are skyrocketing in Iowa and gun shops are seeing a shortage of firearms and ammunition. "People want to buy their own piece of security and a firearm fills that sense of security for people," said Ethan Settle, with CrossRoads Shooting Sports. "Many common firearms such as a glock, big named brand firearms are just really hard to get right now."And so it popular ammunition. "One thing we've done to mitigate that is to ration it," Settle said. "So we can guarantee that everyone who comes into our range has at least a box of ammunition to shoot."New Iowa Department of Public Safety numbers show a similar story. In the first six months of 2019 the state received 1,746 new gun permits. Applications in the first six months of 2020 show that number has nearly tripled to 6,857 permit requests.Settle said his customers have many reasons for getting new permits and buying new firearms. But many mentioned the increased need for personal security during this strange year. "In general what I've seen behind the sales counter is a lot of first time buyers. A lot of people that I'm helping to educate on the permitting process and are purchasing their first firearm, so it's exciting to bring new people into the sport and to the Second Amendment as well," Settle said.

Gun permit applications are skyrocketing in Iowa and gun shops are seeing a shortage of firearms and ammunition.

"People want to buy their own piece of security and a firearm fills that sense of security for people," said Ethan Settle, with CrossRoads Shooting Sports. "Many common firearms such as a glock, big named brand firearms are just really hard to get right now."

And so it popular ammunition.

"One thing we've done to mitigate that is to ration it," Settle said. "So we can guarantee that everyone who comes into our range has at least a box of ammunition to shoot."

New Iowa Department of Public Safety numbers show a similar story. In the first six months of 2019 the state received 1,746 new gun permits. Applications in the first six months of 2020 show that number has nearly tripled to 6,857 permit requests.

Settle said his customers have many reasons for getting new permits and buying new firearms. But many mentioned the increased need for personal security during this strange year.

"In general what I've seen behind the sales counter is a lot of first time buyers. A lot of people that I'm helping to educate on the permitting process and are purchasing their first firearm, so it's exciting to bring new people into the sport and to the Second Amendment as well," Settle said.

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Requests for firearm permits in Iowa have nearly tripled this year - KCCI Des Moines

Travel The World With Your Ears – The New York Times

At this point in the summer and the pandemic the desire to escape to a place far away might be overwhelming. Even with so many borders closed, podcasts can transport you elsewhere, making them a good alternative to real, out-of-the-house travel. Heres a collection of immersive audio experiences that are almost as immersive as exploring the great wide world out there.

If a place on a map could give a TED Talk, what would it sound like? Thats what the host Saleem Reshamwala seeks to find out in each episode of TEDs latest podcast, Pindrop. Join him on his global expedition for surprising, hyperlocal stories like a deep dive into the radio station in Bangkok that serves as the surrounding areas emergency hotline, notice board and lost and found. Or meet the Mexico City-based masked vigilante protecting his fellow citizens from traffic accidents. Stop by a hardware store in Mantua Township, N.J. where paleontologists are at work excavating dinosaur bones and protecting the land from development. The show is a different kind of travel podcast it introduces people around the world who are creatively working to make their communities better.

This NPR podcast promises to take you places, and since it debuted in 2017, that is exactly what it delivers. Each episode shows listeners how the same subject is perceived in different places around the world, like a cultural kaleidoscope of current events. Take one of the controversies du jour in the United States over some peoples refusal to wear face masks. In the From Niqab to N95 episode, the host Gregory Warner dives into how that debate is playing out in France, where, before the coronavirus made masks a public health necessity, the discussion over covering ones face in public was highly politicized and tinged with Islamophobia.

From the studio that makes the multilingual immigrant narrative fiction podcast, Mija, comes yet another beautiful podcast that presents fiction and nonfiction stories from across the world. Ochenta Stories is a globally crowdsourced show that cobbles together dispatches from a planet in quarantine each episode is a different audio makers answer to this question: What do you want to hear after this pandemic is over? And those who enjoy immersion language-learning will love how each story is retold in each episode, but in another language. Listeners meet an 11-year-old in Asheville, N.C., envisioning her first day back to school (told in English and Spanish); a Londoner fantasizing about the feeling of getting lost in a crowd again (told in English and French); and a couple in Milan who cant believe how much quarantine time is spent washing ones own dishes (Italian and English).

After several months of staring at your own four walls, you might start to feel as if you need to get away to the most remote place in the world, fast. Enter Extremities, a podcast that takes you on an odyssey to some of the most distant reaches on Earth. Season 1 is a six-episode journey to Pitcairn Island, a dot in the South Pacific Ocean between Chile and Australia; season 2 goes to the Svalbard archipelago between continental Norway and the North Pole; and the most recent season chronicles a sojourn to the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. Travel with the host Sam Denby to learn the histories and local legends of each territory and even have dinner with residents, all through your earbuds.

Most of us will never climb the worlds highest mountains. But if youre curious as to how youd go about it if you could, consider this show, an audio diary hosted by a married couple as they travel to and through Nepal and the Himalayas. In 16 episodes, Jason Moore and Anne Dorthe bring you along on every step and bump of their adventure, which unfolded in 2014; join them on their hikes and as they visit Kathmandu and Tibetan Buddhist villages. With both tribulations and transcendent moments, Moore and Dorthe grant you access to a trip of a lifetime.

Join The New York Times Podcast Club on Facebook for more suggestions and discussions about all things audio.

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Travel The World With Your Ears - The New York Times

Global Travel Mobility Scooter Market 2020 Growth Rate, Gross Margin, Competitive Situation and Trends, Forecast To 2026 – Jewish Life News

Travel Mobility Scooter Market is systematic exploration that delivers key statistics on the market status of the development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. The report has included strong players and analyses their limitations and strong points of the well-known players through SWOT analysis. This Report covers growing trends that are linked with major opportunities for the expansion of the Travel Mobility Scooter industry.

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Afikim Electric VehiclesInvacareVan Os MedicalTGA MobilityDrive MedicalQuingoKymcoRoma MedicalElectric MobilityVermeirenHoveround CorpAmigo MobilitySunrise MedicalPride MobilityGolden Technologies

The Geographical Analysis Covers the Following Regions

The recent outbreak of the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease) Provide extra commentary on the newest scenario, an economic slowdown on the overall industry. In addition to this, the report also includes the development of the Travel Mobility Scooter market in the major regions across the world.

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Global Travel Mobility Scooter Market Segmentation: By Types

ResidentialCommercial

Global Travel Mobility Scooter Market Segmentation: By Applications

Class 2 ScooterClass 3 Scooter

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This research report represents a 360-degree overview of the competitive landscape of the Travel Mobility Scooter Market. Furthermore, it offers enormous statistics relating to current trends, technological advancements, tools, and methodologies.

Global Travel Mobility Scooter Market Research Report 2020

Chapter 1 About the Travel Mobility Scooter Industry

Chapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape

Chapter 3 World Travel Mobility Scooter Market share

Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis

Chapter 5 Company Profiles

Chapter 6 Globalization & Trade

Chapter 7 Distributors and Customers

Chapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major Countries

Chapter 9 World Travel Mobility Scooter Market Forecast through 2026

Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market Overview

It concludes by throwing light on the recent developments that took place in the Travel Mobility Scooter market and their influence on the future growth of this market.

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Global Travel Mobility Scooter Market 2020 Growth Rate, Gross Margin, Competitive Situation and Trends, Forecast To 2026 - Jewish Life News

Experiential Travels Market will touch a new level in upcoming year with Top Key Players like Expedia, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Ctrip.Com, Hostelworld …

Experiential Travels Market research is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.

Experiential Travels Market is growing at a High CAGR during the forecast period 2020-2026. The increasing interest of the individuals in this industry is that the major reason for the expansion of this market.

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Top Key Players Profiled in This Report:

Expedia, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Ctrip.Com, Hostelworld, Hotel Urbano, CheapOair.Com, MakeMyTrip, Hays Travel, Airbnb, Yatra Online, Tuniu, Booking, TCS World Travel, Heritage Tours, Gray & Co, Mountain Lodges of Peru, Classic Journeys, Asia Transpacific Journeys, Journeys Within, Backroads

The key questions answered in this report:

Various factors are responsible for the markets growth trajectory, which are studied at length in the report. In addition, the report lists down the restraints that are posing threat to the global Experiential Travels market. It also gauges the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat from new entrants and product substitute, and the degree of competition prevailing in the market. The influence of the latest government guidelines is also analyzed in detail in the report. It studies the Experiential Travels markets trajectory between forecast periods.

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Table of Contents:

Global Experiential Travels Market Research Report

Chapter 1 Experiential Travels Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

Chapter 12 Global Experiential Travels Market Forecast

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Experiential Travels Market will touch a new level in upcoming year with Top Key Players like Expedia, Priceline, TripAdvisor, Ctrip.Com, Hostelworld ...

Staying in a Bureau Veritas certified hotel? What it means when a property receives the Safeguard label – The National

There are some terms that we have all become familiar with over the past few months, from flattening the curve to social distancing. And those in the hospitality industry, or anyone browsing the internet in search of a staycation, may have come across new terms used to denote safety and hygiene, namely the Bureau Veritas Safeguard label.

Earlier this year, news broke that Jumeirah Al Naseem in Dubai became first hotel in the world to receive the label, and a number of other properties in the UAE have followed suit, including Kempinski Mall of the Emirates and Rove Hotels.

What is it?

Bureau Veritas is an international company that specialises in testing, inspection and certification. And, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has launched the Safeguard label to provide reassurance to partners, customers and employees that the entities carrying the label have undergone checks and audits of the preventive measures in place.

Marcel Hochar, senior vice president Middle East and central Asia at Bureau Veritas, says: We recognised that companies and administrations around the world were looking to restart their activities and operate safely.

To restart, these organisations must demonstrate that they have implemented a series of safety and sanitary measures, covering hygiene, cleaning, maintenance and regulatory inspections, to protect and reassure their clients, employees, suppliers, students or users. Bureau Veritas launched the Safeguard label to be able to support in adapting to the new normal.

While commonly held in the hospitality industry, the label can also be issued to banks, shops, restaurants, corporate buildings, industrial sites, construction sites, public buildings, schools, airports and malls.

How does a property get it?

In order to receive it, the preventive measures a property has put in place have to undergo checks and audits. Hochar says the checklists have been developed in collaboration with health and safety specialists.

The audit covers four main categories: facilities, hygiene and cleaning, people, and process.

Under these categories, there are nine subcategories, which are cleaning, employee protection, equipment, knowledge, training, management, personal hygiene, PPE and social distancing.

Remote and/or field audits are done to check that the protective measures are implemented efficiently. If there are non-conformities identified, the client is expected to implement corrective actions in seven days, or it does not get the label.

The company has not disclosed the fee required for the label. Once received, the tag is valid for six months, taking into consideration the evolution of the sanitary situation, regulations and requirements. After six months, the property has to be reassessed.

The UAE has been a leading hub for the Bureau Veritas Safeguard label. In fact, at the time of publishing, 48 properties in the country had received it, while 53 more were undergoing the audit process.

Hotels in the UAE, such as JA Resorts and Hotels, have also sought safety verification from the World Travel and Tourism Council.

In June, Ras Al Khaimah became the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and the first emirate to receive the WTTC Safe Travels stamp.

Meanwhile, many individual hotel chains have launched new health and safety precautions and programmes to address Covid-19, such as Hiltons CleanStay, Accor's All Safe label and Marriotts Commitment to Clean initiative.

Updated: July 19, 2020 03:11 PM

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Staying in a Bureau Veritas certified hotel? What it means when a property receives the Safeguard label - The National

Worlds largest cashew tree is almost the size of two football fields! See pics – Happytrips

Another interesting feature about this marvel is that it resembles a mini forest, and has already made its entry to the Guinness World Records as the largest cashew tree in the world, and it has not stopped growing. The limbs of the tree, around the size of 70 regular cashew trees, further spread to out an incredible 50 m from the central trunk. Thereby, making it look like a never-ending tree if you trail under its branches and want to see where it ends.

Where do you find this attraction?

Located in a park next to a beach in Brazil, it is a major draw for tourists from far and wide. While enjoying a stroll inside the sprawling canopy, you might feel like walking in a lush, green forest, whereas, you are in fact walking within one giant single tree. The tree covers areas, which is almost the size of two football fields, and its record enormous size is believed to be the result of two different genetic mutations.

Although Brazil is already famous in the tourist circuit for its spectacular beaches and party scenes, you should visit this spot and see it up close and personal. Mark our words, you wont be disappointed.

Apart from this, the cashew nut tree is surrounded by an equal or greater area of land that is dedicated to souvenir shops, selling all kinds of cashew-themed souvenirs.

Important tip: Once there, dont forget to get the cashew-flavored cachaca, which is a Brazilian sugarcane-based alcohol.

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Worlds largest cashew tree is almost the size of two football fields! See pics - Happytrips

Indias luxurious train, Palace on Wheels, probably wont run this year due to COVID-19 – Happytrips

Though there has not been any official announcement yet regarding this, a senior official at Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) said, We have not decided as yet. We are keen to start, but there are travel advisories for non-essential travel. Resumption of scheduled commercial flights is a big factor given the fact that the majority of travellers in the train are from foreign countries. Also, it all depends on which direction the COVID-19 moves,

RTDC operates Palace on Wheels in joint collaboration with Indian Railways. The train, which reflects the beauty of the country, is one of the biggest tourist draws in India, and is quite popular among foreigners and NRIs. These people take up around 90 percent of the seats of the train. The train has 84 berths and it takes 8 days to complete the journey.

The Palace on Wheels passes through some of the prominent royal heritages of Rajasthan, snaking through deserts and wildfires and bird sanctuaries along with the historic monument of love, the Taj Mahal in Agra.

However, this year, the journey wont be taking place. Given the pandemic situation, people are apprehensive about travelling anywhere. The train was cancelled in March and April too due to the outbreak of the virus. So, the railways did not cancel or refund for the trips already booked, but rebooked again, which does not look possible till December.

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Indias luxurious train, Palace on Wheels, probably wont run this year due to COVID-19 - Happytrips