Yes, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is limited to one island per console – GamesRadar

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At E3 2019, Nintendo casually mentioned that Animal Crossing: New Horizons wouldn't support multiple islands, but the wording given at the time left some room for optimism. Sadly, an updated usability clause which resurfaced in the shadow of that new custom Animal Crossing Switch affirms that, yes, you only get one island per console.

"Please note: only one island can exist per Nintendo Switch console, irrespective of the number of user accounts registered to or copies of the game used on one console," the fine print reads. "One Nintendo Switch and one copy of the game is required for each unique island."

Many Animal Crossing fans had hoped that, with the new game launching on a console which supports multiple users - unlike the GameCube and 3DS - New Horizons would allow players to make multiple islands on different profiles. That doesn't seem to be the case, and you can't get around this by swapping SD cards since save data is stored internally. If you want access to multiple islands, you'll need to get a second console, which feels weird in 2020.

This is by no means a deal-breaking limitation, but it is a limitation I imagine many players - especially those who share a Switch, or indeed have children who share one system - would be happier without. If you do share a system, you can still create your own characters, but you'll wind up sharing an island, which is a bit of a bummer. Imagine if your friend or roommate could make another island on your console, and you could sail to and tour their island in your game. Alas.

These are the cheapest Animal Cross: New Horizons pre-order options.

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Yes, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is limited to one island per console - GamesRadar

Minotaurs Island – The New York Times

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Todays Theme

Weve seen a lot of themes where certain words in a set of phrases all have something in common, and this one is no different, except that Ms. Mewers and Mr. Eaton-Salners had CHICANERY in mind when they made this puzzle (see their notes below). This is still the Gray Lady, however, and the puzzle editors apparently threw the theme into a cold shower before they allowed it to see the light of day.

The theme of the puzzle we solved is about making MUSIC, as opposed to something else. The theme entries are clued straight, but the second word in each of the five phrases can also be a musical instrument. For example, at 17A, the answer to the clue Crams (in) is SHOE HORNS, and the answer to the clue at 23A, Some romantic entanglements, is LOVE TRIANGLES.

The set makes an odd quintet as far as making MUSIC goes the revealer MUSIC is the last Across entry but I was impressed that four of the five theme entries made their debuts. In addition, the fill was entertaining and it felt like a very smooth solve to me. Id like to see more from Ms. Mewers.

We submitted this puzzle in December 2018, and it was accepted in April 2019. Its our second collaboration in The New York Times.

Our working title for this puzzle was Instrument Panel, but we informally thought of it as a story about a raunchy rendezvous involving a love triangle, champagne, stilettos and a sex tape.

Since we knew that angle wouldnt fly in a mainstream venue, in our submitted manuscript we clued the theme entries as Heel instruments?, Rom-com plot instruments?, Toasting instruments?, Interviewers instruments? and Procreation instruments? Because those theme clues hint at the dual nature of the instruments in each themer, we thought an additional revealer was unnecessary.

We were a little disappointed to see that the theme clues were edited into more straightforward definitions and paired with a revision of the southeast corner to add the revealer MUSIC. That grid revision unfortunately resulted in some infelicitous words being added to the puzzle.

On the other hand, perhaps that change enhances the Aha! moment by delaying the solvers realization of the connection shared between the theme entries.

In choosing our group of themers, we prioritized examples where the instrument word was used in a completely different sense. For example, a COMPUTER KEYBOARD is very similar in form and function to a piano keyboard, so that was a no go. We also avoided themers like SEA BASS where the two homographs have different pronunciations.

Almost finished solving but need a bit more help? Weve got you covered.

Warning: There be spoilers ahead, but subscribers can take a peek at the answer key.

Trying to get back to the puzzle page? Right here.

Your thoughts?

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Minotaurs Island - The New York Times

Episode 969: The Island No One Owns : Planet Money – NPR

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If you want to build a house on the Carribean island of Barbuda, you can just put up a fence wherever you want, and have it. You don't pay for it. You don't sign for anything. You just have to be Barbudan. Barbudans have held their pink sand paradise "in common" since the 1800s. No titles. No paperwork.

But on the heels of a major disaster, the Prime Minister came up with a new plan. He wants to sell Barbudans the plot of land they have been living on for one Eastern Caribbean dollar and give them legally binding property titles they can take to a bank, to help rebuild. But a lot of Barbudans don't want the deal.

Music: "Club Soda" and "A Puzzling Case"

Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and NPR One.

For the price a Barbudan pays for a plot check out our weekly Newsletter

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Episode 969: The Island No One Owns : Planet Money - NPR

Individuals sought for questioning in connection with theft of purse at Staten Island Mall – SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The NYPD is asking for the publics help to identify individuals sought for questioning in connection with the reported theft of a purse at the Staten Island Mall in New Springville.

On Jan. 15 at about 2:50 p.m., a 24-year-old woman was in the food court when unidentified individuals removed her purse, which that had been hanging on a chair, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The individuals fled in an unknown direction with the victims purse that contained multiple credit and identification cards, the statement said.

The NYPD released surveillance images of individual sought for questioning in connection with the incident, taken from cameras at the mall.

People with tips are encouraged to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

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Individuals sought for questioning in connection with theft of purse at Staten Island Mall - SILive.com

Public input will drive Grand Island transportation infrastructure plans – Grand Island Independent

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In the year 2045, what will the roads and highways in Grand Island look like and how will they meet the transportation needs of the public?

That question is difficult to answer, especially as smart roads, electric vehicles and autonomous cars slowly become part of the citys transportation landscape.

On Tuesday, the public had the opportunity to participate in the planning process of visioning Grand Islands future transportation system.

The Public Visioning Workshop for the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) was conducted at the Grand Island Public Library.

The LRTP defines the vision and goals for Grand Islands transportation future.

According to Andres Gomez, Metropolitan Planning Organization program manager for the city of Grand Islands Department of Public Works, the workshop was an opportunity for the public to give a voice to the process.

He said the plans are mandated by the federal government every five years.

We are trying to get the public involved in developing a vision for the region, Gomez said.

People attending the workshop visited various stations, such as hike and bike trails, road safety and public transportation, where they could talk with various city officials about what they would like to see as part of Grand Islands future transportation infrastructure.

What we have here are maps showing existing conditions of what the city looks like today, Gomez said. To take it a step further, we want to hear from the public about where we want to take the city 25 years from now.

He said the workshop seeks to get a better understanding whats important to the public when it comes to their roads and highways, whether its improving traffic conditions along Highway 281, which will be a main artery for Grand Islands expansion toward Interstate 80, or correction of the confusing Five Points intersection. As Grand Islands population ages, public transportation becomes a key issue for older people. Expansion of hike and bike trails will have multiple positive impacts, such as improving the communitys health and attracting younger people and industries to Grand Island.

Also, improving the citys transportation infrastructure will be important to Grand Islands future economic viability, such as developing business and housing opportunities.

We want to hear from the public what is important to them, Gomez said.

The public also was asked to prioritize what is important to them concerning Grand Islands future transportation needs. Gomez said this not only will help city planners, but also council members in drawing up future budgets and allocating resources to the publics future transportation needs.

He said after the workshop, they will take the public input and work with technical experts, such as the city engineers, and put the pieces together to prioritize future projects.

There will be another public meeting on the LRTP in May.

At that meeting, what we will do is look at projects, Gomez said. Right now we are not looking at projects, but asking the public what projects will be important to them.

In November, Gomez said, they will hold another public hearing where the public will get to see a draft document of the LRTP.

It will be another opportunity to comment, he said.

Then a year from now, in February 2021, the MPO policy board will adopt the final document.

This is a process that happens every five years.

Gomez said that planning process is important as society is on the verge of having more and more autonomous vehicles on the road.

That is a disruptive technology that is happening that we should be considering, he said. We also need to keep planning for more electrical vehicles and the availability of charging stations. Some major cities are also planning for flying vehicles.

Also, Gomez said, once 5G technology becomes more integrated in cities communications systems, that will also be something city planners will have to take into consideration in designing the transportation systems of the future.

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Public input will drive Grand Island transportation infrastructure plans - Grand Island Independent

Have you seen foxes on Staten Island? Youre not alone! – SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Amid concern about the deer population on the Island, another creature seems to be more present recently: the fox.

Foxes have been present on Staten Island for many years. An Advance file photo taken circa 1910 shows a hunting and riding club tasked with hunting foxes on the Island. Reports about fox hunting can be found in reports dating back to 1893.

After seeing this photo, Anthony Zavarelli reached out to the Advance about his own experience with foxes on Staten Island.

Zavarelli, a life-long Staten Islander and Fort Wadsworth resident, has noticed a recent uptick in the number of foxes on the Island.

He works as a longshoreman and crane operator at Global Container Terminal New York in Mariners Harbor. The business is located right next to the wetlands, and Zavarelli explained that he regularly sees all kinds of animals in the area - from deer to gophers, snapping turtles and more.

When Zavarelli first heard his coworkers reporting fox sighting, he thought that they must be seeing things. Eventually, though, he saw the foxes for himself.

Zavarelli said hes surprised the foxes are constantly in the area despite the heavy machinery and trucks present.

The foxes around his building make an appearance weekly, and sometimes more often, he said. He also said some are accompanied by cubs.

The foxs natural enemies are wolves, coyotes and bobcats - none of which are known to inhabit the Island.

On Tuesday it was reported that the city Department of Parks and Recreation says it has found no evidence of a coyote population on Staten Island, months after a video surfaced on social media showing a large canine dragging a deer carcass in Travis.

Have you seen foxes on Staten Island? Share your pictures by tagging #SILive or @siadvance on Instagram.

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Have you seen foxes on Staten Island? Youre not alone! - SILive.com

As SC island homes fall into ocean, owners behind them wonder if they’re next – Charleston Post Courier

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HARBOR ISLAND This small slip of land on the eastern tip of Beaufort County is the legacy of an opportunistic time when a wave of businessmen descended on the South Carolina coast keen-eyed for fragments of paradise to package and sell off to the tennis-and-golf set.

Brightly colored beach houses with white-lattice skirts were erected, a beige complex of condos sprouted, marsh canals were dredged, and a causeway on and off the island took hold.

It amounts to a pretty picture today if you ignore the five houses falling into the ocean.

Wracked by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, which sent 100-plus-mph winds hurtling onto the beach, the damage that's been unrepaired for years on the handful of homes is still apparent: supporting columns have begun to bend; stairways leading to entrances twisted; wiring hangs down like loose locks of hair, swaying in the wind.

A condemned Harbor Island house illustrates the danger building too close to the ocean. Lauren Petracca/Staff

Their owners are locked in legal battles, both with their insurance companies and the island's Owners' Association, which says the houses need to be removed. Beaufort County declared it's unsafe to be inside any of them. Many on the island are hesitant to discuss them at all so as not to upset friends in the private vacation destination's small community of year-round residents.

One couple showed up twice last year and stayed inside their crumbling vacation home, two neighbors said. The couple was able to turn the lights on in the house, despite the fact that it's surrounded by rising tides twice a day. The power has since been shut off, but a Dominion Energy spokesman would not clarify when.

For the owners who live directly adjacent to the damaged houses, they're both an eyesore and a peek into the eroding future coming their way as the island faces climate change-driven sea level rise and intensifying storms. The scene here could one day spread to other places on South Carolina's coast, as well, as beach-building projects to hold back the rising water become more expensive.

Harbor Island, marked by a wedge of highland on its northeast end and acres of marsh sprawling south, is open to tropical cyclones on the precipice of the Southeast Atlantic coast.

BRANDON LOCKETT | THE POST AND COURIER

One Harbor Island homeowner said she hoped a home she bought in September would still be there in 10 years. Another who was able to tear down his damaged vacation home wondered why it was built in the first place.

"It's not like the people that built the house put it up there without everybody approving it along the way," said Michael Ricci, who demolished his front-row beach home in 2018.

Harbor Island, marked by awedge of highland on its northeast end and acres of marsh sprawling south, is open totropical cyclones on the precipice of the Southeast Atlantic coast. It's also situated at the mouth of an estuary, where emptying rivers and the tidal pull of the ocean combine to reshape islands in unpredictable ways.

In some sections, most dramatically the southern tip calledPelican Point, sand is accreting. But in much of the central section of beach it is rapidly disappearing.

To walk the portion where erosion is ongoing is a study in contrasts: while well-appointed vacation and retirement homes that can command $500,000 or moresit just a row back, crumbling edifices in front have beenabandoned.

In the places where Beaufort County has condemned homes, storm surge ripped up concrete pad foundations. At high tide, when water rushes under the houses, beachwalkers trying to make their way through have to jump from one cracked cement slab to the next, or even weave under the houses themselves, where exposed silver HVAC innards fall from the structure's torn underbellies.

Water rushes in towards uninhabited homes along the coast of Harbor Island on Friday, January 17, 2020. Lauren Petracca/Staff

It's a far cry from the late 1960s, when Davis Heniford Jr. bought the island.

A Loris gas salesman-turned-resort developer, Heniford would pilot his small, private plane to the island, his daughter, Holly Heniford, said. She remembered a still-wild place and a beach littered with huge horseshoe crabs.

Holly Heniford said her late father made ajoke of the fact that he had bought an island superior toone nearby owned by famed conservationist Ted Turner, which was rumored to flood.

By this time, a popular model of pre-planned and gated communities on sea islands was starting to expand, withSea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island established and Kuwaiti developers buyingKiawah Island for a gated golf community in 1974.

That same year, Davis Heniford was caught by federal authorities illegally dredging several "finger canals" in Harbor Island's marsh, which are still there today.

The S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism tried to buy the island, but by 1979 funding fell through, according to a News and Courier article at the time. Eventually, Davis Heniford sold the island for $3.5 million to a new developer, and homes were added in several phases.

A 1984 ad for the resort in The News and Courier shows a far-off shot of the beach, with the viewer situated behind a thick line of sand dunes and sea oats. In many places on the island today those dunes are gone.

"Here a masterful combination of beach, pool and nearby golf and tennis come together with privacy and beauty to create something truly special," the ad read.

"The views are joyous. The architecture a delight."

These days, Connie Scher's view is anything but joyous.

In front of her dark green house with bright white trim is one of the abandoned homes, a weathered salmon pink. Its sliding doors have been open since Matthew blew through three and a half years ago. Scher said she can smell the mold growing inside.

Scher and her husband, coming from a suburb of Charlotte, were assured when they were shown their home in a viewing in March 2019 that the damaged houses would quickly be removed. She's now convinced that the showing was scheduled at low tide because water was hundreds of yards away from her front-row neighbor.

At high tide, salt water laps against an exposed seawall at the front of her house. When she moved in, a mound of sand covered the ocean-facing side of the wall. It's since eroded, exposing chunks of broken concrete from the damaged houses that the previous owner piled there as a makeshift bolster to their barrier.

She knows that the ocean will someday overtake her property. Other property owners on the island seem less aware of the danger, she said.

"The glaciers are melting and everything, so its going to happen," Scher said. "I just didnt want it to happen in the next 10 years."

Maybe, she added after some thought, counting on five years would be a safer bet.

Connie Scher stands outside of her home on Harbor Island on Friday, January 17, 2020. Scher, who bought the house last year, said she didn't realize how close the water was to her house when she saw it as a prospective buyer because the showing was at low tide. Lauren Petracca/Staff

Steve and Maria Cone live across a beach path from Scher, also in the second row. Maria in particular wanted to live close to the beach, and the couple both love the beauty.

High tide usually stays about 6 feet from their fence. For now, they're not as concerned about the long-term threat of sea level rise. By the time the gradually increasing threat becomes a pressing, everyday problem, the couple, now in their 70s, figures they could be long gone.

The more immediate problem could be the elevated house's many steps as they age and become less mobile.

Stephen Cone of Harbor Island talks about neighboring properties which can't be inhabited because the sand under them has eroded. Lauren Petracca/Staff

But they know the risks of coastal property. When Matthew caused an estimated $144,000 in damage to their house, high deductibles meant they got back an insurance check for just $54.

If the damaged yellow house in front of them were removed, the opportunity to sell a now front-row house might prove tempting.

"I mentioned to Steve, 'Oh, I never want to leave, I never want to leave,' " Maria Cone said. "Because of mother nature, I've had second thoughts about it."

Erosion issues in the center of the island had become apparent even before Matthew struck a significant blow in 2016. It had been a point of concern to beachfront owners for years, but in 2011, 86 percent of property owners voted against embarking on renourishment, which sucks sand off the ocean floor and deposits it back on a beach.

Jeff Levy, president of the Owner's Association board, said a vote hasn't been conducted since then because of ongoing litigation, and that the board has questioned whether it would be worth it. The island's property covenants also prohibit any work on private property, like piling sand onto private lots.

"You get into all kinds of conceptual problems as to are you benefiting the community as a whole or are you benefiting just a limited subset of owners?" Levy said.

Normally, beach communities get federal dollars for such work, but Beaufort County won't help the island apply unless they open up access to more of the public.

Owners of eroding and damaged properties now cast blame in all directions: at the state, at the Owner's Association and, most of all, at beach-rebuilding projects on nearby Hunting Island, a state park.

Ricci remains frustrated that so many houses were built on such vulnerable land. His house, which was round and had floor-to-ceiling views of the water, had several walls ripped out by the storm. A bed was left hanging out of one side of the structure.

He sold his lot officially to the Owner's Association. If sand ever starts accreting on his former land again, which Ricci acknowledged was a longshot, he has an option to re-buy it.

"I'm old enough to know that sometimes things surprise you," he said. "So Id rather have the option than not have the option.

Tricia Gardner, who used to own a house next to Ricci, said she was told by state environmental regulators that erosion issues would not be a problem on her lot, but that was before the work at the state park. A spokesperson for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said current staff did not recall this interaction.

After Gardner's home was storm-damaged, she sold her lot to the owner behind her, who tore it down. She now lives on nearby Dataw Island.

Michael Ricci's beachfront house on Harbor Island had several walls ripped out by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and further damaged by Tropical Storm Irma a year later. It was demolished in April 2018. File/Don Woelke/Provided

Gardner and Ricci are two of many who are convinced the Hunting Island projects made things worse. Butlitigation stretching back years and limited data collection by the statehave not been able to definitively prove what has driven the erosion so far.

"I thought it was difficult, if not impossible, to prove from a scientific perspective" a connection between the state park's work and Harbor Island's erosion, saidRob Young, who studies developed shorelines at Western Carolina University.

What is clear is that in the central portion of the island, sand continues to disappear. As sea levels inch upward, homes are in the way. Young said that islanders need to consider a way to move the houses away from the beach.

That's happened once already. The owners of one relocated house had to pay to remove and then replace fences, mailboxes and street signs along a narrow island road as their vacation house was moved. Another house, one of the five that have sat empty since Matthew, is also slated for relocation.

Houses sit along a marsh on Harbor Island on Friday, January 17, 2020. Lauren Petracca/Staff

But some, including Scher, sit in a purgatory: not yet facing the brunt of the ocean but watching the water creep closer.

If the confidence of insurance carriers is any indication, Scher's in a bad spot: she's on her third policy after two companies dropped the property, and received a recent mailing with a page of all-caps legalese on what would and wouldn't be paid for.

She's taken this from the communication: "If we have a hurricane, Im screwed."

These days, she's resigned to enjoy her house while she can. She and her husband are still planning to make it their primary residence after their Charlotte home is sold.

Worrying constantly would just make her miserable.

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As SC island homes fall into ocean, owners behind them wonder if they're next - Charleston Post Courier

City finds no evidence of coyote population on Staten Island – SILive.com

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The city Department of Parks and Recreation says it has found no evidence of a coyote population on Staten Island, months after a video surfaced on social media showing a large canine dragging a deer carcass in Travis.

After receiving reported coyote sightings, the department set up game cameras in Freshkills Park between 2017 and 2019, and did not find any coyotes in the more-than 100,000 images captured, a spokeswoman for the department said.

Parks has also sent animal waste samples from Brookfield Park to the Gotham Coyote Project for analysis, and no results have come back conclusively belonging to coyotes. The spokeswoman said the department will continue to investigate reported sightings.

A video surfaced in November showing a large canine dragging a deer carcass into a brush patch in Travis. Staten Island residents and elected officials have long raised concerns that the boroughs deer population would inevitably lead to the introduction of their natural predators.

City Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) wrote to Mayor Bill de Blasio in late November raising concerns about the video.

The dangers posed by deer are real, but they will pale in comparison to a situation where a large number of predatory animals, like coyotes or wolves, descend on our borough in search of easy prey, Matteo wrote. Under that scenario, we could see situations where our pets are attacked and killed and human lives are in direct danger.

Matteo tweeted Tuesday morning that in the citys response they confirmed theyre aware of the video, and that the animal in the video is not a wolf, because wolves are no longer found in the state.

COYOTES IN THE CITY -- UPTOWN

According to the Parks Department, coyotes live in New York City and are particularly active in the Bronx. Most coyotes are not dangerous to humans, and only a few bites are reported each year nationwide.

The Parks Department advises people to keep their distance if they cross paths with any wildlife, and to report the sighting to the WildlifeNYC website -- unless it poses a clear danger to public safety, in which case, call 911.

While the Park Departments recent surveys have not discovered a presence of coyotes in the borough, the Advance reported in 2012 that a photo of a coyote had been captured near the former Fresh Kills landfill.

At the time, Dr. Paul D. Curtis, the extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University identified the animal as a typical Eastern coyote. Curtis was also working as an investigator for the New York Suburban Coyote Study initiated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

A spokeswoman for the DEC said the department never confirmed that the photo was of a coyote, and has no confirmed sightings on Staten Island in the past ten years.

In addition to the large canine, and the typical deer and turkey sightings, red foxes have also been spotted on the island and captured in recent videos.

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City finds no evidence of coyote population on Staten Island - SILive.com

Babies and children tear gassed during refugee protest on Greek island of Lesbos – Telegraph.co.uk

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Babies and toddlers were tear gassed by police on the Greek island of Lesbos during a protest by refugees against the conditions in which they are being held.

Volunteers used Coca-Cola to try to wash the tear gas out of the eyes of screaming children after riot police fired tear gas canisters at the peaceful demonstration.

Coca-Cola and similar fizzy drinks are acidic and, like lemon juice and vinegar, can help lessen the effects of tear gas.

The clashes took place after around 2,000 refugees and migrants marched out of the notorious Moria camp on Lesbos with the aim of walking to the islands main town, Mytiline, to stage a protest.

Designed to hold less than 3,000 people, the camp now holds around 19,000, with many living in tents and makeshift shelters in muddy olive groves outside the perimeter fence.

Raw sewage trickles between tents and container accommodation, sacks of rubbish are left uncollected and scabies is widespread, earning Moria the reputation of being Europes grimmest refugee camp.

Afghan and Syrian women held up placards which read Freedom and Moria is a prison for refugees as they headed from the camp towards Mytilene, about five miles away.

When police blocked them, some staged a sit-in on the road while others tried to go round the police lines by scattering through fields and olive groves.

People were attacked with tear gas even though it was peaceful, a British volunteer helping refugees on Lesbos told The Telegraph.

Women and children were beaten by the police. We helped people who had been affected by the gas by giving them Coca-Cola to wash with. People were crying. People collapsed," said the volunteer, who did not want to be identified for fear of repercussions from the authorities.

Franziska Grillmeier, a German journalist working on the island, said: There was a lot of tear gas, it was constant. Fires broke out in the olive groves and firemen had to be called. Everybody who was there was tear gassed, including babies and small children.

Children were crying and in panic they couldnt catch their breath, they had respiratory problems.

The parents brought their babies and kids on the march because there are no safe spaces in the camp in which to leave them.

Dire conditions on Lesbos and four other Aegean islands which host migrant camps have been exacerbated by severe overcrowding and long delays in the processing of asylum applications.

The camps on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros were built for 5,400 asylum seekers but now accommodate more than 36,000.

The UNs refugee agency said it was deeply concerned about the escalating tensions.

On Lesbos, the vast majority are families from Afghanistan and Syria, over a third are children and many are living in tents and makeshift shelters without access to power, heating or hot water. Its filthy. There arent enough latrines and showers, said Boris Cheshirkov, the UNHCRs spokesman in Greece.

The UN called for Greece to accelerate its plans to transfer thousands of refugees from the overcrowded islands to the Greek mainland.

Greeces asylum service has a backlog of nearly 90,000 pending asylum cases.

The centre-Right government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged to speed up the repatriation of migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.

Notis Mitarachi, the minister for migration, wants there to be weekly returns to Turkey of failed asylum applicants in a bid to ease overcrowding on the islands.

Last week it emerged that the government wants to deploy a 1.7 mile-long floating barrier off the coast of Lesbos to deter refugees and migrants crossing from Turkey.

Humanitarian groups said it was dangerous and could lead to more deaths at sea.

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Babies and children tear gassed during refugee protest on Greek island of Lesbos - Telegraph.co.uk

Man sails across the Pacific and crashes into Big Island rocky shoreline – Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaii island firefighters rescued an elderly boater, who said he had just crossed the Pacific in his 70-foot sailing vessel, which crashed against the rocky shoreline and ran aground near Hilo.

The man said he had just arrived from Los Angeles after spending 34 days at sea, Hawaii County fire officials said.

Medical personnel examined the man, but he refused further treatment or transport to a hospital.

The boat was being bashed by large surf, fire personnel said.

The Central Fire Stations fire captain said fire rescue personnel had difficulty seeing the boat because it was at the bottom of sheer cliffs between Wainaku Scenic Point Lookout and Honoliii Beach Park.

Fire personnel had to get to the boaters location by going to a different spot. Had they gone to the edge of the cliff to try to spot him, they would have gone over, the captain said.

A rescue specialist aboard Rescue Chopper 1 was lowered onto the deck of the boat, which was teetering on rocks and being slammed by waves, fire officials said in a news release.

The rescue specialist pulled the man from the rough waters and placed him in a Billy Pugh net. He was then airlifted to the beach park.

Fifteen fire personnel responded to the call at 5:33 p.m., and the first unit arrived on scene at 5:44 p.m. A rescue boat also responded.

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Man sails across the Pacific and crashes into Big Island rocky shoreline - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Unassuming Canouan Island Is the Caribbean’s Next Billionaire Playground – Cond Nast Traveler

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When Princess Margaret famously fled her unhappy marriage for Mustique in the 1970s, she turned it into the blue-chip, blue-blood hideaway we know today, attracting a Studio 54 crowd that spanned everyone from Mick and Bianca Jagger to Bryan Ferry and David Bowie. But 50 years after the royal arguably created the first bona fide, A-list destination in the Caribbean, an unassuming, neighboring island is aiming to displace Mustique as the jet set getaway of the 2020s.

A small, barely five-square-mile nation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Canouan island has seen a recent flurry of luxury hotel activity. Last year, the Mandarin Oriental made its Caribbean debut on the eastern reaches, commandeering what was once the Pink Sands Club and rebooting the property to feel more Portofino than Port of Spain, expanding its 14, infinity poolequipped villas by a further dozen. Its larger sibling property, the Canouan Estate, has tennis courts and water sports, and even a 17th-century church. Both resorts, which sit together on the 1,200-acre Grenadine Estate, are owned by Italian developer Andrea Pignataro, whose clout has allegedly attracted Soho House to also open on the island: Multiple reports allege the member's club is taking over the former Tamarind Beach Hotel later this year. (A Soho House rep did not return requests for comment.) Those three hotels will later be joined by a fourth, the ultra-luxury chain Aman, which has earmarked another plot nearby and will begin construction soon.

Courtesy Mandarin Oriental, Canouan

Its easy to understand Canouans appeal. The islands natural assets are almost unmatched in the Caribbean. Small and easily navigatedgolf carts replace cars herethe islands name derives from a local word for land turtle, and the animals are so ubiquitous that you can take a short boat journey to the nearby cluster of Tobago Cays to observe them in a marine park preserve. Hummingbirds flit between the lush foliage, while rays, eels, and fishes teem through the reefs. One noteworthy coral outcrop runs for a mile and a half along the Atlantic side of the island, cushioning golden beaches like Mahault from harsh waves and creating clear, pool-like waters close to the coast. The best perch to observe it all is on Mount Royal, the highest point of the island, which overlooks the rest of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Mustique included).

Canouans size and self containment also add to its appeal for paparazzi-shy celebrities. You sometimes see photos of Simon Cowell, perhaps, sunbathing at Sandy Lane in Barbados, but were extremely private, says Duarte Correia, general manager at the Mandarin Oriental. Its one of our key differentiators, that whatever celebrity or high net worth visitor comes, they know nobody will be here. Some are less press-shy, though: Amy Schumer posted about her babymoon here, and Robert Downey Jrs yacht has been spotted moored nearby.

So why is it only just emerging as a destination? Turns out, Pignataro isnt the first person to try and make over Canouan island in Mustiques image. A Trump casino, a Raffles-branded resort, and a Jim Fazio-designed 18-hole golf course straddling Mount Royal, all appeared on the island in the early 2000s, but a lack of infrastructure on the island ultimately set each one up to fail. The casino has since been repurposed as a hurricane shelter, the Raffles resort was bulldozed, and while the golf course has survived, it is largely bereft of players.

When I landed for the first time here in 1998, there was no airway, just a runway with a wooden booth where the same guy handled immigration and everything, says Cinzia Occioni, who worked in one of those early hotels. There was only one road on the island, no supermarket and no doctor.

Courtesy Sandy Lane Marina

The current airport is unrecognizable and has recently seen its runway extended, specifically with large private jets in mind. The landing strip is now able to accommodate planes up to the size of a Boeing 737, meaning visitors no longer need to land in Barbados and transfer to a puddle jumper across to Canouan. Night landing is permitted, too, making it easier to schedule flights from farther flung destinations like New York City. Correia estimates that around 50 percent of Mandarin Orientals guests now arrive by private jet, and 38 such planes flew in and out over the recent holiday period.

And where the jet set goes, the yacht crew follows, as Canouans wealthy investors know all too well. Dermot Desmond, who owns Sandy Lane in nearby Barbados, injected an estimated quarter of a million dollars into a brand-new marina with 120 slips that can accommodate yachts of up to 330 feet, next to Canouans airport. Since it opened two years ago, Sandy Lane Marina has worked in tandem with the airport to help bring Canouan to the attention of one percenters at last. Most clients, especially first-time charterers, cant name a single island in the Grenadines. They know theyre beautiful, but thats just as far as their knowledge goes, says yacht charter specialist Kate Kalamaga. But the wealthier ones are asking more and more about Canouan.

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Unassuming Canouan Island Is the Caribbean's Next Billionaire Playground - Cond Nast Traveler

Piers Morgan brands Love Island stars brain-dead after hilarious impression of Ched chatting up Jess – The Sun

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PIERS Morgan mocked Love Island's "brain dead" Ched Uzor after he attempted to chat up Jess Gale.

The Good Morning Britain host claimed the Islanders speak a "completely idiotic language" and left viewers in stitches with a scathing impression of the 25-year-old trying to woo Jess.

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Jess, 20, caught the eye of newbie Ched this week, but last night he couldn't get his words out when she asked: "What was your first inmpression of me?"

Nervous Ched ended up saying: "You're blonde and like, you know like, I mean, like you're pretty and blonde like."

Nodding her head, Jess responded: "Well observed."

Demonstrating the moment in front of GMB fans today, Piers bumbled: "Like, like like like, blonde, like, like."

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He explained: "This is Ched revealing his undying love to Jess in the only language she can understand."

Later, he added: "Even though they are brain-dead zombies, I respect them. Some of my best friends are zombies."

Viewers found it hilarious, as one tweeted: "Say what you like about @piersmorgan but the mans making me laugh out loud this morning #likelikelikelike."

One said: "GMB got to Piers is funny this morning, you know what I mean like like Mmm"

Jess joined Love Island with her twin sister Eve, who was booted out of the villa in the first week.

Since leaving, Eve told fans Jess has received death threats, after she kissed Mike Boetang and dumped Luke M.

Eve, 20, revealed her sister had been called a "sly, ugly, fat c***" and told to "go die in a fire", adding that she'd received hundreds of similarly disturbing messages.

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She shared on her Instagram story on Sunday night: "Although someone can appear to have themselves together you don't know what they are going through behind closed doors.

"Abuse like this can destroy a person. THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE.

"And these are the same people who would post about mental health and write RIP posts if anyone in the limelight was to commit suicide.

5

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"Honestly it's disgusting. My sister has been sent 100s of death threats and abuse and it actually makes me sick. why are people so damn weird and nasty."

She continued: "Never in my life have I understood what brings anyone to actually take the time to send death threats and abuse before you write messages like this take a look at yourself and ask why you are really doing it and the intentions behind it.

"Because although people might appear strong and confident you don't know what damage it can do."

Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 02077824220.

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Piers Morgan brands Love Island stars brain-dead after hilarious impression of Ched chatting up Jess - The Sun

Balboa Island’s costly wooden benches are on their way out – Los Angeles Times

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The Newport Beach City Council balked Tuesday night at spending close to $700,000, or even $148,000, to refurbish the teak and jatoba benches and related trash can covers around Balboa Island, preferring instead to phase out the stately but expensive street furniture in favor of fixtures made of faux wood.

As the owner of a wooden boat, Mayor Pro Tem Brad Avery said he knows what it takes to maintain teak. He said the city should move toward attractive wood alternatives.

We just have to move to benches that dont need to be refinished, he said. I would not spend another nickel on refinishing anything.

The council was set to consider a $692,000 contract proposal to refresh and repair each of the islands 109 benches and 26 coordinating trash can covers up to twice a year for two years.

City staff said it wanted to accept the bid, requiring the city to set aside the $692,000, but only spend a fraction of it, dropping the scope to a single refurbishment of each bench and considering a new long-term plan. That cost would come to about $148,000, without replacement of the embedded bronze dedication plaques.

The council instead chose to reject the contract entirely and phase out the wooden fixtures.

The city maintains the sidewalk benches on Marine Avenue and elsewhere around the island. The benches about half made of teak and the other half of jatoba, also known as Brazilian cherry were donated over the past 24 years and need to be refinished at least once a year to meet community requests and expectations, according to a city staff report. Contractors do that work but havent fully refurbished the benches and trash cans in two years.

Teak benches face the bay at a Balboa Island street end.

(Courtesy of city of Newport Beach)

A jatoba, or Brazilian cherry, bench on Balboa Islands Marine Avenue.

(Courtesy of city of Newport Beach)

Deputy Director of Public Works Micah Martin said neighbors suggested something with more flair when a donor sought to place concrete benches around the island in the mid-1990s.

After seeing the bench, the island raised some concerns, he told the council. The BIIA [Balboa Island Improvement Assn.] got involved and proposed putting teakwood benches on the island because theyre much more aesthetically pleasing, had a nautical theme to them and its more of what they wanted to see.

The BIIA helped with their maintenance. In 2006, the city took over maintenance of all donated fixtures.

At that time, when the city had an in-house wood shop and full-time staff carpenters, each bench cost about $400 a year to refinish.

The city outsourced woodworking a few years later, and market forces have increased once-yearly refurbishment costs to $960 for a jatoba bench and $1,150 for a teak bench.

Staff says the sun, rain and salty marine air have weathered the items much quicker than the BIAA anticipated. The benches also are susceptible to damage from vehicles and vandals.

The council voted 6-0 to have staff craft a less-expensive replacement plan, vetted by the public and the city Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission. Councilman Jeff Herdman recused himself because he owns property in the area.

Theyre beautiful, Councilman Kevin Muldoon said of the real wood benches, and if we had our own woodworking team, itd make sense. But this is not sustainable on a contract basis.

Councilwoman Diane Dixon said shes sensitive to Balboa Islands affinity for the benches the only park, sidewalk and beach benches in the city not made of concrete or a hardy composite material. But cost is a factor.

Its going to be $1 million in a couple of years and were going to wish we dealt with this earlier, she said.

Sidewalk benches from the citys usual catalog cost $2,800 to $2,900 new, comparable to the $2,400 for a replacement jatoba bench or $3,150 for one of teak. They do not, however, require regular maintenance, and the faux-wood model lasts about 10 years, Martin said.

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Balboa Island's costly wooden benches are on their way out - Los Angeles Times

Hatteras Island Oyster Roast in Pictures: A Chilly but Festive Shell-ebration – Island Free Press

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As estimated 500 locals and visitors headed to the edge of Odens Dock in Hatteras village on Saturday afternoon to take part in a shell-ebration that has been going strong for seven years.

The North Carolina Coastal Federations annual Hatteras Island Oyster Roast has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the traditionally quiet winter season, and this years afternoon roast was no exception.

This year was the fastest we have ever sold out of tickets, said Michael Flynn, Coastal Advocate at North Carolina Coastal Federation (NCCF.) We have talked about expanding the event in the past, simply because it has gotten so popular, but we like keeping it at a sustainable size. It makes it a true community event.

The sense of community spirit was contagious throughout the chilly afternoon, as old friends connected after a dormant winter over long tables piled high with oysters, paper towels, and plenty of hot sauce.

Locals werent the only attendees, however, as Flynn estimated that roughly two-thirds of tickets were sold to visitors from all along the East Coast. The Outer Banks Visitors Bureau is the primary sponsor, and we always hope that this event brings more tourism to [the islands] in the winter months, he said. It seems to be doing its job.

Indeed, visitors mingled with lifelong locals with ease, such as a crew of four couples from Maryland who made plenty of new friends thanks to their homemade invention, the shotski a wooden plank with four shot glasses attached so that multiple people can imbibe in a shot of beer or something stronger all at once.

This is our second year attending, and we came down to Hatteras [specifically] for the oyster roast, said Amy Williams of the boisterous group that included the Holloways, Williams, Lockwoods, and Dawickis families all from Maryland. This year, we got rooms at the Breakwater, so wed be close to the action

We just love this, she added, looking around at the big crowd. Everyone is so friendly, and theres a real [sense of] community here We hope to be back next year, too.

Food, music, and comradery were the agenda for the day, and a team of volunteers headed by Parc Greene of Risky Business Seafood tackled the lengthy food preparation, which included 55 bushels of oysters cooked on a brand new steamer that was created specifically for the NCCF and the event by students at the College of the Albemarle.

Greene stated that the crew had been up since 8 a.m. that morning to feed the hungry crowd, and that the work was ongoing. Cleaning was the big part, said Greene. It took two power washers to clean all of the oysters the cooking is easy.

Hearty cups of homemade Hatteras-style clam chowder, prepared by Breakwater Restaurant, warmed up the attendees, while Conners Supermarket in Buxton provided the cornbread. A bake sale generated more fundraising opportunities, (and provided easy and mouth-watering desserts), while a popular silent auction offered approximately 35 enticing items for sale such as a wine tasting for 12 at Trio, and a half day charter trip onboard the Albatross.

Music from acclaimed local band Blurkys Quirky Friends kept the festive atmosphere going strong all afternoon long, and all the while, local volunteers helped keep the rotation of oysters flowing, by lugging carts to the lines of tables, and disposing of the shells once the hungry diners had their fill.

All of the oyster shells from the event will be recycled and added to the waterfronts along Dare County to bolster the soundside shoreline, which provided yet another reason for attendees to dig in.

The event also attracted a number of community leaders, including N.C. Representative Bobby Hanig, Dare County Board of Commissioners Bob Woodard, Danny Couch, Steve House, Wally Overman, and Ervin Bateman, and National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac, among many other famous local faces.

It seems to me that this has become kind of a big island event, said NCCF Board Member and owner of the Albatross Fleet, Ernie Foster. Its the first year we sold out well in advance.

Foster, along with other community representatives, later thanked the crowd and the volunteers for attending the oyster roast, and for lending a much-appreciated hand to make the event a success.

Thank you to all of our sponsors for your support we couldnt have done it without you, Foster said to the crowd. And thank you to our community volunteers who have taken time out of their day to keep us all happy and fed.

Everywhere I look, I see people having a great time So thank you all for being a part of this.

While scattered raindrops were a continual threat throughout the day, the event was a chilly celebration of all things oysters that got livelier as the afternoon lingered on. From folks who brought their own hot sauce holsters on their hips, to locals who brought along their favorite oyster knives, everyone was prepared to have a great time, and they succeeded admirably.

Proceeds from the Hatteras Island Oyster Roast benefit the North Carolina Coastal Federations oyster education and restoration programs, and additionally, a portion of the proceeds from 2020s oyster roast will be donated to support hurricane recovery efforts on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands.

To catch an inside look of the event, courtesy of the Islands Free Press live broadcast by Rory Kelleher, see https://islandfreepress.org/outer-banks-news/hatteras-island-oyster-roast-in-full-swing/

For more information on the oyster roast, as well as a selection of recipes and preparation tips from seafood expert Lynne Foster, click here.

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Hatteras Island Oyster Roast in Pictures: A Chilly but Festive Shell-ebration - Island Free Press

Advocates concerned about rise of private assisted living beds on Vancouver Island – Nanaimo News NOW

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Andrew Longhurst, a research association at the Centre, told NanaimoNewsNOW the drop in accessibility for seniors isnt being matched by the increase in beds which are privately paid for.

Data from the Centre showed 317 private assisted living beds were added within Island Health from 2010 to 2017. By 2017, 40 per cent of beds were private-pay, up from 26 per cent in 2010.

Over a nearly 10-year periodwere adding private-pay units at a time when there was a loss of publicly subsidized units, which is concerning.

Longhurst said many of the privately-paid for beds are draining seniors of their income.

(The cost) is entirely negotiated between an individual and the operator. So that can create significant strains on peoples financial resources when those services are not regulated in anyway, he said. Couples struggle to pay that cost. Its especially unaffordable for seniors living alone, who tend to have much lower incomes.

In contrast, a publicly subsidized assisted living bed costs 70 per cent of a seniors income.

The report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is the second one in as many days to criticize for-profit and private-pay health care.

Seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie released a report on Tuesday, Feb. 4 which found for-profit long-term care homes arent delivering the level of care their contracted and funded to provide.

In for-profit care homes they are spending $37,000 a year on their residents for care and in the not-for-profit sector theyre spending $46,000 a year. As the seniors advocate this is one of the more troubling findings from this review, she said.

Her report made five recommendations, including requiring health authorities to better monitor care hours, tighten financial oversights and create a more transparent system for how much employees are paid.

More than 27,000 seniors in B.C. live in one of 300 publicly funded long-term care homes that are owned and operated by health authorities, private companies and not-for-profit societies.

There are approximately 31 assisted living facilities across Vancouver Island.

with files from The Canadian Press

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit

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Advocates concerned about rise of private assisted living beds on Vancouver Island - Nanaimo News NOW

Star Wars Theory: Palpatine Was A CLONE In Rise of Skywalker – Screen Rant

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Somehow, Palpatine returned in J.J. Abrams'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - and between established canon and the former Emperor's appearance in the movie, there's plenty of evidence to support the theory that he returned in a clone body.

Cloning has been a part of the Star Wars franchise since the very first movie, Star Wars: A New Hope, which included amentionof the Clone Wars. The prequel movie Star Wars: Attack of the Clonesintroduced an army of clone troopers, based on the genetics of bounty hunter Jango Fett,thatwere created by the Republic to fight the Separatist battle droid army.These clone troopersproved to be instrumental in Palpatine's deadliest plan: each of them was implanted with a chip that, upon receiving Order 66, caused them to turn on theJedi and slaughter them. Needless to say, clones have long been affiliated with the dark side.

Related: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Had A Big Clue Rey Was A Palpatine

When confronted by Kylo Ren at the start of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Palpatine tells him that he has died before and that "the dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural." While thiscould interpreted as a deliberately vague allusion to Palpatine somehow using to Force to resurrect himself after he fell into the Death Star II's reactor, the scheming Sith could just as easily have used cloning to orchestrate his return.

If Palptine's return in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker feels familiar, it may be because of its striking similarities to the 1992 Expanded Universe comic Dark Empire. Set in a post-Return of the Jedi future where the Imperial forces have risen again, Dark Empire takes Luke Skywalker to a planet called Byss that is "entirely enveloped in the power of the dark side" - much like Exegol. There, he meets a resurrected Emperor Palpatine, whose dialogue (pictured above) closely mirrors Palpatine's words to Kylo Ren in Rise of Skywalker. Unlike the movie version, however, this Palpatine goes on to explain exactly how he was able to return to life, and reveals that it's not the first time he's done so. The great power of the Force takes a terrible toll on the fragile flesh of Palpatine's body, forcing him to periodically transfer himself into a new clone. This conveniently explains how a villain as arrogant as Palpatinemighthave had a new clone body ready to go in the event of his death.

A great deal of Star Wars canon was discarded when the Expanded Universe was retconned out of official continuity and rebranded as Star Wars Legends in April 2014. However, one of the firstnew in-canon comics released under the Disney umbrella quickly re-introduced the idea of bad guys using clone bodies to survive.The 2015 Marvel Comics series Darth Vader, which followed Vader's exploits in the aftermath of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, featured a character called Doctor Cylo. A scientist specializing in cybernetics, Cylo created a series of clone bodies for himself and set up a system whereby if one clone was killed, the next would be activated (a similar premise was used in a recent episode of Rick and Morty). Cylo ultimately ends up turning on the Emperor and is killed for his betrayal, butthis story establishes that Palpatine knew about a method of surviving death by setting up a clone body to be activated in the event of his defeat. Palpatine being ever the schemer, it makes sense that he wouldhave stolen Cylo's idea and created his own clones in order to achieve immortality.

When the sequel trilogy first began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there weren't yet any plans to resurrect Palpatine for the third movie. Instead, The Force Awakens introduced a new big bad - Supreme Leader Snoke - who issued commands to the First Order. Snoke was killed at the end of Star Wars: The Last Jedi,and at the start of Rise of Skywalker Palpatine reveals that the so-called "Supreme Leader" was merely a clone - a puppet designed to exert Palpatine's influence without revealing his continued existence. We even see some spare Snoke clones growing in a vat on Exegol, which means that Palpatine had cloning technology readily available to him. If he used this technology to create Snoke, it stands to reason that he may havealso used cloning to survive his fall into the Death Star II's reactor.

Related:Emperor Palpatines Entire Backstory, Timeline, & Manipulations Explained

When we meet Palpatine again in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he admittedly looks a bit worse for wear. A zombie-like being suspended from a mechanical throne, Palpatine's body appears to be little more than a shell. That being said, the shell doesn't look like it fell down into a reactor and then exploded, which is what happened to Palpatine at the end of Return of the Jedi. One thing seems to be certain: whatever body Palpatine is using in Rise of Skywalker, it's not the same one that fought Darth Vader on the Death Star II.

While it's possible that Palpatine may have used the "unnatural abilities" of the dark side of the Force to build a newvessel for his vile soul, the clone explanation is a lot simpler and in line with what we've previously seen in the franchise. In fact, the two explanations aren't mutually exclusive, as Palpatine may have used the science of cloning in conjunction with his Force powers. Cyloused cybernetics to givehimself a simple personality map and backup memories banks, which is what allowed him to transfer his mind between bodies. Palpatine, whose mind is infinitely more complex,is more likely to have achieved the transition using the Forcerather than trying to reduce himself down to cybernetics.

What this means for the future of Star Wars is that Disney could very easily find a way to resurrect Palpatine again down the line - though given the generally poor reception to dredging up Palpatine for The Rise of Skywalker, the studio probably won't play that card again for a while.

More:Star Wars: Why The Luke/Vader Twist Worked, But Rey's Didn't

Why Star Wars Fans Have Forgiven Hayden Christensen

Hannah has been with Screen Rant since the heady days of 2013, starting out as a humble news writer and eventually clawing her way up the ladder through a series of Machiavellian schemes and betrayals. She's now a features writer and editor, covering the hottest topics in the world of nerddom from her home base in Oxford, UK.Hannah enjoys weird horror movies, weirder sci-fi movies, and also the movie adaptation of Need for Speed - the greatest video game movie of all time. She has lived and studied in New York and Toronto, but ultimately returned home so that she could get a decent cup of tea. Her hobbies include drawing, video games, long walks in the countryside, and wasting far too much time on Twitter.Speaking of which, you can follow Hannah online at @HSW3K

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Star Wars Theory: Palpatine Was A CLONE In Rise of Skywalker - Screen Rant

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Theory Says Palpatine Was A Clone – We Got This Covered

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J.J. Abrams didnt waste time inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to give us an idea of how Palpatine came back to life and pushed this revelation aside by slipping in a line of dialogue from the Prequel Trilogy.

The dark side of the force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural, declares Darth Sidious as Kylo Ren steps forward to face him on Exegol in the opening ofEpisode IX. And thats essentially all the explanation we receive in the movie about how Palpatine survived his fall during the Battle of Endor.

The Emperors ominous and iconic dialogue seems to point to the fact that he may have used the force to keep himself alive after Darth Vader threw him down a reactor shaft. Though as the folks at ScreenRant have pointed out, there may be more to the story than we currently think.

Now, we know that cloning has always been an integral element of the Star Warsuniverse ever since the first movie,A New Hope, mentioned the Clone Wars in passing. The army of clones was first introduced in Attack of the Clones, and we ultimately realized their creation was part of Sidiouss plan to overthrow the Jedi and bring about the fall of the Galactic Republic.

Moreover, if Palpatines return inThe Rise of Skywalkerseems familiar, thats because its happened before intheDark Empirecomic series, now a part of Legends which are deemed as non-canon by Disney. During the events of said storyline, Luke Skywalker goes to a planet called Byss, which is entirely enveloped in the dark side of the Force, much like Exegol. There, he meets a revived Emperor whose dialogue closely mirrors what he says to Ren in the movie.

Though unlike the film, this Palpatine goes on to explain how hes managed to survive by periodically transferring himself into a new clone. Even in the movie, Darth Sidious points out that he created Snoke as a puppet to seize control of the galaxy, and a shot actually depicts the Supreme Leaders cloning process.

So, is it so strange to suggest thats how the Sith cultists on Exegol, known as Sith Eternal, brought Palpatine back to life? Unfortunately, until further confirmation from official sources or otherStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkercontent thats yet to come, we wont know the answer for sure. But that doesnt mean we cant speculate to fill in the void left by Abrams divisive movie.

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Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Theory Says Palpatine Was A Clone - We Got This Covered

Can We See Significant Insider Ownership On The Magellan Aerospace Corporation (TSE:MAL) Share Register? – Simply Wall St

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The big shareholder groups in Magellan Aerospace Corporation (TSE:MAL) have power over the company. Large companies usually have institutions as shareholders, and we usually see insiders owning shares in smaller companies. I generally like to see some degree of insider ownership, even if only a little. As Nassim Nicholas Taleb said, Dont tell me what you think, tell me what you have in your portfolio.

Magellan Aerospace is not a large company by global standards. It has a market capitalization of CA$820m, which means it wouldnt have the attention of many institutional investors. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), its seems that institutions are noticeable on the share registry. Lets delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Magellan Aerospace.

View our latest analysis for Magellan Aerospace

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once its included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Magellan Aerospace already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own 5.7% of the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. Its therefore worth looking at Magellan Aerospaces earnings history, below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Magellan Aerospace is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Royce & Associates, LP is the largest shareholder with 1.7% of shares outstanding. Next, we have Invesco Ltd. and Dimensional Fund Advisors L.P. as the second and third largest shareholders, holding 0.7% and 0.6%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Our studies suggest that the top 9 shareholders collectively control less than 50% of the companys shares, meaning that the companys shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stocks expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

It seems that insiders own more than half the Magellan Aerospace Corporation stock. This gives them a lot of power. So they have a CA$638m stake in this CA$820m business. Most would be pleased to see the board is investing alongside them. You may wish todiscover (for free) if they have been buying or selling.

The general public holds a 16% stake in MAL. While this group cant necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Case in point: Weve spotted 1 warning sign for Magellan Aerospace you should be aware of.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

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Can We See Significant Insider Ownership On The Magellan Aerospace Corporation (TSE:MAL) Share Register? - Simply Wall St

Key Supplier to Aerospace Industry Has 75 Percent Revenue Increase in 2019 – AviationPros.com

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Zoro offers a one-stop-shop for over 300,000 products in industrial consumables and equipment with free next day delivery throughout the GB mainland on many of its lines. The company has announced that it has increased its revenue by more than 75 percent during 2019, delivering more than 360,000 items during last year.

From launching its trade accounts in summer 2018 to the engineering industry, Zoro has rapidly increased its business customer base.

Marcus Nelson, managing director of Zoro UK, said: If you are an engineer or are working in an industrial SME and need that critical tool the next day, then Zoro will deliver it to you. And its not just tools we have over 300,000 products, from stationery to beverages, that the small engineering company needs.

We are really excited to be able to offer such a wide product range to the aerospace supply chain. So, try us out you wont find anyone more competitive on pricing, delivery or expert knowledge.

Almost 50 percent of Zoros customers are now businesses, rather than sole traders, and the company is using digital innovation to save companies time and money.

During 2019, Zoro launched an automatic replenishment service for the engineering industry. This feature reduces the amount of time spent manually reordering products, minimizing human error, which ensures smooth production.

When purchasing through Zoros Order Subscription service, customers can decide how frequently they would like to receive products by selecting a monthly, weekly or bi-weekly option. Customers can also set a start and end date for their subscription, or schedule a single order on a specific date of their choice.

Chris Matenaers, marketing director at Zoro said: Many businesses reorder the same supplies on a regular basis. Order Subscription ensures much-needed items will be delivered when the business needs them without having to remember to place the order. This means no delays in production due to downtime.

We pride ourselves on bringing new innovative functionalities to the B2B market and our new Order Subscription service will enhance our customers experience and makes conducting business with Zoro seamless.

For more information visit http://www.zoro.co.uk.

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Key Supplier to Aerospace Industry Has 75 Percent Revenue Increase in 2019 - AviationPros.com

Black Sky Aerospace to help the UK’s Raptor Aerospace conduct launch tests in Australia – SpaceTech Asia

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Queensland-based launch provider, Black Sky Aerospace, is facilitating UK company Raptor Aerospaces rocket motor test and sounding rocket launch campaign, to be conducted in Australias Beyond the Blue sub-orbital launch facility. This will be Australias first privately operated, international rocket motor test and sounding rocket launch campaign.

Scheduled to take place mid-February 2020, the Raptor Aerospace team intends to undertake a campaign where they can first test and space qualify their own launch vehicles and systems.The Beyond the Blue Aerospace facility they will use is located just outside of Goondiwindi in Queenslands outback.

According to Black Skys press release, Raptor has chosen to conduct their tests in Australia, rather than in the UK, due to practical reasons the UK has a dense population and a busy European airspace, making land-based rocket launches and systems recovery very difficult.

Raptor CEO, Ben Jarvis, said Whilst the development of the new space-ports in the UK will ultimately allow some of our commercial activity to occur on home soil, many customer payloads and test flights, where recovery of sensitive electronics after flight is critical, will need a land range to fly from.

Jarvis continued, Black Sky Aerospace have been a great partner in our development so far in offering us access to a suitable inland site and invaluable expertise that we hope will lead to an ongoing commercial collaboration that forwards space access in both countries.

CEO and founder of Black Sky aerospace, Blake Nikolic said, Australia is playing an increasing role in the worlds space ambitions and we are playing a significant role in enabling access to an efficient, cost-effective service.

This campaign withRaptor Aerospace will drive additional export opportunities of Black SkyAerospaces technology, whilst solidifying Australias position as the place toconduct research and testing, before undertaking expensive orbital launches,continued Nikolic.

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Black Sky Aerospace to help the UK's Raptor Aerospace conduct launch tests in Australia - SpaceTech Asia